The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on tuesday confirmed the killing of Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran's Basij Unit. According to the Jerusalem Post, Soleimani and his deputy, Seyyed Karishi, were killed in a makeshift tent setup designed to make tracking them difficult, rather than at a known headquarters.
In a post on X, the IDF stated that under Soleimani’s leadership, the Basij Unit used severe violence and force against civilian demonstrators. The IDF said, “Yesterday, the IDF targeted and eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani, who had commanded the Basij unit for six years. Under his leadership, the unit carried out major repression operations in Iran, including widespread arrests, violence, and force against civilians.”
TPS news reported that Israel conducted an overnight airstrike in Iran targeting Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's National Security Council and former top aide to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israeli officials have not confirmed whether Larijani was killed or injured. Larijani is considered a major power broker in Tehran and recently delayed the formal announcement of Mojtaba Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader, underscoring his political influence.
The IDF said the attacks also killed Soleimani in the same wave of operations. Speaking Tuesday morning, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir described the strikes as part of broader Israeli efforts in Iran: “The IDF continues to operate vigorously against multiple targets in Iran. Alongside damaging military and industrial capabilities, we are targeting elements of the Revolutionary Guards and the regime’s repressive apparatus. Last night, significant counter-terrorism achievements were recorded, with the potential to impact the campaign’s objectives and the IDF’s missions,” TPS reported.
Zamir added that operations also targeted figures from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Iran, including deputy chief Akram Ajouri and senior operative Muhammad al-Hindi, who had been hiding in Tehran. Ajouri survived a previous Israeli assassination attempt in Syria in 2019. Larijani had reappeared publicly last Friday during Iran’s Jerusalem Day marches, where he criticized U.S. and Israeli pressure: “Trump does not understand that the Iranian people are brave and strong. The more the United States pressures us, the stronger our will becomes. Attacks against Jerusalem Day marches show their desperation,” he said.
Ajouri, closely connected to Iran, manages PIJ’s international operations and finances and has ties to the late Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. These attacks are among the boldest Israeli strikes inside Iran in recent years. While officials have not confirmed whether all objectives were achieved, targeting Larijani signals Israel’s readiness to confront senior political and security figures in Tehran. Analysts warn that these developments may escalate tensions in the Middle East, where both Israel and Iran maintain aggressive regional postures, according to TPS.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@FDIonline.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday revoked the suspension of eight opposition MPs after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved a motion in the lower house. The MPs—Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, Dean Kuriakose, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, B Manickam Tagore, Dr. Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and S Venkatesan—paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi inside the Parliament complex following the revocation.
After Rijiju’s motion, Congress Chief Whip K Suresh expressed regret over the "inadvertent indiscretion" by some members. The opposition MPs are now allowed to participate in ongoing parliamentary proceedings. The eight MPs had been suspended on February 4 for the remainder of the budget session for violating rules and “throwing papers on the chair” during a uproar over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand to include a specific reference to border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh in 2020.
Sources said that a consensus on revoking the suspension was reached at a floor leaders’ meeting chaired by Speaker Om Birla. The members agreed to uphold the dignity and traditions of Parliament and decided that no MPs should approach the opposite side in the Well, throw papers, or climb on officials’ tables. Both sides reaffirmed adherence to parliamentary decorum to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a bulletin reminding MPs to maintain decorum within the Parliament Estate, citing Direction 124A(2)(iii), which prohibits carrying firearms, banners, placards, lathis, swords, sticks, brickbats, or displaying derogatory posters, including AI-generated images and slogans. MPs were warned that violations could result in disciplinary action.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
The Supreme Court on Monday held that money received through employer provided group insurance schemes or other social security benefits cannot be deducted from compensation granted under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The decision was reported by LiveLaw. A bench comprising Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale delivered the ruling while hearing appeals challenging a Karnataka High Court judgment that had refused to allow the deduction of group insurance benefits from motor accident compensation awarded after a road accident death.
The appeals stemmed from two road accident cases in Karnataka in which victims died after being struck by buses driven negligently. In both instances, Motor Accident Claims Tribunals granted compensation to the victims families but reduced the amount by deducting the money received through employer provided group insurance schemes.
The Karnataka High Court later overturned these deductions. However, the transport corporation and the insurer approached the Supreme Court, arguing that such benefits should be adjusted against the compensation so that claimants do not receive double benefits from the same accident. The key question before the court was whether group insurance payouts could be deducted from compensation awarded under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Supreme Court ruled that amounts received by the dependants of the deceased under employer provided group insurance schemes or similar contractual or social security benefits cannot be treated as pecuniary advantages that can reduce compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The court explained that such benefits arise from an independent contractual arrangement and have no direct connection with the statutory compensation awarded for death in a motor vehicle accident. Therefore, the principle of balancing loss and gain cannot be applied to reduce the compensation that claimants are legally entitled to receive. The court also stated that there was no reason to interfere with the Karnataka High Court decision that had set aside the deductions made by the tribunal.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
India’s second LPG carrier Nanda Devi safely reached Vadinar Port in Gujarat on Tuesday carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas after passing through the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions in West Asia, officials said. A day earlier, another LPG vessel, Shivalik, had arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat. According to Deendayal Port Authority Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh, Nanda Devi docked at Vadinar in Devbhumi Dwarka district. Arrangements are being made to transfer the LPG cargo to another vessel, BW Birch, which will later transport portions of the shipment to Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Haldia in West Bengal.
Singh said the transfer operation is carried out at a speed of around 1,000 tonnes per hour and is expected to take nearly two days to complete. He added that the Vadinar port authorities have been directed by the Ministry of Ports to conduct the process efficiently. While such ship to ship transfers are a routine operation at the port, the ministry has instructed that LPG vessels must be given the highest priority so that unloading and distribution can be completed quickly.
Multiple agencies are closely monitoring the operation. Officials have already visited the vessel and interacted with the crew, and the receiving ship is currently on its way to berth alongside Nanda Devi before the transfer begins. Singh also noted that the ministry has issued clear instructions that all upcoming LPG vessels should be handled on priority while strictly following safety procedures and avoiding any operational delays.
Gujarat minister Jitu Vaghani stated on Monday that the LPG carrier Shivalik was able to reach Mundra safely from the Strait of Hormuz despite regional tensions, crediting India’s strong diplomatic ties under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ship successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened tensions involving Iran, Israel and other nations, he said during a session of the state assembly.
India depends heavily on imports for its energy needs, sourcing about 88 percent of its crude oil, 50 percent of its natural gas and nearly 60 percent of its LPG from abroad. Before the escalation of conflict following US Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation, a significant portion of these imports came from Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The conflict has resulted in a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy shipments from the Gulf. India has partly compensated for crude oil supply disruptions by importing from countries such as Russia, but natural gas supplies to industries have been reduced and LPG availability for commercial users like hotels and restaurants has been limited. Officials also said that 22 Indian flagged vessels with 611 seafarers are currently in the western Persian Gulf, and efforts are underway to ensure their safe passage.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from @Deendayal_Port/X.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accompanied by his wife Victoria Starmer, welcomed Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana Fox Carney at Downing Street in London for bilateral discussions. The leaders posed together for photographs outside the iconic residence, marking the occasion of their high-level talks. This meeting highlights ongoing diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Canada, focusing on shared interests and cooperation across economic, political, and social matters. Both couples appeared cordial and engaged, reflecting the friendly ties between the two nations as they addressed mutual priorities and collaborative efforts.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
The Prime Minister assures that the UK will not be pulled into a broader Middle East conflict and promises help for households struggling with heating oil costs. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s measures to support people amid the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of the war. Additionally, there’s a focus on Brussels, where the government is working on another EU reset to strengthen ties.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Melanie Oliveiro presents Episode 2 of her new Made in SG series titled EverNew versus EverGreen. The show features discussions and sometimes debates between industry veterans and younger or emerging talents. Renowned Singaporean jazz musician and Cultural Medallion recipient Jeremy Monteiro shares insights on the growth and evolution of the local jazz scene and talks about his ongoing work as a pianist, singer songwriter, and composer. He is joined by the younger generation of musicians, including multitalented Chok Kerong and flutist Rit Xu, both of whom have also established themselves in the music scene.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
In spring 2003, the initial euphoria over Saddam Hussein’s fall quickly turned into deadly chaos across Iraq. Guardian reporters, whether working independently or embedded with military units, witnessed the violence and disorder firsthand, documenting the rapid shift from jubilation to conflict, looting, and unrest that marked the early days following the invasion and the collapse of Saddam’s regime.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
In Singapore, mental health professionals are noticing a small but increasing number of patients showing delusions, paranoia, or emotional dependence seemingly connected to frequent AI chatbot use. Although “AI psychosis” is not an official medical diagnosis, clinicians acknowledge that the issue is genuine. How does extensive interaction with AI blur the boundaries between reality and reinforcement? Who is most vulnerable, and what signs should families be aware of? Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss these questions with Dr. Amelia Sim, Senior Consultant at the Department of Psychosis, Institute of Mental Health.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
