Republican says ‘Muslims don’t belong in American society,’ draws fierce Democratic backlash
Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee declared in a post on X that “Muslims don’t belong in American society,” and later defended his remarks as Democrats condemned them. “Pluralism is a lie,” Ogles also wrote in his controversial post. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., slammed the GOP lawmaker. MAGA HARDLINER PUSHES BAN ON IMMIGRATION FROM ISLAMIC COUNTRIES, US ADVERSARIES IN WAKE OF TEXAS SHOOTING “Andy Ogles is a malignant clown and pathological liar who has fabricated his whole life story. Disgusting Islamophobes like you do not belong in Congress or in civilized society. And that’s why House Democrats will defeat you in November,” Jeffries wrote on X. ‘UNDER SIEGE’: INSIDE THE GROWING RADICAL ISLAM THREAT CRITICS SAY IS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT IN DEEP RED TEXAS House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., also condemned Ogles’ comments. “This disgusting s— doesn’t belong in American society. And Republicans who support it don’t belong in Congress,” Clark wrote. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office also decried Ogles’ post, writing: “Disgusting comments. America was founded on the idea of religious freedom. Republicans must denounce this now!” Ogles was unmoved by the barrage of Democratic criticism. EXPERT WARNS RADICAL ISLAMIST NETWORKS COULD SHIFT WEST AFTER IRAN REGIME SHAKEUP “To Hakeem Jeffries, Gavin Newsom, and the high-ranking Democrats flooding X to condemn me: A Muslim shot and killed three Americans in Texas. Two Muslims tried to blow up New York City…again. Meanwhile, all DHS counterterrorism programs are unfunded because you shut them down,” he wrote in a post.
Government responds to LPG cylinder shortage affecting Mumbai, Bengaluru eateries
Restaurant owners say commercial LPG supplies have largely stopped since Sunday, while domestic cylinders are facing delivery delays ranging from two to eight days after booking.
‘No middle ground’: Israelis back Iran war, despite taking mounting hits
Itamar Greenberg laughed when asked if he thought he should be afraid. The 19-year-old Israeli antiwar activist had just described being spat on in the street and is the target of an online hate campaign. “Yes!” he finally responded. “If I thought about it, I probably should be. I just don’t have time.” Voices like Greenberg’s are rare in Israel at a time when public clamour for war is growing, and genocidal language already familiar to millions of Palestinians is reemerging, but with a different target – Iran. Officially, 11 Israelis have been killed in Iranian strikes since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28. What the actual number might be, or how many of Iran’s ballistic missiles may have penetrated the country’s Iron Dome defence shield, is unknown. Speaking at the site of an Iranian missile strike in West Jerusalem, shortly after the start of the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the use of apocalyptic language that has characterised the genocide his country has conducted in Gaza. Comparing Iranians with the Jewish people’s biblical foe, Amalek, who the Jews had been divinely ordered to wipe from the face of the planet, Netanyahu told reporters: “In this week’s Torah portion, we read, “‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ We remember, and we act.” So far, Iran claims to have launched strikes across Israel, saying its missiles and drones hit military sites, symbolic infrastructure, and even Netanyahu’s office. Tehran has described the attacks as precise and strategic, rather than indiscriminate and part of a broader regional response. Iran also claims to have targeted locations such as Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion airport and Haifa. Advertisement However, Israeli officials have denied many of the specific claims. Netanyahu’s office dismissed Iranian assertions about hitting his office, or affecting his condition, as “fake news”, with stringent reporting restrictions on Iranian strikes within Israel making confirmation either way difficult. What is clearer is that against the drumbeat of Iranian strikes, the fervour for war appears to be increasing among the public. A poll carried out last week by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) suggested overwhelming public support for the war, with 93 percent of Jewish-Israeli respondents expressing support for the strikes on Iran, and 74 percent expressing support for Netanyahu, the country’s historically divisive prime minister. “No one’s talking about opposition to the war,” Greenberg said, describing an environment in which figures from across Israel’s media and political landscape – with the exception of the left-wing Hadash party and antiwar organisations such as Greenberg’s Mesarvot – had lined up behind the war. “It’s also getting increasingly violent,” he said. “We held a protest on Tuesday, where the police were already waiting. They beat and arrested us. I was illegally strip-searched,” he said, describing it as efforts intended to humiliate him. Greenberg is no stranger to such tactics. Six months ago, after being arrested for protesting the genocide in Gaza, prison guards had threatened to carve a Star of David on his face, a permanent reminder of what they thought his priorities should be. It’s not just antiwar activists who have faced the brunt of the Israeli security establishment’s force. “The atmosphere is very violent,“ lawmaker Ofer Cassif of the Hadash party told Al Jazeera. “When I leave the house, I’m more worried by the danger posed by a physical attack by fascists than I am by any missile,” he said. Hadash and lawmakers like Cassif have been targeted by physical threats and attacks throughout the Gaza war. But criticism of the Netanyahu government’s handling of Israeli captives in Gaza meant that opposition to the Gaza war was – comparatively – more socially acceptable. When it comes to Iran, the current climate is toxic, Cassif said. “We’re often accused of supporting the regime in Tehran,” Cassif explained of the attempts to delegitimise their opposition to the war. “We’re unequivocally not. We want to see that regime go, but we’re not going to allow Netanyahu to say he’s doing this for the Iranian people. He isn’t. That’s not just rhetoric, that’s fact. The Israeli leadership was just as supportive of the shah as the US, and he was a murderous dictator no less than the current regime,” Cassif said, referring to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the leader of Iran before the Islamic revolution. Advertisement For now, analysts and observers in Israel describe a society that believes it is almost engaged in a holy war. “They brought an antiwar activist onto one of the light news programmes,” political analyst Ori Goldberg said from near Tel Aviv, “and she was treated like you would a flat-earther. It’s as if it’s inconceivable that anyone would oppose this war. “Israel has become a society with no middle ground, no capacity for conversation. It’s as if our entire existence is dependent on our ability to do anything we want. And if the world tries to stop that, then the world’s anti-Semitic, and we all burn.” Adblock test (Why?)
Iran war may end ‘pretty quickly’: What Trump told Republicans
Listen to this article Listen to this article | 5 mins info US President Donald Trump has told congressional Republicans that the war with Iran could be over “pretty quickly”, as he defended the military campaign and outlined Washington’s objectives in the conflict. The United States and Israel launched the campaign against Iran on February 28, with large-scale air and missile strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including air-defence systems, missile launchers and naval assets. The first day of the operation killed Iran’s then supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Recommended Stories list of 1 itemend of list The war has now entered its second week, and in his latest speech, Trump has highlighted what he described as the successes of Operation Epic Fury and suggested that it could end soon. Here are some key takeaways from his remarks. Trump calls Iran’s operation a ‘short-term excursion’ Trump framed the recent military action against Iran as a “little excursion” that was necessary to eliminate “some evil”. He said that due to the incredible capabilities of the US military, this engagement would be strictly a “short-term excursion”. While this action had caused a “little pause” in the economy, he said, it was not a big one, and the economy would quickly surge and “blow it away”. The war will end ‘pretty quickly’ Trump also declared that the war on Iran is “going to be finished pretty quickly”. He explained that such a rapid conclusion would be due to the highly effective and “brilliant work” of the US military, noting the following progress: The military has already wiped out roughly “80 percent” of Iran’s missile launchers, reducing its capabilities to a “trickle”, with the remaining launchers being eliminated very quickly. “The missiles have been largely knocked out… the drones have been knocked out, and we’re hitting where they make the drones,” he said. Advertisement He emphasised that as soon as this operation is finished, it will result in a “much safer world”. Trump also claimed that the US military sank “46 top-of-the-line” Iranian naval ships over three and a half days. Recounting a conversation with a military official, Trump said he had asked why the ships were sunk instead of captured. “’We could have used it. Why did we sink them?’” Trump had apparently asked the official. “He said, ‘It’s more fun to sink them’. “They like sinking them better. They say it’s safer to sink them. I guess it’s probably true.” A screengrab from a video released by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which accompanied a media release describing the US-Israeli operation against Iran, dubbed Epic Fury, shows an unmanned aerial vehicle on a runway at an unknown location [File: Reuters] The US prevented an imminent attack ‘within a week’ on US and allies Trump also asserted that the US had to strike Iran because Tehran had been preparing to attack the US, though neither the US president, nor anyone else in his administration, has presented any evidence to back the claim. “Within a week, they were going to attack us, 100 percent. They were ready,” Trump said. He also claimed that Iran had missiles aimed at neutral Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, which ultimately sided with the US. “I think they were looking to take over the Middle East, because when you look, and we have pretty good proof, all of those missiles were… aimed at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE,” he added. Trump celebrated the killing of leadership He celebrated the killing of several Iranian leaders, stating that they are “gone” and that “nobody has any idea who the people are that are going to lead that country”. He connected this speech to his first-term operation that assassinated Qassem Soleimani, whom he called the “father of the roadside bomb”. Soleimani was the longtime commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s Quds Force, and was widely seen as a key architect of Iran’s regional network of allied groups. ‘We haven’t won enough’ Trump said the US could now declare its military campaign against Iran a success, but the US is going to go further. “We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” Trump said. “We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long-running danger once and for all. Forty-seven years, it should have been done a long time ago,” he added. Trump looks from the stage after delivering remarks to members of the Republican Party, at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] ‘Disappointed’ Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran’s new supreme leader Trump says he is “disappointed” that Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, as the supreme leader of the country. Advertisement “We think it’s going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country,” Trump said. When asked whether the new leader had a target on his back, Trump said it would be “inappropriate” to say. Israel has said it will attempt to assassinate any new Iranian leader chosen to replace Ali Khamenei. Trump had earlier declined to provide details about his plans for dealing with Mojtaba Khamenei. “Not going to tell you. I’m not happy with him,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump threatens to hit Iran harder if it blocks energy supplies
NewsFeed US President Donald Trump threatened to escalate attacks on Iran if it disrupted global oil supplies, saying “they’ll get hit at a much, much harder level.” Published On 10 Mar 202610 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
PM Modi speaks with Balendra Shah, RSP chief Lamichhane after ‘resounding success’ in Nepal election
PM Modi conveyed his best wishes to the leaders for the formation of a new government in Nepal and reiterated India’s willingness to work closely with the incoming leadership. “Congratulated both leaders on their electoral victories and RSP’s resounding success in the Nepal elections,” he said.
Government responds to LPG cylinder shortage affecting Mumbai, Bengaluru eateries
Restaurant owners say commercial LPG supplies have largely stopped since Sunday, while domestic cylinders are facing delivery delays ranging from two to eight days after booking.
Gurugram Tragedy: At least seven workers dead, 5 injured after wall of under-construction building collapses in Sidhrawali area
At least seven labourers were killed, 5 injured after a wall of an under-construction building in a residential society collapsed in Gurugram’s Sidhrawali area. A wall at an under-construction project in Gurugram collapsed on Monday night, while work on a sewage treatment plant (STP) was underway.
Teen mariachis and family from McAllen released from ICE custody
The detention of the family of asylum seekers after a routine check-in with immigration officials had caused an uproar in their community.
Trump reveals top issues GOP should focus on to secure midterms victory: ‘I’ve never been more confident’
President Donald Trump outlined five key items he believes will tip the upcoming midterm elections in the GOP’s favor — if Republicans can muscle them through Congress. “No transgender mutilation surgery for our children,” Trump told an audience at the Republican Members’ Issues Conference. “Voter ID, citizenship [verification], mail-in ballots, we don’t want men playing in women’s sports.” “It’s the best of Trump. Those are the best of Trump. This is the number one priority, it should be, for the House,” Trump said. Trump’s exhortations to Republican lawmakers come as the GOP wages an uphill campaign to hang on to a controlling majority in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He framed his legislative priorities as a way for Republicans to capitalize on popular demands within the GOP base that would increase their chances of preserving a Republican governing trifecta. HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH ELECTION OVERHAUL WITH VOTER ID, MAIL-IN BALLOT CHANGES AHEAD OF MIDTERMS Currently, Republicans hold just four more seats than Democrats in the House of Representatives. The GOP holds six more than Democrats in the Senate. To keep the numbers in their favor, Republicans will need to beat historical trends. In the vast majority of past cases, parties that capture the White House in presidential elections face blowback in the midterms. Notably, the last time a majority party gained seats in both chambers of Congress in the midterms came under the Bush administration in 2002, following devastating attacks on the World Trade Center. REPUBLICANS, TRUMP RUN INTO SENATE ROADBLOCK ON VOTER ID BILL Trump said he believes Republicans have a shot at bucking the trend come November if they focus on his list. “It’ll guarantee the midterms,” Trump said of his legislative priorities. Republicans have already taken strikes towards two of them through the SAVE America Act, a piece of legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and cast a ballot. That bill cleared the House last month for a second time in the 119th Congress. Its future is uncertain in the Senate, where Republicans would need the assistance of seven Democrats to overcome the 60-vote threshold to defeat a filibuster. Democrats, for their part, believe the legislation would disenfranchise voters who cannot readily provide documented proof of citizenship through a passport, REAL ID, or birth certificate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. has promised a vote on the package despite its long odds. Several members have introduced bills on transgender issues, although none of them have cleared either chamber. “I’ve never been more confident that if we keep these promises and deliver on this popular agenda, the American people will stand with us in overwhelming numbers, just as they did in 2024,” Trump said.