The President Trump's administration implemented several controversial policies, including new tariffs leading to international parcel delivery suspensions, threats to deploy the National Guard to cities like Chicago, and executive orders on cashless bail and flag burning protests, while also facing criticism for FEMA cuts and complex foreign diplomacy.

• Politics live: Australia Post suspends parcel deliveries to US in response to Trump tariffs as government ‘working to limit disruption’ — The Guardian -
• Trump says he wants ‘Department of War’ instead of defense department – US politics live — The Guardian -
• 'How will I pay workers?': Indian factories hit hard by Trump's 50% tariffs — BBC World -

• Fema staff warn Trump’s cuts risk exposing US to another Hurricane Katrina — The Guardian -
• Judge halts Trump administration from deporting Kilmar Ábrego García for now — The Guardian -
• Abrego Garcia Detained Again After Government Signaled It Would Re-Deport Him — New York Times World -
• Trump says he wants to meet with Kim Jong-un as South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung visits US — The Guardian -
• Republican Nancy Mace criticized for falsely identifying man as campus shooter — The Guardian -
• Trump Relies on Personal Diplomacy With Putin. The Result Is a Strategic Muddle. — New York Times World -
• Trump signs executive order to eliminate cashless bail in Washington — The Guardian -
• Trump signs order to criminally charge those who burn US flag in protest — The Guardian -
• Illinois Democrats slam Trump’s ‘illegal’ plans to send national guard to Chicago — The Guardian -
• Ørsted shares at all-time low after Trump halts work on US windfarm — The Guardian -
• National guard start carrying firearms in DC as Trump says Chicago may be next — The Guardian -
• Postal services in Europe suspend parcel shipments to US amid uncertainty over tariffs — The Guardian -
• When immigration shows up at daycare: crackdown in DC terrifies families and workers — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Trump ‘manufactured crisis’ to justify plan to send national guard to Chicago, leading Democrat says — The Guardian -
• Lambie says crossbench ‘not important’ after Labor’s election landslide – as it happened — The Guardian -

Escalating tensions in Gaza saw deadly Israeli hospital strikes killing journalists and rescuers, while Taiwan prepares for potential Chinese aggression, and France summoned the US ambassador over antisemitism claims, alongside ongoing debates about Ukrainian aid and border security in Finland.

• How Taiwan is preparing for Chinese attack with acting, fake blood and mock missile strikes — BBC World -
• Israeli Hospital Strike Kills 20 in Gaza, Including 5 Journalists — New York Times World -
• Tuesday Briefing: Israeli Strikes Killed Five Journalists — New York Times World -

• U.N. Peacekeepers in Lebanon Face Uncertain Future — New York Times World -
• Israeli double strike on Gaza hospital - what we know — BBC World -
• France has ‘no lessons to take’ from US on tackling antisemitism, says minister — The Guardian -
• Five journalists among 20 killed in Israeli double strike on hospital — BBC World -
• At Least One Dead as Typhoon Kajiki Slams Vietnam — New York Times World -
• Israel bombed Gaza hospital a second time, killing rescuers, say health officials — The Guardian -
• What to Know About the Journalists Killed in Gaza — New York Times World -
• How China Influences Elections in America’s Biggest City — New York Times World -
• Screenwriter Paul Laverty arrested at Palestine protest in Edinburgh — The Guardian -
• Woody Allen rebuts Ukrainian condemnation over Moscow film festival appearance — The Guardian -
• Poland’s president vetoes legislation to prolong benefits for Ukrainian refugees — The Guardian -
• Israel’s attack on hospital in Gaza may constitute a war crime on many fronts — The Guardian -
• What’s Next for Ukraine After All That Diplomacy? — New York Times World -
• Expecting on the Front Lines: Motherhood in Ukraine’s Military — New York Times World -
• ‘For Russians, Nato is next to Satan’: Finnish guards on alert at Russia border — The Guardian -
• German Prosecutors Charge American With Attempted Spying for China — New York Times World -
• France Summons U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner Over Antisemitism Comments — New York Times World -
• E1 Settlement in West Bank Tied to Greater Israel Goal — New York Times World -
• Historic Myanmar bridge destroyed in fighting — The Guardian -
• Monday Briefing: Would Ukraine Give Up the Donbas? — New York Times World -
• France summons US envoy over antisemitism claims — BBC World -

The UK faced rising food inflation, initiatives to combat honour-based abuse, and new retail ventures like **Marks & Spencer's secondhand store, alongside concerns over asylum hotel closures, a long-underestimated gender pay gap, and local political controversies**.

• Egg and butter prices drive up UK food inflation as households feel squeeze — The Guardian -
• UK to clarify definition of ‘honour’-based abuse in drive to cut violence against women and girls — The Guardian -
• Marks & Spencer to open secondhand clothing store on eBay — The Guardian -

• Reform councillor works on asylum claims for Home Office, investigation reveals — The Guardian -
• ‘If you survive this, you’ll survive anything’: new UK reality show that strands ‘newlyweds’ on honeymoon — The Guardian -
• Home Office promises ‘big surge’ in asylum hotel closures in new year — The Guardian -
• UK gender pay gap underestimated for two decades, report says — The Guardian -
• Three people killed and one critically injured in Isle of Wight helicopter crash — The Guardian -
• Strictly Come Dancing star arrested on suspicion of rape, reports say — The Guardian -
• ‘Some brass neck’: Rayner’s allies rebuke Cleverly over council tax criticisms — The Guardian -
• Mounjaro users in UK warned against bulk buying before autumn price rise — The Guardian -
• Politicians risk ignoring many voters by not being on TikTok, Tory MP warns — The Guardian -
• Wes Streeting criticises ‘shortsighted’ drug firms for rejecting pricing offer — The Guardian -
• ‘Reinvention is the secret ingredient’: food brands harness 90s nostalgia with retro revamps — The Guardian -
• Ocado worst for plastic bags as total single-use sales rise for first time — The Guardian -
• UK mothers earn £302 a week less than fathers, analysis shows — The Guardian -

Australia grappled with rising costs for aged care and high university arts fees, controversy over government consultancy contracts, major environmental law reform, and several high-profile legal cases including a triple mushroom murder conviction and allegations against a former Wiggles CEO.

• Consultancy firms win nearly $1bn in Australian contracts in past year despite new outsourcing rules, research shows — The Guardian -
• Arts degrees to cost $50,000 until at least 2027 despite Albanese reform promises, vice-chancellor says — The Guardian -
• Dinner or a shower? Elderly people fear tough choices when Australia’s new aged care changes are rolled out — The Guardian -

• Victorian couple sue TikTok for blocking account after allegedly competing in live battles against banned users — The Guardian -
• Major Australian environmental law overhaul to be put to parliament this year as Watt warns delays risk ‘destruction’ — The Guardian -
• ABC defence correspondent Andrew Greene quits after failure to disclose junket — The Guardian -
• Jai Kalani Wright: video of Indigenous teen’s fatal collision with police car prompts family walkout of Sydney court — The Guardian -
• Crochet, isolation and the prison chaplain: Erin Patterson’s life behind bars detailed in court — The Guardian -
• Murray Watt advised by own department to declare protection order over ‘significant Aboriginal area’ in WA — The Guardian -
• Australia’s youngest senator describes depression, ‘whack’ responses and a pet-related white lie in first speech — The Guardian -
• Mushroom lunch survivor forgives Erin Patterson as defence agrees triple murderer deserves life sentence — The Guardian -
• Labor’s first home buyers scheme a ‘backwards step’ likely to push prices higher, experts warn — The Guardian -
• Former Wiggles CEO sues children’s entertainment group over alleged bonus and fair work breaches — The Guardian -
• 'Half alive': Toxic mushroom lunch survivor tells court of murders' impact — BBC World -
• Erin Patterson plea hearing live updates: mushroom murder cook faces victims' families in pre-sentence hearing – latest news — The Guardian -
• Australian cosmetics company Naked Sundays pauses sunscreen sales to test accuracy of SPF rating — The Guardian -

Major legal developments included Mexican cartel leader 'El Mayo' entering a guilty plea, Elon Musk being urged to remove child sex abuse images, Lil Nas X pleading not guilty to felony charges after an LA arrest, and a congressional subpoena for Jeffrey Epstein's estate documents.

• Mexico cartel leader 'El Mayo' enters guilty plea — BBC World -
• Child sex abuse victim begs Elon Musk to remove links to her images — BBC World -
• Lil Nas X pleads not guilty to 4 felony charges after LA arrest while naked — BBC World -

• Republican-led committee subpoenas documents from Jeffrey Epstein estate — The Guardian -
• Mexican drug lord ‘El Mayo’ pleads guilty to racketeering in New York — The Guardian -
• Comedian Reginald Carroll dies aged 52 after being shot in Mississippi — The Guardian -
• Kneecap cancel all US tour dates over clash with court hearing in London — The Guardian -
• Maxwell honored at Clinton event years after sexual abuse allegations emerged — The Guardian -

Significant progress was made with a pig lung transplant into a human and a new ovarian cancer blood test for early detection, as the US confirmed its first human case of flesh-eating screwworm parasite, and wildfires raged across California and Oregon, alongside efforts in giraffe conservation.

• Ovarian cancer blood test can detect disease early, study suggests — The Guardian -
• First human case of flesh-eating screwworm parasite confirmed in US — BBC World -
• How the Pygmy Sea Horse Lost Its Snout — New York Times World -

• Wildfires in California and Oregon destroy homes and prompt thousands of evacuations — The Guardian -
• French helicopter crew survive crash into lake — BBC World -
• ‘Wall of blowing dust’ sweeps through Burning Man festival upending camps — The Guardian -
• Surgeons transplant pig lung into brain dead human recipient for first time — The Guardian -
• Scientists Split Giraffes Into Four Species. Three Are In Trouble. — New York Times World -
• Thousands of illegal marijuana plants removed from California national park — The Guardian -
• Should I Get a Portable Induction Cooktop? — New York Times World -

France's Prime Minister called a special parliamentary session to address ballooning national debt and faced a potential confidence vote, while Elon Musk's xAI sued OpenAI and Apple for anticompetitive conduct, and Chinese property giant Evergrande was delisted.

• French Prime Minister Calls Special Parliamentary Session to Address Ballooning Debt — New York Times World -
• French prime minister to face potential ousting in high-stakes confidence vote — The Guardian -
• Musk’s AI startup sues OpenAI and Apple over anticompetitive conduct — The Guardian -

• Greater risk of toxic derailments if $85bn railroad merger is approved, warn unions — The Guardian -
• Chinese property giant Evergrande delisted after spectacular fall — BBC World -

Cultural news included warnings to South African women about Russian job videos, a Hong Kong bird call contest, the passing of actor Jerry Adler, and concerns over press freedom in Hong Kong following a journalist's visa denial, alongside reflections on European family reunification rules.

• South African women warned about viral Russian job videos — BBC World -
• Medvedev beaten after photographer enters court — BBC World -
• North Korea’s Glossy New Surface: Apps, Beaches and a Fake Starbucks — New York Times World -

• ‘I can’t sleep, I can’t get on with my life’: how Europe’s tougher rules are keeping families apart — The Guardian -
• Hongkongers squawk-off in city's first bird call contest — BBC World -
• Jerry Adler, who starred in The Sopranos, dies aged 96 — BBC World -
• Hong Kong Denies Visa Renewal for Senior Bloomberg Journalist — New York Times World -