News Dabba for 03 March 2026: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from Israel's attack on [residential office in Tehran, Sonia Gandhi slamming Centre's stand on Khamenei death, to Iran targeting Australian air base near Dubai.

Sonia Gandhi slams Centre's stand on Khamenei death, NDTV reports

Questioning the government's silence on the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has said silence, in this case, is not "neutral", but an "abdication", NDTV reports. In a column for The Indian Express, the former UPA chairperson has written that Delhi's ties with Tehran are "civilisational as well as strategic" and reminded the Narendra Modi government of the several occasions Iran came to India's aid. The Centre has not issued a statement on Khamenei's death, but has called for restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East region, the report adds. Read the full report here.

Iran targets Australian air base near Dubai; UAE warns of response: Indian Express

The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed it intercepted a “third wave” of Iranian missiles targeting civilian and military sites, underscoring the widening arc of risk, Indian Express reports. The UAE has since has shuttered its embassy in Tehran and withdrawn diplomatic staff, calling the strikes a “dangerous escalation”. The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also advised American citizens to leave 13 Middle East countries immediately, the report adds. Iranian drones attacked an air base near Dubai used by Australia, Australia’s Defence Minister confirmed. Read the full report here.

India, Europe feel fuel crunch as Gulf gas supplies disrupted amid war, Al Jazeera

Indian companies have reduced natural gas supplies to industries in anticipation of tighter supply from the Middle East after ⁠top global producer Qatar halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, Al Jazeera reports, as European gas prices have jumped further by more than 30 percent since the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Reports say that top gas importer Petronet LNG Ltd had informed GAIL (India), the state-owned top gas marketing company, and other companies about lower supplies. Cuts ranged from 10 percent to 30 percent, the report says. Read the full report here.

Hindustan Times: Odisha govt sanctions Rs 4.65 cr compensation for clash-hit people in Malkangiri

The Odisha government has sanctioned over ₹4.65 crore as compensation for violence-affected families in Malkangiri district. Hindustan Times reports that Rs 20 lakh of the total compensation will be provided to the next of kin of a woman who was killed in the clash between tribals and Bengali settlers in the district in December last year. A 51-year-old woman belonging to the Koya community was killed, and nearly 200 houses and shops were torched in the clash. Read the full report here.

Israel attacks presidential office in Tehran, BBC reports

Israel said it has carried out new attacks on Iran's "leadership compound" in Tehran, including the presidential office, BBC reports. One reporter inside Iran said "every part" of Tehran has been hit since Saturday, while new pictures show explosions in the east of the city. The number of people killed since US-Israeli attacks began has reached 787, the Red Crescent said. Elsewhere, Israel said ground troops will "advance and seize additional strategic areas in Lebanon" in order to stop attacks on Israel, the report says. Read the full report here.