Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India's Vidit Gujrathi claims top spot in Prague Chess festival

India’s No 2 chess player Vidit Gujrathi continues his form in the Prague Chess festival.  He posted a win over Austrian GM Markus Ragger in the third round to jump to the top spot in the Masters' category of the festival.

Vidit Gujrathi trumped Ragger in a Grunfeld game after 46 moves to continue his good run and secured a second win.  He is in joint second place with Nikita Vitiugov and world’s top junior Alireza Firouzja.


He faces Sweden's Grandelius in the fourth round.

Born in Maharashtra, Vidit is the fourth Indian ever to have crossed the rating threshold of 2700. As of December 2019, his rating of 2721 makes him the thirtieth highest-rated chess player in the world, and the third highest-rated chess player in India, after Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna.

Another Indian player P Harikrishna went down to the young Alireza Firouzja in 40 moves in a Spanish opening game. The Indian no. 3 came up with some innovative play but the Iranian prodigy had the answers to notch up an impressive win.

More For You

protests-uk-getty
Protesters from the group Save Our Future & Our Kids Future demonstrate against uncontrolled immigration outside the Cladhan Hotel on August 16, 2025 in Falkirk, Scotland. (Photo: Getty Images)

Government wins appeal over housing asylum seekers in hotel

Highlights:

  • UK appeals court overturns ruling blocking hotel use for asylum seekers
  • Judges call earlier High Court decision “seriously flawed”
  • 138 asylum seekers will not need to be relocated by September 12
  • Full hearing scheduled at the Court of Appeal in October

A UK appeals court has overturned a lower court order that had temporarily blocked the use of a hotel in Epping, northeast of London, to house asylum seekers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Deepa Shakthi music
Why British folk singer Deepa Shakthi believes music should be messy, raw and free from follower-driven rules
Instagram/mishra.music

Why British folk singer Deepa Shakthi believes music should be messy, raw and free from follower-driven rules

Highlights

  • Turn O Spinning Wheel fuses English folk, Indian ragas and Sufi improvisation.
  • Deepa Shakthi slams the industry’s obsession with follower counts and clout.
  • Producer Stuart McCallum guided the band towards minimalism and focus.
  • The album spans reworked folk, Punjabi songs, qawwali and raga Jog.

At first, Deepa Shakthi wasn’t sure. A 2023 UK tour with Mishra, playing British folk mixed with her Indian classical voice, didn’t sound like the easiest fit. They were taking their fusion of Indian classical and British folk to rural corners of the UK; to Cornwall, to New Mills, places where, as she puts it, people aren’t exposed to this sound every day.

“I was very reticent. I was very kind of… anxious inside.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Mumbai-Reuters
A drone view of the construction work of the upcoming coastal road in Mumbai, India. (Photo credit: Reuters)
Reuters

India’s economy grows faster than expected as US tariffs pose risk

Highlights:

  • India’s GDP grew 7.8 per cent in April-June, beating forecasts of 6.7 per cent.
  • US has double tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent, raising export concerns.
  • Consumer spending rose 7.0 per cent year-on-year, driven by rural demand..

INDIA’s economy expanded faster than expected in the April-June quarter, even as higher US tariffs on Indian imports are set to weigh on activity in the coming months.

Keep ReadingShow less
Radhika Merchant Ganpati

The Ambani family marked Ganesh Chaturthi with Antilia Cha Raja, where Nita Ambani also joined rituals

Instagram Screengrab/ambani_update

Radhika Merchant’s Ganpati visarjan with Anant Ambani takes unexpected turn as bodyguard steals the spotlight

Highlights:

  • Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani were spotted at the visarjan of “Antilia Cha Raja.”
  • A video captured a light-hearted flower fight between the couple.
  • Radhika’s bodyguard stepped in to shield her during the exchange.
  • Nita Ambani also joined the procession in traditional attire.

Radhika Merchant’s Ganpati visarjan moment with husband Anant Ambani has become the highlight of this year’s celebrations at the Ambani residence, Antilia. The couple took part in the immersion procession of their Ganpati idol, known as “Antilia Cha Raja,” where a playful exchange between them caught the internet’s attention. In the video, featuring Radhika and Anant, a bodyguard stepping in at the right moment has now become the talking point across social media.

Radhika Merchant Ganpati The Ambani family marked Ganesh Chaturthi with Antilia Cha Raja, where Nita Ambani also joined rituals Instagram Screengrab/ambani_update

Keep ReadingShow less
Bangladesh-protests-Getty

Anti-government protesters display Bangladesh’s national flag at Sheikh Hasina’s palace in Dhaka last year. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Bangladesh Election Commission announces roadmap for February polls

BANGLADESH’s Election Commission (EC) on Thursday released a roadmap for the general election, expected to be held in February next year.

The poll schedule will be announced at least 60 days before the voting date, officials said.

Keep ReadingShow less