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© Eric Lee for The New York Times
美国国务卿鲁比奥周五(12月19日）表示，美国不会将任何和平协议强加于乌克兰。与此同时，围绕结束俄乌战争的新一轮谈判将于周六在美国迈阿密举行，乌克兰代表及法国、英国、德国等欧洲国家将首次直接参与磋商，引起高度关注。
鲁比奥周五在华盛顿举行的年终记者会上强调，任何协议都必须由冲突双方自行作出决定。“最终，是否达成协议取决于当事方本身。我们无法强迫乌克兰达成协议，也无法强迫俄罗斯达成协议，”他说。
鲁比奥表示，美方当前的工作重点，是明确哪些条件对乌克兰可以接受、哪些条件对俄罗斯可以接受，并尝试缩小双方分歧，以推动达成某种形式的协议。他称，相关谈判已取得一定进展，但仍需继续努力。
鲁比奥表示，他本人不排除在周六加入在佛罗里达州举行的相关磋商。
美方特使史蒂夫·威特科夫以及美国总统的女婿贾里德·库什纳，预计将在迈阿密附近会见乌克兰谈判代表乌梅罗夫，以及来自法国、英国和德国的代表。
乌克兰谈判代表乌梅罗夫在社交平台X上表示，将与美方启动新一轮磋商，并应美方邀请，欧洲伙伴也将参与这一谈判框架。他补充说，乌克兰代表团“抱着建设性的态度”参与会谈。
欧洲首次直接参与
法新社指出，与此前几周在日内瓦、迈阿密和柏林举行的美乌双边会谈不同，欧洲国家此次将首次直接参与相关磋商。
一名白宫官员透露，美方还计划于本周末在佛罗里达州与俄罗斯代表团分别会晤。据《政治报》（Politico）网站报道，俄方代表包括克里姆林宫负责经济事务的特使德米特里耶夫。
法新社指出，旨在结束这场将于明年2月进入第五年的俄乌战争的外交努力，近几周明显加速。这一进程是在特朗普政府公布一项和平方案后推进的，但截至目前，相关谈判仍未促成停火。
与此同时，美国总统特朗普加大了对谈判进程的施压，敦促乌克兰方面“尽快行动”，希望尽早在结束冲突的问题上取得突破。
华尔街日报（WSJ）周五(12月19日）报导，美国总统特朗普本周批准一项美国迄今规模最大的对台军售计划，以此回应亚洲各界对美国是否会放任中国在区域内不断扩张军事行动的疑虑。而中国国防部周五表示，"中国军队将加强训练，并采取“有力措施”，以维护国家主权和领土完整。
中央社援引华尔街日报报道，这笔总额超过111亿美元的军售案包含海马斯远程精准打击系统和自走砲武器，旨在强化台湾遭遇中国进攻时拖延对方行动的能力。此举除了在美国赢得掌声，某种程度也减轻外界对特朗普立场的疑虑。
共和党籍的联邦众议院美国与中国战略竞争特别委员会主席穆勒纳尔（John Moolenaar）称这笔军售案是"杰出的举措"。
军售案宣布后，该委员会发布报告示警称，北京正利用外界对美国对台支持的疑虑，加强对台军事挑衅。该报告呼吁，美国在反对中共对台敌对行为上，必须保持"明确、清晰且一致"的立场。
报道称，数十年来美国对台湾议题采"战略模糊"政策，使各界猜不透美国是否会直接介入冲突，同时阻止台湾寻求彻底独立，以免引发台海冲突。白宫12月公布2025年"国家安全战略"（National Security Strategy, NSS）报告，重申美方反对片面改变台海现状此一长期政策，但使用"不支持"改变的措辞，较拜登时期的"反对"略有软化。
台湾国防部对这次军售案表达"诚挚感谢"；总统赖清德近来表示台美关系"坚如磐石"。
另据路透社报道，中国国防部周五(12月19日）表示，针对美国计划向台湾出售总额约111亿美元的武器装备，中国军队将加强训练，并采取“有力措施”，以维护国家主权和领土完整。
中国国防部指出，这是美国迄今对台规模最大的一揽子军售计划。路透社称，北京方面始终将台湾视为中国领土的一部分，近来中国已持续加大在军事和政治层面对台施压。
国防部表示，中方已就此向美方提出“严正交涉”，并敦促美国立即停止对台军售，恪守不支持“台独势力”的承诺。
中国国防部并称，美国一再“背信弃义”，纵容和支持“台独”，最终“必将引火烧身”。
美国总统特朗普周五(12月19日）表示，他不排除对委内瑞拉开战的可能性。目前美国加大对委内瑞拉施压、并对其石油出口实施封锁。美国国务卿鲁比奥称，没有任何力量能够阻止美国对委内瑞拉实施石油封锁。
法新社报道，特朗普在美国全国广播公司（NBC）周五播出的一次电话采访中回答记者提问时说：“不，我不排除这种可能性。”该采访录制于前一天。
特朗普指责委内瑞拉总统马杜罗领导一个毒品走私网络，委内瑞拉方面对此予以否认。特朗普称，马杜罗“非常清楚我想要什么”，但拒绝说明美国是否以推翻其政权为目标。
本周早些时候，特朗普宣布，对往返委内瑞拉、且处于制裁名单上的油轮实施“全面封锁”。他还表示，在上周查扣一艘装载委内瑞拉原油的油轮之后，美方将继续采取类似行动，进一步加强对委内瑞拉的施压。
自今年夏天以来，美国已在加勒比地区加强军事部署，并在加勒比海和太平洋地区对涉嫌参与毒品走私的船只发动多次打击行动。自相关行动开始以来，至少已有104人在空袭中丧生，但美方并未公布证据，证明被打击船只确实从事毒品走私活动。
鲁比奥: 无人能阻止美国对委内瑞拉实施石油封锁
与此同时，美国国务卿鲁比奥周五表示，没有任何力量能够阻止美国对委内瑞拉实施石油封锁。
鲁比奥在新闻发布会上表示，美国将坚决执行本国制裁法律。他所指的是特朗普本周宣布的、针对委内瑞拉受制裁油轮实施的海上封锁措施。鲁比奥强调，美国将继续推进相关行动，确保石油封锁得到落实。
鲁比奥称，美国无法接受与马杜罗政府维持现状，并表示并不担忧俄罗斯对委内瑞拉提供的支持。
法国政府周五(12月19日）晚间宣布，将就巴黎司法法院当天作出的裁定提起上诉。该裁定驳回了法国政府提出的紧急请求，即要求暂时封锁中国快时尚平台希音（Shein）在法国的运营。法院认为，在相关非法商品已被平台主动下架并停止销售的情况下，要求对希音实施全面封锁的措施，超出了应对相关风险所必需的范围，因而不符合比例原则。除民事裁定外，巴黎检察院已就此案启动刑事调查，并将案件交由未成年人事务办公室负责。希音司法风波远未结束。
法新社报道，法国政府在周五晚间发布的声明中强调，法院没有采纳国家方面提出的采取预防性措施的要求，即避免“具有儿童外貌的色情娃娃、A类武器以及非法药品”再次在该平台上架销售。
声明指出：“鉴于希音商业模式所带来的系统性风险，并应法国总理的要求，政府将在未来数日内对该判决提起上诉。”
此前，法国政府至少要求维持希音第三方商家平台（marketplace）继续暂停运营，但该请求同样未获法院支持。
法院认可风险，但认为违规属“个别情况”
调查显示，希音平台曾出现外观类似未成年女孩的性玩偶、A类管制武器以及被禁止销售的药品。针对希音平台行为，法国政府要求采取强制性措施——全面封锁该平台，并在恢复运营前施加严格条件。
巴黎司法法院在裁决中承认，这些商品的存在构成了对公共秩序、未成年人保护以及潜在消费者和第三方健康与安全的严重损害。但法院认为，这类违规销售行为属于“个别事件”，并指出平台在监管部门通报后，已将相关商品下架。
不过，法院仍向希音下达“司法禁令”，要求其在未建立有效年龄核验机制之前，不得重新销售任何可能构成色情内容的性用品。
法院称希音反应“迅速而严格”
法院在裁决中指出，在此次司法程序中，仅发现希音第三方平台上的“少数商品”明显违法，而该平台同时在售商品多达数十万件。
法官表示，未发现这些违禁商品存在“反复、大规模”上架的情况，并对希音在10月底接到通报后采取的“严格而迅速”整改措施予以肯定。
希音由中国创立，总部设在新加坡。该集团此前已自行全面关闭其法国第三方商家平台。自11月5日起，希音在法国仅销售其自营的低价服装系列，这些产品主要在中国生产，且以合成材料为主。集团称，此举是为进行一次“全面审计”，以修补平台存在的“漏洞”。
接近案件的消息人士表示，第三方平台不会立即恢复，而将逐步重启。目前内部审计仍在进行，初期仅允许通过内部审查的欧洲及法国卖家重新入驻。
年龄过滤机制成核心争议
在12月5日的庭审中，希音律师承认，平台在为色情类商品建立有效年龄过滤系统方面存在技术困难。受法国事件影响，希音已在全球范围内关闭成人性用品类别。
希音方面曾在庭审中指称平台遭遇“政治和媒体围攻”。在法院裁决公布后，该公司向法新社发表声明，对判决表示欢迎，并称将继续与法国当局合作，强化内部监管流程，“以达到行业内最严格的标准之一”。
法国政府此前要求，在希音无法保证有效防止类似违禁商品再次上架之前，应继续暂停其运营，并要求建立严格的未成年人访问过滤机制，相关监管应由法国数字监管机构Arcom负责。
法院仅就成人内容的年龄过滤问题采纳了政府部分诉求，理由是为避免对未成年人造成“严重后果”。
刑事调查仍在进行
除民事裁定外，希音还面临刑事层面的调查。巴黎检察院已就此案立案，并将调查交由未成年人事务办公室负责。该机构同时也在调查AliExpress、Temu、Wish以及eBay等多个电商平台。
Getty ImagesBest-selling children's author and comedian David Walliams has been dropped by his publisher HarperCollins, the company has said.
A spokesman for the publisher said: "After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams."
The Telegraph reported that the decision was made after an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women.
HarperCollins did not confirm the reasons for its decision, adding: "We do not comment on internal matters." Walliams has not yet responded to the decision or the Telegraph report.
Walliams is one of the UK's most successful children's authors, having sold more than 60 million copies worldwide in 55 languages.
Some of his books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have also been adapted into television films.
He rose to fame on TV sketch series Little Britain and has also won National Television Awards for his work as a judge on Britain's Got Talent.
He was made an OBE in 2017 his services to charity and the arts.
Official Charts CompanyKylie Minogue has scored this year's Christmas number one, deposing Wham!'s Last Christmas, which topped the chart in 2023 and 2024.
The pop star achieved the feat with her single XMAS, an irrepressibly jaunty anthem about "the presents underneath the tree" and kissing someone special "out in the snow".
Arriving 37 years after her first UK number one hit, I Should Be So Lucky in 1988, it makes Kylie the first female artist to top the charts in four different decades.
"It's hard to put into words how special this feels," said the singer, adding that she'd be celebrating Christmas by "obsessing over a jigsaw" with her family in Australia.
Getty ImagesXMAS is taken from a new, expanded edition of her 2015 album Kylie Christmas, and was available exclusively through Amazon.
You could argue that gave her a slight advantage because XMAS was prominently positioned on Amazon Music's Christmas playlist. But it also meant her song was unavailable on rival streaming sites like Spotify and Apple Music.
But the combination of her plays on Amazon and YouTube, and the availability of limited edition vinyl and CD singles, ultimately gave her the Christmas crown.
"Kylie really, really targeted this particular race. Her record label pulled out all the stops," said Martin Talbot, head of the Official Charts Company.
"When you have a superstar of her status really going for it, she's always going to be in with a chance."
According to chart data, Kylie's Christmas charm offensive gave the star her biggest sales week in 23 years, since 2002's Love At First Sight.
Despite that, Talbot said the competition for this year's Christmas number one was "tight right the way through the week".
At one point, only 10,000 copies separated the top five songs.
Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee were also in contention for the top spot as people pumped Christmas classics into their playlists.
It wasn't Kylie's first attempt to scale the festive summit.
Her duet with Jason Donovan, Especially For You, was a major contender for Christmas number one in 1988, but ultimately took the runners-up position behind Cliff Richard's Mistletoe and Wine.
Despite finally triumphing in the seasonal chart, she said she was planning a quiet Christmas after completing her massive, 66-date Tension World Tour.
That means settling down to watch the Boxing Day cricket Test match between Australia and England while chipping away at a jigsaw.
"We're not long-term puzzlers, but somehow a jigsaw puzzle was on the end of the dining table in the family house last Christmas," she explained.
"So all Christmas, you'd float past and, if someone else was working on it, you'd be like, 'Is now the right time? Are we on the same page? Should we work on separate zones?'
"But as time went by, we were getting nowhere. There were all these trouble zones - a bit of blue sky and a big patch of grass - and nobody could get them. No-one.
"Then, maybe about a month ago, my brother sent me a video of the moment the last piece of the puzzle went in.
"I was like, 'Oh my God! Hallelujah that he happened to be filming!'
"So this year, I know there's a new jigsaw puzzle with a $1 sticker on the box from our local op shop [charity shop]. It's another 1,000-piecer and we'll start all over."
Getty ImagesWham! had been hoping to become the first act to top the Christmas chart three times with the same song.
Last Christmas was famously denied the top spot when it was first released in 1984, due to the phenomenal success of Band Aid's charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?
It finally reached the summit in 2023, thanks to a wave of goodwill and strong streaming numbers. It topped the chart again last year with a massive 12.6 million streams in Christmas week alone.
Although Wham! were beaten by Kylie in the UK, Last Christmas has just topped Billboard's global 200 for the first time - meaning it's the number one song in the world.
BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders, who presents the UK chart show, attributed the song's enduring popularity to its message.
"It's a fantastic pop song," he said, "but it also captures the true heart and soul of what Christmas means to people. It's family coming together, it's reigniting friendships, it's community.
"When you hear Wham! on the radio, you think, oh yeah we are all in this together, this is our song."
Other songs in the running for this year's Christmas number one included Together For Palestine's charity single, Lullaby, which is raising funds for aid for people in Gaza.
Based on the traditional Palestinian folk song Yamma Mwel El Hawa (Mama, Sing to the Wind), it features new lyrics by Peter Gabriel and was recorded by a group of Palestinian artists alongside British stars like Neneh Cherry, Celeste and Dan from Bastille.
"To me, the Lullaby will always be number one," said Nai Barghouti, who features on the track.
"I am beyond proud of and humbled by the overwhelming support that we have received globally. Thank you to each and every one of you."
Getty ImagesBritain's roads, railways and airports are set to be thronged by festive travellers on what is is anticipated to be the busiest day for Christmas trips.
The AA has warned of gridlock on Friday as 24.4 million cars are expected to hit the roads.
It is also expected to be the busiest day of the Christmas period for airports, with 460,000 journeys planned.
Network Rail has also advised travellers to check their journeys and book a seat if possible.
The AA said this Christmas could be the busiest on record for UK roads, and advised drivers to allow extra time to complete their journeys.
The insurance company said most people driving during the festive period travelled less than 100 miles, meaning congestion is likely around motorway interchanges and retail destinations.
AA patrol expert Shaun Jones said patience behind the wheel "will be your best present this year".
"Plan ahead, check your route, and allow extra time," he said.
Network Rail also encouraged passengers to allow extra time for train travel. Improvement works taking place over the Christmas period mean several routes will be closed or restricted.
Information on what routes will be closed for repairs can be found on the Network Rail website.
National Rail trains do not run on Christmas Day and only a small number will run on Boxing Day.
Daniel Mann, Director of Industry Operations at the Rail Delivery Group, said: "We encourage customers to reserve seats where possible, bring only luggage that is easy to carry and fits in designated storage areas, and allow extra time for their journeys."
Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the festive season for airports, but the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said flying on Christmas Day was becoming more popular.
It advised customers to know their rights in case their flight is cancelled or delayed.
If this happens, airlines are required to support passengers. This can include:
If your flight is cancelled, and it is covered by UK law, your airline must let you choose between either getting a refund or being booked on to an alternative flight.
You can check if your flight is covered under UK law here.
The CAA also said that travellers can minimise their risk of delays by ensuring their cases are packed correctly.
This includes leaving presents unwrapped as they may need to be inspected.
EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockTourists in Italy's capital Rome will soon have to pay a €2 (£1.75; $2.34) entrance fee if they want to see its famed Trevi Fountain up close.
The new barrier for visitors to view the Baroque monument will come into force from 1 February 2026.
While the coins tossed into the fountain are donated to charity, the fees collected will go to the city authority to pay for upkeep and managing visitors. The city expects to raise €6.5m a year from the fountain alone.
Announcing the move on Friday, Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri was quote by news agency Reuters as saying that "two euros isn't very much ... and it will lead to less chaotic tourist flows".
The Trevi levy is part of a new tariff system for certain museums and monuments in the Italian capital.
Access to a number of sites that currently charge for entry will become free for Rome's residents, such as the Sacred Area of Largo Argentina.
At the same time, tourists and non-residents will have to pay to see the Trevi fountain and five other attractions including the Napoleonic Museum.
Children under the age of five, and those with disabilities and an accompanying person, will be exempt from the fees.
Tourists will still be able to view the Trevi Fountain - built by Italian architect Nicola Salvi in the 18th Century - for free from a distance.
The site currently sees an average of 30,000 visitors per day, according to the City of Rome.
Following restoration work which took place last year, Gualtieri introduced a queuing system to prevent large crowds massing around the landmark.
Access is capped at 400 people at the same time.
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ALBANY, New York — Rep. Elise Stefanik is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek reelection to her upstate House seat, she announced Friday.
“I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming support from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all across the state for our campaign to Save New York,” she wrote in a social media post.
“However, as we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York.”
Stefanik entered the race to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in November — months after President Donald Trump cleared the field by endorsing moderate GOP Rep. Mike Lawler’s reelection in his swing House seat.
But her bid became complicated this month by the entrance of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman into the race for governor. Both Stefanik and Blakeman are Trump allies and the president has publicly praised both candidates as “great.” Blakeman’s campaign on Thursday announced it would begin airing ads during the week of Christmas in West Palm Beach — the location of the president’s Florida residence.
The party establishment quickly started to rally behind Blakeman following Stefanik’s announcement.
"Bruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our State Committee and party leaders to join me,” state GOP Chair Ed Cox said in a statement. “Bruce is a fighter who has proven he knows how to win in difficult political terrain. As County Executive, he cut taxes, fought against radical leftwing social policies and made Nassau County the safest county in America.”
Long considered a rising star among New York Republicans, Stefanik was first elected a decade ago to a rural House district that borders Canada. Initially a Republican in the mold of former House Speaker Paul Ryan, Stefanik became a vocal Trump supporter and rose to prominence during his first impeachment as an ardent defender.
That Trump support initially appeared to pay off when he returned to the White House.
Stefanik was previously nominated by Trump to become United Nations ambassador. That nomination was yanked earlier this year amid concerns over House Republicans’ narrow majority. The 41-year-old Republican then turned her attention to the New York governor’s office — a seat her party has not held since George Pataki was elected three times.
The race was immediately an uphill battle for Stefanik, who hammered Hochul repeatedly as the “worst governor in America” and signaled she would link her to incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Early polling, though, showed her to be in a challenging race to win in a deep blue state. A Siena University survey this month found Hochul holding a 19-point advantage over the GOP challenger.
Another indication of trouble came as Trump embraced Mamdani during an Oval Office meeting — undercutting a core message of her campaign. Blakeman’s bid called into question whether she would be forced to spend time and resources on a costly primary against a Republican who represents a suburban bellwether.
Stefanik had been scheduled to be the featured guest at the Oneida County GOP’s holiday dinner Friday night. But she canceled, citing business in Washington — despite the fact the House has adjourned for the year.
The departure leaves Blakeman as the only candidate in the GOP field as the party seeks to end what will be a 24-year drought in statewide contests in 2026.
He’s little known outside of Long Island — the recent Siena poll found 59 percent of Republicans didn’t know or have an opinion of him. And while he’s started to tour upstate in an effort to build bridges, he’s made few inroads in the vote-rich corner of northern New York where Stefanik has been building her base for a decade.
Blakeman has based his candidacy on support for law enforcement and his electability — he comfortably won reelection in purple Nassau County last month despite a strong night for Democrats practically everywhere else in the state.
Stefanik in recent days lambasted House Speaker Mike Johnson in a remarkable and public outburst, after months of simmering tension between the two. She accused Johnson of failing to lead the House GOP conference and argued at that point he didn’t have the support to win the speakership again.
Many Republicans in Johnson's leadership circle are “not sad to see her go,” one senior Republican aide said.
Hochul’s campaign took a victory lap after the news.
“Elise Stefanik has finally acknowledged reality: If you run against Governor Kathy Hochul, you are going to lose,” Hochul spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said. “As Donald Trump raises costs on New Yorkers and targets this state relentlessly, Governor Hochul has cut middle-class taxes, put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, and fought this administration and won when New York has come under attack.”
Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
© Francis Chung/POLITICO
鉴于布朗大学（Brown University）校园枪击案嫌犯身份证实为通过“绿卡乐透”入境的移民，美国总统特朗普（Donald Trump）18日发布行政命令，宣布无期限暂停“绿卡乐透抽签计划”（Diversity Visa Lottery，简称DV1）。国土安全部随即启动相关程序，将这起造成2名学生死亡、9人受伤的惨剧，归咎于现行移民审查制度的灾难性漏洞。
这项政策转向的直接导火线，源于枪击案嫌犯、48岁葡萄牙籍男子瓦伦特（Claudio Neves Valente）的移民背景。国土安全部长诺姆（Kristi Noem）于社群平台X证实，瓦伦特是在2017年通过绿卡乐透计划进入美国并取得绿卡。
诺姆在声明中严厉批评：“这名令人发指的人，本来就不该被允许进入我们的国家。在特朗普总统的指示下，我立即要求美国公民及移民服务局（USCIS）暂停DV1计划，以确保不再有美国人受到这项灾难性计划的伤害。”
瓦伦特在经历多州大规模搜捕后，于18日晚间被发现陈尸于新罕布夏州塞勒姆（Salem）一处租用的储物设施内，死因判定为自戕。警方在现场发现了两把枪枝与相关证物，相信他除了须对13日的布朗大学枪击案负责外，还涉及15日麻省理工学院（MIT）教授罗瑞洛（Nuno F. G. Loureiro）在其住处遭杀害的命案。调查发现，嫌犯与罗瑞洛教授曾在1990年代末于葡萄牙同校就读。
“绿卡乐透”这项始于1990年代的联邦法定计划，目的是增加美国移民组成比例。计划每年通过随机抽签，向移民率较低国家的公民发放约5万张绿卡。由于申请门槛仅要求高中学历或两年工作经验，特朗普政府长期质疑该计划缺乏择优录取（merit-based）机制，且存在严重的国家安全风险。
不过，绿卡乐透具有一定的时间限制，当年度的“中奖名额”须在9月底前完成发放，只要超过期限立即失效。美国移民律师陈威宇在脸书上表示：“行政机关即使不明文宣布‘取消乐透绿卡’，只要通过拖延审理，就可能在实质上让申请失去作用。”
此次暂停令将冲击全球数千万名申请者。符合申请资格包括法国、台湾、澳门、澳大利亚及新西兰等大部分国家或地区的公民，全球平均中奖率只有1%至2%，可以说是微乎其微。而过去5年移民人数已超过5万名的国家则被排除在外，包括中国、印度、韩国、巴西、越南及英国（除北爱尔兰）。
由于中国公民不具备申请资格，因此在知名留学论坛一亩三分地上，网民多关注是否项目暂停之后，能够加快其他绿卡种类申请者的审查速度，但也有人坦言“唇亡齿寒”，担心下一个被美国政府开刀的就是自己。
特朗普对该计划的批评由来已久。诺姆指出，总统在2017年纽约市货车恐袭案后就曾致力于废除此计划，当时杀害8人的乌兹别克籍恐怖分子萨伊波夫（Sayfullo Saipov）同样是通过抽签取得绿卡。国务院发言人亦同步发声，强调正与国土安全部密切合作，采取必要措施“保护美国免受威胁”。
然而，由于绿卡抽签制度是经由国会立法创立，总统是否具备单方面终止计划的法律权限，几乎可以确定会引发法律挑战。支持者认为，所有中奖者在入境前均须通过严格的身份审核与面试，不应因个别极端案例而废除整个制度。
罗德岛州检察长内隆哈（Peter Neronha）在证实嫌犯死讯时坦言，虽然查出了嫌犯的移民路径，但其犯案动机仍是个谜，无法解释为何这名曾在2000年短暂就读布朗大学的退学生，会在多年后发动袭击。这场导致两名学生丧命的悲剧，已正式演变为美国移民政策的激烈攻防战。
© Kirsten Luce for The New York Times
© G. Paul Burnett/Associated Press
© Luis Antonio Rojas for The New York Times
© Piotr Krzeslak/Shutterstock
换鞋时，崔丽丽停顿了一下。
那是一双几年前买的黑色皮鞋，平底，她曾穿着它在不同城市之间奔波，出差、谈项目、赶航班。但这天，脚伸进去时，她感到脚趾被顶住，像一双新鞋。她感慨，长时间待在家里，鞋都变得不合脚了。
崔丽丽在安定医院等待就诊
过去十几年，崔丽丽几乎一半时间在路上。她曾是一家汽车零部件公司的销售总监，年薪百万。2023年，公司老板王某在出差途中强奸了崔丽丽。虽然对方获刑4年，崔丽丽却被解除劳动合同，患上创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）。职场性侵，夺走了她的工作、日常生活，也摧毁了她最基本的安全感。
但她选择抗争，走进人社局申请工伤认定。2025年8月，天津津南区人民法院判决生效，崔丽丽成为国内首位因职场性侵获工伤认定的当事人。
此前视频
崔丽丽的《认定工伤决定书》
但代价并未结束。9月23日，她穿着案发当日的衬衫出庭，与公司对簿公堂。随之而来的，是持续一个多月的网暴。一天夜里，崔丽丽吞下了6片劳拉西泮片。第二天清晨，丈夫老魏（化名）守在床前，红着眼睛对她说：“你要是死了，他们只会高兴，然后迅速把你忘记。”
风暴之中，这一家人比以往更加紧密地依靠着彼此。
拿到《认定工伤决定书》，崔丽丽的诉讼并未结束。2025年3月24日，津南区劳动人事争议仲裁委员会裁决天津德科智控股份有限公司（下文简称德科智控公司）继续履行劳动合同，并支付停工留薪期工资、加班费等共计113万余元。该公司不服裁决，提起诉讼。
2025年9月23日，崔丽丽与公司的劳动纠纷案首次开庭。她身着案发当天的衬衫出庭。她说，穿这件衬衫，是想直面创伤，同时表达“女性遭受侵犯与穿着无关”。这件衬衫不仅是“血衣”，更是“战袍”。她穿着“战袍”走进法庭的画面，引起广泛关注。
一周后，一段她自拍视频被广泛流传。视频中，崔丽丽愤怒地说：“‘最大最贪的女人’？轮得着你来给我封号吗？事发多久报案，那是老娘的权利……老娘要的是2000万加法办！”
这段视频源于一个月之前她对一条恶意留言的回怼。她解释，王某被捕后，检方向她征询是否出具谅解书，她提出了“2000万加法办”，用一个对方难以承担的金额，强调王某必须受刑事处罚。
但这条视频在一个月之后发酵了。她打开社交媒体，发现评论区已不堪入目。有人质疑她若真患PTSD，不可能穿着案发时的衬衫出庭。有网民称夫妻俩“做局陷害”王某。有人P出她与王某的“合照”，有人把老魏P成“绿帽”。私信中充斥着辱骂和脏话。
回忆起网暴最猛烈的那几天，老魏用了“煎熬”两个字，一上网，恶意就会袭来：“每天都有人拿你做文章，满嘴胡说八道。”现实中，夫妻俩一直在接亲友的电话，他们中有的因网络热议才得知崔丽丽的遭遇。国庆节到了，他们原本打算带女儿回老家，现在只能取消行程。
崔丽丽社交平台上私信收到的辱骂
一天晚上，崔丽丽吞了6片劳拉西泮片。早晨，察觉不对劲的老魏跑上楼，来到妻子床前。他红着眼睛对妻子说：“你要是死了，他们只会高兴，然后迅速把你忘记。”
崔丽丽最了解这个和她相伴了二十多年的男人。老魏是支撑她活下去的力量，是她生活、精神的拐杖。“哪怕我们离婚了，他也是我最亲的亲人。他为我付出这么多，见证了我人生中最好的年华。如果我死了，他该有多难过？”
时间回到2023年9月27日。性侵案发后的第四天，老魏接到崔丽丽的视频电话。屏幕对面，她声音微弱：“我好像被欺负了。”震惊之余，老魏有点生气：“什么叫‘好像’？有没有被欺负，你自己不知道吗？”崔丽丽眼泪“刷”地流下来，她什么都想不起来。
老魏气在不理解：她为什么不立即报警？为什么还忙着工作？后来他逐渐明白了妻子的处境：她受到打击，想不起来发生了什么。而且，她要顾虑很多事：家庭怎么办？工作怎么办？二十多年来的打拼，是不是就要毁于一旦？
老魏恨“死”了王某。他不明白，“都这个年纪的人了，为什么还会做出这种犯罪的事？”哪怕王某被判死刑，怎么弥补得了他对崔丽丽、对这个家庭、对老魏本人经年累月的伤害？
因为王某，那个他最熟悉的、总是充满干劲的妻子不见了。崔丽丽的快乐就是老魏和女儿的快乐。但现在，这份快乐消失了。
崔丽丽的《诊断证明书》
评论区，一群网民嚷着“离婚”。老魏觉得不可理喻：“她是我的家人，我的爱人。为什么她遭受了暴力伤害，我就要抛弃她？”
老魏在社交账号公开的6条视频，发布的都是支持妻子的内容。但如今，评论区已经很难找到一条友善的留言。“绿帽男”“钱到手就离婚”……
他分明是受害者，在他们口中却像是犯了错的人。老魏决定诉诸法律：“要让他们戴手铐，上法庭！”每天送完孩子，他就钻进书房收集证据，存满了一部256G的手机。为了取证，老魏一遍遍看，一遍遍听。他起初怒不可遏，后来只觉得可笑可悲：“无论留言，还是视频文案，都是复制粘贴的，连标点符号都一样。”
网暴像个无底洞，两个多月来，老魏都在处理这件事。“他见不得我被别人欺负，比我还要维护我自己。”老魏很少表露自己的感受，崔丽丽担心他心中愤怒却无处发泄。去医院时，崔丽丽问丈夫要不要也做个心理咨询？老魏摆摆手：“不要。”
10月底的一天，远方好友来探望崔丽丽，夫妻俩请她在小区附近吃饭。回家路上，一名路人男子问崔丽丽：“你就是那个网红吗？”崔丽丽说：“你认错人了。”
9月23日劳动纠纷案一审首次开庭后，由于当时崔丽丽的劳动能力鉴定结果未出，一审中止，待有鉴定结果后再行审理。
崔丽丽失去工作，老魏也暂停了生意，专心照顾妻子和女儿。等待开庭的日子里，时间仿佛凝滞。老魏外出总掐着表，不敢离家太久，生怕妻子发生意外。
睡眠仍是一件奢侈的事。崔丽丽排斥肢体接触，两年来一直与老魏分房而睡。她晚上十点左右上床，凌晨三四点被噩梦惊醒。若哪天能睡到清晨五点，她会觉得庆幸。
白天大部分时间，她独自待在阁楼书房里，反复翻阅厚厚的案卷。
崔丽丽在阁楼书房“安全屋”中
没有老魏陪伴，她几乎无法出门。她不敢开车，不敢乘坐公交或地铁，无法住酒店，酒店长长的走廊令她恐惧。一次媒体采访结束后，远远看见一名光头男子，她瞬间僵在原地，颤抖着哭了起来——那张脸让她想起施暴者。
崔丽丽从小性格要强。高中复读了两次，父亲劝她不要放弃，否则将来只能指望结婚生子。父亲认为，一个女孩不该被早早限定人生轨迹，她应该考个好大学，去更大的城市，为社会作贡献。
崔丽丽大学读小语种，兼职翻译，毕业后做了销售。这个岗位拼经验、拼体力。崔丽丽不怕苦，跑市场、进工厂，逐步打拼到公司高层。她热爱这样的生活。
崔丽丽的高中同学回忆，她是班里发展最好的同学之一。节假日也闲不住，组织同学聚会、带孩子郊游。案发后，崔丽丽变得沉默，朋友们的邀约也婉拒了。
崔丽丽在工作中获得的奖状
崔丽丽怀疑自己成了一个“没用的人”。每次出门，她都会发现城市在悄然变化：小区的树叶掉光了，街角开了新店。看到服务员、环卫工，她羡慕——她们都在工作，发挥价值。
老魏看在眼里，急在心里。他鼓励崔丽丽尝试新工作、出门旅行，提议养只小狗，遛狗也能出门散散步。但崔丽丽拒绝了。心理医生告诉老魏，不要勉强，只能等待“自然发生”。
老魏承担了大部分家务，像照顾孩子一样照顾妻子。崔丽丽一度味觉迟钝，想吃辣，老魏就陪她去吃湘菜；她说剁椒鱼头好吃，他便每周都带她去吃，一连吃了三个月。天气转凉，崔丽丽想喝冰杨梅汁，老魏担心对身体不好，不让她喝。
一次，崔丽丽看到路边的施工围挡，哭着说：“路都快修好了，我的病怎么也治不好。”老魏安慰她：“马路都能修好，你还能治不好吗？”
崔丽丽和老魏
过去，崔丽丽总在出差。现在，她每晚坐在女儿身边读书，想弥补缺失的陪伴。她把媒体报道发给女儿，希望她学会自我保护。
但女儿更想保护崔丽丽。她时不时上楼查看妈妈的情况，夜里躺在妈妈身边，陪她入睡后再回房间。她邀请妈妈去开家长会、接她放学，逛文具店。崔丽丽戴着口罩，生怕被认出影响女儿。但女儿鼓励她摘掉口罩：“妈妈，错的不是你。”
崔丽丽和丈夫起初没有告诉父母发生了什么。崔丽丽年逾七旬的母亲察觉异常，从河北老家赶来天津，崔丽丽才忍不住吐露了一切。
母亲听完后，对她说：“不要害怕，咱是正义的一方。你继续斗争，妈妈为你加油。”临走前，母亲偷偷往崔丽丽枕头下塞了一摞钱。崔丽丽后来又将这摞钱悄悄放回老家。
11月的一次心理治疗中，医生引导崔丽丽在想象中重返案发酒店。这一次，她看见老魏在走廊里来回走动，像是要挡住危险、救她出来。医生说，这是好迹象，说明内心的“好”正在对抗“坏”。
一天夜里，崔丽丽送记者走出小区。久违地站在夜色中，她发现周围的霓虹灯多了起来。她想起，从前她出差归来，无论多晚，老魏和女儿都会在小区门口等她。一家三口有说有笑，一起去吃夜宵。
2023年9月23日，一场商务宴请后，时任德科智控公司老板的王某，趁销售总监崔丽丽醉酒失去意识，将其抱入房间实施强奸。
2024年4月2日，王某因犯强奸罪，被滨江区人民法院判处有期徒刑4年，赔偿崔丽丽3000元。王某未上诉，判决依法生效。同年4月18日，崔丽丽被公司以“未遵守请假制度、无故旷工”为由解除劳动合同。当天下午，她前往津南区人社局，申请工伤认定。
崔丽丽始终认为，自己遭受的性侵属于工伤。侵害发生在出差期间、商务宴请之后，加害者又是用人单位负责人，符合工伤认定中“工作时间、工作场所、工作原因”的“三工”情形。
2024年12月2日，津南区人社局作出《认定工伤决定书》。德科智控公司不服，提起行政诉讼。2025年7月16日，津南区人民法院判决驳回公司诉求；同年8月，判决生效。崔丽丽由此成为国内首例因职场性侵获得工伤认定的当事人。
崔丽丽和老魏
崔丽丽把申报工伤的流程、证据清单及心理援助信息整理成“求生地图”，在网络公开分享，陆续有受害者向她求助。
2025年1月，杭州一名女员工出差时遭客户强制猥亵，后因创伤后应激障碍无法工作。这名女员工看到崔丽丽的报道后，也申报了工伤，并于当年9月获得认定。
还有一名女孩私信崔丽丽，讲述自己未成年时遭性侵的经历。在崔丽丽的鼓励下，她与施害者对峙并固定证据，前往派出所报了案。
回顾案件，崔丽丽认为，职场性侵的本质是权力关系中的掠夺：“他否认你的独立人格和尊严，把你当作附属品，不仅要求你贡献能力和才华，也试图占有你的身体。”她认为，用人单位有责任建立明确的职场保护机制，用制度保障劳动者的人身安全和尊严。
2025年12月17日，经过80多天的等待，崔丽丽收到了《劳动能力鉴定结论书》，鉴定结论为“伤残十级”。崔丽丽很激动：与公司的劳动纠纷案有望尽快恢复审理。
红星新闻记者问崔丽丽：“下次开庭，你还会穿那件衬衫吗？”
她回答：“我会穿，正大光明地穿。”
Official Charts CompanyKylie Minogue has scored this year's Christmas number one, deposing Wham!'s Last Christmas, which topped the chart in 2023 and 2024.
The pop star achieved the feat with her single XMAS, an irrepressibly jaunty anthem about "the presents underneath the tree" and kissing someone special "out in the snow".
Arriving 37 years after her first UK number one hit, I Should Be So Lucky in 1988, it makes Kylie the first female artist to top the charts in four different decades.
"It's hard to put into words how special this feels," said the singer, adding that she'd be celebrating Christmas by "obsessing over a jigsaw" with her family in Australia.
Getty ImagesXMAS is taken from a new, expanded edition of her 2015 album Kylie Christmas, and was available exclusively through Amazon.
You could argue that gave her a slight advantage because XMAS was prominently positioned on Amazon Music's Christmas playlist. But it also meant her song was unavailable on rival streaming sites like Spotify and Apple Music.
But the combination of her plays on Amazon and YouTube, and the availability of limited edition vinyl and CD singles, ultimately gave her the Christmas crown.
"Kylie really, really targeted this particular race. Her record label pulled out all the stops," said Martin Talbot, head of the Official Charts Company.
"When you have a superstar of her status really going for it, she's always going to be in with a chance."
According to chart data, Kylie's Christmas charm offensive gave the star her biggest sales week in 23 years, since 2002's Love At First Sight.
Despite that, Talbot said the competition for this year's Christmas number one was "tight right the way through the week".
At one point, only 10,000 copies separated the top five songs.
Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee were also in contention for the top spot as people pumped Christmas classics into their playlists.
It wasn't Kylie's first attempt to scale the festive summit.
Her duet with Jason Donovan, Especially For You, was a major contender for Christmas number one in 1988, but ultimately took the runners-up position behind Cliff Richard's Mistletoe and Wine.
Despite finally triumphing in the seasonal chart, she said she was planning a quiet Christmas after completing her massive, 66-date Tension World Tour.
That means settling down to watch the Boxing Day cricket Test match between Australia and England while chipping away at a jigsaw.
"We're not long-term puzzlers, but somehow a jigsaw puzzle was on the end of the dining table in the family house last Christmas," she explained.
"So all Christmas, you'd float past and, if someone else was working on it, you'd be like, 'Is now the right time? Are we on the same page? Should we work on separate zones?'
"But as time went by, we were getting nowhere. There were all these trouble zones - a bit of blue sky and a big patch of grass - and nobody could get them. No-one.
"Then, maybe about a month ago, my brother sent me a video of the moment the last piece of the puzzle went in.
"I was like, 'Oh my God! Hallelujah that he happened to be filming!'
"So this year, I know there's a new jigsaw puzzle with a $1 sticker on the box from our local op shop [charity shop]. It's another 1,000-piecer and we'll start all over."
Getty ImagesWham! had been hoping to become the first act to top the Christmas chart three times with the same song.
Last Christmas was famously denied the top spot when it was first released in 1984, due to the phenomenal success of Band Aid's charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?
It finally reached the summit in 2023, thanks to a wave of goodwill and strong streaming numbers. It topped the chart again last year with a massive 12.6 million streams in Christmas week alone.
Although Wham! were beaten by Kylie in the UK, Last Christmas has just topped Billboard's global 200 for the first time - meaning it's the number one song in the world.
BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders, who presents the UK chart show, attributed the song's enduring popularity to its message.
"It's a fantastic pop song," he said, "but it also captures the true heart and soul of what Christmas means to people. It's family coming together, it's reigniting friendships, it's community.
"When you hear Wham! on the radio, you think, oh yeah we are all in this together, this is our song."
Other songs in the running for this year's Christmas number one included Together For Palestine's charity single, Lullaby, which is raising funds for aid for people in Gaza.
Based on the traditional Palestinian folk song Yamma Mwel El Hawa (Mama, Sing to the Wind), it features new lyrics by Peter Gabriel and was recorded by a group of Palestinian artists alongside British stars like Neneh Cherry, Celeste and Dan from Bastille.
"To me, the Lullaby will always be number one," said Nai Barghouti, who features on the track.
"I am beyond proud of and humbled by the overwhelming support that we have received globally. Thank you to each and every one of you."
Getty ImagesA Paris court has rejected an effort by the French government to suspend the website of fast-fashion giant Shein in response to it selling childlike sex dolls on its platform.
The court said the request for a three-month suspension was "disproportionate" - but did order age verification for the sale of adult products.
The action against Shein was taken after France's consumer watchdog last month reported it to authorities for selling "sex dolls with a childlike appearance" and weapons.
Shein said its priority remained protecting French consumers and ensuring compliance.
In its judgement, the court acknowledged the seriousness of selling the childlike sex dolls and weapons, but said these had been isolated incidents.
It noted that the Chinese company had taken action to remove the offending items once they were made aware of them, and that the issues related to a small number of the hundreds of thousands of products on sale on its site.
In response to the initial controversy, Shein announced it would be banning the sale of all sex dolls on its site internationally.
A request by the French government for Shein to be forced to suspend the sale of third-party items on its website - the source of the initial offending items - was also rejected.
In ordering age verification measures to be put in place for the sale of adult items, the court said the fine for each breach would be €10,000 (£8,700; $11,700).
The decision to suspend Shein's website in early November coincided with the company opening its first physical store in the French capital.
Its launch drew both shoppers and protesters, with opposition related to the sale of childlike sex dolls, and also its profile as a fast fashion retailer.
In a statement, Shein said: "We remain committed to continuously improving our control processes, in close collaboration with the French authorities, with the aim of establishing some of the most stringent standards in the industry.
"Our priority remains protecting French consumers and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations."
Alexander NEMENOV/AFPRussia's President Vladimir Putin has said there will be no more wars after Ukraine if Russia is treated with respect - and claims that Moscow is planning to attack European countries are "nonsense".
In a marathon televised event lasting almost four and a half hours, he was asked by the BBC's Steve Rosenberg whether there would be new "special military operations" - Putin's term for the full-scale war.
"There won't be any operations if you treat us with respect, if you respect our interests just as we've always tried to respect yours," he asserted.
His remarks were in line with a recent comment in which he said Russia was not planning to go to war, but was ready "right now" if Europe wanted to.
He also added the condition,"if you don't cheat us like you cheated us with Nato's eastward expansion".
He has long accused Nato of going back on an alleged 1990 Western promise before the fall of the Soviet Union. It was denied years afterwards by late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
The "Direct Line" marathon combined questions from the public at large and journalists from across Russia in a Moscow hall, with Putin sitting beneath an enormous map of Russia that encompassed occupied areas of Ukraine, including Crimea.
Russian state TV claimed more than three million questions had been submitted.
EPAAlthough it was largely choreographed, some critical comments from the public appeared on a big screen, including one that referred to the event as a "circus", another bemoaning internet outages and one that highlighted poor-quality tap water. Mobile internet outages have been blamed by authorities on Ukrainian drone attacks.
Putin also addressed Russia's faltering economy, with prices rising, growth on the slide and VAT going up from 20 to 22% on 1 January. One message to the president read: "Stop the crazy rise in prices on everything!"
The Kremlin regularly uses the end-of-year event to highlight the resilience of the economy and, as Putin spoke, Russia's central bank announced it was lowering interest rates to 16%.
Foreign policy issues were mixed with musings about the motherland, praise for local businesses, fish prices and the importance of looking after veterans.
But the issue of almost four years of full-scale war in Ukraine was never far away and it was often in the background of many of the questions.
Putin again claimed to be "ready and willing" to end the war in Ukraine "peacefully" but offered little sign of compromise.
He repeated his insistence on principles he had outlined in a June 2024 speech, when he demanded that Ukrainian forces leave four regions Russia partially occupies and that Kyiv gives up its efforts to join Nato.
Chief among Russia's demands is full control of Ukraine's eastern Donbas, including about 23% of Donetsk region which Russia has not been able to occupy.
Putin argued Russian forces were making advances across the front line in Ukraine and he ridiculed Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the front line at Kupiansk last week, when the Ukrainian leader was able to refute Russia claims that it had captured the town.
Putin has also demanded new elections in Ukraine to be included in the peace proposals that US President Donald Trump has submitted as part of his efforts to bring the conflict to an end. At his news conference, Putin offered to stop bombing Ukraine when voting took place.
Ukraine's SBU security service said on Friday it had for the first time hit an oil tanker operating as part of Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Mediterranean. Putin said it would not lead to the result that Kyiv wanted and would not disrupt Russian exports.
Most of the questions from Russian media or from the public made little attempt to challenge Putin, but two were allowed from Western correspondents, Keir Simmons of US network NBC and the BBC's Steve Rosenberg.
When Simmons asked if Putin would feel responsible for the deaths of Ukrainians and Russians if he rejected the Trump peace plan, Putin praised the US president's "sincere" efforts to end the war, but said it was the West not Russia that was blocking a deal.
"The ball is in the hands of our Western opponents," he said, "primarily the leaders of the Kyiv regime, and in this case, first and foremost, their European sponsors."
Trump has said a peace deal is closer than ever and, despite Putin's apparent refusal to compromise, the US president has said he hopes "Ukraine moves quickly because Russia is there".
A Ukrainian delegation is holding talks in Miami on Friday with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. German, French and British officials are also there, days after they met the US officials in Berlin.
Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev is also expected in Miami over the weekend, according to reports.
Putin told the BBC's Russia Editor: "We are ready to work with you - with the UK and with Europe in general and with the United States, but as equals, with mutual respect to each other.
"We are ready to cease these hostilities immediately, provided that Russia's medium- and long-term security is ensured, and we are ready to cooperate with you."
He accused the West of creating an enemy out of Russia. Skating over his decision to mount a full-scale invasion in February 2022, he said: "You are waging a war against us with the hands of Ukrainian neo-Nazis," he added, repeating his regular diatribe against Ukraine's democratically elected leaders.
European intelligence agencies have warned that Russia is only a few years away from attacking Nato. The Western defensive alliance's chief Mark Rutte said this month that Russia was already escalating a covert campaign and the West had to be prepared for war.
While many of the questions were benign, including several from children, from a one reporter from Yakutia in north-eastern Siberia highlighted a tenfold increase in energy prices in the past four years. Putin told her that his team would look into alternative sources of energy and "keep Yakutia in mind".
Towards the end of the TV marathon, Putin was asked a series of quickfire questions, touching on his views on friendship, religion, the motherland and love at first sight. He said he believed in love at first sight - then added that he himself was in love, without divulging any more details.
EPA/ShutterstockAt least three people have been killed and five others injured as a knife-wielding attacker went on a rampage in the Taiwanese capital Taipei.
The 27-year-old suspect set off smoke bombs at Taipei's main metro station on Friday, before running to another station in a busy shopping district, stabbing people along the way, Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai said.
The suspect later died after falling from a building, Cho added. His motive remains unclear.
Attacks of this kind are rare in Taiwan, which has low rates of violent crime. The last time a similar incident struck Taipei was more than a decade ago in 2014.
Friday's attack took place during the city's evening rush hour. Videos shared on social media show people fleeing the scene in panic.
Cho said the suspect had detonated smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails at Taipei's Main Station, which is connected to a busy underground shopping street.
A man reportedly tried to stop the attacker but was struck with a blunt object and later died in hospital.
The suspect then went to another subway station about 800m away, where he set off more smoke bombs and stabbed more people.
Cho said he had ordered increased security at metro and railway stations, as well as airports, in response to the attack.
"We will investigate [the suspect's] background and associated relationships to understand his motives and determine if there are other connected factors," Cho was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying.
Taiwan's President William Lai also promised a swift investigation.
The last major incident of this kind, in 2014, saw a man kill four people on an underground train in Taipei, shocking people in Taiwan. The perpetrator of that attack was executed two years later.
Getty ImagesThe widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has said the Turning Point USA organisation he founded will help elect JD Vance as president in 2028, despite the current US vice-president having yet to announce he is running.
Erika Kirk's endorsement on Thursday came on the opening day of Turning Point's annual America Fest conference, the organisation's largest gathering since her husband was shot dead in September.
"We are going to get my husband's friend, JD Vance, elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible," Kirk said, referring to the 48th president. Trump is the 47th.
Vance, meanwhile, is scheduled to speak at the event on Sunday.
Turning Point has been credited with helping Republican President Donald Trump expand his coalition of support, leading to his 2024 presidential election victory.
Her announcement ahead of Trump's one-year mark in office signals early jockeying to be his successor ahead of the 2028 election.
After Kirk gave her opening remarks, the stage at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona turned into a political mudslinging contest as tensions within the conservative movement were laid bare.
Podcaster Ben Shapiro lobbed attacks at media rivals Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Steve Bannon, calling them "fraudsters and grifters".
"The people who refused to condemn Candace's truly vicious attacks - and some of them are speaking here tonight - are guilty of cowardice," Shapiro said.
Owens, a former Turning Point employee who hosts a popular podcast, has been a thorn in Republicans' side and pushed various conspiracy theories, including baseless suggestions about Charlie Kirk's murder.
It comes at a time when there has been growing speculation about Trump's hold on the Republican party and infighting among factions of the president's supporters about the future of the Maga movement.
Shapiro also criticised former Fox News host Carlson for interviewing Nick Fuentes, a far-right political commentator and Holocaust denier, on his podcast in late October, drawing widespread condemnation.
After Shapiro, Carlson took the stage and shot back at Shapiro.
"That guy is pompous," Carlson said. "Calls to deplatform at a Charlie Kirk event? That's hilarious."
Charlie Kirk's Turning Point events were known for addressing controversial and divisive topics. Supporters saw it as necessary for free speech. Critics saw it as hate-mongering.
Authorities said Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin - Tyler Robinson - told his romantic partner that he killed Kirk because he "had enough of his hatred".
Erika Kirk told the Turning Point conference: "You won't agree with everyone on this stage this weekend. And that's okay. Welcome to America."
Since the assassination, she said, "we've seen fractures, we've seen bridges being burned that shouldn't be burnt".
Trump has recently encountered a series of setbacks within his Republican party, including a public falling out with his former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene and the impending release of the Epstein files, which a majority of Republicans voted for despite Trump's initial discouragement.
The four-day America Fest conference was scheduled to continue through the weekend, with Vance and Donald Trump Jr scheduled as guest speakers on Sunday.
Getty ImagesA Paris court has rejected an effort by the French government to suspend the website of fast-fashion giant Shein in response to it selling childlike sex dolls on its platform.
The court said the request for a three-month suspension was "disproportionate" - but did order age verification for the sale of adult products.
The action against Shein was taken after France's consumer watchdog last month reported it to authorities for selling "sex dolls with a childlike appearance" and weapons.
Shein said its priority remained protecting French consumers and ensuring compliance.
In its judgement, the court acknowledged the seriousness of selling the childlike sex dolls and weapons, but said these had been isolated incidents.
It noted that the Chinese company had taken action to remove the offending items once they were made aware of them, and that the issues related to a small number of the hundreds of thousands of products on sale on its site.
In response to the initial controversy, Shein announced it would be banning the sale of all sex dolls on its site internationally.
A request by the French government for Shein to be forced to suspend the sale of third-party items on its website - the source of the initial offending items - was also rejected.
In ordering age verification measures to be put in place for the sale of adult items, the court said the fine for each breach would be €10,000 (£8,700; $11,700).
The decision to suspend Shein's website in early November coincided with the company opening its first physical store in the French capital.
Its launch drew both shoppers and protesters, with opposition related to the sale of childlike sex dolls, and also its profile as a fast fashion retailer.
In a statement, Shein said: "We remain committed to continuously improving our control processes, in close collaboration with the French authorities, with the aim of establishing some of the most stringent standards in the industry.
"Our priority remains protecting French consumers and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations."
Getty ImagesA court in the German city of Aachen has sentenced a man to eight-and-a-half years in prison for repeatedly drugging and raping his wife, filming the acts and then posting them online.
The man, named only as Fernando P in line with German privacy laws, was found guilty of aggravated rape, grievous bodily harm and violation of personal privacy.
The court found the 61-year-old, who is originally from Spain, guilty of sedating and raping his wife at their home for a period of several years from 2018 to 2024.
A spokesperson for the court, Katharina Effert, said the man also filmed the abuse and shared it online.
"He uploaded videos of these acts to chat groups and internet platforms, making them available to other users," she said.
Much of the trial was held behind closed doors to protect the identity of his wife.
Her lawyer, Nicole Servaty, told journalists that she "really had a voice in this proceeding", adding: "She was able to testify, to express her feelings and everything that has burdened her."
She said the ruling could not make up for what happened. "But it might help a bit to cope with things and process them."
The verdict is still subject to appeal.
Getty ImagesGerman media say the case bears similarities to the high-profile case in France last year concerning Dominique Pelicot.
He was found guilty of secretly drugging his wife, Gisèle, and inviting scores of men to rape her while she was unconscious for years.
Gisèle's decision to waive her anonymity and hold a public trial turned her into a feminist icon, celebrated for her powerful testimony and courage.
Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office, the BKA, says that the victims of sedation and subsequent sexual abuse are "almost exclusively women".
It says such crimes "usually take place by exploiting a relationship of trust" in marriage, partnerships, families or among close acquaintances.
© Bildagentur/Universal Images Group, via Getty Images
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