Author: Team Admin

New Delhi: In a candid and wide-ranging interview, 18-year-old Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa opened up about his journey in 2025, closing the gap with Magnus Carlsen, India’s exploding chess scene, and his singular focus on qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Fresh from a strong showing at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial in Armenia—where he tied on points with Aravindh Chidambaram but placed second on tiebreak—Praggnanandhaa remains unfazed. “I scored +4, which is quite good in this field. I don’t focus too much on finishing first or second—it’s more about whether I played well,” he said. The Chennai-based grandmaster began…

New Delhi: During his visit to Brussels, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered strong remarks on terrorism, global diplomacy, and India’s evolving international partnerships. In an interview with Euractiv, Jaishankar urged the West to view India’s response to cross-border terrorism, such as the recent Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam attack, as part of a global fight against terrorism—not merely a conflict between India and Pakistan. He cited Osama bin Laden’s long-time hideout near a Pakistani military facility to stress that terrorism harboured by the state is a global threat. “Why did he, of all people, feel safe living for years…

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum 2025, described the India-China relationship as a “complex equilibrium” between two rising powers navigating a rapidly changing global landscape. He noted that both India and China are in the midst of reshaping their positions in the world while also dealing with each other as immediate neighbours with a long history and unresolved border disputes. Jaishankar pointed out that while China began its modernisation process earlier, largely due to missed opportunities by past Indian governments, both nations are now asserting their influence on the global stage.…

New Delhi: A series of recent maritime disasters, including the fire on MV Wan Hai 503 and the sinking of MSC Elsa 3, have exposed alarming gaps in global shipping regulations—especially the misuse of Flags of Convenience (FoC), which Indian authorities say are no longer just regulatory loopholes, but deliberate tools to evade accountability. According to high-level government sources, India is bearing mounting ecological and social costs due to foreign-flagged vessels mishandled under lax oversight. These ships often bypass strict regulations by registering under FoC states such as Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands—nations that offer minimal supervision in exchange…

New Delhi: The Finance Ministry has categorically denied online reports suggesting that the government is planning to impose a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, calling such claims “false, baseless, and misleading.” In an official statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said, “Speculation and claims that the MDR will be charged on UPI transactions are completely false. Such baseless and sensational speculation creates unnecessary uncertainty, fear, and suspicion among citizens.” The clarification came amid social media chatter and unverified reports claiming that MDR would be levied on high-value UPI payments. MDR is a fee paid by…

Lucknow: On the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly condemned child labour, calling it a “curse” that has no place in a just society. He urged citizens to take collective responsibility in ensuring that every child has access to education, safety, dignity, and moral values. Posting on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said, “Child labour is a curse, it cannot be accepted! Let us, on this World Day Against Child Labour, pledge to connect every child with education, safety, dignity, and values.” He emphasized that eliminating child labour requires widespread…

New Delhi: Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has expressed concern over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s continued public messaging from India, calling it a source of political instability in post-Hasina Bangladesh. Speaking at Chatham House in London, Yunus revealed that he personally requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent Ms Hasina from addressing Bangladeshis via social media. Yunus alleged that despite her ousting in August 2024, Ms Hasina—who took refuge in India—continues to broadcast speeches online through platforms like YouTube and Facebook, which he claims are stoking public anger and risking unrest back home.…