Monsoon Season Ends with Above-Normal Rains, Highest Surplus in Drought-Prone Rajasthan

Over 300 Chinese troops have arrived in Pakistan to participate in the joint China-Pakistan anti-terrorism exercise called "Warrior-VIII" amid increasing militant attacks, with troops deployed in various specialities for joint counter-terrorism clean-up and strike operations. The drills, held from late November to mid-December, mark the eighth of the series and focus on mixed training and live drills, with Pakistan initiating a military operation targeting militants in affected areas prior to the exercise. Full Article

At the 11th Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus forum, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized India's commitment to freedom of navigation and adherence to international law in the Indo-Pacific region. Singh also highlighted the importance of not allowing the new code of conduct for the South China Sea to undermine the legitimate rights of nations not involved in the discussions. Additionally, Singh met with US Defense Secretary Llyod Austin to discuss advancing cooperation in areas...

Matt Gaetz withdrew his bid for Trump's attorney general after the US House Ethics Committee failed to release a report on allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use. Gaetz cited Senate Republicans' opposition as a reason, stating that his confirmation was becoming a distraction. Despite being investigated for sex trafficking violations, Gaetz maintained his innocence. Trump praised Gaetz's efforts and expressed optimism about his future endeavors. Full Article

Russian lawmakers approved a nearly 30 percent increase in defense spending for next year, totaling a record 13.5 trillion rubles ($134 billion) allocated for "national defense" – more than six percent of Russia's GDP. President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow is already spending close to nine percent of its economy on defense and security, the highest level since the Cold War, including other security-related expenditures not classified as "national defense". This decision commits the country...

A builder in Ahmedabad lost Rs 1 crore in a 'digital arrest' scam where fraudsters posed as police and Narcotics Control Bureau officials, claiming to have found drugs in a parcel in his name. The scammers, who seemed to have been monitoring the builder, used a recent Rs 50-crore land deal to gain his trust and coerced him to transfer the money to avoid prosecution. After realizing he had been duped, the builder approached the...

Kyiv accused Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile attack at Ukraine without a nuclear warhead, targeting the city of Dnipro. The Kremlin denied confirming the deployment of the weapon but stated efforts to avoid nuclear conflict. This escalation follows Ukraine firing long-range missiles at Russia, with the Ukrainian air force confirming it was the first time such a weapon had been used since the February 2022 invasion. Full Article