Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has said that as long as the Indo-Tibetan Border Force and Army personnel are deployed on the border, no one can occupy even an inch of the country's land. He was addressing the 62nd Foundation Day celebrations of Indo-Tibetan Border Police in Dehradun today.

On the occasion, he stressed on the development of border areas for the security of the country. He said that till 2014, the average expenditure on the India-China border was 4 thousand crore rupees annually. Mr Shah said, in the last nine years this expenditure has increased to 12 thousand 340 crore rupees by the central government. Emphasizing on the development of border villages, the Home Minister said, the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started the Vibrant Village Scheme to stop migration from the border villages. Under this scheme, in the first phase, the government has given a budget of 4 thousand 800 crore rupees for electricity, roads, employment, education and health systems in 46 blocks and 662 villages of 19 districts of the border region.

Bharat Botanics proudly announces the opening of its cutting-edge wood-pressed Cold Oil processing facility in Gondal, Rajkot Gujarat. This 16,000 square feet automated facility is one of its kind, promoting 100% hygiene and transparency, marking a significant step towards healthier living, sustainability, and providing healthy edible oils for every customer it serves.

On this occasion, Manish Popat, Co-Founder of Bharat Botanics, passionately emphasizes, “we’re excited to announce the expansion of our production capacity to meet exponential rise in demand for our products from 12,000 direct B2C customers we have served. We are among rare profit making startups and our idea to have our own production facility was due to high quality standards we set for our products. We invite our customers to visit this facility and witness firsthand our commitment to the highest quality and hygiene standards. Our products are not just a symbol of Atmanirbharta; they are a testament to our dedication to local communities, environmental responsibility, and fostering a culture of wellness.”

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a new option for the public. Individuals can now send their Rs 2,000 banknotes to RBI's regional offices via insured post, allowing for direct credit to their bank accounts. This initiative is particularly beneficial for those who cannot personally visit the RBI's regional offices.

*Triple Lock Receptacle (TLR) Form for Deposit*

To streamline the process, the RBI has also introduced a Triple Lock Receptacle (TLR) form for the deposit of Rs 2,000 banknotes into bank accounts. This form simplifies the procedure for individuals looking to deposit these notes.

*Background of the Rs 2,000 Banknote*

The Rs 2,000 banknote was introduced in November 2016 under the RBI Act with the goal of rapidly meeting the currency requirements of the economy after the withdrawal of the legal tender status of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes. However, with most of these notes issued before March 2017, they are approaching the end of their estimated lifespan of 4-5 years. Additionally, the Rs 2,000 denomination is not commonly used for transactions. As a result, the RBI decided to withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination banknote from circulation, in line with its "Clean Note Policy."

Bhutan Bird Festival from November 13-15, promises to highlight not only the area's amazing birds but also its distinct culture and locally produced goods.

Following a three-year hiatus, Tingtibi, Zhemgang will come alive with colourful celebrations in honour of the victorious return of the Bhutan Bird Festival.

According to Bhutan Live, this much-awaited event, which is slated to take place from November 13-15, promises to highlight not only the area's amazing birds but also its distinct culture and locally produced goods.

India and Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) for cooperation on medical product regulation and enhance the quality of medical products and health care services for both countries, at Hague in Netherlands. The MoU was signed during the meeting between  Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers  Bhagwant Khuba and  Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports of  Netherlands, Ernst Kuipers. An Indian delegation led by Mr Khuba is in Netherlands to participate in the second World Local Production Forum (WLPF) meeting being held in the Hague from 6th of November till today. 

The World Local Production Forum is a platform created at the initiative of WHO with the aim of increasing access to medicines and other health technologies. During his visit, Mr  Khuba also visited the Port of Rotterdam which is Europe's largest port and discussed with the officials about the port's hydrogen hub plans. Rotterdam is poised to become a hub in hydrogen production and transportation. He also shared about India's Green Hydrogen Mission.

The 6th Session of India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 6-7 November, 2023. The meeting was co chaired by the Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Ms. Priya P. Nair and the Lead Executive of the International and Regional Trade Integration, Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration, Ethiopia, Mr. Tages Mulugeta. Ambassador of India to Ethiopia, Shri Robert Shetkintong and other senior officials from both sides also participated in the JTC.

Both sides agreed to expeditiously address all issues impeding bilateral trade and facilitate trade promotion between the two countries. The Indian side invited the Ethiopian side to collaborate on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) of India with Ethswitch of Ethiopia. Further, the Indian side also urged Ethiopia to explore the possibility of settlement of trade transactions in local currency which will help boost bilateral trade and conserve foreign exchange. The deliberations of the 6th Sessions of India-Ethiopia JTC were cordial and forward-looking, reflecting the traditionally friendly and special relations between the two countries.

Dabur India Limited on Thursday announced the appointment of Sushil Chandra, former Chief Election Commissioner of India and former chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), as an additional director in the category of non-executive independent director.

Chandra has been appointed as an independent director for a period of five years, subject to the approval of shareholders. With this, the company will now have ten independent directors on its board.

In a landmark development, Swedish defence giant Saab has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first foreign company to secure 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approval for a defence project in India. According to The Economic Times, Saab has been given the green light to establish a new manufacturing facility in India, which will focus on producing shoulder-fired rockets.

This approval comes at a time when India has been gradually opening up its defence sector to foreign investment.

India allows only up to 74 per cent FDI in the defence sector under the automatic route, with additional clearance available on a case-by-case basis.

The UN International Organization of Migration (IOM) reported that the number of people who have been internally displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 6.9 million. In the eastern province of North Kivu, nearly a million people have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict with the rebel group, Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23).

The conflict in the DRC dates back to the 1990s when it went through two civil wars in 1996 and 1998. The conflict erupted in the wake of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where ethnic Hutu extremists killed nearly one million minority ethnic Tutsis and non-extremist Hutus. Since then, the eastern DRC, bordering Rwanda, has been facing insurgency perpetrated by several rebel militant groups. According to the UN, besides M23, more than 120 insurgent groups are active in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika. Violence by several militant groups over territory and natural resources, extrajudicial killings by security forces and rising tensions with neighbouring countries have killed thousands. Tensions between the DRC and neighbouring Rwanda continue to increase as both countries accuse each other of supporting ethnic Tutsi and Hutu-led rebel groups respectively.

In a significant endorsement of the integration of Yoga therapy into the healthcare system, Union Minister for Ayush and Ports, Shipping, & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated additional Yoga Therapy Rooms today at Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga’s (MDNIY) premises located in New Delhi. The event highlighted the institute’s dedication to the promotion and propagation of Yoga and holistic well-being.

Addressing the event, Shri Sonowal highlighted the imperative inclusion of yoga therapy in daily lifestyles as a means to enhance self-awareness, self-realisation and overall holistic health. He emphasized that this ancient wisdom developed by India over a thousand years ago should be shared with every corner of the world, with India taking a leading role in addressing global health challenges.