Australia live news: NSW records seven local Covid cases after 70000 tests as premier gives …

Victoria police have released a statement about the man who drowned this afternoon.

One man died and a second man is missing in waters off Wilsons Promontory, the police force said.

It’s believed the pair were swimming with friends at Squeaky Beach when they got into difficulty about 3.40pm. A member of the public managed to pull one of the men from the water. CPR was commenced however he died at the scene.

The second swimmer is yet to be located and a search is underway with the help of local police officers and the air wing. Water police are also on their way to the scene to assist.

Early morning snowfall has been recorded in parts of the UK, with the Met Office declaring it a white Christmas.

Reports of snow had come in from Leconfield in Humberside and Wattisham in Suffolk as of 5am on Christmas day.

Thanks to everyone who shared their stories on our open thread on spending Christmas alone. Here are some more comments from readers:

Seeing friends on Boxing Day, so it’s far from the end of the world. And, in the end, it’s just one lunch.

I have weathered many storms to get to the point where I do the things that keep me content calm and happy. It takes courage to be on your own at Christmas.

I am alone, but not lonely. If I feel adventurous, I might even put up some Christmas lights. Sometimes, there’s no stopping me and I am like a coiled spring, barely containing my excitement.

I’ve been spending Christmas alone for many years, well, since my husband died. I plan my day and go somewhere we used to go to together, the beach, and go for a long walk. Come home, turn on the tv and enjoy a meal, and stollen.

NSW Health has released an updated list of venues and transport routes of concern in relation to the northern beaches coronavirus cluster.

The list includes venues in Sydney’s northern beaches, as well as in the city, north shore, eastern and western suburbs.

Included in the list is an alert for anyone who visited the Santa Photos set up at the Queen Victoria Building on Wednesday 23 December between 10.15-11am.

You can see the full list of new venues and transport routes here.

My Christmas in quarantine: a Covid carvery, Santa patrols and paper bag decorations

Escaping the UK to spend Christmas alone in a New Zealand Novotel was a small price for Elle Hunt to pay to rejoin her family in relative freedom.

It has been a whole year since the skies parted and the almighty delivered this gift – Barnaby Joyce’s memorable Christmas message for the ages.

In the video, the Nationals MP and former deputy prime minister declared “I just don’t want the government anymore in my life”.

Despite the revelation Joyce was “sick of the government being in my life”, he has continued serving as a member of the government.

South Australia has recorded two new overseas-acquired cases of Covid-19.

Today’s cases are a female in her 30s and a female child. Both have been in a medi-hotel since their arrival.

Hi I’m Elias Visontay and I’m thrilled to be bringing you the news this Christmas afternoon from Sydney, after a festive morning on the blog for my colleague Melissa Davey.

I’ll be bringing you some information shortly about Qantas repatriation flights bringing home stranded Australians.

Australia and China have collaborated on a mission to medically evacuate an Australian expeditioner from Antarctica with help from the United States.

The operation took five days, used ships, helicopters and planes, and covered thousands of kilometres of the icy continent, AAP reports.

Australian Antarctic Division director Kim Ellis described it as one of the most complex and challenging medical evacuations his team has undertaken in recent years. The unwell Australian was at Davis research station in east Antarctica when the operation began.

China trade war extends to NSW and WA timber

Meanwhile, in case you missed it yesterday, Reuters reports the trade war with China has expanded.

China has suspended imports of timber from NSW and Western Australia after local customs offices found pests in cargoes from those states, the General Administration of Customs said late on Wednesday.

The ban, effective from Wednesday, follows previous suspensions of timber shipments from Victoria and Queensland amid worsening relations between Beijing and Canberra.

Local customs authorities must further strengthen inspections on timber imports from Australia, and return any cargoes found with pests, the administration office said in a statement on its website.

China also banned timber shipments from Tasmania and South Australia from 3 December, according to the statement. Read more from Reuters here.