Mojtaba Khamenei Likely to Become Iran’s Next Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been reported as the next candidate for the position, according to state media. The announcement came shortly after the death of Ayatollah Khamenei on February 28, 2026, following joint strikes by Israel and the United States. This selection marks a significant shift in Iran’s political landscape, as the country’s establishment has historically resisted hereditary succession from father to son. Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 6, 1969, in Mashhad, is the second son of Ayatollah Khamenei and Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh. He has five siblings, including three brothers and two sisters. His early life was shaped by his father’s resistance against the Shah of Iran’s monarchy, which culminated in the 1979 revolution and Ayatollah Khamenei’s rise to power. Mojtaba’s childhood was marked by frequent raids and turmoil due to his father’s repeated arrests by the Shah’s secret police, SAVAK. After the revolution, the family relocated to Tehran, where Mojtaba attended Alavi High School. He later studied under religious conservatives in Qom, Iran’s center for Shi’ite theological learning, earning the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam. He joined the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after completing his education, forming lasting ties with military figures who later held high-ranking positions. Mojtaba also served in the Habib Battalion during the 1987-88 Iraq-Israel war. Despite his military and clerical background, Mojtaba is not considered a major leader within Iran’s establishment or a prominent religious scholar. He has never held a formal government post and has rarely spoken publicly.#ayatollah_ali_khamenei #mojtaba_khamenei #iranian_revolutionary_guard_corps #mashhad #qom
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Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected following the death of his father in attacks by the United States and Israel. The 56-year-old hardline cleric, who survived the strike that killed his father, mother, wife, and one sister, was chosen by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, a 88-member clerical body tasked with selecting the supreme leader. The assembly declared Khamenei’s selection a “decisive vote” and urged Iranians to support him, emphasizing unity under the new leadership. Khamenei, a mid-level cleric (hojatoleslam), has long been a key figure in the inner circle of his father’s regime, maintaining close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His ascension signals the continued dominance of hardline factions within Iran’s establishment, raising concerns about the government’s stance on potential negotiations amid ongoing conflict. Unlike his father, who held power for 36 years, Khamenei has never sought public office or been subjected to a formal election, instead operating as a behind-the-scenes influencer. The younger Khamenei’s rise has drawn attention to his role in past crackdowns on dissent. Reformists previously accused him of orchestrating the 2009 Green Movement protests, using IRGC forces to suppress peaceful demonstrators. His involvement in the 2023 protests, which saw thousands killed by state forces, has further cemented his association with the regime’s repressive tactics. The government has blamed these actions on foreign-backed “terrorists” and “rioters,” a narrative consistent with its responses to previous uprisings. Khamenei’s background includes early ties to the IRGC, forged during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.#iran #ayatollah_ali_khamenei #islamic_revolutionary_guard_corps #mojtaba_khamenei #green_movement
Eid Al Fitr Likely on March 20 in UAE, Astronomers Say The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology has announced that Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall on Friday, March 20, 2026, based on astronomical calculations. The academy’s observatory determined that Ramadan 1447 AH will complete its 30 days, marking the start of Shawwal and the celebration of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE. Astronomers explained that the crescent moon, which is traditionally used to determine the end of Ramadan, was not visible on Wednesday, March 18, the 29th day of Ramadan. This is because the moon set before sunset in the western horizon, making it impossible to spot locally. As a result, the UAE will continue observing Ramadan on March 18, with Thursday, March 19, completing the holy month. The observatory noted that the new moon will occur over Sharjah at 4:24am UAE time on March 19. By sunset that day, the crescent moon will be approximately 14 hours and six minutes old, with an angular separation of 6.5 degrees from the sun. It will appear six degrees above the western horizon, offering a visibility window of about 29 minutes after sunset. However, the academy described the viewing conditions in the UAE as “critical” or unfavorable, stating that spotting the crescent with the naked eye or even through telescopes would be extremely difficult. Advanced techniques such as image stacking may be required to capture the crescent, but local naked-eye sightings are unlikely. The observatory suggested that the crescent could be observed in some Arab and Islamic countries further west, where geographical and astronomical conditions might be more favorable. Based on these calculations, the academy concluded that Friday, March 20, will likely mark the beginning of Shawwal and the first day of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE and most Islamic countries.#shawwal #uae #eid_al_fitr #ramadan_1447_ah
Eid al-Fitr 2026 Date: When Will the Festival Fall and How Employees Can Turn the Holiday Into a 9-Day Break Eid al-Fitr 2026, one of the most significant religious celebrations for Muslims worldwide, marks the conclusion of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection. Astronomical predictions and early government announcements suggest the festival is likely to fall around March 20, 2026, potentially offering residents in the Gulf region a long holiday period. Beyond its religious importance, the timing of Eid al-Fitr 2026 has sparked interest among employees and travelers seeking to maximize their time off. With a few days of annual leave, workers in countries like the United Arab Emirates may be able to convert the official break into a nine-day holiday, creating opportunities for travel, family gatherings, and festive celebrations. Astronomical calculations released by regional observatories indicate that Eid al-Fitr 2026 is expected to begin on Friday, March 20, marking the start of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. Ramadan 1447 AH is projected to last 30 days, ending on March 19. Observatories noted that the crescent moon, which signals the beginning of Eid, may be difficult to sight on the traditional observation night of March 18 due to the moon setting before sunset. While the new moon will occur early on March 19, visibility of the crescent in some Gulf countries may remain limited because of unfavorable viewing conditions. However, the final confirmation of Eid al-Fitr 2026 will depend on official moon-sighting committees, which follow traditional religious procedures to declare the festival’s start.#united_arab_emirates #saudi_arabia #gulf_region #eid_al_fitr_2026 #oman
Eid Al Fitr 2026 Likely to Fall on March 20 in UAE, Say Sharjah Astronomers Millions of residents across the United Arab Emirates are awaiting official confirmation of the Eid Al Fitr 2026 date, a major religious and public holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, through its Sharjah Astronomical Observatory, has released an early prediction indicating that the festival is expected to begin on March 20. According to the academy, Ramadan 1447 AH will complete 30 days, making Friday the first day of Shawwal and the start of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE. The moon sighting timeline for the holy month of Ramadan is critical in determining the exact date. On March 18, the 29th day of Ramadan, the crescent moon will not be visible as the moon will set before sunset in the western skies. Astronomers explained that the country will observe Ramadan on that evening, meaning March 19 will mark the completion of the holy month. The observatory noted that the new moon will occur over Sharjah at 4:24 am UAE time on March 19, 2026. By sunset, the crescent moon will be approximately 14 hours and 6 minutes old, with an angular separation from the sun of 6.5 degrees, an altitude of six degrees above the western horizon, and a visibility window of around 29 minutes after sunset. However, the viewing conditions for the moon in the UAE are described as "critical" or unfavorable. The observatory stated that spotting the crescent locally would be extremely difficult, even with the aid of telescopes. Advanced techniques such as image stacking may be required to capture the crescent, and naked-eye observation is unlikely to succeed.#shawwal #eid_al_fitr #sharjah_academy #sharjah_astronomical_observatory #ramadan
Boston Celtics Defeat Cleveland Cavaliers 109-98 in Eastern Conference Clash The Boston Celtics secured a 109-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, March 9, 2026, in a matchup between two top contenders in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown led the way with 23 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Jayson Tatum contributed 20 points in his return from a torn right Achilles. The Celtics built a commanding lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 30-29 to establish a 81-55 advantage. Tatum, playing 27 minutes, scored six points in the fourth quarter, finishing 6 of 16 from the field. Payton Pritchard added 18 points, and Baylor Scheierman recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Celtics moved within three games of the East-leading Detroit Pistons, while Neemias Queta grabbed 11 rebounds. The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 30 points and Evan Mobley’s 24 points and eight rebounds, struggled to contain Boston’s offensive surge. Cleveland, which had won seven straight home games, managed to cut the deficit to 94-86 midway through the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from Jaylon Tyson. Pritchard responded with a 3-pointer and two consecutive baskets to restore the Celtics’ double-digit lead. The Celtics’ dominance was evident in the second quarter, where Tatum scored 14 points in his first 12 minutes, helping Boston build a 48-29 lead. The team extended its advantage to 56-35 later in the period, aided by Cleveland’s poor shooting from beyond the arc, which included just 2 of 22 three-point attempts in the first half. Boston, starting a three-game road trip, will be without center Nikola Vucevic for at least a month after he underwent surgery on his fractured right ring finger.#boston_celtics #jayson_tatum #jaylen_brown #cleveland_cavaliers #donovan_mitchell
Dhurandhar 2's Advance Booking Sees Rs 8 Crore Ticket Sales In 24 Hours The highly anticipated sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh, has generated massive interest with advance ticket sales surpassing Rs 8 crore within 24 hours of its trailer release. The film, produced by Jio Studios, opened advanced booking slots just 11 days before its scheduled release, and fans responded swiftly, with ticket sales skyrocketing across global markets. According to trade website Sacnilk, the film earned Rs 4 crore in ticket sales within two hours of the trailer’s debut on social media. Of this, Rs 2.5 crore came from major multiplex chains like PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis, with over 35,000 tickets sold. A new premium category, Super Blockbuster Plus, was introduced, with preview ticket prices reaching up to Rs 2,500 in Delhi-NCR theaters. By the end of the first 24 hours, the total advanced booking revenue had climbed to Rs 8.06 crore. The Hindi version of the film accounted for more than Rs 7 crore of the total, while the Telugu version contributed over Rs 5 lakh. Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada versions brought in Rs 4 lakh, Rs 27,000, and Rs 28,000 respectively. Notably, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest occupancy rate at 22%, indicating strong regional demand. The trailer, which teased intense action and character development, sparked widespread excitement among fans. Highlights included Yalina picking up a gun in a moment of anger and hints that Hamza might become the new "badshah" of Lyari. The film’s plot follows Jaskirat, who works from within Rahman Dakait’s gang to dismantle a terror outfit, continuing the story from the first film where Ranveer Singh played an Indian spy infiltrating the gang.#ranveer_singh #dhurandhar_2 #jio_studios #pvr #inox
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Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 Preview Ticket Sales Surge, Prices Hit Rs 2400 Ranveer Singh’s highly anticipated sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge has generated massive buzz ahead of its release, with preview ticket sales skyrocketing. As the film’s release date approaches, fans have been scrambling to secure seats for the special preview screenings, which are scheduled to take place a day before the official premiere. According to reports, ticket prices for these previews have surged to as high as Rs 2400 per ticket, far exceeding the initial starting price of Rs 300. The advance sales for the preview have already seen significant traction, with BookMyShow data indicating that the film has crossed the 40,000 ticket sale mark across major theater chains nationwide. This has led to total revenue from preview bookings reaching approximately Rs 5 crore. The film is set to debut in five languages—Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada—marking a departure from its predecessor, which was released exclusively in Hindi. The first installment of the Dhurandhar series, which was released in 2024, earned around Rs 1,354 crore globally, setting a high bar for its sequel. The success of the original film has fueled expectations for Dhurandhar 2, which is expected to further boost its box office performance. The film’s release date has also been strategically positioned to avoid direct competition with another upcoming blockbuster, Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Adults, starring Yash. Initially scheduled for March 19, Toxic was postponed to June 4 due to the sensitivity of its content and the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. This shift in release dates has allowed Dhurandhar 2 to secure a more favorable window for its debut.#ranveer_singh #dhurandhar_2 #bookmyshow #toxic_fairy_tale_for_adults #yash
