Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed readiness to work under a US-backed 28-point plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. His office confirmed receiving a draft of the proposal and said Zelensky will soon discuss it with US President Donald Trump. The plan, reportedly crafted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, may require Ukraine to cede control of parts of eastern territories to Russia in exchange for long-term security guarantees from the United States. While the White House has described the plan as fair to both sides, several European allies, including France and Poland, have voiced concern that it could favor Moscow’s interests. EU foreign ministers emphasized that any peace must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and not amount to surrender. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the notion of ongoing negotiations, saying only limited information exchanges are taking place. With Ukrainian forces retreating in the east, Zelensky faces growing pressure to consider diplomatic options.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has presented a 28-point proposal aimed at ending the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. The plan emphasizes Ukraine’s sovereignty, a non-aggression pact among Russia, Ukraine, and Europe, and a freeze on NATO expansion. It proposes U.S.-mediated Russia–NATO dialogue to reduce tensions, security guarantees for Ukraine, and restrictions on its military size. Ukraine would pledge not to join NATO, while NATO would commit not to offer membership. The plan includes recognition of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk as Russian territories, gradual lifting of sanctions, and reintegration of Russia into the global economy, including a return to the G8. It also outlines joint U.S.–Russia reconstruction projects, nuclear arms control extensions, and humanitarian exchanges. A 100-day Ukrainian election, general amnesty, and a Trump-led ‘Peace Council’ to oversee implementation are also proposed. The plan has sparked global debate over its feasibility and fairness.

UNICEF has reported that deadly violence against children continues in Gaza even after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on October 10. According to spokesperson Ricardo Pires, at least 67 Palestinian children have been killed and many more injured since the truce began, averaging nearly two child deaths per day. He emphasized that Gaza remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for children, with ongoing threats from violence, explosive remnants, and insecurity. Save the Children also released data showing that last year saw a record 12,000 children killed or injured in global conflicts, the highest since 2006 and 42% higher than in 2020. UNICEF warns that children in Gaza face severe shortages of healthcare, clean water, shelter, and education, while sporadic clashes continue to worsen the humanitarian crisis despite the ceasefire.

An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing the pilot. Videos circulating online showed the aircraft hitting the ground and exploding, sending thick black smoke into the sky. The Dubai Media Office confirmed the incident, stating that emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene. The crash occurred shortly after 2 p.m. local time. The Indian Air Force expressed deep sorrow over the loss and announced the formation of a court of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to lose altitude rapidly before impact, leaving the pilot no time to eject. The Dubai Airshow, one of the world’s largest aviation events, was concluding on Friday, with around 150,000 visitors expected to attend over its duration. The tragic crash cast a shadow over the event’s final day.

Israeli forces have reportedly advanced further inside Gaza City, breaching the ceasefire agreement by expanding the so-called 'Yellow Line' boundary by about 300 meters, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. The move has trapped numerous Palestinian families in areas such as Ash-Shaf, An-Najjaz, and Baghdad Street amid ongoing tank movements. Local sources said Israeli air and artillery strikes continued near Khan Younis on Friday, killing one Palestinian and injuring several others. Earlier airstrikes on Wednesday left at least 25 Palestinians dead. Gaza authorities claim over 400 ceasefire violations have occurred since the truce began, resulting in more than 300 deaths and hundreds of injuries. They urged the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—guarantors of the ceasefire—to intervene and ensure humanitarian aid access. International human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as amounting to genocide, with over 69,000 killed and 170,000 injured since October 2023.

The United Nations has voiced deep concern over the ongoing exploitation and fraudulent recruitment of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia. In a statement issued from Geneva on November 21, UN human rights experts said that thousands of workers recruited through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services (BOESL) have paid more than five times the official recruitment fees, only to find themselves trapped or at risk of severe exploitation. The experts highlighted reports of employers confiscating workers’ passports, providing false job promises, and serious inconsistencies between contracts and actual employment conditions. They also noted the unauthorized disclosure of workers’ personal data and the lack of assistance from responsible government agencies. The UN urged both Bangladesh and Malaysia to take immediate action, including ensuring pre-departure training on workers’ rights, establishing effective complaint mechanisms, and holding fraudulent recruiters accountable.

Russia has strongly condemned the joint US-Israel airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, calling it a violation of international norms and a threat to regional stability. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reiterated Moscow’s commitment to a political and diplomatic resolution of Iran’s nuclear issue, emphasizing that any military action against facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency’s supervision is unacceptable. She warned that such attacks undermine the global non-proliferation regime and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Zakharova also said that while some foreign powers seek to destabilize Iran internally, Tehran remains committed to dialogue to protect its national interests. She stressed that Iran must receive firm guarantees that its nuclear sites will not be targeted again and urged Western nations to abandon the language of sanctions and threats, returning instead to diplomacy. The statement follows recent talks between Russian and Iranian foreign ministers on the matter.

At least 16 people were killed and more than 24 injured when a passenger bus lost control and plunged from a bridge into a river in Cambodia’s central Kampong Thom province early Thursday morning. Police said the bus, carrying 37 passengers from Oddar Meanchey province to the capital Phnom Penh, fell into a canal around 3 a.m. The vehicle had stopped in Siem Reap, a major tourist hub, to pick up passengers before the crash. Authorities suspect one of the two alternating drivers may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Cambodia’s Interior Minister Sar Sokha shared images of the rescue operation showing a crane lifting the half-submerged bus. The death toll initially stood at 13 but rose to 16 after the recovery operation concluded. All victims were Cambodian nationals. Injured passengers were admitted to Kampong Thom Provincial Hospital, while the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families. Road safety data show nearly 700 people died in traffic accidents in Cambodia during the first half of 2025, slightly down from 800 in the same period last year.

On Universal Children’s Day, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas issued a statement asserting that Palestinian children are being deprived of rights recognized under various United Nations conventions. The group criticized Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, claiming they have destroyed essential life foundations such as food, medicine, clean water, healthcare, education, and psychological support. Hamas described these actions as violations of international conventions, humanitarian values, and UN resolutions that guarantee children’s rights. The organization called for international prosecution of Israeli leaders for alleged crimes against children and appealed for global recognition of Palestinian children’s rights to protection and justice, equal to those of children worldwide. The statement comes amid intensified Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in dozens of civilian deaths.

At least 33 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza within a single day, despite an ongoing ceasefire brokered by the United States. The Guardian reported that Israeli forces targeted several areas, including Gaza City and Khan Younis, violating the truce agreed on October 10. Hamas condemned the attacks, urging Washington to restrain Israel and warning that continued aggression could worsen the humanitarian crisis. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli operations also caused casualties and forced displacements, with Hamas claiming that 32,000 Palestinians have been driven from their homes this year. Israeli forces said they seized a rocket launcher and weapons cache near the “Yellow Line” area. Gaza’s media office accused Israel of expanding its military zone by 300 meters, calling it another breach of the ceasefire. Qatar denounced the attacks, warning that such actions could collapse the fragile truce and urging international efforts to maintain peace.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Israeli military of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by forcibly displacing about 32,000 Palestinians from the Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps in the occupied West Bank earlier this year. In a 105-page report, HRW said the operations, which began in January, were carried out without regard for international legal protections and left more than 850 homes destroyed or severely damaged. The rights group said Israel failed to justify the mass displacement on military grounds and did not allow residents to return. HRW called for investigations into senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and urged sanctions and an arms embargo. The Israeli army defended its actions as necessary to counter armed groups allegedly using the camps as operational bases. The report comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank and Gaza, where Israel’s ongoing war has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians since October 2023.

In southern Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, olive farmers are struggling to recover after a year-long war between Hezbollah and Israel devastated their lands. Following the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces bulldozed farmland and uprooted more than 56,000 olive trees to create a buffer zone along the border. Farmers like Khairallah Yaacoub and Hussein Daher face ongoing dangers from Israeli drones and shelling, making it perilous to access their groves. The United Nations reports over 270 Lebanese deaths since the ceasefire, while the FAO estimates $236 million in losses to the olive sector alone. Many farmers have lost livestock and equipment, and olive oil production has plummeted. The Lebanese government has promised compensation of up to $2,500 per farmer and plans to plant 200,000 olive seedlings, but affected communities say aid has been slow and insufficient. Without substantial support from both the government and international donors, farmers fear they will be forced to abandon centuries-old agricultural traditions vital to the region’s economy and identity.

Malaysian immigration authorities have detained 468 foreign nationals, including 174 Bangladeshis, during a large-scale operation in the Cameron Highlands on November 20. The raid, named 'Op Jempur,' took place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. across four zones covering business areas, construction sites, and vegetable farms. A total of 547 immigration officers participated in the operation, which was planned a month earlier following complaints from local residents. Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban stated that the district has become a hotspot for undocumented workers due to its agricultural activities and distance from urban centers. Authorities checked documents of 1,886 foreigners and found several cases of fake temporary work visit passes. Those arrested include citizens from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, and Cambodia. The detainees, aged between 20 and 54, have been sent to detention depots in Kelantan, Perak, and Selangor. Since early 2025, Malaysia has arrested nearly 84,000 undocumented migrants nationwide.

Pakistan has extended its airspace restrictions on Indian aircraft until December 24, according to a notice issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Thursday, November 20. The updated ban took effect on November 19 at 2:50 p.m. and will remain in force until 4:59 a.m. on December 24. The restriction applies to all aircraft registered in India, as well as any operated, leased, or owned by Indian airlines, including military planes. The airspace ban was first imposed following a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, in late April, which sharply escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The incident led to a brief but intense military confrontation, after which Pakistan restricted Indian flights from using its airspace. The latest extension underscores the continuing strain in bilateral relations and the absence of diplomatic progress toward normalization.

The United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee has unanimously adopted a resolution addressing the Rohingya crisis, calling for renewed global efforts to ensure the safe, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar. The resolution, jointly proposed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Union (EU), was supported by 105 countries. It expressed deep concern over ongoing human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the continued displacement of Rohingyas into Bangladesh and neighboring nations. The resolution urged sustained international engagement to guarantee the dignified return of the displaced population. Following its adoption, Bangladesh’s delegation thanked member states for their support but voiced frustration over the lack of progress in repatriation efforts over the past eight years. The delegation emphasized that Bangladesh can no longer bear the burden of hosting 1.3 million Rohingya refugees and called for urgent international action to facilitate their return to Myanmar.