Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's Friendship: Inside the “New Year’s Eve Live” Stars’ Decades-Old Bond

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NEED TO KNOW

• Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen have been friends since the early 2000s

• They reconnected years after a friend set them up on a blind date, which Cooper called off

• The CNN reporter and the reality TV host have been hosting CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast together since 2017

Anderson CooperandAndy Cohenhave been friends for over 20 years.

The reality TV host and longtime CNN reporter were originally set up on a blind date by mutual friends in the '90s, but Cooper called it off before they could get together. Luckily, they reconnected years later and have been close friends ever since.

Over the years, Cooper and Cohen have supported each other through major life events, including the death of Cooper's motherGloria Vanderbiltand thebirths of their respective children. The duo also appear together on TV often — Cooper has been a guest onWatch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohenmultiple times, and the pair have been hosting CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast since 2017.

Though the two have been known to poke jokes at each other, Cohen had somesweet words for Coopershortly after he welcomed his first son, Wyatt. During a May 2020 episode of his SiriusXMRadio Andyshow, Cohen admitted that Cooper's baby announcement "had me in a puddle of tears" as "you really have to jump through a lot of hoops to have a baby as a gay man."

"He went through a lot, and I'm just so happy that his son is so beautiful and happy and healthy. I've already seen Anderson light up and open up in new ways," the Bravo star added.

From going on tour together to becoming "playground dads," here's everything to know about Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's friendship.

1990s: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen get set up on a blind date by friends

During a December 2017The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Cooper and Cohen shared that they first met when friends tried to set them up on a blind date. At the time, Cooper was a reporter at ABC and Cohen was working for CBS.

"We had a phone call to set up the date, and I knew within 45 seconds I was never going on a date with Andy Cohen," Cooper shared with hostJimmy Fallon. "He violated my cardinal rule, which is he asked me about my mom [Gloria Vanderbilt] within the first minute of talking to me."

"I wanted to date the Vanderbilt boy! I was excited!" Cohen exclaimed. Cooper ended up canceling the date.

Early 2000s: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen start vacationing with the same group of friends

The friends shared in a December 2017 interview withThe New York Timesthat they both knew businessmanBarry Dillerand began vacationing with him and his friends. "We wound up in this group that would travel together, [Diller] and his friends," Cohen said.

Some of the friends they traveled with included Diller's wife, fashion designerDiane von Furstenberg, and the late talent managerSandy Gallin.

"I remember going up some waterway in a slow-moving boat, talking to you, sort of entranced. Andy, even before he was on TV, was the life of the party," Cooper added.

"Then we would have dinner occasionally, or be at the same party. We went to Croatia in 2005. I was at Bravo then," Cohen continued.

In an August 2015 interview withEntertainment Weekly, Cohen explained, "Really the way we became friends is he and I have been around the world and back together. We've really been around the world together."

September 12, 2010: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen sit front row at a DVF show

The duo turned out to support their friend von Furstenberg for her Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. They were seated next toSarah Jessica Parkerin the front row at the event, which marked one of their first public outings as friends.

December 12, 2010: Anderson Cooper appears onWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Cooper made his first appearance on Cohen's Bravo show,Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenin 2010, alongsideNeNe LeakesfromThe Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Cooper and Leakes had previously spoken about how much they liked the other in various media appearances, but theWWHLepisode was the first time they'd met in person.

November 14, 2014: Anderson Cooper interviews Andy Cohen live to promoteThe Andy Cohen Diaries

When Cohen's second book was released, he asked Cooper to do aninterview with him at the 92nd Street Yin New York City.

The two bantered back and forth, with Cooper telling the audience, "It's a little weird because he was trying to make out with me right before we came out here."

"It was a wonderful night. We have really nice chemistry. ... It isn't good enough to date, but we've got great chemistry," Cohen later shared with theAtlanta Jewish Timesin June 2015.

March 21, 2015: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's AC2 tour kicks off in Boston

Not long after their 92nd St Y appearance, Cooper and Cohen were encouraged to do similar shows around the country.

"My agent was in the crowd [at the 92nd St Y interview], and she was like, 'You guys should take this on the road,' " Cooper shared withTheNew York Times.

Cohen added, "We looked at each other, and, immediately, were like, 'Oh, my God, we can travel the country together.' "

They started the AC2 tour in Boston, as they revealed onWWHL, and have since traveled to 50 different cities.

July 5, 2017: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen vacation in Bora Bora together

The duo vacationed together in Bora Bora in 2017. Cohen posted a picture of himself and Cooper with the caption, "Caught a silver fox swimming by a deserted island!"

In it, both wore long-sleeve O'Neill rash guards, and Cohen sported a colorful pair of swim trunks.

December 31, 2017: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen host CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast together for the first time

In October 2017, it was announced that Cohen would be joining Cooper to host CNN's New Year's Eve Live broadcast. The decision was made after CNN elected to cut ties withKathy Griffin.

Ahead of the night, Cooper and Cohen spoke to PEOPLE about what viewers could expect from the broadcast.

"Andy is who is he andhe's kind of the life of the party wherever he goes," Cooper said in December 2017. "And I think it's going to reflect our friendship and the comfort we have with each other and the dynamic of our relationship. We're as curious to see where it goes and what happens! We're both eager and excited about it."

December 28, 2018: Anderson Cooper sends well wishes to dad-to-be Andy Cohen

During a December 2018 episode ofWWHL, Cohen revealed that he wasgoing to be a father, and several of his famous friends sent well wishes to the host, including Cooper.

"I'm so excited for Andy, he is going to be a great dad!" the CNN anchor told PEOPLE in December 2018. "And I'm so glad he finally announced it, so I can pepper him with questions on New Year's Eve!"

February 27, 2019: Anderson Cooper spends time with Andy Cohen's newborn son

Shortly after thebirth of Cohen's son, Benjamin Allen, the new dad shared a sweet snap onInstagramof his newborn lying in his crib while Cooper looked on. He wrote in the caption, "Uncle Anderson got an exclusive."

June 17, 2019: Andy Cohen pays tribute to Anderson Cooper's mother Gloria Vanderbilt

AfterVanderbilt's death at 95 years oldin June 2017, Cohen posted a thoughtful tribute to her onInstagram.

"Gloria Vanderbilt was an amazing woman who lived a life filled with incredible peaks and impossible obstacles. Through it all she remained eternally optimistic with a wicked sense of humor," he wrote in the caption.

Cohen continued, "In fact, Anderson's iconic and infectious giggle comes from his mom. Sending Anderson all my love, and may she Rest In Peace."

A few days later, heshared a sweet anecdoteabout Cooper and Vanderbilt. "I think how sweet — every time I saw her with Anderson, he always held her hand, which really touched me," he told PEOPLE.

April 30, 2020: Anderson Cooper welcomes a son and Andy Cohen congratulates him

On April 27, 2020, Cooper welcomed his son,Wyatt Cooper. He shared the news on a broadcast ofAnderson Cooper 360°and on Instagram, posting a sweet picture of himself and Wyatt onInstagram.

Shortly after, the Bravo host shared a picture of Cooper and his newborn onInstagram. "'New life, new hope!' Wyatt Cooper, you couldn't have come at a better time! I know a friend who can't wait to meet you!" he captioned it.

June 22, 2020: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's sons meet for the first time

Cooper and Cohen celebrated Father's Day byintroducing their sons to each other oneduring a virtual episode ofWWHL.

"I thought it would be fun if they met right now," Cohen said. "Look, that's gonna be your good buddy Wyatt," the Bravo host told his son Benjamin as he pointed to Wyatt.

"That's gonna be your good buddy and we're gonna travel together. And if you like him half as much as I like his daddy, you're gonna be great friends," he continued.

September 1, 2020: Andy Cohen posts shirtless pictures of Anderson Cooper

Cohen had some fun with Cooper's vacation photos from years past. He posted a few snaps toInstagramwith the caption, "If it were a normal year, I'd be on vacation with my pal...threatening to post shirtless pics of him. Well, it's 2020 and I'm sitting on my deck so I figured I'd just post without asking and piss him off! #SilverFox."

October 9, 2020: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen take their sons on a playdate

Amid the pandemic, Cooper and Cohen ventured out for asocially distanced playdatewith their sons.

"Playground Dads! (Btw my sweater is from @grantedsweatercompany)," Cohen captioned a photo of the pair taken in New York City's Greenwich Village.

December 31, 2020: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen take shots during New Year's Eve broadcast

To celebrate the end of 2020, Cooper and Cohentook a round of shotswhile broadcasting the ball drop on New Year's Eve for CNN. The shots came at Cohen's request and Cooper's dismay, and the CNN anchor's reaction to them got more hilarious with each round.

"I have not had a shot since, I think, the last time we were here," Cooper told Cohen before their first drink.

Cohen responded, "You're getting better at it! I would argue that you're getting better at it."

June 2, 2021: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen celebrate their birthdays together

Cooper (whose birthday is June 3) and Cohen (whose birthday is June 2)celebrated together at a surprise partywith friends, including Parker and her husband,Matthew Broderick.

They both posted toInstagramfor the occasion, with Cooper writing, "So proud of all you've done, the person you are, and the dad you've become."

December 31, 2021: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen host New Year's Eve broadcast

The duo returned to CNN for New Year's Eve in 2021, where they had shots during the broadcast — including one in honor ofBetty White, whodied that December. As the night went on, Cohen got progressively more intoxicated and made comments about former N.Y.C. mayorBill de BlasioandRyan Seacrest.

"If you look behind me, you'll see Ryan Seacrest's group of losers performing. I'm sorry but if you're watching ABC, you're watching nothing," the Bravo host said at one point.

A few days later, Cohen admitted that he had been "overserved" and addressed his comments, saying, "The only thing that I regret saying, the only thing is that I slammed the ABC broadcast. And I really like Ryan Seacret and he's a great guy and I really regret saying that and I was just stupid and drunk and feeling it."

February 12, 2022: Andy Cohen and his son meet Anderson Cooper's second son Sebastian

Of course, Cohen was one of the first people to meet Cooper's second son,Sebastian, a few days after he was born.

OnInstagram, he shared a sweet picture of himself cradling Sebastian while his own son, Benjamin, gently touched the baby's head.

In the caption, Cohen wrote, "Today we met our new pal Sebastian Maisani-Cooper! He's a peaceful beauty. Ben calls him "Wheels"! Mazel to Anderson & Benjamin."

May 9, 2022: Anderson Cooper meets Andy Cohen's daughter Lucy

It was a big year for both Cooper and Cohen. Just a few months afterCooper welcomed Sebastian, Cohenwelcomed a second childof his own, a daughter named Lucy. Cohen shared a sweet picture ofCooper meeting Lucy, which he captioned in part, "Uncle Anderson, keeping Lucy honest!"

November 18, 2022: Andy Cohen speaks about the 2022 New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper

In spite of rumors that CNN wouldn't be allowing on-air presenters to drink on camera during the 2022 New Year's Eve broadcast, Cohen said viewers can probably expect to see him and Anderson doing shots together per usual.

"I think people enjoy seeing me feed Anderson shots andthat's on the menu," he shared with PEOPLE.

December 15, 2022: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen discuss dating apps

While promoting their upcoming New Year's Eve special onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Cooper and Cohen discussed their dating lives and revealed whether or not they are on the apps. "I'm back out there, I'm on the apps. I'm on Tinder, I'm on Raya," Cohen said.

When Colbert asked if Anderson was on Raya, Cohen jumped in and said, "No, but I would like him to be and I would like him to be on Tinder."

The pair then pitched each other to potential prospects and shared the best things about each other, as well as the downsides.

December 27, 2022: Andy Cohen says he and Anderson Cooper have bonded over being gay dads

Cohen spoke about howhis friendship with Cooperhas evolved since they became parents in an episode of hisTable for Twopodcast.

"We are these geriatric patients hobbling around chasing our children, but look it's another bonding thing," Cohen said.

He also mentioned that he's glad his and Cooper's kids will be able to grow up together.

"I think what is going to be really interesting to us, as it develops, is being gay dads and as our kids start realizing more and more 'Oh I have gay dads.' I am so glad that Ben [Cohen] will grow up with Wyatt [Cooper] and that Ben with grow up seeing Anderson and Benjamin [Maisani] raising Wyatt and Sebastian."

May 7, 2023: Anderson Cooper interviews Andy Cohen forCBS Sunday Morning

Cohen sat down with Cooper for an interview onCBS Sunday Morningto promote his bookThe Daddy Diaries.

"Well, this is weird. I suddenly feel very vulnerable. You need to do yourBarbara WaltersJedi thing right now and make me feel comfortable," Cohen joked.

The two friends mostly discussed the Bravo host's decision to become a single dad.

"Doing this without a partner, did it give you great pause?" Cooper asked. To which Cohen responded: "I'm happy to say it didn't. I just thought, I want to do this and I'm doing it and I know it's going to be really hard. As a single parent, I just worry about being everything to them. I want to be everything to them, and I know how impossible that is, in a weird way."

December 29, 2024: Andy Cohen reveals the most "annoying" part about working with Anderson Cooper

TheWWHLhost revealed to PEOPLE in December 2024 that the most "annoying" part about working with Cooper is how he's forced to eventually "be the straight guy."

"Literally, he's in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I'm the one that's hitting all the commercial breaks," Cohen joked. "I kind of turn into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes, and he turns into Mr. Bravo. It's a very funny role reversal."

December 17, 2025: Anderson Cooper jokes he checks online to see how much Andy Cohen "screwed" them over on NYE

During a December 2025 appearance onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Cooper joked that he looks online during the last half-hour of their annual NYE broadcast to check if Cohen hasgotten them into trouble.

"The problem for me is after New Year's Eve, as soon as we get off, really in the last 30 minutes, I'm just looking at things online to see in what ways has he screwed us over," he said. "[What] did he say I'm gonna have to like, clean up after? Will the headline [of] the Drudge Report inevitably be the next morning, 'This is CNN?,' with a picture of this guy?' "

Read the original article onPeople

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December 31, 2025

Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's Friendship: Inside the “New Year’s Eve Live” Stars’ Decades-Old Bond

Noam Galai/Getty NEED TO KNOW Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen have been friends since the early 2000s They reconnected years after a frien...

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Bruce Willis' wife Emma celebrates couple's anniversary amid actor's dementia battle

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Emma Heming Willis marked a very sweet milestone with her husband and father of her children,Bruce Willis.

On Tuesday, the model and actresstook to Instagramto celebrate the anniversary of her and Bruce making it "official." Sharing a candid photo of them from that special time nearly 20 years ago, Emma captioned the post, "18 years ago, he became my boyfriend. With one kiss on the top of my head, time stood still."

She added, "I'm so lucky to know this kind of love."

Emma, 47, and theDie Hardactor, 70, who starred in the filmsRed 2andPerfect Strangertogether, have been married since 2009. The couple shares two children together: Mabel Ray Willis, whom they welcomed in April 2012, and Evelyn Penn Willis, who was born in May 2014.

Emma Heming Willis/Instagram

Bruce isalso dad to daughtersTallulah, Scout, and Rumer with ex-wifeDemi Moore, whom he was married to from 1987 to 2000, but remain close.

The actor's family has beentransparent about the highs and lowsof his health since hisaphasia diagnosisin 2022, which progressed to afrontotemporal dementia diagnosisin 2023.

Emma in particular has spread awareness about FTD on social media and in interviews. She published a book in September,The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, intended to serve as a "supportive guide" for caregivers navigating a loved one's dementia diagnosis.

The mother of two has assumed the role of caretaker of her husband alongside a 24-hour health team that aids the ailing actor, resulting in herliving separatelyin a second home with their daughters.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Emma has often taken to social media to share her experiences as Bruce's caregiver, and faced intense scrutiny of her motives while doing so. In September, shedefended herselfin a videoshared to her Instagram, saying, "Everyone will have an opinion, but you have to remind yourself that most don't have the experience to back it up... And if that's the case, they shouldn't offer their two cents about it, and you shouldn't pay them any mind."

During the ABC specialEmma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, which aired over the summer, Emmashared that although Bruceis in "really great health overall," his brain "is failing him."

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

"The language is going, and, you know, we've learned to adapt," she toldDiane Sawyer. "And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a... different way."

Emma shared that there are moments when she will see a glimmer of his personality shine through and be instantly taken back to a time before his diagnosis. "Not days, but we get moments," she said. "It's his laugh, right? Like, he has such a hearty laugh. And, you know, sometimes you'll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and, you know, I just get, like, transported."

She appeared visibly emotional as she continued, "And it's just hard to see, because as quickly as those moments appear, then it goes. It's hard. But I'm grateful. I'm grateful that my husband is still very much here."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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Bruce Willis' wife Emma celebrates couple's anniversary amid actor's dementia battle

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Emma Heming Willis marked a very sweet milestone with her husband and father of her children,Bruce Willis. On Tuesda...

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David Beckham Adds Photos of Son Brooklyn to His Instagram Stories After Leaving Him Out of 2025 Recap

David Beckham/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• David Beckham posted two photos with his son Brooklyn Peltz Beckham after noticeably leaving him out of a 2025 recap post earlier in the day

• David wrote, "I love you all so much" and "You are my life" over the Instagram Stories, adding, "On to 2026"

• The post comes amid the ongoing rift between the Beckhams and just after Cruz Beckham revealed that his brother blocked his family members on Instagram

David Beckhamshared old photos of him with his sonBrooklyn Peltz Beckham, hours after leaving his eldest child out of his 2025 recap post amid arumored family feud.

The retired soccer star, 50, posted the pictures on his Instagram Stories roughly eight hours after sharing a post reflecting on his 2025 thatnoticeably did not include Brooklyn, 26, on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

"I love you all so much," David wrote over a black and white image of himself with a young Brooklyn.

In another Story, he shared a photo of his wifeVictoria Beckham, 51, with Brooklyn and the couple's other three children:Romeo, 23,Cruz, 20, andHarper, 14, soon after their daughter's birth. "You are my Life," David wrote alongside five white heart emojis.

David Beckham/Instagram

He added, "I love you all, Love Daddy x. On to 2026," with a champagne glass emoji.

David's Story came just after he told his 88.5 million Instagram followers he feels "very lucky to have had the year I've had in 2025" in his initial post, a 20-slide carousel of various "moments that I will never forget," he wrote.

David referenced his 50th birthday celebrations and being knighted byKing Charlesin November for his "services to sport and charity" in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. "Still pinching myself," he said of the honor in his caption.

"And then finishing with winning the MLS as an owner, I'm so grateful to my incredible wife, my amazing children, my friends and team I work with every single day," David continued. "Nothing would have been possible without you all."

The post comes amid Cruz's claims that Brooklyn blocked his family members on Instagram after fans noticed that Brooklyn wasno longer following his parents, and that they weren't following him back.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

A spokesperson for Victoria told PEOPLE at the time that Cruz "was responding to stories that [his] parents had unfollowed their son, which isn't true."

The ongoing rift between the Beckhams is rumored to have begun in 2022 when Brooklyn and his wifeNicola Peltz Beckhamwere preparing for their wedding. It was alleged that tension was increasing between Nicola and Victoria after Nicolachose not to wearone of the fashion designer's wedding dress designs for the ceremony, after initially agreeing to do so.

Earlier this year, asource told PEOPLEthat the rift rumors between the pair were true, while a second insider told PEOPLE that the dress situation is "far from the truth."

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December 31, 2025

David Beckham Adds Photos of Son Brooklyn to His Instagram Stories After Leaving Him Out of 2025 Recap

David Beckham/Instagram NEED TO KNOW David Beckham posted two photos with his son Brooklyn Peltz Beckham after noticeably leaving him out...

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New laws in 2026 target AI and deepfakes, paid leave and rising Obamacare premiums

As the country prepares to ring in the new year, new state laws will take effect around the country on a host of issues, including the use of artificial intelligence in health care and elections, paid family and medical leave and rising medical insurance costs.

Some states are looking for ways to soften the blow of higher health care premiums as Affordable Care Act tax subsidies expire after Congress failed to extend them. And on the verge of the coming year's midterm elections, a slew of more restrictive voting laws are taking effect.

Here are some of the laws that go live in 2026:

Deepfakes in elections, AI misuse in health care

Thirty-eight states passed legislation this year to deal with the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, including on such topics as preventing the misuse of AI in elections and regulating how the technology disperses medical information, according to theNational Conference of State Legislatures.

AI will continue to be a top issue for states despite President Donald Trump'sexecutive orderin December seeking to limit state regulations on AI, said the group's CEO, Tim Storey.

Trump issued his executive order — which aimed to prevent a piecemeal, state-level approach to AI regulation in favor of "minimally burdensome national policy" for the use of the technology — after Congress was unable to pass legislation over the past year. As a result, it lacks the strength that legislation would provide to rein in state-level actions given that Congress has the exclusive power to pre-empt state laws under the Constitution.

"States have taken the lead, as they have in so many issues," Storey said at a recent news briefing. "AI is the big one."

In the absence of federal legislation, several states have taken action, including on the issues of so-called deepfakes in elections and AI as a medical resource.

Californiapassed legislationbarring AI developers and businesses from giving patients the impression that they are interacting with licensed health care professionals when they are really speaking with chatbots. Oregon enactedsimilar legislationpreventing AI programs from using the title "nurse" when they give medical advice.

Elsewhere,MontanaandSouth Dakotapassed laws this year that now require disclosures about using deepfakes in elections — measures that could come into play during next year's midterms.

Deepfakes, which are images, video or audio that are digitally altered to create false representations of people's statements or actions, have been used to cause confusion in state and national elections. During the 2024 presidential election, for example,NBC News reportedthat a political consultant used AI to create a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden, telling New Hampshire Democrats not to vote in the primary.

Congress has yet to pass legislation to prohibit deepfake content that could mislead voters during elections.

Paid family and medical leave

Maine,DelawareandMinnesotawill have paid family and medical leave policies going intoeffect in 2026, joining several other states that already provide such benefits. Maryland, Vermont and Washington also passed legislation expanding or amending existing paid family leave policies, with the latter state's changes taking effect this coming year. Paid family and medical leave allows employees to receive wages when they take leaves of absence for medical reasons, give birth or take care of family members.

Minnesota state Sen. Alice Mann, a physician who is a member of the state's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, sponsored the state's paid leave bill. She said witnessing her patients having to choose between taking care of themselves or loved ones and missing paychecks pushed her to back the legislation.

"I see people every single day who struggle. People are left with the choice of taking care of themselves, their family members, their new baby and not getting a paycheck anymore," Mann said. "And that's not an option that the rest of the world has to face."

Whilefederal lawprovides up to 12 weeks of unpaid job protection for people in need of medical or caretaking leave, the U.S. is the onlydeveloped economywithout paid parental or medical leave. It's also one of the only countries that don't provide paid sick leave at anational level.

Mann said that while Minnesota's legislation was passed in 2023, time was needed before it was implemented for people to actually know that the bill existed and understand how it works. That involved a $5 million public information campaign to educate "employers and community groups on what this policy is, what it does and how you participate," she said.

Delaware's and Maine's policies, which were passed in 2022 and 2023, respectively, also go into effect this coming year.

"It's a very popular policy, again, because we're all human beings, for crying out loud, and if it wasn't popular, we wouldn't be the only country left without it, right?" Mann said. "It is sustainable. It is something that we all use. And so I hope, I expect, that other states will see this, realize this and move to have their own policies in place."

Lapsing Obamacare subsidies

All 50 states will face rising health care costs starting in January after Congress was unable to pass legislation to extend expiring Obamacare premium subsidies before the end of the year.

In an August special session, Colorado became one of the few states toenact legislationaimed at softening the blow of the rising premiums, dedicating $100 million to offset premium hikes in the state's health care exchange.

State Rep. Kyle Brown, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said the $100 million will serve as "a bridge" for 2026, ensuring that Colorado has funds to sustain some subsidizing of its health care exchange and "cushion the blow" from the lapse in federal subsidies.

"Before we passed the bill, people's premiums on average were expected to go up by 175% in Colorado. We passed the bill, and now they're only going up by 100%," Brown said. "Which is still like 'yeah, instead of tripling, they're doubling.' But it could have been worse."

According to KFF, a health policy research group, Affordable Care Act premium payments are likely to more than double because of the expiring subsidies. In Colorado, premiums for about 225,00 people will increase by anaverage of 101%, according to the state Insurance Division.

Brown said that he had hoped Congress would extend the Obamacare subsidies but that he came to the realization that the funds weren't coming through after having watched the U.S. government shut down for six weeks last fall — the longest federal funding lapse in the country's history — as Democratic and Republican lawmakers deadlocked over the issue. Rising health care prices and the high cost of living overall are expected to be top issues in the 2026 midterms.

"It feels like states are on their own. We don't have a willing partner in the federal government anymore, and so we have to do what we can to take care of our folks and make health care as affordable and accessible as possible," Brown said.

Stricter voting laws

This past year, 20 states passed 37 bills to restrict voting access and elections, according to theVoting Rights Lab, a nonprofit organization that tracks voting- and election-related legislation and aims to expand ballot access. That's the most since 2021, it said.

Meanwhile, 23 states passed 51 bills intended to improve voting and elections, the group found, saying that is the fewest such measures since it started tracking state legislation.

Kansas and North Dakotaeliminated grace periodsfor mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving afterward, and eight states passed legislation to restrict or eliminate alternatives to photo ID as proof of voter registration, according to the Voting Rights Lab.

Many of the states that passed such bills might have been influenced byTrump's executive orderin March that pushed for broad changes in how the U.S. conducts its elections, said Chris Vasquez, director of legislative tracking at the Voting Rights Lab.

"I think the main thrust of the story of the year is sort of Trump in March issuing this executive order," Vasquez said.

The order aimed to require that people provide proof of citizenship when they register to vote and required mail-in ballots to be sent in before Election Day. While the proof-of-citizenship requirement wasblocked in U.S. District Court in Washington as an executive branch overreach, certain states have passed legislation mirroring other policies in the executive order.

"We did see 27 states introduce some sort of restrictive proof-of-citizenship legislation this year, which is triple what we saw in the previous legislative session," Vasquez said. "That, for the most part, wasn't successful. But then, where you did see some more activity was on the mail ballot deadline side."

In 2026, he said, Vasquez will be keeping an eye onstate redistrictingand a relatedSupreme Court casethat could limit the scope of the Voting Rights Act as harbingers of what could develop at the state level, including efforts to protect against further voting restrictions.

"I think, especially looking at the Supreme Court potentially really curtailing the ability of plaintiffs to bring Voting Rights Act claims in federal court, these state voting rights acts are essentially something to keep an eye on into potential work against potentially voter suppressive laws," he said.

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December 31, 2025

New laws in 2026 target AI and deepfakes, paid leave and rising Obamacare premiums

As the country prepares to ring in the new year, new state laws will take effect around the country on a host of issues, including the use ...

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Oil tanker pursued by US now has a Russian flag painted on its side

Crew members aboard the aging, rusted oil tanker that the US has been pursuing at sea for nearly two weeks appear to have painted a crude image of a Russian flag on the ship's hull, which American officials believe is an attempt at claiming Russian protection, a US official familiar with the matter said.

The new insignia was spotted by Coast Guard personnel, who aretrailing the tankerfrom about a half-mile behind as it sails in the open Atlantic Ocean away from Venezuela, the official said.

It wasn't clear when the new flag appeared on the side of the Bella 1. The massive tanker has been resisting seizure since December 21, when it made a U-turn in the Caribbean Sea after the Coast Guard attempted to interdict it on its way into Venezuela to pick up oil.

It's been fleeing ever since.

The flag, which the US official said was sloppily painted on the side of the ship by its crew, was the latest development in the slow-speed pursuit of the vessel, which is under US sanctions for allegedly shipping Iranian oil. The New York Timesfirst reportedthe new flag.

US officials said the Bella 1 was flying under the flag of Guyana, which they said was not valid, when the Coast Guard originally tried to board it. Its current registration is listed as "not known" on the shipping database Equasis. By claiming Russian status, the legalities of seizing the vessel could become more complicated.

American officials no longer expect the Bella 1 to return to Venezuela to load up with oil, and it's possible the Trump administration will decide to abandon its effort to seize the ship.

But until then, assets have been readied in case the order comes from the White House to reattempt a seizure of the tanker. That would requirea Maritime Special Response Teamwith experience in boarding vessels that do not submit to seize control of it.

Officials aren't sure why the crew of the Bella 1 did not stop the ship and submit to the Coast Guard's efforts to interdict it, as two previous oil tankers did this month.

The pursuit stems from Trump'sorder of a "blockade"on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. Administration officials believe squeezing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's main economic lifeline is the best path to potentially ousting the authoritarian leader.

On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department tried to ramp up pressure on Venezuela's oil sector by sanctioning four more oil companies and designating four oil tankers as "blocked property."

Two of the four blocked tankers were flying Hong Kong flags while the other two were flying the flags of Guinea and Panama, according to the Treasury Department, which said the tankers finance the Maduro regime.

In a statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowed to "continue to implement President Trump's campaign of pressure on Maduro's regime."

It's the latest in a bevy of sanctions that the Trump administration has levied as part of its pressure campaign. On December 11, the USsanctionedsix other vessels that allegedly helped move Venezuelan oil. The department also sanctioned three nephews of Maduro's wife and another Maduro-affiliated businessman.

CNN's Sean Lyngaas contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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Oil tanker pursued by US now has a Russian flag painted on its side

Crew members aboard the aging, rusted oil tanker that the US has been pursuing at sea for nearly two weeks appear to have painted a crude i...

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Department of Justice is reviewing more than 5.2 million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has expanded its review of documents related to the convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epsteinto 5.2 million as it also increases the number of attorneys trying to comply with a law mandating release of the files, according to a person briefed on a letter sent to U.S. Attorneys.

The figure is the latest estimate in theexpanding review of case fileson Epstein and his longtime girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell that has run more than a week past a deadline set in law by Congress.

The Justice Department has more than 400 attorneys assigned to the review, but does not expect to release more documents until Jan. 20 or 21, according to the person briefed on the letter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.

The expanding scope of the disclosure and the additional legal firepower committed to it showed how the Epstein file investigation will continue to occupy significant attention in Congress and the White House, almost ensuring that it remains a potent political force as the new year rolls toward midterm elections.

The White House did not dispute the figures laid out in the email, and pointed to a statement from Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, who said the administration's review was an "all-hands-on-deck approach."

Blanche said Wednesday that lawyers from the Justice Department in Washington, the FBI, the Southern District of Florida, and the Southern District of New York are working "around the clock" to review the files. The additional documents and lawyers related to the case were first reported by The New York Times.

"We're asking as many lawyers as possible to commit their time to review the documents that remain," Blanche said. "Required redactions to protect victims take time, but they will not stop these materials from being released."

Still, Attorney GeneralPam Bondiis facing pressure from Congress after the Justice Department's rollout of information has lagged behind the Dec. 19 deadline to release the information.

"Should Attorney General Pam Bondi be impeached?" Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who helped lead the effort to pass the law mandating the document release, asked on social media this week.

Democrats also are reviewing their legal options as they continue to seize on an issue that has caused cracks in the Republican Party and, at times,flummoxed President Donald Trump's administration.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on social media that the latest figures from the Department of Justice "shows Bondi, Blanche, and others at the DOJ have been lying to the American people about the Epstein files since day one" and pointed out that the documents released so far represented a fraction of the total.

What's expected next

A late January release of documents would put the Department of Justice more than a month behind the deadline set in law, but some key lawmakers appeared willing to let the process play out before trying to take direct action against the Trump administration.

Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who also led the effort to pass the law requiring the release, told The Associated Press that the Justice Department's expanding review showed that the law is working.

"We are willing to give DOJ a few extra weeks to comply, provided they release the survivors' statements to the FBI naming the other rich and powerful men who abused them or covered up and the prosecution memos about charges that were dropped against Epstein and co-conspirators," he said. "When all the information comes out, this will shock the conscience of the nation."

Massie has also said that he wants to see the release of statements that victims gave to the FBI. He has claimed that those could disclose the names of influential business figures and political donors who were involved or complicit in Epstein's abuse.

The pair has also argued that the expanding disclosure is evidence that more people were involved besides Epstein and Maxwell.

What could the files mean for the midterms?

The Trump administration has already struggled to move past the Epstein files for the better part of last year. While it's not clear what else will be shown in the files, it will almost certainly give Democrats continued fodder to continue to seize on the issue.

So far, Democrats, even though they are in the minority, have forced Congress to act on an issue that has caused splits in Trump's political base.

Atranche of documentsreleased just before Christmas showed that Trump flew on Epstein's private jet in the 1990s, when they had a friendship before a falling out. But the documents revealed little new information about their relationship. The initial release of documents also showed severalphotos of former President Bill Clintonwith women whose faces were blacked out.

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have honed in on the connections to Clinton and areseeking to force himand former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to appear for a deposition in January.

Still,Democrats are trying to showthat the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files shows that it cannot be trusted and is more concerned about the welfare of the rich and famous than working-class voters.

"Unlike the President, we don't care who's in the files," said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the oversight panel, on social media. "Anyone that's involved in the abuse of women and girls should be held accountable."

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Department of Justice is reviewing more than 5.2 million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has expanded its review of documents related to the convicted sex offenderJef...

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Kate Beckinsale addresses weight loss following death of her mom: 'I think it’s shock and trauma'

Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty for Campari

Kate Beckinsaleissued a "PSA" after receiving some critical comments about her appearance under a recentInstagram post.

TheUnderworldstar said that she has been mourning her mother's death, which has compounded her grief toward her late father and stepfather. She said she has been struggling with eating since her stepdad, actor Roy Battersby,diedin January 2024.

"It doesn't make you feel very hungry, and I don't know if there's some sort of survivor's guilt because it started after my stepdad died," Beckinsale said in anInstagram Reeladdressing the comments about her body. "And it's not like anorexia where you're starving and it's a kind of willpower thing. It's like your body has closed down. I think it's shock and trauma."

Jon Furniss/WireImage

Beckinsale said that watching her family members suffer at the end of their lives has caused her to lose her appetite. Despite witnessing their pain, theSerendipityactress said she refuses to become a "cruel piece of s--- that would say the stuff that a lot of you guys say to me." She also said that she wouldn't make "nasty" remarks about other people's appearances.

"It just wouldn't cross my mind and I am so grateful to have been brought up by people who raised me like that," she said. "And I really miss them."

Judy Loe, Beckinsale's mother,died of cancerat the age of 78 in July. Beckinsale previously spoke about the "immeasurable suffering" that her mother endured.

"Jude was the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend," the actress shared on Instagram at the time. "The vastness and huge heart of this tiny woman has touched so many people who love her dearly. She has been brave in so many ways, forgiving sometimes too much, believing in the ultimate good in people, and the world is so dim without her that it is nearly impossible to bear."

JC Olivera/Getty

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Beckinsale is not the only celebrity to receive criticism about her weight loss. Earlier this month, Kelly Osbournerespondedto similar comments about her weight and appearance following the death of her father Ozzy Osbourne.

"You say that I look ill," Osbourne shared. "Well, I am ill right now. My life is completely flipped upside down. I don't understand how people expect me to bounce back and look like everything is just fine in my life when it's not."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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Kate Beckinsale addresses weight loss following death of her mom: 'I think it’s shock and trauma'

Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty for Campari Kate Beckinsaleissued a "PSA" after receiving some critical comments about her appearance un...

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MTV Channels Going Offline Like They Began, with The Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star'

TheBugglesVEVO/YouTube

NEED TO KNOW

• MTV first debuted in the US on Aug. 1, 1981, adding MTV Europe to their slate in Aug. 1987

• This fall, MTV announced that MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live would shutter at the year's end

• The closures impact viewers in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil

MTV chose to end its reign as a music network just as it began.

The 24-hour music broadcaster that became an international phenomenon in the 1980s has aired its final hours. The UK and Ireland were the first to bid farewell to MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and MTV Live.  France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Australia and Brazil will also be impacted, per theBBC.

MTV debuted in Aug. 1981 in the US, with a debut in the UK and Ireland in August 1987. The channel's debutteased music videos from the day's biggest artists—Prince,Whitney HoustonandGeorge Michael.

It's been over 10 years since the main MTV channel in these localities stopped airing music videos daily, shifting the focus to reality TV to meet viewers' shifting interests. Music videos were then relegated to the sister stations, except for the annual MTV European Music Awards.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

MTV Music's last song was Video Killed The Radio Starpic.twitter.com/48WNnbgesb

— Jono Read (@jonoread)December 31, 2025

After 38 years of introducing fans to different artists and genres, MTV Music, the flagship channel, chose to end its run the way MTV began, playing the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."

BBC journalist Jono Read shared the moment the channel went off-air in a videopostedto X. Each channel aired a different final video. MTV 90s airedSpice Girls' "Goodbye."

Viewers who try to tune in to these channels now see a scene cycling through the affected channel's logos, with a chyron noting that they can access MTV content on the main channel, MTV HD.

Neither MTV or its parent company, Paramount Skydance, have commented on the brand's future in the United States.

On August 1st, 1981, at 12:01 AM EST, the MTV channel was officially launched nationwide in the USA, with the spoken words of "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll," followed by the MTV theme song, and then followed by MTV's first music video: "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the…pic.twitter.com/L6uEb52IpT

— History Defined (@historydefined)December 6, 2025

In 2025, PEOPLE spoke with former MTV DJ and television personalityDaisy Fuentesabout the era of change at MTV.

"I thought, while it's a bit sad, it's been a bit sad for a while. I think MTV had its time and history that time will never repeat, and it's time to change," Fuentes shares.

"We all change. We have to evolve. And I hope that there's another version of them, just like there's another version of us, us who were part of that we're no longer the same. Why should we expect them to be? The world has changed so much."

As for the future, she continues, "I'm curious to see its evolution. It could be great. I think change is good. I think it's time. It will always be part of our youth."

Read the original article onPeople

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MTV Channels Going Offline Like They Began, with The Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star'

TheBugglesVEVO/YouTube NEED TO KNOW MTV first debuted in the US on Aug. 1, 1981, adding MTV Europe to their slate in Aug. 1987 This fall,...

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Disney park worker hurt shielding crowd from 400-pound prop in Indiana Jones show

A Disney employeethrew himself in front of a runaway rubber boulder, injuring himself as he shielded guests from the 400-pound prop during an Indiana Jones themed attraction, officials at the Florida park said Wednesday.

Fans at Disney's Hollywood Studios were all set to see a demonstration of the "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" when viral video captured the wild moments of the massive ball rolling off its track.

Guests appeared to be initially entertained by the mishap during a re-creation of the iconic scene from "Raiders of the Lost Ark." However, their brief laughs quickly turned to concern as the huge bouncing ball barreled off its track and toward the audience.

That's when a park employee confronted the wayward sphere, holding out his forearms and bracing for impact.

But he was no match for the faux boulder, which easily knocked him to the floor.

The man halted the prop's momentum toward the crowd, but he did not immediately stand up after having been struck as fellow employees rushed to the worker, who was flat on his back.

The officialDisney Parks Blogsays the prop is made of rubber and weighs 400 pounds.

A Disney spokesperson confirmed the incident occurred but did not offer any further specifics, such as when exactly the mishap occurred or the extent of the employee's injuries.

"We're focused on supporting our Cast Member, who is recovering," Disney said. "Safety is at the heart of what we do, and that element of the show will be modified as our safety team completes a review of what happened."

In the classic 1981 movie, screen legend Harrison Ford played swashbuckling archaeologist Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones Jr.

In an early scene of the Steven Spielberg flick, Ford's character was seeking to grab an ancient gold idol but had to overcome a booby-trapped lair that included a massive rolling boulder that he narrowly escaped.

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Disney park worker hurt shielding crowd from 400-pound prop in Indiana Jones show

A Disney employeethrew himself in front of a runaway rubber boulder, injuring himself as he shielded guests from the 400-pound prop during ...

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95 Passengers Sickened by Unknown Illness on Celebrity Cruises Sailing

Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

• 95 passengers and nine crewmembers fell ill during a Celebrity Cruises voyage in late December

• Symptoms reported included vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps

• The Celebrity Eclipse made a round-trip voyage

Dozens of passengers fell sick on a Celebrity Cruises voyage in late December.

According to the CDC, 95 of the 3,042 passengers aboard theCelebrity Eclipsecruise ship reported becoming sick during the voyage, which lasted from Saturday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 28.

Nine crewmembers also reported being ill during the trip, which was a round-trip voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., making stops in the Caribbean, per data tracked byCruise Mapper.

After departing the Florida port, the ship made stops at St. Johns, Antigua, Philipsburg, St. Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata-Amber Cove, Dominican Republic before returning to Florida.

Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty

The outbreak was reported to the Vessel Sanitation Program on the final day of the trip.

The predominant symptoms experienced by the ill passengers and crew members were vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The exact cause of the outbreak remains unknown.

In response to the wave of illness, Celebrity Cruises "increased its cleaning and disinfection procedures" along with consulting VSP about "sanitation cleaning procedures and reporting ill cases."

The crew also "collected stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases" to be tested, and isolated the sick passengers and crew.

Per the CDC, VSP "remotely monitored the situation, including review of the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures."

PEOPLE reached out to Celebrity Cruises and did not receive an immediate response.

The CDC reported22 outbreaks on cruise ships in 2025. Sixteen of these outbreaks were reported as norovirus. Before the Celebrity Cruises outbreak, the CDC reported anorovirus outbreak infecting over 100 passengerswho were aboard a 133-day cruise around the world.

The ship's stops included the U.S., England, Mexico, Japan and South Africa after departing from Germany in November.

Daniel Knighton/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In order to stay safe and healthy when aboard a cruise ship, the CDC recommends washing your hands often, drinking water to stay hydrated, and taking care of yourself.

If you do fall sick while on a cruise, tell the ship's medical center and follow their instructions.

Read the original article onPeople

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95 Passengers Sickened by Unknown Illness on Celebrity Cruises Sailing

Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock NEED TO KNOW 95 passengers and nine crewmembers fell ill during a Celebrity Cruises voyage in late Dece...

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Russian crew detained after undersea cable cut in ‘sabotage’

Police from Finland have detained theRussiancrew of a tanker suspected of cutting a telecommunication cable in the Baltic Sea.

Finnish authorities seized the Fitburg, a St Vincent and Grenadines-flagged cargo ship, on Wednesday. It had been travelling from St Petersburg to Haifa,Israel.

The ship's crew consists of Russian, Georgian, Kazakh and Azerbaijani sailors, according to police, who are investigating the case as aggravated criminal damage and suspected sabotage.

The Fitburg, which was detained while anchored in Finnish waters, is suspected of being "responsible for damage to [a] cable" running between Helsinki and Tallinn in the Gulf of Finland.

The incident occurred in the Baltic Sea, which has seen a huge increase in suspected sabotage attacks on undersea cables since the start of theRussia-Ukraine war.

Western officials suspect the attacks are being carried out as part ofVladimir Putin's hybrid war campaign, which is designed to punish the West for its military support of Kyiv.

Elisa, the Finnish telecoms operator and owner of the cable, said the damage had "not affected the functionality of [its] services in any way".

The company said it had informed Finnish authorities as soon as it detected a fault in the cable earlier on Wednesday.

A Finnish police spokesman said: "At this stage, the police are investigating the incident ‍as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications."

The Estonian justice ministry said a second telecoms cable connecting the country toFinlandfailed temporarily on Wednesday, although it was not confirmed that it was connected to the Elisa incident.

Alar Karis, the Estonian president, said on social media: "I'm concerned about the reported damage ... hopefully it was not a deliberate act, but the investigation will be clarified."

Alexander Stubb, the Finnish president, said: "Finland is prepared ⁠for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary."

The case under investigation is reminiscent of an incident in December 2024,when Finnish authorities boarded the Eagle S, an oil tanker linked to Russia. They suspected that its anchor had damaged five cables in the Baltic.

Finland's attempt to prosecute the Eagle S's crew collapsed. A court in Finland ruled that prosecutors had not been able to prove that the crew intentionally damaged the cables. The fact that the ship had been stopped in international – rather than Finnish – waters, led to a dispute about jurisdiction.

The Baltic Sea is crossed by as many as two thousand ships a day and has become one of the most fraught flashpoints between Nato allies and Russia.

In an interview with The Telegraph earlier this year, a top German naval officer said it could be very difficult to prove that a rogue crew had dropped and dragged an anchor on purpose.

"If you don't have a well-trained crew, it might drop the anchor because they've been told to wait three days, or because there is a lack of orders, or because there is bad weather, and not realise there is a cable underneath them," said Stephan Haisch, a Rear-Admiral in the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces.

"It's stupid, because the cables are marked on the nautical chart, but they just don't know. It can happen – but it is really stupid and short-sighted," he added.

Another problem is confirming whether a ship has any ties to Russia, as in many cases the vessels will sail under the flag of an obscure country with no obvious Russian links.

The Fitburg, for example, was sailing under the flag of St Vincent and Grenadines, a former UK Overseas Territory and island nation in the eastern Caribbean.

According to London Stock Exchange Group data, the owner of the Fitburg is Fitburg Shipping Company Ltd and the manager is Albros Shipping and Trading Ltd.

In addition to cutting cables, Russia-linked ships are suspected of carrying out surveillance on Nato ships and warplanes. They are typically part of Moscow's infamous shadow fleet, a group of rusty, poorly maintained ships that sail under foreign flags to evade sanctions.

When the Eagle S was boarded in Danish waters, the crew was unable to explain why it was carrying specialist equipment designed for such surveillance.

An ongoing Nato mission to crack down on suspicious Russia-linked ships in the Baltic Sea is being led by Germany, which last year opened a new headquarters in Rostock, on the country's northern coast.

Known as CTF Baltic, [Commander Task Force Baltic], the facility has angered Moscow, which claims it violates a 1990s-era treaty that banned the stationing of new Nato forces in the former communist state of East Germany.

"I could say that people are bothered by [the task force] in Russia, and that is a good sign, if people are bothered in Russia, because then we have achieved a certain effect," said Rear-Adml Haisch.

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Russian crew detained after undersea cable cut in ‘sabotage’

Police from Finland have detained theRussiancrew of a tanker suspected of cutting a telecommunication cable in the Baltic Sea. Finnish aut...

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Gospel singer Richard Smallwood dies at 77, leaving a legacy that inspired many in music

Richard Smallwood, a gospel singer and recording artist nominated eight times forGrammy Awards, has died. He was 77.

Smallwood died Tuesday of complications of kidney failure at a rehabilitation and nursing center in Sandy Spring, Maryland, his representative Bill Carpenter announced.

Smallwood had health issues for many years, and music gave him the strength to endure, Carpenter said in an interview.

"Richard was so dedicated to music, and that was the thing that kept him alive all these years," he said. "Making music that made people feel something is what made him want to keep breathing and keep moving and keep living."

Smallwood's songs were performed and recorded over the years by artists such as Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Destiny's Child and Boyz II Men. Houston brought his music to film by performing "I Love the Lord" in the 1996 movie "The Preacher's Wife," according to Smallwood's biography at theGospel Music Hall of Fame.

Smallwood "opened up my whole world of gospel music," singer and songwriterChaka Khanwrote on Facebook after his death.

"His music didn't just inspire me, it transformed me," she said. "He is my favorite pianist, and his brilliance, spirit, and devotion to the music have shaped generations, including my own journey."

Smallwood was born Nov. 30, 1948, in Atlanta and began to play piano by ear by the age of 5, according to biographic materials provided by Carpenter. By age 7, he was taking formal lessons. He had formed his own gospel group by the time he was 11.

He was primarily raised in Washington, D.C., by his mother, Mabel, and his stepfather, the Rev. Chester Lee "C.L." Smallwood. His stepfather was the pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church in Washington.

Smallwood was a music pioneer in multiple ways at Howard University in Washington, where he graduated cum laude with a music degree. He was a member of Howard's first gospel group, the Celestials. He was also a founding member of the university's gospel choir, according to an obituary from Carpenter.

After college, Smallwood taught music at the University of Maryland and went on to form the Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977, bringing a contemporary sound to traditional gospel music. He later formed Vision, a large choir that fueled some of his biggest gospel hits, including "Total Praise."

"Total Praise" became a modern-day hymn that touched people from all types of backgrounds and walks of life, Carpenter said by phone Wednesday.

"You can go into any kind of church — a Black church, a white church, a nondenominational church — and you might hear that song," he said. "Somehow it found its footing throughout the whole Christian world. If he never wrote anything else, that would have put him in the modern hymn book."

Wonderperformed "Total Praise"at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.'s sonDexter Scott Kingat Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Feb. 10, 2024.

In recent years, mild dementia and other health issues prevented Smallwood from recording music, and members of his Vision choir helped care for him.

His legacy will live on "through every note and every soul he touched," Khan said.

"I am truly looking forward to singing with you in heaven," she said.

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Gospel singer Richard Smallwood dies at 77, leaving a legacy that inspired many in music

Richard Smallwood, a gospel singer and recording artist nominated eight times forGrammy Awards, has died. He was 77. ...

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Emma Heming Willis celebrates 18 years with Bruce Willis – 'So lucky'

Emma Heming Willisis celebrating a milestone withBruce Willisamid hisdementia battle.

The model and author reflected on their 18th anniversary of becoming a couple on Tuesday, Dec. 30. "18 years ago, he became my boyfriend. With one kiss on the top of my head, time stood still," the actress captioned a throwback photo of herself and her "Perfect Stranger" costar onInstagram. "I'm so lucky to know this kind of love."

In the photo, Willis kisses Heming Willis on the side of the head as she looks on. The couple wed in 2009, and now share two children: Mabel Ray, 13, and Evelyn Penn, 11. Willis has three daughters from his previous marriage toDemi Moore.

View this post on Instagram

Heming Willis, 47, previously opened up about the challenges of celebrating the holidays amid Willis declining health. The "Sixth Sense" actor, 70, was first diagnosed with aphasia, which affects how a person communicates, especially using speech,in 2022. The diagnosis led to his retirement from acting. In 2023,Willis' family announcedthat the condition had progressed tofrontotemporal dementia.

In a post on her website, titled "The Holidays Look Different Now," Heming Willis, 47, opened up about living through what she described as a "web of grief" during the holidays.

Bruce Willis' wifeEmma Heming Willis opens up about holiday 'grief'

Emma Heming Willisresponds to public 'judgment' amid Bruce's dementia

"For me, the holidays carry memories of Bruce being at the center of it all," she wrote. "He loved this time of year — the energy, family time, the traditions. Dementia doesn't erase those memories. But it does create space between then and now. And that space can ache."

Heming Willis went on to share that she finds herself "cursing Bruce's name while wrestling with the holiday lights or taking on tasks that used to be his," not because she is mad at him but "because I miss the way he once led the holiday charge."

But, she added, "You can miss what was and still show up for what is."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Bruce Willis, Emma Heming Willis celebrate 18 years together

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December 31, 2025

Emma Heming Willis celebrates 18 years with Bruce Willis – 'So lucky'

Emma Heming Willisis celebrating a milestone withBruce Willisamid hisdementia battle. The model and author refle...

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Bari Weiss invites George Clooney to newsroom after he said she's 'dismantling CBS News as we speak'

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss invited actorGeorge Clooneyto visit the network's newsroom after Clooney told Variety on Tuesday that Weiss was "dismantling CBS News as we speak."

"Bonjour, Mr. Clooney! Big fan of your work. It sounds like you'd like to learn more about ours. This is an open invitation to visit The CBS Broadcast Center, where I'm spending the holidays working to relaunch the Evening News with my colleagues. Tune in January 5," said Weiss in a statement sharedto Varietyby Paramount Skydance on Tuesday.

A representative for Clooney did not immediately returnFox News Digital's request for comment.

'Editorial Independence' Petition Unlikely To Faze Paramount Ceo David Ellison Amid Bari Weiss Saga: Ex-journo

The "Bonjour, Mr. Clooney" remark in Weiss's statement is an apparent reference to the actor and his wife recently being granted French citizenship.

Clooney pulled no punches in hiswide-ranging interviewwith Variety's Brent Lang. The actor touched on topics such as politics, PresidentDonald Trumpand the current state of the press.

Read On The Fox News App

One issue that Clooney seemed particularly perturbed by was CBS and ABC's decision to settle multimillion dollar lawsuits with Trump, suggesting the networks should have instead said, "Go f--- yourself."

CBS and ABC have paid at least $16 million apiece to settle lawsuits brought by Trump. But Clooney, who has been living in France after uprooting his family to get away from the culture of Hollywood, is bothered the networks didn't fight back.

Bari Weiss Suggests Cecot '60 Minutes' Piece She Delayed Wasn't 'Fair' In Memo To Staffers

"If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, 'Go f--- yourself,' we wouldn't be where we are in the country," Clooney toldVariety. "That's simply the truth."

"It's a very trying time," Clooney continued. "It can depress you or make you very angry. But you have to find the most positive way through it. You have to put your head down and keep moving forward because quitting isn't an option."

Paramount Global and CBS agreed in July to pay a $16 million upfront sum to settle the president's lawsuit against the network over how "60 Minutes" edited and released an interview with then-Democratic rival Kamala Harris in 2024. Trump's team, which initially sought $10 billion, claimed the network's use of edited clips from a single response about Israel constituted "election interference." Trump's legal team championed the settlement as a win for media accountability and the American people.

Cbs, Bari Weiss Facing Mounting Backlash From Liberal Critics Over Yanking '60 Minutes' Segment

The same month as the settlement, the Trump administration's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved an $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, putting David Ellison in charge of the newly formed company.

Ellison then handpicked Bari Weiss to takeover CBS News, but Clooney isn't a fan.

"Bari Weiss is dismantling CBS News as we speak," Clooney told Variety. "I'm worried about how we inform ourselves and how we're going to discern reality without a functioning press."

Trump's win over CBS came on the heels of ABC's apology and$16 million settlementwith Trump last December after he sued for defamation over "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos' claims on the air that the president had been held "liable for rape." The jury in the E. Jean Carroll case to which he was referring had actually ruled he was liable for "sexual abuse."

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ABC and CBS did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Original article source:Bari Weiss invites George Clooney to newsroom after he said she's 'dismantling CBS News as we speak'

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Bari Weiss invites George Clooney to newsroom after he said she's 'dismantling CBS News as we speak'

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss invited actorGeorge Clooneyto visit the network's newsroom after Clooney told Var...

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Law enforcement ramps up New Year's security measures across the country

Washington— As cities and towns across the U.S. prepare for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations, local, state and national law enforcement agencies are on the lookout for potential threats — concerns that are heightened in the wake of the recentBondi Beach terror attackin Australia and the deadly attack on last year's celebrations onBourbon Street in New Orleans.

Lone actors and small groups with a range of ideological motives pose the most significant threat to New Year's Eve celebrations, according to a joint bulletin from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security reviewed by CBS News.

The assessment, which is done routinely ahead of large public gatherings, notes there is no specific, credible threat this holiday. But the bulletin describes the persistent risk of small groups of people "seeking to commit acts of violence motivated by a broad range of racial, ethnic, political, religious, anti-government, anti-immigration, societal or ideological beliefs and grievances."

Colin P. Clarke, executive director of The Soufan Center, who focuses on domestic and transnational terrorism, called New Year's Eve the "Super Bowl of counterterrorism" — and the "holy grail for a terrorist."

"It's a soft target, highly symbolic with large crowds gathered," Clarke told CBS News. "It's the holy grail for a group like the Islamic state or a group or individual inspired by the Islamic state."

"New Year's is a symbolic day and it's a symbol of the West, and they're attacking the decadence of the West," he added.

In New York City, the NYPD has been working on security for the Times Square area since last year's festivities, said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. There are "no known specific credible threats" to the celebration, Tisch said Wednesday, but the public should expect to see "thousands" of NYPD officers in the area.

Intelligence teams will also be monitoring social media for threats, Tisch said. Times Square is expecting more than a million visitors from around the world, she noted, making it "one of the largest and the most complex safety operations anywhere in the world."

In Las Vegas, Andrew Walsh, undersheriff for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told reporters at a news conference this week that the National Guard will be present in Vegas, as they have been in years past.

Clarke worries that the U.S. has shifted significant resources to immigration and the border, to the potential detriment of counterterrorism operations. He said the "bench is incredibly thin when it comes to counterterrorism."

"As an American citizen it makes me nervous," Clarke said. "We are vulnerable to a large-scale terror attack."

Recent memory serves as a sobering reminder of how critical it is for law enforcement to be vigilant.

Earlier this month, the FBI announced it hadfoiledan alleged New Year's Eve bombing plot in Southern California. The four people who face charges in the alleged plot are members of a group known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the organization as a "far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group."

Hundreds of National Guard troops have deployed toNew Orleansone year after the devastating New Year's Day attack there, at the request of Louisiana's Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. On Jan. 1, 2025, investigators say Shamsud-Din Jabba rammed a pickup truck into the crowd onBourbon Streetin New Orleans, killing 14 people and leaving many more injured in an act of terror. The FBI said the attacker, a U.S. Army veteran, was radicalized by ISIS.

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December 31, 2025

Law enforcement ramps up New Year's security measures across the country

Washington— As cities and towns across the U.S. prepare for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations, local...

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Palestinians watch as Israeli bulldozers claw down their West Bank homes

NUR SHAMS REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank (AP) — Palestinians in theIsraeli-occupied West Bankwatched as Israeli military bulldozers pulled down their homes Wednesday as part of a nearly year-long incursion into the territory's northern refugee camps.

The scene in Nur Shams has been repeated often across the northern West Bank in the roughly 11 months since Israeli troops launched operation "Iron Wall" there in early 2025. During that time, the military has demolished or heavily damaged at least 850 structures across the refugee camps of Nur Shams, Jenin and Tulkarem, according to an analysis of satellite imagery by Human Rights Watch.

Troops have also forced out the camps' populations, leading to thelargest displacementin the West Bank since Israel captured the territory in 1967. Tens of thousands of residents areliving with relatives,cramming into rental apartments or living in public buildings.

Israel says the operation aims to root out armed groups and says the demolitions are needed to destroy militant infrastructure or to clear routes for troops.

Israel has said its troops will stay in some camps for a year, and its unclear when, if ever, Palestinians will be able to return.

Rights groups and Palestinians say the raids are destroying homes. AP video showed bulldozers tearing down several houses out of a total of 25 the military said it planned to demolish.

"Our home is dear to us, the memories are dear to us, the family, the neighbors, and the good people are dear to us," said Motaz Mohor, whose home was set to be destroyed as he watched the bulldozers. "The first time our grandparents were displaced, and this is the second time."

His grandparents had moved to Nur Shams after their original displacement from the cities of Jaffa and Haifa during the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation, when some 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes by forces of the nascent state or fled as troops advanced, an event Palestinians call the Nakba, or "catastrophe."

Mohor said he was sheltering with roughly 25 of his relatives in a 100-square-meter (1,070-square-foot) apartment after being displaced from the camp.

The military said troops had allowed residents to get their belongings from homes beforehand. It said it had only taken down structures where there existed a "a clear and necessary operational need" and after examining alternate courses of action.

The military said the camp was still an area of militant activity even almost a year after the start of the operation and that troops had located explosives in the camp within the last month.

Ahmed al Sayyes, 60, said his home was also slated for demolition. He was surprised to wake up and see the bulldozers beginning work.

"It's very difficult and painful," he said. He said the house where he is sheltering is for sale and he'll have to leave it. "It's a tragedy after tragedy. Very difficult. Only God knows where we will end up."

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December 31, 2025

Palestinians watch as Israeli bulldozers claw down their West Bank homes

NUR SHAMS REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank (AP) — Palestinians in theIsraeli-occupied West Bankwatched as Israeli military bulldoz...

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New Year’s Eve Forecast: What To Expect As We Bid Farewell To 2025 And Say Hello To 2026

Well, it's almost time to say goodbye to 2025 (andits weather), as New Year's Eve is approaching. Here's what the weather will be up to as the ball drops across the country.

New Year's Eve (Night)

I know what you probably care most about is the weather at 12 a.m. on New Year's Day, the moment 2025 becomes 2026.

Lake-effect snow is still hanging on in the Great Lakes, so anyone planning outdoor festivities or travel should take extra care when planning their evenings. A cold front is also going to push through the Northeast with the threat of snow squalls, but on the bright side, New York City could have a few snowflakes falling as the ball drops.

Speaking of the Big Apple, if you're going to be in New York City for the big New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square, you're going to need to be bundled up, because it'll be hovering right around 30 degrees and breezy as that time-honored tradition takes place.

It will also be quite cold in the upper Midwest, with temperatures flirting with 0 degrees in the Twin Cities as 2026 arrives.

Unfortunately, another holiday will be soaked in California. Locally heavy rain, especially in Southern California, could lead to at least local flash flooding and possibly more rock/landslides. Rain will also spread into the Desert Southwest, potentially soaking 2026's arrival in both Las Vegas and Phoenix.

(192-hours: Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on ourPremium Pro experience.)

New Year's Day

Hello, 2026! What will Mother Nature have in store for us?

It will be cold and breezy in the Northeast and Great Lakes, with only a few patchy areas of snow in the northern and eastern Great Lakes. A heavy lake-effect snowband off Lake Ontario may continue to pound parts of upstate New York north of Syracuse.

The South will have pleasant weather and warmer than average temperatures, for the most part, after a chilly morning.

Rain and high mountain snow will continue to soak much of the Southwest, Great Basin, California and Oregon. Scattered storms and locally heavy rain looks likely across Southern California early Thursday morning. The Storm Prediction Center has introduced a marginal severe risk for Southern California, which includes a low-end tornado threat for Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Long Beach, Anaheim and Pasadena. The Rose Parade, which begins at 8 a.m. PT in Pasadena, looks wet and potentially stormy.

(MORE:The Rose Parade Could Be Wet For The First Time In 20 Years)

Wherever you'll be spending your New Year's Eve, we hope you have a safe and festive end to 2025!

Sara Tonksis a content meteorologist with weather.com and has a bachelor's and a master's degree from Georgia Tech in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences along with a master's degree from Unity Environmental University in Marine Science.

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December 31, 2025

New Year’s Eve Forecast: What To Expect As We Bid Farewell To 2025 And Say Hello To 2026

Well, it's almost time to say goodbye to 2025 (andits weather), as New Year's Eve is approaching. Here's what...

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Bad Bunny Scolded by Mexican Museum for Touching Historical Artifact in Since-Deleted Photo

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Bad Bunny's recent visit the National Institute of Anthropology and History sparked controversy

• The Puerto Rican rapper shared a photo to his Instagram Stories of himself touching a historical artifact at the Mexican museum

• The museum released a statement explaining the incident

Museum rules apply to everyone, includingBad Bunny.

Earlier this month, the Puerto Rican rapper visited the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico City and shared multiple photos to his Instagram Stories, including one of him touching a historical artifact,permultipleoutlets.

On Saturday, Dec. 27,the museum released a statement on social mediato confirm Bad Bunny touched the artifact and explain what happened.

View this post on Instagram

According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History, staff was present throughout Bad Bunny's entire visit to the museum. Upon witnessing him place his hand on the artifact, staff explained that touching pieces in the museum isn't allowed.

Once he was informed of the rule, theDebí Tirar Más Fotosrapper removed his hand from the artifact, per the museum's statement.

"As is public knowledge, physical contact with archaeological goods is prohibited," read the statement on social media.

The incident comes ahead of what's sure to be a major 2026 for Bad Bunny, who's set to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Feb. 8.

"What I'm feeling goes beyond myself," he said in a statement upon the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show announcement. "It's for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Todd Owyoung/Peacock/Getty

He's also scheduled to continue his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour with shows scheduled around the globe from January to July.

Additionally, Bad Bunny earned six nominations at the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best Música Urbana Album and Best Album Cover forDebí Tirar Más Fotosas well as Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "DtMF" and Best Global Musical Performance for "EoO."

The 2026 Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Read the original article onPeople

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December 31, 2025

Bad Bunny Scolded by Mexican Museum for Touching Historical Artifact in Since-Deleted Photo

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty NEED TO KNOW Bad Bunny's recent visit the National Institute of Anthropology and History sparked controver...

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