U.S. and Ukraine Report Progress in Geneva Peace Talks as Russia Remains Outside Negotiations
This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.
Today is November 25
This is The Foreign Page, your daily portal into Mencari News's universe as well as our interpretation of the global scene.
Your subscription to Mencari will help to fund our operations as an independent media organisation.
Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.
We'd love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.
Today's reading time is 5 minutes. - Miko Santos
MUST READS
1. 🇺🇦 U.S. and Ukraine Report Progress in Geneva Peace Talks as Russia Remains Outside Negotiations
U.S. and Ukrainian officials reported significant progress during weekend negotiations in Geneva aimed at amending a controversial 28-point American peace proposal for ending the nearly four-year war with Russia. The talks addressed concerns that the initial plan heavily favored Moscow’s demands, including territorial concessions and military reductions for Ukraine. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz confirmed that negotiators discussed almost all points of the proposal, with territory remaining the primary unresolved issue requiring head-of-state decision-making.
The Geneva discussions drew participation from European officials who expressed alarm at being blindsided by Washington’s initial proposal. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the talks as “very worthwhile” and the most productive diplomatic engagement in months, though the Kremlin stated it had not yet received the revised plan. Ukraine’s allies plan video talks Tuesday to coordinate their response, while Russian drone strikes killed four civilians in Kharkiv overnight, underscoring the urgent humanitarian stakes of achieving diplomatic breakthrough.
2. 🇹🇭 Thai Woman Found Alive in Coffin Minutes Before Scheduled Cremation at Buddhist Temple
A 65-year-old Thai woman narrowly escaped cremation after temple staff at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham in Nonthaburi province heard faint knocking from inside her coffin. The woman, who had been bedridden for approximately two years, became unresponsive two days earlier, leading her brother to believe she had died. He transported her body 500 kilometers from Phitsanulok province to Bangkok, first attempting to donate her organs at a hospital before seeking free cremation services at the Buddhist temple.
Temple manager Pairat Soodthoop discovered the woman moving her arms and head slightly when staff investigated the mysterious knocking sounds coming from the white coffin. The brother had been unable to obtain an official death certificate, which both the hospital and temple initially required before accepting the body. Emergency rescue teams immediately transported the woman to a nearby hospital for evaluation, with the temple’s abbot pledging to cover all medical expenses. The incident highlights critical gaps in death verification procedures and the dangers of premature burial declarations.
3. 🇺🇸 Judge Dismisses Comey and James Criminal Cases, Rules Trump-Appointed Prosecutor Lacked Legal Authority
U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie dismissed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed to the position. The judge determined that Halligan, a former White House aide handpicked by President Trump who had never prosecuted a case before, lacked legal authority to present charges to the grand jury. Judge Currie found that Halligan’s September 22 appointment violated federal statute governing interim U.S. attorneys, which requires appointments within a 120-day window that had already expired.
The dismissal represents a significant legal setback for the Trump administration’s prosecution of two prominent political adversaries. Both Comey and James have maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings, characterizing the charges as politically motivated. The White House responded that it would appeal the ruling “very soon,” with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserting that Halligan had been legally appointed and accusing Judge Currie of attempting to shield the defendants. The cases were dismissed without prejudice, meaning federal prosecutors could potentially refile charges at a later date.
In partnership with Podwires
The 5-Minute Newsletter Every Podcast Producer Reads
Stay ahead of the curve with breaking news and insights, and tap into freelance marketplace opportunities tailored for podcast producers like you.
4.🇨🇳 Chinese Humanoid Robot Sets Guinness World Record Walking 66 Miles Across Eastern China
Shanghai-based robotics company AgiBot achieved a Guinness World Record after its A2 humanoid robot completed a 66-mile trek over three days, marking the longest distance ever walked by a humanoid machine. The five-foot-six-inch robot departed Suzhou on November 10, traversing highways and urban streets while adhering to traffic regulations before reaching Shanghai’s historic Bund waterfront on November 13. The continuous journey showcased the robot’s ability to navigate varied terrain including roads shared with cyclists and scooters.
The achievement reflects China’s broader strategy to dominate the global robotics industry, with Beijing actively encouraging domestic firms to develop humanoid technology. Morgan Stanley predicts the world could have more than one billion humanoid robots by 2050, driving massive investment in physical artificial intelligence. The AgiBot A2 is designed for customer service applications and features chat functionality and lip-reading capabilities. The record certification comes months after Beijing hosted the world’s first humanoid robot games in August, where over 500 robot athletes competed in disciplines ranging from basketball to competitive cleaning.
5.🇳🇬 Fifty Students Escape Nigerian Mass Kidnapping as 253 Children and Teachers Remain Captive
Fifty students who were abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic school in Nigeria’s Niger State on Friday have escaped their captors and returned to their families, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria. However, 253 children—including 250 students from the school and three children of staff members—along with 12 teachers remain in captivity. Armed bandits stormed the school Friday, kidnapping a total of 303 children and 12 teachers in an attack that has prompted temporary closures of federal and state-run schools across northern Nigeria to prevent further incidents.
The abduction represents the latest in a wave of mass kidnappings targeting vulnerable civilian populations for ransom across Nigeria’s northern regions. Pope Leo made an appeal during his Sunday Angelus prayer for the hostages’ release, urging competent authorities to take appropriate and timely action. Recent attacks include a church raid in Kwara State that killed two people and abducted worshippers including the pastor, and the kidnapping of 25 female students from a government boarding school in Kebbi State where the vice principal was shot and killed. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with Nigerian National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on Thursday to discuss the escalating violence.
Check this Out
How to be a digital detective, with just Wi-Fi and a little curiosity
You don’t need a trench coat, a fedora, or a magnifying glass to solve a mystery these days — just a good internet connection and a little curiosity.
In the digital age, we’re all amateur sleuths at heart. Whether you’re trying to figure out if that new neighbor is really who they say they are, reconnect with an old classmate, or double-check that the person you matched with online is legit, the internet is full of clues waiting to be uncovered. The trick? Knowing where (and how) to look, PeopleFinders reports.
Watch This
A shocking murder rocks South Korea when a young woman, obsessed with true crime stories, kills a random stranger to satisfy her darkest curiosity. But how can fascination with real-life murder cases spiral into deadly actions?
Are true crime podcasts and shows fueling dangerous fantasies? Can constant exposure to violence blur the line between entertainment and reality? We investigate the chilling case, examine the media’s responsibility, and ask: Does true crime content do more harm than good?H
Pick of the Day
Cybersecurity threats and data breaches
In an ever-evolving landscape of changing technological advances and increasingly sophisticated cybercrime practices, individuals and businesses should remain informed and vigilant regarding the rise of cybersecurity threats and data breaches. Cybercrimes such as phishing, identity theft, business fraud and other methods that criminals use to gain unauthorized access to personal accounts can lead to financial loss as well as reputational damage.
According to a Zscaler annual phishing report, 2023 saw a 60% increase in phishing, while Ransomware reported that 43% of data is unrecoverable after a cyber attack. Identity theft remains a constant threat as well, with AI-powered scams and deepfakes empowering criminals to create convincing simulations of trusted acquaintances in order to unlawfully gain access to sensitive data. [ Read more]
SUPPORT MENCARI
The Mencari - Australia's Politics delivers fact-focused reporting to over 1,000 inboxes thanks to readers like you, and your contribution today will strengthen our ability to provide verified, evidence-based journalism completely free from financial or political influence as we work to establish ourselves as Australia's premier independent news organization focused on accountability through thorough investigation.
As well as knowing you’re keeping MENCARI alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting Mencari's
The Foreign Page is edited by Mencari’s Miko Santos
We want to hear from you.
Click below to email us with your questions, ideas and feedback.
The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.
We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.
Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.
Thanks to the support of our readers, we can continue to provide free reporting. If you can, please choose to support The Mencari.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
