Times of India

Luigi Mangione has been indicted on 11 counts, including terrorism-related murder, for the shooting death of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson in Manhattan. Prosecutors allege Mangione's act was premeditated and intended to influence government policy. The Ivy League-educated Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt and is awaiting extradition to New York.

Hindi-language film 'Santosh' has been shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film at the 2025 Oscars. Representing the UK, the film, directed by Sandhya Suri and starring Shahana as a widowed police constable, premiered at Cannes to critical acclaim. Selected from 85 submissions, 'Santosh' explores themes of corruption and murder in rural North India.

Allu Arjun's "Pushpa 2" continues its box office reign, crossing ₹953.3 crore in just 13 days. The film's impressive opening day haul of ₹164.25 crore propelled it past ₹700 crore in its first week. Steady weekday earnings indicate a strong trajectory towards the ₹1000 crore club. OTT release on Netflix is anticipated in February 2025.

Popeye and Tintin's early versions enter the US public domain in 2025, allowing their use without copyright restrictions. However, later additions like Popeye's spinach and Tintin's signature colors remain protected. Literary classics by Faulkner, Hemingway, and Steinbeck also join the public domain.

Dominique Pelicot, a 72-year-old man, was convicted in France for orchestrating the rape of his wife, Gisele, over 200 times by 70 men. He used an online dating platform to lure the men and drugged Gisele before the assaults, which occurred over a decade. Pelicot's crimes came to light after his arrest for filming upskirts.

Bangladesh's High Court reinstated the non-party caretaker government system for elections and the provision for constitutional amendment referendums. The court deemed the abolition of the caretaker system unconstitutional. While validating the current Yunus-led interim government, it clarified its distinct formation under Article 106, following presidential consultation with the Supreme Court.

Eleven Indians, primarily from Punjab, tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a Georgia restaurant. Families are devastated and struggling to repatriate the bodies for last rites. Many victims had moved abroad seeking better lives, leaving behind grieving families and uncertain futures.

Over 20 BJP MPs, including Union ministers, skipped the introduction of the 'one nation, one election' bills in Lok Sabha, despite a party whip. While some absences were explained by official events with PM Modi, others cited personal reasons.

In a brazen attack, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's chemical weapons protection, was assassinated in Moscow. Ukraine's SBU claims responsibility, calling him a war criminal responsible for chemical attacks. This marks the most significant killing of a Russian military official within Russia since the war began. Russia vows revenge while investigations are underway.

The Central government introduced bills in Lok Sabha for simultaneous elections, facing opposition uproar. Critics argued it undermines federalism, while the government defended it as a long-standing recommendation. The bills were referred to a joint parliamentary committee for scrutiny, highlighting the significant challenge of achieving the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman informed LS that ED has restituted Rs 22,280 crore worth of assets to the victims of various scams, including return of over Rs 14,000 crore to various banks from the sale of assets of fugitive Vijay Mallya and Rs 1,053 crore of Nirav Modi.

A Brazilian court ordered the removal of Adele's "Million Years Ago" from global platforms due to alleged plagiarism of Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes's song. Geraes claims the 2015 hit resembles his samba classic "Mulheres." Record labels Sony and Universal face fines for non-compliance. Geraes seeks royalties, damages, and songwriting credit.

The Supreme Court collegium reprimanded Allahabad High Court Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav for his controversial speech at a VHP event. The collegium advised him to maintain judicial dignity and exercise caution in public speeches, particularly regarding remarks about the Muslim community and the Uniform Civil Code, following complaints from lawyers and politicians.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will focus solely on administering entrance exams for higher education institutions starting next year, discontinuing recruitment tests. Discussions are underway to determine whether NEET-UG will be conducted online or offline. The NTA aims to implement recommendations for secure exam practices and ensure error-free testing.

In Nagpur, Uddhav Thackeray questioned the BJP's inaction on awarding Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar. He urged a focus on development issues over historical debates. Thackeray congratulated CM Fadnavis on the election win and held a closed-door meeting, sparking speculation about the opposition leader's post. Both leaders expressed a desire for cultured political discourse in Maharashtra.

Elon Musk expressed interest in cricket after responding to Google CEO Sundar Pichai's tweet praising Jasprit Bumrah's performance in the India vs. Australia test match. Pichai then invited Musk to watch a South Africa-India match together. Bumrah's batting heroics, including a crucial 39-run partnership, drew widespread praise, including from Google India.