By JAKE HOLDEN, UK NEWS REPORTER

Published: 09:02 GMT, 24 December 2025 | Updated: 09:38 GMT, 24 December 2025

Christmas traffic is estimated to be at its busiest level in five years today as 4.2million getaways have been planned.

Roads and motorways will likely be filled with cars, train services will be overcrowded and airports will be packed.

Today, Christmas Eve, could be one of the most nightmarish days to travel home on as the RAC estimate there will be 4.2million leisure trips planned, the highest of any day in the seven days leading up to Christmas and the highest level since Covid. 

There are a total of 37.5million trips planned in the same period from December 17 to December 24.

This is the highest number since the RAC began recording data in 2013 and a huge increase of 8million more trips than last year’s 29.3million.

At the same time, the AA predict there will be 22.7million cars driving home for Christmas today, causing even more chaos on the roads, though this is a slightly lower figure than on the five days leading up to it.

Road closures will also be another thorn in the side of drivers as major routes will be shut off starting today.

The busy port at Dover last Saturday. 37.5million trips are estimated to be planned in the week leading up to Christmas Day

Massive delays were also seen on the M6 last weeks as people make their way home for Christmas

From Christmas Eve, the M27 will be shut in both directions between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from 8pm until 4am on January 4. 

The RAC has set out the worst and best times to drive on Christmas Eve.

The most congested times will be 1pm to 7pm while the best times to travel will be before 11am.

See the routes which are most likely to be congested today in our list at the bottom of this page. 

Avoiding the roads could also lead to running into more congestion on the rail network as vital several services are not running during the Christmas period, particularly from London.

Rail closures may force more people onto the roads too, spelling yet more misery for drivers. 

Stations will likely be rammed with people travelling home for Christmas like here in Kings Cross

No trains will run to or from Waterloo from Christmas Day until 28 December, and a very limited service to Waterloo until 4 January.

• No trains to or from Waterloo from Christmas Day until 28 December, and a very limited service to Waterloo until 4 January. 
• No trains between Leeds and York between Christmas Day and 6 January. 
• No trains between Cambridge North, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport from Christmas Day until 5 January.
• No trains between Stratford and Liverpool St from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
• No trains between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh Central, or between Glasgow Queen Street and Crianlarich, 24 December – 2 January.
• No trains between Milton Keynes and Rugby between Christmas Day and 5 January.
• No trains between Preston and Carlisle, 31 December- 15 January.
• No trains between Carlisle and Lockerbie from 1 January and 7 January.

A total of 42,046 departures are scheduled from UK airports between 19 December and 4 January

Airports are also bracing for an influx of Christmas travellers, particularly with the record number of getaways planned.

A total of 42,046 departures are scheduled from UK airports between 19 December and 4 January, according to data from Cirium, up 2 per cent from last year.

Thankfully, the busiest day has already come on Friday December 19 when 2,853 flights were scheduled to depart UK airports.

However, Christmas Day itself is becoming more and more popular as a flight day, with 889 flights are scheduled to depart UK airports – 10 per cent higher than last year’s and 33 per cent higher than pre pandemic levels in 2019. 

The busiest days to travel from major UK airports is are as follows, according to UK Aviation News:

• Heathrow – 19 December
• Gatwick – 21 December
• Manchester – 21 December
• Stansted – 19 December
• Birmingham – 22 December
• Luton – 19 December
• Edinburgh – 22 December
• Newcastle – 19 December
• Bristol – 19 December

Worst congested roads in UK at Christmas 

• M27 closed between Junction 9 and 11
• 90 Queensferry / Forth Road Bridge (north of Edinburgh)
• M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow
• M74 (Glasgow)
• M60 around the Trafford Centre – Greater Manchester
• M62 Simister Interchange – Near Manchester
• M1 around Meadowhall – Sheffield
• M6 J4-11 (M42–Wolverhampton) – West Midlands
• M5/M6 interchange – Near Birmingham
• M42 J3A–J8 (M40 to M6 interchanges) – West Midlands
• M1 J10–15a (Luton to Northampton) – East Midlands / South Midlands
• A34 Oxford to Newbury – Oxfordshire to Berkshire
• M25 around Bluewater – Kent (east of London)
• M3/M25 interchange – Surrey (southwest of London)
• M25 around Heathrow Airport – West London
• M4/M5 interchange – Near Bristol
• M4 around Cardiff and Newport – South Wales

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The final rush for home: Traffic will hit its busiest in five years today with 4.2million getaways planned as experts say avoid roads between 11am and 7pm with airports packed and rail services finishing early

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The DoJ has branded a rape allegation ‘untrue and sensationalist’ after the latest release of Epstein files contained a report in which an unnamed woman says ‘he raped me’, referring to Donald Trump

Trump has formerly expressed his frustration at people appearing in photographs alongside Epstein released by the Justice Department being unfairly associated with the disgraced paedophile financie(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The DoJ has said that a rape allegation against President Donald Trump made in the newest release of the Epstein files is “untrue and sensationalist”.

Among more than 11,000 files which were released in the latest cache of documents is the FBI case file (EFTA00020518) from October 2020 that includes an allegation of rape involving Trump.

The Department of Justice and the Press Office responded promptly denying there was no truth to the claim. In the partially redacted file, a record of an interview with an unnamed woman, she says, “he raped me,” in reference to Donald Trump. She also asserted that “Donald J. Trump had raped her together with Jeffrey Epstein.”

The allegation in the report released by the DoJ

The document does not identify the person making the accusation, as all names and other identifying information have been redacted.

The Department of Justice immediately responded to the rape allegation, saying that “the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.” They added that the accusations were “untrue and sensationalist”.

Trump has formerly expressed his frustration at people appearing in photographs alongside Epstein released by the Justice Department being unfairly associated with the disgraced paedophile financier.

Inside a 1992 party with Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein(Image: Internet Unknown)

Speaking during an unrelated event at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, the president, who has always denied any wrongdoing in his association with Jeffrey Epstein, said: “You probably have pictures of other people who innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago. And they’re, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.”

The FBI document from the Epstein Files containing this accusation can be read in full here.

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A teenage British boy has reportedly been stabbed to death in Portugal.

The country’s criminal police (Judicial Police) said it is investigating the death by stabbing of both the boy and the alleged attacker.

Local media have identified the boy as a British teenager, while Portuguese police believe the perpetrator was the former partner of the boy’s mother.

The mother was found “showing signs of having been restrained and assaulted, and was subsequently taken to the nearest hospital”, police said in a statement.

“Both the alleged assailant and the minor presented several injuries caused by a bladed weapon but, despite vital signs still being detectable, death was declared at the scene moments later.”

Police said the GNR (National Republican Guard) were called out after the alarm had been raised about what was feared to be a domestic violence siutation, in the city of Tomar in central Portugal.

“Inside the house, there was a strong smell of gas which, moments later, resulted in an explosion that injured one of the GNR officers,” the police statement added.

“The alleged perpetrator had already served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide, and the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023.”

The British Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Portugal, and stand ready to provide consular support.”

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Palestinian, Jewish and Indigenous groups say they will launch constitutional challenge to anti-protest laws described as ‘rushed’.

The state of New South Wales (NSW) will have the toughest gun laws in Australia as well as wide-reaching new restrictions on free speech in the wake of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, which left 15 people dead.

Less than two weeks after the attack on a Jewish celebration, new legislation was passed by the state’s legislative assembly in the early hours of Wednesday morning, including restrictions that appear to target speech in solidarity with Palestinians.

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Notably, the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 gives police powers to restrict public protests for up to three months “following a terrorism declaration”, while the public display of symbols of prohibited organisations will be banned.

“Once a declaration is made, no public assemblies can be authorised in designated areas, including by a court and police will be able to move people on if their behaviour or presence obstructs traffic or causes fear, harassment or intimidation,” the NSW government said in a statement.

In the statement, NSW Premier Chris Minns and other top officials said that the sweeping changes would involve a review of “hate speech” and the words “globalise the Intifada” were singled out as an example of speech that will be banned. The term is often used in solidarity with Palestinians and their civil struggle against Israeli military occupation and illegal settlement expansion, dating back to the 1980s.

Minns acknowledged that the new laws involved “very significant changes that not everyone will agree with” but he added, “our state has changed following the horrific anti-Semitic attack on Bondi Beach and our laws must change too.”

He also said that new gun laws, which restrict certain types of guns to use by farmers, would also help to “calm a combustible situation”.

Constitutional challenge

Three NSW-based pro-Palestinian, Indigenous and Jewish advocacy groups said on Tuesday, before the final vote on the legislation, that they would be “filing a constitutional legal challenge against the draconian anti-protest laws”.

Palestine Action Group Sydney said in a statement shared on Facebook that it was launching the challenge together with the Indigenous group Blak Caucus and Jews Against the Occupation ’48.

“These outrageous laws will grant NSW Police sweeping powers to effectively ban protests,” the Palestinian advocacy group said, accusing the NSW government of “exploiting the horrific Bondi attack to advance a political agenda that suppresses political dissent and criticism of Israel, and curtails democratic freedoms”.

Changes to the state’s protest laws also come just months after more than 100,000 people marched over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in protest against Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, after a court overturned an attempt by the Minns government to try to stop the peaceful protest from taking place.

Following the huge display of public support for ending Israel’s war on Gaza, Australia joined more than 145 other UN member states in recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in September this year, much to the outrage of Israeli officials.

Within hours of the Bondi attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), linked the shooting to Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.

UN special rapporteur Ben Saul, who is also an international law chair at the University of Sydney, criticised Netanyahu’s comments.

Saul, whose UN mandate focuses on ensuring human rights are protected while countering terrorism, called for a “measured response to the Bondi terrorist attack”.

“Overreach does not make us safer – it lets terror win,” Saul said in a post on social media.

Heroes to be honoured

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that he plans to create a special honours list to recognise the people who rushed in to try to stop the two attackers as they targeted the Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14.

Australian public broadcaster the ABC reported those honoured would likely include Australian-Syrian shop owner Ahmed al-Ahmed, as well as Boris and Sofia Gurman, a local couple who tried to stop the gunmen but were among those killed in the attack.

While al-Ahmed has been widely hailed as a hero around the world, less is known about a second Muslim man who ran in to help, even as he was tackled by bystanders because he was mistaken for being an attacker.

The man’s lawyer, Alisson Battisson, says that her client, whom she did not name, is a refugee who is potentially facing deportation due to a past criminal record, despite his repeated attempts to help stop the Bondi attack.

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A 13-year-old British boy has reportedly been stabbed to death in Portugal.

The country’s Judicial Police said it was investigating the deaths of the teenager, who was identified by local media as a British national, and the alleged perpetrator, who police say was the former partner of his mother.

The mother “was found by authorities showing signs of having been restrained and assaulted, and was subsequently taken to the nearest hospital”, police said in a statement.

“Both the alleged assailant and the minor presented several injuries caused by a bladed weapon but, despite vital signs still being detectable, death was declared at the scene moments later.”

Police said the National Republican Guard (GNR) responded to the incident in the city of Tomar after receiving an alert about suspected a domestic violence situation.

“Inside the house, there was a strong smell of gas which, moments later, resulted in an explosion that injured one of the GNR officers,” the police statement said.

“The alleged perpetrator had already served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide, and the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023.”

The Foreign Office said: “We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Portugal, and stand ready to provide consular support.”

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At least two people were killed and several were missing after a pair of explosions rocked a nursing home in Bristol Township, outside the US city of Philadelphia.

The explosions on Tuesday sparked a fire and caused part of the nursing home’s building to collapse, officials and police said.

The blasts at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center in Bristol Township, about 21 miles (33 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia, are believed to have been caused by a gas leak.

Firefighters carried people out of the burning building, officials saidImage: Bastiaan Slabbers/Reuters

What do we know about the nursing home explosions?

Five people were believed to be missing hours after the explosions and fire tore through the facility, Bristol Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito told a press conference on Tuesday evening. However, some may have left the scene with family members, he added.

In addition to the two confirmed deaths, Dippolito said an unspecified number of people had sustained injuries.

Dippolito said firefighters found a “major structural collapse”  after receiving the first reports of an explosion on Tuesday afternoon and rushing to the scene.

News footage from local TV showed large flames and smoke billowing from the destroyed building shortly after the first blast.

The local gas company PECO said its personnel were at the facility responding to complaints of a gas leak when the first explosion occurred.

“PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents. It is not known at this time if PECO’s equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident,” the company said in a statement.

Smoke billows from the collapsed part of the nursing homeImage: Monica Herndon/AP

Second blast hit seconds after rescuers retreated

The fire marshal added that numerous nursing home patients and staff who were initially trapped in the collapsed part of the building had been rescued by first responders.

Several victims were removed from the debris. Firefighters were able to pull at least two more people from the collapsed basement before retreating due to lingering gas fumes, Dippolito said.

“We got everyone out that we could, ​that we ​could find, that we could see, and we exited the building,” the fire marshal explained.

“Within approximately 15 to 30 seconds of us exiting the building, knowing there was a heavy odor of natural gas around us, there was another explosion and fire,” he added.

The explosions happened while work to fix a gas leak was being carried outImage: Monica Herndon/AP

It was not immediately clear exactly how many patients and staff were at the nursing home, which is certified for up to 174 beds, at the time of the explosions.

A nurse working at the facility told local TV news that more than 50 patients aged between 50 to 95 were normally in the building at any given time.

“We are still in rescue mode until we know the building is clear,” Dippolito said.

Pennsylvania governor hails ‘heroism’ of first responders

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said the facility had been acquired by new owners this month. He also said state health inspectors had visited the facility on December 10 and met with staff to devise a plan to update the standards at the nursing home.

Shapiro said the ‘heroism’ responders and locals ‘showed tonight will not be forgotten’Image: Bastiaan Slabbers/Reuters

Shapiro praised the emergency response, saying in a post on X, “Tonight, we saw real heroism in Bucks County.”

Shapiro praised the firefighters “who rushed towards danger to put out this fire and rescue people from the burning building,” as well as the police officers who “literally carried them on their backs to safety.”

The governor also highlighted the solidarity shown by nearby residents who had “rushed out of their houses, away from their families” to help the victims.

Edited by: Darko Janjevic

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A 13-year-old British boy has died after a stabbing in Portugal, police said, adding that the suspect was the former partner of the child’s mother.

Authorities received a report of domestic violence in a home in Tomar, where officers found the teenager and the suspected attacker suffering from multiple stab wounds.

Moments after police arrived at the scene a suspected gas explosion tore through the house, believed to have been deliberately caused by the attacker, injuring one officer in the process.

The suspected perpetrator, 43, and the 13-year-old boy both died at the scene.

The mother “was found by authorities showing signs of having been restrained and assaulted, and was subsequently taken to the nearest hospital”, police said in a statement.

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The stabbing occurred in the historic city of Tomar in central Portugal (Getty Images)

Police said the suspect had already served time for homicide, and that complaints of domestic abuse dated back to 2022.

The suspect allegedly attacked the boy with a bladed weapon, before barricading himself inside the house, Diario de Noticias reported.

“Both the alleged assailant and the minor presented several injuries caused by a bladed weapon but, despite vital signs still being detectable, death was declared at the scene moments later,” the statement added.

Luis Freire, who is the president of the local parish council, told Portugese media that the domestic case had already been flagged by authorities due to previous episodes of domestic violence.

He stressed it was a “complicated situation” which the GNR (National Republican Guard) was already aware of.

“Inside the house, there was a strong smell of gas which, moments later, resulted in an explosion that injured one of the GNR officers,” the police statement said.

“The alleged perpetrator had already served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide, and the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023.”

The Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Portugal, and stand ready to provide consular support.”

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A woman whose husband is accused of 56 sexual offences against her was hailed an ‘extraordinary’ local hero after helping recover a missing person’s body from a river. 

Joanne Young, 48, waived her right to anonymity after six men, including her ex-husband, were charged with a string of sexual offences against her. 

She received the chief officer’s commendation in September for her brave volunteer work with the Wiltshire Search and Rescue team, after retrieving the body of a missing person from the River Avon in June. 

The award is designed to recognise exceptional acts of bravery among individuals in public services. 

Business consultant Philip Young, who shares three children with Mrs Young, is accused of 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape, against his former wife. 

The pair founded a management consultancy business together in 2005. 

Norman Macksoni, 47, Dean Hamilton, 47, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 31, Richard Wilkins, 61, and Mohammed Hassan, 37, have been charged with offences including rape, sexual touching, sexual penetration and possession of extreme images.

Several of the men covered their faces as they arrived at Swindon Crown Court yesterday. 

Joanne Young, 48, accepting her award for exceptional bravery, having put in ‘intense effort’ to retrieve the body of a missing person from the River Avon

Mrs Young with her former husband Phil Young. Young is accused of 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape, against his ex-wife 

Chief constable Catherine Roper said Mrs Young showed ‘extraordinary dedication, professionalism and humanity in the face of challenging and emotionally demanding circumstances’ in June, The Times first reported. 

She had been told a specialist dive team would require 10 hours to recover a missing person from the river, so she – alongside two other brave volunteers – pulled the body out themselves. 

Macksoni, of Sharnbrook, has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images. He appeared in court wearing a dark three-piece suit and tie, along with a dark baseball cap. He indicated a plea of not guilty.

Hamilton, of no fixed abode, has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching. He appeared in court wearing a white sweater and light trousers and indicated a plea of not guilty.

Sanderson-Doyle, from Swindon, has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching. He appeared in court with his long black hair tied in a ponytail, with a beige knitwear jumper and dark trousers and said he would not be providing an indication of plea.

Wilkins, from Swindon, has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching. He appeared in court wearing a dark hooded jacket and did not indicate a plea.

Young, seen here in a court sketch, appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with 11 counts of rape, seven counts of sexual assault, and four counts of sexual touching, all involving his ex-wife

Young was charged with a string of sexual offences against his ex-wife alongside five other men

Norman Macksoni (left) is charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images, while Connor Sanderson-Doyle (right) has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching

Dean Hamilton has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching

Richard Wilkins is charged with one count of rape and sexual touching

Mohammed Hassan has been charged with sexual touching on February 18, 2023

Hassan, also from Swindon, has been charged with sexual touching on February 18 2023. Wearing spectacles and a dark hooded raincoat, he did not provide an indication of plea.

They were all granted conditional bail until January 23 when they will appear alongside Young at Swindon Crown Court.

Young, 49, earlier appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with 11 counts of rape, seven counts of sexual assault, and four counts of sexual touching, all involving his ex-wife.

When asked if he wished to indicate a plea at this stage, he shook his head.

Young is also facing 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower Ms Young ‘to allow sexual activity’.

The alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said last night.

Young also faces multiple counts of voyeurism and possession of indecent images of children – including 139 of the most serious, category A, and 82 ‘extreme’ images.

He was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance alongside the other five defendants at Swindon Crown Court on January 23.

Mrs Young has requested privacy and is being supported by specially trained officers. 

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The blast comes just days after the head of Russia’s General Staff’s army operational directorate, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, was killed in a nearby car explosion



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BREAKINGBREAKING,

The blast occurred close to the site where a Russian general was killed earlier this week.

Published On 24 Dec 202524 Dec 2025

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Two police ⁠officers ​and another ‍person have been ‍killed in ⁠blast in southern ​Moscow, ‌according to the Russian Investigative Committee.

The two traffic police officers were killed overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday in an explosion that occurred when they attempted to arrest a suspicious individual, the Committee said in a statement on Wednesday.

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“An explosive device was triggered” as the officers approached the suspect who was near their service vehicle, the statement said.

“Two police officers succumbed to their injuries,” the statement said, adding that the person standing next to them also died in the explosion.

An investigation for “attempted murder” of law enforcement officers and “explosives trafficking” has been opened, it added.

The area was cordoned off by a large police presence, according to images broadcast by Russian television.

The incident occurred on Yeletskaya Street in southern Moscow, near the site where a Russian General Fanil Sarvarov was killed earlier this week.

Sarvarov, head of the operational training department within the Russian General Staff, was killed on Monday by an explosive device placed under a car.

Since the start of the Russian offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, several Russian generals, local officials, and public figures supporting the offensive have died in explosions in Russia or in the occupied part of Ukraine. Kyiv has sometimes claimed responsibility for these attacks.

More to come…

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Two traffic police officers and a third person have been killed in a car explosion in Moscow, Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said early on Wednesday.

The committee said in a statement “an explosive device was triggered” when the officers approached a “suspicious person” near their police vehicle on Yeletskaya Street in the south of the capital.

A crime scene has been established and CCTV footage is being reviewed, said officials.

Images broadcast on Russian television showed an area cordoned off and a large police presence. Witnesses were quoted as describing an explosion that occurred at about 1.30am local time.

A senior Russian general, Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov, was killed this week when a bomb exploded under his car in southern Moscow, according to Russian investigators. They described the death of the head of the operational training directorate of the Russian military’s general staff as a likely assassination carried out by Ukrainian intelligence services. Sarvarov’s car exploded while driving along Yaseneva Street at about 7am on Monday.

Russian officials and prominent pro-war voices have called for swift retribution for the attack – the third bombing in Moscow in the past year to claim the life of a senior Russian officer linked to the invasion of Ukraine.

With Reuters

More updates soon …

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Lawmakers in Venezuela on Tuesday passed a bill that criminalizes a range of activities that could hinder trade and commerce in the South American country, such as the seizure of oil tankers.

Anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in “acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts” against commercial entities operating in the South American country could face fines and a prison sentence of up to 20 years, according to the amended legislation.

The new law, which was introduced, debated and passed within two months, came after US forces seized two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters this month.

Venezuelans accuse Trump of ‘piracy’ over US tanker seizure

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It also directs the executive branch to come up with “incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections” for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts. 

While the parliament endorsed the bill, it will only go into effect after receiving approval by President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela protests tankers’ seizure at emergency UN meet

The South American country had called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting focusing on its escalating conflict with the US, wherein its UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada accused the US of acting “outside international law.”

“What right does the United States government have to appropriate, to date, almost 4 million barrels of Venezuelan oil?” Moncada asked, referring to the cargo of the two seized tankers.

US blockade: Trump issues challenge to Venezuela’s Maduro

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“This alleged naval blockade is essentially a military act aimed at laying siege to the Venezuelan nation… causing internal chaos to facilitate aggression by external forces,” he added.

Several countries also expressed concern about violations of international maritime law, and China and Russia accused the United States of “bullying” and “cowboy-like conduct” towards Venezuela in the heated emergency UN meeting. A smaller number of nations, including Panama and Argentina, supported the US in the meeting.

What did the US say?

Seizure of oil tankers is the latest tactic used by US President Donald Trump to pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

US ups pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro — but what’s the goal?

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At the UN meeting, the US said that it will impose sanctions to ‌the maximum ‌extent ⁠to deprive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of ‍resources that Washington accuses ​him ​of using it to fund Cartel de Los Soles.

“Maduro’s ability to sell Venezuela’s oil ‍enables his fraudulent claim to power ​and his narco-terrorist activities,” US envoy Mike Waltz told ‌the ‌15-member council.

Edited by Darko Janjevic

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Australia is set to deport a British national after cancelling his visa over alleged involvement in neo-Nazi activity, as authorities intensify efforts to curb hate speech and extremist symbolism following the antisemitic attack on Bondi Beach.

The man, 43, who had been living in Queensland, was arrested and charged earlier this month after federal police accused him of repeatedly displaying Nazi symbols online and promoting violent, pro-Nazi ideology.

Investigators allege he used X to post swastikas, express hatred towards the Jewish community and advocate violence, conduct that police say breached Commonwealth criminal laws.

Home affairs minister Tony Burke said: “He came here to hate – he doesn’t get to stay.”

Australian Federal Police (AFP) searched his home in Caboolture, north of Brisbane, in late November, seizing “several weapons, including swords bearing swastika symbology, axes and knives”.

“The AFP has alleged the man posted content that violated Commonwealth law on several occasions between 10 October, 2025, and 5 November, 2025. It is alleged X blocked the main account the man was using, which lead him to create a second handle with a similar name to continue posting offensive, harmful and targeted content,” the AFP said at the time.

Authorities also confiscated electronic devices as part of the investigation. He has since been charged with three counts of displaying prohibited Nazi symbols and one count of using the internet to menace, harass or cause offence.

He is expected to face court in January.

Following the charges, the home affairs ministry cancelled the man’s visa and transferred him to immigration detention in Brisbane.

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Police confiscated weapons, including axes and knives, from the British man’s home (AFP)

Mr Burke told ABC on Wednesday: “I said some time ago that as far as freedom of speech was concerned, I had no time for hatred when it came to cancelling visas. If you come to Australia on a visa, you are here as a guest.

“Almost everyone on a visa is a good guest and a welcome guest in our country. But if someone comes here for the purposes of hate, they can leave. And that’s what we’re doing.”

Earlier this year, Australia strengthened its hate crime legislation, bringing in mandatory prison sentences for publicly displaying prohibited hate symbols or making a Nazi salute.

The case follows a similar move last month, when Mr Burke revoked the visa of South African national Matthew Gruter after he attended a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales parliament. Mr Gruter later left the country voluntarily after being placed in immigration detention.

Earlier this month, AFP assistant commissioner Stephen Nutt said the crackdown is designed to protect community harmony. “We want to ensure these symbols are not being used to fracture social cohesion,” he said.

“If we identify instances where this is happening, we will act swiftly to disrupt the behaviour, prosecute those involved and protect the dignity, safety and cohesion of our diverse community.”

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NEED TO KNOW

• Daniel Curtis Lee helped his former Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide costar Tylor Chase with a hotel room and a meal
• Chase is currently experiencing homelessness in California
• Lee stepped in to help Chase for the holidays as his fellow Ned’s costars work towards a plan for long term assistance

Daniel Curtis Lee is helping his former Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide costar Tylor Chase in a time of need.

Lee, 34, shared updates on Instagram about Curtis, 36, who is experiencing homelessness in California, days after a video of the actor went viral on social media. In the clips, the two men share a meal at a pizza restaurant, then Lee accompanies Chase to a hotel room, where Lee says he’ll stay as he works with others toward a plan for long-term assistance.

The actor then offered an update on Chase’s situation after the visit.

“So, a lot of people have been reaching out, and seeing if I’m still in touch with Tylor since that last TikTok video where I went to visit him,” Lee said in the first Instagram clip he posted. “And, yeah, man, as a matter of fact, I just got off a call with him.”

He then said that communicating with Chase has been “hard,” because “he’ll have a phone one day and then maybe not the next.”

Lee elaborated that he was hoping to form a “trust” to which people could donate funds to help Chase get back on his feet, and was looking into rehabilitation programs that would best suit his needs.

In a second Instagram video, published on Tuesday, Dec. 23, Lee went on to explain that Chase was able to speak with his father over FaceTime, and several of Chase’s former costars are working together to help him get into a facility.

“A lot of you guys are concerned about Tylor Chase this holiday season, and I just wanted to give you an update. Shaun Weiss and his team put a lot of effort into trying to get him into a hospital last night, and I thought it worked. His dad told me it worked, but it turns out he kind of backed out,” Lee explained.

“So they couldn’t get him into a car last night, and that’s why they weren’t able to get him to the hospital,” Lee explained.

“Yeah, it’s the holiday season. It’s raining out, and I just want them to have at least some basic accommodations. He wanted to stay local, and this was the only one that was open and accepted people,” Lee said.

Tylor Chase in Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, season 3, episode 12 – Boys/Girls.

Nickelodeon

“Okay, thank you so much,” Chase replied as Lee hugged him inside the hotel room.

“Give me a hug, man. Love you, brother. Love you, man. So happy to see you, dude,” Lee said. “You’re the man, brother, and I believe in you, and we’re gonna win, bro. All we got to do is stay with it and keep working, dude.”

On Monday, Dec. 22, Weiss — who starred in the Mighty Ducks movies — shared in an Instagram video that he’s received “many messages” about Chase and that he’s taken action.

“I reached out to some friends of mine and we have a bed for him at a detox and we have a place for him to go and get long-term treatment,” Weiss, 47, said, sharing the actor’s apparent location and asking fans to get in touch if they can help.

The actor has previously opened up about his own past experiences with homelessness, as well as addiction, amid his sobriety journey. He shared on an April episode of Pod Meets World that he benefited from “a tremendous amount of support from people” who were invested in his recovery as fans of his acting.

Chase played Martin Qwerly in Ned’s Declassified, which ran for three seasons on Nickelodeon from 2004 to 2007.

Lee and Chase’s other former costars, Devon Werkheiser and Lindsey Shaw, addressed videos “circulating on the internet” of their friend “going through some stuff,” during an episode of Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide back in September.

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“All of us in the Ned’s community are figuring out what it looks like to see him,” Werkheiser, 34, said at the time. “How can we help? What can we do?”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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A couple who stopped to take scenic photos in the Utah desert made a terrifying discovery when they stumbled across the body of nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard earlier this month.

The young girl was reported missing by a school administrator in Lompoc, California on October 14, and investigators soon zeroed in on a four-day multi-state road trip she had taken with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, 40.

The mom and daughter left their home on October 7 – the same day they were caught on surveillance footage renting a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu.

Melodee was seen at the time wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a wig that was darker and straighter than her natural hair, as Ashlee wore a long, curly-haired wig.

The mother and daughter were then spotted two days later on the Colorado side of the Colorado-Utah border, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown said ‘detectives now believe that Melodee was murdered shortly after that stop.’

Ashlee returned home without her daughter the following day, and when authorities went to ask her what had happened to her daughter days later, she refused to provide any information about Melodee’s location or condition, sheriff’s officials have said.

The big break in the case finally came on December 6, when Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from a couple who were taking photos just outside of the eastern entrance to Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.

They ‘had discovered the decomposed body of a deceased person,’ Brown said at a news conference Tuesday night, as he announced Ashlee’s arrest in the case.

Ashlee is now facing murder charges and is being held without bail, as Brown said her daughter’s body was discovered with at least one gunshot wound to the head.

Melodee Buzzard’s body was found in the Utah desert by a couple taking scenic photos on December 6 

Her body was located just outside of the eastern entrance to Capitol Reef National Park in Utah (pictured)

‘This level of criminal activity is particularly shocking, given the calculated, cold-blooded and criminally sophisticated premeditation and heartlessness that went into planning it and the ruthlessness that went into actually committing the crime,’ Brown said.

He claimed that Ashlee switched the license plates on the 2024 Chevy Malibu she had rented for her and her daughter’s multi-state adventure to ones from New York and even backed the vehicle into gas stations ‘in an apparent attempt to avoid detection by surveillance cameras.’

The FBI then had to call in help from seven different field offices across the Western United States to track the mother and daughter as they traveled through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado.

Multiple police and sheriff’s offices helped track their movements as well, Brown said, and they were spotted making several stops wearing wigs, before Ashlee returned to Santa Barbara and gave the car back.

When authorities then learned that the little girl was missing, police and the FBI raided Ashlee’s Lompoc home on October 30 – and uncovered an expended cartridge.

A search of the rented Chevy Malibu uncovered similar ammunition.

Once investigators received the tip that a body had been found in Utah on December 8, they compared cartridge cases recovered from the scene to those found at Ashlee’s Lompoc home and inside the vehicle, and determined that they were ‘linked,’ according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

The FBI’s DNA analysis of the body also found a familial DNA match to Ashlee on Monday, authorities said. 

Her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, 40, is now facing murder charges and is being held without bail 

Investigators zeroed-in on a multi-day trip Ashlee and Melodee took, beginning on October 7, when they were caught on surveillance footage wearing wigs as they rented a Chevy Malibu

By 7.40am Tuesday, Ashlee was seen being escorted from her Lompoc home in handcuffs by Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department deputies.

The short-blonde-haired woman wore jeans, a white t-shirt and black heeled boots on her way to the cop car. 

But it remains unclear what may have prompted the mother to kill her own daughter on a multi-day trip.

‘We have not established a motive at this point,’ Brown admitted at the news conference Tuesday night. ‘We have established that it is a filicide, in this case a maternal filicide, but in terms of a direct motive, we haven’t established that yet.’

The murder weapon has also not yet been recovered, he said, as he vowed to get justice for the little girl.

‘Today we stand together in grief, but also with resolve,’ the sheriff declared. 

‘Melodee deserved a far better life than she had.’

Family members have previously said they haven’t seen Melodee for over a year and expressed major concerns over her mother’s mental health.

A motive for the murder remains unclear, Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown admitted at a news conference Tuesday night

Lizabeth Meza, Melodee’s aunt, previously told the Daily Mail that Buzzard had lost custody of Melodee in the past because of mental health woes and allegedly admitted psychological issues run in her family.

Buzzard at one point in time declared bankruptcy after amassing debts totaling $23,000.

‘There were so many hurdles, just so much going on within the family,’ Meza said in tears.

‘And it just saddens me that there was so much going on at that time that we weren’t able to keep in contact with Melodee, and nobody had a relationship with her.

‘The system failed her by giving her back to a mother time and time again when she was unstable. There is just so many emotions that go through my mind when I think of that little girl.’

Melodee’s grandmother, Lilly Denes, also claimed the child’s mentally ill mother wanted to ‘cut’ her off from the ‘entire world.’

Denes was in the process of adopting the nine-year-old when Ashlee ‘took her away from us’ after being released from the mental hospital in 2021, she told Fox News Digital.

‘That lady is mentally ill bad,’ she told the outlet.

The Daily Mail uncovered an eerie Google Maps image of Melodee staring into the street while standing on her doorstep in May 2023

Police searched their home (pictured) on Mars Avenue in Lompoc on October 30, where they uncovered cartridges that authorities now say are ‘linked’ to those found at the scene in Utah

Denes said she had been ‘so happy’ when social services had called her to take in Melodee as she had gotten a weird feeling about Ashlee from the first time they met.

‘When I met her, my son brought her to the house. She looked so quiet and she was following me with her eyes back and forth,’ she told the outlet.

‘I told my son: “Son, is this girl okay? She doesn’t look like she’s normal. Something’s wrong with this lady.”‘

Since Ashlee took her daughter back, Denes said she had not seen the girl and that she believed it was a deliberate move by Ashlee as she wanted to ‘cut off’ the girl ‘from the entire world.’

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