Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, has pushed for tougher hate speech laws following the Bondi attacks
The Australian state where the Bondi shooting occurred plans to ban the phrase "globalise the intifada" as part of a crackdown on "hateful" slogans.
New South Wales (NSW) premier Chris Minns has also called for a Royal Commission into the Bondi attack, marking the deadliest shooting in Australia in nearly 30 years.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured last Sunday when two gunmen, believed to have been motivated by "Islamic State ideology", opened fire on a Jewish festival at the country's most iconic beach.
Australia's state and federal governments have announced a raft of measures to counter extremism since the attack.
Minns plans to recall the state parliament next week to pass through stricter hate speech and gun restrictions. Earlier this week, he also suggested he would tighten protest laws to scale back mass demonstrations to encourage "a summer of calm".
The premier confirmed he would seek to classify the chant "globalise the intifada" as hate speech.
Two pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly shouting slogans involving intifada at a demonstration in central London.
The term intifada came into popular use during the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1987.
Some have described the term as a call for violence against Jewish people. Others have said it is a call for peaceful resistance to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and actions in Gaza.
Earlier this week, Minns, along with the NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, attended the funeral Matilda, 10, who was the youngest victim of the Bondi shooting. He read out a poem dedicated to the young girl at the event.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has announced a new gun buyback scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms. Hundreds of thousands of guns will be collected and destroyed, the government predicts.
Around 1,000 lifeguards staged a tribute on Saturday, lining up arm-to-arm facing the ocean, on the shorelines of Bondi beach. Surf lifesaving teams at other beaches around Australia were photographed performing a similar memorial.
Through the week, Bondi's surf volunteers have been commemorated as some of the heroes of the shooting. Lifeguard Jackson Doolan was photographed sprinting over from a neighbouring beach during the attack carrying a red medical supply bag.
Hundreds of swimmers and surfers paddled out at Bondi beach yesterday to create a giant circle to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.
On Sunday, Australia will hold a national day of reflection with the theme "light over darkness" marking precisely one week after the attack started with a minute's silence at 6:47 pm (0747 GMT).
Flags will fly at half-mast and Australians are being asked to light a candle in their windows to honour the victims.
"Sixty seconds carved out from the noise of daily life, dedicated to 15 Australians who should be with us today," prime minister Albanese told reporters Saturday.
"It will be a moment of pause to reflect and affirm that hatred and violence will never define us as Australians."
Bondi's attack was Australia's worst mass shooting since Port Arthur in 1996, where 35 people were killed and prompted then-prime minister John Howard to introduce strict gun control measures.
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive, say Attorney General Pam Bondi should have recused herself from the case.
He was a foremost authority on the president, tracing his career in unvarnished accounts from his time as California governor through his years in the White House.
Watch: Former US President Bill Clinton featured in new Epstein photos
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.
Several hundred thousand pages still have not been released
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.
Bill Clinton pictured in pool and hot tub
US Department of Justice
Several 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 Justice
Epstein allegedly introduced Trump to 14-year-old girl
In 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.
Photo appears to show Andrew laying across laps
US Department of Justice
A 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".
Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Chris Tucker and Mick Jagger
US Department of Justice
Epstein poses with Michael Jackson
The 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 Justice
Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger is seen here posing with Clinton
Another 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 Justice
Michael Jackson and Diana Ross are photographed with Clinton
US Department of Justice
Actor Chris Tucker seen posing with convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell
Epstein threatened to burn down house, accuser says
One 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.
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.
The alleged gunmen in the shooting, Sajid Akram, 50 and his son, Naveed Akram, 24, were from Bonnyrigg, a diverse, multilingual suburb miles from Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
A pedestrian overpass spanning a main road on Friday in Bonnyrigg, a multicultural suburb of Sydney.
Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, and President Trump’s name was rarely mentioned. The White House also sought to make political hay of the release of photos of Bill Clinton.
Newly released files show how Maria Farmer, who worked for Mr. Epstein in the 1990s, had urged the F.B.I. to investigate him. The case went nowhere for years.
After 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.
Amber Davies says she's earned her place in final
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.
'I can't believe a footballer is in the final'
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."
Crown for the social stars?
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.
Who is dancing to what this week?
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
Showdance to Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
Judges' Pick - Paso Doble to Dream On by Aerosmith
Favourite Dance - Jive to Proud Mary
George and Alexis
Showdance to Human by The Killers
Judges' Choice - Viennese Waltz to Somebody to Love by Queen
Favourite Dance - Paso Doble to Game of Survival by Ruelle
Karen and Carlos
Showdance to Inner Smile by Texas
Judges' Pick - Argentine Tango to Red Right Hand by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Favourite Dance - Jive to One Way Or Another by Blondie
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.
What time does the Strictly final start?
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.
How can I vote for my favourites?
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.
What happened last weekend?
Warning: The section below includes spoilers from last week's Strictly
The semi-finalists had their fate revealed last week
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.
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.
MIT researchers used electroencephalography to record brain activity while people used generative AI
What 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.
'AI makes it too easy to find answers'
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."
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/Getty
A survey by OUP found six in 10 schoolchildren felt AI had negatively impacted their skills
Not 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."
Better results but worse learning?
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".
The University of Oxford began providing students and staff with ChatGPT for free in September
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."
"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."
The Times leads with a new tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice, including "a previously unseen photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across the laps of five women". The photo appears to show the former prince, Ghislaine Maxwell, and redacted faces of six people. Andrew has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing, and says he did not "see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction". Being named or pictured in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
The Prince of Wales "joins the SAS" as a "patron of [the] elite unit's charity", which "supports soldiers, veterans and families", reports the Daily Mirror citing an unnamed royal source. Also featured on the front page is the black-and-white photo of Andrew "draped across women's laps... as Maxwell looks on", according to the paper.
The Daily Telegraph leads with publisher HarperCollins UK dropping best-selling author and comedian David Walliams. The paper says it investigated allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women. The publisher does not specify the reason for dismissing Walliams. A spokesperson for Walliams says he has "never been informed of any allegations raised against him" by his publisher. "He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice," the spokesperson adds.
The Walliams story also leads the Daily Star's front page. A spokesperson for HarperCollins says it has decided not to release any new titles by Walliams "after careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO".
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is accused of ruining Christmas for retailers, reports the Daily Mail. It says customers "surprisingly shunned" Black Friday sales, as retailers say "December has been disastrous, with the 'bleak' outlook stretching into January". Critics cited by the paper blame the government's "£30bn Budget tax raid".
The i Paper leads with its interview of Reeves, who does not "rule out tax rises in 2026". The paper quotes the chancellor saying she hopes "further changes to tax are less necessary", while noting "the world is incredibly volatile at the moment". Her remarks follow the government's "£66bn in tax hikes" laid out in the November Budget, which the paper reports led to accusations of "breaking the Labour manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, NI (national insurance), or VAT (value-added tax)".
The Financial Times leads with the EU's €90bn (£79bn) loan to Ukraine, calling it a "lifeline for hard-up Kyiv". It notes the bloc's "plan to use frozen Russian assets collapsed" following objections from Belgium, warning it would be legally and financial liable.
The Independent leads with the latest in Ukraine, combining the EU's €90bn (£79bn) loan and strike on a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea in its headline. Russian President Vladimir Putin's response is also included, "as he accuses Western allies of 'dirty tricks'" over the European loan and "vows revenge for (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky's drone attack".
A "robot surgery revolution" is splashed on the Daily Express's front page. It says the new technology could "cut patients' recovery time and free up beds".
Warnings to the government that it could "risk a 'lost generation'" due to "rising inactivity among young people" leads the Guardian. Former health secretary Alan Milburn tells the paper the government must tackle some "uncomfortable truths" about the labour market, as he leads an inquiry that will include a review into the "future of the youth minimum wage".
And finally, the Sun reports TV chef James Martin has announced he is engaged to his personal trainer partner Kim Johnson. The paper writes he got "down on one knead".
Cloud Dancer has been named Pantone's Colour of the Year
For 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.
Pantone
An all-white take on Pantone's Cloud Dancer – soothing in theory, stressful if you drink red wine or coffee
But 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.
Clinical or calm?
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 Beaumont
Chris believes Pantone's choice for 2026 is "tone-deaf"
Beaumont 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.
'Hospital vibes'
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 Clark
Lara believes using white in real homes can create a clinical vibe
She 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 Images
Sephora cosmetics previously released a collection based on Pantone's 2015 Colour of the Year - Marsala - described as a "full-bodied red-brown"
Victoria 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."
Pantone
Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2025 was Mocha Mousse - a soft brown which "promotes a pure and organic approach to luxury"
Interior 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
Oriona says white is a hard colour to pull off in fashion
"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".
A cultural mood, not a trend
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.
Starting on Feb. 1, Rome will charge tourists a fee to go down into the basin of the famed 18th-century fountain. Not every one is happy (except Romans, who won’t have to pay).
Login
EPA
