Email from ‘A’ at British royal residence asked Ghislaine Maxwell about ‘inappropriate friends’

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Lead Newly released U.S. Department of Justice documents show that a correspondent identified only as “A” emailed Ghislaine Maxwell from a British royal summer residence in August 2001, asking whether she had located new “inappropriate” acquaintances. The messages are part of a trove of exchanges between Maxwell and an alias labeled “The Invisible Man,” dated … Read more

Massive fire erupts after apparent explosion at nursing home in Pennsylvania – ABC News

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A major fire broke out Dec. 23, 2025 at the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol, Bucks County, after what officials say was a suspected gas explosion. Local emergency crews described the scene as a “mass casualty incident” and reported that some residents may be trapped as firefighters work to evacuate the building. Responders have … Read more

Federal Prosecutor Was Surprised by Trump’s Flights on Epstein’s Jet

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Dec. 23, 2025 — A Justice Department disclosure published Monday shows that a Manhattan federal prosecutor warned colleagues in January 2020 that Donald Trump’s name appeared repeatedly on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet manifests. The prosecutor noted Mr. Trump was listed on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including several trips that also included … Read more

Early Flu Surge in California Could Hit Young Children Hard

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California is experiencing an unusually early rise in influenza activity driven in part by a recently emerged H3N2 subclade. Wastewater monitoring in the Bay Area and test positivity in Los Angeles and Orange counties have climbed, and hospitals are reporting more flu-related visits. Clinicians warn this pattern resembles earlier, intense seasons observed in the Southern … Read more

Russell Brand charged with new offences of rape and sexual assault – BBC

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Lead: The Metropolitan Police announced on 3 hours ago that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised two additional charges against Russell Brand, including one count of rape. The new charges concern alleged incidents in 2009 involving two separate women and add to earlier allegations for which Mr Brand has already pleaded not guilty. He … Read more

Chris Evans Returns as Steve Rogers (and Is Now a Dad) in First Official ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Trailer – The Hollywood Reporter

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Lead On December 23, 2025, Marvel released the first official teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, confirming Chris Evans has returned as Steve Rogers and showing the character in a markedly different life stage: a father caring for a newborn on a rural property. The short teaser, set to the iconic Avengers theme and containing no spoken … Read more

US economy grows at fastest pace in two years – BBC

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Lead: The US economy accelerated in the three months to September, expanding at a 4.3% annualized rate, up from 3.8% in the prior quarter, according to a government report released after a shutdown-related delay. The stronger-than-expected advance was driven by a jump in consumer spending and a rebound in exports, while government defence outlays also … Read more

Finished ‘Heated Rivalry?’ These Steamy Sports Books Promise a Similarly Happy Ending

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Lead As HBO Max’s first season of Heated Rivalry concludes with its Boxing Day finale, readers seeking more sports-centric, LGBTQ+ romance have a clear reading list. The series, adapted from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers books, pushed the source novels back toward the top of Amazon’s bestseller lists, and publishers and indie authors have responded with … Read more

Ben Sasse announces diagnosis of metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer

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Lead: Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, 53, announced on social media that last week he was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer and described the condition as terminal. The diagnosis comes after Sasse left the Senate in early January 2023 to become president of the University of Florida and stepped down from that post last … Read more

Government raises farm inheritance threshold to £2.5m after protests

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Lead: The government has softened plans to tax inherited farmland, raising the threshold from £1m to £2.5m in a late-December announcement after sustained protests by farmers and unease among some MPs. The change delays a wider application of a 20% charge on qualifying agricultural assets due to start in April 2026 and retains a reduced … Read more

First Avengers: Doomsday Teaser Centers on Steve Rogers

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Lead The first official teaser for Avengers: Doomsday has arrived online, confirming a return to the Avengers banner and centering on Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the fourth Avengers film is set for release on December 18, 2026, and will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. … Read more

DHS Changes Process for Awarding H-1B Work Visas to Better Protect American Workers – USCIS (.gov)

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Lead On December 23, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule that replaces the random H-1B lottery with a weighted selection designed to favor higher-skilled, higher-paid applicants. The change is intended to protect U.S. wages, working conditions and job opportunities by increasing the likelihood that available visas go to workers with advanced … Read more