On its final day, St. Anna’s is almost full again. A choir is singing and the small organ is supporting them. But this is the last mass in the small Catholic church in Gildehaus, a district of Bad Bentheim near the German-Dutch border. In future, the building will no longer be a place of worship.

Towards the end of the service, the demise of this church becomes achingly real. Worshippers from the congregation open the altar and remove the relics. These are small relics of a saint, be they bone fragments or pieces of textile, which are always incorporated into the altar of a consecrated Catholic church.

The decommissioning of churches is an emotional affair. “It affects the heart and the eyes. It’s moving,” Catholic pastor Hubertus Goldbeck tells DW, wiping the beginnings of a tear from the corner of his eye.

What his small congregation is going through is something that many devout Christians across Germany are also facing. When churches shrink, they also have to give up buildings.

A new life for Germany’s deconsecrated church buildings

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The number of church members in Germany is falling rapidly. In 2024 alone, the two major churches lost over a million Christians due to people leaving the church or dying. Currently, more than 45% of Germans still belong to either to the Protestant Church in Germanyor the Catholic Church. Thirty years ago, that figure stood at almost 69%. This is why churches are now being deconsecrated or desacralized.

Since 2000, hundreds of Catholic and Protestant churches were decommissioned. In response to a DW inquiry, the German Bishops’ Conference informed of the closing and decommissioning of 611 Catholic churches between 2000 and 2024. The Protestant Church estimates that some 300 to 350 churches were permanently shut in the same period; more precise figures are not available.

Church buildings on offer

And what happens to former houses of worship? In some cities, especially in Berlin, growing Orthodox Christian congregations have taken over church buildings. But that remains the exception. They are often sold. In the capital alone, several large church buildings are currently up for sale. And it’s not unusual for churches to be demolished.

Some are repurposed. In Jülich, a town between Cologne and Aachen, bicycles are now sold in the former Catholic St. Rochus Church. Thomas Oellers moved his business, Toms Bike Center, into the church building.

Oellers tells DW that the parish approached him and asked him if he could imagine running his business in the church. It is the church where he himself was baptized and took Communion, and where he often attended church services. On the exterior, the listed building has changed remarkably little.

In Wettringen, just north of Münster, an abbey has been transformed into a “soccer church” where footballs are knocked about. In Kleve, the former Protestant Church of the Resurrection serves as a boxing arena. Former churches now house pubs, libraries and book stores. Entire cloisters have even been turned into hotel complexes. In Düsseldorf, a hotel has retained its traditional name Mutterhaus (Mother House) in a nod to its original use as a convent for nuns.

The former convent in the north of Düsseldorf is now used a four-star hotelImage: Christoph Strack/DW

In times of housing shortages, there are more and more cases of architects converting church buildings into residential buildings. In Berlin, Rostock, Trier, Cologne and Wuppertal, for example.

One of the earliest large complexes is the Lukas-K-Haus in Essen. The Protestant St. Luke’s Church, built in 1961, was deconsecrated in 2008 and converted into apartments between 2012 and 2013. At the bottom of the stairwell, two plaques now hang: one from 1959 and the other from 2012. And the abstract-colored windows there are still the original church windows.

Alexandra Schröder has lived in the old church since its repurposing. “No one would have thought that I would be living above an altar, ” she says. For her family, it was simply practical at the time as the apartment had several bedrooms and there were good schools nearby. That was the deciding factor.

One floor below is a physiotherapy practice. Director Jessica Günther explains that she came across the converted church building by chance while looking for new premises. She says the building has a “nice, calm feeling” that is good to work in. She knows that the steps inside her practice once led up to the altar but doesn’t want to overstate the importance of that.

St. Luke’s Church in Essen was deconsecrated in 2008 and later converted into apartmentsImage: Christoph Strack/DW

But one of her patients is positive about this. It is an expression of faith to “help people in need,” Stefan Hebenstreit tells DW. Even if the buildings are no longer churches, using them as a daycare center or a physiotherapy practice is “very practical.” Hebenstreit, a practicing Christian who has suffered several strokes, says this slowly and thoughtfully.

The sound of the bells is missing

To hear anything critical about the church conversion, you have to speak to people on the surrounding streets who have lived around St. Luke’s for decades. One misses the sound of the bells. Another regrets that the clocks on the church tower have stopped forever.

The two major churches have official commissions and papers on the issue of repurposing churches. Researchers concern themselves with the question too. And yet the specific neighborhood itself is often pivotal.

Art historian Klaus-Martin Bresgott from the cultural office of the Protestant Church in Germany and a group of architecture students investigated how important former church premises can be for a neighborhood and a residential area, using the example of a large church in Berlin.

The Protestant Church no longer needs the huge St Stephen’s Church (Stephanuskirche) in the district of Wedding. The building, which was erected between 1902 and 1904, was always too big in fact. But back then, people liked to build big. Today, the church is closed and in such need of refurbishment that you are no longer allowed to go inside even wearing a hard hat.

St Stephen’s Church in Wedding is too delapidated to enter safelyImage: Christoph Strack/DW

Bresgott and the students did not examine the building first, instead they interviewed people in the neighborhood, which has the reputation of being an area with social problems. One thing is clear: The neighborhood lacks public space, opportunities to gather, play sports or engage in cultural or community activities.

Times always change and sometimes churches are considered more important. other times they were unimportant, says Bresgott to DW.

“We know that during the Napoleonic Wars, churches served as horse stables for decades. But they remained standing.” For him, St. Stephen’s Church is a perfect example of how a church that was too big in the first place could still serve society. “We must not immediately panic and say: close down, give up, ” he warns.

This article was originally written in German.

While you’re here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.

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Poland scrambled fighter jets Thursday after detecting a Russian reconnaissance aircraft operating near its airspace, authorities said.

Poland’s Operational Command wrote on X that the aircraft was intercepted and escorted out after it was identified over international waters in the Baltic Sea.

The command said separate airspace incidents were also detected overnight near Poland’s eastern border.

“At night, entries into Polish airspace of objects from the direction of Belarus were observed. After conducting detailed analyses, it was determined that these were most likely smuggling balloons, moving in accordance with the direction and speed of the wind,” the command said.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL WARNS RUSSIA COULD TARGET ALLIANCE MEMBERS NEXT AMID RISING TENSIONS

A NATO AWACS tactical director assesses the air and surface situation aboard an Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft during a flight over Polish airspace as part of the alliance’s Eastern Sentry mission, Sept. 19, 2025. (John Thys/AFP via Getty Images)

“The flight of all objects was continuously monitored by radar systems. To ensure safety, a portion of the airspace over the Podlaskie Voivodeship was temporarily closed to civilian traffic,” it added.

No threat to Poland’s airspace was detected, authorities said, and officials continued to monitor the situation.

The incident comes just days after Polish aircraft were scrambled again on Tuesday as Russia carried out widespread strikes against Ukraine.

NATO WARNS RUSSIA AFTER POLAND SHOOTS DOWN ‘HUGE NUMBER’ OF DRONES THAT VIOLATED ITS AIRSPACE

A woman sweeps up glass shards from a window after an apartment building was hit by a Russian drone during an aerial attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Polish authorities said the response included support from NATO allies, with Spanish aircraft assisting in air policing and Dutch forces providing air defense systems support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 650 drones and more than 30 missiles two days before Christmas, targeting Kyiv’s energy sector and civilian infrastructure.

GERMANY WARNS RUSSIA COULD ATTACK NATO BY 2029 AS INTELLIGENCE THREAT ASSESSMENTS MOUNT

Graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers are decorated with Christmas trees and New Year’s ornaments at Lychakiv Military Cemetery on the day before Christmas Eve, Dec. 23, 2025, in Lviv, Ukraine. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images)

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“Tragically, lives were lost. In the Kyiv region, a woman was killed by a Russian drone. One person was pronounced dead in the Khmelnytskyi region. In the Zhytomyr region, a four-year-old child was killed after a Russian drone struck a residential building. My condolences to the families and loved ones,” Zelenskyy said.

“This Russian strike sends an extremely clear signal about Russia’s priorities. An attack ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe. An attack carried out essentially in the midst of negotiations aimed at ending this war,” he added. “Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing. And that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia. Now is the time to respond. Russia must be pushed toward peace and guaranteed security.”

Ashley Carnahan is a writer at Fox News Digital.

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A Detroit family got an unexpected early Christmas present when they were reunited with their pet dog after it had been missing for four years.

Felicia Fritz adopted her puppy, Toby, in 2018. Fritz told WXYZ that Toby would sometimes come and go from her home, but in 2021 he left and never came back.

Four years passed, and Fritz had all but accepted that her Toby was gone for good. But Toby was still out in the world, and eventually was picked up by the Humane Society, where he was adopted by an older man and renamed Ziggy.

The man who adopted Ziggy became too ill to care for the dog, and surrendered him to the Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue.

“As far as we knew, Ziggy was a surrender, and his owner was not going to be able to come back for him,” Krissy Powe, a board member with Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue, told WXYZ.

That is when a little social luck helped Ziggy, or Toby, find his way back home.

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Felicia Fritz is reunited with her dog, Toby, after he disappeared for four years. Toby was adopted and later surrendered to the Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue. Fritz saw a picture of Toby posted on social media and the pair were reunited. (Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue)

Ziggy spent more than a year in the shelter. But he was used to running around outside and living with humans — the shelter life was taking its toll on the dog, and the staff knew the sooner they could find him a home, the better.

“We knew that mentally the shelter was taking a very bad toll on his mental well-being, and when he reached that year mark, we knew we had to try to go hard and try to find him a home,” Powe said.

The animal rescue workers turned to social media. They shared photos of the dog across various social networks, hoping that they’d entice a prospective pet owner to adopt him.

Someone from Ziggy’s past saw the photos — his former owner, Fritz.

“When I scrolled… to just like close my phone, [Toby] was right there on my phone,” she told the broadcaster.

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Toby had been renamed Ziggy when he was given to the rescue. He has found his way to his original owner just in time for Christmas. (Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue)

Fritz used old photos of Toby to prove to the shelter that she was his original owner, and they eventually agreed to release the dog into her custody. The moment and Toby’s journey were shared on social media. A video on Facebook from the rescue had more than 400 likes.

“Like a whole sense of my family’s complete, it didn’t even feel real, honestly. It did not feel real at all,” Fritz said. “For a long time, I just lost all faith, I’m not going to lie, I lost all faith, and when I found him, it was like, okay.”

She has since microchipped Toby, and said she will never forget the Christmas that brought her dog back to her.

“This is one I’ll never forget, my kids will never forget. I am so blessed, and it’s something that money cannot buy,” she said.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Cardi B spent Christmas surrounded by her family, celebrating the holiday for the first time as a mother of four
• The proud mom got candid as she shared that the “perfect Christmas picture” doesn’t exist at her house
• The rapper shares daughter Kulture, 7, son Wave, 4, and daughter Blossom, 15 months, with estranged husband Offset, and shares her newborn son, 7 weeks, with boyfriend Stefon Diggs

Cardi B is celebrating her first Christmas as a mom of four!

On Thursday, Nov. 25, the rapper, 33, shared a series of photos on her Instagram as she rang in the Christmas season surrounded by family, including her four kids — daughter Kulture, 7, son Wave, 4, daughter Blossom, 15 months, and her 7-week-old newborn son, whose name has not yet been revealed.

In one photo, Cardi, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, could be seen holding her baby boy and standing in front of a Christmas tree. Her older son, Wave, sat on a toy polar bear and watched his sister Kulture carry his other sister Blossom, who was pictured crying.

She also added snaps of Kulture posing in front of the tree, as well as individual pictures of Wave and Blossom.

“The perfect Christmas picture don’t exist in this house 😩❤️🎄,” joked Cardi in her caption.

Cardi B and her son.

Cardi B/Instagram

The rapper recently welcomed a son in November, her first baby with boyfriend Stefon Diggs, 32. Cardi shares her three older children, Kulture, Wave and Blossom, with her estranged husband Offset, 33.

Cardi first shared a glimpse of her newborn on Nov. 19. In a post on Instagram, the rapper included a few snaps of her cradling her son in a nursery (sporting a New England Patriots cap and onesie, a nod to Diggs’ NFL team!), plus a photo of her, Diggs and her baby in the hospital, shortly after giving birth.

“11/4 🧸🩶🏈,” Cardi wrote in her caption, seemingly sharing her son’s birthday.

Days later, on Nov. 24, Cardi revealed that she had cast a portion of her umbilical cord into gold. Per Mommy Made Encapsulation, the company that made the keepsake, the item is the “umbilical cord dehydrated in the shape of a heart and then dipped in gold chrome.”

Cardi’s younger son arrived just in time for the holiday season, and the rapper and the NFL player celebrated Thanksgiving by showering their baby with love.

In her Instagram Stories, Cardi shared a snap of her son’s fuzzy white outfit, with Diggs’ name and jersey number emblazoned on the back in a glittery gold font. The rapper also shared a short clip of her three older children: in one video, her daughter Blossom cried as she tried to walk.

In a later selfie on her Instagram Stories, Cardi admitted, “No family picture cause everyone on their worst behavior,” and added of her newborn in another snap, “Even this one being bad😩.”

Cardi B and her newborn son.

Cardi B/Instagram

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As her newborn neared one month old, Cardi shared a sweet snap of her son cuddled on her shoulder in an Instagram Stories.

“My cuddle buddy 🧸🩶 I love him soooo much,” she on the photo.

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A Nevada mother accused of allowing her daughter’s father to beat and starve her in a vicious campaign of abuse searched the internet for ‘signs my child is dying,’ court documents showed.

Andrea Loving was arraigned on a first-degree murder charge Tuesday in connection to the death of her five-year-old daughter Izabella.

Izabella died from bacterial pneumonia in April, according to court filings obtained by KRNV. She was also found to have suffered multiple blunt force injuries, malnutrition, dehydration and medical neglect.

Loving was initially charged with child abuse resulting in substantial bodily harm, but prosecutors have now upgraded the charge against her.

She is accused of participating in the ‘daily mistreatment’ of Izabella alongside the girl’s father Nicholas Loving and allegedly conspired to help him cover up her injuries.

Before the little girl’s death, Loving made several concerning Google searches including ‘signs my child is dying,’ ‘dark blood on boil when popping,’ ‘how long can you go without food,’ ‘kidneys failing,’ and ‘my five year old is peeing blood.’ 

Nicholas Loving, who has also been charged with murder, killed Izabella by hitting, whipping, or shoving her head against a wall, the court documents alleged.

The couple also locked their daughter away in a ‘crudely built cubby closet structure’ to punish her for stealing food or candy from their room, the filings claimed.

Andrea Loving (pictured during her arrest) has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of her five-year-old daughter Izabella

Izabella died from bacterial pneumonia in April, according to court filings. She was also found to have suffered multiple blunt force injuries, malnutrition, dehydration and medical neglect

Andrea Loving told detectives she ‘had no explanation’ for why she allowed the campaign of abuse to carry on, the documents stated.

‘She told me that she could have, that she should have, but she didn’t,’ the detective said of Loving not putting an end to the abuse. 

Loving did allege she feared that for her own safety, the investigator added. 

‘She told me she was scared she might get yelled at by Nicholas but again she told me she could have, she should have, but she didn’t.’ 

Prosecutors said Loving contributed to the abuse by only feeding the little girl ‘a piece of bread for her daily nutrition.’ 

She did text Nicholas ‘on several occasions’ to ask if she ‘had permission’ to feed Izabella. His answer was usually no.

Loving denied taking part in the abuse, but admitted to letting Nicholas ‘kick’ Izabella in her back, legs and genitals ‘with boots on,’ the charging documents state.

Nicholas Loving, who has also been charged with murder, killed Izabella by hitting, whipping, or shoving her head against a wall, the court documents alleged

The little girl had been coughing up blood and mucus, and was sick for up to 10 days before she received medical treatment.

Loving told police she tried to take her daughter to the doctor, but was again forbidden by Nicholas to do so.

She added that she ‘feels bad and guilty’ and often thinks about how she failed to help her daughter. 

She allegedly told investigators ‘I should go to jail for not helping her and Nick should go to jail for killing her,’ the complaint said.

Loving is scheduled to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on February 6. Nicholas is set to be in court that same day. 

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, after the charges against Loving were upgraded, reiterated its ‘commitment to Izzy and to ensuring that every aspect of this investigation is carried forward with the highest level of care and thoroughness.’

‘This development marks another significant step toward achieving full accountability for the tragedy that occurred,’ the department said in a statement to KOLO.

The couple are accused of only feeding Izabella one piece of bread per day and locking her away in a ‘crudely built cubby closet structure’ to punish her for stealing food or candy

Sheriff Darin Balaam added: ‘We continue to work closely with the District Attorney’s Office as this case progresses through the criminal justice system, and we remain deeply grateful for the collaboration among all partner agencies involved from the very beginning.’

He also urged the community to remain vigilant in reporting any suspected child abuse or neglect.

• If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453

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Desperate efforts were made to save the woman after the alleged attack in Devizes, Wiltshire, but she was declared dead at the scene



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Celebrated director of ‘Jenin, Jenin’ documentary leaves behind legacy of artistic resistance.

Published On 25 Dec 202525 Dec 2025

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Acclaimed Palestinian actor and filmmaker Mohammad Bakri has died in northern Israel, ending a five-decade career that established him as one of the most influential voices in Palestinian cinema.

Bakri died on Wednesday at Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya after suffering from heart and lung problems, hospital officials said.

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His passing removes a towering figure whose work directly challenged Israeli narratives and whose decades-long legal battles over censorship became a defining chapter in Palestinian cultural resistance.

The 72-year-old was best known for his 2002 documentary, Jenin, Jenin, which captured testimonies from Palestinian residents following a devastating Israeli military operation in the refugee camp that killed 52 Palestinians.

The film ignited years of controversy in Israel but elevated Bakri’s status as a creative and would overshadow the remainder of his life.

Israeli authorities banned the documentary from screening in 2021, with the Supreme Court upholding the prohibition in 2022, deeming it defamatory.

“I intend to appeal the verdict because it is unfair, it is neutering my truth,” Bakri told the Walla News website at the time.

Five soldiers sued Bakri, and courts eventually fined him hundreds of thousands of shekels while ordering all copies seized and online links removed.

In an interview with the British Film Institute earlier this year, Bakri said, “I don’t see Israel as my enemy … but they consider me their enemy. They see me as a traitor … for making a movie.”

Born in 1953 in the Galilee village of Bi’ina, Bakri was a Palestinian citizen of Israel who studied Arabic literature and theatre at Tel Aviv University. He made his striking film debut at age 30 in Costa-Gavras’s Hanna K, playing a Palestinian refugee attempting to reclaim his family’s home.

His role as a Palestinian prisoner in the 1984 Israeli film Beyond the Walls earned international acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for the production.

But it was Bakri’s commitment to telling Palestinian stories that defined his career. He appeared in more than 40 films and directed several documentaries examining the experiences of Palestinians living under occupation and within Israel.

His solo theatrical performance of The Pessoptimist, based on Emile Habibi’s novel about Palestinian identity, was performed more than 1,500 times worldwide and cemented his status as a cultural icon.

Bakri is survived by his wife Leila and six children, including actors Saleh, Ziad and Adam, who have followed him into cinema. His funeral was held the same day in Bi’ina.

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Turkish authorities detained 115 suspected members of the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) terrorist group on Thursday, the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said.

Police said they obtained information that members of the group had planned attacks in the country during Christmas and New Year celebrations, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement posted to X.

Special police units launched simultaneous raids at 124 locations in Istanbul and detained 115 of the 137 suspects they were seeking, the statement said.

Several pistols and ammunition were seized during the raids, it added. The police’s counter-terrorism operation is still ongoing.

Extremist groups still active in Syria

Turkey, which shares a 900-plus-kilometer (560-mile) border with Syria, has vowed to continue support for Syria’s fight against extremist groups, including IS.

Ankara has been a strong backer of the interim government in Damascus since former dictator Bashar Assad was overthrown last year.

Syria’s interim leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who once had ties to al-Qaida, has vowed to distance himself from extremist groups in a quest to build unity in the country.

Although IS has lost much of its sway and territory in Syria, the terrorist group continues to remain active as a loosely linked network rather than a self-declared caliphate with control over cities and territories.

This week, Turkey’s intelligence agency conducted an operation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and captured a Turkish national. According to the agency, the individual held a senior role in the Islamic State group.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

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President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center Honors show saw ratings for the annual event tank with 35 percent fewer viewers than last year, according to a report.

Trump became the first president to host the awards that aired Tuesday night after he boasted that the venue’s board and “just about everybody else in America” had requested he take center stage.

But according to preliminary Nielsen data, the televised awards show on CBS “drew its smallest ever audience on December 23, averaging an estimated 2.65 million viewers,” Programming Insider reports. “To put that in perspective: the 2024 broadcast averaged 4.1 million,” the media ratings website noted.

Trump’s opening remarks from the event that happened on December 7, which lasted 12 minutes, were cut by CBS to two minutes for viewers watching at home, according to The Washington Post.

The president touted the event on Truth Social Tuesday morning and billed it as “THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER HONORS” after a board voted last week to rename the iconic Washington memorial and performing arts center after Trump.

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President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center Honors show saw ratings for the annual event tank, with 35 percent fewer viewers than last year, according to preliminary figures. (Getty Images)

Leadership at CBS News reportedly instructed staffers to refer to the event’s original name, not the “Trump Kennedy Center Honors.”

In an email to staffers, obtained by the Post, CBS leadership said the network would continue to refer to the event and building as the “Kennedy Center” because the change would require Congressional approval.

“If the president or other administration officials use the new name in a soundbite, that is their prerogative,” the email reportedly said.

Another note to staffers reportedly followed that read: “We should NOT be calling it Trump Kennedy Center, or the Trump Kennedy Center Honors, unless quoting from those who don’t realize an official name change only comes from Congress.”

The move to rename the venue, a decision that was voted on by a board handpicked by Trump, was not a legal one, according to critics.

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Leadership at CBS News reportedly instructed staffers to refer to the event’s original name, not the ‘Trump Kennedy Center Honors’ (Reuters)

“Under current law, there I think is very little question that the Kennedy Center board cannot rename the Opera House after Melania Trump or pretty much anybody else and would need Congress’s permission for anything like that,” David Super, a Georgetown law professor, told the Post earlier this year, as Congress was mulling renaming the center for the president or the first lady. “… That statute is pretty unequivocal, and I can’t really find any loopholes in it.”

Relatives of Kennedy sharply criticized the decision to rename the center.

Maria Shriver, Kennedy’s niece, wrote on X that the decision left her “speechless, and enraged, and in a state of disbelief.”

Jack Schlossberg, the late president’s grandson, claimed the decision to rename the center was motivated by his ongoing campaign for Congress in New York.

“Our campaign represents everything Trump can’t stand or defeat,” Schlossberg wrote on X.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Sofia Vergara shared several holiday-themed photos with her pet Chihuahua Amore on Instagram on Wednesday, Dec. 24
• The Chihuahua of Vergara’s son Manolo, Baguette, also made a special appearance in the photos
• The actress began posting photos of Amore in April 2024 and celebrated the pup’s second birthday in November

Sofia Vergara is decking the holidays with some beloved pets!

The Griselda actress, 53, shared several holiday-themed photos on Instagram on Wednesday, Dec. 24 of her and her puppy Amore looking festive as they posed in front of a golden Christmas tree. 

Vergara could be seen wearing a red velvet jumpsuit as she held up her Chihuahua, who wore a red hood with a white fur ball on top — comparable to a Santa hat — for the camera. Golden presents wrapped in gold bows to match the tree could be seen scattered next to them. 

The actress wore a silver drop necklace and matching silver earrings with natural makeup and a nude lip for the photos, which also included several snaps of Amore with a collar that featured a red Christmas bow.

Sofia Vergara with her Chihuahua Amore and Baguette.

Sofia Vergara/Instagram

Her son Manolo Vergara’s Chihuahua Baguette, could also be seen making a cameo in the photos. In one snap, the light-colored pup posed in front of Vergara’s legs with a bright red cape on. 

Vergara ended the Instagram carousel with a closeup photo of herself holding up Amore, who appeared to have a pouty look while wearing both the red hood with fur on top and red Christmas bow collar.

“Feliz Navidad a todos mis seguidores!!! Los quiero!! Gracias por estar siempre ahi!!!🎄❤️,” she captioned the photo, which translates to, “Merry Christmas to all my followers!!! I love them!! Thank you for always being there!!! 🎄❤️.”

The Modern Family alum began sharing photos of Amore to her Instagram account in April 2024 and the pup even made an appearance with Vergara in PEOPLE’s Beautiful Issue in May of that year.

She could be seen posing with the black and white-colored pup over her shoulder as she wore a strapless black gown. In her interview with PEOPLE, Vergara even called out for the pup who wore a miniature diamond necklace and even called him, “my love.” 

Sofia Vergara poses with her pup Amore on Instagram.

Sofia Vergara/Instagram

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Vergara previously opened up to PEOPLE about watching Amore and her son’s dog Baguette, saying, “Manolo has a dog, and on the weekends he just drops the dog at my house. And [similarly], I used to drop [Manolo] at my mom’s house during the weekend so that I could at least go out every once in a while.”

In November, Vergara celebrated Amore’s second birthday with a tribute on Instagram. Alongside several photos of the pup in various outfits and posing with her, she wrote, “Feliz cumpleaños Amore!🥳❤️ 2.”

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California residents are bracing for a second wave of life-threatening floods as roads turned to rivers and mudslides engulfed homes on Christmas Day. 

The holiday period is forecast to be a washout for the Golden State this year, with meteorologists warning that up to eight inches of rain is expected to hit several areas including Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara over the next four days. 

California officials have warned holiday travelers to avoid roads due to the series of winter storms which are continuing to bring flash flooding and even tornadoes. 

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated, while 160,000 homes were without power on Christmas morning, according to PowerOutage.com.  

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties as the winds and rain intensified. 

Areas like Altadena which were scorched by the wildfires in January are especially vulnerable, as residents were only just beginning to rebuild when the floods struck their partially-constructed properties. 

The burn scar areas were also stripped of vegetation by fire, making the land less able to absorb water.  

Storms began to move in late Tuesday evening and were expected to intensify throughout Christmas Day, meanwhile a ‘clipper’ weather system is due to submerge much of the West Coast and Midwest in rain and snow. 

The holiday period is forecast to be a washout for the Golden State this year, with meteorologists warning that up to eight inches of rain is expected to hit several areas including Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara over the next four days

Stormy weather struck California on Christmas Day, prompting hundreds of evacuations

San Bernardino County firefighters said they rescued people trapped in cars Wednesday when mud and debris rushed down a road leading into Wrightwood, a resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. It was not immediately clear how many were rescued.

Firefighters also went door to door to check homes, and the area was under a shelter-in-place order, officials said. An evacuation order was issued for Lytle Creek, also in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Travis Guenther and his family were trapped in Lytle Creek after roaring waters washed out the only bridge in or out of their neighborhood. More than a dozen neighbors took shelter at a community center or found hotel rooms.

‘Everybody that left to go to work this morning is stuck,’ he said. ‘Half the families are here, and half the families are on the other side of the creek.’

Guenther said he had plenty of supplies and was coordinating with other in the community of about 280 people. Two nurses who live on his street offered to help anyone who may need medical attention.

Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce and a resident of the mountain town for 45 years, said a wildfire in 2024 left much of the terrain without tree coverage.

The storm also stranded Dillan Brown, his wife and 14-month-old daughter at a rented cabin in Wrightwood with almost no food and only enough diapers for about another day. 

Roads leading off the mountain and to a grocery store became blocked by rocks and debris, Brown said.

A resident learned of his situation and posted a call for help in a Facebook group. In less than an hour, neighbors showed up with more than enough supplies to ride out the storm, including bread, vegetables, milk, diapers and wipes.

‘I think we’re a little sad and upset that we’re not going to be home with our families,’ Brown said, but the ‘kindness shown is definitely an overwhelming feeling.’

Areas along the coast including Malibu were under flood warnings until Wednesday evening, and wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Several roads including a part of Interstate 5 near the Burbank Airport closed due to flooding.

The storms were the result of multiple atmospheric rivers carrying massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

California officials have warned holiday travelers to avoid the roads due to the series of winter storms which are continuing to bring flash flooding and even tornadoes

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated, while 160,000 homes were without power on Christmas morning, according to PowerOutage.com

Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.

Heavy snow and gusts created ‘near white-out conditions’ in parts of the Sierra Nevada and made mountain pass trave treacherous. 

Officials said there was a ‘considerable’ avalanche risk around Lake Tahoe, and a winter storm warning was in effect until Friday morning.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to allow state assistance in storm response.

The state deployed emergency resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.

The California Highway Patrol reported a seemingly weather-related crash south of Sacramento in which a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died. 

James Caravallo, who was with the agency for 19 years, was apparently traveling at an unsafe speed, lost control on a wet road and crashed into a power pole, CHP Officer Michael Harper said via email.

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King Charles has delivered his speech to the nation and the commonwealth, paying tribute to our greatest generation of war heroes and calling for peace and forgiveness throughout the world

The King has spoken of the “need to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation”, as he delivered a message of hope this Christmas.

The monarch paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of our greatest generation of war veterans, but as a way of looking forward to the future, said he had been inspired this year by community heroes he had met on his travels around the world.

Amid religious tension at home and abroad, with the devastating terror attacks this year against Jewish communities in Manchester and Sydney, Charles made special mention of the “great diversity of our communities”, which can help us to “find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong”.

Charles spoke from The Lady Chapel in the heart of Westminster Abbey, the spiritual home of the royal family for more than 1,000 years (Image: PA)READ MORE: Royal Family LIVE: George, Charlotte and Louis delight fans as they meet crowds

The King’s message this year will be marked but his calls for love and respect, no doubt reflecting on his emotional visit to the Nazi death camp Auschwitz in January.

As part of the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of its liberation for Holocaust Memorial Day, Charles met survivors and emphasised the importance of remembering past evils to build a kinder future.

Echoing these sentiments in his Christmas message he said: “If we can find time in our journey through life to think on these virtues we can all make the future more hopeful.”

In a year where the royal family was encouraged by the Princess of Wales entering remission from cancer and the King this month announcing his own treatment for the disease will be reduced in the new year, the royal family continues to be blighted by the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the activities of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Yet Charles did reference the “deep wells of hope” and finding “peace through forgiveness” when faced with times of uncertainty.

Speaking of “the values of which we must never lose sight”, the King spoke over poignant imagery from Windsor Castle for Armed Forces veterans to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on May 8 this year.

King Charles and Queen Camilla lead the royal family to church in Sandringham on Christmas Day morning (Image: PA)

Charles also referenced the journey of the pilgrims and his own historic meeting with Pope Leo this year at the Vatican, where he became the first monarch in 500 years to pray together with the head of the Catholic church.

“Pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it has particular significance for our modern world, and especially at Christmas,” he said.

“It is about journeying forward, into the future, while also journeying back to remember the past and learn from its lessons. We did this during the Summer, as we celebrated the 80th Anniversaries of VE and VJ Day. The end of the Second World War is now remembered by fewer and fewer of us, as the years pass.

Charles and Camilla with Reverend Paul Williams(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“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.”

For the second year in a row, the King chose to record his Christmas speech – the fourth of his reign – away from a royal residence to give the message more of a community feel.

Charles spoke from The Lady Chapel in the heart of Westminster Abbey, the spiritual home of the royal family for more than 1,000 years and the burial place of 15 Kings and Queens including Charles II, Elizabeth I, Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots.

Last year’s Christmas message was recorded at Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, a former sacred space of the demolished Middlesex Hospital where Diana, Princess of Wales opened London’s first dedicated Aids ward.

Crowds applauded the king and queen at church(Image: PA)

The monarch said he continued to draw inspiration from stories of “courage over adversity” that he has heard personally during his public engagements.

He added: “It seems to me that we need to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation; the way Our Lord lived and died. This year, I have heard so many examples of this, both here and abroad.

“These stories of the triumph of courage over adversity give me hope, from our venerable military veterans to selfless humanitarian workers in this century’s most dangerous conflict zones; to the ways in which individuals and communities display spontaneous bravery, instinctively placing themselves in harm’s way to defend others.”

The King chose not to speak about his own health battles, instead deciding to convey a message of community cohesion from his own experiences, royal sources said.

“As I meet people of different faiths, I find it enormously encouraging to hear how much we have in common; a shared longing for peace and a deep respect for all life,” he added.

“If we can find time in our journey through life to think on these virtues we can all make the future more hopeful.”

King Charles chose to this year record his Christmas Day message away from a royal residence for the second time in his reign (Image: PA)

As war continues to rage in Europe following Russian tyranny in Ukraine, the King personally asked a choir from the country to be a part of his Christmas message.

Songs for Ukraine Chorus, founded in 2023 in response to the war and bring together singers from across the Ukrainian community and supporters living in the UK, sang the carol ‘Carol of the Bells’, based on a song by Ukrainian Composer, Mykola Leontovych.

In the background of the broadcast, which also features scenes including the Prince of Wales and Prince George at a London homeless charity and the Princess Royal visiting a rehabilitation facility for military personnel in Kyiv, are Christmas trees repurposed from the Princess of Wales’ Together at Christmas carol concert, staged at the abbey earlier in December before the King’s message was filmed.

The King’s speech was broadcast to the nation at 3pm on Christmas Day and is now available on YouTube.

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Two foreigners seeking medical evacuation are among those killed in the crash on Africa’s highest mountain.

Published On 25 Dec 202525 Dec 2025

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Five people have been killed in a helicopter crash on Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, authorities say.

The accident took place on Wednesday evening on one of the most popular tourist climbing routes in what police said was a rescue mission to pick up patients on the mountain.

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Two foreigners, who police said had been picked up in a medical evacuation, were among those killed.

A local doctor, a tour guide and the pilot were also killed in the crash.

Tanzanian media reports said Czech nationals as well as a Zimbabwean were on board the helicopter.

The accident happened between the mountain’s Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit at an altitude of more than 4,000 metres (13,100ft).

Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa told journalists the aircraft belonged to the Kilimanjaro Aviation company, which has yet to comment on the accident.

The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday said investigations had started in line with international safety regulations “to determine the circumstances and probable cause” of the accident.

Aircraft accidents on Mount Kilimanjaro are rare. The last recorded incident was in November 2008 when four people died.

Kilimanjaro draws thousands of tourists every year. While the ascent is not technically difficult, altitude sickness is a problem for many climbers.

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A Powerball player in Arkansas won a $1.817bn jackpot in Wednesday’s Christmas Eve drawing, ending the lottery game’s three-month stretch without a top-prize winner.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previously expected, making it the second-largest in US history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025, according to www.powerball.com. The jackpot had a lump sum cash payment option of $834.9m.

“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, was quoted as saying by the website. “We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak – every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”

The prize followed 46 consecutive drawings in which no one matched all six numbers.

The last drawing with a jackpot winner was on 6 September, when players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787bn.

The last time someone won a Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011, Powerball said. The company added that the sweepstakes also has been won on Christmas Day four times, most recently in 2013.

Powerball’s odds of 1 in 292.2m are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes growing as they roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes.

“With the prize so high, I just bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?” Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters said on Wednesday.

Tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

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Skip next section Pope Leo XIV urges direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow

12/25/2025December 25, 2025

Pope Leo XIV urges direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow

With the majority of Christians celebrating Christmas today, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to pray “for the tormented people of Ukraine.”

“May the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue,” he added, calling for “the clamor of weapons” to cease.

His appeal comes just a day after details on a new peace plan were revealed to the public, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Kyiv and Washington were united behind the proposal. On Thursday, Moscow said it was analyzing documents on the suggested deal.

https://p.dw.com/p/55xtH

Skip next section WATCH: Zelenskyy open to demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s east

12/25/2025December 25, 2025

WATCH: Zelenskyy open to demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s east

The question of territorial concessions in eastern Ukraine remains unresolved in the 20-point peace plan presented by Volodymyr President Zelenskyy, and Russia has given no indication it was willing to withdraw from the area.

Zelenskyy open to demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s east

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Skip next section Russia awaits response from Paris on jailed researcher Laurent Vinatier

12/25/2025December 25, 2025

Russia awaits response from Paris on jailed researcher Laurent Vinatier

In a rare public move, the Kremlin said they had contacts with France regarding Laurent Vinatier, a French national currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia.

Vinatier, previously a researcher with a Swiss conflict mediation NGO, had been jailed in mid-2024. He was convicted for failing to register as a “foreign agent” under Russia’s draconian law aiming to curb foreign influence, and is now facing charges of espionage.

 “Indeed, a proposal was made to the French regarding Vinatier,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

 “The ball is now in France’s court,” he added, without providing details.

Separately, the lawyer for Vinatier’s family said his family hopes that the researcher could be freed during the holiday season, including Orthodox Christmas most Russian celebrate on January 7th.

“We have every confidence in French diplomacy, which is doing its utmost,” the lawyer said.

https://p.dw.com/p/55xwE

Skip next section WATCH: ‘One-third of Ukrainians do not expect war to end in 2026’

12/25/2025December 25, 2025

WATCH: ‘One-third of Ukrainians do not expect war to end in 2026’

As Russian strikes continue, Ukrainians remain skeptical about Russian aggression ending anytime soon. DW reports from Kyiv on the Christmas mood and what a US-proposed demilitarized “free economic zone” could mean for eastern Ukraine.

‘One-third of Ukrainians do not expect war to end in 2026’

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Skip next section Poland claims intercept of Russian plane over Baltic Sea

12/25/2025December 25, 2025

Poland claims intercept of Russian plane over Baltic Sea

For the second time this week, Poland scrambled jets in response to a potential threat to its air space amid the fighting in Ukraine.

“Polish fighter jets intercepted, visually identified, and escorted a Russian Federation reconnaissance aircraft out of the area of responsibility,” after detecting it was flying near Polish airspace.

The intercept took place above international waters of the Baltic Sea, according to the Polish military.

Russian breach of Estonian airspace raises Baltic concerns

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Warsaw’s forces also detected objects entering Polish airspace from Belarus, which is allied with Russia, and determined the objects were most likely “smuggling balloons,” the Polish defense ministry said in an online post.

https://p.dw.com/p/55xsj

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/25/2025December 25, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Hello and merry Christmas from the Bonn newsroom!

Today, we once again bring you key headlines regarding the war in Ukraine and the wider tensions between Russia and NATO allies in Europe, with the Kremlin still mulling its response to the peace plan pitched by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week.

Stay tuned for the latest updates in this live blog.

https://p.dw.com/p/55xrL

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