Russia is ready to divert about 9.5 million barrels of crude oil to India to offset Middle East supply disruptions, an industry source told Reuters. The cargoes, currently in vessels near Indian waters, could arrive within weeks and help refiners manage shortages. India remains vulnerable, with crude stocks covering roughly 25 days of demand and limited inventories of refined fuels. Nearly 40% of its crude imports transit the Strait of Hormuz, now near-inaccessible after Iranian attacks following US-Israeli strikes. Russian oil’s share of India’s imports rose to around 30% in February. Moscow is also prepared to supply LNG as Qatar halted production. (PC: X)

Around 80 people were killed after a US submarine struck and sank an Iranian naval ship in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, according to a Reuters report. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine carried out the attack. He said the strike showed the reach of the United States military during its war with Iran. “An Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters was sunk by a torpedo,” Hegseth said earlier. US officials have not confirmed the reported death toll. The Iranian vessel sank off Sri Lanka’s coast after the strike. The incident comes as fighting between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to grow across the region. (PC: X)

Israel’s military said one of its F-35I “Adir” fighter jets shot down an Iranian Yak-130 aircraft over Tehran on March 4. If confirmed, it would be the first time an F-35 has destroyed a manned fighter jet in combat. The Israel Defense Forces said the mission took place deep inside Iranian airspace. The military said the operation showed the stealth and combat ability of the F-35I aircraft. The claim came as Israel reported a wider wave of airstrikes across Tehran and other parts of Iran. The IDF said it targeted command centres, missile launch systems and other military facilities. Israeli forces said operations against Iranian military infrastructure are continuing. (PC: Zee News)

The United States confirmed that its submarine sank an Iranian naval ship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike was carried out by an American submarine. “A US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka,” he said.   Sri Lanka earlier said the vessel was the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena. Officials said the ship went down about 40 nautical miles off Galle after sending a distress call. Around 180 crew members were on board.   The vessel had recently taken part in the International Fleet Review 2026 in India before beginning its return journey. Sri Lankan authorities rescued 32 sailors and recovered several bodies as search operations continued. (PC: India Today)

A man from Pothireddypalle village in Rajanna Sircilla district, N Rajeswara Rao, was injured during an attack linked to the Iran conflict near Abu Dhabi International Airport, his parents said. Rao, who works in the airport’s housekeeping section, told family via video call that he and several others sustained minor injuries after the strike but managed to escape. His father, Prabhakar Rao, urged the Indian government to assist in bringing his son home safely amid escalating Gulf tensions. Some passengers arriving in Hyderabad reported no travel issues despite regional unrest. (PC: AFP)

An Indian-origin startup founder said he is stranded in Dubai during the US-Iran conflict and criticised the US government’s evacuation response. Soups Ranjan, CEO and co-founder of Sardine, said he travelled to Dubai for business but has been unable to return as flights to the United States were cancelled. “After four days of adrenalin and constant fear, I feel demoralised and abandoned by our government,” he wrote on X. Ranjan said he booked several flights but all were cancelled. He urged the US government to keep flights running, arrange evacuation if needed, and set up a working emergency helpline. The US says more than 9,000 Americans have already returned from the Middle East. (PC: HT)

A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean with a torpedo, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday. Speaking about the incident, Hegseth said the Iranian vessel believed it was safe in international waters. “An Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters was sunk by a torpedo,” he said. He did not name the ship. Earlier, Sri Lankan authorities reported that an Iranian naval ship had sunk off the coast of Galle. Around 140 crew members were reported missing after the vessel went down. The announcement came as US and Israeli forces continued strikes on Iranian targets. Military tensions across the Middle East remain high. (PC: BBC)

The United States said it is gaining the upper hand in the war with Iran and expects to control Iranian airspace within a week. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and allied forces have strong military capacity and can sustain operations for as long as needed. “Our air defenses and that of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to,” he said. Hegseth added that Iran’s position is weakening as US and Israeli strikes continue on Iranian targets. He said further waves of attacks are planned as the campaign expands. The conflict has intensified across the region with rising casualties in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and among US forces. (PC: India Today)

A ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkey was intercepted by NATO air defence systems over the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the missile was tracked after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace. It was destroyed before entering Turkish territory. Officials said there were no casualties. “Turkey reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions against it,” the ministry said, while urging all sides to avoid steps that could worsen the conflict. The incident comes as the Iran war expands across the region. Turkey, a NATO member that shares a long border with Iran, had earlier called for restraint and warned against further escalation. (PC: X)

An Iranian Navy frigate, the IRIS Dena, sank off Sri Lanka’s southern coast after what local sources described as a submarine attack, leaving at least 101 sailors missing and 78 wounded as search-and-rescue operations continue. Sri Lankan authorities said a few bodies of crew were recovered from the sea and 32 critically wounded personnel were taken to hospital in Galle for treatment. The ship had issued a distress call before going down about 25–40 miles south of the island. The cause of the incident remains under investigation amid wider regional conflict. (PC: X & AP)