Ukrainian refugee leaves UK sixth-form college that urged her ‘to study Russian’ 25. December 2025 (09:34) Kateryna Endeberia says teachers made the ‘hurtful’ request when she had difficulty with other subjectsA Ukrainian refugee has been forced to drop out of sixth-form college after she said she was put under pressure to study Russian.Kateryna Endeberia moved to Stoke-on-Trent after fleeing Ukraine in 2022, after the start of Russia’s invasion. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of thousands newly displaced as Islamic State insurgency expands in Mozambique 25. December 2025 (09:00) Rising numbers of people flee jihadists, as violence against civilians increases and foreign aid dwindlesMore than 300,000 people have been displaced by an Islamic State insurgency in Mozambique since July, amid growing fears that authorities lack a workable plan to end the fighting.With wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan attracting more attention and foreign aid falling, the grinding conflict in Mozambique has been largely ignored or forgotten. More than 1 million people have been displaced, many of them two, three or even four times. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Security bosses warn of rise in UK building site thefts by organised crime 25. December 2025 (08:00) Concerns thefts could accelerate over Christmas shutdown, with tools and equipment increasingly targetedThefts of tools and equipment from building sites are increasingly being carried out by organised criminal groups, according to security bosses, amid warnings that the crimewave could accelerate during the Christmas construction shutdown.Copper cables, tools and even telehandlers and diggers costing tens of thousands of pounds have been stolen in recent months, according to the security firm Kingdom Systems. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Plant ‘tredges’ to boost England’s tree cover, gardeners urged 25. December 2025 (07:00) Royal Horticultural Society’s call backs government aim to increase woodland cover from 10% to at least 16.5% by 2050Gardeners should plant native “tredges” – foliage between the size of a tree and a hedge – to boost England’s tree cover, the Royal Horticultural Society has said.Taking inspiration from ancient woodlands could boost wildlife across England’s 25m gardens, according to experts, and help increase native tree cover. The UK’s woodland cover is approximately 10% and the government aims to increase this to at least 16.5% of all land in England by 2050.Beech (Fagus sylvatica)Holly (Ilex aquifolium)Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)Common yew (Taxus baccata)Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than a million pounds spent on influencers by UK government since 2024 25. December 2025 (07:00) Figures from FoI request show increase in ministerial use of social media personalities to present campaignsMore than half a million pounds has been spent since 2024 on using social media influencers to promote UK government campaigns on subjects ranging from the environment to welfare.The spending has included hiring 215 influencers since 2024, of which there were 126 in 2025 – an increase on the 89 hired in 2024 – and is seen as an attempt to use platforms such as TikTok to reach younger people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney to Hobart yacht race forecast to be cold, wet and bumpy as Australia’s west faces cyclone and bushfire threat 25. December 2025 (00:52) Tropical Cyclone Grant to pass close to Cocos Islands while a flood watch is in place for much of northern AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Sydney to Hobart yacht race is forecast to be cold, wet and bumpy but without a repeat of last year’s fatal conditions, as the rest of the country experiences the full range of weather events over the Christmas period, including cyclone and bushfire danger in the west.A race briefing from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) on Wednesday predicted the 129 starters in this year’s Sydney to Hobart will face strong southerly winds of up to 25 knots after leaving the Sydney Heads on Boxing Day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump-backed candidate Asfura declared new president of Honduras 25. December 2025 (00:42) Winning margin of 28,000 votes announced a month late but before review of all ‘inconsistent’ ballots was completedDonald Trump-backed candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura has been declared the winner of Honduras’s presidential election after a vote count that dragged on for almost a month and was marred by fraud allegations and criticism of interference by the US president.The rightwing Asfura, 67, a construction magnate and former mayor of the capital, Tegucigalpa, secured 40.27% of the vote, against 39.53% for the centre-right Salvador Nasralla, a margin of just 28,000 votes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pope Leo calls for kindness to strangers and the poor in Christmas message 24. December 2025 (23:29) Refusing to help those in need is tantamount to rejecting God himself, says pontiff during Christmas Eve massPope Leo has told Christians that the Christmas story should remind them of their duty to help the poor and strangers.In his Christmas Eve sermon, the pope said the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn showed followers that refusing to help those in need was tantamount to rejecting God himself. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cillian Murphy meets Barry Keoghan in first look at Peaky Blinders film 24. December 2025 (21:32) Two stars of Irish acting unite in eagerly anticipated film about Birmingham gangster Tommy ShelbyTwo stars of Irish acting are united as Cillian Murphy meets Barry Keoghan in the first look at the eagerly anticipated Peaky Blinders film.Murphy questions his identity as “famous gypsy gangster” Tommy Shelby in the 70-second teaser released by Netflix on Christmas Eve. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US justice department says it may need ‘a few more weeks’ to process 1m more Epstein documents for release 24. December 2025 (20:32) DoJ says more documents have been uncovered amid criticisms for missing 19 December deadline for full releaseThe US justice department said on Wednesday that it has been told by federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI that they have uncovered more than a million more documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case and processing these for release could take “a few more weeks”.In a post on X, the justice department said it had received the documents from the US attorney for the southern district of New York and the FBI in “compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, existing statutes, and judicial orders”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
