Top news of the day: March 13, 2026

Trump claimed in G7 call that Iran is “about to surrender,” Axios reports

U.S. President ‌Trump told G7 leaders in a ​virtual meeting ⁠on Wednesday (March 10, 2026) that Iran is “about to surrender,”Axios reported on Friday (March 13, 2026), ‌citing three officials from G7 countries briefed on ‌the contents of ‌the ⁠call. According to the report, Mr. ⁠Trump told allies that he “got rid of a cancer that was ​threatening us ‌all” while boasting about the results of Operation “Epic Fury” on the G7 call. Mr. Trump said that “nobody knows ​who is the leader, so there is no ⁠one that can announce surrender,” Axios reported.

Oil Ministry says LPG production increased 30% since March 5

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Sujata Sharma said that the LPG production has increased 30% since March 5, 2026. “LPG supply is an issue of concern for us, especially because a major chunk of imports is routed from the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, 25,000 distributors have not reported any dry-out,” Ms. Sharma said. She added, “India has 1.5 crore households being supplied with piped natural gas, with another 60 lakh households which can easily switch to piped cooking gas.”

EAM Jaishankar and Iran’s Araghchi hold 4th phone call since start of West Asian conflict

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi — their fourth such conversation since the West Asia crisis began — as New Delhi intensifies efforts to secure safe passage for 28 merchant vessels currently stationed on either side of the Strait of Hormuz. “Had another conversation with Iranian FM @araghchi yesterday night. Discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS related issues,” the External Affairs Minister said on social media. Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Araghchi had spoken on February 28, soon after the U.S. and Israel launched the attack on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They also spoke on March 5 and March 10.

Paid menstrual pain leave may cost women their careers, Supreme Court apprehends

The Supreme Court on Friday (March 13, 2026) expressed apprehensions that a law making paid leave during menstrual pain compulsory may damage the careers of young women and deprive them of equal opportunities. “The moment you introduce this as a law and make it a compulsory condition, you may not be able to assess the amount of damage you may do to their career. Nobody may give them big responsibilities. In judicial services, people may not assign trials to them,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, heading a Bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, voiced doubts. Chief Justice Kant distinguished between creating a legally enforceable statutory right and a spontaneous act or policy from employers towards their women employees.

INDIA bloc MPs submit notice seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament

The INDIA bloc MPs on Friday (March 13, 2026) submitted a notice in both Houses of Parliament seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This is the first time such a notice has been formally submitted in Parliament. In the past, the Opposition had considered similar moves against at least two former CECs, but those efforts never progressed. This is the first time such a notice has been formally submitted in Parliament. In the past, the Opposition had considered similar moves against at least two former CECs, but those efforts never progressed.

Bill to provide precise definition of ‘transgender’ introduced in Lok Sabha

A bill seeking to provide a precise definition of the term “transgender” and provide graded punishments that reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted upon such persons was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday (March 13, 2026). The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill was introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar. It notes that it is imperative to give a precise definition for proper and definitive identification and protection of transgender persons, to whom the benefits of the present law must reach.

Supreme Court steps in to save the home of gharials at Chambal

The Supreme Court on Friday (March 13, 2026) decided to step in to save the fragile lotic ecosystem of the National Chambal Sanctuary, home and breeding spot for the critically endangered gharials or fish-eating crocodiles, situated at the trijunction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, from rampant and illegal sand mining. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the constant threat caused by sand mining to the ecology and aquatic life of the eco-sensitive zone.

Sasikala announces her party’s name: All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam

V.K. Sasikala, the former interim general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), announced her party would be known as All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK) on Friday (March 13, 2026). Ms. Sasikala clarified the party had been launched by a follower of the AIADMK’s founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. She [Ms. Sasikala] had associated herself with it, which had been assigned the symbol of “coconut grove.” Her organisation would align itself with like-minded parties during the Assembly election, she told journalists in Chennai.

Cash-for-query case: Supreme Court stays Delhi HC order on sanction for CBI to try Mahua Moitra

The Supreme Court of India on Friday (March 13, 2026) stayed a part of the December 2025 order of the Delhi High Court permitting the Lokpal to consider granting sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a charge sheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Ms. Moitra, the CBI and BJP MP and complainant Nishikant Dubey on the Lokpal’s plea against the High Court order.

Four U.S. service members killed in plane crash over Iraq

Four of the six crew members ​aboard a U.S. military aircraft that ‌crashed in western Iraq are confirmed to ​have been killed, the ⁠U.S. military said on Friday (March 13, 2026), as rescue efforts continued for the remaining two. A U.S. military ‌refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident ‌the military said involved another aircraft ‌but ⁠was not the result of ⁠hostile or friendly fire. “The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was ‌not due to hostile fire ​or friendly fire,” a statement from U.S. Central Command said.

Sri Lanka hands over 45 Iranian sailors’ bodies to embassy

Sri Lanka on Friday (March 13, 2026) handed over the bodies of 45 sailors killed in an attack on an Iranian warship off the island nation’s coast to Iran’s embassy, the officials said. The Chief Magistrate, Sameera Dodangoda, gave the order on March 11 to the Director of the National Hospital at Karapitiya following a request by the Galle harbour police.

Pakistan court rejects plea to shift Imran Khan to private hospital

A High Court in Pakistan on Thursday (March 12, 2026) rejected a petition to shift jailed former premier Imran Khan to a private medical hospital and ordered the constitution of a team of doctors to medically examine him. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on March 2 filed the petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) through lawyer Latif Khosa to transfer Khan from Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for treatment of his eyes. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard the case. Khosa presented his arguments while Islamabad Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat and Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez appeared on behalf of the government.

One-fifth of Australian teens still use TikTok, SnapChat after social media ban

One-fifth of Australian teenagers ‌under 16 were still using social media two months after the ​country banned platforms from allowing minors, industry data showed, raising questions ⁠about the effectiveness of their age-gating methods. The number of 13-to-15-year-olds using TikTok and Snapchat, among the most popular social media apps with Australian teenagers, fell from before the ban took effect ‌in December to February, but still more than 20% used the apps, according to a report by parental control software maker Qustodio provided ‌to Reuters.

Published – March 13, 2026 06:10 pm IST