Times of India

Amanda Palmer, a musician and performance artist, married Neil Gaiman, the celebrated author of works like American Gods and The Sandman, in 2011. The couple’s marriage was unconventional from the start. They publicly discussed having an open marriage, a topic that invited both admiration and criticism. Gaiman and Palmer were often candid about the challenges of balancing their creative lives with the demands of marriage and parenthood.

Delhi Police identified a juvenile responsible for sending hoax bomb threats to schools last year. His parent is connected to an NGO with links to a political party. The NGO had earlier questioned the legitimacy of terrorist Afzal Guru's hanging. The investigation is ongoing, and there have been at least seven confirmed instances of hoax emails.

The Parliamentary Committee in India plans to summon Meta representatives after CEO Mark Zuckerberg incorrectly stated that most incumbent governments, including India's BJP-led NDA, lost elections post-Covid. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized Zuckerberg's inaccurate remarks, highlighting NDA's 2024 election victory and India's accomplishments during the pandemic.

US President-elect Donald Trump’s second term is expected to temporarily impact the Indian rupee. Historical trends suggest rupee has performed better under Republican administrations, with current volatility predicted to be short-lived. Despite a recent 3% dip, the rupee remains stable compared to other currencies.

Sushmita Singh, the principal of a nursing college in Varanasi, ended her life by jumping in front of a train. The incident occurred near the Tarna overbridge. The police are investigating her mobile data to understand the reasons behind her suicide. Her body has been sent for post-mortem.

Former cricketer Surinder Khanna humorously addressed the controversy over Yograj Singh’s comments on Kapil Dev, who allegedly considered shooting Kapil after being dropped from the team. Yograj attributed his cricket exit and focus on son Yuvraj's career to this incident. Kapil Dev calmly dismissed the claims, asking, 'Kaun hai?' at a golf event in Delhi.

The BJP is fielding Chandrabhan Paswan in the Milkipur byelection scheduled for February 5. This byelection is significant as the seat was vacated by Awadhesh Prasad, who won the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat from BJP's Lallu Singh. SP has fielded Awadhesh Prasad's son Ajit Prasad for this reserved constituency with diverse population groups.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh condemned Pakistan for using PoK land for terror training camps, stated that Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without PoK and criticized PoK PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq for anti-India remarks. Also highlighted the central government's efforts to bridge gaps between Kashmir and rest of India.

A Chartered Accountant's detailed Excel sheet, used for recording expenses of a gathering, goes viral on social media. Despite suggestions to use Splitwise, the CA preferred Excel for its efficiency. The post sparked discussion, with some users questioning the calculated figures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the 150th foundation day of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), lauding it as a symbol of scientific progress. He highlighted the launch of 'Mission Mausam' to make India climate-smart, and emphasized advancements in IMD's infrastructure and technology.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah celebrated Makar Sankranti in Ahmedabad by flying kites with locals. The festivities featured traditional music and cultural performances. Shah highlighted the festival's significance in Indian culture, marking the Sun's transition into Capricorn and encouraging charity and religious devotion.

A Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and a party worker were critically injured in a shooting during a road inauguration event in West Bengal's Malda district. The incident occurred less than two weeks after a TMC councillor's murder in the same district. Police are investigating the attack.

An ongoing shortage of tech and manufacturing workers in the US underscores the importance of skilled foreign workers, particularly as demand for roles in AI, data analytics, and semiconductor processing rises. Labour shortages threaten stability and economic productivity, making immigrant talent critical to maintaining a competitive edge.

Arvind Kejriwal accuses BJP and Congress of a secret alliance after BJP's Amit Malviya reacts to Kejriwal's comments on Rahul Gandhi. Kejriwal alleges both parties are working together behind the scenes, especially with the upcoming Delhi elections where AAP and Congress will contest separately.

TikTok denies reports of selling its US operations to Elon Musk, a scenario mentioned by Bloomberg amid fears of a potential ban. ByteDance faces a deadline to sell its stake by January 19, with the US Supreme Court skeptical of TikTok's appeal against the law.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will replace defective medals from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Monnaie de Paris, responsible for manufacturing the medals, has already replaced damaged ones reported since August. The medals' varnish issues stem from new regulations. Over 100 medals have been returned, and replacements will continue as needed, ensuring quality and consistency.

As the potential US TikTok ban approaches, American content creators are turning to Xiaohongshu (RedNote), a Chinese app akin to Instagram and Pinterest. RedNote’s swiftly growing American userbase highlights its appeal amidst concerns over TikTok’s future, driven by national security and privacy debates.