Times of India

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has returned to the world's top 10, climbing to No. 8 in the June 2026 FIDE ratings after gaining 10 points. He is the only Indian in the top 10. Strong performances, including at the TePe Sigeman tournament in Malmö, boosted his ranking. Although he lost a playoff to Magnus Carlsen, Erigaisi's overall results secured his comeback among chess's elite.

If the question is which batter produced the most extreme combination of volume, speed and power across a single IPL season, the evidence points overwhelmingly in one direction. The IPL has seen bigger run tallies. It has seen cleaner six-hitters. What it had never seen before 2026 was a player score nearly 800 runs while striking at 237 and smashing 72 sixes. For 18 seasons, volume and violence existed separately. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi merged them, and that is why his IPL campaign 2026 may be one of the greatest batting seasons ever.

The Patriots' blockbuster acquisition of A.J. Brown quickly became overshadowed by controversy after a viral social media claim linked head coach Mike Vrabel to former NFL insider Dianna Russini. The allegation gained significant attention despite no evidence supporting it. Meanwhile, Brown's move from Philadelphia to New England has sparked optimism about the Patriots' offense, with former NFL star Chris Long believing the receiver can help maximize quarterback Drake Maye's development and accelerate the team's Super Bowl ambitions.

Meta is making big changes. Thousands of employees are moving to new AI teams. This is part of a major company-wide AI focus. CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to strengthen Meta's AI position. Some workers are calling it an 'AI draft'. The company is also developing new AI tools. This restructuring shows Meta's growing commitment to artificial intelligence.

Pant was relieved of LSG's captaincy duties last week after the franchise finished at the bottom of the 10-team table. His individual form also came under scrutiny, with the left-hander managing only 312 runs in 14 innings.

Samik Bhattacharya, the West Bengal BJP leader, has taken a definitive stand against former TMC leaders who wish to join their ranks, branding them as 'tainted' and insisting that the BJP thrives on grassroots support. He also dismissed Mamata Banerjee's intentions to stage a protest over supposed post-poll violence as an attempt to sidestep her party's internal challenges.

America is considering expanding its nuclear weapons deployment to more NATO allies, with eastern European nations like Poland reportedly showing interest. This move aims to bolster deterrence amid rising tensions with Russia. These arrangements, historically central to NATO's defense, ensure allies share in nuclear policy and risk, strengthening collective security and the US commitment to protect its partners.

India's Health Ministry has issued a travel advisory for those arriving from Ebola-hit nations, assuring no cases are currently reported domestically. Travelers from affected regions within the last 21 days experiencing symptoms like fever, vomiting, or bleeding are urged to self-isolate and contact health authorities immediately via the 24x7 helpline 1075 for guidance.

A recent Kedarnath Yatra pilgrimage highlights significant challenges faced by travellers, including severe traffic jams and overcrowded routes. Despite extensive planning, one pilgrim's journey became a test of endurance, culminating in an inability to enter the temple due to overwhelming crowds, raising concerns about managing high tourist traffic at popular Indian pilgrimage sites.

Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrated Royal Challengers Bengaluru's second consecutive IPL title with a hilarious "Kikli" dance. Both veteran players were instrumental in RCB's dominant campaign, with Kohli leading the batting and Bhuvneshwar spearheading the bowling attack to secure their back-to-back championship wins.

A special CBI court in Bhopal is expected to send Giribala Singh, a former district judge, and her son Samarth Singh to judicial custody today. Both are accused in the dowry death case of model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma. The CBI did not seek further remand for the duo. The court's decision is anticipated this afternoon.

Enforcement Directorate conducted extensive raids across Maharashtra and Gujarat, targeting over 20 locations in a money laundering probe linked to drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola. Dola, recently extradited from Türkiye, is accused of running a transnational drug syndicate and is a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim.

Pakistan is spending heavily on lobbying in the United States. This occurs as the nation faces economic difficulties and water scarcity. The country also deals with rising fuel costs. FARA filings reveal extensive efforts to influence Washington. This includes security, trade, and diplomatic outreach. The lobbying intensified during military tensions with India. Pakistan's army chief made claims about mediation.

Hardik Pandya is set to undergo fitness drills at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from June 2, aiming for the ODI squad against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Test team begins training in Mullanpur for their one-off match. Auqib Nabi might be a late addition to the Test camp.

In a dramatic turn of events, Rashi Chhabria, a caregiver, has found herself in handcuffs for supposedly stealing jewellery worth ₹25 lakh from the home of Raveena Tandon’s brother in Mumbai. Entrusted with the care of the star's mother, Chhabria had cultivated the family's trust before the precious items disappeared from a secure location.

To limit the impact of these external shocks, the government has stepped up measures aimed at reducing foreign exchange outflows and stabilising the economy. These steps include increases in fuel prices and a sharp rise in import duties on precious metals.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive IPL 2026 performance, including 776 runs and 72 sixes, has ignited calls for his immediate promotion to India's T20I squad. While many former cricketers back the young talent, ex-player Sanjay Manjrekar urges caution, advocating for gradual exposure to international conditions and allowing his career to develop organically.