Zelenskyy says US has agreed to offer Ukraine ‘strong’ 15-year security guarantees 29. December 2025 (14:02) Future of Donbas region remains unresolved after Ukrainian president’s talks with Donald Trump in FloridaUkraine war – latest updatesVolodymyr Zelenskyy says the US has agreed to offer “strong” security guarantees to Ukraine for 15 years, but acknowledged that the future of the country’s eastern Donbas region was unresolved after his two-hour meeting on Sunday with Donald Trump in Florida.Speaking on his way back to Europe, Zelenskyy said the US Congress and Ukraine’s parliament would jointly vote on American pledges. These were a key part of a 20-point peace plan discussed with the US president at his Mar-a-Lago residence, he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gloucestershire woman and two children killed in Boxing Day house fire 29. December 2025 (13:26) Children’s father tried to break into bedroom from outside to rescue them but was beaten back by flamesA woman and two children aged seven and four were killed in a fire in the early hours of Boxing Day after their father, a serving police officer, desperately tried to save them.The officer smashed his way out of the stone cottage in the Cotswolds and tried to break into his children’s bedroom from the outside to rescue them but was beaten back by the flames. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘He has come back from the dead’: Chevy Chase spent eight days in a coma during Covid pandemic 29. December 2025 (13:09) In documentary I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, the actor and his family revealed that doctors told them to ‘prepare yourselves for the worst’Chevy Chase suffered “near fatal” heart failure which led to him being placed in an induced coma during the pandemic in 2021, according to a new film about the American actor and comedian.As documented in I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, the star of films such as Caddyshack and the National Lampoon movies, who hosted the Oscars twice, spent a total of five weeks in hospital. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nearly half of Americans believe their financial security is getting worse, poll finds 29. December 2025 (13:00) Exclusive poll: Americans are also increasingly blaming the White House for their financial woesTwice as many Americans believe their financial security is getting worse than better, according to an exclusive new poll conducted for the Guardian, and they are increasingly blaming the White House.The poll, conducted by Harris, will be a further blow to Donald Trump’s efforts to fight off criticism of his handling of the economy and contains some worrying findings for the president.Nearly half (45%) of Americans said their financial security is getting worse compared to 20% who said it’s getting better.57% of Americans said the US economy is undergoing a recession, up 11% from a similar poll that was conducted in February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Cities need nature to be happy’: David Attenborough seeks out London’s hidden wildlife 29. December 2025 (13:00) Attenborough, 99, enthuses about tube-riding pigeons, foxes, parakeets and others in Wild London for the BBCFilming the wildlife of London requires an intrepid, agile presenter, willing to lie on damp grass after dark to encounter hedgehogs, scale heights to hold a peregrine falcon chick, and stake out a Tottenham allotment to get within touching distance of wary wild foxes.Step forward Sir David Attenborough, who spent his 100th summer seeking out the hidden nature of his home city for an unusually personal and intimate BBC documentary. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Working Families bet on 2026 as the right time for a third US party after a wave of wins 29. December 2025 (13:00) The progressive party is now active in 18 states and much of its expansion happened in the past five yearsThe “time has come” for the Working Families party, the progressive third party’s national director said after a year of big wins and a growing hunger among voters for a home outside the two major political parties.“For 26 years, we’ve been building this argument,” Maurice Mitchell said. “And the argument has met the moment.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Influx of cheap Chinese imports could drive down UK inflation, economists say 29. December 2025 (12:19) As Trump’s tariffs take effect, Britain is likely alternative destination for cars, telecoms and sound equipmentBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK is poised for an influx of cheap Chinese imports that could bring down inflation amid the fallout from Donald Trump’s global trade war, leading economists have said.After figures showed China’s trade surplus surpassed $1tn (£750bn) despite Washington’s tariff policies hitting exports to the US, the Bank of England said the UK was among the nations emerging as alternative destinations for the goods. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Japanese town reeling from year of record bear encounters 29. December 2025 (12:00) Bears are becoming a growing problem in some of Japan’s urban areas as they are forced to venture further in search of foodIt came as no surprise, least of all to the residents of Osaki, that “bear” was selected as Japan’s kanji character of the year earlier this month.The north-eastern town of 128,000 people is best known for its Naruko Onsen hot springs, autumn foliage and kokeshi – cylindrical dolls carved from a single piece of wood. But this year it has made the headlines as a bear hotspot, as the country reels from a year of record ursine encounters and deaths, with warnings that winter will not bring immediate respite. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine war live: US has offered 15 years of security guarantees, says Zelenskyy 29. December 2025 (11:48) Ukrainian leader had sought up to 50 years of security guarantees at Florida meeting with TrumpVolodymyr Zelenskyy also said on Monday that control over Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region remains another unresolved issue.Moscow controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and about 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk (known collectively as Donbas). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
DIY chains enjoy bumper year as UK property market slows 29. December 2025 (11:47) B&Q, Topps Tiles and Wickes among those on track for double-digit percentage share price rises this yearBusiness live – latest updatesRetailers of home improvement products are enjoying a glittering year on the London stock market, as cash-strapped UK consumers turn to DIY projects after being priced out of shifting home or undertaking expensive renovations.Publicly listed retailers including the B&Q owner Kingfisher, Topps Tiles, Wickes and the sofa seller DFS are on track for double-digit percentage share price increases of as much as 56% this year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
