Daily Editorials Snapshot & FREE Vocabulary PDF – 20 November 2025 | MTO

The Hindu Editorials snapshot

Editorial 1

Reset with Riyadh: On U.S.-Saudi Arabia ties

The United States has begun separating Saudi Arabia from its ties with Israel in its West Asia strategy. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s visit to the White House marked the end of a diplomatic freeze caused by the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence linked to the prince. Although Joe Biden had promised during his campaign to hold Mohammed Bin Salman accountable, he later chose to rebuild ties, visiting Saudi Arabia and warmly greeting the crown prince. Former President Trump, who helped broker the Abraham Accords in 2020 between Israel and Arab states, also sought closer U.S.-Saudi ties, defending the prince’s human rights record and promising arms sales despite Israeli objections. Saudi Arabia plans to develop advanced technology sectors, gaining access to U.S. computer chips. Historically, strategic and energy interests have maintained U.S.-Saudi relations despite human rights concerns. A core complication has been Saudi reluctance to formally normalise relations with Israel. After initial progress towards the Abraham Accords, violence including the October 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s Gaza war has stalled momentum. Saudi Arabia conditions its joining the Accords on a credible timeline for a two-state solution, which Israel opposes. Trump appears to accept closer U.S.-Saudi relations without immediate Saudi recognition of Israel, effectively “de-hyphenating” Saudi Arabia from Israel in American regional plans.

Editorial 2

Breaking the rules: On the reversing of the Vanashakti ruling

The Supreme Court’s majority decision to reverse its May 2025 ruling in the Vanashakti case addresses the challenges posed by a law that was often misused, concerning post-facto environmental clearances. The original ruling had stopped granting clearances after projects had begun, emphasizing the need for prior approval under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and EIA notifications of 1994 and 2006. That ruling supported the principle that environmental decisions should be made before construction starts, not after. However, the new majority ruling allows limited “regularisation” of post-facto clearances when significant resources are already committed, typically involving fines, but still keeps prior clearance as the default rule. The Court acknowledged it is unfair to treat past and future violators differently but views this as a transitional regulatory phase. The decision does not fully permit post-facto clearances but recognizes their exceptional and remedial nature, consistent with environmental law in India. It also prevents widespread demolition of ongoing projects, protecting public resources. The ruling insists that post-facto clearances must remain exceptions and that legacy issues should be handled by tightening existing clearances, not normalizing after-the-fact approvals

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The Indian Express Editorials snapshot

Editorial 3

Once upon a love story, starring Neanderthals

For over 100,000 years, early modern humans called Homo sapiens and Neanderthals lived together, often seen as enemies competing for survival. However, recent studies show that these two species shared much more than conflict. They interbred, exchanged DNA, and shared cultural practices like burying their dead, making jewellery, and creating art. Researchers from the University of Oxford found evidence that humans and Neanderthals even kissed, passing on a shared oral microbe. This new understanding challenges the old belief that human evolution was driven only by war and aggression. Instead, cooperation and love played a crucial role in the survival and development of our species. Like bonobos and chimpanzees, our close relatives, humans also thrived through affection, negotiation, and loyalty, suggesting that love, not just competition, shaped our history.

Editorial 4

​With killing of Hidma, Maoist base shrinks and state has a political opening

Over 100,000 years, security forces killed Madvi Hidma, a top Maoist leader commanding Battalion 1 of the CPI (Maoist), who was responsible for more than two dozen attacks causing hundreds of deaths, including 37 jawans in 2017. Hidma’s death marks a key milestone in the fight against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and endorses the Centre and state governments’ strategy to eliminate Maoist threats by March 31, 2026, as set by Home Minister Amit Shah. The Maoists had leveraged difficult terrain and poor police presence across several states to their advantage, but now police have established stronger bases and resources in these interior forest areas. Furthermore, recent operations resulting in the killing of other Maoist leaders like Nambala Keshava Rao, plus the surrender of senior cadres, reflect growing dissatisfaction within the Maoist ranks. Rehabilitation and integration efforts for surrendered Maoists are showing results, with 1,850 militants renouncing violence last year alone. While some top Maoist leaders remain at large, the political and developmental engagement with formerly affected areas is crucial to ensuring lasting peace beyond just security operations.

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