Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has suffered a hamstring tendon injury, his Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr FC confirmed on Tuesday. Despite the setback, his participation in the 2026 World Cup appears to be safe.The 41-year-old Portugal captain is expected to miss two to four weeks, which should allow him to fully recover before the start of the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada on June 11.
Jay Shah: Credit for 1983 World Cup victory should go to Kapil Dev
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner suffered the injury during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Al Fayeja.Al Nasr said the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player “has begun a rehabilitation program and his condition will be assessed on a daily basis”.Ronaldo, who is about to play in a record sixth World Cup, suffered the injury during a match in Al Faha in the Saudi Professional League.The setback comes at a crucial time as Al Nasser look to protect their slim lead at the top of the Saudi Professional League table.Ronaldo is Al Nasr’s league top scorer with 21 goals this season, but he now faces uncertainty over the upcoming fixtures.Al-Nasr will face Neom SC and Al-Khaleej in March, while Ronaldo is also in doubt for Portugal’s international friendlies against Mexico and the United States later this month.Al-Nasser and the Portuguese national football team are hoping their captain’s latest injury is just a temporary setback rather than a serious long-term problem. (Arnie)
kuwaitis F/A-18 Hornet As China-U.S. relations continue to be tense, the plane is suspected of accidentally shooting down three U.S. F-15s. Iran. Central Command initially issued a press release saying the three planes crashed in an “apparent friendly fire incident.” However, it is unclear whether another aircraft was involved.
In addition to Canada and Australia, Kuwait is also one of the countries purchasing F/A-18 Hornets from the United States. (X/@clashreport)
“At 11:03 pm ET on March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury crashed over Kuwait due to an apparent incident of friendly fire. During active combat that included attacks by Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,” statement read.
The statement added: “All six crew members ejected safely and were rescued safely and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged the incident and we thank the Kuwait Defense Forces for their efforts and their support of ongoing operations. The cause of the incident is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.”
Suspicions later turned to a Kuwaiti aircraft, according to Air Force and Space Force Magazine. The incident occurred on the third day of the conflict between the United States and Iran. At least one Kuwaiti F/A-18 is believed to be responsible, the magazine reported. They have F/A-18s and Eurofighter Typhoons.
Kuwait F/A-18 Hornet Incident: Everything You Need to Know
All six people (three pilots and three weapons systems officers) managed to survive after a suspected Kuwaiti F/A-18 downed the plane and are reportedly recovering.
The exact circumstances of how the three planes were shot down remain unclear. However, one former pilot expressed doubts.
“If you’re flying an air defense mission, the first thing you do is interrogate with your transponder. If you’re beyond visual range, you interrogate other aircraft to see if they’re flying.” quack Friendly code. If you don’t have friendly identification, then you have visual identification,” the former pilot said.
Notably, Allied pilots have taken steps to prevent such incidents, with the publication stating that U.S. pilots broadcast codes identifying friend or foe, which Allied forces use to know they are dealing with a friendly entity.
The expert added that based on the fact that the crew ejected safely, “they were hit from the rear quadrant.” The former pilot also believes they were likely hit “by a heat-seeking missile that didn’t have a really large warhead.” It is unclear whether the US spacecraft has activated the identification friend or foe system.
“It would be difficult to mistake an F-15E for an Iranian aircraft, especially if they were not maneuvering in any offensive manner,” the former pilot said, adding that even if the planes did not fly with their transponders on, that would not be a reason to fire. “They have to show some kind of hostile intent. If they’re just flying, it’s not hostile intent.”
The incident came a day after an Iranian drone struck a tactical operations center in the Kuwaiti port of Shuaiba, killing six U.S. soldiers.
Kuwait F/A-18 Hornet: Everything you need to know about the aircraft
The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather, supersonic, twin-engine, carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft. It was designed as a fighter and ground attack aircraft, which is why it has the F/A designation.
It was designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Corporation. The aircraft can be used in a variety of roles, including fighter escort, close air support and fleet air defense. The U.S. Navy has used the YF-17 since 1983 when it developed its design.
Since then, many countries have also purchased the aircraft from the United States. These include Australia, Canada, Spain and Kuwait. The Kuwait Air Force ordered these aircraft in 1988. Deliveries lasted from October 1991 to August 1993.
Kashgar open in me,Open in Ghat,Holi opens in the spring.This is not just a song that echoes across India, it is an emotion that Benaras lives and breathes every year. In much of the country, Holi arrives with a blaze of colour, sea breezes in the air, water cannons at the ready and laughter echoing through the narrow lanes. But on the ancient ghats of Kashgar, Holi doesn’t come in pinks and yellows. Instead, it unfolds in muted gray, where devotees gather not for picaris and gurals, but for the sacred ashes rising from the funeral pyre, symbolizing the ultimate truth of life.Here the color changes to cinder. Laughter melted into the loud chants of Hara Mahadev. The celebrations shed their carnival trappings and became contemplative, less revelry and more calculation.This is Masaan Holi, also known as Bhasma Holi or Smashan Holi, the Holi of the crematorium, where faith dances in the shadow of fire and death.
The place where fire never sleeps
Masan Holi is celebrated mainly at Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat, two holy places where funeral pyres are kept burning almost constantly.The word “Masaan” is derived from the Sanskrit “shmashaan” which means crematorium. In this liberated city, life and death coexist without apology, funeral pyres burn forever and the ashes of the departed become the medium of celebration.Masaan ki Holi involves the use of ashes from a funeral pyre. Rooted in Shaivite tradition, Masaan Holi attracts Aghori sadhus, sadhus and devoted followers of Shiva who choose to face death rather than escape from it. Devotees lightly apply bhasm, or Vibhuti (Holy ash) overlap each other, symbolizing the uninterrupted cycle of life and death.
but Why Holi is celebrated?
To understand Masaan Holi, one must first step into the mythology.The celebrations begin a day after the Rangbhari Ekadashi at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This day is considered to honor Goddess Parvati.get” After her wedding with Shiva on Mahashivratri. Although this sacred wedding was celebrated with great pomp, legend has it that certain devas, yakshas, gandharvas, and kinnas were not among the elite guest list.
So what did Shiva do?
According to legend, this ascetic god, dancer, mystic and original rule-breaker chose to celebrate with his leopard skin, decorated with live snakes. gangster friendshis fellow crematorium. exist mahashmashanahe played Holi using the ashes of a burning pyre, dancing in the flames and smoke, chanting “Har Har Mahadev”.And so the tradition began.
Entering the gray area
As a twenty-something who grew up on stories of India’s layered spiritual traditions, I’ve long been curious about this practice, this raw, unpurified ritual. Social media made Masaan Holi a viral sensation. The ash-covered faces, the slow-motion chants, the cinematic spirals of smoke, it’s all about beauty. But what lies beyond the filtered frames?To find out, I arrived in Benares on the second day of Rangbhari Ekadashi. With only two days left of my lavish journalist week, I got fully dressed and prepared for what most would call “the color game,” but here, color itself doesn’t exist!The mood changed as we walked towards the ghats. The closer you get to Manikarnika, the denser the crowds become. The sea of people surged like a tidal wave, devotees, children sitting on their shoulders, sadhus in saffron, Agri sadhus with ashes on their foreheads. The air was filled with shouts and anticipation.Then the strange confusion began.
The whirlpool of human nature
What looks like spiritual enthusiasm from a distance turns into traffic jams up close. I can’t see the hurricane of numbers, but oh my god it exists!A large team, side by side, heading towards the same holy place. I can neither go out nor move!The crowd became unruly. Elbows bump, slippers slip, and personal space evaporates into the smoky air. I found myself caught in a whirling vortex of bodies, a buzzing mass that seemed unable to move backward or forward.Are they all devotees? A seeker of the divine? Of course there are some. But others seem to be thrill-seekers, more obsessed with the spectacle than the sacred. The pushing turned into pushing. The singing grew louder and louder. For a moment, I felt less like a pilgrim and more like driftwood in a crashing wave.One day I had two choices: hold my breath or let go of the slippers.The slippers are lost.To this day, they still inhabit somewhere in Manikarnika Ghat, an unintentional tribute to Kashi Ghat.In the midst of that frenzy, I thought about news reports of stampedes, families separated, chaos turning into disaster. The fine line between dedication and chaos feels very real.However, when the chaos reaches its peak, a sudden calm returns.Breaking free from the crowd, I finally reached the ghat. The Ganges flows as usual, indifferent to human fanaticism. I dipped my feet into the icy water, letting its quiet rhythm steady my racing thoughts.The ceremony began at the nearby Mahashmashan Nath temple, with aarti flames flickering against a smoky backdrop. Devotees smear ashes on their foreheads and “Har Har Mahadev” rises in unison, not as noise but as a prayer.The ashes collected from the fire are handled with quiet respect. The air is filled with the steady rhythm of drums and bhajans echo through the ghats. The procession through the narrow passages of the crematorium is more of a pilgrimage than a procession.The symbolism is clear and profound, everything is reduced to ashes. Self, beauty, status, ambition!While playing Holi holy objectdevotees symbolically renounce vanity and embrace impermanence. It is purified not through color but through confrontation.Death is not denied here. It is acknowledged and even celebrated as a transformation.
A festival, has it transformed?
Locals talk candidly about change.“The nature has changed since social media made it famous,” one elderly resident told me. “There are fewer and fewer ascetics now, and more and more artists or performers are dressing up to attend events.”He wasn’t entirely dismissive, just reflective.The artists now dance around the flame, their movements framed by the flashes of camera flashes. What was once an intimate, interior ritual now unfolds before an eager audience, its silence occasionally interrupted by the click of a camera and the buzz of a dictaphone.Is he right? Maybe yes. Maybe not. After all, traditions evolve. But the tension between the sacred and the spectacle is palpable.This year, for the first time, the celebrations are limited to the Mahashmashan Nath temple. The authorities do not allow the public to play with the ashes of the fire directly on the ghats. Overcrowding, opposition from members of the Kashi Vidwat Parishad and some members of the Dom Raja family, and ongoing development work have made the situation unmanageable.People are concerned about following biblical norms and staying safe. With funeral processions running concurrently with celebrations, managing the space becomes challenging. As I stood there, ash floating in the air like ghostly confetti, I realized something. Social media captures moments, but there’s a big difference between viewing them online and actually experiencing them.Masaan Holi demands an immersive experience” meaning this festival cannot be understood through a quick video. It must be Felt !A one-minute reel might beautify the smoke. But it fails to convey the heaviness of death that hangs in the air. It cannot replicate the discomfort of being squeezed in a crowd or the serenity of being caressed by the Ganges later.Mashan Holi is not entertainment. It was an existential encounter.You arrive curious. You left deep in thought.
why should i go back
Despite the chaos, despite the missing slippers and the crowds, if someone asked me if I would come back? The answer is yes!Because beyond the huge crowds and enthusiasm for the show, there’s beauty. Raw, disturbing beauty.If the myths are to be believed, Shiva himself dances here every year, carefree and covered in ash, unencumbered by worldly etiquette. In fleeting moments, in the chants and smoke, you can almost feel that presence.Banaras has a way of eliminating certainties. It reminds you that life is fragile, self is temporary, and death is not an end but a journey.Masaan Holi is the paradox of Kashi! Chaos yet calm, terrifying yet majestic. Here, colorless ashes become the brightest metaphor.Somewhere between the sleepless fire and the never-ending river, you will understand why the city performs Holi differently.Without color. But it’s impermanent.
Explosions were heard across the Iranian capital before dawn on Wednesday as the country’s escalating conflict with the United States and Israel entered its fifth day, marking one of the most intense periods of fighting in the region in decades. The latest explosions in Tehran followed days of sustained U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, with Tehran launching a sweeping retaliatory attack on Israeli territory and U.S. assets in the Gulf.Iranian state television reported explosions around Tehran at dawn, while Israel said its air defense systems had been activated in response to the Iranian missile attack.Israel has launched a new so-called “big wave” of strikes against Iran’s defense systems and missile launch sites. A day earlier, Israel carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear research base.Follow live updates on the US-Israel-Iran warIsraeli military spokesman Brig.-Gen. General Efe Devlin said the military attacked a building in the Iranian city of Qom where clerics were expected to meet to discuss choosing a new supreme leader. He said the army was still assessing whether anyone was injured.The Israeli military said it also carried out air strikes on sites where Iran produces and stores ballistic missiles and destroyed what it called Iran’s secret underground nuclear headquarters. Without providing evidence, it said the site was used for research “to develop key components for nuclear weapons.”Iran says it has not enriched uranium since June, but it still reserves the right to do so and says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Iran retaliates in Israel, Gulf
Iran has launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, but most have been intercepted. Eleven people have been killed in Israel since the conflict began.Tehran confirmed it had struck multiple locations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, all of which host U.S. military air bases, Fars news agency reported.“This operation will continue without mercy until the enemy is completely defeated,” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, adding that all U.S. assets in the region are considered legitimate targets by the Iranian armed forces.Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said two drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, causing a “limited fire.” The embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound, which was later closed to the public.An Iranian drone struck a parking lot outside the U.S. consulate in Dubai, causing a small fire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio explain. The Dubai government media office said authorities put out limited fires near the consulate due to the drone strike.The CIA compound at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was attacked on Monday by a suspected Iranian drone, according to people familiar with the matter.‘We’ve just begun’: US says it has bombed more than 2,000 targets in Iran – latest developments
US withdrawal and regional impact
The U.S. State Department authorized non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members to leave Saudi Arabia and Oman “due to security risks,” based on advice from the U.S. embassies in Riyadh and Muscat.The department also ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. U.S. citizens were urged to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, although many were stranded by airspace closures. The U.S. State Department said it was preparing military and charter flights for Americans who wanted to leave the area.Oman has played a mediating role in negotiations between the United States and Iran, calling for a ceasefire. Riyadh condemned the salvos from Iran, including the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh.In view of the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced the establishment of a special control room and issued a helpline number to Indian nationals.
US military steps up military operations
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said U.S. forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran as part of what he called the largest buildup of firepower in the region in a generation.“Simply put, we’re focused on shooting everything that can be shot at us,” Cooper said in a video message posted on X.“We are also sinking the Iranian navy – the entire navy,” he added. “So far, we have destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most combat-capable Iranian submarine that currently has holes in its sides.”“The Iranian regime has harassed international shipping for decades. Today, there is not a single Iranian ship operating in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Oman,” Cooper said. “We won’t stop.”He added: “We have hit nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran’s air defense capabilities and destroyed hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. ““The first 24 hours of this operation were almost twice the scale of the first day of the shock strike against Iraq in 2003,” he said. “We will continue to strike Iran 24/7.”The U.S. military said it had destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including a submarine.According to the Red Crescent, U.S. and Israeli air strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran. Iran has killed nearly 800 people since the conflict began, including the president Donald Trump said he had considered serving as a possible future leader of the country.In Lebanon, Israel launched retaliatory attacks against Hezbollah militants, killing at least 50 people, including seven children, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Lebanese state media also reported that an Israeli attack on a residential area in the city of Baalbek killed at least four people.The U.S. military confirmed the deaths of six U.S. service members. Four people were identified as captains. Cody A. Hawk, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Armor and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Iowa. A drone attack on a command center in Kuwait on Sunday killed four U.S. Army reservists and two other service members, the Pentagon said.Kuwait said an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling shrapnel as its troops intercepted “hostile air targets.” Three people died in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain.
Uncertainty about Iran’s leadership
US President Donald Trump said Iran’s air force and navy had been “destroyed” and new attacks were targeting Iran’s leadership. He suggested the war could last weeks or longer.Trump said that as far as possible leaders in Iran are concerned, “the people in our minds are dead.”“I guess the worst thing that could happen is to do that and have someone replace someone who’s just as bad as the predecessor, right? That could happen,” Trump said. “We don’t want that to happen.”While the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Trump urged the Iranians to overthrow the government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal. Trump later suggested that “people within the Iranian regime” might be the best bet to take power once the campaign is over.Israeli media reported that the 56-year-old Ali Khamenei’s second son Mojtaba Khamenei has been selected as his successor, and the expert conference is expected to officially announce his successor. The New York Times reported that he had emerged as the leading candidate, with parliament allegedly electing him under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian state media has not independently confirmed this.
president Donald Trump Expressing concern that a strike on Iran could lead to the emergence of new leadership is as unsettling to Washington as the regime the United States and Israel are working to overthrow.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House during the U.S.-Iran war (Bloomberg)
Trump’s comments are likely to stoke concerns about the administration’s ultimate outcome of the conflict, while Iran’s retaliatory actions against Saudi Arabia could fuel concerns about further escalation in the region. Follow live updates on the US-Iran war here
“I think the worst thing that could happen is that we do this and then someone takes over and he’s just as bad as the predecessor, right? That could happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. “You go through it and then five years later you realize you put someone in place who’s no better than him.”
The US president, who spoke alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reiterated his desire to see a more moderate leader emerge from Iran, but his top candidates were reportedly killed in the attack and a second group of officials “may have died as well”.
“So I guess the third wave is coming soon,” he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted on social media that “wars can go on ‘forever'” and said the United States had an unlimited supply of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles that it wanted to prevent Iran from acquiring. Earlier, he claimed that Iran’s “air defense, air force, navy and leadership have disappeared.”
Trump insisted that oil and gas prices would return to stability, although he did not know how long the military action would last.
“If oil prices stay high for a while, once this is over, I believe those prices will come down, lower than they’ve ever been,” Trump told reporters.
Oil prices soared again on Tuesday, with Brent crude trading as high as $85 a barrel, the highest level since July 2024. As of 2 p.m. in New York, U.S. oil and the global Brent crude benchmark were both up more than 4% from Monday’s close.
this Strait of Hormuz – A vital route for oil tankers – remains virtually closed.
Israel According to Israel’s “Kan News”, Iran launched a new round of attacks on Tehran on Tuesday and attacked a building in the city of Qom where Iranian clerics were meeting to elect the successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s semi-official Meir news agency said the building was attacked but was not in use at the time.
Trump pushed back on questions about whether the United States would launch an attack on Iran at the request of Israel, saying on Tuesday, “I might force them to take action.”
The Islamic Republic has launched missiles at countries with U.S. bases, including Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, and Doha says the targets are not limited to military interests. Qatar and Iraq halted production at major energy bases, exacerbating concerns about supply and prices.
China, which buys most of Iran’s oil, urged “all parties” to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE and Qatar are privately lobbying allies to help them persuade Trump to find an exit ramp to shorten the conflict, according to people familiar with the matter.
Qatar Energy has halted production of some chemicals after an Iranian attack forced the shutdown of its main liquefied natural gas plant. Iraq has begun shutting down oil production at the giant Rumaila field operated by BP, according to a person familiar with the matter, who said storage space was running out while tankers struggled to leave the Persian Gulf.
Debris from an intercepted drone sparked a fire at the UAE oil trading hub of Fujairah.
Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported that 787 people have died since the conflict began, while the United States said six service members were killed. About a dozen people died in Israel.
Israel has sent soldiers into southern Lebanon, home to the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia, and launched a wave of attacks on targets in Beirut. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said more than 50 people had been killed in the attack.
The U.S. military said on the Iran admitted overnight that its Natanz nuclear facility had been attacked.
The U.S. State Department on Monday urged Americans to leave the Middle East, citing “There are serious safety risksIn danger of war. It advised U.S. citizens in more than a dozen countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, to leave by “available commercial transportation.”
The news caused confusion because there was no similar announcement on the State Department’s website. As of Tuesday morning, it listed Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza as “no travel” areas. But other countries have given fewer warnings.
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said in a post on
Flights from the Gulf are likely to face challenges as nearly all civil air traffic in the Gulf has been shut down due to a weekend attack on Dubai’s main airport, the world’s busiest aviation hub. Emirates and Etihad Airways plan to resume limited operations to ease some congestion.
Speaking on state television on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had no dispute with its neighbor but was “confronting American soldiers stationed there.” Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have strongly criticized Iran for expanding the conflict into their territory.
Two drones struck near the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh at night, causing limited damage. The United States says three fighter jets crashed in Kuwait in an apparent incident of friendly fire and that the crew ejected safely.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday marked a shift in India’s export strategy from a mere focus on cost competitiveness to quality-driven growth, urging the industry to scale up research, adopt global standards and align with emerging supply chain opportunities.Addressing the second post-budget webinar on sustaining economic growth, Prime Minister Modi said that as global trade and production networks are being reshaped, India must reposition itself as a trusted manufacturing partner. “Our direction is clear. Our resolve is clear. Build more, produce more, connect more and now there is a need to increase exports,” he said, viewing exports as the next phase of India’s economic trajectory.Modi said with multiple free trade agreements opening up wider market access, quality will determine how effectively India takes advantage of these opportunities. “When the opportunity comes for us to move forward, our mantra should be – ‘Quality, quality, quality,'” he said. “If we have to put our utmost strength, intelligence and effort into one thing, it should be quality,” Modi said, adding that Indian products must not only meet global benchmarks but also strive to exceed them.Modi also called for greater investment in research and development. “The days of being frugal in research are over. Now, we must invest heavily in research,” he said, urging manufacturers to closely study consumer preferences and regulatory standards in partner countries to produce products that are user-friendly and globally competitive.Among departmental priorities, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the Biopharma Shakti Mission to position India as a global hub for biologics and next-generation therapeutics. “We want to be a leader in advanced biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing,” he said.Modi linked manufacturing ambitions to infrastructure and logistics reforms, saying record capital spending, intermodal transport and new freight corridors will reduce costs and increase efficiency. However, he added that the outcome would depend on coordinated action by industry, financial institutions and the state.
president Donald Trump U.S. Southern Command comes under fire online despite announcing joint operation with U.S. Ecuadormilitary force to target designated terrorist groups there.
U.S. Southern Command announced a joint operation with the Ecuadorian military to target designated terrorist groups. Images used for representational purposes. (no splash)
“On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against designated terrorist groups in Ecuador. These operations are a powerful example of the commitment of our partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism,” Southern Command announced on the 1st.
They shared a video of the operation, adding: “Together, we are taking decisive action against the narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence and corruption on citizens across the Western Hemisphere.”
The post also quoted Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of Southern Command, saying: “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, who have demonstrated courage and determination through sustained operations against narco-terrorists in their country.”
The video shows a helicopter taking off and appearing to lock onto its target.
Ecuador’s action comes as Trump focuses on South America, including sending troops to Venezuela to seize Nicolás Madurotheir president and his wife. The pair were flown back to the United States to face prosecution, an unprecedented turn of events.
Currently, tensions are high elsewhere as the United States and its ally Israel are locked in a conflict with Iran in the Middle East.
The recent acts of aggression have not appeased many who have begun to question why the United States is involved in the war, even as Trump promised the opposite while campaigning for a second term.
Trump slams Ecuador’s actions
Trump has been heavily criticized for his military actions in Ecuador. “The US empire just launched its latest clown war in Ecuador. Overnight, locals were labeled as terrorists. Anything to keep us away from Epstein since Iran started to stop distracting us,” page claim.
Another page, purporting to be a group of anti-Trump Republicans, wrote “U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated that on March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched an operation against a designated terrorist organization in Ecuador.”
Another one additional “President Trump is no longer backing down. He is waging an all-out war on the cartels.”
Trump took a tough stance on cross-border drugs during his second term. These include strikes against what the government calls “narco-terrorist” vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as part of Operation Southern Spear. However, reports indicate that some attacks may have affected civilians on board these ships.
(From left) Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Bihar deputy minister Samrat Choudhary and party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad at the Holi Milan Samaroh in Patna on Tuesday.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin will make his debut in the Lok Sabha from his home state of Bihar, with the party naming him as one of nine candidates to win 37 seats in 10 out of 10 states.While the BJP has nominated two candidates from the Bihar quota, Shivesh Kumar, a Dalit who lost out from Sasaram in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is the second nominee, the suspense over JDU’s selection is growing and the party is yet to officially announce any name, with indications that it will re-elect Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur but may drop RS Harivansh, Vice Chairman.
Bihar Buzz: Will CM Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar enter politics through the Rajya Sabha route?
A powerful section within the JDU supports Nishant Kumar, the son of party president and chief minister Nitish Kumar, whose nearly five decades of public life have been marked by his opposition to dynastic politics, but who faces pressure to cave in to demands from party workers amid concerns about his own health from some quarters.Ram Nath Thakur, son of prominent socialist leader Kapuri Thakur, and former journalist Harivansh have both served in the RS for two consecutive terms.Upendra Kushwaha will contest for the fifth seat again as the NDA candidate and the opposition parties are likely to force their way to the fifth seat despite the lack of unity among rivals, with the ruling alliance confident of winning.Nabin, an upper-caste Kayastha and fifth-term MLA from Bihar, will enter Parliament for the first time, a move that will cement his position in national politics.Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded two MLAs from Assam – Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan, former LS MP Sanjay Bhatia from Haryana, Odisha President Manmohan Samal from West Bengal and former West Bengal President Rahul Sinha. Bhatia has resigned from Karnal and takes over from former Prime Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is now the Union Minister.Outgoing Odisha MP Sujeet Kumar, who quit the BJD after the state assembly elections, is the only recurring candidate from the BJP in this list. The party is yet to announce its list for Maharashtra, where seven seats are vacant and the ruling alliance will get six seats. Laxmi Verma, a native of Kurmi who has risen through the party ranks in Chhattisgarh, is the only female candidate on the BJP’s list.The list is filled with experienced organizational personnel, BJP officials said, underscoring the leadership’s decision to groom a new batch of members for key positions.
Florida’s public university system, one of the nation’s largest, followed Texas’ lead and froze hiring through H-1B visas, a program that has become the focus of the president’s attention Donald TrumpWider immigration crackdown.
Under the administration of Donald Trump, U.S. visa rules have undergone significant changes. (no splash)
The board of trustees that oversees Florida’s 12 public universities voted 14-2 not to hire any candidates who require such visas this year and to study whether their past use has disadvantaged American workers. governor of florida Ron DeSantis In October, the committee ordered an end to the practice, claiming universities were using them to displace U.S. citizens.
Board members who voted against the measure worried it would harm Florida’s ability to attract the best talent.
“This sends a message to people in Florida that this is not a place where they can go to work,” said Carson Dale, a board member representing the system’s 430,000 students who voted against the proposal.
DeSantis said in October that “colleges across the country are bringing in foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans.”
Florida’s decision follows a similar move by Texas. The H-1B program, one of the primary vehicles for bringing skilled white-collar workers into the United States, has been the focus of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration, which has included more high-profile efforts to expand border enforcement and deportations.
In September, Trump issued a proclamation mandating new, $100,000 fee H-1B applies and prioritizes high-wage applicants, leading business groups to warn that the changes could make it harder for large employers to compete internationally for the best talent.
Florida public universities are seeking H-1B visas for about 600 employees in fiscal year 2025, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Supporters say the visas allow Florida to compete with universities around the world for the best academic talent.
Across the United States, universities apply for thousands of H-1B visas each year, mainly for high-tech fields such as laboratories, engineering projects, medical research centers and artificial intelligence.
As of 2023, more than half of U.S. postdoctoral researchers in health, engineering, and sciences hold H-1B or other temporary visas, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
For years, the choice was clear: If you wanted a larger screen, 75 inches or more, in your home, you could buy a projector and settle for washed-out visuals during the day. For clear video quality, you can buy a small screen TV as smart TVs larger than 70 inches are very expensive. Things have changed now, and you can buy a nice 75-inch TV for about $60,000. This is a smarter investment than a projector.
Big-screen TVs finally surpass projectors by delivering cinematic immersion
For the past seven years, I’ve tracked consumer technology through the constant changes in hardware, platforms, and the way people actually use their devices. Covering everything from budget gear to flagship hardware, I focus on what readers need to know, not buzzwords or release cycle hype. My expertise spans gaming laptops and gaming chairs, high-performance computers, gaming monitors, printers, smartwatches, headphones, headsets, Bluetooth speakers, tablets, and more, with a special focus on how these products perform in daily use. Reviews, explainers, buying guides, and news stories all have a common goal: to provide readers with enough detail to make a confident decision rather than wading through nonsense. Outside of deadlines, I spend a lot of time playing games, watching movies, and anime, which naturally flows into work. Performance, comfort, display quality and sound are judged on how players and viewers experience it, not just lab data, which grounds my coverage in real-life scenarios, not just benchmarks.
This article will give you more reasons to buy a big screen TV instead of a projector so you don’t have to compromise on daytime visuals.
Large-screen smart TVs are now affordable
Large-screen smart TVs are becoming increasingly affordable as major manufacturers such as Samsung and TCL start producing TVs above 100 inches. Where once you could easily buy something for your living room for Rs 100,000, you can now spend approx. $Easily 70,000.
Comparison of smart TV and projector functions
Check out big-screen smart TVs on Amazon
Why big-screen TVs will beat projectors by 2026
Big-screen smart TVs beat projectors in many ways. Here are some of the top reasons why you should choose a smart TV over a projector.
Unparalleled deep black image quality
The main reasons to choose a smart TV over a projector are its brightness and contrast. Modern smart TVs also come with dimming zones, which allow them to achieve “near-perfect” blacks while reaching high brightness levels.
You can get better results with advanced features like HDR10, Dolby Vision, etc. on a smart TV compared to a projector. Laser projectors can easily achieve this level of brightness without fading, but they are very expensive compared to smart TVs.
View Laser Projectors on Amazon
Easy and quick installation
Installing a 100-inch smart TV isn’t easy, but you don’t have to worry about that because most models can be installed for free and easily. Projectors aren’t always free to install and set up, however. And the setup is finicky, especially if you buy an ultra-short throw projector, which requires millimeter precision or the image will be blurry.
Additionally, to get the best experience with your projector, you need an ALR (Ambient Light Reduction) screen, which is another expensive investment. If you mount it on the ceiling like most people do, accessing the external ports isn’t easy.
Excellent performance value
Value per performance has been in favor of smart TVs, which are much cheaper than 4k laser projectors plus high-quality motorized screens. When you factor in the TV’s 100,000 hour lifespan with the eventual dimming of the projector’s laser engine, the TV’s “total cost of ownership” is much lower.
Gaming and multi-purpose versatility
Projectors have come a long way in technology, but there are still issues with input lag and motion blur when you want to play games on them. TVs offer better refresh rates and sometimes even optimize the overall performance of consoles, such as Sony’s PlayStation 5 and select LG models of Xbox consoles.
If you have a dedicated basement or room with no windows or outside light, and you want a 100-inch-plus theater experience, a projector is still your best choice. But for that, you have to consider all the other costs, including the screen, setup hassle, and loss of premium features. But if you want a relaxing big-screen experience, go for a big-screen TV.
Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay updated with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue when you make a purchase. We are not responsible for any claims relating to the products under applicable law (including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act 2019). The products listed in this article are in no particular order of preference.
