Trump says he’d ‘love to fire’ Jerome Powell in latest attack on Fed chair 29. December 2025 (23:45) Trump also repeated false claims about renovation costs for the Fed headquarters during a Monday press conferenceDonald Trump launched another attack against Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Monday, calling the central banker a “fool” and once again suggesting he would like to fire him.Trump launched his latest attack on Powell during a press conference with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, repeating false claims about the cost of a renovation of the central bank headquarters, and told reporters that he might file a lawsuit against Powell for “gross incompetence”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Idris Elba knighted in new year honours list also featuring Torvill and Dean 29. December 2025 (23:30) Meera Syal also made dame while England women’s football and rugby winners feature prominentlyThe actors Idris Elba and Meera Syal have been made a knight and a dame in the new year honours list, with top awards also going to the ice skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.The former head of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, was also made a dame and there were knighthoods for Patrick McCabe, a former UN official responsible for clearing unexploded bombs in Gaza; Tristram Hunt, the former Labour MP and now director of the V&A, for services to museums; and Roy Clarke, creator of the sitcoms Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two of Keir Starmer’s closest allies named in new year honours list 29. December 2025 (23:30) MP Anneliese Dodds made a dame and former head of Labour Together thinktank Jonathan Ashworth a CBE Two of Keir Starmer’s closest allies have been named in the new year honours list.The former international development minister Anneliese Dodds, who resigned in February this year, has been named a dame and Jonathan Ashworth, who led the Labour Together thinktank until July, a CBE. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Meera Syal, Gabby Logan and Richard Osman among new year honours in arts and media 29. December 2025 (23:30) Syal becomes a dame, Last of the Summer Wine writer Roy Clarke gets knighthood and Paul Elliott awarded MBEThe creator of some of British television’s most beloved sitcoms, a Match of the Day presenter and a Chuckle Brother are among the figures from the arts and media to be recognised in the new year honours list.Roy Clarke, who created some of the most popular BBC shows of the previous century, has been honoured with a knighthood. He has had a huge impact on British television, creating shows including Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances and Open All Hours. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sarina Wiegman an honorary dame as Lionesses and Red Roses get honours 29. December 2025 (23:30) Leah Williamson made an OBE; four Lionesses are MBEsTorvill and Dean now a dame and a knightSarina Wiegman has been awarded an honorary damehood after guiding England to back-to-back European titles, in a new year honours list dominated by the Lionesses and England’s victorious women’s rugby union team.The Red Roses’ World Cup success on home soil has led to the captain, Zoe Aldcroft, the vice-captain, Marlie Packer, and the head coach, John Mitchell, named OBEs, while Megan Jones, Sadia Kabeya and Ellie Kildunne become MBEs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sainsbury’s CEO among business leaders recognised in new year honours 29. December 2025 (23:30) Simon Roberts, credited with helping to turn around grocer, made CBE along with former BAE Systems boss Ian KingThe boss of Sainsbury’s who helped turn around the grocer’s fortunes is among leading figures from the business world to be recognised in the new year honours list.Simon Roberts, who has been chief executive of the UK’s second largest supermarket since 2020, has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the retail industry. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Authorities identify the two victims of New Jersey helicopter crash: ‘They were always together’ 29. December 2025 (23:05) Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, died after the Sunday middair collision near Hammonton airportTwo men who died after their helicopters collided midair in New Jersey over the weekend both earned their private pilot licenses over a decade ago and would often have breakfast together at a cafe near the crash site before taking to the skies from the local airport.Authorities on Monday identified the two New Jersey men as Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71. Witnesses told police that the two helicopters they were piloting Sunday were flying close together just before they crashed in a farm field near the airport in Hammonton, about 35 miles (56km) south-east of Philadelphia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US pledges $2bn in new UN model for delivery of humanitarian assistance 29. December 2025 (21:19) Gaza not covered in announcement and will be handled on separate track, says US state department officialThe United States on Monday pledged $2bn in assistance to tens of millions of people facing hunger and disease in more than a dozen countries next year, part of what it said was a new mechanism for the delivery of life-saving assistance following major foreign aid cuts by the Trump administration.The US slashed its aid spending this year, and leading western donors such as Germany also pared back assistance as they pivoted to increased defense spending, triggering a severe funding crunch for the UN. The billions of dollars in assistance pledged by Washington on Monday will be overseen by the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, the state department said, under what it described as new model of assistance agreed with the UN that aims to make aid funding and delivery more efficient and increase accountability for the spending of funds. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
George Clooney and wife Amal granted French citizenship 29. December 2025 (20:06) The actor said privacy laws protecting children from paparazzi were a key factor in the family’s decisionGeorge Clooney has been granted French citizenship, along with his wife Amal Clooney and their two children, according to an official decree in France’s government gazette.The publication confirms an ambition Clooney alluded to early in December when he praised French privacy laws that keep his family shielded from paparazzi. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Body of triathlete apparently killed by shark found on California beach 29. December 2025 (19:52) Erica Fox’s remains were found after nearly weeklong search, marking a rare shark-related fatality for CaliforniaCalifornia firefighters have found the body of a California triathlete on a beach north-west of Santa Cruz, almost a week after she went missing amid speculation that she was killed by a shark.The remains of Erica Fox were found on Saturday, her father and husband confirmed to local news outlets. Fox, 55, was part of a group of more than a dozen swimmers who left from Lovers Point near Monterey, California, on 21 December, but she never returned to shore. A witness driving by the area reported to authorities that they saw a shark with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth emerge from the water, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
