board games

A Japanese firefighter sergeant faced suspension for forcing colleagues to play handmade board games during duty hours for six months. What he called team-building was deemed coercive, especially after reports of pressure. The incident, involving falsified logs and a cover-up attempt, highlights workplace power dynamics and blurred boundaries, leading to disciplinary action for multiple personnel.

Rajasthan Royals bowling coach Shane Bond admitted his team was "not good enough" after a heavy home defeat to Gujarat Titans. He highlighted the toll of a hectic schedule and stressed the need for bowlers to evolve in the current T20 era. The Royals' playoff hopes are now under severe pressure following their seventh loss in eight home matches.

With BCCI getting strict on keeping franchises away from pitch preparation, the endeavour is to produce uniform flat pitches conducive to high scores across venues.

Garnet Hathaway of the Philadelphia Flyers slammed into an open bench door in Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes, and it hurt. The veteran winger was clearly upset following the bizarre incident with Carolina Hurricanes forward Nik Ehlers. That strange moment was quickly seized upon by NHL news coverage, adding yet another dramatic, physical chapter to the ongoing Stanley Cup playoff series.

Parents can shield children from social media and gaming addiction by making technology a family affair and staying curious, not controlling. Building rituals for real talk and setting firm boundaries are crucial. Modelling a balanced life, blending online and offline activities, empowers children for a healthy digital future. Experts emphasise parental example and open communication.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru opted to bowl against Mumbai Indians, seeking to improve their playoff standing after recent losses. The return of Phil Salt offers a significant boost for RCB. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians, struggling in ninth, face potential elimination. MI skipper Suryakumar Yadav expressed confidence in batting first, aiming to put pressure on the chasing side.

World Champion D Gukesh displayed rare emotion with a fist pump after defeating challenger Javokhir Sindarov in the GCT Rapid & Blitz tournament. This victory, in a Caro Kann defense variation, held added significance as Sindarov is slated to challenge Gukesh for the World title later this year. Gukesh described the win as a personal boost after a previous loss.

Ridly Greig’s suspension is one of the top NHL news stories. That too, since the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes playoff titles. NHL Player Safety will review the incident involving Sean Walker and will determine supplemental discipline for Game 4 next season. The move has brought observers’ and fans’ attention to the intensity of the playoffs, the safety standards of those who play in the playoffs and how the NHL deals with unsafe playoffs.

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen's eBay account was permanently suspended after the platform cited activity that put its community at risk. This ban follows Cohen's unsolicited $56 billion acquisition offer for eBay and his public statement about selling items on the platform to fund his own eBay purchases.

NYT Connections, a popular daily word game, challenges players with its latest puzzle (#1062). It features romantic slang, geometric shapes, idioms, and candy-brand wordplay. The game, with its four color-coded difficulty levels, requires logic and lateral thinking. Hints and answers for today's tricky groupings are provided, along with solving tips.

Chess enthusiasts are finding joy beyond competition through initiatives like 'Chess and the City' and 'Chess Chai Connect' in Chennai. These gatherings offer a relaxed environment for people of all ages to play, connect, and enjoy the game, fostering a real-life community.

World champion D Gukesh showed rare emotion after defeating future title challenger Javokhir Sindarov at the Grand Chess Tour in Poland. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh outplayed the Uzbek grandmaster in 52 moves and celebrated with a fist pump after the win. The victory was seen as a strong statement ahead of their World Championship clash later this year.

Javokhir Sindarov defeated D Gukesh in their first-ever blitz clash at the Grand Chess Tour in Warsaw, avenging his earlier rapid loss to the World Champion. Gukesh’s rare fist-pump celebration after that previous win had gone viral. With one win each, their growing rivalry now heads into a decisive final reverse-blitz showdown before this year’s World Championship clash.

Shubman Gill, leading Gujarat Titans to a commanding win, expressed satisfaction with their dominant performance while still seeking a 'perfect match'. Despite a strong batting display and a comfortable victory, Gill highlighted areas for improvement, emphasizing aggressive bowling and crucial partnerships. He also confirmed a minor ankle scare during the innings, as the team continues its winning streak.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar temporarily left NHL Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild after receiving a huge blow from Marcus Foligno. The crash occurred during the first period early on and brought about immediate concern for Colorado during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Makar eventually returned to the bench, offering positive news to the Avalanche in the face of a concerning moment in the high-intensity playoff opener.

The New York Times' daily word game, NYT Connections, challenges players with four colour-coded categories. The May 6 puzzle (#1060) features casino items, fastening methods, bowling alley terms, and flag designs. Players must group 16 words into four sets of four, with the purple category often presenting the toughest challenge through wordplay or abstract links.

Liverpool fans loudly booed manager Arne Slot during the 1-1 draw against Chelsea after he substituted teenager Rio Ngumoha for Alexander Isak in the second half. Ngumoha had impressed on the wing and helped create Ryan Gravenberch’s goal. Supporters at Anfield and on social media questioned Slot’s decision as Liverpool failed to find a winning goal.

The May 7 NYT Connections puzzle (#1061) presented a mix of straightforward and challenging word associations, with basketball terms forming a notable blue category. Players navigated fishing gear, crowd descriptions, and functional controls to solve the daily word puzzle, which balanced accessible themes with more deceptive links.

Prince George is nearing a significant milestone as he prepares to transition from prep school to secondary education, with boarding school widely expected to be his next step. This tradition, deeply ingrained in royal upbringing, aims to foster discipline and prepare future monarchs for public life.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shafali Verma received notices from India’s anti-doping agency NADA after missing scheduled dope tests, leading to their first “whereabouts failure.” The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the development and said it would ensure stricter compliance, especially with cricket returning to the Olympics in 2028.

On whether 155 was a competitive total, Axar said, "Yes obviously. The wicket the way played in the first innings, we felt that 155 was a really good score on the board. But I felt that we played with 8 batters, so we were 10-15 runs short."

Shivon Zilis, former OpenAI board member and mother to Elon Musk's four children, testified about their relationship. She revealed a one-off romantic encounter with Musk, which evolved into a friendship and co-parenting arrangement after he proposed fathering her children due to her health concerns. Initially, Musk's paternity was kept confidential, with Zilis informing Sam Altman later.

Rohit Sharma went viral after an awkward selfie moment with a female fan outside the Mumbai Indians bus. As the fan realised her phone had switched off, Rohit jokingly replied, “Toh abhi kya karu mai phir?” The clip sparked laughs online. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh praised Rohit’s recent impact and said his earlier return from injury could have changed Mumbai’s IPL season.

Raghav Chadha accused the AAP-led Punjab government of a "dirty game of vendetta" against defectors joining the BJP, fearing fabricated cases. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann countered, stating no one is above the law and that joining the BJP won't grant immunity. Mann assured the President that legal processes would proceed against those facing allegations.

Filming for 'The Batman: Part II' has officially commenced, with director Matt Reeves sharing glimpses of a snowy Batmobile camera test. This confirms speculation of a winter setting for the sequel. Robert Pattinson returns as Batman, joined by Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, and Barry Keoghan. Scarlett Johansson and Charles Dance are also reportedly joining the cast.

India's bid to host the 2038 Asian Games has been formally acknowledged by the Olympic Council of Asia, with Ahmedabad projected as the host city. An inspection committee will soon visit India to assess its readiness, logistical planning, and financial commitments. This move aligns with the government's vision to establish Gujarat as a global sporting hub.

A small plane carrying five pickleball players from Amarillo crashed into trees near Wimberley late Thursday night, killing all on board. The Cessna 421C was en route to a tournament in New Braunfels when it disappeared from air traffic control scopes. Federal agencies are investigating the incident, with weather conditions noted as mostly cloudy prior to a reported thunderstorm.