Times of India

Thirteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar created history by becoming the youngest player signed by an IPL franchise. Rajasthan Royals secured him for Rs 1.10 crore. Captain Sanju Samson expressed excitement, highlighting Suryavanshi's impressive century against Australia U-19. The Royals, known for nurturing young talent like Yashasvi Jaiswal, aim to develop Suryavanshi under Rahul Dravid's mentorship.

Grzegorz Gajewski, D Gukesh's coach, compared the new world chess champion to Magnus Carlsen, highlighting Gukesh's analytical approach over Carlsen's intuition. Gajewski also likened Gukesh to a young Fabiano Caruana, praising his patience and precision. Gukesh was recently felicitated by the Tamil Nadu government for becoming the youngest World Chess Champion.

Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to Operation Breakthrough, a Kansas City nonprofit supporting children and families. The organization expressed gratitude, highlighting the impact on those they serve. This follows Swift's recent visit to a local children's hospital with Travis Kelce, continuing their charitable efforts in the city.

Epigamia co-founder Rohan Mirchandani, 42, died from a sudden cardiac arrest on December 21. His passing follows other recent losses in the startup world, raising concerns about stress-related illnesses among young professionals. Mirchandani, an NYU and Wharton alumnus, founded Drums Food International in 2013, leading Epigamia to become a prominent yogurt brand in India.

A Delta passenger, upgraded to first class, was downgraded to accommodate a service dog. The passenger expressed outrage upon finding the dog in their assigned seat, despite Delta's policy prioritizing service animals. While Delta explained bulkhead seats are often reserved for such needs, a travel expert questioned the decision to bump a first-class passenger.

Indian domestic cricket is witnessing a record-breaking season, with players achieving unprecedented feats in white-ball tournaments. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy saw Baroda set new highs for team totals, run rate, and sixes in a T20 innings. Anmolpreet Singh's blazing 35-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy further highlighted the explosive batting displays.

India's World Test Championship final hopes rest on winning both Tests against Australia. If India splits the series, they need Pakistan to upset South Africa. A Pakistan series win improves India's chances, while a 2-0 Pakistan win guarantees qualification regardless of Sri Lanka's results against Australia.

India's cricket team engaged in lively net practice in Melbourne, marked by playful banter and insightful observations. Rohit Sharma decoded Mohammed Siraj's bouncer strategy, while Jasprit Bumrah's fiery deliveries challenged batters. Rishabh Pant's witty remarks and Virat Kohli's pep talks added to the spirited atmosphere. The team's camaraderie and intensity promise an exciting Boxing Day Test match.

Following a US court ruling against NSO Group for hacking WhatsApp, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala questioned if the Supreme Court would further investigate the alleged Pegasus spyware use on 300 Indian numbers. He demanded disclosure of the targeted individuals and questioned the government's actions and the court's next steps based on the US verdict.

A 150-year-old stepwell, potentially linked to the 1857 uprising via a discovered tunnel, is being excavated in Sambhal's Laxman Ganj. Officials are investigating the structure, believed to have been built during the Bilari King's reign, and plan to renovate the nearby Banke Bihari Temple. Locals claim revolutionaries used the tunnel and chambers to escape the British.

2024 witnessed several cricketing legends bid farewell to the international arena. Ravichandran Ashwin's surprise retirement, along with stalwarts like David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, James Anderson, Tim Southee, and Moeen Ali, marked the end of illustrious careers, leaving a void in the world of cricket.

China's anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping reached a new peak in 2024, with a record 56 high-ranking officials investigated, a 25% surge from 2023. The campaign has intensified scrutiny on central party agencies and the military, including the PLA Rocket Force, while cases in the financial sector decreased.

BJP candidate Navya Haridas challenged Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's Wayanad by-election win. Congress called the challenge a publicity stunt. They expect the petition's rejection and a penalty against Haridas. Haridas alleges misleading nomination papers and hidden assets. BJP and communist parties questioned Gandhi's victory. The by-election happened after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat.

India and Australia clash in the crucial Boxing Day Test. Both teams face batting woes in the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy match. India won the first Test but lost the second. The third Test ended in a draw. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's form is under scrutiny. KL Rahul offers a glimmer of hope for India.

A helicopter crashed in Turkey, killing four. The helicopter hit a hospital in Mugla during takeoff. Dense fog caused the crash. Two pilots, a doctor, and an employee died. The helicopter was flying to Antalya. This follows another recent helicopter accident in Turkey involving military helicopters.

BJP's Tarun Chugh criticized Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for his remarks on PM Modi's Kuwait visit. Chugh accused Singh of "petty politics" and "anti-national" statements that defame India while PM Modi enhances the nation's global image. Singh had criticized the PM's international speeches on "world brotherhood" contrasting them with his domestic "Hindutva" rhetoric.

Israel's Foreign Ministry slammed Pope Francis's Christmas address, where he labeled Israeli airstrikes in Gaza as "cruelty." The ministry defended Israel's actions, highlighting Hamas's use of children as human shields and their hostage situation.

Sameer Rizvi, Delhi Capitals' latest acquisition, recently hammered an unbeaten 201 off 97 balls in an Under-23 match, showcasing his explosive batting prowess honed under MS Dhoni's mentorship during his time at CSK. Rizvi credits Dhoni for improving his power-hitting and mental game. Rizvi acknowledges that he didn’t have the best IPL season with CSK, who splurged Rs 8.4 crore on him during the IPL 2024 mini-auction.

Srinagar, Kashmir, experienced its coldest December night in nearly 50 years as temperatures plummeted to -8.5°C during the start of Chillai Kalan, the harshest 40-day winter period. Widespread power outages have forced residents to rely on traditional heating methods like wood-fired 'hamams' and 'kangris'.