U.S. President Donald Trump has described Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Field Marshal Asim Munir as a “highly respected general,” lauding his leadership during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Trump claimed his administration had “stopped eight wars,” including a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, which he said could have cost millions of lives.

The remarks follow a series of public compliments Trump has made toward Munir since their June meeting in Washington, where the Pakistani military leader was hosted for a rare White House luncheon. Trump reiterated his positive relations with both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s leadership, calling them “tremendous people.” His comments come amid ongoing debate over conflicting accounts of the May border conflict in Kashmir, during which both nations claimed aerial victories.

Analysts note that Trump’s statements may reflect his broader effort to highlight diplomatic achievements ahead of the 2026 election cycle, though his version of events has drawn skepticism from regional observers and defense analysts.

The United States has approved a $686 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) package to modernize Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet fleet. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified Congress after the proposal cleared the 30-day review period without objections. Lockheed Martin will serve as the primary contractor, providing hardware and software upgrades, maintenance, and technical support.

According to DSCA, the package includes 92 Link-16 data-link systems, avionics modernization, secure communication tools, and training equipment. Of the total cost, $37 million will cover major defense items, while $649 million will go toward maintenance and modernization services. The upgrades aim to extend the operational life of Pakistan’s Block-52 and Mid-Life Upgrade F-16 aircraft to 2040 and maintain interoperability with U.S. and allied forces.

Washington emphasized that the sale aligns with U.S. foreign policy and national security interests, supporting counterterrorism cooperation without altering the regional military balance. Pakistan first requested the upgrade in 2021–22, but the process only advanced under the Trump administration in late 2025 after previous delays.

Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris has appealed to the United Nations Security Council to support a comprehensive peace plan aimed at ending the country’s prolonged civil war. Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, Idris called on the Council to “stand on the right side of history,” urging for an immediate ceasefire under joint supervision by the UN, African Union, and Arab League.

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has killed thousands and displaced millions. The RSF currently controls parts of western and southern Sudan. Idris proposed that rebel forces withdraw from occupied territories and pledged to hold free and fair elections following a transitional period to foster national dialogue.

A UN spokesperson confirmed that Idris did not meet Secretary-General António Guterres during his visit. Despite earlier mediation efforts by the United States and the “Quad” group—Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—negotiations remain stalled, leaving Sudan’s humanitarian crisis unresolved.

Cambodia has formally invited Thailand to hold ceasefire talks in Kuala Lumpur following two weeks of deadly border clashes. In a letter obtained by AFP, Cambodia’s defense minister Tea Seiha urged that the meeting be held in a neutral and secure venue due to ongoing hostilities along the frontier. The proposal comes after at least 23 people in Thailand and 21 in Cambodia were killed, with over 900,000 displaced across both countries.

Thailand’s foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeo had earlier announced plans for a bilateral meeting under the existing Joint Border Committee framework in Chanthaburi province. However, Cambodia’s request to shift the venue to Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, underscores concerns over safety and impartiality. Malaysia has reportedly agreed to host the dialogue.

Tensions remain high as Cambodia accused Thailand of launching airstrikes shortly after the meeting announcement. Continued shelling near the border town of Poipet has further strained relations, raising fears of a wider regional crisis if diplomacy fails to take hold.

At least two people were killed and thirteen others injured in clashes between the Syrian Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo on December 22. The fighting erupted near the Sheikh Maqsoud and Lairamoun roundabouts, involving heavy machine guns and mortar fire. According to state media, several families fled the area, while the Syrian Civil Defense reported injuries among rescue workers and children.

The Syrian Interior Ministry accused the SDF of attacking joint checkpoints, labeling the group as 'traitors.' In contrast, the SDF blamed pro-government militias for targeting civilians. After hours of fighting, both sides agreed late Monday night to cease fire following orders from their respective commands.

The confrontation occurred as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Damascus to discuss integrating the U.S.-backed SDF into the Syrian Army—a process stalled since a March agreement. Analysts warn that the issue remains one of Syria’s most sensitive national unity challenges, with Turkey’s classification of the SDF as a terrorist organization further complicating regional diplomacy.

A Mexican Navy aircraft on a medical mission crashed near Galveston, Texas, killing at least five people, officials confirmed Monday. The King Air model plane was carrying eight passengers, including one minor, when it went down during a humanitarian flight. Two individuals survived unharmed, while one person remains missing.

According to the Mexican Navy, the aircraft was part of a medical transport mission supported by the Mishu y Mau Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides treatment for severely burned children. Among the passengers were four naval officers and four civilians. The minor patient being transported for medical care was among those killed.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while rescue teams continue searching for the missing person. The incident has drawn condolences from both U.S. and Mexican officials, highlighting the risks faced by humanitarian and medical transport missions operating across borders.

A 65-year-old Palestinian gravedigger, Yusuf Abu Hatab, from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, has described the overwhelming toll of the ongoing conflict. He claims to have buried between 17,000 and 18,000 people during Israel’s military operations, often under extreme conditions with limited tools and materials. Many of the dead were unidentified, forcing mass and improvised burials in courtyards, hospitals, and even sports fields.

According to Gaza’s media office, around 71,000 people have been killed and more than 171,000 injured since the war began in October 2023, most of them women and children. Despite a ceasefire declared in October, reports of violations and continued airstrikes persist, leaving hundreds more dead. Abu Hatab said he often worked from dawn until after sunset, sometimes burying up to 100 bodies a day.

The account underscores Gaza’s deep humanitarian collapse, with destroyed cemeteries, blocked aid routes, and psychological trauma among survivors. Humanitarian groups continue to warn that without open crossings and reconstruction materials, the crisis will worsen further.

The Gaza Government Media Office has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement 875 times since it took effect on October 10, 2025. According to the office’s statement released Monday, Israeli attacks have killed at least 411 Palestinians and injured 1,112 others during this period. The reported violations include 265 incidents of direct gunfire at civilians, 49 military incursions into residential areas, 421 shelling operations, and the destruction of 150 homes.

The office further alleged that Israel has failed to meet its humanitarian obligations under the truce. Only 17,819 of the 42,800 aid trucks agreed upon have entered Gaza, averaging 244 per day instead of the expected 600. Fuel deliveries have reached just 10% of the agreed amount, with only 394 trucks allowed in. Officials warned that hospitals, bakeries, and water systems are near collapse, creating an “unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”

The statement urged mediating nations and the international community to ensure safe delivery of aid and fuel, warning that without immediate action, Gaza’s humanitarian disaster will deepen further.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Greenland is essential to American national security and should come under U.S. control, following his appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy for Greenland affairs. The move has sparked renewed diplomatic tension with Denmark, which retains sovereignty over the Arctic island.

Copenhagen reacted sharply, summoning the U.S. ambassador for an explanation. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the appointment 'deeply concerning,' warning that Denmark would not accept any action undermining its territorial integrity. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen emphasized that only Greenlanders can decide their future, expressing openness to cooperation with the U.S. based on mutual respect.

The controversy revives Trump’s earlier 2019 attempt to purchase Greenland, rejected by both Denmark and Greenland. Analysts see the latest step as part of Washington’s growing strategic focus on the Arctic amid rising competition with Russia and China. The European Union has voiced full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, underscoring the geopolitical stakes of the unfolding dispute.

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly called on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to relinquish power, describing such a move as the most “intelligent decision” for the long-time leader. Speaking from his Florida residence, Trump warned that Maduro’s continued grip on power could worsen his political situation. The remarks come amid Washington’s tightening naval blockade targeting Venezuela’s oil sector, which the U.S. accuses of funding criminal activities including narcotics trafficking and human rights abuses.

Russia has strongly condemned the U.S. actions, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov labeling the naval operations and oil tanker seizures as threats to international maritime freedom and regional stability. Venezuela, backed by Russia and China, has requested a United Nations Security Council meeting, accusing the U.S. of “international piracy” and attempts at regime change. Maduro, in a letter to UN member states, warned that the blockade could disrupt global energy supplies. The escalating standoff underscores deepening geopolitical friction between Washington and Moscow over Latin America’s strategic oil resources.

A draft report from the U.S. Department of Defense alleges that China has deployed more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) across three newly built silo fields near its border with Mongolia. The report, cited by Reuters, suggests Beijing shows little interest in arms control talks despite Washington’s calls for renewed disarmament dialogue.

According to the Pentagon, China is modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other nuclear power. Beijing has rejected the allegations, calling them an attempt to tarnish its image and mislead the international community. The report estimates China’s nuclear warhead count exceeded 600 in 2024 and could surpass 1,000 by 2030 if current trends continue.

The document also raises concerns about China’s military ambitions toward Taiwan, suggesting Beijing aims to achieve the capability to prevail in a potential conflict by 2027. China maintains that its nuclear policy remains defensive and adheres to a “no first use” principle.

Cambodia has accused Thailand of launching airstrikes on its territory just hours after a regional ASEAN meeting in Malaysia. Phnom Penh’s defense ministry stated that Thai F-16 fighter jets bombed several areas in Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces on Monday, despite both countries agreeing earlier in the week to hold ceasefire talks aimed at ending deadly border clashes.

The Cambodian statement described the strikes as a violation of the spirit of regional diplomacy, coming immediately after ASEAN discussions on border stability. Thailand has not yet issued an official response to the allegations. The two nations have long disputed sections of their shared border, with tensions periodically flaring into violence.

Regional observers warn that the latest incident could undermine ASEAN’s efforts to mediate peace and may further destabilize the border region. Diplomatic sources suggest emergency consultations could follow if the situation escalates further.

Russia has sharply escalated its attacks on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, targeting key port and maritime infrastructure. The latest strikes have caused widespread power outages affecting over 120,000 residents and damaged a civilian vessel, according to local officials. Fires broke out at a major port, destroying containers of flour and cooking oil, while earlier missile attacks killed at least eight people and injured dozens.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said Moscow is conducting “systematic” strikes on Odesa, warning that the war’s focal point may shift toward the region. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia aims to sever Ukraine’s maritime logistics, following threats from President Vladimir Putin to restrict Kyiv’s access to the Black Sea in response to drone attacks on Russia’s “shadow fleet.”

Odesa’s strategic importance has grown as other southern ports remain under Russian control. Zelensky announced plans to appoint a new air force commander after dismissing Dmytro Karpenko, signaling a potential shift in Ukraine’s defensive strategy in the region.

Malaysia has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take all necessary measures to de-escalate the ongoing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The appeal was made during a special meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, following renewed clashes earlier this month in disputed frontier areas.

According to official reports, the fighting has displaced more than 500,000 people across both countries, with at least 22 killed in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia. Both Bangkok and Phnom Penh have accused each other of provoking violence and targeting civilians, while heavy weaponry, including tanks, drones, and artillery, has reportedly been used.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan emphasized that the conflict poses not only a regional but also a global security concern, urging ASEAN to safeguard peace and stability. He stressed that the goal should extend beyond reducing tensions to building trust and maintaining dialogue between the two sides despite ongoing disputes.

Russia has declared its full support and solidarity with Venezuela as tensions escalate with the United States over naval operations in the Caribbean Sea. Moscow’s announcement came ahead of a key UN Security Council meeting set to discuss the growing crisis between Washington and Caracas. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Venezuelan counterpart Yván Gil condemned recent U.S. actions, calling them a threat to international maritime security and regional stability.

The statement follows a series of U.S. naval operations targeting vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking, which have resulted in numerous deaths. On December 16, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers under sanctions, accusing President Nicolás Maduro’s government of using oil revenues to fund criminal activities. Caracas denounced the move as “international piracy,” while Russia and China backed Venezuela’s call for a UN discussion on sovereignty and non-interference.

Analysts warn that the standoff could further strain global energy markets. Maduro has cautioned that U.S. sanctions may disrupt international oil supply chains, adding another layer of uncertainty to global energy stability.