The Trump team

Just one week after the election, Donald Trump is already at it when picking his prominent staff members. He is poised to choose Florida Senator Mark Rubio as secretary of state. The expected nomination of Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State marks a significant shift in the Trump administration’s foreign policy team. If confirmed, He would have a strong voice in U.S. foreign relations in the administration. Rubio’s approach to foreign policy tends to be more traditionally hawkish, advocating for a strong U.S. presence abroad.

For other appointments, Trump is preparing to appoint Florida Rep. Michael Waltz as his national security adviser, according to two sources. Waltz, a former Green Beret and a longstanding Trump ally has been a vocal advocate for strengthening U.S. defenses, focusing on countering threats from China and ensuring NATO allies increase their defense spending. Trump seems to be building his team of loyalists. He also announced Tuesday that billionaire backer Elon Musk and supporter Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency.”

Shell climate

Shell wins appeal against ruling to cut emissions 45% by 2030

Shell won its appeal against a 2021 ruling that ordered it to cut carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, a victory over one of the highest-profile climate lawsuits. While the Hague appeals court upheld Shell’s duty to reduce emissions, it agreed that courts shouldn’t dictate specific targets, leaving that responsibility to governments. Friends of the Earth Netherlands filed the original case and voiced disappointment, but they noted that the trial reinforced that big polluters aren’t “above the law.”

Shell CEO Wael Sawan welcomed the decision, seeing it as beneficial for Shell and the global energy transition. Following shifts in global energy demands, Shell has scaled back on some renewable efforts but plans to invest $10-15 billion in low-carbon energy. Analysts view the decision as empowering Shell’s climate strategy autonomy.

Amsterdam tram

In Amsterdam, a group armed with sticks and firecrackers set a tram ablaze at the ’40-’45 Square on Monday, shattering its windows, though the tram was empty and no one was hurt. Police quickly extinguished the fire, dispersed the crowd, and made several arrests. This incident follows escalating tensions after Israeli football fans clashed with locals during a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam.

Five more people were detained on Monday for alleged involvement in those earlier attacks. The violence drew sharp criticism from Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who condemned the attacks as “antisemitic.” Some of the protestors physically beat groups of Tel Aviv supporters. Amsterdam has since imposed a temporary ban on pro-Palestinian protests in response to the unrest. Many believe it is unfair and pointed to some unsavory actions by Tel Aviv supporters who shouted anti-Arab slurs and tore down Palestinian flags.

BRIEFS

Global Affairs

Thousands of opposition supporters rallied in Tbilisi, Georgia, to protest the ruling Georgian Dream party’s claimed victory in the October parliamentary election, which they assert was rigged with Russian involvement.

Israel has confirmed that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu personally approved attacks in Lebanon in September, targeting Hezbollah communication devices, leading to 39 deaths and over 3,400 injuries.

Business & Finance

Meta will offer cheaper, ad-free subscriptions to use Facebook and Instagram in Europe and a free option with fewer personalized ads, responding to EU regulator demands. Prices drop to €5.99/month on the web and €7.99 on mobile (read more).

SoftBank posted a 1.18 trillion yen ($7.7 billion) profit last quarter, its highest in two years, fueled by Indian IPO gains. Vision Fund investments rebounded, while recent portfolio exits raised $1.85 billion (read more).

Activist hedge fund Elliott Management, which holds over $5 billion in Honeywell shares, is urging the company to split into two parts: aerospace (military and commercial engines) and automation (industrial sensors and control systems). Stock is up 10% since last week.

Science & Tech

To counter rising drone threats, the U.S. military is adopting diverse solutions, including the AI-driven Bullfrog gun turret, which combines precision firearms and advanced robotics to down drones quickly and efficiently.

Ibuprofen, a common anti-inflammatory drug, may offer treatment potential for children with mutations in the MAN1B1 gene, which causes developmental delays, aggression, and other serious health issues (read more).

Arthur Schubarth of Montana was sentenced to six months in prison for illegally cloning and breeding hybrids of the near-threatened Marco Polo argali sheep, raising concerns over the potential impact of these animals if released into the wild.

Sports & Culture

Tennis Channel analyst Jon Wertheim was indefinitely suspended after a private off-air comment about Barbora Krejčíková’s appearance inadvertently aired (read more).

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith described Kate Middleton’s recent appearances at Remembrance events as a promising step back into public life, highlighting her careful approach to resuming royal duties following a health hiatus.

Whatnot

Striking NYT tech workers made custom Connections for fans so they don’t cross the picket line (find out here)

Nighttime bike rides from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng, China, have become popular among college students. The trend was initially sparked by friends seeking a spontaneous adventure for soup dumplings (read more).

Melania Trump will likely skip Wednesday's White House meeting with Jill Biden (read more).

A list of the best gifts to give to travel lovers (read more).