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After Thailand and Cambodia experienced a border military clash in July, the two sides—already under pressure from Trump’s tariff threats—had successfully reached a ceasefire agreement, and formally signed the *Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord* on October 26 in Kuala Lumpur. Unexpectedly, the situation escalated again on the 7th after Cambodian troops opened fire on a Thai engineering team that was repairing a road along the disputed border, injuring two Thai soldiers. The clashes have already forced more than 500,000 civilians to flee their homes, about 400,000 of whom are Thai.

Beginning on the 8th, the Thai military launched attacks using F-16s and drones on the town of Samraong, about 20 kilometers from the border. The Thai military accused Cambodian forces of firing rockets that landed near Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province, while Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that at dawn on the 11th, the Thai military shelled the area around Khnar Temple in Oddar Meanchey Province. The Thai military also announced that a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. would be imposed starting on the night of the 10th in parts of Sa Kaeo Province.

In addition, the fighting has endangered valuable local cultural heritage. UNESCO has expressed particular concern over hostilities near the Preah Vihear Temple—a World Heritage Site—and has provided both sides with the coordinates of relevant cultural monuments to help prevent irreversible loss to humanity.

In an interview, Trump said he planned to speak with leaders of both Thailand and Cambodia to urge an immediate ceasefire. The Pope has also called for an immediate halt to fighting and a resumption of dialogue. In an interview with Reuters on the 9th, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that tariff threats should not be used as leverage to pressure Thailand and Cambodia into negotiations or to end border clashes. He added that the current situation is not suitable for third-party mediation, emphasizing that the cessation of conflict depends on whether Phnom Penh is willing to take the first step to halt its actions and ease tensions.

A powerful magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture late on the night of the 8th, with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 and a shallow depth, affecting Aomori, Hokkaido, Iwate, and surrounding regions.

So far, at least 50 people have been reported injured—mostly minor injuries—and no fatalities have been confirmed. A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the quake, and a wave of up to 70 centimeters was observed at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture. All tsunami warnings have since been lifted. Sporadic fires, road collapses, and brief power outages were reported, and Shinkansen services were temporarily suspended.

Japan Meteorological Agency issued, for the first time, a “Major Aftershock Advisory” for earthquakes off Hokkaido and Sanriku, warning that there is a high likelihood of a magnitude 6 or stronger quake—and even the possibility of a magnitude 8 event—within the next week.

Disaster-preparedness measures have been fully activated across the Tohoku region, including the opening of autonomous evacuation shelters staffed around the clock. Residents are being urged to remain on high alert and be ready to evacuate at any time.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called on residents in affected areas to maintain maximum vigilance. She emphasized that the government has established an emergency response team and will prioritize the safety of the public above all else. Takaichi stressed: “Please stay tuned to information from your local authorities. If you feel any shaking, take immediate action to evacuate.”

A ceasefire agreement that had been in effect for less than two months has collapsed as Thailand and Cambodia once again clash along their shared border. Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets to strike Cambodian military bases, leaving four Cambodian civilians and one Thai soldier dead, with several others injured. The Thai government has ordered the urgent evacuation of roughly 400,000 residents in border areas, while more than 600 schools and multiple hospitals have been temporarily closed. The escalation threatens the ceasefire deal brokered in October by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The confrontation began on the afternoon of the 7th. Thailand accused Cambodian forces of firing first on Thai soldiers repairing a road inside Thai territory, prompting return fire. Early the next morning, Cambodian troops again opened fire on several locations in Ubon Ratchathani Province, killing one Thai soldier and injuring four. Cambodia, however, countered that Thai forces had launched pre-dawn attacks on positions in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey Provinces. Thailand later dispatched F-16 jets to conduct precision strikes on Cambodian targets, insisting the attacks were limited to military facilities and aimed at “crippling Cambodia’s military capability” to ensure Thailand’s long-term security.

The fighting has triggered panic across border communities, with residents fleeing en masse. Streets have emptied as civilians seek refuge in warehouses, tunnels, and makeshift bomb shelters. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar urged both sides to halt fire immediately and resolve their disputes through diplomacy, but Thai Prime Minister Anutin reiterated that Thailand would not tolerate violations of its sovereignty and rejected calls for restraint. The century-old border dispute, now flaring again just weeks after the ceasefire took effect, has cast a dark shadow over regional peace.

The UK’s Financial Times has released its inaugural Influence List, naming the 25 people who will truly “change the world” in 2025. Unlike rankings based on status, power, or wealth, the FT emphasizes that its selections are individuals whose talent, breakthroughs, creativity, ideas, and actions are reshaping the world we live in. The list spans politics, business, media, the arts, and sports, and is divided into three categories: Creators, Leaders, and Heroes.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is included in the Leaders category, with an accompanying appraisal written by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Altman notes that Huang has spent years preparing for the AI era, placing early bets on new computing architectures that laid the foundation for today’s “digital intelligence.” He praises Huang’s deep technical vision, relentless drive, and long-term investment in infrastructure, which have accelerated the scale and pace of AI hardware and systems in ways few can match. Altman adds that he values their nearly decade-long collaboration and looks forward to continuing to work together.

Beyond Huang, the list highlights a diverse array of influential figures, including the first female White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles; New York City’s first Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdani; MI6’s first female chief, Blaise Metreweli; PayPal co-founder, Peter Thiel; BYD Senior Vice President, Stella Li; Korean American entrepreneur, Michele Kang; golf star, Rory McIlroy; and Oscar-winning actress, Jane Fonda—showcasing wide-ranging influence across fields and backgrounds.

On the 5th, the German Bundestag passed a military service bill introducing a voluntary service system—marking a major shift in Germany’s defense policy. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany has decided to strengthen its national defense, echoing Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s goal of building Europe’s strongest army.

The Bundestag approved the reform with 323 votes in favor and 272 against, making Germany the latest European country to adopt a hybrid military service model. The goal is to gradually increase troop numbers from the current roughly 182,000 to 260,000 active soldiers by early 2030, along with 200,000 reservists, in order to meet NATO’s new force requirements. However, if the security situation deteriorates or volunteer numbers fall short, the parliament can activate conscription when necessary.

Under the new law, starting in January 2026, all German male citizens who turn 18 will receive a questionnaire about their willingness to join the military, while women may respond voluntarily. Beginning in July 2027, all 18-year-old men will be required to undergo a health examination to assess their fitness for potential service. If war breaks out, the military can use these questionnaires and medical evaluations to draft potential recruits. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that only universal health screening can ensure that Germany does not waste time determining “who can serve as defenders of the homeland and who cannot” in the event of an attack.

Although the government emphasizes that the system remains primarily voluntary, the policy has nonetheless sparked protests among young people. Organizers of the demonstrations wrote on social media: “We don’t want to spend half a year of our lives locked in barracks, marching in formation, obeying orders, and learning how to kill.”

During the Cold War, Germany maintained nearly 500,000 troops. But after the Cold War ended, European nations steadily downsized their militaries, and Germany abolished compulsory service in 2011 under former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Now, facing the threat from Russia and pressure from the United States, Chancellor Merz has pledged to rebuild the Bundeswehr into Europe’s most powerful conventional force.

To attract young recruits, the German military is offering a monthly salary of about €2,600. By comparison, France’s voluntary military service program pays only €800 per month.

On December 4 in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump, together with Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, signed a peace agreement and a critical-minerals cooperation plan. The initiative aims to end the decades-long conflict between the two countries and open a channel for the United States to access key rare-earth minerals. Despite strong U.S. backing, violence in eastern Congo has yet to subside, leaving the effectiveness of the agreement in question.

At the ceremony held at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Trump said the deal could be a “great miracle,” emphasizing that the U.S. would work with both countries on rare-metal extraction—an endeavor expected to generate significant business opportunities. Eastern DRC, a region plagued by frequent unrest, contains abundant critical materials needed for modern technologies such as electric vehicles. However, the two African leaders were more cautious: Kagame acknowledged that “there will certainly be ups and downs ahead,” while Tshisekedi described the agreement as “a new beginning, but a difficult path.”

The long-standing turmoil in eastern Congo has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Recently, clashes have intensified between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the Congolese government forces. The United Nations has accused Rwanda of supporting M23, raising further concerns over whether the peace agreement can truly bring an end to the conflict.

On December 2, 2025, San Francisco, California, filed a lawsuit against ten major food manufacturers, accusing them of knowingly marketing “ultra-processed foods” that can lead to obesity and chronic diseases. Despite being aware of these risks, the companies allegedly continued to promote such products through aggressive marketing strategies modeled after those used by the tobacco industry, resulting in harm to public health. The complaint was filed by City Attorney David Chiu.

The companies named in the lawsuit include globally recognized brands such as Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Kellogg’s. Officials stated that these corporations have long produced and widely sold a range of “convenient and enticing” ultra-processed foods—including potato chips, soft drinks, processed meats, breakfast cereals, and frozen meals—while using advertising strategies targeting children and vulnerable communities to encourage excessive consumption.

The complaint further asserts that these foods are linked to chronic illnesses such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, placing a heavy burden on the public healthcare system. San Francisco is calling on the court to order the companies to halt deceptive marketing practices and to compensate for the social costs incurred, including health and medical expenses.

If successful, this would be the world’s first class-action lawsuit brought by a local government against food companies over the health hazards of ultra-processed foods, potentially reshaping the regulatory landscape of the U.S. food industry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin with U.S. negotiator Tim Swieczkowski and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss possible ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The talks lasted five hours. Both sides described the meeting as constructive, but said there was still no consensus on territorial matters.

Putin criticized European countries for undermining President Trump’s peace efforts. Speaking in a harsh tone, he warned Europe that if European nations choose to go to war with Russia, the conflict “will end very quickly for Europe—so quickly that we won’t even be able to find anyone left to negotiate with.”

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fourth year, with casualties reaching into the millions, Putin’s remarks have further heightened tensions between Russia and Europe. He accused Europe of proposing peace plans that they knew Russia could not accept, saying the intention to obstruct negotiations was obvious, and that this allows them to blame Russia for rejecting peace. He added that by cutting off communication with Moscow, European countries had essentially excluded themselves from the peace process and placed themselves on the side of war.

Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the conflict has become Europe’s bloodiest war since World War II. European nations have provided strong financial and military support to Ukraine, helping it reduce its dependence on Russian energy while simultaneously strengthening their own military capacity to prevent Moscow from seizing more territory by force. After nearly four years of war, Putin has still been unable to fully control Ukraine, while Ukraine and its European allies have repeatedly warned that a Russian victory would directly threaten NATO member states.

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said that recent progress by Russian forces on the battlefield had positively influenced the peace talks held yesterday in Moscow with the U.S. envoy, describing the meeting as constructive and significant. He said that Ukraine’s potential accession to NATO was one of the key issues discussed, and added that he hoped Ukraine and its European allies would adopt a “more balanced attitude and perspective” toward the current situation.

Ushakov said after the meeting that both sides had carefully reviewed the new 19-point cease-fire draft proposed by the United States and Ukraine, but had not yet discussed any concrete plans or proposals. He stated that progress on territorial issues was “essentially zero.” When asked by reporters whether the talks had brought peace closer or pushed it further away, he responded that “it certainly hasn’t moved further away,” but emphasized that Washington and Moscow still had much to do and would continue negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was prepared to receive all outcomes of the talks and was ready to meet with President Trump, depending on how today’s discussions unfold.

U.S. retailer Costco has recently filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade, requesting a suspension of certain tariffs while the Supreme Court reviews the legality of tariffs imposed under the Trump administration. The company also seeks assurance that if the tariffs are ultimately ruled unlawful, businesses will be able to recover the duties they have already paid.

According to foreign media reports, Costco argues that the Trump administration invoked the *International Emergency Economic Powers Act* (IEEPA) to impose additional tariffs, creating uncertainty over whether companies can obtain refunds. Even if the Supreme Court later strikes down the tariffs, Costco is concerned that because the “liquidation deadline” is set to expire on December 15, the duties already paid may not be recoverable.

The complaint also asks the court to bar U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from collecting the tariffs before a ruling is issued, criticizing CBP for refusing to extend the liquidation deadline. In addition to Costco, dozens of companies—including tuna brand Bumble Bee Foods, Ray-Ban parent company EssilorLuxottica, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Revlon, and Yokohama Tire—have filed similar lawsuits. “Liquidation” refers to the final calculation of duties assessed on imported goods.

The Supreme Court held oral arguments on November 5, questioning whether Trump had lawfully invoked the 1977 *Emergency Powers Act* to impose tariffs, though it has not yet announced a decision date. Costco stated that in response to the tariffs, it has reduced the number of suppliers, increased local sourcing, and strengthened supply for its private label, Kirkland.

Days of torrential rain have caused severe disasters across Southeast Asia, with more than 600 deaths reported in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Indonesia has suffered the heaviest losses, with 435 fatalities. Massive landslides and floods have struck three provinces including West Sumatra, cutting off transportation and communications and leaving some areas completely isolated. Authorities have deployed helicopters to air-drop supplies and assist stranded residents. According to official statistics, 406 people remain missing, over 210,000 have been displaced, and some disaster-hit regions have even reported incidents of looting.

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported that the death toll has risen to 170, with 102 people injured. The southern province of Songkhla has been hit the hardest. Hat Yai, the largest city in the province, recorded 335 millimeters of rainfall on November 21 alone—a 300-year record for the area. Flooding triggered by the torrential rains has severely disrupted residents' daily lives, and rescue operations are still underway.

Malaysia has reported three deaths, with around 18,700 people still sheltered in emergency evacuation centers. Meteorological authorities have lifted the tropical storm warning, and weather conditions in most areas are expected to gradually improve. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that over 6,200 Malaysian tourists stranded in Thailand were assisted in evacuating last week, while one Malaysian national remains missing in West Sumatra.

Notably, Sri Lanka was also struck by Cyclone Ditva, which caused 334 deaths, left nearly 400 people missing, and affected more than one million people.