Pakistani leaders were once friends of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Now, cross-border violence has become alarmingly frequent.
Month: January 2025
The rebels’ path to victory is littered with evidence of Syria’s defeated military. It also reflects the sizable task of trying to put the country back together.
A transnational pipeline was shut down on Wednesday after Kyiv refused to renew an agreement that allowed for the transit of Russian gas through its territory.
South Korea’s worst aviation disaster has claimed 179 lives after a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed during landing at Muan airport. Investigators are focusing on potential causes, including a damaged navigation system and landing gear failure. The black box is being sent to the US for analysis.
South Korea’s worst aviation disaster has claimed 179 lives after a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed during landing at Muan airport. Investigators are focusing on potential causes, including a damaged navigation system and landing gear failure. The black box is being sent to the US for analysis. South Korea’s worst aviation disaster has claimed 179 lives after a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed during landing at Muan airport. Investigators are focusing on potential causes, including a damaged navigation system and landing gear failure. The black box is being sent to the US for analysis. Read More
The long-standing Russian gas transit through Ukraine has ended, impacting both nations financially. Ukraine’s energy minister called it a historical event that will hurt Russia’s markets. Gazprom and European gas prices reflected the changes, with mixed reactions from EU countries. Slovakia raised concerns, while Poland welcomed the move. Hungary remains unaffected, and Moldova faces a gas supply suspension.
The long-standing Russian gas transit through Ukraine has ended, impacting both nations financially. Ukraine’s energy minister called it a historical event that will hurt Russia’s markets. Gazprom and European gas prices reflected the changes, with mixed reactions from EU countries. Slovakia raised concerns, while Poland welcomed the move. Hungary remains unaffected, and Moldova faces a gas supply suspension. The long-standing Russian gas transit through Ukraine has ended, impacting both nations financially. Ukraine’s energy minister called it a historical event that will hurt Russia’s markets. Gazprom and European gas prices reflected the changes, with mixed reactions from EU countries. Slovakia raised concerns, while Poland welcomed the move. Hungary remains unaffected, and Moldova faces a gas supply suspension. Read More
Manipur CM N Biren Singh blamed Congress for the state’s issues, criticizing past settlement decisions under Congress and defending PM Modi’s absence. He highlighted historical ethnic conflicts under Congress leadership and emphasized his efforts for rehabilitation and development. Singh’s recent speech included an apology to 2023 violence victims, showcasing measures for recovery and growth in Manipur.
Manipur CM N Biren Singh blamed Congress for the state’s issues, criticizing past settlement decisions under Congress and defending PM Modi’s absence. He highlighted historical ethnic conflicts under Congress leadership and emphasized his efforts for rehabilitation and development. Singh’s recent speech included an apology to 2023 violence victims, showcasing measures for recovery and growth in Manipur. Manipur CM N Biren Singh blamed Congress for the state’s issues, criticizing past settlement decisions under Congress and defending PM Modi’s absence. He highlighted historical ethnic conflicts under Congress leadership and emphasized his efforts for rehabilitation and development. Singh’s recent speech included an apology to 2023 violence victims, showcasing measures for recovery and growth in Manipur. Read More
Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni flew back into the country from Dubai and headed straight to Goa to ring in the New Year with his wife Sakshi Dhoni and daughter Ziva Singh Dhoni. MS Dhoni along with Sakshi danced into the wee hours of Wednesday morning as they celebrated New Year’s Eve 2025 in style.
The ex-captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was spotted enjoying a lively beachside party on New Year’s Eve. A viral video captured Dhoni and his wife, Sakshi, dancing and soaking in the festive vibes.
WATCH MS Dhoni dance with wife Sakshi Dhoni HERE…
Cutest Video of the day
Mahi Sakshi
#MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/3qa3hE4VEw — Chakri Dhoni (@ChakriDhonii) January 1, 2025
Sakshi also shared a touching moment of Dhoni lighting a Chinese lantern that floated into the night sky, illuminated by fireworks as the clock struck midnight on January 1. The couple attended the celebrations at Morjim Beach, adding to the cheerful atmosphere.
MS Dhoni celebrating New Year 2025 at Goa
@MSDhoni #MSDhoni #HappyNewYear2025 pic.twitter.com/Ltrbo1Gm4t — DHONI Era
(@TheDhoniEra) January 1, 2025
Photos of Dhoni, dressed in a casual printed shirt and trousers, posing with Sakshi and their daughter, Ziva, quickly went viral on social media, bringing smiles to fans everywhere.
Earlier, Dhoni was seen at the Ranchi airport on his way to Goa with his family. Before this, the Chennai Super Kings captain celebrated Christmas at home, hosting a party where he donned a Santa Claus outfit, as revealed in photos shared by Sakshi.
Since retiring from international cricket in 2020, the 43-year-old Dhoni has focused on spending more quality time with his loved ones. Festivals and holidays have become a priority, with Dhoni often seen vacationing with family and friends in India and abroad.
In addition to these celebrations, Dhoni has made golfing an annual tradition, often playing with friends in the United States. He was even spotted on the course with re-elected US President Donald Trump, underscoring his enduring global appeal.
Reflecting on his glorious journey since making his international debut two decades ago, Dhoni explained during a recent interaction how his manager often suggested leveraging social media for public relations and how he would stay away from it.
“I have never been a big fan of social media, throughout I had different managers and they used to keep me pushing. I started playing in 2004, so Twitter and Instagram was getting popular and the managers were saying you should do some PR build, this and that, but I had the same answer… if I play good cricket I don’t need PR,” Dhoni said on the latest episode of ‘Tread Talks’ of Eurogrip Tyres.
He added, “So it was always if I have something I will put if I don’t have I won’t. I take stress away, I am not worried about who has how many followers, who is doing what because I know if I take care of cricket then everything will else will take care of itself.”
New Delhi: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir appears to be at odds with the BCCI over both team selection and playing strategies. According to an explosive report, Gambhir expressed anger over his team’s performance, particularly as they suffered a loss on Day 5 of the fourth Test in Melbourne during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The report also mentions that Gambhir has strongly advocated for the return of Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara to the squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.
According to a report by The Indian Express, there has been growing tension within the Indian dressing room, particularly regarding team selection. The report reveals that Gautam Gambhir had repeatedly pushed for the inclusion of Cheteshwar Pujara before the first Test against Australia in Perth. However, his requests were overlooked by the selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar. Even after India won the Perth Test, Gambhir continued to advocate for Pujara’s inclusion.
Pujara, with 103 Test matches to his name and an average of 43.60, played a crucial role in India’s previous series wins in Australia but hasn’t been part of the team since the 2023 World Test Championship final.
India’s ongoing struggles with the top-order batting have been apparent in the current series, and before it began, Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood expressed relief that Pujara wasn’t part of the squad.
Gambhir’s tenure as head coach has been marred by further issues, with reports indicating that he has had disagreements with the selectors and the captain regarding the selection of the playing XI for the Australia series. Specifically, his choices to include Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar were reportedly met with differing opinions within the Indian camp.
Additionally, Gambhir has expressed frustration over how the players have been unable to implement strategies effectively on the field.
New Delhi: Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell delivered an incredible catch on Wednesday during the KFC Big Bash League match between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars, quickly becoming a strong contender for catch of the year.
Brisbane Heat’s Will Prestwidge appeared to have sent the ball over the boundary line with a shot to long-on off Dan Lawrence’s delivery. However, Maxwell pulled off a jaw-dropping effort, managing to flick the ball back in mid-air before returning to the field and completing the catch with secure hands.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
GLENN MAXWELL!
CATCH OF THE SEASON. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/3qB9RaxHNb
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 1, 2025
Maxwell, widely recognized as the Big Show, has the power to turn a match on its head with his explosive batting and clever bowling. On the field, he also brings an added edge to his team with his exceptional athleticism and fielding skills.
The powerful hitter was let go by IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore before the 2025 mega auction, following a significant drop in form during the previous season, despite his strong performances in earlier editions of the lucrative T20 league.
However, RCB’s setback could turn into an advantage for Punjab Kings, as the Preity Zinta-owned franchise successfully secured the Australian all-rounder for INR 4.2 Crores. Maxwell had a successful stint with the Dharamshala-based team from 2014 to 2017, and once more in 2020, before RCB secured his services in 2021.
A move back to PBKS could mark a turnaround for the Australian dynamo in India, as he looks to silence his critics once again.
As Indian cricket deals with the fading form of its two stalwarts in captain Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli, head coach Gautam Gambhir and his support staff’s role in handling a team in transition has also come into focus.
The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has been a difficult ride for the side has struggled to get the right combination in the face of an aggressive and highly-driven Australian team. The visitors will be playing the must-win fifth and final Test here from Friday.
The on-field roller-coaster is causing some off-field issues as well with murmurs of unrest in the dressing room beginning to grow. It is learnt that Gambhir is not on the same page with most of the players in the team and the communication isn’t as good as it used to be during the time of Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.
Skipper Rohit Sharma has maintained that he speaks individually to the players about selection issues. But after Gambhir took charge in July, Rohit, it is said, hasn’t actually given clarity to some of the not-so-junior players about why they were being excluded at times from the side.
His own poor form hasn’t helped Rohit’s cause. But it is also reliably learnt that Gambhir, who is considered a more assertive person, hasn’t earned a lot of confidence from the group of players, who aren’t as old as Kohli or Rohit but are also not rookies like Harshit Rana or Nitish Reddy.
“There is a Test match to be played and then there is Champions Trophy. If the performance doesn’t improve, even Gautam Gambhir’s position wouldn’t be safe,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
GAUTAM GAMBHIR IS NOT HAPPY WITH TEAM INDIA’S PLAYERS – Gautam Gambhir is not happy with how the players were doing their own thing in the name of “Natural Game”, instead of playing according to the situation. Gambhir said “Bahut Ho Gaya” in his speech. (Express Sports). pic.twitter.com/sv8gnelJyz
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 1, 2025
Gambhir’s equation with the selection committee is also not particularly clear at this point. There are players in the team, who are feeling insecure because of his proclivity to experiment with the playing eleven. In the ongoing BGT, a punt like Nitish Reddy has worked out brilliantly but the handling of Shubman Gill is still being debated.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah has now been elevated to the ICC chief’s position and the Board will have his full-time successor only after January 12. Once that administrative stability is in place, the BCCI brass will have some thinking to do.
Till Shah was in-charge of BCCI, he called the shots. Former India seamer Roger Binny, who is the current president of the Board, hasn’t been seen taking any policy related calls.
Gautam Gambhir wasn’t first choice as head coach
But if India’s performance is not drastically better in the Champions Trophy in February-March, Gambhir will certainly have his wings clipped.
“He was never BCCI’s first choice (it was VVS Laxman) and some of the well-known overseas names didn’t want to coach all three formats, so he was a compromise. Obviously, some other compulsions were also there,” the official said.
Gambhir has already been asked a few tough questions after the 0-3 defeat at home to New Zealand and if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is also lost, it can all go downhill for the feisty former opener from Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar.
Already there is a school of thought that Gambhir should only be given charge of the T20 team, a format in which he has been a successful captain and then mentor for both Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow SuperGiants.
One question that is being asked in the corridors of power is whether he has been able to offer any solutions to Virat Kohli with regards to his never-ending dismissals in the outside off-stump channel? By the look of things, the answer to that seems to be an emphatic no.
“Gautam, all his life, while playing in England and Australia, would dab the ball towards slip and gully. So, he knows exactly what Kohli’s problem is. He has seen that as a player (in 2014) and as a commentator and now as a coach.
“If he knows what is wrong, he should tell him,” a former India great, with the experience of more than 90 Tests, said.
‘Support staff’ for support staff
The BCCI mandarins are also keeping a tab on certain other developments about one of the key members of the support staff, who is being accompanied at all the venues by his personal assistant.
It is leant that the person in question used to have FOP (Field Of Play) access during the IPL where he would stride into the playing arena after games in a franchise jersey. In Australia, his presence in the box dedicated to BCCI members hasn’t really been appreciated, according to a top source.