One dead and two missing after Channel rescue

Around 50 migrants were said to be on the small boat when it got into trouble off the French coast.

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Bangs that sparked Titan sub search hope heard for first time

Noises that prompted hope in the search for the missing Titan submersible have been released to the media.

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Sen. John Kennedy compares Biden's polling numbers to 'chlamydia,' torches 'Bidenomics'

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., ripped into President Biden's signature economic policy, known as Bidenomics, on Fox News' "Hannity" Monday night and likened Biden's poll numbers to an STD.

Sean Hannity asked Kennedy about the current state of the economy as inflation continues to pick the pockets of Americans. 

Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals significant price hikes across various sectors, with grocery prices rising by 20% and home prices increasing by 18%. Energy costs have surged, with gasoline prices jumping by 52%, fuel oil by 45%, and electricity by 26%. 

HERE'S HOW BIDENOMICS IS CRUSHING DREAMS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES

"When you think of this number, that Americans spend more on food, more of their income as a percentage on food than at any other point in the past 30 years, Senator. I think those people see and feel the real impact of ‘Bidenomics’ in real-time. Will they get away with this shifting of blame?"

Kennedy responded: "Unless you were homeschooled by a day drinker, you can see that shrinkflation and inflation are just different sides of the same coin."

"Any economist, any reputable economist who didn’t get his degree from Costco, will tell you that President Biden’s economic policies caused both inflation and shrinkflation," Kennedy continued. "Now I don’t hate anyone, and that includes President Biden, but when he tries to blame shrinkflation and inflation on small business people you have to consider the source."

Shrinkflation is a term used to describe when companies reduce the size or quantity of a product while keeping the unit price the same, or even raise it to account for other rising costs. 

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"His inflation is a cancer on the American dream," he went on. "And the American people have figured it out and that’s why, if you believe the polls, the president is polling right up there with chlamydia."

Rising prices for pantry staples are putting strain on consumers, leading them to prioritize essential purchases over discretionary spending. According to NielsenIQ data, average unit prices for dry groceries surged by 12% in the four weeks ending May 27 last year, well above pre-pandemic levels. 

BIDEN TOPS TRUMP IN NEW POLL, BUT LEAD SHRINKS AGAINST THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES

Household care products also saw significant increases, with insect sprays and napkins among the fastest risers. Additionally, other food items such as potato chips, mayonnaise and applesauce experienced substantial price jumps of 17%, 23% and 22%, respectively.

"Sean, I did not think President Obama was a very good president, but compared to President Biden, President Obama just shoplifted," Kennedy said. "President Biden stole the whole bank. President Biden’s inflation not only hurts people, but it hurts business."

A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that Biden currently leads in a hypothetical race against Trump by four points, locking in 49% support of likely voters over 45% who said they would vote for the former president.

The results reflect a slight narrowing in the race, after a Jan. 31 poll found Biden leading Trump by 6 points, 50% to 44%.

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Currys rejects second takeover offer from US firm

The electronics chain says US company Elliot's £757m offer "significantly undervalued" it.

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Dozens killed during prayers at Burkina Faso mosque

The authorities say it happened on the same day that churchgoers were killed during morning mass.

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Compensation for Post Office victims to be sped up

Legislation aimed at clearing wrongly convicted sub-postmasters is also expected to be brought forward.

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Former NI and Saints defender Nicholl dies at 77

Former Northern Ireland, Southampton and Aston Villa defender Chris Nicholl passes away at the age of 77.

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'Home Improvement's' Zachary Ty Bryan is ‘a cautionary guardrail’ for child stars: expert

"Home Improvement" alum Zachary Ty Bryan is one of many former child stars who have struggled into their adulthood and ended up with a rap sheet. 

The 42-year-old, who starred as Tim Allen’s oldest son on the classic sitcom from 1991 to 1999, was arrested for DUI last Saturday night. 

The actor also pleaded guilty to felony assault in the fourth degree last year for a domestic violence arrest, and he was arrested in 2020 for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend. 

Doug Eldridge of Achilles PR told Fox News Digital said Bryan’s situation is different from some other child stars because he is in his 40s, and it is "not his first run in with the law, as he was also convicted on domestic violence charges in recent years."

10 FORMER CHILD STARS GET CANDID ABOUT LIFE IN THE LIMELIGHT

"The recent arrest for DUI is a somewhat binary decision: you're either above the legal blood-alcohol threshold or you're not," Eldridge said. "In that sense, he'll be facing a legal gauntlet, given his priors, which might be considered by the court. While he's certainly going to receive some measure of legal punishment, at least nobody was injured in the incident. There's always a positive to draw from stories like this; if his management team is both savvy and sincere, they'll rebuild his 'brand' around sobriety and responsible lifestyles."

He said Bryan’s name still has "cache" and he could "make a positive impact, using his own story and personal missteps as a cautionary guardrail for others."

Kathy Fielder, president and CEO of Kathy Fielder Design, told Fox News Digital, "There are many childhood actors and performers who are known for making mistakes during their careers. It takes so much to learn how to properly manage money, fame, and fortune for anyone, much less someone who isn’t an adult." 

She added, "The exposure that young celebs receive and the sheer amount of luxury can become addictive and create unwanted behavior in adulthood. When you make enough money that you are able to live an incredible lifestyle at such a young age, it can be difficult for ‘normal’ life to hold your attention and looking for diversions can many times become a recipe for trouble. When you have never known ‘normal,’ it becomes hard to marry reality with idealism."

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Fielder said that some former child stars feel the need to continue the "feeling for being in the limelight and aligning your worth outside of being on camera or at the right party or awards show," adding that it is "undoubtedly a hard reality when you no longer may be the center of attention."

Here are some other child stars who ran into trouble with the law.

Lindsay Lohan is one child star who seems to have turned her life around. 

She got married in 2022, welcomed her first child in 2023 and has started to make a comeback after leaving the industry for nearly a decade. The now 37-year-old found her way into moviegoer’s hearts when she played both scheming, yet well-meaning twins in 1998’s "The Parent Trap" when she was just 12 years old. 

She went on to make hits like "Freaky Friday" and "Mean Girls," but as she entered her 20s, the star started to become more known for her legal problems and hard-partying than her career. 

The actress was first arrested for DUI and cocaine possession in May 2007 and again on similar charges in July of that year. She pleaded guilty to the charges later that year and was sentenced to community service, a day in jail and court-ordered rehab. 

In 2010, a judge issued an arrest warrant for her when she failed to appear in court after allegedly losing her passport while attending the Cannes Film Festival in France. 

She was sentenced to 13 days in jail and was jailed again that September for failing a drug test. 

LINDSAY LOHAN SPEAKS OUT AFTER AARON CARTER'S DEATH

The following year, she pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor grand theft charge over a necklace taken from a store. She was sentenced to 120 days in jail, but ended up serving it as house arrest due to overcrowding. 

Her probation was also revoked that year after she failed a blood alcohol test. 

Her problems continued into 2013, including pleading no contest to leaving the scene of an accident after hitting a hotel employee with her car.

"Most celebrities are allowed whatever they need or want at any given moment, which brings a sense of entitlement for those who may not have the best leadership and inspiration around them," Fielder said. "Many manage it well; but for a childhood actor, now adult, it becomes more difficult in many cases to face the realities of normalcy. As a society, we have seen over and over again, young actors who fall into trouble, many times out of sheer boredom with the status quo."  

Macauley Culkin also found stardom in the 1990s but at an even younger age than Lohan. 

The now 43-year-old is engaged and is the father of two children. He also seems to be working on his own comeback, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December. However, Culkin had his fair share of struggles for years after starring in the megahit "Home Alone" in 1990. 

Fourteen years after being cast as Kevin McCallister in the holiday classic at just 10 years old, Culkin was arrested on drug charges and later pleaded guilty. 

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He also had some trouble with his now-estranged father, Christopher Cornelius "Kit" Culkin. 

The "Uncle Buck" star has accused him of physical and mental abuse, including threatening violence against him if he messed up a take when he was acting on set. Culkin also filed a lawsuit to get access to the fortune he made after his father kept the millions the "My Girl" actor had earned a secret from him. 

Eldridge told Fox News Digital that the guardians of child stars should always make sure first and foremost that the young actor "has a safe, stable, and nurturing environment in which to grow and develop."

"First, the term 'child star' itself denotes the would-be celebrity is by definition a minor; in the case of Hollywood, that doesn't just mean under the age of 18, it often means children as young as 3, 5, 7 years old, etc," Eldridge said. "Point being, if a starlet is young enough that he or she needs help going to the bathroom, writing their name, or crossing the street, everything else should be viewed through that same lens—they are a child first and foremost." 

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Eldridge noted that the child star "often pays for the sins of the parents, who put themselves and the prospect of fame and fortune above that of their job as guardian, protector, and provider."

He added, "Problems that surface in early teenage years – in the case of Lohan, [Edward] Furlong, [Haley Joel] Osment, and others – often began when they were still at the elementary level. It's not always a case whether they were pushed into the deep end, but rather, that there wasn't a responsible, guiding hand to pull them back when they wandered toward the edge of the proverbial pool."

Tatum O’Neal was just 10 years old when she won an Oscar for 1973’s "Paper Moon," which she starred in with her father Ryan O’Neal. She still holds the record for being the youngest winner of an Academy Award. 

The now 60-year-old went on to star in "The Bad News Bears" in 1976 and "Little Darlings" in 1980. 

O’Neal was arrested for cocaine possession in 2008 after a police officer watched her buy the drugs in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood. She was remanded to a drug treatment program at the time. 

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"Just when I was about to change that and wreck my life, the cops came and saved me," O'Neal told the New York Post in 2015.

In 2020, "The Runaways" actress overdosed and suffered a near-fatal stroke that left her in a coma for six weeks. 

"I’ve been through a lot," O’Neal told People magazine in December. "I’ve been trying to get sober my whole life. Every day, I am trying." 

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Van der Merwe hat-trick sinks England at Murrayfield

Duhan van der Merwe becomes the first Scotland player to score a Calcutta Cup hat-trick as the hosts rack up a fourth successive Six Nations victory over England at Murrayfield.

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Farmers' anger erupts at trade show in Paris

Clashes erupt between security forces and farmers protesting at the presence of President Macron.

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Activists claim Alabama embryo ruling violates separation of church-state

When the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children under state law, its chief justice had a higher authority in mind.

By citing verses from the Bible and Christian theologians in his concurring opinion, Chief Justice Tom Parker alarmed advocates for church-state separation, while delighting religious conservatives who oppose abortion.

Human life, Parker wrote, "cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, who views the destruction of His image as an affront to Himself."

ALABAMA PROVIDERS SUSPEND IVF TREATMENTS AFTER STATE COURT’S RULING AS FERTILITY EXPERTS WEIGH IN

The Alabama court’s ruling last week stemmed from wrongful death lawsuits brought by couples whose frozen embryos were accidentally destroyed.

The most immediate impact of the ruling was to leave in vitro fertilization clinics in Alabama potentially vulnerable to more lawsuits and reluctant to administer treatment. But not far behind were mounting worries about Parker’s explicit references to Christian theology.

While Parker’s concurring opinion does not carry the force of precedent, advocates for church-state separation fear he could inspire judges in other states to push the envelope.

"Now we’re in a place where government officials feel emboldened to say the quiet part out loud, and directly challenge the separation of church and state, a foundational part of our democracy," said Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

She said Parker’s opinion was just the latest example – and a brazen one at that – of government officials advocating for Christian nationalism, a movement that seeks to privilege Christianity and fuse Christian and American identity.

Other instances she cited include Missouri lawmakers citing Catholic and biblical teachings for restricting abortion and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson saying the notion of church-state separation in the U.S. was a "misnomer."

Parker argued in his opinion that the court was merely enforcing the Alabama state constitution, which was amended in 2018 to recognize "the sanctity of unborn life." That principle has "deep roots that reach back to the creation of man ‘in the image of God,’" Parker said, quoting the Book of Genesis.

Parker sprinkled his opinion with a litany of religious sources, from classic Christian theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin, to a modern conservative Christian manifesto, the Manhattan Declaration, that opposes "anti-life" measures.

He also quoted a Bible verse that is legendary within the anti-abortion movement, in which God told the prophet Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."

The Alabama court’s ruling that frozen embryos are children is an extension of the ideology that undergirds the anti-abortion movement, said Mary Ziegler, a historian of the abortion debate and a law professor at the University of California, Davis.

And it points to the influence of the conservative Christian legal movement, she said. Namely, its position "that the U.S. has an intrinsically Christian Constitution" — a notion that Ziegler and many historians reject.

"The point, I think, for the movement was never just getting rid of Roe," Ziegler said. "It was always to achieve fetal personhood," the idea that human rights are conferred at conception.

The Alabama ruling could influence decisions in other state courts and legislatures, particularly in the 11 states that already have fetal personhood language in their laws, Ziegler said. But because it’s about the interpretation of a state law, she said the case is unlikely to make its way to the Supreme Court.

Some anti-abortion activists rejoiced at the ruling.

It’s "a tremendous victory for life," said the powerful Christian legal firm Alliance Defending Freedom. "A beautiful defense of life," said Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council.

The Liberty Counsel filed a notice with the Florida Supreme Court, saying the Alabama decision — including Parker's concurrence — should be factored into a pending decision about a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would protect abortion rights.

"Unborn life must be protected at every stage," Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel's chairman, said in a statement.

Still, Christian perspectives on IVF are mixed, and in some cases, undecided.

While the Catholic Church condemns such reproductive technology as immoral, many Protestant churches and denominations do not have a firm stance against the practice.

Kellyanne Conway, the political consultant who worked for former President Donald Trump, lobbied GOP lawmakers in December to advocate for contraception and fertility treatments. She cited her firm’s finding that even anti-abortion evangelicals overwhelmingly support access to IVF.

Parker is no stranger to church-state debates.

He served as former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s spokesperson during fights over a Ten Commandments monument Moore erected inside the building housing the Supreme Court.

Parker is a member of Frazer Church, a Montgomery megachurch that until 2022 was part of the United Methodist Church. The congregation, which left amid a UMC schism over the denomination not upholding its LGBTQ clergy and marriage bans, is now part of the Free Methodist Church, a more conservative denomination.

Neither United Methodists nor Free Methodists specifically condemn IVF in their church doctrines. The Free Methodist Book of Discipline emphasizes the value of human life at all stages. It notes that reproductive technologies raise many "ethical, medical, legal and theological questions even as they offer hope."

Parker was the founding executive director of what is now called the Alabama Policy Institute, which is associated with the evangelical ministry Focus on the Family. On its website, Focus on the Family recommends that married couples not freeze or discard embryos created during IVF.

Fertility experts say IVF without the option of frozen embryos would likely increase the costs of fertility treatments and reduce the chances for patients trying to have a baby.

Because religious groups have different opinions about when life begins, "it’s quite problematic to see a judge essentially embedding a Christian view into state law," said Greer Donley, an associate professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh who specializes in bioethics and health.

She said that other judges might increasingly apply religious thinking to their decisions.

"It’s particularly notable that (Parker) is not trying to hide that, but even if judges were careful in their language, the result is essentially the same," Donley said.

Laser, of Americans United, said that even the Alabama court's majority decision — which does not explicitly reference religion — is problematic; it states that all participants in the case "agree that an unborn child is a genetically unique human being whose life begins at fertilization and ends at death."

"That is not taking into account everyone this policy is going to be imposed upon, including religious minorities, the nonreligious, Christians who have a different belief system," Laser said. "It undermines true religious freedom."

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MP's racially aggravated offence conviction quashed

Beckenham MP Bob Stewart was originally convicted after telling an activist to "go back to Bahrain".

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Small boat smuggling gang 'dismantled' by police

Nineteen members of a criminal network operating in the English Channel were arrested, investigators said.

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US teen segregated over hairstyle gets choked up

Darryl George has been in school isolation for the length of his locs hairstyle since August.

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Watch: Chaos in the Commons over Gaza ceasefire vote

The Speaker of the House of Commons apologises to MPs following a fractious debate over Gaza ceasefire votes.

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Questions of Biden's age among Dems, media, comedians keep piling up following Hur report

Questions about President Biden's age and mental acuity have dogged his entire presidency, but there's been quite an escalation over concerns about his reelection chances following the damning report released this month by Special Counsel Robert Hur. 

While Biden maintains his vocal stalwarts across the liberal landscape, many are speaking out about the potential fallout from Hur's report, which revealed that the president couldn't remember key details about his biography like when he was vice president and what year his son Beau died. The report also made the stunning conclusion that Hur could not bring charges against Biden despite his "willful" possession of classified documents because a jury would view him as a "sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory."

The political fallout began quickly at Biden's last-minute primetime press conference where he snapped at several reporters including from CNN and The Washington Post, who asked questions about his age. Biden himself poured gasoline on the fire at the press conference when he mixed up the presidents of Mexico and Egypt while discussing the Israel-Hamas war, adding to his list of recent gaffes pertaining to world leaders.

BIDEN'S AGE, MENTAL ACUITY IMPACTING ELECTION CHANCES BECOMES MEDIA FOCUS AFTER TOUGH SPECIAL COUNSEL REPORT 

Former Clinton advisor Paul Begala went viral with his reaction on CNN, saying "I slept like a baby last night. I woke up every two hours crying and wet the bed." 

"This is terrible for Democrats. Anybody with a functioning brain knows that," Begala added.

Former Obama adviser and CNN political analyst David Axelrod said the Hur report and Biden's press conference "reinforce [the] meme" of the president's age and that it's a "big barrier" to overcome.

"People don’t give him credit for what he’s done. They blame him for everything that happens and a lot of it has to do with their feelings about his age. So it’s not wise to say to a reporter, ‘That’s your interpretation.’ It’s not. There’s reams of polling material about this," Axelrod said. 

BIDEN LASHES OUT AT REPORTERS ASKING ABOUT AGE CONCERNS AFTER SPECIAL COUNSEL REPORT: 'THAT IS YOUR JUDGMENT!'

Democratic strategist James Carville tore into Biden over his decision to skip the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview, saying to give up such a massive audience is a "sign" that either his staff or the president himself "doesn't have much confidence in you."

"There’s no other way to read this," Carville told CNN before predicting that Biden is "not gonna do" the presidential debates, saying "He is old, I know what it is because I'm almost as old as he is, and it's never gonna get better."

Andrew Yang, one of Biden's former Democratic rivals during the 2020 presidential election and a supporter of Biden's current primary challenger, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., called out the "palpable difference" he has witnessed between the last election cycle and this one, saying in a recent interview to The Free Press he'd be "stunned" if Biden was able to finish the majority of a second term. 

Despite efforts by the Biden campaign to reject the issue of Biden's age, the media is not falling for it. ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce pushed back, saying it "does matter."

"The president is a candidate for another four years, you can't dismiss that," Bruce said during last week's News Literacy Project panel discussion. "Just because you're focused on what's at stake, [that] doesn't negate questions about the president's mental acuity what was said and alleged in that report."

The co-hosts of "The View" indicated Biden isn't capable of handling the general election debates against former President Trump.

"If Biden flubs, they'll be all over him. If Trump flubs, who cares?" Joy Behar said, a sentiment echoed by co-host Sara Haines, who said Biden "can lose in a debate. Trump will not. The people supporting Trump will support him whether he's there or not. Biden makes one mistake and people who are undecided are out."

The New York Times unleashed an avalanche of criticism, crushing Biden in the process. After reporting that the Hur report and Biden's press conference were a "political disaster," the Times editorial board called it a "a dark moment for Mr. Biden’s presidency" and that his constant low profile "has eroded the public’s confidence. He looks as if he is hiding, or worse, being hidden." Times columnist Maureen Dowd similarly urged the president to "ditch the stealth about health," saying "Jill Biden and his other advisers come up with ways to obscure signs of senescence — from shorter news conferences to almost zero print interviews to TV interviews mainly with fawning MSNBC anchors." 

NY TIMES CRUSHES BIDEN WITH AVALANCHE OF CRITICISM FOLLOWING HUR REPORT: ‘A DARK MOMENT’ FOR HIS PRESIDENCY

Several Times columnists from Michelle Goldberg, David French, Ross Douthat and Ezra Klein have all either floated the idea or explicitly told Biden that he should step aside ahead of the 2024 election. 

"I think Biden, as painful as it is, should find his way to stepping down as a hero," Klein said on his podcast. "But the party should help him find his way to that to being the thing that he said he would be in 2020, the bridge to the next generation of Democrats… And then I think Democrats should meet in August at the convention to do what political parties have done at convention so many times before, organize victory."

FLASHBACK: DEMS RAN DEFENSE ON BIDEN'S AGE BEFORE SPECIAL COUNSEL PUT DAMNING SPOTLIGHT ON HIS ‘POOR MEMORY’

"Real Time" host Bill Maher also pushed for Biden to be switched out at the DNC convention.

"If a guy says 'I can't run,' then you have to do it. Then it has to be somebody else. Then it's an open convention. We've had open conventions many times… They make it up as they go along anyway. It's politics," Maher said. 

Maher revived his nickname for the president, "Ruth Bader Biden," arguing he's the "Ruth Bader Ginsburg of presidential politics… He stayed too long at the fair" and insisted that Biden heavily implied he intended to be a "one term" president when he ran in 2020. 

Podcast giant Joe Rogan similarly blasted the "gaslighting" from Democrats, specifically calling out California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his constant praise of the president. 

"We've seen some wild gaslighting," Rogan said on his podcast. "I'm like this is so crazy. You're talking about a guy who can't speak. We all know you're doing this, you're gaslighting!"

"A rational person who is a left, progressive person would say ‘We have to figure this out. This is bad.' This is bad. You can't just pretend it's good. The whole other side sees how bad it is. The world sees how bad – people in quiet sees how bad it is. Most people in hush alone having dinner are like ‘What the f--- do we do? Like Trump’s gonna win with this guy.'"

Rogan went on to insist Democrats are "gonna get rid of him" and "force him to step down," predicting Newsom will be their chosen nominee.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

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FBI launches probe into church investigated by BBC

The Christian church, known as The Truth, has been recently rocked by a sexual abuse scandal.

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YouTube mommy blogger Ruby Franke, co-host Jodi Hildebrandt sentenced for child abuse: 'Dark delusion'

Disgraced Utah parenting blogger Ruby Franke and her co-host Jodi Hildebrant were sentenced on Tuesday to serve four consecutive terms between one and 15 years each after pleading guilty to child abuse charges.

Franke, 41, and Hildebrant, 45, who ran a joint parenting and lifestyle YouTube channel called ConneXions Classrooms, each pleaded guilty to four of six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in a St. George courtroom in December 2023.

"For the past four years, I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion," a teary Franke said in a statement during her sentencing hearing. "My distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me. I was led to believe this world was an evil place, filled with cops who control, hospitals that injure, government agencies that brainwash, church leaders who lie and lust, husbands who refuse to protect, children who need abuse."

A parole board will determine how many years Franke will serve in prison for her crimes. They each face a maximum sentence of 60 years, though they will only have to serve a total of 30 years under Utah law.

"Kevin, my husband of more than 23 years, you are the love of my life. I'm so sorry to leave to you what we both started together," Franke continued through sobs. "The ending of our marriage is a tragedy, and you are wrapped around my heart in a knot I'll never be able to undo. To my babies, my six little chicks, you are part of me. I was the momma duck who was consistently waddling you to safety. … In the past four years, I was consistently leading you to danger. … I was so disoriented that I believed dark was light and right was wrong."

Hildebrandt said she "loves these children" and wants them to heal physically and emotionally. "I'm willing to submit to what the state feels would be appropriate amount of time served."

UTAH MOMMY BLOGGER RUBY FRANKE PLEADS GUILTY TO 4 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE

Utah authorities handed down charges against Franke and Hildebrandt in September after police rescued two of Franke's children, who were malnourished and neglected, from Hildebrandt's home Aug. 30. The abuse included forcing her children to do physical labor, restricting food, binding one child's hands and feet, and emotional harm. Franke and Hildebrant told Franke's children that they were evil and needed to be punished.

One of Hildebrandt's neighbors reported the abuse to police after one of Franke's sons showed up on his doorstep.

YOUTUBE MOMMY BLOGGERS ARRESTED ON ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE: ‘FINALLY’

"I just had a 12-year-old boy show up here at my front door asking for help, and he said he just came from a neighbor’s house, and we know there's been problems at this neighbor's house," a man said in an August 911 call reporting the alleged abuse obtained by Fox News Digital. "He's emaciated. He's got tape around his legs. He's hungry, and he's thirsty."

The boy apparently told the neighbor that even though he came from Hildebrandt's house, his mother is Ruby Franke, who lives in a different town. Police would later locate Franke's four other children at different locations, according to a police report. The boy also told police he climbed through Hildebrandt's window to escape and get help.

After rescuing Franke's youngest children from Hildebrandt's home Aug. 30, police from Springfield and other local agencies began to search for her other four kids, who were not at Hildebrandt's home at the time. They made contact with the two eldest children, Chad and Shari Franke — both living away from home at the time of the incident — in an effort to find the other two juveniles.

911 CALL REVEALS SHOCK OF UTAH MOMMY BLOGGERS' ALLEGED CHILD ABUSE: ‘SHE’S A BAD LADY'

Authorities eventually located the two children at another adult's house in American Fork, Utah.

Both Franke and Hildebrandt were initially charged with two counts of child abuse, but authorities later added four additional child abuse charges to each suspect. 

In dozens of YouTube videos and social media posts, Franke and Hildebrandt coached parents in calm voices from a living room couch on how to raise their children in "truth." In a video posted just before their arrests, Hildebrandt said pain can be a good thing for children of a certain age.

RUBY FRANKE'S HUSBAND WANTED OLDEST DAUGHTER CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AFTER MOTHER'S ARREST

"Pain is meant to be your teacher. It's not your nemesis. It's your ally. Pain is not bad. … Pain is here to support you to grow and develop," she said.

Franke previously ran a blog called 8Passengers, representative of her family of six children and two parents, for years before she stopped posting on the page amid backlash stemming from some of her controversial videos. In one such video, Franke told her followers about her and her husband's decision to withhold Christmas presents from their two youngest children as punishment for what she described as selfish behavior.

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"My kids are literally starving," Ruby Franke, wearing red lipstick, said in one video in front of a Christmas tree. "I hesitate to say this because this is going to sound like, I'm, like, a mean barbarian, but I told the kids, I said, I'm not even going to let you eat breakfast until you get your chores done."

In other videos, Franke discussed withholding food from her children, making her son sleep on a beanbag chair instead of his bed for an extended period of time as punishment for pulling a prank on his younger brother, and other forms of discipline for what she deemed bad behavior.

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Watch: Driving instructor rescued from floodwater

He is helped by a film-maker who shares video online of him coming to the aid of stranded drivers.

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No Labels still pursuing third-party candidates after Manchin's decision not to run for president

The No Labels organization says it is still considering options for a third party presidential candidate after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., decided not to run.

"We’re talking with several exceptional leaders. We have our own internal process," No Labels national co-chair, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, said Sunday on MSNBC's "The Weekend." 

"In the next couple of weeks or more, we will probably make an announcement whether or not we will give the ballot access to a unity ticket," Chavis, a longtime civil rights activist and former executive director of the NAACP, added. "A unity ticket means a Republican and a Democrat. And we are talking to Republicans, Democrats, and independents."

Chavis said that No Labels has qualified for the ballot in 16 states so far ahead of the 2024 election and is still working to qualify for all 50, pushing back against co-host Michael Steele's argument that it would be challenging for No Labels or any third-party ticket to win come November. 

JOE MANCHIN WILL NOT LAUNCH THIRD-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL RUN

"It’s a long, tedious process. And we’re very pleased with the voter access that we’ve gotten so far. And we’re going to keep pushing," he said. 

"We’re in a state of uncertainty in our nation. The only thing that’s certain right now is uncertainty," So I don’t think we should speculate on what’s going to happen because nobody really knows. What we do know is that the majority of the American people don’t want to see a repeat of 2020," Chavis added. 

Manchin announced Friday that he will not be running for president, shooting down months of speculation that he would join the race on a third-party ticket. 

FORMER MARYLAND GOV LARRY HOGAN ANNOUNCES REPUBLICAN RUN FOR SENATE

"I will not be seeking a third-party run, I will not be involved in a presidential run," Manchin said during a speech at West Virginia University as part of his "listening tour" that kicked off last month with his daughter's campaign group "Americans Together" — a movement that touts itself as the "moderate majority" that rejects the "extremism in politics." 

Another potential No Labels candidate, former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a vocal critic of former President Trump, decided earlier this month instead to run for an open U.S. Senate seat in his state to be vacated by the retiring three-term Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

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Stonehenge tunnel: Campaigners lose High Court challenge

The second challenge to plans for a two-mile tunnel at the World Heritage site has been dismissed.

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Jodie Foster recalls terrifying moment on set when a lion 'shook me in his mouth'

Acting professionally since she was a child, Jodie Foster has accumulated a litany of interesting stories from her time on various sets.

During a recent appearance on "The Graham Norton Show," the 61-year-old actress spoke about a scary incident that took place during one of her earliest projects, "Napolean and Samantha."

The film follows a young boy and girl on their dangerous trek up a mountain alongside their pet lion, Major, a reformed circus animal.

JODIE FOSTER KEPT HOLLYWOOD CAREER SECRET FROM KIDS: 'I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO KNOW ME THAT WAY'

Foster, who was 9 at the time, said there were three large cats on set: the star lion, a stunt lion and a stand-in lion. 

"I was working with the stand-in lion and I guess he had a little piano wire that was pulling him," the "True Detective" actress explained. 

"We finished the take and I was going up the hill and all I remember is I remember seeing his mane come around and then he picked me up sideways, and shook me in his mouth and turned me around," she shared, much to the horror of fellow guest Olivia Coleman.

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"And every single person on the crew was running in the opposite direction and I’m like sideways, watching everybody – and they took their equipment, too!"

"And I'm watching everybody leave, going like, ‘What’s happening?'… I remember feeling like, ‘Oh it’s an earthquake!' because I was getting shaken," she added. "The trainer said ‘Drop it’ and because the lion was so well-trained he opened his mouth and dropped me down."

"And I went running," Foster said, gesticulating that she rolled down the hill. Although disciplined, the lion was not done with Foster. "And then he came after me and then just put one paw on me and then just waited, like, ‘I got her!’" she said of the cat's final action.

The film, which also stars Johnny Whitaker and Michael Douglas, was released in 1972.

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Luton's Taylor Swift moment? Harry Styles pops up in Kenilworth Road crowd

Fans joke that the star's appearance is the UK version of Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl.

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The list of nominees and winners at the Bafta Awards 2024 - updating live

See the full list of nominees for this year's Bafta Film Awards, and the winners as they happen.

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Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. named Topps cover athlete for 2024 baseball trading cards following MVP season

Ronald Acuña Jr. is getting the highly-renowned Topps treatment.

The Atlanta Braves superstar has been tabbed as the cover athlete for Topps' Series 1 baseball trading cards for the 2024 season.

Acuña is featured on each box of cards, as well as the wrapper used for the packs.

A typical box comes with seven packs of 12 cards, but fans are able to purchase hobby boxes — 20 dozen-card packs, with each pack featuring at least one card with a player's autograph or a piece of memorabilia.

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Acuña went beyond the "MVP candidate" category in 2023, going out and winning the award thanks to a season that rewrote the history books — in fact, he added a chapter in them.

The outfielder started an exclusive club while leading the major leagues with 217 hits as part of a 104-win team that won the NL East for the sixth consecutive year.

Entering last year, no player had ever hit 40 home runs while stealing 50 bases in a season (four had previously accomplished a 40-40 season). Acuña took it to another level, though, smashing 41 homers and stealing not 50, not 60, but 73 bases, taking advantage of the larger bags this year.

BO JACKSON AWARDED $21M IN EXTORTION CASE AGAINST NIECE AND NEPHEW

Acuña also led the majors with 149 runs scored, 383 total bases and a .416 on-base percentage, while his 1.012 OPS led the National League (third in MLB). He also hit .337, the second-best mark in the majors.

The 26-year-old outfielder was named an All-Star for the fourth-straight time (outside 2020, in which there was no midsummer classic) and earned his third Silver Slugger Award. His 106 RBI were a career-high.

Acuña's previous best finish in the voting had been his fifth-place finish in 2019, just his second season in the majors. He certainly would have been in the race in 2021 had he not torn his ACL in his 82nd game of the season.

Acuña was limited to 119 games in 2022 while still recovering from that injury, and he hit just .266/.351/.413, all career-lows. But everyone knows a fully healthy Acuña can do damage.

Topps turns 35 this year, with this season's designs, made by Robert Grabe, inspired by the company's very first release of the Series 1 in 1989.

Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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UN: Asylum seekers report assault and self-harm on remote UK island

A group of 61 held in a camp on Diego Garcia tell UN inspectors of sexual assaults, rat bites and self-harm.

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Sarah Snook: The Picture of Dorian Gray is 'unmissable', theatre critics say

The Succession star appears in a stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

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Kuwaiti leader dissolves country's parliament as political deadlock continues

Kuwait's emir on Thursday dissolved parliament after a lawmaker reportedly insulted the ruler, the latest dissolution to strike the oil-rich nation's legislature amid years of political gridlock.

The state-run KUNA news agency announced the decree from the country's ruling emir, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber. It blamed "offensive and uncontrolled" utterances by lawmakers for the decision, without elaborating.

US ARMY DIETITIAN DIES IN KUWAIT

On Wednesday, the Cabinet reportedly refused to attend parliament after lawmakers refused to delete remarks by one of their colleagues that purportedly insulted Sheikh Meshal. Kuwaiti law prohibits any criticism of the emir.

Domestic political disputes have been gripping Kuwait for years — including the overhaul of Kuwait’s welfare system — which prevented the sheikhdom from taking on debt. That’s left it with little in its coffers to pay bloated public sector salaries, despite generating immense wealth from its oil reserves.

Parliament has been repeatedly dissolved after failing to move forward, with Kuwait's Constitutional Court in 2023 annulling a 2022 decree overturning another such annulment. The country's late emir then annulled that parliament again and held an election for a new parliament, which now has been annulled with Thursday's decision.

Kuwait, a nation home to some 4.2 million people that’s slightly smaller than the U.S. state of New Jersey, has the world’s sixth-largest known oil reserves.

It has been a staunch U.S. ally since the 1991 Gulf War expelled the occupying Iraqi forces of Saddam Hussein. Kuwait hosts some 13,500 American troops in the country, as well as the forward headquarters of the U.S. Army in the Middle East.

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Discovery of human skulls, stolen vehicles, meth and guns at Arizona auto shop leads to arrest of 2 suspects

Two suspects have been arrested after the discovery of stolen vehicles at an Arizona automotive business led investigators to uncover drugs, multiple firearms and two human skulls on the property, authorities said Wednesday.

Detectives executed a search warrant at Meadows Auto in Mesa on Feb. 8 after finding seven stolen vehicles, including a 2008 Ford pickup truck, a 2016 Arctic Cat, a Clark forklift and four trailers, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

Investigators then discovered two pounds of methamphetamine, two rifles, one sawed-off shotgun and two human skulls on the property. 

No further details about the human skulls were immediately provided. The skulls were turned over to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation.

NO ONE CHARGES YET IN KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PARADE SHOOTING

Authorities arrested two suspects, identified as Eddie Meadows, 45, and Tara Montgomery, 40.

FAMILY OF 4, INCLUDING TWIN BOYS FOUND DEAD IN CALIFORNIA MURDER-SUICIDE

Meadows, the property owner, was charged with theft of means of transportation, possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor and possession of a dangerous drug. 

Montgomery faces numerous drug-related charges.

Both were booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

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Video shows orca learning to hunt birds off Orkney

The calf was captured on film being taught by their pod to hunt seabirds off the coast of the Scottish Islands.

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Taylor Swift got Kanye West 'kicked out' of Super Bowl, ex-NFL star says

An A-list celebrity rivalry that began almost 15 years ago is apparently still going strong.

On Sept. 13, 2009, Taylor Swift, then 19 years old, was accepting the MTV Video Music Award for the Best Female Video in "You Belong With Me."

During her speech, she was infamously interrupted by Kanye West, who shocked the world with a few sentences.

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"Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I [will] let you finish," he began. "But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!"

West was referencing Beyonce's video for "Single Ladies," and the audience booed as Swift was clearly flustered. West was removed from the show and "Single Ladies" wound up winning Video of the Year — yet the R&B artist brought Swift on stage so she could finish her speech.

Well, Swift apparently hasn't forgotten about that.

Swift was at the Super Bowl this past weekend in support of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, whose Kansas City Chiefs won, 25-22, in overtime for their second straight title.

The suites at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas were filled with A-listers, including Swift and, apparently, West was supposed to be one.

PATRICK MAHOMES JOINS ELITE COMPANY AFTER BEING NAMED SUPER BOWL MVP FOR THIRD TIME

But former NFL star Brandon Marshall says Swift actually had the rapper booted from the stadium.

"Kanye West pulls up to Vegas. Kanye West buys a ticket right in front of [Taylor Swift]'s booth," Marshall said on the "I Am Athlete" podcast. "Taylor Swift gets pissed off. She boom boom makes a call or two. Everybody's involved. He gets kicked out the stadium. He was trying to leverage her celebrity."

West rapped about the VMA incident in his 2016 hit song "Famous," saying the incident made Swift famous.

"I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that b---- famous," he rapped. The song was nominated for a Grammy.

Kelce had nine receptions for 93 yards in the Super Bowl, and Swift celebrated with him on the field postgame. She, Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and other members of the Chiefs celebrated at an after-party held at Zouk in Las Vegas.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Kimberlee Singler: Children of US mum arrested in London were shot

Autopsy reports obtained by the BBC show Elianna and Adam Wentz suffered gunshot wounds.

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Deadly Florida plane crash on interstate seen on new dashcam video

A newly released dashcam video shows the moment a plane crashed onto a crowded Interstate 75 in Naples, Florida, last week, killing both pilots.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet slammed into the roadway right after the pilot calmly radioed air traffic controllers that the aircraft lost both engines and "was not going to make the runway."

Video shows the plane skidding across the roadway before slamming into a wall and bursting into flames.

Witnesses said the plane crashed into two cars on the road before hitting the wall.

AUDIO RELEASED FROM DEADLY FLORIDA INTERSTATE PLANE CRASH: ‘WE’VE LOST BOTH ENGINES'

"The plane was over our heads by inches," Brianna Walker told The Associated Press. "It’s seconds that separated us from the car in front of us. The wing pulverized this one car."

The pilot was identified as Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, of Oakland Park, Florida, and his co-pilot as Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, of Pompano Beach, Florida. 

Three others on board escaped the flames. One crew member, Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, of Jupiter, Florida, survived along with passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, who live in Columbus, Ohio. 

UTAH NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER INVOLVED IN ‘TRAINING ACCIDENT’: 2 PILOTS INJURED

The Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet had left a Columbus, Ohio, airport earlier in the afternoon bound for Naples Airport, and was just a few miles away when it crashed. 

The jet was operated by Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Charter based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the crash.

Fox News’ Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

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CNN legal analyst surprised to learn on the air he's cited by Trump team in Supreme Court appeal: 'I am?'

CNN legal analyst Elie Honig was surprised to discover his comment about Special Counsel Jack Smith was cited by Donald Trump's legal team in their emergency appeal to the Supreme Court on Monday.

Former President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to extend the delay in the trial stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s 2020 election interference case, arguing that he has presidential immunity to protect him from prosecution.

On CNN Monday night, Honig was asked if he was surprised about being quoted in the brief.

"I‘m learning that right now," Honig admitted before remarking, "I fear what they quoted me on."

TRUMP PROSECUTORS SHOULD BE ‘ALARMED’ BY PUBLIC BEING EVENLY DIVIDED OVER CASE, SAYS LEGAL ANALYST

The legal analyst said he had read the brief "quickly" but had missed that he was mentioned in it. 

"The Source" host Kaitlan Collins informed him that he was quoted in a footnote in the appeal.

"They cite —Well, it’s in a footnote, but they cite something you wrote, which is that Jack Smith 'never uses the E word,'" [Election],'" Collins relayed in a clip flagged by Mediaite.

Honig, a former federal prosecutor, has been critical of Smith's approach to prosecute Trump before the November election.

He confessed he was "dubious" that the special counsel's motives were free from politics.

TRUMP ASKS SUPREME COURT TO EXTEND DELAY IN ELECTION CASE, CLAIMING PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY

"It’s clear to everyone," he said. "My criticism of Jack Smith is obviously he‘s pushing to get this in before the election. I think for good reason, but there‘s a level of disingenuousness in his refusal to say that‘s why."

Smith "should just say what we all know and say what the vast majority of American people understand to believe is," he insisted.

In December, Honig argued on CNN that Smith would never be caught "uttering the ‘E’ word, election," in defending his case against Trump.

"Jack Smith won an argument on immunity in the district court and then right to the Supreme court, I think a right move, I think the smart move. The only reason you ask the Supreme Court to do that on an expedited basis, is if you're racing against the clock. And Jack Smith is clearly doing that here," he commented. 

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court gave Smith a one-week deadline to respond to Trump's request to delay the trial.

Smith charged the former president with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights. Those charges stemmed from Smith’s investigation into whether Trump was involved in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and any alleged interference in the 2020 election result.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges in August 2023.

Fox News' Brooke Singman, Bill Mears and Shannon Bream contributed to this report.

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Labour suspends second parliamentary candidate after recording emerges

Graham Jones, a former Labour MP, is facing an investigation after allegations he made comments about Israel.

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Hammersmith Bridge: West Ham fan boat crash caused £100k of damage

A boat carrying West Ham fans crashed into the bridge adding to the mounting costs of its restoration.

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Patrick Mahomes likes playing the ‘villain role’ as Chiefs prepare for Super Bowl LVIII

The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to become the first NFL team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots accomplished the feat in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. 

Kansas City will play in its fourth Super Bowl in five years against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Las Vegas as the NFL’s current dynasty continues. 

Speaking with Nate Burleson of CBS, Mahomes said the Chiefs have felt the hate this season as their winning ways have continued. 

BRITTANY MAHOMES HYPES CHIEFS STAR AHEAD OF SUPER BOWL LVIII

"You definitely have gotten that sense this year," Mahomes said. "I think this is the year that actually has kind of came out that way. That’s part of it. You turn into that villain, you turn into that team that everybody doesn’t want to win. 

"You have to embrace that too, in order to be great. And I think you’ve seen the greats do that in every sport whenever they start building dynasties and stuff like that. And we want to do that, and we want to stamp out this Super Bowl win."

Mahomes said he has embraced the villain role this season as the Chiefs were forced to go on the road in the NFL Playoffs for the first time since he took over under center in Kansas City. 

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"I do, man," Mahomes said when asked if he likes playing the "villain role."

"And I don’t think I really understood it until this year. When you get in the playoffs, and you’re on the road, and you know it’s just you and your teammates versus everybody, it’s a different perspective."

Mahomes has a chance to join an elite quarterback group with a victory in Super Bowl LVIII. A win over the 49ers and Mahomes will join Troy Aikman with three Super Bowl victories and will be tied for third all-time. 

While he’s still a ways off, Mahomes is inching closer to Tom Brady, whose seven rings are the most of all time. 

Mahomes didn’t seem focused on surpassing Brady when asked about it during Super Bowl opening night.

"I mean, I'm not even close to halfway, so I haven't put a lot of thought into it," Mahomes said Monday, via NFL.com. "I mean, your goal is to be the best player that you can be. I know I'm blessed to be around a lot of great players around me. 

"And so, right now, it's doing whatever I can to beat a great 49ers team and try to get that third ring. And then if you ask me that question in 15 years, and I'll see if I can get close to seven. But seven seems like a long ways away still."

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. 

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report

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FL parents, school board concerned over permission slip for students to attend some Black History Month events

Miami-Dade school board members and parents shared concerns about a permission slip asking for parental consent for students to attend Black History Month events.

Miami-Dade School Board members on Wednesday discussed at a school board meeting the new rule requiring parental permission for extracurricular activities, including Black History Month events.

Dr. Steve Gallon of District 1 said at the school board meeting that Black History Month events are not something that he "would easily define as an activity or supplemental"– but rather something that should be "inextricably linked to instruction."

"Can someone walk us through that particular process because obviously, this has caused some discourse from parents who are asking the question… which parents on either side… Black history is important to all Americans because it's American history," Gallon said.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH QUIZ: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS MONTH OF TRIBUTE

He added, "To the extent that the parents' failure to sign a form for something that may be restricted to instruction in the classroom, I think we need to clarify that, and I want to have a conversation."

The permission slip stems from a new state board rule. Florida’s Parental Bill of Rights in Education law required school districts to get parental consent for activities such as clubs, speaking engagements, school dances, and events.

After Gallon’s remarks, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. John Pace said that the permission slips were enacted "in late November."

Pace added that he wanted to make clear that permission slips are not required for African-American history courses or instruction.

"Whenever there is an event or activity outside of the curriculum, parent permission form will be used," Pace said.

Pace added that a Holocaust survivor or any guest speaker, and military and college recruiters would require parental consent as well.

Another school board member, Luisa Santos, challenged the policy, saying that a Holocaust survivor speaking to students enriches their educational experience.

"Are we going to then limit the experience that our students can have in our schools because, things that I remember doing plenty of in one week in school, from college visits to guest speakers to the DARE program, for example, will now require a permission slip?" Santos said. 

TARGET PULLS BLACK HISTORY MONTH PRODUCT FROM SHELVES THAT MIXED UP THREE CIVIL RIGHTS ICONS

"Those experiences, whether it’s the arts or a guest speaker, a Holocaust survivor, they are the things that make our educational experience relevant to our students."

Parents have complained about having to fill out a permission slip for their child to attend Black History Month events.

"I was shocked," Jill Peeling told Local 10 news.

She added that she "thought she may have misunderstood the document," the news outlet reported. "I’m concerned. I’m concerned as a citizen," Peeling said.

According to Local 10 News, the permission form reads that students would participate in "…class and school wide presentations showcasing the achievements and recognizing the rich and diverse traditions, histories, and innumerable contributions of the Black communities."

"Something feels very off here, and the fact that the school needs to cover themselves against the state feels even worse," Peeling said.

"It’s unfortunate that school districts have to go through this with the new laws because they’re fearful that somebody like a politician or a parent will come after them for hosting what they deem to be a controversial speaker or topic or event," a ninth-grade social studies and world history teacher told the Miami Herald.

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The DeSantis administration has prioritized cutting "wokeness" out of state schools since it has been in power and, with the Republican legislature, enacted a Parents Bill of Rights to prohibit instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation and moved to enforce laws banning pornographic material from school children, such as LGBTQ books featuring graphic sexual content.

The DeSantis administration has also battled critical race theory in the classroom and recently got The College Board to modify its AP African American History course to comply with Florida's educational standards by removing proposed content about queer theory and Black Lives Matter.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools officials did not respond to a request for comment.

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Rochdale: Four boys aged 12-14 arrested on suspicion of rape

The boys, aged 12, 13, 14, and 14, remain in police custody after being arrested in Rochdale.

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Times Square shooting: Migrant, 15, slapped with attempted murder charges for shooting at police, woman

A 15-year-old armed migrant who was wanted for shooting a tourist and firing at police in Times Square on Thursday has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and a slew of other crimes.

Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figureoa, 15, broke down in tears as he was apprehended and taken into police custody on Friday following a short manhunt for the mayhem that erupted in New York City's busy tourist hotspot.

Rivas-Figueroa, who police had said was "armed and dangerous" as they pursued him, has also been charged with assault, attempted assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

NEW YORK'S 'CATCH AND RELEASE' POLICIES FAIL TO HOLD CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE: POLICE REP

Police say the teen fired a .45 caliber handgun at a security guard inside the JD Sports clothing store on West 42nd Street and Broadway at around 7:05 p.m. after the guard had caught Rivas-Figureoa and two other teens shoplifting sneakers and clothes.

The shot missed the security guard but struck a female Brazilian tourist in the leg as Rivas-Figueroa and one of the other shoplifters bolted from the scene. 

Rivas-Figueroa fired at least twice at a responding police officer, while a second cop apprehended the other fleeing shoplifter, the NYPD said. 

The NYPD quickly launched a search for Rivas-Figueroa for the attempted murder of a police officer.

Rivas-Figueroa was picked up by the U.S. Marshals Service in Yonkers, New York, just north of the Bronx, without incident on Friday at around 3:30 p.m., according to NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who said the perp has a family connection to the suburb. He was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt, as well as a gold chain as he was hauled off by authorities, footage shows. Rivas-Figueroa was wearing all white when police say he opened fire in Times Square.

"The shooting incident last night in Times Square was way beyond reckless," Caban said at a Friday evening news conference to announce the arrest. "In the middle of the busiest, mostly highly-trafficked part of the city, a criminal with a firearm decides to pull the trigger."

"If you think you attack a member of this department, if you think you could threaten the lives of the very people who keep us safe. If you think you could put others at deadly risk and get away with it, then think again," Caban said. "We will never stop pursuing you. We will find you, and we will arrest you."

2 MIGRANTS WHO STOMPED AND KICKED NYPD OFFICERS IN VICIOUS TIMES SQUARE ATTACK YET TO BE ARRESTED

At an earlier news conference on Friday, authorities said the teen was living in a temporary shelter after migrating from Venezuela. He entered the U.S. in September and was staying at the Stratford Arms Hotel on West 70th Street, which houses migrants, said NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.

It is unclear if Rivas-Figueroa is in the country, legally or illegally. 

It is not known whether his case will go through family court or criminal court due to his age. A child who is 13, 14 or 15 years old and is charged with committing a serious or violent felony is considered a juvenile offender under New York law.

In addition to Thursday's shooting, Rivas-Figureoa is suspected in an armed robbery in the Bronx and a shots-fired incident in Midtown Manhattan, Chell said. 

The woman shot Thursday was grazed by a bullet, a Brazilian official with knowledge of the situation told Fox News Digital. She was treated at a local hospital and released, police said. 

She is expected to return to Brazil on Saturday, the official said. 

"The Police Department was very, very resourceful and kind to the lady and really offered a lot of support," the official said. "The mayor's office has not reached out, but I don't think there's any need because she was not seriously injured as the Police Department was very supportive. She's completely well and this is not a big issue."

The officer was not harmed. 

During his briefing, Chell praised the actions of the police officer who was fired upon for not returning fire in the densely populated area. 

"Our cop showed great restraint not to fire their weapon into a crowd of New Yorkers," he said. "His training dictates you have to be prudent when you're going to fire your weapon."

"We're the most restrained police department in the world, and we proved it last night," Chell added.  

The shooting came nearly two weeks after a group of migrants attacked a pair of NYPD officers, also in Times Square. Several suspects in that case have been indicted, but only one is being held in custody. 

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Chell noted that some Venezuelans have posed a public safety risk as the city continues to struggle with an influx of migrants. 

"We saw the moped robberies and snatches. We see pockets being picked in Times Square and on the subway. We see some groups going into stores… and stealing property," he said. 

"The state of this police department is we don’t care who you are, what your status is," Chell said, referring to the suspected shoplifting teens being migrants. We’re not going to go and broad brush a whole migrant community as being bad people… our concern, the community’s concern is to take this armed and dangerous juvenile off the streets," Chell said.

Fox News' Louis Casiano and CB Cotton contributed to this report.

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Taylor Swift's Super Bowl appearance: Security expert says it's 'likely necessary' star conceals her entrance

The Super Bowl may be one of the most highly-secured events in the world, but Taylor Swift's arrival could cause obstacles to the security plan.

Security Industry Association (SIA) CEO Don Erickson told Fox News Digital that the pop star will most likely try to conceal her entrance and exit from Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11, for her own safety and the safety of others.

"While it may not be a common tactic for celebrities to conceal themselves in containers or broom carts when entering or exiting a stadium, it is likely necessary given the fan fixation on Swift and hysteria surrounding her relationship with Travis Kelce," Erickson said. 

He continued, "To avoid crowd management issues that might result from large numbers of people trying to push towards the celebrity if spotted, she will likely conceal her movements in the stadium and her entrance and exit for her own protection – and the protection of other patrons."

GRAMMY AWARDS: TAYLOR SWIFT ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM AFTER WINNING BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

Swift plans on being in Las Vegas for the NFL’s championship game, Fox News Digital has learned, after wrapping up the Tokyo leg of her Eras tour on Feb. 10.

After Travis Kelce's big game, Swift will continue the tour in Australia, Asia and Europe through the end of summer, with some U.S. and Canada dates in the fall.

Taylor had a big night at the Grammy Awards, but Kelce was not in attendance. Not only did the mega pop star make history at the 2024 Grammys, taking home two awards, she announced her new album, "The Tortured Poets Department."

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Even though Kelce was not in attendance, the Kansa City Chiefs star did support his girlfriend from afar, saying, "She’s unbelievable."

"She’s rewriting the history books. I told her I need to hold up my end of the bargain and bring home some hardware, too," Kelce told ESPN. 

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Kelce additionally made it clear on "The Pat McAfee Show" that their relationship is about having fun and showing support no matter what, even if they can't be there in person to do so.

"It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?" Kelce told McAfee, who referenced the Chiefs star and Swift being in love. 

"Hopefully everybody realizes that we’re just two people in a relationship supporting each other and having fun with it, man. It’s nothing more than that, and no matter how much the world wants to paint the picture and make us the enemy, we just have fun with it. We enjoy every single bit of it."

Taylor and Travis' relationship has dominated headlines since the "Midnights" singer was first spotted in a box at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri on Sept. 24. She has attended several Chiefs games since and even embraced Kelce on the field after Kansas City defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship on Jan. 28.

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"How bout that one, huh?" Kelce could be heard saying as he saw Swift for the first time after the game.

"Oh my god, I've never seen anything like that in my life," Swift said while hugging Kelce before he kissed her.

"What's up sweetie?" Kelce asked as they pulled away. Swift responded, "I've never seen you like that."

"Where were you guys at?" the tight end asked. "We were… we were all the way over there – way up there – over there. It was the best view ever," the singer-songwriter explained. "It was insane. I can't believe it."

"I appreciate you always," Kelce responded.

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Six Nations 2024: England 16-14 Wales - hosts fightback to edge to victory

England overturn another half-time deficit in the Six Nations to edge past a youthful and spirited Wales side at Twickenham.

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Squashing the Bud Light beef. Are boycotters ready to embrace Trump's call to forgive the brand?

Former President Trump's call for Americans to squash their beef with Bud Light has some ready to make amends, while others said they can't move on.

"I don't like being told when to forgive and forget," Mark told Fox News while on Music City's famous Broadway street. "I'm a firm believer in making up my own mind, my own decisions based on my beliefs."

But Laura said Bud Light boycotters should follow the former president’s lead.

"I think they should just forget about it and just move on," she said. "It's stupid. I'm sorry, but the whole thing was just stupid."

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Nearly 10 months after millions of angry Americans turned their backs on Bud Light for partnering with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a marketing campaign, Trump told his supporters to give the brand and its parent company a "second chance." 

"The Bud Light ad was a mistake of epic proportions, and for that a very big price was paid, but Anheuser-Busch is not a Woke company," Trump wrote Tuesday on Truth Social. "Anheuser-Busch is a Great American Brand that perhaps deserves a Second Chance? What do you think?"

Dave, a Trump supporter and former Bud Light drinker of 20 years, disagreed with the former president’s message.

"We’ll give him a pass on this one," Dave said. "We have to stay strong. We have to stand by our beliefs."

CAN THE SUPER BOWL SAVE BUD LIGHT?

Similarly, Phoebe said she’s not ready to forgive the brand but "to each his own." 

"If he wants to forgive them, that's good," she added.

Bud Light has seen a 30% drop in sales since April 2023, when its partnership with Mulvaney sparked a nationwide conservative boycott, according to a NielsenIQ data analysis.

Critics accused Trump of only defending the global beverage company because a top Republican lobbyist for Anheuser-Busch is set to host a fundraiser for the former president next month, with some tickets going for $10,000 each.

But some former Bud Light drinkers are considering putting the feud behind them following Trump’s defense of the brand.

"That's very nice of him to say that," John said. "That's very big of him to transcend that and make that statement."

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Matt said he’s been boycotting the brand since April but that he "might start drinking it again." 

"I had one last night," he told Fox News. "I think President Trump is right. They paid a price, and you know what? They learn from it. And that's good."

Mira agreed with the former president and said "everyone deserves a second chance."

"It's been a year," she said. "I think if you want to boycott, boycott. If you don't, then just get over it."

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Israel-Gaza war: Netanyahu orders military to plan evacuations from Rafah

The Israeli PM's order comes after the US warned against an unplanned invasion of the Gazan city.

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Ireland women's basketball team refuse to shake hands with Israel

Ireland women's basketball team refuse to shake hands with Israel before their EuroBasket 2025 qualifier in Riga.

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Trump recommends North Carolina GOP Chair Whatley to replace McDaniel at RNC: Source

Former President Trump has recommended North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley to replace RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel after the South Carolina Primary, Fox News Digital has learned.

A source familiar told Fox News Digital that there will be "a change" in leadership at the Republican National Committee after the Feb. 24 South Carolina Primary.

The source told Fox News Digital that Trump is pushing for Whatley to replace McDaniel — specifically because he was "so powerful on election fraud" in 2020.

RNC CHAIR RONNA MCDANIEL TO STEP DOWN AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARIES: REPORT

Whatley has served as the North Carolina GOP chair since 2019. Whatley also serves as the general counsel for the Republican National Committee. 

Trump won North Carolina in 2020. The source said that Whatley "kept the fraud down" in the state, "despite having a strong Democrat governor." 

The source stressed that Trump is focused on ensuring the votes in the 2024 general election are "safe."

"Trump goes around saying ‘we don’t need the votes, we have plenty, what we need is protected ballots during the election, period,’" the source explained, stressing the importance of "protecting the ballot" in the 2024 general election.

Prior to his work with the Republican Party, Whatley served as a federal law clerk, a senior official in the President George W. Bush administration and as the chief of staff for former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C. Whatley also served as a senior advisor to the Bush-Cheney campaign, Florida Recount and Transition Teams, as well as the Trump-Pence campaign and transition teams. 

TRUMP MEETS WITH RONNA MCDANIEL – THEN CALLS FOR CHANGES AT REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Earlier this week, Trump met with McDaniel at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. After the meeting, Trump posted on his Truth Social that McDaniel was a "friend" but that he would be urging changes at the RNC after the South Carolina GOP presidential primary. 

"Ronna is now Head of the RNC, and I’ll be making a decision the day after the South Carolina Primary as to my recommendations for RNC Growth," the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner posted on Truth Social.  

In an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News’ "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo, Trump said of McDaniel, "I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me."

The former president pointed to McDaniel's previous tenure as chair of the Michigan GOP.

"I think she did OK, initially, in the RNC. I would say right now, there’ll probably be some changes made," he added.

When she won re-election last year, McDaniel said in an interview with Fox News that it would be her last two-year term steering the national party committee.

If McDaniel does resign, her replacement would need approval from the 168 RNC committee members.

"If Trump continues to win primaries, most of the 168 will follow his lead whether he picks Whatley or someone else," an RNC committee member who asked to remain anonymous told Fox News Digital. "Maybe he'll face heavy opposition from outside the committee, but not from within it."

Two sources, though, told Fox News Digital that no decisions will formally be made at the RNC until after the Feb. 24 South Carolina primary. But those sources said McDaniel is also focused on ensuring the upcoming merger between the RNC and the campaign operation of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee goes smoothly.

Trump could be named the presumptive Republican nominee by the end of the month.  

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Mike Freer: Man admits making threatening call to north London MP

Mike Freer, a north London MP, is already standing down at the next election over safety fears.

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Row erupts over cost of Labour's home insulation plan

The government claims the scheme could cost £15bn a year but Labour calls the figure "bogus".

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Gary Lineker on avoiding 'increasingly toxic' social media platform X

The presenter says changes to the design of X/Twitter means he now sees the "vitriolic side" more often.

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