Times of India

Wildfires have devastated California's historic 100-year-old Starbucks in Palisades Village, with flames burning over 11,000 acres and causing significant destruction. Los Angeles County faced water shortages, hampering firefighting efforts. The wildfires have caused multiple fatalities, destroyed numerous structures, and forced many residents to evacuate.

US envoy to India, Eric Garcetti, lauded the robust industrial ties between India and the US, underscoring ongoing collaborations. Amidst legal proceedings involving Adani Group in the US, Garcetti emphasized the importance of partnership and capacity-building. Despite concerns over the indictment, Adani maintains no wrongdoing, asserting resilience in their business operations.

The devastating wildfires in the Pacific Palisades have displaced tens of thousands, including Hollywood stars like Mark Hamill, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Paris Hilton, who have shared their experiences of evacuation and loss. The fires have also destroyed iconic sites like parts of the historic Will Rogers Ranch.

Paris Hilton's Malibu home was destroyed by the LA wildfire in Pacific Palisades. Despite escaping harm, Hilton shared her heartbreak on Instagram, recalling precious memories made there. She expressed gratitude for her family's safety and thanked firefighters. Hilton urged caution and support for those affected, emphasizing the importance of staying connected during this tragedy.

India turns focus to limited-overs cricket with upcoming T20I and ODI series against England after Test series losses against New Zealand and Australia. The series is pre-cursor to the ICC Champions Trophy which begins on 19 February with India playing a day later in Dubai. Rohit Sharma is expected to captain India in both series.

The NBA confirms the LA Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets game on January 9 will proceed as scheduled despite concerns over nearby wildfires. The league assures they're closely monitoring air quality and safety conditions. The wildfires have led to evacuations and warnings, but downtown Los Angeles remains largely unaffected.

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah called for clarity on the INDIA bloc's alliance amid the Congress-AAP clash in the Delhi assembly elections. He urged opposition parties to decide if the alliance was only for Lok Sabha elections or also for assembly polls. Tensions have risen with Congress attacking AAP's governance and demanding a return to ballot papers.

Arvind Kejriwal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the inclusion of Delhi's Jat community in the central OBC list. He accused the BJP of deceiving the community for a decade and highlighted previous unfulfilled promises concerning OBC reservations.

In Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh, a man allegedly killed 28 of his neighbor's pet pigeons by twisting their necks due to personal enmity. The incident took place at Kajal Roy's residence, and a case has been registered under the Animal Cruelty Act against Mohit Khan.

Jason Kelce discusses his wife Kylie Kelce's successful podcast 'Not Gonna Lie,' which has surpassed Joe Rogan on Spotify's chart. He describes her as the family's smartest and praises her insights. The couple, who met on Tinder, are parents to three daughters, with a fourth expected in November 2024.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's remarks about the long timeline for quantum computing's commercial viability led to an $8 billion selloff in the sector. Major quantum firms like IonQ and Rigetti Computing saw their shares plunge over 40%. D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz countered, asserting that their technology is already in commercial use.

Love bombing is a manipulative dating tactic where someone excessively showers their partner with attention, affection, and gifts early in the relationship to create an intense emotional bond, leading to unhealthy dynamics and control issues. Recognizing and addressing these signs is crucial to prevent emotional abuse.

Chaos ensued on a JetBlue flight at Boston Logan International Airport when Angel Luis Torres Morales of Puerto Rico opened an emergency exit door during taxiing. The emergency slide deployed, but passengers quickly restrained him. The flight was delayed and Torres Morales was charged with interfering with aircraft operations, pleading not guilty.

A stampede in Tirupati's temple town led to six deaths and over 30 injuries during the issuance of Vaikunthadwara Sarvadarshan tokens. Overcrowding at distribution centers caused chaos and surging crowds, overwhelming the process. Authorities are concerned about rising fatalities as several injured devotees are in critical condition. TTD has revised distribution locations for subsequent days.

CLSA recommends Reliance Industries with a target price of Rs 1,650. HSBC Global Research has a ‘buy’ on Bharti Airtel with Rs 1,940 target. Goldman Sachs maintains ‘buy’ on ITC at Rs 500 target. Motilal Oswal backs Kalyan Jewellers at Rs 875 target. Emkay Global endorses Tata Motors with Rs 950 target.

Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion in India's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy remains doubtful as he recovers from a back injury sustained during the last Test of Australia tour. The uncertainty surrounding Bumrah's availability is because the injury could range from spasms to a stress fracture, potentially delaying his recovery. The squad announcement deadline is January 12.

Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the dismal performance of some of the top Indian players in the recent Test series against Australia, urging them to participate in the upcoming Ranji Trophy round starting January 23. Gavaskar emphasized commitment and suggested that non-participation of those available should bar them from returning to the Indian Test team.

Unclaimed amounts with life insurers reached nearly Rs 22,237 crore at the start of FY24. Efforts from June to November 2023 reduced this by Rs 1,018 crore. The initiative highlighted the need for proper estate planning, especially for non-relative beneficiaries, as insurers focus on keeping nominee information updated and ensuring policy benefits are correctly distributed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in six deaths and several injuries. The Andhra Pradesh government is providing assistance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also extended their condolences. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is closely monitoring the situation.

Gunmen attacked Chad's presidential complex in N'Djamena on Wednesday evening, resulting in 19 deaths, including one presidential guard. The situation is now under control, per government statements. The attack occurred shortly after a disputed election. Chad, a landlocked country in northern Africa, is under military rule and frequently faces attacks from the jihadist group Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region.