Current Affairs - Persons

Kanak secured India’s first gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup held in Suhl, Germany. Competing in the Women’s 10-metre Air Pistol event, she delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 239 points in the final round. This victory adds to her previous achievement as a silver medalist at the Junior World Championship in Lima in 2024. In this event, Kanak triumphed over Anna Dulce of Moldova, a highly accomplished shooter known for her Olympic appearances and European Championship title. Kanak’s win is a significant moment for India’s shooting contingent at the international level.

Banu Mushtaq was honored with the International Booker Prize for her Kannada short story collection Heart Lamp, translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi. This collection, originally titled Hridaya Deepa, consists of twelve compelling stories that showcase the richness of regional literature. Banu Mushtaq’s recognition is a milestone as she is the first Indian author writing in Kannada to receive this prestigious international literary award. Her win highlights the growing global appreciation for diverse linguistic and cultural narratives from India, and the crucial role of translators in bringing such stories to a wider audience.

Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, formerly a judge at the Karnataka High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. His appointment was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on May 15, 2025. This new leadership comes after the retirement of Justice D. Krishnakumar on May 21, 2025. Justice Somashekar’s elevation is part of the ongoing efforts to ensure experienced judicial oversight in various high courts across India. His background in Karnataka’s judiciary is expected to contribute significantly to the judicial administration in Manipur.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious at the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, Romania. The tournament ended with Praggnanandhaa, Alireza Firouzja, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave tied at 5.5 points after nine rounds, leading to a three-way tiebreak. After two drawn games, Praggnanandhaa secured his win by defeating Vachier-Lagrave in the final tiebreaker. This prestigious victory adds to his growing reputation on the international chess circuit and highlights his composure under pressure against top-tier opponents. His win at this elite tournament further cements his position as one of the rising stars in global chess.

Srihari LR, a 19-year-old chess player from Chennai, became India’s 86th Grandmaster by securing his third and final GM norm at the Asian Individual Chess Championship held in Al-Ain, UAE. He crossed the required 2500 Elo rating and remained unbeaten in the first 8 rounds of the championship, defeating notable Grandmasters like Abhijeet Gupta and Pranav V. Trained under GM Shyamsundar at Chess Thulir Academy, Srihari’s achievement highlights India’s growing strength in chess and its focus on nurturing young talent. This milestone continues India’s legacy as a rising global chess powerhouse.