22.12.2025 – WEEKLY BRIEFING

US suspends green card lottery scheme after Brown shooting – 19.12.2025

President Donald Trump has suspended the U.S. diversity visa (green card lottery) program following a mass shooting at Brown University in which two students were killed and nine others injured. The suspect, 48-year-old Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, who entered the U.S. through the lottery in 2017, was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot in Salem, New Hampshire, after being linked to the shooting and the earlier killing of Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno Loureiro. Authorities connected the incidents through CCTV footage, witness accounts, and vehicle evidence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the program was paused to prevent further harm, noting previous attempts by Trump in 2017 to end the scheme after a separate deadly attack by a lottery entrant. No motive has been provided for either attack.

Acting CISA director failed a polygraph. Career staff are now under investigation. – 21.12.2025

A polygraph controversy at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in July triggered significant internal tensions. According to reports, Acting Director Madhu Gottumukkala failed a polygraph test required for access to a highly sensitive intelligence program, after which at least six career staff members who organized the test were placed on paid administrative leave for allegedly providing “misleading information” about the necessity of the examination, prompting an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security. Officials stated that the polygraph was required by another intelligence agency and that Gottumukkala had persistently sought access, while DHS argued that the test was “unsanctioned” and that staff violated procedures. The incident, combined with staff departures, budget cuts, and the absence of a Senate-confirmed director under the Trump administration, intensified concerns about leadership, accountability, and decision-making within the agency.

France to build new aircraft carrier — Macron – 21.12.2025

French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to build a new aircraft carrier, called the New Generation Aircraft Carrier (PANG), to replace the Charles de Gaulle by 2038, as part of France’s efforts to strengthen its naval capabilities and project maritime power amid heightened European security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The €10.25 billion ($12 billion) vessel will accommodate around 30 fighter jets and 2,000 crew members, measuring 310 meters long and 85 meters wide, making it larger than its predecessor. Macron made the announcement in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the strategic importance of being “strong to be feared,” while French officials described the carrier as a future centerpiece of the armed forces. France remains the only EU country with nuclear weapons and one of two nations, alongside the U.S., to operate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Manhunt underway in South Africa after group of assailants fatally shoot 9 at tavern – 21.12.2025

At least nine people were killed and ten others injured when a group of up to a dozen armed assailants attacked the KWA Noxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg, South Africa, early Sunday. The attackers, arriving in a white van and a silver sedan, opened fire on patrons inside and outside the bar using pistols and an AK-47-style assault rifle, and reportedly stole valuables from the victims. Police have not yet determined a motive for the attack, which targeted a shebeen, a type of informal township bar, and are investigating the incident.

Japan to restart the world’s biggest nuclear power plant, 15 years after Fukushima disaster – 22.12.2025

Japan’s Niigata prefectural assembly approved the restart of one reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest, which has been shut down since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, as part of the country’s efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and strengthen energy security. TEPCO plans to bring Reactor No. 6 back online in mid-January, and Japan has so far restarted 14 of its 33 operable reactors. After increasing its dependence on imported fossil fuels following Fukushima, Japan now aims to raise the share of nuclear power in its electricity mix to 20% by 2040. While the government and TEPCO emphasize extensive safety inspections and upgrades, a significant portion of local residents remain concerned about safety risks and the company’s ability to operate the plant safely.

South Korea’s presidential office moving back to traditional Blue House – 22.12.2025

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has decided to move the presidential office back to the traditional Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae), reversing his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol’s relocation of the office to the defence ministry complex. The presidential office said the move is expected to be completed around Christmas, while the transfer of the presidential residence will be addressed later due to ongoing inspections for damage from the previous administration. Lee, who won a snap election in June, has reiterated his long-term pledge to eventually relocate the presidential office to Sejong city to support regional development. Yoon’s earlier decision to break with decades of tradition sparked controversy over security, costs and symbolism, and after he left office the Blue House was opened to the public and attracted millions of visitors.

Bondi Beach shooting suspect conducted firearms training with his father, Australian police say – 22.12.2025

Australian authorities allege that Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram conducted firearms training outside Sydney before carrying out a meticulously planned attack at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15 people and injuring dozens during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration. The pair allegedly attempted to use improvised explosive devices that failed to detonate, and police found videos on Naveed’s phone showing them expressing antisemitic and extremist ideological views and practicing tactical shooting. Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act, while his father was killed by police at the scene. In response, New South Wales introduced draft legislation tightening firearms regulations, including restricting licenses to Australian citizens and limiting recreational shooters to four guns. Memorials and funerals for victims, including international nationals, continue, while many of the injured remain hospitalized.

Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say – 22.12.2025

Russian officials report that Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head of the armed forces’ operational training department, was killed in Moscow after a car bomb detonated under his vehicle. The Investigative Committee opened a probe into murder and illegal explosives trafficking, with one line of inquiry considering possible involvement of Ukrainian intelligence, though Ukraine has not commented. Sarvarov, who previously served in conflicts in Chechnya, Ossetia-Ingush, and Syria, died in hospital from his injuries. The attack occurred near an apartment block in southern Moscow, where investigators found a heavily damaged vehicle. His death follows a pattern of targeted attacks in Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including the killings of nationalist Darya Dugina in 2022, Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik in April 2025, and Gen. Igor Kirillov in December 2024.

Cambodia, Thailand to hold talks on resuming Trump’s truce as fighting enters third week – 22.12.2025

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to hold a meeting of defence officials on December 24 to resume a months-old ceasefire, as intense border clashes that began on December 8 have killed at least 80 people. The decision was made during a special ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur, aimed at salvaging a truce originally brokered by Malaysia and former U.S. President Donald Trump in October. Fighting has involved daily exchanges of rockets and artillery along the 817-km land border, with accusations from both sides of aggression, landmine deployment, and sovereignty violations. Thai and Cambodian officials emphasized that a ceasefire requires detailed discussion and implementation, while ASEAN and China have urged restraint. The planned meeting of the General Border Committee represents the most significant step toward de-escalation since the clashes resumed, though the location and exact agenda are yet to be finalized.

How a five-yearly Communist Party congress will pick Vietnam’s next leaders – 22.12.2025

Vietnam’s Communist Party will hold its 14th five-year congress from January 19-25 to select top leaders and set policy targets through 2030, with about 1,600 delegates choosing roughly 200 Central Committee members, who will then select the 17-19 Politburo members and the general secretary, currently To Lam, 68, seeking a second term. The party maintains collective decision-making to ensure continuity in economic and foreign policy, balancing relations with major powers while promoting private enterprise under state guidance. Vietnam aims for annual GDP growth of at least 10% in 2026-2030, seeks to reduce reliance on foreign investment, and plans increased public spending to fund infrastructure and development, with a projected budget deficit of around 5% of GDP. The Communist Party, founded in 1930, has ruled Vietnam unchallenged since the country’s reunification in 1975, controlling both the state and political leadership.