Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur’s Son of Sardaar 2 arrived in theatres last Friday. Here’s what the audience has to say about the comedy
Last Friday was a pretty eventful one with so many exciting Bollywood releases lined up for movie-buffs. While Akshay Kumar’s Housefull 5 arrived on OTT after its theatrical run, Son of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2 released on the silver screen. Starring Ajay Devgn, Mrunal Thakur, Ravi Kishan, Neeru Bajwa and Deepak Dobriyal, Son of Sardaar 2 is a standalone sequel to the 2012 film Son of Sardaar. Did the sequel manage to tickle audiences’ funny bone like the original had? Well, the verdict is here and the internet is divided.
Mrunal Thakur and Ajay Devgn in Son of Sardaar 2
Some fans were blown away by the ‘clean comedy’ that Ajay Devgn’s film presented, with many calling Son of Sardaar 2 a ‘paisa vasool’ watch. One such netizen tweeted, “Mind Blowing movie 🔥🔥💓💓 Full of Roller coaster, Entertaing start to end what a comeback of @ajaydevgn in Comedy Genre. Its absolute Banger 🎊🎊@ravikishann man he is on another level 🔥🔥Galat Negativity log faila rahe h, ye Paisa Wasool h 4/5*😃 #SonOfSardaar2 #AjayDevgn,” whereas another review read, “Just came out of watching #SonOfSardaar2 and I’m still smiling! 😄 What a fun-filled, clean, family entertainer. @ajaydevgn and @mrunal0801 have amazing chemistry, they light up the screen together! 🔥❤️ @RaviKishan and @Deepak Sir have done a good job. Overall the movie is good.”
But there were also quite a lot of netizens who compared Son of Sardaar 2 to Housefull 5, calling the Ajay-starrer worse. For instance, a tweet read, “#SonOfSardaar2 Review: PAKISTAN ZINDAABAAD! RATING – ⭐⭐ 2/5* Respect for #Housefull5🫡 At least, it wasn’t Pro-Pakistani. #SOS2 misfires big time despite some hilarious segment and cheerful parodies. One of the weakest and out of the context sequels in Bollywood. #AjayDevgn.”
Another post stated, “#SonOfSardaar2 Literally a colossal flop. Not one good scene. All the jokes and comedy are pure gags and vulgar. Worse than #Housefull5 0 story and screenplay is 🗑️. #AjayDevgn is horrible and expressionless. #MrunalThakur is just eye candy. Songs are bad too. TRASH! 0.5/5.”
After reading these lukewarm reviews of Son of Sardaar 2, are you planning to watch the comedy this week?
News / HTCity / Cinema / Son of Sardaar 2 X Reviews: Ajay Devgn-Mrunal Thakur get mixed reactions, from paisa vasool to worse than Housefull 5
Prof Ram Shankar Upadhayaya , a medical scientist and an expert in infectious diseases and molecular oncology, believes that there is hope for Alzheimer’s patients and says that it is completely reversible. Talking to TOI , he speaks about the evolving understanding of Alzheimer’s and the way ahead. Excerpts:You say that Alzheimer’s is reversible. Could you explain how?
When I began my journey as a scientist decades ago, even during my time at Harvard, the consensus was that Alzheimer’s could only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem and that there was virtually no hope for reversal. But today, we stand on a very different frontier. Our evolving understanding, supported by multi-omics, neurobiology, and functional medicine, tells us that Alzheimer’s is not a singular condition with a singular cause. It is a syndrome with 100 different potential root causes, ranging from chronic inflammation and vascular compromise to environmental toxins, metabolic dysfunction, and infections. Once you accept that, the strategy shifts from “waiting for a cure” to actively identifying and reversing the drivers in each patient.
Could you break down what makes Alzheimer’s distinct from dementia?
Dementia is a broad term. It simply means that the brain isn’t working the way it used to whether it’s memory, decision-making, emotional processing, or cognition. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease, the most common form of dementia, responsible for about 70% of cases in older adults. But not all dementia is Alzheimer’s. Trauma, tumours, vascular issues, or infections can lead to dementia-like symptoms that are reversible if the underlying cause is treated.
You say that Alzheimer’s begins decades before symptoms appear. Can you elaborate?
That’s one of the most important insights. Alzheimer’s pathology starts 20-30 years before the first symptom. The brain begins accumulating damage, amyloid plaques, tau tangles, inflammation, vascular compromise all silently. That’s why early intervention is key. The earlier we can detect cognitive shifts and investigate root causes, the better our chances of slowing, halting, or even reversing the condition.
You mentioned hundreds of causes. Isn’t that overwhelming?
It can be, but it also means there are many opportunities to intervene. One-size-fits-all medicine won’t work. Instead, we assess each patient’s environment, genetics, exposures, metabolic state, infections, and more. We’ve seen success using lifestyle-based protocols optimizing sleep, detoxification, nutrition, and exercise. For example, deep sleep (N3 stage) is critical. Every 1% reduction in N3 sleep increases Alzheimer’s risk by 22%. Yet, most in the age group of 65-80 only get 15-30 minutes of N3 sleep. That’s modifiable.
Are there examples of patients you’ve treated using this approach?
There are studies, patients reverse cognitive decline using protocols including Lion’s Mane mushroom, Rosemary essential oil, detoxification, targeted anti-inflammatory therapies, and in some cases, cutting-edge interventions like Galectin-3 antibody therapy, which is showing remarkable promise without the side effects seen in amyloid-targeting drugs.
Can Covid-19 or its vaccine exacerbate or even trigger neurodegeneration?
We’re seeing clear signals that both Covid-19 and spike proteins from vaccines may accelerate neuroinflammation in predisposed individuals, particularly those with high toxic burdens, poor sleep, chronic infections, or autoimmunity. But it’s important to remember this is a layered phenomenon. Covid didn’t create Alzheimer’s, but it may tip the balance in vulnerable individuals. One UK post-mortem study even showed 5-10% brain mass shrinkage in individuals who had only mild Covid.
What role does lifestyle play in Alzheimer’s prevention?
Alzheimer’s doesn’t start in the brain; it starts in the body. The way we live, our sleep patterns, food, activity levels, toxic exposures all influence cognitive longevity. Exercise increases BDNF, a growth factor that stimulates new neuron and synapse formation. Sauna therapy promotes detoxification and triggers heat shock proteins that may regenerate neural tissue. Diets high in processed sugar, salt, and seed oils are inflammatory and vascularly destructive, both are enemies of the brain.
You say Alzheimer’s not as a tragedy but as a call to action. What’s your message?
That there is hope. Alzheimer’s is not a sentence, it’s a signal. If we start listening early changing how we eat, sleep, move, and think we can not only prevent cognitive decline but also begin the journey back to recovery. My fight against Alzheimer’s is deeply personal as my grandmother suffered from it. Today, we know better, and we must do better. Let’s keep spreading awareness because knowledge is medicine.
We celebrate our birthdays once a year. That way, you might think, aging is a linear, steady, and yearly process. Well, you might have to think again because a new landmark study begs to differ from that worn-out concept.A groundbreaking new study has revealed that your body doesn’t age in a straight line. Instead, it hits a sudden ‘turning point’, and much earlier than most people would guess. Using detailed proteomic age clocks, the team tracked age-related protein changes in tissue samples from dozens of donors, uncovering that blood vessels, the adrenal glands, and other systems begin aging faster than many expect.
What does the study say?
A new study, published recently in Cell, has identified a turning point at which that acceleration typically takes place: at around age 50.After this time, the trajectory at which your tissues and organs age is steeper than the decades preceding, according to a study of proteins in human bodies across a wide range of adult ages, and your veins are among the fastest to decline.As per a team led by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, “Based on aging-associated protein changes, we developed tissue-specific proteomic age clocks and characterized organ-level aging trajectories. Temporal analysis revealed an aging inflection around age 50, with blood vessels being a tissue that ages early and is markedly susceptible to aging.” They added, “Together, our findings lay the groundwork for a systems-level understanding of human aging through the lens of proteins.“Researchers gathered tissue samples from 76 organ donors ranging in age from 14 to 68, all of whom had died due to accidental traumatic brain injuries.The collected samples spanned seven bodily systems: the cardiovascular system (including the heart and aorta), the digestive system (liver, pancreas, and intestines), the immune system (spleen and lymph nodes), the endocrine system (adrenal glands and white fat tissue), the respiratory system (lungs), the integumentary system (skin), and the musculoskeletal system (muscle tissue). Blood samples were also taken.Using these, the team assembled a comprehensive catalog of proteins present in each system, carefully tracking how their abundance varied with donor age. By cross-referencing their data with a disease-gene database, they identified 48 proteins tied to specific illnesses that showed increased expression as age advanced.These proteins were linked to conditions like heart disease, tissue scarring, fatty liver, and liver tumors.The most dramatic shifts were seen in donors between the ages of 45 and 55. During this period, many tissues experienced significant proteomic changes, especially in the aorta, which appeared highly vulnerable to aging. Notably, longer-lasting alterations were also observed in the pancreas and spleen.The study highlights a key inflection point where the body’s aging process appears to intensify. To validate their findings, researchers isolated one protein tied to aging from mouse aortas and injected it into younger mice. These treated mice showed diminished physical abilities, weaker grip strength, reduced endurance, and poorer balance and coordination compared to untreated controls. They also displayed clear biological markers of vascular aging.According to the researchers, “Our study is poised to construct a comprehensive multi-tissue proteomic atlas spanning 50 years of the entire human aging process, elucidating the mechanisms behind proteostasis imbalance in aged organs and revealing both universal and tissue-specific aging patterns.”The added, “These insights may facilitate the development of targeted interventions for aging and age-related diseases, paving the way to improve the health of older adults.”
What does it mean, in simpler words?
Aging is not linear: Contrary to the traditional view of gradual aging, this research shows that human aging accelerates sharply between the ages of 45 and 55, with the most pronounced changes at around age 50. This represents a systemic shift in organ and tissue function that outpaces earlier decades.Not all organs age equally. The earliest detectable signs appear in the adrenal glands by age 30, suggesting that hormonal systems may trigger broader systemic aging later on. Meanwhile, the aorta, your body’s primary artery, shows the most dramatic protein-level decline, indicating vascular aging may act as a conduit for aging signals that affect multiple tissues.Proteins work like body clocks: Scientists constructed tissue-specific proteomic clocks by analyzing 48 key proteins linked to age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular dysfunction, fibrosis, and metabolic disorders. They found these proteins surge in expression during midlife, signifying real-time tissue degradation and systemic deterioration.Stanford researchers tracking over 135,000 molecules and microbes in volunteers aged 25-75 last year, also detected abrupt molecular shifts, not gradual changes, as early as age 44, and again at age 60. These shifts involved altered cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune pathways.
What ages first?
Interestingly, not all parts of the body age at the same rate.
According to the proteomic study:Adrenal glands (which produce stress and sex hormones) begin showing signs of aging in the early 30s. The pancreas, spleen, and aorta experience accelerated aging by age 50.Muscles and skin tend to follow later, often becoming noticeably weaker or thinner after the mid-50s.This discovery aligns with observable symptoms in many people, declining energy, slower metabolism, hormonal imbalance, and reduced resilience to stress all tend to surface around this time.
Why the age 50 acts as a marker?
It’s not exactly mid-life; it’s not old age either. However, age 50 represents a milestone when tissues across several systems begin declining faster than before.Researchers found that while aging begins in some tissues as early as your 30s, a distinct shift happens at age 50, where the rate of biological deterioration suddenly speeds up. While 50 appears to be a major biological shift, other studies support the idea that aging occurs in waves rather than in a slow, steady decline.One of the most striking findings involves the aorta, your body’s largest artery. Proteins like GAS6, which are linked to cellular stress and tissue decline, increase dramatically in this area. When scientists introduced these proteins into younger animal models, they induced signs of premature aging, including reduced strength and impaired cardiovascular function.This data suggests that vascular aging could act as a master switch, sending signals that impact the rest of the body’s aging trajectory.
What this means for your health and wellness (and what can you do to slow down aging)
While we can’t stop aging, these findings open up new strategies to slow its acceleration, especially if you act before hitting the turning point.
Midlife matters, start early: Midlife is not just ‘later life’, it can be the fulcrum of your long-term health. Proactive lifestyle habits like exercise, balanced diet, sleep quality, and stress management can slow aging, not just in your 60s, but starting decades earlier.Prioritize vascular health: Since vascular tissue seems to age first and fastest, take steps to support your arteries. Eat a heart-healthy diet (low in processed foods, high in fiber and omega-3s). Manage blood pressure and cholesterol. Incorporate aerobic exercise like walking, cycling, or swimming.Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods: Cellular stress from free radicals plays a role in aging. Include foods rich in vitamin C, polyphenols, and flavonoids like berries, green tea, turmeric, and leafy greens. Avoid smoking, limit alcohol, and minimize exposure to environmental toxins.Monitor key metrics: Protein clocks offer precision in measuring biological age, think organ-specific aging (e.g., heart vs. endocrine system). While these tools are primarily research-based now, being aware of your metrics, like blood pressure, glucose, lipids, and inflammation, can guide personalized prevention.Support hormonal balance: The adrenal glands influence everything from energy to immune response. Changes in the adrenal gland and metabolic hormones may precede broader aging. Maintaining stable hormone function, through nutrition, sleep, and stress reduction, might delay a rapid decline in other systems. Pro tip: Avoid stimulants that overtax your endocrine system.Track biological vs. chronological age: New testing kits can estimate your biological age through blood tests, giving you insight into how fast you’re aging internally, offering opportunities for intervention.
Ileana D’Cruz reacts to questions about pregnancy weight gain: ‘This would initially really TRIGGER me’
Experts from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization estimate that, in addition to saving lives, the country will save PKR 3.3 billion over the next 5 years
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal chairs the celebration of World Hepatitis Day, accompanied by WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo. Photo credit: WHO/Sara Akmal3 August 2025, Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners committed today to intensify the fight against hepatitis C, aiming to avert 850 000 deaths and 1.1 million new infections by 2050 under the umbrella of the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C.
This was one of the objectives discussed during an event chaired by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal. “This is not just an occasion. This is a commitment. It is a mission. When it comes to the health care system of Pakistan, we have to do everything that we should have done yesterday, but it is never too late. We have to start as soon as possible. For this mission, for this cause, I, along with my entire team, will work day and night, Inshallah, and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve our target. Millions of people are already affected, and many more are getting affected every single day. We must act now to save our people.”
“The fight against hepatitis is not a job, but a passion, a commitment and a mission. We have to screen our population. The success story is there. The Honorable Prime Minister himself has spoken to the President of Egypt. I call upon all stakeholders to join hands in this mission to protect the health and future of the nation,” said the Federal Minister.
As part of World Hepatitis Day (28 July) commemorations, WHO and the Ministry of Health convened national and international experts for a discussion, highlighting that, in addition to saving lives, every dollar invested in hepatitis prevention yields an economic return of US$ 11.
According to data presented during the event, the implementation of the Prime Minister Programme could save 150 000 lives and avoid 210 000 infections by 2030, preventing 90 000 liver cancer cases and 71 000 cirrhosis cases. Over the next 5 years, it will save 1.3 billion Pakistani rupees (PKR) (US$ 4.6 million) in treatment costs, and over PKR 2 billion (US$ 7 million) in hospitalization costs, totaling savings of PKR 3.3 billion.
“As we speak, every 30 seconds someone dies from hepatitis-related severe liver disease or liver cancer. This means that at least 8 people will have died due to hepatitis before I finish this speech. I am convinced that, together, under the Government of Pakistan’s leadership, we can break hepatitis down,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo. “Detecting and treating hepatitis is essential, but prevention is the key to end the disease. We will continue to partner with Pakistan to implement science-based approaches and adapt to the Pakistani context best practices and lessons learned from around the world”.
With 10 million of the 60 million estimated cases worldwide, Pakistan has the heaviest burden of hepatitis C globally. It is estimated that, every year, 110 000 people are infected in the country – 62% due to unsafe medical injections (including blood transfusions) and 38% due to injection drug use.
Under the theme “Let’s break it down”, WHO is urging policy-makers and health authorities worldwide to simplify, scale up and integrate hepatitis services into national health systems – including vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction and especially testing and treatment. The goal: ending hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030.
WHO reiterates its full support for Pakistan’s efforts to fight the disease, including the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection. The Programme aims to test 50% of the eligible population (82.5 million people aged 12 years and above) and treat 5 million people by 2027.
About WHO
Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. We work with 194 Member States in 150+ locations – so everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health. WHO has been present in Pakistan – a founding member of the Organization – since 1960. For more information, visit https://www.emro.who.int/countries/pak/index.html. Follow WHO Pakistan on Twitter and Facebook.
For additional information, please contact:
Maryam Yunus, National Professional Officer – Communications, WHO Pakistan,
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José Ignacio Martín Galán, Head of Communications, WHO Pakistan,
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Do you enjoy existential suffering as much as I do? Of course you do! Movies like Parasite, The Platform, Train to Busan, and Snowpiercer are of a particular genre of absolute dread, and I’m sure some of those served as inspiration for a just-announced game from developer Nathan Gane Studio – a Western Australian team comprised of ex-developers from Black Lab Games, known for Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock and Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector. This title looks like it’s essentially Snowpiercer meets Frostpunk. The team describes it this way:
The moon shattered. The world froze. Take command of a nomadic train city hurtling through a war-ravaged frozen wasteland. In this survival city builder on rails, gather survivors, scavenge resources, and do whatever it takes to keep the engine running and stay ahead of the frost.
In Frostliner you take command of a nomadic train city hurtling through a war-ravaged frozen wasteland. In this survival city builder on rails you must gather survivors, scavenge resources, and do whatever it takes to keep the engine running and stay ahead of the frost.
Over on Steam the page continues with a bit more information, as well as the screenshots you see scattered throughout here.
Roam the frozen Earth
The shattering of the moon and the wars that followed have sent temperatures plummeting. Your only hope is to traverse the network of rails in your Frostliner, a massive train designed to endure the harsh environment and adapt to the needs of its passengers. This train will become your city.
Experience a handcrafted world and linear narrative as you search for warmth and safety at the end of the line.
Improve and Expand
Use the Factory to grow your train by constructing new carriages, which can then be filled with facilities to meet your passengers needs, produce resources or provide research into new technologies. Utilize the powerful adjacency bonuses of facilities to create a train that is more productive the larger it grows.
Refuel and Restock
The engine isn’t eternal, and you will need to regularly stop to scavenge for fuel, resources and survivors to keep the train running. However, once the train stops it no longer generates power, forcing you to rely on your limited reserve batteries to keep the heaters on and your passengers safe.
Protect what’s yours
There are dangers other than the cold in this harsh world. Utilize defensive weaponry to eradicate threats, or increase the engine’s speed to outrun your pursuers.
Additional gameplay details and features:
Construct a massive train called the Frostliner, which is capable of creating its own train carriages.
Utilise adjacency bonuses which make the train more productive the larger it grows.
Roam the frozen landscape, frequently stopping to gather much needed supplies, clear debris and recruit new passengers. However, once the train stops the player is on a timer as their reserved batteries powering the trains heaters quickly drain.
The train runs on fuel and the player must do whatever they can to keep it fueled and running.
Research new technologies, facilities and improvements such as the corpse furnace which allows passengers to be “converted” into the much needed fuel that the engine needs. Unlock new tiers of passengers who have much greater demands, but provide more powerful bonuses and facilities.
The train is a treasure trove for the survivors and entities in the wasteland and they will do whatever they can to take the train. Increase the trains speed to stay one step ahead of these pursuers, or invest in defenses to eradicate the threats before they become a problem.
This sounds like my kind of suffering! It looks like you’ll have to grow the train, but also suffer through the challenges of having an ever-expanding but contained society. Conflicting opinions and beliefs will cause people to clash, but when those same people have to rely on each other for food, warmth, and more, that can be problematic. Toss in dealing with other survivors that might try to take what you’ve built and you’ve got a game where your choices should matter.
We don’t have a release date quite yet, but the team is currently saying “Sometime in 2026”.
Stay tuned for more info on Frostliner and much more right here at GamingTrend.com
Thirteen years after it opened to the public, Bradford’s City Park has been shortlisted for a top architecture award.
The public space, with its famed mirror pool and fountains, is a finalist in the infrastructure and public realm category of the Architecture Today awards, with the ceremony due to take place next month.
The awards were set up to recognise projects that have had an impact on their surroundings over many years, rather than new buildings.
The organisers say the shortlisted projects “stand the test of time; projects that have proven their worth through years of use, adaptation, and continued relevance.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, the executive member for regeneration, planning and transport at Bradford Council, said: “The space has continued to delight visitors to the city centre since it opened in 2012.
“It is especially popular with children and families during the summer months and gets used for lots of different types of events.”
The project, by Gillespies, cost more than £24m to develop, and opened in 2012 – transforming a large section of Bradford city centre, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Since then it has hosted festivals, live performances and art installations, and is home to Bradford’s annual Literature Festival.
The opening event for Bradford’s year as City of Culture, Rise, attracted 20,000 people when it was staged in the park.
It has also been used as a filming location on several occasions, most recently appearing in the BBC One drama Virdee.
City Park will face competition from Crystal Palace Park Café and the Stratford Town Centre Link.
Architecture Today said the park had “helped unlock further regeneration”, played a “significant role” in the City of Culture bid, supported local economic activity and hosted more than 50 events annually.
The award ceremony is due to take place on 17 September.
JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – With tip-off for FIBA Asia Cup 2025 just around the corner, recent warm-up tournaments and roster announcements have given us fresh insights into who’s peaking, who’s faltering and where the balance of power lies heading into Jeddah.
Keep in mind, these rankings are independent of the official FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike. These updated Power Rankings reflect form over the past month, considering latest available preparation results, key player availability and which teams look best positioned to make noise in Jeddah.
1. Australia
Will Magnay
Previous: 1st
FIBA World Ranking: 7th
The Boomers remain at the top. Their 93-87 win against the University of Colorado is less about the scoreline and more about giving their deep roster competitive minutes. Olympics veterans Will Magnay and Jack McVeigh should anchor their depth. Australia’s balance, experience and size still make them the team to beat in Jeddah.
2. Japan
Keisei Tominaga
Previous: 2nd
FIBA World Ranking: 21st
Japan impressed at the Lusail Cup, beating both Qatar (103-92) and Saudi Arabia (85-78) with their trademark speed and ball movement. Their pace-and-space style is in solid form. Even without some big names, Akatsuki Japan’s system looks polished and dangerous. The depth of talent keeps Japan firmly in the top two.
3. New Zealand
Jordan Ngatai
Previous: 3rd
FIBA World Ranking: 22nd
The Tall Blacks had a strong showing in their recent warm-up games, highlighted by a 90-89 win over Brazil and a 89-82 triumph over Montenegro. They seem to be finding rhythm at the right time. Their toughness and improved shooting make them a serious semifinal threat.
4. China
Zhao Rui
Previous: 4th
FIBA World Ranking: 30th
China are knocking on the door of the top three after a string of solid wins in Europe, including victories over the Netherlands, Venezuela and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The balance of their inside game and perimeter shooting looks sharper now than in February. The emergence of Hu Jinqiu and steady play from their veteran guards has re-established China as a podium contender.
5. Lebanon
Youssef Khayat
Previous: 6th
FIBA World Ranking: 29th
Lebanon jump up a spot after dominating the Beirut International Cup with wins over Jordan (89-79) and Iran (105-89). Wael Arakji’s presence in their final roster announcement has turned heads, and it is a welcome development for Cedars fans. It seems like they are figuring things out, with Amir Saoud and Youssef Khayat looking really sharp.
6. Philippines
Carl Tamayo
Previous: 8th
FIBA World Ranking: 34th
Momentum is building for Gilas Pilipinas after back-to-back wins against the Macau Black Bears (103-98) and Jordan (75-61). Their athleticism and ball movement looked crisp, and the recent warm-up win over the Falcons hints that they might be rounding into shape just in time. Even without Kai Sotto, their athleticism still make them a dangerous side.
7. Iran
Mohammad Amini
Previous: 5th
FIBA World Ranking: 28th
Iran slide slightly after a mixed Beirut International Cup showing – losing to Egypt and Lebanon but salvaging a win over Jordan. Mohammad Amini continues to develop, but the team need to find another gear to keep up with the new top tier. They will need their veterans to reset quickly if they want to seriously contend in Jeddah.
8. Jordan
Ahmad Al-Hamarsheh
Previous: 7th
FIBA World Ranking: 35th
Jordan have been struggling in warm-up action, losing to Lebanon, Egypt, Iran and the Philippines. The Falcons will also be without Ahmad Al Dwairi and Amin Abu Hawwas, who were important players for them in the previous FIBA Asia Cup. Jordan need to fire on all cylinders to regain confidence when group play starts.
9. Qatar
Abdulrahman Saad
Previous: 10th
FIBA World Ranking: 87th
Qatar climb after a solid Lusail Cup, highlighted by a win over Saudi Arabia (82-78) and Iraq (77-73). The fact that they pushed Japan for stretches shows that this group can be a tricky opponent in Jeddah. Qatar look like legitimate group-phase spoilers.
10. Korea
Jongkyu Kim
Previous: 9th
FIBA World Ranking: 53rd
Little new evidence has come out of Korea’s camp, but their experience and pedigree still keep them in the middle of the pack. While their skill remains evident, other teams around them have shown better form recently. As things stand, their ceiling appears limited in a tough group.
11. Saudi Arabia
Khalid Abdel Gabar
Previous: 12th
FIBA World Ranking: 65th
The hosts had a mixed Lusail Cup – a confidence-boosting win over Iraq (91-76) but also losses to Qatar and Japan. Still, with home-court advantage and key pieces like Khalid Abdel Gabar, Mohammed Al-Suwailem and Fahad Belal, the Saudis remain dangerous wildcards.
12. Chinese Taipei
Ying-Chun Chen
Previous: 11th
FIBA World Ranking: 73rd
Chinese Taipei stay competitive but have not made recent noise to deepen confidence in their squad’s positioning, which is also affected by the absence of injured sharp-shooter Lu Chun-Hsiang. Of course, their last win over the Philippines in qualifiers remains a reminder of their upset potential. Their perimeter shooting and the presence of the Hinton brothers should still give them a chance to surprise.
13. Syria
2025 FIBA AC – Syria
Previous: 14th
FIBA World Ranking: 71st
Syria rise one spot despite mixed results at the Beirut International Cup. A win was elusive, but competitive play against Egypt (77-66) and Lebanon (79-69) suggests they are no easy out. With very physical interior presence, they could make life tough for opponents if their depth holds up.
14. India
Pranav Prince
Previous: 13th
FIBA World Ranking: 76th
India slide a bit as other teams around them have shown more in recent tune-ups. Consistency and turnovers remain their biggest hurdles heading into the group stage. That said, their qualifiers form – highlighted by Muin Bek Hafeez and Pranav Prince – suggests they have the tools to be competitive if they can maintain discipline.
15. Iraq
Ihab Al-Zuhairi
Previous: 15th
FIBA World Ranking: 92nd
Iraq struggled in Lusail Cup action, losing all their games, showing they have a lot of work to do. Their size still poses a challenge, but on current form, they look a step behind. Demario Mayfield, Ihab Al-Zuhairi and Ali Ismael have to really step up.
16. Guam
Ben Borja
Previous: 16th
FIBA World Ranking: 88th
With no recent publicised test games and facing a stacked field, Guam remain enthusiastic underdogs. Expect hustle and fight, but their path will be steep against Asia Cup giants. Needless to say, Guam will need high-level performances from stalwarts like Jericho Cruz and Ben Borja to be competitive.
The warm-up window has added layers of intrigue. Lebanon’s dominance, China’s sharp form and the Philippines’ resurgence have shaken up the middle tiers. Meanwhile, Jordan, Iran and Korea will need to course-correct quickly.
When the competition tips off on August 5 in Jeddah, expect more surprises as these power dynamics are tested on the biggest stage in Asian basketball. The table is set: Jeddah promises drama, breakthroughs, and potential shockers when the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 games commence.
DISCLAIMER: The Power Rankings are completely subjective and in no way represent an official or precise ranking system. All comments reflect the author’s opinions.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) during a visit to the shipyard Zvezda, as Rosneft Russian oil giant chief Igor Sechin (C) accompanies them, outside the far-eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on September 4, 2019, ahead of the start of the Eastern Economic Forum hosted by Russia.
Alexander Nemenov | Afp | Getty Images
India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of penalties, two Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday, not wishing to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
On top of a new 25% tariff on India’s exports to the U.S., Trump indicated in a Truth Social post last month that India would face additional penalties for purchases of Russian arms and oil. On Friday, Trump told reporters he had heard that India would no longer be buying oil from Russia.
But the sources said there would be no immediate changes.
“These are long-term oil contracts,” one of the sources said. “It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight.”
Justifying India’s oil purchases from Russia, a second source said India’s imports of Russian grades had helped avoid a global surge in oil prices, which have remained subdued despite Western curbs on the Russian oil sector.
Unlike Iranian and Venezuelan oil, Russian crude is not subject to direct sanctions, and India is buying it below the current price cap fixed by the European Union, the source said.
The New York Times also quoted two unnamed senior Indian officials on Saturday as saying there had been no change in Indian government policy. Indian government authorities did not respond to Reuters’ request for official comment on its oil purchasing intentions.
However, during a regular press briefing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has a “steady and time-tested partnership” with Russia.
“On our energy sourcing requirements … we look at what is there available in the markets, what is there on offer, and also what is the prevailing global situation or circumstances,” he said.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
India’s top supplier
Trump, who has made ending Russia’s war in Ukraine a priority of his administration since returning to office this year, has expressed growing impatience with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks.
He has threatened 100% tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine.
Russia is the leading supplier to India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, accounting for about 35% of its overall supplies.
India imported about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil from January to June this year, up 1% from a year ago, according to data provided to Reuters by sources.
Oil storage tanks in Tuapse, Russia, March 22, 2020. The G7 price cap on Russian oil shipments is cutting the revenue that Moscow has available to support its invasion of Ukraine, and the mechanism’s effectiveness is helped by the recent actions of Indian refiners, U.S. officials will say in New Delhi on Thursday, according to prepared remarks.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
But while the Indian government may not be deterred by Trump’s threats, sources told Reuters this week that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil after July discounts narrowed to their lowest since 2022 – when sanctions were first imposed on Moscow – due to lower Russian exports and steady demand.
Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd have not sought Russian crude in the past week or so, four sources told Reuters.
Nayara Energy – a refinery majority-owned by Russian entities, including oil major Rosneft, and major buyer of Russian oil – was recently sanctioned by the EU.
Nayara’s chief executive resigned following the sanctions, and three vessels laden with oil products from Nayara Energy have yet to discharge their cargoes, hindered by the new EU sanctions, Reuters reported last week.
