Habib Siddiqui

  People smeared with colored powder dance during Holi, the festival of colors, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. [AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A] By  Vidya Krishnan Investigative journalist. Published On 4 Mar 2026 His name was Hiranyakashipu, and he claimed to be equal to Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the Universe. Tragically for him, his own son, Prince Prahlad, was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. The king threatened his son with snakes and elephants, but the child remained faithful. After much thought, the king summoned his sister, Holika, the kind of woman who only appears as a narrative tool in Hindu mythology and does the bidding of male protagonists. The demoness had been given a boon, immunity from fire, provided she entered it alone. So the king covered her in a magic, invisible blanket and, when the young prince sat on his aunt’s lap, set it on fire. The prince prayed to Lord Vishnu, who burned the evil, fire-proof aunt but saved the young, virtuous prince who kept ...

  By  Mahjoob Zweiri Academic and senior political analyst specializing in Iran and Middle East Politics. Published On 4 Mar 2026 In Iranian political discourse, major conflicts are often described as “imposed wars” – wars that Iran believes have been forced upon it by external powers rather than chosen by Tehran. Iranian leaders identify three conflicts in these terms: The Iran–Iraq War (1980-1988), the Twelve-Day War launched by Israel in June 2025 and later joined by the United States, and the current war that began on February 28, 2026, when Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran. The 45-year gap between the first and second conflicts reflects an important feature of Iran’s strategic outlook. Despite its rhetoric and displays of military preparedness, the country’s political and military leadership has historically sought to avoid direct war because of its heavy political and economic costs. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Nigerians mourn killing of Ira...

  The number of people killed in five days of  US-Israeli attacks against Iran  has topped 1,000, state media says. A‌s the conflict  engulfs the region , Turkiye says a ballistic ⁠missile fired Iran  was destroyed  by NATO air and missile defence systems in the ‌eastern Mediterranean Sea. The target of the missile was not immediately clear. A ⁠US submarine  has sunk  an Iranian warship with a torpedo in international waters off Sri Lanka’s coast, says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democratic lawmakers slam US President Donald Trump’s  justifications  for attacking Iran, warning the US may be heading for a  ground assault  and an “open-ended engagement with no end in sight”. Visit  our live tracker  for the latest on casualty figures from across the region. Some in Trump’s base feel ‘betrayed’ at prospect of prolonged war By  Manuel Rapalo Reporting from Washington, DC How this conflict is being received in the...

  Once again, the United States and Israel have launched an unlawful war of aggression against another country. Once again, US and Israeli officials claim “self-defense” and “pre-emption,” attempting to gaslight the world into accepting a narrative that those on the receiving end of the aggression are the aggressors. In déjà vu of the unlawful US war against Iraq, the false claims made about Iran’s capacities and intentions are turned into justifications for war. But in this case, the pretext is even   thinner , and most people can   see through   the veneer. We have been here before, and we know what comes next: chaos, destruction, and death. No legal basis There  is no international legal basis  for “pre-emptive strikes” or “preventative war,” nor would the case with Iran have met any conditions even arguable for such strikes. The war  violates  both international law, including the UN Charter, and US domestic law, including the US Constitution ...