Cheaper medicines, rules for cash and new state laws: what will change in Australia on 1 January? 30. December 2025 (15:00) Changes include the Victorian government expanding land taxes and Queensland introducing a child sex offender registerGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCheaper medicines on the PBS, a Medicare phone service and new laws mandating businesses to accept cash payments are just some of the major changes coming into effect in the first week of 2026.Indexation increases to social security payments, changes to childcare settings and a new online mental health service will also kick in from the beginning of January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine war live: Russia says it has moved its nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles into Belarus 30. December 2025 (14:49) Move could feasibly allow Russian missiles to reach European targets faster from Belarus, its neighbouring ally that also shares a border with Nato countries Poland, Lithuania and LatviaGermany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has echoed Donald Tusk’s optimistic tone regarding talks on ending the war in Ukraine.He posted to X to confirm there had been “another round of consultations” with “European and Canadian partners”. It is not clear who was in the meeting.Peace is on the horizon, there is no doubt that things have happened that give grounds for hope that this war can end, and quite quickly, but it is still a hope, far from 100% certain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Eurostar cancels all trains to and from London after Channel tunnel power cut 30. December 2025 (14:16) Passengers urged to change plans after problem with overhead power supply and failed LeShuttle trainBusiness live – latest updatesAll Eurostar trains to and from St Pancras International have been suspended, after a power outage which has affected all trains using the Channel tunnel.A Eurostar spokesperson confirmed all its services had been halted until further notice, and declined to say when trains would begin running again. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iceland has hottest Christmas Eve ever with temperature of 19.8C recorded 30. December 2025 (14:13) Meteorological office reports high temperatures across country and record measured at Seyðisfjörður in eastRecord temperatures of almost 20C were reached in Iceland on Christmas Eve, the local meteorological office has confirmed.Seyðisfjörður, a small town in the east of Iceland, hit 19.8C on 24 December. Average December temperatures in Iceland are between -1C and 4C. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Despair for would-be US citizens as American dream blocked by Trump 30. December 2025 (13:00) Aspirant Americans tell of exclusions from ceremonies by sudden policy introduced on ‘security’ groundsThe occasion should have been marked by the joy of reaching the destination of US citizenship following the long odyssey of immigration.Instead, the ceremony at Boston’s Faneuil Hall – renowned as a “cradle of liberty” for its role as a protest hub in the run-up to the American revolution – felt like a nightmarish end of the road for some aspirant new Americans who had turned up full of hope. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK’s warmest spring on record led to rise in songbirds breeding, data shows 30. December 2025 (12:38) Dry and warm 2025 spring gave glimmer of hope for threatened wild birds but many remain in long-term declineThe warmest and sunniest spring on record this year led to an increase in the breeding of some of Britain’s best-loved songbirds, data has shown.Scientists said the dry and warm spring had provided a glimmer of hope for threatened wild birds. In the 2025 breeding season, from May to August, there were higher than average breeding successes for 14 species including the chiffchaff, garden warbler, whitethroat, coal tit, blue tit, great tit and robin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Renewable energy project approvals hit record high in GB in 2025, data shows 30. December 2025 (12:19) Applications to build battery storage drive boom as offshore wind projects given go-ahead jump sevenfold year on yearA record number of renewable energy projects were given the go-ahead in Great Britain in 2025, after planning approvals almost doubled year on year, according to an analysis.The energy capacity of new battery, wind, and solar projects that received approval climbed to 45GW this year, 96% higher than in 2024, according to data from Cornwall Insight. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Zack is a phenomenal leader’: Siân Berry on the Green party’s next steps as membership doubles 30. December 2025 (12:00) Since Zack Polanski took over as leader, the party has doubled its membership and its four MPs want to take on Reform’s anger and build community spirit“Someone has to be out there making the narrative for social security. Someone has to fight the corrosive attitudes to people on benefits,” says Siân Berry, who has just finished her first year as a Green MP in the House of Commons.She is speaking to the Guardian in her Brighton constituency office, formerly occupied by the legendary Caroline Lucas who flew a lone flag as the only member of parliament for the Green party for 14 years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Unite leader issues blunt warning to Labour about ‘failing to back workers’ 30. December 2025 (11:47) General secretary of party’s main union backer says it must change course or risk sowing seeds of its own destructionUnite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, has told the government it must do more for workers in 2026 or risk sowing the seeds of its own destruction.Graham accused Labour of being preoccupied with its “failing leadership” and described the debate about who might replace Keir Starmer as inevitable. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Marks & Spencer launches ‘nutrient dense’ range for people on weight-loss jabs 30. December 2025 (10:39) New M&S salads, breads, yoghurt bowls and chicken dinners come as more Britons turn to Mounjaro and WegovyBusiness live – latest updatesMarks & Spencer is targeting weight-loss jab users with a new range of “nutrient dense” food that it claims will satisfy customers who are eating less.The retailer said the range, which launches on 5 January and includes salads, breads, yoghurt bowls and chicken dinners, is “perfectly portioned to contain high amounts of nutrients per calorie”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
