“The U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds bounced back to add $524 million worth of net inflows on Tuesday — the largest daily figure since just after the cryptocurrency hit all-time highs of around $126,000 on Oct. 6. … The inflows come despite bitcoin dropping roughly 3% on Tuesday to around $103,000. However, the foremost cryptocurrency has recovered somewhat in early trading on Wednesday …” (11/12/25)
“Raphael Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will retire at the end of his current term in February, opening up a new seat on the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee at a time that President Donald Trump is seeking to exert more control over the central bank. As president of one of the Fed’s 12 regional banks, Bostic, 59, serves on the 19-member committee that meets eight times a year to decide whether to change a key short-term interest rate that influences borrowing costs throughout the economy. Only 12 of the 19 participants vote on rates at each meeting. The regional Fed presidents rotate as voters, and the Atlanta Fed’s president will next vote in 2027. Bostic’s replacement will be selected by the Atlanta Fed’s board of directors, which are made up of local business and community leaders, not the Trump administration.” (11/12/25)
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“Myanmar says it has commissioned Russian helicopters and Chinese airplanes into its air force as the two nations continue to supply the military-run government with equipment despite international pressure to end its bloody civil war. The United States, the European Union and others have imposed sanctions on Myanmar that include the prohibition of arms sales, but Russia and China have been steadily supplying the military, known as the Tatmadaw, with hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment, according to the U.N. Photos provided by the military indicate it received three Russian Mi-38T helicopters and two Chinese Y-8 aircraft, which experts said will likely be used for operations to bring troops to fight in mountainous areas.” (11/12/25)
“Algeria’s president on Wednesday granted a humanitarian pardon to the French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal, releasing him after a yearlong imprisonment that sparked widespread criticism. The 76-year-old author — whose works have been critical of Islam, colonialism and contemporary Algeria’s leaders — had been imprisoned since being arrested at the airport in Algiers in November 2024 upon his return from France. He was convicted of undermining national unity and insulting public institutions and was sentenced to five years in prison under Algeria’s anti-terrorism laws in March. Sansal has cancer, and his attorney said his health was deteriorating.” (11/12/25)
“A 9.51-carat blue diamond sold for $25.6 million at an auction in Switzerland on Tuesday — a steal compared to what it fetched a decade ago. The teardrop-shaped stone, which previously belonged to Rachel Lambert Mellon, the American heiress and art collector better known as Bunny, had last been auctioned in 2014, when it went for $32.6 million. But diamonds aren’t what they used to be. Christie’s, the auction house that put it up for bid on Tuesday, had predicted a lower selling price this time of $20 million to $30 million. It landed in the middle of that range.” (11/12/25)
“Researchers and scientists in South Africa on Tuesday launched clinical trials on the first domestically developed vaccine. The oral cholera vaccine, developed by the Cape Town-based pharmaceutical firm Biovac, is currently undergoing trials to determine its safety in adults and will be followed by trials to compare it to existing cholera vaccines that are already in the market. Depending on the results, the vaccine could be approved and ready for use in Africa by 2028, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said. The development of the vaccine has been praised as a significant milestone for vaccine access in the country and across the rest of the continent. Motsoaledi said that while South Africa experienced relatively low levels of cholera, many countries in Africa often hit hard by outbreaks would greatly benefit. He said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed how vulnerable African countries were to pandemics as they relied on imported vaccines.” (11/12/25)
“As the housing market heads into its traditionally slowest season, homebuyers are making one last gasp, likely due to more supply on the market and softening prices. Mortgage applications to purchase a home rose 6% last week to their strongest pace since September, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. Volume was 31% higher than the same week one year ago. This came despite the fact that the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, increased to 6.34% from 6.31%, with points rising to 0.62 from 0.58, including the origination fee, for loans with a 20% down payment.” (11/12/25)
“The trial of Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala began Wednesday in Paris over atrocities committed two decades ago during the Second Congo War. Lumbala has been charged with ‘criminal conspiracy to prepare crimes against humanity’ and ‘complicity of crimes against humanity’ during the conflict from 1998 to 2003. Lumbala faces a possible sentence of life in prison. A verdict is expected Dec. 19 following the trial at the Paris criminal court. The 67-year-old led the Congolese Rally for National Democracy, a rebel group backed by neighboring Uganda and accused of atrocities against civilians, particularly targeting the Nande and Bambuti ethnic minorities in eastern Congo in 2002 and 2003. The group committed widespread torture, executions, rape, forced labor and sexual slavery, according to U.N. reports.” (11/12/25)
“A special counsel team detained former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn Wednesday on charges of inciting an insurrection following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law. Hwang, who served under former President Park Geun-hye, made Facebook posts following the martial law imposition Dec. 3 to call for the eradication of pro-North Korea forces and those involved in alleged electoral fraud. He also called for the arrest of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and then People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon. Investigators from special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team executed a detention warrant for Hwang at his home in Seoul’s Yongsan Ward after he ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.” (11/12/25)
