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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.

The office of Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed on the 30th that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally submitted a request for a presidential pardon in hopes of ending the years-long corruption proceedings against him. Netanyahu denies all charges and has entered a plea of not guilty.

According to reports, former U.S. President Donald Trump previously sent a letter to Herzog urging him to grant Netanyahu a pardon.

Herzog’s office stated that this “unusual and far-reaching” request is now under review, and the president will make a decision “responsibly and honestly” after gathering input from all sides. As for requests for comment, Netanyahu’s office has yet to respond.

Peruvian President José Jerí announced on the 28th that the Tacna region in the country’s south, which borders Chile, will be placed under a 60-day state of emergency. During this period, the Peruvian military will assist the police in tightening border controls. Peru stated that the move is mainly intended to address a potential influx of migrants and security threats stemming from Chile’s political situation.

The trigger for this development is Chile’s upcoming presidential election and the tough anti-immigration rhetoric of far-right candidate José Antonio Kast. During the campaign, Kast repeatedly expressed strong anti-immigrant positions, even issuing an ultimatum to the roughly 330,000 undocumented migrants in Chile, warning that if elected, illegal migrants must leave voluntarily within a few months or face deportation. Many of these undocumented migrants are Venezuelans fleeing their country’s economic collapse. Kast’s remarks have caused panic among them, prompting large numbers to try to cross the border into Peru before the Chilean government takes action.

Media outlets and government agencies in the Peruvian border region have reported that dozens of migrants are already stranded at Chilean border checkpoints, eager to enter Peru but lacking the necessary documents. The Peruvian government is concerned that a surge of migrants could bring a range of security and social challenges.

Chile, one of the most stable and affluent nations in South America and the region’s first OECD member, has experienced a major influx of migrants in recent years. Most come from Venezuela, along with others from Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Rising concerns over migrant-related crime and pressure on public resources have fueled domestic discontent, making immigration a central issue in this presidential election. Peru’s border emergency highlights not only the ongoing migration crisis across South America but also the diplomatic strains and humanitarian challenges that unilateral actions can create in the absence of regional consensus.

French President Emmanuel Macron on the 27th formally announced that, in response to increasingly serious international threats, France will reinstate the voluntary military service system—abolished nearly 30 years ago—to encourage young people to enlist and strengthen the nation’s defense capabilities.

The program is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026, recruiting 3,000 volunteers aged 18 to 19, with an upper age limit of 25. Both men and women may apply, and the service period will be ten months. A small number of older applicants with specialized backgrounds—such as in medicine or engineering—may also participate. Monthly pay will be at least 800 euros (about NT$30,000). The number of recruits will increase each year, with plans to expand to 10,000 by 2030 and 50,000 by 2035. The total budget for the program is 2 billion euros (about NT$73.5 billion).

Recruitment will be entirely voluntary and candidates will be selected based on the needs of the armed forces. To strengthen reserve capabilities, volunteers will only be assigned to missions within France in order to enhance national defense readiness. France currently has 200,000 active-duty soldiers and 47,000 reservists; these numbers are expected to grow to 210,000 and 80,000 respectively by 2030.

Media reports say that starting December 10, Australia will require social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to shut down the accounts of users under 16 years old. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to 49.5 million AUD (about 1 billion NTD). On the 25th, the digital rights group *Digital Freedom Project* announced that it had taken legal action in an attempt to block the ban from taking effect.

According to the reports, the Digital Freedom Project stated that it had filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Australia together with two 15-year-old teenagers, arguing that the regulation constitutes unequal treatment in terms of freedom of expression. The group claims the ban directly infringes on young people’s right to political communication, depriving millions of young Australians of access to the “modern town square.”

Reports also note that Snapchat has announced that starting this week, users will be required to verify their age. Verification can be completed through an Australian bank account, government-issued ID, or by taking a facial photo through which a third party will estimate the user’s age range. Australia’s regulation banning children and teens under 16 from using social media has drawn significant global attention.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the 25th held a virtual meeting with the 35-member countries of the “Coalition of the Willing,” including the U.K., France, and the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to discuss progress on the U.S.-initiated Russia-Ukraine ceasefire peace agreement. Zelenskyy expressed willingness to exchange views directly with Donald Trump and hoped to continue working with Europe and the United States to advance the ceasefire within the established framework discussed in Geneva.

Zelenskyy emphasized that “Ukraine must be involved in discussions regarding its own security guarantees.” He argued that the U.S. and Russia should not make decisions without Ukraine present; otherwise, future implementation may be difficult. He reiterated that unless Russia signals willingness to cease fire, the West should continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine, maintain sanctions against Russia, and make proper use of frozen Russian assets.

Among the 28 provisions drafted by U.S. and Russian officials, the possibility of NATO troops being stationed on Ukrainian territory was excluded. However, the leaders of the U.K. and France insisted that deploying a multinational ground force in Ukraine would help deter further aggression. This has caused serious divisions among Western allies: Sweden, Denmark, and Australia signaled willingness to participate, while Poland, Greece, and Italy expressed opposition. Zelenskyy hopes European and American countries can establish a viable framework for deploying the “Reassurance Force Ukraine of the Coalition of the Willing” and proceed with signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The online meeting on the 25th took place just hours after Ukraine and the United States reached a “consensus” on the core terms of the peace agreement during bilateral talks. The most sensitive issues in the agreement remain unresolved and await an in-person meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, the date of which has not yet been announced. Zelenskyy stated, “I am ready to meet with President Trump—there are still some sensitive issues to discuss, and we believe having European leaders present might be helpful,” suggesting he may travel to the U.S. together with other European leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on November 24, officially launching the “Genesis Mission,” aimed at accelerating the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and strengthening America’s leadership in the global AI race.

According to foreign media reports, Michael Kratsios, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, stated that the initiative will coordinate research across government agencies, fully integrate AI tools, and open federal databases and provide access to the Department of Energy’s national laboratory computing resources. These efforts are expected to significantly shorten the time required to achieve scientific breakthroughs.

A senior official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the Genesis Mission will collaborate with private-sector companies such as Nvidia, Dell, HPE, and AMD to enhance the supercomputing capabilities of national laboratories. The initiative aims to advance innovation in materials engineering, health sciences, and energy, thereby boosting productivity and lowering prices through technological innovation in response to voter concerns over rising living costs.

However, the energy-hungry data centers required for AI development have sparked concerns about strain on the power grid. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm emphasized that one of the mission’s ultimate goals is to increase energy supply, improve grid efficiency, and reduce energy costs. “We will curb the continued rise in energy prices and ultimately put downward pressure on electricity rates,” she said.

Department of Energy Chief of Staff Paul M. Dabbar noted that the Genesis Mission highlights the Trump administration’s strong focus on the AI technology race, calling it as significant as the Manhattan Project and the space race. Trump has repeatedly underscored the strategic value of AI, planning to make it a top priority in Washington, and intends to relax regulations through executive action while promoting unified federal standards to prevent states from enacting their own separate legislation. Reportedly, Trump is prepared to file lawsuits against state-level AI regulations deemed unconstitutional.

Scott Kupor, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), recently confirmed in an interview that the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE)—established by President Donald Trump at the beginning of his term and led by Elon Musk—is set to be dissolved. He noted that DOGE is no longer a “centralized entity,” and that some of its functions have been taken over by OPM. However, Kupor later clarified on social media that the Reuters report had taken his remarks out of context, stressing that DOGE remains operational and continues to advance deregulation efforts and combat fraud and waste.

DOGE was created in January, with Trump declaring its mission to pursue “major structural reforms,” including budget cuts and the elimination of bureaucratic agencies, and was originally slated to operate through July 2026. Musk co-led the office with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, but resigned after only four months due to friction with White House officials and public criticism of Trump’s policies. Following his departure, the office’s future came under scrutiny, and some staff members began leaving or seeking new positions.

Reports from Reuters and other media outlets indicate that Trump has recently referred to DOGE in the past tense, and staff have been gradually transferring to other government entities, including the newly established “National Design Studio” launched in August. Acting director Amy Gleason also moved in March to become an adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services. Although no formal dissolution has been announced, many observers believe DOGE has steadily faded from the center of government operations.