Chinese-manufactured weaponry — long touted as cheaper but equally powerful alternative to Western arsenals — has imploded spectacularly in recent conflicts.From India dismantling Pakistan‘s defenses during Operation Sindoor; America’s surgical raid snatching Venezuela’s Maduro; to US-Israeli strikes pulverising Iran’s shields, Beijing’s gear has proven inept. What was hyped as “battle-tested innovation” now reeks of shoddy engineering, weak software, and zero real-war grit.In Pakistan, Chinese-dependent forces watched helplessly as IAF BrahMos missiles shredded YLC-8E “anti-stealth” radars and HQ-9 batteries. Venezuela’s JY-27A radars and HQ-9s were blind during the US Delta Force extraction. Chinese-supplied HQ-9B defence systems in Iran crumbled against F-35 stealth barrages.

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The repeated failures suggest that these aren’t mere glitches, but a sign of systemic rot.

Operation Sindoor: Piercing Pakistan’s Chinese shield

On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, retaliating against the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that killed 28 civilians. The Indian Air Force (IAF) executed precision strikes on nine Pakistani military bases — including Chunian, Rafiqui, Murid, and Sukkur — and terror camps linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, using BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and air-launched munitions without crossing the LoC. The 23-minute mission showcased India’s SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) prowess, bypassing Pakistan’s Chinese-dominated defenses.Pakistan, sourcing 82% of its arms from China, deployed the YLC-8E anti-stealth radar at Chunian Air Base, 70km south of Lahore. China boasted that its radar has a 450km-detection range, and enhanced sensitivity for stealth targets like Rafales, and anti-jamming via frequency agility. Yet, IAF’s ELM-2090U Green Pine radars and Growler-like EW (electronic warfare) jammed it, enabling BrahMos missiles to obliterate the site undetected. Lahore’s HQ-9 SAM — mimicking Russia’s S-300 system — failed to engage, crippled by poor integration and EW vulnerability.Pakistan countered with Wing Loong-II MALE UAVs armed with AR-1 laser-guided missiles but India’s Akash-NG and MRSAM systems intercepted them mid-flight. A PL-15E air-to-air missile (export variant of China’s PL-15) fired by PAF JF-17s missed and was recovered intact by India. Fragments revealed flaws in the rocket motor and guidance system errors.These failures exposed Chinese tech’s core issues: Inferior stealth detection (YLC-8E hyped F-35 detection but faltered vs. decoys), sluggish software updates, and no real combat hardening. India’s indigenous air defence systems and electronic warfare dominance routed the Chinese-made systems. Operation Sindoor validated BrahMos’ low-altitude evasion (10m height) and multi-sensor fusion, eroding Beijing’s propaganda.

Venezuela: Maduro’s capture exposes Chinese weapons

In January 2026, the US unleashed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a daring midnight raid in Caracas that snatched Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro from his fortified presidential residence without firing a shot. Delta Force teams, inserted via stealth MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, extracted the target amid a labyrinth of Chinese and Russian defenses — exposing Beijing’s arsenal as a house of cards. Venezuelan air defenses, bloated with hype but starved of competence, registered zero intruders despite a $2 billion+ investment in Chinese gear.The backbone of Venezuela’s air defence — Chinese JY-27A “meter-wave” anti-stealth radars — were blinded. These AESA arrays, meant to spot F-22s or F-35s buckled under EA-18G Growler electronic attacks. Growlers’ ALQ-99 pods and Next Generation Jammers exploited JY-27A’s sluggish frequency hopping. HQ-9 SAMs and shorter-range HQ-12s stayed mute; their illuminators couldn’t lock amid barrage jamming.Layered with rusty Russian S-300PMU-2 batteries, the network imploded. Over 60% of Venezuela’s 22 Chinese radars — procured since 2019 — were offline pre-raid due to Beijing’s stingy spares policy and zero on-site tech support. Corrosion, power surges, and untrained crews rendered JY-27V variants scrap. The raid also netted intact HQ-9 guidance sections. Analysis revealed that the detection system was too weak for advanced jammers and there was a fire-control software lag.

Trump‘s jab before Iran strikes

In his record-breaking 2026 State of the Union address, President Donald Trump mocked adversaries’ reliance on foreign tech. Referring to the operation in Venezuela, Trump said there was a “major military installation protected by thousands of soldiers and guarded by Russian and Chinese military technologies,” questioning, “How did that go for them?” Delivered amid rising tensions with Iran, the remark foreshadowed events, tying into prior failures like Pakistan’s.Trump’s rhetoric underscored perceived weaknesses in Chinese and Russian systems, boosting US confidence ahead of operations. While not naming Iran explicitly then, it aligned with his warnings on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and missile threats.

Iran: HQ-9B Crumbles under US-Israel strikes

The ongoing US-Israeli airstrikes have further exposed falws in Chinese-made weaponry. Acquired in 2025 after Russian S-300s flopped against Israeli F-35s, China’s HQ-9B SAM — Beijing’s S-400 clone — promised 260km engagement range with active radar homing. Reality delivered humiliation: zero intercepts amid onslaught by stealth F-35s and AGM-158C LRASM stand-off munitions.The HQ-9B’s targeting seekers and two-stage rocket motors couldn’t cope with Israeli ALQ-322 jamming devices. Big holes in its radar coverage let stealthy F-35s get within 50 nautical miles undetected, due to weak side-radar cleanup and sluggish signal changes (stuck in rigid patterns). Sea-skimming Tomahawk missiles at 30m height slipped past blind spots from the HQ-9’s fixed launch positions.Poor system integration made things worse: Iran’s command centers lacked smooth data-linking like NATO’s, slowing handoffs from Bavar-373 radars (a homegrown copycat, untested) to Pantsir-S1 close-range defenses—taking 20 seconds to react versus the US Patriot’s 6 seconds. F-35s’ advanced radars spotted and locked enemy targeting first, guiding Rampage missiles that destroyed six batteries before launch. Wreckage showed the seekers’ jamming defenses were weak against US wide-band jammers (10-40GHz blasts), just like Pakistan’s HQ-9 failures in Operation Sindoor.US teams recovered HQ-9B fragments, exposing rocket motor inconsistencies and software bugs. These failures mirror Venezuela’s JY-27A blindness.

Why Chinese weapons keep failing

China, the world’s third-largest arms exporter, faces a credibility crisis. Sales to Pakistan (82% Chinese), Venezuela, and Iran highlight battlefield humiliations, deterring potential clients like Middle Eastern states. US dominance in stealth, EW, and precision strikes amplifies the gap.Chinese weapons prioritise export volume over battle-testing, lacking the rigorous trials of US or Russian counterparts. Design flaws, like HQ-9’s radar vulnerabilities, make them easy targets for jamming and anti-radiation missiles. Poor integration hinders multi-layer defenses, as seen in all three cases.

Maintenance issues further plague users. Venezuela’s radars failed from parts shortages, while Pakistan and Iran struggled with operator training. Chinese tech lags in electronic warfare resistance and stealth detection against fifth-gen threats. These shortcomings erode buyer confidence, prompting shifts away from Beijing.

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Allies like Russia, strained by Ukraine, leave China exposed. Future deals may demand upgrades, but unproven claims risk further embarrassments.

Bangladesh cricket legend Mushfiqur Rahim has been left stranded at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, after US and Israeli military strikes on Iran triggered widespread airspace closures and flight cancellations across the Gulf region. The star wicketkeeper-batter, returning home after performing Umrah in Makkah, shared an emotional social media post describing the anxiety and uncertainty facing thousands of stranded passengers.

Mushfiqur Rahim flight turned back mid-air as regional airspace closes

Rahim completed his pilgrimage in Makkah and was scheduled to return to Dhaka via Dubai on Saturday (February 28), aboard Emirates flight EK 0806. However, shortly after departure from Jeddah, the flight was forced to turn back as regional airspace became restricted following the escalation of hostilities.

The United States and Israel launched major combat operations against Iran on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump announcing that the objective “is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats” from Iran . The Israeli Defense Ministry described the action as a “pre-emptive” strike against Iran “to remove threats to Israel,” involving some 200 fighter jets in what military officials called the largest flyover in Israeli Air Force history .

Iran swiftly retaliated with counterattacks against Israel and US targets across the region, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. At least 201 people were killed and 747 injured in the strikes on Iran, with up to 160 casualties reported from an airstrike on a girls’ school in southern Iran alone.

“Only Almighty Allah knows when we will return”: Mushfiqur Rahim’s emotional post

Taking to Facebook to share his ordeal, the 38-year-old former Bangladesh captain wrote: “Assalamu Alaikum. A few days ago, I came to Makkah to perform Umrah. Alhamdulillah, after completing Umrah, I was scheduled to return to Bangladesh today by Emirates via Dubai.” 

He continued, describing the moment his journey was interrupted: “We have flown this morning from Jeddah to Dubai via EK 0806 but unfortunately due to the war between USA, ISRAEL AND IRAN all the flight has return to Jeddah and now i am in jeddah airpot including thoushand of passengers.” 

The post reflected the helplessness felt by thousands in similar situations: “Only Almighty Allah knows when and how we will able to go to Dhaka along with other Bangladeshi people. I seek your prayers.” 

Also READ: Bangladesh Cricket Board unveils central contracts for the 2026 season

Bangladesh Government monitoring the situation in Middle-East

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque confirmed that authorities are closely monitoring Rahim’s situation. Speaking to journalists after inspecting Kamalapur Stadium in Dhaka, the minister provided an encouraging update: “I am well aware of Mushfiqur Rahim’s situation. I have already spoken with him. He is in good health and is expected to depart tonight on an available flight. We hope he will return to the country soon.” 

Rahim is not alone among cricket personalities caught in the regional disruption. England Lions coach and former wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow also found himself stranded in Abu Dhabi.

Also READ: Jonny Bairstow stuck in Abu Dhabi amid Iran-Israel & US tensions, seeks help

MUMBAI: Residents of Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra who are stranded in the Middle East owing to the closure of airspace amid the rising Iran–Israel conflict, are seeking help for evacuation on social media.Meanwhile, the UAE has requested local hotels to allow stranded travellers to extend their stay, offering to pay their expenses.Mumbaikar Harshit Choradiya relayed a video message from Dubai saying, “It is 6.30pm…We can hear loud sounds of missile interceptors. Life is normal in Dubai. Traffic and Metro services are plying and people are visiting restaurants to break their Ramzan fast. We are safe but I urge govt of Maharashtra, and India, to direct maximum flights to evacuate us once the airspace reopens.” Another traveller Vrushali posted a series of messages urging a private airline and the Indian govt to come to her aid.Stranded residents of Beed, Kolhapur, Dhule and a group of 80 students from Pune relayed similar pleas for help.Actress Sonal Chauhan addressed PM Modi on X, “I am currently stranded in Dubai due to the ongoing crisis, with flights cancelled and no clear way to return to India. I respectfully seek the Government’s guidance for a safe journey home. Grateful for any support extended.” She later posted on Instagram that she was safe and well.Naitik Shah tagged CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde saying, “I am stuck in Dubai with my family. Request you to please help us. My parents are aged and we desperately need to get out of Dubai ASAP.”A Dahisar resident employed in Dubai said that while residents remain on alert, the situation on the ground seems to be normal. “At noon on Sunday, we heard loud sounds of missile interceptors. But within our gated community, people are stepping out as usual,” he said, adding that prices of some grocery items have increased as people are stocking up on essentialsAt Mumbai airport, 125 flights were cancelled up to Sunday 2.30pm. “Indian carriers have suspended flights to the Middle East and to London, New York, Newark, Toronto, Frankfurt because of routing problems. The Feb 28 govt advisory instructs Indian carriers to avoid the airspace over Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar till March 2,” said an airline official.Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha too remain shut. “Close to 50% of passengers from India travel to the US through these Middle Eastern transit hubs and these are not operational currently. The next option is to pay more and fly on a nonstop flight to New York, London, but because of the increased demand, seats on nonstop flights are largely unavailable for 24- to 48-hour advance booking. That leaves passengers with little choice but to book on European or African carriers and transit via Paris, Frankfurt, Addis Ababa to fly to the US. European carriers flying to and from India overfly Pakistan, Afghanistan and then to Turkmenistan, avoiding Iran and Iraq airspace and so they continue to operate,” said the official.He said ticket prices are 2-3 times the normal fare. The cheapest one-way airfare from Mumbai to London or Frankfurt is priced over Rs 1.3 lakh for Monday and Tuesday. On a normal day, it would have cost Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000. A travel agent said, “Despite the DGCA advisory…some Indian carriers continue to sell tickets on flights that would need to overfly these countries.” He added that certain Middle Eastern carriers too are selling tickets for travel on Monday and Tuesday despite the hubs being closed currently.

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Dominiq Ponder’s cause of death: Colorado QB’s sudden death at 23 leaves the NFL world stunned

Colorado football faced a painful moment on March 1, 2026. QB Dominiq Ponder died in a tragic car crash at just 23. HC Deion Sanders confirmed the news later that evening, sending shockwaves through the college football community.As tributes poured in, one detail became central to the story. Fans and teammates wanted clarity about Dominiq Ponder’s cause of death. Authorities released those answers Sunday night, turning grief into a stark reminder of how quickly life can change.

Dominiq Ponder’s cause of death confirmed after a fatal single-car crash in Colorado

Per reports, Dominiq Ponder’s cause of death was a single-vehicle accident early Sunday morning, March 1, 2026. According to a Colorado State Patrol press release issued later that day, Ponder lost control of the Tesla Model 3 he was driving. The vehicle struck a guardrail, hit an electrical line pole, and then rolled down an embankment. The car later caught fire. Officials confirmed he died at the scene. No other vehicles were involved.Ponder had spent the past two seasons as a walk-on quarterback with the Colorado Buffaloes. He appeared in two games during the 2024 season, logging two rush attempts and one pass attempt. His on-field opportunities were limited, but teammates often spoke about his energy during practice.HC. Deion Sanders reacted publicly on March 1, 2026, through a post on X. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord, you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us, Lord, Comfort us,” Sanders wrote on his official account Sunday evening. His message reflected the bond inside the locker room.Fellow QB Colton Allen also wrote his heartfelt note, “Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life. What happened feels so final. It feels heavy. It hurts.”One fan wrote, “This is heartbreaking 💔.” Another said, “Praying for everyone, my brother!!!! So heartbreaking!!!!”Before transferring to Colorado, Ponder played at Bethune-Cookman. He attended Miami Carol City and Naples High School in Florida, then Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy in South Carolina. His career showed persistence. He kept working, kept transferring, and kept chasing a chance to prove himself.Spring practice in Boulder was scheduled to begin March 2, 2026. Instead, the program entered the week in mourning. Dominiq Ponders’ sudden demise now stands as a tragic footnote to a young career that teammates say still held promise.

India’s Sanju Samson (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

Perpetually under scrutiny and often questioned about his place in the side, Sanju Samson described his match-winning night as the moment he had always dreamed of — a reward for years of belief through uncertainty and self-doubt.“It means the whole world actually to me. I think right from the day I started playing, started dreaming to play for the country, I think this is the day I was waiting for. And I’m very grateful, very thankful,” Sanju said after his defining knock.Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged the inner battles that accompanied his rise.“And I’ve always had a very special journey with lots of ups and downs, but I’ve kept on doubting myself, kept on thinking, what if, what if, can I make it, can I make it? But I kept on believing and thanks to the Lord Almighty for actually blessing me today. So I’m very happy.”Sanju credited years of experience in the format — both playing and watching — for shaping his understanding of how to handle pressure situations.“Yeah, I think that’s why I have been playing this format for a very long time. I think playing IPL around 10 to 12 years and playing for the country from last 10 years, I have not been playing, but looking from the dugout, learning from the greats like Virat Kohli, from Rohit Sharma, like all the greats.”He stressed the importance of observation and learning, even during phases when he was not a regular in the playing XI.“I think it’s very important to observe and learn and see what they were doing. I think that really helped me to, I think with my experience, I have only played maybe 50, 60 games, but I’ve seen around 100 games and I’ve seen how the greatest people have finished the games and how do they change their game according to the game.”Explaining the contrast between different match situations, Sanju highlighted how adaptability is key in T20 cricket.“So I think the last game we were batting first, so it was all about setting a very high score. So that’s how I wanted to go big right from ball one. But this game was completely different. I think as soon as I wanted to go a bit higher, we were losing wickets. So I think I wanted to build a partnership, wanted to keep focusing on my process.”He insisted that he was not chasing milestones, but simply concentrating on his role.“And I never felt that I will do something special like this, but I was just focusing on my role and just keeping one ball at a time and very grateful. I think this is one of the greatest days of my life.”Sanju also admitted that even amid crowd support and momentum, doubt can creep in.“Yeah, definitely they do bring a lot of energy and they do bring a lot of support. But I think on the other end, there is always a question, what if not? So definitely that keeps on playing in your mind.”His solution, he explained, was to stay grounded in the present.“But when that thought kept on coming, I just brought myself into the present moment and just looked at the ball and trusted myself to react according to the ball in merit. So I think that worked out pretty well today.”

Top stocks to buy (AI image)

Stock market recommendations: Siemens Energy, and Polycab are Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd’s top stock recommendations for this week starting March 2, 2026. Below is the rationale and target prices:

Siemens EnergySiemens Energy is well positioned to benefit from the domestic and global T&D capex cycle, supported by energy transition tailwinds and rising transformer demand. Incremental capacity expansion to 60,000 MVA reflects confidence in long-term demand visibility and export opportunities. Revenue grew 26% YoY, broadly in line, while EBITDA margin expanded 200bp YoY to 24.1%, aided by lower other expenses. Strong margins, higher other income, and a lower tax rate led to 57% YoY PAT growth. Order backlog rose 38% YoY, providing healthy revenue visibility/ We model 27%/31%/32% revenue/EBITDA/PAT CAGR over FY25–28E, led by robust transmission growth and steady generation recovery. We marginally tweak our estimates by 4%/1%/1% for FY26/27/28 and arrive at a revised TP of INR3,600 (earlier INR3,400), based on 55x Mar’28E EPS.PolycabPolycab continues to gain market share in the Cables & Wires segment, supported by strong distribution reach, premium product portfolio, and favourable demand from real estate, infrastructure, and urbanization trends. Project Spring targets growth at ~1.5x industry levels, strengthening long-term visibility. Temporary margin pressure from commodity inflation and elevated channel inventory has reversed quickly, with inventory normalizing and full cost pass-through implemented. Stabilizing raw material prices and strong underlying demand are expected to drive sequential margin improvement and earnings recovery. Premiumization, rising brand investments, and deeper distribution penetration are accelerating growth across wires and FMEG categories. We expect ~16%/19%/18% revenue/EBITDA/PAT CAGR over FY26-28, supported by strong cash flows, disciplined capex, and improving operating leverage.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally started the process to replace its old fleet of VIP transport aircraft by issuing a ‘request for information’ (RFI) for 4-6 new Long Range Business Jets (LRBJs) that are meant for secure, rapid and reliable transportation of the military leadership and govt dignitaries.The RFI, which is the first stage to identify potential vendors and understand available technology before initiating a formal purchase, aims at modernising the Air Headquarters Communication Squadron based at Palam, Delhi. The current fleet of four Embraer Legacy 600 jets have already served for over 20 years and are slated for a phased replacement.

“IAF is planning to procure approximately four/six Long Range Business Jets. With the view to identify probable vendors who can undertake the said project, OEMs/ authorised vendors are requested to forward information on the product which they can offer,” the RFI posted on the IAF website said. “The LRBJs will be used for VIP role with passenger carrying capacity of minimum 19 passengers,” it said.The existing fleet, which was inducted on Sept 21, 2005, comprises four Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft that have been designated as Meghdoot, Vayudoot, Nabhdoot and Gagandoot.However, the LRBJs are different from the aircraft that are meant only for India’s top three VVIPs: the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, known by the call sign ‘Air India One’, are specially modified, secure and exclusive jets for the top three VVIPs.On the other hand, the LRBJ aircraft are meant for the movement of senior govt functionaries, including the ministers of defence, finance, home and external affairs, as well as the chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and IAF.

Actor-comedian Rajpal Yadav recently addressed the media in Mumbai amid the ongoing Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case, arriving at the press conference with his lawyer Bhaskar Upadhyay. During the interaction, he spoke about his legal battle, the support he has received and the scale of his upcoming work.Reacting to Sonu Sood’s recent comment about offering him work, Rajpal told Screen, “Please get over the misconception that I need to keep asking for work. And there is no shame in asking for work. I live through my job, cinema is my passion, and I work in such a way that I get four times more work. I work even on vacations. Work doesn’t find me, it has lived with me for the last 11 years.”

Speaking about his upcoming slate, he added, “I am doing my first film this year with Priyanji, Bhoot Bangla, then I have Welcome To The Jungle, where there are 27 actors, and then there is Haiwaan, where I played a small but amazing role. I have two web series and two other films, which I cannot talk about as of now.”

Projects worth over Rs 1000 crore

At the press conference, Rajpal revealed that he has projects committed for the next seven years, including branding ventures valued at over Rs 1000 crore. He said he has signed four agreements — not including films — with individual projects ranging between Rs 200 crore and Rs 2000 crore. His income structure, he explained, includes a mix of professional fees and equity participation. He also confirmed that he is committed to 10 films in the coming period.

Support during jail term and legal relief

The actor also spoke about the support he received during his time in jail, sharing that contributions poured in from across the country — from children sending savings from their piggy banks to transfers amounting to Rs 1 crore through social media. He said he plans to issue a formal statement thanking supporters, including a few individuals he wishes to acknowledge personally, while respecting those who want to remain anonymous. He added that he intends to return the financial help once given time. For those unaware, the Delhi High Court recently granted interim suspension of Rajpal Yadav’s sentence in the cheque bounce case until March 18. The bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount, noting that Rs 1.5 crore has already been deposited in the respondent’s bank account while granting relief.