US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, increasing the pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Trump has not disclosed how his administration would block the sanctioned oil vessels, nor whether he will ask the Coast Guard to intercept vessels like last week.

The US has already deployed thousands of troops, nearly a dozen warships and an aircraft carrier in the Carribean.

“For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”

How has Venezuela reacted to Trump’s announcement?

Venezuela registered its protest to Trump’s move, which will have serious consequences for the country’s economy, and called the decision a “grotesque threat” in a statement.

Venezuelans in US want Maduro out but fear military action

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Caracas accused Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” with “a reckless and grave threat” against the South American country.

“On his social media, he assumes that Venezuela’s oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property,” the government statement said of Trump’s post.

“Consequently, he demands that Venezuela immediately hand over all its riches. The President of the United States intends to impose, in an utterly irrational manner, a supposed naval blockade on Venezuela with the aim of stealing the wealth that belongs to our nation.”

Maduro’s government, according to the statement, plans to denounce Trump’s decision before the United Nations.

Rising tensions between the US and Venezuela

In the past few months, the US has launched more than two dozen military strikes on boats in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, which have killed at least 90 people.

Target Venezuela: Drug war or US power grab?

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Trump has relentlessly threatened Venezuela and recently said that the US will soon start conducting land strikes on its territory.

While Trump has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stymie the flow of drugs into the US, Maduro has alleged that the US military build-up is aimed at overthrowing him and gaining control of the OPEC nation’s oil resources, which are the world’s largest crude reserves.

The US government has formally designated Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, and said Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials have links to it.

The Trump administration has not provided any evidence for this claim.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher

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Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has said revised US-brokered peace plans could be presented to Russia within days, following successful talks in Berlin.

The Ukrainian president left Germany confident that proposals negotiated with the US would soon be finalised after receiving crucial security guarantees from his European allies and Washington.

He said that American envoys were set to present the outcomes of this week’s talks to the Kremlin – but not before Russia could pour cold water on the plans.

Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated that Moscow would not give back land to end the war, and would not accept any Nato peacekeepers stationed in a post-war Ukraine.

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Speaking in the Netherlands on Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that peace must not ‘become a reward for Russia’s aggression’ (ANP/AFP/Getty)

As Russia was accused of stalling efforts to end the conflict, hundreds of thousands of people were left without power in Ukraine following heavy bombardment nationwide.

The country’s deputy energy minister said early on Tuesday that the entire Donetsk region had been cut off following a Russian attack.

Nearly 290,000 people in Odesa were left in the dark, even after workers restored power to 330,000 homes.

Maxim Timchenko, head of Ukraine’s biggest energy provider, told the BBC that Russian strikes were now so frequent that “we just don’t have time to recover”.

President Zelensky told the Dutch parliament during his visit to The Hague that Russia was cynically and deliberately targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as winter set in.

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Russia continues to bombard Ukraine, including in Zaporizhzhia, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power (Reuters)

“They know that in our region, the winter cold can become one of the most dangerous weapons,” he said.

“They try to use it against Ukrainians, against just ordinary people, against normal life, and that’s why it’s so important not to relax or rely on diplomacy alone.”

Britain on Tuesday unveiled £600m in air defences to support Ukraine through the coming winter.

Defence minister John Healey said the air defence investment was “critical help to Ukrainians as they defend their towns, cities and energy infrastructure from Russia’s barbaric attacks”.

Returning from “productive” talks in Berlin, Sir Keir Starmer cautioned that the path to peace in Ukraine was still “not an entirely straight line”.

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Vladimir Putin has stuck firm to his demands for Ukrainian land, and rubbished European plans for peacekeepers (Sputnik)

The prime minister told his cabinet that there had been progress on Ukraine’s plea for clear security guarantees as European allies worked on a multinational force to be stationed in Ukraine after the war.

European officials also came together to set up an International Claims Commission tasked with ensuring Kyiv is compensated for damages from Russian attacks and alleged war crimes.

Details on how any damages awarded by the commission, to be based in the Netherlands, would be paid still need to be worked out.

Early discussions have touched on using Russian assets frozen by the EU, supplemented by member contributions.

Frozen assets remain a point of contention in the build-up to a major vote on Thursday, however.

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Zelenskyy and US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks in Berlin on Monday (AP)

While many of Ukraine’s backers are pushing to unlock some €210bn (£184bn) in assets to help fund Kyiv, the plan faces opposition from the countries most at risk of Russian reprisals.

Four EU diplomats told Politico that new assurances to dilute legal liability had not been enough to sway Belgium, where most of the assets are held, during a meeting of EU ambassadors on Monday.

Mr Zelensky told reporters in the Netherlands that Ukraine could not stay strong without the package, adding that it could offset the reduction in support from some countries.

Allies on the continent turned their attention to securing Europe’s eastern flank during a summit in Helsinki, where they called on the EU to take a bigger role in enhancing defence and security.

The EU “eastern flank” meeting, bringing together leaders from Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, said the region’s defences must be prioritised to counter what they called a long-term threat posed by Russia.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk stressed the need for defences, saying leaders were considering spending billions on an “anti-drone wall” in eastern Europe.

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NEED TO KNOW

• A driver crashed a car into a Kroger in Athens, Ga., near the University of Georgia on Tuesday, Dec. 16
• Four people were injured in the incident, though they are all expected to survive the crash
• The cause of the crash is unknown at this time

A driver crashed a car into a Kroger in Athens, Ga., mere miles from the University of Georgia, on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Photos from the store, located on Alps Road, show a silver Toyota driven through the self-checkout area with various items scattered on the floor, though the vehicle does not appear to be severely damaged, according to CBS Atlanta.

Four people were injured in the crash, per the outlet.

“It is an active investigation, and the individuals who were injured are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries,” the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said in a statement to CBS Atlanta.

PEOPLE has reached out to the ACCPD for comment. The cause of the crash remains unconfirmed at this time.

“The safety and security of our associates and customers is our top priority,” a Kroger spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet. “Our thoughts are with those impacted and their families, and we are grateful to the first responders for their swift response.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Kroger for comment.

“I was down close to the pharmacy area where it all happened. I think I was on aisle 23. So, car came to a stop about 25 to 30 feet from where I was at,” Kroger customer Cody Johnson told local outlet 11 Alive. “I couldn’t tell what was going on and I turned the corner and I saw where the vehicle had entered through that glass window there next to the pharmacy. It kind of took out all of the self-checkout aisles.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Johnson told 11 Alive that a Kroger employee was pinned between the car, a self-checkout register and a kiosk.

Police have not identified the driver, CBS Atlanta reports.

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President Donald Trump marked the third night of Hanukkah by celebrating at the White House with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer and other, less controversial, allies in the Jewish community. 

‘I will always be a friend and a champion to the Jewish people,’ he told a crowd gathered in the White House’s East Room. 

Despite it being billed as a festive affair, Trump took a whack at some of his political nemeses.

Trump twice told a story to the crowd about how the strongest lobby in Washington was previously the Jewish or pro-Israel lobby. 

‘That’s no longer true. You have to be very careful. You have a Congress, in particular, which is becoming antisemitic,’ he said. 

‘You have AOC plus three,’ he continued, referencing Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the original makeup of ‘the squad,’ a quartet of female progressive members of color who were elected during Trump’s first term.

‘Ilhan Omar, she hates Jewish people,’ the president then said.

He’s heightened his rhetoric against the Minnesota Democrat, a Muslim who was born in Somalia, mocking her ‘little turban’ during his campaign-like speech in Pennsylvania last week, and pushing the rumor that she married her brother to help him get immigration status in the U.S. 

President Donald Trump said at Tuesday night’s Hanukkah reception that Representative Ilhan Omar ‘hates Jewish people,’ again hitting the Minnesota Democrat after a nasty attack on her last week in Pennsylvania 

Laura Loomer (left), a conspiracy theorist who has become an influential adviser of President Donald Trump outside of government, was invited to Tuesday night’s Hanukkah reception at the White House 

When Omar first came to Congress in 2019, she was forced to apologize after using Jewish stereotypes in remarks about Republican support for Israel. 

In recent years, she’s spoken out against Israel’s killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, with a number of her Democratic colleagues joining the choir. 

On Tuesday night, several Jewish Democratic lawmakers joined Trump in the crowd, including Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz. 

Trump started the event by paying tribute to the victims in the Bondi Beach antisemitic attack.

‘Let me take a moment to send the love and prayers to the entire nation, the people of Australia, and especially all those affected by the horrific and antisemitic terrorist attack, and that’s exactly what it is – antisemitic,’ Trump said. 

He then had a lovefest with those in the room. 

Trump pulled onstage radio personalities Mark Levin and Sid Rosenberg and later Miriam Adelson, the widow of the late casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, giving her a smooch as she walked to the podium to give remarks. 

Adelson told Trump that lawyer Alan Dershowitz told her it’s legally possible for the president to run for another four years. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution says that a president can only be elected twice. 

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How do you feel about political leaders using religious celebrations to criticize their opponents?

President Donald Trump has repeatedly gone after Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, who is Muslim and was born in Somalia. Last week he mocked her ‘little turban’ at a rally-like event in Pennsylvania 

Mirian Adelson (right) told President Donald Trump (left) that lawyer Alan Dershowitz told her it’s legally possible for Trump to run for another term and encouraged him to do so. ‘Think about it,’ she said. ‘She said, “Think about it, I’ll give you another $250 million,” Trump replied 

‘So, we can do it,’ Adelson told Trump, telling the president to ‘think about it.’ 

‘She said, “Think about it, I’ll give you another $250 million,”‘ Trump said, laughing.

Adelson gave Trump more than $100 million of her fortune in 2024. 

Trump lauded Representative Ronny Jackson, his former White House doctor, claiming Jackson rated Trump healthier than Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

‘If he didn’t say that, I would have never talked to him again,’ the president joked. 

In another snub to Biden, the White House menorah, made from wood from the residence that was removed during President Harry Truman’s renovation, wasn’t utilized this year. 

The Biden administration made history in 2022 by adding a White House menorah to the permanent collection. 

A menorah was added to the White House’s permanent collection for the first time under Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022. The wood came from the White House and was removed during renovations under President Harry Truman 

Not surprisingly, the menorah on display Tuesday night in the East Room was bigger and more golden.

The president walked offstage before the menorah lighting, watching the process from the East Room’s floor. 

He had made another pitch for his ballroom to the audience, as the project is now under legal threat. 

‘We’re donating a $400 million ballroom and we’re being sued,’ Trump complained, prematurely claiming that the case is over. 

But he also confessed that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which initiated the lawsuit, has company in wanting construction to stop. 

‘And my wife is being driven crazy,’ Trump said. ‘She said this is not what I had in mind. The first day she was great. … Second day she was OK. Third day she wasn’t thrilled but after that it’s been brutal.’  

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A pharmacist has shared the key symptoms to look out

A pharmacist has shared some key signs of flu to look out for(Image: Getty)

A pharmacist has shared the key signs of flu to spot as a new strain has spread through the UK. In recent weeks the H3N2 variant has been circulating.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that in the week up to December 7 flu positivity increased in England with a weekly mean positivity rate of 21 per cent compared with 17 per cent in the previous week. Hospital admissions due to flu also rose to 10.05 per 100,000 people, compared with 8.09 per 100,000.

With this in mind, Ayesha Bashir, prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U, shared some of the symptoms to look for. She explained that H3N2 is causing the same symptoms as in other strains.

She said: “You may have seen reports about a new flu strain being monitored this season, called H3N2. Flu viruses constantly shift and evolve, so it’s not unusual for new strains to develop and be monitored closely.

A sudden high temperature is one symptom of flu(Image: Getty)

“What matters most for the public right now is that the symptoms we’re seeing are exactly the same as with more familiar flu strains, and the way we manage and prevent flu hasn’t changed. Every winter we see flu cases climb, but this year they’ve picked up a little earlier and a little faster than expected.

“This winter’s spike is really down to timing and behaviour. As soon as the weather becomes cold, we all spend more time indoors where viruses spread much more easily. If a new strain like H3N2 is circulating alongside the usual ones, that simply adds more opportunity for infection to spread quickly.”

Symptoms

She shared “key” symptoms to look out for including:

• A sudden high temperature
• A dry, persistent cough
• Body aches and joint pain
• Headache
• Fatigue that comes on very quickly
• Sore throat
• Loss of appetite
• Sometimes nausea or diarrhoea

Certain groups will be eligible for a flu vaccine from the NHS(Image: Getty)

She continued: “These symptoms don’t differ much between flu strains, so you won’t be able to tell which one you’ve caught based on how you feel. What does matter is how unwell you are overall.

“If you’re struggling to breathe, have chest pain, or your symptoms are worsening after a few days, it’s important to seek medical advice. For most healthy adults, flu is unpleasant but manageable at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter treatments.

“The people who need to be more cautious are those who are pregnant, over 65, very young, or living with long-term conditions like asthma, COPD, diabetes, or heart disease. If you’re in any of these groups, do seek advice as early as possible.”

How to lower your risk of catching flu

To stay healthy and reduce your risk this winter she advised you:

• Get your flu jab – it’s still the best protection we’ve got and can make symptoms much milder if you do catch the flu
• Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face
• Use tissues and bin them straight away
• Keep rooms ventilated when you have guests over
• Stay home if you’re unwell to avoid passing the flu on
• Support your immune system with enough sleep, balanced meals, and by staying hydrated

She added: “New strains like H3N2 can sound worrying, but they’re part of how the flu virus behaves every year. The good news is we already know that vaccination, good hygiene, and early symptom management still make a huge difference.

“If you’re ever unsure whether your symptoms are typical or need extra attention, always speak to a GP or pharmacist.”

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The first funerals are being held for the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, including British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger.

Mourners are gathering for memorial services three days after the terror attack which shocked Australia, and intensified concerns about rising antisemitism at home and abroad.

Some 22 people remain in hospital following the shooting, carried out at an event marking the start of Hanukkah.

THE CONFIRMED VICTIMS

• Eli Schlanger, a 41-year-old British-born rabbi 
• Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, secretary of a local Jewish group
• Matilda, a 10-year-old girl whose family moved to Australia from Ukraine
• Dan Elkayam, a French citizen 
• Alexander Kleytman, 87, a Holocaust survivor
• Peter Meagher, a retired policeman
• Reuven Morrison, a businessman
• Tibor Weitzen, 78
• Marika Pogany, an 82-year-old Slovakian woman
• Boris and Sofia Gurman, a Russian-Jewish couple who were killed trying to confront one of the gunmen
• Reuven Morrison, 62, who was also shot dead when trying to intervene, according to CBS who spoke to his daughter

Image:
People look at flowers laid out for the victims. Pic: Reuters

Mr Schlanger was an assistant rabbi at Chabad Bondi Synagogue and a father of five.

Often speaking through tears, his father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, expressed his “biggest regret” was he “could have done more” to tell him “how much we love him”.

“I hope he knew that. I’m sure he knew it,” he added. “But I think it should’ve been said more often.”

Image:
Relatives of Rabbi Eli Schlanger next to his coffin during his funeral. Pic: Reuters

The father of 10-year-old victim Matilda spoke at a vigil on Tuesday night. Local media reported him as saying: “We came here from Ukraine … and I thought that Matilda is the most Australian name that can ever exist.

“So just remember the name, remember her.”

Image:
A photo of Matilda. Pic: Reuters

Alleged gunman set to be charged

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he expects the injured alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, 24, to be charged later today after waking up from a coma.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has said investigators will question Akram – who is under heavy police guard in hospital – once medication wears off and legal representatives are present.

Read more: Who were the suspected gunmen?

Image:
Gunman Naveed Akram used a Beretta BRX-1 in the attack

The other alleged attacker, his 50-year-old father Sajid, died at the scene on Sunday.

Police have said the two men – who were shot by officers – were motivated by Islamic State ideology.

A recent trip to the southern Philippines is under investigation. The older Akram used an Indian passport to travel, while his son used an Australian one.

Their declared destination was Davao City – an area associated with Islamic extremism.

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New details revealed on Bondi gunmen

New South Wales to debate gun reforms

The Australian government and intelligence services have come under pressure over why the alleged attackers were legally able to acquire the high-powered rifles and shotguns used in the attack.

Mr Albanese has vowed to toughen the country’s gun laws after its deadliest mass shooting in three decades, and the state parliament in New South Wales will reconvene next week to discuss reforms.

They include capping the number of guns allowed by a single person and making some shotguns harder to access.

State premier Chris Minns told a news conference: “We’ve got a monumental task in front of us. It’s huge.

“It’s a huge responsibility to pull the community together.

“We need a summer of calm and togetherness, not division.”

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Woman shielded children from bullets

Mr Albanese has vowed to work with the Jewish community to “stamp out and eradicate antisemitism”. The prime minister has been accused of not doing enough to prevent its spread since the war in Gaza began two years ago.

Fellow leaders have expressed their shock and anguish since the attack, including Sir Keir Starmer, who hosted a Hanukkah event at Downing Street on Tuesday.

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PM hosts Hanukkah event at Downing Street

And speaking at the White House last night, Donald Trump said: “We join in mourning all of those who were killed, and we’re praying for the swift recovery of the wounded.”

Follow the latest on this story in our dedicated blog.

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US President Donald Trump has said he is ordering a “a total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela.

In a post on Truth Social, he said Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s government had been designated a foreign terrorist organisation and accused it of stealing US assets, as well as “Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking”.

“Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela,” he added.

His remarks came a week after the US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. In a statement, Venezuela’s government said it rejected Trump’s “grotesque threat”.

In his post, Trump said Venezuela was “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America”.

He added that it will “only get bigger” and “be like nothing they have ever seen before”.

Trump also accused Maduro’s government of using stolen oil to “finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping”.

The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling, and since September the US military has killed at least 90 people in strikes on boats it alleged were carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the US.

In recent months, the US has also moved warships into the region.

Venezuela – home to some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves – has, in turn, accused Washington of seeking to steal its resources.

The US, under both Trump and former President Joe Biden, has opposed the Maduro government for years and pressed for him to be removed by instituting stringent sanctions.

Last week, the US imposed fresh sanctions on six more ships it said were carrying Venezuelan oil.

Sanctions were also placed on some of President Maduro’s relatives and on businesses associated with what the US called his illegitimate regime.

A day earlier the US said it had seized a tanker off Venezuela’s coast.

The White House said the seized vessel, called the Skipper, had been involved in “illicit oil shipping” and would be taken to an American port.

Venezuela’s government denounced the seizure, with Maduro saying the US “kidnapped the crew” and “stole” the ship.

The US had built up its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, which borders Venezuela to the north, in the days before the raid.

It involved thousands of troops and USS Gerald Ford – the world’s largest aircraft carrier– being positioned within striking distance of Venezuela.

Congressman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat representing Texas, said Trump’s “naval blockade is unquestionably an act of war”.

He added that US lawmakers will on Thursday vote on a resolution “directing the president to end hostilities with Venezuela”.

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A debate in Mexico City’s congress descended into a brawl Monday as lawmakers yanked hair, traded blows and shoved one another across the dais after an opposition protest over the city’s transparency institute erupted into chaos.

Video from inside the chamber showed the dispute turning violent within seconds, with lawmakers lunging at each other as others stood back and filmed the melee.

Reuters reported the fight broke out during a debate over dissolving Mexico City’s transparency institute.

The clash began when one woman grabbed another’s hand, prompting the second woman to yank her hand back and jab her in the stomach with an elbow.

CONGRESS MELTS DOWN: MEMBERS UNLEASH PERSONAL ATTACKS AFTER WEEKS OF SHUTDOWN DRAMA

A Mexico City debate over the city’s transparency institute erupted into a chaotic brawl as lawmakers shoved, struck and filmed one another, forcing the session to move. (Mexico City Congress Handout)

The first woman retaliated by striking her in the back, then seized the other woman’s hair as the scuffle escalated.

A man stepped in and tried to pry her hand loose, but more lawmakers rushed forward as shoving spread across the dais.

HOUSE DEM CRASHES MIKE JOHNSON PRESS EVENT AS TENSIONS ERUPT OVER SHUTDOWN

A Mexico City debate over the city’s transparency institute erupted into a chaotic brawl as lawmakers shoved, struck and filmed one another, forcing the session to move. (Mexico City Congress Handout)

Several women were seen pushing and grappling while bystanders lifted phones to record the chaos.

Lawmakers from the opposition National Action Party had taken over the congressional podium to protest the measure at the center of the debate.

TRUMP TELLS MEXICO TO FIX CROSS-BORDER SEWAGE PROBLEM FLOWING INTO US COMMUNITIES ‘IMMEDIATELY’

Pictured: An Aerial view of Mexico City on Sep. 8, 2016, Mexico. (Frédéric Soltan/Corbis via Getty Images)

The opposition accused Morena – the ruling party – of breaking an agreement to create a new transparency body, sparking the podium occupation.

The session unraveled as shouting escalated, and rival groups clashed across the chamber.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The meeting was ultimately suspended and relocated to another venue, so lawmakers could resume deliberations, local media reported.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.

Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.

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President Donald Trump calls Rob Reiner ‘a deranged person’ as he doubles-down on criticism of murdered movie director

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Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Hollywood director Rob Reiner, and his producer-photographer wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were remembered by their friends as “unselfish and inspiring” after they were killed over the weekend.

“Michele and Rob Reiner devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens… They were a special force together — dynamic, unselfish and inspiring,” the statement made by friends, including actors Billy Crystal, Martin Short and Larry David, and released by the Associated Press, read.

Their son Nick was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the brutal killings on Tuesday. The 32-year-old was arrested Sunday, hours after the bodies of his parents were found at their Brentwood estate.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the charges carried a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. No decision has been made on the death penalty, he said.

Nick reportedly attended a holiday party with his parents on Saturday night, hours before their bodies were found. Sources told NBC News that some partygoers found his behavior concerning.

Now that prosecutors have decided to file charges, Reiner is expected to appear in court once he’s medically cleared.

Rob Reiner death: Key points

Watch: MTG says Trump’s attack on Rob Reiner after his murder was ‘classless’

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a once loyal ally to Donald Trump, called the president “classless” for his attack on Rob Reiner after the director and his wife were brutally murdered.

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 03:40

Rob Reiner said he’s ‘made mistakes’ with Nick, but that his son was in a ‘really good place’ months before brutal murder

Rob Reiner said he’s “made mistakes” with Nick Reiner, but that his son is in a “really good place” months before the director was brutally murdered.

Rob and his wife, Michele Reiner, were allegedly stabbed to death by Nick over the weekend.

NPR re-released an interview from September with Rob, in which he spoke about his relationship with Nick and his son’s history with drugs.

Rob told Fresh Air’s Terry Gross that he was “never, ever too busy” for his son.

“I mean, if anything, I was the other way. You know, I was more hands-on and trying to do whatever I thought I could do to help. And, you know, I’m sure I made mistakes,” Reiner said.

He said of Nick: “He’s been great. He hasn’t been doing drugs for over six years. I mean, he’s in a really good place, much better place. He’s a good place now.”

Nick’s drug addiction started when he was a teenager. He has experienced homelessness because of his addiction.

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 03:20

‘They were a special force together’: Rob and Michele Reiner’s friends honor their love of film and country

The group said in a statement first released to The Associated Press: “Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master story teller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary, he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films.”

It continued: “His comedic touch was beyond compare, his love of getting the music of the dialogue just right, and his sharpening of the edge of a drama was simply elegant,” highlighting Reiner’s films including A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally…, and The Princess Bride.

The Associated Press17 December 2025 03:00

Person close to the Reiners disputes reports that son Nick got into argument with father before his murder

A person close to Rob and Michele Reiner has disputed reports that their son, Nick Reiner, got into an argument with his father before allegedly murdering both his parents.

There have been reports that Nick, 32, attended a holiday party at comedian Conan O’Brien’s home Saturday night with his parents, and that his behavior was concerning. Reports say Rob and Nick got into an argument at the party, hours before the famous director and his wife were found stabbed to death.

The person close to the family, who spoke with The New York Times, denied that the argument happened. Although, the publication said the source was not in a position to dispute the reports.

The person said the situation was being overblown and that any conversation that might have taken place between Rob and Nick may have been misinterpreted.

Nick was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ brutal deaths.

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 02:40

Watch: Trump supporter Rob Schneider criticizes president’s attack of Rob Reiner following his murder

Comedian Rob Schneider, a supporter of Donald Trump, criticized the president’s attack of director Rob Reiner following his brutal murder.

Trump said Monday that Reiner, a liberal, suffered from “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” after he and his wife Michele were allegedly killed by their son Nick over the weekend.

Schneider told Fox News, “He must rise above it, and he seems incapable of rising above the situation.”

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 02:20

ICYMI: Jimmy Kimmel tears into Trump’s ‘vile’ Reiner post

Jimmy Kimmel delivered a scathing monologue about Donald Trump’s “vile” claim that the deaths of director Robert Reiner and his wife were caused by Trump Derangement Syndrome.

The late-night show host branded the president as “hateful” after Trump made the widely-condemned post on Truth Social.

“Just when you think he can’t go any lower, he somehow finds a way to do that,” Kimmel said Monday night. “It’s so hateful and vile. When I first saw it, I thought it was fake.

“My wife showed it to me this morning. I was like, well, even for him that seemed like too much, but nothing is ever too much for him.”

Owen Scott17 December 2025 02:00

Maria Shriver thanks Fox News panel for criticizing Trump’s attack on Rob Reiner following his murder

Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California and current NBC News special anchor, thanked a Fox News panel for criticizing President Donald Trump’s attack on director Rob Reiner following his brutal murder.

“This is good. Thank you all for speaking up,” Shriver, wrote on X Tuesday.

Shriver has said that Rob and his wife Michele, who was also allegedly stabbed to death over the weekend by their son Nick, were “among my closest friends.”

Trump had said Reiner, a liberal, suffered from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 01:30

Watch: Republicans slam Trump’s attack against Rob Reiner following his murder

President Donald Trump wrote a bizarre post on social media following the murder of Rob Reiner, a Hollywood liberal, and his wife Michele.

“Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday morning.

The Reiners were allegedly stabbed to death over the weekend by their son Nick. Authorities have yet to reveal an official motive for the killings.

Republican lawmakers called Trump’s comments “classless” and “very disappointing” when speaking with CNN’s Manu Raju.

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 01:00

Full list of movies directed by Rob Reiner

Hollywood icon Rob Reiner was known for directing some of the most famous movies of the past 40 years. Over the weekend, Reiner and his producer-photographer wife, Michele, were allegedly stabbed to death by their son Nick.

Here is the full list of films and TV movies Reiner has directed in chronological order:

• Sonny Boy (1974)
• Likely Stories, Vol. 1 (1981)
• This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
• The Sure Thing (1985)
• Stand by Me (1986)
• The Princess Bride (1987)
• When Harry Met Sally (1989)
• Misery (1990)
• A Few Good Men (1992)
• North (1994)
• The American President (1995)
• Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
• I Am Your Child (1997)
• The Story of Us (1999)
• Alex & Emma (2003)
• Everyday Life (2004)
• Rumor Has It (2005)
• The Bucket List (2007)
• Flipped (2010)
• 8 (2012)
• The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)
• And So It Goes (2014)
• Being Charlie (2015)
• LBJ (2016)
• Shock and Awe (2017)

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 00:31

In pictures: Rob Reiner remembered on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Flowers were placed on Rob Reiner’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame following his and his wife, Michele’s, murder (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)Rob Reiner directed famous films, including The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men (Chris Pizzello/AP)Rob and Michele Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with their fatal stabbings (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Rachel Dobkin17 December 2025 00:10

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NEED TO KNOW

• Gwyneth Paltrow’s two children, Apple and Moses Martin, accompanied her to the New York City premiere of Marty Supreme on Tuesday, Dec. 16
• There, Apple wore one of her mother’s iconic dresses from the ’90s
• Apple took it one step further and twinned with her mother as they both donned chic and sleek black ensembles

Apple Martin is happy to steal from her mother Gwyneth Paltrow’s closet.

Paltrow was joined by her two children, Apple, 21, and Moses, 19, at the New York City premiere of Marty Supreme on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The actress shares both with her ex-husband, Chris Martin.

Apple took coordinating with her Oscar-winning mom one step further by wearing the same sleek, sexy black Calvin Klein gown that Paltrow wore to the July 1996 New York City premiere of Emma.

Like her mother, Apple styled the look simply, wearing her long blonde hair in a stylish updo with a pair of diamond stud earrings.

Paltrow, 53, wore a sophisticated black ensemble that included a black velvet bodice that featured a boat neckline and an oversized bow on one shoulder. The gown’s black sheath skirt included a deep slit and matching velvet pointed-toe pumps. 

Apple Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow on December 16, 2025 in New York City.

Dia Dipasupil/WireImage

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Paltrow’s children have been joining her at Marty Supreme events as she marks her first on-camera movie role since 2019. Moses accompanied Paltrow to the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Dec. 8.

There, Paltrow sported a strapless black gown from her label, Gwyn. Moses wore a brown-and-black suede sweater with matching corduroy pants and shoes. 

Gwyneth Paltrow on July 22, 1996 at the Paris Theatre in New York City.

Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage

Before Apple donned her mother’s Calvin Klein ensemble, Paltrow shared how her daughter has an affinity with the label’s designs from the ’90s. In an April 2024 conversation on Today with Hoda & Jenna, Paltrow revealed Apple is “abscond[ing] with many ’90s Calvin Klein skirts, tube skirts, and all kinds of slip dresses,” adding, “She’s very into the ’90s as all the kids are apparently right now.”

“She loves to go into the archive and try things on, and it’s really fun,” Paltrow said

In September, the pair opened up to Vogue about sharing clothes — or, in Apple’s case, borrowing her mother’s vintage pieces. 

“Weirdly, I started saving clothes for Apple about 15, 20 years before she was born,” Paltrow told the magazine. “I don’t just see a top, I’ll see a moment in my life and all the circumstances surrounding it. I’ve always saved everything in hopes that I had a daughter one day who would want to go in there.” 

Apple Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Moses Martin on December 16, 2025 in New York City.

Dia Dipasupil/WireImage

The Goop founder added, “Sometimes we just play dress up and she’ll put on my Oscar dresses and stuff like that.” 

Apple noted that her mother is “such a badass when it comes to fashion and has just done what she wants and doesn’t really care.”

She acknowledged that her mother “influenced” her, adding, “I feel like I’m finally getting to the place where I don’t really care what people think.”

Marty Supreme opens in theaters on Dec. 25.

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