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Sunday’s talks between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy could pave the way for the first call between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in more than five years, a source familiar with the discussions said.

And while the Mar-a-Lago meeting was framed as a step forward in the peace effort with Trump at the helm, the source also described how securing a direct Zelenskyy-Putin phone call would be a “diplomatic victory” for the president.

“If Putin had joined in a call Sunday, this would have been the greatest achievement in the preparation of the peace talks and the first real step in the peace process,” the source told Fox News Digital on condition of anonymity.

“This would be [a] diplomatic victory for President Trump.”

FINNISH PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSER THAN ANY POINT DURING THE WAR

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a proclamation in the Oval Office at the White House on April 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“Trump seems to be the most successful mediator because the two of them, Putin and Zelenskyy, perceive each other emotionally, and it is a challenge.”

Trump confirmed Sunday that he had spoken with Putin ahead of the Zelenskyy meeting, calling the conversation “good and very productive” in a Truth Social post.

“I do believe that we have the makings of a deal,” Trump also told reporters as he stood next to Zelenskyy after he arrived in Florida on Sunday, adding he believes the process can “move very rapidly.”

“I think we’re in the final stages of talking, and we’re going to see,” Trump said.

“Otherwise, it’s going to go on for a long time. It’ll either end, or it’s going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be killed,” the president added.

The Florida meeting came days after Zelenskyy also said he had a “good conversation” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, both of whom were also present Sunday.

ZELENSKYY SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH TRUMP ‘BEFORE THE NEW YEAR’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and European leaders pose for a photo during talks at the Chancellery in Berlin, Dec. 15, 2025. (Lisi Niesner/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

As Zelenskyy approached Sunday’s meeting, the source said the Ukrainian leader was likely feeling anxious.

“Zelenskyy is usually very nervous before such conversations with President Trump,” the source said. “He concentrates for a long time and studies the notes that the International Policy Department and the Foreign Ministry prepare for him.”

Sunday also marked the third in-person meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy since Trump returned to office.

At the center of discussions was a U.S.-backed, 20-point peace plan emerging from weeks of negotiations that would need compromise from Kyiv and Moscow to engage and perhaps speak directly with Zelenskyy, the source said.

TRUMP SUGGESTS HE’LL CALL FINAL SHOTS ON PEACE DEAL AHEAD OF ZELENSKYY MEETING: ‘WE’LL SEE WHAT HE’S GOT’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Donald Trump in Washington D.C., on Aug. 19, 2025.  ( Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“The one difficulty they have is that Putin has refused to talk to Zelenskyy since July 2020, when they spoke over the Wagner scandal and the failed operation to detain Russian Wagner militants.” 

“After that, Zelenskyy repeatedly tried to talk to Putin, but he refused.”

“There were windows of opportunity for a conversation in August and September 2024, but they disappeared again when Ukraine invaded the Kursk region,” the source said.

The last direct contact between the two leaders followed a botched Ukrainian operation targeting Russian Wagner mercenaries.

Ukrainian intelligence lured the mercenaries to Belarus and planned to intercept them on their way from Minsk to Istanbul, before the men were arrested, per The Kyiv Independent.

ZELENSKYY READY TO PRESENT NEW PEACE PROPOSALS TO US AND RUSSIA AFTER WORKING WITH EUROPEAN TALKS

Putin is testing the boundaries of NATO with aircraft incursions, allied states say. (Ramil Sitdikov/Pool/Reuters )

“That last call between Zelenskyy and Putin came as Ukraine was trying to capture a group of Russian Wagner fighters,” the source said. “The operation failed.”

Even before communications broke down entirely, relations between the two leaders were strained, the source said.

“Before that point in 2020, calls between Zelenskyy and Putin were never friendly, and there was always tension between them. During talks, Putin was always taciturn, and Zelenskyy tried to establish a rapport.”

“Zelenskyy always acted subservient toward Putin and pretended to be in a good mood, almost as if he was playing a role on stage,” the source explained.

“He talked a lot and read from his notes, afraid of forgetting something. Sometimes he would stumble over his words or lose track of punctuation.”

PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE ‘FORCE’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the 20-point plan, which U.S. officials say is about 90% complete, could include limited Ukrainian troop withdrawals from parts of eastern Ukraine. (Putin photo: Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters; Zelenskyy photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters)

“When Putin stayed silent, Zelenskyy would always ask politely, ‘What do you think, Vladimir Vladimirovich?’”

“Putin was just never talkative,” the source said.

The Florida talks came as Kyiv signaled a potential shift in its negotiating posture. Zelenskyy has said the 20-point plan, which U.S. officials say is about 90% complete, could include limited Ukrainian troop withdrawals from parts of eastern Ukraine without formally recognizing Russian control, along with the creation of demilitarized zones.

He also floated submitting the plan to a national referendum if Moscow agrees to a 60-day ceasefire.

Zelenskyy has drawn a firm line on security guarantees, insisting Ukraine needs legally binding assurances from the U.S. to deter future Russian aggression.

TRUMP TOUTS ‘PROGRESS’ ON UKRAINE-RUSSIA DEAL, ADMITS IT’S ‘ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT’ CONFLICTS TO SOLVE

Rescuers work on the scene of a building damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025.  (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

“For us, it is very important that there is a signal that we want legally binding security guarantees,” Zelenskyy told Ukrainian journalists Saturday. “This primarily depends on President Trump,” he added.

“Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war,” Zelenskyy also wrote on X this weekend.

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“For us, priority number one — or the only priority — is ending the war. For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table. To be strong, we need the support of the world: Europe and the United States.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kremlin and President Zelenskyy’s office for comment.

Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture. 

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Three inmates who escaped a Georgia jail allegedly hijacked a Lyft and kidnapped the female driver at knifepoint after putting a rope around her neck and threatening to kill her as they fled to Florida, court documents state.

Stevenson Charles, 24, Yusuf Minor, 31, and Naod Yohannes, 25, are back in custody this week after a terrifying 10-hour ordeal for the Lyft driver.

After escaping from Georgia’s DeKalb County Jail at some point December 22, the men were picked up by an unnamed man and taken to one of their girlfriends’ homes, according to police. There, a Lyft ride was arranged to whisk them away to Florida, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

The driver, who was not named in the complaint, later told investigators that it appeared that the car was ordered by a woman. Prosecutors said Minor’s girlfriend is the one who called the Lyft for the three male passengers.

During the car ride to Miami, the men bound the driver’s hands, wrapped a rope around her neck and repeatedly threatened to kill her, according to the complaint.

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Three inmates — Stevenson Charles, Yusuf Minor and Naod Yohannes — hijacked a Lyft and kidnapped a driver for 10 hours after escaping Georgia jail, according to the FBI (DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office)

She was dragged into the backseat and warned not to struggle or they would rape and kill her, according to the FBI. The driver estimated she was held captive for up to 10 hours, the complaint states.

After trying to escape at one point, the driver endured “increased threats of being shot, raped, and tortured,” the FBI agent wrote in the complaint.

The men then allegedly used the driver’s credit cards to rent a short-term rental property in Miramar, Florida, which is about 25 miles north of Miami.

At some point, Charles and Yohannes left the rental in the driver’s stolen vehicle, while Minor stayed behind, according to the complaint.

The stolen vehicle was detected with the use of license plate readers, which led to the arrests of Charles and Yohannes, federal prosecutors said.

Minor was arrested a short time later at the rental, where authorities found the victim, according to the complaint. It’s not clear if the victim sustained any serious injuries.

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DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox speaks to reporters after the three escaped inmates were captured in Florida (AP)

In an statement provided to NBC News, a Lyft spokesperson said the company was “concerned by this incident and relieved that the driver is safe.”

“Our hearts are with the driver and we have reached out to offer support,” the spokesperson said. “Lyft is working closely with law enforcement to assist in any way we can as the investigation continues.”

All three men are back in custody and now face additional kidnapping charges.

According to online inmate records, Minor and Yohannes were serving life sentences for murder at the time of the escape. Charles was being held on charges of murder and armed robbery.

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox told reporters that the men escaped from an Atlanta-area jail that is “deteriorating right before our eyes. The inmates were able to “compromise” a part of the facility, which investigators and jail officials are now repairing.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Olivia Culpo tells PEOPLE she saves all of her newborn daughter Colette McCaffrey’s clothes, as well as her own fashion archive
• The former Miss Universe says her pageant and wedding dresses are being kept “intact” in a storage unit
• She teases which parent’s footsteps she hopes Colette follows in

Prom may be years away, but when it’s time, Colette McCaffrey will have her pick of perfect dresses!

The 5-month-old daughter of model and actress Olivia Culpo, 33, and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, 29, will find out there is plenty in store for her — or should we say, storage. Culpo, who won Miss USA and Miss Universe in 2012, tells PEOPLE that she “saves everything” for Colette.

“I have a whole storage unit for her with all of my wedding dresses, my pageant dresses — all of my really valuable keepsakes,” she says, adding that she wants her treasured items to “be intact” for Colette when she’s older.

Some notable gowns Colette can expect to come across include her mom’s plunging pink and red pageant looks, including the velvety showstopper she wore when she was crowned Miss Universe in Las Vegas.

Culpo was the first American Miss Universe winner in 15 years, with the previously crowned U.S. title-holder being Brook Lee in 1997.

Olivia Culpo is crowned as Miss USA 2012 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Dec. 19, 2012 in Las Vegas.

David Becker/Getty

Culpo’s custom wedding dress (and other looks from the evening) are also Colette’s to peruse.

She teamed up with Dolce & Gabbana to design the high-necked lace ballgown, which was featured in Vogue when the magazine profiled the couple’s June 2024 nuptials.

“I wanted something that felt as serious as that commitment,” she told Vogue at the time.

And it’s not just Culpo’s looks that are being archived; the new mom says Colette’s baby wardrobe is also being packed away as she “grows so fast … it feels like every week I’m pulling out the bins to store her clothes,” she tells PEOPLE.

For Culpo, saving these sartorial memories is also a response to her own mom’s purging of her childhood closet, including some Y2K staples she’d love to revisit. (She did get the chance to revisit an ’00s staple with her “nostalgic” NFL collection for Abercrombie & Fitch, which she talked to PEOPLE about for this story.)

“You don’t know how these pieces are going to wear and how valuable they can be someday,” she adds. “I look back at the clothes that I used to wear, and I miss them. I wish that I had so many of those pieces, because they are truly a moment in time, and it’s so cool to be able to take somebody back in that way.”

Culpo is excited to pass down a passion for fashion, but that doesn’t mean she’s anticipating that her daughter follow in her high-heeled footsteps If anything, the Next Gen Chef host wants to see her in a uniform.

“I hope that she’s an athlete,” Culpo reveals.

Her husband, McCaffrey, has played for both the 49ers and the Carolina Panthers since getting drafted by the NFL in 2017, and he even took home the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023.

“I mean, gosh, I can’t ruin the McCaffrey gene pool like that,” Culpo continues. “Christian has such an intense line of athletes in his blood bloodline that I’m hopeful that she’s athletic, because if she’s not, you know, who did that, you know? That would be my fault.”

Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo attend the 12th annual NFL Honors at Symphony Hall in 2023.

Ethan Miller/Getty

Little McCaffrey has plenty of growing to do before she chooses a lane, though: Culpo says her daughter is “just rolling over” and just hit a major milestone — attending her first 49ers game.

“She feels so brand new, but I can’t wait to see her little personality shine through more and more,” she adds.  

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• Do YOU know more? Email David.Olaseinde@dailymail.co.uk 

By DAVID OLASEINDE

Published: 18:40 GMT, 28 December 2025 | Updated: 20:29 GMT, 28 December 2025

One child is dead and another is in hospital after a house fire. 

The tragedy unfolded on White Admiral Way, in Hamstreet, Ashford, earlier today – seeing Kent Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene. 

Six fire engines and a height vehicle were raced to the semi-detached property, where crews worked to extinguish the blaze, which had spread throughout the home. 

Unfortunately, one child died at the scene, and another has been taken to hospital.

Photos of the scene show the charred remains of a home, with crews still battling to dampen hotspots.  

Ann Millington, KFRS’ Chief Executive, added: ‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with everyone affected by this tragic incident, especially the child’s loved ones.

‘We understand this will be a distressing time for the local community and support is available at a welfare hub set up at Hamstreet Village Hall.’

A statement released this evening said: ‘Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called today to reports of a house fire in White Admiral Way, in Hamstreet, Ashford.

One child is dead and another is in hospital after a house fire in Ashford, Kent 

Control operators sent six fire engines and a height vehicle to the semi-detached property

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently ongoing

People living or travelling near the Hamstreet area are no longer being advised to close windows and doors

Ann Millington, KFRS’ Chief Executive, added: ‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with everyone affected by this tragic incident, especially the child’s loved ones’

‘Control operators sent six fire engines and a height vehicle to the semi-detached property, where crews worked hard to extinguish an intense fire, which had spread throughout the home.

‘Sadly, one child died at the scene, and another has been taken to hospital.

‘People living or travelling near the Hamstreet area are no longer being advised to close windows and doors. The incident has been reduced to two fire engines and crews are continuing to dampen down. 

‘Our Volunteer Response Team are in attendance offering crew welfare and support.’

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently ongoing.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement earlier this afternoon: ‘Crews are currently responding to a house fire in Hamstreet, Ashford.

‘People living or travelling near this area are being advised to close windows and doors due to smoke coming from the incident and to also stay away from the area.

‘Six fire engines and a height vehicle are currently in attendance and crews are working hard to contain the fire and extinguish the flames.

‘Please share this information with any loved ones in the area who may be affected but do not have access to the internet.’

– This is a breaking news story. More to come.  

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One child is dead and another is in hospital after house fire

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Chelsea legend John Terry is raising money for charity by selling memorabilia from across his successful career in a vast online auction which takes place next week

John Terry is selling his full kit from celebrating Chelsea’s Champions League win(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

John Terry is auctioning the kit he wore during his infamous penalty slip and miss in the 2008 Champions League Final against Manchester United. The former Chelsea captain is clearing out his wardrobe of some iconic pieces of memorabilia in order to raise money for charity.

In addition to the strip from that notorious moment, a more difficult goodbye may come as he parts ways with the kit which he wore when lifting the 2011/12 Champions League trophy. Terry was in his full Blues kit despite being suspended for the penalty shootout win itself.

While Chelsea fans may be queuing up for a Champions League-winning top, perhaps there will be some United fans in search of the grass stains left in Terry’s 2008 shirt after his slip. After being called upon to take the decisive penalty following Cristiano Ronaldo’s miss, Terry slipped as he hit the ball and struck the post in Moscow. The Red Devils went on to win in sudden death.

The bidding will begin at $5,000 (£3,700) for that shirt. Others have a cheaper entry with the tops from the final game of his Chelsea career and his last career match listed at $1,000 (£740). They are among more than 20 items that the 45-year-old is putting up for auction with proceeds going to charity.

The funds will be directed to the John Terry Foundation, which supports a range of charities nationwide. “My foundation is going to benefit with two very close to my heart foundations that are in desperate need of the money,” Terry said. “It’s going to a great cause, so all the support is going to be welcome.”

READ MORE: Reece James makes it clear who is to blame for Chelsea implosion vs Aston VillaREAD MORE: Chelsea launch investigation after accusations made in feisty end to Aston Villa defeat

More high-ticket items will also be available. Terry is also set to let go of his first Premier League winners’ medal.

The Chelsea icon captained his team to a dominant title win under Jose Mourinho, ending the club’s 50-year wait for the title. The medal could raise up to £75,000.

Shirts that Terry has claimed in some of his biggest battles will also be available. Match-worn tops from Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will all go under the hammer.

The sale will take place on Wednesday, December 31 via an online auction house, Goldin. A spokesperson said that the collection was a testament to Terry’s truly ‘remarkable’ career.

John Terry slipped and missed his penalty against Manchester United(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC Via Getty Images)

“When considering the greatest defenders in the history of English football, John Terry’s name can often be found at the forefront of the conversation,” a statement read. “A stalwart and imposing presence on Chelsea’s vaunted back line, a position he held with the club for nearly 20 years, Terry quickly was anointed as the club’s skipper under newly arrived manager Jose Mourinho, a decision that proved wise beyond measure.

“Among the lots is Terry’s Premier League medal from his first win in 2004-05 and some of the shirts exchanged with opponents, including Lionel Messi

“In addition to his domestic achievements, Terry established himself as an accomplished lynchpin on the backline of England’s National Team, appearing in 78 international competitions while representing the Three Lions and scoring six goals total.

“Goldin is proud to present a remarkable array of memorabilia sourced directly from John Terry’s personal collection, testaments to various stages of Terry’s illustrious and accomplished career.”

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Kyrgios, who is currently 671st in the men’s rankings, beat the four-time Grand Slam singles champion in straight sets.

Published On 28 Dec 202528 Dec 2025

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Nick Kyrgios has beaten women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the “Battle of the Sexes”, a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans.

Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday that bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

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Back then, there was more at stake, with the nascent women’s professional tour, set up by King, fighting for its legitimacy and prize money for female players still far lower than it was for the men.

King, one of the all-time greats of the women’s game who was at the peak of her powers at age 29, saw off the 55-year-old Riggs, a top player in his day, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in Houston, Texas in the US.

On Sunday in Dubai in the UAE, each player received only one serve, and the dimensions of Sabalenka’s side of the court were nine percent smaller, in an attempt to restrict Kyrgios’s power and speed advantage.

Kyrgios has dropped to 671 in the rankings after playing just six ATP matches over the past three seasons, but the 30-year-old Australian still had enough to see off four-time Grand Slam singles champion Sabalenka, 27.

The maverick Australian was drenched in sweat and appeared out of breath in the second set ‌after going 1-3 down, while his opponent danced to the music ‌during a strategic time out. But he ⁠persevered to make it 3-3 after Belarusian Sabalenka sent a shot long.

Kyrgios, who shortened the points with cheeky drop shots ‌and used variations on his serve to good effect, pulled away to seal the win on serve ‍before sharing a warm hug with Sabalenka at the net.

“Honestly, it was a really tough match. She’s a hell of a competitor,” he said.

“I had to strap in because she was putting the pressure on, and ultimately, it was a really hard-fought battle.”

Sabalenka said she would “love” a rematch.

“I felt great. I put on a great fight. He was struggling. He was getting tired. I was happy to see that,” she said.

“It was a great level [of tennis]. I made a lot of great shots. I really enjoyed the show. I feel like next time when I play him, I know all his tactics and strengths.”

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The FBI has deployed additional personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to “dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs”, director Kash Patel said on social media on Sunday.

The FBI director said the agency had already dismantled a $250m fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during the Covid pandemic in a case that led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions.

Patel said the FBI believes “this is just the tip of a very large iceberg”. Some of those involved in the alleged scheme are being “referred to immigrations officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible”.

Patel’s comments comes after federal prosecutors estimate as much as $9bn has been stolen across schemes linked to the state’s Somalia population, a figure nearly equivalent to Somalia’s entire GDP.

The FBI director also said he was aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota, which appears to refer to an online report by independent journalist Nick Shirley about a daycare center in Minneapolis that received $4m despite reportedly having no enrolled kids. The 42-minute video has been viewed 84m times since it was posted on 26 December.

Patel said the FBI had surged personnel and resources into the state before the video and attendant conversation escalated online.

The Trump administration has portrayed Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community as a locus of widespread fraud, much of it allegedly perpetrated during the Covid pandemic.

Last month, Donald Trump ended legal protections for Somalis in Minnesota and accused the state of being “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” under its Democratic governor, Tim Walz.

Somali Americans, Trump has said, “come from hell”, “contribute nothing” and should “go back to where they came from”. He has also described Minnesota’s Democratic representative Ilhan Omar as “garbage” and said “her friends are garbage.”

Omar has called Trump’s “obsession” with her and Somali Americans “creepy and unhealthy.”

“We are not, and I am not, someone to be intimidated,” Omar said earlier this month, “and we are not gonna be scapegoated.”

Omar has accused agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of pulling her constituents off the streets, including questioning her son. She has said she is being forced to address questions about her own immigration status.

In an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune published on Friday, Omar called Trump’s immigration policy “cruel” during his first administration, “and now it’s just outright dangerous and severely inhumane” and “geared towards this sort of white supremacist view of what America should be”.

And she worries that “we’re not even at the worst yet, that there is probably more to come.”

Omar has come under further pressure from the administration after it was revealed that her husband and former political consultant, Tim Mynett’s, $25m venture capital firm, Rose Lake Capital, recently purged key officer details from its website after questions were raised about the couple’s wealth.

The couple’s net worth surged 3,500% in just one year, according to reports, and their net worth is now anywhere between $6m and $30m. The venture capital firm alone, per the filing, is worth between $5m and $25m.

The firm’s officials and advisors that have been removed from Rose Lake Capital’s website include Adam Ereli, Barack Obama’s former ambassador to Bahrain; Max Baucus, Obama’s ambassador to China; Alex Hoffman, the former finance chair of the Democratic National Committee; and former DNC treasurer William Derrough.

Omar has not been accused of wrongdoing, but reports say that three people accused of defrauding the state have alleged ties to the congresswoman.

Asked about her support of the Meals Act, a bill that changed school meal reimbursement rules during the pandemic and has been connected to systems of fraud, Omar told Fox News Digital, it has not contributed to the fraud and “it did help feed kids”.

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Skip next section Trump says Ukraine peace talks ‘in final stages’

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Trump says Ukraine peace talks ‘in final stages’

US President Donald Trump said that diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine were close to a breakthrough.

He made the comments while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in the southeastern US state of Florida.

“I think we’re in [the] final stages of talking, and we’re going to see. Otherwise it’s going to go on for a long time,” Trump said, adding he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin were “very serious” about ending the war.

“Both presidents want to make a deal,” Trump said, referring to Zelenskyy and Putin.

He stressed, however, that there was no “deadline” for the process.

Trump added that he would call Putin following his meeting with Zelenskyy after having already called the Russian president earlier on Sunday.

A Ukrainian delegation met with US officials at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in FloridaImage: Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS

‘Strong agreement’ for Ukraine security gurantees

The US president asserted that there would be a “strong agreement” to provide security guarantees to Ukraine involving the participation of European countries.

Security guarantees have been one of the major stumbling blocks in negotiations, with Kyiv demanding them as a condition to any peace deal and with Russia rejecting any stationing of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine.

Previous rounds of talks, including a meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska in mid-August, have seemingly produced little measurable progress toward bringing about a cessation of hostilities.

https://p.dw.com/p/563C5

Skip next section US, Russia both against ‘temporary ceasefire’ — Kremlin

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

US, Russia both against ‘temporary ceasefire’ — Kremlin

US President Donald Trump and Russia President Vladimiar Putin “share the same view” on the current position held by Ukraine and the European Union on ending the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin’s diplomatic advisor, Yuri Ushakov, said.

Ukraine and its European allies have called for a ceasefire as part of ongoing peace negotiations. Russia has rejected the idea, saying it would only allow Kyiv to regroup.

In comments to journalists on Sunday, Ushakov said that Moscow and Washington shared the same assessment on any temporary cessation of hostilities.

“Russia and the United States share the same position which is that the Ukrainian and European proposal for a temporary ceasefire (…) would only prolong the conflict and lead to a resumption of hostilities,” he said.

Ushakov (pictured) said that Russia and the US agreed that a ‘temporary ceasefire’ could prolong the war [FILE: December 21, 2025]Image: Sergei Bulkin/TASS/ZUMA/picture alliance

He also said that the Kremlin considered that Ukraine needed to make a decision regarding the eastern Donbass region “without delay, taking into account the evolving situation on the frontlines.”

Russia has called for Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the Donbas, which is in turn made up of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as a condition for any peace deal. Russian forces already control the vast majority of the Luhansk region and some three-fourths of the Donetsk region.

Earlier on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized European governments as the “main obstacle” to peace.

Russian forces have intensified their offensive in eastern Ukraine in recent days, which Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders argue indicate that Moscow is not serious about peace negotiations.

https://p.dw.com/p/5637k

Skip next section Trump holds ‘productive’ call with Putin ahead of Zelenskyy meeting

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Trump holds ‘productive’ call with Putin ahead of Zelenskyy meeting

US President Donald Trump held a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his meeting with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“I just had a very good and productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Zelenskyy is expected at Trump’s Florida estate at 1:00 local time (19:00 CET).

https://p.dw.com/p/5635o

Skip next section Zelenskyy speaks to UK leader Starmer ahead of Trump meeting

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Zelenskyy speaks to UK leader Starmer ahead of Trump meeting

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the phone ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy took to X to say he “informed” Starmer on the situation on the frontline in the country’s war with Russia and the consequences of Russia’s large-scale strikes from the few nights.

https://p.dw.com/p/562yw

Skip next section Huliaipole not yet taken by Russia, Ukraine’s military says12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Huliaipole not yet taken by Russia, Ukraine’s military says

Saim Dušan Inayatullah

The Ukrainian army said that only part of the southeastern town of Huliaipole in the Donetsk region was under Russian control.

This contradicts an earlier statement by Russia that the city had been taken by Moscow.

Ukraine’s southern command said in a statement that the situation in the city is “very difficult,” but that Russia does not have full control over the town.

According to the statement, fighting is also ongoing in the Stepnohirsk, in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia. Moscow also claimed to have taken control of the settlement.

Besides Huliaipole and Stepnohirsk, Russia’s Defense Ministry said earlier on Sunday that its forces had taken the towns of Myrnohrad, ‌Artemivka, Rodynske and ‌Vilne in the Donetsk region.

The battlefield reports could not be independently verified.

https://p.dw.com/p/562z8

Skip next section Zelenskyy: Success depends on allies

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Zelenskyy: Success depends on allies

Speaking ahead of his talks with President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on his official Telegram channel that he was doing everything he could to end the war, but that in the end success depended on Kyiv’s partners as well.

“These ‌are some of the ‌most ⁠active diplomatic days of the year, and much can ‍be resolved before the ​New ​Year, and we are doing everything for this, but whether there will be decisions depends on the partners,” he ‍wrote.

Zelenskyy added that allies needed to put even more pressure on Moscow, “so ‌that ‌the Russians feel the consequences of their own aggression”.

https://p.dw.com/p/562gD

Skip next section What’s in the 20-point plan?

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

What’s in the 20-point plan?

The major topic of discussion between Trump and Zelenskyy will be the latter’s 20-point ceasefire plan. Working off of an original 28-point list drawn up by the Trump administration, Zelenskyy hopes his version will provide a framework for a future truce with Russia.

Here are some of the main points:

• Ukraine’s sovereignty will be reaffirmed.
• There will be a condition of absolute non-aggression between Ukraine and Russia.
• Ukraine will maintain its military at its present strength of 800,000 — the original proposal by Trump called for Kyiv to reduce the size of its armed forces.
• Ukraine will continue on the path to EU membership.
• The US and NATO will provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
• Ukraine will receive aid to rebuild the areas destroyed by Russian shelling.
• The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will be administered by the US and Ukraine, not Moscow.
• Territorial changes will be halted at current battle lines — this is a major sticking point, with Russia insisting that Ukraine cede all of Donbas.
• All prisoners of war will be exchanged.
• Russia will not restrict Ukrainian access to the Dnipro river.

The plan also calls for elections in Ukraine as soon as the war is over. Elections had been due in 2024, but were suspended due to the ongoing conflict.

Zelenskyy open to demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s east

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https://p.dw.com/p/562Ld

Skip next section Power restored to over 1 million Kyiv-area households

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Power restored to over 1 million Kyiv-area households

Ukraine’s largest private energy provider says power has been restored to more than one million households in and around Kyiv.

The statement comes a day after Russian missile and drone strikes forced emergency outages across the region.

The attack early Saturday killed two people and knocked out electricity in large parts of the capital and surrounding areas.

DTEK reports 748,000 homes in Kyiv and 347,000 outside the city now have power again.

Kyiv residents sent to shelters by Russia’s holiday strikes

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https://p.dw.com/p/562Ko

Skip next section IAEA-brokered ceasefire holds for Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant repairs

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

IAEA-brokered ceasefire holds for Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant repairs

The International Atomic Energy Agency said that crucial repairs were underway at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, thanking both sides for a temporary pause in fighting to allow the crucial work to be carried out.

The site has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the conflict, prompting sporadic fears of a major nuclear disaster. Once a major supplier of Ukraine’s energy needs, the plant has been under Russian control since 2022 and is mostly shut down.

Zaporizhzhia’s equipment is powered by electricity supplied from Ukraine.

Over the past four years these supplies have been interrupted at least eleven times due to breaks in power lines, forcing the plant to switch to emergency diesel generators.

Emergency generators on site can supply electricity to keep the reactors cool if external power lines are cut.

https://p.dw.com/p/562Cb

Skip next section Lavrov: European soliders in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate’ target

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Lavrov: European soliders in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate’ target

Russian Foreign Minister  Sergey Lavrovsaid that any European troops sent to Ukraine as peacekeeping forces would be a “legimate” target for his country’s military.

In comments carried by official news agency TASS, Lavrov accused European leaders of having “ambitions” for Ukraine that disregarded the will of its people. He did not specify what he meant or provide evidence for these claims.
 

https://p.dw.com/p/562BD

Skip next section Trump-Zelenskyy meeting: What you need to know

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting: What you need to know

What have the leaders of the US, Ukraine, Russia, and Europe said ahead of the talks? What are the sticking points of the peace plan? Read more here: Trump-Zelenkskyy meeting: What you need to know

https://p.dw.com/p/5623C

Skip next section Russia continues assault on eastern Ukraine, says Kyiv doesn’t want peace

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Russia continues assault on eastern Ukraine, says Kyiv doesn’t want peace

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that it was Kyiv who wasn’t seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict, despite continuing Russian attacks on the towns of Myrnohrad, Rodynske and Artemivka in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk,
as well as Huliaipole and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Ukraine rejected this claim, as well as assertions from Moscow that the towns of Myrnohrad and Huliaipole had been completely captured by Russian forces.

The Ukrainian military said that the situation in these regions is “difficult” but “defensive operations” are still ongoing.

“A substantial part of Huliaipole continues to be held by the Defense Forces ⁠of Ukraine,” the Southern ​Command of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on Telegram, reporting “fierce fighting” in the town.

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

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https://p.dw.com/p/5625j

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

Today, everyone is looking towards Florida where US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyywill be meeting to discuss a major diplomatic push to end the war nearly four years after Russia’s invasion began.

Zelenskyy meets Canadian PM ahead of Trump talks

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At the same time, fierce fighting continued in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv has denied Russian claims that it has fully captured the towns of Huliaipole and Myrnohrad.

https://p.dw.com/p/5622K

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Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

An 18-year-old man was arrested after allegedly shooting both of his parents, killing his mother, at their home in Pennsylvania, police said.

Jarrod Noll was taken into custody Saturday evening in West Virginia, after authorities say he allegedly shot both of his parents at their home in New Freeport, Pennsylvania, the day after Christmas, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Police were called to the home, located just north of the West Virginia border, and found a woman and a man with gunshot wounds.

The victims, who police determined were husband and wife, were transported to a nearby hospital. The woman was in critical condition and died at the hospital, while the man was treated and released in stable condition.

Police determined that their son, the suspected shooter, had fled the scene on foot, prompting a widespread search, according to the report.

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Jarrod Noll is being held as a fugitive in West Virginia and will be extradited to Pennsylvania to face homicide and attempted homicide charges (West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

Noll was armed when he was apprehended Saturday in West Virginia.

He is being held as a fugitive in West Virginia and will be extradited to Pennsylvania to face homicide and attempted homicide charges.

“We used tracking dogs, we used helicopters, and we used police on foot searching rough terrain,” according to Pennsylvania State Police Sergeant Richard Sizer. “Obviously, when you have someone on the run with a homicide warrant, on the run with a gun, it is a huge danger to the community.”

open image in gallery

Noll, 18, was captured in West Virginia after allegedly shooting both of his parents and killing his mother before running on foot from Pennsylvania, police said (Pennsylvania State Police)

Authorities said that Noll’s younger siblings were home at the time of the shooting, which took place just outside the home. The children, whose ages were not shared, are now in the custody of a family member.

It was not immediately clear what led up to the shooting. Authorities have not shared a potential motive.

State police noted on social media that the shooting appeared to be “an isolated incident” and that there was no threat to the public.

“We thank the community; we kind of moved in here and we’re walking their properties and taking over streets and things that we needed to do to successfully resolve the incident,” Sizer said. “We’re glad it’s over.”

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NEED TO KNOW

• Director Jay Chandrasekhar recalled the incident that led to Chevy Chase‘s exit from Community in CNN’s new documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not
• The filmmaker, who was present for the 2012 situation, said Chase had a “meltdown” after it was leaked that he said the N-word on the show’s set
• I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not premieres Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST on CNN

More details about the incident that led to Chevy Chase‘s exit from Community are coming to light.

In I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not — a new, authorized documentary about the 82-year-old actor and comedian — director Jay Chandrasekhar recalls witnessing the 2012 incident, in which Chevy used the N-word, and what went down in detail, including the on-set “meltdown” that it inspired.

Chandrasekhar, 57, who directed several episodes of the comedy series, said in the CNN documentary, out Jan. 1, that he “was there, directing, the night that Chevy Chase got fired from Community.” The events can be traced back to a “blackface” hand puppet bit written for Chevy’s character, Pierce Hawthorne, Chandrasekhar said.

While working, Chevy “said something” to costar Yvette Nicole Brown, Chandrasekhar recalled, though the director claimed he did not hear what exactly was uttered.

At the time, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Chevy was “frustrated” with the direction Pierce was going as a character and used the N-word “when questioning the dialogue.” THR also clarified that while stars Donald Glover and Brown, 54, who are both Black, were present for the scene and incident, “The slur was not directed at them.”

The main cast of ‘Community’ season 1.

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Recalling his side of what happened in I’m Chevy Chase, Chandrasekhar said, “I know that there was a history between [Chevy and Yvette] around race, and she got up and stormed out of there. Chevy storms off, so the producer is like, ‘We need Yvette in the scene, right?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, she’s in the next scene.’ And he goes, ‘Well, she won’t come out unless Chevy apologizes to her.’ ”

Chandrasekhar said Chevy then returned to the set but claimed he “didn’t say anything.”

“He goes, ‘You know, me and Richard Pryor, I used to call Richard Pryor the N-word, and he used to call me The Honky, and we loved each other.’ And I’m like, ‘I know, man, I love that bit.’ I said, ‘You know, can we just have a little apology?’ He goes, ‘For what?’ ” Chandrasekhar recounted of Chevy’s words and reference to the late stand-up comedian and actor, who died in 2005.

After filming that day, Chandrasekhar recalled someone leaking that there was a “racial incident” on set to THR. And when the cast returned to set after the leak, the director said Chevy had a “full meltdown.”

Chandrasekhar said Chevy came “storming onto the set, and he goes, ‘Who f—– me over?’ … ‘My career is ruined! I’m ruined!’ Like, it’s a full meltdown. ‘F— all of you!’ ”

“And I’m like, ‘Alright, let’s shoot the scene.’ He never ended up coming back after that,” added the director.

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Following the 2012 incident, production was consequently halted, and Chevy was later reportedly forced to issue an apology. The actor left Community after season 4, which aired in 2013, though he returned briefly for one episode in 2014.

Chevy’s exit came after the headline-making incident, as well as a very public feud with creator Dan Harmon over creative and on-set disagreements, which are also discussed in I’m Chevy Chase.

“It was out in the open that Chevy Chase was a little difficult on Community, and I’m being nice. People were talking about it, enough that Dan did that thing at the wrap party,” Chandrasekhar said in the documentary, referring to when Harmon, 52, got party guests to say, “F—- you, Chevy!” — which led to the infamous and profanity-laden leaked voicemail the comedian left for the show creator.

Dan Harmon and Chevy Chase in 2009.

 Frederick M. Brown/Getty 

One of Chevy’s daughters, Caley Chase, recalled the contentious moment — for which she and her mom, Jayni Chase, were both present — in the forthcoming documentary.

“My dad was super excited to bring me and my mom to the wrap party,” Caley, 40, says. “We walk in, Dan, he had had some drinks. He had gotten the whole cast and crew to yell, ‘F—- you, Chevy!’ ‘F—- you, Chevy!’ ”

“I’m there, he’s showing his daughter, like, ‘This is the show I did,’ and we walk in to ‘F—- you, Chevy!’ That’s rough,” she adds. “And mean.”

I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not premieres Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST on CNN.

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FBI Director Kash Patel revealed the bureau is cracking down on fraud in Minneapolis after a daycare was accused of stealing $4 million in taxpayer money.

In a lengthy X post on Sunday, Patel said the FBI has long been aware of the situation, vowed to ‘protect the children,’ and warned this is just ‘the tip of a very large iceberg.’

A Minnesota daycare with misspelled signs and no children inside reportedly received millions in taxpayer funds, sparking immediate outrage among lawmakers demanding answers. 

Allegations spread on social media this week after independent journalist Nick Shirley posted a video on X claiming state authorities allowed the ‘largest fraud in US history’ to go unchecked. 

Lisa Demuth, running for governor, is now pushing for stricter scrutiny to uncover fraud in the Democrat-led state. 

On Sunday, Patel announced that the FBI had already ‘surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota,’ even before the social media discussion took off running.

‘The FBI is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota,’ Patel wrote, claiming that the bureau has moving to ‘dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.’

‘Fraud that steals from taxpayers and robs vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide,’ he added. 

A supposedly empty Minnesota daycare has reportedly received $4 million in taxpayer funds, according to a video posted to X by independent journalist Nick Shirley that received over 65 million views in under two days

FBI Director Kash Patel updated X, saying the FBI had already ‘surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota,’ even before the social media discussion took off running 

Lisa Demuth, running for governor, is now pushing for stricter scrutiny to uncover fraud in the Democrat-led state

Shirley, who visited the Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis, shared a video of the trip that racked up over 65 million views in under two days. 

The sign above the front door misspells the name as ‘Quality Learing Center,’ and the video shows an almost empty parking lot and a dark lobby. 

In his announcement, Patel emphasized that the FBI has been aggressively targeting a massive fraud network that stole COVID-era food aid meant for children in Minneapolis.

The FBI has toppled a $250 million fraud network that targeted vulnerable children and exposed a ‘large-scale money laundering’ operation, Patel said.

‘The investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network,’ he wrote. ‘The case led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions.’

Prosecutors alleged that most of the meals intended for low-income children during the pandemic never existed, and instead, the taxpayer money went to luxury homes, cars, jewelry and real estate abroad. 

Some defendants – including Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, Ahmed Ali, Hussein Farah, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, Asha Farhan Hassan, Ousman Camara and Abdirashid Bixi Dool – faced charges ranging from wire fraud to conspiracy. 

‘These criminals didn’t just engage in historic fraud, but tried to subvert justice as well,’ Patel wrote.

In a lengthy X poston Sunday, Patel said the FBI has long been aware of the situation, vowed to ‘protect the children,’ and warned this is just ‘the tip of a very large iceberg’

Allegations spread on social media this week after Shirley posted a video on X claiming state authorities allowed the ‘largest fraud in US history’ to go unchecked

He said Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and others tried to bribe a juror with $120,000, pleaded guilty, and were then sentenced to 10 years in prison and nearly $48 million in restitution in related cases. 

‘The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg,’ Patel said. ‘We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing.’

‘Furthermore, many are also being referred to immigrations officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible,’ he added. 

Additionally, a campaign staffer for Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman of Somali origin who has represented Minnesota’s 5th district since 2019, claimed he served 5,000 meals a day under fake food site Advance Athletic Development.

He instead pocketed millions and pleaded guilty to fraud in August of this year. 

On Omar’s 2018 and 2020 campaigns, he acted as an ‘enforcer,’ managing a high-intensity voter mobilization effort in Minneapolis’ Somali community. 

Patel’s announcement followed outcry from powerful figures over rampant Minnesota fraud that had slipped past federal agents without repercussions. 

‘Fraud is easy to find – if you’re willing to look for it,’ Demuth said following the allegations of fraud within the daycare. 

‘Many of these seemingly vacant businesses have been cited by the Walz admin for licensing violations which should have made it easy to catch and stop millions from being stolen,’ she added. 

Congressman Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York, went further, stating that ‘folks need to be arrested and prosecuted’ and that ‘the Governor of Minnesota needs to be held accountable.’ 

Elon Musk also waded into the controversy, saying that once more Americans find out about the alleged fraud, they ‘will be horrified at what your tax money is doing.’

Vice President JD Vance addressed the apparent scandal in Minnesota, though didn’t name the daycare center specifically.

‘What’s happening in Minnesota is a microcosm of the immigration fraud in our system. Politicians like it because they get power. Welfare cheats like it because they get rich,’ Vance wrote in a social media post on Saturday.

‘But it’s a zero sum game, and they’re stealing both money and political power from Minnesotans,’ he added. 

This comes after it was alleged that Minnesota’s government lost at least $1 billion in public funds intended for feeding children, helping the homeless and providing autism therapy. 

Federal prosecutors said so-called providers submitted false invoices for services never delivered. 

Over the past five years, people mostly from Somali communities grew rich running companies that charged the state millions for social services that never happened, according to The New York Times.

Given the scale of the situation, President Donald Trump weighed in and criticized Governor Tim Walz for allowing Minnesota to become ‘a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.’ 

He said the perpetrators should be ‘sent back to where they came from.’ Later, he said he would be revoking the temporary protected status of the roughly 700 Somali nationals who have it, which prevents them from being deported. 

On Thanksgiving, Trump Walz ‘seriously retarded’ and also attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota’s immigration policy. 

Earlier this month, Omar spoke out against the massive welfare fraud, warning it has a significant impact on the Somali community.

‘You know, this also has an impact on Somalis because we are also taxpayers in Minnesota,’ she said during a segment on Face the Nation, as reported by The Hill.

‘We could have also benefited from the program and the money that was stolen,’ she added, stressing that the scandal has given Somalis ‘a bad name.’

When asked if the stolen money had funded terrorism, the congresswoman said she was ‘pretty confident’ it didn’t – but any such link would reflect a major failure by investigators. 

Omar said: ‘There are people who have been prosecuted, and who have been sentenced.’

‘If there was a linkage in that the money they have stolen going to terrorism, that is a failure of the FBI and our court system in not figuring that out,’ she added.

As of now, the Quality Learning Center has not been officially accused of wrongdoing by authorities. Still, according to Shirley, a pro-Trump influencer, it has received millions in state and federal dollars.

In the viral clip this week, Shirley is seen attempting to speak with staff at the center. He was instead met with a screaming woman accusing him of being an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.

‘Don’t open up! It’s ICE!’ the woman repeatedly shouted.

Shirley eventually got through to her and convinced her he wasn’t ICE and that he was a YouTuber merely asking about potential fraud.

Shirley and another man held up a document alleging the Quality Learning Center pocketed $1.9 million from Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in 2025 – and $4 million in total. 

Local news station KSTP reached a different conclusion after investigating the facility in January.

The station reported it received $7.8 million in federal dollars since 2019, though it isn’t clear whether this figure includes funding from sources other than CCAP.

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Red weather alerts were issued in Spain this week as flooding hit the Costa del Sol – one man has now tragically died as authorities search for more who are missinng



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Nick Kyrgios has defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis exhibition match.

The injury-wracked Australian maverick, currently ranked 671 in the world, beat the women’s world number one in straight sets 6-3 6-3.

Sunday’s match in Dubai had modified rules where each player was restricted to one serve only rather than two, and Sabalenka’s side of the court was reduced in size by 9% to compensate for the difference in speed between men and women.

Image:
Aryna Sabalenka. Pic: Reuters

After his victory, Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, said it was a “really tough match, she is a hell of a player and such a great champion”.

He added: “She broke my serve numerous times, and I had to strap in.”

“I would love to play her again and showcase her talent and what I have left in the tank.”

There was laughing and joking between the players, some under-arm serves, and even dancing from Sabalenka during a timeout to entertain the crowd at the 17,000-seat Coca-Cola Arena.

The players are represented by the same agency which arranged the exhibition match.

Before the Dubai event, Kyrgios had been limited to just six tour-level singles matches since 2023 because of wrist and knee injuries. His most recent match was in March this year.

The event had divided opinion in the tennis world.

The so-called “Battle of the Sexes” was a name borrowed from a 1973 match, when Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome.

King won in straight sets and the match took place amid King’s efforts to start a female tour and get equal pay in tennis.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

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The annual food fight festival ”Els Enfarinats” has left the Spanish town of Ibi covered in flour and egg shells.

Every year participants wear military-style costumes and stage a fake coup using eggs, flour and firecrackers.

The eggers go around asking for “taxes” – donations to charity – from local people and if you don’t pay you could end up getting splatted.

The festival, held in the province of Alicante, is more than 200 years old and takes place on the 28 December each year to coincide with the Day of the Innocents – Spain’s equivalent of April Fools’ Day.

Video edited by Zahra Fatima and Jack Burgess

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The United States and China on Sunday applauded the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia after a second ceasefire was agreed to end months of border clashes that have killed dozens of people.

The day-old truce appeared to be holding as China, which has played a key mediator role, hosted talks with the warring nations in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

Thailand, Cambodia agree return to truce in border dispute

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What did Trump say?

US President Donald Trump said he was pleased the conflict had come to a “rapid and very fair conclusion,” adding on his Truth Social platform that Washington was “proud to help.”

Ahead of his meeting on Sunday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reach a peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Republican went further, suggesting “perhaps the United States has become the REAL United Nations.”

Trump often portrays himself as the one leader willing to take charge and resolve conflicts where the UN falls short, while critics argue that he is undermining international institutions.

The US, along with China and Malaysia, has been involved in mediation efforts to end the Thai-Cambodian conflict.

China hopes both sides can ‘rebuild mutual trust’

As China prepared to host a two-day meeting with the warring parties on Sunday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the ceasefire “an important step towards restoring peace,” adding that it was “in line with the shared expectations of countries in the region.”

Wang told his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn that “both sides should proceed step by step to promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire” and “rebuild mutual trust.”

China’s foreign minister held separate talks with his Cambodian and Thai counterpartsImage: Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)/AFP

The Chinese diplomat said that Beijing was willing to provide humanitarian aid to Cambodia to help those displaced in the border regions.

The first batch of Chinese aid, including food, tents and blankets, arrived in Cambodia on Sunday, Wang Wenbin, China’s Ambassador to Cambodia, wrote on Facebook.

Thai-Cambodian diplomats praise China’s input

Sokhonn expressed deep appreciation for China’s “vital role” in supporting the ceasefire, while his Thai counterpart, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, called for China to play more than a mediator role.

“Thailand … wants China to play a constructive role in ensuring a sustainable ceasefire by sending such signals to Cambodia [against reviving the conflict],” he said.

While Trump took credit for the first, China played a key role in achieving a second ceasefireImage: Thai MFA/AP Photo/picture alliance

The Chinese, Thai and Cambodian militaries were scheduled to join the talks in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan.

The three armed forces are due to discuss ways to consolidate the ceasefire, resume exchanges and build political trust between the two neighbors.

How did the Thai-Cambodian conflict break out?

The two countries have longstanding border disputes around ancient temple sites, which have flared up over the years.

The latest clashes erupted with the killing of a Cambodian soldier in May. The conflict escalated in July, before a first ceasefire was brokered by Malaysia, with support from the Trump administration.

The truce held until earlier this month, when what Bangkok describes as “freshly laid” landmines exploded, injuring several Thai soldiers. 

Rewewed heavy clashes erupted on December 8 with Thai airstrikes, artillery, rockets and ground operations spreading across multiple border points.

Both sides claimed self-defense and blamed the other for initiating violations.

First hours critical for ceasefire to hold

This year’s violence killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands of people before both sides agreed to a second ceasefire on Saturday.

Announcing the deal, both countries pledged a halt to hostilities, a freeze on troop movements and to allow civilians living in border areas to return home.

The ceasefire will be observed for a period of 72 hours to ensure its implementation, the Thai Foreign Ministry said.

At the end of this period, Thailand has confirmed it will repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers held as prisoners since July, fulfilling a major demand from the Cambodian side.

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah

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