Albanese said Australia has more guns now than 30 years ago, when the country’s deadliest-ever mass shooting took place.

Australia will launch a national gun buyback scheme, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced, as the country continues to come to terms with the deadly attack on a Jewish holiday event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead.

Albanese called the plan the country’s biggest gun buyback since 1996 – the year of Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in modern history, the Port Arthur massacre in the island state of Tasmania – and said authorities will purchase surplus, newly-banned and illegal firearms.

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“Right now, there are more guns in Australia than there were during Port Arthur. We can’t allow that to continue,” Albanese told a news conference on Friday, adding that there are currently more than four million firearms in the country.

“Non-citizens have no need to own a gun. And someone in suburban Sydney has no need to own six … The terrible events of Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets,” he said.

Albanese added that authorities in Australia’s states and territories will be tasked with collecting the weapons and processing payments for surrendered firearms under the scheme. Federal police will then be responsible for destroying them.

“We expect hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed through this scheme,” Albanese added.

Aided by some of the toughest gun restrictions globally, Australia has one of the lowest gun homicide rates in the world.

Restrictions were tightened after a lone gunman, armed with semiautomatic weapons, killed 35 people at the Port Arthur tourist site almost 30 years ago.

The massacre shocked the country, with authorities soon after launching a major gun amnesty and buyback scheme that removed more than 650,000 newly-prohibited firearms from circulation.

‘We need to do more to combat this evil scourge’

Sunday’s shooting in Sydney’s Bondi Beach area – in which two attackers, named as father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, went on a shooting spree and killed 15 people – has had a similarly jolting impact on Australian society as the Port Arthur massacre and prompted self-reflection.

Albanese said 50-year-old Sajid – who was shot dead at the scene – and 24-year-old Naveed – who was charged with “terrorism” and murder offences after he awoke from a coma on Tuesday – were inspired by “Islamic State ideology”.

On Thursday, Albanese announced tougher hate speech laws as he acknowledged the country had experienced a rising tide of anti-Jewish hate since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, and Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Albanese said rising anti-Semitism in Australia “culminated on Sunday in one of the worst acts of mass murder that this country has ever seen”.

“It was an attack on our Jewish community – but it was also an attack on the Australian way of life,” he said.

“Australians are shocked and angry. I am angry. It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge, much more,” he added.

The prime minister also announced on Friday that Australia will hold a national day of reflection this Sunday – one week after the mass shooting.

Albanese urged Australians to light candles at 6:47pm (07:47 GMT) on Sunday, December 21 – “exactly one week since the attack unfolded”.

“It is a moment to pause, reflect, and affirm that hatred and violence will never define who we are as Australians,” he told reporters.

Earlier on Friday, hundreds of people plunged into the ocean off Bondi Beach in another gesture to honour the dead.

Swimmers and surfers paddled into a circle as they bobbed in the gentle morning swell, splashing water and roaring with emotion.

“They slaughtered innocent victims, and today I’m swimming out there and being part of my community again to bring back the light,” security consultant Jason Carr told the AFP news agency.

“We’re still burying bodies. But I just felt it was important,” the 53-year-old said.

“I’m not going to let someone so evil, someone so dark, stop me from doing what I do and what I enjoy doing,” he said.

Surfers and swimmers congregate in the surf at Bondi Beach as they participate in a tribute for the victims of Sunday’s Bondi Beach attack, in Sydney, on December 19, 2025 [David Gray/AFP]



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Max Matzaand

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FBI

The suspect ‍in ​last week’s ‌mass shooting at Brown University has been found dead in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, following a six-day multi-state manhunt, police say.

They identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a Portuguese national who studied at the university in Providence, Rhode Island, about 25 years ago.

Providence police chief Oscar Perez said video evidence and tips from the public led investigators to a car-rental location where they found the suspect’s name and matched him to their person of interest.

Officials said they also believe Valente killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor two days after the 13 December shooting at Brown.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter said Valente was found dead with a satchel, two firearms. Evidence in a car nearby matched to the scene of the shooting at Brown University in Providence.

Initial findings suggest Valente died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and police were unable to comment on how long he might have been inside the storage unit.

“Even though the suspect was found dead tonight our work is not done. There are many questions that need to be answered,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Ted Docks said, adding that the agency had deployed approximately 500 agents to assist local authorities in the investigation.

Reuters

Images of Claudio Neves Valente were displayed during the Thursday press conference

Brown University President Christina Paxson said that Valente was enrolled at the Ivy League school from the autumn of 2000 to spring 2001, and was studying for a PhD in physics.

He had “no current active affiliation” to Brown, she said.

Officials said they believe Valente shot and killed MIT professor Nuno F Gomes Loureiro, 47, on Monday at his home in Brookline, which is about 50 miles (80km) from Providence.

Both the victim and the suspect had studied at the same university in Portugal in the late 1990s, police said.

Officials said the cases were linked when the suspect’s vehicle was identified via CCTV footage and a witness at Brown University.

The same car was spotted nearby to the scene of the professor’s shooting in Brookline, Massachusetts.

“He was using a phone that was obfuscated the ability to track it,” said Leah B Foley, the US state attorney representing Massachusetts.”

“He was sophisticated in hiding his tracks.”

Authorities have not provided any suspected motive for either attack.

For days, members of the public had expressed frustration at the investigation into the shooting at Brown University last Saturday, after it appeared to yield little progress almost a week after the attack.

A gunman burst into Brown University’s Barus & Holley engineering building and opened fire during final exams.

Two students were killed and a further nine injured. Six remain in hospital.

Authorities identified the two dead victims as Ella Cook, 19, a sophomore from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, an Uzbek-American freshman student.

Police had asked for patience from Rhode Islanders and on Wednesday released new footage of a person of interest, where a man was seen walking around the university campus with a black mask over his mouth.

The FBI also offered a $50,000 (£37,350) reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the attack.

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A man suspected of killing two people and wounding nine others at Brown University last weekend has been found dead in a storage facility in the state of New Hampshire, authorities said late Thursday.

“He took his own life tonight,” Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said of the suspect, a 48-year-old Portuguese man who two decades earlier was a Brown University student.

Brown University President Christina Paxson said the suspect attended Brown from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001 as a graduate student in physics. 

“He has no current affiliation with the university,” she said.

Investigators believe the man was also responsible for the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who was fatally shot in Boston on Monday, US Attorney for Massachusetts Leah B. Foley said.

What do we know about the investigation?

It has been nearly a week since the mass shooting took place at Brown University. Tension mounted in Providence as the shooter managed to escape. 

Another person was identified in connection to the suspect, who came forward after Wednesday’s press conference and helped “blow the lid” off the case, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

“When you crack it, you crack it. That person led us to the car, led us to the name,” Neronha said.

So far,  authorities have not been able to determine any motive behind either of the shootings at two of the top universities in the United States.

There are still “a lot of unknowns” in regard to motive, Neronha said. “We don’t know why now, why Brown, why these students and why this classroom,” he said.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

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The suspect in the shooting at Brown University last weekend has been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire after a five-day manhunt, officials said.

“I will tell you that he took his own life tonight,” Colonel Oscar Perez, the chief of the Providence Police Department said Thursday night.

Two students were killed and nine were injured Saturday after a gunman sprayed a classroom with more than 44 rounds of ammunition during a study session on Brown University’s campus. Perez identified the suspect in the shooting as Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national. Massachusetts authorities later confirmed Neves Valente was responsible for the shooting of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor earlier this week.

Earlier Thursday, police tracked Neves Valente to a storage unit where he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Brown President Christina Paxson said Thursday night Neves Valente was a physics PhD student at the university from the Fall 2000 to Spring 2001 before taking a leave of absence and formally withdrawing in the summer of 2003. Neves Valente arrived to the U.S. 25 years ago on a student visa and obtained lawful permanent residency in 2017, according to officials.

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The suspect in the shooting at Brown University last weekend has been found dead in a storage facility in New Hampshire after a five-day manhunt (AP/Reba Saldanha)

A satchel, two firearms and evidence “that matches exactly what we see at the scene here in Providence” were found with Neves Valente’s body, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

Police believe Neves Valente acted alone in the shooting.

Officials in Providence, Rhode Island, shared details about how they located Neves Valente using video footage.

They said a video provided them with a description of a car that led them to a car rental place in Massachusetts. Law enforcement were then able get a copy of an agreement, which included the suspect’s name.

Neronha said a person with information about the suspect “blew this case right open.”

“That person led us to the car, which led us to the name, which led us to the photographs of that individual renting the car, which matched the clothing of our shooter here in Providence, that matched the satchel,” he said.

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Perez identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national (REUTERS/CJ Gunther)

The car that Neves Valente rented in Boston was found in New Hampshire, and that he changed license plates, making him harder to track, Neronha said.

“We were able to find evidence in the car from looking at it from the outside that connected this individual to our crime scene here in Rhode Island,” the attorney general said.

An arrest warrant for Neves Valente charging him with two counts of murder and 23 felony counts of assault and felony firearms offenses was issued Thursday, according to a press release from Neronha’s office.

The suspected shooter’s motive is still unclear.

Two days after the Brown University shooting, 47-year-old MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro was fatally shot at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. Brookline is about 50 miles northeast of Providence.

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Police were reportedly investigating a potential link between the shooting of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and the Brown University shooting (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, was shot “multiple times” in his home Monday night, and died Tuesday after first responders rushed him to the hospital, investigators said. Police have said they’re investigating his death as a homicide.

Officials said Thursday night that Loureiro was a Portuguese national like Neves Valente. Ted Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston field office, said Thursday ight that it is believed Loureiro and Neves Valente attended the same university in Lisbon.

Leah Foley, the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts, said Thursday night, “On December 15, [Valente] murdered MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at Loureiro’s home in Brookline, Massachussets.”

Foley said Valente used a phone that obscured authorities ability to find it and credit cards not in his name, calling him “sophisticated in hiding his tracks.”

Community members have been mourning the two students killed on the Ivy League campus: Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.

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Photos of Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook sit next to bouquets of flowers at a memorial on Brown University’s campus (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Cook, a 19-year-old from Alabama, was the vice president of the Brown University College Republicans. She was also a parishioner at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham.

Reverend Craig Smalley described Cook as an “incredible, grounded, faithful bright light,” according to AL.com. The College Republicans of America said Cook was known for her “bold, brave and kind heart as she served her chapter and fellow classmates.”

Umurzokov, an 18-year-old from Uzbekistan, was studying to become a neurosurgeon, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by his family. He was described as “incredibly kind, funny and smart,” and his family’s “biggest role model.”

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

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said Thursday night., We’re going to be forever changed but our commitment on the state level is to continue to support Providence, Brown and the people in the state of Rhode Island in recovery.”

This is a developing story….

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• Elaina Bryant was indicted and taken into custody for second-degree murder and 10 counts of felony animal abuse on Wednesday, Dec. 17
• Bryant’s 17 dogs allegedly mauled Michael Bodenheimer to death in November
• Police say Bodenheimer sustained “severe injuries and was beyond the possibility of life-saving intervention” and that “preliminary findings at the scene indicated that his injuries were consistent with an attack by a large pack of canines”

A North Carolina man was mauled to death by a pack of 17 dogs, and now the dogs’ owner is facing murder and animal abuse charges.

Elaina Bryant was identified as the owner of the 17 dogs after conducting an investigation, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) confirmed in a statement on social media. Authorities say Bryant, 56, of Thomasville, N.C., was “grossly negligent in the care and control of the animals.” Detectives consulted with the District Attorney’s Office to review the evidence and determine official charges.

On Monday, Dec. 15, the case was brought before a Davidson County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment charging Bryant with second-degree murder and 10 counts of felony animal abuse.

Bryant was indicted and taken into custody on Wednesday, Dec. 17. She is now being held at the Davidson County Detention Center on a $500,000 secured bond set by the Superior Court Judge. Bryant’s next court date is scheduled for Jan. 5 in Davidson County Superior Court.

“Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division, working in coordination with Davidson County Animal Control, responded and initiated a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the incident,” the DCSO wrote. “Deputies and Detectives subsequently located the pack of aggressive canines at a neighboring property.”

Michael Bodenheimer was found lying in his front yard dead at approximately 7:43 p.m., local time, in Thomasville on Nov. 18. He was 73. Deputies responded to a home on Jeanette Lane after being alerted to a cardiac arrest, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said.

Mugshot for Elaina Brunty Bryant.

Davidson County Sheriff’s Office

Bodenheimer had sustained “severe injuries and was beyond the possibility of life-saving intervention” and that “preliminary findings at the scene indicated that his injuries were consistent with an attack by a large pack of canines,” the sheriff’s office said.

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“Over the following hours, Animal Control Division personnel captured 17 canines, identified as pit bull–mixed breeds,” the sheriff’s office said. “The animals were euthanized and transported to a local veterinary facility, where necropsies were conducted. The examinations of the canines revealed evidence confirming their involvement in the attack of Mr. Bodenheimer. An autopsy conducted on Mr. Bodenheimer determined that he died as a result of injuries sustained in the mauling from the canines.”

PEOPLE has reached out to the DCSO for further comment.

“Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our father. He was deeply loved, and his absence has left a pain that words cannot fully express,” Bodenheimer’s family said in a statement to WYFF.

“We are aware that charges have been filed in connection with his death. At this time, we ask for privacy as we continue to grieve and support one another,” his family said. “We have full confidence in the legal process and will allow it to move forward without further comment.”

Bodenheimer’s family later said their focus remains on honoring his life and values. “We appreciate the support, prayers, and kindness that have been extended to our family during this incredibly difficult time,” they said.

“Mike was a long time member of the Fair Grove Fire Department serving the Fair Grove community for many years,” the Fairgrove Fire Department in Thomasville told WYFF. “This particular incident involving one of our own has hit the department pretty hard since several of our current members served with him . Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as well as our own members.”

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Terrorist organisation Islamic State has praised the alleged Bondi terrorists as ‘lions’ and a ‘source of pride,’ while encouraging future attacks.

Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, are accused of opening fire into a crowd of Jewish people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on Sunday.

Naveed remains in hospital under police guard after being shot by officers and woke from a coma on Tuesday. He has been charged with 59 offences.

His father Sajid, a licensed firearms holder, was shot dead by police at the scene.

The terrorist group applauded the father and son as ‘lions’ and a ‘source of pride’ in its weekly bulletin Al-Naba on Friday via Telegram.

However, it stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack that left 15 dead — including a 10-year-old girl – and more than 40 hospitalised.

It also claimed the pair may have been ‘inspired’ by its teachings.

The terrorist group did not claim responsibility for the massacre but said ‘the zealous ones answered the call’.

Islamic State praised the two alleged gunmen who shot into a crowd at Bondi Beach on Sunday

The terrorist group referred to accused killers Naveed and Sajid Akram as ‘lions’ and a ‘source of pride’ in its weekly bulletin Al-Naba (pictured)

The terrorist group did not claim responsibility for the attack but said ‘the zealous ones answered the call’

A terrifying admission praised the gunmen after they ‘implemented the recommendations to target holidays and gatherings’ and warned that more attacks were to come.

‘Whether the attackers received its guidance and support or were the result of its incitement and policies … all your heroics, O strangers, will not be surprised by the bloodshed and bloodshed,’ it read.

‘If you imprison your Muslims in migrant camps, prevent them from places of worship, then carry out official orders to kill Jews and Christians, and in every street you abduct Muslims, torture them, insult them, imprison them, humiliate them, and disgrace them – then do not be surprised if the season of holidays soaked in blood, and if their celebrations are interrupted?’

The statement comes as police probe the Akrams’ alleged links to Islamic extremism after explosives and homemade IS flags were found in a car registered to Naveed at the scene of the shooting.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said earlier this week that initial investigations suggested the attack was ‘inspired by ISIS.’

The pair allegedly filmed an ISIS-style propaganda video at their rented Campsie Airbnb before the deadly shooting, expressing extremist views.

Another key line of inquiry is their one-month trip to the Philippines in November, which authorities are still investigating.

The pair’s final destination was the southern city of Davao, capital of the island of Mindanao, which has been a hotbed for Islamic militants for decades — particularly since ISIS was defeated in Syria in 2019.

A group of men were apprehended on Thursday about 5pm in southwest Sydney, who reportedly shared the same extremist ideology as the alleged gunmen

Heavily-armed tactical officers intercepted two cars and arrested the group in Liverpool

Police have not identified any connection to the ongoing investigation into the Bondi terror attack. Their motive remains unclear

The praise from Islamic State comes as a group of men were apprehended on Thursday about 5pm in southwest Sydney, who reportedly shared the same extremist ideology as the alleged gunmen.

Heavily-armed tactical officers intercepted two cars and arrested the group as part of a dramatic counter-terrorism operation. 

Shocking images show several officers standing over the group at the intersection of George and Campbell streets, in the suburb of Liverpool.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told 702 ABC Radio Sydney on Friday the men had travelled from Victoria and were known to police.

‘We have some indication that Bondi was one of the locations they might be visiting yesterday but with no specific intent in mind or proven at this stage,’ he said.

When asked whether the men had links to extremist Islamic ideology, Deputy Commissioner Hudson replied:

‘That’s our belief at this stage, yes.’

Police have not identified any connection to the ongoing investigation into the Bondi terror attack. The motive of the men remains unclear. 

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The contents of our daily fluid intake can significantly affect kidney health, even if we don’t immediately feel the consequences.

Phoebe Cornish Senior Lifestyle Reporter and Sophie Law Deputy Editor Spare Time

03:31, 19 Dec 2025

The beverages we consume daily can have a significant impact on our kidney health(Image: Hakase_ via Getty Images)

The beverages we consume daily can have a significant impact on our kidney health, even if we don’t immediately notice the effects. Our kidneys play a crucial role in filtering waste products, balancing fluid levels and regulating electrolytes to maintain overall health.

The type and quantity of fluids you drink can directly affect these vital functions.

For example, drinking sufficient plain water aids glomerular filtration, a process where blood is filtered in the kidneys, separating water, salts, and other small molecules from the blood into urine. Drinking too much or too little water has been linked to worsened outcomes in chronic kidney disease.

Even those with healthy kidneys who frequently experience dehydration could end up with kidney damage and an increased risk of kidney stones. On the other hand, excessive water intake can lead to hyponatremia (low sodium levels), which can be dangerous, warns the National Kidney Foundation.

Besides water, drinks high in sugar or fructose can increase uric acid production and oxidative stress in renal issues. Alcohol, fruit juice, energy drinks, and sports drinks are also ones to keep an eye on if you’re concerned about your kidney health.

As kidney function deteriorates, it may become more challenging to regulate fluid levels. Some individuals with advanced kidney disease may need to limit their fluid intake to prevent fluid retention.

This might also be necessary for those with heart failure, according to Kidney Wise.

Fizzy drinks

Numerous fizzy drinks contain dangerously high levels of fructose, which can harm the kidneys’ glomerular function when consumed on a regular basis.

The National Kidney Foundation references a 2024 study based on self-reported consumption data, indicating that drinking more than one serving of sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages each day was associated with a heightened risk of developing kidney disease.

A typical serving size for fizzy drinks such as cola is approximately 237ml. Yet many products come in larger bottles and cans, with a “portion” often considered bigger – a 330ml can of Coca-Cola in the UK counts as one serving.

Scientists from Osaka University in Japan tracked nearly 8,000 university staff members with healthy kidney function. Across three years, they monitored three groups with varying consumption patterns: those drinking one fizzy drink daily, those consuming two, and those avoiding them altogether.

The research revealed that 10% of participants who drank two fizzy drinks per day developed proteinuria – an unusually elevated level of proteins in urine that serves as a risk factor for end-stage kidney disease.

Frequent consumption of sweetened beverages also raises the likelihood of obesity and insulin resistance, both recognised risk factors for chronic kidney disease progression.

Energy drinks

Colorful of carbonated soft drink pop soda bottles with plastic straw. Plastic bottles of assorted carbonated in variety of colors.

Numerous individuals turn to energy drinks for a quick boost in alertness and endurance, but this rapid surge of energy doesn’t come without consequences. The excessive caffeine levels, added sugars, and artificial vitamins place significant strain on the kidneys.

The National Kidney Foundation highlights that studies have connected high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with a heightened risk of kidney disease. “Energy drinks fall into this category because they have a lot of caffeine, added sugar, and additives like phosphorus and sodium”, the NKF notes.

Furthermore, the caffeine levels alone can trigger dehydration, which reduces blood flow to the kidneys, particularly when these beverages are consumed on a regular basis.

Alcohol

It’s widely understood that drinking too much alcohol can lead to elevated blood pressure, liver problems, and kidney damage.

When consumed regularly and in substantial amounts, alcohol dehydrates the body and places additional pressure on the kidneys. That said, the guidance on alcohol consumption for those with kidney disease mirrors that for the wider population: limiting intake to no more than 14 units weekly (applicable to both men and women).

Kidney Care UK explained: “Because alcoholic drinks come in different strengths and sizes, units are a good way of telling how strong your drink is. It’s not as simple as one drink, one unit.”

NHS guidelines indicate that 14 units is equivalent to six pints of standard-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine. If you’re consuming up to 14 units of alcohol per week, it’s advisable to spread your intake evenly over three or more days.

Binge drinking one or two times a week can heighten your risk of death from chronic illnesses and injuries.

Sports drinks

(Image: Hakase_ via Getty Images)

Sports drinks are often marketed as hydrating and electrolyte-rich. However, the truth is that many of these beverages are packed with sodium, sugars, and artificial colours, which can harm the kidneys if consumed regularly.

Overconsumption of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium can disrupt the normal filtering and regulatory functions of the kidneys, causing damage.

While moderate consumption won’t cause significant harm, for those who aren’t sweating excessively on a daily basis, these drinks can do more harm than good.

Dr Sara Rosenkranz, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology and nutrition sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, points out that if your workout lasts less than 75 minutes and isn’t particularly intense, “there’s absolutely no need for electrolyte supplementation…you can really just hydrate with plain water.”

Fruit juices

Portrait of a woman drinking a smoothie fruit juice at ice cream shop.

Fruit juice presents a mixed bag when it comes to kidney health. Whilst certain juices provide benefits such as hydration and vital nutrients, others contain high levels of sugar and potassium, which could prove detrimental for individuals with kidney problems.

One hundred per cent juice is frequently promoted as a “healthier” option; however, this claim doesn’t hold true for renal patients, as the potassium content surpasses 200mg per serving. Research published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition highlights that fruit juice occupies a grey area for consumers.

The study noted that whilst 100 per cent fruit juice is marketed as a “healthier” alternative, this doesn’t apply to renal patients, since the potassium content exceeds 200mg per serving.

Numerous shop-bought juices contain excessive amounts of sugar and additives that can damage the kidneys, prompting the National Kidney Foundation to recommend selecting unsweetened juice without added sugar. Unsweetened cranberry juice contains lower levels of sodium and potassium compared to grape juice or apple juice, according to the NKF.

Signs of kidney disease Early kidney disease often manifests with little to no noticeable symptoms. The NHS points out that kidney disease is typically only diagnosed at this stage if a routine test for another condition, such as a blood or urine test, flags up a potential issue.

If detected early, medication and regular tests to monitor it may help prevent it from advancing further.

However, as the disease progresses to later stages of chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, signs can include:.

Middle aged man feeling unwell and suffering from chronic backache. Unhappy mature male sitting alone on sofa in living room has discomfort and pain in back. Lumbago symptom



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Democrats have shared more pictures from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, a day before the government’s deadline for the full release.

The 68 photos published on Thursday are among more than 95,000 images that the House Oversight Committee Democrats said they were reviewing.

They said the images were “selected to provide the public with transparency into a representative sample of the photos” and to “provide insights into Epstein’s network and his extremely disturbing activities”.

Image:
Jeffrey Epstein. Pic: @OversightDems

But the Democrats added that they are still analysing thousands more images that are “both graphic and mundane”.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of those pictured in the images – and the context surrounding the photos is not known.

Mystery text quotes price for ‘girl’

The latest cache includes a text message appearing to discuss the price for a girl.

It isn’t clear who sent the messages and to whom, but the screenshot shows some details on an unidentified girl, described as a teenager here.

“I will send u girls now,” one of the texts read.

Image:
Pic: @OversightDems

Writing on body

Several pictures show handwritten messages on a person’s body.

One appears to be quoting the opening paragraph of the book Lolita – which can be seen in the background of the picture.

The book was written by Vladimir Nabokov and tells the story of a girl groomed by a middle-aged literature professor.

Another shows writing on a foot, which reads: “She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock.”

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The writing appears to be quoting the opening paragraph of the book Lolita. Pic: @OversightDems

Image:
Another handwritten message. Pic: @OversightDems

Other messages can be seen on the neck, hip, back and chest, with the latter reading: “The tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down”.

In a different image, Epstein is pictured with three girls in his house in New York. One appears to be touching Epstein’s chest, one is holding her wrist up and another is looking at a laptop.

The identity of the women has been hidden.

Image:
Epstein with three women whose faces have been redacted. Pic: @OversightDems

Epstein with high-profile figures

Some high-profile figures also appear in the newly released images, with one showing Epstein sitting alongside Sheikh Jabor Bin Yousef Bin Jassim Bin Jabor al Thani.

He is the chairman and director of several privately established companies and is a member of the Qatari royal family.

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Epstein with Sheikh Jabor Bin Yousef Bin Jassim Bin Jabor al Thani. Pic: @OversightDems

Another image shows Epstein with the former president of the UN General Assembly, Miroslav Lajcak, who held the role between 2017 and 2018. He is also a former Slovakian foreign affairs minister.

Last month, he told TASR news agency: “The reopening of the Epstein case occurred after I left New York, and the full extent of his inexcusable actions, which I strongly condemn, only came to light after his arrest.”

Image:
Miroslav Lajcak, former president of the UN General Assembly, next to Epstein. Pic: @OversightDems

Shaher Abdulhak, a deceased Yemeni billionaire businessman whose son is a suspect in the murder of a Norwegian woman in Mayfair, was also pictured with Epstein.

His son, Farouk Abdulhak, fled to Yemen after the rape and death of Martine Vik Magnussen in March 2008 and has been wanted for questioning ever since.

Ms Magnussen was found dead among rubble in a basement in Great Portland Street.

She and her friends had been celebrating finishing their end-of-term exams at the Maddox nightclub before she vanished. Her body was found two days later.

Image:
Deceased Yemeni billionaire Shaher Abdulhak with Epstein. Pic: @OversightDems

Image:
Epstein and Steve Bannon. Pic: @OversightDems

Also featured in the newly released images were former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, magician David Blaine, businessman Tom Pritzker, billionaire Bill Gates, director Woody Allen, talk show host Dick Cavett, Trump ally Steve Bannon, and Kuwait’s former information minister Anas al Rasheed.

Photos of identity documents with redacted names were also published, including one with text saying that “the bearer was convicted of a sex offense against a minor”, which could belong to convicted sex offender Epstein.

Also among the identification documents is a heavily redacted Russian passport. It belongs to a female, but other information has been blocked out.

The release also includes ID documents from the Czech Republic, South Africa, Ukraine, and Lithuania.

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One passport appeared to belong to someone ‘convicted of a sex offense against a minor’. Pic: @OversightDems

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Epstein’s passport. Pic: @OversightDems

Deadline looming

The picture drop came a day before the deadline set by a bipartisan bill that compels the US Justice Department to release the Epstein files within 30 days, which was signed into law by US President Donald Trump last month.

Mr Trump had promised to release the Epstein files during his ultimately successful presidential campaign, but he later made a U-turn, even going as far as calling the Epstein files a Democratic “hoax”, before eventually changing path again to sign the bill.

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said ahead of the deadline that he believes the Department of Justice will release the files in time, and warned that there will be “strong bipartisan pushback” if they don’t.

“Based on my conversations with some of the top Democrats who’ve been working on this matter, related to full and complete disclosure of the Epstein files, we do expect compliance,” he told reporters on Thursday.

Full release going ‘down to the wire’

National security lawyers inside the Department of Justice are “working down to the wire” as Friday’s deadline for the full release of the Epstein files edges closer, according to Sky News’ US correspondent James Matthews.

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Lawyers are working ‘down to the wire’ to finalise Epstein files

He said those lawyers are mulling “how much is actually divulged in these documents”.

“There will be redactions… the question is, how far short of everything? How far short of the full story will the release fall?” Matthews said.

“The issue at the heart of it… where does Donald Trump feature? Remember, he emphatically denies all knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and any involvement in them.”

Read more:
Releasing the Epstein files: How we got here
Ghislaine Maxwell attempts to overturn conviction

‘Frustration building’

Meanwhile, frustration is building at the justice department ahead of the release, according to CNN.

A source has told the US broadcaster that there could be up to 1,000 redactions needed from each attorney.

Lawyers reportedly believe they aren’t getting clear or comprehensive direction on how to make the most information available under the law.

A previous batch of images featured more high-profile figures, including Donald Trump, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Bill Clinton, British entrepreneur Richard Branson, Emirati businessman Ahmed bin Sulayem, and singer Jimmy Buffett.

Several images of a sexual nature have also been released, including a picture of a bowl of novelty condoms with a caricature of Mr Trump’s face, and various sex toys.

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EU delays Mercosur trade deal until January amid farmer protests and opposition from France and Italy.

The European Union has delayed a massive free-trade deal with South American countries amid protests by EU farmers and as last-minute opposition by France and Italy threatened to derail the agreement.

European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed on Thursday that the signing of the trade pact between the EU and South American bloc Mercosur will be postponed until January, further delaying a deal that had taken some 25 years to negotiate.

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Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was expected to travel to Brazil on Saturday to sign the deal, but needed the backing of a broad majority of EU members to do so.

The Associated Press news agency reported that an agreement to delay was reached between von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – who spoke at an EU summit on Thursday – on the condition that Italy would vote in favour of the agreement in January.

French President Emmanuel Macron had also pushed back against the deal as he arrived for Thursday’s summit in Brussels, calling for further concessions and more discussions in January.

Macron said he has been in discussions with Italian, Polish, Belgian, Austrian and Irish colleagues, among others, about delaying the signing.

“Farmers already face an enormous amount of challenges,″ the French leader said.

The trade pact with Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay would be the EU’s largest in terms of tariff cuts.

But critics of the deal, notably France and Italy, fear an influx of cheap commodities that could hurt European farmers, while Germany, Spain and Nordic countries say it will boost exports hit by United States tariffs and reduce reliance on China by securing access to key minerals.

Brazil’s President Lula says Italy’s PM Meloni asked for ‘patience’

The EU-Mercosur agreement would create the world’s biggest free-trade area and help the 27-nation European bloc to export more vehicles, machinery, wines and spirits to Latin America at a time of global trade tensions.

Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane, reporting from Berlin, said Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries were “all lobbying hard in favour of this deal”. But ranged against them were the French and Italian governments because of concerns in their powerful farming sectors.

“Their worry being that their products, such as poultry and beef, could be undercut by far cheaper imports from the Mercosur countries,” Kane said.

“So no signing in December. The suggestion being maybe there will be a signing in mid-January,” he added.

“But there must now be a question about what might happen between now and mid-January, given the powerful forces ranged against each other in this debate,” he added.

Farmers wear gas masks at the Place du Luxembourg near the European Parliament, during a farmers’ protest on December 18, 2025 [Nicolas Tucat/AFP]

Mercosur nations were notified of the move, a European Commission spokeswoman said, and while initially reacting with a now-or-never ultimatum to its EU partners, Brazil opened the door on Thursday to delaying the deal’s signature to allow time to win over the holdouts.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Italy’s Meloni had asked him for “patience” and had indicated that Italy would eventually be ready for the agreement.

The decision to delay also came hours after farmers in tractors blocked roads and set off fireworks in Brussels to protest the deal, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannon.

Protesting farmers – some travelling to the Belgian capital from as far away as Spain and Poland – brought potatoes and eggs to throw and waged a furious back-and-forth with police while demonstrators burned tyres and a faux wooden coffin bearing the word “agriculture”.

The European Parliament evacuated some staff due to damage caused by protesters.

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The Australian government has announced a gun buyback scheme in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack – its deadliest mass shooting in decades.

The scheme is the largest since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, which left 35 people dead and prompted Australia to introduce world-leading gun control measures.

Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured on Sunday when two gunmen, believed to have been motivated by “Islamic State ideology”, opened fire on a Jewish festival at the country’s most iconic beach.

On Friday, police also said there was no ongoing reason to detain a group of men who were arrested in Sydney over their “extremist Islamic ideology”.

Police allege Sunday’s attack, which they have declared a terrorist incident, was committed by a father-son duo. Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act. His father Sajid was killed during the attack.

The day after the shooting, national cabinet – which includes representatives from the federal government and leaders from all states and territories – agreed to tighten gun controls.

Speaking to media on Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there are now more than 4 million firearms in Australia – more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre.

“We know that one of these terrorists held a firearm licence and had six guns, in spite of living in the middle of Sydney’s suburbs… There’s no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns.

“We need to get more guns off our streets.”

The new scheme will purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms, he said, and will be funded on a 50-50 basis with the states and territories. They estimate hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed.

National cabinet has also agreed to impose limits on the number of firearms held by any one individual, restrict open-ended firearms licensing and the types of guns that are legal and make Australian citizenship a condition of holding a firearm licence.

Work on a national firearms register will be accelerated and firearm regulators will have better access to criminal intelligence.

On Friday, New South Wales Police said they were preparing to release seven men with extremist ideology, but that they would continue to be monitored.

Tactical officers swarmed on the group, who had travelled from Victoria and were known to police there, in dramatic scenes in the suburb of Liverpool on Thursday. Officers found a knife, but no guns or other weapons.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told a press conference there is “no confirmed link” between the alleged terrorists and the detained group, but that Bondi Beach was one of several locations the latter was intending to visit.

“Whilst this specific threat posed by the males is unknown, I can say that the potential [for] a violent offence being committed was such that we were not prepared to tolerate the risk,” Commissioner Lanyon said.

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