Times of India

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized PM Modi's meeting with the Kapoor family, urging him to focus on "real issues". Gandhi contrasted his interactions with workers to Modi's engagement with film stars. This follows criticism from Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who pointed out the government's seemingly different reactions to Modi and Gandhi's meetings with different groups.

Allu Arjun's "Pushpa 2" continues its box office reign, nearing the highest-grossing film of 2024 title. Earning ₹726.25 crore in its first week, the sequel surpasses major hits like "Jawan" and "Kalki." Day 9 saw another ₹1.21 crore, bringing the total to ₹727.46 crore, proving it lives up to the hype generated by the first installment.

Around 400 IndiGo passengers were stranded at Istanbul Airport for over 24 hours due to flight delays and cancellations. Passengers reported a lack of communication, accommodation, and meal vouchers from the airline. They faced difficulties due to the chilly weather and limited lounge access.

A 55-year-old woman, Kaneez Fatima Ansari, tragically died in a Kurla bus accident on Monday. A disturbing video shows a helmeted man stealing her gold bangles and purse as she lay lifeless under a car. Police have registered a theft case and are working to identify the suspect. Ansari's daughter expressed outrage at this inhumane act.

A Delhi court acquitted six individuals, including a former coal secretary and company executives, in a coal scam case. The court found no evidence of cheating or misrepresentation by Navbharat Power Pvt Ltd (later Brahmani Thermal Power) in obtaining Odisha coal blocks.

The Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued an advisory to singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, restricting songs mentioning alcohol, drugs, or violence at his upcoming concert. This follows a similar notice in Telangana. The commission warned of penal action for non-compliance, citing potential harm to children. A complaint alleges Dosanjh used altered lyrics in previous performances despite similar restrictions.

Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli, 52, reveals his recent health scare involving a severe urine infection and subsequent collapse. Supported by his family, he's now recovering and plans to enter rehab. He also addressed his past grievances with childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar, clarifying that Tendulkar had assisted him financially with surgeries.

In a heartwarming display of unity, villagers in Assam's Jorhat district rescued four wild elephants, including a struggling calf, trapped in a pond. Hearing the elephants' distressed cries, the villagers quickly mobilized, using tools to carve a makeshift escape route.

India bolsters its defence capabilities with a Rs 21,100 crore investment in 100 K-9 Vajra artillery guns and 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets. This procurement addresses the need for enhanced firepower in high-altitude regions and replaces aging aircraft, contributing to a stronger national security posture.

Indore, renowned as India's cleanest city, faces a growing air pollution challenge. A 21% surge in PM10 levels since 2017-18 puts it among India's 'non-attainment' cities. Rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and heavy traffic contribute to worsening air quality, with road dust and vehicle emissions identified as primary culprits.

The Supreme Court halted legal battles over temple reclamation claims, freezing existing and barring new 'mosque-temple' lawsuits. This includes the Gyanvapi and Mathura disputes. The order stems from challenges to the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which fixed religious sites' status as of Independence Day 1947, excluding the Ayodhya case.

Jason Gillespie has resigned as Pakistan's Test cricket coach due to disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), particularly over the non-renewal of his assistant's contract. Aaqib Javed will replace Gillespie as interim coach for the upcoming South Africa tour. Gillespie's departure follows a pattern of coaching instability within the PCB, raising concerns about their management approach.

Nandan Nilekani reiterated his stance against India investing in building another large language model (LLM). He argues that resources should be directed towards compute, infrastructure, and AI cloud instead. This contrasts with Google Research India director Manish Gupta's view, who believes India should build its own foundation model, citing Nilekani's Aadhaar project as a precedent.

Emami's MD, Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, new Ficci president, states that consumption slowdown, impacted by inflation, will take a few quarters to normalize. He suggests controlling inflation and boosting government spending to revive demand, noting a mixed bag for FMCG with rural uptick and urban slowdown.

At its re:Invent conference, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched new AI models and chips, including the Trainium2 and Nova, to compete with rivals like Microsoft and Google. CEO Andy Jassy emphasized AWS's customer-centric approach to AI, aiming to solve practical problems rather than chasing technological feats.

India's retail inflation eased to 5.5% in November from a 14-month high, driven by moderating food prices. Industrial output saw a modest 3.5% rise in October. While food inflation slowed, vegetable and edible oil prices remain high. Experts anticipate a potential rate cut in February if the trend continues, though urban demand needs monitoring.

WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event returns to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on December 14, 2024, featuring stars like Drew McIntyre, Gunther, Liv Morgan, and Bayley. The event will crown the first-ever Women's United States Champion. Fans can watch live on NBC or Peacock in the US, and on Sony Sports Ten and Sony Liv in India.

The Jharkhand High Court has temporarily halted a state law mandating 75% job reservation for locals in private companies. The court's decision follows a legal challenge by an industry association arguing the law violates constitutional equality principles. The ruling JMM party plans to appeal the stay, while emphasizing the government's intent to boost local employment.

India voted with 158 other countries at the UN General Assembly for resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and access to humanitarian aid. The assembly also supported the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), despite Israel's ban on its operations, urging Israel to respect international law and allow aid delivery.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his faction visited NCP chief Sharad Pawar on his birthday, sparking reunion rumors. Both factions, previously engaged in fierce campaigns against each other, discussed the Parbhani violence, Parliament disruption, and cabinet expansion.