21-year-old Indian truck driver, Jashanpreet Singh, accused of causing a crash that killed three people in California, appeared in a US court without his turban, sparking outrage. Sikh leaders, including Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, called it a violation of his religious rights and urged the Indian government to intervene. A petition on Change.org demands that his turban be returned and his faith respected. Singh, who moved to the US illegally in 2022, pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence and manslaughter. His family insists he is innocent and does not consume drugs.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his role in ending regional conflicts. The announcement came during Trump’s visit to Tokyo, where both leaders signed a key deal on critical minerals to reduce reliance on China. This is Trump’s second Nobel nomination in a week, after Cambodia’s recognition for his peace efforts in Southeast Asia. Takaichi called for a “golden age” of US–Japan ties. Trump thanked her and said their alliance would be “stronger than ever.” He will next visit South Korea for the APEC Summit. (PC: Mint)

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, has pleaded guilty to killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He admitted in a Tokyo court that “everything is true.” Abe was shot with a homemade gun during a campaign event in Nara in 2022 and died the same day. Yamagami said he targeted Abe for his links to the Unification Church, which he blamed for his family’s financial ruin. His mother had donated large sums to the church. The case led to major investigations and stricter gun laws in Japan. The trial will continue until January, with more witnesses expected to testify. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks in Turkey collapsed Tuesday, with both nations blaming each other for the impasse. Pakistan sought assurances Afghanistan wouldn't allow cross-border terrorism, specifically by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which Kabul denies supporting. Pakistani officials accused Afghanistan of "stubbornness," while Afghan state media claimed their negotiators made "constructive efforts" unlike Pakistan. The breakdown revives concerns over Defense Minister Khawaja Asif's warning of potential "open conflict" if diplomacy fails. Recent violence includes Sunday's clash killing five Pakistani and 25 Afghan soldiers. The failed talks follow a brief October 15 ceasefire. Meanwhile, India-Taliban relations improve after Foreign Minister Muttaqi's Delhi visit, with diplomatic ties restored and Taliban condemning Pakistan-based Pahalgam terror attack.(PC: Modern Diplomacy & NDTV)

The Election Commission has issued a notice to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor for being enrolled as a voter in both Bihar and West Bengal. Reports say Kishor’s name appears in voter lists in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur constituency and Bihar’s Kargahar constituency. The poll body reminded that a person cannot be registered in more than one constituency under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Kishor has been asked to respond within three days. His team said he became a voter in Bihar after the Bengal polls and has applied to cancel his Bengal voter card. (PC: HT)

Prince Andrew hosted Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge in Windsor during his daughter Beatrice’s 18th birthday in 2006. The event took place two months after Epstein was wanted in the US for sex crimes. A photo verified by the BBC shows the trio in fancy dress at the royal home. The visit raises new questions about Andrew’s ties to Epstein and how he funds his lifestyle. The prince has denied any wrongdoing and said he was unaware of Epstein’s legal troubles at the time. Buckingham Palace has not commented on the matter. (PC: BBC)

Former Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqqani sarcastically suggested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif deserves Olympic gold for flattering Donald Trump, responding to Sharif's latest praise-filled post. Sharif lauded Trump's "instrumental role in advancing global peace" through international accords, including the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia-Thailand, Gaza Peace Plan, and Middle East-South Asia stability efforts. This follows Sharif's earlier praise at Egypt's Peace Summit, where he called Trump "a man of peace" and "most genuine candidate" for the Nobel Prize, noting Pakistan's previous nomination of Trump. Haqqani's tongue-in-cheek X post referenced journalist Fareed Zakaria's suggestion that Trump flattery could become an Olympic sport, highlighting Sharif's repeated admiration pattern.

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus sparked controversy by gifting Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Sahir Shamshad Mirza a book featuring a map depicting parts of northeast India as Bangladeshi territory. The presentation occurred Saturday at Dhaka's Jamuna state guest house during discussions on bilateral trade, investment, and defense cooperation. India hasn't officially responded, though the Ministry of External Affairs strongly protested a similar map in December 2024 when student adviser Mahfuz Alam posted it online. General Mirza's visit follows Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar's August trip urging Bangladesh to "clean hearts" and move past 1971 genocide memories. Yunus's office emphasized shared historical and cultural ties between the nations. (PC: The Hindu) 

Japan will nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, the White House announced during Trump's Asia tour. Meeting newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Tokyo's Akasaka Palace on Monday, Trump received praise for brokering peace deals between Thailand-Cambodia and the Gaza ceasefire. Takaichi called his Middle East achievement "unprecedented and historic," though official Japanese confirmation is pending. Trump, calling himself the 'President of Peace,' claims to have ended eight wars including India-Pakistan conflicts. Several nations like Israel, Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand have formally nominated him. The leaders also signed a critical minerals deal. Trump's Asia tour includes the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and upcoming South Korea visit for APEC summit, featuring bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (PC: X)

Israel has allowed a Hamas member to enter IDF-controlled Gaza to help find the bodies of 13 dead hostages. The person joined Red Cross and Egyptian teams in Khan Younis under Israeli supervision. Israel says Hamas broke the ceasefire deal by returning only 15 of 28 bodies. Hamas claims it needs help to locate remains buried under rubble from years of war. Families of hostages urged Israel and the US to delay the next phase of peace talks until all bodies are returned. Over 68,500 people have died in Gaza since the war began in 2023. (PC: BBC)