Digest for 18 November, 2025
Bangladesh Sentences Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina to Death, Seeks Extradition From India
A special tribunal in Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ex-home minister to death in absentia for crimes against humanity over a deadly crackdown on student protests in 2024. Following the verdict, Bangladesh's interim government formally requested India to extradite Hasina, who has been in India since fleeing the country. The UN called the verdict an “important moment” for victims but reiterated its opposition to the death penalty. India's MEA has noted the verdict, stating it remains committed to Bangladesh's stability.
Top Maoist Commander Madvi Hidma Killed in Andhra Pradesh Encounter
Madvi Hidma, one of India's most-wanted Maoist commanders, was killed along with five other insurgents during an encounter with security forces in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitaramaraju district. Hidma, a key strategist and leader of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army's (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, was the alleged mastermind behind several deadly attacks, including the 2010 ambush in Dantewada that killed 76 CRPF personnel. His death is considered a major blow to the Naxal insurgency in the region.
Supreme Court Recalls Verdict Barring Retrospective Environmental Clearances
In a significant 2:1 majority ruling, the Supreme Court has recalled its May 2025 judgment that declared retrospective or 'ex post facto' environmental clearances illegal. The court reasoned that demolishing existing projects, many of them public and worth over ₹20,000 crore, would cause greater environmental harm. The majority opinion stated that the earlier bench should have referred the matter to a larger bench due to conflicting precedents. The dissenting judge strongly upheld the original verdict, calling retrospective clearances an "anathema to environmental jurisprudence."
UN Security Council Approves US-Led Plan for Post-War Gaza
The UN Security Council has adopted a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza's future. The resolution, which passed 13-0 with Russia and China abstaining, authorises an international stabilization force to provide security, oversee demilitarization, and manage humanitarian aid. The plan also envisions a transitional authority called the 'Board of Peace,' chaired by Trump, and outlines a potential but non-binding pathway to Palestinian statehood, a controversial point for Israel. Hamas has rejected the resolution.
Delhi Blast Probe Deepens with Raids, Arrests, and Bomber's Video
The investigation into the November 10 Red Fort car bombing has intensified, with the Enforcement Directorate raiding 25 locations linked to Al Falah University in the Delhi-NCR. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested another key associate of the bomber, Dr. Umar Nabi, for providing technical support. A newly surfaced video shows Nabi attempting to justify suicide attacks as "martyrdom operations." The death toll from the blast has risen to 15, with multi-agency probes continuing across several states.