According to the United Nations’ latest World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report, Indonesia’s capital Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo to become the world’s largest city, with a population of 41.9 million. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, now ranks second with 36.6 million residents, while Tokyo falls to third with 33.4 million. The report highlights that Asia dominates the global urban landscape, hosting 19 of the world’s 33 megacities, including New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila, Kolkata, and Seoul. Cairo remains the only non-Asian city in the top ten. Dhaka’s rapid growth is driven by rural migration and climate-related displacement, while Jakarta faces severe flooding risks, with projections suggesting a quarter of the city could be underwater by 2050. Despite Indonesia’s plan to relocate its capital to Nusantara in Borneo, Jakarta’s population is expected to grow by another 10 million. The UN also introduced a new definition of cities to standardize global urbanization data, focusing on contiguous high-density areas with at least 50,000 people.

US defense and intelligence officials suspect that members of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were stationed at a military facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after American personnel were denied access to part of the site. Two former senior US officials told Middle East Eye that the PLA may have been hosted at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Military City around 2020. The officials expressed concern that the facility could be used to gather intelligence on US forces stationed nearby at Al Dhafra Air Base. Reports suggest that the UAE may have provided financial or logistical support to host PLA members. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that China was building a military port near Abu Dhabi, which was later halted under US pressure, though leaked documents indicate work resumed a year later. The UAE and China have deepened military ties, including joint air force drills in Xinjiang in 2024. Neither the UAE, China, nor the US Department of Defense commented on the latest claims.

Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka has risen to become the world’s second largest city by population, surpassing Tokyo and trailing only Jakarta, according to a new United Nations report cited by Al Jazeera. The report, titled 'World Urbanization Prospects 2025', shows Jakarta leading with 41.9 million residents, followed by Dhaka with 36.6 million and Tokyo with 33.4 million. The UN projects that Dhaka could become the most populous city globally by 2050 if current growth trends continue. The rapid population increase in Dhaka is attributed to rural-to-urban migration driven by employment opportunities, climate-related displacement, and the city’s expanding boundaries. The report also highlights that Asia dominates the list of megacities—urban areas with populations exceeding 10 million—with 19 of the world’s 33 megacities located in the region. Among the top 10, nine are in Asia, while Cairo is the only non-Asian city on the list.

A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accuses Israel of forcibly displacing over 32,000 Palestinians from their homes in the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem refugee camps, marking the largest mass displacement in the West Bank since 1967. The operations, part of what Israel calls 'Operation Iron Wall', have left residents barred from returning and their homes destroyed. Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, while settler violence has surged to record levels. The United Nations reports more than 1,500 Palestinians displaced by home demolitions in Area C and East Jerusalem, where building permits for Palestinians are nearly impossible to obtain. Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have openly advocated annexing the West Bank and expanding illegal settlements, moves widely condemned as violations of international law. Human rights groups warn of worsening conditions and urge international accountability for Israel’s actions in the occupied territories.

Pakistan has issued a strong warning to the international community about what it describes as growing Islamophobia and deliberate destruction of Islamic heritage in India. In a statement released on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the recent flag-hoisting ceremony at the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya, constructed on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the event reflects a broader trend of pressure on religious minorities under a majoritarian Hindutva ideology. He alleged that several historic mosques in India face threats of desecration or demolition, while Indian Muslims are increasingly marginalized socially, economically, and politically. Pakistan urged the United Nations and other international bodies to play a constructive role in safeguarding Islamic heritage and protecting the religious and cultural rights of all minorities. Islamabad also called on New Delhi to uphold its international human rights obligations and ensure the safety of all religious communities and their places of worship.

United Nations human rights experts have voiced serious concern over alleged abuses by Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir following a militant attack in Pahalgam in April. The experts criticized India's sweeping security operations, arbitrary detentions, torture, property demolitions, and communication restrictions imposed after the attack. They reported that around 2,800 people, including journalists and human rights defenders, were detained under the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allow prolonged detention without trial. The experts described these laws as overly broad and vague. Reports also indicated instances of torture, incommunicado detention, and discriminatory treatment of Kashmiri Muslims. The UN experts condemned punitive demolitions and forced evictions carried out without court orders, calling them a form of collective punishment that violates India’s Supreme Court ruling of 2024, which deemed such actions unconstitutional. They urged India to ensure compliance with international human rights law even while addressing security threats.

The UK Home Office has issued a formal apology and agreed to pay £225,000 in compensation to British-Bangladeshi community leader Chowdhury Mueen Uddin after a prolonged defamation case. The dispute stemmed from a 2019 report on the Home Office website linking Mueen Uddin to extremism and referencing a controversial 1971 war crimes verdict from Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. Mueen Uddin denied all allegations, calling them politically motivated. In June 2024, the UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously in his favor, describing the government’s accusations as exceptionally serious and unfounded. Following the ruling, the Home Office publicly apologized in the Royal Courts of Justice and confirmed the compensation payment. Legal experts noted that this is among the largest defamation settlements ever paid by a UK government department. Mueen Uddin expressed relief and gratitude, saying the outcome reaffirmed the enduring power of truth and justice within Britain’s legal system.

US President Donald Trump announced that he is sending his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to finalize a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social that only a few points of disagreement remain. However, European leaders remain doubtful, particularly as Russian missile attacks on Kyiv continue. Trump also expressed hopes to meet both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once the deal is finalized. The initial 28-point US plan for the agreement was criticized as being favorable to Moscow, leading Kyiv’s European allies to propose a revised version more aligned with Ukraine’s interests. Negotiations have been ongoing, with recent discussions taking place in Geneva and Abu Dhabi, while leaders from 30 pro-Ukraine nations held a virtual meeting to review progress.

A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report reveals that Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank have forcibly displaced around 32,000 Palestinians from three refugee camps—Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem—since January. The report describes it as the largest mass displacement in the West Bank since 1967. Violence has escalated sharply since Israel’s Gaza offensive began in October 2023, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank. The United Nations also reported that more than 1,000 Palestinians were displaced in early November after Israeli authorities demolished homes in Area C, while over 500 people lost their homes in occupied East Jerusalem. Israel claims the demolitions were due to lack of building permits, though such permits are rarely granted to Palestinians. Human rights groups have urged international investigations into Israel’s actions and accountability for its military and political leaders.

A recent Al Jazeera video highlights the tragic stories of orphaned children in Gaza, where over 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in more than two years of Israeli military operations. The children, many too young to fully grasp their loss, describe how their parents were killed—some while fetching food or firewood to support their families. One boy recounts that his father was shot while bringing flour, while a girl recalls her father being killed in Nablus by Israeli soldiers. The video captures the deep emotional trauma and human cost of the ongoing conflict, as Gaza remains under blockade and international pressure on Israel remains limited. The testimonies reflect the devastating impact of the violence on Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable residents, many of whom now live without parents or stable homes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of committing massacres against Palestinians, particularly women and children, due to insufficient international pressure. Speaking in Ankara on November 25 during an event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Erdogan said that over 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza and that two-thirds of the victims are women and children. He criticized the global community for failing to respond adequately to Israel’s actions and for ignoring the suffering of Palestinian women. Erdogan emphasized that the international community’s failure to act has prolonged the conflict and deepened the humanitarian crisis. He also linked the plight of women in Gaza to broader issues of gender inequality and exploitation under capitalist systems, calling for stronger global solidarity to protect women’s dignity and lives.

In Pakistan, a 27-year-old woman named Kiran has been reunited with her parents after being missing for 17 years. She disappeared from her home in Islamabad at the age of 10 while going out to buy ice cream. Authorities from the Punjab Safe City project confirmed her identity using data that matched her personal details. Kiran had been living under the care of the Edhi Foundation in Karachi since being taken there by the late Bilquis Edhi. During her stay, she received both religious and general education. The Edhi Foundation said that several attempts had been made over the years to locate her family, but only recent technological assistance led to success. The emotional reunion in Karachi drew widespread attention and praise for the Edhi Foundation’s dedication. Kiran described meeting her parents again as the most important day of her life, while her father expressed deep gratitude to the foundation for caring for his daughter for nearly two decades.

Ukraine has indicated its willingness to accept a 28-point peace proposal reportedly initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, as diplomatic efforts intensify to end the ongoing war with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to the United States this week to meet Trump and finalize the framework of the agreement. Ukraine’s National Security Chief Rustem Umerov said both sides have reached a common understanding on the main terms during earlier discussions in Geneva. Meanwhile, Russia confirmed it has received the draft plan and is open to negotiations. The United States also confirmed upcoming talks with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi. Despite ongoing airstrikes that killed several people in both Ukraine and Russia, Kyiv remains optimistic about a diplomatic breakthrough. European leaders, however, have criticized the initial draft as being overly favorable to Moscow, while Ukraine has welcomed recent revisions that strengthen its defense and NATO prospects.

Russia has expressed its gratitude to Turkey for its continued mediation role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict resolution process. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Moscow highly values Ankara’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between the warring sides. His remarks followed a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during which both leaders discussed the nearly three-and-a-half-year-long war along with various regional and international issues. Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to pursuing a fair and lasting peace, emphasizing Ankara’s readiness to contribute diplomatically and facilitate direct negotiations. Since the start of the war, Turkey has positioned itself as a key diplomatic hub for talks between Russia and Ukraine. Istanbul has hosted several rounds of peace discussions this year, leading to significant outcomes such as prisoner exchanges and the exchange of draft peace documents, underscoring Turkey’s active role in promoting dialogue and stability in the region.

A joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women reveals that more than 50,000 women and girls were killed worldwide in 2024 by intimate partners or family members—an average of 137 victims per day or one every 10 minutes. The report, released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2025, highlights that 60% of all female homicides were committed by current or former partners or relatives, compared to only 11% of male victims. The UN agencies warned that many of these femicides are preventable but persist due to weak protection systems, inadequate police responses, and limited social support in many countries. The report also notes that the actual number of femicides may be higher because of poor data collection, victims’ fear of reporting, and outdated legal definitions that fail to classify many killings as gender-based violence.