In an African media landscape often praised from afar but punished up close, the real story of leading an independent newsroom rarely makes the headlines. People romanticise the adrenaline of the newsroom, the thrill of the scoop, the excitement of breaking news. But leadership in accountability journalism—in a country where truth does not trend—is a different story entirely. It is a story of hidden battles, bruised spirits, and a vision stretched thin by a society that prioritises entertainment gossip over existential truths.

This reflection is a continuation of my thoughts from June 3, 2025 – The Unseen Struggle of Leading a Media Platform in a Turbulent Environment.

In Nigeria, where insecurity is the biggest factor shaping daily life, the public’s attention is captured instead by comedy skits, celebrity feuds, gossip threads, political gaffes, and Premier League debates. This is the ecosystem in which independent journalism is expected to survive.

And so, every morning, I walked into the HumAngle building, feeling the weight of a mission at odds with its environment—carrying not just the hopes of nearly 40 staff members, but also the invisible pressure to prove that public-interest journalism can exist in a society that has never been structured to sustain it.

Across Africa, there is no real culture of donations, subscriptions, or even crowdfunding. Journalism is consumed as if it should be free, but demanded as if it should be perfect. Donors are inconsistent, and local philanthropy often fails to acknowledge the media as a public good. Here, running a newsroom is not merely difficult—it is punishing.

Leadership in this terrain? It is an unending battle.

The weight no one talks about

There is no handbook for running a mission-driven newsroom in Africa. No manual for balancing editorial courage with collapsing revenue. No chapter explaining the emotional labour required when staff look to you for stability, even as you drown quietly inside.

Personal and organisational debts blur. Health suffers. Nights become battlegrounds of fear and self-doubt. To the world, you remain the unshakeable face of the mission. Inside, you are a flickering candle refusing to die out.

And then comes the perpetual churn of young talent. Some join the newsroom committed; others see it as a stepping stone to something more glamorous or better-paying. Training becomes constant. Expectations clash with reality. The hunger to build a long-term institution is met with the short-term ambitions of individuals trying to survive.

These are the unseen struggles—never spoken, barely acknowledged. But none of these internal pressures compares to the most suffocating question of all: How do you keep the lights on in a continent that does not invest in the truth?

Here, many media outlets pay little or nothing, causing many workers to moonlight. The public expects reliable news for free. Donor funding becomes increasingly precarious year after year, and local businesses view journalism as little more than an expense.

Yet the expectation is always that we must remain fair, independent, ethical, and unbroken.

It is a war fought alone.

The year the floor gave in

At the start of 2025, HumAngle lost nearly 90 per cent of its income. Years of careful building felt undone in a single moment. By mid-year, we had clawed back a small fraction of that loss, but over 60 per cent of what sustained us in 2023–2024 never returned. The ground under our feet cracked open. 

I drafted a resignation letter twice. But who would I send it to? To the staff who trusted me beyond the title? To the public, would my exit be seen as a surrender? To the displaced communities whose stories depend on our presence? I stayed—not because I felt strong, but because leaving felt weaker.

And yet somehow, we built more

The cruel irony is that even in our most challenging year, we produced some of our most important work. We published roughly 450 written stories and over 70 video reports in the forms of:

• Deep investigations.
• Ground reporting from places others avoid.
• Explainers, data stories, GIS maps.
• Cartoons and motion graphics.
• VR documentaries.
• Stories of insurgency, displacement, bureaucracy, climate vulnerability, abductions, disappearances, corruption, and the human will to survive.

We created an animated series. We mapped conflict. We exposed truths hidden in plain sight. While our budget shrank, our creativity expanded and our resolve sharpened. 

In-between the nonstop cycle of proposals, investor pitches, and fundraising, I managed to write about 20 articles; one ended up HumAngle’s number one most-read story of 2025.

If leadership is measured by scars, 2025 carved its initials into my spirit.

A break in the clouds

Then, in November—when the exhaustion in my bones felt older than the year—I received the news that I had been selected as a 2026 Yale Peace Fellow.

It felt like the universe placing a hand on my back, whispering, “I see your sacrifices. Keep going.”

It was both validation and oxygen. A reminder that the mission is still worthy. For the first time in months, I exhaled.

Gratitude

To the team members who witnessed the storm’s impact on me yet never wavered in their confidence—thank you. Your presence gave me the strength to keep fighting and to ensure the wheels of HumAngle continued to turn.

And to myself, I owe a whisper of recognition:
I stood when it made no sense to stand.
I held the line when hope dimmed to a shadow.
I carried HumAngle through a year that nearly broke me.

Abandoning the communities we serve would have been a more profound betrayal than any financial strain.

This is Ahmad Salkida saying: Thank you—and I see you—to Ahmad Salkida.

Why we must continue

Our reporting led to the release of over 1,000 men who had been arbitrarily detained for years by the military. It also strengthened accountability in the management of IDP camps and contributed to several rescues as well as improved humanitarian response efforts. There is so much more that our reporting and advocacy have achieved.

If we stop, who documents the disappeared? Who tracks the terrorists expanding violently across borders? Who exposes the illicit financial networks funding terrorism? Who tells the stories of those the state has forgotten? Who protects truth in a time when truth is expendable?

Looking toward 2026

I do not know what the coming year holds. But I hope— stubbornly—that it will be kinder. Kinder to those who witness suffering so others may understand. Kinder to organisations like HumAngle that stand between injustice and oblivion. Kinder to the idea that journalism still matters.

The year 2025 almost broke us. It almost broke me. But ‘almost’ is not the same as ‘did’.

HumAngle stands—scarred, stretched, humbled—but standing. And in 2026, we continue, more determined than ever to continue to bear witness.

OUR team of intrepid showbiz reporters have brought you all the latest on the Brooklyn Beckham saga, blow by blow accounts of JoJo Siwa dumping her girlfriend for Chris Hughes and we broke the news about Danny Jones kissing Maura Higgins to name just a few astonishing showbiz scoops from 2025.

But while we’ve been filling the paper and gracing the internet with story after story, there’s actually been A LOT we haven’t told you… until now.

We may not be able to name names. but we CAN give you all the dirty secrets the stars definitely don’t want you to know… Prepare to be shocked.

A SCARY TYPE OF LOVE 

We shook our heads in disbelief when we were told all a Love Islander had a violent criminal family member.

No wonder her boyfriend was scared to dump her despite seeming completely over her as their romance hit the rocks. Once he’d heard about the jailed man’s crimes, he’d be scared to upset her.

GUILTY GIFT 

One huge reality star managed to keep the details of an explosive breakup with her ex under wraps.

It’s known that she cheated on her former flame before their split, but what remains secret is that the person she cheated with was married, and their affair sparked a very messy divorce. Worse still, the star was gifted a Rolex from her lover… which belonged to his wife.

HOT AND STEAMY

One former I’m A Celebrity star has been using the sauna at a well known private members club for their illicit hookups.

Fellow members are thought to have been shocked when they spotted him, but have quickly got used to his steamy antics. 

THEY’VE GOT THE SAME TYPE

These two TV stars appeared blissfully happy when they got wed but we were told they were both having it off with the same bloke before the big day.

Affairs are nothing new but it turns out these two had no idea they were copping off with the same person. When that gossip finally filters back, we expect divorce papers to be drawn up pretty fast.

MONEY TALKS

Tis the season to be jolly, but we can reveal a well known BBC star turned into a real life Grinch after attending an Uber Xmas party where guests were given one box containing an uber code.

After making full use of the free bar this person proceeded to nab the lot and hastily open them all in the lift…

NOT SURE PICTURE PERFECT

Our jaws hit the floor when we were told all about the well-loved female BBC star who showed an explicit and unwanted picture of a penis to a junior member of staff.

The woman, who ranked among the Corporation’s top 50 highest paid this year, asked the junior member of staff about her preferences and then showed her a nude image on her mobile phone.

But her actions were considered so offensive that the female talent was called in by execs and asked to apologise.

PARTY POOPER

It’s not just celebs who haven’t been on their best behaviour this year. The father of one very well-known bride caused a scene at her wedding by getting smashed and being inappropriate with female guests.

He spent the rest of the next day hungover and phoning round everyone apologising. 

REALITY BITES

One reality star was shouting from the roof tops when she got a new man this year.

But when the latest love of her life didn’t turn up for her birthday party, she wasted no time in hopping into bed with her ex – that very same night. And her new bloke is still none the wiser. 

TELLING TALES

Celebs will do anything to keep themselves out of the news  – like the TV star who was caught getting up to no good in the toilet. Let’s just say she looked a little too familiar with a little bag of white stuff.

She begged for her secret to be kept hidden and offered up some scandal on another star, one of her pals, instead. No wonder they say keep your enemies closer. 

This seaside town has been crowned the UK’s chip shop capital after research found the seaside town has 93 fish and chip shops – the highest concentration per capita in Britain

Locals in this coastal resort understand perfectly what it’s like having an excellent chippy right on their doorstep – because they’re literally scattered everywhere.

Following thorough analysis by Suomikasinot, researchers identified Britain’s chip shop capital by calculating the number of outlets per 10,000 inhabitants. The findings revealed that Scarborough topped the list, boasting the nation’s highest density of fish and chip shops, cementing its reputation as a must-visit location for true food enthusiasts, according to reports.

It comes as little shock that a seaside destination claimed pole position, but during the study period, Scarborough boasted a remarkable 93 fish and chip establishments. Residents enjoy an embarrassment of riches, with a fish shop on practically every street corner, and this particular feature attracts countless tourists to the region.

Taking the crown as TripAdvisor’s top-rated destination for delicious seafood is the Lifeboat Fish Bar. Frequently seen with customers queuing outside, the eatery is a traditional family-owned establishment positioned along the seafront, near the lifeboat station. One delighted diner said: “Looked on TripAdvisor for the best-rated fish and chips shop in Scarborough, and this was the one. We arrived just after it opened at 12pm and were so glad we did, as we were lucky to get a table. (People started queuing outside.)”. “The food was delicious; the light bite of fish and chips was the perfect size, and the kids’ portions weren’t far off. Great price, service and food. Will definitely go again.”

Another highly regarded spot is Catch 55, which operates as both a restaurant and takeaway, featuring prominently among the town’s top fish and chip establishments. A recent diner commented: “Friendly welcome to the restaurant; immensely enjoyed our fish and chips and local beers. The homemade tartare sauce was delicious, accompanied by haddock cooked to perfection. The restaurant being clean and tidy made this a pleasurable experience – thank you we will be back!”.

Beyond its excellent selection of chip shops, Scarborough boasts plenty of attractions for those seeking a coastal getaway. The beach alone is a major draw for UK holidaymakers wanting to enjoy some sunshine, and rightly so – its vast sandy shoreline provides stunning vistas.

These impressive views can also be appreciated from the Observation Ferris wheel. The 105ft tall attraction is complemented by an 18-hole mini golf course, ideal for families seeking entertainment before tucking into fish and chips. One visitor described their beach experience, stating: “Lovely beach in a traditional old English seaside town. Clean sand and all facilities close by – bars, chip shops, amusements, toilets, seaside stuff, etc. Very picturesque and photogenic place.”

Coming in second as the most densely populated fish and chip hotspot was East Lindsay, home to beloved seaside resorts like Skegness and Mablethorpe. This district boasts 89 chippies in total, roughly translating to one for every two miles of its coastline. Following closely behind is another coastal gem, the ever-popular Blackpool, securing a spot in the top three with a total of 84 chip shops. The research revealed that the majority of these prime locations are coastal towns, offering fresh fish to numerous establishments.

However, inland areas such as Rossendale and Burnley also made the list.

Terrorism and the Middle East are continuing to roil the Republican Senate contest after a letter written by former congressman Tom Campbell emerged that appeared to contradict statements Campbell and his aides had made about his dealings with a radical Muslim professor.

The professor, Sami Al-Arian, contributed to Campbell’s unsuccessful campaign in 2000 for the U.S. Senate. On Sept. 26, 2001, when he was teaching at the University of South Florida, Al-Arian gave an interview to Fox TV host Bill O’Reilly in which he conceded that he had said, “Jihad is our path. Victory to Islam. Death to Israel. Revolution. Revolution until victory. Rolling to Jerusalem.”

Those statements quickly generated a furor and the university moved to discipline Al-Arian. Campbell, by then a law professor at Stanford University, wrote a letter to Judy Genshaft, the president of the University of South Florida, protesting any punishment.

Campbell had previously conceded that he wrote a letter on Al-Arian’s behalf, but had said during a candidates’ debate Friday that he did so before Al-Arian’s interview with O’Reilly. His campaign’s website also said the letter was written before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The text of the letter showed otherwise. Dated Jan. 21, 2002, it said, “ . . . I respectfully wish to convey my sincere alarm that Professor Al-Arian may be treated harshly because of the substance of his views.”

Campbell went on to write that “I have formed this fear because of the paucity of evidence supporting the purported reasons for this discipline against him. I read a transcript of the ‘O’Reilly Factor’ interview last autumn, and I did not see anything whereby Professor Al-Arian attempted to claim he was representing the views of the University of South Florida.”

Carly Fiorina, one of Campbell’s opponents in the primary race, called on him to release the letter last week. The text of the letter was first disclosed by the website of the Investigative Project on Terrorism. Campbell’s aides, who had said the candidate no longer had a copy of the original letter, then posted a link to it on the campaign website.

On Monday, Campbell said in an interview that despite the language of his letter, he had never read the full transcript of the O’Reilly interview, specifically the “Death to Israel” language. If he had seen it, he said, he never would have written the letter.

“That’s too zealous,” he said. “Unacceptable. Calling for death to a country or individual is unacceptable.”

Campbell has previously said that Al-Arian never contributed to his 2000 Senate campaign; Campbell later admitted that he had.

In 2006, Al-Arian pleaded guilty to providing aid to a terrorist group.

Campbell spokesman James Fisfis said the candidate’s memory of his dealings with Al-Arian is foggy because he did not have an original copy of the letter and because the events occurred nearly a decade ago.

“It was a long time ago,” Fisfis said. “We’re trying to piece together everything about that time period.”

A spokesman for one of Campbell’s rivals, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine), said the letter is the latest in a troubling pattern.

“Whether it’s absent-mindedness or deception — the only person who knows that for sure is Tom Campbell — there’s a pattern of inaccuracy whenever Tom Campbell ventures into these subjects,” Joshua Trevino said.

“We have to double-check everything he says about his past associations with these radicals because we can’t trust him to give us the whole truth.”

The disclosures came as Campbell and Fiorina filed the paperwork Monday to make their candidacies official. DeVore planned to file his paperwork Wednesday. The winner of the primary will face three-term Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

seema.mehta@latimes.com

Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and the Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-best five games Tuesday night with a 131-90 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

James Harden had 21 points while John Collins and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser each added 16 for the Clippers, who have found a successful formula after not winning more than two consecutive games before their current run of success began.

Leonard’s productive night came after he scored a career-best 55 points in a victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. He has averaged 37.8 points over the past five games.

The Clippers’ win streak started on the same night center Ivica Zubac went down with a left ankle sprain. Zubac has not played in any of the past four games.

Nique Clifford scored 18 points while Maxime Raynaud and Russell Westbrook each had 12 for the Kings, who fell to 3-12 since Nov. 26. Raynaud also grabbed 12 rebounds, but Sacramento lost its fifth consecutive road game.

Westbrook added four assists and a pair of three-pointers against his former team.

The Clippers left little doubt from the start. They led 34-20 after one quarter and were up by 36 in the second before taking a 70-43 advantage into halftime. They shot 57.1% from the floor in the second quarter while scoring 39 points, with Leonard delivering 18 of them.

Leonard had 30 points through three quarters as the Clippers led 100-71 and coasted from there.

The Clippers shot 51.1% from the field overall while posting its largest margin of victory this season. Sacramento shot 41% from the floor.

The Clippers committed just four turnovers while forcing the Kings into 19 that they turned into 28 points.

Up next for the Clippers: vs. the Utah Jazz at Intuit Dome on Thursday.

Dec. 30 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Tuesday that the public can now read North Korea’s state newspaper Rodong Sinmun at 181 designated outlets without special procedures such as separate identity checks or prior applications.

Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-joong said at a briefing that visitors to institutions authorized to handle North Korean materials may view Rodong Sinmun “like any other general publication.” He said the ministry plans to broaden access to North Korea-related information so the public can independently compare and assess it.

The ministry said 181 institutions hold copies of Rodong Sinmun, with about 20 purchasing it regularly. It said anyone visiting those outlets may view the copies held there and that some procedures, including requirements tied to copying materials, have been simplified.

Rules governing the import of Rodong Sinmun into South Korea remain unchanged under customs regulations, the ministry said. Institutions not authorized to handle special materials still cannot import the paper, it said, adding it plans to discuss easing related restrictions with other agencies.

The ministry said it also plans to seek legal changes aimed at opening access to Rodong Sinmun and other North Korea-related sites online. About 60 North Korea-linked websites are currently blocked in South Korea, including Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central News Agency, it said.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young previously said the government would pursue a legal framework to expand access to North Korean materials, including broadcasts and publications. The ministry said an interagency consultative body met Dec. 26 and notified relevant agencies that Rodong Sinmun had been reclassified as general material, allowing broader public access.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

The foundation has so far raised £65,000 through, in part, events like a ball at Worcestershire’s New Road and a golf day. But Lisa and Paul have hit an obstacle. Spending the money is proving more problematic than raising it.

“I thought it would be the other way around,” says Paul. “Raising money is never easy, but how do we change people’s lives, how do we make things better for people and have success stories to tell on the back of it?

“The aim is to give something back to the sport of cricket that we cherish as a family.

“It’s not something we have the expertise in, so we’re finding out how we can divert funds into helping people, clubs, or the medical side of the game. It could be helping juniors get to matches, or helping families where finances are a barrier.”

Now, Lisa and Paul are asking anyone who can give the JB33 Foundation some direction to get in touch via the charity’s Instagram page.

“It’s something we’re very passionate about, because it means so much to us,” says Lisa. “We need to start spending and shouting about what we’re doing.”

Even while they’re in Australia, Lisa and Paul are continuing to take calls and hold meetings about the Foundation. When they get home in the new year, they want to press on with their work before the new season begins.

Before then, they will finish their Ashes trip in Sydney. On day one of the fifth Test they will once again be wearing their JB33 T-shirts, as they have on the opening day of each of the previous four.

“It hurts like hell because they have his face on the back, but it’s also beautiful,” says Lisa.

Like Melbourne, returning to Sydney will stir unbearable emotions that no parent ever should feel.

It was outside the Sydney Cricket Ground where Josh bowled during the Ashes Test of 2011, and it was in the city when Josh had his winter cricketing adventure just months before he passed away.

“He wasn’t a big Christmas person,” says Lisa. “I don’t doubt that he wouldn’t have spent a Christmas at home for a long time – he’d have been out here playing cricket.

“He loved his life. Music was a big part. Certain songs come on and I have to take a deep breath. He loved his music. He was always singing.

“Coming to Australia is very special to us now. We feel closer to him out here at Christmas than we would at home.”

It’s time to ring in the New Year and there’s no better place than celebrating with Jools Holland, Mirror man Mark Jefferies can now reveal the secrets behind the celebrations

It’s 8.47pm and I’ve only had two ­bottles of beer but I am on my feet singing and dancing along ­without a care in the world. Others are arm-in-arm or hugging and a few people look a bit teary. In this make-believe world I have entered, it’s New Year’s Eve, and it’s midnight.

I celebrated 2026 before all of you, thanks to Jools Holland and a magical night in a dazzling West London TV studio on December 10. Jools Holland’s Hootenanny is as much part of the festive calendar as soaps and the monarch’s Christmas Day speech. Tonight is the 33rd time Jools will bring in the new year for millions.

Comedian Peter Kay even wrote about it in his latest book, saying that his mum still thinks it is live. My big question before going to Versa Studios was how do they create the party atmosphere which, it turns out, is as authentic as it looks on TV.

Guests are offered drinks at a free bar (rare for the BBC) and take their seats. Later, they are given glasses of prosecco to help celebrate “midnight” – about 30 minutes after the music starts.

Jools asks us to be quiet when the artists sing and cheer as loud as possible at the end. “If you feel the urge to dance and physically move, that is marvellous. Everyone is looking very beautiful and we’ve some incredible musical guests.”

This year’s bill includes Rolling Stone guitarist Ronnie Wood, Olivia Dean, Craig David, Lulu, Jessie J, The Kooks, Heather Small, Imelda May and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards.

Executive Producer Alison Howe says the mix of musicians is important and there are several versions of the running order and set list, which change before the final version on the day.

The other key thing is people who go along let themselves believe it is New Year’s Eve. She says: “You kind of enter into a magical world where you forget about what’s happening outside the doors.”

The show is also a big deal for lots of the musicians. Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard says: “It’s quite nerve-racking but in the best way. Hootenanny’s not just another gig, it’s THE New Year’s show. Everyone’s watching, hopefully everyone’s in a good mood, and you’re part of this moment that only happens once. It’s a proper privilege to be fair.

“And knowing you’re the soundtrack to someone’s night, maybe the song they’re kissing to at midnight or dancing round the kitchen with their nan and that means a lot to me. It’s quite touching when you think about it.”

After posing for a photo with me, Jools is off and doesn’t stop for the next three hours, greeting and chatting to A-list stars. Once the recording starts, he is introducing music, playing it himself on the piano and with his band or interviewing famous faces in the crowd. The only help he gets is from whiteboards with names or directions on, so that he can navigate a giant circle of bands, singers and guests.

When the recording is over, Jools tells me: “It’s a bit like a swimming pool you just throw yourself in and it’s all right, really, once the water’s OK and you start swimming, you keep the momentum going.

“You’re trying to remember what you’re playing on piano. When that finishes, you think what happens now? That’s why they’ve got a board, so I can remember where I’ve got to go to for the next bit.”

The aim is to film it without any breaks or stops and, aside from a couple of brief moments when production requests a pause which is necessary, filming is non-stop. Jools explains: “You want the energy to keep going. So if we record it in one and then it’s like real. It was all just, bang, bang, bang.

“There’s a few little mistakes in there, but who cares? It is what it is.” A definite highlight is singing sensation Olivia Dean, who performs hits and joins Jools in a version of Natalie Cole’s 1975 debut hit This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).

He says: “Olivia Dean has gone ballistic this year. When she was on the show a couple of years ago she was playing clubs. Now she is selling out stadiums around the world, from Rio to Munich to London’s O2, and adding on nights.

“She’s a remarkable, ­unbelievable person. She likes doing stuff with us, or doing stuff for me, because she goes back to what she used to listen to when she was a kid, things like Carole King, and in this case, doing that Natalie Cole song.

“I thought it was great. The sort of thing someone might do at a Christmas party. When I was little my nan would have a Christmas party and all my uncles and aunts would sing their favourite songs, which were often the musical songs. And it’s a bit like that.”

Jools’ band is the other key element, playing with many of the artists, including new songs and cover versions they don’t usually perform when on the road.

They get a day’s rehearsal in the studios and then the other bands join them on the afternoon of the recording day, so everyone gets to soundcheck and practise their tracks.

Jools says: “There’s a lot for my band to learn, lots of music to learn, and lots of things to arrange for the horns. That’s the bit the general public doesn’t see.

“Listening to stuff in their hotel rooms, making notes, so when we go into rehearsal, and the first time it’s counted in and we play, it sounds all right. And I’m not just saying this, the band has never sounded better.”

Jools’ Annual Hootenanny, BBC2 and BBC iPlayer, tonight, 11.30pm.

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Beyond a misty veil, dawn breaks above Shetland – sort of. The days feel as if they never quite get going here at this time of year, and it’s important, as the long nights of winter drag on, to have a hobby. Here in Lerwick, the capital of the archipelago, the locals have divined a unique way of passing the time, while honouring the deep-rooted Scandinavian influences on Shetland’s culture and history.

A rattling and murmuring begins to grow, and round a corner emerges a marching horde of lusty Vikings in homemade costumes, brandishing axes and round shields, beards flowing over leather breastplates. They carry turquoise standards bearing the flag of Haraldr Óláfsson, the 13th-century king of Mann and the Isles, and sing battle songs of raven flags flying in distant lands, of blazing torches and Vikings ruling over oceans vast.

As the mob approaches, a shed door creaks open behind me, and a dragon-prowed, glacial blue longship emerges, pulled on ropes by a team dozens strong. This beautiful galley will be paraded through the streets of Lerwick today before being ritualistically set ablaze – the centrepiece of Up Helly Aa, Shetland’s riotous fire festival. As an act of ritual destruction it evokes the sand mandala, the Tibetan Buddhist practice of creating ornate cosmological artworks only to sweep them away as a metaphor for non-attachment and impermanence. “It’s a symbol of renewal,” says Lyall Gair, who has led the Up Helly Aa procession in years past and retains an impressive, Viking-worthy beard. A man standing next to us in the crowd has an alternative explanation. “There’s fuck all else to do around here all winter,” he says, shivering against the morning breeze.

After Christmas, the hootenannies, paper hats and midnight countdowns of 31 December can feel a little lame. Thankfully, Shetland offers a second bite of the cherry when it comes to seeing in the new year, with Up Helly Aa’s series of fire festivals setting the archipelago alight between January and March – timed to mark the end of the pre-Christian winter festival of Yule (others include Scalloway fire festival, also on Shetland, and Uyeasound on Unst). There are 11 festivals spread across the islands, but by far the largest and best-known is held in late January here in Lerwick, which sits on Mainland, the largest Shetland island (on 27 January in 2026).

The procession, with the galley in its wake, disappears round another corner. There will now be a lull in proceedings for the watching public, though not for the Vikings in the main procession, known as the Jarl Squad, who spend the day attending to various civic duties – a boozy brunch with local luminaries, some visits to schools and hospitals, then a lush, louche luncheon, before more processions through the streets, chanting and rattling of swords and shields, and general merriment.

I take advantage of the break in the schedule to swot up on the history of the event, meeting Jolene Garriock, a tour guide with Island Vista, at Fjarå, a cafe overlooking the ocean. “The Lerwick Up Helly Aa’s been going for over 100 years, and I’ve been going for 30,” says Jolene, who grew up on the west coast of Mainland, and now lives in the Tingwall valley, a short drive from Lerwick.

Up Helly Aa seems to have begun in the 19th century, after Shetland’s young men returned from the Napoleonic wars with frazzled minds, a low boredom threshold and a facility for pyrotechnics. They channelled their energy into tar barrelling, the practice of stuffing wooden barrels with straw and tar, setting them alight and parading them through the town. Rival “squads” of tar barrellers would often brawl in the streets, leading a wide-eyed missionary, visiting in 1824, to describe Lerwick as “in an uproar: from 12 o’clock last night until late this night blowing of horns, beating of drums, tinkling of old tin kettles, firing of guns, shouting, bawling, fiddling, fifeing, drinking, fighting”.

The chaos, Jolene says, proved too much for the authorities, who by the late 19th century had done away with the tar barrelling and replaced it with the building and burning of the galley, reshaping Up Helly Aa into a celebration of Shetland’s Nordic heritage, as well as a festival celebrating the new year and return of the light. “Hogmanay is dying in Shetland – nobody makes an effort for that any more,” she says. “Up Helly Aa is the biggest thing of the year.”

By the time I bid Jolene goodbye, it has long since gone dark; Lerwick’s streetlights have been extinguished in advance of the burning of the galley, and the streets are thronging with thousands of people. The Jarl Squad are out again, redder-eyed and sloppier than this morning after the day’s libations, but still in strong voice, and now carrying blazing torches. They’re followed by hundreds of men in fancy dress: nuns, Wombles, French maids. These are the modern incarnation of the original tar-barrelling squads, who have nowadays swapped brawling in the streets for touring venues across Lerwick on Up Helly Aa night, staging comedy skits.

The procession files into a play park in the centre of town, where the galley lies waiting, doused in paraffin. The Jarl Squad and their entourage throw their lit torches into the belly of the boat, and before long it is engulfed in flames, warming the watching crowd. As the fire dies down and the spectators file away into the warmth of the town’s afterparty venues, for a night of comedy skits and folk dancing, soup and sandwiches, and much taking of drink, I observe the smouldering wreckage. It’s almost painful to think of the energy and care that went into the galley’s creation, only for it to go up in flames – until I remember Lyall’s words to me that morning, on Up Helly Aa’s power as a vehicle for renewal. “We just build another one next year,” he had said. “We start anew.”

EUROSTAR passengers are braced for a second day of travel carnage after some holidaymakers claimed they were stranded on a train overnight.

Journeys between the UK and France were brought to a halt yesterday as a result of a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel, leaving passengers battling hours of travel chaos.

All trains from London to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels were cancelled.

The disruption upended New Year’s plans for thousands of passengers during ⁠one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

Meanwhile, a failed Le Shuttle train in the tunnel caused further disruption to services.

Some Eurostar and LeShuttle services had resumed on Tuesday evening, but delays remained, with only one of the tunnel’s two rail lines open.

And some travellers claimed they spent more than six hours stuck onboard trains overnight as services were hit by more delays.

One man claimed he had boarded the 19:01 service to Paris, but as of 3am UK time he was still stuck on the train at the entrance to the tunnel.

He said staff had told him there was a “50 per cent chance we go to Paris, 50 per cent chance we go back to London”.

“I guess my new year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now,” the 27-year-old Parisian told the BBC.

Another passenger described feeling a “rollercoaster of emotions” for hours, not knowing whether the train he was on would be able to continue across the Channel or return to London.

His train eventually made it to Brussels, he said, adding: “Glad to be home, saw many families stranded.”

Passengers have been warned that there will continue to be delays and longer journey times as a result of knock-on effects today.

On Wednesday morning, an update on Eurostar’s website said: “Services have resumed today following a power issue in the Channel Tunnel yesterday and some further issues with rail infrastructure overnight.

“We plan to run all of our services today, however due to knock-on impacts there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations.

“Please check for live updates on the status of your train on the train status and timetables page.”

London’s St Pancras International station was yesterday crammed with waiting passengers near the departure area.

Meanwhile, cars that had hoped to use the Channel Tunnel caused traffic jams near the LeShuttle Terminal in Folkestone.

At least a dozen Eurostar services between the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands had been cancelled by midday on Tuesday.

The rail operator apologised and said passengers could rearrange their plans free of charge or can cancel their booking and get a refund or an e-voucher.

On Tuesday, Eurostar has urged its customers “to rebook their journey for another day if possible, with free exchanges available”.

“We also advise customers not to come to our stations if their trains have been already been cancelled.”

NOW Christmas is over, thoughts switch to that other wallet-buster of an annual event – the summer holiday.

If you want to get your trip booked in but the bank account is looking pretty empty, there are plenty of travel companies that will let you book for next to nothing if you get booking NOW.

We’ve rounded up some of the businesses that offer Brits the chance to reserve their summer break from just a quid.

Sunshine.co.uk offers package holidays with deposits from £30 pp – and better yet, you can book hotel stays abroad with just a £1 deposit.

The final balance is due just four weeks before you travel, giving you plenty of time to get prepared with payments. And if you need to cancel your hotel booking, you’ll only lose the £1 deposit up to 2 weeks before you depart.

On the other hand, holiday companies TUI, First Choice and Expedia offer options for you to secure your holiday with a £0 deposit.

With TUI you can book a package holiday with a £0 deposit for both short haul and long haul trips. This includes your flights, transfers, accommodation and baggage allowance – all secured without spending a penny upfront.

If you book your holiday at least 6 months in advance and pay via their direct debit scheme, you’re eligible to book with £0 deposit.

First Choice have a similar scheme, offering £0 deposits for holidays booked at least 6 months in advance, as long as the flights are with TUI Airways. Or if you use their PayPal Credit payment option, the flights can be with any airline.

Lastly, Expedia‘s book now pay later option lets you book a hotel stay with no upfront costs – as you pay upon arrival at the hotel itself. Just filter your hotel search by “Reserve now, pay later” and make sure you tick the “Pay at property” option when booking.

These low and no deposit options are a stress-free way to get next year’s holidays sorted, without that initial dent in your wallet.

Whether it’s an action-packed family holiday or a romantic week away, here’s some of our top holiday picks that you can book with £1 or no deposit – so you can get something in the calendar to look forward to.

Stamos Hotel – Faliraki, Rhodes

This hotel in Faliraki on the island of Rhodes is just 10 minutes from the buzzy town centre – and 10 minutes from the beach.

It’s a typical Greek hotel with its whitewashed buildings, lush greenery and parasol-dotted poolside.

Faliraki in Rhodes is home to some beautiful coast including ‘Main beach’, which is a long sandy stretch with shallow waters that are perfect for families, as well as the quieter Kathara beach and Anthony Quinn Bay.

But the town really comes alive at night-time, as the resort is known for its nightlife scene, as its famous “Bar Street” is lined with bars and clubs pumping out pop music all night long.

Luckily, this hotel is located on the outskirts of the town – so once you’re done partying for the night you can be sure to get a good night’s sleep in peace and quiet.

Sunshine.co.uk offer 7 nights’ all-inclusive stay from £376.68 pp. Flights not included.

TUI SUNEO El Trébol – Costa Teguise, Lanzarote

Costa Teguise on the east coast of Lanzarote is an exciting resort that’s super popular with families.

It has an aquarium, Aquapark and water sports hub all in one action-packed place.

This hotel is part of TUI’S SUNEO collection of 3 and 4-star hotels that are handpicked for their affordable pricing, quality entertainment – and are often all-inclusive.

It’s also a 9-minute walk to Playa de los Charcos, a small, golden crescent of beach that’s much quieter than the nearby Playa de las Cucharas.

TUI offer 7 nights’ all inclusive stay in from £553 pp, based on 2 adults sharing. Price includes return flights from Birmingham.

Hard Rock Hotel, Marbella, Spain

If you’re looking for a party holiday, it doesn’t get much better than the Hard Rock Hotel in sunny Marbella.

The Hard Rock Hotel experience is one-of-a-kind, with live concerts, evening performances and rentable guitars and record players for your hotel room.

Food here is equally as exciting, as this hotel’s restaurants swap typical buffets for Asian fusions and Mexican flavours.

Nearby, there’s beach clubs and boat parties galore – plus your pick of multiple golf courses.

And for a day out sightseeing, wander the old city walls of Marbella castle and stroll down the Avenida del Mar to see sculptures by Salvador Dalí.

Expedia offers 7 nights’ room-only stay for £688 total, based on 2 adults sharing. Flights not included.

Hotel Rio Park – Benidorm

This hotel in buzzy Benidorm is popular for its modern interiors and glamorous entertainment programme.

There’s quizzes and aqua gym classes to keep you occupied during the day, and in the evenings you’ll catch performances from top-quality singers and dancers performing hit musical numbers.

Plus it’s a great choice for families with picky eaters.

The buffest restaurant serves up everything from roast dinners, to chicken curry, to apple crumble.

Meanwhile, the hotel sports bar shows the footie matches and pours British pints.

Hotel Rio Park is situated on a quiet road by Levante beach, a great spot to enjoy the best of Benidorm, without compromising on comfort.

TUI offers 7 nights’ half board stay from £304 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Price includes return flights from East Midlands Airport.

Grand Ideal Premium Hotel – Marmaris, Turkey

A 5-star all inclusive in Turkey for only £1 deposit and just over £500 pp? Yes please.

The Grand Ideal Premium Hotel sits in Marmaris, a resort in the Turkish Riviera known for its clear-water beaches backed by thick green forests and mountains.

This luxurious hotel has 272 spacious rooms including family suites, many overlooking the massive outdoor pool that snakes around the resort.

Spend your days on 4×4 mountainside safari tours, visiting Marmaris’ central market, or zipping down tube slides at Atlantis waterpark.

Sunshine.co.uk offers 7 nights’ all inclusive stay from £507 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Flights not included.

Corendon Playa Kemer, Antalya, Turkey

If you’re looking for a holiday with a mix of lazy beach days and outdoor adventure, this resort in Turkey’s Beldibi makes for the ideal destination.

This is the kind of place where you can stroll along soft sands, dip into ancient history, hike canyons – and still be back in time for cocktails by the pool.

The resort itself earns its popular rating with its 7 bars, 4 restaurants and 3 pools – plus its own theatre and nightclub.

Behind the beachfront resort is the Mountain of Ali, where you can hike endless pine trails to your heart’s content.

It’s also a 25-minute drive to the ancient ruins of Phaselis, a seaport with Greek and Roman history where you can still see the ancient Roman baths.

First Choice offer 7 nights’ all-inclusive stay at the Corendon Playa Kemer for £770 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Price includes return flights from London Luton.

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Orlando

If you’re dreaming of that once-in-a-lifetime Disney trip, TUI’s no-deposit and flexible payment plans make planning that big trip a whole lot easier.

The All-Star Movies accommodation in Florida‘s Walt Disney World Resort is a budget-friendly option with all the Disney magic.

As its name suggests, this place is a movie lover’s dream. Think huge Disney film themed zones, decorated with giant characters from Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians and more.

The resort also has a couple of good-sized pools, including the whimsical Fantasia Pool and the quieter Duck Pond Pool.

There’s a kids’ splash zone, a playground, a jogging trail, and even a video games arcade – plenty to keep families entertained when you’re not exploring the parks.

Rooms are simple and comfortable, with two queen beds or a king and a fold-out.

TUI offer 7 nights’ room-only stay for £975 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children sharing. Price includes flights from London Gatwick.

Coral Beach Hotel and Resort – Paphos, Cyprus

The Coral Beach Hotel in Cyprus’ Coral Bay has everything you could want from an all-inclusive resort and more.

There’s 7 restaurants and 3 bars to choose from here, including an Italian eatery and seafood tavern.

The property also has a private beach and its own harbour offering boat trips.

Plus, four tennis courts, a squash court, games room, kids activity programme and arts and crafts centre.

For day trips out, there’s the UNESCO-listed Akamas Peninsula on your doorstep to explore.

Sunshine.co.uk offers 7 nights’ all inclusive stay for £304 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Flights not included.

Ocean Dream Cancun by GuruHotel – Cancun, Mexico

This beachfront boho hotel is just steps away from soft white sands and crystal blue water in its location on the Punta Cancun – a popular resort area known for its bars and clubs.

The area has some of Mexico’s most pristine beaches, that look like they’ve walked out of the pages of a luxury magazine.

Activities include whale-watching, snorkelling and day trips to visit one of the seven wonders of the world – Chichen Itza.

Inside the hotel itself, there’s 68 air-conditioned for a pretty affordable price.

Expedia offers 7 nights’ room-only stay for £734 total, based on 2 adults. Flights not included.

Coral Sea Water World, Hurghada, Egypt

Coral Sea Water World sits on the luxurious Nabq Bay of Egypt‘s Sharm El Sheikh.

This all-inclusive resort is built for families, with an extensive entertainment programme and an on-site waterpark with 18 slides to try out.

Dining-wise you can expect a buffet that’s anything but repetitive, as the theme and food line-up change daily.

If you can bring yourself to leave the all-inclusive waterpark-come-resort, Sharm El Sheikh is an exciting resort area to explore.

There’s the King Tut Museum (which has free entry for kids up to age 11), plus the Red Sea is known for its clear waters full of colourful marine life, best seen via snorkel.

First Choice offer 7 nights’ all-inclusive stay at Coral Sea Water World from £328 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Price includes flights from Birmingham airport.

Arabian Park by Rotana Hotel, Dubai

This modern hotel in Dubai’s Al Jaddaf is a great base for exploring the city, just a short distance from Downtown Dubai and the Festival City.

Arabian Park Dubai has an outdoor pool decorated with loungers and palm trees, plus a gym and all-day dining restaurant serving international dishes.

The rooms are bright, modern and air-conditioned, with comfy beds and large windows that look out over the city skyline or pool area.

It’s a great spot to stay for sightseeing around Dubai, as the hotel offers a free shuttle service to La Mer Beach, Dubai Mall and Dubai International Airport.

Expedia offers 7 nights’ stay with breakfast for £632 total, based on one room for 2 adults. Flights not included.

Hilton Alexandria Corniche, Egypt

The Alexandria Corniche is one of Egypt’s most vibrant waterfronts – a curving promenade lined with cafés, shisha spots and seafood restaurants.

Here you’re also within easy reach of the city’s top sights, from the spectacular Library of Alexandria (20 minutes’ drive) to the centuries-old Citadel of Qaitbay (35 minutes).

Sat on this popular seafront is the Hilton Alexandria Corniche, a sleek hotel with a rooftop pool and six restaurants to keep you well fed between sightseeing.

The hotel even has its own private beach and wellness centre, where you can have a massage or relax in the hot tub after using the hotel gym.

Expedia offers 7 nights’ stay with breakfast for £631 total, based on one room for 2 adults. Flights not included.

Blue Lagoon Resort, Kos, Greece

This resort on the Greek island of Kos is ideal for families who are into waterparks.

There’s five pools here, including a kids activity pool and adults-only option – plus a waterpark with a lazy river.

The main attraction though is the lagoon-style outdoor pool, which is popular with kids and adults alike with its whirlpool baths and jets.

Once you’ve explored all the pools have to offer, there’s football, padel courts, basketball and two playgrounds for the kids to burn off the rest of their energy.

It’s also based right on the beachfront and under 10-minutes’ drive to Kos Old Town – where you can admire the historic Roman Odeon and Nerantzia Castle.

First Choice offer 7 nights’ all-inclusive stay at the Blue Lagoon Resort for £691 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Price includes return flights from London Stansted.

Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel, Ajman, UAE

For a slice of all-inclusive affordable luxury, it’s worth checking out the Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel.

The 5-star property is all glamorous marble and arches, with its own private beach.

The area of Ajman offers a more calm and gentle pace than nearby Dubai, with long sandy beaches, calm waters and laid-back vibe.

Head into the streets of Ajman to discover its charming Old Town with traditional markets, or relax on its sweeping sandy beaches.

And if you fancy a day trip to the nearby glitzy city, Dubai is a 30-minute drive away.

Expedia offers 4 nights’ all-inclusive stay at the Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel for £646 total, based on 2 adults sharing. Flights not included.

Grand Cobra, Mexico

Mexico‘s Riviera Maya blends tropical forests with beaches where warm waves gently lap over sugar-white sand – plus some really fantastic activity-packed resorts.

Set amid lush jungle and just a short shuttle ride from the beach, Bahia Principe Grand Coba is a major family holiday base.

Think vast leafy grounds, big lake-style pools, plus a waterpark and lazy river set-up that keeps kids (and grown-ups) happily entertained.

If you fancy a change of scenery, you’re within reach of some pretty coastal areas like Akumal and trendy Tulum.

There’s also a golf course nearby for those who want to trade sunbathing for practising their swing.

First Choice offer 7 nights’ all inclusive stay at the Bahia Principe Grand Coba from £995 pp, based on 2 adults sharing. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick.

Monica Isabel Beach Club Aparthotel, Albufeira, Algarve

The Monica Isabel Beach Club is an aparthotel with simple, clean accommodation and everything you need for a chilled-out Algarve break.

There’s two outdoor pools plus a children’s pool, and a heated indoor option.

Rooms are studios or one-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes, with plenty of space and balconies or terraces.

The club-style resort offers a mix of activities: a fitness centre, tennis, games room, and a seasonal entertainment programme.

And when you fancy venturing out, you’re in a great spot. The lively New Town of Albufeira is on your doorstep, packed with bars, restaurants, shops and nightlife.

It’s a great pick if you want a well-located base where you can explore the Algarve at your own pace.

Sunshine.co.uk offer 7 nights’ all-inclusive stay at the Monica Isabel Beach Club Aparthotel for £493 pp, based on 2 adults sharing. Flights not included.

db Seabank Resort and Spa – All Inclusive, Malta

Mellieħa Bay is home to Malta’s biggest sandy beach, so you’re in a prime spot for the best of beach days at the db Seabank Resort and Spa.

This area is quieter than the island’s busier resorts like Bugibba and Qawra, but still has plenty of cafés, restaurants and coastal paths when you fancy a wander.

The family-friendly all-inclusive has three pools, a spa, gym and its own indoor soft play area as part of the excellent onsite kids club.

Kids will also love the jungle-themed restaurant, whilst adults can enjoy a sushi buffet at L’Orjent Asian restaurant.

Nearby, Mellieħa’s scenic hilltop village and the rest of the popular northern coast are just a short bus ride or drive away.

Sunshine.co.uk offer 7 nights’ half-board stay from £188 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Flights not included.

Catalonia Oro Negro, Tenerife

Sunshine-soaked and just a 10-minute walk from golden sand beaches, Catalonia Oro Negro gives you access to the best of Tenerife in one neat package.

The resort offers two outdoor pools (plus a rooftop pool for adults in premium rooms), a poolside bar and a buffet restaurant with live show-cooking.

Rooms are bright and comfortable with private balconies or terraces – great for a morning coffee or a quiet evening sunset overlooking the Atlantic.

Inside the hotel there’s table-tennis, billiards, darts and a kids’ playground – plenty to keep everyone entertained when you’re not on the beach or out exploring.

Step outside the hotel door and you’re in the heart of lively Playa de las Américas, one of Tenerife’s top holiday hotspots. Think beachfront promenades, vibrant nightlife, surf-style beach clubs, shops, restaurants and bars.

For a change of pace, you can rent a car or hop on a short taxi ride to explore volcanic landscapes and the island’s natural parks.

First Choice offer 7 nights’ half-board stay from £497 pp based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Price includes return flights from London Luton.

Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort, Crete, Greece

If you’re after a Greek resort for a big family holiday, Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort ticks a lot of boxes.

The complex is just a stone’s throw from the sea at Analipsi, where there’s a section reserved just for hotel guests.

The resort itself has two giant pools, a waterpark and a splash park which you’re able to use at the sister hotel, Stella Village.

You can pick from 267 modern rooms, some of which have their own hot tubs and doorstep pool access.

Throw in warm summer evenings with live music, movie nights and mini discos, and you’re all set for that big family summer holiday.

Sunshine.co.uk offer 7 nights’ half-board stay from £244 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Flights not included.

TUI MAGIC LIFE Fuerteventura

This massive resort in Fuerteventura hosts everything from sports tournaments to bike tours – and is backed by an impressive mountain.

This resort is truly a sports lover’s paradise, offering everything from mini football, to archery and trampolining.

And after all that exercise, there’s a sauna, steam bath and hot stone massages on offer to relax and rejuvenate.

Nearby, there’s the sandy stretch of Playa de Esquinzo beach, and the quaint Morro Jable fishing village to explore.

The resort is also close to Jandia (an 11-minute drive) popular for its cocktail bars, affordable restaurants and nightlife.

TUI offer 7 nights’ all-inclusive stay from £552 pp, based on a family of 2 adults and 2 children sharing. Price includes flights from London Luton.

_{Prices correct at the time of publication.}

DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, denying Republicans from reclaiming two-thirds control of the chamber.

Hardman bested Republican Lucas Loftin by an overwhelming margin to win a seat representing parts of the Des Moines suburbs. The seat became vacant after the Oct. 6 death of state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.

Hardman, the CEO of nonprofit Lutheran Services of Iowa and a member of the West Des Moines City Council, becomes the first Black woman elected to the 50-member Senate.

“I want to recognize that while my name was the one on the ballot, this race was never just about me,” Hardman told a room of supporters in West Des Moines after declaring victory.

With 99% of votes counted, Hardman led by about 43 percentage points.

Her win is latest in a string of special election victories for Iowa Democrats, who flipped two Senate seats this year to break up a supermajority that had allowed Republicans to easily confirm GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds’ appointments to state agencies and commissions.

Democrat Mike Zimmer first flipped a seat in January, winning a district that had strongly favored Republican President Trump in the 2024 election. In August, Democrat Catelin Drey handily defeated her GOP opponent in the Republican stronghold of northwestern Iowa, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans’ 33. Celsi’s death brought that down to 16.

Republicans would have regained two-thirds control with a Loftin victory Tuesday. Without a supermajority, the party will need to get support from at least one Democrat to approve Reynolds’ nominees. The GOP still has significant majorities in both legislative chambers.

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, called Hardman’s victory “a major check on Republican power.”

“With the last special election of the year now decided, one thing is clear: 2025 was the year of Democratic victories and overperformance, and Democrats are on track for big midterm elections,” Martin said.

In November the party dominated the first major Election Day since Trump returned to the White House, notably winning governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey. Democrats held onto a Kentucky state Senate seat this month in a special election. And while Republican Matt Van Epps won a Tennessee special election for a U.S. House seat, the relatively slim margin of victory gave Democrats hope for next year’s midterms. The party must net three House seats in 2026 to reclaim the majority and impede Trump’s agenda.

Loftin, a tree trimmer turned data manager, congratulated Hardman and told the Associated Press he’s praying for her as she embarks on this important chapter.

Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann applauded Loftin and his supporters for putting up a fight in what he described as “a very tough district.” Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 3,300 voters, or 37% to 30%.

“Although we fell short this time, the Republican Party of Iowa remains laser-focused on expanding our majorities in the Iowa Legislature and keeping Iowa ruby-red,” Kaufmann said.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee pledged Tuesday to help defend the party’s gains in Iowa and prevent the return of a GOP supermajority next year.

Schoenbaum and Fingerhut write for the Associated Press. Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.

West Ham have been touted as potential suitors for Vipotnik, although Swans boss Vitor Matos dismissed that link as “just a rumour”.

Matos, who has overseen four wins in Swansea’s past six matches, was full of praise for the forward’s performance in the 1-0 win at Oxford, with injuries to fellow frontmen Adam Idah and Liam Cullen making his contribution all the more important.

Swansea now face West Brom on New Year’s Day (15:00 GMT) with Vipotnik hoping to continue his progress this season.

Vipotnik, who has scored 12 in all competitions after just seven in his first campaign in Wales, began 2025-26 playing back-up to Cullen and then saw Idah arrive in a big-money transfer from Celtic on 1 September.

But the former Bordeaux player has made himself Swansea’s first-choice centre-forward thanks to his impressive form.

“It was tough (at the beginning of the season) but, after, I showed my character and I’m thankful for my team-mates and gaffer who helped me with this,” Vipotnik added.

“I’m really happy with my form and I’ll hope that I’ll continue in the new year.

“I have a target in my head about how many goals. I don’t like to say it, but I like to score every game.”

Dec. 30 (Asia Today) — More than half of German respondents said they would recommend unification of the Korean Peninsula, drawing on their own country’s experience with reunification, according to a new international survey released Tuesday.

The findings came from the 2025 Global Unification Awareness Survey conducted by the Institute for Unification Studies, which polled 1,000 respondents in each of eight countries.

Among German respondents, 62.2% answered positively when asked whether they would recommend Korean unification based on Germany’s reunification experience. Of those, 17.9% said they “strongly agree,” while 44.3% said they “somewhat agree.”

When asked about the necessity of Korean unification, 55.4% of Germans responded positively. However, only 29.9% said they believe inter-Korean unification is realistically possible, highlighting a significant gap between perceived necessity and feasibility.

A similar pattern appeared in the United States, where 55.6% viewed unification as necessary but only 27.2% believed it was achievable. In Japan, just 29.3% said unification was necessary, and only 13.4% viewed it as possible.

The institute said the results show a consistent divide between recognition of unification’s importance and skepticism about its prospects. It noted that Germany, as a country that has already experienced national reunification, showed a higher perception of necessity than other surveyed nations.

Regarding Japan’s particularly low assessment of the need for Korean unification, the institute said the view appears to stem from a belief that unification would not benefit Japan. It added that, because support from neighboring countries is essential, Seoul should strengthen public diplomacy efforts aimed at improving Japanese perceptions.

On perceptions of North Korea’s nuclear program, Japanese respondents expressed the highest level of concern. A total of 81.5% of Japanese respondents said North Korea’s nuclear weapons pose a serious threat to peace, followed by Americans at 72.9% and Mongolians at 66.5%.

The institute said countries directly affected by North Korea’s nuclear issue – including Japan, the United States and Mongolia – tend to show heightened threat awareness.

Asked about Pyongyang’s motives for developing nuclear weapons, respondents most commonly viewed them as intended for offensive purposes. That perception was strongest in Japan at 71.8%, followed by the United States at 70.9% and Sweden at 70.2%. Excluding Mongolia, only about 20% to 30% of respondents in most countries viewed North Korea’s nuclear program as primarily defensive.

On preferred approaches to denuclearization, 74.6% across all eight countries favored diplomatic negotiations. Support for economic measures such as sanctions stood at 67.7%, while 48.2% supported military options.

The survey also examined national images of the two Koreas. South Korea was generally viewed as a country associated with trust and cooperation, while North Korea was widely perceived as a source of threat and distrust. Japan, however, showed low levels of trust toward both Koreas.

The annual survey was conducted online from Aug. 11 to 18 in Germany, Mongolia, the United States, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Canada and Poland.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Eurostar services resumed after a power outage in the Channel Tunnel caused all trains heading to mainland Europe to be cancelled

Eurostar travellers have been cautioned that disruption may continue, despite services restarting following a power failure in the Channel Tunnel. Thousands of passengers endured lengthy delays after the rail operator scrapped all London to Europe journeys on Tuesday when an overhead power supply fault and a broken-down LeShuttle train blocked all routes.

Limited services recommenced on the single operational line on Tuesday evening, with Eurostar reporting “further issues with rail infrastructure overnight”. A statement on the Eurostar website read: “We plan to run all of our services today, however due to knock-on impacts there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations.”

The first Wednesday departure from St Pancras to Paris’ Gare du Nord station, timetabled for 6.01am, was axed, though all remaining services appeared as scheduled on the firm’s website. A statement released by Eurostar on Tuesday evening, encouraging passengers to rebook for a different day where possible, read: “Although outside of our control, we apologise for the disruption today and will continue to keep customers updated with the latest information and support them with rescheduling their bookings.”

LeShuttle services were similarly disrupted by the electrical fault. Having warned of six-hour holdups at the Folkestone terminal on Tuesday, the company reported these had reduced to just 30 minutes by Wednesday morning. However, six-hour queues persisted in Calais, with passengers urged to check in at their scheduled times.

The Channel Tunnel carries both Eurostar services and LeShuttle vehicle-carrying trains linking Britain and France. Getlink, which runs the Channel Tunnel, confirmed that “an incident related to the power supply to trains occurred last night in part of the Channel Tunnel, affecting train and shuttle traffic”.

On Tuesday, Eurostar personnel at St Pancras station in central London were spotted distributing water bottles to those waiting behind cordons who were caught up in the disruption. Vehicles attempting to cross the Eurotunnel created tailbacks on routes approaching the Folkestone terminal.

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LeShuttle traveller Tim Brown revealed he had been stranded in his vehicle on the train at the Calais terminal for over three hours with “no access to food or water”.

Mr Brown, who was attempting to return to Britain after celebrating Christmas in Germany, was journeying with his dogs Rilo and Vinnie who he said are “hating life” trapped on the train.

“The fact that nobody has come around offering everybody a bottle of water is what has shocked me the most,” he said. “I know things happen, but surely that would be an easy way to help.”

Over the past week or so, U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones have been spotted carrying increasingly greater numbers of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on sorties from Puerto Rico. This includes at least one Reaper seen armed with 10 Hellfires, a loadout that does not previously appear to have been disclosed as being an option for these drones. This all now comes amid reports that it was the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that recently carried out a first-of-its-kind covert strike on a target in Venezuela using an unspecified drone.

The unusually large Hellfire loads are the latest in a series of changes in U.S. force posture in the region that go well beyond simply bolstering support to the U.S. military’s ostensibly expanded counter-drug operations. Readers can first get up to speed on this and other recent developments in the Caribbean in our recent reporting here.

CNN was first to report yesterday that a CIA-directed drone strike targeted what has been described as a “port facility” and a “dock” somewhere along Venezuela’s coast sometime earlier this month, citing anonymous sources. The site is said to have been used by the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, which the U.S. government designated as a terrorist organization earlier this year, to smuggle drugs. The New York Times has also now reported that the CIA led this operation, per its own unnamed sources. TWZ has previously highlighted ports and other logistical nodes as among the likely first rungs in a kinetic escalation ladder for operations inside Venezuela.

President Donald Trump had first mentioned the strike publicly in a phone call with WABC radio in New York last Friday. He brought it up again while speaking to the press yesterday alongside visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The President did not say in either case who had carried out the mission. Back in October, Trump said he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela.

When it comes to U.S. MQ-9s in the region, Reapers have been operating from Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla in Puerto Rico since September. They have generally been seen carrying between two and four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles at a time, as well as range-extending fuel tanks and pods, the latter of which we will come back to later on. This is a very typical combat loadout that has been seen on Reapers operating globally in the past.

However, between December 21 and December 24, MQ-9s started being seen flying from Aguadilla armed with six, eight, and then a whopping 10 AGM-114s. Local spotter Michael Bonet has shared some images of Reapers operating from the airport with larger Hellfire loadouts, seen earlier in this story and below, directly with TWZ.

At least as of 2021, the Air Force had said its Reapers could carry no more than eight Hellfires at once. The MQ-9 can also carry a variety of other munitions, including 500-pound-class Paveway and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) series precision-guided bombs. Only Hellfires have been seen so far on Reapers in Puerto Rico.

The growing loadouts seen on Puerto Rico-based Reapers have also necessitated the use of four-rail launchers. TWZ has so far been unable to find any past imagery of U.S. MQ-9s flying with these quad-launchers. They are commonly seen on U.S. Army AH-64 Apache and U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, as well as the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawks. It is worth noting that General Atomics, the MQ-9’s manufacturer, has touted the ability of its Mojave drone to carry loads of up to 16 Hellfires using the four-rail launchers.

Many of the MQ-9s with the larger AGM-114 loads have also been seen carrying a still-unidentified pod. The pod first emerged following the loss of two U.S. Reapers in what was said to have been a mid-air collision over Syria in 2020.

The mysterious pod has since been observed on MQ-9s operating in Romania, Japan, and South Korea. It is typically seen on Reapers that are also fitted with a very large ventral blade antenna under the rear of the fuselage. The pod’s exact purpose remains unconfirmed, but it is assumed to contain additional sensors and/or communications relay and data-sharing capabilities, as you can read more about here.

Why Reapers have begun flying more heavily armed missions from Aguadilla recently is unknown, but the loadouts are at odds with the scope and scale of the existing campaign of strikes on small boats in the region. Between September 2 and December 29, the U.S. military is known to have attacked 31 vessels in the Caribbean Sea, as well as the Eastern Pacific Ocean. This averages out to one strike every four days, a general tempo that does not point to an immediate need for more ordnance per sortie. At least a portion of these missions have been carried out by AC-130J gunships, as well. Questions about the legality of these operations and the underlying intelligence behind them also continue to be very hot topics of debate.

On Dec. 29, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/69ywxXk30N

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 29, 2025

For weeks now, TWZ has already been highlighting an influx of additional U.S. forces into the Caribbean that do not simply align with a bolstering of capacity to support counter-drug operations, or even more recent efforts to seize oil tankers as part of the maximum pressure campaign against the dictatorial regime in Venezuela. This includes the recent arrival of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and MC-130J Commando II special operations tanker-transports at Aguadilla to join the MQ-9s. A host of other American air, naval, and ground assets have been flowing into the region for months now, as you can read more about here.

There is also now Trump’s disclosure of at least one covert action against a target inside Venezuela proper. To be clear, much about that operation, including exactly what the target was and what type of drone may have been used to strike it, remains murky.

The CIA is understood to operate a fleet of MQ-9s capable of flying armed missions. Earlier this year, reports said that the Agency’s Reapers had also been flying unarmed sorties over Mexico to snoop on drug cartels. At the same time, Reapers are not the only drones that the CIA has access to. Depending on the exact location and nature of the target, the attack could have been more localized and involved shorter-range armed uncrewed aerial systems, including ones under the control of individuals operating covertly inside the country, but this seems less likely to have been the case.

The aforementioned descriptions of the target in Venezuela as being a “port facility” and a “dock” would seem to point to something of substantial size. This, in turn, could well have necessitated the employment of a relatively large amount of ordnance, such as what we’ve recently been seeing on Puerto Rico-based MQ-9s, to ensure adequate destruction.

It is also worth noting here that there have long been strong indications of some form of overlap in both ownership and operational control of drones, including MQ-9s, between the CIA and the U.S. military’s secretive Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), as well as the U.S. Air Force. JSOC has been directly involved in at least some of the strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean since September. In response to CNN‘s report, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), to which JSOC is technically assigned, did notably send that outlet an on-the-record statement denying any involvement in the recent strike in Venezuela.

More clandestine assets could still have been used instead, but there also would have been no real need to do so if something like a Reaper could have accomplished the job with a reasonable level of survivability. The strike on the target in Venezuela, which did not prompt any kind of immediate response on the part of Venezuelan authorities, at least that we know of, raises additional questions about the effectiveness of the country’s air defenses. Whether or not any standoff electronic warfare support, of which there is plenty in the region currently in the form of Navy EA-18 Growler jets and at least one Air Force EC-130H Compass Call plane, was utilized during the operation is unknown, but this seems likely to have been the case. As TWZ has explored in detail in the past, Venezuela’s air defense capabilities are limited, but could certainly present real threats.

A video posted to social media yesterday (20 Dec) shows the arrival of a USAF EC-130H at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU/TJSJ) in Puerto Rico.

There are only a few EC-130Hs left in USAF inventory.

Credit/permission: pinchito.avgeek (IG). pic.twitter.com/IxqBaKSBtE

— LatAmMilMovements (@LatAmMilMVMTs) December 22, 2025

As already noted, it is not otherwise clear what new mission requirements and/or intelligence streams may have fueled the decision to begin arming MQ-9s flying from Puerto Rico with the significantly larger loads of Hellfires. The need to respond to drug cartels sending out larger waves of boats in order to survive, or to provide armed overwatch due to concerns about surface threats from small boats, are possibilities, but there are no indications so far of either of these being the case.

As a general point, taking direct action against a target in Venezuela does mark another significant escalation, regardless of how it was carried out. The full extent of plans now for this covert campaign, and whether it might be intended as a prelude to overt action, remain to be seen.

At the same time, the expanding Hellfire loads on Air Force MQ-9s flying from Puerto Rico add to the growing evidence that U.S. operations in the region, and with respect to Venezuela, specifically, are entering a major new phase.

Special thanks again to Michael Bonet for sharing his pictures of MQ-9 Reapers operating recently from Rafael Hernandez Airport with us.

Howard Altman contributed to this story.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

KIM Kardashian looks like she’s ready to plunge into 2026.

The reality TV star and businesswoman, 45, wore a daring £60 bodysuit from her Skims range.

She said it gives the impression the wearer is “not wearing a bra and is naked underneath”.

Kim told her online followers it was her “favourite hack in the entire world”.

She added: “I used to use tape.

“There is a time and a place but this is a low plunge and the back can go in so many ways and gives you a lift.”

Kim shared a rare snap with all four of her kids in a sweet new festive portrait.

The adorable festive shots saw mom Kim looking glamorously festive in silver dress, while North, 12, Saint, nine, Chicago, six, and Psalm, five. coordinated their stylish outfits.

The family unit struck a series of poses in front of snow-dusted Christmas trees, alternating between beaming smiles and fun faces.

Santa Claus and momager Kris Jenner even featured in a couple of snaps as the family went all out for the special occasion.

It was a hit with friends, family and fans.

Khloe Kardashian wrote, “Wow family photo!!!!!!!!!!! I looooooveeeeee.”

Paris Hilton commented with a love heart eye emoji, while a fan said, “Loveeeeeee the hardwork and love that went into this! We all know… xoxo.”

Re “Lockyer Urges Steps to Cut Gas Prices,” Nov. 23: There you go again. The state attorney general, a typical Democratic politician, demagogues this issue without presenting all the facts. Your article and Bill Lockyer leave out the federal tax (14.1 plus 15 cents per gallon) which amounts to 29.1 cents for every gallon of gas. Add the five cents per gallon state tax and the four cents per gallon clean air cost and we have a total cost to the consumer of 38.1 cents per gallon.

If Lockyer really wants to lower gas prices, he should lobby the federal government to lower gas taxes.

HARRY BORLAND

Laguna Woods

*

One step Lockyer might consider is the state sales tax, assessed not only on the base price of gasoline but also on the federal taxes and on the state taxes. A state tax on a federal tax and on other state taxes. If that isn’t criminal, it ought to be. The state sales tax on gasoline is a dirty little secret. Every other item we buy as a daily need is clearly priced, and the sales tax clearly spelled out and added. At the service station, it’s carefully buried. So much at the pump, the placard says.

Take away the state sales tax, or even apply it just to the product, and you’ve removed much of the price differential. But don’t hold your breath until our Legislature recognizes this or does something about it.

AL V. CLINE

Rolling Hills Estates

Ethan Hill and Shalen Sheppard were the twin towers for Brentwood’s boys basketball team last winter. Now, without one of his best buddies, Hill is learning to cope just fine — and his teammates are following his lead.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore forward had 32 points and 18 rebounds while earning all-tournament honors as the Eagles held off Millikan 75-68 to win the Silver Division championship Tuesday afternoon in the Classic at Damien.

To the surprise of his coaches and teammates, Sheppard decided at the end of September to transfer to Crossroads in Santa Monica. He is one of the highest-rated players in his graduating class.

Shalen Sheppard scores 22 points for Crossroads in a Gold Division consolation game against San Joaquin Memorial during the Classic at Damien on Dec. 30, 2025.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

“Honestly, I was just shocked,” Hill said upon learning of Sheppard’s departure. “We’ve been playing together since eighth grade. We just had the craziest chemistry. It’s a bigger challenge without him, but I believe we’re up to it. Our coaching staff pushed us hard every day.”

Led by their two fantastic freshmen, the Eagles went 25-5 last season. Sheppard averaged 16.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while Hill averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds.

“Leaving Ethan was one of the hardest parts about transferring,” said Sheppard, who scored 22 points in the Roadrunners’ 57-48 loss to San Joaquin Memorial in a Gold Division consolation game earlier in the day at Ramona Middle School. “I play AAU with him and he’s one of the first people I called the night I decided.”

The sit-out period for transfers ended right before the Damien tournament. With four games under his belt, Sheppard is adjusting to being without his frontcourt mate.

“I was getting double-teamed a lot so I got a little tired but as a squad we’re playing real tough teams right now,” he said. “It’s hard without Ethan. Him being a big body and taking up the middle cleared a lot of space for me. I might go over and watch his game later.”

Crossroads (9-8) faces a huge test Saturday against Crean Lutheran, ranked fifth in the Southland by The Times. On Tuesday, Crean Lutheran fell to No. 10 Crespi 57-54 for third in the Platinum Division.

“I have more gym time because Crossroads is not as academically rigid,” Sheppard said. “Traffic was a factor also. I live in the same place, but I can take the Metro or the bus to school. Sunset [Boulevard] at rush hour wasn’t fun.”

Brentwood guard AJ Okoh drives for a layup on his way to MVP honors in the Silver Division championship game of the Classic at Damien on Tuesday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Meanwhile, Hill and junior guard AJ Okoh are building chemistry, and it showed against Millikan. Okoh dished out four assists and scored 23 points, including a three-pointer which gave the Eagles a five-point cushion with 1:30 remaining. He was named most valuable player. Fellow guard Auggie Sugarman netted 14 points and named to the all-tournament team.

“AJ and I complement each other well,” said Hill, whose scoring was as balanced as can be — 11 points in the first quarter, six in the second, eight in the third and seven in the fourth. “He gets downhill quick and his passing ability is amazing.”

Senior Jeremiah Hunt made seven three-pointers to keep the Rams (11-6) in striking distance and finished with a game-high 34 points. Freshman guard Quali Giran, who entered the contest averaging 24.5 points per game, finished with 18 points and eight assists and joined Hunt on the all-tournament team.

Crespi’s Rodney Mukendi tries to block a jump shot by Crean Lutheran’s Chadrack Mpoyi in the third-place game of the Platinum Division in The Classic at Damien on Dec. 30, 2025.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Brentwood, ranked 19th in The Times’ Top 25 poll, has won seven in a row since its lone loss to Goodyear (Ariz.) Millennium on Dec. 17 and improved to 17-1. The Eagles beat Woodland Hills Taft, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian and Dublin on their way to the finals.

“Not having Shalen puts a lot more attention on me and that frees up my teammates,” Hill said. “We have the same goal, to go all the way and I have all the confidence and belief in us.”

Hill and Sheppard look forward to reuniting Jan. 9 in the first of two Gold Coast League matchups between their schools.

While a western German city slept through the Christmas holidays, thieves drilled into a bank vault and vanished with millions.

Robbers broke into a vault at a savings bank in western Germany during the Christmas holidays, stealing cash, gold and jewellery estimated to be worth up to $105m, the police and the bank said.

According to police on Tuesday, the perpetrators used a large drill to bore through a thick concrete wall of a branch of Sparkasse bank in the city of Gelsenkirchen, in North Rhine-Westphalia state. Breaking in from an adjacent parking garage, the thieves gained access to an underground vault room and forced open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes.

Thomas Nowaczyk, a police spokesperson, said investigators believe the total value of the stolen items could range between 10 and 90 million euros ($11.7m and $105.7m).

German news agency dpa reported that the robbery may rank among the biggest in the country’s history.

Sparkasse confirmed that the branch had been “broken into over the Christmas holidays”, saying that “more than 95 percent of the 3,250 customer safe deposit boxes were broken into by unknown perpetrators”.

The crime is believed to have taken place while businesses were closed for the extended Christmas break. Police suspect the gang may have remained inside the building for several days, using the long holiday weekend to break into the deposit boxes undetected.

The theft only came to light in the early hours of Monday, when a fire alarm was triggered. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene discovered the hole leading into the vault.

Witnesses later told police they had seen several men carrying large bags through the parking garage stairwell overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Security camera footage also showed a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early on Monday morning, with masked individuals inside. The vehicle was later identified as having a licence plate belonging to a car stolen in Hanover, more than 200km (124 miles) northeast of Gelsenkirchen.

Ocean’s Eleven-esque

A police spokesman described the operation as highly organised, comparing it with a Hollywood-style robbery resembling Ocean’s Eleven.

The break-in was “indeed very professionally executed”, he told the AFP news agency.

“A great deal of prior knowledge and/or a great deal of criminal energy must have been involved to plan and carry this out,” he added.

Police said the average insured value of each deposit box was more than 10,000 euros ($11,700). However, officers said several victims had reported that the contents of their boxes were worth significantly more than the insured amount.

On Tuesday, hundreds of customers gathered outside the bank, demanding answers. The branch remained closed for security reasons after threats were reportedly made against staff.

“I couldn’t sleep last night. We’re getting no information,” one man told the Welt broadcaster, saying he had used the safe deposit box for 25 years and stored his retirement savings there.

Nowaczyk, the police spokesperson, said officers remained at the scene to monitor the situation. “We’re still on site, keeping an eye on things,” he said, adding that “the situation has calmed down considerably”.

The bank said it had set up a hotline for affected customers and would contact them in writing as soon as possible. It added that it was working with insurers to determine how compensation claims would be handled.

“We are shocked,” said bank press spokesperson Frank Krallmann. “We are standing by our customers, and hope that the perpetrators will be caught.”

Police said the suspects remain at large, and investigations are ongoing.

A spokesperson for the Sparkasse bank in Gelsenkirchen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

These are the key developments from day 1,406 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is where things stand on Wednesday, December 31:

Fighting

• Russian forces shelled the town of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, killing one person, an official said. The deadly attack came a day after an attack in Druzhkivka killed another person and wounded four, according to the Ukrinform news agency.
• Russian forces also launched waves of attacks on the Black Sea ports of Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk in Ukraine’s Odesa region, hitting two Panama-flagged civilian vessels – Emmakris III and Captain Karam – as they approached to load wheat, the Ukrainian navy said.
• Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said that oil storage tanks were also hit in the port attacks.
• Authorities in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region introduced a mandatory evacuation order for the residents of 14 border villages in four districts. The order will affect some 300 people who still live in the Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, Snovsk, and Horodnya communities, which have been experiencing daily shelling, an official said.
• Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Energy Olha Yukhymchuk said that 75,000 households in Chernihiv remain without electricity following Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in the region. There were also settlements in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions that were fully or partially without electricity, she said.
• Yukhymchuk also said that repair work had been completed on transmission lines near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to ensure “stable and reliable power supply to the station in the event of damage or shutdown of the Dniprovska overhead line due to” Russian shelling.
• Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it had taken control of two more settlements in eastern Ukraine. It identified them as the village ⁠of Lukianivske in the Zaporizhia region and ​the ‌settlement of Bohuslavka in the ‌Kharkiv ‌region.
• Russian authorities said that a Ukrainian ‍drone attack on the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse ‍damaged port infrastructure and a gas pipeline in a residential area there. The regional administration said no ⁠injuries were reported.
• Other Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region killed a woman and wounded four other people, local authorities said.

Alleged attack on Putin’s residence

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will “toughen” its negotiating position in talks on a deal to end the war in Ukraine as a “diplomatic consequence” of an alleged attempted drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northwestern Russia’s Novgorod on Sunday.
• Peskov said the attack, which Ukraine denies, was aimed at collapsing the peace talks and accused Western media of playing along with Kyiv’s denial.
• Ukraine has dismissed the Russian claim as lies aimed at justifying additional attacks against Kyiv and prolonging the war.
• Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said Russia had not provided any plausible evidence of its accusations. “And they won’t. Because there’s none. No such attack happened,” Sybiha said on X.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed countries, including India and the United Arab Emirates, that have condemned the alleged attack, which he said “didn’t even happen”. He called the moves “confusing and unpleasant”.
• China said “dialogue and negotiation” remain the only “viable way out of the Ukraine crisis”, when asked for a comment on the alleged attack on Putin’s residence.
• Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also called on “relevant parties to follow the principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party”, to work towards the de-escalation of the situation, and to “accumulate conditions for the political settlement of the crisis”.
• The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, DC-based think tank, said that its analysts found that the “circumstances” of the alleged attack did not fit the “pattern of observed evidence” usually seen “when Ukrainian forces conduct strikes into Russia”.
• The US ‌ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, cast doubt on Russia’s accusation, saying he wants to see US intelligence on the incident. “It is unclear whether it actually happened,” Whitaker told Fox Business’s Varney & Co.
• The ‍German ‍government also said it shares Ukraine’s concern that Russian ⁠allegations of the attack could be used as a pretext for ‍further ⁠escalation of Moscow’s war.

Diplomacy

• Zelenskyy said ‍that Ukraine and the Coalition of the Willing group of nations ⁠backing Kyiv plan to ​hold their next meetings at ‍the start of January. Zelenskyy said that the countries’ national ‍security advisers would ⁠meet in Ukraine on January 3, and with the leaders in France on January 6.
• He also told reporters that Kyiv was discussing with US President Donald Trump the possible ⁠presence of ​US troops in Ukraine ‍as part of security guarantees.
• “Of course, we are discussing this with President Trump and with representatives of the [Western] coalition [supporting Kyiv]. We want this. We would like this. This would be a ‍strong position of the security ⁠guarantees,” the Ukrainian president said.
• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told officials that there is reason to hope for peace in Ukraine quite soon. “Peace ⁠is on the horizon; there is no doubt that things ​have happened ‌that give grounds for hope that this war ‌can end, ‌and quite quickly, ⁠but it is still a hope, far ‌from 100 percent certain,” he said.
• Tusk said security guarantees offered to Kyiv ‌by the US were a reason to hope the conflict could end soon, but that Kyiv would need to compromise on territorial issues.
• The US removed sanctions on Alexandra Buriko, the former chief ⁠financial officer ​of Russia’s state-owned ‍Sberbank, according to the US Treasury Department.
• Buriko was among ​a ‌group of senior executives and board members who ‌resigned from Western-sanctioned ‌Sberbank shortly after ⁠Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She sued the Treasury Department in a Washington federal court in December 2024, arguing she had severed ‌ties with Sberbank days after it was sanctioned and that her continued inclusion on ‌the sanctioned list was unlawful.

Weapons

• Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country would spend 50 million euros ($58m) to support a European initiative to buy weapons made by US companies for Ukraine, known as the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).
• Belarus ‌released a video of what it said was ‍the deployment on ‍its territory of the Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile system, a development meant to bolster Moscow’s ability to strike targets across Europe in the event of a war.

OASIS racked up a million album sales in the UK this year – without releasing a single new tune. 

Their reunion tour has fuelled a massive resurgence in their records, meaning two of their albums finished in 2025’s Top Ten, according to the British Phonographic Industry. 

Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, along with their bandmates, also helped to drive an increase in vinyl purchases. 

This year, vinyl sales in the UK were up 13.3 per cent to 7.6million units.  

Oasis’ greatest hits collection Time Flies . . . 1994-2009 was the fourth most popular album of the year, while (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? was at No7 thanks to a reissue. 

Elsewhere, Taylor Swift’s The Life Of A Showgirl has been crowned the best-selling album of 2025.

GLYNNE AND OUT

Blow for Jess Glynne as she splits from megastar’s label after three years

WE WERE KINGS

Take That say ‘nothing could prepare them’ for fame in ‘deeply personal’ doc

This, despite it only coming out in October, while Sabrina Carpenter has two records in the Top Ten. 

The figures have been released as part of a report by the BPI on recorded music consumption. 

It also tells how a new wave of British talent including Olivia Dean and Lola Young have helped UK recorded music grow for the 11th year, with 210million albums sold. 

And I’ve got my eye on a whole flurry of new stars including Sienna Spiro and Skye Newman as we head into the new year.