Alix Earle was 'scared' to speak out on breakup from Braxton Berrios

Internet personality Alix Earletearfully confirmed her breakup withNFL wide receiver Braxton Berriosafter two years of dating.

While the pair has dealt with speculation surrounding the status of their relationship as far back as the summer, it wasn't until Dec. 13 that Earle, 24, confirmed to her fans in aTikTok videothat she and Berrios, 30, have gone their separate ways.

People magazine first reportedtheir split on Dec. 6.

"I wanted to give you guys an update on my life," she began her video. "I know I'm going to be speaking for the both of us, and it's just been really hard to process in general, and I think why I've been scared to say something is because I feel it just makes it more real."

Earle then tearfully revealed that "Braxton and I are no longer together."

"We have been doing long distance since, basically, June and we haven't gotten to see each other that often," she said. "It's just been really difficult for me."

Berrios, who plays for the Houston Texans, has been traveling for games during the NFL season, and Earle was recently in Los Angeles competing onSeason 34 of "Dancing With the Stars."

Alix Earle on moving to LA, realizing she 'can't be what Braxton needs' in a partner

Braxton Berrios and Alix Earle arrive at EA Sports presents The Madden Bowl at Orpheum Theater on Feb. 7, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In her video, Earle shared that being in Los Angeles for "DWTS" made her aware that she could see herself moving there. "That was a scary thing for me to realize because it meant us not being in the same place," she said.

Ultimately, Earle "really wants to be focusing on myself right now," adding that she feels she "can't be what Braxton needs" at the moment. "I want him to have someone with him 24/7 who can support him and be there for him," Earle went on. "And he wasn't really expecting that of me. I think it was more of a me thing, but I constantly felt guilty."

Still, Earle emphasized that the two walked away from the relationship on good terms. "I love Braxton. He's my best friend, you know? So it's been really difficult to go forward with this," she said.

<p style=Hollywood isn't filled with just fairytale endings. Read on for the celebrity couples who split this year.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban split after nearly two decades marriage.

People and TMZ – which was first to share the news – reported on Sept. 29 that Urban, 57, and Kidman, 58, are separated. The couple first met 20 years ago in Los Angeles and married just over a year later near Sydney, Australia, on June 25, 2006.

Urban and Kidman are parents to daughters, 17-year-old Sunday Rose and 14-year-old Faith Margaret.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Internet personality Alix Earle tearfully confirmed her breakup with NFL wide receiver Braxton Berrios after two years of dating.


While the couple has dealt with speculation surrounding the status of their relationship as far back as the summer, it wasn't until Dec. 13 that Earle, 24, confirmed to her fans in a TikTok video that she and Braxton, 30, have gone their separate ways.

"Braxton and I are no longer together," she said. "We have been doing long distance since, basically, June, and we haven't gotten to see each other that often. It's just been really difficult for me."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer are divorcing after seven years of marriage, the comedian confirmed on Instagram Dec. 12.

"Blah blah blah Chris and I have made the difficult decision to end our marriage after 7 years. We love each other very much and will continue to focus on raising our son," Schumer wrote.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker are ending their marriage after over a decade, according to People magazine on Nov. 21, 2025. The reality TV star later broke her silence on Nov. 24, 2025.

"After deep thought and a lot of prayer, I've made the decision to move forward with a divorce. This is a difficult and emotional time, but my focus remains on protecting my peace, being the best mother I can be, and co-parenting with love and respect," Burruss told the outlet in a statement. The two met while filming the fourth season of "RHOA" in 2011, and became engaged in 2013. They share two children.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="A Thousand Years" singer Christina Perri is ending her marriage after nearly eight years. The 39-year-old singer/songwriter on Nov. 3 filed a petition to divorce her husband, Paul Costabile, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to filings obtained by USA TODAY.

The "Jar of Hearts" songstress said the two have been separated as of the filing day of Nov. 3 and described the reason for the split as irreconcilable differences.

She also asked the court to award joint physical and legal custody for their daughters, Carmella, 7, and Pixie, 3.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Emily In Paris" costars Paul Forman and Ashley Park reportedly broke up after nearly two years together, People and TMZ reported on Oct. 1, 2025.

According to People, the pair were spotted holding hands at a dinner event in Los Angeles restaurant in October 2023 but did not confirm their relationship until January 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers are going their separate ways after six years of marriage.

Phypers filed for divorce at the Los Angeles County Superior Court on July 7, according to People magazine and E! News. Richards' estranged spouse cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the couple's split.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=After weeks of tabloid speculation over the status of their nine-year relationship, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's representatives released a joint statement on July 3 confirming the end of the couple's six-year engagement.

"Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting," read the statement obtained by USA TODAY. "They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is — and always will be — raising their daughter with love, stability, and mutual respect."

Perry, 40, and Bloom, 48, share a 4-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Internet personality Gigi Gorgeous, right, and husband Nats Getty are divorcing after six years of marriage. Getty filed for divorce on July 2, a representative for the couple confirmed to USA TODAY, adding that the split was "amicably decided."

"While they have decided to end their marriage, they remain friends and have the upmost love and respect for each other," the spokesperson said.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=After nearly a decade and a half of marriage, Dermot Mulroney is calling it quits with wife Prima Apollinaare.

The "My Best Friend's Wedding" star, 61, filed for divorce in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 23, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. Mulroney, who married singer-actress Apollinaare in December 2010, cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split. The former couple's date of separation was not disclosed in the filing.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=After two decades of marriage, Scott Wolf and his wife are going their separate ways.

Kelley Wolf, who wed the "Party of Five" alum in May 2004, announced the couple's separation in a June 10 post on Instagram. "It is with a heavy heart that Scott and I are moving forward with the dissolution of our marriage," Kelley, 48, wrote.

In a statement the same day to USA TODAY, Scott Wolf said he'd filed for divorce from Kelley, calling it "the most difficult decision of my life." "Our children have always been, and continue to be, the loves of our lives and our every priority," Wolf added. "So, I kindly ask for privacy at this time as we help guide them through this new chapter."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=A "Love is Blind" relationship has come to a bittersweet end. On June 11, Lydia Velez Gonzalez announced on Instagram — and in an accompanying What's the Reality?

podcast interview with fellow alumna AD Smith — that she is she is divorcing Milton Johnson after three years of marriage. In her lengthy post, Velez Gonzalez indicated her estranged husband had been the one to change his mind as she wrote, "I wish I knew the answer to what happened?"

"No one will ever know the amount of pain as I write this, or all the sleepless nights," she added, going on to thank Johnson for "choosing me as I was." Nonetheless, "For me Love will always be blind," she wrote.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=In a Sunday Times interview published May 31, "Anyone But You" star Sydney Sweeney confirmed she's single and no longer planning a wedding with her partner of nearly seven years, fiancé Jonathan Davino.

Sweeney's comments came out more than three months after rumors started swirling around a possibly rocky relationship and a postponed wedding. By the end of March, outlets including PeopleTMZ and US Weekly were reporting the two had split.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Deborra-Lee Furness filed for an uncontested divorce from Hugh Jackman in New York on May 23, more than a year and a half after the former couple announced their separation in September 2023. The actors, who met filming the 1995 Australian show "Correlli," married in 1996 and share two adult children, Oscar and Ava.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Sia and husband Daniel Bernard have called it quits, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press and People. The "Chandelier" singer filed to divorce her second husband after two years of marriage on March 19. The filing also reveals the couple privately had a baby in March 2024: They share 11-month-old Somersault Wonder Bernard, her third child. The Australian singer-songwriter, born Sia Furler, cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Hollywood isn't filled with just fairytale endings. Read on for the celebrity couples who split this year.

"Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage" star Emily Osment filed for divorce from Jack Anthony in March after five months of marriage. The couple tied the knot on Oct. 12, 2024, and separated on Dec. 7, 2024, according to the filing. "I think with any big decision in your life, whether it's relationships or work or whatever it may be, you have to firmly plant both feet in that decision," Osment said in a statement. "Ultimately, it didn't work out."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style= Tyler Francis and Ashley Adionser, who were married on "Love is Blind" Season 7, are headed toward divorce, Adionser announced in a Jan. 21 statement. "While I had hoped for mutual understanding and transparency in our relationship, it has become clear that our paths are no longer aligned, making it impossible for me to continue in this marriage," her statement read, in part.

During their time on the show, Francis had social media speculating about his claim that he was a "sperm donor" to three biological children and not involved in their lives. The couple most recently showed a united front during a reunion special that released in October.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> James Kennedy and Ally Lewber have <a href=called it quits on their romance, one month after the "Vanderpump Rules" star was arrested on domestic violence charges.

Lewber confirmed the couple's breakup on her Jan. 22 Instagram story after it was announced that Kennedy will not face criminal charges for the December 2024 incident." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jessica Simpson, right, and her husband Eric Johnson are exploring life apart. In a Jan. 13 statement from Simpson's representatives, the singer <a href=confirmed the couple is separating. "Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage," Simpson said. "Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them."

The couple has been married since 2014 and shares three children." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Actress Jessica Alba, left, and her husband, film producer Cash Warren, will ended their 16-year marriage. "I'm proud of how we've grown as a couple and in our marriage over the last 20 years and it's now time for us to embark on a new chapter of growth and evolution as individuals," Alba wrote in a Jan. 16 Instagram post." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> One of Instagram post, he and Rachael Kirkconnell, left, are going their separate ways four years after the two ended "The Bachelor" Season 25 together.

"Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding," he captioned a photo of the two meeting in the show's premiere. "Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Celebrity breakups of 2025: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios

Hollywood isn't filled with just fairytale endings. Read on for the celebrity couples who split this year.Nicole KidmanandKeith Urbansplit after nearly two decades marriage.PeopleandTMZ– which was first to share the news – reported on Sept. 29 that Urban, 57, and Kidman, 58, are separated. The couple first met 20 years ago in Los Angeles and married just over a year later near Sydney, Australia, on June 25, 2006.Urban and Kidman are parents to daughters, 17-year-old Sunday Rose and 14-year-old Faith Margaret.

Alix Earle says she and Braxton Berrios are 'on two different paths'

"It just kinda feels like we're on two different paths right now, and it sucks," Earle said through tears in her video. "We're on good terms, and I don't want anyone to come for him or to be mean to him or to say it's because he couldn't make it to 'Dancing With the Stars.'Because he couldn't come because of football."

She added, "It's not drama. It's not because he did anything wrong or I did anything wrong. It just didn't really feel like it was working out."

Alix Earle attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 7, 2025, in Elmont, New York.

How did Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios meet?

The two began dating in spring 2023. Before dating Earle, Berrios was dating model Olivia Culpo, and the two had allegedly broken up months prior. Earle had also been romantically linked to Taylor Wade, a professional baseball player for the San Diego Padres, in 2022.

What is Alix Earle famous for?

Influencer and entrepreneur Alix Earle and content creator and streamer Kai Cenat present at the 51st American Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 26, 2025.

Before hitting the ballroom floor on "Dancing With the Stars" this year, Earle rose to popularity on social media with her "Get Ready With Me" videos on TikTok. She's also known for helping brands and products she endorses go viral and quickly sell out − so much so that users on the TikTok app have dubbed it the "Alix Earle effect."

Like many other TikTok creators-turned-actors, Broadway stars, "DWTS" contestants and Grammy-nominated artists −Addison Rae,Charli D'Amelioand Alex Warren, to name a few − Earle's rise began around 2020 when she began posting on the app.

Can TikTok stars make it in Hollywood?Well, it's starting to happen.

<p style=Ahead of the season finale of "Dancing with the Stars", revisit some incredible moments from this season, starting with this shot of contestant Dylan Efron and judge Bruno Tonioli during the premiere.

The ballroom welcomed 14 celebrities for their 20th anniversary season.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Alix Earle during her performance for the premiere of "Dancing with the Stars".

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Ballroom pro Alan Bersten and "Parent Trap" star Elaine Hendrix during "One-Hit Wonders Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Corey Feldman performs with partner Jenna Johnson during the premiere of "Dancing with the Stars".

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Secret Lives of Mormon Wifes" star Jennifer Affleck and her partner Jan Ravnik during "TikTok Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bersten and Hendrix on "Disney Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=The contestants take to the ballroom floor to pay tribute to the influential people in their lives on "Dedication Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Andy Richter performs during "Wicked Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Olympian Jordan Chiles performs for "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Efron, Chiles, Danielle Fishel, Alfonso Ribeiro, Whitney Leavitt perform during "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Chiles celebrates during the "20th Birthday Party" episode of "Dancing with the Stars."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Richter on "Halloween Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Earle on "Prince Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Fan favorite contestant Robert Irwin performs during "Prince Night."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Leavitt during "Prince Night."

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

Revisit incredible 'Dancing with the Stars' moments from this season

Ahead of the season finale of "Dancing with the Stars", revisit some incredible moments from this season, starting with this shot of contestant Dylan Efron and judge Bruno Tonioli during the premiere.The ballroom welcomed 14 celebrities for their 20th anniversary season.

In 2023, she was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. In July, Earle rounded out theinaugural TIME100 Creators list,which also recognized Kai Cenat, Devon Rodriguez, Alex Cooper, Mel Robbins, Marques Brownlee, Jake Shane, Jay Shetty and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Alix Earle breaks her silence on breakup from Braxton Berrios

Alix Earle was 'scared' to speak out on breakup from Braxton Berrios

Internet personality Alix Earletearfully confirmed her breakup withNFL wide receiver Braxton Berriosafter two years of da...
Iconic '90s Band Announces First Album in 33 Years

If you asked 4 Non Blondes, "What's going on?" the band would have a lot to share. More than three decades after releasing one of the defining songs of the1990s, the band behind one of the era's most enduring alt-rock anthems is officially returning to the studio.

4 Non Blondes have plans to release a brand-new album in 2026, marking the band's first full-length project sinceBigger, Better, Faster, More!was released in 1992. The announcement brings an end to a 33-year gap between studio albums for the band, whose brief original run left a massive cultural impact.

The band, fronted by renowned songwriter Linda Perry, 60, rose to prominence in the early '90s with the release of "What's Up?" a song that became an international hit and remains a staple of the decade's alternative rock legacy. Sadly, 4 Non Blondes released just one studio album before disbanding in 1994.

Perry went on to build her prolific career as a songwriter and producer, working with artists including Pink, Christina Aguilera,Gwen Stefani, andAlicia Keys. While the band has reunited for occasional live performances over the years, there's never been any promise newmusicuntil now.

After playing a handful of reunion shows, the band quickly realized that what they shared was greater than nostalgia. Rehearsals led the band to write "a bunch of new songs, revisit some old ones, and bam, we have an album,"Perry said. "It's really that simple. They're all phenomenal players and now they get a chance to show that. I couldn't ask for a better band to play these songs."

4 Non Blondes posed together at an awards show circa 1993. (Photo by Martina Raddatz/Redferns)

For Perry, stepping back in front of the mic is a big change. "I've been behind the scenes for far too long. I want to step out to be the artist I am. I'm just open to all the possibilities that I've created around me. I manifest things all the time."For fans of 4 Non Blondes, the news represents a rare second chapter for a band whose legacy has long been tied to a single era and a single, unforgettable song. At a time when many artists from the decade have revisited their catalogs through tours and reissues, a full studio return stands out as a profound choice.

For 4 Non Blondes, a lot is going on indeed.

This story was originally published byParadeon Dec 15, 2025, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.

Iconic '90s Band Announces First Album in 33 Years

If you asked 4 Non Blondes, "What's going on?" the band would have a lot to share. More than three decades ...
All I want for Christmas is the Olympics. Mariah Carey to perform at Milan Cortina opening ceremony

MILAN (AP) —Mariah Careyis going to add some American pop-star pedigree to theopening ceremonyfor the upcomingMilan Cortina Winter Olympics.

The local organizing committee announced on Monday that the 56-year-old Carey — the"All I Want for Christmas is You"singer — is the first international star named to perform in the Feb. 6 ceremony at Milan's San Siro soccer stadium.

"Ci vediamo a Milano" — 'See you in Milan' —Carey said on Instagram.

"Mariah Carey fully represents the emotional atmosphere that accompanies the run-up to the Games," the committee said. "Music is a universal language that attracts different stories and sensibilities, and intertwines with the opening ceremony's theme of harmony."

The Games will be spread over northern Italy, and simultaneous but smaller opening ceremonies are to be held in three mountain clusters as well.

Internationally acclaimed ballet starRoberto Bolle will headline the closing ceremony, which is slated forVerona's ancient Roman Arenaon Feb. 22.

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

All I want for Christmas is the Olympics. Mariah Carey to perform at Milan Cortina opening ceremony

MILAN (AP) —Mariah Careyis going to add some American pop-star pedigree to theopening ceremonyfor the upcomingMilan Corti...
Ahmed Al Ahmed in hospital

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."

1512 Bondi shooting

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.

Chris Minns, the New South Wales premier, visited 'genuine hero' Mr al-Ahmed in hospital

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."

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.

Bondi Beach hero: ‘I’m going to die. Tell my family I saved lives’

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...
Louvre workers vote to strike in another blow to the Paris museum

PARIS (AP) — Workers at the Louvre Museum voted Monday to strike over working conditions and other complaints, dealing another blow to the Paris landmark and home of the "Mona Lisa" after anembarrassing jewelry heist in October.

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.

Louvre workers vote to strike in another blow to the Paris museum

PARIS (AP) — Workers at the Louvre Museum voted Monday to strike over working conditions and other complaints, dealing an...
Pope denounces 'antisemitic violence' of Sydney attack as he thanks Christmas donors

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Monday denounced the "antisemitic violence" behindthe Sydney Hanukkah massacreas he prayed for the victims and the "gift of peace and fraternity" thisholiday season.

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.

Pope denounces 'antisemitic violence' of Sydney attack as he thanks Christmas donors

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Monday denounced the "antisemitic violence" behindthe Sydney Hanukkah massacreas he...
Lindsey Vonn likely to push back retirement following winning start to Olympic season at age 41

They said she"should see a psychologist,"had "gone completely mad" and hadn't "recognized the meaning and purpose of her other life" away from skiing.

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

Lindsey Vonn likely to push back retirement following winning start to Olympic season at age 41

They said she"should see a psychologist,"had "gone completely mad" and hadn't "recognized th...

 

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