The Trump administration faces scrutiny over controversial appointments, electoral map decisions, and immigration crackdowns, while also navigating trade pact anxieties and racist remarks against immigrant communities.

• Supreme court allows Texas to use new congressional map favoring Republicans in 2026 elections – US politics live — The Guardian -
• Several people arrested in New Orleans amid ICE ‘siege’: ‘It’s racial profiling’ — The Guardian -
• Groups Express Anixety as Trump Threatens to Derail U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Pact — New York Times World -

• 'Not becoming of a president': Somali-Americans respond to Trump's 'garbage' remarks — BBC World -
• Trump replaces architect overseeing $300m gilded ballroom project — The Guardian -
• US Institute of Peace renamed for Donald Trump despite legal battle — The Guardian -
• Trump lashes out at Somalis again as Minneapolis stands behind community — The Guardian -
• Trump to Host Congo and Rwanda Leaders for Peace Talks in Persistent Conflict — New York Times World -
• Half of Europeans see Trump as enemy of Europe, survey finds — The Guardian -

Sudan's civil war prompts UN warnings of atrocities, Russia's aggressive stance on Ukraine continues, and renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon occur amid complex peace efforts involving Gaza hostages and Congo-Rwanda negotiations.

• U.N. Warns of ‘Another Wave of Atrocities’ in Sudan’s Civil War — New York Times World -
• Putin says Russia will take Donbas by force or Ukraine's troops will withdraw — BBC World -
• Prominent anti-Hamas militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab killed in Gaza — BBC World -

• Amid Russian Sabotage, U.K. Points Finger at Putin Over Novichok Death — New York Times World -
• 'All Israeli people are with us', parents of last dead hostage in Gaza tell BBC — BBC World -
• Israel strikes south Lebanon after first direct talks in decades — BBC World -
• ‘We’ve got her back now’: novichok victim’s family ready to lay her to rest — The Guardian -
• Deadly Attacks in Gaza Test Cease-Fire as Body of Another Captive Is Returned — New York Times World -
• Putin and Modi meet amid politically treacherous times for Russia and India — The Guardian -
• Macron reportedly warned Zelenskyy US may ‘betray Ukraine on territory’ — The Guardian -
• What to Know About Putin’s Visit to India as Oil Trade Dries Up — New York Times World -
• Oil, defence and geopolitics: Why Putin is visiting Modi in Delhi — BBC World -
• 'Like first aid for manuscripts': Recovery work begins at Gaza's war-damaged heritage sites — BBC World -
• How Israel’s Settlement Surge in the West Bank Is Displacing Palestinians — New York Times World -
• Novichok poisonings, Russia’s role and UK response: key questions of inquiry — The Guardian -
• Israel says Palestinian groups returned body of Thai hostage held in Gaza — BBC World -
• Ukraine and US negotiators to meet in Florida after Moscow talks, White House says — BBC World -
• Macron Urges Xi to Help End War in Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Stakes High, Europe Races to Save Its Financing Plan for Ukraine — New York Times World -
• China, Japan and a New Narrative About World War II — New York Times World -
• King Charles decries ‘Russian aggression’ in pledge on defending Europe — The Guardian -
• Trump Faces Choices on Russia-Ukraine Talks as Peace Deal Deadline Passes — New York Times World -

Spain's migrant policy, ICE raids in New Orleans, and the dire conditions for asylum seekers on Nauru highlight ongoing global migration challenges, compounded by Uganda stopping refugee status and human rights abuses in US detention centers.

• Spain Sees Itself as a Beacon for Immigrants. So Do Many Latin Americans. — New York Times World -
• Aid Workers Stand Trial for Helping to Smuggle People Into Greece — New York Times World -
• Student describes ‘horror show’ ICE deportation to Honduras at Thanksgiving — The Guardian -

• Hardline migration policies are fuelling people smuggling, report finds — The Guardian -
• Uganda stops granting refugee status for Eritreans, Somalis and Ethiopians — The Guardian -
• Detainees at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facing ‘harrowing human right violations’, new report alleges — The Guardian -
• Federal agents launch immigration crackdown in New Orleans — The Guardian -
• Sevenfold increase in serious incidents at UK immigration detention centre, report finds — The Guardian -
• Refugee homelessness in UK has more than doubled in two years, charity says — The Guardian -

Child poverty strategies, Nigel Farage's ongoing racism allegations, and a derailed nursery worker sex abuse case dominate headlines, alongside local election delays, an explosives arrest in Derby, and concerns over public services like water supply and the NHS.

• Families to be offered help to leave temporary accommodation under UK child poverty strategy — The Guardian -
• Farage turns on broadcasters over racism allegations as number of claims hits 28 — The Guardian -
• Parents say concerns were not acted on before London nursery worker’s arrest for abusing children — The Guardian -

• Major incident declared in Derby as two men held on suspicion of explosives offences — The Guardian -
• No 10 to delay four England mayoral elections amid accusations of ‘cancelling democracy’ — The Guardian -
• Man charged with offences linked to Manchester synagogue attacker — The Guardian -
• Spycops whistleblower says bosses stopped him revealing surveillance of Stephen Lawrence family — The Guardian -
• Regulators open inquiry into University of Greater Manchester amid fraud claims — The Guardian -
• NHS braces for ‘unprecedented flu wave’ as hospitalised cases in England rise — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage urged to sack Reform council leader accused of racism — The Guardian -
• Crypto investor gives £9m to Reform UK as donations exceed those to Tories — The Guardian -
• Peer suspended from House of Lords was allegedly paid $1m in ‘corrupt’ deal — The Guardian -
• Water plant that caused Tunbridge Wells supply failure was given risk notice in 2024 — The Guardian -
• Earthquake of 3.3 magnitude rattles Lancashire and Lake District — The Guardian -
• UK workers will get unfair dismissal rights after six months from 1 January 2027 — The Guardian -
• ‘Tough market conditions’ hit UK half-year retail sales at Frasers Group — The Guardian -
• Treasury launches inquiry into budget leaks with ‘full support’ of Rachel Reeves — The Guardian -
• Pornography company fined £1m by Ofcom for not having strong enough age checks — The Guardian -
• Households face higher energy bills as £28bn grid upgrade gets go-ahead — The Guardian -
• ‘People had forgotten about it’: onboard the 7am Manchester-London train service saved from axe — The Guardian -
• Leasehold ‘wild west’ under scrutiny as minister criticises FirstPort’s fees and failures — The Guardian -

Tasmania's bushfires and a severe NSW heatwave bring climate concerns to the fore, while a controversial social media ban for under-16s generates debate, alongside news of skydiver strikes, NDIS changes, and major infrastructure projects.

• Australia news live: properties lost as Tasmania’s Dolphin Sands bushfire continues to burn; ‘severe’ heatwave hits NSW — The Guardian -
• Skydivers go on strike in three Australian states and claim pay has plummeted — The Guardian -
• 'Taking away my purpose' - Influencers on Australia's social media ban — BBC World -

• Labor urged to target gas exporters and bring in east coast reserve ‘right now’ as it weighs scheme’s design — The Guardian -
• ‘Day by day I lose weight’: asylum seekers on Nauru get $115 a week, but a bag of grapes costs $20 — The Guardian -
• Tasmanian parliament finally approves $1.13bn Hobart stadium plan — The Guardian -
• Most NDIS participants will lose external avenue to appeal funding amounts under new system, Senate estimates told — The Guardian -
• Marles says Labor ‘working through’ Trump administration’s Aukus review – as it happened — The Guardian -
• ‘Giant Esky’: Australia’s first indoor snow resort planned for western Sydney gets Chinese backing — The Guardian -
• Sydney drivers stuck in busy tunnel for up to four hours amid fears of ‘shotcrete’ roof collapse — The Guardian -
• Man pleads not guilty over allegedly projecting pro-Palestine messages on Sydney Opera House forecourt — The Guardian -
• Meta starts kicking Australian children off Instagram and Facebook — BBC World -
• ‘Making mental health crisis worse’: Young Nationals warn regional children will be cut off from family by social media ban — The Guardian -
• Sydney author’s erotica novel references ‘sexual stuff’ with a child, police officer tells court — The Guardian -
• Heatwave warning for large parts of Australia as temperatures expected to reach low 40s — The Guardian -
• Pop, smut and Swift: what Spotify Wrapped 2025 reveals about Australian tastes — The Guardian -
• Social media ban: Instagram and Facebook begin shutting down under-16 accounts in Australia as ban looms — The Guardian -

The Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces intense scrutiny over leaked Yemen strike details and controversial "drug boat" operations in the Caribbean, prompting calls for video release and highlighting press reporting limits by the Pentagon.

• Experts urge release of boat strike video as US admiral denies ‘kill them all’ order — The Guardian -
• Suspect arrested in pipe bomb incident on eve of Jan 6, ending years-long manhunt — BBC World -
• Admiral testified Hegseth did not give 'kill them all' order, US lawmakers say — BBC World -

• Suspect arrested and named in case of pipe bombs planted on eve of January 6 — The Guardian -
• Hegseth broke rules in sharing Yemen strike details on Signal, report finds — The Guardian -
• New York Times sues Pentagon over Trump team’s limits on press reporting — The Guardian -
• Killing of survivors sparks outrage – but entire US ‘drug boat’ war is legally shaky — The Guardian -
• Trump officials say second strike aimed to destroy suspected drug boat instead of crew — The Guardian -
• Pentagon report concludes Hegseth put troops in danger with Signal chat — The Guardian -

Debates over infant hepatitis B vaccinations and an alarming flu wave in the NHS highlight health concerns, while a Nevada earthquake alert proves false, a student is jailed for animal rescue, and a suspect is arrested in a years-old pipe bomb incident.

• Alert sent for Nevada earthquake that did not happen — BBC World -
• US student who took four chickens after breaking into a farm sentenced to 90 days in jail — The Guardian -
• CDC advisers delay vote on restricting infant hepatitis B vaccinations in tense meeting — The Guardian -

• Preventing infections in older people is hit and miss, says England’s chief medic — The Guardian -
• ‘Never seen anything like this’: alarm at memo from top US vaccine official — The Guardian -
• RFK Jr’s vaccine advisory panel to weigh delaying hepatitis B shots to newborns — The Guardian -
• High levels of ‘forever chemical’ found in cereal products across Europe – study — The Guardian -
• Safety volunteer charged in fatal shooting of ‘No Kings’ protester in Utah — The Guardian -

Australia's social media ban for minors comes into effect, raising concerns for young users, while AI chatbots are found to sway political opinions despite inaccuracies, and Russia blocks apps like Snapchat and FaceTime.

• When Kids Adopt New Technologies, Hype Can Turn to Backlash — New York Times World -
• Russia blocks Snapchat and restricts Apple’s FaceTime, state officials say — The Guardian -
• ‘A little less cool’: Spotify’s listening age feature stirs delight and dismay — The Guardian -

• Chatbots can sway political opinions but are ‘substantially’ inaccurate, study finds — The Guardian -
• Irish authorities asked to investigate Microsoft over alleged unlawful data processing by IDF — The Guardian -
• South Korea developing app that shows real-time location of stalkers — BBC World -

Trump's potential derailment of the USMCA trade pact creates anxiety, a crypto fraud case sees a promoter accuse an Australian co-founder, and a UK construction slowdown hits retail sales, while Thailand cracks down on cyberscams.

• Iran to attend World Cup draw after reversing its planned boycott — The Guardian -
• US schools face big price swings for basics under Amazon’s ‘dynamic pricing’, report claims — The Guardian -
• HyperVerse promoter ‘Bitcoin Rodney’ accuses Australian Sam Lee in US court of duping him with ‘elaborate deception’ — The Guardian -

• Rachel Reeves will not be investigated over pre-budget briefing, FCA says — The Guardian -
• UK construction sector suffers sharpest slowdown since first Covid lockdown — The Guardian -
• Cambodia Shuts Down Group That Laundered Billions in Scam Profits — New York Times World -
• Fossil-fuel billionaires bought up millions of shares after meeting with top Trump officials — The Guardian -
• ‘Tough market conditions’ hit UK half-year retail sales at Frasers Group — The Guardian -
• Thailand seizes more than $300m in assets and issues 42 arrest warrants in cyberscam crackdown — The Guardian -
• Court sides with Adidas in appeal over Kanye West collaboration — BBC World -

Former EU diplomat Federica Mogherini resigns amid a corruption inquiry, a Kenyan diplomat faces sexual abuse accusations, and a critical minerals project in the DRC raises concerns about potential displacement.

• Federica Mogherini resigns from College of Europe amid corruption inquiry — The Guardian -
• Tanzanian activist blocked from Instagram after mobilising election protests — BBC World -
• US and EU critical minerals project could displace thousands in DRC – report — The Guardian -

• The Diplomat Who Was Accused of Sexual Abuse but Kept His Job — New York Times World -
• Taiwan’s Opposition Leader, Once for Independence, Turns Toward China — New York Times World -
• Former EU top diplomat Mogherini accused in fraud investigation — BBC World -
• Singapore court upholds guilty verdict for opposition leader Pritam Singh — BBC World -

The Vatican delays decision on women deacons, Ireland boycotts Eurovision over Israel's participation, an African artist tops a global power list, and a Fabergé Winter Egg sets an auction record.

• After Years of Debate, Vatican Says No to Women Deacons, at Least for Now — New York Times World -
• New York mayor issues order targeting Israel divestment weeks before Mamdani takes office — The Guardian -
• Ireland among countries boycotting Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete — BBC World -

• Dominik Duka, Czech Cardinal Jailed Under Communism, Dies at 82 — New York Times World -
• Four countries to boycott Eurovision 2026 as Israel cleared to compete — The Guardian -
• A Skating Rink Was Built Around a Luciano Pavarotti Statue. People Aren’t Thrilled. — New York Times World -
• Outcry in Italy over sex education bill to crack down on ‘gender ideology’ — The Guardian -
• Previously unseen images of Epstein's island released — BBC World -
• Snail Theft Hits France Before Holiday Rush — New York Times World -
• Ghana’s Ibrahim Mahama first African to top annual art power list — The Guardian -
• Revealed: Myanmar junta ‘crony’ given key role behind Fifa peace prize — The Guardian -
• Fabergé Winter Egg Sells for $30 Million, an Auction Record — New York Times World -

A deadly apartment fire in Hong Kong claims 159 lives, cyclone damage devastates Sri Lanka's infrastructure, and floodwaters in Indonesia turn logs into destructive projectiles.

• Ruined Rice Fields and Broken Rail Lines: Sri Lanka Counts Cost of Cyclone — New York Times World -
• Hong Kong warns ‘external forces’ working to exploit apartment fire, as death toll rises to 159 — The Guardian -
• Storm Floodwaters in Indonesia Turned Logs Into Floating Projectiles — New York Times World -