Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

Fire breaks out in pavilion at COP30 venue in Brazil

A fire broke out at the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil on Thursday (November 20, 2025). No injuries have been reported so far. At the site of the fire, about 20 members of the Indian delegation, including Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, were present. A spokesperson said they have moved to a safe zone and out of harms way.

At COP, India seeks ‘just transition mechanism’

India, in tandem with a group of developing countries, has asked for the establishment of a ‘just transition mechanism’, a day before talks at the ongoing climate summit are expected to conclude. It has stressed that finance for adapting to climate change was not an “optional add-on” but an “essential investment” and that, currently, it was inadequately funded for the latter.

Nitish Kumar sworn in as Bihar CM, 26 Ministers take oath, including one Muslim and three women

JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar on Thursday (November 20, 2025) was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record 10th time at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The NDA government has inducted nine new faces into the Cabinet, including LJP (RV)’s Sanjay Kumar Singh, who defeated Lalu Prasad’s son Tej Pratap Yadav in the Mahua Assembly constituency. Of the 26 ministers, Mr. Kumar’s Cabinet features only one Muslim member.

Presidential Reference: Supreme Court opinion draws mixed views from legal experts, Opposition leaders

Legal experts and leaders of some political parties on Thursday (November 20, 2025) expressed mixed views on the Supreme Court’s opinion on the Presidential Reference that no timelines can be prescribed for Governors and the President in granting assent to Bills passed by State Assemblies.

Presidential Reference: Supreme Court counters ‘appeal in disguise’ argument of non-BJP-ruled States

The Supreme Court on Thursday (November 20, 2025) countered objections raised by Opposition-ruled States that the 2025 Presidential Reference was an “appeal in disguise” against the apex court’s own binding verdict in the Tamil Nadu Governor case by observing that an advisory opinion could even go so far as to “overrule, if necessary” a judgment.

Doctors, engineers turning to terror, more dangerous than ‘ground-level’ terrorists: Delhi Police to Supreme Court

The Delhi Police submitted in the Supreme Court on Thursday (November 20, 2025) that qualified doctors and engineers turning to terror rather than pursuing careers has become a “trend”. The police were making their submissions before a Bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar during the bail hearings of former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and other persons accused in the 2020 Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case.

Jaishankar meets Taliban’s Industry and Commerce Minister Azizi

India on Thursday (November 20, 2025) reiterated support for the Afghan people and promised enhanced connectivity and trade between the two sides. The Indian message was conveyed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a meeting with visiting Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, who became the second Taliban Minister to be hosted at Hyderabad House in little over a month.

Delhi Red Fort blast case: NIA arrests four more prime accused

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday (November 20, 2025) obtained 10-day custody of four more prime accused involved in the November 10 blast near the Red Fort, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six. The accused were taken into custody by the NIA in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on production orders from the District Sessions Judge, Patiala House Court. They were produced before the court, which sent them to 10 days’ custody of the NIA.

IMD forecasts a developing depression over Bay of Bengal

At a time when farmers across Odisha are preparing for crop cutting in the kharif season, the threat of heavy rain triggered by an emerging atmospheric system has raised concerns about potential damage to their annual harvest. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday (November 20, 2025) said a depression is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by November 24.

Protesters attempt to storm festival venue in Manipur; police resort to lathi charge

Scores of protesters clashed with police personnel outside the venue of the Sangai Festival in Manipur’s capital Imphal on Thursday (November 20, 2025), a day before the tourism event was scheduled to begin. The protesters, comprising internally displaced persons and members of some non-profit organisations, tried to storm the festival venue as they felt the State was yet to recover from the scars of the ethnic violence that broke out on May 3, 2023.

No bullying, Ramaphosa says as U.S. snubs South Africa’s G20

South Africa will not be bullied, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday (November 20, 2025) in a jab at the United States, which said it would boycott the G20 summit in Johannesburg this weekend. Washington has also demanded that South Africa not issue the traditional joint leaders’ statement after the meeting, where around 40 countries will be represented.

Iran says no access to bombed nuclear sites without IAEA deal

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog would not be given access to Iranian nuclear sites attacked during its recent war with Israel without a concrete deal being agreed. “The facilities that were attacked have their own story, and until a decision is made and a conclusion is reached between us, the IAEA and others, cooperation is not possible,” he said in an interview posted to his Telegram channel on Thursday (November 20, 2025), without elaborating on what such an agreement would entail.

Curfew reimposed after fresh tension in southern Nepal district, at least 10 injured

Fresh tension erupted Thursday (November 20, 2025) as 10 people were injured after Gen Z youths clashed with members of the ousted Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s party, prompting authorities to reimpose curfew to contain the situation in Nepal’s Bara district bordering India.

Israeli fire kills four in Gaza, casting further doubt on ceasefire

Israeli airstrikes killed four people and wounded 18 others in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday (November 20, 2025), local health authorities said, as Hamas and Israel accused each other of violating a nearly six-week-old, U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Medics said that one strike on a house in Bani Suhaila town, east of Khan Younis, killed three people, including a baby girl, and wounded 15 others, while another killed a man and wounded three others in the nearby Abassan town.

China says trade cooperation with Japan taken ‘great’ hit

Trade cooperation between China and Japan has taken a “great” hit following the recent remarks on Taiwan made by the Japanese Prime Minister, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Thursday (November 20, 2025).

Gill set to undergo fitness test on Friday but unlikely to play 2nd Test

India captain Shubman Gill, who has not trained due to a neck spasm sustained during the first Test against South Africa, will undergo a fitness test on Friday (November 21, 2025) in a last-ditch attempt to be available for the second game, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has indicated. Gill developed the spasm on the second day of the opening Test in Kolkata that India lost by 30 runs and hasn’t returned to the nets ever since.