Militants attacked a security checkpoint in the Kurram district of northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, killing six soldiers. Though no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistani authorities said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants, also known as the Pakistani Taliban or TTP, operating from Afghanistan are behind the growing wave of attacks, an accusation denied by Afghanistan’s Taliban government. Despite efforts by both countries to uphold a ceasefire following heavy cross-border clashes in October-- the worst since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021-- the attacks, as well as skirmishes between the two countries, continued in recent weeks, killing dozens of people.

Thailand launched airstrikes along the disputed border with Cambodia after overnight clashes in which a Thai soldier was killed and at least eight were wounded. The Thai military claimed that the strikes were a response to Cambodian attacks and the alleged mobilization of heavy weaponry. Thai F-16 jets targeted Cambodian military infrastructure, including weapons depots, command centers, and logistical routes, with officials stating the objective was to cripple Cambodia’s military capabilities and neutralize what they described as a direct threat to Thailand’s national security. Cambodia rejected the accusations that it had fired first or moved heavy arms, denouncing the airstrikes as inhumane while claiming its forces did not retaliate. Cambodian officials reported four civilians killed in Thai retaliatory fire, and thousands of civilians on both sides of the border have been displaced, with Thailand evacuating around 438,000 people from five provinces. The violence marks the sharpest escalation since July’s five-day exchange of rockets and artillery that killed at least 48 people and displaced about 300,000, and follows the collapse of the fragile U.S.-brokered truce after Thailand suspended a de-escalation agreement last month over a landmine incident it blamed on Cambodia.

At around 11:15 pm local time, a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, with its epicenter recorded about 80 km/50 miles off Aomori Prefecture and at a depth of 54 km/34 miles. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially warned that a tsunami as high as 3 meters could hit the northeastern coast, prompting evacuation orders for roughly 90,000 residents across Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures. In the hours following, observed tsunami waves at several ports reached only between 20 and 70 cm. Based on this, JMA downgraded the warning to a tsunami advisory. On the seismic intensity scale used in Japan (1–7), the quake registered as an “upper 6” in Hachinohe city, strong enough to make standing difficult, throw people off balance, and cause heavy furniture to shift, while windows and wall fixtures could break. As of early reports, there were no fatalities, but seven injuries were confirmed. Some rail services in the area were suspended, and several households experienced power outages. Authorities said there were no abnormal radiation readings at nearby nuclear power plants operated by local utilities. Officials cautioned that more strong aftershocks might come in the next several days, urging residents along affected coasts to remain alert and avoid complacency.

At approximately 03:43 am local time, a group of soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR), led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, appeared on state television claiming they had removed Patrice Talon from power, suspended the constitution, and dissolved all state institutions. The announcement came after what was reported as an attack on Talon’s residence in the capital. Soon afterwards, the broader armed forces, loyal to the government, mobilized and swiftly regained control, with the government declaring the coup attempt “thwarted.” Gunfire was heard in parts of the main city, particularly near the presidential residence, and access to key sites, including the state broadcaster, was briefly blocked. Despite the dramatic takeover announcement, officials say the capital and the country are now secure and that Talon remains safe. As of now, no credible public tally of casualties or major structural damage has been released; the number of deaths or injuries, if any, remains unknown. The attempted coup nonetheless caused broad alarm, led to media signal disruptions, and triggered security crackdowns around government installations as loyalist forces reasserted control. The failed coup comes as Benin prepares for a presidential election in April, which will mark the end of President Patrice Talon’s term, who has been in office since 2016.

At least twelve people, including a pastor, were kidnapped during a church service in the rural village of Ejiba, Kogi State, in the latest incident in a weeks-long wave of mass kidnappings. A national security emergency was declared on 26 November by President Bola Tinubu, who urged places of worship to ensure a security presence during gatherings, particularly in sensitive areas. The president also stated that “cult centers on the outskirts should also reconsider the possibility of celebrating worship in high-crime areas, until the situation improves.” Nigeria remains highly prone to mass kidnappings, a practice that accelerated after the 2014 kidnapping of nearly 300 girls in Chibok in the northeast, which gained worldwide publicity. In recent weeks, the country has witnessed a resurgence of such incidents, prompting the president’s declaration of a “state of national security emergency.” Heavily armed groups known as “bandits” continue to terrorize states in the northwest and center, kidnapping civilians for ransom, attacking villages, killing residents, and burning homes after looting them. In the past two weeks, nearly 400 people have been kidnapped nationwide, including more than 300 children from a Catholic school in Niger State. (cnews.fr, 30 November 2025)