Times of India

In December 2024, a rare celestial event known as the Black Moon will occur, marking the second new moon in a single month. This phenomenon, happening on December 30, 2024, will not be visible but will create ideal conditions for stargazing. Astronomers and enthusiasts can observe distant celestial bodies like galaxies, nebulae, and planets.

Rohit Sharma's underwhelming performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring only 31 runs in five innings, coupled with unsuccessful captaincy decisions, may prompt his retirement post-series. The Indian selectors are already aware, focusing now on the transition to the next generation of players.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have led to deadly border clashes, killing at least eight individuals and injuring 13 others, including civilians. The conflict, intensified by Pakistani airstrikes on alleged militant camps in Afghanistan, underscores the complex dynamic between the nations plagued by cross-border militancy and increasing distrust.

Beware of fraudulent emails claiming to be from the Income Tax Department about downloading e-PAN cards. These emails are part of a phishing scam exploiting interest in the PAN 2.0 initiative.

In a dramatic moment during the fifth day of the fourth Test at Melbourne, Pat Cummins successfully reviewed a caught behind decision, getting Yashasvi Jaiswal out for 84 runs. Despite Snickometer showing no spike, the third umpire relied on visual evidence to overturn the on-field decision. Yashasvi’s outstanding performances this year have cemented his place among India’s cricketing greats. He has amassed 1,478 Test runs in 2024, placing him third on India’s list of most runs in a calendar year.

Yashasvi Jaiswal confronted on-field umpires after the third umpire controversially declared him out on a doubtful caught-behind appeal during the crucial final day of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Jaiswal's dismissal left India in a difficult position, chasing 340 runs with a score of 140 for 7.

Jasprit Bumrah achieved another milestone with a nine-wicket match haul at the MCG, making him the first pacer in 16 years to surpass 70 wickets in a year. His exceptional performance includes three fifers in the current series against Australia, showcasing his dominance as a lone warrior in India's bowling line-up despite limited support.

Rishabh Pant faced criticism for his batting in the first innings of the Melbourne Test, but looked to have corrected that in the second. But after a strong 88-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pant got out while playing an unncessary big shot against part-time spinner Travis Head. This triggered a mini-collapse, with India slipping from 121 for 3 to 130 for 6, while chasing a target of 340.

Tonight at 10 pm, India will launch its SpaDeX mission using the PSLV-C60 rocket. This mission involves two 220 kg spacecraft performing complex in-space docking maneuvers in a 470 km orbit, crucial for future lunar missions and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. The mission also includes tests of indigenous technologies and secondary scientific experiments.

Suchir Balaji, a researcher at OpenAI, was found dead in his apartment, and while police ruled it a suicide, his mother disputes this. She demands an FBI investigation, citing signs of a struggle and a private autopsy that contradicts the police's findings. S

India were struggling at 59/3, chasing 340 in the fourth Test at Melbourne, when a 'bail switch' incident occurred between Mitchell Starc and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Australia was bowled out for 234, with Jasprit Bumrah claiming his third five-wicket haul of the series.

A 21-year-old man in Mandya district died after detonating a gelatin stick in front of the house of the girl he loved, following her family's rejection. The police report that the man had a prior legal history for eloping with the underage girl and faced resistance from her family. His family has lodged a complaint about his death.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, issued a fatwa against New Year celebrations, urging Muslims to focus on religious observances. He advised young Muslims to refrain from partaking in New Year festivities. Razvi opposed lifting the ban on Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, citing potential harm to the social and religious fabric of the country.

Elon Musk supports the H-1B visa system, describing it as broken and needing reform. He suggests raising the minimum salary and adding a yearly cost to make hiring foreign workers more expensive. Trump's recent appointment of Sriram Krishnan as senior AI policy advisor has intensified debates within the MAGA community over immigration policies for skilled workers.

Rohit Sharma's struggles continue despite resuming his opening role in the Boxing Day Test, amassing an average of 6.20 in five innings so far in this Border Gavaskar Trophy. This performance risks him having the lowest average for a visiting captain in Australia. He missed the first Test due to paternity leave, while Jasprit Bumrah captained India to victory.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee plans her first visit to Sandeshkhali after violent protests over local TMC leaders' alleged sexual harassment. The visit aims to promote state welfare programs and rebuild community trust. Several women in the community express anticipation and hope for the chief minister's support.

A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to South Korea crashed during landing, killing 179 of the 181 onboard. The crash involved a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 and may have been caused by a bird strike and landing gear malfunction. Both black boxes were recovered to assist with the investigation.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, opened in red on Monday. While BSE Sensex was near 78,600, Nifty50 was above 23,750.

Radhika Gupta, CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Funds, shares her experience on Shark Tank India Season 3. She explains her tough demeanor on the show is influenced by her male-dominated finance profession and personal insecurities. Despite early career challenges, her expertise eventually earned clients' trust.