Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani accused US President Donald Trump of dragging Americans into what he called an “unfair war” with Iran and declared that Tehran would not negotiate with Washington amid an escalation in the conflict.Larijani, chairman of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, made the remarks after the United States and Israel launched violent attacks on Iranian targets over the weekend. The confrontation sharply escalated tensions in the region. In the same post, Larijani warned that Iran would retaliate following reports of the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and vowed that there would be a “heavy price” for his death.“Mr. Trump, with Netanyahu’s antics, has dragged the American people into an unfair war with Iran. Now let him do the math: with over 500 US troops killed[in the past few days]is this still ‘America first’ or ‘Israel first’? The saga continues. The martyrdom of Imam Khamenei will cost you dearly. God willing,” he said in a post on X. The latest exchanges come after a wave of attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces on Iranian facilities, escalating hostilities as nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington stalled. Larijani accused Trump of destabilizing West Asia, saying the U.S. president’s actions had plunged the region into chaos and put U.S. troops at risk. Since then, the conflict has expanded. Iran launched new strikes against Israeli and US military bases in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Tehran also blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices soaring. The U.S. military has confirmed that six U.S. personnel have been killed so far. Iran’s Red Crescent said at least 787 people were killed in U.S. and Israeli attacks, while Israel reported a death toll of 11.
In a makeshift tent in Gaza City, displaced Palestinian Jamal Abu Mohsen said bombs are falling less frequently these days.
Israel attacks less as war with Iran intensifies, but so does aid to Gaza
Since Israel launched a military campaign against Iran and expanded into Lebanon, the 33-year-old Palestinian has noticed a calm in the ravaged Palestinian territory.
“Air strikes have decreased,” Abu Mohsen told AFP from his tent in northern Gaza.
But quiet is relative.
Abu Mohsen said that despite the ceasefire brokered by the United States since October 10, explosions are still occurring in the Gaza Strip.
Explosions of house demolition and shelling echoed throughout the territory, accompanied by the constant drone of warplanes and reconnaissance drones overhead.
Israeli forces killed a woman and wounded another in the Al-Mawasi area on Saturday, and injured “several others” in live fire in the center of the Al-Bureij refugee camp, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.
But for Abu Mohsen and other Gazans, daily life has become more difficult since the war with Iran began and borders have tightened again.
On Saturday, Israel closed all entry points into the Palestinian territories for several days as the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.
Gaza’s main gateway to Rafah on the Egyptian border remains closed, although the Kerem Shalom crossing reopened on Tuesday.
“Israel is taking advantage of the world’s attention on Iran’s war and increasing restrictions on Gaza,” Abu Mohsen said.
-“Want to live like a human being”-
In the southern coastal district of Al-Mawasi, 59-year-old Abdullah al-Astal said new shortages of daily necessities masked the impact of fewer strikes.
“Israeli bombing has indeed decreased a lot, but Israel is preventing food aid and fuel from coming in,” Astal told AFP.
For him, geopolitics is less important than his ability to live with dignity.
“Personally, I don’t care” about slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei or anyone else, he said. “I do not support Iran, whether it supports Gaza or not.”
“We want to live like humans.”
Gaza relies almost entirely on aid trucks to deliver food, medicine and fuel. When border crossings close, even briefly, local markets react immediately.
A source at Gaza’s crossing authority confirmed to AFP that a “small number of trucks” were able to enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom on Wednesday, but his agency had not received formal notification of the crossing’s opening.
The source added that Israeli authorities informed them that Rafah would remain closed until further notice.
The Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) reported that 500,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza through Kerem Shalom on Tuesday.
Even so, the damage has been done.
“What we saw was an immediate increase in prices,” UNICEF spokesman Jonathan Krikes told AFP.
“The prices of the most basic necessities, like food, soap, etc., have increased by 200 or 300 percent,” he said, adding that “it really shows Gaza’s extreme vulnerability and extreme dependence on external aid.”
– rush sale –
Felipe Ribeiro, head of mission for the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontières in the Palestinian territories, said Gazans were stocking up on essentials after Kerem Shalom reopened on Tuesday.
He said there was “hyperinflation in prices within days” in part because of Gaza’s low storage capacity, and disruptions to the flow of goods could quickly create shortages.
In a displacement camp in Gaza City, retired teacher Safiya Hammouda described panic buying at the start of Iran’s war.
“From the first day of the war in Iran, people were scared and started buying anything in the market. Basic goods were available but they were starting to run out,” she told AFP.
Although the shelling has eased in recent days, she said, “Gaza has been completely ignored.”
“They want to destroy Iran and turn it into a devastated country like Gaza, unable to provide food and life,” she said, referring to the utter devastation in the area, where the United Nations said in October 2025 that 81 percent of buildings had been damaged.
Mohammad Hiru said in a tent set up in the school compound that the prices of some goods had doubled or more in a matter of days.
“I think the world will forget about Gaza and no one will pay attention to our suffering,” he said.
az-lba-jd/smw
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
NEW DELHI: An Indian national returning to India from Dubai on one of the first flights to resume air travel has described tense nights, emergency alerts and uncertainty as conflicts in the Middle East disrupt travel in the Gulf. Saumya Khandelwal, who traveled to Dubai on business, said she experienced missile sirens and saw debris during the escalation of hostilities between Iran, the United States and Israel. “I saw the missiles, and we saw the debris. And then we also saw, in the middle of the night, the government that sent us there also got an alarm, the alarm went off, telling us to go to shelters or to the basements of hotels,” she said. “It was 12:13 at night and suddenly our phones went off with a huge alarm and we had to rush to the basement.”
“I saw missiles…” | Indians breathed a sigh of relief after arriving in India
Khandelwal arrived in Dubai on Wednesday and was due to return to India on Saturday, but her plans were disrupted due to airspace restrictions imposed due to rising tensions in the region. “I went on Wednesday and was supposed to come back on Saturday. In the afternoon we learned that the space was closed,” she said. As the situation develops, authorities are asking travelers to stay indoors. “The authorities asked us to stay in the hotel and not roam the streets. We are in the hotel. The situation there is very scary. We are very nervous.” Despite the uncertainty, she said local authorities and residents had offered support to stranded travelers. “The government is very cooperative and the people there are very welcoming. Everyone around was fully cooperative. They opened their homes to the people there. “ The Indian Embassy in the UAE has also remained in touch with citizens during the crisis. “We’ve had a lot of calls, if you need any help, if we need any help, any type of help, they’re here to help,” she said. “I received about two or three calls from the Indian embassy.” Sirens and missile sirens created an atmosphere of fear, she said. “I’m so scared I don’t think I’ll be able to move out of the UAE for at least the next two to three weeks.” Her family in India is also feeling anxious as events unfold. “It was just a four-day work trip and no one expected something like this to happen in the UAE.” Khandelwal said daily life in Dubai was largely panic-free, although tensions remained high. “On Monday, the city was functioning normally. People were on the road, doing their daily chores. The grocery store is open. “ “There was no panic at all, that’s the best part. The taxis ran smoothly, the hotel ran smoothly.” She also said hotels and airlines have avoided raising prices during the crisis. “You’ll be happy to know there’s no surge pricing. Our prices have remained the same for the past four days.” “Emirates didn’t even raise a penny. I came back at a very nominal price.” Residents and businesses have also stepped up to help stranded travelers, especially during Ramadan. “People were handing out food there because it was Ramadan. They didn’t want to ruin the festive atmosphere of the place.” “Some companies open houses for free. Anyone who wants to come can stay and stay peacefully until flights resume.” When flights finally resumed, Khandelwal managed to find a seat on the Emirates flight and rushed to the airport. “As soon as Emirates takes off, I have 15 minutes. I have to be at the airport by 6:30.” Passengers remained anxious until the plane finally took off. “Our flight was stuck on the runway for about 45 minutes and I was just waiting for God willing, the flight had to take off.” After taking off, the cabin suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. “Everyone on the plane was yelling and calling their families when they landed. It was a very happy atmosphere. I almost cried that time. “ Khandelwal also dismissed reports of a large-scale attack in downtown Dubai. “I myself am in downtown Dubai. I am in Business Bay, which is one of the most crowded areas.” “There were no explosions around. The explosions mainly occurred on the airport side and also on the coast side.” Looking back on the experience, she said calmness and faith helped her get through tense situations. “My main takeaway is please have faith in God because that keeps me going.” She also expressed confidence that authorities would continue to assist Indians in the Gulf region. “The government has been very, very cooperative. If you have any questions, you can talk to the people around you and they’re all calm.” “I am sure that our relationship with the UAE government is very good and they will rescue Indians who are in trouble.” Despite her ordeal, Khandelwal said she plans to return to the UAE once the situation stabilizes. “As soon as the matter is resolved, I will return to work in the UAE.”
Mohsin Ali has become one of the most controversial figures in British politics after a series of public clashes with Keir Starmer and criticism from opponents for his comments about Israel, Gaza and international conflict. Ali is a Leeds city councilor and a well-known figure within the Green Party of England and Wales. He has risen rapidly in national politics after becoming the party’s co-deputy leader in 2025. Yet his outspoken activism on Palestine and foreign policy has repeatedly drawn scrutiny from political opponents, Jewish groups and online critics. The row with Starmer escalated in 2026 when parliament fell out over Ali’s involvement in protests against US-Israeli military action in the Middle East and his past comments about Israel.
from Leeds City Councilor green party leadership
Ali serves as MP for the Leeds constituency of Gipton and Halhills, an area with a large and diverse population and a significant South Asian community. Born and raised in Leeds, he comes from a British Bangladeshi Muslim family whose roots can be traced back to Bangladesh. His parents were part of a community of immigrants who settled in northern England at the end of the twentieth century.Before entering mainstream politics, Ali built an online following through political commentary and activism on social media platforms. He had previously been associated with the Labor Party but became disillusioned with it under Keir Starmer, particularly over disagreements over its political direction and its stance on issues such as foreign policy and the Israel-Gaza conflict.Ali later joined the Green Party of England and Wales and rose through the ranks. In September 2025, he was elected joint deputy leader of the Green Party together with fellow party figure Rachel Millward. The position puts him into the party’s senior leadership, where he is responsible for helping shape the party’s political strategy and public messaging. His election is also seen as part of the party’s efforts to broaden its appeal to younger voters and communities dissatisfied with Britain’s two main political parties.
October 7 tweet controversy
One of the biggest controversies surrounding Ali relates to a post he made on October 7, 2023, the day Hamas militants launched an attack in Israel that killed more than 1,000 people. “White supremacist European settler colonialism must end,” Ali tweeted.Critics said the statement appeared to contextualize or justify the violence of the attack. Some political opponents and commentators believed the release of the information was inappropriate given the scale of civilian casualties. The remarks have since been cited repeatedly by critics who question Ali’s stance on the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Comments on rabbis serving in the Israel Defense Forces
In October 2025, Ali provoked further criticism when he referred to a Leeds rabbi who had served in the Israel Defense Forces as an “animal”. The comments prompted calls from some politicians and commentators for the Greens to take disciplinary action.The Green party leadership did not remove him from office, and supporters believed the comments came against a backdrop of anger over the conflict in Gaza. However, the remarks intensified critics’ accusations that Ali’s comments crossed a line.
Clash with Keir Starmer
In early 2026, a dispute between Ali and Prime Minister Keir Starmer intensified during a debate in the British Parliament. A Conservative MP claimed Ali took part in a protest seen as supporting Iran’s leadership following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader amid rising tensions in the Middle East.Responding to the accusation, Starmer said he was “shocked but not surprised” by Ali’s attendance at the rally, saying it reflected disturbing trends within the Green Party. The comments quickly escalated a political row between Labor and the Greens.Ali has denied the accusations, saying he participated in demonstrations to oppose the war and escalation, not to support the Iranian regime.
U.S. Defense Secretary delivers another major blow to Iran Peter Heggs Confirming that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, it said the Iranian navy “slumbers at the bottom of the Persian Gulf” and is “ineffective, battered, destroyed… pick your adjective, it no longer exists.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Constantin Tolopin) (AP)
At a news conference on Tuesday, he said a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean that it thought was safe in international waters.
“Instead, she was torpedoed and scuttled to a quiet death – the first time an enemy ship had ever been torpedoed world war 2. Just like that war, when we were the War Department, we were fighting to win. “
Sri Lanka Navy confirms distress call from Iris Dena
Although Hegseth did not reveal the identity of the ship, Sri Lanka The Navy previously stated that the Iranian ship “Iris Dena” sank off the coast of Galle, leaving about 140 people missing.
Sri Lankan officials reported that 32 people had been rescued and several bodies had been recovered from the sea. The injured were being treated at a government hospital in the southern port city of Galle.
“We hope to be able to rescue more people and will continue operations until this is confirmed,” Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath said, according to Reuters.
“Details of the death toll are not available at this time,” he added.
The “IRIS Dena”, classified as a frigate, participated in the Milan International Ship Review held in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25 and received a warm welcome from the Indian Navy. The ship was on its way back from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
Hegseth said the United States “can sustain this fight as long as we need to”
Possessing U.S. military strength, minister of defense He continued to say that the United States can continue to take military action against Iran as long as necessary.
“The enemy can no longer fire as many missiles as he once did – not even close. We can easily sustain this fight for as long as we need to.”
The death toll in Iran has risen to 1,045, the Guardian reported, citing Iranian authorities.
The Iranian Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation said the figure reflected the number of bodies that had been claimed and prepared for burial, state media reported.
Did Peter Hegseth send any message to China and Russia?
Russia and China condemned the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, with Moscow saying it had found no evidence Tehran was developing nuclear weapons and Beijing calling for an immediate end to coordinated attacks.
Hegseth called Russia and China “non-factors” in the Iran war. “I have no message for them. They are not the real factors here. Our problem is not with them.”
The defense secretary said the United States’ primary goal is to achieve what he called “Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
As the results of the Texas Senate primary come in, a big moment for the Indian American community is Pooja Sethi’s victory in Texas House District 47. Sisi has made waves recently for vehemently resisting racist comments about her race, instead viewing it as an honor, saying her heritage is not an insult but her story. Commenting on a hateful post about a poll poster mocking her because of her last name, she wrote: “My heritage is not an insult. It is my story. Like millions of Americans, it is rooted in hard work, faith in this country, and service to our communities. If this bothers you, you are bigger than me.”Asian Democrats in Texas condemned the attack and said it was not a political debate. “Comments like ‘No India is my Texas’ are not political criticism or policy disagreement. They are rooted in fear and exclusion, and they send the message that some Texans do not belong here. We unequivocally reject that message,” the caucus said. Pooja Sethi’s victory over 20-year U.S. Army veteran Joseph Kopser was decisive as Sethi received 76% of the vote to Kopser’s 24%. Seti will now be the party’s candidate in the November election. She will run against Republican Jennifer Mushtaler. If she wins the election, she will become the state representative for District 47 in the Texas House of Representatives. Sethi served as chief of staff to Texas Rep. Vikki Goodwin for four years. Before that, she worked as an immigration attorney at Catholic Charities, where she represented families through the immigration system and fought for dignity and due process, her resume said. “I’m running for Texas House District 47 because I’m a mother and I can’t continue to raise my children in a state that doesn’t care about them. Every meeting, we’re told we’re fighting for our kids. But every meeting, I see brutality win. At the last meeting, I stood next to a father who lost a child in the Uvalde shooting. He showed the chairman of the Department of Homeland Security his child’s school notebook, which had a bullet hole in it. This is what he left them. We are demanding a hearing on the Raise the Age bill, which would raise the minimum age to purchase certain high-performance firearms from 18 to 21 in an effort to reduce gun violence and keep our communities safe,” Sethi said, the reasoning behind her campaign.
DMK, Congress leaders after Seat0sharing deal finalized
CHENNAI: An end to speculation, DMK and tamil naducongress Committee (TNCC) on Wednesday finalized the seat allocation arrangements for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, according to which the Congress party will contest in 28 constituencies and get one Lok Sabha seat.The decision was taken at a meeting between Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin and TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai in Chennai, according to a joint statement issued by both parties.In the 2021 parliamentary elections, the Congress party contested 25 seats as part of the Secular Progressive Alliance and won 18 seats. Party leaders have said in recent weeks they are seeking more constituencies this time around.TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai told reporters after the signing that he was “relieved” after the agreement was signed. When asked about the candidate for the federal house, Selva Peruntagai said the All India Congress Committee will announce the name of the candidate.
After Texas, public universities Florida There is also a moratorium on hiring new employees through the H-1B visa program. Months ago, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called on public schools to crack down on what he called “visa abuse” in higher education.
Florida freezes new H-1B visa applications over ‘visa abuse’ concerns (Representative Image/Pexels)
University of Florida suspends new H-1B hiring: Who will be affected?
Florida’s Public universities will temporarily stop recruiting new foreign teachers H-1B Visa Program. The suspension only applies to new hires at the 12 schools within the Florida State University system.
The Florida Board of Governors, which governs the state’s public universities, has voted to keep the temporary ban in place until Jan. 5.
Florida State University System President Ray Rodrigues said last month that the pause on H1-B visa hiring would last until Jan. 5, 2027, if approved. The pause will allow for a review of the cost of the program and “how our universities use it.”
The suspension will not affect current employees hired by Florida agencies under the H1-B program, but will affect potential new employees.
Data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website shows that more than 600 people from these 12 universities in Florida received H-1B visas last year.
However, in October, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “Universities across the country are bringing in foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and can do the job. We will not tolerate H-1B abuse at Florida institutions. That’s why I’m directing the Florida Board of Governors to end this practice.”
He also claimed that American universities “are bringing in foreign workers through H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and capable to do the work.”
this H-1B visa This program allows employers to hire highly skilled professionals in specialized occupations (primarily science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to work in the United States.
The program provides 65,000 visas annually and an additional 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees. These visas are approved for a period of three to six years.
late January, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered an investigation into the H-1B visa program within the state. He also directed state agencies and universities to suspend new visa applications.
“In light of recent reports of abuses in the federal H-1B visa program and the federal government’s ongoing review of the program to ensure American jobs flow to American workers, I direct all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa applications,” Abbott said in a letter to state agencies.
New Zealand opener Finn Allen created history in Kolkata on Wednesday by smashing the fastest-ever hundred in the T20 World Cup to help New Zealand register a crushing nine-wicket win over South Africa to reach the final.In the first semi-final, Allen blasted 170 points and scored an unbeaten 100 points in just 33 balls.
Why India vs England semi-final will be a nightmare for bowlers? 2026 T20 World Cup
His knock broke Chris Gayle’s previous World Cup record of 47. New Zealand tied the target in just 12.5 overs and ended the match in 7.1 overs.After the game, Allen said: “Yeah, I would say it was there. Wanted to get into good position and hit the ball. Wanted to get them on the back foot early. The way Seifert hit the ball and got us flying out helped me as well. We wanted to hit the ball straight and enjoy it together.” “You have to get used to the wickets and training is important. The lads played a lot of games against India on black soil before the World Cup, so that’s good intelligence. We’re looking forward to the final on Sunday.”Allen’s 33-ball hundred is now the fastest in the T20 World Cup, the fastest against a full team in T20 Internationals, and joint-third fastest in all T20Is.Earlier, South Africa posted 169/8 in 20 overs with Marco Jansen top-scoring with 55 runs. But their total proved to be far from enough. Tim Seifert New Zealand got off to a flying start with a 33-ball 58, setting the stage for Allen’s record-breaking blitz.With such an outstanding performance, the New Zealand team stormed into the finals.
Nikita Bier, the platform’s director of product development, said a Pakistani man ran at least 31 accounts on X that shared AI-generated war videos. Bill said in a post on Wednesday that the accounts had been hacked and renamed “Iran War Monitor” on February 27. The network pushed AI-generated clips related to the ongoing conflict. “We’re discovering this at an increasing rate while removing the incentive to do so,” Beer wrote, adding that the operator was trying to profit from X’s creator revenue sharing program. Not only did the accounts impersonate Iran-linked surveillance personnel, they also impersonated the profiles of multiple “Israel Defense Forces girls,” which Bill said were also operated by Pakistan. In response, X announced stricter rules. Users who post AI-generated videos of armed conflict without clearly disclosing that the videos were produced using AI will be suspended from the Creator Revenue Sharing Program for 90 days. Repeat violations will result in permanent removal from the monetization program. This issue arose during the Iran War. While the United States, Israel and Iran are attacking each other, there are also some users on X spreading false news and rumors. There are concerns about misinformation on the platform, particularly accounts from countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh impersonating legitimate users elsewhere. In November 2025, X launched an “About this Account” feature, which revealed that multiple accounts posting content about Indian politics were actually operating from abroad.Bill also noted that another account claiming to be a journalist from Gaza was found to be sharing AI-generated material. According to X’s monetization rules, creators must subscribe to X Premium, have at least 500 premium fans, generate approximately 5 million impressions within three months, and complete identity verification. Since payments are made in U.S. dollars, users in countries with a higher dollar value may be incentivized to produce sensational content designed to go viral.
