Trump's picks for key positions in his second administrationsuperace glife 。

Jannik Sinner leads Italy back to the Davis Cup semifinals and a rematch against AustraliaDaniel Martin Gallagher, Jr. Sells 300,000 Shares of Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) Stock

Jets running back Breece Hall dealing with a knee issue, left tackle Tyron Smith could go on IRLONDON -- Under-pressure head coach Ange Postecoglou has said his team's lacklustre form means he is "in a fight" but the Australian backed himself to get the club out of their slump, adding he loves being in "the middle of a storm." Postecoglou's future as Spurs boss has been called into question following a run of results that has seen the north London club record just one win in their last eight games. Their struggles have caused a portion of fans to lose faith in Postecoglou's project and some of them were involved in a heated confrontation with the manager following Spurs' defeat at Bournemouth last week. Spurs have won four away matches in 2024 and travel to face on Sunday in desperate need of a convincing victory over the division's bottom-placed club. St. Mary's was the scene of former Spurs boss Antonio Conte's famous post-match rant in which he branded his players as "selfish" and accused them of not wanting to play under pressure after they let a two-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 with Southampton in March 2023. Asked on Thursday if he would ever make similar comments about his own team in the way that Conte did, Postecoglou told a news conference: "Look, I don't think it's fair to comment. Antonio, like I said, is a world-class manager and has his own way of doing things, his own reasons for doing that. "I am here, I am in for the fight. I am in a fight, for sure. For better or worse I am not going anywhere at the moment because everything is still in my power and my responsibility. I still have a real desire to get us through this stage so that people see what is on the other side. My resolve and determination hasn't wavered one little bit. "I love a fight, I love a scrape, I love being in the middle of a storm when everyone doubts because I know what it is on the other side if you get through it. My job is to get through it." Postecoglou's patience with some of the performance levels shown by some of the senior players within his injury-depleted squad has seemingly worn thin, with the 59-year-old saying Timo Werner's display in Thursday's with Rangers " Earlier on Thursday, Postecoglou said he had no time for worrying about his players' "bruised egos" when he provides them with direct feedback on their performances and reiterated they need to make meaningful contributions on the pitch. Asked whether those issues tie into the wider problems of Spurs' recent, trophy-less, past, Postecoglou said: "I'm sick of that. That's an excuse for me and that's why even with 's comments [about the Tottenham hierarchy], I just think that's an excuse. "At the moment I'm here, I take responsibility. These players, we're here. If we think some mythical thing exists in this club that prevents success then change it. What's the point otherwise? Don't come here. I just don't buy into that. "At the moment we're in a difficult situation because of kind of where we are squad-wise and team-wise. You either embrace this challenge. If you want excuses there are a million of them. There are a million excuses as to why we can't be successful but if that's what your crutch is, particularly in tough moments, then what's the point? Just move on then and go somewhere else." Postecoglou confirmed that first-choice centre backs Cristian Romero and will miss Sunday's trip to face Southampton as the severity of their respective muscular injuries continue to be assessed. However, fellow defender could return for the game at St. Mary's.

Mahesh Babu starrer 'Guntur Kaaram' to re-release on New Year's eve in limited screensSYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian Senate committee has backed a bill that would ban social media for children under 16 but said social media platforms should not force users to submit personal data such as passport and other digital identification to prove their age. Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor government is rushing to pass the bill, largely supported by the opposition Liberal party, by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday. In its report published late on Tuesday, the Senate's environment and communications legislation committee said social media platforms "must set out alternative methods for assuring age as reasonable steps with consideration given to the age assurance trial." A progress report on the age assurance trial must be submitted by the communications minister to the parliament by Sept. 30, 2025, the committee said as it urged the government to "meaningfully engage" with youth when framing the law. "Young people, and in particular diverse cohorts, must be at the centre of the conversation as an age restriction is implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection," committee Chair Senator Karen Grogan said. Some independent lawmakers have criticised the government for trying to pass the legislation in a week. The bill was introduced last Thursday, submissions on it closed on Friday, and a brief hearing was held on Monday. In separate submissions, Google and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms said the social media ban should be delayed until the age-verification trial finishes. Bytedance's TikTok said the bill needed more consultation, while Elon Musk's X said the proposed law might hurt children's human rights. The planned law would force social media platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place. Companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches. ($1 = 1.5451 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul)

Jirga discusses steps to restore peace to Tirah valleyAriana Grande Shares Emotional Clip From Glinda's Bubble on the ‘Wicked’ SetOn Tuesday, the government introduced a constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha to synchronise national and state elections in India under the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE). To explore its feasibility, the government had established a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind to examine the scope of ONOE, the constitutional amendments required, and the steps to implement this vision. While the concept may appear efficient at first glance, a closer examination reveals significant practical, logistical, and democratic concerns. Supporters of ONOE argue that it will reduce the financial cost of conducting frequent elections, free political parties from a perpetual election mode, and allow them to focus on governance. These arguments, however, crumble under scrutiny. When the numbers are analysed, the actual financial savings are minimal. Critics also point out that the real issue lies in the recent trend of national leaders and Delhi-based politicians devoting significant time and energy to state election campaigns. If the concern is that frequent state elections hamper governance, the solution is simpler than synchronising elections: state elections should primarily be fought by state party units, while national leaders focus on governing the country. Unfortunately, India’s increasingly centralised and presidential style of campaigning makes this solution unlikely. The logistical challenge of holding simultaneous elections across the entire country is staggering. Even state elections currently occur in multiple phases for security and administrative reasons. Coordinating both national and state elections would exacerbate these difficulties. A more critical issue lies in the incompatibility of a rigid election schedule with the principles of parliamentary democracy. India’s constitution demands that a government must always enjoy the confidence of the House. If a government loses this confidence, it must resign and seek a fresh mandate. While simultaneous elections were the norm in the 1950s, the system was disrupted when Article 356 was used to impose President’s Rule in states under exceptional circumstances. Synchronising elections today would require undermining this fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy. Even if national and state elections are synchronised for one cycle, the system will collapse the moment a government falls prematurely. Two proposed solutions to this problem create more harm than good: 1. Imposing President’s Rule: If a state government falls, the state would remain under President’s Rule until the next synchronised election cycle, potentially for years. This undermines federalism and denies the people their right to elect a new government. 2. Shortened Assembly Terms: Fresh elections would be held in the affected state, but the new assembly would serve only until the next synchronised election. This creates instability and undermines the very justification for reducing election costs and campaigning fatigue. These solutions also increase the likelihood of political manoeuvring to avoid the fall of a government, even if it has lost the House’s confidence. Despite the Tenth Schedule’s anti-defection provisions, ‘horse-trading’ has remained rampant, with politicians exploiting loopholes and judicial intervention to retain power. ONOE also poses a fundamental threat to Indian federalism. Indian federalism is not just a matter of administrative convenience but a recognition of linguistic, cultural, and ethnic aspirations. State-level democracies allow regional issues, identities, and demands to be represented effectively. Synchronising elections risks blurring these distinct arenas of democracy. State-level issues may be subsumed by national narratives, diluting regional voices. This undermines federalism’s role as a check on the concentration of power at the centre. The federal structure, supported by the Rajya Sabha and plural democratic contests at the state level, prevents the centralisation of authority. ONOE risks eroding this balance and creating a system where power becomes dangerously concentrated. Elections are the primary means of public participation in India’s constitutional framework. Unlike other constitutions that guarantee public participation in lawmaking or provide tools like the right to recall, the Indian system relies almost entirely on elections to hold representatives accountable. Frequent elections, therefore, allow for regular public engagement and debate. Simultaneous elections would shrink this space for participation without offering any alternative mechanisms to deepen democracy. The public’s ability to hold governments accountable would be reduced, weakening India’s democratic fabric. In conclusion, the administrative benefits of ONOE are overstated at best and illusory at worst. Meanwhile, the costs are substantial, both in terms of implementation and the principles it compromises. ONOE undermines federalism, weakens parliamentary democracy, and reduces opportunities for public participation. The idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’ is fundamentally flawed, impractical, and carries significant risks to India’s democratic and federal structure. For these reasons, it is an idea that should remain in the realm of discussion, not implementation.NFL legend Randy Moss reveals cancer diagnosis, surgery

DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad , gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. Blinken arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced stop after talks in Jordan and Turkey, which backs some of the Syrian insurgent factions. So far, U.S. officials have not talked of direct meetings with Syria's new rulers. The main insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has worked to establish security and start a political transition after seizing Damascus early Sunday. The group has tried to reassure a public both stunned by Assad's fall and concerned about extremist jihadis among the rebels. Insurgent leaders say the group has broken with its extremist past, though HTS is still labeled a terrorist group by the United States and European countries. HTS's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, appeared in a video message Friday congratulating “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” “I invite them to head to the squares to show their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people,” he said. “And then after, we will work to build this country, and as I said in the beginning, we will be victorious by the help of God.” Huge crowds, including some insurgents, packed the historic Umayyad Mosque in the capital's old city, many waving the rebel opposition flag — with its three red stars — which has swiftly replaced the Assad-era flag with with its two green stars. Syrian state television reported that the sermon was delivered by Mohammed al-Bashir, the interim prime minister installed by HTS this week. The scene resonated on multiple levels. The mosque, one of the world's oldest dating back some 1,200 years, is a beloved symbol of Syria, and sermons there like all mosque sermons across Syria were tightly controlled under Assad's rule. Also, in the early days of the anti-government uprising in 2011, protesters would leave Friday prayers to march in rallies against Assad before he launched a brutal crackdown that turned the uprising into a long and bloody civil war. “I didn’t step foot in Umayyad Mosque since 2011," because of the tight security controls around it, said one worshipper, Ibrahim al-Araby. “Since 11 or 12 years, I haven’t been this happy.” Another worshipper, Khair Taha, said there was “fear and trepidation for what’s to come. But there is also a lot of hope that now we have a say and we can try to build.” Blocks away in Damascus' biggest roundabout, named Umayyad Square, thousands gathered, including many families with small children — a sign of how, so far at least, the country's transformation has not caused violent instability. “Unified Syria to build Syria,” the crowd chanted. Some shouted slurs against Assad and his late father, calling them pigs, an insult that would have previously led to offenders being hauled off to one of the feared detention centers of Assad’s security forces. One man in the crowd, 51-year-old Khaled Abu Chahine — originally from the southern province of Daraa, where the 2011 uprising first erupted — said he hoped for “freedom and coexistence between all Syrians, Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites and Druze.” The interim prime minister, al-Bashir, had been the head of a de facto administration created by HTS in Idlib, the opposition's enclave in northwest Syria. The rebels were bottled up in Idlib for years before fighters broke out in a shock offensive and marched across Syria in 10 days. Similar scenes of joy unfolded in other major cities, including in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa. Al-Sharaa, HTS' leader, has promised to bring a pluralistic government to Syria, seeking to dispel fears among many Syrians — especially its many minority communities — that the insurgents will impose a hard-line, extremist rule. Another key factor will be winning international recognition for a new government in a country where multiple foreign powers have their hands in the mix. The Sunni Arab insurgents who overthrew Assad did so with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the U.S.-backed Kurds . Turkey controls a strip of Syrian territory along the shared border and backs an insurgent faction uneasily allied to HTS — and is deeply opposed to any gains by Syria's Kurds. In other developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey’s Embassy in Damascus would reopen Saturday for the first time since 2012, when it closed due to the Syrian civil war. The U.S. has troops in eastern Syria to combat remnants of the Islamic State group and supports Kurdish-led fighters who rule most of the east. Since Assad's fall, Israel has bombed sites all over Syria, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. It has also seized a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone. After talks with Fidan, Blinken said there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the U.S. on what they would like to see in Syria. That starts with an "interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said. Fidan said the priority was “establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant” — referring to the Islamic State group and the Kurdistan Workers Party. Ankara considers the PKK within Turkey's borders a terrorist group, as it does the Kurdish-backed forces in Syria backed by the U.S. A U.S. official said that in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fidan both told Blinken that Kurdish attacks on Turkish positions would require a response. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks. The U.S. has been trying to limit such incidents in recent days and had helped organize an agreement to prevent confrontations around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, which was taken by Turkey-backed opposition fighters from the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces earlier this week. In Baghdad, Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, saying both countries wanted to ensure the Islamic State group — also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh — doesn't exploit Syria's transition to re-emerge. “Having put Daesh back in its box, we can’t let it out, and we’re determined to make sure that that doesn’t happen," Blinken said. The U.S. official who briefed reporters said that Blinken had impressed upon al-Sudani the importance of Iraq exercising its full sovereignty over its territory and airspace to stop Iran from transporting weapons and equipment to Syria, either for Assad supporters or onward to the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Lee reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.OTTAWA — The Trudeau government took provinces, businesses and all Canadians by surprise by announcing a temporary GST/HST rebate in time for the holiday season and a $250 cheque to all working Canadians next spring — at the cost of $6.28 billion. The changes — which have yet to be implemented by legislation — have sparked many questions amongst businesses who are getting ready for the busy holiday season but also Ontario and Atlantic provinces which do not have a separate provincial sales tax. Below are some of the recurring questions about these new measures. Is the federal government excluding seniors from the $250 cheque? The Working Canadians Rebate will offer a new $250 rebate to 18.7 million Canadians who worked in 2023 and earned up to $150,000 individual net income in early spring 2025. That means people who have not worked last year, including retirees, will not be able to access those extra funds. Asked why that was the case, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government had already provided targeted help to families and more vulnerable Canadians but many people who are struggling do not qualify for those benefits. “As I travel across the country, I do regularly hear from working Canadians who are having trouble making ends meet, but saying, ‘Look, I don’t have kids. I’m not a senior yet, and I’m facing challenges,’” he recounted. Trudeau mentioned his government’s decision to increase Old Age Security for older seniors and the Canada Child Benefit for young families, but also investments in a national daycare program. The Liberals have also increased disability benefits in their last budget, even though many advocates have criticized the measure as being underwhelming. Trudeau said helping working people will not impact those targeted measures. “We’re not reducing any of the other programs we’re delivering to the most vulnerable but recognizing hard-working Canadians... with a ‘thank you’ and support for the things that they need to continue to do to keep our economy strong, to build a strong future.” A spokesperson for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland claimed that it is “wrong” to say that seniors would not be eligible for the cheques and that all Canadians who have worked in 2023 and meet the qualifying criteria would receive the help, regardless of their age. What will happen in provinces that have the harmonized sales tax (HST)? The news of a holiday tax break will have a bigger impact in the five provinces (Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island) where the entire sales tax will be removed from qualifying goods for two months. The HST is a combination of federal goods and services tax (GST) and the provincial sales tax (PST). It is collected by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) which would typically send the provincial portion of the sales tax back to the respective provinces. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has already said the measure will cost her province $62 million in lost revenue and said she expects to be compensated by the federal government. It is unclear at the moment if that will be the case. Others rejoiced at the perspective of cutting more taxes. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government had already eliminated the provincial portion of the HST for some of the items mentioned in the federal government’s list such as children’s essentials and books. “I gotta give them kudos,” he said. “Any government — I don’t care what political stripe — wants to put more money back in the people’s pockets? Good for them.” Ford added he is in favour of the federal government giving $250 back to Canadians and said he is “glad they took our lead on that.” Ford intends to send $200 cheques to Ontarians in the mail next year even though he insists it is not tied to an early election. “Folks, it’s not our money. The government has a sense of entitlement that it’s their money. No, it’s the people’s money. It’s the hard-working firefighters, the hard-working people in the factories, money. It’s not the government’s money.” Newfoundland and Labrador announced it would “match” the federal tax break and framed it as an affordability measure meant to provide an extra $48 million in relief. Will this GST/HST break have unintended consequences for businesses? Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), outlined on X many of the challenges posed by the upcoming tax break for many retailers. Kelly heard from many of them that the announcement did not have enough advance notice to change their point-of-sale systems at the busiest time of the year and that the list of tax-exempt goods is too broad, leaving thousands of products in a grey area. He also heard that the tax break is arriving too late in the season and that customers may be tempted to return large purchases with the intention of buying them after Dec. 14. “This will make it even tighter to make sales and serve customers,” he wrote on X. Restaurants Canada, on the other hand, are rejoicing at the idea of offering a tax break to customers after being hit hard by the pandemic and the inflation crisis. “More Canadians will be able to celebrate with loved ones at a restaurant, have lunch with colleagues or treat themselves to a morning pastry on their way to work. We also appreciate that the relief will be extended over January, which is typically the lowest time of the year for our industry, and right through to Valentine’s Day,” read their statement. How will the government pass these changes with a stalled Parliament? If the Liberals hoped that they could end two months of gridlock in the House of Commons by dangling more than $6 billion worth of holiday cheer, they were wrong. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party would agree to “pause” the current privilege debate in the House — which relates to unredacted documents about a now-defunct government agency known as the “green slush fund” — for one day at a time. He said pausing the debate would leave enough time for MPs to adopt the temporary break on the GST/HST for two months before Dec. 14. But he agrees with the Conservatives that the government should provide the unredacted documents to the House. Trudeau said it “boggles the mind that the NDP is crossing its arms” and refusing to adopt the long list of legislation that has been on the back burner for weeks now. The government is also running out of time to review and pass the supplementary estimates before Dec. 10 to ensure that government spending can flow to fund critical programs. “I’m really calling on the opposition parties to not let Conservatives continue to prove Parliament is broken and instead get busy delivering concretely for Canadians,” he said. Freeland’s deputy director of communications, Katherine Cuplinskas, said it would be a “shame” if opposition parties “put partisan politics ahead of giving Canadians real relief.” That means that the next three weeks will be crucial in finding a path forward to pass not only the tax breaks but approve billions more in spending. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Greg Fergus, has already urged MPs to end the standoff to make sure Parliament fulfills its duties and it is unclear whether the situation could force him to intervene. Finally, who the heck buys a Christmas tree after December 14? According to a quick survey done in the National Post parliamentary bureau, no one. National Post calevesque@postmedia.com Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here .

Ariana Grande Shares Emotional Clip From Glinda's Bubble on the ‘Wicked’ SetDissidence in Kamareddy Cong. UnitTHE brother of murdered pageant queen JonBenét Ramsey has voiced his frustration about why his young sister's killer was never found. The decades-long cold case of JonBenét has reemerged in the spotlight following the release of a new Netflix docuseries that puts the December 1996 homicide under a new lens nearly 30 years later. Netflix's Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey underscored the botched investigation by the Boulder Police Department and the extensive media coverage surrounding the case. Boulder police were widely criticized for mishandling the investigation from the start. Police failed to properly search the Ramsey family's three-story home upon arriving at the residence and did not treat it as a crime scene, allowing people to drift in and out. Potential evidence from the house was not promptly collected. Investigators reportedly sat on key pieces of evidence and speculated early that parents Patsy and John were involved in their daughter's murder. Patsy and John Ramsey were initially the prime suspects in the case but were ruled out when DNA evidence found under JonBenét's fingernails on her clothing and underwear was linked to an unknown male. John Andrew Ramsey, the half-brother of JonBenét, stressed that part of why his sister's killer has never been found is the lack of resources at the disposal of Boulder police. "I told the Daily Camera last week that Boulder Police are stretched too thin to find JonBenét's killer. They can get help," John Andrew wrote in an X post. John Andrew also reposted an interview from NewsNation 's interview with investigator Michael Kane, who was the special prosecutor on JonBenét's case. Kane highlighted how it's difficult to rule out anyone as possible suspects, including JonBenét's parents, because of their actions to save face after the pageant queen's body was found. The prosecutor also said the rambling two-and-a-half-page ransom note was a fake used as a diversion. "There you go. This is why JonBenét's killer has never been found," John Andrew wrote as he reposted the news interview. "Dare I say lack of imagination. Why the note? Who knows. Fantasy. Control. Superiority. Let's not try and understand but take it at face value. "And Patsy did handwriting samples with the non-dominant hand." The FBI 's field office in Denver issued a statement on Wednesday, saying they're willing to assist in the decade-old case before confirming Boulder police remains the lead investigators. "FBI Denver will continue to coordinate with state and local partners on the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation. Boulder Police remains the lead investigative agency," the federal agency said on X. The unsolved case unfolded in the early morning of December 26, 1996, when mom Patsy Ramsey let out a harrowing scream from the first floor of the family's home in Boulder, Colorado . Patsy had found a two-and-a-half-page handwritten ransom note on a staircase toward the back of the home. The note, addressed to John Ramsey, stated a group of individuals linked to a foreign faction had kidnapped their 6-year-old daughter and demanded $118,000 in exchange for the girl's safe return. "She was just screaming," John, 80, previously told The U.S. Sun. "She'd found this note on the stairway and then went and checked JonBenét's room, and she wasn't there. "I read the note as quickly as I could, and Patsy was standing by the phone, so I told her to call the police." Several hours went by without any word from the supposed kidnappers or any sighting of JonBenét. Eventually, John and a friend decided to search the home for clues, went down to the basement, and opened an unfinished wine cellar. There, he found the body of his daughter with a rope tied tightly around her neck. At the end of the rope was a broken paintbrush that investigators determined came from Patsy's art set. Evidence indicated that JonBenét had been sexually assaulted and tortured. The coroner who performed JonBenét's autopsy determined the little girl died from suffocation in conjunction with forcible trauma to her skull. JonBenét had an 8.5-inch skull fracture and several markings on her neck and hands. In the 27 years since JonBenét's body was found, a suspect has never been arrested, and it remains unclear why someone wrote the ransom note. The new Netflix docuseries aims at bringing JonBenét's true killer to light after decades of theories swirling about the long list of suspects - including a pedophile who confessed to the crime. The docuseries included details about an eerie similar case where a sleeping child was assaulted at her home located streets away from the Ramsey residence in Boulder in September 1997. The suspect, who was never arrested, broke into the home while the girl's mother was sleeping and made his way to the young girl's bedroom when he attempted to attack the child. A series of glaring similarities led both John and the family of the second victim - who is being referred to under the pseudonym "Amy" - to believe the same perpetrator could have carried out both crimes. Before the incident involving his daughter, Amy's father was convinced her attacker targeted the 12-year-old at a local dance studio, Dance West, where JonBenét also took lessons. He then believes his family was stalked over a period of several weeks, with the assailant waiting for the opportune moment to strike: when he was out of town for work. John Ramsey also believes his daughter's killer had been surveilling his family for a significant period before the murder. However, one name stuck out in the Netflix docuseries. John Mark Karr, who fled the US after being charged with child pornography, knew an eerie number of details about JonBenét, her death, and claimed to have committed the murder. Karr has never been charged with the young pageant queen's death because his DNA did not match any DNA found at the Ramsey home. In the past, The U.S. Sun extensively reported how convicted pedophile Gary Oliva also confessed multiple times to killing JonBenét in letters to a high school friend. Oliva was released from prison in January after serving less than eight years of a 10-year sentence for child pornography charges. He was arrested in June 2016 after he was caught uploading images depicting the sexual abuse of children to his personal Gmail account. When police searched his phone, they found over 695 images depicting child pornography. He also possessed 335 photos relating to JonBenét, including her autopsy and images of shrines to her. Since his arrest, Oliva confessed to killing JonBenét multiple times but has never been charged with her death. "I never loved anyone like I did JonBenét, and yet I let her slip, and her head bashed in half, and I watched her die," Oliva wrote in one message to his high school friend, Michael Vail. Since his arrest, Oliva confessed to killing JonBenét multiple times but has never been charged with her death. "I never loved anyone like I did JonBenét, and yet I let her slip, and her head bashed in half, and I watched her die," Olivia wrote in one message to his high school friend, Michael Vail . "It was an accident. Please believe me. She was not like the other kids."

Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”

By Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News (TNS) LOS ANGELES — President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is deepening mistrust of the health care system among California’s immigrants and clouding the future for providers serving the state’s most impoverished residents. At the same time, immigrants living illegally in Southern California told KFF Health News they thought the economy would improve and their incomes might increase under Trump, and for some that outweighed concerns about health care. Community health workers say fear of deportation is already affecting participation in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which was expanded in phases to all immigrants regardless of residency status over the past several years. That could undercut the state’s progress in reducing the uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 6.4% last year. Immigrants lacking legal residency have long worried that participation in government programs could make them targets, and Trump’s election has compounded those concerns, community advocates say. The incoming Trump administration is also expected to target Medicaid with funding cuts and enrollment restrictions , which activists worry could threaten the Medi-Cal expansion and kneecap efforts to extend health insurance subsidies under Covered California to all immigrants. “The fear alone has so many consequences to the health of our communities,” said Mar Velez , director of policy with the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “This is, as they say, not their first rodeo. They understand how the system works. I think this machine is going to be, unfortunately, a lot more harmful to our communities.” Alongside such worries, though, is a strain of optimism that Trump might be a boon to the economy, according to interviews with immigrants in Los Angeles whom health care workers were soliciting to sign up for Medi-Cal. Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Clinics and community health workers encourage immigrants to enroll for health coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California. But workers have noticed that fear of deportation has chilled participation. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Community health workers like Yanet Martinez encourage people to enroll for health benefits. But many California immigrants fear that using subsidized services could hurt their chances of obtaining legal residency. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Selvin, 39, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only his first name because he’s living here without legal permission, said that even though he believes Trump dislikes people like him, he thinks the new administration could help boost his hours at the food processing facility where he works packing noodles. “I do see how he could improve the economy. From that perspective, I think it’s good that he won.” He became eligible for Medi-Cal this year but decided not to enroll, worrying it could jeopardize his chances of changing his immigration status. “I’ve thought about it,” Selvin said, but “I feel like it could end up hurting me. I won’t deny that, obviously, I’d like to benefit — get my teeth fixed, a physical checkup.” But fear holds him back, he said, and he hasn’t seen a doctor in nine years. It’s not Trump’s mass deportation plan in particular that’s scaring him off, though. “If I’m not committing any crimes or getting a DUI, I think I won’t get deported,” Selvin said. Petrona, 55, came from El Salvador seeking asylum and enrolled in Medi-Cal last year. She said that if her health insurance benefits were cut, she wouldn’t be able to afford her visits to the dentist. A street food vendor, she hears often about Trump’s deportation plan, but she said it will be the criminals the new president pushes out. “I’ve heard people say he’s going to get rid of everyone who’s stealing.” Although she’s afraid she could be deported, she’s also hopeful about Trump. “He says he’s going to give a lot of work to Hispanics because Latinos are the ones who work the hardest,” she said. “That’s good, more work for us, the ones who came here to work.” Newly elected Republican Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped a seat long held by Democrats in the Latino-heavy desert region in the southeastern part of the state, said his constituents were anxious to see a new economic direction. “They’re just really kind of fed up with the status quo in California,” Gonzalez said. “People on the ground are saying, ‘I’m hopeful,’ because now we have a different perspective. We have a businessperson who is looking at the very things that we are looking at, which is the price of eggs, the price of gas, the safety.” Gonzalez said he’s not going to comment about potential Medicaid cuts, because Trump has not made any official announcement. Unlike most in his party, Gonzalez said he supports the extension of health care services to all residents regardless of immigration status . Health care providers said they are facing a twin challenge of hesitancy among those they are supposed to serve and the threat of major cuts to Medicaid, the federal program that provides over 60% of the funding for Medi-Cal. Health providers and policy researchers say a loss in federal contributions could lead the state to roll back or downsize some programs, including the expansion to cover those without legal authorization. California and Oregon are the only states that offer comprehensive health insurance to all income-eligible immigrants regardless of status. About 1.5 million people without authorization have enrolled in California, at a cost of over $6 billion a year to state taxpayers. “Everyone wants to put these types of services on the chopping block, which is really unfair,” said state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “We will do everything we can to ensure that we prioritize this.” Sen. Gonzalez said it will be challenging to expand programs such as Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, for which immigrants lacking permanent legal status are not eligible. A big concern for immigrants and their advocates is that Trump could reinstate changes to the public charge policy, which can deny green cards or visas based on the use of government benefits. “President Trump’s mass deportation plan will end the financial drain posed by illegal immigrants on our healthcare system, and ensure that our country can care for American citizens who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to KFF Health News. During his first term, in 2019, Trump broadened the policy to include the use of Medicaid, as well as housing and nutrition subsidies. The Biden administration rescinded the change in 2021. KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found immigrants use less health care than people born in the United States. And about 1 in 4 likely undocumented immigrant adults said they have avoided applying for assistance with health care, food, and housing because of immigration-related fears, according to a 2023 survey . Another uncertainty is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which was opened in November to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are protected by the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. If DACA eligibility for the act’s plans, or even the act itself, were to be reversed under Trump, that would leave roughly 40,000 California DACA recipients, and about 100,000 nationwide , without access to subsidized health insurance. On Dec. 9, a federal court in North Dakota issued an order blocking DACA recipients from accessing Affordable Care Act health plans in 19 states that had challenged the Biden administration’s rule. Clinics and community health workers are encouraging people to continue enrolling in health benefits. But amid the push to spread the message, the chilling effects are already apparent up and down the state. “¿Ya tiene Medi-Cal?” community health worker Yanet Martinez said, asking residents whether they had Medi-Cal as she walked down Pico Boulevard recently in a Los Angeles neighborhood with many Salvadorans. “¡Nosotros podemos ayudarle a solicitar Medi-Cal! ¡Todo gratuito!” she shouted, offering help to sign up, free of charge. “Gracias, pero no,” said one young woman, responding with a no thanks. She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes under a cap that covered her from the late-morning sun. Since Election Day, Martinez said, people have been more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” she said. “They don’t want anything to do with it.” This article was produced by KFF Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation . ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Nigel Farage piles pressure on Kemi Badenoch to apologise for her 'crazy conspiracy theory' that Reform's soaring membership numbers are fake By SABRINA PENTY Published: 18:00 GMT, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 19:20 GMT, 28 December 2024 e-mail 34 View comments Nigel Farage has urged Kemi Badenoch to apologise or face 'action' after she accused Reform UK of 'fakery' over its membership numbers. The Reform UK leader will spend the weekend weighing up what action to take if Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch ignores his calls for an apology over the 'crazy conspiracy theory'. Mr Farage pushed back against reports suggesting that le gal action would be the next step, as officials from both parties continued the row. The MP for Clacton also outlined his hopes that US billionaire Elon Musk could help attract younger voters to Reform as he 'makes us cool'. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at US President-elect Donald Trump 's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida , amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Tensions between Reform and the Conservatives escalated after Mrs Badenoch accused Mr Farage of 'fakery' in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform's counter was 'coded to tick up automatically'. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Nigel Farage has urged Kemi Badenoch to apologise or face 'action' after she accused Reform UK of 'fakery' over its membership numbers Earlier this week Mrs Badenoch accused Mr Farage of 'fakery' in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members Mr Farage took to X today demanding an apology Mr Farage, in a statement issued on Mr Musk's social media site X, said the accusations of 'fraud and dishonesty' made against him were 'disgraceful'. He said Reform had opened up its systems to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the 'interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct'. He added: 'I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.' Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: 'I haven't threatened anything. I've just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. 'I haven't said whether it's legal or anything.' He added: 'All I've said is I want an apology. If I don't get an apology, I will take action. 'I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I've not specified what it is.' Mr Farage went on: 'She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.' In a provocative move, Mr Farage's upstart Right-wing party projected an image of its tally of paid supporters on the facade of Tory HQ in London during the night – showing it had apparently outstripped the 131,680 declared by its much older rival in its recent leadership contest On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: 'I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.' Earlier today, Mr Farage also took to X to demand an apology from Mrs Badenoch. 'Good morning @KemiBadenoch. When will you apologise to me and 146,077 other members of Reform UK?', he wrote. On Saturday, Reform deputy leader Richard Tice appeared to push back further against suggestions of legal action, saying he hoped Mrs Badenoch would 'do the right thing' and apologise. He added: 'Otherwise I suspect she'll have 120 Tory MPs behind her aghast at her misstep during this festive season.' But Mr Tice also conceded that not every Reform member was necessarily entitled to vote in the UK, saying there was a difference between being joining a political party and being eligible to vote. A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was 'rattled' that his Boxing Day 'publicity stunt is facing serious questions'. They added: 'Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.' Read More Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage go to war over Reform's membership numbers Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Boxing Day, said: 'Farage doesn't understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.' There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party's leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that 'the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election'. Elsewhere, Mr Farage used an interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper to describe Mr Musk as a 'bloody hero'. He said: 'The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool - Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that's only just starting. 'Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key.' Share or comment on this article: Nigel Farage piles pressure on Kemi Badenoch to apologise for her 'crazy conspiracy theory' that Reform's soaring membership numbers are fake e-mail Add comment