Times of India

Life in Katra, Jammu, gets disrupted as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti leads a 72-hour shutdown, protesting the proposed ropeway project. The agitators argue that the project threatens local livelihoods and traditional pilgrimage practices. Despite police intervention and detentions, the strike continues, with support from BJP and Congress factions.

Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance, including Amit Shah and Chandrababu Naidu, met in Delhi to counter Congress' criticism of Shah's Ambedkar remark. They emphasized good governance and people's welfare, reaffirmed unity in upcoming elections, and discussed Vajpayee's legacy and future strategies.

Netflix's exclusive streaming of NFL matches, including the anticipated Chiefs vs. Steelers game, is off to a disastrous start with significant technical issues even before kickoff. Fans faced audio problems and program interruptions, reminiscent of previous streaming failures. Despite earlier reassurances from Netflix, their handling remains problematic, leading to widespread frustration.

Renowned Malayalam writer and filmmaker MT Vasudevan Nair, fondly known as MT, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 91. The literary giant breathed his last at Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode after being under treatment for 11 days following a cardiac arrest. Despite initial reports of improvement on Tuesday, his condition worsened, leading to his demise on Wednesday night.

On Christmas Day at Goa's Calangute beach, a boat capsized due to rough seas, tragically causing one fatality and injuring two others. Lifeguards quickly rescued the passengers, including a five-year-old girl. The boat was reportedly unbalanced and lacked life jackets for children. Goa Police is investigating the incident while injured passengers received urgent medical care.

At least 17 houses of the Christian Tripura community in Bandarban's Lama upazila were set ablaze on Christmas Eve. The attack targeted the newly rebuilt Tongjhiri Tripura Para homes, leaving residents devastated. Local authorities have initiated relief efforts and investigations, with ongoing disputes over land ownership cited as a potential motive.

Film producer Dil Raju announced a meeting with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to discuss support for the victims of the Pushpa 2 premiere stampede. Raju visited KIMS Hospital to check on eight-year-old Sri Tej, who is recovering. Actor Allu Arjun and his team provided financial aid, and long-term support plans are being formulated.

Senior civil servant Arunish Chawla, currently the pharmaceuticals secretary, is appointed as the new revenue secretary. Amit Agrawal will succeed Chawla. Vineet Joshi is selected as the higher education secretary. The reorganisation also includes key shifts like Sanjay Sethi heading the national commission for minorities and Rachna Shah leading the department of personnel and training.

India hosts over 73,000 startups with at least one woman director, driven by advances in technology and government support. The Startup India initiative has facilitated growth through streamlined processes, tax benefits, and funding. Innovations in AI, blockchain, and IoT have helped solve both local and global challenges.

Former India captain Kapil Dev expressed disappointment over Ravichandran Ashwin's quiet retirement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, lamenting the lack of a grand farewell. However, Ashwin himself believes grand farewells are inappropriate, emphasizing that his retirement was his own decision and expressing satisfaction with his achievements without any regrets.

Canada ended the practice of flagpoling for work and study permits at ports of entry, requiring renewals through IRCC instead. This aims to streamline port operations and border enforcement. Limited exemptions apply, with a focus on improving border efficiency and relationships between Canada and the US.

A middle-aged couple in Nandyal committed suicide by consuming pesticides after their son refused to end his relationship with a transgender woman, despite their repeated warnings and attempts to arrange a marriage for him. The couple felt humiliated and were reportedly harassed by the transgender woman's associates.

With the Boxing Day Test set to commence at the MCG on Thursday, Virat Kohli aims to overcome his inconsistent batting form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. However, his past performances at Melbourne offer hope, with a strong record including a high score of 169 and an average of 52.66.

A jet crash occurred near Aktau, Kazakhstan, involving 62 passengers and five crew members. Approximately 30 people survived with injuries. The accident was caused by an Embraer-190 plane hitting a flock of birds while attempting an emergency landing. The victims included nationals from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Russian President Putin extended his condolences.

Critics from the far-right, particularly those aligned with MAGA ideologies, viewed Krishnan as a symbol of Silicon Valley elitism and a proponent of immigration policies that they claim disadvantage American workers. Trump, long associated with a tough stance on immigration, faced accusations of hypocrisy for aligning with a figure perceived to represent globalist ideals.

Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, sparked a fashion sensation with his burgundy sweater during his court appearance. Social media quickly sold out the $89.50 Nordstrom sweater, likened to infamous outfits of past high-profile trials. Experts warn against glamorising accused criminals, as his 'hot assassin' look garners unsettling admiration and donations.

A Grozny-bound plane with 67 people onboard crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau airport, reportedly after a bird collision, resulting in over 30 fatalities. The incident occurred during deviation from its planned route. Survivors received medical treatment and recovery operations continue; a government commission has been formed to investigate.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appointed Indian-American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. A key part of his role could include advocating for the removal of the H-1B visa country cap, a policy change that would benefit Indian tech professionals. This reform would streamline green card processing and enhance the U.S.'s competitive edge in global technology, while strengthening U.S.-India ties.

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series tied 1-1, Team India faces tough selection choices for the Boxing Day Test at MCG. The sudden retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin creates a void, with Tanush Kotian stepping in. Debate revolves around Nitish Kumar Reddy's place, while reshuffling the batting order could see Rohit Sharma returning as an opener. Gavaskar advocates for retaining key players.