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Donald Trump Jr. and Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson are engaged, with the announcement made during a White House holiday gathering on December 15. The news was shared publicly by U.S. President Donald Trump at the event and later confirmed by media reports.

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Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner has been arrested following the deaths of the legendary filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead at their Los Angeles home over the weekend.

According to law enforcement sources cited by multiple outlets, Nick Reiner, 32, was taken into custody Sunday night. Online jail records show he is being held on $4 million bail, though initial records did not immediately specify the charge. Los Angeles Police later confirmed that the case is being investigated by the department's Robbery-Homicide Division as an "apparent homicide."

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Jimmy Lai Chee ying, the outspoken Hong Kong media tycoon and founder of the now shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, has become one of the most prominent symbols of resistance to Beijing’s tightening grip on the city. On December 15, a Hong Kong court found Lai guilty on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of sedition under the China imposed national security law. The charges carry the possibility of a life sentence, marking a dramatic turning point in the life of a man who once stood among Hong Kong’s wealthiest business figures.

The verdict represents the latest chapter in a long confrontation between Lai and Chinese authorities. Known for his stocky build, blunt language and defiant personality, Lai refused to retreat from public life even after Beijing’s sweeping crackdown following the mass pro democracy protests of 2019. Until its closure in 2021, Apple Daily was one of the most vocal supporters of democratic values in Hong Kong and a relentless critic of both local and mainland authorities.

Lai was arrested after police raids on Apple Daily following the introduction of the national security law. Speaking to Reuters before his arrest, he said he would fight on until the last day. That resolve has come at a steep personal cost. Now 78, Lai has been in custody for more than five years, much of that time in solitary confinement. According to his family, his health has deteriorated significantly during his detention.

A devout Catholic, Lai has drawn strength from his faith. He has been held in a small cell with a narrow window facing a corridor. Cardinal Joseph Zen, a prominent Catholic cleric and pro democracy advocate, was among those who visited him in jail. Family members and supporters say Lai’s belief has helped him endure both imprisonment and a grueling court process.

Lai’s life story closely mirrors Hong Kong’s own modern history. Born in mainland China, he fled to Hong Kong in 1961 as a penniless teenager, hiding in the hold of a fishing boat. He later built a successful clothing business, Giordano, before turning his attention to publishing. The 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown proved a decisive moment, pushing him toward activism and journalism. In 1995, after selling his clothing business, he founded Apple Daily, which quickly became one of the city’s most influential and controversial newspapers.

The tabloid combined sensational reporting with hard hitting investigations and unapologetic political commentary. Lai himself wrote columns attacking senior Chinese leaders and warning against authoritarian rule. Over time, this made him a prime target for state criticism. During the 2019 protests, Chinese state media branded him a force of evil rather than a champion of democracy.

Once worth an estimated 1.2 billion Hong Kong dollars, Lai saw his assets frozen in 2021, cutting off funding for his media group and hastening its collapse. During his trial, Lai repeatedly described himself as a political prisoner, a claim that drew sharp rebukes from judges. Lai maintained that he had the right to disagree and said that any personal sacrifice in the struggle for freedom was an honor.

His family has stood by him throughout the ordeal. His wife, Teresa, attended more than 100 days of court hearings. His daughter Claire told Reuters that while her father remains mentally strong, his physical condition has worsened, citing chronic pain, diabetes and heart issues. Despite this, the family says Lai remains guided by his faith and his belief in truth and freedom.

For many supporters, Jimmy Lai’s rise from poverty to prominence and his eventual downfall under the national security law reflect the broader transformation of Hong Kong itself. Once celebrated for its openness and autonomy, the city now faces an uncertain future, with Lai’s case standing as a stark reminder of how far it has changed.

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Rachael Carpani's loved ones are mourning.

The Australian actress, who appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles, A&E's The Glades, Lifetime's Against the Wall, and Ben Affleck's 2020 picture The Way Back, died at the age of 45, her sister Georgia said.

"It is with great sadness that Tony and Gael Carpani announce that their beautiful daughter, beloved Australian actress Rachael Carpani, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away after a long battle with chronic illness in the early hours of Sunday, 7th December," she wrote in an Instagram post on Dec. 15. "The funeral will be a private event, to be held on Friday, 19th December, with close family and friends."

She went on: "The family requests privacy at this very difficult time and will be making no further statements."

 

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Legendary Hollywood film-maker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have been found dead in their Los Angeles home.

Authorities are investigating the incident as an apparent homicide after police and firefighters were called to the couple's house on Sunday afternoon in an upmarket neighbourhood of LA.

 

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Anthony Geary, the Emmy-winning actor whose portrayal of Luke Spencer helped define modern daytime television, has died. He was 78.

Geary passed away on Sunday, December 14, following complications from a surgical procedure performed earlier in the week, according to TV Insider. His husband of more than three decades, Claudio Gama, confirmed the news in a statement, describing the loss as sudden and deeply painful for their families and friends.

 

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James Cameron has officially joined Hollywood's most exclusive financial club. After four decades of record-breaking filmmaking and a third Avatar installment poised for another massive global run, the Oscar-winning director is now a billionaire, according to updated Forbes estimates.

The 71-year-old filmmaker's ascent has been driven almost entirely by box office performance rather than side ventures or corporate buyouts. Across his career, Cameron's films, including Titanic, Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water and the Terminator franchise, have generated nearly $9 billion worldwide. His personal earnings, fueled by back-end profit participation, licensing deals and ownership of key intellectual property, have pushed his net worth to an estimated $1.1 billion.

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