5 things to know for November 30: Coronavirus, elections, Iran, Switzerland, Thailand

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have announced the creation of an all-female senior communications team in the White House. Obama’s former White House communications director Jen Psaki will serve as press secretary. Kate Bedingfield, who was Biden’s deputy campaign manager and campaign communications director, will be the White House’s communications director. Biden is set to appoint key members of his economic team today, including Janet Yellen as Treasury secretary. If confirmed, she will be the first woman to fill this role. Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, president of the Obama Foundation in Chicago, could become the first assistant secretary of the black treasury. This economic team will have its work cut out for it: Biden has vowed to tackle economic inequality in America, but the pandemic has only worsened wealth disparities and devastated working poor.

The alleged assassination of Iran’s leading nuclear scientist could spark a violent rift between the United States and Iran. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, considered one of the masterminds of Iran’s controversial nuclear program, was killed in an apparent assassination when his car was ambushed near Tehran on Friday. Iranian state media report that Fakhrizadeh was shot by a remote machine gun in another car. Senior Iranian officials accuse Israel and swear revenge. Iran has provided no evidence of Israeli involvement, and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment. An Iranian official compared the incident to the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in January. All of this puts the United States, as an ally of Israel, in a difficult position. U.S.-Iranian relations have deteriorated in recent years after President Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran and imposed crippling economic sanctions on the country.

Switzerland voted against a controversial proposal that would make companies responsible for global rights abuses abroad. The Responsible Business Initiative has reportedly made Swiss companies such as Nestlé and mining giant Glencore responsible for human rights and environmental violations committed by foreign subsidiaries, suppliers and business partners. Supporters said the law would increase liability. The Swiss government, along with Swiss banks and other powerful companies, opposed the measure, warning of dire economic consequences. While more than 50% of the Swiss population voted in favor of the measure this weekend, it has not won the support of the majority of Swiss states. However, France and the European Union have already taken steps towards similar measures, and Switzerland will likely pursue a different corporate responsibility plan.

Five pro-democracy leaders face charges of read majesty, a unique and controversial law that prohibits criticism of the Thai royal family. The law has not been used for two years, so its sudden resurgence could mean authorities are increasingly impatient in the face of pro-democracy protests. Such protests have been going on for months against the military-backed government. Earlier this month, Thailand’s parliament voted to go ahead with two constitutional change proposals, but stopped before supporting a motion that included monarchical reform. Activists demanded legislation to limit the power of the monarchy and the military. They also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who seized power in a military coup in 2014.

Aaaaa and now it’s gonna get stuck in your head all day.

The ultimate holiday decoration worthy of bragging about.

File it up if you need New Years inspiration in a month.

What? No, you’re crying over a photo of 40 poor little turtles warming up in their own hospital garbage cans.

We really don’t need any more mysteries this year. So wherever you are, silver monolith, we hope you are happy.

This is the number of suicides reported by Japan in October. More people have died from suicide in the country in a month than from Covid-19 in 2020. Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and pandemic uncertainty and economic conflict have only made make matters worse – a snapshot for other countries in mental health crisis. For help in the United States, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact details for crisis centers around the world.

Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina, one of the record-breaking Republican women who won seats in November. She said the party must stand up for women and people from various groups to be successful.

Regular cardboard boxes or luxury cat hotels for one? You decide. (Click here to view.)