A powerful earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the southern Mindanao region in the Philippines, causing damage and prompting aftershock concerns, according to the country's seismology agency. The German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) reported the quake at a depth of 10km. Fortunately, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center assured no tsunami threat. Radio reports from General Santos city describe cracked walls and toppled computers, while airport passengers in General Santos City were evacuated to the tarmac. The Philippines, situated on the seismic "Ring of Fire," frequently experiences such geological events.

The Supreme Court of Yemen rejected an appeal against the death sentence for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya from Kerala, imprisoned since 2017 for murdering a Yemeni national. Priya was convicted of killing Talal Abdo Mahdi after injecting him with sedatives while trying to retrieve her passport. The Delhi High Court urged the Centre to decide within a week on Priya's mother's request to travel to Yemen to potentially negotiate 'blood money' compensation with Mahdi's family for her release. However, the court refused to order the Centre to negotiate, only asking it to pursue legal measures against Priya's conviction. (Image Courtesy: @myvakil on X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said deepfakes are one of the biggest threats to India's system and can cause chaos in society. Speaking at the BJP's Diwali Milan event, he urged citizens and media to be vigilant about deepfakes' misuse. He cited a viral deepfake video of him dancing Garba, which was debunked by India Today. The video actually featured his lookalike, actor Vikas Mahante. Modi said he hasn't played Garba since he was young. His remarks follow an India Today deep dive into deepfakes' threats to electoral democracy through doctored images, videos and voiceovers targeting politicians.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir commends Shreyas Iyer, predicting the batsman's pivotal role in the World Cup 2023 final against Australia. Gambhir underscores Iyer's remarkable comeback post-injury, highlighting his knockout-stage century in just 70 balls. Iyer, the first Indian middle-order batsman to surpass 500 runs in a World Cup edition, amasses an impressive 526 runs with an outstanding average of 75.14. With two centuries and three half-centuries, Iyer's exceptional form positions him as the definitive game-changer. As India gears up to face Australia in the final, Gambhir sees Iyer's contribution as vital, especially against the formidable duo of Maxwell and Zampa.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met US President Joe Biden at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) welcome reception, expressing honor at the encounter. Goyal, attending the APEC Summit in San Francisco, also engaged with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade Juan Carlos Mathews, and Qualcomm President Alex Rogers. Discussions included progress on the India-Peru Free Trade Agreement and collaboration opportunities in India's semiconductor sector. Goyal highlighted positive sentiments towards India's investment landscape. Additionally, he welcomed the announcement of the US-India Green Transition Fund, aiming to support India's renewable energy goals.

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir successfully eliminated five terrorists in the ongoing operation in Kulgam district. The joint effort by Kulgam Police, Army, and CRPF is in its final stage, with incriminating materials recovered. The encounter, which began in the Samno pocket of DH Pora, is a major anti-insurgency operation in South Kashmir. The forces, including the Army's elite units, surrounded the area, leading to a night-long standoff. The operation resumed with gunfire on Friday morning, resulting in the militants coming out as the house they were hiding in caught fire.

Canadian Minister Mary Ng emphasizes a focus on India's cooperation in investigating Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, stating, "Our focus is, of course, on this investigation, that work has to take place." Ng asserts Canada's commitment to allowing the probe to proceed before considering the resumption of trade talks. Amid strained relations, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar seeks evidence from Canada. Canada-India ties soured after PM Trudeau's September allegations of potential Indian agent involvement in Nijjar's death, labeled "absurd" by India. While Canadian businesses continue in India, Ng ensures support tools for investors. Relations hinge on the investigation's progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the Voice of Global South Summit, condemned civilian casualties in the Israel-Hamas war. Stressing India's anti-violence stance, he called for restraint and dialogue as essential conflict-resolution elements. Referencing the October 7 Hamas attacks, Modi highlighted India's condemnation and efforts, including humanitarian aid to Palestine. Emphasizing global south unity in the face of emerging challenges, he urged collective action for the greater good. The summit aims to facilitate collaboration on shared concerns among nations primarily in Asia, Africa, and South America.

A Sikh restaurateur in Australia, Jarnail Singh, running a restaurant in Hobart, Tasmania, reported facing racial targeting over the last two to three months. Incidents include dog excrement smeared on his car handles and racist graffiti telling him to "Go home, Indian." Singh, stressed by the continuous attacks, reported the incidents to the police, though lack of video evidence hinders identification of the perpetrators. Tasmania Police are investigating, stating that racial motivation can be an aggravating factor in sentencing. Singh, residing in Australia for 15 years, urges action against such harassment. [ photo source : Dawat the invitation/Facebook] 

More than 1,200 earthquakes rattled Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula on Thursday, suggesting a volcanic eruption may be imminent. The quakes come as magma rises within 2,500 feet of the surface near the evacuated town of Grindavik. With the risk of eruption high in coming days, officials warn of significant volcanic activity. The earthquakes have caused up to 5 feet of sinking on the peninsula and cracking in Grindavik. When the eruption occurs, lava is expected to ooze from fissures rather than explode ash skyward. Still, the airport and capital Reykjavik are on alert amid the swarm of quakes signaling the restless volcano below.