Fifteen-year-old Indian chess player Vandan Alankar Sawai pulled off a stunning victory over former world champion Magnus Carlsen in an online game. Sawai defeated the Norwegian chess great in 50 moves and later said he was shocked when Carlsen made a crucial blunder. The teenager seized the opportunity and converted his advantage to register one of the biggest wins of his young career. The victory has drawn attention across the chess world, highlighting the growing strength of India's young players and their ability to challenge the sport's biggest names. (PC: India Today)

BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok has sparked a fresh row after saying the Modi government addressed upper-caste concerns by introducing the 10% EWS quota in 2019. His remarks came amid protests demanding reforms to caste-based reservation and the scrapping of the now-stayed UGC equity rules. Reservation reform activists hit back, accusing Alok of dismissing their right to question policies affecting them. The debate has intensified after activist Ajeet Bharti was booked under the SC/ST Act over alleged remarks against MP Chandrashekhar Azad, adding political heat to the reservation controversy. (PC: India Today)

A US military aircraft landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Tuesday, triggering speculation about the purpose of the rare flight. Flight tracking data identified the aircraft as a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, which flew from Riga, Latvia, to Moscow. Neither Washington nor Moscow immediately explained the visit, while the Kremlin said it had no information. The aircraft had earlier arrived in Riga from Camp Springs, home to Andrews Air Force Base. Online speculation linked the flight to possible Ukraine peace talks, including reports of a potential visit by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. (PC: India Today)

China has vowed to protect its interests after the US announced wider sanctions targeting Iran and countries trading with Tehran. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing opposed what it called “illegal unilateral sanctions” and would take necessary measures to safeguard its rights. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that nations, banks and businesses maintaining financial ties with Iran could face isolation. China remains Iran’s largest oil buyer, with analysts estimating that around 90% of Iranian oil exports go to China. India and Russia could also be affected, but neither has yet responded.

An Indian man living in the US has sparked an online debate after claiming he saved more in India despite earning around ₹1 crore annually in America. Nitin Malhotra said his $8,000 monthly income is heavily reduced by mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, food and other household expenses, leaving him with about $1,000-$1,200 in savings. He said that while earning ₹25 lakh annually in India, he could save around ₹1-1.25 lakh every month after rent and daily expenses. His comparison has triggered a wider discussion on salaries, cost of living and quality of life. (PC: HT)

Iran has said it is fully prepared to counter sweeping new US sanctions aimed at further isolating Tehran from the global economy. Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said the country had plans in place to manage the measures and predicted another failure for Washington.   US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the new sanctions would target Iran’s financial links, including sectors such as technology, gold, aviation and shipping. China opposed the unilateral measures, while analysts questioned their effectiveness, noting that China continues to buy most of Iran’s oil despite previous US sanctions. (PC: BBC)

Northeast India is positioning itself as a key hub for space technology and a gateway to Southeast Asia, with efforts underway to build stronger links between the region’s scientific institutions, startups and global partners. The initiative aims to use the Northeast’s strategic location to expand cooperation in satellite technology, remote sensing and other space-based services.   Experts believe the growing space ecosystem could create new opportunities for innovation, investment and skilled jobs across the region. Improved infrastructure and collaboration with neighbouring countries could also help Northeast India play a bigger role in India’s expanding space sector and regional technology partnerships. (PC: X)

India’s food safety regulator has dropped plans for prominent colour-coded warning labels on packaged foods high in sugar, salt and fat after opposition from major food companies. The proposed labels would have used clear front-of-pack warnings to help consumers identify unhealthy products.   Instead, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has proposed a black-and-white nutrition table. The decision is now under Supreme Court scrutiny following a petition by public health activists. Industry groups argued that colour-coded warnings could confuse consumers, while health experts said clearer labels could help tackle rising obesity and improve public awareness about unhealthy foods. (PC: NDTV)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the transfer of technology for all conventional missile systems developed by the DRDO to eligible Indian defence companies. The move will allow domestic firms to manufacture these missile systems, subject to required qualifications, certifications and regulations.   The Defence Ministry said the decision aims to boost indigenous manufacturing, reduce dependence on imports and expand the role of Indian companies, including MSMEs, in the defence supply chain. The initiative is also expected to help move DRDO-developed missile systems from the development stage to large-scale industrial production, strengthening India’s domestic defence capabilities. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs over a plea seeking their disqualification. The petition was filed by TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee, who challenged the delay in deciding the matter before Speaker Om Birla.   The 20 MPs were elected on TMC tickets but later broke away and aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. TMC has sought their disqualification under the anti-defection law. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that Speaker Birla had already issued notices on the disqualification petitions. (PC: IndiaToday)