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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025.
- John Kerry urges Australia to take ‘hard-nosed’ approach with world’s biggest fossil fuel-producing countries at Cop31 (“Former US secretary of state calls for more demanding steps from Australia as it takes over presidency of next year’s UN climate summit”)
- New “world’s largest” sand battery to double the size of current record holder (“According to Polar Night Energy, sand batteries serve three primary functions – storing excess renewable energy, participating in reserve markets to balance the frequency of the grid, and producing heat and power without combustion.”)
- Plastic pollution is worsened by warming climate and must be stemmed, researchers warn
- This year’s UN climate talks avoided fossil fuels, again (“Why can’t world leaders acknowledge that fossil fuels are the leading contributor to climate change?”)
- West is ‘missing obscure sanctions that could set back Russia’s war machine’ (“US group Dekleptocracy identifies chemicals used for military vehicles’ lubricants and tyres as potential vulnerabilities”)
- Allies worry US demands Ukraine deal before security guarantees
- ‘Traitor’: US representatives call for Trump envoy Witkoff to be fired after leaked Kremlin call (“Republicans and Democrats warn Witkoff ‘cannot be trusted’ after reportedly advising officials on peace plan”)
- Diplomacy for Sale: How Witkoff and Co. Cut a Deal with Russia (“A Moscow-friendly deal that sells out Ukraine exposes how Witkoff and others are reshaping diplomacy for profit.”)
- Is there any peace deal that Putin would accept? (“An end to the war in Ukraine may not be possible as long as Russia’s president is still in power.”)
- Inside Trump’s Latest Push for Peace in Ukraine (“The most consistent thing about Trump’s 10-month search for an end to the war in Ukraine has been his inconsistency.”)
- Witkoff Is a Credulous Amateur. Ukraine Needs Him to Be Useful
- What are Putin’s Ultimate Demands for Peace in Ukraine? (“The Trump Administration has claimed that it’s nearing a deal to end the war, but, for now, the conflict’s essential impasse still holds: Moscow won’t accept what Kyiv can stomach.”)
- Europe thinks the unthinkable: Retaliating against Russia
- Trump chose just the wrong moment to play hardball with Ukraine
- Trump, After Call With China’s Xi, Told Tokyo to Lower the Volume on Taiwan (“Japan, a U.S. ally that had angered China on Taiwan, found the message worrying.”)
- Where Trump Sees Deals, Russia and China See a Chance to Disrupt U.S. Alliances
- France’s Macron unveils voluntary military service amid ‘accelerating threats’
- Trump disinvites South Africa from 2026 G20 summit (Insane.)
- South Africa hits back at ‘punitive’ Trump move to bar it from G20 meeting in Florida
- Pope Lands in Turkey, Planning to Meet Erdogan With a Message of Outreach (“Leo XIV arrived in the country’s capital, Ankara, and will be received by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the opening leg of a trip that will also include Lebanon.”)
- At least 55 dead and hundreds missing in Hong Kong as firefighters battle last of public housing fires
- Trump says Haiti no longer meets requirements for TPS. Haitians have to leave (In fact: “The numbers paint a terrible picture in Haiti. A record 5.7 million people — 51% of the total population — are currently experiencing acute levels of hunger, with children increasingly at risk for malnutrition, the World Food Program recently warned. Meanwhile, as many as 1 in 4 Haitians, 2.7 million people, are forced to live in gang-controlled neighborhoods, more than 1.4 million are internally displaced, according to the United Nations. Rape, kidnapping and gang-related killings, all over 4,000 this year, are daily realities of life.”)
- U.S. to Press Europe and Other Allies on ‘Mass Migration,’ Document Says (“American diplomats were told to raise U.S. concern”)
- Let’s Make Sure No One Wants to Visit America (“There might be a case to raise the prices for the parks–they are a hell of a lot less expensive to get into than taking the family of four to Olive Garden. But this is the dumbest possible way to do it.”)
- A mother was taken into custody by ICE. Then the public learned of her family tie to the White House
- Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens (“Agents are arresting foreign-born spouses when they report for the final step to obtain permanent residency, and charging them with visa violations that could result in deportation.”)
- Here’s where all the legal cases against Trump stand since his return to the White House (Our legal and political systems both MASSIVELY failed.)
- Judge dismisses Trump election interference racketeering case in Georgia (This was a slam-dunk case…totally f’ed up that Trump wasn’t put on trial quickly for this and convicted – they literally had him on tape committing a serious crime.)
- Trump tried to interfere in 2020 — and he just got away with it (“Trump demanded “11,000 votes” to change Georgia’s election results. To pretend otherwise whitewashes history”)
- How Trump targeting these Democrats could backfire
- ‘In Triage Every Day’: A Beleaguered Speaker Says He’s Overwhelmed (Fine, resign.)
- Statement from AfghanEvac (“Our hearts go out to the brave guardsmen attacked today. We will not let the action of one deranged asshole be the excuse used to cause harm to an entire community of people”; “This individual’s isolated and and violent act shouldn’t be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community.”)
- Suspect in National Guard shooting served alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan, relative says
- Trump files emergency appeal to keep National Guard in D.C. after shooting
- Trump Admin to Escalate D.C. Military Takeover After Two National Guard Members Shot
- Afghan national in custody after shooting of 2 National Guard members near White House
- D.C. shooting live updates: Trump orders more troops to D.C. after gunman critically wounds 2 Guard soldiers
- A top House Democrat pushes to oppose Ghislaine Maxwell pardon
- Judges allow North Carolina to use a map drawn in bid to give Republicans another US House seat
- Connecticut’s pioneering model for publicly owned, small-scale solar (“The Connecticut Green Bank goes beyond grants and loans to directly develop solar for towns and schools — a model other states could follow as energy costs rise.”)
- Youngkin’s legacy on public schools
- Virginia lawmaker wants guardrails for minors interacting with chatbots
- House panel opens antisemitism probe of Virginia’s largest school district (“The House Education and Workforce Committee is probing Fairfax County Public Schools and two other districts over alleged antisemitism in recent years”)
- Fluvanna County Planning Commission delays vote again on proposed gas plant that aims to link to PJM grid
- Botetourt County board faces backlash after social media posts claim political retaliation
- Portsmouth council denies residential substance abuse facility (“The vote upholds a recommended denial from the Planning Commission last month, where city staff and commissioners noted the property lacks adequate off-street parking space for guests, recreational space and sufficient landscape buffering.”)
- Why did the Frontier Culture Museum cancel its Native American History Day?
- CWG Live: Cold for Thanksgiving and even colder in the days following (“This round of chilly air hangs out for the holiday weekend, then another round with a storm inbound.”)
