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Showing posts from December, 2024

Fungus Wiping Out Frogs: Innovative "Frog Saunas" Offer Hope for Survival

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Frogs around the world are being severely impacted by the chytrid fungus, which has led to population declines in over 500 species and the presumed extinction of approximately 90 species. This invasive pathogen is disrupting ecosystems and causing significant biodiversity loss. Innovative methods to combat this threat have emerged, focusing on providing frogs with heated environments to resist infection. This approach, which is both affordable and adaptable, has shown promise in addressing the devastating effects of chytrid on amphibian populations. Fighting the Fungus with Heat According to a study published in Nature, chytrid infections intensify in colder months. Researchers have developed "frog saunas," small heated structures that allow amphibians to elevate their body temperature, helping them fight off the infection. The fungus, unable to survive high temperatures, can be eliminated when frogs spend time in these saunas. In experiments conducted in both controlled ...

Australia, Umpires Labelled "Cheaters" By MCG Crowd For Jaiswal DRS Drama

India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal 's controversial dismissal on Day 5 of the 4th Test against Australia has become a hot topic of debate. The incident happened on the fifth ball of the 71st over. Jaiswal was given not out for a caught-behind appeal, following an attempted pull shot. However, the decision was overturned by the TV umpire on visual evidence that the ball had changed direction, even though no spike was picked up by the 'Snicko'. Jaiswal expressed his displeasure over the incident as he was seen confronting the on-field umpire. It was a crucial moment as far as the result of the match is concerned, with Jaiswal batting on 84 at that time. Following his dismissal, India suffered a late collapse, losing the match by 184 runs. A section of Indian fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) weren't happy with the third umpire's decision. Chants of of 'cheaters' rang around the ground as Wilson was forced to change his decision. The Jaiswal dismissal. ...

Dutch Plane Skids Off Runway After Emergency Landing In Norway

An Amsterdam-bound flight skidded off the runway at Oslo Torp Sandefjord Airport in Norway after an emergency landing. The incident happened on Saturday night, when a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines-operated Boeing 737-800 experienced a hydraulic failure shortly after taking off from Oslo Airport, prompting the crew to divert to Sandefjord Airport. This came hours before a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operated by Jeju Air, flying from Bangkok to South Korea with 181 people on board crashed on landing at Muan International Airport on Sunday, leaving all but two people plucked from the wreckage feared dead. As per media reports, the KLM flight was carrying 176 passengers and six crew members. It landed safely at Sandefjord Airport, situated 110 kilometres south of Oslo. However, on landing, the plane veered off the runway before stopping in soft grass near a taxiway, a video of which is being widely shared on social media. KLM flight #KL1204 , a Boeing 737-800, veered off the right side of runw...

Watch: Bengaluru Man Drives Cab After Driver Falls Asleep, Video Goes Viral

A Bengaluru man has gone viral on social media after he posted a video of driving a cab after his driver fell asleep. Milind Chandwani, a startup founder and an IIM graduate, was returning home late at night from Bengaluru Airport when he booked the cab. Taking to Instagram, Mr Chandwani wrote that the driver appeared to be sleepy and despite multiple breaks, could not get himself up to speed, before handing the steering wheel to the passenger. "Last night at 3 AM while returning from Bengaluru airport, I found myself in an unexpected role: my cab driver's driver," Mr Chandwani captioned the video where the driver could be seen dozing off on the passenger seat. "He was so sleepy, he even stopped for tea and a cigarette but still couldn't keep his eyes open. So, I offered to drive, and to my surprise, he handed me the keys faster than I could say "Bengaluru traffic." After the driver went to sleep, Mr Chandwani could be seen navigating through Bengalu...

One Bag, 7kg Limit: Stricter Hand Baggage Rules For Air Travel Announced

In a bid to streamline air travel and tighten security measures, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has now brought into effect a new regulation that governs the carrying of hand luggage in flights. From next month onwards, in both domestic and international journeys, passengers will be restricted to carrying one cabin bag or handbag in the plane. This is part of the government's efforts in managing the ever-increasing number of passengers at the airports and increasing operational efficiency. The new regulation will significantly facilitate passenger travel and airport operations by reducing traffic at security checkpoints. The BCAS and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have decided to implement stricter luggage regulations in order to facilitate passenger flow through airport terminals, given the steadily rising number of air travellers. Key Details of the New Baggage Restrictions: 1. One Handbag Limit: According to the new rule, each passenger is allowed to...

Washington Gets A Rude Jolt: How Pakistan Kept US Guessing Its Nuke Plans

Pakistan has a knack of pulling the rabbit out of the hat every once in a while - one that leaves the United States perplexed and perturbed time and again. But before the US can delve into the method behind the trick, Washington, which has reasons for serious concern, often finds itself quickly distracted by one of the many other pressing problems it faces globally. Islamabad knows this, and so, it makes its move slowly, quite like the hour hand of the clock, knowing fully well that the watchful eyes are often focusing on the routinely-ticking seconds hand. Pakistan has only one rabbit - the nuclear bomb - which it pulls out of the bag every time Islamabad is either held accountable for its actions, or finds itself in the diplomatic corner with no way out. With time, that rabbit has grown, both in number and in range. As long as it only bothered the neighbours, it wasn't a priority for Washington. But the latest reports to emerge from Pakistan has left the United States deeply tr...

Quantum Teleportation Now Possible Over Everyday Internet Cable

In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, researchers have figured out a way to achieve the unthinkable: quantum teleportation. While the name may suggest that humans could be teleported through the technology, it is far from the real-life implication of the technology. Quantum teleportation allows the transfer of information instantly and over any distance without needing any future technology. Led by Prem Kumar from Northwestern University, Illinois, US, scientists demonstrated quantum teleportation over standard fibre optic cable that already carries everyday internet traffic, according to a report in ScieneAlert. In simple terms, quantum teleportation involves sending information from one place to another using something called "quantum entanglement". Think of entanglement like an invisible twin connection where two particles, even if miles apart, are linked in a way that what happens to one instantly affects the other. Unlike sending a physical object, you are sending...

Manmohan Singh, The Technocrat Who Transformed India's Economy

Manmohan Singh -- former Prime Minister of India, renowned economist, technocrat and the architect of India's liberalisation, which pulled the country out of economic atrophy - has died at 92. Dr Singh, who had been ailing for a while, died at Delhi's AIIMS hospital this evening. Seen as a reluctant politician, Manmohan Singh was the automatic choice for Sonia Gandhi when, after an unexpected victory of the Congress-led UPA, she stepped away from the post of Prime Minister. Dr Singh's background as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor and former finance minister, and his unimpeachable reputation made it an obvious decision. While the economy has never looked back after the liberalisation of 1991 that pulled it out of a phenomenal low of the balance of payments crisis, delivering an average growth rate of around 8.5 per cent, Manmohan Singh took the other huge step, in foreign policy, in 2009. The India-US nuclear deal was forged in the fire of a huge political row in...

"Mohan Bhagwat Isn't Feeling Hindus' Pain": Shankaracharya On Temple Remark

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been criticised by a prominent spiritual leader over his recent remark against raking up temple-mosque disputes. "Mohan Bhagwat does not understand the plight of Hindus," said Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Wednesday. "Several Hindu temples are being demolished. This is the truth. He is not feeling the pain of Hindus. It is clear from his statement. He does not truly understand the plight of Hindus," he said. The RSS chief had on December 19 expressed concern over the resurgence of several temple-mosque disputes and asserted that certain individuals, after the construction of Ayodhya's Ram temple, seem to believe they can become "leaders of Hindus" by raking up such issues. "Mohan Bhagwat has claimed that some people raise these issues to become leaders, but I want to clarify that ordinary Hindus do not aspire to become leaders," Swami Avimukteshwaranand said. Mr Bhagwat, delivering a lect...

Nothing Phone 3a, Phone 3a Plus Tipped to Offer Upgraded Camera Capabilities

Nothing Phone 3a, Phone 3a Plus, and the CMF Phone 2 are said to be in the works. The phones were also spotted in the IMEI database  earlier this month. Most recently, camera specifications and other details of the unannounced  Nothing smartphones have surfaced on the Web. The Nothing Phone 3a is tipped to come with a telephoto camera. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Plus are said to be equipped with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC, whereas the CMF Phone 2 could run a MediaTek SoC. Nothing Phone 3a Camera Details Leaked Android Authority claims to have received information about the Nothing Phone 3a, Phone 3a Plus, and the CMF Phone 2, stating that they're in the works with codenames steroids, asteroids_plus, and galaga, respectively. The Nothing Phone 3a is said to include a telephoto camera, while the Phone 3a Plus will reportedly boast a periscope zoom camera. If this turns out to be true, the Phone 3a series could be the first in the Nothing lineup to sw...

Childhoods Chained, Dreams Sold In Forgotten Corner of Madhya Pradesh

In the heart of Madhya Pradesh, nestled amid the rugged terrains of Rajgarh district, lies Jaitpura - a village where time seems to have stopped, leaving dreams in shackles and childhoods stolen. Here, innocence is traded, and the cruel weight of tradition drags children into adulthood long before their time. Our journey began where the road ended, over narrow, broken paths that echoed the hardship of lives untouched by development. In these forgotten corners of India, we found children whose laughter has been silenced by customs like child marriage and engagement, bound by the age-old practice of Jhagda-Natra.  This grim tradition demands exorbitant amounts from families seeking to break free from pre-arranged marriages, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and despair. The stories of Jaitpura are a reflection of a broader malaise plaguing 50 villages, where over 700 children have lost their right to a carefree childhood.  Rama Bai, now 40, recalls how her childhood ended abr...

Photo From Shyam Benegal's 90th Birthday Resurfaces After His Death

Photos from legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal's 90th birthday celebration have resurfaced online following the news of his death. The heartwarming images serve as a poignant reminder of the iconic director's enduring legacy and the lives he touched. The late filmmaker celebrated his milestone birthday on December 14, surrounded by Bollywood celebrities such as Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajit Kapur, Atul Tiwari, and others. A group photo from the celebration, shared by Shabana Azmi on X, has gone viral. Sharing the photo, Azmi captioned it, "On #ShyamBenegal's 90th birthday with my co-actor of many films and my favorite actor @NaseeruddinShah. Why aren't more people casting us together?!" Some of his actors with Shyam Benegal's on his 90th birthday Mashallah pic.twitter.com/cnDrjAphf2 — Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) December 15, 2024 On December 23, Shyam Benegal d at the age of 90. He breathed his last around 6:30 pm at Wockhardt Hos...

Paatal Lok Season 2 OTT Release Date Confirmed: When to Watch it Online?

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The much-anticipated second season of Paatal Lok is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on January 17, 2024, marking its return nearly four years after the first season captivated audiences during the pandemic in 2020. Known for its intense storytelling and gripping portrayal of societal complexities, the crime drama is set to take viewers deeper into its dark and gritty narrative. When and Where to Watch Paatal Lok Season 2 Prime Video revealed the release date with a new poster on social media, captioned, “Gates open this new year. #PaatalLokOnPrime, New season, Jan 17.” Subscribers to the platform will be able to access the episodes upon release. Official Trailer and Plot of Paatal Lok Season 2 While an official trailer is yet to be released, the series is expected to build on the momentum of its debut season. The storyline hints at darker and more complex challenges for protagonist Hathi Ram Chaudhary, portrayed by Jaideep Ahlawat. The new season promises to delve deeper into...

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Achieves Closest Sun Flyby Ever on December 24

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NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to perform its closest flyby of the sun on December 24, 2024, at 6:53 a.m. EST. The spacecraft, which launched in 2018, will approach within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometres) of the solar surface, setting a record for the nearest distance a human-made object has travelled to a star. Travelling at an extraordinary speed of 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), the probe will traverse the sun's corona, collecting data on its high-temperature environment. Mission Details and Flyby Preparations The Parker Solar Probe, managed by NASA and designed at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), has completed 21 previous solar encounters and seven flybys of Venus, as per a report by Parker Solar Space. The upcoming event marks the 22nd solar approach in its mission to deepen the understanding of the sun's outer atmosphere. According to Nick Pinkine, mission operations manager at JHUAPL, the probe will provide unprecedented data from r...

Jeff Bezos Denies Report Of $600 Million Lavish Wedding: "Completely False"

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Jeff Bezos has categorically denied media reports that his upcoming wedding to fiancee Lauren Sanchez will cost a staggering $600 million. Taking to X, the billionaire founder of Amazon set the record straight, dismissing the rumours as "completely false". The report, picked up by several outlets across the world, alleged that the couple is set to exchange vows on December 28 and spend over half a billion dollars on the extravagant event. Mr Bezos' reaction was sparked by a post from billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who expressed scepticism about the reported $600 million wedding. "This is not credible. Unless you are buying each of your guests a house, you can't spend this much money," he wrote on X.  Reacting to Mr Ackman's tweet, the Amazon founder wrote, "Furthermore, this whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening. The adage "don't believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies ...

4,000-Year-Old Massacre In England: 37 Victims Were Slaughtered And Eaten

A 4,000-year-old massacre in southwestern England was linked to possible acts of cannibalism, new research has revealed. The remains of at least 37 individuals -- men, women and children -- were found in a 50-foot-deep shaft at Charterhouse Warren Farm, showing snapped femurs, bashed skulls, and slicing cuts. Researchers suggest the victims were slaughtered and possibly eaten in a ceremonial feast, with some bones bearing marks of human teeth. The findings, published in the journal Antiquity , suggest the victims were slaughtered in a single, large-scale event between 2210 and 2010 BC. Discovered in 1970 at Charterhouse Warren Farm, near Bristol, the site had initially been dismissed as a typical Bronze Age burial. However, the new study reveals the remains belonged to victims who were likely captives or caught in a surprise attack. No evidence of weapons or defensive injuries was found. Nearly half of the recovered skulls bear fatal injuries consistent with blows from ...

2 Dead, 60 Injured In German Christmas Market Car Attack, Saudi Man Arrested

German police arrested a Saudi man after a deadly car ramming attack on a Christmas market Friday in which a vehicle barrelled through a crowd of revellers at high speed, leaving a trail of bloody carnage. At least two people were killed and more than 60 injured, said rescue services in the eastern city of Magdeburg located about 130 kilometres (80 miles) southwest of Berlin. The unnamed suspect was a 50-year-old medical doctor from Saudi Arabia living in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, said regional premier Reiner Haseloff, speaking at the scene which was cordoned off and guarded by police commandos. "We have arrested the perpetrator, a man from Saudi Arabia, a doctor who has been in Germany since 2006," he told reporters, calling the attack a "catastrophe" for the city and the country. "From what we currently know he was a lone attacker so we don't think there is any further danger." Police said the vehicle drove "at least 400 metres ac...

Namita Thapar And Anupam Mittal Clash Over 70-Hour Workweek Debate

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It's been several months, but the debate on India's work productivity, sparked by Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy's '70-hour workweek' comment continues to rage on. Now, 'Shark Tank India' judges, Namita Thapar and Anupam Mittal, have expressed their views on the matter. During an interview with 'Humans of Bombay' , Mr Mittal, founder and CEO of Shaadi.com, engaged in a fiery debate with Ms Thapar, the CEO of Emcure Pharmaceuticals. While Mr Mittal supported the idea that one should not look at the number of hours being clocked at work, Ms Thapar disagreed with him calling it a "crock of bullsh*t". In the interview, Mr Mittal was asked about his opinion on the workweek debate. He said, "I think it is a big lie that's being told to this generation, and I think it stinks because you are not ever going to... okay this is for people who want to achieve something extraordinary in life... you are not going to achieve anything extrao...

Elon Musk Faces Assassination Threat? "He's A CEO" Cryptic Post Viral

A post shared on X (formerly Twitter) has gone viral, igniting controversy after a user appeared to call for the assassination of Elon Musk. The tweet has prompted accusations that the social media user, Bill Shea, indirectly suggested harm against Elon Musk. Bill Shea shared a screenshot from the X page, 'Republicans against Trump,' which contained a statement comparing Elon Musk to George Soros. It read, "Elon Musk is literally everything MAGA Republicans accused George Soros of doing." At the time of sharing the post, Bill Shea added a comment, "Folks, please do not forget Musk is a CEO of several companies. I say again, he's a CEO. Do with that information as you will." The tweet has spread like wildfire on the Elon Musk-owned platform. Bill Shea's account was subsequently deactivated, likely in response to the huge negative attention the post generated. You can delete your profile, Bill Shea, but the internet is F o r e v e r @realDonaldT...

BJP's CT Ravi Arrested For Making Derogatory Remarks Against Woman Minister

In a major development, the police in Karnataka took Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC CT Ravi into custody on Thursday evening from the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here for allegedly making derogatory remarks against a woman minister in the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet. The action came after a complaint was filed by Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Laxmi Hebbalkar. She alleged that Ravi used highly objectionable language on the floor of the House. The police registered an FIR based on Laxmi Hebbalkar's complaint under Sections 75 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment and using insulting gestures amounting to sexual harassment. CT Ravi was taken into custody by the police while he was staging a protest along with BJP members. He was taken away from the venue of protest and shifted into a police van. Laxmi Hebbalkar also submitted a complaint to the Chairperson of the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti. BJP MLAs and MLCs staged a protest...

TRAPPIST-1b Could Have Carbon Dioxide-Rich Atmosphere, Study Reveals

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The innermost planet of the TRAPPIST-1 system, TRAPPIST-1b, may possess a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, according to research published in Nature Astronomy on December 16. The TRAPPIST-1 system, which lies 40 light-years from Earth and includes seven Earth-sized exoplanets, has intrigued astronomers since its discovery in 2017. Earlier studies suggested that these planets lacked atmospheres due to intense stellar radiation. However, recent data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) raises the possibility of a hazy, carbon dioxide-heavy atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1b. Findings on Atmospheric Composition As per reports , the study highlights new measurements taken at 12.8 micrometres, showing evidence of a reflective haze in TRAPPIST-1b's upper atmosphere. Researchers believe this haze may cause upper layers to emit rather than absorb radiation, challenging previous assumptions. Speaking to KU Leuven News, Leen Decin, co-author of the study and researcher at KU Leuven in Belgiu...

Video: Passengers Panic, Scream For Help As Ferry Sinks Off Mumbai Coast

A video of Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel rescuing passengers of a ferry that sank near Mumbai after colliding with a naval speedboat shows people shouting for help as the boat slowly goes under water. Thirteen people were killed and 99 were rescued. The navy craft whose engine was on a trial run lost control and collided with the passenger ferry that was going from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a tourist spot. "Search and Rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police. Four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats were involved in the rescue efforts," the Navy said. "The survivors picked up by Navy and civil craft in the area have been transferred to jetties and hospitals in the vicinity. So far 99 survivors have been rescued," it added. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur that 101 persons have been rescu...

Scientists Develop New Approach to Capture Gravitational Wave Memory from Supernovae

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A study published in Physical Review Letters explores a new approach to detecting the gravitational wave memory effect, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's general relativity. This effect refers to the permanent alteration in the distance between cosmic objects caused by a passing gravitational wave. Scientists suggest that existing gravitational wave observatories could capture this elusive signature, specifically from core-collapse supernovae (CCSN), which occur when massive stars over ten times the Sun's mass collapse and explode. Core-collapse supernovae generate gravitational waves with unique characteristics due to their changing quadrupole moments during collapse. According to reports, while the amplitude of these waves is lower compared to signals from black hole or neutron star mergers, they provide critical insights into stellar interiors. Unlike electromagnetic signals, which originate from a supernova's surface, gravitational waves emerge from deep within, o...

"Matter Of Shame": Priyanka Gandhi On Yogi Adityanath's "Israel" Remark

In a swipe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said throwing youths into the war zone in Israel for "employment" is not an achievement but a matter of shame. Her remarks came after Adityanath took a veiled jibe at Priyanka Gandhi for carrying a handbag to Parliament that had 'Palestine' emblazoned on it. "Yesterday, a Congress leader was seen walking around Parliament carrying a Palestine bag, while we are sending our youth to Israel for opportunities. "So far, more than 5,600 youth from Uttar Pradesh have gone to Israel for construction work. Every youth gets free food and accommodation besides a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh there. There is also full guarantee of safety," Adityanath said on the second day of the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Hitting back at Adityanath, Priyanka Gandhi said those who sent Uttar Pradesh's youths to war-torn Israel instead of providing them...

NASA’s InSight Mars Lander Captured with Dust Layers by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

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NASA's retired InSight Mars lander was recently spotted by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in an image taken on October 23, 2024, using its High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. The image shows dust build-up on the lander's solar panels, which now match the reddish-brown colour of the Martian surface. Reports suggest this observation continues to provide insights into the movement of dust and wind patterns on Mars. InSight's Mission and Retirement The InSight lander, which touched down in November 2018, was central to detecting Marsquakes and studying the planet's crust, mantle, and core. NASA officially ended the mission in December 2022 after the lander stopped communicating due to excessive dust accumulation on its solar panels. Engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California continued to monitor the lander for any signs of reactivation, hoping Martian winds might clear its panels. However, as per reports , no ...

World's Largest Iceberg A23a Breaks Free, Drifts In The Southern Ocean

After being grounded for over 30 years, the world's largest iceberg, A23a, has started drifting in the Southern Ocean. This massive iceberg, which is roughly double the size of Greater London and weighs approximately one trillion tonnes, broke off from Antarctica's Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986. Since then, it had remained stuck on the seabed near the South Orkney Islands in the Weddell Sea until it began its slow movement northwards in 2020. "It's exciting to see A23a on the move again after periods of being stuck. We are interested to see if it will take the same route the other large icebergs that have calved off Antarctica have taken. And more importantly what impact this will have on the local ecosystem," said Dr Andrew Meijers, who is an oceanographer with the British Antarctic Survey. A23a's journey The journey of iceberg A23a has been marked by fascinating scientific events. A23a broke free from Antarctica in 1986 but got stuck in the Weddell Sea's...

Ding, Accused Of Deliberately Losing To Gukesh, Opens Up On Loss At Worlds

Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren has opened up on his loss to India's D Gukesh at the World Chess Championship 2024 in Singapore last week. Ding, who was the defending champion, made a costly error in the decisive Game 14, allowing Gukesh to become the youngest ever world champion. Following his defeat to Gukesh, Ding was accused of deliberately losing the match by Russian Chess Federation chief Andrei Filatov. Russian news agency TASS quoted Filatov asking the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to open a probe and investigate the result. Former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik had also questioned the quality of chess on display during the whole course of the 14-game tie Ding and Gukesh. Amid criticism, Ding has defended himself and Gukesh, insisting that the quality of the games was not so low. "Yes, I tried my best in the match and you could see my usage of time. I used a large amount of time in the opening phase when I was not familiar with the positi...

D Fadnavis Says "Performance Review" Of New Ministers Soon, Adds A Warning

A total of 39 legislators from Mahayuti allies were sworn in on Sunday in the first cabinet expansion of the 10-day-old Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry including 16 new faces, while 10 former ministers were excluded. Portfolios will be allocated in the next two to three days, the Chief Minister said. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state. The new inductees will, however, have to perform with Mahayuti allies deciding to conduct a "performance audit" of ministers during their tenure, Fadnavis said. Prominent leaders who couldn't find a place in the new council of ministers include BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, and Shiv Sena's Abdul Sattar. The council of ministers is a mix of old and new faces which reflects Fadnavis' efforts in balancing caste equations including sections of Marathas, OBCs, SCs, and STs and striking a regional balance. With the new inductees, the strength...