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The blazes, mostly sparking at midweek amid an intense heatwave in Australia's southeast, have ‌torn through more than 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) of bushland, authorities said on Saturday morning, adding that 10 major fires were still burning statewide.

More than 130 structures, including homes, have been destroyed and around 38,000 residences and businesses were without power due ⁠to the fires, the authorities ‌said. They said the fires were the worst to hit the state since the Black Summer blazes of 2019-2020 that destroyed ‍an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said thousands of firefighters were in the field working to contain the fires.

"Where we can fires ​will be being brought under control," Allan said in a televised media conference ‌from state capital Melbourne.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the nation faced a day of "extreme and dangerous" fire weather, especially in Victoria, where much of the state has been declared a disaster zone.

"My thoughts are with Australians in these regional communities at this very difficult time," Albanese said in televised remarks ⁠from Canberra.

One of the largest fires, near ​the town of Longwood, about 112 km (69.6 miles) ​north of Melbourne, has burned 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) of bushland, destroying 30 structures, vineyards and agricultural land, authorities said.

Dozens of communities near ‍the fires have ⁠been evacuated and many of the state's parks and campgrounds are closed.

A heatwave warning on Saturday was in place for large parts of Victoria, ⁠while fire weather warnings were active for neighbouring New South Wales state and the Australian Capital ‌Territory, the nation's weather forecaster said.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; ‌Editing by David Gregorio and Tom Hogue)

At least 65 people have been killed in the protests that began in late December over Iran's ailing economy and have morphed into the most significant challenge to the government in years.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump as having hands "stained with the blood of Iranians" as his supporters shouted "Death to America!" in footage aired by Iranian state television. State media later referred to the demonstrators as "terrorists," setting the stage for a violent crackdown as inother protestsin recent years, despite Trump's pledge to back peaceful protesters with force if necessary.

Protesters are "ruining their own streets ... in order to please the president of the United States," the 86-year-old Khamenei said to a crowd at his compound in Tehran. "Because he said that he would come to their aid. He should pay attention to the state of his own country instead."

Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei separately vowed that punishment for protesters "will be decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency."

Late Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement condemning reported deadly violence against the protesters, and urged Iran to allow its citizens to express themselves without fear of reprisal.

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi called on more Western governments to denounce Iran's theocracy, saying it "has made cruelty a governing method."

"Some still insist on romantic myths about this regime, treating it as a defender of the oppressed abroad," Ebadi said in a statement. "But a government that shoots peaceful protesters ... at home cannot claim moral authority anywhere."

Trump has repeatedly pledged to strike Iran if protesters are killed, a threat that has taken on greater significance after the U.S.military raidthat seized Venezuela's former President Nicolás Maduro. The president suggested Friday any possible American strike wouldn't "mean boots on the ground but that means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts."

"Iran's in big trouble," Trump said. "It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago."

He added: "I tell the Iranian leaders you better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too."

Internet cut off

Despite Iran's theocracy cutting off the nation from the internet and international telephone calls, short online videos shared by activists purported to show protesters chanting against Iran's government around bonfires as debris littered the streets in the capital, Tehran, and other areas into Friday morning. The demonstrations restarted Friday night, but it wasn't possible to immediately assess whether they continued at the same strength. The demonstrations happened even after security services warned families to keep their children home.

One online video showed a fire in the street near in the Saadat Abad area of northern Tehran, with what appeared to be thousands on the street.

"Death to Khamenei!" a man chanted.

The protests also represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed byCrown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whosefatally ill father fled Iranjust before the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, who called for the protests Thursday night, similarly called for demonstrations at 8 p.m. Friday.

Demonstrations have included cries in support of the shah, something that could bring a death sentence in the past but now underlines the anger fueling the protests that began over Iran's ailing economy.

So far, violence around the demonstrations has killed at least 65 people while more than 2,300 others have been detained, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

"What turned the tide of the protests was former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's calls for Iranians to take to the streets at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday," said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Per social media posts, it became clear that Iranians had delivered and were taking the call seriously to protest in order to oust the Islamic Republic."

"This is exactly why the internet was shut down: to prevent the world from seeing the protests. Unfortunately, it also likely provided cover for security forces to kill protesters."

Thursday night protests preceded internet shutdown

When the clock struck 8 p.m. Thursday, neighborhoods across Tehran erupted in chanting, witnesses said. The chants included "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to the Islamic Republic!" Others praised the shah, shouting: "This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!" Thousands could be seen on the streets before all communication to Iran cut out.

On Friday, Pahlavi called on Trump to help the protesters, saying Khamenei "wants to use this blackout to murder these young heroes."

"You have proven and I know you are a man of peace and a man of your word," he said in a statement. "Please be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran."

Pahlavi had said he would offer further plans depending on the response to his call. Hissupport of and from Israel has drawn criticismin the past — particularly after the 12-day war Israel waged on Iran in June. Demonstrators have shouted in support of the shah in some demonstrations, but it isn't clear whether that's support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The internet cut also appears to have taken many of Iran's state-run and semiofficial news agencies offline.

State TV claimed the protests Thursday night were violent and caused casualties, but did not offer nationwide figures. It said the protests saw "people's private cars, motorcycles, public places such as the metro, fire trucks and buses set on fire." State TV later reported that violence overnight killed six people in Hamedan, some 280 kilometers (175 miles) southwest of Tehran, and two security force members in Qom, 125 kilometers (75 miles) south of the capital.

Protests also were reported Friday in Zahedan in Iran's restive southwestern Sistan and Baluchestan province. State TV aired footage of pro-government forces on motorcycles Friday night in Tehran.

Associated Press writer Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.

Arlene Lillis, 56, of Minnesota, was pronounced dead following the attack, according to a news release from the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department.

Several people called 911 just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday to report that a woman had been attacked by a shark atDorcsh Beach on St. Croix.

The incident happened about an hour and a half before sunset.

Florida Beaches Claim 9 Of Top 10 Spots For Most Shark Attacks In America, New Study Shows

Marine units as well as fire crews and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene, according to police.

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Fire officials confirmed the woman lost an arm during the attack and later succumbed to her injuries.

While it was reported there may have been a second victim, St. Croix Rescue searched the perimeter of the beach area and did not find anyone else.

'Sharks Won't Do Anything To You': Florida Spearfisherman Attacked By Shark Minutes After Reassuring Family

Police have not shared if the shark has been located, or what led to the attack.

"Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the victim, and with everyone who witnessed this tragedy," Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. wrote in a statement. "We have been briefed on the information known at this time, and we are grateful to the bystanders who acted immediately to render aid and to the first responders who worked urgently and bravely in an effort to save her life."

Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach also expressed condolences and gratitude to first responders.

'Large Shark' Kills Man At Australian Beach, With Witness Describing Hearing Screams Of 'Don't Bite Me!'

"On behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, I extend our deepest condolences to the victim's family and all who are grieving this loss," Roach wrote. "In moments like this, we are reminded how quickly life can change. We thank the individuals on the scene who stepped forward to help, and we commend our first responders for their swift action and professionalism under extremely difficult circumstances."

The investigation is ongoing, according to authorities.

About two weeks earlier, a 55-year-old woman vanished off thecoast of California, with witnesses telling authorities they had seen a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth.

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The Pacific Grove Police Departmenttold CBS Newsthe incident was being investigated as a possible shark attack, though theCoast Guardsaid there was "insufficient evidence" to confirm the case was related to the reported shark sighting.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

Original article source:Minnesota woman killed in US Virgin Islands shark attack

Good Morning America/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Bradley Cooper and Danny DiGiampietro visited Good Morning America with cheesesteaks from their restaurant Danny & Coop's

• GMA stars including Michael Strahan and George Stephanopoulos raved about the sandwiches during the Jan. 9 segment

• The pair opened up the New York City spot in January 2025

Bradley CoopercelebratedDanny & Coop's' one year anniversary with a visit toGood Morning America's set.

TheMaestroactor opened his New York City cheesesteak restaurant with Angelo's Pizzeria owner Danny DiGiampietro in January 2025. To honor the hot spot turning one, Cooper and DiGiampietro celebrated with news anchor friends.

"There is something that we loved when it was brought to us like nothing we've ever loved before. It was unanimous," weather anchorSam Championsaid during the Friday, Jan. 9, episode ofGood Morning America."Bradley Cooper, where are you? And Danny DiGiampietro, where are you?"

TheSilver Linings Playbookactor busted onto the stage with a big grin and box in his hands repeating, "We're right here, we're right here!"

"The crew was so mad at us last time because we didn't have enough for everyone," Champion explained while Cooper and the Philadelphia restaurateur handed out sandwiches.

TheDanny & Coop'sguys sat on the couch and asked the anchors for their thoughts on the cheesesteaks before reflecting on the restaurant's one-year milestone.

MediaPunch/Shutterstock

"Delicious," Rebecca Jarvis said, "Honestly, the best cheesesteak."Michael Strahansaid andGeorge Stephanopoulosechoed the sentiment, "You're going to get us all kicked out of Philadelphia because this is the best cheesesteak."

TheIs This Thing On?director thanked different linecooks and workers at Danny & Coop's and credited DiGiampietro as "the maestro."

"I gotta say, it's the only thing I like out of Philadelphia," Strahan quipped, prompting an outburst from Cooper: "Oh! You can't help yourself!" Cooper exclaimed.

DiGiampietro explained how Danny & Coop's inception can be credited to the actor. "He called me one day and he said, 'You've been dodging me for long enough. I want to open a cheesesteak place in New York.' And I thought he was kidding," DiGiampietro recalled before laying on more compliments. "But I tell you, he is in there cooking, cleaning. He's the first one in, he's the last one to leave. I can vouch for him."

Strahan admitted, "I thought it was for show," causing the couch to erupt in laughter.

The Pennsylvania native first partnered with DiGiampietro to run a Danny & Coop's food truck in December 2023.

Read the original article onPeople

Broadimage/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

• Candace Cameron Bure shared a sweet gallery of photos in memory of her late costar Bob Saget

• Bure wrote that she misses her tv dad "every day"

• The actress portrayed D.J. Tanner in the sitcom, which aired from 1987 to 1995

Candace Cameron Bureis remembering her lateFull Housecostar and beloved friend,Bob Saget.

In a Friday, Jan. 9,Instagrampost, Bure, 49, looked back at her time with Saget,who died in 2022.

"I miss you. Not just today, but every day 🕊️🤍," she captioned the post.

View this post on Instagram

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The accompanying carousel of images show Bure in her younger years, smiling alongside Saget on set and at various events throughout their careers.

Some snaps in the post also included fellowFull HousealumsJohn Stamos, who played Uncle Jesse, andDave Coulier, who played Joey Gladstone.

On the show, Bure played eldest daughter D.J. Tanner. which premiered on ABC on Sept. 22, 1987, and ran for eight years, until 1995. Saget played her dad, Danny.

The two reprised their roles on the rebootFuller House, which ran on Netflix from 2016 to 2020.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Saget was found dead at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 9, 2022. One month later, his family confirmed that hedied due to head trauma. He was 65.

Shortly after his death was confirmed, Bure reacted to the news,writing on Twitter, "I don't know what to say. I have no words. Bob was one of the best humans beings I've ever known in my life. I loved him so much."

The next day, Bure posted a slideshow of photos featuring she and Saget, captioningthe images: "I love you sooooo much. I don't want to say goodbye 💔. 35 years wasn't long enough."

Bure laterpaid tribute to Sagetin an Instagram post in which she described the late actor as "the glue" of herFull Housefamily.

"Oh, Bob. Why'd you have to leave us so soon? We are all family, but you were the glue," Cameron Burewrote beside a photo of she and Saget. "The sticky, messy, squishy, sweet, lovable glue."

She added: "My childhood is wrapped up in you, my formative teenaged years and the rest of adulthood. We've always been so deeply connected since the day we met when I was 10 years old. You weren't just like a father, but one of my closest friends in life. This hurts like nothing I've ever felt before."

Read the original article onPeople

Corrections and clarifications: An earlier version of this story included a comment that was attributed to the DMX estate.

A New York-based bishop plans to honorhip-hop icon DMXin a service over the weekend to "posthumously hold an ordination" for the late rapper.

The event is being led by Bishop Osiris Imhotep of theGospel Cultural Center, who said it will serve as a "symbolic gesture" in a phone interview with USA TODAY on Friday, Jan. 9.

DMX, real name Earl Simmons,diedafter suffering a heart attack in 2021, sending shockwaves through hip-hop and fans around the world.

Osiris' upcoming gathering has been widely reported byseveral outletsand, unbeknownst to him, went viral on social media. He said it's now set to take place on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 3 p.m. ET at Christ Episcopal Church in Westchester County, about 30 miles from Manhattan, after the initial venue fell through.

"We're not doing this in conjunction with the estate," Osiris said, adding that he has been in contact with some family members. "It's not a money grab. It's not a political grab. This is community service honoring Earl 'DMX' Simmons, simple. It's a religious service."

DMX:Rap legend, a pinnacle of the '90s and 2000s hip-hop scene, dies at 50 after heart attack

DMX included his faith in his music

DMX is highly regarded for his legendary contributions to hip-hop in the 1990s and 2000s. In his work and throughout his career, the rap star spoke unabashedly about hisupbringing, his struggles with addiction, and most notably, his faith.

His multi-platinum selling 1998 debut album, "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot," includes a "Prayer (Skit)" where he openly talks to God, "I come to you hungry and tired, you give me food and let me sleep/ I come to you weak, you give me strength and that's deep/ You call me a sheep and lead me to green pastures/ Only asking that I keep the focus in between the chapters."

Osiris said DMX's 2006 song, "Lord Give Me a Sign," resonated with him.

"I really loved his ministry, and it inspired me to do my thesis on hip-hop pastoral care, his life, his songs, his struggles, his family," he said. "We recognize his ministerial status as a true faith-given individual."

In aninterview on "The Breakfast Club" in 2016,the "Slippin'" emcee revealed his aspirations to become a pastor: "Maybe I am already, I don't know, but that's definitely the final destination or a destination," DMX said. "You never know how far God is going to allow me to get or how much he's going to let me do or how many people he's going to allow me to reach."

'Earl was a warrior'

DMX died at the age of 50 at a hospital in White Plains, New York, in April 2021.

"Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart, and we cherish the times we spent with him," his family wrote in a statement at the time.

Shortly before his death, he made headlines after participating ina Verzuz battle with Snoop Dogg in 2020, where he kicked off the highly anticipated face-off with a prayer in front of tens of thousands of viewers.

DMX's prayer during his Verzuz with Snoop last year. 🙏🏾pic.twitter.com/R0aq9MpQGZ

— the prototype.  (@TaylorInChief)April 3, 2021

DMX also went viral that year for holding a Bible study on Instagram Live. "There are no words more powerful than the book,"he saidduring the live.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DMX to be ordained by NY bishop, nearly five years after death

Defense attorney Barry Pollack, who sat with Maduro in court, accused lawyer Bruce Fein of trying to join the case without authorization. Fein, an associate deputy U.S. attorney general during Ronald Reagan's presidency, said he was asked by a judge on Friday to let Maduro settle the dispute.

Fein told Manhattan federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein that "individuals credibly situated" within Maduro's inner circle or family had sought out Fein's assistance to help him navigate what the lawyer called the "extraordinary, startling, and viperlike circumstances" of his capture and criminal case.

Fein said in a letter to the judge that he'd had no telephone, video or other direct contact with Maduro, who is being held at a federal jail in Brooklyn. But, Fein wrote, Maduro "had expressed a desire" for his "assistance in this matter."

The dispute first came to light on Thursday when Pollack asked Hellerstein to rescind his approval for Fein to join Maduro's legal team. Pollack said that Fein was not Maduro's lawyer and that he had not authorized Fein to file paperwork telling the judge otherwise.

Pollack was the only lawyer representing Maduro on Monday as the deposed South American leader and his wife, Cilia Flores,pleaded not guiltyto charges alleging he worked with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment ofthousands of tons of cocaineinto the U.S. Two days earlier, U.S. special forces seized Maduro and Flores from their home in Caracas.

In a written declaration to Hellerstein, Pollack said he attempted to contact Fein by telephone and email to ask him on what basis he was seeking to enter his appearance on behalf of Maduro and what authorization he had to do so.

"He has not responded," Pollack said.

Pollack said he spoke to Maduro by phone on Thursday and confirmed that Maduro "does not know Mr. Fein and has not communicated with Mr. Fein, much less retained him, authorized him to enter an appearance, or otherwise hold himself out as representing Mr. Maduro."

Pollack said Maduro authorized him to ask Hellerstein to modify the court docket so that it no longer showed Fein as representing Maduro.

Fein, in his response Friday, told the judge he doesn't dispute or question the accuracy of Pollack's assertions. Instead, he suggested that Hellerstein question Maduro in private to "definitively ascertain President Maduro's representation wishes," including whether he wants to be represented by Pollack, Fein or both.

"Maduro was apprehended under extraordinary, startling, and viperlike circumstances, including deprivation of liberty, custodial restrictions on communications, and immediate immersion in a foreign criminal process in a foreign tongue, fraught with the potential for misunderstandings or miscommunications," Fein wrote.

Aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump called his Colombian counterpart,Gustavo Petro, "a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States," adding: "And he's not going to be doing it very long."

Petro, a former Marxist revolutionary and one of the few Latin American leaders willing to vocally criticize Trump, on Tuesday said the American president had a "senile brain."

The Colombians asked members of Congress to help set up a phone call between Petro and Trump, which the Colombian government had wanted for some time. The official said the mediation paid off, withthe two leaders speaking by phone on Wednesday, shortly before Petro was set to lead nationwide demonstrations in support of the country's sovereignty.

The Trump-Petro call resulted in a dramatic de-escalation in tensions between the two men, with both leaders praising each other and announcing plans for a meeting in Washington next month.

Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez told NBC News on Thursday that he planned to travel to Washington along with Petro to meet with American officials — and that he no longer had concerns the U.S. would launch a military attack on his country.

"I trust in the word of the president of the United States," he said, adding that the conversation had been a crucial "icebreaker" for the two leaders and countries.

Something Trump said on the call made a particular impression on Petro, the Colombian leader said in a Thursdayinterview with NBC News partner Telemundo.

"I know you have been surrounded by lies like I have," Petro said Trump had told him during a 55-minute telephone conversation.

In a Truth Social post sent a short while later, Trump wrote that it had been a "Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had."

In another post on Friday, Trump said he was looking forward to meeting Petro at the White House in February, adding: "I am sure it will work out very well for Colombia, and the U.S.A., but, cocaine and other drugs must be STOPPED from coming into the United States."

The White House did not respond to questions about the flurry of calls that preceded the conversation between the two leaders, nor about Trump's comment to Petro that they both were "surrounded by lies."

Colombian leaders, including Petro and Sánchez, appeared gratified by the language Trump used when describing the conversation.

"He said yesterday that it was 'an honor' to speak with the president of Colombia to solve a common problem," said Sánchez, a decorated career Air Force officer with a key role in engaging with the U.S. and tackling drug trafficking.

Those common problems are the drug trade — Colombiais one ofthe world's leading producers of coca, which is used to make cocaine, and the United States the largest consumer of the drug — and gangs that enable the cross-border flow of people, narcotics and other illicit goods.

Colombia is the United States' main drug-fighting ally in the hemisphere, Sánchez said.

"We share a lot of history, we share democratic values, and also we have a strong cooperation between the both countries, especially in defense," he said.

Colombian leaders are especially alert to the movement of the leaders of Venezuelan crime syndicate Tren de Aragua and Colombia's ELN, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and which has bases in Venezuela, among others, Sanchez said. Some 30,000 troops had been deployed to help guard the 1,400-mile border with Venezuela.

"We are ready to defeat or to confront those groups," he added.

While the U.S. has historically had strong relations with Colombia, sending hundreds of millions of dollars in military and other assistance every year, these cooled after Petro came to power in 2022. Ties truly frayed under Trump.

In October, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Petro and members of his family over alleged ties to the drug trade — charges he denies.

In November, Petro called Trump a "barbarian" who "wants to frighten us," and said the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean was "undoubtedly an aggression against Latin America."

The recent escalating rhetoric reached a boiling point on Wednesday, when Colombian Foreign Minister ‍Rosa Villavicencio warned the U.S. to back off.

"If such aggression were to occur, ‌the military must defend the national territory and ​the country's sovereignty," she said at a news conference in Bogota.

Still, Sánchez said he believed in-person communication is key, and two weeks ago sent a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, inviting him to Colombia to see first hand the work the country is doing to combat the supply of drugs. (Hegseth has not responded publicly to the invitation.)

"He is a soldier and I'm a soldier," he said. "The enemies are the criminals, not the nations."

A California man died last weekend afterconsuming "death cap" mushrooms— the third such death in the state since November.

California has been contending with an unusual spate of poisonings from foraged mushrooms: 35 cases were recorded from Nov. 18 to Jan. 4. In an average year, fewer than five would be expected.

"The numbers we're dealing with this year are comparatively off the charts," said Sheri Cardo, a communications specialist for the state health department.

The problemprompted a warningfrom the health department on Dec. 5, in which officials strongly discouraged residents from consuming any foraged mushrooms. The advisory described clusters of poisoning cases around Monterey and the San Francisco Bay Area. The affected patients had mistaken toxic varieties for mushrooms that are safe to eat, the health department said.

The most recent death was in Sonoma County — the first from wild mushrooms there this season, according to the county health department.

Dr. Michael Stacey, the interim health officer for Sonoma County, instructed residents to only purchase mushrooms from trusted grocery stores and retailers, adding that some "death cap" mushrooms closely resemble edible varieties.

"Early rains and a mild fall have led to profusion of the toxic death cap mushrooms in Northern California," Stacey saidin a press releaseon Thursday.

Last month, the California Poison Control System said that some of the people who had been poisoned by death caps spoke Spanish and might have relied on foraging practices developed outside the United States. Heather Hallen-Adams, the toxicology chair of the North American Mycological Association, previously told NBC News that death cap mushrooms look similar to other species in its genus, Amanita, that are often collected in Mexico and are safe to eat.

The toxin in death cap mushrooms, called amatoxin, can damage the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract if ingested. Symptoms of amatoxin poisoning can take up to 24 hours to appear and include mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. More severe reactions, like fatal liver damage, can develop within two to three days.

Hallen-Adams said about 90% of fatal poisonings from mushrooms are due to amatoxin poisoning.

Small amounts of the death cap mushroom — a volume as small as a standard sugar cube — can be a fatal dose.

Three patients in California with wild mushroom poisoning have required liver transplants, according to the health department.

The death cap mushroom, also called Amanita phalloides, is an invasive species that originated in Europe and came to California in the 1930s, most likely with imported nursery trees. In California, it typically grows near oak trees and occasionally pines. The mushroom is usually a few inches tall but can grow larger and has white gills, a pale yellow or green cap and a ring around its stalk.

U.S. Poison Centers typically receive around 52 calls a year about amatoxin poisoning, according to Hallen-Adams, though not all cases are reported to the centers.

This season's risk might be winding down in California, according to Mike McCurdy, president of the Mycological Society of San Francisco. A frequent mushroom collector, McCurdy said he had seen far fewer death cap mushrooms during recent outings, whereas he saw hundreds of them during a two- to three-hour walk in Sonoma County earlier this winter.

On a recent walk near Lafayette, California, he found only one, he said: "I think we're getting close to the end."

Moviestore/Shutterstock; Clive Coote/Columbia Pictures

NEED TO KNOW

• Emma Thompson opened up about her 1995 film Sense and Sensibility

• She said Alan Rickman was so excited to play a 'heroic' character for once

• Rickman had already played movie villains in Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Emma Thompsonwas glad to help audiences seeAlan Rickmanin a different way.

Thompson, 66, opened up about some of her movies in a video forGQ. In it, she looked back at1995'sSense and Sensibility, which recently turned 30. In the movie, an adaptation of theJane Austennovel of the same name, she starred as Elinor Dashwood, a level-headed young woman who tries to lead her family after her father's death.Hugh Grantplayed her love interest Edward Ferrars and Kate Winslet played her sister Marianne. Rickman, whodied in 2016 at the age of 69, played Colonel Brandon, who befriends the Dashwoods and falls for Marianne. Marianne's other love interest, John Willoughby, was played byGreg Wise; he and Thompsonmet on the film and married in 2003.

"It was a very happy film," Thompson said in the video. "But in terms of the cast, we were so lucky because they were all, in a way, theater people." She called Winslet, who was then 19, "untried," adding, "I mean, she'd doneHeavenly Creatures, but that was it." She continued, "And she was heaven on earth and still is, you know, just completely normal person."

Moviestore/Shutterstock

As for Grant — who Thompson said she thinks she's worked with more than any other actor — she said, "I kept on saying, 'God, Hugh, you're so grumpy. You've got the energy of a welk.' And he would respond quite well to that. But actually, I think it was nice for him to do something like that at that point."Sense and Sensibilitycame right after Grant, now 65, broke out inFour Weddings and a Funeral.

Then there was Rickman. Thompson said, "Alan Rickman, God rest him, he was so happy to be playing someone heroic and nice 'cause he'd been he was so fed up with people wanting him to be the Sheriff of Nottingham."

Rickman has received a BAFTA nomination for playing the Sheriff of Nottingham inRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves, released in 1991. His film debut came in 1988'sDie Hard, in which he played thenow-iconic villain Hans Gruber. Thompson and Rickman (and Grant) later starred together inLove, Actually, whereRickman played a cheating husbandto Thompson's Joni Mitchell-loving character. Thompson and Rickman both also appeared in theHarry Potterfilms, wherehe famously played Professor Snapeand she played Professor Trelawney.Rickman and Thompson remained close friendsthroughout his life.

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Of theSense and Sensibilitycast, Thompson said, "They just came on and were those people and it was as though they knew Austin personally, you know, she'd drawn from them rather the other way round. So it was a group of actors who understood one another, you know, and there were no egos to speak of. So there was no one to navigate. So we could just be."

Thompson also reflected on director Ang Lee, who was making his English-language debut for the film. "He was just extraordinary," she said.

"On the first day when we were shooting, me and Hugh Grant were shooting something. At the end of it, we said, 'Oh, actually, Ang, you know, can we do that again? Can we just walk we just want to walk this direction? Can we just try it a slightly different way?' And he reacted very well and quietly," she remembered.

She later "discovered" that a big deal that was because he told them that in Taiwan, "The director is God" and just moves around the actors. "They're just pieces," she remembered him saying. "He said it's absolutely not collaborative. And actually, he loved it. He loved the collaboration."

Thompson won an Oscar for her adapted screenplay, becoming the first (and still only) person to win Oscars for acting and writing. She and Winslet were also both nominated for their performances in the film.

A newSense and Sensibilityadaptationis in the works from Netflix, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Read the original article onPeople

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Britney Spearsfans living the U.S. will have to catch a flight if they hope to ever see her perform in person again.

The 44-year-old pop star says she's ruled out any future shows in the States, although she didn't provide much explanation why, telling her followers it was "because of extremely sensitive reasons."

"Sending this piano to my son this year!!!" Spears began the caption of anInstagram post she shared on Thursdayfeaturing a photo of her performance of "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" at the 29th Annual American Music Awards in 2002.

She then explained why she posts so many videos of her dancing on Instagram. "Interestingly enough, I dance on IG to heal things in my body that people have no idea about," she wrote. "Yup, and it's embarrassing sometimes... but I walked through the fire to save my life."

Frank Micelotta/ABC/ImageDirect via Getty

Then came a reveal sure to crush her most devoted disciples. "I will never perform in the U.S. again because of extremely sensitive reasons," she wrote, "but I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son... in the U.K. and AUSTRALIA very soon."

"He's a huge star, and I'm so humbled to be in his presence!!!" she concluded. "God speed [sic], little man!!!"

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Although the singer didn't clarify which of her sons she was referring to — she shares Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden, 19, with exKevin Federline— Spears has previously gushed about Jayden's musical abilities, especially when it comes to the piano.

Last March, she shareda video of Jayden playing the instrumentto her Instagram (reposted in April), praising his skills. "He's a genius and I'm in awe of him!!! I can't believe he's mine!!! I was honestly scared. That's not normal!!!" Spears' previous caption read,PEOPLEreported.

Britney Spears Instagram

Spears hasn't performed live in the U.S. since October 2018, when she closed out herPiece of Metour with a show at the Formula One Grand Prix in Austin. She was scheduled toreturn to Las Vegas in 2019 for a second residencyafter the success of her first,Britney Spears: Piece of Me,which concluded in 2017, but she ultimatelycanceled it and took a hiatusafter her father, Jamie Spears, suffered a severe colon rupture and required hospitalization.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

ABC Photo Archives/Getty

John Cunningham, the veteran Broadway actor who appeared in films likeDead Poets SocietyandMystic Pizza, has died. He was 93.

A death noticeannouncedthat the actor died at his home in Rye, N.Y., on Tuesday. A cause of death was not immediately available.

Born in Auburn, N.Y., in 1932, Cunningham graduated from Dartmouth College and joined the Army, where he first worked in battlefield communications before performing in plays for troops stationed in France and West Germany. He subsequently received his master's degree from Yale Drama School, where he studied alongside his lifelong friend Dick Cavett.

Bennett Raglin/Getty

After moving to New York, Cunningham made his big break on stage in 1960 inMy Fair Lady, in which he played Zoltan and served as the understudy for Henry Higgins in the show's national and international companies. Over the next two decades, he appeared in numerous prominent Broadway shows, includingCabaret,1776,Company,California Suite, andZorba.

The actor made his screen debut on a 1963 episode ofThe Doctors. He also appeared on shows likeAnother World,The Secret Storm,The American Parade, andSearch for Tomorrow. On the big screen, Cunningham played small roles in films likeThe Big Fixstarring Richard Dreyfuss andLost and Foundstarring George Segal and Glenda Jackson.

Brigitte LaCombe/Getty

Cunningham's most memorable screen work came in the late '80s and 1990s. He portrayed the grandfather ofMatt Damonand Adam Storke (who played Julia Roberts' love interest) in 1988'sMystic Pizza, and also portrayed Ethan Hawke's father in 1989'sDead Poets Society. He reteamed with Damon for 1992'sSchool Ties, this time playing the futureGood Will Huntingstar's father.

Around that same time, Cunningham delivered some of his most memorable work on stage. He played Flan in the original production ofSix Degrees of Separationopposite Stockard Channing, Courtney B. Vance, and Kelly Bishop beginning in 1990 (and later played the supporting role of John in the 1993 film adaptation of the play). Over the next 15 years, he also appeared in new productions ofCompany,Anna Karenina,Titanic,The Sisters Rosensweig,Design for Living,Anything Goes, andAmour.

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Cunningham provided two memorable voiceover roles in prominent '90s films: the "Be a Man" tape instructor inIn & Outand the Fed Net Announcer inStarship Troopers. His other screen credits includedTwo Weeks Notice,The Jackal,Shaft, and episodes ofLaw & Order,30 Rock,One Life to Live, andThe Good Wife.

The actor's last performance on the New York stage came in an Off Broadway production ofPainting Churchesin 2012, and his final screen performance came on a 2013 episode ofBlue Bloods.

Cunningham is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his three children, Christopher, Catherine, and Laura, his six grandchildren; and his two great-grandchildren.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

Petro's remarks came in response to Mr. Trump'sremark to the New York Timesthat he expected U.S. oversight of Venezuela to last "much longer" than a year.

"If that happens, Venezuelan society will implode," Petro said.

"And there's a crucial point that's not so much about Venezuela, but about the idea that the United States has a right over the resources of not only Latin America, but the world," Petro added.

The Trump administration has said the U.S. plans to take control of selling Venezuela's oil and is pushing American companies to invest billions in rebuilding Venezuela's oil infrastructure. Mr. Trump ismeeting with oil executivesat the White House Friday to discuss the issue.

Petro and Mr. Trumpspoke for the first timeWednesday after the U.S. leader threatened military action against Colombia as part of his crackdown on the flow of narcotics into the country. The call appeared to ease the escalating tensions between the two leaders, and Mr. Trump invited Petro to the White House.

Petro was critical of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who Mr. Trump said he plans to meet with next week. When asked if he would trust or support her as a leader of Venezuela, Petro said, "I invited her once, and she didn't want to come. I was obviously surprised that Trump thought the same thing as me."

After the U.S. captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Mr. Trump said he didn't believe Machado had enough support inside her country to be a viable leader. Instead, Maduro's vice president,Delcy Rodríguez, has been sworn in as interim president.

But among the opposition, Machado was polling at 93% ahead in an election last year in which Maduro claimed a decisive victory that the U.S. and Machado say he stole. While the Maduro regime blocked Machado from running, the candidate she backed is believed by the U.S. and many outside observers to have won 70% of the vote.

Vance posts new video that shows Renee Good's last words and other angle of shooting

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U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said at a hearing that she planned to issue a temporary restraining order but did not say when it would be issued. This case is part of a broader effort by the administration to end temporary legal protection for numerous groups and comes just over a week since another judge ruled that hundreds of people fromSouth Sudanmay live and work in the United States legally.

"The government, having invited people to apply, is now laying traps between those people and getting the green card," Justin Cox, an attorney who works with Justice Action Center and who argued the case for the plaintiffs, said. "That is incredibly inequitable."

This case involved a program called Family Reunification Parole, or FRP, and impacts people from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras. Most of them are set to lose their legal protections, which were put in place during the Biden administration, by Jan. 14. The Department of Homeland Security terminated protections late last year.

The case involves five plaintiffs but lawyers are seeking to have any ruling cover everyone that is part of the program.

"Although in a temporary status, these parolees did not come temporarily; they came to get a jump-start on their new lives in the United States, typically bringing immediate family members with them," plaintiffs wrote in their motion. "Since they arrived, FRP parolees have gotten employment authorization documents, jobs, and enrolled their kids in school."

The government, in its brief and in court, argued Homeland Security SecretaryKristi Noemhas the authority to terminate any parole program and gave adequate notice by publishing the termination in the federal registry. It also argued that the program's termination was necessary on national security grounds because the people had not been property vetted. It also said resources to maintain this program would be better used in other immigration programs.

"Parole can be terminated at any time," Katie Rose Talley, a lawyer for the government told the court. "That is what is being done. There is nothing unlawful about that."

Talwani conceded that the government can end the program but she took issue with the way it was done.

The government argued that just announcing in the federal registry that it was ending the program was sufficient. But Talwani demanded the government show how it has alerted people through a written notice — a letter or email — that the program was ending.

"I understand why plaintiffs feel like they came here and made all these plans and were going to be here for a very long time," Talwani said. "I have a group of people who are trying to follow the law. I am saying to you that, we as Americans, the United States needs to."

Lower courts have largely supported keeping temporary protections for many groups. But in May,the Supreme Courtcleared the way for the Trump administration to strip temporary legal protections from hundreds of thousands of immigrants for now, pushing the total number of people who could be newly exposed to deportation to nearly 1 million.

The justices lifteda lower-court orderthat kept humanitarian parole protections in place for more than 500,000 migrants from four countries: Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The decision came after the court allowed the administration to revoke temporary legal status from about 350,000 Venezuelan migrants in another case.

The court did not explain its reasoning in the brief order, as is typical on its emergency docket. Two justices publicly dissented.

The families of some of theRobb Elementary Schoolmass shooting victims passed around tissues before graphic photos were shown in court on Friday at the trial of formerUvalde, Texas, school police officerAdrian Gonzales.

Gonzales -- who was one of nearly 400 law enforcement officers to respond to Robb -- is charged with child endangerment for allegedly ignoring his training during the botched police response. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed, and investigations have faulted the police response and suggested that a 77-minute delay in police mounting a counterassault could have contributed to the carnage.

Gonzales has pleaded not guilty and his legal team says he did all he could to help students.

Former Uvalde educator recounts asking 911, 'Where are the cops?' in emotional testimony

Judge Sid Harle issued a warning to the gallery before the jury entered on Friday.

"I want to forewarn you, these photographs are going to be shocking and gruesome, and if anybody wants to step out, you are welcome to step out, but we cannot have any displays in front of the jury," Harle said. "I'm forewarning you -- these are not going to be pleasant to look at, and I'm sorry you're going to have to look at them just like I had to."

Former Texas Ranger Juan Torrez took the stand and described in detail the crime scene photos he took inside Room 111 at Robb,where all 11 students were killed on May 24, 2022. Theteacher was the sole survivor.

"There was a lot of shell casings," said Torrez, who spent three days photographing the room. "There's a lot of blood, a lot of blood swipes, and the weapon was in the closet."

Uvalde in Their Own Words: Teacher whose students were killed shares physical, emotional scars

Using a pointer to highlight parts of the photos, Torrez testified about the location of the classroom, damage to the door and areas of the room where students didn't attempt to hide. Defense lawyers had objected to showing the more graphic images, but Harle allowed the bulk of them into evidence due to their relevance to the prosecution's case.

"Does the scene change?" prosector Bill Turner asked Torrez about some of the photos.

"As far as the presence of blood, it changes dramatically," Torrez said. "A lot of bullet holes, a lot of shell casings covered in blood, a lot of bullet defects, perforations, penetrations, and just a lot of blood."

Over the next hour, the courtroom fell almost entirely silent, other than the testimony and occasional ruffling of tissues and sniffling. Some of the jurors craned their necks to see the photos, while others covered their mouths or lifted tissues to wipe their eyes. The families of the victims sat quietly and no one left the courtroom during the testimony.

Uvalde officer was told location of gunman but he failed to act, prosecutors say

The photos did not show the bodies of students, which were removed prior to the photos being taken. But jurors did see photos showing large pools of blood and the drag marks made when the bodies were removed. Photos also showed dried bloodstains on desks, textbooks and office supplies.

Torrez testified that investigators placed rods in the cavities left by the bullets to demonstrate the direction of the gunshots. The pink and yellow rods showed that the shooter likely fired downward -- through the desks -- toward the sheltering students, Torrez said.

Torrez offered his testimony with little context other than his experience as a crime-scene photographer that day. Prosecutors did not explain how the images relate to Gonzales, other than suggesting that his alleged inaction contributed to the loss of life that day.

Defense attorneys say Gonzales is being scapegoated for a broader failure by law enforcement. In itsopening statement this week, the defense alleged that prosecutors were playing on jurors' emotions and that convicting Gonzales would be an injustice piled on top of one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.

ABC News' Juan Renteria contributed to this report.

Romance novelist Tessa Bailey, who has written several steamy books featuring hockey players, told me that she sees them as modern-day "Scottish Highlanders."

"They're over-the-top masculine, they don't mind fighting and they're not worried about their appearance," she says. "It's sexy when a man isn't concerned about his well-being and how he looks. He just has this passion and this drive ... throw in the fact that they fistfight, get bloody and lose teeth."

Like Bailey, author Rachel Reid leaned into the romantic appeal of hockey players, writing eight novels about them, including the massive hitHeated Rivalry.The TV adaptation premiered on Canadian streaming service Crave in November and was itsmost successful original series debut of all time. It streams on HBO in the U.S., where it consistently tops the TV charts.

Over the course of six episodes, the fervor online for the steamy show featuring a romance between two closeted hockey rivals yearning for (and beefing with) each other has transformed it into an unavoidable pop-culture behemoth. In the throes of the NHL season and weeks before the 2026 Winter Olympics, hockey has never been buzzier. Here's what to know.

The heated rivalry girlies are harassing the Olympics social media person again lmaooooopic.twitter.com/Kez52R8jX5

— M (@KnifeShoeSport1)January 7, 2026

Why is everyone going so nuts for 'Heated Rivalry'?

It's hot, for starters. There's a lot of passion between the leads, the sweet and awkward Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and the bombastic Russian Ilya Rozanov (Conner Storrie). The sex scenes — athletic-but-romantic trysts between two men — arenot something we usually see on TV. The secretive nature of their relationship yields plenty of furtive glances and quiet moments of sweetness.

There's a lot to dissect, and thus a lot for enthusiasts to post about. Videos of scenes from the show are spliced into clips known asfan edits. They often go viral, serving as advertising for the series, making it feel unavoidable online.

Though the final episode of Season 1 aired Dec. 26, Williams and Storrie are just now beginning their U.S. press tour, appearing on talk shows likeThe Tonight ShowandLate Night With Seth Meyers,scoringmassive magazine spreadsand presenting at the Golden Globes during the first few weeks of January. They've become breakout stars, generating viral clips and real-life crowds in a way actors rarely do these days. Their fame is so sudden, their whimsical and over-the-top personalities have not yet been tampered bymedia training. Theirchemistryisconstantly on display. We're watching stars being born in real time.

It's not just hot, though. It's groundbreaking. Williams sayscloseted professional athleteshave reached out to Reid about the representationHeated Rivalryprovides, and she passes the messages along to the people involved with the show. As the Athletic reports, the NHLisn't considered a particularly friendly space for the LGBTQ community. Peoplehope the show can change that— especially as it inspires an influx of real-life hockey fans.

From the small screen to the 'boy aquarium'

The passion forHeated Rivalryis bleeding into real-life rinks. Fans are showing up to games in shirts that reference the series. Teams are starting toreference the show on their social media accountsand on jumbotrons. Longtime hockey fanssay they're thrilledto see so many new people interested in the sport; it's even inspired some of them to check outHeated Rivalry.

"There are so many ways to get hooked on hockey and, in the NHL's 108-year history, this might be the most unique driver for creating new fans," a league representativetold the Hollywood Reporter in December. "See you all at the rink."

I made a shirt for the Ducks game tonight.#FlyTogetherpic.twitter.com/IMPYZeO3Pq

— Stella Chuu (@StellaChuuuuu)December 23, 2025

Elle Kennedy'sbestsellingOff Campusseries, which first came out in 2015 and follows the elite members of a hockey team in their search for love, is often credited with starting the hockey romance trend. (APrime Video adaptationis expected out in 2026.) There's been a steady flow of similar ultra-popular books since then, likeIcebreakerby Hannah Grace and thePucking Wrongseries by C.R. Jane.

Romance is so often dismissed as feminine and incompatible with something so masculine and brutish as hockey, but this isn't even the first time fans of the former bled into the latter. According to data shared with Yahoo by Wattpad, a social platform where authors share original fiction and fan fiction, the number of stories tagged as hockey romance increased 300% in 2021. During the 2021-22 NHL season, female viewership on cable TVrose by 61%.

Fans who get into the sport because of romance media often do so with, let's be honest, elevated levels of thirst. Some refer to the rinks as "boy aquariums," tapping the glass to get the attention of players and hollering for the particularly attractive ones.

This behavior has been condemned by some, when said hollering escalates to what critics believe to be sexual harassment. In 2023, Felicia Weeren, the wife of then-Seattle Kraken player Alex Wennberg,spoke outabout how people were talking about her husband online and at games, calling it predatory and exploitative.Some have criticizedthe "boy aquarium" trend as playing into stereotypes of female sports fans, reducing the players to objects of desire.

But, if the point of the hockey romance genre is to humanize hunky men and recruit new devotees to the sport, is it so bad to indulge in a little respectful thirst? Especially given that the whole appeal of hockey romance is to see these rugged ice gladiators as complex, loving partners capable of change and deep emotional vulnerability. The best thing we can do is keep talking about it.

Grand Ole Opry/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Dolly Parton revealed she won't be present at the Grand Ole Opry's 80th birthday celebration for her

• "I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you're all coming together again this year to celebrate my big ol' birthday with some of my songs," she said in an Instagram video.

• The Grand Ole Opry celebration for Parton will take place on Jan. 17
  

Dolly Partonunfortunately won't be able to attend her 80th birthday celebration at the Grand Ole Opry.

On Thursday, Jan. 8, the country legend shared a bittersweet message onthe venue's Instagram page, sharing her gratitude and revealing she wouldn't be present at the event, which is set to take place on Jan. 17. (Parton will celebrate her 80th birthday on Jan. 19.)

"Well hey there Grand Ole Opry family," Parton, 79, began the message. "I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you're all coming together again this year to celebrate my big ol' birthday with some of my songs."

She continued, "Some of my favorite memories happened right here on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, and I wish I could be there in person but I'll be sending you all my love, for sure."

Parton concluded the message by telling her fans to "have the best night ever."

View this post on Instagram

In the clip, the "Jolene" hitmaker appears in a white button down with yellow lace trim that matches her jeans.

"The Queen of Country is turning 80, and@laineywilson,@vincegillofficial,@rhondavincent,@trannieanderson, and more are coming together to celebrate@dollyparton's iconic '80s era on January 17 at the Opry House 🦋," the post's caption read.

It also noted that there would be an "80 Years of Song" retail collection in collaboration with Dolly herself!" that could be pre-ordered.

In the comment section, the venue clarified that Parton would not be in attendance.

Opry members includingVince Gill,Lainey Wilsonand Rhonda Vincent, as well as songwriter Trannie Anderson, are set to perform with other artists to be announced.

"While Dolly is unable to attend in person, we're looking forward to honoring her through song and fun all day long," the Grand Ole Opry account wrote, noting that there would be birthday party cupcakes, a "larger-than-life birthday card for fans to sign," photo opps with a Parton impersonator, "Dolly-themed drinks" and tributes.

News of Parton revealing she won't be in attendance at her 80th birthday celebration at the Grand Ole Opry comes months after she revealed she would bepostponing her Las Vegas residencyfrom December to September 2026 following a kidney stone-related infection.

A source close to Partonsaid in an August 2025 PEOPLE cover storythat "Dolly is getting better every day."

"She is at home taking care of herself while many friends and family visit her," the source added of the "9 to 5" artist. "In true Dolly spirit she has already started decorating for the holidays — her favorite time of year."

In the PEOPLE cover story she also reflected on turning 80.

"People say, 'Well, you're going to be 80 years old.' Well, so what? Look at all I've done in 80 years. I feel like I'm just getting started," said Parton. "I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine . . . I think there's a lot to be said about age."

She added that she wasn't "thinking about" getting "old."

Read the original article onPeople

The Nashville banjoist announced he would not perform atthe newly named performing arts venue,sharing on Jan. 6that he was pulling out of three shows with the National Symphony Orchestra. Fleck wrote on social media that performing there "has become charged and political," when "the focus should be on the music."

Fleck joins a growing camp of artists who havecanceled Kennedy Center showsafterPresident Trumpnamed himself chairman of the famed arts institution in February 2025.

Trump-Kennedy Center demands$1 million for musician's 'political stunt'

A force in the Nashville music scene since the '80s, Fleck's music blends together bluegrass, jazz, folk, classical and world genres alongside his band the Flecktones. He's garnered 43 Grammy nominations, 18 wins and multiple International Bluegrass Music Association awards.

Fleck is no stranger to the former Kennedy Center, which the president has since announced plans to overhaul. The banjoist has performed at the venue multiple times throughout his career.

View this post on Instagram

"I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center," Fleck said in his original announcement, adding that the institution should be focused on music.  "I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art."

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell responded to Fleck on X, writing, "You just made it political and caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties. This mob pressuring you will never be happy until you only play for Democrats."

"The Trump Kennedy Center believes all people are welcome — Democrats and Republicans and people uninterested in politics," Grenell continued. "We want performers who aren't political — who simply love entertaining everyone regardless of who they voted for."

Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decision to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change

Workers begin adjusting the name of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted in what they say was a unanimous decisionto rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Centerfor the Performing Arts."

Bela Fleck breaks silence: 'I don't want to take a position, but whatever I do is taking a position'

Fleck spoke to the Washington Postabout his choice in an interview published Jan. 7.

"The Kennedy Center always seemed like an elite place to play. Every time I've gotten to play there has been a special occasion, a career high," he told the outlet. "I was so thankful when this gig came up and was proposed. I was thrilled. So it's a big deal to walk away from it."

The canceled shows were for a segment with the NSO called "American Mosaic," a performance that highlights "American music" for the country's 250th birthday, according to theTrump-Kennedy Center website.

"I like to play for all kinds of people. I don't just want to play to people with my own political point of view," Fleck continued. "When you're trying to decide what to do about a situation like this, it's linked to that very feeling of not wanting to choose sides and alienate people, but also not wanting the music to be about that choice. The music should be itself and stand aside from whatever's happening in the world.

"By not canceling, I'm taking a position, and I don't want to take that position," he said, adding that the "progressive" tone of his music speaks for itself. "That's what it really comes down to: I don't want to take a position, but whatever I do is taking a position."

Who has canceled Kennedy Center shows?

Fleck joins a growing list of artists who have refused to participate in events since the president's takeover and subsequent renaming.

Other artists who have cancelled or withdrawn include: Kristy Lee, Wayne Tucker, Brentano Quartet with Hsin-Yun Huang, Magpie, Doug Varone and Dancers, Maria João Pires with Marc-André Hamelin, comedy show "Asian AF." a touring production of "Hamilton," Chuck Redd, The Cookers, Stephen Schwartz, Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddens and Balún.

Shonda Rhimes resigned from the center's board of trustees while Ben Folds and Renée Fleming stepped down as artistic advisors. Fleck has an upcoming project on the books with Fleming, an opera singer.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Bela Fleck breaks silence on canceling Trump's Kennedy Center shows

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass with the Cardinals gathered at St. Peter's Basilica for his first Extraordinary Consistory in Vatican City on January 8, 2026. Credit - Mario Tomassetti—Vatican Media/ Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV decried "diplomacy based on force" and a growing "zeal for war" in a Friday speech as Russia carries out freshstrikesin Ukraine and tensions rise between the U.S. and severalnations around the world.

"A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies. War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading," the Pope said in hisannual addressto diplomatic corps to the Vatican. "This gravely threatens the rule of law, which is the foundation of all peaceful civil coexistence."

The pontiff did not name any specific world leaders, but also called for the protection of Venezuelans' rights, citing "recent developments."

"I renew my appeal to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all, ensuring a future of stability and concord," he said.

The pontiff's comments follow the U.S.attacks on Venezuelaand seizure of the country's President Nicolas Maduro, along with President Donald Trump's ensuingthreatsagainst countries including Colombia, Iran, andMexicoand the territory of Greenland.

Read more:'We Are Going to Start Now Hitting Land': Trump Threatens Military Campaign Against Cartels

In the months since he was inaugurated, becoming the first pope from the U.S., Leo  has repeatedly raised concerns about human rights around the globe and demonstrated a willingness to challenge Trump. The day after the operation to capture Maduro and Trump's comment that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela, the Pope similarlyurgedthe country's sovereignty and the rights of its people be protected. He has also spoken in defense of migrants andrebukedthe Trump Administration's aggressive immigration crackdown. .

In his speech on Friday, viewed as an opportunity for the Pope to comment on the conditions of the world, Leo stressed the importance of "international humanitarian law" and warned against the "devastating effects of war," including the destruction of hospitals, homes, and infrastructure.

The Pope also called on the United Nations to quell ongoing conflicts around the world by taking a key role in "fostering dialogue and humanitarian support, helping to build a more just future," and "pursuing policies aimed at the unity of the human family instead of ideologies."

Trump's actions in Venezuela have met withsharp criticismfrom U.N. officials and several of the U.S.'s fellow member countries in the military alliance. His renewed threats to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark,  have also sparked concerns about what such a move would mean for the international world order, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that a U.S. attack on the territory would end the U.N.

As well as the situation in Venezuela, the Pope made reference to the "suffering inflicted on the civilian population" in Ukraine and called for an "immediate" ceasefire and dialogue.

"I make an urgent appeal to the international community not to waver in its commitment to pursuing just and lasting solutions that will protect the most vulnerable and restore hope to the afflicted peoples," Leo said. He called on the international community to "not to waver in its commitment to pursuing just and lasting solutions that will protect the most vulnerable and restore hope to the afflicted peoples."

These comments came on the same day as the Russian Defense Ministryannouncedthat the country struck western Ukraine using nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.

Leo touched on conflicts in several other parts of the world as well. He lamented "an increase in violence in the West Bank against the Palestinian civilian population, which has the right to live in peace in its own land," and reiterated support for a two-state solution.

He also made reference to "violence, from human trafficking to forced exile and kidnappings" in Haiti; instability in Sudan; the "grave humanitarian and security crisis afflicting" Myanmar; and the victims of "religiously motivated violence" in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Mozambique.

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The outbreak centered in Spartanburg County grew to 310 cases over the holidays, and spawned cases inNorth Carolinaand Ohio among families who traveled to the outbreak area in the northwestern part of the state.

State health officials acknowledged the spike in cases had been expected following holiday travel and family gatherings during the school break. A growing number of public exposures and low vaccination rates in the area are driving the surge, they said. As of Friday, 200 people were in quarantine and nine in isolation, state health department data shows.

"The number of those in quarantine does not reflect the number actually exposed," said Dr. Linda Bell, who leads the state health department's outbreak response. "An increasing number of public exposure sites are being identified with likely hundreds more people exposed who are not aware they should be in quarantine if they are not immune to measles."

Sincethe outbreak startedin October, Bell has warned that the virus was spreading undetected in the area. Hundreds of school children have been quarantined from school,some more than once.

South Carolina is one of two active hot spots for measles. The other outbreak is on the Arizona-Utah border, where 337 people have gotten measles since August.

Last year was the nation'sworst year for measles spread since 1991, end-of-year data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. The U.S. confirmed 2,144 cases across 44 states.

And as theone-year anniversaryof the Texas-New Mexico-Oklahoma outbreak approaches — whichsickened at least 900 peopleandkilled three— health experts say the vaccine-preventable virus is on the verge of making a lasting comeback in the U.S.

At that point, the U.S. would lose its status of having eliminated local spread of the virus, asCanada did in November.International health experts say the same strain of measles isspreading across the Americas.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.