Assange monitor | US officials monitored pro-Assange protests in Australia for “anti-US sentiment”, warned of “increasing sympathy, particularly on the left” for the WikiLeaks founder in his home country and derided local media’s “sensationalist” reporting of the explosive 2010 cable leaks, previously classified records show.

Reef fears | Cyclone Jasper’s slow-moving progress across the Coral Sea exposed as much as 20% of the Great Barrier Reef to waves high enough to break apart corals, according to modelling by scientists, who are also worried that flood waters that drained out into the reef’s lagoon waters could damage corals and seagrass meadows close to shore.

Albanese speech | Anthony Albanese has declared Australia is not trying to “hold back a changing world or isolate ourselves from it” as it pursues the Aukus pact while also rebuilding the country’s standing in the Pacific.

Gambling lobby | Gambling companies, broadcasters, sport bodies and technology firms have all sought or secured meetings with the communications minister and her staff to respond to a proposed total ban on wagering advertising.

Meal deal | Skyrocketing rents are forcing Australia’s urban restaurateurs to innovate and and experiment, leading a rise in eating venues in car parks, disused petrol stations and car washes.

Call to arms | Ukraine’s President VolodomyrZelenskiy says the country’s military wants an additional 450,000 to 500,000 people to be mobilised into the army but that a final decision had not been taken. Speaking in his end-of-year address, Zelenskiy also said elections could not be held while the war continued.

Palestinian casualties near 20,000 | Israeli forces have bombed a home in southern Gaza, killing 25 people, hit a refugee camp in the north and raided one of the area’s last operating hospitals, as Palestinian casualties in the territory climbed towards 20,000.

Activist on trial | Li Qiaochu, a human rights activist detained for nearly three years in China, has gone on trial in Shandong province charged with “inciting subversion of state power”.

Michelle’s moan | The bitter fallout among UK Conservatives over PPE contracts deepened after the life peer and bra tycoon Michelle Mone launched a spray at a former minister after he accused her of not being honest about her financial interests.

Handbags at dawn | A descendant of the Hermès luxury handbag empire is engulfed in a public battle with the charitable foundation he founded after reports that he planned to cut its funding and leave billions to his former gardener.

Cricket | Australia’s captain Pat Cummins has capped off a triumphant year by becoming the highest-paid player in the history of the Indian Premier League auction – only for team-mate Mitchell Starc to break the record an hour later.

Rugby union | Michael Cheika could return as Wallabies coach after ending his stint in Argentina, with Rugby Australia’s chief executive, Phil Waugh, not ruling out a second term.

Golf | The field at next year’s US Masters will be the smallest for years with as few as 77 players expected to compete at Augusta.

Launceston | A man charged with murdering teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell will appear in court.

Queensland | An urgent interim restraint order application by state government against a composting facility causing foul smell in Ipswich will be reviewed.

Politics | New Zealand’s prime minister, Chris Luxton, will visit Sydney.

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