Discussions on Ukraine's future and European security are at a critical juncture, with EU plans for reparations loans using frozen Russian assets and ongoing peace talks involving the US, while Putin projects readiness for conflict and Nato reiterates commitment to defense.

• European Commission plans ‘reparations loan’ to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets — The Guardian -
• Zelensky says Ukraine and US negotiators will meet after Russia visit — BBC World -
• King Charles says UK and Germany ready to ‘bolster Europe’ against Russian aggression — The Guardian -

• Stakes High, Europe Races to Save Its Financing Plan for Ukraine — New York Times World -
• The Ukraine peace deal has stumbled yet again over an inevitable obstacle: Putin — The Guardian -
• Weak Spots Are Few for Russia in Ukraine Peace Talks — New York Times World -
• Is Putin about to go to war with Europe? – The Latest — The Guardian -
• Nato ‘ready to do what it takes’ to protect Europe, as Russia denies rejecting Ukraine peace plan – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Amid missiles and diplomacy, Russia is exploiting western divisions over Ukraine — The Guardian -
• EU has a plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine – how will it work? — The Guardian -
• What latest Ukraine talks reveal about Putin's state of mind — BBC World -
• Which areas is Russia demanding as its price for peace in Ukraine? – visual explainer — The Guardian -
• Europe Wants to Get the Word Out: Russia Is to Blame for Sabotage — New York Times World -
• Pope Leo stresses importance of European involvement in efforts to end war in Ukraine — The Guardian -
• Steve Rosenberg: Putin showing no signs of compromise — BBC World -
• Wednesday briefing: ​​Does the new ​U​S plan put ​Ukraine and ​Russia on the path to peace​? — The Guardian -
• Russia ‘ready’ for war if Europe starts it, Putin says, as US peace talks end without progress — The Guardian -
• Kremlin signals no Ukraine breakthrough after Putin talks with US — BBC World -

Trump's administration is enacting sweeping immigration crackdowns in cities like New Orleans, considering military action in Venezuela and against drug boats, and repealing environmental standards, while also facing scrutiny over official conduct and questions about voting rights.

• Arrests begin in New Orleans immigration crackdown, pictures suggest – live — The Guardian -
• What to Know About Trump’s Threat of Military Action in Venezuela — New York Times World -
• Lawmakers decry Trump’s immigration halt for 19 countries: ‘scapegoating entire nationalities’ — The Guardian -

• Trump says he will repeal Biden-era fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks — The Guardian -
• Pentagon report concludes Hegseth put troops in danger with Signal chat — The Guardian -
• Republican lawmakers scrutinize Trump administration over ‘drug boat’ strikes — The Guardian -
• On Trump’s Insults, Somalia’s Prime Minister Says ‘It’s Better Not to Respond’ — New York Times World -
• Trump says he is pardoning Democratic congressman in bribery case — BBC World -
• Federal agents prepare to launch immigration crackdown in New Orleans — The Guardian -
• Trump administration pauses all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries — The Guardian -
• Colombia’s president warns Trump: ‘Do not wake the jaguar’ with threats of military strikes — The Guardian -
• Trump says he does not want Somalis in US as ICE plans Minnesota operation — BBC World -
• Trump says he does not want Somalis in US as ICE plans Minnesota operation — BBC World -
• The environmental costs of corn: should the US change how it grows its dominant crop? — The Guardian -
• Family of victim of Trump boat airstrikes files complaint against ‘extrajudicial killing’ | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Trump ally admits goal of eliminating same-day registration in federal voting rights trial — The Guardian -
• Trump officials say second strike aimed to destroy drug boat instead of crew — The Guardian -
• Leaked memo reveals US veterans affairs officials vetting non-citizen workers — The Guardian -
• Pete Hegseth says he ‘didn’t stick around’ to watch second strike on alleged drug boat as Democrats slam administration over attacks – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Republican Matt Van Epps wins US House special election in Tennessee — The Guardian -
• Trump claims to void all documents signed by Biden, citing autopen use — The Guardian -

The UK faces diverse challenges including a review of mental health diagnoses, accusations of human rights abuses by British troops in Kenya, ongoing controversies from the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, and debates over transgender women's inclusion in national organizations.

• Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar — The Guardian -
• ‘From taboo to tool’: 30% of GPs in UK use AI tools in patient consultations, study finds — The Guardian -
• Paedophile pleads guilty to sexually assaulting toddlers at London nursery — The Guardian -

• British troops accused of human rights violations and sexual abuse in Kenya — The Guardian -
• Welsh Labour MSs accuse Starmer government of rolling back devolution — The Guardian -
• Blackpool report: why do England’s deprived areas have the most troubled hospitals? — The Guardian -
• Reform council leader accused of racism after alleged remarks about Sadiq Khan — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer expected to award 25 new Labour peerages — The Guardian -
• Two U.K. Women’s Groups Ban Transgender Girls and Women — New York Times World -
• Reform UK aiming for reverse takeover of Tories, Farage says — The Guardian -
• ‘Failed former Tory MPs’ who join Reform unlikely to be selected as candidates, Zia Yusuf says – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Women’s prisons report finds 97 deaths in decade as self-harm hits record high — The Guardian -
• Post Office avoids fine over leak of wrongfully convicted operators’ names — The Guardian -
• Foreign Office lost ‘opportunities to influence’ US after Harry Dunn death, review finds — The Guardian -
• Leaked report reveals culture of bullying and harassment at scandal-hit NHS hospital — The Guardian -
• Labour planned in opposition how to introduce assisted dying via private member’s bill — The Guardian -
• UK using more wood to make electricity than ever, Drax figures show — The Guardian -
• Help to cut baby formula costs could save parents up to £500, Starmer says — The Guardian -
• Thames Water faces collapse as crisis talks take ‘longer than expected’ — The Guardian -
• Women’s Institute will no longer accept trans women as members from April — The Guardian -
• Kenyan MPs accuse British soldiers of decades of sexual abuse — BBC World -
• Kenyan MPs accuse British soldiers of decades of sexual abuse — BBC World -
• Whistleblower accuses Foreign Office of ‘censoring’ warning of Sudan genocide — The Guardian -
• More than 520 chemicals found in English soil, including long-banned medical substances — The Guardian -
• Farage tells donors he expects Reform to do election deal with Tories – report — The Guardian -
• Final Hillsborough report ends investigation with no consequences — The Guardian -
• Tesla privately warned UK that weakening EV rules would hit sales — The Guardian -
• National Trust launches fundraiser to help buy land around Cerne Giant — The Guardian -
• UK government delays decision on China’s super-embassy until January — The Guardian -
• Handling of China spying case was ‘shambolic’, security committee concludes — The Guardian -
• Numbers leaving A&E without treatment triples in six years — The Guardian -
• Quality of migraine care dependent on ethnicity, UK survey finds — The Guardian -

Australia is grappling with economic adjustments, reforms to social media access for minors, **controversies around disability support (NDIS), and legal battles over defamation and housing policy affecting Indigenous communities**.

• Australia news live: Victoria treasurer says cuts to top-heavy public service will save $4bn; power prices projected to fall 5% in five years — The Guardian -
• Hundreds of Australians complain of wrongful social media account closures but ombudsman can’t help — The Guardian -
• Brittany Higgins says she feels she can ‘breathe again’ after Bruce Lehrmann defamation appeal dismissed — The Guardian -

• Australia is banning social media for kids under 16. How will it work? — BBC World -
• Road tests find no EV in Australia that lives up to its claimed range on a single charge – but one brand came close — The Guardian -
• Doom, gloom … and Belle Gibson? The top Google searches in Australia in 2025 — The Guardian -
• After Deadly Attacks, Australia Debates: Do Shark Nets Work? — New York Times World -
• Helen Garner says State Library of Victoria turned into ‘party central’, with planned job cuts to ‘bring disgrace’ on Melbourne — The Guardian -
• Global group accused of attacking gay rights backs South Australian woman over school presentation — The Guardian -
• Liberal senator says repeated use of term ‘mass migration’ is inaccurate and ‘extremely unhelpful’ — The Guardian -
• ‘Nightmare scenario for disabled people’: NDIS overhaul risks lives, advocates say — The Guardian -
• ‘Holy crap, this is insane’: mineworkers describe being caught in huge outback dust storm — The Guardian -
• ‘Addiction to secrecy’: opposition and crossbench slam Labor’s ‘undemocratic’ changes to FoI – including charging fees — The Guardian -
• Gallagher says public service ‘roughly the right size’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• High court overturns NT housing policy which tripled rent in some remote Indigenous communities — The Guardian -
• YouTube says it will comply with Australia’s under-16s social media ban, with Lemon8 to also restrict access — The Guardian -
• Victorian Labor to introduce stand-alone coercive control offence in backflip to match opposition policy — The Guardian -
• Australian economy crawls back into growth mode thanks to datacentre boom and household spending uptick — The Guardian -
• Future Fund spent $20,000 to send CEO’s executive assistant on business class trip to scope hotels in US — The Guardian -
• YouTube says it will be less safe for kids under Australia's social media ban — BBC World -
• Bruce Lehrmann knew Brittany Higgins didn’t consent, federal court rules as it dismisses defamation appeal — The Guardian -
• High country murderer Greg Lynn breached DV order and escaped police custody before first wife’s death — The Guardian -

Conflicts in Yemen and Gaza continue to claim lives, while Israel faces domestic debate over conscription and negotiations for a Gaza border reopening, and Tunisia sees a widening crackdown on opposition.

• In Yemen, Separatist Forces Backed by UAE March Into Oil-Rich Region — New York Times World -
• Gaza: Israeli strike kills five, including two children, says civil defence agency — The Guardian -
• Tunisia Arrests Opposition Figure in Widening Crackdown — New York Times World -

• With Tensions Rising, Israel and Lebanon Expand Cease-Fire Talks — New York Times World -
• Israel Says a Gaza Border Will Reopen, but Only for Palestinians to Leave — New York Times World -
• Israel receives coffin that Palestinian groups say contains Gaza hostage's body — BBC World -
• Israel says Rafah crossing to open soon to let Palestinians leave Gaza via Egypt — BBC World -
• Was it a coup or was it a 'sham'? Behind Guinea-Bissau's military takeover — BBC World -
• Inside the Ultra-Orthodox Fight Against Israel’s Draft — New York Times World -
• Crisis looms in Israel over ultra-Orthodox conscription bill — BBC World -
• Crisis looms in Israel over ultra-Orthodox conscription bill — BBC World -
• More than 200 leading cultural figures call for release of jailed Palestinian leader — The Guardian -

Multiple regions are impacted by severe flooding and climate-related disasters, with Indonesia experiencing destructive log-filled floodwaters and Sri Lanka mobilizing volunteers after a cyclone, while Delhi battles toxic air pollution.

• Storm Floodwaters in Indonesia Turned Logs Into Floating Projectiles — New York Times World -
• Environmentally Friendly Coffee — New York Times World -
• ‘Holy crap, this is insane’: mineworkers describe being caught in huge outback dust storm — The Guardian -

• Delhi records 200,000 acute respiratory illness cases amid toxic air — BBC World -
• Floods in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam Have Killed Over 1,200. Here’s What to Know. — New York Times World -
• The Philippines Spent Big on Flood Control, but the Water Keeps Rising — New York Times World -
• In Photos and Video: Devastating Floods Swamp Parts of Asia — New York Times World -
• Cyclone catastrophe in Sri Lanka awakens volunteer spirit — BBC World -

Major business news includes HSBC's leadership appointment, Airbus cutting plane delivery targets, Thames Water facing potential collapse despite rising profits, and Prada's acquisition of Versace.

• Macy’s Raises Sales Forecast Again as Shoppers Prove Resilient — New York Times World -
• HSBC appoints interim chair Brendan Nelson to permanent role — The Guardian -
• US private payrolls unexpectedly declined in November, ADP says — The Guardian -

• Fabergé Winter Egg Sells for $30 Million, an Auction Record — New York Times World -
• Airbus cuts plane delivery target amid A320 fuselage problem — The Guardian -
• Italian fashion giant Prada buys Versace – at a discount — BBC World -

Aid workers in Greece face trial for migrant assistance, South Korea discovers widespread home camera hacking, India retracts a mandatory cyber safety app order, and San Francisco sues food companies over ultra-processed products.

• China, Japan and a New Narrative About World War II — New York Times World -
• A Devastating Fire Has Fueled a National Security Crackdown in Hong Kong — New York Times World -
• Trial of aid workers accused of facilitating illegal entry of migrants into Greece set to begin — The Guardian -

• Hong Kong orders removal of scaffolding mesh after deadly blaze — BBC World -
• Production halted at Chinese factory making 'childlike' sex dolls — BBC World -
• Top ex-EU diplomat Federica Mogherini accused of corruption and fraud — The Guardian -
• Former EU top diplomat Mogherini accused in fraud investigation — BBC World -
• India scraps order to pre-install state-run cyber safety app on smartphones — BBC World -
• India scraps order to pre-install state-run cyber safety app on smartphones — BBC World -
• 120,000 Home Cameras Were Hacked for Sexual Videos, South Korean Police Say — New York Times World -
• San Francisco sues food giants over ultra-processed products — The Guardian -

Mental health diagnosis reviews are ordered in the UK as AI tools gain traction in patient consultations, while research on breast density raises anxiety concerns, and the NIH faces scrutiny over continued animal experiments.

• Discussing breast density after mammograms may cause unneeded anxiety, study finds — The Guardian -
• ‘From taboo to tool’: 30% of GPs in UK use AI tools in patient consultations, study finds — The Guardian -
• FDA drug chief signals possible exit as agency turmoil deepens — The Guardian -

• NIH funds new cat experiments despite pledge to phase them out, watchdog reports — The Guardian -

Diverse stories emerge, from the death of albino alligator Claude in San Francisco and a drunk raccoon's escapade to the discovery of a Norman conquest coin hoard and an auction record for a Fabergé Winter Egg.

• $700 for a bed? San Francisco startup plots ‘sleeping pod’ expansion — The Guardian -
• Drunk raccoon found passed out on liquor store floor after breaking in — BBC World -
• Steve Cropper, legendary guitarist for Booker T & the MGs, dies aged 84 — The Guardian -

• LA doctor who sold Matthew Perry ketamine sentenced to prison — The Guardian -
• Ludwig Minelli, Founder of Swiss Assisted-Suicide Group, Dies at 92 — New York Times World -
• Yegor Ligachev, Gorbachev’s No. 2 Who Turned Foe, Is Dead at 100 — New York Times World -
• A Skating Rink Was Built Around a Luciano Pavarotti Statue. People Aren’t Thrilled. — New York Times World -
• Misha Glenny to present BBC Radio 4 ‘institution’ In Our Time — The Guardian -
• Historic Smithfield and Billingsgate markets find new home in Docklands — The Guardian -
• Canada Turns to the World’s Polar Bear Capital to Defend its Arctic — New York Times World -
• Drunk raccoon found passed out in Virginia liquor store — The Guardian -
• Three French teens drown after car crashes upside down in swimming pool — BBC World -
• Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 search to resume 11 years after jet went missing — The Guardian -
• Drunk raccoon found passed out on liquor store floor after breaking in — BBC World -
• Thousands Greet Pope Leo as He Prays Near Site of Beirut Port Blast — New York Times World -
• Norman conquest coin hoard to go on show in Bath before permanent display — The Guardian -
• Visiting Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo Echoed Francis’s Message, Not His Style — New York Times World -
• Canada Turns to the World’s Polar Bear Capital to Defend its Arctic — New York Times World -
• Man charged with theft over claims he swallowed $19k Fabergé egg — BBC World -
• Man charged with theft over claims he swallowed $19k Fabergé egg — BBC World -
• Search for long-missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 to resume — BBC World -
• Search for long-missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 to resume — BBC World -
• Our Top Editor Answers Questions — New York Times World -
• As lead changes in knife-edge Honduran election, will Trump fail to get his way? — BBC World -
• As lead changes in knife-edge Honduran election, will Trump fail to get his way? — BBC World -
• Watch: Driver hoisted to safety from truck dangling over West Virginia bridge — BBC World -
• ‘Iconic swamp king’: San Francisco’s beloved albino alligator dies aged 30 — The Guardian -