Some school districts in the U.S. dropped plans for class pictures after widespread social media posts linked a billionaire with ties to Jeffrey Epstein to the photography giant Lifetouch, which on Friday called the claims “completely false.”

The disruption to school picture plans in Texas and elsewhere began after online posts linked Lifetouch, which photographs millions of students each year, to the investment fund manager Apollo Global Management. Apollo’s former CEO is billionaire investor Leon Black, who met regularly with Epstein and was advised by Epstein on financial matters.

Black led the company in 2019, when funds managed by Apollo bought Lifetouch’s parent company, Shutterfly. The $2.7 billion deal closed in September 2019 — a month after Epstein’s death by suicide behind bars as he awaited trial over allegations from federal prosecutors that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of girls.

Both Lifetouch and Apollo noted that timeline in statements Friday, two days after Lifetouch CEO Ken Murphy said in an Instagram post that neither Black nor any of Apollo’s directors or investors ever had any access to Lifetouch photos.

“No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein and we have never shared student images with any third party, including Apollo,” Lifetouch said in its statement Friday. “Apollo and its funds also have no role in Lifetouch’s daily operations and have no access to student images.”

The canceled school pictures are another ripple effect over the release of millions of files from the Epstein investigation, including documents showing Epstein’s regular contacts with CEOs, journalists, scientists and prominent politicians long after a 2008 conviction on sex crimes charges.

In the small Texas town of Malakoff, the local school district canceled a student picture day after several parents told the district they weren’t comfortable with Lifetouch photographing their children, spokesperson Katherine Smith said in a statement e-mailed Friday. Several other schools and districts in Texas also canceled or changed plans, as well as a charter school in Arizona, according to Facebook announcements posted by the schools.

“We decided our students and families would be best served by keeping all of our pictures in-house for the rest of this year, and we are looking at all of our options for the 2026-2027 school year,” Smith said.

Parents concerned about Lifetouch included MaKallie Gann, whose children attend schools in Howe, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Dallas. She said she was worried about how much information Lifetouch collects on students.

“Whenever you order the pictures, it has their name. It has the age, of course. It has their grade, their teacher, the school that they’re in,” she said.

No evidence of Epstein or anyone in his orbit seeing Lifetouch photos has emerged from news organizations’ review of thousands of documents released this month by the U.S. Department of Justice, though there are at least 1.7 million records.

The review shows Black’s name appeared 8,200 times, though that figure likely includes some duplicate records. Black stepped down as Apollo’s CEO in March 2021, saying he wanted to focus on his family, health, and “many other interests.”

That was two months after a committee of the company’s board issued a report concluding that Epstein had advised Black personally on estate planning, tax issues, charitable giving and running his “family office,” but provided no services to Apollo or invested in no Apollo funds.

The report also said the review — which Black requested — found “no evidence” that he was involved with Epstein’s alleged criminal activities “in any way” or “at any time.” ___

Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Also contributing was Associated Press writer Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota.

The art and craft of stop-motion animation has been celebrated in several exhibitions recently, including a show at London’s South Bank Centre and last year’s Tim Burton retrospective at the Design Museum. Now it’s the turn of Aardman as the studio celebrates almost half a century of silly characters, cracking jokes and comical villains in a new exhibition in London.

Since its founding in 1972 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, the Bristol-based Aardman has cultivated an identity as one of animation’s most trusted and commercially successful production houses. Animator Nick Park joined in 1985, bringing Aardman Oscar success in 1991 with Creature Comforts – the first of many.

Widespread critical acclaim led to high-profile partnerships with Hollywood companies DreamWorks and Sony Pictures in the early 2000s. But it’s the studio’s homegrown history of feature films, animated shorts, TV series and various other projects that take centre stage at the Young V&A for the new Inside Aardman – Wallace and Gromit and Friends exhibition.

Drawn from the studio’s 50-year legacy, the gallery’s impressive collection of sets, puppets and other behind-the-scenes material provides an affectionate look at the production stories behind some of Aardman’s most celebrated animated creations.

The craft behind the art

The exhibition is a quickfire journey through the techniques and technologies of handmade claymation that have defined the company’s signature animation style.

We learn about the moveable metal armatures and sculpturing of Plasticine, silicone rubber and foam that build Aardman’s three-dimensional models. And we get to see the invisible labour of foley artists (sound creators) and sound designers involved in the realisation of Aardman’s animated screen worlds.

At the centre of the exhibition is the literal flagship piece – the huge galleon from The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012), which towers over the curated collection of miniatures. Other highlights include the prison cell set from Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024), home to the villainous penguin Feathers McGraw. Visitors can also create their own performances and stop-motion shorts in special interactive booths.

One of the most welcome curiosities is that the archival and audiovisual materials are organised to reflect the various stages of stop-motion animation as a creative process. An impressive collection of pre-production artefacts include never-before-seen storyboards, concept art and illustrations. All are testament to the meticulous craftmanship of the animators and highlight the almost imperceptible details involved in building stop-motion animation from the ground up.

Lesser-known processes like needle-felting and “dope sheets” (drawings that break down dialogue into the appropriate mouth shapes frame-by-frame) accompany the more recognisable three-dimensional characters that celebrate the artisanal logic powering Aardman’s creativity.

What is clear from this peek inside the magical animated world of Aardman is that its animators are quintessential problem-solvers. The exhibition’s focus on the early Morph shorts reveals how clingfilm can function as an excellent substitute for water.

Similarly, the models and miniatures from A Grand Day Out (1989) show that lentils can have the appearance of well-worn rivets. Even icing sugar can give claymation models a duller, matte look. In the hands of Aardman’s skilled animators, everyday objects and materials can be transformed in all kinds of ways to sell the illusion.

Notable too among the wealth of handmade materials and processes is the spotlight on computer imaging and other forms of digital intervention – a surprise, perhaps, given Aardman’s renowned dedication to working with tangible, material objects. Yet the crude sketches doodled on scraps of paper from which the earliest story and character ideas were formed give way in the exhibition’s closing stages, to a recognition of other kinds of animated techniques.

Computer-generated layering and 3D printing add in visual effects largely impossible to achieve in stop-motion. Green screens and even virtual reality visualisations help the animators “design and test ideas for sets before building them”. All show how digital technology has come to occupy a central place in the production pipeline of Aardman films.

Rather than obscure such processes behind the lucrative business of handcraft for which Aardman is internationally celebrated, the exhibition rightly makes a virtue of the virtual. The studio chooses not to obscure how and where digital processes have contributed to their big-screen blockbusters – even if their computer-animated films Flushed Away (2006) and Arthur Christmas (2011) are curiously sidelined.

Many visitors will be well acquainted with the characters and objects brought together for Inside Aardman, yet there is enough devotion to animation as an industrial art form to satisfy creative practitioners and historians alike. This excellent collection at the V&A show confirms Aardman as masters of their craft within the tradition of British animation, and a studio that can rightfully claim to be the true pioneers of Plasticine.

Inside Aardman is on at the Young V&A, London, until November 26

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Oprah Winfrey chatted to Harry and Meghan in 2021 following the couple’s decision to step down as working members of the royal family – now Meghan reportedly thinks Brooklyn Beckham should also do an Oprah interview

Meghan Markle knows first hand how damaging it is to be vilified simply for expressing your truth and believes that “Brooklyn Beckham has been painted in an unfair light”, according to sources.

The Beckham family has been embroiled in a bitter feud, with David and Lady Victoria’s eldest son, Brooklyn, 26, cutting ties with the Beckhams and remaining absent from their recent special events. After swerving his dad’s 50th birthday celebrations and celebrating Christmas and New Year with his wife and her clan, their relationship appears to be all but over after they were all blocked on social media.

The wannabe chef, 26 ,ignited the family feud with the lengthy scathing statement as he called out their behaviour. Brooklyn’s statement last month, which made it clear he had no interest in reconciling with his family, also criticised his mum.

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He wrote: “My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song. In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead. She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone.

“I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life. We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.”

Much like she and Harry felt they were when their own family tensions became public, Brooklyn has been trying navigate the family feud for weeks now and she is said to be trying to secure a sit-down between Brooklyn Beckham and Oprah Winfrey following his explosive allegations against his famous parents.

An insider has told RadarOnline that she was “genuinely upset” to see the intensity of the backlash off the back of his bombshell statement and how the “narrative has quickly turned against him.” According to sources “it brought back memories of the criticism and hostility she faced when she first spoke out.”

A TV production source said: “In Meghan’s view, Oprah has the stature and the skill to help recalibrate public perception. After weeks of criticism and harsh commentary, she thinks a thoughtful, empathetic interview could shift the tone – not by attacking anyone, but by allowing Brooklyn to explain himself fully.

“She genuinely feels Oprah would do everything she could to make sure he’s heard fairly and that the conversation feels balanced rather than adversarial.”

Meghan Markle’s representatives have been approached for comment.

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Yet he showed no urgency to put the rebound into the net.

First Delap raised his arm to celebrate, then appealed to the officials, before collecting the loose ball and having a shot blocked by the recovering Phillips.

Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer, speaking on BBC One during commentary of the game, said: “Goodness me. What is Delap doing?

“It is as if he is thinking, ‘I have all the time in the world’. He ambles to it and he takes his time. What are you waiting for?

“Liam Delap has not had a good four minutes. He has given it away twice and missed a sitter. Delap has been poor and he has been given the opportunity tonight. Delap looks very lazy, his performances have to improve.”

Delap, though, recovered impressively from the error to finish the match with three assists as Pedro Neto’s hat-trick and an Estevao Willian strike sent eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea into round five.

And he was able to joke about the bizarre moment afterwards as he told BBC One: “I swear on my life I almost ran off [the pitch].

“I thought it went in and then I was waiting for the ref to blow his whistle. Obviously, I should have waited for the ref to blow his whistle. It’s silly from me but yeah, crazy.”

The former Manchester City striker has started just two of Chelsea‘s last nine Premier League games, but was handed a chance by Liam Rosenior, with in-form forward Joao Pedro dropping to the bench.

And despite Delap’s misjudgement, the Blues boss praised the forward for his response and part in the success.

The ball he played to Neto for the opening goal in the 40th minute was the first pass he had completed in the final third, having lost possession eight times beforehand.

His second assist for Estevao came after some brilliant hold-up play, while he teed up Neto for the second time at the MKM Stadium with a powerful drive into the box.

Rosenior called Delap’s performance “top” and said: “To be a number nine, especially in a system that we play, it’s not always about yourself.

“It’s about bringing other people into play. It’s about sometimes making sacrifice runs so other players get the space.”

And former Blackburn and Newcastle striker Shearer added: “Delap recovered well from that start and has been instrumental in the win. He deserves a lot of credit for that.”

Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards hopes Delap can now “replicate that in the Premier League”.

“I think Liam Delap’s game was brilliant,” he told BBC One. “What I liked about it, is when Hull set up in this five, Delap was thinking if he could get into the space.”

While Delap must wait for his next goal, former Spurs and Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Delap can do anything. He is like a throwback and is that all-around number nine.

“He is very effective when he is on his game. He is good in the air, he can hold the ball up well, he can defend and he can finish.

“I think he is another outlet. Chelsea now have a plan B if they want to use it and that could be an option.”

Local reports indicate that the man is in a critical condition after being blasted by cops in Paris.

A man has been shot by cops after an attempted knife attack at a famous landmark in Paris.

The man had reportedly lunged towards officers with a the knife near the Arc de Triomphe shortly after 6pm local time today, Friday, February, 13.

Local media reported that one police officer had been left with serious injuries, but official reports have since confirmed the officer only suffered minor injuries during the incident. Officers were given orders to shoot following the attempted attack on a fellow officer, reports the Daily Star.

An official said the man was hospitalised after earlier reports said the suspect was shot dead at the scene. However, he is reportedly in a critical condition, according to LeParisen.

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Sources say the suspect was “already well known” to the cops. He suspect lives in Seine-Saint-Denis and is reportedly is registered with Micas (individual administrative control and surveillance measure).

The incident reportedly took place as the city held its Rekindling of the Flame ceremony, a daily service to honour the Unknown Soldier and French war victims.

The Charles de Gaulle-Étoile and surrounding Metro stations have also been shut down for security reasons, The Mirror reports.

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The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office released a statement: “Following the events that occurred on February 13, 2026 in Paris, the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office has taken up these facts and opened a preliminary investigation.”

The Arc de Triomphe is one of Paris‘ most famous sites, and sits atop the busy Champs-Elysees avenue.

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Glasgow contestant Mags returned to face the Chasers 11 years after her memorable appearance on The Chase.

On Friday night (February 13), ITV audiences watched as host Bradley Walsh welcomed contestants Carla, John, Christopher, Lucy and Margaret onto Beat The Chasers.

During the repeated episode, which originally broadcast last year, the participants each took on the formidable quiz masters including The Sinnerman, The Beast, The Governess, The Menace, The Vixen and The Dark Destroyer in their quest to secure a cash prize.

One contestant, however, was already familiar to Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett, having previously faced him in 2014 during an appearance on The Chase. This follows after viewers were left reeling this week.

When Glasgow contestant ‘Mags’ made her way down from the studio audience for her turn, she revealed to Bradley that any winnings would go towards purchasing a new car.

After correctly answering three questions, Mags had the opportunity to compete for a minimum prize of £3,000, reports the Daily Record.

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But as Mark Labbett prepared to present his offer, she greeted the ITV star with: “Hello again.”

Mark responded: “You look familiar.”

Mags confirmed she’d previously encountered The Beast, prompting Bradley to ask her to share details of her memorable appearance on the ITV programme more than ten years earlier.

Remembering her question, she recalled: “Which bird is poetically known as Mavis? I got the answer right! It was Thrush.”

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Bradley responded: “I took the mickey?” Mags continued: “Yeah, I was asked to explain how I knew it, so I said, ‘It’s just something I picked up’”

The live audience erupted into laughter as Bradley echoed her comment from her initial appearance on the quiz show, asking: “Are you known in your area as Thrush lady?”

She responded with: “No, but I might be after this!” Ultimately, the contestant was offered the opportunity to play for £75,000.

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However, she chose to challenge four chasers in an attempt to win £40,000.

Following a tense 60 seconds, Mags triumphed over the chasers, earning a standing ovation from the quiz masters.

Commenting on her victory, Bradley couldn’t resist making a light-hearted remark, stating: “You’ve absolutely thrushed them!”

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Beat The Chase is available to watch on ITVX.

Three skiers died in the tragic incident at the Val-d’Isère ski area.

Three skiers died after a huge avalanche hit a popular ski resort in the French Alps.

Two Brits and a French skier were killed in the Val-d’Isère area, the resort’s tourist office confirmed. The avalanche struck at around 11.30am this morning, Friday, February 13, sweeping six skiers away in an off-piste area of the Manchet Valley, according to the Albertville prosecutor’s office.

The French skier who died was skiing alone, while the other five people were part of a group accompanied by an instructor. “The two other deceased and the injured person are British nationals. They belonged to a group of five skiers accompanied by an instructor. The instructor is unharmed,” said prosecutor Benoît Bachelet, reports the Mirror.

The injured British skier was taken to Bourg-Saint-Maurice after managing to escape despite initially being buried under the snow. A probe into the incident has been opened.

The Val-d’Isère tourist office offered “sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims” and urged skiers to stick to secure, marked areas of the resort. It noted that the avalanche risk had been rated 4 out of 5 this morning.

The Savoie prefecture issued a warning on X, advising against “off-piste activities, ski touring and snowshoeing” and urging “mountain enthusiasts to strictly comply with the instructions given by professionals and the safety services of the slopes”.

Storm Nils brought very heavy snowfall as it swept through France yesterday, with 60 to 100 cm of fresh snow recorded, according to France’s weather service Météo France. The forecaster had placed Savoie under red avalanche warning for the whole day and several ski resorts in the Alps closed fully or partially.

Météo France service warned the snowpack would be “very unstable” in Savoie today, especially above 1800–2000 m altitude”. “Avalanches can therefore be easily triggered by a skier or hiker and may mobilise very large volumes of snow,” it said.

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Hull City issued warnings to fans inside the MKM Stadium after discriminatory chants were directed towards Chelsea, with arrests made during the FA Cup tie

Chelsea’s victory over Hull City in the FA Cup was marred after discriminatory chanting resulted in supporters being arrested inside the stadium. The Championship side issued warnings through their PA system to halt chants during the first half, whilst messages appeared on screens throughout the venue, after the discriminatory “rent boy” chant was aimed at the Premier League outfit.

Fans at the MKM Stadium were reminded that discriminatory chanting constitutes a criminal offence and CCTV was being monitored throughout the ground. During the second half, further announcements informed supporters that action had been taken, including arrests.

Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic expressed his disappointment at the chants from fans, reaffirming that there is no place for discrimination, reports. He said: “Didn’t hear that. This is not the place for this, in the stadium or in public as well.

“It’s not good, for sure. The stadium is not a place for that and this is the reason why there are arrests.”

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In a statement published in 2023, Chelsea welcomed the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision that classified the term “rent boy” as a homophobic slur and hate crime. It came after the Football Association (FA) marked the chant as a specific rule breach.

“Chelsea Football Club welcomes the FA’s decision to class the homophobic chant directed at our supporters as a breach of FA rules which could lead to disciplinary action being taken,” the statement began.

“This follows the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service to class this hugely offensive chant as a hate crime. “The ‘Rent Boy’ chant is intolerable and has no place in football or anywhere else.

“That opposition clubs can now face disciplinary action if their supporters engage in this discriminatory and offensive behaviour is a step in the right direction. Everyone who chooses to participate in this chant must know their actions have consequences.

“Alongside our No To Hate campaign, we will continue to work with the FA, the CPS, opposition clubs, and our own LGBTQI+ supporter group Chelsea Pride in the pursuit of positive change. There is plenty more work to be done, but we won’t rest until football is a game where everyone feels welcome.”

Hull had issued a warning to supporters on Thursday that “chanting of a homophobic, racist or discriminatory nature is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated”.

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They cautioned fans that anyone caught engaging in such conduct would face serious consequences, including immediate removal from the ground, a banning order and criminal prosecution.

After Pedro Neto’s goal separated the two teams in the first half, the Portuguese winger added two more strikes in the second to seal his hat-trick, whilst Estevao also got on the scoresheet.

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County Hall, at Aykley Heads in Durham City,  is scheduled to close earlier than originally planned, with all council staff and services expected to be relocated by July. 

Council officials said the earlier move will save around £350,000 in building running costs, ongoing maintenance and repairs, and speed up the development of the new Aykley Heads Innovation District. 

Cabinet members and councillors part of the Reform-led local authority will relocate to the Rivergreen Centre, which will be the main base of council operations. The site, which formerly housed the Atom Bank headquarters, is currently undergoing major redevelopment after it was bought by the council for £11 million in 2023 

County Hall, Durham. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Opposition councillors will be temporarily relocated to the nearby Salvus House offices until February 2027. 

Full council meetings from September will be held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre until the Rivergreen building is available, which will house a brand new council chamber. Committee meetings will be scheduled across Salvus House, The Light, Green Lane, and Spennymoor Education Centre.

Demolition work on the existing County Hall site, which opened in 1963, is expected to start in March 2027 when it is handed over to Muse, the council’s joint venture partner. 

The public-private partnership, supported by Durham University, is expected to create thousands of new jobs and to become a regional hub for research and innovation. 

A new cultural venue inside the former Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery called ‘The Light’ is due to open later this year. 

Andrew Husband, Reform council leader at Durham County Council. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Speaking after signing the partnership agreement with Muse last year, council leader Andrew Husband said: “Aykley Heads will deliver thousands of quality jobs for our residents and will be a significant driving force for County Durham’s future economic growth, as well as that of the wider North East.”

Phil Mayall, managing director at Muse, added: “Aykley Heads will provide a high-quality environment to encourage the growth of existing businesses and attract others to the region.

“It will also help to balance out the city core by revitalising the area, creating a vibrant and exciting new employment destination.”

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — An au pair who schemed with her employer-turned-lover to kill his wife and another man received a 10-year prison sentence on Friday.

Prosecutors had recommended Juliana Peres Magalhães walk free after she pleaded guilty to a downgraded manslaughter charge in the February 2023 killing of Joseph Ryan. Instead of being tried for second-degree murder, she became their star witness, testifying that she had fatally shot Ryan as Brendan Banfield was fatally stabbing his wife, Christine, in the couple’s bedroom.

Brendan Banfield was convicted by a jury this month of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife and Ryan.

“I know my remorse cannot bring you peace,” Magalhães told the victims’ families on Friday, wiping away tears and muffling sobs. “I hope you can someday understand that I really did not believe his plan would actually happen.”

Instead of sentencing her to time served, Judge Penney Azcarate delivered the maximum possible sentence to the woman from Brazil.

“Let’s get it straight: You do not deserve anything other than incarceration and a life of reflection on what you have done to the victim and his family. May it weigh heavily on your soul,” the judge said.

At Banfield’s trial, Magalhães testified that she and the IRS agent created an account in the name of his wife, a pediatric intensive care nurse, on a social media platform for people interested in sexual fetishes. Ryan connected with the account and agreed to meet for a sexual encounter involving a knife.

Magalhães, then 22, said she and Brendan Banfield took the couple’s 4-year-old child to the basement, and then found Ryan surprising Christine Banfield with a knife in the couple’s bedroom. She said Brendan Banfield shot Ryan and then began stabbing his wife in the neck. When she saw Ryan moving, Magalhães said, she fired the second shot that killed him.

The au pair wasn’t arrested until eight months later, and hasn’t left jail since. Prosecutors raised concerns that if she were to be allowed bail, she would flee to Brazil or be deported by immigration officials before they could finish their case. She didn’t talk with investigators for more than a year, until she changed her mind as her trial date approached.

“I lost myself in a relationship, and left my morals and values behind,” Magalhães told the judge.

“You were texting and speaking to Joseph Ryan, encouraging him to bring a knife and ultimately, through the phone conversation, getting his consent, knowing all along you were bringing him to his death,” the judge responded.

Ryan’s mother, Deirdre Fisher, told the court that her son, born days before Christmas, was her “greatest gift.” Three years after his killing, she can’t bear taking down their Christmas tree. An urn with Ryan’s ashes sits in front of the decoration.

“I say good morning to him each day when I turn on the tree’s lights,” she said. “But of course that’s not Joe sitting there. He can’t say ‘I love you’ back.”

Sangeeta Ryan described her nephew as “inquisitive, curious, smart, charming and so dang talkative.” She said he loved martial arts and role-playing with his friends. She also noted that he had moved in with his octogenarian grandmother to care for her.

“His sudden murder devastated his grandma — she could no longer live in the family home without Joe,” his aunt said. The woman quietly moved away, hoping to avoid her memories and the reporters knocking at the door.

Christine Banfield’s relatives attended Friday’s hearing. A judge has said Banfield will be sentenced in May.