Daily Inshorts - 17 March 2026

Daily Inshorts - 17 March 2026

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Family 'beyond devastated' by meningitis death as hundreds get antibiotics

A sixth form pupil and a university student have died, while 11 more are seriously ill in hospital.

What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?

Two people have died following an outbreak of meningitis, including one student at the University of Kent.

Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of killing hundreds in hospital strike

Islamabad denies targeting the rehab centre and said its strikes were aimed at military installations.

Will Scotland be the first nation in the UK to legalise assisted dying?

The final vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is seen as too close to call.

Reeves vows to stop UK tech from 'drifting abroad'

The Chancellor tells the BBC she wants the "pattern to end" while also pledging closer ties with the EU

Freedom of Religion Bill passed in Maharashtra Assembly; 'not against any community', says Fadnavis

As per the Bill, those involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and shall also be liable for a fine of ₹1 lakh

Tulip festival beckons tourists to Kashmir Valley

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister throws opens the annual Tulip festival in Srinagar

Rajya Sabha polls: BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia, Congress’ Karamvir Boudh elected; Haryana CM congratulates

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, in a late-night press conference, congratulated both the leaders on their win

Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Poll heat rises in Palakkad as BJP trains guns on UDF MLA scandal

The BJP has fielded Sobha Surendran, who helped the party leap to the second position in the constituency for the first time in 2016, hoping to wrest the seat from the United Democratic Front. The Left Democratic Front has been finishing in third spot in the segment for the past three elections. Neither the UDF nor the LDF has announced candidates for the segment

Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Political crossovers gather pace in Kerala as Assembly elections near

Defections and cross-affiliations are blurring the traditional ideological boundaries between the United Democratic Front, Left Democratic Front, and the National Democratic Alliance. Increasingly, electoral pragmatism rather than ideological loyalty appears to be shaping political choices