India's junior men's hockey team defeated Belgium 2-2 (4-3) in a thrilling penalty shootout quarter-final at the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup in Chennai. Goalkeeper Princedeep Singh was Player-of-the-Match with crucial saves reminiscent of coach PR Sreejesh's style. Captain Rohit equalized in the 45th minute, while Sharda Nand Tiwari put India ahead 2-1 before Belgium's Nathan Rogge forced the shootout. Tiwari scored thrice in the shootout; Ankit Pal netted the winner. India faces seven-time defending champions Germany in Sunday's semi-final. Meanwhile, India's junior women's team dominated Ireland 4-0 in Pool C, with Purnima Yadav scoring twice. India awaits Saturday's results to confirm quarter-final qualification. (PC: HT) 

Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif government appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as the country's first-ever Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for five years, making him the most powerful military figure. The position grants Munir oversight of Pakistan's nuclear weapons through the National Strategic Command, control over all three service branches, and lifelong legal immunity equivalent to the president. He simultaneously holds Chief of Army Staff, becoming the first officer in Pakistan's 78-year history with both positions and Field Marshal rank. The 27th Constitutional Amendment centralized military command, reduced government oversight, and gave the CDF power to recommend Vice Chief appointments. Pakistan has historically alternated between civilian and military rule since 1947. (PC: Gulf News)

US President Donald Trump received FIFA's newly created peace prize during the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, recognizing "individuals who unite people and bring hope." FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the award, calling Trump a leader "who cares about the people." Trump, wearing a gold medal and holding a globe-shaped trophy, called it "one of the great honours of my life." He thanked family, including First Lady Melania, Canadian PM Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Infantino previously suggested Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for Gaza ceasefire brokering. This year's Nobel went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who partially dedicated it to Trump.

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry made their first joint political appearance in Japan, meeting former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko, on December 3. Kishida shared photos on X, referring to Perry as Trudeau’s “partner,” and praised their longstanding friendship built during Trudeau’s premiership. Trudeau echoed the sentiment, thanking Kishida for his commitment to global cooperation. Perry, who recently ended her engagement to Orlando Bloom, joined Trudeau after months of being spotted together, including her birthday celebration in Paris. This marks Perry’s debut in a political capacity alongside Trudeau. Sources say the couple is growing serious, planning holidays together, as Perry concludes her Lifetimes Tour in Abu Dhabi.

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit reaffirmed the resilience of their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, with leaders Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin committing to a $100 billion bilateral trade target by 2030. The Programme 2030 aims to boost Indian exports in pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, and high-tech goods, while addressing trade imbalances from Russian oil imports. Both sides pledged to advance a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, enhance financial cooperation via national currencies and digital platforms, and expand energy collaboration in oil, LNG, fertilisers, and civil nuclear projects, including Kudankulam. Connectivity initiatives like INSTC and Arctic cooperation were also highlighted to strengthen long-term economic synergy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an exclusive interview with India Today Group, declared the Taliban regime in Afghanistan a reality, praising its efforts to combat terrorism and reduce opium production. He justified Moscow’s recognition of the Taliban government, stressing the importance of engaging with Kabul’s leadership. Putin’s remarks directly counter Pakistan’s narrative that the Taliban fuels terrorism through the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and acts as a puppet of India. By endorsing Kabul’s crackdown on ISIS Khorasan and drug threats, Putin effectively sided with the Taliban’s version of events. His comments come amid worsening Pakistan-Afghanistan ties, marked by border clashes, airstrikes, and Pakistan’s expulsion of Afghan refugees.

SpiceJet announced it will operate 100 additional flights over the coming days to ease disruptions caused by IndiGo’s mass cancellations. Chairman Ajay Singh called the situation “extremely unfortunate,” noting the inconvenience to passengers while assuring government efforts to resolve the crisis. IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has cancelled over 1,000 flights nationwide in four days, citing the need to realign crew and aircraft. CEO Pieter Elbers said normal operations may not resume until next week. SpiceJet’s move aims to provide relief to stranded travelers amid the chaos, marking a rare instance of one airline stepping in to stabilize India’s aviation sector during widespread disruption. (PC: Instagram)

India’s government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to mandate permanent satellite-based location tracking on smartphones, sparking fierce privacy concerns. Apple, Google, and Samsung strongly oppose the plan, warning it would turn devices into “dedicated surveillance tools.” The Cellular Operators Association of India suggested activating A-GPS technology to provide precise user locations, but critics argue this would be unprecedented globally and a regulatory overreach. The debate follows the Modi government’s recent withdrawal of an order requiring preloaded cyber safety apps after backlash. Privacy advocates stress risks to sensitive groups like military officials and journalists, while experts warn of higher surveillance power and reduced user transparency. (PC: ZDNET)

Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros Discovery’s film and streaming businesses, including HBO Max, for $72bn in cash and stock, creating a new entertainment giant. The deal, unanimously approved by both boards, positions Netflix ahead of rivals Comcast and Paramount. CEO Ted Sarandos said combining Warner Bros’ franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones with Netflix originals such as Stranger Things will “define the next century of storytelling.” Warner Bros films will still release in cinemas, while its TV studio can produce for third parties. Analysts warn of regulatory hurdles, possible reduced output, and higher consumer prices, though Netflix expects $2–3bn in savings from overlaps. (PC: Variety)

Shashi Tharoor will attend the State dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were excluded, sparking controversy. Tharoor, invited as Foreign Affairs Committee head, claimed ignorance of the invitation process. His attendance drew criticism from Congress leader Pawan Khera, who hinted at political maneuvering. The snub follows Gandhi’s charge that the government discourages opposition meetings with visiting leaders, breaking tradition upheld even under Vajpayee. Tharoor partly supported Gandhi’s view but remains at odds with Congress after praising PM Modi and criticizing family-led politics. His strained ties date back to 2022 leadership demands, fueling speculation of a BJP switch. (PC: X & India Today)