SnS MAG

ROME, Feb 16 (Reuters) - A famous rock structure on Italy's Adriatic coast known as the "Lovers' Arch" collapsed ‌on Valentine's Day after days of bad weather, prompting ‌local officials to warn that other stretches of the fragile coastline could ​be at risk.

Drone view of Italy's 'Love Arch'

The natural arch, part of the Sant'Andrea sea stacks near the town of Melendugno in the southern region of Puglia, had long been a popular backdrop for wedding proposals ‌and tourist photos.

"This ⁠is an unwanted Valentine's Day gift," Melendugno Mayor Maurizio Cisternino told the local Corriere Salentino newspaper, ⁠calling the collapse "a very hard blow" for the area's image and for tourism.

Cisternino said days of heavy rain, strong winds and ​rough ​seas had battered the coastline ​and ultimately destroyed the arch. "Nature ‌has taken back what it created," he said.

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Officials have warned that other parts of the rocky coastline could also collapse, with cracks visible along the cliff, underscoring the growing threat of coastal erosion.

Storms and heavy rain in recent days ‌have also eaten away at long ​stretches of coastline on the Ionian ​Sea, from Ugento to ​the beaches of Gallipoli, damaging beach structures, ‌causing small cliff falls and harming ​ports.

Weeks of ​terrible weather this year have also caused damage estimated at well over a billion euros in southern Italy, including ​a landslide that ‌has forced more than 1,500 people to evacuate ​their homes in the Sicilian town of Niscemi.

(Reporting by ​Crispian BalmerEditing by Ros Russell)

A small "security force" will remain in Minnesota temporarily as the Trump administrationwinds down its immigration enforcement operationin the state, White House border czarTom Homansaid on Feb. 15.

In an interview onCBS News' "Face the Nation,"Homan said a limited number of agents would stay in Minnesota to respond if federal personnel find themselves "surrounded by agitators and things get out of control."

He did not say how many agents would comprise the rapid response force but said he's "hoping" they can be removed "fairly quickly."

Homan's comments come days after he announced theend of Operation Metro Surge, the immigration mission in the Midwestern state that drew nationwide and bipartisanbacklash against the Trump administrationafter the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal officers.

Federal agents continue surge of immigration enforcement in Minnesota

In his announcement of the withdrawal, Homan cast the operation as a success, touting the arrests of 4,000 undocumented immigrants, some of whom had been charged with violent offenses. Homan credited the withdrawal to "unprecedented" cooperation between national authorities and Minnesota state and local officials.

"As a result of our efforts here Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals," Homan said at a Feb. 12 news conference.

The move was welcomed by state and local officials in Minnesota, but several disputed Homan's claims and said no deals were struck to broaden cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

"We do not enforce federal immigration law, period. We do not cooperate with (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) or any agency around enforcement of federal immigration law," said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey at a news conference after Homan made his announcement. "The notion there was a deal is false."

In a separate interview withFox News' "Fox and Friends," Homan on Feb. 15 said Minnesota officials "ought to be saying thank you."

Homan was sent to Minnesota in the aftermath of the killings ofAlex Pretti, an ICU nurse, andRenee Nicole Good, a poet and mother of three, which triggered nationwide protests andintense scrutiny on the tactics of agentscarrying out the administration's deportation agenda.

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The outrage led to a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, as Democrats vowed not to support a funding bill for the agency without reforms to immigration enforcement. Republicans described the demands as unrealistic.

Among the major points of contention are themasks worn by federal agents. Democrats are calling for them to be removed while Republicans say they're necessary to protect personnel from being doxxed and otherwise harassed.

Homan told CBS News that he was not part of the ongoing Homeland Security negotiations but said he doesn't "like the masks either." Still, the border czar called the coverings necessary amid an uptick in threats and assaults on immigration agents.

"These men and women have to protect themselves," he said.

Homan has conceded that the operation in Minnesota needed reform. In recent statements, Homan highlighted a series of internal changes he made when he arrived in Minnesota, from refocusing enforcement on undocumented immigrants with criminal histories to dispatching more internal affairs agents "to make sure officers in the field was doing the right thing."

But despite the controversy over the Minnesota operation, Homan has not ruled out future surges.

"I think it depends on the situation," he told CBS News. "I have said from day one that, you know, we need to – we need to flood the zone in sanctuary cities with additional agents. The number of agents depend on the situation on the ground, how many known criminal targets are out there, because we know we have a problem with sanctuary cities, because we know they're releasing public safety threats in the public."

He added: "I'm hoping other sanctuary cities look at what happened in Minnesota and how we got to the place we're at, which I think is a good place."

Christopher Cann is a national breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him via email at ccann@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Security force to remain in Minnesota amid ICE withdrawal, Homan says

One brand of farm-raised Atlantic salmon sold at BJ's Wholesale Club has been recalled due to a potential listeria contamination, according to a release from the Food and Drug Administration.

Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon is sold in 2-lb bags at BJ's and is packaged with the Wellsley Farms logo and text that reads "Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon" on the front. Lot 3896 of the product has been recalled by the company, Slade Gorton & Co., the FDA said.

The specific salmon product was sold at BJ's stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7, the FDA release said.

According to the FDA, the agency found Listeria monocytogenes in the salmon through a sample the agency randomly collected. The company is investigating how its food was contaminated and is taking steps to prevent it from happening again in the future, the release said.

BJ's is working to notify members who may have purchased the recalled salmon. The UPC code (888670025963) and recalled lot number (3896) are on the back side of the packaging, below the cooking instructions, the FDA release said.

Short-term symptoms of a listeria infection for healthy individuals includes high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, the FDA said. It can also cause miscarriage and stillbirth for pregnant women.

If you have symptoms of a listeria infection, the FDA says you should contact a health care provider. No illnesses related to this recall have been reported, according to the release.

If you think you bought the recalled product, call 1-888-628-0730 for instructions on how to obtain a full refund and what to do with the remaining product, according to the release.

BARCELONA (AP) — Barcelona will carry on staging Formula 1 races for another six years after an agreement was made for it to alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Circuit de Catalunya has been replaced by Madrid as host of the Spanish Grand Prix this year but will continue on the calendar and become the venue for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June.

Under the terms of the agreement with F1, Barcelona will continue to stage a race in 2028, 2030 and 2032, alternating with Spa-Francorchamps.

"Barcelona is an incredible city, and the Formula 1 fans there always welcome us with such passion, so I am delighted that we will continue to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for years to come," F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said.

"The team have invested heavily in the circuit and hosted fantastic fan festivals in recent years, so we look forward to seeing how they continue to develop the experience, both for attendees at the race and for the city as a whole."

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The new F1 season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.

AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Formula 1:https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one

Mike Powell /Allsport; Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty; Branger/Roger Viollet via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Throughout the history of the Olympic Games, several athletes have had their medals stripped away

• Jim Thorpe and Jordan Chiles are among the American athletes who have seen their gold, silver or bronze medals revoked

• The 2026 Winter Olympics officially began on Feb. 6 in Milan

It's the crowning achievement of a lifetime when an athletewins an Olympic medal, but sometimes their hard-earned hardware can be stripped away.

Over the years, there have been instances when the powers that be — the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the Olympic Games, or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has arbitral jurisdiction over all matters related to theOlympic Games— have ruled that an athlete must return their gold, silver or bronze medals for different reasons.

While failing a drug test or using banned substances like performance-enhancing drugs is the most common reason for medals to be rescinded, some instances are more nuanced and unique. In the case of American gymnastJordan Chiles, the revoking decision could potentially be reversed, though it's rare.

Chiles' bronze medal from the2024 Paris Olympicswas taken after a dispute regarding the timing of a judging inquiry. On Jan. 29, 2026, Chiles'appeal was granted, with the Swiss Federal Supreme Court referring her case back to the CAS to examine new evidence that could prove the inquiry was filed within the appropriate timeframe.

With the2026 Winter Olympicsunderway on Feb. 6 in Milan, discover the American athletes who've had their Olympic medals taken away and why.

Jim Thorpe, 1912 Summer Olympics

George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty

Jim Thorpe, regarded as one of the greatest athletes of his time, was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S. at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He placed first in both the pentathlon and decathlon.

The following year, the IOC stripped Thorpe of his medals and erased his records because he had made a small sum of money playing two seasons of summertime semi-pro baseball. At the time, this was a violation of the elitist Victorian rules of amateurism,perSmithsonianmagazine.

In July 2022, the IOC announced that it would change itsofficial websiteto display Thorpe as the sole gold medal winner of the two events.

The change came on the 110th anniversary of Thorpe receiving the medal in the decathlon.

"It's long past time," Pulitzer-winning journalist David Maraniss told PEOPLE of Thorpe's medals being reinstated. "This decision by the IOC is 110 years too late, but better late than never."

Maraniss continued, "When Jim's medals were rescinded after his brilliant performances in Stockholm, the move went against Olympic rules, common sense, and public opinion."

Rick DeMont, 1972 Summer Olympics

Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated via Getty

Rick DeMont — a former competitive swimmer with several world records to his name — won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich for his first-place finish in the men's 400-meter freestyle.

After his victory, the IOC revoked his gold medal after he tested positive for a banned substance in his post-race urinalysis. DeMont, an asthmatic, regularly took Marax (an ephedrine derivative) to control his wheezing and did so in the Olympic Village before the race.

DeMont didn't deny his usage, nor hide the fact that he took Marax; however, the U.S. medical team failed to check if it contained any banned substances. According to theLos Angeles Times, he sued the U.S. Olympic Committee for mishandling the situation and fought to get his medal. Despite DeMont's efforts, his gold medal was not restored.

Lance Armstrong, 2000 Summer Olympics

Bob Martin /Sports Illustrated via Getty

Former professional road racing cyclistLance Armstrongwasstripped of his bronze medalfrom the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, a full 13 years after finishing third in the men's individual road cycling time trial.

The IOC asked for his medal back after the athlete admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career.

The revocation of Armstrong's medal was one of the most highly followed cases in American history, resulting in his lifelong ban from Olympic sports. He was alsostripped of his Tour de France titlesand other cycling accolades earned since 1998.

Marion Jones, 2000 Summer Olympics

Former track star Marion Jones won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She finished first in the 100-meter sprint, 200-meter sprint and 4×400-meter relay and third in the long jump and 4×100-meter relay.

In October 2007,CBS Newsreported that Jones' medals were revoked after she admitted that she lied to a grand jury when she stated that she had never taken performance-enhancing drugs.

Not only did the IOC strip her of her medals and records that December, but she was also sentenced to six months in jail and two years of supervised release, perABC News.

Tyler Hamilton, 2004 Summer Olympics

Doug Pensinger/Getty

Revered as one of the greatest American cyclists, Tyler Hamilton won a gold medal in the individual time trial at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The victory, however, was overshadowed by a doping test that had a positive A sample.

Meanwhile, Hamilton's B sample was frozen, which prevented it from being tested. Therefore, the athlete wasn't docked for a doping violation and was initially allowed to keep his gold medal, according to theBBC.

However,The New York TimesreportedHamilton admitted to past doping and voluntarily surrendered his gold medal to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in 2011. The IOC officially stripped him of it the following year.

Jordan Chiles, 2024 Paris Olympics

Naomi Baker/Getty

Chiles had an impressive run at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris,earning a team all-around goldwith the rest of the U.S. gymnastics team on July 30 and abronze in the individual floor exercisecompetition on Aug. 5.

The American gymnast wasstripped of her bronze medalfive days later after a CAS judge ruled in favor of two Romanian gymnasts, Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. They finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

The decision to revoke Chiles' medal came after a protest by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, which claimed that the difficulty score inquiry submitted by the American's coachpassed the one-minute deadline. (Chiles originally finished in fifth place, before the inquiry that boosted her score to a medal.)

Chiles hasn't given up on the quest to get her medal back. In September 2024, shefiled an appealin the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. Her appeal was granted in January 2026, with the case still ongoing.

Carl Lewis, 1988 Summer Olympics

Focus on Sport/Getty

Carl Lewisis one of only a handful of athletes to have won nine Olympic gold medals. His medal-removal case at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, differed from the previously mentioned athletes, as his place was bumped up following the disqualification of his competitor.

Canada's Ben Johnson originally won gold in the 100-meter final. However, after a failed drug test that ultimately disqualified him from the competition, Johnson was required to hand over the top prize to Lewis. The American traded his silver medal for an Olympic gold that year.

Jason Turner, 2008 Summer Olympics

Phil Walter/Getty

Jason Turner's case at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was similar to that of Lewis' medal switch-up in Seoul two decades prior. The American shooter originally placed fourth in the 10-meter air pistol competition, but ultimately topped the podium after his competitor's disqualification.

His opponent, North Korea's Kim Jong-su, initially won the bronze medal. Days later, the Vietnamese gymnast tested positive for the banned substance propranolol,perThe Guardian, forcing him to give up his medal to Turner.

Read the original article onPeople

The Miami Dolphins will reportedly release edge rusher Bradley Chubb, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Last season, Chubb had 47 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He was able to play all 17 games after missing the 2024 season with atorn ACL.

The 29-year-old had been with the Dolphins since 2022, after beingacquired from the Denver Broncosat the trade deadline for running back Chase Edmonds and a first-round pick. Chubb signeda five-year, $110 million extensionwith the Dolphins shortly after getting moved.

Despite being under contract until 2027, Chubb was expected to be moved this offseason after the Dolphins did not move him at the trade deadline. After restructuring his contract last offseason, Chubbreportedlyhas a cap number of more than $31M for 2026.

Despite turning 30 in June, expect teams to be interested in the two-time Pro Bowler before the start of free agency. In his last three full seasons, Chubb has had at least eight sacks.

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For the Dolphins, moving on from Chubb continues to signal a rebuild. The Dolphins tradedJaelan Phillipsbefore the trade deadline andJalen Ramseybefore the season. The team also hiredJeff Hafley as head coach and Jon-Eric Sullivanas general manager this offseason.

While the Dolphins have recently moved on from some of their defensive pieces, there are still questions surrounding what the team will do offensively. The Dolphins are expected to try tomove quarterback Tua Tagovailoaafter he got benched in favor of seventh-round rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers in Week 16.

The Dolphins signedTagovailoato a four-year, $212.1 million extension in July 2024. They reportedly already owe him $54 million guaranteed in 2026, and another $3 million of Tagovailoa's 2027 salary becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year, March 15.

Cutting Tagovailoa would leave a $99 million dead-money salary-cap charge, the largest in NFL history, while designating him as a post–June 1 cut would spread the money over two years.

Coming off a 7-10 season, expect the Dolphins to have more decisions to make.

This is the week of Ash Wednesday, a solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Lent, the most penitential season of the church calendar for Catholics and many other Christians.

On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to church for a service that emphasizes the start of a season of reflection, self-denial and repentance from sin.

Worshippers receive ashes, commonly imposed in the shape of a cross on the forehead. The officiant typically says, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," a stark reminder that death is part of life and that one should focus on things of the spirit. Or the officiant says, "Repent and believe in the Gospel."

Ashes in churches, chapels — and parking lots

Ash Wednesday is considered an obligatory fast day for Roman Catholics between 18 and 59 — meaning limiting food to one full meal and two smaller-than-normal meals.

Many Protestants — particularly those in Episcopal, Lutheran and other historic churches — also mark Ash Wednesday with similar liturgies.

In recent years, many Episcopal and other churches in the United States have begun offering "Ashes to Go" in parking lots, commuter-rail stations and elsewhere. Clergy offer to impose ashes on busy workers and others who want to participate in the ritual but may lack the time to get to church.

Chaplains of various denominations offer ashes at airport chapels and other sites.

Among other Protestants, such as Baptists and other evangelical groups, traditions vary. Some observe Ash Wednesday and Lent, others don't. But they often have their own penitential and ascetic traditions. Many Pentecostals, for example, fast for a period in January to consecrate the year ahead.

Members of another of the world's largest religions are also about to embark on their season of prayer and fasting. The start of Ramadan and the start of Lent may fall on the same date — for sure within the same week — this year.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, leading up to observances of Jesus' death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter.

Ash Wednesday is designated by counting backward 40 days from Easter, minus the Sundays.

Different churches have found various ways of calculating the traditional 40 days of Lent, but the number itself is important. It connects to the biblical symbolism of the number 40, typically used for times of testing, judgment, purification or renewal. Most directly, it alludes to the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the wilderness after his baptism, in preparation for his public ministry.

During Lent, the faithful devote themselves to prayer and other devotions, as well as charitable deeds, fasting and other forms of self-discipline. People speak of giving up something for Lent — stereotypically chocolate, but really anything that one finds difficult to do without. These days, that might mean reducing screen time.

Many churches also have extra times of devotions and other activities. Catholics often have group meditations on the Stations of the Cross, marking different events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.

Observant Catholics also abstain from meat on Fridays — though not fish.

To that point, Lent is not all solemnity. For many Catholic parishes in the U.S.,the Friday fish fryhas become a tradition combining food, fundraising and community bonding.

A movable fast

Ash Wednesday is not a fixed date. Its timing is tied to Easter Sunday. For most Christians, Easter will fall on April 5 this year.

Easter moves annually, swinging between March 22 and April 25, following anancient formulain which Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring.

Eastern Orthodox Christians calculate the beginning and end of their "Great Lent" differently. They begin their observances on a Monday — this year on Feb. 23 — which they call "Clean Monday" or "Pure Monday." While they don't use ashes, they do start a period of penance and fasting. The Great Lent continues through the Friday before Holy Week, including Sundays.

The dates for Great Lent are also determined in tandem withOrthodox calculationsof Easter (Pascha), which differ from those of Western churches. Orthodox Easter is April 12 this year — as in most years, falling later than Catholic and Protestant observances.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.