Breathtaking images from the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest
Fighting fish, thirsty camels and hairy shrimp are all featured among the winning images of the 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition. Spanish photographer Alvaro Herrero was named overall winner for his image showing the relationship between a humpback whale and her newborn calf, according to a statement from organizers on Friday. Herrero took the photograph, which is named “Radiant Bond,” in French Polynesia. “The mother is accompanying her calf to the surface, because the baby is still so small and clumsy,” said Herrero in the statement.
Clashes between Colombian military and guerrilla dissidents leave a soldier dead and another wounded
One Colombian soldier was killed and another injured Thursday in clashes with guerrilla dissidents in a coca-growing region where their turf war with a rebel group has left dozens of people dead this year. A statement from an anti-narcotics branch of Colombia’s National Army said the soldiers were carrying out “military stability operations” when they “engaged in combat against” holdouts from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, the group’s Spanish acronym.
A flight to a Toronto paramedics conference becomes a real emergency for a former EMT
Former paramedic Peter Carlson is still having difficulty putting into perspective the shuddering jolt he and 79 others aboard Delta Air Lines flight 4819 experienced earlier this week. One moment, the 40-year-old was looking forward to arriving in Toronto where he was speaking at an Ontario paramedic chiefs convention. The next, he was hanging — strapped only by his seatbelt — looking down at the airplane’s ceiling, attempting to assess the chaos around him.
Arab leaders to gather for postwar Gaza proposal to counter Trump’s ‘Riviera’ plan
Arab leaders are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Friday for the first time to formulate a response to US President Donald Trump’s plan for the US to take ownership of Gaza, expel its Palestinian population and turn it into a Middle Eastern “Riviera.” The meeting – including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf Arab nations – will take place ahead of a larger Arab summit on March 4, Saudi Arabia said. A meeting of Islamic countries is expected to follow, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.
Nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants are flown home from Guantanamo Bay, with a layover in Honduras
Nearly 200 Venezuelan immigrants to the U.S. were returned to their home country after being detained at Guantanamo Bay, in a flurry of flights that forged an unprecedented pathway for U.S. deportations. U.S. and Venezuelan authorities confirmed the deportations that relied on a stopover in Honduras, where 177 Venezuelans exited a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement flight and boarded a Venezuelan plane bound for Caracas.
Tiger Woods joins another White House meeting as PGA Tour moves closer to Saudi deal
Tiger Woods joined PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott in a second White House meeting Thursday with President Donald Trump, another sign the sport is moving rapidly toward ending the division brought on by Saudi-funded LIV Golf. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the financial muscle behind the rival league, also was part of the meeting.
Santa Clara defeats Loyola Marymount 76-61
Carlos Stewart had 16 points in Santa Clara’s 76-61 victory over Loyola Marymount on Thursday. Stewart shot 5 for 12 (3 for 8 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Broncos (18-10, 10-5 West Coast Conference). Camaron Tongue added 14 points while shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line while they also had eight rebounds. Brenton Knapper shot 5 of 7 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line to finish with 12 points. The Lions (15-13, 7-9) were led in scoring by Will Johnston, who finished with 18 points. Myron Amey Jr. added 13 points and two steals for Loyola Marymount. Alex Merkviladze finished with eight points.
Kim Sae-ron’s death underscores the huge pressure on South Korean celebrities
In the about 1,000 days between her drunken-driving crash in May 2022 and her death, South Korean mainstream news organizations published at least around 2,000 stories on film actor Kim Sae-rom. A quick search in the country’s press database yields a wave of sensational headlines that illustrate how the local media often cover a celebrity’s fall from grace. Previously one of the brightest young stars in South Korean cinema, Kim was condemned and ridiculed for driving drunk; for talking about her financial struggles after losing roles; for taking a job at a coffee shop; for attempting a comeback in theater; for going out with friends instead of “showing remorse”; and for being seen smiling on set while shooting an indie movie.
EU official meets with Trump counterparts to resolve tariff threats
Hoping to head off a potential trade conflict, a top European Union official stressed the importance of active engagement and fairness in trade during a four-hour meeting with Trump administration officials. “The top objective as it was presented to us yesterday by our American partners is reciprocity,” Maroš Šefčovič, the European commissioner for trade and economic security, told reporters at a Thursday briefing.
A train struck an elephant herd in Sri Lanka, killing 6 animals
A passenger train hit an elephant herd near a wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka, killing six of the animals, an official said on Thursday. Four babies and two adults died near Minneriya, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Colombo. The area is renowned for its nature park and wildlife, said Hasini Sarathchandra, a spokesman for the government’s wildlife department. Local television channels showed the train engine and several compartments had derailed following the collision. No passenger was injured, said a railway official, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.