Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday strongly reprimanded party workers after a section of the audience raised slogans in support of DK Shivakumar during a party programme in Bengaluru. Kharge also warned that disciplinary action could be taken against those responsible for disrupting the event.

The incident took place during the ‘Sankalpa Samavesha’ programme, where party leaders had gathered for an organisational event. According to reports, some workers repeatedly chanted “DK-DK” slogans, prompting Kharge to intervene and ask them to maintain discipline.

Visibly upset by the sloganeering, Kharge reminded workers that the gathering was meant for the party and not for promoting individual leaders.

“This is not an individual’s programme, it is a party programme,” Kharge said while stressing that Congress functions as an organisation rather than around personalities.

The veteran leader also expressed displeasure over the disruption, questioning why a few people should dominate proceedings when many others had attended the programme. Referring to his long political career, Kharge said the party had contributed significantly to the rise of many leaders and emphasised the need to uphold organisational discipline.

Warning the workers against similar behaviour in the future, Kharge said footage from the event would be examined and action would be taken if necessary.

“Discipline is always necessary for the party. Whoever is shouting here, there will be footage. I will take disciplinary action after reviewing the footage,” he said.

The episode once again highlighted the importance the Congress leadership places on party discipline during organisational events in Karnataka.

At least 54 people were injured and 18 others remained missing after an explosion and fire struck a gas facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world’s most important natural gas hubs.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening at the Barzan gas supply facility during the start-up of operations, according to state-owned energy company QatarEnergy. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the site, and authorities later confirmed that the fire had been brought under control.

Rescue teams continue search operation

Qatar’s Interior Ministry said 54 people had been injured in the blast, while specialised search and rescue teams, working alongside Civil Defence personnel, were continuing efforts to locate 18 individuals reported missing. Authorities described the incident as a “technical accident” and said there was no gas leak posing a threat to public safety.

Ras Laffan Industrial City, located north of Doha, serves as Qatar’s main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing centre and is a crucial part of the country’s energy infrastructure. The Barzan facility primarily supplies gas to Qatar’s domestic market.

Cause under investigation

QatarEnergy has not yet disclosed the extent of any damage to the facility. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, while flames and thick smoke were seen rising from the industrial complex. Officials have not indicated whether the incident will affect broader energy operations at Ras Laffan.

Iran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, citing Israeli attacks in Lebanon as the reason behind the move. The development comes just days after the waterway had reportedly been reopened following a period of heightened regional tensions.

According to reports, the announcement was made by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country’s top joint military command. Iranian authorities alleged that ongoing Israeli military actions in Lebanon and what they described as insufficient efforts by the United States to restrain those attacks had violated the terms of a recently established ceasefire arrangement.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. A significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passes through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a matter of international concern.

Iranian officials reportedly described the closure as an initial response and warned that additional measures could follow if regional hostilities continue. The announcement has raised concerns about potential disruptions to global energy markets and maritime trade.

However, there were conflicting assessments regarding the immediate impact of the decision. A senior US official reportedly said there was no visible indication of Iranian military activity that would suggest an imminent enforcement of the closure, while diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran were expected to continue in Switzerland.

The latest development marks another escalation in regional tensions and places renewed focus on the security of one of the world’s most important shipping routes.