Trump depends on the EU and UK to act as peacemakers more than he thinks

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The US doesn’t need to spend more on Ukraine. Britain can bring funding to the table – and help Trump reboot alliances

With Donald Trump the very meaning of words is up for negotiation. What does he really mean when he promises to “build a wall”? When he pledges to end the Russo-Ukrainian war in one day?

His supporters say they don’t take him literally but seriously – but who decides what “serious” is? The very ambiguity can be part of Trump’s appeal. There’s something exhilarating in the sense one is in an exclusive negotiation with the president to define reality. It’s as if he’s welcoming you backstage from the reality show of politics to the discrete board room where meaning is made.

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Russia ‘aggressive’ and ‘reckless’ in cyber realm and threat to Nato, UK minister to warn

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Pat McFadden will tell cyber summit that Russia ‘won’t think twice about targeting British businesses’ and danger to Nato must not be underestimated

Russia is “exceptionally aggressive and reckless in the cyber realm” and “no one should underestimate” the threat to Nato, a senior UK minister will warn in a speech on Monday.

Pat McFadden, whose portfolio includes national security, will tell a Nato cybersecurity conference in London that Moscow “won’t think twice about targeting British businesses”, according to excerpts of his address released on Sunday by his ministry.

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Philippine vice president publicly threatens to have the president assassinated – KSL.com

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  1. Philippine vice president publicly threatens to have the president assassinated  KSL.com
  2. Philippine vice president makes public assassination threat against country's president  Fox News
  3. Philippine VP's assassination threat against president a national security matter, official says  Reuters
  4. Philippine vice president says she would have Marcos assassinated if she is killed  CNN
  5. Philippines VP Sara Duterte threatens Marcos assassination if she is killed  Al Jazeera English
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U.N. Reaches $300 Billion Climate Financing Deal as Trump Looms – The Wall Street Journal

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  1. U.N. Reaches $300 Billion Climate Financing Deal as Trump Looms  The Wall Street Journal
  2. World agrees to climate deal on financial aid for developing countries after summit nearly implodes  CNN
  3. Climate summit ends with a long-fought deal — and a lot of anger  POLITICO
  4. Here’s what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks  The Associated Press
  5. COP29 Climate Talks Get a Deal on Money, but Only After a Fight  The New York Times
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Labor dumps misinformation bill after Senate unites against it

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Communications minister Michelle Rowland will also not unveil any gambling ad ban legislation in the last sitting week of the year

The Albanese government has dumped its controversial mis- and disinformation bill, conceding there is “no pathway” to getting the proposal passed through the Senate.

The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, insisted misinformation and disinformation remained a grave concern for democracy, national security and online safety, but said the government would not proceed with the proposal. It is the second time Labor has pulled the bill, after an initial version also failed to gain support and raised concerns about freedom of speech online.

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Parents of teenagers who died in suspected Laos methanol poisoning hope deaths ‘not in vain’

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Bianca Jones’s father urged Laos government to investigate deaths to the ‘fullest’ and ensure it could not happen again

Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones’s devastated families have pleaded with Laos authorities to get to the bottom of a mass methanol poisoning tragedy.

The Australians, both 19, are among six foreign tourists who have died from a suspected methanol poisoning event in Laos.

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Disappearance of Rabbi in UAE prompts Mossad investigation – BBC.com

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  1. Disappearance of Rabbi in UAE prompts Mossad investigation  BBC.com
  2. Rabbi feared kidnapped, killed by terrorists after going missing, prompting investigation  Fox News
  3. An Israeli citizen is missing in the UAE. Israel says ‘information’ suggests a terror incident  CNN
  4. Israeli Spy Agency Investigates Missing Jewish Community Leader in U.A.E.  The Wall Street Journal
  5. Chabad ‘deeply concerned’ by emissary’s disappearance, calls on public to pray for him  The Times of Israel
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Parents of surviving Bali Nine inmates ‘quietly hopeful’ as minister confirms talks under way to return them to Australia

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Five remaining members would continue to serve sentences upon returning under proposal, trade minister Don Farrell says

The parents of the surviving Bali Nine members are “quietly hopeful” their children will be repatriated to Australia in a deal with the Indonesian government, according to a pastor who has been in close contact with them for 20 years.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, raised their repatriation during a meeting with the Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Peru last week. Senior Australian ministers have confirmed negotiations between the two nations are ongoing.

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What the ‘show me the money’ climate summit tells us about the new Trump era – POLITICO

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  1. What the ‘show me the money’ climate summit tells us about the new Trump era  POLITICO
  2. COP29: How is the world doing on tackling climate change?  BBC.com
  3. ‘It’s really an honour’: people of oil-rich Azerbaijan welcome climate summit  The Guardian
  4. COP29: The Dictatorship of the Petroletariat  Democracy Now!
  5. Editorial: Let’s not let political chaos distract us from the unfolding climate catastrophe  Los Angeles Times
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School bullies have moved online. But is banning all under-16s from social media really the answer? – Yahoo! Voices

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  1. School bullies have moved online. But is banning all under-16s from social media really the answer?  Yahoo! Voices
  2. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet  Yahoo! Voices
  3. Australia launches 'landmark' bill to ban social media for children under 16  Reuters
  4. Australia wants to ban kids from social media. Will it work?  BBC.com
  5. Social media ban for UK under-16s ‘not on the cards’ for now, says minister  The Guardian
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Alcohol poisoning deaths in Laos renew concerns about methanol. Here’s what to know – NPR

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  1. Alcohol poisoning deaths in Laos renew concerns about methanol. Here's what to know  NPR
  2. Sixth person dies after suspected mass drink-spiking in Laos  Yahoo! Voices
  3. Young Danish women killed in Laos methanol poisoning are identified as death toll rises to six - as heartbreak  Daily Mail
  4. Laos government ‘profoundly saddened’ by deaths of tourists in Vang Vieng  The Guardian
  5. Deadly alcohol poisoning casts shadow over the Laotian backpacker town  The Associated Press
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Trump picks Brooke Rollins to lead Department of Agriculture

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Choice of president of America First Policy Institute completes top cabinet picks for president-elect

Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary.

“As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,” the US president-elect said in a statement.

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Unidentified drones spotted over three UK airbases, US air force confirms

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Unmanned aerial systems seen over RAF bases in Suffolk and Norfolk but US air force does not know if they were hostile

A number of unidentified drones have been spotted over three airbases in Britain, the US air force has confirmed.

“Small unmanned aerial systems” were seen between 20 and 22 November over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.

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