WORLD NEWS
Student suffers tragic death after ‘botched beard transplant by estate agent’
Mathieu Vigier Latour was just 24 when he took his own life after undergoing a beard transplant which reportedly saw him fall into post-traumatic shock and suffer severe body dysmorphic disorder
Mathieu Vigier Latour, 24, took his own life just three months after the procedure – pictured before(Image: Enterprise News and Pictures)
A 24-year-old man tragically took his own life after a botched beard transplant in Turkey performed by an estate agent posing as a surgeon. Mathieu Vigier Latour opted to travel to a clinic in Istanbul for the €1,300 (£1,082) procedure – a fifth of what he would have paid in his native France.
According to his father, the business student felt assured after seeing that the clinic carried the stamp of approval from the Turkish health ministry. But the procedure was a disaster.
During the operation, 4,000 grafts were removed from the back of Mathieu’s head and transferred to his face – but the clinician lost 1,000 of the grafts. “When it started to grow out, it looked like a hedgehog. It was unmanageable,” his father Jacques Vigier Latour said in an interview with BFM TV, via The Telegraph.
READ MORE: Lawyer, 32, who helped botched plastic surgery victims dies during hair transplantREAD MORE: Brit who died after Turkey teeth and hair transplant was ‘the smile that warmed’ family
A photo of Mathieu taken after the botched procedure(Image: Enterprise News and Pictures)
He said the beard was irregular, poorly mapped out, and that hairs were growing at an unnatural angle from his son’s face. Furthermore, he said Mathieu suffered burns after the procedure and was having trouble sleeping due to the discomfort.
It was then that Mathieu carried out some more research into the surgery. He was shocked to discover that the person who performed his procedure was not a surgeon – but an estate agent.
To try to help fix the problem, his family managed to find a specialist in Belgium who was in the process of correcting the procedure. But the doctor concluded that the part of Mathieu’s scalp, where grafts had been taken, would not recover.
The student is said to have then fallen into post-traumatic shock and suffered from severe body dysmorphic disorder, a mental health condition which sees sufferers fixate obsessively over perceived defects or flaws in their appearance. “He entered a vicious circle and couldn’t get out,” his father said.
READ MORE: Inside Turkey’s ‘black market clinics’ where deadly surgeries carried out on UK tourists
His father said the beard was irregular, poorly mapped out, and that hairs were growing at an unnatural angle from his son’s face.(Image: Enterprise News and Pictures)
Tragically, three months after the initial operation, Mathieu took his own life in his student accommodation in Paris. His father said that he hoped speaking out about his son’s suicide would help further expose the dangers of low-cost medical tourism. “If this testimony could prevent this from happening again and alert everyone, I think that would be a tribute to Mathieu,” he said.
It comes after a man claimed he had been forced to quit his job after a hair transplant that allegedly left him with massive purple scars on his head. Mark Sweeney, 57, said he was promised professional treatment at the Merchant City Medical centre in Glasgow city centre, and explained taht he chose the clinic over others abroad after hearing horror stories of surgeries gone wrong.
But his dream of a full head of hair turned into an apparent nightmare when the hair transplant procedure allegedly left him with a large scar across his forehead. He says that the alleged failed operation left him unable to continue his job as a waiter because he cannot bear to face the public, and said he has to style his hair forward to hide the unsightly marks.
Mark Sweeney says his life has been destroyed because of his botched hair transplant(Image: DAILY RECORD)
Mr Sweeney, who quit his job at Glasgow’s Buttery restaurant, told the Daily Record: “They’ve ruined my life. Absolutely ruined and destroyed my life and I can’t do anything about it.” Since the transplant, he says he has been battling anxiety and depression due to his self-image. He is now on medication prescribed by his GP.
Mark, who paid £3,500 for the procedure, says he has been left with a scar on his forehead and a bald patch on the side of his head where grafts were taken. He explained: “I’m bald where they took the hair and I’m scarred at the front. I’ve got a hairline that’s low on one side. What I do now is I grow my hair long at the front and I shave the hairline to try to disguise it and cover it up.”
Merchant City Medical’s CEO Paul Mulholland confirmed that Mark had been a patient at their facility. Speaking to the Record, he added: “Mark turned up at our office yesterday and was told to leave.”
Published On 28 Dec 2025
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From displaced Palestinian families struggling in the cold winter in makeshift tents in Gaza, Christmas celebrations in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, to the historic gathering of more than one million people in Dhaka welcoming home Bangladesh’s opposition leader Tarique Rahman after his 17-year self-imposed exile, here is a look at the week in photos.
Brigitte Bardot, the French model and actress, has died at the age of 91.
After enchanting Paris as a teenage model she took French cinema by storm in the 1950s.
She then became a global icon who directors competed to work with. But she struggled in the spotlight and upon retiring turned her attention to supporting animal charities.
Later in life, she damaged her reputation with a series of convictions for race-hate crimes in France and was also criticised for homophobic comments.
French movie star and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91, her foundation said Sunday.
“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation,” it said in a statement sent to French news agency AFP.
The foundation’s Bruno Jacquelin told The Associated Press Bardot died at her home in southern France. He did not give a cause of death and said no immediate arrangements have been made for funeral or memorial services.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Bardot for her excellence on and off the screen, writing on social media platform X: “Her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom.”
“French existence, universal brilliance,” he added. “She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century.”
Celebrated sex symbol
When her career began in the 1950s, she was widely regarded as a sex symbol, thanks to her figure and libertine lifestyle.
One of her most well-known films was “And God Created Woman,” in 1956, where she starred as an 18-year-old caught up in a love triangle, which was directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim.
Vadim once promised that Bardot would become “the unattainable fantasy of all married men.” A few years later, in 1963, she played a sullen, frustrated wife of a screenwriter in Jean-Luc Godard’s “Contempt,” which featured scenes that became part of cinema folklore.
However, by 1973 Bardot announced she had become “sick of being beautiful every day,” as she turned her back on acting to look after abandoned animals.
Foundation set up dedicated to animal protection
In the early 1980s, Bardot travelled to Canada and experienced a “life-changing” visit when she witnessed its annual seal cub culls.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation was set up in 1986 and was dedicated to animal protection. Bardot crusaded for baby seals and elephants, called for the abolition of ritual animal sacrifice and the closure of horse abattoirs.
Bardot’s later years were marked by animal rights campaigns and far-right political sympathiesImage: Valery Hache/AFP
In a 2011 letter to conservation group WWF, she retold her viewing of the cull of seal cubs, saying: “I will never forget these pictures, the screams of pain, they still torture me but they have given me the strength to sacrifice my whole life to defend the animal’s one.”
Controversial comments marred later life
While Bardot’s advocacy stepped, criticism of her comments and political statements saw her face a backlash.
She was repeatedly fined by French courts between 1997 and 2008 for remarks judged to constitute incitement to racial or religious hatred, including statements directed at France’s Muslim community.
According to court rulings she was convicted at least five times during that period with her most severe penalty coming in 2008, when a Paris court fined her €15,000 over a letter criticizing Muslim ritual slaughter.
Bardot married Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to the far-right National Front in 1992 and later went on to publicly endorse the party’s successive leaders, Jean-Marie Le Pen and his daughter Marine Le Pen.
In 2018, she denounced the #MeToo movement in an interview with the magazine Paris Match, claiming actresses who spoke out against sexual harassment were: “Hypocritical and ridiculous. Lots of actresses try to play the tease with producers to get a role.”
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A Russian submarine was deployed alongside a spy ship to map critical undersea infrastructure around Britain, it has emerged.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declassified a photo of the incident, which saw a submarine shadowing the Yantar, officially described as a Russian research ship, as it reportedly surveyed the gas pipeline linking Britain and Ireland. It was not clear whether the escort was one of Russia’s own purpose-built sabotage submarines.
An anti-submarine Merlin Mk2 helicopter could be seen from the photo tracking the Yantar in the Irish Sea from November last year; a British submarine also emerged from the surface nearby.
It is believed to be one of several operations where Russian submarines have accompanied the Yantar into waters close to the British Isles, according to The Sunday Times.
First sea lord general Sir Gwyn Jenkins said earlier this month that there had been a “30 per cent increase in Russian incursion in our waters” just over the last two years.
An anti-submarine Merlin Mk2 helicopter could be seen tracking the ship (MOD)
The activity is most visibly seen in the presence of spy ships like the Yantar operating near UK waters, he said, but warned: “It’s what’s going on under the waves that most concerns me.”
Just last week Sir Gwyn warned that Russia was renewing its investment in its elite deep-sea submarine division, known as GUGI. The UK sanctioned the Russian military agency, which is leading the development of Russia’s underwater intelligence gathering operations, in June this year.
An MoD Spokesperson said: “As the Defence Secretary has said, our message to President Putin is clear: We see you, we know what you are doing, and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.
“We are acutely aware of the threat posed by Russia, which includes attempts to map undersea cables, networks, and pipelines belonging to both the UK and our allies, and we are tackling these threats head on.
“That is why the Prime Minister set out the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, including a commitment to increase spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP from April 2027, and an ambition to spend 3 per cent of GDP in the next parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow.
“In addition, we have introduced 900 new sanctions against individuals, entities and ships under the Russia regime, and accelerated the development and deployment of advanced anti-submarine technology.”
The government believes its Atlantic Bastion programme, which is integrating autonomous vessels, AI-enabled sensors, warships, and aircraft to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure against evolving challenges, will help to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO to counter the threat of Russia’s evolving submarine force.
NEED TO KNOW
- One woman was told she was going to be a bridesmaid in her cousin’s wedding
- Her cousin then told he she didn’t fit the “aesthetic” of her wedding, making her the “something blue” instead
- So, she turned to Reddit for advice
Navigating family expectations during weddings can be hard.
A 29-year-old woman shared on Reddit that she’s debating whether or not to attend her cousin’s wedding after being snubbed as a bridesmaid.
“I am a ‘something blue’ to my cousin for her upcoming May wedding,” she wrote, explaining that “being someone’s ‘something blue’ is a modern wedding tradition where a person is asked to wear blue as a symbolic role, often in place of or in addition to a traditional bridal party.”
“This person, or ‘something blue crew,’ is honored with a special role in the wedding, such as getting ready with the couple or participating in photos, but typically without the official duties or obligations of a bridesmaid or groomsman,” she added.
Despite being given the role, she is “considering not attending for a few reasons,” but knows her absence would “end up becoming an issue” between her and the bride, so she turned to Reddit for advice.
Stock photo of a wedding ceremony.
ozgurcankaya/Getty
She explained that her cousin had always insisted she would be in her wedding party, but then, after getting engaged, all of a sudden decided that the poster “was not part of the ‘aesthetic’ to be a bridesmaid.”
However, now that she has lost 100 lbs., the bride feels she is “more pleasing on the eyes to be part of the day,” the user wrote.
The woman noted that the wedding is also quite far away, and would either require a 10-hour drive or a shorter flight plus a two-hour drive to get there. The hotel is also 45 minutes from the reception space, and she would need accommodations back at home for her dog.
Additionally, the poster also took a pay cut after getting a new job, so she is “financially more strapped than usual.”
Lastly, she is newly single “and didn’t receive a plus one but other family did.”
“I love love. And I’m really glad she’s marrying this guy, he’s way better suited than her previous partners. And I do want to celebrate them,” she wrote. “But at the same time, I still feel slighted.”
“Was told you’ll be a bridesmaid bc I was the only one who supported this relationship at the start. I’m still overweight but way healthier so I still don’t feel I’m good enough essentially for her,” she continued.
Plus, she doesn’t “enjoy traveling with people” and would prefer to spend her money on something like “solo camping,” noting that this trip would “be a lot of money, time and effort” for something she doesn’t even know “will be enjoyable.”
People in the comments section urged the woman not to attend the wedding.
“You’re not skipping a wedding, you’re dodging a financial and emotional hostage situation. If attending requires a 10-hour drive, a dog sitter, emotional gymnastics and pretending you weren’t excluded for years, it’s not a ‘wedding,’ it’s a bill with vows. Go camping and let everyone else romanticize the chaos without you,” one person wrote.
“If you’re not at the wedding party, you definitely don’t have to be there. Tell your cousin that the new job has you strapped financially (which is true) and send a nice gift,” another person wrote.
WORLD NEWS
Brigitte Bardot dies aged 91: France’s original ‘Sex Kitten’ who found global fame with And God Created Woman before ditching acting and modelling for animal rights activism and far-right politics passes away
Brigitte Bardot has passed away aged 91.
The French former actress and singer had been ill in hospital in Toulon, according to local media.
Known as the original ‘Sex Kitten’, Bardot shot to international notoriety with her role in 1956 film And God Created Woman, which was directed by her first husband Roger Vadim.
That turn as a voluptuous, hedonistic orphan made her an object of edgy fascination for millions, even though the film itself got a mixed reaction from critics.
Described by Time magazine as France’s ‘most ogled export’, Bardot’s sex appeal was further fuelled by her outings as a model.
The star, who married and divorced three times before settling with her fourth husband Bernard d’Ormale in 1992, retired from acting in 1973 to focus on her passionate animal rights activism.
But she drew controversy with her engagement in far-right politics, which saw her endorse National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and be fined six times for inciting racial hatred.
The star was reclusive in her final years, instead preferring to remain out of the spotlight at her secluded and very private property in Saint Tropez.
Brigitte Bardot has passed away aged 91. Above: The star in 2023, one of the last times she was pictured out and about
Brigitte Bardot has passed away aged 91. Above: The star in 2023, one of the last times she was pictured out and about
Born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot initially trained as a ballet dancer at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris for Music and Dance.
At 15, she had already appeared on the front cover of France’s Elle magazine and began to establish herself as a model.
Her acting career began in 1952 when she starred in a series of small roles, but she soon began to turn heads at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953 when she frolicked on the beach in a skimpy bikini.
Brardot said: ‘Yes, I knew I was ugly as a child. I said to myself: “Well, I am ugly, so I must at least be bright and funny and have other things to compensate.”
‘I knew I had to be the best at something, otherwise I would be nothing. I knew I wanted the world to know about Brigitte Bardot.’
And the world certainly did.
Over the course of her career she starred in 47 films and recorded more than 70 songs.
Bardot’s willingness to be part of steamy on-screen scenes made her controversial. And her personal life was no different.
Brigitte Bardot leaves the Elysee Palace on crutches after meeting Brigitte Macron, July 2018
In 1992 Bardot married her husband Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to Jean-Marie Le Pen of the Front National
Pictured: Playboy Roger Vadim with Bardot on set. After meeting the model, the French film producer helped her become a star
Bardot’s parents did not initially approve of her union with Vadim but agreed to her marriage after she attempted suicide. Above: Being walked down the aisle by her father, December 19, 1952
Brigitte with her second husband, Jacques Charrier, with whom she had a son, Nicolas
Bardot had little to do with her son Nicolas during his childhood after she gave Charrier custody of him when they divorced
Bardot’s third husband was German industrialist Gunter Sachs. The couple were married between 1966 and 1969
Despite her parents’ fierce opposition, she married Vadim in 1952. The couple’s relationship lasted just five years.
After their divorce in 1957, Bardot became ensconced with actor Jacques Charrier.
By the time they married in 1959, she was already heavily pregnant with her first and only child.
Nicolas-Jacques Charrier was born on January 11, 1960. Bardot would later say: ‘I’m not made to be a mother.
‘I don’t know why I think this because I adore animals and I adore children, but I’m not adult enough – I know it’s horrible to have to admit that, but I’m not adult enough to take care of a child.
‘I need somebody to take care of me. I’m sad to have had that baby. What will be his life? People who are making babies and families now are mad. It is such a bad world.’
In 1962, Bardot’s union with Charrier ended in divorce.
She went on to marry German millionaire playboy Gunter Sachs in 1966. But that relationship was similarly short-lived. By 1969, they had divorced.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
NewsFeed
Voting is under way in Myanmar’s heavily restricted election, the first since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically-elected government in a coup in 2021. Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng explains the process from a polling station in Yangon.
Published On 28 Dec 2025
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WORLD NEWS
Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida for peace talks after Russia intensifies strikes | Ukraine
Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida for talks on plan to end the war as new attacks reported in Ukraine
We are restarting our live coverage of the war in Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to meet Donald Trump for the latest round of diplomatic talks in Florida at about 1:00pm (18:00 GMT).
Their meeting at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago home will be the pair’s first in-person encounter since October, when Trump refused to grant Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles.
The pair will discuss an updated version of a US-brokered plan to end the nearly-four year war, which Russia is yet to support.
Two private houses that caught fire as a result of a Russian attack in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, Ukraine, on 27 December 2025. Photograph: Oleksandr Klymenko/Ukrinform/Shutterstock
In the days before the meeting, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s capital, using missiles and drones to attack Kyiv and try to increase the pressure on Zelenskyy.
This morning, Ukrainians again woke up to reports of strikes in parts of the country, including in Kherson, where the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said one woman was injured after Russia launched “massive shelling”.
Zelenskyy has said the priority is securing US security guarantees in order to protect Ukraine against future Russian aggression. The meeting will also likely focus heavily on management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, which has been a major sticking point so far in the negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) looks on during a meeting with Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on 17 October 2025. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Moscow controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and about 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk (known collectively as Donbas).
At a closed-door meeting with Russia’s business elite last week, the Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly reiterated his demand that Ukraine hand over the entire eastern Donbas region as part of any peace deal.
On the key question of the future of the region, Zelenskyy, who has so far rejected any territorial concessions, has suggested a “free economic zone” was a potential option.
Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine must withdraw from all of the eastern Donbas region, even areas still under Kyiv’s control.
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Updated at 10.16 CET
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Ukraine’s leading private energy provider said on Sunday it had restored power to nearly 750,000 households in Kyiv after a Russian drone and missile barrage killed at least one person and left hundreds of thousands of people facing freezing temperatures.
DTEK said consumers on Kyiv’s right bank were back to planned power cuts but that the situation remained “more difficult” on the left bank, where emergency outages were still in force.
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Three civilians injured in Russian strikes in Kharkiv region, police say
Ukraine’s National Police has accused Russian forces of launching attacks (guided aircraft and drones) on settlements in Kharkiv, Bogodukhov, Chuguiv and Kupiansk districts over the past day. The police said three civilians in the Kharkiv region were injured and said they are documenting the “consequences of war crimes” by Russia.
The police said:
On December 27, the Russian army struck the city of Chuguiv. The strike hit a residential high-rise building. A 66-year-old woman with an acute stress reaction sought medical help.
The Russians used drones to strike the territory of the Zolochiv community. The strikes occurred in the village of Baranivka. Private houses, outbuildings, and power grids were damaged.
A UAV hit a civilian car parked near a household in the village of Petrivka. There were no injuries.
As a result of UAV strikes in the village of Velykyi Burluk, private houses were destroyed. A local resident was injured. A warehouse and a mill were also damaged.
In the middle of the day, an enemy drone hit a civilian man walking from the village of Nova Kozacha. The 50-year-old wounded man was taken to a medical facility.
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Updated at 10.18 CET
Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida for talks on plan to end the war as new attacks reported in Ukraine
We are restarting our live coverage of the war in Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to meet Donald Trump for the latest round of diplomatic talks in Florida at about 1:00pm (18:00 GMT).
Their meeting at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago home will be the pair’s first in-person encounter since October, when Trump refused to grant Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles.
The pair will discuss an updated version of a US-brokered plan to end the nearly-four year war, which Russia is yet to support.
Two private houses that caught fire as a result of a Russian attack in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, Ukraine, on 27 December 2025. Photograph: Oleksandr Klymenko/Ukrinform/Shutterstock
In the days before the meeting, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s capital, using missiles and drones to attack Kyiv and try to increase the pressure on Zelenskyy.
This morning, Ukrainians again woke up to reports of strikes in parts of the country, including in Kherson, where the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said one woman was injured after Russia launched “massive shelling”.
Zelenskyy has said the priority is securing US security guarantees in order to protect Ukraine against future Russian aggression. The meeting will also likely focus heavily on management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, which has been a major sticking point so far in the negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) looks on during a meeting with Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on 17 October 2025. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Moscow controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and about 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk (known collectively as Donbas).
At a closed-door meeting with Russia’s business elite last week, the Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly reiterated his demand that Ukraine hand over the entire eastern Donbas region as part of any peace deal.
On the key question of the future of the region, Zelenskyy, who has so far rejected any territorial concessions, has suggested a “free economic zone” was a potential option.
Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine must withdraw from all of the eastern Donbas region, even areas still under Kyiv’s control.
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Updated at 10.16 CET
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The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for strong winds across large parts of northern Sweden as Storm Johannes hit
Two people have died in Sweden after a powerful winter storm swept across Nordic countries, causing travel disruption and power outages.
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for strong winds for large parts of the northern half of the country as Storm Johannes hit.
One man in his 50s died after being struck by a tree in the Kungsberget ski resort in the country’s south, local media and police reported; while regional utility company, Hemab, said that one of its employees died in an accident “in the field”.
Tens of thousands of homes in Sweden, Norway and Finland have been left without power.
In Sweden, more than 40,000 homes were affected by power outages and numerous rail services were cancelled, Swedish news agency TT reported.
Several flights, rail and ferry services across parts of the Nordic nations have been cancelled.
Roads and rail services have also been disrupted due to the storm conditions.
In Norway’s Nordland region, one of the most northerly counties in the country, the fire department responded to more than 200 weather‑related incidents, broadcaster NRK reported.
Storm Johannes cut power to around 23,000 homes in Nordland and a further 9,000 were without electricity in the Inland region, NRK said.
In Finland, the storm, known there as Hannes, subsided on Sunday morning but had left more than 33,000 homes without power, according to public broadcaster Yle.
Flights at Kittila airport in northern Finland were grounded after heavy winds pushed a passenger jet and a smaller plane off the runway and into a bank of snow, the Helsinki Times reported.
The Swiss Air jet, carrying about 150 passengers, had just landed from Geneva and was taxiing when it veered off, the paper said. The smaller jet, a 400XT model, was on the ground at the same time and was also pushed off course by the wind, it added.
There have been no reported injuries.
The Swedish Transport Administration announced that many train services have been suspended until noon on Sunday.
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.
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
From historic firsts to shocking tragedies and viral pop-culture moments, 2025 captured the world’s attention.
Across politics, culture and global events, stories unfolded that sparked debate, grief, celebration and shock.
From the death of Charlie Kirk to the Air India crash and Blue Origin’s all-female space flight, we revisit the key stories that shook the world over the last year.
‘Tis the season for hopeful New Year’s resolutions — and keeping my apartment tidy in 2026 is at the top of my list.
I’ve found that having a dedicated space for everything makes it so much easier to stay organized, but no matter how much storage space you have, it never feels like enough. Maximizing every square inch of space with clever organizers is the key to banishing clutter — and this Amazon find is the ideal fit for transforming cluttered cabinets and shelves.
Take advantage of that newfound motivation heading into the new year — and the 40 percent discount on the Pougny Pull-Out Organizer — and add it to your cart now.
Pougny Pull-Out Under Sink Organizer, Pack of 2
Amazon
What makes this set of Pougny Pull-Out Organizers so game-changing? They help utilize otherwise unused vertical space in your cabinets, making it easy to access and take a visual inventory of all your products, which makes “eliminating clutter easy,” according to one shopper. The shelves measure 12.8 inches tall, so they can slide into most under-sink cabinets and can even be useful for organizing the pantry, too.
The bottom shelf slides out for easy access to your things without reaching around the stationary top shelf. The four hanging hooks on the side of each organizer add additional storage for scrub brushes, coffee cups, and other hanging items.
This pull-out organizer would be great for storing food or cleaning supplies in the kitchen, but it can also help you tidy up personal care items in the bathroom or detergents and stain sprays in the laundry room, and more.
“I have a small home with very minimal storage. This really helped me organize what looked like clutter,” one shopper shared, adding that it “fits well under [their] sink for all [their] cleaning products.”
“The drawers slide out smoothly, which makes it so much easier to grab what you need without pulling everything else out first. Installation was super simple, and I love that they maximize vertical space without being bulky or getting in the way of pipes,” a second shopper wrote, dubbing them a “small upgrade” that makes a “big difference.”
Grab this Pougny Under Sink Organizer while it’s on sale for just $15 at Amazon. Then keep scrolling to shop more organizational must-haves on sale at Amazon for a clutter-free new year.
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For the Prince and Princess of Wales’s eldest son Prince George, 2026 is shaping up to be a year og big changes as the second-in-line to the throne celebrates a landmark birthday
Prince George at Wimbledon in July (Image: Visionhaus via Getty Images)
He’s been growing up away from the spotlight, only joining his parents the Prince and Princess of Wales for the most important of royal events. But 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for future King Prince George – with a seismic change ahead.
Not only will Prince William and Kate’s eldest son enter secondary school next September, his next birthday in July will see him officially turn a teenager when he hits 13. It comes as the second-in-line to the throne appears to be ever so slowly and gently being introduced more and more to his royal life ahead of him.
He currently attends Lambrook school with his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, with his parents dropping sweet snippets about his life when out and about on royal duties such his love of planes and Airfix models and joining dad William at Aston Villa matches.
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George on an engagement with his parents to mark VE Day(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
But speculation is ramping up as to where George will continue his schooling in September once he turns 13. So far, William and Kate have kept their cards close to their chest as to which school he will attend, with top picks believed to include his father’s former school Eton and the school his mum went to, Marlborough College.
Previously, George and his parents had been spotted visiting Eton College, while Marlborough College is considered one of the UK’s top boarding schools, catering for both boys and girls. But wherever he ends up continuing his education, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells the Mirror that she is sure George will have had a say in his next move.
She said: “When William was 13, he began his secondary education at Eton College. I remember standing a few yards away from him as he was welcomed by his housemaster, Dr Andrew Gailey – who became an important figure in the young Prince’s life. Both his parents were at his side but, by then, they were officially separated.
George with mum Kate at the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall (Image: PA)
“William and his brother had witnessed the painful breakup of the marriage over many years. So, in a way, being at boarding school became a haven for William. Things are very different for George, who has been brought up in a household full of love and harmony.
“So it might be tougher for him to suddenly find himself living away at boarding school – if that is, indeed, the decision his parents have made. But I’m sure it will have been a family decision – and not one simply imposed on the young prince.”
But when it comes to George, it seems that William and Kate are not only faced with a big decision with his schooling – but also with another dilemma that also faces parents up and down the country.
Earlier this year, William revealed that none of his children have been allowed smartphones but later admitted the stance had become a struggle with his oldest son. He told Luciano Huck in an interview for Brazilian TV: “When George moves on to secondary school, maybe he’ll have one with limited access.
George in his 12th birthday portrait(Image: INSTAGRAM)
George with his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
“It’s getting to the point where it is becoming a bit of a tense issue. But I think he understands why, we communicate why we don’t think it’s right.” And Jennie added: “I imagine a big question for George will be: is this the year he’s finally allowed smartphone? We know there are some tensions between George and his parents over this thorny issue.
“My money is on him not being allowed a smartphone for a few years yet, but this may be the time for him to be allowed a brick phone – so he can at least keep in touch with his family and friends, like so many young people of his age.” When it comes to public appearances, they are still few and far between, but the last 12 months has seen him make two of his most high-profile outings to date.
In May, he joined his parents in chatting to Second World War heroes at a Buckingham Palace tea party on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. He won praise as he listened intently to their important stories and asked questions about their experiences. Then just last month, he joined mum Kate at the annual Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall to pay his respects to the nation’s war dead.
George and William together at The Passage earlier this month
George shuffled a little in his seat between musical performances and watched intently as emotional videos of veterans speaking about their experiences and paying tribute to their lost friends and comrades played.
Meanwhile, just earlier this month, George joined his father to don an apron and help with Christmas lunch preparations at a shelter for the homeless. The father and son wore The Passage charity’s aprons as William poured Brussels sprouts onto an oven dish and George laid Yorkshire puddings out onto a tray ahead of cooking.
Visiting the shelter in Victoria, central London, at Christmas time has become something of a tradition for the Prince of Wales, who helped out in 2023 and 2024. He first visited the charity with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was 11 and brought his 12-year-old son along to follow in his footsteps.
It’s led many to hope that with the young prince growing up fast, more high-profile royal engagements might be on the cards. However, Wiliam and Kate are known to be very protective of all of their children – and keen to give them as normal an upbringing as possible.
And with this in mind, Jennie added: “However, I don’t think it’s one that will bring any major increase in his public appearances. This is a time for him to get used to his new circumstances, to knuckle down and start studying for important exams and to enjoy his school life. So I think his parents will continue to protect him for as long as possible from the public glare that lies ahead.”
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The Balkan nation votes again as PM Albin Kurti seeks majority to break the stalemate and form a government.
Published On 28 Dec 2025
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Kosovo is voting to elect a new parliament for the second time in 11 months, as nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party seeks a majority to end a yearlong political deadlock.
Polls opened at 7am local time (06:00 GMT) and will close at 7pm (18:00 GMT) on Sunday, with exit polls expected soon after voting ends.
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The snap parliamentary vote was called after Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement (LVV) party failed to form a government despite winning the most votes at a February 9 ballot.
Failure to form a government and reopen parliament would prolong the crisis at a critical time. Lawmakers must elect a new president in April and ratify 1 billion euros ($1.2bn) in loan agreements from the European Union and World Bank that expire in the coming months.
The Balkan country’s opposition parties have refused to govern with Kurti, criticising his handling of ties with Western allies and his approach to Kosovo’s ethnically divided north, where a Serb minority lives.
Kosovo’s acting PM and leader of the LVV party, Albin Kurti [File: Armend Nimani/AFP]
Despite international support, the country of 1.6 million has struggled with poverty, instability and organised crime. Kurti’s tenure, which began in 2021, was the first time a Pristina government completed a full term.
To woo voters, Kurti has pledged an additional month of salary per year for public sector workers, 1 billion euros per year in capital investment and a new prosecution unit to fight organised crime. Opposition parties have also promised to focus on improving living standards.
Opinion polls are not published in Kosovo, leaving the outcome uncertain. Many voters say they are disillusioned.
“There wouldn’t be great joy if Kurti wins, nor would there be if the opposition wins. This country needs drastic changes, and I don’t see that change coming,” Edi Krasiqi, a doctor, told Reuters news agency.
Tensions with Serbia
Formerly a province of Serbia, Kosovo, whose population is almost exclusively Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 following an uprising and NATO intervention in 1999.
It has been recognised by more than 100 countries, but not by Russia, Serbia, Greece or Spain. It is seen as a potential candidate for accession to the EU.
Tensions with Serbia flared in 2023, prompting the EU to impose sanctions on Kosovo.
The bloc said this month it would lift them after ethnic Serb mayors were elected in northern municipalities, but the measures likely cost Kosovo hundreds of millions of euros.
Kosovo remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. It is one of the six Western Balkan countries striving to eventually join the EU, but both Belgrade and Pristina have been told they must first normalise relations.
Two of Nepal’s most popular political leaders have formed an alliance ahead of next year’s election in the wake of deadly youth-led protests earlier in the year that ousted the government.
Television host Rabi Lamichhane, the 51-year-old chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra party (RSP), and the 35-year-old rapper turned Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah pledged to address the demands of the younger generation following September’s deadly anti-corruption protests.
At least 77 people were killed during the 8-9 September youth-led uprising that was triggered by anger over a brief government ban on social media, building on public frustration after years of economic stagnation and allegations of entrenched political corruption.
According to the agreement, Lamichhane will remain the party’s chairperson, while Shah will be the candidate for prime minister in the 5 March election.
“Consensus should not be as the leader seeks, it should be what the country needs,” Lamichhane said in a statement after the deal was signed on Sunday.
Lamichhane, who was recently released on bail in connection with cooperative fraud and organised crime, is a popular television host in the Himalayan republic.
He set up the RSP in 2022, tapping into widespread discontent at Nepal’s elderly political leadership and becoming the deputy premier and interior minister.
Shah, popularly known as Balen, is seen as a popular figure in the political transition and helped form the interim government led by Sushila Karki after the ousting of KP Sharma Oli’s government.
On Saturday, Karki held meetings with Oli, the Nepali Congress president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and the Nepali Communist party coordinator, Pushpa Kamal Dahal – the first such consultation since the uprising.
After the meeting, Karki wrote on social media that the election was a shared responsibility of all stakeholders. “The government is committed to guaranteeing a free and fear-free environment. We are working in a manner that leaves no room for doubt.”