- Indian Death in Saudi: An Indian national died in Riyadh; the embassy of India in Saudi Arabia is assisting the family, with MEA reporting six deaths so far.
- Sri Lanka neutrality: Sri Lanka rejected a US request to station warplanes, citing neutrality in the Iran war.
- Air India Error: Air India recalled a Delhi–Vancouver flight after deploying an unapproved Boeing 777-200LR.
- TMC Manifesto out: Mamata Banerjee unveiled Trinamool Congress manifesto with 10 pledges for West Bengal polls.
- Rupee record fall: The Indian rupee hit a historic low of 93.71 against the US dollar amid rising oil prices and global tensions.
Here are top 5 news of the day:
Indian national dies in Saudi Arabia, embassy extends support to family; MEA says 6 deaths so far
An Indian national has died in Riyadh following recent developments on March 18, the Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia said in an official statement. The embassy said it is in contact with the deceased’s family and local authorities, and is extending all necessary assistance. It also conveyed its condolences and added that it is closely coordinating with Saudi officials on the matter. Read full story
Sri Lanka says refused US request to land warplanes, maintains neutrality in Iran war
Sri Lanka turned down a request from the United States to deploy two of its military aircraft at a civilian airport in the island’s south earlier this month, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. He said Washington had proposed relocating two missile-armed aircraft from a base in Djibouti to Mattala International Airport. The request, made on February 26, was declined to maintain Colombo’s neutrality and to ensure its territory is not used in a way that could aid or hinder any party in a conflict. Follow live updates
Air India sends ‘wrong’ Boeing 777 to Canada from Delhi, asks it to return from over China
An Air India flight bound for Vancouver was forced to return to New Delhi on Thursday after spending nearly nine hours in the air, despite avoiding the Gulf conflict zone. The turnaround occurred because the airline deployed the wrong aircraft for the route. While Air India has approval to operate its Boeing 777-300ER on Canada routes, it mistakenly sent a Boeing 777-200LR as flight AI 185 with a full load of passengers—an aircraft type not cleared to enter Canadian airspace. The error was only discovered after more than four hours of flying, when the plane was near Kunming. Read full story
West Bengal elections: Mamata releases TMC poll manifesto,
Mamata Banerjee released party’s manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. She unveiled her 10 “Protigya” for the state, laying out a welfare- and development-focused roadmap for a possible fourth term in office. In a post on X, Banerjee said the pledges were aimed at ensuring that the “wheels of development” in Bengal continue to move forward over the next five years. Follow live updates
Rupee sinks 82 paise to all-time low of 93.71 vs US dollar as crude oil surge
The Indian rupee tumbled by 82 paise—almost 1 per cent—to close at a record low of 93.71 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, pressured by sustained foreign fund outflows and a spike in global crude oil prices amid rising geopolitical tensions. Forex traders said the currency remained under heavy strain as soaring energy costs and a broader shift towards risk aversion weakened investor sentiment. Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty has also raised fears that elevated oil prices could widen India’s trade deficit and add to inflationary pressures. Read full story
