Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away at 90 due to chronic kidney disease, causing a significant loss to Indian cinema. Prominent leaders including President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, and Rahul Gandhi expressed their grief, highlighting Benegal's impactful storytelling and lasting legacy.
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Evangelical Christian pastor Bajinder Singh has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a woman in 2018. He was also fined Rs 1 lakh. The court announced the punishment after convicting him. Singh previously served time for a murder case. The woman expressed satisfaction with the verdict. Other accused persons were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
A 17-year-old girl from UP's Budaun district climbed a water tank to protest her family's refusal of her marriage to her sister's brother-in-law. Police intervened, calming her down and counseling both her and her family to reconsider their decision regarding the marriage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi, discussing enhancing India-US defense and security ties. PM Modi gifted Gangajal, while Gabbard presented tulsi beads. Gabbard also held talks with Rajnath Singh and Ajit Doval on intelligence sharing and security collaboration, strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore embarked on their first spacewalk after eight months in the International Space Station for maintenance and inspection. The astronauts, initially scheduled to return in February, have been stranded due to safety concerns with the Starliner spacecraft. Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to undertake their rescue mission.
Virat Kohli reached a milestone of over 1,000 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders by scoring 59 not out, leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to victory. Kohli's solid partnership with Phil Salt, and a strong bowling performance from RCB, enabled them to chase down the target of 175 in just 16.2 overs.
Banks in India will be closed on specific holidays in January 2025, which vary by region. Customers can use digital banking during these closures. Notable holidays include New Year's Day, Sri Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday, and Makar Sankranti.
The White House released a video where press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted President Donald Trump’s key actions in just 95 seconds. Achievements include advancements in border security, economic policies, and government operations, reflecting rapid implementation of major changes. Leavitt emphasized significant progress on issues like illegal crossings, energy policy, AI investments, and executive orders.
Infosys will initiate annual pay hikes from February. Employees at job level five will see increases effective January 1, while those at job level six and above will receive raises in April. The previous hike, effective November 2023, follows a break in 2022. The company is expected to benefit from the rupee's fall despite seasonal revenue softness.
The Centre is determined to implement the three-language policy under NEP 2020, despite Tamil Nadu's opposition, emphasizing states' flexibility in language choice. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reassures that no language will be imposed, urging Tamil Nadu to reconsider its stance for broader educational benefits.
Elon Musk has criticised Wikipedia after it described a gesture he made as a 'Nazi salute' during an event. Musk denied the accusations, calling them 'dirty tricks.' He urged his followers to stop donating to Wikipedia over concerns about its ideological balance and funding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, branding it 'Wokepedia.'