We are covering the latest from the war.

Sanae Takaichi, Japans first female prime minister, harnessed her personal popularity and a shift to the right among voters to achieve a record election win.

Does the popular figurine represent Jesus or the Crescent Citys typical joie de vivre?

To Lam is a former security chief who carved his way to prominence and relishes the good life. He has promised to make Communist Vietnam rich and influential.

Wilder, Idaho, prided itself on comity. Then federal agents stormed a racetrack outside of town in October, and the reverberations are still shaking the community.

Nature, Published online: 09 February 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00389-zInventor Josh Miele says that accelerating change requires uprooting social attitudes about blindness and other disabilities.

Nature, Published online: 09 February 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00336-yThe gas giants shape and size, previously known only from data collected more than 45 years ago, have been updated at last.

Here's what has us most excited as MLB players report this week to Arizona and Florida.

With the Real Madrid and Manchester United jobs up for grabs, one thing is for certain this summer: the world's best managers will be in high demand.

A victorious Seahawks locker room lauded the team's "unwavering" quarterback, Sam Darnold, whose steadiness through injury and turnover-related adversity this season culminated in a Super Bowl LX victory.

Handle with care. That's the message from gold medalist Breezy Johnson at the Winter Olympics after she and other athletes found their medals broke within hours.

We captured the plays that secured the Seahawks their second Super Bowl win.

The Puerto Rican superstars set included cameos, stunts and powerful statements.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. A.R. Bernard are to be announced as co-heads of the Police Departments chaplains unit.

The judge denied a request for a mistrial and jurors heard from a woman who accused one of the brothers of filming her when she was a minor. The sex-trafficking trial resumes on Monday.

The retiring congressman hopes his endorsement will carry Assemblyman Micah Lasher past a crowded primary field, including a Kennedy.

Andrew Farkas has repeatedly played down ties to Jeffrey Epstein. But they swapped business favors in the Virgin Islands, and in nearly 2,000 emails, the two expressed admiration for each other.

Itll be your new favorite ritual.READ MORE...

Here's a look at the wild and woolly NFL postseason, from frigid temperatures to trick plays and Super Bowl MVPs.

Drake Maye and the Patriots weren't able to do much in Super Bowl LX, but their future might still be bright.

Here's why it makes sense -- and why it would help the sport more than another Canadian win.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. A.R. Bernard are to be announced as co-heads of the Police Departments chaplains unit.

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar who has denounced ICE, celebrated Latino heritage in his largely Spanish-language performance.

U.S. presidents have long been accused of plotting to control foreign oil. But President Trump has asserted a U.S. right to take it.

The post Non-Biathlon Skier Would Also Like Gun appeared first on The Onion.

President Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, was recently tapped to lead ICEs highly publicized deportation campaign in Minnesota. The Onion takes a look at Homans background.Head Weight: 66 poundsIdeology: Fundamentalist Punisher fanLeast Favorite Haplogroup: Q-M242Role In Project 2025: Genetic source for cloned ICE agentsFavorite Part Of Job: Working with kidsBribery Price: Sliding scaleFavorite Pickup Line: Show me your papers.Pet Peeve: Stephen Miller rolling his eyes when asked what physiognomy meansThe post Political Profile: Tom Homan appeared first on The Onion.

WILMINGTON, DEExpressing relief about his obliviousness to Americas unraveling, former President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday that he was grateful not to be alive to see what Trump was doing to the country. I devoted my entire life to safeguarding the ideals of democratic freedom and promoting liberty across this great land, and I cannot emphasize enough how lucky I am to have left this world before I had to see what Donald Trump has done to our countrys most sacred values, said Biden, noting that because he was mercifully freed from his mortal coil before Trump took office in 2017, he never witnessed U.S. cities being threatened with occupation by the National Guard, devastating cuts to the social safety net and scientific research, or the dereliction of American leadership in trade and global affairs. The silver lining of my passing is that I remain blissfully unaware of Trumps weaponization of the federal government to silence dissidents and target political opponents. Though its impossible to know exactly how I would process that vile man undermining not only my legacy but this sacred republics foundational values, Im certain that, had I not taken my last breath over a decade ago, I would recoil in disgust. Biden admitted that getting tangled up with a pool-cleaning robot and drowning was a fate far preferable to watching the complete eradication of personal liberties.The post Biden Grateful Hes Not Alive To See What Trump Doing To Country appeared first on The Onion.

STANFORD, CAIn a comprehensive, decade-long study of the self-destructive pattern, researchers at Stanford University recorded a shocking 98% recidivism rate among Americans who had burned their mouths on hot food.Despite the lingering numbness on their tongues or the roofs of their mouths, the study found that nearly all subjects who burned themselves on items such as soup or fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza repeated the behavior almost immediately. The findings suggest that traditional punitive disincentives are woefully inadequate in preventing recurrence of the harmful practice that leads individuals to repeatedly say Hot, hot, hot while fanning their mouths and wincing in pain.This is a wake-up call for anyone who thought that having to hastily reach for a soda or milk was a deterrent to taking a second searing bite, said lead researcher Laurie Jimenez, adding that, even when controlling for hunger levels and drunkenness, subjects went in for another spoonful when the chili was boiling-hot almost as quickly as they did when the chili had been sitting in a room temperature serving bowl for 15 minutes. If 98% of people are making an O shape with their mouths and taking several breaths in quick succession to cool down the egg roll filling thats burning their mouthbut then diving right back inwe all ought to be alarmed.Of course, these individuals do bear some responsibility for their conduct, but this cycle of eating, burning, and eating again is an indictment of us all, Jimenez added. These are our fellow Americans, and were failing them.The data presented additional causes of concern, including the fact that most individuals did not stop at a second bite but returned for a third or even a fourth despite the near certainty of a negative outcome. In fact, the likely consequences did not appear to even enter their thoughts as they were devouring yet another onion ring straight from the fryer.Researchers told reporters that it was impossible to isolate a single reason why people would be unfazed by the very real threat of a painful blister on their gums. But the study did hypothesize a number of possible contributing factors, among them a lack of education, with many of the subjects having never been warned by a parent that blowing on a microwaved Hot Pocket after an initial bite does little to cool its molten center.Another issue could be a lack of positive role models, study co-author Glenn Rothenberger said. Maybe they grew up in an environment where they observed family members digging into lasagna, soup dumplings, or hot apple pie with no effort to pace themselves. Or maybe they were surrounded by peers at restaurants who just chowed down on mozzarella sticks filled with still-bubbling cheese. How would you know to wait a second and maybe dip your mozzarella sticks in a little cup of tepid marinara if you never saw anyone else doing it?Or, sadly, they may simply feel they have no viable alternative to this damaging behavior, Rothenberger continued. They already bought the instant ramen, its in front of them, and its delicious. So what are they supposed to do?Caleb Jenkins, a 24-year-old Seattle man who participated in the study, admitted to reporters he didnt think twice about stuffing another forkful of hot calzone in his mouth despite the very real risk of scalding his tongue.I know its not right, Jenkins said. I know it ultimately hurts me. I know its a bad decision. But I also dont know any other way. I just feel trapped.Ow, ow, ow, added Jenkins, reaching for another bite.The findings from this study parallel results from similar research that found a 95% recidivism rate among those who felt their food smelled or looked weird, but took a second bite anyway just to make sure.The post Study Finds 98% Recidivism Rate Among Americans Who Burn Mouths On Hot Food appeared first on The Onion.

The family of Alan Andrews, 52, welcomes any suggestions for alternate phrasings of suicide by cop.The post Alan Andrews appeared first on The Onion.

The February reset experts swear by.READ MORE...

This photo combination shows, from left, Wes Streeting in Liverpool, Sept. 30, 2025, Angela Rayner in Shoreditch, London, June 5, 2025, Andy Burnham in Liverpool, Sept. 29, 2025, Shabana Mahmood in Liverpool, Sept. 29, 2025 and Ed Miliband in Hamburg, Germany, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Martin Meissner, File)2026-02-09T14:28:26Z LONDON (AP) British Prime Minister Keir Starmers leadership is on the rocks amid an expanding scandal over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. despite the veteran politicians ties to Jeffrey Epstein.Some believe the recent release of the Epstein files, which suggest damaging and embarrassing new details about the close ties between Mandelson and the late convicted sex offender, may sink Starmers premiership.But there is no formal confidence vote procedure to oust a Labour leader, and any challenger will need the support of 80 lawmakers, or one-fifth of the party in the House of Commons, to trigger a contest. While no clear front-runner has emerged, here are the potential contenders who could succeed Starmer: Wes StreetingHealth Secretary Wes Streeting is widely regarded as a polished communicator and has been an outspoken government voice on issues including the war in Gaza.His ambitions for the top job were long rumored, but entered the spotlight last year when Starmers allies allegedly told British media that the prime minister will fight attempts to challenge his leadership and media speculation at the time centered on Streeting. Streeting, who was elected a lawmaker in 2015, strongly denied he was plotting to replace Starmer and called the suggestions nonsense. Angela RaynerFormer deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has long set herself apart as a different kind of politician she never went to university, was brought up in social housing and left school at 16 as a teen mother.Rayner was active in trade unions before she was elected a lawmaker in 2015. She soon rose to Labours senior ranks when the party was in opposition and was elected deputy leader in 2020.Rayner enjoys significant support within the party, but she was forced to resign from the government last year after admitting she did not pay enough tax on a house purchase. She is still awaiting the findings of an official review on that controversy.After the fallout over the Epstein files revelations on Mandelson, Rayner led a lawmakers revolt to force the government to cede control to Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee to decide which documents should be released into the public domain. Andy BurnhamFormer Cabinet minister Andy Burnham, the popular, center-left Greater Manchester mayor, has long been seen as a potential rival for Starmer. But his leadership prospects were dented after Labour blocked him from standing as the partys candidate for Parliament in a special election later in February.By longstanding convention, the prime minister must be a member of Parliament.Burnham has served in a Labour government previously, including as Culture Secretary and Health Secretary. Shabana MahmoodHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood has one of the toughest jobs in government, overseeing immigration and law and order. She has become a favorite of many on the right wing of the Labour Party with her moves to tighten border controls and crack down on unauthorized immigration.Ed MilibandEnergy Secretary Ed Miliband is a former Labour leader, but his five years at the top of the party when it was in opposition ended in Labours 2015 election defeat. Miliband has publicly played down any desire to return to the job, but he is one of the most experienced members of Cabinet.

Finland's Elian Lehto speeds down the course of an alpine ski men's downhill portion of a team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)2026-02-09T10:32:20Z CORTINA DAMPEZZO, Italy (AP) Olympic fans came to Cortina with heavy winter coats and gloves. Those coats were unzipped Sunday and gloves pocketed as snow melted from rooftops signs of a warming world. I definitely thought wed be wearing all the layers, said Jay Tucker, who came from Virginia to cheer on Team USA and bought hand warmers and heated socks in preparation. I dont even have gloves on.The timing of winter, the amount of snowfall and temperatures are all less reliable and less predictable because Earth is warming at a record rate, said Shel Winkley, a Climate Central meteorologist. This poses a growing and significant challenge for organizers of winter sports; The International Olympic Committee said last week it could move up the start date for future Winter Games to January from February because of rising temperatures. While the beginning of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina truly had a wintry feel, as the town was blanketed in heavy snow. The temperature reached about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 degrees Celsius) Sunday afternoon. It felt hotter in the sun. This type of February warmth for Cortina is made at least three times more likely due to climate change, Winkley said. In the 70 years since Cortina first held the Winter Games, February temperatures there have climbed 6.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3.6 degrees Celsius), he added. Dan Wilton, of Vancouver, Canada, left walks with his friends without jackets as temperatures rise in the host city, during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott) Dan Wilton, of Vancouver, Canada, left walks with his friends without jackets as temperatures rise in the host city, during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Coping with varying climates across host citiesFor the Milan Cortina Games, theres an added layer of complexity. Its the most spread-out Winter Games in history, so Olympic venues are in localities with very different weather conditions. Bormio and Livigno, for example, are less than an hour apart by car, but they are separated by a high mountain pass that can divide the two places climatically.The organizing committee is working closely with four regional and provincial public weather agencies. It has positioned weather sensors at strategic points for the competitions, including close to the ski jumping ramps, along the Alpine skiing tracks and at the biathlon shooting range. Where automatic stations cannot collect everything of interest, the committee has observers scientists of the snow from the agencies ready to collect data, according to Matteo Pasotti, a weather specialist for the organizing committee.The hope? Clear skies, light winds and low temperatures on race days to ensure good visibility and preserve the snow layer.The reality: Its actually pretty warm out. We expected it to be a lot colder, said Karli Poliziani, an American who lives in Milan. Poliziani was in Cortina with her father, who considered going out Sunday in just a sweatshirt.And forecasts indicate that more days with above-average temperatures lie ahead for the Olympic competitions, Pasotti said. Karli Poliziani, center right, poses for a photo with her father, Len, as the temperature rose in the host city, during the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott) Karli Poliziani, center right, poses for a photo with her father, Len, as the temperature rose in the host city, during the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/ Jennifer McDermott) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Weather can affect competitionWeather plays a critical role in the smooth running and safety of winter sports competitions, according to Filippo Bazzanella, head of sport services and planning for the organizing committee. High temperatures can impact the snow layer on Alpine skiing courses and visibility is essential. Humidity and high temperatures can affect the quality of the ice at indoor arenas and sliding centers, too.Visibility and wind are the two factors most likely to cause changes to the competition schedule, Bazzanella added. Wind can be a safety issue or a fairness one, such as in the biathlon where slight variations can disrupt the athletes precise shooting. American alpine skier Jackie Wiles said many races this year have been challenging because of the weather.I feel like were pretty good about keeping our heads in the game because a lot of people are going to get taken out by that immediately, she said at a team press conference last week. Having that mindset of: its going to be what its going to be, and we still have to go out there and fight like hell regardless. ___AP Winter Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics___The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. JENNIFER McDERMOTT McDermott is a reporter on the Associated Press Climate and Environment team. She focuses on the transition to clean energy. twitter mailto

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks with members of the audience after delivering a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, England, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)2026-02-06T14:53:40Z LONDON (AP) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a battle to stay in post as he comes under heavy criticism for his decision in 2024 to appoint veteran politician Peter Mandelson as the British ambassador to the U.S. despite the latters ties to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Starmers judgment is in the spotlight like never before after the recent release of millions of pages of Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Justice Department showed how close Mandelson and Epstein were. Theres widespread anger that the prime minister appointed Mandelson, long a key figure of Starmers own Labour Party, to such a sensitive and high-profile post. Starmer fired Mandelson in September after an earlier batch of emails was published showing he remained friends with Epstein after the late financiers 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. But the newly released emails show that Mandelson also passed on sensitive and potentially market-moving government information to the disgraced financier in 2009, when he was a member of the Labour Cabinet.Starmers leadership has now been called into question, and several Labour lawmakers have called for him to quit. His chief of staff resigned on Sunday, taking the blame for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson, and his communications director quit on Monday. Many believe that is not enough to keep Starmer in the job. The prime minister is trying to persuade his party members to back him. He has apologized to the British public and to the victims of Epsteins sex trafficking for believing what he has termed Mandelsons lies. There are a number of ways in which Starmer could go, some more straightforward than others. The easiest wayThe simplest option is that Starmer announces his intention to resign, triggering an election for the Labour leadership. A resignation could possibly come if a delegation of Cabinet members tell Starmer he has lost too much support within the party or if members of his government quit in protest.Those considered to harbor leadership ambitions include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and former deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, who had to resign last year after admitting she didnt pay enough tax on a house purchase. An investigation into that is ongoing. But theres no clear front-runner. Andy Burnham, the popular mayor of Manchester who was blocked from standing at a special election in the city later this month, would not be eligible because by longstanding convention the prime minister must be a member of Parliament.Whoever does run, the election would likely take weeks, with Starmer likely staying in post until that concludes.If Starmer decides to resign immediately, the Cabinet and Labours governing body would likely pick an interim leader to be prime minister, probably someone not standing to be Labour leader. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy could fit the bill.Under Labours rules, candidates must have the support of a fifth of party lawmakers about 80. The wider party membership would then vote to choose a winner.King Charles III would invite the winner to become prime minister and form a government.The not so easy way If Starmer does not resign, he could face a challenge, potentially from within his Cabinet. Unlike the Conservative Party, which has a history of getting rid of leaders such as Margaret Thatcher in 1990 and Boris Johnson in 2022, Labour does not have that muscle memory. No Labour prime minister has ever been dislodged, though Tony Blair announced his plan to resign in 2007 after a series of low-level resignations.Challengers would have to meet the eligibility thresholds above, but Starmer would automatically be on the ballot. Starmer faces a series of hurdles in the weeks ahead. The first will probably be when files related to the vetting of Mandelson are published. Starmer will be hoping they show the scale of Mandelsons lies. Should they not, that could be a point of high jeopardy for the prime minister.Another potential pitfall could be the special election in Gorton and Denton on Feb. 26, traditionally a safe Labour seat. However, this time it will be a tough fight, with challenges from the anti-immigration Reform U.K. on the right and the Greens on the left. After that comes a raft of elections in May. Many in Labour fear the party could lose power in Wales for the first time since the legislature was created in 1999, fall way short in Scotland and get battered in local elections in England.Its clear that Starmer faces a difficult landscape. And thats barring surprise developments that could further rock his premiership. Events, dear boy, events, Harold Macmillan, prime minister between 1957 and 1963, said when asked what the greatest challenges for leaders were.

The Red Sox are acquiring third baseman Caleb Durbin in a trade with the Brewers that sends Kyle Harrison and two other players to Milwaukee, sources told ESPN.

Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. allegedly crashed his vehicle into one being driven by WNBA player Rickea Jackson multiple times and struck a police officer with the vehicle while evading arrest, according to the criminal complaint obtained by ESPN.

The fallout from Lindsey Vonn's devastating crash in the Olympic downhill included a key question: Should she have been allowed on a course that is dangerous even to perfectly healthy skiers? The answer from the skiing community remains yes.

The Pirates have agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal with veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna, sources confirmed to ESPN.

The Seahawks are tied with the Rams at +950 to win Super Bowl LXI, followed by the Bills at +1100, and the Eagles, Ravens and Patriots tied at +1300, according to DraftKings odds.

Federal agents conduct immigration enforcement operations Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy, File)2026-02-09T12:05:22Z WASHINGTON (AP) Beyond the car windows being smashed, people tackled on city streets or even a little child with a floppy bunny ears snowcap detained the images of masked federal officers has become a flashpoint in the Trump administrations immigration enforcement operations.Not in recent U.S. memory has an American policing operation so consistently masked its thousands of officers from the public, a development that the Department of Homeland Security believes is important to safeguard employees from online harassment. But experts warn masking serves another purpose, inciting fear in communities, and risks shattering norms, accountability and trust between the police and its citizenry.Whether to ban the masks or allow the masking to continue has emerged as a central question in the debate in Congress over funding Homeland Security ahead of Fridays midnight deadline, when it faces a partial agency shutdown. Humans read each others faces thats how we communicate, said Justin Smith, a former Colorado sheriff who is executive director and CEO of the National Sheriffs Association.When you have a number of federal agents involved in these operations, and they cant be identified, you cant see their face, it just tends to make people uncomfortable, he said. Thats bringing up some questions. Democrats demand masks offMasks on federal agents have been one constant throughout the first year of President Donald Trumps mass deportation operation.What began as a jarring image last spring, when plain-clothed officers drawing up their masks surrounded and detained a Tufts University doctoral student near her Massachusetts home, has morphed into familiar scenes in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities. The shooting deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal immigration officers during demonstrations against ICE raids in Minneapolis sparked widespread public protest and spurred lawmakers to respond. Cameras on, masks off has become a rallying cry among Democrats, who are also insisting the officers wear body cameras as a way to provide greater accountability and oversight of the operations. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol that unmasking the federal agents is a hard red line in the negotiations ahead.Immigration and Customs Enforcement says on its website that its officers wear masks to prevent doxing, which can (and has) placed them and their families at risk. All ICE law enforcement officers carry badges and credentials and will identify themselves when required for public safety or legal necessity.Fueled with funds from the Trumps big tax cuts bill, which poured some $170 billion into Homeland Security, ICE has grown to become among the largest law enforcement operations in the nation. Last year, it announced it had more than doubled its ranks, to 22,000, with rapid hiring and $50,000 signing bonuses. Homeland Security did not respond to an emailed request for further comment. Most Republicans say the current political climate leaves the immigration officers, many of them new to the job, exposed if their faces and identities are made public. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he just cant agree with Democrats demand that officers unmask themselves.You know, theres a lot of vicious people out there, and theyll take a picture of your face, and the next thing you know, your children or your wife or your husband are being threatened at home, he said. Thats just the reality of the world that were in. ICE stands apart with masks It appears no other policing agency in the country regularly uses masking on a widespread basis. Instead, masks are used during special operations, particularly undercover work or at times during large crowd control or protest situations, and when there is inclement weather or individual health concerns.Experts said only perhaps during the Ku Klux Klan raids or in the Old West has masking been a more widely used tool.It is without precedent in modern American history, said the American Civil Liberties Unions Naureen Shah in Washington.She said the idea of masked patrols on city streets seeking immigrants can leave people scared and confused about who they are encountering which she suggested is part of the point.I think its calculated to terrify people, she said. I dont think anybody viscerally feels like, OK, this is something we want to become a permanent fixture in our streets.Toward the end of the first Trump administration, Congress sought to clamp down after masked federal agents showed up in 2020 to quell protests in Portland and other cities. A provision requiring agents to clearly identify themselves was tucked into a massive defense authorization bill that Trump assigned into law.Last year, California became the first state in the nation to ban most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces. The Trump administrations Justice Department sued, saying the states policies create risk for the agents. Police seek middle ground, advocates say unmasking is not enoughSmith, of the sheriffs association, said theres no easy answer to the current masking debate.He suggested perhaps a middle ground could be reached one that would allow officers to wear masks, but also require their badge or other identifying numbers to be prominently displayed.Advocates said while unmasking the federal agents would be an important step, other restraints on immigration enforcement operations may be even more so.They are pushing Congress to curb the ability of ICE officers to rely on administrative warrants in immigration operations, particularly to enter peoples homes, insisting such actions should be required to use judicial warrants, with sign off from the courts. There is also an effort to end roving patrols the ability of immigration officers to use a persons race, language or job location to question their legal status, sometimes called Kavanaugh stops after Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaughs concurring opinion to a Supreme Court decision last summer.Greg Chen, senior director of government affairs at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said because Congress gave Homeland Security such robust funding in the tax cuts bill, Thats why the policy reforms are so important right now to bring the agency in check.Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., who recently returned from Minnesota, said the weight of the masked enforcement operation can be felt in ways that impact everyone regardless of a persons own immigration status.Its a very a heavy presence of surveillance and intimidation, she said. No one is exempt.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, left, celebrates as he walks off the field after winning the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vsquez)2026-02-09T11:00:07Z SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Sam Darnold and that stingy Seattle Seahawks defense captured the franchises second Super Bowl championship on the familiar field of their rival the San Francisco 49ers.General manager John Schneider considered that an advantage in his teams 29-13 victory against the New England Patriots on Sunday night after Seattle won 13-3 at Levis Stadium just last month. Theyve been a very confident group, Schneider said.Heres a look at some top moments from Sundays game and the week leading up to Super Bowl 60 in the Bay Area:Mayes health Patriots quarterback Drake Maye received an injection before the game to numb his troublesome shoulder, then finished 27 for 43 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions for the AFC champions.There were more sways in the first half where I feel like I could have made a better throw or made a better decision, he said. Maye returned to health in the Super Bowl lead up after he didnt throw much last week because of his troublesome shoulder, which he injured on a scramble during the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos. Bad BunnyPuerto Rican star Bad Bunny brought some of his countrys rich culture and history to the Super Bowl, not to mention a surprise during his colorful halftime show: Lady Gaga. Ricky Martin, too.Bad Bunny gave a roll call of the nations of North, South and Central America, including Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, the United States and Canada. A parade of flags from those nations made its way through the sugar cane fields that functioned as the shows centerpiece. Lady Gaga appeared at a real wedding scene on stage. The couple parted to show her on the stage, and she joined Bad Bunny in performing Baile Inolvidable. Stafford stays Matthew Stafford won the AP Most Valuable Player award with his four daughters in tow Thursday night, then announced he would return to the Los Angeles Rams for another season. Stafford turned 38 on Saturday and wants to chase another championship. Oh yeah, Ill be back, the quarterback declared. Welcome back, coachFor Terrell Williams, coaching at the Super Bowl meant so much after being away from the team during a nearly five-month fight with prostate cancer. The Patriots welcomed back their defensive coordinator, who hadnt been traveling or on the sideline during his ordeal. It feels good, Williams said. Harold Landry made the comment that when I come in the building, I put a smile on their face because they see how hard Im working and they know its not easy. But my comment to Harold was: You guys are putting a smile on my face. So its really like were all working together. Im happy to see them, theyre happy to see me. What you realize is that we all struggle. Seahawks staff The Super Bowl marked the final game for this Seahawks coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will depart to coach the Las Vegas Raiders. Kubiak will likely take some Seattle assistants along with him.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

United States' Lindsey Vonn crashes into a gate during an alpine ski women's downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2026-02-09T13:42:07Z CORTINA DAMPEZZO, Italy (AP) The fallout from Lindsey Vonns devastating crash in the Olympic downhill included a key question: Given her severely injured left knee, should she have even been allowed on a course that is dangerous even to perfectly healthy skiers?The resounding answer on social media was no. The answer from the skiing community was yes.Nine days before Sundays crash, the 41-year-old American ruptured the ACL in her left knee. It is an injury that sidelines pro athletes for months, but ski racers have on occasion competed that way. She appeared stable in two downhill training runs at the Milan Cortina Games.When she arrived in Cortina last week, Vonn said she had consulted with her team of physicians and trainers before deciding to move ahead with racing. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation does not check on the injury statuses of athletes. I firmly believe that this has to be decided by the individual athlete, FIS president Johan Eliasch said Monday in Bormio. And in her case, she certainly knows her injuries on her body better than anybody else. And if you look around here today with all the athletes, the athletes yesterday, every single athlete has a small injury of some kind. What is also important for people to understand, that the accident that she had yesterday, she was incredibly unlucky. It was a one in a 1,000, Eliasch added. She got too close to the gate, and she got stuck when she was in the air in the gate and started rotating. No one can recover from that, unless you do a 360. This is something which is part of ski racing. Its a dangerous sport. The Italian hospital in Treviso where Vonn was being treated said late Sunday she had undergone surgery to repair a broken left leg. The U.S. Ski Team has said only that Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians. The hospital initially said it would release an update Monday, then said updates regarding Vonns condition would come from her team.Pierre Ducrey, the sports director for the International Olympic Committee, noted Vonn was able to train and had experts counseling her decision.So from that point of view, I dont think we can say that she should or shouldnt have participated. This decision was really hers and her team to take, he said. She made the decision and unfortunately it led to the injury, but I think its really the way that the decision gets made for every athlete that participates to the downhill.Onlookers on social media wondered if Vonns ruptured ACL could have played a factor in her crash near the top of the Olympia delle Tofana course, where she has a World Cup record 12 wins. That maybe, on a healthy left knee, she would not have clipped a gate and been able to stave off a crash.Totally incorrect, Vonns teammate Keely Cashman who was knocked unconsious in a serious crash five years ago said Monday. People that dont know ski racing dont really understand what happened yesterday. She hooked her arm on the gate, which twisted her around. She was going probably 70 miles an hour, and so that twists your body around. That has nothing to do with her ACL, nothing to with her knee. I think a lot of people are ridiculing that, and a lot people dont (know) whats going on. The hours after her crash was filled with opinions, mostly of the second-guessing nature. Like, should someone have intervened?Its her choice, veteran skier Federica Brignone of Italy said. If its your body, then you decide what to do, whether to race or not. Its not up to others. Only you.Brignone suffered multiple fractures in her tibial plateau and fibula bone in her left leg during a crash in April and made it back to compete in the Olympic downhill finishing 10th.American downhiller Kyle Negomir echoed that thought.Lindseys a grown woman, and the best speed skier to ever do this sport. If she made her decision, I think she should absolutely be allowed to take that risk, Negomir said. Shes obviously good enough that shes capable of pulling it off. Just because it happened to not pan out yesterday doesnt mean that it definitely wasnt a possibility that she could just crush it and have a perfect run.___Graham reported from Bormio. AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Treviso and Daniella Matar in Milan contributed to this report.___AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics ANDREW DAMPF Dampf has been a Rome-based sports writer at The AP for over 20 years, covering soccer, tennis, Alpine skiing and many other events in Italy and beyond, including five soccer World Cups. The Milan-Cortina Games will mark the 10th Olympics that he has reported from. twitter RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Chatbots may be able to pass medical exams, but that doesnt mean they make good doctors, according to a new, large-scale study of how people get medical advice from large language models.The controlled study of 1,298 UK-based participants, published today in Nature from the Oxford Internet Institute and the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, tested whether LLMs could help people identify underlying conditions and suggest useful courses of action, like going to the hospital or seeking treatment. Participants were randomly assigned an LLM GPT-4o, Llama 3, and Coheres Command R+ or were told to use a source of their choice to make decisions about a medical scenario as though they had encountered it at home, according to the study. The scenarios included ailments like a young man developing a severe headache after a night out with friends for example, to a new mother feeling constantly out of breath and exhausted, the researchers said.One user was told to lie down in a dark room, and the other user was given the correct recommendation to seek emergency care.When the researchers tested the LLMs without involving users by providing the models with the full text of each clinical scenario, the models correctly identified conditions in 94.9 percent of cases. But when talking to the participants about those same conditions, the LLMs identified relevant conditions in fewer than 34.5 percent of cases. People didnt know what information the chatbots needed, and in some scenarios, the chatbots provided multiple diagnoses and courses of action. Knowing what questions to ask a patient and what information might be withheld or missing during an examination are nuanced skills that make great human physicians; based on this study, chatbots cant reliably replicate that kind of care.In some cases, the chatbots also generated information that was just wrong or incomplete, including focusing on elements of the participants inputs that were irrelevant, giving a partial US phone number to call, or suggesting they call the Australian emergency number.In an extreme case, two users sent very similar messages describing symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage but were given opposite advice, the studys authors wrote. One user was told to lie down in a dark room, and the other user was given the correct recommendation to seek emergency care.These findings highlight the difficulty of building AI systems that can genuinely support people in sensitive, high-stakes areas like health, Dr. Rebecca Payne, lead medical practitioner on the study, said in a press release. Despite all the hype, AI just isn't ready to take on the role of the physician. Patients need to be aware that asking a large language model about their symptoms can be dangerous, giving wrong diagnoses and failing to recognise when urgent help is needed.Instagrams AI Chatbots Lie About Being Licensed TherapistsWhen pushed for credentials, Instagrams user-made AI Studio bots will make up license numbers, practices, and education to try to convince you its qualified to help with your mental health.404 MediaSamantha ColeLast year, 404 Media reported on AI chatbots hosted by Meta that posed as therapists, providing users fake credentials like license numbers and educational backgrounds. Following that reporting, almost two dozen digital rights and consumer protection organizations sent a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission urging regulators to investigate Character.AI and Metas unlicensed practice of medicine facilitated by their product, through therapy-themed bots that claim to have credentials and confidentiality with inadequate controls and disclosures. A group of Democratic senators also urged Meta to investigate and limit the blatant deception of Metas chatbots that lie about being licensed therapists, and 44 attorneys general signed an open letter to 11 chatbot and social media companies, urging them to see their products through the eyes of a parent, not a predator.In January, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Health, a dedicated experience that securely brings your health information and ChatGPTs intelligence together, to help you feel more informed, prepared, and confident navigating your health, the company said in a blog post. Over two years, weve worked with more than 260 physicians who have practiced in 60 countries and dozens of specialties to understand what makes an answer to a health question helpful or potentially harmfulthis group has now provided feedback on model outputs over 600,000 times across 30 areas of focus, the company wrote. This collaboration has shaped not just what Health can do, but how it responds: how urgently to encourage follow-ups with a clinician, how to communicate clearly without oversimplifying, and how to prioritize safety in moments that matter.In our work, we found that none of the tested language models were ready for deployment in direct patient care. Despite strong performance from the LLMs alone, both on existing benchmarks and on our scenarios, medical expertise was insufficient for effective patient care, the researchers wrote in their paper. Our work can only provide a lower bound on performance: newer models, models that make use of advanced techniques from chain of thought to reasoning tokens, or fine-tuned specialized models, are likely to provide higher performance on medical benchmarks. The researchers recommend developers, policymakers, and regulators consider testing LLMs with real human users before deploying in the future.

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