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Russia, Iran, and China began the 'Maritime Security Belt 2026' exercises on Thursday, focusing on countering maritime threats like piracy through coordinated special forces operations near the Strait of Hormuz. The drills come amid rising U.S.-Iran friction over Tehran's nuclear program, with President Trump issuing a short deadline for a deal and deploying carriers, drones, and bombers to the region. A Russian command plane's arrival in Tehran fueled online worries of escalation, though experts call it posturing tied to deepening Moscow-Tehran ties rather than war preparations.

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Helicopters hovered as Iranian and Russian special forces rappelled onto a mock hijacked ship, practicing rescues in the Gulf of Oman just as U.S. forces build up nearby.

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The lineup features Jordan Pickford in goal, a back four with Nico O'Reilly at left-back, Dan Burn and Marc Guehi in the center, and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right. Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham hold midfield, Cole Palmer plays No. 10, and Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane lead the attack. Critics slammed Dan Burn's inclusion, Rashford's form on the left wing, and the lack of a controlling midfielder, while fans pushed hard for Kobbie Mainoo after his recent surge under Manchester United's interim manager Michael Carrick. With England already qualified atop their group, these debates highlight the wide-open race for spots under Thomas Tuchel.

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Perplexity AI unveiled its predicted starting lineup for England's 2026 World Cup campaign, centering Harry Kane up top with stars like Saka and Bellingham. Fans quickly called out the choices, especially in defense and midfield.

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The matchup pits Lewandowski's 700+ club goals, Bundesliga record of 41 in a season, and 107 UCL strikes against Kane's Premier League records, 213 goals, and explosive Bayern form with 36 in his debut year plus 28 more this season. Lewandowski brings 10 Bundesligas, a UCL title, and praise from Klopp as his best player ever, while Kane shines with playmaking assists and big-game grit despite fewer trophies. Fans argue peaks and finishing for Lewa versus Kane's all-around completeness, with no clear winner as both thrive in 2025/26.

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Bayern legend Robert Lewandowski faces off against Harry Kane in club kits, splitting fans on who's the ultimate striker in a lively poll showdown.

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Mac Donald's February 24 post argued the Ferguson effect—where post-2014 protests led police to ease proactive work, spiking homicides in black communities—remains real and ignored by media. Musk replied 'Legacy media lies relentlessly,' sparking memes, charts, and stories from users pointing to FBI data showing black Americans as half of 2015 homicide victims despite being 13% of the population. Critics dispute the link to protests, citing other factors like economics, while recent 2024-2025 drops in crime add nuance to the ongoing discussion on policing and reporting.

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Heather Mac Donald shared a video mourning overlooked black homicide victims, blaming media narratives and a pullback in policing. Elon Musk's sharp reply lit up the conversation with millions of views.

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On February 21, 2026, Sinn Féin leader McDonald marked the first anniversary of McFarlane's death at age 73 with warm words about his legacy. McFarlane, a former IRA commander, had led the 1975 Bayardo Bar attack that killed five and injured over 50, later commanded the Maze Prison during the 1981 hunger strikes, escaped in 1983, and was tied to a kidnapping where two security forces members died. Critics like Leo Varadkar called it glorification of a war crime, while supporters hailed him as a hero; the clash highlights ongoing divisions from the Troubles.

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Mary Lou McDonald remembered Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane as a comrade devoted to freedom and peace, one year after his death. Her post, featuring him with a guitar amid a Bobby Sands mural, drew swift condemnation for honoring a man linked to deadly attacks.

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During Manchester United's 2-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Littler showed off the PDC World Darts Championship trophy he defended last month by thrashing Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final. Spurs fans in the away end chanted for his rival Michael van Gerwen, but Littler grinned and gestured back, turning the moment into fun banter. Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scored for United after Spurs' Cristian Romero was sent off, but for the 73,000 fans, the local hero's visit brought a taste of glory.

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Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts world champion and lifelong Manchester United fan, lapped Old Trafford's pitch at halftime with his gleaming trophy, drawing massive cheers from the home crowd.

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A viral post by @UTDTrey claimed that Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is better than Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, sparking widespread discussion among fans of both clubs. Supporters highlighted Maguire's recent strong performances and resilience despite past criticism, while opponents dismissed the claim. The debate contrasted Maguire's current form with Van Dijk's established status as a top defender.

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In a Sunday Independent interview, Taoiseach Micheál Martin pledged to remain Fianna Fáil leader past his 2027 handover to Simon Harris, despite recent lows like the presidential candidate withdrawal and polls dipping to 15 per cent support. He returned as Taoiseach in January 2025 after the party's strong 48-seat win in the 2024 election. While recent surveys show his approval rebounding among party voters and support stabilizing, online voices and some backbenchers still call for change from figures like Jim O'Callaghan.

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Facing party turbulence and leadership whispers, Micheál Martin drew a firm line: he'll guide Fianna Fáil through to the next general election.

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