Israel’s COGAT authority has said the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen soon, following months of closure since Israel took control of the area in May. The renewed opening aims to allow Gazan civilians, particularly those needing urgent medical treatment, to cross into Egypt. According to COGAT, the movement will operate under a coordinated mechanism involving Egypt, Israel, and the EU Border Assistance Mission, which will verify and supervise crossings. The reopening is considered a crucial humanitarian step amid ongoing conflict and widespread medical shortages inside Gaza. (PC: Reuters)  

US President Donald Trump said he does not want Somali immigrants in the country, telling reporters they should “go back to where they came from”. He called Somalia “barely a country” and claimed the US would “go the wrong way” if it kept taking in “garbage”. His remarks came as reports said ICE is planning a major operation in Minnesota’s large Somali community. Local leaders warned the move could target US citizens. Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz, condemned the plan. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said Trump’s “obsession” with her is “creepy”. Somali officials also criticised the growing attacks. (PC: BBC)

Aleema Khan, sister of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, said, “Radicalised Islamist Asim Munir yearns for war with India.” Speaking to Sky News, she added that Munir’s conservatism forces him to fight against those who don’t believe in Islam. She described her brother as a “pure liberal” who tries to befriend India and even BJP leaders. Aleema blamed Munir for Khan’s imprisonment, saying he is being mentally tortured in Adiala Jail. She claimed, “They want to suppress the people of Pakistan” by isolating her brother, who she says represents 90% of the country. (PC: NDTV)

A political row erupted after Congress leader Ragini Nayak posted an AI-generated video showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi selling tea at a red-carpet event. The BJP condemned the clip and said the Congress was mocking the Prime Minister’s humble past. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said the party had insulted Modi many times and could not accept a leader from a modest background. This is the latest in a series of AI videos that have angered the BJP. Congress has faced similar criticism before, including over a video about Modi’s mother that the Patna High Court ordered removed.

Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ended without a breakthrough on a Ukraine peace deal. The Kremlin said the meeting was “constructive” but key parts of the US-backed plan were still unacceptable to Russia. Putin earlier criticised changes proposed by Kyiv and Europe, calling them unrealistic. Ukraine and Russia remain divided over territory and security guarantees. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there was a chance to end the war but only with clear guarantees. Fighting also continued on several fronts, with both sides rejecting each other’s claims of battlefield gains. (BBC)

Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan launched his fiercest attack on Army Chief General Asim Munir, accusing him of being "mentally ill," "morally depraved," and destroying Pakistan's constitutional framework. In a message on X, Khan described four weeks of solitary confinement without human contact, claiming he and wife Bushra Bibi face "severe mental torture" on false charges. He accused Munir's policies of fueling terrorism resurgence and sacrificing national interests for Western approval. Khan resigned from PTI's political committee, giving Secretary General Salman Akram Raja full authority. He urged Pakistanis to "break chains of slavery" and resist "mafia systems," warning those threatening governor's rule to "see what happens." (PC: The Hindu)

A 13-year-old boy executed a man convicted of murdering 13 family members, including nine children, in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan's Khost province. Approximately 80,000 people witnessed the public execution at a stadium, which was ordered by Afghanistan's Supreme Court and sanctioned by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The convicted man, identified as Mangal, had killed Abdul Rahman and his family approximately 10 months earlier. After victims' families refused forgiveness offers, the boy fired the fatal shot amid religious chants. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett condemned the execution as "inhuman, cruel and contrary to international law." This marks the Taliban's 11th judicial execution since returning to power in 2021.

High-stakes US-Russia talks in Moscow failed to achieve a breakthrough on ending the Ukraine war, with the Kremlin stating "no compromise" was reached on territorial issues. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff during a five-hour Kremlin meeting. Top Putin aide Yuri Ushakov called discussions "useful" but noted Russia rejected several proposals in the revised US peace plan. Putin demands Ukraine surrender claimed territories and opposes European monitoring forces. Ukrainian President Zelensky insists any settlement must be permanent, transparent, and include Ukraine's participation. Trump acknowledged the situation is "not easy" and called it a "mess" during a White House cabinet meeting. (PC: X)

Vladimir Putin declared on December 2 that Russia is “ready right now” for war if European Union countries initiate conflict, accusing European powers of sabotaging peace efforts. The warning came just before a five‑hour meeting in Moscow between Russian officials and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, convened to revive a US‑backed peace plan for the war in Ukraine. Despite calls for negotiations, the talks concluded with no agreement on territorial control or military constraints. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the outcome as “neither further nor closer” to resolving the crisis. Putin rejected modifications proposed by Europe to the peace framework, labeling them “absolutely unacceptable.” He insisted Russia’s original demands must be the basis for any deal — a stance that undermines confidence in a diplomatic path forward. 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has temporarily halted processing of all immigration applications — including green cards, citizenship, asylum, and visa requests — for individuals from 19 non‑European nations. The suspension affects countries already under prior travel‑ban restrictions, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Libya, Yemen and others. The move follows a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C. by an Afghan national now under arrest, prompting the administration to cite national security and public safety as reasons for the pause. Immigrants in process, even those who have undergone prolonged vetting, may now face indefinite delays or re‑review under stricter screening rules.