As Iran's Shahed-136 and America's LUCAS suicide drones reshape modern warfare in the Middle East, India is quietly accelerating development of its homegrown Sheshnaag-150 swarm attack drone, built by Bengaluru-based startup Newspace Research Technologies. With a range exceeding 1,000 km, five-hour endurance, and 25-40 kg warhead capacity, the drone is designed for autonomous coordinated swarm strikes overwhelming enemy defences. Its core advantage lies in proprietary AI-driven "mother-code" enabling intelligent, self-coordinating attacks even in GPS-denied environments. Post-Operation Sindoor, where Pakistan saturated Indian defences with cheap drones, urgency around Sheshnaag has intensified dramatically. India's battlefield experience across Operation Sindoor and Operation Epic Fury has firmly established that the drone warfare era has arrived. (PC: NDTV)

Indian airlines including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet are collectively operating 12 special repatriation flights from Saudi Arabia and UAE cities to bring home stranded passengers amid the escalating Middle East conflict. Air India is running wide-body relief flights to Jeddah and Dubai on Tuesday, with an additional Mumbai-Dubai service on March 4. Air India Express resumed Muscat services Tuesday, operating three special flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. IndiGo is operating four repatriation flights to Jeddah, while SpiceJet and regional carrier Star Air are flying from Fujairah. Gulf carrier Emirates also resumed Dubai-Delhi and Dubai-Mumbai services, providing critical relief to hundreds of stranded passengers. (PC: X)

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was forced to withdraw from the All England Championships in Birmingham after being stranded in Dubai amid escalating Middle East tensions. Sindhu and her team were in transit through Dubai when Gulf airspace was suspended following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Her Indonesian coach Irwansyah faced the most harrowing experience, hearing a massive explosion just 100 metres away, with thick smoke visible, forcing evacuation to another hotel. Sindhu described Dubai Airport as overwhelmingly crowded with panicked travellers. She praised airline staff and the Indian Consulate for their support. The team eventually returned safely to India, abandoning the prestigious tournament entirely. (PC: BAI)

Amazon has confirmed drone strikes damaged three of its facilities across the UAE and Bahrain amid the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict, forcing temporary operational shutdowns. No injuries were reported, but the attacks disrupted logistics and data centre operations across the Gulf region. Amazon activated contingency plans, rerouting shipments and shifting workloads to alternate facilities to maintain customer service continuity. The company did not directly attribute responsibility for the strikes. The incident exposes growing vulnerabilities of multinational commercial and tech infrastructure operating within conflict-affected zones. Amazon has significantly expanded its Gulf presence since acquiring Souq.com in 2017, making the region a critical node in its global logistics and cloud infrastructure network. (PC: X)

An Iran Air passenger aircraft has been destroyed on the ground during Israeli strikes on Bushehr Airport in southern Iran, marking a severe escalation targeting civilian infrastructure. No immediate casualty confirmation was reported. Bushehr also hosts Iran's only operational nuclear power plant, raising serious safety concerns. Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom has halted construction on the plant's second and third units, with chief Alexei Likhachev warning that explosions were heard kilometres from the facility. Of 639 Russian personnel remaining in Iran, nearly 100 workers and families were evacuated Saturday when strikes began, with evacuations continuing during ceasefire pauses. Communication with Iran's nuclear industry leadership has been completely severed. (PC: X/@GPXPress)

As the US-Israel war on Iran intensifies, President Trump declared Iran's air defence, Air Force, Navy, and leadership "gone," dismissing Tehran's willingness to negotiate with "Too Late." Trump also told Politico that Iran is rapidly depleting crucial armaments and expressed openness to engaging surviving regime members, noting new leadership candidates are "emerging." Meanwhile, US-Israeli strikes targeted the Assembly of Experts building in Qom, the body responsible for electing Iran's next Supreme Leader causing severe damage. Turkish President Erdogan urged immediate de-escalation, pledging all resources toward regional peace before "greater hostility" erupts between nations. The strikes follow Khamenei's killing on Saturday, leaving Iran's political future deeply uncertain. (PC: Times Now)

India has warned of "serious consequences" for its economy as the Middle East conflict intensifies following US-Israel strikes on Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that nearly one crore Indian citizens live and work across the Gulf region, making their safety a top priority. India's critical trade and energy supply chains pass through the region, with disruptions already impacting the economy. Several Indian nationals have lost their lives or gone missing in recent merchant shipping attacks. India strongly called for dialogue, restraint, and immediate de-escalation. Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar have engaged with regional counterparts. Indian embassies remain actively assisting stranded nationals while monitoring the rapidly evolving situation. (PC: HT)

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged a "Zionist conspiracy" behind the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, claiming it aims to reduce Pakistan into a vassal state. Asif warned that an Israeli victory could trigger a coordinated anti-Pakistan alliance involving India, Afghanistan, and Iran. He attributed decades of Islamic world conflicts to Zionist influence, claiming major global powers remain "hostage" to Zionist ideology. Asif reaffirmed Pakistan's nuclear deterrence as its primary shield and called for Muslim-nation unity. His remarks come amid escalating Middle East tensions following US-Israeli strikes killing Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei. Analysts note Asif's claims mirror Pakistan's long-standing narrative of portraying itself as perpetually encircled by enemies. (PC: India Today)

Hundreds of Indian travellers stranded across the Middle East are gradually returning home as airlines resume limited operations amid ongoing regional conflict. Air India repatriated 149 passengers and 143 crew members from Dubai on Tuesday. Passengers recounted mid-air scares, circling flights, drone interceptions, and blast sounds before emergency landings. One newlywed navigated Dubai-to-Oman by road before flying home. Financial strain hit uninsured tourists as cancellations mounted without compensation. Current NOTAMs show Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Syria remain fully or partially closed. Emirates, Etihad, Oman Air, Air India, and IndiGo are restoring select routes through designated safe corridors, with schedules subject to real-time security assessments. (PC: X)

Cristiano Ronaldo's private jet reportedly departed Saudi Arabia for Madrid at 8 PM, landing in the Spanish capital shortly before 1 AM, amid escalating West Asia tensions. The US and Israel launched "Operation Epic Fury" on February 28, targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with regional missile strikes disrupting Gulf infrastructure and halting commercial air traffic. Ronaldo, 41, has been based in Riyadh since December 2022 but is currently sidelined through injury. His luxury jet flew over Egypt and the Mediterranean before landing in Madrid, where he owns a mansion in La Finca, Pozuelo de Alarcón. (PC: X)