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T20 World Cup Live: Do-or-die match in Kolkata; Eye of India semi-final berth

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As India prepares for a must-win 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8 match against West Indies, former batting coach Sanjay Bangar has backed Sanju Samson to continue his start. Bangal believes Samson’s presence has brought better balance and intention to India’s batting line-up at crucial stages of the game.

Bangal emphasized the tactical value of the right-hander opening, especially in a batting order where lefties dominate. He explained that the move limits the opponent’s ability to rely heavily on off-spin bowling early in the innings. Bangal told Jio Hotstar: “With the right-handers at the top, India deprived the opponents of the opportunity to use off-spin. It’s not necessarily the off-spinners who are causing a lot of problems for the left-handers. It’s just the batsmen trying to impose problems on them and getting out in the process.”

He further emphasized the importance of maintaining a left-right combination. “It’s a good combination because if you have three right-handers in the front seven, you can keep the left-right combination and deny the opponent the opportunity to use four overs off-spin,” he added.

Bangal also praised Samson for his proactive approach in the previous match against Zimbabwe. India had struggled to build partnerships earlier in the tournament, averaging less than 10 runs in the first four or five games. According to Bangal, Samson’s positive intentions helped change that trend. “I thought Sanju Samson was very proactive and moved a lot at the crease. Because of that, he created opportunities to score runs and, in that sense, gave India the start they were looking for,” he said.

He added, “Before the match against Zimbabwe, India’s average opening partnership in four or five games was less than 10 runs. So, the way he played gave Abhishek time to adapt and by then India had made a good start.”

Samson scored 24 quick runs off 15 balls and also impressed with a sharp catch behind the stumps.

US issues new travel warning for Bahrain over ‘hostile Iranian missile attack’

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The U.S. State Department issues a warning to Americans, advising them to reconsider travel plans Bahrain. However, it allows non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their families to leave the country due to security concerns.

The U.S. State Department is warning Americans to reconsider travel to Bahrain due to security concerns and military tensions in the region. (Reuters)
The U.S. State Department is warning Americans to reconsider travel to Bahrain due to security concerns and military tensions in the region. (Reuters)

The upgraded travel advisory level announced Saturday follows military strikes by the United States and Iran. Israel Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with military action across the region.

“Since the outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, the threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran has persisted and caused severe disruption to commercial flights,” U.S. Department of State said in the latest travel warning.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy headquarters fifth fleetwhich was specifically targeted by Iran on Saturday.

The authorized evacuation marked the first since the military operation began. On Friday, the State Department also allowed non-emergency evacuations Israellast Monday, it directed non-emergency personnel to leave Lebanon.

Also read: Elon Musk reacts as X usage hits record high in US and Israeli air strikes on Iran; details here

Bahrain reacts to ‘hostile Iranian missile attack’

Bahrain’s air defense system responded to “Iran’s aggressive missile attack” overnight and successfully intercepted at least 45 missiles and nine drones, CNN reported on Sunday, citing state media.

According to the Bahrain News Agency, Bahrain’s National Communications Center confirmed that “limited debris caused by the interception has been found to have fallen in multiple areas.”

Bahrain’s interior ministry said three buildings in the cities of Manama and Muharraq suffered damage “due to debris falling from drone strikes and intercepted missiles.”

Shortly thereafter, video footage verified by CNN showed thick smoke billowing from the area around the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama.

A senior official at the Ministry of Civil Aviation said a drone attack at Bahrain International Airport caused “minor material damage”.

at the same time, Iran The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was officially announced following major attacks in the United States and Israel, which President Donald Trump suggested was for regime change and would continue throughout the week.

‘Help has arrived’: Netanyahu sends message to Iranian citizens, warns of more strikes against ‘terrorist regime’

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“援助现已抵达”:内塔尼亚胡向伊朗公民发出信息,警告将对“恐怖政权”进行更多打击Benjamin Netanyahu For the sake of Iran’s “freedom,” Iran issued a stern warning to strike “thousands of targets belonging to the terrorist regime.”“In the coming days, we will strike thousands of targets belonging to the terrorist regime. We will create the conditions for the brave people of Iran to throw off the yoke of tyranny,” he said. Netanyahu In X’s post.Netanyahu further issued a message directly to the Iranian public saying: “Therefore I say to you again: Citizens of Iran, don’t let this opportunity slip away. This is an opportunity that comes once in every generation. Don’t stand idly by because your time will come soon. A moment when you must take to the streets, a moment when you must take to the streets in the name of millions of people to accomplish the task of overthrowing the regime of terror that makes your lives miserable. Your pain and sacrifice will not be in vain. The help you longed for—that help has now arrived. Help has arrived, and now is the time to unite on our historic mission. Citizens of Iran, Persia, Kurds, Azerbaijan, Avaz and Baluchistan—— Now is the time to combine your forces to overthrow the regime and secure your future. “Israel launched Operation Roaring Lion, while the United States conducted Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated air campaign against multiple Iranian cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah. The attacks targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense systems, missile sites and critical regime infrastructure.Aerial and drone footage released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed attacks on buildings in central Tehran, which the military described as the headquarters of “Iran’s terror regime.” The attacks are part of a broader effort to establish air superiority and dismantle core elements of the Iranian regime.The actions resulted in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four senior military and security officials. Israel positioned the attack as an effort to dismantle the Iranian regime and empower its citizens, while the United States emphasized neutralizing the imminent threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear, missile and proxy activities.

Bairstow, Flintoff, England Lions stranded in Dubai amid Middle East tensions

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England Lions' Johnny Bairstow, Andrew Flintoff stranded in Dubai as tensions rise in Middle East
England cricketer Jonathan Bairstow (Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

New Delhi: Cricket caught up in growing tensions in the Middle East, with players from England and India leaving Pakistan Stuck in Dubai.The England Lions were in the UAE against Pakistan Shaheen but that all changed after Iran carried out missile and drone attacks in the area.

T20 World Cup 2026: Sourav Ganguly backs batting wonder at Eden Gardens

As a result, the UAE closed its airspace, grounded flights and canceled Sunday’s match. The stranded persons include Jonny Bairstowformer England all-rounder Andrew Flintoffas well as 24 other players and staff.The team was unable to leave Dubai as flights were suspended. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said they are working hard to ensure everyone is safe and can return home where possible. An ECB spokesman said: “The safety of our teams and staff is our top priority. We are in contact with security experts and governments on current events in the Middle East and are following official advice.”“We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice future these trips,” the spokesman told the BBC.Bairstow also openly expressed his frustration. Posting onIt’s not just the men’s “A” team that’s affected. The England women’s football team had planned to hold a training camp in Dubai, but that will now not go ahead. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also in touch with the Shaheen team and is closely monitoring the developments. There is currently no clear timetable for when UAE airspace will reopen, with both teams awaiting updates.

Elon Musk reacts as X usage hits record high in US and Israeli air strikes on Iran; details here

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Elon MuskOn Sunday, March 1, Tesla CEO and billionaire Tesla announced record usage to date of the X platform following the joint U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28.

Elon Musk said the X experienced unprecedented use in US-Israeli air strikes against Iran. The platform has seen a surge in traffic as users seek the latest information on the attack that killed Iran's supreme leader and his relatives. (Reuters)
Elon Musk said the X experienced unprecedented use in US-Israeli air strikes against Iran. The platform has seen a surge in traffic as users seek the latest information on the attack that killed Iran’s supreme leader and his relatives. (Reuters)

On X, Musk shared a post from X product manager Nikita Bier, who claimed that the day represented the highest traffic record in the platform’s history.

“Highest usage of X,” Musk Writing in response to Bill’s post, Bill said: “Today is the most important day in the history of X.”

Previously, according to data, the historical peak of X usage was on July 15, 2024, with 417 billion global user seconds. Musk— surpassing past records such as 76 billion U.S. users.

Usage of

Iranian media reported that many family members KhameneiHis daughter, son-in-law and grandson were also killed in the attack.

Also read: Did Gronk predict the exact date when the United States and Israel would attack Iran? Elon Musk said “That’s the best metric…”

Iran vows revenge

Iran launches new attacks after assassination Khameneione of the remaining leaders vowed to “stab” America in the heart. Iran has targeted U.S. military installations, Israel and multiple locations throughout the region. The ongoing conflict has affected air transport hubs, rocked densely populated areas and disrupted oil shipments.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said in an interview with CNN that Trump’s murder violated a “very dangerous red line” Khamenei.

Khatibzadeh said that many Shia believers around the world will respond to Khamenei’s assassination.

“Certainly from a religious perspective, he is a great religious leader and many of his Shiite followers in the region and around the world will react to that, which is very clear because President Trump has crossed a very dangerous red line,” Khatibzadeh said.

“We have no choice but to respond,” he added.

‘He was at the central leadership compound in central Tehran’: IDF statement on Khamenei’s death

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'He was at the central leadership compound in central Tehran': IDF statement on Khamenei's death

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement on Sunday confirming the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a “precise, large-scale operation.” The statement said Khamenei was at his central leadership compound with other senior officials in Tehran during the deadly attack.The Times of Israel quoted the military’s statement as saying: “Ali Khamenei was attacked in a precise and large-scale operation in the central leadership compound in downtown Tehran, together with other senior officials and guided by accurate IDF intelligence.”

Iranian missiles, drones attack UAE capital; airports and military ports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai become targets of attacks Watch

The statement also said Khamenei was “directly responsible for years of violent repression against Iranian citizens.”“Khamenei is the mastermind of the plan to destroy the State of Israel and is known as the ‘Head of the Iranian Octopus’, whose arms extend throughout the Middle East to the borders of the State of Israel. The most important of these is Hezbollah Terrorist organization. The supreme leader of the Iranian regime is responsible for the terrorist attacks against the State of Israel, and his hands are stained with the blood of many civilians from around the world. “

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Also read: The fall of Ayatollah Khamenei: How Iran’s supreme leader ended his life“With the elimination of the leaders of Iran’s axis of terror, a decades-long chapter ends,” the military statement said.“His elimination was part of a series of elimination operations carried out by the IDF against senior members of the axis of terror during the war,” the statement said.The 86-year-old has been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989 and has broad powers over the country. Revered as a divine representative by his supporters, he also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, with the final say on all matters affecting the country.The Iranian government confirmed on Sunday that US President Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli attack. Donald Trump His death was announced. Iran’s state news agency IRNA later said the country’s president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council would oversee the transition, but did not explain what would happen next.Also read: Khamenei dies after US-Israeli attack; Iran warns of ‘unforgettable lessons’ – 10 things you need to know

Iran conflict: 900 flights canceled, flyers stranded at airports

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New Delhi/Mumbai: An attack closed swaths of Middle East airspace on Saturday, paralyzing the world’s busiest east-west flight corridor, shutting down Dubai, canceling hundreds of flights and forcing Indian airlines to halt operations to the region as regulators warned of serious risks to civil aviation.Airspace from the UAE to Israel was closed and the one-stop transportation hub between India and the West was grounded. Air India has canceled all flights to the region until March 2. Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded at airports including Dubai due to flight delays.

Live: Kuwait airport ‘destroyed’ in massive Iranian drone attack, war breaks out with several casualties

Nearly 900 Middle Eastern airline flights were canceled on Saturday, led by Emirates Group, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, Cirium data showed. The Air India plane and crew were stranded in the area. Air India works to evacuate employees from Tel Aviv.The impact ripples to the gateway of India. As of 5.45 pm on Saturday, 57 flights, including 24 arrivals and 33 departures, were canceled at Mumbai airport, including the Indigo Mumbai-London flight. Ticket prices soared. A one-way direct ticket to London on March 1 costs Rs 1.40 lakh.Airlines have extended their grounding throughout the day. Air India has canceled several long-haul flights scheduled for Sunday, including those from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar to London, New York, Newark, Chicago, Toronto, Frankfurt and Paris. The airline said it was informing passengers and offering alternative travel options to reduce disruption.IndiGo said flights to and from West Asia and some international flights have been suspended until March 1. Emirates said it had temporarily suspended flights to and from Dubai.Airlines warn pilots that GPS spoofing and jamming will intensify near conflict zones. For Indian aircraft carriers, the airspace west of Pakistan to Iraq has become a no-go zone. IndiGo’s CIS routes are also affected. Air India sought permission to use Hotan in China to bypass Pakistani airspace, but the request is still pending.Operational pressure increases. AI139 flying from Delhi to Tel Aviv turned back after Israeli airspace was closed. AI Chicago-Delhi flight rerouted out of Iraq. Despite capacity tightening rapidly, major airports remain wary of diversions and unscheduled landings. Mumbai stops accepting more diversions after parking spaces fill up.

Can Iran’s missiles hit the United States and Europe? What Trump said versus what the intelligence shows

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president Donald Trump Claiming Iran was building missiles that could “soon reach the U.S. mainland,” he repeated the claim in a video message US military launches military strike and in his State of the Union address. But according to CNN, U.S. intelligence assessments currently do not support this claim.

Trump and senior administration officials have defended the latest attacks against what they say are escalating missile and nuclear threats from Tehran. (AFP)
Trump and senior administration officials have defended the latest attacks against what they say are escalating missile and nuclear threats from Tehran. (AFP)

Sources familiar with the intelligence findings told CNN there is no evidence that Iran is currently actively pursuing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program aimed at attacking the United States. An unclassified 2025 Defense Intelligence Agency assessment said Iran could develop a “militarily viable” intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 if it chose to develop one, but that timeline would extend by nearly a decade.

What Trump and his team have said

Trump and senior administration officials defended the latest attack, saying it was an upgraded missile that nuclear threat From Tehran.

Officials briefing reporters after the attack said Iran posed an “intolerable risk” due to its development of long-range missiles.

Also read: ‘Israel has succeeded in dragging the United States into the quagmire of war with Iran’: Ambassador Amir Saeed Irawani

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not speculate on how close Iran is to achieving an intercontinental ballistic missile, but insisted Tehran was “definitely” moving in that direction. He also viewed Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program in recent indirect talks as “a big problem.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNN that the president is right to be concerned that Iran may possess intercontinental ballistic missiles.

What intelligence and experts indicate

Three sources said there have been no changes to recent intelligence assessments of Iran’s intercontinental ballistic missile ambitions, CNN reported.

While Iran possesses a large number of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles capable of striking Israel, U.S. bases in the region and parts of Europe, there is no intelligence that it is imminently capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

Also read: White House slammed for photos of Trump and others overseeing Iran attacks, ‘This isn’t even a situation room…’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told India Today TV that Tehran “deliberately limits the range of our missiles to 2,000 kilometers,” calling it defensive.

The nuclear issue is also controversial.

Matthew Bunn of the Harvard Kennedy School told USA TODAY that claims that Iran is on the verge of building a nuclear weapon are exaggerated, saying: “It’s not true.”

U.S. officials acknowledge that Iran has uranium enriched to a purity of 60 percent and can technically be refined further. However, CNN and USA Today quoted analysts as saying that rebuilding enrichment facilities damaged in previous attacks would take far longer than a week.

India expressed concern and sought respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. territorial integrity

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India is deeply concerned by recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region, the government said, hours after the United States and Israel took joint action against Iran and Iran retaliated against Gulf states where Washington has military assets. While seeking safety for civilians in a region home to nearly ten million Indian expatriates, the Indian government has also stressed in its tough balancing act that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be protected. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also had separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, expressing deep concern and reiterating India’s call for de-escalation of tensions through dialogue and diplomacy.India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)’s response in the form of a statement was carefully calibrated, saying dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and resolve underlying issues. “We urge all parties to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritize the safety of civilians,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, adding that Indian missions in the Gulf are in touch with Indian nationals and have issued appropriate advisories asking them to remain vigilant and adhere to local security guidance. There are nearly 40,000 Indian citizens in Israel and 60,000 to 10,000 Indian citizens in Iran.As the United States and Israel reportedly try to broker regime change in Iran, India is once again forced to walk a diplomatic tightrope between a stable relationship with Iran based on shared regional interests and clear signs of improvement in India’s key relationship with the United States after a period of extreme turmoil. The attack on Iran also came less than 48 hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a bilateral meeting in Israel, where the two leaders discussed US-Iran tensions, with Modi expressing India’s support for any efforts to resolve the issue peacefully if necessary. It is worth noting that Modi stated in his media speech during this visit that peace and security in West Asia are directly related to India’s security interests. This visit comes against the backdrop of intensifying friction between the United States and Iran. The Gulf region is also one of India’s most important and reliable sources of oil and gas. The welfare of the diaspora is a top priority for the Indian government and one of the largest sources of remittances in the country. The GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – are also India’s largest trading partner group. While India has deepened its strategic partnership with Israel over the past decade, its relations with the Gulf countries have also undergone a complete transformation during this period. In fact, India now has strategic partnerships with five of the six GCC countries, moving away from the traditional energy buying and selling relationship to other areas such as defense and security, investment, connectivity and technology. India will be concerned about the impact a full-scale regional war could have on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) project, which has been delayed by instability in West Asia. During his visit to Israel, Modi said that the two countries will promote initiatives such as IMEEC and India-Israel-UAE-US (I2U2) with new momentum to promote regional connectivity. However, Iran remains an important regional partner for India, one that New Delhi has not abandoned despite President Donald Trump’s resumption of a maximum pressure campaign against the country. In January, India joined China, Pakistan and four other countries in voting against a UN Human Rights Council resolution that strongly condemned the crackdown on protests in Iran and extended the mandate of a fact-finding mission in the country. Indian authorities say India’s interest lies in maintaining functional relations with Iran, especially because of its strategic position chabahar port India helped develop the country, bypassing Pakistan and entering Central Asia and Afghanistan. Last year, the U.S. decided to revoke a sanctions exemption for the port, which was expected to take effect in late April, adding to the confusion.

‘I was just meters away’: UK influencer talks about aftermath of missile attack near Dubai hotel in viral video World News

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'I was just meters away': British influencer recounts aftermath of missile attack near Dubai hotel in viral video

Amid the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, an Iranian missile reportedly struck Dubai’s Fairmont Palm hotel, injuring four people. Now, a TikTok star has gone viral claiming he was just feet away from the luxury resort when the attack occurred.British content creator Will Bailey noticed during a visit to Dubai Instagram Sharing a video showing huge plumes of black smoke billowing from the luxury hotel as he relaxed at a nearby beach club. “That’s only a few meters away from us, look at this,” he said in a video documenting the aftermath of the strike.Dubai’s media office confirmed that four people were injured after strike debris allegedly fell on the hotel in one of the city’s most exclusive and affluent neighborhoods.

Burj Khalifa in Dubai attacked by Iran? ‘4 casualties’: Missile attack on Palm Jumeirah sparks huge panic

Bailey, who shared multiple videos from the city, later shared the latest news, adding that he and his friends had moved further away from downtown Dubai. “We could hear and see the missiles overhead,” he added.One of his videos showed an Iranian missile or drone being shot down over the Palm Island development just hours earlier. “The sky above the beach club is insane. Look at the one right above us. It’s crazy,” he exclaimed in the video. Music, children and adult voices could be heard in the background, he said, adding, “They were so loud.”The DMO confirmed the fire at the hotel is now “under control” after emergency crews rushed to the popular resort. “this United Arab EmiratesThe air defense forces responded efficiently and successfully intercepted multiple missiles. Authorities also dealt with debris that fell in residential areas. abu dhabiresulting in some material damage and the death of an Asian national,” the UAE Ministry of Defense said in an official statement.