VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘Awarapan 2’ box office collection day 4: The Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani starrer holds well on Monday, crosses Rs 90 crore while ‘Batwara 1947’ sees further decline Capricorn Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: This is a productive day for career matters Scientists discover how ancient Chinese paintings used blood to survive for 2,000 Years Hawkish narrative got significant boost from a fake quote. Tehran’s alleged effort to develop nuclear weapons has been the key reason cited by US President Trump and Israel govt for the war on Iran. In recent weeks, amid stop-start peace efforts, the hawkish narrative got a significant boost from a fake quote first posted by an Indian X handle, which then raced through Tel Aviv-Washington political and diplomatic circles, right up to PM Benjamin Netanyahu and White House.”Alert,” the account, @RealBababanaras, posted on Aug 5, “While world is expecting peace, IRGC Chief Ahmad Wahidi again threatened -‘There will be no talk on Enriched Urenium (sic) or nuclear weapons, as long as US & Israel are owning nuclear weapons, we will keep working on it for national security. If they dispose, we will dispose.” This reference was to Brig Gen Ahmad Vahidi, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and one of Iran’s powerful military figures.In less than two hours, another India-based account, @Im_Ritikaa, posted a paraphrased version in Hindi.Neither cited any sources. An Israeli news outlet, YNet, and The New York Times have since reported that there is no evidence this statement was ever made by Vahidi. But the posts on Indian X had already found resonance in Israeli media. By the afternoon of Aug 5, Mossad Commentary, a prominent Israeli account (but not affiliated with Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad), published the fake statement with a comment: “The regime is not preparing to abandon its nuclear ambitions. It is buying time. There will be no deal.” The post was seen more than 300,000 times by Aug 17.About half an hour later, Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 English posted it as news, with its own comment: “This is the first time an Iranian official has admitted to developing a nuclear bomb.” The post had almost 450,000 views at the time of filing this report.By evening, Israel PM Netanyahu’s son Yair had reposted both. From there, the claim made a short leap to Netanyahu’s podium. At a state ceremony in Jerusalem honouring the family of Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism, Netanyahu presented it as fact. “Today we heard Revolutionary Guards commander Vahidi explicitly declaring Iran’s intention to continue to develop nuclear weapons,” he said. “Continue! That is what he said. Well, as prime minister of Israel, I too am determined to continue preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.”Within minutes, US ambassador to UN, Mike Waltz, reposted the claim – as did American Conservative commentator Mark Levin and Republican senator Rick Scott later. By the night of Aug 5, it had made its way to Fox News (which clarified later the claim had been “taken out of context and amplified”).The actual Vahidi comment, it said, was based on one made in 2025 – that Iran’s position on nuclear weapons had been transparent, and Iran was “ready to do whatever it deems necessary in response to their (the US’s and Israel’s) repeated aggression”.So, how did an anonymous Indian account become the cited source for the Israeli information ecosystem? This was, incidentally, not the first time material had travelled between @RealBababanaras and Mossad Commentary. In at least two posts this year after Iran war began – one reporting continuing explosions in Iran after a US strike as evidence that missiles were stored there, and another which reported a US strike on an alleged uranium-enrichment and nuclear research facility – it cited @RealBababanaras as the source.As early as April, a month and a half after the US and Israel began air strikes in Iran, @RealBababanaras posted Tehran was preparing for its “first official nuclear test within weeks”. Days later, @FalconUpdatesHQ, which has over 150,000 followers and claims in its bio to be based in Kerala, echoed that, claiming Iran was preparing to conduct its first official nuclear test within a month. The claim was recycled by @Im_Ritikaa in May.Earlier this year, Yonatan Hassidim, CEO of an Israeli firm that monitors and analyses online and social activity, said in an Israeli parliamentary hearing that about 70% of accounts sharing Netanyahu’s posts in their sample were not Israelis at all. “That is to say, an Indian account shares a video of the Israeli prime minister speaking in Hebrew. Within 12 seconds, it has already understood that this item interests it – it apparently understands Hebrew – and shares it,” he had said, before citing the example of an Indian account that “tweets more than 165,000 tweets a year”.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines “So these are high volumes, and this is some kind of average account,” he added, “We have seen ones with 300,000 a year and more as well.”The loop is still active. On Aug 17, when US president Donald Trump posted on Truth Social the “no. 1 goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon”, @RealBababanaras repackaged this for its audience as a reaction “after Iran refused handing over enriched uranium and halting nuclear programme”.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests7 Charred To Death, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal’s Birbhum‘Electric Pole Fell’: 7 Women Dead, Many Injured In Stampede At Temple In Bihar’s Lakhisarai‘Only These…’: Rijiju Shares 3 Categories Of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ After Oppn’s Attack On PM Modi‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition123PhotostoriesPriyanka Chopra’s maroon backless gown just gave desi Disney princess energy with a trail that refused to behave10 powerful baby boy and girl names from different cultures that mean strengthOptical Illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret personality traitH1N1 or seasonal flu? Symptoms often overlap, but doctors look for these clues before deciding9 ways to add more protein to your rotiOTT releases this week (August 17-August 23): ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Love Is Blind: UK’ Season 3 and moreChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 9 basics of baking for every new and casual bakerDeepika Padukone makes maternity fashion look too easy in an oversized blue shirt and baggy jeans6 Korean dining etiquette rules that may surprise IndiansOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals if you’re a deep thinker or a natural problem-solver123Hot PicksKarnataka PG Dental admissionBank holidays this weekRBI new rulesBJP new teamJharkhand ProtestUS green cardSmriti IraniSupreme Court HolidayUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingK AnnamalaiBengal Hotel FireNoida Biker AccidentTamil Nadu Double MurderAbhijeet DipkeHyderabad MurderMuzaffarnagar Kanwariya MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Sagittarius Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: If you’re single, don’t chase intensity Trump cited a recent conversation with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and highlighted India’s use of photo identification for voters. President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised India’s election system and called for the passage of the SAVE America Act, which seeks to require proof of citizenship and voter identification in US elections.In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited a recent conversation involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and highlighted India’s use of photo identification for voters.Trump said, “Earlier this month, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration, How can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID? India’s last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than 1% voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document. We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now! ” he posted.Trump has repeatedly backed the SAVE America Act, arguing that stricter voter-identification and citizenship requirements are needed to safeguard US elections.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests7 Charred To Death, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal’s Birbhum‘Electric Pole Fell’: 7 Women Dead, Many Injured In Stampede At Temple In Bihar’s Lakhisarai‘Only These…’: Rijiju Shares 3 Categories Of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ After Oppn’s Attack On PM Modi‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition123PhotostoriesPriyanka Chopra’s maroon backless gown just gave desi Disney princess energy with a trail that refused to behave10 powerful baby boy and girl names from different cultures that mean strengthOptical Illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret personality traitH1N1 or seasonal flu? Symptoms often overlap, but doctors look for these clues before deciding9 ways to add more protein to your rotiOTT releases this week (August 17-August 23): ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Love Is Blind: UK’ Season 3 and moreChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 9 basics of baking for every new and casual bakerDeepika Padukone makes maternity fashion look too easy in an oversized blue shirt and baggy jeans6 Korean dining etiquette rules that may surprise IndiansOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals if you’re a deep thinker or a natural problem-solver123Hot PicksKarnataka PG Dental admissionBank holidays this weekRBI new rulesBJP new teamJharkhand ProtestUS green cardSmriti IraniSupreme Court HolidayUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingK AnnamalaiBengal Hotel FireNoida Biker AccidentTamil Nadu Double MurderAbhijeet DipkeHyderabad MurderMuzaffarnagar Kanwariya MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ races ahead of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ presales; film gears up for HISTORIC holiday box office clash with ‘Dune: Part Three’ Scorpio Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: Control yourself and avoid arguments 2 Air India pilots have failed dope test so far, taken off duty Case relates to the creation of six fake govt offices of irrigation and water resources department in Dahod district of Gujarat. NEW DELHI: Ever heard of ‘Fake govt department’ scam? The case relates to the creation of six fake govt offices of irrigation and water resources department in Dahod district of Gujarat. The accused allegedly impersonated govt officials, forged seals and signatures, prepared fake documents, and fraudulently obtained govt grants.An Enforcement Directorate investigation has revealed the accused persons, in connivance with govt officials, obtained approval for 121 fictitious works and fraudulently received govt funds. These funds were routed through a web of bank accounts and then laundered by acquiring properties and investing in shares and mutual funds. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAfter probing the money trail, the ED on Monday attached some of these properties and assets, which are worth over Rs 22 crore.The attached assets have been linked to the main accused, Abubakar Jakirali Saiyad, his family members and associates.”The attached assets include seven land parcels, investments in mutual funds and balances in various bank accounts. The total value of the attached assets is Rs 22.70 crore,” the ED said. The money received from govt departments was first deposited into nine bank accounts opened in the names of fake govt offices, transferred to 18 intermediary accounts and subsequently sent to 118 other accounts linked to individuals and entities connected with the accused, according to agency.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests7 Charred To Death, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal’s Birbhum‘Electric Pole Fell’: 7 Women Dead, Many Injured In Stampede At Temple In Bihar’s Lakhisarai‘Only These…’: Rijiju Shares 3 Categories Of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ After Oppn’s Attack On PM Modi‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition123PhotostoriesPriyanka Chopra’s maroon backless gown just gave desi Disney princess energy with a trail that refused to behave10 powerful baby boy and girl names from different cultures that mean strengthOptical Illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret personality traitH1N1 or seasonal flu? Symptoms often overlap, but doctors look for these clues before deciding9 ways to add more protein to your rotiOTT releases this week (August 17-August 23): ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Love Is Blind: UK’ Season 3 and moreChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 9 basics of baking for every new and casual bakerDeepika Padukone makes maternity fashion look too easy in an oversized blue shirt and baggy jeans6 Korean dining etiquette rules that may surprise IndiansOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals if you’re a deep thinker or a natural problem-solver123Hot PicksKarnataka PG Dental admissionBank holidays this weekRBI new rulesBJP new teamJharkhand ProtestUS green cardSmriti IraniSupreme Court HolidayUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingK AnnamalaiBengal Hotel FireNoida Biker AccidentTamil Nadu Double MurderAbhijeet DipkeHyderabad MurderMuzaffarnagar Kanwariya MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Libra Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: Enjoy the praise, but think twice before every major decision today A 3,000-year-old inscription naming Masn may help archaeologists identify the lost Egyptian city | World News Hayden Panettiere passes away: Connie Britton, Viola Davis, Selma Blair and other Hollywood stars pay tribute Shabnam Sinha to succeed Sunil Bharti Mittal as Airtel Payments Bank chairperson Security agencies busted the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) active in the country. NEW DELHI: During a major crackdown on terror ahead of Independence Day, security agencies busted the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) active in the country, arresting 253 operatives in over 80 FIRs registered across 14 states, and pre-empting the network’s plans to carry out subversive attacks around Aug 15.”Indian security forces ripped apart the network by launching coordinated operations across different locations in 14 states, upholding (a) brilliant example of India’s zero-tolerance towards terrorism,” home minister Amit Shah posted on X Monday.Shah said substantial recoveries were made from operatives of the ISI-funded group, including IEDs, grenades bearing Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, pistols, live cartridges and CCTV cameras used for espionage. “The network was involved in several terrorist activities,” he shared.Pakistan-based gangster-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, who is popular on social media, runs a network that scouts “vulnerable” Indian Muslim youth online. His network targets and radicalises young people from low-income groups, who are ‘disgruntled’ or consume illicit drugs, and thereafter, allots them tasks like espionage, reconnaissance of potential targets, collection and transportation of arms sent via drones from Pakistan and carrying out attacks using firearms and grenades.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTo counter SBN-linked disruptions planned around Independence Day, a coordinated multi-state operation was carried out Aug 12 using a real-time intelligence-sharing system with state police forces. Of the 253 detentions made across 14 states, 62 were in Uttar Pradesh; 52 in Haryana; 51 in Delhi; 44 in Punjab; 15 in Rajasthan; eight in Maharashtra; five in Uttarakhand; three each in Karnataka, Gujarat and Bihar; and two each in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Kerala – with fresh FIRs registered in Delhi and Karnataka.Cumulatively, over 80 FIRs and 200-plus arrests have been recorded against SBN under UAPA, BNS, Arms Act, NDPS Act and Explosive Substances Act.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests7 Charred To Death, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal’s Birbhum‘Electric Pole Fell’: 7 Women Dead, Many Injured In Stampede At Temple In Bihar’s Lakhisarai‘Only These…’: Rijiju Shares 3 Categories Of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ After Oppn’s Attack On PM Modi‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition123PhotostoriesPriyanka Chopra’s maroon backless gown just gave desi Disney princess energy with a trail that refused to behave10 powerful baby boy and girl names from different cultures that mean strengthOptical Illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret personality traitH1N1 or seasonal flu? Symptoms often overlap, but doctors look for these clues before deciding9 ways to add more protein to your rotiOTT releases this week (August 17-August 23): ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Love Is Blind: UK’ Season 3 and moreChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 9 basics of baking for every new and casual bakerDeepika Padukone makes maternity fashion look too easy in an oversized blue shirt and baggy jeans6 Korean dining etiquette rules that may surprise IndiansOptical illusion personality test: What you see first reveals if you’re a deep thinker or a natural problem-solver123Hot PicksKarnataka PG Dental admissionBank holidays this weekRBI new rulesBJP new teamJharkhand ProtestUS green cardSmriti IraniSupreme Court HolidayUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingK AnnamalaiBengal Hotel FireNoida Biker AccidentTamil Nadu Double MurderAbhijeet DipkeHyderabad MurderMuzaffarnagar Kanwariya MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Updated: Aug 18, 2026, 03:24 IST Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez plan to welcome babies around the same time, become godmothers to each other’s children: Report Leo Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: Don’t wait for luck to do the lifting In boost to Taliban ties, India joins in with victory day celebrations “A perfect role model for our daughter”: Jake Dennis’ fiancee Lexi Grace Boosey pens heartfelt note for Formula E runner-up | Formula – E News Virgo Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: If you’re in a relationship, choose peace rather than being right Is Neymar breaking up with Bruna Biancardi amid fresh cheating rumors surrounding their relationship? Meet Jasper Gould and Emile Chilingirian: The two Brooklyn teenagers who built a Gen Z finance newsletter to nearly 60,000 subscribers while running a student investment group | World News Gemini Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: This is a strong day for education ‘Huge victory for Jharkhand’: Student leader Mahto ends 16-day hunger strike after Soren govt accepts demands India signs Rs 1,943-cr deal with US firm to lease 2 MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for Navy Meet Mohammed Almuntasir: The Libyan wildlife photographer whose 18-second YouTube video proved a “ghost cat” still lives in Libya | World News From 5,921m summit, historic glide to Ladakh roadhead Indian-origin CEO says he starts checking his emails at 4.30 am; ‘If you want to work eight-to five…’ Cancer Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: There’s no need to prove yourself through noise PDP president Mehbooba says she is ‘dimagi Naxal’; NC blames her for Article 370 abrogation Aries Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: When you’re married the spouse’s support will be evident Meet Rohan Naidu, the MIT astronomer who left engineering at 18; now he is helping uncover how the Universe’s earliest black holes formed “I’ve cried for a long time”: Taylor Barnard breaks down after historic Formula E win | Formula – E News Taurus Horoscope Today, August 18, 2026: If you’re in a relationship, your calm confidence will be attractive Scientists found 31 new species in the ocean’s vast midwater zone, including nine new jellyfish using underwater robots and new imaging technology “Kelce needs to be more respectful”: Travis Kelce sparked backlash over national anthem behavior as fans revive his controversial 2017 protest Argentina’s mysterious floating island named ‘EL Ojo’ that appears to rotate on its own in perfect circular motion  | World News Scientists are saying that universe may not last forever because Hawking-like radiation could eventually cause its evaporation Kangana Ranaut on ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhaata’: ‘Patriotism has many forms’ and why it’s must-watch for the younger generation | In 1745, the US welcomed mimosa trees for their pink flowers; they later escaped gardens and spread as an invasive species | World News Atolls can take up to 30 million years to form, but these tiny coral islands now support 31 million seabirds across the Indo-Pacific A high school student won America’s top science award for solving a centuries-old Geometry problem; how his work on 146 rare shapes can change the future of medicine In 2024, a beaver returned to a California creek after 19 years and began cutting down aspen trees beside a man-made dam | World News Nasa aircraft are chasing giant fire clouds over Utah: These towering smoke-filled clouds can punch high into Earth’s atmosphere ‘Lies, Trump suffering from delusions’: Iran military denies direct backchannel talks with US In 2026, volunteers began planting 30,000 trees to rebuild the wetland forest that once shielded New Orleans from storms | World News Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for August 18, 2026 Quote of the day by Stephen Hawking: “However difficult life may seem, there is always…” – a lesson on resilience, perspective and finding what remains possible What did Braelon Allen fear when he watched Breece Hall go down with a suspected groin injury?