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Man dies in monsoonal floods in far north Queensland as graziers wait to assess stock losses | Queensland
Police have praised the courageous efforts of an officer who entered crocodile-filled waters in far north Queensland after a man drowned in monsoonal floods.
Dozens of roads remained closed and communities were isolated as flood waters continued to rise in outback Queensland late on Wednesday.
A man in his 70s was found dead in a submerged vehicle in the far northern town of Normanton on Tuesday.
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Mount Isa District Acting Supt Paul Austin praised the efforts of emergency services who responded.
“The SES operator was able to align their vessel [with the submerged car], and one of the police officers entered into a significant depth, and was able to get into the vehicle and recover the deceased male,” he said.
“If he hadn’t done what he did, it certainly would have made it a very difficult operation to try and retrieve that vehicle with the deceased in it.
“There’s some really big crocs in the Norman River … what he did was very courageous.”
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said the loss of the local man was “a deep tragedy for the North West community”.
“Our big focus remains on infrastructure … it’s the roads, it’s the bridges. We have to make sure that people remain connected.”
The mayor of McKinlay shire in north-west Queensland, Janene Fegan, said it could be weeks before the full extent of the damage and stock losses was known.
After days of severe rain, conditions did not clear until Wednesday, allowing graziers to launch helicopters.
“We just don’t know officially yet – it’s just sitting and waiting but it doesn’t look good in parts of the north-west of our shire,” Fegan said.
“We’ve been told that the water level is quite high, and there’s places that could be higher than 2019.”
The Bureau of Meteorology warned that isolated heavy falls of 100mm were possible in parts of the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North West and Central West districts.
The bureau’s Miriam Bradbury said rain and thunderstorm activity would continue “but we should start to see more of an easing across more widespread areas late in the weekend into early next week”.
Disaster relief has been activated for five north Queensland councils after the widespread flooding caused by monsoonal rainfall over the Christmas period.
In Western Australia, emergency services were assessing the damage caused by ex-tropical cyclone Hayley, which crossed the Kimberley coast as a category three storm over the Dampier Peninsula on Tuesday.
Winds up to 158km/h were recorded along with 132mm of rain.
There were no reports of major damage or injuries.
Finnish police on Wednesday seized a vessel suspected of damaging a telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia.
The vessel was spotted with its anchor lowered near the site in Estonia’s exclusive economic zone where telecom provider Elisa detected a fault early Wednesday.
A Finnish border guard vessel and helicopter located the ship and ordered it to stop, raise its anchor, and move into Finnish territorial waters.
“Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary,” President Alexander Stubb wrote on X.
Undersea ‘sabotage’ has countries on high alert
There was no immediate information about the ship’s flag or its origin.
Finnish police said they were investigating the incident as “aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications.”
There have been a series of outages affecting power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines connecting Nordic, Baltic, and other European countries since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Europe’s undersea cables under attack?
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Experts and political leaders have viewed the suspected cable sabotage as part of a “hybrid war” carried out by Russia against Western countries.
NATO stepped up patrols in the Baltic Sea earlier this year due to the number of incidents.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
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U.S. and partner forces killed or captured nearly 25 Islamic State operatives in Syria in the days following a large-scale U.S.-led strike on Dec. 19, according to a new statement from U.S. Central Command, underscoring Washington’s assessment that ISIS remains an active and persistent threat inside the country.
CENTCOM said those forces conducted 11 follow-on missions between Dec. 20 and Dec. 29, killing at least seven ISIS members, capturing the remainder and eliminating four ISIS weapons caches. The operations followed Operation Hawkeye Strike, when U.S. and Jordanian forces hit more than 70 ISIS targets across central Syria using over 100 precision munitions, destroying infrastructure and weapons sites linked to the group.
“We will not relent,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said, adding that U.S. forces remain “steadfast” in working with regional partners to dismantle ISIS networks that pose a threat to U.S. and regional security.
The scope of the follow-on raids highlights a reality U.S. commanders and analysts have been warning about for months: ISIS no longer controls large swaths of territory, but it retains the ability to organize, strike and regenerate inside Syria’s fragmented security landscape.
SYRIANS MARK FIRST YEAR SINCE ASSAD’S FALL AS US SIGNALS NEW ERA IN RELATIONS
U.S. Army soldiers prepare to go out on patrol from a remote combat outpost on May 25, 2021, in northeastern Syria. U.S. forces, part of Task Force WARCLUB operate from combat outposts in the area, coordinating with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in combatting residual ISIS extremists and deterring pro-Iranian militia. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Syria remains divided among competing forces, militias and foreign-backed armed groups, with no single authority exercising full control over large parts of the country. Analysts say that vacuum continues to provide space for ISIS cells to operate quietly, recruit and exploit overstretched local forces.
Analysts note that Syria’s security environment remains shaped by former jihadist networks that were never fully demobilized after the war. The country’s transitional leadership, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, emerged from armed Islamist factions that relied heavily on foreign fighters and militias, according to regional security assessments. While those groups are not synonymous with ISIS, experts say the incomplete dismantling of extremist networks has left gaps that ISIS cells continue to exploit.
“ISIS today doesn’t need a caliphate to be dangerous,” Bill Roggio told Fox News Digital. “We’ve always been quick to declare terrorist organizations defeated and insignificant, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Roggio said the group has adapted rather than disappeared, shifting away from holding territory toward smaller, more covert cells capable of carrying out lethal attacks. He pointed to ongoing ISIS activity not only in Syria and Iraq, but also in Afghanistan and other regions, citing United Nations reporting that estimates roughly 2,000 ISIS fighters remain active in Afghanistan alone.
“That’s not what a defeated group looks like,” Roggio said, noting that ISIS continues to recruit, indoctrinate and inspire attacks even without the visibility it once had.
FROM SYRIA TO SOMALIA, US TROOPS REMAIN DEPLOYED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON UNDER MISSIONS THAT NEVER FORMALLY ENDED
ISIS terrorists in Syria. (Reuters)
One of the most sensitive vulnerabilities remains the network of detention facilities in northeastern Syria holding thousands of ISIS terrorists and supporters. Those prisons are guarded primarily by Kurdish-led forces backed by a small U.S. military presence, estimated at roughly 1,000 troops, according to Reuters.
U.S. and coalition officials have repeatedly warned that any major disruption to prison security could allow hardened ISIS operatives to escape and reconstitute networks across Syria and beyond. Kurdish officials have also raised concerns about funding shortages, manpower strain and pressure from rival militias operating nearby.
While U.S. officials have not publicly linked the recent strikes to prison-related threats, analysts say the broader environment of fragmented control increases the risk of coordinated attacks, insider assistance or prison unrest.
The danger is not theoretical. ISIS has previously staged mass prison break operations in Syria and Iraq, including a 2022 assault on the al-Sinaa prison in Hasakah that required days of fighting to contain.
The U.S. strikes also come amid continued instability inside Syria, where multiple armed actors operate with overlapping authority. Analysts note that clashes among militias, sectarian violence and unresolved command structures have weakened overall security and diverted attention from counterterrorism efforts.
US, SYRIAN TROOPS COME UNDER FIRE WHILE ON PATROL: REPORT
U.S. soldiers attached to the Iowa National Guard sign GBU-31 munitions systems in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Dec. 18, 2025 as the U.S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria in retaliation for an attack on U.S. personnel, U.S. officials said. (Air Force Photo/Handout via Reuters)
Bombings in neighborhoods of Damascus, including Mezzeh, and unrest in minority areas have further illustrated the gaps ISIS and other extremist groups can exploit, according to regional security assessments and open-source reporting.
“Syria’s chaos is the accelerant,” Roggio said. “ISIS thrives where no one is fully in charge.”
U.S. officials and analysts stress that ISIS activity in Syria is part of a wider pattern rather than an isolated flare-up.
Sources in the Israeli Mossad told Fox News Digital of continued ISIS-linked activity across multiple theaters, including recruitment networks and small-scale attacks designed to test security responses and maintain operational relevance.
In Turkey, security forces recently clashed with Islamic State militants during counterterrorism operations, wounding several officers, according to Reuters on Monday. Turkish authorities said the raids targeted ISIS cells suspected of planning attacks inside the country.
DEADLY STRIKE ON US TROOPS TESTS TRUMP’S COUNTER-ISIS PLAN — AND HIS TRUST IN SYRIA’S NEW LEADER
Security forces loyal to the interim Syrian government ride in the back of a vehicle moving along a road in Syria’s western city of Latakia on March 9, 2025. Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for national unity and peace on March 9, amid growing international backlash following the killing of civilians along the country’s coast in the worst violence since the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)
“These are signals, not spikes,” Roggio said. “ISIS operates across regions, adapting to pressure and exploiting weak governance wherever it finds it.”
The renewed U.S. military action raises difficult questions for policymakers about how long the current containment strategy can hold.
While U.S. officials say the Dec. 19 strikes delivered a significant blow to ISIS infrastructure, they have also acknowledged that counterterrorism operations alone cannot eliminate the underlying conditions that allow the group to persist.
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People wave guns in the air as they gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime in Umayyad Square on Dec. 8 in Damascus, Syria. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)
“Just because we want to declare the war against terror over doesn’t mean it’s over,” Roggio said. “The enemy gets a vote.”
Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.
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More than 3,000 fireworks have been launched over the top of New Zealand’s tallest building – the Sky Tower – as Auckland became the first majot city to welcome in the new year.
New Zealand’s capital celebrates midnight 18 hours before New York. The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240-metre (787-foot) Sky Tower.
At 1pm GMT, Australia will join in the celebrations with the annual huge fireworks display over Sydney. It has already warmed up with a smaller display ahead of midnight for families and those seeking an early night.
The island of Kiritimati was the first place in the world to celebrate 2026. Part of the Pacific Ocean nation Kiribati, located south of Hawaii and north-east of Australia. It is made up of several atolls – ring-shaped coral reefs – and spans almost 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) from east to west. Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979 and has a population of about 116,000.
The ‘family fireworks’ – also known as the Country fireworks – are displayed three hours before midnight every year over the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridg (AFP/Getty)
Japan and South Korea will celebrate the New Year around 3pm GMT, joined by Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan.
However, Hong Kong will not mark the occasion with a fireworks display after a devastating fire killed 161 people in an apartment complex in November. It marked the deadliest blaze the city had seen in decades. The city is usually home to the world’s largest and most extravagant demonstrations with light shows, fireworks, music and performances.
Instead, the government has organised a light show and pared-back musical performances for members of the public.
The ‘family fireworks’ – also known as the Country fireworks – are displayed three hours before midnight every year over the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge (Getty)
Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year’s Eve address broadcast by state media hailed his country’s technological progress in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors while renewing threats against Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory.
“We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship,” he said. “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.” China this week launched large-scale military drills around the island.
Europe will join later with Germany, France and Italy celebrating at around 11pm before the UK, Portugal, Mali and Ghana. Residents of the German capital are already enjoying snowfall, taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The famous Berlin TV Tower is nearly invisible thanks to the falling flakes and fog.
People gather at the Sydney Opera House in anticipation of the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display on December 31, 2025 in Sydney, Australia (Getty)
The biggest firework display in London this year, as in previous years, will be the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks – an event watched by more than 10 million people in the UK.
Tickets to view the display up close are highly coveted, and typically sell out long before New Year’s Eve. Areas around the display, including Embankment and parts of Lambeth, begin closing to the public as early as 2pm as preparations get underway.
New York will join in the celebrations at 5am GMT on New Year’s Day, with performances by Diana Ross and Ciara, with Los Angeles celebrating at 8am GMT.
If your end-of-year to-do list includes a bank stop, you may want to pause before heading out the door.
Most banks in the U.S. are closed on federal holidays or operate at reduced hours, which can make New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day errands slightly more challenging. This practice dates back to 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the first-ever national bank holiday to keep the banking system from failing during the Great Depression.
Since then, banks have expanded their observance to include several holidays throughout the year, including major ones like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As 2025 comes to a close, you might be wondering: Is New Year’s Eve considered a federal banking holiday, and will your local branch be open? We’ve got all the answers below to help you avoid any last-minute banking headaches.
Are banks open on New Year’s Eve 2025?
Sign at the entrance to a Chase branch in Manhattan.
Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty
While hours may vary depending on the branch, all banks are open and accessible on New Year’s Eve.
However, they will be closed on Jan. 1, 2026, as New Year’s Day is considered a federal banking holiday. You can still use mobile banking and ATMs, but keep in mind that any transactions submitted after 11:30 p.m. EST on New Year’s Eve will not be processed until the banks reopen on Jan. 2, 2026.
What are the different banks’ hours on New Year’s Eve 2025?
TD Bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 27, 2016.
Raymond Boyd/Getty
Major banks like JPMorgan, PNC, Wells Fargo and Bank of America typically close early on New Year’s Eve around 4 p.m., but make sure to check your local branch’s specific holiday hours before you head out.
Other financial service providers that may have reduced hours on New Year’s Eve include credit unions, mortgage lenders and loan providers, but again, make sure to confirm their local hours in advance.
Is the stock market open on New Year’s Eve?
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on April 03, 2025 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty
Similar to banks, the U.S. stock market keeps things mostly business as usual on New Year’s Eve. Stocks will trade during normal market hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, while bond markets wrap up early, closing at 2 p.m. EST, per Bankrate.com.
Both the stock and bond markets will be closed on New Year’s Day, with normal trading resuming on Jan. 2.
In other words, if you’re looking to get a head start on your 2026 financial goals, you’ll want to keep these holiday hours in mind!
Can I still deposit and withdraw money from the bank on New Year’s Eve?
Facade of Bank of America with two automated teller machines (ATMs) on a city sidewalk, San Francisco, California, February 21, 2025.
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty
Since banks are open on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have plenty of time to cash those holiday checks and make sure you’ve got a little extra in your pocket for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, but the earlier you go, the better.
Transactions made after your local bank closes or past the cutoff for mobile deposits could take a bit longer to process and post to your account, so plan ahead to avoid any delays.
WORLD NEWS
Moment dangerous driver leads police on hair-raising 100mph chase as he’s jailed for 18 months
A dangerous driver risked multiple crashes as he led police on a terrifying 18-mile high speed chase.
Sarwar Rasool Mustafa ran red lights and overtook vehicles at speeds of up to 100mph across Dorset.
Dashcam footage showed the moment Mustafa began overtaking cars in an attempt to make a getaway.
As the police chase continued, cars on both sides were forced to pull onto the hard shoulder to avoid being hit as Mustafa veered onto the wrong side of the road.
Dorset Police said it was down to luck that Mustafa did not hurt anyone as he sped towards oncoming traffic.
The 27-year-old from Chard, Somerset, has been jailed for 18 months after admitting dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
He was also disqualified from driving for 40 months when he was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court.
Sarwar Rasool Mustafa, 27, jailed for 18 months after admitting dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Mustafa led police on an 18-mile chase across Dorset, driving at speeds of up to 100mph
Officers noticed Mustafa’s grey BMW 1 series on the A35 which they believed had cloned registration plates and no insurance at around 9.45am on June 22.
The driver ignored police sirens and led them on an 18-mile chase from Bere Regis to Ferndown.
Mustafa ran red lights and ignored double white lines to dangerously overtake other cars.
At one point he also reversed into one of the police vehicles which was chasing him.
The dashcam footage also showed one moment where he veered back onto the right side of the road in a busy line of traffic and narrowly missing a collision with a car towing a caravan.
At another point he was forced to change direction when he was stuck at a red light and police were closing in.
One police car tried to block his path he swerved left and took off again at speed through quiet residential streets.
Mustafa was eventually caught when he foolishly turned into a cul-de-sac and police were able to block his escape.
Police eventually caught up with Mustafa after he turned into a cul-de-sac, leaving police able to block his escape
PC Mark Palmer, of the Roads Policing Team, said: ‘Mustafa was travelling at speeds of up to around 100mph and overtook many vehicles in a dangerous manner.
‘It is extremely lucky that he was not involved in a collision and no other road users were harmed by his reckless driving.
‘The dashcam footage from this incident is shocking – there is no excuse for driving the way that Mustafa did that day. This could have ended in devastating and tragic consequences.
‘Everybody has a responsibility for not only themselves, but also other road users when getting behind the wheel and we need everyone to play their part by making good decisions and driving within the law.’
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Moment dangerous driver leads police on hair-raising 100mph chase as he’s jailed for 18 months
Family members spoke out amid fears the former world boxing champ may struggle to overcome the psychological trauma of the crash
11:21, 31 Dec 2025
Anthony Joshua is “responding to treatment” in hospital after the horror car crash that killed two of his closest friends, his family have said.
The former world heavyweight boxing champ, 36, is expected to remain at the Duchess International Hospital, where his condition is described as “stable”, until the New Year.
His mum Yeta Odusanya has been at his bedside, but wider family members have so far not been allowed to visit him inside the private hospital in Lagos.
Joshua reportedly said: “I feel pain all over my body” after the crash, which killed his best friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both aged 36, at around lunchtime on Monday.
David Joshua, who is an older brother of Joshua’s dad Robert, said: “We have not been allowed to see him, but from information given by authorities, he is responding to treatment.”
Friends of Sina Ghami place flowers outside his gym in North LondonREAD MORE: Queen Camilla speaks about horror train attack, where she fought off groper as teen, for first time
Joshua was seen grimacing in pain after being pulled out of the wreckage of the crash in Nigeria on Monday(Image: X)
Another of the boxer’s uncles, Adedamola Joshua, revealed his famous nephew had been in Nigeria for less than six hours when the tragedy took place.
The trio were on their way to the Nigerian city of Sagamu, in the south-west of the country, to spend the festive period with Joshua’s family.
Adedamola said: “The incident shook our family deeply. Though our son, Anthony, is alive, two of his friends, who came to celebrate with us, lost their lives.
“This is a serious tragedy, not only for our family, but for Ogun State, Nigeria, and the world at large. We are deeply saddened that two people very close to Anthony did not survive. Our hearts are with their families.”
Mr Adedamola, who expressed gratitude to God for sparing the life of their son and the driver, also urged authorities to allow limited family access to see Joshua, noting that the family remains eager but respectful of security and medical protocols.
Joshua came within inches of death in the back seat of a Lexus SUV when it crashed into a stationary truck(Image: X)
He spoke out after pals of Joshua admitted they fear the Olympic gold medallist may never be the same following the crash.
His physical injuries are less serious than first feared after Monday’s horror crash, but friends say he could struggle to overcome the psychological trauma of the crash.
And there are concerns he may not feel able to carry on with his career without strength and-conditioning coach Sina and personal trainer Latif.
Lindsey Jacobs was among dozens of mourners who yesterday left flowers and written tributes to Sina at a gym he owned in Colindale, North West London.
Joshua, known to millions as AJ, had been seen there with him on Saturday, just hours before they flew to Nigeria.
Caterer Lindsey, whose daughter counts the trio as friends, said: “How AJ is going to cope without them I don’t know. I don’t think he can go on without his two best mates.
“They were best friends. Like family. The three of them were inseparable. They went everywhere together. He relied on them for everything. I don’t think he’s going to cope with this. It’s like both his arms have been cut off.”
The boxing star is being treated at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, where he is expected to stay until the New Year(Image: AP)
Well-wishers from the boxing world, including rival Tyson Fury, have been among those to send him messages of support.
Fury, 37, whose proposed £100million super-fight with Joshua later this year is now in doubt, added: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”
The Gypsy King’s dad John, 60, said: “AJ you’ve got a guardian angel my friend. God has his arms wrapped around you.”
Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly spoke with both Joshua and his mother Yeta by phone in hospital, during which he conveyed his “sympathies and condolences”.
Joshua, who has Nigerian heritage, came within inches of death in the back seat of the Lexus SUV when it crashed into a stationary truck at around lunchtime on Monday. Police are probing claims a tyre blowout, caused by excessive speed during overtaking, may have been to blame for the smash.
Sina and Latif, who were sitting on the same side of the Lexus, are believed to have died instantly. It is understood Joshua was seated behind the driver, along with another passenger, when the crash occurred.
Joshua pictured with his close pals Latif Ayodele (left) and Sina Ghami (right)
Joshua’s injuries have been described as “minor” after some initial reports that they were more serious.
According to reports in Nigeria, he was taken to hospital sitting up in a police truck as no mother, ambulances were available, having earlier been hauled from the mangled car and taken past the bodies of his pals.
Sina and Latif, known as Latz, were on holiday with Joshua when the crash happened.
They are believed to have also been alongside him in Miami on December 19, when he successfully knocked out YouTuber Jake Paul, 28, in a £70million bout.
Speaking about AJ, Lindsey, from Edgware, North London, added: “I think he’ll retire. I don’t think he can possibly go on without them. I may be mistaken, but let’s just hope he’s OK physically and mentally.”
Lindsey first found out about the crash through her daughter, who is distraught after videos circulated online of her friends in the aftermath of the accident.
She said: “I’ve seen the videos of AJ getting out the car and somebody posted another one which my daughter told them to take down.
Lindsey Jacobs looked at tributes outside the Evolve gym in Colindale, north west London, which had been owned by Sina Ghami(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
“It’s disrespectful to the family. It’s not necessary for any of us to see it. I want to remember Sina the way I always knew him – bright, vibrant, funny, generous of heart. I don’t want to see anything else.”
Boxing coach Andrew Afshar, 38, from Colindale, first met Sina, 36, when they played football together. He said: “I’m still in shock.
He had everything in front of him.” Asked what effect he thinks the tragedy will have on Joshua, he said: “I don’t think he’ll be back – I don’t think it’s possible.
“It could happen, but to watch two of your friends die, it’s going to be a lot to come back from. It’s a big loss to the boxing community as well because we all come from nothing and we’re all just trying to make better lives for ourselves and then within half a second it’s over.”
Waheed Moneni, 40, put down a bouquet of flowers with his 10-year-old son Malik, who he said was able to carry out his dream of meeting AJ thanks to Sina. Speaking about Joshua, he said: “I hope he’s doing well and I wish him a quick recovery.”
Waheed Moneni and his ten-year-old son Malik were also among those who left tributes outside the Evolve gym(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Sina was a key figure in Joshua’s corner during several landmark bouts, including his 2017 victory over Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.
Later that year, he co-founded Evolve Gym. Latif was a non-League footballer with Aylesbury United, Tooting & Mitcham United, Hillingdon Borough, AFC Hayes, Chalfont Wasps and Northwood.
According to his Facebook profile, he attended St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth, a few miles from Joshua’s hometown of Watford.
British envoy Simon ¦ Jo¦ Field, was among those Fury & who visited Joshua in Tyson hospital following the crash, which happened on the notoriously dangerous Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The 80-mile road is one of the west African country’s deadliest routes having claimed 73 lives in the past three months and a total of 645 deaths over the past two years.
Field, who is deputy head of the Mission of the High Commission, also reportedly held discussions with Ogun state governor Dapo Abiodun and his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as officials continue to monitor developments surrounding the incident.
Abiodun said: “We are comfortable with the doctors and the quality of care at the hospital and we appreciate the medical team for their professionalism. This immense tragedy has cast a deep shadow.”
WORLD NEWS
Ex-Australia batter Damien Martyn in induced coma after contracting meningitis | World News
Ex-Australia batter Damien Martyn has been placed in an induced coma after contracting meningitis.
Cricket Australia confirmed that the 54-year-old sportsman, who played 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006 and won two World Cups, became unwell on Boxing Day and is being treated in a Brisbane hospital.
“I’m saddened to hear of Damien’s illness. The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and in the wider cricket community are with him at this time,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said in a statement.
His friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist added: “He is getting the best of treatment and (Martyn’s partner) Amanda and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes.”
Former Australian Football League (AFL) star Brad Hardie, speaking on his radio show with Perth’s 6PR station, told listeners that Martyn was receiving treatment at a Queensland hospital.
He said: “I’d like everybody to have their best wishes and positive thoughts for Marto. Let’s hope he can pull through, because it’s really serious.”
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Darren Lehmann, the Northamptonshire head coach and former teammate of Martyn, sent “lots of love and prayers” via X.
He added: “Keep strong and fighting legend. Love to the family xxx.”
Read more from Sky News:
Anthony Joshua was ‘shocked’ and ‘couldn’t talk’ after crash
Martyn, who represented Yorkshire as an overseas player in 2003, posted on X on Christmas Eve looking ahead to the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.
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He wrote: “If the old brigade could play again then this would be it. Boxing Day Test match. What a cauldron.”
Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 saw its third year of double-digit gains, while non-US stocks registered their best run since 2009.
Published On 31 Dec 2025
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Stock markets had a stellar run in 2025.
From North America to Europe and Asia, markets racked up some of the biggest gains in years.
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While Wall Street achieved a third straight year of heady returns, non-US stocks did even better as investors sought out alternative markets amid the tumult wrought by United States President Donald Trump’s shake-up of global trade.
The globally-focused MSCI ACWI Ex-US index had its strongest performance since 2009, when the global financial crisis was in full swing.
The index, which tracks non-US stocks in more than 40 markets, was on Wednesday on track to finish 2025 up about 30 percent, compared with the nearly 18 percent return of the benchmark S&P 500.
The bullish streak marks a break from the decade-plus trend of US stocks dominating global indexes.
Analysts have attributed the standout performance by non-US markets to uncertainty caused by Trump, concerns about the sky-high valuations of Silicon Valley tech firms, artificial intelligence (AI) advances in China and the weakness of the US dollar, among other factors.
“International stocks could be poised for another strong year as earnings and economic growth are expected to accelerate and stocks are attractively valued compared with stocks in the S&P 500 index,” Charles Schwab analyst Michelle Gibley said in a note earlier this month.
Asia saw some of the biggest gains.
South Korea, long among the weakest developed markets despite being home to corporate giants Samsung and Hyundai, topped the global rankings, with its KOSPI finishing up nearly 76 percent.
SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics led the gains, rising some 280 percent and 125 percent, respectively, on the back of strong demand for their chips used in AI.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ended the year nearly 31 percent higher, while the SSE Composite Index in Shanghai was up more than 21 percent.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was up about 28 percent.
Europe also finished strong.
The FTSE 100 in London and DAX 40 in Frankfurt were both heading into 2026 up more than 20 percent.
WORLD NEWS
‘It’s not a hen party hellscape’: Dublin’s Temple Bar strives to shake off its bad reputation | Ireland
When Ireland redeveloped a swathe of central Dublin in the 1990s, the idea was to create a version of Paris’s Left Bank, a cultural quarter of cobbled lanes, art and urban renewal.
Planners and architects transformed the run-down Temple Bar site by the River Liffey into an ambitious experiment that drew throngs of visitors and won awards.
Three decades later, there are some withering verdicts on what happened next.
“It seems that Temple Bar is becoming a violent post-apocalyptic place,” a judge said last year after sentencing a man who bludgeoned a victim with a can of cider. “It’s shocking to see it, that people can’t be safe down there. It makes it a no-go area for people.”
Frank McDonald, who writes about urban planning for the Irish Times, recalled how he moved into the area in 1995, full of optimism, but fled in 2022 amid hordes of pub-crawlers and thumping nightclub music. “I feared that our home would become uninhabitable,” he wrote in July.
Gardaí enforcing coronavirus restrictions in Temple Bar in 2021. Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock
Since then, there have been more grim headlines, including the alleged mugging of a visiting NFL quarterback and an assault on an English tourist who later died. A study of online reviews rated Temple Bar the world’s third biggest tourist trap, reinforcing the perception of a raucous, brawling district best left to stag parties.
It adds up to a crushing indictment of the original vision: instead of art and culture, crime and overpriced Guinness.
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There is, however, an alternative view that Temple Bar is a victim of outdated stereotyping and that a renaissance is under way, making the area a vibrant and a worthy home for organisations such as the Irish Film Institute, Project Arts Centre, Smock Alley Theatre and Graphic Studio Gallery.
“It is Dublin’s cultural quarter,” said Martin Harte, the chief executive officer of the Temple Bar Company, a business association. “The era of massive drinking – it’s not that now. Temple Bar is an entirely different place. It’s the front room of Dublin city.”
Martin Harte, CEO of the Temple Bar Company, says the era of ‘massive drinking’ is over and the area is ‘the front room of Dublin city’. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
Violent incidents garnered publicity but set against an annualised footfall of 24m visits they were very rare, said Harte. “To say Temple Bar is unsafe is not accurate. Walk around, it has everything from small art galleries to coffee shops, tattoo parlours, vintage clothes shops, hotels. It’s where people come, it gives it that electricity.”
Tom Roo, 39, and Heather Mitchell, 28, a couple from Leeds, agreed. “I was expecting young lads and drinking everywhere but it’s really nice to walk around, it’s relaxed,” said Roo. Mitchell found the pubs picturesque – more so even than their images on Instagram.
Tom Roo and Heather Mitchell, visitors from Leeds. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
In the 1980s, much of this web of lanes and streets was derelict and due to become a bus terminus. Instead, in 1991 the government decided to channel Dublin’s year as European city of culture into a showcase project driven by a state agency and tax incentives. Renovated historic buildings and new contemporary structures and art installations created a landmark in urban renewal.
The decade also brought cheap flights, laddish culture and superpubs that turned Temple Bar into a boozing destination. “That’s where it got its initial stripes, its brand,” said Harte. “You had to queue behind 30, 40 people to get in anywhere to have a drink.”
The supposed culture hub was nicknamed the Temple of Bars and likened to Ibiza. Bacchanalia continued through the 2008 economic crash and prompted another judge – ruling in a 2017 assault case – to brand Temple Bar a vomit-splattered “disgrace to Ireland”.
The Covid pandemic brought more challenges. Gangs marauded through under-policed streets, stealing and vandalising. “All the zombies came out,” said Ángel Luis González, director of PhotoIreland, which runs exhibitions and a bookshop called The Library Project.
Ángel Luis González in The Library Project. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
However, improved policing has restored safety, confidence and an eclectic vibe, said González, echoing a widespread view among stakeholders. People who come to take selfies outside famous pubs end up visiting galleries and discovering artists.
John Cullen, who runs a jewellery shop and stall in a refurbished square, said the outdoor market drew in families with children. “It civilises the place.”
John Cullen at his jewellery and accessories stall in Temple Bar. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
Pubs such as the Palace, Gogarty’s and the Norseman still drew big crowds but the number of late night licences – which allow venues to serve alcohol until 3am – had plunged from 25 to seven and fine dining was making inroads, said Harte. “Every single pub now serves food. People are still drinking but nowhere near at the old levels.”
Will Wollen, who moved to Temple Bar two years ago to run the Gaiety School of Acting, said the area’s reputation for excess was unfair. “There is an energy but it’s not a hen party hellscape. It’s a pub culture with warmth and friendliness.”
Stephen Kennedy, who runs the Copper and Straw cafe and chairs the Aston Quay and Temple Bar Business and Residents’ Alliance, said there were plans for more street art, seating, lighting and perhaps an outdoor cinema. “I would tell any tourist coming to Dublin that Temple Bar is a must.”
Other Dubliners, in contrast, urge visitors to steer clear unless they like crowds, price gouging and ersatz Irishness. Critics also accuse platforms such as Airbnb of driving up rents and driving out people.
Londoners Tom Salter, left, and Ben Early at a pub in Temple Bar. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
Perry Share, a sociologist and co-editor of a book on Irish pubs, said Temple Bar was a “pub theme park” that offered a degree of authenticity. “Tourists come to replicate an Irish pub experience they have perhaps seen online. The music and drink is essential to that.”
A vox pop of early evening drinkers last week yielded toasts to Temple Bar. “TikTok said it was too touristy but the buzz is great,” said Tom Salter, 22, from London. Dave Howard, from Derbyshire, had a caveat. “It can be quite fun watching a stag party. But not for the locals, obviously.”
Guinea’s junta chief Gen Mamady Doumbouya has won the presidential election by a landslide, getting 86.7% of the vote, according to provisional results published by the election commission.
The general is hoping to legitimise his rule after seizing power in a coup in 2021.
A civil society group calling for the return of civilian rule earlier condemned the election as a “charade” after Gen Doumbouya’s main rivals were barred from contesting, while opposition candidates said the poll was marred by irregularities.
On Monday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that access to social media platforms TikTok, YouTube and Facebook had been restricted as Guineans waited for the full results.
There has been no official comment on the restrictions, but opponents see it as an attempt by the junta to stifle criticism of the results.
The 41-year-old general’s victory gives him a seven-year mandate. Should the results be challenged, the Supreme Court has eight days to validate them.
Opposition candidate Faya Millimono said on Monday that the election was marred by “systematic fraudulent practices”, citing the expulsion of poll observers, ballot stuffing and intimidation.
The ruling party and the government have yet to comment on the complaints.
After overthrowing then-83-year-old President Alpha Condé in 2021, Gen Doumbouya promised not to seek election and to hand power to a civilian.
“Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything… As soldiers, we value our word very much,” he said at the time.
The junta leader broke his promise by putting his name on the ballot after a new constitution, implemented in September, permitted him to run for office.
Djenabou Toure, the country’s top election official who announced the provisional results, put the voter turnout at more than 80%.
However, a civil society group, the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution, said in a statement on Monday that the turnout was low.
“A huge majority of Guineans chose to boycott the electoral charade,” the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Eight other candidates took part in Sunday’s election, but with the exclusion of main opposition parties RPG Arc en Ciel and UFDG, none of the participants have a solid political footing.
Although he is popular with many of Guinea’s youth, Gen Doumbouya has been criticised for restricting opposition activities, banning protests and stifling press freedom in the run-up to the elections.
The general justified deposing Condé on similar charges – including rampant corruption, disregard for human rights and economic mismanagement.
Guinea has the world’s largest bauxite reserves and some of its richest iron ore. Last month, authorities launched the gigantic Simandou iron-ore mine to widespread anticipation.
However, over half of the population lives in poverty, according to World Bank figures.
12/31/2025December 31, 2025
Pacific to usher in New Year with fireworks and reflection
The Pacific will be the first — and last — part of the world to welcome the New Year, with fireworks and public gatherings planned across several countries.
Kiribati’s largest island, Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island), is the first inhabited place to enter the New Year, but with only about 5,000 people, it is not planning major events. Meanwhile, American Samoa will be the last to welcome in 2026.
Samoa and Tonga are set to follow Kiritimati an hour later, with church bells, community celebrations and fireworks planned.
As one of the first major cities to ring in 2026, landmarks in New Zealand’s Auckland are due to light up, with images of “special moments” from 2025 submitted by the public projected onto the Sky Tower.
A light and sound show on the Auckland Harbour Bridge is set to count down to midnight before fireworks launch from the Sky Tower at 1100 GMT Wednesday.
New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, is also planning fireworks and live music at its inner-city lagoon.
Some people in Sydney, Australia, camped out to secure a prime spot overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, where the fireworks display would take placeImage: Hollie Adams/REUTERS
Sydney, two hours behind New Zealand, is expected to draw global attention with celebrations at its iconic harbor. More than 1 million people are expected to attend as over 9 tons of fireworks are launched during the night.
Parties will pause for a minute of silence at 11 p.m. (1200 GMT) as the famed Sydney Harbour Bridge is bathed in white light to symbolise peace after a mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach killed 15 people.
Fireworks displays are also planned in other Australian cities, including Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
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A train driver has been killed and at least 40 others injured after two trains collided head-on on railway tracks leading to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru.
The collision happened on the single track leading to the historical site, which links Ollantaytambo Station and Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu.
At least 20 of the the injured are said to be in a serious condition according to health officials. Police said foreign tourists were involved, however the names of those affected have not been released. The US embassy in Peru confirmed American citizens were injured.
Over 20 ambulances were called to the incident, according to a local government statement on Tuesday.
Hundreds of tourists were left stranded after railway services to the nearby city of Cuzco were suspended in the aftermath of the crash, local media reported.
The two trains were operated by two separate railway companies, PeruRail and Inca Rail. In a statement, PeruRail said: “We deeply regret what has happened.” The company said that its staff provided first aid to the driver “immediately” and supported passengers affected.
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A head-on collision in Peru has killed one person and injured at least 40 (AFP/Getty)
Journeys between the stations – in a region notorious for difficult transport links – take approximately 90 minutes.
The 15th century archaeological site known for its ancient stone structures, is located high in the Peruvian Andes and draws around 1.5 million visitors per year. Most of the visitors arrive by train to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes, but it can also be reached by a four-day journey on foot from the small town of Ollantaytambo.
The crash occurred near Qoriwayrachina, which is itself an archaeological location associated with the ancient Inca civilisation.
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View of the Machu Picchu complex, the Inca fortress enclaved in the southeastern Andes of Peru (AFP/Getty)
Considered one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, the number of people visiting Machu Picchu has increased by around 25 per cent.
However, the site is the subject of widespread controversy and political turmoil over how it is managed.
In September this year, over 900 tourists were stranded after their PeruRail passenger train was suspended due to a demonstration over transport concessions.
Residents blocked the route with rocks and logs in a clash with the authorities over the operation of bus companies, claiming a lack of transparency and fairness in the process of replacing tourist bus operator Consettur after its concession expired.
NEED TO KNOW
- A woman shared on Mumsnet that she’s “sad” because her sister didn’t ask her to be a bridesmaid over worries she won’t lose her “baby weight” in time for the wedding
- The bride’s sister will be 10 months postpartum at the time of the ceremony
- Fellow Mumsnet users commented that being excluded from the wedding party might be a “blessing” in disguise
A bride’s decision to exclude her older sister as a bridesmaid over weight concerns has resulted in a heavy emotional toll.
In a new post on the internet community forum Mumsnet, the bride’s sister asked users whether or not she’s being “unreasonable” for feeling “sad” that she’s being left out of the wedding party because she might not lose the weight she’s gained during her pregnancy in time.
“She said that she is worried that I won’t have lost my baby weight by the date of her wedding,” wrote the woman, who is currently 13 weeks pregnant but will be 10 months postpartum at the time of the ceremony.
Upset bridesmaid (stock photo).
Getty
The woman explained that the bride also argued that because she will be focusing on caring for her three children at the nuptials, she “won’t have the time” to fulfill her bridesmaid duties, which she says requires making “her the center of attention.” The expectant mother agreed this is “an excellent point” because her children “are very important,” but she still can’t help but take the bridesmaid role exclusion personally.
“I feel so bad about this,” she said.
To make matters worse, the news was delivered on Christmas Day. Learning that five friends were asked to be bridesmaids while she was not, was especially hurtful she said.
The woman explained that she “romanticized” the idea in her head because her sister was one of her bridesmaids and she “would have loved to be hers.”
Fellow Mumsnet users commented that the bride is being “unreasonable” and many individuals said that the bride’s reasoning for leaving her sister out of the wedding party is “mean.”
Pregnant woman holding a bouquet (stock photo).
Getty
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Several people commented that not being asked to be a bridesmaid might be a “blessing” in disguise because the woman now doesn’t have to “fawn around” someone who seems “incredibly self-centered” and “shallow.”
“Sounds like there’s a bridezilla on the way. Just be grateful it won’t include you,” one person commented, with another agreeing, “Dodged a bullet there I reckon.”
WORLD NEWS
Queen Camilla chilling reveals having to ‘fight off’ sex attacker on train as a teenager and says the incident left her ‘furious’ in moving broadcast with BBC racing commentator John Hunt
Queen Camilla has spoken for the first time about how she fought off a sex attacker on a train when she was just a teenager.
The King’s wife chose to address the issue publicly with BBC racing commentator John Hunt, whose wife and two daughters were brutally murdered last year, as part of a wider conversation about women, violence and misogyny on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.
The Queen said she was left ‘so angry’ and ‘furious’ after the attack which took place during a journey to meet her mother when she was 16 or 17 years old.
She explained that while she had ‘sort of forgotten’ about her ordeal, she was encouraged to speak up after hearing about the courage of Mr Hunt and his eldest daughter Amy.
‘I remember something that had been lurking in the back of my brain for a very long time,’ the Queen said. ‘That, when I was a teenager, I was attacked on a train… I remember at the time being so angry.’
Camilla explained during the panel discussion, that was guest edited by former Prime Minister Baroness Teresa May, how she ‘fought back’ against the sex pest.
She said: ‘Somebody I didn’t know. I was reading my book, and you know, this boy, man, attacked me, and I did fight back.
Queen Camilla has spoken for the first time about her ordeal as a young victim of indecent assault in a moving radio broadcast
The Queen previously recorded a radio broadcast with BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy, whose family were murdered at their home
Pictured: Carol, John, Amy, Louise and Hannah Hunt
‘And I remember getting off the train and my mother looking at me and saying, “Why is your hair standing on end”, and “Why is the button missing from your coat”.
‘But I remember anger, and I was so furious about it, and it’s sort of lurked for many years.
‘And I think, you know, when all the subject about domestic abuse came up, and suddenly you hear a story like John and Amy’s, it’s something that I feel very strongly about.’
The Queen has campaigned for more than a decade on the issue of sexual violence against women and domestic abuse, making it a cornerstone of her public work.
This morning she praised the courage of the Hunt family, saying: ‘I’d just like to say, wherever your family is now, they’d be so proud of you both.
‘And they must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister.
‘They’d just be so proud of you both.’
And after hearing Camilla’s story, Amy Hunt told her: ‘Thank you for sharing that, Your Majesty. It takes a lot to share these things because every woman has a story.’
The Queen’s sex attack ordeal was first reported earlier this year in a book titled Power and the Palace by journalist Valentine Low.
It emerged that the royal had fought off a sex pest on a train as a teenager by hitting him in the groin with her shoe before reporting it to police. The man was arrested.
Low said Her Majesty had confided in former London Mayor Boris Johnson about the incident during a private meeting at Clarence House in 2008 to discuss her opening a new women’s refuge.
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle on December 3
John Hunt (pictured with Carol) and his surviving daughter, Amy, were invited by the Queen to Clarence House in November to discuss issues around women and violence
He told his former communications director, Guto Harri, who many years later recalled it to Low.
While Camilla, 78, had never intended for the story ever to be made public – and indeed would have been guaranteed lifetime anonymity as a victim of a sex crime – a palace source responded saying her attitude was that: ‘If some good comes of this publication, which is that the wider issues are discussed, it de-stigmatises the whole topic and empowers girls today to take action and seek help, and to talk about it, then that’s a good outcome.’
Louise Hunt, 25, and her sister Hannah, 28, were murdered alongside their mother Carol, 61, by Louise’s ex-partner Kyle Clifford – who had armed himself with both a crossbow and a knife – at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last year.
Clifford, 27, was sentenced to a whole life order in March, after pleading guilty to the murders and receiving a further conviction for raping Louise, which he had denied and in doing so forced her family to sit through days of distressing evidence.
It was described as a brutal and cowardly attack motivated by ‘self pity’ by spineless and controlling man who couldn’t handle even Louise’s kind and gentle attempts to split up with him.
After his murderous attack Clifford went on the run and tried unsuccessfully to kill himself when the police caught up with him.
John Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy, were invited by the Queen to Clarence House in November to discuss issues around women and violence with Today host Emma Barnett.
It is understood that Camilla is particularly keen to lend her support to calls for more education in schools to counter misogyny.
Today’s broadcast comes ahead of a fundraising gala for a new Hunt Family Fund, set up in memory of Carol, Louise and Hannah, which will take place on Thursday evening to support causes that that help and inspire young women.
Speaking of the Queen’s decision to take part in the broadcast, a senior royal aide stressed that she had previously chosen not to talk about her experience as she has always wanted the focus of her work championing the victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence to be on the stories of other women.
‘While it is not a situation of her choosing, now that it has been put in the public domain she decided to talk about it with John and Amy in the particular context of misogyny and the patterns of behaviour that lead to it,’ they said.
‘Her Majesty is keen not for the specifics of her case to be trawled over and it is important to stress that it is not what has inspired her work in this field. Nor has not been a lifelong stigma or shame that she has carried with her.
‘However it has given her perspective and some understanding of the issues involved around violence against women and formed a [natural] part of their conversation focusing on calling out patterns of behaviour during an incredibly emotive meeting.’
The Tories have been branded ‘pathetic’ after attempting to defend one of their frontbenchers acting as a lawyer for Russian oligarch and former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich sold Chelsea football club in 2022 after he was sanctioned by the UK over his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Tories have been branded “pathetic” after attempting to defend one of their frontbenchers acting as a lawyer for Russian oligarch and former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Justice minister Jake Richards savaged the Conservative party and said shadow attorney general David Wolfson’s role in Abramovich’s legal battle was a “clear conflict of interest”.
He said Kemi Badenoch’s “desperate defence” of the issue showed her opinion and leadership is “really weak”. And he said Lord Wolfson should step down from his shadow cabinet role if he continues to represent Abramovich. It comes after the Tories branded Labour’s attack “pure politics”.
It emerged earlier this week that Lord Wolfson has been instructed in Abramovich’s legal battle with the Jersey government, which is probing the source of more than £5.3billion in assets linked to him which are held there.
Separately, the Government is pursuing former Chelsea owner Abramovich for more than £2.5billion, which would be used to benefit the people of Ukraine.
READ MORE: Fury as top Tory gives Roman Abramovich legal support amid Ukraine ultimatum
Lord Wolfson has been instructed in Roman Abramovich’s legal battle with the Jersey government(Image: PA)
Earlier this month, Keir Starmer issued an ultimatum to the billionaire – warning he would face legal action if he does not cough up £2.5billion from the sale of the Chelsea club to help Ukraine. But it is understood Abramovich has argued the transfer of assets to benefit Ukraine cannot happen until proceedings in Jersey have concluded.
Mr Richards, who on Monday night sent a letter to Ms Badenoch demanding answers, said he agrees with Lord Wolfson’s previous comments that a surgeon should not be judged by their patients, nor a lawyer by their clients. But he said the issue is not about him representing Abramovich, per se, but that he is doing so while advising Ms Badenoch on the Tories’ Russia-Ukraine position.
“Picture the scene. There’s a Shadow Cabinet meeting, Kemi Badenoch asks for views about what the Conservative Party policy should be on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, on sanctioned individuals and about reclaiming some of these assets,” Mr Richards told Times Radio.
“She goes around the room, and at the same time, Lord Wolfson is getting paid by Roman Abramovich to represent his interest in litigation on this very subject. There could not be a clearer conflict of interest.
Justice minister Jake Richards said Kemi Badenoch had shown ‘weak’ leadership on the issue(Image: TIM ANDERSON)
“The fact that they are trying to desperately defend this position very late at night, yesterday evening, sending me a response to my letter, which didn’t answer any of the questions, by the way, shows just how pathetic their position is on this. And actually it shows Kemi Badenoch’s opinion and leadership is really weak.”
Asked whether Lord Wolfson – who is not an MP but serves in the shadow cabinet as a peer – should step down as shadow attorney general, Mr Richards said: “He just has to choose one or the other. It’s perfectly reasonable for him to represent Roman Abramovich, or he can act as Shadow Attorney General, but he cannot do both… There is a clear conflict of interest. Kemi Badenoch should take action. The fact that she’s not is actually quite remarkable.”
Mr Richards also praised Boris Johnson’s position on Ukraine, saying he has an “enormous amount of respect for the amount of work and effort that he put into Ukrainian war effort”. He questioned whether the former Tory PM would think it okay for a senior member of the Conservative Party team to be getting paid by Roman Abramovich.
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The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign (USC) yesterday voiced its alarm over Lord Wolfson’s role, saying: “It is difficult to believe that a Shadow Cabinet member would take on such a case without the knowledge or approval of the party leadership .
“Are we seeing early indications that, ahead of any Trump–Putin attempt to impose an unjust peace on Ukraine, the Conservatives are preparing to return to “business as usual” with Russia? Is this laying the groundwork for a future alignment with Nigel Farage by normalising troubling attitudes of Reform UK toward Russia?”
The group called on the Government to pass emergency legislation to prevent sanctioned individuals from “exploiting the UK legal system to delay accountability”. It said: “The rights of victims of Russian aggression must come before the privileges of oligarchs.”
Abramovich sold Chelsea football club in 2022 after he was sanctioned by the UK over his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.
The money was intended for humanitarian causes linked to the Ukraine war but it remains frozen in a UK bank account due to a standoff between Mr Abramovich’s lawyers and the Government. The oligarch, who made his money in oil and gas, wants it to be used for “all victims of the war” – meaning Russians could benefit.
In a letter to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, Labour’s Mr Richards wrote: “As a paid representative of Mr Abramovich, he has a financial interest in the question of whether and when Mr Abramovich’s assets are transferred to benefit the people of Ukraine.”
He went on: “Lord Wolfson’s ability to advise you in respect of this matter is clearly compromised by the fact that he is being paid to act on behalf of Mr Abramovich. If he wants to continue to represent clients whose interests directly bear on the policies of the Government and HM Opposition that is a matter for him – but he cannot do it while serving in your Shadow Cabinet.”
“It is for him to decide, and for you to decide, which of these roles is more important.” Mr Richards also asked the Tory leader to clarify whether the Opposition was aligned with the Government position that Mr Abramovich must transfer more than £2.5 billion to benefit the people of Ukraine.
He wrote: “The cab rank rule (an ethical principle in which a barrister is required to accept any case in their field of expertise, regardless of who their client is) is an important principle which should always be respected, but it cannot remove conflicts of interest, or eliminate the responsibility of politicians to avoid such conflicts,” Mr Richards said in his letter to Mrs Badenoch.
“Lord Wolfson’s ability to advise you in respect of this matter is clearly compromised by the fact that he is being paid to act on behalf of Mr Abramovich.”
The Tories said Lord Wolfson is not instructed on the matter of Chelsea FC and branded Labour’s attack “pure politics”. A Conservative party spokesman said: “Lord Wolfson is instructed in on-going legal proceedings in Jersey. He is not instructed on the Chelsea FC matter.
“Jake Richards’ comments are pure politics, and they show Labour still does not understand how the Bar works. Barristers act for clients, not causes. And it’s a bit rich from this Government. Labour should stop throwing mud. Their own Attorney General has acted for Gerry Adams and involved himself in the Shamima Begum case. This is rank hypocrisy.
“The Conservative Party led the way on supporting Ukraine and we remain committed to their cause. To suggest anything else is just Labour sinking to new depths.”