News Broadcasting
The 13th Edition of The Times of India Sudoku Championship offers players an opportunity to represent India at the global stage
MUMBAI: The Times Sudoku Championship, flagship tournament of the Times of India enters its 13th edition this year. As flag-bearers of Sudoku in the country, The Times of India has successfully spearheaded the championship for over a decade. One of India’s longest running Sudoku Championships provides the winners with an opportunity to represent the country at the World Sudoku Championship, which will take place on 4th -11thNovember 2018, in Prague, Czech Republic.
The first set of rounds of the Times Sudoku Championship will be held across 5 cities including, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai over the next few weeks. Winners for the regional rounds will be picked on the basis of their performance during the on-ground event. The city finalists will be brought to Bennett University, Greater Noida for the national finale. The top four talented players will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent India at the World Sudoku Championship 2018, to be held in Prague.
Sudoku has remained a mainstay in the publication’s leisure pages. In its 13th edition, the property will see an amplified push across the most engaging sections in Bombay Times, Delhi Times, Calcutta Times, Bangalore Times and Chennai Times as well as their digital platforms.
Speaking about the Times Sudoku Championship 2018, Sanjeev Bhargava, Director-Brand TOI said, “Sudoku has a rich history of challenging intellectuals across the world. Its addictive nature comes from the fact that it can be formulated at varying degrees of difficulty and hence force the player to rise to that level of difficulty.Readers of The Times of India are the intellectual elite of this country and have always been fond of the puzzle that the newspaper has published regularly for the last 13 years. The Championship is yet another initiative by TOI to provide an opportunity to take their intellectual interest to a world stage.”
The previous editions have seen some skilled minds take their passion and addiction for Sudoku to the next level. The Championship will be an opportunity for ardent players to compete with the best from around the world and win some medals for the country. The registration process is fairly simple and can be done via their website or a SMS to 56161 with the message ‘SUDOKU <space> Full Name <space> City’.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
