Author: kumbhorg

Euphoria and devastation are the twin emotional poles that prop up the lopsided big top that is Oliver Laxe’ Sirât, a film about life, death, and music that’s not made for your ears but for your heart. The film opens with the building of a miniature ancient civilisation, the bricks and mortar being used are giant speakers that are being piled into skyscraper-like monoliths in the Moroccan desert. A community of tattooed revellers who look like they have been sprung from a Mad Max movie have come to worship at the altar of rave, and the film sets its audiovisual template by having them…

On February 11, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published its annual Budget and Economic Outlook report, covering 2026 to 2036. Among the projections, the report found that Social Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance will be unable to pay full benefits in 2032 (a year earlier than projected in last year’s report). This is due to the higher projected cost-of-living adjustments and lower projected revenues. To put that in perspective, Social Security will be unable to pay full benefits before the program turns 100.  Social Security is in desperate need of reform, but doing so is easier said than done. Perhaps…

Some off beat reads for the weekend: Modi comes to the Knesset (TOI) US wants Israel to attack Iran first (Politico) Tehran’s calculated wager (MEM) Ukraine’s new world of warfare (Engelsberg) The scandalous Prince Andrew (Guardian) Spy Chief behind Sri Lanka Easter Bombings (Week) Beijing’s losing patience with Pakistan (Print) The vanishing of Imran Khan (Pulitzer) Pakistan: The Unfinished Nation (FTGN) Pakistan Vs Afghanistan (FP) Another Kingpin falls in Mexico (Jacobin) Serial Divorces in Mauritania (New Lines) The racist Edwin Lutyens (Savitri Mumukshu) Power turns comic before becoming cruel (Swarajya) 2025 Indian Used Car Market Report (Team BHP) Discover more…

England registered a crucial four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the Super 8 Group 2 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama. In a tightly fought contest, England chased down 160 in 19.3 overs, overcoming early blows to secure two valuable points. England’s win has also helped Pakistan to keep their hopes alive for the semi-final of the multi-team event.Solid start for New ZealandAfter winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bat first and started aggressively. Tim Seifert looked fluent at the top, scoring 35 off 25 balls with three fours and two…

Brock Boeser is okay to move if the fit works for him and his family TSN: The Vancouver Canucks will listen to offers on Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson, and Evander Kane will likely be moved soon, according to Darren Dreger, and if it makes sense for Brock Boeser, he’d consider it despite signing a seven-year deal this past offseason. “It’s interesting to me that Brock Boeser’s name is out there. This guy just signed a seven-year contract with the Canucks on July 1st. Now, is he willing to move? Well, he is, if there’s a fit that makes sense to…

Unite called on the government to push ahead with publication of its Defence Investment Plan, to clarify the future of other contracts including the replacing of old fighter jets with new Typhoons, fitted with Rolls Royce engines, and a further commitment to military satellites built in Portsmouth and Stevenage.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said federal authorities have frozen and seized more than $580 million in cryptocurrency tied to Southeast Asian scam networks, marking a major escalation in the government’s campaign against cross-border crypto fraud. The funds were restrained through the Justice Department’s Scam Center Strike Force, a task force formed in November to target cryptocurrency investment and confidence schemes linked to Chinese transnational criminal organizations.  Officials said the groups use social media platforms and text messaging to target U.S. victims and siphon billions of dollars each year. Recent estimates place annual losses to Americans near $10 billion. “In…

Can David and Victoria’s youngest son escape the “nepo baby” label and find success with his band?

By Brian Green, updated February 27, 2026 The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain is rapidly reshaping the landscape of technology, finance, and decentralized computing. As we move into 2026, a new generation of cryptocurrencies is emerging that leverages AI to create smarter, more efficient, and decentralized ecosystems. These “AI-powered cryptocurrencies” are not just digital assets—they form the backbone of the decentralized AI crypto network, enabling the next era of decentralized intelligence. Understanding AI Cryptocurrencies AI cryptocurrencies are blockchain projects that integrate machine learning, neural networks, or predictive algorithms directly into their protocols. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies, which focus on…

MUMBAI: The iconic Wankhede Stadium is set to honour legends of the game, with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Friday announcing that a stand will be named after former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, alongside gates dedicated to Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar, and Diana Edulji.While the stand will be named in honour of former Mumbai captain Shastri, three different gates of the venue will be named after players from the city. India land in Kolkata for do-or-die WI clash | Semi-final spot on the line “The Apex Council approved a proposal to name Level 1 Stand below the Press Box…