Indonesian officials have rescued more than 170 climbers after Mount Semeru erupted without warning on Wednesday. The volcano sent hot ash, rocks, lava, and gas up to 13 km down its slopes. The climbers were stranded at Ranu Kumbolo, a safe area outside the main danger zone. Authorities raised the alert to the highest level as pyroclastic flows and ash clouds continued through the day. Nearly 1,000 residents from nearby villages were moved to shelters, but no deaths were reported. Several areas were covered in thick ash, and officials warned people to stay away from river valleys near the volcano. (PC: X)

Nasa has addressed rising online rumours that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS might be an alien spaceship. The agency confirmed there is no evidence to support such claims. The comet, discovered on July 1, 2025, is believed to be 5 to 8 billion years old. It has triggered a major observation effort, with 12 Nasa missions capturing images as it moves through the inner Solar System. 3I/ATLAS passed close to Mars, allowing orbiters and the Perseverance rover to record new data. Scientists say its hyperbolic path proves it came from another star system. The comet offers rare insights into distant cosmic origins. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump has signed a law ordering the Justice Department to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days. The documents include interviews, flight logs, and records seized from Epstein’s homes. Some parts may still be withheld if they affect an active probe or invade personal privacy. Trump had earlier opposed releasing the files but changed his stance after pressure from victims and Republicans. Epstein’s victims’ families called the move “monumental”. Critics say new investigations could delay disclosure. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges. (PC: BBC)

Indian-born cheetah Mukhi has given birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday. He called the birth a historic moment for Project Cheetah. Officials said the mother and cubs are healthy. Mukhi, who is 33 months old, is the first Indian-born cheetah to reproduce, marking a major step in India’s effort to rebuild a cheetah population. The successful birth shows strong adaptation of the species in Indian habitats. Cheetahs were reintroduced in India in 2022 after going extinct decades ago, with the first batch brought from Namibia. (PC: The Hindu)

The State Investigation Agency of Jammu and Kashmir Police raided the Kashmir Times office in Jammu on Thursday for allegedly promoting anti-national activities. Police sources said AK-47 cartridges, pistol rounds and three grenade levers were found during the search. An FIR has been filed against the newspaper for allegedly spreading disaffection, glorifying secessionism and threatening India’s sovereignty. Executive Editor Anuradha Bhasin has also been named in the case. Officials said the investigation will examine the paper’s suspected links and actions. The Kashmir Times, founded in 1954, is one of the oldest newspapers in the region.

US President Donald Trump has again claimed that he stopped tensions between India and Pakistan by threatening both nations with 350% tariffs. Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump said Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him to say India would not go to war after the threat. He also claimed Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked him. India has rejected Trump’s repeated statements, saying no foreign power mediated and that the ceasefire was reached through direct talks between the two militaries. Trump has made this claim more than 60 times since May, despite New Delhi’s firm denial. (PC: HT)

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)

Donald Trump has once again asserted that he forced India and Pakistan to back down from conflict by threatening to impose 350% tariffs on both nations, unless they ceased hostilities. He claimed that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif called him, with Modi telling him, “we’re not going to go to war.” Trump said he used the threat as leverage to negotiate a “nice trade deal” if peace was restored. Meanwhile, India has consistently denied any third‑party mediation or role for the U.S. in ending the tensions. (PC: The Hindu)

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.