Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali's loss to China's Jiner Zhu has thrown the FIDE Women's Candidates tournament wide open.
'It was diminishing even before Trump came to power.' 'The US was at the centre of the global economy. That position is going to become less and less important and less central.'
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa faced a defeat in the third round of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, while other key matches saw significant shifts in standings.
Indian women boxers Meenakshi Hooda and Jaismine Lamboria secured semifinal berths at the Asian Boxing Championships, guaranteeing a podium finish for the entire women's contingent. In the men's section, Lokesh, Akash, and Harsh Choudhary also advanced to the semifinals.
'The reason why they rushed through the bill was they wanted to avoid using the 2026 Census because the 2026 Census by their own decision will be a caste census.' 'The BJP knows that a significant share of the OBCs who will get captured in the census, for the first time after the 1931 Census, are against the BJP. Only a segment of the OBCs are in their favour.' 'So they wanted to avoid the OBC reservation among women, which is a demand of a lot of Opposition parties.'
Defence sources stated that the disengagement involves removing infrastructure and withdrawing troops from both sides. The process is expected to be completed by Tuesday.
'Our diplomacy should have been focused on preventing war and avoiding the inevitable disruptions it would cause, posing a real risk to India's growth story,' asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
The Indian youth boxing team has made a promising start at the World Boxing Futures Cup 2026 in Bangkok, with several boxers securing victories in their opening matches.
Like the realisation on the failure of development, we have also internalised the failure on democracy, argues Aakar Patel.
The Indian U-17 women's football team defeated Myanmar 3-2 in a friendly match, with substitutes playing a key role in the late comeback victory.
Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan has significantly increased his lead in the Candidates chess tournament after defeating India's R Praggnanandhaa. In the women's section, R Vaishali leads after drawing with Anna Muzychuk.
But there is a bigger issue that both of us have brought forces close up and in that sense there is a militarisation of the border, he said.
India's merchandise exports to the US contracted 21.77 per cent to $6.6 billion in January due to high tariffs imposed by America, according to the Commerce Ministry data. Exports contracted in September, October and December last year also. However, it rose 22.61 per cent in November.
In the women's section, World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh turned the tables on overnight leader Anna Muzychuk to jump into joint lead with four others.
The intriguing bit is that Trump is likely to attend the talks in Islamabad this weekend -- if he does, it will be the clearest signal yet that the US is ready to exit the war with some sort of win to show, since he cannot afford to go for the talks and return empty-handed, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War
India should simultaneously prioritise domestic exploration and production of more oil and gas in the country, and ensure we retain diversified suppliers for imports, points out former foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai.
Jobs in the clean-energy sector are projected to reach 905,000, while energy efficiency-related jobs are expected to surge to 428,700 by 2029-2030.
China beat Indonesia to win Suhandinata Cup for 15th time; India, Japan claim bronze
India's services sector experienced a slight moderation in growth during February, according to the HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index, with new order growth slowing and inflation picking up.
Trump said that the decision would be "immediately" in effect and that the "order is final and conclusive."
India has joined the US-led 'Pax Silica' alliance, aimed at building a resilient supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties and fostering economic security.
The US Trade Representative's office removed a social media post featuring a map of India that showed the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as well as the Aksai Chin region as part of Indian territory.
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated that peace and tranquility in border areas are essential for the development of bilateral ties with China. He said India will be discussing de-escalation and effective management of activities in border areas with China in the coming days, following the completion of troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC), maintaining the status quo, and adhering to past agreements. The disengagement phase allows for discussions on other aspects of bilateral engagement, with national security interests prioritized. However, the statement sparked an uproar in the Rajya Sabha, with Opposition MPs demanding clarifications that were disallowed by the Chair, leading to a walkout.
Priyanka Goswami led the Indian women's marathon team to a fifth-place finish at the World Athletics Race Walking Championships. In the men's event, India did not figure in the team rankings due to fielding only two competitors.
Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto progressed to the second round of the Badminton Asia Championships, while Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani exited in the first round.
Amid US-China trade tensions and economic vulnerabilities, India must seize the 'China +1' opportunity, deepen reforms, secure FTAs, and globalise its firms for long-term growth, suggests Ajay Shah.
Indian boxers, including world champions Jaismine Lamboria and Meenakshi Hooda, have secured eight spots in the finals of the Asian Boxing Championships, showcasing India's strength in the sport.
Sri Lanka's response to the Easter attacks has been slow and politically contested, unlike India's swift institutional reforms after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, observes Colonel R Hariharan (retd).
Opposition MPs, including members of the Congress party, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex over the India-US trade agreement, controversy surrounding former Army chief MM Naravane's unpublished memoir, and the suspension of eight MPs.
India was among the countries not present in Davos when US President Donald Trump unveiled his "Board of Peace" that seeks to work towards bringing lasting peace to Gaza and possibly resolve global conflicts. India is yet to take a call on it, people familiar with the matter said when asked about Trump's invite to PM Modi.
India's Ayush Shetty secured a spot in the Badminton Asia Championships final after defeating top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a thrilling three-game match.
As Nicole Kidman delivers yet another impressive performance in the OTT series Scarpetta, we explore some of her other compelling movies and shows.
Ayush Shetty of India won a silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships after losing to China's Shi Yu Qi in the final. Despite the loss, it was a successful tournament for the young player, who defeated several top-ranked opponents.
Despite significant price differences, Indian farmers are increasingly adopting non-subsidised speciality fertilisers, which are seen as a potential solution to the rising fertiliser subsidy burden exacerbated by global supply shocks.
Indian wrestlers showcased their talent at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, securing multiple medals across various weight categories in both men's and women's freestyle events.
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) is advocating for the termination of the moratorium on customs duties for electronically transmitted digital products, arguing that it hinders self-reliance, causes revenue losses, and restricts India's ability to tax emerging technologies like AI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized dialogue over discord in India's relationship with China, acknowledging natural differences between the two countries but stressing that stronger cooperation is essential for their mutual interests and global stability. In a podcast with Lex Fridman, Modi highlighted the ongoing efforts to restore normalcy along the border following the 2020 clashes, emphasizing the importance of a stable and cooperative relationship.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar affirms India's self-determined and 'unstoppable' rise, emphasising the nation's strategic growth and role in the Indian Ocean region amid evolving global dynamics.
How widely is LPG used around the world? In 2022, the average LPG consumption across 190 countries stood at 56.33 thousand barrels per day. At the very top sits China, consuming a massive 2,457.39 thousand barrels per day, making it the world's largest LPG user by a wide margin. At the other end of the spectrum is Burundi, which recorded zero LPG consumption during the same year. The LPG consumption indicator is available for the period 1980 to 2023.
If Xi Jinping can establish control over the PLA Ground Force, relations between India and China will settle down to an even keel. The next few weeks will show whether Xi has finally succeeded in gaining control over the PLA Ground Force. That could bring about the substantive shift in India-China relations that both our leaders have been working for, observes Ambassador Prabhat Shukla.
