figment

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

Analysis
Trickle release of Epstein files on a Friday signals move to bury Trump ties
Sam Levine in New York
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/20/epstein-files-release-strategy-trump

Analysis
Trump over-promises and under-delivers with heavily redacted Epstein cache
David Smith in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/19/doj-epstein-files-release-redacted-trump

Trump, tech barons and a title-less Andrew: how well do you remember 2025? – quiz
From pop to politics, it’s been quite the year. Were you paying attention? Let’s find out …
Will Dean
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/20/trump-tech-barons-and-a-title-less-andrew-2025-quiz

I took my kids to Lapland on the Santa Claus Express – but would the big man deliver?
If meeting Santa is on your family wishlist, this trip on a festive sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with reindeer and huskies thrown in, is Christmas with jingle bells on
Monisha Rajesh
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/dec/20/lapland-santa-claus-express-sleeper-train-family-trip

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

‘Like a mini Louvre’: two generations of Rothschilds fight over treasure trove of artworks
Baronesses Nadine and Ariane de Rothschild at odds over future of Swiss chateau’s priceless contents
Kim Willsher in Paris
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/14/like-a-mini-louvre-two-generations-of-rothschilds-fight-over-treasure-trove-of-artworks

Two girls, 9 and 11, awarded $31.5m after sister’s California torture death
Arabella McCormack, 11, died after being tortured and starved by adoptive family and police and church failed to intervene
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/13/adopted-girl-torture-death-california-settlement

Review
The Revenge Club review – this starry divorce caper makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time
Martin Compston and Meera Syal are among the names in this tale of divorcees hitting back at their exes. It’s a thriller, comedy and psychodrama all at once – but could maybe do with being more simple
Lucy Mangan
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/12/the-revenge-club-review-this-starry-divorce-caper-makes-you-want-to-laugh-and-cry-at-the-same-time

Washington state flood waters receding after days of rescues and evacuations
No fatalities reported in flooding, which prompted Trump to approve emergency declaration request from governor
Marina Dunbar
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/13/washington-state-flood-waters-recede

Psychedelic treatments show promise for OCD while cannabis doesn’t, review finds
Psychiatry professor theorizes that the difference is related to how the substances interact with areas of the brain
Hannah Harris Green
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/13/psychedelics-ocd-treatment-psilocybin

The Geminid meteor shower and hundreds of Santas: photos of the weekend
The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world
Arnel Hecimovic
https://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2025/dec/14/the-geminid-meteor-shower-and-hundreds-of-santas-photos-of-the-weekend

Bondi -- It was heading for 100 degrees fondly Fahrenheit, the only time I've been to Bondi Beach. No shooters, though. FYI: It's pronounced BOND-EYE Beach, not Bondy Beach. Who knew?

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

Anybody heard of a rehearsal? Mangling nominees’ names may be traditional – but it’s still embarrassing
Yesterday’s Golden Globes announcement was a masterclass in mispronunciation that threatens to undo every effort to internationalise awards. Why can’t producers just make their presenters practise?
Stuart Heritage
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/09/anybody-heard-of-a-rehearsal-mangling-nominees-names-may-be-traditional-but-its-still-embarrassing

Review
Heated Rivalry: this horny gay ice hockey drama has everyone talking – but is it any good?
HBO’s new show is part of a wave of gay-themed romance – from Heartstopper to Red, White and Royal Blue – that desexes gay men just enough to make them palatable, like pets for young women
Tim Byrne
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/08/heated-rivalry-ice-hockey-tv-show-review

Pluribus to Alien: Earth: The 25 best TV shows of 2025
Caryn James and Hugh Montgomery
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250417-the-best-tv-shows-of-2025

‘This is the real Santa’s workshop’: a trip to Germany’s toy village
You don’t have to be a child to enjoy Seiffen, the magical ‘home of Christmas’ where they’ve been making traditional wooden toys for hundreds of years
Rebecca Smith
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/dec/09/germanys-toy-village-seiffen-home-christmas

A new start after 60: I moved on to a boat, fell in love – then opened my own restaurant
After a lifetime of working for others, Rich Baker threw caution to the wind. The result was a national award for his pizza and a surprising surge in confidence
Paula Cocozza
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/08/new-start-after-60-moved-to-boat-fell-in-love-opened-restaurant

‘When the church door opens, it’s like a miracle’: the phone app that’s a key to Italy’s religious art
A cultural initiative in Piedmont is unlocking a trove of priceless medieval frescoes in rural churches
Lavinia Nocelli
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/dec/08/new-app-helped-me-discover-beautiful-art-churches-chapels-piedmont-italy

We asked activists from authoritarian regimes what they wish they’d known sooner. Here’s what they said
Activists from Hungary, El Salvador and Turkey offer advice to the US about what they’ve learned about authoritarians
Danielle Renwick
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/09/experts-authoritarian-regimes-trump

Minnesota’s budget is headed for an imbalance, but who or what’s to blame? We asked economists to weigh in
Spending on health and human services is growing, but so is economic volatility from tariffs and other federal policies.
by Shadi Bushra
https://www.minnpost.com/economy/2025/12/minnesotas-budget-is-headed-for-an-imbalance-but-who-or-whats-to-blame-we-asked-economists-to-weigh-in/

The anti-materialist Christmas: Rituals around the world that swap gifts for meaning
Laura Hall
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20251208-the-anti-materialist-christmas-rituals-around-the-world-that-swap-gifts-for-meaning

Pioneering new treatment reverses incurable blood cancer in some patients
James Gallagher
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj38ymeyg4mo

New mpox strain identified in England
Philippa Roxby
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2087g0z9po