Ayatollah Khamenei and Donald Trump (R) (File photo)

US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Saturday said that US President Donald Trump would be open to meeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei if such an opportunity arose, signalling Washington’s willingness to engage in talks with Tehran.He said Trump preferred pursuing a deal and negotiations with Iran’s leadership, which could also open the possibility of a direct meeting between Trump and Khamenei.

This comes amid deepened tensions between Washington and Tehran.In an interview with Bloomberg, Rubio projected Trump as keen on resolving global conflicts through dialogue. He said, “I’m pretty confident in saying that if the Ayatollah said tomorrow he wanted to meet with President Trump, the President would meet him, not because he agrees with the Ayatollah but because he thinks that’s the way you solve problems in the world.”He also clarified Trump’s approach to diplomacy, adding, “he doesn’t view meeting someone as a concession.”On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Rubio said, ” it’s pretty clear that Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, that that poses a threat not just to the United States, to Europe, to world security, and to the region. There’s no doubt about it.”Defending the US military presence in the region and Trump’s decision to deploy another aircraft carrier near Iran, Rubio said, “The second is we obviously want to have forces in the region because Iran has shown the willingness and the capability to lash and strike out at the United States presence in the region. We have bases because of our alliances in the region, and Iran has shown in the past that they are willing to attack us and/or threaten our bases. So we have to have sufficient firepower in the region to ensure that they don’t make a mistake and come after us and trigger something larger.”He further added that “the President has said that his preference is to reach a deal with Iran.”However, earlier in the day, Trump struck a different tone, suggesting that regime change in Iran could be beneficial. Speaking to reporters at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, he said a change in Iran’s leadership would be the “best thing that could happen.”“Seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” Trump said when asked whether he wanted regime change in Iran.“For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking. In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk,” he added.

File photo: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman

India has sharply increased its spending on climate action over the past six years, with allocations rising from around 3.7 per cent of GDP to nearly 5.6 per cent, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.Speaking at the ‘Degrees of Instability: Climate Security in a Warming World’ townhall during the Munich Security Conference in Germany, she said the country was taking strong domestic steps to meet its environmental commitments rather than depending solely on international support.

Spending more, not waiting for aid

Highlighting the jump in allocations, Sitharaman said, “India has increased its commitment to climate action. We were at something like 3.7 per cent of our GDP six years ago… but today, we are somewhere close to 5.6 per cent. So more than doubled in a matter of six years”.She underlined that India had already put money on the table. “We have invested the funds. We are not waiting for financing and technology to come from elsewhere but they must come,” she said, as quoted by news agency PTI.While acknowledging that global technology transfers and financial flows remain important, she stressed that India has moved ahead with its own resources to achieve its nationally determined commitments (NDCs).She also pointed out that many African nations may find it difficult to match such levels of spending due to economic constraints.

Focus on adaptation and fairness

The finance minister argued that climate policy must go beyond emission cuts. Equal weight, she said, should be given to resilience and adaptation to avoid severe consequences for people and livestock.“As much attention we give for the emission control, we need to look at resilience and adaptation. Otherwise, you’re going to sacrifice a lot,” she said. She added that “technologies will have to talk to each other” and cautioned that no country can claim to have found a perfect solution to climate change.Sitharaman also pressed for what she described as differentiated treatment in sharing the financial burden of climate action. According to news agency ANI, she said the global community must follow a “polluter pays” principle.“It cannot be that countries which have less contributed to emission are made to pay equally,” she said, adding that countries with lower historical emissions should contribute less towards climate costs.

Renewable push and carbon capture funding

Detailing India’s domestic progress, Sitharaman said the country has already achieved two-thirds of its renewable energy commitments under its NDCs and that too four years ahead of schedule.She added that the Union Budget 2026-27 has earmarked funds and incentives for carbon capture strategies. These technologies are being encouraged across the mainland and in remote regions to help businesses cut their carbon footprint and support India’s transition to a greener economy, reported ANI.Reiterating India’s position, the minister said the country would continue to invest steadily in renewable energy while pushing for fair and practical global cooperation on climate finance and technology.

Rahul Gandhi and Piyush Goyal (R)

NEW DELHI: Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday continued his barrage of attacks on Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi over his concerns on the India-US trade deal, saying that “he is exposing himself with his own foolishness.” He once again put forward the Centre’s clarification on the trade pact, which followed nearly a year of negotiations, as the war of words over the issue continued.He also alleged that the Lok Sabha LoP is “trying to sabotage India’s growth story with his politics of negativity.”

Taking aim at Rahul Gandhi, Goyal claimed he had countered Rahul’s “fearmongering,” which he said was misleading farmers and exporters, by presenting what he described as “hard facts” on the India-US trade deal.He posted on X, writing in three points:

Clarifying further on the deal, Goyal added, “Rahul ji, both Indian farmers and textile workers stand to gain hugely by the US trade deal and other FTAs done by the NDA Govt… and the people of India trust PM Modi. Your bundle of lies will fail.”Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi also stepped up his attack on the recently finalised trade deal with Washington, claiming that the agreement would hurt India’s cotton farmers and textile exporters. In a post on X, he alleged that the government had walked into a “trap” that leaves millions of families staring into an “abyss of unemployment.”“18% Tariff versus 0% – Let me explain how the Prime Minister, a master at telling lies, and his Cabinet are spreading confusion on this. And how they’re deceiving the country’s cotton farmers and textile exporters through the India-US trade deal.”Rahul said that after Indian garments were subjected to an 18% tariff in the US market, he raised in Parliament the issue of a special concession being extended to Bangladesh. According to him, a minister replied, “If we want the same benefit, we’ll have to import cotton from the US.”

In Dubai’s increasingly competitive real estate market, celebrity endorsements are emerging as a key marketing tool, with developers turning to Bollywood stars to attract Indian buyers and investors.The shift comes at a time when the emirate is entering a crucial phase, with nearly 83,000 new homes scheduled for completion this year. As supply rises, developers are moving beyond traditional sales pitches centred on amenities and views, instead marketing an aspirational lifestyle linked to the “Dubai dream” — often fronted by familiar faces from Indian cinema.

Celebrity-led marketing push

In recent months, several developers have signed high-profile Bollywood actors, transforming marketing campaigns into star-driven branding exercises.Luxury developer DAMAC Properties has brought on actors Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor to promote its premium residential portfolio, targeting high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) in India as well as the Indian diaspora. Danube Properties has adopted a broader strategy, appointing Shah Rukh Khan as its global brand ambassador while also collaborating with Kartik Aaryan to appeal to younger, mid-market buyers.Imtiaz Developments has partnered with Hrithik Roshan to position its projects as design-led luxury offerings, while HRE Development recently launched a project featuring Salman Khan as the brand’s face.Industry observers say the approach reflects the growing importance of emotional branding in a crowded market.

Bollywood and the ‘trust’ factor

For Indian buyers evaluating overseas property investments, familiarity plays a significant role. Real estate experts say celebrity endorsements help build trust and recall in a market that can otherwise appear complex to first-time international investors.“The celebrity becomes a differentiator in a crowded marketplace. Aspirational branding helps developers command pricing power and achieve faster sales absorption,” said Sankey Prasad, Chairman of Sterling Ark Holding.Dubai’s investment appeal is also supported by financial considerations. Rental yields in Dubai typically range between 6% and 10%, compared with 2% to 4% in major Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. The absence of tax on rental income and capital gains, along with long-term residency options such as the 10-year Golden Visa for investments above AED 2 million, continues to draw Indian investors.

Marketing strategy amid rising supply

Analysts say the growing reliance on celebrity endorsements is also a response to an expanding supply pipeline, Economic Times reports. With a large number of residential units expected to be completed between 2026 and 2027, concerns about oversupply have emerged in certain micro-markets, including Jumeirah Village Circle and Business Bay.Developers are using star-led campaigns to differentiate projects, shorten sales cycles and encourage existing Indian expatriates in Dubai to shift from renting to ownership.

Buyers urged to focus on fundamentals

Despite the marketing push, real estate advisors caution buyers against relying solely on celebrity appeal.“A celebrity can enhance brand recall, but it cannot compensate for weak fundamentals such as poor connectivity, unrealistic pricing or execution risks,” said Ritu Kanth Ojha, a Dubai-based real estate advisor.As Dubai’s property market navigates a high-supply phase, industry experts say investment decisions should continue to be driven by location, developer track record and long-term value rather than promotional appeal.

NEW DELHI: The emergency landing facility on the Moran Bypass in Assam’s Dibrugarh marks a significant piece of strategic infrastructure for India. The move has been described by defence officials as a “moment of profound significance” for India’s national security and regional resilience.Landing on the Moran Bypass in an IAF C-130J Super Hercules, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the 4.2 km reinforced stretch of National Highway 127 to the nation.The inauguration was marked by a sophisticated aerial display featuring Rafale and Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, demonstrating the highway’s ability to transition from a civilian transit route to a high-performance military runway in minutes.

What is an ELF?

An Emergency Landing Facility is an “alternative runway” engineered directly into the national highway system. Designed in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), these stretches are built with specialised Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) to withstand the immense heat and weight of modern aviation.The Moran ELF is uniquely equipped as a “dual-use” asset, capable of supporting:

Strategic deterrence: The LAC factor

Located approximately 300 km from the China border (LAC), the facility serves as a critical “backup” for nearby airbases like Chabua and Tezpur. In a conflict scenario where primary airfields might be targeted, the ELF provides the IAF with essential operational redundancy.By dispersing landing options across the highway network, India effectively creates a “mobile” air defence grid that is significantly harder for an adversary to neutralise than a fixed, static airbase.Beyond its military utility, the ELF is a vital tool for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).The facility opens a reliable air bridge for far-flung areas, allowing heavy transport planes to land life-saving supplies, rescue teams, and medical aid directly into the heart of Upper Assam when time is of the essence.The Moran facility is part of a broader national security initiative and the fourth of the 28 ELF sites across India.With approximately 15 now operational, the grid spans from the deserts of Rajasthan to the expressways of Uttar Pradesh, and now, the strategic borders of the Northeast.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to land at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh on Saturday, where he will witness an aerial display by fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters. The ELF, the first of its kind in Northeast India, was built in coordination with the Indian Air Force to support emergency landings and take-offs of military and civil aircraft.During his day-long visit to Assam on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu across the Brahmaputra River, linking Guwahati and North Guwahati.The six-lane extradosed prestressed concrete (PSC) bridge, built at a cost of about Rs 3,030 crore, is the first extradosed bridge in Northeast India.The bridge is expected to cut travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to about seven minutes. Designed for the region’s high seismic risk, it incorporates base isolation technology using friction pendulum bearings, while high-performance stay cables have been used to enhance durability and long-term structural performance.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also inaugurate the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati during his visit, a move expected to boost higher and management education in the Northeast.The Prime Minister will also flag off 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in four cities, Guwahati (100), Nagpur (50), Bhavnagar (50) and Chandigarh (25).The move is expected to benefit more than 50 lakh citizens by improving access to clean and affordable public transport.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Data Centre for the North Eastern Region at Amingaon in Kamrup district during his visit.The facility will host critical government applications and act as a disaster recovery centre, with a sanctioned load of 8.5 MW and an average rack capacity of 10 kW per rack.The centre is expected to strengthen the region’s digital infrastructure and support the delivery of citizen services under the Digital India initiative.

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday frowned on Himachal Pradesh HC’s repeated interference in the state govt’s decisions and said it appeared that the high court was not allowing the elected govt to function. SC warned that it would view such interference seriously in future.Despite these oral remarks, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the HC had rightly rejected the Himachal govt’s reliance on the ongoing delimitation process to seek postponement of local body elections by six months. “Pendency of delimitation exercise cannot be a ground to seek postponement of elections,” the bench said.It also said the HC was right in saying that holding timely elections to urban local bodies, municipalities and nagar panchayats had been mandated by the Constitution. There are around 3,500 gram panchayats, 90 panchayat samitis, 11 zila parishads and 71 urban local bodies in HP, the majority of which go to polls this year.Taking into consideration the logistics and problems of accessibility to remote areas in winter, the bench extended the HC’s April 30 deadline for completion of local body elections by a month to May 31.Appearing for the petitioner, on whose plea the HC had asked the delimitation exercise to be completed before Feb 28, senior advocate Maninder Singh told the bench that the high court had set the deadline keeping in mind the fact that nation-wide Census work would commence from May 1. It was the state election commission that had cited this fact before SC, he said.For the state govt, senior advocate V Giri said the HC should have kept the logistics in mind while setting the deadline for completion of civic body elections.The CJI-led bench in its order said, “The direction by the HC that elections to local bodies are required to be held after the expiry of their tenure as per constitutional mandate does not warrant any interference.”“However, having regard to logistic difficulties, we modify the time schedule and direct that all preparatory work be completed before March 31 instead of Feb 28. Elections shall be conducted within eight weeks thereafter, that is positively before May 31. No application for extension of time will be entertained,” the bench said.