Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described Om Birla as an outstanding Member of Parliament and "excellent" Speaker of the Lok Sabha, praising him for functioning above party lines and carrying everyone along while presiding over the House.
Before they commanded nations, commanded armies... or commanded headlines, these world leaders once led lives that were unexpectedly ordinary.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: Have selectors told him where he stands in white ball cricket?
Virat Kohli's stroke-filled 91-ball 93 set up India's win in the series opener against New Zealand.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says the T20 World Cup final against India is 'not just another game' as the Black Caps aim to seize key moments and lift the title.
'The next two to three weeks will not be decided in Washington.' 'They will be decided in Tehran, in whatever calculation Iran makes about the costs of continued resistance against the costs of appearing to have yielded.'
Indian civilisation has long imagined wealth and power as feminine forces. And yet, when these qualities appear in real women, admiration sometimes gives way to discomfort, observes Vatsal Ramaiya.
If Xi Jinping can establish control over the PLA Ground Force, relations between India and China will settle down to an even keel. The next few weeks will show whether Xi has finally succeeded in gaining control over the PLA Ground Force. That could bring about the substantive shift in India-China relations that both our leaders have been working for, observes Ambassador Prabhat Shukla.
Abhishek Sharma's recent struggles in the T20 World Cup have raised concerns, but experts believe his confidence remains intact and a strong comeback is imminent.
A preview of the key player battles that could determine the outcome of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final between India and New Zealand, highlighting individual matchups and their potential impact on the game.
Temba Bavuma discusses the no-handshake policy in India-Pakistan cricket, South Africa's T20 World Cup chances, and Indian batters' struggles against spin.
Whenever he has played a match-winning knock, the pride in Malayalees travels faster than the fastest delivery in world cricket.
Taking Kharg would give the US control over virtually all of Iran's oil exports and thus provide significant leverage, notes Prem Panicker in his must read daily blog on the Gulf War. It would also put American troops within range of Iran's remaining missiles, drones, and artillery on a piece of real estate that is just eight square miles in size, and just 15 miles from the Iranian mainland.
The question is no longer whether the war will expand. It has. The next few days will tell us whether the war stabilises around Hormuz or whether the Strait itself becomes the trigger for a far larger rupture. What to watch for over the next 48 hours is simple: Any move by the US toward direct naval control of the Strait; any credible Iranian attempt to disrupt or mine shipping lanes and, critically, whether energy infrastructure in the Gulf continues to be targeted.If those lines are crossed in tandem, the war will no longer be containable within the region.
K L Rahul's unbeaten ton was eclipsed by Daryl Mitchell's splendid 131 not out as New Zealand levelled the three-match series 1-1 with a seven-wicket win in the second ODI.
Mundane as it may seem, this is in some ways a metaphor for the challenges facing the nation, argue Arvind Subramanian and Devesh Kapur in their new book, A Sixth Of Humanity.
'The entire US ecosystem built over decades at the bases in the Gulf region, especially the UAE, costing trillions of dollars have been decimated, dealing a mortal blow to the US Central Command's war capability,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
'I am quite impulsive when making a movie. That is the reason I need to stop sometimes, probably pause.'
The Lionel Messi G.O.A.T. India Tour that began in shambolic fashion ended in a blaze of glory as devotional fans joyously gathered to catch a glimpse of a man that does things on the field that are often beyond human comprehension.
From tears in the stands to songs in the airport, the India-Pakistan rivalry delivered agony and ecstasy in equal measure.
The key question is how much of the latest growth record represents recovery from the 2020-2021 downturn, and what is the sustainable growth rate now, asks T N Ninan.
The idea of back-loading the target of fiscal consolidation is perhaps guided by the government's desire to be prepared for any adverse developments in the coming year, points out A K Bhattacharya.
It's not the clothes or the rebellion that invites violence, but the mindset that continues to police and condition girls and encourages the perpetrator, instead of punishing the criminals. This lack of empathy is what ultimately brings The Kerala Story 2 down, observes Divya Nair.
Defending champions RCB head into IPL 2026 with a balanced squad, strong batting core and pace attack, aiming for back-to-back titles after their historic 2025 triumph.
Aiden Markram discusses his strategy for separating his captaincy duties from his batting in T20Is, which has led to improved performance in the T20 World Cup. He emphasises focusing on his role as a batter to contribute to the team's success.
'On your birthday, Abba, I wanted to stand where the game remembers you. Eden Gardens may be empty today, but it is never silent for you.'
S Badrinath reacts after Pakistan boycott India clash at T20 World Cup, joking it may be fear of India's explosive batting line-up.
'The real story of 2025 is that India officially stopped being a 'market of the future' and started acting as the world's primary economic engine.'
What Abhishek should understand is that what defines a good cricketer is not the duck, but how he responds to it and overcomes it.
Technology Innovation: Sword or Plough looks at key moments in recent history, noting how key technological changes at pivotal moments had unimaginable consequences, both positive and negative. It makes for enjoyable and insightful reading.
India and the US have entered a new phase in their relationship, marked by greater parity, point out Harsh V Pant and Vivek Mishra.
A UN Security Council report indicates that Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) was reportedly linked to a terror attack on the Red Fort in New Delhi. The report also highlights JeM's activities, including the establishment of a women-only wing and its presence in the region.
With its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model Tata Motors just redrew the EV battle lines, says Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com
'They are not abandoning their ideology. They now believe it is better to pursue their goals through the Constitution rather than from the barrel of a gun -- even if the ideology itself remains intact.'
Axar Patel's tactical brilliance and key strikes, including Usman Khan and Babar Azam, proved decisive in India's win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar Yadav believes there are no weak teams in the T20 World Cup and wants India to stay relaxed, play fearless cricket and give fans pure entertainment.
As India start their T20 World Cup title defence in less than 72 hours, one is tempted to look at Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir's working relationship which has been fantastic, at least so going by the results -- a whopping 31 wins in 39 games with a winning percentage of 79.48.
The West Indies and Zimbabwe, both undefeated in the first round, will clash in a crucial T20 World Cup Super Eight match. The West Indies' power-hitting prowess will be tested against Zimbabwe's resilience and all-round strength.
When missiles fly in this region, they are never just aimed at military targets.
India's T20 World Cup squad had space for only 15, but the pool of quality options ran far deeper. The consequence was inevitable: several players with genuine claims were left on the outside, the unlucky ones who narrowly missed the cut.
