Author: xorance@gmail.com

As Malayalis who have spent over a decade in China, my wife and I recently undertook a journey that felt like a rediscovery of history, culture, and unexpected kinship — deep in the heart of Xinjiang, a province far west in China. The National Day holiday in early October is when millions of people travel across the country. For us, it was the perfect moment to explore this part of China, and it surprised us and felt strangely familiar at the same time.Our adventure begins with a 6-hour, 45-minute flight from Shanghai to Kashgar — longer than flying from Kochi…

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded a high-stakes, three-hour private meeting at the White House on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The discussions primarily focused on the escalating tensions with Iran and the ongoing situation in Gaza.This was Netanyahu’s sixth visit to the US since Trump’s second term began in January 2025. In a notable departure from past high-profile visits, there was no joint press conference or public camera appearance. Netanyahu reportedly entered and exited the White House through a side entrance, away from reporters.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADTrump stated that reaching a diplomatic deal with…

Ecstatic: Jammu & Kashmir players lift coach Ajay on their shoulders after their semifinal victory over Bengal. | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR When cricketers in their 20s carried Jammu & Kashmir’s 61-year-old coach Ajay Sharma on their shoulders and cheered for him, it spoke a lot about their bonding.Having led J & K’s transformation from an underdog to a champion side in red-ball cricket, Ajay, a domestic giant and an ex-India player, was thrilled as his wards upset Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground here on Wednesday, ensuring their team’s maiden final.Coming from…

At the start of the year, there is often a collective urge to slow down — to eat with a little more intention, choose flavours that comfort rather than overwhelm, and return to dishes that feel familiar without being heavy. If that is the mood you are in, here are a few options worth trying.Pizza check Si Nonna, the world’s largest AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana)-certified pizzeria network, has opened two outlets in Hyderabad, at Film Nagar and Khajaguda. The brand uses a 24-hour fermented heritage sourdough and traditional Italian techniques.In keeping with Neapolitan tradition, the pizzas are numbered rather…

‘Gen Z’ has become one of the most abused terms in the last few months in the subcontinent, with opposition leaders in India to student leaders in Bangladesh and even Nepal using it as some sort of panacea for all problems that exist in their respective countries. The allure of young people who have completely lost faith in the leadership turning out in the streets for protests is so strong that such images often hit the headlines whenever it happens anywhere in the world. In the case of Iran, we have almost become accustomed to such visuals without anything actually…

Saiteja says it has been a dream come true to play in the country of his origin. | Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM Saiteja Mukkamalla fell in love with cricket watching India triumph in the 50-over World Cup in 2011. It made the then seven-year-old decide to pursue the sport as a profession. With his family firmly backing him, he worked on improving his game, broke into the USA team and is now playing the T20 World Cup.“I was introduced to the game by my parents and I used to watch some local club games with my dad (Nageshwara Reddy). When…

I imagine Boston will be smart, but smug. Earnest, and a little dull — a history lesson with literature thrown in. Cue the Boston Tea Party, MIT and Harvard, and Longfellow on that heroic midnight ride of Paul Revere.I do not expect to get teary-eyed at a reenactment on board a gently bobbing boat. Or gasp with delight in front of a Jackson Pollock at the Harvard Art Museums. Or find myself singing Zombie by The Cranberries with a group of very cheerful drunks at an Irish bar.How much of Boston can you see in 48 hours? I pull on…

“Bunty loves Pinky. Pierced heart.” “Vikram + Poonam = heart.” Or just plain “ILU (I love you).” Anyone who has visited a heritage site in India would have seen these messages scribbled on the walls. These random graffiti are the most ubiquitous modern imprint on our history and the most wince-inducing as well. But these modern-day vandals are not a species indigenous to India alone. Nor are they a peculiarly 21st-century phenomenon.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADIn fact, the astonishing discovery of 2000-year-old graffiti left behind by ancient Indian travellers and merchants on the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has hit headlines…

It is rare for a Ranji Trophy final to take shape with nearly two full days of cricket left in the semifinals. But that’s what happened on Wednesday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium here and in distant Kalyani, after just 90 minutes of play.Karnataka wore Uttarakhand down further and earned a massive 503-run first-innings lead even as Jammu & Kashmir reached the 126-run target to oust Bengal.Uttarakhand, from an overnight 149 for five, was bundled out for 233 on the penultimate morning. With no requirement to force an outright result, Karnataka batted again and got to 299 for six by stumps,…

It is bright daylight after three days of relentless downpour in the quiet, far-flung town of Nagato, in the Yamaguchi Prefecture of western Japan. The sun came just right in time to shed light on one of Japan’s most delicate and dangerous cuisines. At Choshu Nagato Fishery, the water drums shimmer with dozens of balloon-like, seemingly harmless fish with spotted skin. But, could you believe a fish so tiny could carry a toxin powerful enough to kill a human?“Do you want to see the fangs of the fugu fish?” a worker at the farm asks, instantly piquing my curiosity. Later,…