The Economic Times

Iran's Assembly of Experts met to select a new supreme leader, with Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the recently deceased leader, reportedly emerging as the front-runner. Officials expressed concerns about his potential vulnerability to U.S. and Israeli targeting. The Revolutionary Guard is said to be pushing for his appointment, citing his familiarity with security apparatuses.

Ecuadorian and U.S. forces, under the direction of the U.S. Southern Command, have initiated operations targeting designated terrorist organizations within Ecuador. The joint effort aims to combat illicit drug trafficking, though specific details regarding the operations were not disclosed by the Southern Command.

Afghanistan war: Pakistan has launched airstrikes against Taliban positions in Afghanistan, escalating tensions in an already unstable region. The airstrikes come amid the raging war in Iran. The potential fallout is alarming, as a surge in militant power could destabilise the area further.

Holi prompts for ChatGPT, Gemini: On this Holi, you can use ChatGPT and Google Gemini to make AI images of yourself, your friends, family and loved ones to share it on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. We have curated ten ChatGPT prompts, ChatGPT photo editing prompts and Google Gemini prompts you can use to create your Holi images.

Four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers from an Iowa-based unit were killed in a drone strike on a military facility in Kuwait. The soldiers, aged 20 to 42, were part of a logistics operation. This incident occurs as U.S. officials warn of escalating conflict with Iran and potential for further American casualties.

Happy Holi 2026 Wishes Hd Images: Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated with zeal and joy in India, and on this day, people apply colours to each other, distribute sweets and spend quality time with friends and family. We have curated a number of Happy Holi 2026 wishes, images, quotes, greetings, and messages to share on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

Iran war: Earlier on March 1, Jaishankar spoke with his counterparts from several Gulf countries amid rising tensions in West Asia, stressing the need for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify in the congressional inquiry of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the chairman of the committee conducting the investigation said Tuesday. Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Republican chairman James Comer said in a statement, without specifying a date.

Top US defense firms are meeting the White House Friday to accelerate weapons production. This comes as the Pentagon seeks to replenish stocks depleted by recent military actions, including strikes in the Middle East and support for Ukraine. The administration is pushing manufacturers to boost output and is considering a $50 billion supplemental budget to replace used munitions.

Nepal's general election follows youth-led protests demanding cleaner politics and jobs, which resulted in deaths and government resignation. Voters, including a million new youth additions, are seeking reform and better opportunities amidst decades of political instability and economic stagnation. A new centrist party, fronted by a rapper-turned-politician, challenges the established old guard.

While India currently holds about two months of buffer stocks of urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), according to industry estimates, executives warned that any prolonged disruption in gas availability could force a suspension in local manufacturing.

Summer arrived early this year, boosting sales of drinks, ice-creams, and air conditioners by up to 30 per cent in February. This early heat is expected to drive strong sales throughout the season. Last year saw a significant drop in these products. Companies are now prepared to meet increased demand, with investments in new facilities.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 9 release time, schedule, what to expect and how to watch worldwide details are here. The episode titled Tokyo No. 1 Colony Part 3 releases on March 5, 2026. Fans can stream it on Crunchyroll across regions.

Thandai, a traditional Indian beverage, is intrinsically linked with the vibrant festival of Holi, symbolizing spring's arrival and communal joy. This chilled, spiced drink, prepared with milk, nuts, and aromatic spices, is a staple at Holi gatherings, often enhanced with bhaang in some regions.

Who is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei, new supreme leader of Iran? After the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US Israel attack, Irans Assembly of Experts has reportedly chosen Mojtaba Khamenei amid US Iran war tensions and political uncertainty.

Quote of the day by Kate Hudson: Actress Kate Hudson emphasizes the choice between supporting or competing with other women, warning that competition leads to misery. Her message highlights the benefits of collaboration, fostering positive relationships and shared success. Hudson's own journey includes a successful acting career, entrepreneurship with Fabletics, and authorship.

Longevity means living long with good health and happiness. Ancient thinkers like Pythagoras also spoke about it. He shared simple advice about balance and friendship for a better life. His message shows that long life is not only about medicine, but also about habits, lifestyle, and strong relationships that support mental and personal growth over time.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared United States and Israel military actions in Iran were outside international law. However, he placed the main blame on Iran. Macron cited Iran's nuclear program, support for regional groups, and orders to shoot its own citizens. These operations are not approved by France.

New Delhi highlighted persistent barriers faced by developing economies and LDCs in acquiring, adapting and deploying critical technologies, including export controls on inputs such as semiconductor chips and rare earth minerals, as well as rigid intellectual property regimes.

Selena Gomez confirmed that Taylor Swift's song Dorothea from the album Evermore was written about her, reflecting their shared journey growing up in the spotlight. Gomez also revealed an unreleased Swift song titled Family was inspired by their 17-year friendship, highlighting their enduring bond through life's milestones.

IRS tax refund 2025 numbers are showing higher average payments this year. President Trump said this would be the biggest refund season after new tax cuts under OBBBA. Early numbers were low, but refunds increased after more returns were processed. Many Americans are waiting for bigger refunds as living costs remain high across the country.

Banijay Group and All3Media are merging their entertainment production businesses. This creates one of Europe's largest multimedia production groups. The combined entity will have revenues over 4.4 billion euros. Banijay CEO Francois Riahi stated size is crucial in the industry. The deal strengthens Banijay's global content position. It is expected to close by fall 2026.

India's new trade deal with the UK faces a potential hurdle. The ongoing West Asia crisis is impacting sea routes. Vessels are rerouting away from key passages. This could affect India's exports in the initial phase of the agreement. Gem and jewellery exports are also becoming costlier due to air cargo detours. The government is closely monitoring the situation.

United States President Donald Trump has ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation to offer political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf. This move aims to ensure the free flow of energy to the world. The United States Navy may also escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed.

Will AWS go down again as drones hit Amazon Web Services data centers, facility in Gulf amid US-Israel-Iran war? Amazon confirmed drone strikes damaged UAE and Bahrain sites. The incident disrupted cloud services in parts of the Middle East and raised concerns over data security and outages.

India's National Data and Analytics Platform is set for a major upgrade. The government plans to enhance its capacity to manage vast amounts of data. This will enable advanced analytics and the use of generative AI. The platform aims to support evidence-based policymaking. A private partner will be selected to design and build the improved system.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has strongly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump stated Starmer's reaction to U.S. strikes on Iran was not like Winston Churchill. He also expressed disappointment over the Chagos Archipelago issue. This comes as Britain navigates its relationship with the U.S. amid regional tensions. Public opinion in Britain shows opposition to the U.S. strikes.

Offices across Dubai and Abu Dhabi gradually began preparing to resume in-person work after missile attacks moved employees into remote operations, signalling resumption of activity in the country's financial and business engines.

America has taken decisive action against Iran, focusing on dismantling its military powers and government figures. Leaders emphasize that Iran's future repercussions are beyond Americas responsibility. This strategy contrasts sharply with earlier military efforts. The aim is for the citizens of Iran to navigate their own future.

Apple has launched its M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, featuring a new Fusion Architecture that combines two dies for enhanced performance. These chips boast an 18-core CPU and a next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators, significantly boosting AI, graphics, and multithreaded capabilities for the latest MacBook Pro.

New York City will start free 2-K child care next year for some families. The first 2,000 seats will open for application in early summer. Children must turn 2 in 2026 and live in selected districts. More seats are planned later. The goal is to expand free child care citywide within four years under Mayor Mamdanis plan.

A Special NIA court in Jammu has sought assistance from China. This is for tracing a mobile phone linked to the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. The device was supplied to a Chinese distributor. Information is crucial for establishing the chain of custody and user details.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia is severely affecting Surat's textile industry. Shipping costs have surged by 400 percent. Payments are delayed as materials remain stuck on ships. Raw material prices are also climbing. This situation threatens both international and domestic supply chains. Industry leaders anticipate a significant revenue crisis. The disruption impacts trade routes to Africa as well.

President Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain after the country denied the U.S. access to its bases for strikes against Iran. Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with Spain's defense spending and criticized the UK's stance on the conflict.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak out. Gandhi questioned if Modi supports assassinating heads of state to shape the world order. He referenced the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Gandhi stated that silence diminishes India's global standing. He emphasized India's foreign policy must remain consistent with sovereignty and peaceful dispute resolution.

The BJP has announced nine candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar are nominated from Bihar. Rahul Sinha will contest from West Bengal. Laxmi Verma is the candidate from Chhattisgarh. Manmohan Samal and Sujit Kumar are nominated from Odisha. Sanjay Bhatia will represent Haryana. Jogen Mohan and Terash Gowalla are the nominees from Assam.

Israel and the United States struck Iran due to its restarted nuclear program. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated Iran was building underground sites to shield its missile and nuclear programs. He believes action was urgently needed to prevent future options.

OIC covertly endorsing actions of the Epstein gang: PDP President

Kashmir remains under restrictions for a second day. Protests erupted following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Educational institutions are closed until March 7. Mobile internet is restricted to 2G. Security forces are maintaining calm, especially in Shia-dominated areas. Authorities are monitoring the law and order situation closely.

A Georgia jury convicted Colin Gray, father of the accused Apalachee High School shooter, on 27 counts, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors argued Gray ignored warning signs and allowed his son access to firearms despite clear risks. Defense attorneys maintained Gray had no knowledge of any planned attack.

The deadlock centres on seat numbers. The DMK continues to stand by its composite offer of 25 assembly seats to the Congress, the same allocation as in 2021, along with one Rajya Sabha berth. However, the Congress has found this proposal unacceptable.

India's defence ministry has finalized deals worth over 5,000 crore. Six Advanced Light Helicopters will join the Indian Coast Guard. These choppers offer advanced maritime security capabilities. The Indian Navy will receive Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch-Shtil missiles from Russia. These missiles will bolster the navy's air defence on frontline warships. The acquisitions enhance India's maritime security and defence readiness.

Chase Pistone was a former NASCAR driver who died at 42. He came from a famous racing family and was the grandson of Tiger Tom Pistone. Chase started racing as a child and won many Legend Car events. He later competed in NASCAR series and also worked as a car builder. His death was confirmed by his brother Nick Pistone.

The move seeks to institutionalise sustained public engagement as a core pillar of pollution control strategy across Delhi-NCR, shifting focus from seasonal firefighting to year-round behavioural change and awareness.