Yarram

‘Miracle’ of Zealandia: chick is born to rare takahē pair thought to be infertile
Unexpected arrival is a boon for birdlife in New Zealand, where there are only 500 takahē left
Eva Corlett in Wellington
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/21/takahe-chick-rare-born-new-zealand

A mildly subversive gift guide: 10 banned books for curious and rebellious US readers
Gift a banned book to the defiant reader in your life this holiday season. Our picks by Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and others have all faced US challenges or bans
Ruth Minah Buchwald
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2025/dec/21/banned-books-gift-ideas-guide

From Dr Seuss to All Quiet on the Western Front: 19 books to help you find hope, sense and resistance in difficult times
Writers, activists and politicians on the books they turn to for wisdom and perspective – and to restore their faith in human nature
Paul Daley
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/dec/21/from-dr-seuss-to-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-19-books-to-help-you-find-hope-sense-and-resistance-in-difficult-times

The kindness of strangers: a boy picked up my spilled shopping when I was too pregnant to reach the ground
I’d turned around for a second but that was all it took for my trolley to start rolling away. Before I could react, it tipped over
Nicki Wright as told to Katie Cunningham
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/22/kindness-strangers-spilled-shopping-pregnant ( Read more... )

Danish postal service to stop delivering letters after 400 years
PostNord’s decision to end service on 30 December comes after fear over ‘increasing digitalisation’ of Danish society
Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/21/denmark-postnord-postal-delivery-letters-society

NHS to trial potentially life-saving treatment for deadly liver disease
Acute-on-chronic liver failure will be treated with device that cleans patients’ blood corrupted by toxins
Denis Campbell Health policy editor
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/21/nhs-to-trial-potentially-life-saving-treatment-for-deadly-liver-disease

First wheelchair-using astronaut touches down after ride to edge of space
Michaela Benthaus from Germany soared 65 miles above the Earth’s surface in 10-minute Blue Origin flight
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/dec/20/first-wheelchair-using-astronaut-blur-origin-rocket

The US healthcare system hurts poor Americans. It’s about to get worse
Eduardo Porter
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/21/us-healthcare-system-trump

The Trump administration is trying to legislate trans people out of existence
Judith Levine
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/21/trump-administration-trans-people

Thanks to Donald Trump, 2025 was a good year … for white-collar criminals
Casey Michel
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/dec/21/trump-white-collar-criminals

A tape measure, a metal detector and a spirit level: 25 surprisingly useful things you can do with your phone
While many use our phones predominantly to doomscroll, smartphones have a range of little-known functions that could make life better and easier – from heart monitoring to even developing camera film
Chris Stokel-Walker
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/21/a-tape-measure-a-metal-detector-and-a-spirit-level-25-surprisingly-useful-things-you-can-do-with-your-phone

‘I feel special, in my heart’: thousands gather at Stonehenge for winter solstice
People, including druids and pagans, come from across world to watch sunrise on shortest day of the year
Raphael Boyd
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/dec/21/stonehenge-winter-solstice

Minnesota health officials urge flu shots as 35 schools report outbreaks this week, including at least one that switched to remote learning, the Star Tribune reports. The strain has a history of hitting children and the elderly particularly hard. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/flu-strain-that-historically-hits-elderly-and-kids-hard-is-back-in-minnesota/601548805?utm_source=gift

Epstein files to be released after months of delays from Trump officials
Huge archive – set to shed fresh light on Epstein’s misdeeds – legally obliged to be released before midnight deadline
Robert Tait in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/19/epstein-files-release-doj-december-deadline

‘Like Maga disciples’: meet the Trump envoys raising eyebrows in Europe
US president has been blatant in his appointment of relatives, close friends and big donors – almost none of whom have diplomatic experience
Jon Henley in Paris, Helena Smith in Athens and Miranda Bryant
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/19/trump-european-envoys-charles-kushner-andrew-puzder-stacey-feinberg-kimberly-guilfoyle

Conservative legal group aims to export its rightwing Christian mission beyond US borders
Alliance Defending Freedom has ramped up its global spending on litigation and other campaigns to push its ultra conservative Christian values
Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/19/conservative-legal-christian-rightwing-group ( Read more... )

Both St. Paul, Minneapolis have Christmas markets worth visiting
St. Paul’s European Christmas Market is the clear No. 1, but the Minneapolis Christkindl Market in the North Loop is worth a stop, too.
by Bill Lindeke
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2025/12/both-st-paul-minneapolis-have-christmas-markets-worth-visiting/

Rainfall creates crimson spectacle at beach on Iran’s Hormuz Island
Streams of soil turn sand and surrounding water red, creating sharp contrast with blue waters of Persian Gulf
Associated Press in Tehran
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/18/rainfall-iran-hormuz-island-red-beach

Man sues Tennessee county after he was jailed over meme related to Charlie Kirk killing
Lawsuit alleges that Larry Bushart’s first amendment rights were violated when he was arrested and jailed for 37 days
Anna Betts
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/18/tennessee-charlie-kirk-meme-arrest-lawsuit

Bavarian pensioner lays trap to catch phone fraudster who was out for his gold
Second ‘exemplary’ success for 85-year-old who had already rumbled bogus police officer demanding €60,000
Deborah Cole in Berlin
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/18/german-pensioner-lays-trap-catch-fraudsters-after-gold

‘It’s an open invasion’: how millions of quagga mussels changed Lake Geneva for ever
The molluscs are decimating food chains in Switzerland, have devastated the Great Lakes in the US, and this week were spotted in Northern Ireland for the first time
By Phoebe Weston
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/18/invasive-quagga-mussels-lake-geneva-aoe

US government admits negligence in helicopter-plane collision that killed 67
Official response to lawsuit filed by victims’ relatives admits FAA and army failures played role in Washington DC crash
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/17/us-government-helicopter-crash-washington-dc

The motorcyclist fighting a deadly disease in the African bush
8 hours ago
Kang-Chun Cheng
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251217-the-motorcyclist-fighting-the-worlds-second-deadliest-parasite-in-the-african-bush

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

Who gets bragging rights for the coldest temperatures on Sunday? According to Bring Me The News, Pine River had the coldest air temperature at -28, while the wind chill in Their River Falls dipped to -41. Minneapolis was a relatively balmy -10.  Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-weather/here-are-the-coldest-temps-and-wind-chills-sunday-in-minnesota

From Seinfeld to Shawshank, Rob Reiner changed Hollywood for ever
Reiner’s own films reshaped modern comedy and drama with their intelligence, empathy and range. But through his company, Castle Rock, he paved the way for Seinfeld, Sorkin and many more
Andrew Pulver
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/15/rob-reiner-director-this-is-spinal-tap-when-harry-met-sally

US librarians tackle ‘manufactured crisis’ of book bans to protect LGBTQ+ rights
In at least half a dozen states, librarians have joined forces with civil rights groups to oppose book bans, often facing personal and professional repercussions
Claire Wang
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/15/us-librarianbook-bans-lgbtq-rights

‘Oysters are a risk, as is raw meat’: why you get food poisoning – and how to avoid it
Several kinds of bacteria can give you an upset stomach. Here is how to steer clear of the worst offenders, and what to do if they do make it through
Joel Snape
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/15/why-food-poisoning-how-to-avoid-oysters-raw-meat ( Read more... )

The great outdoor freezer has roared back to life! Stay warm!

Subzero temperatures are on their way to the Twin Cities this weekend, and it could be the coldest December day in decades. If “the temperature drops to -11 or colder Saturday night, that will be the earliest we’ve seen that kind of reading or colder since 1996. If we can slip to -12 or colder, that bar is even farther back, 1989,” according to Bring Me The News. And while that’s cold, it’s also worth noting that we had much colder Decembers in decades past: “December as a whole has warmed an eye-popping 5.5 degrees in just 50 years, our fastest warming winter month.” 
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-weather/deep-freeze-could-bring-cold-the-twin-cities-hasnt-felt-this-early-in-30-years

There’s finally a plan for George Floyd Square. The Minneapolis City Council approved the “flexible-open” option for the intersection of 38th and Chicago, KSTP reports. This option “will keep Chicago Avenue open to traffic — including buses — but will allow for temporary closures for special events.” 
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minneapolis-city-council-finalizes-plan-for-george-floyd-square-that-allows-through-traffic/

If you’re willing to brave the cold, Racket offered their weekly compendium of free things to do this weekend. You’ll find plenty of holiday-related activities to do gratis. Via MinnPost
https://racketmn.com/freeloader-friday-163-free-things-to-do-this-weekend

The level of disfunction in Twin Lakes has grown such that many townsfolk are calling for the city government to be dissolved, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. “The shouting, threats and sarcastic barbs have been flying for months at city meetings in this town of 130 near the Iowa border. There are complaints about tap water running black, fights over city hiring and multiple allegations of misdeeds. … In a small-town smackdown, 34 residents have signed a petition to take Twin Lakes off the map by dissolving the city government.” This piece reads with all the intrigue and tension of a reality TV drama. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/twin-lakes-minnesota-dissolve-city-township/601536850?utm_source=gift

Counterpoint: Ranked-choice voting didn’t fail Minneapolis
RCV has ensured majority winners, given voters more meaningful choices, eliminated low-turnout primaries and opened the political process to a broader, more diverse field of candidates.
by Michael Minta
https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2025/12/counterpoint-ranked-choice-voting-didnt-fail-minneapolis/

Trump attacks old foe Biden – but presidential parallels hard to avoid
US president finds himself shouldering same burdens of affordability crisis and the inexorable march of time
David Smith in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/13/trump-biden-rivals

Epstein Pr0n
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2025/dec/12/jeffrey-epstein-released-photos

Our 25 favourite European travel discoveries of 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/dec/13/travel-writers-top-25-favourite-travel-discoveries-europe-2025

Not automagical and quite hard:
Dorothy Parker ‘fwowed up’ in a 1928 review of which children’s classic? The Saturday quiz
From demon, equal and encyclopedia to The Tour of Life and Before the Dawn, test your knowledge with the Saturday quiz
Thomas Eaton
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/13/dorothy-parker-fwowed-1928-childrens-classic-book-review-saturday-quiz

A Quiz for the Rest o' Us
Why do moths eat clothes and how old is the universe? The kids’ quiz
Five multiple-choice questions – set by children – to test your knowledge, and a chance to submit your own junior brainteasers for future quizzes
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/13/why-moths-eat-clothes-how-old-universe-kids-quiz

Automagical Quiz and hard:
Weekly quiz: Which countries said they would boycott Eurovision?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1j9867wppxo

Mike Lindell has officially decided to throw his pillow, er, hat, into the ring, WCCO reports. The MyPillow founder and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump has joined the contest to be the GOP nominee for governor of Minnesota. Incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is running for an unprecedented third consecutive term. Via MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/mike-lindell-minnesota-governor-republican-campaign-mypillow/

Trump signs executive order aimed at preventing states from regulating AI
Order, which lacks the force of law, also creates taskforce whose ‘sole responsibility’ will be challenging states’ AI laws
Nick Robins-Early and Dara Kerr
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/11/trump-executive-order-artificial-intelligence



‘Soil is more important than oil’: inside the perennial grain revolution
Scientists in Kansas believe Kernza could cut emissions, restore degraded soils and reshape the future of agriculture
By Ben Martynoga in Kansas
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/12/soil-is-more-important-than-oil-inside-the-perennial-grain-revolution

Dozens killed in hospital strike in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state
Conflict monitors say the junta has increased airstrikes year-on-year since the start of Myanmar’s civil war
Guardian staff and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/12/dozens-killed-in-hospital-strike-in-myanmars-western-rakhine-state

Changes to polar bear DNA could help them adapt to global heating, study finds
Scientists say bears in southern Greenland differ genetically to those in the north, suggesting they could adjust
Helena Horton Environment reporter
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/12/changes-to-polar-bear-dna-could-help-them-adapt-to-global-heating-study-finds

Papua New Guinea grapples with HIV epidemic as it battles stigma and US aid cuts
Papua New Guinea has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the Asia-Pacific region, with many unaware they have the virus
Marjorie Finkeo in Port Moresby and Virginia Harrison
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/12/papua-new-guinea-hiv-epidemic-stigma-us-aid-cuts

‘Men explicitly loving men is so threatening to the status quo’: why are gay male pop stars being shut out of the music industry?
Not long ago, artists such as Lil Nas X and Olly Alexander were ruling pop. But success has stalled as acts face industry obstacles and rising homophobia. What now?
Jeffrey Ingold
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/dec/12/gay-male-pop-stars-being-shut-out-of-the-music-industry-lil-nas-x-olly-alexander

Review
The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – review roundup
Halcyon Years by Alastair Reynolds; Paris Fantastique by Nicholas Royle; All Tomorrows by CM Kosemen; The Salt Oracle by Lorraine Wilson; The Witching Hour by various authors
Lisa Tuttle
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/dec/12/the-best-recent-science-fiction-fantasy-and-horror-review-roundup

The Director to Flesh: The 25 best books of 2025
Rebecca Laurence and Lindsay Baker
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250619-the-best-books-of-2025

'Beyond gender': Psychedelics are revealing hidden sides to people's identity
By Rachel Nuwer
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251211-psychedelics-are-altering-how-people-see-their-own-gender-and-sexuality

Nothing to see here, folks. These aren't the grifters you're looking for. Move along.
US senator calls for insider trading inquiry over Trump donors buying $12m worth of shares
Co-chairs of LNG firm, who bought stock worth almost $12m each after meeting with Trump officials, deny wrongdoing
Nina Lakhani and Joseph Gedeon
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/10/trump-donors-insider-trading-investigation-senate

Hindsight is always 20/20
Wrong voters, wrong message: progressives’ autopsy lays bare Kamala Harris failures
RootsAction report finds Harris courted moderates instead of working-class Democrats – and Gaza stance did not help
David Smith in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/kamala-harris-election-autopsy

Just 0.001% hold three times the wealth of poorest half of humanity, report finds
Data from World Inequality Report also showed top 10% of income-earners earn more than the other 90%
Jon Henley
https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2025/dec/10/just-0001-hold-three-times-the-wealth-of-poorest-half-of-humanity-report-finds

Tourists to US would have to reveal five years of social media activity under new Trump plan
Proposed plan would apply to tourists of all countries, including those not required to get a visa to visit the US
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/tourists-social-media-trump

Trump’s crackdown on factchecker visas will not protect free speech
Margaret Sullivan
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/09/trumps-fact-checker-visa-free-speech

Font of ‘wasteful’ diversity: Trump’s state department orders return to Times New Roman
Memo from Marco Rubio reportedly said cutting Calibri from official communication would ‘abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program’
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/trump-times-new-roman-font-return-state-department

Gen-Zine: DIY publications find new life as form of resistance against Trump
an illustration of people making zines
People of all ages, from all regions, are making, printing and distributing zines on the streets, in libraries and at local gathering spots.
Zines have made a resurgence as communities seek to share information on everything from ICE raids to local elections
Mallory Carra
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/dec/10/zine-revival-organizing-social-media

Why has the price of silver hit a record high?
Osmond Chia
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62vn22523xo