DALLAS — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate . President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday’s 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy’s motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. Nov. 22, 1963 When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn’t quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. The collection In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he’d allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden’s administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what’s been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Withheld files Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone’s Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald’s and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump’s transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. A continued fascination From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper’s perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime,” said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century,” Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”Dejan Kulusevski cannot wait for the opportunity to play against Manchester City again after Tottenham ran riot at the Etihad Stadium. The Sweden midfielder hailed Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of the champions as the best game of his career. The 24-year-old delivered an outstanding performance as Spurs shattered the champions’ 52-game unbeaten home run, helping start the rout with a superb cross for James Maddison’s opening goal. Kulusevski said: “I believed (we would win) this because in the past years, we’ve come here and played really well. “So this is the game I look forward to most in the year and, once again, it happened – glory to God. “I’d say it’s the best result ever in my career. It’s a big night for the whole club, for the coach, for the players. “Because City have a lot of the ball sometimes, we can rest when we defend. There’s also so much space up there, we play one against one and then it’s always dangerous because we have a lot of quality. “It’s always great to play great teams because they always want to play football. When you play lower teams, sometimes it’s not. There’s not much football played because they are a lot of fouls, a lot of injuries and it’s slow going.” Maddison stole the show with two goals in quick succession in the first half while Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson later got on the scoresheet. Kulu-chef-ski cooked 👨🍳 📊 @KumhoTyreUK pic.twitter.com/CsrTh5oUgn — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 24, 2024 Yet Kulusevski’s performance was also eye-catching and the player himself believes there is plenty more to come from him. Asked if his form made him feel “unstoppable”, Kulusevski said: “I feel like that. I feel very good and I’m trying to keep this way. I’m very happy, I’m trying to improve. “I started the season good but there is over half of the season left and I hope I can do much better. “I think I have something that no other player has. With my engine, with my heart – I don’t get tired – I feel like I can do a lot still in my career.” Spurs have won more matches against Pep Guardiola's Man City than any other side 👀 pic.twitter.com/BHLZqde9sP — Premier League (@premierleague) November 23, 2024 Tottenham’s scintillating performance marked a spectacular return to form after their dismal loss to Ipswich in their previous Premier League outing. Kulusevski said: “We have to be much more consistent. It’s not a turning point. We just have to be better in other games. “This game suited us perfectly but we have a lot of improvement to make in the other games.”
Most Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has backflipped on supporting the government’s teen social media ban, saying he has realised “the whole thing’s a nonsense”. Yesterday, moderate Liberal MPs Bridget Archer and Richard Colbeck threatened to vote against the ban that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton wants to ram through the parliament with Labor. Speaking on ABC Radio National this morning, Wilkie said he had changed his mind about supporting the bill. “I’ve got a confession to make. I’ve done a backflip on this,” he said. “I got it wrong and I’ve changed my mind. I’ve got two teenage daughters and I’ve got three teenage stepsons. My first response to the news that under 16s would be banned: ‘I agree with joy’, I thought ‘that’s a great idea’. “But as soon as I started to research it, as soon as I started to hear commentary from youth and adolescent mental health experts, from youth welfare experts, from technical experts to talk about the practicalities of this ... I realise[d] the whole thing’s a nonsense and, frankly, I am doubtful that it will ever be realised.” The Queensland election was a month ago but the pomp and circumstance will happen today, with the Governor to travel to Parliament House to formally open the 58th Parliament, meaning there will be road closures in the city. Upon Governor Dr Jeannette Young’s arrival at the Queensland Parliament at 1.40pm, a 19-gun salute will fire from Kangaroo Point, and she will receive a royal salute from the Royal Guard, be invited to inspect the Guard, the Australian Army band, Brisbane and Queensland mounted police escort. She will then deliver the opening address in Parliament, outlining the priorities and objectives of the incoming LNP government. These are the road changes: President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Israel and Hezbollah’s ceasefire agreement “good news” and expressed hope the pause in more than 13 months of fighting will be the catalyst to also end the war in Gaza. Biden made his comments in a Rose Garden speech. He stressed that Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah broke the terms of the truce. Biden added that the deal between Israel and Hezbollah “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities”. The president’s comments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announce details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. Most Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. It’s likely to be another cloudy day in Brisbane, with a medium chance of showers throughout the day. And the temperature is forecast to reach a maximum just short of 30 degrees. The weather bureau predicts a slight breeze throughout the day also, dropping off into the evening. Here’s the seven-day outlook: Stories making the rounds further afield this morning: The grieving families of two backpackers who died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning have after living every parents’ nightmare. The Australian economy has been destabilised by incoming US president Donald Trump’s declaration of a on three of America’s biggest trading partners. Trump has always demanded loyalty from his aides but . A 33-year-old former far-right cable TV host, Harp is nearly always at Trump’s side and has written him a series of devotional letters. Now she is poised to play an influential role in his White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will recommend a to his cabinet for approval, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. And from January 8, to enter the UK. You can apply for yours now. Good morning, thanks for joining us for live news blog. It’s Wednesday, November 27, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 29 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: Did Brisbane’s buses get more crowded after 50¢ fares? What impact has working from home had on public transport? . Queensland’s new LNP government will to give it time to “get our head around” Labor’s cost blowouts, says Treasurer David Janetzki. , with staff at Brisbane public hospitals reporting up to 28 times the number of cases normally seen by this time of year. Thirty-four years ago, former . As he reflects on the damage caused by an angry player, a Queensland academic explains why decision-makers shouldn’t be surprised by “concussion crises”. And it took just a $30 investment and a tug on his heartstrings to convince former St George Illawarra captain , where his career began.
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The crypto market is heating up again. With the fourth Bitcoin ( BTC -1.84% ) halving seven months in the rearview mirror and a crypto-friendly result in the 2024 elections , the leading coins seem poised for another skyrocketing surge. As of Nov. 22, Bitcoin has gained 27% this month, and Ethereum ( ETH -4.46% ) posted a richer gain of 36%. But the biggest names aren't always the best buys. The XRP ( XRP -14.56% ) token has soared 136% higher in November. Is XRP a better way to build wealth in the crypto market than Ethereum or Bitcoin? Why Bitcoin and Ethereum hold more value over time Generally, Bitcoin and Ethereum should have more value than XRP in the long run. Bitcoin aims to act as a general-purpose system for storing monetary value. Ethereum was built to power automated financial systems and other software apps, which are the foundation of decentralized finance (DeFi) . XRP's mission of providing quick, low-cost payments across international borders is still ambitious and legitimate -- but it can't compare to the larger visions of smart contracts and full-fledged digital currencies. So, I don't expect XRP to outgrow Ethereum or Bitcoin forever. I suppose it could happen if another cryptocurrency (or some entirely new financial technology) replaces Bitcoin as the leading "digital gold" or if one of the so-called Ethereum killers provides an objectively superior smart contracts platform. That would be bad news for the old crypto kings but not necessarily good for XRP and its investors. XRP's evolving market position That being said, XRP has a lot of room to grow before butting heads with Ethereum and Bitcoin. This is the sixth-largest cryptocurrency by total market value today, far behind the giants at the top. It would be particularly shocking to see XRP carry a larger market cap than Bitcoin -- but it could multiply in value more than 20 times over without raising that question, and I'd have to assume that Bitcoin wasn't rising over the same period: Cryptocurrency Market Capitalization 1-Year Price Change Bitcoin $1.93 trillion 167% Ethereum $395 billion 62% XRP $80 billion 136% Data collected from CoinMarketCap on Nov. 22, 2024. Bitcoin aims to replace physical gold as a system for storing financial value. That's about a $14 trillion market today. The global volume of border-crossing payments is much larger than that, estimated at approximately $190 trillion a year. But the fees, currency exchange costs, and service expenses associated with these massive money flows are far smaller at $193 billion in 2023. So, XRP is aiming for a smaller revenue-generating opportunity. And keep in mind that its RippleNet payment service is known for moving money with minimal fees. So, the token's actual revenue target will be far below the current banking system's share of foreign money transfers. XRP deserves your consideration alongside larger coins Now you know how XRP's long-term value compares to Bitcoin's and Ethereum's, and I've touched on the limits of this token's target market. Bitcoin can clearly fill a role in your portfolio that XRP isn't even trying to address, and the same can be said about Ethereum . A well-rounded cryptocurrency portfolio should have some exposure to the two largest names in this sector. I'm not saying you should sell your Bitcoin and go all-in on XRP today. Still, the XRP token looks undervalued and has plenty of room for growth in the next few years. The legal challenge brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission four years ago should wrap up in 2025. Money center banks worldwide are taking blockchain-based payment systems more seriously than ever, with XRP playing a leading role in that adoption trend. And the RippleNet service is getting busy -- the number of daily XRP payments has tripled in six months. I could keep talking about positive trends in the Ripple space, from liquidity pools to central bank digital currencies , but you get my point. This fairly large cryptocurrency is going places. So, on top of the generally bullish mood in the crypto sector, XRP has several growth catalysts in play. Don't forget Bitcoin and keep Ethereum in mind as well, but you should also make room for another winning name. A modest scoop of XRP tokens should serve your nest egg well in this bull market.
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