Brigitte Bardot Legacy Continues to Inspire, While Global Events Spark Controversy and Concern

Brigitte Bardot: Film Siren and Icon Who Sparked a Sexual Revolution

French actress Brigitte Bardot, renowned for her beauty and role in revolutionizing cinema in the 1950s, has died at age 91. Her provocative image and films helped ignite France’s sexual liberation movement.

• French cinema actress Brigitte Bardot dies aged 91 — BBC News
• Brigitte Bardot: Film siren who helped ignite a sexual revolution — Sky News
• Brigitte Bardot: The bombshell and style icon who walked away from fame and glamour — Sky News
• Brigitte Bardot: The blonde bombshell who revolutionised cinema in the 1950s — BBC News
• Brigitte Bardot: The blonde bombshell who revolutionised French cinema — BBC News
• In pictures: The life and career of Brigitte Bardot — BBC News

2025’s Most Shocking, Unusual and WTF Moments

Sky News compiles a list of the most shocking, unusual and bizarre events that defined 2025, ranging from unexpected scientific breakthroughs to celebrity scandals and global crises.

• The most shocking, unusual and WTF moments of 2025 — Sky News
• The words from my dad that saved me as a new parent — BBC News
• The internet can’t get enough of this Edinburgh cobbler — BBC News
• The blonde bombshell who revolutionised French cinema — BBC News

Taiwan Military Drills Intensified Amid Escalating Tensions

China conducts large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, signaling warnings to separatist forces and raising regional tensions.

• China to hold military drills around Taiwan as warning to ‘separatist forces’ — BBC News
• Child dies, child and adult in hospital after fire — BBC News
• Child dies and another in hospital after house fire — BBC News

Iran Execution Numbers Expected to Double in 2025, Report Says

A recent report suggests that Iran’s execution rates are projected to more than double by the end of 2025, indicating a concerning trend towards increased capital punishment within the country.

• Executions in Iran more than double in 2025, report says — BBC News
• Executions in Iran set to double in 2025, report says — BBC News
• Executions in Iran estimated to have doubled in 2025, report says — BBC News

Egyptian Dissident Regrets Tweets Amid Tory Calls for UK Deportation

An Egyptian dissident expresses regret for controversial tweets as the Conservative party in the UK pushes for his deportation from Britain.

• Egyptian dissident sorry for tweets as Tories push for deportation from UK — BBC News
• The Papers: ‘Push to strip Egyptian’s UK citizenship’ and ‘God created Bardot’ — BBC News

Cold weather rings in New Year as amber health alerts issued

Amber health warnings have been issued for the UK as cold temperatures are forecast to usher in the New Year, with freezing conditions expected across much of England and Wales.

• Cold weather to ring in New Year as amber health alerts issued — BBC News
• Cold temperatures forecast for new year, with health alerts issued — Sky News

Ex-England Cricketer Morris Passes Away

Former England cricketer and ECB boss Giles Morris has died. A statement from the board confirmed his passing.

• Ex-England and Glamorgan batter and ECB boss Morris dies — BBC News
• Ex-England striker Carroll due in court after arrest — BBC News

Hotel Fire in Glasgow: Police Not Treating as Deliberate

Crews continue to respond to a hotel fire in Glasgow, with police not currently considering the incident to be deliberate.

• Crews remain at scene of Glasgow hotel fire — BBC News
• Police not treating hotel fire as deliberate — BBC News