Daily Briefing: Iran, Israel and an uncertain ceasefire

Late last night, Iran targeted the largest American military base in the Middle East in response to the US’s Sunday strikes on its nuclear facilities. Iranian missiles hit the Al Udeid Air Base, which is the regional headquarters for the US Central Command, with about 10,000 troops. However, the attack seemed symbolic as Iran had given early notice to American and Qatari officials. No casualties were reported. Officials in Delhi have closely monitored the developments, as Qatar is home to at least 8 lakh Indians.

Hours later, Trump declared that Iran and Israel had reached a full ceasefire, effectively ending the 12-day war. In another self-congratulatory post, he claimed, “Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, ‘PEACE!’ I knew the time was NOW.” However, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi downplayed the announcement, emphasising that no formal agreement had been finalised. He stressed that any truce depended on Israel halting its military actions against Iran by 4 am local time. Shortly thereafter, Iran’s state television confirmed the start of a ceasefire. Araghchi said Iran’s troops had fought “until the very last minute”. Israel is yet to comment on the ceasefire, and has instead sounded alerts in different parts, warning of potential strikes from Tehran.

Meanwhile, Indian refineries have been mulling ramping up oil purchases from non-West Asian suppliers in the wake of the widening conflict.

Also read: Challenges before IAEA after attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites

Moving on to the rest of the day’s headlines.

Only in Express

Tug of war: A long-simmering dispute over a trove of priceless historical documents may soon head to the courtroom. The Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) Society is weighing legal action to recover a significant collection of Jawaharlal Nehru’s papers that were originally donated by Indira Gandhi in 1971, but later reclaimed, in part, by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

From the Front Page

Halt! Under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the World Bank in 2022 appointed a neutral expert to resolve disputes between India and Pakistan over two Indian hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan claims India is violating the IWT. Now that the treaty is in abeyance, India has written to the expert, Michel Lino, to pause his proceedings.

‘Impeach’: Can Parliament impeach a judge? Yes, if a minimum of 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha or 100 in the Lok Sabha sign the motion. The Indian Express has learnt that an impeachment motion against Justice Shekhar Yadav remains pending, though 50 Rajya Sabha MPs (out of the total 54 signatories) have confirmed signing. Yadav came under scrutiny over his controversial speech at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad last year.

On paper: A probe into alleged irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jammu and Kashmir has run into paperwork — quite literally. The Jal Shakti department has sought time to submit documents to the House panel, stating that the exercise requires turning over a staggering 1.30 crore pages.

Must Read

The big bite: Fifty years ago, Steven Spielberg unleashed Jaws, a film that not only redefined horror but also launched the era of the summer blockbuster, fueled by bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters. But the film’s legacy goes far beyond the box office. Jaws left a darker imprint, driving a steep decline in global shark populations. Its terrifying portrayal of sharks sparked a wave of fear, leading to increased shark hunts and even shark-killing tournaments. In his insightful explainer, Alind Chouhan dives into the lasting impact of Jaws on sharks.

Twin identities: In the high-stakes England vs India Test series, Rishabh Pant has proven why he’s no ordinary wicket-keeper. By smashing two centuries in a single Test, a feat achieved by only one other keeper in history, Pant has stamped his authority on the longest format in style. But it’s not just about the runs — it’s how he gets them. National Sports Editor Sandeep Dwivedi dives into Pant’s fascinating duality — an adventurer one moment, and a pragmatist the next.

And Finally…

Pop quiz: Did you know that the cult classic Sholay originally had a different ending? We all grew up watching the police finally arrest the sadistic dacoit, Gabbar Singh. However, the film’s maker, Ramesh Sippy, originally intended to kill Gabbar at the hands of Thakur. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), however, ruled it was too violent and insisted that the ending be changed. Five decades later, Sholay, in its uncut, original form, is set to be screened at a large open-air screen at Piazza Maggiore in Italy on Friday.

That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta

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