Trump not worried by China’s simulated attack on Taiwan, he says, as live-fire drills enter second day 30. December 2025 (04:58) US president says Chinese leader didn’t notify him of the large-scale military drills, which continued with live missile launches into the Taiwan StraitDonald Trump has said he is not worried by China’s live-fire military drills surrounding Taiwan and that he has a great relationship with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who “hasn’t told me anything about it”.The US president made the comments one day into the surprise attack simulation launched by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday, and which continued into Tuesday with live missile launches into the Taiwan Strait. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian cruise ship stuck off PNG ‘detained’ amid investigation into why it ran aground 30. December 2025 (04:41) Coral Adventurer, separately being investigated for allegedly leaving behind passenger who died on Lizard Island, ordered not to leave PNG watersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA cruise ship that ran aground off Papua New Guinea has been “detained” out of concern it’s unseaworthy “due to potential damage”, amid an investigation into how it became stuck on Saturday morning.The Coral Adventurer remained stuck on a reef off the north coast of Papua New Guinea, about 30km from PNG’s second-largest city, Lae, on Tuesday, as efforts to refloat it continue. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Khaleda Zia, first female Bangladesh prime minister, dies aged 80 30. December 2025 (03:13) Zia’s archrivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the country’s politics for a generationFormer Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, whose archrivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined the country’s politics for a generation, has died, her political party said on Tuesday. She was 80.“The BNP chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6am, just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,” the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US military says two were killed in strike on suspected drug vessel in Pacific 30. December 2025 (02:24) Two men killed in Hegseth-led attack on boat suspected of carrying drugs in international waters, Pentagon saysThe US military announced the killing of another two men in “a lethal kinetic strike”on a boat suspected of carrying drugs in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday.The Pentagon released video of the strike, which brings the total number of known naval attacks on suspected drug smugglers to 30 since September, and raises the death toll to at least 107 people, according to US military figures. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
CCTV suggests alleged Bondi shooters acted alone and did not receive training in Philippines, AFP says 30. December 2025 (01:18) Australian federal police are reviewing security camera footage from the duo’s month-long trip to Davao in NovemberThe alleged Bondi attack shooters did not receive training or come into contact with a broader terror cell while visiting the Philippines, according to current assessments by federal police, with initial investigations indicating the father and son acted alone.The Australian federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said on Tuesday that Sajid and Naveen Akram had spent nearly a month in the Philippines just weeks before carrying out the antisemitic shooting at a Bondi Hanukah event on 14 December, killing 15 victims. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tony Blair’s government discussed how to influence John Howard to commit Australian troops to Iraq 30. December 2025 (01:01) Newly released UK cabinet papers from 2005 provide an insight into how the Blair government worked to flatter the Australian PM to influence his decisionTony Blair’s government discussed how to “influence” John Howard when it came to committing Australian troops to Iraq after the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime, newly released files in the UK show.They also reveal that one of Howard’s own defence ministers told a Downing Street official that the Australian prime minister was not “keen” on sending troops to Afghanistan and privately advised the British leader should raise the issue with Howard “to get him focused on the need for Australia to contribute”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Too complacent’: how Blair’s advisers misjudged his disastrous WI speech 30. December 2025 (01:01) Former PM’s team suggested initial less-politicised drafts seemed patronising and appealed to ‘fuddy-duddy Britain’Brown’s allies could wreck Labour’s 2005 election hopes, Mandelson warnedTony Blair’s key advisers agonised over the writing of his notoriously ill-judged speech to the Women’s Institute (WI) which saw the then prime minister heckled and slow hand-clapped before 10,000 members at Wembley Arena, newly released documents reveal.Despite the WI explicitly warning they were “wary of anything that smacked of capital P politics”, Blair’s aides were critical of his first draft and bombarded him with additions to inject more policy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A&Es in ‘big trouble’ because of ‘normalised’ corridor care, says leading UK medic 30. December 2025 (01:01) Emergency medicine specialist says improved social care and efficiency would help crisis in NHSEmergency departments across the UK are “in big trouble” owing to the way corridor care has been “normalised”, a leading medic has warned.Dr Ian Higginson, the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), said there should be “howls of outrage” over deaths linked to long emergency department waits, with just a few hospitals around the UK managing to avoid caring for patients on trolleys in corridors. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brown’s allies could wreck Labour’s 2005 election hopes, Mandelson warned 30. December 2025 (01:01) Tony Blair was told that tensions with his then chancellor would need to be carefully managed, files reveal‘Too complacent’: how Blair’s advisers misjudged his disastrous WI speechPeter Mandelson warned Tony Blair not to allow Gordon Brown’s supporters to wreck Labour’s 2005 general election campaign from within, according to newly released government files.Relations between Blair and his chancellor were strained in the autumn of 2004 as Labour prepared to try for a third successive election victory. Brown and his allies believed the prime minister had reneged on a promise to step down towards the end of Labour’s second term to allow him to take over. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Beyoncé is now the fifth billionaire musician, Forbes reports 30. December 2025 (00:38) Grammy-winning artist joins husband Jay-Z and artists like Taylor Swift following the success of Cowboy Carter tourBeyoncé is now a billionaire, according to a report from Forbes – becoming the fifth musician to obtain the status.The Grammy award-winning artist, 44, has joined the world’s wealthiest people following the success of her Cowboy Carter tour, which grossed more than $400m in ticket sales, and an additional $50m in merchandise sales. Her previous Renaissance world tour brought in about more than $579m. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
