President Trump's administration faces a park pass lawsuit, proposes scrutinizing foreign tourists' social media, and implements new visa schemes and deportation plane deals, while a Nobel Peace Prize sparks controversy and interest rates are cut amid an affordability crisis and National Guard deployments are blocked, as European leaders express concerns over shifting US policy and Epstein grand jury records are released.

• Lawsuit Challenges Park Service Passes Featuring Trump — New York Times World -
• US could ask foreign tourists for five-year social media history before entry — BBC World -
• Watch: Video shows US military seizing oil tanker off Venezuela coast — BBC World -

• U.S. Plans to Scrutinize 5 Years of Social Media History for Foreign Tourists — New York Times World -
• A Controversial Nobel Peace Prize — New York Times World -
• Trump launches $1m ‘gold card’ visa scheme amid immigration crackdown — The Guardian -
• How Andrew Tate, Manosphere Star Accused of Rape and Trafficking, Was Freed — New York Times World -
• US signs nearly $140m deal to purchase six Boeing 737s for use in deportations — The Guardian -
• Trump continues to sow chaos and division after winning Fifa peace prize — The Guardian -
• Fed cuts interest rates by a quarter point amid apparent split over US economy — The Guardian -
• Inside the Pentagon’s Scramble to Deal With Boat Strike Survivors — New York Times World -
• Tourists to US would have to reveal five years of social media activity under new Trump plan — The Guardian -
• Judge blocks Trump administration’s deployment of national guard troops in Los Angeles — The Guardian -
• Danish Intelligence Report Raises Concerns About Shifts in US Policy Under Trump — New York Times World -
• Judge rules Epstein grand jury records from 2019 case can be released — BBC World -
• US judge blocks Trump's National Guard deployment in Los Angeles — BBC World -
• Musk calls Doge only ‘somewhat successful’ and says he would not do it again — The Guardian -
• Miami’s new Democratic mayor signals not just a backlash to Trump, but a seismic shift — The Guardian -
• US sanctions network it says recruits Colombian fighters for Sudan civil war — BBC World -
• Trump has confirmed Europeans’ worst fears. Are their leaders ready to stand up to him now? — The Guardian -
• Michigan Democrat moves to impeach RFK Jr, alleging ‘abuse of authority’ — The Guardian -
• AfD responds to Trump ‘erasure’ claims with call for nationalist revival in Europe — The Guardian -
• Trump vows to make US affordable again, as Americans feel the pinch — BBC World -
• US health officials re-examine RSV shots despite documented safety and efficacy — The Guardian -
• Wrong voters, wrong message: progressives’ autopsy lays bare Kamala Harris failures — The Guardian -
• Trump and Europe’s Far Right — New York Times World -
• Trump rails on affordability ‘hoax’ and immigrants in rally-style speech — The Guardian -
• Fact check: debunking Trump’s claims on immigration and affordability in Pennsylvania — The Guardian -
• Trump speech on affordability ramps up bigotry and false statements – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Two US fighter jets circle Gulf of Venezuela in escalation of hostilities — The Guardian -
• Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to U.S., to Leave Post — New York Times World -

Renewed fighting in Congo and between Thailand and Cambodia tests Trump-brokered ceasefires, as Ukraine prepares for potential elections amid territorial disputes and a British soldier is killed, while Bolivia's former president is detained, Benin thwarts a coup, Syrians face repatriation uncertainty, South Korea protests airspace violations, and Venezuela sees US fighter jets, and a Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuela's opposition leader draws criticism.

• M23 Rebels Seize Uvira in Eastern Congo — New York Times World -
• Why Thailand and Cambodia are fighting again after Trump ceasefire — BBC World -
• Another Front in the War in Ukraine: Who Gets to Claim a Famed Artist? — New York Times World -

• Former Bolivian president Luis Arce reportedly detained by police — The Guardian -
• Intensive work continuing on Ukraine plan, European leaders say after Trump call — BBC World -
• ISIS Detention Camps Pose a Dangerous Problem for Syria’s Leaders — New York Times World -
• The Challenges to Europe’s Security Go Beyond Trump’s Lack of Support — New York Times World -
• Ukraine war: Trump criticises European leaders on eve of crunch coalition meeting — The Guardian -
• Starmer, Merz and Macron take phone call with Trump on Ukraine peace talks – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Sarkozy releases prison diaries about his 20 days behind bars — BBC World -
• Venezuelan Nobel peace prize winner misses ceremony but vows to continue struggle — The Guardian -
• ‘He served with honour’: Starmer pays tribute to British soldier killed in Ukraine — The Guardian -
• Nobel Peace Prize winner's daughter accepts award on her behalf — BBC World -
• Benin coup plot leader hiding in Togo, official tells BBC — BBC World -
• Rebels reportedly enter key DR Congo city despite Trump peace deal — BBC World -
• ‘It’s a breach of trust’: fear and frustration over countries’ push to return Syrians home — The Guardian -
• Ukraine 'ready for elections' if partners guarantee security, Zelensky says — BBC World -
• ‘The bullying can’t go on’: the film-maker following Filipino fishers under siege by China — The Guardian -
• Burkina Faso releases 11 Nigerian troops after ‘unauthorised’ plane landing — The Guardian -
• Santa at war: ‘home’ town in Finland hosts Nato soldiers as Russian threat looms — The Guardian -
• Zelenskyy ‘ready for elections’ after Trump questions Ukrainian democracy | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Chaos in Brazil Congress during push to cut Bolsonaro's sentence — BBC World -
• The Territorial Sticking Point Between Russia and Ukraine — New York Times World -
• South Korea protests Chinese and Russian warplanes in its airspace — BBC World -
• Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuela’s María Corina Machado Draws Criticism — New York Times World -
• US tells Thailand and Cambodia to stop fighting as clashes continue — BBC World -
• Chip Company Plotted to Send Technology to China, Ex-C.E.O. Says — New York Times World -
• Trump says he will make a call to end hostilities as Thailand and Cambodia ‘at it again’ — The Guardian -
• Seattle’s Plans for a Pride Match at World Cup Infuriates Iran and Egypt — New York Times World -
• Ukraine Could Be ‘Ready for Elections,’ Zelensky Says — New York Times World -
• How long Britain could really fight for if war broke out tomorrow — BBC World -

Government spending on failed free schools and efforts to **end B&B emergency housing draw scrutiny, as Labour proposes limiting ECHR powers and doctors consider a new pay offer to avert strikes, while political peerages are announced and concerns over childbirth care, assisted dying rules, and police conduct are raised, with the gambling industry facing tax rises and press regulation debated**.

• Tory governments spent £325m on free schools that failed or disappeared — The Guardian -
• Homelessness minister promises to end use of B&Bs as emergency housing — The Guardian -
• Will Labour’s move to limit ECHR deter the far right or alienate progressive voters? — The Guardian -

• Wes Streeting improves offer to resident doctors in England in attempt to stop strikes — The Guardian -
• Keir’s performance in PMQs panto sets bar low enough for Kemi to stay as Tory leader — The Guardian -
• Pensioner ‘fined £250 for spitting’ after leaf blew into his mouth — The Guardian -
• Sussex group begins legal challenge over plan to house asylum seekers on military site — The Guardian -
• No 10 publishes list of 34 new political peerages including 25 Labour, five Liberal Democrats and three Conservatives – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer appoints 25 Labour peers to strengthen support in House of Lords — The Guardian -
• One in five women in England say their concerns were ignored during childbirth, survey finds — The Guardian -
• Scotland’s looser rules on assisted dying could lead to ‘death tourism’, say senior politicians — The Guardian -
• MPs to recall West Midlands police chief over evidence error on Maccabi fans ban — The Guardian -
• Should people wear a mask in public if they feel unwell with flu? — The Guardian -
• Half of people recently arrested by Met police may have undiagnosed ADHD, study finds — The Guardian -
• Reeves criticises budget leaks and says income tax decision taken ‘in partnership’ with PM — The Guardian -
• Badenoch criticises Farage over refusal to apologise for alleged racist remarks — The Guardian -
• William Hill owner Evoke considers sale or breakup after budget tax rises — The Guardian -
• Gerry McCann calls for stronger press regulation as he recalls ‘monstering’ — The Guardian -
• UK porn traffic down since beginning of age checks but VPN use up, says Ofcom — The Guardian -
• UK police forces lobbied to use biased facial recognition technology — The Guardian -
• Asylum overhaul in UK could lead to rise in homelessness and backlogs, says report — The Guardian -
• Christmas code-crackers: GCHQ reveals annual festive card for puzzle fans — The Guardian -

Italian cooking receives UNESCO heritage status, and Australia implements a sweeping social media ban for minors, sparking global interest and mixed reactions, while concerns are raised over a sperm donor with a cancer gene and reindeer welfare at Christmas markets, with Met Gala co-chairs announced, Sundance Film Festival lineups revealed, and Indigenous deaths in custody reaching high levels.

• Montana youth activists who won landmark climate case push for court enforcement — The Guardian -
• ‘Portrays the people of Melbourne as ZOMBIES’: Australia’s most complained about ads for 2025 revealed — The Guardian -
• With Cheap Tickets and Lax Etiquette, a Theater Builds an Older Fan Base — New York Times World -

• Toffee Crisp and Blue Riband no longer called ‘chocolate’ after recipe change — The Guardian -
• UNESCO Recognizes Italian Cooking, Kohl Makeup and Icelandic Pools — New York Times World -
• Italian cooking awarded Unesco cultural heritage status — BBC World -
• Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision — BBC World -
• As Victorian students awake to check their Atars, Ethan becomes first in his family to get a year 12 certificate — The Guardian -
• Beyoncé, Venus Williams and Nicole Kidman to join Anna Wintour as Met Gala co-chairs — The Guardian -
• Charli xcx, Natalie Portman and Salman Rushdie lead 2026 Sundance lineup — The Guardian -
• Rudolph at the Christmas market: cute festive attraction or damaging reindeer’s health? — The Guardian -
• Meghan accuses Daily Mail of ethics breach over reporting from father’s bedside — The Guardian -
• EU proposes loosening rules on AI gigafactories in green rollback — The Guardian -
• Australia’s senior politicians can claim ‘unlimited’ travel expenses for their spouse, watchdog rules say — The Guardian -
• At least 22 killed in building collapse in Morocco — BBC World -
• Ex-president's daughter sworn in as South African MP after half-sister quits — BBC World -
• Consumer test drive: can AI do your Christmas gift shopping for you? — The Guardian -
• Italy first country to win Unesco recognition for national cuisine — The Guardian -
• ‘We are truly doomed’: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard despair at AI clone appearing on Spotify — The Guardian -
• ‘Deaths, after deaths, after deaths’: Indigenous deaths in custody reach their highest level since 1980 — The Guardian -
• ‘Grand social experiment’: Australia’s social media ban turns heads globally, with mixed results — The Guardian -
• Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children Takes Effect — New York Times World -
• Online safety regulator says teens ‘will lose interest pretty quickly’ in social media – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Hundreds of sharks filmed in bait fish feeding frenzy near Byron Bay — The Guardian -
• 'It's insulting they think we can't handle it': The Australian teens banned from social media — BBC World -
• Hospital exhausted blood supply trying to save wellness influencer’s life after free birth, Victorian coroner hears — The Guardian -
• Sperm from donor with cancer-causing gene was used to conceive almost 200 children — BBC World -
• Kids locked out of social media apps after Australia's world-first ban — BBC World -
• Watch Australian teens test out social media on first day of ban — BBC World -
• Japan releases playwright Jeremy O Harris three weeks after arrest for alleged drug smuggling — The Guardian -
• Iain Douglas-Hamilton, pioneering elephant conservationist, dies aged 83 — BBC World -
• Man who grabbed Ariana Grande kicked out of Lady Gaga concert — BBC World -
• For Real, a Natural History of Misinformation — New York Times World -
• Two teenagers went to seek gold. They were buried alive in a mine collapse — BBC World -
• Indian couple trolled over skin colour after wedding video goes viral — BBC World -
• Powerful storms dump heavy rain and swell rivers across US Pacific north-west — The Guardian -
• A vision splendid or eyesore? South Australian court to rule on ‘Blue Blob’ sculpture vandalism charge — The Guardian -
• Australian employers cut back on diversity and inclusion programs amid US ‘anti-woke’ backlash — The Guardian -

The Louvre heist investigation reveals security failures, a man is convicted of a fatal arson attack, a spycops inquiry details officer deception, and an Oklahoma liquor store is robbed with an 'old timey musket', while a student is killed in a university shooting, and an opera singer's son is arrested for murder, with an execution carried out in Florida.

• Louvre Heist Was Caught on Film, Officials Say, Rebutting Earlier Account — New York Times World -
• Man guilty of murdering woman and three children in Bradford arson attack — The Guardian -
• Police officer in spycops scandal deceived two women at same time, inquiry told — The Guardian -

• Louvre thieves evaded police with 30 seconds to spare, investigation finds — The Guardian -
• Oklahoma man allegedly holds up liquor store with ‘old timey musket’ — The Guardian -
• Student killed in second shooting at Kentucky State University in four months — The Guardian -
• Jubilant Sykes’ son arrested after Grammy-nominated opera singer stabbed to death — The Guardian -
• Man convicted of killing woman during home invasion executed in Florida — The Guardian -