Vladimir Putin (file photo)

for years, Vladimir Putin He has created an image of a strongman who rides horses without a shirt, plays ice hockey and uses physical stamina as a symbol of political authority. But behind the carefully staged display of enthusiasm lies a much deeper passion that is now shaping Russian state policy: the pursuit of longevity.The latest sign of that ambition emerged through a Kremlin-backed scientific effort that includes gene therapy, organ printing, mini-pig organ cultivation and even ultralow-temperature cryotherapy, all under a $26 billion state initiative called “New Health Preservation Technologies.”The program has fueled new speculation about whether Putin, now in his eighth decade and already one of Russia’s longest-serving rulers, sees the science of aging not just as a health care innovation but as part of a broader quest to preserve power.A hot mic moment captured during Putin’s meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing last year indicated the Russian leader’s fascination with the expanse of human life, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Putin was heard discussing the possibility that humans could achieve immortality by replacing organs, a conversation many initially dismissed as eccentric banter between aging strongmen.Notably, the long-serving leaders of both Russia and China are of similar age, adding another layer to their conversations about longevity and power.But these comments appear to reflect a very real scientific agenda going on inside Russia.Last month, the Russian government announced that scientists were developing a gene-therapy treatment designed to slow cellular aging as part of a state-backed longevity initiative.“This drug represents one of the most promising methods in the fight against aging,” Deputy Science Minister Denis Sekirinsky said on April 23.Another pillar of the project involves the creation of human organs ready for transplantation in laboratories, one of the same futuristic ideas Putin reportedly referred to in Beijing. Russian researchers are now working on xenotransplantation as well as bioprinting, or 3D-printing living tissue, a process for growing human-compatible organs inside genetically modified mini-pigs.Scientists associated with state agencies claim to have already bioprinted human cartilage tissue and a mouse thyroid gland, with the ambition of achieving complete human organ replacement by 2030.“In the Russian Federation, work is underway on a whole range of scientific programs in this area,” the Kremlin press service said in an email. “These projects are supported by the state, and many scientists and research institutions are participating in them.”At the center of the initiative are two influential figures from Putin’s inner circle, his daughter Maria Vorontsova, who oversees several state genetics programs, and physicist Mikhail Kovalchuk, head of the Soviet-era Kurchatov Institute.Kovalchuk has become one of the intellectual architects of the Kremlin’s anti-aging campaign, often arguing that science will soon allow humans to constantly repair and replace body parts.“It is difficult to discuss immortality, but man’s ability to repair will undoubtedly increase,” Kovalchuk told Russian media.Unlike long-lived enterprises backed by Silicon Valley billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman and Peter Thiel, however, Russia’s efforts have produced limited peer-reviewed scientific research.Critics say many of the bold claims remain ambitious, the WSJ reports.“If there are no publications there are no real results, and their statements should probably be taken not as dreams but as aspirations,” said Alexander Ostrovsky, a Russian scientist known for pioneering bioprinting research in the country.Ostrovsky later left Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and sold his company, which now reportedly cooperates with the government.“It is impossible to do science in isolation,” Ostrovsky said, referring to sanctions that have kept Russian researchers away from Western collaboration. “They are likely telling Putin what he wants to hear in order to secure funding.”Yet the Kremlin’s interest in anti-aging science extends beyond laboratories. Over the years, Putin and his allies have toyed with fringe theories, unorthodox medicine and broader civilizational concerns about the West.Kovalchuk once publicly warned that Western countries were moving towards the creation of “servant humans”, controlled people with manipulated reproduction and limited self-awareness. He has also promoted conspiracy theories regarding the Covid pandemic.Putin himself has long shown an affinity for similar narratives. Kovalchuk publicly praised the 1968 Soviet film “Dead Season”, in which the CIA conspires with former Nazi scientists to control humanity. Putin has said that the film inspired him to join the KGB.Another major influence was Vladimir Khvinson, often referred to in the Russian media as “Putin’s gerontologist”, who promoted peptide-based antiaging therapy derived from calf tissue.Khvinson argued that humans are biologically meant to live up to 120 years old and reportedly believed that preserving Putin’s health was vital to Russia’s stability.He later received one of Russia’s highest state honors directly from Putin before he died in 2024 at the age of 77.Putin’s personal commitment to physical decline is becoming increasingly visible in public life as well. During the Covid pandemic, the Kremlin imposed extreme quarantine measures around the Russian president, including disinfection tunnels and long-term isolation requirements for visitors. His famous long meeting tables became a global symbol of both political distance and outright germophobia.Western and Russian media have also repeatedly speculated about cosmetic procedures as Putin’s appearance appears to have noticeably smoothed over time.Even cryotherapy, in which the body is kept at temperatures as low as minus 170 degrees Fahrenheit, reportedly caught Putin’s attention. Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz once recalled how Putin enthusiastically recommended the treatment during a meeting in the Kremlin in 2018.Much of Putin’s inner circle is itself aging. Many of Russia’s most powerful figures, including Yuri Kovalchuk, Sergei Chemezov and Nikolai Patrushev, are now in their seventies. In that sense, Russia’s state-backed longevity obsession reflects not just individual concerns, but the concerns of the entire ruling elite facing mortality.And yet, despite the Kremlin’s futuristic ambitions, Russia faces one of the harshest mortality rates in the developed world. The average male life expectancy in Russia is about 68 years, much lower than in the United States and most of Western Europe.Despite all the billions invested in anti-aging science, one reality still overshadows the Kremlin’s grand ambitions.Unlike elections, managing deaths remains difficult even for the Kremlin.

A new, or 325 million year old, creature has just taken the subcontinent by storm. It was this “misinterpretation” of cockroaches being compared to humans that gave rise to a satirical online organization – Cockroach Janata Party.CJP). But what perhaps started as a simple joke or political satire for a few thousand people has captured the imagination and support of millions.The party’s manifesto demanded a ban on post-retirement Rajya Sabha seats for chief justices, media neutrality, 50 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and a 20-year election ban on MLAs and MPs who switch parties. The eligibility criteria for its membership were: ‘unemployed, lazy, online for a long time, ability to boast professionally.’While critics have questioned the purpose of the CJP, the fact remains that this “party” now technically has more followers than both mainstream political parties combined – BJP And Congress – Have been united. Accusations are made from both sides of the coin, people are on the fence and engagement is skyrocketing at even a single mention of this “party”. Why?Why is it resonating among millions of people? Or is it actually resonating?To understand this impact, one must situate memes within the contemporary attention economy, where scarcity of human attention has replaced scarcity of information (Lanham, 2006). The 21st century has seen a fundamental change in the way youth consume politics. They don’t even wake up to newspapers anymore. There are no longer news channels playing on TV as ambient noise in the evening. The medium is now in your hands – you scroll for knowledge. You scroll, you don’t see. You have to find what you want to know, it has to make enough noise over the other 1.5 billion posts made per day.

This is what Gil de Zuniga, Strauss, and Huber have called the “news finds me” perception. This explains why the initial comment on the cockroach comparison during a court hearing did not spread through court transcripts – it was interpreted through memes, which multiplied the excitement over the comment. When news has to be found for you through an algorithm, only the most unsettling pieces emerge. CJP is, at its core, a meme that you found and then became news. Its virality forced its changes and coverage. It is currently under this cycle that has retained its popularity. The moment he breaks from the cycle – what is his future?An organization like the CJP is almost a textbook case of what falls under Bakhtin’s carnival. According to Bakhtin, carnival is a licensed space where hierarchy is suspended, where the king can be mocked by the jester. The word cockroach was reportedly used to refer to unemployed youth. But then these comments got involved within the carnival itself, the people who had to bear the brunt of this statement formed a party against him and believe that this is wrong in Indian politics. Dissent within the political sphere is prevalent, expected and encouraged in social media but the popularity of this movement turns it into the definition of carnival. Yet the tent ultimately falls on whether CJP truly wants to become an entity of its own or just become a viral carnival.Poe’s law complicates any simple answer. Online, honest extremism and satirical extremism wear the same clothes. Is CJP a real political movement? a joke? a demonstration? The answer is all three together. Its obscurity protects it from fair persecution. Threats can be sent, allegations of being a Pakistani front can be made and accounts can be deleted. But at their core they are protected and political. You can’t capture a punchline. You cannot file an FIR against a meme. The CJP exists in a fog between sarcasm and sincerity, and that fog is its best defense and the reason its numbers can grow.Steps taken by some in power to curb CJP’s popularity, such as allegations and platform inefficiencies, are helping him remain popular. Each act of censorship brings new sign-ups, new attention, and fresh memes. This can be compared to the Streisand effect. Named after Barbra Streisand, who sued a photographer for removing an aerial photograph of her Malibu mansion from the public shoreline erosion collection in 2003. The photo had been downloaded only six times before the lawsuit. After she filed it, the image was viewed by more than 400,000 people. Trying to hide something made it impossible to ignore. The same logic applies here also.Social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979) explains the rest. People derive their sense of self from the groups to which they belong, and Homo sapiens is a social animal. We have an inherent need to belong. By calling themselves cockroaches, millions of young Indians aren’t just sharing a joke, they’re signaling membership. This membership was also inspired by those around them, there was group level consideration in the decisions made Because a lot of CJP’s membership did no background research on what and who they were supporting in an effort to be a part of something bigger, they created something extremely viral but also extremely empty. What does anyone really know about CJP? Do the founders even understand what CJP is?Memes have become the language of the internet. That means they have become the language of online politics. Accessible. Easy. No conflict. A meme asks nothing from you except a second of recognition. You don’t think about it. You watch it, it entertains you, you share it and you move on. This is why the form works. This is why it fails. The shared language is fine for basic conversation. But it struggles with depth. This allows you to not project any depth and still go viral but isn’t really critical. A party legitimized through AI and memes lacks the depth to be sustained or taken seriously.

Which leads us to slothism.The Internet has made it incredibly easy to align yourself with a purpose. A follow button. A Google Form. Repost a story. CJP has mastered this low-inhibition engagement. you wanna join? Fill out this form. Do you want to show support? Repost this meme. Do you want to feel like you’re part of something? Here’s a hashtag. #MeTooCockroach. Done. Our purpose, something we ourselves are not entirely clear about, is something you stand by? Add a cockroach emoji to your username. You are now a member. You have contributed. You can scroll.But what does that actually mean?CJP’s eligibility criteria – unemployed, lazy, constantly online – is a joke. But it is also a mirror. What’s the point of membership if it only takes one click to join? If the primary activity of the movement is to share memes, what has really been accomplished?This is the slacktivism problem. The ease of online participation creates the illusion of influence. You hit follow. You sign a Google form. You repost a meme. You are feeling good. You feel like you’ve accomplished something. But do you have it? Carnival needs spectators. The meme needs to spread. But when the carnival is over, when the meme phase is over, what is left?We commend CJP for its impact. But we must not forget that membership is a form of social currency. And membership here also requires currency.CJP performs inclusively but is exclusive. People are talking about it. Member. People who are “in” on the joke. They are the elite people of our country. High class. upper middle class. English speaking. Constantly online by choice, not circumstance. They have the data plans, the tools, the hours of scrolling, the cultural capital to understand the contexts. They are the only people who can afford to be lazy.This is not a true people’s party. There may be a voting symbol in it. Social media can be taken advantage of in this. But beyond that, what’s really in it?

The digital divide is not just about access to technology. It’s about access to culture. Memes require knowledge. Learning requires time. Time requires privilege. CJP’s humor is internal humor. If you don’t get the joke you are an outsider. And if you are an outsider then this movement does not matter to you.So who exactly is CJP for? The answer is inconvenient. This is for people like us. Educated. Joined together. Those who already have a voice.Its virility may potentially be the only trace left.

Britain plans 300,000 new work placements as more than one million young people crack NEET.

The UK government has announced plans to provide 300,000 new work experience and training opportunities over the next three years to tackle rising youth unemployment and economic inactivity.The programme, supported by major employers including Manchester Airport and Gatwick Airport, will offer placements in sectors such as construction, hospitality, health and social care, reports The Independent.The announcement comes a day after a review into youth inactivity warned Britain that rising numbers of young people will be missing out on work and education.Official figures released on Thursday showed that more than a million people aged 16 to 24 are now classified as NEET, meaning they are not in employment, education or training.New opportunities will include work experience placements as well as sector-based work academy programmes, government-funded schemes that combine training, workplace experience and guaranteed job interviews for qualified job seekers.Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said practical workplace experience plays a vital role in helping young people build long-term careers.“The evidence is clear, young people get real work experience and the chances of them building a lasting career increases dramatically,” McFadden said.The initiative follows a review led by Alan Milburn which identified limited access to work experience as one of the biggest barriers facing young job seekers.The report found that many students are expected to arrange placements on their own, often putting students without strong personal or professional networks at a disadvantage.Milburn argued that opportunities to gain early workplace experience have become harder to access, leading to a cycle in which employers look for candidates with experience while young people struggle to obtain it.The government says the expanded placement program aims to help bridge that gap and improve access to employment opportunities across the country.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Image: IPL/BCCI)

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been the undisputed breakout star of IPL 2026. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals player currently leads the race for the Orange Cap with 680 runs in 15 matches and has lit up the tournament with a series of record-breaking performances. Yet, despite his remarkable season, he has fallen just short of the century that many believe he deserved.Twice this season, Suryavanshi found himself in the nineties, but his unwavering commitment to the team’s cause held him back. Instead of slowing down to achieve personal milestones, the teenager continued to play his natural aggressive game, putting the needs of the team ahead of personal records. Speaking about his mindset on JioStar, Suryavanshi revealed the lessons his father taught him from a young age.Vaibhav Suryavanshi said, “Since childhood, my father has always told me that if you score a century, double century or triple century, but the team does not win because of it, then those runs have no importance. They may be only for your personal record, but they do not benefit the team.”

“After all, cricket is a team game. So, if I score 80 instead of a century and my team wins, and if we don’t win even though I score a century, that 80 means more to me than a hundred,” he said.Vaibhav concluded, “The longer my team stays in the tournament and the deeper we go into the playoffs and finals, the more chances I will get to score centuries and achieve whatever records I want to break. So, it will benefit both me personally and the team.”His selfless approach was on full display during the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Suryavanshi was just one four away from breaking after playing a stormy innings of 97 runs in just 28 balls. chris gayleRecord of fastest century in IPL history. Instead of playing it safe and taking a run, he attempted a daring upper-cut off Prafulla Hinge. Seeing a fielder late, he tried to adjust the shot but mistimed it, eventually being caught at deep third man on the 29th ball.Earlier in the season, against Lucknow Super Giants, he had played another sensational innings by scoring 93 runs off just 38 balls. The left-handed batsman demolished the LSG attack with seven fours and ten sky-scraping sixes at a whopping strike rate of 244.73, helping Rajasthan Royals seal a dominant win before falling short of a century once again.

Rajpal Yadav has said that the ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ universe is still an incomplete story, and he wants Chhota Pandit to come face to face with Manjulika. The actor, who is closely associated with the horror-comedy franchise through his colorful character, said the first film still sticks with him because of its psychological twist and Vidya Balan’s performance. He also shared that he believes that Chhota Pandit’s journey has not reached its full stop yet.

Rajpal Yadav on the impact of ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Rajpal talked about the horror film that left a deep impact on him. He chose ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ and recalled how the film went beyond the routine scares.He said, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 1, woh psychological jo tha usin Vidya Balan jab pehli mein jab hamara role tha to hi” (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 1, woh psychological elements in us, Vidya Balan in the first part, and of course I had a role in that).Rajpal said that even after watching it again and again, the film continues to surprise him. “But there were actually some things in that movie, something current that made it so that no matter how many times I watched it, and I have seen so many movies, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 1 still feels like what people say, reel reality.” is an illusion).

Rajpal Yadav on Chhota Pandit vs Manjulika

Rajpal then said that there is still room for Chhota Pandit and Manjulika tracks in the franchise. He said, “Even now, I feel that Bhool Bhulaiyaa is still incomplete.”He explained, “Because only Pandit has seen Manjulika, Chhota Pandit has seen her in the first part and since then Rang-Biranga Ghoom Raha Hai aur Mila Abhi Tak Nahi Hai Manjulika Se” (Because only Pandit has seen Manjulika, Chhota Pandit has seen her in the first part and since then Rang-Biranga Ghoom Raha Hai aur Mila Abhi Tak Nahi Hai Manjulika Se) (Because only Pandit has seen Manjulika, Chhota Pandit has seen her in the first part and has been roaming around colorfully since then, but has not met Manjulika yet).Rajpal said that a proper ‘Chhota Pandit vs. Manjulika’ story could take the franchise in a different direction. The actor was last seen in ‘Bhoot Bangla’ with Akshay Kumar Priyadarshan. He will next be seen in ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ and is reportedly a part of Salman Khan’s untitled film with Dil Raju.

New Delhi: A day after stepping down as Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah joined his successor DK Shivakumar In Delhi for a fresh round of consultations with the Congress leadership, as the party shifts its focus from leadership change to shaping the next government.The two leaders met Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge amid discussions on Cabinet formation, the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and Siddaramaiah’s future role within the party.The meetings are taking place as the Congress works to manage the post-transition phase in Karnataka and strike a balance before the formation of the new government under the leadership of Shivakumar.

Congress has focused its attention on cabinet formation

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met Rahul Gandhi and Kharge before holding discussions with Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence. According to party sources, the talks focused on the composition of the new cabinet, Rajya Sabha nomination and the role of Siddaramaiah after his resignation.

Shivkumar with Congress leader Kharge

Sources told news agency PTI that Siddaramaiah thanked Rahul Gandhi for giving him the opportunity to serve the state and informed him that he had resigned from the post of chief minister.It is understood that the veteran Congress leader expressed his views on the new power system in Karnataka. Reports also suggest that he is not keen on moving to Delhi for a national role, preferring to remain engaged in state politics.

Siddaramaiah with Congress President Kharge

Siddaramaiah was accompanied by Karnataka ministers Priyank Kharge and KJ George as well as his son and MLC Yatindra Siddaramaiah.

Shivakumar’s emotional note for Siddaramaiah

Shivakumar issued his first public statement after Siddaramaiah’s resignation, praising the outgoing chief minister’s political journey and his contribution to Karnataka.Describing Siddaramaiah’s rise from a village in Mysuru district to the chief minister’s office as an example of perseverance and public service, Shivakumar said his life showed how opportunity, when matched with hard work and commitment, can shape a remarkable political career.“God doesn’t give blessings or curses. He only gives opportunities. What really matters is what we make of those opportunities.” Shivakumar said, the life of Siddaramaiah Avaru is one of the best reflections of this idea.Adhering to the adage, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”, he said he looked forward to continuing the journey together for the welfare of the people of Karnataka.

what happens next?

With the process of change of power formally beginning, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is expected to meet soon to elect its new leader. The party high command may also appoint a central observer to monitor the process.After being elected, the new CLP leader will meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and stake claim to form the government. The Governor is expected to verify the majority of the Congress legislature party before inviting the nominated Chief Minister to form the government. Karnataka CLP meeting will be held on Saturday at 4 pm.The incoming chief minister, expected to be Shivakumar, will later submit a list of ministers to form the new cabinet before the swearing-in of the Council of Ministers.Cabinet structure has emerged as the next challengeThe composition of the cabinet is expected to be one of the most sensitive issues in the coming days. There is speculation that the Congress leadership may try to accommodate leaders considered close to Siddaramaiah in the new government to maintain organizational balance and ensure a smooth transition.The distribution of ministerial portfolios, possible appointment of deputy chief ministers and representation for various factions within the party are all expected to be included in the next round of consultations.Sources told news agency PTI that Siddaramaiah may seek a place for his son and his loyalists in the new Karnataka cabinet, including the post of Deputy Chief Minister.Although the leadership question has been resolved, the coming days will determine both Siddaramaiah’s influence in the new dispensation and the final shape of the Karnataka government under Shivakumar.

Akshay Kumar praised Punjab sprinter Gurindervir Singh, who created history by clocking 10.09 seconds at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition 2026 in Ranchi and became India’s fastest runner in the 100m event. Despite early setbacks and coaches asking him to change events, Gurindervir persevered and proved his doubters wrong.

Akshay Kumar joined in the praise of Punjab Sprinter Gurindervir Singh, who etched his name in the history books by becoming the fastest Indian man in the 100m event. At the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Championships 2026 held in Ranchi, Gurindervir performed brilliantly by clocking 10.09 seconds, making him the first Indian athlete to complete the men’s 100 meters race in sub 10.1 seconds. On this historic achievement, there was applause from every corner of the country including the stalwarts of the cricket world. Sachin Tendulkar And Yuvraj Singh Also congratulating him. Akshay was also very impressed with the achievement, praising the sprinter and saying that his record-breaking race challenged and changed long-held perceptions about Indian athletes in the world of sprinting.

Akshay Kumar says success of Gurinderveer Singh has changed Rai forever

The actor praised Gurindervir from X and called it a defining moment for Indian athletics. Sharing a photo of the young sprinter, Kumar expressed his surprise at the achievement, saying that he had been following the news of Gurindervir becoming India’s fastest man and was “seriously amazed” by what he has achieved. The actor reflected on how the 100m race was long seen as a foreign arena, dominated by international athletes, while many dismissed the possibility of an Indian competing. With this success, Kumar said, those opinions have now changed for good.

Akshay Kumar is proud of Gurindervir Singh’s association with the armed forces and his Punjabi roots.

Apart from the record breaking race, Akshay Kumar has got more reasons to celebrate Gurinderveer. The actor expressed pride not only in the sprinter’s remarkable achievement on the track, but also in his ties with the armed forces and the fact that the young athlete is from Punjab, a connection that apparently struck a deep chord with Kumar.

Gurinderveer Singh’s journey from self-doubt to becoming India’s fastest man

Gurindervir’s spectacular run means more than just breaking a record. His performance also earned him qualification for the Commonwealth Games and asian gamesWhich is a huge achievement in itself. But his journey till here was not easy. In a chat with Sportstar, the 25-year-old talked about his early days as a sprinter and how many coaches told him to leave the 100m and go for the 400m event instead. At that time many people believed that Indian athletes did not have the right physical structure to perform well in short distance running. But Gurinderveer did not give up nor listen to negative things. He continued to work hard, stay focused and believe in himself. Today, that belief has paid off beautifully, as he stands out as one of the most exciting young athletes in Indian sports.

Akshay Kumar’s upcoming projects: From ‘Golmaal 5’ to alien thriller ‘Saimuk’

On the work front, Akshay Kumar has a packed lineup ahead. The actor is gearing up for many exciting projects including ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Haivaan’ and ‘Golmaal 5’. He will also be seen in the much talked about alien action thriller ‘Samuk’, which will release on the big screens in 2027.