It felt less like a red carpet and more like a full-blown reunion you weren’t invited to, except this time, the cameras were rolling and the wigs (yes, that wig) were part of the nostalgia package.

Miley Cyrus showed up smiling, glowing, and clearly in her feels at the world premiere of Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special. The event took place at the iconic El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, just one day before the documentary drops on Disney+.

Also Read: New land, same bloodshed: ‘Dutton Ranch’ teaser turns Beth and Rip’s dream into a nightmare

And she didn’t come alone. Right by her side were her inner circle (mom Tish Cyrus and partner Maxx Morando).

The OG cast shows up… mostly

The real tea? A bunch of familiar faces from the Disney Channel era actually pulled up.

Fans spotted co-stars like Jason Earles, Moisés Arias, Shanica Knowles, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and Cody Linley; basically a mini time machine back to the late 2000s.

Even David Archuleta, who had a memorable guest appearance in Season 3, made it to the premiere. Yes, that episode.

But where was Lilly?

Here’s where fans got a little emotional.

Emily Osment, aka Lilly, Miley’s ride-or-die best friend on the show, was noticeably missing from both the premiere and the special.

She later explained why on social media: work calls. Osment is currently filming Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and couldn’t make it.

Still, her message hit hard. She shared how the show “changed her life,” taught her discipline and respect, and thanked fans for letting her into their homes.

Crude prices moved up again on Tuesday morning, rising over 4 per cent as fresh doubts over Iran and the broader West Asia situation unsettled markets.

Brent was hovering around $104 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up over 4 per cent to about $92.

This comes just a day after oil had dropped sharply, more than 10 per cent, on hopes that tensions might ease after the US paused planned strikes. That optimism didn’t last long.

No talks, no relief

Iran has now dismissed reports of any negotiations with the US.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said there had been no talks, calling such claims “fake news” meant to influence markets. That one statement was enough to shift sentiment again.

With that, the focus has swung back to supply risks.

There are also reports of fresh strikes on energy-linked facilities, which have only added to the uncertainty. Traders are once again factoring in the possibility of disruptions.

Hormuz still the key pressure point

The Strait of Hormuz continues to sit at the centre of it all.

A large share of the world’s oil and LNG moves through this narrow stretch, so even the hint of disruption tends to push prices higher.

Oil has been anything but stable this month. Prices have swung sharply, climbing around 25 per cent between early March and now, driven almost entirely by geopolitical developments.

Bigger picture still points up

There’s also a longer-term angle building.

Goldman Sachs has raised its oil price forecasts for 2026, now expecting Brent to average $85 a barrel and WTI around $79, both higher than earlier estimates.

Fans thought the chaos ended with ‘Yellowstone’, but the upcoming spinoff ‘Dutton Ranch’ proves otherwise. The new show picks up the story of Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser), who are trying (keyword: trying to build a new life after everything that went down in the original series).

But peace? Not happening.

Premiere date locked, and it’s a big one

Paramount has confirmed that the series will premiere on May 15. The first two episodes will drop together on Paramount+ and air at 8 pm ET/PT on Paramount Network. After that, it’s a weekly rollout.

Season 1 will have nine episodes, so expect a steady dose of drama for over two months.

Montana is out, Texas is in

Here’s the twist: even though the original story hinted at Beth and Rip settling in Dillon, Montana, ‘Dutton Ranch’ shifts the action to South Texas.

And this is not some quiet countryside reset.

The official storyline makes it clear. Beth and Rip are stepping into a brutal new battleground. They’re trying to build a future away from old ghosts, but instead, they run straight into a ruthless rival ranch. The stakes? Survival, power, and maybe even their souls.

First teaser already looks intense

The newly released teaser gives away one thing clearly. Violence hasn’t left their lives. Not even close.

Despite hoping for a fresh start, the couple finds themselves dragged into another violent fight. Different land, same danger.

The cast blends old and new faces. Finn Little returns as Carter, keeping a strong link to the original story.

Joining him are Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, JR Villarreal, Marc Menchaca, and Natalie Alyn Lind.

And then comes the real power move: Ed Harris and Annette Bening join the lineup, hinting at some serious high-stakes drama.

Also Read: He couldn’t resist this one: Donald Trump shares SNL UK premiere skit that shows Keir Starmer’s anxiety

The BJP on Monday said it would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission over Trinamool Congress Asansol Member of Parliament Shatrughan Sinha’s alleged use of a vehicle fitted with a blue beacon while campaigning for the Assembly elections in West Burdwan district, West Bengal.

The controversy erupted after Sinha, by virtue of being a Member of Parliament, entitled to a blue‑beacon vehicle, arrived at a campaign event on Sunday in support of Trinamool candidate Hareram Singh in Jamuria constituency in West Burdwan in a car bearing a blue beacon and a placard identifying him as “Member of Parliament, Asansol”, along with the Ashoka Pillar emblem.

A workers’ meeting had been organised in support of Hareram, and the MP arrived at the venue in his blue-beaconed vehicle. The front of the car bore the inscription ‘Member of Parliament, Asansol,’ accompanied by an emblem of the Ashoka Pillar. However, questions have now arisen whether it is permissible to use a vehicle fitted with a blue beacon during a party candidate’s campaign after the election schedule has officially been announced. The BJP has raised objections to this. Bijan Mukherjee, the BJP candidate for Jamuria, has formally accused Shatrughan Sinha of violating the Model Code of Conduct.

BJP candidate Bijan Mukherjee said that he intends to take this matter to the Election Commission and, if necessary, even to the courts. Bijan said, “Inventing new laws seems to be the sole purpose of the TMC government. To the best of my understanding, once the Model Code of Conduct comes into force, no one is permitted to travel in a vehicle fitted with a blue beacon or the Ashoka Pillar. The fact that the Trinamool government shows utter disregard for rules and regulations is proven by this incident.”

Shatrughan Sinha, however, dismissed the allegation. The MP told media persons, “No beacon light was installed specifically for this occasion; it was already there beforehand. I did not install anything myself. Furthermore, the light was not switched on. I do not engage in such practices. I am neither a seasonal politician nor a career professional politician in that sense. I am a gentleman. I abide by the law. I have not done nor will I ever do anything that could cause offense or hurt anyone’s sentiments.”

It was learnt that upon concluding his campaign and re-entering his vehicle, the blue beacon light was no longer visible on the car. Reports suggest that as soon as the controversy began, he instructed his personal assistant to have the blue beacon removed from the vehicle. However, the placard on the front of the car bearing the inscription ‘Member of Parliament’ alongside the Ashoka Pillar emblem — remained in place.

The BJP has alleged that the use of a blue beacon on the vehicle was a deliberate attempt to exert influence over the general public. Bijan refuses to dismiss this as a trivial incident. He asserted, “An incident is an incident, regardless of its scale. One cannot simply overlook a minor transgression today while waiting for a major one to occur tomorrow; that is simply not how things work. If an MP — a lawmaker himself — engages in such conduct, what kind of example does he set for others to follow? He is an educated individual; he committed this error fully aware of the implications.”

Poor infrastructure or the lack of it has apparently claimed another life at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital within three days of a 40-year-old man dying in a faulty lift at the trauma care centre of the hospital.

This morning’s case too was at the trauma care centre, when an elderly Biswajit Samantha was brought to the hospital from his home in Nimta with complaints of difficulty in breathing and a nose-bleed. After initial treatment, he was asked to wait while admission procedures were being carried out.

The patient, however, needed to go to the toilet while waiting and was asked to go to a pay-and-use facility some distance from the trauma care building, as the patients’ toilet there was being renovated and was locked. With no trolley or wheelchair available or made available, his son had to support him while he walked the distance. The strain was evidently too much for Samantha to bear, for he collapsed on the way.

Doctors declared him dead when he was rushed to the emergency department. For once, the commotion was not over death due to medical negligence; his son, wife and other relatives blamed the poor facilities at the hospital for his untimely demise. The police have registered a case and started an investigation.

A junior doctor at the trauma care centre said the patient had been attended to, provided initial treatment and advised admission. “He needed to go to the washroom. But the one for patients was locked, and he was asked to go to the pay-an-use toilet.” This was despite a toilet for doctors and staff being operational within the building.

The medical superintendent and vice-principal (MSVP) of the hospital, Saptarshi Chatterjee, said, “There’s only one toilet in the emergency area for patients, which is under renovation. We were already looking into the problem, as there is a shortage compared to the heavy flow of patients. We are trying to implement bio-toilets to overcome the problem.”

Deputy mayor and MLA Atin Ghosh, who is also a member of the hospital’s Rogi Kalyan Samity (patient welfare committee), criticised the handling of the patient. “A high-risk patient should not have been allowed to leave the trauma care centre to search for toilet facilities. If public toilets were unavailable due to renovation, the patient should have been allowed to use the toilets reserved for doctors and nurses,” he said. He has sought a report from the MSVP.

A patient who has sought treatment at the hospital over the years owing to its proximity to his home pointed out that despite all the focus and promises of improvement R.G. Kar Hospital got after the major tragedy in August 2024, in which a PGT was raped and murdered, very little had happened. “After the lift mishap on Friday, another uncalled for death took place today,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting on the West Asia conflict, with senior commanders from the Army, Navy, and Air Force among those present, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepared to address the Rajya Sabha on the crisis and its impact on India’s energy security later in the day.

The war, triggered by the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, in joint United States-Israeli strikes on February 28, has disrupted trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz, rattled global energy markets, and claimed the lives of some Indian nationals in the affected region.

Singh had earlier indicated India’s position while speaking in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, on March 21. He said India had taken a clear stand that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, calling the ongoing attacks in West Asia a matter of concern not just for India but for the entire world.

PM Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday, describing the situation as “worrisome” and warning of “unprecedented challenges” – economic, national security-related, and humanitarian.

“This conflict has been going on for more than three weeks. It has a severe impact on the global economy and the lives of the people, and that is why the world is urging all sides for an early resolution,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that a large part of India’s crude oil and gas requirements are met by the war-affected region, and that West Asia also serves as a critical transit route for India’s trade with other parts of the world. Opposition parties were less impressed, calling Monday’s address a “master class in self-boasts and partisan dialogue-baazi.”

In an effort to give its manifesto release (Sankalpa Patra) a major election push, the BJP is planning to turn the event into a high-impact political programme, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to unveil the document in Kolkata.

Although there is no official confirmation on the event, party sources indicate that preparations are underway to generate interest around what is being described as a “high-profile” event.

“We have organised ‘Parivartan Yatra’, which was a major success. Then there was the massive Brigade rally. These two pre-election campaigns have made a significant impact on the people’s minds. The third will be the release of Sankalpa Patra. We will make it a major political show,” a senior BJP leader said.

Interestingly enough, according to preliminary plans, Amit Shah is likely to visit the state on 27 and 28 March.

The BJP is making arrangements so that the manifesto launch can be done for 28 March in the presence of the party’s state leadership.

The BJP appears keen to capitalise on Shah’s influence to amplify its electoral messaging.

The BJP leadership is of the opinion that in the last rally at Raidighi, Shah has made several promises, including implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission for state government employees within 45 days of coming to power, filling all vacant government posts within six months, reinstating abolished posts, and offering a five-year relaxation in the upper age limit for government job applicants.

“These promises will figure in the Sankalpa Patra. If Shah himself releases it then nothing can be better than that,” a senior party functionary said.

In addition, the manifesto is likely to address welfare schemes such as Lakshmir Bhandar (referred to by BJP as ‘Annapurna Bhandar’) and youth-focused initiatives like Yuva Sathi.

The party is also expected to outline plans for economic growth, infrastructure development, investment, job creation, and greater utilisation of central government support.

There is a possibility that the Sankalpa Patra might have some social security that has not been implemented in Bengal.

Over the past few months, the BJP has attempted to make manifesto-building a participatory exercise. Suggestion boxes were set up across districts, and party leaders ~ including MPs, MLAs, and ministers ~ reached out to various sections of society to gather inputs.

These public consultations are expected to be reflected in the final document.

While the programme remains unofficial for now, BJP’s efforts indicate that the manifesto launch could become a key moment in shaping the electoral narrative in West Bengal.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed more than 50,000 instances of unauthorised political publicity that had caused defacement of public and private properties across East and West Burdwan, as part of its extensive drive.

In East Burdwan, the ECI removed 16,101 defacements from public property, along with 381 from private properties following complaints from respective homeowners. The figures for West Burdwan stand at 31,452 and 3,352 respectively. In West Burdwan, the number of removals from public property was the second highest in the state, after 31,789 in North 24-Parganas. Kalimpong recorded the lowest number of such complaints at 593.

Across Bengal, defacements from 311,829 public properties and 19,901 private properties had been removed till Monday, the state’s Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Arindam Niyogi, stated in an official release.

Yesterday, two ECI officials, Bittu Gupta and Suryakanta Pal, were allegedly assaulted by local Trinamul Congress supporters in Durgapur. The officials had received a complaint that the party had painted the wall of a sub-post office at Karangapara near Durgapur railway station. Police later arrested local TMC leader Somnath Das and two aides in connection with the incident.

The ECI has also seized 67 unlicensed firearms, 96 cartridges, and 337 bombs across the state since the election was announced. The commission estimates a total of 52,814 licensed firearms in Bengal, of which 29,775 have already been deposited with the authorities by their owners, officials said today.

Trinamul Congress is going all out to defeat BJP in Bhawanipore Assembly seat where party’s chairperson Mamata Banerjee is fighting against the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

Adhikari had defeated Miss Banerjee in Nandigram by 1900-odd votes in the 2021 Assembly election.

Miss Banerjee and party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met the party’s rank and file on Sunday evening.

Abhishek Banerjee has given a target of 60,000 votes in favour of Miss Banerjee.

Both Miss Banerjee and Mr Banerjee had addressed the party’s leaders and workers. It was learnt that Mr Banerjee had told the gathering that there is no scope for complacency and overconfidence. Both the leaders and workers will have to work hard for the next one month to ensure the victory of Miss Banerjee by overwhelming majority, said the national general secretary.

After being defeated by Mr Adhikari in 2021, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, the sitting MLA from Bhawanipore resigned allowing Miss Banerjee to contest in the by-election. Miss Banerjee defeated Priyanka Tibriwal by over 50,000 votes in the by-election. Later, she took the oath and became the Chief Minister.

It was decided in Sunday’s meeting that party leaders and workers will go to every household in Bhawanipore and tell people about the projects that have been taken by the state government in the past 15 years. At the same time they will inform people about the financial deprivation the state government faced under the BJP rule.

There are pockets in Bhawanipore where the Trinamul Congress trailed the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Ashim Basu, Trinamul Congress councillor of Ward 70 is very effective. In the past five years he had played a major role in combating waterlogging, which was a formidable problem in some pockets like the areas surrounding Northern Park, Heysham Road, Justice Dwarkanath Mitra Road among others. However, despite his best efforts, a section of the residents of high-rise buildings in Ward 70, who belong to the Gujarati community have distanced themselves from Trinamul Congress, said sources.

Similarly, in Ward 72, Sandip Bakshi has improved the street light arrangements in vast areas in his ward. The waterlogging in Ramesh Mitra Road, Shyamananda Road, Beltala Road, Bakulbagan Row is a matter of the past, but there are pockets in his ward where Trinamul Congress has failed to make any dent.

Bhawanipur constituency was a part of Chowringhee Assembly seat and it was said that even a lamp post from Congress’ ticket could win an Assembly election in the constituency. In 2011, Bhawanipur constituency was set up after delimitation. Subrata Bakshi , state president of Trinamul Congress had won by 87,000 votes.

Trinamul Congress has put up posters Boycott BJP across Bhawanipore. Ashim Basu alleged that the BJP supporters had torn off some posters. A complaint was lodged with Bhawanipore police station on Sunday evening.

Trinamul Congress workers are conducting small rallies and it will be intensified from this weekend. Asked where deletion of around 48,000 voters would affect the poll prospect of Miss Banerjee, a veteran party leader said “This will not affect the poll prospect as it would be wrong to believe that all those whose names had been deleted were voters of Trinamul Congress. Every political party would be affected by the deletion,” he said.

There are pockets in Bhawanipore where people vote for Trinamul en block and the BJP will not be able to make any dent in these areas like Peyarabagan slum.

The party leaders and workers are confident about Miss Banerjee’s victory.

Ending days of speculation, the Indian Secular Front (ISF) on Monday announced its first list of 23 candidates for the Assembly elections, springing several surprises and setting the stage for high-voltage contests in South 24-Parganas.

The party has fielded Arabul Islam from Canning East, while its lone MLA Naushad Siddiqui will once again contest from Bhangar. Soon after his candidature was confirmed, Siddiqui sharpened his attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, throwing an open challenge.

In another significant development, Mofidul Haque Sahaji, a North 24-Parganas Zilla Parishad functionary, who recently defected from the Trinamul Congress, has been nominated from Deganga. His inclusion underlines ISF’s attempt to expand its organisational base by inducting leaders from rival camps. The announcement comes amid a reshuffle in the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) ranks.

The party had earlier shifted its influential leader Saokat Molla from Canning East to Bhangar, while fielding Baharul Islam from Canning East. The move had triggered resentment among a section of Molla’s supporters, many of whom protested against what they described as the imposition of an “outsider” candidate. Despite the discontent, TMC has now recalibrated its strategy, bringing Molla back into prominence in Bhangar, thereby setting up a direct and potentially volatile contest with Siddiqui.

Political observers believe the constituency is headed for a fierce showdown, given the long-standing rivalry between the two camps. Over the past five years, clashes between supporters of Siddiqui and Molla have frequently made headlines, often turning violent and keeping the political atmosphere in the region charged. With Arabul Islam also entering the fray from Canning East after quitting TMC, the equations have become more complex. Analysts say that while Bhawanipore may remain the symbolic epicentre of the elections, Bhangar is likely to emerge as a key battleground where prestige, local dominance and organisational strength will all be tested.

With multiple power centres and shifting loyalties, both Bhangar and Canning East are poised for closely watched contests in the coming polls.

AIMIM seals Bengal tie-up with JUP for Bengal polls

A new political alignment has emerged in the run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections, with Asaduddin Owaisi announcing that his party, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), will contest in alliance with the Janata Unnayan Party.

Speaking on Sunday night, Owaisi said a joint Press conference will be held in Kolkata on Wednesday alongside Humayun Kabir, signalling the formalisation of the alliance. However, seat-sharing arrangements between the two parties are yet to be finalised, keeping political circles abuzz with speculation. Kabir, who floated the Janata Unnayan Party in December last year, has already indicated an ambitious electoral plan. His party has announced its intention to field candidates in 182 of the 294 Assembly seats. It has also declared that it will contest from Bhabanipur, directly challenging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Kabir himself is set to contest from Rejinagar and Naoda constituencies in Murshidabad district. He had earlier won from Bharatpur as a Trinamul Congress candidate.

The Trinamul Congress released its election manifesto a few days back with a ten-point promise if the party came back to power for the consecutive fourth term.

A party which has been fighting for the glory of Bengali language, TMC has promised ‘Banglar Gaurab Gatha’ curriculum in all government and government-aided schools to ensure the children of Bengal learn about their state’s glorious history.

The move is significant after a spate of incidents which took place in many of the states where migrant workers from Bengal were targeted reportedly for their language.

Trinamul Congress spokesperson Riju Dutta, clarifies: “TMC is a Bengal centric party. With the present political scenario in India and also in Bengal, the primary opposition party, BJP, is trying to attack the ethos of Bengal. They are calling our mother tongue ‘Bangladeshi’ language. They are labelling us as ‘Bangladeshis’. In this respect, it is paramount to safeguard our culture, history, icons and our language.

Another related point which the TMC has promised is making ‘Bangla’ language AI-ready. The manifesto mentions: “Make Bangla the most AI-ready Indian Language by setting up a dedicated fund to aid building AI tools and applications in Bangla, cross-lingual language models for high-accuracy translations and comprehensive Bangla digital archives, data-sets and open-source language resources.”

Dutta gives out the idea behind the move. “Bengali is one of the prime languages of the country. In Bengal, a lot of people write their competitive exams in Bengali. But all the AI tools available on the market and used by students are in English. So, we are focusing on Bengali. Just think of this, somebody from rural Bengal can use ChatGPT, if it is in Bengali. The same applies for photo editing apps like Canva. These will be very useful for people who use social media in Bengali,” he said.

The Trinamul Congress has also mentioned about attracting investors and making the state investment-friendly. The manifesto mentions a Special Purpose Vehicle (‘Banglar Shilpo’ Accelerator) to be established to ensure seamless conversion of MoUs into tangible infrastructure. In accordance with this, the state will also be setting up a High-Performance Delivery Unit in coordination with the CMO for the completion of all major initiatives of the government.

Another significant promise by the party is introducing a 24×7 mental health crisis helpline called ‘Moner Sathi’ that will ensure stigma-free mental health support.

The TMC spokesperson said the chief minister, who is also the health minister, recognises the need for a dignified treatment for mental health patients. “Nowadays, mental health issues are recognised worldwide as an illness. But, in India, it is still considered a taboo. Mamata Banerjee recognises this and is focusing on the treatment. Hubs will be created where mental health treatment will be given utmost importance. This is a landmark decision and other states should also follow this,” said Dutta.

The manifesto also mentions ‘Mission Mahanagar’, which is about holistic redevelopment of 25 major towns as state-of-the-art model cities. Riju Dutta said: “There is a difference between Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi. Miss Banerjee’s commitment is her credibility, whereas Mr Modi’s commitments are nothing but fake stories. In 2014, after coming to power, the PM had said he will develop 100 smart cities. But that never materialised. ‘Mission Mahanagar’ is a holistic approach, where the govt will handpick 25 towns and develop them, not only infrastructure-wise, but also with civic amenities. If a town has any special cultural trait, it will be developed too, leading to its culture and heritage also getting a fillip.”

Patagram in Pingla, West Midnapore is a prime example, where every year in December, tourists from all over the world, elaborated Dutta.

The state will also be setting up dedicated kidney banks across Bengal for the ease of access of patients and donors. This will especially help patients, who do not have family members or whose types do not match with members of their immediate family, said Dutta.

Leader of the CPI in Rajya Sabha Sandosh Kumar P. on Monday wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, raising serious concerns over an alleged breach of institutional neutrality by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In his letter, Kumar flagged an official communication dated March 19, 2019, which reportedly carried the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) despite being an Election Commission document. He termed the incident a “serious violation” that undermines the credibility and impartiality of the poll body.

The CPI leader also questioned the explanation provided by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kerala, who reportedly acknowledged that the document was circulated by their office and called the presence of the BJP seal a “clerical mistake.”

Kumar argued that such an explanation is not only untenable but reflects a disturbing degree of callousness and institutional indifference on the part of an authority entrusted with upholding the sanctity of elections and democratic participation. He said that this is not a routine administrative lapse; it constitutes a serious breach that undermines the credibility, neutrality, and constitutional integrity of the Election Commission of India, and erodes public confidence in the electoral process.

Outdated guidelines circulated

In addition to the seal controversy, Kumar highlighted another issue involving the circulation of outdated FAQs related to the disclosure of candidates’ criminal antecedents by the Kerala CEO’s office.

He pointed out that the Election Commission had already issued updated guidelines in January 2022 and March 2024, in line with a Supreme Court judgment delivered on August 10, 2021.

Calling the lapse “inexplicable,” Kumar questioned whether the use of outdated material was due to negligence or a deliberate attempt to mislead stakeholders, including political parties in the state.

Demand for inquiry and accountability

Kumar has urged the Election Commission to order a time-bound and independent inquiry into both matters, the use of a political party’s seal on an official document and the circulation of outdated guidelines. He also called for fixing accountability, initiating disciplinary action against those responsible, and making the findings public to restore trust.

Emphasising the importance of institutional integrity, Kumar said any compromise in the functioning of the Election Commission could erode public confidence in democratic processes and must be addressed with urgency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he had evidence Russia was providing Iran with intelligence support during the war, warning that Moscow was effectively helping Tehran strike more accurately and prolonging the conflict.

The accusation adds a significant new dimension to the West Asia war, one that connects the battlefields of Ukraine and Iran into a single strategic picture.

“There is growing evidence that the Russians continue to provide the Iranian regime with intelligence support. This is clearly a destructive activity, and it must be stopped, as it only leads to further destabilisation,” Zelenskyy said.

“By helping the Iranian regime stay afloat and strike more accurately, Russia is effectively prolonging the war. There must be a response.”

He also flagged the economic consequences, noting that markets were already reacting negatively and that the situation was “significantly complicating the fuel situation in many countries”.

There is growing evidence that the Russians continue to provide the Iranian regime with intelligence support. This is clearly destructive activity, and it must be stopped, as it only leads to further destabilization. All decent states are interested in guaranteeing security and… pic.twitter.com/tg1WwPnb6n

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 23, 2026

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two ministers discussed what it described as “the deterioration in the Persian Gulf caused by US-Israeli aggression” and voiced concern over the conflict’s “dangerous expansion into the Caspian region.”

Lavrov voiced particular concerns about US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, specifically mentioning the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

Moscow said Lavrov stressed the “categorical unacceptability” of those strikes, warning they created unacceptable risks for Russian personnel at the facility and could lead to “catastrophic environmental consequences for all countries of the region without exception.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with Trump and that the two leaders would pursue the war’s objectives through an agreement that safeguarded their “vital interests.” Netanyahu vowed to continue strikes on both Iran and Lebanon.

Former Punjab minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Laljit Singh Bhullar was arrested on Monday in connection with the suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a District Manager at Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC) in Amritsar.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Bhullar has been taken into custody and will be produced before a local court on Tuesday. He is currently being held at the CIA staff facility in Amritsar.

Police officials confirmed that charges of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation are set to be invoked against the former minister.

The arrest follows the registration of an FIR last week, in which Bhullar was named as an accused in the case. Bhullar’s father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his personal assistant, Dilbagh Singh, have also been booked in the case.

The case has triggered widespread political controversy after allegations emerged that Randhawa was subjected to sustained harassment by Bhullar, allegedly pushing him to take the extreme step.

Amid mounting pressure, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagant Mann had earlier accepted Bhullar’s resignation from the Cabinet. Reiterating his government’s stance, Mann said the government follows a “zero tolerance” policy towards corruption and assured that the law would take its course without bias.

Action after HM Shah’s assertion: State BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that the arrest came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered that the case could be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if there is a formal request from Members of Parliament.

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar alleged that the state government is reluctant to transfer the probe to the CBI, claiming that such a move could expose wider links involving AAP leaders.

He said, “The state government does not want the case to go to the CBI because, if that happens, several layers involving AAP leaders, including those from Delhi, would be exposed, and it would reveal where the money collected by Ministers like Bhullar was being sent”.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.

US President Donald Trump spoke with Pakistan Army Chief General Asif Munir on Sunday over the Iran conflict, the White House confirmed, even as diplomatic activity picks up behind the scenes.

The development was reported by the UK-based daily Financial Times on Monday.

A US official, meanwhile, acknowledged the call but declined to share details, calling the discussions “sensitive”.

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier, reported IANS on Tuesday.

Also Read: Egypt called the IRGC, Oman called the shippers – here’s how Trump’s Iran pause happened

Pakistan signals mediation role

People familiar with the matter said Pakistan has also positioned itself as a possible venue for talks involving US and Iranian officials, as efforts to de-escalate tensions continue.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing solidarity and stressing the need for dialogue.

Sharif said both sides agreed on the “urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy”, while reaffirming Pakistan’s willingness to play a constructive role.

Signals of a pause, but no talks yet

The outreach comes as Trump indicated a temporary pause in escalation, saying he would delay a potential strike on Iran’s power infrastructure after “productive” conversations.

However, it remains unclear whether Pakistan’s backchannel efforts played any role in that decision.

Iran has denied direct negotiations with the US, though it has acknowledged receiving messages through intermediaries.

“Over the past few days, messages were received via certain friendly states conveying the US request for negotiations to end the war,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told IRNA.

Early-stage diplomacy

For now, analysts say the diplomatic push is still in its early stages.

Officials quoted by international media have described it as preliminary outreach rather than formal negotiations, suggesting that any breakthrough, if at all, may still be some distance away.

A case has been registered against All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) functionaries, including District Student Wing Secretary Kasimayan, for allegedly involving minors in election campaigning near Thirumangalam in Madurai, officials said on Tuesday.
The Checkanurani police have taken action in connection with the incident.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The current tenure of the 234-member state assembly ends on May 10.
In view of the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) following the announcement of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, flying squad teams have intensified vehicle checking. Officials from the district administration and election department conducted inspections at key junctions and highways.

Earlier, the election officials seizing Rs 2 lakh in unaccounted cash in Madurai during vehicle inspection on March 16.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalised its seat-sharing arrangement in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming 234-member legislative assembly elections.

Under the agreement, the alliance led by the AIADMK will contest 178 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been allotted 27 seats, followed by the Pattali Makkal Katchi with 18 seats, and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam with 11 seats.

The announcement was made by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami during a joint press conference at the party’s headquarters in Chennai. The event was attended by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, and AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran.

Meanwhile, AC Shanmugam, founder of the Puthiya Needhi Katchi, stated that he has informed Piyush Goyal of his party’s willingness to contest nine constituencies under the BJP’s lotus symbol. He also referenced his past electoral performances in Vellore, noting that he secured 3.25 lakh votes in 2014 under the BJP symbol and 4.70 lakh votes when contesting with AIADMK support.

In this four-cornered contest, the competition is between Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) that includes Congress, Vijayakanth’s DMDK, among others, and the NDA, led by AIADMK, including BJP and Anbumani Ramadoss-led Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). NTK is also a crucial player, with the regional party contesting on all 234 assembly constituencies alone.

In Bangladesh, Retired Lieutenant General Masududdin Chowdhury, who emerged as an important figure in the military-controlled government of 2007-2008, was arrested by the police in a late-night operation after being detained by detectives.

According to the detective branch of police, various media outlets report that there are five cases against him, which lead to his arrest.
After retiring, Masududdin Chowdhury became a member of the Bangladesh Parliament; prior to that, he served as an ambassador.

Police said Chowdhury was detained from a house in the Baridhara DOHS area.
In 2007-2008, when the military-controlled government took power, Masududdin Chowdhury was the GOC of the most important 9th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army. After the formation of this military-controlled government, he held a significant role in a committee that, in the name of anti-corruption, detained various major businessmen. At that time, he held a substantial amount of power.

At that time, the government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed, which was known as the army-backed caretaker government, was closely supported by the army chief, General Moeen Uddin Ahmed. Reports suggest that Masududdin Chowdhury was instrumental in this, as he oversaw the arrest and detention of major politicians in Bangladesh, including former Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. He also arrested many businessmen and is widely credited with playing a key role in imposing the state of emergency in Bangladesh at that time.
As per BDNews 24, Masud had served in the Rakkhi Bahini when the force was formed in 1975–which was later absorbed into the army.

Masududdin Chowdhury was later appointed as the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Australia, and after returning from there, he joined the Jatiya Party of former military ruler General Ershad and was elected as a member of parliament from the Jatiya Party.