The Trump administration's policies continue to generate headlines, with federal childcare funding frozen in Minnesota and ICE launching a 'wartime recruitment' drive, while special counsel Jack Smith defends his prosecution of Trump and the president steps back from National Guard deployments in several cities; globally, the US detains American citizens in Venezuela amidst growing pressure and Mali and Burkina Faso impose retaliatory travel bans on US citizens, reflecting a complex and often contentious policy landscape.

• Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states — The Guardian -
• Jack Smith told House committee he had ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’ in cases against Trump — The Guardian -
• Trump backs away from deploying national guard in Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland — The Guardian -

• ICE plans $100m yearlong ‘wartime recruitment’ media blitz to attract new agents — The Guardian -
• Venezuela Detains U.S. Citizens Amid Trump Administration’s Growing Pressure — New York Times World -
• Trump attacks Walz and Omar after freezing Minnesota childcare funding — The Guardian -
• Documents suggest Kilmar Ábrego García was retaliated against after wrongful deportation — The Guardian -
• Kennedy Center reportedly changed rules before vote to add Trump’s name — The Guardian -
• Ofcom urged to investigate GB News Trump interview over inaccuracy claims — The Guardian -
• Trump family business delays launch of $499 gold smartphone — The Guardian -
• US executions surged in 2025 to highest level in 16 years — The Guardian -
• Mali and Burkina Faso impose travel ban on US citizens in tit-for-tat move — BBC World -
• Crew Paints Russian Flag on Oil Tanker Pursued by the U.S. Coast Guard — New York Times World -
• Trump says US hit 'big facility' linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats — BBC World -
• ‘Tonga is not a threat’: anger as small Pacific nation falls under Trump visa restrictions — The Guardian -
• Tilting at windmills: Trump laments death of bald eagle in the US … which was really a falcon in Israel — The Guardian -

Russia's New Year's speech from Putin notably omits details on the Ukraine war, while Ukraine develops AI drones and the EU rejects Russian claims of Ukrainian attacks, as Finnish police investigate suspected sabotage of an undersea cable; China vows reunification with Taiwan after military drills, raising Australian concerns over regional stability, and Israel plans to bar aid groups in Gaza, drawing international criticism, while Bulgaria joins the Eurozone.

• In New Year’s Speech to Russia, Putin Says Little About Ukraine War or Peace Talks With US — New York Times World -
• Sabotage Suspected in Cutting of Undersea Cable, Finnish Police Say — New York Times World -
• EU's top diplomat rejects Russian claims of Ukrainian attack on government sites — BBC World -

• Bulgaria joins the euro after rocky path to new currency — BBC World -
• Israel to bar 37 aid groups as UK and EU warn of severe impact in Gaza — BBC World -
• In Ukraine, an Arsenal of Killer A.I. Drones Is Being Born in War Against Russia — New York Times World -
• Finnish police seize vessel suspected of damaging underwater cable — The Guardian -
• Merz Says Relationship Between U.S. and Germany Is ‘Changing’ — New York Times World -
• Xi Jinping vows to reunify China and Taiwan in New Year’s Eve speech — The Guardian -
• Thailand Releases 18 Cambodian P.O.W.s — New York Times World -
• Cyprus pledges ‘different mindset’ as it assumes EU presidency — The Guardian -
• Australia says ‘deeply concerning, destabilising’ Chinese exercises near Taiwan risk inflaming regional tension — The Guardian -
• Saudis Say Airstrike in Yemen Targeted Arms From U.A.E. — New York Times World -
• China Fires Rockets Near Taiwan in Display of Military Power — New York Times World -

Widespread protests and economic shutdowns grip Iran, with demonstrators attempting to break into government buildings and demanding regime change, while in Bangladesh, huge crowds mourn former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia amidst political tension; concerns grow for jailed Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai's deteriorating health, and Guinea's junta chief is elected president following an opposition boycott, alongside revelations of abuses within the Russian army through leaked documents, and Indonesia faces anger over slow flood recovery.

• Most of Iran Shuts Down as Government Grapples With Protests and Economy — New York Times World -
• Iran protesters try to break into government building as unrest continues — BBC World -
• ‘We want the mullahs gone’: economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022 — The Guardian -

• Bangladeshis Pay Last Respects to Former Leader in Tense Capital — New York Times World -
• He Is Being Sued in the U.S. for Human Rights Abuses. He Could be Deported First. — New York Times World -
• Guinea junta chief wins presidential election by landslide — BBC World -
• Huge crowds mourn Bangladesh's first female PM at state funeral — BBC World -
• How Thousands of Secret Russian Documents Were Exposed — New York Times World -
• How We Tracked Abuses in the Russian Army — New York Times World -
• ​Two cubicles, 73 women, one long queue: Japan’s female MPs fight for more loos — The Guardian -
• Jailed HK tycoon's 'teeth rotting and fingernails falling off', daughter tells BBC — BBC World -
• Guinea’s junta chief elected president after opposition boycott — The Guardian -
• Slow Flood Recovery Stirs Anger in Far-Flung Corner of Indonesia — New York Times World -

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces a new year plan to cut the cost of living for Britons, including an end to the two-child benefit cap, while the NHS faces 'extraordinary pressure' with cold alerts across England and a **surge in minor ailment A&E visits**; concerns are raised over violent crimes against parents by children, a police survey reveals fears among officers to report wrongdoing, and the European human rights court questions the stripping of Shamima Begum's citizenship.

• Keir Starmer to woo voters and MPs with new year plan to cut cost of living — The Guardian -
• UK ministers accused of ‘embarrassing failures’ in Abd el-Fattah case — The Guardian -
• Greens’ Polanski prepared to work with Burnham but not Starmer ‘to stop Reform’ — The Guardian -

• European human rights court questions UK decision to strip Shamima Begum of citizenship — The Guardian -
• Boy, 16, arrested after explosive material found at Blackpool address — The Guardian -
• Oldham child gang-rape suspect later attempted to murder wife — The Guardian -
• ‘They thought we were problem children’: how grooming victims were failed in Oldham — The Guardian -
• New British passport to feature king’s coat of arms and enhanced security — The Guardian -
• NHS under ‘extraordinary pressure’ as amber cold alerts issued for all England — The Guardian -
• Violent crimes against parents by children up 60% since 2015, shows London data — The Guardian -
• One pub a day closed permanently in England and Wales in 2025 — The Guardian -
• Queen Camilla says she was ‘so angry’ after assault on train when a teenager — The Guardian -
• Huge rise in number of people in England’s A&Es for coughs or hiccups — The Guardian -
• Police officers in England and Wales fear reporting colleagues for wrongdoing, survey finds — The Guardian -
• UK house prices: first-time buyers ‘will drive 2026 sales’ amid interest rate cuts — The Guardian -
• Zack Polanski offering voters fantasy solutions, says head of Fabian Society — The Guardian -
• ‘You could see bones’: Families’ anguish over coastal erosion threat to Norfolk graves — The Guardian -
• Judge me on what I do, says new EHRC chair after transgender groups’ criticism — The Guardian -

Cities worldwide, including Sydney, welcome 2026 with fireworks and celebrations, though Sydney's festivities strike a somber tone with vigils for Bondi attack victims; tragically, a woman dies after being swept into the ocean from a Sydney beach on New Year's Day, while the UK anticipates snow for its chilly new year start.

• New Year’s 2026 Celebrations Around the World: Photos and Videos — New York Times World -
• Woman dies after being swept into ocean from Sydney beach in early hours of New Year’s Day — The Guardian -
• In pictures: New Year welcomed around the world — BBC World -

• Sydney New Year’s Eve strikes sombre tone as fireworks follow minute’s silence for Bondi — The Guardian -
• Fireworks, drums and light shows: How the world is welcoming 2026 — BBC World -
• New year revellers told to wrap up warm with snow expected across UK — The Guardian -
• Ahead of New Year, Sydney Holds Vigil for Bondi Beach Attack Victims — New York Times World -
• Sydney sends message of peace for New Year's after Bondi attack — BBC World -
• Is ‘coasting’ the perfect way to enjoy an alcoholic drink this New Year’s Eve? — The Guardian -
• Key viewing spots for Sydney fireworks reach capacity as city urged to celebrate first New Year’s Eve since Bondi attack — The Guardian -

China implements a condom tax and cheaper childcare to boost birth rates, while the Australian beef industry expresses disappointment over new Chinese tariffs, and Tesla forecasts a potential decline in 2025 sales; Waitrose recalls mineral water due to glass shard risk, China's car brands are set to capture a significant share of the UK market, and Australia anticipates sticky inflation and an AI bubble risk in 2026.

• Condom tax and cheaper childcare: China's plan to boost birth rates — BBC World -
• Australian beef industry ‘extremely disappointed’ after China hits imports with 55% tariff — The Guardian -
• Waitrose urges customers not to drink Deeside water over shards of glass risk — The Guardian -

• Tesla publishes analyst forecasts suggesting sales set to fall — The Guardian -
• Sticky inflation, metal prices and the AI bubble risk: key trends to watch in the Australian economy in 2026 — The Guardian -
• China forecast to have sold one in every 10 new cars in UK in 2025 — The Guardian -

The New York City MetroCard is retired after three decades, marking the end of an era, while Eurostar services slowly resume after major power failures caused overnight delays and cancellations in the Channel Tunnel; a deadly train crash near Machu Picchu leaves one dead and dozens injured, and in Australia, a man dies and a boy goes missing after a boat capsizes off Sydney, alongside fatal monsoonal floods in Queensland.

• End of an era as New York City transit retires three-decade-old MetroCard — The Guardian -
• Eurostar slowly resumes but passengers face more cancellations and delays — The Guardian -
• South Yorkshire train passengers face delays after theft of signalling cables — The Guardian -

• Machu Picchu train crash leaves one dead and dozens injured — BBC World -
• Eurostar services return to normal after major Channel Tunnel disruption — BBC World -
• Man dead and teenage boy missing after boat capsizes off northern Sydney beach — The Guardian -
• Man dies in monsoonal floods in far north Queensland as graziers wait to assess stock losses — The Guardian -
• Eurostar Trains Face Day of Delays After Power Failure — New York Times World -
• Coral Adventurer passengers return with diverging accounts of cruise ship drama — The Guardian -

Florida's state-sanctioned bear hunt draws 'heartbreaking' criticism from wildlife groups, while UK fire services tackle a record number of wildfires during England's hottest year on record; newly released Australian cabinet papers from 2005 reveal early warnings about climate change and pandemic preparedness, and a record number of Americans are pessimistic about the US healthcare system.

• ‘Heartbreaking’: Florida wildlife groups decry state-sanctioned bear hunt — The Guardian -
• ‘A state of crisis’: record number of Americans are pessimistic about US healthcare system — The Guardian -
• Cabinet papers reveal Alexander Downer warned of dire climate change outcomes in 2005 — The Guardian -

• Cabinet papers 2005: John Howard’s government was warned in 2005 that schools and borders might need to be shut under a pandemic — The Guardian -
• Ten English fire services tackled record number of grass, forest and crop fires in 2025 — The Guardian -
• Saving South Africa's threatened albatross from lethal fishing lines — BBC World -

France's President Macron backs social media restrictions for children, aiming to follow Australia's lead, while the death of Spanish fresco restorer Cecilia Giménez sparks remembrance of her viral artwork; tributes are paid to departed figures like Rob Reiner and Tatiana Schlossberg, and discussions arise around the legacy of Brigitte Bardot, alongside a charity raffle for a Picasso portrait and an investment in Joe Wicks' fitness app.

• Spanish Woman Scorned, Then Loved, for Botched Fresco Restoration Dies at 94 — New York Times World -
• President Macron of France Backs Social Media Restrictions for Children — New York Times World -
• ‘Not my first rodeo’: meet the 21-year-old serving as Georgia’s youngest state legislator — The Guardian -

• ITV agrees to invest £3m in fitness app created by Joe Wicks — The Guardian -
• Watch: Stunning celestial events that lit up the skies in 2025 — BBC World -
• France targets Australia-style social media ban for children next year — The Guardian -
• Brigitte Bardot’s Legacy of Racist Rhetoric — New York Times World -
• €1m Picasso portrait up for grabs for €100 in charity raffle — The Guardian -
• Damien Martyn, former Australian Test cricketer, in induced coma with meningitis — The Guardian -
• ‘Life is pain without you’: Cary Elwes and Martin Scorsese pay tribute to Rob Reiner as autopsy reports sealed — The Guardian -
• ‘It’s not a hen party hellscape’: Dublin’s Temple Bar strives to shake off its bad reputation — The Guardian -
• Rage bait, goblin mode … do words of the year have any real value? — The Guardian -
• Phone Searches at U.S. Borders: What Travelers Need to Know — New York Times World -
• Heated Rivalry author says TV success led to help with her Parkinson's — BBC World -
• Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of John F Kennedy, dies aged 35 — BBC World -
• Diane Keaton, Pope Francis and Ozzy Osbourne... famous faces who left us in 2025 — BBC World -
• France fears ‘era of Trumpism’ as public broadcaster comes under fire from right — The Guardian -
• George Clooney Is French Now — New York Times World -
• Overlooked Stories — New York Times World -
• Isiah Whitlock Jr: The Wire and Veep actor dies at 71 — BBC World -
• Watch: Underwater chess champions compete for world title — BBC World -
• Brazil's Bolsonaro undergoes third medical procedure for hiccups — BBC World -
• The viral moments that grabbed India's attention this year — BBC World -