WORLD NEWS
Trump again insists the US ‘needs’ to take over Greenland for national security: ‘We’ll have to work it all out’
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President Trump further pressed his case on Monday for why the U.S. wants to take control of Greenland, describing the island as vital for American security and making a bizarre claim that the U.S. was exploring Greenland 300 years ago.
“We need it for national protection,” the president said during a press conference in Florida, a day after he appointed a new U.S. envoy to the semi-autonomous Danish territory, infuriating local officials.
Trump went on to say that the U.S. wasn’t seeking to extract Greenland’s mineral wealth, but rather that he wants to use the island to help counter the influence of Russia and China, nations he accused of having ships in the region.
“They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat,” Trump added. “Well, we were there with boats too, I’m sure. So we’ll have to work it all out.”
(The Inuit have lived in Greenland for thousands of years, and Europeans made contact with the island in the late 10th century. The U.S. would not play a major role in exploring the area around Greenland until the late 19th century.)
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President Trump has revived his interest in taking over Greenland, despite continued insistence from local officials no such thing will take place (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
He also falsely claimed Denmark wasn’t supporting the island, even though in September it pledged a multi-year, $253 million investment package for Greenland.
Over the weekend, Trump announced that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry will serve as a special envoy to the island territory, which the president has frequently expressed interest in taking control of throughout his time in office.
The announcement, which followed months of quiet after a flurry of pressure early in Trump’s term, prompted an angry response from officials in Greenland and Denmark.
“We have said it before. Now, we say it again: national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement. “They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”
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The Trump administration has previously sent Vice President Vance to visit Greenland, and has suggested it wouldn’t rule out force to take the island
Denmark has also summoned the U.S. ambassador to Copenhagen.
As recently as October, the Trump administration’s interest in Greenland seemed to be dying down.
“Right now it seems far away. There is perhaps a feeling that we can breathe a sigh of relief,” Prime Minister Frederiksen said during a session of the Danish parliament at the time. “It is my belief that we cannot.”
Early in his term, Trump was putting a full-court press on Greenland.
In March, Vice President JD Vance visited a U.S. base there, the same month the president said he wouldn’t rule out using force to take the island.
Tensions escalated further in May, when news reports claimed the U.S. was intensifying spying efforts in Greenland, prompting Denmark to say it would summon the U.S. ambassador for clarification.
The US president says the new vessels will ensure naval dominance and include AI and laser technology.
United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to build a new “Trump-class” of battleships that he said would be larger, faster and 100 times more powerful than the biggest of any previous American-built warships.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, Trump said the battleships would be part of a larger vision to create what he called a “Golden Fleet” that would help ensure US naval dominance.
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The US president announced the plans while standing next to a rendering of the new ships, which appeared to have his image emblazoned on them.
“We had big battleships. These are bigger. They’ll be 100 times the force, the power [of the old ships], and there’s never been anything like these ships,” Trump said.
He added that the vessels would be “cutting edge” and equipped with the latest technology, including artificial intelligence and directed energy lasers. They will also be armed with hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles and rail guns – all technologies that are in various stages of development by the US Navy.
“Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, the largest battleship in the history of the world,” he said.
Trump downplayed the idea that the new ships were meant to counter any particular country, saying that they were “a counter to everybody”.
The US president said that production would start with two ships, but could scale up to 10, and as many as 25, over an unspecified period of time.
Trump said work on the first two would begin “immediately” and that the first ship would be named the USS Defiant.
Both Trump and Navy Secretary John Phelan spoke about the new Trump-class warship as a spiritual successor to the battleships of the 20th century, but historically, that term has referred to a very specific type of ship – a large, heavily armoured vessel armed with massive guns designed to bombard other ships or targets ashore.
This type of ship was at the height of prominence during World War II, and the largest of the US battleships, the Iowa-class, were roughly 60,000 tonnes. But after World War II, the battleship’s role in modern fleets diminished rapidly in favour of aircraft carriers and long-range missiles.
Trump referenced the Great White Fleet, commissioned by former President Theodore Roosevelt during the early 20th century as a symbol of US naval strength, as well as a documentary about naval warfare during the second world war.
“Victory at Sea. I don’t know if anyone has seen Victory at Sea, but it was a classic,” he said, adding that the new ships would help “maintain American military supremacy”.
According to a newly created website for the Golden Fleet, this new “guided missile battleship” is set to be roughly the same size as Iowa-class battleships, but only weigh about half as much, approximately 35,000 tonnes, and have far smaller crews – between 650 and 850 sailors.
Its primary weapons will also be missiles, not large naval guns.
Trump said the naval expansion would also be paired with renewed pressure on defence contractors to speed up production and rein in costs.
He said he will meet with major defence firms next week to address delays and overruns, and to examine whether executive compensation, stock buybacks and dividends are contributing to missed production targets.
“We don’t want to have executives making $50m a year, issuing big dividends to everybody, and also doing buybacks”, while production of F-35s and other jets languishes, Trump said.
WORLD NEWS
Travel entitlements for MPs’ families will be wound back on advice of expenses watchdog, Anthony Albanese says | Australian politicians’ expenses
The prime minister has announced travel entitlements for the families of parliamentarians will be wound back, after the government sought advice from the expenses watchdog.
Anthony Albanese confirmed he had received advice from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) on the weekend of 13 December, and has subsequently written to the Remuneration Tribunal to review and put in place the new rules.
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That advice was sought after ministers including Anika Wells, Don Farrell and Michelle Rowland were forced to defend claims of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded travel entitlements to bring family to events such as the Australian Open and major NRL and AFL matches.
“I do not have the power at a stroke of a pen, to change entitlements. The [remuneration] tribunal had the power, and we have written to the remuneration tribunal,” Albanese told a press conference on Tuesday.
“We have recommended a number of changes as a result of the consideration by the independent parliamentary expenses authority.”
The current rules under family reunification entitlements state that parliamentarians may claim the equivalent of nine business class flights to bring their spouses to Canberra, and up to three business class flights to travel between their home and another location within Australia.
Under the new rules, parliamentarians will be limited to claiming travel expenses for their partners to travel between their home and Canberra, and to travel within their electorate if an MP, or their state if a senator. Spouses and family members will only be allowed to travel via economy class.
Spouses and family members will no longer be eligible for travel between their home and another location in Australia.
The current rules allow unlimited travel for senior office holders, including government ministers, the opposition leader and deputy opposition leader, who are allowed to bring their spouses almost anywhere, with no cap on costs. Spouses of senior office holders can travel with, or even without a minister, if they have been invited to an “engagement” in their “capacity as the spouse of a senior office holder”.
The new rules would seek to curb these entitlements.
“We would restrict travel to events where … the spouse or partner has got an invitation as part of the official invitation to the senior office holder, and that the events are connected with the senior office holders portfolio, that is, if you’re environment minister connected to the environment,” Albanese said.
The prime minister said he had written to the remuneration tribunal to ensure parents of young children would not be disadvantaged. The remuneration tribunal will next meet in January to consider the changes.
Albanese was pressed on whether the rule changes would see any more MPs refer themselves to IPEA. He said the process, which will see the rules considered by the remuneration tribunal, has been “at arm’s length”.
On Tuesday, Rowland said she has repaid thousands in public expenses she claimed for a trip which included time on a family holiday in Perth.
At the height of the expenses and travel spending saga earlier this month, Rowland said she had received advice from the parliamentary expenses watchdog that “a portion of the family reunion travel expenses were outside the guidelines”, relating to a trip she’d taken to Western Australia in July 2023, at the total cost of $22,000.
Rowland’s office said she had undertaken at least 10 official engagements during the trip, which also included her flying family members to join her there.
“I received advice from the Independent Authority that a portion of that, for one use two and a half years ago, was outside the guidelines. So, I sought advice on that and repaid that amount,” Rowland told ABC radio.
“The full figure will be publicly released in time. It was around $10,000. Again, I point out this is the point of IPEA. We sought advice so that that could be acted on, and that was.”
What you need to know
- The US Food and Drug Administration approved using Wegovy in pill form to treat weight loss
- Starting dose to be available in January
- Daily pill could replace weekly injection
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a pill version of the drug Wegovy from Novo Nordisk as a treatment for weight loss.
The pill was approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one related health condition.
The oral medication contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, which is also made by Novo Nordisk and primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes.
The FDA had already approved an oral semaglutide made by Novo for diabetes called Rybelsus.
Daily pill could replace a weekly injection for weight loss
Novo said the 1.5-milligram starting dose of the Wegovy pill will be available in early January and will cost $149 (€126) per month from some providers.
Additional information on cost will be available in January.
A daily pill gives doctors another option for prescribing GLP-1 medicines for obesity and could broaden patient access and reduce costs.
Wegovy as well as Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Zepbound are normally injected once a week.
Popular weight-loss drugs are currently injected once a weekImage: Lise Åserud/NTB/picture alliance
Obesity is epidemic in the United States, where some 40% of adults and 21% of children and teens are obese, according to the Trust for a Better Health’s State of Obesity Report 2025.
One in eight Americans (or 12%) say they currently take GLP-1 drugs for weight loss or another chronic condition, according to a November poll by health policy research organization KFF.
But many more have trouble affording the costly weekly shots.
Last month,US President Donald Trump announceddeals with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to lower the prices of some of their weight-loss drugs in exchange for certainty around tariffs.
Billions made from weight-loss injections
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Novo looks to gain market share for weight-loss pill ahead of rival Lilly
The approval could help spur a turnaround for the Danish pharmaceutical giant after a rocky year of sliding shares and slowing sales of its injectable Wegovy.
Lilly’s Zepbound currently dominates the US weight-loss drug market.
US-listed shares of Novo jumped 8% after the approval announcement for its Wegovy pill.
Novo is manufacturing the pill in the United States and has been building up supplies of the pill “for some time” to ensure that it has “ample supply”, David Moore, Novo’s executive vice president of US operations said.
Lilly also has a daily weight-loss pill orforglipron under review for diabetes and weight loss. The FDA is expected to approve it early in 2026.
Novo’s oral semaglutide needs to be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before eating, drinking or using any other oral medication.
Lilly’s pill will not have those restrictions, if approved.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah
A trip to Europe isn’t complete without a shopping spree in a really, really cute outfit — just look at Gwyneth Paltrow.
In October, the Goop founder, 53, hit up the shops in Milan, Italy, with her husband, Brad Falchuk. She wore a gray polo shirt layered on top of a blue button-up and had some sporty striped sneakers in tow. The most noteworthy thing about the look, though, was her pair of baggy blue jeans.
Come to think of it, “baggy” may even be an understatement. Her jeans were so loose that they fit more like sweatpants or pajama pants. And yet, they were still polished enough to strut the streets of what many have dubbed as one of the “fashion capitals” of the world.
Baggy Jeans Inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow
Luca Sgro for Cobra Team / BACKGRID
Flamingals Baggy Wide-Leg Jeans
Amazon
If you love how drapey Paltrow’s pants look, you want to focus on a wide-leg silhouette like this pair. They don’t squeeze the thighs or taper inward at the hems. And even with all that extra fabric, these jeans are still “really flattering,” said one shopper. Another shopper also claimed that the mid blue wash looks “upscale and fashion forward.” So TL;DR: The jeans are nice enough to rep out in public at dinner, brunch, and more.
Rag & Bone Miramar Knit High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans
Anthropologie
There is also such a thing as actual sweatpant jeans. These Rag & Bone pants, for example, look like your average jeans, only they’re made from a terry fabric that’s so soft I could sleep in them. (The brand sent me a different pair from its Miramar collection earlier this year.) They also look so real you could wear them to work — a few of us even tried it — plus, they’ve won over Paulina Porizkova and Brittany Mahomes.
Gap Mid-Rise UltraSoft Baggy Jeans
GAP
While this on-sale Gap pair was designed to have a more “authentic feel,” according to the brand, they’re still “more comfortable to wear around than sweats,” said one shopper. We’re guessing that’s because of their non-restrictive fit that’s loose everywhere except the waist (you don’t want them falling down, do you?) and the wide variety of sizes and inseams available. Choose from regular, petite, and tall options, then bid adieu to the tailor.
Keep scrolling to shop more baggy jeans inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow now.
Madewell Superwide-Leg Jeans
Madewell
Chartou Baggy Wide-Leg Drawstring Jeans
Amazon
Levi’s Cinch Baggy Jeans
Amazon
Good American Good Standard Baggy Cuffed Jeans
Anthropologie
WORLD NEWS
Hundreds of Aussie workers face shock axing just two days before Christmas as MA Services Group enters voluntary administration
- MA Services Group enters voluntary administration
- Up to 1,700 workers’ jobs at risk
Up to 1,700 Aussie workers risk losing their jobs just two days before Christmas after a major security company entered voluntary administration this week.
It was revealed on Tuesday that MA Services Group, which operates across Australia, had collapsed.
Alvarez & Marsal administrators Jason Tracy and Glen Kanevsky said there had been ‘breaches’ of key licensing conditions.
This means the company is unable to lawfully continue certain core functions, which triggered the news that there will be redundancies.
‘We recognise the seriousness of this situation for the 1,700 employees whose roles are directly affected,’ they said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail.
‘We are investigating the circumstances that led the company to this point, including obtaining information from Founder and Director, Micky Ahuja.
‘We are engaging with Fair Entitlement Guarantee (FEG) team within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to ensure employees receive the support they need regarding their entitlements.’
The Alvarez & Marsal team will be the point of contact for staff as the administration progresses. The Daily Mail has contacted MA Services Group for comment.
Up to 1,700 Aussie workers risk losing their jobs at MA Security Group just two days before Christmas
The administrators are also evaluating a range of options to ‘preserve continuity of services and future employment opportunities wherever possible’.
This includes fielding enquiries from a number of parties that may be interested in acquiring the company’s assets.
MA Services’ collapse follows reports from Fairfax Media in the last month that it was linked to suspected tax evasion, worker exploitation and a bikie gang.
The publications also alleged there were serial sexual harassment accusations against the business owner.
MA Services Group published a statement on December 1, in which it denied any wrongdoing.
‘MA Services Group acknowledges the recent media coverage and the concerns raised in relation to the organisation. We take these matters seriously and want to reaffirm our position clearly and transparently,’ it said.
‘We categorically deny any wrongdoing.
MA Services Group has cooperated fully with all relevant authorities and continues to remain open to any further review, audit or investigation required.
‘We welcome appropriate regulatory scrutiny and operate with the highest commitment to governance, compliance, and ethical business practices.’
The company said its compliance, vetting and employment processes are ‘well-established, robust, and continually reviewed to meet industry and legislative standards’.
MA Services Group has said on its website that its clients include Aldi, Amazon, Coles, Kmart and City of Kingston in Victoria.
The Age then reported last week that it had been ditched by four AFL clubs, Sydney University and Melbourne’s Formula 1 grand prix.
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Hundreds of Aussie workers face shock axing just two days before Christmas as MA Services Group enters voluntary administration
The small Mexican plane was carrying out a medical mission when it crashed off the Texas coast, five people have been confirmed dead as a result and a search mission is underway
02:08, 23 Dec 2025
At least five people were killed in a Mexico Navy plane crash (Image: AP)
A small Mexican plane carrying a young medical patient and seven others has crashed, killing at least five people. The plane crashed on Monday, December 22 near Galveston and officials are now searching waters off the Texas coast.
Mexico’s Navy have confirmed that four people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child. It was not immediately clear which of them died.
Two of the passengers were members from the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that provides aid to Mexican children who have suffered severe burns. The US Coast Guard have confirmed that five were killed and the cause of the crash is being investigated.
It happened on Monday afternoon near the base of a causeway near Galveston, along the Texas coast about 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) southeast of Houston. In a statement, the Mexican Navy said that the plane was helping a medical mission when it had an “accident”
They continued that they are helping local authorities with the search and rescue operation.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office said officials from its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol were responding to the crash. Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are also on scene.
The Sheriff’s office said: “The incident remains under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
The popular beach destination has been experiencing foggy weather over recent days and it is not clear if this was a contributing factor. National Weather Service meteorologist said that at about 2:30 pm Monday a fog came in that had about a half-mile visibility. The foggy conditions are expected to persist through Tuesday morning.
WORLD NEWS
Trump warns Maduro not to ‘play tough’ as Russia, China back Venezuela | Donald Trump News
United States President Donald Trump has issued a new warning to Nicolas Maduro, saying “it would be smart” for the Venezuelan leader to step down, as Washington escalates a pressure campaign that has drawn sharp rebukes from Russia and China.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Trump suggested he was prepared to further ratchet up the tensions after four months of mounting pressure on Caracas.
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When asked if the goal was to force Maduro from power, Trump told reporters: “Well, I think it probably would… That’s up to him what he wants to do. I think it’d be smart for him to do that. But again, we’re gonna find out.”
“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” the US leader added.
Trump levied his latest threat as the US Coast Guard continued for a second day to chase a third oil tanker that it described as part of a “dark fleet” that Venezuela uses to evade US sanctions.
“It’s moving along, and we’ll end up getting it,” Trump said.
The US president also promised to keep the two ships and the nearly 4 million barrels of Venezuelan oil the coastguard has seized so far.
“Maybe we’ll sell it. Maybe we’ll keep it. Maybe we will use it in the strategic reserves,” he said. “We’re keeping it. We’re keeping the ships also.”
Maduro fires back
The campaign against Venezuela’s critical oil sector comes amid a large US military buildup in the region with a stated mission of combating drug trafficking, as well as more than two dozen strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near the South American nation.
Critics have questioned the legality of the attacks, which have killed more than 100 people.
Venezuela denies any involvement in drug trafficking and insists that Washington is seeking to overthrow Maduro to seize the country’s oil reserves, which are the world’s largest.
Caracas has condemned the US’s vessel seizures as acts of “international piracy”.
Maduro responded to Trump’s latest salvo hours later, in a speech broadcast on public television, saying the US president would be better served if he focused on his own country’s problems rather than threatening Caracas.
“He would be better off in his own country on economic and social issues, and he would be better off in the world if he took care of his country’s affairs,” Mauro said.
The escalating rhetoric preceded a United Nations Security Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday to address the growing crisis.
Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov expressed “deep concern” over Washington’s Caribbean operations in a telephone conversation with Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil, warning of potential consequences for regional stability and international shipping.
Moscow “reaffirmed its full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context,” according to a Russian foreign ministry statement.
US blockade
China also condemned the US’s latest moves as a “serious violation of international law”.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said Beijing “opposes any actions that violate the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and infringe upon the sovereignty and security of other countries”.
“Venezuela has the right to develop independently and engage in a mutually beneficial cooperation with other nations. China understands and supports Venezuela’s stance in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests,” he added.
Rubio had last week dismissed Moscow’s support for Caracas.
Washington, he said, was “not concerned about an escalation with Russia with regards to Venezuela” as “they have their hands full in Ukraine”.
US-Russia relations have soured in recent weeks as Trump has voiced frustration with Moscow over the lack of a resolution on the war in Ukraine.
Gil, the Venezuelan foreign minister, meanwhile read a letter on state television, signed by Maduro and addressed to UN member nations, warning that the US blockade would disrupt global oil and energy supplies.
“Venezuela reaffirms its vocation for peace, but also declares with absolute clarity that it is prepared to defend its sovereignty, its territorial integrity and its resources in accordance with international law,” he said.
“However, we responsibly warn that these aggressions will not only impact Venezuela. The blockade and piracy against Venezuelan energy trade will affect oil and energy supply, increase instability in international markets, and hit the economies of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the world, especially in the most vulnerable countries.”
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a pill version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, according to pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.
It is the first pill of its kind to receive approval from the regulator, marking a new era for weight-loss drugs.
Wegovy’s Danish makers Novo Nordisk said the once-daily pill was a “convenient option” to the injectable and would provide the same weight loss as the shot. It comes after Wegovy was approved by the FDA specifically for weight loss.
Others like Ozempic, which has similar weight-loss effects, were primarily approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
The BBC has contacted the FDA for comment.
The Wegovy pill showed an average weight loss of 16.6% during Novo Nordisk’s trials, the firm said on Monday.
A third of around 1,300 participants experienced 20% or greater weight loss in the same trial, it added.
The pill is expected to be launched in the US in early January 2026.
“Patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, the firm’s chief executive.
The pill version of Wegovy could give Novo Nordisk’s sales a boost after a challenging year which saw its shares slide as it warned over its profits.
The company has faced intense competition in the weight-loss market from rival drugmakers like Eli Lilly.
Novo Nordisk’s shares rose by almost 10% in after-hours trade in New York after the announcement.
NEED TO KNOW
- Ira “Ike” Schab, one of only about a dozen survivors of Pearl Harbor left, died at 105 on Dec. 20
- Schab made headlines in 2021 when his daughter raised money for him and his caretakers to visit Hawaii on the 80th anniversary of the attack
- Schab arrived in Hawaii aboard the USS Dobbin as a member of Navy Band Unit 13 a year before the attack that led the U.S. to enter World War II
One of the last remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack has died at 105.
Ira “Ike” Schab, a Navy veteran who served in World War II, died on Dec. 20, his daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs confirmed to the Associated Press. Schab’s death leaves only about a dozen survivors of the deadly attack who are still alive, the outlet reports. An estimated 2,400 troops were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the U.S. officially entering World War II.
Born on July 4, 1920, in Chicago, Schab was the eldest of three brothers. He was only 21 at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Navy veteran visited the site of the attack on the 80th anniversary in 2021. Heinrichs set up a GoFundMe for her late father to visit Pearl Harbor at the time, which raised $15,000 in two months. Heinrichs, Schab and his caretakers flew to Hawaii together in December 2021.
Schab told PEOPLE at the time that he was “grateful” for the generous donors who contributed to his campaign, and that he felt “very humble.”
“It means so much to go back. To be there. And to still stand,” Heinrichs, a nurse, wrote on GoFundMe after raising enough funds for their trip.
Following the loss of fellow bandmate Lee Ousley in 2015, Schab was the last remaining member of his Navy band unit.
Ira Schab, Jr. celebrating his 105th birthday.
Pacific Historic Parks – USS Arizona Memorial/Facebook
“I’d rather it not be that I’m last,” he told PEOPLE four years ago. “I wish there were still some of us going.”
Schab, who lived in Oregon in recent years, arrived in Pearl Harbor, located in O’ahu, Hawaii, aboard the USS Dobbin as a member of Navy Band Unit 13 about 12 months before hundreds of enemy fighter planes descended upon the island.
“I got out of high school and couldn’t find a job,” Schab told PEOPLE in 2021 of why he decided to join the Navy. “Because I had been a musician since I was about 6 years old, my dad suggested I try out the Navy and see what they could do. And I did. They asked me for an interview, I passed, and I went to music school and became a Navy musician.”
A year later, Schab would bear witness to one of the most pivotal days in American history.
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When asked what he most remembers about the day of the attack, which began just before 8 a.m. local time, Schab recalled the fateful day in one word: “Terror.”
“We didn’t know what [was happening],” he recalled. “I looked up and saw a Japanese — I don’t know whether he was a fighter or anything like that — but I was scared. I got really worried about whether we were going to survive.”
Schab previously told PEOPLE that he hopes young people in the future remember to enjoy life, and not to hold grudges with the people they care about the most.
“There’s no reason to be sour or disgruntled for any reason at all. It’s a great world, great life. And I believe that the optimist is the guy that has something in his grip and he’ll never let go,” he told PEOPLE.
“Just be positive,” Schab said at the time. “Don’t ever let yourself go sour or negative or anything like that. Even though a lot of the world around you may be negative, don’t contribute to that. Always go to the optimistic side of your life.”
WORLD NEWS
Celebrity chef faces intense scrutiny from Mexicans after branding country’s bread as ‘white ugly rolls’
A blunt critique of Mexican bread by a British baker sparked a cascade of social media outrage, ultimately leading to a public apology.
In an interview for a food-themed podcast that resurfaced online, Richard Hart, the co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City and a well-known figure in international baking circles made some disparaging remarks.
Hart said Mexicans ‘don’t really have much of a bread culture,’ – ‘They make sandwiches on these white, ugly rolls that are pretty cheap and industrially made.’
His comments quickly rippled across Instagram, TikTok and X, with many Mexicans accusing him of being dismissive and insulting of Mexico’s traditional breads.
What began as a dispute over bread soon ignited a national debate over food identity – not only over who defines Mexican culinary traditions, but also over the growing influence of foreigners in a capital already tense from a surge of US expatriates and tourists.
‘He offended the community of bakers in Mexico and all the people in Mexico who like bread, which is almost everyone,’ said Daniela Delgado, a university student in Mexico City.
Social media was soon flooded with memes, reaction videos, and passionate defenses of Mexican bread.
Users took to social media to praise everyday staples – from the crusty bolillos used for tortas to the iconic conchas found in neighborhood bakeries.
Chef Richard Hart’s offhand insult about ‘white, ugly rolls’ has set off a national argument over Mexican food identity
Mexican staples like bolillos, pictured, became symbols of pride as users rushed to defend the everyday bread
Richard Hart, who is the co-founder of the popular Green Rhino Bakery in Mexico City made the remarks claiming Mexico lacks ‘bread culture’
In many cases, these simple street foods act as a uniting factor across social groups and classes, and often cut to the core of the country’s cultural identity.
While wheat bread was introduced to Mexico during the colonial period, the classic food staple evolved into a distinct national tradition, blending European techniques with local tastes and ingredients.
Today, small neighborhood bakeries remain central to daily life in cities and towns, serving as social hubs as well as food sources.
The incident prompted many to question why a foreign entrepreneur would publicly disparage a staple so deeply embedded in Mexican life.
For many, Hart’s remarks echoed long-standing frustrations over foreign chefs and restaurateurs receiving disproportionate prestige, as well as concerns over gentrification in the capital.
‘Don’t mess with the bolillo,’ warned one viral post on X.
As criticism mounted, Hart issued a public apology on Instagram, saying his comments were poorly phrased and did not show respect for Mexico and its people.
He acknowledged the emotional response and said he didn’t behave as a ‘guest.’
‘I made a mistake,’ Hart said in his statement. ‘I regret it deeply.’
Hart later apologized, admitting he failed to act like a respectful ‘guest’ in a country where bread runs deep
People are seen buying pastries at a bakery in Mexico City
A vendor prepares a bolillo, a traditional Mexican bread, for consumption at a street stand in Mexico City
The Daily Mail has reached out to Green Rhino, but representatives of the bakery declined to comment.
Hart previously worked at high-profile bakeries in the United States and Europe and has been part of Mexico City’s growing artisanal bread scene.
That market caters largely to middle and upper-class customers, many of them foreigners, seeking sourdough loaves and European-style pastries, often at prices far above those of neighborhood bakeries.
The apology did little to immediately quiet the debate. While some users accepted it, others said it failed to address deeper concerns about cultural authority and who gets to critique Mexican traditions.
‘If you want to be part of Mexican culture by owning a restaurant or bakery, you have to educate yourself,’ Delgado said.
Others, like Josué Martínez, a chef at the Mexican Culinary School, said he was happy that the debate was happening because it opened the door for a more robust and nuanced discussion.
Mexican breads were fiercely defended as a point of national pride, with critics blasting the remarks as ignorant and elitist
An assortment of Mexican sweet breads from Tijuana, Mexico’s better known and oldest local bakeries in the city, Panader a La Mejor (The Best Bakery), established in 1962
Conchas, the colorful sweet breads found in nearly every neighborhood bakery, were held up online as proof that Mexico’s bread culture is anything but empty
Mexican bread has long been criticized domestically for its industrialization and reliance on white flour and sugar.
But many like Martínez say those conversations are different and more nuanced when led by Mexicans themselves rather than by a foreign entrepreneur.
‘It’s an opportunity to learn about the culture of Mexican breadmaking and pastry, to take pride in it, to highlight the richness of our ingredients, and to stop thinking that the so-called first world represents the ultimate standard,’ Martínez said.
Donald Trump has described the latest Jeffrey Epstein files drop “a terrible thing” in a remarkable rant today, but he defended Bill Clinton and other political enemies
00:08, 23 Dec 2025
Donald Trump has addressed the latest Epstein files dump(Image: AP)
US President Donald Trump has today blasted the latest Jeffrey Epstein files photo dump “a terrible thing”.
The world leader even went as far as to defend Bill Clinton and other political enemies featured in the release. Famous faces, such as Michael Jackson, Mr Clinton, Sir Mick Jagger and politician Lord Mandelson, have also appeared in the thousands of photographs published online in the last few days.
But Mr Trump, himself named in the files, insisted the majority of those celebrities met Epstein innocently over the years. Yet, the billionaire financier was a convicted child sex offender who abused girls as young as 14 years old.
Speaking today in the wake of the release, Mr Trump, 79, said: “I know there are a lot of people that are angry about all the pictures of other people. I think it’s terrible… This whole thing with Epstein is a way to try to deflect from the tremendous success of the Republican Party. I thought that was finished, a lot of people are very angry that this continues.”
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Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in a photo released among the files(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Speaking about the Democrat former president, Mr Trump added: “I like Bill Clinton, I’ve always gotten along with Bill Clinton. I’ve been nice to him, he’s been nice to me, we’ve always gotten along with him, I respect him. Bill Clinton’s a big boy, he can handle it, but you probably have pictures of people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago.”
According to the Daily Mail, the world leader then blamed mostly Congressional Democrats for pushing for the latest drop. Mr Trump, though, admitted Epstein had connections everywhere back in the 1990s and 2000s.
READ MORE: Donald Trump scraps all ‘trade negotiations’ with Canada – because of TV ads
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted child sex offender(Image: New York State Sex Offender Regi)
Mr Trump himself also featured in the files (Image: AP)
The data dump came after US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said the need to protect the victims of sex offender Epstein meant hundreds of thousands more documents would be released over the coming weeks.
The US Department of Justice were legally obligated to make all files related to the investigation into Epstein public by midnight on Friday following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The paedophile financier was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
Both guards who were assigned to check on Epstein fell asleep while on shift and falsified their records. The apparent workplace blunder was exacerbated by the revelation that cameras in the holding area malfunctioned or were broken.
US President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled plans for a new class of Navy ship named after himself.
While speaking at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, the president claimed the “Trump-class” Navy vessels “will be the largest battleship in the history of our country.”
The new initative will start with two “Trump-class” vessels before being expanded to up to 25 new watercraft, which is being dubbed the “Golden Fleet.” The first “Trump-class” ship will be called the “USS Defiant.”
“The US Navy will lead the design of the these ships along with me, because I’m a very aesthetic person,” Trump said at the event, with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in attendance.
Trump wants to boost US shipbuilding as China expands fleet
The president vowed to “restore America as a major shipbuilding power.” The US has grown concerned by China’s ever-expanding maritime fleet.
China upgrades navy with most advanced warship to date
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Trump said the ships could be equipped with atomic weapons and would have a weight between 30,000 and 40,000 tons.
The ships are the latest attempt by the US president to leave his mark on the US Armed Forces. Trump has never served in the military.
Naval ships are frequently named after prominent political figures, such as the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier. There are currently not any warships named after Trump.
Trump has previously complained of “rusty” US Navy ships. During his confirmation hearing in February, Navy Secretary Phelan said Trump asked him “numerous times” what he is going to do about corroded US ships.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah
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SeaWorld Orlando has announced that Katina, one of its beloved killer whales, has died.
The whale died at the age of 50 after her health rapidly deteriorated in recent days, the park said in a statement on Friday.
SeaWorld said that its animal care personnel had been monitoring the whale’s health for the last several weeks. The park said that the whale’s caretakers — some who have been working with the animal for almost 40 years — were at her side when she died.
“Despite everyone’s extraordinary efforts, she passed away while surrounded by animal care and medical teams who have worked closely with her for nearly 40 years,”
The park said that the animal was an inspiration to the guests who visited the park.
SeaWorld Orlando announced that one of its orcas, Katina, has died at age 50. The whale died after its health quickly deteriorated over the course of several weeks, the park said (Getty Images)
“For many wonderful years, Katina awed and inspired millions of our guests to appreciate and learn more about this amazing species,” SeaWorld said in a press release.
According to the NOAA, female orcas tend to live around 50 years, but can live long enough to see their 100th birthday.
SeaWorld said Katina was well known for her “big personality” and liked to stick her tongue out at guests. The park said the animal also enjoyed quickly swimming in tight circles in her pool to create cyclones of water, a spectacle that was also enjoyed by guests.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for those who knew and loved Katina,” SeaWorld said. “We appreciate the support of the community as we grieve her loss together with her loyal fans everywhere.”
The death of any of SeaWorld’s orcas marks another step toward a new era for the park. In 2016, SeaWorld announced it was ending its whale breeding program and pledged that the whales in its care would be the last generation of SeaWorld performer whales.
When the last captive whale dies, the animal shows that built SeaWorld will go away forever.
As of 2025, there are approximately 18 to 20 whales living in SeaWorld locations across the U.S.
NEED TO KNOW
- A fake video released alongside other files in Jeffrey Epstein’s case appears to show Epstein attempting suicide on the last night of his life in his prison cell
- Upon closer examination, the video appears to be an animation
- The Bureau of Prisons report about Epstein’s suicide states that no footage exists of Epstein in the hours leading up to his death
A fake video emerged Monday afternoon that appeared to depict Jeffrey Epstein in his prison cell during the final hours of his life.
The 12-second video, which appeared with a Justice.gov URL and briefly surfaced alongside other files released by the agency, was time-stamped Aug. 10, 2019, at 4:29 a.m. and appeared to show Epstein in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York.
At 6:30 a.m. that same morning, a prison guard found Epstein dead in his cell after the convicted child sex criminal hanged himself with his bedsheets.
But the briefly released video was a fake.
While the video appeared to show the man trying to hang himself, it did not depict the manner in which Epstein was later found, as specified by a Bureau of Prisons report on the prison’s procedural failings that night, released in June 2023 after a lengthy internal investigation.
According to the report, no camera was recording video inside Epstein’s cell on the night of his death.
Jeffrey Epstein.
Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty
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In the report, the BoP noted that there was no camera in the facility that had a clear view of Epstein on the night of his death.
The report noted that “recorded video evidence for August 9 and 10 for the SHU (special housing unit) area where Epstein was housed was only available from one prison security camera due to a malfunction” — but that one camera did not provide a view inside Epstein’s cell.
The lights in Epstein’s cell are also on in the video, which is standard practice for inmates on suicide watch. However, on the night in question, Epstein was no longer on suicide watch, according to the BoP report. According to the report, Epstein was removed from suicide watch on July 24 — one day after a guard entered his room shortly after 1 a.m. to find him with an orange cloth around his neck. The BoP wrote that Epstein’s cellmate confirmed he had attempted suicide the night of July 23.
Visually, the video has multiple red flags. The door in the video does not resemble photos of Epstein’s cell released by the BoP.
Visually, aspects of the video lack three-dimensional depth, appearing more like animation than actual footage. The cluster of orange, white and gray shapes near the top center is especially telling — they appear flat and not three-dimensional at all.
PEOPLE reached out to the Department of Justice to ask about the video — which has since been taken down — but did not receive comment as of publication time.
WORLD NEWS
The Bondi Beach massacre proved Islamic terror never went away in Australia. Here’s how young men are being recruited in YOUR suburb
Until last week, horrific acts of violence perpetrated by Islamic State extremists had seemingly faded out of Australian public consciousness after years elapsed – fortunately – without any major events.
That was until December 14, when 15 innocent people were allegedly shot dead and dozens more were wounded at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.
IS – also known as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) – is a transnational militant organisation that represents one of the most radical applications of Salafi Jihadism – an ideology that seeks to establish a global caliphate through armed struggle.
Authorities have declared the incident as a terror attack and will allege two IS flags were located at the scene. A propaganda video was later recovered during a raid of a property rented out by the alleged gunmen – father and son duo Sajid, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, in the lead-up to the attack.
Detectives are now investigating whether the father and son engaged in IS military training during a four-week trip to the Philippines in November, while they stayed in Mindanao, an island in the country’s south with a long history of Islamist insurgency.
While IS was linked to a series of high-profile Western attacks around a decade ago – such as the Paris and San Bernardino 2015 attacks and Brussels bombings and Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016 – there have been few incidents in Australia.
The last well-known IS-implicated attack was the Lindt Cafe siege by Man Haron Monis, who held 18 people hostage at gunpoint for more than 16 hours in Martin Place, in Sydney’s CBD, on December 15, 2014.
Monis, an Iranian-born radical self-styled sheikh, shot dead café manager Tori Johnson, before he was killed in a shootout with police. A second hostage, lawyer Katrina Dawson, was killed by the ricocheting bullets.
Naveed Akram, 24, allegedly murdered 15 people and injured another 40 in a mass shooting at Bondi Beach on the first day of Hanukkah on December 14
The first clear photo of Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram (pictured) has emerged as new details about his trips to India are revealed
Father Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene
A screenshot from a video found on Naveed Akram’s phone shows his father conducting firearms training, police allege
During the attack, Monis claimed allegiance to IS but authorities later ruled he was a mentally unstable lone-wolf gunman with no direct connection to the terror group.
Although there had previously been no mass casualty IS-related attacks in Australia in the past decade, experts warn the threat never disappeared – it merely lay dormant.
Associate Professor Josh Roose, a Deakin University expert on political and religious violent extremism and terrorism, says Islamic State ‘never really went away’.
‘It was defeated militarily in 2017 and 2018, however, the core organisational and ideological aspects remain,’ he told Daily Mail.
‘Islamic State has been resurgent globally in recent months. They have been most active in Afghanistan and Southeast Asia, it has been resurgent in Mozambique and Somalia, and there was recently a targeted attack on a US citizen in Syria.
‘They are not only seeking to rebuild as a terror organisation, but the threat never really went away.
‘In fact, it has been heightened in the context of the October 7 attack, subsequent Gaza conflict, and divided western societies, including Australia, that haven’t dealt adequately with Jihadi violence.’
Professor Adrian Cherney, an expert on terrorism at The University of Queensland, said the organisation has long remained active in other parts of the world.
Naveed Akram was also allegedly caught on camera as he passed through Philippines immigration
The suspected Bondi beach terror attacker is alleged to have conducted firearms training at a location thought to be in New South Wales
Police will allege the attack was motivated by Islamic State ideology
‘It continues to exert global influence in regions such as the Middle East and Africa and maintains a strong online presence,’ he said.
‘This influence has not diminished. Attacks are still carried out by ISIS and by individuals indoctrinated and inspired by its ideology.’
Here, Daily Mail takes a closer look into the Akrams’ background which police are now investigating.
THE PHILIPPINES TRIP
While Australian officials are investigating whether the father and son engaged in terror-related activities during their November trip, the Philippines government has quickly distanced itself from the attack.
President Ferdinand Marcos says he ‘strongly rejects the sweeping statement and the misleading characterisation of the Philippines as an ISIS training hotspot’.
‘No evidence has been presented to support claims that the country was used for terrorist training,’ presidential spokeswoman Claire Castro said this week.
‘There is no validated report or confirmation that individuals [allegedly] involved in the Bondi Beach incident received any form of training in the Philippines.’
The father and son travelled to the Philippines for four weeks in November
The pair visited Davao (pictured), in Mindanao, in the country’s south
Associate Professor Roose said it’s vital authorities gather more information before drawing conclusions.
‘It’s important to find out more before ruling anything out,’ he said.
As investigations continue, Professor Cherney said: ‘More information will no doubt emerge regarding their travels to the Philippines.’
RECRUITMENT
While Islamic State has not taken responsibility for the Bondi massacre, it has publicly expressed pride in the attack.
Associate Professor Roose said the organisation’s ability to mobilise extremists across the world without direct contact is one of its defining features.
‘The key part of the success of the Islamic State has been its ability to inspire lone acts of terrorism in its name globally,’ he said.
‘Islamic State is particularly popular or inspirational for extreme Salafi jihadists who draw upon its history of atrocity, its acts of violent terror in public spaces, and commitment to the establishment of a caliphate.’
Associate Professor Roose said IS extremists tend to be recruited by people they know, in face-to-face community settings, before utilising encrypted messaging apps to maintain contact.
He said the internet and social media also play a role in recruitment, especially in the case of lone actors, who may become radicalised and flock online to engage in content or meet other people.
Pictured: Deakin University Associate Professor Josh Roose
WHAT DOES AN ISIS SUSPECT LOOK LIKE?
Sajid Akram was an Indian national who had lived in Australia for more than two decades after migrating to the country in 1998 on a student visa.
His 24-year-old son, Naveed, was born and raised in Australia.
Associate Professor Roose said the Salafi-Jihadist world is ‘highly multicultural’ and is not linked to certain ethnicities.
Instead, he said it is ‘linked to extremist ideologies of Islam that promote a narrative of strength and the notion of a war on Islam and the promotion of a global caliphate’.
However, Professor Roose said specific sociocultural factors may make an individual more susceptible to adopting IS beliefs.
‘The traditional trajectory is that the first generation come out here and work their butt off to make a better life for their family… It is unusual that you would see first generation migrants get involved in a situation like this,’ he said.
‘But the second and third generations feel things more deeply – such as experiences of racism or ostracism – and those are powerful because these movements offer strength and inspiration to people who may be going nowhere in life.
‘[That is why] ISIS has gained the most traction among second and third generation, western born, individuals.
‘Their messaging and displays of aggression and attempts to display strength resonate with young men.’
Pictured: University of Queensland Professor Adrian Cherney
HOW IS ISIS RELATED TO ANTISEMITISM?
Associate Professor Roose said ISIS attacks can be random by nature as the group and its followers do not exclusively target one demographic.
‘They [IS extremists] are not purists. They are not following orders from a central hierarchy, but they are still carrying out the attack to advance the ideology,’ he said.
However, Associate Professor Roose said current political climates may play a role.
‘In the context of everything happening in Australia at the moment, like the conflict in Gaza and the deep antisemitism that has been prevalent, this is an attack that the Jewish community has seen coming,’ he said.
‘And it was a cowardly attack on a soft, relatively unprotected gathering’.
‘Radical Sunni Islam promotes hatred of Jews as a prominent narrative.
‘As for why the two men [allegedly] targeted Jews, further details about their underlying motivations will become clearer as the investigation progresses.’
Experts say IS extremists are recruiting others in community settings and sharing propaganda through encrypted messaging platforms
SHOULD AUSTRALIANS AVOID BIG EVENTS OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD?
Associate Professor Roose said it was natural for people to be concerned in the wake of the Bondi massacre as terror attacks are designed to target our way of life.
However, Professor Cherney said people should not be too deterred from carrying out normal activities over the festive period and beyond.
‘People should continue to go out and not restrict their movements,’ he said. ‘For New Year’s Eve events, there will be an increased security and police presence.
‘Curtailing our movements is not the solution to this incident, though it is understandable that some people may feel apprehensive.’
However, Associate Professor Roose said it was important that Australians follow advice from authorities actively monitoring risks and implementing preventative measures.
In response to the tragedy, Sydneysiders have been urged to stay away from Bronte on Christmas Day due to overcrowding concerns, after more than 15,000 people congregated on the beach last year.
NSW Police have also warned people against partaking in mass protests, arguing ‘large gatherings may heighten tension or create further risk to the safety of the community’.
Professor Cherney said people should not be too deterred from carrying out normal activities over the festive period and beyond. Pictured are lifeguards at the Bondi memorial on Saturday
Aussies hug in the water during a paddle out for the victims of the Bondi Beach attack
Meanwhile, other events such as Sydney’s annual Carols in the Domain, have been given the green light.
Although people should not live in fear, Associate Professor Roose said there can be instances of individuals being inspired to undertake secondary attacks – though investigators will be monitoring for potential copycat attacks.
With that in mind, he said greater messaging is needed by authorities to clearly communicate safety measures and reduce the strain on emergency services.
‘It is critical that the government messaging demonstrates that it is safe to go out or not at the end of the day,’ he said.
‘We are not hearing about those concerns being addressed at the moment by our politicians or our security measures.
‘I, myself, will be having a quiet and reflective Christmas.’