A 27-year-old Indian student, Bilal Kazi, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in the UK for grooming and abusing children online. Kazi posed as a teenage boy on social media and gaming platforms to target girls aged 10 to 15. He forced victims to send explicit photos and videos. He also blackmailed those who refused his demands. Police identified 70 victims aged between 11 and 17 across the UK. Investigators found that Kazi used fake identities on platforms such as Snapchat, Roblox and Wink. He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in July 2023.  

India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, has strongly criticised the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for describing jailed activist Sharjeel Imam as a person detained for religious freedom advocacy. In a post on X, Kwatra said the commission had no authority to judge the constitutional rights of Indian citizens and accused it of making biased and politically motivated assessments. Imam, a former JNU scholar, has been charged under UAPA in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots. The diplomatic exchange has renewed tensions over India's religious freedom record. (PC: PTI)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India’s border with China has become “more alive”, highlighting significant improvements in military deployment and infrastructure. Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026 in New Delhi on November 14, he said India has strengthened its ability to sustain forces along the frontier, particularly following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Jaishankar acknowledged that border infrastructure was neglected for years. He also said India missed opportunities for industrialisation during the 1980s, while China rapidly modernised its economy. (PC: HT)

India is reportedly willing to facilitate former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s return from exile, but wants Dhaka to provide security and guarantees of a fresh, fair trial. According to a BBC Bangla report cited by India Today, New Delhi wants the Bangladesh Army to oversee her return, potentially through a military aircraft. India also reportedly wants Hasina to have an opportunity to appeal her death sentence and face a fresh trial over the 2024 crackdown. Hasina has announced plans to return in December 2026. However, India’s Foreign Ministry has declined to comment, leaving the proposed arrangement uncertain. (PC: AP)

India has reiterated its commitment to maintaining positive, constructive and forward-looking relations with Bangladesh despite growing diplomatic tensions over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On November 13, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the India-Bangladesh consular dialogue, scheduled for November 17–18 in Dhaka, has been postponed. The discussions were expected to cover visa arrangements, border management, trade, detained citizens and other bilateral issues. Bangladesh has renewed its demand for Hasina's extradition, adding to diplomatic friction. India said it remains ready to address all bilateral concerns through existing diplomatic mechanisms and mutually agreed discussions. (PC: PTI)

India has cancelled the visa of Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng just hours before her scheduled flight to Hyderabad for the Telangana government’s Bharat Summit, scheduled for November 12–14. Lyng, who had received a visa and political clearance, was invited to speak on media and press freedom. She said the Indian Embassy in Oslo informed her of the cancellation approximately ten minutes before she left for the airport. She suspects the decision may be linked to her earlier questioning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo in May 2026. Indian authorities have not publicly explained the cancellation. 

Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh became the first Indian artist to perform live at the Latin Grammy Awards, making his debut at the 27th ceremony in Las Vegas on November 12, 2026. He shared the stage with Puerto Rican singer Daddy Yankee to perform their recently released collaboration, ‘Pokito’, blending Punjabi and Latin musical styles. Diljit later shared a performance video on social media, celebrating Punjabi music’s global recognition. A backstage video of him respectfully touching Daddy Yankee’s mother Rosa Rodriguez’s feet also attracted attention. Diljit will return to Coachella in April 2027, following his historic 2023 appearance.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has accused the Centre of preventing more than 100 foreign speakers from attending the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad. In a post on X, Tharoor alleged that 115 of the 315 speakers cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) were either denied entry into India or had their visas cancelled. He claimed the decisions were taken on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Tharoor said he learnt about the restrictions after arriving in Hyderabad for the summit. Criticising the alleged move, he questioned why a democracy would suppress voices it feared might be critical. The allegations have placed the Centre’s handling of foreign delegates under scrutiny.

At least 14 people, including Indian nationals, were killed and 30 injured after a heavy truck overturned and triggered a 23-vehicle pile-up near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates before midnight. The crash occurred on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, where the truck reportedly struck another vehicle before overturning into slow-moving traffic. The impact sparked a fire that spread across vehicles. Authorities said victims included nationals of the UAE, India, Oman, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt. The fire left some victims unrecognisable, and police specialists are conducting DNA tests to identify them. Fifteen injured people were discharged, while 15 remain hospitalised. Emergency teams responded immediately, and the cause is under investigation.

A massive road accident near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has claimed 14 lives and injured 30 others after a truck lost control and rammed into multiple vehicles shortly before midnight on November 12. The truck initially collided with another vehicle before overturning and hitting vehicles caught in slow-moving traffic. The collision triggered a fire that spread across several vehicles. A total of 23 vehicles, including five trucks, were involved. The victims included Indian nationals and citizens of several other countries. The Indian Consulate in Dubai is coordinating with local authorities to assist affected families.