Brigitte Bardot has passed away aged 91.

The French former actress and singer had been ill in hospital in Toulon, according to local media.

Known as the original ‘Sex Kitten’, Bardot shot to international notoriety with her role in 1956 film And God Created Woman, which was directed by her first husband Roger Vadim. 

That turn as a voluptuous, hedonistic orphan made her an object of edgy fascination for millions, even though the film itself got a mixed reaction from critics.

Described by Time magazine as France’s ‘most ogled export’, Bardot’s sex appeal was further fuelled by her outings as a model.

The star, who married and divorced three times before settling with her fourth husband Bernard d’Ormale in 1992, retired from acting in 1973 to focus on her passionate animal rights activism. 

But she drew controversy with her engagement in far-right politics, which saw her endorse National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and be fined six times for inciting racial hatred. 

The star was reclusive in her final years, instead preferring to remain out of the spotlight at her secluded and very private property in Saint Tropez. 

Brigitte Bardot has passed away aged 91. Above: The star in 2023, one of the last times she was pictured out and about

Brigitte Bardot has passed away aged 91. Above: The star in 2023, one of the last times she was pictured out and about

Born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot initially trained as a ballet dancer at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris for Music and Dance.

At 15, she had already appeared on the front cover of France’s Elle magazine and began to establish herself as a model.

Her acting career began in 1952 when she starred in a series of small roles, but she soon began to turn heads at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953 when she frolicked on the beach in a skimpy bikini.

Brardot said: ‘Yes, I knew I was ugly as a child. I said to myself: “Well, I am ugly, so I must at least be bright and funny and have other things to compensate.”

‘I knew I had to be the best at something, otherwise I would be nothing. I knew I wanted the world to know about Brigitte Bardot.’

And the world certainly did.

Over the course of her career she starred in 47 films and recorded more than 70 songs.

Bardot’s willingness to be part of steamy on-screen scenes made her controversial.  And her personal life was no different.

Brigitte Bardot leaves the Elysee Palace on crutches after meeting Brigitte Macron, July 2018

In 1992 Bardot married her husband Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to Jean-Marie Le Pen of the Front National

Pictured: Playboy Roger Vadim with Bardot on set. After meeting the model, the French film producer helped her become a star

Bardot’s parents did not initially approve of her union with Vadim but agreed to her marriage after she attempted suicide. Above: Being walked down the aisle by her father, December 19, 1952

Brigitte with her second husband, Jacques Charrier, with whom she had a son, Nicolas

Bardot had little to do with her son Nicolas during his childhood after she gave Charrier custody of him when they divorced

Bardot’s third husband was German industrialist Gunter Sachs. The couple were married between 1966 and 1969 

Despite her parents’ fierce opposition, she married Vadim in 1952. The couple’s relationship lasted just five years.

After their divorce in 1957, Bardot became ensconced with actor Jacques Charrier. 

By the time they married in 1959, she was already heavily pregnant with her first and only child. 

Nicolas-Jacques Charrier was born on January 11, 1960. Bardot would later say: ‘I’m not made to be a mother. 

‘I don’t know why I think this because I adore animals and I adore children, but I’m not adult enough – I know it’s horrible to have to admit that, but I’m not adult enough to take care of a child.

‘I need somebody to take care of me. I’m sad to have had that baby. What will be his life? People who are making babies and families now are mad. It is such a bad world.’

In 1962, Bardot’s union with Charrier ended in divorce. 

She went on to marry German millionaire playboy Gunter Sachs in 1966. But that relationship was similarly short-lived. By 1969, they had divorced.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.

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Mathieu Vigier Latour was just 24 when he took his own life after undergoing a beard transplant which reportedly saw him fall into post-traumatic shock and suffer severe body dysmorphic disorder

Mathieu Vigier Latour, 24, took his own life just three months after the procedure – pictured before(Image: Enterprise News and Pictures)

A 24-year-old man tragically took his own life after a botched beard transplant in Turkey performed by an estate agent posing as a surgeon. Mathieu Vigier Latour opted to travel to a clinic in Istanbul for the €1,300 (£1,082) procedure – a fifth of what he would have paid in his native France.

According to his father, the business student felt assured after seeing that the clinic carried the stamp of approval from the Turkish health ministry. But the procedure was a disaster.

During the operation, 4,000 grafts were removed from the back of Mathieu’s head and transferred to his face – but the clinician lost 1,000 of the grafts. “When it started to grow out, it looked like a hedgehog. It was unmanageable,” his father Jacques Vigier Latour said in an interview with BFM TV, via The Telegraph.

READ MORE: Lawyer, 32, who helped botched plastic surgery victims dies during hair transplantREAD MORE: Brit who died after Turkey teeth and hair transplant was ‘the smile that warmed’ familyA photo of Mathieu taken after the botched procedure(Image: Enterprise News and Pictures)

He said the beard was irregular, poorly mapped out, and that hairs were growing at an unnatural angle from his son’s face. Furthermore, he said Mathieu suffered burns after the procedure and was having trouble sleeping due to the discomfort.

It was then that Mathieu carried out some more research into the surgery. He was shocked to discover that the person who performed his procedure was not a surgeon – but an estate agent.

To try to help fix the problem, his family managed to find a specialist in Belgium who was in the process of correcting the procedure. But the doctor concluded that the part of Mathieu’s scalp, where grafts had been taken, would not recover.

The student is said to have then fallen into post-traumatic shock and suffered from severe body dysmorphic disorder, a mental health condition which sees sufferers fixate obsessively over perceived defects or flaws in their appearance. “He entered a vicious circle and couldn’t get out,” his father said.

READ MORE: Inside Turkey’s ‘black market clinics’ where deadly surgeries carried out on UK touristsHis father said the beard was irregular, poorly mapped out, and that hairs were growing at an unnatural angle from his son’s face.(Image: Enterprise News and Pictures)

Tragically, three months after the initial operation, Mathieu took his own life in his student accommodation in Paris. His father said that he hoped speaking out about his son’s suicide would help further expose the dangers of low-cost medical tourism. “If this testimony could prevent this from happening again and alert everyone, I think that would be a tribute to Mathieu,” he said.

It comes after a man claimed he had been forced to quit his job after a hair transplant that allegedly left him with massive purple scars on his head. Mark Sweeney, 57, said he was promised professional treatment at the Merchant City Medical centre in Glasgow city centre, and explained taht he chose the clinic over others abroad after hearing horror stories of surgeries gone wrong.

But his dream of a full head of hair turned into an apparent nightmare when the hair transplant procedure allegedly left him with a large scar across his forehead. He says that the alleged failed operation left him unable to continue his job as a waiter because he cannot bear to face the public, and said he has to style his hair forward to hide the unsightly marks.

Mark Sweeney says his life has been destroyed because of his botched hair transplant(Image: DAILY RECORD)

Mr Sweeney, who quit his job at Glasgow’s Buttery restaurant, told the Daily Record: “They’ve ruined my life. Absolutely ruined and destroyed my life and I can’t do anything about it.” Since the transplant, he says he has been battling anxiety and depression due to his self-image. He is now on medication prescribed by his GP.

Mark, who paid £3,500 for the procedure, says he has been left with a scar on his forehead and a bald patch on the side of his head where grafts were taken. He explained: “I’m bald where they took the hair and I’m scarred at the front. I’ve got a hairline that’s low on one side. What I do now is I grow my hair long at the front and I shave the hairline to try to disguise it and cover it up.”

Merchant City Medical’s CEO Paul Mulholland confirmed that Mark had been a patient at their facility. Speaking to the Record, he added: “Mark turned up at our office yesterday and was told to leave.”

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Voting is under way in Myanmar’s heavily restricted election, the first since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically-elected government in a coup in 2021. Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng explains the process from a polling station in Yangon.

Published On 28 Dec 202528 Dec 2025

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Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida for talks on plan to end the war as new attacks reported in Ukraine

We are restarting our live coverage of the war in Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to meet Donald Trump for the latest round of diplomatic talks in Florida at about 1:00pm (18:00 GMT).

Their meeting at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago home will be the pair’s first in-person encounter since October, when Trump refused to grant Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles.

The pair will discuss an updated version of a US-brokered plan to end the nearly-four year war, which Russia is yet to support.

Two private houses that caught fire as a result of a Russian attack in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, Ukraine, on 27 December 2025. Photograph: Oleksandr Klymenko/Ukrinform/Shutterstock

In the days before the meeting, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s capital, using missiles and drones to attack Kyiv and try to increase the pressure on Zelenskyy.

This morning, Ukrainians again woke up to reports of strikes in parts of the country, including in Kherson, where the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said one woman was injured after Russia launched “massive shelling”.

Zelenskyy has said the priority is securing US security guarantees in order to protect Ukraine against future Russian aggression. The meeting will also likely focus heavily on management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, which has been a major sticking point so far in the negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) looks on during a meeting with Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on 17 October 2025. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Moscow controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and about 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk (known collectively as Donbas).

At a closed-door meeting with Russia’s business elite last week, the Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly reiterated his demand that Ukraine hand over the entire eastern Donbas region as part of any peace deal.

On the key question of the future of the region, Zelenskyy, who has so far rejected any territorial concessions, has suggested a “free economic zone” was a potential option.

Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine must withdraw from all of the eastern Donbas region, even areas still under Kyiv’s control.

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Updated at 10.16 CET

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Ukraine’s leading private energy provider said on Sunday it had restored power to nearly 750,000 households in Kyiv after a Russian drone and missile barrage killed at least one person and left hundreds of thousands of people facing freezing temperatures.

DTEK said consumers on Kyiv’s right bank were back to planned power cuts but that the situation remained “more difficult” on the left bank, where emergency outages were still in force.

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Three civilians injured in Russian strikes in Kharkiv region, police say

Ukraine’s National Police has accused Russian forces of launching attacks (guided aircraft and drones) on settlements in Kharkiv, Bogodukhov, Chuguiv and Kupiansk districts over the past day. The police said three civilians in the Kharkiv region were injured and said they are documenting the “consequences of war crimes” by Russia.

The police said:

On December 27, the Russian army struck the city of Chuguiv. The strike hit a residential high-rise building. A 66-year-old woman with an acute stress reaction sought medical help.

The Russians used drones to strike the territory of the Zolochiv community. The strikes occurred in the village of Baranivka. Private houses, outbuildings, and power grids were damaged.

A UAV hit a civilian car parked near a household in the village of Petrivka. There were no injuries.

As a result of UAV strikes in the village of Velykyi Burluk, private houses were destroyed. A local resident was injured. A warehouse and a mill were also damaged.

In the middle of the day, an enemy drone hit a civilian man walking from the village of Nova Kozacha. The 50-year-old wounded man was taken to a medical facility.

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Updated at 10.18 CET

Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida for talks on plan to end the war as new attacks reported in Ukraine

We are restarting our live coverage of the war in Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to meet Donald Trump for the latest round of diplomatic talks in Florida at about 1:00pm (18:00 GMT).

Their meeting at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago home will be the pair’s first in-person encounter since October, when Trump refused to grant Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles.

The pair will discuss an updated version of a US-brokered plan to end the nearly-four year war, which Russia is yet to support.

Two private houses that caught fire as a result of a Russian attack in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, Ukraine, on 27 December 2025. Photograph: Oleksandr Klymenko/Ukrinform/Shutterstock

In the days before the meeting, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s capital, using missiles and drones to attack Kyiv and try to increase the pressure on Zelenskyy.

This morning, Ukrainians again woke up to reports of strikes in parts of the country, including in Kherson, where the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said one woman was injured after Russia launched “massive shelling”.

Zelenskyy has said the priority is securing US security guarantees in order to protect Ukraine against future Russian aggression. The meeting will also likely focus heavily on management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, which has been a major sticking point so far in the negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) looks on during a meeting with Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on 17 October 2025. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Moscow controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and about 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk (known collectively as Donbas).

At a closed-door meeting with Russia’s business elite last week, the Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly reiterated his demand that Ukraine hand over the entire eastern Donbas region as part of any peace deal.

On the key question of the future of the region, Zelenskyy, who has so far rejected any territorial concessions, has suggested a “free economic zone” was a potential option.

Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine must withdraw from all of the eastern Donbas region, even areas still under Kyiv’s control.

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Updated at 10.16 CET

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The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for strong winds across large parts of northern Sweden as Storm Johannes hit

Two people have died in Sweden after a powerful winter storm swept across Nordic countries, causing travel disruption and power outages.

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for strong winds for large parts of the northern half of the country as Storm Johannes hit.

One man in his 50s died after being struck by a tree in the Kungsberget ski resort in the country’s south, local media and police reported; while regional utility company, Hemab, said that one of its employees died in an accident “in the field”.

Tens of thousands of homes in Sweden, Norway and Finland have been left without power.

In Sweden, more than 40,000 homes were affected by power outages and numerous rail services were cancelled, Swedish news agency TT reported.

Several flights, rail and ferry services across parts of the Nordic nations have been cancelled.

Roads and rail services have also been disrupted due to the storm conditions.

In Norway’s Nordland region, one of the most northerly counties in the country, the fire department responded to more than 200 weather‑related incidents, broadcaster NRK reported.

Storm Johannes cut power to around 23,000 homes in Nordland and a further 9,000 were without electricity in the Inland region, NRK said.

In Finland, the storm, known there as Hannes, subsided on Sunday morning but had left more than 33,000 homes without power, according to public broadcaster Yle.

Flights at Kittila airport in northern Finland were grounded after heavy winds pushed a passenger jet and a smaller plane off the runway and into a bank of snow, the Helsinki Times reported.

The Swiss Air jet, carrying about 150 passengers, had just landed from Geneva and was taxiing when it veered off, the paper said. The smaller jet, a 400XT model, was on the ground at the same time and was also pushed off course by the wind, it added.

There have been no reported injuries.

The Swedish Transport Administration announced that many train services have been suspended until noon on Sunday.

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

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

IAEA-brokered ceasefire holds for Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant repairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting: What you need to know

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

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

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

12/28/2025December 28, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

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

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

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

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From historic firsts to shocking tragedies and viral pop-culture moments, 2025 captured the world’s attention.

Across politics, culture and global events, stories unfolded that sparked debate, grief, celebration and shock.

From the death of Charlie Kirk to the Air India crash and Blue Origin’s all-female space flight, we revisit the key stories that shook the world over the last year.

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‘Tis the season for hopeful New Year’s resolutions — and keeping my apartment tidy in 2026 is at the top of my list. 

I’ve found that having a dedicated space for everything makes it so much easier to stay organized, but no matter how much storage space you have, it never feels like enough. Maximizing every square inch of space with clever organizers is the key to banishing clutter — and this Amazon find is the ideal fit for transforming cluttered cabinets and shelves. 

Take advantage of that newfound motivation heading into the new year — and the 40 percent discount on the Pougny Pull-Out Organizer — and add it to your cart now. 

Pougny Pull-Out Under Sink Organizer, Pack of 2

Amazon

What makes this set of Pougny Pull-Out Organizers so game-changing? They help utilize otherwise unused vertical space in your cabinets, making it easy to access and take a visual inventory of all your products, which makes “eliminating clutter easy,” according to one shopper. The shelves measure 12.8 inches tall, so they can slide into most under-sink cabinets and can even be useful for organizing the pantry, too. 

The bottom shelf slides out for easy access to your things without reaching around the stationary top shelf. The four hanging hooks on the side of each organizer add additional storage for scrub brushes, coffee cups, and other hanging items. 

This pull-out organizer would be great for storing food or cleaning supplies in the kitchen, but it can also help you tidy up personal care items in the bathroom or detergents and stain sprays in the laundry room, and more. 

“I have a small home with very minimal storage. This really helped me organize what looked like clutter,” one shopper shared, adding that it “fits well under [their] sink for all [their] cleaning products.”

“The drawers slide out smoothly, which makes it so much easier to grab what you need without pulling everything else out first. Installation was super simple, and I love that they maximize vertical space without being bulky or getting in the way of pipes,” a second shopper wrote, dubbing them a “small upgrade” that makes a “big difference.”

Grab this Pougny Under Sink Organizer while it’s on sale for just $15 at Amazon. Then keep scrolling to shop more organizational must-haves on sale at Amazon for a clutter-free new year. 

More Organizers on Sale at Amazon

Criusia Acrylic Drawer Organizers, Set of 6, $20 with Prime

Amazon

Lamu 2-Tier Lazy Susan Organizer

Amazon

Mudeela Pot and Pan Organizer Rack

Amazon

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For the Prince and Princess of Wales’s eldest son Prince George, 2026 is shaping up to be a year og big changes as the second-in-line to the throne celebrates a landmark birthday

Prince George at Wimbledon in July (Image: Visionhaus via Getty Images)

He’s been growing up away from the spotlight, only joining his parents the Prince and Princess of Wales for the most important of royal events. But 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for future King Prince George – with a seismic change ahead.

Not only will Prince William and Kate’s eldest son enter secondary school next September, his next birthday in July will see him officially turn a teenager when he hits 13. It comes as the second-in-line to the throne appears to be ever so slowly and gently being introduced more and more to his royal life ahead of him.

He currently attends Lambrook school with his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, with his parents dropping sweet snippets about his life when out and about on royal duties such his love of planes and Airfix models and joining dad William at Aston Villa matches.

READ MORE: Queen Camilla’s ‘heartbreaking fear’ as King Charles told world of cancer battleREAD MORE: Kate Middleton’s moving note revealed after emotional surprise cancer outingGeorge on an engagement with his parents to mark VE Day(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

But speculation is ramping up as to where George will continue his schooling in September once he turns 13. So far, William and Kate have kept their cards close to their chest as to which school he will attend, with top picks believed to include his father’s former school Eton and the school his mum went to, Marlborough College.

Previously, George and his parents had been spotted visiting Eton College, while Marlborough College is considered one of the UK’s top boarding schools, catering for both boys and girls. But wherever he ends up continuing his education, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells the Mirror that she is sure George will have had a say in his next move.

She said: “When William was 13, he began his secondary education at Eton College. I remember standing a few yards away from him as he was welcomed by his housemaster, Dr Andrew Gailey – who became an important figure in the young Prince’s life. Both his parents were at his side but, by then, they were officially separated.

George with mum Kate at the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall (Image: PA)

“William and his brother had witnessed the painful breakup of the marriage over many years. So, in a way, being at boarding school became a haven for William. Things are very different for George, who has been brought up in a household full of love and harmony.

“So it might be tougher for him to suddenly find himself living away at boarding school – if that is, indeed, the decision his parents have made. But I’m sure it will have been a family decision – and not one simply imposed on the young prince.”

But when it comes to George, it seems that William and Kate are not only faced with a big decision with his schooling – but also with another dilemma that also faces parents up and down the country.

Earlier this year, William revealed that none of his children have been allowed smartphones but later admitted the stance had become a struggle with his oldest son. He told Luciano Huck in an interview for Brazilian TV: “When George moves on to secondary school, maybe he’ll have one with limited access.

George in his 12th birthday portrait(Image: INSTAGRAM)George with his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

“It’s getting to the point where it is becoming a bit of a tense issue. But I think he understands why, we communicate why we don’t think it’s right.” And Jennie added: “I imagine a big question for George will be: is this the year he’s finally allowed smartphone? We know there are some tensions between George and his parents over this thorny issue.

“My money is on him not being allowed a smartphone for a few years yet, but this may be the time for him to be allowed a brick phone – so he can at least keep in touch with his family and friends, like so many young people of his age.” When it comes to public appearances, they are still few and far between, but the last 12 months has seen him make two of his most high-profile outings to date.

In May, he joined his parents in chatting to Second World War heroes at a Buckingham Palace tea party on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. He won praise as he listened intently to their important stories and asked questions about their experiences. Then just last month, he joined mum Kate at the annual Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall to pay his respects to the nation’s war dead.

George and William together at The Passage earlier this month

George shuffled a little in his seat between musical performances and watched intently as emotional videos of veterans speaking about their experiences and paying tribute to their lost friends and comrades played.

Meanwhile, just earlier this month, George joined his father to don an apron and help with Christmas lunch preparations at a shelter for the homeless. The father and son wore The Passage charity’s aprons as William poured Brussels sprouts onto an oven dish and George laid Yorkshire puddings out onto a tray ahead of cooking.

Visiting the shelter in Victoria, central London, at Christmas time has become something of a tradition for the Prince of Wales, who helped out in 2023 and 2024. He first visited the charity with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was 11 and brought his 12-year-old son along to follow in his footsteps.

It’s led many to hope that with the young prince growing up fast, more high-profile royal engagements might be on the cards. However, Wiliam and Kate are known to be very protective of all of their children – and keen to give them as normal an upbringing as possible.

And with this in mind, Jennie added: “However, I don’t think it’s one that will bring any major increase in his public appearances. This is a time for him to get used to his new circumstances, to knuckle down and start studying for important exams and to enjoy his school life. So I think his parents will continue to protect him for as long as possible from the public glare that lies ahead.”

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The Balkan nation votes again as PM Albin Kurti seeks majority to break the stalemate and form a government.

Published On 28 Dec 202528 Dec 2025

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Kosovo is voting to elect a new parliament for the second time in 11 months, as nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party seeks a majority to end a yearlong political deadlock.

Polls opened at 7am local time (06:00 GMT) and will close at 7pm (18:00 GMT) on Sunday, with exit polls expected soon after voting ‌ends.

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The snap parliamentary vote was called after Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement (LVV) party failed to form a government despite winning the most votes at a February 9 ballot.

Failure to form a government and reopen parliament would prolong the crisis at a critical time. Lawmakers must elect a new president in April and ratify 1 billion euros ($1.2bn) in loan agreements from the European Union and ‍World Bank that expire ⁠in the coming months.

The Balkan country’s opposition parties have refused to govern with Kurti, criticising his handling of ties with Western allies and his approach to Kosovo’s ethnically divided north, where a Serb minority lives.

Kosovo’s acting PM and leader of the LVV party, Albin Kurti [File: Armend Nimani/AFP]

Despite international support, the country of 1.6 million has struggled with poverty, instability and organised crime. Kurti’s tenure, which began ‌in 2021, was the first time a Pristina government completed a full term.

To woo voters, Kurti has pledged an additional month of salary per year for public sector workers, 1 billion euros per year in capital investment and a new prosecution unit to fight organised crime. ​Opposition parties have also promised to focus on improving living standards.

Opinion polls are ‌not published in Kosovo, leaving the outcome uncertain. Many voters say they are disillusioned.

“There wouldn’t be great joy if Kurti wins, nor would there be if the opposition wins. This country needs drastic changes, and I don’t see that change ‌coming,” Edi Krasiqi, a doctor, told Reuters news agency.

Tensions with Serbia

Formerly a province of Serbia, Kosovo, whose population is almost exclusively Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 following an uprising and NATO intervention in 1999.

It has been recognised by more than 100 countries, but not by Russia, Serbia, Greece or Spain. It is seen as a potential candidate for accession to the EU.

Tensions with Serbia flared in 2023, prompting the EU to impose sanctions on Kosovo.

The bloc said this month it ‍would lift them after ethnic Serb mayors were elected in northern municipalities, but the measures likely cost Kosovo hundreds of millions of euros.

Kosovo remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. It is one of the six Western Balkan countries striving to eventually join the EU, but both Belgrade and Pristina have been told they must first normalise relations.

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Two of Nepal’s most popular political leaders have formed an alliance ahead of next year’s election in the wake of deadly youth-led protests earlier in the year that ousted the government.

Television host Rabi Lamichhane, the 51-year-old chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra party (RSP), and the 35-year-old rapper turned Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah pledged to address the demands of the younger generation following September’s deadly anti-corruption protests.

At least 77 people were killed during the 8-9 September youth-led uprising that was triggered by anger over a brief government ban on social media, building on public frustration after years of economic stagnation and allegations of entrenched political corruption.

According to the agreement, Lamichhane will remain the party’s chairperson, while Shah will be the candidate for prime minister in the 5 March election.

“Consensus should not be as the leader seeks, it should be what the country needs,” Lamichhane said in a statement after the deal was signed on Sunday.

Lamichhane, who was recently released on bail in connection with cooperative fraud and organised crime, is a popular television host in the Himalayan republic.

He set up the RSP in 2022, tapping into widespread discontent at Nepal’s elderly political leadership and becoming the deputy premier and interior minister.

Shah, popularly known as Balen, is seen as a popular figure in the political transition and helped form the interim government led by Sushila Karki after the ousting of KP Sharma Oli’s government.

On Saturday, Karki held meetings with Oli, the Nepali Congress president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and the Nepali Communist party coordinator, Pushpa Kamal Dahal – the first such consultation since the uprising.

After the meeting, Karki wrote on social media that the election was a shared responsibility of all stakeholders. “The government is committed to guaranteeing a free and fear-free environment. We are working in a manner that leaves no room for doubt.”

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Kelly Ngand

BBC Burmese,Mandalay

EPA

Myanmar’s military is holding a phased election over the next month

Myanmar is voting in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, many of their leaders jailed and as much as half the country not expected to vote because of an ongoing civil war.

The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after it seized power in a coup, which sparked widespread opposition and spiralled into a civil war.

Observers say the junta, with China’s support, is seeking to legitimise and entrench its power as it seeks a way out of the devastating stalemate.

More than 200 people have been charged for disrupting or opposing the polls under a new law which carries severe punishments, including the death penalty.

Polling began on Sunday and there were reports of explosions and airstrikes across multiple regions in the country as voting took place.

Three people were taken to hospital following a rocket attack on an uninhabited house in the Mandalay region in the early hours of Sunday, the chief minister of the region confirmed to the BBC. One of those people is in a serious condition.

Separately, more than ten houses were damaged in the Myawaddy township, near the border with Thailand, following a series of explosions late on Saturday.

A local resident told the BBC that a child was killed in the attack, and three people were taken to hospital in an emergency condition.

Further reports of casualties have emerged following other explosions.

Voters have told the BBC that the election feels more “disciplined and systematic” than those previously.

“The experience of voting has changed a lot,” said Ma Su ZarChi, who lives in the Mandalay region.

“Before I voted, I was afraid. Now that I have voted, I feel relieved. I cast my ballot as someone who has tried their best for the country.”

First-time voter Ei Pyay Phyo Maung, 22, told the BBC she was casting her ballot because she believed that voting is “the responsibility of every citizen”.

“My hope is for the lower classes – right now, the prices of goods are skyrocketing, and I want to support someone who can bring them down for those struggling the most,” she said.

“I want a president who provides equally for all people.”

EPA/Shutterstock

Voters queue to cast their ballots in Yangon, Myanmar

The Burmese junta has rejected criticism of the polls, maintaining that it aims to “return [the country] to a multi-party democratic system”.

After casting his vote at a highly fortified polling station in the capital, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing told the BBC that the election would be free and fair.

“I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, a civil servant. I can’t just say that I want to be president,” he said, stressing that there are three phases of the election.

Earlier this week, he warned that those who refuse to vote are rejecting “progress toward democracy”.

Win Kyaw Thu/BBC

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing cast his ballot in the capital Nay Pyi Taw

Film director Mike Tee, actor Kyaw Win Htut and comedian Ohn Daing were among the prominent figures convicted under the law against disrupting polls, which was enacted in July.

They were each handed a seven-year jail term after criticising a film promoting the elections, state media reported.

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews on Sunday called on the international community to reject the election – saying “nothing legitimate” can come of it.

“An election organised by a junta that continues to bomb civilians, jail political leaders, and criminalise all forms of dissent is not an election – it is a theatre of the absurd performed at gunpoint,” he said.

The military has been fighting on several fronts, against both armed resistance groups who oppose the coup, as well as ethnic armies which have their own militias. It lost control of large parts of the country in a series of major setbacks, but clawed back territory this year following relentless airstrikes enabled by support from China and Russia.

The civil war has killed thousands of people, displaced millions more, destroyed the economy and left a humanitarian vacuum. A devastating earthquake in March and international funding cuts have made the situation far worse.

All of this and the fact that large parts of the country are still under opposition control presents a huge logistical challenge for holding an election.

Voting is set to take place in three phases over the next month in 265 of the country’s 330 townships, with the rest deemed too unstable. Results are expected around the end of January.

There is not expected to be any voting in as much as one half of the country. Even in the townships that are voting, not all constituencies will go to the polls, making it difficult to forecast a possible turnout.

Six parties, including the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, are fielding candidates nationwide, while another 51 parties and independent candidates will contest only at the state or regional levels.

Some 40 parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League of Democracy, which scored landslide victories in 2015 and 2020, have been banned. Suu Kyi and many of the party’s key leaders have been jailed under charges widely condemned as politically motivated, while others are in exile.

“By splitting the vote into phases, the authorities can adjust tactics if the results in the first phase do not go their way,” Htin Kyaw Aye, a spokesman of the election-monitoring group Spring Sprouts told the Myanmar Now news agency.

Ral Uk Thang, a resident in the western Chin state, believes civilians “don’t want the election”.

“The military does not know how to govern our country. They only work for the benefit of their high-ranking leaders.

“When Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party was in power, we experienced a bit of democracy. But now all we do is cry and shed tears,” the 80-year-old told the BBC.

Western governments, including the United Kingdom and the European Parliament, have dismissed the vote as a sham, while regional bloc Asean has called for political dialogue to precede any election.

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A supposedly empty Minnesota daycare has reportedly received $4 million in taxpayer funds as the state grapples with allegations it failed to stop widespread fraud in its social safety programs. 

The allegations circulated on social media this week following a video posted to X by independent journalist Nick Shirley, which accused Minnesota authorities of allowing the ‘largest fraud in US history’ to go unchecked. 

The video reached over 65 million views in less than two days, according to X viewing statistics, as Shirley visited the Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis to question where the taxpayer money went.  

The business’s name is misspelled as ‘Quality Learing Center’ in a sign above the front door, and according to the video, the parking lot is mostly empty. The lobby also appears to be dark.

‘Four million dollars of hard-earned tax dollars going to an education center that can’t even spell learning correctly. Care to explain this one, Tim Walz?’ Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer wrote on X in response to the clip. 

This comes after it was alleged that Minnesota’s government was defrauded out of billions in public funds for programs meant to feed children, assist the homeless and provide autism therapy. So-called providers submitted false invoices to be reimbursed for services that were never provided, according to federal prosecutors.

The alleged fraud is so severe that, in early December, Dr. Mehmet Oz threatened Governor Tim Walz that he would withhold federal Medicaid funding from the state unless significant changes were made. Many of these programs are funded, in whole or in part, by Medicaid. 

Oz serves as Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Pictured: Nick Shirley, a pro-Trump influencer, stands outside the Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The daycare center has racked up 121 violations, many of them serious, since May 2022

Governor Tim Walz has presided over a $1 billion fraud against Minnesota’s social safety net by criminals who submitted false invoices to receive taxpayer dollars. The Quality Learning Center has not been accused of wrongdoing

🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable

We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025

Vice President JD Vance has also addressed the scandal in Minnesota, most recently on Saturday. 

‘What’s happening in Minnesota is a microcosm of the immigration fraud in our system. Politicians like it because they get power. Welfare cheats like it because they get rich. But it’s a zero sum game, and they’re stealing both money and political power from Minnesotans,’ he wrote in a social media post.

The Quality Learning Center has not been officially accused of wrongdoing by authorities. Still, according to Shirley, a pro-Trump influencer, it has received up to $4 million in state and federal dollars. 

In Shirley’s clip, he was seen trying to speak with staff at the center. He was instead met with a screaming woman accusing him of being an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. 

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

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

Another man with Shirley held up a paper that he said was evidence that the Quality Learning Center had received $1.9 million in taxpayer funds in fiscal year 2025, specifically through Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). He claimed that the daycare had received $4 million in total from this program.

Local news station KSTP reached a different conclusion after investigating the facility in January. The station reported it received $7.8 million in federal dollars since 2019, though it isn’t clear whether this figure includes funding from sources other than CCAP. 

The claims prompted questions about where taxpayer money went, as the daycare center racked up 11 violations during a state inspection on June 23, 2025, according to government records.

These violations included failing to keep areas where children play from falling into disrepair, keeping items in cribs for infants, not following a doctor’s instructions when giving children prescription medicine, and hiring an unqualified substitute caregiver.

Since May of 2022, there have been 121 violations at the daycare, records showed, including allegedly failing to request background checks for 14 employees.

Congressman Tom Emmer, a Republican of Minnesota caught onto the news about the Quality Learning Center and urged Governor Walz to look into it

Pictured: Shirley gets into an argument with a woman outside the daycare center who believed for a while that he was a member of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The only punishment the daycare has faced in this three-year period is paying two separate $200 fines, according to state records.

Minnesota House Speaker Designate, Rep. Lisa Demuth, a Republican, told KSTP in earlier this year that this is an example of how ‘oversight is incredibly lacking’.

‘You have pages here that are publicly available, with repeated failure to keep hazardous items away from children,’ Demuth said in January. ‘Failure to maintain adequate staff-to-child ratios. Background checks. Failure to keep personnel files. These are repeated violations.’ 

If the Quality Learning Center is found to have been a beneficiary of CCAP funds, the scandal could broaden.

The allegations of fraud at the Quality Learning Center led to a growing number of Minnesota non-profits facing similar claims. 

At the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, the organization claimed to serve tens of thousands of meals to low-income children during the pandemic.

But in a recent court filing, prosecutors allege most of those meals never existed, and instead, the taxpayer money went to luxury homes, cars, jewelry and real estate abroad. According to court documents, the nonprofit misappropriated $250 million.

One housing program in Minnesota ballooned from an expected $2.6 million to $104 million, mostly due to fake billing. Hundreds of providers were reimbursed for services that were never provided.

Another program that was supposed to provide therapy to autistic children did nothing of the sort, according to prosecutors.

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It’s quite common to have a cold around this time of the year, but how do you know if your chesty cough and runny nose is actually a sign you have the flu instead?

Christine Younan Deputy Editor Social Newsdesk

05:05, 28 Dec 2025

It’s important to know the difference between a cold and flu(Image: Getty Images)

Getting a cold in the winter is more common because viruses spread easier in crowded indoor spaces and the weather can also weaken the immune response in the nose, making it harder to fight off germs.

Now it’s one thing having a blocked nose and slight cough, but often people mistake their illness for a cold, rather than the flu. Symptoms for a flu are usually more severe as you might experience a fever, headache and muscle aches, as well as a dry cough and sore throat. Meanwhile, a cold has symptoms peaking in 2-3 days, with a recovery taking around a week or so.

And with a super flu wrecking havoc across the UK, it’s never been more important to know the difference between a cold and flu. According to Berkshire NHS, who boasts 17,100 followers on TikTok, there are three differences between the two illnesses.

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In a caption, the community NHS trust said: “Cold and flu symptoms are similar but flu tends to be more severe. The flu vaccine helps protect against flu. Visit the NHS website to find out more.”

The video shows an NHS worker revealing three symptoms as she walks to the correct answer. The first was the flu appears quickly within a few hours, while a cold would affect mainly your nose and throat.

As for the final sign, a flu can make you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal.

A flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill so it’s important to get a vaccine if you’re advised and to practice safe distancing to prevent passing on your germs.

What are the symptoms of a flu?

• A sudden high temperature
• An aching body
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• A dry cough
• A sore throat
• A headache
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea or tummy pain
• Feeling sick and being sick

What are the symptoms of a cold?

• A blocked or runny nose
• Sneezing
• A sore throat
• A hoarse voice
• A cough
• Feeling tired and unwell
• A high temperature
• Aching muscles
• A loss of taste and smell
• A feeling of pressure in your ears and face

Generally you can treat a cold without seeing a GP, you should begin to feel better in about 1-2 weeks with symptoms coming on over 2-3 days.

It’s worth noting symptoms of a cold can last longer in a young child. They might be more irritable and have difficulty eating and sleeping. They would probably breathe through their mouth and get sick after coughing.

Make sure you get plenty of rest around the Christmas holidays (if you can), drink lots of fluids and eat healthy food to prevent any illness.

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The United Kingdom has imposed visa restrictions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, accusing its government of failing to cooperate with its new policy on the return of undocumented migrants and those who commit criminal offences.

The UK Home Office announced the measures in a statement late on Saturday. It also said that Angola and Namibia have agreed to step up efforts to take back their citizens.

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The agreements mark the first major change under sweeping reforms unveiled by Secretary of State for the Home Department Shabana Mahmood last month to make refugee status temporary and speed up the deportation of those who arrive without documents in the UK.

There was no immediate comment from the DRC, Angola or Namibia.

The Home Office said the DRC failed to meet the UK’s requirements for cooperation and has now been stripped of fast-track visa services and preferential treatment for VIPs and decision makers.

Mahmood said the UK could escalate measures to a complete halt of visas for the DRC unless cooperation rapidly improves.

“We expect countries to play by the rules. If one of their citizens has no right to be here, they must take them back,” she said.

“I thank Angola and Namibia and welcome their co-operation. Now is the time for the Democratic Republic of Congo to do the right thing. Take your citizens back or lose the privilege of entering our country.

“This is just the start of the measures I am taking to secure our border and ramp up the removal of those with no right to be here,” she added.

Prime Minister Keir Streamer’s centre-left government unveiled sweeping changes to the UK’s asylum system last month, including drastically cutting protections for refugees and their children, as part of a bid to stem the arrivals of irregular migrants that have fuelled rising anger on the far-right.

More than 39,000 people, many fleeing conflict, have arrived in the UK on small boats this year, more than for the whole of 2024 but lower than the record set in 2022, when the Conservatives were in power.

Mahmood told lawmakers that the reforms, modelled on Denmark’s strict asylum system, would discourage refugees and asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel from France on small boats.

She described the current system as “out of control and unfair”, adding that it was an “uncomfortable truth” that the government must face.

Under the reforms, refugee status will become temporary and will be reviewed every 30 months. Refugees will be forced to return to their home countries once those are deemed safe.

They will also need to wait for 20 years, instead of the current five, before they can apply for permanent residency.

The government has also said it will legislate to make it harder for irregular migrants and foreign criminals to use the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to stop deportation.

Since July last year, the UK has “removed more than 50,000 people with no right to remain”, a 23 percent increase on the previous period, and instructed diplomats to make returns a top priority, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Yvette Cooper said.

The policy has been facing criticism, however, with Mark Davies, a former adviser to the Foreign Office, calling it “shameful” and a departure from “Britain’s historic commitment to support refugees”.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also described the policy as “draconian”, adding that it tries to “appease the most ghastly, racist right-wing forces all across Europe”, while undermining the UN Convention on Human Rights.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, urged the government to reconsider, warning the plans “will not deter” crossings, and that refugees who work hard should be able to build “secure, settled lives”.

Official figures cited by the AFP news agency showed that asylum claims in the UK are at a record high, with about 111,000 applications made in the year to June 2025.

But the number of initial positive decisions the UK authorities granted fell from 2023 to 2024.

Most asylum seekers and refugees arrive in the UK legally. Net migration reached a record high of 906,000 in the year to June 2023, before it fell to 431,000 in 2024, partly reflecting the tighter rules.

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