On the edge of Peru’s coastal desert, a remote fishing town where a third of all residents have no running water is being transformed into a huge deep-water port to cash in on the inexorable rise of Chinese interest in resource-rich South America.

The megaport of Chancay, a $1.3 billion project majority-owned by the Chinese shipping giant Cosco, is turning this outpost of bobbing fishing boats into an important node of the global economy.

From the presidential palace in Lima, 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the port inauguration ceremony, China’s President Xi Jinping watched a livestream of the ribbon-cutting alongside his Peruvian counterpart, Dina Boluarte, late Thursday.

Union Minister for Power, Manohar Lal on Friday jointly inaugurated the flow of power from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid along with Md. Fouzul Kabir Khan, Advisor, Ministry of Power, Bangladesh and Dipak Khadka, Nepal’s Minister of Energy, in a virtual event hosted by Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

This historic occasion marks the first trilateral power transaction which has been carried out through the Indian grid. The start of this power flow from Nepal to Bangladesh through India is expected to boost sub-regional connectivity in the power sector, according to an official statement.

"Nepal's power will now reach Bangladesh via the Indian grid, marking the first trilateral power transaction," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X. "This landmark development strengthens sub-regional connectivity and sets a new benchmark in the South Asian power sector," it added.

Japanese Princess Yuriko, the wife of wartime Emperor Hirohito’s brother and the oldest member of the imperial family, has died after her health deteriorated recently, palace officials said. She was 101.

Yuriko died on Friday at a Tokyo hospital, the Imperial Household Agency said. It did not announce the cause of death, but Japanese media said she died of pneumonia.

Born in 1923 as an aristocrat, Yuriko married at age 18 to Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of Hirohito and the uncle of current Emperor Naruhito, months before the start of World War II.

New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has announced that he will retire from Test cricket after representing the country for 18 years in the longest format of the game. The right-handed pacer will play his last match during the upcoming home Test series against England, suggesting that the end of his career could come at his home ground, Seddon Park, in Hamilton.

The 35-year-old pacer will later decide whether he will make himself available for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka and the World Test Championship final, should New Zealand qualify.

“Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up… To play for the Black Caps for 18 years has been the greatest honour and privilege, but the time feels right to now step away from the game that has given so much to me.” Southee was quoted by ICC as saying.

Cleaning Ganga involves preserving its rich biodiversity, particularly its endangered inhabitant, Dolphins. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the main body for cleaning the holy river, is set to start a special Dolphin Ambulance to rescue injured aquatic animal.

Labelled as the national aquatic animal of India, Ganga Dolphin is also found in the river system of India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Under the ambitious project approved for conservation of the Ganga River Dolphin, a specialised vehicle will be developed to assist dolphins in distress.

The project titled 'Advancing Rescue System for the Protection of Stranded Ganges River Dolphins' has an estimated budget of Rs 1 crore. The project will focus on raising awareness for dolphin conservation and community capacity building through training.

Asian Games medallist Prajnesh Gunneswaran announced his retirement from professional tennis on Friday, November 15. The 35-year-old from Chennai took to social media to announce his decision with an emotional note.

"Hanging up my racquet. Thank you."

"As I write this, my heart swells with gratitude, pride, and a touch of nostalgia. Today, I step off the competitive tennis court for the last time. For over three decades, this game has been my sanctuary, my greatest teacher, and my most faithful companion. From the first swing of my racquet to representing India on the grandest stages, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary," he wrote in his statement.

National Press Day, observed annually on November 16, celebrates the establishment of a free and responsible press in India. It commemorates the inception of the Press Council of India (PCI), which came into effect on the same date in 1966. The PCI was founded as a statutory body under the Press Council Act of 1965 to ensure the freedom of the press while maintaining journalistic ethics in the country.

The history of National Press Day traces back to recommendations made by India’s first Press Commission in 1956. The commission envisioned the formation of a statutory body to safeguard press freedom and uphold ethical journalism. This led to the establishment of the PCI, which began functioning on 16th November 1966. The council serves as a watchdog for press ethics and ensures that the media operates without undue influence or external pressures.

One of the Indian Army’s most devastating fire support systems, the indigenous guided Pinaka weapon system, has successfully completed its flight tests, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced on Thursday.

The Army first witnessed the havoc caused by the Pinaka multiple-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) during the Kargil War in 1999, when the system, still under development, caused widespread depredation when fired at Pakistani infiltrators’ positions.

Impressed, the Indian Army decided to replace its Soviet-era MBRLs — the venerable GRAD BM-21 — with an indigenous MBRL. The result is the Pinaka.

A Pinaka MBRL unit consists of 18 launchers, each of which fires at the enemy from 12 launcher tubes. Firing in rapid succession, these 216 launcher tubes can rain down seven tonnes of high explosive in just 44 seconds on a target 60 kilometres away, catching enemy troops in the open without giving them time to take cover.

Australia’s government has proposed a social media ban for children under the age of 16 which experts have described as a “momentous step,” as parents globally call for greater regulation of tech companies.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week said the legislation will be introduced into parliament this year, with the law coming into effect 12 months after it is approved by lawmakers.

The ban is expected to trial age-verification systems to block children from accessing social media sites including Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Bytedance’s TikTok, and Elon Musk’s X.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has congratulated Tulsi Gabbard on being appointed as the Director of National Intelligence in the United States.

In a social media post, Ms. Sitharaman said, “Congratulations @TulsiGabbard on being selected to serve as Director of National Intelligence. For 21 years, you served the USA as a soldier, becoming a Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserve. In my few interactions with you, I have been impressed by the clarity of your thoughts and dedication. Good wishes.”

Ms. Gabbard, known for her service in the U.S. Army Reserve, has had a distinguished career spanning over two decades, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.