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Today — 12 December 2025BBC | Top Stories

Celebrity Race Across the World winners revealed

12 December 2025 at 05:24
BBC The eight celebrity contestants standing in a row with their arms around each other in front or rocks and the seaBBC
The four pairs of contestants had to make their way more than 3,500 miles through Central America

Spoiler warning: This article reveals the winners of Celebrity Race Across the World.

Broadcaster Roman Kemp and his sister, singer-songwriter Harleymoon, have triumphed in the latest series of the BBC's Race Across the World.

They reached the final checkpoint ahead of the three other pairs of contestants after a 33-day, 5,900km (3,600 mile) quest through Central America.

The pair reached the finish line two minutes before EastEnders actress Molly Rainford and her fiancé, TV and radio host Tyler West, with broadcaster Anita Rani and her dad Bal finishing six hours later.

Derry Girls actor Dylan Llewellyn and his mum Jackie came fourth - having decided to leave the race earlier in the episode because of limited funds.

Wednesday's final episode covered the last stage, a 1,000km route from Medellín to the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia.

In previous stages, the teams had to make their ways through countries including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama.

They did so without using phones or air travel, and with a budget of £950 per person - the equivalent cost of flying the route.

This was the BBC's third celebrity series of Race Across the World and has been attracting about six million viewers.

Harleymoon and Roman Kemp standing together and smiling during the race

Roman and Harleymoon Kemp are the children of Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp and wife Shirlie.

Roman is know as co-host of BBC One's The One Show and Capital's former breakfast show DJ, while Harleymoon is a country singer who has been releasing music for five years.

The final journey saw them take a 4x4, boat ride and race by foot up a cliffside, with Ronan describing it as "the most adrenaline, most emotion that I've had ever".

Harleymoon added: "I've never run like that in my whole life."

Tyler West and Molly Rainford smiling together in the back of a vehicle during the race

Rainford, 25, is known for playing Anna Knight in EastEnders since 2023 and reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.

She met Kiss radio host West when he was also a contestant on the same series of Strictly, and they announced their engagement earlier this year.

Anita Rani and her dad Bal standing together on a mountain, smiling and with their arms outstretched

Rani is known as co-host of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and BBC One's Countryfile, and was racing with her dad Balvinder Singh Nazran, a semi-retired businessman.

Dylan Llewellyn and mum Jackie standing together with raincoats and backpacks during the race

Dylan Llewellyn, who has been racing with mum Jackie, is known for playing James in hit sitcom Derry Girls, as well as for roles in Big Boys and Beyond Paradise.

Russia could attack Nato within five years, says alliance chief in stark new warning

12 December 2025 at 03:16
Reuters Mark Rutte, wearing a dark suit and tie and a white shirt, points with his right hand as he delivers a speech at a podium with two microphones , and dark blue backgroundReuters
Many were complacent, but conflict was next door, the Nato chief warned

Russia could attack a Nato country within the next five years, the Western military alliance's chief has said in a stark new warning.

"Russia is already escalating its covert campaign against our societies," Mark Rutte said in a speech in Germany. "We must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured."

He echoed similar statements about Russia's intentions made by Western intelligence agencies, which Moscow dismisses as hysteria.

Rutte's warning comes as US President Donald Trump tries to bring an end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022.

Earlier this month, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said his country was not planning to go to war with Europe, but it was ready "right now" if Europe wanted to - or started a war.

But similar reassurances were given by Moscow in 2022, just before 200,000 Russian troops crossed the border and invaded Ukraine.

Putin has accused European countries of hindering US efforts to bring peace in Ukraine - a reference to the role Ukraine's European allies have recently played in trying to change a US peace plan to end the war, whose initial draft was seen as favouring Russia.

But Putin was not sincere, Nato's secretary-general said in the German capital, Berlin.

Supporting Ukraine, he added, was a guarantee for European security.

"Just imagine if Putin got his way; Ukraine under the boot of Russian occupation, his forces pressing against a longer border with Nato, and the significantly increased risk of an armed attack against us."

Russia's economy has been on a war footing for more than three years now - its factories churn out ever more supplies of drones, missiles and artillery shells.

According to a recent report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Russia has been producing each month around 150 tanks, 550 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 Lancet drones and more than 50 artillery pieces.

The UK, and most of its Western allies, are simply not anywhere near this point.

Analysts say it would take years for Western Europe's factories to come close to matching Russia's mass-production of weapons.

France and Germany have both recently moved to revive a system of voluntary military service for 18-year-olds.

So-called "hybrid" or "grey-zone" warfare, which includes events that are often deniable, such as cyber-attacks, disinformation and the alleged launching of drones close to airports and military bases in Nato countries, have been ramping up this year.

But worrying as these are, they pale compared to the crisis that would be triggered by a Russian military attack on a Nato country, especially if it involved seizing territory and people being killed.

Nato includes 30 European countries - as well as Canada and the US, the alliance's most-powerful military member.

Under pressure from Trump, its members have pledged to increase military spending.

"Nato's own defences can hold for now," Rutte warned in Berlin, but conflict was "next door" to Europe and he feared "too many are quietly complacent, and too many don't feel the urgency, too many believe that time is on our side.

"Allied defence spending and production must rise rapidly, our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe," the Nato chief said.

Reuters A man wearing a dark puffer jacket and hoody stands in front of a house that has been damaged by an attack, with the roof blown out and bricks scattered all overReuters
"Listen to the sirens across Ukraine, look at the bodies pulled from the rubble," Rutte warned in his speech

Women rally behind Catherine Zeta-Jones over age-shaming comments

12 December 2025 at 02:04
Getty Images Close up of Catherine Zeta-Jones on the red carpet at the event. She has dark brown wavy hair and wears a black lace dress. Getty Images
Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones faced criticism over her looks at Netflix's Wednesday FYC event in November

Women are rallying behind Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she faced criticism on social media over her looks at a recent red carpet event.

Zeta-Jones attended a Netflix event in Los Angeles on 9 November where a TikTok interview about her role in the latest Wednesday series was overshadowed by comments about her appearance.

Laura White, 58, and this year's winner of Miss Great Britain Classic, called the backlash "complete nonsense", adding that "men don't have this sell-by/use-by date that women do".

Beauty journalist Sali Hughes, 50, said unlike men, women were unfairly judged for aging and Zeta-Jones should be free to look however she liked.

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In the video, which was also posted on Facebook and had more than 2.5m views, Zeta-Jones, who is from Mumbles, Swansea, talked about how much she enjoyed exploring her character, Morticia Addams, in season two.

But many of the hundreds of comments focused on her age and were disparaging about her appearance.

The online backlash sparked widespread defence of Zeta-Jones, including a viral video from one Facebook user which said: "You bully women when they get too much work done and bully them when they don't have enough."

Commenters also came to her defence, with one writing: "It's called ageing naturally and she looks beautiful."

Others described her as "gorgeous" and "so pretty", while someone else said that "she looks her age - that's called reality."

Laura White Laura behind the scenes of a photoshoot for Ms Great Britain Classic 2025. She is wearing a blue sparkly dress with a silver tiara and is holding up her sash. Laura White
Laura White said "men don't have this sell-by/use-by date that women do"

Ms White arrived for her interview at BBC Radio Wales Breakfast earlier makeup-free to "prove a point" and to show there was no set "template" for what a woman in her 50s should look like.

Like many women her age, she said she "takes care of herself" not to look younger but to feel "better" and look "healthy".

"Aging is a privilege and if we can do it the best we can, that's what really matters," she added.

She argued that men were not held to the same beauty standards, adding "no-one questions how old Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones are - they just look 'great'."

She said it was one of the reasons she entered Miss Great Britain's category for over-45s, to "show that midlife women are still here" and "still have it".

Dora Paphides Sali wears a black top and is smiling at the camera. It's a professional headshot.  She has long wavy blonde hair. Dora Paphides
Welsh beauty writer Sali Hughes says women were frequently and unfairly judged for aging

Hughes, an author and presenter from Wales, said that while Zeta-Jones was "gorgeous" it was "not the point", adding she should be free to look however she liked without her age being scrutinised.

She said the online abuse showed no woman was "immune" and that women do not deserve the "constant narrative" that they are not good enough or young enough - a problem that is "galling, regardless of who the victim is".

Asked if men face the same scrutiny, she said "no, never", noting women were attacked simply for having the "audacity" to exist online as they age.

Despite the beauty industry promoting "longevity", Hughes said women were still criticised whether they aged naturally or underwent treatments like plastic surgery or injectables.

"If you age naturally, people say you should do more; if you get work done, you're accused of not aging gracefully enough," she added.

US wants 'special economic zone' in Ukraine's frontline region, Zelensky says

12 December 2025 at 03:23
Getty Images A man walking over an explosion siteGetty Images

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the latest peace plan draft for Ukraine has been presented to US President Donald Trump - including a proposal on territorial concessions Kyiv may be prepared to make.

But Merz highlighted the territorial issue was "a question that must be answered primarily by the Ukrainian president, and the Ukrainian people."

"We also made this clear to President Trump," Merz pointed out.

In recent weeks European leaders have worked closely with Ukraine to come up with a new iteration of a peace plan that addresses Kyiv's interests and concerns.

Trump appears to have grown frustrated with the intricacies of the question of sovereignty over Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Because his negotiating team has previously worked closely with Moscow, Kyiv's European allies fear the US president might eventually seek to impose a Russian-led solution on Ukraine.

"It would be a mistake to force the Ukrainian president into a peace that his people will not accept after four years of suffering and death," Merz said in a joint news conference with Nato chief Mark Rutte.

He added that in Wednesday's "constructive" phone call with Trump, he, France's Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had "made it clear" that Europeans needed to have their interests heard too.

For his part, Trump said the participants had "discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words" and added that he was yet to decide whether to attend a meeting in Europe. "We don't want to be wasting time," he said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has long signalled he would be prepared to talk to Trump directly to discuss the sticking points of a deal, but the US president has suggested all issues had to be ironed out before such a meeting could take place.

The territorial question is one of the thorniest. Russia demands that Ukraine withdraws entirely from the parts of the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions which it still holds - something Kyiv refuses to do, both on principle and because it fears it would allow Moscow a foothold for future invasions.

"We have no legal right to [cede territory], under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law," Zelensky said earlier this week. "And we don't have any moral right either."

Zelensky is set to hold more talks with his allies today as he co-chairs a coalition of the willing call alongside Merz, Macron and Starmer.

As high-level, frantic diplomatic activity of the last few weeks has taken place among US, European and Ukrainian officials, with frequent statements from all sides, Moscow has remained remarkably tight-lipped.

Any comments from Russia have sought to cement the impression that Moscow and Washington are aligned on their hopes for the terms of a peace deal.

On Thursday Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump for trying to broker a deal and said the recent meeting between Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin had "eliminated" the "misunderstandings" which had arisen since last summer's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

At the time, Russia and the US agreed Ukraine should return to a non-aligned, neutral, and nuclear-free status, Lavrov stated.

A map of Ukraine's south-eastern territories under Russian occupation

The foreign minister also batted off suggestions that Kyiv could be given security guarantees in the form of foreign troops stationed in Ukraine.

"This is yet another return to the sad logic of Zelensky's so-called peace formula," Lavrov said, adding that Moscow had handed the US "additional" proposals on collective security and that Russia was ready to give legal guarantees not to attack Nato or EU countries.

Yet Kyiv and its European allies believe that without security guarantees any peace settlement could be rendered meaningless.

But because Russia has previously violated ceasefire and truce deals, neither Ukraine nor Europe are likely to take any promise by Moscow at face value. In recent weeks European and Ukrainian officials have pushed for the US to be involved in guaranteeing that Kyiv doesn't become the target of renewed attacks.

Earlier this week Zelensky said he was ready to hold elections if the US and European countries could guarantee Ukraine's security during the vote. His five-year term as president was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended in Ukraine since martial law was declared after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Not for the first time, Nato chief Mark Rutte said on Thursday that too many of the alliance's allies did not feel the urgency of Russia's threat in Europe.

"We are Russia's next target," he warned, adding that Nato had to make all efforts to prevent a war that could be "on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured".

Royal Navy shadows Russian submarine through English Channel

12 December 2025 at 03:14
MOD The Russian Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar being tracked by RFA tanker TidesurgeMOD
The Russian submarine was tracked by a Royal Navy tanker

The Royal Navy says it has tracked a Russian submarine through the English Channel to "safeguard" UK waters.

A tanker shadowed the Russian Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it sailed on the surface from the North Sea, through the Strait of Dover and into the English Channel, it said.

The Royal Navy added that it had been prepared to "pivot to anti-submarine operations" if Krasnodar had dived below the surface.

The incident is the latest in a series of instances of Russian naval activity in UK waters. The government says there has been a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years - though Russia says the UK is the one being provocative.

The Russian submarine and its tugboat Altay were tracked by Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tanker Tidesurge carrying a specialist Merlin helicopter aboard, as part of a three-day operation.

It said this was part of the government's commitment to "safeguard the integrity of UK waters and protect national security", the Royal Navy said.

Capt James Allen, commanding officer of RFA Tidesurge, said the vessel had provided "a show of presence and deterrence as we transited from the North Sea to the English Channel".

The navy continued to shadow the Russian submarine and its tugboat until it approached the north-west of France, at which point tracking of it was handed over to a Nato ally.

This week, Defence Secretary John Healey announced the government's Atlantic Bastion programme, which aims to secure the UK's undersea cables and pipelines from Russian threats - though critics say the navy lacks sufficient resources to do the job properly.

It was revealed a month after Healey said a Russian spy ship had pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking its activity near UK waters.

The UK said the ship was being used for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables.

"We see you. We know what you are doing. And we are ready," Healey said in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian embassy has previously said it was "not interested in British underwater communications" and urged the UK to "hold off taking any destructive steps which might aggravate the crisis situation on the European continent".

Workers' rights bill standoff continues after Lords defeat

11 December 2025 at 21:33
Getty Images A woman wearing a purple apron works in a cafe. She is pouring milk into a mug next to a coffee machineGetty Images

Labour's flagship law on workers' rights faces continuing deadlock after the House of Lords inflicted another defeat on the government.

The setback comes just two weeks after ministers said they had reached a compromise between businesses and unions on the right to claim unfair dismissal.

The government had argued the agreement would unblock the passage of the Employment Rights Bill and allow it to become law.

But peers have now backed a Conservative proposal to force a review of a Labour plan to abolish a cap on compensation in unfair dismissal cases.

The proposal to abolish the cap - which emerged from talks between unions and business groups two weeks ago - did not feature in Labour's manifesto, and is being added to the bill at an unusually late stage.

The bill is now due to return to the Commons on Monday, as the parliamentary process known as "ping-pong" continues until the two Houses agree.

Unions have accused peers of "defying the will of the British public" by holding up the bill, but Downing Street has insisted the government was still committed to passing the bill before Christmas.

The bill - which applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland where employment law is devolved - has been described by the government as the "biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation".

It includes measures such as giving workers the right to sick pay and parental leave from their first day in a job, banning "exploitative" zero-hour contracts and strengthening the right to request flexible working.

However, some businesses have expressed concerns over the plans, warning they will increase costs for employers.

Last month the government dropped a commitment to offer all workers the right to claim unfair dismissal from their first day in a job, after business groups said this would discourage firms from hiring.

Instead, ministers now plan to introduce this right after six months.

Following talks between major industry bodies and unions, the government also committed to scrapping limits on compensation for financial loss in ordinary unfair dismissal cases.

Currently, awards to former employees who successfully bring a claim are limited to either their annual salary or £118,223, whichever is lower.

This would bring the process more into line with "automatic" unfair dismissal cases - where workers have been sacked for reasons such as discrimination and whistleblowing - where financial loss awards are uncapped.

'Recipe for the rich'

On Wednesday evening, peers voted by 244 votes to 220 for a Tory proposal which would require the government to review compensation limits before scrapping them.

During the debate, Tory shadow business minister Lord Sharpe argued uncapped compensation would benefit higher-paid workers, adding: "This policy is a recipe for the rich and a wrecking of justice for working people."

While he welcomed changes on rights to unfair dismissal, the peer said the government's new proposals on compensation limits had been brought forward "at the 11th hour" without any consultation.

Lord Sharpe insisted calling for a review was "not obstruction" but "the bare minimum that a competent administration should undertake".

Independent crossbench peer and entrepreneur Lord Londesborough said his email inbox was "awash with anger and indignation" from businesses over the government "sneaking in this clause on uncapped compensation".

"It is anti-entrepreneurial, anti-enterprise and, I fear, a job destroyer," he added.

'Undemocratic'

Defending the move, Business Minister Baroness Lloyd said the current system incentivised claimants to allege discrimination, as this allowed uncapped compensation.

"These types of claims are more complex and take longer for the tribunal to handle," she said.

"Therefore, by our removing the compensation cap for ordinary unfair dismissal claims, this incentive will be lessened, making it easier for tribunals to reach a judgement more quickly and decreasing burdens on the system."

She said the government had "worked collaboratively with employers and trade unions to find a compromise" and called on peers to allow the bill to progress so workers could benefit from the reforms without any further delay.

However, the Federation of Small Businesses has expressed reservations about the plan, warning that unlimited settlements "would be difficult and further gum up tribunals".

"That was not a concession discussed with us or agreed by us in the negotiations," added executive director Craig Beaumont.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: "Continuing to vote down the Employment Rights Bill, a clear manifesto commitment, is undemocratic.

"This bill has been debated and scrutinised for months. Tory peers are actively defying the will of the British public and their own supporters who overwhelmingly support measures in this bill."

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'Super flu' wave hits hospitals in England with no peak yet

12 December 2025 at 00:58
Getty Images A&E departmentGetty Images

The number of patients in hospital in England with influenza has risen by more than 50% in the past week, with NHS bosses warning there is no sign of "super flu" peaking yet.

In the week up to Sunday there were 2,660 flu cases a day on average in hospital – and NHS England said the numbers had continued rising this week.

NHS England said it was the equivalent of having three hospitals full of flu patients, with some reporting nearly one in 10 beds occupied by patients with the virus.

Officials said the numbers had continued rising this week with fears it may top 5,000 by the weekend. Increases are also being reported in other parts of the UK.

Super flu circulating

NHS England medical director Prof Meghana Pandit said: "This unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients."

The numbers in hospital with flu is at its highest level at this time of year since records began - although they only date back to 2021 and so do not capture the two worst flu seasons of the past 15 years which were seen in 2014-15 and 2017-18.

Chart showing flu rates in hospital

Flu rates began rising a month earlier than normal this year driven by a mutated strain of the virus. The dominant strain is H3N2, but it has some genetic changes this year.

It means the general public has not encountered this exact version of flu before, which means there is maybe less immunity.

NHS England said the number of patients in hospital with the vomiting bug norovirus was also on the rise, with more than 350 beds occupied by people with that virus.

Chart showing hospitals with most flu cases

It comes ahead of a strike by resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, which is due to start next week.

There are hopes it may be called off after a fresh offer from Health Secretary Wes Streeting prompted the British Medical Association to agree to poll their members to see if they were willing to call off the five-day walkout that is due to begin on Wednesday. The results of that poll will be be announced on Monday.

Daniel Elkeles, of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said: "The NHS is in the thick of a storm come early. Flu is hitting hard and other winter bugs are surging.

"Now more than ever, the NHS needs all hands on deck.

"We have to hope that BMA resident doctors will step back from next week's strike, take up the government's sensible offer and end their damaging dispute."

Buckling system

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which takes into account levels of infection in the community as well as hospitals, shows infection rates are continuing to rise, but not as sharply as they were in the previous week.

But officials stressed it was too early to take that as a sign that flu could be peaking.

They said the virus was unpredictable and a lull could be followed by another surge.

Dr Conall Watson, an infectious diseases expert at the UKHSA, urged people who are eligible for a free flu vaccine on the NHS, which includes the over 65s, those with certain health conditions and pregnant women, to still come forward if they had not yet got one.

"There is still plenty of flu vaccine available to protect those who need it – what's running out is time to be protected ahead of Christmas.

"If you are eligible this is the last chance to get protected as we head into Christmas – so make an appointment with the NHS today."

It can take up to two weeks following vaccination to develop the fullest protection from the jab, Dr Watson added.

Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said winter viruses were placing further strain on an "already buckling system".

She said patients were facing long waits in A&E as hospital staff were being overloaded with patients.

But she accused NHS England and the government of using it as a "convenient scapegoat" for the "predictable breakdown" in NHS capacity caused by workforce shortages.

"The situation in emergency departments has become so dire that what was once considered a critical incident is now seen as normal and routine. What is happening is not an isolated emergency, but the culmination of systemic failure."

Four charts that show how flu outbreak is different this winter

12 December 2025 at 00:25
PA Media A healthcare worker administers a flu jab to another person in a healthcare environment at Ulster hospital in Belfast on 4 December.PA Media
The NHS has urged those eligible to get vaccinated against flu to help limit the severity of symptoms

The NHS says it's facing its "worst-case scenario" after the number of people in hospital with flu jumped by 55% in a week.

NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey has warned that between 5,000 and 8,000 hospital beds could be filled with flu patients by the weekend.

Health experts at the King's Fund think tank have said talk of an "unrelenting flu wave" has become worrying familiar over recent years.

How then is winter 2025 really any different and which patients have been affected most by what the NHS is now describing as "super flu"?

An earlier start for flu

A chart showing the percentage of daily positive tests for flu from July to June each year from 2023-4 onwards. The graph for 2025-26 shows a sharp rise over the past few months up to around 20% of cases. That is still below the 30%+ of cases which were positive in previous years.

The major difference between 2025's flu season and the previous three years is that the virus started spreading around a month earlier.

The first sign of this was in October in data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

When someone goes to their GP or hospital with flu-like symptoms they can be tested for a number of viruses including influenza, Covid and RSV.

UKHSA records the percentage of those tests that come back positive for flu, which can then give a strong indication that rates in the community are either rising or falling.

Virologists have linked the earlier flu season this year to a subtle shift in the genetic makeup of the main flu virus that is circulating - called H3N2.

So-called 'super-flu' is not a medical term and it does not mean the virus is more severe or harder to treat.

But the general public has not encountered this exact version of flu before, which means there may be less immunity built up in society, allowing it to spread more easily.

Children and young people most affected

A line graph showing a rise in positive flu cases since September by age group. It shows the groups recording the highest percentage positive tests are the 5-14 year old group, followed by the 15-24 age group. Older age groups over 45 years old have a much power percentage of positive cases.

Children tend to be more susceptible to flu than older adults, partly because their immune systems are still developing and because they tend to spread viruses more quickly through close contact.

The latest breakdown of UKHSA data shows that the proportion of positive tests is currently much higher in children and young people still at school or university.

Some schools have had to bring back Covid-like measures to prevent the spread of the virus, such as cutting back on singing in assemblies and introducing sanitisation stations, while one site in Caerphilly had to close temporarily.

Each year thousands of otherwise healthy children end up in A&E with complications after catching influenza.

But there is another concern: that younger people will go home and then spread the disease to elderly relatives who tend to be more vulnerable.

Flu adds to winter pressure

A bar graph showing the number of people in a hospital bed with flu in the week starting 1 December for each year from 2022/3 onwards. It shows a big increase for that week in 2025/26 to around 2,500 beds from around 1900 beds in 2024/25.

The NHS records the number of patients in hospital each week with influenza and other types of respiratory illness.

The number has been rising sharply in England with an average of 2,660 flu patients taking up a hospital bed last week, up from 1,717 in the previous week.

Those over 85-years-old are five times more likely to be hospitalised than the general population.

But the patients being admitted now would have been infected with the virus a week or so ago when infection rates were lower.

The greater concern for the health service is what happens over the coming weeks as new cases appear in A&E.

The NHS has roughly 105,000 available hospital beds in England and tends to "run hot" over the winter with 95% of those taken up at any one time.

If the number of flu patients needing overnight treatment jumps to 5,000 or higher, as Sir Jim Mackey predicts, then it could put the whole hospital system under more pressure.

What about vaccine protection?

The message coming from doctors and the NHS is for people in vulnerable groups to continue to come forward for a flu vaccine.

Even though the genetic make-up of the virus has shifted this winter, the main jab is still thought to offer effective protection, particularly against severe disease.

The flu vaccine is free on the NHS for those over 65-years-old, young children, pregnant women, those with certain health conditions, carers, and front line health and social care workers.

People in other groups can get the same vaccine for between £15 and £25 from high street pharmacists.

As of 30 November, just over 40% of people in an at-risk group had taken up the offer of a free flu jab this year.

Flu vaccination rates among NHS workers in England, which have fallen back since the Covid pandemic, appear to have stabilised this year at about the same level - around 42%.

Huge undersea wall dating from 5000 BC found in France

12 December 2025 at 01:39
BBC A diver is holding a camera and torch examining the wall. The water is a cloudy blue colour, and the wall has algae and seaweed on it.BBC
The structure has lasted 7,000 years

French marine archaeologists have discovered a massive undersea wall off the coast of Brittany, dating from around 5,000 BC.

They think it could be from a stone age society whose disappearance under rising seas was the origin of a local sunken city myth.

The 120-metre (394ft) wall – the biggest underwater construction ever found in France – was either a fish-trap or a dyke for protection against rising sea-levels, the archaeologists believe.

When it was built on the Ile de Sein at Brittany's western tip, the wall would have been on the shore-line – between the high and low tide marks. Today it is under nine metres of water as the island has shrunk to a fraction of its former size.

The wall is on average 20 metres wide and two metres high. At regular intervals divers found large granite standing stones – or monoliths – protruding above the wall in two parallel lines.

It is believed these were originally placed on the bedrock and then the wall built around them out of slabs and smaller stones. If the fish-trap hypothesis is the right one, then the lines of protruding monoliths would have also supported a "net" made of sticks and branches to catch fish as the tide retreated.

With an overall mass of 3,300 tonnes, the wall must have been the work of a substantial settled community. And to have lasted 7,000 years, it was clearly an extremely solid structure.

"It was built by a very structured society of hunter-gatherers, of a kind that became sedentary when resources permitted. That or it was made by one of the Neolithic populations that arrived here around 5,000 BC," said archaeologist Yvan Pailler.

The monoliths that form the basis of the wall are similar to - but predate - the famous menhirs that dot the Brittany countryside and are associated with the Neolithic culture.

According to Pailler, there could have been a transmission of know-how on extracting, cutting and transporting the stones between older Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and incoming Neolithic agriculturists.

The wall was discovered after local geologist Yves Fouquet studied undersea depth charts drawn up using the latest radar technology. "Just off Sein I saw this 120-metre line blocking off an undersea valley. It couldn't be natural," he told Le Monde newspaper.

Archaeologists made their first exploration in summer 2022, but had to wait till the following winter – when the seaweed had died back – before they could map the wall properly.

In a paper in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, the writers conjecture that sites such as this may lie at the origin of local Breton legends of sunken cities. One such lost city – Ys – was believed to lie in the Bay of Douarnenez, just a few kilometres to the east.

"It is likely that the abandonment of a territory developed by a highly structured society has become deeply rooted in people's memories," the paper says.

"The submersion caused by the rapid rise in sea level, followed by the abandonment of fishing structures, protective works, and habitation sites, must have left a lasting impression."

Sandie Peggie says 'I will not give up legal fight' in trans doctor row

12 December 2025 at 00:58
Getty Images A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair is wearing a blue jacket over a white T-shirtGetty Images
Sandie Peggie was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about trans women using single-sex changing rooms

The judgement in the tribunal of a nurse suspended from her job in a row over trans women using single-sex changing rooms has been amended following complaints a quote used in it was "made up".

On Monday, an employment tribunal outlined four ways in which NHS Fife harassed Sandie Peggie, but dismissed all her other claims.

Ms Peggie had brought the case after she was suspended following a disagreement between her and Dr Beth Upton - who is a trans woman.

Campaigners claimed that the 312-page judgement in the Peggie case contained a "made up" quote from another legal case.

The tribunal has now issued a "certificate of correction" stating there had been "clerical mistake(s), error(s)or omissions(s)". This does not change the overall verdict.

The case has attracted international interest as it concerned whether transgender women – biological males who identify as women – could use female-only changing rooms.

Following the tribunal ruling, one of Ms Peggie's most high-profile supporters, campaigner Maya Forstater, said a reference in the judgement to her own case against the Centre for Global Development Europe was "completely made up".

The Peggie ruling originally stated the verdict in Ms Forstater's case emphasised that the Equality Act does not create "a hierarchy of protected characteristics."

On the social media platform X, Ms Forstater posted a screenshot of the text from the tribunal and said: "One of the many things wrong with the Sandie Peggie judgment.

"This 'quote' from my judgment doesn't come from my judgment. It is completely made up."

A new quote from the Forstater case has now been added.

The revised version of the Peggie judgement then states: "We consider that quotation provides support for the proposition that the Equality Act 2010 does not create a hierarchy of protected characteristics."

Dr Beth Upton walking outside a court building, dressed in a dark tan coat and wearing a multi coloured scarf. Several supporters are walking alongside.
Sandie Peggie refused to change with Dr Beth Upton

Under employment law, a judge may "at any time correct any clerical mistake or other accidental slip or omission" and an amended version issued.

Ms Forstater said she was astonished how the error happened and that she wanted an explanation.

She added other mistakes had been spotted in the verdict and that they "severely undermine people's confidence in the legal process."

The employment tribunal, which was held over several weeks earlier this year, was high-profile and controversial.

It was brought by Ms Peggie, a nurse who has worked for the NHS for 30 years.

She refused to share a women's changing room with Dr Upton - a biological male who identifies as a woman - at Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, and was suspended from work at the beginning of 2024.

This followed an encounter between the due in the changing facilities on Christmas Eve 2023, where Ms Peggie told Dr Upton she did not feel comfortable about the doctor's presence there.

She also referenced Isla Bryson - a rapist who changed gender while awaiting trial.

Bryson was initially remanded to a women's jail after being found guilty, but was then moved to a men's facility.

The rapist was later jailed for eight years.

Ms Peggie claimed her own experiences amounted to harassment and took legal action against the health board and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010.

On Monday, the 312-page judgement found in her favour on four counts, but dismissed her other claims against both the health board and Dr Upton.

It found that some of Ms Peggie's comments towards Dr Upton "amounted to an incident of harassment" and breached the health board's bullying and harassment policy.

A separate hearing will take place at a later date to decide on the "remedy" for Ms Peggie, which could result in her being awarded compensation.

However the verdict was criticised by some campaigners, including Sex Matters - the group Ms Forstater is chief executive of.

From Iran to China to Venezuela - how tanker seized by US hid true location

11 December 2025 at 23:03
BBC An image showing the seized tanker refuelling. It is imposed over the BBC Verify branding and colours. BBC

The oil tanker seized by US forces on Wednesday had a track record of faking or concealing its location information, apparently to hide its activities, ship tracking data shows.

On Wednesday evening, the US confirmed that its forces seized a vessel during a helicopter-launched raid near the coast of Venezuela. BBC Verify confirmed the ship was the Skipper by matching a sign seen in footage released by the US to a reference photo supplied by TankerTrackers.com, a site which monitors oil shipments.

Data held by publicly accessible tracking sites paints an incomplete picture of the vessel's movements, and before its seizure it hadn't declared its position since 7 November. Maritime analytics firm Kpler also suggested that the vessel had engaged in a ship-to-ship transfer.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi described the vessel as a "crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran".

The US Treasury department first sanctioned the ship in 2022, when it was sailing under the name Adisa, and was accused of being part of an "international oil smuggling network".

The Skipper has sailed under the flag of Guyana, but the government was quick to release a statement saying that the 20-year-old tanker was "falsely flying the Guyana Flag as it is not registered in Guyana".

Experts told BBC Verify that the Skipper was likely a part of the so-called "dark fleet" - a global network of oil tankers that seek to evade oil sanctions by obscuring their ownership, identities and travel histories.

Hiding its position

Under a UN treaty, all ships above a certain tonnage must have an onboard tracker called an Automatic Identification System (AIS). These trackers broadcast information about the ships, including their location, and can be followed on websites like MarineTraffic.

But there is an incomplete and misleading public record of the Skipper's movements. According to MarineTraffic, the Skipper's last known port call was at Soroosh in Iran on 9 July, where it arrived after stopping in Iraq and the UAE.

But Kpler suggests that this is part of a pattern of misleading entries by the Skipper. Analysts at the firm said the ship had previously loaded crude oil from Venezuela and Iran, while falsifying its position via its onboard tracker, a process known as spoofing.

Venezuela has some of the world's largest reserves of oil, but exports were placed under sanctions in 2019 by the US in a bid to force the transition of power from President Nicholas Maduro's administration, which has been widely accused of election rigging.

The firm noted that while its AIS showed the ship at Iraq's Basrah Oil Terminal on 7 and 8 July, terminal reports showed no record of the vessel there. Instead, the Skipper loaded crude oil at Kharg Island in Iran, Kpler said.

The Skipper then sailed east, tracking data shows, where Kpler suggested it conducted a ship-to-ship transfer between 11 and 13 August. The cargo was later unloaded in China, where Kpler said it was "falsely declared".

It returned via Iran and sailed towards the Caribbean. The Skipper last declared its position on 7 November, several miles off the coast of Guyana. Its onboard only reappeared on 10 December, after the US raid.

A graphic showing the ship's journey.

In the interim period, satellite images identified byTankerTrackers.com and confirmed by BBC Verify show that the Skipper was present in the Port of Jose in Venezuela on 18 November and not appearing on tracking sites at the time.

Since the imposition of sanctions, analysts say it has become common for ships to spoof or conceal their positions while loading oil in Venezuela.

A BBC graphic showing the Skipper taking on cargo.

Kpler analysts said the ship loaded "at least 1.1 million barrels of Merey crude" by 16 November at the terminal and listed Cuba as the destination.

There is also evidence that the Skipper was involved in a ship-to-ship transfer with another vessel on 7 December, just days before it was boarded by US troops. Satellite images seen by Kpler appeared to show the exchange, with one of the vessels identified by Kpler as the Skipper.

The transfer took place just off the coast of Venezuela, near the city of Barcelona. According to MarineTraffic, the Skipper had last appeared off the coast of Guyana weeks earlier.

Such sanction evading activity is not unusual for Venezuelan oil exports, Kpler said. The company said that tankers often transfer their cargo off the coast of Malaysia, before the oil is imported into China.

A graphic showing where the ship was seen on satellite images and where it had previously broadcasted its location.

Former Belgian naval lieutenant and analyst Frederik Van Lokeren told BBC Verify that while such ship-to-ship transfers are not illegal or wrong, they are "extremely uncommon". He said such activities were normally a sign of vessels trying to evade sanctions, transferring oil to ships not publicly associated with smuggling.

Mr Van Lokeren said that Venezuela's refining capacity has been significantly degraded in recent years and is "dependent" on its allies in Iran and Russia to convert its crude oil into more commercially lucrative products.

Who owns the Skipper?

MarineTraffic lists the beneficial owner and operator as Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd and it lists the registered owner as Marshall Islands-based Triton Navigation Corp.

In 2022, the US Treasury said that Triton was being used by a sanctioned Russian oil magnate - Viktor Artemov - to facilitate a global "oil smuggling network".

At the time, US officials said Mr Artemov used an expansive network of ships often registered obscurely to transport Iranian oil.

In its statement, the US Treasury said that Triton had "materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Artemov".

BBC Verify is attempting to contact both companies for comment.

The BBC Verify banner.

Residents' anger as illegal waste dumps appear near homes

11 December 2025 at 21:19
Peopleton Community A field that is completely covered in rubble and mixed waste, including broken bricks, stones and bits of plastic. Bushes and fields line the sides. Peopleton Community
The local authority has said it has identified "potential issues" at this site in Evesham, Worcestershire

"Angry" residents have spoken out over mountains of dumped waste appearing near homes, with one of the spots described as an "environmental horror".

Inquiries are under way into two suspected illegal waste sites emerging in Worcestershire.

A photo of one of the scenes in Evesham appears to show masses of rubbish dumped in a large trench.

Further complaint centres on a farm in the village of Peopleton where estate agents have reportedly told residents not to sell their homes, as property prices were falling due to the issue.

With regard to the scene on Haselor Lane in Evesham, Wychavon District Council (WDC) said it was first made aware in October, adding it had identified "potential issues" at the site, and "waste crime" across the district.

The Environment Agency (EA) said the second site, on Stone Arrow Farm, Peopleton, had seen "illegal waste-dumping activity".

Two residents of Peopleton, which has a population of 640, have spoken to the BBC on condition of anonymity.

One said: "There is a level of anger, and you can feel that on a daily basis."

Peopleton Community An aerial view of large piles of earth and mixed debris. Lorries are pictured moving rubble with several other excavator-type vehicles around the area, all surrounded by trees.Peopleton Community
The Environment Agency has said it is aware of "illegal waste dumping activity" on land in Peopleton (above)

The resident said: "I moved here six years ago from another village in the area and I moved because I didn't want my children growing up in the rat race.

"I wanted to give them a nice safe environment and to be able to look out their window and look out over green fields.

"You develop a sense of anger because you get to a point where we don't actually like living where we live."

The second resident added some people in the village - where the waste was described as an "environmental horror" - now felt "trapped".

"One of the villagers went to go to an estate agent and when they gave their postcode they were told to be realistic because there were doubts it would sell and they were also told they'd have to take a huge drop in price.

"They advised them not to sell at the moment."

A woman stands on a village street wearing a pink hat and matching pink scarf, along with glasses and a dark coat. Behind her are brick houses, a grassy verge.
Councillor Linda Robinson said Peopleton residents "would actually quite like to leave"

Councillor Linda Robinson, who sits on Worcestershire County Council, and WDC for Peopleton and the surrounding area, described the village as a "very sleepy, rural" place "with a very proactive community".

She said they had a "very close knit community" who had endured "noise, disturbance and dust" for the last 18 months.

"I think many of them are at the end of their tether and would actually quite like to leave Peopleton and are actually now trapped," Ms Robinson said.

"The effect of this is lowering the value of their properties or making them impossible to sell, so it's an untenable position for them and something I would like to help them do something about."

An EA spokesperson told the BBC waste "scars our communities".

"[It] is something we're committed to tackling together with local councils and the police," they said.

"Together we're pulling every lever available to us to disrupt those who profit from the harm illegal waste sites cause."

WDC said that while its powers were limited, staff were working "proactively with partners", including the EA.

"We are currently following the required legal process and will take further enforcement action if necessary," the authority explained.

A white sign reads "Welcome to Peopleton. A beautiful village populated by a caring Godfearing community a great place to live probably most definately the nicest village in Worcestershire (sic)." A green sign beneath it reads "Stonearrow Farm" along with some contact numbers.
A Peopleton resident described the dumping as an "environmental horror"

The MP for Droitwich and Evesham, Nigel Huddlestone, said he was "very concerned by the ongoing activities at Stone Arrow Farm".

"Having met local residents on several occasions about this matter, I know how damaging these activities are for the local community," he said.

"Since the problems first arose in autumn last year, I have been engaging with district and county councils, the Environment Agency, West Mercia Police and external stakeholders such as HMRC, the Health and Safety Executive and the DVSA.

"I have also raised written questions in parliament and attended last month's debate in the House of Commons on illegal waste activity.

"I remain absolutely committed to working with all stakeholders and to do whatever I can to help bring this situation to an end, for the benefit of my constituents."

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Sandie Peggie tribunal judgement amended after 'made up' quote row

11 December 2025 at 23:57
Getty Images A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair is wearing a blue jacket over a white T-shirtGetty Images
Sandie Peggie was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about trans women using single-sex changing rooms

The judgement in the tribunal of a nurse suspended from her job in a row over trans women using single-sex changing rooms has been amended following complaints a quote used in it was "made up".

On Monday, an employment tribunal outlined four ways in which NHS Fife harassed Sandie Peggie, but dismissed all her other claims.

Ms Peggie had brought the case after she was suspended following a disagreement between her and Dr Beth Upton - who is a trans woman.

Campaigners claimed that the 312-page judgement in the Peggie case contained a "made up" quote from another legal case.

The tribunal has now issued a "certificate of correction" stating there had been "clerical mistake(s), error(s)or omissions(s)". This does not change the overall verdict.

The case has attracted international interest as it concerned whether transgender women – biological males who identify as women – could use female-only changing rooms.

Following the tribunal ruling, one of Ms Peggie's most high-profile supporters, campaigner Maya Forstater, said a reference in the judgement to her own case against the Centre for Global Development Europe was "completely made up".

The Peggie ruling originally stated the verdict in Ms Forstater's case emphasised that the Equality Act does not create "a hierarchy of protected characteristics."

On the social media platform X, Ms Forstater posted a screenshot of the text from the tribunal and said: "One of the many things wrong with the Sandie Peggie judgment.

"This 'quote' from my judgment doesn't come from my judgment. It is completely made up."

A new quote from the Forstater case has now been added.

The revised version of the Peggie judgement then states: "We consider that quotation provides support for the proposition that the Equality Act 2010 does not create a hierarchy of protected characteristics."

Dr Beth Upton walking outside a court building, dressed in a dark tan coat and wearing a multi coloured scarf. Several supporters are walking alongside.
Sandie Peggie refused to change with Dr Beth Upton

Under employment law, a judge may "at any time correct any clerical mistake or other accidental slip or omission" and an amended version issued.

Ms Forstater said she was astonished how the error happened and that she wanted an explanation.

She added other mistakes had been spotted in the verdict and that they "severely undermine people's confidence in the legal process."

The employment tribunal, which was held over several weeks earlier this year, was high-profile and controversial.

It was brought by Ms Peggie, a nurse who has worked for the NHS for 30 years.

She refused to share a women's changing room with Dr Upton - a biological male who identifies as a woman - at Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, and was suspended from work at the beginning of 2024.

This followed an encounter between the due in the changing facilities on Christmas Eve 2023, where Ms Peggie told Dr Upton she did not feel comfortable about the doctor's presence there.

She also referenced Isla Bryson - a rapist who changed gender while awaiting trial.

Bryson was initially remanded to a women's jail after being found guilty, but was then moved to a men's facility.

The rapist was later jailed for eight years.

Ms Peggie claimed her own experiences amounted to harassment and took legal action against the health board and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010.

On Monday, the 312-page judgement found in her favour on four counts, but dismissed her other claims against both the health board and Dr Upton.

It found that some of Ms Peggie's comments towards Dr Upton "amounted to an incident of harassment" and breached the health board's bullying and harassment policy.

A separate hearing will take place at a later date to decide on the "remedy" for Ms Peggie, which could result in her being awarded compensation.

However the verdict was criticised by some campaigners, including Sex Matters - the group Ms Forstater is chief executive of.

'Monumental betrayal' - cheapest World Cup final ticket to cost £3,119

12 December 2025 at 00:23

World Cup ticket prices 'monumental betrayal' - FSE

Fifa president Gianni Infantino holding the World CupImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Supporters following their team at the 2026 World Cup will find that ticket prices have rocketed

Supporters hoping to attend next year's World Cup final face paying vast prices, with tickets in the 'supporter value tier' starting at £3,119 ($4,185).

Fans' group Football Supporters Europe has said it is "astonished" by Fifa's "extortionate" pricing strategy.

The high prices for group games and the final have been leaking out on Thursday as Fifa informs national associations of their allocations.

It means the price of the cheapest ticket for Fifa's showpiece event has increased almost sevenfold compared with the 2022 World Cup. The lowest-priced tickets on open sale in Qatar were £450.

BBC Sport understands tickets for the 'supporters standard tier' are £4,162 ($5,560), compared with £747 in 2022.

'Supporters premium tier' is £6,615 ($8,860), with the same band £1,197 at the Lusail Stadium three years ago.

FSE has demanded that ticket sales should be halted immediately, adding that tickets not being available in the cheapest category is "a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is".

The third ticket ballot begins on Thursday afternoon. On Monday, members of national supporters' clubs will get the chance to enter a random draw for individual games, or to follow their team through to the final.

There are about 4,000 tickets for each game available through the official supporters' groups. All other tickets are allocated through the random ballot process, other than those held back by Fifa for corporate partners.

Capacities at the venues range from 94,000 at the Dallas Stadium, where England play Croatia, to 45,000 at the Toronto Stadium.

In a departure from recent tournaments, group stage games are being priced based on their attractiveness, rather than at a flat rate.

In Qatar, group stage fixtures had set prices of £68.50, £164.50 and £219.

Yet for England's match against Croatia on 17 June, tickets cost £198, £373 or £523.

Scotland's first two group games are cheaper. Against Haiti the prices will be £134, £298 or £372, with Morocco set as £163, £320 and £447. The final group game is priced the same as England v Croatia.

There are no category four tickets available to fans, though this was also the case in 2022 when they were reserved exclusively for residents of Qatar.

FSE demands talks over 'extortionate' ticket prices

FSE has called on Fifa to stop the ticket sale process, believing it needs to rethink the pricing policy.

It said Fifa should "immediately halt PMA [Participating Member Association allocation] ticket sales, engage in a consultation with all impacted parties, and review ticket prices and category distribution until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found".

It continued: "In the price tables gradually and confidentially released by Fifa, tickets allocated to National Associations, which typically distribute them via official supporters' groups or loyalty programmes to their most devoted fans, are reaching astronomical levels.

"National team supporters are expected to pay this full amount in early 2026 to have the opportunity to follow their team up to the final.

"Adding insult to injury, the lowest price category will not be available to the most dedicated supporters through their National Associations, as Fifa chose to reserve the scarce number of category four tickets to the general sales, subject to dynamic ticket pricing.

"For the first time in World Cup history, no consistent price will be offered across all group stage games. Instead, Fifa is introducing a variable pricing policy dependent on vague criteria such as the perceived attractiveness of the fixture. Fans of different national teams will therefore have to pay different prices for the same category at the same stage of the tournament, without any transparency on the pricing structure enforced by Fifa.

"The bid document released in 2018 promised tickets priced as low as $21. Where are these tickets now? The full way to the final, according to the same bid book, was supposed to cost $2,242 in the cheapest category. This promise is long gone."

Ukraine hands US revised peace plan proposal, Germany says

11 December 2025 at 23:40
Getty Images A man walking over an explosion siteGetty Images

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the latest peace plan draft for Ukraine has been presented to US President Donald Trump - including a proposal on territorial concessions Kyiv may be prepared to make.

But Merz highlighted the territorial issue was "a question that must be answered primarily by the Ukrainian president, and the Ukrainian people."

"We also made this clear to President Trump," Merz pointed out.

In recent weeks European leaders have worked closely with Ukraine to come up with a new iteration of a peace plan that addresses Kyiv's interests and concerns.

Trump appears to have grown frustrated with the intricacies of the question of sovereignty over Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Because his negotiating team has previously worked closely with Moscow, Kyiv's European allies fear the US president might eventually seek to impose a Russian-led solution on Ukraine.

"It would be a mistake to force the Ukrainian president into a peace that his people will not accept after four years of suffering and death," Merz said in a joint news conference with Nato chief Mark Rutte.

He added that in Wednesday's "constructive" phone call with Trump, he, France's Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had "made it clear" that Europeans needed to have their interests heard too.

For his part, Trump said the participants had "discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words" and added that he was yet to decide whether to attend a meeting in Europe. "We don't want to be wasting time," he said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has long signalled he would be prepared to talk to Trump directly to discuss the sticking points of a deal, but the US president has suggested all issues had to be ironed out before such a meeting could take place.

The territorial question is one of the thorniest. Russia demands that Ukraine withdraws entirely from the parts of the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions which it still holds - something Kyiv refuses to do, both on principle and because it fears it would allow Moscow a foothold for future invasions.

"We have no legal right to [cede territory], under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law," Zelensky said earlier this week. "And we don't have any moral right either."

Zelensky is set to hold more talks with his allies today as he co-chairs a coalition of the willing call alongside Merz, Macron and Starmer.

As high-level, frantic diplomatic activity of the last few weeks has taken place among US, European and Ukrainian officials, with frequent statements from all sides, Moscow has remained remarkably tight-lipped.

Any comments from Russia have sought to cement the impression that Moscow and Washington are aligned on their hopes for the terms of a peace deal.

On Thursday Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump for trying to broker a deal and said the recent meeting between Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin had "eliminated" the "misunderstandings" which had arisen since last summer's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

At the time, Russia and the US agreed Ukraine should return to a non-aligned, neutral, and nuclear-free status, Lavrov stated.

A map of Ukraine's south-eastern territories under Russian occupation

The foreign minister also batted off suggestions that Kyiv could be given security guarantees in the form of foreign troops stationed in Ukraine.

"This is yet another return to the sad logic of Zelensky's so-called peace formula," Lavrov said, adding that Moscow had handed the US "additional" proposals on collective security and that Russia was ready to give legal guarantees not to attack Nato or EU countries.

Yet Kyiv and its European allies believe that without security guarantees any peace settlement could be rendered meaningless.

But because Russia has previously violated ceasefire and truce deals, neither Ukraine nor Europe are likely to take any promise by Moscow at face value. In recent weeks European and Ukrainian officials have pushed for the US to be involved in guaranteeing that Kyiv doesn't become the target of renewed attacks.

Earlier this week Zelensky said he was ready to hold elections if the US and European countries could guarantee Ukraine's security during the vote. His five-year term as president was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended in Ukraine since martial law was declared after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Not for the first time, Nato chief Mark Rutte said on Thursday that too many of the alliance's allies did not feel the urgency of Russia's threat in Europe.

"We are Russia's next target," he warned, adding that Nato had to make all efforts to prevent a war that could be "on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured".

Yesterday — 11 December 2025BBC | Top Stories

Hundreds of items taken in 'high value' Bristol Museum archive raid

11 December 2025 at 21:50
Avon and Somerset Police A blurry CCTV image of four men wearing jackets and baseball caps in a street at night time. Avon and Somerset Police
Police want to speak to these four men after more than 600 artefacts were stolen

More than 600 artefacts "of significant cultural value" have been stolen from Bristol Museum's archive in a "high-value" raid, police say.

Four men gained entry to a building in the Cumberland Basin area of the city in the early hours of 25 September, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Items from the museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection were stolen and detectives are now trying to trace four males captured in the area on CCTV.

"The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city," Det Con Dan Burgan said.

Avon and Somerset Police Two CCTV images places side by side. One is a man in a dark jacket, grey trousers and white hat and carrying a bag. The second is a group of all four males in the street, they all have hats or their hoods up. All are carrying bags. Avon and Somerset Police
The men are described as being white and were all wearing jackets and baseball caps

"These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history, and we are hoping that members of the public can help us to bring those responsible to justice," he added.

"So far, our enquiries have included significant CCTV enquiries as well as forensic investigations and speaking liaising with the victims."

Police are keen to speak to anyone who recognises the men captured on CCTV, or who may have seen possible stolen items being sold online.

All of the men are thought to be white. The first was described as of medium to stocky build and was wearing a white cap, black jacket, light-coloured trousers and black trainers.

The second was described as being of slim build and was wearing a grey, hooded jacket, black trousers and black trainers.

The third was wearing a green cap, black jacket, light-coloured shorts and white trainers. Police said he appeared to walk with a slight limp in his right leg.

The fourth was described as being of large build and was wearing a two-toned orange and navy or black puffy jacket, black trousers and black and white trainers.

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'Architects of AI' named Time Magazine's Person of the Year

11 December 2025 at 21:52
Getty Images Nvidia boss Jensen Huang in side-profileGetty Images
Nvidia boss Jensen Huang is among the tech bosses the magazine has put on its biggest cover of the year

Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2025 is not a single person.

Instead, the magazine has given its annual award recognising the year's most influential figure to "the architects" of artificial intelligence (AI).

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, Meta head Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk and AI "godmother" Fei-Fei Li are among those depicted on one of the magazine's two covers.

Experts say it highlights how quickly AI, and the firms behind it, are reshaping society.

It comes as a boom in the technology, ushered in by OpenAI's launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, continues at pace.

The firm said in September its chatbot is used by around 700 million people every week.

Big tech firms are pouring billions of dollars into AI and the infrastructure behind it in a bid to stay ahead of rivals.

There are two covers this year - one a piece of art depicting the letters AI surrounded by workers, and another a painting focused on the tech leaders themselves.

Time Eight people in suits sitting on a girder with a cityscape behind them. Time
The cover references the classic New York photograph "Lunch atop a Skyscraper" - but with tech figures in place of ironworkers

At Meta, Zuckerberg has reportedly focused the firm around the tech, including its AI chatbot, which it has embedded in its popular apps.

He, along with Huang, Musk and Li, appeared on the cover alongside Lisa Su, boss of chipmaker AMD, OpenAI head Sam Altman, Anthropic chief Dario Amodei, and Google's AI lab lead Sir Demis Hassabis.

"This year, the debate about how to wield AI responsibly gave way to a sprint to deploy it as fast as possible," Time said as it announced its new covers.

"But the risk-averse are no longer in the driver's seat.

"Thanks to Huang, Son, Altman, and other AI titans, humanity is now flying down the highway, all gas no brakes, toward a highly automated and highly uncertain future."

And the magazine's editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs said "no one" had as great an impact in 2025 than "the individuals who imagined, designed, and built AI".

"Humanity will determine AI's path forward, and each of us can play a role in determining AI's structure and future," he said.

Time The other Time cover shows the letters AI, with construction workers surrounding it. It is as if they are building a giant statue of the letters out of computer parts.Time

Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said 2025 could be seen as a "tipping point" for how frequently AI is now used in our day-to-day lives.

"Most consumers use it without even being aware of it," he told the BBC.

He said AI is now being crammed into hardware, software and services - meaning it its uptake is "much faster than during the Internet or mobile revolutions".

Some people now choose chatbots over search engines and social media to plan holidays, find Christmas gifts and discover recipes.

Others, such as those worried about its energy use, training data and impact on their livelihoods, are opting-out entirely.

Nik Kairinos, founder and chief executive of lab Fountech AI, said the honour was "an honest assessment" of the tech's influence, but he felt "recognition should not be confused with readiness".

"At this moment, AI can still be a saviour or scourge to humanity," he said.

"We are still in the early stages of building AI systems that are dependable, accountable, and aligned with human values.

"For those of us developing the technology and bringing AI tools to market, there is huge responsibility."

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Austria bans headscarves in schools for under-14s

11 December 2025 at 21:15
Getty Images A woman wearing a blue headscarf seen from behind as she sits in a chair in a classroomGetty Images

Austria has passed a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14.

The conservative-led coalition of three centrist parties, the ÖVP, the SPÖ and the Neos, says the law is a "clear commitment to gender equality", but critics say it will fuel anti-Muslim feeling in the country and could be unconstitutional.

The measure will apply to girls in both public and private schools.

In 2020, a similar headscarf ban for girls under 10 was struck down by the Constitutional Court, because it specifically targeted Muslims.

The terms of the new law mean girls under 14 will be forbidden from wearing "traditional Muslim" head coverings such as hijabs or burkas.

If a student violates the ban, they must have a series of discussions with school authorities and their legal guardians. If there are repeated violations, the child and youth welfare agency must be notified.

As a last resort, families or guardians could be fined up to €800 (£700).

Members of the government say this is about empowering young girls, arguing it is to protect them "from oppression".

Speaking ahead of the vote, the parliamentary leader of the liberal Neos party, Yannick Shetty said it was "not a measure against a religion. It is a measure to protect the freedom of girls in this country," and added that the ban would affect about 12,000 children.

The opposition far-right Freedom Party of Austria, the FPÖ, which voted in favour of the ban, said it did not go far enough.

It described the ban as "a first step", which should be widened to include all pupils and school staff.

"There needs to be a general ban on headscarves in schools; political Islam has no place here", the FPÖ's spokesperson on families Ricarda Berger said.

Sigrid Maurer from the opposition Greens called the new law "clearly unconstitutional".

The official Islamic Community in Austria, the IGGÖ, said the ban violated fundamental rights and would split society.

In a statement on its website, it said "instead of empowering children, they will be stigmatised and marginalised."

The IGGÖ said it would review "the constitutionality of the law and take all necessary steps."

"The Constitutional Court already ruled unequivocally in 2020 that such a ban is unconstitutional, as it specifically targets a religious minority and violates the principle of equality," the IGGÖ said.

The government says it has tried to avoid that.

"Will it pass muster with the Constitutional Court? I don't know. We have done our best," Shetty said.

An awareness-raising trial period will start in February 2026, with the ban fully going into force next September - the beginning of the new school year.

Hunger Games fans thrilled by return of Jennifer Lawrence

11 December 2025 at 20:14
Lionsgate Still from Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 shows Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in costume, being addressed by a third character just off-screen.Lionsgate
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson were last seen in 2015's Mockingjay Part 2

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are reportedly set to return to the Hunger Games in next year's highly anticipated prequel.

The pair last starred together in Mockingjay - Part 2, the climactic installment of the original film series.

US magazines The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline reported that Jennifer, 35, return as Katniss Everdeen while Josh, 33, will reprise his role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

They suggest the actors will appear in a flash-forward sequence which features in the novel the new film's based on.

BBC Newsbeat's approached production company Lionsgate for comment.

Lawrence, who became a household name playing Katniss, previously said she'd be "totally" up for coming back as the character.

And last month Josh Hutcherson told US magazine Variety he'd "be there in a heartbeat" if he was asked to come back.

"It would not take any convincing at all," he said.

Hunger Games fans were ecstatic at news the beloved characters would be making a new appearance.

One wrote: "For non-Hunger Games fans this is like Rihanna returning to music."

Another added: "It's basically Jesus returning to Earth."

But there were some who weren't happy to see the information revealed, saying it could have been kept an "emotional" surprise.

Getty Images A shelf in a bookshop loaded with Hunger Games books and stationery bearing the series logo of a golden bird inside a burning ring, and magazines bearing portraits of Jennifer Lawrence.Getty Images
The Hunger Games is a global best-selling franchise which still lasts in popular culture today

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping also stars McKenna Grace, Maya Hawke and Ralph Fiennes and is due to hit cinemas in November 2026.

Author Suzanne Collins' book of the same name sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide during its release week earlier this year - the biggest debut for one of her books.

The Hunger Games series has reportedly made $3.3bn since the release of the first movie in 2012, and a theatre version recently launched.

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Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

Venezuelan Nobel winner tells BBC she knows 'risks' of Oslo trip after months in hiding

11 December 2025 at 20:28
EPA/Shutterstock Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado stands on a balcony with photographers and a hanging light fixture in a hotel room behind her. It is nighttime and she has her hand over her heart. She is smiling and wearing dark clothing.EPA/Shutterstock

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado appeared in Oslo, Norway after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, waving from the balcony of the Grand Hotel after months in hiding.

Machado made the covert journey despite a travel ban, and has mostly laid low since Venezuela's disputed presidential election in 2024. She last appeared in public in January.

From a balcony on Wednesday with a crowd cheering below, Machado placed her hand on her heart and sang with her supporters, before walking outside to greet them in person.

Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the award on her mother's behalf earlier in the day.

The Nobel Institute awarded Machado the Peace Prize this year for "her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy" in Venezuela.

Afterwards, Machado went the outside to greet her supporters, who waited behind metal barricades on the street.

"Maria!" "Maria, here!" they shouted in Spanish, as many held their phones aloft to record the historic moment.

At one point, Machado climbed over the barriers to join them.

Reuters Maria Corina Machado jumps over barricades outside the Grand Hotel in Oslo to greet cheering supporters as security looks on.Reuters
Maria Corina Machado jumps over barricades outside the Grand Hotel in Oslo to greet cheering supporters.

Her appearance was preceded by speculation that she would travel to Norway for the award ceremony.

The Nobel committee shared audio of Machado declaring, "I will be in Oslo, I am on my way."

After her Peace Prize win, Machado made a point to praise US President Donald Trump, who is open about his own ambitions for the Peace Prize and is locked in ongoing military tension with Venezuela.

On Wednesday, Trump announced the US military had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. His administration alleges the vessel was under sanction and was involved in an "illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organisations".

The Venezuelan government accused the US of theft and piracy.

Elite Coast Guard squad and 'dark fleet' ship - what we know about US seizure of oil tanker

11 December 2025 at 19:34
Watch: Video shows US military seizing oil tanker off Venezuela coast

A US helicopter flies low over a hazy blue sea as it approaches a massive ship. It hovers as camouflaged soldiers holding rifles swing down ropes to the vessel's deck.

The video, released by the US government, shows the latest in a series of escalations in Washington's pressure campaign on Nicolás Maduro's government – the seizure of a crude oil tanker.

The US claims the tanker is used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran in an "illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations".

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has called the seizure "international piracy" and claims US President Donald Trump wants Venezuela's energy resources.

Here's what we know.

The operation

"We have just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela - a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually," Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

The footage of the operation was shared by Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media. Bondi said a seizure warrant for the tanker was carried out by the US Coast Guard, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Defence.

The exact location of the tanker at the time of the seizure is not clear, but a senior military official told BBC's US partner CBS News that the vessel had just left a port in Venezuela.

The 45-second video shows a US team walking the deck of the ship with their weapons drawn. No ship crew are visible.

The seizure involved two helicopters, 10 marines and 10 US Coast Guard members, and special operations forces, a source familiar with the operation told CBS.

The boarding of the vessel involved an elite group of the Coast Guard called the Maritime Security and Response Team, the source said.

This team is trained in counterterrorism and high-risk law enforcement boarding procedures – like the fast-rope boarding from a helicopter seen in the video. It was created after the September 11 attacks, during an overhaul of national security.

The Coast Guard led the operation with support from the Navy, officials told CBS.

Planet Labs PBC An overhead view of two oil tankers at seaPlanet Labs PBC
The Skipper (the vessel on the right) was filmed by satellite on 18 November at the José Terminal, a facility in Barcelona, Venezuela, which is used by crude oil tankers

The oil tanker

Maritime risk company Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Skipper and said it believed the ship had been "spoofing" its position - or broadcasting a false location - for a long time.

The ship has sailed under other names, including Toyo and Adisa, since it was built 20 years ago. The Skipper is 333m (1,092 ft) in length and 60m wide, and is classified as a very large crude carrier (VLCC).

Vanguard Tech said the vessel is "reported to be part of the dark fleet, and was sanctioned by the United States for carrying Venezuelan oil exports". The dark fleet refers to ships used to smuggle sanctioned goods.

It is believed to have left the oil port of Jose on either 4 or 5 December, with about 1.8 million barrels of heavy crude oil on board, with about 200,000 barrels transferred to another vessel before the seizure, Reuters reported, citing analysis from TankerTrackers.com and the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.

The US treasury department sanctioned the Skipper in 2022, CBS reported, for alleged involvement in oil smuggling that generated revenue for the Hezbollah group in Lebanon and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force in Iran.

BBC Verify located the tanker on MarineTraffic, which shows that the vessel was sailing under the flag of Guyana when its position was last updated two days prior to the seizure. A statement from Guyana's Maritime Administration Department on Wednesday evening, however, said that the Skipper was "falsely flying the Guyana Flag as it is not registered in Guyana".

MarineTraffic shows it was last near Iran in mid-September before arriving off the coast of Guyana at the end of October and making minimal further movement since then. This data may be partial or incorrect because of spoofing.

The seized oil

When asked by reporters what the US would do with the oil carried by the tanker, Trump said: "We keep it, I guess... I assume we're going to keep the oil."

Global crude oil prices are trading at roughly $61 (£46) a barrel, meaning the stash aboard the skipper could be worth more than $95m - if it does indeed comprise 1.6m barrels after 200,000 were removed. The BBC has not verified how much oil is on board the ship.

Bondi, the top prosecutor in the US, said of the seized vessel: "For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations."

Maduro has accused the US of using its ongoing military buildup in the Caribbean and "war on drugs" to try and depose him and get its hands on Venezuela's oil - something the US denies.

Venezuela sits on largest known reserves of crude oil in the world. But Analysts have highlighted the complexities. The oil considered "heavy" and highly viscous, meaning that extracting it needs special equipment and knowledge.

Venezuela's ageing infrastructure and heavy sanctions from the US have also caused difficulties for the nation's efforts to monetise its vast resources.

Graphic about the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. The top section shows a photo of the carrier at sea with text noting it carries about 4,600 sailors, travels as part of a “strike group” with other warships, has capacity for up to 90 aircraft, and cost around £13 billion to build. Below, a chart compares the carrier’s length (337m/1,106ft) to the height of The Shard (310m), Eiffel Tower (330m), and Empire State Building (381m). The bottom section shows an aerial photo of the flight deck with dimensions: length 337m (1,106ft), max width 78m (256ft), and flight deck area 18,000 sq m (4.5 acres). Source is US Department of Defense, US Congress
The world's largest warship - the USS Gerald Ford - was used as a staging post for Wednesday's tanker seizure

The wider US pressure campaign

The Trump administration has focused for much of the last year on fighting the influx of drugs - especially fentanyl and cocaine - into the US.

As part of the effort, Trump designated two Venezuelan criminal groups - Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles - as Foreign Terrorist Organisations and has alleged that the latter is led by Maduro himself.

Without providing evidence, Trump has also accused Maduro of "emptying his prisons and insane asylums" and "forcing" its inmates to migrate to the US. Stopping immigration has been another priority for the White House.

As part of the pressure campaign, the US has deployed 15,000 troops and a range of aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships to the Caribbean. Among them is the world's largest warship - the USS Gerald Ford - from which helicopters took off as part of the tanker seizure.

Since early September, US forces have carried out more than 20 strikes in international waters on boats alleged to have been carrying drugs. More than 80 people have been killed.

The Trump administration argues that it is involved in a non-international armed conflict with the alleged drug traffickers, whom it accuses of conducting irregular warfare against the US.

The US has also described those on board as "narco terrorists" but legal experts say the strikes are unlawful as that designation "did not transform them into lawful military targets".

Map showing the approximate locations of US strikes on alleged drug boats across the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Red circles mark strike clusters: three strikes off Mexico in the Pacific, seven strikes off the west coast of Colombia, two strikes near Central America in the Caribbean Sea, four strikes off the north coast of Venezuela and five strikes in the central Caribbean south of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Source: Acled (most recent strike shown is 15 Nov)

Hundreds of 'high value' items taken in Bristol museum raid

11 December 2025 at 20:05
Avon and Somerset Police A blurry CCTV image of four men wearing jackets and baseball caps in a street at night time. Avon and Somerset Police
Police want to speak to these four men after more than 600 artefacts were stolen

More than 600 artefacts "of significant cultural value" have been stolen from Bristol Museum's archive in a "high-value" raid, police say.

Four men gained entry to a building in the Cumberland Basin area of the city in the early hours of 25 September, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Items from the museum's British Empire and Commonwealth collection were stolen and detectives are now trying to trace four males captured in the area on CCTV.

"The theft of many items which carry a significant cultural value is a significant loss for the city," Det Con Dan Burgan said.

Avon and Somerset Police Two CCTV images places side by side. One is a man in a dark jacket, grey trousers and white hat and carrying a bag. The second is a group of all four males in the street, they all have hats or their hoods up. All are carrying bags. Avon and Somerset Police
The men are described as being white and were all wearing jackets and baseball caps

"These items, many of which were donations, form part of a collection that provides insight into a multi-layered part of British history, and we are hoping that members of the public can help us to bring those responsible to justice," he added.

"So far, our enquiries have included significant CCTV enquiries as well as forensic investigations and speaking liaising with the victims."

Police are keen to speak to anyone who recognises the men captured on CCTV, or who may have seen possible stolen items being sold online.

All of the men are thought to be white. The first was described as of medium to stocky build and was wearing a white cap, black jacket, light-coloured trousers and black trainers.

The second was described as being of slim build and was wearing a grey, hooded jacket, black trousers and black trainers.

The third was wearing a green cap, black jacket, light-coloured shorts and white trainers. Police said he appeared to walk with a slight limp in his right leg.

The fourth was described as being of large build and was wearing a two-toned orange and navy or black puffy jacket, black trousers and black and white trainers.

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Sir Chris Hoy breaks leg in 'worst' crash of his life while riding mountain bike

11 December 2025 at 19:00

Hoy breaks leg in 'worst' crash of his life

Sir Chris Hoy Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Sir Chris Hoy won Olympic gold medals at the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games

  • Published

Sir Chris Hoy says he is on crutches and "hobbling about" after breaking a leg in a cycling crash which he described as the "worst" of his life.

Six-time Olympic champion Hoy announced in October 2024 that his cancer is terminal, but the 49-year-old has continued to ride his mountain bike since entering "a bit of a stability period" in his treatment.

However, in an interview with Sky Sports, the Scotsman said: "I've smashed my leg up, that's the worst thing that's happened recently. You just don't bounce like you do when you're younger.

"It was a big one. I'm doing better now, I'm still on crutches, hobbling about.

"Worse things happen. I've been riding bikes for 43 years and it's the worst crash I've ever had. I'm pretty lucky that's the worst one I've had in all those years of riding."

Hoy, whose seven Olympic medals also include one silver, is Britain's second-most decorated Olympic athlete behind fellow track cyclist Sir Jason Kenny (seven golds).

He also claimed 11 World Championship golds and 34 World Cup titles before retiring in 2013.

"I want to live my life and I want to make the most of it. None of us are here forever so you want to make the most of the time you have and do the things you enjoy," said Hoy.

"I've just had an unfortunate spill and it's the way the cookie crumbles. I'm doing alright now, I wasn't doing so well in the immediate aftermath of it, but looking forward to Christmas."

Hoy announced in February 2024 that he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

He confirmed in October 2024 that his diagnosis was terminal after the primary cancer spread to his bones, with doctors giving him between two and four years to live.

Hoy said his terminal cancer diagnosis has improved his life "in some ways" because it has changed his outlook.

"It's changed my life without question, but I think in some ways it's improved my life," Hoy told BBC Sport in November.

"It's changed my outlook on a lot of things. I'm not as bothered by small things. I think I try and focus on the here and the now, enjoying the moment, making the most of today, and trying to find something positive in any situation.

"I'm doing well. I'm able to keep doing all the things that I enjoy, spend a lot of time with my family, and I hope to be around for a lot longer yet."

Related topics

'I am to be executed like a criminal': Mary Queen of Scots' final letter to go on rare display

11 December 2025 at 14:10
BBC The letter surrounded by a white frame, with two people's hands holding on ot the edges of the frameBBC
The letter will go on display at Perth Museum for three months

The public are to be given a rare chance to see the last letter by Mary Queen of Scots, which was written just hours before she was beheaded.

Mary penned the letter in the cell where she had been imprisoned for 19 years by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

Mary tells her brother-in-law, King Henri III of France, that she is "to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning".

The manuscript will be on show at Perth Museum for three months.

It will be the first time in a generation that the letter will be on prolonged public display.

There were long queues outside the National Library of Scotland's George IV Bridge building in Edinburgh the last time it went on show in 2017.

Mary Queen of Scots was executed on 8 February 1587 for plotting against Elizabeth.

The four-page letter was written in her native French from her prison cell at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire.

Mary asserts her right to the English crown and her belief that she was being persecuted for her Catholic faith.

She says: "I scorn death and vow that I meet it innocent of any crime."

Mary also asks for her servants' wages to be paid after her death, and signs off: "Your very loving and most true sister, Mary R."

Chris Cassels, a man with short greying hair and glasses, standing in front of a bookcase and a wall chart.
Chris Cassels says the letter has a "relic-like quality"

The manuscript is usually kept in secure storage at the National Library of Scotland (NLS).

Chris Cassels, head of archives and manuscript collections, said it was incredibly special to see it "in the flesh".

"It is really important in that it gives us an insight into Mary's final hours on earth. It is obviously testimony to how she views herself in those final moments," he said.

Mary Stuart was nine months old when she was crowned Queen of Scots following the death of her father, James V, in 1542.

She was raised in France, where she married the heir to the throne, the Dauphin Francis.

Mary was widowed by the age of 18 and returned to Scotland to rule as queen at a time when her Catholicism was viewed with suspicion.

Shona Hunter standing in front of bookcases filled with books. She has short brown hair and glasses and is wearing a green shirt.
Shona Hunter says they want to reduce the amount of light on the letter

Mr Cassels said Mary's "sincerity of religious conviction" stood out in the letter which had a "relic-like quality".

"It's in her own hand. It has her signature. She touched it. She folded it up to be sent off to France in the hours right before her death.

"So it's undeniably a really special document."

The manuscript is kept in a specially-designed mount to protect it from damage.

Shona Hunter, who works conserving documents at the NLS, said they had to strike a balance between giving people access now while also making sure others will be able to see it in the future.

"It's such an important and precious document that we're really careful about who will see it because we want to reduce the amount of light that will fall onto the object," she said.

A black and white sketch of Mary wearing formal 16th century dress and head dress.
Mary Queen of Scots was executed in 1587

Bright or ultraviolet light, in particular, could cause irreversible damage to the letter.

"What we need to do is monitor, control and, where possible, just reduce the amount of light exposure and that way we protect it for generations to come."

The letter will be on display for three months as part of an exhibition at Perth Museum which is due to open on 23 January.

Ashleigh Hibbins, head of audiences at the museum, said it was a "huge coup".

She said Mary had many links to the area and spent a lot of time in Perthshire.

"Most famously, she was actually imprisoned for 11 months in Loch Leven Castle, " she said.

This was where she abdicated the throne in favour of her baby son, James VI.

Ashleigh Hibbins, a woman with long wavy brown hair, standing in front of a framed picture. She is wearing a black top and a necklace.
Ashleigh Hibbins, head of audiences at the museum, said it was a "huge coup"

James was estranged from his mother from infancy and raised a Protestant.

In 1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I without a direct heir, he became James I of England, uniting the crowns of the two old enemies.

The fractured relationship with his mother Mary was evident in the hours before her death.

She wrote: "As for my son, I commend him to you in so far as he deserves, for I cannot answer for him."

Ms Hibbins said she believed the intrigue around the life and death of the "doomed queen" would attract visitors.

"To have her last words on display for the first time in a generation, and we believe the first time it's been seen north of Edinburgh, is just fantastic for us," she added.

"It feels like a bit of a homecoming."

Why is flu so bad this winter - and should you buy a vaccine?

11 December 2025 at 17:42
Getty Images An unwell woman sits on her sofa, coughing Getty Images

Flu has come early this year and experts predict it could be a particularly nasty season because a new strain of the virus is circulating.

The NHS has already sent out a "flu jab SOS" to vulnerable people.

How bad might this winter be, and should you buy a flu jab even if you are generally fit, even if you have to pay for it?

Who needs a flu jab?

The NHS offers a free flu vaccine to people who need it most, including:

  • anyone aged 65 or over
  • those have certain long-term health conditions
  • pregnant women
  • care home residents
  • carers for older or disabled people, or those who receive a carer's allowance
  • people who live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.

A nasal spray version of the flu vaccine is also offered to children aged 2 to 3 years as well as school-aged children (reception to year 11).

Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Everyone else has to buy one.

Should I buy a flu shot?

Even if you are healthy, you might still want to buy a flu vaccine this winter.

Vaccines still work against the drifted influenza A(H3N2) strain that some are calling "super flu".

High street chemists sell the vaccine for around £20.

It's best to get vaccinated sooner to protect yourself during winter.

How long does it take for the vaccine to work?

The vaccine usually takes up to 14 days to work.

During this period, you're still vulnerable to catching the virus.

Some people mistakenly think the vaccine has given them flu, but the vaccine does not cause flu - instead, it gives your body the instructions it needs to fight off an infection should you catch it.

There's still a chance you might get flu after getting vaccinated, but it's likely to be milder and not last as long.

Protection decreases over time which is why a vaccine is offered every year.

The vaccine is frequently updated to best match the strain or version of flu that experts expect will be circulating.

Is it a cold, 'super flu' or Covid?

There are lots of coughs and colds doing the rounds. So how do you know if you have flu rather than something else? Your symptoms can give a clue.

Colds

  • Symptoms appear gradually
  • Mostly affect nose and throat
  • Early sign - pressure in your ears
  • Chestier, mucus cough

Flu

  • Comes on suddenly
  • Feel wiped out
  • Fever, muscle aches, exhaustion
  • Need bed rest
  • Dry cough

Covid

  • Typical flu symptoms
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Diarrhoea or tummy upset

What else can I do to protect myself?

If you're meeting people indoors, open a window for fresh air.

Practise good hygiene:

  • cough into your bent elbow, or use a tissue and dispose of it afterwards in the nearest bin
  • wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap
  • clean your surroundings often, especially areas that are touched frequently such as door handles

If you are unwell but must go out, consider wearing a face mask to help protect others.

Private flu vaccine stocks running low as cases rise in Scotland

11 December 2025 at 19:40
Getty Images An older woman with grey hair and glasses blows her nose while sitting on a sofa with a grey blanket round her shoulders. There is a box of tissues on the table in front of her as well as various bottles that may be medicine. Getty Images
The latest figures show Scotland has reached a high level of flu activity

Pharmacies have warned that private stocks of flu vaccines are running low.

It comes as lab-confirmed cases rose by 24% to 2,331 cases, from 1-7 December, compared with 1,875 the previous week.

Hospital admissions for flu increased by 15% from 860 to 986, according to the latest figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS).

Those eligible for a vaccine can access jabs from the NHS, but Community Pharmacy Scotland says people have been paying for the vaccine at pharmacies for convenience.

"It's a mixture," said policy and development head Adam Osprey.

"Some people are saying to us that they are running low while others have completely run out and have not got much hope of getting the stock back in."

PHS said flu activity increased more steadily this week, compared with the sharp rise the week before.

Last week's figures showed cases had more than doubled in the space of a week.

However, it said the high activity threshold had now been reached earlier than previous seasons.

Some health boards have had to close wards and restrict visiting with many asking people to wear masks.

Mr Osprey said it was difficult to get vaccine stocks exactly right, as pharmacists put in orders for flu vaccinations around February so manufacturers know how much to make.

"If you make or order too little then clearly you can't meet demand," he told Radio Scotland Breakfast.

"But if you go the other way then you're left with stock that has to get destroyed because you can't use it the following season. So it's a bit of a balancing game.

"When you're not able to predict these things, it has an impact on your stock and runs it low earlier than expected."

He urged people to try different pharmacies if local ones ran out of stock.

PHS previously warned that the flu season had arrived two weeks earlier than normal.

The dominant strain of flu is also believed to have mutated more than usual this summer, meaning the vaccine may be less effective although it will still offer some protection and prevent people from becoming seriously ill.

PHS said the new data showed that the vaccine was preventing severe flu, with children 78% less likely to be admitted to hospital if vaccinated.

It said vaccinated adults in Scotland aged 65 and over were 37% less likely to be hospitalised.

Under current rules, all over-65s in Scotland, as well as those aged between 18 and 65 defined as at risk due to an underlying health condition, are eligible for a free flu jab from the NHS.

Children aged between two and five and at school age also receive immunisation administered as a nasal spray.

But those aged between 50 and 64 as well as teachers and prison officers are no longer eligible for the vaccination, despite the programme being extended during the Covid pandemic.

People not eligible for a free vaccine can book one privately via a pharmacy.

These usually cost about £18 to £20.

Dr Kim Marsh from PHS said: "Vaccination remains the best way to help protect yourself against serious illness from flu and is also important in reducing the spread of flu in the community, helping to keep everyone from missing out on socialising with friends and family over the festive season."

England's busiest A&E hit by flu wave - hundreds of patients are arriving a day

11 December 2025 at 08:01
BBC Paige who is 19 is lying on a hospital bed resting her head on a pillow. She looks ill. She has dark hair and is wearing a T-shirt.
BBC
Paige, who has type 1 diabetes, came into hospital with flu and dangerously high sugar levels

At England's busiest emergency unit, all the beds are full by midday.

As one patient leaves his room at Leicester Royal Infirmary's acute unit, cleaning staff are waiting outside.

He is barely out of the room before the bed is stripped and bleach is sprayed. The next patient is already waiting to come in.

Over two days the BBC was given access to the hospital to witness first-hand how it is coping with an early surge of winter bug cases.

Flu season has hit a month earlier than normal this year, with experts warning there appears to be a more severe strain of the virus - mutated H3N2 - circulating.

Hospitals around the country, like this one in Leicester, are doing all they can to avoid becoming completely overwhelmed.

But staff at the Royal Infirmary say increasing numbers of people coming to hospital with the flu and other winter bugs - together with existing pressures - are hitting the hospital hard.

They already worry about how they will cope this winter.

Patients in every cubical

When 19-year-old Paige arrives at the hospital by ambulance, she's put on a trolley while a resus bed is cleared. She's got the flu but also has type 1 diabetes and has dangerously high sugar levels. She is curled in a ball, pale and shaking.

"There are patients in every cubical," Consultant Saad Jawaid says, as Paige is wheeled in. "Another ambulance has just rocked up."

We watch as he works with colleagues in the resus unit to find desperately needed bed spaces.

"When beds are full we have to move people - sometimes that means those who can sit are moved out of beds and into chairs," he says.

Consultant Saad Jawaid on the right is wearing blue hospital scrubs. He is speaking to female members of the clinical team, also in uniform, who are holding documents. They are in the emergency unit the the Royal Leicester Infirmary.
Consultant Saad Jawaid works with colleagues to try to free up beds

Paige is given insulin and fluids to try to stabilise her sugar levels. The doctors hope her diabetes will be controlled soon. Getting better from the flu will take longer.

The following day, Paige is in a side room on the acute assessment unit.

"I do struggle a lot in winter," she says. "I was maybe in here two or three weeks ago. Infections and stuff just seem to hit harder than usual."

The number of flu patients in hospital has hit a record high in England for this time of year with NHS leaders warning the country is facing an unprecedented flu season.

At its busiest times, the emergency unit here in Leicester saw more than 1,000 patients a day last winter. On one of the days we were here, 932 patients came through the door. That number is expected to rise in the coming weeks.

Attendance levels are already around 8% higher this year than last year. And the unit faces a daily shortage of between 50 to 70 beds.

At the Royal Infirmary around 64 beds are currently taken up by people with respiratory viruses, including flu.

We meet one patient who waited 106 hours for a bed on a ward. Another, Gary, came in with a stomach bug and finally got a bed after 34 hours.

Oscar, aged five months, sits in his mother's arms. He has brown hair with a curl and is wearing a white and brown outfit.
Oscar came into the hospital wheezing and finding it hard to breathe

By late afternoon, the children's waiting area is full. Parents stand rocking crying babies as every seat is taken.

Respiratory cases of flu and bronchiolitis, a condition affecting the lungs of young patients, are rising fast here too.

In just 30 minutes, 30 children arrive at the department.

At five months old this is Oscar's first winter and his first trip to A&E. His mum brought him in because he was wheezing and struggling to breathe. A few hours after arriving, he is finally seen by a doctor and told he has bronchiolitis.

"These bugs are everywhere at the moment - Oscar's older brother brought it home from school and now Oscar has it," says his mum.

Richard Mitchell has been the chief executive of University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust since 2021 - and has witnessed first-hand how it gets harder to cope with each winter that passes.

"We are already seeing very high levels of flu," he tells us. He expects numbers to climb into January. "That is one of the many things I am concerned about at the moment.

"At this point I feel we are working at the limits of our ability."

Turning minor cases away

The hospital has introduced a new system to manage the flow of patients arriving at its emergency department, as pressure grows on front-line services.

Receptionists, nurses, all the way up to consultants, now sit in a bank of desks at the entrance, assessing patients as they arrive.

This speeds up triage, moving people away from the front door and ensuring those in greatest need receive urgent care.

Staff say the range of cases has become increasingly polarised. Some of the most seriously ill patients are being driven in by relatives because of long waits for ambulances.

Line chart showing that positive tests for flu are climbing this year and are almost at 20% compared to the previous bad flu seasons in 2022 and 2024 when they were at around 13% at the same time. The chart shows that flu cases this year started rising earlier than in 2023 and 2024.
Flu has started early this year

At the other end of the scale, people turn up with minor complaints after struggling to secure GP appointments. "Last week someone came in with a coldsore," one nurse tells us.

Experienced staff can redirect those who do not need urgent care, helping them to book GP appointments or pointing them towards pharmacies and other services. Now one in 10 patients are sent away, although staff admit it can lead to frustration.

Security has been tightened following one violent incident, with glass screens installed and 24‑hour guards now in place.

Leicester Royal Infirmary has introduced new measures each year to boost capacity and manage rising demand. Winter pressures continue to grow, while the quieter summer months have become a thing of the past.

To reduce ambulance queues, prefabricated structures were converted into a permanent unit with 14 beds - all are full during the BBC's visit. Without them that would have been 14 ambulances queueing for hours to unload their patients.

Unlike many hospitals, Leicester's emergency unit is not totally overwhelmed by elderly patients. Frail patients are streamed directly to specialist areas, including a frailty unit, or supported in the community to avoid long hospital stays.

Preston Lodge, a former care home bought by the trust, now provides 25 beds, with 14 more opening on December 15. Patients who no longer need acute care - but still require rehabilitation or support - are moved there while awaiting care packages.

"We aim to get people better ready for going home and hopefully keep them stronger and more independent so they aren't back in hospital so frequently over the winter," says head of nursing, Emma Roberts.

Looking ahead, Mr Mitchell expects waits and delays to only get worse for patients in the coming weeks.

For the first week in January - traditionally the busiest each year - the hospital plans to free up more emergency beds, but that means delaying other operations and procedures.

He says: "We will not be able to provide timely care to every patient this winter but we will continue to do our utmost to ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect to ensure they receive safe care and we will do everything possible to manage those waiting times."

Hospital leaders here are trying to take proactive steps - rather than simply reacting to each crisis. But staff and patients alike warn that hospitals across the country are caught in the middle of a system, many believe, is close to breaking point.

In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care said it was "under no illusions this is going to be a tough winter for our NHS".

A spokesman said: "Flu cases are rising, so it is vital that patients can get protected. Almost 17 million vaccines have been delivered this autumn - 350,000 more compared to this time last year.

"There is no national shortage of the flu vaccine and we would urge everyone eligible to get their vaccination to protect themselves and their loved ones."

Banks to tell you where you might invest your money

11 December 2025 at 18:05
Getty Images Man and woman sit on a sofa where they are shown something on a tablet computer by a man in a blazer and shirt.Getty Images

People who might otherwise turn to friends, family, or social media influencers for financial advice are to be given new help to invest their money.

Targeted support from registered banks and other financial firms is being given the go-ahead by the City regulator and should start in April.

This will allow firms to make investment and pensions recommendations based on what similar groups of people could do with their money.

It still falls short of individually tailored advice, which can only be provided by an authorised financial adviser for a fee.

Nearly one in five people turned to family, friends or social media for help making financial decisions, according to a survey by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Sarah Pritchard, deputy chief executive of the FCA, said the new regime would be "game changing".

"It means millions of people can get extra help to make better financial decisions," she said.

"We also hope it will build greater confidence to invest. While investing will not be right for everyone, we know people in the UK invest less compared to the EU or US."

'Advice gap'

Investing money is not an option for millions of people. The regulator said that one in 10 people had no cash savings, and another 21% had less than £1,000 to draw on in an emergency.

However, FCA data suggested about seven million adults in the UK with £10,000 or more in cash savings could receive better returns through investing.

Investing does come with some risk as the value of an investment can go down as well as up, but the spending power of cash savings can be eroded by rising prices.

The regulator said that many consumers who were in a position to invest but chose not to did so because they were unsure of their options, felt overwhelmed,  or needed more support. Only 9% of people surveyed received regulated advice on their pensions and investments in the 12 months to May 2024.

Targeted support aims to bridge a gap between general guidance and information, and financial advisers who charge a fee.

For example, banks could explain how a large pot of cash savings could be invested, or how investments could be spread out to reduce risk.

"The FCA's new rules mark a significant step towards closing the advice gap and will empower millions," said Yvonne Braun, director of policy at the Association of British Insurers.

Some consumer groups have made clear that the new rules must not be a pathway to firms exploiting customers.

The FCA said firms taking part would need to be authorised in advance. They might include banks, building societies, investment platforms and digital wallet providers.

They would also be required to show that their recommendations were suitable and should only be offered when it put people in a better position, the regulator said. Any customer vulnerabilities would need to be identified and taken into account.

Consumers will have the right to take any disputes that arise to the independent financial ombudsman.

There will also be a move to allow people to make more informed decisions with their pensions.

The regulator's new rules will require legislation, but the government has made it a clear objective to encourage people to invest. The Treasury believes this will help to create economic growth.

It was one of the reasons for the decision by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to cut the annual allowance for cash Isas (Individual Savings Accounts) from £20,000 to £12,000 a year for under 65s, from April 2027.

Separately, the FCA has launched a "firm checker" tool to help prevent people from losing money to fraudsters through investment scams.

New Archbishop of Canterbury faces complaint about abuse case handling

11 December 2025 at 17:42
AFP via Getty Images Britain's new Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, Sarah Mullally, poses for a photograph in The Corona Chapel at Canterbury Cathedral, south east England on October 3, 2025AFP via Getty Images
Dame Sarah is due to take over the role of Archbishop of Canterbury in January

The Church of England is considering a complaint against the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury over her handling of an abuse allegation.

Dame Sarah Mullally has been accused of improperly handling a complaint against a priest in London, where she currently serves as bishop.

Church authorities said the complaint about her was initially made to Lambeth Palace - the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury - in 2020, but was not followed up due to "administrative errors and an incorrect assumption about the individual's wishes". They said Dame Sarah was not told of the complaint at the time it was made.

She is due to take office on 28 January and said the victim had been "let down".

"While his abuse allegations against a member of clergy were fully dealt with by the Diocese of London, it is clear that a different complaint he subsequently made against me personally in 2020 was not properly dealt with," she said in a statement.

"I am seeking assurance that processes have been strengthened to ensure any complaint that comes into Lambeth Palace is responded to in a timely and satisfactory manner."

Earlier this week the complainant spoke to the Premier Christian website, saying that the way the case was handled had a serious impact on his mental health.

Premier said it had seen evidence that when the complainant filed his original case against an accused priest, Bishop Sarah contacted the priest involved about the allegations, breaching the Church's disciplinary protocols.

The complaint against her was not formally dealt with and Lambeth Palace officials now say that they assumed the complainant no longer wished to proceed but are understood not to have sought confirmation of this with him.

A spokesman for Lambeth Palace said Church authorities had written to the complainant - known as N - to outline the next steps.

"The Bishop of London was unaware of the matter, as the process never reached the stage at which she would have been informed of the complaint or its contents.

"The provincial registrar has apologised to those involved and urgent arrangements are now being made for the complaint to be considered according to the relevant statutory process."

Dame Sarah, a former NHS chief nurse, became a priest in 2006 and was appointed as the first female Bishop of London in 2018 - the third most senior member of clergy in the Church of England.

She was named as the next Archbishop of Canterbury - the first woman to take on the role - in October after Justin Welby resigned over a safeguarding scandal.

He stepped down after a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church. It found that he "could and should" have reported John Smyth's abuse of boys and young men to police in 2013.

His last day in the role was in January and the Church, as a result, has been without someone in the top job for almost a year. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has been taking on most of Mr Welby's responsibilities in an interim move.

Mr Cottrell was one of the voting members of the body charged with choosing his successor. but has himself faced calls to step down over his handling of an abuse case.

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