Wisden condemns India over ‘Orwellian’ governance (screengrab/x)

The 2026 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, to be published on Thursday, says the game’s previous USP as a “refuge from realpolitik” has been poisoned by the increasing politicization of the game under the “Orwellian” influence of India.The “Notes by the Editor” of the 163rd edition of the annual took aim at India’s growing political influence on the game, saying “Cricket has become a key piece on the BJP’s geopolitical chessboard”.Editor Lawrence Booth writes, “Was there a more blatant indictment of the governance of the game in 2025 than Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s claim that ‘politics and sports cannot go together’? Perhaps he had forgotten that he was also his country’s interior minister.”Booth refers to 2025 Mains asia cupHeld in the United Arab Emirates, “a tit-for-tat showdown ensued, with players from both sides making tasteless gestures about fighter planes, and India refusing to come on stage to receive the trophy from Naqvi”. The Asia Cup was played amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan as it was the first time the two faced each other on the cricket field after Operation Sindoor following the massacre by terrorists in Pahalgam. India won and refused to join hands with Pakistan.“It was clear long before this latest assumption that the BCCI was a sporting arm of India’s ruling BJP,” Booth wrote, “but the relationship became clear when India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the first of his team’s three Asia Cup victories over Pakistan to the armed forces.” And the idea that cricket was now a legitimate proxy for more lethal activity was hammered home on “Now it was being compared to the game of T20.”Booth lamented that the administration of the game was “becoming more Orwellian, pretending that Indian exceptionalism comes without any consequences”. He also wrote that the decision by Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman “confirmed cricket’s fall into the hands of political masters”.

Former US President Joe Biden preferred Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as his running mate in 2020, but ultimately had to choose Kamala Harris, according to a report cited by The Atlantic.The profile was published Sunday and focused on Whitmer as a potential 2028 presidential contender. It claimed Biden “wanted it to be like Whitmer” after being impressed by her response to President Donald Trump during his first term. However, the political climate following the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests following the death of George Floyd played a significant role in the final decision. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a black man, was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, sparking global protests against racism and police brutality.“It seemed like all this attention might add up to something,” the report said, “and by the summer of 2020, Whitmer was being considered for the vice presidential nomination.”It added: “She wasn’t sure about it at first, people familiar with her thinking at the time told me; she was struggling to imagine herself as a creature of Washington, D.C.. However, she got along well with Biden, and when he asked her to fly to Delaware for a personal conversation, she was ready to say yes. Biden didn’t ask.”The report also cites a former senior Whitmer staffer who said, “There was a need for a Black running mate in this moment,” suggesting that Biden’s ultimate choice of Harris was influenced by other political considerations. A former adviser to both Biden and Harris was also quoted as saying the claim holds “some weight.”Despite not being selected, Whitmer continued to support the Biden campaign and later confirmed that she had gone through the vetting process.“If Joe Biden had called and said, ‘I want you to run and be my running mate,’ I would have said yes,” Whitmer told Fox 2. He further said, “This election was very important.”The report also said Whitmer was the first potential nominee to meet with Biden in person during the vice-presidential selection process in August 2020.Harris also said she initially refrained from pressuring Biden to remove her from office because she did not want to appear “self-serving,” adding that she remained loyal under increasing political pressure.Biden ultimately chose Harris as his running mate in 2020, and she became vice president. She replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee in 2024 after he withdrew from the race, before losing the election to MAGA leader Donald Trump.

last month, when Kamal Haasan Anna went to Arivalayam DMK Headquartered in Chennai, to accept Rajya Sabha nomination from CM MK Stalin, it marked the end of the road Makkal Needhi Mayyam (MNM) founder’s promise to provide an alternative to the two Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu.Haasan launched MNM in February 2018 to tap anger against power. MNM’s first political promo ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections featured the actor breaking a TV set on which a speech was being played, apparently by Stalin. Cut to 2026 and, accepting the Rajya Sabha nomination, Haasan “generously” surrendered the three assembly seats that the DMK had offered to the MNM as an alliance offer.Why did Haasan, who redefined success in films, fail to live up to his promise as a politician? The mistakes, perhaps, started early. MNM, true to its name (‘Maiyam’ meaning centre), seeks to be a centrist force representing various sections of the society. That position itself was seen as lacking credibility, as Haasan was known for his leftist views long before his political entry. Being at the center of political discussion also reeks of political conflict.In the electoral arena, MNM faced continuous electoral failures. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it contested 37 seats and did not win a single seat with 3.7% vote share. In the 2021 assembly elections, it fielded candidates on 154 seats, won none and its vote share dropped to 2.5%. In neighboring Puducherry it got only 1.8 percent votes. Ahead of the 2024 general elections, MNM joined the DMK-led alliance.After the demise of influential leaders like Jayalalitha and M Karunanidhi, many saw a new political space in Tamil Nadu, which film personalities like Haasan and Rajinikanth could potentially fill. While Haasan took the risk, Rajinikanth postponed his political plans in late 2020 citing health concerns.Haasan’s core team included people from diverse professional backgrounds – IAS officer Santosh Babu, retired IPS officer AG Maurya, businessman R Mahendran, entrepreneur CK Kumaravel, social activist Kameela Nasir, actor director Sripriya and writer Suka. Despite being notable in their respective fields, they were all political novices, and Haasan failed to attract veterans from other parties.Anusha Ravi, a lawyer who was MNM campaign secretary, says she joined the party attracted by Haasan’s call for change. “But, soon, he lost his confidence and I felt demoralized,” says Ravi, who will join the BJP in 2024. Haasan is fond of cinema, but not politics.Some political analysts believe that Hassan lacks a coherent political strategy. “The MNM has a weak organizational structure and limited connect with the people,” says political commentator Aazhi Senthilnathan. “Haasan’s appeal is largely limited to urban voters. After the 2019 defeat, many key members left the party, with some joining other parties like the DMK.”Political analyst Priyan Srinivasan says Haasan was unsure how to deal with the setbacks. He says, “Election defeat is normal; You have to have a plan to take the party forward.” “Look at the name Tamil Nadu Katchi. It faced several defeats, but its leader Seeman is less dejected and keeps the party relevant.Viduthalai Chiruthigal Katchi (VCK) general secretary D Ravikumar says Haasan’s electoral defeat by a narrow margin to Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore in 2019 was a turning point. “Had he won, his political career would have been different. Sustaining a political party requires patience, grassroots work and long-term commitment,” says Ravikumar, who describes Haasan’s stay in the DMK as “pragmatic and retrograde”.Haasan, known as ‘Sakalakala Vallavan (Master of all Arts)’ in cinema, is known for displaying intellectual depth and creative outspokenness. However, many of his works struggled to connect with rural audiences, as his ideas were sometimes ahead of their time. Under the guidance of legendary director K Balachander, Haasan became one of the most famous actors of South India.Yet, the transition from cinema to politics brings a different set of challenges, where individual talent must give way to collective leadership and organizational strength.Haasan is not the first big star to fail in politics. Legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan tried his luck with the DMK and Congress before founding Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani in 1988. After failing to make a mark in the 1989 elections, it merged with the Janata Dal. For Tamil Nadu’s latest film-to-politics crossover star TVK Neta Vijay, Haasan’s journey holds many lessons.Foreigner StarsMG Ramachandran The actor joined DMK after leaving Congress in 1953. In 1969 he was appointed party treasurer. In 1972, after internal differences led to his expulsion from the DMK, MGR formed his own party, the ADMK. He will be Chief Minister twice and will remain in office for 10 years.J Jayalalithaa She joined the ADMK in 1982 and rose rapidly to become its publicity secretary by 1983. Known as ‘Purachi Thalaivi’, or ‘Revolutionary Leader’, she was a five-time CM and was the ADMK chief, becoming the longest serving general secretary of the party.Shivaji Ganesan After leaving Congress, he founded Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani Party in 1988. But the party failed to win seats in the 1989 elections, leading him to briefly join the Janata Dal before retiring from politics.Vijaykant Founded DMDK in 2005 and has been MLA from the party twice. DMDK emerged as the second largest party in the 2011 assembly elections and Vijayakanth remained the leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011 to 2016.R Sarath Kumar The actor founded the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) in 2007. After leading the party for more than 16 years, he merged it with the BJP in 2024, citing the need for stronger collective action and ideological alignment with PM Modi.

High Speed ​​Train Tunnel – Representative Image

China is once again pushing the boundaries of large-scale infrastructure with new momentum behind the proposed Bohai Strait Undersea Channel project, which could transform China’s connectivity within its northern coastlines. According to a report published by Daily Galaxy, the idea focuses on building a 120-kilometre-long undersea railway tunnel connecting the port cities of Dalian, located in Liaoning province, and Yantai, Shandong province. If this idea becomes a reality, a train can travel at a speed of 250 kilometers per hour through the tunnel and complete the journey in just 40 minutes.Historically, the Bohai Strait, located between Liaodong and the Shandong Peninsula, served as a natural barrier to transportation through the region. Currently, most goods and passengers travel via ferry boats whose operation is dependent on weather and other related factors; On land, the journey involves a long voyage across the Bohai Sea. The project seeks to offer an efficient and reliable alternative through the construction of a rail tunnel.

Train Tunnel-Representative Image

While some projects aim to combine both road and rail systems in such water bodies, this project focuses exclusively on the rail system. The tunnel is designed to support the passage of both passenger and freight trains, all connecting to the extensive national network of high-speed rail lines. The ultimate goal here is not only to diversify transportation options but also to promote regional economic integration.However, because of the enormity of the effort, it also involves significant engineering issues. The bottom of the Bohai Strait has an uneven and complex geological structure along fault lines. Engineers are still considering how to ensure that the tunnel maintains adequate structural strength and stability throughout its lifetime. Advanced tunneling and monitoring equipment will also be required to ensure safety and longevity.The construction of artificial islands and shafts is also planned as part of the tunneling process to provide emergency escape routes and ventilation channels. Other factors to consider when building these structures include extreme weather and the presence of heavy marine traffic.The Bohai Strait Undersea Tunnel has been part of regional plans for some time, including the Bohai Rim Economic Zone integration initiative. Although there have been some discussions about this ambitious project, it is still in the feasibility study stage, whereby issues such as environmental impact, financial requirements and financing options are being evaluated. In the past, the amount required to finance the venture was several hundred billion yuan.If the project goes ahead, the Bohai Strait will not only be one of the longest submarine rail bridges, but will also change the entire transportation landscape in northern China, making crossings much faster and more reliable than before.

बस्ती समाचार: देश में महिला सुरक्षा को लेकर सख्त कानून की बात हो रही है, लेकिन उत्तर प्रदेश के बस्ती जिले से सामने आई ये घटना इन दावों पर सवाल खड़े करती है. छत्तीसगढ़ की एक 21 वर्षीय लड़की ने नगर थाना क्षेत्र के रहने वाले इनामुल हक पर कई गंभीर आरोप लगाए हैं. लड़की का कहना है कि आरोपी ने शादी का झांसा देकर उसके साथ कई बार रेप किया, गर्भपात कराने का झांसा दिया और बाद में जान से मारने की धमकी दी. यह मामला सामने आने के बाद इलाके में हड़कंप मच गया और पुलिस जांच में जुट गई है.

हमदर्दी से शुरू हुआ रिश्ता बाद में शोषण का कारण बन गया।
यह मामला अक्टूबर 2021 में शुरू हुआ था। पीड़िता के चाचा बभनान के एक ईंट भट्ठे पर मुंशी थे। उसकी तबीयत खराब होने पर भट्ठा मालिक इनामुल हक उसे घर छोड़ने के लिए छत्तीसगढ़ गया था. वहां उसकी नजर लड़की पर पड़ी. चाचा की मौत के बाद आरोपी ने इंस्टाग्राम के जरिए लड़की से संपर्क किया और हमदर्द बनकर उसके करीब आ गया.