Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Ka.Ra.Ve), led by president T.A. Narayana Gowda, has expressed support for Tamil Nadu’s decision to replace the Devanagari script rupee symbol with the Tamil script version. The organisation commended Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for this move, highlighting it as an important step for preserving Dravidian languages. In a letter to Stalin, Ka.Ra.Ve acknowledged the Dravidian movement's significance for southern India and urged all southern states to follow Tamil Nadu's example in safeguarding regional languages. The Devanagari script rupee symbol has been used officially by the Indian government for 16 years.    

On March 16, 2025, a Pakistani military convoy traveling from Quetta to Taftan was attacked near Noshki, Balochistan. Official reports confirm seven soldiers killed and 21 injured, while the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claims 90 military personnel were killed. The assault involved a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), suspected to be a suicide attack, and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), resulting in the complete destruction of one bus. Army Aviation helicopters evacuated the injured, and drones were deployed for area surveillance. This incident follows a recent BLA hijacking of a train with nearly 440 passengers, highlighting escalating tensions in the region.

A fire broke out around 1 a.m. on March 16, 2025, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the gynaecology department at Kamla Raja Hospital in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The blaze originated from an air-conditioner, likely due to a short circuit. Hospital staff, including guards and ward boys, promptly evacuated over 190 patients, among them 13 from the ICU, by breaking windows and relocating them to a super-specialty hospital within the Gajra Raja Medical College campus. Firefighters from the Gwalior Municipal Corporation swiftly controlled the fire. No casualties were reported, and all patients are safe. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident.

A devastating fire erupted at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, early Sunday morning, claiming at least 51 lives and injuring over 100 individuals. The incident occurred around 2:35 a.m. during a hip-hop concert attended by approximately 1,500 people. Preliminary investigations suggest that pyrotechnic devices used by attendees ignited the ceiling, rapidly spreading flames throughout the venue. Videos from the scene depict chaos as patrons attempted to escape the smoke-filled club. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed the casualty figures and noted that one individual has been arrested in connection with the incident. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed profound sorrow, describing the loss of young lives as irreparable, and assured governmental support for the victims' families. The injured have been transported to hospitals in Kocani, Stip, and Skopje for treatment.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months due to technical issues with their return spacecraft. They are scheduled to return to Earth no earlier than March 19, 2025, aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon-10 mission. Prolonged exposure to microgravity poses significant health challenges for returning astronauts. They may experience "baby feet," a condition where foot calluses disappear, leading to walking difficulties upon return. Additionally, astronauts face bone density loss, with weight-bearing bones losing approximately 1% density per month in space, resulting in increased fragility. Muscle atrophy is another concern, necessitating extensive rehabilitation. Cardiovascular and neurological systems are also affected; fluid shifts in the brain can cause vision and hearing issues, while the heart may undergo structural changes, complicating blood pressure regulation. Furthermore, increased radiation exposure during extended missions elevates the risk of cancer and central nervous system disorders.

Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Eduardo Martinez Diaz and Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa arrived in New Delhi on March 16 to participate in the Raisina Dialogue 2025, India's premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics. Hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, the event is scheduled from March 17-19. The Dialogue annually gathers leaders from politics, business, media, and civil society to deliberate on global challenges and explore cooperation opportunities. Structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, it includes heads of state, cabinet ministers, and thought leaders from various sectors. Earlier, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba also arrived to attend the event.

Virat Kohli has expressed concerns over the BCCI's recent restrictions on players' family presence during tours. Following India's 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI mandated that players' immediate families can join them only after the first two weeks of tours exceeding 45 days, with a maximum stay of 14 days; for shorter tours, family presence is limited to one week. Kohli emphasized the grounding effect of having family around during intense periods, stating that it brings balance and normalcy. He prefers returning to his family over isolating in his room, highlighting that this support allows players to handle responsibilities better and maintain a sense of normal life amidst professional commitments.

The United States has announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, a move that could significantly impact India's aluminum industry, which exported approximately $820 million worth of these products to the U.S. in 2024. While India's steel exports to the U.S. are relatively minimal, the aluminum sector faces substantial risks. This decision may lead to a surplus of global steel and aluminum, potentially resulting in dumping in markets like India, thereby pressuring domestic prices and affecting local producers. Analysts warn that such protectionist measures could disrupt global trade dynamics, leading to retaliatory tariffs and increased competition from countries like China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Faisal Nadeem, alias Abu Qatal, a key Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and close associate of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pakistan's Jhelum Sindh on Saturday night. Qatal, along with two other LeT handlers, had been charge-sheeted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) for orchestrating the January 2023 Dhangri, Rajouri attacks, which resulted in seven civilian deaths, including two children. Investigations revealed that the trio facilitated the recruitment and deployment of LeT terrorists from Pakistan to target civilians, particularly minority communities, and security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir. Qatal also led proxy terror outfits like the People's Anti-Fascist Force (PAFF) and The Resistance Front (TRF) to obscure activities of other terror groups.

President Trump plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations of non-citizens linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, designated as a foreign terrorist organization. This seldom-used law grants the president authority to detain and deport individuals from nations engaged in hostilities with the U.S. However, a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the deportation of five Venezuelan nationals and questioning the act's applicability during peacetime. Civil liberties groups, including the ACLU and Democracy Forward, have filed lawsuits challenging the administration's actions, arguing that the law's use in this context is unprecedented and unlawful.