The Trump administration has instructed US embassies to prioritize visa applications from foreigners planning to visit the country for investment or participation in major sporting events.
A delegation of 15 UN Security Council members visited Syria for the first time since 1945, meeting with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The visit took place on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and aimed to build trust.
Versace Creative Director Dario Vitale is resigning eight months after his appointment. This comes two days after the Prada Group completed its acquisition of Versace for 1.375 billion euros in cash.
Weeks after Iraq recognized Yemen's Houthis and Hezbollah as terrorists, the authorities revoked the decision, citing a mistake.
A Vatican research commission has decided not to ordain women as deacons, disappointing Catholic women. Instead, it has been proposed to create new lay ministries for women outside of the ordained diaconate.
The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, challenging new rules that prohibit most major media outlets from being in the building. The publication claims that these rules violate constitutional freedoms and restrict the work of journalists.
A talipot palm, imported from South Asia in the 1960s, has bloomed in Rio de Janeiro. This palm, one of the largest in the world, flowers only once in its lifetime, after which it naturally dies.
Thailand has temporarily lifted a long-standing ban on daytime alcohol sales, in place since 1972, to stimulate tourism and support small businesses. The new rules will be in effect for 180 days as a trial, allowing sales from 11:00 AM to midnight.
In New Zealand, a man swallowed a Fabergé pendant worth 33,000 New Zealand dollars in a store. Police are waiting for the jewelry to pass naturally, and the suspect will appear in court on December 8.
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and US President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will meet with Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, in Miami on December 4 to continue discussions on the American "peace plan" for Ukraine.
Today, a Los Angeles court will announce the sentence for Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty to illegally selling ketamine to Matthew Perry. Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison sentence for the 44-year-old Plasencia.
Putin will pay a state visit to India on December 4-5 for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting takes place against the backdrop of India continuing to massively buy discounted Russian oil, despite warnings from Washington.
In Sudan, an armed man hijacked a humanitarian plane, demanding to fly to Chad. The pilot faked a refueling, which allowed the hijacker to be arrested in the city of Wau.
Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, an Afghan national accused of assaulting and killing National Guard servicemen near the White House, pleaded not guilty. He participated in the first court hearing via video link from his hospital bed.
A powerful snowstorm brought up to 25 centimeters of snow and ice to New England. This followed record November snowfalls in the Midwest, which complicated travel.
Pope Leo XIV concluded his first foreign trip to Lebanon and Turkey, visiting the port of Beirut. He prayed for the 220 people who died in August 2020 and met with relatives of the explosion victims.
Bitcoin, after reaching a record high of $126,210. 50 on October 6, fell by 11.8% to less than $85,000. This drop led to a decline in crypto industry stocks, including Coinbase Global and Robinhood Markets.
South African police have arrested 39-year-old Nonkululeko Mantuli, a SAFM host, on suspicion of recruiting men to fight in the war in Ukraine on Russia's side. Four other people have also been detained, three of whom were trying to fly to Russia, and one has already joined the Russian army.
In Hong Kong, the death toll from the fire in the Wang Fuk residential complex has risen to 146, with 30 more bodies found. About 100 people are missing, and 79 were injured.
Kyrgyzstan held early parliamentary elections, with 467 candidates vying for 90 seats. This occurred amidst arrests of opposition figures and the closure of independent media outlets.
A mass shooting at a banquet hall in Stockton, California, claimed the lives of four people and wounded ten, including children. The suspect is still at large, and the shooter's motive is unknown.
The White House has launched a "Hall of Shame for Offenders" section on its website, listing media outlets that it believes spread fake news. The list includes leading media such as The Washington Post, CNN, and The New York Times, with a "leader" for fake news to be identified weekly.
The Russian Federation declared Human Rights Watch an "undesirable" organization, banning its activities in the country. At the same time, several public figures, journalists, and publications were added to the register of "foreign agents."
Belarusian self-proclaimed president Lukashenka visited Myanmar, strengthening the junta's legitimacy ahead of controversial elections. He became only the second world leader to visit the country since the establishment of military rule in 2021.
Paris police have arrested a 39-year-old man believed to be the fourth member of the gang that robbed the Louvre on October 19. He has six previous convictions and faces up to 15 years in prison for robbery and 10 years for criminal conspiracy.
Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I visited Iznik, Turkey, to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. They prayed together for Christian unity at the site where the Nicene Creed was formulated.
Firefighters continue to search for survivors after a massive fire engulfed seven of the eight towers of a complex in Hong Kong, claiming the lives of at least 94 people. More than 70 people were injured, and the fire became the deadliest in decades.
A rare crystal and diamond Fabergé egg, created for the Russian imperial family, has been put up for sale with an estimated value of over $26 million. This "Winter Egg" is one of seven luxurious ovals remaining in private hands.
In Guinea-Bissau, soldiers have declared General Horta N'Ta as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transitional period. This occurred after a forceful seizure of power that began following the presidential elections.
The Mexican government has announced plans to create the "Coatlícue" supercomputer with a capacity of 314 petaflops, which will be seven times more powerful than Brazil's current leader. The project, named after the mother goddess, will enhance the country's capabilities in artificial intelligence and data processing, with work set to begin next year.
