Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, steps down from his position and resigns as leader of the Fine Gael party, citing personal and political reasons. Varadkar, 45, made the unexpected announcement at a press conference in Dublin, stating he no longer felt he was the best person to lead Ireland. His departure triggers speculation on his successor and potential implications for the ruling coalition. Varadkar, who previously served two terms as prime minister, remains a backbench MP. His resignation comes amid recent electoral setbacks and growing discontent within Fine Gael.            

Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old student from Telangana's Malkajgiri district, has been missing since March 7 in Ohio, USA. His family received a ransom call demanding a substantial amount and threatening to sell his kidney. Arfath had left for the US in May last year to pursue a master’s degree in information technology at Cleveland University. His family seeks assistance from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging Indian authorities to inquire about his whereabouts. Concerns rise amid recent mysterious deaths of Indian students in the US. US authorities are investigating the matter.

ISIS India Head, Haris Farooqi, and an associate were arrested in Assam's Dhubri after crossing over from Bangladesh. Assam Police's Special Task Force detained them in the Dharmasala area based on a tip-off. Farooqi, also known as Harish Ajmal Farukhi, hails from Chakrata, Dehradun, and is identified as the head of ISIS operations in India. Both were later taken to the STF office in Guwahati for further interrogation. The arrests come as a significant development in counter-terrorism efforts, indicating continued vigilance against extremist activities within the country.

Renowned spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev faced a life-threatening health emergency, undergoing emergency brain surgery for multiple massive brain bleeds. Admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, Sadhguru's condition deteriorated rapidly, prompting urgent intervention on March 17. Despite enduring severe headaches for weeks, he continued his schedule until medical examination revealed the critical condition. Led by Dr. Vinit Suri, the surgery was successful, with Sadhguru showing steady progress in recovery. Isha Foundation confirms his stable health situation and ongoing recovery process.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled two-day visit to Bhutan on March 21-22 is postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions over Paro airport. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that new dates for the visit are being coordinated between the two nations. The visit, part of India's 'Neighbourhood First Policy,' aimed to strengthen ties with Bhutan. Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay recently visited India. The delay underscores the significance of bilateral relations, rooted in trust and cooperation since 1968. Formalized by the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, India-Bhutan relations remain a priority for both nations.

Users worldwide faced login issues and app crashes on Meta's popular platforms, Instagram and Facebook, along with difficulties on Messenger. The outage, reported by Downdetector.com, peaked around 8:00 PM IST, affecting over 1000 Messenger users and 800 Instagram users. Expressing frustrations on micro-blogging platform X, individuals highlighted the recurring nature of such outages, following a recent massive outage a few weeks ago. Reports indicated that a significant percentage of users encountered problems accessing both platforms, prompting concerns about the stability and reliability of Meta's services.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is experiencing a surge in inquiries following Kuwait's announcement of a three-month amnesty scheme for expatriates. The scheme allows residents to rectify residency violations or depart without penalties. As the embassy prioritizes issuing emergency certificates and passports, it maintains other consular services. Expatriates can settle fines or leave the country under the amnesty, effective from March 17 to June 17, coinciding with Ramadan. Those unable to pay fines can depart without penalties but must follow new procedures to return. Failure to comply may lead to deportation and legal penalties.

In a solemn tribute, the Netherlands paid homage to Palestinian children slain in Israel's Gaza offensive. The Olive Tree Planting Foundation adorned Utrecht's Vredenburg Square with 14,000 pairs of children's shoes, symbolizing the conflict's harrowing toll. Each pair added every 10 minutes highlighted the alarming frequency of child casualties in the region. UNICEF's recent report of escalating malnutrition among Gaza's youngest underscored the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Israel's military campaign, ongoing since October 2023, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced tens of thousands, prompting international condemnation and calls for humanitarian aid.            

In a new study, vaping is found to cause DNA changes akin to smoking, posing potential health risks. The research, published in Cancer Research, reveals epigenetic alterations in cells exposed to e-cigarette vapor, highlighting the need for further investigation into vaping's long-term effects. While not conclusive of cancer risk equivalence, the findings underscore potential health impacts. Experts urge caution, emphasizing the study's limitations and the necessity for more comprehensive data analysis to determine vaping's comparative risk profile. The study prompts a broader discussion on e-cigarette use and its potential health implications.

Legendary music composer AR Rahman and playback singer Sonu Nigam will lead the star-studded lineup at the IPL 2024 opening ceremony on March 22. The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM IST at Chennai's MA Chidambaram International Cricket Stadium, promises a fusion of cricket and entertainment. Bollywood superstars Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff will also grace the event, adding to the glamour. The ceremony precedes the inaugural match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, marking the start of another thrilling IPL season.