Times of India

At the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025, India's D Gukesh has excelled, remaining unbeaten and overtaking Arjun Erigaisi to become the new India No. 1. Gukesh's strong performances contrast with Erigaisi's struggles, who has yet to secure a win and has dropped to the bottom of the leaderboard, impacting his rating.

Rohit Sharma's return to the Ranji Trophy after nearly a decade was short-lived as he was dismissed early by Jammu and Kashmir's Umar Nazir. Despite his comeback to maintain match fitness following a tough international series, Rohit managed only a brief appearance, further compounded by Yashasvi Jaiswal's quick departure. The last time Rohit played a Ranji game for Mumbai, he scored a brilliant 113 while batting at No 4 in a drawn match against Uttar Pradesh.

Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy starred in India's seven-wicket win against England in the first T20I. Arshdeep became India's highest T20 wicket-taker, while Chakravarthy continued his impressive form. Both players praised each other's performances, highlighting their crucial contributions in the match.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff anticipates a significant shift in OpenAI's partnerships, suggesting that Microsoft may not rely on OpenAI's technology in the future. OpenAI's expansion efforts and internal executive tensions, along with Microsoft's independent AI developments, signal an increasing separation between the two companies since their initial collaboration in 2019.

Union minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that the unidentified illness in Rajouri, J&K is caused by a toxin, ruling out infection, virus, or bacteria. Since December 2024, the disease claimed 17 lives. Neurotoxins were found responsible for brain swelling in the deceased individuals.

Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane questions the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan and suggests it may have been staged. Rane accuses political leaders of bias against Hindu actors and expresses concerns about the growing Muslim population and Bangladeshi infiltrators in Mumbai. The stabbing incident at Khan's residence involved a thief trying to steal for his ailing mother.

Monali Thakur was rushed to hospital after experiencing severe breathing difficulty during a live performance in West Bengal. The singer's condition rapidly deteriorated, leading her team to arrange immediate medical attention. Previously, Monali voiced concerns about mismanagement during a concert in Varanasi, highlighting infrastructure issues.

Vivian Wilson, estranged daughter of Elon Musk, addressed accusations of her father's alleged 'Nazi salute.' Critics liken Musk's gesture during a Trump rally to fascist salutes. Musk denies the claims, calling them baseless. Wilson cryptically suggested the act was deliberate, emphasizing plausible deniability. Musk also criticized Wikipedia for referencing the controversial gesture.

Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales and Tesla's Elon Musk clashed over Musk's controversial hand gesture at Trump's inauguration, compared to a Nazi salute. Musk labeled Wikipedia an extension of 'legacy media propaganda,' while Wales defended the platform, asserting that the reported facts were accurate. Musk's accusation led Wales to highlight Wikipedia's non-profit nature and commitment to truth.

Girls from a juvenile home near Visakha Valley School protested by climbing the compound wall and accusing staff of torturing them with sleeping tablets. Their parents joined the protest, leading to the government ordering an inquiry. Some girls allegedly blackmailed staff by refusing medication, prompting mental care hospital authorities to intervene and examine their health conditions.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, opened in red on Thursday. While BSE Sensex was below 76,300, Nifty50 was near 23,100.

In the recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, Binod Kumar Choudhary from Bihar and Fawaz Kamaal Hashmi from Pune participate. Binod wins Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 bonus after facing some setbacks. Fawaz, a software engineer, joins next but struggles with app-related questions and loses. Host Amitabh Bachchan shares a light moment with contestants and audience.

The mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, a town in Judea, has renamed 4,000 acres of land to 'Trump One' as an honor to US President Donald Trump. Mayor Guy Yifrach emphasized the area's strategic significance and its potential to strengthen Jewish communities, despite past international opposition to development plans.

Comedian Kapil Sharma, along with actor Rajpal Yadav and choreographer Remo D'Souza, received death threats targeting them and their families. The threats were sent via email by a person named Vishnu. The Amboli Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter.

Fog caused delays for several flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The IMD forecasted slightly cooler weather with temperatures between 22°C and 12°C over the next two days. Wednesday saw an unseasonal rise in Delhi's maximum temperature, but further travel disruptions are likely due to persistent foggy conditions.

Federal judges criticized President Trump's pardons of over 1,500 individuals linked to the Capitol riot, including members of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. While charges were dismissed, judges emphasized the immutability of the attack's records and condemned the disruptors of the peaceful transition of power. The pardons have sparked significant outrage and legal disapproval.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the seriousness of the 2023 attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, calling for accountability from the US. The assailants attempted arson and vandalized the consulate. Pro-Khalistani protestors were involved. An investigation was initiated, and the FBI assured aggressive pursuit of the culprits.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his team's all-round performance after their seven-wicket victory over England in the first T20I. India's bowlers, led by Varun Chakaravarthy, restricted England to 132, while Abhishek Sharma's 79 ensured a quick chase. Both captains highlighted their strategies and preparations for the upcoming matches.

Abhishek Sharma scored a blistering fifty off 20 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian in T20Is against England. Coached by Yuvraj Singh, he led India to a successful chase of 133 runs at Eden Gardens with a rapid 79 off 34 deliveries, hitting eight sixes and five fours.