Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the BSF’s 61st Raising Day celebrations on Friday as the Chief Guest at the 176th Battalion campus in Haripar Bhuj. He paid homage to BSF personnel who sacrificed their lives, laying a wreath at the memorial. The BSF, responsible for guarding the India-Pakistan border, was formed in 1965 after the Indo-Pak war, replacing the State Armed Police Battalion. Starting with 25 battalions, it expanded over time to tackle challenges such as militancy in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and the Northeast. Today, the force has 193 battalions (including three NDRF units) and seven artillery regiments, securing borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The BSF also handles anti-infiltration duties in Kashmir, counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, anti-Naxal missions in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and security at integrated check posts along both borders. During Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam attack on April 22, BSF units on the Jammu frontier destroyed more than 118 Pakistani posts, severely weakening Pakistan’s surveillance infrastructure. Shah noted that even in peacetime, BSF remains alert and responds swiftly based on accurate intelligence.
As the world’s largest border-guarding force with more than 2.7 lakh personnel, the BSF has played a crucial role in national security for over six decades. The 2024 Raising Day parade was held in Jodhpur, where Shah highlighted the sacrifices of BSF personnel. Up to 2024, 1,992 BSF members have laid down their lives, and 1,330 have received medals, including Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakras, Vir Chakras, Shaurya Chakras, Sena Medals, and Police Medals.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Australia’s internet regulator announced on Friday (Nov 21) that Amazon-owned live streaming platform Twitch will be included in the country’s upcoming teen social media ban, while image-sharing platform Pinterest will be excluded. Starting Dec 10, Australia will become the first country to prohibit social media use for individuals aged 16 and under, with penalties of up to A$49.5 million (S$41.69 million) for companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply.
The eSafety Commissioner stated that Twitch is considered a social media service because it primarily enables livestreaming and interactive content that allows users—including children—to communicate with others. In response, Twitch plans to deactivate all accounts for users under 17 from Jan 9 and will prevent new underage users from creating accounts once the ban is enforced. Pinterest, however, will not be included. The commissioner noted that although Pinterest allows some online interaction, its main function is image collection and idea curation rather than social networking.
Earlier this month, the ban was expanded to include Reddit and live-streaming platform Kick. Other major platforms already covered are Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube (owned by Alphabet). The commissioner confirmed that no further assessments will be made before the ban takes effect on Dec 10.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Jose Luis Cubo looked on as forensic experts unearthed the body of a man his grandfather had helped bury at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, following an execution carried out by fascist forces. According to members of the Historic Memory Recovery Association, the remains recovered from a muddy pit in farmland at Vegas de Matute, about 75km north of Madrid, belong either to Luis Garcia Hernandez, a 42-year-old teacher and union activist, or to Julio Maroto Ortega, a 60-year-old road worker.
The excavation forms part of an initiative launched by victims’ groups in 2000 and expanded by the socialist-led government in 2018 to confront and address crimes committed under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. In Vegas de Matute, Cubo, now 83, recalled how his grandfather, Lorenzo Cubo, witnessed a Falange militia truck arrive, heard gunshots, and later joined locals in burying the bodies under the cover of night.
“This area was known as the death zone. We kept farming it, and the wheat grew much taller where we believed the bodies lay,” Cubo said. The legacy of Franco continues to divide Spanish society. His death 50 years ago on Thursday (Nov 20) paved the way for Spain’s transition to democracy and eventually its entry into the European Union and NATO.
The government, which has been honouring the victims, says it is about halfway through its large-scale effort to exhume and properly memorialise those buried in mass graves during the civil war (1936–1939) and Franco’s nearly 40-year regime. There is no official count of those who disappeared during that period, but in 2008 former High Court judge Baltasar Garzón estimated the number of victims at about 114,000. Officials believe only around 20,000 can still be recovered due to time, development, and other factors.
Roughly 9,000 bodies have been located so far, and the remaining recoverable ones are expected to be exhumed within the next four years, State Secretary for Democratic Memory Fernando Martínez López told Reuters. Although only 700 have been formally identified, the government maintains that each recovered body has value, noting that unidentified remains are respectfully reburied in designated memorial locations. “Every mass grave we open closes a wound,” Martínez said.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on November 21 during the grand finale held in Bangkok, Thailand. At 25, she became the fourth woman from Mexico to win the prestigious title and the 74th winner in the pageant’s history. Bosch earned the crown after competing against a strong group of finalists, including Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh, Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali, Miss Philippines Ma Ahtisa Manalo, and Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yace.
Her victory followed weeks of intense attention after a viral confrontation with Thai pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil. During a livestream on November 4, Nawat publicly reprimanded Bosch for not posting promotional materials and appeared to insult her by calling her a “dumb head.” The remark prompted Bosch to walk out of the room, a move that several other contestants supported by following her out. Shortly after the incident, Bosch shared a message on social media saying that if something costs a person their dignity, it is better to walk away.
Nawat later offered a public apology, explaining that the pressure of the event had caused him to lose control. He said he did not intend to insult anyone and later claimed that he had not called Bosch a “dumb head,” but had used the word “damage” instead. His behaviour drew criticism from Raul Rocha, president of the Miss Universe Organization, who condemned his actions and announced that the Thai director’s participation in future events would be limited.
The 2025 pageant faced several other controversies as well. A week after the walkout incident, two judges resigned, one of whom, Omar Harfouch, claimed that the competition had been rigged. He stated on social media that two days before the final, a secret vote had been held to pre-select 30 contestants, even though the individuals involved were not official members of the judging panel. The Miss Universe Organization rejected these allegations, insisting that no external group had been authorized to evaluate contestants or choose finalists.
Adding to the tension, Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry fell off the stage during the preliminary evening gown round on November 19 and had to be taken out on a stretcher. An update released on November 25 confirmed that she had been treated at the hospital and had not suffered any broken bones.
Despite the controversies that surrounded this year’s event, Fatima Bosch’s achievement remains a defining moment. Her grace under pressure and her ability to stand firm in the face of criticism earned admiration from audiences around the world, ensuring that her Miss Universe 2025 win will be remembered long after the noise surrounding the pageant fades.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Insta/missuniverse.
Milkha Singh, the celebrated figure of Indian track and field born on November 20 1929, would have turned 96 today. His journey to international acclaim marked one of the brightest eras in Indian athletics. On his birth anniversary, we look back at some of the defining moments from his outstanding sporting career.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
In a surprising reversal, Donald Trump this week signed a bill instructing the Justice Department to release additional files from the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes amid a major clash with his former staunch ally, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been pushing for the documents’ release. Could this signal a MAGA unraveling? And how will the escalating conflict between the two unfold? Jonathan Freedland talks with Rolling Stone reporter Nikki McCann Ramirez about the fallout between the former allies and what the next steps might be regarding the Epstein files.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian
In Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro interviews Singaporean writer Alexander Ee about his book A Glimpse of Heaven: Grief, Self and Community on the Camino. The book recounts his process of navigating sorrow and finding acceptance after his wife passed away from cancer in 2019. It also chronicles his two-month, 925-kilometre walk along the Camino de Santiago — a historic pilgrimage route made up of interconnected trails across Europe that end in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Ee reflects on how the journey helped him confront loss, discover deeper meaning in life, and understand the importance of gratitude and forgiveness, themes that are central to the book.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Australia exports more weapons and ammunition to the United Arab Emirates than to any other nation. This week, Team Defence Australia occupies a prominent spot at a weapons exhibition in Dubai. However, human rights groups are urging the government to halt defence exports to the UAE amid reports that its arms are being supplied to a militia accused of mass killings in Sudan. Senior journalists Ben Doherty and Henry Belot discuss with Nour Haydar Australia’s expanding involvement in the global arms trade.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Frances Wong, who led a global anti-scam team at an international bank, discovered that her own mother had fallen prey to a scam. Motivated by this, she left her position and founded White Byte, a company dedicated to educating vulnerable individuals and businesses about scam prevention. Frances discusses how she connects with the elderly, migrant workers, and other at-risk groups, the advice she gives to victims, and the guidance she would offer her younger self.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
