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Millions of Britons are being given a chance to work down under after Australia extended its working holiday visa age limit.

A long-awaited amendment coming into force on Saturday, 1 July, will see the work visa offered to people aged 18-35 – a five-year increase on the original limit of 30.

It is the first change to the visa since it was introduced in 1975, under the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (UKFTA).

Further changes to the working holiday visa are expected exactly one year later on 1 July, 2024, when Britons will be able to apply to live and work in Australia for up to three years without any specified work requirements.

The offer is likely to be considered by many young people living in the UK – as new research reveals how 45% of 25 to 34-year-olds regret not taking a gap year when they had the chance.

The data, published by Tourism Australia, the nation’s tourist board, also found that almost one in 10 people surveyed believed they were too old to start again.

Some 43% of people aged 25 to 34 are considering working abroad in the hope of advancing their careers, the figures revealed.

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The offer could prove tempting as it emerged the UK jobs market had more candidates going for fewer jobs last month – with wages stagnant and redundancies rising.

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A survey of 400 recruitment and employment consultancies said May saw the biggest spike in jobseekers for the past two-and-a-half years.

Australia, which basks in 2,800 hours of sunshine every year, is an attractive option thanks to having a higher minimum wage than the UK, together with one of the lowest unemployment rates in almost 50 years.

Tourism Australia’s regional general manager for UK & Northern Europe, Sally Cope, said the five-year extension would “present a world of openings to young professionals”, as well as an “incredible lifestyle”, with Australia “ready to welcome them”.

In January, Australia announced a review of its entire visa and immigration system after the COVID pandemic left the nation grappling with a shortage of workers.

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Farmers call for visa extensions

Meanwhile in the UK, visa rules in the UK were amended last October to allow farmers to hire foreign poultry workers ahead of Christmas turkey rush.

The president of the National Farmers’ Union told Sky News that Brexit and the loss of freedom of movement have contributed to a higher cost for the EU’s seasonal workers.

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‘Multi-hazard storm’ to hit on New Year’s Day with snow, wind and rain warnings in place

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'Multi-hazard storm' to hit on New Year's Day with snow, wind and rain warnings in place

Weather warnings are in place for snow, wind and rain across much of the UK on New Year’s Day. 

The start of 2025 will bring a “multi-hazard storm, combining severe gales, heavy rain and possibly significant snow as the rain runs into cold air,” said Sky News meteorologist Christopher England.

Pic: Met Office
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Pic: Met Office

The most significant snowfall on New Year’s Day will be from Donegal, across Northern Ireland and into the north of England and south of Scotland.

The wind looks strongest in the south, Mr England added, where 60mph winds are possible inland and 80mph gusts around the coasts of the Irish Sea.

The stormy weather continues on 2 January, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings across England, Wales and parts of Scotland.

The UK has faced widespread disruption over the last few days, as thick fog descended.

Tens of thousands of passengers had flights delayed or cancelled, while drivers were warned about dangerous conditions with poor visibility.

Revellers are also set for a “wet and rather windy” New Year’s Eve, with the potential for a snowy Hogmanay in Scotland.

There could be some “possibly disruptive weather” on 31 December, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said, with Scotland likely to see the worst of it.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for winds of up to 70mph that may cause travel disruption on New Year’s Eve.

The alert, in place from 7am until 11pm on Tuesday, covers most of Northern Ireland as well as north of York in England up to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock.

The forecaster also warned that delays to transport are likely, with gusts of up to 60mph expected in most areas.

Those affected should check road conditions for driving and the latest travel information as well as preparing for in advance for potential power cuts.

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Seven people arrested after 18-year-old stabbed to death

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Seven people arrested after 18-year-old stabbed to death

Six teenagers and a 52-year-old man have been arrested after an 18-year-old was stabbed to death in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

Four 17-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two girls aged 15 and 16 have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, as has a man, 52.

Police were called to reports a man had been stabbed on Rose Avenue on Saturday evening.

They found the victim on nearby Heanor Road with a stab wound but despite the efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene just before 9pm.

“The investigation is very much in its early stages and we are urging anyone with information that may assist with our inquiries to contact us as a matter of urgency,” said Detective Chief Inspector Claudia Musson.

The teenager’s family have been made aware and are being assisted by specially trained officers.

The murder probe is being led by the East Midlands special operations unit.

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Police are particularly keen to hear from people with CCTV or doorbell footage and any dashcam footage between the times of 7pm and 9pm in the areas of Heanor Road, Rose Avenue, Summerfields Way, Kedleston Drive and Peveril Drive.

Anyone with any information has been asked to contact Derbyshire Police quoting incident number 940 of December 28.

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Meet the last man standing on UK’s loneliest housing estate

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Meet the last man standing on UK's loneliest housing estate

A pensioner who is refusing to leave what’s being branded Britain’s loneliest housing estate has told Sky News he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out.

Nick Wisniewski’s ex-council flat in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is set to be demolished because the local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore.

The vast area on the outskirts of Glasgow used to have almost 1,000 properties, but slowly the bulldozers have moved in, creating huge mounds of rubble where homes once stood.

The land is overgrown, with all remaining properties boarded up – apart from the retired bank worker’s home, which demolition teams have been unable to touch as he refuses to budge.

Nick Wisniewski says he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out of his home
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Nick Wisniewski claims he is being bullied to leave his home

Rubble where homes once stood
Image:
Rubble where homes on the estate once stood

‘They’ll basically need to drag me out’

The 68-year-old, whose neighbours were all rehomed in 2023, bought the flat in 2017 under the discounted right-to-buy scheme and is now mortgage-free.

He told Sky News he rejected an initial offer from North Lanarkshire Council of £35,000 plus two year’s rent as it would not be enough to buy a new place.

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Contemplating a time in the future when he is forced out, he said: “By law they can smash my door down, they can come in here, manhandle me to get me out. That’s the law, and they’ll basically need to drag me out.”

Asked if he is prepared to go to that length to stop himself being removed, he said: “I am hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if it does then so be it.”

He reveals a compulsory purchase order process is now under way.

A compulsory purchase order is the legal power given to a local council to buy a property without the owner’s consent.

The legal battle will now be resolved by the Scottish government in due course.

The local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore
Image:
There used to be almost a thousand properties on the estate


Rubble where homes once stood

He said: “It’s been all intimidation, bullying, lies. They offered me £40,000 over a year ago. I thought they’d have offered me a wee bit more. I would accept, probably, £60,000.

“They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago saying that they are starting legal, which means compulsory purchase order.

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“There’s so many stages to that and it’ll take a while for that to come in to force.”

There used to be almost 1000 properties on the estate

North Lanarkshire Council told Sky News it “completely refutes” any allegations of bullying or intimidation.

A spokesman said: “We are continuing to try and engage with the remaining resident and our focus is on progressing our ambitious plans to transform this area of Gowkthrapple for the benefit of the local community.”

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