Hamas has announced it will hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority once Israel ends its occupation of Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, head of the group’s negotiation team, made the statement on Saturday, emphasizing that Hamas maintains arms solely due to ongoing occupation and aggression. He clarified that the weapons would be surrendered to a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.

Al-Hayya added that Hamas accepts the deployment of a United Nations force to monitor the ceasefire and oversee border surveillance but rejects any international mission aimed solely at disarming Hamas. The announcement comes amid continuing Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire declared on October 10, which has resulted in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across Gaza.

Meanwhile, leaders of Muslim-majority nations have opposed unilateral plans to open the Rafah border for transferring Palestinians into Egypt, urging instead for both sides of the crossing to reopen under previous agreements. They also called for reconstruction efforts to take place within Palestinian territories, reaffirming support for Palestinian sovereignty.

Malaysian authorities have detained 843 undocumented migrants, including 79 Bangladeshis, during a large-scale enforcement operation in Selayang Baru, Selangor. The raid, coordinated by the Selangor State Security Council on December 6, involved multiple agencies including the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysia Police, and National Anti-Drug Agency. Officials inspected the documents of 1,116 individuals and arrested those found violating immigration laws.

According to state officials, the detainees include nationals from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India, aged between 21 and 53. They face charges of lacking identification, overstaying, and using forged documents. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the operation followed public complaints about illegal businesses and overcrowding by foreign nationals. He warned employers against hiring undocumented workers, emphasizing that violators will face legal action.

Authorities confirmed that similar operations had been conducted earlier in Seri Muda and Selangor Wholesale Market areas. The crackdown will continue under Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, and Anti-Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated that any ceasefire agreement in Gaza will remain incomplete without addressing the situation in the West Bank. Speaking at the Doha Forum 2025, he emphasized that Qatar views regional stability as integral to its national security and prefers diplomacy, investment, and strategic partnerships over military influence.

Al Thani highlighted Qatar’s role as a mediator in regional conflicts, maintaining open communication with all parties to ensure sustainable peace. He noted that since 2013, Qatar’s progress has stemmed from its engagement with diverse stakeholders. The prime minister also underscored the need to tackle the root causes of the Israel-Palestine conflict, including Palestinian national aspirations and reconstruction of Gaza.

Qatar, along with Turkey, Egypt, and the United States, is currently guiding the next phase of the ceasefire process. The statement comes amid ongoing Israeli attacks that have killed over 70,000 people in Gaza since October 2023, despite the ceasefire agreement brokered in October 2024.

At least seven people were killed and eleven others injured when a passenger bus collided with a truck on the Adana-Gaziantep highway in southern Turkey early Saturday, according to local authorities. The crash occurred about 90 kilometers west of Gaziantep, causing severe damage to the front of the bus.

The governor’s office confirmed that all victims were passengers on the bus, and identification efforts are ongoing. State news agency Anadolu reported that the bus’s tire burst after hitting the truck. The truck driver survived the incident and has been detained for questioning. Police temporarily closed the highway to clear the wreckage and investigate the cause.

Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the collision, though early reports suggest driver error or mechanical failure may be factors. Road safety remains a major concern in Turkey, where fatal traffic accidents occur frequently despite ongoing government efforts to improve highway conditions.

At least 23 people were killed after a devastating fire broke out at a popular nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, around midnight on Saturday. The blaze, which reportedly started due to a gas cylinder explosion, engulfed the venue known as 'Birch by Romeo Lane'. Among the victims were several tourists, and officials confirmed that three people died from burns while others succumbed to smoke inhalation.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the tragedy early Sunday, calling it a painful day for the state. He visited the site and ordered a detailed investigation, promising strict legal action against those found responsible. Police Director General Alok Kumar said all bodies had been recovered and the fire was brought under control.

The incident has raised concerns over fire safety compliance at entertainment venues in tourist-heavy regions like Goa. Authorities are expected to review safety regulations and inspection protocols in the coming days to prevent similar disasters.

A devastating fire at a restaurant in Huancané, a town in Peru’s Andean Puno region near the Bolivian border, killed ten university students and injured three others. The victims, aged between 17 and 23, were attending a birthday celebration when the blaze broke out on Thursday afternoon, according to police reports released Friday.

Authorities said the students were trapped on the second floor of the Kalma Tripa restaurant, a structure made of wood and brick. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames using fire extinguishers and water before firefighters arrived from Juliaca, nearly an hour later. Huancané’s mayor, Valerio Tapia, told state news agency Andina that the town of 20,000 residents has no fire service of its own.

Preliminary investigations suggest a gas cylinder explosion may have triggered the fire. Experts note that such incidents are frequent in Peru’s remote regions, where safety regulations on fuel storage are often poorly enforced. The tragedy has renewed calls for improved fire safety infrastructure in rural Andean towns.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured India of a steady and uninterrupted energy supply, disregarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff pressures. Speaking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Putin criticized Washington’s stance, questioning the logic of restricting India’s energy imports from Russia while the U.S. itself continues to purchase Russian nuclear fuel.

Putin highlighted the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant as a flagship project of Russia-India cooperation, noting that two of its six reactor units are already connected to the power grid. He expressed optimism that the plant, once fully operational, would significantly bolster India’s energy capacity and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

The assurance comes amid heightened U.S.-India trade tensions, with Trump imposing 50% tariffs on most Indian goods and accusing New Delhi of indirectly funding the Ukraine war through Russian oil purchases—an allegation India firmly denies. Putin concluded his two-day visit to India on Friday, emphasizing long-term energy collaboration between Moscow and New Delhi.

The world’s tallest hotel, ‘Ciel Dubai,’ has officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, marking a new milestone in global luxury hospitality. Standing 377 meters tall with 82 floors, the skyscraper hotel was developed by The First Group and will be operated by InterContinental Hotels Group under its Vignette Collection brand. The property features 1,004 rooms and suites, offering panoramic views of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah and Marina districts.

Room rates start at 1,310 dirhams (around $357) per night, while premium suites cost up to 2,400 dirhams. The hotel’s design emphasizes natural light and open spaces, with a rooftop observation deck providing 360-degree city views. Industry analysts note that the launch reinforces Dubai’s position as a global tourism and architectural hub.

Ciel Dubai’s debut comes amid a surge in high-end hospitality projects across the region, reflecting strong post-pandemic tourism recovery and continued investor confidence in the UAE’s luxury travel sector.

India announced it will soon introduce a 30-day free e-tourist visa and group tourist visa for Russian citizens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen cultural and people-to-people connections between the two countries.

Modi emphasized that the new visa policy reflects the importance of direct engagement between citizens in deepening bilateral relations. He also noted the recent opening of two new Indian consulates in Russia, which are expected to facilitate easier communication and promote cooperation in trade, education, science, and culture. The move follows growing efforts by both nations to expand collaboration beyond defense and energy sectors.

Analysts view the free visa scheme as a strategic gesture to attract Russian tourists amid global travel realignments. It may also enhance India’s soft power and economic ties with Russia, especially as both countries seek to diversify partnerships in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

The United States has urged European allies to assume primary responsibility for NATO’s conventional defense by 2027, according to multiple diplomatic sources. During a recent meeting in Washington, Pentagon officials delivered what participants described as a firm message, warning that failure to meet the target could lead to reduced U.S. participation in certain NATO coordination structures. European diplomats reportedly viewed the timeline as unrealistic, citing limited progress since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Officials said the Pentagon has not clarified how it will measure Europe’s progress, and uncertainty remains over whether the 2027 deadline reflects the Trump administration’s formal policy or internal Pentagon sentiment. European nations argue that replacing U.S. intelligence and surveillance capabilities within three years is impractical, given production backlogs and long delivery times for military equipment. NATO’s spokesperson acknowledged ongoing European efforts to strengthen defense but confirmed no official alliance deadline. The debate underscores Washington’s long-standing pressure on Europe to increase defense spending, a theme revived in the 2024 U.S. election context.

Analysts warn that diverging expectations could strain transatlantic unity, especially as NATO faces persistent security challenges from Russia and global instability.

Pakistan’s military announced that nine suspected India-backed militants were killed in separate counterterrorism operations in the Tank and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on December 6 that the raids were launched following intelligence reports about militant presence in the area.

According to the ISPR, seven militants were killed during an operation in Tank, while two others died in Lakki Marwat. Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the sites. The military described the slain individuals as being involved in multiple attacks against security personnel, law enforcement agencies, and civilians.

Authorities said a “sanitization operation” is ongoing to eliminate any remaining India-supported militants in the region. The incident underscores Pakistan’s continued struggle with cross-border militancy and its efforts to maintain stability in its northwestern border areas.

Canada has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, marking a significant diplomatic shift. The announcement came on Friday, December 5, with Global Affairs Canada stating that Syria’s interim government is working toward national stability and reconstruction. The decision follows similar moves by the United States and the United Kingdom, signaling a coordinated Western reassessment of Syria’s political trajectory.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Canada welcomes Syria’s steps toward a peaceful political transition and reaffirmed support for the Syrian people’s pursuit of an inclusive and prosperous future. The ministry emphasized that Syria has been cooperating with global partners to maintain regional stability and combat terrorism.

Syria was first designated as a terrorism-supporting state in 2012 under President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. The policy reversal coincides with a recent visit by representatives of all 15 UN Security Council member states to Syria, suggesting renewed international engagement with Damascus and potential openings for broader diplomatic normalization.

Russia’s special envoy Rodion Miroshnik stated that more than 41,000 civilians have been killed or injured in Ukrainian attacks since the conflict began in 2014. According to his remarks to the state news agency RIA Novosti, over 13,000 civilians, including 237 children, have died, and about 28,000 have been wounded. The casualties reportedly occurred across Russian territory and the Donbas region, where shelling has persisted for years.

The statement comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to explore a potential settlement to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Multiple US sources confirmed that discussions between American and Ukrainian delegations are underway in Miami, focusing on former US President Donald Trump’s 28-point draft peace plan. Ukrainian National Security Adviser Rustem Umerov and Chief of Staff General Andrii Hnatov are leading Kyiv’s team, while the US side includes special envoy Steven Witkoff and Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner.

The talks are expected to continue through the weekend, with territorial and border issues reportedly still under consideration as part of a possible framework for de-escalation.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has vowed a retaliatory response after a Ukrainian drone strike targeted a high-rise building in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. The incident, which occurred on November 5, caused damage to the building’s facade but resulted in no casualties. Kadyrov announced that Chechen forces would launch counterstrikes on Ukrainian military installations within the next week.

In a Telegram post cited by Russian news agency TASS, Kadyrov condemned the attack as a cowardly act, calling it militarily meaningless. He emphasized that Chechen forces would not target civilians but would instead focus on what he described as the “neo-Nazi” military and terrorist infrastructure of Ukraine. The statement underscores Chechnya’s continued alignment with Moscow’s military campaign against Kyiv.

The threat of retaliation adds a new dimension to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting the involvement of regional actors like Chechnya. Analysts warn that such escalations could further complicate peace efforts and expand the scope of hostilities beyond the main frontlines.

Israel’s military has reported an unprecedented rise in suicides among its soldiers since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023. According to official data released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the number of suicides has sharply increased each year since the conflict started, reflecting a growing mental health emergency within the ranks.

Between October and December 2023, seven active soldiers took their own lives. The figure rose to 21 in 2024, and at least 20 more suicides have been recorded in early 2025. Before the war, the annual average was around 12 cases, meaning the rate has nearly doubled. Analysts and mental health experts attribute the surge to prolonged combat exposure, traumatic battlefield experiences, and sustained psychological stress.

The findings have sparked debate within Israel about the adequacy of mental health support for soldiers and the long-term human cost of the Gaza conflict. Military officials are reportedly reviewing counseling programs and considering expanded psychological services to address the crisis.