The 'CHESS+' initiative, Championing Excellence in Sport Skills, has been launched to establish a structured chess curriculum in schools across India. This program, a collaboration between the All India Chess Federation and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, aims to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students, starting with a pilot in 30 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
India is waiting for assurance from the US on comparative advantage over other economies under the deal.
A Pune court has granted bail to NCP (SP) office-bearer Mahadev Balgude, ruling that criticism of the government or chief minister does not constitute "waging war" against the nation. The court emphasised every citizen's right to comment on and criticise government actions, noting that the charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 152 were debatable.
Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj has qualified for the 100m backstroke semifinals at the Commonwealth Games, finishing 13th overall. However, veteran Sajan Prakash failed to advance past the Heats in the 50m butterfly event. In para-swimming, R.V.V.B.K. Budigina and Ali Imam both reached the finals of the men's 50m freestyle.
Prashant Kishor's stunning Bankipur victory has broken the BJP's three-decade dominance in one of its safest urban strongholds, signalling a major political shift in Bihar.
Indian badminton players, including seasoned shuttler HS Prannoy and rising star Unnati Hooda, have made a strong start at the Taipei Open Super 300, advancing to the second round of their respective singles events. Several other Indian men's and women's singles players also secured victories, setting up exciting clashes in the next stage of the tournament.
Indian swimmers Sajan Prakash and Aryan Nehra finished eighth in their respective finals at the Commonwealth Games, while para swimmer Swatik Patil secured fifth place in his event. Prakash competed in the men's 200m butterfly, Nehra in the men's 800m freestyle, and Patil in the men's 100m breaststroke SB9.
Joachim Chuah of Malaysia and Rouqaia Othman of Egypt, both top seeds, have won the men's and women's titles respectively at the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour-Chennai, held at the Indian Squash Academy.
India's fastest man, Gurindervir Singh, failed to advance in the men's 100m event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Despite holding the national record, his timing of 10.39 seconds placed him 28th overall in the heats, far from his personal best and the qualification mark.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games silver-medallist judoka Tulika Maan has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for three whereabouts failures, leading to her withdrawal from the ongoing Glasgow edition. This comes after another judoka, Arun Kumar, was also withdrawn for a dope test failure.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran Aircraft Engines have signed a long-term agreement for the production and supply of turbine ring forgings for the CFM LEAP engine programme. This multi-year contract, signed at the Farnborough International Airshow, will see HAL manufacture critical superalloy components at its Bengaluru facility, enhancing India's capabilities in advanced aerospace manufacturing and expanding its presence in the international civil aerospace market.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced a Rs 100 crore allocation for sports infrastructure and athlete development during a Sports Conclave in Raipur. The state government is focused on promoting sports, nurturing talent, and providing employment opportunities for outstanding sportspersons, alongside organising major sporting events like the Bastar and Surguja Olympics.
A bipartisan group of US Senators has agreed to fast-track a bill allowing the President to impose sanctions on major purchasers of oil from Russia and Iran. This legislation, known as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, aims to restrict funding for Russia's war efforts and Iran's energy and weapons sectors, potentially impacting countries like China and India through tariffs and other restrictions.
rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries
TVS Motor Company has launched the TVS Apache Junior Programme, a new initiative to identify and train young racing talent aged 10-14 years. The programme, conducted at the Madras International Karting Arena, provides structured training using purpose-built TVS Apache RR 200 Mini motorcycles, aiming to create a clear pathway for aspiring riders into professional motorsport.
Indian judoka Arun Kumar has been withdrawn from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after failing an out-of-competition dope test. He has received a provisional suspension from NADA, reducing India's contingent size.
Indian judoka Arun Kumar has been withdrawn from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after failing an out-of-competition dope test. He has received a provisional suspension from NADA, reducing India's contingent size.
Indian golfers Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa faced a challenging third round at the ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship in Scotland. Jeev carded a 73 to be tied-65th, while Randhawa shot a 77, falling to 79th position. Jerry Kelly and Cameroon Percy share the lead heading into the final round.
Indian weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav won a silver medal in the women's 53kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She set a new Games record in the clean and jerk, only to see it broken by Nigeria's Onome Omolola Didih, who ultimately secured the gold with a stunning performance. This marks India's fourth weightlifting medal and fifth overall at the Games.
Indian golfer Diksha Dagar concluded the Women's Scottish Open in tied-16th position after a final round of 1-over 73. Despite a patchy performance, Dagar's result saw her climb to sixth place on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, with Korea's Jenny Shin claiming the title.
A nursery teacher in Varanasi allegedly branded a five-year-old boy with a heated knife after he urinated in his pants, reportedly due to being denied restroom access. An FIR has been registered against the teacher, principal, and school management following a complaint by the child's father.
Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi, was conspicuous by his absence when party leader Rahul Gandhi spoke in a debate in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, bringing to the fore the recent rift within the party's state unit.
Top-seeded Indian Anahat Singh has advanced to the women's quarterfinals of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships after defeating Malaysian Doyce Ye San Lee. Meanwhile, her compatriot Aryaveer Dewan was eliminated in the men's round of 16.
Indian gymnasts Tapan Mohanty and Yogeshwar Singh have successfully qualified for the men's all-around final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. While they secured individual berths, the Indian men's team finished seventh in the overall competition, with Canada, England, and Australia taking the top three spots.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea from the Meghalaya government challenging the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of murdering her husband during their honeymoon. The case hinges on a legal question regarding a typographical error in the arrest memo and whether it justifies bail in a murder case.
Candidates who prefer the paper-based format will be able to register for the final three test dates scheduled in July and August, after which the option will no longer be available in the country.
Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secured his second consecutive Commonwealth Games silver medal in Glasgow with a leap of 8.09 metres. This achievement marks an emotional comeback for the athlete, who battled a career-threatening knee injury in 2024, forcing him to miss the Paris Olympics. Despite his disappointment at not winning gold, Sreeshankar views this medal as a crucial stepping stone for the upcoming Asian Games.
India's boxing contingent had a stellar day at the Commonwealth Games, securing five more semifinal berths and bringing the total to nine. This achievement surpasses India's previous medal tally in boxing from Birmingham 2022, guaranteeing at least nine medals for the nation.
Indian boxers Preeti Pawar and Priya Ghanghas have secured at least two bronze medals for the nation at the Commonwealth Games by advancing to the semifinals of their respective weight categories. Preeti dominated her 54kg quarterfinal with a unanimous decision, while Priya overcame a tough challenge in the 60kg division with a split decision win. However, Parveen Hooda was eliminated in her 65kg quarterfinal bout.
Andhra Pradesh's "Drone City" in Kurnool district will host a national roundtable on drones on August 18, with the Civil Aviation Minister and up to 40 drone companies expected to attend. This initiative aims to boost the drone sector, which is projected to create 40,000 jobs.
Indian gymnast Protistha Samanta has successfully qualified for the women's vault final at the Commonwealth Games, finishing fifth in the qualification round. While Samanta secured her spot, fellow Indian gymnasts Pranati Nayak, Eshitaa Rewale, and Nishka Agarwal did not advance in individual or all-around events. The Indian women's team also finished ninth in the overall team competition.
India's women's table tennis team secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Australia in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, with key wins from Sutirtha Mukherjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade. The team also defeated Sri Lanka 3-0, ensuring a medal berth, while the men's team also performed well against Australia.
Researchers at IIT Indore have developed a groundbreaking method to convert carbon dioxide and glycerol, two common waste materials, into valuable green chemicals like lactic acid and formic acid in just seven minutes. This low-energy process uses a specially designed ruthenium-based catalyst and microwave heating, offering a sustainable solution for waste management and green manufacturing.
Train services in the Gaya-Patna section of Bihar were disrupted for nearly three hours after thieves allegedly cut and stole an overhead electrical wire between Tehta and Jehanabad railway stations. The Railway Protection Force has since recovered the stolen material, and an investigation is underway to apprehend the culprits responsible for the 25,000-volt OHE wire theft.
Indian shuttler Rounak Chouhan successfully navigated the qualifying rounds of the Taipei Open Super 300, securing his spot in the men's singles main draw with two impressive victories. However, it was a challenging day for most other Indian participants across various categories, who faced defeats in their respective qualifying and opening matches. HS Prannoy and Unnati Hooda are set to lead the Indian contingent in the main draw.
The Maharashtra FDA has suspended the food business licences of five prominent Mumbai clubs, including the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and MIG Cricket Club, due to severe violations of food safety and hygiene norms, such as unsanitary kitchens, pest infestations, improper food handling, and unauthorised catering operations.
DMK MLA G V Markandeyan was arrested for allegedly making defamatory remarks and threatening Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, leading to strong condemnation from DMK president M K Stalin, who accused the ruling TVK of political vendetta.
Punjab FC has announced the double signing of forward Gurkirat Singh and defender Nishchal Chandan, bolstering their squad for the 2026-27 Indian Super League season. Both players have signed two-year agreements, bringing significant experience and talent to the Shers.
Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir showcased remarkable talent at the Champions of the Future Euro Series Round 4 in Kristianstad, Sweden. Despite an untimely crash and penalties, the 11-year-old delivered strong qualifying and heat race performances, gaining valuable experience for the upcoming FIA European Championship.
Defending Commonwealth Games javelin champion Arshad Nadeem is prepared for the qualification round despite a challenging build-up due to adverse weather in Switzerland. His coach, Salman Butt, confirmed his readiness for the event in Glasgow, where he will face a strong field including India's Neeraj Chopra.
