FRIDAY GOOGLE OVERHAULS MAPS APP, INTRODUCES MORE AI FEATURES 13 Google Maps will depend more on AI to help people figure out the best way to get somewhere as part of a major redesign unveiled on Thursday MARCH, 2026 2Bn epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard CHINA LAW OVERHAUL DESIGNED BY HOMEGROWN AI ETHNIC UNITY RULE CREATES MURMURS China’s new law to promote what it calls ‘ethnic unity’ has offended proponents of minority rights, who see it as eroding rights of some minority groups A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  MODI SPEAKS TO IRAN PREZ NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 TWO OIL SHIPMENTS ARRIVE Reports suggest two other oil tankers headed for India switched off the tracking system, crossed the Strait between March 5 and 10 DISCUSSES SAFETY OF INDIANS, UNINTERRUPTED TRANSIT OF ENERGY Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing deep concern over rising hostilities and the growing civilian toll. He stressed the safety and security of Indian nationals in the region as well as importance of uninterrupted transit of goods and energy supplies. “Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.” This was their first conversation since the conflict began. Liberia-flagged Shenlong, carrying around 1 mn barrels of Saudi crude, arrived in Mumbai. It’s the first such carrier to reach India from West Asia ever since the war began IRAN PAKISTAN Strait of Hormuz Departure from Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia INDIA Arrival at Mumbai Apart from Shenlong docked in Mumbai, an Indianflagged very large crude carrier with around 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude arrived in Indian waters. It is headed to Paradip in Odisha LPG rationing starts, kerosene back in mix R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi AFTER denying LPG shortage over the past few days, the government on Thursday acknowledged the pressure on supplies and introduced demand-management measures for both domestic and commercial consumers. The waiting period for booking a refill has been raised to 45 days in rural and remote areas and to 25 days in urban areas. Earlier, the minimum booking interval across the country was 21 days. In another key decision, the government said OMCs would allocate 20% of the average monthly commercial LPG requirement starting Thursday. The government had earlier directed oil companies to prioritise supplies to domestic LPG consumers, prompting protests from restaurants and other businesses. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said commercial LPG is being regulated to prevent hoarding and black marketing. On natural gas availability, Puri said large LNG cargoes are arriving daily through alter native supply routes, adding that India has sufficient arrangements to maintain supply even if the conflict continues for a prolonged period. The government has also activated alternative fuel options to ease pressure on LPG and natural gas supplies. Kerosene is being made available through retail outlets and the public distribution system, while fuel oil is being supplied to industrial and commercial consumers. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has advised State Pollution Control Boards to permit the temporary use of such fuels during the crisis period. P8 & P10 Power demand may cross 9,000 MW this summer E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi DELHI is expected to witness a significant rise in electricity demand this summer, which is likely to cross 9,000 MW, officials said on Thursday Accord. ing to the State Load Dispatch Centre figures, Delhi’s power demand peaked at 8,442 MW last year. Based on current demand growth trends, Delhi’s peak power demand is likely to cross the 10,000 MW mark by around 2028–29, depending on weather conditions and demand growth, officials said. Power minister Ashish Sood said that the Delhi government is preparing the infra accordingly to the projected figure of 9,000 MW. A BSES spokesperson said that peak power demand in BRPL discom areas of south and west Delhi, which clocked 3,798 MW demand last summer, is expected to reach around 3,997 MW this summer. On the other hand, in the BYPL discom area of east and central Delhi, power demand, which peaked at 1,824 MW last summer, is expected to touch around 1,991 MW this year. Delhi’s peak power demand breached the 7,000 MW mark for the first time, reaching 7,016 MW, in 2018. The expected demand of over 9,000 MW represents an increase of over 300 per cent over the peak power demand of 2,879 MW in 2002. A Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited statement said that the discom expected a peak summer demand of 2,622 MW this season in its distribution area of north Delhi. “The company successfully met the peak power demand of 2,410 MW in 2025,” it added. Indian killed in attack by Iran against US-owned oil tanker SafeSea Vishnu in Iraqi waters 28 Indian-flagged vessels on the east and 24 on the west of the Strait. Have 778 Indian sailors aboard Some ships faking themselves as Chinese to avoid Iranian attacks India co-sponsors UNSC resolution condemning ‘egregious’ attacks by Iran against Gulf nations CLOSE ALL US BASES IN WEST ASIA OR FACE ATTACKS: MOJTABA A G E N C I E S @ Dubai Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, in his first statement released through state TV IRAN’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday issued his first statement since succeeding his father Ali Khamenei, vowing to avenge the deaths of Iranian leaders and civilians, including the 165 killed in the airstrike on a school, and threatening to step up Tehran’s attacks against US assets in the region. In his hardline message, he asked Iran’s neighbours to close US bases in their territory telling them that the promise of US protection is a myth. He also announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed and ships that try to pass without permission would be destroyed. Mojtaba’s statement, released through the state TV declared that revenge against US and Israel is , his priority “A limited amount of this revenge has . so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this will remain among our priorities,” it said. Notably he did not appear on TV or release , a video or audio message. The text of the written statement was read out by a newsreader. According to reports, Mojtaba, 56, was injured in the joint US-Israel strike on February 28 which killed his father Ali Khamenei. So far, more than 1,200 people were reportedly killed in the war. P9 P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi WITH the Trump administration invoking Section 301 of the Trade Act against major economies, including India, the government will take a wait and watch stance till the US prepares the final report, said an official source in the know. Through 301, the US is trying to offset revenue loss after its Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariffs. In India, the probe triggered uncertainty among exporters in manufacturing sectors like steel, electrical goods, textile etc. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) initiated a probe into manufacturing practices in several economies, including India, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing concerns over structural excess capacity The investigation will . Section 301 probe A Section 301 trade probe allows the office of USTR to examine and potentially punish (by imposing higher tariffs) foreign trade practices deemed unfair, discriminatory, or restrictive to US commerce assess whether such policies distort markets or restrict US commerce by driving overproduction, trade surpluses and underutilised industrial capacity across key sectors. “India is adopting a waitand-watch stance on the Section 301 investigation by the USTR. New Delhi will evaluate the report once released before deciding on any next steps,” said the government official. A Section 301 trade probe allows the office of USTR to ex- IPL-linked team signs Pak’s Abrar in Hundred @ Chennai JUST after noon on Thursday at Piccadilly Lights in London, there was a landmark moment in the world of franchise cricket. An Indian Premier League (IPL) linked team signed a Pakistan player at auction in the Hundred. Sunrisers Leeds, who also own the Hyderabad side, raised the paddle for Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed to spark a bidding war. In the end, Sun TV the Indian , media giant, ended up buying the mystery spinner for over $250,000. It’s the first Mystery spinner Tariq bought by non-IPL franchise Apart from Ahmed, the only other Pakistan cricketer to have been bought in auction was Usman Tariq. Birmingham Phoenix, who has American ownership, signed him for £140,000. There were 13 Pak players in the men’s auction after pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew. None of them attracted bids when they were made available for sale, though they could re-enter the auction again. time a side with direct links to the IPL has bought a Pakistan player in the league’s history. Three other sides in the Hundred have investors who have stakes in the IPL. It’s significant because a few weeks ■ ■ One tool called Ask Maps will expand upon conversational abilities that Google brought to the service last November Gemini has also created a new tool dubbed Immersive Navigation that will present a three-dimensional perspective designed to give users a better grasp of where they are at any moment in time I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi PARENTS of students at The Shri Ram School in Gurugram were alerted on Thursday that it may not be able to serve lunch and snacks to students from Monday due to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in the market. A screenshot of the school’s email to parents went viral on social media, highlighting the widening impact of the LPG supply The Shri Ram School crunch across several cities. In the email, the school said its caterer was struggling to procure the 19-kg LPG cylinders used in commercial kitchens and warned that the current stock would last only two more days. If fresh supplies are not arranged by Saturday the school’s lunch , and snack programme may be halted, beginConsumers crowding an LPG agency for taking ning March 16. “Namaste! This is to supplies in Delhi on Thursday | SAYANTAN GHOSH bring to your urgent atAlternate tention that our caterer has informed us that arrangements he is unable to procure the required quantity of LPG to run the school’s lunch and snacks Parents have been told to programmes because of the shortage due to prepare alternate ongoing West Asian war,” the email read. Parents were told to prepare alternate ararrangements for rangements for their children’s meals in case their children’s meals, as the the situation does not improve. “We request caterer is finding it you to keep alternate arrangements ready for difficult to procure your wards for next week unless the situation the 19-kg LPG improves,” the letter, signed by KA Girija, cylinders used Head of Administration at the school, read. Several restaurants and small eateries in commercial kitchens and said across Delhi have halted operations due to the the stock will last LPG supply, with business owners saying the two more days, situation is not only affecting their earnings the school said. but also creating anxiety among workers. P4 ... our caterer has informed us that he is unable to procure required quantity of LPG to run the school’s lunch and snacks programmes US heat on big manufacturing economies, exporters wary SUNRISERS IN FOCUS EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE ASK MAPS AND IMMERSIVE NAVIGATION Gurugram school warns parents over meals, says have two-day LPG stock 3 more cargo ships bombed in the Gulf. In all, Iran has attacked at least 16 ships in the Strait so far 1 S T S TAT E M E N T B Y N E W S U P R E M E L E A D E R We will extract compensation from the enemy, and if they refuse, we will seize as much of their assets as we deem appropriate, and if that is not possible, we will destroy an equivalent amount of their assets The overhaul driven by Google’s Gemini technology will introduce two AI features into the digital mapping service. Gemini’s recommendations will draw upon a database spanning more than 300 million places and reviews from more than 500 million contributors that have been accumulated since Google Maps’ debut PEOPLE USE GOOGLE MAP APPLICATION GLOBALLY ago, a report did the rounds saying IPL-linked teams were planning on not signing any Pakistan players. It prompted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to remind all the teams of consequences if there was discrimination based on nationality. Last year, there were no men’s players in any of the Hundred teams, exactly at a time when the ECB opened it up to Indian investment. It’s also important to keep in mind that no teams in the SA20 — all six teams are owned by investors who also have significant IPL stakes — have purchased a Pakistan cricketer in three years. Sun TV, interestingly, also own a team there (Eastern Cape). But Pakistan players have previously featured in IPL’s sister teams. Sun TV’s acquisition of Ahmed, who has a steller record in international cricket, has invited some vitriol on social media, with several Indian fans upset with it. amine and potentially punish (by imposing higher tariffs) foreign trade practices deemed unfair, discriminatory, or restrictive to US commerce. “Evidence suggests the solar module sector is plagued by excess capacity including that In, dia’s current module manufacturing is nearly triple the annual domestic demand. India also has created significant excess capacity in petrochemicals, steel, and other industries,” stated USTR. Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) sought government intervention to safeguard the interests of the textiles and apparel sector, as the USTR announcement brings more uncertainty . According to steel exporters, with many duties like antidumping duty already in place, the sector is grappling with multiple challenges. FIRST DAY, FIRST SHOW West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greets newly appointed Governor R N Ravi during his swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata on Thursday | PTI EXPRESS READ I mistook gunshots for firecrackers: Farooq CBI conducts raids in `900 cr online fraud Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah, who survived an assassination attempt, said, “I thought somebody must have burst a cracker ... But I felt heat in my neck.” The attacker has been identified as Kamal Jamwal. P8 CBI has conducted raids at 15 places in Delhi, Rajasthan, UP and Punjab in connection with an online investment fraud, pegged at `900 cr and involving overseas fintech platforms, particularly Dubai-based Pyypl. 4 new spl def entities in Vision 2047 J A V A R I A R A N A @ New Delhi THE Centre plans to create specialised new entities for data, drones and cognitive warfare while expanding missile defence capabilities to protect critical national assets, according to a long-term roadmap for the armed forces published on Thursday . The roadmap titled ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047’, was uploaded on the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff website, laying out a blueprint for the organisational and technological evolution of the military over the next two decades. It proposes the creation of four new tri-service entities — a Defence Geo-Spatial Agency, Data Force, Drone Force and Operationalisation of Sudarshan Chakra The operationalisation of Project Sudarshan Chakra, a layered air and ballistic missile defence architecture to shield critical infra and civilian centres from aerial threats, will be done in the 2030-40 phase Cognitive Warfare Action Force — which reflect the growing centrality of data, unmanned systems and perception warfare in contemporary conflicts. These formations are intended to support the armed forces’ shift towards data-centric and multi-domain warfare, where emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems and ad- vanced analytics are expected to increasingly shape battlefield outcomes. The plan also divides the military’s transformation into three phases leading up to the centenary of India’s independence in 2047. The first phase till 2030 will focus on transition, including organisational restructuring, strengthening deterrence, building indigenous capabilities, enhancing border control, improving maritime and air domain awareness and integrating emerging tech into combat operations. The 2030-40 phase will focus on consolidation. From 2040 to 2047, a world-class military capable of operating seamlessly across land, air, maritime, cyber, space and cognitive domains will be developed.