Times of India

Centre has assigned senior IPS officer Vitul Kumar to officiate as Director General of CRPF following the retirement of Anish Dayal Singh on Dec 31. Kumar, currently Special DG of CRPF, will serve until a regular appointment is made. Kumar's career highlights include multiple promotions, accolades, and leadership roles within the police force.

Construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed by June 2025. Important features include 85 murals, titanium lattices, and marble idols. Additional structures like ramparts and shoe racks are set to be finished by September 2025.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the Army War College's quantum technology and AI labs, citing their role in adaptive warfare. He highlighted India's significant growth in defence exports and articulated the nation's goal to be an economic and military powerhouse by 2047 through strong security and economic integration.

The government requires additional time to allocate land for former PM Manmohan Singh’s memorial as a trust needs to be formed first. Preliminary assessments are being conducted for available land near Rajghat, and a trust application is necessary for the process to proceed. The memorial will follow procedures similar to those for Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s memorial.

Karnataka high court has stayed proceedings against IIM Bangalore officials in a caste-discrimination case, citing that the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement lacked authority to investigate harassment claims. The case involves allegations by Dalit associate professor Gopal Das against IIM-B faculty. A separate FIR filed by Mico Layout police against the faculty members is also being challenged.

Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan praised Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and criticized Allu Arjun's team for their handling of the 'Pushpa 2' stampede. A 35-year-old woman died, and her son was injured. Pawan Kalyan emphasized the film industry should have supported the victim's family and not blamed Arjun solely.

Protests intensify across Bihar demanding cancellation of BPSC prelims, alleging corruption. Demonstrators halt trains and block roads, with political parties and student groups joining in. Chief secretary meets aspirants, but no official statement yet from CM. Police action criticized by political leaders; support offered by various political figures. Protests continue with threats of indefinite hunger strike.

The loco pilot of the Secunderabad-Pune Express train narrowly avoided a disaster by spotting and stopping before hitting a 4kg LPG cylinder placed on the tracks at Uruli Kanchan. Authorities suspect the cylinder was intended to cause harm to the train and its passengers. Police and railway protection units are investigating the incident to find the responsible individuals.

A debate about H-1B visas involving Indian immigrants divides Trump's supporters. While tech figures like Elon Musk support these visas, critics argue against them. Aravind Srinivas emphasizes that illegal immigration is the real concern and that H-1B visa holders aren't the ones causing job losses.

Despite reaching record highs in 2024, Sensex and Nifty are now about 10% off peak levels due to global and domestic factors. Advisers recommend a focus on large-cap, flexi-cap, and debt-oriented balanced advantage funds, while continuing SIPs to benefit from possible future rallies amid market volatility.

Former US President Jimmy Carter's visit to Daulatpur Nasirabad in 1978 connected the village's identity with him, leading to it being renamed Carterpuri. His visit brought temporary fame and nostalgia among the villagers but did not result in long-term development or significant changes in the village's fortunes.

A local court in Ahmedabad acquitted five individuals charged with cow slaughter and attempting to sell beef due to insufficient evidence. Critical meat samples were not sent for forensic analysis, as required by the Gujarat Animal Preservation Rule. The court also noted the absence of the FSL officer who failed to testify, despite multiple summons.

LG VK Saxena criticizes AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for calling Atishi a 'temporary chief minister,' deeming it undemocratic. Atishi rebukes LG, urging him to not act as BJP's proxy and focus on Delhi’s welfare. She highlights the Delhi government's achievements despite governmental hurdles.

Reflecting on significant global events of 2024: a devastating tsunami hit Japan, the EU approved an AI regulation, Narendra Modi secured a third term, Donald Trump returned to the White House despite assassination attempts, Syrian rebels ended Bashar al-Assad's rule, and the UK saw Labour topple Conservatives.

The Centre has declared the Wayanad landslides in Kerala, which occurred on July 30, as a disaster of severe nature. The catastrophic event claimed over 200 lives, injured many, and caused significant displacement. The Union home ministry has assured additional assistance through the National Disaster Response Fund.

Elon Musk moderated his support for H-1B visas, admitting the program needs reform due to backlash from MAGA hardliners. Musk suggested raising the minimum salary to fix the system, which critics claim favors lower-wage IT workers. MAGA supporters argue that the program undermines American jobs and favors foreign workers.

Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, overcoming legal challenges, an assassination attempt, and a divided Republican Party. His victory, despite various controversies and a struggling Democratic campaign led by Kamala Harris, marked a significant political resurgence and prompted global speculation about his second term.