Former Republican senator Ben Sasse's letter announcing his terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis moves readers with its grace and philosophical depth.

Iconic American intellectual Norman Podhoretz died earlier this month, peacefully at 95. Reading this news, I recalled a luncheon conversation with my then colleague George Jonas, whose brilliance and wit graced these pages from 2001 until his death in 2016, during which he asked me to rank the formative intellectual influences that had steered me towards conservatism as my default mindset. I named several writers, but Podhoretz led the pack.  Read More

In 2024, Colorado passed legislation to, supposedly, protect consumers from discrimination by artificial intelligence (AI). Arguably, the law does more to require the incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology (DEI) into the growing technology than to protect people from anything. That has the White House worried that state and local micromanagers will cripple innovation with politicized mandates. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to standardize and limit AI regulation across the country. It’s a promising approach, but it needs firmer support from congressional action. Read More

“Bondi was a warning shot,” cautions Cary Kogan, professor of psychology at the University of Ottawa. “If Western governments aren’t going to deal with the issue (of antisemitism), this is what we’re going to end up with. And I worry; the intelligence community has told us very clearly that there are bad actors here in Canada, and you know, the government needs to listen.” Read More

West Somerset Lagoon would harness renewable energy for UK’s AI boom – and create ‘iconic’ arc around Bristol Channel

The architect of the London Eye wants to build a vast tidal power station in a 14-mile arc off the coast of Somerset that could help Britain meet surging electricity demand to power artificial intelligence – and create a new race track to let cyclists skim over the Bristol Channel.

Julia Barfield, who designed the Eye and the i360 observation tower in Brighton, is part of a team that has drawn up the £11bn proposal. It would curve from Minehead to Watchet and use 125 underwater turbines to harness the power of the second-highest tidal range in the world.

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© Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

© Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

© Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

From a folk murder ballad to an impassioned call for peace, Guardian writers pick their favourite lesser-heard tracks of the year

• The pick of 2025’s film, music, art, TV, stage and games, chosen by Guardian critics and writers

There is a sense of deep knowing and calm to Not Offended, the lone song released this year by the Danish-Montenegrin musician (also an earlier graduate of the Copenhagen music school currently producing every interesting alternative pop star). To warmly droning organ that hangs like the last streak of sunlight above a darkening horizon, Milovic assures someone that they haven’t offended her – but her steady Teutonic tenderness, reminiscent of Molly Nilsson or Sophia Kennedy, suggests that their actions weren’t provocative so much as evasive. Strings flutter tentatively as she addresses this person who can’t look life in the eye right now. “I see you clearly,” Milovic sings, as the drums kick in and the strings become full-blooded: a reminder of the ease that letting go can offer. Laura Snapes

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© Composite: PR

© Composite: PR

© Composite: PR

Pilot programme for under-25s will offer paid placements aimed at introducing participants to military life

Young people in Britain will be offered a gap year-style scheme by the Ministry of Defence, in an effort to introduce citizens to military life early as part of a new “whole of society” approach to defence.

After initially announcing plans to implement the scheme earlier this year, the government has now confirmed that about 150 under-25s will be recruited for the pilot programme, which is due to start in March 2026.

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© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

River Wandle, south London: I can see the water from my bedroom window, the pollution has gone and it’s bursting with life

Most mornings now, I peek out of my bedroom window and immediately feel happy. Right outside, the River Wandle is awake and bursting with life. The grey heron swoops down and swiftly lands with a big splash, then stands up, still as a statue. Once I spotted an electric-blue kingfisher zapping along so quickly that I could barely see it.

Sadly, in February at half-term, there was a diesel leak into the river. A putrid stench came out of the water and the shock of the smell was overwhelming. The shimmering rainbow swirl of oil seemed to kill any fish that were in its path. My family and I were so worried, especially about the birds. The community worked together to clear the spill and monitor the river, and someone came to do a clean-up.

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© Photograph: Family handout

© Photograph: Family handout

© Photograph: Family handout

The Punjabi photographer was delighted with this stunning shot of birds being fed on the Yamuna River in Delhi

Sachin Ghai describes Yamuna Ghat in Delhi, India, as his idea of a photographer’s paradise. “In winter, thousands of migratory birds circle the wooden row boats on the river,” he says. “During foggy, golden sunrises it makes for incredible images.”

For Ghai, travel photography is a passion, so he had orchestrated a short trip from his home in Nabha, Punjab. First, he had visited Agra, to capture the Taj Mahal. The next morning, he awoke before dawn to visit the Yamuna River. Despite being one of the most polluted bodies of water in the world, locals can be seen fishing while visitors take boat rides from the ghat, the name for the flight of stairs that leads to the water.

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© Photograph: Sachin Ghai/ 2025 Türkiye Mobile Photo Awards

© Photograph: Sachin Ghai/ 2025 Türkiye Mobile Photo Awards

© Photograph: Sachin Ghai/ 2025 Türkiye Mobile Photo Awards

Extremist messaging now woven into music and YouTube videos, with one expert saying: ‘You can be radicalised sitting on your couch’

The two men chop peppers, slice aubergines and giggle into the camera as they delve into the art of vegan cooking. Both are wearing ski masks and T-shirts bearing Nazi symbols.

The German videos – titled Balaclava Kitchen – started in 2014 and ran for months before YouTube took down the channel for violating its guidelines.

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© Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

© Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

© Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

Gather your friends and raise a glass to the year gone by with recipes from Thomasina Miers, Honey & Co and Benjamina Ebuehi

When it comes to throwing parties, the world falls into two quite distinct camps: those who love to do so, and those who would rather do almost anything else. Getting organised early is key, and finding a few delicious recipes to start the proceedings will amuse your guests while you try to keep the show on the road.

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© Photograph: Laura Edwards/The Guardian. Food styling: Lucy Turnbull. Prop styling: Rachel Vere.

© Photograph: Laura Edwards/The Guardian. Food styling: Lucy Turnbull. Prop styling: Rachel Vere.

© Photograph: Laura Edwards/The Guardian. Food styling: Lucy Turnbull. Prop styling: Rachel Vere.

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© Illustration: Madeline Horwath/The Guardian

© Illustration: Madeline Horwath/The Guardian

© Illustration: Madeline Horwath/The Guardian

The year 2025 saw a Swift engagement, a rapid rollback of rights and a slow release of the heavily redacted Epstein files

The year 2025 would have been far better if we could have sent a few billionaires and world leaders into intergalactic exile. Instead, we had to make do with Katy Perry spending 11 minutes on the edge of space as part of Blue Origin’s all-female crewed mission. Perry promised us all that, in service of women’s empowerment, the crew would “put the ‘ass’ in astronaut” and “make space and science glam”. Truly, one giant leap for womankind!

Space may have got glam, but it was another glum year for many on Earth. The war in Ukraine continued, with increasing numbers of women volunteering to fight. The civil war in Sudan raged on, with the UN urging the world not to ignore harrowing details of targeted sexual violence, torture, and abductions from the region. The slaughter in Sudan is so extreme that the blood can even be seen from space. Although I’m not sure the billionaires and celebs doing celestial joyrides in their expensive rockets are particularly bothered by that view.

Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist and the author of Strong Female Lead

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© Photograph: Xavi Torrent/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

© Photograph: Xavi Torrent/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

© Photograph: Xavi Torrent/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Dave Blezow makes his ATS picks for Week 17.

Poor Jenny from the Block just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all she got in return was a savage roasting from fans online.

The 26-year-old, who is majoring in nursing, revealed he was "struggling a lot with money" last semester at the private Minneapolis school, which is part of the NCAA's Division III.

You really want me to review my buy? Yes, it was fine. But that is where I would like our relationship to end

When I buy something online, I don’t want to receive more than two emails: one to confirm my order has been received, and another to tell me when it will be delivered. The numerous notifications we receive while browsing, buying and then waiting for delivery are presumably meant to be reassuring. But since when is harassment reassuring?

Imagine a world in which the second you walk into a shop, someone taps you on the shoulder and asks: “Can I help you today?” Then someone asks for your email address in exchange for a 5% discount. When you find what you are looking for and place it in your basket, this instigates more nuisance. “Hurry! Twenty-one other people have this in their basket too!” Of course 21 other people have this in their basket, it’s shower gel and a significant number of people shower. This doesn’t make you rush. It makes you thrilled that the consensus remains in favour of personal hygiene. You wander around the shop a bit more. Someone grabs your arm. “There is still an item in your basket. Don’t forget to check out!”

Athena Kugblenu is a comedian and writer

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© Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

© Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

© Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

From Joe Marler’s visual-only stunts to the incomprehensible shuffling sounds Steven Bartlett recently subjected headphone users to, dodgy audio experiences are on the rise

To understand where we are in the evolution of podcasting, the opening episode of Joe Marler Will See You Now is unexpectedly instructive. The podcast finds Marler, former rugby player and breakout star of The Celebrity Traitors, impersonating a psychotherapist and subjecting guests to “totally unregulated psychological testing”. The mock-therapy conceit is hardly a new one, but on paper it still has the makings of a successful pod. Celebrity host fresh from ratings-busting TV triumph? Check. Fancy studio setup for the viewing crowd? Check. Weird visual stunts that will leave audio listeners baffled? Er … check?

The big news in podcasting from the last 18 months has been the medium’s swift and unstoppable pivot to video. Where a podcast was previously defined as an audio recording available to stream online, it has since expanded to become an umbrella term taking in visual and audio content. The idea, at least in theory, is that audiences get to choose whether they watch or listen. But there are creeping signs that video is taking precedence, with audio considered to be secondary.

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© Photograph: Tom Harrison

© Photograph: Tom Harrison

© Photograph: Tom Harrison

Kentucky’s Thomas Massie used the president’s insult to raise funds to run against a Trump-endorsed candidate

A Kentucky congressman singled out by Donald Trump on Christmas as a “lowlife” after co-authoring a law requiring the federal government to release all of its Jeffrey Epstein files says the president attacked him for keeping a commitment to “help victims”.

Thomas Massie then successfully sought donations for his run for another term in the 2026 midterm elections against an opponent that Trump – his fellow Republican – has already endorsed.

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© Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

© Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

© Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

It is time to roll out the red carpet in recognition of those that worked hard to keep customers at arm’s length

When the year began, I was a listening ear to Your Problems, my column for the Observer. Now I’m a Guardian consumer champion. Reinvention is always bracing. My old life was spent wrestling airlines, insurance firms and energy providers intent on plundering readers’ piggy banks. My new life? Wrestling airlines, insurance firms and energy providers intent on plundering readers’ piggy banks.

It is a comfort in this era of seismic shifts to know some things remain constant. You can bank on energy firms to chill your marrow with billing psychodramas and phantom accounts. Meanwhile, certainty is still the business model of insurers: many would say you can be certain that if you damage your car, or yourself, your provider will look for a reason to stall over your claim.

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© Photograph: Morsa Images/Getty Images

© Photograph: Morsa Images/Getty Images

© Photograph: Morsa Images/Getty Images

The video went viral this week amid the burgeoning scandal enveloping the Walz administration that notably included at least $1 billion lost to alleged social services fraud largely tied to the Somali community in the Twin Cities.

Chuck Redd canceled a Christmas Eve performance after learning the president’s name would be added to the venue

© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Neighbours agree to immediate halt to fighting, freeze on further military movements and ban on airspace violations

© AP

Punk singer’s wife of almost 50 years died in 2023

© Getty Images