India is ranked as a "Rising Contender" in AI by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), indicating high readiness but lower disruption exposure. The report highlights India's strength in its large pool of AI specialists and IT-services workforce. While not yet an "AI Pioneer," India is leveraging its talent advantage, with government initiatives like Yuva AI for ALL and IndiaAI FuturesSkills aiming to upskill citizens and broaden access to AI education. The report emphasizes that execution and talent deployment are crucial for economies to gain ground in AI.
A recent study has uncovered a new natural process contributing to extreme heatwaves in mid-latitudes, including northwestern India. This process involves a complex interaction between soil moisture, atmospheric pressure, and temperature, which, once a critical temperature threshold is exceeded, creates a vicious cycle leading to even higher temperatures. The findings suggest that current climate models may underestimate future heatwave risks.
Mike Hesson, Pakistan's white-ball head coach, will continue in his interim role as the national team's red-ball head coach until the completion of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, a decision that has divided the cricket fraternity.
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma has pledged personal funds, ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore, to Indian entrepreneurs developing their own artificial intelligence models. This initiative aims to foster indigenous AI capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign models, echoing Sharma's past success in mobile payments.
Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has called for the inclusion of popular sports like arm wrestling and Mallakhamb in the Olympics, citing their growing global popularity. His remarks came during the opening of the 47th WAF World Armwrestling Championship in New Delhi, an event also attended by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who pledged full government support.
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri is participating in the FIFA Player Impact Programme, an initiative designed to empower footballers to drive positive social change. Chhetri, the first male participant, aims to apply lessons learned to address causes like education, mental health, and equitable access to sport, with participants set to present their projects in December.
TeamLease EdTech Founder and CEO Shantanu Rooj states that the AI-driven world transition is irreversible, with regulation and cost being crucial factors determining its speed and depth. He emphasizes that while AI will transform jobs, not eliminate them, continuous learning, domain expertise, and adaptability will be key for individuals and businesses to thrive in this evolving landscape. Rooj also highlights the need for universities to adapt their curricula to prepare a future-ready workforce.
FIDE President Timur Turlov has affirmed India's status as a trusted partner for the world chess body, indicating the country will continue to host major international championships for the next four years. He also advocated for greater Indian influence within the Asian Chess Federation, acknowledging India's emergence as a chess powerhouse with young talents like D Gukesh. Turlov outlined his priorities, including digital advancement, improved broadcasting, and commercial expansion for FIDE.
India's fast bowler Mohammed Shami has announced his retirement from Test cricket after a 13-year career, effective on the anniversary of his debut. He confirmed he will continue to play white-ball cricket, including IPL and domestic matches, and remain available for multi-day domestic games for fitness.
Veteran skeet shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan expresses strong optimism about the future of Indian shooting, attributing the potential rise to government-backed initiatives like Khelo India. He is preparing for his third Asian Games appearance and believes India will have the best team across all shooting disciplines in the next four years, thanks to enhanced grassroots development and support systems.
'Rohit Sharma won't be among consideration because he isn't going to be their long-term future.'
Some see in the CJP the potential of weakening the Opposition. Hence the BJP/RSS's 'softly softly catchee monkey' approach, with co-option being the ultimate aim, points out Aditi Phadnis.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met double Olympic medallist and World Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra in Chandigarh, extending Diwali greetings and expressing confidence in his continued success. Chopra, currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury, provided an update on his improved condition and plans to resume training soon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India's medal winners from the recently concluded Asian Para Games, praising their achievements and struggles as an inspiration for the country. India achieved its best-ever performance at the Games, securing 114 medals. Modi highlighted the government's commitment to supporting sports talent and improving the sporting ecosystem, urging athletes to aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
Pune, India, has been selected to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, marking the first time the prestigious cycling event will come to the country. This historic achievement is the result of a collaborative bid by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India, supported by the Government of India, aiming to establish Pune as a premier global cycling destination. The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montreal after Pune's successful presentation, highlighting India's growing potential in the sport.
Indian men's hockey chief coach Craig Fulton emphasizes continental dominance as a crucial step towards global success, despite the team's disappointing World Cup record. Under his leadership since May 2023, India has secured back-to-back Asian Games gold medals and three successive Asian Champions Trophy titles, laying a strong foundation. Fulton aims to leverage early qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to systematically plan and expose younger players to international competition, with a long-term goal of podium finishes.
Jaypal Malviya, a 31-year-old farmer and idol-maker from Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, has become the first Indian shooter to secure an Olympic quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. His journey is remarkable, starting from a casual interest in shooting at village fairs to winning a silver medal at the ISSF World Championships in Doha with a second-hand pistol. Despite financial challenges and a lack of formal coaching, Malviya's dedication has led him to this significant achievement, though his place in the Olympic squad will depend on future trials.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris has expressed a strong desire to race in India, acknowledging the country's massive Formula 1 fan base. This comes as the Indian government and Adani Group are exploring options to bring F1 back to the Buddh Circuit, despite significant financial and logistical hurdles. Norris, who has a close friend in Indian driver Jehan Daruvala, believes racing in India would be great for the sport.
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from Australia's squad for the upcoming four-Test home series against New Zealand following a prolonged slump in form, confirmed selector George Bailey.
Dhinidhi Desinghu, a 16-year-old swimming prodigy, aims to revolutionise Indian swimming by bridging the significant gap with leading nations. She emphasises preparation, technique, and mental belief over genetic ability, drawing insights from her international competitions. Desinghu, who has already competed at the Asian Games and Paris Olympics, is focused on rigorous training, academic balance, and inspiring future generations to achieve global swimming success.
'Jaddu might not come back into the team, but if someone gets injured, the first name that will come to mind will be Jaddu.'
The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed to December amid regional conflict, attacks on the kingdom and concerns over travel and security disruptions.
Manchester United executives are reportedly meeting with minority owner Jim Ratcliffe this week to discuss manager Michael Carrick's future following a poor start to the Premier League season. With Carrick's position under pressure, several high-profile managers, including Mauricio Pochettino, Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, and Antonio Conte, are being considered as potential replacements for one of English football's most demanding roles.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has been nominated to contest the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Athletes Committee elections for the 2026-2030 term. She aims to advocate for an athlete-centric vision, focusing on strengthening the sport, ensuring stability in rules, improving financial opportunities, and enhancing athlete welfare, including mental health support and career transition pathways.
PV Sindhu, two-time Olympic medallist and BWF Athletes' Commission chair, has voiced player concerns regarding the Badminton World Federation's 25-second shot clock rule. The innovation, currently being trialled, has led to issues like yellow and red cards, sparking debate among players about its fairness, especially after a controversial incident at the French Open. Sindhu expects the system to undergo a review soon.
Star Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Suruchi Inder Singh failed to secure individual Olympic quota places for the 2028 Los Angeles Games at the ISSF World Championships in Doha. Both finished outside medal positions in the women's 10m air pistol event. While they contributed to a team silver, individual quotas remain elusive for India at the championships.
Rohit Sharma's ODI future was a major point of discussion during the review meeting, while also considering the recent fitness woes of key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
Billionaire Elon Musk reacted to the Democratic sweep in the 2026 US midterm elections with sarcastic posts on X, lamenting that his 'election-interfering space lasers didn't work' and suggesting 'data centers in space' looked appealing after Republicans suffered major setbacks despite his extensive financial support.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," reveals her limited interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting his tendency to avoid eye contact. She discusses their differing visions for India, rooted in their ideological backgrounds, and critiques his political style and the BJP's aim for a "Congress-free India."
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 to win the Paris Masters, securing his ninth ATP 1000 title and avenging his US Open quarter-final loss to the American.
Total Chess has announced its broadcast team and a new highlight show for its upcoming pilot tournament in Budapest. The team includes renowned chess creator Levy Rozman (GothamChess) as the lead for the highlight show, alongside experienced commentators Anna Rudolf, Fiona Steil-Antoni, David Howell, and Jovanka Houska for the main broadcast. The pilot event, featuring Magnus Carlsen, aims to innovate chess coverage and build towards a 2027 World Championship Tour.
Andhra Pradesh has successfully converted 526 out of 714 investment projects received since June 2024, achieving a conversion rate of nearly 74 per cent by project count. These projects represent investments worth Rs 17.2 trillion with an employment potential of 1.93 million jobs, showcasing the state's commitment to translating investment commitments into on-ground projects.
Lewis Hamilton secured his first pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, a feat that brought back memories of Michael Schumacher's dominant years with the Italian team. At 41, Hamilton also became the oldest pole-sitter since Mario Andretti in 1982, expressing his joy at rewarding Ferrari and reflecting on his enduring passion for the sport.
Microsoft India and South Asia President, Puneet Chandok, discusses the company's strong belief in human-centric AI development, significant investments in India's cloud and AI infrastructure, and the country's pivotal role as an AI market, talent hub, and technology builder. He highlights AI's impact on jobs and the need for responsible innovation.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia addressed recent speculations regarding Rohit Sharma's future, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's contract extension, and VVS Laxman's potential appointment as director of cricket, dismissing all rumours after a review meeting.
Trump seems to have made up his mind that a pliant Pakistan will be more useful than India. We cannot expect a change in Trump's policy towards India in his post midterm poll tenure as America's president, observes Ambassador T N Sreenivasan.
Olympian Maheshwari Chauhan discusses the significance of India's historic women's skeet bronze medal at the Asian Games, highlighting it as a turning point for the discipline. She believes the medal, achieved with Raiza Dhillon and Parinaaz Dhaliwal, signals a new era for Indian shotgun shooting, driven by a younger generation, improved training, and a stronger foundational ecosystem.
Badminton legend Saina Nehwal has expressed her openness to entering electoral politics in the future, stating her desire to contribute to India's development and continue serving the nation beyond her sporting career.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald has defended his team against a 'flood of criticism' following their 2-1 Test series loss to South Africa, acknowledging underachievement but backing the squad's core players. He addressed concerns about player performance and the team's future, particularly regarding Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) has announced its endorsement of Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president in the upcoming March election. This decision follows Infantino's recent visits to the Caribbean and FIFA's increased financial contributions and development investments, which are crucial for smaller nations. The CFU's support comes despite past controversies surrounding Infantino's aborted World Cup investment plan, with the union calling for continued transparency and good governance.
