National News

A 34-member district committee, featuring six new faces, was elected at district conference that drew to a close on December 30, 2024.

Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased determination and composure during India's chase of 340 against Australia. Despite the top order's struggle, his 84 runs and an 88-run partnership with Rishabh Pant kept India hopeful. However, Pant's dismissal led to a collapse, and Australia won by 184 runs as India got all out for 155.

NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar revealed that the accused in the Anna University assault case is a habitual offender. A two-member NCW committee is investigating. The Madras High Court has ordered a special investigation team and Rs 25 lakh compensation for the survivor due to FIR leakage, to be recovered from the responsible police personnel's salaries.

The 49ers host the Lions in a Week 17 Monday Night Football game. San Francisco is out of playoff contention, while Detroit seeks the top seed. The Lions miss star running back David Montgomery, out for the season due to a torn MCL.

In 2024, India faced intense diplomatic challenges amidst regional tensions and international incidents. From strained relations with Canada and Bangladesh to resolving the border dispute with China, India's diplomatic efforts were rigorously tested. It achieved significant wins including securing the release of Indian naval personnel from Qatar and signing new agreements with Sri Lanka and Iran.

In September, Australian athlete Lily Winward, 19, was forced to travel with a toddler on her lap due to an Etihad Airways overbooking issue during a layover in the UAE. Despite paying $3,000 for her flights, Winward's attempts to address the situation have so far been ignored by the airline.

Apple is seeking to reduce its reliance on Nvidia by renting GPU access from cloud providers and collaborating with Broadcom to develop its own AI server chip, targeting mass production by 2026. This move aims to achieve technological autonomy and is driven by both financial motives and longstanding corporate disputes.

Pollsters faced significant challenges and inaccuracies during the 2024 elections in India and the United States. Despite predictions for the BJP and NDA, actual outcomes were unexpected. Key states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and swing states in the US contradicted exit polls, highlighting the limitations and pressures faced by psephologists.

Magnus Carlsen confirmed his return to the World Blitz Chess Championship after FIDE permitted players to compete in jeans. Carlsen criticized FIDE's decision-making process and deputy president Viswanathan Anand, claiming the situation was mishandled and Anand was not suitable for his role. Carlsen faced fines and rules clarification issues.

The verdict relied on testimonies from more than 70 witnesses, forensic evidence and CCTV footage capturing the crime.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who retired from T20 internationals six months ago, are now struggling in Test cricket. Rohit has had a poor year with low scores and questions about his captaincy, while Virat faces technical challenges and lack of confidence. India's Test cricket transition faces a critical moment.

Arshad Khan, a businessman from Govandi, has been arrested for allegedly receiving ₹46 lakh from Ego Media Private Limited, linked to a hoarding collapse that killed 17 people. The crime branch discovered financial transfers totaling one crore from Ego Media's directors. Police have arrested four individuals, including Ego Media's directors.

The NHRC has directed the removal of a social media post by AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi CM Atishi featuring children in political campaigns, citing ECI guideline violations. This comes amidst escalating political tension over alleged voter deletions and registrations in Delhi ahead of the 2025 elections.

Andhra Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan addressed the stampede incident at Sandhya Theater and criticized the delayed response to the victim's family. He defended actor Allu Arjun, emphasising the collective responsibility of the film industry.

BJP’s Amit Malviya countered AAP MP Sanjay Singh's claim that the BJP tried to remove his wife's name from the Delhi voter list, asserting her vote in Delhi was invalid as she is registered in UP's Sultanpur. Sanjay Singh alleged BJP was deleting Purvanchali voters' names in Delhi, and announced plans for a defamation case.

Virat Kohli's continued poor performance added to India's woes in the Melbourne Test against Australia, as they suffered another batting failure. Simon Katich criticized Kohli's form, remarking, 'The king is dead,' while hailing Jasprit Bumrah's as the 'new king' for his impressive bowling performances. India trail 1-2 in the series with one match remaining.

South Africa has sealed a spot in the World Test Championship final with a two-wicket win over Pakistan. Australia, India, and Sri Lanka still compete for the remaining spot. Australia significantly boosted their chances with a victory over India, while Sri Lanka's hopes depend on winning against Australia and other match outcomes.

Gulmarg, a tourist resort town known for skiing activities in north Kashmir, recorded a night temperature of minus 10 degree Celsius, down 2 degrees compared to the previous night