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A hero who disarmed one ofthe two gunmen at Bondi Beachtold his cousin he thought he was going to die before taking on the attacker.

Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian national who served in the police, said: "I'm going to die … tell my family I saved people's lives," before hecharged at one of the shootersand wrestled away his rifle.

Mr al-Ahmad, a 43-year-old father of two, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.

Outside the hospital on Monday morning Jozay Alkanj, told reporters of his cousin's bravery, saying: "He said: 'I'm going to die, please see my family and tell them that I went down to save people's lives.'"

Mr al-Ahmed's father said his son served "with the police and under central security forces" and had "the impulse to protect people". It was not clear if he had served in the police in Syria or in Australia.

Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed said: "When he saw people lying on the ground and the blood everywhere, immediately his conscience and his soul compelled him to pounce on one of the terrorists. I feel proud and honoured, because my son is a hero of Australia."

Mustafa al-Asaad, a cousin of the hero, said: "When he saw people dying and their families being shot, he couldn't bear to see people dying. It was a humanitarian act, more than anything else."

Mr al-Ahmed, the father of two young daughters, arrived in Australia from Idlib, Syria, in 2006. His parents had only recently joined him in Sydney after years of separation.

A GoFundMe campaign established for Mr al-Ahmed's recovery raised more than 1m Australian dollars (£496,000) within hours. Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager, contributed nearly $100,000 and shared the fundraiser on social media.

At least 16 people were killed, including 15 victims and one of the assailants, in Australia's worst mass shooting in nearly three decades. Police said 42 people remained hospitalised as of Monday evening.

Credit: Sky News

Mr al-Ahmed, who owns a fruit shop in the Sydney suburb of Sutherland, was shot four to five times in his shoulder, arm and hand after seizing the gunman's rifle from behind, according to his family.

Video footage widely shared on social media showed the Australian citizen hiding behind parked cars before rushing towards the gunman, leaping on him and taking the weapon from his hands.

Social media footage showed Naveed Akram,one of the alleged attackers, using what appeared to be a Beretta BRX1 straight-pull hunting rifle.

Experts said his shooting technique revealed prior training. The suspect's tactical reload, sight alignment, and target transitions suggested he had undergone firearms instruction before carrying out the terror attack.

Mr Al-ahmed's father said his son was having coffee with a friend when heheard gunshots ring out. He added that his son would have acted to protect anyone, regardless of their background.

"When he did what he did, he wasn't thinking about the background of the people he's saving," he said. "He doesn't discriminate between one nationality and another."

Mr al-Ahmed's mother told ABC: "He saw they were dying, and people were losing their lives, and when that guy ran out of ammo, he took it from him, but he was hit. We pray that God saves him."

Anthony Albanese, Australia's prime minister, mentioned Mr Al-Ahmed at a Monday press conference, paying tribute to his actions as an example of "Australians coming together".

"Ahmed al-Ahmed took the gun off that perpetrator at great risk to himself and suffered serious injury as a result," Mr Albanese said.

Chris Minns, the New South Wales premier, called Mr Al-Ahmed "a genuine hero," saying the video footage was "the most unbelievable scene I've ever seen."

Donald Trump, the US president, also praised him, calling him "a very, very brave person" who had saved many lives.

Mr Alkanji said Mr al-Ahmed underwent surgery on Monday and faced two to three more procedures at St George Hospital in Kogarah.

Outside the hospital, strangers arrived to show their support. Misha and Veronica Pochuev brought their seven-year-old daughter, Miroslava, to drop off flowers.

Miroslava held a bouquet with a note reading "To Ahmed: for courage and saved lives."

Lubaba Alhmidi AlKahil, the media director for the Australians for Syria Association, visited Mr Al-Ahmed with food and flowers Monday afternoon.

"What he did, he really is a superhero," she said. "The community is very proud of him."

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The CFDT union said the vote was taken at a meeting of 400 workers on Monday morning and that they decided to strike for the day. Striking workers with flags, banners and placards blocked the museum's iconic glass pyramid entrance.

The world's most-visited museum didn't open as scheduled and turned people away. An updated notice on the Louvre's website said it was "exceptionally" closed for the day and that ticket holders would be reimbursed.

"It's really sad, because I was really looking forward to this," said Lindsey Hall, a bitterly disappointed would-be visitor from Sacramento, California. She had been planning to enjoy the museum's huge collection of art and artifacts with a friend, describing it as "one of those life experiences you crave."

"This is just an epic collection of art and something that every human should see," she said. "I can see the other side of it, like if you are the person that works in the museum and how that can be, like day after day after day."

The strike vote followedtalks last weekbetween labor unions and government officials including Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Labor leaders said the talks had not alleviated their concerns about staffing and financing for the museum that welcomes millions of visitors each year.

"Visiting the museum has become an obstacle course," said Alexis Fritche, general secretary of the culture wing of the CFDT union.

For employees, the brazendaylight jewel heistcrystallized long-standing concerns that crowding and thin staffing are undermining security and working conditions at the Louvre.

Police arrests subsequently snared theentire four-man teamalleged to made off with$102 million worth of jewels. The gang used a basket lift to reach the Louvre's facade, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with pieces of the French crown jewels. A Senate inquiry released last week said the thieves escaped withbarely 30 seconds to spareand pointed fingers of blame at broken cameras, outdated equipment, understaffed control rooms and poor coordination that initially sent police to the wrong location.

In a statement, the CFDT said employees want more staffing for security and to welcome visitors, improved working conditions, stable long-term budgets for the Louvre and leadership that "truly listens to staff."

Yvan Navarro of the CGT union complained that staff numbers have continually decreased while visitor numbers have increased.

"People come to Paris to visit the museums. So the visitor numbers go up, the tariffs and the prices go up, because everything is becoming more expensive but the salaries and the numbers of staffers don't go up so obviously you reach a point like today, a day of anger," he said.

Labor leaders said the strike vote was unanimous. It wasn't immediately clear whether the work stoppage will last longer than one day. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. Employees could meet again on Wednesday to decide whether to stay out or go back to work.

In theirnotice of open-ended strike actionto Dati last week, the CFDT, CGT and Sud unions said the Louvre was in "crisis," with insufficient resources and "increasingly deteriorated working conditions."

The Culture Ministry said Sunday that it has tasked Philippe Jost, who oversaw reconstruction ofNotre Dame Cathedralafter its 2019 fire, with a mission to propose a deep reorganization of the Louvre following the findings of an administrative inquiry.

It said Jost will offer recommendations by the end of February. He will work with Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who previously described the heist asa "terrible failure."

Thomas Adamson in Paris contributed.

Leo also issued a strong anti-abortion message during an audience with the donors of the Vatican's Christmas decorations, which he said were a sign of "faith and hope."

"We pray for those who suffer from war and violence, in particular today I want to entrust to the Lord the victims of the terrorist attack in Syndey against the Jewish community.

"Enough of these forms of antisemitic violence!" he said. "We must eliminate hatred from our hearts."

At least 15 people died in the attack on Sydney's Bondi Beach, wherehundreds had gathered for a "Chanukah by the Sea" event celebrating the start of the Jewish festival. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the massacre an act of antisemitic terrorism.

Leo echoed his prayers in an official telegram of condolence sent to the archbishop of Sydney, Most. Rev. Anthony Fisher.

He prayed "with renewed hope that those tempted to violence will undergo conversion and seek the path of peace and solidarity," said the telegram signed by the Vatican secretary of state.

In his remarks at the Vatican, Leo said the evergreen fir trees that were donated by various Italian regions "are a sign of life and recall the hope that isn't lacking even in the winter cold."

Another sign of life, he said, was reflected in the Nativity scene in the Vatican's audience hall, which was donated by Costa Rica. The creche featured 28,000 ribbons representing embryos thatweren't aborted.

"Each of these 28,000 colored ribbons that decorate the scene represent a life saved from abortion thanks to the prayer and support provided by Catholic organizations to many mothers in need," Leo said.

He thanked the artist for the message urging that "life is protected from conception."

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Well,Lindsey Vonn's return to downhill racingon hertitanium kneedoesn't seem so crazy now.

Not after she dominated the opening speed weekend of the Olympic season,won the first downhill by a huge marginand gained more points than any other skier over three days of World Cup racing.

"All the people that didn't believe in me, I have to thank them because it really gives me a lot of motivation," Vonn said.

"I'm surprised that people haven't figured that out by now. That every time you talk bad about me it just makes me stronger and better and more motivated. So I would love for people to keep coming at me. It would be great. Motivate me even more."

A year ago, when Vonn was preparing to race again after nearly six years of retirement, two-time Olympic champion Michaela Dorfmeister suggested the American "should see a psychologist," adding on Austrian TV, "Does she want to kill herself?"

Austrian downhill great Franz Klammer said "she's gone completely mad" and four-time overall World Cup champion Pirmin Zurbriggen added that Vonn "hasn't recognized the meaning and purpose of her other life in recent years."

After all, the risks are high in a sport where skiers hurl themselves down icy mountains at speeds of 130 kph (80 mph) with little protection besides a helmet, a back protector anda safety air bag systemunder their suits.

But Vonn looked more composed and stable than skiers half her age on the Corviglia course in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

LeBron James shares solidarity with Vonn

When Vonn won Friday's downhill by 0.98 seconds — an eternity in a sport often decided by mere hundredths — she was emboldened enough to shape her hands in a sleeping gesture in the style of NBA starStephen Curry's "Night, night" gesture.

In other words, she felt she had just put the rest of the field to rest when she became the oldest winner in World Cup history — among men and women.

The performance and gesture got some attention in the NBA.

"40+ is the new 20. Well, until you wake up the next day!" 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers starLeBron Jamessaid on Instagram.

Goggia's pacifier

Fellow downhiller Sofia Goggia, the 2018 Olympic champion, said on Friday that Vonn "took us all to school and left us with a pacifier (baby's dummy) in our mouths."

The next day, Goggia backed up her comments and put a pacifier in her mouth while standing next to Vonn.

Vonn also finished second in another downhillon Saturday despite a big mistake midway down, thenplaced fourth in a super-Gon Sunday. In all, she earned a weekend-best 230 World Cup points — 60 more than Goggia and 85 more than Emma Aicher, the 22-year-old German who won Saturday's race..

She "raised the bar for every athlete in downhill and super-G," Goggia said.

Pushing back retirement

Vonn's performance has her reconsidering her plans.

Instead of going back into retirement immediately after the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February, she'll likely ski on through the end of the World Cup season in March.

"I think I might need to change my approach," she said.

Vonn's head coach Chris Knight said: "We can start planning for the whole season."

Having figured out her equipment and with improved fitness from last season —she added 12 pounds (5.5 kilograms) of muscle to her frame— Knight believes Vonn can perform at this level every weekend.

"It's just about managing the load, the training and the recovery time," Knight told The Associated Press. "It's almost recovery is more important right now because she's in a really good place with the skiing."

Dream team with Shiffrin

Women's Alpine skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record with 12 World Cup wins.

Besides downhill and super-G on her Olympic program, Vonn also plans to enter the new team combined — which features two-person teams with one competitor racing a downhill run and another performing a slalom run.

Vonn campaigned to pair with slalom standout Mikaela Shiffrinat last year's world championships but her performances then didn't merit that chance.Shiffrin won gold with Breezy Johnson instead.

But the way this season has started for Vonn — and withShiffrin having won all three slaloms— could result in a skiing "Dream Team" in Cortina.

"If they do it like they did last year at the world champs, you take the fastest downhiller and the fastest slalom skier and move down from there," Knight said.

Svindal's calming influence

Vonn also has former Olympic downhill champion Aksel Lund Svindal on her coaching staff this season — and it was the Norwegian offering the final words of advice before she raced over the weekend.

"He's been at the start a million times and his calm energy is really helpful to me because sometimes I'm really intense," Vonn said. "He's just always so stable and that gives me peace of mind."

Andrew Dampf is athttps://x.com/AndrewDampf

AP Olympics:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

The Cowboys won three in a row to get back in the playoff conversation, then lost two in a row to fall well out of it. A loss at the Detroit Lions in Week 14 was somewhat understandable. A home loss to a Minnesota Vikings team that had already been eliminated from playoff contention was not.

The Cowboys aren't mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at 6-7-1, but it would take a miracle for them to make it. And what was apparent inSunday's 34-26 loss to the Vikingsis that the Cowboys aren't a playoff-quality team. The defense couldn't contain Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, who has struggled most of the season. George Pickens continued his late-season disappearance with another quiet game. Even kicker Brandon Aubrey, the Cowboys' most reliable asset, missed two field goals.

The Cowboys made a big move at the trade deadlineto acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and although that was never meant to be just a one-year, win-now move, it showed some hubris. If Dallas truly thought it could make the playoffs after a 3-5-1 start to the season, they were ignoring some deficiencies that couldn't be fixed with one move. It was clear to see Sunday night, with Dallas being outplayed by a team that was 5-8 coming in, that there's work to do.

J.J. McCarthy has a promising performance

One of the big questions before the game was whether McCarthy would be able to build on a solid performance last week, or revert to the subpar form from his first six starts.

It was pretty good news for the Vikings. McCarthy was far from perfect. He missed a few throws, including several to Justin Jefferson, who had another quiet game. But he also made some nice plays. A touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor in the back of the end zone, against tight coverage, was impressive. McCarthy also scored on a nifty naked bootleg after he sold the fake handoff very well. That came on fourth-and-1 and tied the game at 14.

The Cowboys' pass defense has been suspect most of the season, even though the defense as a whole improved after the Williams trade. But it was still good for Minnesota to see McCarthy making things happen in what was just his eighth career start.

A nice 29-yard pass to T.J. Hockenson and a 23-yard pass to Nailor set up a 1-yard touchdown run by C.J. Ham. That put the Vikings ahead 24-23 heading into the fourth quarter. McCarthy completed 15-of-24 passes for 250 yards. The Vikings have to be pleased with that.

The Vikings (6-8) were mathematically eliminated from the playoff race before the game started but they were still putting plenty of pressure on Dallas, thanks to their young quarterback keeping the offense moving.

Cowboys can't catch Vikings

The Cowboys had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, but something strange happened: Kicker Brandon Aubrey missed his second field goal of the game. Aubrey, widely considered the NFL's best kicker, had missed only two field goals in Dallas' first 13 games. That's what kind of night it was for the Cowboys.

Minnesota took advantage right after Aubrey's rare miss. McCarthy hit a few passes, including his second touchdown pass to Nailor, and the Vikings led 31-23. The Cowboys went for it on fourth down shortly after that, and a catch was just short of the first-down marker, leading to a turnover on downs. When the Vikings went for it on fourth down shortly after, Aaron Jones easily picked it up on a run up the middle. That helped set up a field goal that gave the Vikings a two-score lead. Minnesota made those plays on Sunday night and the Cowboys couldn't.

The Cowboys aren't that far off, but they do need some improvements over the offseason. They will need to make a decision on whether to re-sign Pickens, which is a little more complicated with him having two straight poor outings. The defense needs to get better against the pass. It's an important offseason coming up in Dallas.

After Sunday night's loss, there's no more concern about a postseason run getting in the way of starting the offseason work as soon as possible.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:32 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Up next for Cowboys

  The Cowboys will now have to win the NFC East to get into the playoffs, which is going to be nearly impossible. They'll have to win out, and the Eagles will have to lose out.

  Up Next:
  Week 16: vs. Chargers
  Week 17: at Commanders
  Week 18: at Giants

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:31 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  J.J. McCarthy vs. Dak Prescott
• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:29 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Final: Vikings 34, Cowboys 26

  The Vikings have pulled off the win in Dallas, which all-but eliminated the Cowboys from playoff contention. They now have to win out to get in, while the Eagles can't win another game.

  The Vikings were eliminated before the game, too. But the win moved them to 6-8 on the season. Dallas now sits at 6-7-1.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:27 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Cowboys kick a quick FG

  Brandon Aubrey is good from 41 yards out after the Cowboys settled for a quick field goal. They needed one anyways.

  It's now an 8-point game. If the Cowboys don't make the onside kick, this one is over.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:22 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Vikings add a FG

  Will Reichard hit a 53-yard field goal, and this game is over. The Vikings lead 34-23 now with about 1 minute left.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:17 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Aaron Jones just broke out an 18-yard run for a first down, and that may do it. The Cowboys challenged a fumble there, which wasn't really a fumble, but they had to try.

  The Vikings have 3:02 to close this game out, and Dallas is out of timeouts.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:14 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  This was such a good tackle to force a fourth down. The Vikings easily picked it up on the next play, however, so they keep going.

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  What a tackle to prevent the first down ‼️
  
  MINvsDAL on NBC
  Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/B07Pd5LaPQ

  — NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:05 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  A holding penalty pushed the Cowboys back there, and then Davis was stopped just shy of the first down marker there.

  The Vikings have pulled off the stop, and will now take over near midfield with 5:21 left in the game. This one is about over.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:55 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Vikings find the end zone!

  Looking back, the Cowboys should have punted. That missed field goal gave the Vikings a short field, and they took full advantage.

  J.J. McCarthy just found a wide open Jalen Nailor in the end zone, and the Vikings are suddenly up by eight.

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  McCarthy to Nailor for the second time tonight!
  
  MINvsDAL on NBC
  Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/wmvTZEtzQs

  — NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:50 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Brandon Aubrey missed again...

  Brandon Aubrey has now missed twice tonight, this time from 59 yards out. It's a stunning off night from him.

  The Vikings are still up by 1 now with 12:20 left.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:45 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  End of 3: Vikings 24, Cowboys 23

  The Vikings have taken the lead, but the Cowboys — who essentially need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive — will have a 2nd-and-1 just across midfield when we come back.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:39 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Touchdown, Vikings!

  The Vikings are now out in front after a short handoff to CJ Ham, who rolled into the end zone untouched. That's the fifth rushing touchdown of his career.

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  C.J. Ham is in for the go-ahead touchdown
  
  MINvsDAL on NBC
  Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/Mr3FNwwnmg

  — NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

  The Vikings are up 24-23 now with 1:12 left in the third.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:35 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  That was a huge stop for the Cowboys there on third down. Wilson just drilled Nailor in the backfield on a third-and-short, but J.J. McCarthy found Nailor again for a 23-yard gain on fourth down.

  So, the Vikings will keep moving down the field.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:28 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Cowboys settle for another FG

  The Cowboys used several big plays there to get down the field quick, but a false start penalty pushed them back on third down and eventually forced another Brandon Aubrey field goal. Dallas is 1-for-9 on third down so far tonight.

  He's good from 41, so the Cowboys lead 23-17 now with 4:50 left in the third quarter.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:18 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  The Cowboys forced a quick three-and-out, so Dak Prescott and thier offense will come back out now after a deep punt.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 5:12 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Cowboys open the second half with a FG

  The Cowboys got all the way into the red zone, thanks in part to a wild one-handed grab from Schoonmaker for a 29-yard gain, but the drive stalled out.

  Brandon Aubrey drilled a 26-yarder, and the Cowboys are back in front.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 4:53 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Halftime: Cowboys 17, Vikings 17

  We're all locked up halfway through this Sunday Night Football matchup. The Cowboys will get the ball out of the break.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 4:52 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Cowboys tie it up

  Brandon Aubrey made this one from 37 yards out after the earlier miss, and this game is tied again just before halftime.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 4:40 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Vikings lead for the first time tonight

  The Vikings made it all the way down into the red zone, but the Cowboys came up with a huge stop after back-to-back incompletions.

  Will Reichard drilled a 29-yard field goal, though, so the Vikings are up 17-14 now with 1:48 left in the half.

• 

  Mon, December 15, 2025 at 4:27 AM GMT+2

  Ryan Young

  Brandon Aubrey ... missed

  Well, Brandon Aubrey just missed his second field goal of the year. That was a 51-yard attempt.

  So the Vikings will take over at their own 33 yard line with about six minutes left in the half.

Sunday's NFL slate was an especially significant one in terms of attrition.

With only three weeks left in the regular season — and with the start of the playoffs less than a month away — the importance of each game is only increasing. And that means the serious injuries multiple star players sustained in Week 15 could be major factors down the homestretch.

Here are some of the players who went down Sunday — and the fallout from their injuries.

Patrick Mahomes

Instead of pulling off yet another signature comeback, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes finished his season prematurelywith a torn ACLduring the Chiefs' 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Mahomes was driving into Chargers territory with under two minutes to go when he hurt his left knee. Five plays later, his backup, Gardner Minshew, threw an interception that sealed the loss — which eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention.

"Don't know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it's hurts,"Mahomes wrote on X. "But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever."

The immediate aftermath of the injury is obvious. Instead of Mahomes keeping the team's season alive, the Chiefs will nowmiss the playoffs for the first time in his career. And now, in part depending on how soon he can undergo surgery, his status for the start of next season is also unclear.

One more player to keep an eye on: Travis Kelce, the legendary tight end who is close with Mahomes. Kelce, 36, is in the final year of his contract, and while he has bounced back from a subpar 2024 season, he is still a lesser player than when he was a consistent 1,000-yard receiving option. Will Kelce be tempted to play another year to go out on a higher note with Mahomes?

Micah Parsons

Green Bay Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons is feared to have torn an ACL, as well,a source told NBC Sports's Mike Florio.

Parsons sustained the injury late in the third quarter of the Packers' 34-26 defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos. As Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur put it after the game, the Parsons injury is a "double whammy."

The Packers are 9-4-1 and in the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC. They will travel to Chicago next week to play the Bears, a game that will have massive implications in the playoff race. With a win, Green Bay could win the division and host a playoff game. With a loss, the Packers could be in danger of falling out of the postseason field entirely.

A plus for Green Bay? It holds a tiebreaker over the eighth-place Detroit Lions, who also lost Sunday. A minus? The Packers will also have to play a desperate Baltimore Ravens team in Week 17 and go on the road to play the Minnesota Vikings to end the regular season.

"It's obviously tough," LaFleur said about Parsons. "We all know what kind of player he is and the impact he's had on our football team. To lose someone like that, it's tough. But no one is going to feel sorry for us. We need to find a way. Guys have to rally around each other."

Davante Adams

Don't worry, Los Angeles Rams receiver Davante Adams didn't tear an ACL. But he did pull up lame with a hamstring injury in the second half of the Rams' 41-34 win over the Lions, and the timing is brutal.

Adams has been a major part of Los Angeles' offense this season, catching 60 passes for 789 yards and a whopping 14 touchdowns. The team seems doubtful he will be able to suit up for its next game, as the Rams have a short turnaround before a Thursday night showdown on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.

"I can't imagine that's good for Thursday with just the short amount of time, but I certainly wouldn't rule him out quite yet," Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay said after the game. "But it didn't look good."

Thursday's game is another one with big consequences. The winner will take the lead in the NFC West, while the loser will fall into a wild-card spot. A Rams win would put them in the driver's seat for the division crown, as Los Angeles would then also own the tiebreaker over the Seahawks.

If the Rams lose, they could still win the division and host a playoff game, but they would need help from others in that scenario. A loss Thursday could ultimately be the difference between the second seed or the five seed for either Los Angeles or Seattle.

We are asking that any and all video or photo evidence be submitted via phone at 401-272-3121 or to the FBI tip line.https://t.co/uPmu5H5lhq

— Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD)December 15, 2025

Late Sunday, officials said they were releasing a person of interest who was detained earlier in the day, noting that evidence now "points in a different direction."

"I've been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another and that's exactly what has happened," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

RELATED STORY |'Really angry': Parkland survivor recounts Brown University mass shooting

Without a suspect in custody, security in Providence and Brown will be beefed up, but no shelter is in effect.

"We know that this is likely to cause fresh anxiety for our community," Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said.

Two people were killed and nine others were injured in Saturday's attack. One victim remains in critical condition, seven others are listed as critical but stable, and another person has been discharged from a local hospital.

The shooting occurred in the Barus and Holley engineering building as final exams were taking place.

The school's president announced that most in-person exams are now canceled and only essential employees need to report to campus this week.

Theattack at Brown, an Ivy League school in Rhode Island, on Dec. 13 left at least two dead and nine injured. Authorities detained a person of interest in the shooting but laterreleased the individual and resumed searching for the shooter.

"Brown University, great school... really one of the greatest schools anywhere in the world,"Trump said Dec. 14at a White House Christmas reception. "Things can happen. So to the nine injured - get well fast; and to the families of those two that are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respects from the United States of America."

Police responded to reports of an active shooter on Brown University's campus in Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 13, 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> An alert on Dec. 13 said to run from the Barus and Holley Building at 184 Hope Street near the university. Here is the building in an undated photograph.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Shots fired at Brown University: Photos show the scene

Police responded to reports ofan active shooter on Brown University's campusin Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 13, 2025

The Brown shooting occurred in an engineering building during final exams. University President Christina Paxon said one of the injured people has been released from the hospital and most of those who remain in the hospital are in critical but stable condition.

Trump also lamented deadly attacks this weekend targeting Jewish individuals in Australia and American service members in Syria.

The attack in Syriakilled two Army soldiers and an interpreter traveling in a convoy of American and Syrian forces. Three other U.S. military members were injured. Trump said there will be "big damage done" in response to the attack.

In Australia,at least 16 people were killedand many more injured during a shootingthat targeted a Hanukkahevent at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

While celebrating Christmas Dec. 14, Trump said he also wanted to "loudly" say "we celebrate Hanukkah."

"Because that was such a horrible attack," he said. "That was a purely antisemitic attack."

Contributing:Phaedra Trethan,Charles Ventura, Christopher Cann, Eryn Dion, Katie Mulvaney,Katie Landeck,Karissa Waddick,Phaedra TrethanNatalie Eilbert,Kim Hjelmgaard, Kathryn Palmer, James Powel,Phillip M. Bailey

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump responds to Brown University shooting, offers 'deepest regards'

Michelle Wiese Bockmann warned the aging fleet poses geopolitical risks and threats of $1 billion oil spills, with the recent U.S. seizures in Venezuela and Ukrainian drone strikes in the Black Sea marking a turning point for both nations in their efforts.

"There are about 1,000 vessels worldwide that are trading sanctioned crude tankers containing sanctioned Iranian, Venezuelan and Russian oil," Bockmann told Fox News Digital.

"These vessels are a lifeline for these regimes, because they're used for shipping oil to fund the war in Ukraine, and also give money to the illicit Maduro regime," she added.

Iran Backs Maduro To Keep Latin America Foothold As Trump Increases Pressure On Venezuela

"This is a brand-new problem for the U.S., and now Ukraine has signaled they are going to target these vessels the same way," she said. "There is a new strategy to deal with this dark fleet, which is the lifeline of sanctioned oil revenues, and now under attack by the U.S. and Ukraine. The strategy is all to counter what we callgray-zone aggression."

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Us Escalation With Maduro Halts Deportation Flights To Venezuela

Recent Ukrainian naval drone strikes have disabled several tankers in the Black Sea, including the Dashan, part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet that Ukraine says helps Moscow export oil in defiance of sanctions,according to Reuters.

"It is dangerous and could be interpreted as a form of gray-zone aggression in order to continue to keep oil revenue flowing," Bockmann said.

"This is all a billion-dollar oil spill catastrophe waiting to happen," she added, pointing to theenvironmental and navigational risksposed by poorly maintained, uninsured ships.

Venezuela Mobilizes Troops, Weapons In Response To Us Warship Buildup In Caribbean

She said a subset of "about 350 to 400 vessels at any one time are not only sanctioned but falsely flying flags, which is dangerous," because false registration leaves vessels stateless and uninsured, putting crews at risk.

"This is a huge issue for maritime safety, it's a menace to the environment, and it entails crew welfare," Bockmann said.

These vessels, she said, are typically "elderly" and used solely forsanctioned oil trades. Many also "manipulate AIS" to show they are in one place when they are actually elsewhere.

Trump Sends World's Most Powerful Warship To Latin America — Historic Echoes Of Regime Change

"They use false flagging, but also spoofing and manipulating its AIS to show it's in one place when it's not. These vessels have also gone tofraudulent registriesthat don't exist, which means they have no insurance," she said. "Their certificates of seaworthiness are invalid, and they have relied on international maritime conventions to have what's called the 'right of innocent passage' so they can't get intercepted."

Bockmann said U.S. forces have used legal tools including Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which allows boarding of stateless vessels, to stop these ships.

"It's my belief that they used Article 110, and they got on board that vessel, and they were absolutely entitled to remove that vessel from global trade," she said.

Venezuela Accuses Us Of 'Piracy' After Seizing Massive Oil Tanker

In the Caribbean, U.S. forces recently seized the tanker Skipper, sanctioned in 2022 and found to be masking its location, under a federal warrant as part of a broader campaign to disrupt illicit oil shipping.

"The recent Venezuelan tanker was carrying 1.8 million barrels of oil uninsured, so that's a billion-dollar maritime disaster waiting to happen," Bockmann said.

As reported by Fox News Digital, Dec. 12 saw Attorney GeneralPam Bondiframe the U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan crude tanker as a sanctions-enforcement action rooted in a federal court warrant.

Meanwhile, in the Black Sea, Ukraine targeted multiple alleged "shadow fleet" tankers with sea drones, according to Reuters.

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"The three tankers that have been targeted by Ukraine are all in ballast, which means that they weren't carrying oil," Bockmann said.

"That was carefully chosen, and they were also falsely flagged, just like in the recent case of the three tankers attacked in Ukraine. That flag was Gambia. In the U.S. case of Skipper, the flag was Guyana," Bockmann said.

Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Original article source:US and Ukraine target 1,000-vessel 'dark fleet' smuggling sanctioned oil worldwide

Mahomes suffered an injury to his left knee in the final two minutes of Sunday'sloss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and the injury will keep Mahomes out for the remainder of the year.

TheChiefsannounced after Sunday's game that Mahomes had suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, and said they are exploring surgical options. Further specifics on his recovery, or a timeline for his return, are not yet known.

Mahomes, who had been dealing with injury concerns related to the knee all season, apparently hyperextended the knee as he attempted to lead the Chiefs to a late comeback win. He would lay on the turf at Arrowhead Stadium for several minutes as teammates knelt nearby, and then was helped to the locker room.

Mahomes left knee buckles and he has left the gamepic.twitter.com/a0dkUXynjE

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs)December 14, 2025

Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew entered the game having thrown no passes all season, and quickly threw a game-ending interception.

Afterward, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the injury "didn't look good." With the loss to the Chargers eliminating the Chiefs from the playoffs for the first time since 2014, there was no pressing need to bring Mahomes back this season, regardless of the extent of the injury.

Mahomes addressed the injury in a social media post on Sunday afternoon, and vowed to return.

Don't know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it's hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back…

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes)December 14, 2025

The Chiefs struggled all season long with injuries, and Mahomes himself was far from his MVP-winning, Super Bowl-level best. His 63.1 completion percentage was the lowest of his career as a starter. His 22 touchdowns are the fewest of his career, albeit with three games still to play. The 2025 season also marked his worst in Passer Rating and second-worst in Quarterback Rating of his career.

Mahomes is in the sixth year of a 10-year, $450 million contract. He last won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award in 2022, and placed in the top 10 the last two seasons. Under Mahomes' leadership, the Chiefs had reached the AFC championship in all seven of his years as a starter, playing in five Super Bowls and winning three.

But Sunday's loss, the team's third straight, officially knocked them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Minshew will presumably lead the Chiefs the rest of the way this season, but it's unclear who will start in Mahomes' place next fall assuming he's still recovering from his upcoming surgery.

While Mahomes' NFL career is far from over, the dominant stretch the Chiefs have been on over the last near-decade has now come to an end.

Playing his first NFL game in 1,800 days, 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers threw a touchdown Sunday for the Indianapolis Colts while nearly upsetting a Super Bowl contender.

Rivers completed 18 of his 27 passes for 120 yards and led a drive that put the Colts ahead with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter before Seattle kicked a go-ahead field goal to win 18-16.

Rivers and the Colts got the ball back for one final opportunity 70 yards from the end zone with 11 seconds to go in regulation, but the drive's first play was also its last. A deep throw by Rivers down the middle of the field went over his intended receiver's head and was intercepted, sealing Seattle's win.

Rivers, a father of 10 and a grandfather, started for Indianapolis weeks after being named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and just five days after having come out of retirement to sign with the Colts after injuries had devastated their quarterbacks.

Rivers joined Tom Brady, Vinny Testaverde, Warren Moon, Steve DeBerg and George Blanda as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to play at age 44 or older.

An afterthought in the preseason, Indianapolis had transformed into a surprise Super Bowl contender after a 7-1 start, only to lose four of its next five games. In its most recent defeat last week, it also lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury.

With injuries hobbling its other quarterbacks, Indianapolis turned to an unusual stopgap measure in Rivers — who is older than 13 of the NFL's 32 head coaches, including Colts coach Shane Steichen — to salvage its playoff aspirations. The franchise and Rivers had familiarity: Rivers spent the first 16 seasons of his career with San Diego before he played his final year with Indianapolis in 2020. He ranked fifth all-time in passing yardage and passing touchdowns in NFL history when he retired.

Competing at a high level is no longer a rarity for over-40 athletes, with Tom Brady, LeBron James and even downhill skier Lindsey Vonn all remaining world-class well after having exited their prime. Yet Rivers' return was extraordinary because of the length of his break. He had coached a high school team in Fairhope, Alabama, in retirement, and members of the team were shown cheering Rivers on during Sunday's Week 15 matchup in Seattle.

There was little time for Rivers to ease into his first game since Jan. 9, 2021, while he faced a Seahawks defense that ranks among the NFL's best. Yet Rivers converted a third down on his first drive, and late in the second quarter he threw his 422nd career touchdown.

After having led for much of the game, Indianapolis trailed 15-13 in the fourth quarter when Rivers trotted onto the field with 2:21 left to try to add to his career total of 36 game-winning drives.

He threw completions for 16 and 3 yards to help Indianapolis get into range for kicker Blake Grupe, who made a career-long 60-yard kick with 47 seconds left to give Indianapolis a 16-15 lead.

That was enough time remaining, however, for Seattle to mount its own drive, which ended with a 56-yard kick to take back the lead, 18-16, with 18 seconds to play.

The 45-point victory tied the team record set Jan. 9, 1993, against Washington while the team was playing in New Jersey. The Nets have won four of six after opening 3-13. At home, they have won three of four after starting 0-9.

Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez missed the game due to an illness. Assistant coach Steve Hetzel directed the team.

Gary Trent Jr. scored 20 points and Kyle Kuzma added 13 for the struggling Bucks They have lost three of four since star Giannis Antetokounmpo strained his right calf in the opening minutes of a win over Detroit on Dec. 3.

Brooklyn led 65-46 at halftime on 56.5% shooting, and had a 24-11 run in the third quarter to make it 94-65.

Bucks: Host Toronto on Thursday night.

Nets: Host Miami on Thursday night.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Prospects for their replacement are not favorable either asties between the two countries have deteriorated.

The twins, Xiao Xiao and his sister Lei Lei, were born at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens in 2021, and raised, but they remain on loan from China and have to be returned by February.

Their parentsShin Shin and Ri Ri returned home last year after China loaned them for breeding research in 2011.

The last day of public viewing for the 4-year-old twins will be Jan. 25, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said pandas have long been loved by Japanese people and he hoped friendship through panda diplomacy between the two countries will continue.

"Exchanges through pandas have contributed to improve the public sentiment between Japan and China, and we hope the relationship will continue," Kihara said. He noted that a number of local municipalities and zoos have expressed hope that new pandas will to be loaned soon.

China sent the first pair of pandas to Japan in 1972 to mark the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Since then, Japan has never been left without a panda.

Giant pandas are native to southwestern China and serve as an unofficial national mascot. Beijing lends them to other countries as a sign of goodwill but maintains ownership over them and any cubs they produce.

Relations between Japan and Chinahave worsened since Japan's Prime MinisterSanae Takaichisaid in early November that its military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own.

China has since restricted tourism to Japan, and cultural events and exchanges between local governments have been canceled. The row escalated this month when Chinese drills involving an aircraft carrier near southern Japan prompted Tokyo to scramble fighter jets. It also protested that Japanese aircraft were targeted by repeated radar-locking — a move considered as possible preparation for missile firing.

The 50-year-old father was shot and killed by police, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday that the 24-year-old son remained hospitalized in a coma.

"Based on his medical condition, it is likely that the person may face criminal charges," New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Sunday, without going into further details.

During an earlier news conference, Australian police said they were looking for a potential third suspect, but Lanyon later confirmed that was no longer the case. "I can say that we are not looking for a further offender," he said.

The 24-year-old suspect was identified as Naveed Akram, a Pakistani national, according to U.S. intelligence officials briefed on the investigation. CBS News has also reviewed Akram's New South Wales driver's license. The name of the father has not been released, but authorities said Sunday they had identified him as a licensed gun owner.

Lanyon said investigators recovered six of the suspect's licensed firearms at the scene. He added that the older suspect had had a gun license for about 10 years. The suspect met the eligibility criteria for a recreational hunting license and "was a member of a gun club," Lanyon said. Improvised explosive devices were also found in one of the suspects' vehicles, police said.

"We will look at the motives behind this attack and I think it is important as part of the investigation," Lanyon said.

Albanese confirmed that the younger suspect had been under investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Agency (ASIO), the country's primary spy agency, for about six months during 2019.

According to public broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corp., ASIO looked into the son's possible ties to a cell of the ISIS terrorist organization in Sydney. Albanese didn't go into detail, but said Monday that ASIO had been focused on individuals believed to be in that cell who were associated with the son, rather than the son himself.

"He was examined on the basis of being associated with others and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence," the prime minister said.

More than 1,000 people were gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. Albanese said the gunmen were "deliberately targeting the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah."

The attack at the popular beach left at least 40 people injured, including two officers and three children, Australian officials said.

Also among the injured is43-year-old fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed, who had been shot after he confronted one of the gunmen and wrestled the weapon away, Agence France-Presse reported.

One videoposted to social media shows al Ahmed jump out from behind a parked car along Campbell Parade, a main street that runs parallel to Bondi Beach, tackle one of the suspects who had just fired his gun, and wrestle the weapon away.

President Trump, during an event at the White House on Sunday, said al Ahmed's actions "saved a lot of lives."

Anna Schecter, Emily Mae Czachor, Archie Clarke and Sam Vinograd contributed to this report.

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Kourtney N. Stevenson was arrested Friday by theMcCracken County Sheriff's Officeafter a doorbell camera appeared to capture her spraying something on a customer's order during a delivery, an incident that left a married couple sick and quickly went viral online.

Stevenson is now facing multiple felony charges, including battery resulting in moderate injury and consumer product tampering, according to a news release from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office.

"Residents should be able to trust that the food they order for their families is safe," Sheriff Noah Robinson said in a statement. "When someone violates that trust and endangers others, we will respond with urgency, and we will pursue charges."

Doordash Breach Exposes Contact Info For Customers And Workers

The case began on Dec. 7 in northern Vanderburgh County, Indiana, when Mark Cardin reported that he and his wife became ill shortly after receiving their late-night DoorDash order, local outlet14 Newsreported.

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Both suffered burning sensations in their mouths, noses, throats and stomachs before vomiting, authorities said.

When the couple reviewed their doorbell camera footage, they saw the delivery driver — a woman with blue and purple hair — drop off the order, snap a photo, then spray a substance toward the food before walking away, according to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office.

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Records from DoorDash confirmed the driver was Stevenson, authorities said.

When detectives contacted Stevenson, she claimed she was pepper-spraying a spider she spotted during the delivery. However, investigators noted that temperatures dipped to 35 degrees Fahrenheit that night, which is too cold for outdoor spiders in Indiana to be active.

"She told detectives that she used pepper spray, not on the food, but to spray a spider she said she saw while making the delivery," the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office said. "She explained that she is terrified of spiders. The overnight low was 35 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature,outdoor spiders in Indianaare not active and would not be capable of crawling on exposed surfaces."

Stevenson also said she had been in Indiana visiting her father and doing DoorDash deliveries during her stay, officials said.

Crime Rings, Hackers Join Forces To Hijack Trucks Nationwide, Fueling Major Holiday Shipping Security Fears

Stevenson has been charged with two level 6 felony counts of battery resulting in moderate injury, as well as two level 5 felony counts of consumer product tampering.

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As of Friday, she was being held without bond until extradition to Indiana. The warrant carries a $3,500 cash bond, authorities said.

DoorDash confirmed to Fox News Digital last week that it had terminated Stevenson.

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

Original article source:DoorDash driver charged with felony food tampering after alleged pepper spray incident goes viral

Tongue's return is the only change from the England teambeaten by eight wickets at the Gabbato slip 2-0 behind in the five-match series.

It makes it a must-win match in Adelaide for England, whose selectors have designated allrounder Will Jacks as the spinner option in the team despite Bashir being in the touring group.

Bashir missed out on pacy pitches inPerthand Brisbane, and has now failed to dislodge Jacks. Australia, meanwhile, has brought its top spinner, Nathan Lyon, back for the match.

Speaking before England announced its team, Lyon said: "I would be surprised if their No. 1 spinner isn't playing, if I'm honest with you."

Atkinson has been dropped after taking just three wickets at 78.66.

Tongue was England's top wicket-taker against India in the summer and took five wickets in his only previous Ashes test — at Lord's in 2023 when he dismissed Steve Smith in each innings.

England team for third Ashes test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

AP cricket:https://apnews.com/hub/cricket