The US justice department has released an initial tranche of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents, which include photos, videos and investigative documents, were highly anticipated after Congress passed a law mandating the files be released in their entirety by Friday. The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, acknowledged it would not be able to release all of the documents by the deadline.
A number of famous faces are included in the first batch of files - including former US President Bill Clinton, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.
Being named or pictured in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing. Many of those identified in the files or in previous releases related to Epstein have denied any wrongdoing.
Among the documents released on Friday are many that are redacted, including police statements, investigative reports and photos.
More than 100 pages in one file related to a grand jury investigation are entirely blacked out.
Officials, as outlined in the law, were allowed to redact materials to protect the identity of victims, or anything related to an active criminal investigation, but they were required by law to explain such redactions, which has not yet been done.
The thousands of pages released on Friday are only a share of what is to come, according to the justice department.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department was releasing "several hundred thousand pages" on Friday and that he expected "several hundred thousand more" to be released over the coming weeks.
He told Fox & Friends that the department was heavily vetting each page of material to ensure "every victim - their name, their identity, their story, to the extent that it needs to be protected - is completely protected". That is a process, he argued, that takes time.
The timing of when additional materials will be released is unclear, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed frustration.
Democrats including Congressman Ro Khanna have threatened action against members of the justice department, including impeachment or possible prosecution over the delay.
Khanna led with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, defying US President Donald Trump who at first urged his party to vote against the measure.
"The DOJ's document dump of hundreds of thousands of pages failed to comply with the law," he said on social media, saying in a video that all options were on the table and being mulled over by him and Massie.
US Department of JusticeSeveral of the images released include former US President Bill Clinton.
One picture shows him swimming in a pool, and another shows him lying on his back with his hands behind his head in what appears to be a hot tub.
Clinton was photographed with Epstein several times over the 1990s and early 2000s, before the disgraced financier was first arrested. He has never been accused of wrongdoing by survivors of Epstein's abuse, and has denied knowledge of his sex offending.
A spokesperson for Clinton commented on the new photos, saying they were decades old.
"They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be," Angel Ureña wrote on social media.
"There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that," he continued.
"Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats."
US Department of JusticeIn the tranche of files released by the justice department are court documents that mention the US president.
The court documents detail that Epstein allegedly introduced a 14-year-old girl to Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
During the alleged encounter in the 1990s, Epstein elbowed Trump and "playfully asked him", in reference to the girl, "This is a good one, right?", the document says.
Trump smiled and nodded in agreement, according to the lawsuit filed against Epstein's estate and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2020.
The document says that "they both chuckled" and she felt uncomfortable, but "at the time, was too young to understand why".
The victim alleges she was groomed and abused by Epstein over many years.
In the court filing she makes no accusations against Trump, and Epstein's victims have not made any allegations against him.
The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.
The alleged episode is one of very few mentions of the president in the thousands of files released on Friday. He can be seen in several photos but his inclusion is minimal at best.
The Trump War Room, the official X account for the president's political operation, instead was posting photographs of Clinton. Trump's press secretary, too, re-posted images of Clinton, saying "Oh my!"
However, there are still pages to be released.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that "several hundred thousand" pages of documents are still being reviewed and have yet to be made public.
The US president has previously said he was a friend of Epstein's for years, but said they fell out in about 2004, years before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
US Department of JusticeA photo in the released files appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor laying across five people, whose faces are redacted. Epstein's convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell is seen in the image standing behind them.
Andrew has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein, who does not appear in the photo.
He has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he did not "see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction".
US Department of JusticeThe newly released documents include the widest assortment of celebrities we've seen in an Epstein file release so far.
The former financer was known for having connections across entertainment, politics and business. Some images released by the DOJ show him with stars that include Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Diana Ross.
It's unclear where or when any of the photos were taken or in what context. It's also unclear if Epstein was associated with all of these figures or whether he attended these events. Previously released photos from Epstein's estate have included photos that he did not take from events where he was not in attendence.
In one of the newly released photos, Epstein is photographed with Michael Jackson. The pop idol is wearing a suit and Epstein is seen in a zip-up hoodie.
US Department of JusticeAnother image of Jackson shows him with former US President Bill Clinton and Diana Ross. They are posing together in a small area and multiple other faces are redacted from the image.
Another photo in the thousands of files shows Rolling Stones legend Jagger posing for a photo with Clinton and a woman whose face is redacted. They are all in cocktail attire.
Several photos include the actor Chris Tucker. One shows him posing and seated next to Clinton at a dining table. Another shows him on an airplane tarmac with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Epstein.
The BBC has contacted Jagger, Tucker and Ross for comment. Clinton has previously denied knowledge of Epstein's sex offending and a spokesperson on Friday said they were decades-old photos.
"This isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be," the spokesperson said.
US Department of JusticeUS Department of JusticeOne of the first people to report Epstein is included in the files. Maria Farmer, an artist who had been working for Epstein, told the FBI in a 1996 report that he had stolen personal photos she took of her 12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters.
She said in a complaint that she believed he sold the photos to potential buyers, and said he threatened to burn her house down if she told anyone about it. Her name is redacted in the files but Farmer confirmed the account was hers.
She notes in the report that Epstein had allegedly asked her to take pictures for him of young girls at swimming pools.
"Epstein is now threatening [redacted] that if she tells anyone about the photos he will burn her house down", the report states.
Farmer said she feels vindicated after nearly 30 years.
"I feel redeemed," she said.
British heavyweight Anthony Joshua needed six rounds to stop boxing novice Jake Paul, who spent much of the contest in survival mode in one of the most striking mismatches in the sport's history.
Joshua, a two-time world champion, cut an increasingly frustrated figure as Paul danced around the ring for long spells, refusing to engage, before Joshua finally imposed himself by knocking down the YouTuber-turned-boxer twice in the fifth round.
Paul was down again in the sixth, before Joshua landed a powerful and clean right hand that brought a surreal night to an abrupt conclusion at Miami's Kaseya Center.
The American did not beat the count, although there was palpable relief inside the arena when he was able to rise to his feet and leave the ring without assistance.
"It wasn't the best performance," Joshua, 36, said. "The end goal was to pin Jake Paul down and hurt him. It took a bit longer than expected, but the right hand finally found the destination."
It might have taken longer than expected but it was the result the boxing world had overwhelmingly predicted, and the controversial bout raisesg questions about the safety risks created by such a vast gulf in experience, size and power.
Joshua claimed the 29th victory of his professional career in 33 outings and can now turn his attention to a legitimate challenge - notably the long-mooted showdown with Tyson Fury next year.
"Come and fight one of the realest fighters out there, step into there with me next if you're a really bad boy," Joshua told his rival.
Paul, meanwhile, failed to deliver on his promise to pull off the sport's greatest upset.
The 28-year-old did manage to land a handful of shots, however, and the fact the contest stretched into the sixth round was an unflattering reflection on Joshua.
More to follow.
中国广州市发生伤人事件，警方通报称两人受伤，已抓获嫌犯。
广州市公安局越秀分局星期五（12月19日）深夜在官方微博发布警情通报称，广州110当天下午5时37分接群众报警，称越秀南路有两人受伤。
通报称，警方立即到场处置，迅速抓获34岁的犯罪嫌疑人赵姓男子，两名伤者及时送医救治，均无生命危险。
警方没有透露嫌犯作案动机与受害者身份等细节，称案件正在进一步侦办中。
同一天，广西来宾市忻城县也发生持刀伤人案，导致三人死亡，一人受伤，35岁郭姓犯罪嫌疑人被控制。
针对有网民预告高雄车站将成为下一个袭击目标，台湾行政院长卓荣泰受访时表明，将通过警方系统全力追查此人，“让他成为社会公惩对象”。
综合ETtoday新闻云和TVBS新闻网等台媒报道，卓荣泰星期六（12月20日）到台北内湖三军总医院探视捷运袭击事件伤者。
在被问及台北捷运发生袭击事件后，有网民在社群网络Threads上预告高雄车站将成为下一个袭击目标，卓荣泰回应时说，这次袭击事件给社会造成很大震撼，政府要重新检讨很多工作。此时，他拜托社会要减少对这种不实在、不正常的信息的互相传递。
他强调，政府从星期五已透过警方系统，开始针对网络出现的恶意模仿言论开展全力追查，“一定要找出IP（网络地址）、这个行为人，让他变成社会公惩的对象”。
卓荣泰直言，他非常痛恨这样的行为，这对社会完全负面、败坏，无论真假，都不应该这么做。希望大家以此为戒，不要跟风模仿这样的行为。
高雄市长陈其迈星期六受访时说，已掌握上述贴文账号的网络地址位置，共计五个境外可疑账号，与警政署、国安单位密集联系，在全力追查中。
台北捷运星期五傍晚下班尖峰时段发生袭击事件，迄今为止，已造成包括27岁嫌犯张文在内的四人身亡、11人受伤。
香港特区政府星期五申请解散宏福苑业主立案法团管理委员会。
据香港政府公报，港府星期五（12月19日）引用了《建筑物管理条例》（第344章）第31条，向土地审裁处提交申请，解散现有宏福苑业主立案法团的管理委员会，并建议委任华懋集团旗下的合安管理有限公司为委任管理人，以协助宏福苑业主处理火灾后的各项管理及后续事宜。
港府称，如土地审裁处批准有关申请，民政事务总署将成立专班，联同合安管理有限公司，密切跟进屋苑管理的各项工作，包括工程合约处理、跟进保险索赔、财务管理及居民支援等环节。
港府说，合安管理有限公司已明确表示，在这次委任中将不会收取任何行政费用。与此同时，龚如心慈善管理有限公司也表示如土地审裁处批出有关申请，将捐出500万港元（83万新元）予法团支付因须聘用律师、会计师或其他专业服务的费用。
香港民政及青年事务局局长麦美娟当天就宏福苑管理事宜会见媒体时说，这是政府主动启动上述法律程序的首例。
她指出，当前宏福苑的管理正面临前所未有的挑战，尤其在大型维修工程后续跟进、相关工程合约及法团维修账目的处理、保险赔偿、现有管理公司约满后屋苑的管理及保安等复杂问题上，涉及多重技术、法律与财政考量，非一般法团管委会有能力处理。
她说，政府深切体会受灾居民的巨大困难和不安，明白他们急需获得适切支援，也关注法团本届管委会是否有能力就各复杂事宜保障居民权益。政府近日也收到不少居民意见，表示希望政府能协助接管法团的管理。
麦美娟称，政府经审慎评估后，认为有必要回应居民诉求，因此决定主动介入，依法向土地审裁处提出申请，委任具丰富经验的华懋集团旗下的合安管理有限公司作为临时管理人，透过引入专业管理资源，做好屋苑在灾后的管理跟进工作，保障所有业主的权益。临时管理人的任命能减轻业主在这段期间的财政负担。
她强调，管理人只是取代了法团管委会，上述申请不会影响宏福苑业主对重要屋苑管理事务的最终决定权。管理人在处理大型维修工程的后续跟进、相关工程合约、法团账目管理等复杂问题时，会先寻求专业意见，进行详细分析，并向业主做好解说，所有最终决定仍依照《建筑物管理条例》的规定交由业主作投票通过。
香港大埔宏福苑11月26日发生致命火灾，截至目前已造成161人死亡。
中国公安侦破了一起美国通报的涉嫌洗钱案，两人以非法经营罪被判刑。
据中国《人民日报》报道，2024年4月一条美国通报的佟姓中国籍人员涉嫌为毒贩洗钱线索，引起中国警方高度重视。公安部立即部署辽宁省公安厅开展核实工作。经前期侦查，辽宁省公安厅以涉嫌非法经营（外汇）犯罪立案，并将案件移交给佟姓被告等人户籍所在地沈阳市公安机关继续侦办。
报道称，围绕佟姓被告等人犯罪线索，沈阳警方成立工作专班，克服线索碎片化、境外调查取证不便、中美法律体系差异等困难，开展多维度缜密侦查，迅速固定了重要证据。沈阳警方2024年5月20日在湖北武汉将企图潜逃出境的佟姓和陈姓两名被告当场抓获。
佟姓被告等人被指在美国开设车行销售汽车并为购车客户提供人民币和美元兑换服务，后期转为专门从事非法买卖外汇等犯罪活动。
佟姓被告被指2020年1月至2021年6月期间在美国主要采取“对敲”方式，指使居住在中国境内的陈姓被告等人，利用在国内办理的多张银行卡，接收换汇转账。资金到账后，佟姓被告在美国向换汇人或佟姓被告亲属支付美元现金，收取1%—2%手续费。佟姓被告通过境内银行卡实施非法买卖外汇金额合计1600余万元人民币（294万新元）。
佟姓被告承认，在美国经营车行期间，结识了墨西哥商人JC。JC获知佟姓被告因给他人换汇需要美元现金，提出以美元现金向其购买虚拟货币。于是，佟姓被告指使陈姓被告通过多种渠道购买比特币、泰达币等虚拟货币后，卖给JC换取美元现金。
据佟姓被告供述，为JC换汇只占其业务一部分。佟姓被告在美期间，主要为有大额换汇需求的留学生、商人，以及美国当地的一些赌客提供换汇服务。
警方介绍，据佟姓被告交代，佟姓被告虽在美国从事换汇活动，但并不知晓JC等人提供的资金具体来源，各方掌握的现有证据不能确认佟姓被告明确知道上游资金性质。侦查工作中，警方同时发现一些不法分子在大额现金存取、虚拟货币交易等方面规避美国监管，目前已通过中美反洗钱合作沟通渠道反馈美国，并就在反洗钱领域加强执法合作达成共识。
沈阳市皇姑区人民法院2025年9月经审理认为，佟姓和陈姓两名被告违反国家有关法律规定，非法买卖外汇，扰乱金融市场秩序，情节严重，以非法经营罪分别判处佟姓、陈姓被告有期徒刑一年七个月、一年四个月，并处罚金。
新华社早前报道，中美两国禁毒部门开展执法合作，侦破一起走私可卡因案。
台湾总统赖清德到医院探视台北捷运袭击事件伤者后对媒体说，他要求检警调单位彻查此案，并追查是否有共犯或背后有人指使。
综合台湾《自由时报》和中时新闻网报道，赖清德星期六（12月20日）上午到台大等医院探视台北捷运袭击事件伤者，之后对记者说，他要对在星期五（12月19日）晚暴力攻击事件中不幸往生的民众表达哀悼，并慰问遇难者家属。他同时感谢台大医院、三军总医院等尽全力抢救伤患，也对在事件过程中奋勇阻止嫌犯进一步攻击的民众致谢。
赖清德强调，他已经要求检警调相关单位，务必针对嫌犯个人背景、犯案动机、是否有共犯、背后是否有人指使进行全面深入彻底的调查，并向社会交代真相。
根据台湾卫生福利部公布的最新伤病患收治情况，27岁嫌犯张文星期五在捷运台北车站及中山站犯下连续无差别袭击事件。截至星期六上午6时25分，事件共造成15人送医，包括嫌犯在内已有四人不治，其余11人受伤，其中仍有六人留院治疗，包含两人在加护病房观察中。
© Ivor Prickett for The New York Times
© Andrea Morales for The New York Times
Wireimage/Getty ImagesAfter weeks of intense competition, the Strictly Come Dancing finalists are primed to take to the dance floor one last time.
Just three couples remain of the 15 at the start of the series, with celebrities Amber Davies, George Clarke and Karen Carney vying to get their hands on the glitterball trophy.
It's also the last time Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will present a Strictly final. The pair announced they would be stepping down at the end of the current series.
The grand final will be broadcast on Saturday from 19:00 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer.
One of the main talking points leading into the final has been whether Amber Davies' performing background has given her an unfair advantage.
The Love Island star has faced a backlash online with people pointing out she's had roles in West End musicals Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical, and The Great Gatsby, as well as competing in the 16th series of Dancing on Ice.
This week, she told BBC News and other reporters at a Strictly press conference that she could "appreciate" where the comments are coming from.
"I have experience compared to these two," she said, gesturing at the other finalists. "I'm not shying away from that. However, I would say that the love actually does outshine the hate."
When asked whether she deserves to win, the actress, who is paired with Nikita Kuzmin, said: "I feel like I have worked just as hard as these guys going into the final, because I had to fight to get into the final."
The backlash is perhaps a symptom of a wider theme on Strictly, where over the years some viewers have appeared to form their own judgements on contestants, regardless of what the judges think or what the overall audience vote says.
Earlier this series Lewis Cope received criticism for having been a child actor in Billy Elliot, for example, and last year JB Gill came under fire for having danced before in the boyband JLS.
And it seems many viewers value an element of surprise or beating the odds, as with Strictly's first blind contestant Chris McCausland winning last year.
For Karen Carney, becoming the first footballer to reach the Strictly Come Dancing final feels "weird" but she's also "really, really proud".
"I can't believe a footballer is in the final," she said in the press conference.
The former Lioness, who is partnered with Carlos Gu, said she had struggled with her confidence in recent years, but added: "I always knew in my heart Strictly would be the thing that would fix me... It's by far the happiest I've ever been."
For social media star George Clarke, reaching this point in the contest is "mental".
"It's a completely different world to what I'm used to," he said.
Another online star, AngryGinge, was recently crowned king of the jungle in this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! It opens up the possibility of two social media stars winning two of the biggest shows on television.
"I feel like it's a whole demographic that hasn't really been touched massively in mainstream TV," said Clarke, who is partnered with Alexis Warr.
The finalists will perform three routines: they will revisit a previous routine, perform a show dance and then take to the floor with their favourite dance from the series.
This is what they'll be dancing to:
Amber and Nikita
George and Alexis
Karen and Carlos
Other highlights from the show will include a group routine from the professional dancers and this year's finalists.
The cast of 2025 will return to the dance floor one last time for a group number, although BBC News understands that Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner will not join.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025's grand final is at 19:00 GMT this Saturday on BBC One and iPlayer.
It will also be available to watch on the live page on the BBC News website.
The live page will also have plenty of build up ahead of the show - plus extra insight on the dances, the outfits, the judges' comments, and much more.
This year, Strictly has moved to online-only voting.
When the vote is open, shimmy over to this website to make your decision!
As with every final, all of us at home have the full power to decide the winner.
The judges will give their scores, but these will just be for guidance and don't get combined with the viewers' votes.
Warning: The section below includes spoilers from last week's Strictly
Standards were incredibly high last week, as you would expect for a semi-final.
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin kept up with their perfect score for a third consecutive week, while Karen Carney's Waltz had judge Anton Du Beke "a bit emotional" and George Clarke captivated the judges with his hip movement.
In the end, Balvinder Sopal and Caillon left the competition, following a dance off on Sunday night against Davies and Kuzmin.
In October, we had the shock announcement by Daly and Winkleman that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series.
The celebrity contestants later told me that the news took them by surprise too. "No one saw it coming," one said.
Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This Saturday will be their last time presenting a Strictly final. Speaking on Strictly's sister show It Takes Two last week, the pair admitted they might feel "emotional" after the show.
Their last ever appearance on the show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
There have been plenty of twists and turns in the show's 21st year.
But the show has also been embroiled in controversy.
In November, it emerged that an unnamed star from Strictly has been arrested on suspicion of rape. It comes after another man involved with the hit BBC dance show was also arrested on suspicion of rape in August.
It is understood that neither developments were related to the current series of Strictly.
It came after a difficult few years for the show, with a number of former celebrity contestants speaking up about their negative experiences on Strictly.
Last year, the corporation introduced new duty of care measures, including putting chaperones in rehearsals.
yacobchuk/GettyWhat was the last thing you asked an AI chatbot to do for you?
Maybe you asked it for an essay structure to help answer a tricky question, provide an insightful analysis of a chunky data set, or to check if your cover letter matches the job description.
Some experts worry that outsourcing these kinds of tasks means your brain is working less - and could even be harming your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) published a study showing that people who used ChatGPT to write essays showed less activity in brain networks associated with cognitive processing while undertaking the exercise.
These people also couldn't quote from their essays as easily as those in the study who didn't use an AI chatbot.
The researchers said their study demonstrated "the pressing matter of exploring a possible decrease in learning skills".
All 54 participants were recruited from MIT and nearby universities. Their brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG), which involves electrodes being placed on the scalp.
Some of the prompts used by the participants included asking AI to summarise essay questions, track down sources as well as refine grammar and style.
It was also used to generate and articulate ideas - but some users felt AI wasn't very good at this.
Separately, Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft, which operates Copilot, found people's problem-solving skills could diminish if they became too reliant on AI.
They surveyed 319 white-collar workers who used AI tools for their jobs at least once per week about how they apply critical thinking when using them.
They looked at 900 examples of tasks given to AI, ranging from analysing data for new insights to checking whether a piece of work satisfies particular rules.
The study found that higher confidence in the tool's ability to perform a task was related to "less critical thinking effort".
"While GenAI can improve worker efficiency, it can inhibit critical engagement with work and can potentially lead to long-term overreliance on the tool and diminished skill for independent problem-solving."
Schoolchildren in the UK were similarly surveyed for a study published in October by Oxford University Press (OUP).
It found six in 10 felt AI had negatively impacted their skills in relation to schoolwork.
So, with the massive explosion of AI use, are our cognitive skills at risk of decline?
Klaus Vedfelt/GettyNot necessarily, says Dr Alexandra Tomescu, a generative AI specialist at OUP who worked on the school survey.
"Our research tells us that nine in 10 students say AI has helped them develop at least one skill related to schoolwork - be it problem-solving, creativity or revision.
"But at the same time, about a quarter state that AI use made it too easy to do work for them… So [it's] quite a nuanced picture."
She adds that many pupils want more guidance on how to use AI.
ChatGPT, which has more than 800 million weekly active users according to boss Sam Altman, has published a set of 100 prompts for students designed to help them get the most out of the technology.
But Prof Wayne Holmes, who researches critical studies of artificial intelligence and education at University College London (UCL), says this isn't enough.
He wants much more academic research to be done about the effects of AI tools on learning before pupils and students are encouraged to use them.
He tells us: "Today there is no independent evidence at scale for the effectiveness of these tools in education, or for their safety, or even for the idea they have a positive impact."
Prof Holmes points to research about cognitive atrophy, where someone's abilities and skills become worse after using AI.
He says this has been a problem for radiologists who use AI tools to help them interpret X-rays before they diagnose patients.
A study by Harvard Medical School published last year found AI assistance did improve the performance of some clinicians but damaged others for reasons researchers don't fully understand.
The authors called for more work to be done on how humans interact with AI so we can figure out ways of using AI tools that "boost human performance rather than hurt it".
Prof Holmes fears that students, whether in school or university, could become too reliant on AI to do their work for them and not develop the fundamental skills an education provides.
A student's essay might receive better marks thanks to help from AI but the issue is whether they end up understanding less.
As Prof Holmes puts it: "Their outputs are better but actually their learning is worse."
Jayna Devani, who leads international education at OpenAI - the company that owns ChatGPT - and helped secure a deal with the University of Oxford, says the firm are "very aware of this debate right now".
She tells the BBC: "We definitely don't think students should be using ChatGPT to outsource work".
In her view, it's best used as a tutor rather than just a provider of answers.
The example she gives is of a student having a back and forth with ChatGPT using the study mode setting.
You enter the question you're having difficulty answering and the chatbot can break down its components and help you understand it.
The example she gives is of a student doing an assignment late at night about a topic they don't quite understand.
"[If] you have an upcoming presentation to give and… it's midnight, you're not going to email your [university] tutor and ask for help," she says.
"I think the potential is truly there for ChatGPT to accelerate learning when it's used in a targeted way."
But Prof Holmes insists that any student who uses AI tools should be aware of how its reasoning works and how the companies providing them handle data. He stresses that results should always be checked.
"It is not just the latest iteration of the calculator," he says, describing AI's far-reaching capabilities and implications.
"I never say to my students, you shouldn't use AI… But what I do try to say is look, we need to understand all these different things about it so that you can make informed decisions."
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PantoneFor anyone who has spent years renting, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of one day adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year might feel like a personal attack.
This year, Pantone has chosen white as its colour of the year.
More specifically, Cloud Dancer - a white described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection".
It is the first time white has been chosen as the colour of the year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.
According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and reflects a collective desire to slow down, reset and find calm after years of visual overload.
PantoneBut some critics have labelled the decision as "Pantonedeaf", arguing that elevating minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the smaller, messier homes most people inhabit.
Others argue that positioning white as aspirational risks racial undertones, landing uncomfortably amid ongoing political and cultural conversations about race and representation.
Designer Chris Beaumont says the backlash goes beyond aesthetics, arguing that white carries cultural undertones and is rarely a neutral choice.
"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "wealth, order and distance from chaos".
He explains that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, moral minimalism and the idea that neutrality signifies virtue".
Chris BeaumontBeaumont points to the pandemic as a turning point in how people relate to their homes.
"Overnight they became our offices, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, adding that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather tone-deaf".
Rather than offering calm, he believes white now risks amplifying "a sense of bleakness", particularly when paired with cool, clinical lighting.
Lara Clark, a Surrey based interior designer, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".
While it may suit highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says bright whites rarely create calm in real homes.
"What looks serene in a styled shoot can easily feel clinical at home," she explains.
"White can feel stark and unforgiving and you don't want your home to give hospital vibes."
Lara ClarkShe adds that "homes should spark joy and feel warm and lived-in, and this shade feels quite removed from that."
Beaumont hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to express personality.
Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Colour Institute, told the BBC that people "bring different feelings" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that feels intentional and adaptable".
Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a powerful industry signal.
Past choices have included the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.
These colours don't just live on trend forecasts - they show up in fashion collections, beauty launches, interiors, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty ImagesVictoria Robinson, a style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this particular shade feels soft and elegant rather than stark".
In contrast to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a serene, restful atmosphere".
"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and curtains."
PantoneInterior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".
He can see its merits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".
In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.
Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says elevating white feels "less about novelty and more about intention", reflecting a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.
Oriona Robb"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on form, proportion and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.
But she adds that it also carries assumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and privilege, saying: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."
She says industry is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones tied to celebrating white as an ideal, particularly amid ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands engage with that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".
Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury", burnout and a rejection of excess.
She says feedback from her clients has been largely positive, with many craving calmer, more restorative spaces.
"Many people are actively seeking tranquillity and serenity in their homes and aren't always ready to commit to more daring colours," she explains.
Whether white feels calming or sterile, Malik argues, depends on how it is used and far from being "Pantonedeaf", she sees it as one of Pantone's most usable picks.
Cloud Dancer is described as a blank canvas that allows "all colours to shine", a view Malik shares.
"A blank canvas isn't an empty space, it's a space filled with potential," she says.
Adding that its success "won't be in its universal adoption, but in how it anchors a larger conversation about what we want from our homes".
For those tempted to embrace Cloud Dancer in all its pristine glory, one thing may be essential: a very good stain remover, kept firmly within reach.
法国巴黎一家法院星期五驳回政府对中国跨境快时尚巨头希音（Shein）提出暂停在法平台运营三个月的诉求。
综合法新社和彭博社报道，法国政府以希音在平台售卖性玩偶和违禁药物等，提出上述诉求，并要求希音制定严格措施确保不会再犯，才能重启平台（marketplace）运营。
巴黎法院星期五（12月19日）作出裁决时确认，相关行为确实“严重危害公共秩序”，但发现被指不得售卖的物品数量“零星”，希音在接获指令后也迅速下架相关物品。对希音实施禁令是“过分”的要求，也是对自由企业的无理侵犯。
法院称，希音不能仅靠简单声明，而是要列明年龄验证措施，才能重新出售性玩偶。
法国政府原本打算通过无需法院批准的行政程序对希音实施禁令，但由于希音下架原本销售的性玩偶和违禁药物等，并同时暂停平台运营，该行政程序未启动。
在法国官员发出警告后，希音11月全面禁止在平台上销售性玩偶，并承诺将“全力配合”法国司法机关的调查。
中国出台《互联网平台价格行为规则》，规定平台经营者不得以排挤竞争对手或者独占市场为目的，以低于成本的价格销售商品或者提供服务。
《互联网平台价格行为规则》自2026年4月10日起施行，有效期为五年。
根据中国网信网星期六（12月20日）发布的规则内容，平台经营者、平台内经营者不得违反《中华人民共和国价格法》第十四条第二项规定，以排挤竞争对手或者独占市场为目的，以低于成本的价格销售商品或者提供服务，扰乱正常的生产经营秩序，损害国家利益或者其他经营者合法权益。
不过，降价处理鲜活商品、季节性商品、积压商品、临期商品等商品，或者有正当理由降价提供服务的除外。
平台经营者也不得强制或者变相强制平台内经营者按照其定价规则，以低于成本的价格销售商品或者提供服务，扰乱市场竞争秩序。
平台经营者的商业模式系对用户长期免费的，且有利于推动创新进步、有利于提升经营者和消费者长远福利的，可以不认定为违反《中华人民共和国价格法》第十四条第二项规定。
此外，平台经营者也应当公平公正开展补贴促销，不得虚假、夸大宣传补贴金额和力度。平台经营者开展补贴促销，应当在网站或者应用程序（APP）相应活动页面显著位置标示补贴及相关促销活动规则，明确补贴对象、补贴方式、参与条件、起止时间等信息。
© Andrew Medichini/Associated Press
© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times
中国北京同仁堂一款南极磷虾油产品被发现没有磷脂含量后，集团誓言一查到底，并说责令涉事经销主体下架涉事产品。
上海市消费者权益保护委员会本月11日在微信公众号公布，一款标称“北京同仁堂99%高纯南极磷虾油”的产品，在网页上写着“高含量”、“智利进口原料”、“高度提纯”、“1粒≈100只磷虾”，磷脂标识值为43%，看似是品质出众的优质产品，但检测结果显示该款产品磷脂含量为0。
消保委通报，针对相关企业涉嫌造假行为，为了保护消费者合法权益，上海市消保委“将于近日约谈该产品的生产企业安徽哈博药业有限公司和经销商北京同仁堂（四川）健康药业有限公司，要求其对产品的真实情况做出解释”。
北京同仁堂四天后（12月15日）通过“同仁堂健康会员”微信公众号指这款产品未经授权擅自突出使用“北京同仁堂”字样，涉嫌违法，并已启动司法程序，对涉事企业进行起诉。
澎湃新闻之后报道，被上海市消保委点名的产品具体名称为“南极磷虾油凝胶糖果”，经销商为“北京同仁堂（四川）健康药业有限公司”，生产企业为“安徽哈博药业有限公司”。生产商和经销商12月15日被约谈。
约谈中，生产商安徽哈博药业有限公司陈述，涉事产品由经销商北京同仁堂（四川）健康药业有限公司定制采购，采购价格远低于正常水平，产品包装按照北京同仁堂（四川）健康药业有限公司要求制作，所有涉事产品均供给北京同仁堂（四川）健康药业有限公司，由其对外销售。
安徽哈博药业有限公司承认，在生产过程中未添加其对外宣称的 “南极磷虾油”。澎湃新闻报道，经销商北京同仁堂（四川）健康药业有限公司则在约谈中回避问题，推脱责任，声称对产品的涉嫌造假行为毫不知情，与己无关。
报道称，涉事企业用鱼油提取物冒充南极磷虾油进行生产销售。
北京同仁堂星期六（20日）在“中国北京同仁堂官微”微信公众号发声明称，针对有关南极磷虾油的舆论关注，“北京同仁堂集团高度重视、深感痛心，对因此给消费者造成的权益损害，向广大消费者和社会各界致以最诚恳的歉意”。
集团公布，已派专项工作组到四川，对涉事产品开展全面深入核查，坚决一查到底，并责令并监督涉事经销主体四川健康立即下架涉事产品，严格按照监管部门要求依法依规对消费者进行赔偿。
集团也宣布，依法追究四川健康、哈博药业及相关电商平台的商标侵权等责任；对其违法使用“北京同仁堂”字样，误导消费者判断，损害消费者合法权益的行为追究法律责任；对四川健康及其控股股东健康药业等单位在经营、管理、监督环节存在的问题开展问责，严肃追究相关人员责任。
北京同仁堂也宣布，全面排查品牌使用中的违法违规行为，对集团各级企业的品牌使用情况进行拉网式核查；全面开展品牌清理行动，坚决清理“擦边”使用“同仁堂”字号、商标使用不规范等行为，严格规范品牌管理体系。
针对南京网民反映称，所使用的导航软件出现异常情况，南京卫星协会回应称，包括北斗和GPS在内的卫星信号受到干扰。
综合每日经济新闻和快科技报道，有南京网民星期三（12月17日）反映，所使用的导航软件系统出现突发异常状况。导航界面持续显示“行驶在无数据道路上”，同时外卖、共享单车等日常服务也受到影响，有外卖骑手反映外卖软件等内置导航出现问题，显示“看不见导航”或导致外卖配送延时。
南京卫星应用行业协会星期五（12月19日）通过“南京卫星协会”微信公众号发布《关于12月17日南京区域导航信号异常情况的技术性探讨分析》指出，这次导航失灵的核心原因是全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）卫星信号（含北斗、GPS）受到临时干扰压制，而非网络信号中断，因此下载离线地图并无实际意义。
协会称， 离线地图的核心功能是存储地理数据，仅解决“地图显示”问题，无法替代定位信号来源；手机导航需依赖GNSS卫星信号（至少四颗卫星）解算位置坐标，再将位置信息匹配至地图，定位信号与地图数据是相互独立的两大系统。
协会说，这次干扰精准针对北斗、GPS民用频段，导致定位信号无法被接收机识别，即便搭载离线地图，也因缺乏位置数据源出现定位漂移、无数据反馈等问题，无法实现有效导航。这次信号异常仅涉及民用GNSS频段，北斗军用频率完全不受干扰。
香港特区官员星期五（12月19日）主持会议，讲解政府部门如何配合针对宏福苑火灾而成立的独立委员会调查工作，并强调任何欺骗、隐瞒或误导行为将面临严肃的法律后果。
香港律政司司长林定国在脸书发文写道，他向向十多个政策局及部门首长讲解政府部门应如何配合独立委员会的调查工作，包括准备事项及应遵循的原则。
林定国说，律政司已就此成立专责小组，由他亲自监督领导。小组负责协助政府部门向独立委员会提供证据和资料，并解答相关法律问题。
林定国续称：“我向所有同事强调，政府必须坚守两大原则配合独立委员会的调查工作。一是，主动性。所有政府部门均有责任主动协助调查，向独立委员会提交职权范围相关的材料，而非被动等待查询；二是，全面及坦诚的资料提供（full and frank disclosure）。只要与调查范围相关，即使资料可能对部门或个人构成负面影响，也必须如实提供。任何欺骗、隐瞒或误导行为将面临严肃的法律后果。”
他指出，独立委员会须在九个月内提交报告，并说：“时间上相当紧迫，我们在会上也详细讨论了具体工作方式及时间表，以确保高效运作。”
林定国也说：“我们会立即全面检视现行制度，针对存在的问题进行修正与改革，透过相应改善措施，确保同类不幸事件不会重演。此外，我们更要推动大厦大型维修工程在充分保障业主整体合法权益的前提下，以公平、安全且高效的方式进行。”
这场火灾是香港近80年来最严重火灾，造成160人死亡。特首李家超上星期成立独立委员会，审视大埔宏福苑火灾的事故原因及相关问题，提出建议，防止同类事故再次发生。
中国河南省一所学校发生致命火灾，官方经过两年调查后对25人进行处罚。此案星期五一审宣判，包括创始人在内的三人获判监禁。
综合中国央视新闻和澎湃新闻报道，河南省方城县法院星期五（12月19日）上午9时开庭审理河南方城县独树镇砚山铺村英才学校火灾案，经过10小时的庭审后，与当晚宣判，以犯教育设施重大安全事故罪，对学校创办人、实际控制人李宇、校长徐向阳和学校起火宿舍宿管员贾霞，分别判处七年、六年半和六年有期徒刑。
法院同时禁止李宇、徐向阳、贾霞自刑罚执行完毕之日起，五年内从事与教育教学相关的职业，并驳回附带民事诉讼原告人范永归等人的诉讼请求。
英才学校宿舍去年1月19日深夜发生火灾，造成13名学生遇难、四名学生受伤。
事发后，英才学校与13名死亡小学生的近亲属签订赔偿协议，赔偿每名遇难学生近亲属各项费用130万元人民币（24万新元）。上述赔偿款已于2024年1月支付完毕。
河南省政府事发生后牵头成立事故调查组，对起火原因进行了深入调查，认定事故性质和责任，并在星期三（12月17日）发布调查报告，对包括南阳市副市长在内的25人，因监督管理不到位等原因作出处理处分。
公安机关对英才学校五名相关人员采取刑事强制措施，其中李宇、徐向阳和贾霞等三人被检察机关以犯教育设施重大安全事故罪提起公诉，其他两人因未参与学校实际管理，不构成犯罪，不予追究刑事责任。
法院认为，李宇、徐向阳、贾霞明知学校校舍及教育教学设施有危险，既不采取措施整改，也不及时报告，致使发生重大伤亡事故，其行为均已构成教育设施重大安全事故罪。这次火灾事故后果特别严重，社会影响极其恶劣，对三名被告应依法从严惩处。
法院称，李宇、徐向阳、贾霞违背职业要求，怠于履行学校安全管理职责，在判处刑罚的同时，也禁止其在刑罚执行完毕之日起，五年内从事教育教学相关的职业。附带民事诉讼原告人范永归等人案发后已依法获得赔偿，对其诉讼请求依法不予支持。
© Eric Lee/The New York Times
特区其实也意味着对其他地区的不公
Reporters ask world leaders questions all the time.
No big deal. Right?
But what's it like putting a question to Vladimir Putin - the president who ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leader whose country was accused this week by the head of MI6 of "the export of chaos"?
And imagine asking that question live on TV while millions of Russians are watching.
It's a big responsibility. You don't want to mess up.
"My question is about Russia's future. What kind of future are you planning for your country and your people?" I ask President Putin.
"Will the future be like the present, with any public objection to the official line punishable by law? Will the hunt for enemies at home and abroad be accelerated? Will mobile internet outages become even more common? Will there be new 'special military operations'?"
While I'm speaking, Vladimir Putin is making notes. And then replies.
He defends Russia's repressive foreign agent law. Hundreds of Russians who are critical of the authorities have been designated "foreign agents".
"We didn't invent it," Putin tells me.
"This [foreign agent] law was adopted in a string of Western countries, including in America in the 1930s. And all these laws, including the US one, are much tougher…"
In reality, the Russian law is draconian. It excludes "foreign agents" from many aspects of public life, including teaching, the civil service, elections and public events. It imposes financial and property restrictions. Criminal prosecution can follow a single administrative fine.
However, I'm unable to point this out to President Putin. The microphone was taken away from me after I'd finished my question.
Suddenly the moderator intervenes to change the subject.
"There's another question here: 'What's going to happen to the BBC? It's facing a multi-billion lawsuit from the US president?'," says anchor Pavel Zarubin.
"I think President Trump is right," President Putin confirms.
The Kremlin and the White House seeing eye to eye… on the BBC.
Putin returns to my question.
"Will there be new special military operations? There won't be, if you treat us with respect, and respect our interests, just as we've always tried to do with you. Unless you cheat us, like you did with Nato's eastward expansion."
Visible for all to see is what is driving Vladimir Putin - a deep-seated resentment of the West.
He argues that, for years, Western leaders have disrespected, deceived and lied to Russia - and that they're lying still by claiming that Moscow intends to attack Europe. "What kind of rubbish is that?" declares the Kremlin leader.
But many European leaders simply don't trust Moscow.
In the run-up to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials denied they had plans for a mass attack.
More recently Russia has been accused of violating European air space with fighter jets and drones, as well as of carrying out cyber-attacks and acts of sabotage.
But as he finished answering my question, was this an olive branch to Europe from Russia's president?
"We're ready to cease hostilities immediately provided that Russia's medium- and long-term security is ensured, and we are ready to co-operate with you."
However, if Moscow continues to connect its long-term security to its maximalist demands over Ukraine, European leaders will remain sceptical.
Getty ImagesFlu should always be taken seriously. It is a virus that kills thousands of people every winter and puts intense strain on hospitals.
However, I can't remember a flu season that has played out quite like this. There have been claims it is both a "superflu" and "unprecedented" across the media and even from NHS England - while experts say this year's flu is not out of the ordinary with accusations of "crying wolf".
So what's really going on and is anything truly different this year?
As I reported in early November, there were concerns the flu season had the potential to be the worst for a decade.
Scientists who track the multitude of flu viruses around the world noticed seven fresh mutations appear in a strain of influenza – a type called H3N2 – in June.
This newly mutated virus rapidly became the dominant form of H3N2 and was named subclade-K.
The flu season took off a month early in the UK hinting the virus may have the potential to spread more widely than normal and it was too late to adjust this year's flu vaccine to match the new mutations.
That was the concern, but the reality has been more in line with a normal flu than a super flu.
Getty ImagesThe K-flu virus has not gained a dramatic ability to rip through the population.
"It was basically spreading at a very similar speed to previous years, it was towards the upper end, but it wasn't an outlier," says Prof Christophe Fraser, who is analysing the spread of the virus at the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford.
His team's latest analyses, still to be published, suggest the mutations did give the virus a slight edge at slipping past our immunity – in the region of 5-10% more than usual. It is not clear if that applies to everyone or is concentrated just in children and young adults who have caught less flu in the past and who have been most affected so far.
H3N2 viruses always tend to be more severe for the elderly and there is no clear evidence the virus is worse than expected this year. A rapid analysis of the seasonal flu vaccine also suggested it was performing in line with previous years despite fears of a mismatch.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: "The things that we saw that were unusual this season are the early start to the season, we also saw this change to the virus, with more evolution than we typically see.
"But overall, in terms of the impact on the NHS and the impact on people's health, we're seeing a broadly typical flu season."
There are suggestions that flu may already be peaking, although this comes with significant uncertainty. There are questions about what happens over Christmas when everyone meets up and it's easier for the virus to infect older people who are more at risk. There are also signs a different strain of flu - H1N1 - is picking up in Europe and may lead to an increase in cases here too.
But a "broadly typical flu season" is probably not the sense you'd get from watching or reading the news.
Statistical artistry was used to compare an early flu season to one that started much later allowing claims of flu cases being "an incredible 10 times higher" than in 2023.
It was technically true, but is like saying your train to Glasgow got you there in record time… but the journey time was identical, you just booked an earlier train.
NHS England was not the first organisation to start calling it superflu, but Prof Meghana Pandit, national medical director at NHS England, did label it an "unprecedented wave of super flu".
It has been suggested by the British Medical Association that flu has been used to scaremonger while resident doctors were deciding whether to continue their strike action.
Superflu isn't a scientific description and the BBC Health Team has not found any expert who thinks it is an accurate one.
"I don't think it's a helpful term, there isn't a particularly unusual set of symptoms, there's no indication of it being associated with exceptional severity, exceptionally rapid spread or exceptional health impact," says Prof Fraser.
One of the UK's top flu scientists, Prof Nicola Lewis, the director of the World Influenza Centre at the Francis Crick Institute, said the virus was "not particularly unusual" and that she saw "no evidence" the virus was "particularly different" and superflu "wouldn't be my description".
The former deputy chief medical officer for England through the pandemic, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, posted: "I'm very unclear what is meant by the rather silly term of 'superflu'."
Persuading people to get the flu vaccine saves lives and last winter the jabs were estimated to have kept around 100,000 people out of hospital.
However, experts have started to question whether the escalation in language used since the Covid pandemic could harm trust in official health advice. Previous winters came with warnings of a tripledemic of flu, Covid and RSV; then it was upgraded to a quademic adding in norovirus; this year it's superflu.
Dr Simon Williams, who researches psychology and public health at Swansea University, says there are issues with the "current language around every winter being 'the worst' in some way or another" and risks a "cry wolf" effect that damages trust and means people become "numb" to the advice.
He said there was a danger of "over-using the narrative that viruses will overwhelm the NHS" when "ultimately the NHS hasn't got overwhelmed to the point of not being able to carry out emergency and basic functions".
Instead he argues a "fine balance" is needed between raising awareness and "not falling into the trap of fear-messaging or being overly alarmist, which can backfire".
Prof Jonathan Ball, a virologist at Nottingham University, agrees saying: "I think it is a concern to use words like super flu, when we may one day experience a real super flu.
"We have to be very, very careful about how we communicate these things to the public, because there is a risk that we can cry wolf."
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