Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar set to resign, Governors transferred, Iran-U.S. war updates and more: The week in 5 charts Oil prices surged last week as tensions between Iran and the U.S. escalated, with attacks on oil infrastructure in Tehran, Saudi Arabia, and neighboring Gulf nations. Brent Crude futures reached nearly $80 per barrel on March 2, 2026, following production cuts by state oil companies amid the conflict. Indian oil firms raised liquefied petroleum gas prices for the first time in over a year, according to Reuters. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced his intention to resign and join the Rajya Sabha, filing his nomination on March 5, 2026. His 20-year tenure as chief minister is the longest in the state’s history. His party, the JD(U), secured 85 seats in the recent assembly elections, with the BJP winning 89. The BJP reportedly plans to appoint a candidate from the Backward Class or Extremely Backward Class to replace Kumar. Three men convicted in the November 2025 gang rape of a 20-year-old woman in Coimbatore received life sentences. The perpetrators were arrested within 24 hours and convicted within 125 days, with surveillance footage and DNA evidence playing key roles. The case sparked political backlash against the DMK, with opposition parties criticizing the state’s lack of women’s safety. Seven governors, including Tamil Nadu’s R.N. Ravi, were transferred. Ravi, who faced conflicts with the state government over delayed bill approvals, university appointments, and speech delivery during assemblies, was moved to West Bengal. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, former Kerala governor, will assume Tamil Nadu’s governorship. India claimed its third T20 World Cup title by defeating New Zealand in the March 8 final.#us #iran #rajya_sabha #bihar_chief_minister_nitish_kumar #tamil_nadu_governor_r_n_ravi
