Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, updates from Russia, India, and the US. Plus, the DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal. Locally, the government unveils the cotton revival plan, Asim Munir was appointed Pakistan’s first CDF, and PMD issues a snow forecast.

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Around The World

Paint the town red. President Putin warned again on Friday that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war in Ukraine. Moscow controls some 85% of Donbas, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruling out ceding territory. Putin's comments come after Donald Trump said his negotiators discussing a US peace plan believed Russia's leader "would like to end the war" after Tuesday's talks in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Putin and Indian PM Modi have kicked off a day-long summit in the capital of India, where trade and Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine loom large. Friday’s summit is Putin’s first visit to India since 2022 and comes as India seeks a reprieve from punishing US tariffs related to its purchase of Russian oil. Russian officials have said they want to increase trade with India to $100bn by 2030, up from an already all-time high of $68bn in 2024.

Deals. The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a peace deal at a summit hosted by Trump in Washington. At the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, Trump called the peace ceremony a "great day" for Africa and the world. Before the summit, fighting intensified in eastern DR Congo between government forces and rebels backed by Rwanda. 

The DR Congo army accused the rebels of undermining the peace process, while the M23 rebels claimed the army violated a ceasefire by launching an offensive. At the start of the year, the M23 rebel group took large areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. 

Anti-drugs strike.  The US military struck a suspected drug boat in the Eastern Pacific on Thursday, killing four people on board, after intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Thursday’s strike coincided with bipartisan criticism of the Pentagon over a September attack on an alleged drug vessel, which included follow-up strikes that killed surviving crew members. So far, at least 87 people have died in strikes on 23 suspected drug boats as part of Operation Southern Spear, aimed at curbing narcotics trafficking.

Pakistan

Soft launch. An inter-ministerial meeting led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar approved key measures for Pakistan’s cotton revival plan, including collecting cotton cess through the FBR and enhancing its rate as per the 2011 ECC decision. With production down to 6.8 million bales (34% below target), the Cotton Commissioner presented a plan incorporating All Pakistan Textile Mills Association’s (Aptma) proposals, including greater industry representation and improved seed regulation. While Aptma suggested an independent Cotton Board, the government said restructuring of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) is underway to address industry concerns. 

All-in-one. The Ministry of Defence has officially notified Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a five-year term, following presidential approval under the 27th Amendment, which restructures military command by merging the COAS and CDF roles, abolishing the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and centralising tri-service authority. A separate notification extended Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar’s tenure for two more years from March 2026. 

The government amended the Pakistan Army Act to reset Munir’s tenure from the date of notification, enabling a possible extension up to 2035, sparking debate after delays in issuance led to speculation over high-level appointments. PM Shehbaz praised Munir’s “historic” elevation and military achievements, while ministers said unified command would bolster national defence. The defence ministry is finalising a new command structure outlining the authority of the CDF, service chiefs, and the strategic command.

Ice spice. The PMD has forecast light rain and snowfall in northern areas today (Dec 5) under a shallow westerly wave affecting the region, bringing mostly cloudy conditions and a chance of precipitation in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While the rest of the country will remain cold and dry, smog and fog are expected to persist in parts of Punjab and KP, likely disrupting travel. Snowfall may cause slippery roads and closures around Babusar, and daytime temperatures in the upper regions are expected to fall by 1–3°C in the coming days.

What Else Is Happening?

👀A diamond-studded locket swallowed by a New Zealand man who tried to steal it has been "recovered" by the police. The Fabergé egg locket, valued at $19,300, was recovered in a "natural" manner, and medical intervention was not required.

🎤Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, following the decision that Israel will be allowed to compete. They were among several countries that had called for Israel to be excluded over the war in Gaza and accusations of unfair voting practices.