Pranav Venkatesh, the World Junior Chess Champion, has his sights set on becoming the World Chess Champion. The 18-year-old from Chennai balances chess with academics and enjoys cricket. He admires Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand. Pranav is preparing for upcoming tournaments in Spain and Dubai. He skipped his board exams for the championship.
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China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra in Tibet, close to the Indian border. This significant project, expected to cost over one trillion yuan, raises concerns for neighboring riparian states, India and Bangladesh. China asserts these are run-of-the-river projects.
A massive avalanche struck the Sarbal area of Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday, with no casualties reported. A video by ANI captured the avalanche barreling toward a stationary vehicle. This comes days after an avalanche at a BRO camp in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli killed eight workers. The Western Himalayas are highly avalanche-prone, with natural and human activities triggering them. Scientists monitor conditions to assess risks and implement preventive measures.
Poornima Ramarao, mother of Suchir Balaji, seeks FBI investigation into his death, alleging foul play despite police ruling it a suicide. A private autopsy revealed discrepancies, and family efforts include legal action and public campaigns to prompt a proper investigation.
Chhaava, led by Vicky Kaushal, has become 2025's top Bollywood grosser, surpassing Rs 500 crore domestically. The film, directed by Laxman Utekar, initially released in Hindi and later added a Telugu version due to popular demand, sustaining high earnings through consecutive weekends.
Ravindra Jadeja expressed his deep sadness over Ravichandran Ashwin's surprising mid-series retirement from international cricket. Jadeja praised Ashwin as his on-field mentor, highlighting their successful partnership which yielded 587 wickets in 58 Tests. Ashwin, India's second-highest Test wicket-taker, retires with 537 wickets.
Pakistan plans to acquire 40 J-35 stealth fighters from China, marking the first export of Beijing’s fifth-generation jets to a foreign ally. The J-35A will publicly debut after the PLAAF anniversary. This move is expected to shift the military balance between Pakistan and India.
Severe cold and heavy fog hit Punjab and Haryana, dropping visibility to zero in places like Amritsar and Hisar. Several areas recorded temperatures lower than Shimla. The dense fog reduced visibility significantly, while a slight rise in temperatures is expected over the next three days, with chances of rain in the region.
Delhi Capitals, led by Axar Patel, chose to bowl first after winning the toss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Faf du Plessis replaced Samir Rizvi in Delhi's lineup, while Bengaluru remained unchanged. Axar mentioned KL Rahul would bat in the middle order and emphasized the importance of both spinners and fast bowlers in their bowling strategy.
A madrasa manager in Shravasti named Mubarak Ali, also known as Noori, was arrested along with four others for running a counterfeit currency operation. They used a room in the madrasa to print fake notes and distributed them through Noori's wives. Police recovered fake currency, printing equipment, and other items during the raid.
Canada announced changes to its Express Entry program, impacting IT professionals seeking permanent residency. The removal of extra points for LMIA-backed job offers will increase competition, requiring higher CRS scores based on factors like age, education, and language proficiency. The changes follow recent revisions to broader immigration policies aimed at addressing housing and infrastructure challenges.