Satellite images show ongoing demolitions behind the ‘yellow line’; experts warn actions likely violate Geneva Convention.

Satellite images reviewed by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency show that the Israeli military has continued to demolish buildings in areas of Gaza it has occupied since a ceasefire with Hamas went into effect.

The Palestinian group has decried such demolitions as a violation of the ceasefire deal, which went into force on October 10. Legal experts and United Nations officials have said throughout the war that the destruction of civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime.

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The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Al Jazeera, but officials have previously said such actions have been done within the ceasefire’s framework and were in response to active threats.

Israel has remained in control of about 58 percent of Gaza since the ceasefire began, withdrawing behind the so-called “yellow line” that divides coastal Gaza from its border regions.

Satellite images showed the latest demolitions took place between November 5 and December 13, with most concentrated in the Shujayea and the Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City.

The images also appeared to show demolitions in the southern city of Rafah as well as the apparent destruction of agricultural facilities east of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.

In an email to Al Jazeera, Adil Haque, a professor of law and armed conflict at Rutgers Law School, explained that under the Fourth Geneva Convention, “any destruction by an Occupying Power of private property is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations”.

“The exception is extremely narrow. The destruction must be absolutely necessary, not merely convenient or advantageous,” Haque said. “And the absolute necessity must arise from military operations, that is, from combat or direct preparations for combat.”

“With a general ceasefire in place, and only a few sporadic exchanges of fire, it is not plausible that such significant destruction of civilian property has been rendered absolutely necessary by military operations,” he added.

Violations continue

The Sanad analysis further found that Israel appears to have created a new advanced military outpost in Tal al-Za’atar in northern Gaza, with new tents and equipment added between November 5 and December 13.

Before its creation, there were 39 active Israeli military points inside the enclave, according to Sanad.

Israeli military operations have devastated Gaza throughout the war, with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reporting last month that 282,000 housing units have been destroyed in the enclave, where about 1.5 million Palestinians remain displaced.

About 93 percent of schools have been destroyed or damaged throughout the war, with 63 percent of hospitals remaining out of commission as of December 9.

A UN Human Rights Council independent commission in September repeatedly cited attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly medical facilities, in finding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry has said that 391 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the enclave since the ceasefire went into effect.

All told, at least 70,663 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed at least 1,139 people.

Last week, Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badram decried a reported statement by Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir in which the military official described the “yellow line” as the “new borderline” with Gaza.

At the time, Badran said that Hamas viewed Israeli demolitions in the area as a continuation of military operations.

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Zelenskyy says talks with US side ‘not easy’ but ‘productive’

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has delivered an address to mark the end of the talks in Berlin. He just spoke at the German-Ukrainian Business Forum.

He says after two days in Berlin, the talks on the US side were “not easy” but they were productive.

He also went on to say Russia is using its relentless strikes as leverage in negotiations – noting not a single power station in Ukraine has been exempt from attack.

Still no detail yet on any tangible compromises made. The two sides are hashing out the US plan presented several weeks ago that has been amended since in other rounds of negotiations in Geneva and Florida.

The exact details aren’t public but Zelenskyy has said Kyiv will not accept any territorial concessions – which the plan purportedly suggests.

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Updated at 17.10 CET

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  Despite positive US rhetoric, sounds like Ukraine, US are still quite far from comprehensive deal — snap analysis

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Despite positive US rhetoric, sounds like Ukraine, US are still quite far from comprehensive deal — snap analysis

Andrew Roth

in Washington

I’m just off a call with US officials on Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s discussions with the Ukrainians and European delegations in Berlin, which included nearly 8 hours of meetings with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

German chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomes US negotiator Jared Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Chancellery for talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photograph: Bundesregierung/Getty Images

While the discussions were described as constructive in particular concerning future US-brokered security guarantees for Ukraine, it sounds like the sides are quite far from a comprehensive peace deal, with significant differences remaining on the future status of the occupied Ukrainian territory, as well as key issues like the future operations of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The US delegation was upbeat. The officials claimed that they are “90%” of the way toward a deal between Ukraine and Russia — in particular, the US delegation claimed that they had developed “Article 5-like” security guarantees for Ukraine that had satisfied both Kyiv and the Europeans (we’ll see what the Europeans brief about that).

The US officials said they wouldn’t release details of the security guarantees yet, but that it included “very strong safeguards” to prevent the war from restarting if a deal is reached. That said, the US won’t be putting boots on the ground in Ukraine according to the officials, so they’ll have to release more details to convince skeptics that Russia will respect those “Article 5-like” guarantees in the future.

A lot of questions remain.

The main one is territory. It was clear from the call that there is not an agreement yet on who would control what territory after a peace deal and how that territory would be recognised. One US official said they had “brainstormed” on turning the occupied Ukrainian territory into an “economic free zone” and they had spent “a lot of time trying to define what that would mean, how it operates.”

So there’s a long way to go in those discussions as well, and the US officials admitted that they may not be able to get that issue across the line: “Ultimately, if we can get that defined, then it will really get to [Russia and Ukraine] to work out the final issues of sovereignty and to see if there’s a deal that can be done between them.”

The US officials said they’ll go back to working groups in the US this weekend, but that they’re ready to travel to Russia or Ukraine in the future if the deal can get done.

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Updated at 18.24 CET

Merz suggests EU plan on frozen Russian assets is only one possible under voting rules

Interestingly, when asked about the use of frozen Russian assets which continues to be opposed by some member states, Germany’s Merz suggestions that it’s the only option that the EU can actually pass, as alternative proposals – including new borrowing – would require unanimity and be effectively blocked by dissenters, such as Slovakia or Hungary.

At a separate appearance alongside Zelenskyy earlier today, Merz said that the EU’s credibility was at stake if the member states fail to agree on a way forward on this issue at this week’s European Council.

He warned that “the European Union’s ability to act will be severely damaged for years, if not longer, and we will show the world that we are incapable of standing together and acting at such a crucial moment in our history.”

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Ukraine needs clarity on guarantees before it can consider territorial asks, Zelenskyy says

In his comments, Zelenskyy says that Ukraine wants to make sure its interests are respected and he says that he feels “that our partners hear Ukraine and are ready to help” and willing to “bring the real end of the war closer.”

But he repeatedly says that security guarantees must be workable for any peace deal to work, and Ukraine needs clear understanding on what they are and how they will be monitored before it can take any decisions on frontlines and territories.

He also stresses that territorial issues are “painful” for Ukraine, and the sides are still apart with “different positions” on ceding territory.

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Updated at 18.18 CET

Merz hails new momentum in Ukraine talks, US security guarantees, with ‘chance for real peace process’

In his opening remarks, Germany’s Merz welcomes “productive discussions” in Berlin, and “a great deal of diplomatic momemtum” to end the war.

German chancellor Friedrich Merz (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) attend a press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Photograph: Clemens Bilan/EPA

He says there is “a chance for a real peace process for Ukraine,” even if the talks are still in “early stages.” But he says that “perhaps for the first time” since the outbreak of the full-scale war, reaching a ceasefire appears actually possible.

He pointedly praises US president Trump, saying that without his “tireless efforts” and “commitment,” the new momentum would not have emerged.

Merz also says that while Russia keeps playing for time with maximalist demands, the European side of the table is determined to progress the talks.

He particularly welcomes the US proposals on “legal and material” guarantees for Ukraine, which he calls “remarkable.” “We won’t repeat the mistakes of Minsk,” he said.

On the thorny issue of territory, he says “it is the Ukrainian people who have defended their territory for almost four years,” and only they can decide on any changes here.

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Updated at 18.21 CET

German chancellor Merz and Ukrainian president Zelenskyy are now giving a joint press conference to update the press on the talks so far.

I will bring you the key lines.

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US officials briefing on talks with Ukraine — summary

Jakub Krupa

So, if you’re joining us now, let’s recap the key lines coming out from Berlin this afternoon after we have heard briefings from both the US and Ukraine.

• US and Ukrainian delegations hailed “real progress” in peace negotiations during “really, really positive” talks “in almost every aspect,” with the US delegation claiming that “90%” of the issues between the two sides have been resolved.

• The eight hours talks over Sunday and Monday involved a number of European representatives, including German chancellor Friedrich Merz and national security advisers from France, Germany, and the UK.

• In sharp contrast to last week’s comments by Trump, the European participants was described as “outstanding” and constructive during the talks.

• The talks included discussions of “Article 5-like” security guarantees for Ukraine to protect it against any future Russian aggression, after Kyiv dropped its longstanding ask to be admitted to Nato alliance.

• Russia would also be open to Ukraine joining the European Union, US negotiators claimed.

• US president Donald Trump is believed to be “pleased” with the progress made in talks.

• Some further work has been delegated to working groups to refine existing proposals, with some differences remaining on territory and sovereignty issues.

• Russia said it expected to be updated on the talks by the US side later today.

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Russia open to Ukraine joining EU, say US officials

US officials say they expect Russia will accept the deal that’s been negotiated with Ukraine this weekend.

As reported earlier, the US officials say they expect Russia would be open to Ukraine joining the EU and “90%” of the issues between the two sides has been solved.

However, there is still a “final decision on territory” which will “be up to Ukraine”.

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Updated at 17.40 CET

Some other key points from this US officials briefing:

• Russia could be open to Ukraine joining the European Union as part of peace deal to end war

• “90%” of the issues have been resolved

• Trump will call in to the meeting being held tonight with Zelenskyy and European leaders

• Any package would have strong Nato-like security guarantees for Ukraine

• Appears territory and sovereignty lines are still the “final” issue

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Updated at 17.40 CET

We’re just getting some lines now too from a US official on the talks and what was discussed.

Overall, the negotiations were “very positive”, Reuters reports the official saying, but ultimately there still needs to be an agreement on territorial lines.

Security guarantees, that is protection for Ukraine after the war, were also a major topic discussed as well as the use of frozen funds for reconstruction.

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Zelenskyy says talks with US side ‘not easy’ but ‘productive’

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has delivered an address to mark the end of the talks in Berlin. He just spoke at the German-Ukrainian Business Forum.

He says after two days in Berlin, the talks on the US side were “not easy” but they were productive.

He also went on to say Russia is using its relentless strikes as leverage in negotiations – noting not a single power station in Ukraine has been exempt from attack.

Still no detail yet on any tangible compromises made. The two sides are hashing out the US plan presented several weeks ago that has been amended since in other rounds of negotiations in Geneva and Florida.

The exact details aren’t public but Zelenskyy has said Kyiv will not accept any territorial concessions – which the plan purportedly suggests.

Share

Updated at 17.10 CET

The White House has now withdrawn that alert about a press call- saying it was sent in error.

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The White House will be holding a press call shortly on the Ukraine war peace talks that have taken place in Berlin.

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Updated at 16.31 CET

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Berlin for talks with Germany’s Friedrich Merz and other European allies. Meanwhile, Brussels continues a debate on reparations loans to Kyiv. Follow DW for more.



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Chile delivered its sharpest political shift in decades as José Antonio Kast, a hard-right former lawmaker who campaigned on restoring public order and tightening the country’s borders, won the presidency in a decisive vote Sunday. 

Kast, who captured 58% of the vote, enters office with a platform centered almost entirely on security and immigration, promising what he describes as the most aggressive public-order campaign in a generation.

The 59-year-old father of nine was born to a German immigrant family in Santiago. He spent years in Chile’s congress and previously ran for president in 2017 and 2021 before breaking through in 2025. His long political trajectory and established conservative identity made him a familiar figure to voters even as he framed this campaign as a mandate for sweeping security reform.

MADURO TRAPPED WITH FEW RETALIATION OPTIONS AFTER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEIZES VENEZUELAN OIL TANKER

In a message that echoes that of U.S. President Donald Trump, Kast has pledged mass deportations of undocumented migrants, expanded policing and the deployment of the military to confront drug trafficking and organized crime. He argues that rising homicides and cartel activity demand extraordinary measures, including deadlines for irregular migrants to leave the country before facing enforced removal. 

His victory reflects a broader regional trend in which voters are turning to candidates who promise crime control rather than ideological transformation.

Chile elected rightwing leader José Kast as president.  (Juan Gonzalez/Reuters)

Kast defeated left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara, a former labor minister who campaigned on expanding social programs, strengthening workers’ rights and raising taxes on high earners to pay for new public benefits. Jara also backed a more lenient immigration policy and emphasized protections for women and LGBTQ Chileans — a clear contrast to Kast’s security-first agenda.

“Here, no individual won, no party won — Chile won, and hope won,” Kast said in a victory speech. “The hope of living without fear. That fear that torments families.” 

He added: “When we tell an irregular migrant that they are breaking the law and must leave our country if they ever want the chance to return, we mean it … We must show great firmness against crime, organised crime, impunity and disorder.”

Kast had predicted his own victory on Chilean radio after Trump won the U.S. election in 2024. 

“We are going to win, too,” he said at the time. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to praise Kast’s win. 

“Under his leadership, we are confident Chile will advance shared priorities to include strengthening public security, ending illegal immigration and revitalizing our commercial relationship,” he said. 

Chile, long considered one of Latin America’s safest countries, has seen a sharp rise in violent crime in the past several years, driven in part by the spread of transnational criminal groups and a surge in drug trafficking. Homicide rates have climbed to their highest levels in decades, and police say organizations such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua have expanded extortion, kidnapping and narcotics operations inside the country. 

The spike in violence has unsettled a population accustomed to relative stability and has turned public security into Chile’s top political issue. 

Although he has long held staunchly conservative positions on abortion, gender policy and same-sex marriage, Kast downplayed those issues during the campaign as he sought to broaden his appeal. Instead, he emphasized structural changes he says are necessary to confront the security crisis, including shrinking parts of the bureaucracy, tightening Chile’s asylum system and giving the presidency greater authority to respond to organized crime.

BOLIVIA PIVOTS TO US AS IT BREAKS FROM CHINA, MADURO AND YEARS OF LEFTIST RULE

Kast also intends to steer Chile toward a more market-oriented economic model, with tax cuts, deregulation and expanded mining development — particularly in lithium and copper, two of the country’s most important exports. He has signaled interest in strengthening ties with the United States and other Western partners, even as China remains Chile’s largest trading partner and a major buyer of its mineral output.

President-elect Kast has promised to crack down on crime and immigration.  (Pablo Sanhueza/Reuters)

Chile’s rightward turn follows a similar shift in neighboring Argentina, which elected libertarian firebrand Javier Milei, right, on a platform of radical economic reform and political disruption. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Chile’s rightward turn follows a similar shift in neighboring Argentina, which elected libertarian firebrand Javier Milei on a platform of radical economic reform and political disruption. 

But the two leaders represent distinct strains of the right: Milei is an anti-establishment libertarian who thrives on theatrical confrontation and sweeping proposals to remake Argentina’s economy, while Kast is a more traditional conservative focused on order, border enforcement and institutional authority. Their wins stem from similar voter frustrations, but they offer sharply different governing styles.

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Kast is also one of South America’s most outspoken critics of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, frequently citing Venezuela’s economic collapse and mass migration as warnings for Chile. He has accused Maduro of allowing criminal networks to flourish and has linked Venezuela’s crisis directly to Chile’s migration and security challenges.

His party’s lack of a congressional majority could slow or dilute parts of his agenda, but Kast’s decisive margin suggests Chilean voters are prepared to test his hard-edged security strategy after years of political gridlock and rising public anxiety.

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Russia would accept Ukraine’s ascension to the European Union as part of a U.S.-brokered agreement to end the bloody and protracted war it started nearly four years ago, U.S. officials said Monday following talks with Ukrainian representatives in Berlin.

The surprising revelation came as officials were briefing reporters after several days of negotiations between U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and a delegation from Kyiv that included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his National Security and Defense Council head, Rustem Umerov.

One of the U.S. officials involved in the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the proposed 20-point agreement would include “a very, very strong security package” that would provide Ukraine with “Article Five-like security guarantees” from the U.S. and other allies akin to those enjoyed by NATO members, without Kyiv becoming a part of the 32-member defensive alliance.

The official called the security guarantees “the biggest win” in the talks for Ukraine and Europe and said Moscow would accept those and other provisions that would provide for “a strong and free Ukraine” following implementation of the proposed agreement.

He also said Russia is “open to Ukraine joining the E.U.” and suggested that the development would be the largest expansion of the 27-member common market since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

A second U.S. official said the “right framework” in an agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war could create a “new path forward” under which “Europe and Russia can finally have an arrangement and understanding that can lead to a more peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.”

News of Moscow’s potential willingness to accept Ukraine joining the E.U. as part of a deal with strong security guarantees from the U.S. and others comes less than a day after Zelensky offered to drop Kyiv’s longstanding desire for NATO membership at the outset of the talks between himself, Witkoff and Kushner.

In a WhatsApp chat with reporters, Zelensky noted that “some partners from the U.S. and Europe did not support this direction” of NATO membership for his country.

“Thus, today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the U.S., Article 5-like guarantees for us from the U.S., and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries — Canada, Japan — are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion,” he added.

More follows…

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NEED TO KNOW

• Olivia Rodrigo reveals the one album she listens to when she needs to be reminded why she makes music
• PEOPLE can exclusively premiere a clip from the next episode of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s podcast Music Makes Us, which is hosted by Kathleen Hanna and features the pop singer
• The episode will premiere on Tuesday, Dec. 16

Olivia Rodrigo is opening up about the album that reminds her why she makes music.

In a clip from the next episode of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s podcast Music Makes Us, which PEOPLE can exclusively premiere, the “Vampire” artist opens up to host Kathleen Hanna about the one record she always returns to when she needs to feel inspired.

The Bikini Kill bandleader, 57, asks Rodrigo, 22, if there is a song or album she returns to when “you need to reconnect with yourself” in the snippet, which the pop star replies to with certainty.

RockHall/YouTube

“Honestly, I listen to [Alanis Morissette’s] Jagged Little Pill when I’m feeling, like, I don’t know what to say or like, who am I?” says Rodrigo. “For some reason that album, just like, every part of what makes a human being a human being, it feels like it’s encapsulated in that record.”

The “good 4 u” singer notes that “there’s so much anger and spite and jealousy but also so much joy and hope, all like intertwined into each other in such a beautiful way.”

“I f—ing love that album as everyone on the planet does but I just think, it reminds me what I’m trying to go after,” says Rodrigo.

Olivia Rodrigo; Kathleen Hanna.

Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Rachel Bright

What she admires about Morissette’s 1995 record is that it’s “her being herself and letting it all pour out.”

“As a writer that’s always like the most inspiring thing when you just feel like someone just needed to say something,” adds Rodrigo. “They’re not just writing a song to make it go big or make people like it.”

The “Jealousy, Jealousy” artist says that the album felt like the singer-songwriter’s “diary in the best way.”

Rodrigo has long-been a fan of Morissette, 51.

In 2021, the pair were featured in a joint Rolling Stone Musicians on Musicians cover story, and the following year, Rodrigo inducted Morissette into the 2022 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

“I remember hearing Alanis for the first time when I was about 13. I was in the car with my parents when Jagged Little Pill came on,” the three-time Grammy winner said in a statement to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the time.

She added, “I heard ‘Perfect,’ [and] I was like, ‘Oh, my God… You can write songs like that?’ I just looked at music and songwriting in a completely different way.”

Alanis Morissette and Olivia Rodrigo in September 2022 in Toronto.

Jeremy Chan/Getty

Rodrigo also surprised fans in May 2022 and brought out the “Ironic” hitmaker as a guest on stage, where they performed Morissette’s 1995 classic “You Oughta Know.”

The Music Makes Us podcast, which is produced in partnership with Radiotopia from PRX and Talkhouse, premiered on Nov. 18 and features Hanna having “unforgettable conversations with artists across generations and genres including Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Chaka Khan and Nancy Wilson of Heart and Laufey; Amy Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers; Towa Bird; and Paramore’s Hayley Williams.

‘Music Makes Us’ podcast artwork.

Radiotopia

New episodes drop each week and are free across all major podcast platforms.

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By MARK DUELL, SENIOR REPORTER

Published: 03:31 EST, 15 December 2025 | Updated: 11:27 EST, 15 December 2025

Britain is back on flood watch today as a new amber warning for heavy downpours was imposed after half a month’s worth of rain fell over the weekend.

Rail operators issued ‘do not travel’ alerts after flooding blocked lines across the UK and a slow-moving weather front brings persistent rain throughout the day.

South Wales will be worst hit by the continuing wet weather today while the 18-hour ‘danger to life’ amber warning is in place until 9pm with up to 100mm (4in) set to fall.

Yellow rain warnings have also been activated by the Met Office for South West and North West England, areas of the North East and parts of South and West Wales.

Some 150 flood alerts or warnings were issued, including seven Environment Agency warnings and 78 alerts for England – mostly in western parts of the country.

Elsewhere, Natural Resources Wales activated eight warnings and 41 alerts and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency imposed six warnings and ten alerts.

The Met Office said there was a ‘good chance’ that some communities in South Wales within the amber warning area ‘will be cut off by flooded roads’.

Forecasters added that homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings; while disruption to train and bus services is expected.

Flood water on Hunter Street in Briton Ferry in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, this afternoon

Flood water on Hunter Street in Briton Ferry in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, this afternoon

Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, while ‘power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses likely’.

Fast flowing or deep floodwater was also ‘likely, causing danger to life’ – with the ‘likelihood of impacts’ increased given recent wet weather and saturated ground.

Northern told all rail passengers that it was ‘strongly advising customers not to travel in Cumbria today’ due to severe rainfall over the weekend, which had resulted in seven routes being blocked with no trains or replacement buses running.

The impacted routes were between Carlisle and Whitehaven; Carlisle and Skipton; Corkickle and Barrow-in-Furness; Barrow-in-Furness and Preston; Windermere and Oxenholme; Carnforth and Skipton’ and Lancaster and Morecambe.

Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express both said services north of Preston were likely to be disrupted – including to Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The heavy rain also caused major rail disruption in Wales, with flooding blocking lines between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog, and between Bridgend and Pyle.

ScotRail said speed restrictions had been imposed due to heavy rain between Glasgow Central and Largs, Androssan Harbour, Carlisle, Kilmarnock, Ayr and Stranraer; between Glasgow Queen Street and Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness; and between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh.

The Environment Agency urged motorists not to drive through flood water, saying it is ‘often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.’

Floods minister Emma Hardy said she was ‘co-ordinating with local authorities and emergency services to keep communities safe’.

The Met Office said yesterday that parts of Cumbria had seen more than 200mm of rain since midday on Saturday, which was around half a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.

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Flood and ‘do not travel’ alerts issued after half a month’s rain falls in just 24 hours – with more yellow and amber warnings in place

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An expert has shed some light on the twisted dynamic of Bondi Beach killers Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram – a father son duo who appear to have hidden their dark intentions behind a ‘normal’ facade

16:10, 15 Dec 2025Updated 16:15, 15 Dec 2025

Father and son crimes of this nature are understood to be rare

On the evening of December 14, hell came to Sydney’s Bondi Beach, in the form of a murderous father-son duo. Now an expert has shed some light on the twisted pair’s “lethal” dynamic, and potential “power imbalance”.

In a horrific attack on Australia’s Jewish community, Sajid Akram, 50, and unemployed bricklayer Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on what should have been a joyful celebration held to mark the start of Hannukah. At least 16 people died in the antisemitic bloodbath, which has been declared a terrorist incident, while dozens more have required hospital treatment.

Police shot Sajid dead at the scene, while Naveed was arrested by New South Wales Police. At a press conference, police commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that the younger assailant, who reportedly remains hospitalised with critical injuries, is expected to live to face criminal charges.

Many questions remain in this case, which has shocked people of all faiths across the world. While little is known so far about the Akrams, the notion of two violent killers, parent and child, attacking together is a startling one. So how could such a terrible thing come to pass?

READ MORE: Bondi Beach shooting: Alleged gunman ‘likely to live’ after 16 killedThe Akrams slaughtered at least 16 people(Image: COURTESY OF TIMOTHY BRANT-COLES/)

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a woman who identified herself as the younger Akram’s mum said her son spoke to family just hours before the rampage, telling the paper: “He rings me up [on Sunday] and said, Mum, I just went for a swim. I went scuba diving. We’re going … to eat now, and then this morning, and we’re going to stay home now because it’s very hot,”

She added: “He doesn’t have a firearm. He doesn’t even go out. He doesn’t mix around with friends. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to bad places … he goes to work, he comes home, he goes to exercise, and that’s it,” she said. “Anyone would wish to have a son like my son … he’s a good boy.”

The Mirror spoke with psychotherapist Shelly Dar from Therapy Health, who has extensive experience in recognising the psychological patterns behind criminal behaviour.

Ms Dar told the Mirror: “From a psychological perspective, it is quite rare to see a father and son carry out a violent attack together. Most serious violent acts are committed either by individuals acting alone or by peers of a similar age who fuel and reinforce each other’s views. A parent and child acting together is much less common and raises particular concerns about power, influence and identity.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has now confirmed that the younger Akram, who is an Australian-born citizen, had previously come to the attention of the Australian intelligence agency (ASIO) back in 2019. The PM revealed: “He was examined on the basis of being associated with others and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”

Police shot Sajid dead at the scene, while injured Naveed was arrested (Image: @ConservativeeAu/X)

Mr Albanese asserted that, while the men had acted alone and not part of a wider group, they had “clearly” been driven by “extremist ideology”. At the time concerns were initially raised, the younger killer would have still been a teenager. So how was it that his worldview became so warped at such an early age? Furthermore, how was it that the elder Akram was apparently content with his own child being involved with such an atrocity?

Offering some insight into the potential dynamics within the Akram household, Ms Dar suggested: “In any family, parents play a central role in shaping a young person’s values and moral compass. When a parent is involved in planning or leading violence, the child is not a free and equal participant. There is a strong power imbalance, especially if the young person has grown up with rigid beliefs at home, emotional dependence, fear or a strong pressure to be loyal to the parent. This can make it very hard to step back and question what is happening.”

She continued: “In father and son cases, there can be a potent mix of admiration, fear and a wish to prove oneself. Younger people in these situations are often driven less by ideology and more by attachment, obedience and a deep need for approval. If the parent frames violence as justified, necessary or even protective, that message can cut through a young person’s natural hesitation and sense that something is not right.

While the pair had acted alone, it’s said they were ‘clearly’ driven by ‘extremist ideology’

“What stands out in a situation like this is the collapse of the usual protective boundary in parenting. Involving a child in lethal violence is a profound failure of care. It suggests that a parent’s beliefs, grievances or need for control have been placed far above their child’s wellbeing and future.”

Meanwhile, neighbours who thought they knew the “normal” Akrams have been left “shocked” by the recent harrowing events. Lemanatua Fatu, who lived on the same street as the 24-year-old n Bonnyrigg, Sydney, told ABC how she’d seen a large police presence out on the street and outside his home, right throughout the night.

According to Lemanatua: “That’s how we knew. We couldn’t sleep, watching everything – it was so scary.” She added: “They just come and go every day. And they never say hello or anything. They’re just … normal. We thought they were normal people.”

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

READ MORE: Bondi Beach hero gives four word explanation why he risked life to stop killer gunman



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Shooting victims named in reports as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook

The two people killed in Saturday’s shooting have been identified as MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, according to reports.

Aspiring neurosurgeon Umurzokov was identified by his family in a Gofundme page. In a message on the site, they said: “He was incredibly kind, funny, and smart. He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people. He continues to be my family’s biggest role model in all aspects.

“He always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew. Our family is incredibly devastated by this loss.”

The Gofundme appeal had raised nearly $230,000 by Monday morning.

MukhammadAziz Umurzokov Photograph: GoFundMe

The Providence Journal reports that Cook’s death was announced during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was reportedly a parishioner. The Rev Craig Smalley said in livestreamed remarks: “Many of you heard about the tragedy … And sadly, tragically, one of those people is one of our parishioners.”

Ella Cook Photograph: GoFundMe

Smalley said Cook was a “bright light”, “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful”.

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Updated at 16.11 CET

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Authorities ask public for tips as manhunt for shooter continues

As the investigation continues, authorities in Rhode Island are asking “anyone with relevant information, including video or photo evidence, to submit it by phone or through the FBI tip line”.

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Updated at 16.19 CET

Alabama senators have paid tribute to Ella Cook, one of the victims of the shooting, who was from Alabama.

“I am heartbroken to hear that Mountain Brook’s Ella Cook was among those killed over the weekend at Brown University” Senator Tommy Tuberville said. “Our hearts and our prayers are with the Cook family and everyone impacted by this senseless killing.”

In another post, Senator Katie Britt said that she joins the “Mountain Brook community and all of Alabama in mourning the heartbreaking loss of one of our own, Ella Cook, who was senselessly killed over the weekend on Brown University’s campus.”

“There are no words that can ease the pain Ella’s family and friends are enduring right now” she said.

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Updated at 16.09 CET

The University of Rhode Island said that it will not hold in person exams today.

Online exams, the school said, will proceed as scheduled.

“Importantly, there is no known threat to our campuses” the university said. “This decision follows consideration of concerns shared by members of our community.”

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Providence mayor says search for shooter continues after person of interest released

Providence mayor Brett Smiley appeared on Good Morning America this morning, and said that after authorities reviewed the evidence in the case, it was “determined that this person of interest needed to be released”.

“We continue with our investigation” Smiley said. “To be clear, we’ve never stopped our investigation. Providence police and our partners at the State Police, the FBI and others have continuously run down leads and worked this case beyond the person of interest who had been detained.”

“As you have seen many times, we do have a short small clip of video footage that we do believe is the person that we’re looking for” he said. “And right now we don’t have any evidence to suggest that it was more than that individual which has been seen in that video.”

The mayor said that there is currently enhanced police presence both on campus at Brown and throughout the city of Providence.

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Updated at 16.17 CET

Ella Cook called ‘an incredible light’ in tributes after shooting

One of the victims killed in Saturday’s shooting has been identified as student Ella Cook, who was from Alabama.

Her name was announced during a church service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where the Reverend said she attended.

“Tragically, one of our parishioners, Ella Cook, was one of those who was killed yesterday,” Reverend Craig Smalley said during the service on Sunday, which was live streamed. “And those of you who knew her, those of you who know her, she was an incredible, grounded, faithful bright light.

“Not only here growing up here at the Advent in the myriad ways in which she served faithfully and the ways in which she encouraged and lift up those around her, but at Brown University she was an incredible light in that particular place,” Smalley said.

The New York Young Republican Club also put out a statement on Sunday expressing their “deepest condolences to the family of Ella Cook” who they said was “the Vice President of the College Republicans at Brown University.”

In another statement, Martin Bertao, the president of the College Republicans of America, said that “we are devastated to learn of the loss of our Brown College Republicans Vice President, Ella Cook.”

“Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates” they added.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted the College Republicans of America post, and wrote: “There are no words. Thinking of her family and friends, especially her parents. God please bless them.”

Ella Cook Photograph: GoFundMeShare

Updated at 16.15 CET

Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov remembered for ‘sharp intellect, kind heart’

More tributes to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov came from the American Uzbekistan Association, who said he “was known for his sharp intellect, kind heart, and quiet willingness to help anyone in need”.

The association wrote on Instagram, praising his “humility and compassion” as well as his “curiosity, discipline, and generosity”.

The statement added:

More than a gifted student, Aziz was a beloved son, brother, and friend. He had a future filled with promise, and his life was cut short far too soon. His passing has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of his family, friends, classmates, and the broader Uzbek American community.

On behalf of the American Uzbekistan Association, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Mukhammad Aziz’s family during this time of unimaginable grief. We stand with them in mourning and are grateful to all who have offered prayers, messages of support, and solidarity.

Mukhammad Aziz will be remembered for his kindness, his potential, and the light he brought into the lives of others. His memory will endure.

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Updated at 16.13 CET

One of the nine people injured in the shooting was named as Kendall Turner in media reports.

The Raleigh News & Observers reported Turner, from Durham, North Carolina, was among those wounded in the mass shooting on Saturday.

“We were saddened to learn that Kendall Turner ‘25, a beloved Durham Academy alumna, was wounded in the mass shooting that occurred at Brown University yesterday,” the publication quotes Michael Ulku-Steiner, who leads the school, as saying. “Her family has informed us that she is currently in critical but stable condition and is receiving care at a local hospital. Her parents are with her. We hope for her continued strength and recovery.”

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The US ambassador to Uzbekistan paid tribute to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.

In a statement, Jonathan Henick said: “I am deeply saddened by reports of the tragic death of Brown University student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov on December 13. We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Umurzokov’s family, friends, and fellow students and mourn the loss of his bright future.”

MukhammadAziz Umurzokov Photograph: GoFundMeShare

Updated at 15.13 CET

Shooting victims named in reports as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook

The two people killed in Saturday’s shooting have been identified as MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, according to reports.

Aspiring neurosurgeon Umurzokov was identified by his family in a Gofundme page. In a message on the site, they said: “He was incredibly kind, funny, and smart. He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people. He continues to be my family’s biggest role model in all aspects.

“He always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew. Our family is incredibly devastated by this loss.”

The Gofundme appeal had raised nearly $230,000 by Monday morning.

MukhammadAziz Umurzokov Photograph: GoFundMe

The Providence Journal reports that Cook’s death was announced during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was reportedly a parishioner. The Rev Craig Smalley said in livestreamed remarks: “Many of you heard about the tragedy … And sadly, tragically, one of those people is one of our parishioners.”

Ella Cook Photograph: GoFundMe

Smalley said Cook was a “bright light”, “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful”.

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Updated at 16.11 CET

The FBI director, Kash Patel, said on Sunday that the FBI had activated its “cellular analysis survey team to provide critical geolocation capabilities” to aid with the investigation.

“We have deployed local and national resources to process and reconstruct the shooting scene – providing HQ and Lab elements on scene” he said, adding that the agency said also “set up a digital media intake portal to ingest images and video from the public” related to the shooting.

The FBI’s victim specialists are also “fully integrating with our partners to provide resources to victims and survivors of this horrific violence” he said. “This FBI will continue an all out 24/7 campaign until justice is fully served”.

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Brown University cancels ‘all remaining in-person exams’ for the semester

On Sunday, Brown University said that the school has cancelled “all remaining in-person exams” for Fall 2025 courses in the wake of the shooting.

In a statement, the university’s provost said that “we must balance the importance of providing clear guidance on educational assessment with our responsibility to ensure the thriving of every member of our community.”

“We have decided to cancel all remaining in-person exams for Fall 2025 courses at all schools, with the exception of the Warren Alpert Medical School and the IE Brown Executive MBA program in the School of Professional Studies (SPS)” they added.

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Updated at 16.13 CET

Brown University has told the university community that despite individual that was detained being released and as law enforcement continues to investigate, they do not “believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.”

In a statement on Sunday night, the university added that “as Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies.”

The school said that its Department of Public Safety has more than doubled its staffing, and that there “continues to be a heightened amount of local, state and federal police activity in the area”.

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Updated at 16.10 CET

The Providence Police have said that investigation is ongoing and remains fully active between all agencies.

The police announced on Sunday night that the person of interest was being released and said that since the first call to 911, they have “not received any specific threats to our community.”

They asked that any and all video and photo evidence be submitted via phone or via the FBI tip line.

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Brown University announced on Sunday that it was temporarily delaying the release of admissions decisions for applicants who were meant to find out today whether they had been admitted to the school.

“The Brown University community suffered an unthinkable tragedy on Saturday evening” the school said in a post. “We are faced with the reality of mourning the loss of members of our community taken from us from a terrible act of violence, even as we acknowledge that we’re on the eve of a very important day for our many talented applicants to Brown.”

The school added: “While we remain excited about the dedicated students eager to join Brown, we are prioritizing care and support for our community and anticipate a brief delay in the release of admission decisions. We are going to delay notifications for up to 48 hours and appreciate your patience and understanding as we grieve, heal, and begin to move forward together.”

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‘Person of interest’ detained over Brown University shooting is to be released, officials say

The hunt for a gunman who killed two people and injured nine others at Brown University continued on Monday after authorities released their sole person of interest on Sunday.

The person in their 20s was released after the investigation ended up going in a “different direction”, according to the mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley.

“We have not yet solved this case, but I am confident we are going to do that in the near future,” Rhode Island attorney general Peter Neronha said, adding there was only a “quantum of evidence which justified detaining this person as a person of interest”.

Students stand in front of the Van Wickle Gates after placing flowers following the shooting at Brown University. Photograph: Kylie Cooper/Reuters

The Providence police department said the investigation is “active and ongoing”, with local officers working with state police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.

A gunman – dressed in black – opened fire at the Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams at one of America’s most prestigious colleges on Saturday.

Authorities are now searching for additional video evidence that could help them track down the suspect.

Brown University said in a statement that local police “have advised they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.”

The identities of the two people killed have not yet been released, but the university has confirmed they were both students.

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The fight over California’s new congressional map designed to help Democrats flip congressional House seats will go to court Monday as a panel of federal judges considers whether the district boundaries approved by voters last month can be used in elections.

The hearing in Los Angeles sets the stage for a high-stakes legal and political fight between the Trump administration and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who’s been eyeing a 2028 presidential run. The lawsuit asks a three-judge panel to grant a temporary restraining order by Dec. 19 — the date candidates can take the first official steps to run in the 2026 election.

Voters approved California’s new U.S. House map in November through Proposition 50. It’s designed to help Democrats flip as many as five congressional House seats in the midterm elections next year. It was Newsom’s response to a Republican-led effort in Texas backed by President Donald Trump.

The redistricting showdown between the nation’s two most populous states has spread nationally, with efforts aiming to determine which party controls Congress for the second half of Trump’s term. Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have adopted new district lines that could provide a partisan advantage.

Some plans are facing legal challenges, but the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month to allow Texas to use its new map for the 2026 election. The Justice Department has only sued California.

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The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month to allow Texas to use its new map for the 2026 election. The Justice Department has only sued California (Getty Images)

The U.S. Justice Department, joining a case brought by the California Republican Party, has accused California of gerrymandering its map in violation of the Constitution by using race as a factor to favor Hispanic voters. Republicans want the court to prohibit California from using the new map. Voters approved the map for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. State Democrats said they’re confident the lawsuit will fail.

“In letting Texas use its gerrymandered maps, the Supreme Court noted that California’s maps, like Texas’s, were drawn for lawful reasons,” Newsom’s spokesperson Brandon Richards said in a statement. “That should be the beginning and the end of this Republican effort to silence the voters of California.”

New U.S. House maps are drawn across the country after the Census every 10 years. Some states like California rely on an independent commission to draw maps, while others like Texas let politicians draw them. The effort to create new maps in the middle of the decade is highly unusual.

Paul Mitchell, a redistricting consultant who drew the map for Democrats, is expected to offer testimony. The Justice Department alleges that Mitchell and state leaders admitted that they redrew some districts to have a Latino majority.

The lawsuit cites a news release from state Democrats that says the new map “retains and expands Voting Rights Act districts that empower Latino voters” while making no changes to Black majority districts in the Oakland and Los Angeles areas. The federal Voting Rights Act, passed in the 1960s, sets rules for drawing districts to ensure minority groups have adequate political power. The lawsuit also cites a Cal Poly Pomona and Caltech study that concludes the new map would increase Latino voting power.

“Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50 — the recent ballot initiative that junked California’s pre-existing electoral map in favor of a rush-job rejiggering of California’s congressional district lines,” the lawsuit said.

House Democrats need to gain just a handful of seats next year to take control of the chamber, which would imperil Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his term and open the way for congressional investigations into his administration. Republicans hold 219 seats, to Democrats’ 214.

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