The U.S. Department of Defense has publicly supported Admiral Mitch Bradley, who ordered a strike on a suspected 'narco-terrorist' vessel in the Caribbean Sea on September 2. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson confirmed that the White House approved the operation, emphasizing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fully endorsed Bradley’s decision. A Washington Post report had alleged that Hegseth personally ordered a second strike after the first failed to eliminate all targets, but the White House clarified that Bradley acted on his own authorization. Wilson stated that 21 such operations have been conducted in the Western Hemisphere, resulting in 82 deaths, all deemed lawful and necessary for U.S. national security. Hegseth reiterated that the campaign against drug traffickers at sea would continue, asserting that field commanders were making tough but justified decisions. The Pentagon dismissed the Washington Post report as false, noting that The New York Times had already refuted it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a sharp warning to European nations, declaring that Russia is ready for war if Europe chooses confrontation. Speaking at an investment forum in Moscow, Putin criticized Europe for abandoning peaceful solutions and obstructing US-led initiatives to end the Ukraine war. Despite the presence of US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow to discuss a potential peace deal, Putin did not meet them as scheduled. His remarks are seen as a direct message to Europe ahead of possible US-Russia negotiations. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in Dublin, said there is now a better opportunity to end the war and expressed hope for a clear message from Washington following any Putin-Witkoff meeting. Zelensky also reiterated his willingness to meet former US President Donald Trump, depending on the outcome of the Moscow talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he seeks a complete end to the war with Russia, not a temporary pause, and warned against any 'secret games' in peace negotiations. Speaking at a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, Zelensky emphasized that the current moment offers the best opportunity yet to end the conflict. His comments come as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visit Russia for talks on ending the war, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet met them. Putin, meanwhile, rejected European peace proposals as unacceptable and accused European leaders of obstructing U.S.-led peace efforts, warning that Russia is ready if Europe wants war. Zelensky said he awaits direct messages from the U.S. following Putin’s meeting and remains open to talks with Donald Trump, depending on Moscow’s discussions. He noted that territorial issues and frozen Russian assets remain key challenges.

The White House has confirmed that the US Navy has been authorized to conduct a second round of strikes on drug-carrying vessels linked to Venezuela. Admiral Frank Bradley approved the new operation following authorization from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt stated that the actions were taken within legal boundaries and denied claims that the strikes were intended to kill. The first attack caused an explosion on one vessel, leaving two survivors. Bipartisan lawmakers in Congress have expressed concern and announced a review of the military operations. Levitt added that President Donald Trump and Hegseth consider drug-trafficking groups supported by Venezuela’s leadership as legitimate wartime targets under international law. The US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, targeting suspected drug boats near Venezuela and Colombia since September, with over 80 reported deaths. The Trump administration maintains that the operations are part of anti-narcotics and self-defense efforts.

Benin, once a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade, has introduced a new citizenship initiative called 'My Afro Origins' to reconnect descendants of enslaved Africans with their ancestral homeland. The program grants citizenship to people whose forebears were taken from Benin and surrounding regions as slaves, aiming to foster reconciliation and cultural revival. In July 2024, American singer Lauryn Hill and entrepreneur-filmmaker Tonya Lewis Lee received Beninese citizenship, while Lee and her husband, filmmaker Spike Lee, were appointed as ambassadors to the African-American community. The initiative seeks both symbolic healing and practical benefits, such as attracting talent, investment, and tourism. Experts note that while Benin’s past as part of the Dahomey Kingdom’s slave trade remains painful, the country is now using cultural diplomacy and heritage tourism to rebuild ties with the African diaspora. The government hopes this effort will promote unity, economic growth, and a shared sense of identity among Africans worldwide.

A full delegation of all 15 United Nations Security Council member states will visit Syria and Lebanon this week, marking the Council’s first Middle East mission in six years. The visit, led by Slovenia, comes as the country assumes the Council presidency for December. Slovenian UN envoy Samuel Žbogar said the trip aims to rebuild trust with Syrians following years of disillusionment and to clarify the Council’s expectations regarding inclusive governance and counterterrorism efforts. The visit also coincides with the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s government collapse in December 2024, which ended decades of Ba’ath Party rule. Žbogar added that the delegation will encourage dialogue among Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and neighboring states amid recent regional tensions. During Slovenia’s presidency, the Council will also hold an open debate titled “Leadership of Peace” and special sessions on Afghanistan, Palestine, and Ukraine throughout December.

At least 40 people were killed in an airstrike carried out by the South Sudanese army in the southern Kordofan region on Saturday, November 30. The attack struck a nursing school in the village of Komo, according to local residents and human rights group Emergency Lawyers. Witnesses reported that dozens of students and civilians were among the dead, with villagers burying more than 40 bodies. A military official, speaking anonymously, denied that the army targets civilians, though similar accusations have persisted since the conflict began in April 2023. The Sudanese army continues to battle the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North for control of key areas in Darfur and South Kordofan. The United Nations reports that around 5,000 people were displaced from small villages in South Kordofan in November alone, as the war has already killed hundreds of thousands and displaced over 12 million people nationwide.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources has denied issuing any list of 25 recruiting agencies authorized to send Bangladeshi workers under the calling visa system, calling the viral social media posts baseless. The ministry confirmed that no such notice or document exists on official government websites or announcements. Past discussions on agency-based recruitment have been replaced by Malaysia’s new digital and transparent hiring system, which includes e-visa and online verification processes. The Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur also urged job seekers to rely only on official information released through government channels and warned against paying money or submitting passports to unauthorized agents. Experts said the spread of fake lists is a tactic by brokers exploiting uncertainty to defraud applicants. They emphasized that both governments must strengthen monitoring and public awareness to prevent misinformation and protect migrant workers from financial and legal risks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a frontline command center to assess the progress of Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the visit took place on Sunday night, November 30, where Putin received detailed reports on the liberation efforts in Krasnoparmeisk in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Volchansk in the Kharkiv region. During the visit, Putin held a meeting with senior military officials, including Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Battle Group Center Commander Valery Solodchuk, and Battle Group East Commander Andrei Ivanayev. Gerasimov briefed the president on recent territorial gains and current offensive operations, while Solodchuk reported that Russian forces had gained control of the southern part of Dimitrov city. The high-level briefing is being viewed as a significant strategic assessment amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss a potential framework for ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting follows leaked reports of a 28-point U.S. peace proposal that drew criticism from Ukraine and European allies for allegedly favoring Moscow’s demands, including territorial concessions and military restrictions on Kyiv. In response, European nations presented a counterproposal, while Washington and Kyiv jointly drafted a revised peace framework. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting but declined to disclose Russia’s negotiation ‘red lines.’ Putin has reiterated his willingness to negotiate but warned that if Ukraine rejects compromise, Russian forces will continue advancing. Russian troops currently control over 19 percent of Ukrainian territory, with recent gains in Pokrovsk and Vovchansk. The war has caused more than 1.2 million casualties, according to U.S. estimates.

At least 12 people have died and 25 others were injured after two boats sank in the Iparía River port in Peru’s central Ucayali region following a landslide. Local authorities reported that around 40 to 50 people remain missing. The incident occurred in the Amazon jungle area when a sudden landslide caused the anchored boats to submerge. Rescue teams, including the navy, are continuing search operations while families of the missing have gathered at the site. Captain Jonathan Novoa confirmed that nine bodies have been recovered so far. Images broadcast by local media showed luggage and goods floating in the river as distressed residents ran along the riverbank. Officials are working to determine the exact number of passengers on board and to identify the victims. The cause of the landslide is under investigation, and emergency services remain on high alert in the affected region.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani Baghaei has accused the United States of being the greatest threat to international security due to its coercive behavior and global interventions. During a weekly press briefing, Baghaei highlighted recent diplomatic engagements with delegations from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea in Tehran. He also condemned Israel, calling it the main source of instability in the region, and cited repeated ceasefire violations in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza that have resulted in civilian casualties. Baghaei further criticized Washington’s interference in Latin American and African nations, including Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa. He described U.S. actions such as airspace restrictions as unprecedented and contrary to international aviation norms. The spokesperson accused the United States of complicity in Israeli crimes through its unconditional support and urged the UN Security Council to treat these actions as violations of international peace and security.

US President Donald Trump has cautioned Israel not to interfere in Syria’s internal affairs, calling for a 'strong and genuine dialogue' between the two nations. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that no actions should obstruct Syria’s progress toward becoming a prosperous state. His remarks came shortly after Israel reportedly launched new airstrikes inside Syria, killing 13 people near Damascus. The newly formed Syrian government condemned the attacks as 'war crimes,' accusing Israel of deliberate shelling in the Beit Jinn area. Although Trump did not directly mention the Israeli strikes, he expressed satisfaction with the new Syrian administration led by President Ahmed al-Sharar, who replaced Bashar al-Assad last December. Trump praised al-Sharar’s commitment to national unity after years of civil war and reiterated US support for Syria’s development and stability.

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.