10 Things Global News - 2nd December 2025
Interesting and important news from around the world
White House Defends Follow Up Boat Strike
Asia Floods Trigger Regional Military Response
US Envoy Heads to Moscow for Ukraine Peace Push
Russia Claims Capture of Key Ukrainian Hub
Russia Condemns Nato Talk Of Pre-Emptive Action
UK MP Sentenced in Bangladesh Trial Held in Absence
Cameroon Opposition Leader Dies in Custody
US Backs Bayer Appeal on Roundup Cancer Lawsuits
Foreign Volunteers Beaten In West Bank Attack
New Standoff As Chinese Ships Enter Senkaku Waters
On this day ……
On this day in 2001 Enron filed for bankruptcy marking one of the most consequential corporate failures of the modern era. The energy-trading giant collapsed after extensive accounting manipulation was exposed, wiping out thousands of jobs, pensions and investments.
The case reshaped global debates on oversight, auditing and the responsibilities of corporate boards. It led to sweeping regulatory responses, including tighter auditing standards and new requirements for executive accountability.
Two decades on, the collapse remains a reference point in discussions about transparency, corporate governance and the limits of financial innovation.
The White House said a Navy admiral acted within his authority when he ordered a second strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea during a September operation that has drawn bipartisan scrutiny.
Officials said Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley directed the follow up attack under authorisation from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has since offered full support for Bradley’s combat decisions. Lawmakers have announced a congressional review amid concern about the reported killing of survivors from the initial strike.
As the inquiry advances, the administration has defended the wider campaign against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. However, President Trump said he “wouldn’t have wanted” a second strike and noted Hegseth had denied ordering the death of two wounded men. Meanwhile, members of Congress are seeking briefings and documentation as they assess the intent, legality and sequence of the Sept. 2 attack.
Sources: Associated Press, New York Times
Flooding across four Asian countries has killed more than 1,100 people and displaced millions, prompting large scale military deployments in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Both governments are rushing aid to communities cut off by blocked roads, collapsed bridges and damaged communication lines. Meanwhile, Thailand and Malaysia are also responding to widespread inundation after torrential monsoon rains and two cyclones caused severe destruction.
In Indonesia, hundreds remain missing as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated areas in Sumatra. The government has sent warships, hospital ships and aircraft to deliver assistance, while food shortages have emerged in Aceh as supply routes remain disrupted. By comparison, Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency after Cyclone Ditwah forced mass evacuations, with authorities warning that the true scale of the damage is still unclear.
Across the region, flooding has submerged homes, triggered landslides and disrupted schooling, and officials say recovery operations will take time as waters recede.
Sources: The Guardian, Japan Times
President Vladimir Putin is set to meet Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, in Moscow on Tuesday as the United States presses for a revised peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. Witkoff is expected to present an updated proposal shaped by recent negotiations with Ukrainian diplomats, who sought to soften earlier terms viewed by Kyiv and European allies as favouring Russia. His visit follows talks in Miami, where both sides described discussions as constructive but acknowledged that significant issues remain.
However, the meeting comes as Russia signals resistance to the latest draft, arguing that Ukraine must cede remaining territory in the Donbas and abandon aspirations to join NATO. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been meeting European leaders to secure support for Ukraine’s position, stressing sovereignty and security guarantees.
In contrast, Moscow’s battlefield advances and public demands have increased pressure around the talks, as expectations for a breakthrough remain low but communication channels are deemed vital.
Sources: New York Times, BBC
Russia says its forces have captured the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk, with President Vladimir Putin describing the breakthrough as vital to advancing wider military objectives. Russian officials also claimed control of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, presenting both gains as evidence that their forces are “confidently holding the initiative”. However, Ukraine has not confirmed the loss of Pokrovsk, which has been under heavy bombardment in recent weeks and reduced to rubble in parts by drones, artillery and airstrikes.
Putin said the advance would help fulfil the tasks set at the start of the invasion and highlighted reported successes further south in Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile, Kyiv is engaging US and European leaders on how to negotiate an end to the war. In contrast to Moscow’s assertions, President Volodymyr Zelensky said one of his priorities was to avoid territorial concessions that would legitimise Russia’s occupation of large areas of Ukrainian territory.
Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera
Russia has accused Nato of taking an irresponsible step after the alliance’s most senior military officer suggested that a pre-emptive strike could be considered in response to hybrid attacks.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone told the Financial Times that Nato was examining how to counter Moscow’s cyber operations, drone incursions and suspected attempts to damage undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. He said a pre-emptive strike could be viewed as a defensive action, despite it being outside Nato’s usual approach.
However, Moscow denounced the remarks, calling them escalatory. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said such statements undermined efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and warned that Nato members should consider the risks. Meanwhile, Nato continues to expand Operation Baltic Sentry, which increases patrol aircraft, drones and warships to deter further incidents. As a result, the alliance says deterrence has held in the region since the operation began.
Sources: Japan Post, The Independent
British MP Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced to two years in prison in Bangladesh after being tried in her absence alongside 16 others on corruption charges she strongly denies.
She was found guilty of influencing her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to secure land for family members on the outskirts of Dhaka. Siddiq, who is based in London and has rejected the allegations, said the process had been flawed and farcical and stressed she had never received formal notice of the charges.
However, the verdict comes amid a series of wide ranging cases brought against Hasina, her allies and relatives since her government was ousted. In contrast, senior British legal figures have questioned the fairness of the proceedings, noting Siddiq had been unable to secure proper representation. Meanwhile, Siddiq said she remained focused on her constituents and described the outcome as trial by media, while the Labour Party emphasised that she retains the whip and is not under investigation in the UK.
Sources: BBC, Politico Europe
Veteran Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane has died in military detention, intensifying tensions following October’s disputed presidential election. Ekane, 74, was detained in Douala in October after supporting opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who insists he won the poll. His family and lawyers said his health deteriorated sharply in recent days, alleging he was denied appropriate medical treatment. However, the government said he had been under the care of military doctors and personal physicians, and announced an investigation.
Meanwhile, his death has triggered renewed outrage during Cameroon’s wider post election crisis. In contrast to official claims of limited casualties in recent protests, opposition groups and human rights organisations have said the toll is far higher.
The European Union delegation expressed deep sadness and repeated calls for the release of those held since the election. Supporters gathered at his party headquarters, while others vented anger online, underscoring how his death has become a focal point for long standing grievances over political repression.
Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC
The Trump administration has urged the US Supreme Court to take up Bayer’s appeal aimed at curbing thousands of lawsuits alleging its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. In a filing, Solicitor General D. John Sauer backed the company’s argument that federal pesticide law preempts state level failure to warn claims, saying juries should not second guess the Environmental Protection Agency’s assessments. He noted that the EPA has repeatedly found glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic and has approved labels without cancer warnings.
However, the case comes after years of mixed verdicts for Bayer, with more than 67,000 claims still pending. Bayer has already paid about $10 billion in settlements since acquiring Monsanto in 2018, while also facing large awards in several trials.
Meanwhile, plaintiffs say they relied on the company’s marketing and argue that federal rules do not shield Bayer from liability. As a result, the solicitor general’s support marks a significant step as the justices decide whether to take the appeal.
Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg
Four foreign volunteers were beaten and robbed in the West Bank after a group of masked settlers entered the house where they were sleeping. The attackers, some armed with rifles, assaulted the Italians and the Canadian for up to 15 minutes, leaving them with injuries that required hospital treatment. Their belongings, including passports and phones, were taken. One volunteer remained under care while the others were discharged.
However, diplomats say the attack reflects a wider pattern. Italy, Canada and several European governments condemned the rising violence and urged Israel to halt settler actions that undermine stability. Meanwhile, activists in Ein al Duyuk say incidents have become more frequent since the creation of a nearby outpost, with homes raided, livestock stolen and equipment destroyed.
As a result, the episode has intensified calls for stronger protection of Palestinian communities and foreign volunteers.
Sources: The Guardian, The Jerusalem Post
Japan and China have reported a new standoff around the disputed Senkaku Islands after two Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japanese territorial waters early on Tuesday. The Japanese coast guard said the vessels sailed towards a Japanese fishing boat, prompting a warning to leave. It added that the activities violated international law and that several Chinese ships remained in the area.
China offered a different account, saying the Japanese fishing vessel had entered what it considers Chinese waters and that its coast guard took necessary measures to drive it away. The incident comes amid heightened tensions following Japan’s suggestion that it could intervene militarily in any Chinese attack on Taiwan.
Meanwhile, wider strains are being felt in the bilateral relationship. China has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, and cultural events have been disrupted. However, Beijing has so far avoided broader economic reprisals, despite renewing a seafood import ban.