The US political landscape is marked by controversy, with **Trump’s threats of 'seditious behavior, punishable by death' drawing outrage, the Justice Department investigating alleged 2020 election fraud claims related to Venezuela, and US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra adopting a harsh Trump tone, alongside discussions on diversity in government and Eric Swalwell's run for California governor**.

• U.S. Ambassador to Canada Channels Harsh Trump Tone — New York Times World -
• Trump’s threats amount to calls for ‘execution of elected officials’, says Chuck Schumer – US politics live — The Guardian -
• Trump’s DoJ investigating unfounded claims Venezuela helped steal 2020 election — The Guardian -

• US Representative Eric Swalwell announces run for California governor — The Guardian -
• Jimmy Kimmel accuses Trump of trying to get him fired and tells him: ‘Quiet, piggy’ — The Guardian -
• Swiss gold and Rolex gifts to Trump raise questions over personalisation of US presidential power — The Guardian -
• Trump has assembled least diverse US government this century, study shows — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Outrage after Trump accuses Democrats of ‘seditious behavior, punishable by death’ — The Guardian -
• Workers inside Department of Education say Trump’s latest bid to dismantle agency ‘makes no sense’ — The Guardian -
• Trump calls Democrat video to troops 'seditious behaviour, punishable by death' — BBC World -
• Fugees rapper Pras sentenced to 14 years in prison over illegal donations to Obama campaign — The Guardian -
• New US rules say countries with diversity policies are infringing human rights — BBC World -
• New US rules say countries with diversity policies are infringing human rights — BBC World -
• White House walks back Trump’s suggestion of executing Democrats, stands by ‘piggy’ insult to reporter– as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump calls Democrat video to troops 'seditious behaviour, punishable by death' — BBC World -

The United Kingdom faces economic uncertainty ahead of the budget with Rachel Reeves unsure of the popular path and households facing a surprise rise in energy bills, while the NHS struggles with thousands of GPs cutting hours, and political discourse heats up as Starmer calls Farage 'spineless' over racism allegations and a former Reform UK leader is jailed for pro-Russia bribes, revealing broader challenges in public finances and leadership dynamics.

• Reeves ‘not even sure what the popular path is’ on the budget – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Thousands of NHS GPs are cutting their hours despite plan to increase access to doctors — The Guardian -
• Starmer calls Farage ‘spineless’ over failure to tackle racism in Reform party — The Guardian -

• Covid bereaved call for Boris Johnson to lose ex-PM benefits over inquiry report — The Guardian -
• Starmer rebuffs renewed talk of Andy Burnham leadership challenge — The Guardian -
• Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches — The Guardian -
• UK government borrows more than expected in setback before budget — The Guardian -
• Households in Great Britain face surprise rise in energy bills from January — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves sick of people ‘mansplaining’ how to be chancellor — The Guardian -
• UK retail sales drop unexpectedly as shoppers await Black Friday and budget — The Guardian -
• Lib Dems to force vote on creating new customs union with EU — The Guardian -
• Labour MPs urge Reeves to drop private finance plans for NHS buildings — The Guardian -
• Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers — The Guardian -
• BBC is losing £1bn a year in potential licence fee revenue, say MPs — The Guardian -

Critical social and human rights issues are highlighted by South Africa declaring gender violence a national disaster after protests, Germany classifying date rape drugs as weapons for stricter prosecutions, and reports on a double amputee's worsening health in a Georgia ICE jail, alongside mass school abductions in Nigeria, a US indictment for a coup plot involving rape fantasies in Haiti, and charges for hate speech against trans people in NSW, Australia, and legal complaints against the Serbian president in a 'sniper-tourism' case.

• South Africa calls gender violence a national disaster after protests — BBC World -
• South Africa calls gender violence a national disaster after protests — BBC World -
• Health of double amputee detained in Georgia ICE jail worsens — The Guardian -

• Germany to classify date rape drugs as weapons in attempt to ensure justice for survivors — The Guardian -
• Pupils abducted from Catholic school in fresh Nigeria attack — BBC World -
• Man pleads guilty to rape of girl, 12, in case that sparked anti-asylum protests — The Guardian -
• US men indicted for alleged coup plot to kill and rape people on Haitian island — The Guardian -
• Nigeria reels after second mass school abduction in a week — The Guardian -
• ‘Toxic’: California ex-police chief tells of colleagues’ racist harassment campaign — The Guardian -
• The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal — The Guardian -
• US veteran considers civil lawsuit after he was arrested and injured at anti-ICE protest — The Guardian -
• Pupils abducted from Catholic school in fresh Nigeria attack — BBC World -
• Two men charged over threatening messages to Lidia Thorpe and about Allegra Spender — The Guardian -
• Serbian president faces legal complaint in Sarajevo ‘sniper-tourism’ case — The Guardian -
• Woman jailed for 20 years over death of Australian surfer brothers and American man in Mexico — The Guardian -
• Wieambilla police shooting not ‘terrorism’ but driven by Train family’s shared ‘delusions’, Queensland coroner finds — The Guardian -
• Man becomes first to be convicted of hate speech against trans people in NSW — The Guardian -
• Mahmoud Khalil sues Trump officials over ‘collusion’ with anti-Palestinian groups — The Guardian -

Significant environmental news includes the UN climate summit's draft deal omitting fossil fuels, Australia's Labor party considering ruling out coal and gas exemptions for nature laws, and efforts to make sustainable seafood choices this Christmas, alongside severe global weather events such as relentless rains flooding Vietnam and a deadly snowstorm in Chilean Patagonia, and reports on invasive goldfish in Ottawa and fine chocolate's role in Brazil's forest sustainability.

• UN climate summit drops mention of fossil fuels from draft deal — BBC World -
• Labor to rule out controversial ‘national interest’ exemption for coal and gas if Greens back nature laws — The Guardian -
• As Labor seeks to pass end-of-year environmental law reform, Ley and the Greens will be vying to seal the deal — The Guardian -

• How to make sustainable seafood choices this Christmas to ease the pressure on Australia’s oceans — The Guardian -
• Weather tracker: US storms linked to ‘atmospheric river’ phenomenon — The Guardian -
• Fine Chocolate in Brazil, Home of the Cacao Bean — New York Times World -
• At least 41 dead as relentless rains flood Vietnam — BBC World -
• Three-metre giant oarfish, ‘palace messenger’ of doom, washes up on Tasmanian beach — The Guardian -
• Darwin warned cyclone will strike Saturday – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Survivors Describe Deadly Snowstorm in Chilean Patagonia — New York Times World -
• India's delayed action plan raises eyebrows at COP30 climate summit — BBC World -
• India's delayed action plan raises eyebrows at COP30 climate summit — BBC World -
• Hundreds of Invasive Goldfish to Be Culled From Ottawa Pond — New York Times World -

The Ukraine conflict remains critical, with Zelenskyy considering a US peace plan that might require concessions and European leaders backing Ukraine despite being excluded from the US-Russia proposal, while Russia denies official receipt of the US plan, and concerns arise over European TNT supplies potentially diverted to Gaza, alongside ongoing pro-Kremlin propaganda efforts online.

• Ukraine facing choice between losing major partner or its dignity, says Zelenskyy as he considers US plan – Europe live — The Guardian -
• European Leaders Back Zelensky After Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan Excludes Them — New York Times World -
• TNT Europe needs to defend itself ends up being used on Gaza, Polish MP claims — The Guardian -

• Russia yet to receive anything official from US on Ukraine peace plan, Kremlin says — BBC World -
• Hundreds of English-language websites link to pro-Kremlin propaganda — The Guardian -
• Trump's growing impatience to end Ukraine war is a concern for Kyiv — BBC World -
• Zelensky ready to work with US on 'their vision' for ending Ukraine war — BBC World -
• Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev: Putin propagandist or key to peace with Ukraine? — BBC World -
• Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev: Putin propagandist or key to peace with Ukraine? — BBC World -
• Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say — The Guardian -
• Zelensky Says Ukraine Ready to ‘Honestly’ Engage With U.S. Peace Plan — New York Times World -

Global diplomatic efforts and regional tensions are highlighted by the U.S. Navy's deployment near Venezuela, Japan's strained relationship with China over Taiwan remarks, and South Africa's G20 summit becoming a platform for domestic protests amid a dispute with the US, while Syria faces the grim task of exhuming mass graves after its civil war, and humanitarian fundraisers warn of a 'catastrophic' drop in donations to Gaza.

• After Syria’s 14-Year Civil War, a Search for Victims Leads to Mass Graves — New York Times World -
• South Africans Seize on G20 Summit to Air Their Nation’s Ills — New York Times World -
• Satellite Data Reveals How the U.S. Navy Is Deployed Near Venezuela — New York Times World -

• Japan’s New Leader Mentions Taiwan, and Tanks Her Relationship With China — New York Times World -
• Europe’s economy is geared towards a disappearing world, says ECB’s Lagarde — The Guardian -
• South Africa’s dispute with US escalates amid row over G20 handover event — The Guardian -
• Anti-Hamas armed groups seek future role under Gaza peace plan — BBC World -
• Venezuela says opposition leader will become fugitive if she collects Nobel — BBC World -
• Venezuela says opposition leader will become fugitive if she collects Nobel — BBC World -
• Researcher’s Smuggling Arrest Casts Light on Dispute Over Chinese Students — New York Times World -
• Fundraisers warn of ‘catastrophic’ drop in donations to Gaza since ceasefire — The Guardian -
• Trump Meeting With Saudi Prince Showcased Prince’s Makeover, and America’s — New York Times World -

Innovations in technology and business are seen with Roblox rolling out face scans for age verification and ASOS turning to AI stylists to win back shoppers, while the Louvre's president defends her tenure after a heist, Colombian scientists recover treasures from a 'holy grail' shipwreck, and Frida Kahlo's self-portrait sets an auction record for a female artist, showcasing significant developments in the digital, retail, and arts sectors.

• Roblox Rolls Out Face Scans for Age Verification: What to Know — New York Times World -
• After the Louvre Heist, the Museum’s President Defends Her Tenure — New York Times World -
• Wetherspoon’s to open first pub in Spain – offering garlic prawns and beer from 6am — The Guardian -

• Colombian scientists recover first treasures from ‘holy grail of shipwrecks’ — The Guardian -
• Asos turns to AI stylists to win back shoppers after sales slide 12% — The Guardian -
• Fátima Bosch of Mexico Wins 2025 Miss Universe Pageant Marred by Scandal — New York Times World -
• Sanna Marin Led Finland Through Covid and Russian Threats. But She’s Famous for a Shimmy. — New York Times World -
• A lot of axolotls: the amphibian-themed banknote Mexicans don’t want to spend — The Guardian -
• Australia Adds Twitch to Social Media Ban for Teens — New York Times World -
• Mexico's Fatima Bosch, who walked out on organisers, crowned Miss Universe — BBC World -
• Mexico's Fatima Bosch, who walked out on organisers, crowned Miss Universe — BBC World -
• Superman No 1 sells for $9.12m, becoming most expensive comic ever sold — The Guardian -
• The Privacy Battle in Our Brains — New York Times World -
• Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for $55m, sets auction record for a female artist — BBC World -
• Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for record-breaking $55m — BBC World -
• Streaming platform Twitch added to Australia's teen social media ban — BBC World -
• Streaming platform Twitch added to Australia's teen social media ban — BBC World -
• Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for $54.7m to set new auction record for a female artist — The Guardian -
• Australia is banning social media for kids under 16. How will it work? — BBC World -

Various global incidents and scientific updates include a grizzly bear attack injuring schoolchildren in Canada, an Indian fighter jet pilot killed in a Dubai airshow crash, and Japan moving closer to restarting its largest nuclear power plant, while scientists reveal what triggered Santorini's 'earthquake swarm' and note raccoons showing signs of early domestication.

• Canadian man loses legal battle to reclaim million-dollar stash — BBC World -
• Indian fighter jet pilot killed in crash at Dubai airshow — BBC World -
• Eleven injured after grizzly bear attacks schoolchildren and teachers in Canada — The Guardian -

• Japan edges closer to restarting world's biggest nuclear power plant — BBC World -
• Men posing as India's central bank officials pull off $800,000 heist — BBC World -
• Cuter and closer: Raccoons may be on their way to becoming America's next pet — BBC World -
• Cuter and closer: Raccoons may be on their way to becoming America's next pet — BBC World -
• Scientists reveal what triggered Santorini 'earthquake swarm' — BBC World -

In Australian domestic affairs, Kellie Sloane has been elected the new NSW Liberal leader unopposed, a Queensland coroner found a police shooting was driven by family delusions rather than terrorism, and a man was convicted of hate speech against trans people in NSW, reflecting ongoing political shifts and social justice issues.

• Who is Kellie Sloane, the new NSW Liberal leader – and can this first-term former journalist save the party? — The Guardian -
• Kellie Sloane elected NSW Liberal leader unopposed, replacing Mark Speakman — The Guardian -