A French court in Besançon has sentenced former anesthetist Frederic Pechier to life in prison for poisoning 30 patients, 12 of whom died. The court found him guilty of deliberately inducing cardiac arrests between 2008 and 2017, reportedly to discredit colleagues and satisfy a 'thirst for power.' He faces a minimum of 22 years before parole eligibility and is permanently banned from medical practice.
A Bulgarian court on December 11, 2025, rejected Lebanon's request to extradite Igor Grechushkin, the Russian-Cypriot owner of the ship linked to the 2020 Beirut port explosion. The decision cited insufficient assurances from Lebanese authorities regarding the death penalty. Grechushkin remains in custody, and prosecutors plan to appeal the ruling.
The Liechtenstein government has adopted a new ordinance regulating fees in first-instance administrative penal proceedings, effective January 1, 2026. This measure follows the introduction of a new Administrative Criminal Law.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly told the security cabinet that a Jew acting on behalf of Iran against Israel could face execution under a proposed death penalty bill. The controversial legislation, championed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, passed its first Knesset reading on November 10, 2025, and aims to introduce a mandatory death penalty for certain terrorism offenses.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly told the security cabinet that a proposed death penalty bill for terrorism could apply to a Jew working for Iran against Israel. The controversial bill, which passed its first Knesset reading, aims for mandatory capital punishment for certain offenses, sparking debate over its scope and implications.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism charges. The judgment, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, was broadcast live, concluding a high-profile trial that saw Kanu convicted on multiple counts.
Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced nine individuals, including high-ranking military officials and a federal police officer, to prison terms ranging up to 24 years. They were found guilty of plotting to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice Alexandre de Moraes as part of a broader coup attempt following the 2022 elections.
Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her death sentence in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 student uprising. Hasina, who fled to India after her ouster, has denounced the verdict as politically motivated. India remains non-committal on the extradition request.
Iran's clerical rulers are escalating a crackdown on political dissent, targeting hundreds of activists, journalists, and lawyers with arrests and executions. This intensification occurs despite a visible easing of mandatory veil restrictions, a move critics view as a calculated effort to manage public opinion while suppressing opposition.
Russian troops are alleged to have executed at least two captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers near Zatyshshia, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Ukrainian analytical organization Deep State. Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets condemned the act as a war crime, prompting a criminal investigation by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor's Office.
Victoria's proposed 'Adult Time for Violent Crime' bill, allowing children as young as 14 to face adult sentences and potential life imprisonment for serious offenses, has been widely condemned by legal and human rights advocates across Australia. Critics argue the bill is inhumane and will disproportionately harm vulnerable youth.
The death sentences for three political prisoners, Farshad Etemadifar, Masoud Jamei, and Alireza Mardasi, have been confirmed and communicated in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, Iran. The rulings, issued by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, cite charges including 'corruption on earth' and 'Moharebeh,' raising significant human rights concerns over due process and imminent execution.
Judges in Bangladesh, represented by the Bangladesh Judicial Service Association, have issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening a nationwide 'pens-down' strike from Sunday, November 16, 2025. This action follows a fatal attack on a judge's family in Rajshahi and demands enhanced security for judicial officials and action against negligent police personnel.
Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has advanced a bill in its first reading that would introduce the death penalty for individuals convicted of terrorism against the state and those who kill Israelis. The legislation, championed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has drawn significant criticism for its potential discriminatory application primarily against Palestinians and its implications for human rights.
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court justices Alexandre de Moraes and Flávio Dino have rejected an appeal by former President Jair Bolsonaro, upholding his conviction and 27-year sentence for attempting a coup d'état following the 2022 general election.
Damaris Vitória Kremer da Rosa, 26, died on October 26, 2025, from cervical cancer, just 74 days after being acquitted of a murder charge that led to her unjust imprisonment for six years in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Diagnosed with advanced cancer while incarcerated, her repeated requests for medical release were denied.
A Utah judge has ruled that 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, charged with the aggravated murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, can wear street clothes during pretrial hearings. However, he must remain physically restrained due to security concerns, with media prohibited from filming or photographing the restraints. Robinson faces multiple felony charges, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's legal team has filed an appeal to reduce his 27-year and three-month prison sentence for attempting a coup. The appeal, lodged with the Supreme Court, challenges the September 2025 conviction, citing alleged ambiguities and due process violations.
A migrant workers' advocacy group, Sandigan, has criticized the 14-year prison sentence handed down in Kuwait for the killer of Overseas Filipino Worker Dafnie Nacalaban, calling it 'not enough.' The group and Nacalaban's family expressed dismay over the verdict and the perceived lack of justice.
The grandchildren of Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain, have formally applied for a posthumous conditional pardon 70 years after her hanging. They argue that a modern understanding of domestic abuse and legal concepts like diminished responsibility would have led to a different verdict.
