Latest News
Nine killed in blast at police station in Indian-administered Kashmir
At least nine people have been killed and 29 injured after a cache of confiscated explosives detonated in a police station in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir’s main city.
The stockpile exploded late on Friday night at a police station in the Nowgam area, south of Srinagar.
One unnamed source told the Reuters news agency that identification efforts are under way as some bodies “have been completely burned”.
“The intensity of the blast was such that some body parts were recovered from nearby houses, around 100-200 metres [110-220 yards] away from the police station,” the source said.
Most of those killed were policemen and forensic team officials who were examining the explosives at the time of the detonation, unnamed sources told Indian broadcaster NDTV. Two officials from the Srinagar administration also died in the blast.
With five people still in critical condition, the death toll could continue to climb, according to the media outlet.
“Not a terror attack. Police say it’s a very unfortunate incident,” NDTV’s senior executive editor Aditya Raj Kaul said in a post on social media.
“The blast happened when a forensics team and the police were checking the explosive material stored at the police station,” he said.
The huge blast comes days after Monday’s deadly car explosion in New Delhi, which killed at least 12 people near the city’s historic Red Fort and which officials have called a “terror” incident.
The explosion in the Indian capital occurred just hours after police arrested several people and seized explosive materials as well as assault rifles.
Police said the suspects were linked to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), a Pakistan-based group that is seeking to end Indian rule in Kashmir, and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a Kashmir offshoot linked to JeM.
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir also detained more than 650 people as part of their investigation following the New Delhi car blast.
[Aljazeera]
Airlines serving the Middle East cancelled and diverted flights on Saturday after the US and Israel launched deadly strikes against on Iran, including its capital Tehran.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air were among carriers to pare back their schedules to destinations in the Middle East, citing safety concerns.
Iran responded by launching a series of attacks, with Israel and four Gulf Arab countries that host US military bases – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE – targeted by strikes.
The UK Foreign Office urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately shelter in place following explosions.
US President Donald Trump cited a failure to reach an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear programme and regime change as among the reasons for launching the attack.
Iranian and Israeli airspace were both closed on Saturday, with flight tracking showed international air traffic avoiding the region.
All flights in and out of Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airport in Dubai were suspended on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday evening, the media office for Dubai International said the airport had sustained “minor damage in an incident” and that four members of staff had been injured.
Qatar Airways confirmed the temporary suspension of flights to and from its capital Doha due to the closure of Qatari airspace, later saying operations would resume 19:00 Doha time on Sunday (16:00 GMT).
British Airways cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday.
Virgin Atlantic cancelled a Heathrow to Dubai flight and warned its flights to India, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives may take longer due to being rerouted.
Wizz Air suspended all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman up until and including next Saturday.
Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, urged travellers to check with their airline for updates.
Passengers on the 20:00 flight to Doha on Friday returned to Heathrow after it turned back part way through the journey, but this was due to a technical issue with the aircraft and unrelated to the military action.
[BBC]
Latest News
Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead after US-Israeli strikes
Donald Trump has announced that Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei has been killed. Here is his whole post on his Truth Social Platform:
Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS. He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country. We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us. As I said last night, “Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!” Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves. That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
[BBC]
South Africa have had a near-perfect tournament so far. Fifty games in, they are the only unbeaten side in this 20-team T20 World Cup and are poised to enter the semi-finals with a spotless record. On Sunday, Aiden Markram’s men will meet their neighbours Zimbabwe, who last beat South Africa in international cricket way back in 2000. Overall, Zimbabwe have beaten South Africa just twice in 58 completed international matches.
Apart from history, the conditions and recent form are also against Zimbabwe. After toppling Australia and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe have struggled across the board in India. Having suffered back-to-back defeats on flatter pitches at the Wankhede and Chepauk, Zimbabwe were knocked out of contention for the semi-finals.
Their bowlers conceded back-to-back 250-plus totals against West Indies and India. The indiscipline has seeped into their fielding as well: after dropping just one catch in the group stage, Zimbabwe have shelled at least five chances in two matches in the Super Eight. Yet they have had plenty of reasons to celebrate, including avoiding going through the qualifiers for the 2028 T20 World Cup.
South Africa may rest some of their key players as they did earlier in another dead rubber against UAE in Delhi.
A late bloomer in international cricket, allrounder Corbin Bosch has barely been needed with the bat in this competition, but has been South Africa’s go-to bowler in the death overs. He has bowled 54 balls between overs 16 and 20, conceding just 56 runs while taking three wickets. Lungi Ngidi’s variations have grabbed the headlines, but Bosch has certainly played his part with variations of his own, especially the yorker.
Brad Evans also has a good slower ball in his repertoire, but didn’t find grip at Wankhede or Chepauk. His slower ones slid onto the bat, making it easier for batters to line him up. Can he find a way to be more potent in these conditions and sign off on a high?
With not much riding on this fixture, South Africa may empty their bench again and keep some of their first-choice players fresh for the knockouts. Jason Smith, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde and Anrich Nortje all could add to their caps.
South Africa (probable): Aiden Markram (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Jason Smith/David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen/Kwena Maphaka, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj/George Linde, Lungi Ngidi/Anrich Nortje
The presence of four left-handers in South Africa’s top seven may keep left-arm fingerspinner Wellington Masakadza on the bench. Zimbabwe, though, may consider bringing wristspinner Graeme Cremer back in place of medium-pacer Tinotenda Maposa.
Zimbabwe (probable): Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (capt), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
Flights cancelled as travel warnings issued after strikes on Iran
Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead after US-Israeli strikes
South Africa put spotless record on the line in all-African clash
Fair weather will prevail over most parts of the island
Renewed Lanka’s Easter Bombing probe puts NTJ’s South India radicalisation network back under lens
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