Top News Stories for November 29, 2025
Here's a roundup of the major headlines from around the world today, based on breaking developments in politics, international affairs, disasters, and more. I've focused on the most prominent stories making waves.
U.S. News
- Immigration Crackdown Intensifies After National Guard Shooting: President Trump has halted all asylum processing and immigration from "third-world countries" following the fatal shooting of two National Guard members near the White House by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. One soldier, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries. In a related arrest, another Afghan refugee, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay (also via Operation Allies Welcome), was charged with making terroristic threats after posting a TikTok video about building a bomb in Texas. DHS reports nearly 60 illegal immigrants arrested in Houston today amid the surge in enforcement. Trump's warnings have also rerouted hundreds of flights avoiding Venezuelan airspace.
- Northwestern University Settles with Trump Admin: The university agreed to pay $75 million to restore frozen federal funds, amid broader tensions over campus policies.
- Tennessee Special Election Heats Up: A progressive Democrat is challenging in a deep-red district, testing affordability issues against Trump's influence.
World News
- Deadly Fire in Hong Kong Claims 128 Lives: A massive blaze at Wang Fuk Court high-rise escalated rapidly, killing at least 128 with hundreds still missing; three days of mourning declared. Eight more arrests announced as investigations continue.
- Cyclone Ditwah Devastates Sri Lanka and Threatens India: Torrential rains and floods have killed 123 in Sri Lanka (130 missing), prompting a state of emergency. The storm is moving toward Tamil Nadu, India, with heavy rain expected; government preparations underway.
- Russia Escalates Attacks on Ukraine: Overnight strikes caused power outages for over 600,000 and killed at least three. Zelensky's top aide, Andriy Yermak, resigned amid a corruption scandal as a Kyiv delegation heads to U.S. peace talks.
- Niger Sells Uranium to Russia: Reports emerge of 1,000 tons of French-origin uranium secretly sold, straining relations with France.
- Flooding Crisis in Southern Asia: Hundreds dead and millions affected in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand from severe floods—the worst in years.
- Pope Leo Visits Blue Mosque: The pontiff made history by attending a Muslim place of worship in Istanbul, his first since taking office in May.
Business & Technology
- Airbus A320 Fleet Grounded, Now Resolving: Intense solar radiation risked corrupting flight control data on thousands of planes; software fixes grounded 6,000 globally but flights are returning to normal. Indian carriers like IndiGo and Air India faced disruptions.
- China's Frontier Tech Boom: High-speed innovations in AI and beyond are setting global benchmarks, per The Economist.
- Crypto Whale Activity: Tom Lee's BitMine acquired $50.1 million in Ethereum amid market dips.
Sports & Other
- India Dominates Hockey at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: The men's team thrashed Canada 14-3 to top the pool and advance to the final.
- Australia's PM Ties the Knot: Anthony Albanese married Jodie Haydon in office—the first such wedding for an Australian PM.
- England's Environmental Spill: Millions of plastic bio-beads contaminated Camber Sands coast, sparking cleanup efforts.