WORLD NEWS
White House ‘looking at’ denaturalising Somali Americans for alleged fraud | Donald Trump News
United States President Donald Trump has unleashed another attack on Somali Americans, with the White House saying the administration is reviewing plans to strip citizenship from those convicted of fraud.
The statements on Wednesday came a day after the Trump administration froze $185m in federal subsidies for low-income childcare amid claims of fraud at daycares run by Somali Americans in Minnesota’s largest city, Minneapolis.
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In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that “much of Minnesota Fraud, up to 90%, is caused by people that came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia”.
He also repeated attacks on Somali American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, calling her “one of the many scammers”.
“Send them back from where they came, Somalia, perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth,” Trump wrote.
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in an interview on Fox News that the administration was “looking at” possibly revoking citizenship from Somali Americans convicted of fraud.
She said that denaturalisation remained “a tool at the president and the secretary of state’s disposal”.
Trump and his allies have repeatedly threatened to strip citizenship from an array of naturalised citizens: those born outside the US but who acquire citizenship through the government’s immigration processes.
While legal experts have noted that citizenship can be stripped from foreign-born citizens, the practice is exceedingly rare and often requires a high burden of proof, showing an individual was naturalised under false pretences.
Heightened scrutiny
Trump has regularly demonised immigrant communities throughout his political career.
That rhetoric was a hallmark stretching back to his first successful bid for president in 2016. While on the campaign trail, in 2015, he claimed that Mexico was sending “rapists” and criminals across the southern border into the US, spurring outrage.
Later, during his presidential run in 2024, he repeated baseless claims against Haitians living in Illinois, including that they were killing and eating pets.
In recent weeks, Trump has focused on Somali Americans, comparing them to “garbage” and criticising the legal pathways that allowed them into the country. He further claimed they were “destroying America”.
Lawmakers, community groups, and political organisations decried Trump’s statements as blatantly racist.
But Trump has accompanied his rhetoric with action. Over the past month, his administration has surged immigration enforcement agents to Minnesota, conducted a wide-scale audit of legal Somali immigrants, and prioritised investigations of fraud claims in the state.
His efforts have seized upon a scandal that has rattled the midwestern state in recent years.
Prosecutors have alleged that criminals have defrauded the state of approximately $9bn in misused social assistance funding and nearly $300m in misused COVID funding.
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday said the Justice Department has charged 98 individuals in Minnesota as part of its wide-ranging fraud investigation, adding that 85 of those charged were of “Somali descent”.
However, many of those charges pre-date Trump’s second term.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has also shot back that local and federal authorities have spent years combatting fraud in the state, which he called a “serious issue”.
In a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, Walz said Trump is “using an issue he doesn’t give a damn about as an excuse to hurt working Minnesotans”.
Some of the Trump administration’s actions have come in the wake of a viral video uploaded by conservative YouTube Nick Shirley, who claimed Somali American-run daycare centres in Minneapolis had committed up to $100m in fraud.
Shirley’s video has received 127 million views on X, and administration officials, including Bondi, have repeatedly cited his claims.
For instance, on Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post that his organisation “is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota”.
He added that the bureau had “surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programmes”.
Still, questions have arisen over the accuracy of Shirley’s video.
An investigation by CBS News this week found that “all but two” of the daycares featured in the video had active licences and “were visited by state regulators within the last six months”.
Those regulators issued several citations, according to the report, but “there was no recorded evidence of fraud”.
NEED TO KNOW
- Sabrina Carpenter shared a series of Instagram Stories posts to reminisce on the past year
- The star revealed she accidentally set a fire in her bathroom at some point in 2025
- Earlier this month, Carpenter released a new Man’s Best Friend bonus track titled “Such a Funny Way”
It’s been a big year for Sabrina Carpenter, from career highs to at-home mishaps.
Ahead of the new year, the “House Tour” singer, 26, reminisced on the past 12 months of her life with a series of Instagram Stories posts on Wednesday, Dec. 31 and revealed she accidentally set a fire in her bathroom at some point in 2025.
Many of Carpenter’s IG Stories highlighted positive moments, from collaborating with Dolly Parton on the “Please Please Please” remix to singing with Paul Simon on Saturday Night Live. She also shared photos of her Vogue cover, shooting the “Manchild” video, releasing Man’s Best Friend and performing all over the world on the Short n’ Sweet Tour.
Sabrina Carpenter’s bathroom.
Sabrina Carpenter/Instagram
One post at the end of Carpenter’s 2025 memories, however, featured a shot of a fire-damaged sink and what appears to be a nearby candle. “set my bathroom on fire by accident,” she wrote with a white heart emoji.
It’s unclear when the incident occurred, but the Grammy winner isn’t the only pop star to experience an accidental house fire.
Britney Spears opened up about burning her home gym down in 2020, while Carpenter’s past tourmate Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams set fire to the “Karma” artist’s N.Y.C. apartment kitchen while making their 2024 collaboration, “Us.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Earlier this month, Carpenter treated fans to a year-end treat with a new Man’s Best Friend bonus track, “Such a Funny Way.”
In an Instagram post, she spoke to fans on Dec. 24 about releasing the song “to thank you for such a beautiful year …and to supply whoever needs a cathartic christmas crashout song…”
“i love you guys so much,” continued Carpenter. “Thank you for caring for these songs the way i do and for such a special 2025!! I feel lucky to know there’s still so much good to come.”
WORLD NEWS
Trump’s HHS halts child care funding to ALL states after viral video sparks Somali daycare scandal in Minnesota
President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services is freezing federal child care funding nationwide after halting funds to Minnesota amid the Somali daycare scandal.
ABC News reported Wednesday on the nationwide pause, quoting an HHS official who said that federal funds would be released ‘only when states prove they are being spent legitimately.’
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told the network that recipients of federal tax dollars – even those ‘not suspected of fraudulent activity’ – would be required to send HHS ‘administrative data’ for review.
Daycare facilities in Minnesota, including those ‘suspected of fraudulent activity,’ would have to provide HHS with receipts, Nixon said, which include ‘attendance records, licensing, inspection and monitoring reports, complaints and investigations.’
‘It’s the onus of the state to make sure that these funds, these federal dollars, taxpayer dollars, are being used for legitimate purposes,’ Nixon told ABC News.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, has come under fire for the scandal, which has also put the state’s Somali community in the crosshairs of Trump’s hardline immigration policies.
Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, a member of that community and a top political nemesis of the president, has also taken heat, as she’s pushed back, saying the actions of a few shouldn’t tarnish the reputation of the entire group.
Somali-owned daycare centers are the center of a scandal involving federal funds
Federal prosecutors were already investigating Minnesota fraud cases that cost the state’s taxpayers $1 billion when conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley released a video over the weekend that has since gone viral, which purported to show more fraud.
Shirley found empty daycare centers that were recipients of federal funding.
His video report prompted the Department of Homeland Security to launch door-to-door investigations of the facilities and the Justice Department to launch a probe.
In an interview Wednesday morning on Fox News Channel, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt applauded Shirley’s effort, saying, ‘He epitomizes what new media looks like.’
Leavitt said the White House was deploying a ‘whole-of-government effort’ to find and punish those guilty of fraud, saying that Trump would ‘absolutely’ support revoking the citizenship of any Somali immigrants convicted.
‘People will be in handcuffs as a result of the fraud that Governor Walz has allowed to occur for the – for many, many years,’ she said.
Walz has defended his administration by saying that Minnesota officials ‘have spent years cracking down on fraudsters.’
The Democratic governor charged that it was ‘Trump’s long game’ to politicize the issue and dismantle liberal Minnesota’s safety net.
Walz is up for reelection this year, with Trump ally, My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, among the Republican candidates.
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Trump’s HHS halts child care funding to ALL states after viral video sparks Somali daycare scandal in Minnesota
Cecil Mains, 46, has been accused of murdering his wife Jeri in front of their children at their home in Indiana, US, after she sought protection from the alleged serial abuser
Jeri Mains was allegedly shot dead by her husband(Image: WRTV6)
A mum-of-four allegedly murdered by her own husband had sought protection from the abusive killer just days before he took her life, a court has heard.
Jeri Mains, 44, was found shot dead at her home in Indiana on December 28, three days after she filed for a Christmas Day protective order against her husband. Cecil Mains, 46, had repeatedly terrorised Mrs Mains and abused her in front of their four children, aged 19, 17, 14 and 10, before she filed the order on December 25.
But her request was never fulfilled by judges, who weren’t working on Christmas when court offices were closed – and her daughter reportedly called 911 to report her death on the weekend.
Mum-of-four Jeri Mains was allegedly killed in front of her children
Local media outlet WRTV reported that Mrs Mains had in the petition described herself as a victim of domestic violence, and accused her husband of assaulting her on Christmas Eve. She had alleged Mains attacked her with a pair of kitchen tongs, causing a laceration and bruising.
The petition also alleged several earlier incidents, including one on December 10 when Mains punched a computer during a fight, sending a cup of hot chocolate flying over her.
He was also alleged to have punched his wife in the face during a November fight, leaving her with a nosebleed and bruised face, state newspaper IndyStar reports. During another alleged incident at the beginning of the year, Mains punched out the driver’s side window of her truck.
On previous occasions, he was said to have threatened to kill their children and pets. Police said Mains faces preliminary charges of murder after he allegedly shot Mrs Mains in front of their children and left her body in their home driveway.
Mrs Mains was allegedly shot dead at her home in front of her children(Image: WRTV6)
WRTV reported that their 10-year-old daughter phoned in her death on Sunday afternoon, telling dispatchers her father had shot her mother before fleeing the scene in a car. A probable cause affidavit alleged he “had a gun and he shot their mother…then fled the scene in a gray Toyota Tundra”.
Mrs Mains was found in critical condition and rushed to Eskenazi Hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead. Mains was later apprehended by police after he was spotted driving a few miles away from their home.
IndyStar reports that Officer Daniel Beasley saw his car travelling northbound and initiated a traffic stop nearly 4.5 miles away from the Mains’ family home before arresting the alleged killer. Cecil Mains is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail, and their children have been passed into the care of family members while mourning their mother’s loss.
Her family has been left “completely shattered” by the incident, WRTV reporter Nicole Griffin said, and they have remembered Mrs Mains as a woman who “loved her friends and family fiercely”.
WORLD NEWS
Sydney New Year’s Eve strikes sombre tone as fireworks follow minute’s silence for Bondi | Australia news
Australia paused to show solidarity with the Jewish community as New Year’s Eve festivities rolled across the nation.
Weeks on from the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, hundreds of thousands of people around Sydney Harbour observed a minute’s silence and shone a collective, defiant light after the recent atrocity.
At 11pm AEDT on Wednesday night, the Sydney crowd held their phone torch lights aloft on Wednesday night while a menorah was projected on to the Harbour Bridge’s pylons and a dove and the words “peace” and “unity” were displayed.
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The silent reflection contrasted with the dazzling fireworks that lit up the night sky above the world-famous harbour to ring in 2026 an hour later.
A cloud of fear has lingered over the city since the terror attack but crowds responded to leaders’ calls to go out in defiance of terrorism.
The festivities came with a heavy security presence, with thousands of armed police in attendance.
Fireworks light up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
One reveller, Irishman David Mooney, who nabbed an early spot at Sydney Harbour, said the potential security risks had only “slightly” crossed his mind.
“With everyone in such good spirits, you almost feel a bit of safety in numbers,” the 29-year-old said.
“Everyone’s in good form, everyone’s relaxed, I personally couldn’t have felt more reassured.”
An earlier batch of fireworks let off at 9pm AEDT was met with rapturous applause as the crowd defied any expectation of a sombre mood.
The display, titled Calling Country, celebrated Australia’s Indigenous history with images displayed on to the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s pylons.
The relaxed atmosphere around the harbour saw hundreds of thousands gather, share drinks and play board games as they waited for the fireworks.
Lieke Wijnhoven, 24, from the Netherlands, said extra security measures gave her peace of mind.
“Of course [the Bondi terror attack] is in your mind a little bit, but it could happen anywhere,” she said.
“Because of all the security, the police, even police helicopters, they’ve done what they can and we’re just here trying to enjoy ourselves.”
Caroline Meierhans, 24, from Switzerland, said the many hours queueing to enter Sydney’s Macquarie Point had not dampened her spirits for an exciting night ahead.
Spectators shine light from their mobile phones during a tribute to the victim’s of the Bondi terror attack at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA
“For hours we were singing, just standing there, connecting with other people, looking at our watches wondering how long it would take,” she said.
Just more than two weeks have passed since 15 people were killed and 41 others were injured during the 14 December attack at Bondi, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, encouraging people to show kindness.
“What Bondi also showed us was the best of the Australian spirit, in all its courage and compassion,” he said.
Police were also out in force in Melbourne, with about 500,000 people expected to flock to the city for the fireworks and laser display at midnight.
German tourist Alexandra Bender said she felt unconcerned as she nabbed an early viewing spot with her family at Flagstaff Gardens.
“Everywhere can happen, things like this. We had it in Germany too,” she said.
Lasers and fireworks over Sydney Harbour. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA
At other Melbourne live sites at the Treasury Gardens, Kings Domain and Docklands, families were enjoying live entertainment before the 9.30pm and midnight fireworks.
In Perth, fireworks lit up the sky over the Swan River at 8.30pm before the usual midnight show.
Partygoers lined the banks of the River Torrens in Adelaide for fireworks in Elder Park.
In Brisbane, the 7.45pm fireworks went off along the Brisbane River at 7.45pm amid rainy weather, with a midnight display following.
For Tasmanians, there were fireworks over Hobart’s River Derwent at 9.30pm and midnight.
Fireworks were also taking place on the Darwin waterfront with displays at 9pm and midnight.
Friedrich Merz began his first New Year’s TV address to the nation with a callback to February 23 and the early election that led to the conservative becoming German chancellor, unseating Olaf Scholz and a Social Democrat-led government.
“You, the citizens, decided on the political future of our country that day. A new federal government was formed that has set out to steer Germany in the right direction with determination and a clear sense of direction,” Merz said.
Merz acknowledged immediately that this goal was “no small task.”
‘Show courage, and work together,’ Merz tells Germany
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He said 2025 had presented Germany and the wider world with a series of major challenges.
“A terrible war is raging in Europe, one that poses a direct threat to our freedom and our security. Our economy is coming under pressure from necessary reforms, high costs and global trade conflicts. Moreover, new technologies are revolutionising our world of work and the way we live together,” Merz said.
Against this backdrop, Merz said, his government saw its fundamental mandate as “the renewal of the foundations of our freedom, our security and our prosperity.”
Russia’s Ukraine war ‘part of a plan targeted against the whole of Europe’
Renewing these foundations would only be possible “if we safeguard peace in Europe,” the chancellor said, noting how Ukraine would be seeing in a fourth consecutive New Year “under the most difficult circumstances.”
Merz insisted the war in Ukraine was not a “distant” one of no concern to Germany.
“After all, we are seeing more and more clearly that Russia’s aggression was and is part of a plan targeted against the whole of Europe,” he said. “Germany is also facing sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks on a daily basis.”
The chancellor later noted his government’s plans to increase defense spending and to implement voluntary military service for some young men, including constitutional reforms to enable more borrowing to fund the military.
Merz’s New Year’s speech airs on German TV on Wednesday eveningImage: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture alliance
Partnership with the US ‘is changing’
Although the chancellor did not directly connect the idea to either Russia’s war of aggression or Germany’s increased defense expenditure, he also made reference to changing ties to the US amid Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
“At the same time, our partnership with the United States of America, which has long been the reliable guarantor of our security, is changing,” Merz said. “For us Europeans, this means that we must defend and assert our interests much more strongly by ourselves.”
Trump’s new US national security strategy rattles Europe
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Economic malaise, sluggish reforms at home and in Europe
The Christian Democrat, with a background in corporate law outside of politics, lamented what he called “a return to protectionism in the global economy.” Germany’s “strategic dependence on raw materials is increasingly being wielded as a political lever against our interests,” he said, with Germany as an exporting nation feeling the effects particularly keenly, hinting at the fiscal problems for major industries like carmakers.
He said his government was seeking to provide relief in areas including taxation, energy prices and cutting red tape.
But Merz also said that “homegrown reform backlogs are paralysing the potential of our companies,” at exactly the moment where the economy’s creativity and innovation was required to counter global pressures.
It was becoming “increasingly difficult” for German companies to hold their own internationally, Merz warned, later implying some fault also lay with the European Union in Brussels.
“We are consistently cutting red tape and putting the promotion of competitiveness at the top of the political agenda,” he said of his government’s efforts in negotiations at the EU level.
Pensions, demography, migration
The chancellor, who at 70 recently passed Germany’s standardized retirement age himself, also made reference to the country’s aging population, saying that “the baby boomers will now commence their well-deserved retirement.”
Merz said that in 2026 it would therefore be essential “to create a new balance in our social security systems,” taking the concerns of all generations into account “in a fair manner.”
He also devoted time to the domestic flashpoint policy of migration, in a speech that never explicitly mentioned the challenge from the populist right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), or indeed any other rival party.
Merz said his government was trying both to create new avenues for legal migration, while also closing routes for illegal and disorderly migration.
“For us, humanity and order are two sides of the same coin,” he said.
Many Syrians living in Germany want to stay
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2026 can be year ‘of new beginnings’
The chancellor alluded to public frustration at his coalition government’s infighting and difficulties implementing several banner reforms, such as welfare and pension changes, by acknowledging that many felt the government’s achievements to date were “not enough.”
“And I want to tell you that you are right! It is not enough,” Merz said. But he argued that the work had begun and that he was confident Germany “will reap the benefits of these reforms, even if it takes some time.”
The chancellor argued that 2026 could prove to be “a year of new beginnings,” in which Germany and Europe “reconnect with decades of peace, freedom and prosperity.”
He said the various geopolitical, economic and techological developments did indeed represent an “epochal shift,” but said it was up to Germany to overcome the challenges with its own strength.
“We are not the victims of extraneous circumstances. We are not at the mercy of great powers. Our hands are not tied,” Merz said.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah
WORLD NEWS
Trump was ‘most culpable’ for Jan 6 riot and would have been convicted in court, Jack Smith told Congress
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Donald Trump was “most culpable” for Jan 6 riot and would have been convicted in court, according to the explosive testimony of former special counsel Jack Smith, released Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee.
Smith led the Justice Department prosecutions into Trump following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters after he lost the 2020 election, and his alleged concealment of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Trump’s 2024 election victory essentially ended the DOJ effort to hold him criminally liable.
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Republicans, pledged to investigate the Biden administration and Smith in particular over the two criminal prosecutions of Trump that were launched after Trump left office. Throughout his campaign, Trump argued that he’d done nothing illegal and that the prosecutions were political efforts to punish him and prevent his return to the White House.
Trump faced two separate indictments. He was accused of a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and prevent Joe Biden from taking the White House despite his own campaign being unable to prove his allegations of election fraud. The president was also accused of taking a trove of documents including some classified materials from the White House upon his departure in January of 2021.
In the 225 pages of testimony released on Wednesday, Jack Smith argued that Trump was criminally liable in both cases.
- Trump’s actions “without question” added to the danger faced by Vice President Mike Pence, who was in the Capitol during the riot and was targeted by Trump’s supporters.
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Jack Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the two criminal investigations into Donald Trump led by the Justice Department (AP)
- The Supreme Court’s ruling on executive immunity was not, in his view, an affirmation that the president’s conduct leading up to January 6 was legal.
- His case relied heavily on the testimony of Republicans who “put their allegiance to the country before the party”
- The president’s demand that Georgia officials “find” more than 11,000 votes was seen by Smith as evidence of criminal intention
This is a breaking news report. More to follow…
NEED TO KNOW
- Abby and Matt Howard are opening up about a shocking hospital bill they received
- The mom of two said she received a bill for her hospital stay after experiencing a miscarriage in September that totaled to above $32k
- Abby said the bills are “past due” but explained that she hasn’t been able to mentally deal with the bill yet
TikTokers Abby and Matt Howard are sharing their shocking hospital bill after revealing they’d experienced a miscarriage.
On a Wednesday, Dec. 31 episode of their podcast Unplanned, the couple shared that they are sitting on a large hospital bill after Abby experienced a miscarriage earlier this year. “We’re sitting on a $35,000 bill for the miscarriage right now,” Abby said in the podcast.
She went on to say that the couple had received three bills. One of them totaled to over $32,000, and the other two were over $1,000. Abby said that the bills were “past due” at this point.
Matt and Abby Howard.
Abby Howard/Instagram
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“I can’t even mentally begin to tackle those bills and look through that with everything I’m already dealing with on my end from those days in the hospital and from everything, sorting through that,” Abby said. “I’m like, ‘Wow.’ ”
“Obviously, people need to be compensated for the health care that they did for me that day. I’m not saying that. I’m not mad at the doctors. I’m not mad at the nurses,” continued Abby. “I’m actually so grateful for them. But I also know that this isn’t going in their pockets. So, it’s just so messed up.”
The influencer added that she’ll never forget a text she got only 10 days after experiencing her miscarriage that notified her she owed $35,000.
“I know that I’m not the only person that has received a bill like that after something like that,” Abby said. “The fact of the matter is a lot of people are going to the hospital for reasons that they did not choose, accidents or just really unfortunate health circumstances. This is just the horrible cherry on top of it all is that it financially can be ruined for people.”
Back in September, the couple shared that Abby had a miscarriage at around 17 weeks in her pregnancy. They announced the news in a post on Instagram and shared that they were actively grieving.
“It is with very heavy hearts that we share about the loss of our baby girl born far too soon,” the couple wrote alongside a photo of their hands clasped together in a hospital bed.
“At a routine pregnancy appointment, our doctor could not find a heartbeat. Shortly after they sent us in for an ultrasound where the technician said words we will never forget, ‘I am so sorry I do not have good news,’ ” the post continued. “That is when we got the gender reveal we never hoped for, and also the news that our baby had a genetic condition that took her life around 17 weeks’ gestation.”
“The news felt unimaginable. The grief is absolutely devastating,” Abby and Matt, 27, wrote. “But we feel so much gratitude for the time that we did get to have with her. And we still have hope. Hope has continued to show up for us in so many ways.”
“For now we will grieve and continue to think of ways to honor her life offline. Thoughts and prayers are more than welcome. Thank you everyone for celebrating this precious life with us for the past 17 weeks,” the couple concluded.
WORLD NEWS
Manhunt launched for murder suspect after man, 23, is stabbed to death in New Year’s Eve attack
A manhunt has been launched for a murder suspect after a 23-year-old man was stabbed to death in a New Year’s Eve attack in Lewisham.
Police were called to the scene on Grove Street in southeast London to reports of a stabbing at around 12.35pm today.
A man in his 20s was treated by medics from London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance after being stabbed in the chest.
The young man was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the best efforts of medical staff.
His next of kin have been informed and are currently being supported by specialist officers.
The Metropolitan Police have since launched a murder probe, however no arrests have yet been made in relation to the incident.
A police cordon remains in place at the scene of the crime, the force has confirmed.
Police were called to the scene on Grove Street (pictured) in southeast London to reports of a stabbing at around 12.35pm today
Detective Chief Inspector Sam Townsend, who is leading the investigation said: ‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
‘Our investigation is progressing swiftly as we work to establish the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
‘We understand that this will understandably cause concern within the local community. Please be assured that we have increased patrols in the area, and this investigation remains our highest priority.’
The force have urged anyone with information to contact them by calling 101, quoting CAD2852/31Dec.
Those who wish to stay anonymous can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 111 555.
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Manhunt launched for murder suspect after man, 23, is stabbed to death in New Year’s Eve attack
Police are ‘increasingly concerned’ about a missing woman who left a hospital in Romford, east London, shortly after giving birth
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Bulgaria is saying goodbye to the lev and officially adopting the euro, but some citizens worry that shops will round up when changing currencies, making everything more expensive. Al Jazeera’s Aksel Zaimovic explains their concerns.
Published On 31 Dec 2025
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WORLD NEWS
‘We want the mullahs gone’: economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022 | Iran
Alborz, a textile merchant in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, decided he could no longer sit on the sidelines. He closed his shop and took to the streets, joining merchants across Iran who shuttered their stores and students who took over their campuses to protest against declining economic conditions.
The sudden loss of purchasing power pushed Alborz and tens of thousands of other Iranians into the streets, where protests are now entering their fourth day. Students have paralysed university campuses, traders have shut down their stores and demonstrators have blocked off streets in defiance of police. Protests have spread from the capital, Tehran, to cities across Iran.
Despite the risk of being jailed for his political activism, the father of four had run out of options. On Sunday, the national currency plunged to a historic low, putting further pressure on Alborz, who was already struggling to provide for his family.
“What will my children eat? Do we have to bring suitcases of cash to simply buy bread? Do you find that normal?” Alborz told the Guardian over the phone, speaking under a pseudonym for fear of security reprisals.
The unprecedented depreciation of the national currency on Sunday – when the Iranian rial dropped to 1.42m to the US dollar, a more than 56% decrease in value in six months – was a breaking point for an already struggling economy and population. The plunging currency has caused soaring inflation, with food prices up by 72% on average compared with the same time last year.
Iranian inflation graphic
Iran is also under some of the world’s most intense sanctions, which have spurred inflation as the country struggles to access frozen funds abroad and foreign exchange, something exacerbated by its growing reliance on imports.
A currency exchange office in Tehran. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty
The protests are the largest in Iran since 2022, when Iranians erupted in anger at the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for not wearing her hijab properly. Those protests were violently quashed and ultimately simmered out.
Social media in Iran has been filled with videos of protesters chanting anti-government slogans and throwing stones at security forces. In one video from Tehran, a lone man sits blocking the way of security services on motorbikes as crowds of protesters flee from teargas.
Video
Though the protests started as demonstrations against deteriorating living conditions, they have widened to express grievances at the way Iran is being governed. Women’s rights activists, shopkeepers and students have begun chanting “death to the dictator” and “woman, life, freedom” – slogans that could put people in prison.
Alborz said: “For years now, we have slowly but surely made significant changes to our lifestyles because of this corrupt government. This was the last nail in the coffin. We wanted this regime gone and now there’s no way this regime will continue.”
The government, still shaken from a brutal 12-day war with Israel in June which rocked the foundations of the Iranian regime, has called for dialogue with protest leaders. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the government should listen to the “legitimate demands” of protesters.
But they are wary of the offer, believing it to be an attempt to co-opt their demands and kill the momentum of the rare protest movement.
“You must be naive to think Iranians trust this government or the regime,” said Farhad, a 19-year-old university student active in the protest movement who spoke under a pseudonym.
He and other students described how security services had confiscated student IDs and beaten and arrested some protesters. A protester in Tehran sent the Guardian a picture of a metal pellet, which they said was shot at them by security forces. The Guardian could not independently verify the claim of the protester.
Iranian GDP growth graphic
“If the administration wanted to talk, they wouldn’t fire teargas, shoot at protesters and if dialogue is what they wanted, they would not have executed protesters in 2023. There is no willingness from any of us to talk to them, we want the mullahs gone and we want democracy,” Farhad added.
As the Iranian government dealt with protests at home, it was also facing threats from abroad.
On Monday, the US president, Donald Trump, flirted with the idea of striking Iran again, suggesting there could be renewed nuclear activity in Iran – telling reporters if there was, “we’ll knock them down”. Iran has rejected claims it is enriching uranium and has said its nuclear programme is peaceful.
On Monday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement it would confront any “sedition, unrest” or security threats.
The IRGC said: “Enemies are seeking to sow the seeds of sedition within Iranian society through cognitive warfare, psychological operations, falsified narratives, fear-mongering and encouragement of capitulation to them.”
Despite intimidation from authorities, protesters said they were not cowed. They expected trade unions to soon join the merchants in striking.
“Yesterday, we blocked roads and stopped the security forces from advancing. People sat on the roads and chanted that they could kill us, but we wouldn’t let them pass. We are not going to open shops until the regime weakens further,” said Alborz.
Matthew Tuckerand
Lucy Talavera
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Fireworks lit up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Day celebrations in Australia
Nations around the world are welcoming the New Year as midnight strikes across different time zones.
The island of Kiritimati – an atoll in the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati – became the first place to enter 2026. One tourist there told us he marked it “on a beach with no satellites, no signs of human life, complete darkness and countless crabs”.
New Zealand soon followed by welcoming the New Year with fireworks in Auckland.
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A firework display from the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower welcomed in the New Year
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Then Australia lit up the sky over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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AFP via Getty Images
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In Sydney, celebrations were tempered by sadness as the nation reflected on the Bondi Beach attack on 14 December in which 15 people were killed.
At 23:00 local time, Sydney Harbour fell silent for a minute, with crowds holding lights to remember the victims of Bondi. A Jewish menorah was projected on to the pylons of the Harbour Bridge.
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A message reading “Peace, Unity” was projected on the pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as the city waited for the midnight countdown
EPA
In Sydney, New Year’s Eve spectators shone the lights from their mobile phones during a tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack
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Elsewhere, there were more fireworks at Marina Bay Waterfront in Singapore.
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Fireworks matched the brilliance of skyscraper lights in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.
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Thousands lined the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok as Thailand welcomed the New Year.
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In Hong Kong, spectators enjoyed live performances with fetching headwear.
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The Juyongguan Great Wall was lit up in Beijing.
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Laser lights dominated the night sky over the Lotte World Tower, South Korea’s tallest building in Seoul.
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At the Bosingak pavilion in Seoul, artists performed during the New Year countdown.
EPA
A street performer showed off her fiery skills as part of the Procession of Light in Dublin before heading to the Matinee Countdown Concert in Dublin Castle.
PA Media
In other parts of the world, nations marked the coming New Year with their own traditions.
On a nudist beach in Le Cap d’Agde, southern France, clothed and unclothed revellers took part in a traditional sea dip to mark the New Year’s celebrations.
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Swimmers at Islands Brygge Harbour Bath in Copenhagen, Denmark, also braved the cold waters for a traditional splash, known as Nytaarsbad.
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In Ommen, the Netherlands, local residents watched the annual carbide shooting – a New Year’s Eve tradition of turning milk cans into cannons.
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In Osaka, Japan, young women dressed in traditional kimono took part in a Shinto ritual procession to mark the end of the year at Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.
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Colourful runners braved the December air in Krakow, Poland, for the traditional Krakow New Year’s Run in the Old Town.
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Getty Images
Adults and children performed a traditional dance to release the sun of 2025, and to welcome the sun of 2026, in in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.
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AFP via Getty Images
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After Australia’s world-first social-media ban for minors, France has drafted a similar law to block under-15s from major platforms, which could take effect from September.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year’s address to deliver a blunt message to the West and to his own troops: Russia is not backing down in Ukraine.
As 2026 arrived in Russia’s far eastern regions, Putin vowed victory in the nearly four-year war, praising Russian soldiers and framing the conflict as a fight for the nation’s survival — even as the United States ramps up diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the bloodshed.
“We believe in you and our victory,” Putin said in remarks broadcast nationwide and released by the Kremlin on Wednesday. Addressing troops directly, he congratulated “all our soldiers and commanders” and pledged continued support for what Moscow calls its “special military operation.”
TRUMP TOUTS ‘TREMENDOUS PROGRESS’ BUT SAYS HE’LL MEET PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY ‘ONLY WHEN’ PEACE DEAL IS FINAL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his New Year’s address from the Kremlin, vowing victory in the war in Ukraine. (East2West)
Putin cast the war as a struggle for Russia’s homeland, “truth and justice,” signaling determination to press ahead despite mounting losses and international pressure.
In a separate message, ex-President Dmitry Medvedev — Putin’s security council deputy — said of victory in Ukraine: “I sincerely believe that it is near.” Echoing Putin, he spoke of “our great and invincible Russia.”
The defiant tone comes as the war approaches grim milestones. On Jan. 12, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will surpass the 1,418 days the Soviet Union fought Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II. On Feb. 24, the conflict will enter its fourth year. Western estimates place the number of killed and wounded at more than 1 million — a figure the Kremlin disputes.
TRUMP MEETS WITH ZELENSKYY; TALKS COULD UNLOCK FIRST ZELENSKYY-PUTIN CALL IN FIVE YEARS: SOURCE
The mother of a Russian soldier who was killed in a military action in Ukraine, kneels near a planted tree in memory of her son at the Alley of Heroes in Sevastopol, Crimea, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo)
Putin’s rhetoric stood in sharp contrast to renewed diplomatic activity led by Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, as the White House explores possible paths to end Europe’s largest land war since World War II.
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U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at a news conference following a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on December 28, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
After the meeting, Trump said Ukraine and Russia were “closer than ever” to peace, while acknowledging that major obstacles — particularly territorial disputes — remain unresolved. Reuters separately reported that Trump and Zelenskyy discussed potential U.S. troop involvement as part of broader security guarantees, though no decisions were announced.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.
NEED TO KNOW
- Glenda Akin broke a Guinness World Record after teaching at the same Tennessee school for more than 60 years
- Akin began her tenure at Westmoreland High School in 1963 and retired in September 2024
- Westmoreland said she “left an unforgettable legacy in our school and community”
A Tennessee teacher made history when she set down her chalk and retired after more than six decades in the classroom.
Glenda Akin broke the Guinness World Record for “longest teacher in the same school (female) on Sept. 13, 2024, according to the record-keeping organization. She taught at Westmoreland High School in Westmoreland for 61 years and 43 days before retiring.
Akin began her tenure at the Sumner County school in 1963 and worked as a social studies and library teacher, according to the Guinness World Records.
Westmoreland High School celebrated her achievement in a Facebook post on Dec. 19, sharing photos of Akin being honored at the school while holding her official certificate.
“Historic Achievement at Westmoreland High School!” the school wrote. “We are incredibly proud to announce that Ms. Glenda Akin has officially been awarded a Guinness World Record for the Longest Career as a Female Teacher in the Same School!”
“With an extraordinary 61 years and 43 days of dedicated service at Westmoreland High School, Ms. Akin’s lifelong commitment to education has shaped generations of students and left an unforgettable legacy in our school and community,” the school continued, adding, “Please join us in congratulating Ms. Glenda Akin on this historic and well-deserved honor!”
While Akin will no longer be walking the hallways during the school day, her legacy will live on in a special way.
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Glenda Akin.
Amber Regan
As seen in the photos shared by Westmoreland, the high school dedicated its library to Akin, renaming it the Glenda Akin Library. A plaque adorned with her photo reads, “Her six decades of service to our school and community will remain forever cherished in the lives of her coworkers and students.”