Multiple missile and drone attacks on Kyiv underscore continued Russian aggression, with Ukrainian President Zelensky preparing for peace talks with Trump amidst the violence, while a ceasefire in the brutal Thailand-Cambodia border war brings a fragile hope, and US strikes against Islamic State in Nigeria spark controversy, as Israel becomes the first country to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state.

• Attack on Kyiv shows 'Russia doesn't want peace', Zelensky says — BBC World -
• Russia Pummels Kyiv Before Trump-Zelensky Meeting — New York Times World -
• Zelenskyy heads to Florida for talks with Trump amid fresh strikes on Kyiv — The Guardian -

• Thailand and Cambodia Reach Cease-Fire in Brutal Border War — New York Times World -
• US launches strikes against Islamic State in Nigeria — BBC World -
• Saudi-Led Group in Yemen Tells Separatists to Withdraw, or Be ‘Dealt With’ — New York Times World -
• Poland preparing €2bn anti-drone fortifications along its eastern border amid Russian threat — The Guardian -
• Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire begins after weeks of deadly clashes — BBC World -
• A Dancing Dictator and Bankers in Chains: The Other Venezuela Blockade — New York Times World -
• This Ukrainian Soldier Spent More Than a Year on the Front Line — New York Times World -
• Zelensky Will Meet With Trump Over the Weekend to Discuss Ukraine Peace Plan — New York Times World -
• 2 Killed in Vehicle Ramming and Stabbing in Israel, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• Zelensky plans to meet Trump on Sunday for talks on ending Russian war — BBC World -
• Thailand and Cambodia agree ‘immediate’ ceasefire after weeks of deadly border clashes — The Guardian -
• Israel becomes first country to recognise Somaliland as sovereign state — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Claims About Nigeria Strike Belie a Complex Situation on the Ground — New York Times World -
• Zelenskyy to travel to US for Trump meeting amid push for Ukraine deal — The Guardian -

President Trump's campaign for Venezuela is detailed, as he urges Republicans to abolish the Senate filibuster, the FBI prepares to vacate its historic J Edgar Hoover building, and the Kennedy Center faces backlash after a musician cancels a show due to Trump's association, with a Republican lawmaker responding to Trump's 'lowlife' taunt regarding Epstein files.

• How Oil, Drugs and Immigration Fueled Trump’s Venezuela Campaign — New York Times World -
• Trump urges Republicans to ditch filibuster rule in US Senate — The Guardian -
• FBI to move out of brutalist J Edgar Hoover building in Washington DC — The Guardian -

• Kennedy Center president demands $1m from musician who canceled Christmas Eve show — The Guardian -
• Epstein texts and yelling at Trump: US House’s year of censures — The Guardian -
• Republican behind Epstein files act responds to Trump ‘lowlife’ taunt — The Guardian -

Myanmar's military government holds elections widely seen as a sham amidst ongoing civil war and human suffering, with Guinea's junta leader also poised to win elections, while discussions emerge about Australia's social media ban for children under 16 and the dire struggle against extreme hunger in Gaza.

• In Myanmar, the Election Is Called Fake, but the Human Suffering Is Real — New York Times World -
• Worn Down by Worry, Parents Look Longingly at Australia’s Social Media Ban — New York Times World -
• One Gazan Girl’s Fight to Survive Extreme Hunger — New York Times World -

• What to Know About the Vote in Myanmar — New York Times World -
• Opposition anger as Guinea’s junta leader is frontrunner to be elected president — The Guardian -
• One general, one mathematician: The men competing for power in two African elections — BBC World -

The **Bayeux Tapestry is insured for £800m for its historic return to the British Museum, equal pay settlements for female council workers exceed £1bn, and the Ministry of Defence plans a gap-year scheme for young people, while UK retailers are investing more in physical stores and a royal visit to the US is anticipated**.

• Bayeux tapestry to be insured for £800m for British Museum exhibition — The Guardian -
• Equal pay settlements for female council workers pass £1bn — The Guardian -
• Child abuse victim of Jackanory presenter tells how climbing saved him — The Guardian -

• Glasgow hospital launches inquiry after wrong body cremated — The Guardian -
• Ministry of Defence to offer gap year–style scheme to young people — The Guardian -
• No longer ‘unloved’: retailers investing more in physical stores, UK data shows — The Guardian -
• Marmite-scented deodorant tops list of UK’s most unwanted Christmas presents — The Guardian -
• Trade unions leader calls on Labour to forge closer relationship with Europe — The Guardian -
• King Charles and Prince William expected to visit US in 2026 to revitalise trade deal — The Guardian -

Southern California begins a massive cleanup after its wettest Christmas season brought mudslides and flooding, while winter storms disrupt air travel in New York and New Jersey, and Australia braces for both bushfire threats and monsoonal rains, prompting concerns over EPA grant cuts for wildfire health research.

• Southern California cleans up after the wettest recent Christmas season — The Guardian -
• She Studied the Health Effects of Wildfires, Until the E.P.A. Cut Her Grant — New York Times World -
• Winter weather disrupts air traffic in New Jersey and New York — The Guardian -

• New York blanketed in snow, sparking travel chaos — BBC World -
• WA bushfire downgraded while Queensland and NT brace for monsoonal rain and flooding — The Guardian -
• Mudslides bury cars and homes up to their windows in California town — The Guardian -

A double fatal stabbing in Sydney leads to an arrest, Italian authorities arrest nine individuals for allegedly raising millions for Hamas, while four hikers are found dead after an avalanche in Greece, a 50-vehicle pile-up on a Japanese highway results in two fatalities, and an investigation into a deadly Hong Kong inferno points to corrupt practices.

• Man arrested after woman and man die in alleged double fatal stabbing in Sydney — The Guardian -
• Nine arrested in Italy for allegedly raising millions for Hamas — BBC World -
• Four hikers found dead after avalanche in central Greece — BBC World -

• Two dead in 50-vehicle pile up on Japan highway — BBC World -
• What Went Wrong Before Hong Kong’s Inferno — New York Times World -

A California woman successfully delivers a healthy baby after an "unheard of" ectopic pregnancy, Las Vegas police acquire a fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks, a 14-mile tidal power station is proposed off the Somerset coast, and the debate continues over the rise of AI influencers on social media, alongside a Canadian art exhibition on winter and a physicist's world tour for science communication.

• California woman delivers healthy baby after ‘essentially unheard of’ ectopic pregnancy — The Guardian -
• How Las Vegas police ended up with a fleet of free Tesla Cybertrucks — The Guardian -
• Good Calls — New York Times World -

• London Eye architect proposes 14-mile tidal power station off Somerset coast — The Guardian -
• A Sweeping Look at One Thing That Unites Canada: Winter — New York Times World -
• Watch: Meteor lights up sky over Japan's Mount Fuji — BBC World -
• Before This Physicist Studied the Stars, He Was One — New York Times World -
• Both of these influencers are successful - but only one is human — BBC World -