Australia's national security is paramount after the Bondi Beach terror attack, prompting new gun buyback schemes, calls for hate speech laws, and community-wide memorials; meanwhile, authorities have identified suspects and continue investigations into possible violent acts.

• What We Know About the Suspects in the Bondi Beach Shooting — New York Times World -
• ISIS and the Bondi Beach Attack — New York Times World -
• Australia Debates New Laws to Restrict Hate and Suspend Protests — New York Times World -

• Anthony Albanese attends Sydney synagogue to honour memory of Bondi attack victims — The Guardian -
• Alleged Bondi beach gunman visited firearms shop during Philippines visit, local police say — The Guardian -
• Australia Announces Plan to Buy Back Guns in Wake of Bondi Attack — New York Times World -
• New hate speech laws cracking down on ‘dehumanising’ rhetoric will go to constitutional limit, Tony Burke says — The Guardian -
• NSW to effectively ban protests for up to three months as premier links Gaza rallies to Bondi terror attack — The Guardian -
• NSW police warn ‘unauthorised gatherings’ this weekend will be met with a ‘significant’ policing response – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Bondi paddle-out sends waves of ‘love and peace’ to honour shooting victims — The Guardian -
• Seven men arrested in Sydney over alleged fear of ‘violent act being planned’ released without charge — The Guardian -
• Bondi bravery: Lifeguards, a 'superhero' mum and a couple who died fighting — BBC World -
• Before the Massacre, Bondi Suspects Spent Weeks at a Philippine Hotel — New York Times World -
• ‘You felt their presence’: Boris and Sofia Gurman, couple who attempted to stop Bondi shooters, farewelled at emotional funeral — The Guardian -
• Surfers and swimmers pay tribute to victims of Bondi shooting — BBC World -
• Australia Mourns the Youngest Victim of the Bondi Beach Shooting — New York Times World -
• Australia announces gun buyback scheme in wake of Bondi attack — BBC World -
• Australia announces gun buyback scheme in wake of Bondi attack — BBC World -
• Australia launches biggest gun buyback in 30 years after Bondi beach terror attack — The Guardian -

The **European Union has pledged a significant €90bn loan to Ukraine, enabling its continued war effort against Russia, while President Zelenskyy welcomed the support despite a lack of agreement on using frozen Russian assets, and Ukraine conducted a drone attack** on a Russian tanker.

• Zelenskyy and Polish PM hail EU’s €90bn loan: ‘Scariest thing for Russians is when we’re together’ – live — The Guardian -
• Europe Funnels Billions to Ukraine but Wobbles Geopolitically — New York Times World -
• Europe to Lend $105 Billion to Ukraine, Without Touching Russian Funds — New York Times World -

• Ukraine attacks Russian ‘shadow’ tanker off Libyan coast — The Guardian -
• Putin, Boasting of Frontline Wins, Says Russia’s Goals in Ukraine Are Unchanged — New York Times World -
• EU agrees €90bn loan for Ukraine but without using Russian assets — BBC World -
• Zelensky Appeals to E.U. Leaders for Frozen Russian Funds to Fight War — New York Times World -
• With New E.U. Loan, Ukraine Avoids Budget Crunch and Can Plan War Effort — New York Times World -
• Ukraine deal: EU leaders agree €90bn loan, but without use of frozen Russian assets — The Guardian -
• Stigma of Ukraine's forgotten soldiers who 'died the wrong way' — BBC World -

The release of Jeffrey Epstein's files is a major legal event, while the Trump administration's policies include weakening formaldehyde protections, repealing Syria sanctions, and signing a record defense bill, and the Brown University shooting led to the suspension of the green card lottery program.

• What’s in the Jeffrey Epstein files? – The Latest — The Guardian -
• Justice department will release ‘several hundred thousand’ Epstein files today, says deputy attorney general – live — The Guardian -
• Tipster hailed for helping authorities identify suspect in Brown shooting — The Guardian -

• Epstein files to be released after months of delays from Trump officials — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Brown University shooting suspect died from self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials say — The Guardian -
• Trump Signs Law Repealing Tough Sanctions on Syria — New York Times World -
• Revealed: FBI opened domestic terrorism investigations into anti-ICE activity across US — The Guardian -
• US suspends green card lottery scheme after Brown shooting — BBC World -
• Why did Donald Trump Jr turn up in a tiny British enclave looking for money? — The Guardian -
• Brown University shooting suspect died from self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials say — The Guardian -
• Trump signs $1tn annual US defense bill without fanfare — The Guardian -

The UK economy faces challenges with unexpected falls in retail sales and higher government borrowing, while the Foreign Office has been a victim of a cyber-attack, and concerns are raised over media scrutiny of No 10 and the potential delays to local elections.

• ‘Radiator rattling’ earthquake hits Lancashire village for second time in two weeks — The Guardian -
• Former Yodel owner probably forged mother’s signature in takeover bid, judge rules — The Guardian -
• UK politics: ‘Not clear’ who was behind FCDO hack, says minister, amid reports of China link – as it happened — The Guardian -

• Woman and secret lover who plotted to kill her husband in Wales jailed — The Guardian -
• UK Foreign Office victim of cyber-attack in October, says Chris Bryant — The Guardian -
• Society of Editors decries Starmer’s plan to reduce media scrutiny of No 10 — The Guardian -
• WH Smith tries to recover bonuses from ex-bosses as watchdog investigates accounting error — The Guardian -
• Rail accident investigators issue warning over sensors on landslide monitors — The Guardian -
• UK contactless card limit of £100 to be scrapped from 19 March — The Guardian -
• Retail sales unexpectedly fall in Great Britain in run-up to Christmas — The Guardian -
• UK borrowed more than expected in November amid pre-budget pressure — The Guardian -
• Lib Dems call for inquiry into hostile foreign state interference to include US — The Guardian -
• UK’s roads and airports brace for busiest Christmas getaway on record — The Guardian -
• UK’s largest proposed datacentre ‘understating planned water use’ — The Guardian -
• Britain Is Preparing for Attacks on Its Soil. Critics Say It Must Move Faster. — New York Times World -
• Thrillers should be on UK school curriculum to boost reading, says Lee Child — The Guardian -
• Local elections face further delays as councils struggle to reorganise in time — The Guardian -

Colombia faces a deadly rebel drone attack, Mexico intensifies its fight against cartels, Germany enhances Christmas market security against ramming attacks, and serious human rights concerns persist with an Iranian boxing champion at risk of execution and allegations of UK-registered firms recruiting mercenaries in Sudan.

• Six Colombian troops killed in rebel drone attack on base near Venezuela — The Guardian -
• The Com: the growing cybercrime network behind recent Pornhub hack — The Guardian -
• Mexico’s Security Chief on His Fight Against the Cartels — New York Times World -

• Germany’s Christmas Markets Are Now Ringed With Security Barriers — New York Times World -
• Can This Man Finally Defeat Mexico’s Cartels? — New York Times World -
• Iranian boxing champion at imminent risk of execution as retrial request rejected — The Guardian -
• Colombian mercenaries in Sudan ‘recruited by UK-registered firms’ — The Guardian -

Controversial bans on puberty blockers for gender dysphoria are continuing in Australia, Gaza's food situation shows improvement though major difficulties remain, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit likely needs a lung transplant, and debates emerge over public health coverage for hair loss in South Korea and the politicization of public servants in Uganda.

• Norway's crown princess likely needs lung transplant, palace says — BBC World -
• UN-backed experts say Gaza food supplies improving but 100,000 still in 'catastrophic conditions' — BBC World -
• Gaza City Famine Averted, Global Experts Say, but Palestinians Face Major Difficulties Accessing Food — New York Times World -

• Uganda prison officer sacked for 'politicking' on TikTok — BBC World -
• ‘Some will take their own lives’: Puberty blocker bans in Queensland and NZ risk extreme harm to trans youth, UK expert warns — The Guardian -
• ‘Matter of survival’: South Korean president urges public health cover for hair loss — The Guardian -
• Gaza PhD student and family evacuated to UK after Foreign Office U-turn — The Guardian -
• Parents in India devastated as children with thalassemia test HIV positive — BBC World -
• Queensland ban on puberty blockers for gender dysphoria to continue until at least 2031, LNP announces — The Guardian -

The global economy faces deeper uncertainty amid trade reordering and transformational changes, TikTok has reached a Trump-backed deal to avoid a US ban, and diplomatic tensions arise as the US threatens South Africa over a refugee center raid, with Germany navigating its role while betting on America.

• South Africa defiant after US threatens 'consequences' over refugee centre raid — BBC World -
• TikTok signs Trump-backed deal to avoid US ban — The Guardian -
• What does TikTok's deal mean for America's users? — BBC World -

• The German Chancellor Betting on America — New York Times World -
• TikTok owner signs deal to avoid US ban — BBC World -
• ‘A Singularly Turbulent Time’: Deeper Uncertainty in Store for Global Economy — New York Times World -
• At Tokyo Zoo, Visitors Worry Pandas Could Be China’s Next Target — New York Times World -

Extreme weather events include early snowfall in New York and a heatwave in Australia affecting Christmas forecasts, while a significant conservation effort has led to 133,000 hectares of Chilean Patagonia being preserved.

• BoM reveals Christmas Day weather forecast as nation sweats through extreme heatwave — The Guardian -
• Weather tracker: Early snowfall in New York and a storm ruins Christmas lights in Spain — The Guardian -
• ‘I can’t think of a place more pristine’: 133,000 hectares of Chilean Patagonia preserved after local fundraising — The Guardian -

Violent riots have erupted in Bangladesh following the killing of a student leader, Australia has abandoned a proposal to use copyrighted material for AI training after backlash, and Swedish actor May Britt has passed away at 91.

• Riots Erupt in Bangladesh After the Killing of a Student Leader — New York Times World -
• Bangladesh newspaper staff recall 'gasping for air' as offices set ablaze — BBC World -
• Proposal to allow use of Australian copyrighted material to train AI abandoned after backlash — The Guardian -

• May Britt, Swedish actor and former wife of Sammy Davis Jr, dies aged 91 — The Guardian -