New Year’s Eve 2025 opening times for banks, pharmacies and cafes
Here’s everything you need to know about opening hours over the New Year period. Where can I find local opening times for my banks? Here are links to check information on opening hours from some of the UK’s biggest banks. Are pharmacies open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Once again, it’s a good idea to check your local store’s opening times as they do vary.
Source:The Times
December 31, 2025 12:43 UTC
New Year's Eve live: Dubai puts on spectacular fireworks display as countries welcome 2026
It's new year in Iran and more than half of RussiaIran is next to hear the new year gong, entering 2026 on the back of visual displays from nearby UAE. We're now steadily approaching the Asia-Europe border - here's a reminder of how Europeans are gearing up for 2026. And, more than half of Russia has said goodbye to 2025. The country spans a huge 11 time zones - with capital Moscow due to join next. You can follow along with the celebrations in Lusail, Qatar, at the top of the page - where midnight is set to tick over at 21:00 GMT.
Source:The Times
December 31, 2025 12:29 UTC
Police urge public help after festive graffiti rampage
“Enquiries are ongoing. We urge anyone who has been the victim of such damage to report it to us; you may have vital information that could assist. We believe there are several further related offences that haven’t yet been reported. Anyone with information is also asked to get in touch.
Source:The Times
December 31, 2025 12:06 UTC
January transfer window 2026: what every Premier League club needs | cinetotal.com.br
January transfer window 2026: what every Premier League club needsArsenalA busy summer with the arrival of more than £250m in reinforcements has proved to be invaluable given the number of injuries that have hit Arsenal, particularly in defence. Photograph: Sportimage Ltd/AlamyBournemouthThere is an acceptance that an elite Premier League club – Manchester City are at the front of the queue – will trigger the £65m release clause inserted into the contract extension Antoine Semenyo signed last summer. Midfielder Vitaly Janelt can sign a pre-contract with another club on 1 January and Eintracht Frankfurt lead the queue for his signature. JJConor Gallagher in action for Atlético Madrid, who he joined in the summer of 2024, but he could return to the Premier League. It became bloated over the summer when they invested heavily in strengthening depth but did result in Omari Hutchinson not being registered in the club’s 25-man Europa League squad.
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 12:00 UTC
Taunton tearoom enjoys in person visit from Peter Andre
Peter Andre stopped by with his family on the High Street on Tuesday, December 30, drawn in by Taunton's quintessential tearoom, loved by many locals for its quality homemade cakes and top-notch service. READ MORE: Taunton tea room owner: 'It's a lovely business to be in'READ MORE: Taunton tearoom enjoys visit from David Mitchell and Victoria CorenMr Miles tearoom, run and co-owned by Colin Barrell, shared a post to social media following the celebrity visit, writing: "Thanks for popping in Peter Andre, it was a pleasure to welcome you and your family for lunch. "We wish you all a very Happy New Year from all at Mr Miles." Peter Andre is best known for his 90s pop hits like 'Mysterious Girl' and 'Flava'. This isn't the first time Mr Miles' tearoom has welcomed celebrities in through the doors, as the celebrity couple, comedian David Mitchell and writer and presenter Victoria Coren-Mitchell, visited in July 2025.
Source:Express
December 31, 2025 11:33 UTC
Children's care homes approved despite parking and occupancy concerns
Two applications have been green lit for a couple of small care homes for children in Ascot – despite objections questioning logic behind the number of rooms versus people living there. There is a ‘desperate need’ for this home, say the applicants, North Star Children’s Homes. “This proposal would enable a very small number of children with damaged childhoods to recover and become better adults,” they wrote. “The application states that there will be no more than two cars present at any one time at each property. The parish council again queried the parking and the maximum number of occupants compared to rooms (it is a four-bed home).
Source:Express
December 31, 2025 11:18 UTC
Man Utd player ratings vs Wolves with three 5/10s as stars booed off in draw
But after Joshua Zirkzee's deflected strike put United 1-0 up on 27 minutes, Ladislav Krejci headed Wolves level moments before half-time. Lisandro Martinez - 6 Couldn’t help United to their first back-to-back Premier League clean sheets of 2025. Diogo Dalot - 6 Covered nicely to cut out a threatening first-half Wolves attack but headed one second-half corner wide. Casemiro - 6 Thwarted some Wolves attacks well but unable to help United control the game and notably tired in the second half. Read our Privacy PolicyManuel Ugarte - 5 Another disappointing display and like Casemiro, was unable to help United dominate.
Source:Express
December 31, 2025 10:32 UTC
Care matters, after all
The Guardian noted a new report from IPPR yesterday. The IPPR report summary is long-winded. Just 8% said it involved sticking up for British-born people above other groups, and 3% said it involved having white skin. CommentsWhen commenting, please take note of this blog's comment policy, which is available here. Contravening this policy will result in comments being deleted before or after initial publication at the editor's sole discretion and without explanation being required or offered.
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 10:10 UTC
Tilting at windmills: Trump laments death of bald eagle in the US … which was really a falcon in Israel
Even while on holiday at his Florida resort, Donald Trump has refused to take a break from his unrelenting war on wind energy. The image actually shows a falcon that was killed at a wind farm in Israel eight years ago. The first is that the bird is missing the distinctive markings of a bald eagle. The second is that the turbine blamed for its death appears to have Hebrew writing on it. “Wind turbines cause significant damage to bird and bat life in Israel, beyond the level deemed tolerable by nature authorities,” Haaretz reported.
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 09:56 UTC
What is private equity up to?
As they then explained:Roughly a fifth of all PE sales this year involved groups raising money from new investors to acquire businesses from their older funds, up from 12-13 per cent the previous year, said Sunaina Sinha Haldea, global head of private capital advisory at Raymond James. Such transactions sell assets already owned by a PE group to so-called continuation vehicles — newer funds also managed by the firm. The tactic enables PE firms to return cash to investors in older funds, but has prompted concerns about potential conflicts of interest. I have long thought private equity funds a racket best avoided by any investor possessed of a sound mind and clear vision. So, you take your pick, but I would rather stay well and truly clear of such activities with my savings.
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 09:34 UTC
New York’s Turn: Zohran Mamdani and What His Election Means for the City
New York’s Turn: Zohran Mamdani and What His Election Means for the CityNew York has a unique and important role to play in the governance of cities around the world since it is both a global financial hub and a center of international decision-making. [12]ConclusionThe election of Zohran Mamdani is a turning point for New York City and for leadership in cities around the world. [4] Katie Houlis and Renee Anderson, “Zohran Mamdani Claims Victory in NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary in Speech to Supporters,” CBS News, June 25, 2025, www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/zohran-mamdani-claims-victory-nyc-mayoral-primary/. [7] Emma G. Fitzsimmons, “What Does Zohran Mamdani Want to Do as NYC Mayor? [11] Sam Mellins, Julia Rock, and Colin Kinniburgh, “Can Zohran Mamdani’s Agenda Survive Albany?” New York Focus, June 26, 2025, nysfocus.com/2025/06/26/zohran-mamdani-albany-taxes.
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 09:12 UTC
The reason Unai Emery didn't shake Mikel Arteta's hand after big Arsenal win
The result marked Villa's first defeat in almost two months, bringing an impressive 11-game winning streak to an end. Martin Zubimendi then extended Arsenal's advantage moments later, before Leandro Trossard made it three past the hour mark. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT "I shake hands and then go with my players and coaches into the dressing room. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Reflecting on the match itself, Emery commented: "We competed fantastic in the first half and we had momentum. Arsenal are the best team in the league and they are the favourite to win the title.
Source:Express
December 31, 2025 08:08 UTC
Villa are 'underdogs - but in the hunt'
This offended one or two of their fans and after beating Chelsea away - and extending their winning run to an incredible 11 in a row - they thought I should reconsider. Now only three points behind Arsenal, I agree they are still in the hunt and are indeed a good enough team. Villa were royally outclassed against Chelsea for 60 minutes until Unai Emery made a triple substitution, then they immediately outshone their hosts. As such, I still think they should be considered underdogs but with one major caveat. So yes, they are underdogs, but are they no-hopers after this brilliant run?
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 05:02 UTC
As we prepare for 2026, remember we have the power to make our future | Rebecca Solnit
Politicians’ lies were once decried and punished when detected, in a process that often led to contriteness and apologies from the liar. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt specializes in grotesque falsehoods in praise of Donald Trump’s health, intelligence, success, and popularity. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the health and human services secretary, peddles lies about health and healthcare and the science behind them. It was not clear when 2025 began what kind of opposition to the Trump administration there would be and how effective it would be. The administration now seems to be getting more extreme and reckless as it grows more desperate, chaotic and unpopular.
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 02:23 UTC
Despair for would-be US citizens as American dream blocked by Trump
The occasion should have been marked by the joy of reaching the destination of US citizenship following the long odyssey of immigration. But Gail Breslow, executive director of Boston-based Project Citizenship – which had helped guide her citizenship application – said she was left devastated and distraught. “Our client hadn’t received USCIS’s written notification on time and turned up expecting to become a citizen,” Breslow said. “I invested years of relentless effort in this journey … I pursued the American dream in good faith, believing in this country as a land of opportunity. “Only certain cases can be denaturalized under the law, although this administration is trying to stretch the parameters of what that means.
Source:The Guardian
December 31, 2025 01:31 UTC