PRAGUE — Hockey legend Jaromir Jagr appears to be nearing the end of his extraordinary 38-year professional career.
The 54-year-old hockey icon, who is currently playing his 38th season with the Kladno Knights in his native Czech Republic, hinted strongly that his time on the ice may be over.
“Probably not,” Jagr responded when asked about continuing his career in a recent Instagram interview posted Friday evening. “It would have to be a miracle. God would have to come, enter me and make me 15 years younger.”
Whether Jagr will take the ice again this season remains uncertain. The veteran forward, who celebrated his 54th birthday on February 15, has appeared in only six games for Kladno this season, with his most recent appearance coming on December 21.
The five-time Olympian, who helped lead the Czech Republic to Olympic gold in Nagano in 1998, revealed he has been spending his recent days following the Milan Cortina Olympics from home.
“I do nothing else but eat and watch TV,” he explained. With NHL players participating in the Olympics for the first time in twelve years, Jagr expressed his enthusiasm for the competition.
“It’s the best tournament in the last 10-15 years, certainly because of the presence of NHL players,” he noted. “The games are great.”
Beyond watching hockey, short-track speed skating, and figure skating, Jagr acknowledged he’s working to maintain his fitness after recently putting on 4-5 kilograms (9-11 pounds).
“It’s really about discipline,” Jagr explained. “The worst thing is when you don’t have to. Sometimes, it’s better when you have to. When you don’t have to, forcing yourself is the hardest thing.”
“I keep myself going. I try, I don’t train to be ready to play, but I try to go skating every day if I have time.”
Jagr first joined Kladno as a 16-year-old and returned to the club in 2018 after the Calgary Flames released him. He holds the distinction of being second on the NHL’s all-time scoring list, trailing only Wayne Gretzky. During his NHL career, he captured two Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first two seasons.
Through early last year, Jagr balanced dual responsibilities as both a player and owner of Kladno, juggling administrative tasks and sponsor recruitment alongside his playing duties.
He divested his majority ownership in Kladno last January during what he had previously indicated would be his final season, though he ultimately continued playing.
If he does return to action this season, Kladno would have an opportunity to reach the playoffs for the first time with Jagr on the roster.
Experts are drawing parallels between excessive social media use and addictive substances like gambling, drugs, and tobacco products.
Although mental health professionals continue debating where normal usage ends and problematic behavior begins, there’s widespread agreement that countless individuals feel trapped by platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
These tech companies have financial motivations to maximize user engagement, generating billions through targeted advertising. Fighting against endless feeds, dopamine-triggering short videos, and the validation from likes and comments can feel overwhelming. Some users also find themselves drawn to controversial content, negative news cycles, and online arguments.
While much attention has centered on young people’s social media habits, adults face similar risks when platform usage begins disrupting their daily routines.
Stanford University School of Medicine’s Dr. Anna Lembke, who serves as medical director of addiction medicine, describes addiction as “the continued compulsive use of a substance or behavior despite harm to self or others.”
During testimony at a significant social media litigation case in Los Angeles, Lembke explained that these platforms become addictive due to the “24/7, really limitless, frictionless access” users maintain.
However, some researchers challenge using “addiction” to describe heavy social media consumption, insisting true addiction requires identifiable symptoms like intense cravings and withdrawal effects.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders doesn’t officially recognize social media addiction, partly because professionals lack consensus on defining it and understanding how existing mental health conditions contribute to excessive use.
Despite this diagnostic uncertainty, many experts believe problematic social media consumption can still cause real harm.
“For me, the biggest signpost is how does the person feel about the ‘amount,’ and how viewing it makes them feel,” explained Dr. Laurel Williams, a psychiatry and behavioral sciences professor at Baylor College of Medicine. “If what they discover is they view it so much that they are missing out on other things they may enjoy or things that they need to attend to, this is problematic use. Additionally, if you leave feeling overwhelmed, drained, sad, anxious, angry regularly, this use is not good for you.”
Key warning signs include neglecting responsibilities, hobbies, or relationships in favor of scrolling, unsuccessful attempts to reduce usage, and negative feelings about your social media habits.
University of Melbourne professor Ofir Turel, who researches social media behavior, acknowledged there’s “no agreement” on defining social media addiction and doesn’t “expect agreement soon.”
“It’s obvious that we have an issue,” Turel noted. “You don’t have to call it an addiction, but there is an issue and we need, as a society, to start thinking about it.”
Williams recommends understanding how social media algorithms and advertising target users before attempting to limit usage.
“Think of social media as a company trying to get you to stay with them and buy something — have the mindset that this is information that I don’t need to act on and may not be true,” she advised. “Get alternate sources of information. Always understand the more you see something, anyone can start to believe it is true.”
California Institute of Technology postdoctoral scholar Ian A. Anderson suggests starting with minor adjustments to prevent automatic app opening. Relocating apps on your phone or disabling notifications are “light touch interventions,” while more comprehensive approaches might include keeping phones out of bedrooms or other frequent-use areas.
Built-in technology features can help manage screen time on both iPhone and Android devices.
iPhone users can access Screen Time controls through their settings menu, allowing them to establish Downtime periods that disable phone functions during chosen hours.
These controls enable users to restrict entire app categories like social media, games, or entertainment, or target specific applications with time limits.
However, these restrictions are relatively easy to bypass, functioning more as gentle reminders than absolute barriers. When attempting to open restricted apps, users receive options for additional minutes, delayed reminders, or complete override.
When gentle approaches prove insufficient, more aggressive strategies may be necessary. Some users report success switching their phones to grayscale mode, making screens less appealing to dopamine-seeking brains. iPhone users can adjust color filters in settings, while Android users can activate Bedtime Mode or modify color correction settings. Switching to basic flip phones represents another option for curbing social media impulses.
Several startups offer physical barriers between users and their apps. Unpluq provides a yellow tag that must be held against phones to access blocked applications. Brick and Blok function similarly, requiring users to tap or scan square plastic devices to unlock apps.
For more extreme measures, various phone lockboxes and cases are available, including products originally designed for parents managing teenagers’ device usage.
Yondr, known for phone-locking pouches used at concerts and schools, also manufactures home phone storage boxes.
When technological solutions fail, examining underlying causes for social media dependency might be beneficial. Excessive usage could indicate deeper issues like anxiety, stress, isolation, depression, or confidence problems. In such cases, therapy options are becoming increasingly accessible.
“For people struggling to stay away — see if you can get a friend group to collaborate with you on it. Make it a group effort. Just don’t post about it! The more spaces become phone free, the more we may see a lessened desire to be ‘on,’” Williams concluded.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has targeted over 20 communities with large warehouse facilities as part of a massive $45 billion detention center expansion program. Many local governments are expressing frustration that federal officials are keeping them uninformed about property acquisitions until transactions are finalized. Several warehouse owners have withdrawn from potential sales agreements.
Here’s what’s happening in various locations across the country:
Arizona state’s chief prosecutor Kris Mayes wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explaining that local authorities received no advance notice before ICE acquired a 418,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Surprise, a Phoenix-area community, for $70 million.
Federal documents later revealed by ICE indicate the Department of Homeland Security projects spending $150 million to transform the building into a processing center with 1,500 beds.
A television journalist in Orlando observed private contractors and federal representatives touring a 439,945-square-foot industrial facility last month. When questioned by a WFTV correspondent, ICE senior adviser David Venturella described the visit as “exploratory.”
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer issued a statement saying the city received no communication from federal authorities and lacks legal authority to prevent a potential ICE operation.
ICE acquired a large warehouse facility in Social Circle for $128.6 million. City documents from DHS reveal plans for two additional buildings as well. The three structures combined would encompass 2.3 million square feet.
Plans are also underway to transform a warehouse in Oakwood into an ICE processing center, according to a statement from Republican U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, though no property deed has been recorded. City Manager B.R. White said his first indication of an impending transaction came when a warehouse supervisor informed a city inspector he’d received orders to evacuate the work site for new owners — the federal government.
Following concerns raised by Merrillville officials about ICE representatives touring a new 275,000-square-foot warehouse, property owner Opus Holding LLC issued a letter stating it is not in negotiations with federal authorities regarding the facility. The correspondence noted Opus was restricted in what information it could disclose due to legal matters.
ICE acquired a warehouse located approximately 60 miles northwest of Baltimore for $102.4 million, according to a deed executed last month. The document was discovered by Project Salt Box, a Maryland ICE monitoring organization.
Washington County officials announced via Facebook that DHS had notified them in advance about considering the warehouse purchase for use as a “new ICE Baltimore Processing Facility.” County commissioners subsequently approved a resolution supporting ICE operations.
ICE revealed its acquisition of a facility in Romulus only after completing the purchase. City officials responded through a Facebook post expressing concern about the “lack of prior notification.”
Warehouse owners in the Minneapolis-area communities of Woodbury and Shakopee withdrew from potential ICE agreements following public opposition, according to local authorities.
Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker announced that Noem agreed to seek alternative locations after local elected officials and zoning authorities opposed a potential detention facility in Byhalia.
Following weeks of community pressure, development company Platform Ventures declared it would not proceed with selling a large warehouse in Kansas City.
Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte engaged in disputes with federal officials after ICE revealed plans to spend $158 million converting a Merrimack warehouse into a 500-bed processing facility.
The conflict escalated when interim ICE Director Todd Lyons testified that DHS “has worked with Gov. Ayotte” and provided her with an economic impact analysis.
Ayotte responded that the claim was “simply not true.” She stated the analysis arrived hours after Lyons’ testimony. The document incorrectly referenced the “ripple effects to the Oklahoma economy” and revenue from state sales and income taxes, neither of which New Hampshire imposes.
Roxbury announced Friday that ICE had completed the warehouse purchase despite the municipality offering tax incentives to the owner to prevent the sale.
Property transaction documents showing the purchase price were not yet accessible online. The announcement occurred just two days after ICE acknowledged it had made a “mistake” in previously announcing the acquisition.
“Let us be clear: Roxbury Township will not passively accept this outcome,” the mayor and city council stated in a press release.
ICE said Tuesday it erred when it announced acquiring a vacant warehouse in Chester. New York state Assemblyman Brian Maher reported Friday that ICE is no longer evaluating the facility.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt announced last month that property owners had notified him they are no longer in discussions with DHS regarding a potential warehouse acquisition or lease.
DHS bought a warehouse in Tremont Township for $119.5 million and another in Upper Bern Township for $87.4 million. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has stated his administration will oppose DHS plans to convert the warehouses in rural eastern Pennsylvania areas into immigrant detention and processing facilities.
In Socorro, an El Paso-area community, ICE spent $122.8 million for three warehouses totaling 826,780 square feet. ICE also paid $66.1 million for a 639,595-square-foot warehouse in San Antonio. Both cities’ mayors oppose the facilities.
However, another Texas deal was cancelled due to community resistance. In Hutchins, a Dallas suburb, a real estate firm confirmed it was approached about one of its properties but would not sell or lease any buildings to DHS for detention purposes. California-based Majestic Realty Co. offered no explanation in its statement.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed appreciation in her State of the City address that warehouse owners ICE was considering for a detention facility had decided not to sell or lease the property to federal authorities.
Jim Pattison Developments stated last month that it learned of the intended warehouse use in Richmond, Virginia suburbs after agreeing to sell to a U.S. government contractor. Following boycott threats, the Vancouver-based company announced the transaction “will not be proceeding.”
SOCORRO, Texas — Federal immigration authorities have been conducting a stealth campaign to acquire enormous warehouse facilities nationwide for detention purposes, frequently bypassing local government notification entirely.
The Department of Homeland Security completed a $122.8 million purchase of three massive warehouses totaling 826,000 square feet in Socorro, Texas, near the Mexican border. Local officials discovered the transaction only after the deed appeared in public records.
“Nobody from the federal government bothered to pick up the phone or even send us any type of correspondence letting us know what’s about to take place,” stated Rudy Cruz Jr., mayor of the 40,000-resident community located outside El Paso.
Socorro represents one of approximately 20 locations nationwide where Immigration and Customs Enforcement has targeted large warehouse properties as part of a $45-billion detention facility expansion program.
With declining public approval for the agency’s operations and the current administration’s immigration enforcement policies, numerous communities are voicing opposition to mass detention facilities. Local leaders express concerns about potential strain on water systems and municipal services, along with reduced property tax collections. Many mayors, county officials, governors and congressional representatives have learned about ICE’s acquisition plans only after purchases were finalized, creating surprise and anger even in regions that previously supported the administration.
“I just feel,” Cruz commented, whose spouse was born in Mexico, “that they do these things in silence so that they don’t get opposition.”
ICE, operating under DHS oversight, has acquired no fewer than seven warehouse properties across Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas, according to filed deeds. Additional transactions have been announced but remain incomplete, while buyers have canceled eight other planned purchases.
DHS rejected characterizing these properties as warehouses, emphasizing in an official statement that they would become “very well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards.”
The acquisition process has experienced significant confusion. ICE acknowledged this past week making an “error” regarding announced warehouse purchases in Chester, New York, and Roxbury, New Jersey. Roxbury subsequently confirmed Friday that their sale had been completed.
DHS has verified its search for additional detention space but has not revealed specific locations prior to acquisitions. Some municipalities learned of ICE warehouse scouting through media reports. Others received information from an online spreadsheet circulated by activists with unknown origins.
The warehouse project’s full extent became clear February 13th when New Hampshire’s governor’s office, responding to opposition against a planned 500-bed processing facility, released ICE documentation showing the agency’s plan to spend $38.3 billion expanding detention capacity to 92,000 beds.
Since the current administration began, ICE detention population has grown from 40,000 to 75,000 individuals housed across more than 225 locations.
ICE could utilize these warehouses for consolidation and capacity expansion. The documentation outlines a project including eight large-scale detention facilities housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees each, plus 16 smaller regional processing centers. The document also mentions acquiring 10 existing “turnkey” facilities.
Funding comes from the comprehensive tax and spending legislation passed by Congress last year that nearly doubled DHS’s budget. The administration is utilizing military contracts for detention center construction.
These contracts permit considerable secrecy and enable DHS to proceed rapidly without standard processes and protections, according to Charles Tiefer, professor emeritus of law at the University of Baltimore Law School.
In Socorro, the ICE-purchased warehouses are so expansive that four and a half Walmart Supercenters could fit inside, contrasting sharply with the remaining Spanish colonial and mission architecture characterizing the community.
During a recent City Council session, public testimony continued for hours. “I think a lot of innocent people are getting caught up in their dragnet,” said Jorge Mendoza, an El Paso County retiree whose grandparents immigrated from Mexico.
Multiple speakers referenced concerns about three recent fatalities at an ICE detention facility at nearby Fort Bliss Army base.
Even communities that supported the administration in 2024 have been surprised by ICE’s plans and expressed concerns.
In rural Pennsylvania’s Berks County, commissioner Christian Leinbach contacted the district attorney, sheriff, jail warden and county emergency services director upon hearing ICE might purchase a warehouse in Upper Bern Township, located 3 miles from his residence.
None had any information.
Days later, a local land records official informed him that ICE had purchased the building — marketed by developers as a “state-of-the art logistics center” — for $87.4 million.
“There was absolutely no warning,” Leinbach stated during a meeting where he expressed concerns that converting the warehouse into a federal facility would eliminate over $800,000 in local tax revenue.
ICE has promoted the income taxes its employees would generate, though the facilities themselves will be property tax-exempt.
In Social Circle, Georgia, which also strongly backed the administration in 2024, officials were shocked by ICE’s plans for a facility potentially housing 7,500 to 10,000 individuals after learning about it through a reporter.
The city, with just 5,000 residents and concerns about infrastructure requirements for such a detention center, only heard from DHS after the $128.6 million sale of a 1 million-square-foot warehouse was completed. Like Socorro and Berks County, Social Circle questioned whether water and sewage systems could handle the demand.
ICE has stated it conducted proper analysis to ensure sites wouldn’t overwhelm municipal utilities. However, Social Circle said the agency’s assessment depended on a not-yet-constructed sewer treatment plant.
“To be clear, the City has repeatedly communicated that it does not have the capacity or resources to accommodate this demand, and no proposal presented to date has demonstrated otherwise,” the city stated.
In the Phoenix suburb of Surprise, officials sent a harsh letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after ICE purchased a large warehouse in a residential neighborhood approximately one mile from a high school without advance notice. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, suggested potential legal action to have the location declared a public nuisance.
Back in Socorro, residents waiting to oppose the ICE facility filled the City Council chambers and spilled into hallways, some standing near murals honoring the World War II-era Braceros Program that permitted Mexican agricultural workers to serve as guest workers in the U.S. The program boosted Socorro’s economy and population before President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration began mass deportations in the 1950s targeting individuals who had crossed the border illegally.
Eduardo Castillo, formerly an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, told city officials that challenging the federal government is intimidating but “not impossible.”
“If you don’t at least try,” he stated, “you will end up with another inhumane detention facility built in your jurisdiction and under your watch.”
EDGEWOOD, N.M. — During the 1970s, thousands of Native American women underwent sterilization procedures through the Indian Health Service without receiving proper informed consent, robbing them of their ability to have children or expand their families.
Now, after decades of silence, New Mexico officials are preparing to examine this dark chapter in medical history and its enduring consequences.
State lawmakers this week authorized the Indian Affairs Department and Commission on the Status of Women to conduct a comprehensive review of forced and coerced sterilizations performed on women of color by the Indian Health Service and other medical providers. Officials expect to deliver their conclusions to the governor before 2027 ends.
State Sen. Linda Lopez, who sponsored the legislation, emphasized the significance of the investigation. “It’s important for New Mexico to understand the atrocities that took place within the borders of our state,” Lopez stated.
New Mexico joins other states addressing similar historical wrongs. Vermont established a truth and reconciliation commission in 2023 to examine forced sterilizations of marginalized populations, including Native Americans. California started providing compensation in 2024 to individuals sterilized without consent in state facilities.
The New Mexico Legislature also established groundwork for creating a healing commission and formal recognition of this lesser-known historical trauma affecting Native families.
University of Kansas School of Law professor Sarah Deer believes this action comes far too late. “The women in these communities carry these stories,” Deer explained.
Beyond a 1976 Government Accountability Office report, federal authorities have never officially recognized what Deer describes as “systemic” sterilization campaigns targeting Native American communities.
Neither the Indian Health Service nor its parent organization, the Department of Health and Human Services, responded to requests for comment regarding New Mexico’s investigation.
Jean Whitehorse’s experience illustrates the trauma many women endured. In 1972, the 22-year-old new mother was rushed to an Indian Health Service facility in Gallup with a ruptured appendix. Whitehorse recalls suffering “extreme pain” while medical staff presented numerous consent documents before emergency surgery.
“The nurse held the pen in my hand. I just signed on the line,” recalled Whitehorse, who belongs to the Navajo Nation.
Years later, while trying to conceive another child, Whitehorse discovered she had received a tubal ligation during that emergency procedure. This revelation devastated her, damaged her relationship, and led to struggles with alcohol addiction.
Advocacy groups were already raising concerns about women like Whitehorse who visited IHS facilities for childbirth or medical procedures only to later discover their inability to conceive. The activist organization Women of All Red Nations, connected to the American Indian Movement, formed partly to expose these practices.
In 1974, Dr. Connie Redbird Uri, a physician of Choctaw and Cherokee heritage, examined IHS records and claimed the federal agency had sterilized up to 25% of women in their reproductive years. Some women Uri interviewed were unaware of their sterilizations, while others reported being pressured into consent or told the procedures could be reversed.
Uri’s findings led to the GAO investigation, which documented 3,406 sterilizations performed by the Indian Health Service across four of its 12 regions between 1973 and 1976, including the Albuquerque area. Investigators found many patients were under 21, and most signed documents that failed to meet federal standards for informed consent.
GAO investigators decided against interviewing sterilized women, claiming such conversations “would not be productive” based on a single study of heart surgery patients in New York who had difficulty remembering doctor conversations. Due to this limited approach and narrow scope, advocates argue the complete extent and impact remains unknown.
Whitehorse kept her experience secret for nearly four decades before first telling her daughter, then other relatives. “Each time I tell my story, it relieves the shame, the guilt,” Whitehorse shared. “Now I think, why should I be ashamed? It’s the government that should be ashamed of what they did to us.”
Today, Whitehorse publicly advocates for forced sterilization survivors. She testified before the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2025, urging the United States to issue a formal apology.
While Whitehorse supports New Mexico’s investigation as a platform for survivor stories, advocates like Rachael Lorenzo warn about potential re-traumatization. Lorenzo leads Indigenous Women Rising, an Albuquerque reproductive health organization.
“It’s such a taboo topic. There’s a lot of support that needs to happen when we tell these traumatic stories,” Lorenzo noted.
During recent New Mexico legislative hearings, retired Indian Health Service physician Dr. Donald Clark testified about treating patients in their twenties and thirties who “seeking contraception but not trusting that they will not be irreversibly sterilized” due to family stories passed down through generations.
“It’s still an issue that is affecting women’s choice of birth control today,” Clark testified.
The 1927 Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell authorized states to sterilize individuals deemed “unfit” for reproduction, enabling forced sterilizations of immigrants, racial minorities, disabled individuals, and other marginalized groups throughout the 1900s.
According to Lorenzo and Deer, Native American women’s sterilizations represent part of broader federal policies designed to undermine Indigenous reproductive rights, including systematic removal of Native children to boarding schools and non-Native foster care, plus the 1976 Hyde Amendment preventing federally-funded tribal medical facilities from providing most abortion services.
Canadian doctors faced sanctions as recently as 2023 for sterilizing Indigenous women without consent.
Deer believes New Mexico’s investigation could establish precedent for accountability, though she warns that federal government cooperation will be essential for effective fact-finding.
BORMIO, Italy – Two American athletes are making their mark in ski mountaineering at the Milano Cortina Olympics, challenging the long-standing European supremacy in this winter sport ahead of Saturday’s mixed relay competition.
Anna Gibson and Cam Smith have already carved out a place in sporting history after delivering the United States its inaugural World Cup victory in ski mountaineering this past December, earning their Olympic berths in the process.
The discipline, which traces its origins to alpine military exercises, has traditionally been the domain of European competitors in World Cup events. However, the sport’s new Olympic status has sparked increased international participation, with American athletes leading the charge from non-European nations.
Smith brings years of experience in the sport to the Games, though December marked her debut World Cup appearance, and the Olympic sprint represented just her fourth official competition. Gibson’s journey is even more remarkable – she transitioned from trail running to join the US national team only last September.
Austrian competitor Johanna Hiemer remarked in December about Gibson’s rapid emergence in the ski mountaineering world: “Within one summer everything changed, and we always said it wouldn’t happen overnight but it proved the opposite.”
Sarah Cookler, who leads USA SkiMo as Head of Sport, expressed optimism in December about the Olympic inclusion boosting the sport’s profile domestically. “It’s really only a matter of time before we can attract the strongest athletes for this and be really competitive,” Cookler stated.
Both American competitors advanced to the semifinals in Thursday’s Olympic sprint events as “lucky losers” from their initial heats, with Gibson finishing ninth overall and Smith placing 11th.
“Hopefully the U.S. can kind of continue to improve and climb and be on par with the Europeans in the near future,” Cookler said in December. She brought on Italian coach Oscar Angeloni in 2024, partly to adopt training methods similar to those used by European squads.
Gibson noted the unique experience of competing in Bormio, where ski mountaineering enjoys widespread recognition and understanding among locals and spectators alike.
“You can feel that SkiMo is just part of the culture. It’s very normal. It’s very understood here,” Gibson explained. “To not have to explain what it is to people here and just know that there are fans who have been supporters of the sport for a long time is really special.”
Regardless of their Saturday finish, both Smith and Gibson express satisfaction with their Olympic showing thus far.
“The sprint is definitely not my best event, so I’m just taking it as a really positive sign for Saturday and the mixed relay. It’s a great sign for Anna and I that we’ve made it as far as we did in the sprint,” Smith commented Friday.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have strengthened economic ties between their nations by formalizing a mining cooperation agreement during Saturday’s diplomatic meetings in New Delhi.
The mining partnership was established as India works to secure additional raw materials for its growing steel industry while Brazil leverages its position as a leading global iron ore producer. Lula concluded a three-day diplomatic visit to India’s capital this week.
According to Indian government officials, the collaboration will enhance India’s ability to obtain essential steelmaking materials and advanced technologies necessary for sustained industrial growth. Brazil possesses extensive iron ore deposits and substantial reserves of other minerals crucial for steel production.
The partnership will concentrate on drawing investment into mineral exploration, mining operations, and steel industry infrastructure development, government representatives stated.
India currently maintains steel production capabilities of 218 million metric tons, with companies working to increase output to satisfy growing domestic needs fueled by infrastructure projects and industrial expansion.
During discussions with the Brazilian delegation headed by Lula, Modi outlined their focus on strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations.
“We are committed to taking bilateral trade much beyond $20 billion in the next five years,” Modi stated.
Current trade volume between the countries reaches approximately $15 billion annually.
“Our nations will also work closely in areas such as technology, innovation, digital public infrastructure, AI, semiconductors and more,” Modi added.
The two countries have maintained strategic partnership status since 2006, collaborating across multiple sectors including trade, defense, energy, agriculture, healthcare, critical minerals, technology, and digital infrastructure.
Brazil serves as India’s primary trading partner throughout the Latin America and Caribbean region, with both nations coordinating efforts on international matters including United Nations reform, climate change initiatives, and counter-terrorism measures.
During Thursday’s discussions, Lula proposed that Brazil and India should conduct trade using their respective national currencies instead of relying on U.S. dollar transactions. However, he rejected suggestions that BRICS member nations, which include both countries, would establish a shared currency system.
Italian athletes delivered a spectacular one-two finish in men’s ski cross competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday, with Simone Deromedis securing gold and Federico Tomasoni earning silver on their nation’s slopes.
The dynamic duo crossed the finish line in Livigno to thunderous applause from the home crowd, immediately collapsing onto their backs in the snow to recover from the intense race. Switzerland’s Alex Fiva rounded out the podium with a bronze medal, adding to his silver from the previous Olympic Games four years earlier.
Harsh weather conditions made the competition particularly demanding, as heavy snowfall persisted throughout the day’s events. The poor visibility and accumulating snow created additional obstacles for athletes navigating the challenging mountain course.
The medal presentation became an emotional celebration as Deromedis leaped onto the winner’s platform with a beaming smile, embracing his fellow medalist. Tomasoni showed his appreciation by kissing his silver medal and gazing upward while Italian supporters enthusiastically displayed their nation’s tricolor flag. The ceremony concluded with both athletes and spectators joining together for their national anthem.
This high-octane winter sport involves four competitors racing simultaneously down a 1.5-kilometer track packed with obstacles including bumps, aerial sections, and sharp curves. The discipline has earned a reputation for its unpredictable nature, frequently featuring collisions and spectacular falls among participants.
The previous Olympic champion, Switzerland’s Rya Regez, saw his title defense end prematurely when officials disqualified him during semifinal competition for impeding Japan’s Satoshi Furuno.
Germany’s Daniela Maier had claimed victory in the women’s ski cross event the previous day.
TESERO, Italy – Norwegian cross-country skiing champion Johannes Klaebo has made Winter Olympic history by capturing his 11th career gold medal during competition at the Milano Cortina Games this Saturday.
Klaebo’s latest triumph places him at the pinnacle of Winter Olympic achievement, surpassing a group of elite athletes who previously shared top honors with eight gold medals each. Those former record holders include fellow Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjoergen (competing from 2002-2018), Norwegian biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (1998-2014), and another Norwegian cross-country champion Bjorn Daehlie (1992-1998).
Currently active German luge teammates Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl each hold seven gold medals from their careers spanning 2014 to the present games. Multiple athletes share the six-gold medal mark, including Dutch speed skater Ireen Wust (2006-2022), cross-country skier Lyubov Yegorova representing the Unified Team and Russia (1992-1994), short-track speed skating star Viktor Ahn who competed for both South Korea and Russia (2006-2014), French biathlon champion Martin Fourcade (2010-2018), German luge competitor Natalie Geisenberger (2010-2022), and Soviet Union speed skating pioneer Lidiya Skoblikova (1960-1964).
Klaebo’s record-setting performance continues Norway’s remarkable legacy of Winter Olympic excellence, with the Nordic nation producing many of the sport’s greatest champions across multiple disciplines.
Norwegian cross-country skiing sensation Johannes Klaebo made Winter Olympics history Saturday, capturing his sixth gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games and setting a new record for most titles won in a single Winter Olympics competition.
The 29-year-old athlete, affectionately known as “King Klaebo” by his supporters, dominated the men’s 50-kilometer classic race in Tesero, Italy, surpassing American speed skater Eric Heiden’s longstanding record of five gold medals earned at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.
This latest victory brings Klaebo’s career Olympic gold medal count to 11, placing him second only to American swimmer Michael Phelps, who holds 23 Olympic titles.
The race featured a commanding Norwegian performance, with the country’s athletes claiming all three medal positions. Klaebo was initially part of a three-man Norwegian breakaway group, with Martin Loewstroem Nyenget setting an aggressive pace early in the competition.
However, Klaebo pulled away from his compatriots during the race’s final uphill section, using the same climbing strategy that had proven successful in his other victories throughout these Games.
Nyenget claimed the silver medal, crossing the finish line 8.9 seconds after Klaebo, while Emil Iversen earned bronze, finishing 30.7 seconds behind the winner. France’s Theo Schely placed fourth, nearly three minutes behind the Norwegian champion.
Despite his commanding victory, Klaebo showed rare signs of physical strain, collapsing at the finish line in an unusual display of exhaustion for the skier who has swept all six men’s cross-country events at these Olympics.
Several notable competitors withdrew from the race due to health issues. Norway’s Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Finland’s Iivo Niskanen, both considered medal contenders, dropped out around the 37-minute mark after completing approximately 15 kilometers.
Niskanen had been battling illness throughout the week, while Amundsen cited pre-Games sickness as affecting his performance.
“When I noticed I’m not going skiing for medals today, I figured it’s time to come to my senses so that I don’t kill myself out there,” Niskanen explained after withdrawing from competition.
Olympic medalists Federico Pellegrino of Italy and Ben Ogden of the United States were also absent from the race due to illness.
America’s cattle industry is experiencing a crisis not witnessed in more than seven decades, with livestock numbers falling to their lowest levels since 1951.
The dramatic decline in cattle populations nationwide has created unprecedented challenges for ranching families, prompting discussions about the future of beef production in the United States.
NPR’s Scott Simon recently conducted an interview with Oklahoma ranchers Zach and Kacie Scherler-Abney to explore the mounting difficulties confronting cattle operations across the country.
The conversation with the Scherler-Abney family sheds light on the complex issues plaguing the livestock industry, as ranchers struggle to navigate economic pressures and changing market conditions.
This significant reduction in cattle numbers represents a concerning trend for both producers and consumers, potentially impacting beef availability and pricing in markets nationwide.
RAYAK, Lebanon — Eight Hezbollah militants died in Israeli military strikes in eastern Lebanon late Friday, according to two officials from the militant organization who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported a higher casualty count of 10 deaths and 24 injuries, though their figures did not separate combatants from civilians.
The strikes targeted an area close to Rayak village in northeastern Lebanon, where Associated Press journalists observed significant damage to a three-story structure, with the upper level completely destroyed.
Israeli military officials confirmed Saturday that they had “eliminated” multiple Hezbollah missile unit personnel across three separate command facilities in the Baalbek region.
According to the Israeli army, those killed were “operating to accelerate readiness and force build-up processes, while planning fire attacks toward Israel.”
A Hezbollah source identified three of the deceased as regional commanders: Ali al-Moussawi, Mohammed al-Moussawi and Hussein Yaghi.
Hussein Yaghi was the son of Mohammed Yaghi, a founding member and prominent Hezbollah figure who passed away in 2023. The elder Yaghi had served as a trusted associate of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike in September 2024.
Ali Abdullah, who heads Rayak Hospital, confirmed to AP that his facility treated 10 fatalities and 21 wounded from the post-sunset attack. Among the dead were two foreign nationals — one Syrian man and one Ethiopian woman. The injured included five Syrians and three Ethiopians.
The current conflict traces back to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 assault on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Hezbollah subsequently launched rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israel, expressing solidarity with Hamas and Palestinian forces.
Israel retaliated with aerial bombardments and artillery fire. This limited engagement expanded into comprehensive warfare in September 2024, which was later curtailed by a U.S.-mediated truce agreement two months afterward.
Following the ceasefire, Israel has maintained that Hezbollah continues reconstruction efforts, prompting almost daily Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory targeting what it describes as Hezbollah operatives and installations. Hezbollah has acknowledged conducting one attack on Israel since the ceasefire took effect.
Friday’s casualty numbers represent an unusually severe toll and occur amid heightened regional tensions, as the United States has warned of potential military action against Iran — which supports both Hezbollah and Hamas — should diplomatic efforts regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities fail to achieve results.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungarian officials announced they will prevent a massive $106 billion European Union aid package from reaching Ukraine unless Russian oil deliveries through a critical pipeline are restored.
Oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia came to a halt on January 27th when Ukrainian authorities reported that a Russian drone strike had damaged the Druzhba pipeline. This key energy artery transports Russian crude oil across Ukrainian soil into Central European nations.
Both Hungary and Slovakia have temporary waivers allowing them to continue importing Russian oil despite broader EU restrictions. These countries now claim, without offering proof, that Ukraine is intentionally preventing the restoration of oil supplies.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó released a social media video Friday night, claiming Ukraine was engaging in “blackmail” by not restarting the oil flow. He announced his nation would obstruct the interest-free loan that EU leaders approved in December to support Ukraine’s military and economic requirements over the coming two years.
“We will not give in to this blackmail. We do not support Ukraine’s war, we will not pay for it,” Szijjártó said. “As long as Ukraine blocks the resumption of oil supplies to Hungary, Hungary will block European Union decisions that are important and favorable for Ukraine.”
This financial blockade follows Hungary’s decision earlier this week to halt diesel shipments to Ukraine until Druzhba pipeline operations restart. The escalation comes just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s large-scale military assault on Ukraine.
While virtually all European nations have dramatically cut or completely eliminated Russian energy purchases since Moscow began its war on February 24, 2022, Hungary continues as both an EU and NATO member to maintain and expand its Russian oil and gas imports.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his nationalist policies, has consistently maintained that Russian energy sources are essential for his country’s economic stability. He argues that transitioning to alternative energy suppliers would trigger immediate economic disaster, though several experts challenge this assessment.
Orbán is widely regarded as Moscow’s strongest supporter within the European Union and has repeatedly resisted the bloc’s sanctions against Russia following the invasion. He has also criticized measures targeting Russian energy profits that help fund the military campaign, and his administration has regularly threatened to veto EU assistance to Ukraine.
The $106 billion loan package did not receive unanimous support from all 27 EU member nations. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic initially opposed the proposal, but an agreement was eventually reached where these countries agreed not to block the funding in exchange for guarantees protecting them from potential financial consequences.
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces launched a long-range drone assault on Saturday targeting a Russian defense manufacturing facility located deep within Russian territory, according to reports from Russian officials and media outlets.
The drone operation hit a facility in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, resulting in injuries to 11 individuals, with three requiring hospital treatment, local health minister Sergei Bagin reported via Telegram.
Regional leader Alexander Brechalov confirmed in a Telegram message that “One of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones” launched by Ukrainian forces. Brechalov noted the assault resulted in both casualties and property damage, though he declined to identify the specific location or provide additional information.
The unofficial Russian Telegram news outlet Astra identified the target as the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a significant state-run defense contractor. Astra based this assessment on video evidence obtained from local residents.
Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the operation.
Located more than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from Ukraine’s borders, the Votkinsk facility manufactures Iskander ballistic missiles frequently deployed in Russian attacks on Ukraine, along with nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Russian media outlets shared video footage and photographs allegedly taken by Votkinsk residents, displaying dark smoke billowing from an industrial complex and shattered windows on nearby structures.
SHOT, another unofficial Russian Telegram channel known for citing security service sources, reported that Votkinsk residents heard no fewer than three explosions overnight, accompanied by sounds they believed were drone engines.
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — In a groundbreaking demonstration, federal officials completed the nation’s first aerial transport of a compact nuclear reactor, flying the device nearly 700 miles from California to Utah over the weekend.
The historic mission involved moving a 5-megawatt microreactor aboard a military C-17 aircraft, showcasing America’s capabilities for rapid nuclear power deployment in both military and civilian settings. The reactor, roughly the size of a minivan, was transported without nuclear fuel as part of the test.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Defense Undersecretary Michael Duffey accompanied the February 15th flight, calling it a major milestone in efforts to fast-track commercial approval for these compact power systems. The initiative aligns with the Trump administration’s broader strategy to transform the nation’s energy sector.
“Today is history. A multi-megawatt, next-generation nuclear power plant is loaded in the C-17 behind us,” Wright declared before the two-hour journey from March Air Reserve Base to Hill Air Force Base.
The transport represents part of President Trump’s commitment to nuclear energy expansion, viewing it as a carbon-free electricity source that provides reliable power. This comes as the administration simultaneously promotes fossil fuels while showing skepticism toward renewable energy sources.
Wright announced that this reactor joins at least two others expected to achieve “criticality” — the point where nuclear reactions become self-sustaining — by July 4th, fulfilling Trump’s timeline promise.
“That’s speed, that’s innovation, that’s the start of a nuclear renaissance,” Wright stated.
The United States currently operates 94 nuclear reactors generating approximately 19% of national electricity, according to Energy Information Administration data. This represents a decline from 104 reactors in 2013, though it includes two recently completed commercial reactors in Georgia — the first large-scale reactors built from the ground up in decades.
Given the lengthy timelines associated with traditional reactor construction, industry leaders and government officials have shifted focus toward more efficient designs, including small modular reactors being developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
These portable microreactors can “accelerate the delivery of resilient power to where it’s needed,” Duffey explained. Military officials envision these mobile units eventually providing energy independence for bases without relying on civilian power grids.
“The demonstration flight gets us closer to deploy nuclear power when and where it is needed to give our nation’s warfighters the tools to win in battle,” Duffey said.
Isaiah Taylor, CEO of California startup Valar Atomics which manufactured the reactor, said the unit can produce enough electricity for 5,000 homes. The company plans to begin test power sales next year and achieve full commercial operation by 2028.
However, critics question the technology’s viability and safety. Edwin Lyman from the Union of Concerned Scientists dismissed the transport demonstration as “a dog-and-pony show” that simply proved the military’s ability to move heavy equipment.
The flight “doesn’t answer any questions about whether the project is feasible, economic, workable or safe — for the military and the public,” Lyman said.
Lyman argued that the Trump administration “hasn’t made the safety case” for securely transporting fuel-loaded microreactors to data centers or military installations. Additionally, officials haven’t resolved nuclear waste disposal issues, though Wright indicated the Energy Department is discussing potential reprocessing or permanent storage sites with Utah and other states.
The transported microreactor will undergo testing and evaluation at Utah’s San Rafael Energy Lab, with fuel supplied by Nevada’s National Security site, according to officials.
“The answer to energy is always more,” Wright concluded. Following what he characterized as four years of energy restrictions under the Biden administration, he said, “now we’re trying to set everything free. And nuclear will be flying soon.”
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans experienced a brief moment of respite Friday from one of their biggest disagreements with the Trump administration, but that relief quickly evaporated.
The nation’s highest court overturned a major part of President Donald Trump’s worldwide tariff program, determining that Congress holds constitutional authority over tax imposition. Republican lawmakers initially responded to Friday morning’s ruling with cautious statements, with some offering praise, while GOP leadership indicated willingness to collaborate with Trump on future tariff policies.
However, by afternoon, Trump declared his intention to bypass Congress entirely, announcing a new worldwide 10% import tax. He’s implementing this under legislation that limits such tariffs to 150 days and has never been utilized in this manner previously. This choice could significantly impact the global economy while forcing Republicans to continue defending Trump’s tariff policies through the approaching midterm elections.
“I have the right to do tariffs, and I’ve always had the right to do tariffs,” Trump declared during a press conference, emphasizing his independence from congressional approval.
Trade tariffs represent one of the rare policy areas where Republican-led Congress has challenged Trump. Both chambers have previously approved measures criticizing tariffs imposed on trading allies like Canada. This issue also stands out as one where GOP legislators, raised in a traditionally free-trade party, have openly criticized Trump’s economic approach.
“The empty merits of sweeping trade wars with America’s friends were evident long before today’s decision,” former longtime Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell stated, noting that tariffs increase housing costs and harm industries crucial to Kentucky.
Democrats, seeking congressional control, plan to adopt McConnell’s argument. During Friday’s press conference, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated Trump’s new tariffs “will still raise people’s costs and they will hurt the American people as much as his old tariffs did.”
Schumer urged Republicans to prevent Trump from implementing the 10% global tariff. Democrats also demanded refunds for consumers affected by the Supreme Court-overturned tariffs.
“The American people paid for these tariffs and the American people should get their money back,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., posted on social media.
This situation reinforces Democrats’ key midterm message: Trump has failed to reduce living costs and has increased prices through tariffs.
Medium-sized American companies have absorbed import taxes by raising customer prices, reducing workforce, or accepting decreased profits, according to JPMorganChase Institute research.
Friday’s Supreme Court ruling clearly established that most justices believe Congress exclusively holds constitutional tariff authority. Nevertheless, Trump immediately issued an executive order referencing the Trade Act of 1974, which allows presidential temporary import taxes during “large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits” or similar international payment issues. This authority remains unused and legally untested.
Republicans have occasionally cautioned Trump about potential economic consequences of his tariff proposals. However, before Trump’s “Liberation Day” global tariffs last April, Republican leadership avoided directly opposing the president.
Some GOP lawmakers supported the new tariff approach, revealing generational divisions among Republicans, with younger members strongly backing Trump’s strategy. Instead of following traditional free trade principles, they advocate “America First” protectionism, hoping to revitalize American manufacturing.
Ohio freshman Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno criticized Friday’s Supreme Court decision and urged GOP colleagues to “codify the tariffs that had made our country the hottest country on earth!”
Meanwhile, some Republican tariff opponents celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling. Rep. Don Bacon, an administration critic not seeking reelection, posted on social media that “Congress must stand on its own two feet, take tough votes and defend its authorities.”
Bacon anticipated increased Republican resistance. He and several other GOP members recently forced a House vote on Trump’s Canada tariffs. Following that measure’s passage, Trump threatened political retaliation against Republicans opposing his tariff plans.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – A Swiss men’s curling squad turned their multilingual background into Olympic success, capturing bronze after defeating Norway 9-1 on Friday at the Winter Olympics.
Led by Yannick Schwaller, the Swiss team secured third place after falling short of gold despite completing an undefeated round-robin performance. Their unique approach to on-ice communication became both a spectacle for viewers and a strategic advantage against competitors.
Team members hail from different Swiss regions and naturally speak different languages, creating what they describe as multilingual chaos during matches.
“(When we began) we promised ourselves to speak French on the ice,” explained Pablo Lachat-Couchepin, the team’s lead player from French-speaking Lausanne.
“I think the calls are being made in French, but everything else is a word salad. It’s fun, I think it’s very enjoyable to look at on TV. A lot of French, some English and some German — so everyone can understand a bit,” he shared with media.
Switzerland recognizes four official languages across its territory: German, French, Italian and Romansh, reflecting the country’s position in central Europe.
“Also for the opponents, sometimes it’s not easy to understand. So we like that we can switch to German whenever we play an English team, and we can switch to French whenever we play a Swiss-German team,” Lachat-Couchepin noted.
The squad, currently ranked second globally and silver medalists at last year’s world championships, formed their partnership in 2022.
“It’s been a lot of work. When we created the team, we met at the Zurich train station, because we all come from different parts of Switzerland,” Lachat-Couchepin recalled.
“That was the easiest way. We said the first objective of the team is to have fun, to play good curling … I think what we showcased this week is pretty much what we wanted to do the whole four years.
“We’ve had a ton of fun on tour. We’ve become more than teammates. We’re real friends … It was a rollercoaster, but a very positive rollercoaster. We’re happy. We don’t know what the future will bring, but I think we have reasons to want to continue that way.”
LIVIGNO, Italy – Team USA successfully defended their Olympic championship in freestyle skiing mixed team aerials on Saturday, claiming gold for the second consecutive Games while Switzerland earned silver and China settled for bronze.
The American squad bounced back impressively after being shut out of medal contention in both the individual women’s and men’s competitions earlier this week, where Chinese athletes Wang Xindi and Xu Mengtao, a married couple, captured those respective gold medals.
Leading the victorious U.S. effort was Kaila Kuhn, who claimed gold at the 2025 world championships in both women’s and mixed team aerials events, despite placing fifth in Wednesday’s Olympic women’s individual competition.
Joining Kuhn on the winning team were Christopher Lillis and Connor Curran, who had finished eighth and 12th respectively in Friday’s men’s individual final.
Team USA posted a winning score of 325.35 points out of a maximum possible 450. The Swiss squad, featuring men’s individual silver medalist Noe Roth, accumulated 296.91 points, while China finished with 279.68 points.
Competition at the alpine venue took place under challenging overcast skies with falling snow that reduced visibility, creating additional obstacles for the competing athletes.
China’s hopes for a third gold medal were derailed by costly errors from Wang and Li Tianma, the men’s individual bronze medalist, as both athletes failed their landings following high-difficulty aerial maneuvers.
The aerial skiing discipline showcases gravity-defying athleticism and has been featured in Winter Olympic competition since 1994 for individual events, with mixed team competition added in 2022.
Competitors launch themselves from nearly vertical ramps, soaring through the air while executing intricate acrobatic routines at speeds exceeding 65 kilometers per hour.
Scoring is based on factors including height achieved, distance traveled, artistic style, routine difficulty, and landing execution, with each jump receiving a maximum possible score of 150 points.
Mixed team competition features both male and female athletes representing each nation, with three competitors per country contributing their individual scores toward a combined team total.
The annual State of the Union address has transformed dramatically from its humble beginnings into today’s prime-time political theater, where partisan battles and memorable confrontations often overshadow policy discussions.
When President George Washington delivered the nation’s first such address in 1790, it was a concise 1,089-word presentation that could be completed faster than modern presidents spend on their opening remarks. The event has since evolved into what political observers describe as a “pressure chamber” reflecting America’s deep political divisions.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to address Congress at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, continuing a tradition that has seen significant changes over more than two centuries.
The format itself has undergone major shifts throughout history. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson opted to send written remarks instead of speaking directly to lawmakers, establishing a practice that lasted over 100 years. President Woodrow Wilson revived in-person delivery in 1913.
Television fundamentally changed the address when President Harry Truman gave the first televised version in 1947. The shift to prime-time occurred in 1965 under President Lyndon Johnson, who moved the speech to evening hours to capture maximum viewership.
As political polarization has intensified, these evening presentations have become increasingly contentious, with supporters of the president frequently standing to applaud while opposition members conspicuously remain seated.
This year’s address carries additional drama, as some Democratic lawmakers plan to skip Trump’s speech entirely, organizing an outdoor demonstration against his policies instead. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, will provide the traditional opposition response following the president’s remarks.
Adding to the tension, Trump will address Supreme Court justices just four days after a 6-3 court majority, including two of his own appointees, overturned his signature tariffs as exceeding presidential powers.
SPEECHES GROW LONGER OVER TIME
Modern addresses have expanded far beyond Washington’s brief original. President Bill Clinton established a duration record in 2000 with a speech lasting 1 hour, 28 minutes and 49 seconds. Trump’s 2025 address exceeded even that length, running 1 hour, 39 minutes and 32 seconds, according to American Presidency Project data.
Last year’s Trump speech occurred too early in his return to office to qualify as an official State of the Union, receiving the designation of a joint congressional address instead.
The tradition of featuring special guests began in 1982 when President Ronald Reagan introduced Lenny Skutnik, a Congressional Budget Office worker who had heroically saved a plane crash victim from the Potomac River.
These guest appearances have sometimes sparked controversy, particularly in 2020 when Trump presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to controversial radio personality Rush Limbaugh during the address.
MEMORABLE CONFRONTATIONS
Recent years have produced several viral moments of open conflict during presidential addresses:
During a 2009 healthcare speech, Republican Representative Joe Wilson interrupted President Barack Obama by shouting “You lie!” Wilson was protesting Obama’s assertion that proposed healthcare legislation wouldn’t cover undocumented immigrants. Wilson subsequently apologized amid bipartisan condemnation of the protocol breach.
In 2010, Obama’s criticism of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which he claimed would “open the floodgates” to unlimited corporate and foreign election spending, prompted Justice Samuel Alito to visibly shake his head and apparently mouth “not true” – an unusual display of emotion from typically stoic justices.
The 2020 address featured a dramatic confrontation between Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Trump declined to shake Pelosi’s extended hand when delivering his speech copy, while Pelosi omitted the traditional “high privilege and distinct honor” phrase when introducing him. At the speech’s conclusion, Pelosi tore up her copy of Trump’s remarks before television cameras. She later told reporters it was “the courteous thing to do, considering the alternative.”
President Joe Biden engaged in heated exchanges with Republican lawmakers during his 2023 address after interruptions and booing. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called Biden a “liar” when he claimed some Republicans wanted Medicare and Social Security to “sunset.” Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee shouted “it’s your fault” at Biden regarding the fentanyl crisis.
Biden’s 2024 speech featured sharp attacks on Trump without naming him directly, accusing his Republican opponent of threatening democracy, appeasing Russia, and obstructing immigration reform. When Republicans booed his claims about tax cuts for wealthy Americans, Biden improvised a response: “Oh, no? You guys don’t want another $2 trillion tax cut? I kind of thought that’s what your plan was.”
POLICY-CHANGING MOMENTS
Some State of the Union addresses have announced major policy shifts that reshaped American governance.
President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1941 “Four Freedoms” speech, delivered 11 months before America entered World War II, outlined universal human rights: freedom of speech, worship, want, and fear.
In 1964, Johnson proclaimed an “unconditional War on Poverty,” launching extensive social programs that transformed federal spending and government’s role in addressing economic inequality.
President Bill Clinton declared in 1996 that “the era of big government is over,” signaling his administration’s shift toward bipartisan cooperation with Republicans.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, President George W. Bush used his 2002 address to label Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an “axis of evil,” marking America’s turn toward more aggressive foreign policy.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major setback to President Donald Trump on Friday, rejecting his sweeping global tariff plan and demonstrating the judicial branch’s willingness to limit executive power.
Following a year where the nation’s highest court supported Trump in approximately two dozen cases – enabling rapid changes to immigration policy, military regulations, and federal employment rules – the justices drew a clear line with this decision.
Friday’s landmark 6-3 ruling dismantled one of Trump’s key second-term objectives, determining that his comprehensive tariff strategy against nearly all U.S. trade partners violated federal law.
Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts authored the decisive opinion, which left no room for ambiguity in completely invalidating the tariffs without addressing potential impacts on refunds, trade agreements, or political consequences.
The decision has renewed the Supreme Court’s position as a constitutional check on presidential authority, addressing growing concerns from critics and legal experts about the court’s independence.
“The court has shown it will not necessarily provide legal cover for every plank of Trump’s platform,” explained Peter Shane, a constitutional law expert at New York University School of Law.
The majority opinion rejected Trump’s interpretation of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), ruling that no previous president had attempted to use this statute for tariff implementation.
Roberts directly challenged Trump’s legal reasoning in the written decision: “Our task today is to decide only whether the power to ‘regulate … importation,’ as granted to the president in IEEPA, embraces the power to impose tariffs. It does not.”
William & Mary Law School professor Jonathan Adler emphasized the ruling’s broader significance: “The decision shows that the Supreme Court is serious about policing the scope of power delegated to the president by Congress.”
“The president cannot just pour new wine out of old bottles,” Adler continued. “If there are problems current statutes do not address, the president must ask Congress for a newer vintage.”
The verdict crossed traditional ideological boundaries within the court’s 6-3 conservative majority. Roberts joined with fellow conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett – both Trump appointees from his first presidency – alongside the three liberal justices to overturn the tariff policy. Three remaining conservative justices opposed the decision.
Trump responded with harsh criticism, targeting the Republican-appointed justices who voted against him with personal attacks, labeling them “fools” and “lapdogs” for Democrats.
“They’re very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution,” Trump declared to reporters, adding his belief that “the court has been swayed by foreign interests.”
Throughout 2025, the Supreme Court had consistently backed Trump’s emergency appeals to suspend lower court injunctions blocking his most aggressive policies while legal challenges proceeded.
These emergency decisions – part of the court’s “shadow docket” – typically receive expedited handling without comprehensive briefing or oral arguments, contrasting with regular cases that undergo months of review. The tariff case received full argument proceedings in November.
In 28 emergency cases during Trump’s current term, the court ruled favorably for the administration in 24 instances, with one case dismissed as moot. These victories permitted Trump to dismiss federal workers, assume control of independent agencies, exclude transgender individuals from military service, and deport migrants to nations with which they have no connection.
These successes built upon a significant 2024 Roberts-authored ruling granting Trump extensive immunity from criminal prosecution related to 2020 election interference allegations. The combination of that decision and subsequent wins raised questions about the Supreme Court’s independence and commitment to challenging presidential overreach.
Trump previously demanded impeachment of a judge who ruled against his deportation policies, calling the jurist a “Radical Left Lunatic” – prompting public criticism from Chief Justice Roberts.
Concerns have also emerged about potential Trump administration defiance of adverse federal court orders, which could trigger a constitutional crisis.
The pattern of pro-Trump decisions frustrated the court’s liberal wing, with Justice Ketanja Brown Jackson noting in one opinion that “this administration always wins.”
However, some legal experts counseled patience, suggesting the court’s recent accommodation of Trump might shift when examining major policies through thorough deliberation – which occurred Friday.
“The shadow docket decisions were never evidence of the court being particularly sympathetic to or solicitous of the Trump administration,” Adler observed. “This case, on the other hand, is the first time the court has considered one of the Trump administration’s policy initiatives on the merits.”
The court will examine another controversial Trump policy on April 1, hearing arguments about his directive limiting birthright citizenship in the United States.
During Trump’s initial presidency, the Supreme Court handed him notable defeats in crucial cases, including rejection of his census citizenship question proposal and his attempt to terminate deportation protections for “Dreamers” – immigrants who entered the country illegally as children.
University of California, Berkeley law professor John Yoo highlighted the bipartisan nature of Friday’s tariff ruling, noting participation from justices appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents.
“The decision belies the attacks from the left that the Supreme Court – particularly its conservative majority – simply rubber-stamps the Trump administration’s policies,” said Yoo, a former clerk to conservative Justice Clarence Thomas.
Shane observed that the tariff case avoided requiring the court to evaluate Trump’s policy wisdom or judgment quality, potentially preserving presidential power in other areas.
“The ruling does suggest that, on pure questions of law that do not put the court in the position of smacking down Trump’s motives or second-guessing his judgment, there is a majority that will not rubber-stamp his action,” Shane concluded.
CARACAS – Cuban security personnel and medical staff are withdrawing from Venezuela as the nation’s interim leadership confronts escalating demands from Washington to dissolve one of Latin America’s most significant leftist partnerships, according to eleven sources with knowledge of the situation.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has shifted to Venezuelan bodyguards for her personal security, four sources confirm, breaking from the pattern established by ousted leader Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, who both depended on elite Cuban protection forces.
The January 3 U.S. military operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture claimed the lives of 32 Cubans, the Cuban government reported. These personnel were integral to an extensive security partnership between Caracas and Havana that took shape in the late 2000s, with Cuban intelligence operatives integrated into Venezuela’s military structure and the powerful DGCIM counterintelligence agency, which played a crucial role in suppressing internal opposition.
Alejandro Velasco, a New York University history professor specializing in Venezuelan affairs, emphasized the significance of this relationship: “The Cuban influence was absolutely essential” to the survival of the Chavista government.
Within DGCIM, certain Cuban advisers have been dismissed from their positions, a former Venezuelan intelligence official revealed. Multiple sources indicated that Cuban medical personnel and security consultants have departed Venezuela for Cuba on recent flights.
A source connected to Venezuela’s governing party indicated the Cubans are leaving under Rodriguez’s directive due to American pressure. Other sources remained uncertain whether the departures resulted from Venezuelan leadership demands, voluntary Cuban decisions, or recall orders from Havana.
This move to exclude Cubans from presidential protection and counterintelligence operations has not been publicly disclosed before.
TRUMP SEEKS TO END VENEZUELA-CUBA ALLIANCE
Before the operation removing Maduro, thousands of Cuban healthcare workers, nurses, and athletic instructors served in Venezuela through social programs initiated under Chavez. Venezuela reciprocated by supplying Cuba with essential oil resources.
After the U.S. intervention, President Donald Trump pledged to terminate the security partnership between Venezuela and Cuba. On January 11, he posted on Truth Social: “Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!”
When asked about U.S. pressure on Venezuela to sever Cuban ties, a White House representative stated the U.S. maintains “a very good relationship with the leaders of Venezuela” and believes Rodriguez’s “own self-interest aligns with advancing our key objectives.”
Breaking Venezuela’s Cuban connection forms part of Washington’s comprehensive approach to undermining Havana’s communist administration. Since mid-December, Washington has prevented Venezuela from delivering oil to Cuba, creating severe economic hardship for the island nation.
The U.S. government is “talking to Cuba, whose leaders should make a deal,” the official stated.
Cuban leadership has expressed willingness for dialogue on equal footing while denouncing the oil embargo and pledging to resist American interference.
Both Cuban and Venezuelan governments declined to respond to comment requests. The nations have publicly reaffirmed their ongoing partnership.
Rodriguez, whose father was a former Marxist revolutionary, has maintained long-standing ties with Maduro and membership in Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party. She also maintains personal connections with Cuban leadership, ten U.S. and Venezuelan sources confirmed.
On January 8, Rodriguez joined Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at a flower-covered memorial ceremony in Caracas honoring victims of the U.S. operation.
Bruno Rodriguez declared at the gathering: “To the brave Venezuelan people, we express Cuba’s deepest solidarity,” before invoking the famous words of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara: “Hasta la victoria siempre.”
Later that month, Delcy Rodriguez conducted a phone conversation with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, afterward stating the nations remained “united.” Following the same call, Diaz-Canel expressed Cuba’s commitment to “continue strengthening the historic relations of brotherhood and cooperation.”
Addressing the bilateral relationship, the White House official commented: “President Trump understands that they have to make certain statements for domestic political reasons.”
RETURN FLIGHTS TO CUBA
A source knowledgeable about Cuban government perspectives revealed that some military personnel wounded in the U.S. operation have returned to Cuba, while others continue serving in Venezuela. The source also noted that numerous Cuban physicians remain active in Venezuelan healthcare.
Cuban state media reported in early January that suspended commercial flights and closed Venezuelan airspace created delays preventing Cuba from repatriating doctors from leave or completing their Venezuelan assignments. These flights restarted the week following the January 3 U.S. operation, according to those reports.
A U.S. source familiar with developments indicated that while Cuban presence is decreasing, some covert intelligence operatives likely remain to monitor the evolving political landscape.
Frank Mora, who served as U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States during the Biden presidency, observed that “Rodriguez is treading very carefully.”
“She wants to keep the Cubans at a distance until this situation calms down, until her hold on power is clear, but not entirely throw them under the bus, either,” Mora explained.
At least some Cuban military consultants continue operating in Venezuela, four informed sources confirmed. Cuban educators also maintain their teaching roles at UNES, the state university for police and security personnel, according to a former police officer.
John Polga-Hecimovich, a U.S. Naval Academy professor in Maryland who has researched Cuban security advisers’ role in Venezuela, noted that the impact of Cuban counterintelligence efforts remains visible in Caracas, where Maduro’s key supporters retain power.
Polga-Hecimovich observed: “The Cubans didn’t manage to protect Maduro, but they played a key role in keeping the Chavista government in power. The coup-proofing worked brilliantly.”
President Trump delivered sharp criticism against Supreme Court justices following their decision to block his authority to use emergency powers for imposing international trade tariffs.
The legal dispute originated from an executive order the president issued on his first day back in office, which would have granted him broad authority to establish tariffs against almost all nations that trade with the United States.
The Supreme Court’s ruling represents a significant legal setback for the administration’s trade policy agenda, which had sought to leverage emergency declarations to bypass traditional legislative processes for tariff implementation.
President Trump continues to deliberate on whether to launch military strikes against Iran as American forces have substantially increased their presence throughout the Middle East region over recent weeks.
The commander-in-chief has not yet made a final determination regarding potential attacks on Iranian targets, according to recent statements. However, the past month has seen a significant expansion of U.S. military assets positioned strategically across the region.
This military positioning provides the Trump administration with extensive operational capabilities as officials evaluate various response scenarios. The buildup represents one of the most substantial American force deployments in the area in recent memory.
The escalating tensions have prompted increased speculation about potential military action, though Trump has emphasized that no final decisions have been reached regarding strikes against Iranian interests.
ANTERSELVA, ITALY – Sweden’s biathlon squad reached their breaking point Friday after another disappointing Winter Olympics showing, pointing fingers at their ski preparation crew following a disastrous men’s mass start competition.
The Swedish team, typically considered medal contenders in biathlon competitions, endured a crushing final men’s race at the Games. Sebastian Samuelsson crossed the finish line in 18th place, while Martin Ponsiluoma landed in 21st and Jesper Nelin finished 26th out of the 30 competitors.
“The skis were the worst I ever had. They were crap,” Samuelsson angrily declared to Swedish television following the competition. “Today the glide from the skis was very bad … I’m here to fight for medals, but today I go without.”
Proper ski waxing represents a crucial aspect of competition preparation for both biathletes and cross-country racers. When technicians select the correct wax mixture for specific snow conditions, temperature, and elevation, athletes can glide effortlessly around the course. However, an incorrect choice can make skiing feel like moving through thick syrup.
Wax selection varies based on whether snow conditions are wet or dry. While many wax types perform best in sub-freezing temperatures, they can become soft and sticky when temperatures climb unexpectedly before or during competition, significantly hampering athlete performance.
Norway’s waxing crew demonstrated perfect preparation as Johannes Dale Skjevdal captured gold after hitting all 20 targets for the first time in his career, while teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid earned silver. France continued their streak of excellent ski preparation, with Quentin Fillon Maillet claiming bronze.
Swedish celebrations were nowhere to be found, as their waxing technicians approached the athletes at the finish area to immediately offer apologies for their error in judgment.
Despite their disappointment, the three Swedish competitors showed understanding toward their support staff.
“You just have to laugh at it,” Ponsiluoma remarked with dry humor.
“When you feel like you don’t have the materials, you feel it would have taken 25 hits to beat Dale-Skjevdal today.”
Since only 20 shooting targets were available, Ponsiluoma’s mathematical frustration highlighted the equipment disadvantage. Meanwhile, Nelin’s 26th-place result, though far from his expectations, at least spared him from a peculiar final sprint to avoid finishing last.
“This kind of thing (with waxing) happens to all nations at some point and we have a very good waxing team, it’s just not going well right now,” Nelin explained.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will convene ministerial meetings next week to examine violent political organizations, following the death of a far-right university student who succumbed to injuries sustained during a brutal attack in Lyon. The incident has intensified political divisions as France approaches its upcoming presidential election.
While addressing attendees at the Paris agriculture fair, Macron urged citizens to “remain calm” before Saturday’s memorial events planned by far-right organizations to honor Quentin Deranque, the 23-year-old victim who died from severe head trauma at a local hospital. Authorities will maintain heightened security during these gatherings.
“This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first. And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility,” Macron stated.
Prosecutors have filed preliminary charges against seven individuals. Lyon’s public prosecutor sought intentional homicide, aggravated violence, and criminal conspiracy charges for all suspects. Six defendants received charges on all three counts, while the seventh faces complicity in intentional homicide along with aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy charges.
The fatal assault occurred when violence broke out between far-left and far-right supporters on the sidelines of a student gathering featuring far-left legislator Rima Hassan as the main speaker.
The French president indicated his administration will conduct a thorough examination of all violent activist organizations connected to political parties, suggesting some groups may face dissolution.
“In the Republic, no violence is legitimate,” he declared. “There is no place for militias, wherever they come from. We must be absolutely uncompromising.”
Lyon was set to host the primary memorial service for Deranque on Saturday, in a city where confrontations between far-right activists and far-left organizations have become commonplace. Intelligence agencies consider Lyon the birthplace of far-right activism in France, with newer far-left militant organizations forming in response to established far-right groups that have operated for decades.
Deranque’s family has also appealed for peaceful conduct and will not participate in the tribute, which French officials have chosen not to prohibit.
The young man’s death has sparked intense political finger-pointing, with much criticism directed at France Unbowed and its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Among those charged is a parliamentary assistant to France Unbowed legislator Raphaël Arnault, who established the anti-fascist organization The Young Guard.
Political adversaries accuse France Unbowed of encouraging violence and unrest through its aggressive far-left positions. Mélenchon has denounced the violence while maintaining his party bears no responsibility for the tragic outcome.
Mélenchon previously sought the presidency in 2012, 2017, and 2022, failing each time to reach the final runoff stage. He is positioning himself for another anticipated campaign next year when Macron’s second and final term concludes.
With municipal elections approaching next month, right-wing political forces have seized upon this incident to attack France Unbowed. National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has advocated for a unified opposition against Mélenchon’s party, while criticism has also emerged from notable left-wing figures.
A senior European Central Bank official issued a warning Saturday about substantial inflation risks facing the eurozone, highlighting the growing influence of inexpensive Chinese goods on price trends.
Speaking at a financial conference in Venice, Italy, ECB Governing Council member Fabio Panetta noted that inflation declined more rapidly than economists predicted in early 2026, and upcoming economic forecasts from ECB staff in March will help shape future monetary policy decisions.
“Both upside and downside inflationary risks are significant,” stated Panetta, who serves as head of Italy’s central bank, during his remarks at the Assiom-Forex financial conference.
“Monetary policy must keep a flexible approach, anchored to the medium-term outlook and based on a comprehensive assessment of the data and their implications for inflation and growth,” he continued.
The eurozone experienced inflation dropping to 1.7% in January, marking a 16-month low that falls beneath the ECB’s 2% goal. This decline has prompted concerns among some policymakers that price increases could decelerate excessively.
According to Panetta, while the inflation decrease doesn’t “significantly alter the medium-term assessment, but highlights a number of aspects to be monitored.”
“The main one is the trend in imports from China,” he noted.
Data shows Chinese imports into the eurozone have increased 27% by volume since early 2024, while their prices have decreased by 8%. This trend is pushing down costs for products that compete with Chinese goods, Panetta explained.
“The disinflationary impact remains limited for the time being, but is already visible – with the prices of the goods most exposed to Chinese competition decelerating faster than the rest – and could become more pronounced in the coming months.”
Additional downward pressure on inflation could emerge from potential euro strengthening or corrections in financial markets, where corporate stocks and bonds might not properly reflect economic uncertainties.
“On the other hand, energy markets remain exposed to geopolitical tensions,” Panetta observed, noting that inflation risks could stem from rising commodity costs or increased supply chain disruptions that elevate production expenses.
Two decorated Olympic cross-country skiers have been forced to skip Saturday’s 50-kilometer classic race at the Milano Cortina Games after becoming sick with flu-like symptoms.
Italy’s Federico Pellegrino, 35, announced his withdrawal through a message posted on the Italian ski federation’s website. “The wrist tendinitis was ‘under control’, but since Friday morning I have been in bed with flu-like symptoms, and I am enormously sorry to tell you that today I will not be at the start of the 50 km,” Pellegrino shared with supporters.
The Italian skier has had an impressive career, capturing gold in the individual sprint at the 2017 world championships and earning two silver medals during the Beijing and Pyeongchang Olympics. During the current Milano Cortina Games, he has already secured two bronze medals in both the men’s relay and men’s team sprint events.
Expressing his disappointment, Pellegrino continued: “Not being able to experience those emotions that only the final kilometers of an exhausting race—cheered on by fans and by my whole family—at the biggest sporting event at home, emotions I had hoped to experience, is heartbreaking.”
American skier Ben Ogden, 26, has also been ruled out of the competition. The U.S. athlete has claimed two silver medals at these Games in the men’s classic sprint and men’s team sprint competitions.
A representative for the U.S. men’s cross-country team explained Ogden’s absence: “Ben Ogden woke up sick and will not compete in today’s 50k to rest and recover before the last four weeks of World Cup racing.”
Finland’s Ristomatti Hakola has similarly been scratched from the race due to influenza.
MILAN, Feb 21 – As the Winter Olympics conclude and temporary ice facilities face removal, Milan officials have revealed ambitious plans to construct a lasting ice arena that will preserve the Games’ impact and provide a home base for professional hockey.
Responding to demands from both athletes and local residents, city leaders this week announced their proposal for a new facility featuring 5,000 seats and a regulation 30×60-meter rink. The arena will be constructed within an exhibition center complex on Milan’s periphery over the next three years.
“This is what we had been asking for a long time, and I believe it would truly complete these Olympics, which have been extraordinary,” Andrea Gios, president of the Italian Ice Sports Federation, told Reuters.
During the Olympics, Milan successfully hosted competitions in figure skating, speed skating, short track, and hockey events across three different locations. These venues, including the recently constructed Santagiulia arena that served as the hockey venue, will now be converted for concerts and alternative sporting events.
Officials plan to establish a temporary ice facility by October before transitioning to a permanent structure, with hopes of attracting a professional hockey franchise to compete in the Ice Hockey League against teams from Austria, Slovenia, and Italy.
The unexpected announcement followed widespread criticism from Italian competitors and Milan citizens who expressed disappointment about losing access to permanent ice sports facilities after the Olympics concluded.
Gios revealed conversations with North American investors who have expressed interest in funding a professional Milan hockey team, which would require approximately 5 million euros ($5.9 million) annually to operate.
The proposed facility would also accommodate major figure skating and short-track competitions while serving as a training center for developing athletes.
Italian speed skaters achieved remarkable success at these Games, with Francesca Lollobrigida capturing gold in both the 3,000 and 5,000-meter events and the men’s team pursuit squad also claiming victory. However, these athletes will lose access to domestic indoor training facilities once the Olympics conclude.
While constructing a speed skating facility with a full 400-meter track would be extremely costly and financially uncertain compared to a multipurpose venue, Gios indicated that officials would explore options with private investors who have previously shown interest.
Until permanent facilities are established, Italy’s elite speed skaters will continue training partially overseas at venues like the indoor track in Inzell, Germany.
“I know it’s not easy to keep a facility like ours open, but of course it’s disappointing,” Lollobrigida commented regarding the Olympic venue. “If our results don’t speak for us, there’s nothing more we can do.”
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron is urging citizens to remain peaceful as memorial demonstrations are set to take place Saturday honoring a far-right activist who was fatally beaten last week.
The French leader announced plans to convene with his prime minister and cabinet members next week to address concerns about violent extremist organizations.
Speaking at Saturday’s opening ceremony of the nation’s annual agricultural exhibition, Macron declared: “In the Republic, no violence is legitimate. In the Republic, only Republican forces can act because they protect the Republican order. There is no place for militias.” He emphasized that his administration remains vigilant to ensure the day’s demonstrations proceed without incident.
The memorial events honor 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, who died after being brutally attacked in an altercation that was recorded on video, sending shockwaves throughout France. Law enforcement officials worry the gatherings could escalate into violent confrontations between rival political factions.
The primary demonstration is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Lyon, where Deranque lost his life and where significant numbers of both far-right supporters and anti-fascist activists are present. French interior ministry officials project attendance between 2,000 and 3,000 participants. Additional smaller memorial marches are organized across various French municipalities.
Pakistani military officials reported Saturday that seven people died during armed conflict in the northwestern city of Bannu, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The deadly encounter claimed the lives of two Pakistani soldiers and five insurgent fighters, according to army statements released over the weekend.
Bannu sits in the southern portion of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region that has experienced ongoing security challenges along Pakistan’s border areas.
Good morning, Delmarva! We’re starting your Saturday with partly sunny skies and a pleasant high of 49 degrees. It’s a great day to get outside and enjoy some February sunshine, though you’ll want to keep a light jacket handy with northwest winds running 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight’s where things get interesting – clouds will increase and we’ll see our first chance of light rain moving in. Temperatures will drop to around 33 degrees, so we’re right on that rain-snow line.
Sunday brings a significant weather change as a winter system moves through our area. Expect rain and snow with highs only reaching 37 degrees. The bigger concern comes Sunday night when temperatures plummet to 29 degrees and we could see areas of blowing snow, which may create hazardous travel conditions.
If you have Sunday plans, especially any travel, keep a close eye on conditions and consider adjusting your schedule. This is definitely a weekend to have the winter gear ready!
Stay warm and safe out there, Delmarva. I’ll have updates throughout the weekend on TV Delmarva!
A retired senior military commander has spoken out against the Pentagon’s ongoing dismissal of transgender service members, describing the policy as a damaging error that weakens military capabilities.
The Pentagon is currently discharging thousands of transgender personnel as part of broader efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the armed forces. This action is taking place during a period of heightened international tensions around the world.
The former general’s criticism highlights concerns about how emphasis on gender identity issues may be diverting attention from core military preparedness and operational effectiveness. Military experts are questioning whether these policy changes could impact the armed forces’ ability to maintain readiness while facing multiple global challenges.
The dismissals represent a significant shift in military personnel policy, affecting service members who had been serving openly under previous guidelines. The policy change has sparked debate about balancing social policies with military effectiveness during uncertain times internationally.
KYIV, Ukraine — In a rehearsal room one day before their debut performance, Ukrainian military veterans joined drama students in a circle, practicing lines from a script with centuries of history behind it.
Director Olha Semioshkina guided the group through her version of “Eneida” by Ivan Kotliarevskyi — an 18th-century Ukrainian retelling of Virgil’s ancient “Aeneid.” However, this theatrical work carries a contemporary message about perseverance amid the ongoing conflict approaching its fourth year since Russia launched its full-scale assault on Ukraine.
The cast members, ranging from their twenties to sixties, included Ukrainian military veterans who had come back from combat zones with missing limbs, serious burn injuries, and vision loss. Others had experienced the war from civilian perspectives. Most had no previous acting experience before joining this production.
The show was developed by Theater of Veterans, a group established by Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces members that offers acting instruction and performance opportunities to help former military personnel with their transition back to civilian life and healing process.
Preparation for Thursday’s opening night at Kyiv’s National Academic Molodyy Theatre required over a year of work.
“We understood these individuals had recently returned from medical treatment, so we needed to begin at square one,” Semioshkina explained.
“We dedicated approximately four months just learning basic communication, how to fall safely, form groups, roll, and work together,” she continued. “After that, we focused on physical development, removing prosthetic devices and learning to function without them.”
The 51-year-old director’s vision was straightforward: “Every male performer represents Aeneas. Every female performer embodies Dido.”
In Virgil’s ancient tale, Aeneas roams following Troy’s destruction, seeking a new home. Kotliarevskyi’s comedic version transforms the Trojan warrior into a Cossack character, rough and down-to-earth.
On this Kyiv stage, Aeneas displays artificial limbs and battle wounds from the conflict that started with Russia’s February 24, 2022, attack on Ukraine.
“Aeneas represents a warrior who endures tremendous hardship while seeking his homeland,” Semioshkina noted. “He maintains his sense of humor and passion, experiences setbacks and terrors, celebrates and mourns. But he remains human with a mission — to discover his place and protect his loved ones.”
She connects the combat veterans who survived warfare with the role they portray. “Aeneas is someone who went to battle. True, he came back damaged and wounded,” she said, but the performers bringing this version to life “are discovering how to live” once more.
During practice, Yehor Babenko, a Ukraine Border Service veteran who sustained serious burns early in Russia’s invasion, spoke a line with a smile: “Feeling burned out at work? We have a lot in common.”
Later in the performance, his solo speech struck a personal note as he discussed fire destroying his hands, ears and nose. “I won’t be able to show children a trick with a missing finger,” he says. “Maybe the one when all 10 fingers disappear.”
The chance to act on stage, Babenko explained, has provided therapeutic benefits.
“For me, theater serves as both mental and physical therapy. I’ve observed that I’m more aware of my body, feel more comfortable around people, and communicate my ideas more clearly.”
For Babenko, Aeneas’s journey connects with current reality. “It’s about finding your homeland,” he said. “And for our nation, that’s extremely meaningful right now.”
The performance’s closing section moved away from classical poetry entirely as the performers came forward to share their personal experiences — discussing combat wounds, fallen comrades, forced relocation, and existence under enemy control.
One veteran described losing his leg in a drone attack and using a machine gun as support to reach safety. A female performer told of surviving Russian occupation with her two daughters.
Another participant, who served as a volunteer medic starting in 2014 when Russia illegally seized Crimea and pro-Russian fighters took control of parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk areas, and again following the 2022 Russian invasion, discussed returning to war in her sixties.
Andrii Onopriienko, who became blind from a Russian artillery attack near Avdiivka in the Donetsk area in 2023, provided narration throughout much of the show with his powerful, rich voice. During one moment he performed: “Let our enemies dig up holes, install crosses, and lie down on their own,” while other cast members sang along.
Onopriienko originally declined to participate in the project. “I couldn’t comprehend what I would contribute on stage without sight,” he said. He was eventually convinced that a meaningful role existed for him.
“It brings positivity, joy, and encouragement,” he said about rehearsals. “Regardless of your mood when you arrive, you depart with a broad grin. Here you escape from current reality. You step into a different realm.”
During the performance, artificial legs and arms were taken off and reattached as elements of the production’s visual storytelling. Extended metal poles served multiple purposes as weapons, rowing oars, and walking aids — functioning both as artistic props and practical support tools for performers with amputations.
The ongoing conflict interrupted even before Thursday’s curtain call. An announcement requested the audience follow standard theater etiquette and turn off their phones — then cautioned that during air raid warnings, they should proceed to the basement shelter. If electrical power failed, it noted, the performance would halt while backup generators activated.
As Babenko presented his monologue moments before the show concluded, the electricity indeed failed.
Semioshkina walked onto the stage carrying a flashlight, with others following with their own lights. Babenko continued his lines illuminated by the makeshift spotlight. The audience, some quietly crying, others laughing through tears, remained seated.
When the final speech ended and the curtain dropped and lifted again, the performers received a standing ovation. As they took a second bow, power returned, and the applause grew louder.
For Semioshkina, the significance of veterans performing extends beyond classical literature and theater boundaries.
“I want to communicate to all veterans who are staying home: Come out,” she said. “Come out. You have capabilities. Live. Don’t isolate yourself. Live every single moment.”
Four years after fleeing her homeland, Maryna Bondarenko keeps three packed suitcases in her Polish apartment, ready for the day she can return to Ukraine.
The 51-year-old journalist escaped Kyiv alongside her son and mother when Russia began its invasion on February 24, 2022. Initially, she expected their exile would last just a month or two.
Today, Bondarenko remains in Poland, employed at a Ukrainian-language media outlet serving over 1.5 million Ukrainians now residing in the country.
“There were so many moments when we thought: ‘This is it, we’re finally going back.’ We went to the post office several times, packed our belongings into boxes, absolutely certain that we were going back,” she said.
The Russian invasion has created Europe’s most significant refugee emergency since World War Two, displacing more than 5 million Ukrainians throughout the continent, particularly in Central and Eastern European nations, according to United Nations data.
Women and children comprise approximately three-quarters of these refugees, as Ukraine’s martial law prevents military-age men from departing the country.
Bondarenko yearns to reunite with her spouse, Andrij Dudko, a 44-year-old former television cameraman now operating drones at the front lines. However, continuous Russian bombardments that have left thousands without electricity in Kyiv during harsh winter conditions have persuaded her to remain abroad.
“We get ready to leave, and then there’s another massive attack. We get ready again, and then cold winter comes and there is no heating, no power, no water. And I just can’t bring my child there, under the rockets.”
Major Polish cities like Warsaw and Krakow now host substantial Ukrainian populations, occasionally creating friction with locals who express concerns about newcomers accessing social services and employment opportunities.
“I want to go home, I really do. I know it won’t be easy,” said Bondarenko, acknowledging that her homeland will be dramatically transformed upon her return.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration anticipates 70% of overseas Ukrainians will return post-war, polling indicates a decreasing percentage express desire to go back as time passes.
Many younger Ukrainians abroad, including Bondarenko’s 11-year-old son Danylo, have limited recollection of their birth country.
Despite encountering some anti-Ukrainian sentiment at school, Danylo enjoys life in Poland.
“I don’t really remember anyone from Ukraine. I remember I had one friend, but I do not really remember him and I’ve lost contact with him,” he said. “I don’t think that I will return to Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, childhood friends Iryna Kushnir and Olga Yermolenko from Kharkiv have reconnected in Istanbul, joining the smaller Ukrainian refugee community in Turkey.
“I thought the war would end quickly, so I didn’t plan to stay in Istanbul for long,” explained 42-year-old Kushnir, who left her 19-year-old daughter Sofia in Ukraine to continue her studies.
Four years later, Kushnir has wed a Turkish citizen and secured a teaching position in Istanbul University’s Ukrainian program.
“Like all Ukrainians, I planned to return home, but life turned out differently,” said Kushnir, expressing pride that her daughter chose to stay in Ukraine.
Her companion Yermolenko, 43, provides remote financial services to Ukrainian clients from Istanbul while maintaining constant communication with her 73-year-old mother Tetyana in Kharkiv.
“I cannot say I am involved 100% in Turkish life. It is a bit strange feeling to be caught between your previous life and a possible future life,” said Yermolenko, who has begun studying Turkish while closely monitoring Ukrainian developments.
“I open the news — there’s a Telegram channel that reports what’s happening in Kharkiv in real time — and I see a missile flying toward my home,” she said. “In that moment, the feeling is terrifying. I’m very scared. And of course, I immediately call my mom to make sure she’s okay.”
European wine producers, chemical companies, and distillers are grappling with unexpected complications following the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision to overturn major portions of tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, according to industry representatives across the continent.
The nation’s highest court ruled 6-3 on Friday that the former president lacked authority to use the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act as justification for implementing tariffs without Congressional approval, citing national emergency provisions inappropriately.
While many businesses initially celebrated the outcome after years of legal challenges, European trade associations, corporations, and market analysts now express concern that the decision could make commercial relationships between the two economic regions even more unpredictable, especially after last year’s hard-fought trade agreements.
Paolo Castelletti, who serves as secretary general for Italy’s wine association UIV, warned of potential negative consequences. “This decision risks creating a boomerang effect, generating more uncertainty and freezing orders, while operators wait for a clearer regulatory framework,” Castelletti stated.
Italian wine exports to America represent a crucial market segment, generating approximately 1.9 billion euros in 2024 sales – nearly 25% of Italy’s total global wine shipments.
Industry experts believe Donald Trump will likely pursue alternative methods to implement comparable tariffs, potentially reigniting tensions between America and its key trading partners. Additionally, companies face challenges in securing refunds for previously paid tariffs.
Trump has already announced plans for a new global 10% surcharge through executive order, set to take effect “almost immediately” for an initial 150-day period. The former president also indicated uncertainty about whether refunds would occur and their potential timeline.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Saturday that France would evaluate the impact of Trump’s new measures, while emphasizing the importance of democratic checks and balances following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Steve Ovara, who leads the Trade Practice Group at King & Spalding law firm, noted that his clients – ranging from major American manufacturers to consumer goods and technology companies – expect any tariff relief to be temporary.
“The main challenge everyone will face, at least in the short term, is additional uncertainty,” Ovara explained.
Wolfgang Grosse Entrup, director of VCI, a German lobbying organization representing chemical and pharmaceutical companies including BASF, Bayer, and Evonik, shares similar concerns.
“For our companies, this isn’t the beginning of a stable phase, but a new period of uncertainty. Those who think this means the end of tariff conflicts are mistaken,” Grosse Entrup said. “New tariffs based on different legal foundations can be imposed at any time,” he added.
Peter Sand, chief analyst at freight pricing platform Xeneta, warned that political risks remain for export-focused companies due to “irreversible” supply chain trends.
“The damage caused to many carriers’ supply chains is largely irreversible,” Sand emphasized.
France’s cosmetics association FEBEA, whose membership includes companies like L’Oréal, expressed caution about the ruling and indicated they would monitor the American administration’s response, particularly regarding potential new tariff implementations.
“We’re all accustomed to twists and turns on tariff matters,” said Emmanuel Guichard, FEBEA’s secretary general.
Massimiliano Giansanti, president of Italian farmers’ federation Confagricoltura, acknowledged that the Supreme Court decision “eliminated the entire legal basis” for Trump’s tariffs, but cautioned it complicates exporters’ situations just as they were adapting to American tariff structures.
“All of this creates profound instability at a time when we need certainties and when we’ve begun processes with our American importers,” Giansanti stated.
In Ireland, whisky exporters are taking a wait-and-see approach before making business decisions, according to Eoin Ó Catháin, director of the Irish Whiskey Association, who believes political discussions and de-escalation offer better solutions to tariff-related problems.
“This isn’t a miracle solution for eliminating tariffs,” Ó Catháin said. “It’s just an additional complication, another twist in this story,” he concluded.
The Netherlands emerged as the dominant force in short track speed skating at the Winter Olympics, while Italy celebrated as hometown hero Arianna Fontana carved her name into Olympic history with a record-breaking medal collection.
Throughout the two-week competition, athletic achievements were woven together with compelling personal narratives, featuring competitors who overcame serious injuries and newcomers to the Olympic stage whose championship aspirations sometimes fell short of expectations.
The 35-year-old Fontana advanced to championship rounds in every single competition, capturing gold for Italy in the mixed relay event and earning silver medals in both the 500-meter race and women’s relay.
With Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni watching from the stands, Fontana’s women’s relay silver medal brought her career total to 14 Olympic medals, breaking the previous Italian record of 13 held by fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti from 1936-60, establishing her as Italy’s most successful Olympian ever.
While the Netherlands has long been considered a dominant nation in traditional speed skating, these Games marked their strongest showing in the more recent short track discipline.
Following an early setback when they failed to qualify for the mixed relay championship race, the Dutch squad gained momentum throughout the competition, ultimately securing seven medals with five of them being gold.
Jens van ‘t Wout captured three gold medals and one bronze, representing a triumphant comeback for the 24-year-old athlete who bears a facial scar from a 2019 skating mishap that nearly ended his competitive career. He announced plans to commemorate his success with an Olympic rings tattoo featuring his medal colors.
His sibling Melle earned an unexpected silver in the 500 meters on his 26th birthday, overcoming a severe knee injury that had hindered his performance in recent seasons.
Fellow Dutch competitor Xandra Velzeboer dominated the women’s events, claiming victory in both the 500 meters after establishing a world record during the semifinal, and the 1,000 meters.
Olympic newcomer Kim Gil-li, age 21, spearheaded South Korea’s effort, earning two gold medals and one bronze as the short track powerhouse nation collected seven total medals — an improvement of two compared to their performance at Beijing 2022.
Canada’s Courtney Sarault returned home with reason for celebration after earning medals in four out of five events she competed in — two silver and two bronze — while teammate Steven Dubois secured his first individual Olympic gold medal in the 500 meters.
However, the Games ended on a disappointing note for Canadian William Dandjinou, the 24-year-old world number one and first-time Olympian recognized for his signature “eagle” celebration, who departed without an individual medal despite qualifying for all three final races.
“I didn’t even know it was possible to finish fourth that many times in one Games,” he said. “You will see me in four years.”
ISTANBUL – Turkish regulators announced Friday they are conducting an official investigation into how six major social media companies collect and manage personal information from children who use their platforms.
The Personal Data Protection Authority released a statement explaining that this investigation focuses on safeguarding young people from dangers they may encounter in online spaces. Officials will scrutinize the data collection methods and protective protocols implemented by TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Discord.
The regulatory review represents Turkey’s effort to ensure these popular digital platforms maintain appropriate standards when processing information belonging to minors.
Major League Soccer’s most valuable franchises will square off Saturday night when Inter Miami, led by superstar Lionel Messi, travels to face Son Heung-Min and Los Angeles FC to kick off the season for both clubs.
Both teams appear ready to field their strongest lineups for the highly anticipated matchup, which has been relocated to the larger Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum due to expected high demand.
Messi, who claimed last season’s Golden Boot award and his second consecutive MVP honor, has resumed practice with Miami following a minor hamstring strain that forced the cancellation of their final exhibition match in Puerto Rico.
Speaking in Spanish, Miami manager Javier Mascherano expressed disappointment about the missed opportunity. “It was unfortunate, of course, that we weren’t able to go,” Mascherano said. “Not only because it would’ve given us the opportunity to visit a country we haven’t had the chance to visit in recent years, but also because it would’ve been valuable preparation to face an opponent like Independiente del Valle.”
The defending MLS Cup champions received additional good news this week when newly signed forward German Berterame obtained his work visa and became eligible to play.
Had Berterame remained unavailable, Miami might have inserted 39-year-old Luis Suarez back into the starting lineup after he served as a substitute during last year’s championship run. Alternatively, they could have positioned Messi as the primary striker in a 4-3-3 formation, similar to their playoff configuration.
On the LAFC side, Son missed all preseason games while recovering from an undisclosed minor lower-body ailment. However, the Korean international dispelled any lingering health concerns with an outstanding display in LAFC’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match Tuesday evening.
The 33-year-old forward started the contest, found the net once, and provided three assists during his 61-minute appearance in a dominant 6-1 victory over Real Espana of Honduras in the first leg of their opening round series.
Denis Bouanga capitalized on Son’s playmaking, netting three goals to put LAFC in commanding position ahead of next week’s second leg. This comfortable advantage should allow first-year head coach Marc Dos Santos to give his key players extended playing time against Miami.
Bouanga celebrated his performance after the match, saying: “The feeling is very good. I’m very happy to score three. My team, my teammates helped me for this hat trick. I say thank you for the five (goal lead), and thank you to my team for that.”
Listen to the Morning Delmarva Farm Report Update — February 21, 2026
DELMARVA — State officials have confirmed a highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza outbreak at a commercial broiler operation in Wicomico County. According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, this marks the county’s first outbreak this year and the state’s second confirmed case.
All birds at the facility have undergone depopulation and the property remains under quarantine. None of the affected poultry will reach consumer markets.
Policy
Farmers across Delmarva should note that USDA registration opens Monday for the new Farmer Bridge Assistance program. The $11 billion initiative offers one-time direct payments to row crop producers dealing with disrupted trade markets and rising input costs. Producers with Login.gov accounts will see pre-filled applications when the portal opens Monday morning.
Markets
Soybeans closed mixed this week with technical selling offsetting small weekly gains. Wheat futures finished higher on dry weather concerns and short covering. Corn held steady as traders await planting season demand signals.
Forecast
Today looks decent with mostly sunny skies and highs near 47°F. However, a significant weather event begins Sunday. Rain develops Sunday with temperatures near 38°F before transitioning to heavy snow Monday with blizzard conditions expected. Strong north winds 15-25 mph will create blowing snow and dangerous travel. Accumulations look substantial with the heaviest snow Monday into Monday night. Temperatures drop to the low 20s Monday night before moderating midweek.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Morning Edition, February 21, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has put Delaware’s coastal regions under a flood watch starting Thursday morning and continuing through Saturday’s early hours.
Weather forecasters activated the coastal flood watch at 4:36 AM on February 21st, with the advisory set to remain active until 5:00 AM on February 23rd.
The watch indicates that conditions may develop that could cause minor flooding along Delaware’s coastline during the specified timeframe.
Residents and visitors in coastal Delaware areas should monitor weather conditions and be prepared for potential flooding impacts during the watch period.
Delaware transportation authorities have implemented a temporary speed reduction on Interstate 495, lowering the limit to 55 miles per hour as dense fog creates dangerous driving conditions across the area.
The speed restriction has been put in place as a safety precaution while thick fog reduces visibility for motorists traveling on the busy highway corridor.
Drivers are urged to exercise extra caution and maintain safe following distances while the foggy weather persists. The temporary speed limit will remain in effect until visibility conditions improve and normal driving conditions return to the interstate.
HONG KONG (AP) — Authorities in Hong Kong announced Saturday a comprehensive resettlement strategy for thousands of residents forced from their homes following last November’s catastrophic fire, the region’s most fatal in decades. The plan centers on purchasing property ownership rights directly from those affected by the tragedy.
Nearly three months have passed since the devastating fire consumed seven residential towers at Wang Fuk Court, leaving former residents in limbo about their housing future. These displaced families continue adapting to temporary living situations spread throughout different neighborhoods, supported by government rental assistance to help property owners cover interim housing costs.
During Saturday’s press briefing, authorities outlined how property owners from the affected buildings can transfer their ownership rights to the government for monetary compensation, allowing them to secure new housing of their choosing or purchase units through designated government programs. Those preferring to avoid large cash transactions can opt for direct apartment exchanges through the same policy framework.
Administrative officials calculate the buyback program for approximately 1,700 residential units will require roughly 6.8 billion Hong Kong dollars ($870 million), with public funding covering about 4 billion Hong Kong dollars ($512 million) and relief contributions making up the remainder.
Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong indicated the administration favors tearing down all seven structures, with no plans to rebuild residential housing at the location. The site could instead become green space or community amenities, he noted.
Wong explained that restoring the fire-damaged structures would neither be practical nor economically feasible, and without government action, property owners would struggle to find market buyers for their units.
“In other words, the funds they have invested in these units over the years could turn to nothing,” he said.
The timeline calls for reaching out to property owners in March, with compensation payments targeted for the third quarter of this year, Wong stated.
These proposals emerged following surveys of affected residents regarding their preferences. Wong reported that 74% of survey participants expressed willingness to consider transferring their ownership rights to the government. Meanwhile, approximately 9% of respondents indicated they would only accept on-site redevelopment, a process the government estimates would require roughly ten years to complete.
The November 26, 2025 fire claimed 168 lives and devastated a tight-knit community in Tai Po’s suburban area. Officials determined that inferior scaffold netting and foam materials used during maintenance work caused the flames to spread rapidly. While several arrests have occurred, an independent panel continues examining the incident’s underlying causes.
French President Emmanuel Macron weighed in Saturday on a recent United States Supreme Court decision involving former President Donald Trump’s trade policies, praising the judicial system’s role as a check on executive authority.
Speaking at Paris’s annual agricultural exhibition, Macron responded to questions about Friday’s Supreme Court decision that declared certain Trump-era tariffs unconstitutional, saying the ruling demonstrates the value of judicial oversight in democratic nations.
“It is not bad to have a Supreme Court and, therefore, the rule of law,” Macron stated during the agricultural event. “It is good to have power and counterweights to power in democracies.”
The French leader’s comments came after the high court determined that tariffs Trump had implemented using emergency economic powers violated federal law.
Macron also addressed how France plans to respond to Trump’s proposed 10% universal tariff, stating his country will evaluate the impact and adjust accordingly while continuing to promote French exports across multiple sectors, including farm products, luxury items, fashion, and aerospace manufacturing.
The president emphasized the need for measured responses and advocated for “reciprocity” as the most equitable approach, rather than accepting “unilateral decisions” from other nations.
England’s Football Association announced Saturday that Manchester United owner Jim Ratcliffe will not face punishment following his controversial statements about immigration in Britain.
The British billionaire had issued an apology last week for his word choice after stating that Britain had been “colonised” by immigrants. His original remarks prompted criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The FA released a short statement explaining their decision: “As background guidance, we have issued Sir Jim Ratcliffe with a reminder of his responsibilities as a Participant in English football when taking part in media interviews. We won’t be taking any further action.”
During a February 11th television interview, Ratcliffe, who founded the chemical company INEOS, argued that high immigration levels and welfare recipients were harming Britain’s economy.
“You can’t have an economy with 9 million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonised – it’s costing too much money,” Ratcliffe stated during his appearance with the broadcaster. “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?”
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick chose not to address the controversy directly on Friday, instead highlighting the team’s commitment to inclusivity and its worldwide fanbase.
“Equality, diversity and respect for each other is something we look to carry through every day,” Carrick said to reporters before their upcoming Premier League match against Everton.
Currently sitting fourth in the Premier League standings with 45 points from 26 matches, Manchester United will take on eighth-place Everton on Monday as they work to secure a top-four position and qualify for Champions League play.
HONG KONG – Government officials in Hong Kong announced Saturday they will allocate approximately $512 million (HK$4 billion) to purchase apartments from residents of a tower complex where a catastrophic fire claimed more than 160 lives last November.
During a press conference, authorities detailed compensation rates of HK$8,000 per square foot for units without land premium requirements, while properties subject to land premium payments will receive HK$10,500 per square foot.
“We believe the proposed price is sufficient for the affected residents to relocate and secure long-term housing,” said Wong Wai-lun, Hong Kong’s deputy financial secretary.
Beyond the buyout program, government representatives announced an apartment swap initiative targeting the 4,600 displaced residents who occupied nearly 2,000 units within the Wang Fuk Court complex.
While the complete financial commitment reaches an estimated HK$6.8 billion, officials explained that a relief fund contribution will reduce costs by HK$2.8 billion, with additional savings expected once insurance settlements are processed.
The National Weather Service has replaced the Winter Storm Watch that was in effect for New Castle and Kent counties in northern Delaware early Saturday morning. The watch, which was issued for a developing winter weather situation, expired at 3:43 AM and has been superseded by updated information from NWS Mount Holly.
Residents in the affected areas should check the latest forecasts and any new warnings that may have been issued as weather conditions continue to evolve. The original watch covered New Castle County, home to Wilmington and Newark, as well as Kent County, which includes Dover.
Despite the watch being replaced, weather officials continue to urge caution for anyone who must travel during winter weather conditions. Drivers should keep emergency supplies in their vehicles, including an extra flashlight, food, and water. For the most current road conditions throughout Delaware, residents can dial 511.
TV Delmarva will continue monitoring the latest updates from the National Weather Service Mount Holly office and will provide immediate coverage of any new winter weather alerts affecting the Delmarva Peninsula. Stay tuned to TV Delmarva for the most up-to-date weather information.
A significant winter storm is bearing down on Delaware, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Storm Warning for New Castle and Kent Counties from Sunday morning through Monday evening.
The storm is expected to bring heavy snowfall totaling 8 to 14 inches, with some areas potentially seeing even higher amounts. Snow could fall at rates exceeding 2 inches per hour at times, accompanied by wind gusts up to 40 mph that will create dangerous blowing and drifting conditions.
The storm begins Sunday at 10 AM and continues until 6 PM Monday, threatening to make both Monday morning and evening commutes extremely hazardous. Whiteout conditions are possible, and gusty winds could down tree branches across the region.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” warns the National Weather Service Mount Holly office, which issued the warning early Saturday morning.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. If you must venture out, keep emergency supplies in your vehicle including extra food, water, and a flashlight. For the latest road conditions, dial 511.
The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 PM Monday. Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing coverage of this developing weather situation.
Weather officials have updated their winter weather alert for the Delmarva region, with the National Weather Service Mount Holly issuing new information that supersedes the earlier Winter Storm Watch.
The change in weather advisories comes as meteorologists continue monitoring a developing winter weather system that could impact Delaware and surrounding areas.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about the evolving weather situation by checking the latest forecasts and any additional advisories that may be issued as conditions develop.
The National Weather Service Mount Holly continues to track this weather system and will provide updates as new information becomes available.
The National Weather Service has upgraded its Winter Storm Watch for inland Sussex County and Delaware’s beaches, signaling that severe winter weather conditions are now being observed across the region.
The watch, which was issued early Friday morning, has been replaced with more urgent advisories as the storm system moves through the area. Residents in affected areas should monitor the latest updates from the National Weather Service Mount Holly office for current conditions and warnings.
Officials are urging residents to restrict travel to emergency situations only. Those who must venture out should carry a winter survival kit and remain with their vehicle if they become stranded.
“The conditions are deteriorating rapidly,” said local emergency management officials. “We’re asking everyone to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.”
For the most current road conditions, drivers can dial 511 from any phone. The upgraded alert remains in effect until 3:43 AM Friday.
TV Delmarva will continue monitoring this developing weather situation and provide updates as conditions change. Residents are encouraged to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has updated its winter weather forecast for the region, issuing new guidance that replaces an earlier Winter Storm Watch.
Weather officials are monitoring a developing winter weather system that could impact the Delmarva Peninsula and surrounding areas. The updated forecast provides the most current information available as meteorologists continue to track the storm’s path and intensity.
Residents across Delaware and the Eastern Shore are encouraged to stay informed about changing weather conditions and make necessary preparations for potential winter weather impacts. The National Weather Service will continue providing updates as the situation develops.
Local authorities recommend checking current road conditions before traveling and ensuring emergency supplies are readily available during winter weather events.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Delaware’s beaches and inland Sussex County, effective from 1 PM Sunday through 6 PM Monday evening.
Meteorologists are forecasting dangerous blizzard conditions with total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches, accompanied by wind gusts reaching up to 55 mph. The storm could produce snowfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour, with locally higher amounts and significant snow drifting possible.
The severe weather will create extremely hazardous travel conditions, with areas of blowing snow significantly reducing visibility. Both Monday morning and evening commutes are expected to be severely impacted, and strong winds could cause tree damage throughout the region.
Authorities are urging residents to restrict travel to emergencies only during the warning period. If you must travel, pack a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if you become stranded. For the latest road conditions, dial 511.
The Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 6 PM Monday evening. TV Delmarva will continue monitoring this developing storm and provide updates as conditions change. Stay indoors, stay safe, and keep your emergency supplies ready.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has issued a blizzard warning for the Delmarva Peninsula that took effect at 3:27 AM on Saturday, February 21st.
The warning will remain active until 6:00 PM on Monday, February 23rd, with dangerous winter weather conditions across Delaware and the Eastern Shore.
Residents throughout the region should prepare for severe winter weather that could include heavy snowfall, strong winds, and reduced visibility that characterizes blizzard conditions.
The extended duration of this weather alert suggests that hazardous travel and outdoor conditions are expected across the Delmarva Peninsula.
The National Weather Service Mount Holly office has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Delmarva Peninsula, effective from Thursday morning at 3:27 AM through Friday evening at 6:00 PM.
The warning was put into effect on February 21st and remains active until February 23rd, alerting residents across Delaware and the Eastern Shore to prepare for potentially dangerous winter weather conditions.
Local residents should monitor weather conditions closely and take necessary precautions as the storm system moves through the region over the next two days.
TV Delmarva will continue to track this developing weather situation and provide updates as conditions change throughout the warning period.
Delaware businesses with international supply chains are facing fresh uncertainty after the Supreme Court invalidated numerous tariffs President Donald Trump had placed on Asian imports, only to see Trump announce new sweeping duties within hours.
The high court’s decision eliminated tariffs that Trump’s administration had placed on major Asian exporters including China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan – a critical player in the global technology supply chain that many Delaware companies rely on.
Trump responded swiftly, announcing a new 10% tariff on imports from all nations beginning Tuesday, set to last 150 days under different legal authority. Trade experts warn this could signal additional measures ahead, creating more uncertainty for Delaware businesses and investors.
Japanese officials said Tokyo “will carefully examine the content of this ruling and the Trump administration’s response to it, and respond appropriately.”
China, which is set to welcome Trump for a visit in late March, has not yet issued an official response as the country observes an extended holiday period. However, Christopher Hui, Hong Kong’s financial services secretary, called the U.S. situation a “fiasco” during a Saturday media briefing.
Hui argued that Trump’s new tariff actually highlights Hong Kong’s “unique trade advantages,” stating: “This shows the stability of Hong Kong’s policies and our certainty … it shows global investors the importance of predictability.”
Hong Kong maintains separate customs status from mainland China, which has protected it from direct impact of U.S. tariffs on Chinese products. This arrangement has allowed Hong Kong to sustain trade relationships even as U.S.-China tensions have intensified.
The Supreme Court’s Friday ruling specifically targeted tariffs Trump implemented using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which is reserved for national emergencies.
According to Global Trade Alert, the court decision alone reduces the average U.S. trade-weighted tariff rate from 15.4% to 8.3% – nearly cutting it in half.
Countries facing the highest U.S. tariff rates will see the most significant relief. China, Brazil, and India will experience double-digit percentage point reductions, though rates remain elevated.
Taiwan’s government issued a statement saying it was “monitoring the situation closely,” noting uncertainty about how the U.S. will implement trade agreements with various nations.
“While the initial impact on Taiwan appears limited, the government will closely monitor developments and maintain close communication with the U.S. to understand specific implementation details and respond appropriately,” Taiwan’s cabinet announced.
Taiwan recently completed two significant agreements with the United States – a January memorandum committing Taiwan to $250 billion in investments, and a February deal reducing mutual tariffs.
Trade analysts caution that the Supreme Court’s intervention may provide minimal relief for the global economy. They anticipate continued confusion as trading nations prepare for Trump to pursue alternative methods of imposing tariffs that circumvent the court ruling.
Nantapong Chiralerspong, who leads Thailand’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office, suggested the ruling might actually boost Thai exports as uncertainty triggers “front loading” – where exporters rush shipments to the U.S. ahead of potentially higher future tariffs.
Corporate filings reviewed by Reuters show companies throughout the Asia-Pacific region have reported financial losses, supply chain disruptions, and market exits as tariff conflicts intensified through 2025 and early 2026.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s highest court declined Friday to consider Republican legislators’ challenge to new congressional boundaries that could hand Democrats control of one of the state’s four GOP-held House seats this November.
Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant wrote in the court’s order that justices lack “jurisdiction over Legislative Defendants’ appeal.”
The Republican lawmakers were challenging a November ruling where a state judge implemented congressional boundaries that create a district favorable to Democrats, replacing a map designed to keep all four House seats in Republican hands.
Under the new boundaries, Salt Lake County remains largely consolidated in a single district rather than being split across all four districts as before — a change that keeps the heavily Democratic area’s voting power intact.
GOP legislators contend the court overstepped its authority by implementing district lines the Legislature never approved.
Republican Senate President Stuart Adams criticized Friday’s decision, declaring the “chaos continues.”
“We will keep defending a process that respects the Constitution and ensures Utah voters across our state have their voices respected,” Adams stated.
Katharine Biele, who leads the League of Women Voters of Utah and was among those who sued over the original map, praised the court’s action.
“We are encouraged that the court dismissed this improper appeal and allowed the process to move forward without disruption to voters or election administrators,” Biele said.
The redistricting controversy began with an August ruling by Judge Dianna Gibson, who invalidated Utah’s post-2020 census congressional map after finding lawmakers ignored voter-approved anti-gerrymandering measures.
The dispute has thrust Utah into a nationwide redistricting fight, particularly after President Donald Trump called on Republican-controlled states to redraw maps mid-decade to help the GOP maintain House control in 2026.
The court-approved boundaries significantly improve Democratic chances of winning a seat in a state that hasn’t sent a Democrat to Congress since early 2021.
Emma Petty Addams, who co-leads Mormon Women for Ethical Government and also sued over the original map, said Friday that “the courts have provided an important check on the Legislature, affirming the people’s constitutional right to alter and reform their government.”
The decision arrives just weeks before candidates must file paperwork to run for reelection.
A separate federal lawsuit remains active, filed in February by two of Utah’s Republican House members. That case argues the state judge violated federal constitutional principles by rejecting the GOP-controlled Legislature’s district boundaries.
European businesses are expressing cautious concern following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that eliminated a significant portion of President Trump’s trade tariffs, warning that the ruling may actually increase uncertainty in international commerce.
The nation’s highest court delivered a major blow to the Republican president by overturning his extensive tariff program, which had been implemented using emergency powers legislation. The decision is expected to have widespread effects across the global marketplace.
Despite celebrations from some companies that had fought lengthy court battles against these trade barriers, European industry organizations, businesses, and market experts are expressing worry that the court’s action could make international trade relationships even more complicated following difficult negotiations last year.
Paolo Castelletti, who leads Italy’s wine association UIV, expressed concern about the decision’s potential consequences. “This ruling … risks creating a boomerang effect, producing further uncertainty and a freeze on orders while operators wait for a clearer regulatory framework,” Castelletti stated.
The stakes are particularly high for Italian wine producers, as the United States represents their largest export market. Italian wine sales to America totaled approximately 1.9 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in 2024, accounting for nearly 25% of Italy’s worldwide wine exports.
Numerous companies are warning that Trump will probably seek alternative methods to implement comparable tariffs, which would reduce any benefits from lower trade barriers. Additionally, the situation could increase friction between America and its key trading partners, while obtaining tariff refunds may prove challenging.
In response to the court’s decision, Trump declared new worldwide tariffs of 10% for an initial 150-day timeframe and admitted uncertainty about whether any refunds would be available.
Steve Ovara, who heads the International Trade Practice Group at King & Spalding law firm, noted that companies his firm represents – ranging from major U.S. manufacturers to consumer and technology corporations – generally anticipate that any tariff relief will be temporary.
“The major issue everybody’s going to be dealing with for at least the short term is some additional uncertainty,” Ovara explained.
Wolfgang Grosse Entrup, the managing director of Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industry group VCI, which represents major companies including BASF, Bayer and Evonik, shared similar concerns.
“For our firms, this isn’t the start of a phase of stability, but a new round of uncertainty. Anyone who believes this means the tariff conflict is over is mistaken,” he said. “New tariffs based on a different legal basis are possible at any time.”
Peter Sand, chief analyst at shipping cost platform Xeneta, emphasized that political risks continue to affect freight companies, with supply chain risk reduction becoming an “irreversible trend.”
“The damage to many shippers’ supply chains is largely done and probably won’t be undone,” Sand observed.
France’s cosmetics trade group FEBEA, whose membership includes companies like L’Oreal, indicated it remains “very cautious” about the ruling and plans to monitor how the U.S. government responds, including potential new tariff implementations.
“We are all used to the twists and turns on this subject of customs duties,” said FEBEA secretary general Emmanuel Guichard.
Massimiliano Giansanti, who leads Italy’s agricultural organization Confagricoltura, acknowledged that the U.S. court decision “dismantles the entire legal basis” for Trump’s tariff system, but cautioned it creates complications for exporters who were just beginning to adjust to American trade barriers.
“All this generates deep instability at a time when we need certainty and have begun a process together with our U.S. importers,” Giansanti stated.
Irish whiskey exporters are taking a wait-and-see approach before making any moves, according to Eoin Ó Catháin, Director of the Irish Whiskey Association. He suggested that political discussions and tension reduction would more likely solve tariff issues.
“This isn’t a silver bullet to get rid of tariffs,” he said. “This is just another complication, it’s another twist in the story.”
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump continues moving America closer to potential military conflict with Iran, despite advisers pushing him to concentrate on economic concerns that matter most to voters before this year’s midterm elections.
Trump has directed massive military deployments to the Middle East and authorized preparations for possible weeks-long aerial strikes against Iran. However, he hasn’t provided detailed explanations to Americans about why he might launch the most aggressive U.S. action against the Islamic Republic since 1979’s revolution.
This Iranian focus represents the clearest indication of how international affairs, including expanded military force usage, has dominated Trump’s agenda during his second term’s initial 13 months, frequently overshadowing domestic concerns like living costs that polling data shows Americans prioritize.
According to a senior White House official, despite Trump’s aggressive language, the administration lacks “unified support” for proceeding with Iranian attacks.
Trump’s team remains conscious about avoiding a “distracted message” toward undecided voters who prioritize economic issues, the official told Reuters anonymously since they lacked press authorization.
White House advisers and Republican campaign officials want Trump emphasizing economic matters, which was highlighted as the primary campaign priority during this week’s private briefing attended by multiple cabinet secretaries, according to someone present. Trump didn’t attend that meeting.
A second White House official responding to Reuters inquiries stated Trump’s international policy agenda “has directly translated into wins for the American people.”
“All of the President’s actions put America First – be it through making the entire world safer or bringing economic deliverables home to our country,” the official said.
November’s elections will determine whether Trump’s Republican Party maintains control over both Congressional chambers. Losing either chamber to Democrats would challenge Trump during his presidency’s remaining years.
Republican strategist Rob Godfrey warned that extended Iranian conflict would create substantial political dangers for Trump and fellow Republicans.
“The president has to keep in mind the political base that propelled him to the Republican nomination – three consecutive times – and that continues to stick by him is skeptical of foreign engagement and foreign entanglements because ending the era of ‘forever wars’ was an explicit campaign promise,” Godfrey said.
Republicans intend campaigning on individual tax reductions passed by Congress last year, plus programs reducing housing and certain prescription drug expenses.
Despite some opposing voices, many within Trump’s isolationist “Make America Great Again” movement backed last month’s quick operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. However, he might encounter greater resistance if steering America into Iranian warfare, since Iran represents a much stronger opponent.
Trump, who has consistently threatened Iranian strikes unless they agree on nuclear program terms, repeated his warning Friday, stating Tehran “better negotiate a fair deal.”
America targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June, and Iran has promised fierce retaliation if attacked again.
Trump secured 2024 reelection through his ‘America First’ platform largely by promising inflation reduction and avoiding expensive foreign conflicts, but he’s struggled convincing Americans he’s making progress lowering high prices, polling shows.
Nevertheless, Republican strategist Lauren Cooley suggested Trump’s supporters might back Iranian military action if it’s decisive and limited.
“The White House will need to clearly connect any action to protecting American security and economic stability at home,” she said.
Even with polls showing minimal public desire for another foreign war and Trump struggling to stay focused on addressing voters’ economic anxieties, any Iranian escalation represents risky moves by a president who recently acknowledged to Reuters that his party could face midterm difficulties.
Foreign policy historically hasn’t been decisive for midterm voters. However, having deployed substantial aircraft carriers, warships and warplanes to the Middle East, Trump may have cornered himself into military action unless Iran makes major concessions it’s shown little willingness accepting. Otherwise he risks appearing internationally weak.
Trump’s reasons for possible attacks have remained unclear and inconsistent. He initially threatened January strikes responding to Iran’s violent suppression of nationwide protests but then retreated.
He’s recently tied military threats to demands that Iran end nuclear programs and suggested “regime change,” but neither he nor aides have explained how airstrikes could achieve that.
The second White House official insisted Trump “has been clear that he always prefers diplomacy, and that Iran should make a deal before it is too late.” The president, the official added, has emphasized Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon or the capacity to build one, and that they cannot enrich uranium.”
What many perceive as unclear messaging contrasts sharply with then-President George W. Bush’s extensive public justification for 2003’s Iraq invasion, which he said aimed to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. Although that mission relied on faulty intelligence and false claims, Bush’s stated objectives were initially clear.
Godfrey, the Republican strategist, noted independent voters – critical in close elections – will scrutinize Trump’s Iranian handling.
“Midterm voters and his base will be waiting for the president to make his case,” he said.
MILAN – A dream matchup is set for Sunday as Canada and the United States prepare to clash in the men’s Olympic hockey championship game in Milan, delivering exactly the showdown North American hockey fans hoped to witness.
The return of NHL players to Olympic competition after a 12-year absence couldn’t have produced a more perfect finale, with hockey’s two dominant nations bringing their star-studded professional rosters to battle for gold.
Canada enters the championship seeking to cement their hockey dominance with a 10th Olympic gold medal, representing the nation that created the sport and considers it sacred. Meanwhile, the United States aims to settle an old score – Canada crushed their gold medal dreams in overtime 16 years ago, and America hasn’t captured Olympic hockey gold in 46 years.
“NHL players have not had the ability to play in the Olympics since 2014, that’s 12 years. Some of these kids were in diapers then,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said, referring to the Sochi Games. “They’ve never been part of this. There is so much pride. The hockey has been so great and so close. That’s why the Olympics are unique. There is nothing like it in the world.”
Both squads dominated their preliminary groups, making their championship meeting seem inevitable from the start. However, the quarterfinals nearly shattered those expectations when each team survived grueling overtime battles that almost ended their gold medal pursuits. Canada fought back from behind against the Czech Republic, while the United States maintained composure after Sweden tied the game with only 91 seconds remaining in regulation.
The semifinals told different stories for each team on Friday. The Americans demolished Slovakia 6-2 in a dominant performance, while Canada struggled more against defending champion Finland, playing without injured captain Sidney Crosby.
Cooper remained uncertain Friday about whether Crosby, who exited their quarterfinal match with an undisclosed injury, would be available for the final.
Regardless of Crosby’s status, Canada possesses exceptional firepower in 29-year-old superstar Connor McDavid – a future Hall of Famer leading the tournament with two goals and 11 assists through five games. They also feature 19-year-old phenom Macklin Celebrini, who has netted five goals, plus NHL leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon.
“It’s everything. It’s the gold medal at an Olympic Games,” said MacKinnon, a forward for the Colorado Avalanche. “We are very lucky to be here and it’s a great opportunity. We have got to be ready.”
The Americans have no intention of watching their northern neighbors claim more Olympic gold, hoping to mirror their women’s team’s success after defeating Canada for gold in Thursday’s thrilling championship.
Defenseman Quinn Hughes leads all tournament defensemen with one goal and six assists, looking to create a family celebration alongside brother Jack, who has recorded three goals and three assists in five games.
“We believe this is the best group in the whole tournament and the best group in the world,” said Jack Hughes, who scored twice in Friday’s 6-2 Slovakia victory. “We are proud Americans, and we are excited to have a chance at the gold medal.”
Following Friday’s Supreme Court decision that invalidated President Trump’s tariff program, businesses across the nation are now pursuing refunds for the substantial sums they’ve already paid to the federal government.
The high court’s ruling eliminated the controversial trade policy, but justices failed to provide guidance on a crucial financial question: the fate of approximately $133 billion in tariff payments already collected by the government.
This massive sum represents payments made by importers and businesses since the tariffs were first implemented, and companies are now mobilizing legal efforts to recover these funds. The uncertainty surrounding these refunds has created significant confusion in the business community as firms work to determine their next steps.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant shift in trade policy, but the unresolved question of refunds could have far-reaching implications for both businesses and government finances moving forward.
Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard was forced to leave Friday night’s game against the Lakers early due to discomfort in his left ankle, according to team officials. Leonard exited the contest with 5:10 left on the clock as the Clippers fell to their crosstown rivals 125-122.
Despite the early departure, Leonard put together another impressive offensive showing, scoring 31 points to extend his remarkable streak of 35 straight games with 20 or more points.
The injury adds to Leonard’s ongoing health concerns, as the star forward has battled persistent knee problems throughout his tenure with the Clippers, which began during the 2019-20 campaign. Earlier this season, he was sidelined for 10 contests due to separate ankle and foot ailments.
The seven-time All-Star has been having a career year offensively, posting personal-best averages of 27.8 points per game to go with 6.4 rebounds across 42 appearances this season. Throughout his 14-year NBA career, the two-time champion has maintained averages of 20.5 points and 6.4 rebounds over 775 games, starting in 746 of those contests.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pushed back against critics using the term ‘bottlers’ on Friday, as his team prepares for Sunday’s crucial Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur while facing mounting pressure in the title race.
The Gunners have struggled in recent weeks, managing only two victories in their past seven league matches. Their recent stumbles include consecutive draws against Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, allowing Manchester City to narrow the gap to just five points while holding a game in hand.
This marks another challenging period for the North London side, which has finished second in the league during each of Arteta’s last three seasons as manager.
When reporters questioned Arteta about the ‘bottlers’ criticism surrounding his team’s latest title race struggles, he firmly rejected the characterization.
“It’s not part of my vocabulary and I don’t see it like this because I don’t think anybody wants to do that as an intention,” Arteta stated during Friday’s press conference.
The Spanish manager acknowledged the disappointment while emphasizing his focus on moving forward.
“That’s individual opinion, perspective. You have to respect that. That’s what I said after in the press conference. You lose two points against Wolves in the manner that the game played out, you have to take it on the chin. It’s part of our role,” he explained.
“What I’m very interested in is the next one, what we are made of, what we love about this and how we write our own destiny from here,” Arteta added.
Despite their league struggles, Arsenal remains active across multiple competitions, having advanced to the League Cup final while still competing in both the Champions League and FA Cup round of 16.
Sunday’s opponents Tottenham present their own storyline, currently sitting in 16th place in the Premier League table. The Spurs will be led by recently appointed manager Igor Tudor, who took over the position last week following Thomas Frank’s departure.
Top-ranked tennis player Carlos Alcaraz kept his flawless 2026 season alive Friday, taking down defending champion Andrey Rublev 7-6(3) 6-4 in the Qatar Open semifinals. The victory sends the Spanish sensation to his 12th final appearance in his last 13 tournament entries.
Saturday’s championship match will pit Alcaraz against 21-year-old Arthur Fils of France, who secured his spot by defeating Czech player Jakub Mensik 6-4 7-6(4) in the other semifinal contest.
The Russian defender mounted a spirited comeback effort, erasing a 3-0 deficit to even the second set before staving off five match opportunities. However, Alcaraz managed to close out the victory, extending his season win streak to 11 consecutive matches.
“I know what I’m able to do every time that I step on court. For me it’s great. Obviously, the way I’m approaching every match, I’m just really proud about it,” the 22-year-old Alcaraz commented after the match. The young champion has appeared in the final four of the last four Grand Slam tournaments, capturing three titles during that stretch.
“It’s paying off, all the focus and attention. I’m just happy and proud about myself with how I’m getting better and getting mature I guess,” he added.
The opening set saw Rublev struggle with his backhand, committing 14 unforced errors on that wing. Despite this, he managed to match Alcaraz’s aggressive play with pinpoint forehands that caught the baseline, leading to an even exchange of service breaks that forced a tiebreaker.
Alcaraz maintained his composure during the crucial tiebreak, building a 6-3 advantage while a visibly frustrated Rublev repeatedly struck his racket against his knee, eventually snapping a string. The seven-time Grand Slam champion then sealed the set with a deceptive shot, faking a slice before delivering a powerful forehand winner down the line.
The second set appeared to be heading toward a comfortable finish for Alcaraz after he secured two service breaks for a 5-3 lead. However, while serving for the match, the world number one watched Rublev save three match points to break back and level the set.
Alcaraz responded immediately by breaking serve once more in the following game, finally converting his sixth match point opportunity when Rublev’s backhand sailed beyond the baseline.
Meanwhile, Fils earned his fifth career final berth with a dominant performance against 16th-ranked Mensik, wrapping up the victory in just over 90 minutes. The French player, who endured an eight-month layoff due to a lower back stress fracture suffered during last year’s French Open, played error-free tennis while successfully defending seven of eight break point chances and converting two of his five opportunities.
“Eight months without playing, watching others and staying in bed. It was a long and difficult ordeal. But today, the comeback is all the more sweet. It means a lot to me to be in the final,” Fils reflected on his journey back to competitive tennis.
Undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has announced his fourth return from retirement, planning his first sanctioned professional bout in almost ten years, according to his new promotional company CSI Sports/Fight Sports on Friday. The identity of his opponent remains undetermined.
Prior to his professional comeback, the 48-year-old champion has scheduled an exhibition match against heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, though organizers have not revealed the date or location for this event.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events,” Mayweather declared in a statement posted on his promotional company’s website.
This announcement represents Mayweather’s fourth attempt at ending retirement, having previously stepped away from professional boxing in 2007, 2015, and 2017. His most recent retirement followed his victory over mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor, which preserved his perfect 50-0 professional record. Since then, he has participated in multiple exhibition contests.
Throughout his thirty-year boxing career, Mayweather conquered numerous elite opponents from his generation and starred in the three most financially successful fights in boxing history, facing Manny Pacquiao, Conor McGregor, and Canelo Alvarez.
Delaware State University’s softball team encountered a challenging start to their 2026 season, suffering defeats in both matchups during the opening day of the Bulldog Invitational tournament.
The Hornets were unable to secure a victory in either contest, leaving them with an 0-2 record as they wrapped up day one of the multi-team competition.
The Dover-based team will look to regroup and bounce back as the tournament continues, hoping to turn their fortunes around in upcoming games.
KYIV, Ukraine — Severely wounded veterans from Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia have discovered a path to recovery through theatrical performance, staging a moving adaptation of Ivan Kotliarevskyi’s “Eneida” — Ukraine’s version of Virgil’s ancient “Aeneid.” The amateur acting group, made up of soldiers bearing serious injuries from the Russian invasion, recently debuted their production at Kyiv’s National Academic Molodyy Theatre after spending almost a year in preparation.
Under the guidance of director Olha Semioshkina, these veterans have woven together classical epic poetry with comedy, determination, and their own battlefield experiences to create a unique theatrical experience. The performance represents how art can serve as a healing force, allowing these wounded warriors to transform their personal struggles into compelling drama that resonates with audiences.
The production showcases the veterans’ journey from trauma to artistic expression, demonstrating the therapeutic power of creative storytelling in the face of war’s devastating physical and emotional toll.
LONDON (AP) — While King Charles III’s brother faced arrest and police searched royal estates, Britain’s monarchy attempted to project normalcy during what experts describe as their most serious crisis in nearly a century.
As news outlets dissected details of a sex scandal reaching Buckingham Palace’s doorstep, the royal family maintained their scheduled appearances Thursday. Charles attended London Fashion Week’s opening day, Queen Camilla participated in a midday musical performance, and Princess Anne conducted a prison visit.
This commitment to routine royal obligations represents more than traditional British resilience — it marks the Windsor family’s strategic battle for institutional survival as Andrew’s detention threatens to erode public confidence in the crown.
Following his promise to cooperate with law enforcement regarding his brother’s connections to deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the monarch emphasized his commitment.
“My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all,” Charles declared in an official statement bearing his signature “Charles R.,” utilizing the Latin Rex abbreviation for king.
The mere necessity of Charles issuing such a declaration reveals the severity of problems created by his 66-year-old sibling’s arrest. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he’s now known, endured 11 hours of detention before release under investigation — neither formally charged nor cleared.
The situation proved so extraordinary that analysts referenced the 1640s execution of King Charles I during England’s Civil War to find historical comparison.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s detention on suspected misconduct in public office charges represents the monarchy’s gravest crisis since Edward VIII’s 1936 abdication to wed American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
That previous scandal damaged royal popularity for 15 years, only recovering when Edward’s replacement, King George VI, remained in Britain throughout World War II, showing solidarity with citizens enduring Nazi bombardment.
Before her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II embraced her father’s example, publicly dedicating her existence to British service.
However, while Edward’s abdication crisis peaked within days and offered a straightforward resolution — Edward’s departure allowing his brother’s succession — the current Mountbatten-Windsor situation continues indefinitely without clear resolution.
Today’s crisis originated from revelations about the former prince’s Epstein relationship, exposed when the Justice Department released millions of investigation documents last month.
Authorities previously referenced reports suggesting Mountbatten-Windsor provided trade intelligence to Epstein, a wealthy financier, during 2010 when serving as Britain’s international trade special representative.
At least eight UK police departments are examining issues highlighted in these documents.
Unlike previous royal controversies, “this time there doesn’t seem to be any clear route forward,” observed Ed Owens, who authored “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?” “There’s no blueprint to follow” regarding how the institution should address these allegations.
The monarchy last navigated similar challenges following Princess Diana’s death, Charles’ former wife. Elizabeth and Charles faced criticism for inadequately responding to massive public mourning as thousands gathered at Kensington Gardens, placing flowers outside the late princess’ residence. Some demanded Charles relinquish his heir status to son William.
The queen subsequently organized focus groups to gauge public sentiment and understand people’s intense connection to someone they’d never encountered. This crisis taught royals that Diana’s relatability had touched people in ways the House of Windsor hadn’t grasped.
These insights later influenced other royals, including Diana’s sons William and Harry, toward more casual and accessible approaches.
Yet this moment differs partly due to rapidly evolving media landscapes and increased demands for leadership transparency.
Progress requires confronting difficult questions about institutional knowledge — and family awareness — regarding Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct. The palace has attempted clear separation between the former prince and remaining monarchy by removing his titles, including princely designation.
Adding to the former prince’s troubles, the British government considers formally eliminating him from crown succession. Despite losing status and honors, Andrew remains eighth in line, changeable only through legislation.
Charles becomes the first monarch “that has to meet our expectations of figures in public life, which is to be accountable and to explain yourself,” stated Craig Prescott, a royal authority at Royal Holloway, University of London. “And you always have to work to earn the support of the public. And that is a particular challenge when you’re facing a controversy such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Critics contend the monarchy responded slowly to mounting pressure, considering Mountbatten-Windsor’s Epstein connections have been public knowledge for over ten years.
The optimal outcome involves police investigation focusing exclusively on Epstein file information and its connection to Mountbatten-Windsor, according to Peter Hunt, former BBC royal correspondent. The worst scenario would involve expanded inquiries into broader institutional knowledge and timing.
“Were questions raised about his behavior as a trade envoy over those 10 years? Were they answered? What did people do about them?” Hunt questioned on BBC.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — A pizzeria in Hungary’s capital has created an unusual culinary experiment that takes diners on a journey back 2,000 years, long before ingredients like tomatoes and mozzarella ever reached European shores.
Neverland Pizzeria’s owner Josep Zara and his culinary team have developed a special pizza recipe that exclusively uses ingredients that ancient Romans would have recognized, creating a dish from an era when modern pizza didn’t exist.
“Curiosity drove us to ask what pizza might have been like long ago,” Zara explained. “We went all the way back to the Roman Empire and wondered whether they even ate pizza at the time.”
Technically, ancient Romans didn’t consume pizza as we understand it today. Tomatoes didn’t arrive in Europe until centuries later from the New World, and mozzarella cheese hadn’t been developed yet. Historical accounts suggest that mozzarella’s creation directly led to pizza’s invention in Naples during the 18th century.
However, Romans did consume flatbreads baked in ovens and topped with various herbs, cheeses and sauces — the true predecessors of today’s pizza — commonly sold at ancient Roman food stalls known as thermopolia.
The inspiration for Zara’s creation came from a 2023 archaeological find in Pompeii, where researchers discovered a fresco showing a focaccia-style flatbread garnished with what appeared to be pomegranate seeds, dates, spices and a sauce resembling pesto. This discovery captured international attention and sparked Zara’s creativity.
“That made me very curious about what kind of flavor this food might have had,” he noted. “That’s where we got the idea to create a pizza that people might have eaten in the Roman Empire, using only ingredients that were in wide use at the time.”
Zara dove into extensive research on Roman food culture, working with a German historian and studying the ancient cookbook De re coquinaria, believed to have been written around the 5th century. His research produced a comprehensive list of historically authentic ingredients for the restaurant’s head chef to work with.
“We sat down to imagine what we might be able to make using these ingredients, and without using things like tomatoes and mozzarella,” Zara said. “We had to exclude all ingredients that originated from America.”
Head chef László Bárdossy explained that these limitations led to months of testing and several unsuccessful attempts.
“We had to discard a couple ideas,” Bárdossy said. “The fact that there wasn’t infrastructure like a water system at the time of the Romans made things difficult for us, since more than 80% of pizza dough is water. We had to come up with something that would have worked before running water.”
Their breakthrough came from using fermented spinach juice to help the dough rise. The base incorporates ancient grains like einkorn and spelt, which were commonly grown during Roman times, resulting in a denser texture than contemporary pizza dough.
The completed pizza features toppings associated with wealthy Roman dining, including epityrum (an olive paste), garum (a fermented fish sauce that was essential in Roman cuisine), duck leg confit, toasted pine nuts, ricotta cheese, and a grape reduction sauce.
“Our creation can be called a modern pizza from the perspective that we tried to make it comprehensible for everyone,” Bárdossy explained. “Although we wouldn’t use all its ingredients for everyday dishes. There is a narrow niche that thinks this is delicious and is curious about it, while most people want more conventional pizza, so it’s not for everyday eating. It’s something special.”
According to Zara, this experimental dish embodies Neverland Pizzeria’s overall approach to food.
“We’ve always liked coming up with new and interesting things, but tradition is also very important for us, and we thought that these two things together suit us,” he said.
Despite their willingness to experiment, Zara noted there’s one modern ingredient the restaurant refuses to use.
“We do a lot of experimentation with our pizzas. But of course, we definitely do not use pineapple,” he said.
Delaware businesses are facing continued uncertainty following a Supreme Court decision that eliminated certain federal tariffs, only to see President Trump immediately promise new trade restrictions within hours of the ruling.
The high court’s Friday decision struck down tariffs that Trump had implemented using emergency powers legislation. However, the president quickly announced plans to impose a 10% duty on all imported goods for 150 days using different legal authority, while exploring additional trade penalties against nations he claims use unfair practices.
According to the Trump administration, these trade measures support domestic manufacturing and help narrow America’s trade deficit. However, numerous companies throughout the U.S. have been forced to increase prices and make operational changes to handle the additional costs these tariffs create.
“Any economic benefit from reducing tariffs in the short term will likely be partially negated by an extended period of uncertainty,” explained Michael Pearce, an economist with Oxford Economics. “Since the administration will probably rebuild tariffs using other, more permanent methods, the total tariff level could still end up near current rates.”
Companies attempting to recover the estimated $133 billion to $175 billion in tariffs previously collected that are now considered unlawful face a complex process that will likely benefit larger corporations with greater resources. Regular consumers seeking refunds are unlikely to receive compensation.
Given Trump’s firm stance on trade policy, many companies are preparing for extended legal disputes.
Basic Fun, a Florida toy manufacturer that produces Lincoln Logs and Tonka trucks, recently joined numerous other companies in legal action to recover tariffs paid to the federal government.
Company CEO Jay Foreman expressed concern about potential new tariffs Trump might implement, though he believes toys won’t be targeted. Nevertheless, he stated, “I do worry about some type of perpetual fight over this, at least for the next three years.”
The fresh 10% tariff Trump announced Friday immediately created concerns for Daniel Posner, who owns Grapes The Wine Co. in White Plains, New York. With wine shipments requiring approximately two weeks to travel across the Atlantic, he’s uncertain whether a delivery arriving Monday will face the new charges.
“We’re reactive to what’s become a very unstable situation,” Posner explained.
Ron Kurnik operates Superior Coffee Roasting Co. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, near the Canadian border. Beyond dealing with U.S. tariffs, Kurnik also confronted retaliatory Canadian tariffs for most of last year when exporting his coffee.
“It’s like a nightmare we just want to wake up from,” said Kurnik, whose business has implemented two 6% price increases since tariffs took effect. Although he welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision, he doubts he’ll ever receive a refund.
Various industries, including retail, technology, and agriculture, used the Supreme Court ruling to highlight how Trump’s trade policies have impacted their operations.
The Business Roundtable, representing over 200 American companies, issued a statement urging the administration to focus future tariffs specifically on unfair trade practices and national security issues.
Retail businesses have adopted various strategies to manage tariff effects, including absorbing costs internally, reducing expenses, and diversifying supply chains. However, they’ve still had to pass along some price increases during a time when consumers are especially concerned about inflation.
Dave French, executive vice president of government relations for The National Retail Federation, the country’s largest retail trade organization, expressed hope that lower courts would ensure “a seamless process” for tariff refunds. Friday’s ruling didn’t address this matter.
Trump’s tariffs created significant challenges for the technology industry, as many products are manufactured overseas or rely on imported components. The Computer & Communications Industry Association, representing technology companies that employ more than 1.6 million people, expressed optimism that the decision will reduce trade tensions.
“With this decision behind us, we look forward to bringing more stability to trade policy,” said Jonathan McHale, the association’s vice president for digital trade.
Agricultural producers, who have suffered from higher equipment and fertilizer costs since tariffs began, plus reduced export demand, also voiced their concerns.
“We strongly encourage the president to avoid using any other available authorities to impose tariffs on agricultural inputs that would further increase costs,” stated American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act didn’t authorize the president to tax imports, a power reserved for Congress. However, the decision only applies to tariffs imposed under that specific law, leaving some industries without any relief.
The ruling maintains tariffs on steel, upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom vanities, according to the Home Furnishings Association, which represents 15,000 furniture retailers across North America.
At Revolution Brewing in Chicago, aluminum used for cans costs as much as the beer ingredients due to metal tariffs Trump imposed that aren’t affected by the Supreme Court decision. Although the cans are manufactured in Chicago, the aluminum originates from Canada, explained Josh Deth, the brewery’s managing partner.
Tariffs represent just one challenge for his business, which also deals with fluctuating barley prices and declining craft beer demand.
“Everything kind of adds up,” he noted. “The beverage industry needs relief here. We’re getting crushed by the prices of aluminum.”
Italian wine producers severely affected by the tariffs received the Supreme Court decision with doubt, cautioning that it might only increase trade uncertainty with the United States.
The U.S. represents Italy’s largest wine market, with sales tripling in value over the past two decades. Potential EU tariffs, which the Trump administration initially threatened could reach 200%, caused widespread industry concern that persisted even after the U.S. reduced, delayed, and negotiated lower rates.
“There is a more than likely risk that tariffs will be reimposed through alternative legal channels, compounded by the uncertainty this ruling may generate in commercial relations between Europe and the United States,” explained Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of UIV, a trade organization representing over 800 winemakers.
Throughout Europe, initial responses centered on renewed disruption and confusion regarding costs for businesses exporting to America.
Trump’s tariffs could affect pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and automotive parts, noted Carsten Brzeski, an ING bank economist. “Europe should not be mistaken, this ruling will not bring relief,” he warned. “The legal authority may be different, but the economic impact could be identical or worse.”
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court delivered a decisive blow to President Donald Trump’s expansive tariff program on Friday, but justices sidestepped a massive financial puzzle: how to handle the $133 billion in import duties already collected under policies now deemed illegal.
Businesses across the country are already positioning themselves for potential refunds, though experts warn the path ahead will be complicated and messy.
Trade attorneys expect importers will eventually recover their money, but the process won’t be smooth. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride for awhile,” said Joyce Adetutu, a trade attorney with Vinson & Elkins law firm.
According to legal experts at Clark Hill, the refund process will likely involve multiple entities including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New York’s specialized Court of International Trade, and various federal courts.
“The amount of money is substantial,” Adetutu noted. “The courts are going to have a hard time. Importers are going to have a hard time.”
However, she emphasized that given the Supreme Court’s strong rejection of Trump’s tariff authority, “it’s going to be really difficult not to have some sort of refund option.”
The court’s 6-3 decision Friday determined that Trump’s use of emergency powers legislation to implement the tariffs was invalid. Notably, two Trump-appointed justices voted with the majority to overturn this major component of his second-term economic agenda.
The contested tariffs were substantial levies Trump placed on nearly all nations worldwide last year, citing the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court determined this law doesn’t grant presidential authority to impose import taxes, which constitutionally belongs to Congress.
Government customs officials have already gathered $133 billion through IEEPA tariffs by mid-December. However, everyday consumers shouldn’t expect direct compensation for higher prices they paid when businesses transferred tariff costs to customers; those refunds would more likely benefit the importing companies directly.
In his dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh criticized his fellow justices for avoiding the refund question entirely: “The Court says nothing today about whether, and if so how, the Government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers.”
Using language from Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s comments during November oral arguments, Kavanaugh predicted the refund process would likely become a “mess.”
Speaking to reporters Friday, Trump expressed frustration with the court’s ruling and said he felt “absolutely ashamed” of justices who voted against his tariff program. “I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years,” Trump stated. “We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.”
Eliminating the IEEPA tariffs might benefit the economy by reducing inflation pressures. Tariff refunds could boost consumer spending and economic growth, though economists expect modest overall impact.
Many nations still face significant U.S. tariffs on particular industries, and Trump plans to implement replacement levies through alternative legal mechanisms. Any refunds that do materialize will take considerable time to distribute — TD Securities estimates 12 to 18 months.
U.S. customs already maintains procedures for refunding duties when importers demonstrate administrative errors occurred. Trade attorney Dave Townsend from Dorsey & Whitney suggests the agency might expand this existing framework to handle IEEPA tariff refunds.
Courts have previously established refund systems in trade disputes. During the 1990s, after courts declared a harbor maintenance fee on exports unconstitutional, they created an application process for exporters to recover their payments.
However, customs officials and courts have never confronted anything approaching this scale — thousands of importers seeking tens of billions in refunds simultaneously.
“Just because the process is difficult to administer doesn’t mean the government has the right to hold on to fees that were collected unlawfully,” explained Alexis Early, a trade lawyer with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
Ryan Majerus, who works at King & Spalding and previously served as a federal trade official, said it remains unclear how authorities will manage such enormous refund demands. The government might streamline operations, potentially creating dedicated online portals for refund claims.
Yet Adetutu cautions that “the government is well-positioned to make this as difficult as possible for importers. I can see a world where they push as much responsibility as possible onto the importer” — potentially requiring court action to secure refunds.
Several major corporations, including Costco, Revlon, and food producer Bumble Bee Foods, had already filed refund lawsuits before the Supreme Court decision, positioning themselves advantageously if tariffs were overturned.
Additional legal conflicts seem inevitable. Manufacturers might pursue portions of supplier refunds if those suppliers had raised prices to cover tariff expenses.
“We may see years of ongoing litigation in multiple jurisdictions,” Early predicted.
Regular consumers face slim prospects for refund windfalls. Higher retail prices would be difficult to trace to specific tariffs. While Early wouldn’t recommend spending money on legal fees pursuing consumer refunds, she noted: “In America, we have the ability to file a lawsuit for anything we want.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democratic Trump critic, has demanded state refunds representing his state’s 5.11 million households. In a letter released through his campaign, Pritzker calculated tariffs cost each Illinois household $1,700 — totaling $8.7 billion. He warned of “further action” if payment isn’t provided.
Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine submitted a $2.1 billion payment request to federal authorities Friday, seeking to recover tariff costs for his state.
“As Nevada’s chief investment officer, I have a responsibility to try to recoup every single dollar that the Trump Administration takes from Nevada families,” Conine stated.
SALT LAKE CITY — Twelve months following her husband’s passing, a Utah mother of three published a children’s book on her own, claiming it assisted her boys in dealing with their unexpected loss. Kouri Richins appeared on local television to promote “Are You With Me?” and received recognition for supporting young children through parental grief.
Just weeks following the book’s 2023 release, authorities took her into custody on murder charges related to her husband’s death.
The detention created widespread disbelief throughout her small mountain community near Park City, where twelve jurors will determine her future during a month-long trial beginning Monday.
The 35-year-old Richins confronts almost three dozen charges related to her husband’s death, including aggravated murder, attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud. She has entered a not guilty plea.
According to prosecutors, she murdered her husband Eric Richins at their residence in March 2022 by adding fentanyl to a cocktail he consumed. They claim she faced significant debt and committed the murder for monetary benefit while planning a life with another man she was secretly dating.
This disturbing situation involving a formerly respected local writer accused of benefiting from her own alleged violent act has fascinated true-crime followers since her detention. Previously celebrated as an emotional story, her book now serves as evidence for prosecutors claiming she executed a premeditated murder.
Her defense lawyers, Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos, expressed confidence that jurors will side with Richins after learning her version of events.
“Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: the opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution’s narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest,” her legal team said in a statement. “What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth.”
During the evening her husband died, Richins contacted emergency services to report discovering him “cold to the touch” at their bed’s foot, the police report states. Medical personnel declared him deceased, and an autopsy later revealed five times the fatal amount of fentanyl in his body.
According to charging documents, this wasn’t her initial attempt on his life.
One month prior on Valentine’s Day, Eric Richins informed friends he developed hives and lost consciousness after eating one bite of a sandwich Richins had prepared for him. She purchased the sandwich during the same week authorities say she obtained fentanyl pills from their family housekeeper. Opioids like fentanyl can trigger serious allergic responses.
Following self-administration of his son’s EpiPen and consuming large amounts of Benadryl, Eric Richins awakened from deep sleep and contacted a friend saying, “I think my wife tried to poison me,” according to the friend’s written testimony.
One day following Valentine’s Day, Kouri Richins messaged her supposed lover, “If he could just go away … life would be so perfect.”
The friend Eric Richins contacted that evening and the housekeeper who claims she sold his wife drugs may serve as crucial witnesses in the coming trial. Additional witnesses might include family members and the man Kouri Richins allegedly conducted an affair with.
The prosecution’s primary witness, housekeeper Carmen Lauber, informed police she provided Richins with fentanyl pills purchased from a dealer several days before Valentine’s Day. Later that month, Richins supposedly told the housekeeper the pills weren’t potent enough and requested she obtain stronger fentanyl, charging documents indicate.
Defense lawyers plan to argue Lauber never actually provided Richins with fentanyl and was motivated to fabricate her story for legal immunity. Lauber faces no charges in this case, and investigators confirmed at a previous hearing she received immunity.
Authorities never discovered fentanyl pills at Richins’ residence, and the housekeeper’s dealer stated he was incarcerated and withdrawing from drugs when he told investigators in 2023 about selling Lauber fentanyl. He subsequently claimed in a sworn statement he only sold her OxyContin.
Court documents show Eric Richins consulted with a divorce lawyer and estate planner in October 2020, one month after learning his wife made significant financial choices without his awareness. She maintained a negative bank balance, owed lenders over $1.8 million and faced a creditor lawsuit, court records show.
Prosecutors claim Kouri Richins incorrectly assumed she would receive her husband’s estate according to their prenuptial agreement terms. She also secretly established multiple life insurance policies on her husband totaling nearly $2 million in benefits, prosecutors claim.
She additionally faces accusations of falsifying loan documents and fraudulently collecting insurance payments following her husband’s death.
Legal professionals are calling a criminal investigation into backcountry ski guides highly unusual after a devastating avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains claimed nine lives this week, with legal experts saying such probes have virtually no precedent.
Typically, backcountry skiing clients sign liability waivers that protect guides and tour companies from lawsuits, according to attorney Andrew McDevitt. California courts also recognize skiing as an activity with inherent dangers.
This means recreational skiers accept certain hazards, including potential impacts with rocks or trees and unpredictable snow conditions, McDevitt explained.
McDevitt and fellow attorneys across California, Colorado and Utah who work on ski accident litigation said they’ve never encountered a guided trip fatality from an avalanche that triggered criminal charges.
However, this week’s tragedy is receiving heightened scrutiny likely due to its magnitude and the choice to continue despite avalanche forecasts, McDevitt noted. The incident represents the most deadly avalanche in the United States since 1981, when 11 climbers perished on Washington state’s Mount Rainier.
Utah attorney Rob Miner, who specializes in ski injuries, emphasized that liability waivers don’t excuse guide companies if they ignore proper safety measures or inadequately warn clients about dangers.
“They’re guides. It is presumed they will not guide you into an experience that may kill you, or that creates an unreasonable risk of death,” Miner said.
The massive avalanche struck the group Tuesday as they descended from the remote Sierra Nevada backcountry. Among the fatalities were three of four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides who were leading the expedition. Six individuals survived the disaster.
Key factors investigators will likely examine include the guides’ decision to begin a three-day backcountry expedition with 11 clients during elevated avalanche danger, then choosing to ski out Tuesday after conditions deteriorated from a powerful storm.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office provided no additional details when announcing the investigation Friday. A state workplace safety agency also confirmed it launched its own probe into the incident.
The guides’ choices and their communication with clients could also influence potential wrongful death lawsuits, legal experts noted. It remains unclear what weather information the guides accessed before the group began skiing out.
“There’s a lot of speculation,” said attorney Ravn Whitington, who handles ski injury and wrongful death litigation in Truckee, California, close to the avalanche site. “What investigators know at Nevada County Search and Rescue, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office are just not known to the public.”
In a company statement, Blackbird Mountain Guides noted that all four guides held backcountry skiing certifications and taught avalanche education courses. The company explained that guides maintain contact with senior staff at Blackbird’s headquarters during expeditions to discuss conditions and route options.
“There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened. It’s too soon to draw conclusions, but investigations are underway,” the company said.
The 15-person ski group launched their expedition Sunday as storm warnings were escalating. By Tuesday morning, officials warned that avalanches were anticipated. Safety specialists note that backcountry skiers commonly venture out during avalanche watches or even more severe avalanche warnings.
Families of the six Blackbird clients who died stated the expedition was thoroughly planned beforehand and the victims carried avalanche safety gear. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip,” the families said in a Thursday statement.
The Cleveland Cavaliers pushed their season-high winning streak to seven games Friday night, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 on the road behind outstanding performances from Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen.
Mitchell led the scoring attack with 32 points, while Allen contributed 26 points and dominated the boards with 14 rebounds. Allen was highly efficient, connecting on 11 of his 15 field goal attempts throughout the contest.
James Harden delivered a solid performance in the second half, finishing the night with 18 points and eight assists. Sam Merrill chipped in with 10 points to support Cleveland’s balanced offensive effort.
Cleveland’s success from the charity stripe proved crucial in securing the victory, as the team converted 26 of 28 free throw attempts. Mitchell was particularly effective from the line, making 12 of 13 attempts. The win marks the Cavaliers’ 12th victory in their last 13 contests.
Charlotte received a breakout performance from rookie Kon Knueppel, who connected on seven three-pointers en route to a game-high 33 points. The Hornets also got 18 points each from LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. The loss was Charlotte’s third defeat in four games, ending what had been a nine-game winning streak.
Timberwolves 122, Mavericks 111
Anthony Edwards exploded for 40 points on 16-of-30 shooting as Minnesota secured a home victory over Dallas.
Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who captured their third straight victory. Naz Reid provided valuable bench scoring with 21 points.
Dallas was paced by Khris Middleton’s 18 points, while Naji Marshall and Marvin Bagley III each contributed 15 points. The defeat extended the Mavericks’ losing streak to 10 games. Star rookie Cooper Flagg remained unavailable due to a sprained foot injury.
Grizzlies 123, Jazz 114
Olivier-Maxence Prosper tallied 23 points and GG Jackson added 20 as Memphis overcame a significant halftime deficit to defeat Utah at home, snapping a four-game skid.
The Grizzlies received contributions from throughout their roster, with Javon Small adding 16 points and Jaylen Wells scoring 13. Lawson Lovering recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Cam Spencer notched 10 points and 10 assists. Memphis placed eight players in double figures.
Utah was led by Isaiah Collier’s 24 points, with Kyle Filipowski and Ace Bailey each scoring 20 points. Blake Hinson contributed 13 points in just his second NBA appearance.
Wizards 131, Pacers 118
Alondes Williams achieved career highs with 25 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench as Washington completed a two-game series sweep of Indiana at home.
Sharife Cooper added 18 points for the Wizards, while Tre Johnson and Tristan Vukcevic each scored 14 points. Bilal Coulibaly contributed 13 points as Washington won back-to-back games for the fourth time this season.
Indiana received 22 points from Jay Huff, who shot 8-of-11 from the field including five three-pointers. Quenton Jackson scored 21 points and Micah Potter added 18 for the Pacers.
Thunder 105, Nets 86
Jared McCain scored 21 points off the bench and Chet Holmgren added 15 points and seven rebounds as Oklahoma City defeated Brooklyn despite missing key players.
The Thunder captured their third win in four games while playing without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to an abdominal injury and Jalen Williams with a hamstring issue. Brooklyn has now dropped three consecutive games and six of their past eight.
Michael Porter Jr. paced the Nets with 22 points and nine rebounds but struggled from long range, hitting just one of nine three-point attempts. Nolan Traore contributed 17 points in the losing effort.
Heat 128, Hawks 97
Tyler Herro made his return from injury with 24 points, leading Miami to a dominant road victory over Atlanta.
Herro, who had been sidelined for 15 games with fractured ribs, came off the bench and shot 9-of-14 from the field while grabbing four rebounds. Bam Adebayo recorded 17 points and eight rebounds, and Norman Powell added 15 points for Miami.
Jalen Johnson delivered a triple-double for Atlanta with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Hawks also received 22 points from Onyeka Okongwu and 20 points each from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum.
Bucks 139, Pelicans 118
Cam Thomas and Ryan Rollins each scored 27 points while Kevin Porter Jr. added 25, powering Milwaukee to a road victory over New Orleans.
Thomas was efficient in limited minutes, making 11 of 17 shots in just 21 minutes off the bench. Rollins connected on a career-best seven three-pointers and matched Porter by shooting 10-of-15 from the field. The victory was Milwaukee’s third straight and sixth in seven games.
New Orleans got 32 points from Zion Williamson, who scored 14 in the opening quarter and shot 13-of-17 for the game. His interior dominance helped the Pelicans score 84 points in the paint, though it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss.
The 18th-ranked Saint Louis Billikens staged an impressive comeback Friday evening, overcoming a substantial early deficit to defeat visiting VCU 88-75 and maintain their position at the top of the Atlantic 10 conference.
Kellen Thames powered the rally with 16 points and five steals, helping the Billikens (25-1, 13-1 A-10) erase a 14-point first-half disadvantage. Saint Louis dominated the second half, outpacing the Rams (21-7, 12-3) by a commanding 55-33 margin to halt VCU’s impressive 10-game victory run.
The turning point came during a decisive 21-2 scoring run, sparked by Thames contributing seven consecutive points that transformed an eight-point deficit into an 11-point advantage for the home team.
Three other Billikens players reached double figures in scoring: Amari McCottry, Ishan Sharma, and Robbie Avila each contributed 13 points, while Quintin Jones added 11. The victory helped Saint Louis recover from their initial conference defeat earlier this week against Rhode Island.
VCU’s offense was paced by Lazar Djokovic with 19 points and Brandon Jennings, who added 18 points in the losing effort.
In other ranked team action, seventh-ranked Purdue dominated Indiana 93-64 at home in West Lafayette. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the Boilermakers with 20 points, supported by Fletcher Loyer and Omer Mayer who each scored 18.
The Boilermakers controlled the game from start to finish, building leads as large as 34 points while shooting an exceptional 64.7% from the field. Purdue also dominated the rebounding battle 30-15 over the Hoosiers. Braden Smith contributed 15 points and eight assists, while Kaufman-Renn added six rebounds and five assists to even their season series with their in-state rivals.
Indiana was led by Lamar Wilkerson’s 20 points, with Tayton Conerway (12), Tucker DeVries (11) and Reed Bailey (10) also reaching double digits.
Meanwhile, 22nd-ranked Miami of Ohio preserved their perfect season record with a 91-77 victory over Bowling Green in Oxford, Ohio. Luke Skaljac paced the RedHawks with 24 points while Eian Elmer contributed 21.
The duo’s three-point shooting proved crucial, as Skaljac connected on 5 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc while Elmer made 5 of 8, helping Miami hit 13 three-pointers on 30 attempts. Peter Suder managed 10 points and five rebounds despite foul difficulties, and Antwone Woolfolk added 10 points and eight rebounds as the RedHawks moved within four victories of completing an undefeated regular season.
Bowling Green (16-12, 7-8) received a strong performance from Javontae Campbell, who recorded 24 points, six rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Mayar Wol scored 15 points and Josiah Shackelford added 12, with both players making three three-pointers each.
Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz extended his perfect 2025 season record on Friday, securing a spot in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open championship match after defeating defending titleholder Andrey Rublev 7-6 (3), 6-4 in Doha.
The tournament’s top seed now boasts an impressive 11-0 record this year. The 22-year-old recently made tennis history by completing the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open just three weeks ago.
Friday’s semifinal victory over the fifth-ranked Russian proved challenging for Alcaraz. Rublev managed to break serve twice while Alcaraz was attempting to close out the opening set, and the Spaniard ultimately required six match points across two separate games to finish off his opponent.
France’s Arthur Fils will meet Alcaraz in Saturday’s final after overcoming Czech Republic’s sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik 6-4, 7-6 (4). This marks Fils’ first appearance in a tour-level championship match since claiming the Tokyo title in 2024.
At the Delray Beach Open in Florida, fifth-seeded American Tommy Paul earned revenge in a repeat of last year’s final, defeating top-seeded compatriot Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 in Friday’s quarterfinals. Paul dominated on serve while capitalizing on three of eleven break opportunities against Fritz, who won the Delray Beach crown in both 2023 and 2024.
Paul’s semifinal opponent will be fourth-seeded Learner Tien, who survived an all-American battle against eighth-seeded Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-5.
American Sebastian Korda mounted a comeback against Norway’s second-seeded Casper Ruud, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a semifinal showdown with Italy’s third-seeded Flavio Cobolli. Cobolli advanced by defeating Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-2.
In Rio de Janeiro at the Rio Open, Argentina’s eighth-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry prevailed over Portugal’s Jaime Faria 7-6 (4), 6-4 in an unusual quarterfinal encounter. The opening set went to a tiebreaker without any service breaks, but the tiebreaker itself saw neither player hold serve until Etcheverry finally did at 5-4, then won the next two points to claim the set.
Etcheverry will meet Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva in the semifinals after Kopriva eliminated Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-4, 6-4. Peru’s Ignacio Buse secured the other semifinal berth by overcoming Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, while the final quarterfinal match between Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante and Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo was still in progress Friday evening.
ORLANDO, Fla. – University of Delaware swimmer Victoria Novinskiy has achieved her second NCAA qualifying time in just 48 hours, reaching the standard in the 200-butterfly event during the Atlantic Sun Swimming & Diving Championships.
The Blue Hens women’s swimming and diving squad maintains the top position heading into day four of the conference championships taking place in Orlando, Florida.
Novinskiy’s latest qualifying performance adds to what has been a standout week for the Delaware athlete, who previously met NCAA standards in another event earlier in the competition.
The 2026 Atlantic Sun Championships continue with Delaware looking to maintain their leading position as the meet progresses.
Two University of Delaware swimmers have secured their tickets to the 2026 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships while competing at the Atlantic Sun Conference meet in Orlando, Florida.
Blue Hens athletes Matvei Namakonov and Kade Snyder both achieved qualifying times during the second day of competition at the Atlantic Sun Swimming & Diving Championships, earning them berths in the prestigious national tournament.
The strong individual performances have helped propel Delaware’s men’s swimming and diving squad to second place in the team standings following three days of championship competition in Florida.
The NCAA Championships represent the pinnacle of collegiate swimming and diving, bringing together the nation’s top performers to compete for individual and team titles.
Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter’s season has come to an abrupt end after undergoing surgical repair of a detached retina in his left eye, the team confirmed Friday.
The 28-year-old player suffered the injury during the third quarter of Sacramento’s February 6th matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. The incident occurred in just his second appearance wearing a Kings uniform.
Dr. M. Ali Khan performed the procedure Friday at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Roseville, California. Team officials expect Hunter to recover completely, with his next medical evaluation scheduled for approximately eight weeks from now.
This latest setback adds to Sacramento’s mounting injury woes. The struggling franchise, currently sitting at the bottom of NBA standings with a 12-45 record and mired in a franchise-record 15-game losing streak, already lost two other key players this week when Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine both underwent season-ending procedures Wednesday.
Three-time All-Star Sabonis required surgery to address a torn meniscus in his left knee. The frontcourt star had just returned to action in mid-January following a 27-game absence.
Two-time All-Star guard LaVine opted for surgery after battling a right hand tendon injury that kept him in and out of the lineup for 10 games.
During his brief stint with Sacramento, Hunter started both contests and contributed 15 points, three rebounds and one assist across 51 total minutes of play.
The Kings acquired Hunter on February 1st through a three-team transaction that brought him from Cleveland. In return, the Cavaliers received guards Dennis Schroeder and Keon Ellis. The deal also involved Sacramento sending Dario Saric and a 2029 second-round draft pick to Chicago, while the Bulls transferred Emanuel Miller to Cleveland for another second-round selection.
This season, Hunter appeared in 45 games with 25 starts, posting averages of 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 26.1 minutes per contest.
Originally selected fourth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019 NBA Draft, Hunter spent his early career with Atlanta from 2019-20 until Cleveland acquired him in exchange for Caris LeVert and Georges Niang on February 6, 2025.
Throughout his professional career, Hunter has compiled averages of 14.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 29.6 minutes across 372 regular season appearances with 271 starts. His playoff statistics include 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 30.7 minutes over 24 games with 16 starts.
A missing person alert for a Wilmington man has been called off after he was found safe.
Edward Frescoln, who had been the subject of a Gold Alert, has been located, according to authorities. The alert system, which is used to help find missing adults who may be in danger, has now been officially canceled.
No additional details about the circumstances of his disappearance or how he was found have been released at this time.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The nationally fifth-ranked Salisbury University baseball squad will face schedule modifications during their participation in the D3 Showcase tournament this weekend.
Tournament organizers made the decision to alter the Sea Gulls’ upcoming games after Friday’s three baseball contests ran significantly longer than anticipated, creating timing conflicts for the remainder of the event.
The schedule changes mean Salisbury will now compete in two games on Saturday as part of the adjusted tournament format in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens softball team opened their weekend at the Mizuno Classic in dominant fashion, claiming victories over two major opponents on Friday at the University of Virginia-hosted tournament.
Delaware blanked Ohio State 2-0 before defeating Maryland 5-2 on February 20th, marking a strong start to the three-day event. The Blue Hens’ success was anchored by stellar pitching performance from Josie Crossman, who took the mound for both contests.
Crossman delivered an exceptional day of work, throwing 10.2 total innings across the two games while surrendering just a single hit. The Delaware pitcher recorded 12 strikeouts and remarkably allowed zero earned runs throughout her appearances, earning wins in both matchups.
The double-header sweep gives Delaware momentum heading into the remainder of the Mizuno Classic, where they’ll look to build on Friday’s strong pitching and offensive production against quality competition.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Salisbury University’s track and field squads began their quest for conference titles with strong showings during the opening day of competition at the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Championships on Friday.
The Sea Gulls took to the track at Christopher Newport University’s Freeman Center, marking the start of the 2026 C2C Indoor Championships with solid performances across multiple events.
Both the men’s and women’s teams from Salisbury demonstrated their competitive readiness as they launched their championship campaign in Newport News, Virginia.
Delaware municipalities now have the opportunity to apply for designation under the state’s Downtown Development District Rebate Program after recent expansion efforts created three new openings.
The Office of State Planning Coordination announced Thursday that it is accepting applications from cities and towns seeking to join the program, which grew from 12 to 15 designated districts following Governor Matt Meyer’s expansion initiative last month.
The rebate program provides financial incentives to encourage development and revitalization in participating downtown areas across the state. Municipal leaders interested in securing one of the three available designations can now begin the application process through the state planning office.
Officials have not yet announced application deadlines or specific criteria that will be used to evaluate submissions from interested communities.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens baseball team faced a challenging start to their 2026 season, falling to Mississippi State in their opening series on the road.
The Blue Hens traveled to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs in what marked the beginning of their new campaign. Despite their efforts, Delaware was unable to secure a series victory against the Southeastern Conference opponent.
The loss serves as an early test for the Blue Hens as they navigate the beginning of what they hope will be a successful season. The team will need to quickly adjust and learn from this experience as they prepare for upcoming matchups.
Delaware’s baseball program will look to bounce back from this opening series defeat as they continue their 2026 schedule. The Blue Hens will have opportunities to demonstrate their resilience and competitive spirit in future games.
Five major European countries have launched a collaborative effort to develop affordable air defense technology by tapping into Ukraine’s extensive battlefield experience gained during four years of conflict with Russia.
The initiative, announced Friday, involves France, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy working together through what they call the E5 partnership. This represents one of several European defense initiatives aimed at strengthening border security, including plans for a “drone wall” designed to better monitor and stop unauthorized aircraft from entering European airspace.
Both Russia and Ukraine have developed advanced drone warfare capabilities through the harsh realities of combat, where battlefield innovations have transformed modern military tactics. Poland has already begun collaborating with Ukraine on drone technology through joint training exercises and manufacturing partnerships.
These collaborative efforts gained momentum following multiple incidents where unauthorized drones have challenged European borders and disrupted airport operations. While Russia has been accused of involvement in some cases, Moscow denies any intentional actions or participation.
“The UK and our E5 partners are stepping up — investing together in the next generation of air defense and autonomous systems to strengthen NATO’s shield,” said Luke Pollard, Britain’s minister for defense readiness and industry.
“We have some of the best kit on the entire planet for shooting down air threats. The problem is to be effective at shooting down relatively low-cost missiles, drones, and other threats facing us,” he said. “We need to make sure that we’re matching the cost of the threats with the cost of defense.”
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz explained that the participating nations signed an agreement for shared investment in manufacturing and purchasing drone-based attack systems and affordable defense technologies through a program titled Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms, or LEAP.
“Combat technologies and techniques are changing rapidly — we must respond quickly and appropriately,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “We also signed a crucial commitment regarding the joint development of drone-based strike capabilities, low-cost joint production, and joint procurement of drone effectors, i.e, combat payloads, using artificial intelligence.”
The cost-effectiveness issue became apparent when Russian drones violated Polish airspace in September 2025, prompting Warsaw and NATO allies to deploy multimillion-dollar fighter jets against drones worth only thousands of dollars that ultimately crashed in Polish rural areas. Affordable kinetic or electronic countermeasures would enable drone detection and elimination at significantly reduced costs.
European nations have rushed to strengthen their military capabilities following President Donald Trump’s harsh criticism of NATO, European defense expenditures, and previously solid alliances. The European Union has increased defense spending and is considering more extensive military cooperation projects.
“Europe’s security is more uncertain than it has been in decades,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, pointing to Russian aggression, Middle Eastern instability, China’s influence, and a “redefined” relationship with the United States. She described the affordable interceptor program as evidence of Europe’s dedication to self-defense.
“If we want to keep our country safe, we must strengthen our hard power. The good news is that we are already investing record sums in defense. Europe is stepping up. but it’s not about competing with NATO. It’s about making Europe stronger within NATO. A stronger Europe makes the alliance also stronger.”
However, the 32-member military alliance faces challenges from Trump’s second presidency. His recent threats regarding Greenland, a semi-independent Danish territory and NATO ally, along with critical comments about NATO forces in Afghanistan, have created additional friction.
Although Greenland tensions have temporarily cooled, the internal disputes have significantly weakened the world’s largest security alliance’s capacity to discourage potential adversaries.
The company responsible for creating ChatGPT announced Friday that it had flagged suspicious activity from a user who would later become responsible for one of Canada’s most devastating school attacks.
OpenAI revealed that in June of last year, their monitoring systems detected concerning behavior from Jesse Van Rootselaar’s account, specifically activities that appeared to promote violence.
The artificial intelligence firm, based in San Francisco, weighed whether to notify the Royal Canadian Mounted Police about the account but ultimately decided the user’s actions fell short of their criteria for contacting authorities. The company terminated Van Rootselaar’s access to their platform in June 2025 due to policy violations.
Last week, the 18-year-old perpetrator took the lives of eight individuals in a secluded area of British Columbia before taking her own life with a firearm.
According to OpenAI, their standard for involving law enforcement requires evidence of immediate and believable threats of severe physical violence against others. Company officials stated they found no concrete or urgent planning at that time. This information was initially disclosed by The Wall Street Journal.
Following news of the tragic incident, OpenAI personnel contacted the RCMP to share details about the shooter and how ChatGPT had been used.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy. We proactively reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT, and we’ll continue to support their investigation,” an OpenAI spokesperson said.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark verified through email Friday that the AI company had made contact with law enforcement following the shooting incident.
Clark explained that investigators are conducting a “thorough review of the content on electronic devices, as well as social media and online activities” related to Van Rootselaar. He noted that “digital and physical evidence is being collected, prioritized, and methodically processed.”
Authorities report that Van Rootselaar began the attack by killing her mother and stepbrother at their residence before proceeding to assault the local school. The perpetrator had previously been in contact with police regarding mental health issues.
Investigators have not yet determined what motivated the shooting.
The remote community of 2,700 residents sits in the Canadian Rockies, located over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) northeast of Vancouver, close to the Alberta provincial boundary. Law enforcement confirmed the casualties included a 39-year-old teaching assistant and five students between the ages of 12 and 13.
This incident represents Canada’s most lethal mass violence event since 2020, when an individual in Nova Scotia murdered 13 people and started fires that claimed nine additional lives.
WASHINGTON — Federal military officials announced Friday they executed another fatal operation targeting a suspected narcotics trafficking vessel in Eastern Pacific waters.
According to U.S. Southern Command’s social media announcement, the targeted vessel “was traveling through established drug smuggling corridors in the Eastern Pacific while conducting narcotics trafficking activities.” Military officials confirmed three fatalities resulted from the operation. Accompanying footage depicts a watercraft on the ocean surface before erupting in flames.
This latest operation brings the total casualties from Trump administration attacks on suspected drug vessels to no fewer than 148 deaths across a minimum of 43 operations conducted since early September throughout Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters.
President Donald Trump has declared the United States engaged in “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels, defending these operations as essential escalation measures to halt drug trafficking. However, his administration has provided minimal evidence supporting claims of eliminating “narcoterrorists.”
Opposition voices have challenged both the legal authority for these operations and their practical effectiveness, noting that fentanyl responsible for numerous fatal overdoses typically enters the U.S. through overland routes from Mexico, where production occurs using chemicals sourced from China and India.
These maritime operations have faced particularly harsh criticism after reports emerged that military forces killed survivors from the initial boat attack during a subsequent strike. Trump administration officials and Republican legislators defended the actions as lawful and essential, while Democratic representatives and legal scholars characterized the killings as murder or potential war crimes.
Delaware transportation officials report that southbound Interstate 95 has been completely shut down at the Interstate 495 junction following a vehicle collision.
The crash has blocked all southbound traffic lanes at this major highway interchange, creating significant delays for commuters and travelers in the area.
Drivers heading south on I-95 are urged to find alternative routes while emergency responders and cleanup crews address the situation at the scene.
No additional details about the severity of the crash or potential injuries have been released at this time.
Delaware transportation officials have shut down all northbound traffic on Interstate 95 at Marsh Road following a vehicle accident.
The crash has prompted a complete closure of the northbound lanes, creating significant traffic disruptions for commuters and travelers in the area.
Drivers heading north on I-95 are being urged to find alternative routes while emergency responders work at the scene.
DelDOT has not yet provided information about the severity of the crash, the number of vehicles involved, or an estimated timeline for reopening the roadway.
This is a developing story and TV Delmarva will provide updates as more information becomes available.
The Air Force Academy has officially concluded its relationship with basketball coach Joe Scott following his suspension earlier this year, both parties announced Friday through a mutual agreement.
Scott’s coaching position was put on hold January 17th when academy officials began looking into concerns about how he interacted with his players.
Athletic Director Nathan Pine released a statement acknowledging Scott’s contributions while explaining the decision to move forward with new leadership. “Coach Scott’s passion for the game of basketball has long been evident in his competitive and direct coaching style. It was this coaching style that guided Air Force Basketball to some of the program’s most memorable achievements during his initial tenure at the Air Force Academy,” Pine stated. “This is a different day, and now is the right time for a new voice and a new approach to drive the culture and success of the men’s basketball program, aligned with the Air Force Academy’s mission of forging leaders of character developed to lead in our Air Force and Space Force. We thank Coach Scott for his 10 years of service to the Academy and wish him and his family well.”
Since Scott’s suspension, Jon Jordan has stepped in as the temporary head coach. The Falcons currently hold a disappointing 3-23 overall record and remain winless in Mountain West Conference play at 0-15. Under Jordan’s leadership, the team has lost all nine contests, extending their losing streak to 19 games dating back to their November 23rd victory over IU Indianapolis, which ended 98-85.
Scott’s history with Air Force spans two different periods as head coach. During his first tenure, he led the Falcons to remarkable success in the 2003-04 season, achieving a 22-7 record and capturing the Mountain West Conference championship. That season also marked the program’s inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance. His outstanding performance earned him Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year recognition and placed him fourth in the Associated Press Coach of the Year rankings.
Following his initial four-year run at Air Force from 2000-04, Scott moved on to Princeton University, where he coached for three seasons and compiled a 38-45 record with the Tigers.
Scott then spent nearly a decade leading the University of Denver basketball program from 2007-16. His most successful season there came in 2012-13 when he helped the Pioneers claim a share of the Western Athletic Conference regular-season title.
When Scott returned to Colorado Springs in 2020 for his second tenure with Air Force, success proved more elusive. Throughout his recent four-year stint, he never managed to guide the team to a winning season. The program reached its lowest point during the 2024-25 campaign, finishing with just 4 wins against 28 losses and managing only one conference victory in 19 attempts.
The former Princeton player, who competed for the Tigers from 1983-87, concludes his coaching career with an overall record of 281 wins and 369 losses across all his positions.
In his farewell statement, Scott expressed appreciation for his time at the academy. “I thank Nate Pine for his leadership,” Scott said. “The Air Force Academy gave me my first head coaching opportunity and I am forever grateful. We will always be fans of Air Force Basketball.”
The Falcons are scheduled to face UNLV at home this Saturday as they continue their challenging season under interim leadership.
President Donald Trump held his inaugural face-to-face meeting with Vietnamese Communist Party leader To Lam at the White House on Friday, where he pledged to help lift Vietnam from U.S. lists that limit the nation’s access to advanced American technology, according to details released by Vietnam’s government news outlet.
The historic White House encounter marked the first official in-person discussion between the two leaders, taking place after To Lam participated in Washington’s inaugural Board of Peace gathering.
This diplomatic meeting came on the heels of major commercial agreements totaling more than $30 billion, which will see Vietnamese carriers purchasing 90 planes from American aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
On the same day, Trump revealed plans for an immediate 10% tariff increase on most international imports following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn several of his previous comprehensive tariff policies.
San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui is dealing with a left groin strain that occurred during Thursday’s batting practice, putting his participation in the World Baseball Classic in jeopardy, according to Padres manager Craig Stammen.
The left-handed pitcher was forced to stop throwing after delivering approximately 20 pitches due to groin tightness. As a result, the team has removed him from his planned relief outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers this Sunday during spring training.
The injury raises concerns about Matsui’s ability to represent Japan, the current World Baseball Classic champions, in the upcoming international tournament.
“We’ve got to see how he comes out of this day off, and then how he feels (Saturday),” Stammen told reporters. “Honestly, I think it puts the WBC in question.”
Japan begins tournament play on March 6 when they face Chinese Taipei. Stammen indicated that the final choice regarding World Baseball Classic participation will ultimately rest with the 30-year-old pitcher, who is entering his third campaign with San Diego.
“He has got to make that decision,” Stammen said. “He has got to be able to talk with the coaches and the (general manager of Team Japan) and see if that’s still an option for him. It’s going to be a tough road for him to get healthy enough to be ready to pitch in the WBC. But I’ll let him address that.”
“We’ve had internal conversations about it. Ultimately, it’s up to him. We can’t call Team Japan and say, ‘Hey, Yuki is not pitching.’ Yuki has to make that decision, and I think he’ll come to a pretty good decision on that.”
During the 2023 season, Matsui compiled a 3-1 record with a 3.98 ERA across 61 relief outings. Throughout his San Diego career spanning 125 games, he holds a 7-3 record with a 3.86 ERA, though he has allowed 18 home runs over 126 innings pitched.
Delaware transportation officials have temporarily blocked all southbound traffic on US Route 13 following a vehicle collision that occurred south of Shannon Boulevard.
The roadway closure remains in effect as emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the accident scene. DelDOT has not yet provided details about the severity of the crash or an estimated time for reopening the affected lanes.
Drivers traveling southbound on this busy corridor should plan for delays and consider using alternative routes until normal traffic flow is restored.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a significant blow to President Donald Trump’s authority on Friday, striking down his administration’s cornerstone economic strategy in a decision that has reshaped the political landscape in Washington.
The high court’s ruling represents a rare public rejection of the Republican president’s policies, marking what many consider the most substantial legal defeat of his current term. The decision has injected new uncertainty into an already volatile political environment ahead of upcoming midterm elections.
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, a Democrat, witnessed Trump’s immediate response to the news during a White House meeting with governors. According to Meyer, who was present in the room, Trump expressed that he was “seething” and declared he needed to take action regarding the courts.
Trump’s public response was equally intense. During a press conference with reporters, the president launched harsh criticism against the justices who voted against him, including two he had personally nominated to the bench. He branded them as weak, disgraceful, and an “embarrassment to their families,” while dismissing what he characterized as flawed reasoning by the majority.
Chris Borick, who teaches political science at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania and works as a pollster, emphasized the significance of the defeat. “For someone who never admits losing,” Borick observed, “this is a pretty significant loss.”
The ruling specifically targeted Trump’s extensive use of tariffs, a policy tool that has become central to his second-term agenda. The president has frequently described tariffs not merely as border taxes on imported goods, but as “my favorite word” and “the most beautiful word in the dictionary” during rallies with supporters.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has employed tariff threats as a negotiating weapon across numerous policy areas, from securing soybean purchase agreements to attracting foreign investment commitments, combating drug trafficking, intervening in global disputes, influencing prescription medication costs, and supporting preferred American industries.
Despite Congress holding constitutional responsibility for taxation matters, the Republican-led legislature has largely remained passive while Trump expanded his tariff authority.
The Supreme Court, which has frequently supported Trump’s initiatives through immunity rulings and emergency decisions favoring his policies, broke from this pattern with Friday’s 6-3 verdict. Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, authored the majority opinion that challenged Trump’s longstanding claim that he possessed unlimited power to implement broad tariffs under national economic security provisions.
Julian E. Zelizer, a presidential historian from Princeton University, characterized the decision as damaging to Trump’s broader governing philosophy. “It is a blow to his expansive vision of emergency powers, which was the pillar for his entire economic agenda and more,” Zelizer explained.
Facing this major setback, Trump responded in his characteristic manner by attacking those who opposed him while simultaneously declaring victory. Speaking under dramatically dimmed lighting in the White House press briefing room, he criticized judges he had previously appointed to their positions.
Trump argued that the ruling actually clarified his extensive authority to implement tariffs or completely halt trade relationships with other nations. He referenced a dissenting Supreme Court opinion suggesting the decision might not significantly limit presidential tariff powers in future cases.
“I can charge much more than I was charging,” Trump declared during the briefing.
“It’s a little more complicated,” he acknowledged. “The process takes a little more time, but the end result is going to get us more money, and I think it’s going to be great.”
When reporters asked whether he would seek congressional authorization for the powers the Supreme Court determined he lacked, Trump remained defiant in his response.
“No, I don’t need to, it’s already been approved,” he stated. “I mean, I would ask Congress and probably get it.”
Trump has utilized the International Emergency Economic Powers Act more extensively than any previous president. However, despite his confident statements during Friday’s briefing, alternative legal mechanisms available for imposing tariffs would require lengthier implementation processes, more comprehensive justifications, and would include expiration dates.
Saikrishna Prakash, a constitutional law expert at the University of Virginia School of Law, assessed the ruling’s impact on presidential authority. “The presidency is definitely weaker” because of this decision, Prakash concluded. “He’s weaker.”
New Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso wasted no time making his mark, delivering a crucial two-run home run in his debut appearance that lifted the O’s to a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees in Friday’s spring training opener in Sarasota, Florida.
The newly-signed free agent provided all the offense Baltimore needed when he launched a first-pitch curveball from Yankees right-hander Bradley Hanner (0-1) over the left field wall in the sixth inning. Jeremiah Jackson had reached base on a single before Alonso’s blast gave the Orioles their margin of victory.
Alonso, a five-time All-Star first baseman who earned National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2019, brings considerable power to Baltimore after inking a five-year, $155 million deal. The slugger spent his entire seven-year major league tenure with the New York Mets, where he established a franchise record with 264 home runs before making the move to the American League.
Baltimore’s pitching staff delivered strong performances throughout the contest. Right-hander Jose Espada (1-0) earned the victory with a flawless sixth inning that included two strikeouts, while Trey Gibson secured the save by tossing three shutout frames, allowing just two hits while striking out three batters.
The Yankees managed only three hits and two walks while their hitters went down on strikes 13 times in the defeat.
Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 2
Third baseman Nolan Arenado connected against one of his former clubs in his initial at-bat, helping Arizona capture a narrow victory over host Colorado in their Cactus League season opener in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The eight-time All-Star third baseman drove a slider from Colorado right-hander Antonio Senzatela over the left-center field fence on the fourth pitch of his at-bat in the second inning. Arenado joined the Diamondbacks through a January 13 trade from St. Louis, where he spent five seasons after beginning his career in Colorado from 2013-20.
Arizona utilized eight different pitchers, with right-hander Taylor Rashi (1-0) earning the win after a perfect seventh inning. Jose Cabrera collected the save by working two hitless, scoreless innings despite issuing two walks and recording one strikeout. Colorado reliever Patrick Weigel (0-1) surrendered two runs on three hits with one strikeout in one inning of work.
Royals 7, Rangers 3
Salvador Perez and Michael Massey each contributed 2-for-3 performances with home runs and two RBIs apiece as Kansas City defeated host Texas in both teams’ spring training opener in Surprise, Arizona.
Right-hander Stephen Kolek captured the victory for the Royals, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings. Kansas City used eight pitchers who combined to give up seven hits, three runs and four walks with seven strikeouts. Perez added one of four doubles for the Royals, while Bobby Witt Jr. contributed a triple.
Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi absorbed the loss after surrendering three hits including both home runs and three runs with two strikeouts in two innings. Seven Rangers pitchers combined to allow seven runs on nine hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
White Sox 8, Cubs 1
Designated hitter Korey Lee collected three hits in four at-bats as Chicago’s White Sox accumulated 12 hits in a dominant victory over the host Cubs in their spring training opener in Mesa, Arizona.
Austin Hays launched a two-out, 428-foot solo home run in the first inning, while teammate Sam Antonacci added a 417-foot two-run blast in the second. Munetaka Murakami drove in two runs with a double in the fourth inning.
White Sox right-hander Jonathan Cannon (1-0) started and allowed two hits including Seiya Suzuki’s solo homer in the first inning, one run and one walk with three strikeouts in 1⅔ innings. Cubs starter Jameson Taillon (0-1) gave up four hits including two home runs, four runs and one walk while striking out one in 1⅔ innings.
Mariners 7, Padres 4
Michael Arroyo and Leo Rivas homered as part of Seattle’s 13-hit offensive display in a victory over San Diego in Peoria, Arizona.
Arroyo also doubled and joined Luke Raley with two hits for the Mariners, who maintained the lead throughout. Seattle used nine pitchers, with right-hander Jason Ruffcorn earning the win despite working just one-third of an inning with the game tied 3-3 in the seventh.
Jose Miranda homered and doubled while Romeo Sanabria also went deep for the Padres, who finished with eight hits. San Diego left-hander Jackson Wolf (0-1), the fifth of seven Padres pitchers, allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with one strikeout over 1⅔ innings.
MESA, Ariz. — Japanese baseball star Munetaka Murakami almost didn’t make it to his inaugural spring training appearance with the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
But after overcoming a highway traffic jam, the 26-year-old slugger delivered an impressive performance at the plate.
Despite arriving just 20 minutes before game time, Murakami collected two hits and drove in two runs during his first Cactus League appearance. The Japanese power hitter is adjusting to Major League Baseball following his $34 million, two-year deal with Chicago signed last December.
Team officials briefly pulled Murakami from the starting roster when he encountered heavy traffic en route to Sloan Park. He managed to arrive in time and grounded out to second base during his initial plate appearance in the opening frame of Chicago’s 8-1 triumph over the Cubs.
“There was a big, big accident in the highway,” Murakami said through a translator. “I was just concerned the whole time. … To be really, really honest, I wasn’t able to prepare fully, but I made it in time I think.”
Friday marked the opening day of spring exhibitions, featuring several notable debuts. Baltimore’s new first baseman Pete Alonso and Arizona’s fresh third baseman Nolan Arenado both homered for their respective clubs, while Alex Bregman managed no hits in two at-bats during three innings of action in his Cubs debut.
“It was a great to be out here and play in a spring training game with the Cubs,” said Bregman, who inked a $175 million, five-year deal with Chicago during free agency. “It was fun. Obviously super cool to have all that energy in the ballpark.”
Baltimore fans gave Alonso an enthusiastic reception before his first trip to the batter’s box against the Yankees. Although Kenedy Corona’s spectacular diving grab robbed him of a hit in the third inning, Alonso launched Bradley Hanner’s opening curveball over the left field wall for a two-run blast in the sixth frame of the Orioles’ 2-0 Florida victory.
During his final campaign with the New York Mets last season, Alonso connected for 38 home runs. He committed to a $155 million, five-year agreement with Baltimore in December.
Arenado opened the second inning with a solo homer during Arizona’s 3-2 victory over Colorado in Scottsdale. The eight-time All-Star joined the Diamondbacks through a January trade with St. Louis.
Chicago is counting on Murakami to help reverse their fortunes after losing an astounding 324 games across the past three seasons. During eight seasons with Japan’s Central League Yakult Swallows, he compiled a .270 batting average with 246 home runs and 647 RBIs across 892 contests.
Playing first base, Murakami recorded his inaugural hit by driving Connor Schultz’s 91.9 mph sinker up the middle during the third inning. The single with one out registered a 108.3 mph exit velocity.
In the fourth inning with one out and runners on all bases, Murakami sent a Porter Hodge pitch toward center field. Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki lost sight of the ball in the bright sun, allowing it to drop on the warning track’s back edge for a two-run double.
“I’m really happy how it went, without any injuries,” Murakami said. “I had butterflies inside me the first few minutes of it. But after I started fielding and I got an at-bat, I felt a bit more comfortable and felt myself.”
Both Murakami and Suzuki will represent Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, and the pair discussed Chicago baseball during the offseason.
“I loved him, but after the popup, I hate him. So I’m not going to support him,” Suzuki joked through a translator.
Murakami watched a called third strike during his final plate appearance in the sixth inning before being substituted defensively prior to the bottom half.
White Sox manager Will Venable commended Murakami’s composure following his pre-game transportation troubles.
“This guy is so committed and such a professional,” Venable said. “We’ve asked him to do some things that he hasn’t necessarily been accustomed to and how he prepares and his adaptability and flexibility to do those things has been awesome. That adjustability gives you confidence that he’s going to be able to go out there and make adjustments throughout the year.”
Major League Baseball’s introduction of automated umpiring technology got its first test run Friday during spring training, with teams winning more than half of their disputes against home plate umpires.
During five games featuring the automated ball-strike system, teams successfully contested 13 out of 23 umpire decisions, resulting in a 56.5% success rate for challenges, according to MLB officials.
The games averaged 4.6 disputes per contest, with an average of 2.6 calls getting reversed by the automated system.
Plate umpire Alex MacKay faced the most scrutiny during Arizona’s narrow 3-2 victory over Colorado, with seven of his calls being questioned. Six of those challenges proved successful, including four out of five contested decisions that went in Arizona’s favor, while Colorado went two-for-two on their disputes.
This marks baseball’s preparation for implementing the controversial “robot umpire” technology during regular season play for the first time. Last year’s spring training trials showed teams achieved a 52.2% success rate, overturning 617 out of 1,182 challenged calls.
Under the current system, each team can dispute up to two calls per game. Teams maintain their challenge opportunity when they win a dispute, similar to existing video replay rules that began with home run calls in 2008 and expanded significantly by 2014. During extra innings, teams receive an additional challenge for each extra frame, even if they’ve used up their original allotments.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Wildlife experts are drawing attention to a devastating crisis affecting pangolins, unique scaly creatures that have earned the unfortunate distinction of being the world’s most illegally traded mammals.
Saturday marks World Pangolin Day, when conservationists spotlight the dire situation facing these timid, armor-plated animals that inhabit regions across Africa and Asia.
According to data from CITES, the international organization overseeing endangered species trade, pangolins and their body parts surpass all other mammals in illegal wildlife commerce. Between 2016 and 2024, authorities confiscated more than 500,000 pangolins during anti-smuggling raids.
The World Wildlife Fund calculates that more than one million pangolins have been removed from their natural habitats in the past ten years, including countless others that authorities never recovered.
While pangolin meat serves as a luxury food in certain regions, their distinctive scales drive the illicit market. These scales consist of keratin, the same substance found in human nails and hair. Asian markets, particularly in China, prize these scales for unsubstantiated medicinal properties in traditional treatments.
Eight distinct pangolin varieties exist worldwide — four native to Africa and four to Asia. Every species currently faces severe to critical extinction threats.
Despite being called scaly anteaters, pangolins share no genetic connection with actual anteaters or armadillos.
These creatures stand alone as the sole mammals entirely covered in overlapping keratin plates with razor-sharp edges. This natural armor provides exceptional protection, enabling pangolins to curl into impenetrable spheres that even lions cannot penetrate, giving these nighttime insect hunters virtually no natural enemies.
However, this defense proves useless against human poachers. From a conservation perspective, pangolins lack the public appeal of elephants, rhinoceros, or tigers, despite remarkable features like their insect-catching tongues that extend nearly the length of their entire bodies.
Although some data suggests pangolin smuggling has decreased since the COVID-19 outbreak, poaching continues at dangerous levels throughout African regions, conservationists report.
Nigeria represents a major trafficking center. Dr. Mark Ofua, a veterinary specialist and West African representative for Wild Africa conservation organization, has dedicated over ten years to pangolin rescue efforts, initially purchasing animals from bushmeat vendors to save their lives. He operates both an animal rehabilitation facility and pangolin nursery in Lagos.
Ofua’s work focuses on educating Nigerians about pangolins through children’s wildlife programs and recruiting entertainers, musicians, and social media influencers with massive followings to participate in conservation efforts or simply appear alongside pangolins.
Three of Africa’s four pangolin species live in Nigeria, yet remain largely unknown among the nation’s 240 million residents.
Ofua’s commitment to pangolin awareness began during an incident while transporting rescued pangolins in a carrier. A group of well-dressed young men approached and inquired about the animals’ identity.
“Oh, those are baby dragons,” he responded playfully. The exchange sparked deeper reflection.
“There is a dark side to that admission,” Ofua said. “If people do not even know what a pangolin looks like, how do you protect them?”
SÃO PAULO (AP) — Despite Bad Bunny’s worldwide chart dominance, the reggaeton superstar has faced challenges breaking through in Brazil, where audiences traditionally show strong loyalty to homegrown musical talent over international acts.
However, momentum that started building with his Grammy-winning release “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” could gain significant traction following his historic debut concerts in São Paulo on Friday and Saturday.
The Puerto Rican artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, arrives in Brazil during his career’s highest point, riding the wave of massive attention from his recent Super Bowl halftime show appearance.
“This represents the optimal moment to crack a market like Brazil, coming when he’s achieved dominance across virtually every other region globally,” explained Felipe Maia, an ethnomusicologist working on his doctorate in popular music and digital technologies at Paris Nanterre University.
Despite ranking among the world’s most-streamed performers for years, the artist and his music failed to appear among Brazil’s top-played content in 2024, based on Spotify data. Brazilian artists claimed all the leading streaming positions in the country last year.
In a nation celebrated for samba, funk, bossa nova, choro, sertanejo, forró and pagode musical styles, domestic artists capture 75% of streaming activity, according to entertainment data specialist Luminate’s 2025 midyear report. Brazil leads all countries in consuming its own musical content, the study found.
Nevertheless, excitement surrounding Bad Bunny has gained momentum in Brazil, especially following “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Originally planning just one show at Allianz Parque arena, rapid sellout conditions forced organizers to add a second date, which also reached capacity.
By Friday afternoon, extensive lines had developed outside the venue. Brazilian supporters mingled with fans traveling from El Salvador, Colombia and Venezuela. Many attendees sported straw hats — a signature Bad Bunny accessory traditionally worn by jíbaros, Puerto Rico’s rural farming community.
Official Ticketmaster prices ranged from $50 to $210, though scalpers demanded over $830 for Friday’s performance — exceeding 2.5 times Brazil’s monthly minimum wage.
Flávia Durante, a São Paulo DJ focusing on Latin American music, noted that some Brazilians previously viewed Spanish-language music as outdated due to associations with Mexican soap operas, but Bad Bunny’s recent album changed perceptions.
“Currently everyone recognizes his entire catalog, singing along enthusiastically. I typically feature his music during peak evening hours. Audiences request his songs even at rock or 80s pop-themed events,” Durante observed.
His Super Bowl appearance accelerated this popularity surge. Bad Bunny’s Brazilian Spotify streams jumped 426% in the week following his halftime performance compared to the previous period. Individual tracks saw dramatic increases, with “Yo Perreo Sola” leading at 2,536% growth.
During Brazil’s Carnival season, Bad Bunny-inspired costumes became common sights at Rio’s vibrant street celebrations.
Nicole Froio, a Colombian Brazilian writer covering Latin American cultural topics, participated wearing a straw hat and artificial tropical plants mimicking his latest album artwork. This marked Froio’s third consecutive Carnival honoring the Puerto Rican performer — she has two Bad Bunny tattoos with plans for a third.
Previously, Froio stood alone among her Brazilian friends in appreciating Bad Bunny’s music. She attributes this to Brazilians struggling to embrace their Latino identity.
“Significant bias exists against Hispanic music, with prejudices stemming from his Puerto Rican accent and comprehension difficulties,” she explained.
While Brazil’s Latino identity exists, it remains scattered and elusive given the continent-sized nation’s diversity, Maia noted. Bad Bunny successfully highlights this connection, particularly in metropolitan areas like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
During his Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny mentioned Brazil alongside other American nations, emphasizing that “America” encompasses two continents rather than serving as a U.S. synonym.
Bad Bunny’s worldwide success, including his Brazilian breakthrough, “confirms our inclusion — that we belong,” said 22-year-old longtime fan Diogo da Luz before Friday’s concert. “He demonstrates our unity as one people.”
For Froio, who waited six years to see him perform live and attended Saturday’s show, Bad Bunny “embodies Latino resistance.”
She highlighted how other Latin American stars like Anitta, Shakira, and Ricky Martin have recorded complete songs in different languages, while Bad Bunny maintains his music almost exclusively in Spanish.
“His sound contains genuine authenticity that encourages me to remain true to myself regardless of others’ opinions,” Froio concluded.
WASHINGTON — Federal officials terminated a prosecutor within hours of his selection by judges to lead a prominent Virginia U.S. attorney’s office on Friday, escalating an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and the judiciary over prosecutorial appointments.
James Hundley was unanimously selected by federal judges to take over as interim U.S. attorney for Virginia’s Eastern District, replacing former Trump attorney Lindsey Halligan in the role. However, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche quickly announced Hundley’s dismissal through social media, asserting executive authority over the appointment process.
“EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you’re fired!” Blanche wrote on X.
Hundley, an attorney with over three decades of experience in both criminal and civil litigation, had not responded to requests for comment by Friday evening.
This dismissal represents the most recent disruption within one of the nation’s premier federal prosecution offices, which has experienced significant instability since September. The turmoil began when veteran prosecutor Erik Siebert stepped down under administration pressure to bring charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, two prominent Trump critics.
Following Siebert’s departure, the administration installed Halligan, a White House staff member, who proceeded to secure indictments against both Comey and James. However, a federal judge later ruled that Halligan’s appointment violated legal procedures, leading to the dismissal of both cases. The Justice Department has challenged this ruling on appeal.
Halligan stepped down from her position last month after district judges continued to question whether her appointment was legitimate under federal law.
While U.S. attorneys normally undergo Senate confirmation, federal statutes allow attorneys general to make temporary appointments for restricted periods. The Justice Department has faced multiple legal challenges for attempting to extend these temporary positions beyond their authorized terms, with judges frequently ruling such extensions improper.
A similar situation unfolded in northern New York last week, where the Justice Department dismissed a judge-appointed U.S. attorney after less than 24 hours on the job. District judges had selected that attorney after refusing to extend the term of the Trump administration’s preferred candidate, John Sarcone, beyond his 120-day limit.
Authorities in New Castle County are actively searching for a 77-year-old Wilmington resident who vanished Friday morning from his neighborhood.
Police have activated a Gold Alert for Edward Frescoln, who disappeared from the 1100 block of North Overhill Court at approximately 8:05 a.m. on February 20, 2026.
Law enforcement officials report they have conducted thorough search operations but have not been able to make contact with Frescoln or determine his whereabouts, raising concerns about his wellbeing.
The Gold Alert system is typically used when elderly or vulnerable adults go missing and may be in danger.
Anyone with information about Edward Frescoln’s location is urged to contact the New Castle County Division of Police immediately.
