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)

Israel said the body handed over by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been identified as Thai worker Suthisak Rintalak. He was killed during the 7 October 2023 attack and taken to Gaza. His return means only one more dead hostage remains to be handed over under the ceasefire deal. Israeli leaders expressed deep sorrow and promised to bring home the last hostage, police officer Ran Gvili. Rintalak moved to Israel in 2017 and worked on farms near the Gaza border. Thailand thanked Israel for its help. The ceasefire remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violations. (PC: BBC)

Two women died and more than a dozen people were taken to hospital after a suspected toxic gas leak in the Kenduadih area of Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The victims, Priyanka Devi and Lalita Devi, died on Wednesday evening and early Thursday. Locals said the deaths were caused by “gas exposure,” which has created fear in the area. Officials said the exact cause will be known only after post-mortem reports. Angry villagers blocked the Dhanbad-Ranchi road and burned tyres in protest. Authorities are trying to find the source of the suspected leak and are monitoring the health of affected residents. (PC: HT)

In a pointed attack from his prison cell at Adiala Jail, former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan accused army chief Asim Munir of intentionally escalating tensions with neighbouring Afghanistan, alleging the move is designed to boost Munir’s international profile and curry favour with Western powers. Khan claimed Munir’s policies have been “disastrous” for Pakistan’s national security, citing refugee expulsions, drone strikes, and rising terrorism. He described Munir as a “mentally unstable man” whose moral failings have led to the collapse of law in Pakistan. Khan also detailed his own confinement, accusing authorities of serious human-rights violations. (PC: India Today)