Thursday, March 19, 2026
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Evening news wrap: Iran hits Saudi’s Aramco and Kuwait refinery; Sensex tanks around 2,500 points & more

Evening news wrap: Iran hits Saudi's Aramco and Kuwait refinery; Sensex tanks around 2,500 points & more

  • Iran strikes energy sites across the region, including facilities linked to Saudi Aramco, after Israel’s attack on South Pars, warning of global “uncontrollable consequences” as oil prices spike.
  • A projectile lands just 350m from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, with the International Atomic Energy Agency flagging serious safety concerns despite no damage to the reactor.
  • Sensex crashes over 2,500 points, wiping out Rs 11 lakh crore in investor wealth as rising crude prices and US Fed’s stance trigger a broad sell-off.
  • Bharatiya Janata Party releases 88 candidates for 2026 Assam assembly elections, with CM Himanta Biswa Sarma set to contest from Jalukbari.
  • Kerala high court rejects PIL against Board of Control for Cricket in India, clearing the way for IPL 2026 to begin on March 28.

Here are the top news of the day:

Iran hits Saudi’s Aramco and Kuwait refinery following Israel attack on South Pars

Iran escalated tensions across the Gulf by launching coordinated strikes on key energy infrastructure, including the SAMREF refinery in Saudi Arabia, a joint venture involving Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil.The attacks came in retaliation for Israel’s earlier strike on Iran’s crucial South Pars gas field, a move that Tehran condemned strongly.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of “uncontrollable consequences,” cautioning that the conflict could spiral globally. Iran also targeted LNG facilities in Qatar and set two Kuwaiti refineries ablaze, intensifying fears of a wider regional crisis. Read full story

Just 350m away: Projectile strikes near Bushehr nuclear reactor, says IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported a serious security scare after a projectile struck near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, landing just 350 metres from the reactor.

Israel Iran War

While the core facility remained unharmed and no injuries were reported, the proximity of the strike raised alarm over nuclear safety risks.IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi stressed that any attack near nuclear installations breaches critical safety norms during conflict. Iran and Russia claimed the projectile hit within the broader premises, fuelling concerns about a potential radiological incident as tensions between Tehran, Israel, and the United States continue to escalate. Read full story

Stock market crash: Sensex tanks around 2,500 points – top reasons for fall

Indian stock markets witnessed a sharp sell-off, with the BSE Sensex plunging over 2,500 points, while the Nifty 50 slipped below the 23,200 mark intraday after logging gains for three straight sessions. The downturn wiped out more than Rs 11 lakh crore in investor wealth, driven largely by surging global crude oil prices and a cautious policy stance from the US Federal Reserve. Nifty50 ended the session at 23,002.15, down 776 points or 3.26%. BSE Sensex closed at 74,207.24, down 2,497 points or 3.26%. Nifty Realty was the worst performer, declining by more than 3%, followed by Nifty Auto and Nifty Private Bank, both of which slipped close to 3% . Read full story

Assam assembly polls 2026: BJP releases list of 88 candidates

The Bharatiya Janata Party has unveiled its first list of 88 candidates for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, with chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma set to contest again from Jalukbari.Under the alliance formula, BJP will contest 89 seats in the 126-member assembly, alongside partners AGP and BPF. The list reflects a blend of continuity and change, with several high-profile defections from Congress included, while 11 sitting MLAs have been dropped. Notably, only five women candidates have been fielded, highlighting ongoing concerns about gender representation. Read full story

IPL name row: Kerala high court rejects PIL against BCCI

The Kerala high court has dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the use of the name “Indian Premier League” by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The petitioner argued that the league was not an official national tournament and should not carry the name.A bench led by Chief Justice Soumen Sen found no merit in the plea, observing that the league has been in existence for years and the objection came too late. With the legal hurdle cleared, the 19th season of the IPL is set to begin on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match. Read full story Go to Source

Hot this week

Iran makes stand clear on FIFA World Cup amid conflict with United States: ‘We will boycott America but…’

Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada, appeared doubtful since the United States and Israel’s conflict against Tehran. Read More

‘Perpetrators still at large’: Bob Blackman flags Harrow Holi clash after Indian shops attacked in Wembley

British Conservative MP Bob Blackman has said that those behind the disruption of a Holi celebration in north-west London earlier this month are “still largely at large”, even as he flagged fresh incidents of violence targeting Hindu a Read More

India securing energy supplies from multiple countries, including Russia: MEA

The MEA on Thursday said India is sourcing crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from multiple countries, including Russia, as the government works to secure its energy supply amid shipping disruptions Go to Source Read More

India condemns strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure; calls attacks ‘unacceptable’

As fresh attacks on West Asian gas hubs triggered global concerns, India on Thursday said the strikes are “unacceptable and need to cease” even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to top leaders of Oman, France and Malaysia, empha Read More

‘No One Will Escape Radiation’: Russia Urges US, Israel Not To Strike Nuclear Plant It Built In Iran

Russia warns any strike on Bushehr could trigger a radiation disaster affecting multiple countries in the region, as Rosatom begins pulling out staff. Read More

Topics

Iran makes stand clear on FIFA World Cup amid conflict with United States: ‘We will boycott America but…’

Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada, appeared doubtful since the United States and Israel’s conflict against Tehran. Read More

‘Perpetrators still at large’: Bob Blackman flags Harrow Holi clash after Indian shops attacked in Wembley

British Conservative MP Bob Blackman has said that those behind the disruption of a Holi celebration in north-west London earlier this month are “still largely at large”, even as he flagged fresh incidents of violence targeting Hindu a Read More

India securing energy supplies from multiple countries, including Russia: MEA

The MEA on Thursday said India is sourcing crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from multiple countries, including Russia, as the government works to secure its energy supply amid shipping disruptions Go to Source Read More

India condemns strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure; calls attacks ‘unacceptable’

As fresh attacks on West Asian gas hubs triggered global concerns, India on Thursday said the strikes are “unacceptable and need to cease” even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to top leaders of Oman, France and Malaysia, empha Read More

‘No One Will Escape Radiation’: Russia Urges US, Israel Not To Strike Nuclear Plant It Built In Iran

Russia warns any strike on Bushehr could trigger a radiation disaster affecting multiple countries in the region, as Rosatom begins pulling out staff. Read More

Are US and Israel in lockstep in Iran war? Deciphering Trump’s post after gas field attacks

While the US has concentrated much of its military effort on degrading Iran’s missile and drone capability, sinking its Navy and, in recent days, attacking targets along Iran’s long Gulf shoreline, Israel has gone to great lengths to assa Read More

‘Many Repercussions’: Jaishankar Says Spoke With Israel FM Gideon Sa’ar On West Asia Conflict

When the war started in February 28, EAM S Jaishankar had spoken to both Israel and Iran, and urged de-escalation through dialogue to end the violence Go to Source Read More

The Lucknow Connection: How 3 Ukrainian Combat Veterans Fell Into The NIA Net

In total, the NIA has nabbed seven people, including an American national and six Ukrainian citizens, at airports in Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata Go to Source Read More

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