Russia registers 2 candidates against Putin in upcoming election

Russia's election commission has registered two candidates to oppose President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Liberal Democratic Party candidate Leonid Slutsky and New People Party candidate Vladislav Davankov were approved for the March election by official this week. 

Danankov currently serves as the deputy speaker for the state Duma — Russia's lower legislative chamber. Slutsky is the head of the state Duma's foreign affairs committee.

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While ostensibly rivals for the nation's top executive position, nationalist Slutsky and liberal-leaning Davankov are widely seen as mere token opposition by analysts.

Putin submitted his nomination papers to the Central Election Commission last month for the March 17 election, which he is widely expected to win. The former intelligence officer remains hugely popular in Russia. 

PUTIN ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL RE-ELECTION BID, FIFTH TERM EXPECTED TO BE CERTAIN

His support spiked with the onset of the war against Ukraine, and he currently has an approval rating of 82%, according to Statista, a global data platform.

Putin has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999. He has been president since 2012, with his previous stint as president running from 2000 to 2008. 

Not all individuals seeking to run against Putin have been given clearance to stand for election.

A former TV journalist and Ukraine War critic has been disqualified from running against Putin in next year’s presidential election.

Yekaterina Duntsova, 40, an independent politician who wanted to run on a platform to end the war with Ukraine, had her candidacy application unanimously rejected by the country’s electoral commission on Saturday, which cited "numerous violations" in the papers she had submitted.

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

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Garland says US witnessing 'deeply disturbing spike in threats' against public servants

Attorney General Merrick Garland is warning Friday that the U.S. is "witnessing a deeply disturbing spike in threats against those who serve the public," as the country continues to battle a "scourge in violent crime." 

Garland spoke in Washington, D.C., as he gathered leaders from the Justice Department’s law enforcement components – including the FBI, ATF, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service – to discuss combating violent crime and prosecuting and deterring those who would criminally threaten public servants. 

"Violent crime is not just a threat to people's physical safety, it is a threat to their ability to freely go about their daily lives. Violent crime isolates people and communities. It deepens the fractures in our public life, and when it is not addressed can undermine people's trust in the government and in each other," Garland said.

"This department and our state and local partners will not rest until every community in our country is safe from the scourge of violent crime," he continued. "At the same time that we are seeing an encouraging downward trend in violent crime, we are also witnessing a deeply disturbing spike in threats against those who serve the public." 

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Garland noted that the FBI has indicated the number of homicides fell 6% nationally between 2021 and 2022, while the Major Cities Chiefs Association of Police Executives has reported a double digit decrease in the number of murders across 69 major cities through September 2023 as compared to the same time period during 2020.

However, "this is not a time to relax our efforts," he said. "We have so much more to do." 

"In May 2021, we launched a violent crime reduction strategy aimed at addressing the spike in violent crime that has occurred during the pandemic," Garland told reporters. "Central to that strategy has been the importance of our partnerships, partnerships among federal law enforcement agencies who are assisting the fight against violent crime, partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting their local communities, and partnerships with the local communities themselves." 

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Garland said in the final months of last year, the Justice Department has "investigated and charged individuals with making violent threats against FBI agents, federal judges, including a Supreme Court justice, presidential candidates, members of Congress, members of the military and election workers.

"Just this week, several bomb threats were made against courthouses across the country. U.S. Marshals Service, FBI and our state and local partners are aggressively investigating those bomb threats, which constitute serious offenses," Garland added. "And just yesterday, we arrested and charged an individual with threatening to kill a member of Congress and his children." 

Garland also spoke about the upcoming anniversary of the January 6 protests and said "we must never forget the terrible violence inflicted on law enforcement officers" on that day. 

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Jelena Ostapenko unleashes on tennis umpire at Brisbane International tournament: 'You ruin my matches'

Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner, was visibly frustrated with the officiating in her quarterfinal match at the Brisbane International tournament in Australia. 

Ostapenko accused the umpire of being "blind" after her opponent, Victoria Azarenka, was awarded a point in the third set. Ostapenko believed that the ball had already bounced multiple times, and the umpire should not have made a call in Azarenka's favor.

Azarenka, a former world No. 1 player, took a 5-4 lead as a result of the play in question.

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"You are blind. It’s impossible to play when you are… You make so much mistakes," Ostapenko shouted toward the umpire.

The 26-year-old then made it clear that she did not want the umpire involved in any of her future tennis matches.

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"I never want you on my match again. You will never be on my match. You will never be on my match. I don’t want you on my matches. You ruin my matches … I will never forget, never."

Ostapenko was ultimately eliminated from the tournament after she suffered a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 defeat to Azarenka. 

The eighth-seeded Azarenka started off strong, but as the match progressed, the third-seeded Ostapenko was able to mount a comeback.

Azarenka was complimentary of Ostapenko after the match.

"With Jelena, sometimes you just have to put on a helmet and try to stay in there," Azarenka said. "She’s an incredible player. We’ve seen it many times. She's a grand slam champion. She’s proved many times that she can beat anybody … She’s always very dangerous. I thought the quality of tennis was incredible."

The Brisbane International women's singles championship is scheduled for Jan. 7. Many of the world's top tennis players will likely remain in Australia or travel to the island continent for the Australian Open. The year's first major tournament begins on Jan. 14.

 Azarenka is a two-time Australian Open champion, winning the tournament in 2012 and 2013. Ostapenko advanced to the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinals.

Azarenka will take on Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals on Saturday.

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Liverpool triple shooting probe: Man charged

The disturbance saw gunfire outside Liverpool's Showcase Cinema, a newsagents and a house.

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Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo gives 'freaky' answer to question about losses to Pacers

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had an unusual way of describing how he felt about the team’s losses to the Indiana Pacers after the latest one on Wednesday night, 142-130.

The Bucks have lost four times in five matchups against the Pacers this season, including one during the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. The two Central Division opponents have no matchups left on their dockets this year.

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"You have that and you think about it. When you go home and sleep and wake up, you think about it. When you go back and work out, you think about it," he said. "When you about to get freaky at night, you think about it.

"But at the end of the day, it’s good, because it gives us time to fix things."

The seven-time All-Star is in star form again this season. He’s averaging 30.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the 33 contests he’s appeared in.

A LOOK AT NBA CONTENDERS HEADING INTO 2024

Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks. Damian Lillard added 23 points and five assists.

"I think the embarrassing part is that we're just so much better than what we've shown in the games against them," he said. "I also don't look at it like ‘Oh, it’s just the regular season.' We wanted to win these games."

Milwaukee is 24-10 this season, second in the Eastern Conference to the Boston Celtics.

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When are London Underground walkouts?

There will be "little to no Tube service" on the London Underground, Transport for London warns.

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EXCLUSIVE: Casey Anthony's father seen for 1st time after taking polygraph test about granddaughter's murder

EXCLUSIVE — Casey Anthony's father appeared in front of his Florida home for the first time this week ahead of the release of a TV special set to premiere Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, in which he and his wife agree to take a polygraph test.

Dubbed "America's most hated mom," Casey Anthony, 37, was accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in 2008 but has alleged that her father is the real perpetrator. 

George Anthony, 72, and Cindy Anthony, 65, are now speaking out in A&E's new special, "Casey Anthony’s Parents: The Lie Detector Test," which comes about a year after Casey Anthony doubled down on allegations that George molested her and may have killed Caylee — a claim George has repeatedly denied — in a Peacock TV docuseries released in 2022. 

CASEY ANTHONY'S PARENTS TAKE LIE-DETECTOR TEST ABOUT GRANDDAUGHTER'S DEATH: ‘SOME WOUNDS ARE JUST TOO DEEP’

George walked in front of his house on Tuesday and appeared to have a relatively calm demeanor while he spoke on the phone. 

He also appears to have lost weight over the last year.

In the new TV special, George and Cindy take the polygraph test in an effort to prove their innocence in their granddaughter's murder.

A clip from the special shows George "struggling" to answer a question from retired FBI Special Agent George Olivo. The parents also respond to the polygraph test results in the upcoming show.

CASEY ANTHONY MYSTERY: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

"When I met them, they were soon separated, and I tested George first," Olivo previously told Fox News Digital. "Nothing really stood out to me."

Olivo said polygraph tests are "85 to 90% accurate" when administered correctly. 

Cindy initially reported Caylee missing on July 15, 2008, about a month after the toddler was last seen on June 15, 2008. She also told police at the time that Casey's impounded vehicle smelled like a dead body, and experts later testified during her trial that the vehicle did contain evidence of human remains in the trunk.

Casey was arrested in connection with her daughter's disappearance and death that same year, initially telling police the girl had vanished while she was with a babysitter.

CASEY ANTHONY TELL-ALL: EXPERTS QUESTION ACQUITTED 'TOT MOM'S' RENEWED CLAIMS: 'I BELIEVE NOTHING SHE SAYS'

Following her daughter's death in June 2008, Casey left home and spent the next month with her boyfriend, apparently failing to report any crime involving her daughter. 

She said she "genuinely believed that Caylee was still alive" in Peacock's 2022 series titled "Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies."

CASEY ANTHONY BACK IN SPOTLIGHT NEARLY 14 YEARS AFTER TODDLER DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD

Months later, in December 2008, a utility worker located Caylee's skeletal remains in a wooded area about half-a-mile from the Anthony family's home.

CASEY ANTHONY SPEAKS: 'TOT MOM' PINS BLAME, CRIES OVER QUESTIONS OF DAUGHTER'S DEATH IN UPCOMING TELL-ALL

Jose Baez, who represented Casey Anthony during a monthlong trial in 2011, argued that Caylee accidentally drowned in the family's above-ground swimming pool in June 2008, alleging that Casey's parents then attempted to cover up her death and dispose of her remains, which George and Cindy have vehemently denied. 

Prosecutors argued that Casey Anthony suffocated her daughter with chloroform and taped the 2-year-old's mouth shut. 

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After deliberating for 11 hours, a Florida jury found Casey Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse. The case remains unsolved to this day.

"You’ve got your daughter that’s accusing you of some pretty horrific things," Olivo previously said. "If they claim that they didn’t do anything, it’s like the old saying goes, you’re darned if you do and you’re darned if you don’t. If you say nothing, those same critics will say, ‘Well, there you go. They didn’t say anything, so they must be guilty.’ And if they speak up … then critics will say, ‘They’re trying to capitalize on it.’"

"Casey Anthony’s Parents: The Lie Detector Test" airs Jan. 4 at 9 p.m. on A&E. 

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco, Stephanie Pagones and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Statistics watchdog to examine government asylum backlog claims

The Office for Statistics Regulation will investigate whether official announcements were misleading.

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Francoise Bornet: Woman in Robert Doisneau’s Paris kiss photo dies aged 93

Francoise Bornet was part of a young couple who were seen embracing on the street in 1950.

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Michigan university faces discrimination lawsuit from student pursuing gym-teaching career

A former college student who was trying to become a gym teacher sued a Michigan university and alleged he was discriminated against because of his weight and other issues when he was barred from continuing his student-teaching remotely.

David Lopez, 44, was in Wayne State University’s physical education kinesiology program and finished each step of the course except for the student teaching. Lopez weighs over 400 pounds and has a litany of health issues, including diabetes, hypertension and asthma, the Detroit Free Press reported last week, citing a civil lawsuit filed in Wayne Circuit Court.

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Lopez claimed the school didn’t see him as a gym teacher because he was overweight.

"They didn't want me to graduate with my certification because I didn't fit what they perceived to be a gym teacher because of my size and because of my weight," Lopez says in the suit. "There's no doubt that was the reason why. There was no other reason. I passed everything."

Wayne State University, based in Detroit, responded to Lopez’s lawsuit by calling it "frivolous" and saying there was no legal claim for weight discrimination and the university doesn’t control the requirements of separate school districts, according to the Free Press.

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Lopez was at Dearborn Public Schools for his student-teaching assignment in the winter of 2022 and received an accommodation letter for his health issues, the outlet reported. The letter said Lopez couldn’t stand or walk for long periods of time. Dearborn allowed Lopez to teach in a virtual program, but Wayne State would not, the lawsuit says.

He allegedly completed the first half of his program with the help of another gym teacher and "unofficial" accommodations. Wayne State University allegedly told Lopez not to report for the second half.

After all of that, Lopez filed the lawsuit earlier this year and said it was his last resort.

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Israel to fight South Africa's Gaza genocide claim in court

South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, triggering Israeli outrage.

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Fulton County Jail inmate faces arson charges after allegedly setting cell ablaze

An inmate at an Atlanta jail set fire to his cell, but the fire was extinguished quickly and no one was injured, officials said.

The fire at the Fulton County Jail was extinguished by prison staff. 

The Atlanta Fire Department also responded to the scene. It was unclear how the prisoner started the fire.

FULTON COUNTY JAIL FACES CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION AND CALLS FOR REFORM

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office told WSB-TV Sunday that 15 prisoners were relocated to another part of the jail, but none of them needed medical attention as a result of the fire.

"I am proud of the women and men of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication and ability to maintain order under challenging circumstances," Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said in a statement. "The safety and security of the detainees in our care and custody is a top priority."

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The prisoner accused of setting the fire was charged with arson and damage to jail property.

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Man dies in shooting outside Granton pub before New Year bells

Another man is in hospital after what police described as a targeted attack at the Edinburgh bar.

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Spanish football fan held in Tehran released, Iran says

Santiago Sánchez was detained during a trek in 2022 to the men's football World Cup in Qatar.

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German cardinal says Pope Francis’ same-sex blessings declaration ‘never would have happened’ under Benedict

A German cardinal in the Catholic Church remarked that Pope Benedict would never have approved Pope Francis' recent edict allowing priests to bless people in same-sex relationships.

Cardinal Gerhard Mueller made the comment to Reuters while attending an event marking the one-year anniversary of Pope Benedict's death on Sunday. 

"It never would have happened [under Benedict] because it was so ambiguous," Mueller told the outlet of Francis' decision. Mueller had served as the Church's doctrinal chief under Benedict, a post he lost upon Francis' ascension.

The Vatican released its new policy in mid-December, stating that, "people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to ‘an exhaustive moral analysis’ to receive it."

CATHOLIC CHURCH'S TEACHING ON MARRIAGE 'HAS NOT CHANGED' AFTER VATICAN DOCUMENT, US BISHOPS SAY

The Church noted that it remains firm in its stance that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman, and the policy mandated that blessings not be given at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals, or even with other actions or clothing related to weddings.

POPE FRANCIS ALLOWS PRIESTS TO BLESS SAME-SEX COUPLES

The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office says requests for such blessings should not be denied.

"Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God," the document said. "The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live."

"It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered," the pope added.

VATICAN COURT SENTENCES CARDINAL BECCIU TO PRISON FOR EMBEZZLEMENT, ABUSE OF OFFICE

In the new document, the Vatican said the church must shy away from "doctrinal or disciplinary schemes, especially when they lead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyzes and classifies others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verifying."

The document stressed that people in "irregular" unions – gay or straight – are in a state of sin. 

However, it said that should not deprive them of God’s love or mercy.

Fox News' Pilar Arias and Reuters contributed to this report

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