NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Saturday downplayed reports that Russia may have shared intelligence with Iran to help target American forces in the Middle East, saying such information was “not helping Iran much” as the conflict continues to escalate.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling to Miami, Trump suggested that even if Moscow had provided Tehran with targeting information, it had made little difference on the battlefield.“I hope they are not. If you take a look at what’s happened to Iran in the last week, if they’re getting information, it’s not helping them much,” Trump said.The US president did not confirm reports that American intelligence agencies believe Russia may have provided Iran with information to target US military personnel and assets in the region.However, he indicated that even if such intelligence sharing had taken place, Iran had gained little from it.When asked whether Russian assistance to Iran could affect the US-Russia relationship, Trump dismissed the concern.“They’d say we do it against them,” Trump responded. “Wouldn’t they say that we do it against them?”Trump made the remarks after attending the dignified transfer ceremony for six US Army reservists who were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait, a day after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran.The week-old conflict has rapidly escalated across the Middle East, rattling global markets and raising concerns about energy supplies.Trump’s comments also came days after the US Treasury Department announced a 30-day waiver allowing India to continue purchasing crude oil and petroleum products from Russia.The decision drew criticism from lawmakers in Washington.Democratic Representative Ted Lieu of California criticised the move in a post on X, urging the administration to reverse the decision.“Reverse your decision to lift oil sanctions on Russia. It is traitorous conduct for you to help Russia,” Lieu said. “Meanwhile, Russia is assisting Iran in targeting American troops.”However, India has maintained that it does not require permission from any country to buy Russian oil.According to a senior government official quoted by PTI, the US waiver merely removes friction rather than shaping India’s energy policy.The Iran conflict has also sent global oil prices sharply higher. The war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage that carries about 20 million barrels of oil per day from the Persian Gulf to global markets.With ships unable to safely navigate the route and key energy facilities damaged in the region, supplies from some of the world’s largest oil producers have been affected.

Trump rules out using strategic oil reserve

When asked whether the United States would tap its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to ease rising oil prices, Trump appeared to dismiss the idea for now.“We’ve got a lot of oil. Our country has a tremendous amount,” Trump said. “There’s a lot of oil out there. That’ll get healed very quickly.”The reserve currently holds more than 415 million barrels of crude oil, though its total capacity exceeds 700 million barrels.Trump also suggested he was open to other steps to stabilise prices if needed, saying “If there were some, I would do it, just to take a little of the pressure off.”

BHIWANDI: A 35-year-old woman was arrested in Bapgaon, Bhiwandi, after a video showing her allegedly assaulting her three-year-old adopted daughter went viral on social media, police said.The accused, Reshma Sheikh (name changed to prevent identity), allegedly attacked the child after the girl addressed a neighbour as “mother”, which reportedly enraged the woman. Police said the family lived in the Bapgaon locality of Bhiwandi, and the child was adopted in Dec last year.Police said that after returning home, the woman began beating the child severely. During the assault, the woman’s husband allegedly recorded the incident on his mobile phone. The viral video reportedly showed the woman hitting the child and threatening her not to call the neighbour “mother” again.In a part of the video, the woman was seen putting chilli powder into the child’s mouth and eyes. The child was seencrying loudly in pain while the woman continued to scold and threaten her.Following the circulation of the video online, Padgha police registered a case against both the woman and her husband. Police said that while the husband reportedly tried to verbally stop his wife during the recording, he did not make any serious effort to physically intervene and prevent the assault, and he was named as an accused.Police Inspector Jitendra Thakur of Padgha police station said a case was registered against the couple, and the woman was arrested. “We have taken immediate action after the video surfaced. The accused woman has been arrested, and further investigation is underway,” he said.The child was rescued and sent to a child care home for protection and further care.Police said the accused woman was a homemaker, while her husband worked outside the Kalyan Court, preparing notary-related documents. Authorities continued the investigation.

As aviation disruptions ripple across parts of the Middle East, dedicated cargo flights are flying fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods into the UAE to ensure supermarket shelves remain stocked. Retailers have begun arranging special shipments of produce from overseas markets, aiming to maintain steady supplies for residents despite pressure on regional air transport and logistics networks.

Fresh food airlifted into the UAE

One of the latest cargo shipments arrived in Abu Dhabi on March 7 aboard a freighter operated by Etihad Airways, carrying around 12,000 packages of fruits and vegetables from India. The consignment weighed roughly 80,000 kilograms, highlighting the scale of efforts underway to move fresh food into the country quickly.

The shipment was organised by LuLu Group International, which operates one of the UAE’s largest supermarket networks. The produce is expected to be distributed across stores nationwide, helping ensure customers continue to find fresh items on grocery shelves.For retailers, speed is critical when it comes to highly perishable products. Air cargo allows produce to arrive within hours rather than days, preserving quality and preventing supply disruptions.

Why are food imports flown into Abu Dhabi?

The decision to rely on chartered cargo flights comes as aviation routes across parts of the Middle East face disruption due to regional geopolitical tensions. Some passenger flights have been suspended or rerouted, reducing the cargo capacity that typically moves fresh food between international markets and the Gulf.Passenger aircraft often carry large volumes of fresh produce in their cargo holds. When these flights are cancelled or limited, retailers must find alternative ways to transport goods quickly.To avoid delays that could affect supermarket availability, companies are turning to dedicated cargo flights that can bring in produce directly from major sourcing markets.Industry analysts say the move reflects how global supply chains adapt during disruptions. Instead of relying on routine passenger flights or sea freight, retailers shift to faster logistics options when fresh food supplies are at stake.

What does this mean for UAE residents?

For shoppers across the UAE, the shipments are designed to maintain normal supermarket availability. The country imports a significant share of its food, particularly fresh produce, making efficient logistics essential for daily grocery supply.Retailers say fresh food arriving on cargo flights will quickly reach supermarket shelves through established distribution networks across the Emirates. The aim is to ensure residents continue to find fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods without major disruptions.Officials and industry players also point to the UAE’s broader food security strategy. The country maintains diversified sourcing markets and supply routes to ensure steady imports even during regional disruptions.These systems, combined with private sector logistics networks, help retailers respond quickly when global transport routes face sudden changes.

More food imports are planned

Retailers continue to bring in produce from international suppliers, so additional cargo flights are expected in the coming days. Shipments are being arranged from cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Melbourne, reflecting the UAE’s wide network of agricultural sourcing markets.Such logistics operations underline the scale and complexity of the country’s food supply chain. From overseas farms to supermarket shelves, fresh produce often travels thousands of kilometres before reaching consumers.For now, retailers say the priority is simple: keep fresh food moving into the country so residents can continue shopping normally despite turbulence affecting global aviation routes.Fresh food airlifted into UAE by LuLu to help keep supermarket shelves stocked

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The stage is set for a thrilling finale as defending champions India prepare to face New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With more than 130,000 fans expected to pack the stadium and millions watching across the globe, the match promises to be a historic occasion for world cricket.

India head into the final with the chance to achieve several remarkable milestones. A victory would make them the first team in history to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title. It would also mark the first time a host nation has lifted the Men’s T20 World Cup trophy. Perhaps most significantly, India would become the first side to win three T20 World Cup titles, adding the 2026 crown to their previous triumphs in 2007 and 2024.

New Zealand, however, have their own piece of history within reach. The Black Caps are chasing their first-ever T20 World Cup title after finishing as runners-up in the 2021 edition. Sunday’s clash will be their second appearance in a T20 World Cup final, and the team will be determined to finally go one step further.

Despite India’s strong campaign, the team does have a couple of concerns heading into the final. Opener Abhishek Sharma, who currently sits at the top of the ICC T20 rankings, has struggled for consistency during the tournament. Apart from one fifty-plus score, he endured a difficult group stage that included three consecutive ducks. Meanwhile, India’s leading spinner Varun Chakravarthy – also ranked number one – has managed only four wickets since the group stage and had a tough outing against England in the semifinal, conceding 64 runs in four overs.

New Zealand, on the other hand, appear to be hitting peak form at the perfect time. Opener Tim Seifert has been in excellent touch, scoring three half-centuries in the tournament. He also shared a crucial 117-run opening partnership with Finn Allen in the semifinal against South Africa, setting the tone for New Zealand’s dominant performance.

IND vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2026 Final: Match details

• Date and Time: March 8; 7:00 pm IST / 1:30 pm GMT
• Venue: Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad

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

Matches played: 30 | India won: 18 | New Zealand won: 11 | No result: 01

Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch for the T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball, with conditions favouring aggressive stroke play. The surface is believed to be prepared using a mix of red and black soil, which generally produces good bounce and some assistance for fast bowlers. Overall, the track is likely to be batting-friendly, similar to the high-scoring surface seen at Wankhede Stadium during the semifinal.

Interestingly, this particular pitch has been used only once in the tournament so far – during the Canada vs South Africa match on February 9. In that game, South Africa posted a massive total of 213 runs and went on to win by 53 runs. Since then, the surface has remained largely untouched, making it one of the freshest pitches available for the final.

Ground officials believe the pitch will provide a “true” surface, ensuring a fair contest between both teams. With limited assistance expected for spinners, fast bowlers could play a decisive role. India will rely on the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh with the new ball, while New Zealand’s Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson will also look to exploit the bounce and pace on offer.

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

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Cole McConchie, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 Final – India vs New Zealand Ticket Prices and Booking Details

IND vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2026 Final: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• India wins the toss and bats first
• India’s powerplay score: 60-70 (6 overs)
• India’s total score: 210-220

Case 2:

• New Zealand wins the toss and bats first
• New Zealand’s powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
• New Zealand’s total score: 180-190

Match result: India to win the contest.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony – Performers, Timings and Everything You Need to Know

US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that the United States had eliminated the entire leadership in Iran, describing the actions as removing a major “cancer” from the face of the earth.Trump made the remarks aboard Air Force One while en route to Miami. Reflecting on the week-long conflict, he asserted, “We’re winning the war by a lot. We’ve decimated their whole evil empire. It’ll continue I’m sure for a little while…The war itself is going unbelievably. It’s as good as it can be.”He detailed the military achievements of the US in the conflict, saying, “We’ve wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We’ve wiped out their air force, every plane. We’ve wiped out most of their missiles. You see the missiles aren’t coming much anymore. We’ve also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down and we’ve hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have we’ve wiped out.“When asked about allegations that the US bombed an elementary girls’ school in Iran, Trump flatly denied responsibility and blamed Iran, saying, “No, I don’t believe so. Based on what I’ve seen that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they’re very inaccurate as you know with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran.”On the projected six-week timeline for military operations, Trump said, “I never project time, whatever it takes. But the (Iranian) military is almost nonexistent. We could hit their military itself very hard but maybe we will, maybe we won’t, we haven’t made that determination.”He added, “We’ve hit the manufacturing very hard. They’re at about nine per cent of what they sent out in the first two days and we think that’s because they don’t have that much. We’ve also knocked out about 70 per cent of the rockets of the launchers. The launchers are a big deal, very hard to get, very expensive.”Regarding the possibility of a diplomatic resolution, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who was also on Air Force One, said a deal is possible. He said, “I think there is. I think that’s going to be up to the President, that’s what I think. But they didn’t seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations. You heard what I said. They said we have the inalienable right to enrich. They bragged about having 60 percent enriched fuel enough for 11 bombs. And they told me and Jared, we’re not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn’t take militarily. So you know I think they’re going to need a change of attitude.”These developments follow the joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. In response, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and regional allies, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, escalating tensions across West Asia and increasing risks for civilians and expatriates.

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (ANI Photo)

Quinton de Kock has criticised the International Cricket Council after reports suggested that England cricket team would return home before both South Africa national cricket team and the West Indies cricket team following their exits from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Travel plans for several teams have been affected due to international airspace restrictions linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. As a result, a number of sides have remained in India while waiting for charter flights arranged by the ICC. The West Indies were knocked out of the tournament on March 1 after a defeat to the India national cricket team in the Super 8 stage, while South Africa’s campaign ended with a semi final loss to the New Zealand national cricket team. Since then, both teams have remained in India awaiting travel arrangements. The Caribbean side has been in the country for about a week following their elimination, while the Proteas have been waiting for three days. In contrast, England were beaten by India in the second semi final on Thursday but are set to leave for home on Saturday, just two days after their exit. The situation prompted de Kock to question the apparent imbalance, suggesting that some teams might have greater influence within international cricket.

Quinton de kock’s insta story

“Funny @icc, we have heard nothing! Meanwhile, England are leaving before us somehow? @westindies and @proteasmencsa are just in the dark! Strange how different teams have more pull than others,” wrote Quinton de Kock on Instagram Stories. Earlier, former England captain Michael Vaughan also raised similar concerns about the travel situation. He questioned why England were able to leave earlier despite other teams being stuck in India for longer.

Michael Vaughan post

“So England got knocked out on Thurs, get a charter home today .. West Indies go out last Sunday and are still in Kolkata .. SA in the same position .. That’s where the power is all wrong .. All teams in this situation should be treated the same .. just because you are more powerful at the ICC table shouldn’t count .. #JustSaying,” he wrote on X. According to ESPNCricinfo, England are expected to depart on Saturday, while both South Africa and the West Indies are likely to leave on Sunday once charter flights organised by the ICC become available. England’s flight is scheduled to head directly to London. Meanwhile, South Africa and West Indies are set to travel first to Johannesburg, after which the Caribbean side will continue their journey to Antigua. However, neither team has officially confirmed the exact timing of their departures. Frustration within the West Indies camp has been visible. Head coach Daren Sammy posted “Day 6” on X on Friday, highlighting how long the team had been stranded in Kolkata since their match against India at the Eden Gardens. Earlier in the tournament, the Zimbabwe national cricket team also faced travel delays after playing their final match against South Africa on March 1 in New Delhi, before eventually departing India on March 4.