Epstein files latest: Andrew, Elon Musk, and Peter Mandelson are among individuals identified in freshly disclosed documents
Epstein files latest: Andrew, Elon Musk, and Peter Mandelson are among individuals identified in freshly disclosed documents
According to US Justice Department archives, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace immediately after the convicted sex offender’s release from home detention.
According to a document dated September 27, 2010, Epstein contacted Mountbatten-Windsor while visiting London
Mountbatten-Windsor answered by saying he was about to depart Scotland and reportedly proposed they “could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy.”
Epstein files latest: Andrew, Elon Musk, and Peter Mandelson are among individuals identified in freshly disclosed documents
According to the paper, Mountbatten-Windsor emailed again two days later, saying, “We are delighted for you to come here to BP. Come with whomever, and I’ll be available from 1600 to 2000.”
“BP” is thought to refer to Buckingham Palace.
It is unclear if the meeting at Buckingham Palace had transpired. The former prince’s royal titles were revoked last year amid rising controversy over his ties to Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Opening summary
Good morning, Taz Ali. I’m here to bring you live coverage of the most recent release of papers connected to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The US Department of Justice released millions of new files on Friday, including more than three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images, marking the largest document dump since a law was passed last year requiring the government to release any information related to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Among the individuals referenced in the papers are the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, former Prince Andrew, and Peter Mandelson.
Please read our prior coverage of the files below:
We’ll update you on new developments throughout the day.
Trump says he will announce a replacement for Powell as Fed Chairman Friday morning
Trump says he will announce a replacement for Powell as Fed Chairman Friday morning
Key Points:
The process of selecting Powell’s replacement began in September with an 11-person group that comprised former and current Fed officials, economists, and Wall Street financial professionals.
The final four are expected to be former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, current Fed Governor Christopher Waller, and BlackRock’s senior investment officer for fixed income, Rick Rieder.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will appoint a new Federal Reserve head on Friday.
Speaking at the screening of “Melania,” a film about first lady Melania Trump, the president announced that the process of selecting his successor to current Chair Jerome Powell, which began last summer, is nearing completion.
When asked if he had made a decision, he said, “I do, I better, otherwise I have to go to work very quickly.”
The process of selecting Powell’s replacement began in September with an 11-person group that comprised former and current Fed officials, economists, and Wall Street financial professionals.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent examined the qualifying candidates, reducing the list to five, then four.
The final four are expected to be former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, current Fed Governor Christopher Waller, and BlackRock’s senior investment officer for fixed income, Rick Rieder.
Prediction markets have wagered on who will receive the job. Hassett led for a while, followed by Warsh and, recently, Rieder.
However, that changed Thursday evening, with Kalshi now rating Warsh as a prohibitive 80% favorite.
Trump says he will announce a replacement for Powell as Fed Chairman Friday morning
Trump further stated that the choice is “somebody who could have been there a few years ago.” Warsh was reportedly in the running when Trump opted to nominate Powell in 2017.
According to an administration source, Warsh visited the White House on Thursday. However, a White House official downplayed the speculation.
“President Trump will make an announcement regarding his candidate for the Federal Reserve at the proper time. ” Any and all coverage of the Federal Reserve Chairman nominations process until then is a waste of everyone’s time,” said White House spokesperson Kush Desai.
Powell, for his part, declined to answer concerns about whether he will continue as chair after his tenure ends in May. Powell has the option of fulfilling the remaining two years of his governorship term.
Rybakina survives Pegula's revival, setting up a rematch with Sabalenka in the final
Rybakina survives Pegula’s revival, setting up a rematch with Sabalenka in the final
A 6-3, 7-6 (7) victory ensures a repeat of the 2023 Melbourne final.
Pegula fails to profit on the topsy-turvy tie-break.
A nervous Elena Rybakina overcame a strong rally from the fast-finishing Jessica Pegula to book an Australian Open final showdown with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to her third grand slam final with a 6-3, 7-6 (7) semi-final triumph in 101 minutes.
The American was left disappointed by her poor start and inability to capitalize on second-set opportunities, as she fell short of reaching a second Grand Slam final.
Early on, Rybakina maintained control, but as the match progressed, she tightened her racket, allowing two late breaks. In the end, the No. 5 seed remained focused long enough in a tumultuous second-set tiebreak, saving two set points, to clinch the victory.
She claimed she was pleased with her start to the match, but the finale was nerve-racking. “Jessica played so well in the second set; she fought to the end,” she told me.
Thursday’s late encounter at Rod Laver Arena promised a clash of styles, with Rybakina’s sweeping strokes pitted against Pegula’s savvy, mobile, all-around game.
Rybakina, rated one spot higher than the American, was the slight favourite heading in, thanks partly to her strong serve, which had delivered more aces than any other player in the event.
However, the early going revealed there was a divide between the two players. Pegula dropped the first six points of the match and was broken in her opening serve.
Fans at the Australian Open’s Women and Girls Day were clamoring for more tennis after the first semi-final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina lasted only 77 minutes.
Pegula’s first hold after 15 minutes was hailed with enthusiastic applause, even though the American still appeared out of sorts.
The opening set went quickly in 32 minutes, and Rybakina had yet to face a break point.
Pegula had little control over what happened as the Kazakh’s opening serve landed. One missile was recorded at 191 kilometers per hour.
Even on second serves and rallies, Pegula was unable to counteract her opponent’s powerful strokes, hitting only three victories in the opening set.
Rybakina survives Pegula’s revival, setting up a rematch with Sabalenka in the final
Pegula tried everything. There were flicks to vary the angle and slices to change the speed of the points.
However, unforced errors made her susceptible, and a strong return enabled Rybakina take a break in the third game of the second setJust when it appeared that the match was over, something unexpected happened.
Rybakina appeared more tense in her moves, and her opponent gradually gained consistency.
Pegula saved three match points on her serve and held, while Rybakina had two chances to serve it out but was broken both times.
The final tiebreak was chaotic, with Rybakina giving up a 4-2 lead. The American missed his first set point and then another.
But Rybakina remained composed and, 28 minutes after her previous match point, secured victory and a spot in the final.
The big-serving 26-year-old won the first set of the 2023 Australian Open final against Sabalenka, but her opponent came back to win the match and her first Grand Slam victory.
Rybakina remembers the match, calling it a “great battle,” but adding that Sabalenka deserved to win.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner defeated Sabalenka to win last year’s WTA Finals, and Rybakina, like her opponent on Saturday, has yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park this season, making the match a fitting conclusion.
Starbucks stock is rising as the coffee chain's traffic increases for the first time in two years
Starbucks stock is rising as the coffee chain’s traffic increases for the first time in two years
Key Points:
Starbucks missed fiscal first-quarter earnings projections, but reported that transactions increased for the first time in two years.
Same-store sales have risen as CEO Brian Niccol’s rescue strategy takes root.
Starbucks is anticipated to disclose long-term financial ambitions during an investor day in New York City on Thursday.
Starbucks posted mixed quarterly results on Wednesday, as the company’s recovery drives traffic growth for the first time in two years while weighing on the bottom line.
“Our Q1 results demonstrate our ‘Back to Starbucks’ strategy is working, and we believe we’re ahead of schedule,” CEO Brian Niccol said in a statement.
Starbucks stock is rising as the coffee chain’s traffic increases for the first time in two years
“It’s great to see the sales momentum driven by more customers choosing Starbucks more often, and this is just the beginning.”
The corporation also provided its first financial projection since halting the prediction in October 2024.
According to LSEG, Starbucks expects adjusted profits per share in fiscal 2026 to be between $2.15 and $2.40, which is lower than Wall Street’s expectation of $2.35 per share.
In addition, the company expects at least 3% growth in same-store sales in the United States and globally.
In premarket trade, shares soared by more than 8%.
Here’s how the firm reported for the quarter ending December 28 compared to what Wall Street expected, according to an LSEG analyst survey:
Earnings per share: 56 cents adjusted, vs 59 cents projected.
Revenue: $9.92 billion, compared to $9.67 billion predicted.
Starbucks announced fiscal first-quarter net income of $293.3 million, or 26 cents per share, a decrease from $780.8 million, or 69 cents per share, the previous year.
In addition to turnaround expenses, rising coffee prices and tariffs weighed on the company’s margins this quarter.
Starbucks earned 56 cents per share, excluding restructuring costs, impairment charges, and other items.
Net sales increased 6% to $9.92 billion, driven by the company’s second consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth.
Global same-store sales grew 4%, exceeding StreetAccount’s projection of 2.3%. Traffic increased by 3%, marking the company’s first increase in transactions in two years.
Same-store sales in the United States increased 4%, boosted by demand for its holiday products, including as the viral “Bearista” cup and classic menu items like the peppermint mocha.
In November, Niccol stated that the holiday menu debut was the finest day ever for the company’s North American operations.
Outside the United States, Starbucks’ foreign same-store sales climbed by 5%.
During the quarter, the company announced plans to form a joint venture with Boyu Capital to manage its operations in China.
The purchase is expected to completion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Starbucks’ fiscal 2026 prediction implies that it will continue to operate Starbucks China retail outlets in the second half of the fiscal year.
The company also established 128 net new locations during the quarter.
In fiscal year 2026, Starbucks intends to open 600 to 650 net new company-owned and licensed cafes.
The development comes after the corporation closed over 400 stores in the United States last year.
Investors expect to learn more about Niccol’s approach on Thursday at an investor day in New York City.
Executives will also disclose the company’s new long-term financial ambitions.
Is Bryce James going to redshirt? Why isn't LeBron's son playing for the Arizona Wildcats?
Is Bryce James going to redshirt? Why isn’t LeBron’s son playing for the Arizona Wildcats?
Bryce James is attempting to live up to his last name.
It’s a lofty standard for LeBron James’ younger son.
He chose the Arizona Wildcats as his collegiate basketball team, which is a solid decision.
They are one of the country’s most consistent powers, and they have started the 2025-26 season 20-0 and are now ranked first in the nation.
However, Bryce is not playing.
There is a simple explanation.
Is Bryce James going to redshirt?
Yes, Bryce James is expected to redshirt.
That implies he will keep this year of eligibility rather than using it for limited playing time.
If he plays even a single second in a regular-season game, it counts as a year of eligibility, which is why he hasn’t played at all so far.
Is Bryce James going to redshirt? Why isn’t LeBron’s son playing for the Arizona Wildcats?
“My job is to respect him as a person and assist him on his journey,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd stated before the season. “And that’s our plan in Arizona.
We received no extras. Let’s just assist this kid in growing into a terrific young man, which I believe is what his family and he desire, and we’re going to help him achieve that.”
The redshirt decision is not set in stone. If Arizona had an injury or another reason to play Bryce, they could still do so. It would simply ensure that this counted as a used year of eligibility.
But, so far, it appears that Bryce will not see the floor during his first year in college.
He could still be a long-term contributor, but for now, all he can do is enjoy a front-row seat to the best team in the country.
A small business jet crashed at Bangor International Airport with eight people on board
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – The Federal Aviation Administration reports that a Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday.
They say there were eight persons on board.
The extent of the injuries, if any, is unknown at this time.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating.
Emergency personnel are responding to the issue through Sunday night and into Monday, according to airport officials.
The public is advised to stay away from the area, as the airport is now closed.
Officials claim that at this moment, they are unable to offer more details.
According to officials at Bangor International Airport, an emergency operation center has been set up and will provide an update by Monday at 8 a.m.
Federal documents show that the aircraft is registered to a limited liability company in Houston, according to CNN.
According to audio taken from LiveATC.net, controllers and pilots at the airport can be heard discussing poor visibility and deicing minutes before the disaster, though it's not immediately apparent who is speaking to whom.
On Bangor's Runway 33, a controller gives the pilot the all-clear to take off.
Almost two minutes later, a controller loudly radios, "All traffic has stopped on the field!" On the field, all traffic has stopped.
Shortly after, another controller can be heard stating, "Aircraft upside down." We have an inverted passenger plane.
After then, the airport is closed; however, emergency vehicles are permitted to use the airfield.
Later, a controller reports that they know there are "three crew and possibly five passengers" on board.
A small business jet crashed at Bangor International Airport with eight people on board
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – The Federal Aviation Administration reports that a Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday.
They say there were eight persons on board.
The extent of the injuries, if any, is unknown at this time.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating.
Emergency personnel are responding to the issue through Sunday night and into Monday, according to airport officials.
The public is advised to stay away from the area, as the airport is now closed.
A small business jet crashed at Bangor International Airport with eight people on board
Officials claim that at this moment, they are unable to offer more details.
According to officials at Bangor International Airport, an emergency operation center has been set up and will provide an update by Monday at 8 a.m.
Federal documents show that the aircraft is registered to a limited liability company in Houston, according to CNN.
According to audio taken from LiveATC.net, controllers and pilots at the airport can be heard discussing poor visibility and deicing minutes before the disaster, though it’s not immediately apparent who is speaking to whom.
On Bangor’s Runway 33, a controller gives the pilot the all-clear to take off.
Almost two minutes later, a controller loudly radios, “All traffic has stopped on the field!” On the field, all traffic has stopped.
Shortly after, another controller can be heard stating, “Aircraft upside down.” We have an inverted passenger plane.
After then, the airport is closed; however, emergency vehicles are permitted to use the airfield.
Later, a controller reports that they know there are “three crew and possibly five passengers” on board.
US Weather: 140,000 are without power as a winter storm spreads from Colorado to New England
US Weather: 140,000 are without power as a winter storm spreads from Colorado to New England
“It’s a good weekend to stay indoors,” says New Jersey’s governor, as heavy snow and freezing rain threaten more than half of the US population.
A massive winter storm spanning from the southern Rocky Mountains in the west to New England on the northeast coast has knocked out electricity to approximately 140,000 households in the United States.
The National Weather Service has warned that heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain will threaten almost 180 million people, or more than half of the country. 37 states are affected.
US Weather: 140,000 are without power as a winter storm spreads from Colorado to New England
“The snow and ice will be very, very slow to melt and will not go away anytime soon,” meteorologist Allison Santorelli predicted.
According to Josh Weiss, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this storm is “unique” for two reasons: its broad spread, which will encompass 2,000 miles of the country, and the intense cold it is expected to leave behind.
More than 13,000 flights were cancelled across the country on Saturday and Sunday, according to FlightAware, the flight tracking website.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Sunday’s cancellations are already the highest on any single day since the COVID outbreak began.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has declared emergencies in 17 states and the District of Columbia, advising residents to stay at home if possible.
Governor Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey said she expected conditions “like we haven’t seen in years.”
She announced a 35-mph speed limit on highways and said, “It’s a good weekend to stay indoors.
According to Poweroutage, over 140,000 power outages were reported in the route of the winter storm, including more than 58,000 in Louisiana and around 50,000 in Texas. us.
In DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, there have been reports of automobiles colliding with fallen trees and branches falling on houses.
In Georgia, senior state meteorologist Will Lanxton stated that it was “perhaps the biggest ice storm we have expected in more than a decade.”
The Dragon Ball Super anime will return with The Galactic Patrol
The Dragon Ball Super anime will return with The Galactic Patrol
A new anime confirms production at Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri.
Fans of Dragon Ball can celebrate since Shenron has granted their desire. No, you won’t be able to become a Super Saiyan, but there will be a new Dragon Ball Super anime.
The sequel series, which was announced during the Genkidamatsuri event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Dragon Ball anime, will resume with Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol.
During the ceremony, Akio Iyoku, president of Capsule Corporation Tokyo and executive producer of the Dragon Ball series, announced that production on Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol has begun.
There was no release date announced. Given the nature of this weekend’s announcement, it does not appear that Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol will be released anytime soon.
The Dragon Ball Super anime will return with The Galactic Patrol
While information about the Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol anime was limited, Iyoku did offer a graphic for the series, which included Goku and Vegeta.
It began as a set of films, Battle of the Gods and Resurrection of F, which grew into a full franchise that included an anime and manga written and drawn by Toyotaro, with supervision from Akira Toriyama himself.
The anime ended abruptly in 2018, but the manga continued, bringing new and intriguing story arcs until the death of Akira Toriyama in 2024.
The future of Super remained uncertain, particularly following the debut of Dragon Ball Daima, a new anime series set between the end of the original and the beginning of Dragon Ball Super.
The continuation of Goku and his friends’ adventures brings relief to fans of one of the world’s most popular franchises.
Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol will adapt the plot that follows the Universe Survival arc of the Dragon Ball Super anime.
Son Goku and Vegeta team up with members of the Galactic Patrol, the galaxy’s peacekeepers, to face a new monster, Planet-Eater Moro.
It’s a relief to see the franchise continue following Toriyama’s demise. Dragon Ball has become more of a lifelong buddy than a cultural phenomenon, which will hopefully continue.
A friend of singer D4vd was arrested on a warrant related to the teen's death inquiry
A friend of singer D4vd was arrested on a warrant related to the teen’s death inquiry
Neo Langston, 23, a social media streamer who has appeared publicly with the artist, was arrested Thursday, Jan. 22, at a Helena apartment on an out-of-state warrant issued by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to court and jail records.
Langston was booked at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center and detained without bond before being transferred to LAPD custody.
Helena police confirmed that they assisted detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division but declined to provide any information.
According to court documents, Langston was wanted for failing to appear as a witness before a grand jury.
A friend of singer D4vd was arrested on a warrant related to the teen’s death inquiry
The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was last seen in Lake Elsinore in April 2024, when she was 13 years old.
Her decaying remains were discovered on September 8 within the front trunk of a Tesla that had been detained at a Los Angeles tow yard, just days before D4vd was scheduled to appear in San Francisco.
The automobile was registered to the musician, David Anthony Burke.
Law enforcement sources have named Burke, 20, as a suspect, but he has not been prosecuted.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that others may have helped dispose of the girl’s body.
“The cause and manner of death remain pending,” Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo stated recently, after his office’s court-ordered confidentiality hold.
A grand jury has been formed, and several witnesses have already testified. It is unclear whether Langston was the witness whom prosecutors previously described as uncooperative.
Langston, who previously streamed under the handle NeoTheAsian, frequently posed for images with Burke on social media.
'Invincible' Announces Season 4 Release Date; First Look at Thragg in Official Trailer
‘Invincible’ Announces Season 4 Release Date; First Look at Thragg in Official Trailer
UPDATED:
Invincible’s Season 4 premiere date has been scheduled for March 18, Prime Video announced on Thursday. It also debuted the official teaser for the upcoming season of the adult animated series, which has Mark and Omni-Man reuniting and our first glimpse at Lee Pace’s fearsome Thragg.
Season 4 will be exclusively accessible on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories globally.
PREVIOUS, October 10, 2025: Today at New York Comic Con, Prime Video revealed that Season 4 of the adult-animated series Invincible will air in March 2026.
The streamer also shared a Burger Mart-inspired teaser film (which you can see above) and revealed that Lee Pace (Foundation, Bodies Bodies Bodies) will play the long-awaited character Thragg in Season 4.
‘Invincible’ Announces Season 4 Release Date; First Look at Thragg in Official Trailer
Thragg serves as Grand Regent of the Viltrum Empire. Trained from infancy for this duty, Thragg controls his people with strength, ruthlessness, and determination, aiming to return Viltrum to its former greatness at any cost.
Invincible, based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, co-creator Cory Walker, and contributing creator Ryan Ottley, completed its eight-episode Season 3 in February and was renewed for an early Season 5 at San Diego Comic-Con in July.
In Invincible, while the globe heals from disaster, a changed Mark (Steven Yeun) struggles to preserve his home and the people he cares about, putting him on a collision course with a menace that could change the fate of humanity forever.
Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Kevin Michael Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Clancy Brown, Jay Pharoah, Mark Hamill, and Melise Jow join Yeun in the cast.
The series is created by Skybound Entertainment’s animation company, Skybound Animation. Kirkman serves as executive producer alongside Rogen, David Alpert, Catherine Winder, Simon Racioppa, Margaret M. Dean, and Evan Goldberg.
