U.S. Delays Tariffs on Chinese Semiconductors

© Uma Sanghvi/The Palm Beach Post, via Associated Press

© Uma Sanghvi/The Palm Beach Post, via Associated Press

© Hilary Swift for The New York Times

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Former Barclays boss and ex-US Treasury secretary named in versions of will of convicted child sex offender
The former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley and the ex-US Treasury secretary Larry Summers were appointed as executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, according to a newly released tranche of documents linked to the now-deceased child sex offender.
Filings published on Tuesday by the US Department of Justice included various versions of Epstein’s last will and testament, which showed the financier intended to hand responsibility of managing his affairs to associates including the two high-profile men in the event of his death.
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© Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

© Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

© Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA





Studying chemical chatter as tiny balls of cells embed could shine a light on early pregnancy and glitches that lead to miscarriage
Researchers have created the lining of a womb in a dish, which promises to shed light on the mysterious early stages of human pregnancy and the glitches that can lead to miscarriage and medical complications.
In laboratory experiments, early-stage human embryos donated from couples after IVF treatment successfully implanted into the engineered lining and began to churn out key compounds, such as the hormone that results in a blue line on positive pregnancy tests.
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© Photograph: Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

© Photograph: Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

© Photograph: Stocktrek Images/Getty Images
From a show so bananas it could blind people to a classic cartoon that guarantees tears – stars behind the best festive treats on telly reveal what they tune into without fail
Christmas is a time steeped in traditions. And one big tradition that exists in many of our homes over the period revolves around TV: rewatching old favourites, hunkering down for that special you’ve been dying to see or sitting in a post-lunch fugue with a beloved family film. And, as we published last week, there’s a bounty of Christmas telly to get stuck into this year.
But what about people involved in making TV? What do their Christmas viewing habits look like? Here, a variety of actors, writers, directors and comedians – many of whom may be popping up on your screens this year – share their Christmas TV favourites.
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© Photograph: World History Archive/Alamy

© Photograph: World History Archive/Alamy

© Photograph: World History Archive/Alamy










Global sales fall by 3% in third consecutive year of decline as distilleries scale back production or expand storage
The Scottish whisky market has slipped into a supply glut as US tariffs and falling demand weigh on the country’s distilleries.
Global scotch sales fell 3% in the first half of 2025, marking the third consecutive year of decline after decades of growth, according to the alcohol data provider IWSR.
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© Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images

© Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images

© Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images