The UK government has revised its plan to introduce a 20% tax on inherited farmland, increasing the proposed threshold from £1 million to £2.5 million in response to pressure from farmers and Labour backbenchers. This change aims to protect more ordinary family farms, but critics argue it still falls short of addressing the concerns of all affected businesses. The decision follows months of protests and concerns from farmers and rural communities, as reported by multiple news sources, including PA Media and BBC Radio 5 Live.

Nasry Tito Asfura, backed by Donald Trump, has been declared the winner of Honduras' presidential election after a month-long vote count fraught with fraud allegations. The narrow victory over Salvador Nasralla, with a margin of roughly 28,000 votes, has drawn criticism due to the electoral council's decision to announce the winner before completing a full review of inconsistent ballots. The Organization of American States has expressed concerns over the process.

Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile, positioning himself as a key contender in upcoming general elections. His return follows the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now in exile and whose party faces challenges participating in the elections, which are viewed as pivotal for the country's future. Rahman had previously been subject to criminal investigations but was cleared of all charges after Hasina's removal from power.

Venezuela's National Assembly has passed a law imposing up to 20 years in prison for individuals supporting or financing US-led blockades and acts of piracy. The legislation, aimed at protecting the national economy and living standards, comes after the US seized oil tankers linked to Venezuela, a move denounced by President Nicolas Maduro as lawless piracy. The move marks a further escalation in tensions between the two countries, with the US deploying military forces to Latin America and threatening land strikes on Venezuelan targets.

The US Department of Justice has discovered over a million additional documents potentially linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, citing the need for further review before releasing the information as mandated by the recently enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act. The delay in release has been attributed to the complexity of reviewing the large volume of documents, which is being conducted in collaboration with the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI. This development comes as part of ongoing efforts to provide transparency into Epstein's case and related investigations.

In a closely contested Honduran presidential election, Nasry Asfura, backed by US President Donald Trump, has been declared the winner with 40.3% of the vote, narrowly edging out Salvador Nasralla. The election was marred by technical delays and allegations of fraud, prompting protests and controversy, but US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged respect for the result. This outcome draws from multiple news sources, including the BBC and Reuters.

Brazil's Supreme Court has granted former President Jair Bolsonaro permission to temporarily leave prison for a scheduled hernia surgery on Christmas Day due to ongoing health complications. This decision comes as Bolsonaro serves a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after his 2022 election loss, and follows a history of health issues including a 2018 stabbing and recent intestinal surgery. The ruling, made by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, allows Bolsonaro to be transferred to a hospital for the surgery.

In a rare and significant loss for former President Donald Trump, the US Supreme Court ruled that his deployment of National Guard troops to quell protests outside an immigration detention facility in Illinois was a violation of federal law. The decision, which was joined by three Republican justices, marks a rare instance of the Court limiting Trump's presidential authority. The ruling highlights the Court's willingness to apply the law to even the most powerful individuals, including former presidents.

The UK government has revised its plan to introduce a 20% tax on inherited farmland, increasing the threshold from £1 million to £2.5 million in response to pressure from farmers and Labour backbenchers. This decision aims to protect more ordinary family farms from the tax, but critics argue it still falls short of addressing the concerns of all affected businesses. The change follows months of protests and concerns from rural communities, as reported by multiple news sources including PA Media and BBC Radio 5 Live.

Syria's fragile security situation has taken a turn for the worse, with renewed fighting between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo, highlighting the country's ongoing volatility. The stalled integration of the SDF with the army, a key component of a previously agreed-upon deal, has contributed to the tensions, while other threats such as ISIL, Druze conflicts, and Israeli attacks persist. As Syria approaches a year since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the country's complex security landscape raises concerns about its stability and future prospects.