10 Things Global News - 27th November 2025
Interesting and important news from around the world
Hong Kong Counts Deadliest Fire In Decades
Targeted Shooting Near White House
US Envoy Set for Moscow Peace Talks
Trump Urges Japan To Ease China Tensions
Military Seizes Power In Guinea-Bissau
US Bars South Africa From 2026 G20 Summit
Moldova Protests Russian Drone Crash
Russia Faces Mounting Economic Strain From War
Pentagon Targets Chinese Tech Firms Over Military Links
British Army Pauses Ajax Vehicles Over Safety Fears
On this day …..
On this day in 1895 Alfred Nobel signed his final will. His will directed that his fortune fund annual prizes recognising achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace.
His decision surprised contemporaries and created an enduring global institution, shaping scientific prestige and diplomatic narratives for more than a century.
The Nobel Prizes became a benchmark for breakthrough research, cultural influence, and efforts toward international peace.
With the sometimes aggressive lobby that accompanies the prizes do today’s Nobel selections still reflect Nobel’s original intentions, or have the prizes evolved into something different?
A fire sweeping through Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court has killed 44 people and left more than 270 missing, after flames raced across bamboo scaffolding and materials that authorities suspect did not meet fire-safety standards. The blaze began on Wednesday afternoon and rapidly engulfed seven of the complex’s eight towers, prompting a vast deployment of firefighters and the evacuation of more than 900 residents to temporary shelters.
Investigators say flammable foam boards and external netting used during renovation work may have contributed to the unusually fast spread of the fire. As a result, police have arrested three people linked to the construction company involved, citing suspected gross negligence in the installation of materials that may have failed to meet regulated standards.
Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to search upper floors hindered by falling debris and intense heat. Officials say the fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong for more than half a century and have launched a full criminal investigation into its cause and already three people have been arrested in relation to the blaze.
Sources: South China Morning Post, BBC, New York Times
Two National Guard soldiers were critically wounded in Washington after a gunman opened fire near the White House. Officials said the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, approached the soldiers during a high-visibility patrol and ambushed them before being subdued after an exchange of gunfire. He was later identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the country in 2021 under a resettlement programme and was granted asylum earlier this year.
The attack prompted an immediate federal response, as authorities said they had not yet determined a motive. However, the incident quickly fed into a wider political debate, as President Trump described the shooting as an act of terror and ordered a halt to all immigration processing for Afghan nationals. As a result, he also announced a review of all Afghans who arrived under the previous administration.
Meanwhile, the city saw an expanded security presence after Trump directed an additional 500 guard soldiers to Washington.
Sources: Reuters, The Guardian
Momentum around efforts to end the war in Ukraine is building as the Kremlin confirms that US special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow next week. Russian officials say they have seen the initial US peace proposal through back channels but have not yet received it formally, while contacts between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv continue. However, they stress that no point by point negotiations have begun.
Weekend talks between American and Ukrainian officials in Geneva led President Volodymyr Zelensky to describe the plan as potentially workable, although key elements remain unresolved. Meanwhile, Russia is signalling caution. In contrast, European leaders are insisting that any settlement must protect Ukraine’s security and avoid limits on its armed forces.
As a result, the diplomatic effort is widening. Yet Russia’s foreign ministry says it remains too early to judge whether a peace agreement is close.
Sources: Associated Press, BBC
US President Donald Trump has asked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to avoid further escalation in a dispute with China after remarks she made about potential Japanese military action in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Her comments triggered a furious response from Beijing, which demanded a retraction that has not been issued.
The call took place shortly after Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who reiterated that Taiwan’s “return to China” remains central to Beijing’s worldview. As a result, Trump conveyed a desire for Japan not to intensify tensions, though he made no specific demands, according to Japanese government sources.
Meanwhile, China has urged the US to rein in Japan to prevent what it called “actions to revive militarism”. Taiwan maintains that returning to China is not an option for its 23 million people, underscoring how the dispute continues to draw in major powers.
Sources: Asahi Shimbun, The Guardian
Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau have seized control of the country, suspending the electoral process and closing its borders. The takeover came three days after presidential elections in which both the incumbent, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and his main rival, Fernando Dias, claimed victory. Shots were heard near key government buildings earlier in the day, although responsibility for the gunfire remained unclear.
The military announced on state TV that it had formed a high command to restore order, saying it was acting to counter a destabilisation plot involving unnamed politicians and a drug baron. As a result, the president was reported to have been detained, alongside senior figures linked to both sides of the contested election. Meanwhile, checkpoints were erected across the capital and a curfew imposed.
In contrast, the takeover extends a long pattern of coups and attempted coups since independence, reflecting persistent instability in a country described as a major drug-trafficking hub.
Sources: The Guardian, BBC
President Trump has said South Africa will not be invited to next year’s G20 summit in Miami and announced that the US will stop all payments and subsidies to the country. He repeated claims of violence against white Afrikaners and criticised Pretoria’s handling of the recent global meeting, which the US boycotted. South Africa rejected the accusations as misinformation and said it did not appreciate insults about its role in global forums.
The decision followed a clash over the G20 handover, as South Africa declined to pass the symbolic gavel to a lower-ranking American official during the summit. As a result, the exchange took place quietly between diplomats in Pretoria. Meanwhile, Pretoria said it would continue to participate as a constructive G20 member and urged others to uphold multilateralism.
However, US officials have linked their broader stance to South Africa’s foreign policy, and Trump has already suspended aid earlier in the year.
Sources: Bloomberg, PBS
Moldova has summoned Russia’s ambassador and publicly displayed a crashed Russian drone outside its foreign ministry in protest at what it called a serious violation of its sovereignty. The drone fell on a house in a village near the Ukrainian border after six drones breached Moldovan airspace, according to the government. The ministry handed the envoy a note of protest and published a video of him leaving the building and passing the damaged drone.
Moldova has repeatedly reported airspace violations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and it has expelled dozens of Russian diplomats over related incidents. As a result, relations are already at a low point and have faced further strain after the government moved to close a Russian cultural centre, a decision condemned by Moscow and pro-Russian groups at home.
However, Russia’s ambassador dismissed the significance of the crash and questioned why the drone caused limited damage.
Sources: France 24, Straits Times
Russians are increasingly feeling the economic effects of the war as inflation outpaces wages and households cut back on basic goods. Companies in sectors from retail to steel and mining report declining demand, and Russia’s central bank has struggled to cool an overheated economy despite earlier rate hikes. Meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes on refineries and ports have further disrupted fuel supplies and contributed to shortages in several regions.
The pressure comes as Washington targets Russia’s oil revenue and expands sanctions on major producers, while diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. However, analysts say President Vladimir Putin appears willing to absorb economic pain while maintaining the war, believing that Ukraine’s financial, territorial and political pressures will force concessions. In contrast, the US and Russia are preparing for further negotiations, with Moscow signalling that any agreement must reflect its long-standing demands.
As a result, the strain on Russia’s economy is expected to deepen, with budget deficits rising and multiple industries reporting sharp declines.
Sources: Bloomberg, Forbes, New York Times
The Pentagon has concluded that Alibaba, Baidu and BYD should be added to a US list of companies assessed as aiding the Chinese military, according to a letter sent to Congress in early October. The designation, known as the Section 1260H list, carries no automatic legal penalties but serves as a warning to US investors and counterparties. However, it is not yet clear whether the companies have been formally added to the list, which was last updated in January.
The review also identified five additional firms that merit inclusion. In contrast, Alibaba said there was no basis for the assessment and insisted it was not part of any military-civil fusion strategy, while noting that inclusion would not affect its operations because it does no business related to US military procurement. Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry criticised Washington’s use of security-based designations and said it would take necessary measures to protect Chinese companies.
Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg
The British Army has suspended all use of its Ajax armoured vehicles for two weeks after around 30 soldiers reported symptoms linked to noise and vibration during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain. Some personnel emerged vomiting or shaking, and a small number are still receiving medical care. However, the vast majority have been cleared for duty.
The pause comes only weeks after the Ministry of Defence declared initial operating capability for Ajax, having insisted earlier this month that the long delayed programme had resolved its earlier problems. However, issues have persisted. Three soldiers have reportedly faced medical discharge since Ajax entered their unit, and symptoms again emerged during Exercise Titan Storm.
As a result, the minister for defence readiness ordered the immediate halt and a full safety investigation. Meanwhile, the vehicles remain central to a £5.5 billion procurement effort that has already suffered years of delays.