Tuesday, 2 December 2025

DHS recommends travel ban list include at least 10 more countries following DC shooting (LINK) 2 December 2025

— Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is recommending that the Trump administration’s travel ban list include between 30 to 32 countries, marking an increase from the current list of 19 countries. It is unclear which countries are being added to the list — and when they'll be announced. The current list of 19 countries with full or partial restrictions include Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

Republican Matt Van Epps wins US House special election in Tennessee: The Associated Press called the race at 9.47 EST with Van Epps holding a 52% to 46% lead. Van Epps argued that his victory served as a sign that conservative voters remained supportive of Donald Trump's leadership (LINK) 2 December 2025

Trump envoys set to meet Putin in Moscow to discuss Ukraine peace amid Russian demands (LINK) 2 December 2025

Michael and Susan Dell to donate $6.25 billion to fund ‘Trump accounts’ for 25 million U.S. kids (LINK) 2 December 2025

— The pledge will seed tax-advantaged "Trump accounts" for children too old to qualify for grants that are set to come from the U.S. Treasury.

Monday, 1 December 2025

UN will cut 2026 budget by $577m by slashing workforce: plans to cut nearly a fifth of its staff positions as unpaid member dues climb to $1.59 trillion (LINK) 1 December 2025

— The UN chief announced next year's budget on Monday, which he set at $3.24bn – a reduction of $577m from 2025.

Trump reportedly gave President Maduro ultimatum to relinquish power in Venezuela on 30 November phone call (LINK) 1 December 2025

White House confirms Hegseth authorized Sept. 2 strikes on drug boat (LINK) 1 December 2025

For the first time since 1988, the U.S. is not officially commemorating World AIDS Day (LINK) 1 December 2025

US Court disqualifies ex-Trump lawyer Alina Habba as New Jersey prosecutor (LINK) 1 December 2025

— The US appeals court struck down the attempt by President Donald Trump to bypass the customary Senate confirmation process and appoint his former personal lawyer to a post as a top federal prosecutor.

China's state defence giants see revenue slump as corruption probes stall procurement (LINK) 1 December 2025

Ex-Credit Suisse employee charged with money laundering by lending to Mozambican state-owned companies totalling over $2 billion (CHF1.6 billion): Credit Suisse and its successor company UBS are accused of failing to prevent the offence (LINK) 1 December 2025

— swissinfo: The loans were granted by the Credit Suisse Financial Group to three Mozambican state-owned companies in 2013. In 2016, they became known as the "Mozambique debt scandal". In 2020, the OAG opened initial criminal proceedings in this connection, which it is currently conducting against two people on suspicion of money laundering and aiding and abetting the bribery of foreign public officials.

Bitcoin pulls back under $86k, stocks find support in Fed expectations (LINK) 1 December 2025

Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, announces $100K humanitarian aid for Sri Lanka as Cyclone Ditwah triggers severe flooding in Southeast Asia (LINK) 1 December 2025

Swiss crossword setter, charged with defaming the Valais section of the right-wing Swiss People's Party, acquitted of defamation (LINK) 1 December 2025

— In its verdict on Monday, the court found that the two men had merely expressed an opinion, which is protected by freedom of expression. Nor did the judge find them guilty of offences against honour or slander. A clue in a Valais paper, Le Nouvelliste, on November 18, 2023, was: "Swiss political party — racist, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-feminist, anti-ecological, anti-poor, nationalist". The answer: UDC (the French abbreviation for the Swiss People’s Party). The Valais section of the People's Party took exception to this and demanded, and received, an apology from Le Nouvelliste.

Former Prince Andrew still has 1 title left: Vice-Admiral — he was supposed to obtain the admiral title in 2020 for his 60th birthday; however, the British royal family decided against it after the 2019 Newsnight interview where Andrew addressed his relationship with Epstein (LINK) 1 December 2025

Earth's hidden eighth continent is no longer lost: we've finally mapped all of Zealandia, and explained why it is under water (LINK) 1 December 2025