Business Sentiment
Sentiment Legend:
Negative < 44
Mixed 46-54
Positive > 56
The U.S.-made short-range Tempest surface-to-air missile system has entered combat in Ukraine, according to video footage recently released by the Air Force.
Ukraine's Air Force Command Center published video that shows the Tempest system repelling an attack in a New Year's post, without announcing or identifying the new weapon. The Ukrainian analyst group Vodohrai later reported that the footage depicts the Tempest in action.
The video shows a Tempest missile intercepting a Russian drone during an overnight aerial attack.
The U.S. defense company V2X debuted the Tempest platform at the 2025 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exhibition in October, but the system's transfer to Ukraine was not publicly announced.
The Tempest surface-to-air missile system is designed to engage drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft in all weather conditions.
While V2X did not specify the type of interceptor missile during the AUSA exhibition, the Tempest likely uses the radar-guided AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow. Hellfire missiles typically carry a 9 kg (20-pound) warhead, powerful enough to destroy drones and minimize collateral damage from falling debris.
Ukraine has relied on Western-supplied air defense systems to counter Russian aerial attacks throughout the full-scale war. Complexes such as the Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS, and SAMP/T systems are capable of intercepting cruise and ballistic missiles, while e German-made Gepard and Skynex systems are primarily used to counter drones.
Senior News Editor
Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She is a freelance writer, editor, and playwright with an MFA from Boston University. Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011.
The Tempest surface-to-air missile system is designed to engage drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft in all weather conditions. Its transfer to Ukraine was not publicly announced.
"I play every day with pain in my heart... My sister sleeps under three blankets because of the cold at home," Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostiuk said after the final match at the Brisbane tournament.
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent's Anna Belokur reports on Russia's latest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including the use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile near NATO borders.
Separately, Ukraine also hit a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system in the occupied parts of Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine's General Staff.
"All such attempts are promptly detected and thwarted," the 7th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces said on its Telegram channel.
Kyiv's energy situation remains challenging and is expected to remain so in the coming days, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Jan. 11.
Electricity was fully restored across Zaporizhzhia Oblast by the morning, the regional grid operator Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo said on Jan. 11.
Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare systems intercepted 125 out of 154 Russian drones, while another 22 drones hit 18 locations.
The UAV, which bears a resemblance to the Iranian-designed Karrar drone, utilizes the Telefly jet engine, though with a greater thrust than the Geran-3 model, according to HUR.
Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on an oil depot in Russia's Volgograd Oblast as part of efforts to reduce Moscow's offensive capabilities, Ukraine's General Staff said Jan. 10.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Jan. 10 condemned Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests and called on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran, drawing parallels between its domestic repression and its conduct on the global stage.
Russia, Iran, China and South Africa are participating in the drills, called "Will for Peace 2026," with Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia joining as observers.
Russia's takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
Live Updates
• ICE protests: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem today stood by the comments she made immediately after the killing of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. More demonstrations are planned today after nationwide outcry over shooting spilled into the streets of cities across the US yesterday.
• Iran intervention: President Donald Trump is weighing a series of potential military options in Iran following deadly protests in the country, two US officials told CNN, as he considers following through on his recent threats to strike the country should they use lethal force against the Iranian people.
• Venezuela's oil: Meanwhile, Trump is pressing ahead with his plans for the US to overhaul Venezuela's oil industry after removing Nicolás Maduro from power. American energy executives have been noncommittal, so far.
Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, of Minnesota, said Immigrations and Customs Enforcement should be “reformed, not abolished,” after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in her home state, and she added that she's willing to withhold her vote on a key funding bill in Congress over the issue.
“Clearly, I see a role in our country for strong border security, but we need to get serious about what is actually happening with this unaccountable agency that is not abiding by any of the laws or the procedures that we would expect to see from professional law enforcement,” she told CNN's Manu Raju on “Inside Politics Sunday.”
Smith, who is retiring after this term, left the door open to joining her progressive colleagues who have urged the party to draw a “red line” over demands to include ICE restrictions in ongoing negotiations to pass funding bills to avert a shutdown by the end of the month.
“It is hard for me to imagine how I could vote to support a budget bill for the Department of Homeland Security, given how the Department of Homeland Security is functioning right now in my community. I want to see work done that would bring some serious reforms to ICE,” she said.
Smith also cast doubt on the federal government's ability to conduct a legitimate probe of the shooting, as administration officials blame rhetoric by Democrats for the violence.
“I don't see how we can trust the outcome of this probe when they are blocking out state investigators and when the people that are in charge, that are in power in the Trump administration, have already said what they think has happened here,” she said. “It seems clearly that it would be a prejudiced investigation to me.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem today stood by the comments she made immediately after the shooting death of a Minnesota mother by an ICE officer last week, when she said Renee Good committed an act of domestic terrorism by trying to run over an ICE agent.
“If you look at what the definition of domestic terrorism is, it completely fits the situation on the ground,” Noem told Jake Tapper on CNN's “State of the Union.”
She added: “This individual, as you saw in the video that we released just 48 hours after this incident, showed that this officer was hit by her vehicle. She weaponized it, and he defended his life and those colleagues around him and the public.”
Pressed on how she could have asserted that there's no ambiguity in the situation or Good's motives before an investigation plays out, Noem said she had spoken to the officers and their supervisors and watched videos before she went to speak at the press conference after the shooting.
Noem did not acknowledge the possibility that Good could have been fleeing the scene.
“The facts of the situation are that the vehicle was weaponized, and it attacked the law enforcement officer. He defended himself, and he defended those individuals around him,” Noem said.
Context: On the day of the shooting, Noem held a press conference where she said good “refused to obey (the ICE officer's) commands. She then proceeded to weaponize her vehicle and she attempted to run a law enforcement officer over. This appears as an attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents; an act of domestic terrorism.”
When confronted on CNN's “State of the Union” with a video of January 6, 2021, rioters, who were pardoned by President Donald Trump, attacking law enforcement, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that laws are equally enforced under the Trump administration.
Anchor Jake Tapper asked Noem if she believes that law enforcement would have been justified in using deadly force against those attacking them on January 6, based on her assessment of the Minneapolis shooting.
“Every single situation is going to rely on the situation those officers are in,” Noem said. “But they know that when people are putting hands on them, when they are using weapons against them, when they are physically harming them, that they have the authority to arrest those individuals, and make sure they're facing the consequences.”
Pressed on Trump pardoning people who assaulted police officers that day, Noem said Trump is focused on equally enforcing laws.
“Every single one of these investigations comes in the full context of the situation on the ground,” Noem said. “That's one thing that President Trump has been so focused on, is making sure that when we're out there, we don't pick and choose which situations are and which laws are enforced and which ones aren't. Every single one of them is being enforced under the Trump administration.”
Tapper responded, “I showed you video of people attacking law enforcement officers. Undisputed proof, undisputed evidence, and I just said, ‘President Trump pardoned all of them,' and you said that President Trump is enforcing all the laws equally. It's just not true.”
Noem responded: “These instances and these investigations all have to be taken and done and done correctly in context of every situation that is happening on the ground,” adding that her department is making sure it is “targeting the worst of the worst, and that we're talking factually about each situation.”
Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said the federal government is stoking “chaos” with its heavy-handed immigration enforcement efforts in the wake of last week's shooting death of a US citizen.
“What we have seen in Minneapolis is ICE agents oftentimes jumping out of their cars. These are unmarked cars. Oftentimes they're wearing a mask. They're approaching, running towards cars. They're pulling people out of those cars. Oftentimes, these people are citizens,” Omar said Sunday on CBS' “Face The Nation.”
“What they are doing is creating confusion, chaos, trying to intimidate people from being able to exercise their regular, normal activities that they would,” she added.
Omar's comments come in the wake of Wednesday's ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis that killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.
Omar said it is important for Americans to “create the level of accountability and transparency that we need” when it comes to ICE-involved activities.
“Oftentimes these people have documentation of their legal right to be in this country, and we know that DHS has lied repeatedly when it comes to these accounts, so it is even more important for there to be recording from eyewitnesses every single time these actions are taking place,” Omar said.
“There is no reason to have over 2,000 people coming into our city and creating the level of terror that they have,” she added.
It's “quite likely” that American companies will have an expanded presence in Venezuela but exactly how that's going to work will “unfold over time,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday, despite skepticism in the industry about Venezuela being a viable investment.
“Venezuela has been a very dangerous, very destabilized place,” Wright told CBS News' “Face the Nation.”
“With United States influence now, by controlling the sale of their oil and therefore the flow of funds into the country, we think we will see relatively rapid change, improvement on the ground in Venezuela.”
These comments come after President Donald Trump met with more than a dozen energy executives at the White House Friday as his administration is working to convince the companies to reinvest in Venezuela. Several of the executives expressed reluctance, warning that the industry would first need to secure extensive security and financial guarantees before beginning a yearlong effort to ramp up oil production.
“We had a great meeting with oil executives. We sort of formed a deal,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to depart to Mar-A-Lago for the weekend.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that they are sending “hundreds more” officers to Minneapolis today and tomorrow.
“We're sending more officers today and tomorrow, they'll arrive. There will be hundreds more in order to allow our ICE and our Border Patrol individuals that are working in Minneapolis to do so safely,” Noem said on Fox New's Sunday Morning Futures.
A DHS spokesperson clarified to CNN that Customs and Border Patrol officers will be sent.
Noem criticized Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for what she called a failure to help and work alongside ICE's efforts, accusing them of putting criminal undocumented immigrants above their constituents.
“They've said they're not going to help us, so we'll make sure that we protect our officers, but we also follow through on making sure these criminals are brought to justice,” Noem said.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem today called on officials in Minnesota to “grow up,” following their complaints that federal officials aren't cooperating with state and local officials on investigating the killing of a Minnesota woman by an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent.
Asked on CNN's “State of the Union,” about those complaints, Noem homed in on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who she said have politicized the shooting and encouraged “destruction” and “violence” in the city.
“They've extremely politicized and inappropriately talked about the situation on the ground in their city. They have inflamed the public. They have encouraged the kind of destruction and violence that we have seen in Minneapolis the last several days,” Noem said. “I would encourage them to grow up, get some maturity, act like people who are responsible, who want people to be safe, and the right thing be done.”
As for DHS, Noem said, “We do work with locals when they work with us, but on the investigation piece of it, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have a process and a protocol that we've always followed, and we're doing the same thing in this situation.”
Noem clarified that she wanted local officials to work with DHS to arrest criminal undocumented immigrants.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan asked people who are critical of the response to the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis to “tone down the rhetoric” and defends the officer involved.
“I truly believe this officer, in his mind, thought his life was in danger which allows him to use lethal force,” Homan said Sunday in an interview with NBC's “Meet the Press” today.
“Let the investigation play out,” Homan said pointing to other potential evidence that could emerge. “There's a lot of video we probably haven't seen that the FBI has that we don't. Where's the forensics and the ballistics? That hasn't been released. How about the officer's statements?”
“We need to let this play out, but while we're doing that, we've got to stop the hateful rhetoric,” Homan said. “Saying this officer is a murderer is dangerous. It's just ridiculous. It's going to infuriate people more, which means there's going to be more incidents like this because the hateful rhetoric is not only continuing, it has tripled down and doubled down.”
As Homan made the point that people should wait for more details, he was pressed multiple times on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's decision to say the woman who was shot and killed during the incident was committing an “act of terrorism.”
“I'm not going to judge what the secretary says, but if you look at the definition of terrorism it certainly can fall within in that,” Homan said. “I think we've all got to agree, there's no reason for this lady to do what she did.”
Homan said people have the right to protest, but he warned protesters: “Don't actively impede and interfere, and certainly don't drive a 4,000-pound vehicle toward an officer.”
President Donald Trump is weighing a series of potential military options in Iran following deadly protests in the country, two US officials told CNN, as he considers following through on his recent threats to strike the country should they use lethal force against the Iranian people.
Trump was briefed in recent days on different plans for intervention, the officials told CNN, as violence in the country has led to dozens of deaths and arrests. Some of the discussions have also included options that do not involve direct US military force, one of the officials said.
The president has not yet made a final decision on intervention, the officials said, but he is seriously considering action as the death toll in Iran continues to rise.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” Trump posted to social media on Saturday. “The USA stands ready to help!!!”
On Friday, Trump told reporters that if Tehran engaged in deadly violence against protestors, the US would “get involved.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Saturday about the ongoing protests, two sources familiar with the call said. The leaders also discussed the situation in Syria and Gaza, they said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Sunday it is “monitoring developments” in Iran as the country enters its third week of anti-government protests.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back today on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's claims surrounding the shooting death of a Minnesota mother by an ICE officer last week.
Frey strongly condemned the incident and urged ICE officers to get out of Minneapolis after 37-year-old mother of three Renee Good was shot and killed by a federal officer in Minneapolis Wednesday.
In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” moments earlier, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good had been engaging in domestic terrorism and that Frey needed to tone down his rhetoric around the incident.
“She's calling Minneapolis this dystopian hell hole. You know how many shootings we've had so far this year? Two, and one of them was ICE,” Frey told Tapper.
Frey doubled down on his assertion that the officer who shot Good was “a federal agent recklessly using power that ended up in somebody dying.”
“Am I biased in this? Of course. I'm biased, because I got two eyes. Anybody can see these videos, anybody can see that this victim is not a domestic terrorist,” Frey said.
The mayor called for an independent investigation into the shooting.
“It should be a neutral, unbiased investigation, where you get the facts,” he said. “And by the way, I shouldn't be the one conducting the investigation, nor should Kristi Noem, but you should have an entity that is able to do it with some common sense and operating in reality.”
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner expressed no appetite today to potentially force another government shutdown over demands to place restrictions on ICE after a fatal shooting by an agent in Minneapolis.
“I think we went through the longest government shutdown in American history last year. I don't think we need to repeat it,” Warner told CNN's Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”
Some progressives have been urging the party to draw a “red line” in negotiations over ICE provisions in a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the fiscal year.
Warner, who voted against the GOP-led short-term package last fall to reopen government through this month, urged Congress to forge ahead with bipartisan appropriations bills and “keep the government operating.”
The Virginia Democrat said “we're starting to see a little bit of splintering” as some lawmakers cross party lines on bipartisan initiatives, like the five Republicans who crossed party lines and backed advancing a resolution to limit President Trump's war powers in Venezuela.
“Congress has got to provide some level of check on Donald Trump again,” he said.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said today there should be more checks on President Donald Trump's ability to intervene militarily around the world than the president's own “morality.”
“We're depending on Donald Trump's morality to decide whether we put troops in harm's way. That is not what our Constitution set up. That is why our country was founded on the notion that one individual can't take our country to war. You've got to consult with Congress, which this president has completely blown off throughout his whole first year,” he told CNN's Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”
Trump suggested in an interview with The New York Times last week that his “morality” was the only thing that could stop him from wielding American military power abroad. The paper also reported this weekend that the president has been briefed on new options for strikes in Iran as unrest mounts amid anti-regime protests.
Warner acknowledged that leaders like Nicolás Maduro are “bad guys,” but added, “the last thing I thought was Donald Trump was going to be the world's policeman for his moral view of the world. That's not what, I think, we signed up for.”
He argued that the US should put “as much pressure in support of the Iranian people” on the region as possible, but warned that military intervention could lead to strategic consequences and impact the “internal dynamics” of Iran.
“I want to know what the president talking about. Is he simply talking about another airstrike? Is he talking about boots on the ground in Iran to take out military facilities?” Warner asked, pointing out that an aircraft typically stationed in the Middle East is currently off the coast of Venezuela. “We get stretched pretty thin.”
Elsewhere, President Donald Trump said yesterday the US is ready to help the Iranian people — without spelling out what that help might look like — posting a message in solidarity with those standing up to the Iranian regime.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday.
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, today also told the Iranian people that they've caught the president's attention, forecasting that their “long nightmare” would soon be over.
“Your bravery and determination to end your oppression has been noticed by @POTUS and all who love freedom,” Graham said on X.
Graham elaborated on what he believes Trump means by “Make Iran Great Again” and signaled “help is on the way.”
“It means the protestors in Iran must prevail over the ayatollah. That is the clearest signal yet that he, President Trump understands Iran will never be great with the ayatollah and his henchmen in charge. To all who are sacrificing in Iran, God bless. Help is on the way,” Graham said.
Without elaborating further on what role the Defense Department might play, Secretary Pete Hegseth reposted Trump's message that “The USA stands ready to help” the Iranian people.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also posted yesterday that “The United States supports the brave people of Iran.”
Nationwide outcry over the killing of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent spilled into the streets of cities across the US on Saturday, with protesters demanding the removal of federal immigration authorities from their communities and justice for the slain Renee Good.
In Minneapolis, snow flurries drifted down as thousands of people gathered in parks, along residential streets and outside federal buildings, chanting Good's name, whose death has become a focal point of national outrage over federal authorities' tactics in US cities while carrying out President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown.
Similar protests unfolded across the US – from Los Angeles and New York to Washington, DC, El Paso and Boston. More than 1,000 demonstrations were planned across the country this weekend by the “ICE out for good” national coalition of advocacy groups.
“The response to ICE's horrific killing of Renee Nicole Good is loud, peaceful, and inescapable,” coalition member group Indivisible said in a Saturday Facebook post accompanied by images of protests in multiple cities.
Read the full story here.
President Donald Trump has renewed his calls for the US to take control of Greenland, telling reporters last week that if he is not able to acquire the Arctic territory “the easy way,” then he will have to “do it the hard way.”
Officials and residents in the autonomous Danish territory insist it is not for sale.
Here's part of the reason why control of the island is so significant:
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
Michael Steele argues law firms, universities and media capitulated with startling speed and voters want accountability
The biggest surprise of Donald Trump's first year back in office is how quickly America's institutions capitulated to “the bully”, said Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) turned arch critic.
But with the midterm elections for Congress looming, Steele predicts a resounding Democratic victory amid a hunger among voters to hold the president and his allies accountable for threatening democracy.
Steele, 67, was the first Black chair of the RNC and coined the phrase “Drill, baby, drill!” in a speech at the 2008 Republican national convention. He was implacably opposed to Trump's takeover of the party and is now a co-host of The Weeknight on the liberal-leaning MS NOW network.
As the first anniversary of Trump's second inauguration approaches, Steele said the president's authoritarian assault on the constitution and rule of law was more expected than the way in which many law firms, universities and media companies caved.
“The only thing that would be surprising is the speed with which institutions collapsed,” he said in a recent phone interview. “I thought that there would be more resistance from lawyers and institutions of higher learning than we've seen.
“The administration came out of the gate with an everything-everywhere-all-at-once strategy that overwhelmed institutions and processes in a way that it was easier to collapse and give in than to stand and resist. The few institutions that did have proven that in the long run was probably the better strategy.”
Trump targeted law firms that opposed his policies or were involved in investigations related to the 2016 election. The threats included revoking security clearances, restricting access to federal buildings and terminating government contracts. Many firms negotiated settlements that involved providing pro bono legal services aligned with Trump's priorities.
The White House also hit elite universities with funding freezes totalling more than $5bn in federal grants and contracts, often linked to investigations into alleged antisemitism; diversity, equity and inclusion practices; or perceived liberal biases. This led many to negotiate financial settlements, policy changes and oversight concessions to restore funding. Harvard was a notable holdout.
Steele commented: “Once you beholden yourself to a bully, you will always be bullied. It's not a complicated narrative. In that regard, I'm not surprised by the ultimate outcome but I am surprised at the speed with which we've gotten there. Literally within six months of taking the oath of office, Donald Trump had pretty much slapped the crap out of everything and everyone he could and instead of fighting back they cowered in a corner.”
As Trump's first year wore on, there were signs of dissenters finding their footing. Millions of people took to the streets in No Kings protests. Disney reinstated ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after its decision to suspend him over comments about Charlie Kirk was met with criticism from unions, free speech advocates and some Republicans, as well as millions of cancelled subscriptions.
But Steele cautioned that, even if 79-year-old Trump's pace slows in his second year in office, his allies are eager to maintain the moment. “I guess at a certain point an old man will run out of steam, but he's got enough other engines around him in [Steve] Bannon and [Stephen] Miller and [Kash] Patel and the like that they will keep things going.
“They know what he wants. They have bought into his diktats. They see themselves benefiting directly and indirectly from everything that is happening so they will continue to pursue those agendas.”
Steele grew up Washington DC, studied at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and spent three years as a seminarian in the Order of St Augustine in preparation for the priesthood. He joined the Republican party in 1976 and became the first Black person elected to statewide office in Maryland, serving as lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2007.
Steele was elected chair of the RNC 10 days after Barack Obama was sworn in as the US's first Black president in 2009. He oversaw major gains for the party in Congress, governor's mansions and state legislatures in the 2010 midterm elections but lost the chairmanship to Reince Priebus the following year.
Steele opposed Trump from the start and had a spell at the Lincoln Project, a group formed by anti-Trump Republicans, while also pursuing a media career. He became a pundit then a presenter on MSNBC, recently rebranded MS NOW, where since last May he has co-hosted The Weeknight with Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend.
He remains a pungent critic of the president. When, for example, the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington was rebranded the “Trump-Kennedy Center”, Steele posted on social media: “So pathetic. Such a lonely, desperate cry for acceptance. A craving not even his family can satisfy – he has to appropriate another family's legacy.”
He voted for Democrats Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024 but has not quit his party, describing himself as a “Motel 6 Republican” who has to “leave the lights on” in the hope the party will find its way back to its principles. When that day comes, he hopes, the legions of Trump enablers who indulged his autocratic tendencies will face a reckoning.
Steele said: “For me the most important conversation Democrats and independents and like-minded Republicans like myself need to be having is: are we prepared to hold every last one of these folks accountable? You may be doing Donald Trump's bidding but, at a certain point, Donald Trump will no longer be president and you will be exposed.”
He continued: “That, to me, is the next big piece in conversations going into the '26 cycle: why the Democrats need to take the Congress, why the Democrats are in a position to make the Senate competitive. A lot more Americans are going to align themselves with demanding some level of accountability and wanting that process to unfold.
“It's not impeachment of the president, because we've done that twice and failed. But individuals in their capacities as secretaries and administrators and directors and advisers can be held accountable and must be held accountable.”
With Trump sinking in the polls, Steele believes that Democrats should be looking to pick up a minimum of 30 to 35 seats in November's midterm elections for the House of Representatives. “There are a lot of similar similarities to what I saw on the political landscape in 2010 that will be relevant some 16 years later in 2026 that can give you a very good indicator of how things could play out.”
The former Republican chair noted the Democrats' run of successes in elections in 2025, including the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races and Proposition 50 in California, which allows the use of new congressional districts drawn to benefit Democrats in an effort to counter redraws by Republicans in Texas and other states.
“All of these are very important indicators for Democrats that are signals from the American voter about how they're looking at these things,” he said. “And how they are going to respond.”
Organisers clarify award ‘cannot be revoked, shared or transferred' after Venezuelan opposition leader's comments
The organisers of the Nobel peace prize have said it “cannot be revoked, shared or transferred” after Venezuela's opposition leader, María Corina Machado, said she wanted to give her award to Donald Trump.
When Machado was named Nobel laureate in October, it was seen as a snub by the White House, despite Machado rushing to dedicate the prize to the US president and his “decisive support of our cause”.
Trump has made no secret of his strongly held desire to be awarded the Nobel peace prize, the winner of which is selected by an independent five-person committee in Oslo.
After the US launched airstrikes and a raid in Venezuela that led to the seizure of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, Machado last week told Fox she wanted to “give it to him [Trump] and share it with him” on behalf of the Venezuelan people.
“What he has done is historic. It's a huge step towards a democratic transition,” she added.
Asked whether he would accept the Nobel peace prize from Machado, Trump, who has said he will meet with Machado in Washington this week, said “that would be a great honour”.
But the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute have since issued a warning indicating that such a transfer of the award would not be possible.
“The facts are clear and well established,” they said in a statement. “Once a Nobel prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”
Neither Alfred Nobel's will nor the statutes of the Nobel Foundation make any mention of being able to withdraw the Nobel prize, they said, citing the statutes, which say: “No action may be brought against the decision of the awarding committee in Stockholm or Oslo.”
None of the awarding committees have ever considered withdrawing a Nobel prize, they said, adding: “In principle, the Norwegian Nobel Committee never comments on what peace prize laureates say or do after they have been awarded the prize.”
Machado, who escaped Venezuela in December to secretly travel to Oslo with the intention of attending the Nobel prize ceremony, also spoke in support of Trump's military invasion of Venezuela and removal of Nicolás Maduro. So far, Trump has held off from backing her to lead the country and has put Washington's support behind Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's deputy.
“A lot of people, most people, said it was impossible to achieve what he has just done on Saturday, 3 January,” Machado told Fox.
Exclusive: Before Randall Gamboa Esquivel died, his health had deteriorated badly while he was in ICE custody
Costa Rican family demands answers after ICE deportation and death: ‘Have you ever smelled a cadaver?'
The family of a Costa Rican man who was deported from the United States in a vegetative state and died shortly after arriving back in his home country is still urgently seeking answers from the authorities about what happened to him while he was in detention.
Randall Gamboa Esquivel had left Costa Rica in good health and crossed the United States-Mexico border in December 2024, according to his family. However, Gamboa was detained by the US authorities for re-entering American soil unlawfully, as he had previously lived there undocumented between 2002 and 2013.
Gamboa was initially held at the Webb county detention center in Laredo and then transferred to the Port Isabel detention center in Los Fresnos, both in south Texas. Nearly 10 months later, in September 2025, the Trump administration flew the 52-year-old to the Costa Rican capital of San José on an air ambulance.
He never came round and five weeks later Gamboa was pronounced dead at a hospital in Pérez Zeledón, his home town, around three hours south of the capital.
The Guardian spoke with relatives, neighbors and old friends in Costa Rica who remain shocked and outraged about what happened. His younger sister, Greidy Mata, said she is still trying to make sense of how his health deteriorated so badly while in the custody of US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).
In an exclusive interview in Pérez Zeledón, Mata recounted that Gamboa had sounded and looked healthy when they talked via video calls while he was in detention, until 12 June, which marked their last conversation, after which he seemed to vanish. Mata waited for weeks to hear from him, but in fact Gamboa had fallen into a health crisis.
“My brother disappeared and we had to reach out to agencies, lawyers, consulates, anyone willing to help,” Mata said in Spanish, standing across the street from the hospital where Gamboa died on 26 October.
“How is it possible that a man that left healthy, tall, chubby, robust, came back dirty, looked abandoned, with ulcers on his entire body, in a vegetative state?” she said.
Medical records related to Gamboa's time in US custody and shared with the Guardian show that there was a transfer request for him from the Port Isabel detention facility to Valley Baptist medical center in Harlingen, 28 miles (45km) east, on 23 June.
According to a document included in the medical records and issued by Ice Health Service Corps (IHSC), a service within ICE that provides healthcare in immigration custody and assesses people slated for deportation, Gamboa was hospitalized with an “altered mental status”. The document also indicates he had been taking antipsychotic and antidepressant medications.
Relatives and friends denied Gamboa had a history of mental illness before he migrated to the US.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the parent company of ICE, said in an email response when asked about Gamboa's detention and health that: “While in custody, medical professionals diagnosed him with unspecified psychosis and hospitalized him at Valley Baptist Hospital so he could get proper mental health and medical care.”
McLaughlin added that medical care for those in the custody of ICE includes “dental and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care”. She added: “This is the best health care that many aliens have received in their entire lives.”
By 7 July, Gamboa had been diagnosed with at least 10 conditions, medical documents from the hospital show. Sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection, is listed as his primary diagnosis, followed by rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down rapidly.
Other conditions outlined in the records included protein malnutrition and toxic encephalopathy, caused by an infection or prolonged exposure to drugs, radiation or metals that ultimately alters brain function.
“I can't sleep thinking what would've happened if we knew he was sick? Why did they keep this information from us? We found out where he was in August,” said Mata, making an effort to keep a calm composure despite crying on the recent December afternoon in Pérez Zeledón when she gave an interview.
“The information didn't come from the Costa Rican consulate, nor ICE, it came from a lawyer whom we asked for help and who called us saying: ‘I found him in a bed, he follows you with his eyes, but can't talk, he is in a vegetative state',” she said.
Costa Rica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined an interview with the Guardian to discuss Gamboa's case. It also didn't answer a series of questions including whether any of their consular officers visited Gamboa during his hospitalization in Texas.
The director of Costa Rica's migration agency, Omer Badilla, said his office was notified that Gamboa was being deported back to San José, but didn't receive any details regarding his health.
According to a further document in Gamboa's medical reports from the hospital, a doctor who visited Gamboa on August 2 wrote: “He doesn't move or respond. He does blink at times … there is immobility and mutism present. The patient appears exhibiting the decerebrate posturing.”
“Decerebrate posturing” typically refers to a patient's arms and legs being held stiffly straight, with head arched back and toes pointed down. The doctor also noted that Gamboa was “undergoing tube placement”.
The medication list included in the medical records showed that by 7 August, nearly a month before his deportation to Costa Rica, Gamboa had received IV injections and more than a dozen medications. He was assessed as catatonic.
“At times this all seems like a horror story or a lie,” said Mata, as she prepared to mark Christmas while in mourning for her brother.
She said that when Gamboa came home, there was at first a flicker of optimism. “It was nice seeing and touching him again because it gave us hope that he could recover,” she said, adding: “But the doctors never said that ... and we realized then that the condition in which he arrived was irreversible.”
Ukraine battled Sunday to restore power to tens of thousands of people left without heating in bitterly cold temperatures after a week of intense Russian attacks that have brought the country's energy infrastructure to its knees.
In Kyiv, heating was restored to about 85% of apartment buildings a day after the entire city lost power, heat and water on Saturday. But more than 1,000 buildings remained without heating, the city's mayor Vitali Klitschko said. with daytime temperatures down to –10C (14F).
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Russia had targeted energy infrastructure every day for the past week as temperatures plummeted.
“The enemy deliberately targeted heat-generating facilities with ballistic missiles. The situation was further complicated by difficult weather conditions and a significant drop in temperature,” she said in a statement.
“We understand that the lack of light and heat is a difficult test, especially in the cold. Therefore, our key task is to restore basic living conditions for people as quickly as possible.”
Mobile shelters have been set up in the capital, offering spaces where locals can warm up, recharge their phones and other devices and drink warm tea, according to the state emergency service.
Nonetheless, residents spoke of the huge challenges of living without power in the depths of winter.
Halyna Turchyn had managed to source gas cannisters so she could cook for the first time since losing power. “Today, we will cook something to eat, because we haven't cooked anything for two days,” she told CNN in her kitchen in Kyiv.
Galina Turchin, a 71-year-old retiree, had wrapped herself in layers of jumpers to try to stay warm in her apartment, where one window had recently been shattered by debris from a Russian drone and was covered only by a plastic sheet.
“We hope they will give us heat. If not power, then at least heat,” she told Reuters, adding that she had not cooked food for two days and eaten only leftovers from her kitchen.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, using waves of missiles and drones to cripple power generation in an apparent effort to erode morale and hit the economy.
On average, Kyiv residents had no electricity for 9.5 hours a day in December as the energy system struggled to cope with winter demand. Elevators in apartment blocks stopped working, trapping elderly residents in their homes, and people have become used to the loud hum of generators.
“This was one of the most massive attacks on the capital's energy infrastructure, occurring precisely during a period of deteriorating weather conditions,” said Oleksiy Kuleba, deputy prime minister for restoration of Ukraine, on Sunday.
This week's strikes came as the conflict grinds through its fourth winter, plunging cities into prolonged energy blackouts while temperatures dip well below freezing and are forecast to drop further.
On Saturday, Ukraine's national electricity grid operator, Ukrenergo, ordered an emergency power cut to be implemented in Kyiv and the surrounding region to repair the heavily damaged system.
Russian strikes overnight on Saturday into Sunday knocked out power in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. By Sunday morning, more than 13,000 people in Zaporizhzhia were without supply, according to Ukraine's energy ministry.
Power to nearly 700,000 consumers was lost over the past seven days before it was eventually restored, Svyrydenko said. While power supplies were brought back in Kyiv in “record time,” she warned that the situation would be precarious for a while.
Homes where power has been restored are still subject to scheduled power blackouts, which in Kyiv currently last for around eight hours.
Klitschko has warned that the energy supply system in Ukraine's capital remains “very difficult” despite restoration works.
Some villages on the outskirts of the capital have been without electricity for four days and people have taken to the streets to block roads in protest.
“Before the strike, it was good, normal warmth,” one man, Serhii Przhistovskiy, told CNN. “Until they turn the heating back on, I'll have to sleep in my clothes.”
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
CNN's Jake Tapper speaks with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to break down the timeline of events before and after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, as well as the Trump administration's response.
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
CNN's Jake Tapper speaks with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to break down the timeline of events before and after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, as well as the Trump administration's response.
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
Ukrainian forces struck three Russian drilling platforms belonging to Lukoil, one of Russia's largest oil producers, in the Caspian Sea, Ukraine's General Staff reported on Jan. 11.
Separately, Ukraine also hit a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system in the occupied parts of Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast and other military assets, according to the statement.
The three Lukoil Corporation drilling platforms hit by Ukraine — the V. Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin, and Valery Graifer platforms — are used for oil and gas extraction.
"Direct hits have been recorded. The extent of the damage is being assessed," the statement reads.
These platforms supply fuel to the Russian army, according to Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO), which carried out the strikes on the night of Jan. 11. The SSO also published video footage of the alleged attacks.
Oil and gas exports cover a major part of Russia's federal budget and play a significant role in sustaining Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces also struck a warehouse and technical support unit of Russia's 49th Combined Arms Army in the area of the town of Novotroitske, in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast. This army group is the main Russian force in the region.
The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify the military's claims.
Ukraine has escalated its campaign against oil facilities inside Russia and Russian-occupied territories throughout 2025, primarily relying on domestically developed drones.
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) carried out drone strikes on a Russian patrol ship and an oil platform in the Caspian Sea on Dec. 19. The attack also targeted a Russian oil platform located at the Filanovsky oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea.
Junior Investigative Reporter
Linda is a Ukrainian junior reporter investigating Russia's global influence and disinformation. She has over two years of experience writing news and feature stories for Ukrainian media outlets. She holds an Erasmus Mundus M.A. in Journalism, Media, and Globalisation from Aarhus University and the University of Amsterdam, where she trained in data journalism and communication studies.
The Tempest surface-to-air missile system is designed to engage drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft in all weather conditions. Its transfer to Ukraine was not publicly announced.
"I play every day with pain in my heart... My sister sleeps under three blankets because of the cold at home," Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostiuk said after the final match at the Brisbane tournament.
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent's Anna Belokur reports on Russia's latest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including the use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile near NATO borders.
Separately, Ukraine also hit a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system in the occupied parts of Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine's General Staff.
"All such attempts are promptly detected and thwarted," the 7th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces said on its Telegram channel.
Kyiv's energy situation remains challenging and is expected to remain so in the coming days, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Jan. 11.
Electricity was fully restored across Zaporizhzhia Oblast by the morning, the regional grid operator Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo said on Jan. 11.
Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare systems intercepted 125 out of 154 Russian drones, while another 22 drones hit 18 locations.
The UAV, which bears a resemblance to the Iranian-designed Karrar drone, utilizes the Telefly jet engine, though with a greater thrust than the Geran-3 model, according to HUR.
Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on an oil depot in Russia's Volgograd Oblast as part of efforts to reduce Moscow's offensive capabilities, Ukraine's General Staff said Jan. 10.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Jan. 10 condemned Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests and called on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran, drawing parallels between its domestic repression and its conduct on the global stage.
Russia, Iran, China and South Africa are participating in the drills, called "Will for Peace 2026," with Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia joining as observers.
Russia's takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
"We are surging investment into our preparations (...) ensuring that Britain's Armed Forces are ready to deploy, and lead, the multinational force (in) Ukraine, because a secure Ukraine means a secure U.K.," U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said.
Russian forces are attempting to create a beachhead for new offensive operations in Ukraine's northeast, potentially setting the stage for an "advance toward the city of Sumy," the Ukrainian military reported on Jan. 11.
"All such attempts are promptly detected and thwarted," the 7th Corps of Ukraine's Airborne Assault Forces said on its Telegram channel.
Russian forces are reportedly intensifying operations in Sumy Oblast with the goal of advancing toward Khotin, a village located approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) north of Sumy, the regional center.
Sumy, home to about 250,000 residents, has been a regular target of Russian shelling and aerial strikes but has never been occupied by Russia.
Russian forces currently hold a handful of settlements in parts of Sumy Oblast, primarily in the northern part of the region, adjacent to Russia's Kursk Oblast. According to the DeepState monitoring group, Moscow's troops were about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Khotin as of Jan. 9.
Russian forces are "routinely carrying out ground attacks and ramping up drone activity in certain areas," the 7th Corps reported, noting that Russia is avoiding frontal attacks and seeks to penetrate the flanks.
Soldiers of Ukraine's 78th Airborne Assault Brigade are facing units of Russia's 810th Marine Corps Brigade and the 9th Motor Rifle Regiment, according to the military.
"Our active defense and constant reconnaissance enable us to keep the situation fully under control," the 7th Corps reported.
After retreating from Sumy Oblast in 2022, Russia launched another offensive into the region last spring and summer after pushing Ukraine out of Kursk Oblast, seeking to establish a "buffer zone" in the area.
Ukraine said in September 2025 that the offensive had been "completely thwarted," despite Russian forces continuing to hold limited territory there.
In December 2025, the "Kursk" Group of Forces said that Russian forces continued attempts to seize Ukrainian territory in the Sumy Oblast border area. Fighting was ongoing near the villages of Yunakivka, Yablunivka, Varachyne, Andriivka, and Kindrativka.
Russia also entered the border village of Hrabovske in the eastern part of Sumy Oblast at the end of last year, abducting 52 residents to Russia, an act considered a war crime.
Ukraine's State Border Guard reported on Jan. 11 that Russian forces continue to occupy Hrabovske, but Ukrainian troops prevent them from advancing further.
Reporter
Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.
The Tempest surface-to-air missile system is designed to engage drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft in all weather conditions. Its transfer to Ukraine was not publicly announced.
"I play every day with pain in my heart... My sister sleeps under three blankets because of the cold at home," Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostiuk said after the final match at the Brisbane tournament.
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent's Anna Belokur reports on Russia's latest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including the use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile near NATO borders.
Separately, Ukraine also hit a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system in the occupied parts of Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine's General Staff.
"All such attempts are promptly detected and thwarted," the 7th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces said on its Telegram channel.
Kyiv's energy situation remains challenging and is expected to remain so in the coming days, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Jan. 11.
Electricity was fully restored across Zaporizhzhia Oblast by the morning, the regional grid operator Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo said on Jan. 11.
Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare systems intercepted 125 out of 154 Russian drones, while another 22 drones hit 18 locations.
The UAV, which bears a resemblance to the Iranian-designed Karrar drone, utilizes the Telefly jet engine, though with a greater thrust than the Geran-3 model, according to HUR.
Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on an oil depot in Russia's Volgograd Oblast as part of efforts to reduce Moscow's offensive capabilities, Ukraine's General Staff said Jan. 10.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Jan. 10 condemned Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests and called on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran, drawing parallels between its domestic repression and its conduct on the global stage.
Russia, Iran, China and South Africa are participating in the drills, called "Will for Peace 2026," with Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia joining as observers.
Russia's takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
"We are surging investment into our preparations (...) ensuring that Britain's Armed Forces are ready to deploy, and lead, the multinational force (in) Ukraine, because a secure Ukraine means a secure U.K.," U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said.
MOSCOW, January 11. /TASS/. The European Union's potential sanctions against the United States are unlikely to be effective, Andrey Klishas, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation and Statehood in Russia's upper house of parliament, said, commenting on a Sunday Telegraph report.
"We are looking forward to the EU's first package of sanctions against the US, which is going to be as ineffective as the 101st package of restrictions on Russia," he wrote on Telegram.
The Sunday Telegraph reported earlier, citing sources, that the EU was working on sanctions against American companies over US President Donald Trump's plans to acquire Greenland.
Trump stated in March 2025 that the United States would annex Greenland, a self-ruling territory of Denmark. The American leader has repeatedly said that Greenland should become a part of the United States. He threatened to impose high trade duties on Denmark if it did not give up the island. Even during his first term, Trump offered to buy Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has rejected these ambitions, stressing that Greenland is part of Denmark.
In 1951, Washington and Copenhagen, in addition to their allied commitments to NATO, signed the Greenland Defense Treaty. Under it, the United States committed to defending the island from aggression.
DUBAI, January 11. /TASS/. Tehran will carry out strikes against Israel and US military bases in the Middle East if attacked, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliament speaker, warned.
"Both the occupied territories (Israel - TASS) and US military and naval bases will be legitimate targets for us in case of an armed attack by the United States," Iran's state broadcaster quoted him as saying.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced Washington's readiness to come to the "rescue" of Iranian protesters.
Nationwide outcry over the killing of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent spilled into the streets of cities across the US on Saturday, with protesters demanding the removal of federal immigration authorities from their communities and justice for the slain Renee Good.
In Minneapolis, snow flurries drifted down as thousands of people gathered in parks, along residential streets and outside federal buildings, chanting Good's name, whose death has become a focal point of national outrage over federal authorities' tactics in US cities while carrying out President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown.
Similar protests unfolded across the US – from Los Angeles and New York to Washington, DC, El Paso and Boston. More than 1,000 demonstrations were planned across the country this weekend by the “ICE out for good” national coalition of advocacy groups.
“The response to ICE's horrific killing of Renee Nicole Good is loud, peaceful, and inescapable,” coalition member group Indivisible said in a Saturday Facebook post accompanied by images of protests in multiple cities.
The demonstrations are in response to “the escalation of ICE violence in our communities,” the fatal ICE shooting of Good as well as “the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America,” the coalition said, noting that all gatherings are meant to be “nonviolent, lawful, and community-led” actions to honor the people who have died in ICE confrontations and demand accountability.
Now, “hundreds more” Customs and Border Patrol officers will be sent to Minneapolis, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures.
“We're sending more officers today and tomorrow, they'll arrive. There will be hundreds more in order to allow our ICE and our Border Patrol individuals that are working in Minneapolis to do so safely,” Noem said.
After Mayor Jacob Frey strongly condemned the shooting and urged ICE agents to get out of his city last week, Noem told CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday that Frey and other leaders needed to tone down their rhetoric.
In a separate interview with Tapper on Sunday, Frey doubled down on his assertion the officer who shot Good was “a federal agent recklessly using power that ended up in somebody dying.”
Frey called for a “neutral” and “unbiased” investigation into the shooting.
“And by the way, I shouldn't be the one conducting the investigation, nor should Kristi Noem, but you should have an entity that is able to do it with some common sense and operating in reality,” he said.
Saturday's protests in Minneapolis started at Powderhorn Park, a historic spot for demonstrations and a central gathering place during the 2020 protests after the killing of George Floyd, whose deadly encounter with police occurred not far from where Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot.
From there, thousands marched through nearby neighborhoods before converging on the street where Good died Wednesday morning.
As temperatures hovered near 20 degrees, demonstrators shared blankets and hot drinks, holding signs reading “ICE will melt,” and “It's not very pro-life to kill our neighbors,” as repeated chants of Good's name echoed through the park and surrounding streets.
Elsewhere in the city, loud bangs rang out and agents fired pepper balls at a much smaller crowd of protesters outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, where demonstrators have been confronting ICE agents during daily protests.
Whistles, then gunfire: How the deadly ICE shooting unfolded in Minneapolis
According to CNN's Omar Jimenez, who was on the scene, the law enforcement presence outside the facility increased significantly after several instances of cars being hit with snow and ice, or protesters trying to block vehicles from leaving the facility. Jimenez reported that rallies at the Whipple building have been more confrontational than other demonstrations around the city, as the location puts protesters directly across from the federal agents they're protesting against.
During a large protest of about 1,000 people Friday night in downtown Minneapolis, some individuals “broke off” from the crowds and began spraying graffiti and causing damage to the windows of a hotel, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a news conference Saturday. Demonstrators have converged outside hotels where they believe federal agents are staying in the Twin Cities.
More than 200 Minneapolis police officers and state troopers responded, and 29 people were detained, cited and later released, O'Hara said, noting one officer suffered minor injuries.
Mayor Jacob Frey said Saturday that most demonstrators had acted peacefully but warned that those who damaged property or endangered others would be arrested. “We cannot take the bait,” Frey said. “We will not counter chaos with chaos.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz echoed that message, urging protesters to remain peaceful while sharply criticizing federal authorities.
“Trump sent thousands of armed federal officers into our state, and it took just one day for them to kill someone,” Walz wrote on social media. “Now he wants nothing more than to see chaos distract from that horrific action. Don't give him what he wants.”
The protests also unfolded amid a growing dispute over federal transparency, after three Minnesota Democrats – Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison – said they were turned away from an attempted oversight visit to a Minneapolis immigration facility on Saturday. A recent court ruling temporarily blocked a Trump administration policy limiting congressional visits.
Large crowds of demonstrators were seen in major cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. Smaller protests took place in Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; Durham, North Carolina; and Tempe, Arizona, where protesters lined a bridge overlooking a highway.
By Saturday afternoon, demonstrators were marching through downtown Los Angeles, holding signs that read “ICE out for good,” and chanting “Trump must go now.”
As night fell, about 150 protesters gathered outside a strip of federal buildings along Alameda Street, outfitted with upside-down American flags and handmade anti-ICE posters. Much of the crowd dispersed after officers blocked off a nearby intersection, but a small group remained. Police later issued a dispersal order, citing vandalism.
“Several arrests” were made and at least one person was detained for battery on a police officer after initially fleeing the scene and later returning to the area, the LAPD said on social media. CNN reached out to police for more details.
In Washington, DC, demonstrators marched in front of the White House despite steady rain, holding signs condemning federal immigration tactics and calling for state oversight of ICE.
“I'm deeply concerned about the 10th Amendment being downtrodden by this administration and about the lives of common American citizens being endangered by a government that, in my opinion, has gone beyond its law enforcement responsibilities,” Jack McCarty, a protester who said he is originally from Minnesota, told CNN.
When asked by CNN what he believes needs to happen to ensure a death like Good's never happens again, McCarty said, “I think independent accountability and oversight over ICE activities at the state level, in addition to empowering state lawmakers and investigators to be able to hold ICE agents accountable for actions within their state is a step forward to ensuring this tragedy never happens again.”
In Austin, Texas, some protesters confronted armed officers outside a federal building. Several armed law enforcement officials wore helmets and masks and stood outside while holding batons, CNN affiliate KEYE reported.
“I'm glad we're taking to the streets,” protester David Whitfield told KEYE. “I think this is the type of action that we need. We really need people out here right now. I think the turnout could be bigger.”
CNN's Kit Maher, Lauren Mascarenhas, Emma Tucker, Danya Gainor, Kara Nelson, Tori B. Powell, Sydney Bishop, Kaanita Iyer, Camila DeChalus, Aileen Graef and Ray Sanchez contributed to this report.
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
Illustration by The Globe and Mail/iStock
Ask a Doctor is a series of physician-authored columns offering insights and advice on common health topics. It is not a substitute for seeking medical care.
As an emergency doctor and a mom of young kids, I often see how quickly a regular day can turn into a nightmare. I've spent my career treating children who were just having fun – at birthday parties, the cottage or after-school adventures – when something went sideways and they ended up in the emergency room.
We can't (and shouldn't) protect our kids from every bump or bruise, but seeing what I do for work has shaped how I think about acceptable risk. There are some things I simply don't let my kids do, not because I'm overprotective, but because I've seen what can happen when things go wrong.
Trampoline use, especially in commercial parks, is a leading cause of fractures, head and neck injuries and spinal trauma, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society and Parachute, a national charity focused on injury prevention. In many cases, it's not reckless play that causes these injuries, but simple physics: A heavier child jumping beside a lighter one can lead to the so-called 'double jump,' resulting in leg injuries, a collision with another child's head or an awkward fall putting the spinal cord at risk.
I've treated kids with broken bones, severe concussions or neck fractures after what was supposed to be a fun birthday party at a trampoline park. The risk just isn't worth it to me.
There's a role for risky play in childhood, with solid evidence that it benefits a child's physical, mental and social development. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways for a child to engage in risky play where they are the ones in control.
In my family, we focus on playgrounds, biking and climbing – situations where the ground is stable and the hazards are visible. And while my kids aren't allowed to jump at busy trampoline parks, I do let them jump solo on completely enclosed backyard trampolines, because I think the risk is significantly lower.
Ask a Doctor: I'm a family doctor who practises in rural Canada. Here are five things I've learned
Every summer, the ER fills with all-terrain vehicle and off-road dirt bike injuries. As I've written before, helmets save lives, but they can't prevent every outcome when a 300-pound machine flips over or hits a tree. The Canadian Paediatric Society advises that children under 16 shouldn't operate ATVs at all because they lack the size, strength and good judgment to handle them safely.
I've seen everything from broken bones and devastating head trauma to ruptured spleens and liver lacerations sustained in ATV or dirt bike accidents. Even with full protective gear, these crashes can be catastrophic.
When my kids want that outdoor thrill, I have them stick to biking, frontcountry skiing or camping and hiking with family. They still get to feel capable and adventurous, just not at the controls of something that can lead to serious injury or death.
Choking is one of my biggest fears as a mom and a doctor. A grape, a hot dog bite, a piece of popcorn – all of these foods are the perfect size to block a child's small airway. According to SickKids, choking is one of the most preventable injuries and leading causes of death in infants and children – often from small, round foods.
The risk isn't only what kids eat, but how. Toddlers and young children frequently move around while snacking, and it takes only a minor trip or fall for food to obstruct the airway.
The rule in our house is simple: If you're eating, you're sitting or standing still. We skip certain foods entirely (popcorn, hard candy or whole grapes) until our kids are old enough to manage them safely, which experts say is around age four.
Food for Thought: Four nutrition trends to watch in 2026
Not every risk is related to physical injuries. Some involve emotional readiness and personal boundaries. Parents may think sleepovers are low risk but I've seen how easily situations can become unsafe, whether from bullying, exposure to inappropriate content or just being in a setting where a child doesn't yet have the confidence to say no or call for help. That's why I believe sleepover invitations should be considered carefully.
For my young kids, I've opted for ‘sleepunders' instead of sleepovers. When my kids are invited for sleepovers, I let them stay until bedtime and then pick them up to sleep at home. And their friends can come for dinner, movies and even pyjamas at our house, but at bedtime, everyone goes home.
As my first child has gotten older, and we've had ongoing conversations about potential risks, listening to discomfort and knowing how to advocate for themselves, we've revisited this rule and they can now attend some sleepovers that we both feel comfortable with.
While some parents may find it awkward to approach these conversations, there are resources that can help guide you.
In my work, I see how smartphones and social media use contribute to youth mental health crises.
The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that frequent social media use is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression in adolescents. The Canadian Paediatric Society has raised concerns about the effects of screen use on sleep and emotional well-being, particularly when children have unrestricted or unsupervised access.
In our home, we use shared devices in public areas to look up information together or connect with friends and relatives. We recently reintroduced a land line so our kids can talk on the phone. The goal isn't to avoid technology, it's to delay the most high-risk aspects of it until our kids can navigate those spaces with more maturity and support.
These decisions aren't about eliminating all risk or shielding my children from the world. They're about using the vantage point I have, shaped by years in emergency medicine, to identify the situations where a small adjustment can meaningfully reduce the chance of preventable harm.
Dr. Shazma Mithani is an emergency physician working with adult and pediatric patients in Edmonton. Dr. Mithani is actively involved with the Canadian Medical Association, Alberta Medical Association and Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. She is also co-host of The Doc Talk Podcast.
Australia became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16 on Wednesday, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures as concerns grow over the impact of social media on children's health and safety.
Reuters
Report an editorial error
Report a technical issue
Editorial code of conduct
Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.
© Copyright 2026 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved.
Andrew Saunders, President and CEO
At the start of the year, Russian forces used a new Geran-5 attack drone against Ukraine for the first time, military intelligence (HUR) reported on Jan. 11.
The unmanned vehicle, which resembles the Iranian-designed Karrar drone, utilizes the Telefly jet engine, though with a greater thrust than the Geran-3 model, according to HUR.
Attack drones play a key role in Russia's aerial campaign against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, which escalated in recent weeks as Moscow seeks to knock out the country's energy grid.
The new drone is approximately 6 meters (20 feet) long with a wingspan of 5.5 meters (18 feet). Unlike other Geran models — which are based on the Iranian Shahed drones — the Geran-5 is built in a conventional aerodynamic configuration.
Other features resemble those of earlier models in the series, including the 12-channel satellite navigation system Cometa, and a tracker based on the Raspberry Pi microcomputer and 3G/4G modems, HUR said.
The drone can carry a 90-kilogram warhead and has a claimed range of almost 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), meaning it could potentially reach any point in Ukraine.
According to Ukraine's intelligence, Russia is considering fitting attack aircraft like Su-25 with Geran-5s to increase their range. Equipping the drones with R-73 air-to-air missiles to counter Ukrainian aircraft is also being considered, HUR said.
As Russia seeks to modernize its drone fleet, Ukraine is also developing new tactics to counter Russian aerial strikes.
Apart from using Western-supplied air defenses, Ukraine has ramped up production of interceptor drones, designed to counter Russian Shaheds.
Just over the past week, Russian forces launched close to 1,100 strike drones against Ukraine, as well as 890 guided aerial bombs and 50 missiles, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 11.
Reporter
Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.
The Tempest surface-to-air missile system is designed to engage drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft in all weather conditions. Its transfer to Ukraine was not publicly announced.
"I play every day with pain in my heart... My sister sleeps under three blankets because of the cold at home," Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostiuk said after the final match at the Brisbane tournament.
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent's Anna Belokur reports on Russia's latest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including the use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile near NATO borders.
Separately, Ukraine also hit a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system in the occupied parts of Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine's General Staff.
"All such attempts are promptly detected and thwarted," the 7th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces said on its Telegram channel.
Kyiv's energy situation remains challenging and is expected to remain so in the coming days, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Jan. 11.
Electricity was fully restored across Zaporizhzhia Oblast by the morning, the regional grid operator Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo said on Jan. 11.
Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare systems intercepted 125 out of 154 Russian drones, while another 22 drones hit 18 locations.
The UAV, which bears a resemblance to the Iranian-designed Karrar drone, utilizes the Telefly jet engine, though with a greater thrust than the Geran-3 model, according to HUR.
Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on an oil depot in Russia's Volgograd Oblast as part of efforts to reduce Moscow's offensive capabilities, Ukraine's General Staff said Jan. 10.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Jan. 10 condemned Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests and called on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran, drawing parallels between its domestic repression and its conduct on the global stage.
Russia, Iran, China and South Africa are participating in the drills, called "Will for Peace 2026," with Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia joining as observers.
Russia's takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
"We are surging investment into our preparations (...) ensuring that Britain's Armed Forces are ready to deploy, and lead, the multinational force (in) Ukraine, because a secure Ukraine means a secure U.K.," U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said.
Delcy Rodriguez faces impossible task of working with White House while keeping her political allies onside
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Sitting at the head of a vast wooden table in the Miraflores Palace, Delcy Rodríguez used her first cabinet meeting as interim president to urge Venezuelans to “come together”.
The day before, US forces had seized Nicolás Maduro from his compound and bundled him into a helicopter. An image of her recently toppled predecessor loomed behind her, flanked by portraits of Hugo Chávez, the founder of the regime, and Simón Bolívar, the nation's liberator.
Now all of them are in the past. Ms Rodríguez's thoughts would have been about the present: specifically the two men sitting on either side of her.
On her right was Gen Vladimir Padrino López, the defence minister, whose support was vital to securing her succession after the fall of Mr Maduro.
Seated on her left, grim-faced, was Diosdado Cabello, the interior minister, who has his own power base in the security services and the Colectivos militias, which act as a vital cog in the machinery of state repression.
The trio, along with Mr Maduro, make up the “Four Families” who have ruled over Venezuela since the death of Chavez in 2013.
That Mafia-esque alliance is now on the verge of fracturing. Ms Rodriguez has been given a seemingly impossible task of trying to placate Donald Trump while keeping onside the rivals who could bring her down.
One analyst compares the job to walking a tightrope.
She is known as a savvy political operator, but one false step will send her into the abyss. And Venezuela will descend into chaos.
Ms Rodríguez's ascent has been decades in the making, but she could hardly have claimed the Venezuelan presidency under more perilous circumstances.
She was briefly a minister under Chávez, with whom she reportedly had a tense relationship. But her political career took off under Mr Maduro, for whom she served as minister for the economy, foreign affairs, and most recently, vice-president.
When the time came to replace Mr Maduro, the CIA concluded Ms Rodríguez was a pragmatic operator who was best placed to guarantee Venezuela's stability.
Patrick Duddy, a former US ambassador to Venezuela, said the new president had always appeared a “loyal, adamant supporter of the regime” but could be open to co-operating with the US.
“She is politically adept, otherwise she would not have survived politically for as long as she has, nor have risen as high as she has,” he told The Telegraph.
Whether or not the rumours are true that, in a moment of cold-blooded political calculus, she delivered Mr Maduro, her mentor, to the Americans, she now has to balance Mr Trump's demands with those of powerful rivals.
Recommended
The US president seemed to endorse her in the hours after Mr Maduro's toppling, declaring she would do what was necessary to “make Venezuela great again”.
There was a sting in the tail in a subsequent interview, when he threatened her with a fate worse than Mr Maduro if she refused to co-operate. Many onlookers took his comment as a threat against her life.
Mr Trump, according to Politico, has issued a series of demands that include expelling Iranian and Cuban operatives from Venezuelan soil, blocking the export of oil to US adversaries, and clamping down on drug trafficking.
Ms Rodríguez has tried to play it both ways. She condemned the “kidnapping” of her predecessor and pledged that her country would never become a “colony”, then later proposed a “balanced and respectful” economic partnership with the US.
A promise to send up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US on Wednesday seems also to have mollified Mr Trump, for now.
But Ms Rodríguez's path to co-operation with the US and staving off rivals is fraught with danger, and it is widely acknowledged that she, while notionally the leader of Venezuela, is weaker than Gen Padrino and Mr Cabello.
Joaquín Ortega, a Venezuelan teacher of political theory who has met some of the country's most powerful figures, said: “The four families were working together in the Maduro regime.
“But the real firepower lies with Cabello – national police, security services and also the Colectivos – and Padrino, [who has] the army.”
The ministers have their hands on the levers of state power because they are the “guys with the guns”, according to Ian Vásquez, the vice-president of international studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in the US.
He said: “She's in, if not, an extremely difficult position, an impossible position, because she's in a position of having to please the US government and the rest of the Chavista regime.” And Mr Cabello and Gen Padrino already have “blood on their hands”.
It is far from clear whether there is any single red line that could bring down the new president, but a perception that she is turning Venezuela into a vassal state for the US would be hugely damaging.
Roxanna Vigil, a fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, a US foreign policy think tank, believes Ms Rodríguez's days are numbered and that a power struggle will break out in the regime.
“Anything she does to appease the Trump administration will be seen as capitulation… anything she does to appease the hard-liners will potentially trigger the wrath of Trump,” she said.
Ms Rodríguez risks her allies moving against her if she bends to US demands for elections in Venezuela, which would almost certainly end the regime's grip on power.
Mr Trump said in a Fox News interview on Thursday that elections in Venezuela would “eventually” take place, but not before the rebuilding of Venezuela's oil sector, a process that is estimated to take years.
And in a country like Venezuela, where officials are greased by bribes and kickbacks to turn a blind eye on the smuggling of everything from drugs to flour, any move to dismantle that patronage system could be destabilising.
Mr Cabello, a former army captain, attended military academy alongside Chávez, and was eventually imprisoned with him when they mounted a failed coup in 1992.
When Chávez finally rose to power, so did Mr Cabello, and the 62-year-old has been at the nexus of Venezuelan power for decades, where he has earned a reputation as a brutal enforcer.
He will not want to give that up.
Mr Cabello, who has emerged as something of a celebrity, relishes his reputation as a skull-cracker. He hosts the programme Bringing Down the Hammer on state TV, in which he holds forth against political enemies while brandishing a spiked club.
Now the interior minister, he controls an unholy union of the police, security services and paramilitary forces known as the Colectivos.
A former US official based in Venezuela said it was Mr Cabello who ruled the country's streets with an iron fist since the fall of Mr Maduro. Protests have been quashed, and loyalists are going door-to-door to root out those celebrating the fall of the former leader.
The interior minister is the figure who “poses the greatest threat” to Ms Rodriguez, the official added.
Mr Ortega, who has met Mr Cabello, described him as a “gentlemanly guy, always smiling” with a TV host's comedic flair. But he has a “dark side”. The spiked club is not just for show.
While Mr Cabello usually dons a tracksuit and baseball cap, Vladimir Padrino López, Venezuela's defence minister and highest-ranked military officer, is rarely seen in public wearing anything other than full military regalia.
Some suggest he has already shown himself to be trigger-happy, having been linked in media reports to an attempted coup against Mr Maduro in 2019.
Yet in public, he has presented himself as a steadfast defender of the regime and Venezuelan sovereignty.
He regularly denounces what he calls American imperialism, claiming – as Mr Trump assembled an armada in the Caribbean last year – that the US was “one of the most genocidal empires in human history”.
As if all that was not enough, Ms Rodríguez also needs to be conscious of Cuba's presence in Venezuela.
Cuba is often seen as the junior partner in the alliance because it is poorer and smaller. But drifting into the US's orbit could have repercussions.
In exchange for Venezuelan oil, Cuba sends intelligence agents and troops – many of whom were killed in the assault on Mr Maduro's compound by US special forces on Saturday – to shore up Caracas's military and security services.
“Venezuela is still full of Cuban agents, and Cuba does not want to let Venezuela go,” said Mr Vásquez, suggesting Havana's intelligence services could launch an attempt on Ms Rodriguez's life.
However, the Venezuelan president has two factors in her favour. One is that, so far, she is ruling with the US, although this is likely to prove both a blessing and a curse.
The second is that she has a power base of her own. Jorge Rodríguez, her “Machiavellian” older brother who was Chávez's vice-president, served in Mr Maduro's government and is currently president of the national assembly, Venezuela's legislative branch of government.
He is also, according to the former US official, “hands-down one of the most evil people I've met in my entire life”.
The official said that Mr Rodriguez, a trained psychiatrist, was a “schemer and manipulator” who played “mind-games”, adding: “There's a little more lipstick on Delcy. She comes across as a bit more worldly and urbane.”
Together, they make a “ruthless” pair.
Their early lives were blighted by tragedy when their father was tortured to death by the security services for leading a plot to kidnap an American executive in the 1970s.
His death meant their widowed mother drove them to “be the best, conquer power and avenge the death of their father”, as one friend told a Spanish newspaper. According to rumour, the ransom obtained from that kidnapping paid for the Rodríguez siblings' education.
The Rodríguezes are “like two brains in one … working together as one human being,” said Mr Ortega. “They are so smart and so Machiavellian.”
The new Venezuelan president will need every ounce of that cunning to navigate the political minefield she now finds herself in, where supposed allies have pinned a target on her back.
Even then, that may not be enough. Mr Ortega quotes Chairman Mao: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Scheming and subtlety may have got her the top job, but there's no guarantee it will keep her there.
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
The Norwegian Nobel Institute has responded after Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado said she wanted to share or give her Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump.
As protests across Iran entered their 14th day on Jan. 10, President Donald Trump said the United States stands ready to help Iranians seeking freedom, while senior U.S. lawmakers and world leaders voiced growing alarm over an intensifying crackdown by Tehran's security forces.
Three members of the Minnesota congressional delegation were denied access to a Minneapolis ICE jail on Saturday.
Honest, paywall-free news is rare. Please support our boldly independent journalism with a donation of any size.
Amidst national outrage this week over the killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by a federal agent, members of Minnesota's congressional delegation on Saturday were blocked from full access to a federal immigration detention center in the city — but at least one lawmaker among them warns something much more sinister is now taking place in the state.
“I was just denied access to the ICE processing center at the Whipple Building,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who represents the state's 5th District. “Members of Congress have a legal right and constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight where people are being detained. The public deserves to know what is taking place in ICE facilities.”
Omar shared a video of herself, along with Reps. Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison, outside the facility as large numbers of masked federal agents in protective gear blocked the driveway entrance.
Happening NOW: US Reps Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig are attempting to enter Whipple Fed Building- met with federal agents on other side. @wcco pic.twitter.com/3eIWxiLaW7
In a telephone interview with MSNOW, Omar later explained that she and her colleagues arrived at the facility Saturday morning in order to conduct oversight activities. While Omar said they were initially allowed to enter the building, they were shortly after told they “had to wait until higher-ups were able to come speak with us.”
It seemed to Omar, she said, that the order to halt their visit “maybe came from Washington to deny us the proper access that we needed to complete those oversight duties that we are obligated as members of Congress.”
Calling it a clear violation of their oversight authority, Omar and Craig explained to reporters what happened after they were denied further access to the facility:
"This is beyond the pale." Democratic Congresswomen Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Annie Craig had their access to a federal detention facility revoked while touring the building. pic.twitter.com/KthvotCREX
Congresswoman Craig also spoke to MSNOW's Ali Velshi:
Rep. Angie Craig: "We were told because this facility is being funding by the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' not the congressional appropriations act, that we would not be allowed to enter the facility. That's complete nonsense … I informed them they were violating the law. They said… pic.twitter.com/vCOqgldB2Q
Noting the size and scale of the presence of armed federal agents now deployed in her state, Omar suggested in her interview with MSNOW that the recent Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) operations being conducted serve no purpose other than to harass and terrorize local communities. That militarized presence has only grown since Trump ordered more agents to the city following Wednesday's killing of Good and the protests that have erupted as a result.
“Protest is as American as apple pie,” said Omar. “People come out to register their opposition to what they do not like or want to accept. It is important for people to be able to do that in a democracy.”
“What we are seeing right now, not only from the surge of 2,000 federal agents — now we have another 1,000 apparently coming in — it is essentially trying to create this kind of environment where people feel intimidated, threatened, and terrorized. And I think the ultimate goal of [Homeland Security Security Secretary] Kristi Noem and President Trump is to agitate people enough where they are able to invoke the Insurrection Act to declare martial law.”
“There is,” she continued, “no other justifiable way to describe what is taking place in Minneapolis at this moment. There is no justifiable reason why this number of agents is here in our state.”
As Trump cracks down on political speech, independent media is increasingly necessary.
Truthout produces reporting you won't see in the mainstream: journalism from the frontlines of global conflict, interviews with grassroots movement leaders, high-quality legal analysis and more.
Our work is possible thanks to reader support. Help Truthout catalyze change and social justice — make a tax-deductible monthly or one-time donation today.
Jon Queally is senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.
Get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day.
We must reject the argument that climate protection is a burden on the economy, says energy expert Hans-Josef Fell.
Honest, paywall-free news is rare. Please support our boldly independent journalism with a donation of any size.
Since Donald Trump took office, the U.S. government has been more aggressively boosting fossil fuels to exert geopolitical dominance. President Donald Trump stated unequivocally that the military assault on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife are aimed at gaining control of the country's oil reserves. Meanwhile, oil company shares are soaring, a dividend on the investments of “Big Oil,” the major donor to Trump's election campaign. It is also no coincidence that Nigeria (which the U.S. bombed over Christmas) and Iran and Greenland, which Trump repeatedly threatens, are oil-rich regions, too.
While the U.S. is focusing on fossil fuel extraction, a dramatic transformation is taking place worldwide. In China, CO2 emissions have been stagnating or declining for over a year and a half. The expansion of global renewable energy capacity reached an unprecedented 582 gigawatts (GW) last year. USD 2.4 trillion was invested in the energy transition, a third of which went into renewables. These are historic records, even if they are not enough to achieve the goal set at COP28 in Dubai: tripling the installed capacity of renewable energy worldwide by 2030.
Against this backdrop, climate and energy expert Hans-Josef Fell sees the world at a crossroads. Opting for fossil fuels not only leads to planetary catastrophe, but it is also economically misguided, he says.
Hans-Josef Fell was a member of the German Bundestag from 1998 to 2013. As a leading climate figure of the Green Party, Fell helped to advance the energy transition in Germany. He was a drafter of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), a law that came into force in Germany 25 years ago and has been copied by more than 60 countries. EEG promotes renewable energies (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) and guarantees their preferential feed-in to the power grid as well as fixed feed-in tariffs (which provide above-market prices) in order to drive forward expansion and shape the energy transition.
Today, Fell is president of the Energy Watch Group, an international network of scientists and parliamentarians researching fossil, nuclear and renewable energy resources, and, together with climate activists such as Bill McKibben, is an advocate for 100 percent renewable energy. In this interview, Fell discusses the widespread rollback of climate policies, how to transition to a zero-emission economy, and how investment in renewable energy is driving China's economic boom.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
David Goeßmann: While greenhouse gases continue to rise to record levels globally, the U.S. is still the second-largest emitter in absolute terms, but with much higher per capita consumption and historical emissions than China. President Donald Trump has reversed the steps toward energy transition initiated under the Biden administration, attacked all environmental protection measures, and issued thousands of new oil and gas drilling permits while U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are going up again. In Europe, we see a boom of fossil gas and gas-fired power plants while overall climate policy is in decline. For instance, the German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz watered down the European Union's (EU) climate targets and undermined the EU's ban on combustion engines from 2035. The EU has also weakened the so-called Green New Deal. How do you assess climate protection in the industrialized world?
Hans-Josef Fell: There is no climate protection worthy of the name in the rich countries, nor globally. The Earth's temperature is accelerating toward three degrees Celsius by 2050, as new calculations by the German Meteorological Society and the German Physical Society show. The Energy Watch Group has also clearly described this; one only has to extrapolate the current path of exponentially rising temperatures from the last 20 years.
This alarming result is also clear, because as early as 1990, the limit of 350 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is sustainable for human civilization was exceeded. Today, the atmosphere is already overloaded with almost 430 ppm. An effective climate protection target that could enable the planet, which is already overheated by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius in 2024, to cool down can therefore only be to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (not to be confused with annual emissions!) to below 350 ppm. This can only be achieved if all emissions are stopped in about two decades and, at the same time, huge amounts of carbon are removed from the atmosphere. The anti-climate measures mentioned above and many others are irresponsibly counterproductive, as they even reward new increased emissions with tax breaks and, with tax subsidies, even promote the expansion of highly climate-damaging natural gas power plants and natural gas infrastructure. At the same time, these tax breaks for climate polluters place a further burden on the already highly indebted national budget, which could lead to crises that we remember all too well from Greece's national bankruptcy crisis in 2010.
We see in different industrialized countries that emissions are going down; even in the U.S., the trend since 2005 shows a slight decrease. The EU has a climate goal to be climate neutral by 2050 while the Biden administration at least committed to net zero emissions by mid-century, though Trump revoked that. Will policies like these be enough?
Since we need to return to 350 ppm in a few decades, climate neutrality in 2045 is far too late and far too weak. In addition to achieving a zero-emission economy, we also need a strong carbon-reducing economy, which can be achieved through reforestation, regenerative agriculture, and marine algae farming.
A zero-emission economy with 100 percent renewable energies and an emission-free circular economy is possible — all the technologies are there. All that is needed is the declared political and social will and strong investment from the financial sector and private individuals. Building an emission-free industry would also boost the economy. However, only China is currently pursuing such a strategy aggressively. In the EU and the U.S., fossil fuel interests have regained the upper hand.
You're often in China. How do you see developments there in terms of climate protection and the energy transition compared to Europe and the U.S.?
A zero-emission economy is based on an energy supply that is 100 percent renewable. If we had that globally, about 60 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions would be stopped. China alone — currently still the largest emitter of greenhouse gases — is on an industrial growth path toward this goal. Sixty-two percent of global photovoltaic growth, 71 percent of global wind energy, and about 60 percent of all batteries and electric vehicles were brought to market in China last year. In 2024, more than 90 percent of the solar cells installed worldwide and 70 percent of electric car batteries were produced in China. Investment in clean energy has been growing for years, while production capacities are being expanded. In 2023, investment increased by 40 percent compared to the previous year.
This is the key driver of China's economic boom, which has been ongoing for years. Europe, with its half-hearted renewable energy policy, and the U.S. under Trump, with its anti-energy transition agenda, are threatening to go into industrial decline. The industry of the near future will be clean, renewable, and emission-free. Those who still insist on subsidizing natural gas, fossil fuel combustion engines, fossil fuel heating systems, and fossil fuel-based industrial production will ultimately lose entire industries to China and end up in the poorhouse.
At the moment, we are seeing a backlash against the green transformation in many societies, especially in the rich industrialized countries. Do you nevertheless see positive developments in the global energy transition?
Yes, renewable energies are advancing massively worldwide. However, this is being driven primarily by China and increasingly also by BRICS countries other than Russia [the BRICS group includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa]. Those who, like the U.S. and the EU, want to protect their own dirty fossil fuel economy from Chinese dominance with tariffs on solar products or electric cars will only lose market share, as we are already seeing clearly today with the German car manufacturers VW, Daimler, and BMW, which are late to the game and still half-hearted in their commitment to e-mobility.
You say that an energy transition in most countries can be completed within 10 years. Explain how such a rapid transition could take place.
Until around 2012, we had in Germany about 30 percent annual growth in solar energy, and until 2017, similar growth in wind energy. Had these growth rates in solar expansion not been halted in 2012 in the wake of the devastating amendments to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) by Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier, and then in wind energy from 2017 onwards by Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, Germany could have achieved a full supply of 100 percent green electricity by around 2022 with the corresponding parallel expansion of storage facilities. The increases in natural gas prices as a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine would have had little impact on our economy, energy security would have been very high, the average 81 billion euros in import costs for fossil fuels would have fallen dramatically, and emissions would have been significantly lower.
Today, we must build on the success story of the EEG from 2000 with its basic principles of fixed feed-in tariffs, whereby a modern EEG should also be geared toward system integration into the electricity grid. Then, with the simultaneous expansion of electric heating, e-vehicles, and industrial production, a full supply of 100 percent green electricity can be achieved by 2030. Such a market ramp-up would also give the domestic renewable energy industry a chance and reduce dependence on China.
If a rapid transition is possible and even economically advantageous, why is it not being implemented politically? Who is continuing to put the brakes on this?
The fossil fuel and nuclear industries have a firm grip on large parts of the media, both traditional and social, and thus also on the political debate. Fake news is constantly being produced, e.g., that renewable energies are driving up electricity prices or that there is a nuclear renaissance in the world. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder recently claimed that Germany could support its economy by quickly building small nuclear power plants like those already in operation in Canada. A glance at Canada shows that there are no such small nuclear reactors there, not even under construction. There are only two in the planning stage, and their completion is still up in the air. So even a high-ranking politician can lie to the public with impunity.
In the broader debate, climate protection is often portrayed as a burden. In your opinion, what is wrong with the way the energy, transport, and agricultural transitions to protect the environment are discussed in the media?
From the outset, the fossil fuel industry has managed to defame climate protection as a burden on the economy. However, this only applies to the fossil fuel industry, which will of course have to completely cease its business activities involving oil, gas, and coal. But climate protection is a booster for the clean, emission-free economy, as China is now making abundantly clear.
But even many climate activists have adopted the fossil fuel industry's framing and talked about burden-sharing in climate protection. Spending on renewable energies is not a cost burden, but rather an investment that creates jobs and tax revenue while reducing the costs of damage to health care due to poor air quality or environmental and climate damage. Climate protection is therefore not a burden, but an improvement in prosperity for everyone, except for businesses in the fossil fuel-polluting economy.
In recent years, environmental movements and climate activists have developed various strategies to promote more climate protection in countries. At the moment, it has become difficult to put the issue on the agenda. The pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the rise of right-wing authoritarian parties have dominated the headlines. In your opinion, what strategies make sense to get governments to take climate action?
Climate activists must finally free themselves from the narratives of fossil fuel industry representatives and demonstrate that climate protection is an essential contribution to the economy, creates new jobs and industries, reduces the costs of disease and environmental damage, relieves private households of high energy costs, and ultimately slows down the galloping national debt. Furthermore, the lack of climate protection is one of the causes of the major problems that are weighing so heavily on us: increasing refugee movements, famines as a result of crop failures, wars over oil or natural gas, fossil fuels as a means of political blackmail, and much more.
Let us finally stop leaving the debate to the fossil fuel and nuclear climate destroyers, of which the oil and gas industry alone has been making around $2.8 billion in net profits every day for 50 years, ultimately leaving behind more and more poverty, suffering, disease, and a destroyed planet.
Truthout is funded almost entirely by readers — that's why we can speak truth to power and cut against the mainstream narrative. But independent journalists at Truthout face mounting political repression under Trump.
We rely on your support to survive McCarthyist censorship. Please make a tax-deductible one-time or monthly donation.
This article is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), and you are free to share and republish under the following terms:
David Goeßmann is a journalist and author based in Berlin, Germany. He has worked for several media outlets including Spiegel Online, ARD, and ZDF. His articles appeared on Truthout, Common Dreams, CounterPunch, ZNetwork, The Progressive, and Progressive International. In his books he analyzes climate policies, international affairs, global justice, and media bias.
Get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day.
The Trump administration now has zine distributors and jail support efforts in its sights.
Did you know that Truthout is a nonprofit and independently funded by readers like you? If you value what we do, please support our work with a donation.
I've been making zines since I was 14 years young. I've been distributing them since I was 16. I'm now 37 years old and pursuing a doctorate in art history studying communities of zine makers.
In recent years I've seen a notable increase in people talking about zines, making them, and attending zine fests — it's been heartening and wild to witness! I've watched what felt at times like this niche and nerdy part of my life blossom into something much more expansive.
When working with my students, or hosting community zine making workshops, I often define zines as small, independently published objects that are amateurish in the best way — they're free or cheap to get copies of, contain typed or handwritten text, and depending on what zine you find, they're filled with collage, art, poetry, political history, personal stories, recipes, health advice, quite literally everything you can think of. Zines are an embodiment of the “do it yourself” ethos.
Now, the latest targets of President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda of political repression include a diverse group of protesters, jail support volunteers, educators, and, crucially, zine distributors, and print artists. More than a dozen people face criminal charges, including riot; conspiracy to use and carry explosives; the use and carrying of explosives; attempted murder of officers and employees of the United States; discharging a firearm during, in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence; and corruptly concealing a document or record. And at the center of their charges is a box of zines and jail support group chats.
From a Typical Noise Demo to a Series of FBI Raids
On July 4, 2025, protesters had gathered at the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, to oppose immigration enforcement practices and show support for detainees, using fireworks and noise-making as their demonstration method — a traditional form of protest in solidarity with incarcerated people. When local police responded to ICE's call to remove the protesters, an officer reportedly suffered a neck injury that authorities attributed to a gunshot. Prosecutors have only identified two individuals as alleged shooters despite the broad scope of arrests. Following the demonstration, federal authorities launched an extensive investigation that resulted in charges against 16 individuals known as the Prairieland Defendants, and harassment of their extended friends, families, and neighbors.
Guidelines issued by the White House in September detail how the Trump administration will target and pursue anyone it deems to be motivated by “anti-Americanism, anti-Capitalism, and anti-Christianity” as domestic terrorists. Trump has also designated “antifa” as a domestic terrorist organization. Those of us who are anti-fascist know that “antifa” simply refers to a collective sense of being anti-fascist and believing that fascism is ultimately a real and present threat to all life. It is not a unified entity or organization. Antifa is a rallying cry, a politic, a historical reference that connects one to a legacy of fighting Nazism in Germany, and fighting other fascists in Italy, Spain, and elsewhere in the 1930s.
Zines have been criminalized before our current moment, and at times their creation and circulation was made punishable by death.
Texas resident Des Revol, in particular, is being targeted by the Trump administration under these guidelines. He did not attend the July 4 demonstration in Alvarado, Texas, but he was arrested two days afterward after he had a phone call with his wife, who was detained at the noise demonstration. FBI agents stopped him for a traffic violation in Denton, Texas, and took him into custody at gunpoint. Authorities charged him with evidence tampering constituting obstruction of justice as well as conspiracy, alleging he “transported a box that contained numerous Antifa materials” from his residence to another location. This literature — pamphlets and zines commonly found in activist spaces — became the basis for his prosecution. Despite having no connection to the original demonstration, Des faces potential federal imprisonment and additional risks from both immigration enforcement and hostile right-wing groups that have publicly identified him online.
When we spoke, Lydia Koza, the wife of Prairieland Defendant Autumn Hill, plainly stated what's happening: “At the most abstract level, I believe the Trump administration and the state of Texas know in some collective-unconscious way that authoritarian, grasping models of power are unsustainable and require ever-greater levels of escalation; and that models predicated on care and equity are both more natural and more sustainable. Solidarity and compassion therefore become threats.”
Meanwhile, Prairieland Defendant Savanna Batten has lost more than 30 pounds since her incarceration in September of 2025, according to her sister, Amber Lowrey. When we spoke about her mounting concerns, Lowrey said:
When an individual becomes a target of state repression, it harms everyone within their orbit. Everyone who was taken from the Prairieland protest has lost, at very least, their employment. Many lost their homes or vehicles, and some owe huge repair bills as a result of violent raids that left their dwellings badly damaged and exposed to the elements. At least two minor children said goodbye to their parents as they left to go to a protest five months ago, and they never came back. Pets have had to be rehomed … State repression is violent. It is extreme. It is incredibly isolating, and that is by design. This has been, by far, the most traumatic experience of my life — and I wasn't even the target.
Likewise, when the FBI began raiding the home of Autumn Hill and Lydia Koza, “I wondered if I was going to die or be taken to a rendition site,” Koza said. “At that moment, I had resigned myself to losing everything I cared about. Every ounce of ideological opposition to police violence, to state terror, to incarceration, suddenly became viscerally relevant.”
Are Zines a Threat?
I myself have copies of most, if not all, of the zines that Des Revol had in that box. Those zines were free or cheap to get, and are filled with history, free thought, anarchist political analysis, discussions of shared struggle, and hope. I have many such titles, and yes, I believe they are at once paper and ink and also incendiary devices. I reject the framing of innocence and crime being used to describe zines and those who make or share them.
“Zines could be called the atomic unit of free speech — the simplest possible, highest-impact pamphlet; the most entry-level way of disseminating ideas that can't find footing in mainstream discourse,” Koza told me.
Two other Prairieland Defendants had previously established a small, independent print shop and literature distribution to support local book clubs as well as anarchist and socialist reading groups, and had only just begun tabling at book fairs and zine fests. These artists' and writers' arrest and subsequent incarceration has shuttered this local resource, ending access to affordable and free printing and breaking up print communities — an outcome the Trump administration is all too happy to execute.
How many of us have visited a public library's zine rack, or attended a local print fair or zine fest? Under a fascist political regime, all oppositional discourse … is subject to attack.
Zines are often sources of great inspiration and personal conviction. If being against a regime that deports, kills, silences, poisons, and cages is criminal, then we must abandon the nonsensical concept of innocence. Political literature should make you feel, think, learn, and act. Zines have been criminalized before our current moment, and at times their creation and circulation was made punishable by death — in revolutionary France, in the post-revolutionary United States, and in Nazi Germany, just to name a few. Nothing about the Trump administration's tactics should surprise us; we are sure to see more zines, pamphlets, leaflets, and other print culture be labeled “domestic terrorism materials” in the future.
Even still, there is solidarity everywhere. In October, I traveled to Athens, Greece, and visited La Zone, a beautiful anarchist community space and cafe, with a tremendous selection of zines, books, artwork, and free literature. At the time of writing this, I learned that La Zone hosted a “letter-writing & solidarity evening for the imprisoned Prairieland (Texas) codefendants.” Yes, zines are folded pieces of paper, but they're also lifelines, histories, and embodiments of hope.
How many of us keep a box of zines, or leaflets, or political pamphlets around the house? Around our offices or apartment? How many of us have visited a public library's zine rack, or attended a local print fair or zine fest? Under a fascist political regime, all oppositional discourse, literature, art, and life is subject to attack. We must recommit to solidarity, and rise to the defense of those whose lives and actions become criminal by default. The Trump administration wants us to live in ignorance and fear, so we must continue making, thinking, and learning together. Zines will continue to play vital roles in our movement organizing and political education. Keep informing yourself about the calls for support and solidarity with the Prairieland defendants. Keep reading, keep making.
Truthout is funded almost entirely by readers — that's why we can speak truth to power and cut against the mainstream narrative. But independent journalists at Truthout face mounting political repression under Trump.
We rely on your support to survive McCarthyist censorship. Please make a tax-deductible one-time or monthly donation.
This article is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), and you are free to share and republish under the following terms:
Brit “Red” Schulte is a doctoral candidate in art history at the University of Texas at Austin, a community organizer, and zinester. They are a guest librarian with the Sherwood Forest Zine Library in Austin, a founding member and current organizer of Midwest Perzine Fest, and The Support Ho(s)e Collective zine distro. Their writing can be found at Truthout, The Funambulist, In These Times, Monthly Review, The Avery Review, and Kernel Magazine.
Get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day.
The federal government is embarking on what Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has called “the most important infrastructure project that we've had in this country for decades.” It is attempting to modernize and upgrade the nation's entire air traffic control system within a timeline of roughly three- and-a-half to four years.
Multiple aviation experts, ranging from former pilots and controllers to professors and an aviation lawyer, say the changes are needed and long overdue.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Activists say the death toll in the crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran spiked Sunday to at least 538 people. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency also warns the toll is likely to go up. And with the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult as AP's Jon Gambrell explains.
Protests challenging Iran's theocracy have reached the two-week mark, with demonstrators flooding the streets in Tehran and Mashhad. Activists say at least 116 people have died, and 2,600 have been detained. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for the protesters, hinting at possible military action. Iran's parliament speaker warned the U.S. and Israel could be targets if the U.S. strikes Iran.
Protests sweeping across Iran neared the two-week mark Saturday, with the country's government acknowledging the ongoing demonstrations despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world.
Ali Rahmani said the Iranian population was currently “fiercely fighting for its freedom,” a cause his mother Narges Mohammadi had been engaged in “for more than 30 years.”
Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian offered a hardening tone in an interview aired on Sunday after nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy saw protesters flood the streets in the country's capital and its second-largest city into Sunday morning, crossing the two-week mark of protests.
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media shows protesters dancing and cheering around a bonfire as they take to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media shows protesters dancing and cheering around a bonfire as they take to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has killed at least 538 people and even more are feared dead, activists said Sunday, while Tehran warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.
Another over 10,600 people have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous rounds of unrest in Iran in recent years. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said of those killed, 490 were protesters and 48 were members of security forces.
With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll.
The Iranian government has not offered overall casualty figures for the demonstrations.
Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran's security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country's capital and its second-largest city again Sunday morning.
U.S. President Donald Trump has offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by either U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has not indicated it has made any decisions. The massive ongoing U.S. military deployment to the Caribbean has created another factor that the Pentagon and Trump's national security planners must consider.
The threat to strike the U.S. military and Israel came during a parliamentary speech by Mohammad Baagher Qalibaf, the hard-liner speaker of the body who has run for the presidency in the past.
He directly threatened Israel, calling it “the occupied territory.”
“In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets,” Qalibaf said. “We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.”
Lawmakers rushed the dais in parliament, shouting: “Death to America!”
It remains unclear how serious Iran is about launching a strike, particularly after its air defenses were destroyed during the 12-day war in June with Israel. Any decision to go to war would rest with Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The U.S. military has said in the Mideast it is “postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies and U.S. interests.” Iran targeted U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in June, while the U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet is stationed in the island kingdom of Bahrain.
Israel, meanwhile, is “watching closely” the situation between the U.S. and Iran, said an Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to journalists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio overnight on topics including Iran, the official added.
“The people of Israel, the entire world, are in awe of the tremendous heroism of the citizens of Iran,” said Netanyahu, a longtime Iran hawk.
At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV mentioned Iran as a place “where ongoing tensions continue to claim many lives,” adding that “I hope and pray that dialogue and peace may be patiently nurtured in pursuit of the common good of the whole of society.”
Demonstrations were held in some international capitals in support of the protesters. A spokesperson said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “shocked” by reports of violence against protesters resulting in “scores of deaths” and called on Iranian authorities to use maximum restraint and restore communications.
Online videos sent out of Iran, likely using Starlink satellite transmitters, purportedly showed demonstrators gathering in northern Tehran's Punak neighborhood. There, it appeared authorities shut off streets, with protesters waving their lit mobile phones. Others banged metal while fireworks went off.
“The pattern of protests in the capital has largely taken the form of scattered, short-lived, and fluid gatherings, an approach shaped in response to the heavy presence of security forces and increased field pressure,” the Human Rights Activists News Agency said. “Reports were received of surveillance drones flying overhead and movements by security forces around protest locations, indicating ongoing monitoring and security control.”
In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city some 725 kilometers (450 miles) northeast of Tehran, footage purported to show protesters confronting security forces. Protests also appeared to happen in Kerman, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Tehran.
Iranian state television on Sunday morning had correspondents appear on the streets in several cities to show calm areas, with a date stamp shown on screen. Tehran and Mashhad were not included.
Government rhetoric ratcheted up. Ali Larijani, a top security official, accused some demonstrators of “killing people or burning some people, which is very similar to what ISIS does,” referring to the Islamic State group by an acronym.
State TV aired funerals of slain security force members while reporting another six had been killed in Kermanshah. In Fars province, violence killed 13 people, and seven security forces were killed in North Khorasan province, it added. It showed a pickup truck full of bodies in body bags and later a morgue.
Even Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had been trying to ease anger before the demonstrations exploded in recent days, offered a hardening tone in an interview aired Sunday.
“People have concerns, we should sit with them and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns,” Pezeshkian said. “But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society.”
The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country's economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran's theocracy.
___
Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Iran threatened to strike U.S. and Israeli military bases in the Middle East, considering them “legitimate targets” if President Donald Trump decides to strike the Islamic Republic amid nationwide protests.
“In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases, and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets,” Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Sunday. “We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.”
TRUMP WARNS OF JANUARY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OVER OBAMACARE
This isn't the first antagonistic statement Iran has made against the United States in recent days. Last week, the head of Iran's military threatened a preemptive attack over Trump's renewed rhetoric. And Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested Trump will be “overthrown” if he intervenes in Iranian affairs.
The Iranian parliament speaker's warning comes as Trump had been briefed on options for striking Iran. He hasn't made a final decision on the matter yet.
Trump has promised to use the U.S. military to come to the aid of Iranian protesters if the country's clerical regime starts killing peaceful demonstrators on a large scale.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” he wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday. “The USA stands ready to help!!!”
At least 116 people have been killed since anti-government protests broke out late last month, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The organization reports at least 2,600 arrests as protests sweep the nation.
Tehran, the capital of Iran, and Masshad, the hometown of Khamenei, are among the cities experiencing protests. More demonstrations are planned for Sunday.
GRAHAM HINTS AT US MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN REGIME ‘SOON' AS PROTESTS CONTINUE
The regime is using a mass internet blackout as a tactic to crack down on the protests. Despite losing access to communications, Iranians appear to be using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite transmitters to post what is happening inside Iran and to stay in touch with the outside world.
It remains to be seen if Iran follows through on its threats against the U.S. and Israel, but that will be entirely dependent on whether Trump authorizes military force. That outcome is now more likely after the recent military operation in Venezuela.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people, including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
This week's quiz highlights Hollywood hits, diamond discoveries and a lot more.
Can you get all 8 questions right?
Give it a try and see how you do!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
To try your hand at more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click here.
Also, to take our latest News Quiz — published every Friday — click here.
American Culture Quiz! How well do you know this week's topics? (Getty Images; iStock)
Kelly McGreal is a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
A look at the top-trending stories in food, relationships, great outdoors and more.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and
agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can
opt-out at any time.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by
Factset. Powered and implemented by
FactSet Digital Solutions.
Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by
Refinitiv Lipper.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
Anti-ICE agitators demonstrated Saturday outside a detention facility in Los Angeles, with LAPD making multiple arrests (Credit: Ken Lopez/FreedomNewsTV)
Tens of thousands of anti-ICE agitators took to the streets of major cities across the country this weekend in a raft of demonstrations largely organized by a coalition of left-wing groups.
The ICE Out for Good coalition called for a "weekend of action" starting Saturday, organizing more than 1,000 events nationwide. The coalition was largely organized by Indivisible, the same left-wing group that pushed "No Kings" protests against President Donald Trump in 2025.
Protests focus on the death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last week. She was killed in a confrontation with ICE agents after federal authorities say she attempted to run over one of the officers.
"Renee Nicole Good was a wife, a mother of three, and a member of her community. She, and the dozens of other sons, daughters, friends, siblings, parents, and community members who have been killed by ICE, should be alive today," said Indivisible co-executive director Leah Greenberg.
MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR DEMANDS STATE BE INCLUDED IN ICE-INVOLVED SHOOTING PROBE, SLAMS PAM BONDI'S DOJ
Protesters gather outside City Hall in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 10, 2026, for a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"This weekend, people across the country are coming together to grieve, honor those we've lost, and demand accountability from a system that has operated with impunity for far too long. ICE's violence is not a statistic, it has names, families, and futures attached to it, and we refuse to look away or stay silent," she added.
Protests led to scuffles with police and arrests in several states on Saturday. Austin Police detained at least three anti-ICE agitators as protests escalated there.
Footage also shows Los Angeles police facing down agitators outside an ICE detention center.
Anti-ICE agitators demonstrated Saturday outside a detention facility in Los Angeles, with LAPD making multiple arrests. (Ken Lopez/FreedomNewsTV)
PORTLAND AGITATORS CLASH WITH POLICE AFTER 2 SHOT BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENT
Members of law enforcement work the scene following a suspected shooting by an ICE agent during federal operations on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty)
Multiple arrests were made after a dispersal order was issued and agitators refused to leave the area as instructed, according to LAPD. Multiple agitators were seen on video being detained just before 7 p.m. local time.
"You must leave the area," police wrote in a statement on X.
Members of the Trump administration have reiterated that the ICE operations are targeting criminal illegal aliens. Vice President JD Vance highlighted a list of individuals arrested in Minnesota that includes convicted child rapists and murderers.
DHS announced they arrested illegal migrants in the U.S. (Bill Melugin/X and Department of Homeland Security)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"Arresting and deporting these people is absolutely critical to national security. National democrats are going to get our law enforcement killed if they don't stop lying about this issue and the people working to keep us safe," Vance wrote on X.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on X: @Hagstrom_Anders.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and
agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can
opt-out at any time.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by
Factset. Powered and implemented by
FactSet Digital Solutions.
Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by
Refinitiv Lipper.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
Anti-ICE agitators demonstrated Saturday outside a detention facility in Los Angeles, with LAPD making multiple arrests (Credit: Ken Lopez/FreedomNewsTV)
Tens of thousands of anti-ICE agitators took to the streets of major cities across the country this weekend in a raft of demonstrations largely organized by a coalition of left-wing groups.
The ICE Out for Good coalition called for a "weekend of action" starting Saturday, organizing more than 1,000 events nationwide. The coalition was largely organized by Indivisible, the same left-wing group that pushed "No Kings" protests against President Donald Trump in 2025.
Protests focus on the death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last week. She was killed in a confrontation with ICE agents after federal authorities say she attempted to run over one of the officers.
"Renee Nicole Good was a wife, a mother of three, and a member of her community. She, and the dozens of other sons, daughters, friends, siblings, parents, and community members who have been killed by ICE, should be alive today," said Indivisible co-executive director Leah Greenberg.
MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR DEMANDS STATE BE INCLUDED IN ICE-INVOLVED SHOOTING PROBE, SLAMS PAM BONDI'S DOJ
Protesters gather outside City Hall in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 10, 2026, for a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"This weekend, people across the country are coming together to grieve, honor those we've lost, and demand accountability from a system that has operated with impunity for far too long. ICE's violence is not a statistic, it has names, families, and futures attached to it, and we refuse to look away or stay silent," she added.
Protests led to scuffles with police and arrests in several states on Saturday. Austin Police detained at least three anti-ICE agitators as protests escalated there.
Footage also shows Los Angeles police facing down agitators outside an ICE detention center.
Anti-ICE agitators demonstrated Saturday outside a detention facility in Los Angeles, with LAPD making multiple arrests. (Ken Lopez/FreedomNewsTV)
PORTLAND AGITATORS CLASH WITH POLICE AFTER 2 SHOT BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENT
Members of law enforcement work the scene following a suspected shooting by an ICE agent during federal operations on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty)
Multiple arrests were made after a dispersal order was issued and agitators refused to leave the area as instructed, according to LAPD. Multiple agitators were seen on video being detained just before 7 p.m. local time.
"You must leave the area," police wrote in a statement on X.
Members of the Trump administration have reiterated that the ICE operations are targeting criminal illegal aliens. Vice President JD Vance highlighted a list of individuals arrested in Minnesota that includes convicted child rapists and murderers.
DHS announced they arrested illegal migrants in the U.S. (Bill Melugin/X and Department of Homeland Security)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"Arresting and deporting these people is absolutely critical to national security. National democrats are going to get our law enforcement killed if they don't stop lying about this issue and the people working to keep us safe," Vance wrote on X.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on X: @Hagstrom_Anders.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and
agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can
opt-out at any time.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by
Factset. Powered and implemented by
FactSet Digital Solutions.
Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by
Refinitiv Lipper.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Becky Pepper-Jackson knows that the upcoming sports season could be her last. West Virginia has banned transgender girls like the discus-throwing sophomore from competing in girls and women's sports. The Supreme Court hears arguments in the case this week.
Protestors hold signs during a rally at the state capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, file)
The Supreme Court stands is Washington, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Becky Pepper-Jackson finished third in the discus throw in West Virginia last year though she was in just her first year of high school. Now a 15-year-old sophomore, Pepper-Jackson is aware that her upcoming season could be her last.
West Virginia has banned transgender girls like Pepper-Jackson from competing in girls and women's sports, and is among the more than two dozen states with similar laws. Though the West Virginia law has been blocked by lower courts, the outcome could be different at the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, which has allowed multiple restrictions on transgender people to be enforced in the past year.
The justices are hearing arguments Tuesday in two cases over whether the sports bans violate the Constitution or the landmark federal law known as Title IX that prohibits sex discrimination in education. The second case comes from Idaho, where college student Lindsay Hecox challenged that state's law.
Decisions are expected by early summer.
President Donald Trump's Republican administration has targeted transgender Americans from the first day of his second term, including ousting transgender people from the military and declaring that gender is immutable and determined at birth.
Pepper-Jackson has become the face of the nationwide battle over the participation of transgender girls in athletics that has played out at both the state and federal levels as Republicans have leveraged the issue as a fight for athletic fairness for women and girls.
“I think it's something that needs to be done,” Pepper-Jackson said in an interview with The Associated Press that was conducted over Zoom. “It's something I'm here to do because ... this is important to me. I know it's important to other people. So, like, I'm here for it.”
She sat alongside her mother, Heather Jackson, on a sofa in their home just outside Bridgeport, a rural West Virginia community about 40 miles southwest of Morgantown, to talk about a legal fight that began when she was a middle schooler who finished near the back of the pack in cross-country races.
Pepper-Jackson has grown into a competitive discus and shot put thrower. In addition to the bronze medal in the discus, she finished eighth among shot putters.
She attributes her success to hard work, practicing at school and in her backyard, and lifting weights. Pepper-Jackson has been taking puberty-blocking medication and has publicly identified as a girl since she was in the third grade, though the Supreme Court's decision in June upholding state bans on gender-affirming medical treatment for minors has forced her to go out of state for care.
Her very improvement as an athlete has been cited as a reason she should not be allowed to compete against girls.
“There are immutable physical and biological characteristic differences between men and women that make men bigger, stronger, and faster than women. And if we allow biological males to play sports against biological females, those differences will erode the ability and the places for women in these sports which we have fought so hard for over the last 50 years,” West Virginia's attorney general, JB McCuskey, said in an AP interview. McCuskey said he is not aware of any other transgender athlete in the state who has competed or is trying to compete in girls or women's sports.
Despite the small numbers of transgender athletes, the issue has taken on outsize importance. The NCAA and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees banned transgender women from women's sports after Trump signed an executive order aimed at barring their participation.
The public generally is supportive of the limits. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in October 2025 found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults “strongly” or “somewhat” favored requiring transgender children and teenagers to only compete on sports teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with, while about 2 in 10 were “strongly” or “somewhat” opposed and about one-quarter did not have an opinion.
About 2.1 million adults, or 0.8%, and 724,000 people age 13 to 17, or 3.3%, identify as transgender in the U.S., according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.
Those allied with the administration on the issue paint it in broader terms than just sports, pointing to state laws, Trump administration policies and court rulings against transgender people.
“I think there are cultural, political, legal headwinds all supporting this notion that it's just a lie that a man can be a woman,” said John Bursch, a lawyer with the conservative Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom that has led the legal campaign against transgender people. “And if we want a society that respects women and girls, then we need to come to terms with that truth. And the sooner that we do that, the better it will be for women everywhere, whether that be in high school sports teams, high school locker rooms and showers, abused women's shelters, women's prisons.”
But Heather Jackson offered different terms to describe the effort to keep her daughter off West Virginia's playing fields.
“Hatred. It's nothing but hatred,” she said. “This community is the community du jour. We have a long history of isolating marginalized parts of the community.”
Pepper-Jackson has seen some of the uglier side of the debate on display, including when a competitor wore a T-shirt at the championship meet that said, “Men Don't Belong in Women's Sports.”
“I wish these people would educate themselves. Just so they would know that I'm just there to have a good time. That's it. But it just, it hurts sometimes, like, it gets to me sometimes, but I try to brush it off,” she said.
One schoolmate, identified as A.C. in court papers, said Pepper-Jackson has herself used graphic language in sexually bullying her teammates.
Asked whether she said any of what is alleged, Pepper-Jackson said, “I did not. And the school ruled that there was no evidence to prove that it was true.”
The legal fight will turn on whether the Constitution's equal protection clause or the Title IX anti-discrimination law protects transgender people.
The court ruled in 2020 that workplace discrimination against transgender people is sex discrimination, but refused to extend the logic of that decision to the case over health care for transgender minors.
The court has been deluged by dueling legal briefs from Republican- and Democratic-led states, members of Congress, athletes, doctors, scientists and scholars.
The outcome also could influence separate legal efforts seeking to bar transgender athletes in states that have continued to allow them to compete.
If Pepper-Jackson is forced to stop competing, she said she will still be able to lift weights and continue playing trumpet in the school concert and jazz bands.
“It will hurt a lot, and I know it will, but that's what I'll have to do,” she said.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Becky Pepper-Jackson, the high school sophomore at the center of the Supreme Court appeal on transgender sports, flashes a grin when asked to describe the basic technique of the shot put, one of her favorite track and field events.
“It's just throwing something that's heavy,” the 15-year-old West Virginian said. “Far.”
That description could also apply to her blockbuster legal case.
While Pepper-Jackson sounds like any teen navigating school assignments, friends and a demanding practice schedule, the transgender girl has also been carrying the weight of a national cultural and political battle that will reach a crescendo Tuesday when the Supreme Court debates two appeals dealing with state bans on trans girls playing on women's teams.
And Pepper-Jackson understands that — in the hands of a 6-3 conservative court that has been increasingly skeptical of transgender rights — her effort is a long shot.
“Someone has to do this because this is just a terrible thing,” Pepper-Jackson told CNN in an interview with her family and attorneys. “I know that I can handle it and it's never crossed my mind to stop, because I know I'm doing it for everybody.”
The Supreme Court over the past year has repeatedly ruled against LGBTQ Americans. In May, it allowed the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender service members in the military. In June, the court let stand state laws that bar transgender care for minors. Nearly five months later, a majority of justices let the administration require US passports to include a traveler's sex at birth, rather than a person's gender identity.
Now, in one of the most divisive issues on the court's docket this year, the justices will decide if state laws banning transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment or the landmark 1972 anti-sex discrimination law known as Title IX.
The appeals have arrived at a moment of enormous political backlash against transgender people. Roughly two-thirds of Americans believe that athletes should play on teams that match their sex at birth and more than half of US states have enacted laws similar to the one in West Virginia.
Supporters of those bans say that the promise of Title IX, and the vast expansion of participation in women's sports in the decades since, is threatened by transgender athletes. Cisgender women, they say, would be forced to compete against “bigger, faster, and stronger” athletes who were born as males and would ultimately lose.
“To say that allowing only biological females to compete in girls' sports violates Title IX fails the commonsense test,” West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, a Republican, told CNN. “What we're talking about here is the need to have fair and safe playing fields for them to compete.”
Critics say that assumes an influx of transgender students trying out for girls' sports teams. Court documents suggest that, in fact, West Virginia has identified only Pepper-Jackson.
McCuskey said that shouldn't matter.
“It may be that we have one defendant,” he said, “but there's a nationwide issue here.”
Pepper-Jackson says she's been a girl for as long as she can remember.
She began transitioning socially in the third grade and, by the end of the sixth grade, she was taking hormone therapy. Given those treatments, her attorneys stress, she has “never experienced the effects of testosterone on her body” and doesn't have the inherent biological advantages states like West Virginia are attempting to regulate with their laws.
Nor does Pepper-Jackson come across as a teen driven to win her weekend track meets at any cost. She jokes that she found her way to shot put and discus only because she “sucked at running.” She says she hasn't thought much about competing in college. She said she likes to play sports because of her friends and the “life skills that you won't learn anywhere else.”
She is proud of her personal record in discus, 120 feet. But she says she achieved it because of hard work, not her sex at birth.
For Pepper-Jackson, feelings of accomplishment are often followed by self-doubt. What if, she wonders, a long throw becomes ammunition for those who believe she doesn't belong?
Heather Jackson, Becky's mother, recalled watching her daughter's face shift from pride to fear when she toppled a previous personal best a few years ago.
“She knew that's what they were going to focus on,” Jackson said of her daughter's critics. “No kid should feel guilty for doing their best.”
But others say they are uncomfortable competing against transgender girls whom they believe have an inherent advantage.
Lilyana Williams, a former team captain of her high school track team in Pennsylvania, helped to organize a policy at her school prohibiting transgender students from competing on teams that match their gender identity.
Williams, who recently graduated from nursing school, said she worked with the religious Pennsylvania Family Institute to implement that policy after a transgender student briefly competed on her team. She said that arrangement didn't just hurt the team's top athletes but also many others who were “just wanting to finish in a specific spot.”
“None of it was coming from a perspective of hate,” Williams told CNN, “but rather the idea that women deserve equality, both on the field and off the field, and we deserve a right to fairness.”
Transgender sports bans have spread like wildfire across the US in just a few years. The popularity of the laws on the right was so strong that three statehouses overrode vetoes from Republican governors to codify them.
The legal backlash has also been swift. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, part of the team representing Pepper-Jackson, challenged several of the bans and secured early court victories that – at least temporarily – prevented full enforcement of some of them.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in two of those cases – one from Pepper-Jackson challenging West Virginia's law. The other comes from a student at Boise State University, Lindsay Hecox, who is challenging Idaho's law.
The decision, expected by the end of June, will almost certainly decide the fate of other laws across the country.
The Idaho law, enacted in March 2020, was blocked later that year when a judge appointed by President Donald Trump ruled it was likely unconstitutional.
In that ruling, US District Judge David Nye pointed to a “dearth of evidence in the record to show excluding transgender women from women's sports supports sex equality, provides opportunities for women, or increases access to college scholarships.” The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that decision in 2024, leading to Idaho's appeal to the Supreme Court.
In Pepper-Jackson's case, a federal district court sided with West Virginia. But the Richmond-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2024 that the state's ban violated Pepper-Jackson's rights under Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at schools that receive federal aid.
The Supreme Court in 2023 allowed Pepper-Jackson, then a middle-school student, to temporarily continue competing in cross-country and track while her litigation played out. Two conservative justices – Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito – dissented from that decision.
LGBTQ advocates frame the issue as a manufactured new front on the right and have taken aim at groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom, the religious public interest law firm that has brought many successful challenges to the Supreme Court. ADF is part of the legal team in both the West Virginia and Idaho cases.
Takeaways from the Supreme Court's historic decision on transgender care
“People believe this stuff that ADF tells them because they don't know a trans kid who's playing sports, and so they don't have a frame of reference for how completely egregiously untrue these claims are,” said Cathryn Oakley, the senior director of legal policy for the Human Rights Campaign.
Matt Sharp, a senior counsel at ADF, insisted that “it very much was an issue” before the avalanche of laws banning trans athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identity. He pointed to a long-running case in Connecticut, where several cisgender athletes were challenging a permissive state sports policy.
“These lawmakers were saying, ‘We want to prevent this from ever happening in our state,'” Sharp said. “And that's what led to 27 states ultimately looking at this and coming up with a solution to preserve the fairness that Title IX had originally given young women.”
Title IX bars schools that receive federal funding from treating students differently based on their sex. Pepper-Jackson and her attorneys say that is exactly what categorical bans on transgender student athletes do.
“When Becky is prevented from being on teams with other girls just like her, she is subjected to discrimination that effectively excludes her from participating in the school's educational programs,” said Joshua Block, a senior counsel with the ACLU who will argue the case before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
McCuskey counters that the law treats biological males the same as biological females.
Lurking behind that debate is a landmark Supreme Court decision from 2020, Bostock v. Clayton County, that concluded that a federal law that bars discrimination in the workplace “on the basis of sex” also protects gay and transgender employees.
Writing for the court, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch stressed that the opinion applied only in the workplace. But given that the two anti-discrimination laws are worded similarly, the court – if it sides with the states – will have to explain why the logic of Bostock doesn't apply in other contexts, like sports.
Samuel Alito keeps getting his way. So why does he seem so unhappy?
And that is likely to be a central debate in the arguments Tuesday.
So, too, is the question of whether transgender people are entitled to the same anti-discrimination protections that race and sex have under the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court dodged that question in last year's decision on transgender care bans, US v. Skrmetti, though several conservative justices indicated in separate opinions that they believe the answer to that question is “no.”
Pepper-Jackson and her family are aware of those challenges. But, they said, they believe they're engaged in a longer game.
“Getting this far and bringing light to this case and showing that this is an issue,” Pepper-Jackson said, “is a win.”
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
In four short videos on an electronic device found with his body, the suspect in last month's fatal shootings at Brown University and of an MIT professor laid out a patchwork of details about the attacks.
Woven among his confessions to the crimes and winding related thoughts, several nuggets match facts that emerged as authorities were identifying Claudio Neves Valente, 48, as wanted in the killings of students Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, and Professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro.
As the videos' transcripts – translated from Portuguese and released this week by the US Attorney's Office in Massachusetts – raise fresh questions, they also intersect with key known elements of the case. Here's how some of the suspect's own words flesh out – or further blur – the crimes that rocked Greater Boston and a manhunt that captured national attention.
Okay, (sighs) as you can see, my eye is kind of f**ked up. It's a shell round, bounced there. I don't know if there are any kind of implications on the success of what I wanted to do or not …
As he'll more clearly explain, Neves Valente was hurt during one of the shootings. His eye injury was not shared publicly, if known at all, by law enforcement between the Brown attack on December 13 and the discovery five days later of the suspect dead by suicide at a storage facility.
Uhm (pause) It's done. It was, it was six months, man. Not six months, six semesters. Uh … I had already planned this for a little more. It seems that I'm starting to see a bit better out of my eye, but very little or almost nothing. The time for the final conclusions has arrived. The time for the final conclusions has arrived. Uhm, it was all a little incompetent but at least something was done. The only objective was to (pause) leave more or less on my own terms, and – and it's – it's already long overdue.
The suspect seems to reveal how long he planned at least one of the attacks. But even as he speaks of “final conclusions” and his “only objective,” he offers no motive for the shootings at this or at any point in the videos; it's a critical element of the case still under scrutiny by federal investigators.
And at least leave (pause) that I wasn't – wouldn't be the one who ended up suffering the most from all of this. No, that cannot happen. So, if you don't like it, tough luck. Tough luck. There was also a lot of sh*t that I did not like, and I had to put up with it. So, what has been done now … I'm in a storage space in Salem, (New Hampshire), I've had this here for three years, I think.
Neves Valente doesn't go into what exactly he “had to put up with” before pivoting to his location: the storage space he says he rented far longer than the few weeks investigators had thought.
Brown University shooting suspect planned attack for a long time, offering no motive in video confession, officials say
After killing his former academic colleague Loureiro on December 15 in Brookline, Massachusetts – about 50 miles away from the Brown attack in Providence, Rhode Island – the suspect immediately drove about 40 miles and swiped into the storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, according to Rhode Island's attorney general. It appears he never swiped out.
I still have money. I would have money for a few more good years, if it was in Portugal or a cheaper place it would still be a long time, but I don't care. I've been here … I've been here without caring for a very long time now.
From Entroncamento in central Portugal, Neves Valente was a “very bright” but reclusive young man who was estranged from his family and whose mother once told a neighbor her son “needs help, but he doesn't want to get it,” said his former neighbors in Lisbon, where he and Loureiro both were students between 1995 and 2000 at a prestigious engineering school.
Neves Valente began studying at Brown in 2000 on an F-1 visa – a nonimmigrant visa for full-time international students – US Attorney Leah Foley of Massachusetts has said. He likely took physics classes in the Barus & Holley building where the December shooting unfolded.
To say that I was extraordinarily satisfied, no, but I also don't regret what I did. Honestly, my only regret is this thing in the eye (laughs). But it was really hard, man. I really have far – far too much inertia. But since I was almost confronted by a guy there that day … not almost, I actually was confronted and he knew my … my … my license plate … .
Right before the gunfire at Brown, the suspect stopped in a bathroom at the Barus & Holley building, where a man – later identified as John, per a police affidavit – noticed his clothes seemed inadequate for the cold weather. John earlier had seen nearby a “grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental,” the document states, and he soon saw the suspect leave the building and appear to unlock the Nissan with a key fob.
John stayed outside as the man suddenly turned from the vehicle and walked in a different direction, then circled back before changing directions whenever he saw John, the witness told investigators. At one point, John confronted the man, asking him why he kept circling the block, the affidavit says. The man responded: “Why are you harassing me?” it says. John then walked down the street as the man walked toward the car, the affidavit says.
Authorities also mapped the suspect's winding path right before and after the attack around the Barus & Holley building based on footage from neighbors' cameras and released the details during the manhunt.
… I honestly never thought it would take them so long to find me.
Stumbles and hurdles in the search for the Brown gunman, then the MIT professor's killer, meant the manhunt dragged on for days. From the dearth of surveillance cameras in the Brown building where the shooting erupted to authorities' early identification of the wrong man, plus behind-the-scenes friction between local law enforcement and the FBI, to the crush of tips investigators had to sift through, five days elapsed between the first shot and the discovery of the suspect's body.
But look, I did one more, basically, since I'm not sure; it was done at a relatively short distance and (pause) quickly, and I don't know exactly when I was hit in the eye, so I don't know exactly … I hope that at least the first one hit. I don't know. I don't care. It's all over.
The suspect “grumbled about a self-inflicted injury he suffered when he shot the MIT professor at close range,” the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts said in releasing the transcripts.
I am not going to apologize, because during my lifetime no one sincerely apologized to me. Uhm, the few times there was an appearance that it had happened, I later had access, uhm, to the people privately, the conversations we had privately showed it was all fake. Uhm (pause) so they are not going to get anything from me. I did not like any one of you. I saw all of this sh*t from the beginning. I began to grow suspicious since I barely had conscious memories, at the age of three. At the age of five, I was already sure … So go f**k yourselves, to hell with you.
Throughout the videos, the suspect “showed no remorse,” federal prosecutors said. “(O)n the contrary, he exposed his true nature when he blamed innocent, unarmed children for their deaths at his hand.” The suspect did not give any further details about prior apologies he'd gotten or his suspicions as a young child.
Three e-mails should go out today, tonight, people will receive them, basically. I'm not saying anything else.
The US Attorney's Office in Massachusetts has stated it would provide further updates as new information becomes available and victims are properly notified. A spokesperson declined to comment Thursday on the existence or contents of the emails.
And the thing is with this eye situation, I even thought about doing it with glasses on, and then at the last moment I thought: no, because the glasses fog up, this is at close range, (unintelligible). I was stupid. If I had done it, it wouldn't have … But I also have no interest whatsoever in staying here. That's it. (unintelligible). I also have no interest in being famous. I don't give a damn about how you judge me or what you think of me. The overwhelming majority of things that are going to be said, I can already imagine.
Many mass shooters have shown a fascination with or been fixated on other mass shooters and their lives out of a need to feel understood, to have role models and to be part of a community, according to experts in the psychology of school shooters. Neves Valente seems to nod to the culture that fawns over mass attackers while insisting he wants no part of it.
In fact, I was already reading, uhm, I particularly like Trump's sh*t, to have – have called me an animal, which is true. I am an animal and he is also, but uhm, I have no love – I have no hatred towards America, I also have no hatred at all. This was an issue of … of opportunity. I would really like to thank you for the only opportunity that you gave me here, which was this one … .
“Hopefully, they're going to capture this animal,” President Donald Trump told reporters December 15 from the Oval Office, adding it's “always difficult” to manage an investigation of this kind. Trump also deflected questions about why the manhunt was taking so long, saying the feds “came in after the fact.”
Neighbors in Lisbon recall Brown University attack suspect as quiet, reclusive student
“This was a school problem. They had their own guards, they had their own police, they had their own everything,” he said. “But you'd have to ask that question, really to the school, not the FBI.”
Even though the stupid car is outside, and obviously there is a record of my entry, and there are cameras and sh*t, but it will probably be a few good hours, so, the longer I stay here, the better. Let's see if I've got the balls to do this to myself now, because it was hard as hell to do it to all of these people, man. It was hard as hell … It's 10:00 PM, and that's it.
Before arriving late December 15 to the storage facility, the suspect's rental car was seen several times around Brown between December 1, when he got it in Boston, and December 12, including by John. Between the university shooting and the professor's killing, Neves Valente swapped its license plates to an unregistered Maine plate. Still, the suspect parked his car outdoors at the storage facility, where he knew there'd be proof he swiped in.
Meanwhile, authorities plugged a description of the Nissan into a system run by Flock Safety that can read license plates and identify other vehicle details, then match sightings of the same car, including with different tags. The technology helped locate the suspect, Providence's police chief said.
Neves Valente also appears to portend his own manner of death.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255. You can also reach a crisis counselor by messaging the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
(Unintelligible) When I say that I have no – no hatred toward America, I also have no love for it – you can barely see this – I have no love. Actually, I think that coming here, both times I did, was a f**king mistake. But to say that you all are extraordinarily bad, that would be … nei – nei – neither bad nor good. It's the same sh*t. You are monkeys like the other ones. But I wanted to leave this … I was reading the recording I made … no, not reading but watching it. I said I had no hatred, but I also have no love. It's the same thing with Portugal, and most of the places where I have been. It says nothing. Wherever a guy goes (pause) that's how it is. Let's see how this is going to wor – work now. If I really have the courage to do this.
In the shortest of the four videos, the suspect focuses on his regrets amid his intercontinental life. His first stint at Brown was brief, “attending for only three semesters as a graduate student until taking a leave in 2001 and formally withdrawing effective July 31, 2003,” the school's president wrote after his death.
The suspect reentered the US in 2017 via the diversity visa program, where a specified number of applicants from designated countries are admitted through a lottery system, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He got permanent legal US residency, known as a green card, and, at some point later, a Florida driver's license.
Meanwhile, Neves Valente had not spoken with his parents in years, a former neighbor told CNN. At one point, his mother confided to the neighbor her fear he would sell his Lisbon apartment and disappear, which the neighbor says eventually happened.
In these two instances, I needed a catalyst – for both of them. But for the first one, it was the fact that I was confronted, and in the second, I also had one, you could say, a little bit. So …
It is not clear whether or how Neves Valente and Loureiro may have interacted during their time in the same Portuguese physics program and if they were in touch afterward. Loureiro graduated in 2000 with his physics degree and stayed on as a researcher before becoming a professor in 2016 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Loureiro, 47, was found wounded in the foyer of his condo building in Brookline, Massachusetts, a neighbor told the Boston Globe, and later died at a hospital. “There was security footage that captured (Neves Valente) within a half mile of the professor's residence in Brookline, and there is video footage of him entering an apartment building in the location of the professor's apartment,” said Foley, the US attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
Loureiro is believed to have been targeted, a law enforcement official said.
I already know that you are going to say that I am mentally ill, or some sh*t like that. That is all nonsense. That's all bullsh*t excuses. You are (pause) Uh … those are all excuses for you to f**k whoever you don't care about. I am – I am sane, … and (pause) I've always been, more or less. No – no – no, no – no one is perfect, but (sigh) (pause) In my … In my take on all of this (pause) is that (pause) I think the world cannot be redeemed. To sum it all up, that is it.
Suspects in some high-profile attacks have been described as having mental health problems, but that doesn't mean their mental health issues are to blame for the killings, experts have said. Indeed, people with mental illness are much more likely to be victims, rather than perpetrators, of violence, studies show. Mental illness is a strong causal factor in suicides, studies show.
I do not even know if I'm going to leave this here. But even if I delete it, it is on an SD card, it's going to be a little hard. I want to know if you are going to post this, maybe I would prefer that you don't, and (pause) I don't care at all about being famous, having a legacy, and sh*t like that, manifestos and f**king stuff. I have absolutely no patience for that. Even though I would have a lot to say and write, I don't care. I'm not going to give you the right to that.
Federal officials released the transcripts Tuesday.
The feds are investigating Brown University's safety after this month's shooting. Here's what's at issue –– and at stake
Just one more scene. It seems like someone over there said that I was saying that I was … Allah Akbar (phonetic) or some sh*t like that. I do not remember having said anything. If I did say something, it must have been some kind of an – an exclamation, uhm, because I thought that one …
“Allahu Akbar,” meaning “God is greater,” is used by Muslims in moments of celebration and gratitude. The phrase also sometimes is used as a battle cry and has been employed by those with a nefarious agenda to instill fear of anyone who utters it and to raise concerns about Islam itself, according to Muslim scholars and civil rights advocates.
I – I never wanted to do it in an auditorium. I wanted to do it in a regular room. And I had plenty of opportunities, especially this semester, I had plenty of opportunities, but I always chickened out, and I already explained why I did it this time. So, it all went wrong. I think that outside is what turned out best, but when I entered the auditorium, basically I only saw one guy down there, if I even saw him initially. And I thought, fuc – it was, and I must have made an exclamation like, “Oh no!” or something like that, to express that it was empty, that is, if I said something like that.
It was about 4 p.m. when a 21-year-old teaching assistant was wrapping a review session with a reported 60 or so students in the Barus & Holley building's room 166, one of its largest classrooms. Joseph Oduro heard shots in the hall before the gunman entered his room through a door at the back, locked eyes with the economics teaching assistant, yelled something incomprehensible, then “just started shooting,” Oduro said.
I thought that the people had left. Because they were kind of stupid. There is – there is an emergency exit (laughs) on the lower right side. They ah … all of those people that were hiding, under the … the table, or whatever the hell, they could have perfectly left through there. I thought that they had – that that was what happened when I was outside, which I assume is where it turned out best, but maybe not, actually, because when I left, I didn't see anyone there anymore. Ah … I assume … I thought they had all left through there. But then I realized that no. That they were all actually hiding under the – the – the chairs and the … it was hard to see, but that's it. Uhm, now that should be everything.
Some students escaped through other doors. Oduro and about 20 students ducked and huddled behind a 10-foot-long desk at the front of the auditorium, and he called 911, then waited what “felt like an eternity” for the gunfire to stop, he said. He didn't lift his head until campus public safety officers arrived and told them it was safe to leave.
Two students were dead. One who hid with the TA was shot in her legs, Oduro said. Eight others were wounded.
CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz, Andy Rose, Eric Levenson, Duarte Mendonca and Jen Christensen contributed to this story.
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Thousands of widows in western Kenya face losing their land after their husbands die. In certain ethnic groups, widows are pressured to marry their late husband's brother or have sex with another man to “cleanse” them of the stigma of widowhood. Women who refuse can be disinherited. Kenya's constitution guarantees all citizens the right to own land. But often women are unaware. But the local assembly in one Kenyan county has unanimously passed a Widows Protection Bill that would criminalize the forced disinheritance. (AP video by Jackson Njehia)
Anne Bonareri, a widow, looks out the window of her home in Kisii, Kenya, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Widow Marie Owino, 87 years old, a former teacher sits inside her home in Siaya, Kenya, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Aerial view of the home of widow Marie Owino, 87, a former teacher, in Siaya, Kenya, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jackson Njehia)
Widows Rebecca Anyango, 70 years old, right, and Marie Owino, 87 years old, a former teacher, left, walk outside Marie's compound home in Siaya, Kenya, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Widow Marie Owino, 87 years old, a former teacher, holds a portrait of her late husband at her home in Siaya, Kenya, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
SIAYA, Kenya (AP) — Rebecca Anyango stood outside the house she has called home for 26 years, wondering how long it will remain hers.
As a widow, she's been threatened with eviction for years by her late husband's family, who claim she has no inheritance rights. This year they filed a lawsuit, and the 70-year-old Anyango has no legal representation.
She pointed out where her husband is buried, a few steps from the door.
“Where do I take the grave?” she asked softly.
Anyango is among thousands of widows in western Kenya who face losing everything after their husbands die. They are often in rural areas and with little education, unaware of their rights.
In the Luo, Luhya, and Kisii ethnic groups, widowhood can come with certain cultural expectations that can be considered illegal. One is “sexual cleansing,” in which a widow is made to have sex with another man, often a brother of her late husband, in the belief that the “dark cloud” of widowhood will lift.
Another is “wife inheritance,” in which a widow is taken in as a wife by her late husband's brother.
Those who refuse, like Anyango and others who spoke with The Associated Press, are often isolated and stripped of their land, a violation of Kenya's constitutional guarantee of the right to land ownership for all citizens.
“If the woman is not aware of what protects her, then she will be disinherited,” said Simiyu Waddimba, who teaches anthropology at the University of Nairobi and authored a paper on wife inheritance.
But in November, the local assembly in Siaya County, where Anyango lives, unanimously passed a Widows Protection Bill. If signed by the governor, it will criminalize forced disinheritance or forced remarriage.
The legislation was championed by county legislator Scholastica Madowo, herself a widow and one of four elected women in the 42-member local assembly. She said the “atrocities that the women go through” inspired her to act.
“Those cultural practices are actually a violation of their rights unless the woman does it willingly,” she said.
While Madowo wasn't forcibly disinherited or remarried, she faced opponents' insinuations about her widowhood during her campaign for office, including allegations that she had killed her husband.
Her bill would establish welfare committees to help widows access legal aid to challenge disinheritance.
In neighboring Kisii County, Anne Bonareri was stripped of her home and her commercial property, which had been in her late husband's name.
Within hours of her husband's death in 1997, her in-laws also took his possessions, including photos and clothes. Bonareri was left with three young children and another on the way.
“They took everything, and I was left with one photo of the father,” the 60-year-old recalled, her voice catching.
The day after the burial, she said, her husband's elder brother came to claim her as a wife. When she refused, armed men were sent to attack her.
Bonareri said she later worked three jobs to buy a small piece of land and build a new house.
Her daughter, Emma Mong'ute, founded the Amandla MEK Foundation in 2019 to help women in such circumstances by offering legal advice and connecting them to pro bono lawyers. She said they have had some success in helping women retain land.
Banned like her mother from their land, and unable to visit her father's grave there, Mong'ute said the disinheritance of widows creates a cycle of poverty for hundreds of thousands of children in Kenya. She said her organization would consider pushing for a bill like the one in Siaya County.
Some widows elsewhere in Africa face similar pressures. In southern Africa, there is tension between general and customary law, which dominates inheritance cases.
“While the general law protects the inheritance rights of surviving spouses and children, customary practices still allow different ethnic groups to administer estates according to their traditions, often to the detriment of widows,” said Misheck Dube, a former associate professor at the University of Limpopo in South Africa who has researched widowhood.
Most widows are disinherited because they don't understand Kenya's land succession laws, which recognize widows and children as the true inheritors, said Easter Okech with the Kenya Female Advisory Organization in Kisumu County.
She now offers legal training for women so they can represent themselves, and some are doing so in ongoing cases. She also encourages people to write wills — many people in rural areas don't make one — and have a neutral executor.
Some widows in western Kenya have fought back on their own.
Marie Owino, a 87-year-old former teacher, said she knew her rights under the law. She said her confidence and financial independence meant her in-laws “didn't dare” to disinherit her after her husband died 33 years ago.
She still lives in the brick house she and her husband shared on their 100 acres, its manicured gardens a symbol of the boundaries she laid down long ago.
“Once you have established yourself that you can, then I'm telling you all those people will give you respect,” she said.
___
Associated Press journalist Farai Mutsaka contributed from Harare, Zimbabwe.
___
For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse
The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
As a child, Marco Rubio sat at his grandfather's feet cigar-smoke curling on the front porch as stories spilled out — tales of Cuban heroes like José Martí and the guerilla soldiers who fought Spanish rule, and of life under the communist regime his family left behind. Even then, Rubio imagined himself as part of Cuba's unfinished struggle.
“I boasted I would someday lead an army of exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro and become president of a free Cuba,” Rubio recalled in his 2012 memoir, “An American Son.”
A half-century later, that childhood bravado appears strikingly prophetic. Rubio, now President Donald Trump's secretary of state and national security adviser, played a central role in shaping the US military's stunning capture of a different Latin American leader, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime close ally of Cuba. In the aftermath, Trump asserted Rubio would help “run” Venezuela through the resulting upheaval.
The outcome did not unfold exactly as Rubio, 54, imagined it as a boy, but it bore the imprint of the politics that defined his upbringing. The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio came of age in Miami immersed in the city's exile community, rising politically within a culture where memories of the island and a deep fear of socialism remained powerful forces.
Now, as Rubio emerges as the public face of a brazen new era of American foreign policy — one that has rattled allies, undercut Congress' war powers and thrust the Western Hemisphere into uncertainty — longtime friends and allies say they see the product of those formative forces.
“Marco has brought to the White House not just the knowledge and the history but how people feel when they have to flee everything they have,” Tomas Regalado, a trailblazing Cuban American broadcaster and former Miami mayor, told CNN. “He is what every Cuban mother wants their sons to be – loving Miami, thanking the United States but never forgetting Cuba.”
With that belief in Rubio comes the hope, if not, the expectation, that he could soon oversee the fall of the regime in Cuba as well.
“Make no mistake,” said former Hialeah, Florida, Mayor Steve Bovo, a close friend, “a free Caracas should lead to a free Havana.”
Miami's Cuban immigrants have long commanded outsized influence in American politics, a byproduct of their prominence in Florida, a coveted battleground state until recently. Episodes that roiled the community — from the mass immigration of Cubans to Florida in 1980 known as the Mariel boatlift, to Fidel Castro's Air Force shooting down two civilian aircraft in 1996, to the 1999 custody battle over Elián González, to President Barack Obama's groundbreaking 2016 visit to Havana — have repeatedly threatened to reshape electoral politics.
In shops and restaurants throughout Little Havana, pictures memorialize decades of ambitious politicians sipping cafecito and donning guayaberas during pilgrimages to the vibrant Cuban neighborhood. When they come, regardless of their party, it's expected they share their visions for a post-communist Cuba.
Exile politics are inescapable in South Florida, no matter the office on the ballot, said former Rep. Carlos Curbelo, a Miami Republican.
“People want to know first that you're one of them, and then they want to hear what you're doing about everything else,” he said. “You could not be a Castro sympathizer and expect to get any votes, even if you're running for property appraiser. That's why this is so baked into Rubio's DNA.”
“When you think of Cuban American Gen Xers, our entire lives have been eclipsed by the struggle for freedom, justice and democracy in countries like Cuba and Venezuela,” Curbelo went on. “We grew up in direct contact with the people who suffered through these tragic events. But we're very fully American. It's a very potent combination.”
Rubio absorbed this reality through his maternal grandfather — “my mentor and my closest boyhood friend,” he wrote. His grandfather detested President John F. Kennedy for the Bay of Pigs debacle and revered President Ronald Reagan for his hardline anti-communism. He believed, Rubio wrote, that without a strong America “the world would succumb to darkness, and a strong country required a strong leader.”
Those sentiments, widely shared among Cuban exiles, have given Republicans an edge in Florida, and they became “defining influences on me politically,” Rubio said.
In his 20s, Rubio immersed himself in these politics. He interned in the offices of Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Díaz-Balart, Cuban stalwarts on Capitol Hill. In 1996, at age 25, he served as the South Florida coordinator for Bob Dole's presidential campaign.
Two years later, fresh out of law school and newly married, Rubio challenged an incumbent for a seat on the West Miami commission. Armed with fluent Spanish and boyish good looks, Rubio canvassed neighborhoods where conversations about local concerns reliably turned toward Cuba's past and future.
During that campaign, Rubio later wrote, he discovered who he was.
“I was an heir to two generations of unfulfilled dreams,” Rubio wrote. “I was the end of their story.”
That story, however, has shifted over the years.
Rubio has often described himself as the Miami-born “son of exiles,” a distinction that implies his parents arrived in the US after Fidel Castro seized power in 1959. He has suggested as much repeatedly, including in his official US Senate biography.
But in 2011, multiple news outlets uncovered official records showing that his parents first arrived in the United States more than two years before the Castro-led revolution, among other inconsistencies in the family timeline.
Rubio acknowledged the errors, attributing them to his family's “oral history,” but he maintained that his parents identified as exiles because they would have returned to Cuba were it not for Castro's rule.
“They were from Cuba. They wanted to live in Cuba again,” Rubio told the Washington Post at the time. “They tried to live in Cuba again, and the reality of what it was made that impossible.”
Rubio won his race for West Miami commissioner in November 1998. One month later, Venezuela elected a new president: the left-wing populist Hugo Chávez.
Chávez's rise alarmed Cuban exiles in Miami, many of whom insist to this day they warned Venezuelans that the political forces that overtook Cuba could take hold there as well.
“Venezuelans said, ‘That can't happen to us, we have oil, we're not Cuba, we're not an island,'” said Alina Garcia, the Supervisor of Elections of Miami-Dade County. “But it did.”
From 2000 to 2010, as Rubio rose through the Florida legislature to become the state's first Cuban American Speaker of the House, roughly 70,000 people fled Chávez's rule and resettled in the US. Many arrived in South Florida, joining Cuban exiles in demanding a hardline approach against socialism in Latin America.
“There has never been any separation in solidarity in the call for freedom for Cuba and the call for freedom in Venezuela and Nicaragua as well,” said Ana Carbonell, a veteran GOP adviser on Hispanic engagement. “And that's something very special about South Florida.”
Garcia, who served as Rubio's first legislative aide, said these new arrivals did not initially dominate conversations in Tallahassee. Coverage of Rubio's time there rarely mentions the country, nor is Venezuela addressed in his first book.
“He was always inquisitive about the history of Latin America and would ask often about my father who was a Bay of Pigs veteran,” said Bovo, whose wife Viviana is a longtime Rubio aide. “But there wasn't always a forum for it until he got to the Senate. That's when he showed his chops.”
Floridians elected Rubio to the Senate in 2010, and he grew increasingly outspoken on Venezuela. In 2014, he cosponsored sanction legislation and delivered a blistering Senate-floor critique of Chávez's successor, Nicolás Maduro, amid violent crackdowns on protesters.
“They look more and more like Cuba economically and politically every single day,” Rubio said in his speech.
Rubio ran for the GOP nomination for president in 2016 arguing Trump wasn't fit for the world stage. But after falling short — capped by a stinging second-place finish in Florida, where he failed to consolidate the Cuban vote — Rubio returned to the Senate with renewed focus on South America.
He often stood out as a singular voice urging the US to confront socialist regimes in its backyard. At times, he posted hourly updates about Venezuela's humanitarian crisis on social media. He visited the country's border to push for Maduro to allow US aid to reach his citizens.
His advocacy made him a recognizable figure across Latin America and Trump's point person on the Western Hemisphere. Standing alongside Rubio in Peru at the 2018 Summit of the Americas, Curbelo was taken aback by the crowds that formed around them. Everyone wanted to hear from Rubio.
“Losing is very healthy for most people,” Curbelo said. “When he lost the 2016 nomination, he went from being a great politician to being a great statesman.”
A campaign by Rubio to oust Maduro, though, stalled during Trump's first term. Although the administration — at Rubio's urging — joined allies in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's rightful president, the international push fizzled and Maduro maintained power. When Trump lost reelection, Rubio's influence waned.
Meanwhile, Venezuela's collapse accelerated migration out of the country. Nearly 8 million people have fled the country since 2014, according to the United Nations. More than 750,000 landed in the US, and nearly half of them in Rubio's home state.
While in office, President Joe Biden granted the vast majority of Venezuelan refugees temporary protected status allowing them to remain in the US, a move Rubio vocally backed. Trump ended those protections last year and his administration made clear this week they still face deportation following Maduro's ouster.
“Secretary Noem ended Temporary Protected Status for more than 500,000 Venezuelans,” the department said in a post on X, “and now they can go home to a country that they love.”
The Department of State did not respond to CNN's request for comment for this story, including the question of whether Rubio believed it was safe for Venezuelans living in the US to return to their country.
Rubio is not a patient man by nature. As a child, he would complain during family visits to IHOP when his food failed to arrive quickly.
“I struggle with impatience to this day,” Rubio wrote in his book, “and when I exhibit the weakness at a restaurant or in some other public place, my wife will remind me that I am behaving like that six-year-old at IHOP.”
Yet, on Venezuela, Rubio has played a long game. He outlasted other Latin America hawks who were cast out of Trump's orbit when he left office in 2021. Rubio endorsed Trump during the GOP primary for president in 2024 and maintained close ties with his inner circle, including campaign manager and fellow Floridian Susie Wiles. The gambit paid off when Trump won, named Wiles chief of staff and tapped Rubio to lead the State Department.
Rubio found new allies in his push for regime change in Venezuela, including senior White House adviser Stephen Miller, CNN recently reported. He also recalibrated his message.
“He recognized the winning argument was no longer about nation building and toppling a dictator and bringing Democracy but going after drug traffickers and stopping Russia and China influence,” a Republican operative close to Rubio told CNN. “It didn't change his goals, but it reframed his argument.”
In South Florida, many Cubans have grown emboldened by Maduro's removal and Rubio's influence on the sudden sea change in American foreign policy.
“If you speak to any Cuban, they'll tell you Cuba will be soon and it'll be next,” Garcia said.
Trump has not discouraged the speculation, telling reporters Cuba may soon “fall on its own.” Rubio has been less circumspect about the fate of his ancestral home.
“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government,” Rubio said on Sunday, “I'd be concerned.”
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
Nearly eight months after Brendan Banfield's wife and a stranger were killed in the Banfields' Virginia home in February 2023, police returned to the scene of the killings.
They entered the home and went to the bedroom where Christine Banfield was fatally stabbed. There, on the bedside table, investigators found a framed photo of Brendan smiling with another woman – the family's au pair, according to court records.
Brendan Banfield now faces a double-murder trial, with jury selection scheduled Monday, as prosecutors allege he plotted with the au pair to kill his wife and another man. Prosecutors say that man had been lured to the home to frame him for Christine's death – and to make his own killing appear to be an act of self-defense.
Banfield – a former IRS agent, according to CNN affiliate WUSA – has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and a firearm offense in the fatal stabbing of his wife and the fatal shooting of Joseph Ryan.
Prosecutors say Brendan Banfield and the family's Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, were having an extra-marital affair and carried out the plan together. The salacious plot features allegations of BDSM sexual role play, trips to the gun range and false 911 calls, all in an attempt to kill Banfield's wife and frame Ryan, according to prosecutors.
Peres Magalhães was initially charged with murder and has since pleaded guilty to a lesser count of involuntary manslaughter for fatally shooting Ryan.
She has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for a recommendation that she be sentenced to time served, according to the plea agreement. She is likely to be the star witness in Banfield's murder trial.
The trial is expected to last about four weeks.
Banfield has been held without bond since his arrest, according to police. He faces up to life in prison on the murder charges.
The case began with calls to 911 from within the Banfields' Herndon, Virginia, home on February 24, 2023. In one call, Banfield told dispatchers he'd shot a man who stabbed his wife, according to police. There was no forced entry at the home.
In an upstairs bedroom, police found Christine Banfield, 37, with stab wounds and Ryan, 39, dead of gunshot wounds nearby. She was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead, according to Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis.
Peres Magalhães, 25, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and a firearm offense in October 2023 and has been in custody since her arrest.
When police searched the home, they found a framed photo of Banfield and Peres Magalhães smiling together on his bedside table.
A year later, in October 2024, court records show Peres Magalhães pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. At a plea hearing, prosecutors read aloud a statement laying out the key allegations in the case.
As they alleged, Peres Magalhães began working as an au pair for the couple in late 2021, and in August 2022 she and Brendan Banfield began an extra-marital relationship.
“In the fall of 2022, Brendan Banfield expressed to Peres Magalhães his desire to be rid of his wife and soon thereafter began planning to kill his wife as well as, ultimately, Joseph Ryan, the victim in this case,” prosecutors said.
Banfield set up an account on Fetlife.com, a sexual fetish site, began communicating with Ryan and lured him to the Banfield home, prosecutors said. Ryan “likely believed” he was meeting Christine Banfield for a consensual sexual encounter involving “violent sexual role play” with a knife, prosecutors said.
Banfield directed Peres Magalhães to talk with Ryan in a phone call to confirm details, according to prosecutors. She expressed hesitation with the plan at various points, prosecutors said, but “he insisted it was too late for her to back out.”
Banfield taught the au pair how to fire a gun at a local gun range in the fall and winter of 2022, prosecutors said.
The fall of the prominent Murdaugh family: A timeline of deaths, embezzlement and an insurance scam
As part of their plan, when Ryan came to the home, Peres Magalhães called Banfield to report that a strange man was at the house, and Banfield was waiting at a nearby McDonald's so he could return to the home quickly, prosecutors said.
He and Peres Magalhães put his child in the basement and then went upstairs to the Banfields' bedroom, with Brendan Banfield holding his service weapon and the au pair holding a firearm he had purchased a month earlier, according to prosecutors.
“The two entered the bedroom and Joseph Ryan was holding Christine Banfield down,” prosecutors said. “Brendan Banfield called out, ‘Police officer,' and then shot Joseph Ryan in the head, and Ryan fell away from Christine Banfield.”
Peres Magalhães called 911 but ended the call at Banfield's direction, prosecutors said.
Banfield stabbed his wife, according to prosecutors. Peres Magalhães saw Ryan still moving and shot him, prosecutors said.
The au pair then called 911 again and they reported the killings as if Ryan was an intruder who had stabbed Banfield's wife, according to prosecutors.
Banfield was indicted on murder charges in September 2024. The indictment alleges he “willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation” killed his wife and Ryan.
“I knew, I suspected, I had a feeling that there was a lot more to what met the eye that morning,” Chief Davis said. “And certainly it has taken a road, 570 days later, where we are finally in a position to announce that two persons are being charged and held responsible and introduced to our criminal justice system for these two murders.”
Weeks later, Peres Magalhães pleaded guilty to the lesser charge for shooting and killing Ryan, according to prosecutors.
“Today's agreement marks a significant step forward in this case, and it is an important development in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families,” Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano said of the au pair's guilty plea.
In addition, Banfield was indicted on a count of felony child abuse and neglect and felony child cruelty related to the killings in December 2024. His daughter, who was 4 at the time, was present at the scene, according to prosecutors.
© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.
Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
‘Fox News Live' anchor Aishah Hasnie discusses Iran's widespread protests amid economic volatility and previews her new show during ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran, according to a report.
The two leaders spoke by phone Saturday as Israel is on "high alert," preparing for the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Iran, according to Reuters, citing multiple Israeli sources.
The report comes as nationwide anti-regime demonstrations across Iran hit the two-week mark.
On Saturday, the Iranian regime triggered an internet "kill switch" in an apparent effort to conceal alleged abuses by security forces and as protests against it surged nationwide, according to a cybersecurity expert. The blackout reduced internet access to a fraction of normal levels.
KEANE WARNS IRANIAN REGIME TO TAKE TRUMP 'DEAD SERIOUS' ON PROTEST KILLING THREAT AMID ONGOING DEMONSTRATIONS
Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds his end-of-year press conference at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2025. (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters)
On Sunday, Iran's parliament speaker warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if America strikes the Islamic Republic.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issued the threat as lawmakers rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting, "Death to America!" according to The Associated Press.
President Donald Trump offered support for the protesters on Saturday, writing on Truth Social that "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"
IRANIAN MILITARY LEADER THREATENS PREEMPTIVE ATTACK AFTER TRUMP COMMENTS
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
At a news conference Friday, Trump said Iran was facing mounting pressure as unrest spreads across the country.
"Iran's in big trouble," he said. "It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago. We're watching the situation very carefully."
The president said the U.S. would respond forcefully if the regime resorts to mass violence.
"We'll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn't mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts," he said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Protests in Iran intensify for the 12th day. (The National Council of Resistance of Iran)
Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department and White House for comment.
Fox News Digital's Emma Bussey, Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Michael Sinkewicz is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to michael.sinkewicz@fox.com
Fox News' Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world."
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and
agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can
opt-out at any time.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by
Factset. Powered and implemented by
FactSet Digital Solutions.
Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by
Refinitiv Lipper.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Ilia Malinin competes during the men's free skate competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Madison Chock and Evan Bates skate during the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his parents after competing during the men's free skate competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik skate during the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik react to their scores after the free dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — World champions and Olympic favorites Ilia Malinin and the ice dance team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates turned the final night of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday into less of a competition and more of a coronation.
Malinin easily won his fourth straight title despite a dialed-back free skate that included just three quads — still more than anyone in the field, but far fewer than the seven it could include. And the duo of Chock and Bates won their record seventh championship with a flamenco-style free dance set to a version of “Paint It Black” from the dystopian sci-fi Western show “Westworld.”
They will be the anchors for a powerful American team headed to the Milan Cortina Games in less than a month.
“I decided not to go for any risks. I wanted to play it safe, because hopefully in a few weeks I have to go again,” Malinin said.
Malinin finished with 324.88 points to continue an unbeaten streak stretching more than two years. Andrew Torgashev was a distant second with 267.62 points, while Maxim Naumov finished third by less than a tenth of a point over Jacob Sanchez.
In doing so, Naumov may have fulfilled a dream he held along with his late parents.
Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were among those killed when an American Airlines flight collided with a helicopter and crashed into the icy Potomac River in January 2025. One of the last conversations the couple had with their son was about what it would take for the 24-year-old Naumov to earn one of three men's spots on the upcoming Olympic team.
“I gritted my teeth on everything. I fought on everything. If I had to crawl, I would crawl to the end,” Naumov said, “but I made it.”
Chock and Bates, the three-time reigning world champions, wound up with 228.87 points following the free dance. Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik were second with 213.65 while Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko were third with 206.95.
Those three are expected to fill out the American dance team for the Olympics when official selections are announced Sunday.
“The feeling that we got from the audience today was unlike anything I've ever felt before,” said Chock, who along with Bates helped the Americans win team gold at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, but finished a disappointing fourth in the ice dance.
“Our performance was definitely the best we've skated the free dance all year,” Bates said, “and it shows the plan is working, and we like to build momentum through the season. It's a great feeling going into a big event knowing you skated well the previous event.”
Chock and Bates will be heavy favorites to win gold next month in Italy.
Just like their 21-year-old teammate from Fairfax, Virginia.
Malinin was somewhat controversially left off the American team for Beijing, when U.S. Figure Skating officials chose the more experienced Jason Brown over him. Rather than sulk, the self-styled “Quad God” with the unique, avant-garde style turned the four years since then into an unstoppable march through just about every competition he has entered.
This season, he won the the lower-level Lombardia Trophy, the Grand Prix de France, Skate America and his third consecutive Grand Prix Final, the most prestigious event outside of the Olympics and the world championships.
Skating to a musical medley featuring his own voice-over, Malinin opened with a quad flip, then landed a triple axel, before hitting a triple lutz rather than a quad lutz. Malinin added a quad lutz and a quad salchow-triple axel combination later in the program, almost as if to remind folks that even when he's playing it safe, he can still land the big jumps whenever he wants.
Skating to “In This Shirt” by The Irrepressibles, Naumov landed an opening quad salchow but tripled his other planned quad. He was otherwise solid on his jumps, other than spinning out on his last combination jump, and earned his own standing ovation.
It was an emotional week for Naumov, who brought to the kiss-and-cry area an old photo of him with his parents.
The 24-year-old Torgashev, who is half Ukrainian and still has family in the war-torn country, landed both of his quads during a clean free skate, one of them in combination with a double axel. He also one-handed cartwheeled across the ice, and he punched the air at the finish, once he was done spinning like a top in the middle of the ice.
It was an emphatic statement by Torgashev for his inclusion on the Olympic team.
___
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Actor TK Carter arrives for the premiere of “The LA Riot” at the Tribeca Film Festival, Monday, April 25, 2005, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
DUARTE, Calif. (AP) — Veteran actor T.K. Carter, who appeared in the horror film “The Thing” and “Punky Brewster” on television, has died at the age of 69.
Carter was declared dead Friday evening after deputies responded to a call regarding an unresponsive male in Duarte, California, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Police did not disclose a cause of death or other details, but said no foul play was suspected.
Thomas Kent “T.K.” Carter was born Dec. 18, 1956, in New York City and was raised in Southern California.
He began his career in stand-up comedy and with acting roles. Carter had been acting for years before a breakthrough role as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic, “The Thing.” He also had a recurring role in the 1980s sitcom “Punky Brewster.”
Other big-screen roles include “Runaway Train” in 1985, “Ski Patrol” in 1990 and “Space Jam” in 1996.
“T.K. Carter was a consummate professional and a genuine soul whose talent transcended genres,” his publicist, Tony Freeman, said in a statement. “He brought laughter, truth, and humanity to every role he touched. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike.”
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday said the federal government will surge more law enforcement to Minneapolis after a U.S. citizen was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Wednesday.
"We're sending more officers today and tomorrow; they'll arrive, there'll be hundreds more, in order to allow our ICE and our Border Patrol individuals that are working in Minneapolis to do so safely," Noem said in an appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."
The latest surge comes after Renee Nicole Good, the U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Wednesday. Noem has said, without providing evidence, that Good was engaged in an act of domestic terrorism when she was shot.
"If you look at what the definition of domestic terrorism is, it completely fits the situation on the ground," Noem claimed in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union." "This officer was hit by her vehicle, she weaponized it, and he defended his life and those colleagues around him and the public."
Good, 37, was shot by an ICE agent positioned in front of her car on Wednesday while driving her SUV forward after agents attempted to remove her from her vehicle. The ICE agent has been identified as Jonathan Ross, two sources familiar with the investigation told MS Now.
Videos of the incident surfaced on Wednesday, prompting protests and nationwide scrutiny of the Trump administration's tactics as it carries out its mass deportation agenda.
The administration and Noem have defended Ross, arguing that Good attempted to run him over with her vehicle, and have pledged to surge additional officers into Minneapolis. The administration had already moved more federal officers to the region amid reports of widespread social services fraud.
Pressed by CNN host Jake Tapper over why she was comfortable labeling Good a domestic terrorist before an investigation into the shooting can play out, Noem said, without proof, "Everything that I've said has been proven to be factual and the truth."
Democrats have threatened to impeach Noem over the killing, while noting that an investigation into the incident is underway. On Thursday, state officials with Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension claimed that the FBI is impeding the state-level investigation.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in a Sunday interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," demanded an impartial investigation of the incident.
"Let's have the investigation in the hands of someone that isn't biased," he said. "Let's not have it exclusively run through the FBI at the federal government or the Department of Justice."
"When you've got a federal administration that is so quick to jump on a narrative as opposed to the truth, I think we all need to be speaking out," Frey added.
Frey also bristled at Noem's characterization of Good's actions.
"They were trying to leave the scene; that is not a person that's trying to run an ICE agent over," Frey said.
Noem on CNN blamed Frey and other Democrats, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for the killing, arguing their rhetoric has prompted people to attempt to obstruct ICE. Frey called for ICE to "Get the f--- out of Minneapolis," in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
"They've extremely politicized and inappropriately talked about the situation on the ground in their city, they've inflamed the public," Noem said on CNN Sunday. "They've encouraged the kind of destruction and violence that we've seen in Minneapolis the last several days."
Frey, asked on NBC to respond to Noem, said, "I'm sorry I offended their delicate ears."
"I dropped an F-bomb, and they killed somebody. I think the 'killing somebody' is the inflammatory element here, not the F-bomb," Frey said.
On NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, White House Border Czar Tom Homan argued that everyone should "let the investigation play out."
"I don't know what [the] secretary has that I don't," Homan said, though he said he believes what Good did was illegal.
This story is developing. Please refresh for updates.
Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.
Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox
Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data
and Analysis.
Data also provided by
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said no more Venezuelan oil or money will go to Cuba and suggested the Communist-run island should strike a deal with Washington, ramping up pressure on the longtime U.S. nemesis.
Venezuela is Cuba's biggest oil supplier, but no cargoes have departed from Venezuelan ports to the Caribbean country since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January amid a strict U.S. oil blockade on the OPEC country, shipping data shows.
Meanwhile, Caracas and Washington are progressing on a $2 billion deal to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the U.S., with proceeds to be deposited in U.S. Treasury-supervised accounts, a major test of the emerging relationship between Trump and interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
"THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.
"Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela," Trump added.
Trump did not elaborate on his suggested deal. U.S. officials have hardened their rhetoric against Cuba in recent weeks.
Trump is scheduled to be briefed by senior officials in his administration on Tuesday on specific options to respond to the protests in Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing U.S. officials.
The meeting will be a discussion about possible next steps, including military strikes, deploying secretive cyber weapons against Iranian military and civilian sites, placing more sanctions on Iran's government, and boosting anti-government sources online, the Journal reported.
The White House said it had no comment on the report.
Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to intervene in recent days, posted on social media on Saturday: "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!
Reuters could not immediately verify the Journal report.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in a post on X on Sunday that Cuba had the right to import fuel from any suppliers willing to export it. He also denied that Cuba had received financial or other "material" compensation in return for security services provided to any country.
Thirty-two members of Cuba's armed forces and intelligence services were killed during the U.S. raid on Venezuela. Cuba said those killed were responsible for "security and defense" but did not provide details on the arrangement between the two long-time allies.
Cuba relies on imported crude and fuel, mainly provided by Venezuela, and Mexico in smaller volumes, purchased on the open market to keep its power generators and vehicles running.
As its operational refining capacity dwindled in recent years, Venezuela's supply of crude and fuel to Cuba has fallen. But the South American country is still the largest provider with some 26,500 barrels per day exported last year, according to ship tracking data and internal documents of state-run PDVSA, which covered roughly 50% of Cuba's oil deficit.
Mexico has emerged in recent weeks as a critical alternative oil supplier to the island, but the supply remains small, according to the shipping data.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum last week said her country had not increased supply volumes, but given recent political events in Venezuela, Mexico had turned into an "important supplier" of crude to Cuba.
U.S. intelligence has painted a grim picture of Cuba's economic and political situation, but its assessments offer no clear support for Trump's prediction that the island is "ready to fall," Reuters reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the confidential assessments.
The CIA's view is that key sectors of the Cuban economy, such as agriculture and tourism, are severely strained by frequent blackouts, trade sanctions and other problems. The potential loss of oil imports and other support from Venezuela, for decades a key ally, could make governing more difficult for President Miguel Diaz Canel.
Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.
Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox
Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data
and Analysis.
Data also provided by
In this article
Walmart and Google said Sunday that shoppers will soon be able to use Google's artificial intelligence assistant Gemini to more easily discover and buy products from the retail giant and its warehouse club, Sam's Club.
Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner and Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the companies have teamed up on stage at the National Retail Federation's Big Show, an annual industry conference held at New York City's Javits Center.
The CEOs did not say when the new feature will launch or share financial terms. The company said the experience will start first in the U.S. and then expand internationally.
With the Google deal, Walmart is boosting its effort to keep up with customers who are using AI chatbots to save time or look for inspiration. Walmart announced a deal with a rival to Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT, in October to allow shoppers to make purchases with "Instant Checkout," a feature that allows them to buy an item without leaving the AI chatbot. OpenAI recently launched that feature with Walmart and it has Instant Checkout deals with other retailers, including Etsy and several Shopify merchants like Skims, Vuori and Spanx.
Walmart also has its own AI chatbot, a yellow smiley-faced assistant on its app called Sparky.
"The transition from traditional web or app search to agent-led commerce represents the next great evolution in retail," Furner said in a news release. "We aren't just watching the shift, we are driving it."
In his remarks on stage, Furner, who will step into Walmart's top role on Feb. 1, said Walmart is "rewriting the retail playbook" and, with AI, it's "trying to close the gap between I want it and I have it."
Pichai said that Google is excited to work with Walmart and described the adoption of AI as a "transformative" moment.
For Walmart, the evolution of customers' shopping habits — such as searches that start in an AI chatbot rather than its own app or website — is reshaping the retailer's digital strategy. In a statement, David Guggina, Walmart U.S.'s chief ecommerce officer, said agentic AI "helps us meet customers earlier in their shopping journey and in more places."
"Over time, these agents will make it easier for customers to find what they need, want and love," he said.
Walmart leaders have also been vocal about how AI will change the workforce and employees' roles, comments that carry additional weight as the company is the largest private employer in the U.S.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who is retiring and will be succeeded by Furner, has spoken about the sweeping impact of the technology, saying that "it's very clear that AI is going to change literally every job."
Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.
Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox
Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data
and Analysis.
Data also provided by
In this article
As retailers increasingly turn to artificial intelligence tools to lure shoppers and run key parts of their business, Google wants to make sure it's in the center of the action.
At the kickoff of the National Retail Federation's annual show on Sunday, Google announced the launch of what it's calling the Universal Commerce Protocol. The company wants UCP to become an industry standard that retailers use for their AI agents and systems across tasks like discovery, buying and "post-purchase-support."
Google says the open-source protocol creates a unified system spanning the shopping experience, from searching to payment, so that retailers don't have to build their own tools and connect the various functions.
"It's very important to have a standardized way so we can scale these things and everyone can be prepared for all the various steps to happen," Vidhya Srinivasan, vice president of Google ads and commerce, said in an interview. "Businesses can pick and choose what they want so there's flexibility for them."
E-commerce has emerged as one of the major battlegrounds in the booming generative AI market, with Google facing off against OpenAI, Perplexity and Amazon, as they all try and get consumers to use their various apps and services to begin their shopping journey.
In September, OpenAI announced Instant Checkout, which allows users to buy some products through ChatGPT, taking a fee from transactions it helps orchestrate. OpenAI's Agentic Commerce Protocol developed in partnership with Stripe, is open source and could compete with UCP.
Perplexity in May said it's partnering with PayPal to let users buy products, book travel and secure concert tickets directly in its chat without leaving the platform, and in November said it will roll out a free agentic shopping product for U.S. users ahead of the holiday season.
And earlier last year, Amazon launched "Shop Direct," a feature that lets consumers browse items from other brands' sites on Amazon. Some of those items include a button labeled "Buy for Me," an AI agent that can purchase products from other websites on a shopper's behalf.
By 2030, the retail market could represent a $3 trillion to $5 trillion opportunity globally due to AI-powered tools and agentic commerce, according to a report in October from McKinsey.
Google said UCP was co-developed with companies including Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair and Target. The protocol will soon power a new checkout feature allowing users to buy direct from Google's AI Mode or Gemini App. They can pay via Google Wallet, but Srinivasan said the company plans to include other payment methods like PayPal in the future.
Srinivasan said UCP will be compatible with other existing protocols.
As part of Sunday's announcements, Google also introduced a feature called Business Agent, allowing shoppers to chat with brands.
"This is to address the newer consumer behavior which is shifted toward more conversational commerce," Srinivasan said. "We want retailers to be able to connect to users on our surfaces but using their own voice."
Then there's Google's core market: advertising.
Google said it's testing "Direct Offers," which will let retailers promote unique discounts, such as 20% off of a product, if a user of the AI Mode chatbot expresses intent to buy something.
"Our role in the ecosystem is that of a matchmaker and one way is with ads," Srinivasan said. "It's a really big focus for us to innovate in the space that adds value to both retailers and buyers."
WATCH: Alphabet tops Apple by market cap
Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.
Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox
Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data
and Analysis.
Data also provided by
To join the CNBC Technology Executive Council, go to cnbccouncils.com/tec
A million bubbles were swirling inside each glass of Champagne poured on New Year's Eve — which seems about like the number of times artificial intelligence bubbles have been mentioned by tech investors, economists and media pundits in recent months.
Bubble fears surrounds stocks within the Magnificent 7 — Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla — as well as Oracle and Softbank and other tech companies' multi-billion-dollar investments in the unrelenting buildout of humungous data centers to power their AI systems. Data centers are expected to require roughly $7 trillion in capital outlays by 2030, according to a report by McKinsey & Co. The bubble speculations rage almost daily as breaking news and earnings reports send Mag 7 stock prices rising and falling, leading analysts to constantly update their buy, sell or hold recommendations.
That's essentially the 30,000-foot, macroeconomic view of AI from Wall Street's bulls and bears. For a zoomed-in, micro look at the volatility surrounding AI, there may be no better example of adjacent players in the space than Bloom Energy.
A one-time privately funded startup darling from Silicon Valley's initial push into renewable energy which grabbed some marquee customers early on (e.g. Google and Walmart), Bloom was often in the red since its founding in 2001. Following its 2018 IPO at a price of $15 per share, it has been an unremarkable stock, trading near that IPO price as recently as last April. But Bloom has skyrocketed roughly 400% over the past year, ignited by its emergence as a standalone, onsite power supplier for electricity-guzzling AI data centers. It uses stacks of solid oxide fuel cells to provide an immediate, always-on alternative to connecting to public utilities' strained grids. Bloom is now among the priciest energy stocks, at 125 times forward earnings.
Bloom's performance chart for 2025 resembles one depicting the elevation trajectory from flat, mile-high Denver west to 12,000-foot-high Rocky Mountain National Park. The stock price had come back down to Earth lately — from a 52-week high of $147.86 in November on the strength of strong third-quarter earnings and a major deal with utility giant American Electric Power. But it continues to fluctuate in reaction to good and bad news regarding its AI customers, with the latest boost coming on Thursday.
Bloom's stock soared on Thursday and Friday with the news that a Wyoming data center project had won a key approval. The 1.8 GW facility is expected to include 900 MW of Bloom's fuel cells, representing about $3 billion in revenue for the company in coming years, according to an analysis from Morgan Stanley's David Arcaro. In a related development, AEP announced a $2.65 billion deal to acquire a substantial portion of Bloom's fuel cells as part of a deal with an unnamed customer, presumably the same Wyoming data center.
With the two-day spike, Bloom's stock rose roughly 30% last week, closing over $134 on Friday with a valuation near $32 billion.
Bloom's profitability remains much more modest than its revenue or stock growth. On October 28, the company reported third-quarter revenue of $519 million, up 57% year over year. It posted a net profit of $7.8 million, compared to a $9.7 million loss a year earlier.
On Wall Street, the bulls have the upper hand over the bears in the narrative, and that has paid off handsomely for investors, but there are skeptics. Across the 26 analysts covering Bloom, five hold sell or strong sell ratings. The average price target of $115 per share — although below its current share price after last week's rapid runup — remains well above bearish bets, such as Jefferies' price target of $53.
San Jose-based Bloom has installed its proprietary fuel cells — which primarily run on liquid natural gas, but also biogas and hydrogen, resulting in lower emissions — at more than 1,200 facilities covering a swath of industries, including manufacturing, retail, health care, biotech and telecom, since 2008. In addition to Walmart and Google, initial customers included Google, Coca-Cola, Cox Enterprises, FedEx, and Staples.
In July 2024, CoreWeave, a cloud-computing company that has risen over 90% since its 2025 IPO and is often mentioned among AI stock bubble fears, became Bloom's first AI data center partner, joined since by Oracle, Equinix and AEP.
At the dizzying rate that data centers are being built in the U.S., there's no end in sight for electricity needed to power them.
"Bloom Energy has 1.5 gigawatts of fuel cells deployed globally," said Aman Joshi, the company's chief commercial officer, with more than 400 megawatts devoted to data centers. "Equinix, our flagship customer, has more than 100 megawatts deployed across 20 sites."
Bloom is currently producing 1 GW of fuel cell capacity at its lone manufacturing facility in Fremont, California, Joshi said, and "we've publicly announced we are doing 2 gigawatts [by December 2026]."
There are nearly 3,800 data centers are in the U.S, according to Data Center Map, an industry resource for data center research. Through 2028, another 280 or so are expected to come online. The Bank of America Institute has reported that U.S. electricity demand is expected to grow 2.5% annually over the next decade, five times faster than the growth rate over the past decade.
The sustainability of Bloom's stock price will rely on continued revenue growth and improved profitability, but at a macro level, access to capital to scale up production of fuel cells, and ability to compete with other power providers — all of which are predicated on the continued surge in data center construction.
Bloom is expected to report its fourth quarter and full-year earnings for 2025 on Feb. 26.
Some analysts contend that the real bottleneck in the data center buildout is power, or as OpenAI CFO Sara Friar put it to CNBC last September, "The real bottleneck isn't money. It's power.".
"The bubble AI companies are facing is going to be who has planned logistically to connect their facility to power infrastructure, and maybe even further downstream to fuel infrastructure for that power," said Zachary Krause, an energy analyst at East Daley Analytics who covers the data center industry. "And that's why I don't think Bloom is on the bubble. Their business model is very strong right now."
In addition to the lucrative deals Bloom signed with hyperscalers last year, in October it entered into a $5-billion strategic partnership with Brookfield Asset Management, the world's largest AI infrastructure investor, to deploy Bloom's fuel cell technology, with Bloom CEO KR Sridhar describing the company as "the preferred onsite provider for Brookfield's trillion-dollar infrastructure portfolio" during its October earnings call. "Brookfield has invested $50 billion in AI opportunities and is tripling the size of its AI strategy over the next three years," he said on the call.
The deal creates multiple benefits for Bloom, according to Oppenheimer analysts, including higher sales. The concentration of Bloom fuel cells will provide service efficiencies, the analysts wrote in a research note, while Brookfield can help provide financing for customers looking to lease fuel cells. "We expect all of these dynamics to support above-consensus sales growth and margin expansion," they said.
Evercore analysts said that the joint venture confirms Bloom's ability to be an essential player in the energy buildout to support AI. It underscores a key point for the industry, which is "speed to power is paramount," they wrote.
While the most recent quarterly results came in above expectations, Wall Street bears have pointed to aggressive assumptions about the way these deals will play out in the years ahead. The rapid rise in shares in the latter part of this past week was similar in magnitude to what occurred after the Brookfield deal was announced. At that time, Bank of America analyst team, who have held a sell rating on Bloom Energy, said they see risk in a Street that is "assuming 5-yr perfection" and viewing these deals as a near-term earnings catalyst rather than as gradual deployments.
"A strategic win, yes — but the market is paying today for a decade of delivery," Bank of America analysts wrote in an October research note. "Investors continue to treat Bloom's major customer announcements as additive backlog rather than potential pipelines. ... we view that as aggressive," they wrote. Bank of America did raise its price target from $26 to $39 after the most recent earnings though it still rates the stock at a sell.
In late December, Bloom received another capital infusion, securing a $600-million multi-currency credit facility with Wells Fargo. It will permit cash withdrawn from the facility to finance capex, including international projects, such as in South Korea, where Bloom has a distribution agreement in place with SK Ecoplant.
With those capital resources, plus around $595 million in cash reserves as of September 30, Joshi foresees no financial constraints in scaling up to 2 GW this year. "Our fuel cells are printed," he said, adding that "our raw material sources are extremely diversified. It's just a matter of us [adding] one more printing line, which will take about $100-$150 million of investment."
In fact, Bloom has been able to lower costs by about 10% every year, said UBS analyst Manav Gupta, "and they are very confident they can increase from these levels because, until now, the economies of scale have not kicked in." The Fremont production facility can be expanded up to 5 GW of production capacity, he said, although "KR is the kind of person who will not add capacity until he sees the orders," Gupta said.
He anticipates that Oracle and AEP will upsize their fuel cell orders in the next few months, and that Google, Microsoft or Meta will soon sign on as new data center customers. (As Bloom's very first customer, Google only used it to power a portion of its headquarters in Mountain View, California.) "Those are the near-term catalysts that I'm looking for," Gupta said.
Analysts in general expect Bloom to report an even stronger fourth quarter, ending 2025 with $1.9 billion in sales and forecasting $2.46 billion this year, but volatility is likely to remain part of the stock story. Indeed, Bloom shares have experienced 76 moves greater than 5% over the last year. Thursday and Friday's upturn exemplified the stock's rollercoaster ride, starkly contrasted against last year's low of $15.15 on April 9. Bloom's shares fell 17.3% in November, even as fundamentals remained strong. On December 4, shares spiked more than 13% intraday. Four days later, the stock fell 6.2%, while still being up 24% over the prior two weeks.
In terms of competition, Bloom is considered the go-to for standalone power for data centers. Plug Power's hydrogen fuel cells are considerably more expensive to operate vs. LNG, so they are installed mostly as a backup source. Gupta dismissed FuelCell Energy as a rival, saying it "is probably 10 or maybe 15 years behind on technology from where Bloom was 10 years ago."
Both of those stocks have seen significant losses in share price over the past year.
Another 2025 stock boomer, GE Vernova, has LNG turbines that are utilized as backup power sources at data centers, and an 80 GW backlog of orders, which will take the company into 2029 to fulfill, CEO Scott Strazik recently told investors. In the meantime, however, GE Vernova is developing fuel cell technology, different from Bloom's, that it expects to offer data centers in two to three years.
Longer-term, industry watchers expect that nuclear reactors — large, traditional facilities and small modular reactors — as well as wind and solar sources, backed up by more efficient storage batteries, will be viable options for powering data centers. There's even talk of building solar-powered data centers in outer space.
Those options are years away from being fully developed, though, making Bloom a right-now power solution for data center operators. "They have a good first-mover advantage in gaining entrenchment, where they're going to see a huge spike in use," Krause said.
For investors, especially after the run the stock has already been on, Bloom is a market bet that requires deep conviction. "This is not a stock for the faint of heart," said Andrew Rocco, an analyst at Zacks Investment Research. It's going to be volatile, he said, but added, "I expect these guys to grow high double digits or even triple digits over the next two to three years."
Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.
Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox
Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data
and Analysis.
Data also provided by
Related Stories
Mornings are one of the most underestimated aspects of a relationship. For many working couples, they're something to rush through on the way to the day ahead. Alarms go off, phones come out, coffee is gulped down, and before either partner is fully awake, they're already headed into separate days.
But as a psychologist who studies couples, and as a husband, I've seen that the happiest couples use their mornings productively to make sure they leave the house knowing they're on the same team.
Here's what they do differently that most neglect.
Your partner shouldn't be seen as an obstacle you have to get around in the morning. Even on busy days, happy couples make a point to acknowledge one another before shifting into work mode.
That often means making eye contact when saying "good morning" or sharing coffee or tea together without distractions. These moments may seem mundane, but research shows relationships thrive on small "bids" for attention that signal recognition and care.
Skipping them entirely can leave partners feeling emotionally invisible before the day has even begun.
Mornings aren't ideal for heavy conversations. Cortisol levels are naturally elevated upon waking, meaning your body is already primed for stress. Trying to tackle nuance or conflict too early can activate that response even more.
The happiest couples understand this intuitively. Before diving into logistics or complaints, they take a moment to sync: sitting quietly together, sharing coffee on the couch, or simply standing side by side while doing their morning routines.
Even a few moments of silent togetherness can regulate the nervous system and make the day feel more manageable.
Rather than full emotional check-ins, happy couples keep morning communication light, but still honest. Each partner shares one sentiment regarding their current feelings:
They're not revolutionary, but they're necessary for giving context to moods and behavior the other will see later on. It's much easier to understand your partner's short temper when you remember that they had a stressful meeting that day.
This could be five minutes of cuddles before getting up, walking the dogs together or cooking breakfast while listening to their song. The point is for it to be simple enough for you to repeat daily without struggle.
Having habits like these — routines or rituals that you can call "our thing" — can serve as surprisingly strong reaffirmations of your identity as a couple.
In many relationships, physical affection in the morning gets reduced to a rushed goodbye kiss on the cheek, if that. But happier couples don't budge on this. They use touch intentionally to ground themselves.
Spooning, long hugs, proper kisses or simply just leaning into each other for a moment before leaving — regardless of what suits you, any kind of physical contact like this can activate oxytocin and calm the nervous system, which helps both partners feel steadier as they separate.
Mornings can get messy if one partner is expected to bear the brunt of the household's mental or physical load.
Happy couples reduce this by treating mornings as a shared operation. If there are tasks that have to get done before work, like prepping lunch, feeding pets, or getting the kids ready, they divide them up mindfully and adjust when one partner is struggling.
It doesn't have to look like perfect fairness every day. Just ensuring that no one's plate is too full goes a long way in protecting goodwill.
Before parting ways, the happiest couples will always offer at least one small yet specific gesture of support:
While they won't change the day's demands, they can make the demands feel easier to manage. More importantly, they show your partner that you're emotionally attuned to the things that matter to them, even if you're physically present.
Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling, and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website, Therapytips.org.
Want to get ahead at work with AI? Sign up for CNBC's new online course, Beyond the Basics: How to Use AI to Supercharge Your Work. Learn advanced AI skills like building custom GPTs and using AI agents to boost your productivity today. Use coupon code EARLYBIRD for 25% off. Offer valid from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19, 2026. Terms apply.
CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.
Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox
Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company
Tehran threatened on Sunday to retaliate against Israel and U.S. military bases in the event of U.S. strikes on Iran, issuing the warning as Israeli sources said Israel was on high alert for the possibility of any U.S. intervention.
With Iran's clerical establishment facing the biggest anti-government protests since 2022, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in recent days, warning Iranian leaders against using force against demonstrators. On Saturday, Trump said the U.S. stands "ready to help."
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaking in parliament on Sunday, warned against "a miscalculation."
"Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target," said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
Authorities have stepped up efforts to quell the unrest that has spread across Iran since December 28. A U.S.-based rights group, HRANA, reported the death toll stood at 116, mostly protesters but including 37 members of the security forces.
The protests began in response to soaring inflation, before turning against the clerical establishment that has ruled since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The government accuses the U.S. and Israel of fomenting unrest.
Three Israeli sources, who were present for Israeli security consultations over the weekend, said Israel was on a high-alert footing, but did not elaborate on what that meant.
An Israeli government spokesperson declined to comment. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June last year, in which the U.S. joined Israel in launching airstrikes. Iran retaliated for those U.S. strikes by firing missiles at an American air base in Qatar.
The flow of information from Iran has been hampered by an internet blackout imposed by the authorities since Thursday. Internet monitoring watchdog Netblocks reported national connectivity levels remained about 1% of the norm.
A social media video posted on Saturday showed large crowds gathered in Tehran's Punak neighbourhood at night, drumming rhythmically on the railings of a bridge or other metal objects in an apparent sign of protest. Reuters verified the location.
Iranian state TV broadcast funeral processions in western Iranian cities such as Gachsaran and Yasuj for members of the security forces killed in the protests. The authorities have not said how many have been killed.
State TV reported that 30 members of the security forces would be buried in the central city of Isfahan, and that six security force members were killed by "rioters" in Kermanshah in the west. State TV also reported a mosque was torched by "rioters" in Mashhad, in the northeast, on Saturday night.
The Revolutionary Guards on Saturday accused "terrorists" of attacking security facilities.
Ahmad-Reza Radan, Iran's police chief, said security forces had stepped up efforts to confront "rioters."
Iran's rulers have quelled previous bouts of unrest, most recently in 2022 over the death in custody of a woman accused of violating dress codes.
Trump, posting on social media on Saturday, said: "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"
In a phone call on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran, according to an Israeli source who was present for the conversation.
A U.S. official confirmed the two men spoke but did not say what topics they discussed.
A senior U.S. intelligence official on Saturday described the situation in Iran as an "endurance game". The opposition was trying to keep up pressure until key government figures either flee or switch sides, while the authorities were trying to sow enough fear to clear the streets without giving the United States justification to intervene, the official said.
Israel has not signalled a desire to intervene, with tensions between the two arch-foes high over Israeli concerns about Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
In an interview with the Economist published on Friday, Netanyahu said there would be horrible consequences for Iran if it were to attack Israel. Alluding to the protests, he said: "Everything else, I think we should see what is happening inside Iran."
Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.
Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox
Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data
and Analysis.
Data also provided by
Every time Samuel publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Enter your email
By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's
Terms of Service and
Privacy Policy.
You can bet on pretty much anything these days. From sports to the weather to the price of a Labubu, platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi have offered people a new way to gamble.
According to Danny Moses, one of the investors from "The Big Short," they've also offered investors a useful tool to help navigate markets.
Moses, who was among the investors betting against the US housing market ahead of the 2008 crash, isn't surprised by the prediction-market boom, and he thinks investors need to be watching these markets closely to stay on top of their game.
"I think it's great to scan through all the prediction markets out there, certainly economics and business-related, because it actually will get you thinking about things you might have been missing," he told Business Insider in an interview before the new year.
Moses isn't too focused on short opportunities these days, despite being famous for his role in Michael Lewis's now-iconic saga of the housing crash. But he thinks that prediction markets can serve to provide valuable info for bullish and bearish investors alike.
Every time Samuel publishes a story, you'll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Stay connected to Samuel and get more of their work as it publishes.
By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider's
Terms of Service and
Privacy Policy.
He pointed to the recent example of popular fintech stock SoFi Technologies being listed as having a 38% chance of being added to the benchmark index in 2026, something that could be a likely catalyst for the stock, which is up 93% in the last year.
"If you're short SoFi and you weren't thinking about the possibility of it being added to the S&P 500, like we just saw happen to Carvana recently, that's something you need to be aware of," Moses said.
That's not the only way prediction markets could help investors make smarter decisions. Moses said he thinks there may be circumstances where they can offer a more appealing risk-reward than investors might get from traditional derivatives. He cited crypto as an example.
"Will bitcoin trade below $70,000 in the first quarter of 2026?" he mused. "Well, if I own bitcoin, and it's a much cheaper way to bet, if it's an eight cent possibility, so call it twelve to one, I might be getting a better market, or I might want to buy that rather than buying a put option on crypto."
In his view, it's early days for prediction markets. Their usefulness will grow as a predictive tool for hedging traditional investments as well as gauging the likelihood of market-moving events. And as they grow, expect more prominent players to participate, he said.
"I think institutions are going to start using prediction markets more, and as institutions use it, you're going to see a lot more activity," he said.
Jump to
In this article
DETROIT – Outside General Motors' new world headquarters, between the 12-story building and the city's first new skyscraper in more than 30 years, sit two red Chevrolet pickup trucks.
One is a 1963 Chevrolet K20. The other is a new Silverado EV. The trucks, while part of a temporary holiday display, are symbolic of what's inside the new global offices for the Detroit automaker: its past and present, woven together.
GM is occupying four of six office floors of the building and has filled them with artifacts, design nods and "Easter eggs" tied to the Detroit automaker's history.
They range from a blueprint of GM's iconic design dome and an early map of its nearby proving grounds to an interior wallpaper of 300 patented technologies and a decorative wall of cassette tapes with songs featuring the automaker's brands as well playful references to executive stalwarts such as CEO Mary Barra and President Mark Reuss.
"Leadership asked when we were helping design the space to bring in some Easter eggs and details to represent who we are at GM, you know, honoring our culture and our history and our innovation," Rebecca Waldmeir, GM industrial design architecture and experience manager, told CNBC during a tour of the new headquarters.
Other surprises include references to relevant Detroit streets, design influences from GM's famed design campus in suburban Detroit and artwork and sculptures of its products.
Aside from the aesthetics, GM officials say the new offices will assist with collaboration and are more relevant to how the company expects its employees to work in a post-pandemic world. It will house executive offices and other corporate functions such as marketing, legal and finance.
"A headquarters really should be, at some level, a beacon for the culture of the company," said David Massaron, GM vice president of infrastructure and corporate citizenship. "When you come in here, it should help people understand who we want to be."
The new headquarters marks a significant square-foot reduction for the automaker's corporate office — from a towering complex called the Renaissance Center along the city's riverfront to just four floors, roughly 200,000 square feet, in the new building.
GM's new HQ is less than a mile from the RenCen, as it's commonly called, which has been a symbol for the city since, ironically, Ford Motor built the complex but decided not to make it its headquarters in the 1970s. GM purchased the building in 1996 as its third headquarters, all of which have been in the Motor City.
The RenCen is Detroit's fortress, a 5.6-million-square-foot complex complete with a more-than-700-foot center tower surrounded by four 500-foot towers and two smaller adjacent ones.
The complex is infamously difficult to get in and out of and to navigate. For much of its existence, it was surrounded by concrete barriers before a redesign around the turn of the millennium.
It has long been something of a physical permutation of GM's historically siloed culture, which Barra has made a priority to change during her roughly 11-year tenure as CEO.
"The RenCen was designed in a different era, in a pre-Covid era where everybody went to work five days a week, everybody went to their desk," Massaron said. "Particularly, in a post-pandemic world, you need office space that people want to come to, because we have options."
GM's roughly 50,000 U.S. salaried employees are currently required to work in-office Tuesday through Thursday, but the rules are more flexible than before regarding location and remote working.
Most of the company's new executive offices on the top floor of the building will be open for executives to use as they please, Massaron said. Only four of the offices will be permanently assigned to top GM executives, such as Barra and Reuss, he said.
GM declined to disclose how many employees are expected to regularly work at the new headquarters, saying foot traffic will fluctuate based on priorities and workflows. The company also declined to disclose financial details of its 15-year lease at the new headquarters.
The building complex, known as Hudson's Detroit, is owned by a real estate company of Rocket Companies chairman and billionaire Dan Gilbert, who has been purchasing and renovating properties in Detroit for more than a decade.
Aside from the office areas and the executive floor, which all overlook an open atrium, GM also plans to open a semi-public space to display products and host events on the first floor of the building.
Other amenities include social gathering areas and lounges, food and beverage services and a pickleball court and recreation area.
GM's new headquarters, which remains under construction, comes months after Ford christened a new 2.1-million-square-foot global HQ and product design and development center in nearby Dearborn, Michigan.
Ford's new facility includes offices, design and industrial operations and a host of amenities such as a 160,000-square-foot dining area with eight "kitchen concepts," multiple courtyards and other upgrades.
The notable difference in the size between GM's and Ford's new headquarters comes down to location, headcount and the automakers' portfolios of offices and operations throughout the region.
GM, for example, has a vast technology and design center that occupies 710 acres in nearby Warren, Michigan. That campus houses more than 24,000 employees.
Massaron said GM didn't feel it needed to create "a city within a city" for its new headquarters, because it's actually "a building within a city."
Here's a look inside GM's new world headquarters:
Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.
Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox
Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data
and Analysis.
Data also provided by
Related Stories
Artificial intelligence could be something of a game changer for recruiters as firms continue to be inundated with job applications, according to one LinkedIn executive.
Janine Chamberlin, LinkedIn's U.K. country manager, told CNBC Make It in an interview that AI will be a "critical part of how hiring is done in 2026," as it speeds up processes.
"Last year was the year of experimentation and companies and professionals taking their first steps. 2026 is the year of more widespread adoption of AI tools, particularly in hiring," she said.
AI can help recruiters speed up manual tasks such as going through very high volumes of applications and sifting through resumes and cover letters to find the right skills for a job.
"We've heard from 60% of recruiters that AI is helping them to find what they would call a 'hidden gem' talent — so people that they would have, in their manual search, overlooked, but actually AI is surfacing that as a candidate that is a good match for a specific job, because it can look very specifically at those skills so critically important to do it well," Chamberlin said.
The job market has been rough for both employers and professionals as widespread layoffs dominate headlines and professionals face intense competition for jobs.
Over 1 million job cuts were announced in the U.S. in 2025, the highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, according to data from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Meanwhile, the number of applications per role have skyrocketed, making it difficult for employers to respond quickly to applications. In fact, new Linkedin research finds that U.S. applicants per open role have doubled since the spring of 2022.
Chamberlin said this is creating an overwhelming cycle in the job market that is difficult for both job seekers and recruiters to handle.
"The job search is tougher right now, because what we are seeing is that there's such a high volume of applications for each role that there is available. So, if I'm a job seeker, I'm applying to lots of roles. On the flip side, there's companies recruiters who are receiving lots of applications.
"Companies are finding it hard to filter through these applications quickly enough to find people with the right skill set for the jobs that they're hiring for. And the job seeker on the other side of that is waiting to hear back from companies whilst getting increasingly anxious because they might not be hearing back," Chamberlin said.
The anxious job seeker then goes and applies to more roles to increase their chances of getting a job, continuing the cycle.
Chamberlin says AI is a "big part of the solution," with 93% of recruiters planning to increase their use of AI in 2026, per the LinkedIn research.
The start of the new year typically brings an influx of new job openings and motivated job seekers. However, as AI becomes central to hiring, many professionals are rethinking how to navigate the job market.
LinkedIn's global research, which surveyed 19,000 respondents globally, including from the U.K, U.S., France, Germany and Australia, found that 80% of workers feel unprepared for the job hunt in 2026 and nearly two-thirds feel that the job search has become more challenging.
Chamberlin advised tailoring applications and to avoid mass-applying with generic cover letters, as AI is now often the first to review a job application.
It's important to "be targeted" when crafting your resume and cover letter. "Applying for roles that genuinely match your skills will always outperform sending lots of generic applications, for both AI and for humans," she said.
Chamberlin said that using AI can help make your application more succinct as it can identify where you're not highlighting the skills you need for a particular job.
"In an AI-driven job market, clarity is key," she said. "If you can make sure that your skills are highlighted very clearly on your resume, on the cover letter, on your LinkedIn profile, naturally, I think that's what's really going to help you stand out."
Finally, Chamberlin suggested prioritizing simple formats and to avoid overly stylistic templates as it can be confusing to read for AI.
Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox
Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It
© 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company
Investing
A $23M XRP trade executed across multiple exchanges in 60 seconds signals coordinated institutional positioning rather than speculation.
XRP exchange balances fell to eight-year lows near 1.6B tokens while seven spot ETFs now hold $1.3B in assets.
XRP gained 25% in early January 2026 versus Bitcoin's 5.5%. Historical patterns show it leads altcoin rotations by several weeks.
Sending You to Google News in 3
© K.unshu / Shutterstock.com
XRP altcoin season 2026 may have just announced itself. A sudden $23 million XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) trade executed in just 60 seconds has shifted attention across the crypto market. The headline number wasn't what mattered. It was the timing and structure behind it. Large, coordinated volume tends to surface when positioning changes beneath the surface, not when speculation peaks.
That's why this event is being read as an early warning rather than a reaction. As capital begins rotating from Bitcoin into higher-beta assets, XRP often reflects that shift first. This pattern places renewed focus on whether altcoin season is starting in 2026, where leadership emerges quietly before the broader market catches on.
Travis Wolfe / Shutterstock.com
The $23 million XRP volume spike wasn't about the size alone. It was about speed, coordination, and timing. According to analyst Xaif Crypto, the trade hit multiple exchanges simultaneously, indicating systematic execution rather than a one-off bet. That pattern usually comes from algorithms designed to test liquidity and enter positions quickly, even at higher costs. When capital moves this fast, it reflects urgency rather than curiosity.
More telling was when it happened. The burst arrived while XRP was still consolidating below the $2.12 resistance, before price acceleration drew attention. Volume led price, not the other way around—and that sequence rarely belongs to retail traders.
Supporting data reinforced the signal. Exchange balances kept falling toward eight-year lows around 1.6 billion XRP, large wallets continued accumulating, and ETF-linked flows stayed positive even as Bitcoin funds saw outflows. Taken together, the spike looked like the final phase of quiet positioning. It marked conviction forming beneath the surface, not excitement chasing headlines.
Djjeep_Design / Shutterstock.com
XRP often reacts before the rest of the altcoin market because it sits at the first stop beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum on the risk curve. Large investors use it to test whether capital can move into higher-beta assets without disrupting liquidity. That behavior is why XRP is widely treated as a canary crypto signal when market tone shifts.
Its structure supports that role. XRP trades deep order books, carries regulatory clarity following the SEC settlement, and has real transaction flow tied to payments through RippleNet. That combination attracts early rotation when sentiment turns constructive. Smaller tokens don't offer the same balance of scale and stability.
Recent data fits the pattern. XRP outperformed while broader altcoins lagged, with a 25% gain in the first week of January 2026 compared to Bitcoin's 5.5%. Exchange balances kept shrinking, whale activity hit a three-month high with 2,802 transactions over $100,000 on January 7, and institutional positioning tilted toward large-cap alternatives. Historically, this setup leads to broader participation by several weeks.
Tamisclao / Shutterstock.com
XRP has a habit of moving before the crowd. Across multiple cycles, its early strength has signaled broader rotation, shaping expectations for altcoin performance in 2026.
In 2017, XRP surged months before altcoins entered full momentum. Volume expanded while price stayed compressed, signaling accumulation rather than hype. As XRP rallied first, Bitcoin dominance slid sharply, and capital rotated outward. By the time retail interest arrived, much of the upside had already been set. That early move framed XRP as a reliable lead indicator rather than a late-cycle trade.
The 2021 cycle followed a similar script. XRP broke out after a long base while most altcoins lagged. Institutional accumulation and brief volume bursts appeared weeks before broader participation. The gap between XRP's move and peak altcoin performance reinforced its role as a precursor, not a follower.
Current conditions resemble those earlier setups. Supply has tightened with exchange balances down 57% from October levels. Volume has accelerated, and XRP is again outperforming the pack. The structure supports a rotation process that begins with large-cap liquidity before spreading wider.
XRP's case for leading the 2026 altcoin rally rests on tightening supply and steady institutional demand. Exchange balances sit near eight-year lows at roughly 1.6 billion XRP, while ETF holdings continue to pull tokens out of circulation. Seven spot XRP ETFs now trade in the United States with combined assets exceeding $1.3 billion and approximately 746 million XRP locked in custody.
On the demand side, ETF inflows accelerated in early January, with $48 million entering on January 6 alone. The technical structure shows XRP emerging from a multi-year compression that has historically preceded strong expansions. Together, these factors open a realistic path toward the $4 to $5 range if momentum sustains.
That upside still depends on confirmation. Bitcoin dominance needs to stay compressed, and mid-cap altcoins must begin outperforming to show broad rotation. Risks remain clear. Heavy profit-taking near recent highs, slowing ETF inflows, or a sharp Bitcoin breakout could unwind momentum. XRP holding above $2.10 support keeps the signal intact. Losing it would shift this move from leadership to a false start.
Our top personal finance-related articles today. Your wallet will thank you later.
XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) whale accumulation just intensified—800 million tokens moved off exchanges in December 2025, roughly $1.6 billion at current…
In just 50 days since launch, XRP ETFs pulled in $1.3 billion with 43 consecutive trading days of positive inflows—the…
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has given back everything it gained in 2025. The rally started in early January and peaked at…
Vanguard's XRP ETF decision just broke years of crypto silence. On December 2, 2025, the $11 trillion asset manager opened…
XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) trades near $2.30 after rallying 25% in the first week of 2026, recovering sharply from December lows…
As 2026 begins, XRP ETFs have delivered the most compelling institutional adoption story in crypto—yet price hasn't followed. In just…
XRP's (CRYPTO: XRP) ETF surge has fundamentally changed how institutional investors view the asset. Pulling in $906 million in just…
XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is testing a critical threshold—the $2 support—and this time, the structure underneath looks completely different. During past…
Ripple recently raised $500 million at a $40 billion valuation. That should've provided fresh momentum for XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), but…
Oops, something went wrong
A $23M XRP trade executed across multiple exchanges in 60 seconds signals coordinated institutional positioning rather than speculation.
XRP exchange balances fell to eight-year lows near 1.6B tokens while seven spot ETFs now hold $1.3B in assets.
XRP gained 25% in early January 2026 versus Bitcoin's 5.5%. Historical patterns show it leads altcoin rotations by several weeks.
A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans' retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here.
XRP altcoin season 2026 may have just announced itself. A sudden $23 million XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) trade executed in just 60 seconds has shifted attention across the crypto market. The headline number wasn't what mattered. It was the timing and structure behind it. Large, coordinated volume tends to surface when positioning changes beneath the surface, not when speculation peaks.
That's why this event is being read as an early warning rather than a reaction. As capital begins rotating from Bitcoin into higher-beta assets, XRP often reflects that shift first. This pattern places renewed focus on whether altcoin season is starting in 2026, where leadership emerges quietly before the broader market catches on.
The $23 million XRP volume spike wasn't about the size alone. It was about speed, coordination, and timing. According to analyst Xaif Crypto, the trade hit multiple exchanges simultaneously, indicating systematic execution rather than a one-off bet. That pattern usually comes from algorithms designed to test liquidity and enter positions quickly, even at higher costs. When capital moves this fast, it reflects urgency rather than curiosity.
More telling was when it happened. The burst arrived while XRP was still consolidating below the $2.12 resistance, before price acceleration drew attention. Volume led price, not the other way around—and that sequence rarely belongs to retail traders.
Supporting data reinforced the signal. Exchange balances kept falling toward eight-year lows around 1.6 billion XRP, large wallets continued accumulating, and ETF-linked flows stayed positive even as Bitcoin funds saw outflows. Taken together, the spike looked like the final phase of quiet positioning. It marked conviction forming beneath the surface, not excitement chasing headlines.
XRP often reacts before the rest of the altcoin market because it sits at the first stop beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum on the risk curve. Large investors use it to test whether capital can move into higher-beta assets without disrupting liquidity. That behavior is why XRP is widely treated as a canary crypto signal when market tone shifts.
Its structure supports that role. XRP trades deep order books, carries regulatory clarity following the SEC settlement, and has real transaction flow tied to payments through RippleNet. That combination attracts early rotation when sentiment turns constructive. Smaller tokens don't offer the same balance of scale and stability.
Recent data fits the pattern. XRP outperformed while broader altcoins lagged, with a 25% gain in the first week of January 2026 compared to Bitcoin's 5.5%. Exchange balances kept shrinking, whale activity hit a three-month high with 2,802 transactions over $100,000 on January 7, and institutional positioning tilted toward large-cap alternatives. Historically, this setup leads to broader participation by several weeks.
XRP has a habit of moving before the crowd. Across multiple cycles, its early strength has signaled broader rotation, shaping expectations for altcoin performance in 2026.
In 2017, XRP surged months before altcoins entered full momentum. Volume expanded while price stayed compressed, signaling accumulation rather than hype. As XRP rallied first, Bitcoin dominance slid sharply, and capital rotated outward. By the time retail interest arrived, much of the upside had already been set. That early move framed XRP as a reliable lead indicator rather than a late-cycle trade.
The 2021 cycle followed a similar script. XRP broke out after a long base while most altcoins lagged. Institutional accumulation and brief volume bursts appeared weeks before broader participation. The gap between XRP's move and peak altcoin performance reinforced its role as a precursor, not a follower.
Current conditions resemble those earlier setups. Supply has tightened with exchange balances down 57% from October levels. Volume has accelerated, and XRP is again outperforming the pack. The structure supports a rotation process that begins with large-cap liquidity before spreading wider.
XRP's case for leading the 2026 altcoin rally rests on tightening supply and steady institutional demand. Exchange balances sit near eight-year lows at roughly 1.6 billion XRP, while ETF holdings continue to pull tokens out of circulation. Seven spot XRP ETFs now trade in the United States with combined assets exceeding $1.3 billion and approximately 746 million XRP locked in custody.
On the demand side, ETF inflows accelerated in early January, with $48 million entering on January 6 alone. The technical structure shows XRP emerging from a multi-year compression that has historically preceded strong expansions. Together, these factors open a realistic path toward the $4 to $5 range if momentum sustains.
That upside still depends on confirmation. Bitcoin dominance needs to stay compressed, and mid-cap altcoins must begin outperforming to show broad rotation. Risks remain clear. Heavy profit-taking near recent highs, slowing ETF inflows, or a sharp Bitcoin breakout could unwind momentum. XRP holding above $2.10 support keeps the signal intact. Losing it would shift this move from leadership to a false start.
Most Americans drastically underestimate how much they need to retire and overestimate how prepared they are. But data shows that people with one habit have more than double the savings of those who don't.
And no, it's got nothing to do with increasing your income, savings, clipping coupons, or even cutting back on your lifestyle. It's much more straightforward (and powerful) than any of that. Frankly, it's shocking more people don't adopt the habit given how easy it is.
¡Vaya! Parece que algo no ha ido bien
Last week Wells Fargo begun to amass Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) in substantial amounts. This development has elicited reactions from the cryptocurrency community, including a response from Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance.
Wells Fargo's decision to purchase large quantities of Bitcoin comes at a time of increasing uncertainty in the wider cryptocurrency market.
In response to this move, Changpeng Zhao, Binance's founder, has called on traders to remain resilient.
While you were panic selling, U.S. Banks were loading up on bitcoin. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/8Xufs40ZJ8
Zhao pointed out that while many are panic selling, US banks like Wells Fargo are stocking up on Bitcoin. Such significant Bitcoin acquisitions by traditional banks are seldom accidental, suggesting a long-term strategy and anticipation of future Bitcoin growth.
Despite the current volatility in Bitcoin's price, Wells Fargo's large-scale purchase indicates a surge in investor confidence, even amidst the growing fear and uncertainty pervading the market.
While traders are increasingly divesting their Bitcoin holdings due to market uncertainty, on-chain data shows that 655,498 BTC is currently held on Binance as traders return more tokens to the exchange.
Why It Matters: Wells Fargo's move to accumulate Bitcoin in large quantities is a significant development in the cryptocurrency market. This indicates a shift in attitude by traditional financial institutions towards digital currencies, suggesting they see potential for future growth in Bitcoin.
Furthermore, the call for resilience by Binance's founder underscores the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective in the face of market volatility.
Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market.
This article Binance Founder CZ Encourages Crypto Holders While Wells Fargo Buys Bitcoin originally appeared on Benzinga.com
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Error al recuperar los datos
Error al recuperar los datos
Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores
Error al recuperar los datos
Error al recuperar los datos
Error al recuperar los datos
About us
Copy link
A miner who was active in the early days of crypto has moved over $181 million worth of Bitcoin.
The miner was active in the “Satoshi era,” Julio Moreno of the blockchain analysis provider CryptoQuant wrote on X. Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonymous founder of Bitcoin. Nakamoto authored the Bitcoin white paper in 2008 and launched the Bitcoin network the following year – before disappearing without a trace in 2010.
“[This is] the first time this has happened since November 2024, when Bitcoin was at around $91,000,” Moreno said. “Historically, Satoshi-era miners move their Bitcoin at key inflection points.”
The move comes a month after two so-called Bitcoin whales who had not touched their wallets since 2011 and 2012 moved their entire balances to unknown wallets.
The crypto transaction monitoring platform Whale Alert noted on December 5 that one of the wallets had sat dormant for over 13 years. The other had been inactive for 14 years.
The latest transaction has generated much speculation online, with some X users commenting that Bitcoin whales tend to sell their coins when they think markets are rallying.
Sani, the founder of the Bitcoin transaction analysis site TimechainIndex, took to X to post blockchain data showing that a miner with funds in 40 Pay-to-Public-Key wallets had sent $181 million worth of Bitcoin to Coinbase crypto exchange wallets.
Pay-to-Public-Key wallets were popular in the early days of Bitcoin, but have since become largely obsolete, with modern users favoring more private alternatives.
“A miner just sold 2,000 Bitcoin from block rewards dormant since 2010,” Sani wrote.
Bitcoin prices have held steady just above $90,000 for most of the weekend, despite bullish predictions from the investment firm heavyweight VanEck.
VanEck last week said Bitcoin prices could reach the $2.9 million mark by 2050.
The company said big business and government adoption would likely spur Bitcoin growth in the years ahead.
It also outlined a “bull case scenario” that could see Bitcoin prices rise to a whopping $53.4 million.
“In a hyper-Bitcoinisation scenario where Bitcoin captures 20% of international trade and 10% of domestic GDP, the implied value per coin could reach $53.4 million,” wrote researchers Matthew Sigel and Patrick Bush.
Sigel and Bush explained that this scenario “requires Bitcoin to achieve parity with or surpass gold as a primary global reserve asset, constituting nearly 30% of world financial assets.”
In November, Galaxy Digital said Bitcoin was maturing and warned that the days of traders making “1,000x, 100x, or even possibly 10x gains” were over.
Tim Alper is a News Correspondent at DL News. Got a tip? Email him at tdalper@dlnews.com.
Samson Mow, the CEO of pro-crypto firm Jan3, has shared his ambitious targets for 2026. Mow's recent predictions have been among the most bullish since the start of the calendar year and should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Samson's Predictions for 2026 🥂➡️ $1.33M #Bitcoin➡️ ♎️🕯️➡️ At least 1 country launches #BitcoinBonds➡️ @elonmusk goes hard into BTC➡️ $MSTR to $5,000➡️ Bitcoin outperforms metals
While other predictions are typical hot takes from Mow, one that stands out is that Musk will go “hard” into Bitcoin. It means that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO will invest massively in the premier digital currency.
According to recent estimates by Forbes and Bloomberg, Musk is worth anywhere between $600 billion and $700 billion, and if he goes hard into the digital currency economy, it will be a massive boom for the market. Not to mention, Musk's companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), are worth in excess of $2.5 trillion and advancing aggressively.
While the decision to go on the offensive and buy Bitcoin rests solely on Musk's eccentric shoulders, he has done it before. Back in 2021, Musk dropped a bombshell by announcing a major $1.5 billion Bitcoin purchase through Tesla, representing roughly 10% of the company's cash on hand.
The move was one of multiple reasons that led to a major crypto boom in the year, but the Tesla CEO's eccentric ways arguably caused a significant price drop later on when he announced he would sell a significant portion of the company's stash.
Because of Musk's history of impulsive, rash decisions when buying or selling Bitcoin, the crypto community might be apprehensive about his involvement. He usually tries to dominate the news headlines after investing in a company or asset, as seen in his 2021 BTC purchase and his 2022 hostile takeover of Twitter.
However, it is no secret that Musk prefers Bitcoin over fiat. Elon Musk described Bitcoin as a “less dumb form of liquidity than cash”. He made this statement in February 2021 to defend Tesla's $1.5 billion investment in cryptocurrency.
Musk has given little indication of such an aggressive pivot, and it remains to be seen whether he will go through with it.
Bitcoin BTCUSD faces a “do-or-die” price point if 2026 becomes a classic bear market year.
Key points:
Bitcoin four-year price cycles and bear markets remain relevant, the latest power law analysis says.
2026 may see a BTC price support showdown with $65,000 as the key level.
History demands price “catching up” to power-law targets.
Bitcoin bear markets to stay around
New analysis by Jurrien Timmer, director of global macro at Fidelity Investments, flags $65,000 as the next key BTC price battleground.
After hugging its power law trendline for much of the current bull market, BTCUSD could now be due for a retest of a lower support line — one currently at $45,000.
“It is following the internet S-curve a lot closer now than the power law curve,” Timmer acknowledged.
Power law attempts to give price a “fair value,” and history shows that trips toward the support line have often accompanied long-term bottoms.
“For now, the line in the sand for Bitcoin is $65k (previous high), and below that $45k. The latter is the power law trendline,” Timmer continued.
The analysis called into question whether or not Bitcoin is still subject to four-year price cycles. For Timmer, halving cycles are impacting price less and less with time, but bear markets will still happen.
Responding, executive David Eng agreed that bear markets are set to remain a feature of Bitcoin as a maturing asset.
“The idea that Bitcoin has ‘graduated' into a no-bear-market S-curve price regime misunderstands how prices form,” he argued.
Eng added that Bitcoin now faces longer price cycles and lower overall volatility.
”Compressed” BTC price needs a rebound
As Cointelegraph reported, four-year cycles became a topic of debate among the Bitcoin community after 2025 finished in the red.
BTCUSD has never ended a post-halving year lower than when it began, and reactions include dropping the cycle theory altogether.
Eng, however, predicts that “compressed” power law readings demand an upward relief rally.
“Bitcoin isn't stalling it's coiling below its long-term growth law, and history says resolution comes by price catching up, not the law giving way,” he told X followers this weekend.
Bitcoin is Compressed Below Its Growth Law, and Compression Always Resolves Upward
Bitcoin still obeys a single power law with extraordinary stability (R² ≈ 0.96) across 15+ years bubbles and crashes are oscillations, not regime changes.
• Spot (~$90.5k) is ~25% below… pic.twitter.com/OWVwG4Vgas
Select market data provided by ICE Data Services. Select reference data provided by FactSet. Copyright © 2026 FactSet Research Systems Inc.Copyright © 2026, American Bankers Association. CUSIP Database provided by FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved. SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2026 TradingView, Inc.
Oops, something went wrong
Two crypto exchanges registered in the United Kingdom processed approximately $1 billion in transactions linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while publicly operating as conventional trading platforms, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs revealed in a January 9 report.
Zedcex and Zedxion facilitated operational financing for the IRGC, with illicit flows accounting for roughly 56% of their total transaction volume and peaking at 87% in 2024.
The exchanges incorporated in the UK between 2021 and 2022 used nominal directors, virtual office addresses, and repeatedly filed dormant accounts despite processing billions in on-chain activity.
Corporate records directly connect Zedcex to Babak Morteza Zanjani, an Iranian sanctions-evasion financier previously sanctioned by the US and EU in 2013 for laundering billions in oil revenue on behalf of regime entities, including the IRGC, before those penalties were lifted under the now-defunct Iran nuclear deal.
Source: TRMLabs
IRGC-linked addresses at Zedcex processed $23.7 million in 2023, representing 60% of total activity, before surging to $619.1 million in 2024 when the IRGC share jumped to 87%.
Activity declined to $410.4 million in 2025 as non-IRGC flows increased, reducing the corps' share to 48%.
The two exchanges operated as a single enterprise despite separate UK incorporation, with both entities sharing directors, addresses, and coordinated timing that indicated continuity rather than independence.
Zanjani's withdrawal from Zedxion in 2022, followed immediately by Zedcex's incorporation under the same control structure and address, suggested operational continuity rather than separation.
After being arrested in Iran and sentenced to death for embezzling millions from Iran's National Oil Company, his sentence was commuted in 2024 after repaying funds, and he re-emerged publicly with proximity to regime-linked economic projects through DotOne Holding Group, a conglomerate spanning cryptocurrency, foreign exchange, logistics, and telecommunications.
Source: TRMLabs
TRM analysis linked Zedcex wallets directly to addresses designated by Israeli authorities as IRGC property under the Administrative Seizure Order ASO-43/25, issued in September 2025, many of which Tether subsequently blocklisted.
Transfers conducted almost entirely in USDT on the TRON blockchain routed funds between designated IRGC addresses, offshore intermediaries, and domestic Iranian exchanges, including Nobitex, Wallex, and Aban Tether.
Source: TRMLabs
The exchanges also integrated with Zedpay, a Turkey-based mobile payment processor that maintains relationships with Turkish financial entities, including Vepara, whose license was later suspended amid money laundering concerns, and Vakif Katilim, a state-owned Islamic bank previously scrutinized for facilitating Iran-linked financial activity.
This integration extended capabilities beyond trading to support fiat settlement and real-world payments for actors under sanctions constraints.
On-chain tracing revealed that over $10 million in USDT transferred directly from wallets dually attributable to Zedcex and the IRGC to addresses controlled by Sa'id Ahmad Muhammad al-Jamal, who is sanctioned by the US Treasury for providing material support to the IRGC and operating smuggling networks that generate revenue for Yemen's Houthis.
The absence of intermediary routing established Zedcex infrastructure as an active funding rail rather than an incidental touchpoint.
The case emerges as sanctioned nation-states increasingly dominate crypto crime statistics, with Chainalysis reporting illicit addresses received at least $154 billion in 2025, marking a 162% jump from $59 billion in 2024, driven largely by a 694% increase in sanctioned entity activity.
Source: Chainalysis
Stablecoins accounted for 84% of all illicit transaction volume, mirroring broader ecosystem trends in which these assets offer easy cross-border transfers and lower volatility.
Iran's broader crypto operations have faced mounting pressure throughout 2025, with flows involving Iranian entities falling to $3.7 billion between January and July, a 11% decline from 2024.
The Treasury Department sanctioned two Iranian nationals in September for coordinating over $100 million in cryptocurrency oil sales benefiting the IRGC, while Iran has explored accepting digital currencies for advanced weapons sales, including ballistic missiles and drones marketed through its Ministry of Defense Export Center.
Russia launched its ruble-backed A7A5 token in February 2025, processing over $93.3 billion in transactions in less than a year as Moscow similarly leveraged crypto infrastructure to circumvent Western financial restrictions.
Read original story Iran Used UK Crypto Platforms to Evade Sanctions With $1B in Secret Flows: Report by Anas Hassan at Cryptonews.com
Ethereum's price action has spent an unusually long time moving sideways, and this behavior has tested the patience of many long-term bullish investors. When speaking of sideways movement, this movement has dragged on for many months, although Ethereum did manage to make a new all-time high in 2025.
Interestingly, a technical analysis shared on X by Egrag Crypto shows how Ethereum's current price action fits into previous playouts when viewed through an inverted monthly chart. This offers a perspective on what appears to be stagnation about to break into new price highs.
A Repeating Cycle With Changing Behavior
The analysis is based on an inverted monthly Ethereum chart, which offers an interesting perspective that flips conventional interpretations of price movement. Ethereum's inverted monthly chart shows a consistent pattern that's changing with time in market structure across multiple cycles.
A look at the inverted chart shows that previous price cycles were characterized by short accumulation phases followed by aggressive moves. As the market matured, those accumulation zones stretched out, and the resulting moves became less violent and more controlled.
The first instance was in 2016, when Ethereum traded in a range for about 10 months before breaking out and going on a violent drop. A similar structure appeared between mid-2018 and mid-2020, when a longer consolidation phase preceded another drop that played out gradually at a softer pace.
The current cycle, however, is playing out with a much longer accumulation. Therefore, the eventual drop should be shorter, according to Egrag Crypto.
Inverted Ethereum Price Chart. Source: @egragcrypto on X
A Drop Here Actually Means A Breakout
The most important detail in this technical framework is that the chart is inverted. What looks like a downside move on this view actually points to upside expansion on the real Ethereum price chart.
According to the previous outcomes, once Ethereum exits this range, the next move is likely to unfold quickly. It may not match the explosive nature of early-cycle rallies, but it is expected to be more orderly, sustained, and carry Ethereum to new price highs.
When the structure is converted back into real price terms, Egrag Crypto identifies the $3,800 to $4,500 area as the first critical zone. This region represents initial resistance that must be cleared to confirm a bullish continuation. Only after a decisive move above this range would the $6,000 to $7,500 zone come into focus as a realistic upside target.
The analysis also highlights a defined risk scenario. A pullback to the $1,800 to $2,200 region would postpone the breakout and act as a final shakeout before a final lift-off. However, as long as Ethereum holds its broader consolidation structure, such a retest would not invalidate the thesis. At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $3,100.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Select market data provided by ICE Data Services. Select reference data provided by FactSet. Copyright © 2026 FactSet Research Systems Inc.Copyright © 2026, American Bankers Association. CUSIP Database provided by FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved. SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2026 TradingView, Inc.
In a year-end letter, Shiba Inu developer Kaal Dhairya spoke about a recovery plan for Shibarium users following the hack incident in September.
Dhairya mentioned "SOU," which means "Shib Owes You," a system that intends to make affected Shibarium users whole.
In this system, every affected user has an SOU NFT, which is an on-chain, verifiable record of exactly what the Shiba Inu ecosystem owes them. The SOU is not a promise in a database somewhere but a cryptographic proof that Shibarium users own a claim, recorded permanently on the Ethereum blockchain.
The SOU tracks a principal amount, which is the value still owed to Shibarium users. When payouts happen, the principal goes down, as well as when donations come in from the community. Users will also be able to verify their original claim, what has been received and what is left. The SOUs can also be merged, split or transferred.
Shiba Inu team member sheds light on SOUs
In a tweet, Shiba Inu team member Lucie shares a personal explanation about SOUs. According to Lucie, the "Shib Owes You" has two layers, an official one and another, which is community-powered.
SOU Recovery Framework
Official Ethereum Claims and Community BSC Funding
Shib Owes You has two layers.
One is official.
One is community powered.
They do different jobs.
1) Official layer
SOU NFTs on Ethereum
This is the Shiba Inu team system.
These NFTs represent what… pic.twitter.com/nEkeWbeXGh
The official layer marks the SOU NFTs on Ethereum, which is the Shiba Inu team system. These NFTs represent what people lost in the Plasma Bridge exploit. In addition, they are on-chain, auditable and dynamic, defining exactly who is owed what. The SOU NFTs on Ethereum, according to Lucie, represent the accounting layers but do not raise money as they track the debt.
The second one, which is the community recovery layer, so far has one project (Woofswap) committed to it. This represents SOU on the BSC chains. Lucie clarifies that this is not a replacement for the NFTs but rather a liquidity and fee generation mechanism. Its role, according to Lucie, is to create volume and generate fees as part of activity geared toward recovery and ecosystem support.
Lucie explains further that the SOU on BSC represents the Shiba Inu community support for recovery. It is not an IOU, nor a claim nor an official SHIB product. Rather, it is a funding rail that can direct trading activity toward donations and rebuilding.
While SOU NFTs on Ethereum are the truth layer, on the BSC chain, it is the liquidity engine; one represents what is owed, while the other helps generate funds.
Select market data provided by ICE Data Services. Select reference data provided by FactSet. Copyright © 2026 FactSet Research Systems Inc.Copyright © 2026, American Bankers Association. CUSIP Database provided by FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved. SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2026 TradingView, Inc.
The buzz around crypto has gone quiet. Bitcoin sits still, altcoins barely move, and trading volumes have dropped to levels not seen in years. Welcome to what many call the . This is not just a dip—it's a deep freeze gripping the market.
Exchanges that once saw billions in daily trades now report numbers closer to multi-year lows. Investors watch charts with little action. What does this mean for your portfolio? Let's break it down step by step.
In crypto terms, an happens when trading activity freezes up. Prices don't crash hard, but volumes collapse. No one buys or sells much. Liquidity dries up, making markets slow and risky.
This term comes from Bitcoin's past. After big bull runs, like in 2017, volumes tanked for months. Traders called it an ice age because everything felt frozen. Today, we see the same signs:
It's like the party ended, and everyone went home. But why now?
Let's look at the data. On major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, total crypto trading volume fell below $50 billion per day recently. That's a huge drop from the $200 billion highs in early 2024.
Bitcoin dominance is up, but even BTC volumes are down 60%. Ethereum and Solana? Even worse. Stablecoins like USDT still move, but that's mostly for parking funds, not real trading.
These numbers scream . On-chain data from Glassnode shows active addresses at 2022 lows. Whales are holding, retail is gone.
Several factors piled up to create this freeze:
This perfect storm turned into a full .
Low volumes mean big problems:
But not all bad. It shakes out weak hands and scams. Strong projects survive.
Markets cycle. Watch these for warming:
Volume spikes on news could signal recovery. For now, patience is key.
Don't freeze up. Here's how to stay warm:
History shows ice ages end with massive thaws. 2018 lows led to 2021 highs.
The tests true believers. Trading volumes crash, but fundamentals like decentralization endure. Stay informed, hold steady, and position for the melt-up.
What do you think? Is this the deepest freeze yet? Share in comments.
Q: How long will the ice age last?A: Past ones lasted 6-18 months. Depends on macro shifts.
Q: Is it safe to buy now?A: Risky, but DCA works in lows.
Q: Which coins will survive?A: BTC, ETH, and real utility tokens.
Keywords: , trading volumes crash, Bitcoin freeze, crypto market analysis.
Discuss this news on our Telegram Community. Subscribe to us on Google news and do follow us on Twitter @Blockmanity
Did you like the news you just read? Please leave a feedback to help us serve you better
Disclaimer: Blockmanity is a news portal and does not provide any financial advice. Blockmanity's role is to inform the cryptocurrency and blockchain community about what's going on in this space. Please do your own due diligence before making any investment. Blockmanity won't be responsible for any loss of funds.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Address Blockmanity,
Koramangala 1st block,
Bangalore 560027
Blockmanity is one of the leading sources of information and analysis on the digital assets market since its establishment in 2018. Our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage of key developments. We focus on a range of topics, including Bitcoin, DeFi, NFTs, and web3, in order to offer a comprehensive overview of the crypto asset market.
Save now on essential digital access to trusted FT journalism on any device. Savings based on monthly annualised price.
Then $75 per month. Complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Cancel or change your plan anytime during your trial.
Complete digital access with exclusive insights and industry deep dives on any device.
Delivery Monday - Saturday, including FT Weekend and FT Digital Edition: all the content of the FT newspaper on any device. Savings based on annual price.
Check whether you already have access via your university or organisation.
Terms & Conditions apply
Discover all the plans currently available in your country
Digital access for organisations. Includes exclusive features and content.
See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times.
Stock Analysis
Reviewed by Simply Wall St
Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR) is back in the spotlight after its shares reached fresh highs, helped by expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts and heightened attention on its new blockchain lending initiatives.
See our latest analysis for Figure Technology Solutions.
The recent buzz around Figure's RWA Consortium, Solana based stablecoin launch and rate cut expectations has coincided with strong momentum, with a 7 day share price return of 32.78% and a 30 day share price return of 46.11%, while the 90 day share price return of 37.47% suggests interest has been building rather than fading.
If this kind of fintech momentum has your attention, it could be a good time to see which other names are moving in high growth tech and AI stocks.
With FIGR now above its average analyst target and trading near recent highs, the key question is whether the current price already reflects its blockchain lending story and expectations for potential rate cuts, or if the market is still underpricing future prospects.
Figure Technology Solutions is trading on a P/S ratio of 32.5x, which sits against a last close of US$58.08 and points to a rich valuation compared with peers.
P/S compares a company's market value with its revenue, so a higher multiple usually means investors are paying more for each dollar of sales. For a fintech name like FIGR that is focused on blockchain based lending, trading and investing platforms, a premium P/S can often reflect expectations for strong top line expansion rather than current earnings power.
Here, the Statements Data flags that FIGR is expensive based on its 32.5x P/S against both the US Consumer Finance industry average of 1.6x and a peer average of 2.3x. That kind of gap suggests the market is pricing in a very optimistic revenue path and profitability profile rather than treating FIGR like a typical consumer finance stock.
The comparison is stark: FIGR's P/S multiple is more than 20x the industry average and well above the peer group level. This clearly places the stock at the high end of the sector's valuation range.
See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown.
Result: Price-to-Sales of 32.5x (OVERVALUED)
However, there are clear risks here, including execution around the blockchain lending rollout and the chance that rate cut expectations or analyst targets prove too optimistic.
Find out about the key risks to this Figure Technology Solutions narrative.
While the P/S ratio paints FIGR as expensive, our DCF model also points to a rich setup. FIGR trades at US$58.08 compared with an estimated fair value of US$14.97, which suggests the current price already bakes in a lot of optimism.
That kind of gap can cut both ways. The real question for you is whether the story justifies paying this much above our DCF number, or if expectations have simply run too far ahead.
Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.
Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Figure Technology Solutions for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 877 undervalued stocks based on their cash flows. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match - so you never miss a potential opportunity.
If you see the figures differently or prefer to rely on your own work, you can stress test the data and shape a custom view in minutes: Do it your way.
A great starting point for your Figure Technology Solutions research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.
If FIGR has caught your eye, do not stop there. Use the Simply Wall St Screener to size up fresh opportunities that match your style and risk tolerance.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Our new AI Stock Screener scans the market every day to uncover opportunities.
• Dividend Powerhouses (3%+ Yield)• Undervalued Small Caps with Insider Buying• High growth Tech and AI CompaniesOr build your own from over 50 metrics.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
A financial technology company, provides blockchain-based products and solutions in the United States.
High growth potential with adequate balance sheet.
Financial Data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC, analysis provided by Simply Wall Street Pty Ltd. Copyright © 2026, S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. All rights reserved.
Markets
Investing Ideas
Features
Simply Wall St
Simply Wall Street Pty Ltd (ACN 600 056 611), is a Corporate Authorised Representative (Authorised Representative Number: 467183) of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 337927). Any advice contained in this website is general advice only and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should not rely on any advice and/or information contained in this website and before making any investment decision we recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your situation and seek appropriate financial, taxation and legal advice. Please read our Financial Services Guide before deciding whether to obtain financial services from us.
© 2026 Simply Wall Street Pty Ltd, US Design Patent #29/544/281, Community and European Design Registration #2845206
Why the universe is expanding faster and faster remains one of the biggest open questions in physics. Current theories cannot fully explain this accelerating growth. Today's standard picture of the universe is built on Einstein's general theory of relativity and the standard model of particle physics. Within this framework, scientists usually assume the presence of a mysterious force known as "dark energy" to account for the speeding expansion of space. Despite its widespread use in cosmology, the true nature and origin of dark energy are still unknown.
Now, researchers from the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen, working with colleagues at the Transylvanian University of Brașov in Romania, suggest a different way of looking at the problem. Their work indicates that the universe's expansion might be explained -- at least partially -- without invoking dark energy at all.
Why Dark Energy Was Added in the First Place
Cosmologists use Einstein's general theory of relativity along with the Friedmann equations to describe how the universe changes over time. However, when these equations are applied to real astronomical observations, they fall short. To match what telescopes see, scientists must manually add an extra "dark energy term" to the equations. This addition is not derived naturally from the theory itself, which has long made it an unsatisfying solution.
A New Approach Using Extended Gravity
Because of this limitation, the team at ZARM and their Romanian collaborators explored an alternative idea. Their results, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, rely on an extension of general relativity (GR) known as Finsler gravity. This approach has been developeded over recent years and uses a broader description of spacetime geometry.
Unlike the standard formulation of GRT, Finsler gravity can describe the gravitational behavior of gases more precisely. This difference turns out to be crucial when modeling the large-scale behavior of the universe.
Accelerated Expansion Without Dark Energy
When the researchers applied Finsler gravity to the Friedmann equations, they uncovered a striking result. The modified equations, known as the Finsler-Friedmann equations, naturally predict an accelerating universe even in empty space. No extra assumptions are required, and no additional "dark energy" term needs to be added by hand.
"This is an exciting indication that we may be able to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe, at least in parts, without dark energy, on the basis of a generalized spacetime geometry," says Christian Pfeifer, ZARM physicist and member of the research team. "This new geometric point of view on the dark energy problem opens up new possibilities for better understanding the laws of nature in the cosmos."
Story Source:
Materials provided by Universität Bremen. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Cite This Page:
Common Food Preservatives Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer
Statins May Help More People With Type 2 Diabetes Than Doctors Once Thought
$1 Million Bet on a Cure: Reprogramming the Immune System To Stop Type 1 Diabetes
Scientists Can Now Watch Plants “Breathe” in Real Time
Stay informed with ScienceDaily's free email newsletter, updated daily and weekly. Or view our many newsfeeds in your RSS reader:
Keep up to date with the latest news from ScienceDaily via social networks:
Tell us what you think of ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. Have any problems using the site? Questions?
Three newly identified compounds were found to strongly inhibit α-glucosidase, an enzyme that plays a central role in breaking down carbohydrates during digestion. Because this enzyme directly affects how quickly sugars enter the bloodstream, the discovery points to possible new functional food ingredients aimed at managing type 2 diabetes.
Functional foods offer more than basic nutrition. Many contain naturally occurring molecules that may support health, including compounds with antioxidant, neuroprotective, or glucose-lowering effects. Finding these helpful substances is difficult because foods are chemically complex. Older discovery methods can be slow and inefficient, which has pushed researchers to adopt more advanced tools such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These techniques are especially valuable for studying roasted coffee, which contains a wide range of overlapping chemical components.
Study Reveals Anti Diabetic Potential in Coffee
Researchers led by Minghua Qiu at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported their findings in Beverage Plant Research. Their work highlights previously unknown anti-diabetic activity in coffee and adds new insight into its role as a functional food.
The team designed a three-step, activity-focused process to uncover bioactive diterpene esters in roasted Coffea arabica beans. Their approach aimed to detect both common and extremely low-level compounds that could inhibit α-glucosidase, while also reducing solvent use and speeding up analysis.
First, the crude diterpene extract was separated into 19 fractions using silica gel chromatography. Each fraction was then analyzed with ^1H NMR and tested for α-glucosidase inhibition. By applying cluster heatmap analysis to the ^1H NMR data, the researchers identified Fr.9-Fr.13 as the most biologically active fractions based on distinctive proton signal patterns.
Further analysis of a representative sample, Fr.9, using ^13C-DEPT NMR revealed the presence of an aldehyde group, confirming earlier findings. After purification with semi-preparative HPLC, the scientists isolated three previously unknown diterpene esters, named caffaldehydes A, B, and C. Their chemical structures were verified through 1D and 2D NMR along with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRESIMS).
Stronger Effects Than a Common Diabetes Drug
Although the three caffaldehydes differed in their fatty acid components (palmitic, stearic, and arachidic acids), all showed notable α-glucosidase inhibition. Their IC₅₀ values were 45.07, 24.40, and 17.50 μM respectively, indicating stronger activity than the comparison drug acarbose.
To uncover additional trace compounds that were difficult to detect using NMR or HPLC alone, the team applied LC-MS/MS to combined fraction groups. They then built a molecular network using GNPS and Cytoscape. This analysis revealed three more previously unknown diterpene esters (compounds 4-6) that were closely related to caffaldehydes A-C. While they shared similar fragment patterns, these molecules contained different fatty acids (magaric, octadecenoic, and nonadecanoic acids). Searches of existing compound databases confirmed that these substances had not been reported before.
Together, the results show that this integrated dereplication strategy is highly effective for identifying structurally diverse and biologically meaningful compounds in complex foods such as roasted coffee.
What This Means for Functional Foods and Future Research
The findings suggest new opportunities to develop coffee-based functional foods or nutraceuticals that support glucose control and may help manage diabetes. Beyond coffee, the same low-solvent, high-precision screening approach could be applied to other complex food sources to rapidly uncover health-related compounds. Future studies will focus on testing the biological effects of the newly discovered trace diterpenes and evaluating their safety and effectiveness in vivo.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Maximum Academic Press. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Cite This Page:
Common Food Preservatives Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer
Statins May Help More People With Type 2 Diabetes Than Doctors Once Thought
$1 Million Bet on a Cure: Reprogramming the Immune System To Stop Type 1 Diabetes
Scientists Can Now Watch Plants “Breathe” in Real Time
Stay informed with ScienceDaily's free email newsletter, updated daily and weekly. Or view our many newsfeeds in your RSS reader:
Keep up to date with the latest news from ScienceDaily via social networks:
Tell us what you think of ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. Have any problems using the site? Questions?
Scientists studying the Great Salt Lake have identified at least one species of nematode that is completely new to science, with evidence suggesting there may be a second. Researchers from the University of Utah recently published a paper describing the tiny roundworm and formally naming it in a way that honors the Indigenous people whose ancestral lands include the lake.
The species has been named Diplolaimelloides woaabi and appears to live only in the Great Salt Lake. That makes it endemic to the lake and potentially an important, though still poorly understood, part of its ecosystem. To choose the name, the research team, led by University of Utah biology professor Michael Werner, worked with the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. Tribal elders suggested Wo'aabi, an Indigenous word meaning "worm."
Why Nematodes Matter
Nematodes are among the most widespread animals on Earth. They are found in nearly every environment imaginable, including polar ice, deep-sea hydrothermal vents and ordinary backyard soil. Most are smaller than a millimeter, which is why they often go unnoticed.
Despite their size, nematodes are extraordinarily abundant. Scientists have identified more than 250,000 species so far, making them the most numerous animal phylum in both land and water ecosystems. Roughly 80% of animal life in terrestrial soils and about 90% of animals living on the ocean floor are nematodes.
The First Discovery in the Lake
Until recently, no nematodes had been definitively documented in the Great Salt Lake. That changed in 2022, when field expeditions led by Julie Jung uncovered nematodes living in the lake's microbialites. These are hardened, mound-like structures formed by microbial communities on the lakebed.
Jung, who was a postdoctoral researcher in Werner's lab at the time, collected samples while traveling across the lake by kayak and bicycle. The team reported that initial discovery in a scientific paper published last year.
"We thought that this was probably a new species of nematode from the beginning, but it took three years of additional work to taxonomically confirm that suspicion," said Jung, now an assistant professor at Weber State University.
Only the Third Animal Known to Survive There
With this finding, nematodes became just the third group of animals known to live in the Great Salt Lake's extremely salty water. The other two are brine shrimp and brine flies, which are crucial food sources for millions of migratory birds that stop at the lake each year.
Further research suggests the story may not be finished. Genetic evidence indicates there could be a second, previously unknown nematode species among the samples collected. Thomas Murray, an undergraduate researcher and second author on the paper, has been helping sample different regions of the lake to investigate this possibility.
"It's hard to tell distinguishing characteristics, but genetically we can see that there are at least two populations out there," Werner said.
How Did the Worms Get There?
The discovery raises two major questions for scientists. First, how did these worms arrive in the Great Salt Lake? Second, what role do they play in the lake's ecosystem?
From early on, the team suspected the nematodes belonged to the family Monhysteridae. This is an ancient group of nematodes known for surviving in extreme conditions, including very salty environments. Genetic and physical analyses confirmed that the species belongs to the genus Diplolaimelloides, a group typically found in coastal marine and brackish waters.
That makes the Great Salt Lake discovery especially puzzling. Only one other member of this genus is known to live outside coastal regions, and that species is found in eastern Mongolia. The Great Salt Lake, by contrast, sits about 4,200 feet above sea level and is roughly 800 miles from the nearest ocean.
"That begs some more interesting, intriguing questions that you wouldn't have even known to think of until we figured out the alpha taxonomy," Werner said. "There are two hypotheses, two models that are both kind of crazy for different reasons."
Ancient Seas or Traveling Birds
One explanation comes from coauthor Byron Adams, a nematologist and biology professor at Brigham Young University. He suggests the worms may have been living in the region for millions of years. During the Cretaceous Period, much of what is now Utah was located along the shoreline of a vast inland sea that split North America in two.
"So we were on the beach here. This area was part of that seaway, and streams and rivers that drained into that beach would be great habitat for these kinds of organisms," Adams said. "With the Colorado Plateau lifting up, you formed a great basin, and these animals were trapped here. That's something that we have to test out and do more science on, but that's my go-to. The null hypothesis is that they're here because they've always kind of been here."
Werner pointed out a major challenge to that idea. Northern Utah has not always been salty. Between 20,000 and 30,000 years ago, the region was covered by Lake Bonneville, a massive freshwater lake.
"If the nematode has been endemic since 100 million years ago, it has survived through these dramatic shifts in salinity at least once, probably a few times," he said.
The alternative explanation, which Werner admits is even "crazier," is that the worms were transported by migratory birds. In this scenario, nematodes could have clung to feathers after birds visited saline lakes in South America and were then carried thousands of miles north.
"So who knows. Maybe the birds are transporting small invertebrates, including nematodes, across huge distances," Werner said. "Kind of hard to believe, but it seems like it has to be one of those two."
A Potential Early Warning for Lake Health
Back in the lab, researchers noticed another unexpected pattern. Female nematodes were far more common than males in samples collected directly from the lake.
"That's another confusing part of the story for us. When we sample out there on the lake and bring them back in the lab, we get less than 1% males. But when we have cultured them in the lab, the males make up about 50% of the sex ratio," Werner said. "We're super happy to be able to culture them in the lab, but there's something about it that's clearly different than the lake environment."
The worms live within algal mats that coat the lake's microbialites, feeding on bacteria that thrive there. Researchers found that the nematodes are concentrated in just the top few centimeters of these mats and are absent below that layer.
While scientists are still determining their exact position in the food web, nematodes are known to be ecologically important in many environments. Their presence in the Great Salt Lake suggests they likely play a meaningful role there as well.
Nematodes are also widely used as bioindicators. Changes in their populations, diversity or distribution can signal shifts in water quality, salinity or sediment chemistry. With the Great Salt Lake under increasing pressure from human activity, this newly identified species could become a valuable tool for monitoring environmental change.
"When you only have a handful of species that can persist in environments like that, and they're really sensitive to change, those serve as really good sentinel taxa," Adams said. "They tell you how healthy is your ecosystem."
Because Diplolaimelloides woaabi appears to live exclusively on microbialites, it may have unique relationships with microbes or unusual survival strategies that scientists have yet to uncover. Since microbialites play a central role in producing energy and supporting life in the lake, any interactions involving these nematodes could have effects that spread throughout the ecosystem.
Study Details and Funding
The research appears in the November 2025 issue of the Journal of Nematology under the title, "Diplolaimelloides woaabi sp. n. (Nematoda: Monhysteridae): A Novel Species of Free-Living Nematode from the Great Salt Lake, Utah."
The study's authors include Solinus Farrer, Abigail Borgmeier and Byron J. Adams of Brigham Young University; Jon Wang and Morgan Marcus of the University of Utah; Gustavo Fonseca of the Federal University of São Paulo; and Thomas Powers of the University of Nebraska. Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health, the Society of Systematic Biologists, the National Science Foundation and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico.
Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Utah. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Cite This Page:
Common Food Preservatives Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer
Statins May Help More People With Type 2 Diabetes Than Doctors Once Thought
$1 Million Bet on a Cure: Reprogramming the Immune System To Stop Type 1 Diabetes
Scientists Can Now Watch Plants “Breathe” in Real Time
Stay informed with ScienceDaily's free email newsletter, updated daily and weekly. Or view our many newsfeeds in your RSS reader:
Keep up to date with the latest news from ScienceDaily via social networks:
Tell us what you think of ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. Have any problems using the site? Questions?
Latest
AI
Amazon
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Google
Government & Policy
Hardware
Instagram
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
Staff
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Newsletters
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
The nuclear industry is in the mist of a renaissance. Old plants are being refurbished, and investors are showering startups with cash. In the last several weeks of 2025 alone, nuclear startups raised $1.1 billion, largely on investor optimism that smaller nuclear reactors will succeed where the broader industry has recently stumbled.
Traditional nuclear reactors are massive pieces of infrastructure. The newest reactors built in the U.S. — Vogtle 3 and 4 in Georgia — contain tens of thousands of tons of concrete, are powered by fuel assemblies 14 feet tall, and generate over 1 gigawatt of electricity each. But they were also eight years late and more than $20 billion over budget.
The fresh crop of nuclear startups hopes that by shrinking the reactor, they'll be able to sidestep both problems. Need more power? Just add more reactors. Smaller reactors, they argue, can be built using mass production techniques, and as companies produce more parts, they should get better at making them, which should drive down costs.
The magnitude of that benefit is something experts are still researching, but today's nuclear startups are depending on it being greater than zero.
But manufacturing isn't easy. Just look at Tesla's experience: The company struggled mightily to profitably produce the Model 3 in large numbers — and it had the benefit of being in the automotive industry, where the U.S. still has significant expertise. U.S. nuclear startups don't have that advantage.
“I have a number of friends who work in supply chain for nuclear, and they can rattle off like five to ten materials that we just don't make in the United States,” Milo Werner, general partner at DCVC, told TechCrunch. “We have to buy them overseas. We've forgotten how to make them.”
Werner knows a thing or two about manufacturing. Before becoming an investor, she worked at Tesla leading new product introduction, and before that, she did the same at FitBit, launching four factories in China for the wearables company. Today, in addition to investing at DCVC, Werner has co-founded the NextGen Industry Group, which works to advance the adoption of new technologies in the manufacturing sector.
When companies of any size want to manufacture something, they face two main challenges, Werner said. One is capital, which is often the biggest constraint since factories aren't cheap. Fortunately for the nuclear industry, that shouldn't pose much of a problem. “They're awash in capital right now,” she said.
But the nuclear industry isn't immune from the other challenge all manufacturers face, which is a lack of human capital. “We haven't really built any industrial facilities in 40 years in the United States,” Werner said. As a result, we've lost the muscle memory. “It's like we've been sitting on the couch watching TV for 10 years and then getting up and trying to run a marathon the next day. It's not good.”
After decades of offshoring, the U.S. lacks people experienced with both factory construction and operations. “There are for sure some people in the United States who have been doing this, but we don't have the quantum of people that we need for everybody to have a full staff of seasoned manufacturing people.” She not just talking about machine operators, but everyone from factory floor supervisors all the way up to CFOs and board members.
The good news is that Werner sees a lot of startups, nuclear and otherwise, building early versions of their products in close proximity to their technical team. “That is pulling manufacturing in closer to the United States because it allows them to have that cycle of improvement.”
To reap the benefits of mass manufacturing, it's helpful for startups of all stripes to start small and scale up. “Really leaning into modularity is very important for investors,” she said. The modular approach helps companies start producing small volumes early on so they can collect data on the manufacturing process. Ideally, that data will show improvement over time, which can put investors at ease.
The benefits of mass manufacturing don't happen overnight. Companies will often forecast cost reductions that can result from learning through manufacturing, but it might take longer than they expect. “Often it takes years, like a decade, to get there,” Werner said.
Topics
Senior Reporter, Climate
Tim De Chant is a senior climate reporter at TechCrunch. He has written for a wide range of publications, including Wired magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Ars Technica, The Wire China, and NOVA Next, where he was founding editor.
De Chant is also a lecturer in MIT's Graduate Program in Science Writing, and he was awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT in 2018, during which time he studied climate technologies and explored new business models for journalism. He received his PhD in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley, and his BA degree in environmental studies, English, and biology from St. Olaf College.
You can contact or verify outreach from Tim by emailing tim.dechant@techcrunch.com.
Plan ahead for the 2026 StrictlyVC events. Hear straight-from-the-source candid insights in on-stage fireside sessions and meet the builders and backers shaping the industry. Join the waitlist to get first access to the lowest-priced tickets and important updates.
The most bizarre tech announced so far at CES 2026
How Quilt solved the heat pump's biggest challenge
A viral Reddit post alleging fraud from a food delivery app turned out to be AI-generated
Founder of spyware maker pcTattletale pleads guilty to hacking and advertising surveillance software
This is Uber's new robotaxi from Lucid and Nuro
Lego Smart Bricks introduce a new way to build — and they don't require screens
Hacktivist deletes white supremacist websites live onstage during hacker conference
© 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC.
I just checked, and Instagram's password reset flow allows requesting a reset using an email address, a phone number, or even the username [1]. The username is public information, so triggering password reset emails is relatively easy. At scale you would need IP rotation and some basic automation, but it is not particularly hard to generate a large volume of reset emails and create confusion.From an attacker's perspective, this does not grant access to accounts or sensitive data. It mainly causes users to receive unexpected reset emails and possibly panic or change their passwords. That aligns more with nuisance or malice than with a meaningful breach.I do not have definitive proof, but based on this behavior it seems plausible that the reported wave of reset emails could be explained without any large scale data leak.[1] https://www.instagram.com/accounts/password/reset/ (screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/4x5HPLx)
From an attacker's perspective, this does not grant access to accounts or sensitive data. It mainly causes users to receive unexpected reset emails and possibly panic or change their passwords. That aligns more with nuisance or malice than with a meaningful breach.I do not have definitive proof, but based on this behavior it seems plausible that the reported wave of reset emails could be explained without any large scale data leak.[1] https://www.instagram.com/accounts/password/reset/ (screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/4x5HPLx)
I do not have definitive proof, but based on this behavior it seems plausible that the reported wave of reset emails could be explained without any large scale data leak.[1] https://www.instagram.com/accounts/password/reset/ (screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/4x5HPLx)
[1] https://www.instagram.com/accounts/password/reset/ (screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/4x5HPLx)
reply
reply
reply
reply
reply
reply
Instagram response posted on 11-jan: "We fixed an issue that let an external party request password reset emails for some people. There was no breach of our systems and your Instagram accounts are secure. You can ignore those emails — sorry for any confusion" https://xcancel.com/instagram/status/2010202301886238822?s=2...
reply
reply
I doubt they fixed anything. Lol
reply
reply
reply
Got one a day or two ago again actually.
reply
reply
reply
Yeah the source is terrible. I'd expect at least some sort of explanation on how they arrived at that conclusion, eg. "someone on breachforums claims to have it for sale" or "some whistleblower at instagram reported". If it's the former, it's possible that instagram themselves aren't at fault, eg. they got it via phishing or credential stuffing.
reply
I've got an Instagram burner I literally never use. Never clicked weird links, never logged in anywhere sketchy, so a phishing compromise makes zero sense. If my info got out, it likely came from Instagram's side, not mine.What's interesting is the timing pattern. I started getting “reset your password” emails in early 2023, then they'd come in waves. It feels like the creds were getting resold and different people were taking turns running the same list. The emails were in different languages too, which tracks with whoever was firing off the requests.Got another reset attempt a couple days ago. Congrats to the latest buyer: you bought pure schwag. Whatever value was in that list got milked long before it ended up public.
What's interesting is the timing pattern. I started getting “reset your password” emails in early 2023, then they'd come in waves. It feels like the creds were getting resold and different people were taking turns running the same list. The emails were in different languages too, which tracks with whoever was firing off the requests.Got another reset attempt a couple days ago. Congrats to the latest buyer: you bought pure schwag. Whatever value was in that list got milked long before it ended up public.
Got another reset attempt a couple days ago. Congrats to the latest buyer: you bought pure schwag. Whatever value was in that list got milked long before it ended up public.
reply
> If my info got out, it likely came from Instagram's side, not mine.Did you use a burner email account to register? An account that was never used for anything else?
Did you use a burner email account to register? An account that was never used for anything else?
reply
[1] https://www.instagram.com/accounts/password/reset/ (screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/4x5HPLx)
reply
reply
Nobody is buying your account specifically, they're buying it bulk. At that scale the fact that a percentage of accounts are fake/burner/bots is baked whatever the buyer is expecting. If anything, the bigger issue is bot accounts, not random privacy-oriented people's burner accounts.
reply
The original Malwarebytes tweet is incredibly generic.
reply
reply
That's never happened to me before, wonder if it's related
reply
"If you received a bunch of password reset requests from Instagram recently, you're not alone."
reply
reply
reply
reply
reply
reply
But anyway, I have Instagram and WhatsApp on my phone. They probably can also see my location (or the SSID of networks around me) and figure out where I live.
reply
1. There's a map feature where users can assign their location to a photo that was taken. I suppose this could qualify as 'physical address'.2. Businesses often have their physical addresses as part of their profile.
2. Businesses often have their physical addresses as part of their profile.
reply
reply
reply
* https://support.1password.com/fastmail/
reply
Whoever it is, they just entered your Instagram username in the "To recover your password, enter your username, and we'll email you a reset link" field...
reply
reply
reply
They are about to get to know about us even more![0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46530353
[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46530353
reply
I've long-viewed password managers are mandatory. Every site get its own 20+ character randomly generated password. I don't care if the hash gets leaked. It's not getting cracked. For years this has been 1Password. Initially it was LastPass but 1Password is just more slick.The annoyance is all the arbitrary rules sites create about you have to use special characters or you can't or they have different, non-overlapping requirements on password length or the absolute worst is forced password rotation.I don't generally try and get non-tech friends and family use password managers however because it's still kinda clunky to use and generate. Passkeys are kinda better I guess? But they're far from universal and I don't expect them ever to be.Anyway, this kind of leak from Meta kinda surprises me. Leaking information that ties a physical address to an email address? That's a massive breach and not normally one you expect form a company employing thousands of engineers.I will say this: IG operates as its own domain within Meta and AFAIK they still use a completely separate code base in Python/Django. Facebook proper is in Hack (almost entirely) and has excellent tooling and systems to detect weak endpoints and PII leaks of this sort such that leaky endpoints (or however this information leaked; I didn't see any details in the article) really just don't happen.This has long been a point of friction within Meta engineerings. It's defensible to say it's not worth rewriting but IG are constantly playing catch up with what the rest of the company gets for "free". How many billion+ dollar settlements does it take before this equation changes?And yes I believe that leaking physical addresses is going to cost th ecompany more than a billion dollars. It may get people killed. That's how serious this is.
The annoyance is all the arbitrary rules sites create about you have to use special characters or you can't or they have different, non-overlapping requirements on password length or the absolute worst is forced password rotation.I don't generally try and get non-tech friends and family use password managers however because it's still kinda clunky to use and generate. Passkeys are kinda better I guess? But they're far from universal and I don't expect them ever to be.Anyway, this kind of leak from Meta kinda surprises me. Leaking information that ties a physical address to an email address? That's a massive breach and not normally one you expect form a company employing thousands of engineers.I will say this: IG operates as its own domain within Meta and AFAIK they still use a completely separate code base in Python/Django. Facebook proper is in Hack (almost entirely) and has excellent tooling and systems to detect weak endpoints and PII leaks of this sort such that leaky endpoints (or however this information leaked; I didn't see any details in the article) really just don't happen.This has long been a point of friction within Meta engineerings. It's defensible to say it's not worth rewriting but IG are constantly playing catch up with what the rest of the company gets for "free". How many billion+ dollar settlements does it take before this equation changes?And yes I believe that leaking physical addresses is going to cost th ecompany more than a billion dollars. It may get people killed. That's how serious this is.
I don't generally try and get non-tech friends and family use password managers however because it's still kinda clunky to use and generate. Passkeys are kinda better I guess? But they're far from universal and I don't expect them ever to be.Anyway, this kind of leak from Meta kinda surprises me. Leaking information that ties a physical address to an email address? That's a massive breach and not normally one you expect form a company employing thousands of engineers.I will say this: IG operates as its own domain within Meta and AFAIK they still use a completely separate code base in Python/Django. Facebook proper is in Hack (almost entirely) and has excellent tooling and systems to detect weak endpoints and PII leaks of this sort such that leaky endpoints (or however this information leaked; I didn't see any details in the article) really just don't happen.This has long been a point of friction within Meta engineerings. It's defensible to say it's not worth rewriting but IG are constantly playing catch up with what the rest of the company gets for "free". How many billion+ dollar settlements does it take before this equation changes?And yes I believe that leaking physical addresses is going to cost th ecompany more than a billion dollars. It may get people killed. That's how serious this is.
Anyway, this kind of leak from Meta kinda surprises me. Leaking information that ties a physical address to an email address? That's a massive breach and not normally one you expect form a company employing thousands of engineers.I will say this: IG operates as its own domain within Meta and AFAIK they still use a completely separate code base in Python/Django. Facebook proper is in Hack (almost entirely) and has excellent tooling and systems to detect weak endpoints and PII leaks of this sort such that leaky endpoints (or however this information leaked; I didn't see any details in the article) really just don't happen.This has long been a point of friction within Meta engineerings. It's defensible to say it's not worth rewriting but IG are constantly playing catch up with what the rest of the company gets for "free". How many billion+ dollar settlements does it take before this equation changes?And yes I believe that leaking physical addresses is going to cost th ecompany more than a billion dollars. It may get people killed. That's how serious this is.
I will say this: IG operates as its own domain within Meta and AFAIK they still use a completely separate code base in Python/Django. Facebook proper is in Hack (almost entirely) and has excellent tooling and systems to detect weak endpoints and PII leaks of this sort such that leaky endpoints (or however this information leaked; I didn't see any details in the article) really just don't happen.This has long been a point of friction within Meta engineerings. It's defensible to say it's not worth rewriting but IG are constantly playing catch up with what the rest of the company gets for "free". How many billion+ dollar settlements does it take before this equation changes?And yes I believe that leaking physical addresses is going to cost th ecompany more than a billion dollars. It may get people killed. That's how serious this is.
This has long been a point of friction within Meta engineerings. It's defensible to say it's not worth rewriting but IG are constantly playing catch up with what the rest of the company gets for "free". How many billion+ dollar settlements does it take before this equation changes?And yes I believe that leaking physical addresses is going to cost th ecompany more than a billion dollars. It may get people killed. That's how serious this is.
And yes I believe that leaking physical addresses is going to cost th ecompany more than a billion dollars. It may get people killed. That's how serious this is.
reply
reply
reply
Latest
AI
Amazon
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Google
Government & Policy
Hardware
Instagram
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
Staff
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Newsletters
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Officials from Indonesia and Malaysia have said they are temporarily blocking access to xAI's chatbot Grok.
These are the most aggressive moves so far from government officials responding to a flood of sexualized, AI-generated imagery — often depicting real women and minors, and sometimes depicting violence — posted by Grok in response to requests from users on the social network X. (X and xAI are part of the same company.)
In a statement shared Saturday with the Guardian and other publications, Indonesia's communications and digital minister Meutya Hafid said, “The government views the practice of non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space.”
The ministry has also reportedly summoned X officials to discuss the issue.
The New York Times said the Malaysian government announced a similar ban on Sunday.
Varied governmental responses over the past week include an order from India's IT ministry for xAI to take action to prevent Grok from generating obscene content, as well as an order from the European Commission for the company to retain all documents related to Grok, potentially setting the stage for an investigation.
In the United Kingdom, the communications regulator Ofcom has said that it will “undertake a swift assessment to determine whether there are potential compliance issues that warrant investigation.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in an interview Ofcom has his “full support to take action.”
And while in the United States, the Trump administration appears to be staying silent on the issue (xAI CEO Elon Musk is a major Trump donor and led the administration's controversial Department of Government Efficiency last year), Democratic senators have called on Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores.
xAI initially responded by posting a seemingly first-person apology to the Grok account, acknowledging that a post “violated ethical standards and potentially US laws” around child sexual abuse material. It later restricted the AI image-generation feature to paying subscribers on X, though that restriction did not appear to affect the Grok app itself, which still allowed anyone to generate images.
In response to a post wondering why the U.K. government wasn't taking action against other AI image generation tools, Musk wrote, “They want any excuse for censorship.”
This post has been updated to reflect Malaysia's ban on Grok.
Topics
Anthony Ha is TechCrunch's weekend editor. Previously, he worked as a tech reporter at Adweek, a senior editor at VentureBeat, a local government reporter at the Hollister Free Lance, and vice president of content at a VC firm. He lives in New York City.
You can contact or verify outreach from Anthony by emailing anthony.ha@techcrunch.com.
Plan ahead for the 2026 StrictlyVC events. Hear straight-from-the-source candid insights in on-stage fireside sessions and meet the builders and backers shaping the industry. Join the waitlist to get first access to the lowest-priced tickets and important updates.
The most bizarre tech announced so far at CES 2026
How Quilt solved the heat pump's biggest challenge
A viral Reddit post alleging fraud from a food delivery app turned out to be AI-generated
Founder of spyware maker pcTattletale pleads guilty to hacking and advertising surveillance software
This is Uber's new robotaxi from Lucid and Nuro
Lego Smart Bricks introduce a new way to build — and they don't require screens
Hacktivist deletes white supremacist websites live onstage during hacker conference
© 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC.
Latest
AI
Amazon
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Google
Government & Policy
Hardware
Instagram
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
Staff
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Newsletters
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Google today announced a new open standard, called the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) for AI agent-based shopping, at the National Retail Federation (NRF) conference.
The standard, developed with companies like Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart, lets agents work across different parts of customer buying processes, including discovery and post-purchase support. The core idea is that the standard could facilitate these various parts of the process instead of requiring connections with different agents.
Google said that it also works with other agentic protocols, such as Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) — which Google announced last year — Agent2Agent (A2A), and Model Context Protocol (MCP). The company specified that Agents and Businesses can pick and choose specific extensions of the protocol that suits their needs.
The company said that it will soon use UCP for eligible Google product listings in AI mode in search and the Gemini apps to let shoppers check out directly from U.S.-based retailers while researching a product. Users will be able to pay using Google Pay and pass on the shipping information saved in the Google Wallet. Google said that it will soon support PayPal as a payment option.
“This is one of the really exciting parts about agentic,” said Shopify CEO and founder Tobi Lutke. “It's really good at finding people who have specific interests and finding the product that is just perfect for them. Like, I would have never searched for this product, but somehow it found me right on the other side. This kind of serendipity is where the best of commerce happens.”
Notably, Shopify also unveiled a similar integration with Microsoft Copilot for shopping today to let customers check out easily within the conversational flow.
In another consumer-facing change, Google said it will now allow brands to offer a special discount to users while they are looking for a product recommendation when using the AI mode. For instance, if you are searching for a rug using a query like “I'm looking for a modern, stylish rug for a high-traffic dining room. I host a lot of dinner parties, so I want something that is easy to clean,” brands can set up their campaign in a way to offer you a discount at that moment.
The company is also giving users new data attributes within the Merchant Center to have sellers feature their items better within AI search surfaces. Companies like PayPal and OpenAI are also working on having sellers be more discoverable in AI chatbot results. Startups like the prompting company are also working with merchants to have their products surface within AI answers.
Google is now also allowing merchants to integrate a branded AI-powered Business Agent within Google Search to answer customer questions. The company noted that merchants like Lowe's, Michael's, Poshmark, and Reebok are already using this product. Competitors like Meta and Shopify have been exploring AI-powered tools for businesses for customer support and outreach.
The search giant also announced Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience (CX), a suite to handle shopping and customer service for retailers and restaurants.
Companies like Google, Amazon, Walmart, and OpenAI have been releasing new standards and products to infuse AI into every bit of shopping, both on the consumer and merchant side. Earlier in the month, Adobe noted that traffic driven to seller sites by generative AI grew by 693.4% during the holiday season, though the report didn't specify how much of this traffic translated into sales.
The story has been updated to reflect that retailers can use AI agents inside Google Search
Topics
Ivan covers global consumer tech developments at TechCrunch. He is based out of India and has previously worked at publications including Huffington Post and The Next Web.
You can contact or verify outreach from Ivan by emailing im@ivanmehta.com or via encrypted message at ivan.42 on Signal.
Plan ahead for the 2026 StrictlyVC events. Hear straight-from-the-source candid insights in on-stage fireside sessions and meet the builders and backers shaping the industry. Join the waitlist to get first access to the lowest-priced tickets and important updates.
The most bizarre tech announced so far at CES 2026
How Quilt solved the heat pump's biggest challenge
A viral Reddit post alleging fraud from a food delivery app turned out to be AI-generated
Founder of spyware maker pcTattletale pleads guilty to hacking and advertising surveillance software
This is Uber's new robotaxi from Lucid and Nuro
Lego Smart Bricks introduce a new way to build — and they don't require screens
Hacktivist deletes white supremacist websites live onstage during hacker conference
© 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC.
$218 cost of parts is about $130 cheaper than buying a similar desktop DIMM retail kit in the US.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works.
A few weeks ago, we covered Russian enthusiasts' proposition of assembling their own DDR5 RAM using procured modules and PCBs to cut costs. At the time, it was just an idea put forth by a local modder, but now he's back with a finished build that successfully runs at 6400 MT/s. A single 32GB stick of desktop DDR5 memory with proper XMP support — one that doesn't even look homemade.
Modder VIK-on acquired the actual RAM chips from a couple of SK Hynix-branded 16GB laptop SO-DIMM sticks, priced at 8,000 Rubles (~$100) each, a bit cheaper than their desktop counterparts at the moment. The PCB was sourced from China for around 600 Rubles (~$7.50), while an aftermarket heatsink cost 415 Rubles (~$5.23) from AliExpress. From there, the process was as easy as just putting together the parts like Lego.
This is where we should probably interject and inform that soldering ICs is not a piece of cake, especially if reballing is involved. You need proper BGA reworking stations and a lot of skill to not mess this up. It might seem simple, but it's one of those delicate maneuvers that require ample experience, which VIK-on is brimming with.
After the new stick was ready, it was flashed with custom firmware from an Adata retail kit, allowing the memory to gain 6400 MT/s XMP support that any motherboard will be able to detect in BIOS. The entire project cost 17,015 Rubles, or about $218. That's quite a bit cheaper than a retail 32GB offering currently, which we found listed for at least $350 on Newegg right now. Prices are even rougher in Russia.
In the States, even if we don't take the 6400 MT/s speed into account, the cheapest 32GB stick goes for about $278, and that's an ugly, CL46 Dell OEM SKU. The RAM modules VIK-on used can be swapped with lower-cost parts, which the modder says he's exploring. For instance, instead of targeting 16GB laptop memory, 8GB sticks should be even cheaper.
At that point, one might even consider just using the SO-DIMM sticks as is with a desktop adapter that would add noticeable latency, but offer more convenience. This mod maintains signal integrity and also represents resilience. It's all about ingenuity in these trying times, and hacks like these will only increase in frequency (no pun intended) till markets normalize.
Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Hassam Nasir is a die-hard hardware enthusiast with years of experience as a tech editor and writer, focusing on detailed CPU comparisons and general hardware news. When he's not working, you'll find him bending tubes for his ever-evolving custom water-loop gaming rig or benchmarking the latest CPUs and GPUs just for fun.
Tom's Hardware is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
©
Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,
New York,
NY 10036.
Why is this a criteria?The following piece of metrical poetry from the Rig Veda, is of high importance to me, a bunch of vedic revivalists and connoisseurs scattered across the descendant cultures, perhaps to Indo-europeanists and comparative mythologists who study this in academic manner, even when translated into English. But I don't think most people outside this culture would ever relate to this. Now, verily, will I declare the exploits
mighty and true, of him the True and Mighty.
In the Trikadrukas he drank the Soma
then in its rapture Indra slew the Dragon.
Now perhaps the LLMs can produce something which sounds lot like this, probably even in old Indic if they're trained enough on it.But it will never have the allure of the old indic hymns, because there's no riddle to solve, no real riddle that the machine has hidden in the words. When reading the above hymn, whether in sanskrit or English, whether it's me or an indologist like Jamison or Watkins (who wrote "How to Kill a Dragon" on Indo-European poetics), we are trying to imagine the same thing the original writer had imagined.In case of LLM, it's just a sequence of words that sounds cool. It may have no meaning.
The following piece of metrical poetry from the Rig Veda, is of high importance to me, a bunch of vedic revivalists and connoisseurs scattered across the descendant cultures, perhaps to Indo-europeanists and comparative mythologists who study this in academic manner, even when translated into English. But I don't think most people outside this culture would ever relate to this. Now, verily, will I declare the exploits
mighty and true, of him the True and Mighty.
In the Trikadrukas he drank the Soma
then in its rapture Indra slew the Dragon.
Now perhaps the LLMs can produce something which sounds lot like this, probably even in old Indic if they're trained enough on it.But it will never have the allure of the old indic hymns, because there's no riddle to solve, no real riddle that the machine has hidden in the words. When reading the above hymn, whether in sanskrit or English, whether it's me or an indologist like Jamison or Watkins (who wrote "How to Kill a Dragon" on Indo-European poetics), we are trying to imagine the same thing the original writer had imagined.In case of LLM, it's just a sequence of words that sounds cool. It may have no meaning.
Now, verily, will I declare the exploits
mighty and true, of him the True and Mighty.
In the Trikadrukas he drank the Soma
then in its rapture Indra slew the Dragon.
Now perhaps the LLMs can produce something which sounds lot like this, probably even in old Indic if they're trained enough on it.But it will never have the allure of the old indic hymns, because there's no riddle to solve, no real riddle that the machine has hidden in the words. When reading the above hymn, whether in sanskrit or English, whether it's me or an indologist like Jamison or Watkins (who wrote "How to Kill a Dragon" on Indo-European poetics), we are trying to imagine the same thing the original writer had imagined.In case of LLM, it's just a sequence of words that sounds cool. It may have no meaning.
But it will never have the allure of the old indic hymns, because there's no riddle to solve, no real riddle that the machine has hidden in the words. When reading the above hymn, whether in sanskrit or English, whether it's me or an indologist like Jamison or Watkins (who wrote "How to Kill a Dragon" on Indo-European poetics), we are trying to imagine the same thing the original writer had imagined.In case of LLM, it's just a sequence of words that sounds cool. It may have no meaning.
In case of LLM, it's just a sequence of words that sounds cool. It may have no meaning.
reply
Because defining "good" as "made by a human from the human society" is the easiest way to be able to go on and "prove" that "LLM poetry is not good" (these are scare quotes). She says she used this definition in "over thirty years of reading, teaching, and writing poetry" (this is an actual quote) but I highly doubt she would've found it necessary 30 years ago to define "good" as "made by a human" with this level of explicitness.Edit: having read the whole FA, the closing sentence makes much more sense (and is also completely at odds with the definition of greatness given earlier):"Operationally, greatness is measured when tastemakers put them in anthologies so that generations of readers can read them, tear out the ones that resonate, and tape them to their refrigerators."
Edit: having read the whole FA, the closing sentence makes much more sense (and is also completely at odds with the definition of greatness given earlier):"Operationally, greatness is measured when tastemakers put them in anthologies so that generations of readers can read them, tear out the ones that resonate, and tape them to their refrigerators."
"Operationally, greatness is measured when tastemakers put them in anthologies so that generations of readers can read them, tear out the ones that resonate, and tape them to their refrigerators."
reply
Geopolitics are being reduced to videos lasting just a few minutes. Social media has surpassed traditional media, not only in the speed with which it is created and shared, but also in its ability to frame our reality. People have the illusion of knowing what is happening and why within just a few hours—or less—of major world events. But reality is more complicated.
In the early hours of January 3, the United States attacked Venezuela. The sky thundered over Caracas with multiple explosions. Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged that 32 Cuban soldiers died in combat during the US intervention. The attacks caused at least 80 deaths among other military personnel and civilians, according to reporting from The New York Times. The attack included the capture of president Nicolás Maduro, who was transferred to New York to be tried for narcoterrorism conspiracy and other charges.
Hours later, US president Donald Trump said he would run the South American country until there was a transition he considered satisfactory. At the same time, he said, US oil companies would revive the Venezuelan oil industry. Later, from Caracas, Venezuela's vice president Delcy Rodríguez called for Maduro's release, saying that the country “will never again be a slave or colony of any empire.” Maduro, meanwhile, slept in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he had been transferred after his capture.
The attack has returned the world to an era that many thought was long over, of direct US military involvement in the affairs of Latin American countries. And it's playing out very differently from what you might have seen on TikTok.
WIRED asked Julio Juárez, a psychological researcher at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and academic secretary of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Sciences and Humanities (CEIICH), to analyze how the practice of verifying claims with sources has collapsed in the current digital world.
“The time that traditional media needed to verify information has been devoured by the speed of social media platforms. From the first reports of the attack on Venezuela, social media operated as a massive amplifier that not only transmitted different perspectives but also constructed reality," says Juárez. "It is the sign of an era where digital communication has primacy: It defines what happens and why. Donald Trump's narrative was not random; it was an exercise in legitimization that polarized public opinion. Today, citizens face the challenge of exercising critical judgment in an environment that's designed to provoke immediate reactions, not nuanced reflection.”
On his Truth Social account, Trump announced early in the morning after the military strike that the US had successfully carried out a “large-scale attack on Venezuela.” Maduro had been captured and taken out of the country by helicopter along with his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transported by a military aircraft to a US ship, which took them to Guantanamo, where they then boarded a plane that took them to New York.
Historia Para Tontos (History for Dummies), a Spanish-language Instagram account that has disseminated its takes on history through the use of maps and satire, summarized the geopolitical tension of early 2026 in a viral video. In the clip, while an optimistic Mexico celebrates the arrival of the new year, an imperial US boasts: “I just bombed Venezuela and captured Maduro for the sake of world security.” The punchline is a critique of American exceptionalism, as the character continues, “And the world is me.”
Comments quickly followed. “Where was the concern for international law when Maduro violated our human and civil rights year after year for more than a decade? Where were those laws when they starved us, killed our students for protesting peacefully, and let political prisoners die? Where were YOU, Mexico, during those 25 years when we were crying out for help? Did you raise your voice to defend our sovereignty when Maduro stole the elections last year? Were you outraged to learn that Cuba, China, Iran, and Russia were stealing our oil and natural resources? Stupid international laws have watched us bleed to death for almost three decades. Do us a favor and keep quiet and look the other way. Thank you.🥰 Sincerely, Venezuela,” wrote Dayani López in one reply.
In an interview with WIRED, sociologist Rafael Uzcategui, codirector of the Laboratorio de Paz in Caracas, says: “I'm bothered by the misunderstanding and biased narratives that people, for ideological reasons, continue to impose from outside, when it is now very easy to obtain accurate information about the situation in Venezuela. We've made a great effort to work with international human rights institutions, whose reports have provided an important diagnosis, which is public and easily accessible, of the deterioration of the situation. We believed that the evidence would be sufficient to raise awareness among the international community, especially those who claim to be humanitarians and protectors of human rights. Given this double standard, I would prefer them to be more sincere and say, ‘human rights violations only occur when it's our opponents who commit them.'”
Tecayahuatzin Mancilla, the voice behind Historia Para Tontos and a graduate with a degree in international relations from the Aragón Faculty of Higher Studies at UNAM, spoke to WIRED about the video he posted. “It focuses more on issues of international law and the historical reality of Latin America through US interventions, especially in the 20th century,” he explained. “The fact that there is no international arrest warrant against the dictator Maduro calls into question the legitimacy of the action by the United States. What I wanted to expose is precisely how the United States violates international law whenever it's in their interest to do so; we've seen it in the Middle East and we are seeing it again in Latin America after a hiatus of some 32 years.”
“What's so funny? It's infuriating to see the US invade a neighboring country, but it's even more infuriating that Venezuelans themselves are applauding it,” said another comment on the video. Opinions were clearly divided in this polarized conversation.
“Digital blackouts within Venezuela reveal a very specific oppressive agenda, which follows a pattern of persecution and human rights violations,” explains one Venezuelan citizen who preferred to remain anonymous. “Social media content—even seemingly harmless content, such as comedic sketches or cartoons—manages to convey what is happening in Venezuela from an alternative perspective. This narrative makes its way through an algorithm that attempts to depoliticize content,” she says. “On the other hand, historical memory is constructed by the media outlets that survive in Venezuela and that manage to continue to report on the situation, putting themselves at risk with virtually no resources. In the case of the Alianza Rebelde—a collective of media organizations focused on investigative reporting and which includes El Pitazo, Runrunes, and TalCual—they are making a truly important effort to disseminate information.”
“But we all weave the narrative collectively. It is constructed by voices from the diaspora, not only those from within the country. That is why we must be increasingly aware of the narrative we want to construct for the future, and think about how to ensure that this narrative is not limited to ephemeral social media, but that it instead endures. To do this, we need to have uncomfortable conversations about how we imagine the future of the country.”
“I've spoken with many Venezuelan friends, and something they all told me was: ‘We don't agree with bombing our country, but some of us see it as the only way to remove a dictator from power,'” says Mancilla. “Many say that legal, political, and electoral avenues had been tried without success; only direct intervention managed to overthrow him. Obviously, as a Mexican viewing this all from the outside, I don't share that pain because I didn't experience it … But there are also Venezuelans who support the regime and denounce this intervention as a violation of their sovereignty. There is a lot of polarization, and both opinions are valid because everyone has their own ideology, perspective, and experiences.”
“There's a mixture of celebration and euphoria, echoing Trump's triumphalist logic: ‘I freed them,' ‘I made a courageous decision,' ‘It was a flawless military operation,'” Juárez says. “It's very propagandistic, which suits him very well in the current context of the United States as he's facing a midterm election; it serves to send a signal to the region and the world.”
“The big challenge is the quality of content, as there is a lot of noise, misinformation, and banal commentary. However, we trust that users have the ability to consume and share content from reliable sources,” says Uzcátegui, codirector of Laboratorio de Paz. “Political discussion is completely banned in Venezuela. Even private spaces for political conversation have almost completely disappeared due to fear. We know that people continue to consume content, but they are careful not to leave a digital trail—no retweets or likes, for example. Social media is the last place where people can get information about the real situation.”
“The number of trustworthy spaces has been drastically reduced,” he says. “In Venezuela's case, WhatsApp chats are where information is most widely shared, as was seen in the 2024 presidential elections. The challenge now is to feed these archipelagos, these places that people have retreated to due to fears of persecution, with quality content.”
The great challenge for these networks that have emerged as the new public square is assuring order, Juárez affirms. “How do you organize this conversation? Not only distinguishing accurate from false information, but dealing with information bubbles, memes of Maduro as a DJ, and everything from humorous comments to hardline political propaganda. Who brings order to all that?” he asks. “I think traditional media still has a fundamental role to play. They are the most qualified to, at a minimum, organize the conversation. They tell us not what to think, but instead say: ‘Look, this happened, these are the implications, this is what people are talking about, and this is why we need to be careful about this other thing.' Someone has to take charge of organizing the conversation because if you go to one's timeline on TikTok, X, or Instagram, you'll find chaos. We've gone from hard news to unfiltered hate speech,” he says.
For Mancilla, there is a lot of misinformation echoing around social media. “It has recently caused a breakdown in dialogue. I notice that people are sometimes afraid of dialogue because they are afraid of being wrong. They get stuck on one idea. There is no longer anywhere that you can say, ‘I understand your point, listen to mine. That has been lost on social media; everything is framed in black and white. There are no nuances,” he says. “One person feels backed by 10,000 others and believes they are right, closing themselves off to any other ideas. We all have ideals, but we should be open to listening to each other, even when we disagree. That's the goal of dialogue. In my international relations program, we were told that dialogue is complementary and it's very good when different sides disagree, because it means there is a good debate. There were no winners, just shared ideas. Social media no longer allows for that sort of openness.”
For Juárez, the main factor behind digital disruption is disintermediation. Basically, that each of us is now our own media outlet. “That's what these platforms have sold us: You choose what to be informed about and you stay inside a bubble. You seek out information that confirms what you already knew or thought. If you think what happened in Venezuela was good, you will look for information that supports that, and vice versa. It creates an environment where we only hear what we want to hear.”
According to the Digital News Report 2025, the migration to digital platforms—especially by younger generations—is becoming increasingly evident: 16 percent of those surveyed reported turning to TikTok frequently for news. The figure for WhatsApp was 19 percent, Facebook 36 percent, and YouTube 30 percent.
Polarization doesn't need a malicious algorithm to disrupt public conversation; it is an inevitable consequence of the basic design of social platforms. By emulating environments which emphasize certain forms of connection and dialogue, a persistent loop emerges where emotional content is the most visible and, eventually, it shapes the very architecture of the network. It is not a question of users actively seeking conflict or platforms being designed with any malicious intent, but rather the result of a rewarding emotional reaction over measured analysis.
For Petter Törnberg, who worked on the study, “this toxicity is an unintended consequence of the structure of posts and followers. The act of sharing content is often impulsive and deeply partisan; users react to anger or scandal, propagating a narrative that, in turn, shapes their own digital environment. This feedback loop between emotional action and network structure creates an ecosystem where toxicity becomes the organic norm. Ultimately, the mere existence of basic functions such as forwarding and liking seems to be enough to generate these negative results, turning networks into echo chambers that feed on our own reactive psychology.”
“I believe that digital platforms can continue to be a space for resistance and solutions. But in order to avoid becoming echo chambers, there must be a genuine intention to engage in dialogue. And that doesn't always happen when we are going through a very difficult time," explains an anonymous Venezuelan source who spoke to WIRED. “When our emotional wounds override reason, it's very difficult to understand the perspectives of others. For this to be possible, first the wound has to be identified and understood, and sometimes we won't be able to find the equanimity to engage in a dialogue. However, that dialogue must inevitably occur.”
“We are now experiencing a great deal of polarization among Venezuelans inside and outside the country because of this event, which I personally consider to be a violent act of foreign intervention. I can understand the joy of those who celebrate Nicolás Maduro's imprisonment as a moment of justice. But at the same time, I am against foreign intervention, against Donald Trump, and against them taking our resources from us,” this Venezuelan source explains. “We have done everything; we have made every effort possible. We are in this situation because we are cornered and vulnerable to US imperialism, but also from Russia and China. Power has led us to this situation of extreme vulnerability. Digital platforms, however, can be spaces of resistance.”
Due to an information overload, our attention span, which is a finite resource, is stretched too thin, explains Juárez: “There comes a point where we shut down and say, ‘That's it, this is what I think.' We generally invest as little psychological energy as possible and use shortcuts to reach our conclusions: I saw the video, I saw the quote, I saw the tweet, and that's it; I'm done. We simplify because simplification serves as an antidote to saturation. When we are drowning in information, we feel disoriented and anxious. The level of that anxiety depends on our proximity to an event. That desire to embrace a certain viewpoint wins out when what we need is to weigh the many real implications of a situation.”
“My main concern is that we have lost the ability to discern between what is false and what is true. We are willing to accept prefabricated stories. If we lose that ability as citizens, we also lose our agency," Juárez says. “What we are seeing in Venezuela is not the final episode in a story, it is the beginning of a dynamic that will not stop here.”
This story was originally appeared on WIRED en Español and was translated from Spanish by John Newton.
In your inbox: WIRED's most ambitious, future-defining stories
The ‘super flu' is spreading
Big Interview: Margaret Atwood wants to keep up with the latest doom
The age of the all-access AI agent Is here
Listen: Introducing a new chapter for Uncanny Valley
© 2026 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices
Who's on the hook here, though? The contractor uploading the file is the actual person doing the copying. Or is OpenAI culpable for directing them to do so?
reply
Actually two breaches, if Im not wrong then?
reply
reply
reply
reply
Sounds a lot like they're shooting themselves in the foot with this requirement.
reply
POPULAR SEARCHES
BROWSE BY
Cristiano Ronaldo will face added competition for places at the 2026 World Cup, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has revealed.
Evergreen 40-year-old CR7 is heading to that tournament, with another birthday being passed along the way, but is not expected to play every minute of every game — despite being captain of his country. Martinez is planning to take three strikers with him to the United States, Canada and Mexico.
One of those will be Ronaldo, as long as the Al-Nassr frontman steers clear of injury. Another spot will be filled by Paris Saint-Germain star Gonçalo Ramos — who stepped in for Ronaldo when his iconic compatriot was benched at the 2022 World Cup.
CR7 is reluctant to take any backwards steps, or fill a support role, but must accept that he needs to be managed carefully in the latter stages of his record-shattering career. With that in mind, and sweltering temperatures being predicted at a major international tournament this summer, Martinez is eager to ensure that he is not left short in an important area of the field.
Martino told the Lusa news agency: "The door to the national team is always open, but the competitiveness makes it very difficult to get in. But, at the moment, we think we need a third striker and that this will be an important position for the World Cup."
Martinez added when asked about predecessor Fernando Santos' decision to rotate Ronaldo out of his plans at the last World Cup: "What happens around Cristiano is a historical aspect. He's a world football icon, but that doesn't condition or limit our work. Cristiano is very calm and very focused on the day-to-day, and that's a simple formula. When Cristiano Ronaldo is doing well, it's very important for the national team."
Portugal should be full of confidence after winning the 2025 UEFA Nations League and securing automatic qualification for another World Cup. They have pre-tournament friendlies in place, with two of those taking them to Mexico and the USA in March.
Martinez outlined how important those fixtures will be: "We have several profiles and the March stage will be very important in that regard.
"This World Cup will be complex and demanding for the European teams. Therefore, this training camp will be very important, first for playing at altitude in Mexico, and then in an indoor stadium against the USA. We thought we should try this before the World Cup, and for us it's the perfect preparation."
Martinez has previously overseen quests for global glory with Belgium and believes he will have Portugal well prepared for the many challenges that they face. He explained the challenges of tournament soccer: "This will be my third World Cup, and I've learned that nobody arrives as a champion team. You need to grow during the first three games and do everything to ensure our players are comfortable throughout the tournament.
"We don't have a history in World Cups, and that's part of our psychological preparation. We need to go step by step and make the players believe that we can truly win the World Cup."
Martinez's contract is due to expire when the 2026 finals end, but he is giving little thought to his long-term future. He said: "That's not my concern right now. My focus is on the World Cup. I'm very happy with the work we're doing and with the support from the federation. We're all in this together for the next challenge.
"The goal is the 2026 World Cup, and then we'll talk about the future. I love Portugal and I love working with the national team. My job and my focus are on making history so that these achievements will be talked about for the next 15, 20 years."
Portugal have been placed in Group K at the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged between Houston and Miami. They will open against the winners of the intercontinental play-off (Jamaica, New Caledonia or Democratic Republic of Congo) before going on to face Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
After a tumultuous spell at Arsenal, U.S. women's national team fullback Jenna Nighswonger has joined Aston Villa on loan.
The loan will run through the end of the season, with the Birmingham club also having an option to buy the 25-year-old.
Nighswonger has made just six appearances for the Gunners after arriving from Gotham FC in January 2025, playing only once this season.
Despite the lack of minutes since joining the reigning Women's Champions League winners, Aston Villa is excited about the prospect of Nighswonger joining its project.
"Everyone at Aston Villa is extremely excited to welcome Jenna to the club," said Director of Women's Football Marisa Ewers.
"We have been tracking her for some time and are delighted that she has bought into our exciting project.
"This signing forms part of our growing ambitions as we continue to build an exciting and competitive squad, and we believe Jenna will add real quality to the group and support our goals moving forward."
Currently, the Villans sit in sixth place in the WSL standings, accumulating 16 points across 12 matches.
For Nighswonger, this move could help her potentially return to the USWNT squad, where she has not featured since February 2025.
Explore GOAL Betting with
West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos had to be stretchered from the field after suffering a worrying head injury in the Hammers' FA Cup third-round clash with Queens Park Rangers. The former Arsenal centre-half formed part of a nasty collision late in the first half, leading to him requiring lengthy treatment on the field and urgent medical attention off it.
The 28-year-old was left in a heap on the turf after competing for the ball in a crowded penalty area. There were 39 minutes on the clock when he appeared to be shoved by QPR goalkeeper Joe Walsh.
As Mavropanos crumpled to the deck, through no real fault of his own, his head collided with a defender's knee on the way down. It immediately became clear that the Greece international had suffered more than a minor bump.
Hammers physios were quick to join him on the field, with further assistance being sought in the form of a stretcher. Mavropanos was placed into a neck brace before being carefully carried down the tunnel at the London Stadium.
It is claimed that Mavropanos was conscious when leaving the pitch, with concussion protocols now having to be followed. He was replaced at the time by West Ham's new signing Pablo Felipe.
Both sets of fans applauded him off the field, with it obvious that the powerful defender was in some discomfort. With it taking a while for medics to ready Mavropanos for his removal, nine minutes of stoppage time were added to the end of the first half.
QPR sent a message of support to a stricken rival on social media when posting: “Into added time after lengthy treatment for West Ham's Mavropanos. We wish him well.” It was during those extra minutes that Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring and fired West Ham in front.
That effort was cancelled out in the 65th minute when Richard Kone netted for the visitors, with more problems at the back being endured by a West Ham side that find themselves languishing in the Premier League relegation zone. The tie eventually went into extra time, and West Ham regained the lead in the 98th minute via a Valentin Castellanos header.
Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!
Mavropanos has figured in 14 top-flight fixtures for the Hammers this season, but has been unable to prevent them from shipping goals at an alarming rate. It remains to be seen when he will be available for selection again.
He moved to east London in the summer of 2023 for £19 million ($25m), having previously taken in eight appearances for Arsenal. He will be eager to ensure that West Ham do not slip into the Championship.
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Pressure has been mounting on manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with uncomfortable questions being asked of his future. Extra-time against QPR is the last thing that he needed, with the Hammers set to be back in Premier League action on January 17 when taking in a trip to Tottenham.
Explore GOAL Betting with
Explore GOAL Betting with
USMNT star Tim Weah has explained why he is embracing an “us against the world mentality” at Marseille. The United States international, who began his professional career with Paris Saint-Germain, returned to France in the summer of 2025. He is now turning out alongside ex-Manchester United star Mason Greenwood and enjoys filling the role of villains in Ligue 1.
Marseille boast a passionate fan base, with Stade Velodrome left rocking when the team are playing well, but divide opinion across the rest of France. They boast little support among neutrals, but make no apologies for who and what they are.
Weah has slotted seamlessly into that fold. The 25-year-old winger is happy to operate in a “bubble” and knows that he can always call upon full backing from those in the stands and those playing by his side.
It was that united front which convinced Weah that Marseille would be his best port of call when seeing exit doors open up at Serie A giants Juventus. He spent two seasons in Italy, having joined the Bianconeri from Lille in 2023.
Weah has told Le Dauphine Libere of life on the Mediterranean coast: “I put myself in my own bubble… but it's also a thrill, an honour. Playing in a stadium full for every match, with the shouts of the fans, is special. There aren't many similar stadiums in the world.
“I really want to succeed here. In France, all the other clubs, all the other fans are against OM. We are opposed everywhere and I like this aspect of being alone against everyone.”
While Marseille fans pride themselves on being unique and a law unto themselves, they can be found well outside the south of France. Weah has found that out during his travels around the country.
He added on spending time back in the French capital, where he graduated out of the academy system at PSG: “It's funny, I run into more OM supporters than PSG supporters in Paris. Every time I go back up there to see friends, I meet OM fans. That's also what shocked me. It's incredible. We're everywhere!”
Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!
Weah joined Marseille on an initial season-long loan agreement. That deal includes an obligation to buy that is set to be triggered. A €14.4 million (£13m/$17m) fee will change hands, with his full transfer package potentially landing Juve close to €20m (£17m/$23m) if certain performance-related add-ons are met.
Weah was linked with a move to the Premier League when Juve opened themselves up to offers. He is said to have shunned interest from Nottingham Forest while waiting on rival bids. That decision is being justified, with Weah confident that he made the right career call.
He said when retracing steps to France: “There were other clubs, but as soon as they [Marseille] called me, there was only one club. For me, it's perfect. There's competition. We know the stadium and the fans.”
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Weah was asked to put his versatility to good use with Juve, as he filled a wing-back role at times, but has been pushed further forward by Marseille. He has taken his tally of senior international caps to 47.
He added on his favoured position, with there a willingness on his part to play wherever he is required: “I don't have a favourite position when I arrive at a new club. The coach sees me as a utility player. All I want is to win.”
Weah has registered two goals for Marseille through 21 appearances. His first strike for new employers was recorded in the iconic surroundings of Santiago Bernabeu during a Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
He has continued to impress alongside Greenwood and Co, with the expectation being that he will form part of the USMNT's plans when they take in a home World Cup this summer - with head coach Mauricio Pochettino able to select a number of players that are plying their trade at the highest level in Europe.
Explore GOAL Betting with
U.S. men's national team striker Ricardo Pepi left Saturday's 5–1 PSV Eindhoven win over Excelsior Rotterdam with a fractured forearm and will undergo surgery, with his recovery expected to take two months.
The 23-year-old attacker suffered the injury while scoring his side's second goal of the match in the victory, falling awkwardly to the ground on the goal line after barrelling the ball into the net. It marked his 13th goal of the season, before he was helped off in visible pain.
While the injury comes at a poor time, considering his strong form with the Dutch Eredivisie leaders, he is not expected to miss the 2026 World Cup on home soil, which the USMNT kicks off on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
Ricardo Pepi scoort, maar komt verkeerd terecht en moet het veld geblesseerd verlaten 😬#psvexc pic.twitter.com/vXXX3l8PNI
However, he is now poised to miss the March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, leaving only the May friendlies as preparation games for the tournament. Previously, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino said the roster for that camp will not include more players than the final roster, leaving Pepi with little time to impress and earn a starting role.
“It didn't look good right away and at such a moment you would prefer to look the other way,” said manager Peter Bosz, mentioning Pepi's injury history, which included a serious knee injury in January of the 2024–25 campaign, sidelining him for six months.
“Pepi was on a good run, had a strong training camp and was all the way back. He became more confident and was in that good flow again. All signs were green for a strong second half of the season, so this is incredibly disappointing. First and foremost for him and obviously for us as well.”
Pepi's injury puts him on a growing list of injured USMNT World Cup hopefuls, which also includes AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, who will miss the March friendlies.
New SI FC Newsletter Global Embed. Sign Up to Get Informed With SI FC. dark. FREE NEWSLETTER
Pepi's injury is a certain blow to Pochettino's attacking options when it comes to the most in-form players. Still, the USMNT has several strikers and offensive players it can turn to in March and potentially further.
Up top, AS Monaco's Folarin Balogun scored his eighth goal of 2025–26 in a Coupe de France win against US Orléans and has the inside track to be the USMNT starter in the summer. At the same time, Josh Sargent and Patrick Agyemang have found form in the English Championship, with eight and six goals, respectively, across all competitions.
Following the March friendlies, the USMNT will take on Senegal and Germany in May and June to wrap up World Cup preparations, with Pepi hoping to be back in form and within those plans.
feed
Ben Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist who brings in-depth experience, having covered the North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL and Liga MX for prominent outlets, including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer.
Follow BenSteiner00
© 2026 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates, licensees and related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
Arsenal earned a safe passage into the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2022-23 with a 4-1 win over Portsmouth on Sunday. Gabriel Martinelli scored an all-important hat-trick, while Andre Dozzell scored an own goal, as the Gunners maintained their push for a first piece of silverware since winning the same competition six years ago.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Wrexham and Macclesfield by causing another seismic shock in football's oldest competition, Portsmouth broke the deadlock after just three minutes when Colby Bishop pounced on Kepa Arrizabalaga's weak save to score the fifth FA Cup goal of his career. However, the hosts' lead only lasted five minutes as Arsenal's set-piece prowess came to the fore once again, although Christian Norgaard was denied what he thought was a first goal for the club as Portsmouth's Dozzell was adjudged to have bundled Eberechi Eze's corner into his own net.
The record 14-time FA Cup winners eventually went in front from another corner - this time Noni Madueke's in-swinger was headed home by Martinelli, who bounced back from the criticism he received in Thursday's Premier League draw with Liverpool after shoving the stricken Conor Bradley.
Pushing to open up a two-goal buffer before half-time, Martinelli hit the post when it looked easier to score, before Madueke won the visitors a penalty after drawing a foul from former Arsenal youth player Zak Swanson. However, the winger was far too casual with his stuttered run-up, curling the ball past the post after initially sending Portsmouth goalkeeper Josef Bursik the wrong way.
Looking to call upon the spirit which has seen them lose just one of their last five games in England's second tier, Portsmouth came close to making it 2-2 when Conor Chaplin found himself free at the back post, but his driven effort was well blocked by Arsenal defender Ben White. And that missed opportunity soon proved costly for John Mousinho's side as some clever thinking from Myles Lewis-Skelly saw the left-back slip a quick free-kick into the path of Gabriel Jesus, whose stunning, low cross was converted at the far post by Martinelli after 53 minutes.
Aiming to stave off the threat of a late comeback from Portsmouth, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta soon brought on experienced duo Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard, while Kai Havertz also made a first appearance since suffering a serious injury at the start of the season. And the north Londoners soon made it a hat-trick of goals from corners as Madueke and Martinelli combined once again - the latter heading home for his third of the afternoon with just 18 minutes of normal time left to play.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Fratton Park...
Kepa Arrizabalaga (5/10):
Returning to duty as Arsenal's goalkeeper for domestic cup competitions, the Spaniard will be disappointed with his role in Portsmouth's opener, palming the ball straight into the path of Bishop. However, he was able to put that mistake behind him, going on to make four saves as the hosts failed to find a second.
Ben White (7/10):
Making his first appearance in 2026, the defender thought he set up Martinelli with the scoreline 1-2, only for his team-mate to strike the post from close range. He then made a terrific block to deny Portsmouth's Chaplin in the early stages of the second half.
Christian Norgaard (6/10):
Operating as an emergency centre-back, the Dane failed to track Bishop on two occasions as Portsmouth took an early lead. However, he was able to recover by playing a significant role in helping Arsenal draw level just five minutes later - though he wasn't awarded the goal.
Gabriel Magalhaes (5/10):
While the Gunners' defensive lynchpin was generally composed throughout, he surprisingly won just 13 per cent (1/8) of his aerial duels.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (7/10):
Replacing the injured Hincapie at left-back, the England international showed great instincts to play a quick free-kick into Jesus, who teed up Martinelli for Arsenal's third.
Ethan Nwaneri (5/10):
Handed his first start since early November, the midfielder - on his FA Cup debut - was unable to seize the opportunity to shine, failing to create a single chance in almost 70 minutes of play.
Mikel Merino (8/10):
Often deployed as a striker this season, the stand-in captain was handed a midfield shift on the south coast and he excelled, particularly with his passing from deep.
Eberechi Eze (6/10):
Returning to the FA Cup for the first time since scoring the winner in last season's final, the midfielder curled in the corner which brought about Arsenal's leveller, in an otherwise quiet display.
Noni Madueke (7/10):
It was a mixed bag from the winger, who lost possession in the build up to Portsmouth's opener before making amends with the assist for Arsenal's second. He then won a first-half penalty for his side after a brilliant burst of pace, only to miss the target with the resulting spot-kick. The 23-year-old went on to record his second assist of the afternoon - once again setting up Martinelli with a brilliant in-swinging corner.
Gabriel Jesus (7/10):
Looking to build on his recent goal against Aston Villa in the league, the striker was much more lively after the interval, registering the assist for Martinelli's second with a superb cross.
Gabriel Martinelli (9/10):
After causing a stir in Thursday's clash with Liverpool, the forward rose highest at the near post to head Arsenal in front after 25 minutes. After passing up the chance to bag another in the first half, hitting the post with the goal gaping, he eventually scored his second when he met Jesus' teasing cross before the hour mark. The 24-year-old then completed his hat-trick with a late header from yet another corner.
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Kai Havertz (6/10):
Making his long-awaited return from injury, the forward picked up some clever positions as Arsenal romped to victory in the second half.
Jurrien Timber (6/10):
Replacing White at right-back, the ex-Ajax man never put a foot wrong, completing 100% (24/24) of his attempted passes.
Martin Odegaard (6/10):
Alongside Timber and Havertz, the midfielder was calmness personified on the ball as Portsmouth were completely shut out of the final 20 minutes of action.
Marli Salmon (N/A):
With Arsenal home and hosed, the 16-year-old was introduced in the dying embers of the game.
Martin Zubimendi (N/A):
A late, late substitute for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta (7/10):
Making 10 changes to the side that drew with Liverpool in midweek, the Arsenal boss will be absolutely delighted with the performances of impressive duo White and Martinelli. However, the Spaniard will be equally disappointed with Nwaneri and Eze, with the pair struggling to sparkle in midfield.
Cristiano Ronaldo will face added competition for places at the 2026 World Cup, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has revealed. Evergreen 40-year-old CR7 is heading to that tournament, with another birthday being passed along the way, but is not expected to play every minute of every game - despite being captain of his country. Martinez is planning to take three strikers with him to the United States, Canada and Mexico.
One of those will be Ronaldo, as long as the Al-Nassr frontman steers clear of injury. Another spot will be filled by Paris Saint-Germain star Goncalo Ramos - with it him who stepped in for Ronaldo when an iconic compatriot was benched at the 2022 World Cup.
CR7 is reluctant to take any backwards steps, or fill a support role, but must accept that he needs to be managed carefully in the latter stages of his record-shattering career. With that in mind, and sweltering temperatures being predicted at a major international tournament this summer, Martinez is eager to ensure that he is not left short in an important area of the field.
He has told the Lusa news agency: “The door to the national team is always open, but the competitiveness makes it very difficult to get in. But, at the moment, we think we need a third striker and that this will be an important position for the World Cup.”
Martinez added when asked about predecessor Fernando Santos' decision to rotate Ronaldo out of his plans at the last World Cup: “What happens around Cristiano is a historical aspect. He's a world football icon, but that doesn't condition or limit our work. Cristiano is very calm and very focused on the day-to-day, and that's a simple formula. When Cristiano Ronaldo is doing well, it's very important for the national team.”
Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!
Portugal should be full of confidence after winning the 2025 UEFA Nations League and securing automatic qualification for another World Cup. They have pre-tournament friendlies in place, with two of those taking them to Mexico and the U.S. in March.
Martinez said of how important those fixtures will be: “We have several profiles and the March stage will be very important in that regard.
“This World Cup will be complex and demanding for the European teams. Therefore, this training camp will be very important, first for playing at altitude in Mexico, and then in an indoor stadium against the USA. We thought we should try this before the World Cup, and for us it's the perfect preparation.”
Martinez has previously overseen quests for global glory with Belgium and believes he will have Portugal well prepared for the many challenges that they face. The 52-year-old said: “This will be my third World Cup, and I've learned that nobody arrives as a champion team. You need to grow during the first three games and do everything to ensure our players are comfortable throughout the tournament.
“We don't have a history in World Cups, and that's part of our psychological preparation. We need to go step by step and make the players believe that we can truly win the World Cup.”
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Martinez's contract is due to expire when the 2026 finals end, but he is giving little thought to his long-term future. He said: “That's not my concern right now. My focus is on the World Cup. I'm very happy with the work we're doing and with the support from the federation. We're all in this together for the next challenge.
“The goal is the 2026 World Cup, and then we'll talk about the future. I love Portugal and I love working with the national team. My job and my focus are on making history so that these achievements will be talked about for the next 15, 20 years.”
Portugal have been placed in Group K at the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged across Houston and Miami. They will open against the winners of the intercontinental play-off (Jamaica, New Caledonia or Democratic Republic of Congo) before going on to face Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Australia have sent scouts across the US, Canada and Mexico to see which cities have the best facilities, hotels and general vibes to suit the team
Home is where the heart is, or at least where there is a good brew and a comfy bed. And with the 2026 World Cup six months away, key Socceroo figures have spent several weeks deep in a process that often flies under the radar but could be a secret ingredient in their quest to do something special: finding their home away from home for the global footballing showpiece.
Alongside the rest of the qualified nations, Australia submitted their preferred options for a North American base to Fifa earlier this week, with the governing body expected to assign base camps using a criterion of geography and world rankings by the end of January. Drawn to play games on the west coast, this means that Australia has 16 regionalised camps in the official Fifa brochure to consider. But they'll also sit behind host nations the United States and Canada, as well as higher-ranked Switzerland, Belgium and Iran in the pecking order.
Generally, all nations are led by similar principles when it comes to finding a base: the quality of the hotel and training facilities, the travel logistics, and the trade-offs between the two. For example, going off the brochure, the Socceroos could look to base themselves in the idyllic surroundings of Southern California, or nearby Tijuana, but this would be accompanied by at least a three-hour flight to their games in Vancouver and Seattle. Bases in Phoenix or Tucson would offer world-class facilities off the beaten track, but would also be buffeted by the fierce Arizonan heat.
An out-of-the-way home such as Boise or Salt Lake City would offer serenity and just a short flight to games, but would bring the challenge of a different time zone. Options in San Jose and Oakland wouldn't require a flight for the Socceroos' third game in San Francisco, but like the Californian options are in the public eye – and likely in high demand. Vancouver, Seattle and Tacoma are also well located, but with Canada already swooping in on the British Columbia base, they will also be hot properties.
“I prefer being in a smaller city [when] away,” says assistant coach Hayden Foxe. “We would prefer more privacy, especially when it comes to the base camp, where we can just put our minds on the job we need to do. You need some moments away where you can then relax and switch off for a certain period. And the quieter places, the more relaxed places you're able to do that, [compared with] something helter-skelter, where everything's going on and it can be distracting.”
For the detail-obsessed Tony Popovic, some locations are clearly going to line up with his preferences more than others. And that goes for other coaches too. South Korea's Hong Myung-bo, for instance, whose side will play their group stage games in Mexico, has emphasised the need to find a base that will allow high-altitude adaptation, while Scotland boss, Steve Clarke, wants a training camp somewhere “hot, sticky and humid” before heading to the north-east. France want to be based in New York but would need to negotiate access to the training facilities of one of its two MLS sides, according to L'Equipe, and though England had earmarked the somewhat central Kansas City as their preferred landing spot, they now risk losing that site to the Netherlands.
Initially anticipating heading east or centrally, Socceroos and Football Australia staff spent December crisscrossing the west coast, with everything from training pitches and hotels right down to small details being exhaustively pored over. Quality of sleep and diet are two of Popovic's most strident expectations, elite performance demanding elite preparation. This meant that things as small as the quality of the pillows in potential lodgings were looked at, as well as the what produce would be available to team chef, Vini Capovilla.
With the Socceroos potentially six weeks or more in their base, creature comforts and the need to maintain good vibes are included, too. And coffee. The team flew in their own barista and beans for Qatar, and that the players are supplied with a list of quality roasters when they travel to a new city shows just how important caffeine is to morale. The heightened security and demands of a World Cup will prevent the same level of wanderingthey're allowed on the road – Harry Souttar and Riley McGree bought cowboy hats in Dallas in 2023 – and staff are aware of the need to find a base where the squad can be at ease and minimise cabin fever.
“The process is a lot,” Foxe says. “You have restrictions, what you can do, what hotels you can go to, what training facilities you can go to, what the budget of the team is, and where the players would prefer. Is it a bigger city or a smaller city? Is it altitude? What's the time difference? How far is it to fly? What's the culture of that city? Which one would suit you, as Australians?
“There's of lot of different details, and there's a lot of groundwork. There's a lot of travel, there's a lot of looking, there's a lot of meetings. We get everything crossed.”
South Sudan to open against Uganda in Zonal Afcon U-17 qualifiers
New CECAFA Under 17 Champions: Tanzania beats Somalia 2-0 in Tourney finals
CAF President Ahmad lead the crowds to Gitega on Sunday for intriguing Under 17 Final pitting Somalia against Tanzania
Tanzania to face Somalia in CECAFA under 17 final
Its Uganda – Somalia and Kenya – Tanzania in Cecafa under 17 semis
Uganda with last chance to secure FIFA U-17 World Cup place through play-off
Uganda names squad ahead of U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025
Uganda, Tanzania placed in Group A for U-17 AFCON
Somalia included for TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
Somalia's coach Nur Mohamed happy with exposure picked from U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
Nabadda, Mukansanga selected to officiate TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON
Kenya to face Nigeria, Morocco in TotalEnergies AFCON U-20
South Sudan, Uganda step-up preps ahead of AFCON U-20
South Sudan beat Djibouti to qualify for semi final
Sudan, Rwanda bid to host Zonal AFCON U-20 qualifiers
Young Africans SC to face Azam in NMB Mapinduzi Cup final in Zanzibar
Eritrea to play in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
Tanzania put up spirited fight in 1-0 defeat to hosts Morocco in AFCON
Sudan suffer defeat to Senegal to exit AFCON 2025 in knock out stage
President Suluhu wishes Taifa Stars success in AFCON knock out stage
Published
on
By
Eight teams from the CECAFA Zone have been drawn to play in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2026 African qualifiers.
The Kenya Junior Starlets who played in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2024 in the Dominican Republic will face Namibia in the first round.
A total of 31 teams will be involved in the qualifiers which kick-off in April, 2026. The qualifiers will be played in three knockout rounds, and the best four teams will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Finals in Morocco.
The draw was conducted on Saturday in Rabat, Morocco where TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is currently taking place. Jacqueline Shipanga, the technical Director of the Namibia Football Federation, CAF Elite Instructor was the draw assistant.
In-case the Kenya Junior Starlets qualifies for the second round they will meet the winner between Zimbabwe and Uganda. Interestingly CECAFA tams Kenya and Tanzania could meet in the final third round hurdle if they managed to sail through their first and second round matches.
Rwanda have been placed against Zambia, while Djibouti take on DR Congo in other first round matches. It will be an all CECAFA affair when South Sudan take on Ethiopia.
While the first round maches take center stage April 10-19th, the second round matches of the qualifiers will take place between May 22-31st, and the final third round takes place between July 3-12th, 2026
First round
Niger vs Guinea
Burkina Faso vs Benin
Sierra Leone vs Core d'Ivoire
Tunisia vs Senegal
Algeria vs Cameroon
Togo vs Ghana
Libya vs Liberia
Rwanda vs Zambia
DR Congo vs Djibouti
South Sudan vs Ethiopia
Malawi vs Burundi
Botswana vs Tanzania
Central African Republic vs South Africa
Zimbabwe vs Uganda
Namibia vs Kenya
Kenya to face Cameroon in final phase of FIFA U-17 Women's W/Cup qualifier
Djibouti set to host CECAFA Elective General Assembly 2026
Ethiopia, Djibouti pick vital wins in CAF African Schools Football Championship Zonal qualifiers
Ethiopia to face Uganda in semi final stage of AFCON U-17 Zonal qualifiers
Kenya, Uganda book semi final spots in AFCON U-17 qualifiers
Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, South Sudan set eyes on FIFA Arab Cup
Kenya target perfect start in Africa Cup of Nations U-17 Zonal qualifiers
Published
on
By
The Kenya Junior Starlets have ejected Uganda and will now face Cameroon in the third and final round of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2025 qualifiers are
Kenya Junior Starlets eliminated Uganda 5-0 on goal aggregate to book a place in the next round
After winning the first leg 2-0, the Kenyan team humbled Uganda Teen Cranes 3-0 in the return leg played at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday.
Patience Asiko netted an early goal after 5 minutes, and Brenda Achieng recorded a second half brace to guide Kenya Junior Starlets to the next round.
Kenya will now face Cameroon who ejected Ethiopia 6-2 on aggregate. Kenya are chasing a second appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after featuring in last year in Dominican Republic.
On Saturday Tanzania suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to bow out on a 4-0 goal aggregate.
Burundi were also eliminated by Ivory Coast by after losing the return le 3-0 to bow out on a 4-3 goal aggregate.
Four teams will qualify from Africa alongside hosts Morocco will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco.
Published
on
By
Three teams from the CECAFA Zone have all suffered defeats in their respective first leg encounters of the second round in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2025 qualifiers.
Tanzania's Serengeti Girls suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Zambia in a match played at the Azam Complex Stadium in Chamazi on Sunday.
After a goalless first half, Zambia's Copper Princesses scored through Grace Phiri and a brace by Mercy Chipasula.
On Saturday Edinah Nasipwondi and Joan Ogola scored to ensure Kenya Junior Starlets picked a vital away win against Uganda in a match played at the Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.
The match was also graced by former Senegal and Liverpool top striker El Haji Diouf.
Away in Cameroon the Ethiopian team suffered a 5-2 defeat. Later tonight Burundi will play away to Ivory Coast at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
The final round for the CECAFA teams in the qualifiers will see the winner between Kenya and Uganda face the winner between Cameroon and Ethiopia.
The winner between Tanzania and Zambia will take on the winner between Benin and DR Congo, while the winner between Ivory Coast and Burundi takes on the winner between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup will take place in Morocco. Africa will be represented by five teams at the tournament.
Published
on
By
Uganda Teen Cranes have advanced to the second round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 qualifiers.
The Teen Cranes defeated Namibia 8-1 in the second leg played on Sunday at the Hamz Stadium, Nakibubo in Kampala.
Coach Chryl Botes Ulanda's team went ahead to advance on an 18-1 goal aggregate after they won the first leg 10-0.
Namibai's Renalda Angel Tamara netted an own goal 15 minutes when she deflected a shot in her own net. Joan Kizza Namulindwa and Isabella Blick also got their names on the score sheet for Uganda to make it 3-0 at the interval.
In the second half, the Namibia team tried to re-organise themselves, but still failed to penetrate the Ugandan defending line. Namulindwa later scored her second goal after 50 minutes, while Rinah Ariho, and substitutes Shadia Nabirye and Rashida Nakalema also scored.
Namibia's lone goal was netted by Shiwovanhu Haukongo.
Ulanda praised her team for the good display in the two legs. “We played very well and the team was really attacking well,” added the coach. Uganda will now face Kenya in the second round in March this year.
The other teams from the CECAFA Zone that will play in the second round include; Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burundi.
Published
on
By
Uganda has made a good start in the qualifiers for Africa in for FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2025.
Skipper Agnes Nabukenya was on target six times as Uganda humbled Namibia 10-0 in the first leg of the first round of the qualifiers played at the Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo on Thursday in Kampala.
Nabukenya netted four goals, while Martha Babirye and Ritah Ariho also found the back of the net to give Uganda a 6-0 first half lead.
In the second half Namibia's Baby Gladiators tried to fight back, but failed to penetrate Uganda's defending line.
Joan Kizza was on hand to make it 7-0 for Uganda, while Nabukenya added two more goals. Substitute Isabella Blick Kabarozi also got her name on the score sheet to make it 10-0.
Uganda's coach Sheryl Botes Ulanda said she was happy with the way her team played with aggressiveness. “I am very with the result. We need to keep positive and work hard ahead of the return leg,” added the coach.
The return leg will be played on January 19th with the winner advancing to play Kenya in the second round.
The other teams from the CECAFA Zone that have earned walk-overs and advanced to the second round include Ethiopia and Tanzania.
Four teams will qualify from the qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2025 in Morocco as representatives from Africa alongside Morocco being the hosts.
Kandanda House, FIFA Goal Project
Kasarani, Nairobi Kenya.
E: info@cecafaonline.com
Tel: +254 20 608424
African Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
Young Africans draw Al Ahly for CAF Champions League group stage
Botswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
CHAN 2024: Kenya lead group, to face Madagascar in quarter final stage
Uganda win, Tanzania pick late draw in FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Uganda ejects Senegal to storm FIFA U-17 World Cup round of 16
Young Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
We need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino
Copyright © 2021 CECAFA | All rights reserved
Arsenal have hired former Liverpool throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark as the club aim to strengthen their bid to win the Premier League title. The Gunners have considerable set-piece prowess, and have now recruited another expert in the field.
Per the Standard, Arsenal have recruited Gronnemark as they aim to end a Premier League trophy drought that stretches back to 2004. The Gunners are one of the most dangerous teams from set-pieces in England, scoring 12 goals from dead-ball situations. They currently sit six points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, and Arteta is clearly seeking to maximise any potential marginal gains, with Gronnemark regarded as one of the world's foremost experts when it comes to throw-ins.
Gronnemark spent five years in the backroom team of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, joining the club in 2018, the season in which the Reds won the Champions League. He was previously an athlete in his native Denmark, and actually held the world record for the longest throw-in. His sport of choice, however, was bobsleigh, and he represented his country for four years. His role at Liverpool was his first in England, and he is said to be particularly adept at teaching teams how to retain possession and build attacks from throw-in situations.
Arteta has previously explained that he became aware of how set-pieces could be vital to a team's success, saying: "Ten years ago. I wasn't here, but 10 years ago, I said 'it is a massive thing to do that' and I started to have a vision, try to implement a method and try to be surrounded by the best people to deliver that."
Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!
Gronnemark spoke about the importance of throw-ins when explaining why he was recruited by Klopp at Anfield.
Speaking in 2024, he said: "He (Klopp) called me and said 'Liverpool have had a great season, but we were so bad at throw-ins'.
"He'd been reading about me in the German newspaper Bild and that's the reason he called me.
"When I came, data showed that Liverpool were 18th in the Premier League for throw-ins under pressure. In my first season, we improved from 45.4% to 68.4% and went from 18th to number one.
"People might think it's only throw-ins, but there's approximately 40-60 throw-ins in a match and they use up 20 minutes. It's a gigantic thing in football. People have been neglecting this for many years."
He added: "I was totally in shock when Jurgen called me.
"I was visiting a chocolate shop with my family; I saw the +44 and thought it was an English guy trying to sell me pens. I listened to the voicemail and it was a message from Jurgen. I tried to call him back, but he didn't pick up.
"My heart was just pounding... I took the call on my way home in the car, where I drove directly into a grass field when he called. He told me that he was sitting in a beach chair, reading the German newspaper Bild while on vacation in Tenerife, and he came across an article about me... he had never heard of a throw-in coach before."
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Arsenal are next in action against Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round. They will then face Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, prior to a Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Bruno Fernandes' Manchester United team-mates 'fear' the Portuguese has had enough of the turmoil going on at Old Trafford and will quit the Red Devils for pastures new after the World Cup this summer. The 31-year-old previously claimed he was "hurt" and "sad" that the club were willing to sell him last year and team-mates reportedly would not blame him if he were to move on at the end of the season.
Reported by The Sun, team-mates believe that Fernandes will depart Old Trafford in 2026 and put an end to a seven-year stay with the Red Devils amidst a belief that he has ‘had enough of the shambles' at Old Trafford.
The 31-year-old Portuguese has been United's best player ever since he joined the club in January 2020 and his current deal ends in June 2027, meaning that this summer represents one of the club's final opportunities to sell the playmaker and make a return on the initial £47million ($62.9m) they paid Sporting Lisbon for his services.
The United skipper admitted in November that former boss Ruben Amorim persuaded him to stay last summer despite the club's wishes for him to go. With Amorim now sacked and a new cloud of uncertainty hanging over the club's managerial situation, Fernandes is reportedly ready to call it a day at Old Trafford and move on to pastures new, according to sources.
A source told The Sun: “Some of the squad think Bruno has had enough and, to be honest, they don't blame him.
“He always gives 100 per cent and has been the club's best player since he joined. But they think that he feels let down under the new ownership model and Amorim leaving has not helped. He isn't a likely candidate for a big-money move to Saudi because he's a football purist. But no one can doubt from the moment he signed for Manchester United, he has given his all.
“No one wants him to leave — but his team-mates would understand if he did.”
Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!
Part of Fernandes' desire to leave is believed to be linked with the Red Devils' willingness to let him go last summer, and the after-effects of a situation which “hurt” him deeply.
The Portuguese told Canal 11 in his home nation in a bombshell interview publicised in December: “From the club's side, it felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it's not so bad for us.' It hurts me a bit.
“More than hurting, it makes me sad because I'm a player who has nothing to criticise. I'm always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all. But it gets to a point where, for them, money is more important than anything.
“The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head. I told the directors that, but I think they didn't have the courage to make that decision, because the manager wanted me. If I had said I wanted to leave, they would have let me go.
“Lately I feel like I'm on thin ice. In England, when a player starts approaching 30, they start thinking they need a makeover. It's like the furniture. The issue of loyalty isn't viewed the same way it used to be.
“I could have left in the last transfer window. I would have earned much more money. I was going to leave a season ago – I won't say where – but I would have won many trophies that season. I decided to stay because of family reasons, but also because I genuinely love the club. The conversation with the manager also made me stay.”
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Fernandes is reported to have a £57m ($76m) release clause in his contract which becomes active to overseas clubs next summer.
While the player has claimed that he will not think about his future until after the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, team-mates reportedly already believe he has made his mind up.
Fernandes recently returned from three matches on the side-lines with a hamstring injury and has bagged 103 goals and 94 assists during his time at United, five and eight already this season, respectively. He would undoubtedly be a massive miss if he ultimately were to depart in 2026.
FA Cup
Magic of
the FA Cup
Macclesfield goalscorer Paul Dawson celebrates at the full-time whistle Michael Regan
At the end of Macclesfield's stunning 2-1 win against Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup, their captain and player of the match, Paul Dawson, hoofed the ball away. Anywhere would do — and anywhere did.
The whistle went shortly after the midfielder, wrapped in a headbandage from a collision in the seventh minute, made contact with the ball.
Advertisement
The scoreline will forever read: Macclesfield 2-1 Crystal Palace. The sixth-tier National League North side, placed 117 positions below their Premier League opposition, produced the biggest FA Cup upset of all time.
The last time a non-league side knocked out the FA Cup holders was Palace themselves 117 years ago when, in the first round of the 1908-09 edition, they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Macclesfield's shock victory on Saturday was the first time in the competition's 155-year history that a sixth-tier side had beaten a top-flight one. It will go down as the greatest day in the club's history. And the fans at Moss Rose in the north-west of England could barely believe their eyes.
Paula Parks is a lifelong fan who attended the game with her husband, Colin, and their two sons, Mason, 10, and Dylan, 13. They celebrated Dawson's opening goal while still expecting to lose the game.
“It's just something you can't write. It's something we didn't even expect,” Parks said. “I've had butterflies, I've been crying. It's just absolutely fantastic. It felt like we were on top of the game rather than the underdogs.”
Asked where this day ranks in her life, Parks laughed, saying: “Not even the birth of my children or my wedding that I waited so long for (come close). This has got to be the top of it all, definitely.”
When supporters invaded the artificial pitch to celebrate at full time, Dawson was lifted into the air. It looked like a recreation of those iconic images of former England captain Bobby Moore after winning the World Cup in 1966. And fittingly, Macclesfield had just beaten a team with two players on the pitch, in Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton, who will likely be at this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with England.
Dawson's orange armband was bright, but his wide smile was even brighter. On Tuesday, he had been shovelling snow off the pitch to ensure their sixth-tier match against Radcliffe went ahead. On Friday, he had been working packing boxes of candles and diffusers for Chloe Jade Home, a family-run business based in Cheshire. After work, he turned into ‘Postman Pat' as he hand-delivered new tracksuits to his team-mates.
Advertisement
Manager John Rooney, the younger brother of the former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, had to tell Dawson to climb down from a tractor shovelling snow on Tuesday and get some rest before the 2-1 win that night.
There was no resting on Saturday afternoon for any of Macclesfield's part-time players, who only train twice a week. They put in a tireless, gutsy display. Dawson, who sent Macclesfield into dreamland with that 1-0 lead at the break, was at the centre of it all.
“He (John Rooney) told me last week I'm two stone overweight and my best foot is my head,” Dawson, who scored a header, laughed as he spoke to the BBC at full time.
On Friday, as Dawson was boxing up those candles, centre-back Sam Heathcote was teaching PE at Stamford Park Primary School in Altrincham, just as he has done for the past five years. Heathcote was the player fixing Dawson's bandage right before he powered that header past Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez. “I'll take the assist for that,” he said.
An assembly was held at his school on Friday in which his pupils wished him luck. He said the older kids understood it more and, like him, are used to watching the Palace players on television.
“I didn't expect to be going in on Monday having won, but it'll be really nice. I'll have a smile on my face for a long time,” Heathcote said.
Macclesfield owner Rob Smethurst will be the same. “I've lost my voice already, I have been screaming that much,” he told the BBC at half-time. “I might find myself in Ibiza by the end of the evening.”
Smethurst never expected Macclesfield to be leading against Premier League opposition at half-time in a cup game, let alone defeating them – but he also never expected to be the owner of a football club that five years ago had ceased to exist.
In September 2020, Macclesfield Town, as they were then known, were expelled from the National League after being liquidated. Unpaid debts of £500,000 ($670,000 at current exchange rates) sunk the club founded in the former mill town in 1874. Fans thought their club was gone forever until Smethurst came to the rescue — something he himself has little memory of.
Advertisement
It was four days of drinking, which Smethurst said led him to make a drunken decision to buy Macclesfield's stadium on the property website Rightmove. Smethurst might not remember making the business move, but he committed himself to it all the same. He spent the next few years investing heavily in the phoenix club, which was reborn as Macclesfield FC.
Former Wales international Robbie Savage was one of the people brought on board as a part-owner. Savage later became the director of football and there was a BBC documentary titled ‘Macclesfield: From The Ashes' that followed their journey, starting in the ninth tier in 2021. After three promotions in four years, including one with Savage as manager for the 2024-25 season, the town's beating heart has been restored.
With Savage moving on to manage Forest Green Rovers in the National League last summer, it was Rooney, then a Macclesfield midfielder, who Smethurst asked to take the reins. Six months into the job, Rooney, whose big brother was moved to tears on national television at full time, had to deal with an unforeseen tragedy in the team.
On December 16, Macclesfield striker Ethan McLeod was killed in a car accident while driving home from a game against Bedford Town. He was 21 years old.
Rooney, who shared a close bond with the former Wolves academy player, had to call each member of the squad to break the news to them.
“It is never, ever going to get easier,” Rooney said, dedicating the win to McLeod, whose parents were in attendance. “We spoke about him being here with us, I didn't want to say too much before the game to the lads because I didn't want to put a bit of extra pressure on them.”
After the match, McLeod's parents were waiting to embrace Rooney in his office. “That's something that's really special to me, knowing they were here with us. I'm sure Ethan was definitely looking down on us today.”
Advertisement
Rooney said the heartbreaking and unexpected loss of McLeod, who he brought to Macclesfield in July, completely tore through the club. This was just the fourth game the team have played since losing him and his No 20 shirt has been officially retired.
“I was thinking about it when the final whistle went, Ethan was here,” goalscorer Isaac Buckley-Ricketts told TNT Sports. Bedlam ensued after his backheeled flick crept across the line to make it 2-0 in the 61st minute. It was a goal Palace manager Oliver Glasner labelled “slapstick”.
Palace turned up as the FA Cup holders, wearing a golden kit with a special badge on the sleeve reserved for winners. They even played the game with a Mitre ball only the competition's winners are allowed to use.
“This gives us a responsibility to show our standards,” Glasner said about those details in the build-up to the game. “It doesn't mean we have to win it again, but it's to show our standards. I don't feel pressure, but responsibility.”
Glasner said that he expected his team to score five or six past the non-league side. Instead, they laboured and created little to trouble Max Dearnley in the Macclesfield goal, except for Yeremy Pino's consolation free kick in the 90th minute.
“That's the David against Goliath story,” Glasner said. “Everything (I could say to) try to explain the performance or find some excuses would be completely wrong. I have no words for this performance today and it's not just losing, it's almost creating no chances in the attack. This was really hard to watch.”
While Glasner said the Palace dressing room atmosphere was one of “every kind of emotion beside happiness”, the scenes in the Macclesfield one were mixed.
There was sadness and celebration as the parents of McLeod poignantly made their way around hugging every one of their son's team-mates and congratulating them on the win. McLeod's space in the dressing room lay empty, with a photo of him there in tribute.
Advertisement
Macclesfield celebrated the win in memory of McLeod, whose presence they all say was felt throughout the day. They belted out ‘Someone Like You' by Adele, now an FA Cup tradition, and sprayed champagne at each other. And Smethurst has promised a trip to Ibiza — not this weekend, but at some point in the future.
Now Macclesfield will enter Monday's fourth-round draw again as the lowest-ranked side in the competition. But after their convincing and hearty win over Palace, nobody will feel relieved to draw them. And their name will be drawn — they all made sure of that.
United States striker Ricardo Pepi suffered an ugly injury while playing for PSV Eindhoven.
During PSV's 5-1 win over Excelsior in the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday, Pepi broke his forearm and will be sidelined for two months, the club announced.
Pepi, 23, suffered the injury after landing awkwardly while scoring his club's second goal midway through the first half.
According to ESPN, the club said that Pepi was taken to the hospital and is set to undergo surgery on Sunday.
“It didn't look good right away, and at such a moment you would prefer to look the other way,” PSV head coach Peter Bosz said, per ESPN.
Pepi's injury comes just five months before the U.S. Men's National Team kicks off its World Cup campaign against Paraguay, with the striker's availability now in question for the team's last friendlies against Belgium and Portugal at the end of March — right before head coach Mauricio Pochettino will name his roster for the tournament.
During his time with PSV this season, Pepi has scored 11 goals in 22 appearances and has been a steady presence for the club after suffering a knee injury in January 2025 which sidelined him for the second half of last season.
“Last January Ricardo was already out due to his knee injury,” Bosz added. “It won't last that long now, but unfortunately we lost him again. Pepi was on a good run, had a strong training camp and was all the way back. He became more confident and was in that good flow again.
“All signs were green for a strong second half of the season, so this is incredibly disappointing. First and foremost for him and obviously for us as well.”
For the USMNT, Pepe has scored 13 goals across 34 matches and was on the roster for U.S.' wins over Paraguay and Uruguay in November.
After two straight final losses, Poland captured its first United Cup title Sunday in Sydney, overcoming Iga Swiatek's loss to Belinda Bencic as Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski sealed the comeback in mixed doubles.
SYDNEY, Australia -- Poland finally broke through at the United Cup on Sunday evening, capturing its first championship after falling in the 2024 and 2025 finals with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena.
After Iga Swiatek's loss to Belinda Bencic in the opening match of the tie, Hubert Hurkacz leveled the final before Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski clinched the title in mixed doubles. It marked the duo's third straight deciding victory of the week and denied Switzerland in its first appearance in the United Cup final.
Kawa and Zielinski finished a perfect 5-0 in mixed doubles during the tournament, closing the championship tie with a 6-4, 6-3 win over the previously unbeaten pairing of Bencic and Jakub Paul. In the opening set, Kawa delivered a pivotal volley at the net on set point at 5-4 during a deciding point that shifted the match in Poland's favor.
"I think it always pays off when you're brave on the important points, especially in doubles," Kawa said to reporters. "It was like instinct decision. I just went for it. Yeah, I'm really happy that we sealed this set and we were able to get this match won."
The mixed-doubles loss was Bencic's only defeat of the tournament. She finished with a 9-1 overall record and earned the event's most valuable player award.
Bencic went 5-0 in singles, highlighted by Top 10 victories over No. 2 Iga Swiatek and No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, and collected 500 ranking points for her performance.
Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games against Swiatek, earning her second career victory over the World No. 2 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. The first set seemed the tie's first match was going to belong to Swiatek, but the pendulum quickly shifted the momentum into the World No. 11's favor.
“It's always a challenge playing against her and every time I play her, I look for ways to improve and make her life a bit more difficult,” said Bencic, who defeated Swiatek for the first time in over four years. “I think the difference today was I played very freely, I was really enjoying myself out on the court and I was just really going for it.”
A post shared by United Cup (@unitedcuptennis)
Swiatek started strong early, holding serve in the opening game with four straight points followed by the match's first break and another hold. With Swiatek up 3-0, Bencic did settle into the match, winning two consecutive games of her own, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after a backhand winner on the third break point. The six-time Grand Slam champion eventually closed out the set, winning three of the next four games.
The second set, however, would be a Bencic domination with to force a deciding third set. Bencic started the second set winning nine consecutive points, and in the third game, she saved two break points. The following game, she'd get the crucial break on the third chance and finished the set in 33 minutes.
A post shared by United Cup (@unitedcuptennis)
“To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,” Bencic said. “I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was ‘OK, what do I have to do.' I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.”
After three consecutive games with service holds to begin the third, Bencic notched the turning point. With a powerful forehand to set up break point, she took advantage of the crucial point, returning Swiatek's serve with a convincing backhand winner. Following a service hold, Bencic put herself within two games of the win, leading 4-1, and capitalized.
Swiatek fought to the last point, holding two games of serve and saving two match points with a pair of aces, but Bencic's backhand winner on the third match point sealed the win.
Under pressure with the tie on the line, Hurkacz struck 18 aces against Stan Wawrinka and saved eight of the nine break points he faced. Although Wawrinka earned a crucial break on his way to winning the second set, the three-time Grand Slam champion converted just two of 23 break-point chances across his five singles matches at the event.
Hurkacz went 4-1 in singles during the tournament, capping a successful return from a seven-month injury layoff following knee surgery.
The 28-year-old former World No. 6 also erased lingering United Cup disappointment. In the 2024 final, he held two championship points before losing to Alexander Zverev, and last year he fell to Taylor Fritz in a third-set tiebreak. This time, Hurkacz delivered the point Poland needed to set up the championship-winning mixed-doubles match.
After two straight final losses, Poland captured its first United Cup title Sunday in Sydney, overcoming Iga Swiatek's loss to Belinda Bencic as Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski sealed the comeback in mixed doubles.
After two straight final losses, Poland captured its first United Cup title Sunday in Sydney, overcoming Iga Swiatek's loss to Belinda Bencic as Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski sealed the comeback in mixed doubles.
SYDNEY, Australia -- Poland finally broke through at the United Cup on Sunday evening, capturing its first championship after falling in the 2024 and 2025 finals with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena.
After Iga Swiatek's loss to Belinda Bencic in the opening match of the tie, Hubert Hurkacz leveled the final before Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski clinched the title in mixed doubles. It marked the duo's third straight deciding victory of the week and denied Switzerland in its first appearance in the United Cup final.
Kawa and Zielinski finished a perfect 5-0 in mixed doubles during the tournament, closing the championship tie with a 6-4, 6-3 win over the previously unbeaten pairing of Bencic and Jakub Paul. In the opening set, Kawa delivered a pivotal volley at the net on set point at 5-4 during a deciding point that shifted the match in Poland's favor.
"I think it always pays off when you're brave on the important points, especially in doubles," Kawa said to reporters. "It was like instinct decision. I just went for it. Yeah, I'm really happy that we sealed this set and we were able to get this match won."
The mixed-doubles loss was Bencic's only defeat of the tournament. She finished with a 9-1 overall record and earned the event's most valuable player award.
Bencic went 5-0 in singles, highlighted by Top 10 victories over No. 2 Iga Swiatek and No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, and collected 500 ranking points for her performance.
Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games against Swiatek, earning her second career victory over the World No. 2 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. The first set seemed the tie's first match was going to belong to Swiatek, but the pendulum quickly shifted the momentum into the World No. 11's favor.
“It's always a challenge playing against her and every time I play her, I look for ways to improve and make her life a bit more difficult,” said Bencic, who defeated Swiatek for the first time in over four years. “I think the difference today was I played very freely, I was really enjoying myself out on the court and I was just really going for it.”
A post shared by United Cup (@unitedcuptennis)
Swiatek started strong early, holding serve in the opening game with four straight points followed by the match's first break and another hold. With Swiatek up 3-0, Bencic did settle into the match, winning two consecutive games of her own, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after a backhand winner on the third break point. The six-time Grand Slam champion eventually closed out the set, winning three of the next four games.
The second set, however, would be a Bencic domination with to force a deciding third set. Bencic started the second set winning nine consecutive points, and in the third game, she saved two break points. The following game, she'd get the crucial break on the third chance and finished the set in 33 minutes.
A post shared by United Cup (@unitedcuptennis)
“To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,” Bencic said. “I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was ‘OK, what do I have to do.' I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.”
After three consecutive games with service holds to begin the third, Bencic notched the turning point. With a powerful forehand to set up break point, she took advantage of the crucial point, returning Swiatek's serve with a convincing backhand winner. Following a service hold, Bencic put herself within two games of the win, leading 4-1, and capitalized.
Swiatek fought to the last point, holding two games of serve and saving two match points with a pair of aces, but Bencic's backhand winner on the third match point sealed the win.
Under pressure with the tie on the line, Hurkacz struck 18 aces against Stan Wawrinka and saved eight of the nine break points he faced. Although Wawrinka earned a crucial break on his way to winning the second set, the three-time Grand Slam champion converted just two of 23 break-point chances across his five singles matches at the event.
Hurkacz went 4-1 in singles during the tournament, capping a successful return from a seven-month injury layoff following knee surgery.
The 28-year-old former World No. 6 also erased lingering United Cup disappointment. In the 2024 final, he held two championship points before losing to Alexander Zverev, and last year he fell to Taylor Fritz in a third-set tiebreak. This time, Hurkacz delivered the point Poland needed to set up the championship-winning mixed-doubles match.
After two straight final losses, Poland captured its first United Cup title Sunday in Sydney, overcoming Iga Swiatek's loss to Belinda Bencic as Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski sealed the comeback in mixed doubles.
Earlier in singles, Belinda Bencic upset Iga Swiatek before Hubert Hurkacz defeated Stan Wawrinka.ByTENNIS.comPublished Jan 11, 2026 copy_link
Published Jan 11, 2026
© AFP or licensors
After finishing as runner-up at the United Cup in each of the last two seasons, Poland finally came good on Sunday in a thrilling final by defeating Switzerland by a slim 2-1 margin.The breakout mixed doubles pair of Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski defeated Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3 to give Poland the victory, after the country was previously beaten by Germany in the 2024 final and by the United States last year.Earlier in singles, Bencic upset Iga Swiatek before Hubert Hurkacz defeated Stan Wawrinka, both in three sets.📲🖥️ Relive the 2026 United Cup on the Tennis Channel App!In a reversal of their match from Wimbledon last summer, their most recent meeting, Bencic rallied from a set down to stun Swiatek emphatically 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, but Hurkacz sent the tie to doubles with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Hubert Hurkacz.
The breakout mixed doubles pair of Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski defeated Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3 to give Poland the victory, after the country was previously beaten by Germany in the 2024 final and by the United States last year.Earlier in singles, Bencic upset Iga Swiatek before Hubert Hurkacz defeated Stan Wawrinka, both in three sets.📲🖥️ Relive the 2026 United Cup on the Tennis Channel App!In a reversal of their match from Wimbledon last summer, their most recent meeting, Bencic rallied from a set down to stun Swiatek emphatically 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, but Hurkacz sent the tie to doubles with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Hubert Hurkacz.
Earlier in singles, Bencic upset Iga Swiatek before Hubert Hurkacz defeated Stan Wawrinka, both in three sets.📲🖥️ Relive the 2026 United Cup on the Tennis Channel App!In a reversal of their match from Wimbledon last summer, their most recent meeting, Bencic rallied from a set down to stun Swiatek emphatically 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, but Hurkacz sent the tie to doubles with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Hubert Hurkacz.
📲🖥️ Relive the 2026 United Cup on the Tennis Channel App!In a reversal of their match from Wimbledon last summer, their most recent meeting, Bencic rallied from a set down to stun Swiatek emphatically 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, but Hurkacz sent the tie to doubles with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Hubert Hurkacz.
In a reversal of their match from Wimbledon last summer, their most recent meeting, Bencic rallied from a set down to stun Swiatek emphatically 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, but Hurkacz sent the tie to doubles with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Hubert Hurkacz.
But Poland's decision to stick with two-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion Zielinski and Kawa, who has won five WTA 125 titles in doubles, paid off. The duo finished 5-0 in mixed doubles for the tournament,In the first set, Kawa had a match-altering set point volley at the net on 40-40 deciding point leading 5-4."I think it always pays off when you're brave on the important points, especially in doubles," Kawa said to reporters. "It was like instinct decision. I just went for it. Yeah, I'm really happy that we sealed this set and we were able to get this match won."Bencic was nonetheless tabbed tournament MVP behind a sparkling 9-1 record, a moment she called "bittersweet."
In the first set, Kawa had a match-altering set point volley at the net on 40-40 deciding point leading 5-4."I think it always pays off when you're brave on the important points, especially in doubles," Kawa said to reporters. "It was like instinct decision. I just went for it. Yeah, I'm really happy that we sealed this set and we were able to get this match won."Bencic was nonetheless tabbed tournament MVP behind a sparkling 9-1 record, a moment she called "bittersweet."
"I think it always pays off when you're brave on the important points, especially in doubles," Kawa said to reporters. "It was like instinct decision. I just went for it. Yeah, I'm really happy that we sealed this set and we were able to get this match won."Bencic was nonetheless tabbed tournament MVP behind a sparkling 9-1 record, a moment she called "bittersweet."
Bencic was nonetheless tabbed tournament MVP behind a sparkling 9-1 record, a moment she called "bittersweet."
"We did the best we could. I think we went beyond our expectations," she said.And for Hurkacz, who missed the second half of last season due to knee surgery, the win was doubly special."It's really incredible I think obviously personally but also massive day for Poland, for Polish tennis," he said. "I think it's really unique and amazing we showed how strong we are as a Polish country in tennis. To win that trophy, it tastes incredible. As you mentioned, we came very close two times. Yeah, this just feels amazing. "
And for Hurkacz, who missed the second half of last season due to knee surgery, the win was doubly special."It's really incredible I think obviously personally but also massive day for Poland, for Polish tennis," he said. "I think it's really unique and amazing we showed how strong we are as a Polish country in tennis. To win that trophy, it tastes incredible. As you mentioned, we came very close two times. Yeah, this just feels amazing. "
"It's really incredible I think obviously personally but also massive day for Poland, for Polish tennis," he said. "I think it's really unique and amazing we showed how strong we are as a Polish country in tennis. To win that trophy, it tastes incredible. As you mentioned, we came very close two times. Yeah, this just feels amazing. "
Did 12 months away from the ATP Tour give Thanasi Kokkinakis the time he needed to discover his musical side? Well, sort of.
“It's funny. I bought some DJ decks pretty early and played those for a month or two,” Kokkinakis told ATPTour.com this week in Adelaide, where he is continuing his comeback after recovering from surgery on his pectoral muscle. “Then I forgot about that and got addicted to PlayStation, which I used to play.
“I played a lot of NBA2K. I get pretty competitive there. I get online, get on the headset, and when people talk some rubbish to me, I give a bit back! So that was one way of me trying to be competitive.”
From Ugo Humbert's dabbling on the piano to Yannick Noah's pop career and Jannik Sinner's collaboration with renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, there is plenty of crossover history between the ATP Tour and the world of music. For his part, Kokkinakis does not think he will be making a similar move anytime soon.
“I'm a long way off [releasing a track], that's probably post-career, I think!,” joked the 29-year-old. “I learned the basic fundamentals, but then taking a step up, I didn't quite have the focus for it. We'll see. It's harder than I thought.”
On Monday, Kokkinakis will step on court at his hometown tournament, the Adelaide International, to compete in a tour-level singles match for the first time since his January 2025 Australian Open exit to Jack Draper. His first-round clash with Sebastian Korda will be a milestone moment for a player who has endured a testing 12 months.
Last February, Kokkinakis underwent a radical surgery — rarely if ever carried out on a tennis player — after years of managing damaged tissue in his right pectoral muscle. As the ATP Tour moved on from Australia and carried on around the globe for the rest of the 2025 season, Kokkinakis stayed in Melbourne to embark on a rehab programme that did not guarantee any positive results.
“It's definitely tricky. You get itchy feet a little bit, being in the same place,” said the former No. 65 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who won his only tour-level title so far in Adelaide in 2022. “Obviously it's different being home [in Adelaide], which is okay, but if you're in another place for longer, when you're used to only being there for one or max two weeks when you're on Tour, [it's hard].
“I tried to stay busy with a lot of things. I did some commentary, a lot of sponsor stuff, so I was trying to stay active and stay busy. And then also my rehab and trying to get that right. That's a full-time job as much as anything, so I was just trying to get myself back to a point where I could even be in the draw for this tournament and give myself a chance.”
You May Also Like: Kokkinakis: ‘I didn't care if I never played again, I wasn't doing that cycle anymore'
While being unable to compete was naturally frustrating, Kokkinakis did not completely disengage with the goings-on in tennis across 2025.
“[I watched tennis] here and there. I wasn't shying away from it, but I wasn't following it closely all the time,” he said. “I was following basketball a lot. I love my NBA, but if the tennis was on, and it was a match I was interested in, I would watch. But I wasn't watching everything that was going on.
“[I spoke to friends on Tour] a little bit. Mainly the Aussies, if they had a good result or something like that, I'd send them a message. Draper actually reached out as well, and obviously he's going through a little bit of a tricky period now as well. So he was nice… But I wasn't messaging people all the time. It was mainly the Aussies.”
Kokkinakis is cautiously optimistic as he prepares for his comeback match against Korda, whom he was supposed to meet in the Adelaide quarter-finals a year ago before he withdrew due to his injury. Yet he is also realistic about the risk he chose with his surgery, in which he was given an Achille allograft to try to attach his pectoral muscle to his shoulder.
“Just being back and getting to this point is not even something I was sure of,” said Kokkinakis, who made his competitive return in doubles last week at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ, alongside Nick Kyrgios. “Now I don't know if I can get through a match, or get through a couple of matches, I really don't know, because I haven't played. I've done everything training-wise to give myself a chance to be here and that in itself is a win.
“Being able to go out on court knowing I've done a bunch of work and now I'm just praying my shoulder is alright, that definitely makes it worth it. Then the next step is going to be how I back up and where I go from here. But [it is good] just being here and even just playing some practice sets, seeing some crowds and hearing cheering, and just being back feeling those nerves and that buzz. Seeing some cameras again on me while I'm actually playing tennis is definitely an adjustment.”
Your data will be used in accordance with the
ATP Privacy Policy
and
WTA Privacy Policy.
Get official marketing communications from the ATP and WTA! We'll send you newsletters keeping you informed about news, tournaments, competitions, ticketing, partner offers and more.
Your data will be used in accordance with the
ATP Privacy Policy
and
WTA Privacy Policy.
© Copyright 1994 - 2024 ATP Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc.. Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Community Social Media Policy | Modern Slavery Statement | Feedback | Cookies | Your Privacy Choices
The hard-court action continues either side of the Tasman Sea this week, when Adelaide and Auckland are the host cities for an ATP 250 doubleheader.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the top seed at the Adelaide International, where Tommy Paul, Stefanos Tsitsipas and hometown favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis also compete. In Auckland, Ben Shelton and Casper Ruud headline the draw at the ASB Classic.
ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at each event.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN ADELAIDE
1) Can Foki thrive as a top seed?: Currently at a career-high No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Davidovich Fokina will compete as the top seed at an ATP Tour event for the first time in Adelaide. The 26-year-old Spaniard will look to bounce back from his opening-round exit in Brisbane when he takes on Tristan Schoolkate or Rinky Hijikata in his Adelaide opener.
2) Tsitsipas aims to stay perfect: The Greek former World No. 3 Tsitsipas was in a positive mood last week in Perth, where he went 3-0 in singles across Greece's United Cup campaign. Prior to Perth, the 12-time ATP Tour champion had not played a tour-level match since September due to a back injury, but he will step on court full of confidence for his Adelaide opener against a qualifier.
You May Also Like: Pain-free and perfect in Perth: Tsitsipas on ‘the biggest bliss', despite Greece exit
3) Paul chases first win of the year: Like Tsitsipas, Tommy Paul ended his 2025 season early due to injury. The American did not play after the US Open after rupturing a tendon in his left foot, but returned to action last week in Brisbane, where he fell to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a deciding-set tie-break. A two-time semi-finalist in Adelaide, this year's second seed will play Reilly Opelka or home hope Alexei Popyrin first.
4) Kokkinakis' comeback: Hometown favourite Kokkinakis will play his first singles match in 12 months when he steps on court to face Sebastian Korda in Adelaide. The 29-year-old had an unprecedented operation on his pec after he competed at the 2025 Australian Open. Having played doubles last week in Brisbane with Nick Kyrgios, Kokkinakis makes his singles return at the venue where he lifted his maiden ATP Tour trophy in 2022.
5) Cash/Glasspool lead doubles field: The team that won Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honours in 2025 has picked up where it left off this season. Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool reached the final in Brisbane to start their season, and the British duo will now head to Adelaide to compete as the top seeds. Their rivals in the draw include Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN AUCKLAND
1) Shelton seeks fast start: As he has done for the three previous seasons, Shelton begins his season in Auckland. The 23-year-old American, who is currently No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings, will be playing his first tour-level event since making his Nitto ATP Finals debut in November. Shelton's first opponent in New Zealand will be Francisco Comesana or Valentin Royer.
2) Ruud, Mensik compete: Ruud started his year with a statement victory against Top 10 star Alex de Minaur at the United Cup in Sydney, and the Norwegian will hope to reproduce that form as the second seed in Auckland. However, his rivals in the draw include third seed Jakub Mensik, who prevailed in straight sets when the pair faced off in Sydney.
3) Monfils begins his final season: The 39-year-old Gael Monfils has announced 2026 will be his last year as a pro tennis player, and the Frenchman will be keen to showcase his world-class talent whenever possible across the season. That mission begins in Auckland, where he lifted his 13th ATP Tour crown a year ago. Alejandro Tabilo and Roberto Bautista Agut are the other former champions in the draw.
4) Norrie's home comforts: British star Cameron Norrie grew up in Auckland and returns to the ASB Classic hoping this will be the year he can get over the line to claim the title. Norrie reached the championship match in 2019 (l. to Sandgren) and 2023 (l. to Gasquet). The fifth seed opens his 2026 title bid against qualifier Hugo Gaston.
5) Bhambri/Goransson top seeds: Yuki Bhambri and Andre Goransson headline the doubles draw in Auckland. Their rivals in the draw include Brisbane champions Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler, and five-time ATP Tour champion duo Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul.
Your data will be used in accordance with the
ATP Privacy Policy
and
WTA Privacy Policy.
Get official marketing communications from the ATP and WTA! We'll send you newsletters keeping you informed about news, tournaments, competitions, ticketing, partner offers and more.
Your data will be used in accordance with the
ATP Privacy Policy
and
WTA Privacy Policy.
© Copyright 1994 - 2024 ATP Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc.. Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Community Social Media Policy | Modern Slavery Statement | Feedback | Cookies | Your Privacy Choices
By Anthony D'Alessandro
Editorial Director/Box Office Editor
Avatar: Fire and Ash is still the rage around the world with a global weekend of $86.9M, $65.6M of that minted in its fourth weekend abroad in 52 material territories taking the 20th Century Studios pic's foreign haul to $888M and global $1.23 billion. The trilogy's running cume is $6.5B.
That global take is down 52% off the holiday holdover frame last weekend with holds including Brazil (-24%), Australia (-31%), Spain (-41%) and UK (-41%). The pic bowed as the No. 1 MPA title in Hong Kong this weekend with $900K (with previews cume stands at $2.3M). As we told you previously, the James Cameron movie remains 2025's second best MPA title in China with $149M behind Zootopia 2.
Among highlights, are that stateside ($21M), the threequel is the first domestic release to rank No. 1 for four weekends in a row since 2023's Barbie.
Watch on Deadline
After China, the next top territories for the Cameron 3D sci-fi epic is France ($91.7M), Germany ($73.7M), Korea ($48.5M), UK ($48M) and Mexico ($36.5M).
Of the global take for the threequel, Disney can thank Imax for $12.2M this past weekend ($7M foreign, $1.7M China, and $3.5M domestic). The large format exhibitor's running total on the threequel stands at $159M ($48.5M domestic), the big picture corp's seventh highest grossing title ever. Overall, Imax theaters rep 13% of the pic's worldwide take.
Zootopia 2 in full release in all markets raked in $40.9M global ($30.8M from 52 material territories, $10.1M domestic) for a running total of $1.276B worldwide, with $1.655B from foreign alone. That latter figure makes the sequel the No. 6 MPA international release of all-time, and the No. 1 MPA animated international release of all-time and No. 1 MPA international release of 2025 (as we previously told you).
Overall global weekend seven saw a -52% overall decline, with holds in key markets including Brazil (+9%), Australia (-2%), Japan (-41%), Mexico (-41%), and UK (-45%). The sequel remains the No. 1 pic in Japan and China for the weekend and No. 2 in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechia, Georgia, Qatar, Slovakia, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Australia, Korea (non-local), Singapore, Taiwan (non-local), Thailand, Hong Kong (non-local), Indonesia, Vietnam, and across all of Latin America (except Brazil and Mexico).
China counts $611M in cume, followed by Japan $76.7M, France at $69.4M, Korea at $54.6M and Germany at $43.6M.
When it comes to movies funded by foreign sales, collecting exact weekend data takes time, so we'll have further updates for you later this AM or tomorrow. In the meantime, we know that Lionsgate's The Housemaid cleaned up another $25.5M from 66 territories this weekend for a running global take of $192.5M ($98.3M foreign). The Housemaid was the No. 1 in UK this weekend where it has taken in an estimated $23.7M to date.
As we told you, Anaconda slither past $100M this past weekend, global is now (updated) $110.1M with 63 international markets grossing $7.7 million from 11,900+ screens for an overseas total of $55.8M through today. Top market cumes: Australia ($8.1 million), UK ($6.4 million), Mexico ($4.7 million), Germany ($3.3 million), Brazil ($3.1 million).
Universal International/Focus Features' Hamnet was great in the UK with $4.2M ($4.8M global weekend), making it the highest opening weekend for this year's awards contenders above One Battle After Another, Sinners and more than double Marty Supreme. The film has also topped the openings of A Complete Unknown, Little Women, The Favourite, Belfast, Poor Things and more than double Conclave. That's also the highest post Covid opening for a January release in the awards corridor in the UK, the 5th biggest January opening for a drama in the last decade, and second biggest drama opening since the start of 2025 behind only Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. The Chloe Zhao movie is also Jessie Buckley's highest opening weekend in a leading role while Chloe Zhao and Paul Mescal will see Hamnet as their second highest respective openings behind Eternals ($7.3M unadjusted for inflation and currency swings) and Gladiator II ($11.4M).
Song Sung Blue brought in $2.8M abroad in 52 territories, led by openings in Spain, Italy and Germany for a global weekend of $5.8M. Global stands at $40.7M for the Universal International/Focus Features Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson musical, $9.5M of that from offshore.
Germany counted $396K at 371 screens for a No. 10 debut, which included $163K previews. Business was impacted by winter storm “Elli”, which prompted official warnings to “stay home” with school closures and event cancellations. Spain grossed $98K at 196 screens, a No. 12 opening. Italy was $82K at 192 for a No. 12 opening in a soft market which was overall -34% from last weekend, we're told. Australia posted $1.2M, for a solid -26% dip in weekend 2 ranking No. 5. The pic's $3.9M cume is above that of A Complete Unknown at the same point. The second weekend for the Craig Brewer directed movie in the UK & Ireland saw $600K for a No. 8 rank and running cume of $2.5M, above The Holdovers, Manchester By The Sea and The Iron Claw at the same point.
Paramount's Primate was limited in its overseas launch with only $2.1M this weekend, $925K of that from Mexico putting its global debut frame at $13.4M. Mexico booked the Johannes Roberts movie at 865 locations. Peru made $220K at 48 sites, Colombia $110K at 195, Argentina $106K at 160 sites, Israel $104K at 30, Central America was $80K from 22 theaters, Chile was $70K at 75 locations, while Hungary was $52K at 45 locations. All those figures included previews. The chimp crawls into France on Jan. 21, Australia on Jan. 22; Germany, Italy, Brazil and Korea on Jan. 29; UK on Jan. 30 and Spain on Feb. 6.
Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.
Comments On Deadline Hollywood are monitored. So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
Comment
Name
Email
Website
Δ
Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks
We want to hear from you! Send us a tip using our annonymous form.
Sign up for our breaking news alerts
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Ann-Margret is reflecting on one of the most emotionally demanding performances of her career — and the lasting impact it had on her off-screen.
In a recent interview with Interview Magazine, the 84-year-old entertainer opened up about portraying Blanche DuBois in the 1984 TV adaptation of Tennessee Williams' classic play “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Ann-Margret said the experience was difficult, describing the character as one she had to play with complete emotional honesty.
“Playing Blanche DuBois was a rough one,” she told the outlet. “I knew it had to be as honest as I could be, and that was it. I did the very best I could.”
Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, first staged in 1947, remains one of the most celebrated works in American theater. Blanche, the tragic heroine at the center of the story, is frequently portrayed as a woman shaped by loss and trauma, gradually losing her grip on stability as her world closes in.
Ann-Margret said she was aware of the responsibility that came with taking on the part — and she also addressed long-standing reports that Williams had wanted her to play Blanche years before the TV film was ultimately produced.
Asked about rumors that the playwright pursued her for the role about a decade before the movie was made, Ann-Margret confirmed it meant a great deal to her.
“I was thrilled that he liked my work and he wanted me to do it,” she said. “I was thrilled! My goodness, Tennessee Williams. I admired him so much.”
Although Williams died in February 1983 — one year before the movie premiered — Ann-Margret said his interest in her work remained a meaningful part of the story behind her casting.
Ann-Margret also confirmed reports that she had trouble letting go of the role once filming wrapped. While discussing the emotional weight of the performance, she recalled the final day of filming, when director John Erman stepped in with a reminder she needed in the moment.
She said Erman told her it was “just a movie,” after people noticed she was crying when she was alone.
“Oh, yeah, because people saw me crying when I was all alone,” she told Interview Magazine. “And that's when he came in and said that, because I had gotten to such a point that I was always sad, so that's when he came in.”
She added that it took time to fully step away from the emotional mindset she carried while playing Blanche.
She confirmed it took her “a while” to “get out of that mindset as Blanche DuBois.”
In the same Interview Magazine conversation, Ann-Margret also shared a memory from her early career involving late Hollywood legend Bette Davis.
Ann-Margret said her first film role left a lasting impression thanks to the two-time Oscar winner, who she worked with on the 1961 movie “Pocketful of Miracles.” Though Davis had a reputation for being tough,
Ann-Margret said she experienced a supportive side of the star on set.
“I played her daughter and I really felt like it,” Ann-Margret told the magazine.
She recalled one specific moment that stayed with her: Davis reportedly stopped production to ensure Ann-Margret looked her best before a close-up scene.
“I was about to have a close-up,” she said. “I didn't know [about] close-shot, medium-shot, you know. She was there and she, at one point, stopped all the filming and said, ‘Ann-Margret, this is your close-up, I want you to look as good as you possibly can. Makeup! Hair!'”
After the crew touched her up, Ann-Margret said Davis gave the OK to continue.
“The makeup person and hair person came and when they finished she looked and said, ‘Okay, now we can go on,'” Ann-Margret continued. “Oh, she was lookin' out for me.”
Comment
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Δ
Previous
Like EntertainmentNow?
Go here and check the boxnext to EntertainmentNow
About
Contact US
Privacy Policy
Terms Of Service
Editorial Guidelines
Sitemap
Copyright © 2026 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Powered by WordPress VIP
Colombian music star Yeison Jimenez has passed away following a plane crash that claimed six lives, just hours before he was set to take the stage. As per a report in the US Sun, Jimenez, 34, was traveling with members of his team to a concert in Medellín when the aircraft went down shortly after takeoff and caught fire.
Authorities later confirmed that no one on the board survived the devastating crash.
The crash occurred just after 4 p.m. local time on Saturday. Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the deaths of the pilot, co-pilot, and four passengers, including Jimenez.
“Following the arrival of emergency services and the National Police at the crash site, the deaths of all six occupants of the aircraft have been confirmed,” the agency said in a statement, as published by US Sun. “Among the victims is the renowned popular music artist Yeison Jimenez.”
The plane belonged to Jimenez's company, YJ Company SAS.
In the hours leading up to the flight, Jimenez and members of his team were photographed at a shop near the airport, where the singer happily posed for selfies with staff.
ABC7 reports that the team was en route to Medellín for a scheduled performance.
Before boarding the aircraft, Jimenez shared a poignant post on Instagram. “Always humble, because what God gives you he can also take away,” he wrote, as reported by the US Sun.
Weisman Mora, his longtime photographer, shared a final video capturing the group together inside the plane as it taxied down the runway. He, too, was among the victims.
In addition to Jimenez and his photographer, the other victims of the crash were identified as pilot Hernando Torres, Juan Manuel Rodriguez, Oscar Marin, and Jefferson Osorio.
Jimenez began performing at just seven years old and later emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in Colombia's “musica popular,” a folk-influenced genre that traces its roots to the 1930s and 1940s.
Across his career, he released eight albums and penned more than 70 songs, leaving a lasting mark by helping the genre evolve for younger audiences.
In earlier interviews, Jimenez also spoke candidly about aviation.
As per the US Sun, during a podcast appearance, he shared that he had experienced recurring dreams about dying in a plane crash.
Tributes poured in following the news of his death. Jimenez's stepdaughter, Camila Jimenez, whom he adopted after forming a family with his partner, Sonia Restrepo, shared a message on Instagram.
“I love you dad. You don't know how much it hurts me to see your videos and for you not to be here,” she wrote.
Fans echoed the grief online. One wrote, “Never thought I'd see a post like this so soon. How does this all hurt, much comfort to his family, praying for you”.
Another fan wrote: “You will always be the best. R.I.P. A news that is hard to believe. It hurts too much. God of strength to families. 🤍🕊️💔🧸 You leave a big void @yeison_jimenez 🤍😭”
A third one chimed in and wrote: “😢💔😭how I wish this was a lie💔what a great pain😭a great one is gone🙌my favorite singer forever🕊”
The regional government of Boyacá also released a statement naming all six victims.
“We regret the tragic accident that claimed the life of the well-known singer Yeison Jimenez, one of the most representative figures of Colombian popular music,” the statement read.
“United in prayer we stand in solidarity.”
Jimenez is survived by his family, his children, and a devoted fan base that helped elevate him into one of Colombia's most influential contemporary artists.
So sad. Prayers for his family..
Comment
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Δ
Previous
Next
Like EntertainmentNow?
Go here and check the boxnext to EntertainmentNow
About
Contact US
Privacy Policy
Terms Of Service
Editorial Guidelines
Sitemap
Copyright © 2026 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Powered by WordPress VIP
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
When Sara Bareilles took the stage to speak at the Luckman Club at Soho House West Hollywood on Friday, she was surrounded by an audience that understood the unique challenges and joys of writing music. The intimate room was filled with members of the Alliance for Women Film Composers, which hosted the event in partnership with IndieWire. All of them were eager to hear the Grammy winner and Tony nominee discuss “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,” the song she wrote with Brandi Carlile for “Come See Me in the Good Light” that landed on the Oscar shortlist for Best Original Song.
Bareilles was joined by AWFC co-president Allyson Newman for a wide-ranging conversation about Bareilles' involvement in IndieWire Honoree Ryan White's Apple documentary about the late poet and activist Andrea Gibson and Bareilles' approach to her entire artistic career.
“I got introduced to a lot of their video sort of blogs around the cancer diagnosis and I couldn't get over how much humor and buoyancy they were able to weave into such a dark diagnosis,” Bareilles said of her first encounters with Gibson. “I thought that was a part of why I think they're a miracle worker.”
Bareilles explained that she wasn't always attached as a songwriter. She simply believed in the producing team's vision of telling Gibson's story and joined as an investor and executive producer. Getting the opportunity to turn Gibson's poetry into song lyrics was just an added bonus.
“They were trying to make this film in a different way and not go to big studios and not go to big movie houses,” she said. “They wanted it to stay very bespoke. They wanted it to be people who really loved Andrea and understood the mission. And so I said yes. And it has like tumbled forward into so many beautiful unforeseen gifts. One of them being making a song with Andrea's unfinished poems and Brandi Carlile that is now featured in the film.”
While Bareilles' involvement as a songwriter might have started out of necessity, she made it clear that she and fellow producer Carlile were eager for the chance to adapt Gibson's unfinished work.
“The original conceit for the film was that the director Ryan White and Andrea had spoken about Andrea composing a new original poem just for the film. And when they got to the end of the film, it sort of felt to them like their poetry quotient was sort of met and the poem wasn't finished. And so Andrea had just sort of like collected a couple of pages of couplets, a few stanzas. There was a lot, thematically, it was a lot about their love of Meg, their partner,” she said. “Brandi and I, both being on the executive producing team were like, ‘Put me in, coach.' I would love to sit with those unfinished poetry, with that unfinished poetry and see if there's a song to be made there. And so after the first time I watched the film, I was stunned. I don't know how many of you have seen the film. I highly, highly, highly recommend it. And I had nothing to do with why the film is so beautiful. It's just the magic of these people.”
Teaming up with another equally established songwriter, and working with lyrics written by someone else, was a new challenge for Bareilles. But the circumstances led to a unique creative process that was richer because all three women were involved.
“I have never collaborated quite in this way before, so I write lyrics. And so working from a page of some of the most beautiful and quirky and interesting perspectives… I just like to say, ‘Keep the Novocaine out of my wisdom teeth. I want to feel it all.' I would never write that line myself, but as soon as I see it on the page, I'm like, ‘That's fucking actually brilliant,'” she said. “And that's one of the things I love about Andrea's work and I bought all their books and highly recommend for the writers out there. There's just a lot of inspiration to be taken, a lot of medicine from their work. And yeah, this collaboration was really unique and it was a really joyful one and I loved getting to celebrate our differences in making something together. That felt really beautiful.”
Bareilles didn't shy away from the fact that “Come See Me in the Good Light” deals with dark subject matter, but Gibson made it clear that she never wanted her documentary to exclusively be a film about death. She wanted it to be a story about her love for her partner, Meg, and Bareilles was happy to oblige — even if it meant going back on her famous promise to never write a love song for someone who asked for one.
“The only direction that Andrea gave is that they didn't want people to leave and hear a sad song,” she said. “They wanted something uplifting and they really wanted something that was about how much they loved Meg. So it felt like, great, we're going to write a love song for Meg. That's perfect. And I am aware of the, I'm not going to write you a love song. And yes, I did. I did write the love song. Pun very much intended.”
Watch IndieWire and Apple's full conversation with Bareilles in the video above.
This event was presented in partnership with Apple.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
By
Daniel Kreps
Billy Strings paid tribute to Bob Weir following news of the Grateful Dead guitarist's death Saturday at the age of 78.
“We are all completely devastated but I also can't help but feel like he is at total peace and more magical now than he ever was. I've never knew a person so in tune with the cosmos. Who was so mystical and smart and mysterious, alluring and radiant,” Strings wrote on social media.
“He was a star wrangler .. a celestial skysage who traded fear for wonder. Now he is riding the northern lights and skipping barefoot between the constellations… We took a while to try to understand the news and then told some beautiful stories about our times with him.. but eventually we decided to pick ourselves up and got back to recording our music because that's what he would have wanted us to do. As he said ‘There's work to be done.'”
Strings collaborated with Weir onstage on a number of occasions over the past half-decade, including most recently — and finally — at the Dead 60 shows in San Francisco in August 2025, where Strings served as opening act before joining Dead & Company for “Wharf Rat.”
Popular on Rolling Stone
“I'll always cherish the memories I have of Bob .. of hanging out in his hotel room and him showing me his record collection and mobile recording rig. Sitting there listening to kind of blue in silence. Soaking in the frequencies. Of him busting into ‘when I paint my masterpiece' at my wedding.. and in an instant he turned the place into a joyous musical celebration. It was the greatest gift anyone could have given us,” Strings wrote.
“He was always ready to ‘Kick up a fuss' He always had boundless time and knowledge to share with everyone and was truly one of the kindest people I've ever known. The world is a better place because of him. I'm extremely grateful to have crossed paths with him in this life.”
Strings joins the chorus of celebrities, musicians, politicians, and many more who honored Weir following news of his death.
Trending Stories
Bob Weir, Grateful Dead Co-Founder and Guitarist, Dead at 78
Watch Bob Weir Perform 'Touch of Grey' with Dead and Co. at His Final Live Appearance
Don Was, Andy Cohen, and More Remember 'Impossibly Beautiful and Wildly Fiery' Bob Weir
Trey Anastasio Remembers 'Sweet, Kind, Gentle Friend' Bob Weir
“Words are hard to find in these moments.. I just know that he has had such a profound impact on so many of us and we will all carry that onward into the horizon until we someday meet again,” Strings wrote.
“Heavens choir just gained a beautiful new voice. There is joy in knowing he is with some of his old friends again.. singing and laughing and playing beautiful songs.”
We want to hear it. Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.
Timothee Chalamet is being tipped to take home a host of trophies this awards season — but his top starring role right now is in Kylie Jenner's life.
Eyebrows were arched when the rapidly rising A-list actor, 30, first started dating the reality-star-turned-cosmetics-mogul, 28, with Hollywood snobs doubting they'd last.
But proving the naysayers wrong, they've been taking things up a notch, with Chalamet declaring his love for Jenner as he accepted an award for his role in “Marty Supreme” at the Critics' Choice Awards last week.
Despite being from one of the US's most colorful and at times dramatic families and growing up under the glare of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” reality TV cameras, Jenner is notoriously guarded about his private life, but sources say the actor is responsible for taking her to a happier place.
“After living and growing up really fast, being with someone like Timmy is a wholesome, welcoming stable relationship,” a music industry insider familiar with Jenner and Chalamet told Page Six.
And it doesn't hurt that Chalamet is currently on fire, being front runner – and the youngest in his category – nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes, for “Marty Supreme” as Marty Mauser, the relentless table tennis hustler determined to become a world champ.
Sources say his too-cool-for-school born-and-raised New Yorker personality have won Los Angeles native Kylie — who is also a make-up mogul worth over $670 million according to Forbes — completely.
“Timmy is a very cool, young kid who is dialed in. Even dating Kylie, he still retains that down-to-earth persona and hasn't forgotten where he's come from. Timmy's the girl next door, but in reverse,” the music industry insider said.
Chalamet and Jenner's love story first started in January 2023, when they were spotted at a Jean Paul Gaultier fashion show during Paris Couture Week, but it was only in September of that year they made a public appearance, at a Beyonce concert.
Throughout their three years together, skeptics have doubted their relationship because, unlike many in the public eye, they rarely talk about it and rumors of a breakup are regularly circulated. But insiders say they've grown more comfortable parading their PDA and although they are low key about it, their relationship is getting stronger all the time.
Proving they share a sense of humor and style, the couple stepped out in December for the Los Angeles premiere of his movie “Marty Supreme,” in matching custom Chrome Hearts outfits. Chalamet beamed at cameras from an orange-hued leather suit and silk shirt, punctuating his monochromatic look with orange boots. Meanwhile, the Kylie Cosmetics mogul complemented him in a matching low cut, floor-length orange gown with cutouts at her waist.
Then at the Critic's Choice Awards in Santa Monica on Jan. 4 the “Wonka” actor made it clear Jenner is his golden ticket.
He locked lips with the beauty guru moments before making his way to the stage to collect his award for Best Actor for “Marty Supreme.”
Then, he allotted the final moments of his speech to praise her.
“Lastly, I'll just say thank you to my partner of three years, thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn't do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said as the glossy-eyed mom of two returned the sentiment from the audience, mouthing “I love you” back.
It's anything but lip service for the Kylie Lip Kit creator.
Growing up the youngest of her generation in her famous family; alongside Kourtney, Khloe, Kim, Robert Kardashian Jr. and sister Kendall, Jenner grew up quickly, regularly appearing on national TV by the time she was a teenager.
She continued to grow up fast, getting pregnant during her second serious relationship with rapper Travis Scott, 34, and giving birth to their daughter, Stormi Webster, now 7, when she was 21 in 2018. They had an on-off relationship between 2019 and 2023, and another child together, son Aire Webster in 2022, but ultimately split at the very beginning of 2023, around the same time she was first spotted with Chalamet.
The star has gone from being a shoulder to cry on, to the sunshine in Jenner's life. Key to their bi-coastal relationship, with him based out of New York and she in California, is keeping things private. Little is known about Chalamet's relationship with his beau's children, for example. And they rarely allow themselves to be seen off-duty, outside of red carpet and public events.
Time and again, gossips have been proven wrong, such as rumors of “trouble in paradise” in November, and reports Chalamet had “broken up with Kylie.”
At the Palm Springs Film Festival earlier this month, Jenner posed in an orange sequined Ludovic de Saint Sernin gown to watch Chalamet honored with the Spotlight Actor of the Year award at role Josh Safdie-directed “Marty Supreme.”
Chalamet matched the support, liking her Instagram post and commenting with orange heart emojis.
Their return to the spotlight comes after spending the holidays together with the extended Kardashian-Jenner family, taking part in their annual Christmas “gingerbread house” tradition, with the “Dune” star's moniker etched in icing on the family's gingerbread house.
Sources say that while Jenner enjoys her extended honeymoon phase with Chalamet, she has also maintained a healthy co-parenting rhythm with Scott.
“They are in such a good place. They coparent so well — there's never an issue. They speak every single day and have a fantastic relationship,” a Scott source said.
Meanwhile, another source told Page Six the movie star keeps Jenner grounded.
“Timmy is a New York kid. He's got swag to him. You can tell he's been around the culture.
“Kylie's always been a kind gentle soul. She's [Kylie] got somebody whose got a lot going for him. She's a billionaire — now you got someone whose hot, doing his own thing. Travis is doing his own thing too, but [Timmy] feels safer — he's on screen, easy to get along with,” the source said.
While the couple is more buttoned up in public, Chalamet — who graduated from Manhattan's prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts — has made his name portraying emotionally rich and vulnerable characters.
He played the precocious, sexually awakened 17-year-old teen in “Call Me By Your Name,” the womanizing boyfriend in “Lady Bird,” a recovering meth addict in “Beautiful Boy” and appeared as the love interest, Laurie, in “Little Women.”
And he dazzled audiences last awards season when he transformed into poet and folk singer Bob Dylan in the biopic “A Complete Unknown” in which Chalamet brilliantly matched the nasal-forward, raspy vocal range of the 60's musician.
Despite his massive fame and success — Chalamet, the entertainment source said, is refreshingly real. Whether he's grabbing pizza in the West Village or sitting courtside with Jenner at a Knick's game.
“They're good for each other because they both have tendencies to get a little brooding and in their own heads about things, and they lighten each other up,” a Jenner source told The Post last year.
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
New entries are Paramount's horror 'Primate' ($11.3 million in ticket sales) and Lionsgate's 'Greenland 2: Migration' ($8 million in ticket sales).
By
Mia Galuppo
Senior Entertainment Reporter
Avatar: Fire and Ash will continue its box office streak over this early January weekend, landing at No. 1 for the fourth weekend in a row with $21.3 million from 3,700 theaters.
Avatar currently stands at $342.6 million domestically. While not performing as well as the first two Avatar films, Fire and Ash has easily cleared the global $1 billion mark after three weekends in cinemas, and after this weekend, its global total is set to land at $1.23 billion.
The James Cameron franchise installment is coming in well ahead of the weekend's two new releases: Paramount horror Primate and Lionsgate's Greenland 2: Migration.
For its part, Primate is vying for the No. 2 spot, opening at 2,964 venues and $11.3 million in ticket sales for its opening weekend. Johannes Roberts, known for horror thrillers like 47 Meters Down, directs the horror film about a domesticated chimpanzee that turns on the family that raised him (and some unwitting houseguests) after becoming rabid. Oscar winner Troy Kotsur stars in the $20 million-plus budget movie, along with Johnny Sequoyah and Jessica Alexander. Overseas, the movie landed $2.1 million for a global total $13.4 million.
Running close behind Primate is Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney starring success story The Housemaid with $11.2 million in estimated weekend ticket sales. The Paul Feig-directed thriller, which already has a planned sequel, has a $93 million total in North America and $150 million worldwide.
In fourth place is the animated juggernaut Zooptopia 2, which earned $10.1 million in its seventh weekend of release and now has a global gross of $1.65 billion to date. The film is Walt Disney Animation's top-grossing movie.
Greenland 2, a sequel to the 2020 disaster movie, is the weekend's other new entry and is coming in at No. 5 with $8.5 million from 2,710 locations. Lionsgate has the domestic rights to the Gerard Butler-starrer from director Ric Roman Waugh that takes place after the events of the first film, when a comet wreaked havoc on Earth. In the follow-up, the central family must leave their Greenland bunker in search of a new home in post-apocalyptic Europe.
Outside of Avatar 3, notable holdovers at the multiplex include Timothee Chalamet's awards season frontrunner Marty Supreme, which earned $7.3 million over the weekend, dropping 38 percent. The Josh Safdie-directed ping pong epic, which has a budget of $70 million, has now passed that figure at the domestic box office. Also in the awards conversation is Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice, which generated $1.3 million from 147 screens over the weekend. That film, in its third week of limited release, has a cume of $3.6 million.
Elsewhere, Sony's adventure comedy Anaconda passed a milestone, earning over $100 million at the global box office. The Jack Black and Paul Rudd-starrer made $5.1 million in North America and now has a global total of $110.1 million.
Jan 11, 8:50 a.m. Updated with the full weekend box office estimates.
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day
Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
Laura Dern, George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro and the 'One Battle After Another' ensemble were also among the winners at Saturday's show.
By
Kirsten Chuba
Events Editor
Hamnet took home best picture at the Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP, the annual ceremony recognizing film and TV that celebrates the stories and voices of people over the age of 50.
The honors were handed out on Saturday at the Beverly Wilshire, with Alan Cumming once again serving as the evening's host. One Battle After Another came into the show with a leading eight nominations — and left with three wins — but Chloé Zhao's Shakespeare film landed the top prize.
Laura Dern (for Is This Thing On?), George Clooney (Jay Kelly), Regina Hall (One Battle After Another) and Delroy Lindo (Sinners) were also among the big winners, as Guillermo del Toro was crowned best director for Frankenstein and Noah Wyle and Kathy Bates snagged wins in the TV categories. The Movies For Grownups Awards will be broadcast by Great Performances on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. on PBS.
Check out the fill list of winners below.
Hamnet (WINNER)A House of DynamiteOne Battle After AnotherSinnersTrain Dreams
Laura Dern (Is This Thing On?) (WINNER)Jodie Foster (A Private Life)Lucy Liu (Rosemead)Julia Roberts (After the Hunt)June Squibb (Eleanor the Great)
George Clooney (Jay Kelly) (WINNER)Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams)Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine)
Regina Hall (One Battle After Another) (WINNER)Amy Madigan (Weapons)Helen Mirren (Goodbye June)Gwyneth Paltrow (Marty Supreme)Sigourney Weaver (Avatar: Fire and Ash)
Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another)Delroy Lindo (Sinners) (WINNER)Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)Michael Shannon (Nuremberg)Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)
Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)Kathryn Bigelow (A House of Dynamite)Scott Cooper (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere)Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein) (WINNER)Spike Lee (Highest 2 Lowest)
Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) (WINNER)Noah Baumbach and Emily Mortimer (Jay Kelly)Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett and Mark Chappell (Is This Thing On?)Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale)James Vanderbilt (Nuremberg)
A House of DynamiteJay KellyNurembergOne Battle After Another (WINNER)Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Eleanor the GreatThe Lost BusRental FamilyRosemeadSentimental Value (WINNER)
Dead Man's WireMarty SupremeNurembergSinnersSpringsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (WINNER)
Becoming Led ZeppelinCover-UpMy Mom Jayne (WINNER)RiefenstahlStiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost
It Was Just an AccidentNo Other ChoiceNouvelle VagueThe Secret AgentSentimental Value (WINNER)
AdolescenceHacksThe Pitt (WINNER)The StudioThe White Lotus
Walton Goggins (The White Lotus)Stephen Graham (Adolescence)Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us)Noah Wyle (The Pitt) (WINNER)
Kathy Bates (Matlock) (WINNER)Kathryn Hahn (The Studio)Catherine O'Hara (The Studio)Parker Posey (The White Lotus)Jean Smart (Hacks)
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
At Friday's Astra Awards, Stone picked up a Timeless Award and dropped a 9-minute speech: “You know why you like Taylor Swift? Because she's decent. Be decent. That is what it means to be timeless.”
By
Chris Gardner
When Sharon Stone walked up on stage inside the Sofitel hotel Friday night to accept a career achievement honor during the Astra Awards, she immediately turned her attention to “the kids” who questioned who she was and why she was at their table.
“Someone came over and said, ‘Who are you and why are you sitting here?'” the veteran star explained before quoting herself from the clips reel that just played. “As she said, ‘Fuck you.'”
Though she said it with a smile, that should give you an idea of how the next nine minutes of Stone's acceptance speech went. It was a “fuck”-filled address that covered everything from Basic Instinct to Taylor Swift and seemed designed to inspire actors and artists to go after their dreams, be a “decent person” and get to work.
Related Stories
Music
iHeartRadio Music Award Nominations: Taylor Swift Leads With Nine
Music
Taylor Swift Takes a Teary, Well-Earned Victory Lap in Eras Tour Docuseries Finale
“Fame without awareness, success without purpose is pointless,” Stone said at the top of her remarks after calling out her tablemates. “It's really interesting because I wasn't the first person they offered Basic Instinct to but I was the person who got her manager to break into the office and get her the script. And I was the person who was prepared because I had that script for eight months and I was the person who got her manager to call every single fucking day because I wanted that part. And when you want something as an artist, you should go and get it because you know what's meant for you and you know where you can fit and where you can make a change with your art.”
Then Stone turned her attention to the present day to offer a rather pointed message about activism.
“There's a lot of talk right now about what we think is right and what we think is wrong and how we feel about everything and how upsetting all these things can be. Fuck off. All of your hot air doesn't mean anything, but all of your gifts and all of your opportunities mean everything. Shut the front door and get to work. Do something with what you have. Use your talent and become a purpose. The only thing that matters in this life is what you do with what you've got.”
Stone dedicated a chunk of her remarks to retelling the story of how she got out of the “port town in northwestern Pennsylvania” where she grew up, a place she described as being filled with drugs, hookers and lots of Amish residents.
“I went on to demonstrate what different lives could look like and what different lives could feel like because I felt a lot growing up in that environment,” she said of her career as an actress. “I felt a lot about the Amish people that I grew up with, the people who taught me how to raise a house, raise the sides, and then have a party when we put the roof on.”
Stone then made a big statement — more of a direct suggestion, actually — about actors who make more money than the people they work with on sets.
“Everybody thinks that what we do is all sunglasses and flashbulbs but it isn't. It's a lot of seasons of strikes and illnesses and no jobs and how the fuck am I going to pay my bills? That's what it really is to be an artist. What is it to be timeless? It is not a bunch of people pushing buttons on social media. It isn't. It is when you are on the road and you meet people and you are kind to them and you see them and you talk to them. It is when you make more money than your crew and you realize that you should not be eating off the craft service table because you are not carrying cable. You are not hauling electric. You are not dragging shit through the rain and snow. What you should be doing is be putting better food on that craft service table because you make more money.”
She said stars should clean up their trailers, hang up their clothes and “put your fucking trash out at the end of the day.” And then on their days off, they should go to the hospital and “do something decent.” Then came the Swift mention.
“You know why you like Taylor Swift? Because she's decent. Be decent. That is what it means to be timeless. Be a decent person.”
She Stone's full Astra Awards speech below.
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day
Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
The singer-songwriter died in a small plane crash that took the lives of six people Saturday (Jan. 10).
By
Ingrid Fajardo
Social Media Manager & Staff Writer, Latin
Colombian Yeison Jiménez, a singer-songwriter and star of “música popular,” died Saturday, Jan. 10, in a plane crash near Paipa, in the state of Boyacá in Colombia. He was 34.
Explore
Yeison Jimenez
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Colombia's Office of Air Traffic Accidents confirmed that an aircraft with registration N325FA crashed. The crash claimed the lives of six people, including Jiménez and his manager, Jefferson Osorio; Jiménez's press office confirmed the news to Billboard Español.
Related
Bob Weir Remembered by Andy Cohen, Don Felder & More After His Death at 78
Don Was Remembers Bob Weir, His 'Fearless' Friend and Bandmate
Gracie Abrams Shares Update on Her Next Album: 'I'm Beyond Ready'
Informamos a la opinión pública sobre un accidente aéreo ocurrido en el día de hoy. Se ha confirmado el siniestro de una aeronave con matrícula N325FA en el sector comprendido entre Paipa y Duitama. pic.twitter.com/N1V2zaPkcS
At only 34 years old, Jiménez had already become one of the biggest names in Colombian popular music, or “música popular,” a genre that blends traditional Mexican ranchera music with Colombian roots. In 2024, he reached a major milestone in his career by selling out Bogotá's Movistar Arena not once, but three times, drawing more than 40,000 fans in total.
On the Billboard charts, Jiménez reached No. 16 on the Regional Mexican Airplay ranking with “Tu Amante” in 2021. The song also earned him his first and only entry on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart, peaking at No. 48 that same year.
This was a historic achievement for both Jiménez and the genre, as no other Colombian popular music artist had ever reached that milestone. Popular music in Colombia has its roots in the country's coffee-growing region, which includes Caldas (where Jiménez was born), Quindío, Risaralda and Tolima.
The genre, which dates back to more than 50 years ago, was originally known as “música de carrilera” or “cantina music.” It was heavily influenced by Mexican regional music and gained traction in small towns and local bars, thanks to pioneers like Darío Gómez, Luis Alberto Posada and El Charrito Negro.
According to Jiménez, Darío Gómez was especially instrumental in shaping the genre, even though many doubted his vision when he first introduced the fusion in the '70s.
Jiménez had lofty ambitions for his brand of music, and in 2024, he was part of a panel of música popular artists at Billboard Latin Music Week. Last year he fulfilled another dream: selling out Bogotá's El Campín Stadium, becoming the first Colombian regional artist to do so.
He had been gearing up for a second show at El Campín, scheduled for March 28. Jiménez is survived by his wife and three children.
This story will be updated as more details become available.
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry
Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry
Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter
Saturday's award winners praised immigrants, promoted fighting the power and singled out creative human beings over ChatGPT, generative AI and that fictional photorealistic actress.
By
Chris Gardner
Leave it to the indie film crowd to add some spice to the weekend.
During an awards season in which many boldfaced names have been playing it safe when it comes to weighing in on hot button cultural and political issues — not counting Guillermo del Toro who shouted “fuck AI” at New York's Gotham Awards — the handful of boldfaced names who made it to the podium at Saturday's Spirit Awards brunch did not shy away from sharing their passionate takes.
But first, official business: Film Independent brought its typically beachside act to the London West Hollywood to host Spirit Award nominees for an airy rooftop brunch. (For years, Santa Monica hosted the brunch at Casa Del Mar and the Spirit Awards in a tent on the beach.) Aside from serving up avocado toast, tacos and Lavazza espresso martinis, the org doled out $75,000 in grants to emerging artists. Hannah Einbinder and Natasha Rothwell teamed to announce the winners in front of a starry crowd that included Ethan Hawke, Zoey Deutch, Joel Edgerton, Dylan O'Brien, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Rebecca Hall, Kyle Marvin, Jane Levy and Tig Notaro, and the team from Come See Me in the Good Light.
Related Stories
TV
Radial Entertainment, BondIt Take 'Cheaters' Rights Worldwide (Exclusive)
TV
Netflix's 'Black Mirror' Renewed for Season 8 With Creator Charlie Brooker "Activated and Whirring Away" on Ideas
“What's up freaks,” the Hacks Emmy Award-winning star said in greeting the crowd. “How are we feeling? Are we on a frequency all together as one?” Rothwell certainly was. After exchanging compliments, she said to Einbinder, “I'm going to touch myself later and think about you.”
Film Independent acting president was thinking about the rollercoaster that was 2025. “Last year we endured quite a moment and we are just so grateful that we were able to navigate the many things happening in the world and even within the industry with all of you. We're emerging now with greater energy, with greater purpose. And we are very excited to be in the brighter days ahead that we knew were waiting for us.”
It was a bright day for Tony Yang who won the first prize of the afternoon, the Producers Award sponsored for the first time by Producers United. Finalists for the honor, which comes with a $25,000 unrestricted grant, included Emma Hannaway and Luca Intili.
“Being a producer to me has always meant creating the best possible environment for everyone around me to succeed, for the people around me to feel the most creative, most free to do their best work. And the key word here is people — not ChatGPT, not generative AI, not Tilly Norwood,” Yang said in his acceptance speech. “It is the real people here and the real independent filmmakers in this room that inspire me and continue to inspire audiences with their works of art. There's no greater community than ours that harnesses the power of storytelling into its most vulnerable, raw and authentic form.”
Yang's comments prompted Rothwell, when she returned to the podium to present the next award, to say, “We are going to keep things moving but before we do, I just gotta say fuck Tilly Norwood.” She received loud cheers for the proclamation.
Up next came Rajee Samarasinghe, director of Your Touch Makes Others Invisible, who received the Truer Than Fiction Award presented to a first-time director of nonfiction features “who has not received significant recognition.” It comes with a $25,000 unrestricted grant, and Samarasinghe bested Tony Benna for André is an Idiot and Brittany Shyne for Seeds.
He also came with a timely statement tied to his movie. “It's a film about enforced disappearances and state violence in my home country of Sri Lanka. I really want to dedicate this to the women who shared their testimonies in the film and demonstrated such courage,” Samarasinghe said. “We live in a moment where abuses of power are so commonplace and it's so important to keep fighting this power and to stand with those who are most vulnerable.”
The last award of the afternoon — the Someone to Watch Award with an unrestricted $25,000 grant — went to Tatti Ribeiro, director of Valentina. Her fellow nominees included Neo Sora for Happyend and Annapurna Sriram for Fucktoys. Ribeiro revealed she didn't write a speech because “my movie's not out yet,” but she still managed to find an exclamation point for her remarks. “Thank God for immigrants. That's all.”
But there was more. Rothwell and Einbinder (who posted a strongly worded statement on Instagram denouncing ICE in the wake of the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis by stating “none of us are safe”) then led the crowd in a champagne toast. “We didn't imbibe before this, so you guys are ahead of us,” Rothwell said as Einbinder added, “I have a little bit of a Benadryl allergy and a microdose in my system, I won't lie.”
The Spirit Awards will be hosted by Saturday Night Live alum Ego Nwodim on Feb. 15. It will be a milestone occasion as the 41st annual show moves from its longtime home on Santa Monica Beach into the heart of Hollywood at the Palladium. The show is set to stream live on YouTube on both the Film Independent and IMDb channels. Spirit Awards are supported by premier sponsor Lavazza Coffee, principal sponsor IMDbPro and official sponsor FIJI Water with support this year from Pepsi, accessibility partner Easterseals Disability Services and official hotels London West Hollywood and W Hollywood.
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day
Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
By
Andy Greene
The music world was busy mourning David Bowie on the 10-year anniversary of his death on Saturday when the devastating word hit that we lost another icon of almost indescribable significance to rock history: Bob Weir.
“He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could,” the Weir family wrote in a public statement. “Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.”
The road was Weir's home from the moment the Grateful Dead formed in 1965 all the way through last summer. His projects outside the Grateful Dead included RatDog, Furthur, Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, and Dead & Company. At almost any given time, he had shows on the books with at least one of them.
“The interesting thing is, I've never made plans,” he told Rolling Stone‘s Angie Martoccio last March. “And I'm not about to, because I'm too damn busy doing other stuff, trying to get the sound right, trying to get the right chords, trying to get the right words, trying to get all that stuff together for the storytelling. And really, making plans seems like a waste of time. Because nothing ever works out like you expected it to, no matter who you are. So why bother?”
Popular on Rolling Stone
Dead & Co. wrapped up a farewell tour in July 2023, but they continued to play residencies at Sphere in Las Vegas throughout 2024 and 2025. And they came together one last time in August 2025 for three shows in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to celebrate the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary. Throughout the three evenings, they were joined by Billy Strings, Trey Anastasio, Grahame Lesh, and Sturgill Simpson.
These were joyous concerts filled with Deadheads from around the globe, but Weir was holding a secret: He was diagnosed with cancer weeks earlier, and had just started treatment. “Those performances, emotional, soulful, and full of light, were not farewells, but gifts,” the Weir family wrote. “Another act of resilience. An artist choosing, even then, to keep going by his own design.”
Editor's picks
The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far
The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time
The final night wrapped up with “Touch of Grey,” perhaps the most famous tune in the Dead songbook. Weir sang lead, and the band stretched it out for nearly eight minutes. At the end, Weir took a group bow with the full band, waved to the crowd, and then took a special bow with Mickey Hart, the only other original member of the Dead in Dead & Co., before they walked off together. It was his final live appearance.
“There is no final curtain here, not really,” wrote the Weir family. “Only the sense of someone setting off again. He often spoke of a three-hundred-year legacy, determined to ensure the songbook would endure long after him. May that dream live on through future generations of Dead Heads. And so we send him off the way he sent so many of us on our way: with a farewell that isn't an ending, but a blessing. A reward for a life worth livin'.”
It's way too early to seriously contemplate the future of Dead & Co., but it's somewhat hard to imagine them continuing outside of a tribute concert to Weir. He was the heart and soul of the group.
Trending Stories
Bob Weir, Grateful Dead Co-Founder and Guitarist, Dead at 78
Watch Bob Weir Perform 'Touch of Grey' with Dead and Co. at His Final Live Appearance
Don Was, Andy Cohen, and More Remember 'Impossibly Beautiful and Wildly Fiery' Bob Weir
Trey Anastasio Remembers 'Sweet, Kind, Gentle Friend' Bob Weir
That said, Weir himself once said he hoped to see the band outlive him. “I had a little flash while we were playing one night,” Weir told Rolling Stone‘s David Fricke in 2016. “It was toward the end of the tour. I don't remember what city it was in. We were getting into the second set, setting up a tune. We were all playing, but the tune hadn't begun yet. We were all feeling out the groove, just playing with it. Suddenly I was 20 feet behind my own head, looking at this and kind of happy with the way the song was shaping up. I started looking around, and it was 20 years later. John's hair had turned gray. Oteil's had turned white. I looked back at the drummers, and it was a couple of new guys. I looked back at myself, the back of my head, and it was a new guy. It changed my entire perception of what it is we're up to.”
The members of Dead & Co. will ultimately make the call. And no matter what happens, Grateful Dead music will continue to live on concert stages for decades and decades to come. They are responsible for a significant chapter of the Great American Songbook.
We want to hear it. Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.
Let's face it most of the trepidation from Eagles Nation heading into the post-season comes down to the lasting memory of that second half against the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago, a second half that saw the Philadelphia Eagles offense completely stop after taking a 13-0 lead into the locker room at the half. It was a second half that saw the Eagles pass for -2 yards and Jalen Hurts go 0-7. It was the second time this season that the reigning Super Bowl MVP went an entire half without completing a pass. Is that bad? Well, it's not good. The Birds won both of those games as winning despite themselves has come to be their identity. While it was painful to watch that second half in Orchard Park I also found it interesting that the Eagles' offense showed none of the creativity and nuance they had in the previous two games, wins over the Raiders and Commanders. I also found it curious that in the first half of that Buffalo game Hurts went 13-20 for 110 yards, 1 TD and no interceptions with a QB rating of 95.8. In that game, a 13-12 win, the Eagles ran 30 offensive plays with Hurts under center, the most of any game this season, but only two of those happened in the second half. It's one thing to play conservatively to try to protect a lead and another to go completely brain dead.
What: Wildcard Game Round 1
Eagles (11-6, 5-3 Home) vs (49ers 12-5, 7-2 Away)
Where: Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
When: 4:30 pm
Betting Lines: Eagles -6, Over/Under 44.5
Moneyline: Eagles -105, 49ers -115
TV: FOX
What's at stake: Eagles win: They will play the Bears in Chicago next weekend
49ers win: They will play the Rams in L.A. next weekend
In the 24-0 win over Las Vegas Birds offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo called five designed quarterback runs for Hurts, totaling 39 yards and he called four designed runs the following week in a 29-18 win in Washington totaling 40 yards. Against the Bills there were no called designed runs for QB1 which gave me a little pause. Since that game I have heard this notion from sports talk radio, random Birds fans, and other green-bleeding faithful followers across the Delaware Valley that the Eagles might be holding back the offensive playbook, just showing enough to get by, albeit it winning ugly, only to unleash the “beast” when the post-season commences today at Lincoln Financial Field against the San Francisco 49ers, 4:30 pm kick-off.
While I'm not a big proponent of conspiracy theories and don't believe head coach Nick Sirianni is waiting to unveil his super-secret offense today at 4:30, others disagree with me.
Long time Eagle fan Josh Kotzen told me this the other day:
“I think that the first half two weeks ago, is who they are…It feels like they played the whole season like the preseason. I think they kept a lot of their good sh#t off of tape.”
Another life-long Birds fan who allowed me to quote him anonymously, who I ran into at my gym believes the Birds played 16 games this year with this philosophy:
“Do what you have to do, win as ugly as you have to win to get to the playoffs, which is the only season that matters and then show who you are.”
Still another I heard on sports talk radio 94.1 WIP this past week believes this:
“I think it is intentional. I think they showed flashes of who they are during the halves and quarters of games that they lit it up. Then I think they knew they could do it and to protect against injury, keep what works off any game film.”
But those beliefs have been quickly dismissed by some NFL execs and dignitaries:
“No, they aren't holding anything back,” a veteran front office personnel executive to Senior NFL writer Matt Lombardo of Between The Hashmarks. “The quarterback just struggles with accuracy, and the running back had half the season he did last year.
“You have to remember that Saquon helps Jalen Hurts tremendously. He did last year, but wasn't able to this season.”
https://mattlombardonfl.substack.com/p/anvils-and-opportunities-facing-hard
Well, I'm not sure what statistics that excecutive is looking at but Hurts has a career completion percentage of 64.4% and of course that number jumps to 66.8% in the playoffs. He also owns a 6-3 career playoff resume with a Super Bowl ring and two title game appearrances in the past three seasons.
In fairness to the running game the Eagles' offensive line was beleagured by injuries, rarely opening the holes that helped spring Barkley and the ground game run all over their opponents last season and was so fundamentally foundational to Philly's success in 2024.
Barkley, last year's rushing king surpassed 100 rushing yards only twice this season, after smashing the century mark 14 times, including three times in last year's playoff run to the Super Bowl.
Mike Tanier of The Between The Hashmarks Podcast pointed out this past week even more alarming trends about the Eagles' offense this past season.
Tanier fingered offensive coordinator Kevin Petullo and Sirianni for never even trying to establish Barkley as a threat out of the backfield, attempting the fewest screen passes of any team in the league and no team called fewer designed rollouts for its quarterback than the Eagles. Hurts could also be found at the bottom of the list of starting quarterbacks for targeting the slot receiver.
And what would be a possible reason or theory for that?
“I've heard concerns about Hurts,” a longtime NFL scout told Between The Hashmarks. “Especially in the intermediate passing game and him being scared to make risky throws.”
In fairness to QB1 that's whisper down the hearsay lane so take it with a grain of salt (whatever that means).
Against a defense like the 49ers, with a secondary that ranks 24th in the league, giving up an eye popping 232.4 yards per game and 10 passing touchdowns this past season, the Birds may not have to rely on the run.
When it comes down to it speculation is just noise that gets eliminated once the ball is kicked off. I prefer to deal in facts and the fact is that Hurts' ability to rise to the occasion in clutch moments is well documented – 10 fourth-quarter comebacks, 13 game-winning drives, a Super Bowl ring, and two Super Bowl appearances, and the only play to pass for 10 post-season touchdowns and rush for 10 post-season touchdowns.
It's undeniably an unquantifiable advantage that roughly 13 other playoff teams would love to have leading them in their postseason journey.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and the Eagles' defense should be stingy enough to hold serve against San Francisco, but that might be Philadelphia's crutch in these playoffs until they face more complete teams in the weeks ahead should they get past the 49ers
For Eagles Nation it would be nice to beleive that at this point in the season, the idea that what the Eagles have shown offensively all year isn't the full playbook, that Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo have been waiting for the post-season for the offensive reveal..
But if that's not the case then the Eagles will be operating within the same narrow margins they've played with all year and it's those those narrow margins that may decide how far this run goes.
Like Heavy Sports?
Go here and check the boxnext to Heavy Sports
Joe Staszak Joe Staszak is a Philadelphia-based sports writer who covers the Eagles for Heavy.com. He's a long-time presence on both TV and sports radio in the Philadelphia market. More about Joe Staszak
Stay Connected
In this EXCLUSIVE in-studio deep dive, Ty Roberts on Total Disclosure Podcast sits down with Samuel Chong, the man responsible for translating The Thiaoouba Prophecy—a controversial and provocative book that emerged from Australia in the late 1980s, during the same era Bob Lazar first went public with claims of non-human intelligence, advanced craft, and human interaction with extraterrestrial technology. Originally written by Michel Desmarquet, a landscaper with no formal academic or scientific background, The Thiaoouba Prophecy presents an extraordinary narrative: direct contact with an advanced extraterrestrial civilization and revelations that challenge religion, history, science, and humanity's understanding of its own origins.
When it comes to the most convincing UFO sightings ever reported, Redditors have shared a variety of cases that stand out for their credibility, documentation, and the sheer number of witnesses involved. Here are some of the most frequently mentioned and highly regarded sightings:
Location: Ruwa, Zimbabwe
Details: Over 60 schoolchildren witnessed a craft landing in their schoolyard and several beings emerging from it. The incident was investigated by a well-known psychologist, and a documentary on YouTube provides more details. "The Ariel school incident in Africa is my favourite. Surprised it hasn't been mentioned. 60 plus children apparently witnessed a craft landing in the schoolyard and a few beings came out."
Location: Alaska, USA
Details: A JAL cargo flight crew, including the pilot and co-pilot, observed a massive UFO for over 30 minutes. The object was also tracked by ground radar. The pilot's career was significantly impacted by his decision to speak out about the incident. "JAL Flight 1628... What the pilot and co-pilot saw that day was also being tracked by ground radar as well."
Location: Suffolk, England
Details: US Air Force personnel stationed at RAF Woodbridge and RAF Bentwaters reported multiple nights of strange lights and a craft landing in Rendlesham Forest. The incident involved direct interaction with the object and detailed military testimonies. "Rendelsham Forest or Shag Harbour. When it comes to Rendelsham, I am confident in thinking a crew of military men as they were would not have mistaken a light house for a UFO."
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Details: Thousands of people, including the then-governor of Arizona, witnessed a massive V-shaped formation of lights moving silently across the night sky. The event was widely reported and remains one of the most famous mass UFO sightings. "Phoenix lights..."
Location: Off the coast of California, USA
Details: US Navy pilots, including Commander David Fravor, encountered a Tic Tac-shaped object that displayed incredible speed and maneuverability. The incident was captured on FLIR video and corroborated by multiple witnesses and radar data. "For me, it's the eyewitness testimony of David Fraver, the fighter pilot who described his interactions with the 'tic tac' ufo off the coast of California during his training runs."
Location: Tehran, Iran
Details: Iranian Air Force pilots were scrambled to intercept a UFO that was also tracked by radar. The pilots reported instrumentation failures and communications blackouts when approaching the object. "1976 Tehran UFO incident: Nothing beats this one. Military personals, radars and civilian plane encountered the UFO."
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Details: During World War II, the military fired anti-aircraft artillery at a large object in the sky, which was illuminated by searchlights. The event was widely reported by the media and involved numerous civilian witnesses. "The Battle of Los Angeles where the military had to resort to using AA weapons against a 'weather balloon'."
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Details: Airline employees and witnesses reported a disc-shaped object hovering over Gate C17 at O'Hare International Airport. The FAA initially dismissed the reports but later acknowledged the incident. "I heard the Chicago O'Hare ufo was pretty legit but all the evidence disappeared."
Location: Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Details: Multiple witnesses reported seeing a strange creature and a UFO crash. The Brazilian military allegedly captured several creatures and covered up the incident. "Finally in the 90's what appeared to be a malfunctioning ship was sighted near Varginha, MG."
Location: McMinnville, Oregon, USA
Details: A local farmer and his wife took two photographs of a metallic, disc-shaped object in the sky. The photos have been extensively analyzed and remain a subject of debate. "Good picks. Please add the McMinnville photos."
These sightings represent some of the most compelling and well-documented cases in UFO history, supported by multiple witnesses, radar data, and official investigations. While skepticism is healthy, these incidents have left many convinced that there is something truly inexplicable happening in our skies.
For more discussions and information, consider visiting these subreddits:
r/UFOs
r/aliens
r/AskReddit
Manage your account
For 15 seasons, "Supernatural" stayed true to its initial premise: two demon-hunting brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), who road trip across America to uncover hidden ghosts, ghouls, and monsters lurking in the shadows. Things got complicated with the appearance of angels, multiple descents into Hell, and the meta introduction of in-universe fangirls, but this basic premise was more or less true from the first episode to the last. However, there was one storyline that could have wrecked the entire series; one we're thankful that the show passed on.
A core element of "Supernatural" is that the Winchesters battle monsters while the rest of society is completely unaware of their existence. This is where Andrew Dabb — who was named co-showrunner after Jeremy Carver left, alongside Robert Singer — and the writers' room had the idea to radically change everything. "One story line we always talked about, which we never did was basically Sam and Dean go public," Dabb explained to TV Insider several years after the series finale. "They're like, 'Look, we're putting out a PSA. Monsters are real. If you see something, something shows up in your town, it's a monster. We can't be everywhere. We're just going to get the word out there.'"
While this idea of having Sam and Dean put out a "Ghostbusters"-style infomercial to warn humanity that demons are real and can hurt you makes sense on paper, Dabb admits that changing the show in this way would be impossible to reverse. "It would've kind of blown up the show in a very odd way," he explained, adding that the Winchesters probably ought to send out a PSA for the sake of those they fight to save.
Read more: TV's 30 Best Series Finales Of All Time
"The nice thing about running for 15 years is something that gets scrapped in Season 4 looks great in Season 11," Dabb noted. This makes sense when you consider the era in which a storyline like this would have been explored. This revelation would have occurred in a finale at some point in one of the final few seasons, with the following episodes allowing Sam and Dean to serve as a kind of mentor figure to a new generation of demon hunters. Talk about a game-changing episode of "Supernatural."
Despite the creative potential, Dabb admits it would have been "a little logistically difficult" to go down that path. The revelation would have forced Sam and Dean to the spotlight as overnight celebrities, and that alone would have changed the show's dynamic. "Which, again, I think sounds interesting in theory, but I actually think would've destroyed the show," Dabb elaborated. "It would not have been any good, which is one of the reasons we didn't do it."
The decision not to move forward with this potential storyline really is for the best. Part of the show's enduring appeal —and the reason why it is considered the best CW show of all time — is because of Sam and Dean's underdog charm. Throughout the entire series, they constantly bite off more than they can chew, facing the most evil beings in existence. Making them in-world celebrities (more so than they already were at times) and putting them in international crosshairs would have only taken them out of the shadows where they already thrive.
Enjoyed this article? Sign up to TVLine's free newsletter, and add us as a preferred search source for the latest in TV, streaming and movie news.
Read the original article on TVLine.
In 2019, Marvel Studios President Feige welcomed Mahershala Ali to the MCU by announcing a new Blade movie at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con. The news ended the studio's Hall H panel, and we later learned that the long-awaited reboot had been dated for November 3, 2023.
It then moved to September 6, 2024, and later slid further down the calendar to February 14, 2025. For a time, it had a November 7, 2025, release date, but was inevitably removed from Marvel Studios' schedule altogether and taken back to the drawing board for the umpteenth time.
Previously, Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange were attached as directors to the movie. Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Beau DeMayo, Michael Starrbury, Nic Pizzolatto, Michael Green, and Eric Pearson have also worked on different versions of the script.
Ali and Mia Goth remain attached to star in Blade, with the former actually making his official MCU debut with a voice cameo in Eternals' post-credits scene. In that, the Daywalker could be heard warning Dane Whitman about the dangers of the Ebony Blade.
Now, The Cosmic Circus' Alex Perez has shared some of what he's heard about Marvel Studios' original plans for Blade. Taking to X, he wrote, "Regarding the plot for the supernatural storyline, the whole point of 'Blade' is to tell the story of Blade and the history behind Ebony Blade, so a title with two meanings."
"And it would have provided some deep lore regarding the supernatural nature of the MCU, vampires, Lilith, the Underworld and more, leading into the Midnight Sons movie," he added.
Marvel Studios abandoned plans for a Blade movie set in the 1920s, while another version was reportedly set to co-star Kit Harington. Whether any of these ideas make it into the next iteration—and whether the movie itself even happens—is now in the "TBD" category.
Perez has also shared an update on She-Hulk's status for Avengers: Doomsday. Tatiana Maslany previously called on her Instagram followers to cancel their Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN subscriptions in response to Disney's decision to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
It's since been reported that the actress no longer wishes to work with Disney, a potentially major problem for the MCU. Apparently, as of now, "She-Hulk is not in Avengers: Doomsday." However, Perez does point out that she could "appear in Secret Wars or appear in Doomsday once the reshoots are underway, which are expected to add some characters unable to appear in principal photography."
While She-Hulk: Attorney at Law received a mixed response from fans, it looked like the plan might be to make Jennifer Walters a major part of the MCU moving forward (in the comics, she's spent more time fighting alongside The Avengers than her cousin, Bruce Banner).
Unless a recast happens, that no longer seems likely, despite She-Hulk appearing in leaked concept art from the next Avengers movies. This wouldn't be the first time Marvel Studios has replaced a Hulk, though, as Mark Ruffalo took over from Ed Norton in 2012.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released on December 18, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive on December 17, 2027.
Follow JoshWilding on:
This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.
Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.
Home |
Index |
Site Map |
About |
Terms Of Service |
Community Guidelines |
Privacy |
Copyright |
Trademark
Contact |
Advertise
© 2026 ComicBookMovie.com®. All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site, ComicBookMovie.com is protected from liability under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions. Content herein has been submitted by users who have agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. ComicBookMovie.com and Best Little Sites LLC are not liable for inaccuracies, errors, or omissions.
Learn more about our copyright and trademark policies
Contact Us for removal of copyrighted images, trademarks, or other issues.
The Associated Press
January 11, 2026, 9:25 AM
BERLIN (AP) — Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose bestselling books about the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him fame among paranormal enthusiasts and scorn from the scientific community, has died. He was 90.
Von Däniken's representatives announced on his website on Sunday that he had died the previous day in a hospital in central Switzerland.
Von Däniken rose to prominence in 1968 with the publication of his first book “Chariots of the Gods,” in which he claimed that the Mayans and ancient Egyptians were visited by alien astronauts and instructed in advanced technology that allowed them to build giant pyramids.
The book fueled a growing interest in unexplained phenomena at a time when thanks to conventional science man was about to take its first steps on the Moon.
“Chariots of the Gods” was followed by more than two dozen similar books, spawning a literary niche in which fact and fantasy were mixed together against all historical and scientific evidence.
Public broadcaster SRF reported that altogether almost 70 million copies of his books were sold in more than 30 languages, making him one of the most widely read Swiss authors.
While von Däniken managed to shrug off his many critics, the former hotel waiter had a troubled relationship with money throughout his life and frequently came close to financial ruin.
Born in 1935, the son of a clothing manufacturer in the northern Swiss town of Schaffhausen, von Däniken is said to have rebelled against his father's strict Catholicism and the priests who instructed him at boarding school by developing his own alternatives to the biblical account of the origins of life.
After leaving school in 1954, von Däniken worked as a waiter and barkeeper for several years, during which he was repeatedly accused of fraud and served a couple of short stints in prison.
In 1964, he was appointed manager of a hotel in the exclusive resort town of Davos and began writing his first book. Its publication and rapid commercial success were quickly followed by accusations of tax dodging and financial impropriety, for which he again spent time behind bars.
By the time he left prison, “Chariots of the Gods” was earning von Däniken a fortune and a second book “Gods from Outer Space” was ready for publication, allowing him to commit himself to his paranormal passion and travel the world in search of new mysteries to uncover.
Throughout the 1970s von Däniken undertook countless field trips to Egypt, India, and above all Latin America, whose ancient cultures held a particular fascination for the amateur archaeologist.
He lectured widely and set up societies devoted to promoting his theories, later pioneering the use of video and multimedia to reach out to ever-larger audiences hungry for a different account of history.
No amount of criticism dissuaded him and his fans from believing that Earth has been visited repeatedly by beings from Outer Space, and will be again in the future.
In 1991 von Däniken gained the damning accolade of being the first recipient of the “Ig Nobel” prize for literature — for raising the public awareness of science through questionable experiments or claims.
Even when confronted with fabricated evidence in a British television documentary — supposedly ancient pots were shown to be almost new — von Däniken insisted that, minor discrepancies aside, his theories were essentially sound.
In 1985 von Däniken wrote “Neue Erinnerungen an die Zukunft” — “New Memories of the Future” — ostensibly to address his many critics: “I have admitted (my mistakes), but not one of the foundations of my theories has yet been brought down.”
Although his popularity was waning in the English-speaking world by the 1980s, von Däniken's books and films influenced a wave of semi-serious archaeological documentaries and numerous popular television shows, including “The X-Files,” which featured two FBI agents tasked with solving paranormal mysteries.
His last major venture, a theme park based on his books, failed after just a few years due to lack of interest. The “Mystery Park” still stands, its man-made pyramids and otherworldly domes rotting as tourists prefer to explore the charms of the nearby town of Interlaken and the imposing Swiss Alps that surround it.
Erich von Däniken is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elisabeth Skaja, Cornelia and two grandchildren.
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
5425 Wisconsin Ave
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
hello@wtop.com
202.895.5000
Copyright © 2025 by WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Oliver Lewin, 41, was jailed six years for plotting to bomb phone, TV and radio masts across Britain(Image: PA)
A terror fanatic who vowed to topple the Government has lodged a bid to overturn his conviction, claiming he was the victim of "police entrapment".
Oliver Lewin, 41, was jailed six years for plotting to bomb phone, TV and radio masts across Britain. The conspiracy theorist, jailed in 2023, was obsessed with the idea that the country was being controlled by "Jewish elites" reporting to Israel.
He also believed that Boris Johnson's then Tory Government was planning genocide using Covid jabs. Now Parole Board documents reveal Lewin has lodged an appeal with the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
A report said he "disputes his conviction" stating: "He has lodged an application with the Criminal Case Review Commission. Mr Lewin believes that he was subject to entrapment by the police."
Police released images of Lewin carrying out reconnaissance work as he plotted to bring down Boris Johnson's Government(Image: West Midlands Police)
The Parole Board held a public hearing last month, as well as a closed session, with a report finding that Lewin would not be allowed out on parole.
It found Lewin should be kept behind bars because his "risk to the public would be greater than minimal if he were to be released".
A prison psychologist told the panel: "I do not feel we have a full understanding of his risk."
Lewin thought "white people across Europe were being systematically killed by the vaccine" and concluded this "triggered the emergence of a Chinese communist system in Britain".
He was found guilty at Birmingham crown court of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts.
Lewin had spread conspiracy theories online and expressed hostility towards Jewish people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He had attempted to persuade undercover police officers to target a major transmitter in Sutton Coldfield which serves 4.2 million homes.
A judge said Lewin - who compiled a list of essentials he needed for the attacks - had taken "at least some preparatory steps"(Image: West Midlands Police)
Lewin, from Coalville, Leics, had told contacts online: "My idea is to disable vital communications and transport infrastructure to a point that has an impact on the country."
Police arrested Lewin on August 25, 2021, after determining his real-world plans were accelerating.
He had been conducting reconnaissance of communication masts and sending images with drawings showing where he planned to cut cables.
And he told undercover officers "chop here, job done", and had started writing a manual for potential supporters, completing four of the intended 17 chapters.
He attempted to recruit friends to assist him, including one who was 16 or 17 years-old at the time.
When police searched his home following his arrest, officers recovered military-style equipment including a lock knife, camping equipment, camouflage clothing and two air a rifles fitted with telescopic sights.
An air rifle was recovered from Covid conspiracy theorist Lewin after he was arrested during a police operation(Image: West Midlands Police)
The parole decision noted that risk is greatest when Lewin is online and alone, and that his offending had been "internet-based" when he went looking for conspiracy theories.
If he had been released, the risk management plan would have included restrictions on internet access, mobile phone use and GPS tagging for 12 months at Probation Approved Premises.
At the parole hearing, Lewin, who disputes his conviction and has lodged an application with the Criminal Cases Review Commission, told the panel he now feels "a healthy amount of respect" for Jewish people.
The sentencing judge had noted that Lewin believed the Covid vaccine was designed to kill anyone who took it and that the UK government was complicit in a high-level conspiracy originating from Israel.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
A recurring conspiracy theory which has gone viral claims that an ancient Greek statue supposedly depicting a woman “using a laptop” is “proof” of time travel. The statue once marked a grave and was created around 100 BC.
Many inventions beyond their time are associated with the ancient Greek civilization, but the laptop was certainly not one of them…until now.
Of course, historians have dismissed the theory as nonsense and provided more grounded explanations, suggesting that the object in the statue may be a box or wax tablet.
The statue that spurred on the conspiracy theory is called the “Grave Naiskos Of An Enthroned Woman With An Attendant” and is on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California.
The ancient Greek statue portrays a seated woman with a slave standing in front of her, holding a slim folding container. The woman, who appears to be the mistress, touches the top of the container with her fingers while looking up towards the upper part of it with her stone eyes.
However, various conspiracy theorists believe that the container depicted is actually a laptop, complete with USB ports on the side of the device.
In one viral YouTube video, an uploader claims that the ancient Greek statue “depicts an astonishing object that bears a striking resemblance to a modern laptop or some handheld device”.
“When I look at the sculpture I can't help but think about the Oracle of Delphi, which was supposed to allow the priests to connect with the gods to retrieve advanced information,” continued the video's upload.
They dismissed more feasible explanations, arguing that the container's base is too shallow to be a jewellry box.
This is not the first time the conspiracy theory has popped up. In 2016, the Daily Mail published an article questioning whether the funerary statue was indeed proof that a time traveler had brought back a laptop to ancient Greece.
Back in 2016, archaeologist Kristina Killgrove wrote in Forbes debunking the theory that the ancient Greeks had somehow come across advanced computer technology.
“It's a typical funeral marker, depicting the deceased individual in a vibrant way, often, in the case of women, in a household scene,” explained Killgrove. “These stelai were carved in relief, and were almost always painted, although the painting doesn't survive in most cases.”
“In this stele, a woman reclines on a chair and reaches to touch the lid of an object that is held by a girl whose hairstyle and clothes indicate she is a slave. This is a rather typical trope in funeral stelai, the image of a wealthy adult woman reaching to a servant, and may have reflected her family's desire for her to retain her status into the afterlife,” continued Killgrove.
Killgrove suggested a variety of more tangible explanations for what the object held by the woman in the statue may have been, including a wax tablet or some kind of jewellery box or other container.
Rather than being USB ports, the holes on the side of the container may have originally been used to hold wooden items that have long since rotted away.
It is also possible that the holes were made during efforts to rework or copy the sculpture. Other parts of the stele are missing, so this is certainly a plausible explanation.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
© Copyright - GreekReporter.com