News stories I’ve been reading:

• Joe Biden pardons his son, contradicting his own pledge — The outgoing US president insists that his son, convicted of tax fraud and possession of an illegal weapon, has been ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.’ Both cases were investigated by an independent prosecutor. — Le Monde
• Biden seen holding anti-Israel book during Black Friday shopping excursion — Biden was spotted holding a copy of ‘The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017’ — Fox News
• Zelenskyy Finally Says He Will Give Up Ukrainian Territory – In Return For Joining the ‘NATO Umbrella’ — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he will give up territory to achieve an end to the war with Russia. — The Gateway Pundit
• Sex workers in Belgium granted employment rights including maternity pay and pensions — The new law puts them on a par with other professionals after the industry was decriminalised in 2022. — Sky News
• Trump threatens 100% tariff on BRICS countries if they pursue creating new currency — President-elect Donald Trump said he would require countries that are part of BRICS — a China- and Russia-backed group of emerging economies — to commit to not creating new currency or face 100% tariffs during his administration. — CNN
• Crypto executive eats banana artwork bought for $9.6 million, says it tasted ‘quite good’ — A cryptocurrency entrepreneur who bought a piece of conceptual art consisting of a simple banana, duct-taped to a wall, for $US6.2 million ($9.6 million) last week, ate the fruit in Hong Kong on Friday. — The Sidney Morning Herald