While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Nov 13, 2025
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US President Donald Trump has emphatically denied any involvement in, or knowledge of, Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation.
PHOTO: DOUG MILLS/ NYTIMES
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Trump ‘knew about the girls’: Epstein e-mails
House Democrats on Nov 12 released e-mails in which Jeffrey Epstein wrote that President Donald Trump had “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s victims, among other messages that suggested that the convicted sex offender believed Mr Trump knew more about his abuse than he has acknowledged.
Mr Trump has emphatically denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. He has said that he and Epstein, the disgraced financier who died by suicide in federal prison in 2019, were once friendly but had a falling out.
But Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the e-mails, which they selected from thousands of pages of documents received by their panel, raised new questions about the relationship between the two men.
In one of the messages, Epstein flatly asserted that Mr Trump “knew about the girls”, many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage.
October inflation, jobs data may never be released
Official US data on how consumer inflation and the jobs market fared in October may never be published, the White House said on Nov 12, citing the longest government shutdown in the country’s history.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of potentially “permanently” harming the federal statistical system as the stoppage entered its 43rd day – a record period that paralysed Washington and left hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid.
Ms Leavitt told reporters that the October consumer price index and jobs reports will “likely never” be released.
Some 3,000 cattle stranded on boat for three weeks
PHOTO: X/@ANIMALSAVETR
Nearly 3,000 cattle shipped from Uruguay have been stranded for three weeks off Turkey’s north-west coast after authorities blocked their entry over documentation irregularities, officials and animal welfare groups said on Nov 12.
The livestock carrier Spiridon II, which left Montevideo more than 50 days ago, was denied entry upon arrival at Bandirma port on the southern shores of the Sea of Marmara on Oct 21, Turkey’s communications directorate said.
The boat was briefly allowed to dock on Nov 9 to load feed and bedding before anchoring offshore again, the UK-based Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) said.
Malaysian rapper Namewee to be offered bail
PHOTOS: AZMI ATHNI, IRISS0810/FACEBOOK
Malaysian rapper Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, will be offered bail when his detention linked to the murder probe of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh ends on Nov 13, said Malaysia’s attorney-general.
Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar said on Nov 12 that police investigations have not yielded any leads linking Namewee to the death, local media reported.
He said the Attorney-General’s Chambers will take the appropriate action if investigations reveal new findings, adding that a statement will be issued on Nov 13.
Jannik Sinner cruises into last four of ATP Finals
Jannik Sinner reached the last four of the ATP Finals on Nov 12 after beating Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-3 to qualify from the Bjorn Borg group with a match to spare.
World number one Sinner is bidding to retain his title at the prestigious end-of-season tournament, and he cruised into the semi-finals in front of a delighted crowd in Turin.
The 24-year-old was not at his best and struggled with a hand problem at the start of the match but still had more than enough to see off Zverev for the fifth straight time.
