December 2025
UK and Norway form naval alliance
The UK and Norway have signed a defence pact that will see them operate a combined fleet to hunt Russian submarines in the North Atlantic.
Reported - 04/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3v152ep9l0o
US Supreme Court allows Texas remapping
The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for Texas to use a new congressional map that is believed to favour the Republican party in the 2026 midterm elections, by voting to overturn a lower court's previous ruling to block the remapping.
Reported - 04/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg1v21p3ydo
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/04/us-supreme-court-texas-congressional-maps
New mayoral elections to be delayed in England
Elections for 4 newly-created mayors in England (Greater Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk, Hampshire & the Solent, and Sussex & Brighton) that were due in May next year are now expected to be delayed until May 2028.
Reported - 04/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yjg2r7z9zo
Trump pardons Democratic congressman
US President Donald Trump has said he will pardon Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar, who was charged last year with accepting around $600,000 (£478,000) in bribes.
Reported - 03/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62v9z7z1z2o
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/03/trump-pardons-democrat-henry-cuellar
Bulgaria ditches budget plan after protests
Bulgaria's government has said it will withdraw its controversial 2026 budget plan after mass protests were held against it on Monday night in the capital, Sofia.
Reported - 02/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjezwzw088jo
German army ammunition stolen from lorry
A shipment of German ammunition, in the region of 20,000 rounds, has been stolen from a delivery lorry in the eastern town of Burg.
Reported - 02/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q5n3x0jn9o
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/02/europe/german-army-ammunition-stolen-latam-intl
Dell family to donate funds for American children
Tech businessman Michael Dell and his wife, Susan, have announced plans to donate $250 to 25 million children across the US, totalling $6.25bn to be deposited into investment accounts.
Reported - 02/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyvgq184vgqo
OBR chairman resigns
Richard Hughes, the chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has resigned following the accidental leak that saw much of the Chancellor's budget details released early.
Reported - 01/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd74v35p77jo
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/obr-report-leak-reeves-budget-b2875484.html
Cameroon opposition leader dies in detention
Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane has died in detention, 5 weeks after his arrested, as his party accuses authorities of denying medical attention.
Reported - 01/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg9204y4w5o
Trump releases fraud executive
US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of former investment manager David Gentile, who had just started a 7-year prison sentence over a $1.6 billion fraud scheme.
Reported - 01/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vmn61l75ro
US Admiral ordered second Venezuela boat strike
The White House has said that Admiral Frank Bradley was the one who ordered a second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, after survivors were found shipwrecked by the initial strike, an order that may be considered a war crime.
Reported - 01/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0r95q9kv1go
Luigi Mangione in court
Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last year, appeared in court on Monday as his lawyers try to have key evidence dismissed from the case.
Reported - 01/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33mz477p4po
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/01/us/luigi-mangione-court-appearance-case
UK MP given jail sentence in Bangladesh
Labour MP and former minister Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced to two years in prison in Bangladesh after being put on trial in her absence alongside 16 other people over corruption allegations.
Reported - 01/12/25
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g9dyd84lwo