The big news: Putin says India remains its privileged strategic partner, and nine other top stories
Heavy civilian casualties were reported from Aleppo as Assad said the siege must continue, and Airtel announced broadband internet speeds of 100 Mbps.
A look at the headlines right now:
- India is Russia's especially privileged strategic partner, says Vladimir Putin: Speaking about the Kunadkulam nuclear plant, the president said Moscow was assessing the possibility of similar projects at other sites in the country.
- Heavy casualties in Syria’s Aleppo as Bashar Al-Assad says siege must continue: Both the Russia-backed government and US-aided rebels continued to bombard the city.
- Airtel announces 100 Mbps internet speeds, free voice calling offers: The telecom company said the upgraded broadband services are first being provided in Chennai, and then in 86 other cities.
- Pakistan accepts Indian jawan is in its custody weeks after he crossed border, say reports: The neighbouring country’s DGMO is believed to have spoken to his Indian counterpart over the official hotline.
- Triple talaq row: Muslim law board will boycott law panel's questionnaire on the uniform civil code: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board argued that the Centre was trying to impose a ‘single ideology’ in India.
- Maldives quits Commonwealth over allegations of human rights violations: The country's foreign ministry said they have been treated ‘unjustly and unfairly’ and added that the decision was 'difficult, but inevitable’.
- Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88: The world’s longest-reigning monarch had only made a few public appearances in recent years.
- Portugal's Antonio Guterres officially appointed next UN secretary-general: All 193 members of the General Assembly adopted the resolution for the former prime minister to take over the post after Ban Ki-moon's term ends on December 31.
- Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize in Literature for ‘creating new poetic expressions’: The iconic folk singer was up against Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o and contemporary Japanese author Haruki Murakami, among others.
- Retail inflation drops to 4.31% in September following RBI rate cut: The Consumer Price Index was expected to fall since prospects of a bumper agricultural harvest had risen after a good monsoon.
