New Delhi, Nov 19: At least 16 people were killed and over 60 injured, including 14 children, after Russian drone and missile strikes hit two residential blocks in Ternopil in western Ukraine, officials said. It is one of the deadliest attacks on the region since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched over 470 drones and 47 missiles across the country, causing widespread power cuts.

He warned that more people could be trapped under the debris. Video footage showed part of a building collapsed from the third to the ninth floor, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.

Rescue teams worked through the night as smoke and flames rose across the city as reported by BBC, As the war nears its fourth anniversary, there are still no signs of a breakthrough in peace efforts between Moscow and Kyiv.

New Delhi, Nov 19: US President Donald Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the White House, saying the crown prince “knew nothing” about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump’s remarks appear to go against a 2021 US intelligence report, which concluded that the crown prince had approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

This was Mohammed bin Salman’s first visit to the US since the assassination, which had strained US-Saudi relations. During a question from a journalist in the Oval Office, Trump responded sharply, saying: “You’re mentioning someone extremely controversial… But he knew nothing about it. You don’t have to embarrass our guests.” The Saudi crown prince said that his country took “all the right steps” to investigate Khashoggi’s death, describing it as “painful” and a “huge mistake”. He denied any personal role in the incident. However, the US intelligence report released under President Joe Biden’s administration concluded that the crown prince had approved a plan to “capture or kill” Khashoggi. During Trump’s first term, the report was not made public, and although some Saudi officials were sanctioned, none of the measures directly targeted Mohammed bin Salman.

Khashoggi’s widow reacts

Jamal Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan, criticised Trump’s remarks. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, she said the US president’s comments did not match with the crown prince’s own admission of responsibility in a 2019 TV interview. She has also called for a meeting with the crown prince, seeking an apology and compensation. She currently lives in the Washington DC area under political asylum.

Talks on Trade, Technology and Defence

The meeting between Trump and the crown prince aimed to boost cooperation in several areas, including: civilian nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and increased Saudi investment in the US, ising from $600 billion to $1 trillion.

The two leaders also discussed a possible deal to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia through US defence company Lockheed Martin. Some officials in Israel have raised concerns that this could affect Israel’s military edge in the region. Trump said both Saudi Arabia and Israel are “great allies” and should have top-of-the-line equipment.

New Delhi, Nov 19: Months after the government increased renewal charges for older vehicles, the transport ministry has raised the fitness test fee for all motor vehicles older than 20 years to discourage people from keeping them.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), in a latest notification issued on November 11, said the higher fee slabs now begin at 10 years for commercial vehicles, instead of 15 years, bringing more vehicles under the updated cost brackets.

It has created three clear age groups for fitness testing: 10-15 years, 15-20 years and above 20 years.

According to the notification, the fitness test fee for light motor vehicles (LMVs) older than 20 years has been increased to Rs 15,000 from Rs 10,000.

The notification has made steep revisions to the fitness test fee for heavy trucks and buses older than 20 years. They will now have to pay Rs 25,000 for the fitness test, from Rs 3,500 earlier.

Medium commercial vehicles in the same age group will now have to pay Rs 20,000, and the fitness test of light motor vehicles above 20 years will cost Rs 15,000.

The fitness test fee for two-wheelers above 20 years has also been increased to Rs 2,000 from Rs 600 earlier.

The transport ministry, in its earlier notification in August this year, increased renewal charges for older vehicles.

In August, the Supreme Court ordered authorities not to take coercive action against the owners of diesel vehicles that are more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in the Delhi-NCR.

Srinagar, Nov 19: In the aftermath of the tragic blast in Delhi, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has issued an urgent advisory for Kashmiri students across India following increasing reports of profiling, harassment, and sudden eviction from accommodations. The Association expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the attack, reiterating that Kashmiris have always rejected terrorism in all its forms and stand firmly with the victims and their families in this moment of national grief.

Association, however, voiced serious concern that several Kashmiri students are being subjected to sweeping suspicion and discriminatory behaviour in the wake of the incident. Students in different states have reported aggressive verification drives, intimidating questioning, disturbances in hostels, and hostile conduct from certain local residents. Some have even been directed to vacate their rented rooms without notice, creating a climate of fear and insecurity among young students far from home.

National Convenor of Association Nasir Khuehami urged students to remain extremely vigilant during this sensitive period. He advised them to avoid unnecessary movement, public gatherings, travel, or participation in politically charged discussions; both online and offline. Even routine comments or harmless reactions on social media may be misinterpreted in the current volatile situation. Students have been asked to exercise utmost restraint and discretion in all interactions.

Khuehami encouraged students to stay in close contact with their families, keep trusted friends informed of their whereabouts, and report any instance of intimidation or harassment; whether by authorities, landlords, or private individuals. He stressed that many students are feeling anxious and unsafe, and assured that the Association is committed to ensuring they are not left to face such challenges alone.

To provide immediate support, Association has released the following helpline numbers for students in distress; 9149676014, 7006922829, 8825005327, 9906299199, 6006169477, 7028642004, 98584 45900, 9682381865, 7006724372, 9906385143, 8126655697, 7006028306, 7780931010, 7889425033,

He stated that a dedicated 24×7 rapid-response coordination team has been activated to intervene wherever required. The Association is in touch with university administrations, local police stations, and state authorities across the country to ensure Kashmiri students are not unfairly targeted or subjected to collective punishment. He emphasized that unlawful evictions will be immediately taken up with relevant authorities, and urged students to report if they face pressure from landlords or hostel managements.

Association warned that the surge of online misinformation and communal insinuations, particularly targeting Kashmiri youth, has intensified fear among students. “A society that normalizes suspicion towards its own citizens walks a dangerous path. Collective vilification does not strengthen national security; unity, fairness, and justice do.”

National General Secretary of Association Aadil Bhat reiterated that Kashmiris have always upheld democratic values, national integrity, and peaceful coexistence. The identity of Kashmiri students, who contribute significantly to India’s academic, scientific, and professional spaces, must not be criminalized or viewed through a lens of suspicion. The Association stressed that while law-enforcement agencies must be allowed to investigate the Delhi blast freely, innocent Kashmiris must not face fear or unjust treatment because of the actions of a few.

Reiterating its appeal for calm, the Association asked students to avoid confrontations, and focus on their academic responsibilities. If you face any harassment, threats, or intimidation, contact the local police and inform us without delay. Association requested the Government, universities, and local administrations to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students nationwide and reiterated its call for a public reassurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent further stigmatization and restore trust.