Author: kumbhorg

Some off beat reads for the long weekend: The remarkable recovery of Narendra Modi (Economist) America, the Predator (Globe & Mail) Trump’s Iran Strategy (JPost) The Realist Paradigm of Trump’s foreign policy (ForPol) How Syria’s Kurds were erased (Cradle) The emergence of ‘Islamic NATO’ (Stratnews) Transcript of Zelenskyy’s speech at Davos (WEF) Jewish Prayers at the Temple Mount (TOI) India has stepped back from Chabahar (GC) Russia’s Imperial Overreach (Engelsberg) Hawaii was the Greenland of the 19th Century (NI) How the Tiger became Indian National Symbol (NL) Festival: Basant Panchami (KBS Sidhu) Travelogue: Ranthambore National Park (Team BHP) Book Review:…

The standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the T20 World Cup 2026 has caught the attention of the entire cricket world, and now the former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has openly backed the governing body.Danish Kaneria backs ICC’s stand on Bangladesh standoff over T20 World Cup 2026Kaneria has supported the ICC’s decision to stick to the original schedule, saying it is not possible to change a global tournament at the last moment. He noted that all cricket boards agreed with the ICC, so Bangladesh’s request for the venue change could not be…

The Edmonton Oilers are looking for a top-nine forward TSN: Pierre LeBrun said that after the Edmonton Oilers had their pro meetings last week and they determined that they would like to add a top-nine forward. Now, will it be a center or a winger? They debate internally if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins should be on the wing or as their 3rd line center. “There are more wingers that are going to be available on the market than there are going to be centres. So that might be a self-fulfilling prophecy where perhaps the Oilers go out and trade for a winger.…

Liv McMahonTechnology reporterGetty ImagesTikTok has announced a deal allowing it to continue operating in the US.But with the platform’s future in the country seemingly secured, its 200 million American users are expected to see some changes.What is the US TikTok deal?A majority-American board now owns and operates a separate entity controlling TikTok in the US.Backed by mostly US investors, the newly established TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is governed by a board of seven directors.TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew is among them, and its Chinese owner ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake in the business.The content recommendation algorithm at…

Nasdaq has filed a rule change with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to remove position and exercise limits on options tied to spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, a move that would further integrate crypto-linked products into traditional derivatives markets. The proposal, originally filed on Jan. 7 and made effective this week on the 21st, eliminates the current 25,000-contract cap on options linked to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs listed on Nasdaq.  Affected products include funds from BlackRock, Fidelity, Grayscale, Bitwise, ARK/21Shares and VanEck, according to the filing. The SEC waived its standard 30-day waiting period, allowing the rule change to…

Liz Hurley and Anna Wintour among mourners at Italian fashion designer Valentino’s Garavani funeral in RomeAnna Wintour, Elizabeth Hurley and Anne Hathaway were among the fashion and film stars who gathered in Rome for the funeral of Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani on Friday.The service was held at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, near Piazza della Repubblica, following two days of public viewing at his foundation’s headquarters. Garavani, known universally by his first name Valentino, died aged 93 at his home in Rome on Monday.Hathaway wore a black Valentino coat trimmed with ruffles, while Elizabeth…

By John Morris, updated January 23, 2026 The world of cryptocurrency is constantly evolving, and staying updated with upcoming Initial DEX Offerings (IDOs) is crucial for investors and enthusiasts alike. IDOs provide a unique opportunity to access promising projects before they hit major exchanges, allowing early adopters to potentially benefit from strong price growth. This week, several exciting IDOs are set to launch, offering investors diverse options across DeFi, NFTs, and gaming sectors. Our weekly IDO calendar update compiles the most relevant projects, including launch dates, participating platforms, and links for easy access. Understanding IDOs and Their Importance Initial DEX…

Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson (Agency Image) Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith has questioned India’s decision to leave Rishabh Pant out of their T20 World Cup squad, saying a player of his ability should “walk into any T20 side”. Pant, who is currently recovering from a side strain, has not featured in India’s T20 plans since the 2024 World Cup in Barbados. Sanju Samson has been named as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming tournament, with Ishan Kishan included among the reserves.’Indian cricket no less than Bollywood abroad’ | Bombay Sport Exchange Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of…

CBSE CTET city intimation slip 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the city intimation slip 2026 for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET). It offers candidates an early indication of the city where their examination centre will be located. The slip has been made available on the official website, ctet.nic.in, ahead of the admit card release.The city intimation slip is issued to help candidates plan travel and accommodation in advance. It does not serve as the hall ticket but provides critical logistical information before the examination day.What the city intimation slip tells candidatesThe CTET city slip…

Scaling a crypto app in “winter” is hard. If anything, there are worrying statistics that most crypto projects don’t last three months. In the meme coin world, +99% of new launches don’t last an hour. Farcaster was a success, especially considering it built was on Ethereum. When the decentralized social media network was deployed in 2024, Ethereum had its own set of scaling challenges. Notably, the explosion of DeFi, and in some instances, popular meme coins like PEPE strained the mainnet, forcing gas fees higher. Despite all this, Farcaster grew, finding widespread adoption and mentions from crypto heavyweights like Vitalik…