Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayana: Part 1 has set a new box-office record with a massive collection on its first Monday after Diwali. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film earned Rs 107.50 crore net in India on November 9, its fifth day in theatres, according to Sacnilk figures cited by India Today. It surpassed the first-Monday collection of Dhurandhar 2, which earned Rs 60 crore. The film's total domestic net collection has reached Rs 346.35 crore, while its worldwide gross stands at Rs 663.90 crore. The film also stars Sai Pallavi and Yash.  (PC: India Today)

Gadi Eisenkot and other opposition leaders in Israel have reached an agreement on key parliamentary appointments, naming former minister Matan Kahana as their candidate for Knesset Speaker. The agreement includes opposition leaders Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Liberman and Yair Golan. Under the arrangement, Liberman will head the powerful Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, while Liran Avishar Ben-Horin is set to lead the Finance Committee. The appointments come as Eisenkot works to form Israel's next government after receiving a mandate from President Isaac Herzog. The opposition bloc is seeking to replace outgoing Speaker Amir Ohana, an ally of Benjamin Netanyahu. (PC: HT)

Abhishek Awasthi, originally from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, has made history by becoming the first person of Indian origin to serve as Mayor of Greater Bendigo in Australia's Victoria state. The 43-year-old took oath on November 9 and will serve a one-year term for 2026-27. Awasthi moved to Australia in 2008 to pursue higher education and became an Australian citizen in 2015. His political journey began with his election as a councillor from Kennington Ward in 2024. He later became the city's first Indian-origin Deputy Mayor. Andrea Metcalf has been elected Deputy Mayor for the new term.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has rejected allegations that she exercised unofficial control over the government during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure. In her new memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, she said there was a clear division of responsibilities, with Singh leading the government and her managing the Congress party. Gandhi said she could offer suggestions or disagree with the prime minister, but it was her duty to respect his authority. She also said she avoided actions that could create misunderstandings and weaken the government. Her account comes amid renewed debate over the power structure during the UPA years. (PC: News18)

Trilateral peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States have begun in Abu Dhabi, with US officials saying both sides have shown some flexibility in private discussions. The negotiations aim to end Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but major differences remain over territory and security arrangements. Moscow wants Kyiv to surrender the remaining parts of eastern Donetsk under Ukrainian control, while Ukraine wants to freeze the current frontline. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are leading Washington's delegation. European leaders are also seeking a role in the process. Officials say the talks could build momentum for further negotiations, rather than deliver an immediate breakthrough. (PC: BBC)

West Bengal's tiger relocation programme has suffered another setback after Dooars Rani, a 3-year-old tigress, escaped from Buxa Tiger Reserve for the second time. The tigress dug a tunnel beneath the concrete foundation of a 2.2-hectare acclimatisation enclosure and escaped on November 9. Her radio collar is working, and forest officials are tracking her movements. Officials believe she has crossed the Bala river and is moving towards Assam. Around 60 forest guards and 3 elephants have been deployed to locate her. She was brought back from Assam on November 3 after her first escape in October.

A political exchange has emerged after former Congress president Sonia Gandhi recalled former President Pranab Mukherjee’s prime ministerial ambitions in her new memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. Mukherjee’s daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, questioned why her father’s ambition had shocked Gandhi. In a post on X, she said his aspirations were backed by decades of political experience, hard work and intellectual ability. She also took a swipe at dynastic politics, saying her father earned his positions through merit rather than privilege. Sonia had recalled a 2010 conversation in which Mukherjee hinted at a change in leadership. (PC: NDTV)

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have to face her death sentence if she returns to the country, International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said on Tuesday. His remarks came after Hasina sought a new passport and identity card from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi through her London-based lawyers. Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in 2025 for crimes against humanity over the deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024. Aminul said she had missed the 30-day appeal deadline and could not legally obtain travel documents. He said her return must follow the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty.

A NASA satellite has captured a massive blanket of smog and smoke spreading across northern India and Pakistan, highlighting the growing regional air pollution crisis as winter sets in. Images captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) show thick haze stretching across the Indo-Gangetic plains, covering Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The satellite image also reveals several fire hotspots across the northwestern agricultural belt, linked to crop-residue burning. Stubble burning, vehicle emissions, industrial activity and construction dust are adding to pollution levels. Cold temperatures and slow winds are trapping pollutants, worsening air quality across the region. (PC: India Today)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang lost $7.4 billion (around ₹69,520 crore) from his fortune within the first 30 minutes of trading on Monday, November 9, following a sharp fall in the company's shares. His net worth dropped from $162.2 billion to $154.7 billion, pushing him from eighth to 10th place on Forbes' real-time billionaire list. The decline came after Nvidia announced an independent investigation into allegations surrounding Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman suspected by US intelligence of links to Beijing. Huang has admitted to an affair and apologised to his family and employees. (PC: HT)