A devastating fire at a restaurant in Huancané, a town in Peru’s Andean Puno region near the Bolivian border, killed ten university students and injured three others. The victims, aged between 17 and 23, were attending a birthday celebration when the blaze broke out on Thursday afternoon, according to police reports released Friday.

Authorities said the students were trapped on the second floor of the Kalma Tripa restaurant, a structure made of wood and brick. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames using fire extinguishers and water before firefighters arrived from Juliaca, nearly an hour later. Huancané’s mayor, Valerio Tapia, told state news agency Andina that the town of 20,000 residents has no fire service of its own.

Preliminary investigations suggest a gas cylinder explosion may have triggered the fire. Experts note that such incidents are frequent in Peru’s remote regions, where safety regulations on fuel storage are often poorly enforced. The tragedy has renewed calls for improved fire safety infrastructure in rural Andean towns.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured India of a steady and uninterrupted energy supply, disregarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff pressures. Speaking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Putin criticized Washington’s stance, questioning the logic of restricting India’s energy imports from Russia while the U.S. itself continues to purchase Russian nuclear fuel.

Putin highlighted the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant as a flagship project of Russia-India cooperation, noting that two of its six reactor units are already connected to the power grid. He expressed optimism that the plant, once fully operational, would significantly bolster India’s energy capacity and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

The assurance comes amid heightened U.S.-India trade tensions, with Trump imposing 50% tariffs on most Indian goods and accusing New Delhi of indirectly funding the Ukraine war through Russian oil purchases—an allegation India firmly denies. Putin concluded his two-day visit to India on Friday, emphasizing long-term energy collaboration between Moscow and New Delhi.

The world’s tallest hotel, ‘Ciel Dubai,’ has officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, marking a new milestone in global luxury hospitality. Standing 377 meters tall with 82 floors, the skyscraper hotel was developed by The First Group and will be operated by InterContinental Hotels Group under its Vignette Collection brand. The property features 1,004 rooms and suites, offering panoramic views of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah and Marina districts.

Room rates start at 1,310 dirhams (around $357) per night, while premium suites cost up to 2,400 dirhams. The hotel’s design emphasizes natural light and open spaces, with a rooftop observation deck providing 360-degree city views. Industry analysts note that the launch reinforces Dubai’s position as a global tourism and architectural hub.

Ciel Dubai’s debut comes amid a surge in high-end hospitality projects across the region, reflecting strong post-pandemic tourism recovery and continued investor confidence in the UAE’s luxury travel sector.

India announced it will soon introduce a 30-day free e-tourist visa and group tourist visa for Russian citizens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen cultural and people-to-people connections between the two countries.

Modi emphasized that the new visa policy reflects the importance of direct engagement between citizens in deepening bilateral relations. He also noted the recent opening of two new Indian consulates in Russia, which are expected to facilitate easier communication and promote cooperation in trade, education, science, and culture. The move follows growing efforts by both nations to expand collaboration beyond defense and energy sectors.

Analysts view the free visa scheme as a strategic gesture to attract Russian tourists amid global travel realignments. It may also enhance India’s soft power and economic ties with Russia, especially as both countries seek to diversify partnerships in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

The United States has urged European allies to assume primary responsibility for NATO’s conventional defense by 2027, according to multiple diplomatic sources. During a recent meeting in Washington, Pentagon officials delivered what participants described as a firm message, warning that failure to meet the target could lead to reduced U.S. participation in certain NATO coordination structures. European diplomats reportedly viewed the timeline as unrealistic, citing limited progress since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Officials said the Pentagon has not clarified how it will measure Europe’s progress, and uncertainty remains over whether the 2027 deadline reflects the Trump administration’s formal policy or internal Pentagon sentiment. European nations argue that replacing U.S. intelligence and surveillance capabilities within three years is impractical, given production backlogs and long delivery times for military equipment. NATO’s spokesperson acknowledged ongoing European efforts to strengthen defense but confirmed no official alliance deadline. The debate underscores Washington’s long-standing pressure on Europe to increase defense spending, a theme revived in the 2024 U.S. election context.

Analysts warn that diverging expectations could strain transatlantic unity, especially as NATO faces persistent security challenges from Russia and global instability.

Pakistan’s military announced that nine suspected India-backed militants were killed in separate counterterrorism operations in the Tank and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on December 6 that the raids were launched following intelligence reports about militant presence in the area.

According to the ISPR, seven militants were killed during an operation in Tank, while two others died in Lakki Marwat. Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the sites. The military described the slain individuals as being involved in multiple attacks against security personnel, law enforcement agencies, and civilians.

Authorities said a “sanitization operation” is ongoing to eliminate any remaining India-supported militants in the region. The incident underscores Pakistan’s continued struggle with cross-border militancy and its efforts to maintain stability in its northwestern border areas.

Canada has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, marking a significant diplomatic shift. The announcement came on Friday, December 5, with Global Affairs Canada stating that Syria’s interim government is working toward national stability and reconstruction. The decision follows similar moves by the United States and the United Kingdom, signaling a coordinated Western reassessment of Syria’s political trajectory.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Canada welcomes Syria’s steps toward a peaceful political transition and reaffirmed support for the Syrian people’s pursuit of an inclusive and prosperous future. The ministry emphasized that Syria has been cooperating with global partners to maintain regional stability and combat terrorism.

Syria was first designated as a terrorism-supporting state in 2012 under President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. The policy reversal coincides with a recent visit by representatives of all 15 UN Security Council member states to Syria, suggesting renewed international engagement with Damascus and potential openings for broader diplomatic normalization.

Russia’s special envoy Rodion Miroshnik stated that more than 41,000 civilians have been killed or injured in Ukrainian attacks since the conflict began in 2014. According to his remarks to the state news agency RIA Novosti, over 13,000 civilians, including 237 children, have died, and about 28,000 have been wounded. The casualties reportedly occurred across Russian territory and the Donbas region, where shelling has persisted for years.

The statement comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to explore a potential settlement to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Multiple US sources confirmed that discussions between American and Ukrainian delegations are underway in Miami, focusing on former US President Donald Trump’s 28-point draft peace plan. Ukrainian National Security Adviser Rustem Umerov and Chief of Staff General Andrii Hnatov are leading Kyiv’s team, while the US side includes special envoy Steven Witkoff and Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner.

The talks are expected to continue through the weekend, with territorial and border issues reportedly still under consideration as part of a possible framework for de-escalation.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has vowed a retaliatory response after a Ukrainian drone strike targeted a high-rise building in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. The incident, which occurred on November 5, caused damage to the building’s facade but resulted in no casualties. Kadyrov announced that Chechen forces would launch counterstrikes on Ukrainian military installations within the next week.

In a Telegram post cited by Russian news agency TASS, Kadyrov condemned the attack as a cowardly act, calling it militarily meaningless. He emphasized that Chechen forces would not target civilians but would instead focus on what he described as the “neo-Nazi” military and terrorist infrastructure of Ukraine. The statement underscores Chechnya’s continued alignment with Moscow’s military campaign against Kyiv.

The threat of retaliation adds a new dimension to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting the involvement of regional actors like Chechnya. Analysts warn that such escalations could further complicate peace efforts and expand the scope of hostilities beyond the main frontlines.

Israel’s military has reported an unprecedented rise in suicides among its soldiers since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023. According to official data released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the number of suicides has sharply increased each year since the conflict started, reflecting a growing mental health emergency within the ranks.

Between October and December 2023, seven active soldiers took their own lives. The figure rose to 21 in 2024, and at least 20 more suicides have been recorded in early 2025. Before the war, the annual average was around 12 cases, meaning the rate has nearly doubled. Analysts and mental health experts attribute the surge to prolonged combat exposure, traumatic battlefield experiences, and sustained psychological stress.

The findings have sparked debate within Israel about the adequacy of mental health support for soldiers and the long-term human cost of the Gaza conflict. Military officials are reportedly reviewing counseling programs and considering expanded psychological services to address the crisis.

A deadly overnight exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces broke out along the Spin Boldak border, killing at least four civilians, Afghan officials confirmed on Saturday. The four-hour-long clash marked a serious breach of the fragile ceasefire brokered less than two months ago by Qatar and Turkey. Residents fled the border town as gunfire continued through the night, while hospitals in Kandahar reported receiving multiple casualties.

Both Islamabad and Kabul acknowledged the incident but traded blame over who initiated the attack. Pakistan’s spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused the Taliban of unprovoked firing, asserting that Pakistani forces responded decisively to protect national security. The Taliban, however, claimed Pakistan launched the assault first, forcing them to retaliate.

The renewed violence comes shortly after both sides met in Saudi Arabia for a fourth round of talks aimed at resolving broader disputes. Despite agreeing to uphold the ceasefire, the latest confrontation underscores persistent mistrust and heightens concerns over regional stability along the 2,574-kilometer border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to bringing India’s largest nuclear power plant, located in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, to full operational capacity. The project, comprising six reactors with a total capacity of 6,000 megawatts, is being developed in partnership with India’s state-run agencies. Two reactors are already connected to the national grid, while construction continues on the remaining four.

During a joint press conference in New Delhi with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin highlighted the project as a milestone in bilateral energy cooperation. Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has already delivered the first batch of nuclear fuel for the plant’s third reactor, produced at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant. Under a 2024 agreement, Russia will supply fuel for the third and fourth reactors throughout their operational lifetimes.

The collaboration underscores Russia’s role as a key energy partner for India, which aims to generate 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2070. Both nations are also exploring future cooperation on small modular reactors and floating nuclear facilities.

At least 79 people, including 43 children, were killed in a drone strike carried out by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Kordofan province, authorities confirmed on Friday. The attack, which occurred in the town of Kalogi, targeted a kindergarten, a hospital, and densely populated residential areas. Four missiles were reportedly launched from RSF drones, leaving 38 others injured.

The South Kordofan state government condemned the assault as a 'heinous crime' allegedly committed by RSF-backed Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North. UNICEF strongly denounced the attack, calling it a grave violation of children’s rights, noting that over ten victims were between five and seven years old. Local officials urged the international community to classify the RSF as a terrorist organization and take firm action to halt such violence.

The incident underscores the escalating brutality of Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023 between the RSF and the national army. According to the World Health Organization, the conflict has already claimed at least 40,000 lives and displaced around 12 million people nationwide.

During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India for the annual India-Russia summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented him with six carefully chosen gifts representing India’s cultural and regional diversity. The items included world-famous Assam tea, Kashmiri saffron, a silver tea set from Murshidabad, a silver horse from Maharashtra, a marble chess set from Agra, and a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita.

Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening and was welcomed with a red-carpet reception at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The exchange of gifts underscored the personal rapport between the two leaders and the symbolic importance of cultural diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations. Modi’s selection of gifts reflected India’s craftsmanship and heritage.

The visit comes amid growing India-Russia cooperation, particularly in energy and defense sectors, despite Western pressure over Moscow’s global policies. Analysts note that the meeting reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to maintaining strategic autonomy and expanding trade partnerships in the face of shifting global alignments.

Intense gunfire broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border late Friday night, with both sides confirming the exchange of fire. No casualties were immediately reported. The Taliban government in Kabul alleged that Pakistani forces initiated the attack on Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, while Islamabad accused Afghan troops of firing first at the Chaman border without provocation.

The incident comes just two days after peace talks between the two countries in Saudi Arabia ended without progress. Pakistani Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi stated that Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to protecting its territorial integrity and citizens. The renewed violence follows a period of relative calm since October, when the first direct clashes were halted through Qatari and Turkish mediation.

Analysts warn that the latest border skirmish could further strain already fragile relations between Islamabad and Kabul, especially amid Pakistan’s accusations that Afghan nationals are behind recent terrorist attacks inside its territory—claims the Taliban government has strongly denied.