You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/centre-trashes-reports-linking-release-of-tankers-to-hormuz-access-report-11224650” on this server.

Reference #18.4cfdd417.1773684369.1fdb8241

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.4cfdd417.1773684369.1fdb8241

US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that the United States has “literally obliterated” Iran’s military capabilities, saying American forces have struck more than 7,000 targets across the country since the start of the conflict, even as he urged other nations to join efforts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.Speaking ahead of a meeting with the Kennedy Center board of trustees, Trump offered one of his most sweeping assessments yet of the US-led campaign against Iran, declaring that Tehran’s air force, navy, air defences and command structure had been devastated.

“Our powerful military campaign to end the threats posed by the Iranian regime continued in full force over the past few days. They have been literally obliterated. The Air Force is gone. The Navy is gone. Many, many ships have been sunk,” Trump said.“They’re war-fighting ships, anti-aircraft is decimated, their radar is gone, and their leaders are gone. Other than that, they’re doing quite well,” he added.

Trump claims over 7,000 US strikes, sharp drop in Iranian attacks

Trump said the US had struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran since the war began, targeting both commercial and military sites, and claimed the operation had sharply degraded Tehran’s offensive capabilities.“Since the beginning of the conflict, we’ve struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran, and these have been mostly commercial and military targets. We’ve achieved a 90 per cent reduction in their ballistic missile launches and a 95 per cent reduction in drone attacks,” Trump said.He added that the US had also hit facilities involved in missile and drone production.“We’ve also attacked the manufacturing plants, the places where they manufacture the missiles and the drones, and that’s going on today. We just hit three of them today,” he said.Trump further claimed that more than 100 Iranian naval vessels had been “sunk or destroyed” over the last week and a half, including 30 mine-laying ships, as Washington seeks to blunt Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Gulf.“We are aggressively dismantling Iran’s defence industrial base, and its ability to rebuild its missiles and drone capability is getting close to zero,” he said.

Kharg Island strike claim and warning on Iranian oil infrastructure

Trump also said the US had struck Kharg Island, home to Iran’s main oil export terminal, but claimed Washington had deliberately avoided completely destroying energy infrastructure.“We attacked Kharg Island and knocked it. We destroyed everything on the island except for the area where the oil is. We left the pipes,” Trump said.“We didn’t want to do that, but we will do that… But for purposes of someday rebuilding that country, I guess we did the right thing,” he added.Tehran has accused the United States, without evidence, of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the United Arab Emirates to launch strikes on Kharg Island.

Trump says Strait of Hormuz is in ‘very good shape’ but asks other countries to ‘come and help us’

Despite his claims of battlefield success, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz — the strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s traded oil normally flows — remains vulnerable because of its narrow geography and Iran’s ability to launch short-range attacks.“We have it (Strait of Hormuz) in very good shape. We’ve already taken care of Iran, but now, because of the fact that literally a single terrorist can shoot a missile, and it’s fairly close range, because it is a tight area… Iran has always used that as an economic weapon,” Trump said.“It’s not going to be able to be used very long. Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way. Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some are countries that we’ve helped for many, many years,” he added.Earlier, Trump said he wanted countries that rely on Gulf oil flows to step up.“Come and help us with the Strait,” he said, according to CBS News, while adding that he would not specify which nations had agreed to assist.Trump’s comments came as the US continues trying to assemble a coalition to protect shipping through the waterway after Iranian strikes and mining threats effectively disrupted tanker traffic.

Allies respond coolly to Trump’s call for naval support

But Trump’s appeal has so far met a cautious — and in some cases outright negative — response from allies.American allies around the world have responded coolly or rebuffed Trump’s call to send warships to escort merchant vessels through the Persian Gulf, reflecting strain in Washington’s alliance relationships after the US and Israel launched the war without broad prior consultation.The sharpest refusal came from Germany, where defence minister Boris Pistorius said, “This is not our war; we did not start it,” according to the New York Times.Japan, Italy and Australia signalled on Monday that they would not participate in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while France, South Korea and Britain were more non-committal.In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would not be “drawn into wider war”, while still working with allies on what he called a “viable collective plan” to restore freedom of navigation in the strait.Starmer said Britain is discussing with the US and partners in Europe and the Gulf whether to use mine-hunting drones already stationed in the region, but signalled the UK is unlikely to send a warship.Italy also showed reluctance. Foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Rome supports reinforcing EU naval missions in the Red Sea, but added, “I don’t think these missions can be expanded to include the Strait of Hormuz.”Trump has also publicly warned that a lack of allied support could damage the alliance. He told the Financial Times on Sunday that if Nato members refused or gave a negative response, “it will be very bad for the future of Nato.”

Ricky Ponting (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised the India national cricket team after their dominant victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the current Indian side one of the strongest T20 teams ever. India secured their third T20 World Cup title with a convincing 96-run win over the New Zealand national cricket team in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The win also made India the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup.

Ponting praises India’s depth and consistency

Ponting highlighted India’s impressive performances in recent ICC tournaments and their strong record in white-ball cricket. According to him, the team’s combination of talent, experience and depth makes them extremely difficult to beat.“It’s really hard to argue a point against that. If you look at this, not just the T20I team but their white-ball record in ICC events over the last five or six years, it’s quite remarkable,” Ponting said on International Cricket Council’s The ICC Review.“A lot of people probably identified before this tournament started the depth and the strength that this current Indian team had, and also the experience that they have.“This is a very, very strong Indian white-ball team, not just a T20 team. Back-to-back World Cups, hats off to them.”

Experience and IPL influence

The former Australian captain believes the players’ experience from both international cricket and the Indian Premier League has helped them handle pressure situations better.“The one thing that’s probably overlooked with this current team is the amount of experience and the amount of cricket a lot of these guys have played, whether it’s international cricket or even just the IPL,” said Ponting, who is also head coach of Punjab Kings.“The IPL games are every bit as big as international games anyway, so this Indian team came in well primed with great balance and a great squad.”

Learning from a rare defeat

India had suffered a defeat against the South Africa national cricket team during the Super Eight stage, but Ponting felt the loss actually helped the team refocus.“You win 12 matches on the trot, there’s bound to be an off day. And I am glad it’s come early. It might just be the shake-up India needed,” he said. “They would have learned from that experience and won’t take things for granted.”After that loss, India bounced back strongly with powerful batting displays, scoring over 250 runs in three matches, including the semifinal and the final.“Maybe it just allowed them to regroup, get together and talk about the things that are important to them as a team,” Ponting added. “They solidified what they felt was their strongest playing XI and didn’t make many changes at the back end of the tournament.”

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised Pakistan’s cricket selectors after the national team lost the ODI series 2–1 to Bangladesh national cricket team. The defeat came shortly after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, increasing pressure on the team’s management and decision-makers.Bangladesh sealed the series with an 11-run win in the deciding match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Afridi publicly blames Pakistan selection committee

Following the defeat, Afridi publicly blamed the selection committee for the team’s struggles. Speaking in a video shared on social media, he questioned their decisions and leadership.

“You saw the performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series 2–1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you still don’t seem to have the idea of who should be the captain for which format,” Afridi said.He also criticised what he called excessive experimentation with young players. “You keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of that standard that it can consistently produce players ready to secure a place in the Pakistan team,” he added.Afridi further claimed that experienced players with good ODI records had been unfairly pushed aside. While he has not mentioned any names, it is somewhat clear that he was hinting at players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, who were dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the Bangladesh series. “The senior players who actually deserved their place even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those experienced players despite their solid ODI performances,” he stated.He concluded by arguing that the selectors’ strategy lacks direction and could destabilise the team. “Instead, you brought in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first-class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You keep handing out Pakistan caps again and again, this is not surgery. If anything, the real surgery should be done on the selection committee,” he said.

Bangladesh beat Pakistan to win three-match series 2-1

Batting first, Bangladesh put up a solid total of 290 for 5 in 50 overs. The innings began strongly with an opening stand between Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan. While Saif scored 36 runs, Tanzid delivered a standout performance with his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 runs with six fours and seven sixes. Later contributions from Litton Das (41) and an unbeaten 48 from Towhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh reach a competitive total.Pakistan’s chase began poorly as both openers were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving the team at 2 for 2. Despite the early setback, Salman Ali Agha fought back with an impressive century, scoring 106 from 98 balls to keep Pakistan in the contest. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 37 runs, while debutants Saad Masood (38) and Ghazi Ghori (29) showed some promise. Abdul Samad also chipped in with 34, but Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 279, falling short of the target.Bangladesh’s bowling played a key role in sealing the victory. Taskin Ahmed led the attack with four wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman took three. Earlier in the match, Pakistan bowler Haris Rauf had been the most successful for his side, claiming three wickets.

The 2026 BCCI Naman Awards in New Delhi was more than just a formal gala; it was a celebration of a new era in Indian cricket. While the evening honoured the finest talents in the domestic and international circuit, the spotlight remained firmly fixed on the heroes of India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph.

KL Rahul and Sanju Samson share heartfelt moment at BCCI Naman Awards

Amidst the glitz and glamour, one particular moment went viral, capturing the true essence of camaraderie within the Indian dressing room, a heartwarming embrace between Sanju Samson and KL Rahul.

As the T20 World Cup-winning squad was summoned to the stage for a special tribute, the cameras caught a candid interaction. Rahul, who has shared many battles on the field with Samson, called out to the wicketkeeper-batter with a beaming smile. Samson, ever the unassuming star, immediately turned back to share a long, soulful hug with Rahul. The gesture resonated deeply with all cricket fans, serving as a reminder that despite the intense competition for spots in the playing XI, the bond between these athletes remains unbreakable.

Here’s the video:

KL calling Sanju for a hug as he goes to collect his award, is giving us the feels tonight 🥹🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/rBLvzSUDrS

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 15, 2026

Also WATCH: Vaibhav Suryavanshi names a special record he would like to break in IPL 2026

Samson’s historic T20 World Cup 2026 campaign

For Samson, the 2026 T20 World Cup was the culmination of years of ‘toiling in the shadows.’ Named the Player of the Tournament, Samson’s statistics read like a dream: 321 runs in just five innings, maintaining a staggering strike rate of nearly 200. However, the numbers only tell half the story.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Samson admitted that the gravity of the achievement is still sinking in. “When I get up in the morning, I’m like, ‘has it really happened?‘” Samson remarked. He likened his journey to a movie script, one where he was initially sidelined, only to be brought back when the team needed a miracle.

His performance under pressure was the backbone of India’s title run. Samson delivered three consecutive 80-plus scores in the highest-stakes matches: the must-win Super Eight clash against the West Indies, the semi-final against England, and the grand finale against New Zealand.

“I wanted to win a World Cup for my country, but it had its own plan, its own script. In the World Cup, the focus was all about the team. The shift happened when I realized the team truly needed me,” Samson added.

Looking ahead, Samson expressed immense confidence in the pipeline of Indian talent. He dismissed the idea that this victory was a one-off event, citing the sheer quality of players emerging from the domestic structure. According to the Kerala star, the “quality of players we have” ensures that India will be lifting trophies more frequently in the coming years.

Also READ: Captain Shubman Gill reveals Team India’s ultimate goal

The 2026 Academy Awards brought many huge moments, but one of the surprising points of discussion was about a creator who never even stepped foot on the red carpet. Markiplier, one of the most popular YouTubers, brought about a lot of attention when fans realized that he did not appear on the red carpet at the 98th Academy Awards. The YouTuber attended the ceremony as a guest following the growing success of his horror project Iron Lung. However, his absence from the red carpet quickly became a major topic online.Later, Markiplier explained that the situation was simply a mix-up that happened behind the scenes. According to the creator, he was accidentally guided away from the carpet by VIP staff before he understood where he was being taken. By the time he realized what had happened, he had already missed the red carpet walk entirely. The story quickly spread across social media after he shared a lighthearted explanation and a backstage photo from the Oscars venue.

Markiplier explains how a VIP mix-up led him away from the Oscars red carpet

Markiplier later addressed the situation in a short post shared through his Instagram Story. In the image, he stood backstage near one of the famous Oscar statues with his wife, Amy Nelson. The post confirmed that he was indeed present at the ceremony, even though viewers never saw him arrive on the red carpet.In the post, Markiplier explained that the situation happened because he followed staff members who appeared to be guiding VIP guests inside the venue. “I’m here at the Oscars I swear,” he wrote over the photo. “Funny story about why I wasn’t on the red carpet. I was somehow too VIP and they whisked me away. I didn’t know better not to go with them. I swear I just went the wrong way. The whole carpet is red, they don’t tell you that on TV.”The YouTuber’s explanation showed that the situation was more confusing than dramatic. Large events like the Oscars involve many staff members, security teams, and different entrances. It is easy for guests to be directed through different paths inside the venue, especially if they are new to the event.Markiplier’s presence at the Oscars was still meaningful because it highlighted how creators from the internet are slowly becoming part of the film industry. With more than 36 million subscribers on YouTube, he has built a massive audience over the years. His projects have also expanded beyond gaming videos into larger storytelling work, including the horror film project Iron Lung.Although he missed the red carpet event, Markiplier still managed to attend the ceremony and share the experience with his fans. Eventually, what started as a small incident backstage became one of the most discussed events surrounding the 2026 Oscars.