Team India Women’s hockey team (Photo by @Media_SAI on X)
NEW DELHI: The India women’s national field hockey team reached the final of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026 after defeating Italy women’s national field hockey team 1-0 in a closely fought semi-final at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Stadium on Friday.The match remained tight for most of the game, with both teams battling hard in midfield and creating limited clear chances. India will now face England women’s national field hockey team in the final on March 14 at 7:30 PM IST.India began strongly and made several attacking moves early, but Italy gradually fought back and threatened the Indian defence with a few promising attacks.
Gautam Gambhir reflects on India’s World Cup win and backing Sanju Samson in the tournament
India gained more control in the second quarter and started pushing forward using the wings. The hosts earned multiple penalty corners but failed to convert them. In the 18th minute, India’s first penalty corner saw Navneet Kaur’s shot saved by Italian goalkeeper Lucia Ines Caruso. Later in the half, India tried an interesting variation when captain Salima Tete took a shot after the ball was played back to her, but an Italian defender stopped it on the goal line. Another penalty corner soon after also went wide.Italy threatened early in the second half when Emilia Munitis broke through on goal, but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam produced an important save to keep the scores level.The breakthrough finally came in the 40th minute when India won another penalty corner. Manisha Chauhan stepped up and fired a powerful drag-flick straight down the middle to score the only goal of the match.Italy pushed hard for an equaliser in the final minutes and even won a late penalty corner in the 59th minute, but India’s defence held firm to secure the win.
Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan recently spoke about her equation with Bollywood’s three biggest superstars — Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan — revealing that while she shares a warm bond with Shah Rukh and Salman, she never became very close to Aamir.
Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan recently spoke about her equation with Bollywood’s three biggest superstars — Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan — revealing that while she shares a warm bond with Shah Rukh and Salman, she never became very close to Aamir.Speaking on a podcast hosted by Ranveer Allahbadia, Farah admitted that Aamir is the Khan she has the least personal equation with despite working with him early in her career.“Salman had come before Shah Rukh Khan, and Aamir is someone I am least close to because he was already a star when I worked on Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar,” Farah said. “He would teach me the basics on the film set. But somehow, I never became close to him.”
‘I ran away after an hour while teaching Salman dance’
Farah also recalled an amusing memory from the time she first worked with Salman when he was shooting for his debut film Maine Pyar Kiya.“Salman himself has said this publicly. I had gone to teach him dance during Maine Pyar Kiya, but I ran away after an hour,” she said.Despite their contrasting lifestyles, Farah said their friendship has continued over the years.“I do go to Salman’s house sometimes,” she shared. “But if you talk about hanging out, his idea of hanging out is very different from mine. I want to sleep by 9:30 or 10 at night, while he likes to hang out at 2 in the morning. But we did meet recently at my birthday party.”
‘Salman has a very dry sense of humour’
Having known Salman since childhood, Farah said the actor has remained largely unchanged despite the ups and downs in his life.“He has been the same. He has a very dry sense of humour. If you get it, he is extremely funny,” she said. “Because he has gone through so much in life, his humour is very deadpan — very sarcastic and dry. But from within, he is a very soft person.”
Salman Khan Takes Blame For Past Relationships, Says He Dreams Of Having A Child
‘Salman doesn’t hide from controversies’
During the conversation, when Ranveer Allahbadia mentioned how controversies often push celebrities into hiding, Farah said Salman has never taken that route.“Salman doesn’t hide. He blocks out the controversy and continues doing his work,” she said. Farah also addressed the long-standing perception that Salman used to arrive late on film sets.“People say he used to be late on set, but many actors in those days were late,” she explained. “Having said that, they would still stay until the work was finished. They would never say, ‘Please let me go after four hours.’ There isn’t a single film that has been shelved because of him. He simply puts on blinders and keeps working.”
Team India emerged victorious in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 by 96 runs against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In the image, the “Player of the Tournament”, Sanju Samson, is not visibly seen with Team India. Fans on social media have speculated that Shubman Gill may have deliberately excluded the Kerala-born cricketer from the photo.
Some users have suggested that jealousy over Samson’s performances at the top order could be a factor.
Meanwhile, Team India’s opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal also shared a similar image on his official social media handle, in which Samson is again not visible.
In the title clash of the marquee event, Samson delivered a crucial knock of 89 runs off 46 deliveries. His knock also included five boundaries and eight maximums. Along with him, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan also registered half-centuries.
Abhishek amassed 52 runs in 21 balls, with the help of six boundaries and three maximums. Ishan departed after scoring 54 runs off 25 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and the same number of maximums.
Later, burly all-rounder Shivam Dube gave the finishing touches to India`s innings. Facing just eight balls, he smashed 26 runs, including three boundaries and two maximums. With this, the “Men in Blue” posted a total of 255 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs.
New Zealand`s James Neesham returned with the figures of three wickets for 46 runs in four overs. Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra also bagged one wicket each.
In the second essay of the game, the “Black Caps” were bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert scored 52 runs in 26 balls, including two boundaries and five maximums. Skipper Mitchell Santner also garnered 43 runs after facing 35 balls. His knock ended with three boundaries and two maximums.
Team India`s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah claimed four wickets by conceding 15 runs in four overs. Vice-captain Axar Patel also bagged three wickets for 27 runs in three overs. Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Abhishek Sharma registered one wicket each to their names. Arshdeep Singh went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 final.
Actor Jaswir Kaur, who recently said she was ‘forced to quit CID’, has clarified her stance. Speaking with Times Now News, she said that it’s not about CID but about her journey, adding that black magic was done on her, which she was unaware of.
Jaswir Kaur is best known for her roles in shows such as Anupamaa, CID and Gangaa.
Jaswir Kaur clarifies ‘forced to quit CID’ comment
Jaswir, who worked on CID for two years, said, “Yes maine podcast kiya hai abhi recently, and bahaut negative tareeke se bahar aaya hai logon ki samaj ke hisaab se that’s what I understand. Aap agar poora podcast dekho, toh ye topic bahaut normally gaya hai. Mujhe pucha gaya tha sawaal ki, ‘Aapke life mein aisa koi time that jahah financial crisis aaye hai?’ Toh uss waqt jo huya mere saath ki mere baal kaat kar zameen par gaade gaye, mera kaam rukaya gaya tha. It could be for anything…Toh topic yeh hai ki black magic hua tha (Yes, I recently did a podcast, and it has come out in a very negative way, according to how people have understood it. That’s what I feel. If you watch the entire podcast, the topic actually came up very normally. I was asked a question: ‘Was there ever a time in your life when you faced a financial crisis?’ At that time, something happened to me — my hair was cut and buried in the ground, and my work was stopped. It could have been for any reason…So the topic was about black magic being done).”
Jaswir talks about her journey
She added, “Koi forced nahi hota hai, kisi ko nikaalna hota hai toh nikaal dete hai. Maine aaj tak kisi ke baare me galat kaha nahi hai. Uss waqt jo hua mere saath it was black magic. It could be anything. Jab mujhe pucha gaya ki nobody took a stand for you toh maine bas gardan hilaayi hai, maine kisi ki complaint nahi ki hai. It’s not about CID, it’s about me, and my journey (No one is forced. If someone has to remove a person, they simply do it. I have never spoken badly about anyone till date. What happened to me at that time — it was black magic. It could have been anything. When I was asked why nobody took a stand for me, I just nodded my head. I didn’t complain about anyone. It’s not about CID; it’s about me and my journey).”
The actor added that at that time she didn’t say it, as no one wanted to know. She added that there was crises which “everyone goes through.” Jaswir further asked whether she had taken anyone’s name, said anything wrong about them, or claimed that someone had treated her badly.
What did Jaswir say earlier
In a podcast with Subhojit Ghosh on his YouTube channel, the actor had said, “Suddenly they called me to the office, and they said my attitude is wrong, I don’t walk nicely. They said that if your lines are not there, you throw the script and use foul language. And I was like, when did this all happen? I tried to counter, and the negotiation lasted 45 days. I only had tears in my eyes, and my mother cried because she saw me cry every day. And then I went through depression for three months.”
About Jaswir’s career
She is best known for her roles in shows such as Anupamaa, CID and Gangaa. The actor has been part of several films, such as Soldier, Baadshah, Taal, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Badal, Mohabbatein, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Ek Rishtaa, Yaadein, Koi Mil Gaya, Kuch Naa Kaho and Katha Parayumpol.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing Friday, without providing evidence, that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei “ is wounded and likely disfigured. ” Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking over leadership. Hegseth also said in regards to Iran’s chokehold on global oil shipments that “we have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it.”
The Latest: Airstrike pounds Iran near pro-government rally as war threatens global economy
All six crew members aboard a U.S. military KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are dead and the circumstances are being investigated, the American military said. The crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members.
A large explosion struck Iran’s capital, Tehran, near a square filled with people for annual Quds Day demonstrations in support of the Palestinians, Iranian state television reported. Thousands chanted “death to Israel” and “death to America.”
And more than 100 children are among the 773 people killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Friday. Israel said Friday its strikes on Hezbollah targets are “continuing and intensifying.” U.S. President Donald Trump said the war would end “when I feel it in my bones.”
Here is the latest:
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X that the 30-day reprieve on sanctions applies to Russian oil already loaded on tankers as of Thursday. He said allowing this stranded oil to be sold provides no additional financial benefit for Russia, because the Kremlin already taxed it when the oil was extracted from the ground.
“This easing alone by the United States could provide Russia with about $10 billion for the war,” Zelenskyy said. “It spends the money from energy sales on weapons, and all of this is then used against us.”
Israel says it has killed over 350 Hezbollah militants since renewed fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group broke out in Lebanon almost two weeks ago.
In a statement, the military said among those killed are senior Hezbollah operatives as well as prominent commanders of other militant groups.
Italy’s travel industry says the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and spillover to Gulf countries is triggering widespread cancellations and could cost the country at least €1.5 billion in tourism revenue in 2026, according to the Italian Federation of Travel and Tourism Business.
Losses could reach €6 billion when Gulf transit hubs are included, as travelers cancel or delay trips to destinations Italians often use as gateways to places like the Maldives and Japan, the federation’s Vice President Luana De Angelis said.
“All those people who were about to book their summer and Easter holidays have been forced to wait and see what happens,” she said.
Protesters from Pakistan to Nigeria voiced their support for Palestinians on the last Friday of Ramadan, waving images of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque and denouncing Israel and the United States over the ongoing war with Iran.
The Jerusalem Day rallies were especially intense in countries with large Shiite Muslim populations. In Yemen’s capital Sanaa, crowds held posters of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed at the start of the war, and chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” according to Houthi-run al-Masirah television.
In Karachi, Pakistan, demonstrators shouted similar slogans as women dragged coffins marked with U.S. and Israeli flags through the streets.
Residents of Iran’s capital are in a state of shock after two weeks of fierce U.S.-Israeli bombardment.
From Tehran’s central historic quarters to upscale northern areas, bombs are shaking the city day and night, with no sirens or warning systems to alert the public. With the internet shut down, families and friends rely on each other for news about the war and the latest damage caused by airstrikes.
“The psychological pressure is real,” said one person in northern Tehran.
Residents say security forces have increased their presence in the streets to prevent any show of dissent. At the same time, the government has encouraged its supporters to gather in street demonstrations.
In less than two weeks of war, a Lebanese Red Cross paramedic helping wounded civilians was killed by an Israeli airstrike, and other medics have been wounded, the groups said.
Iranian Red Crescent staff and volunteers also suffered casualties aiding civilians, the groups said. Red Cross and Red Crescent personnel have been killed this year in Sudan and Gaza too.
The heads of the organizations said humanitarian workers are protected under international law and must be safeguarded in conflicts.
“When humanitarian workers are protected, so is our shared humanity,” they said in a joint statement Friday. “The lives of our teams, and those they serve, depend on it.”
Shipping disruptions would also drive up costs for food, medicine and other lifesaving supplies, said Stephane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesperson.
Citing aid chief Tom Fletcher, the spokesperson said the world body is urging safe passage for humanitarian cargo. Fletcher told the Security Council the disruptions are already affecting Gaza, where flour prices have surged 270%, while global shipping costs are 16% higher than a year ago.
The flights arranged with U.S. diplomatic support aim to help thousands of Americans in Israel whose return flights were canceled due to the war.
El Al, Israel’s flag carrier, says it will begin operating six special non-stop flights at “full capacity” from Tel Aviv to New York starting Monday. It will contact U.S. citizens on Sunday who hold valid El Al tickets that were canceled and not yet reassigned.
While El Al has been flying a limited number of passengers out of Israel since March 8, but these are the first dedicated for U.S. citizens. The airline acknowledged it’s “a partial solution” and may add more flights pending government approval.
The U.S. State Department says most Americans who left the region took commercial flights, while about 50 charter flights evacuated others. Some departed Israel via overland routes.
Embassy staff and passengers who were stuck in transit when the war broke out made it home Friday evening on a Qatar Airways flight coordinated with the Bangladeshi government.
That’s according to Ragib Samad, executive director at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
The war has forced widespread airspace closures, cancelling 447 flights at Dhaka’s airport.
President Joseph Aoun’s proposal that he put forward last week calls for Israel to halt its attacks on Hezbollah while international logistics support helps the Lebanese army deploy in the country’s south and take control of Hezbollah weapons and depots.
Speaking during a meeting with U.N. chief António Guterres, Aoun said that Israel’s attacks are threatening regional stability.
Both men called for Israel and Lebanon to begin negotiations. Israel has said Lebanon’s government is not serious about disarming Hezbollah so the Israeli military must do it instead.
During a surprise visit to Lebanon, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the emergency appeal to fund food, water, health care and other aid over the next three months.
In addition to the hundreds of Lebanese civilians killed during the fighting, Guterres said about 850,000 people have been displaced.
“For years, Lebanon has opened its doors to those fleeing conflict,” he said. “Now, the world must show the people of Lebanon our strongest support in this hour of grave danger and profound need.”
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam spoke after meeting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to launch a humanitarian appeal of more than $300 million.
“Lebanon did not choose this war,” Salam said, criticizing Hezbollah’s rocket fire into Israel. “There is no justification in holding an entire nation hostage.”
He said more than 500 Hezbollah military positions and weapons depots in southern Lebanon have been dismantled, pushing back on Israeli claims that Beirut has failed to act against the group.
“These actions are not symbolic gestures,” Salam said.
Israeli Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Friday that the air force had struck an Iranian intelligence directorate while senior Iranian officials were present, as well as other command centers and missile production and storage sites.
The Israeli military spokesperson said strikes were “continuing and intensifying” in both Iran and Lebanon and that more combat troops would be sent to Israel’s northern border. “Despite the long-term degradation of the Iranian regime’s and Hezbollah’s strike capabilities, the threat remains,” he said.
The military said it has struck more than 7,600 sites in Iran and more than 1,100 in Lebanon.
The Old City contains an area Jews call the Temple Mount — the holiest site in Judaism and home to the ancient biblical temples. Muslims call it the Noble Sanctuary and today it is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. Holy sites have been closed to worshippers of all faiths throughout the war.
Israeli police have deployed extra forces and the country’s Home Front Command has cited wartime safety concerns as a reason for restrictions, though Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has little shelter infrastructure.
Jerusalem-based nonprofit Ir Amim questioned why the restrictions have remained in place as other synagogues and mosques have remained open, saying they “cannot be separated from the long-standing Israeli policy aimed at reducing Palestinian presence” at the holy site.
Unlike other Middle Eastern states touched by the war, Iraq hosts both entrenched Iran-aligned forces and significant U.S. interests. As in past upheavals, Iraqis have learned to adapt to daily violence that intrudes on everyday life.
But Iraq’s economy depends overwhelmingly on oil, so the longer the conflict lasts, the greater the risk that economic shocks, political paralysis and friction with Iran‑backed militias will combine to unravel Iraq’s hard‑won relative stability.
The government might not be able to meet its oversized public‑sector payroll as soon as next month, risking widespread unrest, two Iraqi Kurdish officials said.
In the meantime, a parallel conflict to the wider war has escalated between Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups and the U.S. — near-daily drone strikes have targeted American interests across the country, while the U.S. has struck back against militia bases to defend its troops.
Hinting at voter anxieties in the U.S. as the conflict in the Middle East continues, the president said the economy and American life will soon return to what it was before he launched strikes on Iran.
“This will bounce right back when it’s over, and I don’t think it’s going to be long,” Trump said in his interview with Fox News personality Brian Kilmeade.
Asked when the war will be over, Trump responded: “When I feel it — when I feel it in my bones.”
Friedrich Merz spoke Friday alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at military exercises in Norway.
Merz said the world is witnessing “a dangerous escalation,” and said Iran is “indiscriminately” carrying out attacks on countries across the Gulf region.
“With every day this war lasts, more questions are coming up, more than can be answered yet,” Merz said. “And one thing becomes increasingly clear, we need a convincing plan on how this war can come to an end.”
The president said, “No, not at all,” when asked if the U.S. would attempt to retrieve the material, which is believed to be buried underground in Iran.
“We’re not focused on that,” Trump said. “But at some point, we might be.”
Trump, in an interview on Fox News Radio that aired Friday, said that when it comes to the U.S. Navy escorting ships through the shipping lane, “We would do it if we need to.”
“Hopefully things are going to go very well,” Trump said.
The military says the circumstances of the incident are being investigated.
Earlier, U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” and that the other plane landed safely.
The military said the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”
The defense secretary told reporters that Iran is “exercising sheer desperation” in the Strait of Hormuz, which the Iran war has closed, blocking a significant portion of the world’s oil.
“And as the world is seeing, they are exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz, something we’re dealing with. We have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it. We’re on plan to defeat, destroy, disable all of their meaningful military capabilities at a pace the world has never seen before.”
Hegseth did not give details. But Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that the U.S. military has “made it a priority to target Iran’s minelaying enterprise” impacting the strategic waterway.
The summit of the Developing Eight group of nations in Jakarta, scheduled for April 13-15, was delayed because of security concerns linked to the fighting, said Tri Tharyat, director general of multilateral cooperation at Indonesia’s foreign affairs ministry. No new date has been set.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, was set to host leaders from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. The group meets to boost economic cooperation among Muslim‑majority nations across Asia and Africa.
There were no immediate reports of casualties after the midday explosion rocked the Ferdowsi Square area as thousands chanted “death to Israel” and “death to America.”
At least two of the Iranian leaders at the scene survived the blast:
The man with a rifle who deliberately crashed into a Michigan synagogue had lost four family members in an Israeli airstrike in his native Lebanon, an official said Friday.
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was killed by security after ramming into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township and driving down a hallway in a vehicle that then caught fire, according to authorities.
The official, who requested anonymity because he could not publicly discuss details of the airstrike, told the that Kassim and Ibrahim Ghazali were killed in their home, along with Ibrahim Ghazali’s children, Ali and Fatima. Kassim was a soccer coach and Ibrahim a bus driver in their village.
The FBI described the attack on one of the nation’s largest Reform synagogues as an act of violence targeting the Jewish community. No one among the staff, teachers and 140 children inside was injured, the Oakland County sheriff said.
Hegseth says U.S. Central Command has designated an officer to lead the investigation into the airstrike on an elementary school that killed more than 165 people, many of them children, in the opening hours of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. The investigating officer was chosen from outside Central Command, which oversees the Middle East.
The Associated Press has reported that outdated intelligence likely led the U.S. to carry out the missile strike on the school.
Hegseth wouldn’t answer questions Friday about what led to the strike, but said the U.S. does not target civilians.
He said the investigation will take “as long as necessary.” “We’ll get to the truth and we’ll share it when we have it,” Hegseth said.
An airstrike hit near the Quds, or Jerusalem, Day parade after the Israeli military put out a warning in Farsi on X the area could be struck. Now Israeli military has posted a second message in Farsi, noting the head of Iran’s judiciary was there at the time.
“The leaders of the terrorist and bloodthirsty regime have for 47 years shown disregard for the lives of Iran’s citizens, placing people in danger for the sake of the ‘liberation of Jerusalem’ and turning them into human shields to advance their own objectives,” the message said.
The Israeli military also criticized Iran for cutting off the internet, blocking many from seeing their warning.
The French president was speaking after a French soldier was killed during a drone attack on a Kurdish military base in Iraq’s Irbil region.
Macron said that France supports its allies in the Middle East and that “nothing could ever justify attacks against us.”
“France will continue to show composure, calm and determination, remain reliable toward our partners, protect our citizens, and defend our interests and our security,” Macron added.
People sat on prayer mats surrounded by rubble in central Gaza, where more than two years of war has damaged mosques, along with everything else.
“We pray in the streets or in small prayer rooms, there are no mosques,” said Bakr Al-Sahhar, a resident. Palestinians say that despite the five-month long ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip continue.
Responding to a shouted question at Friday’s briefing about new Iranian mines impacting the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth said “we’ve heard them talk about it, just like you’ve reported recklessly and wildly about it, but we have no clear evidence.”
On Tuesday, the U.S. said it took out more than a dozen mine-laying Iranian vessels. Iran has vowed to block the region’s oil exports, with one official saying Iran’s enemies won’t get “even a single liter.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says ending Iran’s nuclear weapons program remains a “core mission” as U.S. and Israeli strikes on the country continue.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Pentagon, Hegseth said President Donald Trump is focused on ending Iran’s ability to manufacture nuclear weapons for good.
Hegseth would not say whether ground forces will be needed to secure Iran’s supply of enriched uranium or its nuclear facilities, but said the U.S. is considering a range of options. He said he would welcome a decision by Iran’s leaders to voluntarily give up their program.
“We’ve said from the beginning: deny Iran nuclear weapons,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth has said that “war is chaos” and that the sacrifice of those killed “will only recommit us to the resolve of this mission” as he acknowledged the crash of an American KC-135 military refueling plane taking part in the operation against Iran.
Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that four airmen had been recovered in what he described as an incident “over friendly territory in western Iraq” that was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said Thursday that two aircraft had been involved, and one landed safely while the other went down.
Hegseth offered new details on the operation against Iran at a Friday news conference from the Pentagon, noting the impact of U.S. and Israeli air strikes on the Islamic Republic.
Hegseth said that over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck, which is more than 1000 a day since the war began on Feb. 28.
Iran’s drone attacks in retaliation of the operation have been deadly and include a fatal attack in Kuwait that killed six American soldiers.
Hegseth has said that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and “likely disfigured.”
Khamenei took over Iran’s leadership following his father’s death. The younger Khamenei has not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, leading to speculation about his whereabouts and health condition.
On Thursday he made his first public statements, resolving to keep fighting, promising more pain for Gulf Arab states and threatening to open “other fronts” in a war that has already disrupted world energy supplies, the global economy and international travel.
Hegseth did not elaborate on or give evidence about Khamenei’s condition.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A day ago, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone questioned the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai. She also tagged Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation authorities and asked what measures were being taken to improve the situation. Now, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has responded to the question during a press conference on Friday.
Mumbai mayor responds to Deepika Padukone
The newly appointed mayor was asked about the air-quality concerns raised by Deepika Padukone. Responding to the question, Tawde said, “We are listening to all Mumbaikars and not just Deepika Padukone.”
She further said that the city’s air quality has worsened over the recent months and added that authorities are already discussing measures to address the issue. She mentioned that meetings were held with departments responsible for infrastructure projects across Mumbai.
The mayor said several major projects are underway in the city and that they have contributed to rising dust levels. Infrastructure work related to the Mumbai Metro, railway projects, public works departments and other developments across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region has accelerated since 2020.
She pointed out that while residents expect improved infrastructure and quicker development, large-scale construction often comes with environmental challenges.
Tawde added that the civic body has issued standard operating procedures to agencies and contractors working on these projects and has directed them to strictly implement dust-control measures.
Officials have also instructed construction agencies to properly cover materials, transport debris in a controlled manner and ensure regular cleaning of roads near construction sites. Contractors involved in metro and infrastructure projects, along with private builders, have also been asked to keep roads clean and ensure that construction activities do not worsen air pollution.
Deepika Padukone questions BMC over air quality
Deepika Padukone, who was last seen in Singham Again, recently questioned authorities over rising air pollution in the city. On Thursday, the actress took to Instagram Stories and shared AQI data for Mumbai, which showed the average air quality index hovering around 150.
Expressing concern, Deepika wrote that citizens—especially children—are struggling to breathe due to worsening air quality. Her post read, “The citizens of this city and its children are choking! How is this okay!? my_bmc | mybmchealth please help!”
Her concern also comes from being a mother to Dua, her daughter with Ranveer Singh, who was born on September 8, 2024.
NEW DELHI: In the humid, electric air of the DY Patil Stadium on June 1, 2008, a tall, lanky left-armer with an action that looked like a tangle of limbs stood at the non-striker’s end. The scoreboard read 163 for 7. One ball remained. The Rajasthan Royals needed one run to win the inaugural Indian Premier League.As Sohail Tanvir scurried across the pitch to complete that final, historic run, he wasn’t just sealing a victory for Shane Warne’s “underdogs”; he was unknowingly bringing the curtain down on an era.
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid on iconic Eden Gardens win against Australia in 2001
He was the last player from Pakistan to effectively “finish” an IPL game. Since that night, the border has grown taller, the cricket grounds quieter, and the presence of Pakistani talent in the world’s richest league has shifted from a vibrant reality to a ghost of “what if.”
What did happen after the IPL 2008 final?
The 2008 IPL season was a carnival of cross-border camaraderie. Shahid Afridi was the icon for Deccan Chargers, Shoaib Akhtar was steaming in for the Kolkata Knight Riders, and Misbah-ul-Haq was the middle-order backbone for Bangalore.But it was Sohail Tanvir who became the face of Pakistani success in India. Sporting the first-ever Purple Cap, Tanvir had dismantled lineups with his “wrong-footed” delivery, finishing the season with 22 wickets, including a staggering 6/14 against Chennai Super Kings.
Sohail Tanvir (IPL Photo)
When the 2008 final concluded, there was every expectation that the 2009 season would see even more stars from Lahore and Karachi under the IPL lights. However, the geopolitical landscape shifted violently on November 26, 2008. The Mumbai terror attacks changed everything. In the immediate aftermath, the Indian government suspended bilateral ties, and the BCCI, citing “security concerns”, decided not to include Pakistani players in the 2009 auction.What was initially thought to be a one-year cooling-off period became a permanent lockout. The “No-Objection Certificates” (NOCs) from the Pakistan Cricket Board became harder to obtain, and the appetite of IPL franchises to bid for players who might be denied visas vanished.
The case of Azhar Mahmood
While Tanvir was the last player to play in that original 2008 cohort, the “last Pakistani” to actually feature in the IPL is a technicality that belongs to Azhar Mahmood.Mahmood, a former Pakistan international, managed to play for Kings XI Punjab (2012–2013) and Kolkata Knight Riders (2015). However, he didn’t do so as a Pakistani. Having moved to the UK and secured a British passport, he entered the auction as an English player.
Azhar Mahmood (ANI Photo)
His presence was a bittersweet reminder of what was missing. While he performed admirably, the league lacked the raw pace of a Wahab Riaz or the modern-day brilliance of a Babar Azam. Mahmood’s stint was a legal workaround, but the political ban on players representing the Pakistan national team remained absolute.
Why it happened
The exclusion isn’t found in any official “rulebook” of the IPL. There is no written clause that says “No Pakistanis Allowed.” Instead, it is a combination of two powerful forces:For a franchise to invest millions in a player, they need a guarantee that the player can actually enter the country. Given the volatility of India-Pakistan relations, the risk of a player being denied a visa at the eleventh hour is too high for team owners.
The trophy of Indian Premier League (IPL) (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)
Public Sentiment and Commercial Risk Franchises are brands. In an era of heightened nationalism, owners have often been wary of the “backlash” that could come with signing a Pakistani player, fearing it could alienate local fanbases or lead to protests at stadiums.In 2010, there was a brief moment of hope when several Pakistani stars were included in the auction pool. However, in a move that became a major controversy, not a single franchise placed a bid for any of them. The “silent snub” effectively signalled that the IPL had moved on.
The 2026 “Shadow Ban” and global expansion
As we stand in March 2026, the situation has become even more complex. The IPL is no longer just a two-month tournament in India; it is a global ecosystem. IPL owners now own teams in South Africa (SA20), the UAE (ILT20), the USA (MLC), and the Caribbean (CPL).This expansion has led to what players like Azhar Mahmood have recently called a “Global Shadow Ban”. However, recently, The Hundred 2026 auction in England saw a massive debate as Indian-owned franchises like Sunrisers Leeds (owned by the Sunrisers Hyderabad group) finally broke the trend by picking Abrar Ahmed.
Kavya Maran, co-owner and head of Sunrisers Leeds (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
However, the backlash was immediate. On social media, fans criticised the franchise owners for “funding” talent from across the border, even in a foreign league. This highlights the current status: Sohail Tanvir is now a retired veteran, coaching and commentating. His Purple Cap sits as a relic of a brief, beautiful window where sport briefly transcended the map.The last ball of the 2008 IPL didn’t just win a trophy; it ended a chapter of history. Until the political climate undergoes a seismic shift, the Pakistani presence in the IPL will remain confined to YouTube highlights of Shoaib Akhtar’s roar at Eden Gardens and Sohail Tanvir’s winning run in Navi Mumbai.
India’s imports of urea from China have climbed to their highest level in three years during the current fiscal, even as fertiliser shipments from Russia have also increased sharply, according to government data tabled in Parliament on Friday.In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said India imported 21.24 lakh tonne of urea from China between April 2025 and February 2026, reported PTI. The figure is significantly higher than 0.99 lakh tonne in the full fiscal year 2024-25, and also exceeds imports of 18.65 lakh tonne in 2023-24 and 12.80 lakh tonne in 2022-23.Apart from urea, imports from China during the period included 5.11 lakh tonne of Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), 0.28 lakh tonne of Muriate of Potash (MoP) and 9.61 lakh tonne of NPK fertilisers, taking total phosphatic and potassic fertiliser shipments from the country to about 15 lakh tonne.Urea supplies from Russia also rose, with imports reaching 13.99 lakh tonne till February, already higher than the 9.23 lakh tonne recorded in 2024-25. India additionally imported 7.55 lakh tonne of DAP, 12.97 lakh tonne of MoP and 21 lakh tonne of NPK fertilisers from Russia during the current fiscal.Taken together, urea imports from China and Russia stood at about 35.23 lakh tonne till February. Overall urea imports from other countries were at 56.47 lakh tonne in 2024-25.On domestic availability, the minister said around 432.44 lakh tonne of urea is currently available in the country against an estimated requirement of 370.84 lakh tonne. Sales through the direct benefit transfer system have reached 381.59 lakh tonne so far this year.Phosphatic and potassic fertilisers fall under the Open General Licence regime, which allows companies to import or manufacture them based on their commercial assessments.
Actor Lisa Ray has expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict in West Asia that has affected the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also voicing her views through a thoughtful poem.
Lisa Ray posted a long note on Instagram as she spoke about the current situation.
“Watching events unfold in our second home, Dubai, has been difficult- and yes, I know citizens of the UAE are relatively safe, and the leadership is excellent. I know that. But. The uncertainty. The messages between friends. The collective holding of breath. This poem was written spontaneously, offered unedited this morning for everyone, everywhere, living inside instability,” she wrote on Instagram, further adding a copy of her poem.
Lisa also spoke about the troubling circumstances that her husband faced as he “grew up in Lebanon with missiles overhead.”
“My husband grew up in Lebanon with missiles overhead. This is a tribute to his spirit, and to the resilience of his family — and to families across the world for whom “normal” has always included the sound of sirens,” she added.
The post comes at a time as security concerns across West Asia continued to grow amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said it was closely monitoring the evolving situation in the West Asia region and its impact on air travel between India and countries in the region. Airlines are undertaking necessary operational adjustments in view of the prevailing conditions to ensure passenger safety and the orderly conduct of flight operations.
In recent days, Iran has imposed tighter restrictions on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz amid the continuing US-Israeli strikes. Tehran has said vessels not serving the interests of the United States and Israel can sail through safely.
The conflict in the region escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28, after which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries and Israel, causing disruption in the waterway and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability.
