NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar said Saturday that India’s “unstoppable” rise would be determined by India alone and not by the mistakes of others. The minister was speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, where US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau had said earlier that Washington wouldn’t allow India to become big or powerful enough to rival the US by making the mistakes that it did with China.Jaishankar also officially confirmed India had approved the docking of an Iranian ship, IRIS LAVAN, in Kochi on humanitarian grounds days before another Iranian warship, DENA, was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine on March 4. LAVAN had requested urgent docking in Kochi over technical issues it was facing on Feb 28, the day the war in West Asia started, and the request was acceded to by Indian authorities the next day.Jaishankar: India’s rise will be determined by India aloneThe minister said that India’s rise is going to be unstoppable. “When we speak today about the rise of countries, the rise of countries is determined by the countries. The rise of India will be determined by India,” Jaishankar said during an interactive session.“It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others,” he added, without naming any country.Speaking about the significance of India’s role in the Indian Ocean, the minister also said that those who work with India obviously will get more benefits. “I’m not saying there are no challenges to India’s rise; there are. But the direction of India’s rise is very clear. In a way, it’s unstoppable,” he said.Asked about India’s role in the region as a security provider in light of the DENA sinking, Jaishankar said that it’s important to understand the reality of the Indian Ocean and underlined the presence of other countries including the US and China in the region.“Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades. The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period,” said the minister.Talking about IRIS LAVAN, Jaishankar said that India had received a request from the ship that it wanted to come in at an Indian port because it said it was having problems. The ship docked in Kochi with 183 crew members who remain in India.“On March 1, we said you can come in and it took them a few days to sail in and then they docked in Kochi…there were a lot of young cadets. When the ships had set out and when they came here, the situation was totally different. They were coming in for a fleet review and then they got in a way caught on the wrong side of events,” said Jaishankar, adding India was guided by humanitarian concerns.“One obviously had a similar situation in Sri Lanka, they took the decision which they did and one of them unfortunately didn’t make it…we approached the situation from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were and I think we did the right thing,” added the minister.

File photo: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday vowed to press ahead with the war against Iran, declaring that Israel has a “systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime” and warning that the next phase of the conflict would bring “many more surprises”.In a televised address, Netanyahu said Israel would continue the campaign “with all our force”, even as Iran launched waves of missiles and drones targeting countries across the Gulf region, reported AFP.“Our success will bring not only the removal of the nuclear threat to the entire world, and not only peace between Israel and Iran. It will also bring a dramatic expansion of the circle of peace around us,” Netanyahu said.“Today, everyone understands that the Ayatollahs’ regime endangers the entire world. In recent days, Iran has attacked 12 countries around it. We stand with them,” he added.The Israeli leader also said many nations were now seeking closer cooperation with Israel as the conflict unfolds.“All of these countries see Israel’s tremendous strength, our readiness to fight the tyrants in Tehran, the bravery of our army and our people, and our vast military and technological capabilities. And many countries are turning to us. I am telling you many countries are now approaching us for cooperation,” Netanyahu said.The Israeli leader also claimed that his country now has near-total control of Iranian airspace. “We have almost total control of the skies over Tehran,” he said, as Israel expanded its strikes on Iranian military and strategic targets.

Heavy strikes as war enters second week

Israel and the United States intensified their attacks on Iran on Saturday, with air strikes hitting several locations in the capital Tehran, including a major oil storage facility that erupted in flames, reported news agency AP.Associated Press footage showed pillars of fire lighting up the night sky as smoke rose over the city. Israel’s military confirmed it had launched a fresh wave of strikes that shook neighbourhoods in eastern and southern Tehran, though it did not immediately disclose all targets.Earlier in the day, an Israeli strike set part of Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport ablaze. Israeli officials said the attack destroyed 16 aircraft and fighter jets stationed there.Israel said other targets included a military academy, an underground command centre and a missile storage facility.

Iran retaliates across the Gulf

Even as Israel stepped up its offensive, Iran continued retaliatory attacks across the region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they struck the US naval base in Juffair in Bahrain, claiming the base had earlier been used to attack an Iranian desalination plant.Missile and drone attacks were reported across the Gulf, including in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The UAE said its air defences intercepted 15 missiles and 119 drones on Saturday morning. Video footage showed one projectile crashing near Dubai airport.Air raid warnings and explosions were also reported in Jerusalem, Doha and several Gulf cities, while AFP journalists heard blasts in Baghdad, Erbil and Dubai.Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei warned that attacks would continue against countries seen as assisting Israel or the United States.“Evidence from Iran’s armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy,” he said. “The heavy attacks on these targets will continue,” he added.

Tehran rejects calls to surrender

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone, rejecting calls from Washington for Tehran to surrender.In a speech, Pezeshkian dismissed US President Donald Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender”.“Iran’s enemies must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” he said, reported AFP.However, Pezeshkian also apologised to neighbouring countries that had been struck by Iranian missiles, saying Tehran did not intend to escalate the conflict with them.“I should apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,” he said in remarks. He also suggested that disputes should eventually be resolved through diplomacy.

Trump warns of tougher action

Trump earlier warned that Iran would face harsher attacks as the conflict escalates.“Today Iran will be hit very hard!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that new targets and groups of people were under consideration due to what he called Iran’s “bad behaviour”.Later, speaking in Florida, he again claimed Iran had been close to developing a nuclear weapon.“They’re crazy and they would have used it. So we did the world a favour,” Trump said.

Conflict spreads beyond Iran and Israel

The war, now entering its second week, began after joint Israeli and US air strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering a wider regional conflict.Fighting has since spread beyond Iran and Israel, reaching Lebanon, Cyprus, Turkey and Azerbaijan, while clashes have also extended to waters near Sri Lanka where US forces reportedly sank an Iranian warship, AFP reported.Israel has also intensified air strikes in Lebanon, particularly targeting areas where the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has a strong presence.Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Lebanon would face a “very heavy price” if Hezbollah is not disarmed.

Rising casualties and fear inside Iran

Inside Iran, damage to infrastructure and residential areas is increasing as the bombardment continues.Iran’s health ministry said at least 926 civilians had been killed and around 6,000 injured as of Friday, though the figures could not be independently verified.Residents in Tehran described a climate of fear as air strikes intensified.“I don’t think anyone who hasn’t experienced war would understand it,” a 26-year-old teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity. “When you hear the bombs, you have no idea where they will hit.”According to AP, the conflict has so far killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, along with six US troops.

Global markets shaken by escalating war

The widening conflict is also shaking global markets. Stock markets have fallen sharply while crude oil prices have surged amid fears that the war could disrupt energy shipments.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck two oil tankers with explosive drones in the Gulf as part of efforts to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial chokepoint for global oil trade.Analysts warn the conflict could last for weeks, with US and Israeli officials suggesting the war might continue for a month or longer.Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, insisted that the country’s future leadership would be determined internally after Khamenei’s death.“The selection of Iran’s leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference,” he said.

NEW DELHI: India never stopped sourcing crude from Russia, government sources said on Saturday, despite US President Donald Trump’s linking the withdrawal of a 25% penalty tariff in the proposed trade deal framework to New Delhi’s purported pledge to halt such purchases. Sources said India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil, and Russia continued to be its largest crude supplier in February. They added that India’s energy procurement decisions are guided by the principle of “national interest”. “We source crude from wherever supplies are available, competitively priced and deliverable, and we will continue to do so,” a government source said.Declaration of a “30-day waiver” by top US officials for India to buy Russian oil was, sources said, meant for their domestic audience. 

Hormuz not sole route, only 40% of India’s crude imports pass through it, says officialThis has been our consistent position across administrations and geopolitical cycles,” a government source said, adding that every decision made by government in the petroleum sector is guided by three criteria: affordability, availability and sustainability. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said late Thursday that the Trump administration had granted a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea so that supplies continue flowing into the global market and ease the pressure caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.US energy secretary Chris Wright also said later that, Washington had sounded India on purchase of excess Russian barrels floating around South Asia. Government sources said the 30-day waiver merely removes a friction point that was not in any party’s interest to sustain. Officials said during three years of the Russia-Ukraine war since 2022, India continued buying oil from Moscow due to deep discounts it was offering and refinery demand despite objections from the US and the European Union.Suggesting that a short-term waiver enabled these purchases overlooks the fact that the trade has continued consistently.India’s crude imports from Russia in February were a little over 1 million barrels a day (mbd), nearly 20% of its total purchases, compared with 1.1 mbd in Jan and 1.2 mbd in Dec.Officials also said India has expanded its supplier base from 27 to 40 countries, and its energy security is no longer tied to conditions at a single maritime chokepoint such as the Strait of Hormuz. “The Strait of Hormuz is not the only route for India’s crude imports. Only around 40% of India’s crude imports pass through Hormuz, while about 60% are routed through other supply corridors that remain unaffected,” an official said.Government sources said India holds over 250 million barrels (nearly 4,000 crore litres) of crude oil and refined petroleum products, translating into 7-8 weeks of buffer coverage across the supply chain.

LeBron James and Savannah James (Image via Getty)

With LeBron James busy upgrading his NBA career, his wife, Savannah James, has been the one leading the home ministry. The popular podcaster and NBA icon have been married for over a decade and share three adorable kids, sons Bronny and Bryce, and daughter Zhuri. Despite being a hands-on and supportive mother, Savannah is the brain behind her luxury skincare line Reframe Beauty. During a recent episode of Everybody’s Crazy, LeBron James’ wife, Savannah James, shared a significant rule behind her successful parenting. While talking to a caller who was struggling with mentally preparing to see her son leave for higher studies after high school. While answering her query, Savannah shared her tried and tested golden rule for teenage parenting on Everybody’s Crazy.

LeBron James’ wife Savannah James reveals her golden rule for teenage parenting on Everybody’s Crazy

Lakers’ cornerstone LeBron James and his entrepreneur wife have set a high benchmark when it comes to parenting, as well as thriving in their respective fields. Married for over a decade, they share three kids, sons Bronny and Bryce, and daughter Zhuri together. Recently, while answering a query of a caller during the live episode of Everybody’s Crazy, the Reframe Beauty opened up on her tried and tested teenage parenting rule. She said,

“I think that for me, I definitely love the philosophy of raising your children to where they are able-bodied adults and then letting them go and figure out life on their own with support, because I’m always going to be here to be, you know, a safety net if ever you need it. But I do encourage that growth on their own.”The Reframe Beauty owner further elaborated, “It’s sad because of the dynamic shift in the house, and you’re used to them being there and it’s loud, and it’s noise, and you know you got things to do with them, and then all of that changes. So I do think that the house dynamic change is sad, but I agree. I think that young men should get to a certain point and be let go like little birds.”According to Savannah James, if one understands how to walk on the thin line between giving freedom and being overprotective towards kids, parenting becomes quite easier. As the Los Angeles Lakers’ star is turning heads in his 23rd NBA season, Savannah James makes sure everything is going great with their kids at home. Both Bronny and Bryce Maximus are currently walking on their legendary dad’s path, whereas daughter Zhuri Nova is knee deep into volleyball.

NFL Trade News: New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts linked to $50M Cincinnati Bengals defensive end (Image via Getty: Indianapolis Colts logo and New England Patriots logo)

Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano projects that Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson could sign a three-year, $105M contract this offseason, with Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots as potential landing spots.A great pass rusher disrupts the opposing quarterback, giving his own quarterback a better chance to succeed on the gridiron. Considering Patriots QB Drake Maye was sacked 47 times last season, the need for a strong defensive end to relieve pressure is clearer than ever. With such protection, Maye might have had more opportunities to score, and the team might not be searching for an edge rusher now.

New England Patriots potential target Trey Hendrickson’s market value is $30M

Manzano reports that Hendrickson is a dominant force when healthy. He had 39 sacks over the past three seasons. A short-term deal from a Super Bowl contender that averages above $35M per season could suit him, considering his value is closer to $30M per year, and he’s the best edge rusher on the market. Arguably the best DE left in the free agency because the Baltimore Ravens recently acquired Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby. According to Over The Cap, New England has over $43M cap space for the 2026 season. And Spotrac’s calculated market value for the 31-year-old Bengals edge is a two-year contract worth $50M, which averages an annual salary of $25M.

Patriots failed to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks

According to Musket Fire’s Jack Aylmer, the Patriots’ defense allowed the eighth-fewest yards in the 2025 NFL regular season. But they could not generate enough pressure on the opposing quarterbacks and finished the season with a higher sack total than only six other teams. Bringing in Hendrickson could help solve this problem. It would revitalize their pass-rushing abilities and offer a permanent solution to their biggest need this offseason.

Trey Hendrickson may reunite with Lou Anarumo in Indianapolis

NFL Trade Rumors’ Logan Ulrich reports that the Indianapolis Colts have needed to improve their pass rush for a while now. GM Chris Ballard used up a lot of resources for the defensive end position, in particular, in the draft, but no true results came out of it. The last time a player [Justin Houston] had a double-digit sack was in 2019. No one drafted by Ballard [since 2017] could achieve that till now. With a lot of pressure coming the Colts’ way this offseason, they could pour their trust into a proven option and make a run at Hendrickson. Many of Hendrickson’s best performances came while playing under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Anarumo left Cincinnati only last year and joined Indianapolis. A familiar face would do wonders for both the franchise and the defensive end.

Colts may trade or release wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr

Indianapolis currently has $4.7M over the cap space, according to Over The Cap. As per The Athletic, the Colts could free up $24M by releasing or trading their wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The 28-year-old wideout is in his final year of a three-year, $70M contract. He becomes a free agent in 2027. According to Spotrac’s calculated market value, Pittman Jr. may sign a two-year contract worth $58M, with an average annual salary of $29M.Releasing or trading a cap casualty could offer the financial flexibility Indianapolis needs to acquire Bengals star player Trey Hendrickson.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday hosted a group of Latin American and Caribbean leaders for what the White House called the “Shield of the Americas” summit, a gathering aimed at strengthening security cooperation and countering organised crime and migration in the Western Hemisphere.The meeting comes as the Trump administration seeks to reassert Washington’s influence in the region while dealing with multiple global crises, including the conflict with Iran and tensions in the Middle East, according to the Associated Press.

The summit brings together leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, among others. However, major regional powers such as Brazil and Mexico are not participating, AFP reported.The event is being hosted at the Trump National Doral, the US president’s personal resort in Miami, Florida.The “Shield of the Americas” initiative reflects what the White House describes as a tougher approach to regional security under Trump’s foreign policy, which seeks to counter drug cartels, curb illegal migration and push back against China’s growing economic influence in the Americas.Defence secretary Pete Hegseth told regional leaders that previous administrations had neglected the Western Hemisphere, arguing that Washington had focused too much on other global theatres while ignoring challenges closer to home, news agency AP reported.According to Axios, the summit is part of the US president’s broader effort to reassert American influence in the region through what his administration calls the “Donroe Doctrine,” a modern interpretation of the historic Monroe Doctrine aimed at limiting the influence of rival powers such as China.Leaders attending the summit include Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, whose tough security policies have drawn attention across the region.

A week into the US-Israeli war against Iran, US president Donald Trump is facing a growing set of military, economic and political risks that could complicate efforts to convert early battlefield gains into a broader geopolitical victory. Despite major strikes on Iranian forces and the killing of its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the crisis has rapidly widened into a regional conflict, raising the prospect of a prolonged US military engagement with consequences beyond Washington’s control. Analysts say the unfolding situation contrasts with Trump’s earlier preference for limited operations, such as the January raid in Venezuela and June’s strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.“Iran is a messy and potentially protracted military campaign,” Laura Blumenfeld of the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington told Reuters. “Trump is risking the global economy, regional stability and his own Republican party’s performance in the US midterm elections.”

Unclear endgame

Trump has long promised to keep the United States out of what he called “stupid” military interventions. However, analysts say the Iran campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has become the largest US military operation since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.According to Reuters, critics argue that the administration has yet to clearly outline its end goals or a detailed strategy for what would constitute victory.White House spokesperson Anna Kelly rejected that assessment, saying Trump’s objectives are clear – to “destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles and production capacity, demolish their navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and prevent them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

Political risks at home

For now, much of Trump’s MAGA base continues to support the war, despite criticism from some supporters opposed to foreign military interventions.But analysts say that support could weaken if the conflict drags on or US casualties increase. Opinion polls increasingly suggest that many voters, including a key bloc of independents, remain wary of another prolonged war in the Middle East. “The American people are not interested in repeating the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan,” Republican strategist Brian Darling said, as quoted by Reuters. “The MAGA base is split between those who relied on no-new-war promises and ones who are loyal to Trump’s judgment.” So far, six American service members have been reported killed in the conflict. Asked in a Time magazine interview about the possibility of Iran-inspired attacks in the US, Trump said: “I guess … Like I said, some people will die.” Jonathan Panikoff, a former US national intelligence officer for the Middle East, warned that American casualties could become a turning point. “Nothing is likely to hasten an early end to the war more than American casualties … That’s what Iran is counting on,” he said.

Regional escalation

The war has already expanded beyond Iran and Israel, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes across the region, targeting multiple Middle Eastern nations in wake of attacking US and Israeli military facilities. Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia has resumed hostilities with Israel, opening another front in the conflict and underscoring Tehran’s ability to activate allied groups despite leadership losses.Trump has also sent mixed signals on whether Washington is pursuing regime change in Tehran. While initially suggesting that Iran’s leadership could be overthrown through internal rebellion, he later stopped short of endorsing that goal.However, Trump told Reuters he could play a role in selecting Iran’s next leader and encouraged Iranian Kurdish rebels to attack. He later demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” in a social media post.

Oil and economic impact

One of the most immediate concerns for policymakers is the threat to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.Iran has halted tanker traffic amid the conflict, raising fears of broader economic consequences if the disruption continues. Although Tehran later asserted that the critical shipping route will be closed for only American, Israeli and European vessels. “It’s an economic pain point on the US economy that it seems was not fully anticipated,” said Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council think tank.A former US military official told Reuters that the economic fallout caught some in the administration off guard because experts on oil markets were not widely consulted before the strikes.

Questions over strategy

Some analysts believe Trump miscalculated that the Iran campaign would unfold similarly to the earlier Venezuela operation, where US special forces captured President Nicolas Maduro and secured influence over the country’s oil resources without prolonged military action.Iran, however, has proved to be a more resilient adversary with a deeply entrenched political and security establishment. Even the joint US-Israeli strike that killed Khamenei and other senior leaders has not prevented Iran from mounting retaliation, raising questions about whether more hardline figures could replace the current leadership.Retired US army lieutenant General Ben Hodges told the agency that while the US military’s tactics have been effective, the broader strategy remains uncertain. “From a political, strategic and diplomatic standpoint, it seems not to have been thought all the way through,” he said.

Gulf allies and regional concerns

The conflict also places pressure on Gulf Arab states, which host US military bases and have pledged significant investment in the United States.While many Gulf governments have aligned with Washington following Iranian missile and drone strikes, concerns remain in the region about the broader consequences of the war.In an open letter to Trump, UAE businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor wrote: “Who gave you the right to turn our region into a battlefield?”With the cost of the campaign rising, by the first week US has already spent close to $3.7 billion according to CSIS, and the duration uncertain, Trump has said the operation could last “four or five weeks” or “whatever it takes,” though he has not detailed what the next phase of the strategy would involve.

NEW DELHI: The row over venue change in President Droupadi Murmu‘s Santal event escalated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slamming the TMC government in the state, claiming that they were against tribal communities. Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee targeted the BJP for “using” the President to “malign” the state, advising Murmu to “not indulge in politics”. Earlier, Murmu had flagged concerns over venue change accusing the state administration of choosing a place where “Santal people can’t go”.“This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened. The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India. The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President,” PM Modi said in a post on X.“It is equally unfortunate that a subject as important as Santal culture is treated so casually by the West Bengal Government. The office of the President is above politics and the sanctity of this office should always be respected. One hopes better sense prevails among the West Bengal Government and TMC,” he added.

‘Don’t play politics on BJP’s advice’: Mamata hits back at Murmu

Mamata Banerjee questioned Murmu’s concern for tribals saying, “Why don’t you protest when atrocities are committed against tribals. Why don’t you protest when it happens in Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh?… First do something for them, then say anything.”“Don’t play politics at the time of the election, as per the BJP’s advice,” she added.She further accused the BJP of using Murmu to malign West Bengal. “BJP has stooped so low that it is using President Droupadi Murmu to malign West Bengal,” she said.

What had Murmu said

Murmu had expressed strong displeasure over the last-minute change of venue for an event she was scheduled to attend in West Bengal, saying authorities told her the original location was too congested.“Today was the International Santal Conference. When I came here after attending it, I realised it would have been better if it had been held here, because the area is so vast… I don’t know what went through the administration’s mind… They said no, the place is congested. But I think five lakh people could gather here easily. But I don’t know why they took us there… I don’t know what went through the administration’s mind that they chose a place for the conference where the Santal people couldn’t go... I am very sad that the people here were unable to reach the conference because it was held so far away,” she said.She said the last-minute change had left her saddened and also noted that chief minister Mamata Banerjee did not meet her during the visit, which she described as a departure from usual protocol.“Perhaps the administration had hoped that no one would be able to attend, and the President would simply turn around and leave… If the President visits a place, the Chief Minister and the Ministers should also come. But she did not… I am also a daughter of Bengal… Mamata Didi is also my sister, my younger sister. I don’t know if she was angry with me, that’s why this happened,” she said.