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R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh, and Divya Deshmukh (PTI/ANI Photos) India’s dominance in world chess has found another major endorsement, with reigning world champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh leading a strong Indian contingent in the shortlist for the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards.The International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Friday unveiled…

Sierra Nevada pond during low- and high-snowfall years, showing how snow levels change the landscape. ( Picture: Christine C. Bonadonna) High in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, small ponds may look peaceful and unchanged. Surrounded by rocky peaks and open skies, they appear calm during summer. But beneath the surface, these shallow water bodies are constantly…

Gilgit-Baltistan (AP photo) Is Pakistan preparing to make Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth province? Amid ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly has passed a resolution urging Islamabad to grant the region provisional provincial status, a move that could majorly redefine its administrative structure.The Gilgit-Baltistan assembly on Thursday passed a resolution, backed by both ruling and…

German car maker Volkswagen is reportedly planning to cut 100,000 jobs and close four of its manufacturing plants in the country, per a CNBC report last month. Now, Reuters reports that Volkswagen employees will get the chance to directly question and “grill” CEO Oliver Blume. According to the news agency, Volkswagen’s works council said it…

Andy Burnham has been elected leader of the Labour Party, the centre-left party announced on Friday. He is set to become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom on Monday, formally replacing Kier Starmer.Burnham was the only contender in the leadership contest to replace departing Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He secured nominations from 379…

Referee Slavko Vincic of Slovenia (AP Photo) FIFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final between defending champions Argentina and Spain, handing one of football’s most prestigious assignments to an official whose career once survived a bizarre off-field controversy after he was caught up in a police raid…

An Iran-backed militia umbrella calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) has announced a $10 million reward for anyone who kills US President Donald Trump. The group claimed it is retaliation for the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.According to Iran-owned Press TV,…

Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand (PTI file photo) NEW DELHI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday arrested former Badrinath temple officer Rajendra Chauhan in connection with the alleged theft of donations from the Badrinath Temple. He was arrested after nearly four hours of questioning and will be produced before a court on Friday.Chauhan is among the…

(Representative image): UKMTO said, ‘Military authorities have reported that a vessel was boarded by unauthorised personnel whilst transiting east in the Gulf of Aden.’ Chemical tanker ship Asana is believed to have been hijacked by armed assailants in the Gulf of Aden on Friday.The assailants took control of the vessel, Reuters reported, citing maritime security…

L-R: Lionel Messi; US President Donald Trump and Argentina President Javier Milei (AP Photos) Argentine President Javier Milei will not be in the stands for Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final against Spain despite invitations to join US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino in New Jersey. Instead, Milei says he will remain at…