A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Hokkaido region on Monday evening at 7:45 PM local time, prompting tsunami warnings for coastal areas. The USGS reported the epicenter near 41°N latitude and 142.3°E longitude, originating 32 miles deep off Hokkaido's coast. Previously, a 6.9 magnitude quake hit Iwate prefecture on November 9, triggering tsunami advisories with waves reaching 10-20 centimeters in Ofunato, Miyako, Kamaishi, Ominato, and Kuji. Initial forecasts warned of 3-meter waves, later reduced to 1 meter. Advisories were lifted three hours later, though officials cautioned about week-long aftershocks. No immediate injuries, major damage, or nuclear plant issues reported. Japan remains highly earthquake-prone along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Thailand’s military initiated airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia after a clash that killed one Thai soldier and wounded three Cambodian civilians. Major-General Winthai Suvari said the strikes were meant to “suppress” further Cambodian attacks. Cambodia denied provoking the incident, claiming Thailand fired first and calling Bangkok’s military operations aggressive. The outbreak ends a fragile truce signed in October, triggering evacuations of tens of thousands on both sides. (PC: AFP)

Shahriar Tajbakhsh, co-founder and CTO of Metaview AI, said in a social-media post that even if the fee for an H‑1B visa rose to $100,000 per day, his company would still sponsor it — arguing that the value of skilled workers outweighs any cost. Metaview AI had posted a campaign in India declaring “Yes, we still sponsor H-1Bs” amid a backdrop of tightening U.S. visa norms under Donald Trump. Tajbakhsh emphasised that building transformative products requires world-class talent — “$100,000 just doesn’t matter” in that context. (PC: Linkdin)

IndiGo has refunded Rs 827 crore for cancelled tickets as it faces its worst operational crisis. Between November 21 and December 7, over 9.5 lakh tickets were cancelled, with nearly six lakh cancelled in the first week of December alone. Of 9,000 delayed bags, 4,500 have been returned, with the rest expected in 36 hours. The airline’s Crisis Management Group is working to restore operations and ensure timely information for passengers. Flight disruptions were caused by mismanagement of new safety norms. Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu warned of strict action, saying the government will “set an example” for all airlines. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump has raised concerns about Netflix’s planned $72bn deal to buy Warner Bros and HBO. Speaking at the Kennedy Center, Trump said Netflix already has a “very big market share” and combining the companies “could be a problem.” He said he would personally oversee the approval process. The deal would bring major franchises like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings to Netflix. Industry experts note competition issues could arise, but some expect the deal to go through with concessions. The Writers Guild warned it could reduce jobs and content diversity. (PC: BBC)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London Monday alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden emphasized Ukraine's security and self-determination as central discussion points. US special envoy Keith Kellogg claimed a peace deal is "really close," contingent on Russia's cooperation regarding Ukraine's post-war army size and Donbas control. European leaders seek greater involvement after pushing back against initial US-led plans favoring Russia. Putin rejected revisions, threatening to take Donbas by force if Ukraine doesn't cede the 85%-Russian-controlled region. Russia launched massive weekend bombardments of 653 drones and 51 missiles as diplomatic efforts intensify.(PC: Reuters & Al Jazeera)

A pepper spray incident at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 left 21 people needing medical help, including a three-year-old girl. Police say a group of four men robbed a woman in a car park lift and sprayed a substance believed to be pepper spray. One man, 31, was arrested within minutes, and officers are searching for the others. London Ambulance Service declared a “significant incident” and treated people for coughing and throat irritation. Five victims were taken to hospital, but none have life-threatening injuries. The attack caused long delays, traffic jams, and disruption to transport services, though Terminal 3 remained open. (PC: Sky News)

The UN’s nuclear watchdog says the protective shield over Chernobyl’s Reactor 4 can no longer do its main safety job. Inspectors found the structure lost its “primary safety functions” after a drone strike in February. Ukraine blames Russia, but Moscow denies the attack. The IAEA says repairs are urgently needed to stop further damage. Experts say the risk to the public is low because radioactive dust remains inside the older concrete sarcophagus. The shield was built to last 100 years after the 1986 disaster. The IAEA is also checking other key power sites as Russia continues new airstrikes. (PC: BBC)

Russia has praised Donald Trump’s new US National Security Strategy. Moscow says the plan matches many of its own goals. The 33-page report uses softer language on Russia and does not list it as a main threat. It warns that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” and says the EU is blocking peace efforts in the Ukraine war. EU leaders say the document raises “questions” and fear it may weaken support against Russia. Some US lawmakers also criticise the strategy. They warn it could harm long-standing alliances. Russia says it will study the plan further before making final comments. (PC: BBC)

Police are investigating a major incident at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 after several people were sprayed with what is believed to be pepper spray. The attack happened in a multi-storey car park around 8:11am. Armed officers reached the scene and arrested one man on suspicion of assault. Police say more suspects are being traced. London Ambulance Service treated 21 people, with five taken to hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening. Officials believe the attack began after an argument between people who knew each other. The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Terminal 3 remains open, but travel delays continue. (PC: Sky News)