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Trump’s authoritarian threat to Europe and the UK No room for complacency: the signs are that US authoritarianism will spread here – and we must be prepared By Helen Johnston

War and organised crime claim record victims as 67 journalists murdered in 2025, with nearly half killed by Israeli forces in Gaza By Barry White

UN meeting highlights record numbers of executions and human rights violations in Iran while Europe remains largely silent By Dr Ela Zabihi

Christmas, talent and professional ethics: a time to take stock? The season of advent invites us to reflect on our values and on whether we are using our skills for the advancement of the common good By Dr Ann Marie Mealey

Look closely and the real magic of Christmas can be found everywhere, even in a shopping centre grotto By Steve Pottinger

A carol, on the occasion of the usual charlatans’ attempt to bolster their flagging fortunes by enlisting God to the cause of division By Steve Pottinger

Fixing Brexit’s damage isn’t ‘betrayal’ Every attempt to limit Brexit’s damage is branded a “betrayal” – but it’s the broken promises of 2016 that still haunt Britain By Sue Wilson MBE

Don’t feed the trolls: astroturfers, sealions and mashed potatoes From orchestrated bot campaigns to individuals expressing faux concern or inflaming dissent, beware of engaging with online trolls By Dr Pam Jarvis @drpam.bsky.social

The season of advent invites us to reflect on our values and on whether we are using our skills for the advancement of the common good By Dr Ann Marie Mealey

Six of the best: books ‘y’al’ (yet another listicle) Honestly and truly, although we may at times deny it, most of us love us a good old-fashioned listicle By Philip O'Brien

Following COP30 in Brazil, does UN decision-making need reform? Addressing climate crisis is too urgent to allow it to be ambushed by a bureaucratic agreement process, vested interests or tactical veto By Bryn Glover

What a difference an O makes? Like its sleekly polished French-style macaron cousin, these rugged Italian saffron macaroons conceal a light squidgy interior By Meryl White @grandmaabson.bsky.social

Wilder Humber marks UK’s largest intertidal oyster release As a multi-agency project reintroduces 300,000 native oysters to the Humber estuary, volunteer citizen scientists play a vital part By Laura Welton

Has spontaneity died? How staying in became the new going out  As nightclubs close and social media booms, we could be witnessing the death of a real 'night out’ By Alexandra Chippindale

There is growing evidence that the law does not protect employees from harassment or violence. Liz Saville Roberts MP and Baroness Carmen Smith of Llanfaes set out their proposals for change | Liz Saville Roberts

Terrified: when the call is coming from inside the house Western media are all too ready to label every violent incident ‘terrorism’, but maybe the worst terrorist is the man in the White House By J 'Masharubu' Strauss

Trump’s authoritarian threat to Europe and the UK No room for complacency: the signs are that US authoritarianism will spread here – and we must be prepared By Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Evergreen comedy performer Billy Pearce and singer Sinitta lead a strong cast in the traditional seasonal panto fun By Graham Clark

1/ We have now exceeded over 4 million reads of our Powerful Citizen journalism in 2025 and rising. Help us look forward to a brilliant 2026 by supporting citizen voices and becoming a friend of Bylines Network

Iran and the human rights battle: why has the world reacted again? UN meeting highlights record numbers of executions and human rights violations in Iran while Europe remains largely silent By Dr Ela Zabihi

🎄 At last night’s @bradfordcouncil.bsky.social meeting, #Bradford Conservatives brought forward a proposal to bring #Christmas Cheer ... by cutting Council Tax Support for the most vulnerable in our district ... 🗣️ I was lost for words. Luckily I had a poem prepared ... #WealthTaxNow

In response to increasing cutbacks in university spending, students at Sheffield Hallam vote for new student union priority, ‘No Cuts’ By Bram Malins

Honestly and truly, although we may at times deny it, most of us love us a good old-fashioned listicle By Philip O'Brien

Bylines Network doesn’t have billionaire backers, corporate owners or political paymasters. By becoming a Friend of Bylines, you’re supporting our journalism, investing in stronger communities, helping us deepen public understanding and strengthening democracy. bylinesnetwork.co.uk/friends-of-b...

Huge congratulations to Scottish artist Nnena Kalu who has been named the winner of this year’s Turner Prize, becoming the first learning-disabled person to claim the award. yorkshirebylines.co.uk/society/cult...

Right to roam: taking the next step for access to the countryside An event in Hebden Bridge celebrating 25 years of the CRoW Act spurs on the movement for further land access rights in England and Wales By Andrew Bibby

As a multi-agency project reintroduces 300,000 native oysters to the Humber estuary, volunteer citizen scientists play a vital part By Laura Welton

Crown Prosecution Service statistics on prosecutions make depressing reading, but reflect the lived experience of trans people By Marie Shrewsbury

A Christmas Carol brought home to Leeds Charles Dickens’ much-loved tale of the perils of greed, the power of community spirit and of ultimate redemption is a seasonal feast By Ginny Gilmore

The functional decriminalisation of transphobic hate crime in the UK Crown Prosecution Service statistics on prosecutions make depressing reading, but reflect the lived experience of trans people By Marie Shrewsbury

Short stories by and about Bradford writers – plus an exciting BBC local writing opportunity for 2026 By Yvonne Illingworth

MI5 snooping on phone data to identify BBC journalist’s sources MI5 repeatedly tried to obtain a BBC journalist’s phone records unlawfully, a London tribunal has heard By Barry White

Can the European Union ensure that its well-intentioned ‘Democracy Shield’ is more than a soundbite? By Professor Juliet Lodge

Revisiting Yorkshire Water's “abject failure of planning” documented in our August article, the hosepipe ban has finally been repealed after a particularly waterlogged November yorkshirebylines.co.uk/region/yorks...

How can small businesses decide if AI is the right choice to improve their systems? By David Tyler

Celebrating a real Harrogate tradition, this festive season offers a sparkling panto for all the family, with a great ensemble cast By Graham Clark

Western media are all too ready to label every violent incident ‘terrorism’, but maybe the worst terrorist is the man in the White House By J 'Masharubu' Strauss

Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’ The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit By Anthony Robinson

An event in Hebden Bridge celebrating 25 years of the CRoW Act spurs on the movement for further land access rights in England and Wales By Andrew Bibby

Using citizen science to improve our becks and rivers for nature and people The importance of citizen scientists in monitoring, reporting and campaigning for action on water contamination cannot be understated By David Miles

EU Democracy Shield – fluff or puff? Can the European Union ensure that its well-intentioned ‘Democracy Shield’ is more than a soundbite? By Professor Juliet Lodge @julietl.bsky.social

The importance of citizen scientists in monitoring, reporting and campaigning for action on water contamination cannot be understated By David Miles

Works in progress: inside Hebden Bridge Open Studios In and around Hebden Bridge, artists will open their workshops this December: from printing to silverwork and more – meet some of the makers By Philip O'Brien

A Christmas Carol brought home to Leeds Charles Dickens’ much-loved tale of the perils of greed, the power of community spirit and of ultimate redemption is a seasonal feast By Ginny Gilmore @gingoddess.bsky.social

Plastic pollution: a crisis requiring systemic change Plastic pollution is worsened by warming climate and must be stemmed, researchers warn By Brian McHugh

How can small businesses decide if AI is the right choice to improve their systems? By David Tyler

Patriotism and prejudice in the UK’s ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign  The red-cross flag of St George has become a common sight in recent times – is it for a shared love of country or a ‘Keep Out’ sign? By Emily Georgiadis

Got to please their paymasters Reform UK rails against net zero, but evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy. UK net zero economy has grown by 10.1% since 2023 The sector has generated £83.1bn in gross value added (GVA) over the last year @yorkshirebylines.co.uk

HM Treasury before the ref and the Tories own post ref DexEU department both produced analysis showing there was NO version of Brexit which could have worked for the economy. Tories did it anyway www.gov.uk/government/p...