The Times of India News

Former CIA Director John Brennan's resurfaced interview reveals how instructors used financial leverage to pressure foreign agents into continued espionage. Brennan questioned the ethics, but was told it served national security, not blackmail. Agents' signed acknowledgments of payments could be used to ensure cooperation, a tactic resembling historical intelligence manuals.

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott has generously donated nearly $7.2 billion in the past year, pushing her lifetime contributions past $26 billion. Her latest wave of 225 grants supports vital areas like education, climate action, and community well-being, with significant funding directed towards organizations aiding underserved populations and expanding opportunities for students.

New York's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist focused on housing justice, is set to move into the historic Gracie Mansion. This transition from his modest Queens apartment has sparked debate, with Mamdani citing safety and governance needs. The mansion, a symbol of political tension, will now host his efforts to tackle the city's housing crisis.

Early airport body scanners were far more revealing than most travellers realised. In the early 2010s, Rapiscan X-ray machines produced highly detailed, near-nude images that sparked outrage and were ultimately removed over privacy concerns. Experts tell Readers Digest that todays millimetre-wave scanners work very differently, generating only a generic avatar and flagging possible threats without exposing anyones actual body.

Former CIA counterterrorism chief John Kiriakou has reignited public anxiety after bluntly confirming that the agency can access phones, laptops, cars and even smart TVs, capabilities echoed in the Vault 7 leaks. His remarks, delivered in LADbibles Honesty Box, pull back the curtain on how far modern intelligence work has drifted from public oversight, operating in secrecy behind shifting presidential mandates.

The US Justice Department has launched a new Second Amendment Rights Section, elevating gun rights to a core civil right. This unit will scrutinize state and local gun laws, challenging those that may infringe on constitutional protections. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated this move ensures equal importance for firearm ownership alongside other fundamental rights, aiming for consistent federal oversight.

A mysterious underwater noise recorded in 1997, the Bloop, fuelled years of speculation about megalodon and other undiscovered giants. But NOAAs long-running investigation eventually traced the sound to Antarctic icequakes, not a living creature. The finding reveals less about ancient sharks and more about a warming planet, whose shifting ice now produces noises once mistaken for monsters.

Elon Musk slammed the EU with a 120 million fine for violating transparency rules under the Digital Services Act. He called for the EU's abolition, advocating for national sovereignty. Regulators cited X's inadequate verification, ad transparency, and researcher access. This marks a significant enforcement action, potentially impacting X's operations and sparking a debate on digital governance.

Netflix's massive $72-$83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, including HBO and DC, sparks controversy. MAGA activist Laura Loomer warns of an Obama News Network, citing the Obamas' Netflix deal and Netflix executives' political donations. While Netflix aims to boost content, critics fear political influence and media consolidation ahead of elections.