The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, challenging new restrictions on media access. The suit, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., argues that the Pentagon’s new policy—requiring journalists to sign a 21-page agreement pledging not to collect unauthorized information—is unconstitutional and violates press freedom. The policy, implemented in October, also restricts journalists’ access to certain areas without official escorts. Several major U.S. outlets, including The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, Reuters, AP, and NPR, have refused to sign the agreement. The Times is seeking a court order to halt enforcement of the policy, asserting that it undermines transparency and the public’s right to know. The publication emphasized its long-standing commitment to defending press freedom through legal means.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will not compromise over Ukraine’s Donbas region, vowing to use force if necessary to secure full control. In an interview with India Today on December 4, Putin said that either Russian forces will liberate the remaining areas or Ukrainian troops must withdraw. Currently, Russia controls about 85 percent of Donbas. The warning comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration continues mediation efforts, with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff meeting both Russian and Ukrainian representatives. The United States recently proposed a 28-point peace plan, including a clause suggesting that remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donbas be ceded to Russia—a proposal strongly opposed by Kyiv and European nations. Putin acknowledged that Russia agrees with some U.S. proposals but rejects others, without specifying which. The statement underscores Moscow’s hardened stance following recent battlefield gains and complicates international efforts to end the ongoing war.

A US military strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean Sea has left four people dead, reigniting debate over Washington’s expanding anti-narcotics operations in international waters. The attack, reportedly ordered under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s direction, targeted a boat allegedly controlled by a terrorist-linked group transporting illegal drugs along the eastern narco-trafficking route. The Trump administration has conducted similar operations for months, killing over 80 suspected traffickers. Following the latest incident, congressional committees have launched investigations amid allegations of extrajudicial killings. Human rights organizations condemned the strike after footage showed survivors being hit by missiles. The White House stated that the order came from official channels but denied any directive to kill all onboard. A Colombian fisherman’s family has filed a complaint, claiming he was mistakenly killed. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro accused the US of using military pressure to destabilize his government as American naval presence near Venezuelan waters increases.

New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be arrested if he enters the city, citing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Netanyahu, who faces allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the October 7, 2023 Gaza attacks, has dismissed the charges and confirmed his plan to visit New York for the New York Times DealBook Forum. Mamdani stated that any world leader under ICC warrant would face arrest upon entering New York. Netanyahu responded that he would only engage in dialogue with Mamdani if the mayor recognized Israel’s right to exist. Despite Mamdani’s statement, analysts consider Netanyahu’s arrest highly unlikely, given the U.S. government’s historical opposition to ICC actions against Israeli officials and previous sanctions imposed on ICC judges and prosecutors during Donald Trump’s administration.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump’s remarks came after his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Putin in Moscow to discuss a revised U.S. peace proposal. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the meeting suggested Putin was seeking a settlement to the conflict. He added that the talks were positive and that both sides must agree for any deal to succeed. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Washington appeared ready to consider Russia’s views in pursuing a long-term resolution. However, Reuters reported that despite a five-hour meeting, no concrete agreement was reached between the U.S. and Russia. Trump reiterated his belief that the war would not have started if he had been president earlier, emphasizing his administration’s willingness to pursue diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine crisis.

US President Donald Trump announced he is nullifying all documents signed by his predecessor Joe Biden, including executive pardons, claiming Biden used an autopen to sign them. The autopen, a device replicating a person’s signature, has long been used by presidents from both parties for official documents. Legal experts say Trump’s move is unprecedented and lacks constitutional or statutory basis, as there is no law requiring a president to personally sign such documents or allowing one president to revoke another’s pardons. Trump made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social, asserting that any pardon or legal document signed this way is invalid. Biden had issued several pardons before leaving office, including for family members and nonviolent drug offenders. Reports suggest Trump’s action may not affect Hunter Biden’s pardon, which was hand-signed, but could impact others like Dr. Anthony Fauci. Analysts view Trump’s decision as politically motivated and legally unenforceable.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced new proposals to require congressional approval before any potential military action by the Trump administration against Venezuela. Senators Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff, and Rand Paul issued a joint statement warning that unauthorized military intervention would be a costly mistake risking American lives. The lawmakers plan to invoke the War Powers Resolution to ensure debate and voting in Congress before any use of US forces in or against Venezuela. In the House, Representatives Jim McGovern, Joaquin Castro, and Thomas Massie submitted a similar proposal. The move follows reports of at least 21 US-led strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific regions since September, allegedly targeting drug trafficking linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Critics accuse Trump of bypassing constitutional requirements for congressional authorization of major military actions. Recent reports of possible violations of international law have prompted congressional committees to announce investigations into US operations in Venezuela.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned European nations that any war with Russia would result in their certain defeat. Speaking after Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto suggested that Europe was preparing for conflict with Russia, Putin said Moscow does not seek war but is fully prepared if Europe initiates one. He claimed that such a war would end swiftly, leaving no one in Europe to negotiate peace. Putin also threatened to cut off Ukraine’s access to the sea, describing it as the best way to stop what he called Ukrainian piracy. His remarks came in response to a recent Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian tanker in the Black Sea. The comments underscore rising tensions between Russia and Europe amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and growing fears of escalation across the region.

The United States has indefinitely suspended all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries, citing national and public security concerns. The Trump administration stated that the decision aims to strengthen immigration controls and reassess potential security risks. The affected nations include Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Sudan, and Yemen, among others. Officials referenced recent incidents involving immigrants, including the arrest of an Afghan national linked to an attack on the National Guard in Washington, as factors prompting the move. Since returning to office, President Trump has intensified enforcement of immigration laws, expanding crackdowns on illegal immigrants and tightening rules for legal immigration as well. The new directive calls for a comprehensive review of all pending cases, with possible re-interviews to reassess applicants’ security profiles. Critics argue the policy disproportionately targets Muslim-majority countries, while supporters claim it reinforces national safety.

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has approved a significant military agreement with India just days before President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled visit to New Delhi on December 4–5. The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) pact, signed on February 18 this year, was recently submitted for approval by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The agreement outlines procedures for mutual logistical support between the two nations’ armed forces, including access to each other’s bases, airspace, and ports for military aircraft and warships. It will apply to joint exercises, training, humanitarian missions, and disaster relief operations. Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin described the move as a major step toward strengthening the strategic partnership between Russia and India. According to the Russian cabinet, the pact will simplify airspace use and enhance naval cooperation, further consolidating bilateral defense ties.

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States may launch a military operation in Venezuela at any time, targeting drug trafficking networks and their infrastructure. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on December 2, Trump claimed that large quantities of fentanyl produced in Venezuela are smuggled into the US, causing nearly 200,000 American deaths last year. He stated that the upcoming campaign would include ground operations, complementing previous naval missions in the Caribbean. Over recent months, the US has increased its military presence in the region, deploying warships and troops. Several naval attacks on alleged drug-carrying vessels have already taken place, sparking criticism after leaked videos showed fatal assaults on survivors. Despite the controversy, Trump reaffirmed his stance, vowing to eliminate those involved in drug trafficking. The US has long accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of facilitating drug smuggling, allegations Maduro has consistently denied.

Russia and the United States have failed to reach any agreement to end the war in Ukraine following a lengthy meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov described the five-hour discussion as constructive but said no concrete solution had been achieved, though several US proposals were discussed. Putin earlier accused European nations of withdrawing from peace efforts and claimed they were obstructing Washington’s role. He warned that if Europe seeks war, Russia is ready to respond. Reports suggest that a draft peace deal would require Ukraine to cede the Donbas region, including Donetsk and Luhansk, to Russia—something Kyiv refuses to accept. Putin reiterated that Russia would seize the territory by force if Ukraine does not agree to territorial concessions.

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.

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.