WORLD NEWS
Both parties bash Trump for ‘moving the goalpost’ and initially only releasing some Epstein files by deadline
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Republicans and Democrats have bashed President Donald Trump for “moving the goalpost” and only initially releasing some of the government documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by the set deadline.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Fox News earlier Friday that it would take a “couple of weeks” to release everything the Justice Department must produce. Federal law states all the files must be released by Friday.
“I expect that we’re going to release several hundred thousand documents today, and those documents will come in all different forms — photographs and other materials associated with all of the investigations into, into Mr. Epstein,” Blanche said.
“So today, several hundred thousand, and then, over the next couple of weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more,” he added.
Around 4 p.m. Friday, the Justice Department released thousands of documents and images from criminal investigations into Epstein.
open image in gallery
Republicans and Democrats have bashed President Donald Trump for ‘moving the goalpost’ and only releasing some of the government documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by the set deadline (Getty)
News that the government was withholding documents after a hard-fought battle on Capitol Hill to force the Trump administration to give the public more insight into the crimes and associates of the wealthy financier who was accused of sexually abusing women and girls for years has made lawmakers even more frustrated.
“The Epstein Files Transparency Act is clear: while protecting survivors, ALL of these records are required to be released today. Not just some,” Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, wrote on X. “The Trump administration can’t move the goalposts. They’re cemented in law.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene — a Georgia Republican who recently had a public falling out with Trump, in part due to her support of the releasing of the Epstein files — wrote, “My goodness, what is in the Epstein files? Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press team asked what Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel were “hiding,” and then called to “RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES.”
White House Spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the government’s handling of the Epstein files, telling The Independent, “The Trump Administration is the most transparent in history. By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epstein’s Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have.”
open image in gallery
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Fox News Friday that it would take a ‘couple of weeks’ to release everything the Justice Department must produce (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia of California and House Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin of Maryland said in a joint statement that Trump and the Justice Department “are now violating federal law as they continue covering up the facts and the evidence about Jeffrey Epstein’s decades-long, billion-dollar, international sex trafficking ring.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement, “The law Congress passed and President Trump signed was clear as can be – the Trump administration had 30 days to release ALL the Epstein files, not just some. Failing to do so is breaking the law. This just shows the Department of Justice, Donald Trump, and Pam Bondi are hellbent on hiding the truth.”
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who led the charge with Democrat Ro Khanna to compel the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, simply shared a photo of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The text of the law reads: “Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall…make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorney’s Offices, that relate to: Jeffrey Epstein…”
open image in gallery
Epstein, a wealthy financier, was accused of sexually abusing women and girls for years (AP/John Minchillo)
Trump announced on November 19 via Truth Social that he had signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The president strongly opposed the legislation at first and has continued to call the controversy over the documents a “hoax.”
But after House Republicans signaled that they were going to support the measure when a vote on it was forced by Democrats and a few GOP congress members, Trump decided to back it.
There are some documents the Justice Department does not have to release, including anything that could reveal a victims’ identity, anything depicting the sexual abuse of children and anything that could jeopardize an active federal investigation.
In a follow-up X post Friday, Massie said, “Time’s up. Release the files.”
The Independent has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.
WORLD NEWS
Epstein files live: Critics accuse Trump officials of cover-up over heavily redacted piece
Todd Blanche says DoJ will release Epstein files Friday to meet Congressionally-imposed deadline
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Republicans and Democrats have accused Donald Trump officials of a cover-up after thousands of documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein case were heavily redacted.
The Justice Department released documents on Friday but officials acknowledged the release was incomplete. The photos are also undated and presented without context.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s DOJ earlier dumped a library of legal documents, paperwork and photos, which included multiple images of former President Bill Clinton lounging in a hot tub; and Epstein with a host of celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Richard Branson, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
Being photographed with Epstein, or mentioned in documents, does not suggest wrongdoing.
President Donald Trump did not acknowledge the release of the long-awaited files in a rally speech Friday night, as his administration was blasted for failing to publish the complete documents despite the deadline being set by law.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 in federal jail while awaiting trial, was a wealthy and powerful financier accused of sexually abusing and trafficking women and girls for years, alongside his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein files latest: Key points
No context offered with documents and photographs
The document dump by the Department of Justice consists of thousands of photographs and redacted files in the Jeffrey Epstein case, but no context.
In the enormous data sets, which are split into four batches, the files include photos from various trips Epstein took with associates, images inside his properties, and copies of largely redacted documents from inquiries.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 11:12
‘This isn’t about Bill Clinton’: Former president’s team responds to photos
Bill Clinton is featured prominently in the files, though the records included no explanation of how the photographs of the former president related to any investigation or the context surrounding them.
Senior Trump White House aides took to X to promote the Clinton photos.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote “Oh my!” and added a shocked face emoji in response to a photo of Clinton in the hot tub.
“They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton,” Clinton spokesman Angel Ureña said in a statement.
“There are two types of people here,” he said. “The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships after that. We’re in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that.”
(DOJ)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 11:07
‘Stop redacting names’ says Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda after release of files
‘Stop redacting names’ says Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda after release of files
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 10:27
Mick Jagger and Richard Branson among high-profile figures featured in latest Epstein files release
Mick Jagger and Richard Branson among high-profile figures featured in latest Epstein files release
Mick Jagger and Richard Branson are among the high-profile figures who have featured in the latest release of thousands of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Lord Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the U.S., is also pictured in the tranche of material.
Being photographed with Epstein or in the files does not implicate a person in the late convicted pedophile’s crimes.
There is also a photo of Ghislaine Maxwell – who is currently serving 20 years in prison for her role in a decade-long scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls with Epstein – posing on the steps of 10 Downing Street.
The partially redacted shot of Branson shows the British businessman with his arm around Epstein as they smile for the camera, with what appears to be two unknown women standing in the background.
There are multiple photos of Mick Jagger sat next to Maxwell and former U.S. president Bill Clinton.
Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton, pictured with a woman whose identity is redacted (DOJ)
Richard Branson pictured with Jeffrey Epstein (DOJ)
Tara Cobham20 December 2025 10:00
Epstein survivors express disappointment over heavy redactions in document dump as more files still to be released
Haley Robson, an Epstein survivor who voted for Trump but has come to regret it, told The Independent, “I knew going into this and just how Trump likes to play his little tactics. I knew with all the obstacles we’ve already rendered and the administration’s flip flop, I already knew that we were not going to see the files as we should be getting them.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 09:47
Democratic lawmakers ‘exploring legal avenues’ for transparency over Epstein files
US Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said that by disregarding the deadline, the Trump administration was denying justice to Epstein’s victims.
He added he was “exploring all avenues and legal tools to get justice for the victims and transparency for the American people.”
If Democratic lawmakers so choose, they could go to court to force the Justice Department to comply with the law, but that would be a lengthy process that plays out while the department releases more files.
Separately, the House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena for the Epstein files. That could give Congress another avenue to force the release of more information to the committee, but it would require Republicans to join them in contempt-of-Congress proceedings against a Republican administration.
(REUTERS)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 09:17
Democrats critcise partial release of Epstein files
The US Department of Justice published thousands of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a release long anticipated for its potential to reveal new details about the late sex offender and his connections to powerful people.
However, the release fell short of such expectations due to heavily redacted documents, undated photos and no context.
The partial release angered Democrats who accused the Trump administration of trying to hide information.
Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie had introduced what is known as a discharge petition, which eventually led to the congressional vote that forced the release of the Epstein files.
On Friday, both took to social media to criticise the partial release.
Mr Massie wrote that it “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law.”
Mr Khanna called the release so far “disappointing.”
“We’re going to push for the actual documents,” he said.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 09:09
Framed photos of Trump and Melania appear in Epstein files
Framed photographs of President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump feature in the Epstein documents released by the Justice Department today.
No accusations of wrongdoing have been made against the president, who has claimed he parted ways with Epstein as friends years ago.
In one of the photographs, which was taken inside a desk drawer, Trump appeared to be pictured alongside a group of smiling women in a grainy photograph.
The women’s identities are not redacted.
In another of the framed photos in the desk drawer, which is partially obscured from view, Trump and Melania are pictured with Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
That image has already been in the public domain.
Another image of Trump, Melania and Epstein was also taken on Epstein’s desk.
Framed photographs of President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump feature in the Epstein documents released by the Justice Department (far right) (DOJ)
A photo of Trump, Melania and Ghislaine Maxwell is visible inside the desk drawer. Trump appeared to be in another photograph alongside a group of women. The president has not been accused of any wrongdoing. (DOJ)
Rhian Lubin20 December 2025 09:00
Vishwam Sankaran20 December 2025 08:30
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured lying across five people in new Epstein files image
In the undated photo, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell appears to peer down and smile at the former prince, who is smiling with his eyes closed and his head near a woman’s lap.
Maxwell – the former girlfriend of Epstein, who is currently serving 20 years in prison for her role in a decade-long scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls with him – can be seen standing beside another woman.
Rhian Lubin20 December 2025 08:00
Celebrities have been everywhere this week. In Rome, Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz are snapped while on a romantic evening stroll as Geena Davis makes a rare appearance with her daughter Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy in L.A. Also in the City of Angels, Dakota Fanning and Emma Roberts are at a special screening of The Chronology of Water while PEOPLE Executive Editor Alex Apatoff hangs with Olivia Holt at Macy’s x PEOPLE Meet and Greet.
Here are the best photos of celebs out and about this week. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest A-list outings!
When in Rome
Harry Styles, Zoe Kravitz.
COBRA TEAM / BACKGRID
Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz were spotted on a low-key food run in Rome on Dec. 19.
Mommy and Me
Geena Davis and daughter Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy.
Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages
Geena Davis and daughter Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy are a lookalike pair at The Chronology of Water screening on Dec. 18 in Los Angeles.
For the Love of Water
Dakota Fanning and Emma Roberts.
Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages
Dakota Fanning and Emma Roberts pose together at the special screening for the Kristen Stewart-directed The Chronology of Water on Dec. 18.
Bringing the Cheer
Alex Apatoff, Executive Editor at PEOPLE Magazine and Olivia Holt.
Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images for PEOPLE
PEOPLE Magazine Executive Editor Alex Apatoff is pictured with Olivia Holt during Macy’s x PEOPLE Meet and Greet at Macy’s State Street on Dec. 18 in Chicago.
Soft Life
Phoebe Dynevor.
Greg Doherty/Getty
Phoebe Dynevor takes a moment to relax during the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championships 2025 at Rio Grande Park in Aspen on Dec. 18.
Top Level
Ciara.
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty
Ciara posed with her dancers after taking the stage at the TikTok Awards at Hollywood Palladium on Dec. 18 in Los Angeles.
Terrifc Trio
Mark Strong, Robert Downey Jr. and Lesley Manville.
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Mark Strong, Robert Downey Jr. and Lesley Manville are snapped backstage at Oedipus on Broadway at Studio 54 Theater on Dec. 18 in New York City.
Cheers to Us
Gio Benitez, Norm Lewis, Tommy DiDario.
Stephen Sorokoff
Norm Lewis (center) celebrates Good Morning America Weekend co-anchor Gio Benitez (l) and his husband, podcast host Tommy DiDario(r), during his Norm Lewis: Christmas Lives Here performance on Dec. 18.
A Way with Water
Alia Shawkat, Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyer.
Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages
Alia Shawkat shows support for The Chronology of Water director Kristen Stewart, alongside her wife Dylan Meyer on Dec. 18.
Keeping Warm
Teyana Taylor.
RW/MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Teyana Taylor bundles up while leaving CBS Mornings on Dec. 19 in New York City.
Puppy Love
Amanda Batula.
Sara Jaye/Getty
Summer House star Amanda Batula rocks an Arby’s holiday sweater while hanging with her adorable dog, Ryder, on Dec. 19 in New York.
Longtime Loves
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.
Greg Doherty/Getty
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell cozy up at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championships in Aspen, Colorado, on Dec. 18.
Mommy and Me
Pink and Willow Sage Hart.
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Pink and her daughter Willow Sage Hart have matching smiles at the All Out: Comedy About Ambition gala in New York City on Dec. 18.
‘Thank Goodness’ for Them
Cher, Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang.
Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty
Ahead of her Saturday Night Live hosting spot, Ariana Grande films promos with Bowen Yang and musical guest Cher in New York City on Dec. 18.
Best Dressed Man
Colman Domingo.
Greg Doherty/Getty
Colman Domingo takes his impeccable style to the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championships in Aspen, Colorado, on Dec. 18.
Royal Salute
King Charles.
Chris Jackson/Getty
King Charles gets into uniform as he visits the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England, on Dec. 19.
Everybody Jumpsuit
Jack Black and Paul Rudd.
Dave Benett/WireImage
Jack Black and Paul Rudd twin in customized uniforms at the Anaconda photo call in London on Dec. 19.
Oscar Buzz
Renate Reinsve.
Todd Williamson
Renate Reinsve talks about Sentimental Value on The Ankler’s Main Character video series in Los Angeles, premiering on Dec. 19.
It’s Always Sunnies
Ciara.
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Ciara peaces out at the 2025 TikTok Awards in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Dancing Duo
Ezra Sosa and Jordan Chiles.
River Callaway/Variety via Getty
Dancing with the Stars pair Ezra Sosa and Jordan Chiles reunite at the 2025 TikTok Awards in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Hostess with the Mostest
La La Anthony.
Kevin Mazur/Getty
La La Anthony looks glamorous as the host of the 2025 TikTok Awards in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Couple Alert
Landon Barker and Skyla Sanders.
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Landon Barker and his girlfriend Skyla Sanders make their red carpet debut at the 2025 TikTok Awards in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Paris Rouge!
Paris Hilton.
Amy Sussman/Getty
Paris Hilton sparkles on the red carpet of the TikTok Awards in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Jingle Ball Rock
Kehlani and Ludacris.
Prince Williams/Getty
Also at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball in Atlanta, Kehlani and Ludacris meet up on Dec. 18.
Holiday in Herre
Nelly.
Prince Williams/Getty
Nelly takes the stage at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball in Atlanta on Dec. 18.
Acclaimed Actors
Aaron Tveit and Robert Downey Jr.
Courtesy
Robert Downey Jr. supports Aaron Tveit at the Broadway revival of Chess in New York City.
Triple the Talent
Laura Dern, Andra Day and Kristen Wiig.
Vivien Killilea/Getty
Laura Dern, Andra Day and Kristen Wiig snap a group photo at the Is This Thing On? premiere in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Man of the Hour
Will Arnett.
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Is This Thing On? star Will Arnett poses for photos on the premiere’s red carpet in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Direct to Success
Bradley Cooper.
Theo Wargo/Getty
Is This Thing On? director Bradley Cooper chats about the film at a contenders screening in New York City on Dec. 18.
Premiere Pals
Harry Jowsey and Sia.
Vivien Killilea/Getty
Harry Jowsey and Sia hang out on the red carpet of the Is This Thing On? premiere in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Thumbs Up
Hugh Jackman.
Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images
Hugh Jackman suits up for a night out in New York City on Dec. 18.
Oh, Cole!
Cole Escola.
Dave Benett/Getty
Cole Escola stops by a press night afterparty for his play Oh, Mary! in New York City on Dec. 18.
‘Nanny’ at Night
Fran Drescher and Seth Meyers.
Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty
Fran Drescher promotes Marty Supreme on Late Night with Seth Meyers in New York City on Dec. 18.
Lady in Red
Erika Jayne.
BG048/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Erika Jayne appears in a tracksuit on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in New York City on Dec. 18.
Living on the Fringe
Mariah Carey.
TheImageDirect.com
Mariah Carey continues her winter vacation shopping in Aspen, Colorado, on Dec. 18.
Christmas Cheer
Snoop Dogg.
Jerritt Clark/Getty
Snoop Dogg performs at TDE’s annual Christmas concert and toy drive in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Boq in Blue
Ethan Slater.
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Ethan Slater spends his Thursday night at the All Out: Comedy About Ambition gala in New York City on Dec. 18.
Cutest Costars
Natalia Dyer and Maya Hawke.
John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock
Maya Hawke and Natalia Dyer are all smiles at PaleyLive’s Stranger Things final season celebration in New York City on Dec. 18.
Bye to Byers
Noah Schnapp.
Mike Coppola/Getty
Noah Schnapp attends PaleyLive’s Stranger Things final season celebration in New York City on Dec. 18.
The Prince and His Horse
Prince Harry.
BACKGRID
Prince Harry is shaded up while horse riding in Aspen for the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship on Dec. 18.
What a Man
Jeff Goldblum.
Los Angeles Rams
Jeff Goldblum shows off some serious bling and his winning smile while at a Los Angeles Rams game.
Hello, There
Neil Patrick Harris.
TheImageDirect.com
Neil Patrick Harris waves to onlookers as he arrives at CBS Studios in New York City on Dec. 18.
Rare Sighting
Chevy Chase.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Chevy Chase is in good spirits while out and about in New York on Dec. 18.
A Big Deal
Clipse.
Jessica Amerson for BMI
Clipse — Pusha T and Malice — arrive for a conversation with BMI at Nashville’s Analog on Dec. 18.
All Friends Here
Hailey Bieber and friends.
OBB Media
Hailey Bieber and friends, including Lauren and Michael Ratner, get festive with Tequila Don Julio 1942 at the OBB Media holiday party in Los Angeles.
An Actor at Work
Sarah Paulson.
TheImageDirect.com
Sarah Paulson is unrecognizable as she gets into character on the set of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Dec. 17.
Going International
Ian Ziering.
Marc Piasecki/Getty
Ian Ziering attends the Danse Avec Les Stars 2026 photo call on Dec. 18 in in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
Keeping Low
Barry Manilow.
TheImageDirect.com
Barry Manilow keeps a low profile during a rare outing in Palm Springs on Dec. 17.
Girls’ Night
Lauren Sanchez, Brooks Nader.
Melanie Miller / BACKGRID
Lauren Sánchez and Brooks Nader step out for a chic night at Alba in West Hollywood on Dec. 17.
Doing Good
Chance the Rapper.
Raising Cane’s
Chance the Rapper poses with the Raising Cane’s staff in Chicago after partnering with the company to surprise SocialWorks with 100 new bicycles during a holiday season giveaway on Dec. 15.
Shake It Like a Polaroid
Kendall Toole.
Complex for Chime
Kendall Toole reviews some looks while on the set of Chime’s “Ball on a Budget” campaign shoot.
Red Hot
Jason Tartick.
Penny Katzenberg/WireImage
Jason Tartick shows off his Arby’s holiday sweater in Bryant Park on Dec. 18 in New York City.
Good News
Gov. Lee with Jelly Roll.
Brandon Hull, Office of Gov. Bill Lee
Gov. Lee gives a gleeful Jelly Roll news of his official pardon on Dec. 18 at the Tennessee Residence.
Cheers, Luv!
King Charles III.
Chris Jackson/Getty
King Charles sips a pint of Guinness during a royal visit to the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in London on Dec. 18.
Best Buds for Life
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart.
Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart are all smiles together at the Golden Globes’ First Time Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.
Marty Surprise
Timothée Chalamet.
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Timothée Chalamet makes a surprise appearance at the Airbnb Marty Supreme Invitational in New York City on Dec. 18.
Shopping Spree
Mariah Carey.
BACKGRID
Mariah Carey bundles up for a day of luxury shopping in Aspen, Colorado, on Dec. 17.
Spotted Out
Maya Hawke.
TheStewartofNY/Getty
Stranger Things star Maya Hawke walks down a street in New York City on Dec. 18.
Strange Sighting
Natalia Dyer.
TheStewartofNY/Getty
Natalia Dyer sports an oversized, white fur coat on the streets of New York City on Dec. 18.
It Suits Him
Tramell Tillman.
Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty
Tramell Tillman rocks a blue pinstripe suit at the Golden Globes’ First Time Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.
Back to Boq
Ethan Slater.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Ethan Slater holds the mic at the Wicked: For Good SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversation in New York City on Dec. 17.
Under the Sea
Ice Spice.
Jason Mendez/Getty
Ice Spice wears a lacy ensemble to The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants New York City special screening on Dec. 17.
Reunited and It Feels So Good
Liz Torres and Emily Kuroda.
Vivien Killilea/Getty
Gilmore Girls costars Liz Torres and Emily Kuroda pose together at the “Holidays Made Here” Warner Bros. Studios event in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.
Reprising the Role
Scott Patterson.
Vivien Killilea/Getty
Gilmore Girls star Scott Patterson returns to his rightful spot behind the counter at “Luke’s” during the “Holidays Made Here” Warner Bros. Studios event in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.
Singing Holiday Cheer
Jon Batiste.
Jason Kempin/Getty
Jon Batiste performs at The National Museum of African American Music, where he was the guest of honor, in Nashville on Dec. 17.
Double Bag
Kyle Richards.
BACKGRID
Kyle Richards runs errands in Beverly Hills, California, on Dec. 17.
Movie Marriage
Laura Dern and Will Arnett.
Steve Jennings/Getty
On-screen couple Laura Dern and Will Arnett attend the SFFILM Presents 2025 SF Honors in San Francisco on Dec. 17 for their new movie, Is This Thing On?
Hug at BUG
Ethan Hawke and Carrie Coon.
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Ethan Hawke and Carrie Coon hug it out at The Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of Tracy Letts’ Bug on Broadway in New York City on Dec. 17.
Backstage Moment
Kate Hudson and Seth Meyers.
Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty
Song Sung Blue star Kate Hudson hugs Seth Meyers backstage at his late-night show in New York City on Dec. 17.
Big City Guy
Kumail Ali Nanjiani.
Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Kumail Ali Nanjiani throws on a trench coat to take a stroll in New York City on Dec. 17.
Hop In!
Jennifer Hudson and Derek Hough.
Joey Andrew
Jennifer Hudson and Derek Hough ride around in a golf cart on set for Rolling with the Stars on the Warner Bros. Studios Lot in Los Angeles on Dec. 14.
Successful Meeting
Sabrina Carpenter.
BACKGRID
Sabrina Carpenter has the biggest smile on her face after leaving lunch at Bar Pitti in New York City on Dec. 16.
Polo Is Life
Prince Harry.
BACKGRID
Prince Harry is spotted at a polo game at the Polo Club in Aspen on Dec. 17.
Pearly Whites
Michael B. Jordan.
Courtesy of Netflix
Michael B. Jordan spends the day with David Letterman in London while filming a new episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.
Rock-Hard Stare
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Amanda Edwards/Getty
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson sports a monochromatic brown look at The Smashing Machine SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversation in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.
Aging Like Fine Wine
Hugh Jackman.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Hugh Jackman is still making his rounds around New York City as he’s seen leaving The View on Dec. 17.
Making a Statement
Britt Lower.
Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty
Britt Lower gives Dune vibes in her high-neck all-white fit at the Golden Globes’ First Time Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills on Dec. 17.
Onstage Laughs
Pixie Lott.
BACKGRID
Pixie Lott dazzles the crowd during her live performance in London on Dec. 17.
Baseball Bros
Jason Bateman and David Letterman.
Adam Rose/Netflix
Jason Bateman chats with David Letterman at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for a new episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.
Golden Nominees
Monica Padman and Damson Idris.
Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty
Monica Padman and Damson Idris catch up at the Golden Globes’ First Time Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills on Dec. 17.
A Happy Anniversary
Diane Lane and Judd Hirsch.
CraSH/Shutterstock
Diane Lane and Judd Hirsch pose for a photo at the Los Angeles Anniversary screening on Dec. 16.
Shakespearean Thespians
Joe Alwyn and Jessie Buckley.
Joe Maher/Getty
Co-stars Joe Alwyn and Jessie Buckley coordinate at the photo call for their new movie Hamnet in London on Dec. 17.
Tweed and Cute
Leah Sava Jeffries.
XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Leah Sava Jeffries channels Barbie in a pink tweed set on the streets of New York City on Dec. 17.
Supreme ‘Fit
Timothée Chalamet.
BACKGRID
Timothée Chalamet strikes again in another Marty Supreme outfit in New York City on Dec. 17.
Mother Knows Best
Apple Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow and Moses Martin.
Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at the Marty Supreme premiere in New York City with her lookalike kids, Apple and Moses Martin, in tow on Dec. 16.
Just Drinkin’ to Call Someone
Seth Meyers and Sabrina Carpenter.
Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty
Sabrina Carpenter and a festive Seth Meyers meet up in New York City for a day drinking segment that aired during his late-night talk show on Dec. 16.
Only Girl in the World
Rihanna.
DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Rihanna pops in a bright red jacket during a night out in Los Angeles on Dec. 16.
Matching with Mom
Timothée Chalamet and Nicole Flender.
Dia Dipasupil/WireImage
Timothée Chalamet and his mother Nicole Flender twin in orange at the Marty Supreme premiere in New York City on Dec. 16.
Oh, Brothers
Drew Scott and Jonathan Scott.
Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty
The Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott, appear on The Jennifer Hudson Show in Burbank, California, for a Dec. 17 episode.
Flower Power
Darren Criss and Mia Swier.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Darren Criss and wife Mia Swier have a date night at the Marty Supreme premiere in New York City on Dec. 16.
Maroon Moment
Busy Philipps.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Busy Philipps rocks holiday colors at the Marty Supreme premiere in New York City on Dec. 16.
Gown on the Town
Odessa A’zion.
Dia Dipasupil/WireImage
Odessa A’zion glows in a glittering black gown at the Marty Supreme premiere in New York City on Dec. 16.
Back in Black
Julia Fox.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Julia Fox keeps it simple and chic at the Marty Supreme in New York City on Dec. 16.
Spouses Supreme
Chloë Sevigny and Siniša Mačković.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Chloë Sevigny and her husband Siniša Mačković party after the Marty Supreme in New York City on Dec. 16.
Fruits of Her Labor
Fran Drescher.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Fran Drescher holds up a Marty Supreme-branded citrus at the film’s premiere afterparty in New York City on Dec. 16.
Sequins of Events
Rhea Seehorn.
Araya Doheny/Getty
Rhea Seehorn arrives for a SAG-AFTRA conversation about Pluribus in Los Angeles on Dec. 16.
She’s Glovin’ It
Hannah Einbinder.
Araya Doheny/Getty
Hannah Einbinder strikes a pose at a SAG-AFTRA conversation for Hacks in Los Angeles on Dec. 16.
This ‘Tonight’ Is Sparkling
Martha Stewart.
Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty
Martha Stewart chats with Jimmy Fallon on his late-night show in New York City on Dec. 16.
Stranger Stripes
Finn Wolfhard.
Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty
Finn Wolfhard does double duty as an interviewee and musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in N.Y.C. on Dec. 16.
Beauty in Beige
Ella Purnell.
Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty
Ella Purnell opts for a monochrome moment at Late Night with Seth Meyers in New York City on Dec. 16.
‘Hamnet’ Hang
Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley.
David Parry/PA Images via Getty
Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley attend a photo call for a Hamnet exhibition at Tristan Hoare Gallery in London on Dec. 16.
On a Roll
Jelly Roll.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Jelly Roll gets the crowd going at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16.
Glittering Guy
Nelly.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Nelly continues his iHeartRadio Jingle Ball run in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16.
Birthday Gal
Zara Larsson.
Jemal Countess/Getty
Zara Larsson marks her 28th birthday at Jingle Ball in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16.
Ms. at the Mic
Lauryn Hill.
Jeremychanphotography/Getty
Lauryn Hill performs a show at Massey Hall in Toronto on Dec. 16.
Testing, Testing
Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera.
Arturo Holmes/Getty
Costars Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera stop by a screening of The Copenhagen Test in New York City on Dec. 16.
Christmas Queen
Mariah Carey.
BACKGRID
Mariah Carey reps LV as she leaves the Gucci store in Aspen, Colorado, on Dec. 16.
In Vested
MGK.
Jason Kempin/Getty
MGK takes the stage for a performance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Dec. 16.
Be There or Be SquarePants
Regina Hall.
Jesse Grant/Getty
Regina Hall holds a gift box at a special screening of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants in Los Angeles on Dec. 16.
It-Girl Energy
Lola Tung.
TheStewartofNY/GC Images
Lola Tung looks stylish in a leather coat while in New York City’s Midtown on Dec. 16.
On Call
Justin Bieber.
BACKGRID
Justin Bieber answers his phone on his way out of a holiday party in Los Angeles on Dec. 13.
Four Good
T Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Tracy Morgan and Michael Rainey Jr.
Chansoda Roeun Photography
T Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Tracy Morgan and Michael Rainey Jr. volunteer with Food Bank for New York City to distribute toys and fresh produce to families.
Fabulous Family
Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Bronwyn Vance and Slater Vance.
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance and their two kids, Bronwyn and Slater, celebrate Dad’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star in California on Dec. 16.
Dynamic Duo
Jack Black and Paul Rudd.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Anaconda costars Paul Rudd and Jack Black promote their film at The Drew Barrymore Show in New York City on Dec. 16.
Fur Sure
Tyra Banks.
BACKGRID
Tyra Banks keeps warm with a luxe coat and hot drink outside of Today with Jenna and Friends in New York City on Dec. 16.
Wear Worn Blue
Hugh Jackman.
MediaPunch / BACKGRID
Hugh Jackman looks dapper on his way into CBS Mornings to promote his new movie Song Sung Blue in New York City on Dec. 16.
At least six of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have broken their silence to express disappointment with the latest trove of files released by the Trump administration.
The Department of Justice on Friday released 600,000 pages of largely unseen pictures and documents relating to the disgraced billionaire financier.
But critics have accused the administration of flouting an order to publish all relevant information without any unnecessary redactions after it emerged that huge chunks of files had been entirely blacked out.
The DOJ also admitted that the trove of documents released were not exhaustive, and that more pictures and files would be released at a later, unspecified date.
The revelations sparked fury from Epstein’s accusers and victims, who slammed the ‘lack of transparency’ over the documents.
Marina Lacerda, one of the women who claims she survived sexual assault by Epstein beginning when she was 14 years old, said she wanted to see greater transparency from the Justice Department and expressed frustration that all the files aren’t out yet.
‘Just put out the files,’ she said. ‘And stop redacting names that don’t need to be redacted.’
She said she was skeptical of the administration saying it’s aiming to be transparent.
Marijke Chartouni, who claimed Epstein sexually abused her when she was 20, weighed in on Friday, noting: ‘If everything is redacted, where is the transparency?’
Epstein accuser Lisa Phillips said she believed authorities behind the release on Friday were ‘protecting themselves, not the victims’
Marina Lacerda, one of the women who claims she survived sexual assault by Epstein beginning when she was 14 years old, said she wanted to see greater transparency from the Justice Department and expressed frustration that all the files aren’t out yet
‘In the beginning, they were calling us a hoax, right?’ she said.
‘Now they’re like, ”We believe you, we’re gonna release the files,” but yet you still haven’t released the files and it’s not even fully transparent.’
She said ‘so many of the photos’ which were released in huge data dumps were entirely ‘irrelevant’ to the case.
The extraordinary photos offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Epstein’s Manhattan lair and his depraved activities.
Lacerda was a key witness in the 2019 investigation which led to Epstein’s arrest and sex trafficking charges.
‘We have been let down,’ she said. ‘We waited for this day to bring these other men who have been protected to justice.’
Jess Michaels, one of Epstein’s earliest known victims, had similar concerns in a discussion with The New York Times.
‘They are proving everything we have been saying about corruption and delayed justice,’ she said.
Jess Michaels, one of Epstein’s earliest known victims, said: ‘They are proving everything we have been saying about corruption and delayed justice’
Lacerda was a key witness in the 2019 investigation which led to Epstein’s arrest and sex trafficking charges
Annie Farmer, said she was relieved her sister’s allegations were proven true in the files released on Friday
‘What are they protecting? The coverup continues.’
Michaels accused Epstein of sexually assaulting her when she was a 22-year-old aspiring dancer in 1991.
She has been outspoken in campaigning for the release of all the files the Justice Department had collated over the years on Epstein and his co conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her part in his sick crimes.
Marijke Chartouni, who claimed Epstein sexually abused her when she was 20, also weighed in on Friday, noting: ‘If everything is redacted, where is the transparency?’
Speaking to CNN, Epstein accuser Lisa Phillips said she believed authorities behind the release on Friday were ‘protecting themselves, not the victims.’
‘I feel like they have so much information to start connecting the dots and for survivors to get justice. But as you’re seeing, we just keep stalling.’
Phillips has maintained she was subjected to years of abuse by Epstein and his associates.
One of the only victims who found any positives in Friday’s information was Maria Farmer, who was finally vindicated after years of maintaining she made a complaint about Epstein to the FBI years before they investigated him for his sex crimes.
Annie Farmer did note that she was disappointed by the overall lack of transparency she saw within Friday’s release
Laura Bloom McGee (C) and Annie Farmer (R), survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, react after receiving word that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved release of the Epstein files
Victims of Jeffrey Epstein, from left, Sarah Ransome, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, and Marijke Chartouni. Giuffre tragically died by suicide earlier in 2025
Farmer’s revelations have long been met with silence by the FBI and contempt from critics who claimed she had fabricated the entire complaint.
But in among the trove of information on Friday was a complaint made to the FBI in 1996 by an unnamed woman who claimed Epstein stole photos and negatives she had produced of her 12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters for a personal art project.
The one-page report was taken years before an investigation was launched into allegations that Epstein was sexually abusing underage girls.
Farmer’s name is redacted in the file, but the handwritten report says she believed Epstein sold the photos.
Farmer said Epstein had previously asked her to take photos of young girls at swimming pools.
‘I’ve waited 30 years,’ she told The New York Times on Friday. ‘I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.’
The complaint also says the woman reported being threatened by Epstein not to talk about the photos or ‘he will burn her house down.’
Farmer had fought for years for her complaint to be made public, and said she felt ‘vindicated’ by its release on Friday.
Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epsteinis all smiles in the picture as he poses without a shirt and with what appears to be a white towel wrapped around his waist on a couch
Clinton features prominently in the files, seen here relaxing in what appears to be a hot tub. Though embarrassing for the former president, appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing, which Clinton has denied
Critics have slammed the data dump, arguing the administration was expected to release every Epstein file with minimal redactions, and has failed to deliver
Her younger sister, Annie Farmer, said: ‘It’s a tremendous relief that she doesn’t have to continue to fight to prove her truth.’
Annie Farmer did, however, note that she was disappointed by the overall lack of transparency she saw within Friday’s release.
Both Farmer sisters have openly spoken about their experiences with Epstein.
Maria Farmer claimed she was sexually assaulted by the duo, while Annie recalled being invited to Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico when she was 16.
She claimed Epstein climbed into bed with her one morning to ‘cuddle’ while she was there.
While more than 13,000 files were released on Friday with hundreds of thousands of pages of content, other critics have complained the documents are not easily searchable and instead must be trawled through for information.
Former MAGA ally Marjorie Taylor Greene led Republican efforts demanding every single Epstein file be released to the public as an act of transparency.
She voiced her fury on Friday when it became clear that the Department of Justice had redacted huge swathes of information, including the names of high profile individuals featured in the documents.
‘The whole point was NOT to protect the ‘politically exposed individuals and government officials,’ Greene wrote on X in a scathing takedown of everyone involved.
‘That’s exactly what MAGA has always wanted, that’s what drain the swamp actually means.
‘It means expose them all, the rich powerful elites who are corrupt and commit crimes, NOT redact their names and protect them.’
She accused the administration of breaking the law by not releasing the information in full.
The ‘striking’ new arch mirror makes a ‘bold and modern statement’ and ‘opens up’ your living space
Shoppers loved the arch mirror on social media(Image: Getty)
B&M has delighted shoppers by launching a ‘stunning’ arch mirror that’s been dubbed the ‘mirror of dreams’. Popular for offering affordable furniture and decor, the budget retailer could have a new hit on its hands. The store is stocking a new large black arch mirror as part of its latest Special Buy offers.
Priced at £45, the mirror measures approximately 150 x 70cm. According to B&M, shoppers can ‘make a bold and modern statement with this Large Black Arch Mirror.’ The product description said: “A striking piece that elevates any home and opens up the space. Designed to draw the eye and enhance natural light.”
Shoppers thought the ‘stunning’ item was being offered for a ‘bargain’ price when it was showcased on social media. Highlighting the new product on Instagram, B&M wrote: “Mirror of dreams? Our brand new black framed arch mirror has landed in stores this week, and for only £45, we KNOW you’re going to love. Available now in our Special Buys aisle.”
Customers loved the look of the new mirror, and the video racked up almost 2k likes in two days. One fan wrote: “Wow.” A second shopper said: “I really love this mirror.” Another viewer agreed: “Oh wow, it’s stunning and what a bargain!”
Someone else thought: “Oh wow!!!! I NEED.” A different comment read: “Praying I can find this tomorrow.” A fan praised: “Okay this mirror is perfect and I need it asap.”
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Meanwhile, a shopper asked: “Can these be bought online?” B&M replied: “They can’t, unfortunately!” A viewer commented: “Is this available to order click and collect online?” B&M said: “We don’t have that service, unfortunately.”
Someone else asked: “Where is this store?” B&M replied: “This particular store is in Liverpool – but you can find your local store on our website here.” A different viewer thought: “B&M advertised this at £37 the other day,” but B&M replied: “Hey – this mirror is new in for the special buy event.”
For shoppers looking for more options, B&M’s website showcases a selection of mirrors available in-store. The retailer stocks a selection of products in varying sizes.
B&M is selling the Large Black Arch Mirror for £45(Image: B&M)
Home decor fans looking for wall mirrors might like the £40 Large Gold Mirror 80cm. The product description said: “Add some style to your home with this stunning Large Gold Mirror. Perfect for hallways, bedrooms and more.”
There’s also a £39.99 Crushed Jewel Mirror – Silver. The product description said: “Hang this stunning mirror on a wall at home. Features a stunning crushed jewel design.” Alternatively, there’s also a £35 Full Length Mirror with Stand.
The product description said: “Add style and functionality to your home with this Full Length Mirror with Stand. This full length mirror is perfect for checking your outfit on the way out of the door, or for adding a decorative piece to any room.”
A high-speed train carrying 650 people has collided with and killed seven wild Asiatic elephants and injured a calf in northern India.
Five train coaches and the engine derailed following the impact, but there were no reported human casualties, Kishore Sharma, Indian Railways spokesman said.
Local authorities say the incident happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in India‘s northeastern state of Assam.
Although the train driver spotted the hundred-strong herd crossing the track and used the train’s emergency brakes, some of the elephants were still hit.
Veterinarians carried out autopsies on the dead elephants which will be buried later in the day.
The train was carrying 650 people when it collided with elephants from the herd. Pic: Reuters
The Rajdhani Express train had been traveling from Mizoram state, which borders Myanmar, to the national capital of New Delhi.
The accident site is a forested area in Assam. Railway tracks in the state are often frequented by elephants, but Indian Railways said in a statement the accident location wasn’t a designated elephant corridor.
Despite the impact, passengers in the carriages which didn’t derail resumed their journey towards New Delhi.
Read more from Sky News:
The pictures that defined 2025
Pensioner spared jail after smothering wife at home
Around 200 passengers who were in the five derailed coaches were moved to Guwahati in a different train.
Speeding trains hitting wild elephants is not rare in Assam, which is home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants, one of the highest concentrations of the pachyderm in India.
Since 2020, at least a dozen elephants have been killed by speeding trains across the state.
Wild elephants often stray into human habitations this time of year, when rice fields are ready for harvesting.
WORLD NEWS
Islamic University of Gaza resumes classes on site amid Israeli destruction | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Students at the Islamic University of Gaza have returned to in-person classes for the first time in two years, navigating a campus transformed into a site of mass displacement and utter devastation as a result of Israel’s genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian enclave.
This Gaza City university, which reopened following October’s ceasefire, now hosts about 500 displaced families sheltering inside buildings reduced to hollow shells by Israel’s relentless assault.
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Tents dot the grounds where lecture halls once stood, a stark illustration of Gaza’s dual crises of homelessness and educational collapse.
“We came here after being displaced from Jabalia because we had nowhere else to go,” said Atta Siam, one of those seeking refuge on campus. “But this place is for education. It’s not meant to be a shelter – it’s a place for our children to study.”
The partial resumption of classes has rekindled hopes for thousands of students, despite conditions that bear little resemblance to a functioning university.
UNESCO estimates more than 95 percent of higher education campuses across Gaza have been severely damaged or destroyed since the war began in October 2023.
First-year medical student Youmna Albaba said she had dreamed of attending a properly equipped university.
“I need a place where I can focus, that is fully qualified in every way,” she said. “But I haven’t found what I imagined here. Still, I have hope because we are building everything from scratch.”
Buildings across Gaza have been destroyed by Israel’s bombardment [Al Jazeera Screengrab]
What human rights groups and United Nations experts have termed “scholasticide” – the systematic obliteration of an education system – has left more than 750,000 Palestinian students without schooling for two consecutive academic years, according to the Gaza-based organisation Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.
Recent figures paint a devastating picture – 494 schools and universities have been partially or completely destroyed, with 137 reduced to rubble. The toll includes 12,800 students killed, along with 760 teachers and educational staff, and 150 academics and researchers, Al Mezan reported in January.
Isra University, which had been Gaza’s last remaining functioning university, was demolished by Israeli forces in January 2024.
At the Islamic University, professors are improvising with whatever resources remain amid power cuts, shortages of equipment and inadequate learning environments. Dr Adel Awadallah described covering exposed walls with plastic sheets to accommodate as many students as possible. “We’ve borrowed motors to generate electricity to operate the university equipment,” he said.
With only four classrooms operational, thousands of students are depending on these makeshift arrangements to continue their education.
UN experts warned in April 2024 that the scale of destruction may constitute a deliberate effort to dismantle Palestinian society’s foundations.
“When schools are destroyed, so too are hopes and dreams,” their statement read, calling the pattern of attacks systematic violence against educational infrastructure.
The challenges extend beyond physical destruction. Families struggling to secure food, water and medicine find supporting children’s education nearly impossible.
Remote learning initiatives by the Ministry of Education and UNRWA have been undermined by electricity blackouts, internet outages and ongoing displacement.
Yet students persist. Despite the trauma of more than two years of Israeli bombardment and the loss of family members, they have consistently identified returning to school as a top priority, a chance to reclaim normalcy and their futures.
As Youmna Albaba, the medical student, put it, “Despite all this, I am happy because I attend lectures in person. We are building everything from scratch.”
Britain’s energy system operator has predicted that this year’s Christmas Day could be the greenest yet.
If the weather remains mild and windy for the rest of December, the National Energy System Operator (Neso) has said it could record the lowest carbon intensity – the measure of how much carbon dioxide is released to produce electricity – recorded on the network for 25 December.
Craig Dyke, a director at Neso, said the electricity grid had run at a record peak of 97.7% zero carbon earlier this year, on 1 April.
“This Christmas, there’s the possibility we’ll see the lowest ever carbon intensity on the network on the big day itself,” he said.
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The company responsible for keeping the lights on, which was bought by the government from National Grid last year, said the greenest Christmas Day so far was in 2023, when it recorded a carbon intensity of 30m grams of carbon dioxide. That was five times less than the emissions in 2018.
Last year, more than 40% of electricity generation on Christmas Day came from renewables. It stood at 1.7% in 2009. Earlier this month, wind turbines generated enough electricity “to light up nearly 3bn strings of 100-bulb LED fairy lights” at one point.
Neso said an extra 2GW of wind and 3GW of solar power came on to the network in 2025, taking Britain’s total renewables capacity to an historic high of 53GW. Greater capacity, combined with lower than average energy demand for the time of year, should mean emissions are lower on the 25 December.
While power may be greener this Christmas, heightened consumption at the end of the year can have a damaging impact on the environment. UK households have already thrown away an estimated 168m light-up Christmas items and other “fast tech” gifts over the past year, according to research by Material Focus.
Meanwhile, separate research found that 1.1bn of all types of electric products and 450m batteries are thrown away irresponsibly each year.
A greener Christmas this year comes as the government tries to transition away from fossil fuels to net zero by 2050. Analysis by Neso earlier this year found the UK already spends about 10% of its gross domestic product on investments related to net zero, and forecast that these costs would climb over the coming years and remain higher than they are today until the 2030s.
It forecast that costs could peak at about £460bn by 2029 in its most ambitious scenario, before beginning to decline to about 5% of GDP by 2050 or roughly £220bn a year. In the “falling behind” scenario, which is based in a future in which Britain misses its net zero target and ignores the cost of climate damage, the total costs are about £350bn lower.
The ongoing war in Sudan is the most neglected global crisis in 2025, a survey among 22 global aid organizations concluded this week. The war-torn country also ranked first in “The top 10 crises the world can’t ignore in 2026” by the International Rescue Committee.
Throughout 2025, the situation in the African country has continued to deteriorate since the war began in April 2023. At the time, the generals of the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, fell out over the integration of the paramilitary forces into the national army. Since then, oil- and gold-rich Sudan, with its vast agricultural lands, has turned into what the UN and other aid organizations call the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crises.
According to the UN, some 14 million people remain displaced within Sudan and in neighboring countries.
The estimated death tally ranges between 40,000 and 250,000 people. More accurate or updated figures remain out of reach as fighting continues, satellite-based internet communication is curbed, and many aid organizations and observers have left the country.
“The Sudan crisis should be front page news every single day,” Save the Children humanitarian director Abdurahman Sharif said in a statement.
The UN World Food Program (WFP) announced that they will cut support for civilians in Sudan to the bare minimum from January 2026 onwardsImage: Zohra Bensemra/REUTERS
New hotspot: Kordofan
Fighting between the RSF and SAF meanwhile is concentrated on the region of Kordofan, where the Sudanese army holds control of several cities that are surrounded by the paramilitary RSF.
Kordofan is also the last region that separates army-held territories in the north and the center, including Sudan’s capital Khartoum, and RSF-controlled areas in Sudan’s western Darfur region and parts of the south.
“Most recently, violence in Kordofan has escalated dramatically,” Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust, executive director of the German section of the NGO Action against Hunger, confirms.
“The siege of communities in Dilling and Kadugli [in South Kordofan] is blocking access to vital humanitarian aid,” he told DW, explaining that people have nothing left to eat and there is no access to medicine.
“Famine has been already declared in [Darfur’s] el-Fasher and Kadugli, and 20 other locations in Darfur and Kordofan are at acute risk of famine by January 2026,” he said.
The dire situation is also reflected in the latest Sudan update by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). As of mid-December, the IPC estimated that 21.2 million people — nearly half of Sudan’s population — face acute food insecurity.
This number is likely to increase given that the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announcedlast Friday that from January onwards, it needs to reduce rations in Sudan to “the absolute minimum for survival” due to a lack of funding.
“If the world does not urgently step up, diplomatically, financially, and morally, an already catastrophic situation will deteriorate further with millions of Sudanese and their neighbors paying the price,” Mamadou Dian Balde, the UN Refugee Agency’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, warned in a statement this week.
Fighting in Kordofan has prompted several thousand people to flee while the remaining population is starvingImage: REUTERS
Civilians ‘at the heart of warfare’
Action Against Hunger’s Friedrich-Rust also worries that Kordofan is about to turn into a second el-Fasher, where the RSF committed mass atrocities during their takeover in November.
Meanwhile, Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which uses satellite imagery to monitor atrocities, warned in a new report that the RSF militia “destroyed and concealed evidence of its widespread mass killings.”
Of the 150 clusters of objects consistent with human remains the HRL had initially identified, nearly 60 are no longer visible. Instead, eight earth disturbances appeared near the sites of mass killing, the HRL said.
“The reality is that both parties to the conflict and their allies haven’t just failed to protect civilians, but the targeting of civilians is at the heart of their warfare,” Philippe Dam, Human Rights Watch’s EU Director for Advocacy, told DW.
“Although the majority of sexual violence, attacks on hospitals, aid workers, and the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas pertain to the responsibility of the RSF, also the SAF commits massive violations against civilians,” he said.
For example, the SAF have stepped up mass detentions against those suspected of having collaborated or supported the RSF, Dam told DW on Thursday.
These detentions appear to be extremely arbitrary as those targeted also include humanitarian workers, he warned.
“We have also received reports of numerous deaths in SAF-run prisons and we see the re-emergence of death penalty sentences,” Dam said, raising alarm.
In his view, it is high time for the EU to step up its actions, to take robust measures and address the crimes which are continuing to be committed by both sides.
“I find it shocking that the RSF leader General Mohammed Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti, has not yet been sanctioned by the EU despite the clear links between his responsibility and the crimes committed that we and others could identify,” Dam said.
He also appealed on the EU to address the backers of the conflict. While the SAF is mainly backed by Egypt, the RSF is allegedly supported by the United Arab Emirates, even though Abu Dhabi denies any involvement.
EU help not enough
In December, the EU started airlifting 100 tons of humanitarian aid to the Sudanese region of Darfur. The air bridge will end in January 2026 and costs €3.5 million ($4.1 million), which is funded by the EU’s humanitarian budget, the commission said.
Action Against Hunger’s Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust welcomes the initiative, but warned that this was no more than a drop in the ocean.
He said that the end of USAID, and cuts in foreign aid by European countries, including Germany, have forced life-saving programs, like local soup kitchens, to close.
“The need for aid is enormous, but so far only 35% of the financial resources required for humanitarian aid have been made available,” he told DW.
Analyst: Ethnic cleansing imminent in Sudan’s el-Fasher
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Edited by Ben Knight
NEED TO KNOW
- A 33-year-old mom of three from Australia is currently dealing with life-threatening complications after undergoing plastic surgery in Da Nang, Vietnam
- Chloe Mowday scheduled a nose job and blepharoplasty overseas while vacationing with her husband and 5-year-old son, with plans to also travel to Disneyland in Hong Kong and Universal Studios in Singapore while abroad
- Her brother, Rod, tells PEOPLE that Chloe is currently on life support while the family try to use an air ambulance to bring her home
A woman who traveled abroad for plastic surgery is now dealing with life-threatening complications.
Chloe Mowday, a 33-year-old mom of three from Perth, Australia, got a rhinoplasty and a blepharoplasty, cosmetic surgeries for the nose and eyelids, respectively, in Da Nang, Vietnam, about a month ago. Following the surgeries, Chloe experienced severe complications that resulted in her going to an intensive care unit.
According to her brother Rod, Chloe — who was on vacation with her husband, Josh, and youngest son Elijah at the time of her surgeries — scheduled her “day” surgeries to include the rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty by a local plastic surgeon. She was kept temporarily for recovery but eventually sent back to her hotel.
Chloe Mowday in the hospital.
GoFundMe
“From then, she just went downhill and started to feel strange,” Rod tells PEOPLE of his sister’s condition starting shortly after she returned to her hotel. She was having trouble breathing at the time, and Rod says they were later told she was dealing with sepsis and toxic shock syndrome.
She was rushed to a hospital, where she “died” on the way, but Rod says medical professionals were able to resuscitate her.
Chloe was put into an induced coma by doctors and given medication. Her blood pressure also dipped so low that her “hands and feet turned black,” Rod says, adding that she’s now dealing with a “flesh-eating bacteria” around the surgical site.
“She has some necrotic tissue around the surgical site now that blood couldn’t get to, so that’s part of the infection,” he further explains. Chloe remains in the ICU on life support in Vietnam, however, she is now awake and aware of her surroundings.
“She can’t talk still. She can’t move her legs,” Rod explains. “We had a game of charades because she can move her eyes. So that’s how I was getting some kind of answers from her.”
Since Chloe landed in the hospital, Rod and the family have been asking for donations on GoFundMe to cover an air ambulance to bring her back to Australia and the medical bills that are piling up. Rod tells PEOPLE he’s already sourced a hospital ICU back in Perth for her to be taken to upon her return.
The family is also working with the local Vietnam police on an investigation into the plastic surgeon who performed Chloe’s procedures. Rod says Josh has spent “hours” meeting with investigators already, and the family is hopeful that they can find justice for what happened. At this time, they are unable to speak on the investigation and the doctor in question.
Josh and Elijah remain in Vietnam with Chloe, because, as Rod says, they went to Vietnam as a family and will “come home as a family.” Rod has been back and forth to visit several times and is now awaiting word that Chloe can come back to Australia. The eight-hour direct flight will be “risky” in her current state, but the family just wants her to be able to come home and get treatment.
“She has a very long road, ahead” Rod says.
WORLD NEWS
See every shocking photo from Epstein files: Michael Jackson, Sir Mick Jagger and Kevin Spacey among celebrities pictured
The long-awaited Epstein files were released on Friday, shedding new light on the inner world of the convicted sexual predator.
The Department of Justice posted the documents on its website, organizing the material into four datasets.
The trove includes images from Epstein’s homes, including rooms adorned with nude photographs and distinctive bright blue carpeting. However, the DOJ did not provide any context for the images of people included in the files.
Other records detail Epstein’s associations with high-profile figures such as Michael Jackson, Sir Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey and other famous individuals.
Former president Bill Clinton features prominently in the files, appearing in photographs smiling at parties and swimming with women. He has since issued a blistering response, denying having any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
More than 600,000 pages related to the pedophile have now been released this year, prompting the Trump administration to describe itself as the ‘most transparent in history’ following Friday’s disclosure.
An initial review indicates the documents released today originate from three separate investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes against young women.
Many of the files appear to stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a federal probe that culminated in Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal.
Others relate to a later investigation launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019 – a case that was never finished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial.
Being named or pictured in the files is not necessarily an indication of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
This is a developing story… More pictures will be added.
Bill Clinton is seen with his arm around Michael Jackson. The pair pose with Diana ross and a redacted woman
The files include pictures of what appeared to be a male dancer taking off his clothes
Jeffrey Epstein posing alongside Michael Jackson in an undisclosed location
Sir Mick Jagger and the former US president have their picture taken with a woman
Billionaire Richard Branson is seen alongside Epstein, with two women pictured behind
Epstein pictured blowing out birthday candles with British politician Peter Mandelson
Epstein is seen at an undisclosed location, watching people meditate
Clinton features prominently in the files, seen here relaxing in what appears to be a hot tub
Sarah Ferguson pictured sitting on a couch with a redacted woman
Epstein had erotic images all throughout his home, including the bathroom
Pictured is an erotic device found among Epstein’s belongings
Multiple erotic toys were found among the late pedophile’s belongings including penis-shaped soap
A photograph of two woman without shirts features in the released files
Two unidentified young women pose in bikinis, with one smoking a cigarette
Clinton, wearing a red hoodie, is pictured with an unknown woman
A hanging art installation is pictured in the release from Epstein’s estate
A dress-up nurse hat and stethoscope were among the items found in the predator’s home
Epstein had multiple costumes and wigs among his erotica
An erotic book on Epstein’s desk entitled ‘Erotica Universalis’
Clinton, Sir Mick and Epstein smiling at what appears to be a dinner party
Kevin Spacey (second from the right, next to Clinton) was also pictured in the files, seen here in the Churchill War Rooms in London. Ghislaine Maxwell is wearing a cream blouse
In one image shared Friday, Clinton was seen with his hands on the shoulders of Kevin Spacey
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is seen lying across women at a black-tie event with Maxwell
Clinton and Epstein smile in a photo taken at an undisclosed location
Epstein is pictured with broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite
Magician David Copperfield posed in robes with Ghislaine Maxwell
Epstein bundled up and smiling next to what appears to be French model scout Jean-Luc Brunel
The files included framed pictured from Epstein’s estate, one of which appeared to be of Donald Trump and Melania
Clinton swims in a pool with Maxwell and an unidentified woman
Many of the images were of unidentified women, whose faces have been redacted
There were also shocking notes released in the files, details of which were also redacted
A man who appears to be actor Chris Tucker was also seen in the newly release documentsf
Former president Clinton poses with an unknown woman
Clinton, Spacey and others huddled around a desk at the War Rooms in central London
Pictured from the inside of Epstein’s home included an Israel Defense Forces shirt
Among his belongings was a battered instructional book Massage for Dummies
Epstein is seen on the phone in sweatpants and a sweatshirt with a suggestively shaped cake
A younger Epstein posed with a cigar and multiple women
Convicted sex trafficker Maxwell is seen outside Number 10 Downing Street
Pictures of Epstein’s home revealed what appeared to be a portrait of Clinton in a dress
Epstein in a framed photo posing with check signed by Trump
Epstein poses shirtless with what appears to be a child’s foot in frame
A massage table with lotion next to it and nude women on the walls are seen in Epstein’s home
Epstein is pictured in a robe and a birthday hat eating a salad
A framed caricature drawing in Epstein’s home of himself and friends boarding a plane
Pictured is an unidentified woman lounging on a pool float
A man who appeared to be comedian Chris Tucker poses at a table
A scrapbook included photos of multiple women and the words ‘Once upon a time… there was a clueless little girl’
Scrapbook images included pictures of Trump
The context in which the pictures were taken is unknown, as is the date of the photographs
Images taken from his estate included cameras, with one seen in the top right of a bedroom
Pictures of nude women were featured in a scrapbook in Epstein’s home
The women appeared lounging on sun chairs and by the pool
Images framed in Epstein’s home included a photo of Pope John Paul II
A list of names written on Epstein’s stationary