NEWS

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The United States Department of Justice has released an initial tranche of documents linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a figure whose criminal case has remained a source of public anger and political tension for years. The release follows the passage of a law by Congress requiring the Justice Department to make the Epstein files public by a set deadline. While the release was highly anticipated, it has already sparked controversy due to delays, redactions and the removal of some materials shortly after publication.

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Keith Lee was named Creator of the Year at the inaugural U.S. TikTok Awards, taking home the top honor during the platform's first American awards ceremony held on December 18 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

The food critic and content creator, who has amassed more than 17 million followers on TikTok, accepted the fan-voted award onstage after it was presented by Paris Hilton. Visibly emotional, Lee told the audience, "I never in a million years thought I was going to be standing on this stage." He went on to describe how meaningful the recognition was to him, adding, "This means more to me than I can explain."

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German prosecutors have charged a suspected former member of Syrian intelligence with crimes against humanity and the torture and murder of dozens of prisoners held in a Damascus prison under Bashar al-Assad, a statement said on Monday.

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ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has finalized binding agreements with US and international investors to establish a new operational structure for its American business, TikTok's boss revealed to employees on Thursday. This joint venture, designed to manage TikTok's US operations, will be 50% owned by a consortium of investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Emirati firm MGX, according to CEO Shou Zi Chew's memo.

The deal, which is set to close on 22 January, would end years of efforts by Washington to force ByteDance to sell its US operations over national security concerns.

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The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration appeared to be intensifying its targeting of such vessels connected to the Venezuelan government.

The pursuit of the tanker, which was confirmed by a U.S. official briefed on the operation, comes after the U.S. administration announced Saturday it had seized a tanker for the second time in less than two weeks.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the ongoing operation and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Sunday’s pursuit involved “a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.”

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Dan Bongino has announced that he will step down from his role as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in January, bringing an end to a brief but highly scrutinized tenure at the agency. Bongino confirmed his decision in a post on X, where he expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve. He did not give a specific reason for his departure.

Earlier the same day, President Trump publicly praised Bongino, saying he had done a great job in office and suggesting that he wished to return to his media career. Bongino was appointed to the deputy director position in February by Trump, a move that drew

widespread attention because the role had traditionally been filled by career FBI agents rather than political appointees or media figures.

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The next presidential election is three years away, but Turning Point USA already knows it wants Vice President JD Vance as the Republican nominee.

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Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization that Charlie Kirk turned into a political juggernaut, will convene its flagship conference on Thursday for the first time since the assassination of its charismatic founder, testing the durability of a fractious movement that helped return President Donald Trump to the White House.

Kirk served as a unifying figure on the American right, marshaling college students, online influencers and Republican politicians. But now the party’s populist wing is skirmishing over the meaning of “America First” and the future of a decade-old movement defined more by the force of Trump’s personality than loyalty to a particular ideological project.

Thousands of people are expected to gather for the four-day meeting in Phoenix. Vice President JD Vance, media personalities and a handful of Trump administration officials are slated to appear, plus Christian rock bands and pastors. Attendees will have the chance to take selfies with popular figures and participate in discussions about political organizing, religion and conservative critiques of American culture.

Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, will have a prominent role as the organization’s new leader. The conference promises to be an extended tribute to her husband, who many on the right see as a martyr for conservatism and Christianity after he was slain at only 31 years old.

Guillory's The Wedding Date, published in 2018, launched a six-book series and quickly became a favorite among romance readers. The story centers on Alexa Monroe and Drew Nichols, two strangers who meet in an elevator and agree to attend a wedding together. What starts as a practical arrangement soon turns into something more complicated and emotionally charged, a setup well-suited to Netflix's global audience.

The announcement reinforces the Sussexes' continued relevance at the streamer. Their 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan remains Netflix's most-watched documentary debut to date, while projects like Live to Lead, Heart of Invictus, and Polo have broadened their portfolio. Meghan's lifestyle series With Love, Meghan and upcoming projects further signal ambition.