The Trump administration is navigating various domestic and international challenges, including economic claims disputed by inflation data, the ending of temporary protected status for Somalis, and legal battles over whistleblower security clearances and Epstein testimony, while facing Supreme Court decisions on trans athletes and condemnation for demands for 'lists of Jews'.

• Analysis: Trump Supports Protesters in Iran, but Not in Minneapolis — New York Times World -
• Trump claims victory on US economy despite many Americans’ cost of living concerns — The Guardian -
• Trump administration ends temporary protected status for Somalis in US — The Guardian -

• Trump says Microsoft will pay more for its datacenters’ electricity — The Guardian -
• US supreme court appears poised to uphold laws banning trans athletes — The Guardian -
• UPenn faculty condemn Trump administration’s demand for ‘lists of Jews’ — The Guardian -
• Judge blocks White House bid to revoke whistleblower lawyer’s security clearance — The Guardian -
• Trump Says London Is Unsafe. Its Murder Rate Just Hit a Historic Low. — New York Times World -
• Senator Mark Kelly sues Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over attempted demotion — BBC World -
• House Democrat and Republican to reintroduce ‘click-to-cancel’ bill — The Guardian -

Iran's widespread protests are met with a brutal government crackdown, including gunshot eye injuries and threats of executions, prompting President Trump to urge protesters to 'take over' and the UK to impose new sanctions, as the US considers military options and tariffs on Iran's trading partners amid a communications blackout.

• A Timeline of Protests in Iran — New York Times World -
• 'Now there's the threat of executions' in Iran — BBC World -
• Trump Urges Antigovernment Protesters in Iran to ‘Take Over’ — New York Times World -

• Hundreds of gunshot eye injuries found in one Iranian hospital amid brutal crackdown on protests — The Guardian -
• Trump promises ‘help is on its way’ and tells Iranians to ‘keep protesting’ — The Guardian -
• Why Trump’s options are limited when it comes to using force against Iran — The Guardian -
• Bowen: Authoritarian regimes die gradually then suddenly, but Iran is not there yet — BBC World -
• UK announces ‘full and further sanctions’ amid Iran killings and arrests — The Guardian -
• Trump Says He Will Impose Tariffs on Iran’s Trading Partners: What to Know — New York Times World -
• Which countries do business with Iran and what could US tariffs mean? — BBC World -
• Trump briefed on military and covert options for Iran, sources say — BBC World -
• Tuesday briefing: What has sparked Iran’s latest wave of protests – and what might happen next — The Guardian -
• An ecosystem of smuggled tech holds Iran’s last link to the outside world — The Guardian -

Sexual assault allegations against prominent figures like Julio Iglesias and LA Reid, a major gold heist in Toronto, child sexual abuse charges against Timothy Busfield and Australian author Craig Silvey, and the controversial ICE shooting in Minneapolis are drawing significant attention, alongside **concerns for LGB+ suicide rates and police reforms for Asian Americans**.

• Actor Timothy Busfield surrenders to face child sexual abuse charges in New Mexico — The Guardian -
• Spanish Singer Julio Iglesias Accused of Sexual Assault — New York Times World -
• Federal prosecutors quit in protest over lack of investigation into ICE shooting — The Guardian -

• Arrest Made in Toronto Airport Gold Heist as Police Seek 2 Others — New York Times World -
• LGB+ people in England and Wales ‘much’ more likely to die by suicide than straight people — The Guardian -
• A Times Reporter Goes Inside a Cyberscam Center in a War Zone — New York Times World -
• Football fan took his own life after using illegal ‘predatory’ betting sites, inquest told — The Guardian -
• California county accused of profiling Asian Americans agrees to police reforms — The Guardian -
• US aircraft that attacked suspected drug boat reportedly disguised as civilian plane — The Guardian -
• Boy planning terrorist acts wanted ‘white supremacist utopia’, Leeds court told — The Guardian -
• London Pride boss accused of contempt of court amid claims of misusing funds — The Guardian -
• ‘I was robbed of justice’: woman raped as child criticises years of delays in bringing father to trial — The Guardian -
• Family of Renee Good urges ‘empathy’ in call for justice | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Hunt for gunman after Corsican exile is shot dead at mother's funeral — BBC World -
• Australian author Craig Silvey charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material — The Guardian -
• Music executive LA Reid settles sexual assault lawsuit on day civil trial was due to begin — The Guardian -
• At This Office Park, Scamming the World Was the Business — New York Times World -
• Inside a Scam Complex’s Detailed Playbook — New York Times World -
• Key questions for FBI investigators to unpick in Minneapolis shooting — BBC World -
• ‘Anonymity online is an illusion’: NSW teen charged over alleged mass shooting hoax in US — The Guardian -
• 'We were tricked': How one woman lures foreign men to fight on Russia's front line — BBC World -

The UK government is advancing a **£45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail project while rolling back digital ID plans and facing criticism over Brexit paperwork and HMRC child benefit fraud**; simultaneously, Labour MPs are challenging protest restrictions and the Scottish government has cut taxes for lowest earners amid frustration from storm-affected Cornish villagers and concerns over Met police affiliations.

• Labour revives Northern Powerhouse Rail project with pledge of £45bn funds — The Guardian -
• UK government rolls back key part of digital ID plans — The Guardian -
• West Midlands police commissioner criticises MPs for bias against chief constable — The Guardian -

• Scottish budget: SNP government cuts taxes for lowest earners — The Guardian -
• ‘I’ve had vets chasing lorries down the motorway’: The ‘hell’ of post-Brexit paperwork — The Guardian -
• Wes Streeting attacks centre-left for ‘excuses culture’ of blaming civil service — The Guardian -
• Over 300 Met staff disclose they are Freemasons or in other hierarchical groups — The Guardian -
• New proposed Ukip logo compared to iron cross used by Nazi regime — The Guardian -
• Hillsborough law to be delayed over security services concerns — The Guardian -
• Labour MPs plan to oppose move to restrict protest at animal testing sites — The Guardian -
• ‘We’re in a bit of a state’: Cornish villagers frustrated by lack of help after Storm Goretti — The Guardian -
• HMRC admits 71% wrongly targeted in child benefit fraud crackdown — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer tells MPs he is open to social media ban for young people — The Guardian -
• UK retailers endure ‘drab December’ as non-food sales fall flat — The Guardian -

Greenland firmly rejected US President Trump's efforts for acquisition, as Denmark and Greenland united against the advances, while China pressured European nations on Taiwan politicians' visas, and the end of the Western alliance was debated amid tensions over a Chinese super-embassy in London and Marine Le Pen's legal appeal.

• We choose Denmark over US, Greenland's PM says — BBC World -
• Everyone Wants the Arctic — New York Times World -
• Keir Starmer offered place on Trump’s Gaza ‘peace board’ — The Guardian -

• China’s London super-embassy almost certain to get go-ahead next week — The Guardian -
• UK politics: Tories call for block on Chinese super-embassy amid claims of hidden chamber near sensitive cables – as it happened — The Guardian -
• End of western alliance means UK must be bolder, says Chatham House director — The Guardian -
• Marine Le Pen Is Appealing a Decision to Bar Her From Office. — New York Times World -
• Greenland’s PM says territory ‘chooses Denmark over the US’ ahead of talks with JD Vance – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Greenland and Denmark unite against US advances before White House talks — The Guardian -
• Greenland Would Be the Largest U.S. Land Acquisition, if Trump Got His Way — New York Times World -
• China pressing European countries to bar Taiwan politicians or face crossing a ‘red line’ — The Guardian -
• Greenland says it cannot accept US takeover ‘under any circumstances’ — The Guardian -

The global economy shows mixed signals with Delta Airlines' optimistic outlook and potential mergers in entertainment, but the World Bank reports many developing countries are poorer than in 2019, while central banks show solidarity with US Fed Chair Powell amidst Trump's threats to independence, and Lloyds faces scrutiny over staff data.

• Maker of Peaky Blinders ‘in advanced talks’ to merge with The Traitors producer — The Guardian -
• Quarter of developing countries poorer than in 2019, World Bank finds — The Guardian -
• Delta Offers Optimistic Outlook as Travelers Continue to Splurge — New York Times World -

• Global central banks offer ‘full solidarity’ to US Fed’s Powell amid Trump threats — The Guardian -
• Guinness and Johnnie Walker owner Diageo ‘could sell Chinese assets’ — The Guardian -
• Lloyds questioned by watchdog over use of staff banking data in pay talks — The Guardian -
• Workers at Chinese factory that produces Labubu toys are being exploited, says NGO — The Guardian -
• The Global Cost of Futzing With the Fed — New York Times World -
• Russia working to circumvent sanctions to ensure India oil imports continue — The Guardian -

Global climate efforts face setbacks as US carbon pollution rose in 2025 driven by cold weather and data centers, while Antarctica's Thwaites glacier continues to melt, and Australia approves significant threatened species habitat destruction, though coal power generation in China and India fell for the first time since the 1970s.

• US carbon pollution rose in 2025 in reversal of previous years’ reductions — The Guardian -
• The View From Above Antarctica’s Fastest Melting Glacier — New York Times World -
• Ten Sydney Harbours’ worth of threatened species habitat approved for destruction in 2025, report finds — The Guardian -

• A Scientific Expedition to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier Deals With Weather Hiccups — New York Times World -
• Cold weather and data centres drive up US greenhouse gas emissions — BBC World -
• Coal power generation falls in China and India for first time since 1970s — The Guardian -

Adelaide Writers' Week was cancelled after controversy over a Palestinian author's disinvitation, while Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams passed away, and a German church's 'slime Jesus' performance sparked debate, as **LGB+ suicide rates in the UK and the influence of social media on language** were also highlighted.

• Controversial Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams dies aged 68 — BBC World -
• German church’s televised ‘slime Jesus’ provokes fury on right — The Guardian -
• Spanish author lambasts linguistic academy over social media influence — The Guardian -

• Ueli Kestenholz, Olympic snowboard medallist, dies after being trapped in Swiss avalanche — The Guardian -
• How a Syrian Hiking Club Is Rediscovering the Country — New York Times World -
• Adelaide writers’ week 2026 cancelled as board apologises to Randa Abdel-Fattah for ‘how decision was represented’ — The Guardian -
• Heated Rivalry books sell out amid Australian fans’ infatuation with gay ice hockey TV show — The Guardian -
• Pioneering gay footballer Josh Cavallo accuses former club of homophobia — BBC World -

China's gene-edited babies scientist He Jiankui is back at work, Elon Musk's AI tool Grok is slated for Pentagon networks despite criticism over inappropriate image generation, and data centers continue to drive US energy consumption with little political opposition.

• China’s ‘Dr. Frankenstein’ Thinks Time Is on His Side — New York Times World -
• Musk’s AI tool Grok will be integrated into Pentagon networks, Hegseth says — The Guardian -
• Australian politicians are condemning X and Grok, so why won’t they leave the platform? — The Guardian -

The NSW government is calling for a rethink on capital gains tax to address housing affordability, new hate group laws empower the Asio chief, and Kevin Rudd stepped down as US ambassador, while Victoria battles bushfires, and politicians used a private jet for flood visits.

• NSW government calls for rethink on capital gains tax discount to ease housing affordability — The Guardian -
• Moment Western Australian divers surface to see their boat had disappeared caught in footage — The Guardian -
• Asio chief given powers to recommend organisations be proscribed as hate groups under Labor’s new laws — The Guardian -

• Who will replace Rudd as US ambassador? Defence boss, career diplomat and former ministers in mix — The Guardian -
• More than 500 structures destroyed in Victoria’s bushfires as 12 major blazes continue to burn — The Guardian -
• Kevin Rudd will step down as ambassador to the US a year early — The Guardian -
• Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce use Gina Rinehart’s private jet to visit flooded parts of Queensland — The Guardian -

Uganda cut internet access days before its presidential election, South Korea's ex-president Yoon faces a death penalty request, and Niger revoked tanker licenses to Mali amid a jihadist blockade, while a 'miracle baby' from Mozambique floodwaters sadly died at 25 and voters in a young African country consider an 81-year-old for another term.

• Uganda Cuts Internet Days Before Presidential Election — New York Times World -
• Prosecutors seek death penalty for ex-South Korean president Yoon — BBC World -
• 'Miracle baby' born in a tree above Mozambique floodwaters dies aged 25 — BBC World -

• Niger revokes licences of tanker drivers who refuse to go to Mali amid jihadist blockade — BBC World -
• Will voters in one of the world's youngest countries give an 81-year-old another term? — BBC World -