Fresh Gen-Z protests broke out in Nepal’s Bara district on Thursday, leading authorities to impose a daytime curfew from 1 pm to 8 pm. The unrest began when young protesters clashed with supporters of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s party in Simara. Police detained only two people, which increased anger among the youth. Tensions rose further after news that senior UML leaders were flying to Simara for a rally. Crowds gathered at the airport, forcing officials to enforce curfew in nearby areas. The new protests come two months after major Gen-Z demonstrations that brought down the Oli government. (PC: India Today)

Instagram has started closing accounts of Australian users aged 13 to 15 ahead of the country’s new social media ban for under-16s. Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and Threads, said it began sending messages to young users telling them their accounts will be deactivated from 4 December. The ban takes effect on 10 December and also covers TikTok, YouTube, X and Reddit. Teens can save their posts before shutdown and may challenge the ban using age checks like video selfies or ID. Platforms that fail to block under-16s face fines of up to A$50 million. (PC: BBC)

In a viral video address to the PoK Assembly, former Pakistan-occupied Kashmir leader Chaudhry Anwarul Haq took credit for terror attacks on Indian soil, declaring that Pakistani-linked terror groups struck “from the Red Fort to the forests of Kashmir.” He claimed these attacks are retaliation for India’s alleged actions in Balochistan, saying, “By the grace of Allah, we’ve done it … they still can’t count bodies.” His remarks came soon after his ouster and have ignited concerns over Islamabad’s role in cross-border terrorism. 

A new US peace proposal would require Ukraine to give up territory and cut its army to 400,000 soldiers, a source told AFP. The plan also asks Ukraine to give up long-range weapons. Officials say the terms reflect Russia’s demands, which Ukraine has always rejected. The proposal surfaced on the same day a Russian missile strike killed 26 people, including three children, in Ternopil. Rescue teams searched collapsed buildings as smoke filled the area. Ukraine’s leaders said the attack shows Russia is not ready for real peace. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll also visited Kyiv for talks on ending the war. (PC: NDTV)

In a major bipartisan move, President Donald Trump has signed legislation requiring the U.S. Department of Justice to release long-sealed files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days. Passed overwhelmingly in the House (427–1) and unanimously in the Senate, the law mandates disclosure while allowing limited redactions for victim protection and active investigations. It explicitly bars withholding information to protect political figures or reputations. Trump, who earlier resisted such disclosure, said the release will reveal “the truth” about high-profile associations linked to the Epstein network. DOJ officials have begun preparing documents for public release.

Senior US military leaders have arrived in Kyiv to discuss ways to end the war with Russia. The team is led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who will meet President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday. Ukrainian officials say the talks will cover the battlefield situation and a possible ceasefire. Reports claim the US and Russia have drafted a peace plan with major concessions from Ukraine, though neither side has confirmed it. The visit comes after a Russian strike killed at least 26 people in Ternopil. Ukraine says it will not give up territory, even as pressure for peace grows. (PC: BBC)

At least 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry said. Ten people, including a woman and a young girl, died when a ministry building in Gaza City’s Zeitoun area was hit. The Israeli military said it struck “Hamas terrorist targets” after gunmen fired at its soldiers in Khan Younis, which it said violated the five-week ceasefire. Hamas has not commented. Gaza’s Civil Defence reported attacks in Gaza City and Khan Younis, causing heavy damage and several injuries. The rise in violence comes days after the UN approved a US-backed plan to support the fragile truce.

The US Justice Department will release files from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday. The move follows a near-unanimous vote in Congress requiring the Trump administration to make the documents public. The files may reveal more about Epstein’s activities and his links with powerful figures, including Donald Trump. Bondi said the department will follow the law but may withhold parts that could affect ongoing investigations ordered by Trump. Identities of sex-trafficking victims will also be protected. Epstein died in 2019 in jail, where his death was ruled a suicide. (PC: NDTV)

The UK has accused a Russian spy ship of using lasers to disrupt RAF pilots tracking it near British waters. Defence Secretary John Healey called the move “deeply dangerous” and said the incident happened within the last two weeks while the Yantar was being followed by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 planes. The ship has entered UK waters twice this year and is known for undersea surveillance. Healey warned that the UK is ready with military options if the vessel changes course. Russia denied any threat, but UK officials say the incident shows a serious security risk. (PC: BBC)

UK Defence Secretary John Healey has warned that Russian spy ship Yantar is currently on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland. The vessel, designed to gather intelligence and map undersea cables, directed lasers at RAF pilots while being tracked by a Royal Navy frigate and aircraft. Healey stressed this is the second deployment of Yantar this year, calling the action “deeply dangerous.” He confirmed military options are ready if the ship moves south. A Commons Defence Committee report highlighted the UK’s lack of a homeland defence plan, despite new arms factories planned. Healey described the situation as a “new era of threat” requiring stronger defence readiness.