Top news of the day: March 18, 2026

Iran-Israel war LIVE updates: Israel claims Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib killed

Israel’s Defence Minister said on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) that the Israeli military killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib. Israel Katz announced Khatib’s killing and said that “significant surprises are expected throughout this day on all the fronts,” without elaborating.

Assembly elections 2026 LIVE: Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi joins BJP

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed a total of 1,111 observers for the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, as well as the bye-elections in six States, with West Bengal receiving the maximum number.

Early indications show Israel tank fire hit U.N. Lebanon base, Ghanaian peacekeepers wounded

Initial findings by an internal U.N. ​inquiry suggest Israeli tank fire hit a U.N. position in southern Lebanon on March 6, wounding Ghanaian peacekeepers, according to ‌a Western military source, underscoring the growing risks as Israeli operations expand.

Eight killed in Indore house fire after EV charging point blast; probe ordered

Eight members of a family were killed when a fire broke out in a three-storey house after an explosion at an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging point outside the building in Indore early on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), officials said.

Parliament Budget Session LIVE: Lok Sabha takes up discussion on Agriculture and Family Welfare demands for grants

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) lauded the contribution of 59 members retiring from the Rajya Sabha between April and July, calling Parliament “an open university” and urging outgoing legislators to remain active in national life. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh also addressed the House and bid farewell to the retiring members. 

Government mandates airlines to reserve 60% of seats free of charge

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has directed all airlines to ensure that at least 60% of seats on every flight are allocated free of charge. The move is aimed at ensuring “fair access”, the Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday (March 18, 2026).

At least 9 dead in fire at multi-storey building in Delhi’s Palam

At least nine people, including three children, were killed and three others were injured in a fire that erupted in a residential building in Sadh Nagar, Palam Colony, said the Delhi Police on Wednesday morning (March 18, 2026).

Kerala Assembly polls: LDF ally RJD announces candidates; Bhaskaran, P.K. Praveen, and Anil Kumar to contest

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has decided to field M.K. Bhaskaran from Vadakara in Kozhikode, P.K. Praveen from Koothuparamba in Kannur, and P.K. Anil Kumar from Kalpetta in Wayanad as Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidates in the Kerala Assembly elections 2026.

Larijani’s killing won’t destabilise Iran, says Foreign Minister Araghchi; IRGC vows ‘revenge’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the assassination of Ali Larijani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council, by Israel will not destabilise Iran’s political system, even as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed “definite revenge”.

Pradyut Bordoloi joins BJP after quitting Congress ahead of Assam polls

After resigning from the Congress party ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, MP Pradyut Bordoloi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia in New Delhi on Wednesday (March 18, 2026).

Parliament to sit on March 28-29 weekend

Parliament will sit over the next weekend in lieu of holidays on Thursday and Friday (March 19 and 2). The Chair informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) that the House will not sit on Thursday and Friday.

Gujarat Assembly complex gets bomb threat during ongoing budget session; search on

The Gujarat Assembly complex received a bomb threat via email on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) morning, just minutes before the House proceedings were scheduled to begin during the ongoing budget session, officials said.

Iran says nuclear doctrine unlikely to change, Hormuz Strait needs new protocol

Iran’s stance against the development of nuclear weapons will not significantly change, Iran’s Foreign ​Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al Jazeera in remarks relayed by Iranian media on ‌Wednesday (March 18, 2026), cautioning that the new supreme leader is yet to publicly ​express his view on the matter.

Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse case: SIT files charge-sheet against 39 for circulating explicit content

The Special Investigation Team, probing into the circulation of explicit video clips and photographs related to multiple instances of sexual abuse allegedly committed by former MP Prajwal Revanna, has filed a charge sheet in a Hassan court against 39 people. Many of the accused are said to be people associated with political parties.

ECI reshuffles 13 IAS officers in West Bengal, appoints DM-cum-DEOs ahead of Assembly polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) ordered a reshuffle of 13 IAS officers in poll-bound West Bengal, appointing several district magistrates (DMs), who have also been designated as District Election Officers (DEOs) and entrusted with key responsibilities as poll observers.

Indian vessel ‘Jag Laadki’ carrying over 80,000 metric tonnes of crude oil reaches Gujarat’s Mundra Port

The Indian-flagged tanker ‘Jag Laadki’, carrying around 80,886 metric tonnes (MT) of crude oil, arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) amid the West Asia conflict, officials said.

Published – March 18, 2026 05:55 pm IST