Key Events (10)
The US military launched strikes against Islamic State militants in Nigeria on Christmas Day, with President Trump praising the military operation. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that Nigeria provided intelligence for the strikes and described the operation as an 'ongoing process,' while Pentagon officials indicated more strikes are planned.
A US judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting Imran Ahmed, a UK anti-disinformation campaigner with the Center for Countering Digital Hate. Ahmed filed a complaint against senior Trump allies, accusing tech companies of 'sociopathic greed' in seeking to avoid accountability.
President Trump scheduled a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for Sunday to discuss a Ukraine peace plan. Zelensky has sought the meeting as the US-led peace initiative progresses, with recent reports indicating 'very good' talks between Zelensky and Trump envoys.
China imposed sanctions on US defence firms including Boeing and Northrop Grumman in response to a $10 billion Trump-approved arms sale to Taiwan. The sanctions are Beijing's response to what it views as interference in its internal affairs regarding Taiwan.
The Trump administration exempted a copper smelter in Arizona from federal air-quality rules, with emails showing that an EPA official guided the company seeking the exemption. The smelter is cited as a top source of lead pollution in the region.
Fiber artists across the US are using craft activism, particularly yarn-based projects, to protest Trump administration policies including national guard deployments and rollbacks on abortion rights. The movement represents artistic resistance to various government initiatives.
An Afrikaner who travelled to the US expecting protection after Trump issued invitations to white South Africans has spent months in detention in Georgia. The case highlights the gap between Trump's rhetoric toward certain groups and his administration's immigration enforcement policies.
The Trump administration emphasized religion in official Christmas messages from government officials, departing from the traditional practice of avoiding overtly religious language. This marks a departure from prior constitutional practice regarding the separation of state and religion.
According to new polling, 65% of registered US voters believe global heating is affecting the cost of living, linking the climate crisis to rising bills despite Trump's characterization of climate concerns as a 'green scam.'
Some Republican senators joined Democrats in urging President Trump to adopt a hard line with Russian President Putin. The pressure campaign comes as Trump prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Florida to discuss peace negotiations.