Aftermath of reported US-Israeli strike

Videos circulating on social media appear to show the aftermath of a reported US or Israeli strike on a facility believed to house an Iranian missile base in Baharestan city, located in the Islamic Republic’s Isfahan province.The footages show massive plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, along with visible fireballs.It was not immediately clear whether these were fresh strikes or if the complex had been targeted during Tuesday evening’s attacks.On Tuesday, the United States and Israel struck steel complexes in central and southwestern Iran, causing damage to production units, according to Iranian media. “Initial assessments indicate massive attacks, with significant damage and destruction to production units” at the complex of Mobarakeh Steel Company—one of Iran’s largest—in the central province of Isfahan, the Fars news agency reported, citing a company statement. The statement added that the attacks also hit one of the company’s subsidiaries, Sefid Dasht Steel, located in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. The facility “sustained damage and losses.” The Isfahan unit had also been targeted on Friday, along with Khuzestan Steel factories in southwestern Iran.Steel is a strategically vital material, essential for both industrial and military production, including the development of missiles, drones, and ships.Iran has been at war with the United States and Israel since February 28, when strikes killed the country’s then–Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, triggering a conflict that has since spread across the Middle East. He has been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.However, Mojtaba’s whereabouts remain unknown, and he is believed to be recovering from war-related injuries.(With AFP inputs)

Sanjiv Goenka and Rishabh Pant (X)

Lucknow Super Giants found themselves under early pressure in IPL 2026 after a disappointing six-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals at home, a result that not only exposed batting concerns but also sparked conversation off the field. LSG struggled to get going with the bat, folding for just 141 in their opening game. The top order failed to deliver, with captain Rishabh Pant scoring 7, Aiden Markram managing 11, and Nicholas Pooran contributing only 8. While the bowlers made early inroads, Delhi turned the chase around through a composed unbeaten 70 from Sameer Rizvi and a steady 39 not out from Tristan Stubbs, sealing the game with 2.5 overs to spare. However, it was what followed after the match that drew just as much attention. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen in an on-field conversation with Pant, with head coach Justin Langer also part of the discussion. While no audio was available, the visuals suggested an intense exchange, and the clip quickly gained traction across social media. The moment inevitably brought back memories of a similar incident involving Goenka and former LSG captain KL Rahul during the 2024 season. That episode, widely viewed as a public fallout after a defeat, had drawn criticism at the time, and comparisons resurfaced following the latest visuals. Despite the speculation, Goenka struck a measured tone in his public response. Taking to X after the game, he backed his side and urged patience.

Sanjiv Goenka post

“This is a long season, and moments like these are part of building something meaningful. I have full confidence in our captain and the team to respond with strength. To our fans, thank you for your support at Ekana today, we will come back stronger. The story of @LucknowIPL this season is far from written,” he wrote. On the tactical front, Pant’s decision to promote himself to the top of the order also became a talking point. Having largely operated in the middle order in recent seasons, the move did not pay off in the opener. Pant was run out for 7 at the non-striker’s end after Mukesh Kumar got a fingertip deflection onto a powerful straight drive from Mitchell Marsh. When asked if he would continue opening alongside Markram and Marsh, Pant kept his options open. “It’s a 50-50 call,” he said after the match. With questions emerging around team balance, batting roles, and the early loss, LSG now face a crucial phase as they look to settle into the season and respond strongly in the games ahead.

Bahraich: A female elephant was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the core zone of Katarniaghat Wildlife Division.Shockingly, the carcass reportedly lay decomposing for nearly a week in a dense forest area before being discovered, raising questions over forest monitoring and patrolling systems.The incident came to light late Tuesday night after a strong foul smell spread in nearby areas, alerting locals. The forest officials conducted a post-mortem and sent viscera samples to IVRI, Bareilly, for detailed examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.According to officials, the carcass was found about 2 km inside the forest near a stream in the Bichhiya beat area.The discovery was made by a patrolling team during night rounds.Following the information shared by forest range officer Ashish Gaur, senior officials including chief conservator of forests H Raja Mohan, divisional forest officer (DFO) Apoorva Dixit, and other team members rushed to the spot.A three-member veterinary team, led by Dr Talha and Dr Deepak, conducted the post-mortem. After preserving the viscera, the carcass was buried at the site using a JCB machine in the presence of forest officials. Authorities estimated the age of the elephant to be around 20 to 25 years.Officials said that the exact cause of death could not be determined during the post-mortem and would be known only after the viscera report.DFO Apoorva Dixit said the death appears to be natural at first glance, but other possibilities cannot be ruled out until the report is received.Villagers from nearby areas indicated that the carcass had been lying there for a long time. They also pointed out that elephant herds have been active in the region recently, and aggressive behaviour among tuskers raises the possibility of intra-herd conflict leading to the death.In recent years, several elephant deaths have been reported in the region.

NASHIK/SHIRDI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing multiple cases against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat on Tuesday detained his son in Nashik for questioning and launched a search for his wife Kalpana, who remains untraceable, as reported by news agency PTI.Kharat, currently in police custody, is expected to be produced before a local court after his remand ends on Wednesday.