US & World News

Justice Department will allow lawmakers to see unredacted versions of released Epstein files

The Department of Justice will allow members of Congress to review unredacted files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That's according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press says that lawmakers starting Monday will be able to review unredacted versions of the more than 3 million files that the Justice Department has released. To access the files, lawmakers will need to give the Justice Department 24 hours advance notice. They will be able to review the files on computers at the Department of Justice. Only lawmakers and not their staff will have access to the files.

They will have been to all 60 Super Bowls. This year is possibly their last

Three fans who have attended every Super Bowl since 1967 are going again this year. But two of them say it might be their last time. Don Crisman of Maine, Gregory Eaton of Michigan and Tom Henschel of Florida are the last remaining members of the exclusive club of people who have never missed the big game. But this year’s Super Bowl is a little bittersweet: Crisman and Henschel say advancing age and mobility issues mean this is probably their final trip. Eaton, however, plans to keep going as long as he can.

Accused militant is taken into custody in the deadly 2012 Benghazi attack

The Justice Department says a key participant in the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, has been taken into custody and will be prosecuted in Washington in connection with the rampage that killed four Americans and became a divisive political issue. Zubayar Al-Bakoush had been wanted by the United States for more than a decade and was taken to an airfield in Virginia early Friday. He is accused of joining an armed mob that crashed the gates of the diplomatic mission and set fire to buildings. He appeared Friday afternoon in federal court. Speaking through an interpreter, Al-Bakoush said he has “complete trust in the court and the jury.” He did not enter a plea.

Bad Bunny look-alike contest in San Francisco draws hundreds of fans

A Bad Bunny look-alike contest in San Francisco has turned into a street party as hundreds of fans gather to celebrate the global superstar. More than 30 contestants from across the Bay Area competed Thursday at a packed Mexican restaurant in the Mission neighborhood. They channeled the Puerto Rican singer with his bold looks, including straw hats and aviator hats and his signature “perreo,” or twerking, moves. The grand prize went to Abdul Ramirez Arroyave, a professional Bad Bunny impersonator who broke into song when asked to say a few words to the delight of the artist's fans who sang along. The event took place ahead of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show this weekend.

Leadership changes in Minnesota follow tensions among agencies over immigration enforcement tactics

The Trump administration's immigration operation in Minnesota is now being unified under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That announcement this week from White House border czar Tom Homan came after months of internal grumbling and infighting among agencies about how to carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. ICE was established more than two decades ago and has conducted street arrests through “targeted enforcement.” Homan has used that phrase to describe narrowly tailored operations with specific, individual targets. It's a sharp contrast to the broad sweeps that had become common in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minnesota and elsewhere.

In unusual move, Republican chairman scrutinizes companies tied to husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar

The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee is requesting records related to firms partially owned by the husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar. It's an extraordinary step of scrutinizing the spouse of a sitting House member. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky sent a letter to Timothy Mynett, a former Democratic political consultant who is married to Omar. Comer is requesting records related to a pair of companies that had a substantial jump in value between 2023 and 2024. Comer’s request marked a highly unusual move by the chair of a committee with a history of taking on politically-charged investigations, but almost always focused on government officials outside of Congress.

Actor Timothy Busfield indicted on 4 counts of sexual contact with a child

A New Mexico grand jury has indicted Timothy Busfield has been indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child. A county district attorney announced the indictment Friday in a social media post. Authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Busfield over allegations of misconduct from when he was working as a director on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady.” Busfield has denied the allegations. He turned himself in to authorities and later was released from jail. Busfield is best known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething.”

Sonny Jurgensen, the strong-arm QB whose personality made him a beloved football figure, dies at 91

Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen has died. He was 91. A spokesperson said Friday the team was informed by Jurgensen's family about his death. Jurgensen was one of the most beloved figures in Washington football history. That went from his time with the team in 1964 through a lengthy broadcasting career alongside Sam Huff that ended in 2019. Jurgensen threw for more than 3,000 yards in a season five times with Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles during his nearly two-decade NFL career from 1957-1974.

Luigi Mangione speaks out in protest as judge sets state murder trial for June 8

Luigi Mangione spoke out in court against the prospect of back-to-back trials in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 27-year-old Mangione on Friday told the judge presiding of the New York case against him: “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.” He made the remarks as court officers were escorting him out of the courtroom after the judge scheduled his state murder trial for June 8, three months before jury selection in his federal case.

US births dropped last year, suggesting the 2024 uptick was short-lived

U.S. births slightly decreased in 2025. That's according to new provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It reports just over 3.6 million births, about 24,000 fewer than in 2024. This decline aligns with expert predictions that the 2024 increase wouldn't start an upward trend. The CDC updated its data last week, covering nearly all of the babies born in 2025. Final numbers may add only a few thousand more. Despite efforts to encourage births, like expanding in vitro fertilization access, the fertility rate has been declining. Economic conditions and uncertainty continue to impact childbearing decisions.

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show: Here's some things to expect and what they mean

Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show Sunday, fresh off his album of the year Grammy win for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” The performance is expected to be a historic moment for Latino culture. A trailer released in January hints at a lively show featuring his single “Baile Inolvidable.” The performance may include symbols like Puerto Rico's many flags, trees, clothing and traditional instruments. Bad Bunny's music is in Spanish, so his set will likely follow suit. While special guests are possible, the focus is on his international appeal and cultural pride. Political elements may also appear given his history of activism and amid growing anti-immigrant raids.

Zelenskyy says Ukrainian air force needs to improve as Russian drone barrages take a toll

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the air force's performance in parts of the country is “unsatisfactory.” He said Friday that steps are being taken to improve defenses against Russian drone attacks. The assaults have targeted Ukraine’s power grid, causing blackouts during a harsh winter. As the war nears its fifth year, U.S.-led peace efforts show no progress. Zelenskyy has discussed new air defense measures with military leaders. Recent Russian attacks killed one person and injured others in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine's strikes have damaged power facilities in Russia. The front line remains active despite freezing temperatures.

Security concerns and skepticism are bursting the bubble of Moltbook, the viral AI social forum

Moltbook, a so-called social network built exclusively for AI agents, has generated buzz in the technology world and posts from the platform have set the internet ablaze with conversations about autonomous artificial intelligence. While the technology world has been split between excitement and skepticism about Moltbook, many experts have expressed security concerns about the platform. One researcher was able to able to gain unauthenticated access to a database that included personal information and gave him the ability to edit content on the site. More than 1.6 million AI agents are registered on Moltbook, according to the site, but that number has been disputed.

Suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque on Islamabad's outskirts kills at least 31 and wounds scores

Pakistani officials say a suicide bomber targeted a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers, killing 31 people and wounding at least 169 others. It was a rare attack in the capital of Pakistan as its Western-allied government struggles to rein in a surge in militant attacks across the country. Some of the wounded in the attack on the sprawling mosque of Khadija Al-Kubra were reported to be in critical condition. Television footage and social media images showed police and residents transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Militant groups across Pakistan often target security forces and civilians.

Categories: News, US & World News