World
Indians told to return billions in high-value notes as bank issues recall order | World | News

Indians have been told to hand over billions in banknotes after the country’s reserve bank set a deadline of the end of the month to exchange or deposit the country’s highest-value notes.
The 2,000 rupee note is still in wide circulation and is said to total £2.3billion.
Indians still in possession of the notes after the deadline in four days’ time will have to provide a reason for doing so.
The Reserve Bank of India announced the move on May 19 and by the start of September, 93 percent of the notes had reportedly been returned.
Of those notes returned so far the majority were deposited while a fraction have been exchanged for other denominations, according to banking data.
In a shock move, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in November that all 500 and 1,000 rupee notes would be phased out. The 2,000 rupee notes were brought in soon after to boost the amount of money in circulation.
The decision sparked chaos as people waited in long queues outside banks and ATMS to exchange their 500 and 1,000 rupee notes before the deadline came.
Modi defended the move as a measure to combat money earned from the black market.
India’ reserve bank has looked to avoid similar panicked scenes by keeping the 2,000 rupee legal tender status beyond the deadline.
This means that while Indians are encouraged to deposit or exchange the 2,000 Rupee notes, they can still be used for purchases past the deadline.
The Governor of the Bank issued a plea to Indians not to rush the banks as the required replacement notes had been made available.
Shaktikanta Das also insisted that the withdrawal of the notes will have minimal impact on the country’s economy.
World
Switzerland train derailment LIVE: Several injured as Valais avalanche causes huge crash | World | News

A train has derailed in Switzerland, with several injuries feared following a huge avalanche. The derailment happened at around 7am local time near Goppenstein in the canton of Valais. An ongoing emergency is underway.
The derailment reportedly involved the RE1 train, which departed from Brig at 6.12am, and is believed to have derailed in the Stockgrabe area between Goppenstein and Hohtenn. There were around 80 passengers on board the train.
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World
Conscription plans cause riots in the streets of major city with soldiers attacked | World | News

Violent clashes erupted in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, just east of Tel Aviv, as thousands of protesters took to the streets to oppose proposed conscription laws. Video footage from the scene shows two female IDF soldiers being hurried away by police as crowds of men chased them through the city.
Authorities reported that 26 individuals, including the soldiers and responding officers, were directly caught in the initial surge of the mob. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks, describing the rioters as an “extreme minority.” Posting on X, Netanyahu said: “I strongly condemn the violent riots in Bnei Brak against female IDF soldiers and Israel police officers. This is an extreme minority that does not represent the entire haredi community. This is a grave and unacceptable matter.”
The protests come amid ongoing tensions over legislation that could force members of the ultra-Orthodox community to serve in the Israeli military.
Many in Bnei Brak have staged repeated demonstrations, insisting that full-time religious study is their highest duty and objecting to mandatory enlistment.
The violence escalated on Sunday, with authorities reporting at least 23 arrests. Protesters destroyed a bus, set police motorcycles on fire, and overturned a patrol vehicle.
Reports from Ziratnews confirmed that three police officers were injured, while broadcasters Roi Yanovsky and a second journalist were attacked while reporting.
Mr Netanyahu added in his post: “We will not allow anarchy, and we will not tolerate any harm to IDF servicemen and security forces who carry out their duties with dedication and determination.”
His remarks highlighted the government’s determination to uphold law and order amid the unrest.
Roughly 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews make up about 13% of Israel’s population. Broad exemptions from military service for this community have long been a source of controversy, and the proposed changes have reopened deep societal divides.
The issue has gained even greater sensitivity during Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza.
The unrest in Bnei Brak coincided with reports of continued violence in Gaza, where hospitals said at least 11 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes over the previous 24 hours. Among the dead were five men in their 20s, killed in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital.
The Israeli military confirmed that it had carried out multiple strikes in response to several ceasefire violations near the Yellow Line.
Tel Aviv District Commander Sargaroff stated that the soldiers had not coordinated their visit beforehand, while IDF Chief of Staff Zamir reached out to the targeted commanders. Police later noted they cannot easily manage IDF entry into these neighbourhoods following such intense friction.
Police and security forces continue to maintain a heavy presence near Jabotinsky Street, attempting to prevent further violence as protesters continue to block transport routes. Observers warn that unless a resolution is reached, future protests could turn even more violent.
World
Oil-rich monarch appointed dog as military chief and employed 20 20 ‘sex soldiers’ | World | News


Scene from Thai TV Pool video taken in 2019, shows a ceremony in which Thailand’s King married (Image: Getty)
Thailand’s monarchy has long fascinated the world for its, at times, eccentric traditions. But few episodes have captured global attention quite like the story of the country’s playboy king Maha Vajiralongkorn, formally known as as Rama X, and his deceased miniature poodle, Fufu (or Foo Foo).
Before ascending the throne, Vajiralongkorn, then Crown Prince, made headlines by giving Fufu the rank of Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force. The tiny dog often travelled alongside him on official visits and was treated with the kind of ceremonial honours usually reserved for senior military officers. Observers around the world were left shocked: here was a pet dog effectively enrolled in the armed forces, complete with all the trappings of a high-ranking officer.
READ MORE: Richest monarch is 50 times richer than King Charles and owns 17,000 houses
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Fufu passed away in 2015, but the episode remains one of the most talked-about quirks of the king’s personal life. It also encapsulated the irony of extraordinary power and wealth.
The dog’s appointment also bemused the then US ambassador to Thailand. In a leaked 2007 cable, diplomat Ralph Boyce spoke of the dog’s antics at a gala dinner he hosted, at which Vajiralongkorn was guest of honour, The Daily Mail reported.
Boyce wrote in the now-infamous note that he had confirmed that “the crown prince’s miniature poodle, Foo Foo, currently holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal”.
“Foo Foo was present at the event, dressed in formal evening attire complete with paw mitts, and at one point during the band’s second number, he jumped up onto the head table and began lapping from the guests’ water glasses, including my own,” he said.
Alongside stories of his pampered poodle, Vajiralongkorn’s lifestyle during the Covid-19 pandemic drew further scrutiny.
Reports emerged that he employed a group of around 20 women, described in some media as “sex soldiers”, who were said to accompany him while he isolated in a luxury hotel.
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These companions were allegedly chosen to stay with him, providing him with company and entertainment during his extended seclusion.
Thailand’s monarchy itself is one of the wealthiest and most revered in the world. The king, who ascended the throne in 2016 following the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, presides over vast assets and enjoys a level of personal security and influence far beyond most other royals.
The 73-year-old monarch is indeed the wealthiest ruler in the world, with an estimated net worth of £52billion.
While critics have seized on these stories as examples of extravagance, the broader picture is a monarchy that remains central to Thai identity. Even so, the tale of a pampered poodle in uniform and a small army of personal attendants offers an unusual, eyebrow-raising glimpse into the private world of one of the world’s richest monarchs.
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