Russia has claimed control over the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a major transport hub, following prolonged and intense fighting. Moscow announced the capture on December 1, but Kyiv rejected the claim, alleging that Russia is spreading such information to influence ongoing ceasefire discussions. The claim came just hours after senior US and Ukrainian officials met in Florida to discuss possible pathways to end the war. Ukrainian forces maintain that they still hold Pokrovsk and surrounding areas despite heavy Russian assaults. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly visited the front lines on Sunday, where military chief Valery Gerasimov briefed him on the situation. Footage released by the Kremlin showed Russian troops raising their flag in Pokrovsk’s city center, later verified by CNN. The city’s road and rail links make it strategically vital for Ukraine’s logistics, though continued Russian drone strikes have damaged key supply routes.

Thirteen fishermen from Lalmohan in Bhola, Bangladesh, who had been missing for 20 days after going to sea for fishing, have been located in India. The fishermen, who set out on November 11 aboard the fishing trawler 'Ma-Babar Doa', reportedly lost their way in the deep sea and accidentally entered Indian waters. They were detained by Indian naval police and handed over to a local police station in West Bengal, though the exact location remains unknown. One of the fishermen, who is speech-impaired, managed to contact his family via video call, confirming their safety. Local police in Lalmohan have informed higher authorities, and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now working to bring them back home. The families, who had earlier protested the authorities’ inaction, expressed relief upon hearing the news of their survival and are hopeful for their early return.

France has called on Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity following an Israeli airstrike in Damascus that killed at least 13 civilians, including women and children. The French chargé d’affaires in Syria, Jean-Baptiste Favre, expressed concern over civilian casualties and reaffirmed France’s commitment to international law and the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two countries. He urged Middle Eastern nations to engage in efforts to make Syria a center of peace, security, and stability for the region. Reports indicate that since December 2024, Israel has conducted over a thousand airstrikes and more than 400 cross-border operations in southern Syria. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government late last year, Israel reportedly took control of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, violating the previous agreement with Syria. France’s statement reflects growing international concern over escalating violence and regional instability.

The human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has voiced serious concern over the repeated killing of unarmed Bangladeshi civilians by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Bangladesh-India frontier. In a press statement issued on Sunday, ASK described the incidents as inhumane, unacceptable, and a violation of international human rights norms and bilateral commitments between the two nations. According to ASK’s data, at least 28 Bangladeshi nationals have been killed by BSF gunfire between January and November 2025. The organization called for impartial investigations into each incident and urged accountability for those responsible. ASK emphasized that both Bangladesh and India share equal responsibility for ensuring the safety of border residents and urged both governments to avoid the use of lethal weapons in border management. It also appealed to the Indian government and people to take visible steps to stop such killings in the interest of human rights, friendship, and regional stability.

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has promoted a police unit commander accused of killing two unarmed Palestinians in Jenin, occupied West Bank. The promotion, to deputy commissioner, came just a day after footage emerged showing unit members shooting two Palestinians who had raised their hands in surrender. The victims, identified as Montasir Abdullah, 26, and Yusuf Asasa, 37, were reportedly unarmed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The move has drawn criticism as unusual, since such high ranks are rarely given to unit commanders. Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power Party, personally visited the unit’s base to announce the promotion and expressed full support for the officers, even as a criminal investigation continues. The incident adds to growing tensions in the West Bank, where Israeli operations since October 2023 have killed over 1,085 Palestinians and injured more than 10,700. The International Court of Justice has previously declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has detained a vessel flying the flag of Eswatini in the Strait of Hormuz on allegations of fuel smuggling. According to Iranian state television, the ship was carrying about 350,000 liters of contraband fuel and has been escorted to the port of Bushehr. The IRGC commander stated that all 13 crew members are citizens of neighboring countries and India. The Strait of Hormuz is a key global chokepoint for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, and Iran frequently conducts operations against vessels accused of illegal fuel transport. Earlier this month, Iran had seized and later released a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, while last year it detained a container ship allegedly linked to Israel following an attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria. Iranian authorities maintain that the latest seizure is a domestic enforcement action, not a retaliatory measure against any foreign state.

Thousands of Israelis gathered outside the Portuguese embassy in Tel Aviv on Saturday to apply for Portuguese citizenship, following overwhelming demand for appointments. The embassy organized a special in-person interview day to handle the surge, with lines stretching from the entrance to the underground parking area. Portugal’s 2015 law allows descendants of Sephardic Jews, expelled during the 16th-century Inquisition, to apply for citizenship. However, due to a flood of applications, the government tightened eligibility requirements in 2023. Many Israelis are seeking Portuguese passports for visa-free travel within the EU, lower living costs, and easier access to European universities. The demand for second passports has risen sharply since Israel’s military operations in Gaza began in October 2023, with tens of thousands reportedly leaving the country. Interest in Portuguese citizenship continues to grow steadily among Israelis seeking greater mobility and security.

European Union Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said Israel refused her request to enter Gaza through the Rafah border during her visit to Egypt. She described Gaza as a 'graveyard for thousands' and highlighted that 347 Palestinians, including 67 children, have been killed since the recent ceasefire began. Lahbib also noted that around 600 humanitarian workers have lost their lives in the conflict. Warning that the approaching winter will worsen conditions, she urged full respect for the ceasefire, adherence to international law, and unhindered access for NGOs to deliver aid. Despite ongoing relief efforts, she said the assistance reaching Gaza remains far below actual needs. During her trip, Lahbib visited aid warehouses in Egypt’s El Arish and hospitals treating wounded Palestinians evacuated from Gaza.

Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected head of the Catholic Church following Pope Francis’s death in May, has reaffirmed the Vatican’s support for a two-state solution as the only viable path to resolving the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict. Speaking during an in-flight press conference on his first foreign trip from Turkey to Lebanon, the Pope said that while Israel currently rejects this approach, the Vatican continues to view the establishment of a Palestinian state as essential for lasting peace. His visit comes amid ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, adding significance to his remarks. During his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and discussed both the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, emphasizing Turkey’s potential role in promoting peace. He also condemned rising global violence in the name of religion and praised Turkey as an example of peaceful coexistence among different faiths.

The Israeli military is reportedly facing the worst manpower crisis in its history, according to reserve general and military analyst Itzhak Brik. Writing in the daily Maariv, Brik stated that thousands of officers and non-commissioned officers have refused to respond to call-ups or renew their service contracts in recent months. The ongoing Gaza conflict, which has lasted nearly two years, has resulted in 923 Israeli soldiers killed and around 6,500 wounded, with about 20,000 troops suffering from post-traumatic stress. Brik warned that the shortage of personnel is now affecting equipment maintenance and operational readiness, potentially rendering the army 'paralyzed.' He blamed previous chiefs of staff for reducing manpower and shortening service terms, which pushed experienced soldiers out and left unqualified personnel in critical roles. Brik also criticized the army’s human resources management and outdated information systems, describing the situation as one of 'information blindness.'

The United States and Syrian joint forces have destroyed 15 Islamic State (IS) weapons depots in southern Syria, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released on Friday, November 28. The operations, conducted between November 24 and 27, targeted IS stockpiles containing over 130 mortars and rockets, as well as numerous assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, and bomb-making materials. The campaign is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate IS remnants that once controlled vast territories across Syria and Iraq following its rise in 2013. Although the group has lost most of its territory, it continues to maintain limited presence in remote areas. The latest operation comes amid political changes in Syria, where interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently met US President Donald Trump, who pledged full American support to the new transitional government following the December 2024 coup that ousted Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey and Iran have pledged to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, and regional security following a meeting in Tehran between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. Fidan emphasized that trade and energy remain top priorities but noted the need for broader collaboration in other sectors. Both sides agreed to enhance border security, increase the number of border gates, and advance supply and transport projects. The ministers also discussed joint efforts to combat illegal migration, expressing a shared commitment to address the issue collectively. On regional security, Fidan stated that both nations view Israel as the greatest threat to Middle East stability and urged the international community to act against Israeli aggression and occupation. The meeting underscored a mutual desire to deepen bilateral relations amid growing regional tensions.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has appealed to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for support against what he described as 'growing and illegal threats' from the United States and former President Donald Trump. In a letter sent to OPEC members, Maduro accused Washington of attempting to seize Venezuela’s vast oil resources, the largest in the world. Citing the letter published by state broadcaster Telesur, Maduro urged OPEC and OPEC+ members to act to prevent further aggression, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to global energy market stability. Despite holding an estimated 303 billion barrels of oil reserves, Venezuela exported only $4.05 billion worth of crude in 2023, largely due to US sanctions imposed during Trump’s first term. Venezuela, a founding member of OPEC since 1960, has historically worked with other major producers such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia to manage oil supply and influence global prices.

More than 40 Hamas fighters were killed in an Israeli military operation targeting tunnels near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Israeli army on Sunday. The operation, conducted last week, focused on destroying underground routes used by Hamas militants. The Israeli military said it has concentrated its efforts around eastern Rafah for the past 40 days, aiming to eliminate militants hiding in the tunnel network. Earlier, the army reported killing four Hamas members who emerged from tunnels. Several Hamas infrastructures were also destroyed during the raids. Sources told AFP that discussions are ongoing about Hamas fighters hiding within the southern Gaza tunnel network. Meanwhile, Hamas has urged mediating countries to pressure Israel to allow safe passage, marking the first time the group publicly acknowledged the situation.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture has expressed grave concern over Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing them as excessive and potentially constituting systematic abuse against Palestinians. In its latest observations, the committee acknowledged and condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel but criticized Israel’s response as disproportionate, leading to widespread civilian suffering and deaths. The committee alleged that Israel’s treatment of detainees and the deteriorating conditions in detention centers amount to collective punishment under a deliberate state policy. It urged Israel to establish an independent and impartial investigation into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment during the ongoing conflict, ensuring accountability for senior officials. The committee also called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and recommended that Israel criminalize torture explicitly in its domestic law, disclose details of its special interrogation methods, and reaffirm that no exceptional circumstances can justify torture or abuse.