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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the suspension of asylum applications in the United States will be extended indefinitely following the fatal shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan immigrant. Trump said he is also considering a permanent ban on immigration from third world countries. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the suspension will apply to citizens of 19 countries already under travel restrictions, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan who entered the U.S. in 2021 through a resettlement program, was previously part of a CIA-backed special unit in Afghanistan. Trump blamed the Biden administration’s “weak vetting” during the Afghan airlift for allowing Lakhanwal’s entry and vowed to tighten immigration controls in response to the attack.

A powerful winter storm has swept across the US Midwest, bringing over a foot of snow and causing major disruptions from South Dakota to New York. More than 53 million people were under winter weather alerts as heavy snow, strong winds, and thunderstorms created hazardous conditions. Des Moines recorded 10.9 inches (28 cm) of snow by midnight Sunday, marking its heaviest two-day snowfall since January 2024. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport saw 8.4 inches of snow on Saturday, setting a new November snowfall record for the city. Illinois State Police reported around 500 vehicle accidents in the Chicago area on Saturday alone. Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as cleanup and recovery efforts continue amid freezing temperatures and ongoing weather warnings.

Authorities in Stockton, California, reported that four people were killed and ten others injured after gunfire erupted during a family celebration at a banquet hall on Saturday evening. The shooting occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue. San Joaquin County Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent said the victims included both children and adults, describing the incident as 'unfathomable' given that young children were harmed. Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee confirmed the event was a children’s birthday party. Investigators are still working to identify the suspect, and officials believe the attack may have been targeted. It remains unclear whether the shots were fired inside or outside the venue. The FBI and local law enforcement agencies are assisting in the investigation. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office stated that he has been briefed on the 'horrific shooting' and that the state’s emergency services are coordinating with local authorities as the situation continues to be monitored.

The United States has suspended issuing visas to Afghan citizens following a recent shooting incident in Washington, D.C., involving an Afghan national. The U.S. State Department has instructed all embassies and consulates worldwide to stop processing Afghan visa applications immediately. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio announced on social media that the decision was made to prioritize national security and public safety. The move comes after Rahmanullah Laknwal, an Afghan citizen and former CIA agent during the U.S.-NATO operations in Afghanistan, allegedly opened fire on National Guard members, killing one and injuring another. Following the attack, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services canceled all pending Afghan citizenship and residency applications. The new directive, issued under President Trump’s administration, reinforces a stricter immigration stance toward Afghan nationals amid growing security concerns.

At 38, Lionel Messi continues to make history, breaking a 59-year-old world record for the most career assists in football. During Inter Miami’s 5–1 victory over New York City FC, which secured the club’s first-ever Major League Soccer Eastern Conference title, Messi provided his 405th career assist. The record surpasses the previous unofficial mark of 404 assists held by Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskás since 1966. Although Messi’s impact in the match was limited to a single assist, it proved decisive in both the game and football history. Among active players, Thomas Müller follows with 352 assists, while Luis Suárez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ángel Di María, and Cristiano Ronaldo trail behind. Messi’s career tally now stands at 896 goals, further cementing his status as the player with the most combined goals and assists in football history.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuelan and surrounding airspace should be declared off-limits, escalating tensions with President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The statement, made on Truth Social, comes amid increased US military presence in the Caribbean, officially aimed at combating drug trafficking. However, Caracas accuses Washington of attempting regime change. Since early September, US forces have attacked over 20 alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing more than 80 people, though no evidence has been released to substantiate the drug trafficking claims. The US Federal Aviation Administration has also warned of deteriorating security and heightened military activity in Venezuelan airspace, prompting six major South American airlines to suspend flights. In response, Venezuela banned several airlines, accusing them of supporting US “state terrorism.” Reports suggest Trump and Maduro recently spoke by phone and discussed a possible meeting in the US, further complicating the geopolitical situation.