On Thursday, producer Bhushan Kumar and filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri revealed their latest cinematic venture: ‘Operation Sindoor’. The film promises to draw inspiration from a pivotal moment in India’s military history, following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack.

The makers revealed that ‘Operation Sindoor’ takes its name from India’s targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives, mostly tourists.

The book behind the movie

The film is adapted from the book ‘Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan’ by Lt Gen KJS ‘Tiny’ Dhillon (Retd). Agnihotri, who will direct the movie, explained that the story demanded to be told with honesty and responsibility.

“Some stories are not chosen, they choose you,” Bhushan Kumar said. “Operation Sindoor is one such story, a story that has to be documented truthfully.”

For those familiar with Agnihotri’s work, ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘The Tashkent Files’, ‘The Bengal Files’, this is no surprise.

“We looked at not just what happened, but how and why,” Agnihotri said. “The reality is far more complex, far more precise, and far more unsettling than what the public sees.” He described the film as “a revelation,” one that captures strategic clarity.

The project is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Agnihotri’s I Am Budha Productions.

Also Read: Boman Irani volunteers for ‘Iranis for Peace,’ but only if Trump visits Dadar Parsi Colony

Congress leader Dolly Sharma on Thursday alleged widespread corruption in Puducherry, claiming that people are being forced to pay a “30 per cent commission” to get their work done.

She further questioned the delay in granting statehood to Puducherry, despite the Bharatiya Janata Party being in power at the Centre and an NDA government in the Union Territory.
“The manner in which a continuously corrupt government is operating in Puducherry is truly alarming… If you want to get any work done in Puducherry, you are required to pay a 30% commission… Five years have passed, they (BJP) hold power at the Centre, and in the State, but why has Puducherry not received statehood?..,” she said.

Raising concerns over unemployment, Sharma said that the youth in the Union Territory are struggling to find jobs, while liquor is easily accessible. The Congress leader also alleged that the ruling party has failed to deliver on its electoral promises.
“The youth here are unable to find jobs. Yet, liquor is readily available–constantly… People fully understand the distinction between what was promised to them and what is actually being delivered. Of the hundred promises they made in their manifesto, they failed to fulfil even ninety..,” she added.

On Monday, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress reached a seat-sharing pact for the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections. 30 constituencies in Puducherry will undergo polls, with Congress to contest 16 and the DMK to contest on 14 seats.
“We will share seats among the alliance parties in the 14 seats allotted to DMK,” the party’s Puducherry election in-charge Jagadrakshagan said.

Congress and DMK are also alliance partners in Tamil Nadu, where the Chief Minister MK Stalin-led party allotted the Congress 28 of 234 seats for the 2026 Assembly elections.
The Union Territory of Puducherry is all set to hold the 2026 Assembly Election on April 9 in a single phase, with counting of votes scheduled to take place on May 4.
In the 2021 Puducherry Assembly Elections, AINRC emerged as the largest party with 10 seats, followed by DMK with six seats, while BJP and Congress won six seats each. The voter turnout was recorded at 84.8 per cent.

While in the 2016 elections, Congress had secured a majority with 15 seats, AINRC won eight seats, AIADMK bagged four seats, and DMK got two seats, with voter turnout at 83.6 per cent.

Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), on Wednesday said that his party’s manifesto and vision document for the 2026 Assembly elections places strong emphasis on safeguarding Assam’s political and economic future.

Speaking to ANI, Gogoi stated that the central focus of the party’s roadmap is to “protect the political future of Assam,” highlighting concerns over the state’s current economic challenges and governance model. He pointed out that the common people in Assam are bearing the brunt of economic instability.

“We have launched the party manifesto and vision document for the 2026 elections. The main issue here is to protect the political future of Assam. In the current economic situation in Assam, the common people are having to bear the brunt,” he said.
According to Gogoi, the promise of building a “self-reliant Assam” has not been fulfilled, leading to a situation where the state is operating under a deficit budget and increasingly relying on the Central Government for financial support.

“The promise of a self-reliant Assam could not be fulfilled; consequently, we are currently operating under a deficit budget and have become dependent on the Central Government,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi further revealed that the AJP has prepared a “comprehensive plan” aimed at strengthening local production.
“Furthermore, we have formulated a comprehensive plan regarding all the production currently taking place within our state,” he added.

Earlier, the AJP released its first batch of candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. Party chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi will contest from the Khowang constituency.
Other key candidates include Mainak Patra from the prominent Dibrugarh seat, Pankaj Lochan Goswami from Palasbari, and Dilip Barua from Bajali. Jiban Chutia has been fielded from Sarupathar, Rejaul Karim Chowdhury from Binnakandi, and Bani Das from Morigaon. Rajen Gohain will contest from Barampur.
Assam will witness a fight between the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly.

The BJP government, led by Sarma, will look to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress aims to defeat the ruling party to return to power. The Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, is set to contest from his traditional Jalukbari seat.
The polling for all 126 Assembly constituencies will be held in a single phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, the Election Commission of India announced.

Congress will fight in the 2026 Assembly elections in an alliance of six Opposition parties in Assam – Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dal, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and the All Party Hill Leaders Conference.

Bollywood actor Imran Khan has just thrown some serious shade at the latest trend of ultra-macho, violent heroes on the big screen.

During a recent Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session on Wednesday, Imran didn’t hold back when a fan suggested he avoid “macho roles.” His reply? A blunt, “Yeah, no interest in playing a hairy, angry man covered in blood. I think that genre is generously represented.”

Ouch! That’s a direct dig at films like ‘Animal’ and ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, where hyper-masculinity rules and action-packed violence is the main attraction.

Speaking out on toxic masculinity

Imran didn’t stop at rejecting violent roles. When asked how he defines masculinity in an industry still obsessed with alpha, tough-guy heroes, he got philosophical. He said he’s “disturbed by the upward trend in how misogyny and toxic masculinity are propagated in our films, and the world at large.”

Also Read: Arijit Singh’s soulful ‘Phir Se’ from ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ leaves Ranveer Singh and fans in tears

He explained that men often avoid these conversations because they feel personally blamed for broader societal issues. But Imran stressed the bigger picture: these narrow definitions of masculinity actually hurt men too. “True strength lies in emotional vulnerability,” he said.

Violence vs toxicity

Another fan asked how he feels about mainstream Bollywood glorifying aggressive men who lash out at women. Imran’s answer was sharp: “I have noticed this trend and am disturbed by the way these films coddle every violent tantrum thrown by emotionally immature man-children who can’t conceive of a valid reason that a woman might spurn their advances.”

He made an important distinction, portraying violence in a story isn’t the same as validating toxic behaviour. According to Imran, many filmmakers are chasing a trend without thinking about its social impact. His own moral compass won’t allow him to participate in films he considers irresponsible.

While Imran didn’t call out any movie by name, his comments arrive at a moment when larger-than-life violent male leads dominate Bollywood.

The inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026 got underway on Wednesday across three cities in Chhattisgarh and will continue until April 3, marking a significant step in India’s efforts to promote sports at the grassroots level.

The Games are being held across key regions, Bastar, Sarguja and Raipur, with the state set to host the event on a permanent basis. Addressing the opening ceremony, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya described the initiative as a “historic beginning” for the state.

Highlighting the importance of identifying talent beyond urban centres, Mandaviya emphasised that sporting potential thrives in tribal and remote regions as much as in metropolitan cities.
“Sporting talent is not limited to metropolitan cities; it thrives in tribal villages and across diverse regions of the country. The introduction of the Khelo India Tribal Games aims to identify and promote this untapped potential,” he said.

The minister stressed that sports go beyond medals, playing a crucial role in instilling discipline, balance and life skills among youth. He noted that this aligns with the broader vision of Narendra Modi to build a strong sporting culture in the country.

He further added that coaches from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) will be present at the Games to scout emerging talent and provide structured training pathways for athletes to excel at national and international levels.

Referring to icons such as Deepika Kumari, Mandaviya highlighted the significant contribution of tribal communities to India’s sporting legacy. He noted that the initiative will not only promote sports but also boost tourism and regional development, drawing attention from across the country and beyond.

On governance, the minister underscored the importance of transparency and inclusivity, pointing to reforms such as the proposed Sports Governance Bill and the upcoming Khelo Bharat Niti. These measures aim to ensure fair selection processes, expand opportunities for women and tribal athletes, and prioritise performance.

Expressing confidence in India’s future on the global stage, Mandaviya said the country is poised to deliver its best-ever performance at upcoming events such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He added that initiatives like Khelo India and Fit India have played a key role in expanding participation and strengthening the sports ecosystem over the past decade.

Reiterating India’s long-term ambitions, the minister said the country aims to host the Olympic Games in 2036 and break into the top 10 sporting nations globally, with a vision of reaching the top five by 2047.

There’s a song in Aditya Dhar’s spy-thriller ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ that’s stealing hearts. The recently released track ‘Phir Se’, has not only tugged at fans’ emotions but also brought none other than Ranveer Singh to tears. Yes, the actor openly admitted it on Instagram.

‘Phir Se’: The song that moves everyone

Sung by soulful Arijit Singh, ‘Phir Se’ captures the emotional journey of Ranveer’s character, Jaskirat. The video weaves in glimpses from the film; moments with his family in India, Hamza’s tender scenes in Pakistan, and a mix of joy, love, and heartbreak.

Viewers are transported along the character’s highs and lows.

Ranveer didn’t hold back when he shared his reaction on Instagram on Wednesday: “I cried. Full stop. Did you?” And the internet went wild.

Fans quickly flooded the comments section, echoing his emotions. Many admitted to crying in theatres, with one fan writing, “Yes, I cried when this song was played in the theatre,” and another adding, “This song hits different.”

Fans applaud Ranveer’s emotional depth

Alongside the song’s success, Ranveer’s performance is receiving major praise. Fans are calling it one of his career-best, celebrating his ability to connect so deeply with the audience.

Comments poured in: “One of your career-best performances, Ranveer Singh. And yes, we all cried for Jaskirat,” and “Every brother, every son, every husband, every friend, everyone cried.”

Box office bonanza continues

While the song makes hearts flutter, the film is breaking records on the big screen. Starting with paid previews on March 18, the movie officially released on March 19 and hasn’t looked back since.

Packed theatres, record-breaking ticket sales, and nonstop buzz have pushed ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ closer to the Rs 1,000 crore mark worldwide.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, this sequel to the 2025 blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’ promises all the thrills of its predecessor while adding deeper emotional layers. Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the multi-starrer cast includes legends like Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Arjun Rampal.

Also Read: Arijit Singh: How a Murshidabad boy became India’s emotional default until he needed room to breathe

Iran has said ships linked to India and four other countries will continue to move through the Strait of Hormuz, even as access to the vital sea route remains restricted for others amid the deepening West Asia crisis.

Speaking to Iranian state media, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said vessels from India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iraq have been allowed to transit the strait. He stressed that Tehran is not enforcing a complete shutdown, but is selectively permitting passage for what it calls “friendly” nations.

“There is no reason to allow the enemy to pass through the strait. We have permitted certain countries that we consider friendly to pass through; we allowed China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to transit,” Iran’s official news agency quoted Araghchi as saying.

Iran has also said that “non-hostile vessels” may pass, provided they comply with its security rules and coordinate with its authorities.

On March 25, the Iranian mission in New York said in a post on X: “Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other States, may, provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations, benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities.”

This signals a shift in how the chokepoint is being controlled. While Iran has stopped short of a full blockade, it is tightening its grip over one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.

How Iran is controlling Hormuz traffic

A report by shipping publication Lloyd’s List, cited by news agency ANI, suggests Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is effectively running a tightly controlled passage system. Ships are required to submit documents, obtain clearance codes, and move through a designated corridor under escort.

Data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence indicates that since mid-March, vessels have largely avoided traditional routes and are instead following pre-approved paths cleared by Iranian authorities.

India rejects ‘toll’ claims, calls reports baseless

On Tuesday, India pushed back against reports that Iran is charging vessels to pass through the strait. The Shipping Ministry said such claims have no legal basis.

Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said the Strait of Hormuz is governed by international law, which guarantees freedom of navigation and does not allow any country to impose fees.

“Regarding the question about toll or levy while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. As you would know, this is an international strait, and as per international convention, it has the right of freedom of navigation and no levy fee can be imposed on it as per international regulation. Therefore, any fact presented by anyone, any argument made by anyone has no basis. It is baseless. This is a baseless argument,” he said.

Despite the tensions, at least five ships bound for India have safely crossed the strait in recent days, with two – Jag Vasant and Pine Gas – expected to reach port soon.

UN warns of global impact

The United Nations has expressed concern over the situation, warning that disruptions in Hormuz could hit global supplies of oil, gas and fertilisers.

“The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking the movement of oil, gas, & fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season. Across the region & beyond, civilians are enduring serious harm & living under profound insecurity. The UN is working to minimise the consequences of the war. And the best way to minimise those consequences is clear: End the war – immediately,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Actor-director Boman Irani has left fans giggling after he shared a hilarious video reacting to remarks by Donald Trump about speaking to “Iranis.” Instead of getting serious, Boman turned the moment into a playful comedy sketch.

The actor posted the funny clip on Instagram on Wednesday. In it, he addressed the tense situation in West Asia but chose humour over heavy commentary. He referred to his Irani roots and jokingly volunteered himself as someone who could help with peace talks.

But he didn’t stop there. Boman added a comedic twist by saying that if negotiations were to happen, he had one non-negotiable condition; he wasn’t traveling anywhere.

 

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A post shared by Boman Irani (@boman_irani)

“Three Iranis have been beckoned”

With a straight face and perfect comic timing, Boman joked that three “Iranis” were being called to speak: himself, Smriti Irani, and veteran actor Aruna Irani.

He then declared he was ready to do anything for peace, but only on his own terms. Instead of heading to Washington, he suggested that the delegation should come to Mumbai, specifically the Dadar Parsi Colony.

The actor painted a humorous picture of how the meeting would unfold. He promised to treat the visiting delegation to traditional Parsi food, including dhansak and custard. And then came the punchline that had fans laughing, He said he would even arrange a gas cylinder to make everything “very, very smooth.”

Humour amid tense global situation

While the video kept things fun, the real-world situation in West Asia remains serious. Despite claims from Trump that negotiations with Iran could bring an end to the conflict, tensions continue to rise. Reports indicate that the Pentagon is expected to deploy troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East as the conflict enters its fourth week.

Earlier, on March 22, ballistic missiles fired by Iran struck the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona. Officials reported that more than 100 people, including children, were injured. The strikes caused heavy damage to residential areas and stretched emergency services to their limits.

Also Read: Another ageing hero, another young heroine: Akshay Kumar’s defence of Wamiqa Gabbi pairing triggers outrage

A missile fired from Iran has evaded Israel’s air defence systems and struck the city of Dimona, near which Israel’s main nuclear facility and reactor are located, state-owned Kan TV reported.

Air raid sirens in the area sounded in the morning and early afternoon on Wednesday (local time), warning of incoming missile attacks, according to the Home Front Command. The Israeli military did not officially confirm whether the missile was intercepted.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service reported no injuries.

Kan reported that the missile struck Dimona, located about 13 km northwest of the nuclear site in the Negev Desert, without elaborating on whether there was damage, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Centre, often referred to as the “Dimona reactor,” is one of Israel’s most heavily guarded sites.

Iran has repeatedly targeted the area since Saturday, when a missile attack injured 64 people in Dimona. Tehran said the attack was in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Natanz nuclear facility.

Earlier on March 24, a missile fired from Iran struck Tel Aviv, injuring several people and damaging buildings and vehicles, Israeli authorities said.

Loud explosions were heard across the city, with eyewitnesses reporting large plumes of smoke rising from both northern and southern parts of the country’s commercial hub.

Israel’s Army Radio, citing security officials, reported that it was apparently a cluster-type missile containing several bomblets, each weighing about 100 kg, with the bomblets or their fragments impacting several sites.

At an impact site in northern Tel Aviv, a missile struck between buildings, “causing a powerful blast wave that heavily damaged three buildings,” Miki David, commander of the Tel Aviv district in the Home Front Command, told reporters at the scene. He said shelters in the buildings remained intact, and those inside were unharmed.

Images shared on social media showed that the impact left a crater.

In a statement, the Israeli military said search and rescue teams were operating at “several sites” in central Israel after impacts were reported.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said six people were lightly injured and did not require hospital treatment.

Air raid sirens were activated seven times across Israel overnight and into Tuesday morning amid continued missile fire from Iran. The last missile attack activated sirens in southern Israel, including in Dimona, where Israel’s nuclear facility is located.

Announcing plans for a high-stakes diplomatic engagement, US President Donald Trump has said that his rescheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping will take place in Beijing on May 14–15, calling it a “Monumental Event” and signalling renewed top-level engagement between the two powers.

Trump, in a social media post on Wednesday (local time), said: “My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping… will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th… I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event.”

The White House described the visit as long-awaited and now back on track after being postponed due to ongoing US military operations in Iran.

“President Trump’s meeting and long-awaited meeting with President Xi in China will now take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a regular briefing.

She added that First Lady Melania Trump will accompany the President, and that a reciprocal visit by the Chinese leadership is planned later this year.

“First lady Melania and President Trump will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, DC, at a later date to be announced this year,” Leavitt said.

Trump also underscored that preparations for both visits are already underway.

“Our Representatives are finalising preparations for these Historic Visits,” he said in the post.

The White House indicated that the rescheduling followed direct communication between the two leaders, with Beijing accommodating Washington’s request to delay the trip amid active combat operations.

“There was a discussion about the rescheduling of the meeting between the president and President Xi,” Leavitt said. “President Xi understood that it’s very important for the president to be here throughout these combat operations right now.”

Officials made clear that the timing of the China visit was not contingent on the conclusion of the Iran conflict.

“No,” Leavitt said when asked whether ending the war was a precondition for the meeting.

At the same time, the administration has suggested that military objectives in Iran are progressing quickly, with earlier estimates placing the operation’s timeline at four to six weeks.

Leavitt said the President remains focused on both fronts — managing the military campaign and preparing for a major diplomatic engagement.

“We do look forward… I know the President looks forward to going to China on May 14th and 15th,” she said, adding that further logistical details will be shared with the media.

The planned summit comes at a time of complex ties between Washington and Beijing, with both countries navigating tensions over trade, security and global influence, even as they maintain channels for dialogue at the leadership level.

For India and the wider Indo-Pacific, such engagements are closely watched, given their implications for regional balance, economic flows and strategic competition.

At least eighteen bodies were retrieved after a bus carrying dozens of passengers plunged into the Padma River from a pontoon at a terminal in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district, some 125 km south of Dhaka.

The accident occurred at around 5:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday when the Dhaka-bound passenger bus lost control, overturned, and sank to an estimated depth of 80 feet, according to the Fire Service.

Sultana Akhtar, Rajbari’s deputy commissioner and district magistrate, told Xinhua that there were around 40 passengers on board the bus.

“So far, the bodies of eighteen people, including 10 women and 2 children, have been retrieved,” she said.

Officials said two bodies were initially recovered. Subsequently, they said the rescue vessel Hamza lifted the submerged bus at 11:50 p.m. local time on Wednesday, during which 16 more bodies were found, Xinhua news agency reported.

Officials feared the death toll might rise, as more bodies are likely to be retrieved with the search and rescue operation still underway.

Fire service and coastguard divers continued their search for the missing people with military and police assistance, according to Rana.

Officials said they estimated that the Dhaka-bound bus was carrying some 40 passengers including several children, and most were returning to the capital after ending their Eid holidays.

According to local media, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep concern over the accident and instructed authorities to make all possible rescue efforts, and ensure the injured get treatment.

Doctors at Dauladia health complex said two women were brought dead while another woman, herself a doctor, received treatment.

According to witnesses and officials, many of the passengers were members of the same family. While several of them survived as they stood outside, their relatives were in the bus as it drowned.

In a horrific accident, at least 14 people were burnt alive, and 15 others were injured as a private travel bus caught fire after colliding with a tipper truck in Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram district on Thursday, police said.

The accident occurred near Rayavaram around 6.30 a.m. when the bus collided with a tipper truck near a stone quarry. Both vehicles were completely gutted in the fire.

There were 35 passengers in the bus belonging to Harikrishna Travels at the time of the collision. Fifteen passengers were injured. They were shifted to the government hospital at Markapuram.

The death toll is likely to go up as the condition of some of the injured is stated to be critical.

The deceased and injured include women and children. Ten passengers had managed to get off the bus immediately after the fire broke out.

The bus was coming to Pamuru in Prakasam district from Hyderabad. The victims were residents of Kanigiri and Pamuru. The tipper was heading to Markapuram from Chimakurthy with a concrete load.

On receipt of information, police and firefighting personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue and relief. Three fire engines were pressed into service to douse the flames.

Markapuram MLA K. Narayana Reddy, along with senior officials, visited the spot and supervised relief operations.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed shock over the bus accident. He spoke to officials and enquired about the mishap. He directed district authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.

The Chief Minister directed officials to conduct a thorough probe into the accident and submit a report.

Transport Minister Manipalli Ramprasad Reddy also expressed grief over the mishap. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.

The minister directed officials to ensure the best treatment of the injured.

Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh also expressed shock over the loss of lives in the bus disaster. He assured the families of the victims that the government will render all possible assistance.

Iran has started fortifying Kharg Island, placing mines and deploying more troops after reports indicated the United States may be looking at the strategic site in the Persian Gulf.

The move has raised fresh fears of a wider conflict, especially because Kharg Island is central to Iran’s economy, with nearly 90% of its crude oil exports passing through it. The island reportedly handles nearly 90 per cent of the country’s crude shipments, making it a key asset in any potential confrontation.

A report by CNN, citing unnamed sources, said Iranian forces are setting up defensive traps around the island, including anti-personnel and anti-armour mines. These measures appear aimed at preventing any amphibious landing by US troops.

Also Read: ‘If they take any step forward…’: Iran warns of ‘unrelenting attacks’ as intel points to island takeover plan

US weighs options as Iran warns of retaliation

According to reports, the administration of Donald Trump has been considering deploying troops to capture the island. The move could be used as leverage to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said intelligence inputs suggested that hostile countries may be planning to seize one of Iran’s islands with regional support. He warned that Iran is closely tracking such movements and would respond strongly if any action is taken.

“Based on some intelligence reports, Iran’s enemies are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands with support from one of the regional countries. Our forces are monitoring all enemy movements, and if they take any step, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will be targeted with relentless, unceasing attacks,” he said in a post on X.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said that the US has not achieved its main objectives in the conflict, including a swift military victory or regime change in Tehran.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that the Pentagon has ordered around 2,000 additional troops from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to move to the Middle East from North Carolina. This is in addition to two Marine Expeditionary Units already heading to the region, the Tripoli group from Japan and the Boxer group from San Diego.

Together, these reinforcements could add between 6,000 and 7,000 personnel to the roughly 50,000 US troops already stationed in the Middle East.

This is one of the biggest US military buildups in the region in years, the kind not seen since the 2003 Iraq war, when around 160,000 American troops were sent in.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said his administration had already “settled eight wars” and was now pushing towards another outcome involving Iran, even as the region remains on edge.

In remarks at the NRCC Annual Fundraising Dinner, Trump suggested Iran was under pressure and keen to strike a deal, though hesitant to say so publicly. His comments come amid heightened military activity, sharp rhetoric from Tehran, and reports of troop movements by the United States.

“We settled 8 wars. We are winning another one. Nobody has seen anything like what we are doing in the Middle East with Iran. They are negotiating, by the way. They want to make a deal so badly, but they are afraid to say it because they figure they will be killed by their own people. They are also afraid they will be killed by us. There has never been a head of a country who wanted that job less than being the head of Iran.”

Trump said Iran’s leadership was in a difficult position, claiming they feared both internal backlash and external action. He also reiterated his long-standing criticism of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, arguing that Tehran could have developed nuclear weapons if the agreement had continued.

“I said we are going to have to do something about Iran because they are going to have a nuclear weapon very soon, and they are crazy. We have to stop them. And I say, well, we are going to take a big hit. We’re going to go through this certain route, and we will get right back here, but we have to go and stop them. Every President should have done it. Obama should have done it. Obama gave them the absolute right title and interest, gave everything to Iran. When Bibi Netanyahu came over and begged him not to do it. He gave Iran the right to have a nuclear weapon at the highest level within a very short period of time. I terminated that agreement as soon as I came to office,” Trump said while pointing out that if they had continued JCPOA, then Iran would have had a nuclear weapon by now.

Trump also justified military action against Iran, describing its nuclear ambitions as a threat that needed to be eliminated.

“We had no choice,” he said, adding that Iran with nuclear weapons was like a “cancer” that had to be “cut out”. He claimed the US had already neutralised that threat and would now “finish it off”.

“When I went on to do something that for 47 years should have been done by any of the other Presidents, and you heard numerous of them said they wished they did it, but they didn’t have the guts to do it. We had no choice, but I thought it would be much worse,” he said.

“In the short term, what we had to do was get rid of the cancer. We had to cut out the cancer. The cancer was Iran with a nuclear weapon. We have cut it out. Now we are going to finish it off.”

Military claims, threats and counter-claims deepen crisis

Trump defended past US actions, including the 2020 killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, calling it a significant moment during his first term. Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020.

“We did many things. Taking out Soleimani was very important. He was an evil man. But that was a big event we took out in my first term. We took out Soleimani, and they never had leadership that could compete with that. He was an evil guy, but he was a real leader, and he was a very tough general. Under our leadership, America is also highly respected again. Perhaps we are now respected like never before. I don’t think we have ever been as respected now,” he said.

He also described recent military developments, claiming that US defence systems intercepted a large Iranian missile attack. According to Trump, 100 missiles were fired towards a key US asset but were all shot down using the Patriot system.

“100 missiles going 2,000 miles an hour were coming at this element of importance, tremendous power and importance. And of the 100 missiles coming at us, 100 missiles were immediately shot down, shot out of the air, and fell into the sea. Not one missile got through,” Trump said.

He gave credit to the Patriot missile defence system. “That was the Patriot system, it’s great. We have the best equipment in the world, we have the best military, the most powerful, most lethal military,” he said.

At the same time, Iranian leaders struck a defiant tone. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that any attempt by rival countries to seize Iranian territory would be met with sustained attacks on critical infrastructure.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had failed to achieve its objectives, including a quick military victory or regime change. He ruled out ongoing negotiations, saying Iran would continue its “resistance” policy in response to what he called American and Israeli aggression.

Meanwhile, reports cited by Iranian state media suggested that US bases in the region had come under attack, including facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with claims of casualties and damage to infrastructure.

The Pentagon has also moved to reinforce its presence, ordering around 2,000 additional troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. Two Marine groups are already heading to the region from opposite sides of the Pacific.

Tehran has issued a sharp warning, saying any attempt by its adversaries to take control of an Iranian island will trigger immediate and unrestricted retaliation.

The warning from Iran’s Parliament Speaker comes at a time when tensions in the region are already high, with the US stepping up military deployments and focusing on securing key oil routes.

According to IANS, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said intelligence inputs suggest that “enemies” are planning an operation to occupy an Iranian island with backing from a regional country. In a post on X, he warned that if such a move is made, Iran will target “all vital infrastructure” of that country without any limits.

“If they take any step forward, all of the vital infrastructure of that regional country will come under (Iran’s) unrelenting attacks without any restriction,” Ghalibaf said on X.

In another post earlier in the day, Ghalibaf said Iran is closely tracking US military activity in the region, particularly troop movements. He also issued a direct warning, saying those involved should not “test” Iran’s determination to defend its territory. Referring to Israel’s leadership, he added that decisions taken by generals cannot be corrected by soldiers and warned against what he described as misguided calculations.

“What the generals have broken, the soldiers can’t fix; instead, they will fall victim to (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s delusions,” he said, adding, “Do not test our resolve to defend our land.”

US ramps up military presence, focuses on Hormuz

The remarks come amid reports that the Pentagon may deploy thousands of troops from the US Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

At the same time, Washington has said it is increasing efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, as part of its ongoing military operations against Iran.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US forces are working to ensure that shipping through the route is not disrupted. “Our military also remains laser focused on eliminating the regime’s threat to the free flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz,” she told reporters.

As part of this push, US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian military sites along the coastline of the strait.

Everything escalated after February 28, when the US and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Tehran and other cities. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed, along with senior commanders and civilians.

Iran hit back soon after, firing missiles and drones at Israel and US-linked targets across the region, taking the conflict to a far more serious level.

2 6 March 1973. During the 60th birthday celebration of Paul Erdős, Israeli mathematicians were denied entry into Hungary. In protest, Erdős himself stayed away from his homeland for the next three years. Erdős had taken up residence in Israel when the paranoia of the McCarthy era had made it difficult for him, a Hungarian-born Jewish mathematician, to carry on elsewhere. He had left his hometown Budapest in 1938 at the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and for six decades moved from one continent to another, in search of ‘another roof, another proof ’.

With 514 collaborators and 1526 papers, he was one of the most productive mathematicians ever. A collaboration with Erdős, or even with an Erdős collaborator, is seen as a benchmark of a researcher’s eliteness. Perpetually travelling, Erdős still felt a homely affinity towards Budapest, where he had childhood friends and memories. Another recluse was American mathematician Ronald Graham’s home in New Jersey. The third, more undiscussed, was Israel. It is not a singularity how the newly-created fairy tale state provided a home to fall back upon, for a young gifted Jew alone in the 20th century’s hostile world. Israel has produced, since its inception 78 years ago from scratch, 14 Nobel laureates (ranking 16th among all countries), awe-inspiring research institutes like Tel Aviv and Weizmann Institute, enviable technology, and welfare infrastructure, amidst distractive continuous turmoil over its territory.

According to mathematician André Weil, “Both the Jews and the brahmins of southern India are communities that, for twenty centuries, have devoted themselves tirelessly to the most abstract subtleties of grammar and theology. It is hardly surprising that the younger generations, when their turns came, turned towards the sciences… the natural extension of millennial traditions. In societies in which success is increasingly linked to certain intellectual qualities, both Jews and brahmins have excited the envy of others, the result being anti-Semitism in the West…” The accumulated refinement already in Jewish cultural norms enabled excellence the moment a real zeal was felt. If Adolf Hitler had not neglected quantum physics as a “Jewish science”, the outcome of World War II could have been very different. The hybrid edifice of theoretical sciences has compiled contributions from varied lands and races.

As Eric Weiner pointed out, in every era, we see ‘the geography of genius’ concentrated somewhere. Once ancient Egypt and India, the scientific barycentre has always relocated to the more welcoming shelter: Cambridge, Manhattan, Singapore. Israel addressed its need through the constitutional Law of Return, encouraging not only the Jewish diaspora from across the world, but intelligentsia irrespective of race and religion, to come and settle, building a nation that could ignore threats from the entire Middle East single-handedly. Irrespective of political stance, one has to admire the state’s achievements, often ranked as highest globally in the number of scientists and technicians among employees (140/10,000) and highest ratio of scientific papers per capita.

While Erdős was teaching at the University of Notre Dame, USA denied him a re-entry visa. With colleagues barred behind the Iron Curtain, Erdős provided the necessary bridge between the East and the West. Unable to return to Hungary for good, Erdős took up a research position at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, before becoming a “permanent visiting professor” at Technion. Biographer Bruce Schechter has implied that Erdős had ‘reluctantly accepted Israeli citizenship’, as the last resort . However, Erdős’s involvement with Israeli society, apart from his large fraction of collaborators in Israel, show his efforts to contribute beyond mathematics to the material development of the Jewish homeland. As the Budapest of his college days was preparing for the Holocaust, Erdős’s friend circle of young mathematicians was, though unintended, exclusively Jewish.

How much Erdős was conventionally religious is debatable. He was a theist in the sense that he believed that God (or the Supreme Fascist, as Erdős used to refer to him) has a Book, whose existence really does not depend on that of the SF, which contains the best poetry, art and mathematics – the version mortals can only aspire to at best approximate. His perception of life was of a losing game against the SF, who scored if one didn’t do the right thing. The objective, in an agnostic way, was to keep the SF’s score low. His view of death was that ‘there will be plenty of time to rest in the grave.’ As such, he stuffed himself with amphetamines and caffeine while working 19 hours a day.

He used the verb ‘preaching’ to mean a mathematical lecture. Apart from his Anyuka , he achieve d a non-attachment enviable to the most accomplished of monks, with compassion worth a saint and the simple living of an ascetic. In 1984, Erdős contributed all but 720 dollars of the $50,000 from the prestigious Wolf Prize, to a scholarship in Technion established in the name of his mother. He had, in 1976, founded a math award in Israel, as in Hungary, in the memory of his parents. It shows an urge to make a permanent obituary of his Jewish parents (his father died during the Holocaust, his Anyuka accompanied him on his trips till her death in 1971) in the Holy Land.

Erdős was always ready to contribute to causes he found worthy. A year after his death, Graham received a mail from an Israeli girls’ home he had donated a hefty amount to. Cosmopolitan though Erdős was, Israel did become his second home. He stood in staunch solidarity with the cause of the Jewish nation, time and again when the rest of the world criticized its policies or even existence. Just as he had refused to go to Hungary when fellow Israeli mathematicians were denied entry! Israel is home to, like Erdős, the Jewish, the atheists, the Arabs, the Bahá’í, without any emphasis on their personal faiths, unlike the powers that oppose it. Some, like Erdős, would rather call Hungary their ancestral home. Keen to reach the zenith of civilization, empowered by an irrefutable faith in the word of God, Israel sees the future in the fulfillment of a Biblical prophecy with advancing science and values, drawing on the best of brains they have anchored.

(The writer is a Research Scholar in the Department of Mathematics, IIT, Bhilai.)

A missile fired from Iran has struck near Israel’s sensitive Dimona region, close to its nuclear facility, marking a major escalation as the West Asia conflict enters its 26th day.

Even as the United States claims “productive” talks with Tehran and signals progress towards ending the war, Iran has denied any negotiations, insisting only messages have been exchanged through intermediaries. On the ground, however, strikes continue, with Washington stepping up operations to secure the Strait of Hormuz and stabilise global oil flows.

With tensions rising around critical energy routes, fresh military threats, and conflicting claims on diplomacy, the region remains on edge.

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