President Barack Obama met his National Security Council team at the White House to review potential holiday threats and discuss America's security posture in Pakistan in view of the horrific terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar that left 141 dead, mostly children.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has stated that China is not prepared to back India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He highlighted that any expansion of permanent membership would require a UN Charter amendment, which China could veto. Bolton also discussed the broader institutional challenges facing the UN and suggested that regime change in Iran is crucial for long-term stability in West Asia, linking Houthi attacks to Iran's "ring of fire" strategy.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly supported India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He stated that any reform of the UNSC should not grant additional seats to Western countries like Germany and Japan, citing their "militarism and revanchism." Instead, Russia advocates for increased representation from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, specifically backing India and Brazil, while also emphasizing the need to address African interests.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday called for "regional unity" as he met top defence officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan in Tehran to discuss the regional situation, amid escalating tensions in the region.
Gaganyaan astronaut Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair stressed the critical importance of AI sovereignty for national cybersecurity, citing the increasing difficulty in distinguishing between real and fake content due to AI. Speaking at the Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit, Nair highlighted that future conflicts and industries would involve a 'whole-of-nation approach,' blurring physical and digital boundaries. He urged greater awareness of digital threats and emphasised India's need to build on its technological capabilities in AI and cybersecurity, drawing parallels with the success of Chandrayaan-3. Other speakers also underscored the rising threat of cyberattacks and the potential for Kerala to contribute to national technology requirements.
The UN Security Council will hold closed consultations on Monday on the situation between India and Pakistan after Islamabad sought an emergency meeting on the issue. Pakistan, which currently sits as a non-permanent member of the council, requested the meeting in light of rising tensions between the two countries following a terror attack in India. The meeting comes after India's foreign minister spoke with all council members except China and Pakistan, emphasizing the need to bring perpetrators of the attack to justice. The Pakistani envoy has argued that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir poses a threat to regional and international peace and security, justifying the need for a council discussion.
Delhi Police has deployed over 6,000 personnel, 220 companies of CAPF, and an expanded CCTV network in New Delhi for the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march on Friday. The march, which has not been granted permission, is planned for Central Park in Connaught Place, which will be closed. Prohibitory orders are in force, and police are prepared to take action against violators, while also offering an alternative, suitable location for a flag march to a select group.
'All the world knows that the US and Britain are enemies of the Iranian nation and now they sit in the UN Security Council and act as both judge and executioner, but the era of such an order is over,' said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The NSAB is an advisory body that provides inputs to the National Security Council Secretariat.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has affirmed India's commitment to ensuring issues like a free, open, and rule-based maritime order, seafarer safety, and countering terror financing receive due attention at the UN Security Council during its 2028-29 term.
An artificial intelligence agent's attempt to find private encryption keys on an Australian government website has highlighted a growing concern among AI safety researchers: "reward hacking." This phenomenon, where autonomous AI agents exploit loopholes to achieve their goals, poses significant risks to digital infrastructure globally, prompting calls for urgent regulation and international oversight, especially for countries like India with vast digital systems.
Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will skip the first-ever BIMSTEC home ministers' meeting in New Delhi, with a senior bureaucrat leading the delegation. This absence underscores strained India-Bangladesh ties, particularly following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 and Dhaka's request for her extradition from India.
Iran has conveyed seven conditions to the United States through Qatari mediators for starting negotiations to end the ongoing war, while warning that Tehran is prepared for a "decisive war" if Washington rejects its demands.
India has strongly rejected a UN special rapporteur's report describing the Dawood Ibrahim-led D-company as an "India-based" criminal group, flagging "glaring inaccuracies" and cautioning against such incompetence. First Secretary Raghoo Puri stated that Dawood Ibrahim fled India much before his 2003 listing and is wanted in India for terror attacks since 1993, residing in the same country where Osama bin Laden was found. India also raised concerns about alleged bias in the report and funding allegations against the rapporteur.
India has expressed firm opposition to attacks on merchant shipping amidst the ongoing Iran conflict, revealing that several Indian nationals have died or are missing due to these incidents. The nation also called for restraint, de-escalation, and prioritising civilian safety in the region.
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution, backed by India, to correct the world map for a more accurate representation of continental landmasses. The resolution addresses the distortions caused by the widely used Mercator projection, which minimises the perceived sizes of regions like Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, promoting an unbalanced global view. India supports the move towards more accurate cartographic practices, specifically endorsing broader use of Equal Area map projections.
China has strongly rejected a US bill that would impose tariffs on countries, including India, for purchasing Russian oil and gas. Beijing views the "Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026" as an act of "long-arm jurisdiction" and interference in its sovereign trade relations, asserting that its economic cooperation with other nations is based on equality and mutual benefit.
Experts suggest that a significant setback for US President Donald Trump in the midterm elections could compel him to pursue a swift trade agreement with India, as he seeks a quick foreign policy win amidst challenges with Russia, China, and Iran.
India has invited all 10 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member nations, including Pakistan, to the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi from November 20 to 22. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced this initiative earlier, aiming to strengthen cultural ties and mutual understanding among SCO countries. The forum will also address the collective fight against terrorism, a key concern for India.
Ahead of fresh protests scheduled for Saturday, France will deploy around 70,000 police personnel nationwide as authorities prepare to prevent a recurrence of widespread looting, arson and vandalism that erupted alongside demonstrations last week.
The National Security Strategy document should flag all major issues concerning security strategy and provide guidelines to concerned departments to work out suitable action plans. Since the global and regional geopolitical canvas is dynamic, the NSS document should be deliberated at length before formulation and should be reviewed periodically, recommends Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reshuffled Iran's political and national-security establishment, appointing former SNSC Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as his political adviser and veteran IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei as his representative on the Supreme National Security Council, consolidating power amid the West Asia crisis and Strait of Hormuz tensions.
Maharashtra BJP MLC Parinay Fuke has criticised MNS chief Raj Thackeray, alleging that Thackeray's public statements and influence are solely due to the police security provided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Fuke claimed Thackeray would not leave his home if the security was withdrawn. The MNS, through leader Sandeep Deshpande, retorted that security decisions are institutional, not personal, and challenged the BJP to withdraw it. This exchange follows Thackeray's recent criticisms of the state government.
Meitei and Naga groups held massive rallies in Manipur, demanding protection for indigenous people and the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with militant groups. The protests follow recent militant ambushes and highlight concerns over non-compliance with the SoO pact amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the state.
'You want the main man, and you cannot even bring him to Mumbai, where he has allegedly carried out a high-profile shootout.'
Given the current friction in ties, such a visit looks unlikely at this juncture.
Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti bloc is embroiled in a blame game following its poor performance in the recent Legislative Council polls. The BJP has accused its ally Shiv Sena of non-cooperation, while Shiv Sena leaders defend their actions and one MLA even suggested reinstating Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister, drawing parallels with the Bihar political model.
The Payments Council of India has confirmed that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services will continue to be free for consumers and small merchants, despite a recent Lok Sabha Bill. This clarification addresses concerns about potential charges, emphasising that while a sustainable financial model for UPI infrastructure is being developed, transaction charges will not be passed on to users or small businesses.
Delhi Police has advised the public to avoid the Cockroach Janta Party's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march scheduled for Friday at Connaught Place, citing prohibitory orders and security concerns. While offering to facilitate a symbolic flag-waving event elsewhere, police have stepped up security and warned of legal action against those defying orders, as the proposed venue, Central Park, will be closed.
India and Central Asian nations agree to collaborate with Afghanistan on security challenges amid escalating tensions with Pakistan. The discussions took place at the third India-Central Asia meeting of top security officials in Bishkek.
The US rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing Tehran's demands for sanctions relief and access to frozen assets before nuclear program negotiations. US Ambassador Mike Waltz called the offer a "cynical attempt," while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi disputed Waltz's account and reiterated Iran's readiness for both diplomacy and renewed hostilities. President Trump expressed confidence in winning the conflict soon and keeping all options, including military strikes, on the table, with denying Iran a nuclear weapon as the primary objective.
'Our strong support is there to India becoming a Security Council member,' British High Commissioner to India Michael Arthur said.
Reports are emerging that Ali Larijani, a key Iranian security official, was allegedly targetted in an Israeli airstrike, escalating tensions in the region.
'The close collaboration between Pakistan and China, and the assistance Pakistan receives, is a factor in our planning, and the IAF is building its capacity to counter precisely such collusive threats.'
The judges questioned the government's position on arbitration, underscoring the contradiction between its resistance to enforcement and its efforts to promote India as an arbitration-friendly jurisdiction.
Americans are voting in crucial midterm elections, widely seen as a referendum on Donald Trump's presidency. The elections will determine control of the House and Senate, with Democrats hoping to gain power. Key races include governorships and numerous Indian-American candidates. Trump's last-minute policy announcements and campaigning efforts are highlighted, as analysts predict a potential shift in power that could limit his agenda.
Pakistan on Friday won a seat as non-permanent member of the powerful United Nations Security Council, putting it in the club of 10 nations which currently includes India.
Iran has strongly rejected former US President Donald Trump's assertion that the Strait of Hormuz is 'NEW U.S. TERRITORY', with top officials warning that his 'delusions' would be 'corrected' and highlighting the gap between Washington's claims and its actual influence over the strategic waterway.
The reforms, undertaken by the Department of Defence Production, remove stakeholder consultation for exports of non-lethal defence items to most destinations, while retaining safeguards for sensitive countries.
