The United States has announced a 10 million dollar reward, roughly 92 crore rupees, for information that could help locate Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and several senior officials linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as tensions escalate during the ongoing conflict. The offer was issued through the US State Department’s Reward for Justice programme, which provides financial incentives for information that helps identify or locate individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism targeting the United States.
US authorities described the individuals as Iranian terrorists, saying they lead and coordinate different units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an organization Washington accuses of planning and carrying out terrorist activities worldwide. The programme also urged anyone with knowledge about these leaders or other IRGC figures to submit tips through a Tor based portal or the encrypted messaging app Signal. Officials said that those providing useful information could qualify for both financial compensation and possible relocation.
Mojtaba Khamenei was recently named Iran’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on February 28. Mojtaba is considered a low profile cleric who spent much of his career behind the scenes in the Office of the Supreme Leader, often described as a gatekeeper to his father and an influential power broker rather than a public political leader.
Some reports suggested that Mojtaba may have been injured during the strikes that killed his father and could be in a coma. However, US President Donald Trump has stated that he believes the Iranian leader is still alive in some form, even though Mojtaba has not appeared publicly since assuming the position during the conflict.
Among the other officials mentioned is Ali Asghar Hijazi, an Iranian cleric who served as deputy chief of staff to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and previously worked as deputy for foreign affairs in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior Iranian military commander, is currently serving as an adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei. Veteran politician Ali Larijani has also resurfaced as a key figure in Iran’s security establishment. He has handled issues ranging from nuclear negotiations to regional diplomacy and the government’s response to domestic unrest. Larijani has made multiple visits to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he also played a role in advancing talks with China that led to a 25 year cooperation agreement in 2021.
Another figure named is Esmail Khatib, who has served as Iran’s Minister of Intelligence since August 2021. Eskandar Momeni, an Iranian military commander and politician, currently holds the position of Interior Minister. The reward announcement also refers to four additional senior officials including the Secretary of the Defense Council, an adviser to the Supreme Leader, the chief of the military office of the Supreme Leader, and the IRGC commander. However, their names and photographs have not been publicly disclosed.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes across Iran after nuclear negotiations collapsed and accusations emerged that Tehran had resumed nuclear activities. The operation, called Operation Epic Fury, targeted several Iranian cities including the capital Tehran. According to reports, the strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with members of his family.
Iran has since retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US related sites across the region, particularly in Gulf countries such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, where footage has shown extensive damage. President Trump issued a harsh warning to Iranian leaders, calling them deranged scumbags and promising further action as US forces bombed military sites near Iran’s oil hub on Kharg Island. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Iran’s naval and air forces had been largely destroyed and that its missile and drone capabilities were being dismantled. He said the United States possessed unmatched military strength and vowed to continue operations against Iranian leadership.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
The United States military announced on Friday, March 13, that it has intensified its investigation into the devastating February 28 strike on an Iranian girls' school after media reports indicated that early findings suggest US forces were likely responsible. Iran reported that the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh School resulted in the deaths of 168 children. If confirmed that US forces caused the strike, it would be among the deadliest incidents involving civilian casualties during decades of US military operations in the Middle East. Reuters first revealed the initial results of the investigation on March 5.
Due to the seriousness of the issue, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to discuss the preliminary findings. He stated that the government would not allow media coverage to influence or pressure officials into making conclusions about what occurred. Hegseth explained that a higher-level investigation will be conducted by a US general officer who is not part of US Central Command, the command responsible for operations involving Iran. Such an approach is typically used by the US military to maintain independence and objectivity in sensitive investigations.
He told reporters at the Pentagon that the command investigation would continue as long as needed to examine all circumstances surrounding the incident. Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader addressed the nation on Thursday and blamed foreign enemies for the school attack but did not directly accuse the United States. Three US officials told Reuters that the investigation referenced by Hegseth is an administrative inquiry known as a "15-6" investigation. This type of probe can lead to disciplinary measures if wrongdoing is confirmed and typically involves sworn testimony and interviews with those connected to the event. The officials spoke anonymously because they were discussing internal military procedures.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, ordered the 15-6 investigation last week following the completion of the initial review. According to one official, an external officer was assigned to lead the investigation on Thursday. The decision to initiate a deeper investigation reflects the significant concern about the possibility that US forces may have been responsible for the tragedy and the need to fully understand how it happened.
Annie Shiel, the US advocacy director for the Center for Civilians in Conflict, said the investigation suggests there is recognition that an error may have occurred and that authorities want to determine the cause. It remains uncertain how US forces might have struck the school. Early findings indicate that outdated targeting information may have been used, possibly failing to distinguish between the school and a nearby Iranian military base in the southern town of Minab.
Video footage and other evidence suggest that a Tomahawk cruise missile may have hit the building. This highly advanced precision weapon is possessed by only a small number of countries, including the United States. The investigation is ongoing despite earlier remarks from President Donald Trump, who initially questioned whether the US could have been involved. His comments caused concern among some defence officials about whether he would accept responsibility if the US was found to be at fault.
At first, Trump suggested, without evidence, that Iran itself might have carried out the attack and even claimed that Tehran might possess Tomahawk missiles, which military experts say is highly unlikely. On Monday Trump publicly stated that he would accept the conclusions of the investigation, saying he was prepared to accept whatever the final report determined.
A second US official said Trump's comments indicated he may now be more willing to accept the initial findings. The official also noted that the public attention surrounding the investigation could make it politically difficult for Trump to reject the results once the probe is completed. The official added that the decision to launch a 15-6 investigation shows the administration considers the matter very serious, as the process will carefully examine what went wrong and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
A visual investigation conducted by Reuters and published Thursday revealed that the school had maintained an online presence for several years, including numerous photographs showing students and school activities. The Shajareh Tayyebeh School is one of 59 schools operated by the Persian Gulf Martyrs' Cultural Educational Institute, a network linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to archived versions of the organization’s website. Images from the school's website show students gathered in the courtyard, which matches verified footage taken outside the building after the strike occurred. Satellite images from mid-2015 show that the building was separated by walls from the nearby military base and appears to have been functioning as a school since at least 2018, when murals first appeared on its outer walls.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Amid the LPG shortage, the Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Department carried out raids at 1,483 locations across the state on Friday to curb the black marketing of cooking gas cylinders, according to an official statement. The operation was conducted in coordination with district administrations and led to the arrest of six people and the registration of 24 FIRs.
The statement issued late Friday said the action followed directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to closely monitor LPG supply and prevent any shortage or irregularities. Chief Secretary S P Goyal has also instructed all district magistrates to take necessary measures to ensure the steady availability of petrol, diesel, and LPG cylinders. Enforcement teams inspected numerous sites during the drive, registering four FIRs against LPG distributors and 20 against other individuals involved in black marketing. Six people were arrested on the spot, while legal action was initiated against 19 others.
The government said LPG distribution is being maintained through 4,108 distributors across the state, ensuring deliveries to consumers as per their bookings. It also stated that adequate stocks are available and domestic refills are being supplied as needed. To monitor the supply system and address complaints quickly, a 24 hour control room has been set up at the Food Commissioner office, with officials deployed there. Similar control rooms have also been established in all districts across the state.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
Meta Platforms, the company behind social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is reportedly considering major job cuts that could impact up to 20 percent of its global workforce. According to a Reuters report, the potential layoffs could affect about 16,000 employees, based on the company’s workforce of roughly 79,000 as of December 31, as Meta looks for ways to manage the rising costs linked to its growing investments in artificial intelligence.
The company is evaluating the possibility of large scale layoffs as it prepares for a future where AI powered tools could significantly improve productivity and reduce the need for large teams. However, the plans are still under consideration and no final decision or timeline has been confirmed. Senior executives at Meta have recently discussed the possibility of workforce reductions with other leaders and have asked them to explore ways to simplify operations and improve efficiency.
Responding to the report, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the claims were speculative and described them as reporting about theoretical approaches. If the company proceeds with layoffs at the scale being discussed, it would represent the largest round of job cuts since the restructuring carried out in 2022 and 2023, which Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg had described as the company’s “year of efficiency”.
During that earlier restructuring period, Meta laid off around 11,000 employees in November 2022 and followed it with another 10,000 job cuts in early 2023 as part of efforts to reduce costs and reorganise the business. The current discussions come as Meta sharply increases spending on generative AI, which has become a central focus for the company. The tech giant plans to invest as much as 600 billion dollars in building data centres by 2028 to strengthen the computing infrastructure required to train and run large AI models.
Meta has also been actively recruiting leading talent in the AI sector, offering compensation packages worth hundreds of millions of dollars over four years to build a specialised superintelligence team aimed at accelerating AI development. Along with hiring researchers, the company has also been pursuing acquisitions and partnerships in the AI space. It recently acquired Moltbook, a social networking platform designed for AI agents, and is reportedly spending at least 2 billion dollars to purchase the Chinese AI startup Manus. Zuckerberg has suggested that advances in AI could bring significant efficiency improvements within the organisation. Earlier this year, he said that projects that once required large teams are increasingly being completed by a single highly skilled individual using AI tools.
The developments at Meta reflect a broader trend across the technology sector, where companies are reshaping their workforces while increasing investments in AI. For example, Amazon confirmed in January that it would cut around 16,000 jobs, while fintech company Block, led by Jack Dorsey, recently reduced nearly half of its workforce, citing the growing capabilities of AI systems. Meta’s renewed focus on AI also comes after challenges with earlier versions of its Llama 4 models. The company faced criticism over benchmark results linked to early releases and eventually cancelled the launch of its largest planned version, known as Behemoth. Its AI research team is now working on a new model called Avocado, although reports suggest that its performance has not yet met expectations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.
India’s latest stealth frigate, INS Taragiri, will join the Navy in April 2026 at Visakhapatnam, presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The fourth Nilgiri-class P-17A frigate, Taragiri follows INS Nilgiri, Udaygiri, and Himgiri, forming the backbone of the Eastern Fleet. INS Mahendragiri is expected later in 2026. Displacing 6,700+ tonnes with 75% indigenous content, these frigates feature stealth design, modular construction, advanced sensors, and EW systems. Armed with BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 SAMs, naval guns, torpedoes, and supporting shipborne helicopters, they are multi-role combat platforms. The Indian Navy plans 15 new ships in 2026, including corvettes, survey vessels, and rescue ships, strengthening India’s maritime power in the Indian Ocean. INS Taragiri marks a major milestone in India’s naval modernization and defense self-reliance.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
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.
On Tuesday morning, the prime minister revealed that Australia will be deploying aircraft, missiles, and personnel to the Gulf amid ongoing conflict in the region. However, Anthony Albanese insists this does not imply that Australia is participating in the war or officially at war. Reged Ahmad discusses with Josh Butler whether Australia is being drawn into what he calls Trump’s “war of choice.”
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian
After days of uncertainty, five members of the Iranian women’s football team were officially granted protection in Australia by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke early Tuesday morning. The remaining players are still being monitored by officials as they make their way to the airport, with the possibility of returning to Iran. Women’s football journalist Samantha Lewis talks with Nour Haydar about the behind-the-scenes efforts that ensured the women could stay in Australia, the prospects for other players, and what the next steps might be.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
