Donald Trump announced a ‘powerful and deadly’ Christmas Day strike on ISIS ‘terrorist scum’ in Nigeria and warned that radicals will continue to pay for the persecution of Christians.

The president, who previously threatened to send the US military to the West African nation ‘guns-a-blazing,’ made the announcement in a Truth Social post Thursday evening. 

‘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!’ he wrote. 

A spokesperson for the Pentagon confirmed to The Daily Mail that the Nigerian government approved of and worked with the US military on the strikes. 

The US Africa Command posted on X that it had ‘conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists.’ 

Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the strikes were carried out as part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States, involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to target militant groups.

‘This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,’ the ministry said in a post on X.

A video posted by the Pentagon showed at least one projectile launched from a warship. A US defense official said the strike targeted multiple militants at known ISIS camps.

Donald Trump announced a ‘powerful and deadly’ ChristmasDay strike on ISIS ‘terrorist scum’ in Nigeria and warned that radicals will continue to pay for the persecution of Christians

A video posted by the Pentagon showed at least one projectile launched from a warship. A US defense official said the strike targeted multiple militants at known ISIS camps

Trump said in his lengthy post that the ISIS militants have had it coming for some time.

‘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,’ Trump added. 

The president signed off with a warning for the terrorists that they will continue to pay if the murder of innocent Christians goes on. 

‘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.’ 

The president’s post did not include information about how the strike was carried out and what effects it had and the White House did not immediately provide further details. 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed the president’s message in a social media post of his own. 

‘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. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!’

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Should the US intervene militarily in other countries to protect persecuted religious groups?

Nigeria has been roiled by internal violence in the wake of a jihadist insurgency spearheaded by extremist group Boko Haram in the northeast since 2009 

Trump, 79, had already designated Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’ but he took his condemnation of the situation in the country even further after hearing it on Fox News

 Nigeria has been roiled by internal violence in the wake of a jihadist insurgency spearheaded by extremist group Boko Haram in the northeast since 2009. 

In November, Trump threatened to take on the terrorists with ‘guns-a-blazing.’

Trump, 79, had already designated Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’ but he took his condemnation of the situation in the country even further after hearing about it on Fox News, threatening to cut aid and even send in US troops. 

Some Christian communities have welcomed the US president’s menace, believing that foreign armies are needed to restore peace in their homeland. 

Amid the various forms of bloodletting around the country – including ethnic rivalry and banditry – the Islamist militants have been slaughtering Christians as well as Muslims they regard as ‘apostates’ for failing to comply with their brand of Islam. 

There has also been a separate onslaught by Fulani Muslim tribesmen against mainly Christian farming communities, a protracted crisis linked to a tangle of issues like religion, ethnicity and a scramble over the dwindling supply of arable land. 

While Christians are among those targeted, analysts say the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur, according to the Associated Press. 

Trump’s threat, which came after he watched a Fox News segment about the conflict in Nigeria, triggered alarm bells across West Africa. 

Anonymous sources from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which directs American military operations across the continent, told the Washington Post Trump’s announcement prompted concern. 

They said a US military operation in an area where there is little US intelligence was unlikely to make a difference, and leaders called for their sovereignty to be respected.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has said that the country ‘welcomes’ the US helping

‘We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognizes our territorial integrity,’ Daniel Bwala, an adviser to President Tinubu, told Reuters. 

Trump’s explosive announcement also came via Truth Social. 

‘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,’ he wrote. 

‘I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. 

‘If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!’

Bwala sought to play down tensions between the two states, despite Trump calling Nigeria a ‘disgraced country.’

‘We don’t take it literally, because we know Donald Trump thinks well of Nigeria,’ Bwala said.

‘I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism,’ he said.

The president previously threatened to send the US military to the West African nation ‘guns-a-blazing’

Nigeria, a country of more than 200 million people and around 200 ethnic groups, is divided between the largely Muslim north and mostly Christian south.

Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have wrought havoc in the country for more than 15 years, killing thousands of people, but their attacks have been largely confined to the northeast of the country, which is majority Muslim.

While Christians have been killed, the vast majority of the victims have been Muslims, analysts say.

In central Nigeria there have been frequent clashes between mostly Muslim herders and mainly Christian farmers over access to water and pasture, while in the northwest of the country, gunmen routinely attack villages, kidnapping residents for ransom.

Nigeria ‘does not discriminate against any tribe or religion in the fight against insecurity,’ Bwala said. ‘There is no Christian genocide.’ 

In mid-December, Trump placed the country on a list of 15 that faced partial travel bans to the US in a response to anti-Christian violence in Nigeria. 

‘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,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. 

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Pope Leo has called for an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, saying that the sides should find the ‘courage’ to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue

Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd from the popemobile before delivering the Urbi et Orbi message (Image: Getty Images)

In his first Christmas address to the gathered faithful at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo urged Russia and Ukraine to show the “courage” required for face-to-face peace negotiations, whilst Moscow’s relentless shelling of Kyiv continues.

During his customary Urbi et Orbi speech, traditionally delivered to worshippers assembled in Vatican City on Christmas Day, he made an impassioned plea for an end to conflicts across the world. Speaking directly about the Ukrainian crisis, the Pope proclaimed: “May the clamor of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue.”

His appeal emerges during ongoing American-led diplomatic efforts seeking to establish a ceasefire. Throughout these recent rounds of peace initiatives, direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have been notably missing, despite Washington’s efforts to mediate a settlement both nations could accept.

Pope Leo XIV lamented several wars raging across the globe(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

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Pope Leo also voiced his distress over violence and carnage plaguing other regions globally, including Thailand and Cambodia, where fatal frontier confrontations have erupted anew following a July truce, reports the Irish Star.

He called for “reconciliation and peace” and the restoration of the “ancient friendship” between Southeast Asian countries. Earlier during Christmas Day Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo contemplated worldwide displacement and the destruction caused by armed conflict.

“Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” he said. He added that the story of Jesus’ birth illustrated how God had “pitched his fragile tent” among humanity.

Pope Leo XIV stands in front of the Virgin Mary as he performs the Christmas mass(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“How, then,” he asked, turning his attention to the Palestinian crisis, “can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?”.

Following Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel launched a military operation that has ravaged Gaza through Israeli shelling.

Winter tempests have exacerbated conditions for the 2.1 million inhabitants in the territory, with nearly all displaced and their homes either damaged or destroyed.

Aid organisations have urged Israel to permit more tents and vital supplies into Gaza. According to Cogat, the Israeli military body overseeing Gaza’s border crossings, nearly 310,000 tents and tarpaulins have been delivered since the ceasefire started in October.

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Poland’s defence minister said Russian aircraft was ‘escorted’ from area and did not pose immediate security threat.

Published On 26 Dec 202526 Dec 2025

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Poland said its air force intercepted a “Russian reconnaissance aircraft” flying near the border of its airspace just hours after tracking suspected smuggling balloons coming from the direction of neighbouring Belarus.

“This morning, over the international waters of the Baltic Sea, Polish fighter jets intercepted, visually identified, and escorted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near the border of Polish airspace from their area of responsibility,” the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said in a post on X on Thursday.

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Polish forces also tracked unknown “objects” flying in the direction of Poland from Belarus during the previous night, prompting Warsaw to temporarily close civilian airspace in the northeast of the country.

“After detailed analysis, it was determined that these were most likely smuggling balloons, moving in the direction and at the speed of the wind. Their flight was continuously monitored by our radar systems,” Operational Command said.

The post did not disclose any further details about the number or size of the balloons.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on X that the incidents did not pose an immediate threat to Poland’s security, and he thanked the “nearly 20,000 of our soldiers who, during the Holidays, watch over our safety”.

“All provocations over the Baltic Sea and near the border with Belarus were under the full control of the Polish Army,” he said.

Translation: Another busy night for the operational services of the Polish Army. All provocations, both over the Baltic Sea and over the border with Belarus, were under full control. I thank nearly 20,000 of our soldiers who, during the Holidays, watch over our safety – and as can be seen – do so extremely effectively.

The Belarusian and Russian ‌embassies in Warsaw did not immediately respond ⁠to the Reuters news agency’s requests for comment.

Smuggler balloons from Belarus have repeatedly disrupted air traffic in neighbouring Lithuania, forcing airport closures. Lithuania says the balloons are sent by smugglers transporting cigarettes and ‌constitute a “hybrid attack” by Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Belarus has denied responsibility for the balloons.

The latest air alerts in Poland came three months after Poland and NATO forces shot down more than a dozen Russian drones as they flew over Polish airspace between September 9 and 10.

The event was the largest incursion of its kind on Polish airspace since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Following the incident, NATO-member Poland called an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the “blatant violation of the UN Charter principles and the customary law”.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said at the time that Russia was testing how quickly NATO countries could respond to threats.

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Record numbers of Swedish retirees are enrolling in a university run “by pensioners for pensioners” amid increased loneliness and a growing appetite for learning and in-person interactions.

Senioruniversitet, a national university that collaborates with Sweden’s adult education institution Folkuniversitetet, has about 30 independent branches around the country which run study circles, lecture series and university courses in subjects including languages, politics, medicine and architecture.

The Stockholm branch, which is Sweden’s largest, has become so popular since it was founded in 1991 that it is now run across multiple venues across the capital by about 100 volunteers. Its most popular event, the Tuesday lectures, gets about 1,000 people each week.

Recent Stockholm lectures have included “The art of awarding Nobel prizes” by a former member of a Nobel committee, “Disinformation and AI – the threat we invented ourselves” and “From soap to cultural heritage/canon and vice versa.”

Inga Sanner, chair of Senioruniversitetet in Stockholm, said membership nationally was at an all-time high. “We had a dip during the pandemic, of course, but we have come up again to the same number and increased even more. Our membership is the highest ever.”

In 2023 there were 2,099 events held across Sweden attended by 161,932 participants, according to Folkuniversitetet. This year, that number is projected to increase to 177,024 participants across 2,391 events.

Gunnar Danielsson, secretary general of Folkuniversitetet, said: “The desire to learn for pleasure’s sake, or for the sake of learning as such, is a joy to experience in a society which is increasingly obsessed with learning and education as preparation for work.”

The increasing popularity of Senioruniversitetet was not reflected by the level of government funding, though, he said, which had “significantly decreased” over the past few years. “More likely it reflects a desire to actually meet other people in real life rather than on the internet.”

Sanner, a retired history professor, said older people were “more and more alert” and that there is a “fantastic hunger for education”. She added: “It’s totally fascinating that there are so many who want to learn more and learn more about the world. It is so very needed in our time.”

The wider societal role that Senioruniversitetet plays is becoming increasingly important, she said, and the learning and wellbeing of its members has a knock-on effect to their families and beyond.

“It is to do with democracy issues and education. Senior citizens don’t live in a vacuum. If nothing else, it has an effect on children and grandchildren,” she said. “You are an example. Not just sitting rocking in a rocking chair, but you are out and want to learn more. Then you can share that with your grandchildren and children.”

She added: “The lectures are fantastic. You become completely fulfilled when you have been to an event and then it bubbles over when you meet others.”

For many of their volunteers, their office in central Stockholm is like a workplace. “It is very meaningful work, but also you have such a lovely time and meet others.”

Sanner said the demographic of its membership does, however, tend to be “too homogenous”, adding that they need to do more to extend their reach to a more diverse audience.

Susanne Abelin, 66, a former journalist from Norrtälje, near Stockholm, volunteers on the university’s newsletter and is learning Italian.

Ageism is rife in Sweden, she said, and palpable in day-to-day life. “You are seen more or less as an idiot. Maybe it’s because we have had it so materially well over generations that we don’t need each other so much – for good and for bad.”

But Senioruniversitetet, where over-55s can learn for a relatively low fee, is “a bit of the Swedish welfare system that is still left”.

Her Italian class has a WhatsApp group so they can stay in touch outside lessons and last year she went to Italy with one of her classmates. “I’m absolutely not fluent in Italian and will never be, but it is inspiring and it keeps your mind alert. Instead of doing crosswords and suduko you can study some verbs.”

Joachim Forsgren, 71, a former physician who now volunteers for the Stockholm branch, has given lectures on “man and drugs” and tuberculosis.

Volunteering, he said, gives people a “sense of meaning and that they are contributing still”. He added: “People can get the feeling that they are not contributing once they leave their jobs. Pensioners is a word I hate.”

By volunteering, he said, “we are contributing to some kind of democracy project. This is really trying, especially in this day and age, to get people interested in what is going on”. Amid the rise of online disinformation and populism, the university helps people to “look critically at the amount of information we are almost drowning in every day”.

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President Donald Trump has said the US launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria.

The US leader described IS as ” terrorist scum”, accusing the group of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians”.

Trump said the US military “executed numerous perfect strikes”, while the US Africa Command (Africom) later reported that Thursday’s attack was carried out in co-ordination with Nigeria in the Sokoto state.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a “joint operation” targeting “terrorists”, and it “has nothing to do with a particular religion”.

Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, saying this depended on “decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries”.

In his post on Truth Social late on Thursday, Trump said that “under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper”.

In November, Trump ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups.

He did not say at the time which killings he was referring to – but claims of a genocide against Nigeria’s Christians have been circulating in recent months in some right-wing US circles.

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday he was “grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation”.

“Merry Christmas!” he added, writing on X.

The US Department of Defense later posted an unclassified short video that appeared to show a missile being launched from a military vessel.

On Friday morning, the Nigerian foreign ministry said in a statement that the country’s authorities “remain engaged in structured security co-operation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorist and violent extremism.

“This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” the statement said.

Groups monitoring violence say there is no evidence to suggest that Christians are being killed more than Muslims in Nigeria, which is roughly evenly divided between followers of the two religions.

An adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu told the BBC at the time that any military action against the jihadist groups should be carried out together.

Daniel Bwala said Nigeria would welcome US help in tackling the Islamist insurgents but noted that it was a “sovereign” country.

He also said the jihadists were not targeting members of a particular religion and that they had killed people from all faiths, or none.

President Tinubu has insisted there is religious tolerance in the country and said the security challenges were affecting people “across faiths and regions”.

Trump earlier announced that he had declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” because of the “existential threat” posed to its Christian population. He said “thousands” had been killed, without providing any evidence.

This is a designation used by the US state department that provides for sanctions against countries “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom”.

Following this announcement, Tinubu said his government was committed to working with the US and the international community to protect communities of all faiths.

Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have wrought havoc in north-eastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people – however most of these have been Muslims, according to Acled, a group which analyses political violence around the world.

In central Nigeria, there are also frequent clashes between mostly Muslim herders and farming groups, who are often Christian, over access to water and pasture.

Deadly cycles of tit-for-tat attacks have also seen thousands killed – but atrocities have been committed on both sides.

Human rights groups say there is no evidence that Christians have been disproportionately targeted.

Last week, the US said it had carried out a “massive strike” against IS in Syria,

The US Central Command (Centcom) said fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery “struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria”. Aircraft from Jordan were also involved.

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After days of relentless torrential rains leading to mudslides and flash floods, California was hit by another powerful storm on Christmas Day.

The storm on Thursday prompted authorities to issue evacuation warnings and high surf advisories.

An evacuation warning was issued for Wrightwood, a mountain town about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, a day after rescuing people stuck in cars during a mudslide.

The storm, driven by an atmospheric river known as “the Pineapple Express,” which moves heavy moisture from Hawaii to the US West Coast, is expected to dump months’ worth of rain in California over a few days.

The storm has left thousands of people out of power Image: William Liang/AP Photo/picture alliance

The storm and the accompanying by torrential rains have rendered more than 70,000 people without power on Thursday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.

On Wednesday, at least two people were reported dead due to heavy rains and strong winds.

Poor weather conditions to continue

While there was a pause in the rain in parts of southern California on Thursday, the rain is going to continue through Friday, according to NWS.

It warned of a “broad plume of moisture” producing heavy rain in California on Thursday.

“Numerous flash flooding events are possible. In addition, many streams may flood, potentially affecting larger rivers. The flooding may include debris flows in or near recently burned areas,” the service said, referring to areas affected by wildfires.

The flash floods have left roads covered in debris and rocksImage: William Liang/AP Photo/picture alliance

The NWS has warned that some areas could see winds with gusts of up to 55 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour). 

State authorities declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles.    

“We’re not out of it yet. Rain continues to fall across LA County making roadways, waterways and flood channels extremely dangerous. Check conditions before venturing out today,” Los Angeles County officials said Thursday on X.

Edited by: Farah Bahgat

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Warning: This story contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2.

NEED TO KNOW

• Tensions are high between Hopper (David Harbour) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in Volume 2 of Stranger Things season 5
• When it comes to Eleven, Hopper is “more protective than most parents because of his history,” the Duffer Brothers tell PEOPLE
• Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things season 5 are streaming now on Netflix, and the finale drops Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET

Eleven is keeping secrets heading into the Stranger Things finale, and the tension between her and Hopper seems ready to implode.

Things are tense between the father-daughter duo throughout season 5, Volume 2, as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is furious and feels betrayed by Hopper (David Harbour).

In Volume 1, it was revealed that he had a suicide plan that he’d kept to himself for months. Eleven discovered the truth as they broke into the government facility in the Upside Down at the end of Volume 1. Though he claimed it was just a “failsafe,” Eleven was not convinced, and her distrust has lingered into the next round of episodes.

Their tension has left an opening for Eight (Linnea Berthelsen) to convince Eleven to partake in her own self-destructive plan heading into the finale.

The “messy and complicated” dynamic between Hopper and Eleven is a key piece of the puzzle as the final episode of the series approaches, the Duffer Brothers say.

“It’s just a dynamic that we really wanted to explore, which is this dynamic of a parent and their child, who’s actually no longer really a child anymore, is actually a young adult, becoming an adult — and how do you deal with that?” Matt Duffer tells PEOPLE. “How do you deal with letting them go, giving them independence, when, especially Hopper, feels protective of her?”

Hopper is even “more protective than most parents because of his history,” having lost his daughter, Sarah, years earlier, to cancer.

David Harbour as Jim Hopper and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in ‘Stranger Things’ season 5.

Courtesy of Netflix

That tricky dynamic between a parent and child is “really a big part, I think, of everyone’s journey in transitioning from childhood or young adulthood to adulthood,” Matt says.

In Hopper’s case, his grief drives him, and “he had to confront it again as he was going to save Will in season 1, and then he had to confront it again over the various seasons as he sort of adopted Eleven as his own daughter,” says Ross Duffer.

Hopper’s “greatest fear” is that “Eleven wouldn’t be able to live happily and that she would die at the end of all this,” Ross says, and that now “seems to be a possibility,” given the suicide pact she makes with Eight.

As episode 7 ends, the gang heads into the Upside Down to begin “Operation Beanstalk,” their plan to defeat Vecna before he brings the Abyss to Earth. Eight tells Eleven that they can’t “leave with the others” and instead must stay behind so that “when the Upside Down vanishes, so will we.”

At first, Eleven is hesitant, but she gives her sister a subtle nod just before the episode ends that seems to indicate she’s in on the secret plan.

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

As for what that means for Hopper, Ross teases that his fear “is what we really explore moving into the finale.”

David Harbour as Jim Hopper in ‘Stranger Things’ season 5.

Courtesy of Netflix

In episode 7, Hopper shared his fears for Eleven’s safety with Joyce (Winona Ryder) before their final mission kicked off.

“I can work on repairing things between us when I get on the other side of this, but right now, I need to make sure she gets out of this alive,” he said.

“That Kali makes one false move, I swear to god, I’m gonna kill her. I’m gonna kill her. I will not hesitate. Anything happens to El in that tank, I am pulling her out. I can’t lose her, Joyce,” Hopper said, his voice breaking as he gave voice to his biggest fear. “I can’t.”

Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things season 5 are streaming now on Netflix. The finale drops Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET.

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Former US President Joe Biden shared a family photo to wish followers a happy holiday season, only for online users to quickly note that he was barely visible in the snap.

Biden, 83, posted the image Wednesday night, posing in front of a Christmas tree alongside seven family members.

‘Wishing you a peaceful and joyful Christmas Eve filled with love,’ he wrote on X.

Commenters immediately pointed out that the 46th commander–in–chief was largely obscured by his wife Jill in the unusual festive photo.

‘I saw this photo and thought – No f–ing way that’s real,’ one user wrote.

‘This is surely someone mocking Joe Biden as being photoshopped into the picture,’ he added. ‘But no, it’s real. It’s from his official account. This is mind blowing.’

The curious group image had been viewed more than 3.1million times, as of Thursday afternoon.

Online users were quick to point out that Joe Biden’s Christmas Eve group photo had relegated the former US president to the background, with his face partially blocked by wife Jill

Biden was relegated to the background of the family group photo, with part of his face blocked by his smiling wife.

‘Nice of the lady to stand in front of your head Joe,’ one X user wrote.

‘Why are you in the back,’ another asked. ‘Blocked by Jill.’

Others were even more blunt in their assessments, as they took aim at the former First Lady for obscuring her husband’s face.

‘This is a former president of the United States being shoved in the background and half covered up by his wife in his own photo,’ one X user said. ‘It’s [sic] could almost be a joke but I don’t think it is.’

The ‘classy’ move to not feature Biden more prominently on his own profile was also sarcastically noted by online commenters.

‘Ouch,’ an X user posted. ‘Way to shove the family namesake to the back, cover part of his face, then post it to his social media account.’

Join the debate

Should family photo etiquette change when the person photographed is a former president?

Instead of the former president, it was Biden’s son Hunter, 55, who took center stage in the Christmas Eve portrait.

‘Hunter is the alpha now,’ a separate user noted.

He was accompanied by his daughter, Maisy, 24, on his right and his wife, Melissa Cohen, 39, standing next to Jill Biden. 

The family shot was rounded out by Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley, 44, and his granddaughter Finnegan, 25. 

Joe Biden was the only member of the photo whose face was partially obscured.

‘I think it’s disrespectful to put the eldest family member in the back of a photo taken for the former president’s social media,’ a user wrote.

Another user agreed: ‘His family buried him in the back of the Christmas photo and then posted it on his own account.’

Commenters asked why the former First Lady was obscuring the 46th president’s head. One user sarcastically said it was a ‘classy’ touch on Biden’s own social media account

Since Biden dropped out of the presidential race in 2024, he has taken a back seat in both his public and political life.

But when he was president, Biden was put in the spotlight for a series of disastrous debate performances and gaffes – including introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘President Putin’, confusing his vice president Kamala Harris with Trump and calling his defense secretary Lloyd J Austin III ‘that black man’.

At the beginning of the month, Biden tripped on his words as he failed to say ‘America’ in a speech.

The former US president was denouncing ‘the many crises caused by this administration’ when he botched the name of the nation he formerly governed.

‘We’re the United States of Amerigotit,’ Biden said. ‘That’s who we are. We’re the US.’

In May, Biden’s post–presidential office revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which had spread to his bones.

Biden completed radiation treatment for the aggressive cancer in late October, and was previously also surrounded by his family during Thanksgiving.

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A huge ‘backpacker Christmas party’ led to a popular beach being littered with rubbish – with more than 20 tonnes of waste left behind after festive celebrations

Revellers at Coogee Beach in Australia(Image: Getty)

Aussie locals have been left fuming after a ‘massive backpacker Christmas bash’ turned an iconic beach into a rubbish dump, forcing the local council into a mammoth cleanup operation.

Sydney’s Coogee beach was packed to the brim with party-goers on December 25, sporting Santa hats and clutching drinks as they basked in the Australian sun celebrating Christmas Day.

But plenty of residents were appalled by the mountains of litter left behind – with others slamming those who turned the scenic spot into an outdoor loo as festivities continued, reports the Express..

Randwick Council announced: “Council staff have commenced the cleanup of Coogee Beach after a large backpacker Christmas party.

“A big thank you to all our lifeguards, rangers and waste and cleansing staff for all your hard work under difficult circumstances on Christmas Day. Thank you.”

The mayor praised council workers for their tireless efforts in a Facebook post. “In total, more than 20 tonnes of rubbish was picked up and sent to the tip in four truck-loads,’ he said.

Cans, food and other rubbish was left behind(Image: Getty)

“Staff used beach rakes, footpath sweepers, high-pressure hoses and hands-on cleaning to clear rubbish and clean toilets, sand and grassed areas.

“While many people behaved responsibly, it’s disappointing that some chose to litter heavily and urinate in public spaces.”

Whilst some came to the defence of those who abandoned their waste, others were gobsmacked by the blatant disrespect shown towards the beloved location. One Facebook user expressed their gratitude, saying: “Thank you to everyone who cleaned up. What a shame our beautiful beach is treated so poorly.”

However, another bloke had a different take, stating: “Stop being a Scrooge. People had a party, yeah there’s a bit of mess but it will get cleaned up. In the current climate I’m glad people can let their hair down and have a dance.

“Big thank you to the clean up crew and Merry Christmas.

“Why don’t you make them clean it up? They made the mess so they should clean it up,” chimed in another.

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These are the key developments from day 1,401 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Published On 26 Dec 202526 Dec 2025

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Here is where things stand on Friday, December 26:

Fighting

• Officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region reported a huge fire following a Ukrainian drone strike on two storage tanks holding oil products in the southern Russian port of Temryuk. The blaze spread across roughly 2,000 square metres (some 21,500 square feet).
• Long-range Ukrainian drones targeted oil storage facilities at Temryuk port, as well as a gas processing plant in Russia’s Orenburg region, Ukraine’s SBU security service said.
• Ukraine’s General Staff said its military also struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region using Storm Shadow missiles, triggering several explosions.
• The General Staff described the Russian refinery as a major supplier of oil products in southern Russia that supports Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
• Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced that its forces had taken control of the settlement of Sviato-Pokrovske in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, according to reports from Russian state news agencies.

Regional security

• Poland sent fighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near its airspace over the Baltic Sea and said dozens of objects entered Polish airspace from Belarus overnight, warning the incidents during the holiday season may signal a provocation.
• Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the United States of encouraging what it called “piracy” in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean by blockading Venezuela, while expressing hope that US President Donald Trump’s pragmatism could prevent further escalation.
• Moscow also reiterated its support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government and its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty amid threats by the US to remove Maduro from power.

Peace talks

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for about an hour on how to end the war with Russia and “how to bring the real peace closer”.

• “Of course, there is still work to be done on sensitive issues,” the Ukrainian leader said. “But together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place. The weeks ahead may also be intensive. Thank you, America!”

• Russia believes negotiations with the US to end the war in Ukraine are making gradual progress, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. She described the talks as slow-moving but advancing steadily.

Politics and diplomacy

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had sent the US president a Christmas greeting along with a congratulatory message.
•  Russia said it had put forward a proposal to France concerning Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher imprisoned under Russia’s foreign agent laws, adding that the next steps in the Frenchman’s case now rest with Paris.

Sanctions

• Russia’s target of producing 100 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually has been pushed back by several years due to international sanctions, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in comments aired on state television.

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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.

Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the “precision hits on terrorist targets,” adding that the government is guided by its intention to safeguard all citizens’ life, regardless of faith. 

According to a statement posted on the ministry’s X account, terrorism against any of the country’s religious communities “remains an affront on Nigeria’s values and  to international peace and security.”

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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Russian forces appear close to being pushed out of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk, with only a small number of isolated troops remaining and even pro-Kremlin voices acknowledging the setback, according to a report.

The Kyiv Post reported Thursday that Ukrainian military officials say Russian units left inside the city are cut off from reliable supply lines and are increasingly surrendering as their position deteriorates.

Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for Ukraine’s Joint Forces grouping, said Russian forces inside Kupyansk now number only several dozen and include foreign mercenaries fighting alongside Moscow’s troops.

“They are surrendering,” Viktor Trehubov said during a televised briefing carried by Ukrainian state media. “There have even been cases of foreigners – foreign mercenaries for the Russians – giving themselves up.”

ZELENSKYY VISITS FRONTLINE UKRAINIAN CITY WEEKS AFTER RUSSIA CLAIMED IT TOOK CONTROL

An evacuation van drives through the largely destroyed frontline city of Kupiansk, Ukraine, on Jan. 6, 2025. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

According to Ukrainian officials, the remaining Russian units are surviving largely on limited air resupply, a tactic that cannot sustain long-term operations inside the city.

“Supply by air bridge alone is not something that allows them to hold out for long,” Trehubov said.

While Russian forces continue to launch multiple assaults along the Kupyansk axis each day, Ukrainian officials say those attacks lack the manpower and reserves needed to change the balance on the ground.

UKRAINE, US NEAR 20-POINT PEACE DEAL AS PUTIN SPURNS ZELENSKYY CHRISTMAS CEASEFIRE OFFER

A Ukrainian army chaplain talks to Ukrainian soldiers in a shelter in the direction of Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on March 13, 2024.  (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“At this stage, they simply do not have additional capabilities to somehow restore the situation,” Trehubov said.

The Kyiv Post also reported that Russian military bloggers and war correspondents have begun openly conceding that Kupyansk is no longer under Russian control, marking a notable shift in Kremlin-aligned messaging.

“An entire wave of messages appeared saying that Kupyansk is gone,” Trehubov said. “Even Russian propagandists have switched to a line acknowledging that the city is no longer under their control.”

Ukrainian officials stressed that Russia never fully re-established control over Kupyansk after its liberation in September 2022, aside from a brief occupation during the early phase of the invasion.

US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH ‘LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE’ BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA

Ukrainian servicemen of the 44th artillery brigade fire a 2s22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk/AP Photo)

“In reality, it was never fully taken by them in order to be ‘lost,’ aside from a short period in 2022,” Trehubov said.

Efforts by Russian units to dig in within the city’s northern districts have failed, leaving those forces unable to withdraw or receive reinforcements, Ukrainian officials said.

“They themselves now admit that the defense of the city by the same units that entered and tried to secure positions in the northern districts has failed,” Trehubov said.

MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE

Ukrainian soldiers from the 115th Brigade Mortar Unit conduct mortar training, as members of the Anti-UAV unit test an FPV drone inhibitor in Lyman, Ukraine. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Combat continues outside the city, particularly from positions across the Oskil River, though Ukrainian forces maintain control of Kupyansk itself.

Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian troops carried out five attacks in the Kupyansk sector on Dec. 24, all of which were repelled near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Zahryzove and Kupyansk.

Trehubov said a recent Ukrainian counteroffensive further disrupted Russian efforts to stabilize the front.

“The counteroffensive came as a surprise for the enemy,” he said. “Right now, they simply lack the resources to regain control.”

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Kupyansk, a key rail and road hub in the Kharkiv region with a pre-war population of about 27,000, has long been a focal point of Russian territorial claims.

The city was briefly occupied during the opening months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 before being liberated by Ukrainian forces later that year, a history Ukrainian officials say Moscow has repeatedly tried to obscure through disinformation.

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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NEED TO KNOW

• A TikTok travel enthusiast is sharing a simple trick that saves her “hundreds of dollars” every single time
• Before an upcoming hotel stay, user @azartravelz says she emails the general manager of the property and asks to make her trip “extra special”
• The content creator says the process takes her less than 10 minutes and results in free breakfast or room upgrades, if not both

A frequent traveler is sharing the one trick she says saves her “hundreds of dollars” in food and free upgrades every time she stays in a hotel. 

TikTok user @azartravelz revealed the tip in a “Travel Hack Tuesday” video earlier this year. The self-described “personal finance nerd, school nurse and family travel enthusiast” says she frequently uses the hack, of sorts, for every family vacation.

Azar says the first step is to search for the name of the general manager at whatever property she is staying at. For example, she searched for the “general manager Hyatt Ziva Cancun” prior to her Mexican vacation. From there, she seeks out their email address.

“You might have to do some internet sleuthing, or just call the hotel and ask for the name and email address of the general manager,” she says. 

After that, she uses a simple template to inform management of an upcoming stay. 

“I send them an email that just says, ‘Hey, we’re coming to your hotel [on] these dates. Here’s our confirmation number. We’re so excited to stay with you. We’ve heard such wonderful things about the property,’ ” she explains.

“ ‘We’re celebrating my birthday and I’m just wondering if there’s anything you could do to make our stay extra special, such as a room upgrade and/or a free breakfast or club access,’ ” referencing some property’s exclusive club-level offerings that sometimes offer breakfast and snacks throughout the day. 

A stock image of a large hotel suite.

Getty

Azar says the whole process only takes her 10 minutes, from searching for the email, composing it, to hitting send. Although it takes little effort, she claims it works “100% of the time.”

“At minimum, I’ve gotten a room with a better view or a slightly larger room,” the creator says. But sometimes, the upgrade is much larger. 

“My most recent trip, we went to Turkey and we stayed at a Hyatt Regency. They upgraded us to a suite,” she says. “The cash price for this for a whole week was like $6,000, and they gave us [the] free breakfast buffet for my family of five.”

Azar says the family saved “hundreds of dollars” over the course of the week, just in food alone. 

A stock image of breakfast served at a hotel.

Getty

“Whether you’re paying for your hotel on points or cash or whatever, do this little trick,” Azar says. “The worst they can say is ‘no.’ And if they say no, you’re staying in the room you booked anyways.”

“Ask for what you want and see what you get,” she says at the end of the video.

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In the comment section, other TikTok users shared their own success stories using the simple trick.

“I did this for our Niagara Falls trip (here now) and the manager upgraded our room to a falls view suite with a bottle of wine,” one user writes.

Another said, “Followed your template with my own twist and our room was upgraded within the hour and when we checked in this morning they also gave us a bar credit.” 

Meanwhile a user claiming to be a hotel general manager offered their two cents: “Join the rewards program first. Much better chance of this working. Members will always get first debs on perks and upgrades.”

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By NICHOLAS COMINO, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 01:14 GMT, 26 December 2025 | Updated: 01:29 GMT, 26 December 2025

A 47-year-old man has been named as a person of interest by police after a rabbi’s car was allegedly targeted by an arson attack on Christmas Day. 

A family fled were forced to flee their home after a vehicle displaying a Hanukkah sign was firebombed in Melbourne’s south-east.

Emergency services raced to Balaclava Road in St Kilda East , the heart of the city’s Jewish communit, at about 2.50am on Thursday after a car was set alight in their driveway.

A billboard on top of the car read: ‘Happy Chanukah.’ The vehicle was engulfed in flames but was unoccupied at the time. Firefighters evacuated residents as a precaution while they worked to contain the blaze.

Police confirmed no one was injured.

Victoria Police are urging John Argento to come forward as part of their investigation into the targeted blaze. 

Argento, who is already wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for deception-related offences, is well known to police. 

Officers say Argento leads a ‘transient lifestyle’ and often moves through Melbourne’s inner southern and northern suburbs. 

Pictured is a man police are interested in speaking to regarding the alleged incident 

He is described as 185cm tall, with a thin build, blue eyes, grey hair, and a fair complexion. 

Police have released an image of Argento and are appealing to anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.

Detectives stress the attack appears targeted but say there is no evidence Argento poses a specific risk to the Jewish community. 

Investigators also want to question him about a car break-in that occurred just 20 minutes after the arson. 

‘We understand the devastating impact this type of offence has on our Jewish community, and we are continuing to prioritise this investigation. We won’t fully understand the motives of this arsonist until we get them into custody,’ Chris Gilbert the Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Metro Region said. 

Gilbert stressed there was no ongoing threat to the community. 

‘At this stage, we do not believe there is a broader threat to the Jewish community. We want to thank people in the area for their assistance in this investigation so far,’ he said. 

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Man is named as person of interest after rabbi’s car firebombed on Christmas Day

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Michael Dickinsin, 69, was killed in a freak accident in the drive-thru lane of a McDonald’s in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Tuesday after he was pinned between his car and the side of the building

The customer was crushed to death while trying to pay (Image: KSNB Local)

A customer tragically lost his life in a freak accident at a McDonald’s drive-through whilst attempting to pay for his order.

Michael Dickinsin, 69, was crushed to death on Tuesday after becoming trapped between his vehicle and the building’s exterior in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was rushed to a local hospital but sadly could not be saved.

Grand Island Police Division Chief Dean Elliott described Dickinson’s death as a freak accident. “It appears the deceased opened the door to further reach out the window for payment purposes,” he told KSNB.

McDonalds drive-thru can be dangerous(Image: Getty Images)

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“We’re not sure if the vehicle lurched forward or what happened, but he got pinched between the door frame and the drive-through window counter.”

It follows another tragedy where a Texas doctor was decapitated when lift doors closed around his neck, leaving his head trapped outside, reports the Mirror US.

Initial inquiries revealed that Dickinson was alone in the vehicle and was the sole person who “sustained fatal injuries,” police confirmed.

Elliott informed the outlet that a McDonald’s worker was also injured during the incident whilst attempting to assist Dickinson by entering through the passenger side of the car. The department’s Accident Reconstruction Team is assisting with the inquiry, the outlet reported.

A comparable incident occurred at a McDonald’s in Vancouver in 2021 when Tony Eyles, 42, was killed by his own vehicle at the drive-through. CCTV footage showed the man settling his bill when he dropped his bank card on the ground, police said at the time.

As Eyles attempted to retrieve the car, it rolled forward, trapping him between the car door and the building. Unable to free himself, Eyles was crushed.

Drive-thru accidents can and do happen(Image: Getty Images)

“This is an absolutely heartbreaking scenario,” expressed Vancouver Police Constable Tania Visintin about the unrelated incident, as per a press release. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of this man.”

Visintin informed the Edmonton City News that the incident was a tragic event for the McDonald’s employees who witnessed it. “People aren’t used to seeing this type of incident happen, especially at your workplace.”

She further mentioned that victim services were offered to the staff. “I would assume everyone is shaken up.”

What makes these incidents particularly unusual is that fatal car accidents typically involve more than one vehicle. However, in these instances, only the deceased’s cars were involved.

“The fact that no other vehicle was involved… this seems like a freak accident,” Visintin commented.

This follows a horrifying incident where a group of children, including his own, watched Santa Claus fall to his death.

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