Good morning.
US and Russian officials have quietly drafted a new plan to end the war in Ukraine that would require Kyiv to cede territory and severely cut the size of its military, it was reported on Wednesday, in a development that Kyiv will probably view as surrender.
News of the plan, reportedly developed by Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev, broke after Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least 25 people in the city of Ternopil.
The Financial Times and Reuters reported that the proposal would force Ukraine to surrender territory in its east and halve the size of its army, as well as limit US military assistance.
Is this plan formally backed by the Trump administration? That’s still unclear, as Witkoff and Dmitriev have created an informal backchannel.
What has the EU said? Any peace plan needs Kyiv and Europe “on board”. Foreign ministers are meeting today to discuss this – follow our live blog here.
Trump signs bill to compel release of more Epstein documents
Donald Trump signed a bill on Wednesday instructing the justice department to release files from the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after joint pressure from Democrats and his conservative base.
The unlikely alliance forced the president into a U-turn on the release of the documents, which he always had the power to enact, but chose not to. Trump has flip-flopped on the issue, pledging to release the Epstein files on the campaign trail, before calling the issue a “hoax”, and then finally reversing course in recent days after it became clear the House of Representatives would pass legislation for their release.
What will the justice department actually release? All files related to Epstein – including the investigation into his death by suicide in prison. While they can redact identifying information about victims, it specifically bars officials from declining to disclose information over concerns about “embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity”.
Trump calls female reporter ‘piggy’ – and stokes more outrage than usual
Days after Donald Trump called a female reporter “piggy” and told her to be quiet, the president’s comment has continued to spark outrage online.
In the video, Trump can be seen admonishing Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey, who had asked him why he was fighting the release of the Epstein documens “if there’s nothing incriminating in the files”. The president pointed his finger at the journalist and said: “Quiet, piggy”. The incident took place on Air Force One on Friday.
It has circulated in the same news cycle as Trump telling another female reporter it was rude to ask Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who the CIA determined was killed at the direction of the crown prince.
It’s far from the first time that Trump’s attacked the media – why is this significant? In her analysis, Rachel Leingang says Trump’s anger could be a sign he’s on the back foot, amid a faltering economy and being forced to do a 180 on the Epstein files. The outrageous comment also seems to have hit a nerve in a way that few of his remarks do.
In other news …
Displaced Palestinians are bracing themselves for the arrival of a harsh winter, as aid groups warn that they face disease, cold and hunger as Israel continues to block the Rafah crossing.
The CEO of Nvidia has allayed Wall Street fears that a bubble was forming in the AI sector amid a market selloff.
Alice Guo, a Chinese national who became a mayor in the Philippines pretending to be a Filipina, has been sentenced to life in prison along with seven others on human trafficking charges, according to state prosecutors.
Far-right former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is facing life in prison, two months after receiving a 27-year sentence for trying to “annihilate” Brazil’s democratic institutions.
Stat of the day: 5,500 toxic sites across US face risk of coastal flooding by 2100
Rising sea levels threaten to flood more than 5,500 toxic sites across the US by 2100, according to a new study. The research warns that a range of hazardous facilities will be affected, including those handling sewage, toxic waste, oil and gas, and other industrial pollutants. Florida, New Jersey, California, Louisiana, New York, Massachusetts and Texas account for nearly 80% of the sites expected to be at risk by the end of the century.
Don’t miss this: Hold an ice cube – and shake like a dog: therapists on 16 simple, surprising ways to beat stress
Whether it’s being triggered by work, money, relationships or health, none of us can entirely avoid stress – but there are things we can do to help us cope with it better. While the stressor can’t always be eliminated, what you can do is deal with the effect on your body. Here, psychotherapists share their techniques: from seeking social connection and creativity to splashing cold water on your face.
Climate check: Turkey to host Cop31 climate conference after Australia pulls out at last minute
Turkey will host the Cop31 climate conference after Australia ended its drive to hold the event in Adelaide – despite a three-year campaign to do so. In an unprecedented move, it appears that the summit will be hosted in Antalya – but that Australia could still lead the talks on how to combat the climate crisis.
Last Thing: Not Mariah again! New music playlists for the Christmas party season
Yes, yes, the holiday season seems to start earlier every year. And we head into party season, everyone has quickly become sick of hearing the same three Christmas songs on repeat – so the Guardian’s music editor, Ben Beaumont-Thomas, has made some suggested playlists to help you host, free of Wham! and Mariah.
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