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MVA picks Sharad Pawar for Maharashtra’s sole Rajya Sabha seat; nomination jolt for Aaditya Thackeray, win for Sanjay Raut | Mumbai News


Sanjay Raut (Left), Sharad Pawar (Centre), Aaditya Thackeray (Right)

MUMBAI: After strong claims made by all three of its constituents, MVA has finally decided to nominate NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar as its candidate for the alliance’s sole winnable RS seat from Maharashtra. Thursday is the last day to file nominations for the March 16 polls.State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal and party colleague Vijay Wadettiwar, along with NCP(SP) MP and Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, addressed a press conference at the Congress office in south Mumbai to announce Pawar’s name on Wednesday. Sule said Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had visited Pawar earlier in the day.

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Asked about Shiv Sena (UBT) politicians’ absence at the press meet to announce the name of Sharad Pawar as MVA candidate for the RS polls, Supriya Sule said Sanjay Raut had visited Pawar earlier in the day, indicating the party’s support for him. Later, Raut posted on social media, “Congress finally took the decision over Rajya Sabha. The MVA is one and will remain together.” Raut had repeatedly said Pawar would be MVA’s candidate, speaking in a tone different from that of Aaditya Thackeray, who had said UBT Sena should get the seat as the single largest party in MVA. Pawar’s nomination comes as a setback for Aaditya and has brought to light the rift between him and Raut, who had suggested Pawar’s name even before Aaditya batted for incumbent MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.Political observers said Raut has emerged a winner and set Sena (UBT)’s agenda. “Going by Raut’s word, it was almost certain the seat would be given to Pawar. In this scenario, the vehement and open attempt to stake claim (by Aaditya) has caused embarrassment. It seems there is a rift in the thought process in the party… This could have an impact on future nominations and the trust factor of the leadership. Sena (UBT) may now get the MLC seat (which will also go to polls), but the RS episode has left a dent,” an observer said. Congress had also claimed the RS seat, arguing it was needed for it to retain the leader of opposition’s post in RS. Sapkal said, “We initially expressed our strong opinion that we should get the seat and discussed it with Rahul Gandhi during his recent visit to the city. Our party president (Mallikarjun Kharge) decided to support Pawar, and he will be our candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls.”Congress had been trying to strike a bargain with Sena (UBT), offering its support for the legislative council seat set to be vacant next month as Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure ends. Sapkal, however, refused to comment about the party’s position on the council seat.Meanwhile, Pawar was discharged from hospital. Based on doctors’ advice and logistic support, the family will decide if he will visit Vidhan Bhavan to file his nomination or will explore alternatives.



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US troops say Iran war briefings invoked Armageddon, the return of Jesus: Report


US military (File photo)

Driving the newsA wave of complaints from US service members alleges that military commanders have linked the war with Iran to biblical end-times prophecy – including references to Armageddon and the return of Jesus, according to reporting by veteran journalist Jonathan Larsen on his Substack newsletter.The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) says it has received more than 110 complaints from troops across the US armed forces. The reports involve over 40 units across at least 30 military installations, according to Larsen’s reporting. Some complaints describe commanders framing the war as part of God’s plan and invoking biblical prophecy during official briefings.

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Zoom inAccording to a complaint described in Larsen’s Substack, a commander speaking to non-commissioned officers linked the war directly to biblical prophecy.The complaint says the commander told officers that President Donald Trump had been “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.”Another email from a service member described similar messaging delivered to troops in a unit currently outside the Iran combat zone but in Ready-Support status.The non-commissioned officer (NCO) said the commander encouraged leaders to relay a religious interpretation of the war.The NCO wrote that the commander “urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.”The email said the message was sent to MRFF on behalf of 15 troops, including at least 11 Christians, one Muslim and one Jewish service member.The NCO warned that the remarks could damage unit cohesion.The complaint said the statements “destroy morale and unit cohesion and are in violation of the oaths we swore to support the [C]onstitution.”According to Larsen’s reporting, MRFF is withholding the identities of complainants to prevent retaliation from the Defense Department.Why it mattersThe allegations highlight concerns about religious messaging inside the US military at a time when the country is engaged in a rapidly expanding conflict with Iran.MRFF president Mikey Weinstein told Larsen that the organization has been overwhelmed by complaints since the attacks on Iran began.He said the foundation had been “inundated” with messages from troops describing similar rhetoric from commanders.Weinstein argued that introducing religious ideology into official military communication could violate constitutional protections as well as the Uniform Code of Military Justice.He said, “Any military members seeking to take advantage of their subordinates by advancing their blood-soaked, Christian nationalist wet dreams upon the flames of this latest non-Congressionally sanctioned attack against Iran, should be swiftly, aggressively and visibly prosecuted.”According to Larsen’s reporting, the group says such complaints frequently arise when conflicts involving Israel erupt in the Middle East.Weinstein said the MRFF receives similar reports about Christian end-times theology whenever it “blows up with Israel in the Middle East.”

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The big pictureThe controversy unfolds amid broader debate about the growing influence of evangelical Christianity in US politics and military culture.Larsen’s report notes that defense secretary Pete Hegseth has promoted religious gatherings within the Pentagon and the White House.

  • Monthly prayer meetings have been broadcast within the Pentagon.
  • Hegseth attends a weekly White House Bible study led by preacher Ralph Drollinger.
  • The Bible study emphasizes theological arguments for supporting Israel.
  • Hegseth has also spoken openly about faith during government prayer events.

At one gathering, he said, “This is … I think, exactly where we need to be as a nation, at this moment, in prayer, on bended knee, recognizing the providence of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.”Critics say the growing visibility of Christian nationalism inside national security institutions raises questions about whether religious ideology is influencing military messaging or strategy.Supporters counter that faith has long played a role in American political life.Between the linesThe religious controversy emerges as the Trump administration faces mounting questions about why the US launched the war against Iran.Reporting by Politico and the Financial Times suggests the White House has struggled to present a consistent explanation for the conflict.Officials have cited multiple justifications for the attacks, including nuclear threats, ballistic missile development and the defense of Israel.Secretary of state Marco Rubio said the administration acted pre-emptively to avoid future attacks.Rubio told reporters, “We knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.”But critics argue that the rationale for the war has shifted repeatedly since the strikes began.Democratic congressman Jake Auchincloss told the Financial Times that the administration had offered several explanations in quick succession.He said President Donald Trump had presented “four different rationales for the war in the last 72 hours.”

strait of Hormuz gfx2

What they are sayingPolitical allies and commentators within the MAGA movement have also raised concerns about the administration’s messaging.According to a Politico report, some Trump allies fear that a prolonged conflict could undermine support among voters who backed the president’s promise to avoid new Middle Eastern wars.A former Trump administration official told Politico that rising casualties could change the public narrative.The official said, “I don’t put a timeline, I put a bodycount.”Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett also warned that questions about the war’s purpose could intensify if the conflict drags on.He said, “A significant, if not majority of the base, will be with him no matter what he does, but there are growing voices in this coalition.”Conservative communications executive Vanessa Santos told Politico that political support depends heavily on how quickly the war ends.She said, “MAGA is not anti-force; It is anti-forever war.”What’s nextThe future of the US- Iran conflict may depend on two factors: How long the war lasts and whether the administration can articulate a clear strategy.President Donald Trump himself has offered shifting timelines for the conflict.At times he has suggested the fighting could end within weeks, while at other moments he has warned it could continue indefinitely.Trump said, “Whatever it takes.”Meanwhile, the war is already reshaping the geopolitical landscape. The conflict has destabilized oil markets, disrupted regional shipping routes and triggered retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.As the fighting intensifies, the allegations of religious rhetoric within military briefings could add another layer of controversy to a war that remains politically and strategically unsettled.(With inputs from agencies)



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IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal 2 Match Prediction: Who will win today’s game between India and England?



The stage is perfectly set for a thrilling contest as defending champions India prepare to face England in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, March 5. With a place in the final at stake, fans can expect a high-intensity battle between two of the strongest sides in world cricket.

Interestingly, this will be the third straight T20 World Cup semi-final clash between India and England. Their recent meetings have produced contrasting results – England dominated with a 10-wicket win in 2022, while India responded strongly with a commanding 68-run victory in 2024. That history adds even more drama to what is already a highly anticipated encounter.

India have looked impressive throughout most of the tournament. They topped their group with an unbeaten record before suffering a setback against South Africa in the Super Eight stage. However, the team quickly regained momentum with convincing wins over Zimbabwe and the West Indies. One of the standout moments came from Sanju Samson, whose brilliant unbeaten 97 off just 50 balls against the Caribbean side powered India into the semi-finals.

England, on the other hand, had a slightly shaky start to the tournament. They suffered a defeat to West Indies in the group stage and narrowly escaped against teams like Nepal and Italy. But as the competition progressed, Harry Brook’s side found their rhythm. England have been in superb form in the Super Eight stage, winning all three matches and extending their current winning streak to five games.

IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal 2: Match details

  • Date and Time: March 5; 7:00 pm IST / 1:30 pm GMT
  • Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

IND vs ENG, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

Matches played: 29 | India won: 17 | England won: 12 | No result: 0

Wankhede Pitch Report

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has delivered more balanced playing conditions than many expected during the T20 World Cup 2026. In the seven matches played so far, the average first-innings score has hovered around 162, indicating that the pitch has not behaved like the typically high-scoring IPL surfaces seen at the venue. As expected, teams batting second have enjoyed greater success, winning four of those matches, while in three games the target has been successfully defended.

The surface has offered noticeable assistance to bowlers, particularly in the early overs, making it crucial for batters to take time to settle before accelerating. Instead of relying purely on power-hitting, teams have found success by rotating the strike, building partnerships, and playing calculated strokes to reach competitive totals.

Traditionally, Wankhede is known as a chasing venue due to the possibility of dew in night games. Therefore, the captain winning the toss is still likely to opt for bowling first.

Squads

India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 – India vs England 2nd Semi-Final Ticket Prices and Sitting Details

IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal 2: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

  • India wins the toss and bowls first
  • England’s powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
  • England’s total score: 180-190

Case 2:

  • England wins the toss and bowls first
  • India’s powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
  • India’s total score: 210-220

Match result: India to win the contest.

Also READ: Mohammad Amir makes a bold prediction ahead of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final clash with England



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Rohit Pawar claims Eknath Shinde’s plane was grounded for 2 hours; new flight plan filed | Mumbai News


Rohit Pawar, Eknath Shinde

MUMBAI: Rohit Pawar has claimed that a VSR flight with then CM Eknath Shinde was forced to turn back from Iraq to Bahrain as it did not have prior permission to fly over Iraq airspace during his trip to the Davos summit in 2023.“The aircraft was treated as an unidentified aircraft by Iraqi authorities and a security concern was raised. The plane had to do an air turnback and return to Bahrain,” Rohit alleged, adding that the incident put the then CM’s life at risk. “If VSR could treat a flight carrying a CM like this, it shows how negligent the company is with its flight operations,” he said.

Shinde plane was grounded for 2 hrs; new flight plan filed

TOI spoke with sources and gathered more information about the flight. “The aircraft departed Mumbai at 11.50pm IST on Jan 15 and landed in Bahrain at 12.47am local time on Jan 16,” said a source. It departed Bahrain at 2.30am, but after entering Iraqi airspace was forced to turn back and landed again in Bahrain at 4am. After remaining on the ground for more than two hours while the charter company filed a fresh flight plan, the aircraft took off at 6.57am local time and later continued to Zurich on a revised route that overflew Iran over the Zagros mountains.Overflight clearance is a mandatory, legal requirement before entering a country’s sovereign airspace. Each country has its own norms framed using recommendations listed in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Annex 6. The overflight clearance is issued by the country’s civil aviation regulator and/or the airport authority concerned and the permit allows an aircraft to overfly the country’s airspace without landing while using and paying for the navigation facilities provided by its airports’ air traffic control. To overfly Indian airspace on a foreign aircraft, for instance, charter operators must apply to the Airports Authority of India at least three working days in advance. “Entering a country’s airspace without prior clearance is treated as a serious security violation because unidentified aircraft can be perceived as potential threats. Air defence systems may scramble fighter aircraft or force the aircraft to exit the airspace immediately,” said a senior commander.Questioning the regulator’s response, Rohit asked why the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had not initiated an investigation into the incident. “This is a serious security lapse, but there has been no investigation, nothing,” he said.



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T20 World Cup 2026: India, England ready for shootout at Wankhede | Cricket News


T20 World Cup 2026: India, England ready for shootout at Wankhede
Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on March 01, 2026 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: The mercury reached uncomfortable levels on Wednesday, with weather forecast apps flashing a “danger of dehydration and heatstroke if outside for extended periods of time” warning. There were occasional moderate breezes, but they were not strong enough to make it a pleasant afternoon. The pitch baked under the harsh sun for most of the day, and the ground staff gently rolled it to keep it game-ready for the semi-final between India and England.From a distance, it seemed to have a nice green tinge, but it was the typical misleading sub-continent green. Its only role was to bind the surface together and prevent it from deteriorating and drying more than normal. The centre strip naturally drew the most attention when the two teams trained on the eve of the match, and both camps hummed similar tunes as they expect it to offer plenty of runs. When India trained two days before the match, light dew started settling on the outfield, but it was not alarming. However, the sudden shift in the weather pattern could make it another talking point.

Why India vs England semi-final match will be a nightmare for bowlers | T20 World Cup 2026

India bowling coach Morne Morkel delved deeply into the subject, explaining at length why the extra bounce at the venue is a double-edged sword. Having played and watched a lot of cricket at the Wankhede, Morkel asserted that margins here are smaller than at most venues because the “ball travels.”“Look, I think the dew is always a big concern. But that’s again something you can’t control, which is the toss. I think here at Wankhede there’s always that extra bit of bounce. Guys can trust the bounce and hit through the line. But in saying that, that can also, as a bowler, bring you into the game. I just felt, or feel, that the margins here are a lot smaller, the ball travels. It’s quite a small ground. So, yeah, you just need to be really fighting for that over, stay in the moment and compete every ball because, like I said, a batter’s strength can also be his weakness on this surface. So it’s sometimes not to go too defensive and to keep attacking, because opportunities can come,” said Morkel in the pre-match presser.The last time India played England at this venue, they won by 150 runs. In that game, Abhishek Sharma smashed a 54-ball 135, including 13 sixes and seven boundaries, and the opener later picked up two wickets to seal an emphatic win. The stakes, however, are different this time because this is not an inconsequential bilateral fixture but the semi-final of the T20 World Cup.Harry Brook-led England have aced different conditions to progress to the semi-final stage, and Morkel is wary of the challenges they bring to the table. The former South African cricketer felt that the team which holds its nerve, reads the conditions well and is quickest will probably be the one that flies to Ahmedabad.“Playing against England, they’re a team that’s street smart. Obviously, there’s a lot of quality in their side, batting quite long and deep, which makes them a very dangerous side. And then with the ball also, they’ve got wicket-taking options. I think the way they approach a T20 game, fearless and trying to take the game on, will give you opportunities and makes them a dangerous side. So I feel tomorrow is going to be a good shootout between two aggressive teams. And the side that can hold its nerve, play the conditions, read some of the conditions quite well and be the quickest, I reckon, will come out on top,” added Morkel.Neither team has had a perfect game in the tournament so far. The two-time champions will collide in front of a capacity crowd, and the outcome will depend on who aces the challenge. India have had their moments, sealed important junctures in games and managed to win all matches except the fixture against South Africa.The heavy defeat in Ahmedabad set them back, making their remaining games virtual knockouts, and Suryakumar Yadav and Co. have responded well to the challenges they faced. Against Zimbabwe in Chennai, there were signs of the batting unit coming together, but there were early hiccups against the West Indies in Ahmedabad before Sanju Samson dropped anchor, and what a performance it was.The focus, however, will not be the batters but on India’s x-factor Varun Chakravarthy, who single-handedly destroyed England in the five-match T20I series. Varun returned with a haul of 14 wickets, and England’s batters remained clueless against the mystery spinner. The tournament began strongly for Varun, but he seemed to lose his rhythm in the Super 8 stage. The habit of picking up a wicket in every game has continued, but the penetration has not been the same, especially since the hammering he received from South Africa in Ahmedabad.The day before the match, he returned to his routine of bowling at a single stump, and the entire support staff rallied around him as the spinner completed his drills. The coaching staff had normal conversations with Varun, ensuring he walked away feeling good about his bowling. He is an important player who could be the difference between the two sides in the high-pressure fixture on Thursday.

Poll

What factor do you think will play the most significant role in the T20 World Cup semi-final between India and England?

“I keep telling him that in our bowling lineup, with the skill and variation Varun has got, he has the ability to take a wicket almost every ball. So if he goes for a boundary, he has not executed as well as possible. For him it is just about moving on to the next one and making sure he commits to that next ball. I think he’s a highly skilful guy, hard to pick once you walk to the crease. So for him it is just about getting that confidence with the ball, getting his speed, length and control right, and not trying to overthink it. I think with Varun at times, to his credit, he wants to be a big performer for the team, so he puts a little pressure on himself. But, yeah, he’s a match-winner for us, and for him it is just to stay and bowl every ball and make sure it is his best ball,” said Morkel.India have managed to deal with pressure in their last two must-win games. They must embrace that same approach for two more matches if they are to become the only side in the world to win a T20 World Cup at home and defend the title. The shootout at Wankhede is the first challenge.



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Rockets, missiles and drones fly across Iran and Israel; Middle East remains tense — how the war is unfolding


Rockets, missiles and drones fly across Iran and Israel; Middle East remains tense — how the war is unfolding

Israel launched pre-dawn strikes on Lebanon Thursday and said it was intercepting fresh missiles from Iran, as a war launched by the United States and Israel widened across the Middle East.The escalation comes as a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and the US Senate voted down a War Powers resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s military action, ‘Operation Epic Fury’, against Iran.The conflict entered its sixth day after US and Israeli strikes on Saturday killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other key figures, triggering retaliation from Tehran across the region.More than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. US and Israel said they targeted Iran’s leadership, missile arsenal and nuclear program, while suggesting that toppling the government is a goal. However, shifting statements on objectives and timelines have pointed to what could become an open-ended conflict.Follow US-Israel-Iran War Live Updates

Iran launches fresh missiles at Israel

Iran launched a fresh round of missiles at Israel early Thursday, triggering alerts in several areas including Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli military and Tehran’s state media. There were no immediate reports of casualties.Iran has been hitting sites across the region in retaliation after the United States and Israel launched strikes against it on Saturday. Iran also fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel as the conflict spiraled.Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards claimed to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that “The Americans’ mischief and deceit could lead to the collapse of the entire military and economic infrastructure of the region.” IRGC claimed Wednesday “the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republic’s Navy.”A ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading towards Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria was destroyed by Nato air defense systems, Turkish officials said. The Saudi ministry of defense announced that it successfully intercepted and destroyed three cruise missiles outside the city of Al-Kharj.

Air strike hits Hezbollah stronghold

An airstrike hit the Hezbollah stronghold of south Beirut early Thursday, after Israel had issued a warning to residents.Elsewhere, three people were killed in a pair of Israeli strikes on vehicles along Beirut’s airport highway, Lebanon’s health ministry said. Prior to these strikes, officials had said 72 people had been killed and more than 83,000 others displaced since the start of a new round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.Israel also traded fire with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.Israel said it also hit buildings associated with Iran’s Basij, the all-volunteer force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard whose bloody crackdown on protesters in January left thousands dead.

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US submarine sinks Iranian warship

A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, as Washington and Israel intensified their bombardment of Iran’s security forces and other symbols of power.US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a torpedo from an American submarine sank the vessel Tuesday night. Sri Lankan authorities said 32 people were rescued from the ship, while the country’s navy said it recovered 87 bodies.The tempo of the strikes on Iran was so intense that state television announced the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict, would be postponed. Millions attended the funeral of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.The US Senate voted down a War Powers resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s military action, ‘Operation Epic Fury’, against Iran, with the measure failing 47-53 on mostly party lines, Fox News reported.Only Senator Rand Paul voted in favour of the resolution, while Jon Fetterman was the lone Democrat to cross the aisle in support of a move that helped the GOP defeat the measure. Democrats argued that Trump’s actions were another instance of him disregarding Congress’ authority to use military force, that they lacked a clear strategy going forward and, further, that they were yet another campaign promise he had broken, Fox News reported.Polls showed that eight in 10 Republicans approve of the current US use of force, while nearly eight in 10 Democrats disapprove and six in 10 independents disapprove. Among voters who have served in the military, 59 per cent approve of the US strikes on Iran.President Donald Trump hailed the US performance in the war and said Iran’s leaders were rapidly being killed. “We’re doing well on the war front, to put it mildly. Somebody said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about a 15,”

Energy supplies in the crosshairs

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued its most-intense threat yet, saying the strikes against it would result in “the complete destruction of the region’s military and economic infrastructure.”Tanker traffic through the strait has fallen by around 90% compared to prewar levels, shipping tracker MarineTraffic.com said. Oil prices have soared and global stock markets have been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy.A tanker anchored off the coast of Kuwait was hit by a “large explosion” on Thursday, causing an oil spill in the Persian Gulf. The British maritime security agency UKMTO said the incident took place in the Mubarak Al-Kabeer area. The vessel’s Master reported hearing a loud blast on the port side, after which a small craft was seen leaving the area. The tanker has taken on some water but there are no fires onboard, and all crew members are safe.

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Iran’s clerics choose new supreme leader

Iran’s leaders are scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It’s only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen.Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement. Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei’s son, has long been considered among them — though he has never been elected or appointed to a government position.In a sign that Iran’s leadership will only seek to consolidate its power as it faces its biggest crisis in decades, the head of the judiciary warned that “those who cooperate with the enemy in any way will be considered an enemy.”Israel’s defense minister, Katz, said on X that Iran’s next supreme leader, if he continues to threaten Israel, the US and others, “will be a target for elimination.”

Diplomatic reactions and mediation efforts

Spain doubled down on its opposition to Washington’s use of its bases against Iran, after Trump’s threats of trade reprisals. The White House said Madrid had now agreed to cooperate, but Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said its stance on “bases, on the war in the Middle East, on the bombardment of Iran, has not changed at all.”China will send a special envoy to mediate in the Middle East, foreign minister Wang Yi said. Beijing is a close partner of Iran and has said it backs Tehran in defending its sovereignty, while urging the United States and Israel to cease their attacks.



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Another setback for Trump admin: US court says firms that paid tariffs struck down by Supreme Court must be refunded


Another setback for Trump admin: US court says firms that paid tariffs struck down by Supreme Court must be refunded

Weeks after Trump’s tariffs were invalidated by the US Supreme Court, the administration has suffered another setback, with a New York federal judge ruling that the companies which paid the now-struck-down duties are entitled to refunds.Judge Richard Eaton of the US Court of International Trade, on Wednesday (local time), announced that “all importers of record” are “entitled to benefit” from last month’s Supreme Court decision that struck down the double-digit import taxes imposed by President Donald Trump under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

FULL RANT: Trump Explodes After Supreme Court ‘Humiliation’, Slaps New 10% Tariff In Shock Revenge

Back in February, US Supreme Court had declared the tariffs unconstitutional, including the sweeping “reciprocal” duties applied to nearly every country. The majority held that the US president does not have the authority to independently impose or alter tariffs, noting that taxation powers lie with Congress.Providing direction on how refund disputes will be handled, Eaton said he alone “will hear cases pertaining to the refund of IEEPA duties.” The Supreme Court’s previous ruling had not addressed the mechanics of refunds, leaving uncertainty that the trade court order now seeks to resolve. Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at King & Spalding and a former US trade official, told AP that the administration is likely to challenge the ruling or “seek a stay to buy more time for US Customs to comply.Data from the Penn Wharton Budget Model shows the federal government had collected more than $130 billion in the scrapped tariffs through mid-December and could ultimately face refund obligations of about $175 billion.The latest order stems from a case brought by Atmus Filtration, a Nashville, Tennessee-based maker of filtration products, which argued it was entitled to recover the duties it had paid.Under US Customs and Border Protection procedures, imported goods undergo a “liquidation” process, during which the agency issues its final calculation of duties owed. Importers then have 180 days to challenge those duties; after that, the assessment becomes legally final.Eaton directed customs authorities to halt collection of the IEEPA tariffs on shipments still in the liquidation pipeline. For goods that have already passed that stage, the agency must recalculate the duties without including the invalid tariffs.“This is a great decision for importers and consumers who paid,” said Barry Appleton, a law professor and co-director of New York Law School’s Center for International Law. “It will make customs brokers busy. It should make things easier for the courts, and get a process underway for those importers who paid within the last 180 days.”The ruling follows another setback for the administration earlier this week, when a separate federal court refused its bid to slow the refund process. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has since moved the matter forward by sending it to the New York trade court to work out the details.Attention now turns to the US Customs and Border Protection agency, which must design a system capable of handling the payouts. While the agency routinely issues refunds in cases of error, trade lawyer Alexis Early, a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, noted that its framework was “not designed for a mass refund.” She added, “The devil will be in the details of the administrative process.”



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Russian shadow fleet LNG tanker sinks after ‘sudden explosions’ off Libya coast


A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, the Arctic Metagaz, has sunk in the central Mediterranean between Libya and Malta after a “sudden explosion” triggered a massive blaze on board, Libya’s ports and maritime transport authority said on Wednesday.They added that all 30 crew members were rescued in nearby Libyan waters.Libya’s ports and maritime transport authority said Arctic Metagaz tanker “had experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking,” ultimately led to the tanker’s complete sinking north of the Libyan coast.There have been no immediate reports of casualties among the crew.According to local reports, Russia’s transport ministry later accused Ukraine of launching a naval‑drone attack against the tanker from the Libyan coast, claiming that the Arctic Metagaz was struck by uncrewed surface vessels, but Kyiv has not publicly commented on the allegation.

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Maltese armed forces, whose Rescue Coordination Centre helped coordinate the response, said survivors from the Arctic Metagaz were found in a lifeboat inside Libya’s search‑and‑rescue area and were all reported safe.Tracking data showed the ship had earlier loaded LNG at a Russian floating storage unit before sailing around Western Europe into the Mediterranean, where its Automatic Identification System signal disappeared roughly 30 nautical miles off Malta’s northeastern coast prior to the fire.The Armed Forces of Malta said they were alerted to a distress situation involving the Arctic Metagaz outside Malta’s search‑and‑rescue region and initiated verification procedures, locating the vessel and working with international partners before survivors were later found in a lifeboat in Libyan waters.According to Maltese and Libyan authorities, the crew abandoned ship as the fire spread, and were subsequently transferred to another vessel after rescue coordination messages were broadcast to nearby shipping.



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Mumbai Hit And Run News: Navi Mumbai hit-and-run: 24-year-old biker’s head severed after rear-impact crash; pillion critical | Mumbai News


A 24-year-old man was tragically killed in a hit-and-run on Palm Beach Road near Sanpada, his head severed due to the severe impact (AI image)

NAVI MUMBAI: A 24-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run incident on Palm Beach road near Sanpada on Tuesday. The impact of the crash was so severe that the man was decapitated as his bike skid for about 50 meters.

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The 19-year-old girl riding pillion was seriously injured. According to police, an unidentified vehicle rammed into the bike from behind and sped away. The deceased, identified as Prashant Jamdade, works for a private firm. The pillion rider, Harman Kaur, sustained severe injuries to her head and both legs and has been admitted in the ICU. PSI Suraj Raut informed that the two friends were returning after celebrating Holika Dahan. Around 3 am, when they reached near Sanpada, the unidentified vehicle rammed into their bike.“We checked all the CCTV camera footages along the stretch of road where the mishap occurred to get some lead of the unidentified vehicle that hit the bike. Unfortunately, there is no CCTV camera installed near the accident spot,” he said. An FIR has been registered at Sanpada police station against the unidentified driver under BNS and Motor Vehicle Act.



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