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Video: The exact moment Dubai’s Fairmont Palm Jumeirah was attacked in US-Iran conflict

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Latest news in Dubai: Authorities responded to an incident at a building in the city on Saturday palm jumeirah Dubai Media Office confirmed. Video showed extensive damage to the Fairmont Palm Hotel, with some locals claiming the five-star hotel had been attacked. While there was no statement on whether anyone was injured at the specific hotel, officials said four people were injured in the area.

On February 28, smoke billowed over Palm Jumeirah Island in Dubai (AFP)
On February 28, smoke billowed over Palm Jumeirah Island in Dubai (AFP)

follow: Iran-US tensions news live: US, Israeli attacks on Tehran spark conflict in Middle East; Netanyahu on phone with Trump

The Dubai Media Office noted: “Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and the scene has been secured. Dubai Civil Defense has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control. Four people were injured and have been transferred to medical facilities. The safety and well-being of residents and visitors remains a top priority. Authorities continue to take all necessary measures to protect the public. The public is urged to remain calm, rely only on information verified by official sources and not to spread videos or images on social media. Further updates will be provided at the time of publication.” X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

follow: Dubai news live updates: 4 people injured in Dubai, Burj Khalifa evacuated; video shows fire near Palm Jumeirah hotel

Video from Fairmont Palm Jumeirah

Meanwhile, locals shared videos of the site. Fire can be seen, with explosions in the background. Two witnesses told AFP they heard explosions and saw smoke billowing from the famous man-made island of Palm Island.

Iran opens fire on Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain

Meanwhile, Iran fired missiles at several Arabian Gulf cities, causing explosions that shook windows and sent people running for cover. Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which all have a U.S. military presence, said they intercepted Iranian missiles after Tehran vowed to retaliate against U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Jordan also intercepted the missile.

Emirati state media said one person was killed in Abu Dhabi, but gave no details.

Read more: Iranian Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh killed in US-Israeli attack: report

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said: “All occupied territories and American criminal bases in the region have been hit hard by Iranian missiles. This operation will continue to be carried out ruthlessly until the enemy is completely defeated.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said the US and Israeli attacks on Iran were “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegal.”

Araghchi added: “This attack was unprovoked, illegal, absolutely illegal, violated international law and should be condemned. Our attack on military bases in the area was an act of self-defense. What we did was an act of self-defense, which is absolutely legal and lawful.”

41 IAS appointed to security, equivalent grade posts; 28 as additional sec.

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New Delhi: In a major bureaucratic exercise, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Saturday appointed 41 IAS officers to the posts of Secretary or equivalent and another 28 IAS officers to the posts of Additional Secretary or equivalent.According to the list, 21 IAS officers of the 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995 batches have been appointed as secretaries while 20 officers have been appointed at the secretary level.The list of secretaries appointed includes Nagaland cadre IAS officer and AI Mission CEO Abhishek Singh; Gujarat cadre officer D Thara, who has been overseeing the Central Vista renovation project and city mission; Uttar Pradesh cadre officer Santosh Yadav, who is currently the chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).Others on the list include Himachal Pradesh IAS cadre officer Bharat Khera, Rajasthan cadre IAS officer Rajeev Singh Thakur, Telangana cadre IAS officer Sanjay Kumar, Odisha cadre IAS officer Sushil Kumar Lohani and Tripura cadre IAS officer Ashutosh Jindal.The appointments of three dozen secretaries will give the government options in the next round of top-level reshuffles in the bureaucracy, officials said.

Pakistan’s Roosevelt hotel owes New York City $14.6 million despite migrant shelter windfall: report

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Pakistan's Roosevelt hotel owes New York City $14.6 million despite migrant shelter windfall: report

New York’s majestic Old Midtown landmark — owned by PakistanNational Airlines – has pocketed hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to resettle immigrants. Now, city officials say the property is behind on millions of dollars in unpaid property taxes and water bills, despite rumors of a redevelopment deal that could shield it entirely from future taxes.The Washington Post reports that the Pakistani state-owned Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan owes New York City $13.6 million in overdue property taxes and nearly $1 million in unpaid water bills after receiving $146.6 million to operate as a migrant shelter for two years.The Pakistani hotel at 45 East 45th Street signed a payment agreement with the city’s Department of Finance in September 2023, when it owed $11.6 million.But Pakistan missed a $573,361 payment due on Jan. 2 and failed to make a half-year payment of $3.9 million, even as taxpayers paid millions to house migrants.A Treasury spokesman confirmed: “The property is currently unable to meet its payment plan.”In July, the hotel’s annual property tax bill was $7.7 million.A joint venture between the Pakistani and U.S. governments to dismantle the Roosevelt and build an office building could trigger a federal tax exemption because the State Department typically asks the Treasury Department for exemptions when foreign governments buy U.S. property. A deal with federal authorities to redevelop the landmark building into a supertall skyscraper could allow Pakistan to avoid future taxes that could cost the city tens of millions of dollars annually, The Washington Post reported.“We have not received correspondence on this case,” a Treasury spokesman said. “However, any costs incurred prior to government ownership must still be paid.”Starting in 2022, Roosevelt Airport will become the main receiving center for migrants arriving in the city, hosting more than 173,000 of the 232,000 asylum seekers. The hotel, which typically hosts 2,600 immigrants per night from May 2023 to June 2025, has a $220 million contract, paying about $202 per room per night.Reports say hotels are overcrowded and immigrants are sleeping in retail stores and on sidewalks.The Roosevelt Hotel became a hub for the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua, which organized a motorcycle robbery ring out of the hotel, according to Homeland Security officials.Another illegal immigrant at the Roosevelt Hotel, Jose Ibarra, left the hotel in September 2023 and murdered University of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley less than six months later. Ibarra is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.The city is still fighting the Trump administration over $80.5 million in reimbursement FEMA clawed back on Feb. 11, 2025.Pakistan is busy selling the Roosevelt, which has been owned by state-owned Pakistan International Airlines since 1999. The company hired real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in late 2023 to conduct a tender that was expected to exceed $1 billion, but JLL withdrew due to conflicts of interest.The potential joint venture with the U.S. government is still in its early stages, with only a memorandum of understanding signed.The Pakistani embassy, ​​the General Services Administration, the city’s Environmental Protection Agency and the mayor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Tenacious South Africa look to maintain pace against KOed Zimbabwe

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T20 World Cup: Tenacious South Africa look to maintain momentum against KOed Zimbabwe
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (second from right) celebrates with teammate Marco Janssen (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

TimesofIndia.com New Delhi: South Africa are the team to beat in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Apart from a nail-biting double super over against Afghanistan, they also underlined their quality with a win against favorites and defending champions India. As a result, they have won six games in a row and are the only undefeated team in the competition. Their next opponents are already eliminated Zimbabwe in the all-Africa tournament at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.With the semi-finals coming up against New Zealand, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. What’s most impressive about Protea is that there isn’t a single person at the helm, making this behemoth go full throttle. Aiden Markram, Quinton de KockRyan Rickton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs fired with the bat and Lungi Ngidi, Marco Janssen and Corbin Bosch finished the job with the ball.

T20 World Cup: Ashwell Prince SA vs ZIM Pre-match press conference

“From our perspective, we are very sharp and what we want to make sure is that we maintain discipline and intensity and that we don’t drop off in those areas,” the South African batting coach said. Ashwell Prince On the eve of dead glue.With six consecutive wins and the last two wins over India and West Indies by 76 runs and 9 wickets respectively, South Africa have good form and momentum going into the knockout rounds. In contrast, their semi-final opponents New Zealand barely qualified as Pakistan failed to restrict Sri Lanka in the Super Eights. So, is there anything that can serve as an “ideal guide”?“Obviously, wins create good momentum. Wherever you win, sometimes you can get a convincing win. Other times, you can have intense games and really bring the team together, so however you can get over the line, I don’t think there’s an ideal way to do that. If you look at England’s last game[against New Zealand]team), you win like England did (by 4 wickets with 3 balls to spare) and their players at No. 7 and No. 8 made significant contributions and that made them okay, and it gave a lot of confidence to their batting line-up because they knew those guys could come to the party and take the team across the line,” Prince explained.“I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do it, there’s no ideal way — I think it’s good not to have a lot of close games, but I think close games definitely help with team morale,” he continued.

zimbabwe sri lanka cricket

Zimbabwe will play for pride on Sunday (AP Photo/Wonder Mashura)

If Zimbabwe’s last two games are any indication, the chances of this being a close contest look slim. After winning over Australia and Sri Lanka to become the favorite of the tournament, the journey across the Palk Strait was a rude awakening for me. The Sikandar Raza-led side’s score of 254 defeated West Indies (in Mumbai) and India (in Chennai) to score 256, both among the top three highest scores in the history of the T20 World Cup.Zimbabwe bowling consultant Courtney Walsh said: “The conditions in India are different to Sri Lanka, the pitches are different and so on. So it took us a while to adapt. We didn’t adapt as quickly, not as quickly as we would have liked. And it’s a different surface. Obviously, we didn’t execute as planned, but I still think these guys put their hands up and they did their best.”“Hopefully we can learn a lot from these conditions for future reference. I think one of the biggest takeaways is how quickly you have to adapt to different conditions, and that’s one of the things we’re going to learn from this group,” he continued.During the group stages, Zimbabwe and Raza made a point of being taken seriously and respected. The ruthless nature of the sport means they must start chasing that goal again after two recent hammer blows.

Sadhguru at Coimbatore event said ‘Made in Bharat’ should represent the best

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Spiritual leader Sadhguru on Friday urged business leaders to ensure that ‘Made in Bharat’ becomes synonymous with quality, saying a strong national brand is not only good for companies but also for every citizen.Addressing over 100 brand managers, business owners and C-suite executives at the Brand ‘Insights’ program at Isha Foundation Center in Coimbatore, Sadhguru said: “You have to ensure that ‘Made in Bharat’ means it is the best. You have to build such brands. We have to ensure that nation branding is built because when nation branding is built, every citizen’s brand, not just businesses, every citizen’s brand will be better.”The three-day leadership course runs from February 27 to March 1 and is designed for branding and marketing professionals.Highlighting India’s rising global recognition, Sadhguru said, “Many of you travel abroad. Have you noticed that in the last five to eight years, suddenly you show your Indian passport and people look at you with more respect than they did ten years ago? That’s brand building. India has consciously built its brand. That’s good. Is that enough? No. They have to make the brand bigger.” If Bharat’s brand is established to a certain level, then doors will easily open for all other brands. That will definitely happen. “He also spoke about brand building in the context of yoga, saying: “Branding is part of the influence… Well, yoga is a great example of that – by its very nature, the amazing power it has on people and the efficacy of how it works. Literally everyone in the world should be involved. But the brand image has been poor for a long time! We’re trying to change the brand image that I’ve been accused of in various ways. Because something has such high potency and has such a huge impact on human life, most people don’t even know what it is.Launched in 2023 and now in its sixth edition, the Brand INSIGHT program focuses on brand strategy, positioning and creative excellence through workshops and case studies. This edition is driven by industry professionals.

Will gold and silver prices break records? Experts sound alarm over US, Iran, Israel conflict

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gold and silver price Market experts said on Saturday that they were expected to open sharply higher on Monday as tensions between Israel and Iran intensified, which was prompting investors to turn to safe-haven assets.

Israel, U.S. and Iran conflicts are pushing gold and silver prices higher as investors flock to safe-haven assets (Reuters)
Israel, U.S. and Iran conflicts are pushing gold and silver prices higher as investors flock to safe-haven assets (Reuters)

The situation further deteriorated after Israel launched a pre-emptive missile attack on Israel. Iranleading to explosions in Tehran and fueling fears of a wider conflict. Experts say this unpredictability is prompting investors to turn to safe-haven assets such as gold and silver.

Also read: Did Iran attack the US MST warship? Everything we know about Trump’s ‘epic outrage’

Will gold and silver prices hit $6,000 and $200 respectively soon?

Prices soar due to geopolitical threats and economic fallout across the globe, including the U.S. inflation Statistics and increase in gold imports from China. With gold approaching $5,300 and silver approaching $93, market participants are keeping a close eye on whether these metals may reach $6,000 and $200 respectively.

Market analysts warn that while higher gold prices are feasible, reaching $6,000 for gold or $200 for silver will require sustained demand and continued global instability.

Vandana Bharti, assistant vice president of commodity research at SMC Global Securities, said it is expected that MCX gold futures may reach $24 carat purity per 10 grams is INR 1.70 Lakhs and silver may rise to $According to Money Control, it will reach $300,000 in the short term.

Comex spot silver prices were up 7.85% at $93.82 an ounce as of 9:33 a.m. GMT on February 28, while gold was at $5,296 an ounce. Last Friday, gold fell slightly by 0.08% during the MCX trading session, closing at $1,61,971 pieces per 10 grams, while silver fell 0.23% to $2,81,990 per kg, affected by profit taking after the recent price increase.

“The escalation of US-Iran war fever is expected to heighten uncertainty, with investors expected to view gold and silver as safe-haven assets. We expect a gap in the precious metals,” DT Next reported, citing an expert.

Also read: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s family: Get to know Iran’s supreme leader’s wives, children and grandchildren

Why are gold and silver prices rising at this time?

The price increase is mainly due to uncertainty caused by tensions between Israel and Iran. During geopolitical crises, investors tend to favor safe-haven metals. Falling U.S. Treasury yields lower opportunity costs, increasing gold’s appeal. Additionally, rising U.S. producer prices suggest inflation may be rising. China’s gold imports through Hong Kong have increased significantly, boosting global demand. Analysts assert that these combined factors are driving gold and silver prices higher.

What are the current prices of gold and silver?

Gold prices hit a nearly one-month high on Friday, trading at $5,230.56 an ounce. U.S. gold futures for April delivery closed at $5,247.90. The increase represents a 7.6% gain so far in February.

Silver also posted gains, with spot prices rising 4.8% to $92.60 an ounce, with a monthly gain target of 9.7%.

Nala: ‘Looks like an incompetent Indian…’: Shanti Nala sparks controversy by attending NJ Transit Commission meeting online

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'Looks like an incompetent Indian...': Shanti Nara sparks controversy by attending NJ Transit Commission meeting online

A brawl erupted on social media after public criticism of New Jersey Transit board member Shanti Narra for attending a recent operating committee meeting remotely rather than in person.Among the posts shared on The post also urged “DEI: Deport every Indian.” Others said: “She is the worst board member in the history of NJ Transit and is now attending remotely. If you can’t attend in person, please don’t log in and resign from the board!”The comments sparked debate about board attendance expectations and raised questions about appropriate behavior when responding to public officials.Shanti Narra is a long-serving public figure in New Jersey. She was born in Hyderabad, India, and moved to the United States with her family when she was two years old. She grew up in North Brunswick, New Jersey, where she graduated from high school in 1985. Ms. Nala holds a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service and a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center.Prior to his appointment to the New Jersey Transportation Commission, Narra worked as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society of New York City, where he tried criminal cases and held union leadership positions. She was also the first South Asian freeholder in New Jersey.The New Jersey Transportation Operations and Customer Service Committee held its regularly scheduled meeting on Friday. The meeting, which was broadcast live, included discussions of operational matters and customer service issues, according to NJ Transit’s official website.

Uttarakhand CM Dhami launches Rs 147-crore development project in Haldwani

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There, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 40 development projects worth Rs 147.28 crore.

Haldwani (Uttarakhand): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday attended a program at Susila Tiwari Government Medical College in Haldwani, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 40 development projects worth Rs 1472.8 crore. According to the release, this includes the inauguration of 23 projects at a cost of Rs 723.8 million and the foundation laying of 17 projects at a cost of Rs 749 million.The Chief Minister said these projects will accelerate the pace of development in Nainital district. He said that the state government is working rapidly to build a “developed Uttarakhand” and the state is making continuous progress in various fields. He added that several historic decisions taken by the government are providing inspiration to other states.He further said that along with development, the government is also committed to protecting the national heritage. He stressed that the only objective was to take Uttarakhand forward and reiterated that the government has implemented landmark decisions such as the Uniform Civil Code, strict anti-copying laws and anti-conversion laws. He reiterated his pledge that no one would be allowed to tamper with the culture, heritage and sanctity of the country.The 23 projects inaugurated include: A 30-metre span vehicle bridge across the Shipra river; Technical laboratory at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Haldwani; Construction of tubewells at Kotabagh, Mahadevpuram, Jhaluwajhala, Belpokhra and Bailpadav; Construction of laboratories at women’s colleges; Installation of stabilizers in tubewells at Lalkuan; 14 drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission – including Haripur Lachhi, Kalupur Pokhariya, Jeetpur Raikwala, Devalatalla, Bhawan Singh Nawad, Basantpur, Kishanpur Raikwala, Chorgalia Aamkheda, Jayram Parma, Haldauchaur Jaggi, Bhawanipur Krishna, Padlipur, Bhagwanpur Durgapur and Bhakutiya; among other works, construction of a building at Ramgarh Veterinary Hospital is included, as mentioned in the release. On the occasion, he also executed Bhoomi Pujan for the Haldwani-Kathgodam Water Source and Treatment Enhanced Drinking Water Scheme under the Chief Minister’s Declaration, Compliance and Special Program Assistance (SPA) scheme at a total sanctioned cost of Rs 154.43 crore.

Who is the “Gang of Eight”? Trump insider briefed on Iran days before U.S. attack

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Mike Johnson said the Gang of Eight received a detailed briefing earlier this week on possible U.S. military action against Iran. The “Gang of Eight” includes the top Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. The White House typically notifies them of when military action might be taken.

“Gang of Eight” warned Iran of possible attack before attack (Bloomberg)

Johnson issues statement on Iran

“Today, Iran is facing the severe consequences of its evil actions. President Trump and the Administration have made every effort to find peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the Iranian regime’s continued nuclear ambitions and developments, terrorism, and murder of Americans and even its own people,” Johnson wrote in a written statement.

“For decades, Iran has stubbornly maintained its nuclear program while arming and funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and other internationally recognized terrorist groups. Iran and its proxies have threatened American and American lives, undermined our core national interests, systematically destabilized the Middle East, and threatened the security of the entire West,” he added.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launches ‘morning nutrition program’ for school children

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New Delhi: Nutrition goes beyond food and plays a fundamental role in nation-building, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday.Speaking at the launch of the ‘Morning Nutrition Programme’ organized by NGO Akshaya Patra Foundation, she said the program will provide energy and nutrition to children at the beginning of the day.“The smiling faces of school children are proof that nutrition is not just about food but is the foundation upon which the future is built,” Gupta said.She said the Delhi government is firmly behind the organization and will extend its full support to this noble endeavour.The Chief Minister said the mid-day meal scheme has connected millions of children to schools and contributed significantly to their physical and mental development.“Going forward, the morning nutrition program will provide children with energy and nutrients at the start of the day, allowing them to actively participate in learning, sports and other activities,” she said.According to officials, Akshaya Patra Foundation works with nearly 200 Delhi government schools and is currently providing meals to around 90,000 children.Gupta said the meals are prepared and delivered through four state-of-the-art kitchens in the capital to ensure timely distribution.“No one should sleep hungry. The Delhi government is providing Rs 5 meals through Atal Canteens to workers, vulnerable groups, patient caretakers and other vulnerable groups. The government aims to provide meals to 1 lakh people every day,” she said.The Chief Minister said that the target is to set up 100 Atal canteens across the city, of which 71 are already operational.