Family pay tribute to girl, 2, who died after falling into pond on Christmas Day 29. December 2025 (11:10) Isobel Wallace, from Doncaster, described as ‘happiest, smiliest, most adventurous little girl’A two-year-old girl who died after falling into a garden pond on Christmas Day was the “happiest, smiliest, most adventurous little girl”, her family has said.Isobel Wallace was discovered during festive celebrations at her parents’ new home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pensions timebomb: why Europe’s social contract is becoming unsustainable 29. December 2025 (11:00) Ageing populations and falling birthrates have left ever fewer workers to support growing number of retireesIt has played a starring role in one of the worst periods of political turmoil in France since the 1960s. In Germany, it threatens the future of the coalition government. In Spain, thousands have taken to the streets to demand change.The right to a decent state pension has been a central plank of the European social contract for decades, but people are living longer, birthrates are falling, and the continent’s pension systems are, increasingly, unsustainable. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Most Europeans think state pensions will become unaffordable, polling shows 29. December 2025 (11:00) YouGov survey finds many say payments are too low and oppose reforms such as raising retirement age or cutsMost Europeans believe their country’s state pension system will soon become unaffordable – but they also think the current scheme is not generous enough, and do not support options for overhauling it such as raising the retirement age.As populations age and fertility rates decline, Europe’s “pay as you go” state pension systems, cornerstones of the welfare state that have always relied on people in work paying the retirees’ pensions, are coming under increasingly heavy pressure. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Polar wind set to end warmth in US south and midwest 29. December 2025 (10:47) Spring-like weather experienced by many Americans to end, while heavy snow in Japan brings deadly conditionsA week of extremes in the US as Arctic air plunges southwards across many states, sweeping away record-breaking warmth from last weekend. With low pressure in the west drawing up warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico, much of the south and midwest basked in spring-like weather this weekend with temperatures widely an extraordinary 15-20C above normal for late December.This week, however, most people will ditch their summer clothes for hats and scarves as a ridge pressure builds across the west, allowing for a polar air mass to dive southward, bringing freezing temperatures and the risk of snow. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nancy Pelosi predicts Democrats will retake US House in 2026 midterms 29. December 2025 (10:00) Former House speaker on ABC News also said congressional Republicans have ceded almost all their power to TrumpDemocrats will retake the US House’s majority in the 2026 midterm elections, the chamber’s former speaker Nancy Pelosi has confidently predicted – and she hopes her party colleagues then seize back the congressional power that Republicans have all but ceded to Donald Trump.Asked Sunday on ABC News’s This Week if she had any doubts over whether Democratic New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries would hold the speaker’s gavel after the elections midway through Trump’s second presidency, Pelosi said: “None.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK accounting body to halt remote exams amid AI cheating 29. December 2025 (09:19) Candidates will have to sit assessments in person unless there are exceptional circumstances, says ACCABusiness live – latest updatesThe world’s largest accounting body is to stop students being allowed to take exams remotely to crack down on a rise in cheating on tests that underpin professional qualifications.The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which has almost 260,000 members, has said that from March it will stop allowing students to take online exams in all but exceptional circumstances. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British-Egyptian rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah apologises for ‘hurtful’ tweets 29. December 2025 (09:10) Campaigner recently released from prison makes statement after PM’s support is questioned by Tory MPsAlaa Abd el-Fattah, the British-Egyptian human rights campaigner, has apologised unreservedly for what he accepted were shocking and hurtful tweets that he wrote more than 10 years ago in what he described as heated online battles.He said he was shaken by the criticism that has rained down on him since the tweets were highlighted by shadow ministers challenging Keir Starmer’s support for him since he was released by the Egyptian government to travel to the UK after his release from more than 10 years in prison. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Air passengers warned of higher fares as regional airports face bigger tax bills 29. December 2025 (08:58) Manchester and Bristol among those worst hit as most airports face bills more than doubling in next three yearsBusiness live – latest updatesAir passengers are being warned to brace for ticket rises as regional airports across the UK face “unprecedented” rises in property tax next year.Analysis of government data for PA Media has revealed regional airports are among those facing the steepest increases in business rates of any sector in the UK amid an overhaul of property valuations underpinning the tax. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Boy, 5, killed after arm trapped in ski resort travelator in Japan 29. December 2025 (08:57) Hinata Goto reportedly fell as he was trying to get off the 30-metre-long walkwayA five-year-old boy has died after becoming trapped in a moving travelator at a ski resort in northern Japan, local media have said.The victim, Hinata Goto, died on Sunday after his right arm became trapped in the walkway’s winding mechanism during a family skiing trip to Otaru, a city on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man shot dead by police after two-vehicle collision in Thetford 29. December 2025 (07:52) Norfolk police say man believed to be driver of one of the vehicles shot by armed officers after leaving scene holding a handgunA man believed to be carrying a handgun has been shot and killed by police after a two-vehicle collision in Thetford, Norfolk police said.Officers were called to London Road at about 8.25pm on Sunday after receiving reports of a two-vehicle collision. Police said one man, believed to be the driver of one of the vehicles, left the scene holding what was described as a handgun. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
