In a surprise twist, India’s 2025 World Junior Champion Pranav Venkatesh has earned a wildcard entry to the prestigious 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss after defeating Kazakhstan’s GM Kazybek Nogerbek 1.5–0.5 in an unpublicised 'Asian Wildcard Match' in Al Ain, UAE. Pranav, who narrowly missed qualifying by rating, now joins an elite field chasing a spot in the 2026 Candidates.
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In a thrilling Esports World Cup 2025 chess semifinal, Magnus Carlsen edged out Hikaru Nakamura 4–3, reaching the final after an Armageddon showdown. Nakamura, despite a strong King's Indian Defense win, narrowly missed victory. Carlsen will now face Alireza Firouzja for the top prize, while Nakamura competes for third place.
Harry Brook, despite being named Player of the Series by Gautam Gambhir, believed Joe Root was more deserving due to his consistent performance throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. Brook acknowledged Root's higher run tally and overall impact, highlighting his teammate's enduring class. The series concluded in a 2-2 draw, showcasing a thrilling battle between England and India.
Just before the Operation Sindoor debate, the killing of three alleged terrorists near Srinagar, including Suleiman, the suspected mastermind of the Pahalgam massacre, seemingly deflated the opposition's planned criticism of the government's counterterrorism efforts. Despite this development, SP's Ramashankar Rajbhar questioned the delay in arresting those responsible for the Pahalgam attack, even as BJP's Baijyant Panda celebrated the news of Suleiman's death during Operation Mahadev.
Conor McGregor's appeal against a civil jury verdict, which found him liable for sexually assaulting a woman in a Dublin hotel in 2018, has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Dublin. The court reaffirmed the original jury’s decision in favor of the complainant, Nikita Hand, ordering McGregor to pay £206,000 in damages plus legal costs.
Amidst speculation of a Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS alliance for upcoming civic polls, Raj Thackeray visited Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree on his birthday, marking a rare reunion. The cousins spoke for 20 minutes, with Raj paying tribute to Bal Thackeray. This visit, following Uddhav's hints of a reunion, fuels speculation of a political alliance, though some downplay its significance.
ChatGPT introduces 'Study Mode' in India. This new feature helps students with studies and exam preparation. It is available for free. Students can now get simplified explanations. They can ask subject-specific questions. The AI tool also provides quizzes. This makes learning more accessible. It is designed to improve efficiency. This is a major educational upgrade for Indian students.
The BJP has accused RJD of electoral roll tampering in Bihar, alleging RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav possesses multiple voter IDs. This accusation follows Yadav's claim that his name was missing from the voter list, which the Election Commission refuted, confirming his name's presence.
Dale Steyn believes AB de Villiers remains a top-tier player, even surpassing many current IPL internationals. This statement follows de Villiers' spectacular performance in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final, where his unbeaten 120 off 60 balls led South Africa Champions to a dominant victory over Pakistan Champions.
A bureaucratic visa bottleneck has left thousands of Indian students stranded ahead of the Fall 2025 semester, as U.S. consulates in India slash appointment slots amid new digital vetting rules. Despite bipartisan pressure on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restore processing, the crisis threatens U.S.–India educational ties, economic contributions, and America's global image as a welcoming academic destination.
An encounter initiated in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector on Wednesday after security forces intercepted a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate from across the border. Army officials reported that gunfire was exchanged, and two terrorists were hit. The operation is currently underway as troops investigate the area.