The U.S. economy was supposed to start the year with a bang, fueled by an unusually large jump in tax refunds from President Donald Trump’s tax cut legislation. Yet spiking gas prices are on track to eat up those refunds, leaving most Americans with little extra to spend. “Next spring is projected to be the largest tax refund season of all time,” Trump said in a prime-time speech in December that was intended to address voters’ concerns about the economy and stubbornly high prices. But that was before the Iran war, which began Feb. 28. Oil and gas prices have...
Six People Injured After Floor Collapses At New Hampshire Wedding Venue
Six people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries after a floor collapsed at a wedding venue in Tamworth, New Hampshire, around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office said. The collapse happened while a wedding party of about 140 people were present, according to a joint release from the Tamworth Fire/Rescue Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The office confirmed there were no fatalities and said late Saturday that four of the people treated at the hospital had already been released. A phone call to the venue, the Preserve at Chocorua,...
Models With Down Syndrome In Romania Strike A Pose For World Down Syndrome Day
Dozens of models with Down syndrome strutted down a catwalk at a fashion show in Romania’s capital for an evening celebrating style, “atypical beauty” and courage to mark World Down Syndrome Day. The SEEN Anonymous Seamstresses Gala in Bucharest brought together designers from across the country, who created garments “with great kindness, care and creativity” for young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. Georgeta Bucur, the president of Down Plus Association Bucharest, which organized the event held on Wednesday at the Romexpo center, said 50 seamstresses each created a costume for a youngster they had never met. “The...
Minnesota Wild Reporter Jessi Pierce And Her 3 Children Found Dead In House Fire, League Says
NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children were killed Saturday in a weekend house fire in Minnesota, the league announced Sunday. Pierce, 37, covered the Minnesota Wild as the correspondent for NHL.com for the past decade. “The entire NHL.com team is devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Jessi and her children,” said Bill Price, vice president and editor-in-chief of NHL.com, in a statement. “Jessi’s love of her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us. She was an absolute joy to talk to and work with. She will be...
Japanese National Returns Home After Monthslong Detention In Iran
Japan’s top government spokesperson said Monday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has safely returned home in good health. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara’s confirmation came one day after Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced the person’s release. Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show Sunday, said the person had been detained since last year and was released on Wednesday. He said the person took a flight from Azerbaijan. Kihara, at a regular news conference Monday, confirmed that the former detainee returned to Japan on Sunday in good health. Kihara said another Japanese national who was arrested...
Cuba Begins To Restore Power After Nationwide Grid Collapse
Cuba began restoring its energy system on Sunday, a day after a nationwide collapse of the entire grid left millions of people in the dark for the third time this month. Some 72,000 customers in the capital, among them five hospitals, had electricity again early Sunday, according to a report from the state-run Electric Union and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, but it’s only a fraction of Havana’s total population of approximately 2 million. In Havana and provinces such as western Matanzas and eastern Holguin, local power microsystems were set up to supply the most vital centers. Residents in...
Chappell Roan Pushes Back After Soccer Star Jorginho Alleges His Daughter Was Mistreated
Grammy-winning singer Chappell Roan responded on Sunday to accusations made by Brazilian-Italian soccer star Jorginho that a security guard mistreated his 11-year-old stepdaughter after she recognized the singer. Jorginho Frello, a player for Flamengo widely known as Jorginho, said that his wife and the child were staying at the same hotel in Sao Paulo as the singer, who is in the country for the Lollapalooza Brazil music festival, when the controversy occurred. “During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognized her, got excited and just wanted to make sure it was really her,” Jorginho...
Models With Down Syndrome In Romania Strike A Pose For World Down Syndrome Day
Dozens of models with Down syndrome strutted down a catwalk at a fashion show in Romania’s capital for an evening celebrating style, “atypical beauty” and courage to mark World Down Syndrome Day. The SEEN Anonymous Seamstresses Gala in Bucharest brought together designers from across the country, who created garments “with great kindness, care and creativity” for young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. Georgeta Bucur, the president of Down Plus Association Bucharest, which organized the event held on Wednesday at the Romexpo center, said 50 seamstresses each created a costume for a youngster they had never met. “The...
Pep Guardiola Reacts To AFCON Controversy After Senegal–Morocco Decision
Pep Guardiola has reacted to the controversy surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations final involving Senegal national team and Morocco national team. The issue stems from the 2025 AFCON final, where Senegal initially secured victory on the pitch. However, the match later became the subject of disciplinary review after a late-game protest incident involving Senegal players. Following the review process, CAF ruled on the case and officially awarded the result in favour of Morocco, a decision that has sparked widespread debate across the football world. Reacting to the situation, Guardiola said: “It’s a surprise! “I don’t know the reason… but...