Times of India

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay honoured chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa with Rs 50 lakh and a memento after his historic Norway Chess triumph. The 20-year-old became the first Indian to win the title, defeating Magnus Carlsen twice and D. Gukesh. After starting poorly, he staged a remarkable comeback, winning four straight games to secure the championship.

Iran has indicated the Strait of Hormuz will reopen under new conditions set by Iranian and Omani authorities, potentially including transit fees for services. This comes as oil flows remain constrained following the US-Israeli conflict.

Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot expressed hurt over Sachin Pilot's alleged failure to publicly acknowledge his role in becoming a Union minister. Gehlot also claimed a "big conspiracy" unfairly damaged his reputation during the 2022 Congress presidential race, leading to a revolt by his loyal MLAs.

The CBSE announced that over 1.6 lakh students successfully submitted applications through its verification and re-evaluation portal between June 2 and June 7, 2026, covering more than 3.8 lakh answer books. The process followed concerns over the board’s new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and was conducted under the supervision of government agencies and IIT experts. CBSE said the portal remained operational despite cyber threats and clarified that the “Roll Number Not Found” message applied only to ineligible candidates.

The Calcutta High Court refused to urgently hear a petition by former minister Aroop Biswas seeking to quash an FIR against him for criminal intimidation. The court directed Biswas to follow the regular legal process, suggesting he seek anticipatory bail instead, as the FIR was filed six months after the alleged incident.

Housing affordability has plunged globally, hitting young people and vulnerable groups hardest. Soaring property prices and rising rents outpace incomes, with India's major cities facing a severe crunch. Experts cite urbanization and supply shortages. Governments must integrate housing with other strategies and boost construction to address this growing crisis.

South African legend AB de Villiers lauded India's decision to select 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for international duty, calling it a "brave" and "right call." De Villiers believes Sooryavanshi possesses the talent to succeed across formats, though he acknowledged the unique challenges of Test cricket. The young prodigy's selection follows a dominant performance in IPL 2026.

Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S. believes fears of widespread job losses due to AI are overstated, predicting more jobs will emerge. He highlighted Cognizant's new AI Builder strategy, creating roles like Frontier Certified Engineer and Frontier Business Operator that don't require technical backgrounds.

Chinese President Xi Jinping began a state visit to North Korea, meeting with leader Kim Jong Un to strengthen strategic ties. Xi emphasized their "unbreakable and enduring" friendship and commitment to regional peace. The visit occurs amid heightened tensions and North Korea's non-negotiable stance on its nuclear program.

India is rapidly advancing in hypersonic weapon technology, achieving a significant scramjet breakthrough. This development positions the nation among global leaders like the US, China, and Russia, who are all racing to develop these near-unstoppable weapons. Hypersonic systems, flying above Mach 5, pose a new era of warfare, demanding advanced defense strategies.

India tightened their grip on the one-off Test against Afghanistan, enforcing the follow-on after a dominant first innings. The morning session was marked by a significant DRS blunder from Afghanistan, where a batter walked off without a review, only for replays to show the decision would have been overturned. Debutant Manav Suthar impressed with six wickets.

Ankur Warikoo's viral LinkedIn post highlights Shaurya Shikhar's journey from failing IIT-JEE and feeling inadequate to earning a seven-figure monthly income and gifting his father a ₹55 lakh BMW. The story emphasizes that life eventually works out, urging readers to keep moving forward through difficult times, a message resonating widely online.

Manav Suthar enjoyed a dream Test debut against Afghanistan, claiming 6/33. The 23-year-old registered the best bowling figures in an innings on Test debut by an Indian in 38 years. It is the best since Narendra Hirwani's 8/61 against West Indies in 1988. The left-arm spinner helped bowl Afghanistan out for 152 and joined an elite list featuring Hirwani, R Ashwin, Dilip Doshi and Syed Abid Ali.

The arrest comes weeks after Calcutta high court's vacation bench refused to extend the interim protection in five FIRs granted to the TMC strongman. Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee referred the matter to a regular bench. Earlier, Khan was granted interim protection by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya till May 26, considering the repolls there on May 21.

Posters targeting the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, appeared on multiple roundabouts in New Delhi ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday. The posters highlighted past statements by Opposition leaders against the Congress MP.

India's fertility rate has dropped below replacement level, prompting a new economic discussion. Radhika Gupta emphasizes that with fewer births, worker productivity, skills, and female workforce participation become crucial growth drivers. The challenge lies in making careers and family life sustainable together, requiring robust childcare and care infrastructure, akin to traditional economic development.

Shreyas Iyer embraces his new role as India's T20I captain, vowing to remain true to his personality and competitive Mumbai upbringing. He believes his inherent winning mindset will guide him, seeing the captaincy as a significant challenge. This appointment marks a strong comeback for Iyer, who now leads the team after a period out of T20I plans.

A powerful 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines, causing buildings to collapse and triggering tsunami warnings. High school and university structures were among those damaged, with viral videos showing crumbling buildings. Authorities issued tsunami warnings for the Philippines and neighboring Indonesia, with potential waves exceeding one meter.