WORLD NEWS
Bondi Beach shooting live updates: ‘Cold-blooded’ attack was motivated by Isis ideology, Albanese says
‘My son is a hero’- Father praises man who stopped gunman in Bondi Beach terror attack
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The fatal shooting at Bondi Beach appears to have been driven by extremist beliefs, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has said.
“It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology,” Albanese told ABC Sydney.
One of the gunmen involved in the Bondi Beach mass shooting had previously been investigated over links to a Sydney-based Isis terrorist cell, he said.
Naveed Akram, 24, had been investigated for six months in 2019 by ASIO, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, according to ABC. It found no evidence that he had planned or considered planning any act of violence.
Counter-terrorism police believe Akram and his father, Sajid, 50, had pledged allegiance to the terror group, according to the broadcaster.
Two Isis flags were reportedly found in their car.
At least 15 people were killed in the antisemitic terrorist attack at an event called Chanukah by the Sea on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
Chris Minns defends police response to the attack
NSW premier Chris Minns defended the police response to the attack, rejecting claims that officers failed in their duty and calling such criticism disrespectful to those who risked their lives.
He, however, acknowledged that mistakes could be reconsidered in hindsight but said the focus now must be on improving future security and rebuilding trust, particularly with the Jewish community.
“The New South Wales police acted with bravery and integrity. They engaged the gunmen on the footbridge with handguns. They didn’t take a backward step.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, right, and Kellie Sloane, leader of the opposition, the New South Wales Liberal Party, lay wreaths at a tribute for shooting victims outside the Bondi Pavilion at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Monday,15 December 2025, a day after a shooting (Associated Press)
“The offenders had long-range rifles and New South Wales police officers were responsible for killing one of them and shooting the other one and as a result saving many people’s lives.
“There are two officers in critical care in New South Wales hospitals at the moment. They weren’t shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front.
“I’m sorry to be graphic about it, but if there is any suggestion that New South Wales police didn’t live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state, it should be rejected because it is not consistent with the facts.”
Maroosha Muzaffar16 December 2025 03:23
Bondi beach attack motivated by Isis ideology, Albanese says
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said the fatal shooting at Bondi Beach appears to have been driven by extremist beliefs.
“It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology,” he told ABC Sydney.
He continued: “The ideology that has been around for more than a decade that led to this ideology of hate, and in this case, a preparedness to engage in mass murder.”
He said the attack was “meticulous, calculated, cold-blooded”.
Maroosha Muzaffar16 December 2025 02:54
British Transport Police to increase patrols in wake of Bondi Beach attack
British Transport Police will increase the number of officers on the network over the coming days and weeks following the Bondi Beach attack.
Assistant chief constable Sean O’Callaghan said: “Horrific events like this impact communities here in Great Britain, and we recognise the concerns that many people will be feeling, especially in our Jewish communities and in light of the terror attack on the Synagogue in Manchester in October.”
The force said it was “dedicated to keeping the public safe and providing reassurance to everyone travelling.”
“With events taking place across the country during the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, many of our patrols will be targeted to these locations, as well as in areas where Jewish communities live and work.
“We urge passengers to remain vigilant and not to hesitate to speak to our officers when you see them about across the network. They are there to keep you safe, but please don’t forget we need your help too.”
Harriette Boucher16 December 2025 02:00
In pictures: Flowers laid at the scene of mass shooting
(AFP via Getty Images)
(Reuters)
(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Harriette Boucher16 December 2025 00:59
Jewish people fear they could be attacked again in UK, says Campaign Against Antisemitism chief executive
The chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism told a London vigil for the Bondi Beach victims that Jewish people fear they could be attacked again in the UK.
Gideon Falter was speaking at a memorial event and Hanukkah celebration on Monday night for those killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack.
He said: “Celebrating Hanukkah is just an act of celebration, but tonight it feels like an act of defiance.
“Unfortunately, Jews have been warning about the dangers of extremism and radicalism running amok in our country for years and time has run out.
“It is time not for thoughts and prayers or words of solidarity, but action from our politicians, action from our Government.”
Harriette Boucher16 December 2025 00:02
‘I went down to save lives’: Hero fruit seller who tackled gunman thought he was going to die
A fruit shop owner who tackled one of the Bondi Beach gunmen told his cousin to tell his family he “went down to save people’s lives” before he stepped in to act.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, a father-of-two from Sydney, was seen tackling one of the gunmen before wrestling his weapon away from him during an antisemitic terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday.
Video footage of Mr Ahmed intervening circulated widely on social media following the attack.
He was at the beach with his cousin Jozay Alkanj, who told the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Ahmed asked him to pass a message to his family before he acted.
Mr Alkanj said Mr Ahmed told him: “I’m going to die – please see my family [and tell them] that I went down to save people’s lives.”
Harriette Boucher15 December 2025 23:30
Relative of murdered Rabbi says ‘root causes’ of antisemitic violence must be confronted
Tory shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson, a relative of British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed in the Bondi Beach shooting, has stressed the need to tackle extremism driving violence.
Speaking in Parliament, Lord Wolfson said the debate on Jewish security must move away from being about higher walls around synagogues and more guards outside schools and focus on the root causes of antisemitic violence.
Referring to a charity which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, the Conservative peer said: “While we are always grateful for support for the Community Security Trust, the debate about Jewish security needs to move away from being about higher walls around our synagogues and more guards outside our schools, and on to the root causes of why we actually need such security.
“So will the minister explain what the Government is actually doing, in practical terms, to counter the extremist ideologies which are driving this antisemitic violence, and to remove them and their proponents from our social media, out of our universities and off our streets?”
Lord Wolfson (UK Gov)
Harriette Boucher15 December 2025 23:00
Australia has a reputation for strict gun laws. How did the Bondi Beach shooting happen?
In response, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese held an emergency national cabinet meeting to discuss whether gun laws need to be changed.
After the meeting, all states and territories have agreed to strengthen gun laws. Ideas for reform include limiting how many guns one person can own, the types of guns deemed legal and making Australian citizenship a condition of holding a licence.
There will also be consideration of restrictions on the importation of guns, including 3D-printed weapons.
Harriette Boucher15 December 2025 22:31
Watch: Labour minister Ashley Dalton heckled at Bondi Beach vigil
Labour MP Ashley Dalton was heckled at a memorial event and Hanukkah celebration for those killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack, as she told the crowd she was “standing with the Jewish people”.
She said: “We are here to stand together against the hatred and vitriol from wherever it comes. The Government does not and will not tolerate antisemitism.”
But the West Lancashire was interrupted by the crowd, with calls to “stop the marches” and “we want action not words”.
She was able to continue speaking after a rabbi stepped onto the stage and called for the listeners to be “ambassadors of light” and allow her to speak.
Labour minister Ashley Dalton heckled at Bondi Beach vigil
Harriette Boucher15 December 2025 22:01
Bondi attack ‘cruelly marred’ first day of Hannukah, says Swinney
The attack on a Jewish community in Australia was an “unspeakable act of hatred and violence” which “cruelly marred” the first day of Hannukah, John Swinney has said.
The attack has caused concern in Jewish communities across the world, but First Minister John Swinney has said the Government is engaging with police to ensure the safety of Jews in Scotland.
“I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific terror attack that happened at Bondi Beach, on the first night of Chanukah,” the First Minister said in a statement on Monday.
“What should have been a celebration of light and hope was cruelly marred by an unspeakable act of hatred and violence.
“I know that the Jewish community here in Scotland will be facing unimaginable grief and anxiety in the wake of this senseless attack.”
Harriette Boucher15 December 2025 21:31
WORLD NEWS
Scientists pinpoint six personality changes in middle age that may be a hidden sign of dementia
Suffering bouts of nervousness or struggling to concentrate in mid-life could be an early warning sign of dementia, experts claim.
British scientists who tracked more than 5,000 adults over the age of 55 for more than two decades found that people showing clusters of specific depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to develop the condition later in life.
Those most at risk had five or more out of six warning signs, including worsening anxiety, difficulty concentrating, an inability to face up to problems, a lack of warmth or affection towards others, and a loss of self-confidence.
Another red flag was dissatisfaction with how everyday tasks were carried out.
Researchers said the findings, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, could give doctors a way to spot people at risk of dementia years before memory loss and confusion set in.
Almost one million people in the UK are currently living with dementia – a figure expected to soar as the population ages.
The condition has no cure, but experts say identifying those at risk as early as possible could allow doctors to encourage lifestyle changes that may help slow its progression.
Depression has long been known to be common in people with dementia, but the researchers said this was one of the first studies to track specific mental health symptoms over decades to see how they relate to the disease later in life.
Scientists, who tracked more than 5,000 over 55s, found that those who had five or more of six specific symptoms of depression, were at higher risk of developing the condition later on
Dr Philipp Frank – a research fellow in the mental health of older people at University College London and the study’s lead author – said the findings suggest dementia risk is linked to specific depressive symptoms, rather than depression as a whole.
‘Our findings show that dementia risk is linked to a handful of depressive symptoms rather than depression as a whole,’ he said.
‘This symptom-level approach gives us a much clearer picture of who may be more vulnerable decades before dementia develops.
‘Everyday symptoms that many people experience in midlife appear to carry important information about long-term brain health.
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
‘Paying attention to these patterns could open new opportunities for early prevention.’
In the study, researchers analysed health data from 5,811 adults aged between 45 and 69, with an average age of 55.
Participants were asked detailed questions about their mental health, covering 30 common depressive symptoms. Over a follow-up period of 23 years, 586 people went on to develop dementia.
Those who reported five or more of the six key depressive symptoms were found to have a 27 per cent higher risk of developing the condition compared with people who did not report low mood.
In particular, volunteers who reported that they had lost confidence in themselves in midlife appeared to carry a 51 per cent increased risk of dementia in later life.
People who said they were ‘not able to face up to their problems’ had a 49 per cent increased risk.
Reporting ‘not feeling warmth and affection for others’ had a 44 per cent raised risk while feeling nervous and ‘strung up’ held a 34 per cent rise of a third in risk of dementia later in life.
Those who were not satisfied with the way tasks are carried out had a 33 per cent increased risk of dementia more than 20 years later, while those who reported difficulties concentrating had a 29 per cent elevated risk.
Writing in The Lancet Psychiatry, the scientists said: ‘A distinct set of midlife depressive symptoms was associated with an increased risk of dementia, suggesting that these symptoms might be early markers of underlying neurodegenerative processes.’
Commenting on the paper, Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘The connection between dementia and depression is complicated.
‘It’s encouraging to see this new observational study begin to unpick how dementia and depression are interlinked.
‘However, more research is needed to confirm whether these six symptoms also apply to women and ethnic minorities.
‘It’s important to note that not everyone who has depression will go on to develop dementia, and people with dementia won’t necessarily develop depression.’
Dementia claims 76,000 lives each year and is the UK’s biggest killer — usually from problems arising from a weakened immune system, such as pneumonia or difficulty swallowing.
Costs to the UK economy, including that of the round-the-clock care many need as dementia takes hold, is an eye-watering £42 billion a year, according to the charity Alzheimer’s Society.
That figure will double by 2040, it warns.
Earlier this month, the Daily Mail launched its Defeating Dementia campaign, in association with Alzheimer’s Society, to raise awareness of the disease, increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.
Scientists now believe around 45 per cent of all cases of dementia may be preventable or — at the very least — that the symptoms can be delayed, in some cases for many years, allowing everyone to live longer, healthier lives.
Keir Starmer previously said he believes ‘the principle of an independent trusted BBC is really important and should be defended’ amid legal threats from Donald Trump
Donald Trump has filed a multibillion pound defamation lawsuit against the BBC (Image: Getty Images)
Keir Starmer is under pressure to stand up for the BBC against Donald Trump’s “outrageous legal threat”.
The Prime Minister last month said he believes “the principle of an independent trusted BBC is really important and should be defended”.
But he is being urged to take a stronger stance against the US President, who overnight filed a multibillion pound defamation lawsuit against the BBC for selectively editing one of his speeches in an episode of Panorama.
The BBC said documents filed at a court in Florida asked for five billion dollars (£3.7 billion) in damages for defamation, as well as the same amount for a claim of violating trade practices.
READ MORE: Donald Trump sues BBC $5 billion for Panorama speech edit: ‘They put words in my mouth’
Keir Starmer is under pressure to stand up for the BBC(Image: PRU/AFP via Getty Images)
Last month, the broadcaster apologised to Mr Trump over the edit of the Panorama episode, which led to the resignations of the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, and its head of news, Deborah Turness. But the BBC rejected the Republican politician’s demands for compensation and said there was no “basis for a defamation claim”.
According to the Associated Press, the 33-page lawsuit accuses the organisation of broadcasting a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump”, calling it “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 US presidential election.
It also accused the BBC of “splicing together two entirely separate parts of President Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021” in order to “intentionally misrepresent the meaning of what President Trump said”.
Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey hit out at Donald Trump’s White House(Image: PA)
Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey accused Mr Trump’s White House of wanting to “interfere in our democracy” and called on Mr Starmer to take action. He said: “Keir Starmer needs to stand up for the BBC against Trump’s outrageous legal threat and protect licence fee payers from being hit in the pocket.
“The Trump administration has clearly set out they want to interfere in our democracy, which includes undermining our national broadcaster. The Prime Minister needs to make clear this is unacceptable.”
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Health minister Stephen Kinnock said the BBC is right to “stand firm” in the face of Mr Trump’s defamation lawsuit.
Mr Kinnock told Sky News: “I think they have apologised for one or two of the mistakes that were made in that Panorama programme, but they’ve also been very clear that there is no case to answer in terms of Mr Trump’s accusations on the broader point about libel or defamation.
“So, you know, I think it’s right that the BBC stands firm on that point. Yes, there were some mistakes made in that particular piece of film, but I think the broader argument that they were making; they’re right to stick by their guns on that and I hope that they will continue to do so.”
He said the Labour Party would “always stand up for the BBC as a vitally important institution”.
Published On 16 Dec 2025
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Search and rescue operations were continuing in the Moroccan town of Safi after flash floods killed at least 37 people.
Drought-hit Morocco often experiences severe weather, but Sunday’s flooding in the coastal town is the deadliest such disaster in at least a decade.
A muddy torrent swept cars and bins from the streets of Safi, which lies roughly 300km (190 miles) south of the capital, Rabat.
The General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM), Morocco’s national weather forecaster, has warned that further thunderstorms are likely over the next three days in several regions, including Safi.
Survivors are still receiving treatment at the town’s Mohammed V Hospital, with two remaining in intensive care, according to local officials.
Schools have been closed as mud and debris continue to clog the streets.
Safi is known as a centre for arts and crafts, particularly terracotta pottery, and its streets were left strewn with shattered bowls and tajines.
The Moroccan prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation to determine whether anyone bears responsibility for the scale of the damage, according to the official news agency MAP.
Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said: “Thirty-seven millimetres (1.5 inches) of rain fell in a short period, hitting the historic Bab Chabaa district of Safi, which is crossed by a river, and causing the deaths of numerous merchants and workers.”
As the waters receded, a landscape of mud and overturned cars was revealed. Civil Protection units and residents soon started clearing the debris.
Morocco is enduring its seventh consecutive year of severe drought, and last year was the North African kingdom’s hottest on record.
Climate change has made storms more intense, as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture and warmer seas can spur weather systems.
WORLD NEWS
UK unemployment rose to four-year high of 5.1% before budget | UK unemployment and employment statistics
The rate of UK unemployment rose to a four-year high of 5.1% in the three months to October, as the labour market showed signs of further weakening before last month’s budget.
Wage growth excluding bonuses fell to 4.6% in October, from 4.7% the previous month.
The latest figures estimated the number of employees on payrolls plunged by 38,000 during November to 30.3 million in further evidence of a weakened jobs market.
The number of people receiving unemployment benefits also increased, indicating lay-offs by employers were also a factor in the latest figures.
Economists polled by Reuters had anticipated the rise in the unemployment rate to 5.1% in October, up from 5% in the previous month.
The jobless rate is the highest since the first quarter of 2021 – but with the pandemic era stripped out, it is the highest since early 2016.
The ONS said younger workers in particular were struggling in the difficult hiring climate.
Liz McKeown, the ONS director of economic statistics, said: “The overall picture continues to be of a weakening labour market.
“The number of employees on payroll has fallen again, reflecting subdued hiring activity, while firms told us there were fewer jobs in the latest period.”
The work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, said: “There are over 350,000 more people in work this year and the rate of inactivity is at its joint lowest in over five years, but today’s figures underline the scale of the challenge we’ve inherited.”
Unemployment has been rising steadily since late 2023. In the three months to December 2023 the unemployment rate was 3.9%. By the time of the general election in July 2024 it was 4.2%, before rising to 5% in the three months to September 2025.
A recent study by the Resolution Foundation found that young people had borne the brunt of rising joblessness, with an extra 415,000 people under the age of 26 swelling the unemployment figures from October 2020 to September 2025.
Wages have remained higher than inflation for much of the past two years, although much of the extra disposable income, especially at the top half of the income scale, has been saved rather than spent.
Inflation has increased from below 2% last year to 3.8% in the summer before falling back to 3.6% in the latest figures covering October.
The fall in inflation, coupled with weak growth, is expected to persuade the Bank of England to cut interest rates when policymakers meet on Thursday. A fall in the cost of borrowing from 4% to 3.75% would ease the pressure on indebted households and businesses, potentially limiting further increases in unemployment during 2026.
US Southern Command
The US military says it has carried out strikes on three boats it has accused of trafficking drugs in the Pacific Ocean, killing eight people.
The US Southern Command posted footage of the strikes on social media and said the vessels were “transiting along known narco-trafficking routes… and were engaged in narco-trafficking”.
More than 20 vessels in the Pacific and the Caribbean have been targeted in recent months, killing at least 90 people, as part of President Donald Trump’s escalating campaign against gangs he accuses of transporting drugs in the region.
Some experts say the strikes could violate laws governing armed conflict.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of funnelling narcotics into the US and has intensified its efforts to isolate President Nicolas Maduro in recent months.
Thousands of troops and the USS Gerald Ford have been positioned within striking distance of Venezuela.
On 10 December, US forces seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, which it claimed was being used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran in an “illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organisations”.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called the seizure “international piracy” and has claimed Trump wants Venezuela’s energy resources.
The South American nation – home to some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves – also accuses Washington of seeking to steal its resources.
WORLD NEWS
‘I went down to save lives’: Hero shopkeeper who tackled Bondi Beach gunman thought he was going to die
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A shopkeeper who tackled one of the Bondi Beach gunmen told his cousin to tell his family he “went down to save people’s lives” before he stepped in to act.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, a father-of-two from Sydney, was seen tackling one of the gunmen before wrestling his weapon away from him during an antisemitic terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday.
Video footage of Mr Ahmed intervening circulated widely on social media following the attack.
He was at the beach with his cousin Jozay Alkanj, who told the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Ahmed asked him to pass a message to his family before he acted.
Mr Alkanj said Mr Ahmed told him: “I’m going to die – please see my family [and tell them] that I went down to save people’s lives.”
Mr Ahmed’s family previously said he was in hospital with bullet wounds to his arm and hand, but was in “good spirits”.
His father said his actions showed the 43-year-old’s impulse to protect people as he called him a “hero of Australia”.
Speaking to ABC Australia through a translator, Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed said: “His friend told him, ‘Let’s go have coffee at Bondi.’
“They got there and were shocked to see armed men firing weapons at terrorists.
open image in gallery
Ahmed al-Ahmed has received widespread praise for tackling one of the Bondi Beach attackers (Social Media)
“Their lives were in danger. He noticed one of the armed men in a distance, from him hiding behind a tree.
“My son is a hero, he served with the police and in the central security forces, and he has the impulse to protect people.
“When he saw people lying on the ground, and the blood everywhere, immediately his conscience and his soul compelled him to pounce on one of the terrorists and to rid him of his weapon.
“I feel pride and honour, because my son is a hero of Australia.”
open image in gallery
Ahmed is currently recovering in hospital after suffering gunshot wounds to his arm (Chris Minns)
Mr Ahmed’s parents told the broadcaster he had moved to Australia from Syria in 2006, while they had only arrived in the country months ago after years separated from their son.
The Times reports that Mr Ahmed’s lawyer Sam Issa visited him in hospital today and gave an update on his condition.
Mr Issa said: “He said he’d do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him. He’s not well at all. He’s riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment.”
His mother, Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed, said she is proud of her “do-gooder” son.
She told ABC Australia through a translator: “I’m proud that my son was helping people. He saved lives, souls. God would not harm him because he was a do-gooder.
“He saw they were dying and people were losing their lives, and when that guy ran out of ammo, he took it from him, but he was hit. We pray that God saves him.”
New South Wales Police have confirmed that 16 people have died following the shooting, including one suspected gunman.
Australian police said a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son, named in local media as Sajid and Naveed Akram, were the suspects.
Sajid was shot by police and died at the scene but Naveed Akram, who was wounded, is expected to survive his injuries and face criminal charges.
The two gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the start of Hanukkah at Campbell Parade on the Sydney beach.
A further 40 people are being treated for a range of serious injuries, including two police officers, according to the force, who have confirmed the mass shooting was a terrorist incident that was “designed to target the Jewish community”.
Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, told a press conference in Sydney that the attack represents “some of our worst fears about terrorism”, but he hailed Mr Ahmed as a “genuine hero” as he described footage of the incident as “unbelievable”.
“A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people,” he added.
As holiday cheer fills your home during this time of year, so does the dirt and grime that all your guests leave behind.
If you’re still holding on to that loud, bulky corded vacuum, it might be time to upgrade to a high-quality cleaning tool — one that doesn’t require an outlet and will get you through the holidays and beyond. Right now at Amazon, the Vacusion Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, that more than 1,000 shoppers snagged in the past month, is down to $72. With three powerful suction modes, according to users, and a 150-watt motor, this vacuum effortlessly sucks up crumbs, dirt, dust, and debris from carpets and hard flooring alike.
It weighs less than six pounds, making it ideal for daily messes and spills. Plus, it comes with a fleet of LED lights that illuminate floors to highlight fine dust, so nothing gets missed.
Vacusion Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Amazon
The motorized brush head swivels up to 180 degrees sideways and 90 degrees vertically, so maneuvering around bulky furniture is a breeze. It’s also equipped with a brush head that doesn’t tangle, which keeps hair and pet fur from wrapping around the roller.
The compact vacuum cleaner can also be converted into a handheld device for above-the-floor messes. Attachments include a dust brush and a crevice tool for cleaning upholstery, stairs, and other hard-to-reach areas. You can even extend the tube to reach high-up spots that collect dust, like ceiling fans and the tops of refrigerators.
“A handy and powerful cleaning partner!”, exclaimed one reviwer. “It looks sleek, feels lightweight, and works amazingly well on both carpet and hardwood floors. The suction power is surprisingly strong for its size, and the LED display makes it easy to check battery life and modes.”
Another shopper enthused that it’s “better than” their Dyson vacuum. They added, “It is quieter than our Dyson V10. [It] also picks up our golden retriever’s hair better.” And another reviewer wrote they didn’t know “how dirty” their carpets were until using this vacuum. “The best part is, it gets the edges, where the carpet meets the wall, better than any vacuum I own.”
Head to Amazon now to snag the Vacusion Cordless Vacuum Cleaner while it’s on sale for just $72 and keep scrolling for more discounted floor cleaners.
Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner
Amazon
Bissell CrossWave Omniforce Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum
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Mxnsewr Steam Mop
Amazon
Donald Trump Jr is engaged to Bettina Anderson after a whirlwind romance that began just over a year ago.
The president was speaking at a Christmas White House reception when he shared the news that his eldest son and his girlfriend are set to be married.
After embracing his father, Trump Jr took to the microphone to tell attendees that he was at ‘a loss for words.’
‘I want to thank Bettina for that one word: yes!’ he joked.
Trump Jr revealed he was unsure about whether his new bride-to-be would actually accept his proposal as he got down on one knee.
‘When you go down there, it’s like, you’re gonna go, and you’re trying to ask, and you’re not sure what the answer’s gonna be. It’s always a little bit rough. But she said yes, which is a big win for the end of the year.’
The crowd at the White House then applauded and cheered as the 38-year-old Anderson spoke, first thanking the president and First Lady Melania Trump.
‘Wow, what a privilege it is to be here at the White House, Mr President, thank you so much for hosting this incredible party, and to our First Lady, these decorations, am I right, aren’t they unbelievable?’
Donald Trump Jr (pictured right) has become engaged to Bettina Anderson (pictured left) in announcement presided over by his father (pictured center) at the White House
Anderson looked elegant in a red, strapless gown as she beamed about her engagement.
‘This has really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life, and I get to marry the love of my life, and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!’
President Trump then offered his future daughter-in-law a kiss and two words – ‘good luck’ – as the crowd applauded again.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
Don Jr, 47, began dating Anderson in spring 2024 and in September 2024, was caught locking lips with the Florida socialite.
DailyMail.com exclusively obtained photos at the time that showed the two kissing during an intimate date at a Palm Beach restaurant.
Afterwards, a source said Don Jr.’s dalliance with Bettina was an open secret in the ritzy Florida town, and that they were spotted enjoying each other’s company frequently despite not having publicly split from ex-girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Then, in early December 2024, Don Jr. and Bettina were spotted enjoying a romantic night out together.
Bettina said: ‘This has really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life and I get to marry the love of my life and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!’
The pair have appeared off and on throughout 2025, including at high profile events like the president’s trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans
The pair have appeared at high profile events, including the president’s trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and Trump’s March address to Congress, throughout 2025.
Sources told The Daily Mail that many began speculating wedding bells were near when Anderson took center stage at an official dinner held in honor of Saudi Arabia.
MAGA insiders told the Daily Mail that Anderson’s appearance in a dazzling Safiyaa teal caped gown set tongues wagging.
‘Don is in love with Bettina,’ one insider said, ‘He is telling friends “This is the woman I love.”
‘His dad loves her. They all feel she is classy and has an impeccable fashion sense.
‘Don brought her to the most high profile White House gala so proudly.’
Anderson was photographed with Don Jr’s half-sister Tiffany Trump, 32, and her husband Michael Boulos, 28.
Tiffany and Michael married in 2022 at her father’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Sources told The Daily Mailthat many began speculating wedding bells were near when Anderson took center stage at an official dinner held in honor of Saudi Arabia where she was photographed with Don Jr (pictured left), his sister Tiffany (pictured center right) and Tiffany’s husband, Michael Boulous (pictured right)
Bettina Anderson is pictured in a smart navy gown as she prepared to attend Tuesday’s White House gala in honor of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Her presence at the dinner, which was also attended by First Lady Melania Trump, 55, indicates just how quickly Anderson has become part of the Trump inner circle.
Anderson was born into one of Palm Beach’s old-money banking families, the daughter of Palm Beach society couple Harry Loy Anderson Jr, a banker, and his wife Inger, an immigrant from Sweden.
Best known as H. Loy, the elder Anderson became president of a small bank, Worth Avenue National Bank, in 1970 then went on to take over a slew of other financial institutions.
Bettina’s mother was a model at New York’s Eileen Ford agency in the 1970s and 1980s who started an exercise regimen patterned after the era’s guru, Jane Fonda.
Through a network of old-time society members formed at the black-tie galas organized on the island of Palm Beach during the winter, H. Loy became the moneyed set’s go-to banker.
That put him in contact with people like Herbert ‘Peter’ Pulitzer, scion of the publishing fortune whose first marriage to Lilly Pulitzer planted the seeds of a clothing empire, and second marriage to Roxanne Pulitzer made him a household name in the early 1980s.
Anderson was known to be Peter Pulitzer’s best friend and stood by him during his divorce from Roxanne.
With clients like Pulitzer and his presence on the boards of top Palm Beach charities like the American Red Cross, the Hanley-Hazelden Foundation, the YMCA, Holocaust Memorial Foundation, Leukemia Foundation and Boy Scouts of America, Bettina’s dad was able to give his family a decadent, extravagant lifestyle while organizing parties where the guests of honor mingled with live elephants and pythons.
The president and his eldest son were seen embracing before Don Jr shared his joy at his engagement to socialite Anderson, in a video posted to social media by Trump ally Laura Loomer Monday evening
Bettina’s parents had six children whose births were spread over 20 years, four girls and two boys. Bettina has a twin sister, Kristina.
H. Loy died in 2006 of Alzheimer’s, according to his obituary, after he famously turned to religion and became an elder in the local Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Bettina and her siblings were raised with the proverbial silver spoon and sent to the finest private schools that Palm Beach and the country had to offer.
Don Jr was married to first wife Vanessa from 2005 to 2018 and have five children.
The pair appear to still be on good terms, as Vanessa attended a reception at the White House Sunday evening and was shouted out by President Trump.
He dated Kimberly Guilfoyle, a Fox News host now serving as the president’s ambassador to Greece, from 2018 to 2024.
Flu cases are soaring across the UK
Many of the symptoms overlap(Image: Westend61 via Getty Images)
Flu cases are surging across the UK, with an average of 2,660 flu patients hospitalised daily in England during the week ending December 7. This represents a 55% increase from 1,717 the previous week.
Other viruses are currently doing the rounds, and with colds also widespread throughout the winter period, it can be difficult to distinguish which ailment you’re suffering from. Here is some guidance on identifying the key differences to help you protect your health and maintain your family’s wellbeing during the colder months.
Both colds and flu are respiratory conditions but stem from different viruses. “Colds are predominantly caused by viruses, with rhinovirus being the most common perpetrator,” explains Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice. “Whereas, the flu is specifically caused by influenza viruses, primarily types A and B.”
Because of this you can actually contract both a cold and flu simultaneously. Asif added: “It is possible to be infected with both a cold and the flu simultaneously, as they are caused by different viruses.
“Both have peaks during the cold season and can run your immune system down, making you susceptible to further infections. Both the common cold and the flu are highly contagious respiratory illnesses spread through direct contact and respiratory droplets.
“Transmission occurs when virus-laden droplets are expelled during coughing, sneezing, or talking, landing in the mouths or noses of nearby individuals. In poorly ventilated situations, these droplets can travel longer distances. Infection can also occur by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face.”
Cold vs flu symptoms
“A common cold typically presents with a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a sore throat, mild cough and mild fatigue,” clarifies Dr Claire Agathou, GP and co-founder of the A–Z General Practice at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK. “Meanwhile, flu typically causes a sudden onset of fever, severe tiredness and weakness, muscle and joint aches, a headache, a dry cough, chills (feeling shivery and sweats), a loss of appetite and sometimes diarrhoea.
“The key difference is that flu tends to come on suddenly and much more severely, whereas cold symptoms are milder and develop more gradually.”
Can a cold or flu trigger other illnesses or complications?
“While colds are generally mild and self-limiting, both colds and flu can lead to complications such as sinusitis, ear infections, chest infections, and worsening of underlying health conditions,” notes Agathou. “Flu can cause pneumonia, hospital admission, and serious illness in vulnerable groups. However, even those who are normally well can become very unwell so it’s important to contact your GP promptly to discuss your symptoms if you feel unwell or are concerned about your symptoms.”
How to treat flu
“Both are mainly managed with rest, fluids and symptom relief such as paracetamol,” explains Agathou. “However, in higher-risk groups, antiviral medication may be prescribed for flu if started early. Antibiotics are not effective for either unless there is a secondary bacterial infection.”
When will I feel better?
“A cold usually settles within seven to 10 days, but flu recovery often takes one to two weeks, with fatigue sometimes lasting longer,” observes Agathou.
How can I avoid catching colds and flu?
“The single most effective protection against flu is the annual flu vaccine, particularly for vulnerable groups, but other preventive steps for both flu and a common cold include regular handwashing and staying home when unwell,” recommends Agathou. “I’d also recommend avoiding touching the face, covering any coughs and sneezes and making sure indoor spaces are well ventilated.”
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine in the UK?
“The free NHS flu vaccine is offered annually to adults aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children aged two-three years and school-aged children (reception years to Year 11), people aged six months to 64 years with eligible long-term conditions, people with learning disabilities, carers, frontline health and social care workers, and care home residents and staff,” says Agathou. “Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals are also eligible.
“However, people who are not eligible for a free NHS vaccine can still access the flu jab privately. If you are unsure, speak to your GP or local pharmacist.”
Donald Trump has asked his Chinese counterpart to release pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, who has been found guilty of national security offences in Hong Kong.
The US president said he felt “so badly” about the media tycoon and British citizen, 78, who was arrested in August 2020 after China imposed a national security law following massive anti-government protests in Hong Kong.
Lai, who had previously been sentenced for several lesser offences during his five years in prison, could now spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Jimmy Lai. Pic: Reuters
Mr Trump said he had spoken to Xi Jinping about Lai’s case and asked for his release.
“I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” he said. “He’s not well, he’s an older man, and he’s not well, so I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens.”
It comes as UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said China’s ambassador to the UK had been summoned over Lai’s conviction to underline the government’s position in the “strongest terms”.
Speaking in parliament, she repeated calls for Lai to be released and called the conviction “a politically motivated prosecution”.
People wait to enter the court building ahead of the verdict. Pic: AP
Ms Cooper made the remarks after Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said Lai’s case has been a priority for the government and “we will continue to call for his immediate release”.
Earlier in the day, China’s ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, met with a senior official at the UK Foreign Office “to lodge solemn representations over the UK side’s statement that made irresponsible remarks on the Hong Kong High Court’s guilty verdict in the Jimmy Lai case”, China’s embassy said.
Explained: Who is Jimmy Lai?
Lai, who founded the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, as well as one count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. He was found guilty of all three charges.
Speaking after the verdict, Lai’s daughter Claire said if he were released he would devote himself to God and his family rather than political activism.
“He just wants to reunite with his family. He wants to dedicate his life to serving our Lord, and he wants to dedicate the rest of his days to his family,” Claire Lai told the Associated Press. “My father is fundamentally not a man who operates on illegal ground.”
Claire Lai. Pic: Reuters
She said five years of solitary confinement has taken a toll on his health, and he has lost a significant amount of weight.
“He is a lot weaker and has only gotten weaker in the last year,” she said. “He has back pains and waist pains, his nails… when we visit, we can tell that they’re turning colours and falling off. Some of his teeth are rotting.”
He also has heart palpitations, is diabetic and his vision and hearing are failing, she added.
Hong Kong’s security chief, Chris Tang, said Lai has received “full medical services” and has never complained of the medical care he has been given.
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Jimmy Lai’s son: UK government must ‘do more’
‘You’ve got to keep fighting’
Meanwhile, her brother Sebastian Lai is lobbying the UK government for their father’s release.
“Regarding the United Kingdom, we talk about normalising relationships. Well, my father’s freedom should be a precondition to that,” he said.
Asked if he is optimistic international pressure can help, he said: “I think you’ve got to keep fighting no matter what. I think, taking my father’s example, standing up for what is right is why we’re doing it. This is my way of fighting for it.”
Hong Kong’s leader John Lee welcomed the verdict, saying: “He has harmed the fundamental interests of the country and the well-being of the people of Hong Kong; his actions are shameful and his intentions malicious.”