Christmas

LITTLE MIX’s Perrie Edwards flashed her bare baby bump as she gave a peek into family Christmas with hubby Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The singer, 32, shared sweet snaps from her Christmas with her footballer Alex, 32, and their son Axel, 4, as the couple prepare to welcome their second child together.

She posted a sprawling message on her Instagram to her 18.6million followers, exposing her huge baby bump as she spoke of feeling “content and blessed”.

Alongside a series of festive snaps and footage, she wrote: “Merry Christmas everyone!

“Excitement pumping through the family, amazing food, Christmas magic on repeat, house is now a pigsty, overstimulated, stayed in pj’s all day”.

Her caption continued: “Axels hair is a birds nest, I’m the size of a beach whale, can’t consume any more chocolate if I tried, need fork lifting off the sofa… but my goodness I feel content and blessed”.

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Among the selection of snaps, Perrie included a sweet video of her son Axel singing to her festive track Christmas Magic, which she released last year.

The singer, who is currently heavily pregnant, received over 500,000 likes on her Instagram post, as friends and fans threw support towards the couple in the comments section.

One wrote: “Axel singing christmas magic no i’ll sob that’s your biggest fan fr he’s giving us all a run for our money“.

Another commented: “My goodness, Axel is the cutest kid ever he’s gonna be the best big brother ever”.

A third added: “Merry Christmas beautiful & to all your family”.

Perrie recently revealed the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage before they had Axel, and lost another baby at 24 weeks in 2022.

Alex also broke his silence on their devastating losses, and said: “When you start a family, that’s when you start to learn it’s not easy to have a child, that things can go wrong.

“It’s so difficult — especially for women when they are literally growing another human being inside them, the connection they feel to that, and then can things go wrong and they can lose the baby.

“And it’s so difficult, especially losing the baby so late into the pregnancy.”

Perrie confirmed she was pregnant again in September, just weeks after opening up about her two miscarriages.

Speaking on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul C Brunson, she said: “It’s weird, because the first time it happened, I think because it was so early, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s hard’.

“But I think when you’re 24 weeks and you’ve planned out that room and all these things, it’s really hard. And nobody knows other than immediate friends and family.

“I remember shortly after, friends would message and be like, ‘How’s the bump?’ And I’d be like, ‘There is no bump’.”

Perrie was also full of praise for Alex during the interview, saying: “He’s very mature. He’s very laid back. He’s very level-headed.

“He’s not the type to get mad or get angry or get funny about things. It might sound boring to some, but it’s so unproblematic.”

VICTORIA Beckham gushed over her husband David Beckham as he continued a sweet family tradition with their daughter, Harper.

The former Spice Girl gave an insight into their family Christmas which they celebrated with their extended families and three of their four children, Cruz, Romeo and Harper.

Victoria shared a range of photos and videos from their festive Christmas, including a video of David dancing with Harper, 14, to the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton hit, Islands in the Stream.

David and his wife have long danced to the hit song at anniversary and birthday celebrations as a mark of their love, have even inspired a viral TikTok trend in 2024.

Now David is continuing the tradition with his daughter and they sung the lyrics as they danced, and the former England footballer then dipped Harper who held on and smiled.

“Truly the best daddy,” Victoria captioned the video which she shared to her Instagram stories.

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Notably absent from their celebrations was the couple’s oldest son, Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz.

Brooklyn himself posted a Christmas Eve snap of his wife, declaring that she’s his “everything” amid the feud with his family.

The couple then spent Christmas Day hitting the courts with tennis  player Reilly Opelka, as well as Nicola’s brother Bradley.

The ongoing feud between Brooklyn and his family escalated this month when he blocked his famous parents on Instagram.

The move infuriated brother Cruz, 20, who addressed the drama – revealing that Brooklyn removed the entire family – including 14-year-old Harper – from his social media.

The musician confirmed his parents woke up to being banned from seeing Brooklyn’s profile, and said: “My mum and dad would never unfollow their son.

“They woke up blocked. As did I.”

Brooklyn’s wife Nicola is also not following any of the Beckham family on Instagram – weeks after the couple were absent from David’s long-awaited knighthood celebrations.

Meanwhile David and Victoria were not present for Brooklyn and Nicola’s New York wedding vow renewal in August.  

The couple, who tied the knot in 2022, were last pictured with David and Victoria last Christmas.

Earlier this week, Brooklyn reportedly called for his parents to apologise to Nicola, with a source claiming: “There was a long briefing war where it was open season on Nicola. They (David and Victoria) targeted Nicola and thought that they could do so without consequences.

“You can’t inflict that much pain and damage on two people and then expect to pick up the relationship via a public social media post. The person who caused the pain does not get to decide when they declare it is over.

“If they want to make up then they need to apologise and acknowledge the pain caused and make changes to show that it is not going to happen again.”

OLIVIA ATTWOOD has branded her personal life was ‘garbage’ after spending Christmas Day alone.

The TV presenter, 34, made the admission on the Sunday Roast podcast with close pal Pete Wicks, as the pair discussed their personal lives during the Christmas special.

The former Love Island star revealed that she wants to “really get my s*** together in 2026” as she and Pete read out new years resolutions sent in by fans.

“I want to really get my s*** together in 2026”, she said on the podcast.

Olivia continued: “I feel like I had a good work year. I think my personal life was garbage, so I’d like to have more of a balance in 2026.”

Pete, 37, responded by telling pal Olivia that he would aim to settle down in the next 12 months, but his claim was swiftly dismissed by Olivia.

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Knowing Pete for over eight years, she branded him “

Pete, 37, responded by saying that maybe he would aim to settle down in the next 12 months, but Olivia refused to believe him. 

After knowing Pete for over eight years, Olivia branded him “attention-seeking”.

And she suggested that the said the TV star is more likely to settle down when he’s 45.

The pair first met back in 2017 after appearing on ITV2 reality show The Only Way Is Essex.

They quickly became pals and have remained close ever since, and this year that friendship became a working relationship as the pair managed to bag their own The Sunday Roast podcast on KISS FM.

Olivia spoke candidly about her festive period – and told how she’ll be enjoying December 25 with her dogs instead.

It has been a tough few weeks for Olivia, who recently broke down in tears as she bid farewell to the Cheshire mansion she shared with Gillingham footballer Bradley Dack, 31.

The couple, who tied the knot two years ago, moved into the stunning pad in 2021, with the star hailing it her “dream home”.

But the pair are relocating back to London – nearer to Brad’s Kent club – for their next “chapter” amid a difficult time for the couple.

After admitting Brad will be playing football or training “most of the time” she said: “I’m in London for Christmas.

“I’m staying in London but going to a hotel, we did the family already, we’re done… We can’t go skiing because of the football.’

She told Towie star Pete on their show: “I decided to do a hotel which is just 10 minutes from my house, I feel I physically, mentally needed a break from where we’re currently living, because we’ve got s**t everywhere, boxes, suitcases.

“I just need to not be there.”

It came after she previously uploaded a video to social media where she wrote over the clip: “Saying goodbye to the house I will never call home again.”

The video finished with a heartbroken Olivia seen waving goodbye to her home.

Writing over the last bit of the clip, she said: “Next chapter pending.”

CARDI B’s boyfriend Stefon Diggs seemed to finally confirm he has welcomed more than one baby this year.

The New England Patriots player, 32 – who welcomed a son with rapper Cardi in November – posted three separate photos of three infants on his Instagram Stories on Christmas Day.

In one, Stefon held a baby boy in front of a colorful Christmas tree.

“One of my boys’ first Christmas,” he proudly posted.

The identity of the baby’s mother is unclear- though Stefon was rumored to have fathered a mystery child after TMZ obtained photos of him loading a baby carrier outside a New York hospital in May.

In the second photo, the NFL star posed with a baby girl – who appears to be Charliee, his daughter with Instagram model Lord Gisselle, who also goes by Aileen Lopera.

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The U.S. Sun exclusively confirmed Stefon was the father of Aileen’s baby after she took him to court to confirm paternity and request child support in Los Angeles.

The baby was born in April 2025 – just seven months before Cardi gave birth to his son.

In Stefon’s third photo, Cardi, 33, held their son in front of a sparkling Christmas tree.

“Miss yaw!” he captioned the pic. “Don’t be squeezing him too tight, you making him soft.”

Cardi and Stefon first stepped out publicly in May of this year, and she announced her pregnancy in September.

She is the mother of three kids with ex Offset- Kulture, Wave and Blossom. She gave birth to her youngest daughter in September 2024.

Stefon also has an older daughter named Nova, 8.

The Holiday is one of the most well-loved Christmas films among Brits. But many fans might not know that one of the film’s most iconic scenes was improvised by cameo star

People have been left baffled after learning that one of the most iconic scenes in festive classic The Holiday was improvised by a movie star in an impromptu cameo performance. For many, Christmas time means watching as many festive films as you can before the year comes to an end, and The Holiday is often cited as one of the best.

This 2006 romantic Christmas comedy stars Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black. The plot revolves around two women, played by Diaz and Winslet, who decide to swap homes for the holidays, crossing continents to escape their relationship woes. However they might not be as unlucky in love as they thought.

The film boasts picturesque country houses, an incredible play tent, plenty of festive cheer, and even cameo appearances from the likes of Dustin Hoffman, star of a plethora of screen gems, including 1967’s The Graduate. However, many fans have been left baffled to learn his surprise appearance wasn’t planned.

In an interview with NBC News, the film’s director, Nancy Meyers, revealed Hoffman’s cameo in the film had come up by accident after the actor walked onto set to say hello to her.

“Dustin was eating at a restaurant next door,” Nancy explained, saying he’d spotted all of the accompanying trailers and trucks outside. “And someone said they’re shooting in the Blockbuster.”

Dustin was told that the film was directed by Nancy, and since their daughters, who were in Middle School at the time, are best friends, decided to walk onto set to say hi. She then recalled Dustin sitting with her for an hour, just watching the shooting and having fun.

The scene they were filming took place inside the Blockbuster film store and sees Black’s character perform a number of iconic scores from different movies to Winslet’s character. “Well, it wasn’t an hour, but it was a long time, when I thought ‘what is wrong with me?” Nancy recalled, saying she invited the star to join the scene.

She said: “We’re talking about The Graduate, do you just want to be in the scene and we’ll just cut you, and you can just, whatever. And he went ‘alright’.”

Nancy went on to explain that she sent Dustin straight into the scene in the clothes he’d worn for this lunch earlier. They also didn’t do his hair or put any makeup on him.

“And he went over there, I had them do The Graduate thing, and he just said ‘can’t go anywhere’, and it was just great,” Nancy explained.

Several people quickly took to the comment section to share their bafflement, as many thought the cameo made the film even better.

“LOVE THIS!!!! Wow what a fun story,” one person said, while someone else wrote: “I love to see Dustin in that scene! It made it look even more realistic.”

A third user said: “One of my all time favourite movies, and yes, he added so much fun to it, seems like a great guy.”

Someone else shared: “I love this story! I walked by the Blockbuster as they were filming this that night in Brentwood! Dustin must’ve been dining at Pizzicotto, next door.”

The Denver Broncos eked out a 20-13 victory as they chase the AFC top seed the Chiefs have claimed so often in the last decade, but Travis Kelce was still the headline news in what could have been his final game in Kansas City.

The 36-year-old seemed to soak in his pre-game introduction more than usual then lingered on the field afterwards with plenty of Broncos players coming over to share a few words and show their respect to the three-time Super Bowl champion – with both his mother Donna and fiance Taylor Swift in the stands watching on.

Kelce and his Chiefs played hard despite being out of the play-offs and being two-touchdown underdogs without injured star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The home crowd and home defence made it tough for a Denver team looking to emulate Kansas City’s recent success, but the Broncos’ own star quarterback Bo Nix eventually got them over the line with a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Denver are certainly emulating last season’s Chiefs in winning tight games, with this their 11th one-score victory – four more than anyone else – while they’re the only team in NFL history to earn 12 comeback wins in one season.

But head coach Sean Payton will want a more explosive element to the offence, which dominated possession but struggled to make big plays and score touchdowns, making it a much closer game than it really should have been against a severely depleted Chiefs side.

While the Broncos are building there could be some upheaval in Kansas City this summer, whether that includes losing Kelce at the end of his 13th season remains to be seen.

Jimmy Kimmel swapped his suit and late-night desk for a cardigan and Christmas living room scene as he shared with British viewers an important holiday message: “Tyranny is booming over here.”

Kimmel appeared on public broadcaster Channel 4 Thursday to deliver an “alternative Christmas message,” counter programming to the British monarch’s annual televised address.

Kimmel’s message focused on his battle with President Trump, who reveled in his talk show’s September suspension. Kimmel was benched for roughly a week after backlash to his comments about Charlie Kirk — and an ominous threat by the Federal Communications Commission chair. Kimmel had criticized MAGA supporters for attempting to “score political points” after the conservative activist’s killing. He also poked fun at Trump boasting about White House ballroom renovations after being asked about Kirk’s death.

“You may have read in your colorful newspapers my country’s president would like to shut me up because I don’t adore him in the way he likes to be adored,” he said. He attributed the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to the “millions and millions of people” who fought to get him back on the air in the name of free speech.

“And because so many people spoke out, we came back. Our show came back stronger than ever. We won, the president lost, and now I’m back on the air every night giving the most powerful politician on Earth a right, and richly deserved, bollocking,” he said, referencing the British slang for scolding. Earlier this month, Kimmel signed a contract extension with ABC through May 2027.

Past hosts of the alternative Christmas message, which began in 1993, include Edward Snowden, Jesse Jackson and a deepfake of Queen Elizabeth II.

During his address, Kimmel called the president “King Donny the 8th.” “We don’t have a problem with your king, just the guy who thinks he’s our king,” he said, apologizing for the state of America and its democratic institutions.

“Don’t give up on us,” Kimmel said. “We’re going through a bit of a wobble right now, but we’ll come around.”

WHAM! star George Michael has raked in almost £75million from beyond the grave — and is set to bank even more, accounts show.

The singer’s firm, Nobby’s Hobbies Holding Limited, has turned over £74.7million since he died aged 53 on Christmas Day 2016.

Royalties poured in after the band’s 1984 classic hit Last Christmas, which he wrote, was the festive No1 in both 2023 and 2024.

George’s estate earned £6.6million from the 2023 chart success alone.

Cash also came from the 2023 Netflix documentary Wham!.

The company’s latest accounts end in March 2024, meaning earnings from Christmas 2024 are yet to be included.

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George left a £98million fortune when he died, mostly to his sisters.

We revealed earlier in the year how George Michael’s dilapidated £10m London mansion is showing signs of improvement after major renovation work.

A bitter row with neighbours over the chopping down of a number of historic trees hasn’t deterred the late star’s sister from updating the property.

George’s only living sibling, Yioda Panayiotou, was handed ownership of the property following the singer’s tragic death on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53. 

There was outrage when Yioda’s design team asked the local council to remove a number of trees and prune others at the front and rear of the property, which is in a conservation area. 

One residents association was furious that the works were also going to occur during the peak nesting season, which runs from March to July. 

Dec. 25 (Asia Today) — President Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung attended a Christmas service Thursday with about 130 worshippers at Haein Church in Incheon, the presidential office said.

Spokesperson Kim Nam-joon said in a written briefing that the visit was meant to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, offer a message of comfort and hope to the public beyond religion and reaffirm the value of social integration.

Kim said Lee met Pastor Lee Jun-mo and his wife, Pastor Kim Young-sun, upon arriving at the church and thanked them for the opportunity to share Christmas greetings there.

The pastors offered well-wishes and urged Lee to embrace vulnerable members of society, the spokesperson said.

Haein Church was founded in 1986 as what the presidential office described as a workers-funded “people’s church.” It is located in Gyeyang District, which was Lee’s constituency when he served as a lawmaker. The church is known for community projects supporting people including the homeless and victims of domestic violence, the presidential office said.

After the service, Lee and Kim had bibimbap with church members in the church dining hall, the spokesperson said. They later visited the Notre Dame Convent in Gyeyang District to exchange Christmas greetings.

Lee also attended a Christmas Mass Thursday afternoon at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, which the presidential office said drew about 1,000 worshippers, including Archbishop Chung Soon-taek of Seoul.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

This was not the Christmas that Mariela Gomez would have imagined a year ago.

Or the one that thousands of other Venezuelan immigrants in the United States would have thought. But Donald Trump returned to the White House in January and quickly ended their US dream.

Gomez found herself spending the holiday in northern Venezuela for the first time in eight years. She dressed up, cooked, got her son a scooter and smiled for her in-laws. Hard as she tried, though, she could not ignore the main challenges facing returning migrants: unemployment and poverty.

“We had a modest dinner, not quite what we’d hoped for, but at least we had food on the table,” Gomez said of the lasagne-like dish she shared with her partner and in-laws instead of the traditional Christmas dish of stuffed corn dough hallacas. “Making hallacas here is a bit expensive, and since we’re unemployed, we couldn’t afford to make them.”

Gomez, her two sons and her partner returned to the city of Maracay on October 27 after crossing the US-Mexico border to Texas, where they were quickly swept up by US Border Patrol amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. They were deported to Mexico, from where they began the dangerous journey back to Venezuela.

They crossed Central America by bus, but once in Panama, the family could not afford to continue to Colombia via boat in the Caribbean. Instead, they took the cheaper route along the Pacific’s choppy waters, sitting on top of sloshing petrol tanks in a cargo boat for several hours and then transferring to a fast boat until reaching a jungled area of Colombia. They spent about two weeks there until they were wired money to make it to the border with Venezuela.

Gomez was among the more than 7.7 million Venezuelans who left their home country in the last decade, when its economy came undone as a result of a drop in oil prices, corruption and mismanagement. She lived in Colombia and Peru for years before setting her sights on the US with hopes of building a new life.

Steady deportations

Trump’s second term has dashed the hopes of many like Gomez.

As of September, more than 14,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, had returned to South America since Trump moved to limit migration to the US, according to figures from Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica. In addition, Venezuelans were steadily deported to their home country this year after President Nicolas Maduro, under pressure from the White House, did away with his longstanding policy of not accepting deportees from the US.

Immigrants arrived regularly at the airport outside the capital, Caracas, on flights operated by a US government contractor or Venezuela’s state-owned airline. More than 13,000 migrants returned this year on the chartered flights.

Gomez’s return to Venezuela also allowed her to see the now 20-year-old daughter she left behind when she fled the country’s complex crisis. They talked and drank beer during the holiday, knowing it might be the last time they shared a drink for a while – Gomez’s daughter will migrate to Brazil next month.

Gomez is hoping to make hallacas for New Year’s Eve and is also hoping for a job. But her prayers for next year are mostly for good health.

“I ask God for many things, first and foremost life and health, so we can continue enjoying our family,” she said.

NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, reserve Jordan Clarkson had 25 and the New York Knicks came from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124 on Thursday and win on Christmas Day for the third straight year.

Reserves Tyler Kolek and Mitchell Robinson sparked the comeback after the Cavaliers led 103-86 early in the final period. Kolek had 16 points and nine assists, and had fans chanting his name after a late block on Donovan Mitchell that originally was called a foul but was overturned on review. Robinson hustled after offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive and finished with 13 boards.

Brunson made the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:05 remaining, after he, Kolek and Clarkson all hit from behind the arc in a 13-2 run that cut Cleveland’s 12-point lead to 111-110.

Mitchell had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Darius Garland added 20 points and 10 assists, but the Cavaliers blew their chance at a third straight win.

Evan Mobley finished with 14 points and nine rebounds after missing five games with a strained left calf.

The Cavs raced to an 18-3 lead behind 10 points from Mitchell and led 38-23 after one quarter. But Clarkson opened the second with consecutive 3-pointers, and after a Cavs three-pointer, the Knicks ripped off an 18-0 burst to take a 47-41 lead.

The Knicks made 12 of their first 14 shots in the second, before Mobley had Cleveland’s final four baskets as New York took a 60-58 edge into the break.

Cleveland quickly regained control in the third. Mitchell slammed down a lob pass that Garland threw from beyond halfcourt to cap a 10-3 burst to open the period, and Mitchell later hit a three-pointer to cap an 18-4 spurt that turned a 71-all tie into an 89-75 advantage for the Cavs.

EastEnders fans rejoiced as the Witches of Walford reunited in explosive scenes that played out in the BBC soap’s famous pub on Christmas Day as various truths were outed

EastEnders fans rejoiced as the Witches of Walford reunited in explosive scenes that aired on Christmas Day. The BBC soap aired its festive special on Thursday evening, and it was revealed exactly who had been tormenting Zoe Slater with threatening letters over the past few months.

Zoe made a much-anticipated comeback to the serial earlier this year, and it emerged later that she had twins almost 20 years ago. At the time, it was believed that the little girl had died and she had given her son away for adoption. Having been searching for her son for months, Zoe finally believed her son was about to turn up on Christmas Day, but it was all a wicked plot set up by a mysterious figure.

Earlier in the day, Zoe got into an altercation with Antony Trueman, the biological father of her children, at the top of the stairs in the Queen Vic which ended with her knocked out cold. In a surprise twist though, it was revealed that Zoe had woken up relatively unharmed and Anthony was dead.

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After Kat discovered them, she cleared out the pub and they were greeted by Chrissie Watts, who was last seen in 2024 driving away from the square following a long spell in prison for the murder of her husband Den. Chrissie, who had broken into the pub and fired up a karaoke microphone, said: “Ladies. Both of you. What a treat! Zoe pleaded: “Where’s my son?” as Chrissie confirmed: “He’s not coming I’m afraid…”

She added: “Torturing? With a few harmless games? I thought it was time we’d have a little reunion. It’s been so long. You’re not a drippy little girl anymore. Life has really toughened you up.” Zoe demanded to know why Chrissie was back on the scene, but she wouldn’t say anything without having a drink first.

It was then that Jasmine Fisher stepped into the pub and Chrissie confirmed that they knew each other. Zoe worked out that Jasmine was her daughter, even though she thought she had died several years ago. Jasmine said: “Only because you couldn’t be bothered to stick around the hospital long enough to hear me cry.” Through tears, Zoe pleased: “They took you away! You weren’t breathing,” but Jasmin continued: “Maybe I should be flattered because at least you didn’t just abandon me like you did my brother.”

“We’ve known each other a while, haven’t we, Jas? I was back in London seeing my parole officers. They can’t get enough of me, I’m a popular girl. Anyway, I bring up my phone, and there’s a picture of my old pal Zoe. You’d been through the wars. I thought it was a sign and decided to bring flowers. But when I got there, they wouldn’t let anyone near you and that’s when I bumped into this lovely one.”

“We both hate you. We wanted to teach you a lesson.” Jasmine raged that Zoe had never tried to find her once she knew she was alive but Kat reasoned: “We only found out today!” Chrissie twisted the knife further and brought up the fact that Zoe had slept with her husband Den several years ago.

Coldly, she added: “I pay for my crimes. And now you’re gonna pay for yours. But your punishment is gonna be in here. You’ve got a lovely little girl and you’re never gonna get to know her.”

Kat told Jasmine: “Look at her, she has really suffered, she has spent her whole life regretting this and yes, she makes bad decisions but she’s not a bad person. This here, Chrissie, she’s the evil one.” There was then another twist for fans as Sam Mitchell made her grand return to the soap by stepping out from behind the bar.

She said: “It’s not often that I side with Kat Slater. But she’s right. Chrissie Watts is evil.” Fans of the long-running BBC soap, which celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year, will know that Chrissie, Sam and Zoe formed the trio known as The Witches of Walford during their 2000s heyday.

At the time, an iconic storyline saw Chrissie instigating a revenge plot against her husband Den, and persuading Sam and Zoe to go along with her before she tried to frame them for Den’s murder.

Chrissie said: “The three of us. Back again. Who’s gonna turn up next? The ghost of Den?” Sam then asked Chrissie if she was related to Jasmine, and even though Zoe protested that she was the mother, Chrissie cut in to say: “She could’ve been mine! She’s the same age as the baby I lost in prison.”

Kat then demanded the three of them leave but Zoe, now in tears, tried to make her long-lost daughter see that Chrissie had simply goaded her into another revenge plot. Sam then brought up Chrissie’s manipulative ways to try to make Jasmin see sense.

Outside, Jasmine tried to get rid of Chrissie and insisted that she would be “better off” alone. Chrissie then warned Jasmine against mentioning her name to any law authorities, and walked back out of Albert Square. Jasmin and Zoe had a heart-to-heart, and when the police did arrive, Zoe stopped Kat from trying to cover for her and handed herself in as her mother wept.

Fans were quick to react to the reunion, with one fan writing on X: “Hahaha chrissie appearing like that in the Vic,” and a second added: “Kat, meet one of your first grandchildren!”

Another said: “This is vintage” and a fourth added: “Sam, Zoe and Chrissie in the same room in 20 years [crying emoji],” whilst another dramatically exclaimed: “THIS IS A HUGE SHOWDOWN!”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

LANDOVER, Md. — Dak Prescott threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns, and the Dallas Cowboys blew most of an 18-point lead before squeezing past the Washington Commanders 30-23 Thursday.

Dallas (7-8-1) scored touchdowns on its first three possessions to go up 21-3. Although the Commanders (4-12) cut the gap to a touchdown on three different occasions, they couldn’t complete the comeback and absorbed their 10th loss in 11 games.

Both teams were previously eliminated from playoff contention, which severely lessened the significance of this matchup between longtime NFC East rivals.

Prescott completed 19 of 37 passes and helped Dallas convert all six of its fourth-down tries. His two TD passes gave him 30, tying Tony Romo’s franchise record of four seasons with at least 30 touchdown throws.

Prescott shrugged off six sacks, including three by Jer’Zhan Newton.

Playing without injured quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Marcus Mariota (quad, hand), Washington turned to 39-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson. Making his 10th career start and first since 2021, Johnson went 15 for 23 for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored on runs of 10 and 72 yards for Washington. The latter touchdown got the Commanders to 24-17 in the third quarter, but Dallas restored its double-digit lead with a 52-yard field by Brandon Aubrey.

Aubrey added a 51-yarder to make it 30-20 with 3:59 remaining.

After Prescott threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson on the game’s opening drive, Johnson went 3 for 3 for 68 yards to get Washington to 7-3. The key play was a 41-yard completion to Deebo Samuel, Johnson’s longest since 2018. Samuel finished by running into Donovan Wilson, knocking the safety’s helmet off.

On their second possession, the Cowboys converted three fourth downs on a 17-play march that ended with a touchdown run by Javonte Williams. Prescott then made it three TDs in three drives with an 86-yard scoring pass to KaVontae Turpin.

Dec. 25 (UPI) — Police in Turkey detained 115 people on Thursday suspected of planning to stage terror attacks at Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations in the country.

The Istanbul Provincial Police Department, on instruction from the city’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, carried out 124 raids targeting 137 suspected members of ISIS, officials said in a press release.

“These suspects were identified as being in contact with conflict zones within the scope of terrorist organization activities,” the prosecutor’s office said in a press release posted to X.

The suspects, prosecutors said, were “planning attacks and issuing calls for action targeting our country — specifically aimed at non-Muslim individuals — within the context of upcoming Christmas and New Year events.”

Officials apprehended 115 of the 137 suspects and seized pistols, cartridges and “numerous organization documents” during the raids.

The Turkish National Intelligence Organization had earlier captured what it said is a senior ISIS figure who is suspected of being sent to carry out a suicide attack in Turkey, the Daily Sabah reported.

Other ISIS operators had as a result been investigated in Turkey after spending time in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region where they trained and planned for potential security attacks, according to Turkish intelligence figures.

Turkey, which shares a border with Syria, where ISIS continues to operate, has worked with Syria’s new president, as well as officials in the United States and Europe, to investigate and root what is left of the terrorist group, the BBC reported.

MADE In Chelsea star Louise Thompson was forced to spend Christmas Eve in hospital amid her ongoing health battle, she has revealed.

The reality star, 35, has faced several health challenges including ulcerative colitis, lupus, and PTSD after giving birth to her son, Leo.

She had to previously undergo the removal of her entire large intestine (colon) due to her inflammatory bowel condition, which resulted in her getting her life-saving stoma bag.

But on Christmas Eve, Louise revealed she had spent a large chunk of time in hospital having a procedure.

Louise underwent a proctoscopy, which, according to the NHS, is an examination where an endoscopist looks directly at the anal canal with a small rigid proctoscope.

Taking to her Instagram page to reveal her hospital visit and explain what she had done, Louise shared some snaps in a gown.

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“Looks dramatic but it wasn’t. I had a proctoscopy today. It’s like a colonoscopy but not as invasive because I don’t have a colon so there isn’t very far the camera can go,” she penned over the first slide.

“Still bloody awkward and a tiny bit uncomfortable but fentanyl is a wonder drug,” she penned.

She then shared a photo of her with a nasal cannula on her face and inserted into her nostrils.

Louise went on to pen: “These appointments are so important and they managed to fit me in quite urgently so I jumped at the offering of a 24th December date, then when it came around I realised the magnitude of it being Christmas Eve.

“What it REALLY made me think was…

“Despite all the chaos of what I’ve been through, I still think we are incredibly lucky to have the NHS which NEVER clocks off in case of emergencies.”

She then added on the next slide: “The NHS never sleeps.

“I had a proctoscope today.

“A nice little Christmas Eve camera up my bum.

“The NHS was still running in full swing. Well not quite, but you know what I mean.

“It prompted me to say a big thank you to everyone that is working as part of the NHS over the bank holidays.”

She then concluded: “Thanks for keeping the country ticking along and for keeping our loved ones alive.”

Reasons for getting a proctoscopy include bleeding from your anus, pain in the lower abdomen (tummy), persistent diarrhoea or changes to your bowel habits.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement summoned Afghans residing in the U.S. to present their documents during the holiday season, marking the latest effort by the Trump administration to crack down on migrants from the Asian nation.

ICE is seeking appointments for a “scheduled report check-in,” with one requesting such a meeting on Christmas Day and another asking for one on New Year’s Day, according to copies of letters sent to different people seen by Bloomberg News. Other notices were for check-ins around the holidays on Dec. 27 and Dec. 30.

The immigration agency has arrested migrants who appear at its offices in response to such formal requests, including those attending interviews for their green cards. Recipients of the letters had previously gained legal protection and were deemed “Afghan allies” as part of a program started by former President Joe Biden in August 2021 to protect those who fled to the U.S. after the American military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s subsequent takeover of the war-torn country.

“ICE is using federal and religious holidays to detain Afghans when access to legal counsel, courts, and advocates is at its lowest,” Shawn VanDiver, founder of the nonprofit group AfghanEvac that supports Afghans who assisted the U.S. war effort, said in a statement criticizing the call-ins and their timing. “This is not routine administrative scheduling.”

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, however, called the check-ins “routine” and “long-standing” without elaborating on how many letters were sent out. The spokesperson added that ICE continues its standard operations during the holidays.

Christmas and New Year’s Day are federal holidays when most government offices are closed.

The call-ins follow substantial changes to the U.S. immigration policy under President Donald Trump targeting Afghans in the wake of the November shooting of two National Guard troops by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who worked with U.S. forces and the CIA in Afghanistan before arriving in the US in 2021. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that Lakanwal, who has been charged with murder, came to the U.S. through the Biden program known as Operation Allies Welcome.

Since the November shooting, the Trump administration has announced it will re-review the cases of all refugees resettled under the Biden administration and freeze their green card applications, and will consider among “significant negative factors” a country’s inclusion on the president’s vast travel ban.

In another blow to Afghans, the administration’s refugee cap for fiscal year 2026 was vastly lowered to 7,500 from 125,000. The presidential determination indicated it will favor White South Afrikaners and did not mention Afghans.

The administration also removed an exemption for Afghan nationals with Special Immigration Visas — which offers those who provided services to the US government or military in Afghanistan — when it expanded its entry ban list to nationals of more than 30 countries from 19 previously. Afghan nationals were already on the entry ban list prior to the expansion.

The State Department earlier this year shuttered the office that helped resettle Afghan refugees who assisted the American war effort. An effort on Capitol Hill to compel the administration to restart the operations failed to make it into the defense policy bill that Trump signed this month.

With assistance from Alicia A. Caldwell. Lowenkron writes for Bloomberg.

RAIL passengers can expect travel chaos as the UK’s busiest train station closes until the new year.

Commuters will have to take alternative routes as a number of services are impacted by the closure.

With less people commuting to and from work, the festive period has become a popular time for rail companies planning major engineering works.

However, closures at this time of year still cause a fair amount of bother for those that are still forced to rely on these services.

From those working through the festivities to people planning a visit to friends and family, there are still a lot of passengers hoping to take their train as normal.

However, anyone planning to travel through Liverpool Street Station between now and the new year will want to rethink their route.

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Planned works

Network Rail has revealed Liverpool Street will remain closed until Friday, January 2.

The closure will impact services like the Weaver line and Stansted Express, as well as routes operated by Greater Anglia and c2c.

Liverpool Street previously shut for eight days between Christmas and the New Year in 2024.

According to London transport expert IanVisits, the engineering works being carried out at the UK’s busiest train station will strengthen the Bishopsgate tunnel.

The station itself will see panelling replaced above the concourse over platforms 1-10.

And the drainage system at Liverpool Street will also be improved as part of the works.

Greater Anglia lines, including the Stansted Express as well as Great Eastern and West Anglia mainline services will be rerouted as a result of the closure.

From now until January 2, the routes will run from Stratford.

Meanwhile, c2c services will run from London Fenchurch Street via West Ham.

And Weaver line trains will run from London Fields to Chingford, Enfield Town, and Cheshunt.

London Underground impact

Underground services operating from Liverpool Street will also be affected by the closure.

The Elizabeth Line will have no service between Liverpool Street and Stratford from December 27 to January 1.

Meanwhile, the Central Line will still run between Liverpool Street and Stratford, but a ticket acceptance arrangement will be in place.

This means you can use your ticket on the Central Line to get between the two stations.

And other parts of the Tube network, including the Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Victoria lines, will operate normally with some closures.

Tube passengers are advised to check the TfL Journey Planner for specific details. 

PHOENIX — It’s not the lineups, the injuries or necessarily the system. The cause of the Lakers’ defensive demise is a thousand little decisions gone wrong.

“It comes down to just making the choice,” coach JJ Redick said after the Lakers gave up 132 points in a blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. “It’s making the choice. There’s shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can’t. It’s just a choice and there’s a million choices in a game, and you’re very likely not gonna make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of ‘em correctly? It gives you a chance to win.”

Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Lakers (19-9) are ranked 28th in defensive rating in the last 14 games entering a Christmas Day showcase against the Houston Rockets at 5 p.m. PST at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers, without any individual shutdown defenders, need a perfectly executed team defense to compete. But 15 different starting lineups in 28 games has delayed some of the team’s ability to build continuity. The Lakers have had their full complement of 14 standard contract players for two games.

Forward Rui Hachimura (groin) and Luka Doncic (leg) could return Thursday. Guard Gabe Vincent, one of the team’s top defensive options on the perimeter, will miss his fourth game with lower-back soreness. Center Jaxson Hayes tweaked his left ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s loss and didn’t return.

The Rockets (17-10) limp into the Christmas Day blockbuster with their own struggles. The team thought to be one of the few who could challenge Oklahoma City in the West has lost five of its last seven games. Three of the losses were in overtime and four came against teams currently out of the play-in picture, including Tuesday’s loss to the Clippers.

Led by Kevin Durant’s 25.2 points, the Rockets are a statistical anomaly in the sped up, possession-maximizing modern NBA. They have the third-ranked offense in the league despite being one of the slowest. They shoot the fewest three-pointers per game, but make them at a 40% clip that ranks second, and dominate the glass with NBA-leading 48.7 rebounds and 16.1 offensive rebounds per game.

Houston’s physicality and expertise on the boards could be especially worrisome for a team that still has to consciously choose defense on a possession-by-possession basis instead of consistently living up to a standard of playing hard.

“There’s really no defense, no scheme we can do when we’re giving up offensive rebounds in crucial moments like we are, our [opponents] are getting wherever they want on the court,” guard Marcus Smart said after Tuesday’s loss. “And there’s no help, there’s no resistance, there’s no urgency. … It’s on us.”

The Suns grabbed 12 offensive rebounds against the Lakers on 35 missed shots, an offensive rebounding rate of 34.3%. After the Suns scored a three-pointer by twice grabbing offensive rebounds off tipped balls, Lakers players had an animated discussion in a timeout with Smart was gesturing toward center Deandre Ayton about tipping rebounds. Ayton, who finished with 10 rebounds and 12 points, and Smart ended the timeout with a high-five.

“[I need to] just continue to talk to guys, even though sometimes they might not want to hear it,” said Smart, a free-agent addition the Lakers coveted for his leadership and tenacity on defense. “Especially when we losing, nobody wants to hear it, myself included, but also understand that it’s integral for us to hear those things, to see and to be able to talk to one another and figure it out as players on the court, because we’re the ones out there.”

Redick intentionally built in moments for players to connect and communicate during every timeout this season before coaches speak. The strategy was meant to encourage players to take a larger leadership role. “Championship communication” was one of the team’s three pillars.

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, foulds Clippers guard James Harden on a layup during their game Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Along with “championship shape,” Redick also asked his team to build “championship habits.” Living up to the mantras is easier said than done.

“It’s not the easy choice,” Redick said. “It’s human nature. … We do it on a daily basis. We make easy choices cause it’s comfortable. Comfortable doesn’t win.”

Pope Leo has urged Ukraine and Russia to find the “courage” to hold direct talks to end the war during his first Christmas remarks to crowds in St Peter’s square.

He called for an end to conflicts around the world during his Urbi et Orbi address, which is traditionally delivered by the pontiff on Christmas Day to worshippers gathered in Vatican City.

Speaking about Ukraine, the Pope said: “May the clamour of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue.”

His plea comes as US-led negotiations on a deal to end the fighting continues.

The US has sought to put together an agreement acceptable to both sides, but direct talks between Russian and Ukraine have not taken place during this latest round of diplomatic efforts.

Pope Leo also decried turmoil and conflict plaguing other parts of the world, including Thailand and Cambodia where deadly border clashes have flared up despite a ceasefire in July.

He asked that the South East Asian nations’ “ancient friendship” be restored and “to work towards reconciliation and peace”.

During an earlier Christmas Day sermon in St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo lamented conditions for homeless people the world over, and the damage caused by conflicts.

“Fragile is the flesh of defenceless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” he said.

He said the story of the birth of Jesus showed that God had “pitched his fragile tent” among the people of the world. “How, then,” he asked, turning his attention to the conditions of Palestinians, “can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?”

Gaza has been devastated by Israeli bombardment in a two-year war, triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Winter storms have compounded the plight of the territory’s 2.1m population, nearly all of whom have been displaced and their homes damaged or destroyed.

Aid agencies have called for Israel to allow more tents and urgently needed supplies into Gaza.

Cogat, the Israeli military body which controls Gaza’s border crossings, has dismissed claims of deliberate aid restrictions, saying almost 310,000 tents and tarpaulins had been delivered since the start of the ceasefire in October.

KIM Kardashian and her sisters got all decked out for the family’s annual Christmas Eve party, and showed off their lavish looks on social media for fans to take in.

Kendall Jenner, 30, hosted the party this year for the first time, since sister Kim’s massive mansion is currently under renovation.

Kim, 44, took a sexy selfie video of her skintight silver gown with sparkly black accents that looked like festive garland.

She wore dangly diamond earrings and matching diamond cuff bracelets to accessorize the look.

She topped off her outfit with a high half ponytail.

The breathtaking dress was a 1986 vintage Thierry Mugler.

Hostess Kendall chose an all-white vintage Mugler look with matching fur trim.

She showed off her long legs in a very, very short skirt.

In a sexy selfie, she held a glass of red wine.

In a white satin dress and diamond accessories, Khloe, 41, shared some pics of her kids, Tatum and True.

Kylie, 28, chose a strapless black Galliano gown, and wore her hair in a braided updo.

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Oldest sister Kourtney, 46, mentioned she attended the party, but didn’t share any photos of her fashion choice.

Momager Kris also kept fans in suspense and kept her looks off camera as of Christmas morning.

The Kardashian-Jenner women have been hosting their star-packed Christmas Eve bash for decades, with past guests including Paris Hilton and Jennifer Lopez.

However, this year the family decided to keep the party more intimate, claiming Kris’ recent 70th birthday bash took all their energy.

‘We are not doing a big Christmas Eve party this year, because we just had my mom’s huge 70th and we just wanted something more intimate, so we’re doing just family, but of course, we have to still be so dressed up, because that’s what we love to do,” Khloe said.

“And so we are just celebrating the holiday very glam and fab.”

Dec. 24 (UPI) — High winds, torrential rains and localized river flooding could make the Christmas holiday particularly challenging across much of Southern California.

A storm system is forecast to bring between 4 and 7 inches of rainfall to valleys and coastal areas located south of Santa Barbara County’s Point Conception on Thursday and Friday before dissipating on Saturday, KTLA reported.

Further east in San Bernardino County, heavy rainfall caused flash flooding and debris fields early Wednesday.

The potential for heavy rainfall and localized flooding caused the National Weather Service in Los Angeles-Oxnard to issue a flash flood warning for Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties from 4:02 a.m. to noon PST on Wednesday.

“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles,” NWS forecasters said. “Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.”

NWS forecasters also advise holiday travelers and others to be aware of their surroundings and to avoid driving on flooded roads.

“In hilly terrain, there are hundreds of low water crossings, which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route,” NWS forecasters advised.

Small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses are particularly vulnerable to flash flooding, according to the NWS. So are low-lying areas and others with poor drainage.

“Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Montecito, Point Conception, Carpinteria, Solvang, Isla Vista, El Capitan State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Highway 101 through Gaviota State Park, Summerland, Rincon Point, La Conchita, Goleta, Buellton, Lake Cachuma, Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara Airport and Hope Ranch,” NWS forecasters warned.

Areas north of Point Conception are expected to get between 2 and 4 inches of rainfall in coastal and valley areas and between 4 and 7 inches in foothills and mountains through Friday.

Those south of Point Conception are expected to see heavier rainfall amounts of between 4 and 7 inches in coastal and valley areas and between 6 and 14 inches in foothills and mountains through Friday.

Heavy rainfall would become especially dangerous and destructive in local burn areas, where flooding and debris flows are more likely.

The rainfall could be accompanied by strong and gusty southeast and south winds on Wednesday and Thursday, with gusts of between 60 and 80 mph predicted across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, in the Ventura and Los Angeles mountains and Antelope Valley.

Winds gusting to between 35 and 55 mph are predicted in other areas, and high wind warnings and wind advisories remain in effect until the storm system passes on Saturday.