Latest news with #RAW
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Michael Cole set for tank-top commentary after losing NBA bet to Pat McAfee
WWE commentator is set to swap his usual suit and tie for a tank top on an upcoming episode of Monday Night RAW, all thanks to a playful wager gone wrong. The Indiana Pacers' emphatic 125-108 win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals didn't just secure their spot in the NBA Finals, it also cost Michael Cole a bit of his trademark style. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A few weeks ago, Cole and his WWE broadcast partner Pat McAfee made a light-hearted bet. If the Knicks advanced, McAfee would have to appear on WWE programming in a full suit. If the Pacers won, Cole would have to call an episode of RAW in a tank top. With Indiana's win, the result of the wager is now official, Cole is going sleeveless. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton led the charge with 21 points, 13 assists, and six rebounds, while Pascal Siakam delivered a powerful 31-point performance to secure the win and earn the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. The Pacers will now face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals beginning June 5. WWE, quick to embrace cross-promotional moments, has already begun marketing the outcome. The company launched a 'Knicks Choke' t-shirt on WWEShop, showcasing Haliburton mocking the Knicks with a nod to Reggie Miller's iconic gesture from the 1990s. Fans can't wait to see Michael Cole go sleeveless Fans on social media were quick to weigh in on Cole's impending wardrobe change. While some joked about the 'viewer discretion' required for Cole's new look, others expressed surprising enthusiasm. 'Michael Cole in a tank top will still look better than that substitute math teacher,' one user quipped on X (formerly Twitter). Another fan simply said, 'This is going to be good.' The moment reflects WWE's increasing willingness to blend sports, entertainment, and pop culture in unexpected ways. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cole, a seasoned broadcaster with over two decades of experience, seems to be taking it all in stride. While the exact episode of RAW featuring Cole's new attire hasn't been confirmed, it's expected to happen in the lead-up to WWE's Money in the Bank event on June 7. Until then, fans can only wait to see just how committed Cole is to honoring his end of the bet - no sleeves, no excuses.
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Winning limited war by disruption, not just destruction
On May 10, 2025, Pakistan and India announced a ceasefire bringing to an end a confrontation which militarily did not last for more than four days and nights. Such conflicts are categorised as limited wars (as opposed to a general war), in which the aim, scope, rules of engagement, intensity, duration, geographical span, etc. are scaled down. Neither side seeks decisive results and both aim to end the engagement in a position of military strength that yields a political advantage during negotiations. Therefore, a limited war is controlled, calculated and often influenced by diplomatic concerns. Within this very broad definition of a limited war, we will look in a little more detail at the 'May War' of 2025. The conflict was ignited by an attack on April 22 by Kashmiri militants in Pahalgam resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians tourists. Within hours India attributed the attack to a little known group it alleged was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, leading to heightened tensions. This may or may not have been a false flag operation by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Indian equivalent of United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or Israel's Mossad, etc. Was it a coincidence that it occurred during a visit by the American vice president just as a terrorist attack on Sikhs, allegedly carried out by Kashmiri militants, occurred during former US president Bill Clinton's visit in 2000? It reminds me of a quote attributed to Ian Fleming's James Bond novel, Goldfinger: "Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action". In her autobiography, Clinton's foreign secretary Madeline Albright blamed the killing on Hindu militants (for Hindu Militants read the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the militant wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party). Attacks by militants in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) have been occurring periodically and even if Pahalgam was not a false flag operation, in such an eventuality, India was prepared to execute a contingency that would gave it political and military gains. The instant gain was finding it an excuse to suspend the 64-year-old Indus Basin Water Treaty that had survived two wars and withstood many twists and turns. Having what they considered a political victory, the Indians now wanted to militarily 'punish' Pakistan for supporting terrorism in IHK. I have been on the Directing Staff at the National Defence University and have taught all manners of conflict strategies relevant to the scenarios in the Subcontinent, including limited wars. However, it was during the Kargil conflict that I realised that in many ways a limited war is more difficult to manage. In a general war troops are mobilised, formations and units deployed in the battle zone according to a predetermined plan, air bases placed on war footing, satellite bases activated, ships and submarines move out to sea, etc. for a no holds barred conflict. On the other hand, in a limited war mobilisation is very selective and every deployment and action has to be gauged against counteractions by the enemy. A limited war only remains limited if both sides choose to do so and if one side is reckless, the escalation ladder becomes steep. After the Pahalgam incident on April 22, Indian security forces spent two days conducting joint operations in Jammu and Kashmir, which they allege led to the death of a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. They also demolished residences they claimed belonged to suspected militants. Concurrently they activated the Line of Control (LoC) with both sides exchanging artillery and small arms fire across multiple sectors. By April 28, diplomacy gained traction to limited avail with the US seemingly sitting on the fence. Finally on the night between May 6 and 7, India launched "Operation Sindoor," with missile strikes on what they claimed was terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This is when the conflict got interesting, but to appreciate the scale and nature of the PAF response we have to go back to a similar incident in 2019 when the IAF struck what it alleged was a terrorist camp near Balakot. Operation Swift Retort, the PAF response to India's strikes showed glimpses of its prowess in the electromagnetic sphere. The counterstrike package of the PAF had a very strong component of electronic warfare that enabled their aircrafts to engage the enemy without activating their own radars thus concealing their locations. But back then, the PAF was still far from possessing the technology need to excel in multi-domain operations that encompasses real-time imagery, cyber units disabling enemy radar, drones providing surveillance and fighter jets launching precision strikes – all while being coordinated through secure, networked communications. The PAF had acquired radars from different countries and integration of those technologies of different origins was achieved by an indigenous Data Link that integrated all these systems. According to military analysts, the PAF decided to build on this capability and under a modernisation plan, the PAF established the PAF Cyber Command (PAFCC) and the PAF Space Command (PAFSC) in Islamabad. It also created the NASTP (National Aerospace Science & Technology Park) which has become a hub for various indigenous programs. One of the biggest advantages that the armed forces of Pakistan have over the Indians is that development, testing and manufacture of weapons and military systems is guided by the services themselves. Within a few years, and of course with much assistance from the Chinese, the PAF developed a capability which took aerial combat to a completely new level. EW was no longer just a force multiplier and coupled with AI, it became central to a new art of warfare that I call AI-Centric Cognitive Warfare where 'AI-Centric' highlights the primacy of machine intelligence and 'Cognitive Warfare' indicates the strategic aim of winning the battle. In other words, war by disruption, not just destruction Parallels can be drawn from history where dramatic and unexpected innovations changed the method of warfare. The feudal knights in armour (the heavy cavalry) who had dominated the battlefields of medieval Europe were defeated by the arrows of the English longbows which penetrated their plate armour. The advent of large cannon in late medieval period was a watershed moment that sounded the death knell of siege warfare by rendering traditional castles and city walls useless. The German Blitzkrieg in the opening stages of Second World War marked a dramatic shift from the static trench warfare of the previous World War and its core principles continue to influence military doctrine till now. Each of these breakthroughs was more than a tactical improvement — they represented a fundamental change in how wars were fought. AI-Centric Cognitive Warfare may prove to be the next such transformation, reshaping battlefields with speed, precision, and control over information itself. In future limited wars (as well as operations on a larger scale), AICCW will shift the battlefield focus from brute force to brainpower. The aim will be to deliver maximum damage quickly — not just by destroying enemy assets, but by breaking their ability to think, respond, or coordinate effectively. AI will take the lead in planning and executing operations with speed and precision. It identifies weak spots in the enemy's defences, disrupts their communication, and creates confusion in command structures — often before the first missile is even launched. Weapons of destruction like tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles, artillery, drones, etc would still used, but their employment will be guided by AI systems that target not just hardware, but the minds and systems behind them. A limited war fought within the concept of AICCW would open with launching cyber and electronic attacks to jam radars, blind sensors, and distort battlefield awareness. This would be in tandem with strikes to overwhelm the enemy's decision-making and disrupt leadership and command structure by neutralising communication hubs, and information nodes (e.g., radio trucks, SIGINT stations), making it hard for the enemy to fight back. Having established a secure battlespace eliminate or cripple the enemies' assets identified through AI analysing enemy patterns, communication flows, and sensor emissions to target command elements. Rather than 'kill everything,' own forces will be able to focus on the neutralisation/destruction of the most critical assets. As the battle unfolds, AI will adjust the operation in real time — redirecting drones, retargeting missiles, and shifting tactics. There are indications that the Pakistan Army is also developing an AICCW capability. It has officially announced that the Corps of Signals has been elevated from a supporting arm to a combat arm. This signifies a shift in the role and responsibilities of the Corps, placing them at the forefront of military operations rather than simply providing support and is a noteworthy development in the Pakistan Army's structure and operational capabilities. I would not be surprised if our 'Silent Service', the Pakistan Navy is already well ahead in developing an AICCW capability. In a region like South Asia where tensions can spike quickly and escalation must be avoided, AICCW offers a way to achieve decisive results without a full-scale war. These AI-led limited wars could be over in days, with one side effectively paralysed before it can respond. The key is to win the cognitive battle — to confuse, deceive, and disable the enemy mentally and operationally before they can regain control. However, such fast, AI-driven warfare comes with dangers. Misjudging the enemy's red lines or failing to control escalation could turn a limited war into a larger conflict. And as machines take over more decision-making, the role of human judgment and restraint becomes more critical than ever. Author's Note: all material for this article has been gathered from open sources. Syed Ali Hamid is a retired Pakistan Army major general and a military historian. He can be contacted at syedali4955@ All facts and information are the responsibility of the writer
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE updates lineup for the Money in the Bank 2025 premium live event
After WrestleMania 41, WWE is gearing up for another highly anticipated event, Money in the Bank 2025, that is set to take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in California, USA. As SmackDown and RAW have been holding multiple MITB qualifier matches for the upcoming premium live event, following the 30 May edition of SmackDown, the Stamford-based promotion has updated the lineup for the PLE. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The show will be streaming live on Peacock in the U.S. and Netflix internationally. The event will promise high-stakes action, career-defining ladder matches, and intense rivalries and feuds. WWE updates a few more matches and the lineup for the Money in the Bank PLE WWE has recently updated a few more matches and the lineup for the Money in the Bank PLE following the post-WWE Saturday Night's Main Event episode of SmackDown on May 30, 2025. For the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, WWE has confirmed the competitors for the PLE which includes Solo Sikoa, LA Knight, Penta, Seth 'Freakin' Rollins, and Andrade, while one more competitor is still to be determined, that will probably decided after the upcoming week's RAW, where CM Punk, AJ Styles, and El Grande Americano will clash in a high-stakes qualifier. Full SmackDown highlights: May 30, 2025 Meanwhile, the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder match will include Alexa Bliss, Roxanne Perez, Rhea Ripley, Giulia, Naomi, and one additional participant to be announced. The final entrant will emerge from Raw this Monday, which will feature Stephanie Vaquer, Liv Morgan, and Ivy Nile in a triple-threat match. Additionally, in another blockbuster match, , Cody Rhodes, will team up with World Heavyweight Champion 'Main Event' Jey Uso to face Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and 'The Maverick' Logan Paul. Bianca Belair, Naomi, Jade Cargill Come Face to Face | WWE SmackDown Highlights 5/30/25 | WWE on USA Furthermore, Lyra Valkyria will defend her title, , against Becky Lynch. The stipulation for this match states that if Lynch does not win, she will be unable to challenge for the title again as long as Valkyria remains the champion. However, if Lynch wins, Valkyria must raise her hand in victory. Also Read : WWE Money in the Bank 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, and will stream live on Peacock in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.
Pink Villa
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
PIC: Nagarjuna Akkineni and wife Amala give Telangana CM Revanth Reddy first invite to son Akhil's wedding
Akhil Akkineni is all set to tie the wedding knot with Zainab Ravdjee on June 6, 2025. As the wedding date inches closer, the actor's parents, Nagarjuna Akkineni and Amala Akkineni, gave the first invitation to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. Along with Nagarjuna and his wife, Zainab's parents were also present at the meeting with the chief minister, appearing together in a photo as well. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy receives first invite to Akhil-Zainab wedding For those unaware, Akhil Akkineni and his beloved Zainab Ravdjee had been in a relationship for some time and made it official with their engagement announcement back in November 2024. As the reports of their wedding have been doing the rounds for a while now, it was said that the families were organizing the event in a discreet fashion. With Nagarjuna and Amala inviting the Telangana CM, the wedding bells are soon to ring for sure. Moving ahead, rumors suggest that the wedding will be taking place in a grand manner at the Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad, which is where his elder brother Naga Chaitanya 's wedding with Sobhita Dhulipala also took place. Additionally, there are speculations of celebratory events taking place in Rajasthan, but the same hasn't been confirmed yet. Talking about Akhil's soon-to-be wife, Zainab Ravdjee is an artist known for her painting works. She is the daughter of prominent industrialist Zulfi Ravdjee. The couple met a few years ago, which further transitioned into a relationship and was kept private for a while. Coming to Akhil Akkineni's work front, the actor was last seen in an acting role in the film Agent. The 2023 spy actioner featured the tale of an aspiring youngster who wants to work in RAW under his idol. The movie, which recently surfaced on SonyLIV for streaming, was a box office failure, which even prompted Anil Sunkara and Akhil to apologize to the audience, accepting that they started production on the film without a bound script. Following 2 years after its release, Akhil had recently announced his next movie, Lenin. The upcoming film is expected to be an action venture with Sreeleela as the female lead.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rikishi voices frustration over Jey Uso's WWE direction, calls for booking overhaul
Image via WWE WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has voiced strong concerns over the creative direction surrounding his son Jey Uso, who is currently enjoying his first reign as World Heavyweight Champion. While Jey remains a prominent figure in the promotion, Rikishi believes WWE's decision to book him in a tag team match at Money in the Bank (MITB) 2025 undermines his stature as a singles champion. Speaking on his Off The Top podcast, Rikishi criticised WWE's creative team for what he called 'confusing booking' and even joked that he should be allowed to book Jey's matches instead. 'Bro why? Why? I mean, Jey is a World Heavyweight Champion by himself… just book me so I can book my son's matches out there,' he quipped. Rikishi shows concern over storyline momentum Jey Uso is set to team up with Cody Rhodes to face Logan Paul and John Cena at MITB on June 7. While the lineup looks star-studded on paper, Rikishi questioned the decision to place a reigning world champion in a non-title tag match instead of spotlighting him in a marquee singles bout. 'You beat Logan Paul the first time they lock up? I wouldn't have done that. Should've waited for a gimmick match,' Rikishi added, pointing out that Paul's star power could've been better utilized. YADADAMEAN?! Rikishi Fatu - Off The Top (Episode 61) He also took aim at the upcoming World Title match scheduled for June 9 on RAW, where GUNTHER will challenge Jey Uso. According to Rikishi, the match should've happened much sooner and with added stakes, possibly a stipulation that matches their in-ring reputations. While Rikishi may not be pleased with Jey's creative arc, he was full of praise for two other members of the Samoan dynasty - Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo (formerly Jeff Cobb). Rikishi labeled Fatu a 'future Hall of Famer' and lauded his rise from personal struggles to becoming one of WWE's hottest new stars. He also applauded Mateo's quick impact since debuting at WWE Backlash and likened his physical presence to that of a prime Taz, highlighting his suplex-heavy style and agility despite his build. 'To see him get that financial stability after grinding on the indies - man, I'm proud,' Rikishi said. Fans online appear to agree with Rikishi's sentiment. Many have questioned the lack of title defenses for Jey and criticized WWE for relying too heavily on tag matches featuring champions at Premium Live Events.
