A technical error during maintenance on a router by contractor L3Harris caused a nationwide aviation shutdown in the US, affecting 20,000 flights. Officials, including the FAA, ruled out foreign interference or cyberattacks. While air traffic systems have stabilized, thousands of flights remain cancelled as the government pushes for infrastructure modernization.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he will not constitutionally mandate neutrality, as Russia pushes for security concessions. This stance follows an intense night of cross-border drone strikes, with Russian officials claiming to intercept 1,198 drones and Ukraine reporting casualties in Odesa and Kyiv. Diplomatic efforts led by U.S. envoys continue alongside the fighting.
An Israeli drone strike in Jabaliya, Gaza, killed two Palestinians on Saturday. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that three oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard issued a warning to ships navigating the area without approval amidst ongoing tensions in the region.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a goal for the country to become the world’s sixth-largest economy by 2050, accelerating an earlier Goldman Sachs forecast of 2075. Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum in Islamabad, Sharif emphasized improving the mining sector through digitized records, reduced red tape, and enhanced cooperation between federal and provincial governments.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was introduced by his daughter, Daniella, at the Federalist Society’s National Lawyers Convention in Washington DC on Friday. After her introduction, Rubio joked with the audience about her confidence and his own home life. He also used the event to address recent Republican election setbacks, urging a long-term perspective.
Italy’s Data Protection Authority has fined Meta €805 million for accessing the photos, videos, and metadata of about 20 million Android users without proper consent. The regulator ruled that the Facebook app’s gallery suggestion feature lacked transparency and violated EU ePrivacy laws. Meta must now disable the feature by default within 60 days.
Former state lawmaker Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has won the Alaska governor's race, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office since 1998. He defeated three Republican candidates to succeed Mike Dunleavy. The 37-year-old campaigned on economic issues, public education funding, and plans to regulate the state's ferry system and data centre development.
An Abu Dhabi court has sentenced 10 individuals for their involvement in a hotel brawl between MMA fighters Usman Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili. Eight participants received six-month prison terms, with some facing deportation and fines. The court also penalized two people for filming and sharing the incident online. Dvalishvili was fined but released from custody.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that US envoys suggested withdrawing from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership. While Kyiv has consistently rejected territorial concessions, Zelensky noted he would put such a proposal to a referendum if it included security guarantees and reconstruction funds. The suggestion follows recent talks between US officials and Russia.
South Sudan has delayed its first-ever national elections until February 11, 2027, shifting the date from the previously scheduled December 22. The National Elections Commission announced the change as voter registration began. This marks the latest delay for the world’s youngest nation, which continues to face significant security challenges and ongoing ethnic and political confrontations.
More than 1,000 migrants have begun a journey from southern Mexico, marching towards the U.S. border. This movement follows recent U.S. midterm election results. The caravan consists of individuals seeking passage north, marking another significant attempt by migrants to reach the United States, as authorities monitor the group's progress across the Mexican territory.
Ukraine and Russia are preparing for their largest prisoner exchange since the conflict began in 2022, with more than 1,000 people from each side expected to be released. The move follows diplomatic discussions involving U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who held meetings with leaders in Moscow and Ireland to facilitate negotiations and humanitarian cooperation.
South Korean actor Go Kyung Pyo was involved in a drunk-driving accident in Seoul’s Mapo district on November 14. Police recorded his blood alcohol level at 0.150%, well above the legal limit for licence revocation. Consequently, two television variety shows are editing out his appearances, and his agency has issued a formal apology for the incident.
US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week at the APEC summit in Shenzhen. Despite recent scrutiny regarding Alice Huang’s alleged ties to former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, US officials stated that Trump is unlikely to address the matter, citing ongoing sensitive security investigations within the United States.
A massive telecommunications outage across all 22 U.S. regional air traffic control centers forced a nationwide ground stop on Friday. Over 4,000 flights were cancelled and 10,000 delayed, impacting approximately 1.5 million passengers. Officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, stated that the issue stemmed from data-overloaded, ageing infrastructure rather than a cyberattack.