GCL Season 3: SG Pipers meet holders Continental Kings in final; Ganges Grandmasters to face Alaskan Knights for third place (Ld)

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:55 PM

Mumbai, Dec 22 (IANS) Leon Luke Mendonca’s draw on the prodigy board was worth more than a win for Alpine SG Pipers as they qualified for the final against table-topper Triveni Continental Kings despite losing their last league match 6-11 against PBG Alaskan Knights in Season 3 of the Global Chess League (GCL) at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai on Friday.

Ambuja Cements’ board okays amalgamation of ACC Ltd and Orient Cement Ltd

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:55 PM

Ahmedabad, Dec 22 (IANS) Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, on Monday said it has received approval for two separate schemes of amalgamation from its Board of Directors — to merge ACC Limited and Orient Cement Limited — thus establishing a single consolidated ‘One Cement Platform’.

US lawmakers raise alarm over Bangladesh violence

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:53 PM

Washington, Dec 22, (IANS) Strongly condemning recent killings, attacks on media institutions, and a rise in assaults against Hindu and other minority communities, two influential US lawmakers on Monday expressed grave concern over escalating violence and unrest in Bangladesh.

SAI governing body approves new hockey turf for Bengaluru; electronic targets for Karni Singh Shooting Ranges

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:28 PM

New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) A brand new Poligras Paris GT Zero hockey turf for SAI Centre Bengaluru and replacement of existing electronic targets with laser target systems at the Karni Singh Shooting Range are among the key projects approved by the Governing Body (GB) of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at a meeting, chaired by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in New Delhi on Monday.

Area sown under rabi crop crosses 580 lakh hectares

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:22 PM

New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) The total area sown under rabi crops in the ongoing winter season has increased by 8.11 lakh hectares to 580.70 lakh hectares as on December 19 this year, compared with the corresponding figure of 572.59 lakh hectares in the same period last year, data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Monday showed.

Bangladesh: BNP's Tarique Rahman to register as voter on Dec 27

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:15 PM

Dhaka, Oct 22 (IANS) Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday announced that its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, will complete the formalities to become a registered voter on December 27, local media reported.

Kerala to showcase heritage tourism globally during int'l spice route conference in Jan 2026

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:13 PM

Kochi, Dec 22 (IANS) Kerala is set to showcase its deep maritime legacy to strengthen its footprint in the global heritage tourism market, with the first International Spice Route Conference scheduled to be held in Kochi from January 6 to 8, 2026.

Andhra: YSR Congress voices concern over growing crimes against women

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:13 PM

Amaravati, Dec 22 (IANS) YSR Congress Party has alleged that Andhra Pradesh has turned unsafe for women under the rule of the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government.

Bangladesh: Radical outfit threatens to oust Yunus govt over Hadi murder

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:09 PM

Dhaka, Dec 22 (IANS) As Bangladesh continues to grapple with worsening law and order situation, radical platform Inqilab Moncho on Monday threatened to launch a movement to topple the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government if justice is not delivered in the murder of its spokesperson, Sharif Osman Hadi, local media reported.

Over 13 lakh Indian students studied abroad in 2024: NITI Aayog

IANS | December 22, 2025 9:05 PM

New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) India continues to send a large number of students overseas for higher education, with more than 13.35 lakh Indians studying abroad in 2024, highlighting the country’s growing dependence on foreign universities despite having the world’s largest college-age population, according to a report released by NITI Aayog on Monday.