Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock recently shared his perspectives on civil rights leader Jesse Jackson’s lasting impact on American society and democratic values.
The senator reflected on Jackson’s decades-long commitment to expanding voting access and promoting equality across the United States. Warnock emphasized how Jackson’s activism has influenced generations of leaders in their pursuit of social justice.
During his remarks, Warnock highlighted Jackson’s role in challenging the nation to fulfill its founding promises of liberty and justice for all citizens. The senator’s comments underscore the ongoing relevance of Jackson’s message in today’s political climate.
Half a decade has passed since rioters breached the United States Capitol building in an attempt to halt the certification process for the presidential election results. NPR journalist Tom Dreisbach has been working to create a comprehensive digital collection that captures the timeline of events leading up to, occurring during, and following that unprecedented assault on the nation’s seat of government.
The initiative represents an effort to maintain historical documentation of these pivotal moments in American democracy for researchers, historians, and citizens in years to come.
Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is boosting worldwide import duties to 15%, just one day after the Supreme Court struck down his initial tariff strategy for exceeding presidential authority.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump declared he was “effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.” The president continued: “During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs.”
This action comes after Friday’s 6-3 Supreme Court ruling that determined Trump had overreached his executive powers by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, legislation from 1977 designed for national crises, to establish tariffs across multiple nations. The legal challenge originated from affected businesses and twelve states, primarily led by Democratic leadership.
Following the Court’s decision, Trump quickly signed an executive order Friday establishing a temporary 10% import fee using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which permits presidential import limitations for a maximum of 150 days. White House officials characterized this as an interim solution while exploring other legal options.
Yale’s Budget Lab reports that the Supreme Court’s decision puts $142 billion in tariff collections at risk, with American businesses now pursuing refunds for previously paid duties. Administration representatives are now working to implement additional trade measures to sustain tariff levels.
Trump has directed new investigations into suspected unfair trading practices using Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. He also indicated plans to implement additional tariffs through Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, which permits import restrictions when national security concerns exist.
The president delivered harsh criticism of the Supreme Court after their ruling, describing the decision as “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American” on social media. Friday’s statement included his assertion that the justices should feel “ashamed” and specifically targeted Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, conservative justices he nominated who ruled against his position, labeling them “an embarrassment to their families.”
The Court’s decision represents a major obstacle to Trump’s economic policy objectives as his administration works to reinstate tariffs using different legal approaches.
Motorists traveling on southbound Interstate 495 are facing significant delays this morning due to a vehicle accident near Exit 5.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that two right lanes are currently blocked following the crash. Traffic is being forced into the remaining left lanes, creating a bottleneck for commuters heading through the Wilmington area.
DelDOT officials have not provided an estimated time for when the lanes will reopen. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternative routes or allow extra travel time if they must use this section of highway.
The cause of the accident and whether any injuries occurred have not been disclosed at this time.
Finland dominated the ice on Saturday, overwhelming Slovakia 6-1 to secure the bronze medal in men’s Olympic ice hockey at Milan’s Santagiulia arena.
The decisive victory adds another bronze to Finland’s impressive Olympic hockey collection, bringing their total to five bronze medals. This latest achievement marks the eighth Olympic ice hockey medal overall for the Nordic nation, which captured gold at the Beijing Olympics four years earlier.
The lopsided score reflected Finland’s control throughout the bronze medal match, as they outplayed their Slovak opponents in what became a one-sided affair on the final day of Olympic hockey competition.
A medical emergency aboard an American submarine in Arctic waters prompted an international rescue mission Saturday, according to Danish military officials.
The Danish Defence’s Joint Arctic Command coordinated the evacuation of a U.S. Navy crew member who needed immediate medical attention while the submarine operated in waters near Greenland, approximately seven nautical miles from the capital city of Nuuk.
Military officials used a Danish Defence Seahawk helicopter to transport the sailor from the submarine to medical facilities on shore. The rescued crew member was subsequently handed over to Greenland’s healthcare system and admitted to Nuuk’s hospital for treatment.
The Joint Arctic Command released details of the rescue operation in an official statement but did not provide information about the nature of the medical emergency or the current condition of the evacuated sailor.
SEOUL – Saturday marked the third day of North Korea’s Workers’ Party Ninth Congress, where leader Kim Jong Un delivered an extensive presentation evaluating his party’s performance and setting future directions, according to state media reports released Sunday.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim’s comprehensive address examined the party’s accomplishments during the previous five-year period while establishing fresh strategic objectives and priorities for upcoming years. The plan encompasses initiatives across multiple areas designed to strengthen socialist development throughout the nation.
Conference attendees indicated that Kim’s presentation provided both strategic and tactical guidance for what officials characterized as an emerging phase of national progress, while reinforcing optimism about the country’s prospects ahead, state media reported.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers have assumed direct command of Hezbollah’s military operations in Lebanon, according to intelligence sources cited by Saudi news outlet Al-Arabiya. The development coincides with Israeli military strikes over the weekend that eliminated three high-ranking Hezbollah commanders.
Al-Arabiya’s sources indicate that IRGC personnel, including officers who recently traveled from Iran to Lebanon, have taken charge of reconstructing Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. These Iranian commanders are conducting personal briefings with fighters across Lebanon and preparing the organization for potential conflicts with Israel and the United States.
The intelligence report revealed that IRGC officials were conducting meetings with Hezbollah’s missile division at a location in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley when Israeli forces launched overnight strikes on the facility. These attacks were part of extensive aerial operations that left at least 50 people injured and resulted in 12 fatalities, including a high-ranking Hezbollah official.
Saudi television network Al-Hadath confirmed that Israeli Defense Forces operations resulted in the deaths of three Hezbollah commanders: Ali Zeid al-Mousawi, Muhammad Ibrahim al-Mousawi, and Hussein Yaghi. Lebanese publication An-Nahar identified Hussein Yaghi as the son of Muhammad Hassan Yaghi, a former Hezbollah parliamentary representative and founding member who previously served as an assistant to Hassan Nasrallah.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that Israeli bombardments in Baalbek within the Beqaa Valley resulted in 10 deaths and 24 wounded, including three minors. Israeli military officials stated their forces targeted Hezbollah headquarters facilities in the region. Additional reports suggested that six of the casualties were Hezbollah operatives.
Israeli military spokespersons confirmed additional strikes targeted a Hamas command facility in southern Lebanon’s Ein al-Hilweh region, along with multiple Hezbollah command positions in Baalbek.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized the Israeli military actions, stating that “the continuation of Israeli strikes undermines diplomatic efforts to stabilize the country.” He further declared that “the airstrikes reflect contempt for the will of the international community and UN resolutions regarding Resolution 1701.”
Aoun’s statements represent the first official response from Lebanon’s senior leadership following this latest series of Israeli military operations in Lebanese territory.
Delaware emergency officials are bracing for a powerful winter storm system that threatens to deliver multiple dangerous conditions across the First State beginning Sunday and continuing into Monday.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) announced it will activate the State Emergency Operations Center Sunday evening to coordinate response efforts as the storm approaches. Weather forecasters are warning residents to prepare for moderate to major impacts from the incoming system.
According to the National Weather Service, Delawareans should expect a combination of hazardous conditions including substantial snowfall accumulations, powerful wind gusts, and flooding along coastal areas. The storm is anticipated to create challenging travel conditions and potentially dangerous situations throughout the state.
Emergency management officials are closely tracking the storm’s development and urge residents to monitor weather updates and take necessary precautions ahead of the system’s arrival this weekend.
MURFREESBORO, TENN. – The University of Delaware Fighting Blue Hens suffered a disappointing 78-66 defeat against Middle Tennessee on Saturday during their Conference USA road matchup.
The loss brings Delaware’s record to 9-18 for the season and 5-11 within conference play. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee boosted their standing to 13-14 overall with a 7-9 Conference USA record following the victory over the Blue Hens.
The game marked another challenging outing for Delaware as they continue their conference schedule away from home court advantage.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Delaware’s women’s basketball program encountered a challenging road test on Saturday, falling to Missouri State by a final score of 83-57 at Great Southern Bank Arena.
The setback drops the Blue Hens to 12-15 overall and 6-9 in Conference USA competition. Meanwhile, Missouri State improved their season record to 16-11 and moved to 8-6 within the conference standings.
The loss represents another tough outing for Delaware as they continue their conference slate away from home. The Blue Hens will look to regroup as they work toward the remainder of their CUSA schedule.
In a heart-stopping finish, the Hawks pulled off a thrilling 66-64 victory over Coppin State on the road, thanks to a clutch basket by Lynch with less than a second left on the game clock.
With tension mounting and the score tied, Lynch drove to the basket and converted the go-ahead layup with just 0.8 seconds remaining, securing the dramatic two-point win for the Hawks.
The nail-biting contest showcased both teams’ determination, but it was the Hawks who managed to execute when it mattered most, capitalizing on their final possession to steal the victory away from home.
The thrilling finish highlighted the competitive nature of the matchup, with both squads battling until the final buzzer in what proved to be an unforgettable game for Hawks fans.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – German bobsledder Laura Nolte delivered a flawless performance on Saturday to claim her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the Two-Woman bobsled competition, bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss just seven days earlier.
Nolte had suffered disappointment the previous week when she lost the Monobob championship by a razor-thin margin of four hundredths of a second after making an error on her final run. However, she showed no signs of that setback affecting her performance in Saturday’s Two-Woman event.
The podium featured another German athlete, as Nolte’s teammate Lisa Buckwitz secured the silver medal. Taking bronze was Kaillie Humphries, the veteran slider who previously captured Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014 while competing for Canada but now races under the American flag.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s men’s lacrosse squad kicked off their 2026 home season with authority Saturday, defeating the visiting Gettysburg Bullets 15-12 at Sea Gull Stadium.
The Sea Gulls, who enter the season ranked second nationally, managed to fend off a determined comeback attempt by the tenth-ranked Bullets during the afternoon matchup.
The victory marks a strong start to the home portion of Salisbury’s schedule, as the team looks to build momentum early in what promises to be a competitive season for the highly-ranked program.
Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has etched his name in Winter Olympics history books after achieving an unprecedented clean sweep at the Milan Cortina Games. The athlete claimed his sixth gold medal on Saturday by winning the men’s 50-kilometer mass start event, surpassing Eric Heiden’s decades-old record of five gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.
Meanwhile, American speedskating sensation Jordan Stolz placed fourth in the men’s mass start competition, trailing behind Netherlands veteran Jorrit Bergsma, who at 40 years old became the oldest male athlete to claim speedskating gold. Team USA reached a milestone of their own, earning their 11th gold medal of these Games – a new Winter Olympics record for the nation. The historic achievement came courtesy of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis in the mixed aerials event.
Female athletes are driving much of America’s medal success at the Milan Cortina Olympics, establishing new benchmarks in the process. As of Saturday, with one day remaining in competition, American women have secured six gold medals and 17 total medals in women’s competitions – both new records for US Winter Games participation. Including mixed-gender events, that tally rises to 21 medals, with more than 40 American women earning at least one medal in Italy. Notable victories include the women’s hockey team’s triumph over Canada, along with wins in Alpine skiing, monobob, figure skating, and freestyle moguls. Athletes credit this success with inspiring future generations of competitors.
Sunday’s final day of competition features several marquee events, including the men’s hockey gold medal showdown between the United States and Canada. Eileen Gu will compete for her first gold of the 2026 Games in the rescheduled women’s freeski halfpipe final. Additional medals will be determined in cross-country skiing, curling, and bobsled before the closing ceremony concludes the Games.
In baseball news, Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski passed away at age 89, the team announced Saturday. The Hall of Fame second baseman, who died Friday, earned eight Gold Glove awards for his defensive excellence and became a Pittsburgh icon after hitting the game-winning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Pirates owner Bob Nutting called Mazeroski “one of a kind, a true Pirates legend.” The organization retired his number 9 in 1987 and installed a statue in his honor on Bill Mazeroski Way in 2010.
English Premier League action saw both Aston Villa and Chelsea stumble in their respective matches. Villa’s title hopes took a hit after managing only a 1-1 draw at home against relegation-threatened Leeds, with substitute Tammy Abraham scoring an 88th-minute equalizer to salvage a point for Unai Emery’s squad. The result could see Villa fall further behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, with City facing Newcastle later Saturday and Arsenal visiting Tottenham on Sunday. Chelsea also settled for a 1-1 draw against struggling Burnley.
College basketball’s NCAA Tournament picture became clearer as the selection committee revealed preliminary seedings. Michigan earned the top overall seed, joined by Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State as number one seeds in their respective regions. The Cyclones secured the final top seed ahead of UConn and Houston. This early ranking provides insight into tournament positioning with less than a month until Selection Sunday on March 15, leading to the Final Four in Indianapolis.
In upset fashion, Cincinnati stunned eighth-ranked Kansas 84-68 behind Moustapha Thiam’s career-best 28 points. The 7-foot center connected on 11 of 17 field goal attempts and grabbed eight rebounds, marking Cincinnati’s second victory over a ranked opponent this season after defeating then-number two Iowa State 79-70 on January 17. Baba Miller contributed 18 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds for the Bearcats. Kansas was led by Flory Bidunga’s 18 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman Darryn Peterson added 17 points.
Seventeenth-ranked St. John’s dominated Creighton 81-52 to extend their winning streak to 13 games – the program’s longest such run in 41 years. Bryce Hopkins recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylan Darling scored 17 points off the bench and Zuby Ejiofor added 15 for the Red Storm. The team controlled the game from start to finish and limited Creighton to 32% shooting before 19,328 fans at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s last won 13 consecutive games during a 19-game streak in 1984-85 under Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca.
Spring training is underway for the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with superstar Shohei Ohtani scheduled to appear in select Cactus League games before joining Japan’s World Baseball Classic roster. Ohtani was set to lead off as designated hitter in the team’s spring opener against the Angels, expecting two or three at-bats. Reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto was slated to start and pitch two innings.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is preparing for another championship run just months after capturing their first MLS Cup title. The club has assembled what may be the strongest roster in Major League Soccer history as they begin a season that culminates with the World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Messi recently became the first player in MLS history to win back-to-back MVP awards, but he’s supported by an impressive supporting cast as Miami aims to repeat as champions.
TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge made quite the statement in his first spring training appearance, launching a pair of home runs as he gears up for the World Baseball Classic scheduled for next month.
The three-time MVP award winner connected for two separate two-run blasts against the Detroit Tigers, finding the seats once during the third inning and again in the fourth. Judge’s impressive debut resulted in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with four runs batted in.
The 33-year-old baseball star has claimed MVP honors in three of the last four seasons, most recently in 2024 when he posted a .331 batting average alongside 53 home runs and 114 RBIs.
Following his strong showing, Judge expressed enthusiasm about the challenges ahead. “We’ve got the WBC coming up, which I’m excited about, and an exciting Yankees season,” Judge commented after his performance. “We’ve got a lot of unfinished business from last season, especially the way it ended for us. I’m just trying to put myself in the best position to help this team win a lot of ballgames.”
Judge is set to join what appears to be a star-studded Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic. The position player lineup will also feature notable names including Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber.
The World Baseball Classic’s opening pool play rounds are scheduled to take place March 5-11 across four different locations: Tokyo, Houston, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The tournament will conclude with the championship game on March 17 in Miami.
The Islamic State terrorist organization has launched a verbal assault against Syria’s new interim leader, branding him a Western-controlled “puppet without a soul” and predicting he will meet the same downfall as former dictator Bashar Assad.
The extremist group’s spokesman, identifying himself as Abu Musab al-Furati, delivered the harsh criticism in an audio recording distributed Saturday evening. During the message, he encouraged ISIS supporters across the globe to launch strikes against Jewish and Western locations, echoing previous calls for violence.
Al-Furati conveyed messages from the organization’s current leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi, who assumed control of the group three years ago, to ISIS operatives worldwide.
This marks the terrorist organization’s first public statement in several months, emerging after ISIS was held responsible for multiple deadly incidents across Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and other regions that killed and injured dozens of people.
Last December, the group orchestrated a deadly assault in Syria’s central region that claimed three American lives, prompting extensive U.S. military strikes against suspected ISIS strongholds throughout the nation.
Although ISIS suffered major defeats in Iraq during 2017 and Syria two years afterward, dormant terrorist cells continue executing fatal attacks in both nations where they previously established their so-called caliphate.
A United Nations report released this month revealed that Syria’s current president, along with the interior and foreign ministers, were targeted in five unsuccessful assassination plots during the previous year.
In December 2024, rebel forces under current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organization advanced into Damascus and toppled Assad’s government, significantly weakening Iran’s regional power in the conflict-ravaged nation. Assad represented the minority Alawite community in Syria’s Sunni Muslim-majority population.
Following these events, al-Sharaa, who previously commanded al-Qaida’s Syrian branch, has strengthened ties with Western nations and made history as the first Syrian leader to travel to Washington since the country gained independence in 1946.
Al-Furati declared that Iran and Assad’s administration had been “replaced with a regime that is subjected to American influence.”
“Syria today is ruled by the Crusaders after they placed a leader who is a puppet without a soul,” al-Furati stated. He promised renewed violence in the region, declaring that “Syria has entered a new era of defense and the convoys of jihad will eventually march in Syria.”
The recording, timed to coincide with the start of Ramadan, made no reference to the recent transfer of 5,704 suspected ISIS prisoners from northeastern Syrian detention facilities to Iraq over recent weeks. Al-Furati only mentioned that authorities fear these detainees, with American, Shiite, and Kurdish forces working to prevent any escapes.
The spokesman also avoided discussing al-Hol refugee camp, which previously sheltered over 24,000 individuals, primarily women and children connected to ISIS. The facility now sits nearly vacant after government troops seized control from the U.S.-supported, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces last month.
Al-Furati admitted that ISIS has lost personnel over the past two years due to strikes by the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition. Syria’s government officially became part of this coalition in November.
NEW YORK – For the first time, JPMorgan Chase has officially confirmed that it terminated bank accounts belonging to Donald Trump and his business enterprises following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the practice known as “debanking.”
The banking giant’s admission emerged through court documents filed this week as part of Trump’s $5 billion legal action against JPMorgan and CEO Jamie Dimon. The former president claims his accounts were shuttered for political reasons, causing significant disruption to his business operations.
According to the court filing, Dan Wilkening, JPMorgan’s former chief administrative officer, stated: “In February 2021, JPMorgan informed Plaintiffs that certain accounts maintained with JPMorgan’s CB and PB would be closed.” The abbreviations refer to the bank’s commercial banking and private banking divisions.
This marks the first time JPMorgan has directly acknowledged closing Trump’s accounts, having previously only discussed account closure policies in general terms without confirming specific actions.
Bank representatives did not respond to requests for comment regarding the court filing.
Trump initiated the legal proceedings in Florida state court, where he currently maintains his primary residence. However, JPMorgan is seeking to transfer the case to New York, citing the location of the original accounts and Trump’s former business headquarters.
The lawsuit includes charges of trade libel against the bank and accusations that Dimon violated Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
According to the legal filing, Trump attempted to address the account closures directly with Dimon, who allegedly promised to investigate the situation but never followed through with updates.
Trump’s legal team further alleges that JPMorgan added the former president and his companies to a reputation-based “blacklist” used by multiple financial institutions to prevent future account openings.
JPMorgan has maintained its position that the lawsuit lacks merit.
The practice of debanking – where financial institutions close customer accounts or refuse services like loans – has evolved from a relatively unknown banking procedure to a politically contentious issue. Conservative leaders argue that banks have unfairly targeted them and their associated organizations.
Trump’s attorneys issued a statement saying: “In a devastating concession that proves President Trump’s entire claim, JPMorgan Chase admitted to unlawfully and intentionally de-banking President Trump, his family, and his businesses, causing overwhelming financial harm. President Trump is standing up for all those wrongly debanked by JPMorgan Chase and its cohorts, and will see this case to a just and proper conclusion.”
The debanking controversy first gained national attention when conservative groups accused the Obama administration of pressuring banks to cease services to gun retailers and payday lending companies through “Operation Choke Point.”
Trump and other conservative figures claim banks severed their relationships using “reputational risk” justifications after the January 6th Capitol incident. Since returning to office, Trump’s banking regulators have implemented measures to prevent banks from using reputational risk as grounds for service denial.
This legal action represents Trump’s second major lawsuit against a large financial institution over debanking allegations. The Trump Organization filed a similar case against Capital One in March 2025, which remains pending.
LIVIGNO, Italy — Team USA made Olympic history on Saturday by shattering its previous Winter Games gold medal record, claiming their 11th victory with the possibility of adding another when the men’s hockey squad faces Canada in Sunday’s championship match.
The record-setting achievement came courtesy of athletes Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis, who secured America’s second consecutive mixed aerials championship to push the country past its previous best performance.
Saturday’s triumph surpassed the previous benchmark of 10 gold medals established during the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, which marked a pivotal moment for America’s winter sports program after years of underwhelming results.
Officials believe this Games could represent another watershed moment, not merely due to medal totals but because of the diverse range of disciplines contributing to success. American athletes earned medals across 12 of the 17 winter sports categories featured in these Olympics.
“Our focus and our strategy has always been about breadth,” said Sarah Hirshland, the CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. “We want to win in everything. We want to make every sport better. Some could argue there are countries that go a mile deep in certain sports and really dominate. Our goal has been to improve Winter sport across the board.”
Following the aerials victory and Mia Manganello’s bronze medal performance in speedskating later Saturday, the American delegation reached 31 total medals with competition still remaining.
Norway currently leads the overall standings with a record-breaking 18 golds among 40 total medals through Saturday evening. Nearly three-quarters of Norway’s gold medals originated from endurance disciplines including cross country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events. America’s strongest gold medal performances came evenly distributed across Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, figure skating, and speedskating, with two victories apiece representing 18% of the total haul.
The current Olympic program features 38 additional medal opportunities compared to the 2002 Games. Many new events center around snowpark competitions including halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air disciplines that previously favored American athletes but now see Japanese dominance, as evidenced by Japan’s nine snowboarding medals versus just two for the United States.
“We stated we wanted to be a podium nation,” Fin Kirwan, the USOPC’s chief of Olympic sport, said of the U.S. goal of being top-three on the medals table. “We said it will likely take 30 medals and we got after it. The athletes delivered on their potential and, by turn, we hit the record on gold-medal performance, which shows that our very best were able to execute.”
The American gold medal collection spans multiple inspiring stories: a halfpipe skier completing his Olympic medal set while maintaining his “Hotdog Hans” streaming persona, an athlete overcoming a knee injury on the same mountain where she claimed victory, a moguls specialist nicknamed “Lizard” continuing America’s tradition in the sport, a 20-year-old figure skater who rediscovered her passion after stepping away, a 41-year-old becoming the oldest Winter Olympic gold medalist at her sixth Games, skiing’s most decorated athlete finally capturing Olympic slalom gold, a speedskater joining Eric Heiden as only the second American man to win both 500 and 1,000-meter events, a figure skating team earning consecutive gold after navigating previous doping controversies, and a dramatic women’s hockey final featuring Hilary Knight’s late equalizer and Megan Keller’s overtime winner.
Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz dominated the Qatar Open final on Saturday, defeating France’s Arthur Fils in straight sets with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory that keeps his 2026 season unblemished.
The world’s top-ranked player controlled every aspect of the 50-minute championship match, winning an impressive 89% of his first-serve points while never allowing Fils a single break point opportunity. This marks Alcaraz’s second tournament victory of the year, coming just three weeks after his historic Australian Open triumph that completed his career Grand Slam.
“I came this year hungry for more,” the Spanish champion said after his victory, reflecting on his improvement from last year’s quarter-final exit in Doha. “I think after every tournament, we just have to set new goals. I’m just really happy and proud of everything I have done with my team on and off the court.”
The Qatar Open championship brings Alcaraz’s 2026 record to an unblemished 12-0 and adds his ninth ATP 500 title to his collection. This achievement ties him with former world number one Andy Murray for fourth place in ATP 500 victories since the category was established, according to ATP records.
Team Canada claimed the men’s curling championship at the Winter Olympics on Saturday, defeating Britain with a final score of 9-6 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The Canadian squad’s victory secured the gold medal in what proved to be a competitive final match against the British team.
Earlier in the competition, Switzerland captured the bronze medal position following a commanding 9-1 triumph over Norway on Friday.
The curling competition concluded with Canada atop the podium, marking another successful Olympic campaign for the nation’s winter sports program.
Court documents made public Friday reveal that JPMorgan Chase terminated its banking relationships with Donald Trump and his hospitality company in February 2021, roughly one month following the January 6th Capitol riot.
The disclosure emerged from paperwork filed in connection with a $5 billion legal action Trump has brought against the financial giant and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon.
Following the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident involving Trump supporters, numerous organizations severed their business relationships with the former president. These included two legal firms that had provided representation to Trump and his company, as well as the PGA of America, which relocated the 2022 PGA Championship away from Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey golf facility.
The February 19, 2021 correspondence from JPMorgan to Trump and the Trump Organization did not specify particular reasons for terminating the accounts. One communication stated that the institution may occasionally “determine that a client’s interests are no longer served by maintaining a relationship with J.P. Morgan Private Bank.”
JPMorgan representatives and their legal counsel at Jones Day did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment. The financial institution has previously characterized Trump’s legal action as without merit.
A representative from Trump’s legal team described the letter revelations as “a devastating concession that proves President Trump’s entire claim.”
The banking institution has “admitted to unlawfully and intentionally de-banking President Trump, his family, and his businesses, causing overwhelming financial harm,” according to the Trump legal team spokesperson.
In his lawsuit, Trump alleges that JPMorgan, America’s largest banking institution, violated its established procedures by targeting him specifically to follow the “political tide.”
Friday’s filing of the account termination correspondence was part of JPMorgan’s effort to transfer Trump’s legal case from Miami federal court to New York.
“The overwhelming connections this dispute has to New York reinforce this result,” the financial institution stated in its court motion.
MILAN – Veteran Dutch speed skater Jorrit Bergsma defied Father Time on Saturday, capturing Olympic gold in the men’s mass start at Milano Cortina 2026 at the remarkable age of 40. His victory marked his second Olympic championship and helped complete a dominant performance by the Netherlands in speed skating.
Bergsma’s teammate Marijke Groenewoud also claimed victory in the women’s mass start, giving the Dutch team a complete sweep of both final races as speed skating competition concluded at these Winter Games.
The Netherlands wrapped up the speed skating program with an impressive five gold medals, more than any other competing nation at Milano Cortina.
Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup earned silver in the men’s competition, delivering just the second Winter Olympic medal in his country’s history. Italy’s Andrea Giovannini thrilled the home crowd by capturing bronze.
In women’s competition, Canada’s Ivanie Blondin took silver – repeating her performance from Beijing 2022 – while American Mia Manganello rounded out the podium with bronze.
The men’s 16-lap race saw Bergsma and Thorup execute a bold breakaway on the third lap that caught competitors off guard. However, Bergsma saved his most decisive move for the closing laps, pulling away from Thorup with a powerful surge that sealed his victory.
As Bergsma entered the home stretch, television cameras captured him breaking into a smile and beginning his celebration before even crossing the finish line.
This latest triumph adds to Bergsma’s impressive Olympic collection, which includes 10,000-meter gold from Sochi 2014, silver from Pyeongchang 2018, and bronze medals in the 5,000m at Sochi and 10,000m at these current Games.
“That was crazy, mind-blowing,” Bergsma said. “I was expecting a really hard final, but nobody wanted to do the first attack. I did it. I had a gap together with Viktor and that was it.”
“We had a gap in no time, and then I knew, ‘okay, I have a big, big chance right now’. I just wanted to keep the gap with the peloton and keep the speed in it a bit. I had to keep my cool and finish it.”
The race proved disappointing for defending champion Bart Swings of Belgium. The 35-year-old, who made history by winning his nation’s first Winter Olympic gold in 74 years at Beijing 2022, could only manage a ninth-place finish.
American Jordan Stolz, fresh off winning Olympic titles in both the 500m and 1,000m events, placed fourth in the mass start.
Groenewoud’s victory came after the retirement of Dutch legend Irene Schouten, who had previously defended the women’s mass start title. The 27-year-old Groenewoud perfectly timed her final sprint to claim her first Olympic gold medal.
“Maybe it (Bergsma’s race) brought some more pressure on my shoulders, but there was also a lot of energy I got out of it. It’s nice to see your teammate win. Then you have to do it yourself, too,” Groenewoud said.
“I stood up and thought, ‘this mass start is my mass start and I did it’. It’s a dream come true. As a child I dreamed of Olympic gold and now I got it.”
Groenewoud’s perfect day became even more memorable when her boyfriend proposed to her moments after her victory celebration concluded.
“I got a gold medal and a silver ring,” Groenewoud said. “Really happy with it. I didn’t expect it. It’s a perfect day.”
The United Arab Emirates successfully prevented a series of coordinated cyber attacks aimed at the nation’s digital systems and critical sectors, according to an announcement from the country’s state news agency on Saturday, February 21.
Officials reported that the cyber offensive “included attempts to infiltrate networks, deploy ransomware and conduct systematic phishing campaigns targeting national platforms.” The attackers reportedly utilized artificial intelligence technology to create sophisticated offensive cyber tools.
The state news agency did not identify which group or nation was responsible for orchestrating these digital attacks against UAE infrastructure.
A major healthcare network in Mississippi has been forced to temporarily close all of its medical facilities across the state following a cybersecurity breach that occurred Thursday.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center announced the closure of its entire network of 35 clinics after falling victim to a ransomware attack. Hospital administrators made the decision to shut down operations as a protective measure in response to the digital assault.
The cyberattack represents a significant disruption to healthcare services throughout Mississippi, affecting dozens of medical facilities that serve communities across the state. Officials have not yet announced when normal operations will resume.
This incident highlights the growing threat that ransomware poses to critical healthcare infrastructure nationwide, with medical systems increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit sensitive patient data and essential services.
A major winter weather system is taking aim at New York City and much of the Eastern Seaboard, with forecasters warning of potentially dangerous blizzard conditions ahead.
The approaching storm system threatens to unleash up to two feet of snowfall across the Big Apple, accompanied by powerful winds that could create whiteout conditions and make travel extremely hazardous.
Weather experts are closely monitoring the storm’s path as it moves toward the densely populated Northeast corridor. The combination of heavy snow accumulation and strong wind gusts could lead to widespread power outages and transportation disruptions throughout the region.
Residents in affected areas are being urged to prepare for the severe weather event and avoid unnecessary travel once conditions begin to deteriorate.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn emergency trade measures, President Donald Trump announced his administration will implement replacement tariffs using different legal frameworks, beginning with a new 10% baseline tariff set to take effect Tuesday.
The president indicated that his team will utilize multiple statutory authorities to recreate the economic impact of the emergency tariffs that were recently invalidated by the nation’s highest court.
Celebrated salsa musician Willie Colón passed away Saturday at the age of 75, according to a statement from his family.
His relatives shared their grief on Colón’s social media page, writing: “While we grieve his absence, we also rejoice in the timeless gift of his music and the cherished memories he created that will live on forever.”
The family has not revealed what caused his death.
Colón, who was born in the Bronx to parents from Puerto Rico, created numerous albums throughout his career, including notable releases like “La Gran Fuga” (The Big Break) from 1970 and “El Juicio” from 1972, as documented by Fania Records, a label known for promoting salsa artists.
The musician began his professional journey early, joining Fania Records when he was just 15 years old. By 1967, at age 17, he had released his debut album “El Malo,” which went on to sell over 300,000 copies, according to information from the LA Philharmonic’s website.
His musical style was distinctive for blending jazz, rock, and salsa elements while drawing from traditional sounds of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Africa, his official biography notes.
According to the LA Philharmonic, Colón’s work carried deep cultural meaning: “A significant overarching theme in Colón’s music—which draws from many cultures and several different styles—is an exploration of the competing associations that Puerto Ricans have with their home and with the United States.”
The biography further explained: “He uses his songs to depict and investigate the problems of living in the U.S. as a Puerto Rican and also to imply the cultural contributions that Puerto Ricans have to offer.”
In recognition of his contributions to Latin music, Colón received a lifetime achievement award in 2004 from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Beyond music, Colón was deeply committed to social causes, serving with organizations including the Latino Commission on AIDS and the United Nations Immigrant Foundation, while also holding a board position at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Two of the world’s largest developing economies have forged a new partnership centered on critical minerals and rare earth elements, as both nations work to expand their global trade relationships beyond traditional powers.
During a state visit to India on Saturday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Indian officials finalized a memorandum of understanding that creates a cooperation framework between the nations. The agreement covers mutual investment opportunities, resource exploration, mining operations, and artificial intelligence development.
Brazil holds the planet’s second-largest deposits of rare earth minerals, which are essential components in smartphones, electric cars, solar energy systems, and aircraft engines.
“Increasing investments and cooperation in matters of renewable energy and critical minerals is at the core of a pioneering agreement that we have signed today,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told journalists.
The countries also established legal frameworks covering entrepreneurship, healthcare, scientific research, and educational initiatives.
Lula’s diplomatic mission to India began Wednesday and continues through Sunday, marking an effort to strengthen relationships with India, which like Brazil belongs to the BRICS+ alliance of developing countries. The Brazilian leader also took part in an artificial intelligence conference during his visit.
This follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Brazil in July of the previous year, making Lula’s current trip his second state visit to India.
Eleven Brazilian ministers joined Lula’s delegation, including the heads of foreign affairs, finance, health, and agriculture departments, along with numerous business executives. Lula described it Saturday as potentially his largest overseas delegation to date, demonstrating his dedication to the India relationship.
According to Oliver Stuenkel, who teaches international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation think tank, this rare earths agreement represents part of a larger plan by both India and Brazil to gain strategic independence from China and the United States through partnership diversification.
Stuenkel noted that Brazil has pursued this approach for several years, enabling Lula to resist pressure from President Donald Trump when the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods following legal proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro, Trump’s political ally.
“The reading is that, given how turbulent and unpredictable things have become, the more partners, the better,” Stuenkel said.
The United States subsequently lifted most Brazilian tariffs and sanctions against the judge handling the case.
Roberto Goulart Menezes, who teaches international relations at the University of Brasilia, explained that Brazil’s confrontation with the U.S. sparked the concept of leveraging rare earths and critical minerals in diplomatic negotiations.
“Brazil began to reposition its understanding of the importance of these elements beyond their commercial dimension, recognizing their geopolitical relevance,” said Goulart.
Lula plans to meet with his American counterpart in Washington D.C. in the coming months. “For Brazil, this agreement represents a kind of pilot before negotiating with a country with which Brazil has an asymmetrical relationship,” Goulart said.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Recovery teams deployed a Black Hawk helicopter Saturday morning into California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, where rescue workers are battling dangerous conditions to retrieve the remains of eight people killed in this week’s devastating avalanche.
The military aircraft departed from Truckee’s airport around 10 a.m. with four crew members dressed in brown cargo uniforms aboard. Tracking data revealed the helicopter spent approximately 90 minutes circling the Frog Lake area near Castle Peak, where rescue teams discovered the eight victims on Tuesday. A ninth person remains unaccounted for and is also believed to have perished.
Severe weather conditions combined with the ongoing threat of additional avalanches have prevented recovery teams from safely accessing the site where the victims remain trapped. The deadly slide, which covered an area comparable to a football field, occurred Tuesday in the mountainous terrain.
Aviation authorities have extended a no-fly zone over the disaster site until 5 p.m. Sunday, prohibiting drones and unauthorized aircraft from entering the airspace during recovery operations.
On Friday, officials revealed they are employing water cannons to break apart unstable snow formations as part of avalanche prevention measures. This controlled technique aims to trigger potential snow slides before rescue personnel enter the hazardous zone.
Multiple agencies are coordinating the complex rescue operation, including California Highway Patrol aviation units, Nevada County Sheriff’s search and rescue teams, Tahoe Nordic search and rescue, Pacific Gas & Electric crews, and the Sierra avalanche center.
Nevada County Sheriff’s officials confirmed Saturday morning that recovery operations are still underway, with a news briefing scheduled for 1 p.m.
NEW YORK — Defense attorneys representing convicted British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell are mounting a legal challenge to prevent the public disclosure of approximately 90,000 pages of documents tied to the late Jeffrey Epstein scandal, arguing that federal legislation requiring their release is unconstitutional.
The legal team submitted court filings on Friday evening in Manhattan federal court, seeking to prevent the unsealing of materials from a civil defamation case that Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim who has since died, filed against Maxwell ten years ago. Federal prosecutors recently petitioned a judge to remove confidentiality protections from these files.
According to Maxwell’s defense team, federal investigators improperly acquired these materials—which were previously protected under court secrecy orders—while conducting their criminal investigation of Maxwell. The attorneys stated that the documentation contains deposition transcripts from more than 30 individuals, along with private financial and intimate details concerning Maxwell and other parties.
Certain materials from the year-long discovery process in the civil litigation have already been made available to the public following a federal appellate court directive.
Maxwell’s legal representatives contend that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Congress enacted in December to mandate the release of millions of Epstein-connected documents, breaches the Constitution’s separation of powers principle.
Attorneys Laura Menninger and Jeffrey Pagliuca stated in their filing: “Congress cannot, by statute, strip this Court of the power or relieve it of the responsibility to protect its files from misuse. To do so violates the separation of powers.”
The lawyers further argued: “Under the Constitution’s separation of powers, neither Congress nor the Executive Branch may intrude on the judicial power. That power includes the power to definitively and finally resolve cases and disputes.”
The ongoing release of Epstein-connected materials from criminal investigations, which commenced several weeks ago, has produced fresh details about Epstein’s systematic sexual exploitation of women and minors spanning multiple decades. Several survivors have expressed frustration that their identities and personal details were exposed in the documents while the names of perpetrators remained redacted.
Congressional representatives have criticized that approximately half of available documents, many heavily redacted, have been disclosed publicly, despite Justice Department assertions that all releasable materials have been provided, with some files awaiting judicial approval for publication.
Giuffre alleged that Epstein forced her into sexual encounters with other men, including former Prince Andrew, now called Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She initiated legal action against Mountbatten-Windsor in 2021, alleging sexual contact when she was 17 years old.
Mountbatten-Windsor disputed her allegations, and both parties reached a settlement agreement in 2022. Recently, he was detained for nearly 11 hours on allegations of improperly sharing confidential business information with Epstein.
In posthumously published memoirs following her suicide last year, Giuffre revealed that prosecutors informed her they excluded her from Maxwell’s sex trafficking case to prevent her accusations from diverting jury attention.
Maxwell, age 64, received a guilty verdict in December 2021 and was sentenced to two decades in federal prison. Epstein died by suicide in federal detention in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was transferred from a Florida federal facility to a minimum-security prison facility in Texas last summer following two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Two weeks prior, she refused to respond to questions from House Oversight Committee members during a video deposition from her prison facility, though her attorney indicated she was “prepared to speak fully and honestly” if granted executive clemency.
The Justice Department has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the matter.
At 40 years old, most athletes have long since hung up their competitive gear, but Dutch speed skater Jorrit Bergsma proved age is just a number when he captured Olympic gold in Milan on Saturday.
The veteran competitor shocked the field during the men’s mass start competition, executing a bold strategy alongside Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup with a surprise attack during the third lap of the 16-lap event.
“I do not know yet if I will be back in four years, but now I guess I have to defend my title, right?” Bergsma said after his stunning victory.
The pair quickly established a substantial advantage over their competitors – at times leading by more than half a lap – while the remaining skaters failed to mount an immediate response. With just a few laps remaining, Bergsma made his decisive move, pulling away from Thorup to secure the win.
“I do not think I realise just yet what I have done. I even had to pinch myself when I was standing on the podium,” the champion reflected.
Looking ahead to the 2030 Winter Olympics, when he would be 44, Bergsma acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic about his future in the sport.
“Four years is going to be really tough, especially with the young guys coming up on the single distances. I will see year by year, but I am not done yet,” he stated.
This latest achievement enhances Bergsma’s already impressive Olympic collection, which features his 10,000m championship from Sochi 2014, a silver medal from Pyeongchang 2018, and bronze medals in the 5,000m at Sochi and 10,000m at Milano Cortina.
“I had already won bronze, so my Olympic Games were already complete, but to be standing here with a gold medal as a 40-year-old guy is a privilege, even more so that I managed to do it in the mass start. I did not expect this at all,” Bergsma explained.
The number 13 played a special role in Bergsma’s success story. He competed wearing helmet number 13, having previously earned his 10,000m bronze medal on February 13.
“It has been my lucky number already. In the Netherlands, I am skating marathons with leg number 13. One week ago I won a bronze medal on Friday the 13th. And today I win with number 13. It is like magic for me,” he revealed.
In a remarkable coincidence, Bergsma’s February 1st birthday would align perfectly with the opening ceremony of the 2030 Winter Olympics, should he decide to extend his career for another Olympic cycle.
The St. Louis Cardinals have added veteran utility player Ramon Urias to their roster, announcing the signing of the free agent infielder to a one-year contract on Saturday.
While the team did not reveal specific contract details, The Athletic reported the agreement is worth $2 million for the 2026 season, with an additional $1.5 million guaranteed and a $500,000 buyout clause for a mutual option in 2027. The contract also features performance incentives that could reach up to $2 million based on plate appearances.
The 31-year-old Urias brings defensive versatility and experience to St. Louis after playing for both the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros during the 2025 campaign. Over 112 games last season, he posted a .241 batting average while contributing 11 home runs and 44 runs batted in.
Throughout his major league career spanning from 2020 to 2025, Urias has maintained a .257 batting average across 541 games, accumulating 50 home runs and 215 RBIs between his time with Baltimore and Houston. His defensive prowess earned him a Gold Glove Award at third base in 2022, and he has demonstrated flexibility by playing multiple infield positions including second base, shortstop, and first base.
To accommodate Urias on their 40-man roster, the Cardinals placed 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Zak Kent on waivers. Kent compiled a 1-0 record with a 4.58 earned run average during the 2025 season.
Minnesota Twins All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan was pulled from Saturday afternoon’s matchup against the Boston Red Sox moments before game time after experiencing lower back tightness.
The last-minute roster change adds to the team’s pitching concerns, coming just 24 hours after officials announced that pitcher Pablo Lopez will need Tommy John surgery next week, sidelining him for all of the 2026 season.
Right-handed pitcher Eston Stull stepped in to take Ryan’s place as the Twins kicked off their Grapefruit League season against Boston.
The 29-year-old Ryan had a solid 2025 campaign, finishing with 13 wins and 10 losses while achieving a personal-best 3.42 ERA across 31 games, including 30 starts. Last summer marked a career milestone for the reliable pitcher when he earned his first All-Star Game selection.
Swedish cross-country skiing champion Frida Karlsson has withdrawn from Sunday’s women’s 50km mass start classic event at the Milano Cortina Olympics after becoming sick, according to a Swedish team official speaking from Tesero, Italy on February 21.
The absence of Karlsson, who many experts believed had a strong chance of earning another medal, comes after her impressive Olympic performance that included gold medals in both the 20km skiathlon and 10km freestyle events. Her victories helped establish Sweden’s women’s cross-country team as the dominant force at these Winter Games.
Karlsson joins a growing list of elite athletes who have been sidelined by sickness during this Olympic week. Italy’s Federico Pellegrino and Team USA’s Ben Ogden were also unable to compete in Saturday’s men’s 50km classic event after falling ill.
More than 1,550 applications have been submitted under Venezuela’s newly enacted amnesty legislation, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez during a Saturday broadcast on government television.
Rodriguez announced that hundreds of detainees are currently being freed through this law, which the ruling party-dominated legislature approved on Thursday. However, human rights advocates argue the legislation doesn’t provide adequate assistance for the numerous political detainees held throughout the nation.
Since assuming office last month following the U.S.-backed removal of President Nicolas Maduro, Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has complied with Trump administration requirements regarding petroleum exports and freed hundreds of individuals whom human rights organizations classify as political detainees. Venezuelan officials reject claims of holding political prisoners, maintaining that incarcerated individuals have been convicted of criminal offenses.
Juan Pablo Guanipa, an opposition figure and close associate of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Corina Machado, had his home detention order revoked, according to his brother, legislator Tomas Guanipa, who spoke with Reuters on Thursday evening.
Delaware residents should prepare for significant coastal flooding Sunday night into Monday morning, as the National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Warning for Kent County, Inland Sussex County, and Delaware Beaches.
The warning takes effect at 9 PM Sunday and continues until 5 AM Monday, with forecasters predicting one to two feet of water above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.
“This level of flooding will cause widespread roadway flooding in coastal and bayside communities,” according to the National Weather Service Mount Holly office. “Many roads will become impassable, and some locations may become isolated by flood waters.”
Vulnerable structures could sustain damage, and flooding may linger into Monday afternoon’s high tide cycles.
Officials strongly urge residents not to drive through flood waters, as the depth can be deceptive and extremely dangerous. Emergency management officials recommend following local evacuation orders and safety recommendations.
The warning expires Monday at 5 AM, but residents should monitor conditions throughout the day as additional flooding is possible during afternoon high tides.
For the latest water level information, visit water.noaa.gov/wfo/phi and stay tuned to TV Delmarva for continuing coverage.
Delaware coastal residents are being advised to prepare for potential flooding conditions as meteorologists have issued an official coastal flood warning for the area.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey announced the warning on February 21st at 2:45 PM Eastern Standard Time. The alert will remain active until 5:00 AM on February 23rd.
Residents living in low-lying coastal areas should monitor conditions closely and be prepared to take necessary precautions during the warning period.
A group of Vietnam War veterans has taken legal action against the Trump administration’s proposal to construct a towering memorial structure adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery.
The veterans are challenging the president’s plan for what’s being called the ‘Independence Arch,’ which would stand 250 feet tall and be positioned at Memorial Circle near the Memorial Bridge in Washington.
The proposed monument has sparked controversy among veteran groups who argue the massive structure would interfere with the solemn nature of the area surrounding the nation’s most hallowed burial ground.
Memorial Circle, located near the Memorial Bridge, has been identified as the potential construction site for the controversial arch project.
The legal challenge represents the latest opposition to the Trump administration’s memorial plans, with veterans expressing concerns about the appropriateness of such a large-scale structure in proximity to Arlington’s sacred grounds.
Weather officials have issued a blizzard warning for Delaware and surrounding areas, alerting residents to prepare for severe winter storm conditions.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey announced the warning on February 21st at 1:54 PM, with the dangerous weather pattern expected to continue until 6:00 PM on February 23rd.
Delaware residents should take immediate precautions as blizzard conditions can create life-threatening travel situations and power outages throughout the region.
The warning covers the entire Delmarva Peninsula, with meteorologists urging people to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm period.
Local emergency management officials recommend stocking up on essential supplies including food, water, medications, and battery-powered equipment before conditions deteriorate.
A significant winter storm is bearing down on the Delmarva Peninsula, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Storm Warning for New Castle County from 10 AM Sunday through 6 PM Monday.
Forecasters are calling for heavy snowfall with total accumulations between 13 and 17 inches. The storm will also pack a punch with wind gusts reaching up to 40 miles per hour, creating blowing snow conditions that could significantly reduce visibility.
The timing of this storm is particularly concerning for commuters. The National Weather Service warns that travel could become very difficult to impossible, with hazardous conditions expected to impact both Monday morning and evening rush hours.
If you absolutely must travel during the storm, officials strongly advise keeping emergency supplies in your vehicle including an extra flashlight, food, and water. For the latest road conditions, Delaware residents can dial 5-1-1.
The Winter Storm Warning, issued Friday afternoon by the Mount Holly office, remains in effect until Monday evening at 6 PM. TV Delmarva will continue monitoring this developing storm and provide updates as conditions change. Stay tuned to TV Delmarva for the latest weather information and travel advisories.
President Donald Trump has announced his intention to increase global tariffs to 15 percent, marking an escalation from his earlier proposal of 10 percent worldwide tariffs.
The decision comes after the United States Supreme Court overturned the President’s previous tariff policies, forcing the administration to reconsider its trade strategy.
Trump had initially outlined plans to impose 10 percent tariffs on imports from around the world as part of his broader economic agenda.
TORONTO – Canadian hockey fans will be able to grab a cold beer with their morning coffee this Sunday as provinces across the country permit bars to serve alcohol hours ahead of schedule for the Olympic men’s hockey championship game against the United States.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford authorized licensed venues in Canada’s largest province to start pouring drinks at 6 AM Eastern Time on Sunday, more than two hours before the championship match begins at Milan’s Santagiulia arena. The game features rosters filled with National Hockey League stars from both countries.
“The entire country will be watching on Sunday morning as our men’s hockey team plays for Olympic gold,” Ford posted on social media when he announced the early alcohol sales decision. “Let’s all come together, support local businesses and cheer on Team Canada!”
British Columbia Premier David Eby has implemented similar measures on the west coast, allowing establishments there to serve drinks to eager hockey supporters before typical morning hours.
The championship contest will be the first Olympic men’s hockey final between these neighboring countries since the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.
Canada claimed victory in that 2010 championship on Sidney Crosby’s overtime goal and went on to repeat as champions at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which was the most recent Winter Games to include NHL talent.
Sunday’s final gives Canada an opportunity to solidify their dominance and capture their 10th Olympic men’s hockey gold medal in a nation where hockey holds cultural significance that transcends typical sports fandom and approaches spiritual devotion.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani will make limited appearances in spring training for the Los Angeles Dodgers before departing Arizona to represent Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
The superstar took his position as leadoff designated hitter in Saturday’s spring opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, with plans for two to three plate appearances.
“Sometimes he takes two and he feels good or he wants that third at-bat,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Roberts remained coy about Ohtani’s exact departure timeline, smiling when pressed about travel arrangements and saying, “I promised I’d try.”
The 31-year-old dual-threat player is slated to take the mound against live batters on Sunday, with Roberts already expressing confidence that Ohtani deserves Cy Young Award consideration this season.
“I know that it’s going to be soon. He’s going to play in a couple Cactus League games, but I’m not exactly sure when his plane ticket is. He hasn’t said,” Roberts said. “So I don’t know what day he’s going to join Team Japan.”
Meanwhile, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his spring debut as the starting pitcher, throwing approximately 35 pitches across two innings in his only Dodgers appearance before also departing for WBC duty.
“Obviously him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’s going to be kind of trying to ramp it up and get prepared so I think it’s just more of what he does strike one, use his secondaries and be efficient and get some outs,” Roberts said.
Upon Yamamoto’s return to the Dodgers’ facility, the right-hander will initially be limited to roughly four innings and 60 pitches, according to Roberts.
The 27-year-old hurler, who inked a massive $325 million, 12-year deal in December 2023, dominated in Los Angeles’ championship run with a perfect 3-0 record and 1.09 ERA across seven World Series contests against Toronto, making his workload management a priority following that exceptional postseason performance.
“I think it’s up to all of us to be mindful of workloads and short term, long term and all of that stuff, which we are,” Roberts said.
Yamamoto’s World Series excellence included 15 strikeouts against just two walks over 17 2/3 innings, surrendering only two runs on 10 hits. He joined Randy Johnson as the sole pitchers since 1969 to capture three victories in a single World Series.
“I think I’m confident because there’s no exact science on ramping up early and success,” Roberts said. “Or being methodical and not participating to result in success during the season. There’s just no exact science. I think for me and for all of us you’re just believing in the player, knowing that he knows what it takes to get ready for a season and he takes care of himself. So I think for me it’s an easy way to kind of think and wrap my head around just kind of believing in him, trusting him.”
Stormy conditions in the Atlanta area led to the scrapping of Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at EchoPark Speedway.
Since time trials were called off, Daytona 500 champion Tyler Reddick will claim the top starting position for Sunday’s Autotrader 400 race.
Reddick, driving the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, will share the front row with Joey Logano, who pilots the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.
Persistent rainfall during the late morning hours, combined with dangerous lightning activity, resulted in the track’s first Cup Series qualifying cancellation in 16 years, dating back to 2008.
Despite the weather disruption, both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at 1:30 p.m. ET and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at 5 p.m. ET remain on Saturday’s schedule.
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet went under the knife Friday to repair a torn ACL, more than a month after suffering the injury during playoff action.
The 25-year-old back damaged his left knee during Seattle’s January 17 NFC divisional playoff win against the San Francisco 49ers.
Although team officials haven’t provided a specific recovery timeline, Charbonnet will likely be sidelined for a significant chunk of the 2026 campaign.
During this past regular season, Charbonnet topped Seattle’s roster with 12 rushing touchdowns while finishing second on the team with 730 yards on the ground. This marked his third year with the Seahawks after being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Running mate Kenneth Walker III, who typically shares backfield duties with Charbonnet, stepped up during the playoffs in his teammate’s absence. Walker went on to earn Super Bowl LX MVP recognition, though he’s expected to hit free agency.
Walker paced the Seahawks with 1,027 rushing yards and contributed five touchdowns during the regular season.
The Chicago Bulls announced Saturday that power forward Zach Collins will need surgery on his right big toe, ending his season early.
Meanwhile, guard Jaden Ivey is experiencing soreness in his left knee and team doctors will reassess his condition in two weeks.
The 28-year-old Collins has been coming off the bench this season, putting up 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game across 10 appearances.
Throughout his professional career spanning 388 games with Portland, San Antonio, and Chicago, Collins has posted averages of 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He started 83 of those contests.
Sacramento originally drafted the Gonzaga product as the 10th selection in 2017 before immediately dealing him to Portland on draft night.
Ivey, who celebrated his 24th birthday on February 13th, has put together averages of 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds across four appearances for Chicago since his recent trade from Detroit. He has started three of those games.
The Pistons selected Ivey fifth overall in the 2022 draft. His career has been hampered by injuries, including a fractured leg that cost him substantial playing time last season and a knee problem that sidelined him earlier this year.
Italy’s national television network RAI found itself issuing public apologies Saturday following an embarrassing broadcast mishap that aired discriminatory remarks about Israel’s Olympic bobsled team during Winter Games coverage.
The controversy erupted when viewers unexpectedly heard an off-air instruction from a RAI journalist telling production staff to “Let’s avoid crew number 21, which is the Israeli one” followed by “no, because…” before audio was quickly terminated during Four-Man bobsleigh competition coverage.
This latest blunder comes as RAI’s sports department continues dealing with fallout from previous Olympic coverage problems. The sports division chief had already stepped down earlier this week following heavily criticized commentary during the Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremonies just two weeks prior.
Israel’s ambassador Jonathan Peled took to social media to express strong disapproval of the incident, stating: “I firmly condemn the statements made today by a RAI journalist regarding the Israeli bobsleigh delegation at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.”
“There should be no room in sport for incitement to hatred, discrimination based on national, cultural, or religious beliefs, and any offensive rhetoric,” Peled continued.
“We are confident that the RAI management will take all necessary measures to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated,” he said.
RAI’s chief executive Giampaolo Rossi characterized the broadcast error as a “serious” violation of core broadcasting values including neutrality, dignity and inclusiveness that should define public media operations. Rossi announced the launch of an immediate internal investigation to identify those responsible and determine appropriate disciplinary action.
The broadcaster’s board of directors issued their own statement calling the aired comment “unacceptable” while extending formal apologies to Jewish communities, affected athletes and any viewers who experienced offense from the broadcast.
RAI serves as Italy’s primary media company, managing nationwide television programming, radio broadcasts and online news platforms.
The journalist union representing RAI staff, known as Usigrai, had previously criticized former sports chief Paolo Petrecca’s opening ceremony performance as inflicting “a serious blow” to the organization’s professional reputation.
Petrecca’s commentary errors included incorrectly naming Olympic venues and prominent figures, plus making widely condemned observations about competing national teams.
A Department of Homeland Security agent fatally shot an American citizen in Texas last March, according to documents made public this week by a government watchdog organization.
Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, died after being shot by federal immigration agents on South Padre Island, Texas, on March 15, 2025, family attorneys confirmed. The incident took place several months prior to other fatal shootings that occurred during the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota, which resulted in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Documents obtained by American Oversight, a nonprofit government accountability group, reveal that DHS agents were helping local police with traffic management following a vehicle crash when the shooting occurred. During the incident, Martinez allegedly struck a federal agent with his vehicle, prompting another agent to fire several shots at Martinez, according to the records.
This appears to mark the first documented case of an American citizen being killed during President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement campaign. Federal agents conducting immigration operations shot at least five individuals in January alone, including Good and Pretti.
Family attorneys Charles Stam and Alex Stamm maintain that Martinez was attempting to follow orders from local law enforcement when he was shot. The lawyers are demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.
“Ruben’s family has been pursuing transparency and accountability for nearly a year now and will continue to do so for as long as it takes,” the attorneys stated.
The increasing number of fatalities linked to Trump’s expanded immigration enforcement has drawn growing criticism from elected officials and the public. The current administration has allocated a record-breaking $170 billion for immigration agencies through September 2029, dramatically expanding enforcement operations.
After being shot, Martinez was transported to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas, where medical staff pronounced him dead. The agent who was struck by Martinez’s vehicle received treatment for a knee injury and was subsequently discharged, the report indicates.
Chioma Chukwu, who leads American Oversight, expressed concern about the enforcement tactics being employed. “These records paint a deeply troubling picture of the violent methods used by ICE,” Chukwu said. “In just the first months of this administration, ICE’s own data shows a dramatic spike of nearly 400 percent in use-of-force incidents — with people hospitalized, bystanders swept up in operations, and even the death of a U.S. citizen.”
A Department of Homeland Security representative stated that Martinez “intentionally ran over” a Homeland Security Investigations agent, leading another agent to “fire defensive shots.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety Ranger Division is currently investigating the nearly year-old incident, according to DHS officials. Texas DPS representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment about the ongoing investigation.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Delmarva Peninsula, effective from Thursday, February 21st at 1:54 PM through Saturday, February 23rd at 6:00 PM.
Local residents should prepare for potentially hazardous winter weather conditions during this period. The warning indicates that significant snow, ice, or a combination of winter precipitation is expected across Delaware and the surrounding region.
Residents are advised to monitor weather conditions closely and make necessary preparations for travel disruptions and potential power outages. The National Weather Service will continue to provide updates as the storm system approaches the area.
A dangerous blizzard is bearing down on the Delmarva Peninsula, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an extreme weather warning for parts of our region. The blizzard warning remains in effect from 10 AM Sunday through 6 PM Monday, bringing potentially life-threatening conditions to Kent County, Delaware, and several New Jersey counties including Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Northwestern Burlington.
Residents should prepare for significant snow accumulations between 14 and 20 inches, accompanied by powerful wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph. These blizzard conditions will create areas of blowing snow that could drastically reduce visibility, making travel extremely hazardous or impossible.
The National Weather Service strongly urges residents to restrict travel to emergencies only during this period. The severe weather is expected to significantly impact both Monday morning and evening commutes. Additionally, gusty winds may bring down tree branches, creating additional hazards.
If you absolutely must travel, pack a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if you become stranded. For the latest road conditions, call 511.
The blizzard warning was issued Friday afternoon and will remain active until the weather system moves through our area Monday evening. Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing coverage of this major winter storm.
Weather officials have declared a blizzard warning for the Delmarva region that began Thursday afternoon and will continue through Sunday evening.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated the warning at 1:54 PM on February 21st, with conditions expected to persist until 6:00 PM on February 23rd.
Residents across Delaware and the Eastern Shore should prepare for dangerous winter weather conditions over the next several days as this major storm system moves through the area.
Stay tuned to TV Delmarva for continued coverage and updates on this developing weather situation.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Delaware’s beaches and inland Sussex County, with dangerous conditions expected from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening.
Meteorologists predict 9 to 12 inches of snow accumulation combined with winds gusting up to 50 mph, creating whiteout conditions across southern Delaware. The warning takes effect at 1 PM Sunday and remains in place until 6 PM Monday.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” warns the National Weather Service. Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility, making Monday’s morning and evening commutes extremely hazardous. Strong winds may also bring down tree branches, potentially causing power outages.
Officials are urging residents to restrict travel to emergencies only during the storm. If you must venture out, carry a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if stranded.
The Delaware Beaches, including Rehoboth, Bethany, and Fenwick Island, along with inland communities like Georgetown, Milford, and Seaford, should prepare for the most severe conditions.
For the latest road conditions, dial 511. The blizzard warning is set to expire Monday evening at 6 PM, though hazardous conditions may linger beyond that time.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University athletics officials have announced schedule modifications for their men’s basketball and women’s lacrosse programs as dangerous weather conditions are expected to impact the Mid-Atlantic area.
The Sea Gulls made the scheduling adjustments as a precautionary measure with forecasters predicting severe weather to move through the region in the coming days.
Both the basketball and lacrosse teams will need to find new dates for their affected contests as university officials prioritize student-athlete and fan safety during the anticipated storm system.
The practice of exchanging Olympic pins has transformed into one of the most cherished customs of the Games over the past several decades, attracting participants far beyond the athletic competitors themselves.
During the recent Winter Olympics, enthusiasts gathered at Milan’s designated Official Olympic Pin Trading facility, where crowds formed lengthy queues that extended beyond the building’s entrance on a bright Sunday morning during the heart of the competition period.
The trading venue served as a popular destination for both seasoned collectors who have been participating in the hobby for years and first-time visitors curious about joining this unique Olympic tradition.
This collectible exchange activity has grown significantly in popularity, becoming an integral part of the Olympic experience that brings together people from around the world who share a passion for these small but meaningful souvenirs.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pushing for Britain and European partners to immediately station non-combat military personnel in Ukraine as a demonstration to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Western countries remain genuinely dedicated to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
In remarks made before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s comprehensive assault on Ukraine, Johnson spoke with the BBC about positioning troops in stable areas for non-combat duties. Johnson, who served as one of Ukraine’s most vocal advocates during his tenure as Britain’s leader when the conflict began, shared these views in interview segments scheduled to air Sunday.
Should this recommendation be implemented, it would represent a significant departure from current UK and allied policy. Although the “coalition of the willing” is developing plans for troop deployment to Ukraine, such forces would only be sent following a peace agreement and would serve to monitor any ceasefire.
“If we are willing to do it in the context of a ceasefire, which of course puts all the initiative, all the power, in Putin’s hands, why not do it now?” Johnson said. “There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldn’t send peaceful ground forces there to show our support, our constitutional support for a free, independent Ukraine.”
Western defense strategists have refrained from publicly addressing such deployment options due to fears that Russia would interpret this as conflict escalation.
Putin dismissed Western peacekeeping proposals for Ukraine in September, declaring that any military personnel sent to the country would become “legitimate targets.”
However, Johnson maintained that Putin should not be permitted to set conditions for Ukraine and its supporters.
“It’s about whether Ukraine is a free country or not,” he said. “If it’s a vassal state of Russia, which is what Putin wants, then obviously it’s up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If it’s not, then it’s up to the Ukrainians.”
Responding to Johnson’s statements, Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the government continues collaborating with the coalition of willing nations to prepare for post-ceasefire troop deployment to Ukraine.
“The multinational force Ukraine under UK leadership will secure peace for the long term, with the Prime Minister being clear that we will put British troops on the ground following the end of hostilities,” the ministry said in a statement.
Johnson attributed the Ukrainian conflict to Western inaction following Russia’s 2014 Crimea invasion, along with the failure to hold Bashar al-Assad accountable for chemical weapon attacks on Syrian civilians and the chaotic US Afghanistan withdrawal.
“I think Putin was emboldened by a Western failure in Syria to punish Assad for using chemical weapons,” he said.
“I think Putin was further emboldened in February 2022 by what he’d seen in Afghanistan, and a sort of general sense that the West was on the back foot. He’d seen those appalling pictures of Americans being forced to flee Afghanistan and the UK pulling out as well, and that really did embolden him.”
A powerful late-winter storm heading toward the East Coast on Sunday has prompted meteorologists to issue blizzard warnings for coastal Delaware communities, along with New York City, New Jersey, and southern Connecticut.
Weather forecasters have upgraded their predictions for what they initially expected to be a less severe storm just days ago. The National Weather Service now anticipates snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet across much of the warning area, which encompasses New York City, Long Island, southern Connecticut, and coastal areas of New Jersey and Delaware. Forecasters also warn that flooding could occur in portions of New York and New Jersey.
“While we do get plenty of these nor’easters that produce heavy snow and strong impacts, it’s been several years since we saw one of this magnitude across this large of a region in this very populated part of the country,” said Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the service’s Weather Prediction Center.
According to Snell, the storm system will begin impacting the Washington, D.C. area Sunday morning before moving through Philadelphia and New York City, eventually reaching Boston by late Monday evening.
Meteorologists expect the storm to start as rain in some locations before conditions deteriorate. The most intense snowfall is forecast for Sunday night, with accumulation rates potentially reaching 2 inches per hour in certain areas before conditions improve by Monday afternoon.
The weather service cautioned that sustained winds between 25 and 35 mph accompanying the storm will “make travel dangerous, if not impossible. Scattered downed tree limbs and power outages possible due to snow load and strong winds.”
This storm system arrives as communities are still recovering from ice and snow left behind by another winter storm that hit the region several weeks ago.
Atlantic City, New Jersey officials issued warnings Saturday, advising residents and casino patrons to avoid traveling during the storm, particularly in flood-prone, low-elevation areas.
“I could go on and on probably with a good two dozen streets where we know we will get water and there will be snow on top of that,” said Scott Evans, the city’s fire chief and emergency management coordinator. “So you won’t be able to see it until it’s too late, so therefore please stay at home.”
Texas Rangers utility infielder Cody Freeman faces an extended absence after suffering a fractured lower back, with team manager Skip Schumaker revealing Saturday that the injury will keep him out of action for four to six weeks.
The recovery period creates significant uncertainty about Freeman’s availability for the season opener, as only five weeks remain before Texas takes on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on March 26.
The 25-year-old Freeman had been competing for a versatile bench role heading into the 2025 campaign.
“Obviously, he wasn’t thrilled with the news,” Schumaker told reporters, according to the Dallas Morning News. “He’s going to be out a little bit. But he’s the type of kid that he will get something out of this rehab. I know it’s tough for him, but it’s not like he’s not part of the plan moving forward. He’s going to help us at some point during the season.”
During the 2024 season, Freeman appeared in 36 contests for Texas, posting a .228 batting average while contributing three home runs and 15 runs batted in.
Campus demonstrations erupted at multiple Iranian universities Saturday as students returned for the start of their new academic semester, with some encounters turning violent between protesters and government supporters, according to local media reports and social media documentation.
The university unrest took place during traditional memorial services held 40 days after deaths, honoring victims killed by government security personnel during January’s widespread anti-regime demonstrations. Those protests represented the most significant domestic upheaval Iran has experienced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, resulting in thousands of casualties.
Footage allegedly captured demonstrators at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology marching in formation while denouncing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “murderous leader” and advocating for Reza Pahlavi, the former shah’s exiled heir, to assume leadership as monarch.
Government-aligned news outlets including SNN broadcast footage showing confrontations where demonstrators reportedly injured volunteer student Basij militia members by hurling stones at the prestigious engineering institution. These pro-government Basij forces frequently support security personnel during protest suppression efforts.
Additional demonstrations occurred at Beheshti and Amir Kabir universities in Tehran, as well as Mashhad University in northeastern Iran, based on footage released by rights organization HAALVSH, though Reuters was unable to independently confirm these reports.
In Abdanan, a western community that has been a focal point for demonstrations, protesters shouted “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” following the detention of an activist educator, as documented by rights group Hengaw and social media accounts.
Weather authorities issued blizzard alerts Saturday for New York City and surrounding areas in New Jersey and Connecticut as a powerful winter storm system approaches the Eastern Seaboard.
The National Weather Service has activated snow and storm alerts spanning from the Mid-Atlantic through the Northeast regions, with forecasters predicting intense snowfall and powerful winds beginning Sunday and continuing through Monday.
Officials expect the New York metropolitan area, including Long Island, to receive as much as 1.5 feet of snow accumulation. This marks the first time New York City has been placed under a blizzard warning since 2017.
The storm system will particularly impact areas from New Jersey extending northeast to southeastern New England, where the combination of heavy snow and fierce winds will create dangerous conditions.
Weather forecasters predict wind speeds between 25 and 35 mph throughout the event, with stronger gusts reaching 45 to 55 mph expected Sunday evening. Coastal regions will experience the most severe conditions from the storm system.
The National Weather Service warns that the powerful winds will likely cause electrical outages across the affected region. Additionally, coastal communities face the possibility of minor to extensive flooding.
Meanwhile, the Washington D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan areas remain under winter storm watch as the system continues its eastward trajectory.
The International Olympic Committee announced Saturday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s participation in President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace launch event did not breach Olympic political neutrality standards.
Infantino, who holds dual roles as head of world soccer’s governing organization and IOC member, joined Thursday’s inaugural Board of Peace session in Milan. The gathering brought together Trump and various world leaders to discuss Gaza reconstruction initiatives, with the goal of rebuilding the region following Hamas disarmament.
An IOC representative confirmed the organization had communicated with FIFA regarding the matter. “We understand that FIFA is supporting, through football, a comprehensive sport recovery investment programme in Gaza, Palestine, by providing sporting infrastructure, education and elite development proposals,” the spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson added: “This is entirely in keeping with the role of an International sport federation. The IOC, through Olympic Solidarity, which is our development vehicle, has been and continues to support sport development in the region.”
Olympic Charter regulations require members to operate free from commercial and political influences. The document also prohibits members from accepting “from governments, organisations, or other parties, any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote.”
Trump’s Board of Peace initiative has drawn criticism for including Israeli representation while excluding Palestinian voices. Concerns have emerged that Trump’s plans to expand the Board’s scope beyond Gaza could potentially diminish the United Nations’ primary role in international diplomacy and conflict mediation.
During the event, Infantino shared the stage with multiple heads of state and wore a red cap featuring “USA” and the numbers 45-47, representing Trump’s two separate presidential terms.
The FIFA leader presented a collaboration agreement with the Board of Peace outlining ambitious Gaza sports development plans. The initiative includes constructing 50 smaller playing fields near educational facilities and neighborhoods, five regulation-size pitches throughout different districts, an advanced FIFA training academy, and a new 20,000-capacity national stadium.
Trump and Infantino have met on multiple occasions, particularly relevant as the United States prepares to co-host this summer’s World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
In December, FIFA presented Trump with its first-ever peace award, recognizing his work promoting communication and tension reduction in global conflict zones.
Newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who took office in 2025, has not yet had a meeting with Trump. Los Angeles is scheduled to host the 2028 Summer Olympics.
A teenage soccer prodigy has achieved a historic milestone with Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, becoming the youngest athlete ever awarded a first-team contract by the organization.
Matthew Arana, just 15 years old, secured his professional deal on Saturday through the league’s Homegrown Player program. The midfielder, who hails from Houston, agreed to terms that will keep him with the club through the 2027-28 season, with additional options extending potentially through 2029-30.
Pat Onstad, the team’s president of soccer operations, expressed his enthusiasm about the landmark signing.
“I am very proud to announce the signing of Matthew Arana,” Onstad stated. “He made the most of his opportunities since joining the Dynamo Academy in 2021, advancing quickly through our pathway and making an impact at the first team level this preseason. He has a bright future ahead of him.”
Onstad also acknowledged the support system behind the young player’s success.
“We want to thank Matthew’s parents, Bibiana and Miguel, RISE SC and everyone who supported him on his journey to today, and we look forward to his continued development with his hometown club,” he added.
The teenager has already gained professional experience, appearing for Houston’s MLS NEXT Pro squad in 2025. During his time with Dynamo 2, Arana recorded one assist across five appearances, including one as a starter.
Houston will kick off their 2026 MLS campaign with a home match against Chicago Fire this Saturday evening.
President Trump announced plans to increase his recently established global tariff rate to 15%, just one day after putting the original 10% rate into effect.
The president signed the initial proclamation on Monday to establish the 10% worldwide tariff, which was designed to restore certain trade duties that had been overturned by a Supreme Court ruling. However, Trump quickly decided to boost that rate by an additional 5 percentage points.
The tariff adjustment represents a significant shift in trade policy that could impact import costs for businesses and consumers across the country, including here in Delaware.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan officials announced that 379 individuals imprisoned on political grounds will walk free this weekend following the implementation of a newly passed amnesty law.
The legislation, which became official on Thursday, is designed to help opposition figures, political activists, human rights advocates, journalists and others who have spent months or years behind bars.
This development represents a significant policy change for Venezuelan leadership, which has historically rejected claims of detaining political prisoners. The move comes after last month’s dramatic U.S. military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.
Jorge Arreaza, who heads the special committee managing the amnesty process, announced Friday evening on government television that officials had processed 379 applications for release, with prisoners expected to be freed between Friday and Saturday. He indicated additional releases could occur over the next two weeks.
Gonzalo Himiob from the Venezuelan prisoners’ rights organization Foro Penal confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that some individuals had already been freed in Barinas state in the country’s southwest region, though verification of all releases was still underway.
The amnesty legislation specifically excludes individuals convicted of murder, narcotics trafficking, severe human rights abuses and military insurrection.
Human rights advocates are pushing for broader application of the law to cover all politically motivated detentions, regardless of current eligibility restrictions.
“It is discriminatory and unconstitutional to exclude imprisoned military personnel and persecuted political figures,” Foro Penal president Alfredo Romero posted on X Saturday. He argued that without broader inclusion, “there can be no talk of national coexistence.”
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who has led Venezuela since January 5, described the law’s signing as evidence that the nation’s leadership was “letting go of a little intolerance and opening new avenues for politics in Venezuela.”
The amnesty covers “crimes or offenses committed” during designated time periods beginning in 1999 when Venezuela experienced politically motivated conflicts, including violence related to the disputed 2024 presidential election. Post-election demonstrations resulted in more than 2,000 arrests, including minors.
Following Maduro’s January 3 arrest, Rodríguez’s administration promised to free substantial numbers of prisoners. However, family members and human rights monitors have expressed frustration with the gradual pace of releases and strict conditions imposed on those who have been freed.
The Venezuelan nonprofit Justice, Encounter and Forgiveness documented 459 releases of political detainees between January 8 and February 20.
A deadly vehicle bombing in northwest Pakistan claimed the lives of two Pakistani military personnel on Saturday when an attacker drove an explosive-packed car into a security patrol, according to Pakistani military officials.
The assault occurred in Bannu, located within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, where government forces have engaged in ongoing battles with insurgent groups for many years.
Military officials stated that Pakistan will not “exercise any restraint” and vowed that military operations targeting those behind such violence will persist “irrespective of their location,” words that suggest growing friction between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
While no organization has taken credit for the bombing, investigators will likely focus on the Pakistani Taliban, who have been linked to similar previous incidents. Afghan government representatives have not yet issued any response.
This deadly incident follows Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry calling in a high-ranking Afghan official just two days earlier to formally protest another fatal assault on a security outpost that resulted in the deaths of 11 Pakistani troops and one young girl in the Bajaur area along the Afghan frontier.
According to local law enforcement, the individual who conducted the Bajaur attack was identified as an Afghan citizen.
Both Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued individual statements denouncing the bombing while honoring the fallen servicemen, Lt. Col. Shehzad Gul and Sepoy Karamat Shah, for their ultimate sacrifice.
Pakistan has experienced an increase in extremist attacks in recent times, with many incidents attributed to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and banned Baloch organizations. The TTP operates independently from but maintains close ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, who regained control in 2021. Pakistani officials claim the TTP conducts operations from Afghan territory, an allegation that both the militant group and Kabul reject.
Diplomatic ties between the two nations have deteriorated since October, when fatal border confrontations resulted in casualties among troops, civilians and alleged militants. These clashes followed bombing incidents in Kabul that Afghan authorities attributed to Pakistan. While a Qatar-brokered truce has mostly prevented further violence, subsequent negotiations in Istanbul have not yielded a formal peace accord, leaving relationships strained.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Saturday he’s increasing his proposed worldwide tariff rate to 15%, just one day after declaring a 10% rate following a Supreme Court setback.
In a social media statement, Trump explained his decision came after conducting what he called a comprehensive analysis of what he described as a “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday” by the nation’s highest court.
The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that Trump lacked emergency authority to implement broad tariff measures, leading the president to sign an executive order Friday evening that circumvents Congress to establish a 10% import tax worldwide. However, these tariffs face a 150-day time limit without legislative extension.
Trump’s announcement to further increase the global import tax represents another indication that despite judicial constraints, the Republican leader remains determined to unpredictably employ his preferred economic and diplomatic pressure tool. His pattern of announcing tariff adjustments with minimal warning throughout the past year has disrupted financial markets and concerned international partners.
Saturday’s declaration appears to signal Trump’s intention to leverage the temporary global tariffs as a show of strength.
“During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
The executive order Trump executed Friday evening set February 24 as the implementation date for the 10% tariff. The White House has not yet responded to inquiries about when an updated order reflecting the 15% rate would be signed.
Beyond the temporary tariffs Trump now wants set at 15%, the president indicated Friday he’s also pursuing additional tariffs using different federal statutes that mandate Commerce Department investigations.
Trump launched an unusually direct criticism of the Supreme Court justices who voted against him in the 6-3 ruling, including two he nominated during his previous presidency, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. During Friday’s news conference, Trump stated about the two justices: “I think it’s an embarrassment to their families.”
His frustration continued Friday evening with social media posts targeting Gorsuch, Coney Barrett, and Chief Justice John Roberts, who sided with the majority and authored the main opinion. Saturday morning brought another post where Trump named Justice Brett Kavanaugh his “new hero” for writing a 63-page dissenting opinion. He also commended Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito for their minority positions, saying of the three dissenting justices: “There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that they want to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Persistent snowfall has forced Olympic organizers to postpone the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe finals by 24 hours in Livigno, Italy, marking another weather-related disruption at the Milano Cortina Games.
The competition, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, has been rescheduled to Sunday as the final event taking place in the northern Italian Alpine community.
Heavy snow continued falling throughout Saturday’s men’s ski cross finals, creating poor visibility conditions and making the slopes more challenging for competitors. The mountain town sits in northern Italy close to the Swiss border.
When competition resumes, China’s Eileen Gu will attempt to retain her Olympic title in the halfpipe discipline. Britain’s Zoe Atkin, who topped the qualifying rounds, and China’s Li Fanghui are among the leading challengers expected to compete for medals.
Adverse weather conditions have disrupted the Olympic schedule multiple times throughout the Milano Cortina Games, which are scheduled to wrap up with Sunday evening’s Closing Ceremony.
The men’s halfpipe competition also faced scheduling changes earlier in the week, with organizers consolidating qualifying rounds and finals into a single day on Friday rather than spreading them across separate days as initially planned.
DUBAI – American tennis professional Jessica Pegula delivered a commanding performance Saturday, defeating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 to claim the Dubai Tennis Championships title.
The world’s fifth-ranked player established early control, racing to a 3-0 advantage in the opening set by forcing Svitolina to play deep court positions. Pegula secured her initial service break with a precise backhand cross-court winner, then maintained her serve advantage with an expertly executed backhand slice.
When Svitolina attempted to mount a comeback, the former U.S. Open finalist successfully defended two break point opportunities to extend her lead to 5-1. Svitolina’s frustration showed as she sent a forehand into the net, allowing Pegula to close out the opening set.
The 31-year-old American, who celebrates her 32nd birthday this Tuesday, maintained her composure throughout the second set. She captured the crucial service break in the fifth game, which proved sufficient to secure her tenth professional tour championship while snapping a streak of three consecutive losses in WTA 1000 championship matches.
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is declaring himself ready for redemption after acknowledging he lost his way during a challenging debut season with Ferrari.
The 41-year-old British racing legend took to Instagram with a determined message, revealing he’s found his motivation again following what proved to be a lackluster first year with the legendary Italian racing team.
“I love this job so much and I love working with my team and driving for the fans,” Hamilton stated. The driver, who made the high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari last year, expressed gratitude for his position in the sport.
“I’m incredibly lucky to be able to do what I do, and I’m excited for the season ahead,” he continued.
Hamilton didn’t hold back in his candid reflection on his recent struggles: “I’m re-set and refreshed. I’m not going anywhere, so stick with me. For a moment, I forgot who I was, but thanks to you and your support you’re not going to see that mindset again. I know what needs to be done. This is going to be one hell of a season.”
The racing icon, widely regarded as the most accomplished driver in Formula One’s history, endured his career’s most challenging season in 2024. He went without a single podium finish across 24 races and appeared increasingly frustrated as the year progressed.
Ferrari’s performance matched Hamilton’s struggles, as the team failed to secure a victory throughout the 2024 campaign. However, recent testing sessions in Bahrain have shown promising signs, with Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc posting the quickest time in this week’s final practice session before teams head to Australia for the season opener on March 8.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella shared his assessment of the competitive landscape on Friday, identifying Mercedes and Ferrari as the teams with the strongest early-season potential.
“McLaren and Red Bull probably very similar, Ferrari and Mercedes a step ahead,” Stella told reporters.
WASHINGTON – Following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated his earlier tariff program, President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will boost temporary import duties on nearly all foreign goods entering the United States from 10% to 15%, reaching the highest rate permitted by law.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday determined that Trump had overstepped his presidential powers when he implemented various higher tariff rates using an economic emergency statute. Trump quickly responded by establishing the 10% universal tariff rate immediately after the court’s decision.
The updated import duties operate under different legislation called Section 122, which permits tariffs as high as 15% but mandates that Congress must approve any extension beyond a 150-day period.
Trump announced via social media Saturday that he plans to utilize this timeframe to develop additional tariff measures that are “legally permissible.” His administration plans to invoke two additional laws that authorize import taxes on particular products or nations following investigations into national security concerns or unfair trading practices.
“I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” Trump declared in his Truth Social statement.
Since the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling, Trump has demonstrated no indication of retreating from his international trade confrontation, criticizing specific justices personally while maintaining his authority to implement tariffs according to his judgment.
Team Canada faces significant injury challenges heading into Sunday’s Olympic gold medal hockey matchup against the United States at the Milan Cortina Olympics, with defenseman Josh Morrissey officially ruled out and captain Sidney Crosby’s participation still in question.
The 30-year-old Morrissey sustained an injury during the opening period of Canada’s initial group stage victory against Czechia and has been unable to compete in Olympic action since that incident.
Meanwhile, Crosby appeared to injure his right leg during Wednesday’s thrilling 4-3 overtime quarterfinal victory over the Czech Republic.
Following Saturday’s practice session, Canadian head coach Jon Cooper confirmed to media that Morrissey would be unavailable for the championship game. This marks the second major tournament Morrissey has missed due to health issues, having also sat out last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off title game in Boston because of illness.
“We want Josh in this game, he helps us with puck moving and everything he does, but in the end if you’re not physically able to do it,” Cooper explained. “The one selfless thing about this team, and the way I’ve watched these players … when it comes to the flag, no one is getting in the way of it. If they’re incapable of giving what they think is optimal effort, they don’t want to put the country in harm, they understand what we have here.”
The stakes are particularly high as Canada seeks its first Olympic gold medal since capturing the title at the 2014 Sochi Games, which was the most recent Olympics to include NHL talent. The Americans haven’t claimed Olympic hockey gold since their legendary “Miracle on Ice” triumph in Lake Placid, New York back in 1980.
The 38-year-old Crosby did participate in Saturday’s practice session, though his game-time decision remains pending.
“We’ll see. I watched him skate today,” Cooper said regarding Crosby’s condition. “I haven’t spoken to him yet. We’re going to meet tonight and have a determination of what’s going to happen tomorrow. He won’t put himself in harm’s way. He’s not going to put the team in harm’s way.”
“Obviously we’d love to have him, but that determination will be made tonight,” the coach added.
Throughout these Olympic Games, Crosby has contributed six points across four contests, recording two goals and four assists for the Canadian squad.
A powerful late-February nor’easter is expected to significantly impact the Delmarva Peninsula from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and potentially dangerous travel conditions.
This storm will rapidly intensify off the Mid-Atlantic coast, creating a period of heavy snowfall and localized blizzard conditions across coastal Delaware and portions of inland Sussex County.
Heavy Snow and Strong Winds
Snow is expected to overspread Delmarva Sunday afternoon, becoming heavy at times Sunday night into early Monday. Snowfall rates could exceed one to two inches per hour during the height of the storm.
Total accumulations across parts of the peninsula could reach significant levels, especially closer to the Delaware beaches, where blowing and drifting snow may greatly reduce visibility.
In addition to heavy snowfall, strong northeast winds are expected to increase through Sunday night. Wind gusts between 40 and 60+ mph could create whiteout conditions, particularly along coastal areas. These winds will also lead to significant drifting, making roads impassable in some locations.
Travel Could Become Extremely Dangerous
The combination of heavy snow and strong winds may produce localized blizzard conditions across coastal Delmarva. Visibility could drop below a quarter mile at times, especially during peak snowfall rates.
Travel is expected to become very difficult Sunday night into Monday. Both the Monday morning and evening commutes could be heavily impacted if conditions worsen as expected.
Residents are urged to limit travel to emergencies only. If travel is unavoidable, motorists should carry a winter survival kit and be prepared for rapidly deteriorating conditions.
Power Outages Possible
Strong winds combined with heavy, wet snow could lead to scattered power outages across Sussex County and nearby coastal communities. Tree damage is possible, particularly where snowfall accumulates on limbs before peak wind gusts arrive.
Coastal Concerns
Moderate coastal flooding and beach erosion are also possible along the Delaware coastline, especially during times of high tide as strong onshore flow persists.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Team Canada’s women’s curling squad secured the Olympic bronze medal Saturday, defeating the United States 10-7 in a thrilling match at the Milano Cortina Games.
The victory sparked celebrations as Canadian team captain Rachel Homan raised her fist in triumph and hugged teammate Tracy Fleury following the decisive moment when American skip Tabitha Peterson surrendered the match with one stone left to play.
The bronze medal represents Canada’s return to the podium in women’s curling after a decade-long drought. The team’s last medal in this event came during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, where Jennifer Jones led her squad to gold.
The women’s curling competition will conclude Sunday with the championship match, featuring Sweden’s team led by Anna Hasselborg against Switzerland’s squad captained by Silvana Tirinzoni competing for the gold medal.
Hockey legend Jaromir Jagr has indicated his remarkable 38-season professional career could be drawing to a close, according to comments he made in a recent interview.
The Czech superstar, who celebrated his 54th birthday last Sunday, currently suits up for the Kladno Knights in his home country’s professional league.
During a Friday Instagram interview, Jagr cast doubt on whether supporters will witness him competing on ice in the future.
“Probably not,” Jagr responded when asked about continuing to play. “It would have to be a miracle. God would have to come, enter me and make me 15 years younger.”
This season with Kladno, Jagr has tallied just one assist across six contests, with his most recent appearance coming on December 21.
By continuing to compete actively, Jagr has postponed his Hockey Hall of Fame induction, which cannot occur until at least 2029 due to the mandatory three-year waiting period following retirement.
The Pittsburgh Penguins legend captured two Stanley Cup championships and holds the second-highest point total in NHL history with 1,921 points, while ranking fourth all-time in both goals scored (766) and games played (1,733).
Throughout his 24 NHL seasons spanning from 1990 to 2017, the eight-time All-Star and 1998-99 Hart Trophy recipient competed for nine different franchises, spending 11 of those years with Pittsburgh.
Following his final NHL appearance with the Calgary Flames on New Year’s Eve 2017, Jagr made his way back to Kladno to continue his playing career in the Czech Republic.
The Delaware State University Hornets baseball squad endured a difficult outing on Friday, suffering a lopsided 13-4 defeat against La Salle during an away matchup.
The Hornets were unable to contain La Salle’s offensive attack throughout the contest, as the home team built a commanding lead that proved insurmountable for Delaware State.
This setback adds to the challenges facing the Hornets as they work to find their rhythm in the current season. The team will need to regroup and refocus as they prepare for upcoming games.
Delaware State will look to bounce back from this tough loss when they return to action in their next scheduled contest.
Delaware State Police are working to determine what caused a deadly head-on collision that claimed the life of a Newark teenager Friday evening on Interstate 95 in Wilmington.
The fatal accident happened around 8:55 p.m. on February 20, 2026, when a Chrysler 200 heading north on I-95 near Harvey Road suddenly veered across the grassy median strip. The vehicle slammed into an oncoming Volvo tractor-trailer that was hauling three vehicles on a car carrier trailer in the southbound lanes.
A 19-year-old woman from Newark who was driving the Chrysler was thrown from the vehicle because she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, according to police. Emergency responders rushed her to a local hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries. Authorities are holding off on releasing her identity while they notify family members.
The 34-year-old truck driver from New York also required hospital treatment but is expected to recover from his injuries, which police described as not life-threatening.
The major highway remained shut down for about six hours as investigators documented the scene and crews worked to clear the wreckage.
Detectives with the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit are still piecing together what led to the tragic crash. Anyone who saw what happened or has information about the incident should reach out to Corporal K. Oakes at (302) 365-8483. Tips can also be submitted through the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Families affected by sudden deaths or traumatic incidents can access support services around the clock through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center by calling 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461) or emailing [email protected].
FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Georgia – Delaware State University’s women’s wrestling program is creating history during its first season of competition. Following the opening day of the NCAA Regional Championship, three Hornet athletes have secured their positions in the semifinal rounds.
The achievement marks a significant milestone for the newly established program at the Dover-based university. These three wrestlers will have the opportunity to further their historic run as they compete for spots in the championship finals.
The tournament continues with the Hornets looking to build on their impressive debut season performance at the regional level.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A fresh technical complication has struck NASA’s ambitious moon mission, casting doubt on the scheduled March launch that would carry astronauts on humanity’s first lunar journey in more than five decades, space agency officials announced Saturday.
The space agency disclosed this newest obstacle just 24 hours after setting March 6 as the target date for the historic Artemis II mission. During the night, engineers discovered that helium circulation to the rocket’s upper section had been disrupted — a critical component that must function properly for any launch attempt to proceed.
Space agency officials stated they are analyzing all available information and making preparations to potentially move the Space Launch System rocket back to its repair facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However, they noted that maintenance work might be completed directly at the launch site, with engineering teams preparing contingency plans for either scenario.
“This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window,” NASA said in a statement.
The Artemis II lunar flyby mission had previously been pushed back by one month due to hydrogen fuel leak issues. Engineers conducted a second fuel loading test Thursday that showed minimal leakage problems, which had given mission leaders enough confidence to set the early March launch target.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Trade officials in South Korea held emergency weekend discussions to evaluate how a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down certain Trump-era tariffs will affect their economy, while governments and businesses worldwide analyzed potential consequences from Washington’s latest trade policy shifts.
The urgent session called by Seoul’s Trade Ministry occurred as representatives from South Korea to South America recognized that duties will continue on particular U.S.-bound exports, including cars and steel products, which remain unaffected by the Supreme Court’s recent ruling.
The development represents another dramatic shift in America’s tariff approach since President Donald Trump resumed office 13 months ago, disrupting numerous trade partnerships with the world’s largest economy.
Speaking at an agricultural exhibition in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated America’s system of checks and balances, commending the “rule of law” during his appearance. “It’s a good thing to have powers and counter-powers in democracies. We should welcome that.”
However, Macron warned against celebrating too early.
Government representatives examined the specific wording of recent bilateral and multilateral agreements with the United States while preparing for additional policy changes. Trump announced Friday his intention to implement new 10% worldwide tariffs under different regulations.
“I note that President Trump, a few hours ago, said he had reworked some measures to introduce new tariffs, more limited ones, but applying to everyone,” Macron stated. “So we’ll look closely at the exact consequences, what can be done, and we will adapt.”
Referencing Trump’s latest 10% tariff proposal, Sergio Bermúdez, who leads an industrial parks company in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, near the Texas border, commented that Trump “says a lot of things, and many of them aren’t true. All of the businesses I know are analyzing, trying to figure out how it’s going to affect them.”
Ciudad Juárez could face particularly significant consequences since much of its economic activity relies on manufacturing facilities that produce goods for American consumers, built through decades of free trade between the United States and Mexico.
The repeated policy reversals from the United States over the past year have created widespread caution among international business executives, who find it difficult to make predictions and have seen investments suffer as a result.
Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Friday that his country was monitoring the tariff situation with a “cool head,” pointing out that 85% of Mexican exports remain tariff-free, primarily due to the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement. He has scheduled meetings with U.S. economic officials for next week.
Alan Russell, CEO of Tecma, which assists American companies in establishing Mexican operations, has watched his responsibilities become increasingly complex over the past year — his organization’s workload has increased up to four times as it handles new import regulations. He fears recent U.S. actions will create additional complications.
“We wake up every day with new challenges. That word ‘uncertainty’ has been the greatest enemy,” Russell, who is American, explained. “The difficult part has been not being clear what the rules are today or what they’re going to be tomorrow.”
Some American importers who may have paid excessive tariffs are exploring potential refunds — likely through a very complicated procedure — and some international companies may also seek compensation.
Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament’s trade committee, stated on Deutschland radio that excessive tariffs “must be refunded.” He calculates that German businesses or their American importers alone overpaid more than 100 billion euros ($118 billion).
Swissmem, a leading technology industry group in Switzerland, praised the Supreme Court’s “good decision” on X, noting that Swiss exports to America dropped 18% in the fourth quarter alone — during a time when Switzerland faced significantly higher U.S. tariffs than most other European nations.
“The high tariffs have severely damaged the tech industry,” Swissmem President Martin Hirzel wrote on X, while recognizing the situation remains unsettled. “However, today’s ruling doesn’t win anything yet.”
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Regional tensions escalated Saturday as Arab and Muslim countries strongly criticized remarks made by Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, regarding Israeli territorial claims across much of the Middle East.
During a Friday broadcast interview with conservative host Tucker Carlson, Huckabee addressed biblical references to land promised to Abraham’s descendants, which Carlson described as encompassing virtually the entire Middle East region. When questioned about Israel’s entitlement to this territory, Huckabee stated: “It would be fine if they took it all.” The ambassador qualified his statement by noting that Israel isn’t seeking territorial expansion and deserves security within its current legitimate boundaries.
The controversial statements immediately drew fierce opposition from Egypt, Jordan, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States, all issuing separate condemnations describing the remarks as radical, inflammatory, and inconsistent with official U.S. policy.
Egyptian foreign ministry officials characterized Huckabee’s position as a “blatant violation” of international law, emphasizing that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.”
The League of Arab States declared: “Statements of this nature — extremist and lacking any sound basis — serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions.”
Neither Israeli nor American officials provided immediate responses to the growing diplomatic backlash.
Israel’s borders have remained undefined since the nation’s founding in 1948, with boundaries changing through military conflicts, territorial annexations, ceasefire agreements, and peace treaties with neighboring countries.
The 1967 Six-Day War marked a significant territorial shift when Israeli forces seized the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem from Jordan, captured Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and took control of Syria’s Golan Heights. Israel later returned the Sinai Peninsula through peace negotiations with Egypt after the 1973 conflict and voluntarily left Gaza in 2005.
Recent months have seen Israel intensify its control over the occupied West Bank through expanded Jewish settlement construction, legitimizing unauthorized outposts, and implementing major administrative policy changes. President Donald Trump has publicly stated his opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank, providing strong guarantees to prevent such actions.
For generations, Palestinians have advocated for an independent nation encompassing the West Bank and Gaza, with eastern Jerusalem serving as their capital — a position supported by most of the international community.
Huckabee has consistently rejected the concept of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. During a previous interview, he expressed disagreement with using the term “Palestinians” to describe Arab descendants of those who lived in British-administered Palestine.
In the recent discussion, Carlson questioned Huckabee about biblical passages from Genesis, where he claimed God promised Abraham and his offspring territory stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates.
“That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” Carlson explained.
Huckabee responded: “Not sure we’d go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land.”
Israel has expanded its territorial presence since beginning its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
The current ceasefire agreement requires Israeli forces to pull back to a designated buffer zone, though they maintain control over more than half of Gaza’s territory. While the ceasefire mandates further Israeli withdrawal, no specific timeline has been established.
Following the late 2024 overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli military forces took control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria established under a 1974 ceasefire agreement. Israeli officials described the occupation as temporary and necessary for border security.
Additionally, Israel continues to occupy five strategic hilltop positions within Lebanese territory following its brief 2024 conflict with Hezbollah.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Following Team USA’s women’s hockey gold medal victory, seasoned player Kendall Coyne Schofield captured the excitement with a simple declaration.
“We did it!” she shouted.
That celebration echoed throughout the American women’s team at the Milan Cortina Games, where female athletes achieved unprecedented success at a Winter Olympics.
In terms of medal achievements, they absolutely delivered – breaking records along the way.
Female competitors from the United States – excluding mixed-gender competitions – entered Saturday’s penultimate day with six gold medals and 15 total medals. The prior Winter Olympics records for American women stood at five golds (achieved in 1992, 2002, and 2018) and 13 medals (reached in 2014 and 2022).
“Our team is so strong,” said Mikaela Shiffrin, who claimed gold in women’s slalom and is considered an Alpine skiing legend. “We have so many incredible athletes and teammates and friends, and everybody just showed up with so much courage and heart here. And I’m so proud to be part of this American team.”
Including mixed competitions, American women earned 19 medals at Milan Cortina. Over 40 female athletes from the United States will return home with at least one medal – establishing another winter milestone for the country. These figures could continue climbing, as additional medal opportunities remained before the Olympic flame is extinguished.
“Team USA is crushing it and it’s friggin’ sweet,” declared Kaillie Humphries Armbruster, an American bobsledder who earned bronze in monobob and was competing for another medal in Saturday evening’s two-woman event. “Women’s hockey got gold, hell yeah. It’s all definitely motivating.”
Inspiration surrounded US women competitors at every turn.
Shiffrin and downhill champion Breezy Johnson claimed Alpine skiing golds, while Elana Meyers Taylor triumphed in monobob. Alysa Liu secured the figure skating women’s singles title (plus another gold in the team competition for both genders), Elizabeth Lemley captured the Olympic crown in freestyle moguls, and the women’s hockey squad mounted a late comeback to force overtime before defeating Canada for their championship. Kaila Kuhn contributed to a gold medal victory in mixed team aerials – marking Team USA’s 11th gold at these Games, the highest total by Americans in Winter Olympics history.
Male competitors from the US have also performed admirably in Italy.
However, American women have been truly record-breaking.
“It’s iconic. It’s legendary,” stated US bobsledder Kaysha Love. “At the end of the day, I think that’s why we do this.”
To be fair, Olympic competition has expanded over the years, providing more opportunities for women to become Olympians. Milan Cortina featured 41 women’s events (not including mixed competitions), compared to 37 at Turin in 2006 and just 12 at Lake Placid in 1980.
Nevertheless, records remain records. This US Olympic women’s delegation, as a collective unit, established a new benchmark.
The 15 medals earned by Americans in women’s competition at Milan Cortina, rising to 19 with mixed events included, would surpass the total medals won by all US athletes – male, female, and mixed – in every Winter Games from 1924 through 1998.
Freestyle skiing contributed four of the 15 women’s medals for Americans at these Games, with Jaelin Kauf earning two of those – both silver medals in moguls.
“There’s an incredibly strong women’s team and moguls program in the US, (which is) exactly why it’s so good,” Kauf explained. “We have become extremely dominant in the last handful of years, continuing to be the best women’s team in the world for four or five years now.”
Obviously, achievement generates more achievement. Just consider Cory Thiesse’s example.
She made history as the first American woman to earn an Olympic curling medal. Thiesse claimed silver in mixed doubles alongside Korey Dropkin, reaching that milestone partly through inspiration from previous champions – whether in curling or other sports.
“I know how important it was for me to have girls to look up to when I was growing up, not only in my own sport but other sports out there winning medals and seeing that on TV and dreaming big because of it,” Thiesse shared on Friday, the day before she and the US women fell to Canada in the bronze-medal contest. “So, I just think it’s great for future generations.”
US men’s hockey coach Mike Sullivan believes the American women who succeeded this year are also laying groundwork for 2030, 2034, and future Olympics.
“What a terrific hockey team and they’ll be an inspiration for the next generation of girls growing up in the United States,” Sullivan commented following the US women’s victory over Canada for hockey gold. “It’s crazy how far women’s hockey has come in the United States, and a lot of it is due to the teams like this and the girls that play on these teams. They inspire the next generation.”
The space agency announced Saturday it may need to move the Artemis II rocket and Orion capsule away from the launch pad following the discovery of helium flow problems essential for takeoff.
NASA detected disrupted helium circulation, a critical component required for the spacecraft’s launch sequence, prompting officials to consider returning the vehicle to its assembly building for repairs.
“This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window,” NASA said.
The Artemis II mission represents NASA’s ambitious plan to return astronauts to lunar orbit for the first time since the Apollo era, marking a significant milestone in the agency’s goal to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon.
Ukrainian military forces launched a successful attack against a Russian missile manufacturing facility located deep inside Russian territory, according to statements from Ukraine’s General Staff released Saturday.
The targeted facility in Votkinsk produces ballistic missiles for Russia’s military, including short-range Iskander missiles and intercontinental Topol-M weapons systems. The plant sits approximately 800 miles from Ukraine’s border, positioned east of Moscow in Russia’s remote Udmurtia region.
Ukrainian officials reported their military used domestically manufactured Flamingo cruise missiles launched from the ground to carry out the operation. The strike resulted in fires breaking out at the targeted location, according to Ukrainian military sources.
Regional Governor Alexander Brechalov confirmed that an overnight drone attack had occurred in the Udmurtia area, though he described the assault differently than Ukrainian reports.
“There has been damage and injuries as a result,” Brechalov stated in a video message shared through the Telegram platform, though he declined to provide additional specifics about the incident.
Flight operations were temporarily halted at the airport serving Izhevsk, Udmurtia’s primary city, along with airports in surrounding regions, according to Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsiya.
Local residents in Votkinsk reported hearing multiple explosions and drone activity during the overnight hours, according to the Russian Telegram channel SHOT, which frequently cites security service contacts.
Russian forces have been deploying these ballistic weapons alongside drone swarms to target Ukraine’s power grid and energy facilities, leaving millions of civilians without electricity and heating during winter months.
Ukrainian strategy has increasingly focused on striking military production sites and energy infrastructure located far inside Russian borders. Ukrainian leadership maintains that attacking weapons manufacturers and the energy systems supporting Russia’s war effort represents their most effective approach to gaining strategic advantage against their larger adversary as the conflict approaches its fifth year.
Ukrainian forces also reported striking a natural gas processing facility in Russia’s Samara region, though Russian regional authorities have not confirmed any such attack occurred.
Indonesia’s leader expressed readiness Saturday to handle whatever comes next following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Donald Trump’s worldwide tariff initiative.
President Prabowo Subianto traveled to Washington D.C. this week alongside his cabinet members for Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace gathering and a one-on-one meeting with the American president. During that visit, the two nations finalized a trade agreement reducing tariffs on goods from Indonesia from 32% down to 19%.
“We are prepared for all possibilities. We respect the domestic politics of the United States, and we will monitor the developments,” Prabowo stated to media in a recorded message.
Meanwhile, Airlangga Hartarto, who leads Indonesia’s negotiations on U.S. tariffs, announced Saturday that his nation has asked America to preserve existing tariff waivers for key Indonesian products including palm oil, coffee and cocoa.
Hartarto emphasized that Friday’s trade agreement between the two countries remains valid regardless of recent Supreme Court actions, noting that nations with signed trade deals will receive different consideration from Washington.
Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, the second baseman who delivered one of the most memorable moments in World Series history, has passed away at 89 years old.
The Pittsburgh Pirates confirmed Mazeroski’s death on Saturday, though the team did not disclose the cause. He died on Friday after spending all 17 seasons of his major league career with Pittsburgh.
“It is with a heavy heart that we relay the news of the passing of legendary Pirates and National Baseball Hall of Famer, Bill Mazeroski,” the organization stated, describing his famous 1960 home run as “the greatest home run in baseball history.”
“He was a beloved member of the Pirates family and he will be deeply missed.”
Old black-and-white footage from October 13, 1960, captures Mazeroski connecting with a Ralph Terry pitch and sending it sailing over the left field wall during the ninth inning at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. The dramatic blast secured a 10-9 victory for the Pirates in the decisive seventh game against the New York Yankees, as ecstatic fans swarmed the field while he rounded the bases.
During a 2015 Pirates broadcast, Mazeroski shared his memories of that historic moment: “I don’t know it’s out. I don’t know it’s a home run. But I know I’m going to end up on third if he misplays that ball off the wall. So I’m busting my tail getting around there, and by the time I hit second base, I looked down the line and the fans went crazy. From second base, I didn’t touch the ground all the way in.”
That dramatic home run stands as the only walk-off blast in a seventh game of World Series competition.
Throughout his career, Mazeroski earned recognition as one of baseball’s premier defensive players, capturing eight Gold Glove honors and earning 10 All-Star selections. He celebrated two championship victories with Pittsburgh, including the 1960 triumph and another in 1971 when the Pirates defeated Baltimore in seven games.
The West Virginia-born player compiled a .260 batting average during his career, accumulating 138 home runs, 2,016 hits, and 853 RBIs across 2,163 games.
His defensive prowess was reflected in a career .983 fielding percentage, with his peak performance coming in 1966 when he committed only eight errors in 957 chances over 162 games, achieving a remarkable .992 fielding rate.
In 2001, the Veterans Committee recognized his contributions by inducting him into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
“I think defense belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Mazeroski stated during his induction speech. “Defense deserves as much credit as pitching and hitting, and I’m proud and honored to be going into the Hall of Fame on the defensive side and mostly for my defensive abilities.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Saturday his belief that his nation’s economy will experience reduced trade pressures following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that eliminated significant portions of President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
During an interview with Germany’s ARD television network, Merz indicated that discussions with Washington officials must occur before German businesses can recover billions in losses. He emphasized that European Union member nations plan to present a unified approach during his planned visit to the United States.
“We will have a very clear European position on this, because tariff policy is a matter for the European Union, not individual member states, and I will go to Washington with a coordinated European position,” Merz stated.
Defense and Energy Department officials have successfully transported a compact nuclear reactor via military aircraft from California to Utah, showcasing what they describe as America’s ability to rapidly position nuclear power technology for both military operations and civilian applications.
The microreactor, manufactured by Valar Atomics, was moved without nuclear fuel aboard a C-17 transport plane from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
This transportation demonstration comes as the Trump administration advocates for accelerated deployment of nuclear power technology across the United States.
Officials from both the Pentagon and Energy Department characterized the airlift as proof of concept for quickly moving nuclear power capabilities to locations where they might be needed for various purposes.
MILAN — The late Johnny Gaudreau had been striving to earn a spot on Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Both he and his brother Matthew had grown up watching Olympic hockey, dreaming of one day competing on that stage themselves.
“It was their dream,” their mother Jane Gaudreau shared about her sons.
The Gaudreau brothers tragically lost their lives on August 29, 2024, after being hit by an SUV while cycling near their New Jersey home. The accident occurred just one day before their sister Katie’s wedding. The hockey world was devastated by their deaths, and tributes have poured in ever since, including retired jersey numbers and a memorial 5K race.
Johnny, an accomplished NHL veteran with a decade of professional experience and Team USA’s all-time top scorer in international competition, was expected to secure a place on the Milan Olympic roster. The tournament concludes Sunday with the Americans facing Canada for the gold medal. His father Guy Gaudreau revealed that USA Hockey officials had graciously informed the family that their eldest son was projected to make the team.
“He wanted to be on this team,” Guy Gaudreau expressed during Friday night’s U.S. semifinal victory. “And it would’ve been nice if he’d been here.”
Team USA is paying homage to both brothers with a special memorial display in their Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena locker room. A blue jersey bearing Johnny’s number 13 serves as a constant reminder of the player affectionately called “Johnny Hockey,” who was cherished by teammates and fans alike.
“It means everything — we all know he should be here with us,” expressed Dylan Larkin, who competed alongside Gaudreau in several world championships. “He should be with us. We love him, and I like that we continue to think about him and I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”
Jane and Guy Gaudreau, accompanied by Johnny’s wife Meredith and their two eldest children, arrived in Milan on Friday. The parents had originally planned a Las Vegas vacation and were initially uncertain about accepting USA Hockey’s invitation to attend the Olympics.
“Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,’” Jane explained. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”
The family’s ties to current roster members span from Boston College to the NHL. Beyond his world championship appearances, Johnny had been teammates with Noah Hanifin during their time with the Calgary Flames and with Zach Werenski on the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Johnny was close to a lot of guys in that room,” Hanifin noted. “We know he’d be here with us, so we’ve been thinking about him and carrying him with us.”
Following the team’s advancement to the championship game, Werenski mentioned that Meredith had contacted his wife several days prior to inform them of the family’s travel plans.
“It’s great having them here, and it’s super special,” Werenski commented. “We’re happy that we made it to the gold-medal game so they can watch that and be a part of it. It’s on us to make them proud.”
Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed what team management had already told the Gaudreau family: Johnny would have definitely earned a roster spot if he were still alive, given his impressive track record and outstanding performances in Team USA colors.
“He was one of America’s very best,” Sullivan stated. “He’s just a good person on the ice and off the ice, and I think he’s an inspiration to our players to this very day.”
Players continue to share memories of Gaudreau, with “all the stories are funny,” according to Charlie McAvoy, who played with him at world championships.
“Just an amazing person, just an infectious personality,” McAvoy reflected. “The detail, really, with our staff and our equipment staff especially to make sure that he’s always with us, little reminders of him in the room, and they just go a long way. You always see them. They’re gentle. They’re right there. But we know that he’s always with us.”
Displayed alongside Johnny’s number 13 jersey is Matthew’s number 21 on the locker room wall. This tribute mirrors what USA Hockey implemented at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where Guy Gaudreau participated in practice as an honorary coach.
This Olympics would have marked Johnny Gaudreau’s first Olympic opportunity, as NHL players were absent from the 2018 and 2022 Games. However, his jersey’s presence in the U.S. locker room may become a lasting tradition for future competitions.
ASSISI, Italy (AP) — For the first time in history, the skeletal remains of St. Francis of Assisi are being exhibited publicly, drawing massive crowds to the medieval Italian town that bears his name. The unprecedented display marks 800 years since the beloved friar’s passing and has already attracted nearly 400,000 registered visitors.
The month-long exhibition presents both opportunities and challenges for Assisi’s Mayor Valter Stoppini, local residents, and the Franciscan brothers overseeing the event. Officials predict visitor numbers could reach half a million before the sacred remains return to their resting place on March 22.
City officials have mobilized 400 volunteers to guide the massive crowds through Assisi’s narrow cobblestone pathways to the lower Basilica of St. Francis, where the bones rest within a bulletproof glass enclosure.
The prolonged event will strain the historic city center’s infrastructure, with its cramped souvenir-lined alleys and basic amenities. Local residents, accustomed to periodic pilgrim surges lasting only days, face a month-long test of endurance.
“We’re used to this kind of event, but that lasts for one, two or three days,” Stoppini said. “This is something prolonged, for a month, so I’m a bit worried, but calm.”
Perched on an Umbrian hillside, Assisi already ranks among Christianity’s premier pilgrimage sites worldwide. The town’s distinctive pink limestone construction creates a magical luminescence, particularly during evening hours.
Each year, millions journey here to visit St. Francis’ burial site and the magnificent basilica above it, adorned with Giotto’s masterful frescoes depicting the saint’s remarkable life story.
Born into prosperity in 1182, St. Francis abandoned his family’s wealth to embrace poverty as a wandering monk, following what he described as a divine calling to restore and reform the Catholic Church.
His enduring legacy centers on messages of peace, environmental stewardship, and compassion for society’s most vulnerable members — principles that profoundly influenced Pope Francis, who became the first pontiff to adopt the saint’s name.
Though Franciscan monks have periodically examined St. Francis’ remains for preservation purposes throughout history, this marks their inaugural public presentation.
Religious leaders explain the decision to remove the remains from their crypt and welcome pilgrims serves to perpetuate his spiritual teachings while offering believers an intimate prayer experience.
Mayor Stoppini indicated that one month represents the maximum duration his community could reasonably accommodate, given the city already experienced substantial pilgrim increases during 2025.
While St. Francis remains Assisi’s primary draw, a newly canonized saint is attracting younger generations of faithful visitors: Carlo Acutis, whom Pope Leo XIV declared the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint following his canonization last year.
Acutis, who succumbed to leukemia at just 15 years old, lies buried in a separate Assisi basilica. His extraordinary appeal among young Latin American Catholics has transformed the town into a major destination for Catholic youth organizations touring Italy.
“When we go out onto the piazza, we find many people who ask us ‘Where’s Carlo? Where’s Carlo?’” said Brother Marco Moroni, the custodian of the convent of St. Francis.
Pilgrim numbers jumped 30% last year alone, likely reflecting both Acutis’ canonization and the Holy Year celebration that brought 33 million visitors to Rome, many continuing their journey to Assisi.
“The beautiful thing is that saints don’t go to war against one another, thanks be to God,” he added.
“Many who come to the basilica go to see Carlo, and many who go to Carlo Acutis come to the basilica, creating an osmosis and a growing movement that does though create some problems for the city.”
Local souvenir vendors, whose livelihoods depend on religious tourism and pilgrim traffic to the scenic community, welcome the extended event duration.
“Other people will see what we see every day,” with Francis’ spirit imbuing the town, said shopkeeper Arianna Catarinelli, who works in a souvenir shop in the main drag of town leading to the basilica.
Her store stocks Assisi-branded clothing, pens featuring Acutis’ photograph, St. Francis-themed coffee cups, and brightly colored rosaries.
“For residents, finding parking isn’t easy. But for businesses, I think it’s positive that there are so many people,” she said.
To manage the visitor surge, municipal authorities established additional parking facilities beyond the city center and implemented shuttle transportation into town.
Local resident Riccardo Bacconi, employed at a neighborhood bank branch, expressed hope that the temporary parking additions will become permanent fixtures that continue benefiting residents long-term.
Following his Saturday morning exercise routine, Bacconi recognized that tourism drives the town’s economy and anyone choosing to live there must accept the accompanying challenges.
“I don’t judge it negatively, economically it’s important,” he said. “There are more advantages than disadvantages.”
A Delaware-area woman who was rescued from an Iranian orphanage by a US Air Force veteran in the 1970s now faces the terrifying possibility of being sent back to Iran – a nation where her Christian faith could mean imprisonment or death.
The woman, whose identity is being protected due to her precarious legal status, represents one of thousands of international adoptees who fell through cracks in America’s adoption and immigration systems and never received citizenship.
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security sent her a notice to appear before an immigration judge in California for deportation proceedings. Her alleged crime? Overstaying her visa in March 1974 – when she was just 4 years old. She has no criminal history.
“I never imagined it would get to where it is today,” the woman explained, expressing her fear that being sent to Iran as a Christian and daughter of an American military officer could result in her death. “I always told myself that there is no way that this country could possibly send someone to their death in a country they left as an orphan. How could the United States do that?”
Her fears have intensified as the Trump administration has deployed significant military assets to the Middle East, raising the possibility of armed conflict with Iran over nuclear negotiations.
The Associated Press had previously featured this woman’s story in 2024, highlighting how numerous foreign adoptees remained without citizenship because their American parents failed to complete naturalization procedures. She has spent years attempting to resolve her legal status, meaning DHS has known about her case since at least 2008. She estimates government files on her situation span thousands of pages, though she cannot explain why deportation proceedings began now.
While the Trump administration emphasizes removing dangerous criminals through mass deportations, many individuals without criminal backgrounds have been caught up in enforcement actions. This woman’s only law enforcement encounter was a traffic stop two decades ago for phone use while driving. She maintains employment in corporate healthcare, pays taxes regularly, and owns property in California.
“When the media refuses to give names, it makes it impossible to provide details on specific cases or even verify any of this even happened or that the people even exist. If you can’t do your job, we can’t do ours,” DHS responded in a statement. The AP provided detailed information about her deportation letter, including specific reasons cited and her March 4 court date, without revealing her identity.
An immigration judge postponed her hearing until later next month and granted her attorney Emily Howe’s request that the woman not appear in person – providing relief since they worried immigration agents might arrest her at the courthouse.
Her adoptive father endured capture by German forces during World War II in 1943, remaining a prisoner until the war ended. After retiring from Air Force service, he worked as a government contractor in Iran, where he and his wife discovered her at an orphanage in 1972 and adopted her at age 2.
The family returned to America in 1973, with local newspapers running a full-page feature about their new daughter. Her adoption finalized in 1975, but parents were required to separately naturalize adopted children through federal immigration agencies at that time. Both adoptive parents have since passed away.
She discovered her lack of citizenship only when applying for a passport at 38. The reason for this oversight remains unclear. Among her father’s documents, she found a 1975 letter from an attorney stating he was coordinating with immigration officials, noting “it appears this matter is concluded,” and billing her father for services rendered.
Rather than hiding her situation, she has spent years seeking assistance from various sources: the State Department, immigration authorities, and senators. She has reached out to her congresswoman, Republican Rep. Young Kim of California, without success. Kim’s office recently responded to her deportation concerns by stating they were “not able to advise or interfere.”
“It just baffles me that it’s OK to send me to a foreign country that I could potentially die or I could get imprisoned because of a clerical error,” she stated.
Contemporary adoptees avoid this legal uncertainty thanks to legislation Congress passed in 2000, automatically granting citizenship to all legally adopted foreign children. However, lawmakers did not apply this retroactively, and it only covered those under 18 when enacted, excluding everyone born before February 27, 1983.
A diverse coalition spanning from the Southern Baptist Convention to progressive immigration organizations has lobbied Congress continuously to pass additional legislation helping older adoptees excluded from the original law, but Congress has not taken action. These advocates say the current deportation threat represents exactly the scenario they worked to prevent.
“I’m horrified. It’s rare for me to feel shocked by a story these days. But this is an absolutely unbelievable situation,” said Hannah Daniel, former director of public policy for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention’s lobbying division, who spent years urging legislators to address this issue.
International adoption has traditionally received bipartisan support from lawmakers. Many Christian denominations promote international adoption as a religious obligation, reflecting God’s acceptance of believers into a spiritual family.
Daniel, who recently joined World Relief, a Christian humanitarian organization, believes threatening to deport a Christian adoptee to Iran creates a conflict between two causes she and fellow Christians strongly support: international adoption and protecting persecuted Christians worldwide.
“That is what is most troubling to me about this: We are a nation that prides itself on fighting for religious freedom both here and abroad,” Daniel explained. “And it feels so antithetical to that to then say we’re going to send this person who, for me, is a sister in Christ to face a death sentence.”
She described the situation as “un-American and unconscionable.”
Ryan Brown, chief executive of Open Doors, a nonprofit supporting persecuted Christians globally, explained that while some Iranians are born Christian and face widespread discrimination, those considered converts from Islam to Christianity face much worse treatment. He expects a deported adoptee would be classified as a convert.
“It is assumed that you are an enemy of the state. It is assumed that if you are a Christian, that you are aligned to the West and you desire to see that the regime toppled,” he explained. “There is no benefit of the doubt extended.”
Converted Christians face routine arrests, with some receiving death sentences.
“Their prisons are world renowned for their deplorable conditions,” Brown noted.
Iranian facilities lack proper sanitation, with limited food, water, and medical care. These prisons are “notoriously more evil for women,” he said, with female inmates regularly reporting sexual assault by guards and forced marriages.
Brown, himself an adoptive parent, found it difficult to imagine what a Christian woman accustomed to American freedoms might endure arriving in Iran. She speaks no Persian and knows nothing about Iranian customs, having lived an entirely American life.
“I cannot even fathom that,” Brown said. “My prayers are with her.”
The woman believes Iran would view her with additional suspicion given her father’s military background and work as a US government contractor.
She grew up hearing her father’s wartime experiences and reading his prison camp journal, documenting the cold and hunger he endured. She felt proud of his sacrifices and service to the country she believed had rescued her.
During difficult moments now, she looks at her favorite photograph of him in military dress uniform, medals displayed on his left shoulder, wearing a subtle, confident smile.
“I’m proud of my father’s legacy. I’m part of his legacy. And what’s happening to me is wrong,” she said. “And I know that he was here, it would break his heart to know that I’m on this path.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared Saturday that his nation will resist yielding to international pressure during ongoing nuclear discussions with the United States.
During a televised address broadcast live on state television, Pezeshkian stated: “World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads… but we will not bow our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us.”
The Iranian leader’s remarks come as diplomatic efforts continue between Tehran and Washington regarding nuclear negotiations.
After completing three years of his initial NFL contract, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has become eligible for a new deal.
The 2025 AP Offensive Player of the Year isn’t rushing contract negotiations, but he believes his performance warrants becoming the league’s top-paid wide receiver.
“I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba shared with WFAA-TV. “I know my time is coming, and when we get it done it’s gonna be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I think I deserve to be the highest-paid at my position, just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all. And I think that’s worth a lot, lot more.”
The receiver, who celebrated his 24th birthday last Saturday, has one year left on his original four-year, $14.4 million rookie agreement.
“I would play this game for free, I love this game so much, but you don’t have to,” he explained. “I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”
Smith-Njigba earned the right to seek a major contract after topping the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards during the 2025 regular season. His impressive campaign included 119 catches and 10 touchdowns, earning him his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
His excellence continued into the playoffs, where he accumulated 199 yards and two touchdowns across three postseason contests, helping Seattle claim the organization’s second Super Bowl championship.
Throughout his career spanning 51 games with 36 starts, Smith-Njigba has recorded 282 receptions for 3,551 yards and 20 touchdowns since Seattle drafted him 20th overall from Ohio State in 2023.
Currently, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, age 25, holds the title of highest-paid wide receiver with an annual salary of $40.25 million from the four-year, $161 million extension he signed last March.
BORMIO, Italy – World champions Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet of France captured the first-ever Olympic ski mountaineering mixed relay championship on Saturday, maintaining their front position throughout the entire competition.
The French team completed the demanding 1.41-kilometer course in 26 minutes and 57.44 seconds. Both athletes had already earned Olympic hardware earlier this week during Thursday’s sprint competitions, with Harrop securing silver in the women’s division and Anselmet claiming bronze in the men’s category.
Swiss competitors Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler earned the silver medal, finishing 11.86 seconds behind the winners, while Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez and Oriol Cardona Coll secured the bronze medal position.
The high-stakes finale featured all 12 competing teams launching simultaneously in one of the Winter Games’ concluding events.
Each nation fielded a two-person squad consisting of one male and one female athlete, with every competitor completing two individual circuits while building upon their teammate’s positioning.
Female athletes initiated the competition at the starting line, tackling a total elevation gain and loss of 135 meters each.
The relay circuits proved more demanding than the sprint version, requiring approximately seven minutes per lap compared to three minutes in sprint competition, with athletes alternating between segments.
Athletes must navigate uphill sections on skis equipped with specialized grip “skins,” scale a staircase while carrying their skis on their backs, and navigate downhill through a compact slalom course, with seamless transitions being essential for competitive times.
The Spanish team, despite being the sole medal-earning squad that didn’t maintain consistent positioning throughout, received a three-second time penalty, likely for improper “skin” storage procedures, though this didn’t impact their final medal standing.
American competitors Anna Gibson and Cam Smith achieved a respectable fourth-place finish, while Italian husband-and-wife team Alba de Silvestro and Michele Boscacci, who received the most enthusiastic crowd support, placed fifth overall.
Germany’s governing political party has approved new restrictions that would block children under 14 from using social media platforms, marking a significant step toward implementing youth digital protections in Europe.
During a party gathering in Stuttgart on Saturday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union endorsed the proposal, which would also require stricter age verification processes for teenagers. The plan includes financial penalties for online platforms that don’t comply with these restrictions and calls for unified age standards across the European Union.
Multiple European countries are exploring comparable social media limitations or access restrictions for platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, including Spain, Greece, France, and Britain. These efforts mirror Australia’s groundbreaking approach, as that nation became the first to mandate that platforms block access for young users last year.
European governments are increasingly pressuring social media companies, potentially creating tension with the United States. President Donald Trump has warned of possible tariffs and sanctions if EU nations implement new technology taxes or online rules that impact American companies.
The approved motion stated: “We call on the federal government to introduce a legal age limit of 14 for the use of social networks and to address the special need for protection in the digital sphere up to the age of 16.”
Merz’s coalition partners, the Social Democrats, have also supported social media restrictions for children. With both coalition parties backing these measures, federal government action on restrictions appears increasingly probable.
Germany’s federal structure means media oversight falls under state jurisdiction, requiring individual states to coordinate and establish uniform national guidelines.
Students at Cardinal Frings Gymnasium in Bonn offered mixed reactions to the potential restrictions. Thirteen-year-old Moritz, who primarily uses YouTube, shared his perspective: “I think it’s fair, but I think it should be up to the parents to decide whether to forbid it, not the state. For children under 12 it should be forbidden, but from age 12 onwards I think children can already distinguish between what is fake news and what is not.”
Emma, also 13, mainly uses Snapchat with parental time limits on her device. She described how a ban would feel “kind of unusual, because you get used to sending your snap in the morning before school, or what my friends do, like just scrolling through Instagram or TikTok for a bit.”
Twelve-year-old Ella, who uses social media multiple times daily, acknowledged the addictive nature of these platforms. “So I have TikTok and Instagram myself, but I understand that it’s all addictive, and the more you scroll, the more you want to see,” she explained.
Teacher Till Franke predicted that while the restrictions “would be a shock at first, because of this daily use of social media,” students would eventually adapt “because they would find other niches where they could communicate with each other.”
A significant winter weather event is heading toward Ocean City, Maryland, prompting meteorologists to issue a Winter Storm Watch effective from Sunday morning and continuing through Monday evening.
Weather forecasters from the National Weather Service office in Wakefield, Virginia have issued warnings for dangerous conditions expected to impact the popular coastal destination. The approaching storm system is forecast to deliver substantial snowfall totals ranging from 6 to 9 inches across the area.
In addition to the heavy snow accumulation, residents and visitors should prepare for potentially hazardous wind conditions, with gusts expected to reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour during the storm’s peak intensity.
MILAN (AP) — Team Canada’s coaching staff remains undecided about whether their injured captain Sidney Crosby will take the ice for Sunday’s Olympic gold medal showdown against the United States, head coach Jon Cooper announced Saturday.
The 38-year-old center participated in Saturday’s practice session, though media access was restricted to keep Crosby’s condition under wraps. The veteran player brings impressive credentials to the team, including two previous Olympic gold medals and three Stanley Cup championships, making his potential absence significant.
“Obviously we’d love to have him,” Cooper stated. “He won’t put himself in harm’s way, and he’s not going to put the team in harm’s way.”
Crosby exited Wednesday evening’s quarterfinal match against Czechia after suffering what appeared to be a right knee injury and remained sidelined during Friday’s semifinal victory over Finland. In his absence, Connor McDavid assumed captaincy duties and recorded an assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s game-winning goal with just 35.2 seconds left on the clock.
While Olympic regulations permit teams to suit up 13 forwards compared to the NHL’s limit of 12, Cooper dismissed the idea of having Crosby dress simply for ceremonial purposes.
“No. No, it’s too important,” Cooper explained. “We don’t want to have somebody in there as an inspiration when we could have a player that could be capable of helping. You never know if guys are going to get hurt in the game. He wouldn’t want to do that, either.”
Cooper referenced Tampa Bay Lightning teammates Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, both selected for the Olympic roster but who remained home due to health concerns that would have limited their effectiveness. Defenseman Josh Morrissey has already been declared unavailable due to injury.
“When it comes to the flag, nobody’s getting in the way,” Cooper said. “If they’re not capable of giving what they think is optimal effort, they don’t want to put the country at harm. They understand what we have here.”
Team Canada mounted a comeback from a two-goal disadvantage against Finland, driven partly by their desire to secure Crosby another opportunity to compete in what might be his final Olympic appearance.
“We’ve done that, and we’ll see,” McDavid commented. “He’s been around a lot. Obviously, he’s been extremely positive: still contributing, even though he didn’t play last game, but still being the leader he is.”
Nick Suzuki, who stepped into the lineup between Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, appears positioned to retain that role in the championship game should Crosby remain unavailable. Suzuki observed that Crosby “looked really good out there on the ice” during practice and expressed hope that the respected captain will be cleared to play.
“It’d mean a lot to him and probably us,” Suzuki said. “He’s such a big leader, big voice. Everyone looks up to him. It’d be awesome if he could play.”
Bill Mazeroski, the legendary second baseman who captured baseball immortality with his championship-clinching home run in the 1960 World Series, passed away Friday at 89 years old.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Mazeroski’s death without providing details about the cause.
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting remembered the player affectionately known as “Maz,” saying “Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend … His name will always be tied to the biggest home run in baseball history and the 1960 World Series championship, but I will remember him most for the person he was: humble, gracious and proud to be a pirate.”
Though the Veterans Committee inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2001, Mazeroski’s statistics might surprise some fans. Among Cooperstown’s second basemen, he posted the weakest batting average, lowest on-base percentage, and fewest stolen bases. His career numbers included a .260 batting average, 138 home runs, and just 27 stolen bases across 17 seasons, with a .299 on-base percentage. He never reached the .300 batting mark or came close to 100 RBIs or runs scored, earning just one top-10 MVP finish.
However, his defensive excellence set him apart from his peers. The Hall of Fame honored him as a “defensive wizard” with “hard-nosed hustle” and a “quiet work ethic.” During his career as a 10-time All-Star, he established a major league record with 1,706 double plays, earning the nickname “No Hands” for his lightning-quick fielding and throws. He topped the National League in assists nine times at his position, with baseball statistician Bill James ranking him as the greatest defensive second baseman in history.
“I think defense belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Mazeroski stated during his induction ceremony. “Defense deserves as much credit as pitching and I’m proud to be going in as a defensive player.”
Yet his most memorable moment occurred at the plate, when the square-jawed West Virginia coal miner’s son fulfilled every young ballplayer’s fantasy.
The Pirates hadn’t appeared in a World Series since their 1927 sweep by the New York Yankees, and they faced those same Yankees again in 1960. While New York boasted stars like Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Pittsburgh’s roster featured few household names beyond emerging talent Roberto Clemente. The team depended on players like shortstop Dick Groat, outfielder Bob Skinner, and pitchers Vernon Law and Bob Friend. Mazeroski, who celebrated his 24th birthday that September, finished the regular season batting .273 while typically hitting eighth in the lineup.
The World Series presented a tale of two narratives. The Yankees dominated statistically, outscoring Pittsburgh 55-27 and winning their three victories by a combined 38-3 margin. New York’s Bobby Richardson set a record with 12 RBIs and earned Series MVP honors despite playing for the losing team, while Whitey Ford blanked the Pirates twice en route to a then-record 33⅔ consecutive scoreless World Series innings.
Pittsburgh’s three victories were less overwhelming but equally valuable, with Mazeroski contributing significantly. He launched a two-run homer off Jim Coates in Game 1’s fourth inning during a 6-4 Pirates win, then delivered a two-run double against Art Ditmar in the second inning of Game 5’s 5-2 victory. Game 7 would provide his crowning achievement.
Approximately 36,000 spectators packed Forbes Field, with countless more following on radio and television, as they witnessed one of baseball’s most dramatic conclusions. The lead changed hands repeatedly after Pittsburgh grabbed a 4-0 advantage, only to trail 7-4 when New York rallied in the middle innings. The Pirates reclaimed the lead with five eighth-inning runs, aided by a potential double-play grounder that took an errant bounce and struck Yankees shortstop Tony Kubek in the throat. New York answered immediately, tying the contest 9-9 in the ninth inning’s top half.
The bottom of the ninth inning has become legendary for both franchises and generations of fans. Ralph Terry, a right-handed pitcher whom manager Casey Stengel had inserted the previous inning despite acknowledging his tired arm, faced the right-handed Mazeroski, who had grounded into a double play in his last at-bat.
Terry opened with a high fastball for ball one. After a brief conference with catcher Johnny Blanchard, who advised keeping pitches low, Terry delivered what Mazeroski later described as a slider that failed to break. Mazeroski connected solidly, sending the ball soaring toward left field as it cleared the towering, ivy-covered brick wall while Yankees left fielder Yogi Berra circled beneath it before turning away in disappointment. The entire city seemed to celebrate as if everyone had swung alongside him, representing every underdog’s dream of defeating the mighty Yankees. Mazeroski sprinted around the bases, smiling and waving his cap, joined by fans who had rushed onto the field and followed him to home plate for his teammates’ embrace.
“I was just looking to get on base,” he explained to The New York Times in 1985. “Nothing fancy, just looking for a fastball until he got a strike on me. I thought it would be off the wall, and I wanted to make third if the ball ricocheted away from Berra. But when I got around first and was digging for second, I saw the umpire waving circles above his head and I knew it was over.”
ESPN has labeled it baseball’s greatest home run. The blast marked the first World Series to conclude with a homer, creating lasting joy and heartbreak. Pirates supporters memorized the date—Saturday, October 13, 1960—and the exact time of 3:36 p.m. When Forbes Field was demolished in the 1970s, fans began gathering each October 13 at the remaining center field wall to listen to the original broadcast.
The defeat devastated the Yankees. Mantle wept during the flight home, insisting the superior team had lost. Ford remained angry with Stengel—fired five days later—for using him in Games 3 and 6, preventing a potential third start. Even Pirates co-owner Bing Crosby, fearing he might jinx his team, listened to the game from Paris with friends.
“We were in this beautiful apartment, listening on shortwave, and when it got close Bing opened a bottle of Scotch and was tapping it against the mantel,” his widow, Kathryn Crosby, told the Times in 2010. “When Mazeroski hit the home run, he tapped it hard; the Scotch flew into the fireplace and started a conflagration.”
Mazeroski remained loyal to Pittsburgh throughout his career and maintained team connections off the field. He married Milene Nicholson, a front office worker he met through manager Danny Murtaugh, in 1958. They raised two sons together until her death in 2024.
William Stanley Mazeroski was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, during the Great Depression, spent his childhood in eastern Ohio, and lived temporarily in a single-room house lacking electricity and indoor plumbing. His father, Louis Mazeroski, had harbored his own baseball dreams and nurtured his son’s athletic interests, even practicing by having Bill field tennis balls bounced off a brick wall.
Despite excelling in basketball and football, he preferred baseball and impressed scouts enough for the Pirates to draft him at 17 in 1954. Originally a shortstop competing with numerous prospects at that position, he switched to second base by his 1956 rookie season. Even as a part-time player late in his career, he provided leadership and stability for the 1971 championship team featuring Clemente and Willie Stargell that defeated the Baltimore Orioles.
Following his 1972 retirement, Mazeroski briefly coached for the Pirates and Seattle Mariners while serving as Pittsburgh’s spring training infield instructor. The Pirates retired his number 9 in 1987. The 50th anniversary of his World Series heroics was commemorated in 2010 with the unveiling of a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue on Bill Mazeroski Way, depicting one of Pittsburgh’s greatest everyman heroes rounding the bases at his moment of triumph.
WASHINGTON — What’s normally a peaceful opportunity for state leaders from across party lines to gather and enjoy a relaxed evening with the president turned into another contentious affair during President Donald Trump’s second administration. Saturday’s traditional White House dinner for governors capped off a week filled with unprecedented drama and political tensions.
Prior to this week’s National Governors Association meeting, Trump publicly criticized the organization’s bipartisan leadership team, which includes Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore. Initially, the president excluded Moore and Colorado’s Gov. Jared Polis from Friday’s working session at the White House before changing his mind at the eleventh hour.
The Friday meeting was abruptly shortened when Trump received news about the Supreme Court’s ruling against his comprehensive tariff plan, creating frustration among attendees from both parties.
“It was unfortunate that the Supreme Court came out with a bad ruling at that time,” Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, a strong Trump supporter, commented.
Multiple Democratic governors had warned they would skip Saturday’s dinner entirely if their colleagues remained barred from Friday’s session. Despite Moore’s eventual inclusion, several still chose to stay away from the dinner.
“President Trump has made this whole thing a farce,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey declared when announcing her decision to avoid the dinner.
Despite all the surrounding chaos, some Democratic leaders found value in Friday’s discussions. Moore described it as a “chance for us to be able to share our thoughts and our perspectives and our ideas.”
New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed that state leaders questioned Trump about insights gained from his administration’s intensive immigration operations in Minnesota, where two American citizens died within a short timeframe.
“The President said, ‘We’ll only go where we’re wanted,’” Hochul reported with apparent satisfaction.
Veterans of previous White House dinners emphasized their importance as unique opportunities for state executives to build relationships with the president and Cabinet members outside the pressures of routine governance. Many also valued the chance to network with governors from opposing parties they rarely encounter otherwise.
Former Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who mounted a brief presidential challenge against Trump in 2024, remembered being seated with then-Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo one year and building a personal connection with her family.
“It’s a glowing evening in the White House,” said Hutchinson, who previously led the National Governors Association.
Native protesters have taken control of a major grain export facility owned by American company Cargill in Brazil’s Para state, forcing a complete shutdown of operations at the river port terminal, the company announced Saturday.
Workers at the private terminal were forced to leave the facility Friday night after demonstrators occupied the site, according to Cargill officials. The company stated it is working with local law enforcement to have the protesters removed “in an orderly and safe manner.”
The Santarem terminal plays a crucial role in Brazil’s agricultural exports, handling over 5.5 million metric tons of soybeans and corn in the previous year based on port industry records. That shipment volume, primarily sourced from Brazil’s Center West farming region, accounted for more than 70% of all grain moved through Santarem.
Company officials report “strong evidence of vandalism and damage to assets” has occurred at the facility during the takeover.
The dramatic escalation stems from an ongoing dispute between indigenous groups and the grain company regarding proposed river dredging projects along waterways like the Tapajos, which serve as transportation routes for agricultural products heading to international markets.
Cargill maintains it has no authority over the river dredging proposals.
The protesters had been preventing truck access to the terminal since January 22, though this caused minimal disruption to operations since most grain arrives via barge before being loaded onto export vessels.
Following their occupation of the facility, the demonstrators issued a letter calling on Brazil’s federal government to reverse a decree they claim would allow widespread dredging of Amazon waterways.
“Rivers are not export channels: they are a source of life, sustenance, memory, and identity for thousands of families,” the protesters wrote, explaining that dredging operations would harm water quality and destroy the fishing resources their communities depend on for survival.
Brazilian government officials have not yet responded to requests for comment on the occupation. Previously, authorities have defended dredging as standard practice needed to maintain river navigation during periods of low water levels.
Ukrainian forces launched a long-range strike against a Russian missile production facility deep within Russian territory, according to officials in Kyiv on Saturday.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that their domestically-manufactured Flamingo missiles successfully targeted the facility during overnight operations in Votkinsk, a city situated in Russia’s distant Udmurtia region approximately 800 miles from the Ukrainian border.
According to military officials, the targeted facility manufactures both intercontinental ballistic missiles and short-range ballistic missiles for Russian forces. Ukrainian forces also conducted a separate strike against a gas processing facility located in Russia’s Samara region during the same operation.
The attacks represent some of the deepest strikes Ukrainian forces have conducted into Russian territory since the conflict began.
