News Dabba for 05 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 Nitish Kumar deciding to move to the Rajya Sabha, Iran targeting Kurdish groups in Iraq, to the Nepal elections.

Day 5 of security curbs in Kashmir after protests against Khamenei's killing, NDTV reports

Security restrictions continue to remain imposed in Kashmir to prevent protests over killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, NDTV reports. Prepaid mobile phone service has been suspended after internet services were curtailed in the Valley following protests. Due to restrictions, shops and business establishments are also closed. According to senior officials, restrictions will remain enforced until Friday. The report says, from Sunday, Internet services remained curtailed as part of preventive measures to maintain law and order. Srinagar's city centre, Lal Chowk, continues to remain sealed off after thousands gathered there on Sunday to mourn the death of Khamenei. Read the full report here.

Nitish Kumar to move to Rajya Sabha, Indian Express reports

Indian Express reports that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said he would file nomination papers for the coming Rajya Sabha elections, saying it had long been his wish to serve in all four legislative bodies in the country. This clears the decks for a new Chief Minister, likely from the BJP, to take charge. Earlier in the day, as reports of Kumar possibly moving to the Upper House surfaced, groups of workers from the ruling Janata Dal (United) gathered outside the CM’s official residence at 1 Aney Marg in Patna and raised slogans opposing the move, the report says. Read the full report here.

Iran targets Kurdish groups in Iraq, begins wave of attacks on Israel, Al Jazeera

Iranian forces have launched an operation targeting Kurdish groups in their semi-autonomous region of neighbouring Iraq, Al Jazeera reports, as they also began their 19th wave of missile and drone attacks against Israel and United States assets in the Middle East on the sixth day of a regional war that has embroiled much of the region in the conflict. Iran’s Press TV reported early on Thursday that the military was targeting “anti-Iran separatist forces”, without specifying the location of the strikes. Iran’s ⁠intelligence ⁠ministry confirmed that it targeted posts ⁠of “separatist groups” who intended to enter through ⁠western borders, adding that they sustained heavy losses, the report says. Read the full report here.

Hindustan Times: Iranian ship near Sri Lanka requests for 'urgent port call' day after Iris Dena attack

An Iranian ship near Sri Lanka has requested for an “urgent port call”, said Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa on Thursday. Hindustan Times reports that this urgent request from the Iranian naval vessel comes a day after Iris Dena was sunk and torpedoed by a US submarine. The Sri Lankan MP's statement comes after Media minister Nalinda Jayatissa said a second Iranian warship was just outside Sri Lankan waters, but gave no further details. Read the full report here.

Nepal votes in first general election since Gen Z protests, BBC reports

Nepalis are voting in a consequential election that will chart the country's path after last year's youth-led anti-corruption protests toppled the government, BBC reports. The same issues that sparked last September's protests are at the centre of today's vote - corruption, unemployment, economic stagnation and inequality. The report says that the vote for parliament's 275 seats pits "old guard" parties against challengers advocating for angry, disillusioned young voters hungry for change. Leading candidates include KP Oli, the prime minister toppled in the protests and Balen Shah, the ex-rapper mayor taking him on in his constituency. Read the full report here.