‘It’s our turn’: gun-safety advocates are riding a ‘seismic’ wave to US legislatures
A once-toxic topic is helping survivors and relatives of victims get elected to enact the laws they helped draft
Abené Clayton
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/02/gun-safety-law-us-legislation

Italian pasta makers win reprieve from Trump tariffs
US cuts proposed levies to between 2% and 14% despite accusing Italian producers of selling at unfairly low prices
Mark Sweney
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/02/italian-pasta-makers-win-reprieve-from-trump-tariffs

Will Smith accused of ‘predatory behaviour’ and ‘grooming’ by tour violinist
Brian King Joseph claims the rapper and actor was ‘priming’ him for ‘sexual exploitation’. Smith’s lawyer has called the allegations ‘false, baseless and reckless’
Laura Snapes
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/02/will-smith-accused-of-predatory-behaviour-and-grooming-by-tour-violinist

New year, old warnings: what can films set in 2026 teach us?
From Doom and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to Metropolis, Hollywood hasn’t predicted the most stable of years ahead
Jesse Hassenger
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/02/films-set-in-2026-hollywood

‘No one can know’: Heated Rivalry’s gay love story exposes ice hockey’s culture of silence
The surprise hit series has reopened a familiar debate: why, in the National Hockey League, visibility is still treated as a problem rather than a possibility
Colin Horgan
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/02/heated-rivalry-nhl-hockey-culture-silence

Behind the scenes of Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics, a 19th-century story of politics and gay love
The new stadium sits in the suburb of Herston, a name alluding to the state’s first premier and the man believed to be his lover
Andrew Messenger
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/03/behind-the-scenes-of-brisbanes-2032-olympics-a-19th-century-story-of-politics-and-gay-love

‘The answer is dig a hole’: why Scotland’s islanders want tunnels instead of ferries
From Shetland to the Western Isles, campaigners argue ageing ferries are driving depopulation – and undersea tunnels are the only 21st-century solution
Severin Carrell Scotland editor
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/02/scotland-islanders-want-tunnels-instead-ferries-shetland-western-isles

More than 60 Henri Matisse artworks donated to Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris
Artist’s daughter Marguerite features in most of the pieces, kept in the family until ‘complete surprise’ donation
Kim Willsher in Paris
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/jan/02/paris-musee-d-art-moderne-donation-henri-matisse-marguerite

Review
The Night Manager review – no naughty bum-flashing? It’s still a class above all other spy thrillers
The racy espionage blockbuster caused a global frenzy a decade ago – and set an unbelievably high bar. As Tom Hiddleston’s M16 agent Jonathan Pine returns to take down a new supervillain, he just about pulls it off
Jack Seale
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jan/01/the-night-manager-review-tom-hiddleston-john-le-carre-bbc-one-iplayer-prime-video

George Clooney fires back at Trump after US president mocks his French citizenship
Trump called the actor and his wife, Amal, ‘two of the worst political prognosticators of all time’ after they were awarded French passports
Sian Cain and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/02/george-clooney-trump-french-citizenship

Munich’s surfers foiled again after city thwarts effort to restart river wave
Authorities remove beam placed on Christmas Day to recreate Eisbach wave, which vanished in October
Agence France-Presse in Berlin
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/28/munichs-surfers-foiled-again-as-authorities-remove-access-to-famous-river-wave

‘It would drive some people crazy’: Victoria’s French Island remains remote, and that’s how most like it
Just 70km from Melbourne yet only accessible by ferry, the island’s isolation is the source of its appeal and its biggest drawback
Stephanie Convery with photography by Penny Stephens
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/28/it-would-drive-some-people-crazy-victorias-french-island-remains-remote-and-thats-how-most-like-it

Interview
‘What other silences filled my childhood?’: Tareq Baconi on excavating his queer and Palestinian identities
Emma Graham-Harrison
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/dec/28/tareq-baconi-fire-in-every-direction-interview

The photographs that defined 2025 – and the stories behind them
As wars in Ukraine and Gaza continued, anti-government protests erupted around the world. Amid the violence, there were moments of humanity, sporting glory and stunning natural beauty. Photographers reflect on the moments behind the pictures
By Sarah Gilbert and Emine Saner
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/29/photographs-defined-2025-stories-behind-them

My big night out: I woke up on a llama farm in Germany – hungover and lying beside a naked punk
At 20, I went on a European road trip for the summer, where a chance encounter in Cologne taught me the importance of friendship
Dylan B Jones
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/29/my-big-night-out-woke-up-llama-farm-germany-naked-punk

The very next day, you gave it away … how to get rid of an unwanted Christmas gift without getting caught
Eleanor Limprecht
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/30/how-to-get-rid-of-an-unwanted-christmas-gift

Weather tracker: Polar wind set to end warmth in US south and midwest
Ollie Lewis for MetDesk
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/29/weather-tracker-polar-wind-set-to-end-warmth-in-us-south-and-midwest

‘Too important not to fight for’: Spain’s wine industry seeks infusion of new blood
Rural depopulation compounding challenges of climate emergency and changing technologies in drawing young people to sector
Sam Jones in La Seca
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/29/too-important-not-to-fight-for-spains-wine-industry-seeks-infusion-of-new-blood

Passengers on cruise ship that ran aground off PNG to be flown home after refloat efforts fail
Coral Adventurer, being investigated for allegedly leaving behind passenger who died, ran aground with 124 people on board on Saturday
Andrew Messenger
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/29/passengers-on-cruise-ship-that-ran-aground-off-png-to-be-flown-home-after-refloat-efforts-fail

Conservative and Christian? US right champions psychedelic drugs
Texas governor among those to call for expanded access to ibogaine, said to help with treating veterans with PTSD
Mattha Busby
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/26/us-right-champions-psychedelic-drugs

A child is born: Italians celebrate village’s first baby in 30 years
Feted birth of bambina Lara in Pagliara dei Marsi highlights sticky national debate over country’s ‘demographic winter’
Angela Giuffrida in Pagliara dei Marsi
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/26/italian-village-first-baby-in-30-years

‘Weapons of mass construction’: the US ‘craftivists’ using yarn to fight back against Trump
Fiber artists across the US are using their craft to protest against everything from national guard deployments to rollbacks on abortion rights
Cecilia Nowell
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/26/knitting-craft-activists-against-trump

Pig organ transplants could one day be superior to human ones, says expert
Surgeon leading xenotransplantation trial aimed at solving shortage of human organs says edits can lessen risk of rejection
Nicola Davis Science correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/dec/26/pig-organ-transplants-could-one-day-be-superior-to-human-ones-says-expert

‘Keeps your mind alert’: older Swedes reap the benefits of learning for pleasure
Retirees with ‘fantastic hunger for education’ taking part in university organised events in record numbers
Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/26/older-swedes-reap-benefits-late-life-education

My weirdest Christmas: it was our first year in Sweden – but I insisted on having a big British celebration
When my family emigrated to Malmö, I wanted to stick to our traditions, but my husband was keen to embrace the local customs. Why were we butting heads?
Kerry Hudson
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/26/my-weirdest-christmas-sweden-big-british-celebration

I’m watching brain surgery to see if Alzheimer’s can ever be cured (Paywalled?)
James Gallagher
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4dnwky48wo

Year in review: Sahan Journal’s best photos of 2025 captured celebration, community and struggle
The year in photos included moments that captured Minnesota’s joy, resilience and love of food in 2025.
by Aaron Nesheim
https://sahanjournal.com/arts-culture/top-10-photos-minnesota-2024-2/

Gov. Tim Walz signed two executive orders on gun violence, MPR News reports. “One creates a statewide safety council to examine and help reduce the effects of gun violence. The other calls for tracking the cost of gun violence and adds funding to educate gun owners on safe storage.” The action comes after months of being unable to garner enough support in the legislature to pass gun-control laws. Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/16/lacking-minnesota-gun-regulation-votes-walz-tries-executive-orders

There was a spate of vehicle thefts in the early 2020s that exploited weaknesses in Hyundais and Kias. Now, “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Tuesday announced a settlement with Korean carmaker Hyundai-Kia, requiring the company to install a free hardware fix for every owner of a vehicle that did not come equipped with an immobilizer,” KARE 11 reports. “The fix involves the installation of a zinc sleeve that securely wraps around the ignition module of a Hyundai or Kia vehicle, making it extremely difficult to steal. Impacted vehicle owners should receive a notification in early 2026, but the AG says those consumers can be proactive and contact a local dealer. They will have one year from notification to get the zinc sleeve installed.” Via MinnPost
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/minnesota-settles-with-hyundai-and-kia-over-stolen-car-epidemic/89-f082aa80-154d-4380-86a4-2e88a15e2999

Hackers access Pornhub’s premium users’ viewing habits and search history
ShinyHunters group reportedly behind the hack affecting data of 200m users thought to be from before 2021
Dan Milmo. Global technology editor
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/17/hackers-access-pornhub-premium-users-viewing-habits-and-search-history

Review
Fallout season two review – this postapocalyptic thriller is absolutely hilarious
The video game-derived thriller series should be terrifying, but it’s often side-splitting. Its second outing adds excellent guest spots from Justin Theroux, Kumail Nanjiani and Macaulay Culkin
Graeme Virtue
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/17/fallout-season-two-review-prime-video

In a middling year for television, Pluribus is ending things on a high
Stuart Heritage
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/17/pluribus-apple-tv

Worried about winter? 10 ways to thrive – from socialising to Sad lamps to celebrating the new year in April
The temptation is to sit at home and hibernate, but beating the winter blues can be done. Here’s how to embrace the coldest and arguably most beautiful season
Rachel Dixon
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/17/beat-winter-blues-advice-socialising-sad-lamps-celebrating-new-year-april

MIT grieves shooting death of renowned director of plasma science center
Nuno FG Loureiro, 47, was shot multiple times at his home, and no details about a suspect or motive have been released
Ramon Antonio Vargas
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/dec/17/mit-shooting-death-nuno-loureiro

New flu strain putting severe pressure on healthcare across Europe, says WHO
At least 27 of 38 countries in WHO’s European region are reporting high or very high influenza activity, body says
Jon Henley
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/17/new-flu-strain-sweeping-across-europe-is-putting-pressure-on-healthcare-says-who

Beans, beans, the more you eat, the more your … meals are healthier and cheaper
Celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver launch ‘Bang in Some Beans’ campaign to highlight cost savings and health advantages
Magic beans: top chefs’ recipes for protein-rich superfood
Shane Hickey
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/dec/17/beans-beans-the-more-you-eat-the-more-your-meals-are-healthier-and-cheaper