Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

COP30 draft text skips mention of fossil fuel use

With the fires at the venue doused, new flashpoints emerged early on Friday (November 21, 2025) — officially, the last day of the climate talks in Brazil’s Belem — after a draft text skipped mention of fossil fuels. The Conference of Parties (COP) proceedings usually conclude with a ‘cover text’ or a consensus political statement issued by the COP Presidency, in this case led by Brazilian diplomat Andrei Lago, which lays out the united resolution by Parties (countries signatory to Paris Agreement) to take action on climate change.

Nitish gives up key portfolios to BJP; Deputy CM to hold Home department

For the first time in his two decades as Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar has given up the Home department and other key portfolios to his allies in the Bharatiya Janata Party, which emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats in the State Assembly election earlier this month. Mr. Kumar allocated portfolios to 26 Ministers on Friday (November 21, 2025), of which 46% have criminal records, while 88% are millionaires.

PM Modi meets Australian counterpart, discusses cooperation in defence & security, critical minerals, trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (November 21, 2025) met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg and the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment and people-to-people ties. PM Modi met Mr. Albanese hours after he arrived in South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

IAF’s Tejas fighter jet crashes at Dubai Air Show; pilot killed

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter jet crashed during the Dubai Air Show on Friday (November 21, 2025), claiming the life of the pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The accident occurred around 2 p.m. local time at the Al Makhtoum International Airport, the venue of the air show. Viral visuals on social media show the aircraft spiralling out of control just above the ground, igniting on impact, and sliding for a short distance before being engulfed in flames.

Umar Khalid has ‘scant regard’ for Constitution, will quote Article 21 only for bail, Delhi Police tell Supreme Court

The Delhi Police on Friday vehemently objected to pleas for bail filed by former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid and others accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2020 Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case, claiming that they only cite the Constitution for the sake of getting bail.

Valley-wide crackdown on hospital lockers, car sellers continue

The J&K Police on Friday (November 21, 2025) continued with the Valley-wide crackdown on hospital lockers, fertiliser shops and car sellers, in the wake of the Red Fort car blast in New Delhi that left 15 dead on November 10. Meanwhile, a hideout of terrorists was busted in north Kashmir’s Handwara.

BJP slams Congress for awarding peace prize to Michelle Bachelet

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (November 21, 2025) criticised the Congress, describing it as an “army of traitors”, after its parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi presented the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2024 to Michelle Bachelet, the former President of Chile and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on Wednesday (November 19).

PAC questions FSSAI for unchecked sale of adulterated food items

The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) headed by senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal on Friday (November 21, 2025) held a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to discuss a range of issues related to food safety and quality control.

Trump vows ‘we are going to be helping’ New York Mayor-elect Mamdani

Months of sniping melted away Friday (November 21, 2025) as New York’s incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. President Donald Trump were all smiles at a White House meeting — promising to set aside their feud and cooperate on the city’s future. “We’re going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true: having a strong and very safe New York,” Mr. Trump said.

Trump says Ukraine’s Zelenskyy will have to approve U.S.-backed peace plan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have to like a U.S.-backed peace plan to halt Russia’s invasion and ultimately approve it, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday (November 21, 2025). Mr. Trump said the approaching winter, the mounting death toll and repeated attacks on Ukrainian energy plants underscored the urgency of ending the war.

Lebanon ready to negotiate to reach an agreement that would end Israeli strikes, President says

Lebanon is ready to negotiate to reach an agreement that would end Israeli strikes on the country and lead to Israeli withdrawal from five border hills it has occupied since the Israel-Hezbollah war ended last year, President Joseph Aoun said Friday (November 21, 2025). In a televised speech marking Independence Day, Mr. Aoun added that Lebanese troops are ready to deploy in all points from where Israeli troops withdraw.

U.N. chief Guterres urges G20 to use power to ease global suffering

The G20 nations hold enormous potential to ease suffering and set the world on a more peaceful course, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, urging the bloc to lead the action required. Mr. Guterres made the remarks at a media briefing shortly after arriving in Johannesburg on Friday (November 21, 2025) to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the next two days.

Advantage South Africa as Pant’s men play catch up

While the journey into the unknown can often be liberating and exciting, India, trailing 0-1 after the crushing loss in Kolkata, will enter the contest with some trepidation. Under a new captain, Rishabh Pant, who is standing in for the injured Shubman Gill, the last thing the home side would want is to add more variables to the equation. And there are quite a few in this match.