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Today — 17 December 2025Main stream

Thousands of dinosaur footprints found on Italian mountain

16 December 2025 at 23:09
Elio Della Ferrera, Arch. PaleoStelvio Two people look up at the wall of footprintsElio Della Ferrera, Arch. PaleoStelvio
Initial research was carried out before snow covered the area

Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been found in a national park in northern Italy.

The footprints - some of which are up to 40cm (15in) in diameter - are aligned in parallel rows, and many show clear traces of toes and claws.

It is thought the dinosaurs were prosauropods - herbivores with long necks, small heads and sharp claws.

"I never would have imagined I'd come across such a spectacular discovery in the region where I live," said Milan-based paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso.

Illustrazione di Fabio Manucci, Arch. PaleoStelvio Artist's rendition of a herd of prosauropod dinosaurs walking across a vast, muddy plain during low tide. Illustrazione di Fabio Manucci, Arch. PaleoStelvio
Artist's rendition of a herd of prosauropods walking across a muddy plain during low tide. Smaller footprints suggest the herd also included young specimens

Last September a photographer spotted the footprints stretching hundreds of metres on a vertical mountain wall in the Stelvio national park, north-east of Milan.

In the Triassic period - between about 250 and 201 million years ago - the wall was a tidal flat, which later became part of the Alpine chain.

"This place was full of dinosaurs; it's an immense scientific treasure," Mr Dal Sasso said.

The herds moved in harmony, he added, "and there are also traces of more complex behaviours, like groups of animals gathering in a circle, perhaps for the purposes of defence."

The prosauropods, which could be up to 10m (33ft) long, walked on two legs but in some cases handprints were found in front of footprints, indicating that they probably stopped and rested their forelimbs on the ground.

Elio Della Ferrera, Arch. PaleoStelvio A mountain wall full of dinosaur footprintsElio Della Ferrera, Arch. PaleoStelvio
Photographer Elio Della Ferrera snapped the first picture of the mountain wall showing the footprints

Elio Della Ferrera, the photographer who discovered the site, said he hoped the discovery would "spark reflection in all of us, highlighting how little we know about the places we live in: our home, our planet."

According to a press release from the Italian culture ministry, the area is remote and not accessible by paths, so drones and remote sensing technology will be employed instead.

The Stelvio national park is located in the Fraele valley by Italy's border with Switzerland, near where the Winter Olympics will take place next year.

"It's as if history itself wanted to pay homage to the greatest global sporting event, combining past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport," said the Italian Ministry of Culture.

Rob Reiner Gave Us Great Reasons to Go to the Movies

17 December 2025 at 01:19
“This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally …,” “Misery”: Reiner delivered an incredible number of accessible, original and adult movies that we still cherish.

© Columbia Pictures, via Everett Collection

The director Rob Reiner, in 1989, on the set of “When Harry Met Sally …”

Takeaways From Susie Wiles’s Vanity Fair Interviews Describing Trump World

17 December 2025 at 01:10
During 11 interviews with Vanity Fair over President Trump’s first year back in office, Ms. Wiles, his chief of staff, opened up about the president, the people around him and their internal fights.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, typically shuns publicity. She called a recent article in Vanity Fair, based on 11 interviews she gave over the past year, “a disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history.”

Europe May Roll Back Combustion Engine Ban

17 December 2025 at 01:01
A proposal to revise an E.U. law requiring carmakers to stop producing combustion engines by 2035 would offer some relief to automakers, but it sets back the region’s climate goals.

© Laetitia Vancon for The New York Times

Electric vehicles at a BMW factory in Munich. Premier automakers like BMW will benefit if an emission ban in Europe is rolled back.

【视频】悉尼邦迪海滩恐袭案:枪手曾赴菲律宾 与“伊斯兰国”组织或有关联 - RFI - 法国国际广播电台

17 December 2025 at 01:15
16/12/2025 - 18:11

澳大利亚悉尼邦迪海滩周日(12月14日)严重恐袭案件的调查取得新进展,警方与情报机构的调查显示,两名袭击父子可能与极端组织“伊斯兰国”存在关联。

 

据法国电视France24驻悉尼的特约记者格雷戈里·普莱斯报道的报道,警方最初通报称,在袭击者所使用的车辆中发现了两面临时制作的“伊斯兰国”旗帜。随着调查深入,当局披露了更多关于袭击者背景的细节,尤其是有关24岁的儿子纳维德·阿克拉姆的情况,他目前仍处于昏迷状态,还无法接受警方讯问。

调查发现,这名年轻袭击者长期与一名宣扬伊斯兰圣战的人保持联系,同时还曾与一名负责在澳大利亚为“伊斯兰国”招募青年的男子有往来。这名招募者目前已被关押在监狱。

更为重要的信息是,这对父子几乎在整个11月期间曾前往菲律宾活动。据菲律宾当局表示,两人持印度护照抵达首都马尼拉,随后前往菲律宾南部的棉兰老岛。该地区长期被认为是多个极端组织的活动据点,同时存在伊斯兰主义武装的训练营。

一名反恐消息人士向澳大利亚广播公司(ABC)透露,这名年轻人很可能在棉兰老岛接受过某种形式的军事化训练。调查人员指出,两人在完成这次行程后,于11月28日返回澳大利亚,而在返澳仅几天后便实施了这起造成严重死伤的袭击事件。

澳大利亚总理阿尔巴尼斯周二则首次表示,涉嫌犯下悉尼邦迪海滩恐袭的父子,似乎是在以“伊斯兰国”组织意识形态的驱使下干案,两人在展开大规模谋杀前已经激进化。

阿尔巴尼斯透露,24岁的纳维德早在2019年就受到澳洲情报机构的关注,但他当时并未被认为构成即可的威胁。阿尔巴尼斯补充说,与纳维德有往来的人当中,有两人后来被起诉并入狱,但当时纳维德并未被视为是须重点关注的人物。

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Un homme s'interpose face à l'un des tireurs de l'attaque qui a fait 11 morts ce dimanche 14 décembre 2025, à Sydney, en Australie.
Un homme s'interpose face à l'un des tireurs de l'attaque qui a fait 11 morts ce dimanche 14 décembre 2025, à Sydney, en Australie. © Capture d'écran news.com.au

Watching ‘Liberation’ With a Women’s Movement Pioneer, My Mom

16 December 2025 at 23:47
In researching her new Broadway play, Bess Wohl interviewed my mother. After a performance, we all discussed the play and its themes.

© Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

The cast of “Liberation,” a play that evokes the spirit of sisterhood during the feminist movement of the 1970s.

Brown Shooter Still at Large After Nearly Three Days

17 December 2025 at 00:25
The authorities are still looking for the gunman who killed two students at Brown University. Investigators are expected to release more video footage on Tuesday.

© Bing Guan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Attorney General Peter Neronha of Rhode Island spoke at a news conference on Monday.

Netflix Adds Podcasts in Deal With iHeartMedia

17 December 2025 at 00:25
The streaming service now has about 30 video podcasts lined up for 2026, including the influential radio show “The Breakfast Club.”

© Aleksey Kondratyev for The New York Times

Netflix said it planned to feature more podcasts, calling the shows from iHeartMedia an “initial collection.”

Liverpool parade attacker Paul Doyle sentenced to 21 years and 6 months in prison

16 December 2025 at 22:51
CPS A police custody image of Paul Doyle. He has grey hair which is long on top and short at the sides. He is wearing a grey t-shirt and is staring directly at the camera.CPS
Paul Doyle could be heard on his car's own camera swearing and shouting as he mowed down supporters

A man who used his car as a "weapon" to plough into more than 130 people at Liverpool FC's victory parade has been jailed for 21 years and six months.

Paul Doyle, 54, drove at crowds "in a rage" after his "anger had completely taken hold of him" shortly before 18:00 BST on 26 May, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Judge Andrew Menary KC said the ex-Royal Marine, who stared straight ahead with no expression as he was sentenced, had generated "fear and panic" and his "disregard for human life defied ordinary understanding".

He admitted 31 charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving and affray, with victims ranging from a six-month-old baby to a 77-year-old woman.

The married father of three was travelling into the city centre to collect friends from the parade when he "lost his temper" and drove his Ford Galaxy directly into supporters making their way home from the Premier League title celebrations.

Dashcam footage from Doyle's vehicle, played in court, showed the moments when fans were thrown onto the bonnet of his car or fell underneath as he accelerated down Water Street, which had been closed to traffic.

In the footage, Doyle can be heard shouting "move" and swearing at the crowd, including after he hit a 10-year-old girl.

Judge Menary told Doyle as he sentenced him: "It is difficult, if not impossible, to convey in words alone the scene of devastation you caused.

"It shows you, quite deliberately, accelerating into groups of fans time and time again.

"You struck people head-on, knocked others onto the bonnet, drove over limbs, crushed prams and forced those nearby to scatter in terror."

Doyle told police his actions "ruined so many people's lives" as he was arrested

Judge Menary continued: "You ploughed on at speed and over a considerable distance, violently knocking people aside or simply driving over them - person, after person, after person.

"You accelerated forwards and backwards repeatedly, several victims became trapped beneath the vehicle as you continued to move it.

"Others were thrown into the air or propelled across the ground."

He added Doyle acted in an "inexplicable and undiluted fury" when he ploughed into the crowds.

Doyle, from Croxteth, Liverpool, spent large portions of the two-day sentencing hearing in tears - with dashcam and CCTV footage of his attack played multiple times to the public gallery.

He gave no reaction as he was taken down from the dock by prison officers.

Footage shows car plough into crowd at Liverpool FC parade

Victims of the rampage on Water Street in the city centre spoke of their terror and injuries during the two-day hearing.

Sheree Aldridge, 37, said she thought her baby son Teddy Eveson had died after his pram was thrown into the air after being hit by Doyle's car, adding that she thought she would "be next".

"I thought my children would grow up without a mother," she said.

A 12-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I found myself on the floor having been hit by a car I did not see coming, I have never felt so scared before in my life."

The boy's mother said her heart sank when she saw her child motionless on the floor.

She said: "The sight of my son lying motionless on the road, not moving for those few seconds, and the sound of the car hitting people will live with me forever."

When interviewed by police, Doyle said he had seen someone with a knife and had driven in panic for fear he would be attacked.

But police found no evidence from CCTV footage or witnesses that anyone in the area had a knife.

No defects were found with the car and Doyle was not under the influence of drink or drugs.

He changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial last month, with the judge telling him his sentence reflected the fact he could have admitted the offences "much earlier than you did".

PA Media Daniel Barr is wearing a beige jumper with a white shirt and is staring directly at the camera. PA Media
Daniel Barr was labelled a "hero" by prosecutors after he "bravely" jumped into the back of Doyle's car to bring it to a halt

Following sentencing, Judge Menary said he wished to formally commend Daniel Barr, who climbed into the back seat of Doyle's car and held the automatic gear stick in park mode to bring the vehicle to a stop.

"His actions on that day were outstandingly brave," the judge said.

"At a moment when many understandably feared for their own safety, he ran towards the danger, entered a moving vehicle and brought it to a halt, thereby preventing further injury and quite possibly saving lives."

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I stopped Paul Doyle from ploughing car into more Liverpool fans - but I'm not a hero

16 December 2025 at 21:14
BBC Dan Barr, 41, who has blue eyes, a bald head and light stubble, speaks into the camera wearing a beige jumper over a white shirt. BBC
Dan Barr found himself in an extraordinary situation inside the car with parade attacker Paul Doyle

The man whose instinctive act stopped the car that injured 134 fans at the Liverpool FC victory parade has insisted he was "not a hero".

Dan Barr, 41, managed to get inside the automatic Ford Galaxy and forced its gear selector into 'park' mode as driver Paul Doyle tried to accelerate further into the dense crowd of pedestrians on Liverpool's Water Street.

Mr Barr, a former solider, described the "horrendous" sight of seeing victims pleading in vain for Doyle, 54, to stop, and told the BBC: "I'm not the same since that day."

Despite being hailed for his bravery by police and prosecutors, Mr Barr said being called a hero makes him "cringe" and added: "Every man that I seen was trying to do the same."

Earlier Doyle, from Croxteth in Liverpool, was jailed for 21 years and six months at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting 31 offences including causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

The court head Doyle, an IT networking engineer and former Royal Marine, was motivated by nothing other than "blind rage" as he grew frustrated about being unable to get through the crowds while on his way to pick up a friend.

His victims ranged in age from six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whose pram was knocked to the ground, to 77-year-old Susan Passey who was trapped under the wheels of the car.

Liverpool fan Mr Barr, from Birkenhead in Wirral, had watched the parade on the city's waterfront and found himself in the throngs of people heading back to the city centre along Water Street, shortly before 18:00 BST.

The former Royal Engineer said he noticed an ambulance trying to get through the dense crowd and moved to the right of where it was heading.

Dan Barr can be seen in mobile phone footage wearing a chequered jacket and a backpack

Mr Barr said his memory of what happened next is "blurry", but he described seeing the roof of a dark coloured car "snaking through" the crowd, knocking people into the air as it got closer to where he was standing.

"I just remember for some reason, I don't know why, but his vehicle stopped for a bit," he said.

Mr Barr said realised he had a clear path to the rear left hand side door and instinctively ran towards the car.

"There was already other men at different positions around the car trying to get in, desperately trying to punch their way in," he said.

"Just the sheer desperation of the situation, you knew it wasn't over."

CPS A police custody photo of Paul Doyle wearing a grey jumper and looking stunned. His hair, a long brown fringe, is dishevelled and to the side. His face has red marks on itCPS
Paul Doyle pleaded guilty to 31 charges including causing GBH with intent on what was supposed to be the first day of his trial

Mr Barr said he assumed the car doors would be locked and braced himself to try and punch the window through.

However at the last moment he tried the door handle, and was able to open it and climb inside.

However as Mr Barr climbed into the back seat Doyle accelerated forwards and the door slammed shut.

"We've gone from total chaos - panic, screaming - to relative silence as he's accelerated off," he said.

"Then you can just hear the people being hit and run over, like ten-pin bowling, pretty horrendous. I could see everything from where I was.

"I could see people's faces, I could see the looks of just, like they were trying to plead but wasting their time.

"That's all that they could do, there was nowhere to go, nowhere to get out of the way for them."

A side profile of Dan Barr, 41, who has blue eyes, a bald head and light stubble, as he looks into the camera wearing a beige jumper over a white shirt.
Dan Barr said he believes he only did what "anyone else would have done".

Mr Barr said at that stage he desperately searched for a way to stop the car, and noticed the gearstick in drive mode.

He reached between the front seats and jammed it forwards to park mode.

"Things are fuzzy but I kept my hand on there," he said.

"Nothing would have moved my arm, no way."

With the car not able to accelerate and with injured victims trapped under the wheels, Doyle's rampage was over.

As the vehicle came to a stop other people shattered the windows and tried to drag Doyle out, which they succeeded in doing after Mr Barr reached forward and released the driver's seatbelt.

Detectives viewing dashcam footage from within Doyle's vehicle have said they believe Doyle may not have been aware of Mr Barr's presence in the car.

The labourer said he is unsure.

"I find it a very interesting question," he said.

"He was repeating the same thing over and over, 'why won't they move out my way?'

"Was he asking me? Was that a statement? I don't know."

'I'm not the same'

Although he escaped with a minor cut to his head, Mr Barr said the psychological impact of 26 May is ongoing.

"I don't think I have processed it, to be honest with you," he said.

"It doesn't mean that I don't think I ever will be, but I'm not the same since that day.

"Big things don't bother me, it's little things. Little things are starting to agitate me every day.

"I'm different in work, I struggle to take on instruction, I struggle to watch telly, take things on board. I'll have to keep rewinding it. It's mad.

"I don't really know what I'm saying, I'm just not myself, I'm very forgetful."

PA Media Two forensic investigators in white full-body overalls walk away from the camera along a road next to a large inflatable blue police tent. A black sign on a building in the background reads 'West Africa House'. PA Media
Prosecutors said Paul Doyle's actions on May 26 were motivated by "blind rage"

Mr Barr said despite having been in the army for eight years, including tours in Iraq where his role was searching for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), he rarely talked about his service.

However he said the impact of what happened on Water Street and concern from his family and friends has led him to seek professional help.

When asked about people describing him as "brave" or "heroic", he said: "It makes my toes curl to be honest with you...

"If they could have, who wouldn't have done what I did?"

The man charged with leading the investigation into the Water Street attack, Det Ch Insp John Fitzgerald, however, had a different view.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Doyle would have continued to drive and cause further injuries had Daniel not acted with such bravery." he said.

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Foreign interference in UK politics to be investigated after jailing of ex-Welsh Reform leader

16 December 2025 at 23:41
BBC 'Breaking' graphicBBC

The government has ordered an independent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics.

It comes after the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, Nathan Gill, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years after admitting to taking bribes for pro-Russian interviews and speeches.

Announcing the review, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the government must "learn the lessons" from the case so "this can never happen again".

The review will be led by former senior civil Philip Rycroft and will report back in March.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Reed said: "The facts are clear. A British politician took bribes to further the interests of the Russian regime, a regime which forcefully deported vulnerable Ukrainian children and killed a British citizen on British soil using a deadly nerve agent.

"This conduct is a stain on our democracy. The independent review will work to remove that stain."

The government says the review will conduct an "in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards and offer recommendations to further mitigate risks from foreign political interference".

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.

Teenage boy arrested on suspicion of murdering girl, 9

16 December 2025 at 23:39
BBC A police officer wearing a high vis jacket and bowler hat stands behind a blue and white strip of police cordon tape. Behind her is a residential street, with a number of police forensics vans along it. BBC
Police say a teenage boy has been arrested in Worle, North Somerset

A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a nine-year-old girl.

Police were called to Lime Close in the Mead Vale area of Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, at 18:09 GMT on Monday, where the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy was arrested in nearby Worle at 18:19 and is currently in police custody.

House-to-house inquiries are being carried out, with a police cordon in place.

Supt Jen Appleford, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We know the whole of Weston-super-Mare will be distraught and shocked to learn of this utterly dreadful news."

She said the girl's family had been informed on Monday evening, adding: "It is impossible for us to adequately put into words the pain and anguish they are feeling right now."

A police forensics van parked up on the side of a residential street. There is another van in front of it, with a white forensics suit hanging out of it. Police tape can be seen across the street in the distance.
House-to-house inquiries are under way in the area

A criminal investigation is underway, with a post-mortem examination to be carried out.

"Out of respect for the family we'd please ask people not to speculate on the circumstances, or the identities of those involved, because that will only add to their enormous distress," Supt Appleford added.

The community has been asked to remain patient as inquiries are carried out at the house and in the surrounding area.

There will be an increased police presence around the residential close in the coming days, though the force said it was not aware of any increased risk to public safety.

Mike Bell, the leader of North Somerset Council, said he was "shocked and saddened" to hear of the incident.

In a post on social media, he said: "My thoughts are with all those affected, particularly the family and friends of the girl who has lost her life.

"The community will, I am sure, pull together to support each other at this difficult time."

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Couple win £1m lottery jackpot for second time - in 24-trillion-to-one odds

16 December 2025 at 19:55
National Lottery A couple celebrate by shaking up a bottle of champagne next to a river. National Lottery
The couple celebrating their first big win in 2018

One lucky couple has beaten extraordinary odds to win £1million on the National Lottery - for the second time.

Richard Davies, 49, and Faye Stevenson-Davies, 43, first scooped a seven-figure jackpot playing the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker in June 2018.

And now they have done it again by matching five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the Lotto draw on 26 November - the chances of which are more than 24-trillion-to-one, say experts.

"We knew the odds of it happening again were outrageous, but we're proof that if you believe anything is possible," said Faye, from mid Wales.

But, as Richard explained, their second win was not a case of simply picking the right numbers.

"It came to us through a series of four consecutive Lotto draws," he said.

"When you match two numbers in the Lotto draw, you automatically win a Lucky Dip for the next game and that's what's happened to us.

"We matched two numbers and won a free Lucky Dip from one draw which put us into the next draw and so on, until the winning draw on 26 November."

However, this latest windfall is unlikely to change the couple's community-minded attitude.

Former hairdresser Richard uses his skills at a shelter for the homeless in Cardiff, a project which received vital National Lottery funding, while also helping out friends by working as a delivery driver.

National Lottery A man and a woman hold up a large blue card with the words '£1,000,000 winner' written on it.  National Lottery
"We're just going to take our time and enjoy the moment," said Richard and Faye

Meanwhile, ex-nurse Faye is a volunteer cook at Cegin Hedyn community kitchen in Carmarthen, while also providing mental health counselling services to local organisations such as Brecon & District Mind charity.

"The first time we won we gifted people cars, donated a minibus to the local rugby team and did our best to help friends and family," said Faye, who will even be working on Christmas Day.

"It was all new and it was amazing to be able to make a difference.

"This time around, who knows? We're just going to take our time and enjoy the moment."

Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: "I can still remember the day I met Richard and Faye for the first time, and it's just as special to be with them as they celebrate their second £1m win.

"I saw the positive impact of that first win and know this second one will be just as meaningful."

Adverts and subscription model for BBC considered by ministers to boost funding

16 December 2025 at 20:52
BBC A woman operating a TV camera in front of the BBC Logo on an LED wall.BBC

The government has formally begun the process which will decide the future of the BBC.

It has published a consultation document - or green paper - laying out plans to future-proof the BBC, put it on a sustainable financial footing and bolster trust.

This begins the renewal of the BBC charter - the corporation's rulebook and licence to exist - which expires in 2027.

The culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: "The BBC is fundamental to the health of our nation and we want to make sure that we put it on a firm footing for decades to come.

"We're asking everybody to get involved and play their part in helping to shape its future."

Outgoing BBC director general Tim Davie said in a statement: "We welcome the publication of the government's green paper and the start of the public consultation on the future of the BBC. We urge everyone who cares about the success of the UK's world-leading creative industries to have their say.

"At the BBC, we want change, so we can continue to deliver for the UK for generations to come. We want to secure a public service BBC that is independent, sustainably funded for the long term, and meets our audience's needs."

Former BBC controller of editorial policy, Richard Ayre, described the consultation as "the most encouraging start of a charter process in decades, with the government apparently committed to giving the BBC a sustained and financially sustainable future".

The licence fee brought in £3.8 billion last year. Other funding streams - advertising, subscription and fee reform, including charging wealthier people more - are on the table for now, although many media commentators expect the licence fee to remain, with some changes.

Nandy said: "We're keeping all options open. The only option for funding the BBC that we've ruled out is general taxation and that is because it is essential that the BBC can hold governments of any persuasion to account, including ours, without fear or favour and without being heavily reliant on direct funding from government."

She described the BBC as "an institution that matters deeply to the democratic process in this country and to the health of our nation" and said it "has to have sustainable funding in order to thrive".

But she also acknowledged recent issues at the corporation: "There have been serious concerns about developments at the BBC, including editorial standards and about political interference.

"These aren't new challenges for the BBC. Throughout its history it's had to navigate them, but we believe that through this charter we can strengthen the amount of accountability within the BBC."

Former BBC director general Tony Hall suggested there should be careful consideration of a household tax charged in line with council tax bands.

The government rejects that model. It does, however, accept that public funding of the BBC will remain in some form and Lord Hall suggests an independent body, like a pay review body, to "take the politics out of the licence fee debate".

"Give them the task every three years of reviewing whether the money the BBC has got matches our ambitions for the BBC," he said.

He agrees the licence fee needs to be reformed and made "fairer".

The Reform party wants to scrap the licence fee altogether, while Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, threatened to withdraw support for it earlier this year.

The Liberal Democrats are supportive of the licence fee up until 2027. The Green Party did not specifically mention the BBC in its 2024 manifesto.

PA Media Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy leaves after attending a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, London. Picture date: Tuesday December 9, 2025PA Media
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has ruled out general taxation but is otherwise keeping "all options open"

There will be a 12-week public consultation and the government is seeking views on how to ensure the BBC commands the public's trust, is accountable to audiences and fully represents communities.

This includes potentially giving the corporation new responsibilities to counter misinformation and disinformation, updating the BBC's mission to put accuracy on the same footing as impartiality and strengthening the BBC's independence, including examining political appointments to the BBC's board.

Labour MPs raised concerns around this issue in Parliament after the recent BBC controversy over the misleading edit of a Donald Trump speech on a Panorama prompted the resignations of the BBC director general and the CEO of News.

Trump is now suing the BBC for defamation over the edit.

Lord Hall told BBC News: "I think trying to take the politics as much as possible out of the organisation would be good. That means really looking carefully at appointments. I don't think there should be any political appointments to the board."

Others argue these appointments (there are five government-appointees on the BBC board including the chairman) ensure accountability and help challenge groupthink.

The BBC has faced a series of controversies in recent months for which it has had to apologise.

These include a documentary about children in Gaza that had to be taken down from BBC iPlayer after it emerged the child narrator was the son of a Hamas official and the failure immediately to remove the punk duo Bob Vylan's set from a Glastonbury live stream after offensive comments were made on stage.

Nandy termed the Labour government "unashamedly supporters of the BBC as an institution, even as we've had serious frustrations with some of the decisions and failings that have taken place at the BBC in recent months".

She said the review of the charter was the chance "to make sure that it can not just survive, but thrive. It's an institution that belongs to us all. If it didn't exist, we would have to invent it".

The consultation will also look at how to devolve more commissioning to the regions and whether there should be a new obligation on the BBC to drive economic growth, build skills and support the UK economy.

The BBC is the only organisation operating under a royal charter with an expiry date. In a speech in November 2024, the BBC chairman Samir Shah said "there are more than 1,000 charter bodies, and I am not aware of any other that needs to be renewed like the BBC".

He asked: "Should we consider the BBC also having a permanent charter like the others?"

The government appears to be consulting on this, with some suggesting the threat of a future Reform government is focusing minds on the uncertainty renewal every decade creates and whether it allows too much political interference.

Ayre said: "It's interesting that the government chooses the word 'future-proof' for the BBC. Can that really mean that they're considering not a 10-year charter, which is the norm, but a sort of self-sustaining charter which will see the BBC continuing in its key position as the national broadcaster for what the government calls decades to come?

"Of course future governments can always try to undo that, but actually a royal charter, it's quite difficult to undo because technically it is the will of the monarch rather than of the government of the day".

Hall said "the great thing about the charter review this time is that I believe the government wants to secure the BBC's future for the long term. It could be a great legacy."

Next year, following the consultation, the government will publish its own vision for the BBC.

Donate This Holiday Season: The World’s Poorest Need Your Help

16 December 2025 at 18:03
Elie Hassenfeld, the chief executive of the nonprofit GiveWell, makes the case for a more rigorous, transparent and accountable approach to charitable giving.

© The New York Times

10-Year-Old Killed in Russia School Stabbing

16 December 2025 at 23:46
The attack appeared to have been inspired by white supremacist ideology, Telegram channels close to intelligence agencies reported.

© Tatyana Makeyeva/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Police officers at the entrance of a school in the Moscow region after a stabbing on Tuesday.

路透调查报道:Meta纵容中国广告欺诈 牺牲用户安全换取数十亿收入 - RFI - 法国国际广播电台

16 December 2025 at 23:45
16/12/2025 - 16:20

根据路透社独家获取的Meta(原Facebook)内部文件,这家社交媒体巨头长期容忍中国广告商在其平台(Facebook、Instagram、WhatsApp)上大规模发布欺诈、非法赌博、色情等违规广告,仅2024年,Meta在中国的广告收入高达180亿美元,其中约30亿美元(19%)来自违规广告。为保住这笔巨额收入,Meta不仅解散了专门打击中国欺诈广告的团队,还放宽了对中国广告代理商的审核标准,导致欺诈广告死灰复燃。

中国:Meta最大的“欺诈广告输出国”

根据Meta内部文件,中国已成为其平台上欺诈和违规广告的最大来源地,约占全球此类广告的四分之一。2024年,Meta在中国的广告收入高达180亿美元,其中约30亿美元(19%)来自欺诈、非法赌博、色情等违规广告。这些广告的受害者遍布全球:台湾消费者购买假冒保健品,美国和加拿大的投资者被骗取毕生积蓄,甚至有欺诈团伙利用WhatsApp群组诱骗用户投资虚假股票,单起案件涉案金额高达2.14亿美元。

Meta内部员工在2024年4月的一份报告中警告:“我们需要大幅投资以减少不断增长的危害。” 然而,高层最终选择“维持现状”,容忍中国广告商的高违规率。这一决定背后,是Meta对中国市场巨额收入的依赖——中国市场占其全球总收入的11%,是其最重要的海外广告收入来源之一。

反欺诈团队的短暂胜利与突然解散

2024年上半年,Meta组建了一支专门团队,通过技术手段和加强审核,成功将中国违规广告的比例从19%降至9%。然而,这一进展在Meta CEO扎克伯格的介入后戛然而止。内部文件显示,扎克伯格在2024年底要求团队“暂停工作”,随后这支反欺诈团队被解散,Meta还解除了对中国广告代理商的新增审核限制。不到半年,违规广告比例便反弹至16%。

Meta发言人安迪·斯通(Andy Stone)在回应路透社的采访时表示,反欺诈团队本就为“临时”,扎克伯格要求“加倍努力打击全球欺诈”,但未解释为何放弃针对中国市场的专项行动。内部文件却显示,Meta明确选择“永久容忍”中国广告商的高违规率,仅追求“维持全球危害比例”,而非与其他市场“同标准”。

中国广告代理商的“灰色产业链”

Meta在中国的广告业务主要依赖11家“顶级代理商”招募广告主,这些代理商再将账户转租给二级、三级代理,形成复杂的“中间商网络”。这种模式为欺诈广告提供了庇护:广告优化专家专门研究Meta的审核漏洞,帮助欺诈广告“避开封禁”;部分代理商公开宣称能提供“80%更低的封禁风险”;而Meta的“白名单”机制则允许顶级代理商的广告即使被系统标记为违规,也会进入“二次人工审核”,期间广告仍可继续投放,为欺诈者赢得时间。

路透社记者通过实测发现,仅需30美元(以加密货币支付)即可通过二级代理商开设广告账户,并成功投放“高回报投资骗局”广告,最终吸引数十名用户点击。这些代理商中,不少是Meta官方认证的“Badged Partners”,即“值得信赖的专家”,但实际却公然为违规广告提供便利。

Meta的“选择性执法”与利益权衡

内部文件坦言,Meta“永久容忍”中国广告商的高违规率,仅追求“维持全球危害比例”,而非与其他市场“同标准”。2025年5月,Meta抽样调查发现,800个中国广告账户在一个月内投放了2800万美元违规广告,其中75%来自“受保护”的顶级代理商账户。面对员工质疑“为何不惩罚大客户”,回应是:“收入影响太大。”Meta最终仅关停了部分严重违规的小账户,但文件预测:“收入很快会卷土重来。”

Meta前产品管理高级总监Rob Leathern在接受采访时表示,如此高的违规广告比例“难以辩护”,“不知道怎么会有人觉得这可以接受”。伦敦咨询公司Propellerfish在报告中更直言不讳:Meta的政策和行为“助长了中国广告市场的系统性腐败”。

Meta与中国的“复杂关系”

2009年中国封禁Facebook后,Meta多年试图重返中国市场,甚至秘密开发过“让中国政府直接审核内容”的系统,但最终未能如愿。目前,Meta在中国的广告收入主要来自Shein、Temu等跨境电商巨头,但欺诈广告多来自中小企业。由于欺诈广告针对的是海外用户,中国监管部门“通常不干预”,这使得中国广告商在Meta平台上几乎“零风险”地开展欺诈活动。

受害者与监管压力

2025年3月,美国伊利诺伊州检方起诉7名台湾和马来西亚人,涉嫌利用Facebook和Instagram广告诱骗美国投资者购买虚假股票,造成巨额损失。此案再次将Meta推上风口浪尖。美国参议员已呼吁证券交易委员会(SEC)和联邦贸易委员会(FTC)介入调查Meta的广告欺诈问题。

Meta内部文件和实测均证明,其明知中国广告欺诈猖獗,却为保住数十亿美元收入,选择性放弃严格执法。这种“默许”不仅损害全球用户利益,更为欺诈产业链提供了庇护。在监管压力和道德质疑面前,Meta的选择暴露了科技巨头在利益与责任之间的艰难平衡。

路透社评论指出,当一家公司的商业模式依赖于“容忍欺诈”,其平台安全承诺的可信度将面临严峻考验。

确实,随着国际社会对Meta的质疑声不断升级,这家社交媒体巨头将如何平衡商业利益与用户安全,值得持续关注。

Yesterday — 16 December 2025Main stream

9.18 万元起,长城欧拉 5 放弃女性标签,魏建军:给欧拉一个机会

By: 芥末
16 December 2025 at 23:30

12 月 16 日,长城汽车旗下的欧拉品牌久违地推出全新力作欧拉 5。

新车共推出五款车型,提供 480km 与 580km 两种 CLTC 续航版本,限时售价区间为 9.18 万至 12.58 万元。

作为一款纯电动紧凑型 SUV,欧拉 5 延续了品牌标志性的「猫系」家族设计语言,但在细节上进行了更具普适性的调整,整体造型圆润流畅,兼具复古韵味与现代时尚感。

复古且时尚

欧拉 5 的车身尺寸为 4471 / 1833 / 1641mm,轴距 2720mm,与比亚迪元 PLUS、零跑 B10、吉利银河 E5 等主流竞品处于同一细分市场。

新车前脸采用封闭式格栅设计,搭配标志性的圆形大灯组,营造出灵动可爱的「萌趣」视觉效果;两侧纵向通风开口则巧妙提升了前脸的层次感。车身侧面线条流畅动感,配备 18 英寸四叶草轮毂与传统机械式门把手,整体姿态饱满而不失运动气息。

车尾部分,欧拉 5 采用了与欧拉好猫相似的「地平线」贯穿式尾灯,并集成后扰流板,进一步强化了整车的辨识度与空气动力学表现。

为满足年轻用户的个性化需求,新车提供五种鲜明车色:极光绿、塞纳灰、赛里木湖蓝、白崖白、沙洲米、林芝红,兼顾审美多样性与情绪表达。

走进车内,欧拉 5 内饰采用极简化设计语言,以「悬浮式双屏」为核心构建了整个座舱。采用 15.6 英寸中控屏与 10.25 英寸全液晶仪表组合,搭配双辐式多功能方向盘及电子怀挡,营造出清爽、现代的视觉体验。中控屏下方保留一排实体物理按键,兼顾操作便捷性与功能可靠性。

副仪表台采用上下双层设计,上层集成手机无线充电面板、杯托及储物槽,并点缀金属质感功能按键,兼顾美观与实用。

在智能体验方面,欧拉 5 搭载长城汽车全新一代智慧座舱系统——Coffee OS 3,深度融合 Coffee GPT 大模型,并接入 DeepSeek 技术,赋予系统主动思考与类人交互能力,带来更自然、更「真人感」的人车对话体验。

座舱内大量使用软性材质与皮质包裹,以提升整体质感,内饰提供晨曦白、漫午棕与星夜灰三种主题配色,其中漫午棕采用仿麂皮与软质搪塑拼接。

此外,欧拉 5 还配备了前排主副驾驶座椅电动调节,副驾座椅配备腿托;后排座椅支持 4/6 比例放倒,可与后备厢形成平整装载空间;车顶还有一块 1.65 平方米的全景天幕。

新车标配 7 个安全气囊、360 度全景影像、自适应远近光大灯、前排座椅加热/通风、方向盘加热、手机无线充电、9 扬声器音响系统、多色氛围灯及后排空调出风口,全面覆盖日常用车场景。

辅助驾驶方面,欧拉 5 配备长城 Coffee Pilot Ultra 高阶辅助驾驶系统,最高搭载 27 个感知硬件,包括 1 颗激光雷达、11 个摄像头、12 个超声波雷达和 3 个毫米波雷达,支持高速及城区领航辅助驾驶、全场景智能泊车(含跨楼层记忆泊车)等功能,覆盖用户高频出行场景。

欧拉 5 全系采用前置单电机布局,最大功率 150kW,峰值扭矩 260N·m,最高车速可达 170km/h。电池提供 45.3kWh 与 58.3kWh 两种磷酸铁锂方案,对应 CLTC 续航里程分别为 480km 和 580km。在快充模式下,电量从 30% 充至 80% 仅需 20 分钟。

值得一提的是,除当晚上市的纯电版外,欧拉 5 还将同步推出燃油版、HEV 混动版及 PHEV 插混版本,右舵车型也一并亮相,展现出品牌全球化布局的雄心。

放弃性别标签

放弃性别标签不是否定过往,而是要回归汽车产品的本质,用空间、智能、续航这些核心要素打动所有家庭用户。

过往,欧拉在大众认知当中是一个更偏女性化的车型,过往欧拉无论是从产品内外观设计,还是营销方式,都相当女性风格。

过去几年,欧拉在公众认知中始终带有鲜明的「女性化」标签。从 2018 年成立之初凭借黑猫、白猫等 A0 级小车精准切入女性市场,到 2021 年销量突破 13.5 万辆、女性用户占比超 70%,欧拉一度高调宣称要「all in 女性用户」,立志成为「全球最爱女人的汽车品牌」。2023 年,品牌甚至再次重申「更爱女性」的决心。

然而现实并不如预期。随着原材料成本上涨,走量车型黑猫、白猫陷入「卖一辆亏一辆」的困境,最终于 2022 年无奈停产。随后推出的芭蕾猫、闪电猫等中高端车型,虽试图拓展用户圈层、实现「男女通吃」,却因定位小众、市场竞争激烈而销量低迷。

停售主力车型后,欧拉近两年几乎未有全新产品迭代,仅靠现有车型的小改款维持存在感,产品力逐渐落后于快速进化的竞品阵营。

但从今年 6 月开始,欧拉品牌将开始告别过去的单一女性标签,转而面向更大众的市场,追求「更趋独特、强调技术、更硬核」的品牌形象。

欧拉 5 正是这一战略转型下的关键落子。新车不仅在命名上摒弃了以往的「猫系」风格,转而采用更通用、更具传播力的「品牌+数字」方式,也在产品定义上全面向主流家用需求靠拢。

在目前同质化严重的市场中,欧拉本身年轻与复古的品牌调性并不多见,淡化女性标签后,依托自身过硬的产品力、价格以及长城成熟的渠道和体系,欧拉 5 相当有成为爆款的潜质。

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Ukraine struggling to keep lights on under Russian attack, says energy boss

16 December 2025 at 20:54
YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP Employees stand next to the building of a power plant of Ukrainian energy provider DTEK, which was heavily damaged during air attacks, at an undisclosed location on December 10, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of UkraineYURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP
Across Ukraine electricity is being rationed – with supplies turned on for a few hours each day

Ukraine's biggest energy provider is living in permanent crisis mode because of Russian attacks on the grid, its chief executive has told the BBC.

Most of Ukraine is suffering from lengthy power cuts as temperatures drop and Maxim Timchenko, whose company DTEK provides power for 5.6 million Ukrainians, says the intensity of strikes has been so frequent "we just don't have time to recover".

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Russia knew the winter cold could become one of its most dangerous weapons.

"Every night Ukrainian parents hold their children in basements and shelters hoping our air defence will hold," he told the Dutch parliament.

As the fourth anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion approaches, Maxim Timchenko says Russia has repeatedly targeted DTEK's energy grid with "waves of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles" and his company has found it difficult to cope.

Tens of thousands of people in the southern city of Odesa have been without electricity for three days this week, following a co-ordinated Russian attack.

Reuters Odesa at dusk during a power outage on SundayReuters
Much of Odesa has been without power in recent days

"Life has been difficult, but people are very supportive of each other," says Yana, who is among those lucky enough still to have power. She has invited friends to her home to charge their phones.

Power outages also cut off heat and water supplies and Yana says those still connected to the grid have offered strangers the chance to wash or take a shower.

Across Ukraine electricity is being rationed – with supplies turned on for a few hours each day.

Many Ukrainians rely on power banks and generators as a back-up, and the sound of generators in the capital is now more constant than the air raid warnings.

Kyiv resident Tetiana says the first thing she does in the morning is to check her phone to find out the daily schedule for when her power will be switched on. Like many she has invested in power banks to make life more bearable:

"You need to remember when you leave home to leave the powerbanks on so that you have them charged when you get back home."

Shutterstock A local woman speaks by phone with a reading lamp connected to a power bank, during a blackout.Shutterstock
Many Ukrainians rely on powerbanks and generators during regular power cuts

About 50% of Ukraine's energy is currently supplied by three large nuclear power plants in central and western Ukraine. But the network that transfers that power has been severely damaged.

DTEK runs about 10 power stations, most of them fuelled by coal.

One was recently targeted by five 5 ballistic missiles and Mr Timchenko said some of their power plants and sub stations had been attacked "every three or four days".

"I don't remember a single day when I had no reports about some damage to our grid."

Matthew Goddard/BBC A man sits in a blue jacket in a darkened classroomMatthew Goddard/BBC
DTEK chief executive Maxim Timchenko says his company has found it hard to cope

Finding spare parts to repair damaged equipment has become a significant challenge.

The energy provider used to be able to source equipment from within Ukraine, but now it has to scour the ret of Europe for replacement parts.

This year DTEK has had to spend $166m (£123m) on repairing its damaged thermal power plants and coal facilities.

"We will not give up," Maxim Timchenko insists: "We have a responsibility to millions of mothers to have power and heat".

DTEK's origins are in the Donbas in Eastern Ukraine where the fighting is fiercest and where power supplies have been disrupted the most.

Eight of its engineers have been killed doing their job.

"Every day they risk their lives to keep power in this area," Mr Timchenko said.

Additional reporting by Anastasia Levchenko and Kyla Herrmannsen.

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