The United States has seized a large fuel tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced at a White House press conference on Wednesday, December 10. Trump described the vessel as one of the largest tankers ever captured and said further details would be released later. The operation was reportedly led by the US Coast Guard, according to Reuters, citing three American officials familiar with the matter.

The seizure comes as Washington intensifies its maritime presence in the Caribbean, citing anti-narcotics operations. Over recent months, US forces have conducted multiple strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in international waters between Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in more than 80 deaths since early September. The Trump administration maintains that these actions are part of its self-defense and anti-drug efforts.

Venezuelan authorities, however, accuse Washington of using such operations as a pretext to destabilize President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The incident underscores escalating geopolitical friction in the region, with potential implications for US–Venezuela relations and regional security dynamics.

At least 19 people were killed and 16 others injured when two adjacent four-story buildings collapsed early Wednesday in the historic city of Fez, Morocco, according to state media reports. The incident occurred in the Al-Mustaqbal district, where eight families lived in the two structures. Emergency teams, including local authorities, security forces, and civil protection units, quickly launched search and rescue operations.

State broadcaster SNRT reported that the buildings had visible cracks and were in a state of long-term neglect. Despite known structural risks, local authorities reportedly failed to take preventive measures. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the extent of the damage, and the Interior Ministry did not immediately comment.

The collapse comes two months after protests in Fez over deteriorating living conditions and inadequate public services. The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of Morocco’s urban safety standards, particularly in aging neighborhoods of major cities, where maintenance and enforcement remain inconsistent.

Malaysian immigration authorities have arrested 56 undocumented migrants, including several Bangladeshis, during two separate operations across Terengganu state. The raids, conducted in five districts, primarily targeted construction sites. In the first operation, held on December 10, officers inspected seven sites in Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, and Setiu, checking the documents of 92 workers. Forty-two Bangladeshis were detained for various visa and documentation irregularities under the Immigration Act 1952/63.

According to Terengganu Immigration Director Mohamad Yusri Mohamad Nor, 27 individuals were charged with violating permit conditions, 13 lacked valid travel documents, and two overstayed their visas. All detainees were transferred to the Ajil Immigration Depot for further legal proceedings. In a second operation across Kuala Terengganu, Marang, and Dungun, authorities arrested 14 more migrants—five each from Bangladesh and Indonesia, three from Thailand, and one from Myanmar, aged between 23 and 49.

Officials stated that enforcement against undocumented migrants will continue, reflecting Malaysia’s ongoing crackdown on illegal labor amid rising concerns over labor rights and documentation compliance.

Nineteen fishermen from Bhola, Bangladesh, returned home on Wednesday after spending 95 days in Indian custody. They were detained by the Indian Coast Guard in September when their fishing trawler drifted into Indian waters during a storm. The release took place under a bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and India, with both countries exchanging detained fishermen through their respective coast guards at the maritime boundary.

According to Bangladesh Coast Guard officials, India handed over 32 Bangladeshi fishermen, including the 19 from Bhola, while Bangladesh released 47 Indian fishermen. Local authorities confirmed that the Bhola fishermen were received at Mongla Port and later reunited with their families. Officials said the process was expedited through diplomatic coordination and administrative support.

The incident had left the fishermen’s families in severe hardship, as many relied solely on the detained men’s income. Local administration and fisheries officials provided food aid during their absence. The exchange underscores ongoing cooperation between Dhaka and New Delhi on maritime issues and humanitarian repatriation.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, will not attend the award ceremony in Oslo due to her ongoing self-imposed exile and legal risks in her home country. The Nobel Institute confirmed that her daughter, Ana Corina Machado, will accept the prize and read a prepared statement on her behalf during Wednesday’s ceremony.

Machado has remained in exile since August last year after clashing with President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Venezuela’s attorney general warned that the 58-year-old politician would be considered a fugitive if she left the country to collect the award, raising fears of arrest upon her return. The Nobel Institute’s director, Kristian Berg Harpviken, said he had no information about Machado’s current location.

The ceremony, attended by leaders from Argentina and other Latin American nations, highlights the political tensions surrounding Venezuela’s disputed 2024 election. Western governments, including the United States, have questioned the legitimacy of Maduro’s victory and expressed support for Machado’s pro-democracy stance.

Japan confirmed that Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted a joint long-range patrol around its airspace on Tuesday, prompting Tokyo to scramble fighter jets for monitoring. The Japanese Defense Ministry reported that two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers flew from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea, joining two Chinese H-6 bombers before proceeding into the Pacific Ocean. Later, four Chinese J-16 fighters joined the formation near Okinawa and Miyako islands.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the operation as a clear show of force against Japan and a serious concern for national security. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the joint flight lasted eight hours, while South Korea also detected several Russian and Chinese aircraft entering its air defense identification zone. The patrol follows an incident where Chinese carrier-based jets allegedly targeted Japanese aircraft with radar.

The coordinated patrol underscores deepening China-Russia military cooperation amid regional tensions over Taiwan and maritime boundaries. Analysts warn that such maneuvers could heighten the risk of miscalculation in the Indo-Pacific.

A Russian military cargo aircraft crashed near Moscow on Tuesday, killing all seven people on board, including the pilot. The incident occurred in the Ivanovo region, about 200 kilometers from the capital, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. The aircraft, identified as an AN-22 military transport plane, went down shortly after takeoff during a test flight following engine repairs.

The Defense Ministry stated that the plane crashed in an uninhabited area, preventing further casualties or damage on the ground. Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft experienced technical difficulties before the crash. A special commission has been formed to investigate the cause of the accident, and recovery operations are underway at the crash site.

The AN-22 model, one of the largest turboprop transport aircraft in the Russian military fleet, has been in service for decades. The incident raises renewed concerns about the aging condition of Russia’s military transport fleet and the safety of its maintenance procedures.

Bangladesh has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Italian defense manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A. to procure Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat aircraft for the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). The signing took place on December 9 at the Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka, marking a major step toward modernizing the country’s aerial defense capabilities.

The ceremony was attended by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, and senior military and civilian officials from both nations. According to the BAF, the Eurofighter Typhoons will eventually join the force’s frontline fleet, enhancing its operational range and combat readiness. The initiative aligns with Bangladesh’s long-term defense modernization plan.

Earlier this year, the government had formed an 11-member committee led by the Air Chief to evaluate fighter jet options, including China’s J-10 aircraft. The Typhoon deal signals Dhaka’s strategic diversification in defense procurement and could strengthen bilateral defense ties with Italy and the European Union.

A 99-member contingent of the Bangladesh Navy has departed Dhaka to join the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) as part of the Bangladesh Force Marine Unit-11. The team left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on December 9, replacing Marine Unit-10. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), another group of 39 naval personnel will follow on December 19 to complete the deployment.

Under UN directives, Bangladesh’s naval peacekeepers are tasked with ensuring the safe movement of barges carrying fuel, food, medicine, and humanitarian aid in remote areas of South Sudan. They also monitor and control river piracy, assist local communities in firefighting, and provide rescue and logistical support to both military and civilian operations.

For over three decades, the Bangladesh Navy has played an active role in global peacekeeping, contributing to missions in conflict zones worldwide. Its continued participation in UNMISS and other maritime operations, such as in Lebanon’s Mediterranean Task Force, has significantly enhanced Bangladesh’s international reputation for professionalism and humanitarian commitment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly ruled out any territorial concessions to Russia, as Kyiv prepares to submit a revised peace proposal to the United States. Speaking at a joint press conference with European and NATO leaders, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s constitution, national laws, and international norms do not allow the surrender of any part of its territory. He added that any border changes would require a national referendum.

The move follows reports that Kyiv rejected a proposal discussed during a recent secret meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian officials. Zelensky met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at Downing Street, where leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine and called for a “just and lasting peace.”

Zelensky’s ongoing European tour includes meetings with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Meanwhile, Moscow described its talks with Washington as “constructive,” though no policy shift was evident. Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Zelensky, claiming he is the main obstacle to a peace deal.

A new investigation by the Sudan Witness Project has found that at least 1,700 civilians were killed in airstrikes carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since the civil conflict began in April 2023. The report, based on analysis of 384 verified air attacks through July 2025, documents bombings in residential areas, markets, hospitals, and schools, with more than 1,120 others injured. The SAF denies deliberately targeting civilians, claiming its operations focus only on legitimate military objectives.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused by the United States of genocide in Darfur, lack air power but have increasingly used drones. Project director Mark Snoeck said evidence suggests SAF failed to take adequate measures to avoid civilian casualties. The British Foreign Office condemned the attacks as showing “unacceptable disregard for civilian safety.”

Analysts warn that both sides face growing allegations of war crimes as air and drone strikes intensify. Despite heavy civilian losses, neither faction has achieved significant military gains, raising fears of a prolonged humanitarian disaster.

Turkey and Hungary on Monday signed 16 agreements covering aviation, security, technology, culture, and education, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen bilateral relations. The signing took place in Istanbul during the seventh Turkey-Hungary High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Erdoğan stated that the two nations are on track to reach their $6 billion trade target and are considering raising it to $10 billion. The leaders also agreed to form a joint planning group, led by their foreign ministries, to coordinate responses to bilateral and global challenges. Erdoğan highlighted ongoing defense industry cooperation and joint production projects amid Europe’s shifting security landscape.

Both leaders discussed regional issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East tensions. Erdoğan expressed confidence that Hungary would continue supporting Turkey’s goal of full European Union membership. The agreements are expected to enhance economic and strategic collaboration between Ankara and Budapest in the coming years.

On December 9, the Russia-Ukraine war entered its 1,384th day with renewed hostilities across multiple regions. Russian attacks killed four civilians in Donetsk and left 12 wounded in Sumy, where drone strikes caused widespread power outages. Ukrainian forces retaliated with drone operations in Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia, disrupting electricity for thousands. Both sides reported territorial gains, while Russian authorities temporarily closed several southern airports amid drone warnings.

Diplomatic efforts continued as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met leaders from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in London to discuss a revised 20-point peace proposal. He later held talks in Brussels with EU and NATO leaders, emphasizing coordinated support for Ukraine’s security. European leaders reiterated that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be upheld and its defence strengthened as part of Europe’s long-term stability.

Meanwhile, Kyiv faces a funding shortfall of about $800 million for planned U.S. weapons purchases. The Netherlands pledged an additional €700 million in military aid for early 2026, while the UK announced £17 million for green energy projects in Ukraine. The International Court of Justice ruled that Russia’s counterclaims in the genocide case are admissible, marking a new phase in the legal battle.

Latvia is witnessing a striking gender imbalance, with women outnumbering men by more than 15 percent—three times the European average. The shortage of men has led many Latvian women to seek temporary male companionship or assistance through 'husband-for-hire' services. These services provide men for household repairs, companionship, or even short-term social engagements, reflecting a growing social adaptation to demographic realities.

Experts attribute the imbalance to lower male life expectancy, driven by high smoking rates and lifestyle-related health issues. Studies show that 31 percent of Latvian men smoke excessively, compared to just 10 percent of women, contributing to higher mortality and fewer men in the workforce. The imbalance is particularly pronounced among older populations, where women outnumber men nearly three to one.

The rise of such services highlights both economic opportunity and social concern. While some see it as a pragmatic solution, demographers warn that Latvia’s gender gap could deepen labor shortages and reshape family structures in the coming decades.

European allies of Ukraine have agreed to step up military and economic support for Kyiv, describing the war against Russia as being at a “critical moment,” according to a statement from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to present a 20-point peace proposal, building on a 28-point plan introduced by US President Donald Trump last month. Zelenskyy met with leaders from France, Germany, and the UK in London before continuing to Brussels and Rome for further talks with EU, NATO, and Italian officials.

The diplomatic push comes amid growing friction between Kyiv and Washington, with Trump publicly criticizing Zelenskyy for allegedly ignoring US-backed proposals. Meanwhile, the Kremlin welcomed aspects of the new US national security strategy, which it said aligns with Russia’s views on NATO and European politics. On the ground, Russian forces continued their offensive, claiming new territorial gains in Donetsk and Zaporizhia while Ukrainian officials reported civilian casualties in multiple regions.

Analysts say the intensified diplomacy underscores both the urgency and complexity of ending the conflict, as Western nations balance pressure on Moscow with calls for a negotiated settlement.