Fresh fighting broke out Friday night between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, reigniting fears after a fragile truce. According to Pakistani officials, the Taliban opened “unprovoked fire,” while Taliban spokespeople accused Pakistan of launching the attack near Spin Boldak in Kandahar, even using heavy artillery. Civilians were displaced, and both sides blamed each other for breaching a recent ceasefire brokered in October by Qatar and Turkey. (PC: BBC)

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 UK has introduced stricter student visa rules, leading at least nine universities to stop accepting applicants from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The move follows rising visa refusals, which now exceed the Home Office’s new 5% limit. Universities like Chester, East London, Sunderland, Hertfordshire, and Oxford Brookes have paused admissions from these countries until 2026. Many institutions blame long visa processing times and tougher compliance checks. The Home Office said the rules aim to stop “visa abuse” and ensure only genuine students arrive. Pakistan and Bangladesh had refusal rates of 18% and 22%, far above the new threshold.

Pakistan has appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as its first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). President Asif Ali Zardari approved the five-year appointment after a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The new post was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed last month to bring all military branches under one command and improve decision-making. With this change, the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been removed. Munir already serves as Army Chief and received a five-year extension in 2024. The government also extended Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu’s tenure by two years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Friday schedule is the main focus of his 27-hour visit to India. His day will begin with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan at 11 AM, followed by a visit to Rajghat. From there, he will move to Hyderabad House for key summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The core agenda is economic cooperation, as both leaders aim to deepen their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” They are expected to announce a long-term plan for trade and strategic projects, with a goal to push bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Delhi welcomed Putin with posters and flags.

The U.S. Department of Labor declared "American Jobs are for American workers" amid ongoing H-1B visa controversy. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified President Trump holds a "nuanced opinion" on the program, stating he opposes replacing American workers and wants manufacturing industry revitalization. Trump recently raised H-1B visa fees to $100,000 sixty times the previous cost claiming visas were "abused" to undercut wages and outsource IT jobs. However, Trump appears to be softening his stance, telling Fox News that America needs "skilled immigrant workers" in key industries. Leavitt explained that while Trump wants American workers prioritized, he supports temporary foreign workers for establishing manufacturing facilities producing niche products like batteries. (PC: X)

At the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) annual council in Vienna, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asserted that his country seeks a definitive peace — not a repeat of historical concessions that emboldened aggressors. He referenced the 1938 Munich Agreement, warning that “bad peace deals only lead to catastrophe.” Sybiha pledged to seize “every opportunity to try to end this war” while rejecting any settlement that merely appeases Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Meanwhile, the OSCE — including Russia, the U.S. and 55 other nations — is being positioned as a forum for post-war settlement discussions, reportedly with Switzerland aiming to launch a monitoring mission. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will still visit New York even though incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani has threatened to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. Netanyahu, speaking at the New York Times Dealbook forum, said he would talk to Mamdani only if the mayor-elect accepts Israel’s right to exist. Mamdani has said he supports Israel’s existence but not the idea of a Jewish state. He has also vowed to direct police to arrest leaders wanted by the ICC, including Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin. Experts say such an arrest is unlikely and may exceed a mayor’s authority. (PC: NDTV)