Rachael Cole, 44, has been banned from ‘wearing a wig or hair piece, or any face covering that conceals her appearance when entering a shop’



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Rights group Amnesty says ban, which will affect around 12,000 girls, will ‘add to racist climate towards Muslims’.

Published On 11 Dec 202511 Dec 2025

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Austria’s lower house of parliament has passed a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools after a previous ban was overturned on the grounds that it was discriminatory.

Lawmakers passed the new legislation on Thursday by a large majority, meaning that girls younger than 14 will not be permitted to wear headscarves that “cover the head in accordance with Islamic traditions” in all schools, with non-compliance fines ranging from 150 to 800 euros ($175-930).

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In 2019, the country introduced a ban on headscarves for under-10s in primary schools, but the Constitutional Court struck it down the following year, ruling that it was illegal because it discriminated against Muslims, going against the state’s duty to be religiously neutral.

The Austrian government says it has “done [its] best” to see that this law will hold up in the courts.

The new law, which was proposed by the governing coalition of three centrist parties at a time of rising anti-immigration and Islamophobic sentiment, was also backed by the far-right Freedom Party, which wanted it to go even further so it would apply to all students and staff. The Greens were the only party to oppose it.

Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm, of the conservative People’s Party, which leads the governing coalition, called headscarves for minors “a symbol of oppression”.

Yannick Shetty, the parliamentary leader of the liberal Neos, the most junior party in the governing coalition, told the lower house that the headscarf “sexualises” girls, saying it served “to shield girls from the male gaze”.

Rights groups have criticised the plan. Amnesty International said it would “add to the current racist climate towards Muslims”.

IGGOe, the body officially recognised as representing the country’s Muslim communities, said the ban “jeopardises social cohesion”, saying that “instead of empowering children, they are stigmatised and marginalised”.

Angelika Atzinger, managing director of the Amazone women’s rights association, said a headscarf ban would send girls “the message that decisions are being made about their bodies and that this is legitimate”.

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr of the Neos said young girls were coming under increasing pressure from their families, and also from unrelated young boys, who tell them what to wear for “religious reasons”.

The Greens’ deputy parliamentary leader, Sigrid Maurer, agreed that this was a problem, and suggested interdisciplinary teams, including representatives of the Muslim community, be set up to intervene in schools when “cultural tensions” flare.

Under the ban, which comes into effect in February, an initial period would be launched during which the new rules would be explained to educators, parents and children with no penalties for breaking them.

After this phase, parents will face fines for repeated non-compliance.

The government said that about 12,000 girls would be affected by the new law.

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Protesters briefly interrupted the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, during a Capitol Hill hearing on Thursday, evoking a quote from the film The Exorcist.

As Noem delivered her opening remarks before the House committee on homeland security, two protesters disrupted the session, with one yelling: “Stop ICE raids! The power of Christ compels you! End deportations, the power of Christ compels you!”

“The power of Christ compels you!” is famously a line used in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist by a priest performing an exorcism.

While Noem smiled silently in response to the demonstration, Capitol police quickly escorted the protester out as he held sign that read “Stop ICE raids” and “Codepink,” likely referencing the anti-war group.

Moments later, another protester stood up, displaying a poster that said “No ICE, no troops!” The individual went on to shout: “Get ICE off our streets! Stop terrorizing our communities!”

Thursday’s incident comes as Noem faces growing calls for resignation from House Democrats over her handling of Donald Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdowns.

Addressing Noem directly, Mississippi representative Bennie Thompson, the committee’s top Democrat, said at the hearing: “Rather than sitting here and wasting your time and ours more with more corruption, lies and lawlessness, I call on you to resign. Do a real service to the country and just resign, that is if President Trump doesn’t fire you first.”

Noem remained defensive, saying that the Trump administration works “each and every day to make America safe again” and that she was very “privileged and honored to have my family with me” at the hearing.

The hearing also comes amid rising tensions between federal agents and the public over immigration tactics in major American cities. These tactics have involved the use of military-grade hardware against civilians, including flash-bang grenades and armored personnel carriers, as well as using smartwatches to track pregnant immigrants, even during labor.

Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed a new contract to purchase six Boeing 737s for deportations, marking the latest move in a series of steps taken by the government to fulfill Trump’s pledge of executing the “largest deportation operation in American history.”

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Scientists have captured rare footage of killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins hunting together near the coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Despite their common name ‘killer whale’, orca are actually the largest species of dolphin.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, is the first recorded evidence of the two working together, according to researchers.

They studied the mammals using drones and camera tags to understand feeding behaviour.

“Not only were the killer whales orienting [themselves] towards the dolphins at the surface, but when the dolphins started to dive, our tagged killer whales would start to dive,” lead researcher Dr Sarah Fortune from Dalhousie University in Canada said.

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Skip next section Zelenskyy said US has updated peace plan, see Ukrainian withdraw from Donetsk

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Zelenskyy said US has updated peace plan, see Ukrainian withdraw from Donetsk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed security guarantees for Ukraine in a video call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Zelenskyy said the US had been presented with an updated version of a peace plan. Details of all its amendments were not disclosed.

But the Ukrainian leader did say the 20-point plan included security guarantees as well as an agreement for the rebuilding of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said the main point of contention in the talks was the status of the eastern Donetsk region and future control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Zelenskyy said the US wants Ukraine, but not Russia, to withdraw troops from parts of the Donetsk region, in order to install a demilitarized buffer between the two armies.

“They see Ukrainian forces leaving the territory of Donetsk region, and the supposed compromise is that Russian forces do not enter this territory … which they already call a ‘free economic zone,'” Zelenskyy told reporters.

The Ukrainian president said any potential compromise on Ukrainian territory should be decided by a popular vote.

“I believe that the people of Ukraine will answer this question. Whether through elections or a referendum, there must be a position from the people of Ukraine,” he said.

https://p.dw.com/p/55Bgw

Skip next section Russia demands to know dead UK soldier’s activities

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Russia demands to know dead UK soldier’s activities

Moscow has demanded that the UK disclose the activities of a British soldier killed in Ukraine.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that Lance Corporal George Hooley had died in Ukraine while observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability. Hooely is said to have been away from the frontline when the incident occurred. 

“London must honestly admit what their very own Hooley was doing there. It seems that perhaps someone there in Britain began to carefully prepare public opinion in their country for military losses in Ukraine that would be impossible to simply hide and continue to conceal,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

She accused British forces of helping Ukraine “carry out terrorist attacks and extremist tasks,” but did not provide any evidence to back up the claim. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey said he was “devastated” by the soldier’s death.

“He was injured in a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability away from the front lines,” said the UK’s Ministry of Defense statement on the matter.

The UK has said it has a “small number” of military personnel in Ukraine, mostly providing security for British diplomats but also supporting Ukraine’s army.

UK’s Starmer hosts European leaders for Ukraine war talks

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Skip next section WATCH: EU ministers in Lviv discuss Ukraine’s EU bid12/11/2025December 11, 2025

WATCH: EU ministers in Lviv discuss Ukraine’s EU bid

Marie Joslyn

EU ministers meet in Lviv to back Ukraine’s membership bid and explore ways to bypass Hungary’s veto, which has stalled progress on Ukraine’s path to join the European Union.

EU ministers in Lviv discuss Ukraine’s EU bid

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https://p.dw.com/p/559cS

Skip next section NATO chief Rutte: ‘We are Russia’s next target’

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

NATO chief Rutte: ‘We are Russia’s next target’

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged alliance members to increase their defense efforts to prevent a war “on the scale our…grandparents and great-grandparents endured.”

Speaking in Berlin, Rutte said it did not appear that enough NATO members were taking the threat seriously enough.

“We are Russia’s next target. I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many don’t feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now,” Rutte said.

“Conflict is at our door. Russia has brought war back to Europe. And we must be prepared,” he added.

Rutte said he believed Moscow could be ready to launch a war in Europe in the next five years.

https://p.dw.com/p/55AEK

Skip next section Poland detains Russian archaeologist wanted by Ukraine

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Poland detains Russian archaeologist wanted by Ukraine

Poland has detained a Russian archaeologist wanted by Ukraine for allegedly plundering cultural treasures in Crimea.

Authorities say the man, identified as Alexander B., was arrested in Warsaw last week and will remain in custody for 40 days while Poland awaits an extradition request from Ukraine.

“[The Ukrainians] have suspicions about this person regarding… theft of cultural property,” Polish Special Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak told private broadcaster TOK FM.

“The court has ordered his arrest so that this case can be resolved calmly,” Siemoniak added.

Ukraine accuses the man of carrying out unauthorized excavations in Crimea, causing damage worth millions of dollars. Russia has been illegally occupying the Ukrainian peninsula since 2014.

Moscow dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

“We hope that Poland understands the absurdity of accusing a respected Russian archaeologist of ‘destroying cultural heritage’ on Russian territory and recognizes that such politicized actions cannot succeed and will not go unpunished,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

https://p.dw.com/p/559b5

Skip next section Merz: Ukraine’s peace proposals sent to Trump

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Merz: Ukraine’s peace proposals sent to Trump

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine sent its latest proposals to end the war with Russia to US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

“It mainly concerns the question of what territorial concessions Ukraine is prepared to make,” Merz said. 

He cautioned, however, that ultimately “the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people have to answer the question.”

Details of the Ukrainian counterproposal are not yet known. 

The initial plan put forward by the Trump administration was sharply criticized by many as a Russian “wish list.” 

It includes a suggestion that Kyiv give up regions in eastern Ukraine that Russia has not seized.

But the plan has been altered after a recent diplomatic flurry between the US, Ukraine, Russia, and Europe. 

Merz said that further talks with the US were planned this weekend and an international meeting on Ukraine “could take place at the beginning of next week.”

“Whether the American government participates or not very much depends on the joint drafts of papers which are currently being worked on,” he said.

UK,Germany back Ukraine amid tensions over US peace plan

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https://p.dw.com/p/558VK

Skip next section Merz: Ukraine should decide on territorial concessions

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Merz: Ukraine should decide on territorial concessions

Merz was speaking at a joint-press conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Berlin. Image: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine’s European allies told US President Donald Trump that only Kyiv can decide about changes to its territory.

A US-backed proposal to end the war would require Kyiv to give up large swathes of territory in eastern Ukraine, much of which is occupied by Russian forces.

The German leader and his British and French counterparts, Keir Starmer, and Emmanuel Macron held a joint phone call with Trump on Wednesday to discuss potential revisions to Washington’s plan.

Trump said Wednesday that they discussed the plan in “pretty strong terms,” adding that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “has to be realistic” about the plan which originally suggested Ukrainian cede some territory to Russia.

On Thursday Merz vowed to increase pressure on Moscow to end the war it started. 

“If we now proceed with this process as we envisage, there will be talks with the American government over the weekend,” said Merz at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

https://p.dw.com/p/558Lq

Skip next section WATCH: Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture12/11/2025December 11, 2025

WATCH: Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture

When Mariupol fell in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were captured. Among them was Rasti, a fighter with the Azov Brigade, who endured 30 months of torture and isolation in Russian captivity. Despite severe physical and psychological scars, he returned to the frontline, now leading an elite reconnaissance unit formed by former POWs. Wath their story here: 

Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture

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https://p.dw.com/p/557t0

Skip next section Russia calls for a comprehensive Ukraine peace agreement

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Russia calls for a comprehensive Ukraine peace agreement

Lavrov said Russia would not accept Ukraine getting NATO membership and that Moscow wanted protection for Russian speakers in UkraineImage: Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS/IMAGO

Russia wants a set of agreements to end the war in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday, as he repeated Moscow’s stance that the “root causes” of the conflict be resolved before any peace deal can be agreed.

“We insist on a set of agreements for lasting, sustainable peace with security guarantees for all countries involved,” Lavrov said.

President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin this month to discuss a US-backed plan to end the war.

“Our talks with the US president and his team are focused precisely on finding a long-term solution to eliminate the root causes of this crisis,” Lavrov said.

He added that Moscow had handed over Russia’s proposals on collective security guarantees to Washington and believed Trump was sincere in his efforts to broker a deal.

Lavrov’s comments came as Trump said he had spoken by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday.

They discussed proposals to end the war in Ukraine in “pretty strong terms,” he said, adding that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “has to be realistic” about his country’s position on a peace plan.

https://p.dw.com/p/557pE

Skip next section Russia says it came under fire in massive Ukraine air attack

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Russia says it came under fire in massive Ukraine air attack

Russian forces say they shot down 287 Ukrainian drones overnight, one of the highest single-night totals since the war began.

The defence ministry said at least 40 of those drones were shot down over the Moscow region, which includes the capital.

All four Moscow airports were briefly closed, and flights were diverted to St. Petersburg.

The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

In Ukraine, officials Poltava region say Russian strikes hit energy facilities, sparking fires.

https://p.dw.com/p/5579h

Skip next section Trump says discussed Ukraine in ‘pretty strong words’ with European leaders12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Trump says discussed Ukraine in ‘pretty strong words’ with European leaders

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday night at the White House that “we discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words” when asked about an earlier phone call with the leaders of the UK, France and Germany.

“They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we’ll make a determination, depending on what they come back with,” Trump said, without specifying whom he was referring to.

Asked whether the gathering was expected to include the Ukrainian president, Trump answered: “With Zelenskyy and us.”

The UK, France, and Germany, along with Ukraine and other partners, have been working frantically over the last few weeks to have a revised proposal that balances out a US proposal for peace in Ukraine.

The so-called E3 leaders have been aiming to secure security guarantees for Ukraine once there’s a peace accord.

What to know about tensions between Washington and Europe

• The intensified peace talks comes amid strained ties between the US and Europe over a new US National Security Strategy
• The document lays bare the White House’s belief that Europe is facing ‘civilizational erasure’ due to its immigration policies
• It also signals Washington’s backing of Europe’s nationalist, far-right parties
• In an interview with Politico this week, Trump called European leaders ‘weak’ 
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the US strategy document “unacceptable”

US stance, policy on Europe ‘not helpful,’ MEP tells DW

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Skip next section ‘Coalition of the Willing’ to discuss Ukraine postwar security in virtual call

12/11/2025December 11, 2025

‘Coalition of the Willing’ to discuss Ukraine postwar security in virtual call

The “Coalition of the Willing” group of nations is set to discuss “future security and prevent a recurrence of Russian aggression,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

“This week may bring news for all of us – and for bringing the bloodshed to an end,” Zelenskyy said in on X. He will also attend the virtual meeting.

The “Coalition of the Willing” is a broad term for about 30 nations supporting Ukraine. The group is led by the UK and France.

Zelenskyy has been on a mission to balance out a US peace plan that is widely seen as favoring Russian demands to end the war.

Zelenskyy joined the British, French and German leaders for an in-person meeting earlier this week in London to find an agreement on guaranteeing Ukraine’s postwar security.

https://p.dw.com/p/556zj

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/11/2025December 11, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to join an urgent virtual call with the self-titled “Coalition of the Willing” group of nations on Thursday.

The call comes after US President Donald Trump said he and European leaders discussed proposals to end the war in Ukraine in “pretty strong words” Wednesday.

Ukraine and European allies have pushed back on a US proposal to end the war in Ukraine, that was widely seen as having favored Moscow’s demands. 

Zelenskyy then held a flurry of meetings with European leaders and Ukrainian allies in a bid to rework the proposal.

Zelenskyy earlier said he expected to send the reworked proposal to US negotiators by Wednesday, but it’s not clear whether that had happened.

Keep reading as we track developments throughout the day.

https://p.dw.com/p/556yU

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A skydiver broke free and ultimately survived after his reserve parachute accidentally deployed and got stuck on the tail of an airplane as it was soaring through the sky. 

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau explained that the “reserve handle snagged on the aircraft’s flap, resulting in deployment of the reserve parachute.”

Video footage of the harrowing incident — which occurred in September — shows the parachute deploying, with the man flying into the aircraft’s tail and then dangling from the plane because the chute had gotten stuck.

AMERICAN SKYDIVERS RECLAIM WORLD RECORD FROM LIBYA WITH MASSIVE FLAG JUMP ON PEARL HARBOR DAY

A skydiver’s reserve parachute accidentally deployed in Australia. (Australian Transport Safety Bureau via Storyful)

“The reserve parachute wrapped around the left horizontal stabiliser and elevator and deflated as” the skydiver’s “lower legs struck the stabiliser,” the ATSB noted, adding that the person “was then suspended beneath the tailplane.”

The individual was able to utilize a hook knife to cut parachute lines.

“The reserve parachute then tore, releasing” the person “from the aircraft with part of the reserve remaining on the aircraft’s tail,” the ATSB report notes.

NASHVILLE SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR DEAD AFTER FALLING WITHOUT PARACHUTE

A skydiver’s reserve chute catches onto the aircraft, leaving him dangling in the air. (Australian Transport Safety Bureau via Storyful)

After breaking free of the aircraft, the skydiver was able to deploy the main parachute and land — though not without facing some complications.

The ATSB report states that “during the main parachute deployment, the remaining reserve parachute lines twisted around the main parachute lines. Additionally, during the opening sequence, the right brake toggle of the main parachute released.”

“The main parachute fully inflated with line twists, and after initially turning right, commenced a rapid left turn. After several rotations,” the skydiver “grabbed and pulled on the right brake line above the line twists to arrest the turn. The parachute stopped turning, and” the individual “was able to unwind the line twists and release the left brake toggle. Passing about 8,000 ft, the main parachute lines fully unwound from the reserve parachute lines and functioned normally for the remainder of the descent.”

EXPERIENCED SKYDIVER DELIBERATELY PLUNGED TO DEATH ONE DAY AFTER RELATIONSHIP WITH BOYFRIEND ENDED

The skydiver managed to use a hook knife to sever the lines of the mistakenly deployed reserve chute. (Australian Transport Safety Bureau via Storyful)

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The pilot managed to land the damaged airplane, according to the ATSB, which noted that the skydiver “landed 9 seconds later with minor lacerations and bruising to their left lower leg and a deep gash to their right lower leg.”

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

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US forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday in a dramatic escalation of hostilities between Washington and Caracas.

Helicopters sent to intercept the vessel had reportedly taken off from the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, which was sent to the region last month in a pointed show of force.

The latest operation, pulling in special forces and US Marines, follows months of sabre-rattling and intimidation from Donald Trump in an attempt to pile pressure on Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

But with Maduro unmoved, the US buildup in the Caribbean shows no sign of slowing down as Trump continues to amass gunboats, troops and missiles.

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The United States sent special forces with helicopters to intercept an oil tanker off Venezuela, it was announced on Wednesday (X/@AGPamBondi)

How many US ships are stationed near Venezuela?

The USS Gerald R Ford joined a fleet of 12 warships in the Caribbean in November, adding capacity for up to 90 aircraft to join the 10 F-35B fighter jets stationed in Puerto Rico.

Stocked with the long-range missiles coveted by Ukraine, the US armada today has the capability to strike targets anywhere in Venezuela.

That force projects huge power across the region for an operation ostensibly targeting drug traffickers. It represents the largest US buildup in the area unrelated to natural disasters in more than three decades.

The number of combat vessels has jumped since the first half of the year, when the US kept a steady patrol of three to five in the region, according to analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

That figure leaves out the tankers and resupply ships also joining the fleet and includes ships with direct combat functions, even if not commissioned warships.

That rose to 10 in August when Trump deployed the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to the Caribbean. The US began its military campaign in September, striking a small boat it said was carrying drugs, without providing evidence.

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The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan (left) and USS Bainbridge sailing in formation (US Department of Defense)

A naval base in Puerto Rico

That month, the US suddenly began construction at a former naval base in Puerto Rico.

Photos taken by Reuters showed the US was coordinating its buildup with upgrades to landing and take-off capabilities at Roosevelt Roads, the former site of one of the world’s foremost naval stations before it was shuttered in 2004. Civilian airports in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were also eyed for renovation.

US military officials and maritime experts said the new builds indicated the kind of preparations that could allow attacks on Venezuela.

As it began renovations on military bases, special forces joined the buildup in September, before the 337m-long USS Gerald R Ford arrived in November.

US military assets have been used to deadly effect in the Caribbean in the last four months, killing at least 86 people between 22 strikes, according to the Pentagon.

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An E/A-18G Growler aircraft lands on the flight deck of USS Gerald R Ford (US Southern Command)

Tomahawks and land strikes

Trump threatened Venezuela – and its neighbours – with land strikes at the start of December in the clearest direct threat to Maduro’s regime. He suggested any country producing drugs for distribution in the US was fair game.

Washington has an estimated 170 Tomahawk missiles ready, according to CSIS. The long-range missiles could hit any part of Venezuela with a range of 800-1,000 miles.

The US is also believed to have tens of thousands of JDAM bombs stationed in the area, and thousands of air-launched missiles with varying ranges.

The CIA is said to be providing the bulk of intelligence used to carry out the strikes against small boats, sources told The Guardian, amid fears Trump could turn his focus inland.

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A Tomahawk cruise missile launches from the USS Shiloh (Getty)

America’s air power

Flight tracking data shows the US sent long-range bombers to the region in October and November. Several P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft have also appeared over the Caribbean in recent weeks.

With only a few thousand troops and a handful of land vehicles, however, the US is not gearing up for a land invasion.

“The United States does not have the ground forces needed for an invasion,” Mark Cancian, retired Marine colonel and senior advisor at CSIS, told Politico.

His analysis shows the US has 2,200 Marines in the area and 23 combat vehicles (reconnaissance and tracked amphibious), while Venezuela can draw on around 100,000 personnel if needed, as well as hundreds of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery pieces.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Lili Reinhart said she was diagnosed with endometriosis last week
• She said doctors constantly dismissed her pain and her diagnosis came only after pushing for an MRI
• The actress said she’s glad she listened to her body and that she’ll continue to encourage others to do the same

Lili Reinhart revealed she was diagnosed with endometriosis after doctors constantly dismissed her symptoms.

On Thursday, Dec, 11, the Riverdale actress posted photos on Instagram from a hospital bed showing her stomach after undergoing laparoscopic surgery. The 29-year-old shared that last week, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a reproductive condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, causing cramping and chronic pain.

“Last year, I saw a urogynecologist and was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. I was told there was no cure—and no lasting relief—for my symptoms,” she wrote. “Three hospital visits. Multiple urologists and gynecologists. And not one of them seriously considered endometriosis as the underlying cause of what I was experiencing.”

“It wasn’t until I worked with two different pelvic floor therapists that the word endometriosis was even mentioned to me as a possible source of my pain,” she said.

Lili Reinhart showing her stomach after being diagnosed with endometriosis.

Lili Reinhart/Instagram

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Reinhart said that she pushed for an MRI on her own, which ultimately led to her being diagnosed with adenomyosis, a type of endometriosis that only occurs in the uterus. 

“I met with an endometriosis specialist who helped me decide that laparoscopic surgery was the next step I wanted to take — while, at the same time, another gynecologist told me I ‘probably didn’t have endo’ and should just go on the pill,” she continued.

“I’m glad I trusted my body and listened to my gut and will continue advocating for others to do so,” the actress said. “(Endometriosis is an extremely misunderstood disease, leaving often a 4-11 year gap between symptoms and a definitive surgical diagnosis. It’s estimated 1 in 10 people with uteruses have endo according to the World Health Organization.)”

In addition to the hospital photos, Reinhart shared a picture of her holding a piece of paper that says, “Believing women’s pain shouldn’t be REVOLUTIONARY.” She also tagged the Endometriosis Foundation of America. 

Lili Reinhart in the hospital after surgery.

Lili Reinhart/Instagram

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Earlier this year, Reinhart opened up about her health struggles and how she was searching for answers while dealing with an unknown illness. The Hustlers star told her social media followers that her grandmother’s experience with doctors is what made her so adamant about advocating for her own health.

“My grandmother was ignored by doctors for months when exhibiting clear symptoms of cancer,” she said back in January. “And it was only after her own strength and advocacy for herself that she was given a blood test that diagnosed her. And by then, the cancer had spread.” 

“The most important thing I have taken away from this experience is the absolute need to advocate for your own health,” she added. “Do not let a doctor gaslight you or diminish your pain.”

Reinhart joins a list of celebrities who have talked openly about their experiences with endometriosis. Bindi Irwin, Lena Dunham, Halsey, Julianne Hough, Amy Schumer and Padma Lakshmi have also shared their struggles in the past.

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By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 11:50 EST, 11 December 2025 | Updated: 12:08 EST, 11 December 2025

Before Donald Trump ever set foot in the Oval Office, his name was primarily associated with two immortal words: ‘you’re fired.’

Now, deep into Trump’s historic second term, that old catchphrase feels more like a dangling guillotine that could drop at any moment.

Inside the White House, one insider summed it up to Daily Mail in two tense words: ‘always tense’ — with senior staff constantly working to stay in the president’s good graces.

Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles is well-aware of this dynamic and has so far steeled the president against impulsive high-profile firings that rocked his first term. 

The most dramatic shake-up of year one came in May, when National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was abruptly removed and nudged toward a diplomatic post. His exit set off a domino-effect purge inside the National Security Council, where senior directors and advisers were dismissed or swiftly reassigned in the weeks that followed.

But the major players in his Cabinet have remained in place 11 months into his second term, even as Trump himself seems to relish in the speculation about who will be pushed from the plank. 

The president recently joked in the Oval Office about replacing his Secretary of State, according to reporting by Rachael Bade in her Inner Circle newsletter.

‘I think I’m going to start replacing Marco,’ Trump quipped during a closed-door meeting with top aides.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth have recently found themselves in the hottest of hot seats

Similar stories about ousting Energy Secretary Chris Wright also made waves — rumors Trump dismissed outright

When a report surfaced claiming DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was next on the chopping block, Trump fired back immediately. ‘Firing Kristi? I love Kristi!’ he reportedly told an aide

But Bade reports that despite the rumor mill running hot, the truth is far less dramatic — for now. 

As one senior White House official insisted to Bade: ‘Maybe some of them are tired and want to move on and can’t do this anymore … But I can speak for the president in saying that he is personally not planning to fire anybody. It’s not something he’s even entertaining right now at all.’

Still, the list of officials under scrutiny is long — and getting longer.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth have recently found themselves in the hottest of hot seats. And when a report surfaced claiming DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was next on the chopping block, Trump fired back immediately.

‘Firing Kristi? I love Kristi!’ he reportedly told an aide.

Similar stories about ousting Energy Secretary Chris Wright also made waves — rumors Trump dismissed outright.

On Wednesday, the president publicly confronted the speculation, defending Hegseth and Noem while swatting away the latest flurry of headlines.

‘I read these same stories that I’m unhappy with this one or that one, and I’m not. I think the Cabinet has done a great job,’ he said.

On Wednesday, the president publicly confronted the speculation, defending Hegseth and Noem while swatting away the latest flurry of headlines

With the upcoming election casting a long shadow, aides have reportedly told top agencies that all policy moves — and even communications — must now be cleared through the White House first

He doubled down, adding, ‘I read a story that I’m unhappy with Pete because he was attacking drug dealers. … I would say very much the opposite. Pete Hegseth has been phenomenal.’

With the upcoming election casting a long shadow, aides have reportedly told top agencies that all policy moves — and even communications — must now be cleared through the White House first.

Everyone may be safe for now, but with the midterms creeping closer, pressure will only grow on the administration to deliver. 

And with Trump, loyalty is ephemeral and a firing can detonate without much warning.

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Trump jokes about about replacing top diplomat as White House fends off rumors of Cabinet shake-up

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A man has been arrested after police seized 38kg of illegal frozen bushmeat including pangolins, cane rats and porcupines, the food safety watchdog has said.

Officers from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Metropolitan Police found the bushmeat at a site in Deptford, southeast London, on 5 December.

Bushmeat is from wild animals – often species found in tropical regions – that have been hunted.

A 57-year-old man was arrested and released under investigation, the FSA said.

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A frozen cane rat that was seized. Pic: FSA/PA

The operation targeted illegally imported meat products that posed potential food safety risks to consumers because illegally imported meat bypasses safety checks, the watchdog said.

Some species, such as pangolins, are also critically endangered and all commercial trade of them is prohibited internationally.

Pangolins are hunted by humans for their meat and scales. They are the only type of mammal with scales covering their bodies from head to tail, and they feed on ants, termites and insect larvae, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

One million pangolins are thought to have been poached in the space of a single decade to satisfy demand, making them perhaps the world’s most-poached animal, ZSL said.

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Pangolins are often hunted for their scales. Pic: Reuters

It said pangolins’ scales and other body parts are used for traditional medicine in China, Vietnam and parts of West and Central Africa, despite there being no scientific evidence of them having any health benefits.

A senior investigator at the FSA, Simon Ashwin, said the body “advises consumers not to buy or eat illegally imported meat, including bushmeat, as it may pose serious health risks”.

A global problem

The news comes as authorities from 134 countries revealed they had seized a record number of illegally traded live animals and a record amount of illegally traded wild animal meat.

An operation between 15 September and 15 October, coordinated by Interpol and the World Customs Organisation, identified 1,100 suspects, and resulted in the arrest of 24 people in South Africa, two in Vietnam and one in Qatar.

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There has been a rise in the global illegal trading of exotic butterflies. Pic: Reuters

Nearly 30,000 live animals were seized in the month-long global sting by police, customs, border security, and forestry and wildlife authorities.

Interpol said the operation underlined a growing demand for exotic pets including birds, tortoises, reptiles and primates.

There was also a sharp rise in the trafficking of exotic arthropods – with almost 10,500 butterflies, spiders and insects seized.

“Though tiny in size, these creatures play vital ecological roles. Their removal destabilises food chains and introduces invasive species or diseases, posing serious biosecurity and public health risks,” Interpol said.

Wild animal meat trafficking was also on the rise – with a record 5.8 tonnes of bushmeat being seized.

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In particular, authorities noted an increase in cases of trafficking from Africa into Europe.

Kenyan officials seized more than 400kg of giraffe meat, while Tanzanian police recovered zebra and antelope meat and skins valued at about £7,500 ($10,000).

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Zebras and giraffes are both traded as bushmeat. Pic: Reuters

Most wildlife trafficking this year involved animal remains, parts and products, often for traditional medicine or foods.

The annual value of wildlife crime is estimated at £14.9bn ($20bn), but the real figure is probably much higher.

Interpol said the operation “once again exposes the sophistication and scale of the criminal networks driving the illegal wildlife and forestry trade – networks that increasingly intersect with all crime areas, from drug trafficking to human exploitation”.

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