Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura Hail Praggnanandhaa’s Signing with Team Liquid

 Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura Hail Praggnanandhaa’s Signing with Team Liquid

Chennai, June 29, 2025 — Indian chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa received high praise from the global chess elite after being signed by premier Esports organisation Team Liquid on Saturday, marking a major milestone in his career and further elevating India's rising presence in the digital chess world.

The move was warmly welcomed by chess heavyweights Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, the top two ranked players in the world and household names in the global Esports chess scene.

Carlsen, the Norwegian five-time World Champion and long-time ambassador for the game's digital expansion, took to X (formerly Twitter) to extend a witty and heartfelt welcome to his new teammate.

“Whole lot of letters in Praggnanandhaa, but no ‘I’. Welcome to the team 🤝,” Carlsen wrote, highlighting the Indian Grandmaster’s team spirit and humility.

Carlsen and fellow American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana are already part of Team Liquid’s roster, and the addition of Praggnanandhaa is seen as a major boost to the team’s depth and global appeal.

The 18-year-old Grandmaster from Chennai has been one of the brightest young stars in international chess, consistently delivering standout performances in both over-the-board and online formats. His recent achievements — including a run to the finals of the FIDE World Cup in 2023 and key victories over elite players — have earned him admiration from the game’s legends.

Hikaru Nakamura, the World No. 2 and arguably the most popular figure in online chess, also showered praise on Praggnanandhaa, calling him “a rare gem” and applauding Team Liquid’s decision to bring him onboard.

“Pragg is not just a talent on the board, but someone who represents the next generation of global chess — smart, humble, and fearless,” Nakamura said during a livestream on Saturday. “This is a huge win for Liquid, and honestly, for the whole chess community.”

With Praggnanandhaa’s signing, Team Liquid now boasts an unprecedented lineup of top-tier chess talent — blending traditional Grandmaster strength with digital reach and mass appeal. The move is being seen as a strong signal of the growing intersection between classical chess and the booming Esports landscape.

The inclusion of chess in major streaming and content platforms, driven in part by personalities like Nakamura and Carlsen, has made the sport more accessible than ever, drawing millions of viewers to blitz matches, bullet showdowns, and online tournaments.

In a statement, Team Liquid said it was “thrilled to welcome Praggnanandhaa,” noting that his “exceptional talent and unique spirit embody the future of competitive chess.”

For Indian fans, the signing is a source of immense pride. Social media platforms were flooded with messages of support for the teenage star, who continues to carry the torch for India’s growing chess culture.

As the chess world watches closely, one thing is clear — Praggnanandhaa’s next chapter is just beginning, and it’s going to be played on the biggest digital stage yet.

Mass Funeral Held in Tehran for Iranian Officials Killed in Israeli Strikes as Tensions Escalate

 Mass Funeral Held in Tehran for Iranian Officials Killed in Israeli Strikes as Tensions Escalate

Tehran, June 29, 2025 — Iran held a massive state funeral on Saturday for senior military officials and scientists killed during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, drawing hundreds of thousands of mourners to the streets of Tehran in a powerful show of national solidarity and defiance.

The ceremony, marked by a strong military presence and emotional public displays of mourning, honored some of the highest-ranking figures in Iran’s defense establishment, including Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s chief of staff.

Draped in national flags and surrounded by elite guards, the coffins of the fallen were carried through downtown Tehran as chants of “Death to Israel” and “Martyrs never die” echoed through the capital. Many in the crowd wore black and held photos of the deceased, while others waved Iranian flags and banners condemning Israeli aggression.

The two military leaders were among the estimated 60 people — including officers, nuclear scientists, and IRGC operatives — killed during nearly two weeks of Israeli airstrikes that targeted Iranian military infrastructure, research facilities, and command centers across Syria and parts of Iran. The conflict, which began with a dramatic escalation in cross-border strikes, concluded earlier this week with an internationally brokered ceasefire.

Iranian state television broadcast the funeral live, showing somber scenes of grief and nationalistic fervor. Senior clerics, political leaders, and members of Iran’s elite gathered in the capital for what officials described as “a national day of mourning and resistance.”

In a fiery speech during the funeral procession, Iran’s acting Defense Minister Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi issued a stern warning to both Israel and the United States. He directly addressed former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently commented on Iran’s military losses, calling his remarks “provocative” and “unwise.”

“Any further threats or hostile actions from you or your allies will not go unanswered,” Farahi declared. “Iran will defend itself with full force, and those who believe they can intimidate us are deeply mistaken.”

Iranian officials accused Israel of launching “unprovoked, targeted assassinations” aimed at weakening the country’s defense leadership and nuclear development program. Israel has not officially commented on the deaths of the senior Iranian commanders but has stated in recent days that it will take “necessary actions” to ensure its national security in the face of Iranian regional activities.

Saturday’s funeral was not only a moment of national mourning but also a potent political message. Analysts say the turnout and the prominence of the ceremony signal that Iran intends to project strength despite its losses and send a warning to its regional and global adversaries.

“This funeral was as much about grief as it was about deterrence,” said Tehran-based political analyst Amir Mohajer. “Iran is trying to show that it is united and unshaken.”

As tensions simmer across the region, observers worry that the ceasefire may offer only a temporary pause in hostilities between the two bitter enemies. With both sides suffering casualties and each vowing retaliation, the potential for renewed confrontation remains high.

 

Deadly Suicide Attack in Pakistan’s North Waziristan Kills 16 Soldiers

 Deadly Suicide Attack in Pakistan’s North Waziristan Kills 16 Soldiers

Peshawar, June 29, 2025 — A suicide car bombing targeting a military convoy in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province left 16 soldiers dead and more than two dozen others injured on Saturday, in one of the deadliest attacks in recent months.

The assault took place in the North Waziristan district, near the Afghan border, an area long plagued by insurgent violence. According to local officials, the attacker rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the convoy, triggering a powerful blast that also damaged nearby homes.

“Six children were injured when the roofs of two houses collapsed due to the force of the explosion,” a police officer in the area reported.

The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a militant faction affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group’s suicide bomber wing said it was behind the deadly strike.

Violence has surged in Pakistan’s border regions since the Afghan Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan of allowing militant groups to operate from its territory and launch cross-border attacks — an allegation Afghan authorities deny.

So far this year, around 290 people — most of them security personnel — have been killed in attacks carried out by insurgent groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and neighboring Balochistan, according to data compiled by AFP.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, condemned the bombing, offering condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and vowing continued efforts against terrorism.

“Our security forces have made immense sacrifices for peace,” Gandapur said in a statement. “The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them in the fight against terrorism.”

As security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, residents mourned yet another tragic episode in a region that has endured years of conflict and instability.

 

U.S. Eases Proposed Tax on Foreign Remittances, Exempts Card and Bank Transfers

U.S. Eases Proposed Tax on Foreign Remittances, Exempts Card and Bank Transfers

Washington, D.C., June 29, 2025 — In a significant move welcomed by immigrant communities, U.S. lawmakers have softened a proposed tax on money sent abroad. The latest version of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," unveiled Friday, reduces the proposed remittance tax from 3.5% to 1% and excludes bank and card-based transfers from its scope.

Under the revised draft, the 1% tax will apply only to remittances sent using cash, money orders, cashier’s checks, or other physical payment instruments. Transfers made from bank accounts or those funded by debit or credit cards issued in the U.S. will be entirely exempt.

“There is hereby imposed on any remittance transfer a tax equal to 1 percent of the amount of such transfer,” the draft states, specifying that the responsibility to pay this tax will lie with the sender.

The earlier proposal had drawn criticism from immigrant groups and international tax experts, who argued it would disproportionately affect working-class individuals sending money to families overseas. The narrowed scope of the tax is now being seen as a compromise that aims to reduce cash-based, informal transfers without penalizing those using formal financial channels.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in May. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it is scheduled for debate before a final vote.

Tax professionals say the revised language provides clarity and relief, especially to non-resident Indians and other immigrant communities who frequently use formal banking channels for remittances.

“This is a welcome step. By exempting digital and bank-based transfers, the bill avoids burdening the majority of law-abiding senders while still addressing concerns over untracked cash remittances,” said one international tax consultant.

If passed by the Senate, the measure could set a precedent for how the U.S. approaches taxation on cross-border money flows in the future.

 

Praggnanandhaa’s Bold Play, Opening Variety and Grit Behind Rise to India’s No. 1

 Praggnanandhaa’s Bold Play, Opening Variety and Grit Behind Rise to India’s No. 1: Coach R.B. Ramesh

Tashkent/New Delhi – R. Praggnanandhaa’s coach, R.B. Ramesh, believes a bold shift in playing style and greater opening variety were key ingredients in the young Grandmaster’s remarkable run of form in 2025—culminating in a sensational win at the 2nd UzChess Cup in Tashkent and a climb to the top of the Indian chess rankings.

The 18-year-old's victory wasn’t just another trophy on the shelf—it pushed him ahead in one of the most competitive rivalries in Indian sport right now: the race to be India’s No. 1 chess player, overtaking contemporaries like Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Aravindh Chithambaram. That coveted position doesn’t just come with bragging rights; it opens doors to elite global tournaments and prestigious invitations.

Speaking after the win, coach Ramesh described 2025 as a turning point in Praggnanandhaa’s career. “He’s taken more risks, added more depth and variety to his openings, and really come into his own,” said Ramesh. “This is a kind of second emergence—he’s no longer just the prodigy from India, but a mature force who’s stepping out of the shadows.”

The Tashkent triumph didn’t come easy. The UzChess Cup featured a stacked field, including world-class talents like Ian Nepomniachtchi, Richard Rapport, and Parham Maghsoodloo, along with India’s own stars and Uzbekistan’s formidable young squad—Abdusattorov, Sindarov, Yakubboev, and Vokhidov.

After nine rounds of classical chess, Praggnanandhaa found himself in a deadlock with Uzbek players Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov—each scoring 5.5 points. The pressure was on.

Despite suffering back-to-back mid-tournament losses to Maghsoodloo and Rapport (the latter being hailed as a contender for game of the year), Pragg showed remarkable resilience. In the final round, playing with the black pieces against Abdusattorov, he delivered a clinical 49-move win to force a three-way playoff.

The title was then decided through chaotic blitz tiebreakers, with each player facing the other two in a series of six games at lightning speed—just three minutes per player on the clock. In the high-stakes frenzy, it was Pragg who kept his cool and emerged victorious.

His win not only sealed the UzChess title but signaled a defining moment in his career—one that may well be remembered as the start of his dominance at the top of Indian chess.

 

India Slams Arbitration Court Over Indus Waters Dispute, Labels It ‘Illegal’ and a ‘Charade’ Backed by Pakistan.

 India Slams Arbitration Court Over Indus Waters Dispute, Labels It ‘Illegal’ and a ‘Charade’ Backed by Pakistan.

New Delhi – India on Friday firmly rejected the authority of the Court of Arbitration set up under the Indus Waters Treaty, dismissing its latest ruling as illegitimate and politically motivated. The sharp response followed the tribunal’s issuance of a “supplemental award” asserting its jurisdiction to hear disputes related to the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu & Kashmir.

In a strongly worded statement, the Indian government described the court’s proceedings as a “charade” carried out at Pakistan’s behest and reiterated its longstanding position that the arbitration panel, constituted by the World Bank in October 2022, lacks legal validity.

The dispute revolves around Pakistan’s objections to the construction of the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower plants, both located in the Indian-administered region of Jammu & Kashmir. Islamabad has claimed the projects violate provisions of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty—an agreement brokered by the World Bank that governs water sharing between the two countries over six rivers of the Indus Basin.

India, however, maintains that it has complied fully with the treaty’s guidelines and that the projects are entirely lawful. It also argues that the formation of the Court of Arbitration is in violation of the dispute resolution mechanisms already outlined in the treaty.

“The so-called Court of Arbitration was set up illegitimately, and its actions are not binding on India,” said an Indian official familiar with the matter. “The supplemental award changes nothing. This process is a political maneuver dressed up as legal procedure, and it undermines the spirit of the treaty.”

The arbitration court, seated in The Hague, ruled on Thursday that India’s refusal to participate in the proceedings or its assertion that the treaty should be held in abeyance did not negate the court’s authority to move forward.

India, for its part, continues to support a separate neutral expert mechanism also initiated under the treaty. New Delhi believes that the neutral expert process, which it backs, is the only legitimate avenue to resolve technical disputes under the agreement.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan over the use of Indus waters have flared repeatedly over the years, but this episode marks a renewed confrontation over the role of international institutions in mediating the issue. The Indian government has often expressed concern that third-party interventions can be misused to delay or block its infrastructural development, especially in sensitive border areas.

While both countries remain signatories to the Indus Waters Treaty—which has endured multiple wars and decades of hostilities—the current disagreement over arbitration could further strain the fragile water-sharing accord.

Iran Urges Trump to Show Respect to Khamenei if Serious About Deal

 Iran Urges Trump to Show Respect to Khamenei if Serious About Deal

Tehran/Washington – Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated further this week after Iran’s Foreign Minister issued a sharp rebuke to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to adopt a more respectful tone toward Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei if he truly wants a diplomatic breakthrough.

The remarks came a day after Trump dismissed Khamenei’s stern warning against further U.S. strikes, calling the Iranian leader’s comments "detached from reality." Trump’s remarks followed nearly two weeks of Israeli air raids and a coordinated U.S. attack on three major Iranian nuclear sites, which Washington claims dealt a significant blow to Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to respond, stating that Trump’s tone was undermining any possibility of dialogue.

“If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers,” Araghchi wrote.

He also invoked Iran’s cultural identity, comparing the nation’s resilience and patience to its renowned tradition of carpet weaving. “The complexity and tenacity of Iranians is famously known in our magnificent carpets, woven through countless hours of hard work and patience,” he said. “But as a people, our basic premise is very simple and straightforward: we know our worth, value our independence, and never allow anyone else to decide our destiny.”

The exchange highlights the fragile state of U.S.-Iran relations as both sides appear to be posturing publicly, while leaving the door slightly ajar for potential negotiations. However, with emotions running high following recent military escalations, any path to a deal seems increasingly uncertain without a significant shift in rhetoric and tone from both capitals.