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Death Sentence ‘Rigged’ And Politically Driven: Hasina
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has denounced the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal verdict sentencing her to death, calling the proceedings “rigged” and conducted by “an unelected government with no democratic mandate.” This is her first response to the ruling on the August 2024 killings linked to the student uprising that led to her ouster.
Hasina said the death sentence reflected the “murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government” to eliminate Bangladesh’s last elected leader and marginalise the Awami League. The tribunal had found her guilty of ordering a violent crackdown on student-led protests last year, during which the UN estimates up to 1,400 people were killed. Prosecutors told the court they had evidence she directly authorised the use of lethal force.
Her statement, issued by the now-banned Awami League, criticised the interim administration of Muhammad Yunus as “chaotic, violent, and socially regressive.” It alleged a breakdown of public services, police withdrawal from “crime-ridden streets,” and a collapse of judicial fairness, claiming attacks on Awami League supporters had gone unpunished. The statement said the verdict aimed to “scapegoat the Awami League” and divert attention from the government’s shortcomings.
It also cited assaults on religious minorities and accused Islamic extremists within the administration of undermining Bangladesh’s secular tradition. Hasina ended her message by calling for a free and fair election next year.
The interim government has described the verdict as “historic” and warned that any attempt to create disorder would face strict action. The BNP’s Salahuddin Ahmed said the trial “sets an example for the days ahead.”
For The Good Of New York, Trump And Mamdani To Meet
Months after threatening to deport him and labelling him a communist, President Donald Trump is now reportedly willing to meet newly-minted New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Trump had indicated over the weekend that “The Mayor of New York, I will say, would like to meet with us. We will work something out. We want to see everything work out well for New York.”
A Mamdani spokesperson indicated that the mayor had intended to contact the White House “because this is a relationship that will be critical to the success of the city.”
The New York Post had quoted him as saying that “if President Trump wants to speak about lowering the cost of living or delivering cheaper groceries … I’m there to have that conversation. I am here to work for the benefit of all that call this city their home and wherever there is a possibility of working together to that end, I’m ready.”
Trump had been critical of Mamdani’s victory speech, describing it as “very angry. Certainly very angry towards me and I think he should be very nice to me. You know I am sort of the one who has to approve a lot of things coming to him. So he’s off to a bad start.”
“He has to be a little bit respectful of Washington, because if he’s not he doesn’t have a chance of succeeding. I want to make that city succeed.”
Mamdani hasn’t held back either. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.”
“This is not only how we stop Trump, it’s how we stop the next one. So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn up the volume.”
South Korea Proposes Talks With North Korea To Ease Border Tensions
South Korea’s defence ministry said on Monday that it has formally proposed holding military talks with North Korea to discuss setting a clearer boundary along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The move aims to prevent accidental clashes and reduce growing tensions along one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders.
Kim Hong-cheol, South Korea’s deputy defence minister for national defence policy, announced the proposal in a televised statement. He said the talks would focus on “establishing a baseline for the MDL to avoid unintended clashes between the two Koreas and ease military tensions.”
Rising Tensions and Border Intrusions
Seoul has raised concerns over North Korea’s recent activities near the border. According to Kim, North Korean troops have been laying mines, building roads, and erecting barbed wire fences along their side of the frontier. However, some North Korean soldiers have crossed the boundary line several times, prompting fears of a potential military confrontation.
“This situation is believed to stem from the loss of many markers installed at the time of the 1953 armistice agreement,” Kim explained. “Both sides now have different understandings of the exact location of the line in certain areas.”
The South Korean defence ministry reported that North Korean soldiers had crossed into the southern side of the MDL more than ten times so far this year—already surpassing the total number of incursions recorded in all of 2024. The ministry also noted that North Korea has been installing landmines and barriers and clearing land along the front line since last year, actions that Seoul views as deliberate military reinforcement.
Proposal Routed Through the United Nations Command
Because all direct military communication channels between the two Koreas remain severed, South Korea plans to deliver its proposal through the United Nations Command, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Despite repeated calls for dialogue, North Korea has not responded to any outreach from Seoul since late 2023, when leader Kim Jong Un formally labelled South Korea a “hostile” nation.
Deadly incidents have occasionally erupted along the border in the decades since the 1950–1953 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The recent uptick in military activity, coupled with the absence of communication, has heightened fears of miscalculation or unintentional clashes.
Seoul’s latest proposal signals its continued push for dialogue, even as Pyongyang maintains a confrontational stance and fortifies its border positions.
with inputs from Reuters
Taiwan Distributes Security Handbooks Amid Growing China Threat
Taiwan will begin distributing millions of civil defence security handbooks to households across the island this week, in an unprecedented effort to prepare residents for potential emergencies, including the possibility of a Chinese attack.
The security handbook, unveiled in September, includes for the first time instructions on what to do if citizens encounter enemy soldiers and stresses that any claims of Taiwan’s surrender should be considered false. It also provides guidance on locating bomb shelters and preparing emergency kits.
This marks Taiwan’s latest effort to prepare its population for crises ranging from natural disasters to a Chinese invasion, as Beijing steps up military and political pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over the democratically governed island.
Self-Defence?
“This booklet shows our determination to defend ourselves,” said Lin Fei-fan, Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan’s National Security Council, who oversaw the effort.
“We need people across the Taiwan Strait to understand that there will be a huge cost if China makes the wrong decision because Taiwanese people have the resolve and very clear commitment in defending ourselves, and people are willing to take that action to protect each other.”
The distribution to more than 9.8 million mailboxes across the island will start this week, and handbooks in English and other foreign languages will also be handed out soon, Lin said.
After the distribution, Lin said the government will help people prepare their personal emergency kits through promotional campaigns, though he did not give details.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of Taiwan. Taiwan’s government rejects China’s territorial claims, saying only Taiwanese people can decide their future.
D-Day Preparation
The security handbook outlines scenarios Taiwan might face, from sabotage of undersea cables and cyberattacks to inspections of Taiwanese vessels by an “enemy nation” as a prelude to conflict, and even an all-out invasion.
Lin said Taiwan is already facing hybrid warfare by China, including cyberattacks, infiltration, misinformation campaigns, and military incursions near the island.
“It is D-day versus everyday. D-Day means the actual invasion. Obviously, we are not in the D-Day mode. But we are facing the so-called everyday coercion.”
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Xi Jinping Portrait Burnt In Kazakhstan: Anti-China Sentiment Rising
Protests in Kazakhstan are rare so when a video of people burning a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Almaty went viral on the internet, it signalled public disaffection with the country’s giant eastern neighbour.
The trigger for the protests was reportedly the arrest in July, of Kazakh citizen Alimnur Turganbay by Chinese border guards in Xinjiang. He’s not been seen since and the concern is he may have ended up in one of the many detention centres for Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
Anti-China protests broke out in Kazakhstan yesterday, with Chinese flags and portraits of Xi Jinping being burned. People are angry over China’s buying up of Kazakh land and the kidnapping of Kazakh citizens by Chinese border guards. https://t.co/hwmgDmmrkB
— mariana (@yurimarine) November 16, 2025
Kazakh authorities promptly detained the flag burners and reports said some had been fined while the others had been given short jail terms of about two weeks. They were charged with committing “unlawful acts”, a phrase often used to silence even mild criticism of China. But public anger is rising and it is getting harder for the government to ignore.
His family fears torture, forced confessions. Rights organisations have long warned that China’s repression does not stop at its borders and Alimnur’s disappearance is the latest chilling example.
For many Kazakhs, China evokes other concerns. Beijing has spent years pumping billions into Central Asia, buying influence, farmland, and political quiet. Protesters say Beijing is trying to carve up Kazakh agricultural land in violation of national law, deepening the belief that economic partnerships are simply a cover for slow, steady political control.
Even as anger grows, China continues tightening its hold over Kazakhstan, announcing new projects almost every day including a $200 million cement plant in the Aktobe region. But these big deals hide serious cracks.
This week, nearly 1,500 Kazakh freight trucks were stuck at the Nur Zholy border after China processed far fewer vehicles than promised. Beijing agreed to clear at least 800 trucks a day, yet managed barely 700, choking Kazakh trade. The chaos forced Kazakhstan to cap daily entries, and the crisis became so severe that President Tokayev even sacked his transport minister over repeated border failures.
Kazakhstan’s government has usually avoided criticising China, choosing to protect investment and political stability. But the flames in the Almaty region this week reveal a clear crack in that silence. As long as Kazakh citizens continue to disappear at China’s border, anger will stay close to the surface and no number of arrests will put out a fire that Beijing itself has lit.
Bangladesh: Tribunal Finds Sheikh Hasina Guilty, Sentences Her To Death
The headlines in both papers were terse and to the point: Hasina sentenced to death said the Dhaka Tribune; Prothom Alo merely said Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death. Her crime: she was found guilty by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal for her violent crackdown on student-led protests last year, leading to her ouster and flight to India.
The UN estimates that up to 1,400 people died in those protests, and prosecutors told the court that they had evidence of her direct command to use lethal force against the uprising in July and August 2024. She also forcibly removed or targeted several journalists, politicians, and activists who were critical of her government.
Also convicted was former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was sentenced to death, and former IG of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the only one present in court who had pleaded guilty and turned approver. He was awarded a five-year jail term.
This is the first time that a former Bangladeshi prime minister has been convicted of crimes against humanity. The verdict can be appealed in the Supreme Court. But Hasina’s son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed, told Reuters before the verdict that they would not appeal unless a democratically elected government took office with the Awami League’s participation.
This ruling comes months ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held in February. The Awami League has not been allowed to participate. Prothom Alo said the verdict ran to more than 400 pages with evidence in the form of statements from victims and witnesses and video recordings.
Reports say the courtroom was packed, and when the verdict was read out, there were cheers and clapping.
China Rules Out Meeting With Japan At G20 Amid Rising Taiwan Tensions
China has confirmed that Premier Li Qiang will not meet with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the upcoming Group of 20 summit in South Africa, as diplomatic tensions over Taiwan continue to escalate. The announcement, made by the Chinese foreign ministry on Monday, underscores the growing strain between the two Asian neighbours following Tokyo’s recent comments on Taiwan.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Takaichi’s remarks had “seriously damaged the political foundation” of Sino-Japanese relations. She urged Japan to withdraw its “wrongful statements” to prevent further deterioration in ties.
Tokyo’s Taiwan Remarks Stir Diplomatic Backlash
Earlier this month, Takaichi told Japan’s parliament that a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan if the nation’s survival were threatened. Her remarks marked a rare and direct reference to Japan’s security stance on Taiwan, which China views as part of its territory.
Beijing swiftly condemned the statement, describing it as a provocation that violated Japan’s political commitments under past bilateral agreements. The issue has since fuelled a series of diplomatic protests, with both countries summoning ambassadors and exchanging public criticism.
The fallout also follows earlier tensions involving online remarks by a Chinese diplomat in Osaka and subsequent comments by Japanese officials. The situation has further strained what Beijing calls the “fragile political trust” between the two countries.
Li’s Multinational Diplomatic Schedule
Premier Li Qiang’s absence from bilateral meetings with Japan comes as part of a broader international itinerary. According to China’s foreign ministry, Li will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Russia from November 17 to 18, followed by a visit to Zambia from November 19 to 20. He will then participate in the G20 summit in South Africa from November 21 to 23.
Despite the lack of direct talks with Japan, China has reiterated its commitment to maintaining regional peace while firmly opposing any statements or actions that, in its view, challenge its sovereignty over Taiwan.
(with inputs from Reuters)
9 Days On INS Saryu; A Sailor’s Life At Sea, A Home Away From Home | Andaman & Nicobar Command
INS Saryu; A Sailor’s Life At Sea
What is life like for sailors on board an Indian Naval Ship in the Andaman and Nicobar Command’s (ANC) Area of Responsibility (AoR)? Well, we sailed for nine days on INS Saryu to find out. Watch an extraordinary journey aboard one of the Navy’s offshore patrol vessels. In the ‘Arc Of Power’, Episode VI, we continue to showcase the strategic importance of the ANC in safeguarding India’s maritime interests.
INS Saryu: Indigenous Nature & Role
INS Saryu represents, among other things, India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding, design and construction. We also witness firing of the ship’s arsenal at sea. The documentary captures the maritime ballet of seamanship that positions the vessel for strategic operations across the oceans. We also capture the sailors who utilise the multi-role platform in anti-piracy operations, fleet support, and naval gunfire support during amphibious assaults.
China’s PLA & India’s ANC
The documentary positions INS Saryu within the broader context of the significance of the ANC. And highlights the vessel’s operations through the Six and Ten-Degree channels where over 60,000 commercial vessels pass annually. This strategic positioning is critical, particularly in light of the Chinese PLA Navy’s breakneck expansion. For India, the ANC is not just a forward outpost. It’s the frontline of maritime vigilance and deterrence against Chinese warships, submarines and spy ships in and around the chokepoints of Southeast Asia. The waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are part of a strategic contest, one that will define the future of the region. The strategic significance is also highlighted by India pushing for inclusion in the Malacca Straits Patrol in the future.
Saryu’s Sailors At Sea
The documentary captures the human element of naval operations on the “Most Spirited Ship” of 2024. The ship’s galley operations, recreational activities on the helo deck, and the camaraderie among crew members from across India provide compelling human interest content. The wardroom dining scenes and bada khaana (open night) showcase naval traditions. And not to forget, we capture rare footage of Barren Island, India’s only active volcano.
Series In 4K
Watch this series in 4K. Click the gear icon in YouTube’s settings and choose 2160p/4K, if your device is compatible. We recommend big screen viewing for the best experience. This episode, aired on October 1st, 2025 crossed 100,000+ views on November 16th.
Editor’s Note: Cdr Nilesh Athare has been promoted to a Captain and has taken up a new assignment.
‘Arc Of Power’ Series
A StratNews Global team of Amitabh P. Revi, Rohit Pandita and Vashisht Mattoo document this series. Deepankar Verma provides all the informational graphics. We boarded the INS Saryu in Sri Vijaya Puram (SVP), the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). SVP was known as Port Blair till September 2024. In case you missed:
👉Andaman & Nicobar Command. ‘Arc Of Power’ Episode I</em> | Rutland Beach Joint Service Amphibious Assault : • https://youtu.be/HfHBl1–kiA?si=gsvKVoYK458hrQF8
👉INS Kohassa: Eyes In The Sky, Punch In The Sea, Khukris On The Beach— ANC | Arc Of Power, Episode II: • https://youtu.be/ek2whgojVVw?si=hM70oqJ-utMgZ-e4
👉Andaman Nicobar Command: India’s Strategic Outpost | C-in-C, Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan Exclusive | Ep. III: • https://youtu.be/FXPwGHmudyo?si=USjqc4qirkk4uQKu
👉Tarasa, Tiger & Tamannaah—Andaman & Nicobar Command, Arc Of Power Part IV: Outpost To Springboard: • https://youtu.be/QeSKiru0O7Y?si=r7LFzIrHLsyQJ6gd
👉Andaman & Nicobar Command: In Conversation With The Commanding Officer INS Saryu | Arc of Power Ep V: https://youtu.be/wBQ_nSXbomo?si=xCNZJZCHYN5RbSYa
China Offers Marriage Vouchers to Encourage Young Couples to Wed
The eastern Chinese city of Ningbo has announced a new initiative to promote marriage and family life by offering financial incentives to newlyweds. Couples who register their marriage between October 28 and December 31 will receive marriage consumption vouchers worth a total of 1,000 yuan (about $141). The scheme aims to encourage young people to wed and start families amid China’s declining marriage and birth rates.
According to Ningbo’s civil affairs department, the vouchers will be distributed through an official WeChat platform. Each eligible couple will receive eight vouchers that can be used for services linked to weddings, such as photography, ceremonies, hotel stays, and retail purchases. The department noted that the vouchers are limited in quantity and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
A Response to Falling Marriage Rates
China has seen a sharp decline in marriages in recent years. Official data shows that only 6.1 million couples registered their marriages last year, compared to 7.68 million the year before—a drop of nearly one-fifth, marking the biggest decline on record. Experts attribute the trend to the rising costs of housing, childcare, and education, as well as changing social attitudes among younger generations.
The fall in marriage rates is a growing concern for Chinese authorities, as it directly affects the country’s already declining birth rate and ageing population. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, is ageing rapidly and faces long-term demographic challenges that could hinder economic growth.
Broader Measures to Tackle Population Decline
Ningbo is not alone in adopting incentives. Other cities in eastern China, including Hangzhou and Pinghu, have also introduced similar cash voucher schemes to promote marriage before the end of the year. These efforts form part of a broader national strategy to address the population crisis.
Last year, authorities urged universities to include “love education” in their curriculum to promote positive attitudes toward marriage, family life, and parenthood. The central government also instructed local administrations to allocate more resources to encourage marriages and childbirth “at the right age,” while fostering respect for family values.
As Chinese cities experiment with various incentives, the effectiveness of such financial measures remains to be seen. However, the move reflects Beijing’s growing urgency to tackle the social and economic challenges linked to its ageing society.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Saudi Crown Prince To Visit US: Defence, AI On Agenda
A visit by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler to the White House for talks on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump aims to deepen decades-old cooperation on oil and security while broadening ties in commerce, technology and potentially even nuclear energy.
It will be the first trip by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the U.S. since the 2018 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul, which caused a global uproar. U.S. intelligence concluded that MBS approved the capture or killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic.
The crown prince, widely known by his initials MBS, denied ordering the operation but acknowledged responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto ruler.
More than seven years later, the world’s largest economy and the world’s top oil producer want to move forward.
Trump is seeking to cash in on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge made during Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May. He steered clear of mentioning human rights concerns during that trip and is expected to do so again.
The Saudi leader is seeking security guarantees amid regional turmoil and wants access to artificial intelligence technology and progress toward a deal on a civilian nuclear programme.
“There is a page that has been turned” on Khashoggi’s killing, said Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi-based lecturer of international relations at Naif Arab University for Security Sciences.
Defence Deal
The United States and Saudi Arabia have long had an arrangement for the kingdom to sell oil at favourable prices and for the superpower to provide security in exchange.
That equation was shaken by Washington’s failure to act when Iran struck oil installations in the kingdom in 2019. Concerns resurfaced in September, when Israel struck Doha, Qatar, in an attack it said targeted members of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
In the aftermath, Trump signed a defence pact with Qatar via executive order. Many analysts, diplomats and regional officials believe the Saudis will get something similar.
Saudi Arabia has sought a defence pact ratified by the U.S. Congress in recent negotiations. But Washington has made that contingent on the kingdom normalising ties with Israel.
Riyadh has, in turn, linked that to a commitment from Israel’s government, the most right-wing in its history, to Palestinian statehood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who agreed to a Trump-brokered ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza last month after two years of war, on Sunday reaffirmed his staunch opposition to Palestinian independence.
A Trump executive order on defence similar to the pact with Qatar would fall short of the defence agreement the Saudis have sought. But Alghashian said it would “be a step on the way, part of the process, not the end of the process.”
A Western diplomat based in the Gulf summed up the dynamic: “Trump wants normalisation and Saudi Arabia wants a full defence pact, but the circumstances don’t allow. Ultimately, both sides will likely receive less than they desire. That’s diplomacy.”
Dennis Ross, a former Middle East negotiator for Democratic and Republican administrations now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said he expects an executive order that would call for the U.S. and the Saudis “to immediately consult on what to do in response to the threat” while not committing Washington to actively come to the defence of Riyadh.
“That could run the gamut of providing a range of different assistance, replacing arms, deploying defensive missile batteries like THAAD or Patriot, deploying naval forces with a Marine unit, to actively taking part in the combat in an offensive, not only defensive manner,” he said.
Regional Rivalry And Deals
Riyadh has also been pressing for deals in nuclear energy and artificial intelligence under its ambitious Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and strengthen its position relative to regional rivals.
Securing approval to acquire advanced computer chips would be critical to the kingdom’s plans to become a central node in global AI and to compete with the United Arab Emirates, which in June signed a U.S. multibillion-dollar data centre deal that gave it access to high-end chips.
MBS also wants to strike an agreement with Washington on developing a Saudi civilian nuclear programme, part of his effort to diversify from oil.
Such a deal would unlock access to U.S. nuclear technology and security guarantees and help Saudi Arabia level up with the UAE, which has its own programme, and traditional foe Iran.
But progress on a U.S. deal has been difficult because the Saudis did not want to agree to a U.S. stipulation that would rule out enriching uranium or reprocessing spent fuel – both potential paths to a bomb.
Ross said he expected an announcement of an agreement on nuclear energy, or at least a statement on progress towards one.
(with inputs from Reuters)