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Global Brief: UK minister confirms data hack; England sink in Ashes; UK-Germany fighter talks; Game Awards hits 171M streams; US pauses green-card lottery after Brown shooting; Russia strikes Zaporizhzhia; Paul–Joshua hype and weigh-in; judge convicted; hormone pill risk; tech support fiasco; Walthamstow restaurant silenced
Minister Confirms Hack Exposed Government Data
Government data was accessed in a hack, the trade minister confirmed. The minister said an investigation has been launched to determine what was taken and how the breach occurred.
Head scores an unbeaten century as England near defeat in the Ashes Test
Travis Head made an unbeaten 142 and Alex Carey finished 52 not out as Australia reached 271 for 4 at stumps on day three of the third Ashes Test. Australia’s lead stretched to 356, leaving England close to losing and facing the prospect of their fastest Ashes series defeat in more than a century.
UK says Germany could join future fighter programme
The UK says it remains open to new partners joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the UK–Italy–Japan effort to develop a sixth-generation combat aircraft for service around 2035. In a parliamentary response on 18 December, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the three partners are focused on delivering GCAP quickly while keeping the door open to expansion, amid growing uncertainty over the rival European FCAS project and Germany’s long-term position on a next-generation fighter.
The Game Awards 2025 Reaches an Estimated 171 Million Global Livestreams
The Game Awards 2025 set a new viewership record, drawing an estimated 171 million global livestreams across its full broadcast last week.
US suspends green card lottery after Brown University shooting
The US has suspended the green card lottery program after reports that the suspect in the Brown University shooting and the murder of an MIT professor entered the country through the scheme.
Russian airstrikes hit Zaporizhzhia, injuring 35 as fighting intensifies along the front line
Russian strikes hit Zaporizhzhia on 18 December, wounding 35 people and adding to intensified fighting along the front line. In Odesa, attacks on power infrastructure triggered the city’s longest blackout of the war.
Spectacle and serious risks surround a potential Paul vs Joshua fight
Spectacle and serious risk loom large over a potential Paul v Joshua matchup, one of the decade’s most controversial prospective fights, with Britain’s Anthony Joshua insisting he has “no fear” and saying he won’t carry Jake Paul for a second longer than necessary.
Anthony Joshua outweighs Jake Paul by nearly two stone at weigh-in ahead of Miami fight
Anthony Joshua outweighed Jake Paul by nearly two stone at Thursday’s weigh-in for their eight-round heavyweight bout in Miami, coming in at 243.4lb to Paul’s 216.6lb. Joshua made the unusual 245lb limit set for him, while the pair traded heated words and throat-slitting gestures during the face-off. The fight will use 10oz gloves, with ongoing debate about the mismatch in experience and attention focused on the expected Netflix audience.
Jury convicts Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan of obstructing federal agents
A 12-person jury convicted Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan of obstructing federal agents who were attempting to carry out an immigration arrest near her courtroom in April.
Hormone pill linked to a rare, life-threatening condition in a 26-year-old woman
A hormone pill was linked to a rare condition that left Emily, 26, fighting for her life after a sudden onset of extreme pain. She was hospitalized for two weeks.
A user tried to dispute a tech support diagnosis with three incorrect arguments
“User found three reasons – all of them wrong – to dispute tech support's diagnosis” is teased as an entry in On Call, The Register’s reader-submitted column about tech support encounters, hinting at a case involving a teacher and tampered-with cabling.
Walthamstow Restaurant Banned from Playing Loud Music After Repeated Noise Complaints
A Walthamstow restaurant has been prohibited from playing loud music following sustained disruption to nearby residents. The venue has attracted up to 30 noise complaints over the past two years, with locals reporting they are exhausted by the ongoing disturbance.
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