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.

"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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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.

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.

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.

• What is AI, how does it work and why are some people concerned about it?

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."

Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Polish authorities have arrested a prominent Russian academic from St Petersburg's world-famous Hermitage Museum who is sought by Ukraine for allegedly conducting illegal excavations and partially destroying the ancient city of Myrmekion in Crimea.

The suspect, identified under Polish law as Aleksandr B, is the head of the Ancient Archaeology of the Northern Black Sea region at the museum, according to Ukrainian prosecutors.

Ukrainian prosecutors accuse him of conducting illegal excavations at the site in Kerch between February 2014 and November 2025.

"As a result of these excavations, from 2014-2019, he illegally partially destroyed the 'Ancient City of Myrmekion' archaeological complex," Prosecutor Piotr Skiba, a spokesman for the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office told the BBC, citing information from Ukrainian prosecutors.

Ukraine estimates the damage at UAH 201.6 million ($4.77 million).

Russia invaded Crimea in February 2014 and annexed it. Russia's foreign ministry identified the man as Alexander Butyagin, an employee of the State Hermitage Museum and condemned his detention.

"This is absolute legal tyranny. We will of course demand through diplomatic channels the right to protect the interests of our citizen," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Myrmekion was an Ancient Greek colony founded by the Ionians in the first half of the Sixth Century BCE located in contemporary Crimea.

Prosecutor Skiba said the man was detained in Poland on 4 December and was later questioned by prosecutors in Warsaw, "where he refused to provide explanations".

The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office issued an extradition request for Aleksandr B in November, Skiba said.

According to the request: "He searched for movable objects on cultural heritage sites without the appropriate permit to conduct excavations at the 'Ancient City of Myrmekion' archaeological complex in Kerch….and conducted illegal excavations at this cultural heritage site from the beginning of the temporary occupation of the territory of Crimea".

Russia's foreign ministry said Butyagin had been invited to deliver lectures on Pompeii in Warsaw and several other European cities.

Warsaw District Court has agreed to remand Aleksandr B in custody at the Warsaw-Białołęka detention centre for 40 days until 13 January whilst the extradition process goes ahead.

The Russian embassy in Warsaw has been informed of his arrest and pre-trial detention and are providing him with consular assistance, Prosecutor Skiba said.

Portugal is facing severe disruption to transport, flights, hospitals, schools and other public services on Thursday, as the two main union federations stage a general strike over unprecedented labour reforms.

The last time the CGTP and the generally less militant UGT joined forces was during the eurozone debt crisis in 2013, when a "troika" of international institutions demanded cuts in salaries and pensions as part of Portugal's bailout.

Twelve years later, Portugal's economy has become the fastest growing in the eurozone in recent months, but Prime Minister Luís Montenegro says it is still necessary to tackle "rigidities" in the labour market "so companies can be more profitable and workers have better salaries" as a result.

"I will not give up on having a country with the ambition to be at the forefront, to be at the vanguard of Europe," he said on the eve of the strike.

However, Montenegro appears to have been taken aback by the strength of feeling against his minority right-of-centre government's plans: one of his Social Democrat MPs is on the UGT executive and even he voted for a strike.

The prime minister tweaked some proposals after calling the federation in for talks late last month, but it was clearly not enough.

Among the most controversial of the more than 100 proposals are:

• letting employers roll over temporary contracts for years on end
• lifting a ban on sacking workers then immediately rehiring them indirectly via outsourcing
• removing a requirement to reinstate employees who were unfairly dismissed.

It is Portuguese in their 20s who are likely to be most affected by the changes - and opinion is rather mixed.

Diogo Brito, who works as an air steward but has friends who do casual work in tourism, supports the right to strike but backs the package: "It has to be done. We have to catch up with richer countries and with these measures I think we can evolve more."

But self-employed photographer Eduardo Ferreira says he knows many people who already cannot find secure jobs and is pleased to see the unions unite at a "critical moment" for Portugal: "Things have been tough ever since the troika, and workers haven't reacted until now."

The CGTP has condemned the package as "an assault on the rights of all workers, particularly women and young people", while the UGT calls it "so out of step, in a context of economic growth, financial stability and a strong labour market, that… it reflects a clear bias in favour of employers".

The UGT also complains that formal talks between unions, government and business were "unbalanced, restrictive and detrimental to workers".

Montenegro's governing coalition lacks a majority in parliament, and is seeking support for the bill not only from the small, free-market Liberal Initiative (IL) but from hard-right Chega, which since May's general election has been the second-largest party.

Its leader, André Ventura, has expressed reservations about the way some measures might affect family life, but looks open to negotiations.

Before the election, Montenegro had ruled out deals with Chega, and the unions and the third-biggest party, the Socialists, say the prime minister's mask has slipped.

They also warn that politicians on the right want to amend Portugal's 1976 constitution to loosen employment safeguards considered among Europe's strongest.

The issue has also become caught up in the campaign for January's presidential election, with several candidates arguing that the labour reform bill flouts Portugal's 1976 constitution.

Under Portugal's "semi-presidential" system, the head of state can decline to sign bills approved by parliament. Bills can instead be sent to the Constitutional Court for review or the president can exercise a veto that, while it can be overturned by a majority of elected MPs, delays the process, ensuring further discussion.

With the government seeking to overhaul so much of the labour code, such scrutiny might stoke voter unease about its radicalism, particularly since the plans were not in the coalition's election manifesto.

Unlike many strikes here, Thursday's day of action is not limited to the public sector.

At Portugal's largest factory, VW-owned Autoeuropa, south of Lisbon, almost 1,000 employees voted unanimously last week to back it.

"I believe there is no worker in this country unaffected by the negative measures in this reform," said UGT secretary-general Mário Mourão, after the Autoeuropa gathering. "It must be responded to appropriately."

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.

Pakistan's former spy chief has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a military court, on charges including violation of state secrets and interfering in politics.

Faiz Hameed led Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency from 2019 to 2021, during the tenure of now-jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

He was known to be a staunch supporter of Khan, and took early retirement shortly after Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022.

It is the first time that an ISI chief in Pakistan has been court martialled. His lawyer said he plans to appeal against the verdict.

The ISI chief is seen as the second most powerful position in Pakistan's military.

According to a press release issued by the public relations arm of Pakistani military (ISPR), the 15-month-long court martial proceeding began on August 12, 2024, under the Pakistan Army Act.

Hameed was tried on four charges, including "involvement in political activities, violation of the Official Secrets Act which harmed the interest of the state, misuse of his powers and government resources, and causing harm to citizens".

The ISPR statement added that Hameed had been given "the right to have a defence team of his choice" and that he has the right to appeal the decision in the "appropriate forum", which would be the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The exact details of the case are not public as the hearing was held behind closed doors in a military court.

The statement says that Hameed's alleged involvement in fomenting political agitation and instability is being dealt with separately.

This is assumed to be regarding allegations that Hameed was tied to protests against Imran Khan's arrest on 9 May 2023.

Hameed's lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, said his client was "1,000% innocent, but this is the court's decision".

"We were unaware of the judgement and only found out through the ISPR's press release. We are now applying to the relevant forum for a copy of the decision," he told the BBC.

"As soon as we receive it, we will review it and immediately file a petition to appeal. Right now, the first forum for appeal is the army chief, so that is what we will do. We are hopeful that at the next forum we will present our case and obtain justice."

Additional reporting by Farhat Javed

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.

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.

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.

• What is AI, how does it work and why are some people concerned about it?

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."

Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.

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.

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.

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".

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.

"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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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."

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.