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Levy on beef exceeding quotas to begin immediately as Beijing seeks to protect domestic industry

Police said 25-year-old woman hit by a wave near a tidal rock pool at Maroubra, and another swimmer missing at Coogee

Exclusive: Pilot scheme launches as one in five start primary school with no protection against deadly diseasesHealth visitors will be sent door-to-door to deliver vaccines to children in England amid alarm that one in five start primary school with no protection against deadly diseases, the Guardian can reveal.The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that at least 95% of children should receive vaccine doses for each illness to achieve herd immunity. However, not a single one of the main childhood vaccines in England hit the target in 2024-25. There were also sharp differences in uptake across the country. Continue reading...

PM to highlight energy bill and interest rate cuts, plus end to two-child benefit cap, and to invite his MPs to ChequersKeir Starmer will attempt to rescue his relationship with disillusioned voters and his own fractious MPs in a new year push to reduce the cost of living.The prime minister will give a speech in the coming days focusing on how his government is bringing down living costs, highlighting recent cuts to energy bills and interest rates and the end of the two-child benefit cap. Continue reading...

Terror attack victims remembered with menorah projected on to Harbour Bridge before dazzling display

Green party leader says he could see potential for political partnership with Labour under Andy BurnhamThe Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has said he would refuse to work with Keir Starmer but could work with Andy Burnham, Starmer's potential rival for the Labour leadership, to keep Reform out of power.Polanski said he would not enter a political partnership with Labour under the current prime minister, but would consider it if the mayor of Greater Manchester took the helm. Continue reading...

Judge said newly unsealed government documents show some evidence' of vindictive prosecution by DoJA newly unsealed order in the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia reveals that high-level justice department officials pushed for his indictment, calling it a top priority", only after he was mistakenly deported and then ordered returned to the U.S.Abrego Garcia, originally from El Salvador, has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Tennessee to charges of human smuggling. He is seeking to have the case dismissed on the grounds that the prosecution is vindictive - a way for the Trump administration to punish him for the embarrassment of his mistaken deportation. Continue reading...

Food Standards Agency issues product alert for still and sparkling 750ml bottles of Waitrose No 1 Deeside mineral waterWaitrose customers are being urged to return and not drink large bottles of Deeside mineral water over fears they could contain shards of glass.The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a consumer alert over the still and sparkling 750ml bottles of Waitrose No 1 Deeside mineral water because of the possibility of glass fragments, making them unsafe to drink. Continue reading...

Fifty-two black bears were killed in three-week hunt state officials said was necessary to reduce ursine populationWildlife officials in Florida say the slaughter of dozens of black bears during a controversial three-week hunt this month was a success, despite the opposition of protesters who condemned the heartbreaking, bloody spectacle".The Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission (FWC) on Tuesday announced that 52 bears were killed between 6 and 28 December, and promised to release a full harvest report" in the coming months that will provide details about where and how the animals died. Continue reading...

Passengers told to expect knock-on impacts after power supply problem and broken down train halted services on TuesdayRail traffic through the Channel tunnel slowly resumed on Wednesday with more cancellations and delays after an electricity failure on Tuesday stranded thousands of passengers and trapped some for a night in a powerless train.Two London-Paris trains were cancelled and most trips were delayed in both directions as Eurostar warned of knock-on impacts" on New Year's Eve. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Greater Manchester police ignored claim Offender J' among men who had abused 12-year-old, paperwork showsA grooming gang suspect who had escaped investigation because of a string of police failings went on to attempt to murder his wife, a Guardian investigation can reveal.The man, named only as Offender J in paperwork seen by the Guardian, is alleged to have taken part in the gang-rape of 12-year-old Samantha Walker-Roberts in Oldham, Greater Manchester, in 2006.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

National inquiry on grooming gangs will look at how police ignored girls while officials feared fuelling the far rightIn 2003, long before the term grooming gang" entered the lexicon, social workers in Oldham noticed a disturbing pattern: girls from local children's homes were repeatedly going missing. Often, they were found in the same locations, being harboured by the same men. Each time the authorities thought they had got a grip on the problem, it reared its head again. By 2006, there were concerns that groups of offenders were targeting children at high schools. One girl, later referred to in court as Child X, fell into their clutches while truanting when she was 12 years old. By 14, she had been abused by 300 men and was addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.Unless you scratch below the surface you do not realise the enormity of the problem," Ruth Baldwin, then the executive director for young people and families at Oldham council, said in December 2006. We are not talking about teenage relationships. These are men in their 20s, 30s, and beyond."Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

Draft bill to be submitted for legal checks as France aims to follow Australia's world-first ban on platforms including Facebook, Snapchat and YouTubeFrance intends to follow Australia and ban social media platforms for children from the start of the 2026 academic year.A draft bill preventing under-15s from using social media will be submitted for legal checks and is expected to be debated in parliament early in the new year. Continue reading...

Document said to be most secure ever' has anti-forgery holographs and depicts beauty spots from all four nationsA new British passport, claimed to be the most secure ever produced and featuring King Charles's coat of arms on the front cover, has come into use.Pages inside depict beauty spots from the four nations of the UK: Scotland's Ben Nevis; England's Lake District; the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland and Three Cliffs Bay in Wales. Continue reading...

Artwork by one of the most influential artists of 20th century raffled to fund Alzheimer's researchHis work is consistently ranked among the world's most expensive art, with paintings fetching more than a $100m at auction. But you no longer need to be a multimillionaire to own a Picasso - for 100, anyone in the world has the chance to walk away with a painting by one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.The French charity Alzheimer's Research Foundation announced recently it was raffling Picasso's 1941 portrait, Tete de femme, which is worth more than 1m, to a single winner. Proceeds from the tickets will help fund Alzheimer's research, one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Continue reading...

Reunification is unstoppable', says Chinese president, a day after the conclusion of intense military drillsChina's president, Xi Jinping, has vowed to reunify China and Taiwan in his annual New Year's Eve speech in Beijing.Speaking the day after the conclusion of intense Chinese military drills around Taiwan, Xi said: The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable." Continue reading...

Exclusive: Met figures thought to reflect national picture with Covid, poverty and more people seeking help possible factorsThe number of violent offences involving an adolescent attacking their parents or step-parents has increased by more than 60% in the past decade, according to figures recorded by the UK's biggest police force.Data released by Scotland Yard reveals that there were 1,886 such offences recorded in 2015 but this increased to 3,091 in the first 10 months of 2025 alone. Continue reading...

Data shows 366 pubs have been demolished or converted for other uses this year as cost pressures take toll on sectorOne pub a day disappeared for good in England and Wales during 2025 as sustained cost pressures continued to weigh heavily on the sector.Analysis of government statistics shows that 366 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses over the year to December. Continue reading...

Despite reviews of the district as a raucous tourist trap, improved policing has restored safety and an eclectic vibeWhen Ireland redeveloped a swathe of central Dublin in the 1990s, the idea was to create a version of Paris's Left Bank, a cultural quarter of cobbled lanes, art and urban renewal.Planners and architects transformed the run-down Temple Bar site by the River Liffey into an ambitious experiment that drew throngs of visitors and won awards. Continue reading...

I was reading my book and this boy, man, attacked me, and I did fight back,' queen tells BBC's Today programmeQueen Camilla has spoken for the first time about how she was so angry" when she was physically assaulted on a train as a teenager.Camilla described the incident in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, during which she also praised the courage of the racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy, whose family were murdered at their home. Continue reading...

Lack of prompt access to primary care blamed for rise in hospital cases of minor ailments including blocked nosesMillions of people are turning to A&E departments in England for minor ailments including coughs, blocked noses and hiccups, according to data that health leaders say lays bare a failure to give patients prompt access to primary care.Emergency wards are designed for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only. But many are becoming swamped with patients whose health concerns should be dealt with elsewhere, including a near tenfold increase in people seeking help for a cough. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Officers described a culture of silence and lack of support during police-on-police complaintsPolice officers fear reporting colleagues for wrongdoing because they do not believe they will be supported for breaking a culture of silence, a new survey has found.Almost half of officers think their complaints against fellow officers are mishandled, the survey seen by the Guardian found. It was carried out by the Police Federation (PFEW), which represents 140,000 rank and file officers across England and Wales. Continue reading...

One man rescued by helicopter after accident in heavy swell near Barrenjoey Headland at Palm beach

Mamady Doumbouya had reneged on promise not to stand and hand west African country back to civilian ruleThe head of Guinea's junta, Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after the country's electoral commission said he had secured a sweeping majority of the vote.Doumbouya, 41, faced eight rivals for the presidency but the main opposition leaders were barred from running and had urged a boycott of the vote held over the weekend. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs department statement says Australia opposes any actions that increase the risk of accident, miscalculation or escalation'

Investigation established by UDR party to look at neutrality, workings and financing' of state TV and radioThe French public broadcaster is at the centre of a political row as a parliamentary inquiry examines the neutrality, workings and financing" of state TV and radio, while the media are expected to play a significant role ahead of the 2027 presidential election.The rightwing UDR party, an ally of Marine Le Pen's far-right the National Rally (RN), set up the inquiry amid far-right claims that public TV and radio has a bias against them. Le Pen, whose party is expected to reach the final round of the presidential race, has said there is a clear problem with neutrality in the public service broadcasting" and that she would like to privatise it. Continue reading...

Rent rises likely to slow after rapid increases in recent years, lenders and estate agents forecastFirst-time buyers are expected to drive the UK housing market in 2026, with further interest rate cuts likely to improve stretched affordability.The for-sale market should accelerate moderately, with prices rising by 2% to 4%, while rent rises are likely to slow from the rapid increases of recent years, according to lenders and estate agents. Continue reading...

Retailers say appetite for alcoholic drinks that are about half the strength of the traditional versions is soaringChristmas and New Year's Eve celebrations often used to result in a hangover the next day, but with moderation now the order of the day the new drinks industry buzzword is coasting".This involves choosing a white wine, lager or even a cocktail that is about half the strength of the traditional version of the drink - meaning you can have the same number of drinks without feeling the worse for wear. Continue reading...

Fire chief says summer, the UK's hottest on record, was one of the most challenging for wildfires that we've ever faced'Ten English fire services tackled a record number of grassland, woodland and crop fires during what was the UK's hottest spring and summer on record, figures show.In total nearly 27,000 wildfires were dealt with by fire services in England during the prolonged dry weather of 2025, according to analysis by PA Media. Continue reading...

One passenger tells the ABC it was chaos' and she felt her life was in danger, but others shrug off the incident

Community leaders raise alarm over study links and Polynesian ties, with Tonga to face restrictions from January as US says too many overstayThe small Pacific nation of Tonga is one of more than a dozen countries to be hit with visa and entry restrictions on 1 January as the Trump administration tightens its crackdown on immigration.In December, the US said it would further restrict and limit the entry of foreign nationals to protect the country from national security and public safety threats". Continue reading...

Mary-Ann Stephenson says she must build relationship with LGBTQ+ sector amid debate over single-sex spacesThe new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has asked campaigners who raised doubts about her appointment to judge me on what I do".In one of her first media interviews since her appointment at the start of December, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson pledged to uphold the rights of everybody across all protected characteristics", after the UK government overruled the objections of parliament's women and equalities committee about her suitability for the job. Continue reading...

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Engineers still struggling to restore full rail service on Tuesday evening as car passengers face seven-hour delaysA power outage in the Channel tunnel has disrupted thousands of journeys ahead of the new year celebrations, with all passenger and vehicle trains suspended for several hours while engineers raced to repair the fault.As Eurostar foot passenger departures for the continent were first delayed, then cancelled, the halls of St Pancras International station in London filled with stranded travellers awaiting updates. At Folkestone in Kent, tailbacks formed as drivers hoping to catch the shuttle faced seven-hour delays. Continue reading...

RNLI tells people to consider their health, cold water effects and weather conditions after disappearance of two swimmers on Christmas DayPeople planning on welcoming the new year by braving the British weather for a swim in the sea have been warned of the dangers after the disappearance of two swimmers on Christmas Day.The Royal National Lifeboat Institution said the effects of cold-water shock combined with weather conditions pose a risk to anyone entering water that is 15C or below. At this time of year, the average sea temperature around the UK and Ireland is 6C to 10C. Continue reading...

President calls for talks with leaders of demonstrations caused by decline in currency and living standardsIran's government has called for dialogue with protest leaders after the country's largest demonstrations in three years over a plunging currency and declining living conditions.Protests started on Sunday after Iran's currency fell to a record low against the US dollar, causing traders and shopkeepers to close their stores in downtown Tehran. This was accompanied by mass protests in the capital as well as in major cities, including Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad. Continue reading...

Aaron Anderson, a cheeky chappie' with amazing work ethic', died after incident involving John Deere GatorThe family of a 14-year-old boy who died after a collision on a farm in which an off-road utility vehicle overturned has paid tribute to him.Police said Aaron Anderson sustained life-threatening injuries after a John Deere Gator was in a collision at the farm in Burnopfield, County Durham, on the evening of 21 December. Continue reading...

Dispute has potential to create civil war in south of Yemen and spill over into neighbouring countriesTensions between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia over the future of Yemen and the imminent possibility of the declaration of an independent southern state have reached boiling point with Saudi Arabia in effect accusing the UAE of threatening its future security.The dispute has the potential to create a civil war within the south of Yemen and also spill over into other disputes including in Sudan and the Horn of Africa where the two countries often find themselves backing opposite sides. Yemen could yet become only one theatre in which the two vastly wealthy Gulf states vie for political influence, control of shipping lanes and commercial access. Continue reading...

Clothing chain acquired by China-based backers out of 2019 insolvency has deadline to renegotiate debt pile

The attack was aimed at what Riyadh called a shipment of weapons for separatists from the UAEThe United Arab Emirates has said it will withdraw its remaining forces in Yemen after Saudi Arabia bombed what it said was a shipment of weapons for separatists which had arrived from the UAE.The Emirati defence ministry announced the decision on Tuesday afternoon, citing recent developments and their potential repercussions on the safety and effectiveness of counter-terrorism operations", without saying when the withdrawal might happen. Continue reading...

Struggling company, which has run more than 100 outlets, has been criticised by MPs over claims it failed to pay locum pharmacists

Spanish woman's attempted restoration of church artwork was widely mocked but became lucrative tourist attractionCecilia Gimenez, the woman who achieved unwanted international fame for her botched Monkey Christ" restoration of a 19th-century mural in Borja, north-east Spain, has died aged 94.In 2012, Gimenez, an amateur artist, decided to restore Ecce Homo, a mural by a local artist, Elias Garcia Martinez, that hung in the Santuario de Misericordia church in Borja. However, her talent as an artist was not equal to her good intentions and she produced what was described as the worst restoration in history. Continue reading...

Isaac Herzog's spokesperson says he has not spoken to Trump since US president wrote to urge him to stop court cases against Israeli PMThe office of Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, has denied a claim by Donald Trump that Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under trial on corruption charges, would soon receive a pardon.Speaking shortly before his meeting in Florida with the Israeli prime minister on Monday night, Trump said he had been told by Herzog that a pardon was on its way". Continue reading...

Moment of maximum danger will come in May's local and regional elections and PM is already plotting his comebackKeir Starmer will begin his second full year in Downing Street as one of the least popular ever prime ministers - a spectacularly rapid reversal from his landslide election win of just 18 months ago.Yet Starmer believes this will be the year things start to improve for his beleaguered premiership and fractious Labour party. Continue reading...

Labour urges Conservative leader to reveal whether she knew David Wolfson was to represent Russian oligarch in legal caseKemi Badenoch is under pressure to act on the revelations that her shadow attorney general is representing the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, despite UK sanctions against him.David Wolfson, a Tory peer, is part of the legal team representing Abramovich as he attempts to recover billions in frozen assets he owns in the Channel islands. Continue reading...

Seyed Araghchi claims US president's Arab allies now view Israel's recklessness as a threat to us all'

Changes include the Victorian government expanding land taxes and Queensland introducing a child sex offender register

Applications to build battery storage drive boom as offshore wind projects given go-ahead jump sevenfold year on yearA record number of renewable energy projects were given the go-ahead in Great Britain in 2025, after planning approvals almost doubled year on year, according to an analysis.The energy capacity of new battery, wind, and solar projects that received approval climbed to 45GW this year, 96% higher than in 2024, according to data from Cornwall Insight. Continue reading...

General secretary of party's main union backer says it must change course or risk sowing seeds of its own destructionUnite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, has told the government it must do more for workers in 2026 or risk sowing the seeds of its own destruction.Graham accused Labour of being preoccupied with its failing leadership" and described the debate about who might replace Keir Starmer as inevitable. Continue reading...

US president says Chinese leader did not notify him of drills that have involved live missile launches into Taiwan strait