Times of India

Viswanathan Anand's withdrawal from the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Germany dealt a major blow to hopes of reconciliation between FIDE and Freestyle Chess. Tensions escalated after a dress code dispute involving Magnus Carlsen, with Anand enforcing FIDE rules. Despite backchannel talks, Freestyle players ultimately chose to crown their own “Freestyle Chess Champion,” sidelining FIDE’s authority.

Priyansh Arya, who was the top-scorer for Delhi in last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 222 runs at the strike rate of 166.91, grabbed eyeballs in the inaugural Delhi Premier League. Playing for South Delhi Superstarz, Arya slammed 608 runs in 10 innings with a whopping strike rate of 198.69, with two centuries and four fifty-plus total.

India is considering zero-duty imports from the US across various sectors, including those under the PLI scheme, to expedite a bilateral trade agreement and reverse reciprocal tariffs. This offer is contingent on strict rules of origin, requiring 30-40% value addition.

A bill targeting the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a pathway for international students to gain US work experience, has sparked concern, especially among the large Indian student population of 3.3 lakhs, with 97,556 currently in OPT. Introduced by Congressman Paul Gosar, the bill, H.R.2315, aims to prioritize American workers by eliminating OPT, which he argues incentivizes hiring foreign labor.

Microsoft founder and former CEO Bill Gates has three children — daughter Jennifer Gates, 28, son Rory Gates, 25, and daughter Phoebe Gates, 22. At a podcast, he said “I wanna give them a chance to have their own earnings and success, be significant and not overshadowed by the incredible luck and good fortune I had."

Former ICMR chief Soumya Swaminathan has publicly criticized Air India, labeling her experience as "terrible." Despite her loyalty and sufficient mileage, she was unable to upgrade her Nairobi to Delhi flight. Swaminathan expressed frustration over the illogical reasons provided by the airline. Air India responded, requesting her booking details to investigate.

In Dombivli, a dispute erupted when Poonam Gupta greeted her neighbors in English, leading to a violent altercation. The Dhoble family allegedly assaulted Gupta, her friend, and her husband after taking offense to the language. Initially, police filed a non-cognizable complaint, but after CCTV footage surfaced showing the Dhobles' aggression, they are reconsidering.

Ajnara Homes Society in Greater Noida faces a health crisis. Over 200 residents are sick, possibly from contaminated water. Authorities suspect the groundwater supply. The overhead tank was last cleaned in September. A medical camp will be set up. Water testing is underway. Residents report stomach pain. The incident highlights the need for regular water tank maintenance in residential societies.

Amidst rising US tariffs, Apple is strategically considering expanding iPhone production in India, aiming to mitigate financial impacts on US-bound exports. The company has already expedited shipments from India and plans to increase manufacturing there.

India's Cabinet Committee on Security has approved a nearly Rs 64,000 crore deal with France for 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets for INS Vikrant. The agreement includes 22 single-seat and four twin-seat trainers, along with weapons and support. Delivery is expected within 37 to 65 months.

During an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match, Ambati Rayudu and Navjot Singh Sidhu engaged in a heated argument after Rayudu accused Sidhu of disloyalty, leading to a viral response from Sidhu. Rayudu also clashed with Sanjay Bangar over Rohit Sharma's role in Mumbai Indians (MI), asserting that Hardik Pandya should lead independently.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called for unity among minority communities amidst growing unrest over the Waqf Act, 2025, assuring protection of their rights and property. She accused the Centre of divisive politics, while violent protests erupted in Murshidabad following the Act's implementation, leading to internet restrictions.

Amidst global economic uncertainties fueled by trade tariffs, the RBI has cut the repo rate to 6.5% and adopted an accommodative stance, signaling a potential for further rate reductions. While aiming for growth-supportive monetary policy, the RBI acknowledges challenges and revised downwards GDP growth projections for FY 2025-26 to 6.5%.

The Turner Twins did a new health experiment. This time, Ross and Hugo compared meat and vegan diets. They checked how these diets affected their vitamin levels. Hugo followed a vegan diet. Ross ate a meat-based diet. After six months, tests showed plant-based vitamins had positive effects. Hugo's Omega-3 and D3 levels improved. However, Hugo struggled with the vegan diet.

Kashmiri politicians are criticizing Omar Abdullah for his interactions with Union ministers, especially after the Waqf Amendment Act. Mehbooba Mufti condemned Abdullah's welcome to Kiren Rijiju, viewing it as undermining Indian Muslims. Sajad Lone echoed this, stating Abdullah should have avoided Rijiju as a protest. Abdullah also welcomed Amit Shah, further intensifying tensions among regional parties in the Valley.

The BJP has criticised the Congress for invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy during the AICC session in Ahmedabad, calling it politically motivated. BJP leaders questioned Congress's sincerity, suggesting they would have named their headquarters 'Sardar Bhavan' if they truly respected Patel.

Russia has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko confirmed the invitation, stating that discussions are underway.

Walmart is facing a week-long boycott, "Walmart Blackout," led by People’s Union USA over DEI rollbacks and tax concerns. While Walmart defends its community contributions and tax payments, critics argue the DEI changes undermine workplace diversity. Data suggests Walmart is more resilient to boycotts than Target, which faced significant backlash for similar initiatives.

R Ashwin etched his name in IPL history, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar to become the third-highest wicket-taker with 185 wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal and Piyush Chawla remain ahead of him. However, Chennai Super Kings faced defeat against Punjab Kings, despite Priyansh Arya's remarkable century. Punjab Kings secured a victory by 18 runs, with Arya earning 'Player of the Match'.