Morning Digest: Quad Summit likely to be held in Manila on November 17; Rahul Gandhi says democratic system destroyed in 2014; and more

Quad Summit likely to be held in Manila on November 17, sources sayPrime Minister Narendra Modi will meet U.S. President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the first Quad Summit since 2024 this week in Manila, on the sidelines of ASEAN summits, sources in New Delhi confirmed to The Hindu. The meeting is expected to take place on November 17 evening, the sources said, adding that it would probably take place after Mr. Trump lands in Manila.India is no longer functioning as a democracy, destroyed since 2014: Rahul GandhiIndia’s democratic system was destroyed in 2014, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday, claiming that money power and the capture of institutions have transformed the country’s electoral and political landscape and pushed Opposition parties to the margins. Mr. Gandhi claimed that millions of dollars were pumped into the electoral system during the 2014 Lok Sabha election, ushering in a new kind of politics that left Opposition parties in shock.‘Alive’ to voters’ need to find their names on the electoral roll, ECI assures Supreme CourtThe Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (November 14, 2026) filed a supplementary affidavit in the Supreme Court detailing “further measures” in place to ensure that voters who have been wrongly left out as ‘absent, shifted, dead or duplicate’ from the draft electoral rolls are brought back in. “The Commission remains alive to the need to ensure that all those who are eligible to vote find their name in the voters’ lists,” the ECI assured the public.Man held for conducting ‘reconnaissance’ of sensitive locations in MumbaiA 20-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly conducting reconnaissance of sensitive locations in Mumbai, including the Chabad House, a Jewish community centre, on the instructions of international criminal syndicates and anti-national elements, an official said on Saturday (November 14, 2026). Yash Singh, a resident of Airoli in Navi Mumbai, was initially detained by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) based on inputs regarding his social media contacts with anti-national handlers.Bangladesh says legal process complete to secure Hasina’s return, decision rests with India: reportsBangladesh has completed all legal procedures required to secure the return of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, and the next step rests with New Delhi, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said on Saturday (November 14, 2026), according to local media reports. “We have completed everything required from our side as part of the legal process. What they [India] will do is up to them,” Mr. Asaduzzaman told reporters after an event at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka, according to Prothom Alo.Manipur Naga body demands NIA probe into Ukhrul killings, Kuki rebels’ removalA Naga organisation in conflict-scarred Manipur has issued a three-day “public ultimatum” to the Union and State governments to drive out Kuki rebels from Naga areas and let the National Investigation Agency probe the killing of four Naga civilians in Ukhrul district on Friday (November 13, 2026). The four, identified as Kapangkhui R.S., her son Haoleila R.S., Khanmila Keishing and August Ngalung, all from Ukhrul district, were killed when armed assailants ambushed two vehicles on National Highway-202. The State government said the attackers were unknown gunmen.Air pollution does not recognise State boundaries, coordinated action required: Union MinisterSaying that air pollution does not recognise State boundaries, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Saturday (November 14, 2026) emphasised the need for the coordinated implementation of pollution control measures across the National Capital Region (NCR), with real-time monitoring through Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) and direct accountability of field officers for violations.At a review meeting held to assess measures undertaken by Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to mitigate air pollution in Delhi-NCR, he directed all agencies to move beyond planning and ensure rigorous, time-bound, and coordinated enforcement on the ground.Why tinker with something that has delivered value for 150 years: Noel TataTata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata has cautioned that listing Tata Sons could fundamentally alter the group’s distinctive operating philosophy, with shareholder interests potentially taking precedence over philanthropy. Amid growing demands for listing Tata Sons in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s requirements, Mr. Tata on Saturday made a strong pitch for maintaining the status quo. “Why tinker with something that has delivered value for 150 years? Why do you want to change that,” he asked, referring to calls for listing from some Tata Sons board members and a section of Tata Trusts trustees.SpaceX’s Starship returns from orbit and is captured by launchpad arms in a dramatic firstSpaceX’s Starship made a triumphant return to Earth on Saturday (November 14, 2026), caught in midair by giant mechanical arms where its journey began 22 hours earlier. SpaceX officials said Saturday’s catch demonstrates the full reusability of Starship, intended for moon and Mars travel. Although Friday’s booster recovery failed, the company had already made three previous booster catches, validating the technique.Rubio acknowledges ’people are struggling’ economically in speech after GOP midterm wipeoutSecretary of State Marco Rubio gave a sweeping speech to fellow conservatives, acknowledging that Americans are struggling in the current economy, while also railing against what he called the “weaponisation” of international law to constrain the U.S. from acting in its own interests. His comments to the conservative Federalist Society touched on a core issue of the midterm elections — economic pain — that U.S. voters cited in delivering massive losses to Rubio’s Republican Party.Trump tells advisers he may hold off on Iran attacks barring new provocations, sources sayU.S. President Donald Trump has told senior advisers in recent ​days that he may hold off on attacking Iran if the U.S. faces no new provocations from Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, according to three people familiar ‌with the matter. Mr. Trump has alternated between threats of escalating the war with new strikes and winding down hostilities, ​and current and former officials say he does not appear to have made up his mind about how to resolve the ⁠unpopular conflict, which he launched in February with Israel.