A local ballet company in Oklahoma helped a terminally ill girl achieve her lifelong dream just a few years ago – and is now cementing her legacy by naming a new character after her.

Olivia Francis’s wish to be a part of the Nutcracker came true in 2022 despite her diagnosis of Friedreich’s ataxia – a rare, terminal neurological condition that affects her ability to walk.

Now, the 12-year-old will be honored for years to come, as the Oklahoma City Ballet added a new character to be played by different children each year in Olivia’s honor, according to a post by her mother, Mary.

Olivia found out the news during an ‘amazing night’ on December 12, where she had dinner and watched the show she once starred in.

The little girl saw some of her favorite members of the show and met some new people as well, according to the upload.

‘Oklahoma City Ballet will always hold a special place in our hearts,’ wrote her mother.

‘Olivia found out they will have a permanent part in The Nutcracker, “Olivia or Oliver,” depending on who is playing the part.’

Photos of the smiling little girl accompanied the announcement, showing her enjoying her night out while surrounded by Christmas decorations.

After Francis could no longer perform in the ballet, Ryan Jolicouer-Nye, the artistic director, created the role for other children who dreamed of being on stage 

Olivia Francis, 12, performed in the Nutcracker despite her diagnosis of a rare neurological disease called Friedreich’s ataxia

Francis, pictured with her mother Mary, was honored by the Oklahoma City Ballet after they named a new permanent character after her 

Three children stepped into the role this past week during the show’s performance, according to the Ballet company’s Facebook page.

Juliana Creamer performed on December 20, Malaysia Jenkins followed the next day, and Whitley White on December 22.

The ballet company teamed up with Oklahoma Children’s OU Health this holiday season to make the young stars’ dreams come true.

Before the children’s performances, dancers visited the kids at the hospital to read holiday stories and practice dance stretches.

‘The Nutcracker really is a ballet for kids and families, and that goes down to the dancers,’ said Erica Portell, Oklahoma City Ballet Director of Community Engagement.

‘We have a lot of children who are cast in this show, and we are so excited that some of the child dancers are patients right here at Oklahoma Children’s. They are going to be amazing and spectacular. They’ve been working really hard in rehearsal, and I am excited to see them do it on stage.’

Whitley White performed as ‘Olivia’ on a December 22 performance of the Nutcracker

White told KFOR that she danced as a little kid, but it would be her first time performing.

Ryan Jolicouer-Nye, the artistic director, created the role years ago after Francis inspired him.

‘When Olivia could no longer do it, I wanted to make sure we had a seat open for any child who had a dream to be on stage but couldn’t,’ said Jolicoeur-Nye to the outlet.

When Francis first found out that she would finally be able to perform on stage alongside her fellow ballerinas, she cried.

Performing in the iconic ballet was a dream she first wrote about in her first-grade notebook, according to OKC FOX.

The production company told Francis the news that she would be part of the stellar performance on her birthday, making the surprise even more special.

She then made her sensational ballet debut on December 10, 2022 and continued to star on stage through December 18.

The keen dancer starred in the show in 2022 – and now a permanent character has been named after her

Francis has always dreamed of being a ballerina – but just months after she started her first dance lessons, she was hit with her diagnosis

Clips of the performance showed little Francis using her arms to join in the choreography, while other actors on stage move her wheelchair around in line with the dancing.

During rehearsals, she was seen gracefully gliding across the stage while holding a toy doll alongside the other ballerinas.

Despite admitting she was slightly nervous for her performance, Francis said that the best part of being involved in the Nutcracker was making friends with others on set.

Francis told KOCO the role as Clara’s sister Marie is not the way she envisioned she would be in the holiday production – but she said: ‘I’m really grateful.’

She noted: ‘Mostly I’m just acting, but there is one part where I can dance.’

And when she did get up to dance, Racheal Nye, the school director for the Oklahoma City Ballet, said ‘everyone just has their eyes on her.’

Nye said that Francis’s presence on set and her determination ‘inspired’ everyone. 

Friedreich’s ataxia is a genetic disorder damages the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and the cerebellum portion of the brain. 

For Francis, it is unlikely that she will ever be able to walk with her condition. She was diagnosed in 2020, and there is currently no cure for Friedreich’s ataxia.

Francis’s mom Mary said that watching her superstar daughter on stage brought a tear to her eye.

SOURCE PAGE

The Princess of Wales personally requested compoer Erland Cooper to watch her and Princess Charlotte perform his piece, Holm Sound, at Windsor Castle for tonight’s Together At Christmas on ITV

20:40, 24 Dec 2025Updated 21:14, 24 Dec 2025

Princess Charlotte playing the piano with her mum the Princess of Wales as part of the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas concert(Image: Kensington Palace)

The composer behind the piece of music played by the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte has spoken of his pride of witnessing their “incredible bond”. Kate was joined by her 10-year-old daughter for a special performance to launch her Together at Christmas carol concert broadcast on ITV1 this evening.

She personally requested Erland Cooper to accompany them at Windsor Castle earlier this month as they performed his piece Holm Sound. The award winning composer and producer, from Orkney in Scotland, cited as “one of the most unique, consistently engaging composers of his generation”, is renowned for taking inspiration for his melodic work from nature and connection.

READ MORE: Kate Middleton teases exciting mystery guest in exciting carol concert surpriseREAD MORE: Kate Middleton gets surprise nod from King Charles in his 2025 Christmas speechThe pair played Erland Cooper’s piece Holm Sound(Image: Kensington Palace)

Speaking of his shared passion for the natural world with the princess, who has credited immersing herself in nature as a marker in her recovery from cancer treatment last year, Erland said: “It was such a treat, such a lovely, warm and inviting day to be present with Their Royal Highnesses. It completely took me by surprise. I’m used to rambling around the ruins and brochs of the Orkney Islands, but to go to Windsor Castle itself was a slightly different architectural wonder.”

Erland, 43, wrote his classical piece in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, taking inspiration from the wild environment of the Orkney islands. The Princess of Wales, who has played the piano since the age of 10, first wrote to Erland to express her love of his music and thank him for his dedication to promoting the beauty of the natural world through his craft.

Through their exchange of messages, the future queen revealed how she had enjoyed teaching Charlotte his compositions at home, creating a special bond between them. As she planned to create a special moment as part of her fifth annual Together at Christmas carol concert, celebrating hundreds of community heroes at Westminster Abbey, the princess requested to play one of her favourite pieces with her daughter as part of the television on ITV1 on Christmas Eve.

The composer Erland Cooper

“I’m always in the head and hearts and back gardens of others. I often think, in this case, this little piece of music sort of landed on her shoulder like a bird,” Erland said. “And when you write a piece of music and you share it with the world, you’re sort of letting that out, and you’re letting it go, and you have no idea how far and wide it might fly. So it’s always a great surprise when people write to me or call me, and this was, you know, one of those great surprises. I didn’t expect it at all.”

Describing the moment as “a wonderful bit of serendipity” after originally composing the piece for his mother, Charlotte, Erland said: “We had a very warm, creative conversation earlier in the year, which was lovely, and then it culminated with an invitation to Windsor Castle. The princess asked ‘Would it be okay if we perform this piece of music that we so enjoy together?’

“It was such a lovely request so I said absolutely no problem at all. I was invited to witness this incredible bond between mother and daughter performing together and for that I am so grateful. And there’s a wonderful bit of serendipity as the piece was composed and dedicated to my mum, also called Charlotte, they didn’t know about, that it’s about motherhood, and how family plays such an important role and such a key part to all of this.

“The Princess and I both have a sort of shared love of music that celebrates the natural world and its rejuvenation and the wonder that you know that comes from it. There’s so much joy and warmth and creativity and ideas surrounding those themes.”

Kate with her children Charlotte and Prince Louis during Together At Christmas (Image: PA)

Erland, whose work combines field recordings with traditional orchestration and electronic elements, is renowned for burying the only copy of his first classical album as part of the “return to the natural earth” process. In 2021, after deleting all digital copies of his composition, he planted the master tape in peaty soil in Orkney, along with a “cheap violin”, the original score in a biscuit tin and a note to return to sender if it was ever found.

Erland posted clues on his website, but said if no-one found it he would dig it up himself and release the music in 2024, no matter how much the recording had changed. The score was discovered by two fans who found the soggy spool of magnetic tape buried in Stromness and returned it to him.

The record, titled Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence, later became a number one classical album, in collaboration with nature, topping the UK official charts in 2024.

Erland added: “I merely tap into the energy of the natural world, and I’m very grateful for it. It is a constant source of inspiration. It’s the life blood of my work. The idea behind my first piece was to compose, decompose, and then recompose. The finished piece would be a collaboration with Mother Nature. We all have this incredible connection to the natural world and I find it so warming that the Princess of Wales has found solace and such comfort in nature.”

On witnessing Kate and Charlotte sharing the stage together for their joint performance, he said: “It was just lovely. I think I was there for a little bit of encouragement. I mean, imagine anybody performing a piece of music in front of a film crew, and then the person who wrote it. Princess Charlotte played beautifully, she really has a wonderful way of playing the lighter notes just beautifully. So we were able to celebrate in that together.

“It’s certainly one of my favorite winter solstice moments. To walk into the Castle, to be greeted by a Steinway grand piano, and then to have a really poignant recital and performance. It was a very special, sort of quiet moment. There’s a power in reaching out to people, and that’s what they did here.”

Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal

WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

NEWSLETTER: Or sign up to the Mirror’s Royal newsletter here to get all the biggest royal news and exclusive pictures, straight to your inbox.

SOURCE PAGE

Israeli forces breach Gaza ceasefire, killing a Palestinian and wounding six, including a child, in multiple attacks.

At least one Palestinian has been killed and six, including a child, wounded by Israeli attacks across Gaza amid a threat by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A Palestinian man, Ayoub Abdel Ayesh Nasr, was killed and two people were wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on civilians in Jabalia in northern Gaza on Wednesday.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

Three people were wounded after being shot east of Khan Younis, medical sources told the Palestinian Wafa news agency.

Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and wounded a child in central Gaza’s Maghazi refugee camp.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli forces have killed more than ‌400 people in the battered enclave since the start of the ceasefire in October.

Gaza’s Government Media Office said Israel committed “serious and systematic violations” of the truce, noting that the Israeli forces had breached the ceasefire 875 times since it came into force.

The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse, and the absence of much-needed aid, including medicine and medical supplies, is exacerbating the situation.

A 20-point plan proposed by United States President Donald Trump in September calls for an initial truce followed by steps towards a wider peace.

So far, only the first phase has taken effect, including a shaky release of captives and prisoners and a partial Israeli withdrawal.

Israel continues to violate a ceasefire agreement and block desperately needed humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged coastal enclave, even though these are stipulated in the first phase of the agreement.

Meanwhile, an explosive device detonated in southern Gaza’s Rafah, with Israel saying one soldier was injured.

PM Netanyahu said Israel would retaliate after the incident, which Hamas denied responsibility for, suggesting the explosive device had been left over by Israeli forces.

Hamas said the incident took place in an area where the Israeli army was in full control and that it had warned that explosives remained in the area and elsewhere since the war, reiterating its commitment to the October 10 ceasefire.

Netanyahu’s office also said an Israeli delegation met officials from mediating countries in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday to discuss efforts to return the remains of the last Israeli captive, police officer Ran Gvili, from Gaza.

The delegation included officials from the Israeli military, the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service and the ​Mossad intelligence service.

Trump’s plan ultimately calls for Hamas to disarm and have no governing role in Gaza, and ‌for Israel to pull out.

Hamas has said it will hand over arms only once a Palestinian state is established, which Israel says it will never allow.

Netanyahu is set to meet Trump next week at the White House, primarily to discuss the next phase of the US president’s Gaza plan.

Hamas said in a statement later on Wednesday that a delegation led by its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya had discussed Gaza with ‍Turkiye’s foreign minister in Ankara.

Al-Hayya warned against what he described as the continuation of Israeli violations of the ceasefire, saying they were aimed at hindering the move to the next phase of the ceasefire deal.

The Hamas delegation said it had fulfilled the ceasefire’s conditions but that Israel’s continued attacks were blocking progress towards the next stage. They also asserted that 60 percent of the trucks allowed into Gaza were carrying commercial goods rather than aid.

About 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 171,000 wounded in attacks in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since October 2023.

SOURCE PAGE

Two stars of Irish acting are united as Cillian Murphy meets Barry Keoghan in the first look at the eagerly anticipated Peaky Blinders film.

Murphy questions his identity as “famous gypsy gangster” Tommy Shelby in the 70-second teaser released by Netflix on Christmas Eve.

The film sees Tommy driven back from a self-imposed exile amid the chaos of the second world war. In the trailer, a voiceover says: “Whatever happened to Tommy Shelby? The famous gypsy gangster.”

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Shelby says “I’m not that man any more”, and a separate clip shows him walking with his head held down while wearing his distinctive bakerboy cap after a female voice says: “Tommy, you’ve got to come back.”

Viewers are also offered a glimpse of Keoghan’s character, who wears a white vest top with tattoos on his arms.

The forthcoming movie serves as a continuation of the hit BBC drama series, which followed the rise of the Birmingham crime family the Shelbys.

The show’s six seasons spanned the end of the first world war through the end of prohibition in the US.

Returning cast members include Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby, Stephen Graham as union convener Hayden Stagg, and Packy Lee as Tommy’s friend Johnny Dogs.

Saltburn actor Keoghan, Dune actor Rebecca Ferguson and Reservoir Dogs star Tim Roth are among the new additions.

The film has been directed by Tom Harper and written by creator Steven Knight, who is to write the next James Bond film.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man premieres in cinemas on 6 March next year and will be available on Netflix from 20 March.

In October, the BBC announced Peaky Blinders would return with two new series focusing on a “new generation of Shelbys”.

The spin-off series is set in 1953, years after the events of the forthcoming feature film, and is to be filmed at Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham.

Murphy, 49, will return to executive produce but it has not been disclosed if he will reprise his role as the protagonist.

The spin-off is the latest incarnation in the Peaky Blinders universe after Rambert Studios’ ballet about Tommy.

The sixth series, which was broadcast in 2022 and was billed as the final series, saw Tommy almost shoot himself after being given false information that he had a brain tumour.

Peaky Blinders first aired on BBC Two in 2013, before getting picked up by Netflix in 2014, where it gained a global following and launched Murphy to international fame along with co-stars Tom Hardy, Anya Taylor-Joy and the late Helen McCrory.

The drama, which also triggered a surge in popularity of the flat cap, moved to BBC One in 2019 after a Bafta win for best drama series for its fourth season.

SOURCE PAGE

US authorities have discovered more than a million more documents potentially related to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein that they plan to release in the coming days and weeks, officials say.

The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice (DoJ) about the discovery and turned over the documents for lawyers to review.

“We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible,” the DoJ said on social media on Wednesday.

The department said that given the volume of material, the process could take “a few more weeks”.

The agency said it would “continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trump’s direction to release the files”.

The statement did not specify how the FBI and New York prosecutors came across the additional material.

The news comes after the justice department released thousands of documents last week – some heavily redacted – related to their investigations into Epstein.

The files were released after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act – signed into law by US President Donald Trump – that ordered the agency to share all the documents with the public while protecting victims’ identities.

Many of the documents released last week had names and other information blacked out, including names of people the FBI appears to cite as possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case.

The justice department has faced criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle over the amount of redactions, which the law permits only to protect victims’ identities and active criminal investigations.

The law passed by Congress and signed last month by Trump states that names and information that might be embarrassing or cause “reputational harm” are not allowed to be redacted.

It specifically asks the DoJ for internal communications and memos detailing who was investigated and decisions on whether “to charge, not charge, investigate, or decline to investigate Epstein or his associates”.

Included in the first release of documents were emails appearing to be exchanged between FBI personnel in 2019 that mention 10 possible “co-conspirators” of Epstein.

The emails said six of the group had been served with subpoenas. This included three in Florida, one in Boston, one in New York City, and one in Connecticut.

Possible co-conspirators in Epstein’s crimes are a major focus for his victims, and for several lawmakers who have demanded more transparency from the justice department.

Previous releases of Epstein documents have included revelations that reverberated across the Atlantic. Peter Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the US after details emerged about his friendship with the convicted paedophile, and that he told Epstein “I think the world of you”, the day before Epstein began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.

Lord Mandelson said in a letter to staff that “I deeply regret” the circumstances of his departure from the British embassy in Washington DC. He said being ambassador had been “the privilege of my life” and he continued “to feel utterly awful about my association with Epstein twenty years ago and the plight of his victims”.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lost his ‘prince’ title and was asked to leave his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, following weeks of intense scrutiny over his links to Epstein following a document release in October.

In the latest release on Tuesday, a 2001 email sent by a person identified as “A” from “Balmoral” to Epstein’s accomplice and close associate Ghislaine Maxwell – who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for sex trafficking of minors and other offences- asks: “Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

The BBC has contacted Andrew’s team for a response. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and said he did not “see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his [Epstein’s] arrest and conviction”.

SOURCE PAGE

An explosion ripped through a mosque in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri during evening prayers on Wednesday, news agencies reported.

The French AFP news agency cited local sources as saying at least seven worshippers died in the explosion. Nigerian officials have yet to provide details on the incident and the casualties.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far, but mosques have been targeted by militants before.

What else do we know about the mosque blast?

A bomb went off inside a crowded mosque in Maiduguri;s Gamboru market, witnesses told AFP. The explosion occurred as Muslim worshippers gathered for evening prayers.

An anti-islamist militia leader was cited by AFP as saying the bomb was suspected to have been placed within the mosque before exploding midway through the prayer. Other witnesses have described the incident as a suicide bombing.

Maiduguri is the capital of the northeastern Borno state, where jihadist groups like Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been active for nearly two decades.

Islamist violence in Nigeria has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across the country’s northeast.

The city of Maiduguri has seen no major attack since 2021. But signs of the conflict remain in the city, with frequent checkpoints and military patrols.

Edited by: Rana Taha

SOURCE PAGE

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox

Get our free Inside Washington email

Get our free Inside Washington email

President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom addition will proceed, despite legal challenges – but no other construction projects are expected to arise on the People’s House, officials say.

Last week, a federal judge denied the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request to stop construction of Trump’s 90,000 square-foot, ornate, entertainment space, which required removing the East Wing.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit that works to preserve historic buildings, objects and spaces, argued the White House circumvented the typical review process for federal building projects before breaking ground.

The judge allowed the project to move forward, but asked the administration to submit its ballroom proposal to the National Capital Planning Commission within the month.

Carol Quillen, the president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, told CBS News she has “deep concern” about future projects not following protocol. A White House official told the news outlet, “There are no plans for any demolition of any structures at this time.”

open image in gallery

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has initiated various projects to revamp decor in his signature style (AFP via Getty Images)

The Independent has asked the White House for comment.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has overhauled much of the decor – adding gilded embellishments to the Oval Office, erecting 80-foot flag poles on the lawn, paving over the Rose Garden to create a country-club style patio and installing a “Wall of Fame” with opinionated descriptions of past presidents.

But the decision to tear down the historic East Wing to add the massive ballroom generated the most controversy.

Officials gave no warning of the sudden demolition of the East Wing, despite Trump previously claiming the new ballroom wouldn’t disrupt the existing structure.

The president had also originally claimed the ballroom would only cost $200 million; however, it is now expected to cost $400 million.

The White House maintains that the president is permitted to make changes to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, just as past presidents have. Trump has championed the ballroom, claiming it would serve as a place to host state dinners and other formal, large events.

open image in gallery

Democratic lawmakers expressed outrage in October when it was revealed the White House would tear down the East Wing (Getty Images)

Some lawmakers are not convinced. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has sent letters to potential ballroom donors who were reportedly invited to a dinner for the project, requesting information.

Public Citizen, a progressive nonprofit, filed a lawsuit this week against the National Park Service and Department of the Interior for failing to respond to a FOIA request for information about the construction of the ballroom.

The National Capital Planning Commission is slated to hear a proposal on the ballroom in early January.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the capital, Trump still wants to build a triumphal arch, saying earlier this month that the project was now the “primary” focus of his administration.

SOURCE PAGE

NEED TO KNOW

• Last month, Carolina Lansing — the granddaughter of fashion designer Carolina Herrera — wowed the world in her custom couture gown at Le Bal des Débutantes
• Lansing was among 18 other young women from around the world who gathered at the Hotel Shangri-La for the famed invite-only party on Nov. 29
• The 21-year-old tells PEOPLE all about how the polka-dotted gown paid homage to both of her grandparents in subtle, meaningful ways

Of course, Carolina Lansing wore a gown from her fashion icon grandmother’s brand to Le Bal des Débutantes, but there was even more to the ensemble than may have met the unknowing eye.

Carolina Herrera’s granddaughter, 21, rocked the internet once the public glimpsed photos of her polka-dotted, black and white couture frock at the Hotel Shangri-La on Nov. 29. Lansing balanced both elegance and whimsy in the strapless, drop-waist gown designed by Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera, inspired by a 2025 collection.

Like many of her fellow debutantes, Lansing followed Le Bal tradition and helped create her dream dress for the event. She tells PEOPLE wearing one of her grandmother’s designs was a no-brainer, but from there, Lansing needed to figure out what styles resonated most with her.

Carolina Lansing (left) with a fellow debutante at Le Bal des Débutantes on Nov. 29, 2025.

Carolina Lansing

“Wes had me try on a bunch of stuff from recent collections that they had laying around the office to get an idea of what I liked,” she recalls of the designing process. “He also was like, ‘You have to tell me what you like from the past. Look through your mom’s closet, look through your grandmother’s closet, pick out dresses that you like, send it to us.'”

Ultimately, they landed on the spotted style, which Lansing says is “very true to Carolina Herrera,” namely the label’s older, more vintage looks. They added the drop waist and a dramatic bow to give the gown a “modern” feel, says the Chapman University student.

At the party, Lansing was in similarly stylish company. Originally launched in 1958 and then revived by Ophélie Renouard in 1992, Le Bal has maintained a reputation of being somewhat of a “Met Gala for teenagers.” Historically, it’s hosted young women from some of the world’s most notable families, including royals of the monarchy, Hollywood and fashion world varieties.

Lansing’s very silhouette served as an homage to Herrera, 86, and her work, but even more meaning could be found in the details. For example, the proud granddaughter tells PEOPLE that they sewed a “little yellow bow” onto the dress as an ode to the first perfume released by the fashion brand, which was sold in a black and white polka-dotted box strung with a little yellow band.

In an even more personal gesture, Lansing represented her grandparents’ love story by opting to wear a floral broach strung on a velvet choker. The accessory felt especially poignant following her grandfather Reinaldo Herrera’s death at age 91 this past March.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“My grandfather did always used to give my grandmother flower broaches,” Lansing shares. “It was more simple compared to what some of the other girls were wearing, but I was kind of like, ‘This seems perfect.’ I like that it was a little bit more simple.'”

It’s no surprise that her jewelry gesture — and the broader tribute paid by her ensemble as a whole — warmed Herrera’s heart.

“She texted me like, ‘You looked so beautiful. We’re so proud of you,'” says Lansing, who adds that Herrera invoked her late husband’s memory as well. “She was just like, ‘I know he would’ve been really happy.'”

SOURCE PAGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOURCE PAGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOURCE PAGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

Share

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image:
Pic: Reuters

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

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

Read more from Sky News:
British boy stabbed to death in Portugal named
Fourth Palestine Action detainee pauses hunger strike

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

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

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

SOURCE PAGE

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

Published On 24 Dec 202524 Dec 2025

Click here to share on social media

share2

Share

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

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

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

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

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

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

‘A defining political moment’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOURCE PAGE

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

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

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

Alleged gunman tackled during Bondi beach shooting – video

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOURCE PAGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Using Google much? Watch out for these scams

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Edited by: Rana Taha

SOURCE PAGE

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox

Get our free Inside Washington email

Get our free Inside Washington email

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOURCE PAGE