Others

India is poised to submit a bid to host the prestigious World Chess Championship later this year, with Delhi's state-of-the-art India International Convention and Expo Centre, 'Yashobhoomi,' as the proposed venue. The bid is being spearheaded by the All India Chess Federation, which has secured a No Objection Certificate from the government.The World Chess Championship, scheduled for November 20 to December 15, will feature reigning world champion Ding Liren of China and 18-year-old Indian challenger D Gukesh. The match will be a best-of-14-game affair, with the first player to reach 7.5 points declared the winner.India has previously hosted the World Chess Championship once, in 2013, when Viswanathan Anand faced Magnus Carlsen in Chennai. The match was organized at a cost of ₹29 crores.The India International Convention and Expo Centre, 'Yashobhoomi,' is a sprawling complex that covers an area of 1.07 lakh sq.m. and boasts 15 convention rooms, including a main auditorium, grand ballroom, and 13 meeting rooms. It can accommodate up to 11,000 delegates.The International Chess Federation (Fide) has set a minimum total budget of $8.5 million for the hosting of the championship, including a prize fund of at least $2.5 million and a Fide fee of $1.1 million. The remaining $4.9 million is allocated for anti-cheating measures, broadcast, and technological upgrades.Singapore has also expressed interest in hosting the match, citing its neutral status and the presence of both Chinese and Indian cultures in its society. However, the country has acknowledged that the hosting costs may be prohibitive.The last date for bid submission to Fide is May 31, and the decision on the host is expected to be made in June.

The Delhi Summer Athletic meet at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium concluded on Sunday with a significant number of athletes withdrawing from participation due to the presence of National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) officials.On Friday, the first day of the meet, several athletes either "Did Not Start" or "Did Not Finish" in various events, particularly in throwing events. NADA officials had arrived to collect samples, prompting many athletes to stay away.On Sunday, the exodus continued as more athletes pulled out across events. The women's steeplechase, women's hammer throw, and men's pole vault could not be conducted due to a lack of participants. In the men's hammer, only one athlete competed, while the lone participant in the women's hammer did not report.The men's triple jump saw no medallists as two jumpers withdrew and three registered 'no mark'. In discus, only half of the eight entrants took part. In men's 800m, six out of 19 participants did not start.The most significant withdrawals occurred in the men's 5,000m and boys U-18 1,000m. In 5,000m, only six of the 20 athletes competed, while the 1,000m race saw 14 DNS and three DNF in a field of 25. In women's 5,000m, five of the nine athletes pulled out.The Delhi Athletics Association (DAA), the organizers of the meet, stated that the results may be updated after receiving reports from NADA and the age verification committee. The result of the U18 shot put bronze medallist who evaded the testers has been withheld, and the boys' discus result has also been "withheld" due to complaints of overage.The meet was intended to select the Delhi team for the National Youth Athletics Championships in Chhattisgarh from June 15. The DAA had obtained undertakings from all participants with the names of their coaches, following the Athletics Federation of India's (AFI) announcement that coaches would also be punished if an athlete is suspended for doping.India has recorded the highest number of doping offenders in the world in 2022, according to a recent World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) report. India tested 3,865 samples that year, and 125 returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF). India is also the second worst country in doping cases among minors, as per a 10-year study conducted by WADA, behind Russia.

Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest Sparks Diplomatic Tension, U.S. Emphasizes Fair Legal ProceedingsFollowing India's summoning of a senior U.S. diplomat to protest remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Washington has stressed the importance of fair, transparent, and timely legal processes."We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal," said U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.Anti-CAA Protest Turns Deadly in MeghalayaTwo individuals were killed in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district during a meeting organized by a local organization against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) of 2019. The bodies were found near the state's border with Bangladesh.Sunrisers Hyderabad Outshines Mumbai Indians in High-Scoring IPL MatchTravis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen led Sunrisers Hyderabad to a 31-run victory over Mumbai Indians in a thrilling IPL match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.Priest Can Issue CAA Eligibility Certificate, Says Government HelplineAccording to a response received by The Hindu through the Union Ministry of Home Affairs' CAA helpline, a local priest may issue an "eligibility certificate" to validate the religion of an applicant under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019.Congress Announces 14 More Candidates for Lok Sabha ElectionsThe Congress has released a fresh list of 14 candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.₹50 Lakh Stolen from Cash Van in KeralaIn a brazen daylight theft, ₹50 lakh was stolen from a van transporting cash to fill cash vending machines in Kerala's Kasaragod district. The incident occurred outside an Axis Bank ATM.Nirmala Sitharaman Decides Against Lok Sabha ContestUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha election, citing a lack of "money to contest" and her inability to meet the "winnability criteria" in southern states.Revised MGNREGS Wages AnnouncedThe Union government has notified revised wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), with several states reporting hikes of 8 to 10%.Former IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt Convicted in False Drug Seizure CaseA court in Gujarat has convicted former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt in a drugs seizure case dating back to 1996. The court is expected to pronounce the quantum of punishment on Thursday.Arvind Kejriwal's Wife Relays Message to PeopleSunita Kejriwal, the wife of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, posted a video message on her husband's Twitter account, where she relayed a message from him: "While my body is in jail, my spirit is with the people of Delhi."India's Position on Russia-Ukraine Conflict: No Solution on BattlefieldExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated that India's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict is that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield and that New Delhi wants to find a way to end the conflict.BJP Announces Navneet Rana's Candidature for Amravati Lok Sabha SeatThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced the candidature of Navneet Rana for the reserved Amravati Lok Sabha seat in its seventh list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.NIA Conducts Raids in Rameshwaram Cafe Blast CaseThe National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted simultaneous raids and questioned several suspects in Shivamogga, Karnataka, Chennai, and Ramanathapuram districts in Tamil Nadu in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case.Woman Stripped, Paraded, and Beaten in Madhya Pradesh VillageFour women were arrested for allegedly beating up, stripping, and parading a 30-year-old woman over a dispute at a village in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district.