A new study conducted by University College London (UCL) has revealed that smoking has a more significant impact on life expectancy than previously believed. The study, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, found that each cigarette smoked reduces a person’s life by an average of 17 minutes for men and 22 minutes for women. These findings are higher than earlier estimates, which suggested that each cigarette took around 11 minutes off a person’s life. This mea

Call of Duty: World at War, Treyarch’s World War II-themed first-person shooter, is expected to arrive on Xbox Game Pass in May 2025, according to a reliable tipster. Alongside this title, Singularity, a first-person shooter by Raven Software, will also join the service. This would mark the third Call of Duty game available on Game Pass, following Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 6. The news comes from tipster @eXtas1stv, known for ac

After much anticipation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally revealed the schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The prestigious tournament, set to be played in a hybrid format across Pakistan and Dubai, will kick off with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19, 2025, in Karachi. The tournament will conclude with the final on March 9, 2025, hosted in Lahore, with a backup plan for Dubai if India qualifies for the final. India's campaign will beg

The World Bank has approved a substantial USD 800 million loan for the Amaravati Integrated Urban Development Program, which will support the development of Andhra Pradesh's greenfield capital city, Amaravati. The loan, approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank, aims to establish Amaravati as a sustainable, climate-resilient urban center that will create economic opportunities and improve the lives of its residents. The project is set to focus on building the city as

India and Pakistan have reached an agreement to play their upcoming ICC tournament matches at neutral venues, following a dispute over the 2025 ICC Men's Champions Trophy, which was originally set to be hosted by Pakistan. The decision was made after India refused to send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns and political tensions between the two countries. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that matches involving both nations during the 2024-2027 cycle will take

Ukraine has condemned FIFA after a map displayed during the European World Cup qualifiers for 2026 appeared to omit Crimea from Ukraine. The map, shown during the December 2024 draw for the joint-hosted tournament by the US, Mexico, and Canada, sparked backlash when it excluded Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy accused FIFA of supporting Russian propaganda and violating international law by "redrawing b

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to finalize the hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy during a virtual meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Under this model, India and Pakistan will not travel to each other's countries for ICC events. The 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will be played in Dubai, with eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. T

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. He triumphed over the reigning title-holder, Ding Liren of China, in the 14th and final game of their thrilling showdown in Singapore. Gukesh secured the necessary 7.5 points, edging out Liren, who scored 6.5 points, after winning the last classical time control game, which had seemed destined for a draw for most of the match. Before Gukesh, the title of the youngest

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is currently in turmoil due to the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly stated that it will not send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns and political issues. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to boycott future ICC events if India does not agree to the proposed hybrid model, where India’s matches are played in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament tak

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh is set to make history in the World Chess Championship as he nears a potential victory over China's Ding Liren. The series is tied at 6-6 after 12 intense games, and with a dramatic Game 13 that ended in a draw, Gukesh now has a final chance to clinch the title. This pivotal game, scheduled for Thursday, marks the culmination of years of hard work and determination for the young chess prodigy. Born in Chennai on May 29, 2006, D Gukesh began playing ch

Aarit Kapil, a nine-year-old chess prodigy from Delhi, has made history by becoming the youngest Indian to defeat a chess Grandmaster. In the penultimate round of the KIIT International Open tournament in Bhubaneswar, Aarit triumphed over Raset Ziatdinov, a 66-year-old Grandmaster from the United States. At just 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days old, Aarit is now the third youngest player globally to beat a Grandmaster under classical time control. The game, which lasted 63 moves, saw

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized a hybrid model for next year's Champions Trophy, allowing India to play its matches in Dubai, while Pakistan will co-host the event in the UAE. The decision, reached after informal discussions between ICC President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan's representatives, is a major step toward resolving venue concerns in international cricket. The 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan, with In

The future of the 2025 Champions Trophy is in jeopardy as tensions between India and Pakistan complicate the tournament's organization. India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan without government approval, which remains pending. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially rejected the idea of a hybrid hosting model that would allow India to play in Dubai, but recently showed some flexibility, reportedl

The Indian cricket team has significantly boosted its chances of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final with a commanding 295-run victory over Australia in Perth. However, the qualification process remains complex, with multiple scenarios playing out over the next few months. India, currently leading the WTC points table, needs to secure a solid result against Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series, while also hoping for specific outcomes from South Africa and Sr

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan cricket captain, has voiced his support for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in rejecting the hybrid model proposed for the 2024 Champions Trophy, which is set to be held in Pakistan. Afridi criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for mixing politics with sports, pointing out that Pakistan has toured India multiple times despite security concerns, including a white-ball series after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Afridi emphasized that t

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not accept the Hybrid Model for the upcoming Champions Trophy, a format that would involve some games being played in India and others in Pakistan. The ICC convened a virtual meeting with executive members to address the scheduling dilemma after India refused to send its team across the border. The PCB has been firm in its opposition to the Hybrid Model, arguing that it would give preferential t

Mohammed Shami has limited time to convince selectors to include him in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with just under a week to prove his fitness. The fast bowler, who has returned to competitive cricket after a lengthy injury layoff, has impressed in his first Ranji Trophy match but now faces evaluation through Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is closely monitoring Shami's recovery, with a particular focus on his fitness

India is facing a critical 5-match Test series against Australia, with their hopes of qualifying for the 2024 World Test Championship (WTC) Final on the line. After a tough 0-3 loss to New Zealand, India must now perform exceptionally in this series to secure a third consecutive WTC Final berth. The article outlines the various scenarios under which India can qualify for the final, depending on their performance against Australia and other teams’ results. A 4-0 or 5-0 series w

India has officially announced that it will not be participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, citing security concerns. This decision has raised controversy, as there were proposals for a hybrid model where India would play their matches in Dubai, but this was rejected by Pakistan. With both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) standing firm on their positions, the future of the competition remains uncertain. Legendary Pa

 In a spectacular performance during the third T20I against South Africa, Team India achieved several world records, including hitting over 200 sixes in a single calendar year, a first in T20 cricket history. India set new records for the most 200+ scores in T20s, with eight such totals in 2024, surpassing their previous record. Tilak Varma’s century was India's fifth individual century in 2024, making them the first team to achieve five individual centuries twice in