A Minnesota court convicted Indian national Harshkumar Patel, aka "Dirty Harry," and Florida resident Steve Shand of human smuggling after a Gujarati family froze to death during an illegal Canada-US border crossing in January 2022. Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their children, aged 11 and 3, were among 11 migrants smuggled by the duo. Prosecutors revealed the network's reliance on "hawala" systems and migrants paying up to $100,000. The verdict highlights the perilous reality of smuggling operations. US Attorney Andy Luger condemned the "unthinkable cruelty" of such schemes prioritizing profit over human lives.

Maharashtra's Assembly elections saw Mahayuti, led by BJP, winning a massive mandate with 215 seats, while the MVA opposition secured 65. Amid the results, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena UBT raised doubts about the fairness of EVMs. In Jharkhand, the JMM-led INDIA bloc overtook the BJP-led NDA, with INDIA securing 52 seats out of 81, ensuring its return to power. BJP, trailing at 29 seats, faced a major setback. The fate of key leaders, including Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, was decided, with BJP claiming a historic achievement in Maharashtra.

Jaiswal and Rahul provided a solid foundation for India on Day 2 of the first Test against Australia, as the hosts lead by 130 runs at Tea, with India at 84/0. Jaiswal, on 42*, and Rahul, on 34*, have been dominant in their opening partnership, showing composure after India’s first-innings total of 150. Earlier, India’s bowlers, led by captain Jasprit Bumrah’s 5/30, dismissed Australia for just 103 runs. Harshit Rana, on debut, contributed with 3/48, while Mohammed Siraj supported with 2/20. Despite Australia’s resistance, India remains firmly in control.

As the Jharkhand Assembly election counting progresses, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance is leading over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. The JMM, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, contested 41 seats while Congress, RJD, and CPI (ML) formed part of the coalition. The BJP contested 68 seats, with smaller parties like AJSU and JD(U) also in the fray. The overall voter turnout was 67.74%, showing a slight increase from 2019. Exit polls predicted a tough fight, with the JMM-led INDIA bloc showing promise in the trends.

As the counting of votes continues for Maharashtra’s 288 assembly constituencies, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis leads by a significant margin in the Nagpur South West constituency. Fadnavis, contesting from the BJP, faces Congress candidate Prafull Gudadhe and is aiming for his fourth term. In other Nagpur constituencies, BJP candidates are also leading, including Dr. Ashishrao Deshmukh in Savner, with a substantial margin. Voter turnout in Maharashtra was 65.08%, and the BJP is currently leading the race in the state, while results for Jharkhand’s 81 seats are also being revealed.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has started the vote counting for the 2024 by-elections across 48 assembly seats and 2 parliamentary seats. In Wayanad, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is leading by over 1.5 lakh votes, consolidating her position. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is ahead in 8 of the 11 seats. The results are crucial for both BJP and the opposition parties, as they set the stage for the upcoming 2027 assembly elections. The final tally will determine the political direction in several states, including Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

India gained a 46-run lead against Australia in the 1st Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. Captain Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling (5/30) dismantled Australia for 104 on Day 2. Harshit Rana impressed on debut, taking 3/48, while Siraj grabbed 2 wickets. Earlier, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated India with a 110-ball last-wicket stand before Rana dismissed Starc. Despite India's struggles in their 1st innings (150 all out), the bowlers ensured an advantage on a tricky pitch. India's batters now face the challenge of building a competitive target as the second innings begins.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra has taken a commanding lead with 216 seats in the 288-member Assembly, surpassing the majority mark of 145. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) trails with 60 seats. In Jharkhand, Hemant Soren's INDIA bloc crossed the majority with 49 leads in the 81-seat Assembly, while the NDA holds 30 seats. Maharashtra witnessed a single-phase election on November 20, while Jharkhand's polls were conducted in two phases. Key battles include Aaditya Thackeray leading in Worli and Hemant Soren contesting in Barhait. Meanwhile, bypolls across 13 states are also underway, including Priyanka Gandhi’s debut in Wayanad.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu risks arrest if he visits the UK following an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC also issued warrants for former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. Downing Street stated it would comply with legal obligations under the ICC Act 2001, which mandates action on endorsed warrants. Netanyahu condemned the warrant as “antisemitic,” while the UK government emphasized dialogue with Israel as a key partner. US President Joe Biden criticized the decision, calling it “outrageous.” The warrant’s enforcement depends on ICC member states.

Aryan Reddy, a 23-year-old student from Telangana's Uppal, tragically died on November 13 in Atlanta, USA, after accidentally misfiring his newly acquired hunting gun on his birthday. Pursuing a Master's degree at Georgia State University, Aryan's untimely demise has left his family in deep grief. His father, Sudarshan Reddy, urged parents to be cautious about students obtaining gun licences abroad. Aryan's body is expected to arrive in Telangana tonight. The incident has raised awareness about gun safety, especially among international students. Telangana remains a top contributor to the rising number of Indian students in the US.