The Department of Justice has said that there are over one million files related to Epstein that they are actively working to make public in the coming weeks.

The DOJ said on Christmas Eve: ‘The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. 

‘The DOJ has received these documents from SDNY and the FBI to review them for release, in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, existing statutes, and judicial orders. 

‘We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible. 

‘Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks. 

‘The Department will continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trump’s direction to release the files.’ 

The statement comes amid reports that Donald Trump’s White House has taken control of the Department of Justice’s X account in an effort to more aggressively combat the narrative surrounding the Epstein files release. 

The move became apparent this week as the Department of Justice came out swinging on social media to counter online speculation about Trump and unproven allegations made in the latest Epstein files release. 

This included claiming that a prison postcard allegedly written by Epstein to former US Olympic doctor Larry Nassar was faked, after the letter read that ‘our president’ loves ‘young, nubile girls.’  

Jeffrey Epstein is pictured with an unnamed girl. The image was released by the DOJ

Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice has been responsible for releasing the files

On Tuesday, the Justice Department released a major new batch of Epstein-related records—over 11,000 files totaling nearly 30,000 pages of photos, court records, FBI and DOJ documents, emails, news clippings, and videos.

Congressman Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who co-led the congressional push to release the Epstein files, called Tuesday’s batch ‘a bombshell.’

He noted the files revealed Trump flew on Epstein’s plane at least eight times between 1993-1996—’many more times’ than a federal prosecutor previously knew, according to a 2020 email.

Khanna accused the DOJ of ‘spending more time protecting the Epstein class than the survivors, whose names are required by law to be redacted.’

Republican Thomas Massie, who partnered with Khanna on the Congressional discharge petition to release the files, asked Wednesday who was ‘controlling the DOJ X account on Christmas Eve and using words like “dope” to refer to reporters?’ in a post on X.

Meanwhile, former Obama-era national security advisor and Pod Save America co-host Tommy Vietor called Bondi’s Department of Justice ‘ridiculously incompetent.’

Legal and transparency experts caution that the documents, while significant, should be interpreted with care: many are duplicates, heavily redacted, or contain allegations or inferences rather than proven facts.

The latest batch of Epstein files included a document that alleged Donald Trump flew on Epstein’s plane at least eight times between 1993-1996—’many more times’ than a federal prosecutor previously knew. Trump has not been officially accused of wrongdoing 

Following the latest Epstein files release, the Trump administration was accused of ‘protecting’ Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators as one of the newly released documents suggests at least 10 others were involved in his child sex trafficking ring. 

The damning evidence of Epstein’s accomplices came to light in an email that was sent between federal investigators trying to contact around 10 ‘co-conspirators’ after the late pedophile’s arrest in 2019.

The email, which was shared online by Miami Herald reporter Julie K Brown, was sent just one day after federal agents arrested Epstein on sex trafficking charges and raided his Manhattan home.

All of the names included in the email were redacted except for three. The first two were Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges in 2021; and Jean-Luc Brunel, a former French modeling agent who was found dead in his Paris jail cell in 2022 and was suspected of scouting girls for Epstein.

The third was retail magnate Leslie Wexner, who was a major benefactor for Epstein until he severed ties with the financier in 2007 amid his indictment in Florida.

But lawyers for the former Victoria Secret CEO told BBC News that ‘the assistant US attorney in charge of the Epstein investigation stated at the time that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor target.

‘Mr. Wexner cooperated fully by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again,’ the attorneys claimed.  

Damning files released by the Department of Justice on Tuesday suggest Jeffrey Epstein had at least 10 co-conspirators in his child sex trafficking ring, among them Ghislaine Maxwell

In an email from July 2019, an unidentified sender with a signature that included ‘FBI New York,’ asked a colleague for ‘an update on the status of the 10 co-conspirators’

In the first email, an unidentified sender with a signature that included ‘FBI New York,’ asked a colleague: ‘When you get a chance can you give me an update on the status of the 10 co-conspirators?’

In a reply several hours later, a recipient gave a rundown of efforts to contact Wexner, Maxwell and others.

It noted that they located three alleged co-conspirators in Florida, one in Boston, one in New York and one in Connecticut.

The documents do not detail the information federal investigators sought from these individuals nor the basis for characterizing them as potential co-conspirators.

But by September 2019, prosecutors exchanging updates noted that the investigation into Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators was ‘ongoing’ and that they had conversations with several people who they said would cooperate in the investigation, ABC News reports.

Prosecutors later detailed a seven-page ‘memo on co-conspirators we could potentially charge,’ as well as an 86-page ‘co-conspirator update memo’.

The following year, Maxwell would be arrested by the FBI and charged by the Southern District of New York with conspiring to entice minors to engage in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking of a minor and other offenses.

She remains the only co-conspirator who has ever been charged in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, and in September of this year, FBI Director Kash Patel insisted that no other cases could be made and that Epstein worked alone.

Now, Democrats are urging the Trump administration to release the names of all of the other alleged co-conspirators whose names were redacted from the files.

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The Princess of Wales has been joined by her daughter Princess Charlotte for a special piano recital as part of her Together at Christmas carol concert

19:30, 24 Dec 2025Updated 19:33, 24 Dec 2025

The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte take part in a special piano duet (Image: Kensington Palace)

The Princess of Wales has been joined by Princess Charlotte for a special duet as part of her Together at Christmas carol concert.

The mother and daughter duo surprised viewers tonight during the broadcast of the future queen’s Together at Christmas carol concert from Westminster Abbey. The service, now in its fifth year, has become a mainstay of the royal family’s calendar, inviting hundreds of community heroes to celebrate their efforts throughout the year.

During the opening segment of the programme on ITV1, Kate, 43 and Charlotte, 10, appeared side by side playing a special piece of music by Scottish composer Erland Cooper, renowned for taking inspiration for his melodic work from nature and connection.

READ MORE: Kate Middleton carol concert LIVE: Together at Christmas mystery guest teasedREAD MORE: Kate Middleton gets surprise nod from King Charles in his 2025 Christmas speechThe Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte take part in a special duet for the Together at Christmas carol concert broadcast(Image: Kensington Palace)

The themes have had deep importance to the Princess of Wales as she continues her recovery from cancer, after being diagnosed in March 2024. The original music, titled Holm Sound, was written in 2020 as a tribute to Mr Cooper’s mum, also called Charlotte.

As footage of Kate and Charlotte was shown, the Princess of Wales read a personally penned letter that was given to guests at the Abbey. She said: “At its heart, Christmas speaks of love taking form in the simplest, most human ways. Not in sentimental or grand gestures, but gentle ones. A moment of listening, a word of comfort, a friendly conversation, a helping hand, presence.

“These simple acts of care might seem small, but they contribute to the beautiful tapestry of life to which we all belong. Christmas is a time that reminds us how deeply our lives are woven together. Just as the roots of trees share strength between the soil, unseen but vital, so too do we. We are drawn by an instinctive pull towards belonging and connection.

“At a time when life can sometimes feel fragmented or uncertain, the Christmas season invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another, with generosity of heart, understanding and hope. This Carol service offers a moment of collective togetherness. A chance to celebrate the spirit of community and service and to honor the visible and invisible bonds that unite us all.

Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte enjoy playing the piano together at home(Image: Kensington Palace)

“The time, care and compassion you give, often quietly and unspoken and without any expectation or recognition, make an extraordinary difference to the lives of others. As the year draws to a close, I hope this season brings you moments of peace and clarity and that you too feel surrounded by the same love and care that you offer so freely. Thank you for the warmth you have given and the kindness you have shown and the quiet, constant light you bring to others. Wishing you a very happy Christmas.”

The special moment was recorded in the Inner Hall at Windsor Castle last week and Their Royal Highnesses were “delighted” to be joined on the day by Erland who was able to give them some guidance between takes. Earlier on Christmas Eve, Kensington Palace had teased an image of a piano on social media and later a clip of two hands together on the keys.

The clip led to mounting speculation that the future queen would once again be playing the piano at her annual concert, recorded earlier this month from Westminster Abbey. The Princess of Wales first demonstrated her musical talents on Christmas Eve in 2021, where she accompanied Tom Walker on the piano as he performed his song ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ during the programme.

The artist has since described his and the royal’s duet as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” More than 1,600 attendees, including the Royal Family, joined the Princess of Wales for her fifth annual service, to celebrate the festive season.

In the order of service for the event, the princess wrote a personal message to the nation, urging everyone to come together “with generosity of heart, understanding and hope” amid testing times. The future queen spoke of the importance of checking in on loved ones and friends “at a time when life can sometimes feel fragmented or uncertain”.

Viewers of the Together at Christmas broadcast on ITV1 on Christmas Eve were treated to the special appearance by Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte

As part of this year’s themes of “love, compassion and connection”, the service also included readings from the Prince of Wales and award winning actor Kate Winslett. The princess, who is continuing her recovery from cancer treatment last year, has previously spoken of the power of immersing herself in nature as part of her healing process.

In her message, Kate also shared her vision of community and the festive season being intertwined “just as the roots of trees share strength beneath the soil, unseen but vital”. In the broadcast, on ITV1 tonight and now available on ITVX, the world-renowned Westminster Abbey choir also sang of the nation’s most beloved carols, alongside musical performances from actor Hannah Waddingham, British singers Katie Melua, Dan Smith, and Griff, as well as Cornish folk music group, Fisherman’s Friends.

Guests also enjoy a special performance by young performers from Platinum Performing Arts, an organisation based in the heart of the community in Edmonton, North London. British actress Vicky McClure narrated the service after the Princess of Wales’s introduction.

The programme will also feature two community films, the first focused on Heather Johnstone, a community artist from Fleetwood, Lancashire, who runs a Christmas Dinner for anyone in the community who may be alone at Christmas. The second features students from Platinum Performing Arts, who performed in Westminster Abbey, based in Edmonton, North London, which provides a space for young people to embrace their creativity and make meaningful connections with one another.

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The latest US-Ukraine peace plan suggests eastern areas seized by Russia could become free economic zones.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a “demilitarised zone or a free economic zone” could potentially resolve a stalemate over the future of the Donbas.

Russia wants the whole region, even areas it has not captured, but Ukraine has said it is unacceptable.

Details of the plan came as two police officers were killed in a bombing in Moscow on Wednesday, the second in three days after the killing of a general on Monday.

Ukraine has not confirmed it was behind the incidents, but has claimed responsibility for similar assassinations in the past.

The bombings could be Kyiv’s way of trying to shift the narrative in peace talks and showing it is still on the offensive and able to hit Russia at home, says Sky’s Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett.

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Why are car bombs involved in Russia-Ukraine peace deal?

The revised 20-point plan was made public on Wednesday and follows recent US-Ukraine talks in Miami.

President Zelenskyy said a US proposal for a free economic zone was a “potential option” for a sovereign Ukrainian state but it would have to be agreed via a referendum.

Such zones typically have laws different to those in the rest of a country, such as less tax and relaxed customs and regulations.

Mr Zelenskyy said the US and Ukraine had “significantly brought most of the positions closer together” but that negotiators still could not reach a consensus on territorial sticking points.

He said he now wanted a meeting with Donald Trump as “sensitive issues” needed to be “discussed at leaders’ level”.

The future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s biggest, is another issue the US and Ukraine have not yet agreed on.

America has suggested it should be a partner and chief manager in a consortium including Ukraine and Russia.

The updated peace plan also includes robust security guarantees and Article 5-like protections to protect Ukraine from future aggression, as well as EU membership and keeping its army at 800,000 personnel.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would set out its position based on information received by envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who met US officials in Florida over the weekend.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff was part of a delegation that held talks with President Vladimir Putin at the start of December but there was no breakthrough and the Ukrainian people have continued to suffer.

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Hundreds of drones targeted Ukraine once again earlier this week. Pic: Reuters

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Pic: Reuters

It was hit by one of the biggest aerial bombardments of the near four-year war this week, with more than 600 drones and several dozen missiles launched.

Most were intercepted but at least three people, including a young child were killed, and there were widespread power cuts after hits on the electricity network.

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President Zelenskyy also released a Christmas message of unity on Wednesday.

“Despite all the suffering that Russia has brought, it is not capable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity,” he said in a video on Telegram.

He added: “In the skies over Kyiv and Zakarpattia, Odesa or Kupyansk – wherever we may be – Ukrainians are together tonight – marking Christmas on the same date, as one big family.”

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BNP plans historic rally as Rahman, seen as a key leader, marks his highly anticipated homecoming.

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Bangladesh’s main opposition party says it is preparing a vast show of support as its leader, Tarique Rahman, prepares to return home after nearly 17 years in exile.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) aims to mobilise up to five million supporters in the capital to welcome Rahman, who is widely viewed as the party’s prime ministerial frontrunner for the country’s parliamentary elections scheduled for February.

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His expected arrival from London on Thursday comes as the BNP regains momentum after the removal of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising last year.

Rahman, 60, is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and currently serves as the BNP’s acting chairman.

Since 1991, power in Bangladesh has largely alternated between Zia and Hasina, apart from brief caretaker administrations. With Hasina’s Awami League barred from contesting the February 12 vote, the BNP now appears positioned to dominate the race.

‘A defining political moment’

BNP leaders say they are coordinating security arrangements with authorities for what they call an “unprecedented” mobilisation, with supporters expected to line the route from the airport to the reception venue.

“This will be a defining political moment,” senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said.

Rahman has lived in London since 2008 after facing multiple criminal convictions in Bangladesh, including money laundering and charges linked to an alleged plot to assassinate Hasina. Courts acquitted him following Hasina’s removal from office, removing the legal obstacles that had delayed his return.

BNP officials said Rahman will proceed directly from the airport to the rally venue before visiting his mother, who has been seriously ill for months.

The homecoming unfolds during a fragile transition overseen by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The election is seen as a critical test of Bangladesh’s ability to restore democratic legitimacy after years of political turmoil.

Concerns persist over sporadic violence and recent attacks on media outlets, raising questions about the state’s capacity to ensure a credible vote.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the youth protest movement that toppled Hasina, welcomed Rahman’s return.

“Rahman was forced into exile under severe pressure and threats, so his homecoming carries symbolic weight,” said NCP spokesperson Khan Muhammad Mursalin. “His arrival will undoubtedly energise party leaders and supporters … On the path to democracy, we will stand with him.”

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Ahmed al-Ahmed has been recovering well from gunshot wounds suffered while confronting the Bondi shooters and may soon leave hospital, Syrian community members say.

The 44-year-old has gone through three rounds of surgery in a Sydney hospital after suffering five gunshot wounds during a terrorist attack on a Hanukah event by Bondi beach.

Ahmed’s wounds had been cleaned and cleared of shrapnel and were closing and healing, said Tamer Kahil, a member of Sydney’s Syrian community who has visited Ahmed. He is an orthopaedic surgeon but is not involved in his treatment.

Alleged gunman tackled during Bondi beach shooting – video

Ahmed would probably soon be able to be discharged as he continued to improve, Kahil said.

“He looks happier … He’s a humble person and he’s a shy person as well,” Kahil said.

Ahmed, a tobacco shop owner from Sydney’s south, had been getting coffee with his cousin in Bondi when Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed, allegedly opened fire, killing 15.

Mobile phone footage shows Ahmed creeping towards Sajid Akram behind cars before tackling him, pulling the rifle from his hands and pointing it at him, then laying the weapon against a tree. Subsequent gunshots left five bullets in Ahmed’s left arm and shoulder.

The media director for the Australians for Syria Association, Lubaba Alhmidi AlKahil, said Ahmed’s left arm was not expected to regain normal function for at least six months due to his injured nerves.

He was not likely to soon reopen his Sutherland shop, where hundreds of people have left notes and flowers paying tribute. Instead, he would rest and recover and spend time with family, AlKahil said.

“He needs to get rest, he needs to spend time with his family, he has been away from his wife and daughters for a long time,” she said.

Family members have watched over Ahmed as he has recovered and been visited by well-wishers and dignitaries.

“He said that a lot of people from the government, from different backgrounds, different religions, different ethnicities, visited him and congratulated him,” AlKahil said.

“He’s very happy, he feels very peaceful.”

Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed, the father of Bondi shooting hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed, attends the vigil for victims and survivors of the Bondi massacre. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPA

Visitors have included the prime minister, the NSW premier, the Australian governor general, passing on personal thanks from King Charles and more recently David Ossip, president of NSW’s Jewish board of deputies.

Ossip praised Ahmed’s “unbelievable bravery” at Sunday’s vigil for the victims of the terror attack, attended by his father, Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed, who embraced members of the Jewish community and received a standing ovation.

He and his wife, Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed, have been visiting from Syria for the last three months and al-Ahmed’s former migration lawyer, Sam Issa, had called for them to be granted Australians citizenship so they did not have to return. The government was yet to accept that suggestion, Issa said on Tuesday.

Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed presented with $2.5m cheque in hospital – video

The prime minister on Wednesday announced a new honours list for heroes of Bondi and AlKahil said she expected al-Ahmed’s efforts to be recognised.

Australians and sympathisers worldwide donated $2.5m to the shopkeeper via GoFundMe, to support his recovery. Presented with the novelty cheque, Ahmed asked: “I deserve it?”

AlKahil said the fame and recognition along with the injuries would change al-Ahmed’s life.

“Now he is a very famous person. He has a fortune. He needs to think a lot about what is next step in his life while they surround him with all love and care they can,” she said.

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Ghana arrested almost 50 Nigerians in an operation against online scammers, the government said on Wednesday.

The arrests were made during a raid on the outskirts of the capital city Accra.

Sam George, the country’s information minister said on his X account that the nighttime raid resulted in the arrest of “48 suspected cybercrime operations,” with the suspects believed to be Nigerian nationals. Those arrested include two women.

While Nigeria’s fintech sector has made a name for itself in recent years, the country has also become known for internet scammers, while also becoming a target for such criminals itself.

Earlier this year, almost 800 people were arrested in capital Lagos, with some 150 of them being Chinese citizens.

What else do we know about the online scammers’ raid?

The 48 suspects are accused of planning and carrying out “romance scams, online investment fraud, impersonation schemes and illicit online gold trading,” the minister said.

Accra has recently introduced restrictions on gold trade, including limits on foreigners’ purchases, in order to combat the country’s informal mining.

Ghana’s youth have also been turning to online scams, saying they have little other chances to make ends meet.

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Well-known MAGA influencers who once championed the release of the files associated with the government’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein remained unusually quiet about the latest release of documents that included multiple mentions of President Donald Trump.

Laura Loomer, a staunch Trump ally, called out former President Bill Clinton for being photographed alongside Epstein in the December 19 file release, but didn’t mention Trump’s name in Tuesday’s release, some of which included the president.

Rogan O’Handley, known as “DC Draino” on X, also posted about Clinton appearing in the Epstein files on December 19 but made no mention of the materials released Tuesday.

Tuesday’s release featured an email that said Trump had flown on Epstein’s plane in the 1990s as well as an unverified FBI tip about Trump and Epstein.

Trump was friends with Epstein before the two had a falling out in the early 2000s, but the president has denied knowing about Epstein’s alleged crimes. The materials released Tuesday do not accuse Trump of wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Political commentator Rogan O’Handley, aka DC Draino, center, influencer Jessica Reed Kraus, left, and Chaya Raichik, right, at the White House in February after the release of what was billed as the first phase of the Epstein files release, but which was made up of already publicly available material (AFP via Getty Images)

Being photographed with Epstein or mentioned in the files does not implicate someone in Epstein’s crimes, nor does it mean the individual knew about them. Neither Clinton nor Trump has been formally accused of wrongdoing; both also deny any knowledge or involvement with Epstein’s crimes.

For several months, many MAGA-affiliated influencers have pushed for the Justice Department to release the materials in the Epstein files and criticized officials when they backpedaled.

But now, many of the conservative influencers have seemingly adopted a different strategy when deciding what information to share with their audience.

On December 19, Benny Johnson asserted the photos of Clinton with Epstein made it seem like the two were “best friends,” but made little mention of the files released Tuesday – other than reposting a Polymarket graphic speculating about which celebrities could be mentioned in the Epstein files.

Other MAGA influencers appeared to downplay the validity of some of the Epstein files’ content after the Justice Department stated some “documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump.”

Alex Lorusso, known as “Alx,” also posted about Clinton appearing in the Epstein files but made no mention of Trump appearing in them as well. While Lorusso did mention a photo of a falsified passport, he also reminded his audience that some viral content was a “hoax.”

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NEED TO KNOW

• Will Arnett said in a new interview that he finds it funny how many rumors about his relationship with Amy Poehler are “just made up and they have zero idea”
• Arnett and Poehler were married from 2002 until their 2012 separation; they share two teenage sons
• The exes remain friendly, and Poehler even made a surprise appearance on Arnett’s podcast SmartLess back in April

Will Arnett is letting fans in on his relationship with ex-wife Amy Poehler, nine years after they finalized their divorce.

In an interview with Rolling Stone surrounding the release of his new movie Is This Thing On?, the actor, 55, spoke to his relationship with Poehler, 54. The comedian and actress, with whom he shares sons Archie, 17, and Abel, 15, appeared as a surprise guest on his SmartLess podcast to celebrate the show’s 250th episode earlier this year.

“People think that they know [about our relationship],” Arnett said when told the episode “probably cleared up a lot of speculation” about how they get along post-divorce. “Over the years, I’ve read so many opinions people have. It’s f—— hilarious to me how much s— is just made up and they have zero idea. It’s like, ‘Oh, you think you know what my life is?’ ” 

“Look, yes, it’s part of celebrity culture that we all participate in,” he added. “And by the way, [celebrity] has been good to me. So I don’t want to s— on it. But yes. One of the more alarming parts about her coming on our podcast was that my sons lied to me. That’s the part that unnerved me.”

Will Arnett and Amy Poehler.

Steve Jennings/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Aside from his sons with Poehler, Arnett is also a dad to son Alexander Denison, whom he welcomed in 2020 with his ex-girlfriend Alessandra Brawn. (Arnett is now dating supermodel Carolyn Murphy, as PEOPLE confirmed in September.)

Is This Thing On? sees Arnett play a father of two sons on the verge of divorce from his wife (Laura Dern). His character finds refuge in performing stand-up comedy as his marriage deteriorates.

The actor performed real stand-up sets in preparation for the movie at clubs like New York City’s Comedy Cellar. He acknowledged some people who recognized him may have thought he was making jokes about his divorce from Poehler, whom he was married to from 2003 until their 2012 separation.

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Amy Poehler and Will Arnett in 2012.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage

“Not only that, but, ‘If he thinks he’s getting a divorce, he’s like 14 years too late. It’s just occurring to him now?’ ” he told the outlet, with a laugh. “Or they’re Googling me going, like, ‘Did he get married again?’ in real time.”

Both Arnett and Poehler are nominated at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 11 for the ceremony’s new Best Podcast award. Poehler is nominated for her podcast Good Hang, while Arnett shares his nomination for SmartLess with friends and co hosts  Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes.

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A father is begging the public to help end his ‘nightmare before Christmas’ by helping find his daughter after she vanished in Texas two weeks ago.

Sydney Marquez, 24, was last seen on December 11 in southwest Houston walking near the 9100 block of Bellaire Boulevard, close to Ranchester Road, according to the Houston Police Department.

‘I’m begging the community, if you see my daughter, if she’s endangered. Please don’t stay quiet,’ Raul Marquez, her father, told KHOU11.

‘If you see something, if you know something, please say something. I miss my daughter. She needs to come home.’

Marquez added that the area of southwest Houston where his daughter was last seen was diverse and mentioned that some witnesses may be hesitant to speak with the police because of their immigration status.

The family described the past two weeks as a ‘nightmare before Christmas.’

A missing persons flyer created by Texas Equusearch, a nonprofit search-and-recovery organization, reported that Sydney was last seen near a shopping center in the Asiatown neighborhood of Houston.

Surveillance footage obtained by KHOU 11 shows the missing girl walking northbound along the sidewalk on Ranchester Road on the last night she was seen.

Sydney Marquez, 24, was last seen on December 11 in southwest Houston walking near the 9100 block of Bellaire Boulevard

Raul Marquez, her father, is begging the community to come forward with any information that will help end his ‘nightmare before Christmas’

‘It didn’t look like she was in distress, like a normal walk, not running, not staggering, it certainly appeared to be a normal, normal walk,’ Tim Miller with Texas EquuSearch explained to the outlet.

He added that the area has been thoroughly searched and that they are continuing to pursue other leads.

‘She suffers from mental illness, which makes finding her quickly even more urgent,’ EquuSearch wrote on December 22 in an updated post.

‘No parent should ever have to spend day and night searching for their missing child—but this family refuses to stop hoping, and neither do we.’

The family said that Sydney had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and added that she was not on her medication at the time of her disappearance.

Marquez noted that Sydney had wandered by herself before and that she was visiting her friends in Houston the night she went missing.

Marquez noted that Sydney had wandered by herself before the night she went missing 

Sydney snuck away with a friend’s car for several hours, drove it to a parking lot, left it running with her belongings inside, then got out and walked away alone, according to the father.

Sydney, the youngest of four daughters, grew up in El Paso and graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in neuroscience in 2023.

‘Sydney was very driven,’ her older sister Kayla told KBTX.

‘She really remained focused on her studies, and even though she picked a really tough course workload, she stuck with it.’

Clarissa, her other sister, said, ‘She would advocate for everyone. She was just a really great person.’

She was last seen wearing gray pants, a gray hoodie, and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Houston Police Department at (713) 884-3131, the Houston Police Missing Persons Unit at (832) 394-1840, or Texas EquuSearch at (832) 394-1840.

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People have been left mystified after excavation efforts between two small Welsh towns unearthed more than 400 shoes – and two theories have tried to explain what happened

Hundreds of shoes were found on several Welsh beaches(Image: media Wales)

Locals living in two quiet Welsh towns have been left baffled after hundreds of old shoes were excavated from the sand on their shared local beach.

Around 437 decades old shoes were unearthed from the Vale of Glamorgan coastline by construction crews carrying out a major rockpool restoration project on four beaches. The vast majority of the shoes were found in the towns of Ogmore and Llantwit Major, home to just 878 and 9,486 people respectively.

The finds – made as part of an environmental initiative led by Beach Academy and supported and funded by the Vale Local Nature Partnership – appear to come from “times past”, the organisation said.

READ MORE: New Bermuda Triangle mystery as ‘giant structure found’ and conspiracy theories reigniteREAD MORE: Chernobyl weird mutations include colour-changing frogs and ‘rapidly evolving’ dogsHundreds of shoes were found littered across the beaches(Image: media Wales)

A Beach Academy spokesperson told Wales Online: “They resemble shoes from times past rather than modern styles, mainly adult males’ and children’s shoes. We are slowly excavating them from rockpool zones where they have been embedded into sediment or trapped in rocks as part of our rockpool restoration project.

“We have no idea how long they have actually been trapped there – many stories, I’m sure.” The shoes are being uncovered from rockpool zones on four beaches in the Vale.

Of the total, 293 were found at Ogmore, 134 at Llantwit Major, nine at Penarth and one at Whitmore Bay. At Ogmore alone, 200 shoes were removed in just one week, highlighting how deeply embedded some of the footwear has become within the coastal environment.

Officials believe the shoes came from the 19th century(Image: media Wales)

The project has undertaken 15 rockpool restoration sessions since September, with volunteers working to remove long-standing marine litter in an effort to restore the rockpools to their original natural state. Several theories have been put forward following the discovery in a bid to explain how such a large number of shoes ended up along the shoreline.

The strongest theory so far has linked them to a 19th century ship the Frolic, which struck Tusker Rock around 150 years ago while carrying a cargo of shoes and other goods from Italy. It is believed the shoes were washed up the Ogmore River and periodically reappear, particularly when erosion of the riverbank exposes them.

Several theories have been put forward regarding the shoes’ origins(Image: media Wales)

Another possible explanation lies in Bridgend’s industrial past. The town was once famous for shoemaking, particularly around 1960, when more than 50,000 pairs of boots and shoes were being produced each week. According to the spokesperson, cobblers would often dump old boots that could not be mended into the river at Portobello, where they may eventually have been carried out to sea.

The discovery has sparked intrigue on social media, with one person commenting, “We often find parts of old leather shoes down that way. The soles are always very small like a child’s shoe.”

Another said: “There were loads washed up about a year ago too, down Newton.” Despite the mystery surrounding the origins of the shoes, Beach Academy stresses that the focus of the project remains firmly on environmental restoration. The organisation pointed out that the shoes form only a small part of the wider problem.

The shoes are not the focus of the works, officials have said(Image: media Wales)

The spokesperson added that more than 12,000 items of litter have already been removed from the coastline, and that this work has “barely scratched the surface”. They said: “We wish to restore rockpool habitats back to their original natural state by removing marine litter that has been there for some time, either embedded in sediment or trapped in the rocks. Beach Academy is now appealing for more volunteers to join the effort.”

The spokesperson added: “Volunteers are needed. People can join us.”

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Families in Nigeria were reunited with more than a hundred schoolchildren and teachers abducted in November.

The tearful reunions happened just in time for Christmas.

“This Christmas, since we are celebrating Christmas with our children, we are so glad. And this Christmas will be different from the others,” said Yusuf Timothy, whose daughter, Rejoice, was among those freed.

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The hostages were abducted in November. Pic: AP

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Loved ones of the kidnapped children had an emotional reunion. Pic: AP

Mr Timothy said his family had to put their life on hold since the attack.

“Sometimes, even though I’m asleep with my wife, if we wake up, we will start thinking. We will start crying. When are we going to see our child?” he said.

The group of children and teachers were the last to be freed after the 21 November attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri.

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“I am happy, I am happy,” said Rita Marcus, who was reunited with her son, tears flowing down her face.

“This happiness, it is too much.”

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The attack on the Papiri school was one of Nigeria’s biggest mass kidnappings. Pic: AP

The children’s loved ones checked them for injuries and lifted them high in the air as they celebrated the hostages coming home.

Most of the children were between 10 and 17, according to the school.

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Nigeria kidnappings explained

Nigerian authorities initially said 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers had been kidnapped but later revised the number to 230.

They say all of the hostages have now been released.

Although school kidnappings in Nigeria have become a major security issue, the November attack was one of the country’s biggest mass kidnappings in recent years.

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How the French Empire built power through language, schooling and cultural assimilation and what it means today.

Beyond armies and violence, France built its empire through language, schooling and cultural influence. This film explores how assimilation became a method of rule and a source of resistance.

At the heart of French colonial rule was the mission “civilisatrice”, a doctrine that claimed to lift up colonised societies through education, administration and the French language. In practice, this system sought to reshape colonised people’s identities, loyalties and cultures, replacing local traditions with French norms while maintaining strict political and economic control. Schools, legal systems and bureaucracies became tools of empire as powerful as armies.

Through case studies in Algeria, Indochina and West Africa, the documentary shows how colonial administrations operated on the ground. In Algeria, settler colonialism and mass repression led to war. In Indochina, education and bureaucracy coexisted with exploitation and nationalist resistance. In West Africa, language policy and indirect rule reshaped social hierarchies and governance.

This episode examines how resistance movements challenged the promise of civilisation, forcing France to confront the contradictions at the heart of its empire. Anticolonial struggles, intellectual movements and armed uprisings not only weakened imperial rule but reshaped French politics, culture and identity itself.

The documentary also places French colonial strategies in a broader modern context. In the contemporary world, the United States projects influence less through formal empire and more through soft power. Hollywood cinema, television and digital platforms circulate American values, lifestyles and narratives globally, shaping cultural imagination in ways that echo earlier imperial projects. At the same time, US dominance in higher education, academic publishing and institutional standards helps define what knowledge is valued, taught and legitimised worldwide.

It also draws direct connections between French colonialism and the modern world. Contemporary debates over language, immigration, secularism and inequality are deeply rooted in colonial systems designed to classify, discipline and extract. Many modern state institutions, education models and economic relationships reflect structures first imposed under empire.

By tracing how cultural control, education and administration functioned as instruments of power, the documentary reveals how the legacy of French colonialism continues to shape modern capitalism, global inequality and postcolonial relations today.

Published On 24 Dec 202524 Dec 2025

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Three people – including two police officers – have been killed in an explosion in Moscow, Russian authorities have said.

Two traffic police officers saw a “suspicious individual” near a police car on the city’s Yeletskaya Street, and when they approached the suspect to detain him, an explosive device was detonated, Russia’s Investigative Committee has said.

Reports in Russia say the third person killed was the suspect, but this has not been officially confirmed.

The blast took place close to the location where a senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing in the capital on Monday. Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov died after an explosive device – which had been planted under a car – was detonated.

Investigate Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said in a statement on Telegram that a criminal case was being investigated in Moscow “regarding an attempt on the lives of traffic police officers”.

The officers have been named by Russian media as Ilya Klimanov, 24, and Maxim Gorbunov, 25.

Sources in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, told the BBC that a local resident, eliminated two representatives of the Russian law enforcement agency, “as a sign of disagreement with the Kremlin’s aggressive policy” and said that a man “threw an explosive package through the car window, causing an explosion”.

According to the HUR sources, two other people were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Ukrainian military sources also told the BBC on Wednesday that the two officers killed had “participated in hostilities against Ukraine,” and added there was “evidence of their involvement in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war”.

There are no details and Moscow has not commented.

Speaking to Reuters news agency, Alexander, a resident who lives close by, said: “There was an explosion.

“It was loud bang – like with the car a few days ago.”

Russia said it suspected Ukraine was behind Monday’s explosion, without providing any evidence.

However Ukraine has not said whether it was involved in Fanil Sarvarov’s death.

It is also not known whether the two explosions are linked.

Sarvarov, 56, was the head of the armed forces’ operational training department.

He was the third military official to have been killed in bomb attacks in the Russian capital over the last year.

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Thousands flocked to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas for the first time since the implementation of the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas peace deal.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who has served as the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, kicked off the celebration during a traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, calling for “a Christmas full of light,” The Associated Press reported. Upon his arrival at Manger Square, which is named for the manger in which Christian tradition says Jesus was laid after his birth, Pizzaballa said that he came with greetings from the Christian community in Gaza where he held a pre-Christmas Mass on Sunday, the AP reported.

“We, all together, we decide to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world,” Pizzaballa told the crowd, according to the AP.

BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS TO RESUME CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AFTER WAR FORCED A TWO-YEAR PAUSE

People gather next to the Christmas tree at Manger Square on the day of Christmas events with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Christmas Eve, in the Old City of Bethlehem in the West Bank, Dec. 24, 2025. (Mussa Qawasma/Reuters)

In November, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati announced that the city would see a return of Christmas celebrations.

“From the heart of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, the city of peace — once again, we ignite the flame of hope and raise our prayers for peace,” Canawati said in a video posted to Instagram.

“Let us celebrate together the message of Christmas,” he added. “Glory to God in the highest — on Earth, peace, goodwill to all. Bethlehem keeps the light alive.”

Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, started its Christmas festivities on Dec. 6 with the city’s first Christmas tree lighting since 2022.

“We came to celebrate, watch and enjoy, because for several years we haven’t had the chance,” said Randa Bsoul, a Palestinian from Haifa, Israel, told Reuters at the time.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

HISTORIC ITALIAN VILLAGE CREDITED FOR FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CHRISTMAS NATIVITY SCENE DRAWS CROWDS FOR 800 YEARS

Bethlehem, over which the Palestinian Authority has limited control due to the Oslo Accords, has seen limited, if any, Christmas celebrations over the past two years due to the war in Gaza. During the war, Manger Square featured a nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire in homage to the situation in Gaza.

During the war, Bethlehem, which relies on tourism, saw a massive drop in visitors. Canawati said earlier this month that the city’s unemployment rate jumped from 14% to 65%, according to the AP. Additionally, poverty in Bethlehem soared with approximately 4,000 people left searching for work.

Clergy members stand, on the day Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

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The U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal has largely remained in place, despite both sides accusing the other of violating the agreement. Recently, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said that preparations for the second phase of the plan were underway, following high-level talks in Miami with representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

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Ukraine has unveiled the latest 20-point peace proposal brokered by the US to bring an end to the war with Russia.

Ukrainian and US delegations reached a consensus on several critical issues in the latest round of talks in Miami.

However, Volodymyr Zelensky said sensitive issues around territorial control in the country’s eastern industrial heartland, along with the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), remain unresolved.

“This is a document referred to as a framework, a foundational document on ending the war, a political document between us, America, Europe, and the Russians,” Mr Zelensky said.

“We are ready for a meeting with the United States at the leaders’ level to address sensitive issues. Matters such as territorial questions must be discussed at the leaders’ level.”

Asked about the plan, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow would set out its position based on information received by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who met US envoys in Florida over the weekend.

The recent proposal comes after weeks of modifying an earlier 28-point plan, which was heavily criticised by Ukraine and Nato leaders.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready for a meeting with Donald Trump to discuss more difficult issues in peace plan (PA)

Below are the points of the draft proposal as unveiled by Mr Zelensky and shared by his office on Wednesday.

1. Ukraine’s sovereignty will be reaffirmed.

2. This point will envisage a full and unquestionable non-aggression agreement between Russia and Ukraine. It specifies that to sustain long-term peace, a monitoring mechanism will be established to oversee the line of contact through space-based unmanned monitoring, to ensure early notification of violations, and to resolve conflicts.

3. Ukraine will receive robust security guarantees.

4. Ukraine will maintain its armed forces at their present strength of 800,000 personnel. The earlier US draft had called for Ukraine to reduce the size of its forces.

5. The United States, Nato, and European countries will provide Ukraine with security guarantees that mirror Article 5, the mutual-defence clause of Nato’s founding treaty.

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The latest peace proposal was brokered by the US to end the war Putin began in 2022 (Sputnik)

6. Russia will formalise a policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine in all necessary laws and all required documents on ratification, including ratification by an overwhelming majority vote in the State Duma.

7. Ukraine will become an EU member at a specifically defined date. Ukraine will also receive short-term preferential access to the European market.

8. Ukraine will receive a strong global development package, which will be defined in a separate agreement on investment and future prosperity.

9. Several funds will be established to address economic recovery, the reconstruction of damaged areas and regions, and humanitarian issues. The objective will be to mobilise $800bn to help Ukraine fully realise its potential.

10. Ukraine will accelerate the process of concluding a free-trade agreement with the United States. Zelensky said the US position was that if Washington were to grant free trade access to Ukraine, it aimed to offer similar terms to Russia.

11. Ukraine will confirm that it will remain a non-nuclear state, in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

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Ukrainian and US delegations reached a consensus on several critical issues in the latest round of talks (AP)

12. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Zelensky said no agreement had yet been reached with the United States on the issue of Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant, which is located near the front line in territory now controlled by Russian forces. Zelensky said the US proposal was for the plant to be operated jointly by Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, each holding equal stakes in a joint enterprise, with the Americans acting as the chief managers.

Kyiv’s proposal was for the plant to be operated by a 50-50 joint enterprise involving only the United States and Ukraine, with Ukraine receiving half of the energy produced and the United States independently allocating the other half.

13. Ukraine and Russia commit to implementing educational programmes in schools and across society that promote understanding and tolerance toward different cultures and eliminate racism and prejudice. Ukraine will implement European Union rules on religious tolerance and the protection of minority languages.

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Donald Trump pledged to end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office (PA)

14. Territory: Zelensky said that this was the most complex point, and as yet unresolved. Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw troops from territory Ukraine still controls in the eastern Donetsk region. Kyiv wants the fighting to be halted at current battle lines. Washington has proposed demilitarised zones and a free economic zone in the part of the Donetsk region that Kyiv controls.

15. After reaching an agreement on future territorial arrangements, both Russia and Ukraine undertake not to alter these agreements by force.

16. Russia will not obstruct Ukraine from using the Dnipro River and the Black Sea for commercial purposes. A separate maritime agreement and an access agreement will be concluded, covering freedom of navigation and transport. The Kinburn Spit, along the Dnipro’s outlet to the sea, will be demilitarised.

17. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues:

a) All remaining prisoners of war will be exchanged on the principle of All for All.

b) All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children.

c) Provisions will be made to address the suffering of victims from the conflict.

18. Ukraine must hold elections as soon as possible after the signing of the agreement.

19. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by a Peace Council, chaired by Donald Trump. Ukraine, Europe, Nato, Russia, and the United States will be part of this mechanism. Sanctions will apply in case of violations.

20. Once all parties agree to this agreement, a full ceasefire will take effect immediately.

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