US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the country’s army to launch a “powerful and deadly” strikes against targets of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in northwestern Nigeria.

The strike comes after months of Trump threatening military action over what he labeled as an “existential threat” for Christianity in Nigeria, a claim the local government rejects.

The US army’s Africa Command (AFCOM) said the strike had been conducted at the request of the Nigerian authorities in the northwestern Sokoto State.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said he was “grateful” for the support and cooperation with the Nigerian government.

Why did the US launch strike in Nigeria?

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the reason for the strike was the Islamist group’s targeting of “primarily innocent Christians,” which he said had reached levels “never seen for many years.”

“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,” Trump’s post read.

The US State Department recently announced its intention to restrict visas for Nigerian nationals involved in violence against Christians in the country.

Washington also designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Which militant groups are active in northern Nigeria?

Nigeria has been battling a deadly Islamist insurgency in its northern regions.

According to Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, at least 2,266 people were killed by bandits or insurgents in Nigeria during the first half of 2025 — surpassing the total number of such deaths in all of 2024.

Particularly Boko Haram has concentrated their attacks in the northwestern state of Sokoto.

A splinter group known as the Islamic State in West Africa Province (Iswap) has also carried out attacks in northeastern Nigeria, particularly in the Borno state.

Iswap has also been involved in clashes with Boko Haram, as it is one of at least three Boko Haram splinter groups active in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s security forces under-resourced amid crisis

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Edited by: Farah Bahgat

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President Donald Trump said the U.S. launched airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians, calling the operation decisive and warning further attacks would follow if the violence continues.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. 

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.

“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,” he continued. “May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

‘GENOCIDE CAN’T BE IGNORED’: GOP LAWMAKER BACKS TRUMP’S THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION IN NIGERIA

A newspaper vendor pulls a newspaper with an article reporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s message to Nigeria over the treatment of Christians, at a newspaper stand in Ojuelegba, Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 2, 2025.  (Reuters/Sodiq Adelakun)

Last month, Trump threatened to “do things in Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” and “go into that now disgraced country guns-a-blazing.”

That warning set the stage for the Christmas-night strikes, which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said fulfilled the president’s demand that the killings stop.

“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on X. “The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…

“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” he added. “Merry Christmas!”

Then, nearly a month later, the Trump administration rolled out a new visa-restriction policy in response to a wave of brutal anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria, targeting those accused of orchestrating religious violence against Christians in the West African nation and around the world.

TRUMP ADMIN TARGETS ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE WITH NEW VISA CRACKDOWN POLICY FOLLOWING NIGERIA ATTACKS

A drone view of Christians departing St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church after Sunday mass in Palmgrove, Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 2, 2025.  (Reuters/Sodiq Adelakun)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the policy in the Immigration and Nationality Act will allow the State Department to deny visas to those “who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.” 

Immediate family members may also face visa restrictions in some cases.

“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Rubio said in the statement.

The move followed a surge of attacks on Christians and Christian institutions in Nigeria. Last month, gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two people and kidnapping dozens. The 38 abducted worshipers were freed nearly a week later.

Days later, armed attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff. School officials said 50 students aged 10 to 18 escaped in the following days, but 253 students and 12 teachers remain captive.

TRUMP’S WARNING TO NIGERIA OFFERS HOPE TO NATION’S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

President Donald Trump announced attacks against terrorists in Nigeria, killing Christians.

The violence prompted Trump to designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” though the Nigerian government disputes the U.S. assessment.

“I’m really angry about it,” the president told Fox News Radio last month. “What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.”

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Echoing Trump’s warning, Rubio said earlier this month, “As President Trump made clear, the ‘United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.’”

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

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

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

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President Donald Trump has announced the U.S. military has conducted deadly strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria after the group is accused of targeting Christians.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” the president wrote in a Truth Social post the evening of Christmas Day.

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump continued.

“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

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President Donald Trump says the US has conducted deadly strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria after the group targeted Christians (AP)

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also posted online about the strikes.

Hegseth said in a post on X, “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas.”

The defense secretary added, “Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”

The Nigerian government is yet to comment publicly on the strikes.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was grateful for Nigerian support on the deadly ISIS strikes (Secretary of War, X)

Last month, Trump said he was instructing the Defense Department to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria, claiming the nation’s government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”

He also declared that Nigeria is a “country of particular concern.” The U.S. government uses this designation for nations determined to have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom,” according to the State Department’s website.

Trump said in November, “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,”

Much of northern Nigeria has been struck by conflict in an ongoing security crisis and Trump has singled the country out for what he calls “the killing of Christians” by “radical Islamists.”

Victims and church leaders have reiterated Trump’s claims that Christians are persecuted, saying they’ve long been attacked, kidnapped or killed over their faith.

But many insist the reality isn’t that simple, with experts and residents saying most attacks emphasize the widespread violence that has long plagued the West African nation, where everyone is a potential victim, regardless of background or belief.

With reporting from the Associated Press.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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NEED TO KNOW

• A California man is accused by police of killing his half-brother and trying to kill the victim’s two children by leaving gas burners on in an apartment while they slept
• Zackary A. Brodowski, 32, was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder
• Police found 36-year-old Aaron Richard Rivera dead from apparent gunshot wounds on Tuesday, Dec. 23

A California man was arrested after allegedly killing his half-brother and fleeing the house with the stove burners on while the victim’s children slept inside, authorities said.

Zackary A. Brodowski, 32, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, the Redlands Police Department said in a statement shared on Wednesday, Dec. 24.

Officers responded to an apartment in Redlands on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 23, after receiving a report of shots fired. There, they found 36-year-old Aaron Richard Rivera dead from apparent gunshot wounds, per police.

During the investigation, police said they identified Brodowski, also Rivera’s half-brother, as a suspect, citing family members and apparent evidence found at the scene.

Authorities claim surveillance cameras from the apartment complex showed Brodowski fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting in a silver 2008 Ford Focus.

Police further alleged that Brodowski left the stove’s gas burners on while Rivera’s two juvenile children slept inside.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Brodowski was later arrested “without incident” at his home in Calimesa, police said. While searching his residence, investigators found a “firearm believed to be the murder weapon and clothing matching the clothing worn at the time of the shooting,” the release states.

Police said Brodowski is being held without bail at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

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By GLEN KEOGH, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 23:13 GMT, 25 December 2025 | Updated: 23:22 GMT, 25 December 2025

A top police officer who has appeared as a ‘hunter’ on Channel 4’s Hunted show has been suspended over allegations he made sexist remarks to junior female officers.

Sergeant Shazad Sadiq, a temporary inspector with Durham Constabulary, is accused of making discriminatory comments which could amount to gross misconduct.

He was suspended on full pay in February and an investigation was launched by the force’s Professional Standards Department. Ten months on, the investigation remains ongoing, with Sgt Sadiq under suspension.

It is understood that, among the allegations, Sgt Sadiq, 49, is accused of telling three female Police Community Support Officers that he did not expect them to have accounts on Only Fans, a website where users can subscribe to people often providing raunchy or pornographic content.

The women alleged they were singled out and men on the shift were not given the same warning.

Sgt Sadiq is also accused of making a derogatory comment towards a female PC about not being able to ‘hide her sexuality’ while gesturing his hands down her body, according to a source.

In another incident, he is alleged to have allocated the same officer to a woman who regularly went missing from her home who was ‘struggling with her sexuality’ and said the PC could ‘relate to the female based on her sexuality’ and would be a ‘motherly figure’.

He is also accused of refusing to allow the same officer to pursue a Taser course because her ‘hormones needed to settle’ after a period of parental leave. It is understood Sgt Sadiq vehemently denies the allegations.

Sergeant Shazad Sadiq (right), a temporary inspector with Durham Constabulary, is accused of making discriminatory comments which could amount to gross misconduct

Sgt Sadiq, 49, is accused of telling three female Police Community Support Officers that he did not expect them to have accounts on Only Fans

Sgt Sadiq has been a police officer for 28 years, working for the Metropolitan Police in London before moving to Durham in 2001. He has served as general secretary of the National Black Police Association and was chairman of the Durham Ethnic Minority Support Association.

In 2021, he began appearing as a hunter on Hunted, where police and intelligence personnel track down contestants ‘on the run’. The contestants must reach an ‘extraction point’ if they survive 21 days on the run, and can win a share of £100,000.

Durham Constabulary said: ‘In February, a sergeant was suspended pending an investigation into allegations surrounding potential breaches of standards of behaviour. That investigation remains ongoing.’ Channel 4 declined to comment.

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TV cop who appeared on Channel 4’s Hunted suspended over ‘sexist remarks to female officers’

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Christmas party revellers were left in horror when a colleague collapsed to the ground moments after drinking a potentially lethal cocktail at a corporate Christmas party

A man was rushed to hospital after he drank a cocktail at a Christmas party(Image: BAZA /east2west news)

A man was left fighting for his life after his stomach was “torn apart” by a fancy cocktail served during a corporate Christmas party.

Guests at the swanky bash were being entertained with a theatrical “cryo-show” by an unidentified “celebrity chef” when the horror incident unfolded. The chef reportedly prepared flashy cocktails using liquid nitrogen – a substance commonly used in professional kitchens to quickly freeze ingredients, but potentially deadly if ingested before it fully evaporates.

Witnesses said guests were not warned of the risks, and that the chef allegedly encouraged one man to drink the cocktail immediately. Amid laughter from the group, the guest collapsed at the Igra Stolov ‘Game of Tables’ cooking studio in Moscow.

Sergey, 38, held his stomach before collapsing(Image: BAZA /east2west news)READ MORE: Family-of-nine ‘let down’ after Stoke-on-Trent pub cancels Christmas Day bookingREAD MORE: Mum paid £85 for Grinch visit for son and complains when her home is ‘trashed’

The tragic man, later identified as Sergey, 38, was seen clutching his stomach in agony before he dropped to the ground. He was rushed to intensive care, where surgeons carried out emergency surgery to repair the torn stomach.

The reveller was later reported as conscious and recovering, though doctors described his condition as serious. Medics later determined that the liquid nitrogen caused a rapid expansion of gas inside his body, rupturing his stomach.

What was meant to be a festive office celebration ended in panic, as guests reportedly left in shock as medics scrambled to save the man’s life. Liquid nitrogen boils violently at room temperature, and experts warn that consuming it before evaporation can lead to severe internal injuries or death.

The man is fighting for his life in a Moscow hospital(Image: BAZA /east2west news)

When ingested, it rapidly turns into gas inside the body and expands hundreds of times in volume. This sudden expansion can cause severe internal pressure, leading to stomach rupture, internal bleeding, and organ damage. The extreme cold can also freeze internal tissues, making the injury even worse.

Drinks prepared with liquid nitrogen are only safe once all the nitrogen has fully evaporated. If even a small amount remains, swallowing it can be life-threatening.

The horror incident happened at the Igra Stolov ‘Game of Tables’ cooking studio in Moscow(Image: social media /east2west news)

This comes after a mum-of-three tragically died after drinking a cocktail that was allegedly contaminated with “industrial cleaner”. Holly Hill, 30, had been on a Valentine’s Day date at a Mexican bar, in Oklahoma, back in 2023 when she unknowingly sipped the margarita.

Just moments after trying the drink, Holly rushed to the bathroom to be sick. The alleged harsh chemical caused so much damage to Holly’s throat and oesophagus that she was required to undergo several procedures for two years.

Holly had to be tube-fed and was preparing for a swallow study but, following complications, she sadly passed away in October this year.

Her family claimed the mum’s second margarita that night contained “industrial cleaning solution” and sued the bar before reaching a confidential settlement earlier this year.

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Families celebrate Christmas releases while calling for full freedom of detainees.

Published On 25 Dec 202525 Dec 2025

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Authorities in Venezuela have released at least 60 people arrested during protests against President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election, according to a human rights advocacy group, though campaigners say hundreds remain behind bars.

The releases began early on Thursday, over Christmas, according to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, a group of rights activists and relatives of detainees arrested during unrest that followed July’s presidential election.

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“We celebrate the release of more than 60 Venezuelans, who should never have been arbitrarily detained,” committee head Andreina Baduel told the AFP news agency.

“Although they are not entirely free, we will continue working for their full freedom and that of all political prisoners.”

Maduro secured a third term in office in the July 2024 vote, a result rejected by parts of the opposition amid allegations of fraud. The disputed outcome triggered weeks of demonstrations, during which authorities arrested about 2,400 people. Nearly 2,000 have since been released, according to rights groups.

Despite the latest releases, Venezuela still holds at least 902 political prisoners, according to Foro Penal, an NGO that monitors detentions.

Relatives said many of those freed had been held at Tocoron prison, a maximum-security facility in Aragua state, roughly 134km (83 miles) from the capital Caracas. Officials have not publicly clarified the conditions under which detainees were released.

“We must remember that there are more than 1,000 families with political prisoners,” Baduel said. Her father, Raul Isaias Baduel, a former defence minister and once an ally of the late president, Hugo Chavez, died in custody in 2021.

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An 18-year-old has been charged with allegedly performing two separate Nazi salutes at Canberra shopping centres and putting up “propaganda-style stickers” in recent months.

The man is expected to appear before ACT magistrates court on Friday, where police will allege in October a member of the public confronted him as he stuck stickers up at a shopping centre and then performed a Nazi salute before leaving the centre.

The man allegedly performed another Nazi salute on 12 December at a different shopping centre, police said.

The man will also be charged with trespassing at the Australian National University multiple times in August and September where he “stuck propaganda-style stickers on buildings and other property”, police said.

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The man has also been charged with two counts of damaging commonwealth property.

A national security investigations team from the Australian federal police (AFP) executed a search warrant at a property in the Canberra suburb of Weston on Wednesday, where they seized mobile phones, a computer, stickers, storage devices, a video camera and clothing.

The assistant commissioner of the AFP’s counter-terrorism and special investigations, Stephen Nutt, said antisemitism was not tolerated in Australia.

“Anyone allegedly performing Nazi salutes is displaying criminal behaviour that brings pain and anguish to the Jewish community and divides Australian society,” Nutt said.

He said the national security investigations team was established in September to target those causing “high harm to Australia’s social cohesion including attempts to vilify marginalised communities”.

“Antisemitism is a cancer that requires swift and direct action, which is what the AFP is continuing to do,” Nutt said. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to stopping hate, division and violence in the community.”

Police warned one of the signs a person may be susceptible to radicalisation is if they have distanced themselves from their usual friends and family members.

Other signs include an increase in the extremist nature of their rhetoric or propaganda they share; a child using hateful or emotionally charged language; developing a fixation on conspiracy theories or contentious social issues; displaying extreme reaction to certain news or politics; or spending increasing amounts of time in fringe forums on the internet, police said.

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Brazil’s jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday formally endorsed his son Flavio’s bid for the 2026 presidential election, announcing his support from a hospital in Brasilia where he underwent hernia surgery.

In office from 2019 to 2022, Bolsonaro is a controversial figure, after pursuing hard‑right populist policies that his opponents claim undermined democratic institutions and targeted marginalized groups. He is currently in jail serving a 27‑year sentence for an attempted coup.

What did Bolsonaro say?  

Flavio, the former president’s son, read a handwritten letter declaring him a “pre-candidate” for the presidency.

“He [Flavio] represents the continuation of the path of prosperity that I began well before becoming president, as I believe we must restore the responsibility of leading Brazil with justice, resolve and loyalty to the aspirations of the Brazilian people,” Bolsonaro wrote.

The letter, the former president’s first public message in months, said he was committed to ensuring “the will of the people” was not silenced.

Flavio Bolsonaro added that the letter removes any lingering doubts about his father’s backing after he indicated support earlier in the month.

Flavio Bolsonaro joined a protest against his father’s conviction and jailing [FILE: September 2025]Image: Pablo Porciuncula/AFP

What do we know about Flavio Bolsonaro?

The read-out marks the formal launch of the younger Bolsonaro’s 2026 presidential campaign, setting him up as the chosen successor to his father’s political movement.

A senator from Rio de Janeiro since 2019, Flavio has said his campaign aims to preserve what he calls the “legacy” of his father’s administration.

In Congress, he has focused on public security laws, backing measures to expand police powers and stiffen penalties for violent crime.

The 44-year-old has also supported economic liberalization initiatives aligned with the Bolsonaro government’s agenda.

However, his father’s backing quickly unsettled parts of Brazil’s political and financial establishment, which had expected Bolsonaro to support a more experienced figure.

Jair Bolsonaro was previously released from house arrest for hospital cancer treatment [FILE: September 2025]Image: Adriano Machado/REUTERS

What do we know about Bolsonaro’s surgery?

Doctors said the former president underwent a scheduled operation to repair an inguinal or, according to some reports, bilateral hernia.

The procedure, which lasted several hours, was described as successful and without complications.

His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, who accompanied him to the hospital, said the surgery went well and that he was recovering under medical supervision.

Bolsonaro is expected to remain hospitalized for five to seven days, his medical team and local media said.

Brazil’s ex-president Bolsonaro taken into custody

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The 70-year-old was temporarily released from prison to undergo the surgery. He has been held at Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia since late November, after previously spending several months under house arrest.

He is serving a sentence of more than 27 years after being convicted of attempting to overturn the 2022 election result and prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the medical leave, with police stationed outside Bolsonaro’s hospital room and restrictions on electronic devices in place.

The former leader has faced recurring health problems since surviving a stabbing during the 2018 election campaign, requiring multiple abdominal surgeries over the years.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

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Christmas celebrations returned this year to both Bethlehem and Nazareth, but the season is unfolding very differently in the two cities that sit at the heart of Christianity — Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and Nazareth, where he lived.

In Nazareth, festivities are broad and confident, rooted in a growing Christian presence in Israel. In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, celebrations took place again after more than two years of disruption, but against the backdrop of a long-term demographic decline and deep concern within the local Christian community.

Elias Zarina, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy and a longtime Christian activist, said the long-term numbers underscore the concern. Christians made up 86% of Bethlehem’s population in 1950, Zarina said. By the last Palestinian census in 2017, they accounted for roughly 10%. He added that since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, at least 142 Christian families have left the Bethlehem area.

TRUMP HOLDS KEY TO SAVING SYRIA’S VANISHING CHRISTIANS IN CRUCIAL WHITE HOUSE MEETING

People gather next to the Christmas tree at Manger Square on the day of Christmas events with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Christmas Eve, in the Old City of Bethlehem in the West Bank, Dec. 24, 2025.  (Mussa Qawasma/Reuters)

“They saw what happened on Oct. 7 and understood that minorities in this region have no future without real protection,” Zarina said.

In Nazareth, Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and president of the Israel Allies Foundation, described a sharply different reality, which he said reflects governance and security.

“Nazareth is a completely different situation,” Reinstein said. “It’s an indigenous Christian community under the authority of Israel, and it grows every year. It prospers.”

Reinstein pointed to economic and social indicators to make his case, noting that while Christians make up around 2% of Israel’s population, “Christian communities have the highest GDP per capita compared to Jews, Muslims and Druze,” he said. “They’re respected, they’re protected, and they have the same rights as everyone else.”

Reinstein contrasted that with Bethlehem’s trajectory since the 1990s.

“Since the Oslo accords in the 90s, the Christian community of Bethlehem has been decimated by the Palestinian Authority,” Reinstein told Fox News Digital. “Bethlehem was once a city with an overwhelming Christian majority. Today, Christians are around 10% of the population, and they are no longer represented in the municipality. That tells you everything about what has happened there.”

TRUMP’S WARNING TO NIGERIA OFFERS HOPE TO NATION’S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

A man wearing a Santa Claus costume takes part in the 40th annual Christmas parade heading towards the Basilica of the Annunciation on December 24, 2025, in Nazareth, Israel. Nazareth, the home of Jesus, according to the New Testament, has seen a return of Christmastime tourism this year after two years in which celebrations were muted amid the war in Gaza. Nazareth, in Israel’s Galilee region, is a predominately Arab town, about one-third of whom are Christian, with the majority being Muslim. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Bethlehem did mark Christmas this year. Crowds gathered in Manger Square, the Christmas tree was lit, and religious ceremonies took place at the Church of the Nativity. Local officials framed the celebrations as a sign of resilience and an effort to project normalcy after years of war and economic collapse.

Zarina, however, said the Palestinian Authority’s decision to allow Christmas events this year should be viewed in context.

“In recent months, the Palestinian Authority has sought to reintroduce itself to international public opinion, particularly to the Christian world, through symbolic festive displays such as the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Bethlehem,” Zarina said in comments provided to Fox News Digital. “These efforts are meant to market the Palestinian Authority as moderate, especially as discussions continue about Gaza’s future. But events on the ground over just a few days have sharply contradicted that image.”

Clergy members stand, on the day Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

Zarina noted that several incidents targeting Christians occurred within a single week ahead of Christmas, including threats against churches and violent assaults tied to land disputes.

“Christians in these areas are subjected to a systematic policy manifested through harassment, violence, psychological terror, forced displacement and the confiscation of property by extremist families driven by rigid Salafi ideology and supported morally and financially by states known for backing extremist movements, foremost among them Turkey and Qatar,” he claimed. “In this context, the Palestinian Authority appears either unable or unwilling to enforce the rule of law and protect the Christian minority.”

Recent incidents in the Palestinian Authority area of control have reinforced those concerns. A church in Jenin was firebombed earlier this week, and a Christmas tree was set on fire outside another church. Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded by warning of “growing hostility toward Christians” under Palestinian Authority governance.

DISPUTE OVER CHRISTIAN GROUPS’ VISAS TO ISRAEL RESOLVED AFTER HUCKABEE THREAT

And while Israel has occasionally seen attacks against its Christian community by extreme religious-nationalist elements who have been accused of vandalizing religious sites and using verbal assaults aimed at clergy, in his Christmas message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is a nation that looks after its Christian population.

He stated in part, “Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians can practice their faith with full rights and in total freedom. Where Christian pilgrims are embraced with open arms and are so deeply appreciated. Where Christians can celebrate proudly their traditions and openly do so without any fear,” he said, adding, “The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated.”

ISRAELI HOSTAGES FREED, IRAN HIT, CEASEFIRE HELD — 2025 SHATTERED THE IDEA THE US WAS EXITING THE MIDDLE EAST

Zarina said that Christian residents in nearby Beit Jala and in Nablus avoided visible festivities out of fear of harassment.

Not all Christian leaders in Bethlehem share the same assessment. Pastor Naim Khoury told Israeli news agency TPS-IL that conditions in Bethlehem itself have improved this year and that, so far, he has not seen attacks connected to the holiday. Other activists, however, argue that fear limits what many Christians are willing to say publicly.

“The Christians are under enormous pressure and cannot speak freely,” said Shadi Khalloul, founder and CEO of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association, in comments to TPS-IL. “They are trying to survive quietly.”

The contrast is also reflected in official demographic data. According to figures released this week by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics and reported by TPS-IL, approximately 184,200 Christians live in Israel as of Christmas Eve 2025, accounting for about 1.9% of the population. The Christian population grew by 0.7% in 2024, making Israel one of the few countries in the Middle East where the Christian community continues to grow.

People take part in the 40th annual Christmas parade on December 24, 2025, in Nazareth, Israel. Nazareth, the home of Jesus, according to the New Testament, has seen a return of Christmas tourism this year after two years in which celebrations were muted amid the war in Gaza. Nazareth, in Israel’s Galilee region, is a predominately Arab town, about one-third of whom are Christian with the majority being Muslim.  (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Nazareth is at the center of that growth. The city has the largest Arab Christian population in Israel, with roughly 18,900 residents, followed by Haifa and Jerusalem, according to Israeli government data. Most Arab Christians live in Israel’s Northern and Haifa districts, where Christian communities have expanded alongside rising education and income levels.

Heather Johnston, founder and CEO of the U.S. Israel Education Association, said the visible contrast this Christmas reflects deeper realities.

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Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025.  (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

“At Christmas, the contrast between Nazareth and Bethlehem tells a larger story,” Johnston said. “Christians are flourishing in Nazareth under Israeli rule, while in Bethlehem, under the Palestinian Authority, the Christian population has been shrinking for years. That difference speaks volumes about which systems actually protect religious freedom and allow ancient Christian communities to endure.”

This Christmas, lights and hymns filled both cities. For Zarina and others, the question now is whether international attention will fade once the lights come down, or whether it will translate into lasting protection for one of Christianity’s oldest communities.

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.

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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has hinted at progress on a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, following a “really good conversation” with President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Christmas Day.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelensky said on Telegram on Thursday. “There are some new ideas on how to bring the real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

The talks come a day after Mr Zelensky unveiled an updated 20-point peace plan. He said it offered the potential withdrawal of Ukraine troops from the east, with the creation of a demilitarised zone in the Donbas region.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the proposal had been brought to Moscow, and was now being analysed.

The peace discussions come as two people were killed after Russia launched more than 130 drones on Ukraine on Christmas night, Kyiv officials said.

Moscow’s latest aerial assault killed one man in Kharvkiv and another in Odesa, with around 35 others injured, Ukraine’s Air Force reported. Further attacks were launched overnight on Zaporizhzhia and Sumy.

Zelensky open to withdrawing troops for demilitarised zone in Ukraine in new peace plan

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland in an updated plan to end the war with Russia – if Moscow also pulled back from the area, creating a demilitarised zone.

Unveiling the latest 20-point plan thrashed out but not yet fully agreed with the US, Mr Zelensky said the Donbas region could become a “free economic zone”, but it was unclear how the fought-over area would be governed or developed.

The peace plan, which Mr Zelensky said would need to be put before a referendum, could also involve a similar arrangement around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control.

The plan, presented to reporters on Christmas Eve by the Ukrainian leader, marked the latest counter-proposal to an original 28-point document that was agreed by US envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russians.

Moscow has so far given no indication it will agree to withdrawal from land it has seized.

Maira Butt25 December 2025 22:00

Ukraine’s revised 20 point peace plan

However, Volodymyr Zelensky said sensitive issues around territorial control in the country’s eastern industrial heartland, along with the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), remain unresolved.

Maira Butt25 December 2025 21:00

Watch: ‘May he perish’ says Zelensky in Christmas address

Appearing to refer to Russian president Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Today, we all share one dream.

“And we make one wish – for all of us. ‘May he perish’, each of us may think to ourselves. But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater, we ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it, we pray for it, we deserve it.”

Ukraine’s president Zelensky appears to wish death to Putin in Christmas message

Maira Butt25 December 2025 20:00

In pictures: The aftermath of a Russian attack in Chernihiv

The site of an apartment building damaged during a Russian drone strike (Reuters)The attack took place on Wednesday 24 December (Reuters)Emergency services battled the blaze (AFP/Getty)

Maira Butt25 December 2025 19:30

Chinese satellites aiding Russian attacks, says Zelensky

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Chinese satellites could be supporting Russia in its attacks on Ukraine.

“There have been correlations between Chinese satellite imaging of Ukrainian territory and Russian strikes on the corresponding energy infrastructure facilities,” Zelensky said in a social media post on Wednesday following a meeting with Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

“We are recording increased ties between Russia and entities in China that may be providing space-based intelligence data.”

Maira Butt25 December 2025 19:00

Ukraine and US discuss how to bring ‘real peace closer’, says Zelensky

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukrainian representatives and US negotiators have discussed ways to bring “real peace closer” during a conversation on Christmas Day.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelensky said on Telegram. “There are some new ideas on how to bring the real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Earlier, we reported that the Ukrainian leader had taken part in a conversation with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and businessman Jared Kushner.

(AP)

Maira Butt25 December 2025 18:30

Ukraine’s president Zelensky appears to wish death to Putin in Christmas message

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has appeared to wish for the death of Vladimir Putin in a Christmas message after Russia continued to bombard the country with missiles and drones.

In a video posted to X on Christmas Eve, Zelensky said that “despite all the suffering that Russia has brought, it is not capable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity”.

Appearing to refer to Russian president Vladimir Putin, Zelensky added: “Today, we all share one dream.

“And we make one wish – for all of us. ‘May he perish’, each of us may think to ourselves. But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. we ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it, we pray for it, we deserve it.”

Maira Butt25 December 2025 18:00

In pictures: Ukrainians celebrate Christmas amid conflict with Russia

People dressed in traditional Ukrainian costumes attend Christmas celebrations in Kyiv (REUTERS)A woman lights a candle during an air strike alarm on Christmas Day at the Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, in Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images)Residents dressed in traditional clothes sing carols inside a metro station during the Christmas celebrations (REUTERS)

Maira Butt25 December 2025 17:30

King Charles shows support for Kyiv with Ukrainian choir as he urges Brits to embrace values of World War 2 generation

King Charles urged Brits to embrace the values of their Second World War generation as he delivered his annual Christmas address on Thursday.

“The end of the second world war is now remembered by fewer and fewer of us, as the years pass,” he said.

“But the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, and the way communities came together in the face of such great challenge, carry a timeless message for us all.”

While required to remain apolitical, the monarch showed clear support for Ukraine with the choice to include a performance by a Ukrainian choir, wearing traditional Ukrainian “vyshyvanka” embroidered shirts, and the London-based Royal Opera Chorus.

(YouTube/The Royal Family Channel )

Maira Butt25 December 2025 17:01

Zelensky hails ‘constructive’ talks with US envoy Witkoff

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner for a “constructive” conversation on a peace deal.

“Today we had a very good conversation with President Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,” he wrote in a post on X/Twitter on Thursday.

“I thank them for the constructive approach, the intensive work, and the kind words and Christmas greetings to the Ukrainian people. We are truly working 24/7 to bring closer the end of this brutal Russian war against Ukraine and to ensure that all documents and steps are realistic, effective, and reliable.”

He added that the group had discussed “certain substantive details of the ongoing work”. Zelensky said he was joined by Ukraine’s representative Rustem Umerov, Andrii Hnatov, Andrii Sybiha, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ihor Brusylo, and Oleksandr Bevz.

“Our entire diplomatic team is doing their utmost. We agreed that Rustem will speak again today with Steve and Jared,” he continued.

“We believe this is the right approach – not to lose a single day or a single opportunity that can bring the result closer. May today’s conversation become another step toward peace.”

Maira Butt25 December 2025 16:15

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NEED TO KNOW

• Kathie Lee Gifford is making sure to serve up a favorite this holiday season
• In a video shared to Instagram, the TV personality is seen mixing together her mom’s sage and sausage stuffing in a massive wooden bowl
• “When I don’t make this, there’s a mutiny in my family,” she previously said of the dish

Kathie Lee Gifford is cooking up a family favorite.

The TV personality, 72, jumped on Instagram ahead of Christmas to share that she was back in the kitchen serving up one of her mother’s recipes. 

“I thought my cooking days were over for a while since Thanksgiving but apparently a lot of people said, ‘Well, what about more stuffing? I never got more stuffing,’” Gifford says as she’s seen mixing around ingredients in a huge wooden mixing bowl. 

Kathy Lee Gifford in May 2025.

Michael Tullberg/Getty

“So, here I am making more of my mom’s favorite sage and sausage stuffing,” she says, referencing the dish that is seemingly a mainstay in her household, later adding: “Everybody loves it.”

“It just wouldn’t be the holidays without it! 🎄✨ Merry Christmas, everybody!,” she added in her caption.

Before the video comes to a close, Gifford signs off with “Gosh, I’m a wonderful person” as the person behind the camera lets out a laugh. 

This is not the first time Gifford has talked about the popular dish. Just last month while preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, the former Today show co-host appeared behind what seemed to be the same massive bowl. 

“When I don’t make this, there’s a mutiny in my family,” she said in the video shared to Instagram.

Cassidy Gifford, Cody Gifford and Kathie Lee Gifford.

Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media/Getty

Gifford’s family continues to grow as her son Cody Gifford recently welcomed his third child with wife Erika and her daughter Cassidy Gifford has two children herself. 

“Babies are the last great miracle left in life. They never cease to amaze you, astound you and delight you,” said Gifford after her daughter welcomed daughter Rosie in June. “I am so in love already with this precious little girl!”

“I can’t even believe I am saying the word ‘girl’ ’cause I got so used to ‘boys,’ and I love our boys, but this girl is gonna rule the roost. She is going to rule the whole world,” she continued, referencing her other grandchildren. “She is drop-dead beautiful like her mommy and as sweet as can be.”

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Elon Musk’s much heralded chainsaw couldn’t make the cut.  

Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to slash government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency, federal expenditures actually increased in fiscal year 2025.

A new investigative report from the New York Times released this week showcased that many of the contracts cut by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by tech billionaire Musk for the start of Trump’s term, were already winding down, or were not on track to reach their maximum spending allotment. 

The findings were stark: Of the top 13 contract cancellations in DOGE’s database all 13 were incorrectly characterized, according to the Times. Among the top 40 listed cancellations, 28 were deemed inaccurate.

Of the top 40 contracts and grants that were listed as cancelled, 28 were deemed incorrect by the analysis.

One $500 million contract from the Department of Energy was counted as cancelled twice.

Other cancellations were already in the works during the final weeks of the Biden administration, and others still simply expired but were still counted by DOGE as a win.

Perhaps most telling: 80 percent of the cancellations touted on DOGE’s public dashboard claimed savings of $1 million or less—a rounding error in the federal budget.

The bottom line? Overall government spending rose from roughly $6.95 trillion in fiscal 2024 to approximately $7.01 trillion in fiscal 2025, despite DOGE canceling more contracts than were cut during the final year of the Biden administration.

Elon Musk holds a chainsaw reading ‘Long live freedom, damn it’ during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 20, 2025.

A worker removes the U.S. Agency for International Development sign on their headquarters on February 07, 2025 in Washington, DC 

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2025, Musk appeared on stage with a chainsaw that had been handed to him by Argentine President Javier Milei, who uses the chainsaw as a symbol of cutting government bloat. 

Musk waved it around, called it “the chainsaw for bureaucracy,”

Other cost-cutting attempts from DOGE faced legal challenges, and were reversed.

Over 1,000 I.M.L.S. grants to local museums, libraries, and history centers were axed by DOGE, but reinstated after a court ruling. Those ‘cancelled’ grants are still being touted as saving $134 million in total. The reinstatement order came on December 3rd, nearly two months after DOGE’s wall of wins was last updated.

One cut that remained, however, was the elimination of the entire U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID.) The $21.7 billion spent by USAID in fiscal year 2024 amounted to just 0.3 percent of federal spending. 

The most expensive government programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, as well as interest payments on the national debt, remained untouched. 

Lease cancellations were another element of cost savings touted by DOGE, yet an analysis from the CoStar Group, a commercial real estate company, found that the Trump administration was set to fall well below the target for leased office space it had set to cut down.

250 cancellations amounted to $112 million in annual cost savings, a significant decrease from the $730 million in cost savings once touted by an employee at the Government Services Administration (GSA). 

A current Trump administration official did not directly respond to the report’s findings when challenged, instead stating to the Times that ‘President Trump pledged to cut the waste, fraud, and abuse in our bloated government.’

Yet, former DOGE head Elon Musk, who has now returned to the private sector after his short stint as a special government employee, said in a recent interview that he views his time in DC as ‘a little bit successful.’

‘We were somewhat successful. I mean, we stopped a lot of funding that really just made no sense. That was just entirely wasteful,’ Musk told his interviewer Katie Miller, wife of Trump White House official Stephen Miller, and a former DOGE leader herself.

 Musk also admitted to Miller that he doesn’t think that he would ‘do DOGE’ again.

‘I think instead of doing Doge, I would have basically worked on my companies, essentially,’ Musk told Miller.

Musk announced in late May that he was leaving his position within the US government after leading DOGE in a controversial effort that aimed to slash federal spending. 

‘As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,’ he wrote on his social media platform X at the time.

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Manchester United fan Luke Littler was blown away to receive a message from David Beckham in light of his World Championship win, revealing the England legend’s sensitive side

Tom Sunderland Sports Writer

20:30, 25 Dec 2025

Luke Littler had an unexpected message from England legend David Beckham following his 2025 World Championship win(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Sir David Beckham was among the throngs of supportive celebs to reach out to Luke Littler following his World Darts Championship win. And the contents showcased the Manchester United icon’s caring side away from the spotlight.

Littler, 18, has transformed the face of darts during his two years playing on the PDC circuit. And he was only too aware of his impact after an England great like Beckham got in touch to congratulate him on his maiden world title almost 12 months ago.

The incident will have been particularly surreal for Littler considering he’s a United fan with a deep appreciation of Beckham’s legacy. ‘Golden Balls’ was hardly alone in sending ‘The Nuke’ well wishes upon clinching the crown at Alexandra Palace, but he may have been up there with the most meaningful.

Remembering the unexpected interaction during a chat with Sky Sports, Littler recounted: “He said; ‘Wow, well done’, and I said thank you!”

The teenager continued: “It goes to show what I have done for the sport, not only for myself but for the other hundreds of professionals out there. Just to see the likes of David Beckham watching it feels crazy.”

READ MORE: Luke Littler stuns drinkers in Benidorm, touching gift to brother, plan for £500k winningsREAD MORE: Luke Littler could follow in David Beckham’s footsteps with shrewd financial move

Littler also revealed Beckham contacted him in the build-up to his first final in January 2024, saying: “Before the final he sent me a message saying, ‘Good luck, Luke – once a Red, always a Red.’ That was class.”

The United Kingdom broke out with a case of Littler fever during his run to the 2024 World Darts Championship final. His defeat to Luke Humphries in that matchup drew a peak TV audience of 3.71million viewers, making it Sky Sports’ most watched non-football event of all time.

That number grew to 4.8m people when including NOW TV viewers and others streaming the event. That represented a 143 per cent increase on the previous year, underlining the influence Littler brought with him.

Littler was stunned to receive a congratulatory message from Man United legend Beckham(Image: X/Sky Sports)

It’s no coincidence the PDC has since made the decision to inflate the prize money on offer at Alexandra Palace since then. This year saw the total prize pot double to £5m, with £1m of that going to the champion, up from £500,000 in previous years.

So Littler isn’t the only one in the darts economy benefiting from the extra eyeballs he brings. Indeed, every player who manages to punch a ticket to the World Championship has won before even throwing a dart.

The Nuke has sailed through to the third round of this year’s competition almost without even breaking a sweat. He beat Darius Labanauskas in the first round before eliminating David Davies, albeit with some shaky moments against the latter.

Littler paraded the world title at his beloved Old Trafford(Image: Getty Images)

Davies had a chance to take the first set before fluffing his lines in the crucial moment. Littler seized upon the opportunity to win 3-0 again and will now face Mensur Suljovic in the next round on Saturday.

There’s an aura around Littler now that means a second straight World Championship wouldn’t bring the same sense of surprise. Nonetheless, he may well look forward to see which celebrities reach out in the event he successfully defends his crown.

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Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.

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Comments come days after PM Kamil Idris presented a plan to end the country’s nearly three-year war.

Published On 25 Dec 202525 Dec 2025

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A senior official in Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) has ruled out any negotiations with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as fighting continues to devastate the country.

“There is no truce and no negotiation with an occupier, and that the just peace that Sudan desires will be achieved through the roadmap and vision of its people and government,” Malik Agar Ayyir, deputy chairman of TSC, said in a statement on Thursday posted by the Ministry of Culture, Media and Tourism.

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Speaking to ministers and state officials in Port Sudan, the eastern city where the government is based, he dismissed the narrative that the war is aimed at achieving “democracy”. Instead, he described the war as a “conflict over resources and a desire to change Sudan’s demographics” and emphasised an opportunity to strengthen national unity.

This comes days after Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris presented a plan to end the country’s nearly three-year war before the United Nations Security Council.

Consistent with the Sudanese army and the government’s position, the plan stipulates that RSF fighters must withdraw from vast areas of land that they have taken by force in the western and central parts of Sudan.

They would then have to be placed in camps and disarmed, before those who are not implicated in war crimes can be reintegrated into society.

The RSF has repeatedly rejected the idea of giving up territory, with Al-Basha Tibiq, a top adviser to commander Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, describing it as “closer to fantasy than to politics”.

RSF reports gains

The war, which has forcibly displaced about 14 million people, shows no signs of stopping as the RSF consolidates its hold over captured territory and expands attacks.

RSF fighters have continued to commit mass killings, systematic sexual violence, and the burying and burning of bodies in Darfur to cover up the evidence of war crimes over the past several months, according to international aid agencies working on the ground.

The humanitarian situation on the ground has only turned more disastrous after the capture of el-Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, in October.

The RSF announced on Thursday that its forces established control over the Abu Qumra region in North Darfur.

They “have continued their successful advancement to the Um Buru area, where they have completely liberated these areas”, the group claimed in a statement.

Despite the mounting evidence of widespread atrocities committed in western Sudan, the RSF claimed that the primary duty of its fighters is to “protect civilians and end the presence of remnants of armed pockets and mercenary movements”.

The group also released footage of its armed fighters, who claimed they were making advances towards el-Obeid, a strategic city in North Kordofan state.

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