Would Pope Francis resign? Experts say it’s unlikely – but the pontiff often springs surprises
When Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign in 600 years it sent shockwaves through the Catholic Church. Now, after spending two weeks in hospital battling pneumonia, the speculation in the Vatican is whether his successor Pope Francis might do the same. “I think the only circumstances under which he (Francis) would consider resignation, as he has said, would be if he had a long-term degenerative or debilitating condition which prevented him from fully carrying out the papal ministry,” Austen Ivereigh, a papal biographer, told.
Trump wants to protect South Africa’s White farmers. But potential changes to trade privileges would hurt them
A contentious law that allows South Africa’s government to expropriate land – without compensation in some cases – has enraged the United States, triggering aid cuts by Washington and outbursts from President Donald Trump. Many fear that the African nation could now potentially lose some of its US trade privileges as relations between the two countries deteriorate. South Africa is the largest beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), a US trade agreement that provides preferential duty-free access to US markets for eligible Sub-Saharan African nations.
Best red carpet looks at the 2025 Oscars
The 97th Academy Awards delivered an evening of elegant and, at times, dramatic fashion, with many stars saving their best looks for the biggest red carpet of them all. This year’s awards season has witnessed its fair share of restrained styling and dark monochromatic looks, but Hollywood’s A-list brought shimmer, sparkle and metallics to LA’s Dolby Theatre on Sunday. From Halle Berry’s disco-ball Christian Siriano gown to Demi Moore’s Swarovski crystal-embellished Armani Privé dress, the work of embroiderers took center stage.
From Prison to the Open Championship: Australia’s Ryan Peak wins 104th New Zealand Open to clinch first major berth
Ryan Peake, a former Australian motorcycle gang member-turned-good with the help of golf, has added another positive chapter to his remarkable comeback story after earning a spot at The Open Championship on Sunday. Peake clinched his ticket to Royal Portrush after capturing the 104th New Zealand Open, sinking an 8-foot par putt on the final hole to avoid a four-way playoff. Entering the final round, trailing four strokes behind leader Guntaek Koh, Peake delivered a bogey-free 66 to finish at 23-under-par, claiming the title and the approximately $112,000 prize.
Figure skating community gathers for ‘Legacy on Ice’ to honor those lost in January plane crash
Little more than a month after a tragic air disaster took the lives of 28 members of the US figure skating community, emotions were on full display Sunday in Washington, DC, for the “Legacy on Ice” tribute. Co-hosted by Olympic champions Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi, “Legacy on Ice” was described as “a journey through history, resilience and remembrance.” The event comes in the wake of the January 29 plane crash that claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard American Airlines flight 5342 and the three soldiers aboard a US Army Black Hawk helicopter after a midair collision over the Potomac River.
Trump to pardon late Pete Rose ‘in the coming weeks’ while MLB considers petition to reinstate all-time hits leader
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he plans to pardon the late baseball all-time hit king Pete Rose “in the coming weeks,” while Major League Baseball is considering a petition to posthumously remove the Cincinnati Reds icon from the sport’s ineligible list. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump wrote that he will be issuing a “complete pardon” of Rose who gambled on his own team, ending his budding baseball managerial career when he was banned from the sport in 1989 and making him ineligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Trump criticized MLB for not having “the courage or decency” to put Rose into the Baseball Hall of Fame and urged them to posthumously award him the sport’s biggest honor.
Washington Commanders to acquire Deebo Samuel in trade with San Francisco 49ers
The Washington Commanders have made a major move to bolster their offense after agreeing to trade for star wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. A source close to the deal confirmed to CNN that the terms of the trade had been agreed, pending a physical. The trade, initially reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, cannot be finalized until the new league year begins on March 12.
Steph Curry dunks for first time in six years, says it will be ‘the last’ of his career
With just over seven minutes left in the Golden State Warriors’ clash against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, Steph Curry produced something rarely seen in his long, glittering career as he dunked for the first time in six years and perhaps for the last time too. “That will probably be my last dunk,” Curry told reporters afterward. “I’m calling it right now. That was the last one you’re going to see.” Curry led the way for the Warriors with 29 points and 13 assists but, in the absence of Jimmy Butler, his team fell to a 119-126 defeat against the 76ers on Saturday, snapping their five-game win streak.
Western allies rally around Zelensky after Trump spat deepens rift with Europe
Western leaders scrambled to back Ukraine after Friday’s acrimonious meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky deepened the already yawning fault lines between Washington and many of its key allies. The remarkable Oval Office exchange highlights a tricky balancing act facing Western capitals since Trump’s return to office in January: maintaining steadfast support for Zelensky and Kyiv against Russian aggression, while not alienating a famously transactional president who appears increasingly sympathetic to President Valdimir Putin, tolerates little criticism and is upturning decades of transatlantic security alliances.
Zelensky bristled at his berating by Trump and Vance. After three years of war, what did they expect?
On a horizon where drones and airstrikes have killed 47 civilians in Ukraine in the past 10 days, superlatives rained: the most consequential moment in the war since Russia’s invasion; the ugliest personality clash — between a 48-year-old comedian turned wartime leader and a septuagenarian billionaire turned US president; the most significant turning point in European history since 1989 or even 1945. After Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky found himself berated for lack of gratitude on live television by US President Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance on Friday, Ukraine seemed immediately unsure whether to be furious at his treatment – after their collective survival of three years of Russian bombardment and savagery – at the hands of wealthy American elites, or to panickedly seek remedy in Kyiv’s relationship with the ally it likely cannot endure without.