Pakistan’s army and the United Arab Emirates’ Presidential Guard have completed a two-week joint anti-terrorism exercise named 'Zalmud-1' in Tarbela, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The drill primarily focused on hostage rescue operations and enhancing counterterrorism coordination between the two forces. According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), units from Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG) and the UAE Presidential Guard participated in the exercise. The closing ceremony was attended by the SSG’s General Officer Commanding as the chief guest, along with senior Emirati military officials and diplomats. The exercise aimed to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and improve joint operational capabilities in counterterrorism missions.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that two suicide bombers involved in recent attacks across the country were Afghan nationals. Speaking in parliament, Naqvi confirmed several arrests linked to the incidents. One attack occurred at the entrance of Islamabad’s district court complex, killing at least 12 and injuring over 30. Another took place at a cadet college in South Waziristan near the Afghan border, involving a car bomb. Authorities have detained seven suspects in Rawalpindi and conducted operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply deteriorated, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, a claim Afghanistan denies. Pakistan’s defense minister warned that the country might strike targets inside Afghanistan following the recent violence.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on 32 individuals and entities from several countries, including India, targeting networks that support Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. According to the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the sanctioned parties are based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine. Washington accuses these networks of aiding Iran’s weapons production capabilities. Tehran, however, insists its missile and drone programs are purely defensive and that its nuclear activities are peaceful. The move comes amid indirect talks between Tehran and Washington and follows recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran, which Tehran has denounced as violations of international law.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 1,000 migrants have died in 2025 while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, marking a grim milestone in one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The latest tragedy occurred off Libya’s coast, where an inflatable boat carrying 49 people capsized near the Al Buri Oil Field after departing from Zuwara. Only seven men survived, while 42 others, mostly from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria, are presumed dead. The IOM provided emergency aid to survivors and reiterated its call for stronger regional cooperation, safer migration pathways, and improved search and rescue operations to prevent further loss of life. The agency warned that the death toll continues to rise with each new incident.

The United States has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran, targeting individuals and entities allegedly involved in supporting the country’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said 32 people and organizations across Iran, the UAE, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine have been sanctioned. Washington accuses these networks of aiding Iran’s weapons development, while Tehran maintains that its missile and drone programs are purely defensive and its nuclear activities are peaceful. The move underscores ongoing tensions between the two nations over Iran’s military capabilities and regional influence.

Iran commemorated the 14th death anniversary of Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, widely regarded as the father of the country’s missile program. Born in 1959 in Tehran, Moghaddam played a pivotal role during the Iran-Iraq War in developing Iran’s indigenous missile capabilities. As a key figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he led the creation of the artillery and missile units that later produced Iran’s first domestically made missiles. Under his leadership, Iran developed the Shahab and Zelzal series, laying the foundation for modern Iranian missile technology. Moghaddam also assisted in establishing Hezbollah’s first missile unit in Lebanon. He was killed in a 2011 explosion at a military base near Tehran, along with 16 colleagues, and was buried with state honors. His legacy continues to shape Iran’s defense and aerospace ambitions.

At least 37 people were killed when a passenger bus plunged into a ravine in the Arequipa region of southern Peru, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The accident occurred on the Panamericana Sur highway near the Ocoña district. According to Arequipa’s regional health chief, Walther Oporto, 36 people died at the scene and one more succumbed to injuries in hospital. The bus reportedly collided with a van before veering off the road and falling into the ravine. Rescue teams and firefighters responded quickly, and 26 injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals, three of whom are in critical condition. The Arequipa regional government said it is providing medical assistance to the victims, while an initial highway patrol report confirmed at least 16 deaths before the full toll was verified.

Germany has deployed a team of unarmed police officers to the Palestinian territories as part of its long-term efforts to strengthen local security institutions and promote stability in the Middle East. According to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the officers, stationed in Jerusalem, will assist in restructuring and training Palestinian police and security forces through the Office for Security Cooperation (OSC). The four-member team arrived about two weeks ago and is expanding Germany’s ongoing support program that has been active for over 15 years. Dobrindt emphasized that an effective police force is essential for achieving lasting peace in the region. The move reflects Germany’s continued commitment to peacebuilding and institutional development in the Palestinian territories amid ongoing regional tensions.

A BBC Verify analysis of satellite imagery has revealed that Israeli forces destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in Gaza after a ceasefire with Hamas began on October 10. The images, taken up to November 8, show widespread destruction in areas under Israeli control, raising concerns that the actions may violate ceasefire terms brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Experts suggest the actual number of destroyed buildings could be higher. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maintain that their operations comply with the ceasefire framework. The ceasefire, based on a 20-point peace plan, was supposed to halt all military actions, including air and artillery strikes. However, visual analysis indicates continued large-scale demolitions in Gaza, particularly around eastern Khan Younis, where previously undamaged residential areas now appear destroyed.

The United States has imposed sanctions on five officials and three entities based in Myanmar and Thailand for their alleged involvement in online investment scams and forced labor operations. According to US government data, Americans lost at least $10 billion to Southeast Asia-based online fraud schemes in 2024, marking a 66% increase from the previous year. Washington said these criminal networks increasingly target US citizens online, posing a serious threat to the nation’s economic security. The sanctions reinforce efforts by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI, and the Secret Service’s Scam Center Strike Force to investigate and prosecute scam networks operating in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. The US reaffirmed its commitment to using all legal and diplomatic tools to protect its citizens from cyber fraud.

According to a recent UNHCR report, Bangladesh has received 136,000 new Rohingya refugees between December last year and October this year, bringing the total registered refugee population to 1.168 million as of October 31. The influx is linked to intensified violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where clashes between the junta forces and the Arakan Army have displaced thousands. The UNHCR noted that 78% of the new arrivals are women and children, and 12% are persons with disabilities. Refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, already overcrowded, are facing severe space shortages and environmental strain. Local authorities warn that continued arrivals and reduced aid could worsen conditions in the region, which hosts 34 camps including those in Ukhiya, Teknaf, and Bhasan Char.