The first clear photo of Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram has emerged as new details about his trips to India are revealed.

Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police after he opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach on Sunday night, killing 15 people and injuring 40 more.

His alleged co-conspirator, son Naveed, 24, was critically injured during the shootout but has since been charged with 59 offences – including 15 counts of murder – after waking from a coma on Wednesday.

Indian Police say Sajid was from Hyderabad, a tech and pharma city, in the country’s south, where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

He migrated to Australia on a student visa in 1998 before transitioning to a partner visa three years later following his marriage to Naveed’s mother, Venera.  

According to local authorities, Sajid returned to his homeland six times since moving overseas, for family-related reasons and property matters.

However, Indian Police say he did not travel to the country for his father’s death in 2017.

His last known visit was a two-week trip in 2022.  

The first clear photo of Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram (pictured) has emerged as new details about his trips to Indiaare revealed

The suspected gunmen seen with three firearms on the day of the Bondi Beach shooting

A screenshot from CCTV shows the Akrams carrying ‘bulky items’ hours before the attacks, police allege

A screenshot from a video found on Naveed Akram’s phone shows his father conducting firearms training, police allege

The suspected Bondi beach terror attacker is alleged to have conducted firearms training at a location thought to be in New South Wales

Police allege a homemade bomb was found in the boot of the Akrams’ vehicle

Sajid’s relatives in India have told authorities they have had limited contact with him over the past 27 years and were unaware of his extreme beliefs.

Two Islamic State flags were allegedly found inside the car the father and son used to travel to Bondi. 

Police also allegedly found an ISIS-propaganda style video inside the Campsie apartment the pair had rented out in the lead up to the shooting.

‘The family members have expressed no knowledge of his [Sajid’s] radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation,’ Indian Police said.

‘The factors that led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana.’

Sajid’s immediate family still live in Hyderabad, where his elder brother is a doctor, according to local media. 

Indian authorities are in contact with Australian officials investigating the incident.

Australian authorities are also investigating a trip the father and son took to the Philippines before the alleged terror attack. 

The suspected gunmen were allegedly armed with pipe bombs

A homemade Islamic State flag was also found in the car, police allege

CCTV shows Naveed Akram hours before he allegedly carried out the Bondi Beach shooting

CCTV shows Sajid Akram on the same day as the Bondi Beach shooting

Photos have also emerged of the father and son’s passports 

Sajid is pictured at Bondi on Sunday before he was shot dead by police

Police will allege Sajid carried out the attack with his 24-year-old son Naveed (pictured)

Philippines immigration officials have confirmed the pair travelled to the south-east Asian country on November 1.

Their last known destination was listed as Davao, a popular tourist city on the southern island of Mindanao, which has long been associated with IS activity.

Australian authorities have been probing whether the father and son attended a military training program before they returned home to Sydney via Manila on November 28. 

However, Philippine authorities deny the region is an IS training hotspot and say there is no evidence the pair engaged in military exercises during their trip.

The massacre has led to urgent calls for gun reform after it was revealed Sajid was a registered firearms owner, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging to push for tighter restrictions.

Police will allege that four guns were found at the scene and two more – also legally owned – were recovered during property searches. 

Naveed’s charges include 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent, one count of committing a terrorist act, and one count of discharging a firearm in public.

He is also facing one count of causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist symbol, and one count of placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm.  

Naveed Akram was also allegedly caught on camera as he passed through Philippines immigration

Police are pictured at a Campsie rental property where the pair were allegedly staying in the lead up to the shooting

The father and son’s alleged deceased victims include Peter Meagher, 61, Alex Kleytman, 87, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, 39, Reuven Morrison, 62, Matilda, 10, Tibor Weitzen, 78, Marika Pogany, 82, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, Dan Elkavam, 27, Edith Brutman, 68, and Boris Tetleroyd.

Dozens of others were allegedly hospitalised with various injuries after the attack, including two police officers who were among the first responders to the scene. 

Naveed’s matter was heard in court on Wednesday afternoon. 

He did not apply for bail and will next face court on April 8 next year. 

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Saskia Manning-Bewley shared her tip, which has been hailed as a “game changer”, in a video filmed at her home in Bristol ahead of the Christmas period this week

Saskia Manning-Bewley has her Christmas presents ready under the tree(Image: Jam Press/Saskia Manning-Bewley)

A young woman has shared her “genius” Christmas wrapping hack — and the chore can be done sitting on the sofa.

Saskia Manning-Bewley, 23, said she found hunching over on the floor tiresome and challenging as her dog would tear the wrapping paper. So, the young woman, from Bristol, now uses the ironing board as a makeshift table to get the job done — and her social media following is amazed.

Saskia said: “I randomly saw it somewhere and just tried it out one night when my partner was out, as I have a puppy who loves to tear up paper and I wanted to watch films so the floor wasn’t an option. I normally spread it on the floor and lose things. The ironing board saved my back and it was easy to know where things were.”

She explained her method in a video she posted on social media, which has clocking up more than 558,000 views, and more than 23,000 likes.

READ MORE: Favourite Christmas dinner item causes cancer and increases heart attack risk

OPINION

Ray BonsallSaskia, an auditor, shared a sneak peek of her method(Image: Jam Press/Saskia Manning-Bewley)The woman uses an ironing board as a table(Image: Jam Press/Saskia Manning-Bewley)

One person said: “I am glad I’ve seen this hack before I started wrapping! Game changer!” Another wrote: “I might buy an ironing board just for this.” A third added: “Omg what a game changer.”

The praise kept coming, with one viewer declaring: “Omg you’re a literal genius.” Another said: “I haven’t started wrapping yet omg thank you so much.”

But others were less pleased, having discovered the hack after already finishing their wrapping. One person joked: “I’ve just spent all day sat on my wooden floor wrapping and TikTok shows me this NOW!!!!”

READ MORE: ‘I work in Lapland at -32 degrees and my office is a real-life snow globe’Saskia, from Bristol, has left viewers stunned(Image: Jam Press/Saskia Manning-Bewley)Saskia wrapped her gifts while she watched TV(Image: Jam Press/Saskia Manning-Bewley)

Another wrote: “Why am I only just seeing this as I’m lying on the floor after wrapping my presents for 5 HOURS.” Some viewers said the trick was nothing new to them.

One commented: “I’ve been doing this a while, it’s really handy.” Another added: “My mum has done this for years, so funny seeing this on here.”

Saskia, who works as an auditor, added: “It blew up out of nowhere and blew my mind. But I loved it. “Tell people to get the ironing board out and save their back.”

Another woman, called Claire, posted on social media this week with another clever trick. The savvy shopper revealed her method for wrapping presents, and viewers loved the clever idea. As demonstrated in a viral video, Claire made a makeshift gift-wrapping station using her ironing board, a broom, and two clothing hangers. Her tip, too, has been praised on social media.

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A man suspected of killing 15 people during a shooting in Bondi Beach “conducted firearms training” with his father before the attack on a Jewish event, Australian police have said.

Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, allegedly attacked people at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach on 14 December, killing victims aged 10 to 87 and injuring 40 others.

Fifty-year-old Sajid Akram was killed by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram was injured and is in police custody in hospital. He has since been charged with 59 offences, including a terror charge.

New South Wales Police have released pictures of Naveed Akram and his father holding guns, as they “conducted firearms training in a countryside location, suspected to be NSW” in late October, according to a police fact sheet seen by Sky News.

Image:
Sajid Akram during the “firearm training”. Pic: NSW Police/NSW Local Court

“The accused and his father are seen throughout the video firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner,” police said.

On the day of the Bondi Beach attack, the pair allegedly threw homemade bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the crowd of people at the gathering near the beach, but these did not detonate.

An analysis indicates that both were “viable” IEDs, according to the police file.

More on Bondi Beach Shooting

Image:
The suspected gunmen were allegedly armed with pipe bombs. Pic: NSW Police/NSW Local Court

Image:
Police said they found an IED in the suspects’ car. Pic: NSW Police/NSW Local Court

The information on the fact sheet was released after a suppression order was lifted by an NSW court.

Police allege the men had stored the explosives – three pipe bombs, one tennis ball bomb and one large IED – in a silver Hyundai vehicle, alongside two single-barrel shotguns, a Beretta rifle and two Islamic State flags.

The Hyundai was parked near the scene of the shooting, with the Islamic State flags allegedly displayed in the front and rear windows.

Image:
A homemade Islamic State flag was also found in the car, police said. Pic: NSW Police/NSW Local Court

A phone belonging to Naveed Akram was also found in the car, on which officers identified several videos, including the alleged “firearm training” video.

Another video shows Naveed Akram and his father sitting in front of an image of an Islamic State flag, with four long-arm guns with rounds attached seen in the background, police said.

The men “appear to summarise their justification for the Bondi terrorist attack” in the footage, according to the fact sheet.

Image:
Police said the men walked on the footbridge from where they allegedly shot at crowds two days later. Pic: NSW Local Court

Their Hyundai was also seen on CCTV entering the car park at Bondi Beach before Naveed Akram and his father walked around the area at around 10pm on 12 December – two days before the shooting.

Police allege that this is evidence of reconnaissance and planning of a terrorist act.

Police said Naveed Akram’s mother told officers that she believed her husband and son were on a fishing trip when they allegedly launched the attack. She said Naveed had been calling her every day from a public phone around 10.30am.

The men were found to have rented a room in a property in Bondi Beach throughout December.

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Terror on camera: The Bondi attack

In the room, police said they discovered a firearm scope, ammunition, a suspected IED, 3D-printed parts for a shotgun speed loader, a rifle, a shotgun, numerous firearms parts, bomb-making equipment and two copies of the Koran.

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Fighting has resumed hours before the countries’ foreign ministers meet in Malaysia to discuss steps to de-escalate hostilities.

Published On 22 Dec 202522 Dec 2025

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Victoria’s police chief will be given sweeping powers to shut down or move on protests in the aftermath of terrorist events, while officers carrying rifles will be deployed to the Boxing Day Test following the Bondi terror attack.

Jacinta Allan on Monday announced Victoria will follow New South Wales by introducing legislation to parliament next year granting the police commissioner the power to “stop or move on a public protest within a certain time following a designated terrorist event”.

The Victorian premier said her government was still receiving legal advice on whether attacks in other states would trigger the powers and how long they would apply but noted the new powers would likely be modelled on the NSW legislation, under which protests can be banned for 14 days.

“We have always defended the right to protest – and we will not allow a return to the undemocratic laws that aim to reduce the power of workers – but the safety of the community is paramount,” Allan told reporters.

“There is a need for there to be calm, for there to be cohesion.”

The move is expected to be welcomed by the police commissioner, Mike Bush, who earlier on Monday said he had been in discussions with the government about being given the power to “veto protests when they’re not appropriate”.

Bush maintained Victoria did not need a protest permit system like in NSW but urged people not to protest after the Bondi attack, saying it would be “very inappropriate”.

He announced the police Critical Incident Response Team (Cirt), carrying long-arm semi-automatic rifles, would be deployed to the Boxing Day Test as an additional security measure after the attack.

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But he stressed the decision was proactive and “based on the current threat environment and not a specific new threat”.

“The reason we’re doing this is to provide reassurance to the public that we are here always to keep them safe but also as a deterrent,” Bush said.

He said the Cirt officers will be “highly visible” across all five days of play, joining an additional 120 officers outside the MCG. He said similar deployments would be considered on a case-by-case basis at other major events over summer, including the Australian Open.

Allan also announced the government would fast-track the civil law aspects of the state’s new anti-vilification laws to come into effect in April 2026, instead of mid-year.

The government will also amend the laws to remove the requirement for consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions before police can pursue criminal vilification charges – a compromise that was reached with the crossbench in order for the bill to pass parliament in April.

Sydney honours Bondi victims on national day of reflection – video

Allan said she was hopeful the Coalition, which voted against the anti-vilification laws, would support the amendment.

She also committed to introducing new laws to “hold social media companies to account” when vilification is carried out by anonymous users.

Allan said a “respected jurist” would be appointed to examine how this could work, including whether platforms could be held liable for civil claims when the owner of an account cannot be identified. The laws could also extend to online forums, including comment sections on news websites, her statement said.

Also included in her “five next steps to combat antisemitism” was a review of Victoria’s gun laws, to be led by the former police commissioner Ken Lay, the release of the state’s new strategy for preventing and countering extremism and the appointment of a commissioner to oversee its implementation, and the establishment of a council of “eminent Victorians” to develop clear, measurable long-term goals to combat antisemitism and implement recommendations from Jillian Segal’s federal review.

Allan said the measures reflected her commitment to “fight” for the safety of Melbourne’s Jewish community, a city she described as once being globally recognised as a “haven for Jews after the war”.

“I cannot fully personally comprehend the unique sadness, pain and fear of Jews in this moment. But I can share in their horror that the worst massacre of Jewish lives since October the 7th took place here – on an Australian beach in the summer, the very backdrop of our gentle, carefree way of life,” she said.

“December the 14th was a direct attack upon Jews, a direct attack upon our way of life. It demands action.”

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Supplied

A screenshot from a video found on Naveed Akram’s phone shows his father conducting firearms training, police allege

The gunmen who allegedly carried out a deadly attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach last week threw four undetonated explosives at the start of the attack, including a “tennis ball bomb”, according to newly released documents.

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with dozens of offences including 15 counts of murder over the attack at a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December. Akram, who was shot by police during the attack, was released from hospital on Monday and transferred to a prison.

The second alleged gunman, his father Sajid Akram, was shot dead.

The pair recorded a video manifesto in October in which they sit in front of the Islamic State group flag, according to police documents.

Supplied

A screenshot from CCTV shows the Akrams carrying ‘bulky items’ hours before the attacks, police allege

The Akrams “meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months”, police alleged. Videos found on Naveed’s phone showed the pair were motivated by “violent extremist ideology” linked to the Islamic State group.

They include one video in which the pair sit in front of an Islamic State flag and detail their motivation for the Bondi attack and condemn “the acts of ‘Zionists'”, police alleged. Naveed also appears to recite a passage from the Quran in Arabic in the video, police alleged.

Another video allegedly showed the pair conducting firearms training in what police believe to be rural New South Wales in October. “The Accused and his father are seen throughout the video firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner,” police alleged.

A temporary suppression order had been made on the fact sheet last week to protect the identities of the survivors of the attack. The order was revoked on Monday after an application to the New South Wales Local Court by media companies although the names of most survivors were redacted.

Supplied

CCTV shows the Akrams carrying out reconnaissance two days ahead of the Bondi Beach attack, police allege

CCTV recorded at Bondi beach two days ahead of the attack also showed the Akrams driving to the area and carrying out reconnaissance, police alleged.

“The Accused and his father, S Akram, are seen to exit the vehicle and walk along the footbridge, being the same position where they attended two days later and shot at members of the public,” police wrote.

CCTV also captured the pair leaving rented accommodation in the Sydney suburb of Campsie hours before the attack “carrying long and bulky items wrapped in blankets”, police alleged.

Police said the items, which were placed in a car, were three firearms, home-made improvised explosive devices including the “tennis ball bomb” and two Islamic State flags.

They later drove to Bondi where they parked and placed the flags on the inside of the front and rear windows, police alleged. After removing the firearms and homemade bombs from the car, they walked towards the footbridge from where they carried out their attack, police alleged.

Three homemade pipe bombs and the tennis ball bomb were thrown as they approached the bridge, police alleged, but did not explode although they were assessed as “viable”. A fifth explosive device was later found in their vehicle, police had previously said.

Naveed Akram, who was shot in the abdomen and critically injured by police, did not appear at Monday’s court appearing.

Supplied

Police allege a homemade bomb was found in the boot of the Akrams’ vehicle

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 Key points

• Najib Razak is serving time in jail for the diversion of some $9.9 million from a Malaysian investment fund into his personal bank accounts
• He was prime minister during the period when $4.5 billion was stolen from the state 1MDB fund
• The looting of 1MDB is one of the biggest corruption scandals in modern history
• The court rule Najib must stay in prison for the rest of his sentence

A court in Malaysia has dismissed former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his jail sentence at home.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled on Monday that a royal order, which would have allowed the measure, was invalid as it wasn’t made in accordance with constitutional requirements.

The court didn’t dispute the existence of the order issued in 2024 by the then-king, but said the king should have consulted with the pardons board first.

This means the 72-year-old will serve the remainder of his sentence for money laundering and abuse of power in prison.

He is scheduled for release in 2028 after his original 12-year-jail sentence was cut in half.

What was Najib’s role in the 1MDB corruption scandal?

Najib is serving time after being convicted on charges linked to the theft of billions of dollars from a Malaysian state fund called 1Malaysia Development Berhad but more commonly known by its abbreviation, 1MDB.

Najib launched 1MDB in 2009, when he assumed office, to promote economic development and investment.

But senior officials and their associates ended up stealing more than $4.5 billion (€3.84 billion) from the fund from 2009 to 2013, according to the US Justice Department. The money was laundered through layers of bank accounts in the United States and other countries.

It’s one of the largest corruption and embezzlement scandals in the world in recent history.

The funds were used on gambling $25 million in Las Vegas casinos, financing a Hollywood movie and extravagant purchases such as a private jet and yacht, art and jewelry.

When police searched properties linked to Najib shortly after he lost the 2018 election, they seized 1,400 necklaces, 567 handbags, 423 watches, 2,200 rings, 1,600 brooches and 14 tiaras, as well as nearly $27 million in cash, worth an estimated $273 million. Most of the jewelry belonged to his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Najib was sentenced in 2020 for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering. The seven charges related to the diversion of some $9.9 million from a 1MDB subsidiary into his personal bank accounts. 

Separate trial decision expected on Friday

Separately, on Friday, the court will make a decision in a second graft trial against the former prime minister.

The High Court will rule on four charges of abuse of power to obtain over $700 million from 1MDB that went into Najib’s bank accounts, and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.

If found guilty, Najib faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of abuse of power and up to five years for each of the money laundering charges.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

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Zelensky reports ‘constructive engagement’ in Florida on peace talks

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Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy official has rejected the latest amendments to a Donald Trump-backed peace plan – despite admitting that he hasn’t actually read them.

Yuri Ushakov, who played a key role in drafting the original version of the plan that was widely dismissed as being too pro-Russia, also played down the prospect of a three-way summit between the US, Moscow and Kyiv

“I am sure that the proposals that the Europeans and Ukrainians have made or are trying to make definitely do not improve the document and do not improve the possibility of achieving long-term peace,” Yuri Ushakov said.

The senior Kremlin official said he had not seen the exact proposals and that his criticism was “not a forecast”.

His remarks came after Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said he held “productive and constructive” talks in Florida over the weekend with Ukrainian and European negotiators.

“Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine’s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity.

Peace must be not only a cessation of hostilities, but also a dignified foundation for a stable future,” Trump’s envoy said.

French presidency welcomes Kremlin’s willingness to hold talks

The French presidency has welcomed Russia’s willingness to hold talks with Emmanuel Macron.

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s willingness to speak with Macron is “welcome”, the Elysee Palace said, adding that Paris will decide on the details “in the coming days”, reported French broadcaster BFMTV.

The remarks came shortly after Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Saturday said Putin is ready to engage in dialogue with Macron.

On Friday, Macron had said it would “become useful again” for him and the Europeans to speak with Putin.

“I think that we, Europeans and Ukrainians, have an interest in finding a framework to re-engage in these discussions properly. Otherwise, we end up talking among ourselves, with negotiators who go off on their own to talk with the Russians, which is not optimal,” Macron said.

French president Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Reuters)

Arpan Rai22 December 2025 05:22

Watch: Zelensky reports ‘constructive engagement’ in Florida on peace talks

Zelensky reports ‘constructive engagement’ in Florida on peace talks

Arpan Rai22 December 2025 05:10

Orban says Ukraine’s collapse would be a disaster for Hungary

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has said Ukraine’s collapse would be a disaster for his country, as he made a rare statement in support of Kyiv.

Orban was speaking during his “Country tour” rally yesterday, at a time when he faces staunch opposition ahead of the country’s upcoming elections.

“Make no mistake: Ukraine’s collapse would be a disaster for Hungary. So the collapse of Ukraine is not only in Hungary’s interest, but we must do a great deal to prevent it from happening,” he said.

“Countryside people – and real estate speculators – understand perfectly that the value of your piece of land is influenced not only by the condition of that land, but also by the condition of the neighbouring piece of land, and also by who lives there,” Orban said, addressing the city of Szeged.

Arpan Rai22 December 2025 04:55

What are the main sticking points in negotiations?

The talks between Ukraine and the US have centred on Kyiv’s insistence that it needs security guarantees to end the war.

Ukraine also says it will not and legally cannot give up territory seized by Russia.

Moscow has shown no signs of backing down from its demands, however.

Russia opposes Europe putting boots on the ground to uphold peace in Ukraine when the war ends. That makes it tricky for Europe to offer tangible security guarantees.

Ukraine’s allies in Europe continue to push for security guarantees (AFP/Getty)

Russia has gone into talks this week publicly refusing to budge on claims to the Donbas, Crimea and land in the south.

The two sides are stuck in gridlock with Trump pressuring Kyiv to give up land for a peace deal, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Ukraine’s leverage comes from Europe, which continues to offer funding and work on ‘security guarantees’.

James Reynolds22 December 2025 04:30

Ukrainian forces battle Russian breakthrough in Sumy

The Ukrainian army said it was battling an attempted Russian breakthrough in the Sumy region after Moscow claimed to have forcibly removed 50 people from a border village.

“Fighting is currently ongoing in the village of Grabovske,” Ukraine’s joint taskforce said and said their troops were “making efforts to drive the occupiers back into Russian territory”.

Russian forces have crossed the border with Ukraine in the northeastern Sumy region and taken about 50 residents of a Ukrainian border village into Russia, Ukrainian media quoted the military as saying yesterday.

Most of the local residents captured from the village were elderly people, the media said.

Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne and the Ukrainska Pravda news outlet said Russian forces entered Ukrainian territory on Saturday night in the area of the village of Hrabovske.

Arpan Rai22 December 2025 04:10

Kremlin dismissed new peace plan proposals – without actually seeing them

Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy official has accused Europe and Ukraine of prolonging the conflict with their proposals.

“I am sure that the proposals that the Europeans and Ukrainians have made or are trying to make definitely do not improve the document and do not improve the possibility of achieving long-term peace,” Yuri Ushakov said.

The senior Kremlin official said he had not seen the exact proposals and that his criticism was “not a forecast”.

He also denied that trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the US were under discussion, after Zelensky said Washington had proposed the idea of three-way discussions.

“At present, no one has seriously discussed this initiative, and to my knowledge it is not being prepared,” he said.

Russian president Vladimir Putin and his foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov attend talks in Moscow (Sputnik)

Arpan Rai22 December 2025 03:19

Ukrainian drone attack damages two vessels in Russia’s Krasnodar

At least two vessels and two piers were damaged as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Krasnodar region, authorities in the southern Russia region said today.

All crew on the ships at the Volna terminal in the region have been safely evacuated, the Krasnodar region’s operational headquarters said on the Telegram messaging app. The damage led to a fire spreading across up to 1,500 square metres (1,794 square yards), the authorities added.

Arpan Rai22 December 2025 02:56

‘I was a British PoW tortured by Russia; this is how Ukraine and the West can win this war’

Aiden Aslin, a British volunteer who joined Ukraine’s marines, was captured and tortured by Putin’s forces in 2022 and is now back fighting the Kremlin. He tells his story to the ‘World of Trouble’ podcast with world affairs editor Sam Kiley in eastern Ukraine:

James Reynolds22 December 2025 02:00

In pictures: Aftermath of Russian strikes on Odesa

A firefighter works at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike in Odesa (via REUTERS)A truck burns at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Odesa region (via REUTERS)

James Reynolds21 December 2025 23:55

Sanctioned Russian freighter boarded in Swedish waters overnight

Swedish authorities boarded a sanctioned Russian freighter that anchored in Swedish waters with engine problems overnight, the country’s customs service said on Sunday.

Sweden carried out an inspection of the cargo aboard the Adler, which is subject to both EU and US sanctions. Authorities declined to say what they found on board the ship.

The owners are also on the EU’s sanctions list, a spokesperson for the customs authority said.

James Reynolds21 December 2025 23:10

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for Sister Wives, season 20, episode 13.

NEED TO KNOW

• Meri Brown is about to face her ex, Kody Brown, in an intense sit-down in next week’s episode
• The Dec. 21 episode ending with a clip of their heated conversation
• Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC

Meri Brown is about to have a very tense confrontation with ex-husband Kody Brown when they sit down together for her leg of his apology tour.

In a preview of next week’s episode of Sister Wives, Kody insisted he was “just here to apologize” to his ex-wife, but Meri seemingly wasted no time shutting him down.

“No, I’m going to tell you this Kody,” Meri snapped, interrupting Kody’s train of thought. “You’re not going to shut me down anymore.”

In a confessional, Meri doubled down. “If it gets [to be] any more than this, I’m out!” she exclaimed.

Meri Brown speak with her friends Jenn and Amber about her upcoming conversation with Kody.

TLC

On the latest episode of Sister Wives, Meri informed her friends Jenn and Amber that she would be having a conversation with Kody the next day in Cedar City, Utah. But both friends quickly raised red flags.

Meri was not without her own concerns, noting that Kody “didn’t even acknowledge my presence” during their recent meet-up at Coyote Pass with is other ex-wife Janelle and current wife Robyn.

“The last time I saw Kody, we didn’t even look at each other. It was what it was,” Meri said in a confessional. “So I’m going to go into this conversation very guarded, I think.”

Speaking with Jenn and Amber, Meri said she was “very curious to know” what Kody had up his sleeve, but was not sure how sincere Kody’s gesture was.

When asked what her best-case scenario would look like, Meri said she had already explored that option when she asked Kody via text message if they could “move forward in kindness” following their separation.

Instead of agreeing, however, Meri said Kody called her “immediately” and was instantly “defensive” about her decision to split. Though he ultimately “simmered down,” Meri felt the best-case scenario had been tossed out the window.

Kody Brown apologizes to his ex-wife Christine following their divorce.

TLC

“There have been times when I’ve had conversations with Kody and I definitely see the sincerity,” Meri said in a confessional. “And then there’s times when I’m like, are you just saying this? Is this lip service? And why?”

This time, Meri had no clue what to expect from her ex-husband. “I don’t know what Kody I’m going to get because I don’t know Kody anymore,” she said.

In a separate confessional, Kody acknowledged that his apology to Meri could “go bad very quickly.” His strategy, he noted, was to “not escalate” with his ex-wife.

“I will persevere until I can reach her, until she hears me,” Kody said.

But Meri told Jenn and Amber that she had completely lost trust in her ex-husband after several attempts to be civil with him. Instead, she said, he went on the “attack,” both on her and her friends.

“If you go on the attack on me or my best friend, then I will definitely go on the attack back,” Meri said in a confessional. Later, she revealed her own strategy for the one-on-one meeting.

Jenn, left, and Amber, right, talk with Meri about her upcoming conversation with Kody.

TLC

“I’m going to go into this conversation with Kody with very strong boundaries,” Meri explained. “His energy f—- with my energy. It just does.”

Considering the ugliness that emerged during her attempt to have a “decent divorce,” Meri had no clue what to expect from her conversation with Kody.

“Does he have some ulterior motive? I don’t even know,” she asked herself, echoing Jenn’s concern that Kody’s apology would be a “manipulative” tactic. “I’m just going to go in very open and curious.”

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Kody has apologized in previous episodes this season to his other ex-wives, Janelle and Christine.

“For how we broke up, for how it all went down, I want to apologize for being angry about it,” Kody told Christine, referring to their 2021 split after 25 years of marriage. “I want to apologize for the struggles.”

He said something similar to Janelle. “I just wanted to come and say that I apologize,” Kody said, mentioning that he had a list of apologies. “I just love to apologize for, the first thing is, I want to kind of go backwards. I want to apologize for just being so angry and so bitter over the family breakup, and just nobody deserved to have me be that angry.”

Sister Wives airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

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She then called the Vice President an “assassin” in front of the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in an awkward attempt to describe JD Vance’s political style.

04:05, 22 Dec 2025Updated 04:17, 22 Dec 2025

Nicki Minaj makes EXTREMELY inappropriate assassin gaffe to Erika Kirk’s face at America Fest

RSBN

Nicki Minaj has made a surprise appearance at a political convention run by the widow of Charlie Kirk, with the rapper singing the praises of Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Minaj, real name Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, called the US President and Vice-President “role models” for young men after she arrived at the Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference hand-in-hand with Erika Kirk, the wife of political activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September.

Kirk founded Turning Point USA and was the not-for-profit organisation’s leader up until his death. His widow, Erika, now runs the conservative activist group.

Rapper Nicki Minaj (R) and Erika Kirk, the wife of political activist Charlie Kirk, at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention.(Image: AP)

The rap star was interviewed at the Arizona event by Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, about her newly found support for Trump — someone she had condemned in the past — and about her actions denouncing violence against Christians in Nigeria.

Minaj told the crowd of gathered Republicans: “This administration is full of people with heart and soul, and they make me proud of them. Our vice president, he makes me … well, I love both of them. Both of them have a very uncanny ability to be someone that you relate to.”

Then, in a horror gaffe, the 43-year-old rapper called JD Vance an “assassin” in front of Kirk’s widow. She was attempting to describe JD Vance’s political style at the time.

Minaj appeared to freeze up, seemingly regretting her words. The crowd murmured as Kirk appeared to wipe a tear from one of her eyes, with Minaj putting a hand over her own mouth, things seemed to go from bad to worse.

Nicki Minaj makes EXTREMELY inappropriate assassin gaffe to Erika Kirk’s face at America Fest

RSBN

Kirk’s widow took the slip-up with grace, however, telling the crowd that had gathered in tribute of her late-husband: “If the internet wants to clip it, who cares? I love this woman.”

Minaj said she was tired of being “pushed around,” and she said that speaking your mind with different ideas is controversial because “people are no longer using their minds.”

Vance also received an endorsement from Erika Kirk during the Arizona event, even though he has not disclosed if he will run for the White House at the next election.

At one point, Kirk thanked Minaj for being “courageous,” despite the backlash she received from the entertainment industry for her support for Trump. Minaj replied with: “I didn’t notice.”

Last month, the rapper took to social media to reveal herself as a fan of Trump and his polices. She shared a message that was originally posted by the US President about Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Trump had floated the idea of implementing sanctions for the West African nation on his Truth Social platform.

“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God,” Minaj wrote on X. She was then invited to speak at a panel at the US mission to the United Nations along with US Ambassador Mike Waltz and other religious leaders.

In 2018, the Trinidadian-born star was one of several celebrities that condemned Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy, which saw more than 5,000 children separated from their families at the US-Mexico border. Back then, she shared her own story of arriving to the country at five-years-old, describing herself as an “illegal immigrant.”

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