Perth is set for a night of celebrations this New Year's Eve, but the fireworks could be overshadowed by what some are deeming Australia's own royal wedding: between Matildas superstar Sam Kerr and fellow soccer star Kristie Mewis.

Perth

Perth is hosting significant New Year's Eve celebrations, including large-scale fireworks displays at Elizabeth Quay and South Perth Foreshore, as well as activities at Yeagan Square. Organisers anticipate a record attendance of 120,000 people, up from 100,000 the previous year.

In addition to public festivities, Matildas footballer Sam Kerr and her fiancé Christy Mewis are holding their wedding at a private Perth residence with around 120 guests, including teammates. The couple's ceremony has been described as 'Australia's Royal Wedding,' with Kerr set to walk down the aisle holding their seven-month-old son.

Sam Kerr, Kristie Mewis ring in the new year with a wedding

That's right, Jay. There's another special celebration on tonight. Perth-born Matilda's superstar Sam Kerr and her fiancé, fellow footballer Christy Mewis, are getting married in what some are dubbing as Australia's Royal Wedding. The couple are set to wed at a private home in Perth in front of about 120 guests, including Tilly's teammates Mackenzie Arnold and Alana Kennedy. Mewis confirming Kerr will walk down the aisle holding their seven-month-old son, Jagger. For everyone else, though, Elizabeth Quay is packing plenty of action for New Year's Eve. Organisers are finishing setting up with events happening across the city. In previous years, fireworks from Elizabeth Quay and South Perth Foreshore have been the main event. There'll be two spectacular shows firing up tonight, but some of the focus will also be on Yeagan Square, with Perth's largest digital countdown and plenty of activities. So last year we had 100,000 people. We're looking at 120,000 this year, so it's going to be, yeah, bigger and better than ever. Jade, it's said to be a wonderful night of celebrations for all West Aussies, including those lucky few with an invitation to the Mewis-Kerr wedding. Beautiful. Thanks, Grace. Enjoy your night.

President Trump says the U.S. "knocked out" a "big facility" last week linked to alleged drug boat operations. Unlike previous operations at sea, this strike occurred on Venezuelan territory, though the president did not disclose specific details about the timing, location, or the party responsible for the attack.

Washington

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New York

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The United Arab Emirates says it's withdrawing its remaining forces from Yemen. The move comes after Saudi Arabia bombed a port in Yemen, saying it targeted an arms shipment intended for a UAE-backed separatist force.

Al Mukalla

Saudi Arabia bombs port in Yemen

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The Kremlin said Tuesday it would toughen its negotiating position in talks on ending the war in Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of attacking a Russian presidential residence — an allegation that Kyiv said was baseless and intended to prolong the conflict.

Moscow

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China fired rockets into waters off northern and southern Taiwan on Tuesday (December 30) and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and destroyers on the second day of its most extensive war games.

Taipei City

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Caracas

U.S. strike hits Venezuelan port facility

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Kuala Lumpur

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Krong Poi Pet

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Florida

Middle East Conflict

Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm

U.S. hit an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, Trump says, as Pentagon carries out another deadly strike in the Pacific. This claim follows a series of U.S. strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific, raising the total number of known strikes to 31 and resulting in over 100 deaths.

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The Taiwanese government says it has placed its forces on alert as China intensifies its military presence in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and launches air, navy and rocket drills around the island.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is denying Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim that Ukraine tried to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy denies Russian claim that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence

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Russia accused Ukraine on Monday (December 29) of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, although it provided no evidence to back up an assertion that Kyiv dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations.

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Two helicopters collided above Hammonton, New Jersey, and one person has died, officials say. CBS News' Elaine Quijano reports.

Hammonton

Helicopters collide in New Jersey

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday (December 29) as questions linger about the future of the U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza.

Palm Beach

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British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident on Monday in Makun, Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

Makun

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China's military moved army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on December 29 for its "Justice Mission 2025" drills, as the island vowed to defend democracy and mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

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President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday. Trump said he thinks both men are ready for peace.

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Far-right politics have pushed further into the mainstream across much of Europe. Populist parties, even in opposition, are shaping national debates on migration and the economy. The trend reflects growing voter frustration over living costs, borders and political trust.

Berlin

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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is set to discuss a new peace plan draft with U.S. President Trump in Florida on Sunday (December 28). However, fresh Russian attacks on Kyiv have left a third of the city without power, undermining local confidence.

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A report has sought to catalogue some of the most significant extreme weather events of the year. UK charity Christian Aid found that heatwaves are pushing the limits of human adaptation, hurricanes and typhoons are breaking records, and droughts are devastating lives across the globe. It's all coming at a heavy financial cost.

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Russia attacked Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said would be a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.

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French actor Brigitte Bardot has died aged 91, her foundation said on Sunday (December 28). She shot to international fame dancing the mambo barefoot in "And God Created Woman," her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism rarely before seen in mainstream cinema.

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