Donald Trump: the Grinch who turned Christmas into a political battleground

Pre-Trump, when someone wished me a Merry Christmas I was pleased – now I wonder if they’re making some sort of passive-aggressive statement

I celebrate Christmas, but the cards I send out every year say “Happy Holidays”. I never considered this a political statement, just a statement of fact – the people I’v mailed well-wishes to celebrate all sorts of different things, and so my greetings reflect that.

Any controversy over Christmas always felt like a Fox News conspiracy theory; but this year the president of the United States is claiming some sort of victory in an imaginary war against the most popular and well-represented holiday in the country. And it left me feeling a bit bah-humbug-ish.

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Russia collusion inquiry faces a big 2018 – but will Trump let Mueller finish the job?

The investigation is likely to produce further indictments and perhaps an interview with the president himself, but things are not certain to run smoothly

From his starting point in May through the end of 2017, special counsel Robert Mueller indicted two former top aides to Donald Trump and made plea deals with two others, including the president’s former national security adviser.

Mueller’s work is almost done, the White House says – but almost no one else thinks that.

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Australia rugby star Karmichael Hunt faces drugs charge

Karmichael Hunt was arrested in Brisbane after being found with a white powder, reports say.

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Cardboard tents distributed to Brussels homeless

The tents were designed by jobseekers and made using donated cardboard by a prison workshop.

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Argentina father jailed for keeping daughter as 'sex slave'

Domingo Bulacio is jailed for 12 years for raping his daughter over decades, fathering eight children.

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Sue Grafton: Alphabet crime author dies aged 77

Sue Grafton's series of murder mystery 'alphabet' novels have been translated into 26 languages.

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Unrest at protests in many Iran cities

Footage from the town of Dorud shows a crowd carrying what appears to be a wounded man.

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