Eight killed as gas pipeline explodes in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Peshawar: At least eight people — including a woman and a young girl — died in a gas pipeline explosion at an industrial estate in Pakistan’s northwestern province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, a Rescue 1122 official said. The incident occurred in the Hattar Industrial Estate area of Haripur district. According to Rescue 1122 sources, the…
Had a very good conversation with friend Modi: Trump
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday said he had a “very good conversation” with his “friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was referring to the talks the two leaders had on Tuesday. “I had a very good talk with him, and he’s a friend of mine from India, and he’s doing great. We had…
Rampant Punjab Kings crush Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets in IPL
Mumbai: Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer struck fluent fifties as Punjab Kings’ winning run continued with a seven-wicket hammering of Mumbai Indians, who suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday. Even as Quinton de Kock, with a brilliant 112 not out, and Naman Dhir (50) bailed Mumbai Indians out…
Pak Army chief Munir holds talks with top Iranian leadership in Tehran
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday held talks with top Iranian leadership in Tehran as part of Islamabad’s efforts to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran. Munir, who is heading a high-level political-security delegation to Iran, landed in Tehran on Wednesday, becoming the first foreign military leader…
Austrian companies have vast opportunities to expand trade, investment in India: Prez Murmu
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said that Austrian companies have vast opportunities to expand trade and investment in India, especially in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, green energy and artificial intelligence (AI). Her assertion came during a meeting with Christian Stocker, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, who had called on Murmu…
Modi, Macron discuss West Asia; agree on need to restore freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed the situation in West Asia, with both leaders emphasising the need to urgently restore safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X about his telephonic conversation with Macron, Prime Minister Modi said on Thursday,…
From Powerhouse to Passenger: Why Hyderabad Cricket Is Losing the Plot
Vinay Rao Indian cricket did not evolve over the last two decades—it detonated into a high-performance ecosystem where only those who adapt survive. Since the Indian Premier League in 2007, the game has ceased to be a gentleman’s pastime and become a ruthless marketplace of talent, structure, and visibility. In this new order, systems don’t…
Modi’s Women’s Gambit
When Narendra Modi rose to address the special session of Parliament, he did more than outline a legislative agenda—he threw down a political gauntlet. The message was unmistakable: history is knocking, and those who choose obstruction over opportunity will have to answer not just to Parliament, but to the people—especially India’s women. At the heart…
Delimitation Lies, Political Theatre
If there is one thing Indian politics excels at, it is manufacturing fear where none exists—and few are doing it today with as much theatrical flair as M. K. Stalin. The burning of a copy of the Delimitation Bill, the black flag protests, the orchestrated outrage—this is not statesmanship. It is political choreography, timed conveniently…
From Power to Irrelevance: Congress’s Long Slide
My political journey began with the Indian National Congress—a party that once stood as the launchpad for my entry into public life. I do not deny that phase, nor do I regret it. But experience has a way of stripping illusions. Over time, I realized that Congress had drifted far from being a vehicle of…

