29 November 2025, Saturday
The World Today #181
The War in Ukraine: Kyiv delegation arrives in US for peace talks; EU Ambassador responds to Russia's attack by saying "any proposal for peace sounds like a farce"
On 29 November, Ukraine's delegation, led by newly appointed negotiator Rustem Umerov, headed to Washington to discuss a revised US peace plan. Russia launched its largest aerial assault in a month by firing 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones across Ukraine. The overnight attacks killed at least five people and wounded dozens. Residential buildings were struck, over 600,000 households lost power, and large parts of Kyiv remained blacked out into the morning. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernová said, "As long as Moscow speaks the language of missiles, drones & blood… any proposal for peace sounds like a farce." President Zelensky described the attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure as Russia's answer to ongoing diplomatic efforts, while a US team prepares to visit Moscow next week.

The War in Gaza: The UN Committee on Torture states that Israel's treatment of Palestinian detainees amounts "to war crimes and crimes against humanity"
On 29 November, the United Nations Committee on Torture concluded that evidence revealed that Israel is operating a "de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture," constituting the crime of genocide under international law. The findings highlight that Tel Aviv's treatment of prisoners of war amounted "to war crimes and crimes against humanity." According to human rights groups from both Israel and Palestine, thousands of Palestinians have allegedly been detained since the war broke out on 07 October 2023. As per Israel's laws on administrative detention and on Unlawful Combatants, suspects who cannot be classed as prisoners of war can be held for long periods without access to a lawyer or family members. Several Palestinian families were unaware that they had been detained, amounting to "enforced disappearance." According to the report, Palestinians were regularly deprived of food and water, and subjected to severe beatings, attacks by dogs, electrocution, waterboarding, and sexual violence. The committee was particularly critical of Israel's reported use of the Unlawful Combatants law to detain whole groups of Palestinians, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Committee member Peter Vedel Kessing of Denmark stated that the committee was "deeply appalled" by the finding and extremely concerned at the lack of investigations or prosecutions into allegations of torture. The committee has called on Israel to launch independent investigations and to ensure those responsible, including senior military officers, are held accountable. Israel's ambassador, Daniel Meron, denied the allegations of torture as "disinformation," claiming that Israel was "committed to upholding its obligations in line with our moral values and principles, even in the face of the challenges posed by a terrorist organisation." 

The US and Afghanistan: Washington halts visas for Afghan nationals, citing "public safety" concerns; Decisions over asylum seekers also halted until further notice
On 29 November, the US State Department announced it is "immediately" halting visa issuance to individuals travelling on Afghan passports due to concerns about "public safety." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed in a social media post that the State Department had "paused visa issuance for ALL individuals travelling on Afghan passports." "The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people," he said. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) director, Joseph Edlow, also announced that decisions on asylum seekers have been paused for the foreseeable future, in the interest of the "safety of the American people." "USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible," Edlow said in a post on X. The decision follows President Trump's recent threats of barring nationals from "third-world countries," due to the alleged attack on two National Guard members by an Afghan national.

Europe: Analysis of 2002-2024 satellite data shows groundwater stores are shrinking rapidly across multiple countries, accelerating the climate-driven water crisis 
On 29 November, a new analysis of satellite data from 2002-2024 shows that much of southern and central Europe, covering Spain, Italy, France, Poland, parts of the UK, and beyond, is losing freshwater at alarming rates. Scientists from University College London (UCL) and Watershed Investigations found that not only surface water but also previously resilient groundwater reserves are depleting across large areas. While the north and northwest of Europe have become wetter, the south and east are drying. The shift reflects changing rainfall patterns, heavier downpours, and longer summer droughts, which reduce natural groundwater recharge. The findings sound a warning that even underground aquifers are no longer safe from the impacts of climate change. Experts say Europe must urgently adopt water-smart policies emphasising water conservation, improved infrastructure, and reuse before the crisis deepens.

World Travel: Airbus requests immediate modifications to 6,000 planes, disrupting global flights 
On 29 November, Airbus issued an urgent alert warning airlines that flights could face disruptions after the company requested immediate modifications to around 6,000 aircraft, nearly half of its global fleet. The move follows the discovery that intense solar radiation may corrupt data used by onboard flight-control computers, posing a potential safety risk. Most affected aircraft will require only a simple software update, but Airbus has advised airlines to complete the fixes as soon as possible. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has cautioned that the updates will likely cause some delays and cancellations across airlines. Major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta, Air India, Wizz Air, and Air New Zealand, have already warned passengers to brace for possible disruptions as fleets undergo the required upgrades.

ALSO IN THE NEWS
"Japan PM's remarks on Taiwan send severely wrong signal," China Daily, 29 November 2025
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/29/WS692a3754a310d6866eb2c045.html

"Xi stresses improving long-term mechanisms for cyberspace governance," Global Times, 29 November 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1349345.shtml

"China sets up new regulatory body to oversee rapid growing commercial space sector," Global Times, 29 November 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1349358.shtml

"China takes on US and Russia as it touts J-35 fighter jet in the Middle East," South China Morning Post, 29 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334494/china-takes-us-and-russia-it-touts-j-35-fighter-jet-middle-east?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

"Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia begin clean-up after massive floods kill hundreds," The Straits Times, 29 November 2025
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-indonesia-begin-clean-up-after-massive-floods-kill-hundreds

EDITORIALS/OPINIONS
"Why Iran is making surprising overtures to America," Economist, 29 November 2025
https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/11/27/why-iran-is-making-surprising-overtures-to-america

Mehreen Zahra-Malik, "Pakistan’s Quiet Coup: The Making of a New Model of Military Rule," Foreign Affairs, 28 November 2025
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/pakistans-quiet-coup

TODAY IN HISTORY
29 November 1947: UNGA adopts Resolution 181 to partition the British Mandate of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states
On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 by a vote of 33 to 13 with 10 abstentions. The resolution recommended dividing British Mandate Palestine into independent Arab and Jewish states, with Jerusalem placed under international administration. The Jewish leadership accepted the plan. Arab leaders rejected it, which set the stage for the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The date is remembered annually in Israel as the day the international community endorsed Jewish statehood, and by Palestinians as part of the events leading to the Nakba.

28 November 2025, Friday
The World Today #180
The US: Trump threatens to permanently suspend immigration from "third world countries”; USCIS introduces guidelines to weigh “negative, country-specific factors” when screening applicants from 19 high-risk nations 
On 28 November, President Trump threatened to "permanently pause migration" to the US from all "third world countries," after two National Guard soldiers were allegedly shot by an Afghan national in Washington. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal travelled under a programme that provided special immigration safeguards for Afghans who had assisted US forces following Washington’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. In a social media Thanksgiving post, he also threatened to reverse the admissions granted by the Biden administration to “remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States,” to “allow the US system to fully recover.” He has warned of a rigorous re-examination of all immigrants from “every country of concern” holding Green Cards, and to end all federal benefits and subsidies to non-US citizens. Trump also warned of measures to foreign nationals who are a security risk or “non-compatible with Western Civilisation.” Trump asserted that “These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations,” and that “Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation.” In another social media post, he claimed that the official United States foreign population stands at “53 million people, most of which are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels”. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also introduced updated guidelines permitting officials to weigh “negative, country-specific factors” when screening applicants from 19 high-risk nations. The list includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen, the same countries included in the travel ban issued by former President Trump in a proclamation earlier this June. In response to Trump’s threats, the UN urged the administration to observe international agreements regarding asylum seekers. "We expect all countries, including the United States, to honour their commitments under the 1953 Refugee Convention," the deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary general told Reuters.

The War in Ukraine: President Putin warns Kyiv must withdraw as he rejects key concessions in peace plan; US envoy heads to Moscow but no summit date yet 
On 28 November, media reports reported on Putin saying that a draft peace-plan text discussed by the US and Kyiv “could form the basis for future agreements,” but stressed that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from occupied areas before any ceasefire or Russia will press on militarily. President Putin further described Ukraine’s current leadership as “illegitimate,” saying that makes it legally impossible to sign a binding agreement with Kyiv under martial law, which Russia demands must change. Meanwhile, Moscow confirmed that US envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Russia soon for further discussions. But as of the latest statements, no firm date for a President Trump-Putin meeting has been announced. President Putin’s remarks implied that even if talks continue, Russia’s military operations will go on until their conditions are met.

Israel and Syria: Thirteen people killed in Tel Aviv’s military raid in southern Syria 
On 28 November, Israel’s military raid in the village of Beit Jinn in south Syria killed 13 people. Israel claimed that the raid was part of routine operations, launched to detain suspects belonging to Jama'a Islamiya, a Lebanese Sunni Islamist group, accusing them of planting improvised explosive devices and "planning future attacks on Israel including rocket fire.” The Israeli military said six soldiers were wounded, three of them severely, by militant fire. The Israeli military claimed "armed terrorists" fired on its troops, and they responded with fire "along with aerial assistance.” Israel’s military spokesperson Avichay Adraee asserted that Tel Aviv would not allow "terrorism and terrorist elements to entrench themselves on our borders", and that three people suspected "of involvement in terrorist plots" had been arrested. Syria's foreign ministry staunchly condemned the raids, accusing Israel of committing a “full-fledged war crime.”

EU and China: Brussels launches plan to reduce reliance on China for critical raw materials 
On 28 November, the European Union is preparing to launch a plan aimed at cutting its dependence on China for critical raw materials, including rare earths essential for sectors like automotive, clean energy, semiconductors and defence. Under the upcoming initiative, dubbed REsourceEU, the EU will support priority projects with EUR 3 billion from its budget. It will also step up recycling, stockpiling, and diversify sourcing by forming partnerships with resource-rich countries via its investment mechanisms such as the European Investment Bank and the Global Gateway. Yet, analysts warn creating a self-reliant supply chain is costly and time-consuming, because China currently dominates raw-material extraction and processing globally.

Japan: Same-sex marriage ban is ruled constitutional by Tokyo High Court
On 28 November 2025, the Tokyo High Court upheld Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage as constitutional, with a blow to activists and opposing a recent trend of rulings in favour of marriage equality. Judge Ayumi Higashi stated that the issue should be decided by parliament and not the judiciary. Japan remains the only G7 nation that neither recognises same-sex marriage nor provides nationwide legal protections for same-sex couples. Of six high-court cases since 2019, five had previously declared the ban unconstitutional. This verdict was the sole exception. Plaintiff Shino Kawachi called the ruling “difficult to comprehend,” and asked, “Was the court even watching us?” Her partner, Hiromi Hatogai, said she was “extremely outraged” but vowed to keep fighting. Amnesty International labelled the decision “a damaging step backwards.” The consolidated cases now head to Japan’s Supreme Court for a final ruling.

Southeast Asia: Flood death toll reaches 321 amid rescue operations; Thousands are still stranded as waters recede
On 28 November, rescuers intensified recovery operations across Southeast Asia as the regional death toll from week-long cyclone-fueled floods climbed to at least 321, including 46 in Sri Lanka. Waters began receding in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, but challenges persisted with missing persons, power outages and supply shortages. In Sumatra, 174 confirmed deaths with mass burials underway in Batang Toru for unclaimed victims. With thousands being displaced, airlifts delivered aid to isolated areas like Padang Pariaman, where a resident said, "We're running out of supplies and food." Thailand reported 145 fatalities across southern provinces, affecting 3.5 million people. In Hat Yai, evacuees described isolation and said, "It affects everything... I was stuck like I was on an island." In Malaysia, Tropical Storm Senyar weakened post-landfall, with two deaths and 30,000 people in shelters. Authorities focused on restoring communications and clearing landslide debris as more rain loomed.

TODAY IN HISTORY
28 November 1893: New Zealand holds the world’s first national election with women voters
On 28 November 1893, New Zealand made global history by becoming the first country to allow women to vote in a national election. This landmark moment followed decades of determined activism led by suffragists like Kate Sheppard, whose nationwide petitions pressured the government to pass the Electoral Act of 1893. Women’s participation at the polls was extraordinary, over 80 per cent of eligible women cast their vote, disproving critics who claimed women were uninterested or unprepared for political engagement. New Zealand’s breakthrough inspired suffrage movements worldwide and reshaped the global conversation on political rights. It remains a milestone in the long journey toward gender equality and democratic inclusion.

27 November 2025, Thursday
The World Today #179
China releases a White Paper on "Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation in the New Era" emphasising on No-First Use and Minimum Deterrence 
On 27 November, China released a White Paper titled "China's Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation in the New Era." The White Paper contains the following five parts: Nuclear Arms Control; Missiles and Missile Defense; Biosecurity; Chemical Weapons; and Conventional Weapons

The first part, "Nuclear Arms Control," is further divided into the following four aspects: Nuclear Policy; Nuclear Disarmament; Nuclear Non-proliferation; and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. According to its nuclear policy, China gives a "firm commitment" to a policy of "no-first-use of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy of self-defence" and keeping "China's nuclear capabilities at the minimum level." This section also addresses China's nuclear safety, security, and transparency. On nuclear disarmament, the White Paper refers to China "upholding a fair and reasonable, rational and pragmatic approach to nuclear disarmament," a firm support for the "purposes and objectives" of the CTBT, and engaging in an FMCT.

The White Paper objects to the "double standards on nuclear nonproliferation and the practice of favouring geopolitical interests over the international nuclear nonproliferation regime." It considers the AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation as the "first transfer of naval nuclear propulsion reactors and weapons-grade highly enriched uranium from nuclear-weapon states to a non-nuclear-weapon state," thereby undermining the "international nuclear nonproliferation regime."

The War in Ukraine: Rejecting any major concessions, Moscow says “We will not surrender,” on core issues; Kyiv strengthens wartime economy with new IMF partnership
On 26 November, a senior Russia's diplomat declared that Moscow will not agree to “big concessions” in any peace deal over Ukraine. The remarks follow a leak of a call showing US envoy Steve Witkoff had earlier advised Russia on how to frame a peace proposal to President Donald Trump, a draft that reportedly included territorial and strategic demands in Russia’s favour. Despite pressure, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and other Kremlin officials reiterated that Russia “would not surrender” on core issues and viewed any talk of major concessions as premature. The firm public stance comes just as US and Ukrainian negotiators refined a revised peace framework during recent talks in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. Washington described the meetings as “productive,” and Kyiv said it retained key red-lines around sovereignty and prisoner releases. Russia’s rigid posture has raised doubts among European allies about the feasibility of the plan. A growing number of EU leaders warn that Moscow’s demands effectively block a fair and lasting settlement unless Kyiv and its partners reject any proposal with forced concessions. Amid the uncertain landscape, Ukraine reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on a four-year, USD 8.2 billion programme aimed at stabilising its wartime economy. The IMF praised Ukraine for maintaining macroeconomic stability despite the war, while Kyiv stressed that continued financial support is essential for economic resilience and wartime recovery. The programme aims to stabilise public finances, support reconstruction, and advance structural reforms.

Guinea-Bissau: Military seizes power and detains President Embaló; AU "unequivocally condemns the military coup d’etat"
On 26 November, military officers in Guinea Bissau seized power and detained President Umaro Sissoco Embaló after gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in Bissau. General Denis N'Canha announced the creation of a High Military Command for the Restoration of Order, suspended the electoral process, closed borders and imposed a curfew. The soldiers claimed they acted to stop a plot by politicians “with the support of a well-known drug baron” to destabilise the country. President Embaló confirmed his ousting to France 24, saying: “I have been deposed.” Opposition candidate Fernando Dias, ex-PM Domingos Pereira, Interior Minister Botché Candé, army chief Gen Biague Na Ntan and his deputy were also detained. The takeover halted the announcement of presidential runoff results in which both Embaló and Dias had claimed victory. ECOWAS and AU observers expressed deep concern as the election was “orderly and peaceful.” The Chairperson of the African Union Commission has released an official statement saying that he "unequivocally condemns the military coup d’etat in Guinea Bissau" The country has seen at least nine coups or attempts since 1974.

US, G20 and South Africa: "South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20," says President Trump
On 27 November, US President Trump stated that South Africa will not be invited to the G20 2026, claiming the government was "killing white people and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them." He had boycotted the G20 Summit held in Johannesburg, stating that the white minority is the victim of large-scale killings and land grabs. Moreover, in a social media post, he stated that all payments and subsidies will be halted with immediate effect. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa called the decision "regrettable" and stated that President Trump continued "to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country." The instruments of the G20 Presidency are now handed over to a US embassy official at the South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation headquarter.

Hong Kong: Deadliest fire in a century kills 65 with hundreds still missing 
On 27 November, authorities said that a huge fire that engulfed a high-rise housing complex on 26 November had killed 65 people, with more than 300 people still missing. As of 27 November evening (2000 hrs local time), the firefighters are still trying to put out the fire that broke out in the Tai Po neighbourhood and reach people trapped inside the buildings. Officials said they had brought the fire in four buildings under control, but that three others remained. The fire began at about 2:51 pm local time on 26 November at Wang Fuk Court when bamboo scaffolding, which burns very easily, outside one of the buildings, caught fire. Following this, the flames quickly spread into the building and then to the nearby towers. The buildings were also covered in green construction netting, helping the fire spread even faster. Since Monday, Hong Kong has been under a high fire alert due to persistent dry weather across the region, increasing the risk of fires. According to the 2021 census, nearly 40 per cent of the 4,600 people living in the buildings were 65 or older. “That’s why we see the rising number of deaths,” said Jiang Liming, a professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “In the past, we’ve seen similar facade fires, but we haven’t seen fatalities because people can successfully evacuate from the building – but not from this one.” Three construction company executives have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and an investigation into possible corruption has been launched.

DOCUMENT FOR THE DAY
The State Council Indformation Office, The Peoples Republic of China
"China's Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation in the New Era."
27 November 2025
http://english.scio.gov.cn/whitepapers/2025-11/27/content_118198082_5.html

ALSO IN THE NEWS
"Takaichi's claim of 'theory of undetermined Taiwan status' shows she remains unrepentant; 'San Francisco Peace Treaty' illegal, invalid: Chinese FM," Global Times, 27 November 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1349210.shtml

"Any act of aggression will be met with fierce and decisive counterstrike: China’s defense ministry on whether PLA’s drills a warning to Japan," Global Times, 27 November 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1349220.shtml

"S. Korea imposes largest-ever sanctions on Cambodia scam rings," The Korea Herald, 27 November 2025
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10625306

"S. Korea's 4th Nuri rocket launch successful, main satellite establishes contact," The Korea Times, 27 November 2025
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20251127/s-koreas-4th-nuri-rocket-launch-successful-main-satellite-establishes-contact

Who says what
Opinions and views from around the world
Dan Plesch & Manuel Galileo, "Why advances in conventional weapons tech should worry China, Russia and US," SCMP, 27 November 2025
"Long-range precision weapons blur the line between nuclear and conventional warfare. They can destroy the same targets as nuclear weapons without the stigma of nuclear use. This turns conventional missiles into credible substitutes for silo-busting nuclear strikes and undermines the retaliatory nuclear credibility of peer rivals."
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3334240/why-advances-conventional-weapons-tech-should-worry-china-russia-and-us?module=top_story&pgtype=section

Ivan Krastev, "The Paradox of Europe’s Trumpian Right: How America’s Weaponization of Ideology Could Backfire, Foreign Affairs, 27 November 2025
There is a sense that the White House views many European countries as just one electoral cycle behind the United States and expects a dramatic rightward turn on the continent in the next few years. Europeans on the right seem to share this conviction and have even taken steps to form a kind of transnational front. A new group of right-wing parties has emerged, the Patriots of Europe, which has vowed to “Make Europe Great Again” and embraces the MAGA revolution a model
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/paradox-europes-trumpian-right

TODAY IN HISTORY
27 November 1971: Soviet Union’s Mars 2 becomes the first human object to reach the Mars surface, boosting Russia's prestige in the Space Race
On 27 November 1971, the Soviet Mars 2 spacecraft became the first human-made object to reach the surface of Mars. The Lander separated from the orbiter about 4.5 hours before landing on Mars, where the descent system malfunctioned due to fierce winds and poor visibility. This resulted in a hard impact that prevented surface operations or data transmission. In the intensifying Space Race of the early 1970s, the US Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 had to be matched. The Soviet Union targeted Mars. During the 1971 opposition window, when Earth and Mars align closely for optimal transit, the Soviet Union accelerated the Mars M71 programme using a massive proton booster.

Launched on 19 May 1971 from Baikonur, the Mars 2 mission had to contend with a tight launch window. There was a sense of urgency to pre-empt NASA’s Mariner 9 orbital imaging. The Mars 2 lander carried two instruments, a dynamic penetrometer and a densitometer, to measure Martian soil density and bearing strength, while the rover was designed for short traverses. Despite the crash, the orbiter entered a successful elliptical orbit, conducting imaging of the surface and clouds, atmospheric studies, temperature measurements, and magnetic field monitoring until August 1972. This data provided crucial early insight into Mars' environment, including its response to the planet’s dust storm. 

Mars 2 had a twin, Mars 3, which soft-landed on 2 December 1971 but ceased transmission after 20 seconds due to the same storm or terrain issues. Both orbiters returned valuable photographs and scientific data, aiding in early Mars exploration during the Space Race. In 2013, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter imaged potential remnants of these landers, confirming their locations.

27 November 1895: Alfred Nobel signs his influential final will to rewrite his mark on the world
On 27 November 1895, Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel signed his final will at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris, setting the foundation for what would become the world-renowned Nobel Prizes. Nobel was deeply affected by an earlier newspaper obituary that mistakenly described him as the “merchant of death” for inventing dynamite. Troubled by how history might remember him, he resolved to use his wealth to honour those advancing humanity. In his will, Nobel allocated most of his vast fortune to create annual awards honouring those who make significant contributions to Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace. His decision initially shocked his family and colleagues, but it reflected his deep desire to leave a legacy that promoted knowledge, human progress, and global harmony. Today, the Nobel Prizes remain among the most prestigious recognitions in the world, shaping scientific, literary, and humanitarian advancements for generation.

26 November 2025, Wednesday
The World Today #178
The War in Ukraine: New reports reveal Russian influence on early draft of US 28-point peace plan 
On 26 November, media reports revealed that the initial version of the US 28-point Ukraine peace plan drew heavily from a Russian “non-paper” secretly circulated to Washington in October. According to officials cited by Reuters, the early draft included several Moscow-favoured provisions, particularly on territorial concessions and limits on Ukraine’s future military posture. Kyiv strongly rejected these points, prompting urgent consultations between US, Ukrainian, and European officials. Parallel reporting indicates that the United States also held a round of undisclosed talks with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi, aimed at exploring the feasibility of a ceasefire framework. These discussions were not announced publicly. As backlash grew, Washington prepared a revised peace framework, removing nine of the most contentious points from the original draft. The updated plan expands Ukraine’s permissible peacetime military size and defers territorial discussions until after a verified ceasefire, addressing several concerns raised by Kyiv. Despite adjustments, unease has been stirred in Europe, with some governments worried that early US negotiations risked aligning too closely with Russian preferences. Kyiv continues to insist that no plan can proceed without full Ukrainian consent.

Taiwan: President announces supplementary budget of USD 40 million
On 26 November, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te stated that a supplementary budget of USD 40 billion will be introduced to defend itself from the rising threat from China. He said, "There is no room for compromise on national security," and "National sovereignty and the core values of freedom and democracy are the very foundation of our nation." Taiwan Defence Minister stated that the new budget will run from 2026-2033, covering items including, new T-Dome air defence system, missiles and drones. On 25 November, Taiwan's Premier said, "We must once again emphasise that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a fully sovereign and independent country," and "For the 23 million people of our nation, 'return' is not an option - this is very clear."

Thailand: Military helicopters evacuate patients from flooded city of Hat Yai as death toll hits 33
On 26 November, Thailand deployed military helicopters and its aircraft carrier to airlift critically ill patients, deliver oxygen tanks, generators, and water to the flooded southern city of Hat Yai. This comes as the death toll rose to 33 as one of the country’s worst floodings in decades hit the city. Torrential rains that dumped a record 630 mm over three days left thousands stranded on rooftops. More than 2.7 million people across nine provinces have been affected, with over 980,000 homes flooded. The military has mobilised 200 boats, 20 helicopters, and the navy’s sole aircraft carrier for rescue and relief. ICU patients were evacuated from Hat Yai Hospital’s flooded ground floor, while residents waved desperately from rooftops as supplies were airdropped. Authorities received rescue appeals from around 77,000 people via social media and issued public calls for boats and jet skis.

25 November 2025, Tuesday
The World Today #177
The War in Ukraine: "A critical moment for Ukraine," says President Zelensky as Washington-Kyiv talks move to Abu Dhabi; Russia strikes Kyiv with missiles and drones amid diplomatic push 
On 25 November, the US and Ukraine reported significant progress in their ongoing negotiations on a refined US-backed peace framework to end the war. Delegations met in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, where the US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and senior Ukrainian officials worked to narrow differences in the 28-point proposal. Washington described the discussions as "highly productive," while Kyiv said that key priorities such as the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war remain firmly on the table. President  Zelensky stressed that Ukraine seeks a "just and dignified peace," cautioning that Russia continues to push for international recognition of occupied territories. In Ukraine, Russia launched missile and drone strikes on Kyiv; besides human casualties, residential buildings and parts of the city’s energy infrastructure were hit, with Ukrainian authorities calling it a "deliberate strike on civilians."

US and China: "Our relationship with China is extremely strong!" says President Trump after a phone call with President Xi
On 24 November, the US President and China's President Xi held a telephone conversation. In a social media post, President Trump stated that there has been progress on the terms they agreed to during their meeting in South Korea, and that the discussions included Ukraine, Russia, fentanyl, Soybeans, and other farm products. He said, "Our relationship with China is extremely strong!" and he will visit Beijing in April upon President Xi's invitation. Stating "both countries should keep up the momentum, keep moving forward in the right direction on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit", Xinhua added that President Trump called President Xi a great leader. President Xi also said that Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.

The War in Gaza: Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to end its operation because of "successful completion of its emergency mission"
On 25 November, the BBC reported that the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is ending its aid operation in the Palestinian territory because of "successful completion of its emergency mission." The GHF's executive director stated that the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC), formulated as a part of Trump's peace plan, will be "adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted."  During its operations, it faced allegations of unethical and unsafe conduct, and the UN and other aid agencies refused to cooperate with its system. UN stated that many were killed in their food and aid distribution centres. Hamas spokesman said, "We call upon all international human rights organisations to ensure that it does not escape accountability after causing the death and injury of thousands of Gazans and covering up the starvation policy practised by the (Israeli) government."

Sudan: "We need peace in Sudan," says UN Secretary-General Guterres
On 24 November, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, saying, "We need peace in Sudan," called for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted aid delivery. This follows Sudan's de facto leader, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, rejecting the latest US-led ceasefire, calling it "the worst document yet." In a video released on 23 November, General Burhan stated that the plan dismantles the armed forces, dissolves security agencies and allows the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to remain in all the areas it currently controls. He emphasised that continuing the mediation activities on these terms would be "biased mediation". He expressed concern that the US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, could end up blocking the peace that Sudan's people want. He further accused the UAE of backing RSF. The proposal by the Quad (US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE) called for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process. The RSF had accepted it, but Burhan demanded the RSF's complete withdrawal from civilian areas first. The 30-month war has claimed over 40,000 lives, displaced 14 million and plunged parts of the country into famine.

IAEA to Iran: Pushes to re-engage Tehran amid rising nuclear concerns 
On 25 November, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) renewed its call for full re-engagement with Iran, with Director General Rafael Grossi stating in Manila that the agency is ready to resume cooperation "as soon as possible." His remarks come days after the IAEA's 35-member Board of Governors passed a resolution urging Iran to clarify the status of its enriched uranium stockpile and provide updated information on nuclear sites reportedly damaged in recent attacks. General Grossi stressed that despite political tensions, technical dialogue must continue, noting that the agency "cannot work based on assumptions" and needs direct access for verification. The IAEA hopes that Tehran will respond to the board's demands, enabling a return to transparency and stabilising an increasingly uncertain nuclear landscape.

Who says what 
Opinions and views from around the world
Thomas O. Falk, "Stumbling Germany needs a clear strategy on China," SCMP, 25 November 2025
"Germany’s predicament is understandable – but not excusable. In the first nine months of the year, bilateral trade reached €185.9 billion (US$214.9 billion), even edging out the United States. However, Germany is reportedly also heading for a record €87 billion trade deficit with China this year. German companies are losing ground in electric vehicles and advanced machinery – even as Berlin imports more of China’s surplus output. The vulnerability runs deeper than balance sheets. What Germany buys from China is no longer just cheap consumer goods, but the very materials that underpin its industrial might and security. China controls over 90 per cent of the world’s processed rare earths and magnets – the hidden materials of modern power. Beijing’s latest export controls on these materials are not bureaucratic tinkering but leverage."
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3333715/stumbling-germany-needs-clear-strategy-china?module=top_story&pgtype=section

Jonathan A Czin, "How Xi Played Trump: Beijing Gambled and Is Now Reaping the Rewards," Foreign Affairs, 25 November 2025
"Xi has secured Trump’s commitment to several meetings in 2026, as well as concessions from the administration on incredibly contentious issues: Taiwan and U.S. export controls. By every measure, China is diplomatically, strategically, and technologically better off than it was a year ago. In contrast, the Trump administration’s strategy, which has lurched from attempts to clobber China economically through tariffs to attempts to mollify China through serial concessions, has achieved little. Beijing has been neither cowed nor assuaged. The United States seems less able to either reassure or deter China; Chinese officials have learned that the Trump administration, for all its bluster, will not follow through on its promises or its threats."
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/how-xi-played-trump

Graham Allison and James A. Winnefeld, Jr,"The End of the Longest Peace?," Foreign Affairs, 25 November 2025
"The existence of rising competitors also threatens peace. China’s meteoric ascent is challenging U.S. preeminence, echoing the type of fierce rivalry between an established and a rising power that the ancient Greek historian Thucydides warned would lead to conflict. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the United States did not give much thought to competing with China, which was far behind economically, militarily, and technologically. Now, China has caught up or even surpassed the United States in numerous areas, including trade, manufacturing, and green technologies, and is rapidly advancing in others. At the same time, Putin, who presides over a weakening country but still commands a nuclear arsenal capable of destroying the United States, has demonstrated his readiness to use war to restore a measure of Russian greatness. With Russian threats mounting and the Trump administration’s support for NATO declining, Europe is struggling to come to terms with acute security challenges in the decades ahead."
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/end-longest-peace

Today in History
25 November 1960: The Mirabal sisters' assassination in Dominica, leads  to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 1999 
On 25 November 1960, the Mirabal sisters Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa, Dominica's political activists resisting the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, were assassinated. Known collectively as Las Mariposas (The Butterflies), the sisters were key figures in the underground movement challenging Trujillo's authoritarian rule. Their killing, staged by the regime as a car accident, was immediately recognised by the Dominican people as a political assassination meant to silence dissent. Instead of suppressing resistance, the tragedy intensified public anger and became a defining moment in the struggle against dictatorship. Over time, the Mirabal sisters came to symbolise courage, justice, and the fight against gender-based violence worldwide. Honouring their legacy, the United Nations designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 1999, a global reminder of the urgent need to end violence against women and girls in all forms.

25 November 1783: The last British troops leave New York and marks the end of the Revolutionary War
On 25 November 1783, the last British troops evacuated New York City, which brought a formal end to seven years of occupation and British military presence on American soil after the Revolutionary War. As the redcoats boarded ships at Staten Island under the command of Sir Guy Carleton, General George Washington prepared to ride triumphantly into the city later that same day. The departure fulfilled Britain’s obligation under the Treaty of Paris, which recognised American independence. The event was remembered as Evacuation Day and was celebrated as a national holiday in New York until the early 20th century. “The British are gone,” Washington reportedly declared, “and America is free.”

24 November 2025, Monday
The World Today #176
The War in Ukraine: Geneva talks bring Washington and Kyiv closer to draft peace deal as Europe urges caution 
On 24 November, the US and Ukraine announced “significant progress” on a refined peace framework after intensive negotiations in Geneva. A joint statement called the talks “highly productive”, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying negotiators had managed to narrow key gaps in the 28-point American proposal. However, he stressed that “some work remains” before any final document can be presented to Russia. The original US draft leaked last week was cautiously welcomed in Moscow, but criticised in Kyiv and several European capitals for appearing overly accommodating to the Kremlin. Reflecting this, European leaders responded to Sunday’s developments with guarded optimism. Finland’s President Stubb, UK PM Starmer, and German Foreign Minister Wadephul all said progress was visible, but emphasised that major issues especially those touching EU and NATO interests, must be decided by Europeans, not negotiated over their heads. From Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has received “no official information” about the outcome of the Geneva talks. Addressing the Swedish parliament, President Zelensky called the moment “critical”, noting that Ukraine had managed to keep “sensitive points,” including the release of all prisoners of war on the table. He warned that President Putin seeks “legal recognition for what he has stolen,” threatening global norms of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Japan and China: Tokyo plans to deploy a missile unit at Yonaguni Island; Beijing view the plan as a "deliberate move that breeds regional tensions and stokes military rivalry"; "military facilities is...helpful to maintaining security in the Taiwan Strait," says Taiwan's deputy foreign minister
On 24 November, Japan's defence minister stated Japan's plan to deploy a medium-range surface-to-air missile unit at Yonaguni military base. He said, “The deployment can help lower the chance of an armed attack on our country,” and “The view that it will heighten regional tensions is not accurate.” In response, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said it is a "deliberate move that breeds regional tensions and stokes military rivalry," and called the plan "extremely dangerous." While stating that Japan's decision goes against the Potsdam Proclamation, Japan's Peace Constitution and  "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," the spokesperson said, "Right-wing forces in Japan are... leading Japan and the region towards disaster."  Stating Japan have the right to take steps needed to protect the security of its territory,  Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister said, "Japan's strengthening of its relevant military facilities is basically helpful to maintaining security in the Taiwan Strait," and "So, of course, this is helpful to our national interests as Japan has no territorial designs or hostility towards Taiwan."

US and Venezuela: Caracas rejects Washington's designation of Cartel de los Soles as terrorist organisation and calls it "ridiculous fabrication"
On 24 November, Venezuela rejected the US plan to designate the “Cartel de los Soles” as a foreign terrorist organization and called it a “ridiculous fabrication.” Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said that the country “categorically, firmly, and absolutely rejects the new and ridiculous fabrication by the Secretary of the US Department of State, Marco Rubio, which designates the non-existent Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization.” He added that the designation revives “an infamous and vile lie to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela, under the classic US regime-change format.” President Trump’s administration alleged that the cartel was made up of high-ranking officials and accused Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro of leading the group, which he denied. The move follows a major US military buildup in the Caribbean and comes amid reports that Washington is preparing a new phase of Venezuela-related operations. InSight Crime, a foundation that analyses organised crime, has described calling it a formal cartel headed by Maduro is an “oversimplification,” and emphasised that it is instead a broader “system of corruption wherein military and political officials profit by working with drug traffickers.”

South Korea and North Korea: "We are in a very dangerous situation where accidental clashes could break out at any time," says President Lee
On 24 November, Yonhap News reported that in a press briefing, President Lee Jae Myung stated that the state of the relationship between North and South Korea is in a "very dangerous situation." Citing the triple-layer barbed wire installation along the Military Demarcation Line and severed communication channel, he said, "Inter-Korean ties have become very hostile and confrontational, and in the absence of even the basic level of trust, the North is showing some very extreme behaviour." While stating no intention of unification by absorption, he added that "We are in a very dangerous situation where accidental clashes could break out at any time." Additionally, he called upon North Korea to clarify the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to prevent unintended clashes. He further added that "war rehearsals" by the South Korea-US joint military drills will cease once peace is achieved by the long-term effort.

Ethiopia: Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts after 12000 years and sends ash clouds to Yemen, Oman, India and Pakistan
On 23 November, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years and sent thick plumes of smoke up to 9 miles into the sky, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC). The volcano is 500 meters above sea level and is situated within the Rift Valley, a zone of intense geological activity where two tectonic plates meet. The ash clouds drifted over Yemen, Oman, India, and Pakistan, said the VAAC. The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program stated that the volcano has not erupted during the Holocene, a period that began about 12000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.

23 November 2025, Sunday
The World Today #175
The War in Ukraine: Allies meet in Geneva to review a 28-point peace plan drafted by the US 
On 23 November, senior US, Ukrainian and Europe officials gathered in Geneva to discuss a 28-point peace plan drafted by the US aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Andriy Yermak, met first with advisers from the UK, France and Germany, signalling European concern over the proposal’s content. The plan would require Ukraine to make major concessions, including ceding territory, reducing its armed forces and giving up aspirations to join NATO, which Kyiv and its Western allies say would favour Moscow.  US President Donald Trump insisted the draft was “not my final offer”. Meanwhile, European leaders are working behind the scenes to rewrite parts of the deal to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. Russia has signalled a cautious openness to the proposal, though it continues military operations in Ukraine. The talks in Geneva mark a significant diplomatic moment as allied nations weigh the value of negotiations that may shift the balance of the war’s outcome.

China and Japan: Foreign Minister Wang Yi warns that Tokyo’s signal to Taipei crosses a red line; Tokyo discredits Beijing’s letter to the UN as “entirely unacceptable” 
On 22 November, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a statement remarking that Japan’s sending of a wrong signal concerning Taiwan was “shocking” and that it was crossing a red line that must not be touched. He also accused Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of attempting to intervene militarily over Taiwan. He stated that Wang said that in response to Japan’s move, “China must resolutely hit back - not only to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also to defend the hard-won postwar achievements secured with blood and sacrifice.” He also remarked that if Japan “persists in its wrong course and continues down this path,” all countries and people have the right to “re-examine Japan’s historical crimes” and “resolutely prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.” Japan’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to Wang's remarks. In response to Beijing’s letter to the UN, the ministry discredited China’s claims as “entirely unacceptable,” stating that Japan’s commitment to peace was unchanged. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the letter to the UN. “The letter not only contains rude and unreasonable content but also maliciously distorts historical facts,” the ministry said in a statement. “Furthermore, it violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force in international relations,” the statement added.

The War in Gaza: Hamas meets peace negotiators in Cairo
On 23 November, a Hamas delegation met with peace negotiators from Qatar and the US in Egypt, Reuters reported. A Hamas official stated that the delegation would be discussing Israel's "continued violation of the ceasefire agreement.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel's forces killed five senior Hamas members, including a local commander on 22 November after a fighter was sent into Israeli-controlled Gaza territory to attack Israeli soldiers there.

G20 Summit: South Africa hails G20 outcome as a win for multilateralism 
On 23 November, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the conclusion of the Johannesburg G20 Summit as a major victory for multilateral cooperation. The Leaders’ Declaration was adopted despite the absence of the US, which boycotted the summit under President Donald Trump. President Ramaphosa said the declaration showed that world leaders’ “shared goals outweigh our differences.” The agreed text places strong emphasis on urgent action against climate change, debt relief for developing nations, and the need for a green energy transition. This summit is especially significant as it’s the first time a G20 gathering has been held on African soil, and Ramaphosa views its outcome as elevating Africa's role in global economic leadership. Despite deep geopolitical tensions, the Johannesburg declaration was adopted under the African philosophical principle of Ubuntu, reinforcing the G20’s role as a platform for global cooperation.

US and Canada: PM Carney says the trade talks will resume “when it’s appropriate”
On 23 November, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Ottawa will resume trade talks with Washington “when it’s appropriate.” On the sidelines of the G20 summit, PM Carney addressed the reporters and said, "We are very busy with the future of Canada, and with new partnerships. There will be conversations with the president, probably in the next two weeks." This comes after the suspension of trade talks last month by US President Trump over an anti-tariff advertisement issued by Ontario’s provincial government. PM Carney noted that he does not have a “burning issue” to discuss with President Trump and stated that “When America wants to come back and have the discussions on the trade side, we will have those discussions."

22 November 2025, Saturday
The World Today #174
G20 Summit in South Africa: Declaration on climate crisis and green energy transition adopted despite the US boycott
On 22 November, the G20 leaders' summit commenced with the adoption of a declaration addressing the climate crisis and other global challenges. This marks a first, as declarations are customarily adopted at the end of summits based on the consensus of all parties. The resolution was adopted without US input, as the US has boycotted the summit over a diplomatic spat with South Africa. The declaration focuses on aspects that the Trump administration has been critical of, including the severity of climate change, preparing for climate-induced weather disasters, financing the transition to green energy, and ensuring the rush for critical minerals benefits producers, and the substantial levels of debt service suffered by developing countries. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the resolution received an "overwhelming consensus." His spokesperson added that the declaration "can't be renegotiated," adding that "We had the entire year of working towards this adoption and the past week has been quite intense." President Ramaphosa asserted that "We should not allow anything to diminish the value, the stature and the impact of the first African G20 presidency." South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola added that "The multilateral platform cannot be paralysed on the basis of the absence of someone who was invited." The White House has not responded to the declaration. 

The War in Ukraine: European allies issue joint statement in response to Trump's 28-point peace plan; Kyiv and Washington to meet in Bern to deliberate the end of the war
On 22 November, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, European leaders and allies issued a joint statement in response to Trump's 20-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. The joint statement was signed by the leaders of Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Germany, and Norway, and by two top EU officials. The 28-point peace plan endorses key Russia demands, including calls for Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military and renounce ambitions to join NATO. The statement said that "We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force." It also reiterated concerns over limiting Ukraine's forces, stating that it "would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack." The statement added that "The implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to NATO would need the consent of EU and NATO members respectively." Trump has demanded that Ukraine accept the peace plan by 27 November. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine faced a choice between losing its dignity and freedom and accepting Washington's backing for the peace plan. "Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace, and representatives of the Ukrainian state will defend the legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people and the foundations of European security," a statement from the Ukrainian presidency said. Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, stated that "...we are starting consultations between high-ranking officials of Ukraine and the United States on the possible parameters of a future peace agreement." Top official Andriy Yermak, Umerov and other key security officials will lead the talks.

COP30 Climate Summit: Tentative deal over greenhouse gas reduction and climate finance finalised as Brazil negotiates impasse over reducing reliance on fossil fuels
On 22 November, the COP30 climate talks in Brazil reached a tentative deal on action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and provide climate finance. The summit was scheduled to end on 21 November. Still, it was extended due to differences between the European Union and a few Arab countries, where the EU's demands to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels were met with resistance. The impasse was resolved after all-night negotiations led by host nation Brazil, reports Reuters. 
A draft deal revealed that the countries had agreed on steps to accelerate climate action, review related trade barriers, and triple funding for developing countries to combat extreme weather events. The European Union's climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, stated that the proposed accord was acceptable, even though the bloc would have liked more, adding that "We should support it because at least it is going in the right direction." COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago stated that, due to the lack of consensus, a side text on fossil fuels and protecting forests will be published rather than added to the official agreement. The decision to triple climate finance by 2035 will be part of the COP30 agreement. "I will announce that the Brazilian presidency will do the two 'roadmaps' because visibly we did not have maturity to reach consensus. I believe if we do it under the presidency, we will have results," he stated. 

China and Japan: Beijing takes the issue over Taiwan to the UN, states that "if Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention… it would be an act of aggression"
On 22 November, China escalated its dispute with Japan over Taiwan by formally accusing Tokyo at the United Nations of "armed intervention" threats and vowed to defend itself. In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong stated that Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's previous remark amounted to "a grave violation of international law" and that "if Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention… it would be an act of aggression." PM Takaichi previously remarked that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute "a situation threatening Japan's survival." Fu added that "China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defence under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity." Beijing demanded Japan "retract its erroneous remarks" and "stop making provocations and crossing the line," while calling PM Takaichi's statement an open challenge to China's core interests. This is the strongest official Chinese rebuke since the dispute began two weeks ago and marks the biggest bilateral crisis between the two countries in years. Japan's Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations as "entirely unacceptable" while reaffirming its commitment to peace.

US and China: Beijing calls the maritime and air safety talks in Hawaii "frank and constructive"
On 22 November, the People's Liberation Army Navy announced that US and Chinese military officials concluded three days of maritime and air safety talks in Hawaii from 18 to 20 November under the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA). China's navy described the exchanges as "frank and constructive," and added that the two sides "mainly exchanged views on the current maritime and air security situation." Both countries discussed "typical cases of naval and air encounters… to help the front-line naval and air forces of China and the US interact more professionally and safely." Beijing repeated its longstanding objection and stated that China "resolutely opposes any infringement and provocation," while referring to US freedom-of-navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. This marks only the second MMCA working-group meeting since President Trump began his second term. The two sides agreed to hold the next round in 2026.

Today in History
22 November 1963: President John F Kennedy assassinated
On 22 November 1963, US President John F Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in an open limousine through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. The 46-year-old president was struck by two bullets fired from the Texas School Book Depository. He was pronounced dead 30 minutes later at Parkland Hospital. Texas Governor John Connally was seriously wounded in the same attack, while Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested hours later as the prime suspect. The assassination stunned the United States, and Vice President Lyndon B Johnson was sworn in aboard Air Force One that same afternoon. The official Warren Commission concluded in 1964 that Oswald acted alone. But conspiracy theories spread involving the CIA, Mafia, Cuba or elements within the US government have persisted for decades. Kennedy's death dramatically altered American history. It accelerated the passage of the Civil Rights Act, escalated US involvement in Vietnam under President Johnson, deepened public distrust in government and marked a traumatic loss that still resonates in US politics and culture more than six decades later.

22 November 2005: Angela Merkel swears in as Germany's first female Chancellor
On 22 November 2005, Angela Merkel took the oath of office in the Bundestag. She became the first woman and the first East German-raised leader to serve as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. At age 51, the physicist cum politician from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led a "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats (SPD) after an inconclusive September election ended Gerhard Schröder's seven-year tenure. Merkel began a 16-year era that redefined Germany and the European Union. During her four terms, she navigated the 2008 global financial crisis, the 2010-2012 Eurozone debt crisis (this earned her the nickname "Queen of Austerity" among critics), the 2015-2016 refugee influx, Russia's annexation of Crimea, Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the final phase-out of nuclear power. She left office in December 2021 as Europe's longest-serving democratically elected female head of government and remains one of the most consequential leaders of the 21st century.

21 November 2025, Friday
The World Today #173
The War in Ukraine: Trump's 28-point Peace Plan wants Ukraine to give up most of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and caps its troops; NATO not to expand further 
On 21 November, major news media outlets published the 28-point peace plan that is being floated by the US. The 28-point plan includes Ukraine giving up most of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk and recognising it as a Russian territory. According to the plan, Ukraine will cap its troops to 60,000. On Russia's and NATO's further expansions, the plan expects that "Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and NATO will not expand further." On Russia and Europe, "a dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation." The plan puts a full stop to Ukraine's NATO plan and expects Kyiv to "enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO." However on Ukraine and EU, the plan says: "Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered."

According to a Reuters report citing its sources, the US "has threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons supplies for Ukraine to press it into agreeing." On the other hand, the Financial Times has reported on Europe hurrying to respond to the Trump plan. A report in the Guardian says that the German chancellor, France’s President and the UK's Prime Minister have spoken with Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and confirmed their “unwavering and full support for Ukraine on the path to a lasting and just peace."

The G20 Summit: PM Modi arrives in Johannesburg for the G20 Summit; The US boycotts the summit
On 21 November, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa to attend the 20th G20 Summit. The summit is set to begin on 22 November and under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” and hold three key sessions. The first session pertains to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, focusing on trade, development financing and debt challenges. The second session will address disaster risks, climate change, energy transitions and food systems and the  G20’s contribution towards building a resilient world. The third session focuses on critical minerals, decent work and the role of artificial intelligence. PM Modi is expected to speak at all three sessions of the summit and present India’s perspective at the forum in line with its vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future.’ On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, he will also be participating in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting being hosted by South Africa. Chinese Premier Li Qiang also arrived at Johannesburg for the summit on 20 November. He is undertaking a three-country tour, previously visiting Russia and Zambia before concluding the trip in South Africa. The US, poised to take over the G20 presidency from South Africa, has boycotted the summit. “The United States is not participating in official talks at the G20 in South Africa,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Senior officials stated that the acting ambassador, Marc D Dillard, would attend the ceremonial handover of the presidency. “The charge d’affaires in Pretoria will attend the handover ceremony as a formality, but then the United States is not joining G20 discussions,” he stated. President Ramaphosa reiterated that “The United States, being the biggest economy in the world, needs to be here.” Ramaphosa’s spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, posted a message on social media, saying the president will not hand over the G20 Presidency to a Junior Official.

COP30 Climate Summit: Fossil fuels vanish from the draft deal, triggering global backlash 
On 21 November, tenth day at the COP30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, negotiators have released a new draft deal that removes all mention of fossil fuels, the single largest driver of global warming. Earlier versions contained three possible pathways for countries to transition away from coal, oil, and gas, but that language has now disappeared following strong opposition from major oil-producing states, reportedly led by Saudi Arabia. The move immediately triggered pushback. A coalition of countries, including the UK, issued a letter rejecting the draft, warning that they “cannot support” an agreement without a clear and equitable roadmap to phase down fossil fuel use. Diplomats at the venue suggest the removal may be a negotiating tactic intended to intensify pressure in the final days. Other core climate issues also remain undesirable. Language on deforestation, especially significant for a summit hosted in the Amazon has been weakened, drawing criticism from civil society groups. Meanwhile, the draft calls for tripling climate finance by 2030, but does not clarify whether contributions should come mainly from richer nations, raising concerns among developing countries. Despite disruptions, including protests and a fire at the venue, COP30 has brought unprecedented participation from Indigenous groups, even as negotiations head into a tense final phase.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Islamic State-linked militants kill 89 civilians, says UN peacekeeping mission 
On 21 November, the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) stated that Islamic State-affiliated ADF rebels killed 89 civilians across Lubero territory, North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This happened in a week-long killing spree between 13 and 19 November 2025. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019, carried out multiple coordinated attacks on villages and a Catholic Church-run health centre in Byambwe. Among the 89 who were confirmed to be dead are at least 20 women and an unknown number of children. The rebels also abducted civilians and looted medical supplies. Despite ongoing joint operations by the Congo’s army (FARDC) and Uganda’s forces, the ADF continues to operate from dense forest bases it has held since the late 1990s. The group has intensified attacks throughout 2025, with previous massacres including more than 60 civilians killed at a funeral in September and 19 villagers killed in Mukondo in October. MONUSCO has called for immediate independent investigations and prosecution of the perpetrators. The surge in ADF violence coincides with separate fighting in North Kivu between the Congolese military and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.

ALSO IN THE NEWS 
"China, Russia generals pledge deeper military ties, eye missile defence cooperation," SCMP, 21 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333688/china-russia-generals-pledge-deeper-military-ties-eye-missile-defence-cooperation?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

"China’s aerospace giants buoyed by tech seek to boost arms sales at global air shows," SCMP, 21 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333716/chinas-aerospace-giants-seek-boost-arms-sales-abroad-global-air-shows?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

"An interview with Iran’s foreign minister," Economist, 20 November 2025
https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/11/20/an-interview-with-irans-foreign-minister

"Europe races to respond to US-Russian Ukraine peace plan," Financial Times, 21 November 2025
https://www.ft.com/content/069843a4-7f8b-4fb8-a2f5-dc4be258c23c

EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
Moritz S Graefrath and Mark A Raymond, "America’s Allies Should Go Nuclear: Selective Proliferation Will Strengthen the Global Order, Not End It," Foreign Affairs, 19 November 2025
"Japanese proliferation will go a long way toward achieving the United States’ main goal in East Asia, namely, the containment of China through strong local alliances. From Washington’s perspective, the primary threat posed by Beijing is that it might achieve regional dominance and develop the military potential to seriously threaten the United States and its interests by, for example, disrupting semiconductor supply chains or establishing forward bases beyond its territory in East Asia and even further afield. Such Chinese regional hegemony would pose a major challenge to the United States."
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/canada/americas-allies-should-go-nuclear

Xiang Haoyu, "No soft landing for Tokyo's hard line," China Daily, 21 November 2025
"More dangerous than the refusal to admit fault is Japan's continued adventurism under the guise of "dialogue". Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi recently publicly mentioned that Japan must have nuclear submarines. The Takaichi cabinet also indicates to adjust Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles to allow nuclear weapons to be brought into the country. These moves have serious ramifications. The principles are a crucial pillar of Japan's post-war peace framework. Loosening them not only signifies a significant acceleration of Japan's military normalization but could also trigger a regional nuclear arms race, impacting the international non-proliferation system."
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/21/WS691fa1e3a310d6866eb2a9ba.html

Today in History 
21 November 1999: China launches Shenzhou-1, marking the rise of a major space power 
On 21 November 1999, China launched Shenzhou-1, the unmanned test flight that inaugurated the Shenzhou spacecraft programme and signalled Beijing’s long-term ambition to become a leading spacefaring country. Although the first flight carried no crew, it validated critical technologies, re-entry systems, life-support modules, and orbital control mechanisms that would later enable China’s human spaceflight missions. Following Shenzhou-1, China launched a steady series of increasingly complex missions. Shenzhou-5 (2003) carried Yang Liwei, making China the third country to independently send a human into space. Subsequent missions, such as Shenzhou-7 (2008) with China’s first spacewalk and Shenzhou-10 and 11, expanded operational capacity and long-duration stays. The Shenzhou programme eventually laid the foundation for the construction of Tiangong, China’s modular space station completed in 2022. Recent missions Shenzhou-16, 17 and 18 support continuous crew rotation, advanced experiments, and China’s long-term plans for deep-space exploration. China’s ambitions now extend far beyond low Earth orbit. Its roadmap includes a permanent lunar research base, participation in a China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), potential crewed Moon landings by the 2030s, Mars sample-return missions, and a growing fleet of navigation, communication, and surveillance satellites. From Shenzhou-1’s modest test flight in 1999 to today’s global presence, China’s space programme has evolved into one of the world’s most influential and strategically significant.

20 November 2025, Thursday
The World Today #172
The War in Ukraine: Europe criticises the reported US peace plan, as unfair on Ukraine; France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot says "peace cannot be capitulation" 
On 20 November, European leaders criticised the US peace plan that would require Ukraine to make significant territorial concessions to Russia and accept limits on its future military strength. According to media reports, the proposal aims to create conditions for a ceasefire, which has been criticised in Europe as unfairly pressuring Kyiv. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that "peace cannot be capitulation," while several EU officials insisted that no plan should force Ukraine to abandon its sovereignty or territorial integrity. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Washington's push for negotiations, saying difficult choices may be "necessary" to end the war. However, he declined to confirm details of the alleged proposal. The discussions come as the front continues to intensify and winter approaches.Meanwhile, Ukraine announced that it has received 1,000 bodies from Russia, believed to be the remains of Ukrainian soldiers. Kyiv said forensic experts will begin identification procedures and return the bodies to families. The transfer marks one of the largest exchanges of remains since the full-scale war began.

The War in Gaza: Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis kill five; Hamas urges Arab-US intervention 
On 20 November, five people were killed and 18 wounded in Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The strikes follow a previous attack in the same region where 25 people were killed in the suburbs of Zeitoun, Khan Younis, and Shejaia, areas under the control of Hamas. The strikes were launched in regions far beyond the agreed-upon imaginary "yellow line" separating the areas under Israeli and Palestinian control. The Israeli Defence Forces claimed that the strikes targeted Hamas outfits. Hamas condemned the attack and urged the US to "honor its stated commitments and exert immediate pressure on Israel to enforce the ceasefire and halt its attacks." Hamas called the attacks a dangerous escalation and urged the intervention of the Arab mediators, Turkey, and the United States, which brokered the ceasefire. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem also accused Israel of changing markings that define areas of Israeli occupation, a violation of the agreed-upon maps. Citing the residents of the region, Reuters reported that in the Shejaia suburb in eastern Gaza City, yellow barricades marking areas still under Israel's control had been moved 100 meters westward.

IAEA to Iran: Tehran must provide precise information and all access required "without delay" 
On 20 November, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a pivotal resolution to urge Iran to provide critical details on its enriched uranium stockpile and access to nuclear sites bombed by Israel and the United States in June "without delay". The vote tallied 19 in favour, 3 (Russia, China, and Niger) against, and 12 abstentions. Five months after the airstrikes, the IAEA remains barred from inspecting key enrichment facilities, with 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity unaccounted for. This comes to a level teetering near weapons-grade and is sufficient in theory for up to 10 bombs. The US, UK, France, and Germany condemned the opacity as "long overdue" for verification and said in a statement that "Iran must resolve its safeguards issues without delay. It must provide practical cooperation through access, answers, restoration of monitoring, to enable the agency to do its job and help rebuild confidence." Tehran insisted that the program is peaceful, and Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, said that he is afraid that "the resolution will have its own consequences."

Pakistan and corruption: IMF report reveals systemic weakness and corruption challenges across state institutions
On 20 November, the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCDA) report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed persistent corruption across state institutions in Pakistan. The IMF has also demanded the immediate implementation of a 15-point reform agenda to improve transparency, fairness and integrity. The publication of the report was a precondition to the IMF’s approval of a USD 1.2 billion disbursement for Pakistan. The report stated that “Pakistan could generate between a 5 per cent to 6.5 per cent increase in GDP by implementing a package of governance reforms over the course of five years.” The GCDA noted that the country was susceptible to corruption risk generated by weaknesses in budgeting and reporting of fiscal information, and management of public financial and non-financial resources, particularly in capital spending, public procurement and the management and oversight of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). It further pointed to a convoluted tax system that lacks transparency, administered by tax and customs bodies that suffer from limited capacity, weak management and inadequate oversight. It also highlighted that issues in the judicial sector marked by organisational complexity, chronic inefficiencies, outdated legislation, and concerns about the integrity of judges and staff undermine consistent contract enforcement and the protection of property rights. The report urged the advancing of rule-based governance by “improving access to information and strengthening the capacity of state and non-state stakeholders to participate effectively in governance and economic decision-making.”

China and South Africa: Beijing to provide USD 3.49 million in support to South Africa's HIV system, amid US aid cuts 
On 20 November, China's Ambassador Wu Peng announced that Beijing will provide USD 3.49 million over the next two years to support HIV prevention services in South Africa facilitated by UNAIDS. He added that China is ready to "assist South Africa in establishing a sustainable HIV/AIDS response system through policy dialogue, innovative drug supply, technology transfer, and capacity building." This initiative builds on a 2024 cooperation agreement between China's development agency and UNAIDS. South Africa has the world's largest population of HIV patients and relied on the US for 17 per cent of the HIV budget until the US cut foreign aid. Pretoria's Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, welcomed the support as the country seeks to bridge the funding gap with domestic resources and external support.

ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY
"Chinese FM reiterates that Premier Li Qiang has no arrangement to meet the Japanese leader at the G20, urges Japan to show self-respect," Global Times, 20 November 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1348673.shtml

"Japan PM's blatant remarks delay China-Japan-ROK meeting," China Daily, 20 November 2025
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/20/WS691ef9d9a310d6866eb2a90f.html

"China is building the world’s first floating artificial island with nuclear-proof bunker," SCMP, 20 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3333501/china-building-worlds-first-floating-artificial-island-nuclear-proof-bunker?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

"Is naval drill a sign that India, other Quad members can look past differences?," SCMP, 20 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333536/naval-drill-sign-india-other-quad-members-can-look-past-differences?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

"China Is Priming Its People and the World for a New Pressure Campaign on Taiwan," WSJ, 19 November 2025
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-is-priming-its-people-and-the-world-for-a-new-pressure-campaign-on-taiwan-1608e4d6?mod=hp_lead_pos8

"Trump Approves the Release of the Epstein Files, but Loopholes Remain," The New York Times, 19 November 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/us/politics/trump-epstein-files-loopholes.html

EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
"A terrible American-Russian proposal to end the war in Ukraine," Economist, 19 November 2025
"The plan, they say, is a 28-point document aimed largely at curbing Ukraine’s military power once the war ends. It envisages a reduction in the number of Ukrainian troops to just 40% of the current level, with no corresponding cut on the Russian side. Ukraine would be required to cede yet more territory, beyond the large parts of its east and south already occupied by Russia. It would be barred from possessing several classes of weapons, including long-range systems capable of reaching Moscow and St Petersburg. No foreign troops would be allowed on Ukrainian soil. Planes used by foreign diplomats would be prohibited from flying to Ukraine, raising questions as to Russia’s intentions for Ukrainian airspace. Ukraine would also be required to designate Russian as a second state language, and the local branch of the Russian Orthodox Church, disbanded over Ukrainian charges that it is a tool of Kremlin propaganda and espionage, would be restored."
https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/11/19/a-terrible-american-russian-proposal-to-end-the-war-in-ukraine

"How the EU botched its attempt to regulate AI," The Financial Times, 20 November 2025
"Staying in the race for global dominance of AI is key for Europe. Its failure to create or scale tech giants has widened the productivity gap with the US. After failing to lead on other technologies, Brussels wants the EU to be an “AI continent” but the bloc is struggling to develop Europe’s AI ecosystem and to accelerate investment in the technology on a par with global superpowers such as the US and China. Whether the EU succeeds in fixing its rules matters far beyond Europe’s borders. The AI Act is the world’s first attempt to regulate a technology with the potential not only to disrupt every sector of the global economy but also to spiral out of control, with unpredictable consequences. If Brussels waters down its legislation beyond relevance, the question becomes who else — if anyone — may lay down guardrails."
https://www.ft.com/content/6585fb32-8a86-4ffb-a940-06b17e06345a

TODAY IN HISTORY
20 November 1945: The Nuremberg Trial begins, shaping the Genocide Convention and the ICJ 
On 20 November 1945, the historic Nuremberg Trial opened with the International Military Tribunal convening to prosecute 22 top Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace. Held in Nuremberg, Germany. The trial marked the first major attempt to establish individual criminal responsibility under international law, rejecting the defence that state officials could not be held personally accountable for wartime atrocities. The proceedings introduced foundational legal principles such as command responsibility, conspiracy to commit crimes, and the recognition of crimes against humanity as punishable under international jurisdiction. The significance of Nuremberg extended far beyond the immediate convictions. Its legal reasoning and moral weight directly informed the creation of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which formally defined genocide and obligated states to prevent and punish it. The trial also influenced the structure and mandate of the newly established International Court of Justice (ICJ), reinforcing the idea that international norms must be upheld through legal mechanisms. Nuremberg became the cornerstone of modern international criminal justice, setting precedents later used in tribunals for Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, and eventually the formation of the International Criminal Court.
 

19 November 2025, Wednesday
The World Today #171
US and Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, a "major non-NATO ally," says Trump;  Key outcomes include agreements on arms sales, nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals
On 19 November, US President Trump stated that Saudi Arabia is a "major non-NATO ally" and announced agreements on arms sales, nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, after talks held in Washington. According to the White House factsheet, major outcomes include the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and the AI Memorandum of Understanding. Apart from that, a Strategic Defence Agreement was signed, which eases the operation of US defence firms and "fortifies deterrence across the Middle East," and it also aims to "secure burden-sharing funds from Saudi Arabia to defray U.S. costs."  Additionally, Trump approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets, and Saudi Arabia has agreed to purchase 300 American tanks. Riyadh have pledged to raise its US investment from USD 600 billion to USD 1 trillion. Moreover, contradicting the US Intelligence agencies' report, President Trump stated that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince was unaware of the killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, which had created a global outrage.

The War in Gaza: A Palestinian attacker claims, like four in the West Bank; City floods from heavy rain and storm surges
On 18 November, Reuters reported that, in a car-ramming and stabbing, a Palestinian attacker killed an Israeli man and wounded three other people near Etzion bloc settlements. The Israeli military stated that two attackers were shot dead and explosive material was found in the attacker's vehicle, which was later neutralised by the specialist. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a Palestinian terrorist attack. The city of Gaza is flooded by heavy rain and storm surges. The Hama-rum Gaza government stated that the losses from the destruction of tents, spoiled food, medicines and other damaged infrastructure amount to USD 4.5 million.

The US: President Trump's White House tries to block the vote on Epstein files but fails 
On 19 November, media reports revealed that US President Donald Trump’s White House had attempted to delay or suppress a Congressional vote on releasing classified records related to Jeffrey Epstein. According to people familiar with the matter, senior Trump aides, lawyers, and political advisers worked behind the scenes to halt the vote, concerned that the release of correspondence, visitor records, travel logs, and internal communications could generate significant political fallout. Despite these efforts, Congressional leaders from both parties insisted on moving ahead, citing strong public demand for transparency surrounding Epstein’s network and its connections to powerful figures. The attempted intervention ultimately failed, and Congress proceeded with authorising the release of the documents. The newly disclosed materials include references to interactions between Epstein and various officials, reviving questions about the extent of Epstein’s influence and the nature of his ties to political and business elites. The publication of these records has intensified scrutiny of President Trump’s past association with Epstein, adding a new layer of controversy as investigators, journalists, and lawmakers examine the broader implications of the files.

The War in Ukraine: President Zelensky arrives in Turkey to re-engage peace efforts; Poland closes the Russian consulate after railway sabotage 
On 19 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in Ankara for talks aimed at reviving peace negotiations with Russia, seeking to re-engage US involvement through Turkey’s mediation. He is expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to propose fresh solutions and “reinvigorate negotiations." Meanwhile, Poland announced it will shut down Russia’s final remaining consulate in Gdansk, in response to a weekend railway explosion on the Warsaw-Lublin line that it blames on Moscow. Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski characterised the sabotage as “state terrorism” and called for EU partners to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats in the Schengen area. These developments came as Ukraine suffered one of the deadliest Russian strikes of the war. 25 people were killed in a major Russian missile-and-drone strike on the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil. The attack also hit the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, while drone strikes wounded more than 30 people in Kharkiv. Ukraine said it intercepted most of the 476 drones and 48 missiles launched, but air defence gaps allowed several to reach their targets.

UK and Russia: Defence minister says “military options ready” as Russia’s vessel directs lasers against British pilots
On 19 November, British Secretary of State for Defence John Healey stated that “military options” are ready if Russia’s spy ship Yantar becomes a threat. This statement comes after the vessel directed lasers at Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots who were to monitor it. He said that pointing lasers at the pilots was “deeply dangerous” and added that “We have military options ready should the Yantar change course." The RAF and the Royal Navy of Britain routinely watch potential threats to national security and have become more frequent in monitoring Russia’s vessels and submarines after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Yantar was designed for intelligence gathering and mapping undersea cables and is positioned north of Scotland on the edge of British waters. He also stated that he has changed the “navy's rules of engagement so that we can follow more closely, monitor more closely, the activities of the Yantar when it's in our wider waters."

Today in History 
19 November 1863: US President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address articulates a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” 
On 19 November, US President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address during the Civil War. His speech was just 272 words, but it reframed the war from a struggle to preserve the Union into a fight to fulfil the promise of racial equality articulated in 1776. By honouring the soldiers who died at Gettysburg, he argued that their sacrifice would ensure “a new birth of freedom.” He also uttered his famous maxim of a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The speech was significant for its timing as the outcome of the war remained uncertain. It also strengthened the moral foundation for the abolition of slavery and later guided movements for civil rights, human dignity and democratic governance around the world. The Gettysburg Address is still revered for its clarity, brevity and universal message of equality and democratic responsibility.

18 November 2025, Tuesday
The World Today #170
The US and Saudi Arabia: Crown Prince to visit US President Trump; Expects advancement of the sale of F-35 jets and other business deals
On 18 November, the BBC reported that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit US President Trump in Washington. This is the first meeting since the Saudi agents' killing of the journalist, which sparked global outrage. In a press meet ahead of the visit, President Trump said, "We will be doing that. We will be selling F-35 jets," and "They've been a great ally." At the May meeting in Riyadh, both leaders agreed to a USD 600 billion investment deal, which includes the sale of USD 142 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia. Apart from discussing defence and civilian nuclear power deals, President Trump is also expected to push Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords.

The UN and the War in Gaza: The UNSC approves the US draft resolution to implement Trump's 20-point plan; Russia and China abstain from voting, and Hamas rejects the resolution
On 18 November, the UN Security Council voted in favour of a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, and the creation of a transitional governance body called the Board of Peace (BoP). The resolution was backed by 13 countries, including eight Arab-Islamic countries and the Palestinian Authority, who urged the immediate implementation of the resolution. While no state opposed the resolution, Russia and China abstained from the voting. Hamas has also rejected the resolution, arguing that it fails to meet Palestinians' rights and demands. Mike Waltz, the US's ambassador to the UN, highlighted that the ISF would be "tasked with securing the area, supporting the demilitarisation of Gaza, dismantling the terrorist infrastructure, removing weapons, and ensuring the safety of Palestinian civilians."

Trump called the Security Council vote one of "Historic proportion" and remarked it was a way of "acknowledging and endorsing" the BoP. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that adopting the proposal was an "important step in the consolidation of the ceasefire." He also stressed that the resolution needed to "translate... into concrete and urgently needed steps on the ground" and lead to "a political process for the achievement of the two-state solution." Hamas accused that the peace plan "imposes an international guardianship mechanism on the Gaza Strip, which our people and their factions reject." Moscow and Beijing also criticised the resolution, highlighting that there was little clarity about the key mechanisms, that it did not ensure the participation of the UN, and that it did not express a firm commitment to the two-state solution. "Assigning the international force with tasks and roles inside the Gaza Strip, including disarming the resistance, strips it of its neutrality, and turns it into a party to the conflict in favour of the occupation," it added.

The War in Gaza: Netanyahu to convene urgent cabinet meeting to address Israeli violence in Palestinian villages; Vows to "deal with this personally."
On 18 November, Netanyahu stated that a cabinet meeting would be urgently convened to ensure Israelis behind the latest attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are brought to justice. On 17 November, a group of Israelis set fire to homes and vehicles in Jab'a, a Palestinian village near Bethlehem, after an earlier attack on the village of Sa'ir. "I view with great severity the violent disturbances and the attempt to take the law into their own hands by a small, extremist group," Netanyahu stated. "I call on the law enforcement authorities to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law," he said, adding that he intends to deal with this personally." Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the government is set to approve a landmark decision to allocate resources and funding that he expects would have a significant impact on addressing the violence. An Israeli spokesperson stated that the Israeli minority responsible for the violence in the West Bank did not represent the majority of the country's citizens. In November, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed that settlers staged at least 264 attacks on Palestinians in October, the highest monthly tally since the UN began tracking incidents in 2006.

China and the US: Beijing lodges formal protests against the USD 300 million arms sale to Taiwan by the US
On 17 November, China's defence ministry announced that it had lodged a representation with the US due to arms sales to Taiwan. Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, stated that "We urge the U.S. side to immediately stop the despicable act of arming China's Taiwan region and avoid undermining the relations between the two countries and two militaries." He added that it seriously violates the one-China principle and intervenes in China's internal affairs. This statement comes after the US approved a deal of USD 300 million arms sale to Taiwan for fighter jets and other aircraft parts.

North Korea: Pyongyang says US-South Korea nuclear submarine deal will trigger "nuclear domino" effect
On 18 November, North Korea said that South Korea's plan to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines with US approval would trigger a "nuclear domino phenomenon" and spark a regional arms race. In a statement carried by state-run KCNA, Pyongyang condemned the agreement reached last month between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. This reaffirmed commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearisation while approving Seoul's long-sought nuclear submarine programme. North Korea accused the US and South Korea of exposing their "confrontational will" and claimed Seoul harbours a secret ambition to possess nuclear weapons. South Korea's presidential office rejected the accusation and stated that the submarines are needed to counter threats from China and North Korea's own nuclear-submarine development. It also reiterated that Seoul harbours no hostile intent toward Pyongyang.

The War in Ukraine: President Zelensky plans to visit Turkey to revive peace talks; Kyiv's strike damages power plants in Donetsk 
On 18 November, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he intends to visit Turkey as part of a renewed diplomatic push to revive stalled peace talks with Russia. According to President Zelensky, discussions in Ankara will focus on establishing a framework for negotiations, strengthening regional security cooperation, and increasing Turkish involvement in humanitarian and reconstruction initiatives. Turkey has previously played a mediating role in the Black Sea grain deal and has maintained channels with both Kyiv and Moscow, positioning itself as one of the few actors capable of facilitating dialogue. Meanwhile, officials in Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk reported that a Ukrainian strike damaged two power plants, leading to outages across several districts. Local authorities said repair teams had been deployed but warned that restoration could take time due to the scale of the damage. Kyiv has not officially commented on the strike.

Today in History
15 November 1978: The Jonestown Massacre
On 15 November 1978, one of the deadliest mass tragedies in modern history unfolded in Jonestown, a remote settlement in Guyana. It had been established by the American religious group, the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones. Amid growing concerns about human rights abuses, US Congressman Leo Ryan travelled to Jonestown to investigate. As he prepared to leave with defectors, Ryan and four others were shot and killed by Temple gunmen at an airstrip. Shortly after, Jones ordered his followers to ingest a cyanide-laced drink in what he called a "revolutionary suicide." More than 900 people, including over 300 children, died. The incident remains a stark reminder of the dangers of cult coercion and authoritarian leadership.

Who says what 
Opinions and views from around the world
Stephen R Nagy, "Beware China's strategic distortion of reality," Japan Times, 18 November 2025
"China's state media and diplomatic apparatus from Washington to Tokyo, Paris to Cairo, immediately launched a coordinated campaign to paint these defensive concerns as evidence of Japanese militarism and warmongering, a classic case of pointing at a deer and calling it a horse. China's longstanding portrayal of Japan as a rapidly militarizing threat represents a calculated distortion of reality that serves multiple strategic purposes." 
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/11/18/japan/beijings-strategic-distortion-of-reality/

Terry Su, "As Russia advances and Trump retreats, China's ascendancy is clear," SCMP, 18 November 2025
"Of all the regional groupings, Asean has proven itself one of the most stable and enduring despite vast differences among its members. Its decision-making is rooted in informality and gradualism; policies begin as voluntary commitments and evolve into binding agreements only after broad support emerges. Relative peace is preserved by ensuring major powers engage members through its forums and creating economic interdependencies that make conflict irrational."
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332761/has-us-china-rivalry-killed-globalisation-hardly?module=top_story&pgtype=section

"Saudi Arabia is in no hurry to join the Abraham accords," Economist, 18 November 2025
"The best hope for a warm peace is Saudi Arabia; hence the importance of Prince Muhammad's visit. A deal with the kingdom could also have a ripple effect. It is, by far, the largest Arab economy and the custodian of Islam's holiest sites. If it agreed to recognise Israel, other Arab and Muslim countries might follow suit. Joe Biden, Mr Trump's predecessor, was close to brokering such a deal in 2023. In return for Saudi recognition of Israel, America would have offered the kingdom a defence treaty and other incentives. Prince Muhammad saw this as a way to rebuild his standing in Washington, which was still in tatters over the war in Yemen and the state-directed murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist."
https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/11/18/saudi-arabia-is-in-no-hurry-to-join-the-abraham-accords

Oliver Stuenkel and Alexander Gabuev, "BRICS Is Missing Its Chance," Foreign Affairs, 18 November 2025
"...despite their shared interests, BRICS as a grouping is not ready to seize the moment. Its members—which now include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates—are too divided to turn the group into a real challenge to Washington. They vary significantly in their degree of antagonism toward the United States, and each wishes to maintain strategic autonomy. As a result, the bloc will struggle to mount joint action. To unite and marshal their collective strength, the BRICS would have to turn into something akin to the G-7—a U.S.-led group of economically advanced countries that, in the interest of promoting their common purpose and values, willingly sacrifice a significant degree of strategic autonomy. But the BRICS countries, whose bond is based mainly on a collective rejection of US hegemonic power, won't find the cohesion that could make the bloc an effective geopolitical force."
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/south-africa/brics-missing-its-chance.
 

17 November 2025, MONDAY
The World Today #168-169
Bangladesh: Court sentences former PM Sheikh Hasina to death on charges of crimes against humanity; Dhaka demands her extradition
On 17 November, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death on charges of crimes against humanity during the 2024 July uprising. Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also awarded the death penalty, while former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who cooperated as a state witness, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the case. The verdict was issued by the three-member International Crimes Tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder. "We have decided to inflict her with only one sentence- that is, sentence of death," the court ruled. 

The 453-page verdict awarded the death penalty on two counts, one pertaining to the killing of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka's Chankharpul on 04 August 2025, and another for the shooting of six students in Ashulia, five of whom were allegedly burned after death, and the sixth possibly set on fire while still alive. In addition to the capital sentence, she was sentenced to imprisonment for life for making inflammatory remarks and ordering the use of lethal force against student demonstrators. Hasina is also facing three additional cases before the ICT, two over enforced disappearances and another concerning the alleged mass killings at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar in 2013.

Sheikh Hasina has denied all charges, terming the verdict "biased and politically motivated." Ahead of the hearing, Hasina rejected the allegations, criticized the tribunal as unfair, and said that a guilty verdict was "a foregone conclusion." "I am not afraid to face my accusers in a proper tribunal where evidence can be weighed and tested fairly," she responded. Following her ouster on 05 August 2014, after protesters stormed the PM's residence and the Parliament, Sheikh Hasina fled to India, where she has since remained under asylum. 

The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, welcomed the verdict as "historic" and "long-awaited verdict." The government rejected Hasina's allegations and asserted that "The tribunal has functioned transparently," adding that "No credible human rights body has described the current process as politically driven." The Chief Adviser's press wing also issued a statement urging the public to remain calm and exercise restraint. "Tthe government has firmly warned everyone not to take any step that may disrupt public order by being carried away by such emotions," it stated. The statement further added that any attempt to create "anarchy, chaos or breach of public order will be strictly suppressed."

Citing the extradition agreement with India, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry has urged the return of the former Prime Minister. "Providing refuge to these individuals, who have been convicted of crimes against humanity, by any other country would be a highly unfriendly act and a disregard for justice," the ministry said. Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami has also emphasised that "If one claims to behave as a good neighbour, if one aspires to maintain friendly relations, this is their foremost responsibility [to ensure Hasina's return]." In response, India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement underscoring that "India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country." The statement assured that New Delhi "will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end.

Sheikh Hasina had been the longest-serving Prime Minister of Bangladesh until July 2024, when Bangladeshi students protested a reinstated 30 per cent job quota for descendants of 1971 war veterans, amid high youth unemployment. The movement rapidly turned into a nationwide uprising against Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian rule. A brutal crackdown killed hundreds, and escalating unrest led to her ouster on 05 August 2024, ending her 15-year tenure. Following the fall of the government, an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took over, and the country is awaiting parliamentary elections in 2026.

The US: President Trump urges Republicans to back the full release of Epstein files
On 17 November, US President Donald Trump asked House Republicans to vote for the release of all remaining Epstein files, as his party has "nothing to hide." This represents a shift from his earlier position. This comes after House Democrats released a set of selective emails between Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. One of those emails mentions Trump, although it does not suggest any wrongdoing on his part. There is also a growing pressure within Congress as nearly one hundred Republicans are now prepared to support the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This would compel the Department of Justice to publish all unclassified records related to Epstein's investigations. Supporters believe they have enough votes to pass the bill in the House this week. Trump has dismissed the Democratic disclosures as a "manufactured hoax" and framed the controversy as an attempt to distract from his administration's agenda. His reversal has also triggered friction within his party, and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly criticised him for not taking a harder line. The Justice Department has separately confirmed an inquiry into Epstein's ties with major banks and several prominent Democrats.

China and Japan: Tokyo sends a senior official to Beijing to explain the comments made by Japan's PM; "Retract the wrongful remarks and seriously act to honour Japan's commitment to China," says China's Foreign Minister
On 17 November, the Japan Times reported that a senior Japanese official is off to Beijing to explain recent remarks by Japan's PM, which caused a diplomatic row between the countries. According to the latest literature, the Beijing travel and study advisory has resulted in a substantial slump in Japan's tourism. Additionally, the China Coast Guard Ship formation was reportedly cited near Japan-administered Senakaku Island. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said, "The announcements are incompatible with a 'mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests' and the establishment of a stable and constructive relationship between the two countries," and requested "appropriate actions" from the Chinese side. On the same day, China's Foreign Ministry stated that China's Premier Li Qiang will not hold talks with Japan's Prime Minister on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, "...stop crossing the line and playing with fire, retract the wrongful remarks and seriously act to honour Japan's commitment to China."

The War in Ukraine: President Zelensky visits France as part of his Europe tour to boost defence support; Russia continues strikes across the cities 
On 17 November, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visited France as part of his Europe tour, where he met President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. During the meeting, both leaders discussed urgent military assistance for Ukraine, including the need for additional air-defence systems for the winter. President Zelensky also signed a letter of intent for the future purchase of up to 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets and associated air-defence equipment. The two sides reviewed ongoing European military and financial commitments, with France earlier pledging EUR 2 billion in defence support. Zelensky was also scheduled to meet EU and NATO officials to request accelerated ammunition supplies, air-defence batteries, and budgetary support. His visit came as Kyiv continued to push European capitals for faster delivery of aid packages and long-term security guarantees.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continued attacks across Ukraine, with strikes reported in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia. In Kharkiv, at least three people were killed after Russian shelling hit residential areas. Local authorities stated that emergency crews were deployed to control fires and rescue civilians trapped in damaged buildings. In Kyiv, Ukrainian air-defence units intercepted multiple drones targeting the capital, while debris caused minor damage in several districts. In Zaporizhzhia, Russian missile attacks damaged infrastructure, prompting temporary power outages. Ukrainian military officials reported intensified Russian activity along frontline positions and warned of additional strikes in the coming days.

COP30 Climate Summit: Ministers face a deadlock over the construction of a fossil fuel roadmap as disputes on finance intensify
On 17 November, ministers heading the national delegations entered the second week of the UN COP 30 climate summit, tasked with converting informal consultations into a workable set of decisions. Delegates are attempting to shape a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels and address the low ambition in new climate plans. They also aim to resolve disagreements on climate finance, emissions reporting and unilateral trade measures. Brazil's presidency released a latest note that shows persistent divisions. Developed countries argue that their responsibilities are already reflected in the USD 300 billion per year finance goal, while others demand a new work programme. Positions also differ on how to assess national climate plans, including proposals for an annual consideration of progress. Several groups, including Aosis and the EIG, support a fossil fuel phase-out roadmap, which is being "strongly welcomed" by the EU. Nigeria cautioned that any transition "must recognise the very strong differences in economic opportunities." Brazil's environment minister Marina Silva said that a final decision is unlikely at COP 30, but she welcomes the "beginning of the construction" of such a roadmap.

Today in History
17 November 1989: The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia begins, ending more than 40 years of communist rule in the country
On 17 November 1989, a student march in Prague, initially organised to mark the 50th anniversary of Nazi repression of Czech students, escalated into a massive anti-government protest, marking the beginning of the Velvet Revolution. The protest solidified long-standing grievances over economic stagnation and political repression after the 1968 Soviet invasion. The broader wave of change across Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall and Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms in the Soviet Union added to the movement. In the following days, huge crowds gathered across Czechoslovakia. In Prague, the Civic Forum, led by dissident playwright Václav Havel, emerged as the main opposition platform. In Slovakia, a parallel movement, Public Against Violence, took shape. A general strike on 27 November prompted the communist leadership to negotiate, and a transitional government including opposition figures was formed. On 29 December, Havel became interim president, the first non-communist head of state since 1948. The Velvet Revolution brought an end to more than 40 years of communist rule, making Czechoslovakia the second country in the Soviet bloc, after Poland, to establish a non-communist government. However, diverging Czech and Slovak political and economic preferences surfaced soon after. Slovaks were not in line with the Czechs' preference for rapid privatization of state-run industries. This led to talks between Czech and Slovak leaders, resulting in the peaceful dissolution of the Czechoslovak federation. In what became known as the Velvet Divorce, two independent countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, were created on 1 January 1993.

17 November 1869: Suez Canal opens, shortening the distance between the Indian Ocean and Europe by 7000 km
On 17 November 1869, the Suez Canal was formally inaugurated, marking one of the most significant milestones in global maritime history. The project, led by French diplomat and engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, followed years of diplomatic negotiations and more than a decade of construction involving thousands of workers. The canal created a direct passage between the Mediterranean and Red Seas, shortening the sea route between Asia and Europe by nearly 7,000 kilometres. This reduction in travel time immediately transformed international trade and reshaped global shipping routes. Its opening ceremony, attended by European royalty and dignitaries, symbolised a new era of connectivity and strategic competition. Since 1869, the Suez Canal has remained one of the world's most vital and strategically sensitive maritime chokepoints, continuing to influence global commerce, naval movement, and geopolitical dynamics to this day.

Also in today's news...
"Lee Jae Myung administration reaches out to North, proposes talks to minimize friction along DMZ," The Korea Herald, 17 November 2025
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10617799

"Preparations begin for new space mission: Unmanned Shenzhou XXII craft to carry provisions for astronauts, equipment," China Daily, 17 November 2025
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/17/WS691a56c1a310d6866eb29bf6.html

"Korea's top export sectors could be overtaken by China within 5 years: survey," The Korea Times, 17 November 2025
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20251117/koreas-top-export-sectors-could-be-overtaken-by-china-within-5-years-survey

Who says What 
Opinions and views from around the world
Editorial, "Manila plays havoc with regional peace," China Daily, 17 November 2025
"The reliance on US military support, including the deployment of advanced missile systems, as well as the US' increased financial aid, has emboldened the Philippines to adopt a more assertive stance. This has escalated tensions with China and increased the risk of a misstep sparking conflict. While presenting itself as the defender of the rules-based order and "freedom of navigation", the US has been riding roughshod over both. Manila should be aware that its alignment with Washington has drawn the Philippines deeper into the geopolitical strategy of the US, from which Manila will find it increasingly difficult to extricate it. It should be alert to the risks of taking part in the US' tactical maneuvers in the region."
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/17/WS691b1be2a310d6866eb29f0e.html

Maxime Polleri, "Nuclear tests and a legacy of harm in the Asia-Pacific," Japan Times, 17 November 2025
"While the fact that the United States does not plan to detonate nuclear weapons is reassuring, the country, as well as China and Russia, have a long history of experimenting with real nuclear weapons to measure the performance of their devastating arsenals."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/11/17/world/nuclear-test-legacy-in-asia-pacific/

Cui Jianchun, "15th five-year plan charts a course for China's modernisation," SCMP, 17 November 2025
"The recommendations define major economic and social development objectives under the 15th five-year plan, encompassing seven areas: significant achievements in high-quality development; improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance; further deepening comprehensive reform; cultural and ethical progress across society; improvements in quality of life; new strides in environmental protection; and strengthening national security."
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332731/15th-five-year-plan-charts-course-chinas-modernisation?module=top_story&pgtype=section

Sophie Wushuang Yi, "South China Sea: how third PLA Navy aircraft carrier changes dynamics for US," SCMP, 17 November 2025
"The US Navy's Seventh Fleet, responsible for the Western Pacific, typically bases one carrier strike group in Japan. Deploying more in a surge of US force could take weeks and would create vulnerabilities elsewhere. Meanwhile, significant US resources are being directed towards the Caribbean. China faces no such constraints. Both its Shandong and Fujian carriers are at the Yulin naval base in Hainan, under the Southern Theatre Command, facing the South China Sea. China can concentrate its entire carrier force within days while operating from home ports with extensive land-based air support."
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332517/south-china-sea-how-third-pla-navy-aircraft-carrier-changes-dynamics-us?module=top_story&pgtype=section

Wendy Teo, "North Korea's most dangerous weapon isn't a missile. It's malware," Strait Times, 17 November 2025
"As South Korea celebrates its first nuclear-powered submarine – a prestigious milestone symbolising its rising stature in regional security matters – one question looms large: do its cyber defences need similar fortification? While Seoul has built up a formidable conventional military force over the years, even emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing defence exporters, its Achilles heel may well lie in cyberspace."
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/north-koreas-most-dangerous-weapon-isnt-a-missile-its-malware

Francisco Rodríguez, "A Grand Bargain With Venezuela: American Force Won't Dislodge Maduro, but American Diplomacy Might," Foreign Affairs, 17 November 2025
"If Trump's plan is to force regime change in Venezuela, then he could be walking into an embarrassing and expensive failure. But if he sees the military buildup as a prelude to a diplomatic overture, he has a shot at notching perhaps the most significant foreign policy win of his administration. To succeed, however, Washington must understand that democratic transitions do not happen overnight. Instead, they tend to occur after extensive negotiations in which the dictatorship agrees to start sharing authority with its critics. Free and fair elections come at the end—not at the beginning—of these transitions, because institutional reforms and a period of coexistence with the outgoing regime are needed to make a peaceful transfer feasible."
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/venezuela/grand-bargain-venezuela

15 November 2025, SATURDAY
The World Today #167
China and Japan: Beijing asks its citizens "to avoid travelling to Japan in the near future"; Tokyo firm on its stance on Taiwan 
On 14 November, the BBC reported that China's embassy in Japan asked its citizens not to travel to Japan over "blatantly provocative remarks regarding Taiwan," amid heightened diplomatic tensions. Additionally, China's Foreign military spokesperson said, "If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression and definitely meet a firm response from China,” and “We will firmly exercise our right to self-defence under the United Nations Charter and international law and defend China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Xinhua have reported that China's Vice Foreign Minister stated that the remarks made by Japan's PM are "extremely wrong and dangerous and also added that "otherwise all consequences must be borne by Japan." Japan's ambassador stated that the country has not changed their position on Taiwan and "It is the consistent position of the Japanese government that we hope for a peaceful resolution of issues surrounding Taiwan through dialogue."

Israel and Lebanon: Israeli wall crosses the blue line into Lebanon border, finds a UN survey
On 14 November, a UN spokesperson said a survey by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) found that a wall built by the Israeli military crosses the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated line between Lebanon, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The spokesperson stated the concrete T-wall has led to more than 4,000 square metres of Lebanese territory being inaccessible. UNIFIL said such “Israeli presence and construction in Lebanese territory are violations of Security Council resolution 1701.” UNIFIL has reportedly informed the Israeli military of the survey finding and has advised to remove the wall. However, an Israeli military spokesperson denied the findings and stated, "the wall is part of a broader IDF plan whose construction began in 2022. Since the start of the war, and as part of lessons learned from it, the IDF has been advancing a series of measures, including reinforcing the physical barrier along the northern border.”

The War in Ukraine: Kyiv faces massive Russian missile and drone attack; President Zelensky calls it a “deliberate and calculated move” 
On 15 November, media reported that Kyiv was struck by a heavy Russian aerial assault using at least 430 drones and 18 missiles, targeting residential buildings, infrastructure, and energy facilities. The attack killed six civilians and injured 35 others, according to Kyiv’s military administration. Buildings in more than eight districts of the city were damaged, and fires broke out across residential areas. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strike as “deliberate” and “calculated” to inflict maximum damage on civilians. Authorities reported some power outages and called for increased international assistance to bolster air defence before the onset of winter.

Africa: Proposed reduction in contribution to the Global Fund would “have real consequences across Africa,” warns experts
On 15 November, The Guardian warned that the 15 per cent reduction in the UK’s contribution to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has raised concerns other countries might be prompted to scale back their commitments as well. The rollback from the previous commitment of GBP one billion to GBP 850 million was announced on 11 November, despite the UK co-hosting this year’s replenishment drive with South Africa. Campaigners urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to demonstrate leadership by attending the replenishment summit in Johannesburg later this month, and to secure additional resources. The reduced pledge reflects the government’s broader decision to cut aid spending from 0.5 per cent of GDP to 0.3 per cent in order to increase defence funding. Research published in October indicated that a 20 per cent reduction in the Global Fund’s overall resources could lead to 330,000 additional malaria deaths by 2040. The Fund currently accounts for 59 per cent of all international financing for malaria. The British development minister Jenny Chapman said this year’s funding was “in dollar terms […] only 5 per cent less than the amount” pledged for 2023-25 and would “save up to 1.3 million lives, avert up to 22m new cases or infections of HIV, TB and malaria, and generate up to GBP 13bn in health gains and economic returns in the countries where the Global Fund works.” Joy Phumaphi, executive secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, welcomed the UK’s continued support but warned that the reduced contribution would “have real consequences across Africa, with fewer bed nets, medicines, and diagnostic tools reaching those most in need.” She also stated that “We expected a stronger show of leadership, reflecting a proud UK legacy of support to the global goal of ending Aids.”

COP30 Climate Summit: Pikachu-costumed activists urge Japan to stop funding fossil-fuel projects 
On 15 November, the media reported the protest took place a day earlier during the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil. Activists wore Pikachu costumes and staged a protest during the energy-themed day of the COP30 climate summit, calling on Japan to halt its overseas fossil-fuel investments. According to a study cited by protesters, Japan’s government-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation provided USD 6.4 billion in loans for coal projects and USD 874 million for gas projects between 2016 and 2024. Demonstrators argued that these investments undermine fossil-fuel phase-out efforts in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Japan’s delegation declined to respond directly to the figures but stated that its cooperation with Southeast Asian nations aims to support “decarbonisation, economic growth and energy security simultaneously through various pathways.”

Documents 
Democratic Republic of Congo: The government and M23 sign peace framework in Doha; Violence continues in Eastern Congo 
On 15 November, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group have signed a framework agreement to end fighting in eastern Congo in Doha, Qatar. The document includes eight protocols, but negotiators say most still require detailed implementation plans. US Senior Adviser for Africa Massad Boulos admitted progress has been slow, especially on prisoner exchanges and ceasefire monitoring. He stated that “This is a process… This is not a light switch that you just switch on and off." The conflict continues despite diplomacy. Local officials said at least 28 people were killed on 14 November in North Kivu by militants allied with the Islamic State. M23 has seized major territory in eastern Congo and is widely reported to receive support from Rwanda. But Rwanda has long denied the allegations. Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi said the agreement puts the parties on a path toward peace. He said that “Peace cannot be enforced by force, but is built through confidence, mutual respect and sincere commitment.”

Today in History
15 November 1988: The PLO declares the establishment of an Independent state of Palestine
On 15 November 1988, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) declared Palestine as an Independent state at the 19th session of the Palestinian National Council (PNC) in Algiers, Algeria. At the session, PLO leader Yasser Arafat delivered the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, drafted by the renowned poet Mahmoud Darwish. The declaration invoked United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 of 1947, which proposed partitioning Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, as the legal basis for Palestinian statehood. It proclaimed the establishment of the State of Palestine on the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem as its capital. The PNC approved the declaration with a vote of 253 in favor, 46 against, and 10 abstentions. Algeria was the first country to recognize the newly declared state. It was soon followed by nearly fifty others, primarily members of the Arab League, states from the former Soviet bloc, India, and several African and Asian nations. The PLO was established in 1964 as an umbrella organisation of various Palestinian factions, including Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), positioning itself as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. This status was affirmed by the Arab League and the United Nations in 1974. The PLO rose to prominence after the Six-Day War in June 1967, subsequently waging a protracted guerrilla campaign against Israel throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. The PLO remains a dominant political force within the Palestinian Authority, (PA), which it established in 1994 in coordination with Israel under the Oslo Accords. Currently, the State of Palestine is formally recognized by 157 of the 193 United Nations member states. The declaration remains a cornerstone of Palestinian nationalism, resilience and the pursuit of self-determination.

15 November 1864: US Union General Sherman begins his “March to the Sea” to weaken the Confederacy’s war effort by destroying military targets, infrastructure, and supply lines 
On 15 November 1864, United States' Union General William Tecumseh Sherman launched his famous March to the Sea during the American Civil War, beginning a 300-mile campaign from Atlanta to Savannah. General Sherman set out with roughly 60,000 Union troops, aiming to break the Confederacy’s will by destroying military targets, supply lines, and infrastructure that supported the Southern war effort. His forces advanced in two wings, living off the land and systematically dismantling railroads, factories, and warehouses. The march marked a major shift toward “total war,” targeting not only enemy armies but also resources essential for their survival. Resistance from Confederate forces was limited, as they lacked the numbers to halt the Union advance. By 21 December 1864, General Sherman reached Savannah, capturing the city and presenting it to President Abraham Lincoln as a “Christmas gift.” The operation dealt a severe psychological and logistical blow to the Confederacy and hastened the end of the war.

Who says What 
Opinions and views from around the world 
Editorial, "Japanese side must not misjudge the stern warning issued by China," Global Times, 15 November 2025
"On the one hand, the Japanese government must first correct its own understanding, honor the commitments made in the four China-Japan political documents through concrete actions, and return to the correct policy direction toward China. On the other hand, the Japanese government has the responsibility and obligation to properly guide irrational domestic opinion, rather than allow itself to be held hostage by extreme populism, and certainly not indulge or exploit anti-China sentiment for short-term political gain, which would ultimately undermine Japan's long-term national interests."
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1348237.shtml

Editorial, "Takaichi must soon make amends if China ties are to be repaired," SCMP, 15 November 2025
"Unless Japan moves to de-escalate heightened tension soon, the relationship will suffer further. Takaichi heads to the G20 meeting of major economies next week. For the sake of stable relations, she should not miss the opportunity to explain her comments to Premier Li Qiang and issue an unequivocal retraction."
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3332802/takaichi-must-soon-make-amends-if-china-ties-are-be-repaired?module=top_story&pgtype=section

"Has Sanae Takaichi planted a Taiwan ‘time bomb’ in Tokyo’s ties with Beijing?," SCMP, 15 November 2025
"According to Beijing, Takaichi “seriously damaged bilateral ties” when she told the Japanese parliament on Friday that use of military force in the Taiwan Strait could be seen as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, a situation that could allow Tokyo to engage in military action alongside Washington. Takaichi clarified on Monday that her remarks were only “hypothetical” and that she would refrain from making similar comments again."
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3332537/has-sanae-takaichi-planted-taiwan-time-bomb-tokyos-ties-beijing?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

TAIWAN
"The hidden risks in Taiwan’s boom," Economist, 15 November 2025
"Taiwan is envied for its exporting prowess: it is home to all of the world’s cutting-edge chipmaking. Just as extraordinary, but much less appreciated, is its towering current-account surplus, the result not just of a trade boom but of a long-undervalued currency. This aided Taiwan’s export-led rise, but it has long outlived its purpose. While manufacturers have been coddled, ordinary Taiwanese consumers have been deprived of the fruits of growth, and financial risks are building up. It is time for Taiwan to loosen its grip on its currency."
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/11/13/the-hidden-risks-in-taiwans-boom

US & SOUTH KOREA
DOCUMENT: "Joint fact sheet on Korea-US trade deal," Korea Times, 15 August 2025
"The United States and the ROK, in connection with their respective commitments included in the MOU, have thoroughly discussed the potential impact of the MOU on the foreign exchange market stability of the ROK. They have reached a mutual understanding that commitments in the MOU shall not be allowed to give rise to market instability. As trusted partners, the two nations agree that the ROK shall not be required to fund an aggregate amount of U.S. dollars greater than $20 billion in any calendar year. The ROK will use its best efforts, to the greatest extent possible, to source the U.S. dollars through means other than market purchases so as to minimize any potential impact on the market. Should it appear that the fulfillment of the commitments in the MOU may cause market instability, such as disorderly movements of Korean won, the ROK may request an adjustment in the amount and timing of the funding, and the United States will, in good faith, give due consideration to such request."
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20251114/full-text-joint-fact-sheet-on-korea-us-trade-deal
 

14 November 2025, FRIDAY
The World Today #166
The War in Ukraine: Kyiv's attack on Black Sea port disrupts Russian oil-exports; Moscow launches heavy retaliatory strikes, leading to eight deaths
On 14 November, Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone and missile attacks on Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, temporarily suspending oil exports, equivalent to 2.2 million barrels per day, or 2 per cent of global supply. The strike follows a series of Ukraine's intensified attacks on Russian refineries since August in an effort to weaken Moscow's capacity to finance its war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv launched long-range "Long Neptune" cruise missiles at targets inside Russia overnight, noting that such strikes were becoming increasingly successful. In response to the attack, Russia launched a major retaliatory strike on Ukraine, causing six deaths in Kyiv and two more in the Black Sea city of Chornomorsk in the south, in strikes on energy facilities. Ukrainian officials stated that the Russian forces used 430 drones and 18 missiles, and Kyiv was responding with long-range strikes. Most of the drones and missiles were shot down, but debris and fires caused severe infrastructure damage across nine districts in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that "Only pressure – with sanctions and strength – can force Russia to end this war, a war that no one but them ever needed."

The US and South Korea: Major trade deal on shipping investment and industrial development unveiled; Washington vows support for Seoul's nuclear-submarine ambitions
On 14 November, the US and South Korea, in a joint announcement, released details of a trade agreement that includes a USD 150 billion Korean investment in the US shipbuilding sector and an additional USD 200 billion reserved for industrial sectors. The announcement follows a meeting in October between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders agreed to reduce the US import duties on South Korean goods from 25 per cent to 15 per cent. South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signed a 27-point non-binding memorandum of understanding on strategic investments. It outlines a schedule for implementing projects to be selected by the US president in consultation with South Korea, with Seoul required to transfer the necessary funds within 45 days of each decision. President Lee stated that under the agreement, South Korea will form a new partnership with the US on shipbuilding, AI, and the nuclear industry, aiding its ally "rebuild crucial industries just as the US helped South Korea in the past." He remarked that South Korea-US  trade, commerce, and security negotiations were among the "biggest variables affecting our economy and security", and that "President Trump's rational decision played a significant role in achieving meaningful agreement." The White House also released a fact sheet revealing that the US approved the building of South Korea's nuclear-powered submarines and will work closely with Seoul to find "avenues to source fuel." Washington also agreed to South Korea's request that the planned USD 200 billion in cash investments be disbursed in annual instalments capped at USD 20 billion to help maintain stability in the won. According to the fact sheet, both sides agreed that South Korea's investments should not "give rise to market instability."

The War in Gaza: Hamas seeks to expand control over Gaza, says Reuters; EU considers training 3,000 Palestinian police officers for potential future deployment
On 14 November, Reuters reported that Hamas is looking to expand control in Gaza as "U.S. plans for its future slowly take shape." According to the news report, after last month's ceasefire, Hamas reasserted authority in areas vacated by Israel, executing Palestinians accused of working with Israel or other crimes. While Foreign actors call for the group to disarm and not take part in governance, no alternative structure has been decided so far. Residents have noted an increasing sense of control by Hamas, stating that authorities monitor incoming goods and levy fees on certain private imports, including fuel and cigarettes, and fine merchants for overcharging. The Hamas media office denied imposing such taxes and stated that the administration is focusing on urgent humanitarian and administrative tasks, making "strenuous efforts" to keep prices in check. It showed readiness to transfer authority, stating, "Our goal is for the transition to proceed smoothly." Residents, however, report fluctuating prices and increasing economic pressures. Meanwhile, the EU is considering leading the training of 3,000 Palestinian police officers for potential future deployment in Gaza, as per a document produced by the bloc's diplomatic arm. This is outlined with the aim of contributing to the implementation of the 20-point peace plan for Gaza proposed by President Trump.

The US and Taiwan: Washington approves the sale of fighter jets and aircraft parts worth USD 330 million to Taipei
On 13 November, the United States approved a USD 330 million worth sale of fighter jets and aircraft parts to Taiwan, the first such transaction under President Trump. According to the Pentagon, "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft. The US has a formal diplomatic relationship with China; however, it maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is legally required to support Taiwan's self-defence. Taiwan's presidential office welcomed the decision, stating that "The deepening of the Taiwan-U.S. security partnership is an important cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region." Taiwan's defence ministry said the sale would "take effect" within a month and improve its air defence and response to China's "gray-zone" incursions. China expressed its reservations over the move, with its foreign ministry spokesperson stating, "the Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations."

China and Japan: Diplomatic row over Japan's statement on Taiwan
On 14 November, China's ambassador to Japan was summoned to Tokyo after the tit-for-tat showdown regarding Prime Minister Takaichi's comments of a military intervention in response to any Chinese attack on Taiwan. The Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, commented, "the dirty necks that sticks itself in must be cut off" in a post on X that has now been deleted, leading to Japanese officials calling for his expulsion. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said, "Should the Japanese side fail to draw lessons from history and dare to take a risk, or even use force to interfere in the Taiwan question, it will only suffer a crushing defeat against the steel-willed People's Liberation Army and pay a heavy price," in retaliation to the remarks. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has also raised serious concerns about recent Japanese military and security moves, as well as the uncertainty regarding their nuclear principles.

The War in Sudan: UN launches fact-finding mission as RSF advances eastward in escalating civil war
On 14 November, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution establishing an independent fact-finding mission to investigate the reported mass killings, ethnic violence and rape in al-Fashir. The resolution directs investigators to identify perpetrators and preserve evidence for future accountability. Sudan's representative criticised the text for avoiding scrutiny of alleged foreign support to the RSF by accusing the UAE of supplying weapons. These claims were denied. The EU, UK, Norway, and Ghana backed the resolution and warned that continued violence risks destabilising the wider region. The UN session came amid new RSF offenses on the eastward side after consolidating control over Darfur. Despite accepting a US-backed ceasefire proposal, RSF forces seized Bara in North Kordofan and launched drone attacks across the region, which has triggered heavy displacement. The Sudanese army, which has not agreed to the ceasefire, is massing troops around El Obeid and Port Sudan as fighting intensifies. Humanitarian agencies warn that parts of Kordofan are already in famine, and renewed hostilities risk further worsening Sudan's two-and-a-half-year civil war.

Who says What
Opinions and views from around the world
CHINA INTERNAL
Deng Yuwen, "The End of China’s Old Guard: Why Party Elders Can’t Save the Country From Xi," Foreign Affairs, 14 November 2025
"...in today’s China elders have largely lost their power. Xi has systematically dismantled the channels of influence through which elders previously operated, including the ability to appoint personnel and their ties within the military. Moreover, the current crop of party elders does not carry the moral authority that the first generation of elders earned from fighting in the communist revolution. The institutional checks on power that have replaced party elders cannot constrain incumbent leaders as effectively as the elders once did, leaving little to rein Xi in as he remolds the party and country."
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/end-chinas-old-guard

CHINA & JAPAN
Editorial, "Attention to Takaichi’s erroneous words and actions should not lose focus," Global Times, 14 November 2025
"What Takaichi's fallacies have provoked is not a "war of words" between China and Japan, but rather exposed three fundamental questions: First, will Japan continue to follow the path of peaceful development, or attempt to repeat the mistakes of history? Second, will Japan safeguard the broader framework of China-Japan peace, friendship, and cooperation, or push bilateral relations toward confrontation and conflict? Third, will Japan act as a defender of regional peace and stability, or drag East Asia into the abyss of war? It is clearly Tokyo that must provide serious explanations to China and the international community regarding these three major questions."
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1348149.shtml

Editorial, "Tokyo must stop playing with fire," China Daily, 14 November 2025
"This is far from a mere diplomatic spat. Her remarks raise fundamental questions concerning Japan's strategic direction. The term "survival-threatening situation" is particularly alarming and irresponsible, as Japanese imperialists used the same term as a pretext for Japan's aggression, including the brazen provocation of the September 18th Incident, which plunged China and the wider region into the abyss of war. To resurrect such rhetoric in the context of Taiwan raises serious questions about Japan's intentions under Takaichi's leadership."
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/14/WS6916d7f0a310d6866eb298a4.html

Stephen R Nagy, "How Takaichi should navigate Beijing’s diplomatic threats," The Japan Times, 14 November 2025
"The recent threat by Chinese Consul-General Xue Jian to “cut off that dirty neck without a second of hesitation” is not just an isolated diplomatic incident. It is the latest manifestation of China’s increasingly aggressive "wolf warrior" diplomacy, a pattern of coercive behavior that democratic nations from Ottawa to Canberra have faced with growing frequency. For Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who triggered this outburst by stating that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, the challenge is how to respond to Beijing’s intimidation tactics without falling into its narrative trap."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/11/13/japan/navigating-beijings-latest-diplomatic-threats/

Kuni Miyake, "Takaichi and a shift in 'strategic ambiguity' over Taiwan," The Japan Times, 14 November 2025
"Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi certainly ruffled some feathers when she said on Nov. 7 that a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan would directly threaten Japan’s survival, allowing the nation to exercise its right to engage in collective self-defense.The media reported that the new prime minister failed to maintain “strategic ambiguity” over Taiwan and that even Foreign and Defense Ministry officials expressed concern that further defining a Taiwan contingency could “risk revealing Japan's hand.” Beijing predictably reacted with fierce opposition."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/11/13/japan/takaichi-and-taiwan-strategic-ambiguity/

CHINA & SOUTHEAST ASIA
"Thai King’s historic state visit expected to forge a new chapter in China-Thailand friendship," Global Times, 13 November 2025
"Thailand is a founding member of ASEAN and the second largest economy in Southeast Asia. The Thai King's visit not only continues a traditional friendship but also serves as an important signal to other ASEAN nations that China has consistently been a reliable partner for all countries in the region against the backdrop of complex geopolitical shifts. China attaches great importance to neighborhood diplomacy, always prioritizes the neighborhood on its diplomatic agenda, and remains committed to forging friendship and partnership with its neighbors, and promoting regional peace, stability, development and prosperity."
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1348141.shtml

CHINA & THE WORLD
Richard Heydarian, "Why China need not fear US-led ‘Squad’ evolving into Asian Nato," South China Morning Post, 14 November 2025
"Amid US-China tensions and with trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington casting doubt over the future of the Quad grouping, the Trump administration seems committed to developing a new alliance network. Even so, the prospect of a de facto Asian Nato faces great uncertainty. While US allies are worried about unnecessarily provoking China, Trump himself could be pursuing a new grand bargain with Beijing."
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3332345/why-china-need-not-fear-us-led-squad-evolving-asian-nato?module=top_story&pgtype=section

THE MIDDLE EAST
"Gaza’s zombie ceasefire," Economist, 14 November 2025
"With almost everyone in Gaza unemployed, the plan could draw from an ample labour force. Egypt would supply the expertise and deliver raw materials; it hopes to enlist developers from Gulf countries. But engineers say the timeline is unrealistic—that clearing the rubble will take closer to six years than six months. Materials would need to flow through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, where Israel holds a veto. One big developer in the Gulf has told Western officials that he does not want to get involved because he sees little hope of a return on investment."
https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/11/12/gazas-zombie-ceasefire

AFRICA
"Ethiopia is perilously close to another war," Economist, 14 November 2025
"External powers fuelling the war in Sudan also have competing interests in Ethiopia. Mr Abiy’s principal foreign ally is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which backs the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group fighting the SAF. (The UAE denies backing either side in the war.) It is unclear whether the UAE would restrain Mr Abiy from launching a war against Eritrea, should such a conflict impair Eritrea’s ability to support the SAF. Some diplomats worry it may be egging him on. Egypt, by contrast, backs the SAF, and is feuding with Ethiopia over a recently completed mega-dam on the Nile. It is strengthening ties with Eritrea, and is alleged to have sent weapons to some of Mr Abiy’s opponents in Ethiopia."
https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/11/13/ethiopia-is-perilously-close-to-another-war

THE US
Rebecca Lissner, "America’s Quasi Alliances: How Washington Should Manage Its Most Complicated Relationships," Foreign Affairs, 14 November 2025
Within its vast network of relationships around the globe, the United States categorizes most of its friends as either allies or partners. Washington is bound to its allies by legally codified treaties featuring mutual defense clauses. This pledge that an attack on one is an attack on all backstops allies’ security and extends the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Partners, by contrast, may receive security assistance from the United States but do not presume that the U.S. military would come to their aid if they were attacked. Quasi allies represent an awkward third category."
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/americas-quasi-alliances
 

13 November 2025, THURSDAY
The World Today #165
The US: Government shutdown ends as House of Representatives approved a new funding bill; Democrats’ demand for extension of expiring health insurance subsidies remains unfulfilled 
On 13 November, the longest-ever US government shutdown ended after 43 days as the House of Representatives approved a new funding bill with a 222 to 209 vote share. The package passed the Senate on 10 November with a 60-40 vote after seven Democrats and one independent senator joined the Republicans to approve it. The long-drawn shut down had left nearly 1.4 million federal employees without pay, suspended food assistance for many low-income Americans, and caused widespread disruptions in air travel, with thousands of flights delayed or cancelled. However, the bill does not include the Democrats’ key demand for an automatic extension of expiring health insurance subsidies that currently benefit around 24 million Americans. Instead, lawmakers reached a procedural agreement to hold a separate vote on the tax credits during the second week of December. The 328-page funding bill extends support to most federal agencies until 30 January. It also allocates funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Department of Agriculture, Congress, and the Department of Veterans Affairs through September of 2026. The legislation guarantees back pay for all federal employees and reverses shutdown-related layoffs. Without the renewal of the subsidies, healthcare costs of lower-income Americans are expected to surge, potentially widening existing affordability gaps in the healthcare system.

Pakistan-Afghanistan: Interior Minister says Afghan nationals were responsible for the two recent suicide bombings in Pakistan
On 13 November, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that Afghan nationals were responsible for two recent suicide bombings in Pakistan, amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours over cross-border militancy. Addressing the parliament, Naqvi stated that both attackers had been identified as Afghans and added, "It is our major, serious concern," highlighting that Pakistan had repeatedly brought up security issues with the Taliban administration in Kabul. The Islamabad attack on 11 November killed 12 people and injured 27, while another bombing on 10 November targeted a military school in South Waziristan, killing three. On the same day, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused both Afghanistan and India of involvement in recent terrorist incidents, warning of a “befitting response.” Islamabad maintains that the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups operating from Afghan territory receive alleged backing from India, reported Reuters.

The US at the G7 summit: US Secretary of State defends recent strikes by Washington in the Caribbean, rejects European criticism over their legality
On 12 November, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended recent US strikes in the Caribbean, negating European criticism over their legality. Speaking after the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada, Rubio stated, “I don’t think that the European Union gets to determine what international law is. They certainly don’t get to determine how the United States defends its national security.” On 11 November, France’s foreign minister said the strikes “violate international law” and concern its regional territories. The United States maintains that the attacks targeted “narco-terrorists” and were consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which mandates the UN Security Council to be immediately informed if states take any action in self-defense against armed attack. On the other hand, UN experts previously warned that “the use of lethal force in international waters without proper legal basis violates the international law of the sea.” Speaking about reports that Britain has suspended intelligence sharing with the US, Rubio said it was “false,” and that “nothing has changed.” On 11 November, Colombian President Gustavo Petro directed Colombian public security forces to halt intelligence sharing with the US until Washington ceases its attacks on boats in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the G7 reaffirmed commitment to maritime security but did not make any mention of the US operations.

The War in Ukraine: Kremlin spokesperson Peskov says Kyiv will have to negotiate “sooner or later;” Foreign Minister Lavrov hopes Washington will avoid escalating the conflict “to a new level”
On 13 November, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine would “sooner or later” have to negotiate with Russia and that Kyiv’s position would worsen daily if it continued to reject talks. Peskov told reporters that Moscow remained open to a political and diplomatic settlement but would keep fighting “to protect its own security for the benefit of future generations.” Kyiv says that Moscow is laying unacceptable surrender terms to end the war. In an interview, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he hopes Washington would avoid steps that could “escalate the Ukraine conflict to a new level.” Lavrov said US President Donald Trump had long discussions with Russia to understand its position and “demonstrated commitment to finding a sustainable peaceful solution.” He blamed NATO’s expansion and deployment of its infrastructure close to the border for the conflict. He accused Europe of “sabotaging all peacemaking efforts” and preparing for a “major European war against Russia.”

Iraq’s parliamentary election: PM Sudani’s coalition comes first, says the electoral commission
On 12 November, the Independent High Electoral Commission announced that a coalition led by Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani won the parliamentary election, and the coalition received a total of 1.317 million votes. On the victory, PM Sudani said that “The voter turnout is clear evidence of another success, reflected in the restoration of confidence in the political system.” Reuters report that many disillusioned young voters saw the electoral system as a vehicle for established parties to divide the oil wealth found in Iraq. It is added that PM Sudani tried to portray him as the leader who had moved against the established parties that brought him to power and can stabilise Iraq, leading to growth. The final voter turnout has reached 56.11 per cent and marks the second term for PM Sudani.

05 November 2025, Wednesday
The World Today #157
Climate Change: Ahead of the Brazil COP Summit, EU countries reach a deal that would weaken Europe's commitment
On 05 November, according to initial reports by Reuters and Financial Times, the EU countries reached a last-minute compromise. Although they have agreed to a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040, the compromise reached by the EU allows them to meet the target through the purchase of five per cent international carbon credits. This would effectively mean that, by using international carbon credits, Europe would reduce its emissions by 85 per cent, instead of the agreed-upon 90 per cent. According to initial media reports, the deal also provides for an additional five per cent in the future. The deal also refers to reducing emissions by 66.25 to 72.5 per cent by 2035. While environmentalists are unhappy with the above, political leaders would prefer a weak deal to none before they arrive in Brazil for the COP summit. This would mean a weakened position for the EU in the COP negotiations, and is likely to force strong commitments from other countries.

The US Elections: Democrats win New York, New Jersey and Virginia
On 05 November, according to the early results, the democrats have won the elections in New York, New Jersey and Virginia. In New York, Zohran Mamdani was elected as the city's new Mayor. He won against Andrew Cuomo, who contested as an independent and polled around 41 per cent. The Republican candidate, Curtis Silwa, could only poll over seven per cent of the votes. Mamdani's background - an immigrant and a Muslim is seen as making a statement against Trump. In New Jersey, Mikie Shreill, a democrat, became the second woman to be elected as its governor. She won against the Trump-backed Republican candidate, Jack Ciattarelli. In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger was elected to be the first woman governor; a democrat, she defeated Winsome Earle-Sears, who is a Trump supporter. The election results are interpreted as a strong message against President Trump, and a shot in the arm for the Democrats.

The War in Ukraine: Russia’s major Black Sea Port suspends operations following drone strikes, reports Reuters
On 05 November, Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse has suspended fuel exports, and the local oil refinery has halted crude processing following Ukraine’s 02 November drone attacks, a Reuters exclusive stated. Ukraine said on Sunday its drones struck Tuapse, one of Russia's main Black Sea oil ports, causing a fire and damaging at least one ship, as part of Kyiv's efforts to undermine Russia's war economy by targeting its energy infrastructure. Prior to the incident, Tuapse had been expected to increase oil product exports in November. The Rosneft-controlled Tuapse refinery, has a processing capacity of 240,000 barrels per day, produces naphtha, fuel oil, vacuum gasoil, and high-sulphur diesel. The refinery primarily supplies markets in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey. The exports most of its output, suspended operations the day after the attack due to damage sustained by port infrastructure. LSEG data indicated that three tankers were docked at the port during the strike for loadings of naphtha, diesel, and fuel oil. All vessels had been moved away from the berths and were anchored near the port, the report stated. 

The War in Gaza: Washington drafts UN resolution to mandate two-year international stabilization force in Gaza, reports Reuters 
On 05 November, the US drafted a United Nations resolution approving a two-year mandate for a Gaza transitional governance body and an international stabilization force in the Palestinian, reports Reuters. The draft is under development and has not yet been formally circulated to the Security Council for deliberation. A US State Department spokesperson stated that discussions with the UN Security Council on the implementation of the second-phase of the Gaza peace plan was underway, but declined to comment on the "allegedly leaked documents." The draft resolution urges the World Bank and other financial institutions to facilitate and mobilize resources for Gaza’s reconstruction and development, including the creation of a dedicated trust fund to be governed by donor countries. It remains unclear when the US intends to bring the draft to a vote in the Security Council. For adoption, a resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from any of the five permanent members. 

Who says What
Opinions and views from around the world
"A year of Donald Trump in charts," Financial Times, 5 November 2025
https://www.ft.com/content/266ae6df-89c2-4413-be51-0b3a7c6e8015

Robert C. O’Brien, "The Case for Trump’s Second-Term Foreign Policy," Foreign Affairs, 5 November 2025
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/case-trumps-second-term-foreign-policy

Tatiana Mitrova and Sergey Vakulenko, "The Slow Death of Russian Oil: Why Ukraine’s Campaign Against Moscow’s Energy Sector Is Working," Foreign Affairs, 5 November 2025
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/slow-death-russian-oil

Mutasim Ali, "How to Stop the Genocide in Sudan," Foreign Policy, 5 November 2025
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/05/how-to-stop-genocide-sudan-darfur-uae/

04 November 2025, Tuesday
The World Today #156
China and Russia: Beijing and Moscow pledge joint response to unilateral sanctions during Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's visit to China
On 04 November, China and Russia reaffirmed their partnership, pledging coordinated action against unilateral sanctions during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's visit to China. In a joint communiqué released by China's Foreign Ministry following Mishustin's meetings with Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping, both sides condemned "unilateral coercive measures" imposed outside UN Security Council resolutions as "illegal" and unacceptable. The statement reflected their intent to develop mutual assistance and economic cooperation while countering external economic pressures. President Xi stated that China-Russia relations had advanced "steadily despite a turbulent external environment," describing the protection, consolidation, and enhancement of their partnership as a "strategic choice." He identified energy, agriculture, aerospace, digital economy, and green industries as key areas for future collaboration. Mishustin emphasised the importance of both countries establishing favourable conditions for attracting mutual investment and supporting joint projects. The visit comes in the backdrop of increased Western sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine and renewed the US efforts to restrict states and firms engaging with Russia.

South Korea and the US: Defense Secretary Hegseth names South Korea "a model ally"
On 04 November, the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that deterring North Korea will be the core objective of the South-Washington alliance, although the US troops stationed in South Korea will also flexibly address regional threats. Speaking alongside his South Korean counterpart, Hegseth stated that "there's no doubt that flexibility for regional contingency is something we would take a look at," referring to the 28,500 US troops stationed in Seoul. The US officials have also hinted at the plan to advance the US troops in the Korean peninsula to address broader threats, such as defending Taiwan and monitoring China's military expansion, reports Reuters. Hegseth stated that Trump supported South Korea's plans to build nuclear-powered submarines to ensure US allies have "the best capabilities," and that "because Korea has been a model ally, he's open to opportunities like that." He added that both sides were still finalizing a joint communiqué that would cover discussions on defense costs and related issues, noting that talks included encouraging South Korea to increase its military investments. He added that the allies had also agreed for South Korea to take on the maintenance and repair of US naval vessels, enabling them to remain in the region and ensure operational readiness.

Peru and Mexico: Lima severs diplomatic ties over Betssy Chavez asylum
On 04 November, Peru's Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela announced the severing of diplomatic ties with Mexico after it granted asylum to former Prime Minister Betssy Chavez. Chavez served under President Pedro Castillo and faces criminal charges over her alleged involvement in Castillo's failed attempt to dissolve Congress in late 2022. Ousted and detained, Castillo remains under arrest, while Chavez, imprisoned since June 2023, was released by a judge in September during her ongoing trial. Her driver testified that she requested to be taken to the Mexican embassy. Chavez denies any prior knowledge of Castillo's plan. Prosecutors are seeking a 25-year prison sentence. "In response to this unfriendly act, and taking into account the repeated occasions in which the current and former presidents of that country have interfered in the internal affairs of Peru, the Peruvian government has decided today to break diplomatic relations with Mexico," de Zela said. Mexico's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The War in Ukraine: Ukraine is "confidently moving" towards EU membership, says Zelensky; Germany pledges to increase its financial aid for Ukraine by USD 3.5 billion  
On 04 November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was "confidently moving" towards EU membership and was ready to open the first three negotiation clusters based on the European Commission's latest report on Ukraine's reform progress. He posted on X that "We expect the EU's decisive action to overcome all artificial obstacles for a strong and united Europe." The EU Enlargement package 2025 reported that Ukraine had completed the screening process and advanced on key reforms. The Commission assessed the country positively on its roadmaps for the rule of law, public administration, and the functioning of democratic institutions, as well as an action plan for national minorities. Ukraine has met the conditions required to open clusters: one (fundamentals), six (external relations), and two (internal market). The Commission expects Ukraine to meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters and works to ensure that the Council is in a position to take forward the opening of all clusters before the end of the year. The Ukrainian government has signalled its objective to provisionally close accession negotiations by the end of 2028. Reuters reported that Germany plans to increase its financial aid to Ukraine by three billion EUR (approximately USD 3.5 billion) next year. Germany is Europe's largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, having provided around 40 billion EUR since 2022. In its 2026 budget, Germany had allocated 8.5 billion EUR to Ukraine.

Sudan: The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirm famine conditions in Al-Fashir and Kadugli
On 03 November, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine conditions in Al-Fashir and Kadugli. Al-Fashir, recently seized by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after an 18-month siege, and Kadugli, under blockade by the SPLM-N armed group allied to the RSF, have faced extreme hunger, displacement, and violence. The ongoing two-and-a-half-year conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army has devastated livelihoods, displaced millions, and increased ethnically motivated attacks, particularly in Darfur. Residents of al-Fashir reported severe shortages, resorting to eating animal feed and hides, while drone attacks targeted community kitchens, according to Reuters. The IPC's findings, criticised by Sudan's army-backed government, highlight a deepening humanitarian crisis amid global aid cuts and bureaucratic restrictions limiting UN and other relief operations. On the same day, prosecutors of the International Criminal Court said that they have begun collecting evidence of alleged mass killings and sexual violence following al-Fashir's capture.

Who says What
Opinions and views from around the world
Editorial, "China's commitment to Asia-Pacific shared prosperity highlighted at APEC gatherings," China Daily, 2 November 2025
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/02/WS6907636da310f215074b8827.html

Mason Richey, "South Korean nuclear submarines: Post APEC, ergo propter APEC," The Korea Times, 4 November 2025
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/columns/guestcolumns/20251104/south-korean-nuclear-submarines-post-apec-ergo-propter-apec

Stephen Olson, "Trump-Xi summit underscores how US-China relations are stuck in a rut," South China Morning Post, 4 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3331430/trump-xi-summit-underscores-how-us-china-relations-are-stuck-rut?module=top_story&pgtype=section

Emil Avdaliani, "A US-China thaw could boost Eurasian trade," South China Morning Post, 4 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3331439/us-china-thaw-could-boost-eurasian-trade?module=top_story&pgtype=section

Jonathan Pearlman, "Australia and South-east Asia are drifting apart over US-China rivalry," The Straits Times, 4 November 2025
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/australia-and-south-east-asia-are-drifting-apart-over-us-china-rivalry

Deeny Roy, "South Korea gets Aukus-lite," The Straits Times, 4 November 2025
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/south-korea-gets-aukus-lite

Sanjaya Baru, "Trump has announced G2 – with China. What should India do," The Indian Express, 4 November 2025
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/trump-has-announced-g2-with-china-what-should-india-do-10344398/?ref=opinion_hp

Shashi Tharoor, "India’s IT dream is at a crossroads," The Hindu, 4 November 2025
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/indias-it-dream-is-at-a-crossroads/article70236083.ece

Pavel Malyutin & Sergey Karaganov, "The West has lost its soul – Russia intends to keep its own," RT, 4 November 2025
https://www.rt.com/russia/627312-west-has-lost-its-soul/

Sarah Beran, "US-China escalation is here to stay," The Financial Times, 4 November 2025
https://www.ft.com/content/8471b216-f4e2-4f73-be0f-7c2154abf65e

Editorial, "Trump and Nigeria’s Persecuted Christians," Wall Street Journal, 4 November 2025
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/nigeria-persecuted-christians-terrorism-bola-tinubu-donald-trump-64ee568f?mod=hp_opin_pos_4

Emma Ashford, "Making Multipolarity Work: How America Should Navigate a New Global Order," Foreign Affairs, 4 November 2025
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/making-multipolarity-work

Shihoko Goto, "Japan Can Keep the Indo-Pacific Open and Free: With America Stepping Back, Tokyo Should Step Up," Foreign Affairs, 4 November 2025
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/japan/japan-can-keep-indo-pacific-open-and-free
 

03 November 2025, Monday
The World Today #156
South Korea and the US: Pete Hegseth visits Seoul for the annual Security Consultative Meeting; Discussions to hinge on Seoul-Washington alliance and combined defence capabilities against Pyongyang
On 03 November, the US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, visited the Panmunjom truce village on the Demilitarised Zone border with North Korea, accompanied by South Korea's Defence Minister, Ahn Gyu-back. During the annual meeting on strategic and operational directions for the combined forces, both officials shared the view that the regional security environment was "complex and unstable." He is set to attend the annual Security Consultative Meeting on 04 November, the highest-level forum where South Korea's defence strategies against North Korea's nuclear capabilities are discussed. Defence Minister Ahn stated that the border visit "has symbolic and declarative significance itself, demonstrating the strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the combined defence posture." South Korea's Defence Ministry stated that the meeting will discuss plans to respond to the "changing security environment and threats," by developing a new alliance between Seoul and Washington, and evaluating the combined defence readiness against North Korea. Seoul also stated that its pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines was not aimed at escalating an arms race, but a need to counter North Korea's submarine programme. "It is not to generate more of an arms race... but the result of persuading China and the US that North Korea has announced (its own) nuclear submarines and we need to prepare correspondingly," presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik stated.

The War in Gaza: Turkey to host ministerial meeting to discuss ceasefire violations and upcoming faces; Erdogan criticizes Israel for a "very poor record" of ceasefire compliance
On 03 November, Turkey is set to host a high-level meeting of foreign ministers from several Arab and Islamic countries to discuss the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire. The Foreign Ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia are set to attend the summit to discuss the ceasefire violations and humanitarian situation in Gaza. The foreign ministers of the countries that worked with the Trump administration to draft the ceasefire deal will discuss its next phase and the formation of the planned international stabilization force, reports Reuters. Ahead of the summit, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said, despite Hamas' compliance with the ceasefire, Israel had a "very poor record" in that regard. "Since the ceasefire agreement, we are facing an (Israeli) administration that has killed more than 200 innocent people and has not halted its occupation and attacks in the West Bank," he stated. Erdogan also underscored that Ankara would not allow the annexation of the West Bank or attempts to change the status of Jerusalem and harm the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa mosque, said Reuters. 

The War in Ukraine: Kyiv's drone strike hits Russia's key Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea
On 02 November, a Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russia's Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing fire and damage to at least one vessel. The attack, part of Kyiv's broader campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, aims to weaken Moscow's economy, states Reuters. Russian officials confirmed that "two foreign civilian ships were damaged" in the strike, while Ukraine's General Staff noted that its forces had hit infrastructure at the Tuapse oil refinery. An official from Ukraine's SBU security service reported five drone strikes that damaged an oil tanker, loading facilities, and nearby port buildings. The Tuapse port hosts a major Black Sea oil terminal and an oil refinery operated by Rosneft, Russia's largest oil company. According to Reuters, Ukraine has carried out multiple drone strikes on the facility this year. The export-oriented refinery processes approximately 240,000 barrels of oil per day, producing naphtha, fuel oil, vacuum gas oil, and high-sulfur diesel. Its key export markets include China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey. Ukraine points to its attacks as retaliation for Russian strikes on its power grid, while Moscow maintains that targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure is justified as it equips Kyiv's war effort.

Anti-government protests in Serbia: Police detain 37 for violating public order
On 03 November, Reuters reported that 37 Serbian citizens were arrested for anti-government protests for "violating public order and peace and causing incidents during an unannounced public gathering." On 02 November, a hunger strike was launched by a victim's mother, and it gathered protesters, instigating clashes with the supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. On 01 November 2024, the roof of a renovated railway station collapsed, killing 16 citizens. This led to nationwide protests against the government for poor management and corruption, and demanded snap elections. Last week, an independent commission of professors, judges, and technical experts investigating the disaster reported to the European Parliament that it had found high-level state graft, which led to poor construction standards and the hiring of unqualified subcontractors. Government officials denied such accusations. Recently, President Vučić and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said the collapse could have been an act of terrorism. Prosecutors have indicted several senior state officials on charges of endangering public safety, but the court has yet to confirm the indictment, preventing a trial from going ahead.

Nigeria and the US: President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth threaten the Nigerian government to take action and protect the Christians; the President asks the US Department of War to "prepare for possible action"
On 02 November, media across the world have been referring to statements from the US President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth threatening the Nigerian government to protect the Christians in the country. They also warned that if the government failed, the US would take direct action and attack the Islamic terrorists. Trump was quoted to have instructed the US Department of War to prepare for action and said: "If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities." Nigeria has been facing serious challenges in parts of the country with violent clashes between the herders and farmers, and atrocities committed by Islamist militant groups such as the Boko Haram. Nigeria has a population of over 200 million; Christians are estimated to constitute approximately 45 per cent of the total population. According to reports, Christian communities are targeted in the farmer-herder violence and also by Islamist militant groups. In 2020, the US designated Nigeria as part of the "Countries of Particular Concern" for religious freedom; recently, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom had requested that Nigeria be placed under the same category. Nigeria has rejected Trump's accusation; however, it has welcomed the US support to fight the Islamist militants.

Iran and the US: "Cooperation with Iran is not possible as long as the US continues to support the accursed Zionist regime, maintains military bases, and interferes in the region," says Khamenei
On 03 November, Iran's Supreme Leader stated that cooperation with the United States is unlikely, pointing to Washington's continued support for Israel, its military presence, and interference in the Middle East. His remarks follow as President Trump's administration seeks to heighten pressure on Tehran, reports Reuters. "The Americans sometimes say they would like to cooperate with Iran. Cooperation with Iran is not possible as long as the US continues to support the accursed Zionist regime, maintains military bases, and interferes in the region," stated Khamenei as per state media. In October, Trump stated that "the hand of friendship and cooperation [with Iran] is open," reflecting readiness for dialogue once Tehran is willing. The two countries had previously held five rounds of nuclear talks. Still, efforts were undermined following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, during which the US struck key Iranian nuclear sites.

Who says What
Opinions and views from around the world
"Shenzhou-21 a symbol of a nation that pursues balance, reason and cooperation," Global Times, 3 November 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347201.shtml

Editorial, "Sinophobia hinders Seoul-Beijing ties," The Korea Times, 3 November 2025
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/editorial/20251103/ed-sinophobia-hinders-seoul-beijing-ties

"US-China trade agreement: what did both sides commit to do?," South China Morning Post, 3 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331353/us-china-trade-agreement-what-did-both-sides-commit-do?module=flexi_unit-focus&pgtype=homepage

"How to beat the hard right, Netherlands edition," Economist, 3 November 2025
https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/11/02/how-to-beat-the-hard-right-netherlands-edition

Gideon Rachman, "The far right can win in Europe but it struggles to govern," The Financial Times, 3 November 2025
https://www.ft.com/content/b7fde818-fe26-49f3-b109-d6fced89c130

Alexander B. Downes and Lindsey A. O'Rourke, "The Regime Change Temptation in Venezuela: If Past Is Prologue, a U.S. Attempt to Overthrow Maduro Would Not End Well," Foreign Affairs, 31 October 2025
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/venezuela/regime-change-temptation-maduro-trump-venezuela

01 November 2025, Saturday
The World Today #153
APEC Summit concludes: Joint declaration emphasizing resilience and mutual benefits issued; Seoul seeks Beijing's support in denuclearization talks with Pyongyang
On 01 November, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, hosted by South Korea, concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration emphasizing the need for resilience and mutual trade benefits. President Xi announced that China will host the 2026 APEC summit and proposed the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung also sought China's support in resuming denuclearization talks with North Korea. President Xi responded that he was willing to broaden cooperation and jointly tackle the challenges they face. "I am very positive about the situation in which conditions for engagement with North Korea are being formed," Lee said, referring to recent high-level exchanges between China and North Korea. However, Pyongyang dismissed Lee's remarks, stating that any effort to disrupt its nuclear program is a "pipe dream". Trump had also offered to meet Kim Jong Un during his visit to South Korea, but Pyongyang made no public response. The US had announced new trade deals with several countries, including China and South Korea, ahead of the meeting, but President Trump departed before the summit could commence. The Trump-Xi Jinping summit also produced a deal that includes lower US tariffs on Chinese goods in return for Beijing's action against illegal fentanyl trade, the resumption of US soybean purchases, and continued rare earth exports. 

ASEAN Defence Summit: The US is "eager to share" defence capabilities with allies and partners to counter Beijing's aggressions in the South China Sea, says Pete Hegseth
On 01 November, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, at an ASEAN defence summit in Malaysia, proposed to ASEAN defence ministers the building of shared maritime domain awareness and announced US support in countering China's aggression in the South China Sea. He stated that "We need to develop our joint capabilities to respond, and this includes being able to monitor maritime conduct and develop the tools that allow us to respond quickly." Hegseth also emphasized that "No one can innovate and scale like the United States of America, and we're eager to share those capabilities with allies and partners." His remarks follow a joint drill by the armed forces of Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the US in the South China Sea. China's military spokesperson stated that the patrol "seriously undermined peace and stability."

The War in Ukraine: Russia's Defense Ministry says it destroyed a Ukrainian special forces team deployed in Pokrovsk
On 01 November, Russia's Defence Ministry stated that its forces had eliminated a team of Ukrainian special forces deployed to prevent further Russian advances in Pokrovsk, a city in eastern Ukraine. Reuters reported that Russia seeks to capture the entire Donbas region, which includes the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces. However, Ukraine continues to hold roughly 10 per cent of Donbas, around 5,000 square kilometres in western Donetsk. Pokrovsk, described by Russian media as "the gateway to Donetsk," holds strategic importance for advancing towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the remaining major Ukrainian-controlled cities in the Donetsk region. Kyiv reported that its special forces had been deployed to Pokrovsk earlier in the week, arriving by a Black Hawk helicopter. Russia's Defense Ministry stated that "All 11 people who disembarked from the helicopter were killed," and that operations to secure Pokrovsk were ongoing. However, Reuters reported that a Ukrainian military source negated Russia's claim, stating that Ukrainian forces remained active in Pokrovsk and that efforts to stabilize the area continued.

The War in Gaza: Remains handed over by Hamas were not those of hostages held in Gaza, reports Israeli media
On 01 November, Israeli media reported that the partial remains handed over by Hamas were not those of any hostages held in Gaza. Late on 31 October, the International Committee of the Red Cross stated that it had facilitated the transfer of the remains from Gaza to Israeli authorities for identification. According to Army Radio, Kan News, and N12 News, DNA tests by Israeli forensic experts determined the remains did not match known hostages. Hamas stated that it had initially offered three samples from unidentified bodies for testing, but Israel had demanded complete remains, a condition later accepted by the group. The Israeli government has not officially commented on the reports. At present, the bodies of 11 hostages, including two foreign nationals, are believed to remain in Gaza. Since the US-backed ceasefire took effect on 10 October, Hamas has released 20 living hostages and returned the remains of 17 others.

Tanzania's general election: President Samia Suluhu Hassan is the winner, declares the Electoral Commission, amidst violent demonstrations
On 01 November, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the landslide winner of the general elections. President Hassan won with more than 31.9 million votes, or 97.66 per cent of the total votes. Protests began earlier this week over the disqualification of Tanzania's main opposition party, CHADEMA, from participating in the election for failing to sign an election code of conduct document. President Hassan said the actions of the protesters were "neither responsible nor patriotic." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a thorough and impartial investigation into all allegations of excessive use of force, and condemned the loss of life. Tanzania's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, denied allegations that security services had used excessive force, and that a "very few small pockets of incidents" were caused by criminal elements. The UN human rights office said at least 10 citizens were killed in three cities. The government dismissed the opposition's death toll of hundreds as "hugely exaggerated" and has rejected criticism of its human rights record. Since 30 October, a nationwide curfew has been imposed with restricted access to the internet. Many international flights were cancelled, and operations at Dar es Salaam's port, a hub for fuel imports and exports of metals mined across the region, have been disrupted.

Sudan: 60,000 residents flee El Fasher, reports the UN
On 01 November, the UN reported that more than 60,000 people had fled El-Fasher. This happened after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the city following a long siege. The UN says those escaping report widespread violence, including killings, sexual assault, and severe hunger. Many people are trying to reach Tawila, which is about 80km away. But they face intimidation and abuse from armed groups along the road. Humanitarian workers say children arriving are severely malnourished. Meanwhile, about 150,000 people remain trapped in the city with limited access to food and safety. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have denied claims of ethnically driven attacks. However, footage has emerged showing summary executions, and one fighter has been arrested. Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023 between the army and the RSF, has caused mass displacement and deepened famine across the country.

Who says What
Opinions and views from around the world
Editorial, "China’s five-point proposal leads new course for building Asia-Pacific community," Global Times, 1 November 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347083.shtml

"Is the G7’s new rare earths alliance a big challenge to China?," South China Morning Post, 1 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331170/g7s-new-rare-earths-alliance-big-challenge-china?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

"Rare earth diplomacy: how Trump is using his Asia tour to secure critical mineral supplies," South China Morning Post, 1 November 2025
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330773/rare-earth-diplomacy-how-trump-using-his-asia-tour-secure-critical-mineral-supplies?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

"Donald Trump’s alarming muddle about nuclear-weapons testing," Economist, 1 November 2025
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/11/01/donald-trumps-alarming-muddle-about-nuclear-weapons-testing

Alexander B. Downes and Lindsey A. O’Rourke, "The Regime Change Temptation in Venezuela: If Past Is Prologue, a U.S. Attempt to Overthrow Maduro Would Not End Well," Foreign Affairs, 31 October 2025
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/venezuela/regime-change-temptation-maduro-trump-venezuela