When you move house in Germany, you need to register your new address with the authorities. In Germany, that often means calling city hall, waiting weeks for an appointment, and showing up in person with paper forms.

Yes, in 2025! And if you forget your health insurance card at the doctors? Some apps can help — by sending a fax.

“Around three quarters, 77%, of German companies still use fax machines,” says Felix Lesner from Bitkom, Germany’s IT industry association. “And 25% use it often or very often.”

Why? “Most of the companies state that it’s essential for communication with the public authorities. So maybe this is where the problem lies,” he told DW.

Falling behind

The European Union regularly publishes rankings of digital development among member states, with Germany performing somewhere in the middle of the 27 nation bloc — at best. When it comes to e-government, meaning digital public services, the country lags especially behind.

A study by CapGemini, a consultancy, ranks Germany 24th within the EU.

German engineers invented the programmable computer, the SIM card, and mp3 technology. Yet registering a car or getting a marriage license still means standing in line.

German computer pioneer Konrad Zuse may have invented the world’s first programmable computer, but his descendants have fallen behind digitallyImage: Oliver Berg/dpa/picture alliance

Frank Reinartz, head of the Digital Agency company in Dusseldorf, says Germany doesn’t have an issue with strategy or targets, “we have an issue with getting things done.”

Dusseldorf, a city of around 650.000 people, offers 120 administrative services online out of 580 — just over 20%. And yet, Dusseldorf is considered digitally advanced and ranks 6th place in the Smart City Index compiled by Bitkom and measuring digital services in German cities. Berlin, the country’s capital, had difficulties makeing it into the Top 40. 

‘Institutional inflation’

Germany’s federal government structure with 16 regional states often leaves local communities to figure out their own solutions.

“We don’t have much software and processes coming from the federal [state] level,”  Reinartz told DW. “Each city has to find their own solution for a process which is nationwide, for example, car registration.”

Add to this a lack of coordination, and what researcher Stefanie Köhl calls “institutional inflation.” 

Köhl and her colleagues at SHI Institute in Berlin examined why in the last 25 years, digital public services didn’t really take off in Germany.

“Everybody does something, but only in his or her silo. There’s no connection between solutions, sometimes also no compatibility between technologies,” she told DW.

German foreign medical worker program mired in bureaucracy

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Frank Reinartz’s Digital Agency was set up to avoid this. His vision for Dusseldorf’s digital future centers on a website where residents can access every public service online.

“You log in and see your building tax, if you are the owner, the kindergarten for your kids, and the parking permit for your car,” he said.

Denmark: Digital wonderland

While Germany debates, Denmark delivers. Germany’s northern neighbor has turned Reinartz’s vision into reality long ago.

“The website Borger.dk is a one-stop-shop where all citizens have access to more than 2,000 public services on a digital platform,” explains Jakob Frier of Digital Hub Denmark in Copenhagen.

Denmark’s online portal Borger.dk gives citizens digital access to more than 2000 public servicesImage: Andreas Becker / Nicolas Martin

Almost everything — from taxes to health care — is online. The key is a mandatory digital ID or eID, says Adam Lebech, deputy director-general of Denmark’s Agency for Digital Government.

“About 97% of the adult population have eID. And 83% use it at least once a week,” he told DW.

The digital foundation of Denmarks system is a single-identification number called Central Person Register (CPR) which the country already introduced in 1968.

“Since we use the same identifier for all systems, it makes data sharing easy,” said Lebeck. “That means we can create seamless services across several authorities. You have to trust the government, of course.”

While regular surveys show the majority of Danes trust their government, Germans are far more skeptical about state-run centralized data gathering due to its Nazi and Communist past.

Both, Hitler’s Third Reich and East Germany’s communist rulers used personal data to spy on people and control their lives.

How India leapfrogs developments

India has shown how it’s possible to make big strides in developing digital services establishing its own electronic ID system called Aadhaar within just 15 years. Some 99.9% the Indian population use Aadhaar, official government data says.

Meanwhile, Aadhaar is linked to a digital payment platform called UPI (Unified Payment Interface) that even street vendors selling coconuts in roadside stalls accept as payment method. Customers simply transfer the money via a QR-code and a mobile-phone app.

Tej Paul Bhatla of India’s largest IT company TCS told DW that both Aadhaar and UPI were “foundational systems” which were were developed with support from the state but also funding from the private sector.

Right from the beginning, Aadhaar and UPI were planned as an open-source systems for private and public usage, he said, similar to public infrastructure.

“When you build railroads or highways or ports, you make them available for everybody,” said Bhatla, adding that this has allowed private-sector intitiatives to use these systems to “build larger services for citizens and businesses, and take advantage of these.”

TCS’s Bhatla says the advantage of India’s digital infrastructure is that it gives access to both public and private servicesImage: Andreas Becker/Nicolas Martin

Bhatla noted that the digital infrastructure was India’s chance to speed up progress, so that today “almost 80% of the adult population has bank accounts.” Without Aadhaar and UPI, “it would have taken us 48 years to reach the bank account penetration that we have today.”

Bhatla argues better digital infrastructure and an ecosystem of digital services, could also spark economic growth in countries like Germany.

“If you don’t grow, you will definitely see threats coming in from other economies, and life is going to become harder,” he warned.

Edited by: Uwe Hessler

Want the full story? Listen to DW’s new podcast series: Delayland: Germany and the Missing Magic 

Also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever else you get your podcasts.

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Donald Trump entered 2025 pledging to end wars and reorient U.S. foreign policy around what he repeatedly described as “peace through strength.”

Throughout the year, Trump has cast his diplomacy as peace-focused, telling reporters, “We think we have a way of getting peace,” and publicly arguing that his record merited a Nobel Peace Prize. The U.S. State Department echoed that framing in its year-end summary of diplomatic efforts, highlighting initiatives it said aimed to “secure peace around the world.”

By the close of 2025, several conflicts saw impressive diplomatic progress, while others were still experiencing issues after years of hatred and violence.

‘IT TOOK 3,000 YEARS’: TRUMP HERALDS ‘GOLDEN AGE OF THE MIDDLE EAST’ IN SPEECHES TO ARAB LEADERS, ISRAEL

U.S. President Donald Trump holds the signed agreement of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025.  (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Gaza (Israel–Hamas)

The most consequential diplomatic development of the year came in early October, when the Trump administration helped broker a ceasefire framework between Israel and Hamas. The agreement halted large-scale fighting after months of intense combat and enabled the release of all remaining hostages from Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, except for the body of Ron Gvili that remains held captive by Hamas terrorists. 

The administration later cited the ceasefire as a central element of its 2025 diplomatic record. While the truce largely held through the end of the year, core issues including Gaza’s long-term governance, demilitarization and enforcement mechanisms remained unresolved, as well as rebuilding the enclave after the massive destruction and displacement. U.S. officials continued working with regional partners on next steps as fighting paused, as Israel’s Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Trump next week for talks on Gaza and other issues. 

US President Donald Trump (C), Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (L) and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan display the agreement they signed in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Aug. 8, 2025. US President Donald Trump said Friday that Armenia and Azerbaijan were committed to a permanent peace as he hosted a White House summit with the leaders of the two South Caucasus nations, which have fought for decades. (Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Armenia–Azerbaijan

In August, Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House for a U.S.-brokered peace declaration aimed at addressing decades of conflict tied to Nagorno-Karabakh. The agreement focused on transit routes, economic cooperation and regional connectivity and was promoted by the administration as a historic step.

While the historic declaration was signed, implementation and deeper reconciliation is still ongoing.

President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Aug. 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Ukraine–Russia war

Ukraine remained the most ambitious and elusive peace target of Trump’s 2025 agenda. The year opened with Trump insisting the war could be ended through direct U.S. engagement and leverage over both Kyiv and Moscow. Diplomacy intensified in August, when Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a summit framed by the White House as a test of whether personal diplomacy could unlock a settlement.

In parallel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was received at the White House, where Trump reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine while signaling that any peace would require difficult compromises. U.S. officials explored security guarantees and economic incentives, while avoiding public commitments on borders or NATO membership.

MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE 

Ukrainian servicemen of the 44th artillery brigade fire a 2s22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk/AP Photo)

By December, talks accelerated. Ukraine entered new rounds of U.S.-led negotiations, and Trump told reporters the sides were “getting close to something.” On Christmas Zelenskyy said talks with U.S. officials had produced a 20-point plan and accompanying documents that include security guarantees involving Ukraine, the United States and European partners. He acknowledged the framework was not flawless but described it as a tangible step forward. Zelenskyy is reportedly readying a visit to meet with President Trump, possibly as soon as Sunday.

Bloomberg reported that Russia views the 20-point plan agreed to between Ukraine and the U.S. as only a starting point. According to a person close to the Kremlin, Moscow intends to seek key changes, including additional restrictions on Ukraine’s military, arguing that the proposal lacks provisions important to Russia and leaves many questions unanswered.

VENEZUELAN DISSIDENT MACHADO CREDITS TRUMP FOR ADVANCING FREEDOM MOVEMENT, DEDICATES NOBEL TO HIM

President Donald Trump arrives for a signing ceremony with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Democratic Republic of Congo–Rwanda

In early December, Trump hosted the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The agreement reaffirmed commitments to end decades of conflict and expand economic cooperation through a regional integration framework.

By the end of the year, Reuters and the Associated Press reported that armed groups remained active in eastern Congo, underscoring the fragility of the accord, though both sides seemed to be invested in a long-term peace.

Indian army officers stands guard near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Dar Yasin/AP Photo)

India–Pakistan

After a terrorist attack in Kashmir and retaliatory strikes raised fears of escalation, U.S. officials engaged in emergency diplomacy. Trump announced a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed rivals, with a potentially catastrophic escalation between the two nuclear powers avoided.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet shake hands following the signing of a Cambodia-Thailand peace deal as U.S. President Donald Trump reacts at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Cambodia–Thailand border dispute

On the sidelines of an ASEAN summit, Trump helped mediate a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand following months of border clashes. 

Diplomatic efforts led by ASEAN and supported by external parties are ongoing, but fresh clashes and mutual recriminations between Thailand and Cambodia continue to challenge peace prospects and have led to large-scale displacement and civilian harm. Following the recent flare-ups, and with offers for mediation from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a new ceasefire was agreed upon on Saturday to end weeks of fighting on the border.

B-2s  carried out strike on Iranian nuclear sites in June.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Bobbie Garcia/Maxar Technologies via AP)

Iran–Israel confrontation

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the Trump administration focused on containing escalation and reinforcing deterrence. No diplomatic agreement followed, but the confrontation did not expand into a broader regional war by year’s end.

ISRAELI HOSTAGES FREED, IRAN HIT, CEASEFIRE HELD — 2025 SHATTERED IDEA THAT US WAS EXITING THE MIDDLE EAST

Recently Israel warned that Iran might use its ballistic missile drills as a cover for a surprise attack. 

Armed men salute the governor of Sudan’s Red Sea State Mustafa Mahmud in Port Sudan in the war-torn country on July 24, 2024. Sudan has been gripped by war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The conflict in the country of 48 million has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. (AFP via Getty Images)

Sudan

Sudan remained one of the world’s deadliest conflicts. U.S. diplomacy has focused primarily on efforts to halt fighting and expand humanitarian access rather than brokering a comprehensive peace.

In December, Saudi Arabia and the United States presented Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan with a three-point proposal aimed at ending the war, facilitating aid delivery and transferring power to civilians, according to Sudan Tribune.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds a ceremonial sword said to have belonged to independence hero Simon Bolivar during a government-organized civic-military march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.  (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

Venezuela

As the year closed, Venezuela emerged as the United States’ clearest point of direct confrontation. The administration framed its posture as an extension of its broader “peace through strength” doctrine, even as the risk of escalation lingered.

While the White House pursued de-escalation and negotiated arrangements elsewhere, its approach toward Nicolás Maduro relied almost entirely on pressure, not talks. Trump continued to cast Maduro as a criminal threat tied to drug trafficking, accusing him of rejecting the results of Venezuela’s last election and stealing the presidency.

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With no diplomatic channel open, the U.S. maintained sweeping sanctions and stepped up efforts against cartel networks linked to the regime. There was no peace process in sight — but some opposition figures and U.S. allies argued that sustained pressure could still force political change in 2026, and ultimately hasten the end of Maduro’s rule.

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.

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Emma Fogarty’s body is at least 80 percent covered in wounds at all times – but the 41-year-old gives no indication of the relentless pain, likened to the searing agony of third-degree burns, as she laughs in the car with her mother and friend on their way home from a Christmastime lunch.

She was looking forward to Christmas Day, when she stays home every year with her parents and sister to watch Home Alone and enjoy a Bailey’s latte; it’s the one day of the year she takes off from agonizing bandage changes and the near head-to-toe wrapping regularly protecting her. That’s Emma’s reality of living with the most severe form of Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare condition in which skin tears away like paper – or a butterfly’s wing.

EB is so uncommon that only one out of every 50,000 people will be affected worldwide. Young sufferers are called “butterfly children” – and Emma joined their ranks when she was born in 1984, when doctors told her parents that she wouldn’t survive a week.

Now, more than four decades later, Emma is one of the oldest living people in the world with EB. She’s confined to a wheelchair, almost entirely covered in bandages, her fingers fused together and her left leg amputated. She has fought bravely for her own quality of life despite “trapped in a body that has been punishing to inhabit,” according to the author of the foreword of her new memoir, Being Emma.

The foreword author, a man she nonchalantly texts and banters with on a regular basis, is none other than actor Colin Farrell. He sat down next to Emma at a charity event in 2010, greeted her with his trademark Dublin “Howyah” and followed that with: “I’m starving, are you?’

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Emma Forgarty and Colin Farrell bonded over her rare genetic condition. Their friendship blossomed and included running a Dublin race together. Now, she is discussing her condition, their friendship and her new book. (PA)

Then he stared down a waiter to help Emma secure plain mashed potatoes for her meal; she’d been served a portion with raw onions, and EB scarring constricts her throat so much that she can barely force down anything–let alone raw vegetables. For years, she underwent regular throat surgeries to stretch the scar tissue and help her swallow.

Colin’s glance at the server that night “hit home,” Emma writes in her memoir, published in the U.S. this month. “I think the waiter would have picked the onions out by hand after he saw it.”

The evening planted the seed of a friendship that would grow incredibly close between two people just eight years apart.

“We sat down beside each other, and we just felt like we’d known each other 100 years,” Emma, who lives in Co. Laois, Ireland, tells The Independent. “And then it just progressed on and on.”

As Emma overcame battle after battle – from cancer diagnoses to sepsis and pneumonia – Colin supported her from 3,000 miles away … and joined her for tea at home with her family on his visits back to Ireland.

“From the start, I always just wrote to him like I would any friend, filling him in on my life and asking questions about his,” Emma writes in the new memoir. “He began to respond to me in the same way. We still write to one another a lot, and talk, like friends do, about deep and personal things …He can trust me – that’s the truth – and I can trust him. That is sacred to me.”

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Farrell has served as a ‘down-to-earth’ support for her as she battles the condition that leaves her in constant pain (Courtesy of Emma Fogarty)

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Fogarty was diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare condition in which skin tears away like paper – or a butterfly’s wing (Courtesy of Emma Fogarty)

The bond led to Colin’s suggestion that he run the Dublin Marathon to raise awareness and funds for Debra Ireland, the EB charity where he’s a patron and Emma’s a spokeswoman. That, in turn, evolved into the movie star pushing Emma down the bumpy last 4km-stretch of the 2024 race, one kilometer to celebrate each of the four decades she’s survived with EB.

Pictures of the touching sight — Emma bandaged in a wheelchair, Farrell’s face set with determination as he pushed her against a backdrop of marathon runners – went global. A book deal quickly followed.

Emma, encouraged by her loved ones and Farrell, jumped at the chance to tell her story and educate the world about a rare condition that is devastating. EB leaves sufferers open to infection and sepsis, also affecting a huge swathe with osteoporosis. A fault in the genes means that proteins needed to hold the skin together – and tiny everyday activity like rubbing against sheets or simply wearing shoes can cause torturous wounds.

Emma’s EB has been worsening progressively since birth. She defied odds, finishing college, living independently and working at a bank in Dublin – until normal activity broke a bone in her foot, leading to a decline that left her wheelchair bound. A cancer diagnosis would ultimately require the amputation of the leg in 2019; EB sufferers are particularly susceptible to cancer; as Emma explains in the book, “our skin is wounded so often and heals so poorly, it becomes fertile ground for mutations.”

It was Farrell who pulled her out of the dark depression the amputation left her in, Emma tells The Independent.

“He just wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions,” Emma says. “He wasn’t afraid to say, ‘How’s your head, how’s your mental health, how are you feeling?’ … I think that’s when I knew, yeah, I have a friend for life here.”

She talks about the actor as “just a normal, down-to-earth guy that you could live next door to and go, ‘Well, what’s the story?’ And he’d go, ‘Grand, do you want a cup of tea?’”

Emma also alludes to the fact that the actor’s son, born in 2003, suffers from a rare genetic disorder, too: Angelman’s syndrome, causing developmental delays and seizures.

“I think him having a son with a disability, he kind of gravitated to my family, as well, and we all just really get on now. We’re all really close, and he comes down [to our home] and he has the sandwiches with Mam.”

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‘I suffer with it 90 if not 99 percent of the day, and the only time I don’t suffer with it is probably when I’m asleep,’ Fogarty said (Courtesy of Emma Fogarty)

Emma built upon the publicity from the marathon – where the jostling left her back, thighs and backside raw; the denim jeans she was wearing scuffed against her knees as well as her thighs.

“I did, sadly, get injured, not on Colin’s part in any way, but … due to EB,” she tells The Independent.

But she bore the pain, still savoring the experience – as she and Farrell raised nearly €1million euro through the marathon participation.

And then she agreed to write the book – tracing a lifetime of pain and triumph as part of what she hopes will be her legacy.

“It’s just something I want to leave behind that’s a bit hopeful,” she says.

She writes not just of the everyday pain and challenges but of how close-knit sufferers can be – and how their deaths hit the others devastatingly hard. She writes about surviving cruel school bullies who targeted her for the condition already causing daily agony. She writes about how tights could become stuck to her skin as a child, “sealed on and stuck into the raw wounds.”

“My biggest problem is pain,” she states. “I suffer with it 90 if not 99 percent of the day, and the only time I don’t suffer with it is probably when I’m asleep.”

She’s pushing for better funding, better research, better awareness and better support from health systems for EB patients. She already lost her best friend to the condition, a man three years her senior she’d known all her life who succumbed to EB-related cancer at 28. Another child sufferer she knew well, Liam, was also taken far too young from this world.

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Fogarty is using her new book to share her life story and condition (Courtesy of Emma Fogarty)

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Fogarty greatest defiance, Farrell notes, ‘is her insistence on living a full and meaningful life. A life of adventure and joy. A life that is, of course, limited in many ways by Epidermolysis Bullosa, but a life that has shared so much laughter, so much friendship, had so many challenges chosen and imposed, and has triumphed over them all.’ (PA)

In her lifetime, she tells The Independent, she’s seen improvements in awareness about EB and some evolution of treatments – but there is no cure and supports are still sorely lacking.

“We still need to keep going,” she tells The Independent. “We still need to keep fighting.”

To that end, she has Farrell plugging her book; he released a new video urging fans to buy copies for their loved ones as Christmas gifts. The pair of them “have something big happening in February,” too, she tells The Independent – though she coyly won’t share details.

She believes her mission to educate the world about EB, along with her family and Farrell’s friendship, has helped her reach milestone ages that so many other patients have not. And she wants fellow sufferers, along with readers dealing with any type of obstacles in their lives, to learn her story and have hope.

“My parents were told that I wouldn’t last a week and I’d be better off if I didn’t … I’m 41 now,” she says. “I shouldn’t be alive at all, in any way.

“For EB families or others, I want [them] to take away that if they’re determined enough, if you’ve enough strength in your bones and your body, if you have enough fire in your belly … you can do anything in the world,” she says. “I mean it. It doesn’t have to be the biggest thing in the world, but just do something that you want to do.”

Emma’s greatest defiance, writes Farrell for the book, “is her insistence on living a full and meaningful life. A life of adventure and joy. A life that is, of course, limited in many ways by Epidermolysis Bullosa, but a life that has shared so much laughter, so much friendship, had so many challenges chosen and imposed, and has triumphed over them all.”

He concludes: “She’s one of the greatest teachers we have, and if the reader can feel even an ounce of the wonder, the sorrow, the strength and hope that I have felt in knowing her, then they will walk away with a life enriched for the time spent in the company of this amazing woman.”

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NEED TO KNOW

• Hallmark fans can visit real-life filming locations in charming towns from Canada to Tennessee during the holiday season
• 2023’s A Biltmore Christmas was filmed in the real-life Biltmore House
• Cincinnati played host to Mariah Carey’s directorial debut for the 2015 Hallmark movie A Christmas Melody

It’s time to hit the road to live out your Hallmark Christmas fantasy.

Hallmark’s annual Countdown to Christmas series delivers enough swoon-worthy romances, holiday cheer and small-town quaintness to keep us going all year long. The best part? Many of these places are real and ready for you to visit!

While some of the settings are fictional towns, many were filmed in actual locations that are just as charming as they appear on TV — from expertly decorated houses all strung up in twinkle lights to downtown streets bustling with citizens dressed in their winter garbs.

If you’ve ever dreamed of starring in your own Hallmark Christmas movie, well, here’s your chance! Whether in the U.S. or north of the border, these destinations serve as the perfect backdrop to add a little holiday cheer to your travels and ring in a new year.

Below, we’ve made a list (and checked it twice!) of the towns and cities you can visit from beloved Hallmark classics.

A Biltmore Christmas (Asheville, N.C.)

Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy Collins in 2023’s ‘A Biltmore Christmas’.

The Hallmark Channel

A Biltmore Christmas follows screenwriter Lucy Hargrove (Bethany Joy Lenz) after she’s hired to write the script for the remake of His Merry Wife!, a fictional 1947 Christmas movie. When she visits the historic Biltmore House, where the original movie was filmed, for a little extra inspiration, she discovers an hourglass that transports her back in time to the movie set. The film also features Kristoffer Polaha as Jack Hudson, one of the stars of the fictional movie His Merry Wife! within the 2023 Hallmark movie.

A Biltmore Christmas was filmed at the titular sprawling Asheville, N.C., estate. Biltmore House is open to the public and features elaborate decorations during the holiday season — including a 35-foot Fraser fir. The Christmas tree tradition first started, according to the estate, when the home opened in 1895. Though the Biltmore was decorated to fit the 1940s time period during filming, many areas of the mansion were featured in the movie, including the library, tapestry gallery, banquet hall, winter garden and more, according to the Explore Asheville website.

Mystic Christmas (Mystic, Conn.)

Chandler Massey as Sawyer Adams and Jessy Schram as Juniper Jones in 2023’s ‘Mystic Christmas’.

The Hallmark Channel

As the title suggests, the 2023 movie Mystic Christmas was filmed in Mystic, Conn. It stars Jessy Schram and Chandler Massey as exes who unexpectedly cross paths during the holidays.

The film is set in the downtown area of Mystic, and visitors will recognize several cute shops and eateries that made cameos in the movie, as well as the iconic Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport.

Filming locations for Mystic Christmas are included as stops on the Connecticut Tourism Office’s Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail, a self-guided tour that allows visitors to easily find areas featured in more than 22 different holiday movies.

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (Kansas City, Mo.)

A scene from 2024’s ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’.

Joshua Haines/Hallmark Media

Not only is Kansas City, Mo., the setting of 2024’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, but it’s also home to the Hallmark headquarters in the downtown Crown Center complex. The film follows Hunter King as Alana Higman — a longtime fan of the NFL franchise Kansas City Chiefs — and Tyler Hynes as Derrick Taylor, a director of fan engagement for the Chiefs, who has the tough decision of picking the team’s “fan of the year” winner.

Inspired by the real-life romance of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop superstar Taylor Swift, Travis’ mother, Donna Kelce, makes a cameo in the movie as a manager of a barbecue restaurant, which she described as an “awesome” experience.

Some scenes of Holiday Touchdown were even filmed at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Other filming locations that are a must-visit include Crown Center (and its Ice Terrace) and downtown Independence Square.

Meet Me at Christmas (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

Mark Deklin as Beau and Catherine Bell as Joan in 2020’s ‘Meet Me at Christmas’.

hallmark

The 2020 film Meet Me at Christmas sees Joan (Catherine Bell) and Beau (Mark Deklin) team up to coordinate her son Liam’s (Luke Bilyk) and his niece Katie’s (Sage Kitchen) Christmas Eve nuptials after their wedding planner unexpectedly quits. While working together, Joan and Beau discover their pasts and futures are intertwined.

Set against the backdrop of Calgary, Alberta, the Canadian province offers TV audiences and visitors a view of the stunning downtown area. Bragg Creek. Its red Ferris wheel and famed horse-drawn carriages in Heritage Park that Joan and Beau ride in the movie are also worth exploring on your festive getaway.

Wedding at Graceland (Memphis, Tenn.)

Elvis Presley’s estate as seen in 2019’s ‘Wedding at Graceland’.

hallmark

Graceland, the mansion of the late Elvis Presley, is an iconic tourist attraction in Tennessee and the primary setting for the aptly titled 2019 Hallmark sequel Wedding at Graceland. After reuniting in 2018’s Christmas at Graceland, Laurel Cooper (Kellie Pickler) and Clay Shepard’s (Brown) love story continues. This time, the couple faces the pressure of planning their dream wedding at the Memphis estate in three weeks, with family drama threatening to derail the big day.

In addition to the Graceland’s Chapel in the Woods, stables and trophy building — where Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, makes a surprise cameo — Commercial Appeal reported that filming took place at the following locations, all of which are perfect Southern destinations to explore: Memphis’ Harbortown neighborhood, the roof of the Peabody Memphis hotel, Collierville Town Square, a riverboat on the Mississippi River and the Miramichi golf course in Millington, Tenn.

Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy (Burnaby, B.C., Canada)

From left: Antonio Cayonne as Elliot Lee, Rukiya Bernard as Hannah, Paul Greene as Ben, Maggie Lawson as Katie, Michelle Martin as Megan, Patty McCormack as Nan, Colin Lawrence as Thomas and Holly Robinson Peete as Michelle in 2019’s ‘Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy’.
David Strongman/2018 Crown Media United States LLC

Think towns that unabashedly love Christmas only exist in movies? Think again!

Like Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy’s Katie (Maggie Lawson), perhaps you’re skeptical about towns that go all out during the holiday season. However, just as picturesque Evergreen is full of cheerful traditions and residents who help Katie, a writer on assignment, lean into the most wonderful time of the year, the 2019 movie’s real-life location — Burnaby, B.C., Canada — can help you to do the same.

Burnaby is a city bordering the Canadian city of Vancouver. It’s home to Burnaby Village Museum, a quaint street featured in the film that transports you back to the 1920s with its old-fashioned storefronts (including a blacksmith shop and a general store) and annual Festive Village.

Check Inn to Christmas and Christmas Made to Order (Near Farmington, Utah)

Alexa PenaVega (left, standing) as Gretchen, Jonathan Bennett as Steven, Jacob Young as Jeff, Bailee Johnson as Paige and April Matson as Kirsten in 2018’s ‘Christmas Made to Order’.
Fred Hayes

The picture-perfect family-run inns at the center of 2019’s Check Inn to Christmas bring the New York City-based lawyer Julia Crawley (Rachel Boston) and her family’s competitor, Ryan Mason (Wes Brown), together in their cozy hometown near the Rocky Mountains.

The movie was filmed in various locations around Farmington, Utah, where you’re sure to find a scenic inn nearby with views of the surrounding mountain range.

The 2018 movie Christmas Made to Order was also filmed around Farmington, Utah, following along as Gretchen (Alexa PenaVega) pursues her side job and true passion as a decorator through her company, Holidays Made to Order, and winds up creating her own love story with architect Steven (Jonathan Bennett) in addition to decking the halls.

Christmas at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.)

Danica McKellar (center) as Rachel in 2019’s ‘Christmas at Dollywood’.
Curtis Hilbun/Crown Media United States LLC

This one should come as no surprise: The 2019 movie Christmas at Dollywood was filmed at the actual Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The famed amusement park co-owned by country music legend Dolly Parton is at the center of the movie, as N.Y.C.-based event planner Rachel Davis (Danica McKellar) is tasked with organizing Dollywood’s 30th Christmas celebration.

The annual event isn’t just part of the movie — it’s part of the park’s real-life charm as well. Plan a visit to take in the 50-foot Christmas tree, twinkling lights and holiday-themed musical productions.

After a long day at Dollywood, you can book a room and relax at the Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge. The all-inclusive themed hotel showcases festive decorations in the common areas and suites as well as a winter-friendly heated pool. Plus, a singing St. Nick typically makes an appearance during the holiday season.

A Grand Ole Opry Christmas and Our Christmas Love Song (Nashville)

Nikki DeLoach (center) as Gentry Wade and Kristoffer Polaha as Will ‘Mac’ McCall pose with musicians flanked by Riders in the Sky in 2025’s ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas’.

Katherine E. Bomboy/2025 Hallmark Media

In the 2025 movie A Grand Ole Opry Christmas, the titular venue is center stage for a story so heartwarming you’ll forget how cold it is outside.

The film follows Gentry Wade (Nikki DeLoach), the daughter of late country singer Jett Wade, who abandoned her songwriting dreams following her father’s tragic accident 30 years prior. When she returns to the Opry to represent her father’s legacy for the venue’s centennial Christmas celebration and sits in the wooden pews, she and her longtime friend, country music talent manager Mac (Polaha), are transported back to 1995, where she interacts with her father and finishes a song she began writing decades earlier as a teen.

Not only does the film highlight one of the most hallowed stages in country music, but it also features a slew of star-studded cameos from some of the biggest names in the genre, including Bill Anderson, Brad Paisley, Megan Moroney, Mickey Guyton, Pam Tillis, Tigirlily Gold and more.

While The Kansas City Star reported that parts of the movie were filmed in the Missouri city as a stand-in for Nashville, the actual Opry — a must-see stop during any trip to “Music City” — is, of course, prominently featured.

Hope at Christmas (Richmond, B.C., Canada)

Erica Tremblay (left) as RayAnne and Scottie Thompson as Sydney in 2018’s ‘Hope at Christmas’.

Hallmark

Newly divorced mother Sydney (Scottie Thompson) and daughter RayAnne (Erica Tremblay, Jacob Tremblay’s sister) head to the fictional town of Hopewell, N.C., where Sydney used to visit her grandparents as a child during the holidays. While there, she attempts to sell the house she inherited. However, she has a change of heart after meeting and falling for local elementary teacher Mac (Ryan Paevey).

It’s actually the old-fashioned fishing village town of Steveston in Richmond, B.C., that serves as the backdrop for Sydney and Mac’s romance. Other filming locations for the 2018 movie that you can visit include the Steveston boardwalk, Imperial Landing Park, Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site and more.

Christmas Cookies (Squamish, B.C., Canada)

A festive downtown Squamish, B.C., Canada from 2016’s ‘Christmas Cookies’.
Bettina Strauss/Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC

Nestled in the mountains north of Vancouver sits Squamish, B.C., where 2016’s Christmas Cookies was filmed.

While the movie sees businesswoman Hannah (Jill Wagner) reluctantly warm up to the locals while looking to acquire Aunt Sally’s Christmas Cookie Company in the fictional town of Cookie Jar, the real-life location is home to several charming attractions, including a picturesque gondola ride that offers views over the sound and nearby waterfalls.

A Christmas Melody (Cincinnati)

A Cincinnati home featured in 2015’s ‘A Christmas Melody’.
Crown Media United States LLC

Queen of Christmas songstress Mariah Carey made her feature directorial debut with 2015’s star-studded A Christmas Melody. The film follows single mother Kristin Parson (Lacey Chabert) and her former high-school rival, Melissa McKean-Atkinson (Carey). The two face off upon Kristin’s return to their hometown in Ohio after she closes her trendy clothing boutique in Manhattan.

Though the movie is set in the fictional town of Silver Falls, it was actually filmed in Cincinnati, a city on the Ohio River famous for its 19th-century architecture and historic downtown. Scenic sights such as Hyde Park Square and the Kilgour Fountain will put you in the Yuletide spirit when visiting.

Moonlight & Mistletoe (Chester, Vt.)

Candace Cameron Bure (left) as Holly and Barbara Niven as Ginny in 2008’s ‘Moonlight & Mistletoe’.

E.J. Camp/Hallmark Media

The 2008 film Moonlight & Mistletoe follows Nick Crosby (Tom Arnold), resident head Santa and owner of Santaville in Chester, Vt., as he tries to overcome his mounting debt. Nick’s daughter, Holly (Candace Cameron Bure), comes to his aid by enlisting her father’s employee and craftsman, Peter Lowdell (Christopher Wiehl), to help save Nick’s declining business.

While Chester is the perfect location for the fictional Santaville, in real life, it’s just as magical during the holiday season. Whether indulging in a Christmas package for a stay at the Inn Victoria bed-and-breakfast, participating in the annual tree lighting ceremony or visiting the historic train depot, there’s something for everyone in this idyllic New England town.

The Christmas Card (Nevada City, Calif.)

Alice Evans as Faith Spelman and John Newton as Sgt. Cody Cullen in 2006’s ‘The Christmas Card’.
2018 Crown Media United States LLC

After receiving a touching anonymous holiday card while serving in Afghanistan, soldier Cody Cullen (John Newton) tracks down the sender in Nevada City, Calif., upon his return to the U.S. — and, in classic Hallmark fashion, promptly falls in love with her (Alice Evans).

Beyond the 2006 movie’s heartwarming plot, there’s certainly cause for love at first sight in Nevada City, a hamlet outside of Sacramento, Calif., that was first settled in 1849 as a mining camp and has retained much of its original charm. Victorian-era buildings line the town’s historic district, home to antique shops, restaurants, gift shops and a railroad museum.

Christmas Everlasting (Covington, Ga.)

Tatyana Ali as Lucy and Dondré T. Whitfield as Peter in 2018’s ‘Christmas Everlasting’.

Brian Douglas/©2018 Crown Media United States LLC

Things are looking up for Lucy (Tatyana Ali), who just made partner at her big-time New York law firm — but her life is upended when her sister with special needs, Alice (Brittany Guess), unexpectedly passes away. In the wake of the tragedy, Lucy must return home to Nilson’s Bay, Wis., to attend the funeral and fulfill the terms of Alice’s eccentric will, which requires her to live in their family home for 30 days through the holidays to inherit the property. In true Hallmark fashion, she also reunites with her high-school sweetheart, Peter (Dondré T. Whitfield).

This 2018 movie was actually filmed in Covington, Ga., a town often referred to as “The Hollywood of the South,” and utilized locations like Covington Square Park in historic downtown and Covington First United Methodist Church.

Movies like 2000’s Remember the Titans and 2014’s Selma, as well as TV shows like The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and The Dukes of Hazzard — to name a few — were filmed in Covington. There’s even a Walk of Stars and a self-guided TV/movie tour to take in while you visit.

Chateau Christmas (Whistler, B.C., Canada)

Merritt Patterson as Margot Hammond and Luke Macfarlane as Jackson Lewis in 2019’s ‘Chateau Christmas’.

Bettina Strauss/Crown Media

Margot Hammond (Merritt Patterson) is a world-renowned pianist who returns home to Chateau Neuhaus for Christmas and rediscovers her passion for music. While there, she reunites with her ex-boyfriend and former bandmate, Jackson Lewis (Luke Macfarlane), who convinces her to headline the annual holiday concert, reigniting old feelings.

The 2019 movie was filmed in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, capturing the snow-covered landscapes. The stunning Fairmont Chateau Whistler is prominently featured in the film, so you can book a stay and live out your Hallmark alpine fantasy.

A Newport Christmas (Newport, R.I.)

Ginna Claire Mason as Ella and Wes Brown as Nick in 2025’s ‘A Newport Christmas’.

Hallmark Media/Robert Clark

Ella (Ginna Claire Mason) is a Newport socialite in 1905 whose father is set to marry her off to a man whom she has never met. Attempting to clear her head, Ella goes for a nighttime sail and, upon seeing a comet, wishes for a different life — only to find herself transported to 2025 and on a boat belonging to Nick (Wes Brown), a sailor and Newport historian. The two grow close, and Ella becomes reluctant to return to her own time, but her legacy and the course of history risk being erased the longer she stays.

While some filming for this 2025 movie took place in Buffalo, N.Y., the titular city of Newport, R.I., was also prominent. The picturesque waterfront spot, Bowen’s Wharf, along with several local mansions, brings the winter fantasy to life.

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Having Tom Cruise fly in on a helicopter and land in a quaint British market town would ordinarily send locals into a fevered frenzy. 

But people living in East Grinstead have had enough. When the Mission: Impossible star, 63, arrived in October, he wasn’t greeted with the flashing of bulbs and the clamber for an autograph. 

Instead, the Hollywood actor sparked outrage with his ‘low’ flying entry and was met by chanting protesters holding placards. 

Cruise was there, of course, as the Church of Scientology’s ‘poster child’ for the org’s red carpet Patrons Ball at its sprawling British headquarters at Saint Hill Manor.    

The annual three-day glitzy fundraising bash saw 7,000 people descend on the small West Sussex town, according to the church. 

It saw Scientologists blasting out bagpipe music in an attempt to drown out the protesters. The antic led to one local complaining to Mid Sussex District Council, which could see the church lose its booze and events permits. 

The application for the review claims the fundraising event causes ‘considerable disruption’ to the local community by causing congestion and excessively loud noise.

It asks the council to consider limiting the scale of events held on the property and proposes measures to safeguard vulnerable people.

The organisation said residents and ‘town and district councillors’ were on the guest list alongside Cruise. It was lauded as a ‘resounding success’, but not for locals who have grown fed up with East Grinstead being dubbed Britain’s ‘Twin Peaks’. 

The town’s relationship with Scientology has been a fractious one since science fiction writer and the church’s founder L Ron Hubbard bought the Grade II-listed manor home in 1959. 

Tom Cruise enraged locals in East Grinstead in October with his ‘low’ flying entry to the quaint market town as he arrived for the Church of Scientology’s annual Patrons Ball 

The Hollywood actor, 63, was among the 7,000 people who had gathered at the church’s British headquarters for the annual bash

The three-day fundraiser took place at the Church of Scientology’s sprawling country estate at Saint Hill Manor (pictured) 

Every year, protesters – made up largely of locals and a few former Scientologists – say the fundraiser brings heavy traffic and noise that disrupts people’s lives.

But the reminders of the org’s presence in East Grinstead are constant throughout the year. 

There are claims that Scientologists have been spotted carrying out ‘recruitment campaigns’ on the high street and putting pamphlets in charity shops.

The church recently batted away suggestions by one local in a report by The Guardian that it had been preaching on a bus, saying it ‘is just not something we do’.

Diane Juchau told the newspaper she often sees the church’s followers outside Sainsbury’s ‘wearing their black suits with the red tie’.

Meanwhile, the church made a request for a Public Space Protection Order in July 2024, saying protests held outside its premises caused ‘harassment, disturbance and alarm’ to its members.

Mid Sussex District Council’s cabinet was due to make a decision – recommended for refusal – on June 30 about whether to put a PSPO in place. The church withdrew the application.

Former Scientologist Alexander Barnes-Ross, 30, led the recent protest group wearing a medieval knight’s costume adorned with the St George’s flag. 

Former Scientologist Alexander Barnes-Ross, 30, led the recent protest group wearing a medieval knight’s costume adorned with the St George’s flag

Mr Barnes-Ross told the Daily Mail that locals are ‘extremely frustrated and angered’ by being ‘inundated by thousands of Scientologists travelling to attend this event’

Former mayor of East Grinstead, Frazer Visser, right, met Tom Cruise at the Mission: Impossible premiere in Leicester Square in July 2023

He told the Daily Mail that locals are ‘extremely frustrated and angered’ by being ‘inundated by thousands of Scientologists travelling to attend this event, and Tom Cruise flying in on his helicopter’. 

‘It causes a lot of noise and nuisance and he [Tom Cruise], you know, doesn’t stop for photos or anything,’ he said. 

‘He flies in, he attends this event, probably donates a large sum of money, and then flies out again, and the town gets absolutely nothing in return. A couple of charities might get a £50,000 donation, but that’s about it.’ 

The Church of Scientology says in the last 10 years it has raised more than £2million for local causes, including hospitals, and more than 6,500 residents have attended its events since October.

One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the fundraiser as ‘very disruptive’.

He said: ‘For six to eight weeks they were laying down pallets in the field to make a car park, so we had the disruption and noise of that, with lorry after lorry coming.

‘Then they made all the neighbours listen to bagpipe music on a loop all day. In the evening, they had two generators to power floodlights in the car park, and we could hear the generator no more than 60 yards from our back door.

‘One didn’t go off until 1am and the second generator stayed on all night, so all night an empty car park was lit up.

‘I’m tolerant – I don’t have religion but don’t object to others having it. Scientology say they’ve cleaned up their act, but they still have the same boss, and I don’t really believe they have changed their spots.’

Protesters gather at the Church of Scientology’s headquarters in East Grinstead during the org’s annual fundraiser 

The Church of Scientology is currently led by its controversial leader David Miscavige (pictured in Perth, Australia, in 2018)

Tom Cruise (pictured in 2004) is the Church of Scientology’s ‘poster child’ and its most famous member. The voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, and John Travolta also have links to the church

Much of the town’s discontent is claims that local dignitaries are becoming unlikely bedfellows with their Scientologist neighbours.  

Yoga teacher and former East Grinstead mayor Julie Mockford was pictured ‘just chillin’ with her ‘pal’ Tom Cruise on a Mission: Impossible film set in 2018.

While another former mayor, Frazer Visser, was pictured with Cruise in 2023. 

‘I had the unforgettable experience of attending the premiere of Tom Cruise’s newest Mission: Impossible film in Leicester Square, along with some previous mayors,’ he said.

There is no suggestion Ms Mockford and Mr Visser did any wrong by attending.  

A Daily Mail investigation in 2024 established that the Scientologists had certainly become involved in the affairs of local politicians in East Grinstead to a considerable degree.

Local council representatives have attended a number of Scientology events; the church’s controversial leader David Miscavige has been given a guided tour of council offices; the local fire service had been using the Scientologists’ headquarters for training and was offered £50,000 by the church; and the Scientologists were involved in running East Grinstead’s Christmas lights switch-on ceremony as well as a celebration for the Coronation of King Charles.

The links have raised eyebrows in the local community, with Mr Barnes-Ross saying it is making people feel ‘helpless’.  

He said: ‘The [Patrons Ball] event is a big, chaotic thing that sort of gridlocks all the roads and so on. But I think just over the years, East Grinstead has grown to be fed up with this cult in their town, building inroads with the local politicians, and the mayor and councillors and such going to events and saying how wonderful this organisation is and when actually they aren’t. 

‘[The Church of Scientology] has lots of events throughout the year that cause different levels of disruption. And I think just the fact that they have no due regard for the local authority or the local community has really annoyed people.’  

The Daily Mail has contacted the Church of Scientology for comment.       

Cruise is not the only high-profile member of the church. The voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, and Grease actor John Travolta are linked to the organisation.

Lisa Marie Presley, who died aged 54 in 2023, spoke out about her time in the Church of Scientology in her memoir, which was released posthumously. 

‘Scientology actually helped,’ she wrote, before adding: ‘The church felt radical in an exciting way − it didn’t feel like an organized religion, really. It attracted cool, unusual, artistic people. It became my tribe.’

She left the church around 2014.  

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Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly are set to marry this weekend, but their wedding has been marred by tensions in the family

Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly is about to tie the knot with British swimming legend Adam Peaty(Image: Mark Sutton – Formula 1, Formula 1 via Getty Images)

This weekend, Team GB swimming star Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay are set to wed in what promises to be one of the most high-profile celebrity weddings of the year. The big day represents the peak of a fast-moving love story that has fascinated fans.

At first glance, their union seems perfectly matched – a decorated Olympic champion pairing up with the daughter of one of Britain’s best-known chefs, Gordon Ramsay. But the road to the wedding has been anything but smooth.

From the early days of their relationship following Adam’s widely reported break-up to a very public dispute within his family, the couple have faced intense scrutiny. As they get ready for their festive celebration, we look back at how their relationship endured relentless media attention.

A romance begins

Adam, 30, and Holly, 25, first connected through the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing. Adam took part in the series in 2021, while Holly’s sister, Tilly Ramsay, was also competing that same year. Although sparks did not immediately fly – Adam was still in a relationship with his son’s mother, Eiri Munro – their initial introduction came from the close-knit Strictly community.

After Adam and Eiri separated in August 2022, his connection with Holly gradually developed. By June 2023, they made their romance public, regularly posting snapshots of their shared life online. Their relationship progressed rapidly, culminating in Adam proposing during a romantic getaway to Cornwall in September 2024.

READ MORE: Adam Peaty’s family feud and Gordan Ramsay stance ahead of marrying his daughter HollyREAD MORE: Adam Peaty ‘deeply hurt’ by family feud but ‘fatal error means statement will backfire’

Holly later explained that getting engaged felt like the obvious next step. She referred to Adam as her “best friend” and highlighted how their mutual commitment to hard work – his in elite sport and hers across fitness and podcasting – strengthened their connection.

Family feud

Despite their joy, announcing the wedding date triggered an unexpected conflict within Adam’s family. His mother, Caroline Peaty, attracted headlines after voicing her anger about when the ceremony was scheduled.

With the wedding planned for the Saturday after Christmas, Caroline criticised the decision as “ridiculous,” pointing to the pressure and practical challenges of organising a major family gathering during the height of the festive period.

Adam and Holly have a fractious relationship with his parents (pictured)

Tensions deepened when Caroline was not invited to Holly’s hen party, which included Victoria Beckham, Holly’s mother Tara, and Adam’s sister. Adam’s aunt Louise then spoke out, saying her sister was “not ok” with the exclusion and had been “broken” by her son and his fiancée.

Louise also alleged that Adam was “ashamed” of his brothers, with relatives branding him a “narcissist” who had been “changed” by wealth and had “forgotten where he came from.”

“We were sent a save the date and it’s all these country houses,” one family member told the Sun. “I’m on Universal Credit – I can’t afford that. Adam has been changed by money, fame and fortune. He seems to have forgotten where he came from.”

The disagreement became public when Louise tagged Holly in a heartfelt message online. “@hollyramsayy I’m so glad that you had a great hen do. As a bride, you deserve that. However, as a person, you were divisive and hurtful towards a woman who I have loved and continue to love deeply,” she wrote.

A family feud has erupted in the Peaty family (Image: INSTAGRAM)

“A woman who opened her home and heart to you. You decided, for whatever reason, not to invite her, your prospective mother-in-law, to your hen night, yet Adam invited his father-in-law, your dad, to his stag night.

“You invited your mum (quite rightly) and even your mum’s assistant, your sisters, your friends, my niece, but not my sister, your future mother-in-law… You have inflicted a hurt on my sister that will take a very long time to heal if ever.”

After posting a series of vague messages herself, Caroline later spoke openly about the situation to the Daily Mail. “I don’t think they understand how much they have hurt me; it’s as if they have cut my heart out,” she said.

“This is the first Christmas that I’ve not had my family together – my family is broken. Yes, I have my other grandchildren. Yes, I have my other children, but my family is split because of the goings on… because of the wedding.”

The pair have been engaged since 2024(Image: @hollyramsayy/instagram)

She continued: “Me going would just cause even more of a storm and I don’t want to ruin his wedding day. I wanted to be there quietly to watch him get married, but that can’t happen now. I don’t know if they are too young or don’t value family as much as I have, but they don’t understand that family is the foundation to everything.”

Caroline added: “I know it’s the end. But please, the message I want Adam to hear is no matter what happens in the future, please know I love you, your dad loves you, you can come home and talk to me at any point.”

Gordon Ramsay’s support

While relations with the Peaty family became strained, Adam found warmth and encouragement from the Ramsays. His relationship with his future father-in-law Gordon has grown particularly strong and now plays a significant role in his life. Known for his tough television image, Gordon has become a grounding influence and mentor to the swimmer.

Gordon Ramsay has welcomed Adam into the family(Image: Zak Mauger, LAT Imagesvia Getty Images)

Adam has openly discussed how Gordon supported him through challenging moments in his career. After struggling with alcohol and depression, he said the chef helped him develop a “winner’s mindset” beyond competitive swimming. The pair frequently train together, and Gordon has spoken publicly about Adam’s determination, describing him as a “beast” in competition and a “gentle giant” away from it.

“He [Gordon] is an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from. Gordon is a high performer,” Peaty said in 2024.

“He worked his way up to the upper echelons of his industry and works in a place where there’s no bulls**t. I take a lot from that and from the professionalism he has every single day with a relentless pursuit.

“So, when I see that, I’m like, ‘Yeah, why can’t I work like this? Why can’t I do this every single day? Why do I have to be so emotionally engaged with things?'”

Holly has since shared that her father is “protective” but recognises how deeply Adam cares for her. Gordon’s backing appears to have played a key role as the couple prepare to begin their married life together.

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Fifteen people have been injured after a knife and chemical attack at a tyre factory in Japan.

Eight people were taken to hospital after they were stabbed by a man with a knife at a factory of the tyre maker Yokohama Rubber Co. in the city of Mishima, in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, according to the fire department.

Seven others were injured by bleach thrown at them during the attack, and taken to hospitals for treatment, the fire department said.

The attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, police said.

Image:
Pic: The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP

The motive for the attack is as yet unknown.

The fire department said five of the people who were stabbed were in serious condition, but other details were not available.

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All were conscious while they were being transported to hospitals, according to media reports.

The suspect is believed to be a former employee at the factory, Kyodo news agency said, quoting investigative sources.

He was carrying a survival knife and wearing what appeared to be a gas mask, Japanese newspaper Asahi reported, citing investigators.

Japan has strict gun control laws, and violent crimes are rare, but there have been a number of high-profile knife attacks in recent years.

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The architect of the London Eye wants to build a vast tidal power station in a 14-mile arc off the coast of Somerset that could help Britain meet surging electricity demand to power artificial intelligence – and create a new race track to let cyclists skim over the Bristol Channel.

Julia Barfield, who designed the Eye and the i360 observation tower in Brighton, is part of a team that has drawn up the £11bn proposal. It would curve from Minehead to Watchet and use 125 underwater turbines to harness the power of the second-highest tidal range in the world.

The proposal comes amid growing concern that rapidly rising use of AI in Britain will drive up carbon emissions unless more renewable energy sources are found. The AI boom is expected to add to sharp increases in demand for electricity across the UK, which the government estimated this month could more than double by 2050.

“If the decision is to go ahead with adopting more and more AI – which I am surprised is not being questioned more at a time of climate emergency – then it is going to be better with a renewable energy source,” said Barfield. “Datacentres could double energy demand and this is a predictable and reliable source.”

The barrage would not cross the full breadth of the channel but would instead curve to and from the Somerset coast with a 2.5GW maximum output – not far short of the peak energy that will be created by the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station just 12 miles east. It would be enough to power 2m homes.

A visualisation of the full arc of the proposed lagoon. Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

The vision includes a path along the top of the semi-circular barrage for walkers and cyclists willing to brave the south-westerlies, a water-sports marina, a lido and an observation tower. Local MP Rachel Gilmour, who is backing the plan, said the pathway “will become absolutely iconic”.

The designers have tentatively suggested it also might be possible to install datacentres within the structure, allowing them to benefit from cheap seawater cooling. There are hopes for oyster and mussel beds, arrays of floating solar panels and a coastal amphitheatre to boost the economy of Minehead, once a popular holiday resort and now one of the 20% most deprived areas in Britain.

The latest UK energy policy states that tidal and wave energy could play a role “if their costs can be reduced”.

“We have got people who want to fund it but they will only do so if the government is supportive,” said Aidan Clegg, chief executive of the consortium. “They need to take this seriously. This is not hypothetical – we have a strong plan in place.”

A visualisation of the cycle track over the tidal power station. Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We are open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around our coastlines, which demonstrate strong value for money. The AI energy council is bringing together the likes of Neso [the National Energy System Operator], EDF, Microsoft and Google in solving the energy demands of AI, exploring opportunities to attract investment and support the development of low carbon power for datacentres.”

Tidal power is more predictable than wind and solar, even though there are several hours when tides turn each day with little or no power. The backers of the West Somerset Lagoon project believe it would last 120 years and would therefore produce power more cheaply than nuclear power.

It was first conceived several years ago with the aim of reducing the UK’s carbon footprint. Since then, the AI revolution began and is now on course to dramatically increase energy demand. Britain’s national energy system operator, Neso, has predicted electricity demand for datacentres will treble by 2035. The vast racks of microprocessors needed to train and run AI models and store the ever-increasing mountains of data on which the tech-enabled 21st-century economy relies will account for the largest part of the overall increase in electricity demand in the commercial sector.

The West Somerset Lagoon is the latest in a line of proposals to harness the tidal power of the Severn estuary. In the 1980s, other lagoons were proposed in the narrower part of the estuary, closer to Bristol, while a full barrage from near Cardiff to near Weston-super-Mare was suggested more recently, raising concerns about large-scale and irreversible change to the estuary system. The latest sponsors of the idea say the lagoon will not interrupt navigation channels to the ports of Bristol and Cardiff, and is outside protected areas such as local nature reserves and special areas of conservation.

“Minehead and that whole area of West Somerset is an area of deprivation and this project will drive positive transformation,” Barfield said. “It will create skilled full-time jobs, an area for water-sports, a lido, a visitors’ centre, an observation tower and cultural facilities. It could also become a hub for marine farming mussels, seaweed and oysters. These are the types of businesses that local young people could develop because the tidal range would be more controlled.”

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CCTV footage from Japan’s Hiratsuka City Museum captured the moment a meteor soared through the night sky over Japan’s Mount Fuji on Friday.

While most meteors appear white, some can glow green, yellow, red, or blue, depending on the elements in the material as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.

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What’s the story behind the sawn-open goat skulls that frequently turn up in the ground beneath Berlin? It’s often small things that reveal something about times gone by, says Eberhard Völker, archaeologist at the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments. He and his colleagues suspect that goat brain was a popular snack in medieval times.

Völker is leading excavations at the Molkenmarkt in the historic center of Berlin. Digging down into the past with a shovel, trowel and brush. At a depth of four meters, researchers reach the Middle Ages: the birthplace of Berlin. The city’s ground level has risen precisely four meters in 800 years due to fire debris and rubble. “This is where Berlin began,” he says, pointing to the mounds of earth behind him.

Toilet treasures

The Molkenmarkt is one of Germany’s largest inner-city excavations — a gigantic hole covering more than 22,000 square meters. Once the asphalt and concrete have been removed, archaeologists can begin meticulously combing through the earth below.  They’ve been working here since 2019, coaxing the earth’s secrets out of the ground. Researchers have already turned up 750,000 individual items.

The archaeological site in the heart of BerlinImage: Jürgen Heinrich/IMAGO

Eberhard Völker holds a thick wooden plate in his hand, a rare find. It’s well-preserved but smells awful. That’s no surprise when you consider it’s spent centuries in a latrine, a medieval cesspit. Even after 800 years, the smell of feces still clings to it. When deprived of oxygen, organic materials such as wood, textiles and leather resist decay. That’s why archaeologists often find their greatest treasures in old toilets or dried-up wells, which also served as trash cans for medieval towns.

Völker’s favorite find is a small clay figurine of Saint Catherine, who, according to legend, was tortured and beheaded for her Christian faith. It probably adorned a house altar to protect the family from misfortune.

One object of particular value is a rare gold ring with a garnet. Perhaps it slipped off someone’s finger as they were fetching water and it fell into the well? And an inconspicuous brown scrap of silk is proof of trade with China in the early years of Berlin’s existence. Also among the finds is a bone flute from the 14th century.

In addition to Saint Catherine, archaeologists also discovered figures of other saintsImage: Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance

PETRI: A home for Berlin’s treasures

The Molkenmarkt is thought to be Berlin’s oldest market. Völker and his colleagues are bringing a hidden archive of Berlin’s history to light. The archaeologist regularly conducts guided tours of the site. Interest is huge and they’re always fully booked.

Archaeologists are being allowed to comb through the soil for about another two years, before the gigantic excavation site is filled in and built upon. Everything Völker finds is subjected to thorough scientific documentation, analysis and interpretation, creating a huge data repository of Berlin’s past. 

But where to put them all? Turns out, the items won’t have to travel far. Just a few hundred meters, in fact, to the PETRI, a new museum that opened in the summer of 2025. It was built on the walls of the medieval St. Peter’s Church, heavily damaged during World War II and later demolished, and a Latin school, whose foundations are on display in the basement.

The PETRI is already popular with both school groups and foreign tourists. It’s a chance for Berlin to show it has other stories to tell apart from the usual ones about the Golden Twenties, the Nazi era and the building of the Berlin Wall. Berlin’s history is also medieval. An unknown side of the city that’s worth delving into.

Centuries old and very well preserved: a leather child’s shoeImage: Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance

Like other museums, the PETRI also exhibits items in glass cases — for example, a child’s shoe from the Middle Ages. But it goes a step further. Through large windows, visitors can observe restorers as they go about their tasks in open workshops. As well as breathing life into a forgotten chapter of the city’s history, the museum also aims to spark interest in archaeology.

A new resting place for the dead

Down in the basement, the museum has a surprise up its sleeve: a fresh bouquet of flowers is placed in front of a wall, and above it are the words: “May angels guide you to paradise.” The St. Peter’s Church complex once comprised an ancient cemetery. The remains of hundreds of people were exhumed during the excavations and have now been ceremoniously reburied in an ossuary: Here, the skeletal remains of some of Berlin’s first inhabitants are stored in drawers. And they tell life stories, albeit anonymous ones. A book of the dead records their fates: tooth decay, a complicated fracture, another who died far too young.

In 2024, human remains from medieval times were ceremoniously transferred to the ossuaryImage: Annette Riedl/dpa/picture alliance

When is Berlin’s birthday?

Scientific bone analysis has shown that Berlin is much older than previously thought. The city’s 800th birthday is due to be celebrated in 2037, but it is quite obvious that this milestone birthday actually took place several decades ago.

From the PETRI roof terrace, there’s a view of roaring traffic and Berlin’s built-up city center. Just a few meters below lie the medieval roots of a city ravaged by history. With the Molkenmarkt excavations and the PETRI museum, archaeologists like Eberhard Völker are painstakingly bringing one of the city’s untold stories to light, piece by piece.

This article was originally written in German.

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Photis Gaitanos’ rough fingers adroitly untangle the venomous spikes of a lionfish from a net, throwing the exotic-looking creature into an ice-filled rubber bin along with other fish from the day’s catch.

Unlike a few years ago when he would have mostly caught local staples as sea bream, red mullet or bass, the veteran fisherman now hunts for the invasive species that made its way from the Red Sea to the warming waters of the Mediterranean.

Lionfish, with their red and orange-hued stripes and antennae-like barbs that menacingly ward off enemies, threaten to decimate indigenous fish stocks, wreaking havoc on the livelihoods of the roughly 150 professional fishermen in Cyprus.

The prickly fish has even made its way as far north as the Ionian Sea, where Italian authorities have asked the public to photograph and report sightings.

The East Mediterranean has also seen another invasive Red Sea fish in the last decade: the silver-cheeked toadfish. Known as an eating machine whose powerful jaws cut through fishing nets, decimating fishermen’s catch, it has no natural predators off Cyprus, allowing its population to explode.

That toadfish also produces a lethal toxin, making it inedible.

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Photis Gaitanos catches a toadfish (AP)

Warmer waters are the culprit

Mr Gaitanos has fished for years in an area a few kilometres off the coastal town of Larnaca, once famous for its fishing bounty. Now, he says, it’s been more than two years since he’s caught a red mullet, a consumer favorite.

“I have been practicing this profession for 40 years. Our income, especially since these two foreign species appeared, has become worse every year. It is now a major problem (affecting) the future of fishing,” he said. “How can it be dealt with?”

Europe’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean says with the sea warming some 20 per cent faster than the global average, the presence of invasive species “is progressively increasing in the western basin”.

Models show that warmer seas as a result of climate change could see lionfish swarm the entire Mediterranean by the century’s end. Warmer waters and an expanded Suez Canal “have opened the floodgates” to Indo-Pacific species in general, according to Cyprus’ Fisheries Department.

The European Union’s Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis, a Cypriot himself, said that more frequent and intense extreme weather, often linked to climate change, could make the Mediterranean more hospitable to invasive species.

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A lionfish on a fishing boat (AP)

And that’s taking a heavy toll on Europe’s fishing industry as fishermen’s catches diminish while their costs shoot up as a result of repairs to fishing gear damaged by the powerful intruders.

“The native marine biodiversity of a specific region, as in the case of Cyprus, faces heightened competition and pressure, with implications for local ecosystems and industries dependent on them,” said Mr Kadis.

A cry for help

Mr Gaitanos, who inherited his father’s boat in 1986, is not sure the fishermen’s grievances are being handled in a way that can stave off the profession’s decline.

“We want to show the European Union that there’s a big problem with the quantity of the catch as well as the kind of fish caught, affected by the arrival of these invasive species and by climate change,” he said.

Some EU-funded compensation programs have been enacted to help fishermen. The latest, enforced in 2024, pays fishermen about €4.73 (£4.13) per kilogram to catch toadfish to control their number. The toadfish are then sent to incinerators.

Another project, RELIONMED, which began in 2017, recruits some 100 scuba divers to cull lionfish around wrecks, reefs and marine protected areas. The Cyprus Fisheries Department says surveys show that frequent culls could buy time for native species to recover, but it’s not a permanent fix.

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Stefanos Mentonis, owner of Stefanos restaurant, cooks lionfish (AP)

Eating the problem

What local fishermen are hoping will catch on with the fish-loving public is a new campaign to serve lionfish as a delicacy after its poisonous spines are carefully removed.

Mr Kadis said a social media campaign that began in 2021, #TasteTheOcean, had top European chefs and influencers plugging invasive species as a tasty alternative to the more commonly consumed fish. Renowned Cypriot chef Stavris Georgiou worked up a lionfish recipe of his own.

For most Cypriots, local taverns with their rich meze menus that feature numerous plates different fish is the way to go. Although eating lionfish has been slow to catch on, many tavernas and fish restaurants have started to introduce it as part of their menu.

The bonus is that lionfish is now priced competitively compared to more popular fish like sea bass. At the Larnaca harbor fish market, lionfish cost less than half as much as more popular fish like sea bass.

“By incorporating invasive species such as lionfish into our diet, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity for the fisheries sector and at the same time help limit the environmental threat caused by these species,” Mr Kadis said.

Stephanos Mentonis, who runs a popular fish tavern in Larnaca, has included lionfish on his meze menu as a way to introduce the fish to a wider number of patrons.

Mr Mentonis, 54, says most of his customers aren’t familiar with lionfish. But its meat is fluffy and tender, and he says it can hold up against perennial tavern favorites like sea bream.

“When they try it, it’s not any less tasty than any other fish,” he said.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Sara Mearns is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet
• Mearns tells PEOPLE that performing in The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center is about “giving the families the tradition”
• Mearns performs as the Sugarplum Fairy in the ballet, and says it’s “different” from other shows for one main reason

For many families, going to see George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition.

Sara Mearns, the Sugarplum Fairy in the New York City Ballet’s performance of the beloved Christmas ballet, says the dancers feel the same, noting that the “holidays mean Nutcracker.” 

The dancer, who has been with the company for almost two decades, tells PEOPLE that since they perform through the holidays, she herself doesn’t have many traditions as her schedule is packed with performances.

“It’s just about being in the Nutcracker and giving the families the tradition. That is our job at this time,” Mearns, 39, says, adding that it’s a “very specific audience” that comes to see the show year after year.

“It’s usually people that don’t really go to dance otherwise, but they’re in New York to see the Nutcracker. It’s like a rock concert. It’s absolutely amazing,” she says. “You could literally fall off your leg and it’s okay.”

“They’re just so happy to be there and you’re like, ‘Wow. Oh my gosh. I love this feeling,'” she adds.

Sara Mearns.

Mark Mann; Erin Baiano

While she admittedly doesn’t have many holiday traditions of her own, the dancer always finds time to “eat the canned cranberry sauce.” 

“And eggnog, I mean, it’s real thick, but I have to have that at least once this season,” she shares. “It’s not like I have to have something, but definitely the cranberry sauce for sure.”

Mearns tells PEOPLE that the dancers have Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day off. They also don’t perform on Mondays, but have two-show days on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

Aside from her love of ballet, meeting kids backstage after the performance always reminds Mearns of why she’s doing it.

Mearns, who was diagnosed with nerve hearing loss, is again taking the stage as the Sugarplum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker with the NYCB at Lincoln Center. Last year was the first year that she performed in The Nutcracker with her hearing aids on, and they will be on full display for the families and fans who come to watch her dance again this year.

Mearns recently became an ambassador for Phonak, sharing her journey and story, and hoping to inspire others. 

“I had a mother come up to me recently after a screening that I was at, and she said, ‘Thank you so much for talking about this. Because now my son feels like he has a path. That he has a chance,'” she tells PEOPLE. “I was like, ‘He absolutely does.’ I just want all students, even professionals, anybody, to realize that this is not something that’s gonna hold you back at all.” 

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to lose their eleventh publicist in just five years – having also parted with their US-based PR agency and amid continuing accusations the couple are ‘difficult’ to work with. 

Meredith Maines, who worked as their chief communications officer, has revealed she is stepping down after just a year in the role with Meghan and Harry.

Her departure comes as US-based Method Communications PR announced it too would be ending its tenure with the Sussexes after just seven months. 

Ms Maines’ resignation comes in the wake of her colleague Emily Robinson leaving as director of communications for the couple only two months ago. Insiders had suggested Ms Maines had been experiencing a ‘difficult’ time in the time since then.

The high-flying PR professional had also been at the centre of a media storm over the summer when she was pictured meeting with King Charles’ communications secretary Tobyn Andreae in London as part of a secret ‘peace summit’ between the two camps.

Both Harry, 40, and his father, 76, are said to be keen to reconcile, especially after the King was diagnosed with cancer last year.

However, Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that photographs of the extraordinary meeting – which took place in July at a private members club in Mayfair – were published in an exclusive for The Mail on Sunday. 

Sources close to Prince Harry insisted the Sussexes were not responsible for passing details of the meeting on to the newspaper. 

Of her now imminent departure, Ms Maines issued a statement speaking of her ‘gratitude and respect’ for the couple.

She said: ‘After a year of inspiring work with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Archewell, I will be pursuing a new opportunity in 2026.

Meredith Maines, who was appointed as chief communications officer is parting ways with Harry and Meghan after a year in the role

Meghan Markleand Prince Harry are set to lose their eleventh publicist in just five years after their ‘cheerleader’ spin doctor announced she is stepping down

‘I have the utmost gratitude and respect for the couple and the team, and the good they are doing in the world.’

Meanwhile a spokesperson for the couple said: ‘Meredith Maines and Method Communications have concluded their work with Archewell. 

‘The Duke and Duchess are grateful for their contributions and wish them well.’ 

It is understood that Liam Maguire, their UK and Europe director of communications, will now lead on all publicity-related work. 

The departure of Ms Maines follows the departure of Ms Robinson, who joined Harry and Meghan’s team as director of communications in June, but had already jumped ship by October.

Ms Robinson was a controversial hire as she had worked on The Crown for years – a show which aired a number of damaging narratives about the Royal Family.

Her departure comes five months after Ms Maines met with King Charles’ communications secretary Tobyn Andreae in London as part of a secret ‘peace summit’ between the two camps

The final series included scenes in which the ‘ghost’ of Princess Diana appeared to speak to The Queen and Prince Charles, which many found insensitive.

One friend of LA-based Robinson, who built up a reputation as a ‘tough cookie’ at Netflix, said: ‘It was her decision. She left a few weeks ago. She’s not a quitter, so things must have been pretty horrible for her to go.’

The departure of Ms Robinson and now Ms Maines in a matter of months means the couple have lost 11 publicists since leaving the UK for California five years ago (although two former publicists, James Holt and Miranda Barbot, have been promoted into non-PR roles).

In the last year alone, the couple have suffered numerous PR disasters, most recently the duchess’s surprise trip to Paris Fashion Week in October.

She posted a video to Instagram which showed her being driven at night along the Seine – a similar route to that taken by Princess Diana on the night she died.

There was also criticism of her appearance that same month in Washington at Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women event.

Meanwhile the couple had to navigate an unflattering cover story in Vanity Fair in February which included the claim: ‘The person who worked in media projects read stories in the tabloids about Meghan ‘bullying’ palace aides and couldn’t imagine such behaviour actually happening.

‘After working with her, though, this person realized, ‘Oh, any given Tuesday this happened’.’ 

The departure of Emily Robinson (pictured) and now Ms Maines in a matter of months means the couple have lost 11 publicists in just five years

The Sussexes hit back with a feature in People magazine with a number of employees and associated attesting to their kindness.

One Netflix crew member said of the Prince while filming With Love, Meghan: ‘Whenever Harry visited set, he was always super polite and friendly.’

The director of the series added: ‘Everyone has this one version of [Meghan], but she’s just someone who is hustling and working and doing.’

There were however more PR obstacles ahead for the couple including a piece in The Hollywood Reporter last September. One source was quoted as saying: ‘Everyone’s terrified of Meghan. She belittles people, she doesn’t take advice. 

‘Harry is a very, very charming person – no airs at all – but he’s very much an enabler. And she’s just terrible.’

A second source added: ‘She marches around like a dictator in high heels. I’ve watched her reduce grown men to tears.’

But an insider close to the couple denied the allegations, saying they had been ‘fabricated by someone with no knowledge of our company’.

Some sources claimed Ms Maines had been enduring a ‘difficult’ time as the couple’s chief communications officer prior to the announcement of her departure. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the couple’s representatives for comment. 

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Tributes will be paid to Diogo Jota when two of the clubs he represented in Liverpool and Wolves meet at Anfield, with his sons leading the sides out as mascots

Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter

09:43, 27 Dec 2025Updated 09:45, 27 Dec 2025

Diogo Jota’s two sons will be mascots as Liverpool host Wolves(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Diogo Jota’s commitment to being the finest father possible to his three children was evident when the Liverpool star spoke candidly about his family life. More than five months have passed since Jota’s tragic death in a car crash alongside his younger brother Andre Silva, news that sent shockwaves through the sporting community and far beyond.

The Portuguese forward’s legacy remains strong following his untimely passing. Liverpool supporters have made it their mission to keep his memory alive by belting out his chant during the 20th minute – matching his shirt number – at every match.

Beyond being an exceptional player who consistently delivered crucial goals when it mattered most, Jota was devoted to his family – a loving husband and father to three young children. Those closest to him were acutely aware of how much his family meant to him.

It was during Liverpool’s triumphant Premier League title-winning season last year that Jota revealed how he juggled pressure and strived to remain an engaged and devoted father when returning home from his demanding role as a top-level footballer.

In conversation with Liverpool’s performance psychologist Lee Richardson before his daughter’s arrival, Jota explained his wish to be the best dad possible. He said: “When I go home I still have a family, I have two kids – three almost – and the dogs and the stress doesn’t stop.

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk makes heartbreaking confession over impact of Diogo Jota’s tragic deathREAD MORE: James Milner sends touching Diogo Jota message after Liverpool return

“You want to be the best father you can be, try to lead by example, give good feedback. Even though sometimes you want to get a bit more rest in the afternoon, they are all happy because you are finally at home and they want to play.

“I had this the day after the game, I wanted to get a bit of rest, [my son] wanted to play some football – and you need to be on it.” An emotional reunion is set this afternoon as Liverpool and Wolves, his two Premier League clubs, face off at Anfield for the first time since his passing.

Jota and his wife Rute Cardoso have three children(Image: Instagram/diogoj_18)

Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, will watch on as their sons, Dinis and Duarte, serve as mascots. On Friday evening, Wolves honoured the late striker with his ex-international team-mate Jose Sa, head coach Rob Edwards, and chairman Nathan Shi laying flowers at his memorial outside Anfield.

In his pre-match column, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk confessed that the team is still grappling with the loss of Jota, reflecting on a year marked by both triumph and tragedy in 2025. He penned: “Saturday marks our last fixture of 2025 and when I reflect back on the year there have been a wide range of emotions for everybody at the club.

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“There have been some incredible highs, of course. To become Premier League champions, as we did back in April, was incredible. Lifting that trophy in front of you guys at Anfield is a memory that I will never forget, I can assure you.

“It was a real team effort and a deserved reward for a season of hard work, on and off the pitch. Soon after that, though, came the most devastating of lows. The loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in July was something none of us could ever have prepared for, and something all of us are still coming to terms with.

“Our thoughts, as ever, remain with Diogo and Andre’s family. They will never, ever be forgotten, and we will carry their memory always.”

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Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and military chief Selcuk Bayraktaroglu attend ceremony at an airbase near Ankara.

Published On 27 Dec 202527 Dec 2025

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Turkiye has held a military ceremony to honour a group of Libyan officials, including military chief Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, who were killed in a plane crash over Turkish territory earlier this week.

The ceremony, held on Sunday at Murted airbase outside the capital, Ankara, honoured al-Haddad and four other military officers who were in Turkiye for high-level defence talks before the crash on Tuesday.

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Turkiye’s military chief Selcuk Bayraktaroglu and Defence Minister Yasar Guler were in attendance at the ceremony. The remains of the Libyan officials will be transported back home, where an official funeral will be held.

The aircraft carrying the Libyan delegation went down on Tuesday shortly after taking off from Ankara, following what Libyan officials said was a technical malfunction. All those on board, including three crew members, were killed.

Al-Haddad, Libya’s highest-ranking military officer, was a key figure in the United Nations-brokered efforts to unify the country’s divided armed forces. His death drew condolences even from the rival factions.

“Haddad was this strong, charismatic leader who always [sought] peace in the country,” said Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina, reporting from al-Haddad’s hometown of Misrata, Libya. “He was a man of peace, well-respected across the country, even among people he fought against.”

Khalifa Haftar, head of eastern Libya’s rival administration – whose forces al-Haddad opposed during a 2019 advance on western Libya – was among those who extended sympathies.

In a statement, Haftar expressed “deep sorrow over this tragic loss” and offered condolences to al-Haddad’s family, tribe, and city, as well as “to all the Libyan people”.

‘Big shoes to fill’

Following the ceremony in Turkiye, five coffins draped in Libyan national flags were loaded onto a plane for repatriation to Libya. Turkiye’s military chief Bayraktaroglu was also on the plane, state-run news agency TRT reported.

Libya plunged into chaos after the country’s 2011 uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The country is split, with rival administrations in the east and the west, backed by an array of rogue militias and different foreign governments.

Turkiye has been the main backer of Libya’s government in the west, but has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based administration as well.

Traina said it will be “extremely difficult” for Libya’s Western government “to find someone as respected” to replace al-Haddad, who had chaired a United Nations-backed truce committee. “They are extremely big shoes to fill.”

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