News Dabba for 16 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  Jaishankar hopeful over Iran talks, EC shuffling police department in poll-bound Bengal, to Trump warning Nato.

EC shuffles police department in poll-bound Bengal, Hindustan Times reports

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday transferred four senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in West Bengal, including the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) and the Kolkata Police Commissioner. Hindustan Times reports that the development comes a day after the ECI announced a two-phase poll in West Bengal to be held on April 23 and April 29. The poll panel had transferred the state’s chief secretary and home secretary late on Monday night, the report says. Read the full report here.

Indian Express: Jaishankar hopeful Iran talks will ease Hormuz route for Indian ships

As two India-bound ships have got safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in the last few days, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said there is no “blanket arrangement” with Iran for Indian-flagged ships and that “every ship movement is an individual happening”, Indian Express reports. Jaishankar has had four telephone conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since the war started on February 28. In an interview with the UK-based Financial Times daily, Jaishankar said that negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran, which allowed two Indian-flagged gas tankers to pass through the Strait on Saturday, were an example of what diplomacy could achieve. Read the full report here.

Myanmar parliament dominated by pro-military party convenes after 5 years: Al Jazeera

Myanmar’s parliament has convened for the first time since the 2021 coup after recent elections saw the pro-military party winning most of the seats as major opposition parties were barred from running. Al Jazeera reports that the opening of ⁠the new parliament on Monday followed phased elections in December and January, which the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) dominated amid low voter turnout and no viable opposition. A quarter of the available seats in the upper and lower houses – 166 seats – were reserved for the military, and the USDP won 339 of the rest. Read the full report here.

Madhya Pradesh teacher suspended for mimicking PM Modi over LPG prices, NDTV reports

A government school teacher in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district was suspended after a video of him mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi while making satirical remarks on LPG cylinder prices went viral on social media, NDTV reports as per an official. Saket Purohit, a teacher at the government primary school in Adivasi Mohalla Semarkhedi under Pohri block, was suspended with immediate effect late Friday night under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Rules. In the video, Purohit can be heard stating that increase in gas prices would make people return to eating rotis cooked on traditional stoves, which would narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. Read the full report here.

Trump warns Nato faces 'very bad' future if allies do not help secure Strait of Hormuz, BBC reports

US President Donald Trump says it would be "very bad for the future of Nato" if allies don't help secure the Strait of Hormuz, BBC reports. In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said he expected China to help unblock the strait and could delay a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if it doesn't. Aboard Air Force One, Trump also said he is speaking to "about seven" countries about "policing" the strait, adding that he "will remember" if they do not help, the report says. Read the full report here.