Times of India

Aakash Chaudhry's new venture, Sparkl Edventure, secures a $4 million seed funding round with Zomato's Deepinder Goyal and Zerodha's Nithin Kamath participating. Sparkl offers one-on-one online tutoring for grades 6 to 12, focusing on IB and Cambridge curricula, and integrates mental health support.

Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who ushered in parallel cinema in India, passed away at 90. Known for his realism and depth, his acclaimed works include Ankur, Nishant, and Zubeidaa. Honored with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, Benegal's contributions to Indian cinema remain unparalleled. His death signifies the end of a pioneering era in filmmaking.

The parliamentary panel's first meeting on 'One Nation, One Election' will occur on January 8, with the panel now comprising 39 members to ensure broad representation. Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the resolutions, and the committee is to submit its report by the first day of the last week of the next session.

Zara Dar, a former YouTuber who once preached the gospel of machine learning and neural networks to over 100,000 subscribers, has swapped her lab coat for something, well, a little spicier. She dropped out of her PhD program to become an OnlyFans content creator, and folks, the gamble has paid off. In just a short time, she's raked in a cool $1 million—a number most professors can only dream of seeing on their grant proposals.

A senior TuM member, Javed Munshi, was arrested by West Bengal STF and Jammu and Kashmir Police in South 24 Parganas. Munshi, acting under LeT instructions, planned to escape to Pakistan via Bangladesh. He was found disguising as a shawl seller with ties to other terror outfits.

Elon Musk's multifaceted role as a tech visionary, social media influencer, and political force is reshaping industries and politics. From revolutionizing electric vehicles and space travel to his controversial acquisition of Twitter, Musk's influence spans beyond technology into global political dynamics, drawing comparisons to George Soros and raising ethical questions about billionaire-led activism.

The Indian Embassy in Germany is in close contact with the seven Indian nationals injured in a car attack at the Magdeburg Christmas Market. Three have been discharged, while four remain under treatment. The attack by a Saudi psychiatrist killed five and injured over 200, leading to enhanced security and market cancellations in Germany.

​​There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress, the report said. But the report also found that Gaez did not violate sex trafficking laws. The 17-year-old admitted that she did not inform Gaetz that she was under 18 at that time and nor did Gaetz ask her age.

The GST Council's proposal of different rates on popcorn—5% for salted, 12% for branded, and 18% for caramel—has sparked widespread criticism. Former economic advisers slammed the decision's complexity and minimal revenue gain, while opposition leaders called it absurd. The finance minister defended the caramel popcorn tax, citing its sugar content, but public sentiment remains largely negative.

Mumbai all-rounder Tanush Kotian is on standby to join India's Test squad in Melbourne as a potential replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin. The 26-year-old off-spinner recently impressed during India A's tour of Australia and shone in the Ranji Trophy, leading Mumbai to victory. While awaiting official confirmation, Kotian's first-class record boasts over 2500 runs and 100 wickets, highlighting his all-round capabilities.

India's star pacer Mohammed Shami is not fully fit for the remaining two Tests of Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, owing to minor swelling on his left knee, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday. Following an evaluation by the BCCI medical team, it has been established that additional time is necessary to manage the controlled bowling workload on his knee. As a result, he has been declared unfit for selection in the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the United States from December 24-29, marking the first high-level diplomatic interaction since Donald Trump's presidential win. During his six-day trip, Jaishankar will meet with US counterparts to address bilateral, regional, and global matters and convene with Indian Consul Generals across the US.

A group claiming affiliation with the OU-JAC vandalized actor Allu Arjun's Hyderabad residence, protesting a stampede death at a 'Pushpa 2' screening. Six individuals were arrested and granted bail. Political tensions flared as opposition parties criticized the ruling Congress over law and order, while Allu Arjun's family urged calm and reliance on legal processes.

Several states in India have declared winter vacations for schools, providing students a break during the cold season. Delhi schools will observe holidays from January 1-15, 2025, while Uttar Pradesh is expected to close from December 25 to January 5, 2025. Punjab has announced a winter break from December 24-31, 2024, and other states like Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Bihar have also set varying vacation schedules. These holidays offer students a welcome respite during winter.

Cheteshwar Pujara advises young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal to temper his aggression and show more patience at the crease. Jaiswal's recent struggles follow a stellar 161-run knock, prompting Pujara to suggest emulating KL Rahul's approach of capitalizing on fuller deliveries. Pujara believes Jaiswal is rushing his shots and should focus on solid defense, especially against Mitchell Starc, to earn scoring opportunities.

Bangladesh formally asked India to return ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The interim government wants Hasina to face trial. She is accused of mass killings during student protests. An extradition treaty exists between the two nations. Hasina fled to India after protests ended her 15-year rule. The government plans to use the treaty to bring her back.

Israeli intelligence agents revealed a decade-long operation involving booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies supplied to Hezbollah. Detonated in September 2024, the devices killed approximately 30 militants and wounded many more, creating widespread fear and demonstrating Israel's reach. The operation unfolded amidst escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah following the Hamas attack in October 2023.

A Saudi-born psychiatrist drove an SUV into a German Christmas market, killing five and injuring over 200. Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about the suspect's extremist views multiple times, but German authorities failed to act. The attack has sparked outrage and raised questions about Germany's security protocols and the handling of intelligence warnings.