Sunil Gavaskar has hinted that Rohit Sharma’s Test career may be over after he opted to rest from the 5th Test in Sydney. Rohit struggled throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, scoring only 31 runs in five innings. Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar remarked, “The Melbourne Test might be Rohit's last. The selection committee will likely focus on someone who can lead until the 2025-27 World Test Championship.” India’s series loss and Rohit’s 2024 Test average of 24.76 have intensified retirement speculations. Official confirmation of his future in red-ball cricket remains awaited.

Sunil Gavaskar has hinted that Rohit Sharma’s Test career may be over after he opted to rest from the 5th Test in Sydney. Rohit struggled throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, scoring only 31 runs in five innings. Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar remarked, “The Melbourne Test might be Rohit's last. The selection committee will likely focus on someone who can lead until the 2025-27 World Test Championship.” India’s series loss and Rohit’s 2024 Test average of 24.76 have intensified retirement speculations. Official confirmation of his future in red-ball cricket remains awaited.

Jill Biden, US First Lady, received a $20,000, 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond from PM Narendra Modi during his June 2023 US visit, making it the most expensive gift received by the Biden family last year. The diamond, produced and polished in Surat, India, was retained for official use in the White House East Wing, per US protocol. High-value gifts exceeding $480 must be declared and are typically transferred to the National Archives. Jill Biden could "purchase" the gift after her tenure. Other notable gifts to the Bidens include a $14,063 brooch from Ukraine and luxury items from various global leaders.

The Centre’s draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2025 mandate parental consent for children’s social media accounts. Released on January 3, the rules ensure verifiable parental consent before processing children’s personal data. The draft highlights scenarios for verifying identity and age, emphasizing technical diligence by data fiduciaries. Public feedback is invited until February 18, 2025. Officials state this step aims to enhance privacy and safety for minors online. The act, passed in 2023, reinforces accountability among platforms handling children’s data, ensuring parents actively oversee their child's online presence.

President-elect Donald Trump has strongly criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, accusing them of escalating violent crime and radical terrorism in the U.S. Following a deadly truck attack in New Orleans and an explosion near Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Trump stated, "I said many times during rallies that radical Islamic terrorism will become so bad in America that it will be hard to imagine. That time has come." He labeled Biden as the "worst president in U.S. history" and called for CIA intervention to address national security. Biden’s immigration policies remain under intense scrutiny.

Dense fog shrouded Delhi on Friday, reducing visibility to zero in many areas, delaying over 100 flights at IGI Airport. The Air Quality Index (AQI) reached "very poor" levels, with 10 monitoring stations recording "severe" readings above 400. The city's 24-hour average AQI stood at 371. Maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 21.2°C and 7°C, respectively, while humidity ranged between 74% and 100%. The India Meteorological Department predicts moderate fog and smog in most areas, with dense fog in isolated spots over the next few days. Winds are expected to remain light, aggravating smog conditions.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed that India has reported no cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a virus linked to rising respiratory illnesses in China. Dr. Atul Goyal, NCDC Director, stated that HMPV causes cold-like symptoms, mainly in children and the elderly, and advised following basic precautions like avoiding close contact during illness. He reassured that taking regular cold or fever medication suffices. India has not seen a significant rise in respiratory outbreaks this winter, and hospitals are prepared. Meanwhile, China is addressing respiratory diseases and setting protocols for unknown pathogens.

A small plane crashed into a furniture factory in Southern California on January 3, 2025, killing 2 people and injuring 18. The crash occurred less than two minutes after takeoff from Fullerton Municipal Airport in Orange County. CCTV footage revealed the plane tilted as it hit the building, causing an explosion and a plume of black smoke. Of the 18 injured, 10 were hospitalized, while 8 were treated at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the plane was a single-engine Van's RV-10. Authorities are investigating the identities of the victims and the cause of the crash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the alleged lavish renovation of his residence, which reportedly cost around Rs 45 crore. Modi, during the launch of a housing project for slum dwellers, emphasized his commitment to providing permanent homes for the poor, highlighting that over 4 crore houses have been built under his leadership. The PM mocked Kejriwal’s spending, stating that while he could have built a "sheeshmahal" for himself, his dream was to provide homes for the people. He further accused the AAP of corruption, claiming it was a "disaster" for Delhi.

The spread of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in northern China is raising alarm across Asia, with rising respiratory illnesses and strained healthcare systems. HMPV primarily affects children and can lead to severe conditions like pneumonia and bronchitis. Despite being known for two decades, no vaccine exists for the virus. Health authorities in neighboring countries, including Hong Kong and Japan, are on high alert. Japan is facing a flu outbreak alongside HMPV concerns, reporting over 700,000 cases. Experts urge strict monitoring and preventive measures like wearing masks and handwashing to limit transmission.