The nation is grappling with the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack, prompting an intelligence review and debate over gun reform, as memorials are held and suspects' movements investigated, while a diverse Christmas weather forecast adds a domestic note.

• Australia news live: NSW Coalition split on gun reform bill; Bowen announces national gas reservation policy — The Guardian -
• A memorial ends - but Bondi tragedy has left Australia reeling, again — BBC World -
• Australia Mourns Bondi Beach Shooting Victims — New York Times World -

• Minute's silence held to remember Bondi Beach attack victims — BBC World -
• Rabbi Yehoram Ulman tells vigil ‘Sydney can become a beacon of goodness’ – As it happened — The Guardian -
• ‘We are unbreakable’: defiance marks Bondi attack commemoration after PM is booed — The Guardian -
• Australian PM announces intelligence review as country mourns Bondi attack — BBC World -
• Sydney Shooting Suspects Met Muslim Leaders in Philippines, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• Long Before Bondi Massacre, Australian Jews Lived With a Sense of Peril — New York Times World -
• Albanese orders review of federal intelligence and policing processes in lead-up to Bondi beach attack — The Guardian -
• A Neighborhood in India Fears Being Blamed for a Distant Atrocity — New York Times World -
• Umbrellas or barbecues: Christmas weather forecast gifts mixed bag for Australians — The Guardian -
• ‘Where’s the Humanity?’ Bondi Attack Leaves Suspects’ Neighborhood Stunned. — New York Times World -

Newly restored photos featuring Trump from the Epstein files and survivors' skepticism over the disclosures underscore ongoing legal scrutiny, alongside concerns about the US healthcare system, Maga infighting, and a nursing student's ICE detention.

• Louisiana nursing student speaks out during her six-month ICE detention — The Guardian -
• US justice department restores photo featuring Trump from Epstein files — The Guardian -
• Gripes and infighting on display as Maga stars gather at Turning Point conference — The Guardian -

• Who and what are in the Epstein files? — BBC World -
• Latest Epstein images shine a light on access seemingly granted by ‘useful idiot’ Andrew — The Guardian -
• Officer who fatally shot Tamir Rice fired from West Virginia ranger position — The Guardian -
• Sister of Epstein victim reported him in 1996, but FBI failed to investigate, files reveal — The Guardian -
• The US healthcare system hurts poor Americans. It’s about to get worse — The Guardian -
• Survivors 'nervous and sceptical' about release of remaining Epstein files — BBC World -
• Survivors 'nervous and sceptical' about release of remaining Epstein files — BBC World -
• How Venezuela Went From U.S. Ally to Trump Target — New York Times World -

The US is pursuing Venezuelan oil tankers amidst sanctions, as Israel expands West Bank settlements and Russia criticizes Ukraine war peace efforts, while Sweden and Germany redirect aid to defense, and China cracks down on critics globally, with the UK facing EU tax exemption hurdles.

• US pursuing third oil tanker linked to Venezuela, official says — BBC World -
• In rebel-held Myanmar, civilians face devastating air strikes and a sham election — BBC World -
• U.S. Coast Guard Is Chasing an Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela — New York Times World -

• Kremlin renews criticism of Europe’s efforts to amend US plan to end Ukraine war — The Guardian -
• Israel approves 19 new Jewish settlements in occupied West Bank — The Guardian -
• US seizes second oil tanker off Venezuela's coast — BBC World -
• Israel approves 19 new settlements in occupied West Bank — BBC World -
• ‘Orwellian Climate of Fear’: How China Cracks Down on Critics in the U.S. — New York Times World -
• Streeting urges closer trading ties with Europe to grow UK economy — The Guardian -
• Sweden and Germany slash aid budgets to focus on Ukraine and defence spending — The Guardian -
• Alarm over ‘exploding’ rise in use of sanctions-busting shadow fleet — The Guardian -
• UK failure to seal EU tax exemption hands industry mountain of paperwork — The Guardian -
• Freed From a Belarus Prison, a Nobel Peace Laureate Experiences ‘Oxygen Intoxication’ — New York Times World -
• U.S. Coast Guard Boards Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil — New York Times World -
• Neither Russia nor France: One West African country walks a diplomatic tightrope — BBC World -

Record Channel crossings and the hospitalization of Palestine Action hunger strikers highlight migration and protest, while concerns over teen nicotine pouch use and Labour's child benefit fraud crackdown join discussions on social mobility and the evolving experience of British Jews.

• Two Palestine Action-linked hunger strikers taken to hospital — The Guardian -
• More than 800 people cross Channel in dinghies, breaking record for December — The Guardian -
• One in eight of 14- to 17-year-olds in Great Britain say they have used nicotine pouches — The Guardian -

• Starmer has no coherent social mobility plan, says top government adviser — The Guardian -
• UK asylum seekers not widely abusing modern slavery rules, report finds — The Guardian -
• Starmer will ‘absolutely’ still be prime minister by next Christmas, says Labour chair – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Labour admits 60% of parents wrongly targeted in HMRC child benefit fraud crackdown — The Guardian -
• ‘You’re barred!’: Labour’s battle with pubs promises a new year headache — The Guardian -
• Why British Jews are experiencing their biggest change in 60 years — BBC World -

Several mass shootings in South Africa have claimed lives, while 130 kidnapped schoolchildren were released in Nigeria, amid rising gun violence in Canada linked to US firearms and record executions in Saudi Arabia, alongside theft allegations at the Élysée Palace.

• Another 130 kidnapped schoolchildren released in Nigeria — The Guardian -
• 9 Killed in Mass Shooting at Tavern in South Africa — New York Times World -
• Gunmen kill nine in South Africa tavern attack — BBC World -

• Élysée Palace staff member accused of stealing tableware worth up to €40,000 — The Guardian -
• Rights groups condemn new record number of executions in Saudi Arabia — BBC World -
• Guns from the United States are Pouring into Canada, Fueling a Spike in Gun Violence — New York Times World -
• Nine People Killed in Mass Shooting at Tavern in South Africa — New York Times World -

Jimmy Kimmel's alternative Christmas message and actor James Ransone's death make headlines, as Kate Winslet recalls body shaming, Manchester Museum seeks African collection histories, and thousands gather at Stonehenge for the winter solstice.

• Jimmy Kimmel Will Deliver Britain’s ‘Alternative Christmas Message’ — New York Times World -
• Cancelled US comedian Jimmy Kimmel to deliver Christmas message to UK — The Guardian -
• James Ransone, US actor known for The Wire, dies aged 46 — The Guardian -

• The Sibling Bond — New York Times World -
• Manchester Museum seeks help to uncover hidden histories of African collection — The Guardian -
• Ira ‘Ike’ Schab, one of last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors, dies aged 105 — The Guardian -
• Kate Winslet tells of being body shamed and told to do ‘fat girl parts’ when young — The Guardian -
• ‘I feel special, in my heart’: thousands gather at Stonehenge for winter solstice — The Guardian -
• When Something Goes Wrong With Your Flight, These People Take Charge — New York Times World -
• Danish postal service to stop delivering letters after 400 years — The Guardian -
• How Israel's grassroots hostage families group became a powerful international force — BBC World -
• The Pompidou Center Has Been Emptied of Its Art. We Watched It Happen. — New York Times World -
• The Pompidou Center Has Been Emptied of Its Art. We Watched It Happen. — New York Times World -
• Comedian Bowen Yang announces Saturday Night Live exit — BBC World -
• Smaller teams expect Boxing Day bonanza thanks to lack of Premier League games — The Guardian -

A mass power outage in San Francisco disrupted traffic, while the Norfolk coast leads oyster restoration efforts, and UK supermarkets are sourcing European turkeys due to avian flu, as an express train tragically killed seven elephants in India.

• Mass power outages affect 130,000 in San Francisco and disrupt traffic — The Guardian -
• Sea change: the drive to restore millions of oysters on the Norfolk coast — The Guardian -
• UK supermarkets turn to European turkeys as avian flu hits supply — The Guardian -

• India express train kills seven elephants crossing tracks — BBC World -
• India express train kills seven elephants crossing tracks — BBC World -

Economists call for a halt to Sri Lanka's debt repayments after Cyclone Ditwah, Spain's ruling party faces a crunch regional poll amidst corruption claims, and China continues efforts to dismantle an underground church as Pakistan's former PM Imran Khan receives further jail terms.

• Top economists call for halt to Sri Lanka debt repayments after Cyclone Ditwah — The Guardian -
• Imran Khan and wife given further jail terms after state gift fraud case — BBC World -
• How China Tried to Dismantle a Major Underground Church — New York Times World -

• Spain’s ruling party faces crunch regional poll amid corruption and harassment claims — The Guardian -