Talks held between Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and the Russian president.

Syria’s foreign and defence ministers met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and held discussions on expanding “strategic cooperation in the military industries sector”, Syrian state media has reported.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) ⁠said that Putin’s meeting on Tuesday with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani and Minister of Defence Murhaf Abu Qasra ‌focused on political, economic and military issues of “mutual interest”, but that “particular emphasis” was on defence.

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According to SANA, Putin and the Syrian ministers discussed a range of defence-related matters, including developing military cooperation to strengthen the Syrian army’s capabilities and ‌modernising its equipment, transferring expertise and cooperation in research and development.

“During the meeting, both sides reviewed ways to advance military and technical partnership in a manner that strengthens the defensive capabilities of the Syrian Arab Army and keeps pace with modern developments in military industries,” SANA reported.

The two sides also discussed political and economic issues, including the “importance of continued political and diplomatic coordination between Damascus and Moscow in international forums”, according to the news agency.

On the economic front, the talks addressed expanding Syrian-Russian cooperation, including in reconstruction projects, infrastructure development and investment in Syria.

Putin also reaffirmed Russian “steadfast support” for Syria and its territorial integrity, while renewing “Moscow’s condemnation of repeated Israeli violations of Syrian territory, describing them as a direct threat to regional security and stability”.

The ministers’ visit to Moscow is the latest by Syria’s new authorities since the removal from power last December of the country’s longtime ruler and Moscow’s former ally in Damascus, Bashar al-Assad.

Russia was a key supporter of al-Assad during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, providing vital military aid that kept the Assad regime in power, including Russian air support that rained air strikes on rebel-held areas.

Despite al-Assad and his family fleeing to Russia after the toppling of his regime, Moscow is eager to build good relations with the new government in Damascus.

Moscow, in particular, is hoping to secure agreements to continue operating the Khmeimim airbase and the Tartous naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, where Russian forces continue to be present.

In October, Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visited Russia, where he said his government ‍would honour all the past deals struck between Damascus and Moscow, a pledge that suggested that the two Russian military bases were secure in the post-Assad period.

Putin said ‍at the time of al-Sharaa’s visit ⁠that Moscow was ready to do all it could to act on what he called the “many interesting and useful beginnings” discussed by the two sides on renewing relations.

Russian ‌state media on Tuesday quoted the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, as saying that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would also hold talks with ‍his Syrian counterpart, Al-Shaibani, during the Syrian delegation’s visit.

During a visit to Moscow in July, Al-Shaibani said his country wanted Russia “by our side”.

“The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path,” Al-Shaibani told Lavrov at the time.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on October 15, 2025 [Pool: Alexander Zemlianichenko via Reuters]



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At least two people have died and several others were injured after an explosion and fire at a Pennsylvania nursing home caused a partial collapse of the building.

Emergency crews were called to the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol at about 14:00 local time (19:00GMT) on Tuesday after receiving reports of a gas odour. When crews arrived, the building exploded causing a massive fire, authorities said.

Five people were still unaccounted for, but officials said they were unsure if those people were in the building.

Responders pulled residents out of windows, stairwells, and elevators and carried them to safety, fire chief Kevin Dippolito told reporters.

“There was one police officer who literally threw two people over his shoulders and ran” with them towards medical staff, he said.

Several people were trapped in the basement of the collapsed building but were rescued, Dippolito said.

“We’re still in rescue mode. We have not transitioned into a recovery mode,” he said.

Emergency crews were still working to rescue people who may be stuck in the building, the fire chief said.

Governor Josh Shapiro said the exact number of injuries was not yet known, and the cause of the blast remained under investigation.

Images and videos posted on social platforms by local media outlets show a partially collapsed building with massive flames billowing out of it.

Shapiro praised the support from authorities around the region who rushed to offer assistance, and said that the residents living near the nursing home were “outstanding”.

“We had residents coming out of their houses offering to help us,” he said. “This is the Pennsylvania way: neighbors helping neighbors in a moment of need.”

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The US State Department on Tuesday said it would deny visas to former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and four others in protest of European regulation of social media. 

The measure comes amid increasing tensions between the US and the Europe, with President Donald Trump’s adminstration accusing Brussels of cracking down on freedoms. 

Trump’s new US national security strategy rattles Europe

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Besides Breton, the US visa ban targets: 

• Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of the German NGO HateAid
• Imran Ahmed, the British CEO of the US-based Center for Countering Digital Hate
• Clare ​Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI)

Why is the US denying their visas?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the five people targeted with visa bans “have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.”

He did not initially name those facing the visa ban, but Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers later identified them in a post on social media. 

Rogers described Breton as the “mastermind” of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes content moderation and other standards on major social media platforms operating in Europe.

The State Department said HateAid functions as a trusted flagger for enforcing the DSA.

What was the reaction?

Breton decried the ban as a “witch hunt.”

“To our American friends: Censorship isn’t where you think it is,” he wrote in a post on X. 

The GDI called the US action “immoral, unlawful, and un-American” and “an authoritarian attack on free speech and an egregious act of government censorship.”

Edited by: Wesley Dockery

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker meets with Pope Leo XIV

Illinois Democratic Gov. Jay Robert “JB” Pritzker met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, a fellow native of the Land of Lincoln, at the Vatican this week. (Credit: REUTERS — No use Fox Weather/Outkick)

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Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday he was “very disappointed” after his home state of Illinois approved a law allowing medically assisted suicide.

Leo, who grew up in Chicago, said he had spoken “explicitly” with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker while the legislation was on his desk and urged him not to sign the bill into law, saying the measure undermines respect for human life from “the very beginning to the very end.”

“Unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill,” Leo told reporters outside Rome. “I am very disappointed about that.”

The Medical Aid in Dying Act, also referred to as “Deb’s Law,” was signed into law by Pritzker on Dec. 12 and allows eligible terminally ill adult patients to obtain life-ending medication after consultation with their doctors.

NY GOV. HOCHUL TO SIGN BILL TO LEGALIZE PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE: ‘WHO AM I TO DENY YOU?’

Pope Leo XIV met with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during an audience at the Apostolic Palace on Nov. 19 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

The measure was named after Deb Robertson, a lifelong Illinois resident with a rare terminal illness who had pushed for the bill’s approval.

The law takes effect in September 2026, giving participating healthcare providers and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) time to implement required processes and protections.

Leo said Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich also urged Pritzker not to sign the bill, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

BISHOPS, CATHOLIC GROUPS SLAM CARDINAL CUPICH’S PLAN TO HONOR PRO-ABORTION SEN DICK DURBIN: ‘GREAT SCANDAL’

Pope Leo XIV said he was very disappointed” that Illinois passed a law allowing medically assisted suicide. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)

“I would invite all people, especially in these Christmas days, to reflect upon the nature of human life, the goodness of human life,” Leo said. “God became human like us to show us what it means really to live human life, and I hope and pray that the respect for life will once again grow in all moments of human existence, from conception to natural death.”

The state’s six Catholic dioceses have also criticized Pritzker’s decision to sign the bill, saying it puts Illinois “on a dangerous and heartbreaking path.”

Illinois joins a growing list of states allowing medically assisted suicide. Eleven other states and the District of Columbia allow medically assisted suicide, according to the advocacy group, Death with Dignity, and seven other states are considering allowing it.

After signing the bill, Pritzker said the legislation would allow patients with terminal illnesses to “avoid unnecessary pain and suffering at the end of their lives,” and said it would be “thoughtfully implemented” to guide physicians and patients through deeply personal decisions.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Medical Aid in Dying Act on Dec. 12, allowing eligible terminally ill adult patients to obtain life-ending medication after consultation with their doctors. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital has reached out to Pritzker’s office for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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An explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania has left at least two people dead as rescue crews rush to find victims or survivors of the fiery blast.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a news conference late Tuesday that at least two people had been killed in the explosion that left residents trapped inside.

Shapiro asked people to pray “for this community, for those who are still missing, for those who are injured, and for those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table.”

The explosion happened Tuesday around 2 p.m. ET at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, also known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township, about 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia.

“We understand that there are people trapped inside,” said Ruth Miller, a Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, per The Associated Press.

Emergency crews raced to the 174-bed facility to search for people who may have gone missing in the blast. Video footage from local outlets showed cop cars, ambulances and fire trucks with flashing lights.

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An explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania has left residents trapped as rescue crews rush to find possible victims of the fiery blast (Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS)

WPVI’s cameras filmed flames and black smoke billowing from the nursing home. There was structural damage to the building, including blown out windows and a roof that had collapsed.

Bristol Township’s fire chief, Kevin Dippolito, said at the Tuesday evening news conference that five people were still unaccounted for but that some may have left the nursing home with family.

The Upper Makefield Township Police Department has called the explosion a “mass casualty incident.”

“Please avoid that area of Bucks County as there is a large emergency personnel response,” the department wrote on Facebook.

Lieutenant Sean Cosgrove with Bristol Township police told Levittown Now that residents were evacuated by emergency crews, staff and even bystanders.

Jim Morgan, president of the Bristol Township School Board, said buses would transport people from the nursing home to Truman High School, where a reunification center has been set up, the AP reported.

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The explosion happened Tuesday around 2 p.m. ET at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, also known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP)

It’s unclear how many people have been injured in the blast or what caused the explosion.

“I do not know if everyone is accounted for or not yet,” the officer said. “I’m not aware of any critical injuries but there definitely were injuries.”

State Representative Tina Davis, whose district includes the nursing home, recalled that she saw as she approached the chaotic scene in her car.

“I saw smoke and I saw car after car after car was a fire truck or ambulance from all over the city, from all over,” Davis said, per the AP.

Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, press secretary at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, said emergency officials were describing the incident as a gas explosion, the AP reported.

Local gas utility, PECO, said it had crews responding to reports of a gas order at the nursing home around the time of the explosion, according to the AP.

“PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents,” the company said.

The cause of the blast has yet to be confirmed.

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There was structural damage to the building, including blown out windows and a roof that had collapsed (Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS)

The nursing home’s last fire safety inspection was in September 2024, and it has not received any fire safety or emergency preparedness citations, according to Medicare.gov. But the facility has an overall 1-star rating with health inspections considered “mush below average.”

The Independent has reached out to the Bristol Township police and fire departments as well as the Upper Makefield Township Police Department for comment.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, wrote on X that he has been briefed on the incident “and my Administration is in contact with local officials and first responders on the ground.”

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Pennsylvania State Police “have offered their full support and any resources needed,” Shapiro said.

“The scene is still active, and folks nearby should follow the direction of local authorities. Please join Lori and me in praying for the Bristol community.”

Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, called the explosion a “tragic situation.”

“Gisele and I extend our deepest condolences to all the lives impacted by this awful development,” he wrote on X.

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It’s unclear what caused the blast, but officials were reportedly describing the incident as a gas explosion (Bastiaan Slabbers/REUTERS)

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who represents Bristol Township, said he and his team “are closely monitoring developments as authorities work to secure the scene and care for those affected.”

“For everyone’s safety, I urge you to please avoid the area. Please also join me in praying for the safety of the residents of the nursing home, the dedicated staff who care for them, and our brave first responders who rushed to the scene and ran toward danger without hesitation,” the congressman added.

Conservative commentator Nick Sortor reacted to the explosion, writing, “So sad to see this happen so close to Christmas. Prayers up!”

“This is just terrible. Please pray,” Benny Johnson, another MAGA influencer, wrote.

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Police say residents were evacuated by emergency crews, staff and even bystanders (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)



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A quality tote bag pulls a lot of weight. It needs to hold everything for busy errand days, stay comfortable on your shoulder without weighing you down, and still look nice enough to take along while traveling. 

Reese Witherspoon just proved how useful the right tote can be: On a weekend Target run, she was spotted wearing what looks like the same woven bag that she carried while traveling to London last month. That repeat wear says it all. Inspired by Witherspoon’s go-anywhere style, we found similar woven tote bags at Amazon that work just as well for everyday errands as they do for carry-on travel — starting at $34.

Reese Witherspoon-Inspired Woven Totes at Amazon

Reese Witherspoon / Instagram

Lovevook Woven Tote Bag

Amazon

This woven tote is a close match to the one Witherspoon carried. It’s made from soft vegan leather that’s easy to wipe clean and has a full-zip top to keep items secure. There are two zip pockets and a slip pocket inside, so it’s easier to stay organized without digging for keys or your phone. The roomy interior and removable strap let you wear it as a shoulder bag or crossbody. 

One shopper said they were “beyond impressed with the quality,” adding that even the hardware felt exceptional. Another reviewer found it “crazy” that it could  hold so much as a carry-on, including an iPad, headphones, two power banks, a toiletry bag, and more.

SporGenius Woven Tote Bag

Amazon

If staying organized is a priority, this pick stands out. It has long handles that sit comfortably on your shoulder and a magnetic closure for easy access. It also comes with a zippered clutch to help keep smaller items contained inside. One reviewer called it “incredibly functional,” and noted that it was spacious enough to carry everything they needed for errands, work, or even beach days — without feeling bulky.

Jinmanxue Woven Tote Bag

Amazon

This slouchy woven tote is a great option if you like a softer shape. Made from vegan leather with a snap closure, it has interior pockets to keep essentials organized while maintaining a relaxed look. At $50, it’s also at its lowest price in 30 days. 

Shoppers mentioned that it “looks way more expensive than it is,” with one reviewer sharing that “the color and feel of the leather is very luxurious.”

Whether you’re heading out for everyday errands or packing for a holiday trip, these Reese Witherspoon-inspired woven totes make it easy to carry everything you need in one stylish bag. 

Keep scrolling for more woven handbags at Amazon that work for all of your busy days ahead.

Queenoris Woven Tote Bag, $59 with coupon

Amazon

Yonglee Artee Woven Tote Bag, $52 with coupon

Amazon

Jotofit Woven Tote Bag

Amazon

Melolila Woven Tote Bag

Amazon

Geelyda Woven Tote Bag

Amazon

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By INDERDEEP BAINS, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER

Published: 16:17 GMT, 23 December 2025 | Updated: 01:34 GMT, 24 December 2025

Police are continuing to search for a seventh suspect in relation to the case of a former Tory councillor who is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting his wife with five men over 13 years.

A series of pictures of the large set man were released as part of a Crimewatch appeal earlier this year.

Wiltshire Police said on Tuesday that investigators ‘remain very keen to identify’ the individual who could be anywhere in the country.

As part of the original appeal, the alleged victim, who has now been identified as Joanne Young after she waived her right to anonymity, said in a statement: ‘I jump constantly at noises, movements, and even shadows.

‘I wake up having recurring nightmares that someone is there touching me, and although I am screaming, no sound comes out and nobody is coming to save me. I try to survive each day and hope the next one is better.’

Speaking at the time, DS Smith praised her bravery, and said it was ‘very important’ that anyone with information that may help to identify the man come forward.

He said: ‘We appreciate the graphic nature of these images and that they may be triggering to some people, however we need the public’s help to identify this man.

A series of pictures of the large set man were released as part of a Crimewatch appeal earlier this year

The pictures of the heavy set man who police would like to speak to connection with sexual assault were believed to have been taken in 2022

Ms Young’s former husband business consultant Philip Young (pictured), appeared in court accused of 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape, against her

The seventh man police want to speak to has a distinctive tattoo on his chest

‘It is unknown whether he lives in Swindon or from outside the county, which is why we request that this is shared as widely as possible to assist our bid to identify him.’

Ms Young’s former husband business consultant Philip Young, appeared in court accused of 56 sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape, against her.

Ms Young, 48, can be named as the alleged victim after choosing to waive her right to anonymity, which is granted automatically to sexual offence complainants.

Six other suspects also appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court to face charges in relation to the investigation.

Norman Macksoni, 47, Dean Hamilton, 47, Connor Sanderson-Doyle, 31, Richard Wilkins, 61, and Mohammed Hassan, 37, have been charged with offences including rape, sexual touching, sexual penetration and possession of extreme images.

The man who features in the pictures which are believed to have been taken in April-May 2022, is wanted in connection with a ‘serious sexual assault’.

He is said to have scarring to the back of his head, prominent lips, hairy body, balding with short or shaved hair, and one distinctive tattoo on the left side of his chest at the time.

Anyone who recognises the man should call 101 and quote reference number 54240080286.

Information can also be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.’

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Police seek SEVENTH man over alleged drugging and raping of wife as six people including her husband appear in court charged with more than 50 offences

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Doctors have reminded Brits of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and other big killers, such as heart problems, as families gather this week to celebrate Christmas

Brits are reminded to watch out for subtle signs of big killers in their loved ones this Christmas.

Families are set to gather for celebrations this week but, during these festivities, symptoms of some of the more serious health conditions are often dismissed. Experts, for instance, stress excessive bloating, napping or “feeling stuffed” can be signs of bowel cancer in rare cases.

Dementia can present itself in different ways, such as relatives getting family members’ names mixed up. Muscle stiffness and reduced mobility are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which typically affects men aged 50 or older.

Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, has stressed it is important to note how long these issues last before reading deeply into them. Medical advice, most likely from family GPs, should be sought in all cases if Brits are concerned for loved ones.

READ MORE: Adenovirus: Common symptoms in full as mystery disease sweeps globeREAD MORE: ‘I couldn’t get upstairs without gasping for air — and the truth was devastating’A pensioner struggles with her memory (file image)(Image: Getty Images)

Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England national clinical director for dementia said while dementia might not be apparent during a brief interaction, gatherings of family and friends at Christmas — potentially for the first time in months — gives an opportunity to spot the signs.

And Duncan Reid, deputy superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, says being unable to smell the delicious cooking or mulled wine might signal early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Here, we look at the red flags for six big killers you can act on now for a healthier 2026.

The advice comes amid concern cases of adenovirus continue to rise across the globe and, though most bouts are mild, medics are urging both adults and children to be aware of the signs and symptoms. It can present itself in similar ways to Covid-19 or flu, as it is typical to experience a fever, sore throat and frequent sneezing.

READ MORE: Mum catches medieval disease scabies from a fox who watched Netflix on her sofa

1. Dementia

Family members typically spot red flags of undiagnosed dementia before the person themselves. Early signs of the condition “might be getting family members’ names mixed up or getting disoriented around someone else’s home, for example, not being able to find the main living room after using the bathroom,” according to Katie Puckering, information services manager for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

And changes in the daily routine can also be confusing. Katie explained: “Sitting down for a big family meal at 3pm can be disorientating in the early stages of dementia.”

Early dementia causes a person to repeat themselves or struggle to follow the conversation topic. It can also cause withdrawal and anxiety.

2. Heart problems

Studies suggest heart attacks are more common at Christmas time. Emily McGrath, who is a senior cardiac nurse at British Heart Foundation, told The Sun: “Never ignore chest pain and assume it’s caused by indigestion, especially if it continues over an extended period.

“Angina feels like pressure, tightness or squeezing in your chest and the pain may feel sharp or like a dull ache. You might also feel it in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach. Heart attack symptoms vary for each person.”

They include sudden pain or discomfort in your chest that doesn’t go away. It can spread to your left or right arm, or to your neck, jaw, back or tummy.

A man experiences trouble with his heart after exercise (file image) (Image: Getty Images)

3. Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t make enough insulin, or when the insulin it produces isn’t able to work properly to control blood sugar levels.

During Christmas, changes in routine, reduced activity, and extra treats can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate. Natasha Marsland, a senior clinical adviser at Diabetes UK, explains: “There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. For type 1 diabetes, we look for four key warning signs known as the 4Ts: toilet, thirsty, tired and thinner.”

You might notice your partner using the toilet more often than usual, even waking during the night. They may seem unusually tired, take daytime naps, or lose weight and appear thinner despite the festive season.

4. Addiction

Has a family member become noticeably more argumentative this Christmas?

Frecurrent arguments, tension at home, or a decline in personal hygiene can sometimes signal a problem with alcohol. Lester Morse, founder and director of Rehabs UK, explains: “Behavioural changes linked to addiction are often the first warning signs noticed by loved ones. A person may continue to use alcohol or drugs even when it’s clearly harming their health, relationships, and everyday life.”

Because heavy drinking is often normalised, the signs of alcoholism can be easy to miss. Many people with a problem also go to great lengths to hide how much they drink.

Mr Lester adds: “Loved ones might notice that the person has become more withdrawn or secretive about how they spend their time. New friends may suddenly appear, with little explanation of where they came from.”

A man srtruggles with chest pain (file image)(Image: Getty Images)

5. Parkinson’s Disease

Have you noticed changes in your intimate relationship?

Duncan Reid from Pharmacy2U explains: “Parkinson’s disease can impact many areas of life, including sexual health. A reduced sex drive may be linked to changes in dopamine levels, which play a role in movement and feelings of pleasure.

“Men with Parkinson’s may experience erectile dysfunction, while women may notice vaginal dryness, and both can find it harder to reach orgasm. Muscle stiffness and reduced mobility can also make physical intimacy more difficult.”

Changes in mood, such as the onset of anxiety or depression, can be early warning signs as well. However, the most recognisable symptom is tremor or shaking, particularly in the hands.

6. Bowel cancer

Surprised by how little your mum, dad, or grandparent ate at Christmas lunch?

A reduced appetite can sometimes be a warning sign of cancer, including bowel cancer. Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, explains: “A persistent feeling of fullness may occur if there’s a blockage or tumour in the bowel. Sharp or ongoing abdominal pain should always be taken seriously.”

Pain that feels concentrated in one area and doesn’t ease after digestion can be particularly concerning. Kiran stresses that it’s important not to put off seeking medical advice until the new year.

“Bowel cancer can also lead to anaemia,” he adds. “Blood loss in the bowel reduces red blood cells, which can cause extreme tiredness.”

As a result, struggling to stay awake, lacking energy to join in festive activities, shortness of breath, or headaches may also be warning signs.

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The military chief of Libya has been killed alongside four others in a plane crash in Turkey.

Wreckage has been found after a small private jet carrying General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al Haddad crashed near Ankara, the Turkish government said.

In a statement, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibeh said the loss of Haddad, chief of staff of the Libyan army, was a “great loss to the homeland”.

Image:
Pic: AP

He said General Haddad’s adviser, Mohammed al Asawi Diab, was also killed, along with General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil – chief of staff of Libya’s ground forces, General Mahmoud al Qatawi – director of the Military Industrialization Organisation, and military photographer Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub.

Posting on X, Mr Dbeibeh wrote: “This tragic and painful incident occurred during their return from an official trip from the Turkish city of Ankara.

“This grave affliction is a great loss to the homeland, to the military institution, and to all the sons of the people, as we have lost men who served their country with sincerity and dedication, and who were an example of discipline, responsibility, and national commitment.

“Our deepest condolences and sincere solace to the families of those we have lost, and to their comrades in the armed forces.”

Image:
Turkey’s Selcuk Bayraktaroglu (left) with General Haddad on Tuesday. Pic: AP

General Haddad had ‌met with Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler and Turkish counterpart Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, ⁠along with other Turkish military commanders, Turkey’s defence ministry said.

His Falcon 50-type jet took off from Esenboga airport in the capital, Ankara, at 8.30pm, according to the Turkish interior minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Shortly after, the plane issued an emergency landing signal near Haymana, south of the city, before communication was lost.

Read more:
East Libya: Europe’s smuggling frontline
‘This is Europe’s problem’: The migrants stuck in Libyan detention

General Haddad, the top military commander in western Libya, was crucial to ongoing UN-backed efforts to unify the country’s military, which has split.

Libya itself is split, with rival administrations in the east and west, after the nation descended into anarchy following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.

Mr Dbeibeh runs the internationally-recognised Tripoli-based government in the west, while former Gaddafi commander Khalifa Haftar runs a military dictatorship in the east.

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These are the key developments from day 1,399 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Published On 24 Dec 202524 Dec 2025

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Here is where things stand on Wednesday, December 24:

Fighting

• Russian forces began a “massive attack” on Ukraine on Monday night, killing three people and targeting 13 regions with 650 drones and 30 missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
• Those killed in the overnight attack included a four-year-old girl in the central Zhytomyr region, Governor Vitalii Bunechko said on Telegram. “Doctors struggled to save the child’s life, but in the end, they were unable to save her,” Bunechko said, adding that five people were also injured in the attack.
• Russian forces also launched drones and missiles at the Vyshhorod district of Ukraine’s Kyiv region, killing a woman and injuring three people, Governor Mykola Kalashnyk said.
• In Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, one person was killed by Russian shelling, Governor Serhii Tiurin said.
• Russian drone attacks on Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district left five people injured, said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.

An injured elderly woman looks out of her broken window after an apartment building was hit by a Russian drone during an aerial attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday [Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo]

• Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said that “emergency power outages” were introduced in several regions across the country due to Russian forces targeting energy infrastructure. The ministry said that it was working to restore electricity to the Rivne, Ternopil and Odesa regions. The ministry said that the situation was “most difficult” in the border regions, “as restoring electricity is complicated by continuous fighting”.
• Ukraine’s General Staff said Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the Donetsk region’s ​​Siversk area after heavy fighting, noting that Moscow’s forces had a “significant advantage” there.
• Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots shot down 621 of 673 Russian “aerial targets” on Tuesday night, including 34 of 35 cruise missiles.
• In Russia, a Ukrainian drone strike on a car killed three men in the Belgorod region on Monday, the region’s emergency response team reported.
• Another Ukrainian drone attack in Belgorod on Tuesday killed one person and injured three, the region’s operational headquarters said on Telegram.
• Russian forces shot down 56 Ukrainian drones in a day, as well as a guided bomb, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said, according to the state news agency TASS.

Ceasefire

• Zelenskyy said in his nightly address, “We sense that America wants to reach a final agreement” to end the war in Ukraine, and that “there is full cooperation” from the Ukrainian side.
• In an earlier post on X, Zelenskyy said that “several draft documents have now been prepared”, following talks in Miami. “In particular, these include documents on security guarantees for Ukraine, on recovery, and on a basic framework for ending this war,” he said.
• Pope ‍Leo said that Russia’s apparent refusal to agree to a ceasefire on December 25 is “among the things that cause me much sadness”.
• “I will make ​an appeal one ‌more time to people of goodwill to respect at least Christmas ‌Day as a day of ‌peace,” Leo told reporters outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

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Watch: The BBC reports on the latest Epstein file release

The US Department of Justice released its latest – and largest – tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files on Tuesday.

The 11,000-plus documents continue a stream of released information that began on Friday, the deadline mandated in a new law that required the department to publicly release all of its investigative files into the deceased paedophile and financier.

Many of the documents released on Tuesday are redacted with names and information blacked out, including names of people who the FBI appears to cite as possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case.

The justice department is facing criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle over the amount of redactions, which the law specifically states can only be done to protect the identity of victims or active criminal investigations.

President Donald Trump’s name appeared more in these new documents than in previous releases. Many were media clippings that mention him, but one notable email from a federal prosecutor indicated Trump flew on Epstein’s jet.

The justice department said some files “contain untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump.

Being mentioned in the Epstein files does not indicate wrongdoing. BBC has requested comment from individuals named in our reporting.

Email exchange between ‘A’ and Ghislaine Maxwell about ‘girls’

Of the thousands of pages included in this latest release, one 2001 email sent by a person identified as “A” stands out.

The message, to Epstein’s accomplice and close associate Ghislaine Maxwell, says that “A” is at “Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family”.

“A” then asks Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for sex trafficking of minors and other offences: “Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

In another email sent later that day, Maxwell writes back: “So sorry to dissapoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends.”

The “A” email was sent from the address abx17@dial.pipex.com, with the sender’s name shown as “The Invisible Man”.

An image from a prior Epstein files release showed a different, but similar email – aace@dial.pipex.com – listed in Epstein’s phone book under a contact titled “Duke of York”.

Another exchange in the new files between Maxwell and “The Invisible Man” discusses a trip to Peru.

In October, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lost use of his Duke of York title following scrutiny over his links with Epstein.

He has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing, and said he did not “see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his [Epstein’s] arrest and conviction”.

The BBC has contacted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s team for a response.

FBI email lists out 10 alleged co-conspirators to Epstein

US Department of Justice

Among the documents released are emails appearing to be sent between FBI personnel in 2019 that mention 10 possible “co-conspirators” of Epstein.

The emails said six of the 10 co-conspirators had been served with subpoenas. This included three in Florida, one in Boston, one in New York City, and one in Connecticut.

Four subpoenas were yet to be served when the emails were sent, including to one “wealthy businessman in Ohio”.

Another email sent to FBI New York gives an update on the co-conspirators. This time it appears to mention multiple names. Most are redacted from the file.

Two names were not redacted – (Ghislaine) Maxwell and Wexner.

An email says, “I do not know about Ohio contacting Wexner”.

The email is presumably referring to Former Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner, who had a public friendship with Epstein. In 2019, Wexner said he was “embarrassed” by his ties to the financier.

Lawyers for Wexner told BBC News that “the assistant U.S. attorney in charge of the Epstein investigation stated at the time that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor target”.

“Mr. Wexner cooperated fully by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again,” they said.

Possible co-conspirators in Epstein’s crimes are a major focus for his victims, and for several lawmakers who have demanded more transparency from the DOJ.

“There’s 10 co-conspirators potentially that we knew nothing about that the DOJ had been investigating,” Democrat Congressman Suhas Subramanyam told BBC News on Tuesday.

Subramanyam, who sits on the House Oversight Committee, added that he was also “concerned” over the level of redactions that protect names of lawyers and people who are not victims. Lawmakers in both parties have said they are examining legal options to force more transparency.

The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump states names and information that might be embarrassing or cause “reputational harm” are not allowed to be redacted and specifically asks the justice department for internal communications and memos detailing who was investigated and decisions concerning “to charge, not charge, investigate, or decline to investigate Epstein or his associates”.

Justice Department says Epstein letter to Larry Nassar is a fake

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Larry Nassar

A letter included in the released batch of documents got a lot of attention online. But, according to the justice department, it is fake.

The handwritten letter and envelope at first appeared to show Epstein writing to Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor who is serving decades in prison for sexually abusing young female athletes.

“As you know by now I have taken the ‘short route’ home. Good luck!” the faux letter states. “We shared one thing…our love & caring for young ladies and the hope they’d reach their full potential.”

The writer signs it, “Life is unfair, Yours, J. Epstein.”

The letter had been deemed undeliverable, and was sent back to a Manhattan jail where Epstein was detained before his death.

The FBI was alerted to the returned letter and requested an analysis of it. That request was also included in the releases batch of documents.

The justice department on Tuesday called the letter a fake, noting several irregularities with the note and the envelope that held it.

“The writing does not appear to match Jeffrey Epstein’s,” the justice department wrote on X.

“The return address did not list the jail where Epstein was held and did not include his inmate number, which is required for outgoing mail,” they added.

Officials pointed out the envelope bore a postmark from northern Virginia – noting that Epstein was detained in New York. It was also postmarked on 13 August 2019, three days after Epstein died.

Even before the justice department’s announcement of it being fake, the documents raised immediate questions.

The return sender was listed as “J. Epstein” at “Manhattan Correctional” – but the correct name for the now-shuttered jail was “Metropolitan Correctional Center”.

The documents released on Tuesday also show the analysis request by the FBI.

A FBI laboratory request stated that in August 2019, a sender listed as “J. Epstein” at “Manhattan Correctional” tried to send a letter to “Larry Nassar at 9300 S. Wilmot Road, Tucson, Arizona, 85756”, the address of a federal prison.

Nassar is currently incarcerated in Pennsylvania, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

Trump’s travels aboard Epstein’s private jet

Getty Images

Trump’s name appears more in these files than in other batches of documents released by the justice department.

Notably, in a January 2020 email, a federal prosecutor in New York wrote that newly received flight records “reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware)”.

The recipient of the email was redacted.

Trump was listed as a passenger on “at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996”, and Ghislaine Maxwell was present on at least four of those flights, the prosecutor wrote. Trump was also “listed as having traveled with, among others and at various times, Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric”.

Trump was previously married to Marla Maples, Tiffany’s mother, from 1993 to 1999.

The prosecutor also wrote that “on one flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only two listed passengers; on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump, and then-20-year-old”, with the third passenger’s name redacted.

“On two other flights, two of the passengers, respectively, were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case.”

The timing of the trips coincide with years in which federal prosecutors were examining Maxwell’s conduct and travels as part of the criminal case they brought against her. She was ultimately found guilty of conspiring with Epstein to recruit and sexually abuse minors.

But throughout the files released on Tuesday, many of the other mentions of Trump’s name are simply in press clippings mentioning him, his campaigns, and other news moments.

Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in regards to Epstein.

In a statement accompanying Tuesday’s release, the Department of Justice said the new files “contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election”.

“To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the justice department said.

Fake video of Epstein included

Among one of the odder entries in Tuesday’s document drop was a fake video showing an Epstein-like figure in a prison cell, which raised questions of how it had appeared in the department’s official files.

Other documents showed that a man from Florida sent an email to federal investigators in March 2021 with a link to the video. He asked if it was real, but it is not.

BBC Verify used a reverse image search to find a copy of the video had been uploaded to YouTube in October 2020. The user who posted it said the clip had been created using 3D graphics.

According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Prisons, no video recording from inside Epstein’s cell on the day of his death exists.

The fake video’s inclusion in this release gives a glimpse of the questions that federal authorities have received from the general public, many of whom, having heard conspiracy theories or harboured doubts for years, want answers about Epstein’s life and death.

Shayan Sardarizadeh contributed to this report.

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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier used his Christmas address on December 24 to highlight the importance of community, communication and cooperation, and called on his fellow Germans to work together and help each other in difficult times.

“In der Dunkelheit erstrahlt ein Licht,” he said in a televised speech: “A light is shining in the darkness.”

For Steinmeier (Germany’s head of state as opposed to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the head of the current government), many worries big and small can make the world seem dark: illness, loss, loneliness, job insecurity, or global crises and wars.

But he also said light could be found in “community”: family, friends, groups, clubs and any experiences which make people feel welcome and accepted — especially at Christmas, which he said “makes our lives more hopeful, happier, warmer and more optimistic.” 

Early gifts, mulled wine make up German Christmas story

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Steinmeier: ‘We need community’

In a world increasingly dominated by social media and individualism, Steinmeier reminded Germans that “we need community” and encouraged them to reach out to one another.

“I believe that if we join others in the search for goals and guidance, we can gain a great deal, provided that we allow others to speak and listen intently to what they have to say, rather than simply reiterating what we ourselves have always thought was right,” Steinmeier said.  

“Finding a sense of direction by asking genuine questions, being open, engaging in dialogue and taking joint action can illuminate the path that lies ahead of us and give it a purpose.” 

Steinmeier said that Christmas is a time when friendships, partnerships and family ties are renewed via visits or festive greetings, a time when people are reminded of how “essential reliable companions are” as we go through life.

“And we know that we can trust in lasting connections on both good and bad days,” Steinmeier said, while later adding that “we also know that being there for others gives our lives fulfilment and meaning.”  

Germany’s single seniors seek connection amid winter chill

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Solidarity with Ukraine as Russia’s invasion approaches fifth year

There was a political note to Steinmeier’s address, too, as the president offered his solidarity to Ukrainians whose suffering at the hands of Russian aggression is approaching a fifth year.

“In recent days, intensive efforts were made to find ways to end the war,” he said. “Most of us will have followed the events with hope, but also skepticism and concern.”

Nevertheless, he said he drew hope from another form of community: Europe. He said Europeans are required to “become aware together once again of our strength and values and to take action accordingly.” 

“Over the course of centuries, we have learned how important – indeed essential – freedom, human dignity, a just peace and democratic self-determination are,” he said. “We will not give that up, not for ourselves and not for our friends and partners.” 

What could push Putin to accept a draft Ukraine peace plan?

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Edited by: Wesley Dockery 

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele responded to allegations by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the conditions at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the country’s maximum-security prison that has received migrants deported from the United States. 

Bukele was responding to a post on X by Clinton that was accompanied by an 11-minute video of the PBS Frontline documentary titled: “Surviving CECOT.” 

“Curious to learn more about CECOT?” she wrote. “Hear Juan, Andry, and Wilmer share firsthand how the Trump administration branded them as gang members without evidence and deported them to the brutal El Salvadoran prison.”

’60 MINUTES’ POSTPONES SEGMENT ON MIGRANT INMATES FROM EL SALVADOR’S CECOT PRISON

President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. (EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images)

The short documentary tells the story of three Venezuelan men — Juan José Ramos Ramos, Andry Blanco Bonilla and Wilmer Vega Sandia — who were deported by the Trump administration to CECOT, a description of the short film states.

All three men were branded by the U.S. government as Tren de Aragua gang members, which they deny. 

In response, Bukele said his country was ready to cooperate if Clinton thinks people have been tortured in the notorious prison that houses many of the country’s gang members and migrants deported from the U.S. 

“We are willing to release our entire prison population (including all gang leaders and all those described as “political prisoners”) to any country willing to receive them,” he wrote. “The only condition is straightforward: it must be everyone.”

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA RELEASED FROM ICE CUSTODY

Hillary Clinton criticized the conditions at El Salvador’s CECOT prison, prompting a response from the country’s President, Nayib Bukele. (Getty Images)

“This would also greatly assist journalists and your favorite NGOs, who would then have thousands of former inmates available for interviews, making it far easier to find additional voices critical of the Salvadoran government (or willing to confirm whatever conclusions are already expected),” added Bukele. “Surely, if these testimonies reflect a systemic reality, a much larger pool of sources should only reinforce the claim, and many governments should be eager to offer protection.”

Until then, he continued, El Salvador will continue prioritizing the human rights of the millions of Salvadorans who today live free from gang rule,” Bukele said. 

Bukele solidified his relationship with President Donald Trump by offering to house certain migrants deported from the U.S. at CECOT. The U.S. has deported Venezuelan migrants deemed to be gang members to El Salvador after their home country refused to take them back. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

A federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to provide due process to a class of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador in March, and gave it two weeks to detail how it will do so – setting up another high-stakes clash between the White House and the federal courts.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Serena Williams shared photos from her sister Venus Williams’ wedding to Andrea Preti
• In a heartfelt Instagram caption posted on Tuesday, Dec. 23, Serena said that she “couldn’t be prouder” to stand beside her sister on her special day
• Leading up to the big day, Serena shared that she was busy with “so much planning,” and she’s known as someone who “get things done”

The Williams sisters have each other’s backs on the court — and down the aisle.

In a new Instagram post shared on Tuesday, Dec. 23, Serena Williams gushed about her older sister Venus Williams following Venus’ wedding to actor Andrea Preti. “My sister’s keeper,” Serena, 44, began the lengthy caption. “Venus, where do I even begin?”

Serena went on to describe the way she’s seen Venus lead with “grace, strength, and a heart bigger than any trophy” as the two professional tennis players grew from “backyard courts” to “the biggest stages in the world.”

“Watching you step into this next chapter surrounded by love felt like watching the sun rise…steady, powerful, and full of promise,” she continued.

“You’ve been my built-in best friend, my protector, my teacher, and my reminder to always walk in purpose. Seeing you this happy, this loved, this radiant… it means everything to me. To love, to partnership, to laughter, and to a lifetime of choosing each other every single day. I couldn’t be prouder to stand beside you, not just today, but always,” the caption concluded.

Serena wore a white strapless mermaid gown with a sweetheart neckline, flowing cape and detached lace sleeves. Pearl jewelry and pointed-toe heels accessorized the design, as did her old-Hollywood-inspired blonde waves and red manicure.

While usually taboo for anyone but the bride to wear white, the choice seemed intentionally made by Venus, 45, who also had their two other sisters, Lyndrea Price and Isha Price, niece Justus, and mom Oracene dressed in white.

In the months leading up to the wedding, Serena told PEOPLE during the launch of her and Venus’ new podcast, Stockton Street, in September 2025, that she was busy with “so much planning” ahead of her older sister’s wedding. She noted that Venus leaned on her for help as she’s known as someone who can “get things done.”

Serena also recalled one of their recent planning calls, saying her sister wanted her input on “literally 14 hairstyles.” She explained, “So she sent me her options and within 30 minutes I had them not only done, but in a PDF file what hairstyle looked best on everyone.”

Venus Williams and Serena Williams with Champagne Collet & OBC Wines as they celebrate the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Michael Kovac/Getty

“I’m the person that arranges things, I’m like the planner. I plan everything like the event. I’m the person that gets things done,” she added of her role.

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.

Venus and Preti were first linked in July 2024 when they were seen boating in Nerano, Italy, along the Amalfi Coast. After months of rumors, she finally confirmed the relationship during a post-match interview in July 2025 when she referred to Preti as her “fiancé.”

In 2025, Venus and Preti actually got married twice. The first ceremony came in September, when they tied the knot in Italy. They were wed again on Dec. 19 in a courthouse ceremony in West Palm Beach, Fla., following a full week of festivities before the big day.

Prior to the courthouse ceremony, Venus, Preti, and their guests enjoyed a yacht day, romantic dinner, and a bridal shower.

“For me, the courthouse ceremony was very unique, emotional, and deep,” Preti told Vogue, adding that “it was the second-best day” of his life, after the wedding itself.

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In his own chilling words, would-be terror mastermind Walid Saadaoui boasted of his twisted desire to massacre British Jews, saying he wanted to ‘run rivers of their impure blood’ – with any murdered Christians ‘a bonus’.

The Tunisian-born former hotel entertainer, who was allowed to live in this country after marrying a British holidaymaker, said a knife would not be enough to satisfy his lust for what he saw as ‘revenge’ for Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Telling a fellow extremist known as Farouk that ‘only the automatic gun’ would be capable of inflicting the slaughter he was planning, Saadaoui said: ‘I want to kill as many as possible.

‘I have an overwhelming urge. I feel sometimes I will go out and kill them with stones, then I say to myself it will be a waste.’

Thankfully, the plot – which he hatched with fellow migrant and Islamic State supporter Amar Hussein, who claimed to be a former Iraqi soldier – had been infiltrated by police.

Farouk – who Saadaoui believed was sourcing a stash of firearms and over 900 rounds of ammunition – was in reality an undercover operative.

In May last year, Saadaoui drove to the car park of a Lancashire spa hotel for the prearranged handover of the weapons.

Days earlier he and Hussein had scouted out potential targets in North Manchester’s Jewish community, Britain’s largest outside London – including nurseries, schools, restaurants, coffee shops and synagogues.

Seconds later armed officers who had been lying in wait pounced, arresting Saadaoui before he could get his hands on the haul, all of which had been safely deactivated.

Plotters Walid Saadaoui, 38, left, and Amar Hussein planned to slaughter British Jews in a twisted revenge for Israel’s military response to the October 7 attacks

Surveillance image showing Amar Hussein and Bilel Saadaoui walking together in Dover, Kent

His messages, voicenotes and secretly recorded calls would create a damning dossier of evidence again the plotters, who are facing life sentences after being found guilty of preparing a terror attack on Tuesday.

In a message to ‘Farouk’ as he sought to obtain a deadly arsenal, Saadaoui wrote: ‘I can use a knife on [the] operation but this will not be enough to take revenge; only the automatic gun.

‘I want to kill as many as possible.

‘I have an overwhelming urge. I feel sometimes I will go out and kill them with stones, then I say to myself it will be a waste.’

In a voice note on Christmas Day 2023 he said: ‘These matters of running someone over with a car or using a knife is ineffective, what is needed is an automatic gun.

‘We want to do the same as what [Paris attack mastermind Abdelhamid] Abaaoud done, god willing. We must run rivers of their impure blood.’

Later he told Farouk: ‘Here in Manchester, we have the biggest Jewish community.

‘God willing we will degrade and humiliate them (in the worst way possible), and hit them where it hurts.’

Hussein (left) and Saadaoui (right) are seen in Dover at an unknown date. The pair travelled to Dover, Kent, in March 2024 to conduct hostile reconnaissance, their trial heard

A selfie video taken by Amar Hussein during a trip to Dover in Kent

Walid Saadaoui is pictured in Dover on May 8 – the same day he was arrested

Footage issued by police showing the arrest of Walid Saadaoui 

In a subsequent bugged conversation he told ‘Farouk’: ‘The Muslims all over the world, if every brother implements on the Jewish people, honestly they wouldn’t do what they do in Gaza now.’

Then after he and Hussein carried out ‘hostile reconnaissance’ for targets in North Manchester, Saadaoui said: ‘We start with the Jews and if there any Christians caught in the act, that is a bonus but we start with the Jews.

‘We open fire on them, young, old, women, elderly, the whole lot, killing them all.’

Later he told ‘Farouk’: ‘My wish is martyrdom in the cause of Allah, the best thing I like is martyrdom in the cause of Allah. We pledge allegiance to death.’

On the date that he went to collect weapons which he intended to use in a gun attack, his brother Bilel messaged him: ‘May Allah Safeguard you.

‘If you see of them something that displease/disturb you or almost expose you, then dispense or return. This is better for you.’

Bilel Saadaoui denied knowledge of the plot but was found guilty of failing to disclose information about his brother’s plans.

The planned massacre – which police say could have been Britain’s ‘worst ever’ terrorist atrocity had it not been foiled – was a chilling echo of the Bondi Beach attack in which 15 innocent people were killed.

Jewish community leaders said it was another stark reminder of the lethal consequences of rising anti-Israeli rhetoric.

Bilel Saadaoui and his stepson holding swords. Saadaoui’s brother Bilel was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan 

A police officer standing guard outside Walid Saadaoui’s house near Wigan after the raids in May 2024

A photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of weapons seized during the arrest of Saadaoui 

A BB gun seized from the property of Saadaoui after his arrest 

Binoculars seized from the home of Saadaoui after he was arrested by police 

Now 38, Saadaoui ‘hero-worshipped’ Abdelhamid Abaaoud, mastermind of the Paris attacks.

His brother Bilel is understood to have gone to school with Seifeddine Rezgui, who gunned down 30 British tourists on a beach in Sousse in 2015.

Walid Saadaoui moved to Clacton-on-Sea, Essex on a spousal visa in 2012 after marrying a British holidaymaker called Jane.

After working at a holiday park, in 2018 the couple bought the Albatross Restaurant in Great Yarmouth for £25,000.

But they later split, selling their house for £169,000 – later using his share to fund his terror plot.

After moving to Wigan and marrying a second British woman, Saadaoui became obsessed with replicating the 2015 atrocity in which 130 people were killed.

He began plotting with Hussein, who claimed to be a former Iraqi soldier and came to Britain in 2007, setting up an electrical appliance business in Bolton.

After working briefly at a discount store, Saadaoui gave up work and claimed Universal Credit.

He came under suspicion in the wake of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 due to his hate-filled social media posts.

Footage of weapons sent by undercover operative ‘Farouk’ to Walid Saadaoui 

Saadaoui aimed to smuggle four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition into the UK in what police chiefs said could have been Britain’s deadliest terrorist incident 

A knife found in the car belonging to Hussein following his arrest 

More weapons seized by police during the arrest of Saadaoui 

Cash seized from the home of Saadaoui after he was arrested by police

Having accepted a friend request from ‘Farouk’, Saadaoui said he wanted to ‘kill as many as possible’.

Told that contacts in Morocco could supply Kalashnikov assault rifles, Saadaoui demanded 1,200 rounds and four automatic weapons, saying one firearm was ‘not enough for us’.

He used one of his Facebook accounts to join a Jewish community page in order to stalk his targets online and work out when they might be holding gatherings.

He also began to ‘get his affairs in order’ ahead of possible ‘martyrdom’ as the plot developed, police said – making a will, and paying for his wife to have driving lessons.

Meanwhile he withdrew £90,000 from the sale of his business and property, keeping cash in safes, and attended an air rifle range.

In March last year Saadaoui and Hussein drove to Dover to look at the ‘security set-up’, posing as tourists.

The following day Farouk joined the plotters for ‘hostile reconnaissance around North Manchester’ – Saadaoui told him the area was ‘full of Jews’.

Searches after their arrest uncovered two safes at Saadaoui’s home, one containing £15,000 cash and a copy of his will.

A second, concreted into the ground, contained £77,000 cash.

Saadaoui’s younger brother, Bilel, 35, who was granted bail, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan

Bilel Saadaoui was arrested by armed cops while he was working out at a gym

Counter terrorism officers, armed with pistols and wearing bandanas to cover their faces detained Bilel Saadaoui, handcuffing him and walking him out of the gym 

Bodyworn camera footage issued by police showing the arrest of Bilel Saadaoui 

Walid Saadaoui’s will uncovered by police searches, written as he made preparations for his anticipated ‘martyrdom’

During his trial, Saadaoui claimed a senior ISIS operative ‘took advantage’ of his kindness and forced him to plan the attack.

Hussein denied involvement in the plot but refused to turn up for his two-month trial, telling police: ‘Your Government, your Prime Minister has sent weapons to kill our children in Israel.

‘Terrorism is our religion. Koran say terrorism is normal.

‘We are proud, we say terrorism is proud.’

Walid Saadaoui and Hussein were convicted of preparing acts of terrorism between December 2023 and May 2024.

Saadaoui’s brother Bilel, 35, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

All three will be sentenced in February.

Following the verdicts, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson condemned the ‘extraordinarily dangerous terrorists’ and their ‘vicious anti-Semitism’.

‘A terrorist attack upon our Jewish friends and neighbours is an attack upon us all, and is an affront to every decent person in our country,’ he added.

Community Security Trust chief executive Mark Gardner warned that since the October 7 attacks, sections of society had ‘turned against Jews’.

Comparing violent Islamic extremists to the Nazis, he said ‘they don’t stop to ask these Jews what their opinion is of Israel… they want to kill Jews, end of story’.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the plot was ‘a reminder that what happened on Bondi Breach could just as easily have happened here in Britain’.

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