01.12.2025 – WEEKLY BRIEFING

DC National Guard shooting suspect to be charged with first-degree murder, Pirro says – 28.11.2025

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, will now face first-degree murder charges following the death of one of the victims in the targeted shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C.; he had previously been charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and criminal possession of a weapon. Authorities allege that Lakanwal drove from Bellingham, Washington, to the capital and opened fire on the Guard members, shooting one victim multiple times and the other several times. The deceased, Sarah Beckstrom, was a 20-year-old Army specialist, while Andrew Wolfe, 24, a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, remains in critical condition. The suspect’s motive is unclear, though investigators are examining financial stress, unemployment due to an expired work permit, and social isolation. The FBI is also investigating his past connections with U.S.-partnered forces in Afghanistan and potential associates domestically and abroad. Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021, applied for asylum in 2024, and was granted asylum in April under the Trump administration; he is married with five children. The attack occurred during the period when National Guard personnel had been deployed to Washington as part of federal security operations.

Switzerland: Voters reject climate tax in referendum – 30.11.2025

In a national referendum in Switzerland, more than 78% of voters rejected a proposal to impose a 50% inheritance tax on assets worth 50 million Swiss francs or more, which would have funded “socially just” measures to combat the climate crisis; additionally, 84.2% voted against introducing mandatory national service for all young people regardless of gender, resulting in both initiatives being rejected, in line with the government and parliament’s stance that they would entail high costs and pose economic risks-marking the latest decisions in Switzerland’s system of holding direct-democracy votes four times a year.

Hong Kong mourns as apartment fire death toll rises to 146 – 30.11.2025

The death toll from the fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court apartment complex has risen to 146, as police teams working in dark and difficult conditions discovered additional bodies in both apartments and on rooftops; around 100 people remain missing and 79 have been injured, while investigations continue into the cause of the fire, including whether bamboo scaffolding and flammable renovation materials contributed to its spread. In the aftermath, authorities suspended 28 projects by the same contractor for safety inspections, residents and well-wishers visited the site to pay tribute and support those affected, and Beijing issued warnings against using the disaster for political purposes.

Kazakhstan tells Ukraine to stop attacking CPC terminal after oil exports halted – 30.11.2025

Kazakhstan urged Ukraine to halt drone strikes on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s (CPC) Black Sea terminal-responsible for over 1% of global oil flows, after the latest attack severely damaged loading infrastructure and forced exports to stop; Ukraine stated that its actions targeted only Russia’s “full-scale aggression” and were not directed at Kazakhstan or other third parties. CPC confirmed that the November 29 naval drone strike had significantly damaged one of its key Single-Point Moorings, prompting the suspension of operations and the withdrawal of tankers, while Kazakhstan protested what it called a deliberate attack on critical civilian infrastructure. CPC, whose shareholders include Russian, Kazakh and U.S. companies, said the incident harmed the interests of member states, as Russia labeled Ukraine’s long-range strikes “acts of terrorism” and claimed they threatened regional freedom of navigation.

At trial of South Korea’s Unification Church head, prosecutors allege luxury bribes – 01.12.2025

In South Korea, the trial of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja saw prosecutors accuse her of offering Chanel bags, a diamond necklace, and wild ginseng to former First Lady Kim Keon Hee in exchange for political and business favors, as well as bribing a close aide of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and mobilizing church members to support Yoon in the 2022 election, while Han denied the allegations and her lawyers argued that a church official acted independently out of political ambition. Prosecutors claimed Han misappropriated church donations and used them to gain political influence, and a witness testified that the church arranged a 2022 meeting between Yoon and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and provided financial support to politicians abroad. Han stated she had no interest in politics and has requested bail again due to health issues, while the church, facing criticism over its finances and controversial practices-including a Japanese court’s order to disband the branch linked to fundraising scandals and the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-continues to contest the allegations.

US lawmakers demand answers over Hegseth Venezuela boat strike claims – 01.12.2025

US lawmakers are seeking answers from the Trump administration regarding military strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, following a report that a second attack may have been ordered to kill survivors of an initial strike, raising legal and ethical concerns. The strikes, part of an expanded anti-narcotics operation, have killed over 80 people since early September, with the administration defending them as self-defense against vessels carrying illicit drugs. Republican and Democratic members of Congress have announced bipartisan reviews to determine the facts, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the allegations, calling the report “fake news,” and President Trump expressed full confidence in him. Venezuela condemned the strikes and vowed its own investigation, amid broader accusations that the US is escalating regional tensions, while questions remain over compliance with international law, including the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Taiwan seeks tariffs cut to 15% in US trade deal – 01.12.2025

Taiwan is seeking to reduce tariffs on its exports to the United States from 20% to 15%, with senior officials clarifying that training U.S. workers is not a formal condition in trade negotiations. The talks focus on Taiwan’s “Taiwan model” for developing technology clusters, and while TSMC is investing $165 billion in U.S. chip factories, government support for worker training could be discussed separately but is not part of the current negotiations. Officials did not specify a timeline for a deal but aim to finalize it by the end of the year, and Taiwan’s semiconductor exports are currently exempt from U.S. tariffs, which were set to reach about 100% on imports but exclude companies manufacturing in the U.S., such as TSMC.

Death of Afghan commander, financial stress surface in National Guard shooting investigation – 01.12.2025

Investigators are examining the background and potential motives of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old suspect in last week’s National Guardsmen shooting near the White House, as a portrait emerges of financial stress, an expired work permit, and possible mental health struggles, compounded by the recent death of an Afghan commander he revered. Lakanwal, who has a wife and five children, drove from Washington state to D.C. prior to the attack, which left one guard dead and another seriously wounded. Authorities, including the FBI and Homeland Security, are exploring whether the attack was inspired or directed by international terrorists, though no evidence or terror charges have been confirmed. Lakanwal, who previously worked with U.S. forces and the CIA in Afghanistan, was granted asylum in April 2024, and investigators are reviewing his social media, mobile devices, and other records while interviewing family and associates.