Indonesia has signed an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system, a defence ministry spokesperson said on Monday. The deal is part of Jakarta’s effort to modernise its military hardware, especially in the maritime sector. Spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait said the agreement aims to improve Indonesia’s defence capabilities. “It is part of the modernisation of military hardware and defence capabilities, especially in the maritime sector,” he said. He did not confirm the value of the deal. Earlier discussions suggested it could be worth between $200 million and $350 million. BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia. India previously exported the system to the Philippines in 2022. (PC: X)

Indian medical students stranded in Iran have sent urgent distress calls as the conflict in West Asia intensifies. The All India Medical Students Association said it received more than 18 appeals, particularly from Isfahan, where dozens of students were shifted to underground basements after nearby attacks. Students in Qom, Kerman and Shiraz also reported explosions and shortages of food supplies. Parents of stranded students protested in India, urging the government to bring them home safely. The crisis comes as the war involving Iran, Israel and the US enters its tenth day, with fresh strikes and missile attacks reported across the region. (PC: AP)

2 people were killed after a missile hit a residential area in Al-Kharj city in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Saudi Civil Defense said the victims were foreign nationals, one Indian and one Bangladeshi. Twelve others, all Bangladeshi residents, were injured in the attack. The projectile struck a residential compound used by a maintenance and cleaning company. Authorities have not released the names of the victims. Following the incident, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh advised Indian citizens to stay alert and follow local safety guidelines. Officials said embassy and consulate services are functioning normally. Flights between Saudi Arabia and India are also operating regularly.

India is speeding up the development of long-range strike drones after Iran used Shahed drones in its war with Israel. Military planners say the conflict showed how low-cost drones can attack targets and overwhelm air defences. India is now testing two projects, the Sheshnaag drone and Project KAL. Recent trials included launching drones from highways. The Sheshnaag-150 drone has a range of over 1,000 km and can stay in the air for more than five hours. It can also identify and strike targets with little human control. Defence officials say these drones will strengthen India’s modern warfare capabilities and improve surveillance and precision attack operations.

An Indian-origin man in the United States may face deportation after a video showed him dancing at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. The man, identified online as Madhu Raju, posted the video on TikTok. The clip quickly went viral and drew strong criticism. Many users said dancing at a war memorial was disrespectful. Some also tagged his alleged employer, a cybersecurity firm, on social media. Soon after the backlash, Raju deleted his social media accounts and a dance studio page linked to him. US authorities are now reviewing whether the act violated rules at the memorial and if it could affect his visa status.

Air India will operate 78 additional international flights on nine routes from March 10 to March 18 as travel demand rises during the Iran-Israel war. The airline said the extra services aim to provide more reliable travel options while airspace disruptions continue in West Asia. The flights will run on routes linking Delhi and Mumbai with cities including New York, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Malé and Colombo. In total, 17,660 extra seats will be added across both directions. “The additional flights on the European routes will operate with B787-8 aircraft,” Air India said in a statement. Flights to Malé and Colombo will use A320neo aircraft, while New York services will operate with B777-300ER, subject to regulatory approvals. (PC: The Indian Express)

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington had earlier asked India to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil and New Delhi complied.   “The Indians had been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did,” Bessent told Fox Business.   He said the U.S. has now allowed India to buy Russian oil already at sea to ease supply pressure during the West Asia conflict.   “Yesterday, the Treasury agreed to let our allies in India start buying Russian oil that was already on the water,” he said.   The U.S. has issued a temporary 30-day waiver for such purchases. (PC: The Hindu)

Iran has claimed responsibility for a missile strike targeting Israel’s largest oil refinery in Haifa Bay, operated by the Bazan Group. According to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the facility was hit using Kheibar Shekan solid-fuel ballistic missiles as retaliation for recent U.S.–Israeli attacks on Iranian oil depots near Tehran. The refinery, a key energy hub supplying roughly half of Israel’s domestic fuel demand, has strategic economic and defence importance. The site was also struck during earlier hostilities in 2025. Videos of the alleged strike circulated on social media but remain unverified. Iranian officials said the attack signals a strong response to continued strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure amid the escalating confrontation with Israel.

Amid escalating tensions linked to the Israel–US–Iran conflict, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has issued an advisory urging Indian nationals in the United Arab Emirates to strictly follow local laws on filming sensitive locations. Authorities warned that photographing or recording inside airports, government installations, security checkpoints, or other prohibited zones could lead to arrest, heavy fines, deportation, or imprisonment. The advisory echoes warnings from UAE authorities that sharing images of missile debris, defense operations, or incident sites may cause public panic and reveal intelligence to hostile actors. With emergency protocols active and air defenses on alert, residents are urged to seek shelter during incidents and rely only on official government updates.

An Indian-origin man, Madhu Raju, may face deportation from the United States after a video showing him dancing at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. went viral online. The clip sparked criticism from social media users and veterans’ groups who called the act disrespectful to a site dedicated to the 16 million Americans who served in World War II. The controversy has drawn the attention of US authorities, who are reviewing whether the incident could affect Raju’s non-immigrant visa status. Following the backlash, he reportedly deleted several social media accounts while the matter remains under administrative review.