Asian equities mostly inched higher on Wednesday, tracking a pause in the recent rally in oil prices, even as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and awaited signals from the US Federal Reserve on interest rates.As of 9:15 am, Japan’s Nikkei was up 1,245.87 points or 2.32% to 54,946. South Korean Kospi was also trading in green, up 219.51 points or 3.39% at 5,859.99. Meanwhile, Shanghai was down 0.4% and Hong Kong’s HSI dropped 46 points. Shenzhen also gained 7 points.The geopolitical situation remained volatile. Israel escalated its offensive by killing Iran’s security chief, while Iran launched fresh strikes on oil facilities in the United Arab Emirates. A senior Iranian official said the new supreme leader rejected de-escalation offers conveyed by intermediaries, signalling no quick end to a war that has unleashed a global oil shock.Despite the ongoing conflict, oil prices pulled back from recent highs. Brent crude slipped 1% to $102.28 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped 1.6%. The decline came even as the Strait of Hormuz continued to remain largely shut.According to Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities research at JPMorgan, the relative steadiness in Brent and WTI prices points to a temporary cushion created by regional inventory overhangs, benchmark composition and policy interventions.In the US, stock futures edged higher after a positive session on Wall Street. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both rose 0.2%, supported by expectations of strong earnings from chipmaker Micron Technology. Markets are also awaiting its results later in the day for commentary on chip shortages and pricing trends.Attention is now centred on the Federal Reserve’s policy decision due later on Wednesday. Investors will closely watch the central bank’s updated economic projections, particularly the “dot plot”, amid concerns it may no longer indicate any rate cuts this year.The Reserve Bank of Australia has already begun a busy week for central banks with a rate hike, while the Bank of Canada is also scheduled to meet later in the day. No policy change is expected there, though markets are pricing in a rate increase by year-end.In currency markets, the US dollar weakened, with the euro steady at $1.1539 after gaining 0.3% overnight. The Japanese yen held at 159 per dollar, having strengthened over the past two sessions and moved away from the 160 level that has previously triggered official intervention.Meanwhile, US Treasuries saw some support following a strong auction of 20-year bonds. Yields on 10-year Treasury notes were flat at 4.2024%, after declining 2 basis points in the previous session.

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex continued their upward trend for the third day on Wednesday. While Nifty50 went above 23,650, BSE Sensex was up over 300 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 23,683.15, up 102 points or 0.43%. BSE Sensex was at 76,389.62, up or 319 points or 0.42%.Indian benchmark indices ended Tuesday’s session on a positive note, aided by stronger buying interest in key stocks.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “Despite the uncertainty regarding the war markets have staged a bounce back. One factor that enabled this bounce back is crude remaining around the $ 102 level and fears of spiking above $120 not materialising. The near-term scenario will be one of markets responding mildly positively to some good news and negatively to bad news.” “Despite being sustained sellers in the market, FIIs have been selectively buying in some sectors like telecom. This partly explains the resilience in telecom stocks. Also, there is a portfolio churn happening away from IT and highly valued FMCG stocks towards telecom, pharmaceuticals, defense and select financials. Market leaders and fancied stocks in these segments will continue to be resilient even in a choppy market.“In the US, markets closed higher, led by gains in Delta Air Lines and other travel-related stocks, even as the Federal Reserve commenced its two-day policy meeting against the backdrop of concerns over elevated oil prices and the ongoing Middle East tensions.Asian markets also traded higher, while crude oil prices edged lower, signalling that investors are attempting to move beyond short-term geopolitical risks and seek some stability in financial markets.Oil prices eased slightly on Wednesday morning after data cited from the American Petroleum Institute indicated a rise in US crude inventories.Meanwhile, gold prices remained largely unchanged as investors stayed cautious, assessing the potential economic impact of the Middle East conflict ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy outcome.Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers of equities worth Rs 4,741 crore on Tuesday, whereas domestic institutional investors were net buyers, investing Rs 5,225 crore during the session.(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)

US President Donald Trump’s aggressive push on Iran has triggered rare dissent within his own camp, with a senior counterterrorism official and prominent MAGA figure stepping down over the policy, citing concerns over the rationale behind the war.Joe Kent, who headed the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday, marking the most high-profile exit from the administration since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28. In his resignation letter, Kent said he could not support the conflict, arguing that Tehran posed no immediate threat to the United States.“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote in a letter posted on X. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”The resignation comes even as Trump has publicly defended the military campaign, describing it as successful and asserting that the damage inflicted on Iran could take years to rebuild. However, Kent’s departure highlights growing unease within sections of the administration and the broader MAGA base over the direction of US foreign policy.

‘Echo chamber’ and no imminent threat

In his letter, Kent alleged that the decision to go to war was shaped by what he described as an “echo chamber” involving sections of the media, Israeli officials and lobby groups.“This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that if you struck now, there was a clear path to a swift victory,” he wrote.He further drew parallels with past US interventions in the Middle East, warning against repeating mistakes. “This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war… We cannot make this mistake again.”Kent, a former US Army special forces soldier with multiple combat deployments, also cited personal costs of prolonged conflicts, referring to the death of his wife, Shannon Kent, in a 2019 bombing in Syria.

A MAGA insider breaks ranks

Kent’s criticism carries weight within Trump’s political base. A former Republican congressional candidate backed by Trump, he had strong credentials within the MAGA movement and served less than eight months in his intelligence role after Senate confirmation.He was also seen as part of a more non-interventionist faction within the administration, alongside figures like vice president JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, though the latter distanced herself from his resignation and reiterated support for Trump’s decisions.Kent’s exit is not an isolated case. Other conservative commentators, including Tucker Carlson, have raised concerns about the Iran conflict, signalling potential fractures within Trump’s support base.“Joe is the bravest man I know, and he can’t be dismissed as a nut,” Carlson said in a New York Times interview. “He’s leaving a job that gave him access to the highest-level relevant intelligence. The neo-cons will try to destroy him for that.”

Trump, White House push back

Trump dismissed Kent’s criticism, questioning his judgement on national security. “It’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat,” the president said, calling him “a nice guy” who was “very weak on security.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt likewise dismissed Kent’s claims as “both insulting and laughable”.Meanwhile, in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson called Kent “clearly wrong” in his assessment that Iran posed no imminent threat to the US. That was a rationale Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas echoed.“Kent and his family have sacrificed greatly for our nation, and I thank him for his service,” Cotton wrote in a statement. “But I disagree with his misguided assessment.”Representative Don Bacon, a former US Air Force brigadier general who serves on the House armed services committee, was among the critics who took up the line of argument that Kent’s letter and pinning the blame on Israel was anti-Semitic. “Anti-Semitism is an evil I detest, and we surely don’t want it in our government,” Bacon wrote in response to Kent’s departure on social media.Other Republican leaders also rejected Kent’s claims. Several lawmakers argued that Iran posed a credible threat, while the White House termed his remarks “insulting and laughable,” according to inputs.

Political and policy implications

Analysts say Kent’s resignation may not immediately alter US strategy but could have political consequences ahead of upcoming elections. His stance is seen as reflective of a broader debate within the Republican base over foreign interventions.According to expert commentary cited by Al Jazeera, such a high-level resignation would typically pose a challenge to a president’s narrative, though its actual impact will depend on whether more insiders publicly dissent.For now, the Trump administration continues to press ahead with its military campaign, even as internal criticism adds to scrutiny over the justification and long-term goals of the Iran conflict.(With inputs from agencies)

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PUNE:A 32-year-old woman was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in Chakan around 2am on Monday when she was returning home from work.Some passersby spotted the body of Shobha Waghmare, hailing from Deglur in Nanded district, in the morning on the service road of Pune–Nashik highway, near Ambethan Chowk. She had come to Chakan two months ago in search of work.The victim’s clothes were torn and the body had injury marks. Residents of the area immediately alerted the Chakan police, suspecting it was a case of murder.

Not the first instance

Senior inspector Jitendra Kadam of the Chakan police said, “When we saw the injuries on the woman’s body, we initially suspected that some animals attacked her. The CCTV footage from a shop along the road revealed that the woman was attacked by a pack of six stray dogs.”The police found the woman’s purse near her body. “We ascertained her identity with the help of the Aadhaar card found in the purse and alerted her relatives in Nashik,” Kadam said.The CCTV footage showed that the six stray dogs surrounded Waghmare when she was walking along the service road, near the flyover on the Pune–Nashik Highway. “The woman picked up stones to shoo them away, but the dogs pounced on her. They bit her all over her body, including hands, legs, face and neck,” Kadam said.The officer said the woman resisted the dogs for about 15 minutes, but in vain. She succumbed to excessive bleeding from the injuries.“The woman’s body was sent to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMCH) in Pimpri for post-mortem. The report confirmed that she died after being attacked by animals. We have registered a case of accidental death,” Kadam said.The victim’s nephew, Prajjwal Kamble from Nashik, came to YCMH after the Pimpri Chinchwad police contacted him. He toldTOI, “My aunt was estranged from her husband. She stayed in Deglur with her 13-year-old physically challenged son.”Kamble said his aunt was worried about her son’s education and future. To earn more money for his education, she came to Chakan.Waghmare did odd jobs in a private company in the MIDC, besides working in a hospital during the night hours. “We don’t know yet if she was returning from the hospital or the company when the dogs attacked her,” Kamble said.

The dust has finally settled on the T20 World Cup 2026, and while the fireworks over the Narendra Modi Stadium have faded, the cricketing world is still buzzing about India’s clinical path to the trophy. It wasn’t just a victory of talent; it was a victory of intent. For many, the turning point wasn’t a specific wicket or a final-over six, but a high-stakes personnel shift initiated by Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Following a bruising defeat to South Africa in the Super 8 stage, the Indian camp faced a crossroads. The response was a tactical gamble that shifted the tournament’s momentum: the decision to include Sanju Samson back to the top of the order. The result was a historic blitz that saw Samson amass 321 runs in just five matches, maintaining a strike rate near 200 and walking away with the ‘Player of the Tournament’ accolades.

Ricky Ponting credits Gautam Gambhir’s bold strategy for India’s shift in T20 World Cup 2026

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, a man who knows a thing or two about World Cup-winning strategies, was quick to identify this move as the catalyst for India’s dominance. Speaking on the ICC Review, Ponting highlighted the psychological weight of such a decision. Moving an established name like Ishan Kishan down the order to make room for Samson wasn’t just a change in the batting lineup; it was a statement of belief.

“It was actually a big call to make. As a player, all you really need is the backing of the captain and coaching staff. Sometimes, just a pat on the back or someone saying, ‘We believe in you,’ is all a player needs to hear,” Ponting noted.

This “arm around the shoulder” philosophy clearly resonated with Samson. After being reinstated, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter turned the tournament into his personal highlight reel, hammering unbeaten scores of 97*, 89, and 89. His performances in the do-or-die Super 8 clash against the West Indies and the semi-final against England were masterclasses in modern T20 power-hitting, proving that Gambhir’s intuition was backed by a deep understanding of player psychology.

Also READ: ICC T20I Rankings: Abhishek Sharma holds No.1 spot, Sanju Samson surges after T20 World Cup 2026 heroics

India defining a new era of T20 dominance

India’s triumph in 2026 has reignited the debate regarding where this specific squad ranks in the pantheon of great cricket teams. With a blend of fearless youth and calculated aggression, the Men in Blue peaked exactly when the stakes were highest. Ponting went as far as to suggest that this current iteration might be the most formidable T20I side the game has ever seen.

The statistics certainly support the “G.O.A.T.” argument. Beyond just the 2026 trophy, India’s white-ball consistency over the last half-decade has been staggering. By integrating specialized roles like Samson’s aggressive opening or Suryakumar’s 360-degree finishing, Gambhir has moved away from the conservative safety-first approach that often hampered India in previous knockout stages.

As the celebrations continue, the 2026 campaign will be remembered as the moment Gambhir’s process met Suryakumar’s flair. By trusting Samson to lead from the front, they didn’t just win a trophy; they redefined the blueprint for Indian T20 cricket.

Also READ: Sanjay Bangar picks the ideal batting order of CSK for IPL 2026

Harshit Rana, Matheesha Pathirana and Josh Hazelwood (Agency Image)

Injuries, or non-availability, to top pacers close to the start of the IPL can give sleepless nights to franchise coaches and the support staff. While Lucknow Super Giants, for a few years now, have been one of the worst-affected teams, this time around three teams are sweating over their pace resources — Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. For KKR, their top two pacers — Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana — are dealing with injuries. They lost Mustafizur Rahman too due to reasons beyond cricket, but have drafted in Zimbabwean Blessing Muzarabani in his place. SRH, too, are in tricky territory over the fitness of their skipper Pat Cummins while it’s not sure whether RCB will get their spearhead Josh Hazlewood from the beginning of the tournament.

TOI takes a look at how the situation might pan out for these teams.Double jeopardy for KKRHarshit Rana, KKR’s star Indian pacer, is set to miss most of the IPL due to a knee surgery. While under threat to even miss the entire IPL season, the management is not naming a replacement right away hoping that the 24-year-old will be fit towards the business end. KKR have a few Indian pacers in Vaibhav Arora and Akash Deep, and they will have to step up along with Muzarabani and Cameron Green. That brings us to their second injury worry, Matheesha Pathirana. The three-time champions paid Rs 18 crore for the former CSK slinger, who is known to be injury-prone. He missed most of the T20 World Cup with a calf injury but reports suggest that he will be fit in time for the IPL. But given his erratic fitness situation, it will be a miracle if Pathirana is fit for most part. That his remodelled action following his injuries has made him less effective as a bowler will also worry the 2024 champions.Captaincy change for SRH?The SRH pace attack revolves around Pat Cummins, in addition to the fact that he is the captain of the team. But the Aussie Test skipper is still recovering from a back injury that was aggravated when he played an Ashes Test despite not being fully fit. There is no clarity when he will be fit and available, and the buzz is that SRH may hand the captaincy to Ishan Kishan, who had quite a superb T20 World Cup with the bat. There’s absolutely no one in the SRH attack who is close to the quality of Cummins in T20s. The likes of Shivam Mavi, Jaydev Unadkat and Ehsan Malinga can be just about serviceable, but it may be a massive challenge for SRH, despite their superb batting line-up should Cummins remain unavailable for long.Not enough Josh for RCBJosh Hazlewood is still recuperating from his hamstring and Achilles heel injuries and hasn’t played cricket for quite some time. In RCB’s first title triumph last year, the Australian had taken 22 wickets at an average of 17.54 and it’s his ability to strike the crucial blows that made a serious difference. The paceman is running against time to be fit and Kiwi pacer Jacob Duffy is likely to play in his absence.Duffy, though a capable bowler, isn’t exactly a threat on Indian pitches and the RCB management will hoping to have Hazlewood back in time to lead the attack with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal as quality support.