Trump was back in the Oval Office to discuss the transfer of power – a courtesy he never extended when he lost in 2020

Nancy Pelosi once said Donald Trump would be “fumigated out” of the Oval Office if he lost the 2020 presidential election. Joe Biden relished describing him as “the former guy” and “loser”. They thought the American nightmare was over.

Then, like in the movies, Democrats woke up in a cold sweat only to realise it wasn’t a dream after all. Instead they are doomed to be supporting players in a sequel. Trump: The Revenge. This time, it’s personal.

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Holly LeGresley, 37, and Adriana Orme, 56 uploaded content of monkeys being tortured to online chat groups

Two women have been jailed for their parts in a global monkey torture network described by a judge as “depraved, sickening and wicked”.

Holly LeGresley, 37, and Adriana Orme, 56, were jailed for two years and 15 months respectively for uploading content of monkeys being tortured to online chat groups.

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Firefighters battle fires from California to New York, while lack of rain could threaten drinking water supplies

Record-setting dry conditions in some parts of the US are raising fears of new wildfires and also could threaten drinking water supplies if substantial rain does not fall in the coming months.

Firefighters battled wildfires from California to New York on Wednesday, hampered by high winds and arid landscapes.

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Malcolm Chenery left estate to Diabetes UK charity when he died in 2021, writing will on fish and mince pie boxes

A will written on the back of cardboard food packaging has been found to be valid by the high court, meaning a charity stands to inherit £180,000.

Malcolm Chenery, who died in 2021, left his estate, including a three-bedroom house, jewellery, cash and an extensive collection of ornaments and pottery, to Diabetes UK.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org

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Trump has chosen loyalists and hardliners to lead departments that will shape US policy on immigration, defense and more

• US politics live – latest updates

Donald Trump may have won a second term in the White House just last week, but his recent administration appointments have already heightened fears among some who believe his return to the White House will lead to an extremist agenda.

On immigration, Trump has chosen loyalists and hardliners Stephen Miller to serve as deputy chief of staff for policy and Department of Homeland Security adviser; Tom Homan as “border czar ,” and Kristi Noem , the South Dakota governor, to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

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Academy unveils new ‘forfeiture process’ after review prompted by case of disgraced Bafta winner Huw Edwards

The British Academy of Film and Television will be able to strip future winners of their awards in cases of “proven dishonesty” or if they’re convicted of a serious criminal offence.

New provisions added to the Bafta rulebook give the body the power to retrospectively revoke competition honours, starting with winners in 2025.

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Andrew Cornes is among panel from whom six will be chose to appoint Justin Welby’s successor

A retired clergyman who could be part of the selection process for the next archbishop of Canterbury knew about the sadistic abuse of boys and young men in the early 1980s but failed to take action, according to the report that triggered Justin Welby’s resignation.

One of John Smyth’s victims discussed his abuse with the Rev Andrew Cornes in September 1982, but “there is no evidence to suggest that [Cornes] took action to respond to this”, the report said.

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Labour peer called Donald Trump a ‘bully’ in 2018 article and said he was too hostile towards China on trade policy

Peter Mandelson’s position as the frontrunner to be US ambassador has been questioned after it emerged he criticised Donald Trump for being a “bully” and too hostile towards China on trade policy.

Critics of Beijing raised concerns over the suitability of the Labour peer to take on the job given his repeated defence of engagement with China, while Trump’s administration is hawkish towards the rival trading power.

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• Tottenham midfielder faces minimum six-game ban
• FA had charged Bentancur for Son Heung-min comment

Tottenham are resigned to Rodrigo Bentancur being given a lengthy ban of at least six matches by the FA for making an allegedly racist remark about teammate Son Heung-min.

The 27-year-old midfielder was charged with an “aggravated breach” of FA rules in September for offensive comments made during a television interview broadcast in Uruguay in June, when he said that Son and his South Korean teammates “all look the same.”

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