Magnus Carlsen confirmed his return to the World Blitz Chess Championship after FIDE permitted players to compete in jeans. Carlsen criticized FIDE's decision-making process and deputy president Viswanathan Anand, claiming the situation was mishandled and Anand was not suitable for his role. Carlsen faced fines and rules clarification issues.
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Meta, Facebook's parent company, donated $1 million to Donald Trump's second-term inauguration fund after CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with the president-elect. Zuckerberg reportedly expressed support for Trump's economic plans, despite past tensions. This marks a shift from Meta's previous stance of not donating to presidential inaugurations.
Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate to prosecute Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. AAP leaders expressed shock and called the reports fake, while the BJP labeled Kejriwal the "kingpin" of the scam. The high court granted the ED more time to respond to Kejriwal's challenge of the trial court's decision.
Lucknow Super Giants revamped their squad for IPL 2025, parting with KL Rahul and appointing Rishabh Pant as captain. They bolstered their lineup with stars like David Miller, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. Their powerful batting unit looks strong, but their pace attack's fitness remains a concern. LSG aim to bounce back and contend for the title.
In 2024, elections in over 70 countries involving nearly half the world's population led to significant political shifts. Key outcomes included Donald Trump's return in the US, coalition changes in India, Sheikh Hasina's controversial victory and subsequent flight from Bangladesh, and pivotal elections in Pakistan, South Africa, France, and Mexico.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has criticized Donald Trump's science policies, labeling them as "madness" and "too stupid," fearing they undermine America's technological competitiveness against China. He highlighted funding cuts for universities and research agencies, leading to hiring freezes and concerns about international talent avoiding the U.S. due to immigration uncertainties.
Mayawati has pardoned her nephew, Akash Anand, and reinstated him into the Bahujan Samaj Party after his public apology for prioritizing his father-in-law's influence over the party's interests. Akash pledged allegiance to Mayawati and vowed to avoid external influence in his political decisions. However, Mayawati has firmly rejected any possibility of reconciliation with Akash's father-in-law, citing his anti-party activities.
Despite multiple teams showing interest in Pete Alonso, the New York Yankees chose not to pursue him due to ambitious market expectations set by his agent, Scott Boras. Alonso is also considering a return to the New York Mets or joining the Toronto Blue Jays.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the Israeli government for the "cold-blooded murder" of over 400 Palestinian civilians, including children, emphasizing that such acts reveal their inhumanity. She condemned Israel's recent airstrikes in Gaza, praised the resilience of the Palestinian people, and called for global acknowledgment of the oppression Palestinians face.
The United States has paused military and intelligence aid to Ukraine after a disagreement between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy. Despite this, Zelenskyy emphasized his commitment to peace and expressed gratitude for past American support, highlighting the importance of US-provided Javelins for Ukraine's defense.
Aakash Chaudhry's new venture, Sparkl Edventure, secures a $4 million seed funding round with Zomato's Deepinder Goyal and Zerodha's Nithin Kamath participating. Sparkl offers one-on-one online tutoring for grades 6 to 12, focusing on IB and Cambridge curricula, and integrates mental health support.