Looking forward to de-escalation, focus on cooperation: Rajnath to China counterpart

In another indication of India and China moving swiftly to repair ties following troop disengagement at two friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun met in Laos capital Vientiane.

Meeting Dong on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus, Singh "emphasised and looked forward to greater trust and confidence building between the two sides through de-escalation" -an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 troops have been deployed on each side of the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

India, Australia agree on tie-up in clean energy, push for trade pact

India and Australia agreed on an ambitious renewable energy partnership and looked forward to working towards a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement as PM Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' Summit in Brazil.

Strengthening ties in areas of defence and security, mobility, science and technology and education figured prominently during the second India- Australia annual conclave held.

The two leaders also looked forward to a long-term vision of defence and security collaboration to enhance collective strength, contribute to both countries' security, and make an important contribution to regional peace and security, according to a joint statement.

Modi first Indian PM to visit Guyana in 56 years, signs 10 pacts to expand ties

India and Guyana sealed 10 agreements to strengthen cooperation in hydrocarbons, digital payment systems, pharmaceuticals, and defence after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

Modi said Guyana will play an important role in India's energy security and a blueprint for long-term partnership in the sector will be prepared. 

"The visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Guyana after 56 years is an important milestone in our relations.

Free market needs free speech

SEBI recently published a proposal to regulate digital platforms such as YouTube and WhatsApp that allow the dissemination of securities-related information. 

SEBI-regulated financial intermediaries may then "associate" only with "fin-fluencers" who share information on such platforms. 

Digital platforms seeking SEBI's recognition must implement measures such as taking down, blocking and preventing the sharing of securities-related content posted on these platforms, blacklisting entities identified by SEBI and regular reporting requirements to SEBI.

'Private consumption back, driving domestic demand'

The Slowdown witnessed in the second quarter of the current financial year (2024-25) is behind us as private consumption is again driving the domestic demand, a Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) article said.

The country's economy is exhibiting resilience, underpinned by festival-related consumption, and a recovering agriculture sector, the 'State of the Economy' article published in the RBI's November bulletin said. 

It, however, emphasised that there was a need to bring inflation down in order to help India meet its potential growth. 

"Private consumption is back to being the driver of domestic demand, although with mixed fortunes. Festival spending has lighted up real activity in the third quarter," it said.

US envoy to travel to Israel in bid to seal Hezbollah ceasefire

US Envoy Amos Hochstein said he will travel to Israel to try to secure a ceasefire ending the war with Lebanon's Hezbollah group after declaring additional progress in talks in Beirut.

WHAT IS RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR DOCTRINE, NEWLY UPDATED BY PUTIN?

President Vladimir Putin has approved changes to Russia's nuclear weapons policy, and Moscow has urged the West to study them closely.

How does the new doctrine apply to the Ukraine war? 

It states that any aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state that is carried out with the participation or support of a nuclear state will be considered a joint attack. 

It lists additional scenarios under which Moscow would consider a nuclear response, including if it had reliable information about the launch of a massive cross-border air attack on Russia using planes, missiles and drones. 

Ukraine has staged frequent air attacks, mostly with drones but now also with US missiles, to degrade Russia's ability to strike Ukrainian troops, cities and energy infrastructure.

India's undertrial prisoners

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that undertrials who have spent more than a third of the maximum prescribed sentence for the crime they are accused of committing should be released before Constitution Day (November 26).

Section 479 of the BNSS

Section 479 of the BNSS lays down the "Maximum period for which [an] undertrial prisoner can be detained".

It states that a prisoner who is not accused of offences punishable with death or life imprisonment shall be released on bail if she has "undergone detention for a period extending up to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for that offence under that law".

Story, history of exposition of sacred relics of St Francis Xavier in Goa

The Decennial exposition of the sacred relics of Saint Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, will begin on Thursday, and go on till January 5 next year.

Pilgrims, especially from the Catholic community, and tourists will converge in Goa over the next 45 days to pay homage to the saint, whose mortal remains will be put on public display for veneration.

Who was St Francis Xavier?

The Spanish Jesuit missionary St Francis Xavier, referred to as "Goencho Saib" (Lord of Goa), arrived in Goa - then a Portuguese colony - in 1542. His primary mission, as ordered by King John III, was to restore Christianity among the Portuguese settlers.