The US military said it struck three Iran-linked oil tankers on Saturday after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward two American Navy warships in the region. US Central Command said one tanker near Kharg Island and another near Jask were “permanently disabled”, while a third in the Gulf of Oman was destroyed. Iran confirmed the attacks and warned it would expand strikes on US military vessels if American attacks on Iranian ships continued. Centcom said its forces evaded multiple IRGC attacks targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer, with no American troops injured. The strikes come amid renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran. 

A Belgian chocolate replica of India Gate, intended as a gift for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, broke during its journey to India, the Belgian Embassy said. Prime Minister Bart De Wever had planned to present the elaborate sculpture to Modi during his India visit. Speaking at a joint press conference in New Delhi, De Wever joked that chocolate was “excellent for diplomacy” but not for diplomatic travel. He said a backup replica remained in Belgium and promised to deliver it to Modi safely. India Gate was chosen to reflect the shared history of India and Belgium, including Indian soldiers who fought in Belgium during World War I. (PC: India Today)

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said India buys Russian oil for its own development and not to support Moscow. Speaking to DD News, Alipov said New Delhi’s energy needs were the priority and Russia remained ready to supply as much oil as India requires. He also criticised Western sanctions and tariffs on countries buying Russian crude, calling them pressure tactics. India’s purchases of Russian oil increased after 2022 following G7 and EU price caps on Russian energy. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India’s oil purchases will not determine the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war, which he said must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. (PC: HT)

West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara has joined former cricketers calling for proper medical care and humane treatment for former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan. In an Instagram post on Saturday, Lara said he was shocked that Khan was not being cared for and called for independent medical attention. Khan, 73, has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since 2023 after convictions in corruption cases. Concerns over his health have drawn criticism from his family and former cricketers. Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Greg Chappell and Pat Cummins have also spoken about Khan’s treatment and need for dignity. (PC: India Today)

Joheirry Mola of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss World 2026 at the grand finale in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on Saturday. Thailand’s reigning Miss World, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, crowned her successor. Spain’s Elisabeth Reynes was named first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty finished as second runner-up. The Top 6 also included Eritrea’s Snit Habteab, Vietnam’s Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc and South Africa’s Romanda Hombir. India’s Nikita Porwal reached the Top 40 but failed to advance to the Top 20. A total of 111 contestants competed in this year’s pageant. The next Miss World edition is scheduled to be held in Tanzania. (PC: X)

The Census 2027 population enumeration will be conducted earlier in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, ahead of assembly elections. A gazette notification issued by the Registrar General of India said self-enumeration will be available from November 16 to 30. A revisional round will follow from January 5 to 9, with January 5, 2027, as the reference date for these states. The assemblies of Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are due to end by May 2027. Census enumeration elsewhere will use March 1, 2027, as the reference date.

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed an African Union-led push for more accurate world maps, with India voting in favour of the resolution. The “Correct the Map” resolution received 164 votes, while the United States voted against it and six countries abstained. Sponsored by Togo on behalf of the African Group, the resolution challenges the widely used Mercator projection, which distorts the apparent size of regions away from the Equator. India said it supported broader consideration of equal-area map projections, but did not endorse any single projection. The African Union urged institutions, schools, publishers and digital platforms to adopt more accurate maps. (PC: Economic Times)

India produced a dominant seven-wicket win over Pakistan in their Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Group A clash in Dubai on Saturday. Pakistan were bowled out for just 55 in 18.1 overs, their lowest-ever score in women’s T20I cricket. India’s spinners led the collapse, with Shree Charani and Prema Rawat taking three wickets each, while Deepti Sharma claimed two. India chased down the target in just 8.4 overs, finishing on 57/3 with 68 balls remaining. The victory gave India their third straight win and the top spot in Group A. Harmanpreet Kaur also became the first cricketer to captain 150 T20I matches. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump’s top negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Trump said the envoys were carrying a proposal to end the conflict. They are due to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for further discussions with Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US team had already begun working with Russia and confirmed plans for talks in Kyiv. Russia and Ukraine have said they would halt strikes on each other’s capitals for three days during the visit. Key disagreements remain over territory and security guarantees. (PC: BBC)

Twenty-year-old Surendra Singh Choudhry, popularly known online as Bittu Tabahi, has drawn global attention after spending months cleaning the heavily polluted Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh largely on his own. He removed plastic, discarded waste and other rubbish from the river and nearby public spaces, paying for basic supplies himself. Surendra also shared before-and-after pictures showing the visible difference made by his efforts. His work later caught the attention of Dutch entrepreneur Boyan Slat, founder of The Ocean Cleanup, which works to remove plastic pollution from oceans and rivers. Slat responded to a post about Surendra’s work, saying, “Come work with us.” (PC: India Today)