Times of India

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan graced the oath-taking ceremony of Maharashtra's new government in Mumbai. Devendra Fadnavis returned as Chief Minister, alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Prime Minister Modi and other prominent leaders also attended the event, celebrating the Mahayuti alliance's election victory.

India and Pakistan will not play cricket against each other on either nation's soil until 2027, impacting ICC and ACC tournaments. This includes the upcoming Champions Trophy, Women's World Cup, Asia Cup, and the 2026 T20 World Cup.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's remarks linking the Sambhal violence to events in Bangladesh. Owaisi called the comments "dangerous" and accused Adityanath of attempting to influence the sub-judice case. He also questioned the Indian government's sheltering of the ousted Bangladeshi PM. Adityanath had compared the Sambhal violence to events in Bangladesh, citing a "shared DNA."

Delhi breathes easier as air quality improves, prompting authorities to lift GRAP stages 3 and 4. Construction resumes, but stage 1 and 2 restrictions remain. This follows Supreme Court intervention, which also addressed delayed compensation for affected construction workers. The court warned of reinstating stricter measures if pollution levels surge again.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned after a historic no-confidence vote ousted his government. This marks the first successful such vote since 1962. President Macron faces pressure to quickly appoint a successor amid a hung parliament and political instability. Barnier's controversial budget proposal triggered the crisis, leaving France without an approved budget.

India triumphed in the first Border-Gavaskar Test but faces a challenging pink-ball contest in Adelaide, where they previously suffered a historic collapse. Australia holds an impeccable record in day-night Tests at this venue. While India boasts a strong pink-ball record overall, Australian batsmen and bowlers dominate the format's statistics, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD president, publicly thanked two police officers, ASI Jasveer Singh and ASI Hira Singh, for saving his life during an attempted shooting at the Golden Temple. While performing 'sewadar' duties, a former Khalistani terrorist, Narain Singh Chaura, fired a shot that was deflected by the officers. Chaura has been arrested and is in police custody.

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) declared the CGL Tier 1 2024 results on December 5, shortlisting 186,509 candidates for Tier 2. The Tier 1 exam took place from September 9-26, 2024. Qualified candidates can check their results on ssc.gov.in. Tier 2 is scheduled for January 18-20, 2025. Successful candidates should watch the website for admit card updates.

A celebratory premiere of "Pushpa 2: The Rule" in Hyderabad turned tragic when a surprise visit by star Allu Arjun led to a fatal stampede. A 35-year-old woman died, and her nine-year-old son was injured. Police say the theatre lacked crowd control measures and failed to notify authorities of the actor's visit.

​ A post has now claimed to have decoded the encrypted message and divulged the eerie link between the three words and the title of a book by Jay M Feinman 'Delay Deny Defend'. The book is about insurance companies which drag their feet on paying the claims and UnitedHealthcare is an insurance company. "Why insurance companies don't pay claims and what you can do about it," the description of the book reads.

Syrian rebels, spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seized control of Hama on Thursday, following their recent victory in Aleppo. The Syrian army retreated to minimize civilian casualties. This strategic city's capture, situated between Aleppo and Damascus, potentially opens a path south for the rebels. Hama holds historical significance for past anti-government uprisings and a brutal 1982 crackdown.

YouTube's 2024 trending lists reveal India's top content, from the ICC T20 World Cup and Lok Sabha elections to viral sensations like "moye moye" and Diljit Dosanjh.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has formally requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take action against BJP MP Sambit Patra. Tagore alleges Patra used slanderous language against Rahul Gandhi, calling him a "traitor" and linking him to George Soros. Patra accused Gandhi, Soros, and OCCRP of conspiring against the Indian government.

India's cricket team heads to Adelaide Oval for the second Test against Australia, carrying the momentum of a Perth victory. Adelaide has been a mixed bag historically, with only two wins in 13 attempts. From Gavaskar's heroics to Kohli's twin centuries, the venue has witnessed both triumphs and heartbreaks, including the infamous 36 all-out in 2020.

Rohit Sharma confirmed KL Rahul will open alongside him in the Adelaide Test against Australia. Rahul's strong recent form earned him the spot, despite Rohit's return. Rohit acknowledged the difficulty of moving down the order but emphasized the team's needs. Rahul's inconsistency in the past has been linked to fluctuating batting positions, but he excels as an opener.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned recent demands for court-ordered surveys of mosques and shrines as a "well-planned conspiracy." He criticized the targeting of Muslim places of worship, citing clashes and legal battles surrounding surveys at the Shahi Jama Masjid and Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Abdullah asserted this deviates from India's founding principles.