WASHINGTON, May 6 : Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly defended the United States’ military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasising that it is a purely defensive mission designed to rescue nearly 23,000 stranded civilians from 87 countries trapped in the Persian Gulf by Iran’s blockade.
Rubio underscored the humanitarian imperative, the strategic necessity of keeping global shipping lanes open, and issued a firm warning to Tehran that any attempts to test US resolve will be met decisively.
“These are innocent bystanders,” Rubio said during a briefing. “They’re isolated, they’re starving, they’re vulnerable, and at least ten sailors have already died as a result of this.”
Dubbed Project Freedom, the operation highlights the US’s commitment to protecting innocent lives and maintaining international norms in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
Rubio said the operation, named Project Freedom, was launched at the direct order of President Trump after multiple nations, some publicly, many privately, appealed to Washington for help.
“President Trump, as he always does, stepped up and answered the calls for help,” Rubio said, adding that the U.S. was acting because “we’re the only ones who can.”
As a proof of concept, two US-flagged merchant ships have already successfully transited the Strait. The military assets deployed include guided missile destroyers, over a hundred land and sea-based aircraft, unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.
Rubio was emphatic that the operation is not offensive in nature. “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first,” he said.
“We are only responding if attacked first. This is a defensive operation.” He confirmed that seven Iranian fast boats had already been destroyed after failing to heed warnings. “Seven of them now sit at the bottom of the sea,” he said, “along with the rest of Iran’s navy.”
On the economic front, Rubio said Operation Economic Fury continues to run in parallel. Iran is losing as much as “$500 million a day in lost revenue,” he said, with 90 percent of Iranian trade halted, inflation at 70 percent, and the currency in “total and complete freefall.”
He warned that any foreign financial institution helping Iran evade sanctions would face secondary sanctions and lose access to the U.S. financial system.
Rubio also pushed back firmly against lawmakers from both parties who have labelled the blockade an act of war. “You know what is an act of war Putting mines in the water,” he said. “Mining in the water is illegal, period, under any circumstances, and they’ve done it.”
He framed the broader stakes in stark terms, warning that allowing Iran to normalise control of the straits would set a dangerous global precedent. “I can identify six or seven vital shipping lanes around the world that some countries can decide, if Iran was able to do it, we’re going to do it too,” he said. “That is a normal that we will never be able to accept.”
“They really shouldn’t test the will of the United States, at least not under President Donald Trump. He has proven time and again that he will back up what he says. And if they test him, ultimately they will lose – the hard way, the easy way, the long way, or the short way.”
(UNI )
Iran really shouldn’t test the will of United States: Rubio
Boosting self-reliance: MBDA to develop local maintenance facility for IAF’s MICA missiles
NEW DELHI, May 6: European missile maker MBDA on Wednesday said it has signed an agreement with the Indian Air Force for the development of local capability for the maintenance, repair and midlife overhaul (MRO) of MICA missiles.
The MRO facility will be set up, operated and maintained by the Indian Air Force, with MBDA supplying the industrial machinery and tools required, data packages, as well as training and technical support.
MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile are the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.
“Developing these facilities locally will foster long-term capability building, secure technical expertise for years to come, and develop India’s strategic autonomy, reflecting the core principles of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the ambitious campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020,” the MBDA said in a statement.
It said the facility will help India’s domestic defence sustainment effort, improving turnaround times, with capacity to support MICA missiles and significantly enhancing the operational capability and readiness of the Indian armed forces.
India and MBDA share a long history of partnership in equipping the Indian Air Force going back to the early days of air-to-air missiles.
The Indian Air Force has relied on MBDA’s missile systems to provide the latest air combat performance across a number of different aircraft types, the company said.
“The MBDA today has two focuses: providing the highest performing missile technologies to the Indian Armed Forces, and secondly supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat as part of MBDA’s longstanding partnership strategy with India,” it said.
“With a strong reputation as a reliable partner that has supported the Indian Air Force for over 50 years, European missile firm MBDA understands the importance of operational capability and sovereignty to the IAF.
“The company has strongly committed to Make in India, to deliver both industrial sovereignty and the best military equipment to India,” it said. (PTI)
Trump threatens Iran with bombing if it doesn’t reopen Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON, May 6 : US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with more bombing Wednesday if it doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz after a report that an agreement is emerging to end war.
Trump posted on social media that the war with Iran could soon end and oil and natural gas shipments could restart. But that all depends on Iran accepting a reported agreement that the US president did not detail.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” Trump said.
Trump said it was “perhaps a big assumption” that Iran would agree to the terms being offered by the United States. (AP)
CNN founder Ted Turner, a brash and outspoken television pioneer, has died at age 87
NEW YORK, May 6 : Ted Turner, a brash and outspoken television pioneer who raced yachts, owned huge chunks of the American West and transformed the news business by launching CNN in 1980, has died at age 87.
CNN reported that he died Wednesday, citing a Turner Enterprises news release.
Turner owned professional sports teams in Atlanta, defended the America’s Cup in yachting in 1977 and donated a stunning USD 1 billion to United Nations charities. He married three women – most famously actress Jane Fonda – and earned the nicknames “Captain Outrageous” and “The Mouth of the South.”
He once bragged: “If only I had a little humility, I’d be perfect.”
He was slowed in later years by Lewy Body Dementia. Long since out of the television business, he concentrated on philanthropy and his more than two million acres of property, including the nation’s largest bison herd.
His garrulous personality sometimes overshadowed a driven, risk-taking business acumen. By the time he sold his Turner Broadcasting System to Time Warner Inc. in a 1996 media megadeal, Turner had turned his late father’s billboard company into a global conglomerate that included seven major cable networks, three professional sports teams and a pair of hit movie studios.
Turner’s signature achievement was creating CNN, the first 24-hour, all-news television network in 1980. At a time news is instantly available at anyone’s fingertips, it’s hard to recall that the idea of letting consumers decide when they choose to learn what’s going on in the world was once revolutionary.
In part, Turner’s own frustration with television news was the instigator. He often worked past 8 pm, after the ABC, CBS and NBC nightly newscasts had already gone off the air, and was in bed by the time his local stations did their own newscasts at 11 pm.
He took a chance by starting the operation sometimes derided as the “chicken noodle network” in the early days of cable television, living in an apartment above its Atlanta office.
“I was going to have to hit hard and move incredibly fast and that’s what we did – move so fast that the (broadcast) networks wouldn’t have the time to respond, because they should have done this, not me,” Turner recalled in a 2016 interview with the Academy of Achievement. “But they didn’t have the imagination.”
CNN’s breakthrough moment came during the Gulf War with Iraq in 1991. Most television journalists had fled Baghdad, warned of an imminent American attack. CNN stayed, capturing arresting images of a war’s outbreak, with anti-aircraft tracers streaking across the sky and correspondents flinching from the concussion of bombs.
Turner was promised a continued role in CNN after his company’s sale to Time Warner for USD 7.3 billion in stock, but was gradually pushed out, much to his regret.
“I made a mistake,” he later said. “The mistake I made was losing control of the company.”
That same year – 1996 – saw the birth of Fox News Channel and arrival of a new dominant mogul in cable news, Rupert Murdoch. Political opinion became the stock in trade of networks like Fox News and MSNBC. Even though CNN built a worldwide news organizations particularly strong online, it struggles to this day with a diminished desire for straighter TV newscasts.(AP)
RCB look to rediscover batting rhythm against struggling LSG
LUCKNOW, May 6: Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to rediscover their batting rhythm after a rare collapse in their previous outing as they aim to strengthen their play-off push against bottom-placed Lucknow Super Giants in a reverse leg IPL match here on Thursday.
RCB are currently placed second on the table but remain tied on 12 points with four other teams. They will need to regroup quickly after suffering a four-wicket defeat against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
RCB’s batting imploded dramatically in that match, slipping from 79 for 2 to 96 for 6 in the space of three overs before being bowled out for 155.
Despite the collapse, RCB’s batting this season has largely revolved around aggressive intent. Virat Kohli has been in sublime form with 379 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Rajat Patidar have also made important contributions.
With regular opener Phil Salt ruled out due to a finger injury, the responsibility of providing explosive starts alongside Kohli will rest on Jacob Bethell.
Bethell showcased his immense talent during the recent T20 World Cup and it is only a matter of time before unleashes his full range of strokes in the IPL.
Having had a week’s break, RCB will head into the contest fresher than their opponents.
In contrast, LSG are languishing at the bottom of the standings after losing their last six matches.
They were beaten by Kolkata Knight Riders via a Super Over in a tied game, and then failed to arrest their slide as they were comprehensively beaten by Mumbai Indians by six wickets in their previous outing.
LSG’s campaign has unravelled due to inconsistent performances, tactical instability and repeated failures to close out matches.
Key batters such as Mitchell Marsh, skipper Rishabh Pant, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran have struggled for consistency, while frequent reshuffling of the batting order has further compounded their problems. Pant, in particular, finds himself under scrutiny over his white-ball form.
LSG’s batting line-up now faces a formidable RCB bowling attack spearheaded by veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood.
The experienced duo have operated effectively in tandem this season, notably dismantling Delhi Capitals for just 75 on April 27. Seamer Bhuvneshwar has been among the leading wicket-takers, making the most of the new-ball, while Hazlewood has consistently delivered high-impact spells.
Krunal Pandya too has enjoyed an impressive campaign, claiming nine wickets and troubling batters with an effective bouncer variation.
Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd also impressed in the previous game, although RCB’s batting collapse proved decisive in the defeat to GT.
For LSG, Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan have been the standout bowlers with 13 and 10 wickets respectively. Mohammed Shami started the season strongly but has struggled for consistency and leaked runs in recent matches.
LSG’s pace attack has repeatedly lost control in the death overs, allowing opponents to accelerate sharply and will face a tough task when they face RCB batters.
RCB had defeated LSG by five wickets in the first leg and will come into the match with a lot of confidence.
Teams:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Tim David, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Philip Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan and Satvik Deswal.
Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Abdul Samad, Akshat Raghuvanshi, Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary, Himmat Singh, Josh Inglis (wk), Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Arshin Kulkarni, George Linde, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Anrich Nortje, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Manimaran Siddharth, Arjun Tendulkar, Naman Tiwari and Mayank Yadav.
Match starts at 7:30pm IST. (PTI)
AI showing discrimination, inherent bias towards poor: CJI
NEW DELHI, May 6: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday said despite its growing influence, artificial intelligence is showing inherent bias against the poor, and stressed that social justice remains the cornerstone of a humane and equitable society.
Speaking at the 8th Dinkar Memorial Lecture on “Rashmirathi: The Epic of Social Justice” organised by NGO Respect India, CJI Kant said the ideals of equality and human dignity were powerfully echoed in the works of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, long before they were incorporated into the Constitution of India.
Speaking about AI, the CJI said that reports have started coming that the technology also discriminates and is sometimes biased.
Recalling his childhood days, the CJI said that his family encouraged him to study Dinkar and other great writers such as Munshi Premchand, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Harivansh Rai Bachhan and Mahadevi Varma.
He said the poetry of these great writers not only gave a healing touch during the freedom struggle but also aroused a sense of revolution among the masses. Similarly, the law should also provide solace to the people, he said.
The CJI, who addressed the gathering in Hindi, said he believes Dinkar’s poetry focuses on social justice like the law which also highlights social equality and harmony in society.
He said that Dinkar was given the title of ‘Rashtrakavi’ by Mahatma Gandhi because his writings reflected the soul of the nation, its aspirations, pain and struggle.
Recalling lessons from Dinkar’s epic Rashmirathi, the CJI emphasised that justice, self-respect and human dignity must remain at the centre of society.
“In a democracy, equality, dignity and social harmony are essential. Merely passing laws is not enough unless every individual is treated with dignity and respect,” he said.
Justice Kant expressed concern that even seven decades after it was written, inequalities continue to persist, and underlined that the ideals and practices of social justice form the foundation of a just social order.
The CJI said that writers have always inspired society and in law, people talk about poetic justice, which also came from these great poets.
Speaking about AI, the CJI said that reports have started coming in that the technology also discriminates and is sometimes biased.
The programme was organised by NGO Respect India and was attended by Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari, who was conferred with ‘Dinkar Sanskriti Samman’.
Singh said, “Dinkar’s writings reflect the foundational principles of justice rooted in our civilisational ethos. This platform connects literary thought with contemporary legal and societal discourse.”
Manish Kumar Chaudhary, founder and general secretary of NGO ‘Respect India’, said, “This memorial lecture is a tribute to Dinkar ji’s legacy and his ideas that continue to inspire generations. We want this platform to bring together culture, ideas and social responsibility.”
Former Delhi University professor Rameshwar Rai said on the occasion, “Dinkar’s work remains relevant even today, offering insights into social justice, human values and the way society evolves.”
Supreme Court judge Justice P B Varale was also present on the occasion, among several senior lawyers and students of colleges and universities. (PTI)
Kohli’s U-19 teammate Amanpreet Singh Gill dies at 36
NEW DELHI, May 6: Former India U-19 and Punjab medium pacer Amanpreet Singh Gill died at the age of 36 in Chandigarh on Wednesday, leaving the cricket fraternity in mourning. The cause of death is not yet known.
Gill, who was Virat Kohli’s U-19 teammate, featured in six first-class matches for Punjab, picking up 11 wickets.
He was also part of the Punjab franchise (Kings XI Punjab) in the inaugural Indian Premier League season, and later served as a member of Punjab’s senior selection committee.
“Punjab Cricket Association deeply mourns the sad demise of Amanpreet Singh Gill, former Punjab cricketer and Member, Senior Selection Committee Punjab,” the Punjab Cricket Association announced on X.
“Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones. May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the family in this difficult time.”
Two-time World Cup-winning India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute to Gill.
“Deeply saddened to hear about Amanpreet Singh Gill’s passing. Shared the dressing room in our early days, he was a quiet, hardworking cricketer who loved the game. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace Om Shanti,” Singh posted on X.
Gill played five Youth ODIs and one Youth Test for India in 2007.
In the longer format, he claimed the wicket of former Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera.
However, he did not make the Virat Kohli-led India U-19 side that went on to win the 2008 World Cup.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Amanpreet Singh Shergill, who proudly represented Punjab and was a part of the Punjab Kings family. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternity,” Punjab Kings posted on their official Instagram account. (PTI)
India’s disappointing campaign at World TT ends with women’s round of 32 loss to USA
LONDON, May 6: India’s underwhelming campaign at the World Table Tennis Team Championships ended with women’s 1-3 loss to USA in the round of 32 here.
The men too lost in a round of 32 clash against Austria on Tuesday.
Manika Batra was the only one who made an impact in the rubber, winning her singles against Reyes Jessica 11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4.
In the opening singles, Yashaswini Ghorpade was blanked by Moyland Sally 0-3 (8-11, 8-11, 7-11). Diya Chitale too could not compete against Chinese origin player Lily Zhang, going down 0-3 (8-11, 7-11, 11-13).
India’s fate was decided when Manika lost to Sally 12-10, 9-11, 3-11, 11-13 in her second singles. (PTI)
Pandya likely to play against RCB, will join squad later
MUMBAI, May 6: Skipper Hardik Pandya on Wednesday was not a part of a large first batch of Mumbai Indians players and support staff who travelled to Raipur but is expected to be fit for the next Indian Premier League game against RCB slated on Sunday.
With a five-day gap between their last game on May 4 against Lucknow Super Giants and their next game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 10, the Mumbai Indians players and staff will make their way to Raipur in separate batches.
Pandya missed MI’s last game on Monday against LSG due to a back spasm.
However, his niggle is said to be a minor one and a team source said he was advised rest for the game against LSG. However he will be leading the team in their must-win encounter against the Rajat Patidar led side.
There are logistical reasons as well with only a few flight options being there between Mumbai and Raipur. The batch which travelled on Wednesday will not be training in Raipur on Thursday.
With seven defeats and three victories, Mumbai Indians are languishing at the ninth spot in the points table and need to win each of their remaining matches to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
It also remains to be seen how Pandya, who has missed two games due to health-related issues in this edition of IPL, pulls up for the must-win clash against defending champions RCB at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium.
While Suryakumar Yadav had stepped in to lead in Pandya’s absence, opener Ryan Rickelton said after the game against LSG that he did not have much information on the matter.
“I don’t know when he’s expected to be back. I only found out this afternoon that he had back spasms. I’m unaware of the extent of it or how bad it is or what he’s feeling. But I’m sure he’ll be back with the group as we head to Raipur this week,” Rickelton said. (PTI)
Nashik Kumbh Mela to be digitally savvy, eco-friendly; carbon footprint to be positive: Fadnavis
NASHIK, May 6 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik district will be the most digitally advanced yet environmentally responsible gathering.
Fadnavis asserted that his government aims to organise the most digitally savvy Kumbh Mela on the banks of the Godavari river with maximum use of technology while rejecting concerns over ecological damage.
He said the state government wants to leverage technology to manage large crowds efficiently at the Simhastha Kumbh Mela despite space constraints in Nashik as compared to Prayagraj, where the mega religious gathering was organised in 2025 across a sprawling 4,000-hectare area.
The administration is working in a coordinated manner to ensure that even if significantly higher footfall is witnessed, devotees will have a seamless and spiritually enriching experience, he insisted.
“We will assess the carbon footprint after the Kumbh, and I am confident it will be positive, not negative,” the CM maintained.
Elaborating on the approach while addressing an event in Nashik related to industries and investment as part of the Kumbh preparations, Fadnavis said technology will be deployed extensively to ensure efficient crowd management, better coordination and a seamless experience for devotees.
He underlined that the use of digital tools will not dilute the spiritual essence of the Kumbh, but rather enhance accessibility and convenience.
On the environmental front, the CM dismissed allegations of indiscriminate tree cutting and emphasised sustainability is central to the planning of the event organised every 12 years.
He pointed to ongoing efforts such as river cleaning, creation of sewage treatment infrastructure and other eco-friendly measures, adding that the government will carefully evaluate the event’s overall environmental impact after its conclusion.
Fadnavis said the Kumbh Mela is a powerful engine of economic activity and not just a religious event.
“The Kumbh is a gathering where there is no caste, no religion, no distinction between the rich and the poor — it is a true festival of equality. The narrative that Kumbh harms the environment or involves large-scale tree cutting is completely incorrect,” he stressed.
Addressing environmental concerns, Fadnavis rejected claims that organising the Kumbh would lead to indiscriminate cutting of trees or ecological damage, terming such narratives as”misleading”.
“While some tough decisions are required, we are ensuring that environmental damage is minimised and sustainability remains a priority. For every devotee, the Kumbh is a spiritual experience, and we will ensure that this essence remains intact,” he affirmed.
“Even if footfall increases multiple times, we will ensure that inconvenience is not caused and the spiritual experience of devotees is not affected. Our effort is to make the Kumbh more accessible, efficient and seamless through the use of modern technology,” Fadnavis stated.
Speaking about preparations for the Kumbh, he emphasised that the event reflects the diversity of Sanatan culture, bringing together multiple beliefs, traditions and forms of worship under one platform.
The state government is working to ensure that the event contributes to both economic growth and sustainable development, with initiatives such as the Nashik Ring Road expected to open up large areas for investment, the CM said.
Fadnavis highlighted the ongoing efforts to clean the Godavari river, build new sewage treatment plants and implement environmental measures.
He lauded the integration of industry and innovation with the event through initiatives like hackathons and start-up participation, calling it a “Kumbh-Industry Sangam (confluence)” aimed at connecting all sections of society.
The Simhastha Kumbh Mela will begin on October 31, 2026, with ‘Dhwajarohan’ (flag hoisting) at Trimbakeshwar (near Nashik city) as well as Ramkund and Panchvati, and will be underway till July 24, 2028.
On July 29, 2027, ‘Nagar Pradakshina’ (traditional circumambulation of the city) will be held at Nashik, while the first ‘Amrut Snan (holy dip)’ will be held on August 2, 2027.
The second Amrut Snan will be held on August 31, 2027, and the third and last one will be held in Nashik on September 11, 2027 and on September 12, 2027 at Trimbakeshwar.
The flag will be taken down on July 24, 2028, which will mark the conclusion of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. (PTI)