Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

India to submit updated climate targets to U.N. by December end: Bhupender Yadav

India will declare its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as well as issue its Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) by December end, Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav said in Belem, Brazil, on Monday (November 17, 2025), as part of a gathering of senior ministers from several countries convened at 30th edition of the Conference of Parties. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, it is a requirement that India issue an updated NDC in 2025, which spells out its voluntary actions towards transitioning away from using fossil fuel and improving energy efficiency use.

U.N. Security Council adopts U.S. resolution on Gaza peace plan

The U.N. Security Council on Monday (November 17, 2025) voted to adopt a U.S.-drafted resolution endorsing U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and authorising an international stabilisation force for the Palestinian enclave. Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed last month to the first phase of Mr. Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza — a ceasefire in their two-year war and a hostage-release deal — but the U.N. resolution is seen as vital to legitimising a transitional governance body and reassuring countries that are considering sending troops to Gaza.

Madhya Pradesh government revokes land pooling scheme for permanent Kumbh city in Ujjain amid farmers’ protest

The Madhya Pradesh Government on Monday (November 17, 2025) revoked the proposed land pooling scheme in Ujjain, which was aimed at permanently acquiring 2,378 hectares of land to build infrastructure for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, 2028. The move comes amid protests from various farmer organisations and a day before a planned major agitation in Ujjain on Tuesday (November 18, 2025).

Bangladesh’s ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, ex-Home Minister sentenced to death; security on high alert

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) of Bangladesh on Monday (November 17, 2025) ordered the execution by hanging of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal after finding them guilty of genocide committed during the July–August 2024 violence in a case involving crimes against humanity. At the same time, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who turned state witness and testified before the Tribunal against the former Prime Minister and Home Minister, has been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting his involvement.

We’ll engage with all stakeholders’ in Bangladesh, says India after Sheikh Hasina verdict

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday (November 17, 2025) said it has “noted” the verdict delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka, and added that India will “constructively engage with all stakeholders” in Bangladesh. The Tribunal on Monday (November 17, 2025) sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity over the state crackdown on the July-August 2024 student uprising.

Court sends blast accused to NIA custody for 10 days; one more suspect arrested

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another key accused in connection with the car bomb blast near the Red Fort on November 10, which claimed 14 lives and injured about 30 people. The accused, Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish, was arrested from Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir. He is a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag. Ahead of the car bomb explosion, he had allegedly provided technical support for carrying out terror attacks by modifying drones and attempting to make rockets.

Election Commission orders ‘Special Revision’ of voter list in Assam

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday (November 17, 2025) announced a special revision of electoral rolls in Assam, where Assembly polls are scheduled to be held next year. The poll body is notably not conducting special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State, pending status of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The 2019 NRC list in Assam had excluded nearly 19.6 lakh persons from the list of 3.3 crore applicants, but no final notification has followed till date. The Assam government has challenged the NRC in its current form in the Supreme Court.

Leh body submits 29-page draft proposal to MHA on Statehood, Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh

The Leh Apex Body (LAB), an amalgam of social, political and religious groups spearheading an agitation over Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, on Monday submitted a 29-page draft proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and sough release of detained Ladakh locals, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. “We have submitted a 29-page draft proposal to the MHA. We have highlighted the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule,” Chering Dorjay Lakruk, Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) president and co-chairman of the LAB, said.

Supreme Court alarmed by liquor in ‘pocket-size’ packs, mistakes it initially for juice

The Supreme Court, on Monday (November 17, 2025), took stern exception to liquor being sold in small packs, with one of the judges, Justice Surya Kant, mistaking a sample packet for ‘juice’. Events unfolded before the Bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, during the hearing of a trademark dispute between John Distilleries Pvt. Ltd., which sells the product ‘Original Choice’ whisky, and Allied Blenders and Distilleries Pvt. Ltd., which produces ‘Officers Choice’ whisky.

Amid worsening air quality, CM attacks Punjab government over ‘unchecked’ stubble burning

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday targeted the Punjab government, claiming that stubble burning in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-governed State continues “unchecked”. “States such as Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have shown positive progress in crop-residue management in recent years, but the volume of smoke coming from Punjab is significantly high,” Ms. Gupta said at a meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Faridabad.

Trump backs tougher action on drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (November 17, 2025) he supports taking aggressive action against drug cartels and narcotics production in Mexico and Colombia but stopped short of announcing any direct U.S. military intervention. Mr. Trump has intensified his campaign against maritime drug trafficking, authorising more forceful interdiction operations and giving U.S. forces expanded authority to disable or sink vessels suspected of carrying narcotics.

Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Portland and Chicago are being sent home

Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, are being sent home, and those who will remain will continue to stay off the streets amid court battles over their domestic mission by the Trump administration, a defence official said Monday (November 17, 2025). The withdrawal of soldiers — sent from California and Texas — is part of a larger change to troop deployments after President Donald Trump began his immigration crackdown in various cities with Democratic leadership. The official was not authorised to publicly discuss the issue and requested anonymity.

U.S. trade deal: First tranche dealing with reciprocal tariffs to be closed soon, says govt official

In an indication that some of the trade tensions between India and the U.S. might be getting ironed out, a senior government official on Monday (November 17, 2025) said that the first tranche of a trade deal between the two countries is “more or less near closure”. “Yes, we are engaged with the U.S. on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), but as you are aware, the BTA has two parts in it,” a senior official in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on the condition of anonymity as the talks are still ongoing.

Saudi Arabia bus accident: Hyderabad families shattered as 45 pilgrims die; Last rites to be conducted in Saudi

Forty-five Indian pilgrims are feared dead in a bus crash that happened in Saudi Arabia on Monday (November 17, 2025). The accident took place approximately 25 kilometres before reaching Medina. Official sources said there were 46 passengers on the bus, out of which one passenger escaped and is undergoing treatment. The Telangana Cabinet announced ₹5 lakhs ex gratia to the victims’ families.

Bangladesh urges Indian government to hand over Hasina, former Minister Kamal

Bangladesh urged Indian government on Monday (November 17, 2025) to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal after both were sentenced to death for their role in the crackdown against a student uprising last year. Dhaka said New Delhi was obliged to do so under an extradition treaty. Hasina, who fled after violent student protests last year, has been in India since.

ECI orders ‘Special Revision’ of voter list in Assam

The Election Commission of India on Monday (November 17, 2025) ordered ‘Special Revision’ of electoral rolls in Assam. According to instructions issued by the poll authority for the chief electoral officer of Assam, January 1, 2026 will be the qualifying date for the State to carry out the Special Revision.

Indian oil companies secure their first-ever deal to import U.S. LPG into India

India’s public-sector oil companies have successfully concluded a one-year deal to import liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from the U.S. Gulf coast, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday (November 17, 2025) .In his post on X, Mr. Puri elaborated that India would source about 2.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquified petroleum gas from the U.S. Gulf Coast for the contract year 2026 — making it the “first structured contract of U.S. LPG for the Indian market”.

Kerala BLOs stage Statewide protests demanding postponement of SIR by ECI

Booth level officers (BLO) under the banner of Left and Congress-led service organisations in Kerala on Monday (November 17, 2025) staged large-scale protests over the death of Kannur BLO Aneesh George, demanding that the Election Commission of India (ECI) defer the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) until after the local body elections are over in the State. Following George’s death, service organisations had announced that BLOs would boycott SIR work on Monday (November 17, 2025).

China’s travel alert sparks sharp decline in Japan’s tourism, retail sector stocks

Japanese tourism and retail shares dived on Monday (November 17, 2025) after China warned its citizens to avoid the tourist hotspot in a spat over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s comments on Taiwan. Ms. Takaichi, seen as a China hawk, suggested this month that close U.S. ally Japan could intervene militarily in any attack on the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims.

Shooting World Championships: Gurpreet Singh fetches silver in 25m centre fire pistol; India ends third

Olympian Gurpreet Singh came agonisingly close to becoming the world champion in men’s 25m Centre Fire Pistol event but eventually got a silver after losing on inner 10s to Ukraine’s Pavlo Korostylov at the Olympic Shooting Range in Cairo.

Govt imposes import curbs on certain platinum jewellery

The government on Monday (November 17, 2025) imposed import curbs on certain types of platinum jewellery till April next year. The import policy of platinum jewellery “is revised from Free to Restricted, with immediate effect till April 30, 2026”, the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in the latest notification. Importers now need a licence from the DGFT to import these goods.