The Times of India

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen will headline the 2026 London Chess Classic Super Rapid on December 5-6, alongside India's Nihal Sarin, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Anish Giri. The open event offers amateurs a chance to face Carlsen. Also competing are World No. 5 Nodirbek Abdusattorov and prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, the youngest Woman Grandmaster in history.

Smriti Mandhana will captain India across all three formats on their December tour of South Africa, featuring one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. Deepti Sharma will be vice-captain in Tests and ODIs, while Shafali Verma will deputise in T20Is. Vaishnavi Sharma replaces Sneh Rana in the ODI squad, while three young players feature in T20Is.

PT Usha has lost the IOA Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit elections, ending her hopes of contesting for a second term as president. Saina Nehwal, Rani Rampal, Anju Bobby George and Dola Banerjee were elected among women, while four male athletes were chosen unopposed. The elected members are now eligible to contest the December 5 IOA elections.

The Mumbai Cricket Association has appointed Suryakumar Yadav as captain for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. SKY will aim to regain his place in the Indian team with strong performances. Shardul Thakur returns after recovering from a finger fracture, while Shivam Dube features in the squad. Suryansh Shedge and Tanush Kotian will miss the tournament due to India A duty.

KL Rahuls batting position sparked debate after Indias second ODI against New Zealand, as Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticised sending Axar Patel ahead of him. Axar managed just seven runs, while Rahul looked comfortable. Srikkanth called it unfair to Rahul, but Sunil Gavaskar defended the move, explaining that promoting a left-hander can disrupt bowlers rhythm.

Heavy rain and chilly conditions in Hamilton disrupted India's preparations, but that didn't stop the fun! Watch how Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and other Team India players spent their time, sharing light moments, laughter and plenty of banter during the rain break on the New Zealand tour.

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addresses the media ahead of the next ODI against New Zealand. He discusses KL Rahul's versatility, India's batting approach in challenging conditions, the importance of experienced players, young batters adapting their game and preparations for the upcoming Test series.

David Warner has shown unwavering support for Usman Khawaja in light of fresh discussions surrounding the notorious 2018 Sandpaper Gate scandal. Khawaja's forthcoming autobiography suggests that more team members were involved in the ball-tampering scandal than initially admitted. Warner has voiced concerns over the integrity of the investigation, particularly since Khawaja was not interviewed, despite his presence during the incident.

Ryan ten Doeschate opened up about a thoughtful exchange with Virat Kohli focused on refining his batting technique. After Kohli faced difficulties during the challenging Australia tour, ten Doeschate cautiously approached him to discuss areas for improvement. Despite no immediate breakthroughs, the dialogue underscored the significance of mindful coaching communication, showcasing how subtle guidance can impact player development over time.

New Zealand's batting coach Luke Ronchi expressed admiration for India's young pace bowlers during the ongoing ODI series. He noted their ability to adapt their bowling techniques to challenging conditions that help them excel. Ronchi emphasised the importance of maintaining a calm mindset among batters in such difficult situations. He pointed out that scoring rates should not overshadow the need for strategic adjustments.

Donald Trump is signalling that another major US attack on Iran may not be necessary if Tehran agrees to what he calls a very strong agreement, marking a notable shift after weeks of leaving open the possibility of renewed large-scale strikes. Asked by CNN about further military action, Trump said it depended on whether Iran signs an agreement, adding that fresh strikes were highly unlikely to be necessary. But the military threat remains. Trump says Washington has identified Iranian infrastruct

Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Monday revealed that the management is also considering keeping Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi back for the Test camp, and head coach Gautam Gambhir will soon make the final call. Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel will go with the Test team, whereas Gambhir will stay back with the ODI team.

Production has been suspended at Iraq's Khor Mor gas field after a drone attack struck an LPG storage tank, sparking a fire that was still raging. Workers were evacuated into shelters, while an initial assessment indicated no casualties, according to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The Kurdistan region's electricity ministry reported a loss of approximately 2.8 gigawatts of power generation. The attack, described as a terrorist incident, comes amid escalating regional tensions and disruption to shi

President Donald Trump clarifies Dana White press secretary remarks, saying he was only kidding about appointing the UFC CEO to the White House role. Trump said White loves the idea but stressed that the suggestion was never serious. The US president added that he would speak with the Ultimate Fighting Championship chief on Monday, November 9, about other matters. The remarks come after Trump's surprise suggestion sparked attention over a possible shake-up in the White House communications team.

A fourth tanker has reportedly struck a naval mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz within hours, as Iran increasingly enforces restrictions on commercial shipping through the strategic waterway. Iranian authorities say the latest vessel had switched off its identification system and entered a prohibited corridor before hitting a mine in the eastern strait. The IRGC Navy says three other tankers suffered similar incidents earlier on Sunday after violating Tehrans maritime restrictions, br

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has endorsed Ilse Aigner for the upcoming presidential election in Germany. Aigner, if elected, would be the first woman to hold this position. Supported by the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union, she has backing from various political parties. She could succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose presidency ends on March 18. Aigner has previous government experience and a strong political network in Germany.

Shourya Ambure secured a bronze medal in the women's 100m hurdles at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. This marked India's first track and field medal at the current Youth Olympics edition, showcasing her talent. Ambure set a personal best of 13.59 seconds during the final, improving upon her earlier semi-final time. Her achievement contributes to India's overall medal tally, which now stands at eight.

Total Chess chief Kjell Madland has defended the pilot tournaments fast classical-only group stage, insisting all 24 players will compete across formats until the final day. The Budapest event opens with a nine-round blitz tournament, followed by a fast classical group stage that decides the four semi-finalists, with all three formats used in the knockouts. Madland said the format aims to modernise chess and attract wider audiences.

Donald Trump admitted in a recent interview that the Iran war and deportation policies affected Republican midterm results. He acknowledged that while strong border security was supported, harsh deportation measures raised concerns among voters. Trump expressed a willingness to negotiate with Democrats on immigration reform, particularly for long-term residents. He maintained that Iran was prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons during his presidency, asserting military involvement in the regio

India has decided to retain pacers Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Auqib Nabi for Test preparations. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stated that the ODI series conditions have been beneficial for the upcoming Test matches. A preparatory camp for Test players is scheduled to begin on November 11, which will help them get ready. Meanwhile, India leads the ODI series against New Zealand 2-0 after a close win in Wellington.

Myra Sharma from Bengaluru and Patna applied lipstick during labor to keep herself occupied. She explained that this personal choice helped her manage discomfort and maintain a sense of self. Understanding labor pain is variable, she acknowledged that every woman's experience is different. Myra shared her perspective on personal freedom during pregnancy and childbirth in her Instagram post.

With Iran and the U.S. once again on the brink of full-scale war, Tehran has presented the White House with two options following a series of diplomatic exchanges and indirect talks through mediators. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that it is now up to the White House to choose between reaching an agreement with Iran after stopping conflicts on all fronts or opt for a war that will end in another defeat for the US. In a post on X on Sunday, Araghchi pointed to the outcome of the re

Delhi experienced a significant decline in air quality overnight, with areas recording severe pollution levels. The Central Pollution Control Board reported an Air Quality Index of 406 at ITO, indicating hazardous conditions. Visibility was greatly reduced as a thick layer of smog enveloped the city during the early morning hours. Rajiv Chowk and South Extension also reported very poor air quality readings.