The Trump administration faces controversy over visa bans for European tech regulators, accusations of resource imperialism regarding Venezuelan oil, and questions about presidential conduct highlighted by a review of unusual behavior and new Epstein files, alongside the domestic deployment of National Guard troops to New Orleans.

• ‘Undermines free speech’: Labour MP hits back at US government over visa-related sanctions — The Guardian -
• UK social media campaigners among five denied US visas — BBC World -
• Trump’s claims to Venezuelan oil are part of broader ‘resource imperialism’, experts say — The Guardian -

• Government says it is ‘fully committed to free speech’ after campaigners’ US visa ban – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Trump approves deployment of 350 national guard members to New Orleans — The Guardian -
• Is Trump mentally OK? A look back at the president’s unusual behavior in 2025 — The Guardian -
• Visa ban for European critics of online harm is first shot in US free speech war — The Guardian -
• Macron and EU condemn US visa bans as row over ‘censorship’ escalates — The Guardian -
• Venezuela accuses US of 'extortion' over seizure of oil tankers — BBC World -
• Trump trips, a fake video and 10 possible co-conspirators: Takeaways from new Epstein files — BBC World -
• Trump trips, a fake video and 10 possible co-conspirators: Takeaways from new Epstein files — BBC World -
• Former EU commissioner and activists barred from US in attack on European tech regulators — The Guardian -
• Have the American Pope and the American administration fallen out? — BBC World -

Efforts to achieve a peace deal in Ukraine include Zelensky's openness to demilitarized zones, while Russia grapples with internal security incidents like deadly Moscow explosions and the murky death of a militia leader, and the economic impact of sanctions remains visible.

• The Strange Case of the Russian Snickers in U.K. Convenience Shops — New York Times World -
• Zelensky Open to Pulling Back Troops in Eastern Ukraine to Reach Peace Deal With Russia — New York Times World -
• US and Ukraine edge closer to joint plan to end war – with Moscow’s response uncertain — The Guardian -

• Here’s What Is in the 20-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Zelensky moves towards demilitarised zones in latest peace plan for Ukraine — BBC World -
• Blast Kills Three in Moscow Near Site of General’s Car Bombing — New York Times World -
• Border villagers abducted and taken to Russia, says Ukraine — BBC World -
• Two police officers killed in explosion in Moscow — BBC World -
• Three killed in Moscow car explosion, say Russian authorities — The Guardian -
• ‘Warning to others’: murky death of militia leader as Kremlin reasserts control — The Guardian -

Australia is implementing new gun and protest laws following the Bondi terror attack, responding to a surge in Islamophobic hate and deporting a man for displaying Nazi symbols, while also recognizing acts of bravery during the incident.

• Perth man charged with racial harassment for alleged post backing Bondi attack — The Guardian -
• Australian State Passes ‘Extraordinary’ Gun and Protest Laws After Bondi Attack — New York Times World -
• NSW laws take effect – as it happened — The Guardian -

• NSW premier says police commissioner to decide when to use state’s new protest ban powers — The Guardian -
• Retribution fears as Australian Muslims see surge in Islamophobic hate since Bondi terror attack — The Guardian -
• British man’s Australian visa cancelled after being charged with displaying Nazi symbols — The Guardian -
• Australia announces special honours list to recognise acts of bravery during the Bondi attack — The Guardian -
• Australia to deport British man charged with displaying Nazi symbols — BBC World -

The UK grapples with healthcare challenges like delays for MND patients and high costs for a maternity inquiry, political shifts including Welsh Labour's future and a U-turn on farmer inheritance tax, significant Christmas Eve travel disruption, and business developments such as BP selling Castrol.

• Family pays tribute to daughter, 13, as Greater Manchester police investigate death — The Guardian -
• White Christmas ‘unlikely’ but health alert issued amid falling UK temperatures — The Guardian -
• Welsh first minister vows to keep Labour ‘most successful democratic party on the planet’ — The Guardian -

• BP to sell majority stake in $10bn Castrol business to US investment firm — The Guardian -
• Midwife leading Nottingham maternity inquiry charging NHS up to £26,000 a month — The Guardian -
• Manchester Arena plotter’s alleged prison attack sparks call for US-style rewards system — The Guardian -
• U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers ‘snuck out’ to avoid scrutiny, say Tories — The Guardian -
• Millions hit UK roads, railways and airports for Christmas Eve getaway — The Guardian -
• Motor neurone disease patients in England die waiting for home adaptations, campaigners say — The Guardian -
• ‘A gamechanger’: 200,000 UK small businesses sign up to TikTok Shop — The Guardian -
• Train firms warned over ‘best price’ claims after watchdog bans ads — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer encourages Britons to ‘reach out’ to others this Christmas — The Guardian -

Middle East tensions remain high with Israeli strikes in Lebanon and ongoing Gaza fatalities despite a truce, Algeria declares French colonization a crime, while Thailand and Cambodia engage in talks to end deadly clashes, and China's shifting nuclear posture raises global security concerns.

• Israel strikes southern Lebanon as deadline to disarm Hezbollah nears — The Guardian -
• Algeria passes law declaring French colonisation a crime — The Guardian -
• The Truce Is 2 Months Old. So Why Have Hundreds of Gazans Been Killed? — New York Times World -

• Thailand and Cambodia begin talks to end deadly clashes after venue row — The Guardian -
• The Deposed Assad Henchmen Plotting to Retake Syria — New York Times World -
• Libya's army chief killed in air crash in Turkey — BBC World -
• China Is Shifting Its Nuclear Forces to Swifter Footing, Pentagon Says — New York Times World -
• A Vintage Kabul Cinema Finally Falls to Taliban Bulldozers — New York Times World -
• Thailand, Attacking Cambodia, Says Its Target Is the Scam Industry — New York Times World -
• Rare footage from trial of Chinese general who defied Tiananmen crackdown order leaked online — The Guardian -

Environmental policy sees Republicans aiming to exempt major polluters from PFAS cleanup costs, new studies highlight toxic chemicals in furniture, and immigration issues are scrutinized after a man died in ICE custody, alongside other crime news like nursing home explosions and a TikToker's fatal crash.

• Republicans aim to exempt major polluters from Pfas cleanup costs — The Guardian -
• Throwing out flame-retardant furniture can reduce toxic chemicals in blood, study finds — The Guardian -
• Woman deported before she could see dying husband in ICE custody: ‘I never saw him again’ — The Guardian -

• Rob and Michele Reiner died minutes after attack, says death certificate, as children announce memorial — The Guardian -
• Two dead after Pennsylvania nursing home explosions — BBC World -
• American woman accused of killing her two children extradited to US from UK — The Guardian -
• At least two people dead in Philadelphia nursing home explosion — The Guardian -
• TikToker who allegedly hit and killed man while livestreaming is arrested — The Guardian -
• TikToker who allegedly hit and killed man while livestreaming is arrested — The Guardian -

The Australian tourism sector sees a major acquisition with Hamilton Island's sale to a US firm, the Murdoch media dynasty faces shifts and rumors, and the growing influence of AI on social interactions is explored with the phenomenon of dating ChatGPT.

• Dating ChatGPT — New York Times World -
• Great Barrier Reef’s Hamilton Island to be bought by US private equity firm in reported $1.2bn sale — The Guardian -
• Rivalries and rumours: How the new order of the Murdoch dynasty is playing out — BBC World -

Brazil's former president Bolsonaro is granted prison leave for surgery, South Africa investigates police corruption involving an alleged drug cartel, while Europe experiences an Italian motorway explosion and a British boy's stabbing in Portugal, alongside a lighthearted report about Santa pulled over for speeding in Ohio.

• Ho Ho No! Santa pulled over for speeding in Ohio — BBC World -
• Watch: Huge fireball as tanker explodes on Italian motorway — BBC World -
• British boy stabbed to death in Portugal allegedly by ex-partner of his mother — The Guardian -

• Brazil's Supreme Court allows Bolsonaro to leave prison for surgery — BBC World -
• An alleged drug cartel and a murdered witness: South Africa's police corruption probe — BBC World -