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Trump hasfor weeks warnedof potential for military strikes on the Middle Eastern nation, as his negotiators held mediated talks with their Iranian counterparts to discuss a deal. The White House says an agreement would avert military action, and the administration was waiting for a proposal from Tehran, heading into the weekend.

The president acknowledged on Feb. 20 that a limited strike on Iran is currently on the table. "I guess I am considering that," he said in response to a question.

After a Situation Room discussion on Iran on Feb. 18, a senior administration official told USA TODAY that Trump could decide to strike Iran as soon as this weekend. He could also strike Iran next weekend — or never — the official said of the president's options. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic.

Anti-government protests in Iran appeared to accelerate on Jan. 9, sparked by anger over the collapse of the country's currency and a broader sense of hopelessness and disillusionment with Tehran's clerical leaders.

The uptick in unrest also comes as President Donald Trump warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington "will come to their rescue."

See the scenes in Iran, beginning here on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified.

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See Iran's anti-government protests, huge crowds, unrest in photos

Anti-government protests in Iranappeared to accelerate on Jan. 9, sparked by anger over the collapse of the country's currency and a broader sense of hopelessness and disillusionment with Tehran's clerical leaders.

The uptick in unrest also comes as PresidentDonald Trumpwarned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, sayingWashington "will come to their rescue."See the scenes in Iran, beginning here on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified.

More:Trump says Iran has 10 days to reach nuclear deal to avoid military action

The following day,during a Feb. 19 meetingof his Board of Peace for Gaza, Trump told attendees he would know whether a deal was possible within the next 10 days.

"We may have to take it a step further or we may not," Trump said.

He said later in the day that 15 days was his maximum.

The senior official who spoke to USA TODAY said earlier on Feb. 19 that the U.S. was waiting on a proposal from the Iranians, and it should arrive within the next two weeks.

White House says 'all options' at Trump's disposal

Trump's administration is currentlylocked in negotiationswith Iran to curb itsnuclear program, and the White House has repeatedly emphasized that Trump prefers the diplomatic route. But the mediated talks have not yet produced a deal. Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuhas pushed to include Iran's ballistic missile program and funding for its proxy forces in the region in the deal – conditions that experts say the Iranians arehighly unlikely to accept.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet in Israel with Netanyahu on the evening Feb. 28. Trump has typically consulted close ally Israel on his actions in the region and worked in close coordination with Israel when it bombed Iran's nuclear siteslast June.Netanyahu also visited Trump in Washington this month.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a"Morning Joe" interviewon Feb. 20 on MSNOW that "there is no military solution for Iran's nuclear program."

"The only solution is diplomacy. This is why the U.S. is back on the table of negotiation and is seeking a deal," he said.

But the Iranian diplomat said his country was prepared for negotiation, "as much as we are prepared for war," if an agreement cannot be reached.

Several news outletshave reported in recent days that Trump is considering a limited initial strike, but that an operation to decapitate Iran's government ortake out leadershipis also on the table.

The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command referred USA TODAY's request for comment to the White House.

A White House official told USA TODAY in a statement, "President Trump's first instinct is always diplomacy, and he has been clear that the Iranian regime should make a deal. Of course, the president ultimately has all options at his disposal."

Trump renewed his threats in recent months as the largest protests in decades broke out in the country, prompting the Iranian regime to carry out a brutal crackdown that hasreportedly killed thousands.Trump previously sent amessage to protestersin a Truth Social post that "help is on its way," but has since shifted the goal of negotiations – and a possible military operation – to Iran's nuclear program.

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Experts said Trump could launch an initial strike and expand as circumstances required.

"I think the idea of limited, and expanding [strikes] is something that is definitely on the table," said Brian Carter, an Iran-focused research manager at the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.

Even a limited strike, though, could send both nations down an escalatory path, said Jennifer Kavanagh, the director of military analysis at Defense Priorities.

A limited strike is "something the military could try, but the idea that Iran isn't going to retaliate, to me, seems unlikely."

Iran has threatened to unleash attacks on U.S. troops in the region if Trump. On any given day, there are between 30,000 and 40,000 troops in the region, according to Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command.

"They've made it clear they will retaliate, and then once they retaliate, the U.S. will have to retaliate," said Kavanagh. "Then we're into a cycle of strikes."

State of the Union looms over Trump threats

Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 24.

After coming under criticismfrom MAGA Republicansfor his frequent meetings with foreign leaders at the White House and overall focus on waging war and forging peace deals, the president has increased his domestic travel ahead of the midterm electionsand held moreeconomic events. He has mostly kept his meetings with visiting leaders behind closed doors after publicly broadcasting many of them in his first year in office.

The optics ofTrump hitting Iran for a second time, just as he's due to barnstorm the country coming out of the address as part of an affordability-focused tourin battleground areashis party needs to win to retain control of the House of Representatives, would not be ideal.

Trumpfirst attacked Iran in June2025, when U.S. military planes at his direction dropped more than a dozen penetrating bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities. Now, he has dispatched a growing bevvy of military assets to the region to bolster his threats.

An aircraft carrier and a dozen warships are currently deployed in the region, and dozens of fighter jets, including F-22s and F-16s,headedtowards U.S. bases in the Middle East in the last week, according to open source accounts and news reports. They were accompanied by air tankers used to refuel planes while in flight. Another aircraft carrier is on the way to the region, with more naval destroyers in tow.

The entirety of the Gerald Ford carrier strike group and full U.S. military assets are not expected to arrive in the region in mid-March, the senior administration official said.

Allies have reportedly signaled they aren't willing to back up the United States if Trump launches an attack. The London Timesreportedon Feb. 19 that the United Kingdom will not allow Trump to use its military bases for an attack, followingsimilar statementsfrom Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Given the massive amount of U.S. military firepower in the region, anything is possible, Carter said.

"The U.S. military has broad enough assets to do basically anything from a relatively limited strike that would intend to push Iran in the right direction on negotiations, all the way up to a strike that intends to actually topple the regime itself," he said.

The more pressing question, Kavanagh said, is the "day after strategy."

"There is no short, limited campaign here," she said.

(This story was updated to add a video.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Is an Iran attack coming? Trump says limited strike is on the table

In an audio message released late Saturday by the group's spokesman, who identifies himself as Abu Musab al-Furati, he called on IS followers around the world to attack Jewish and Western targets as they have in past years.

Al-Furati sent greetings to IS fighters from the group's leaderAbu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurayshiwho was named as the head of the group three years ago.

The audio is the first to be released by the group in months and comes after IS was blamed for attacks that left dozens dead or wounded in recent months inSyria, Iraq,Pakistanand other parts of the world.

In December, the group was blamed for an attack in central Syria thatleft three Americansdead and triggered intense U.S. airstrikes on the extremists' suspected hideouts in the country.

Despite its defeat in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, IS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in both countries, where they once declared a caliphate.

The U.N. chief said earlier this month in a reporton threats posed by ISthat Syria's president, interior minister and foreign minister were the targets of five foiled assassination attempts last year.

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In December 2024, insurgents led by now interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, marched to Damascus andremoved then-President Bashar Assadfrom power, striking a severe blow to Iran's influence in the war-torn country. Assad belonged to the minority Alawite sect in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country.

Since then, al-Sharaa, a former leader of al-Qaida's branch in Syria, has improved his relations with Western countries and last year becamethe first Syrian head of stateto visit Washington since Syria's independence in 1946.

Al-Furati said that Iran and Assad in Syria were replaced "with a regime that is subjected to American influence."

"Syria today is ruled by the Crusaders after they placed a leader who is a puppet without a soul," al-Furati said. He vowed new attacks in the country saying that "Syria has entered a new era of defense and the convoys of jihad will eventually march in Syria."

The audio, which is supposed to mark the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan did not mention the transfer of 5,704 suspectedIS detaineesfrom prisons in northeast Syria to Iraq in recent weeks. Al-Furati only said that everyone is scared of the detainees whom the Americans, Shiites and Kurdish fighters are doing all they can to make sure they don't escape.

Al-Furati also did not mentional-Hol campthat used to house more than 24,000 people, mostly women and children linked to IS, that is now almost empty after government forces took control of it last month from the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

He acknowledged that IS lost fighters over the past two years because of attacks by the U.S.-led coalition against IS. The Syrian government officially joined the coalition in November.

The child, identified as Madelyn Eitas from Rochester, Mass., was backcountry skiing with her family near the Brighton Ski Resort on Thursday when she was buried in the slide,FOX13 Salt Lake Cityreported, citing officials.

Eitas and her family had gone into an out-of-bounds area known as The Rock Garden when they were caught in the avalanche, the officials said. She had reportedly been buried for up to 30 minutes when search and rescue teams arrived.

Rescuers provided first aid before an ambulance rushed her to a hospital. The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake said Eitas later died of her injuries, the outlet reported.

Video Shows Terrifying Moment Avalanche Slams Into Passenger Train Near Ski Resort

"It's a very, very solemn and depressing thing to notify people of," Unified Police Det. Quin Wilkins told the station.

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The child's death came a day after another avalanche in Wasatch County killed a father.

The father was snowmobiling with his juvenile son in the Snake Creek area west of Midway when the slide buried him, theWasatch County Sheriff's Officesaid. First responders, however, were unable to immediately reach the scene due to hazardous conditions.

The son was able to use an avalanche beacon to find his father and dig him out of the snow, according to officials. Despite the son's efforts, his father died at the scene.

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"The Wasatch County Sheriff's Office extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic incident," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "We also recognize the courageous efforts of the juvenile involved and the responding personnel who assisted in this difficult situation. Our thoughts are with all those impacted."

California Avalanche That Killed 8 Is Deadliest In State History

Officials have warned the public to stay away from the backcountry this weekend following the two avalanche deaths.

"Conditions on the mountain are as bad as they have been all winter!" Wasatch Search and Rescue commander Kam Kohler toldFox13."The deepest, softest snow is the most treacherous right now. It's really, for most places, a no-go!"

Salt Lake CountySheriff Rosie Rivera echoed concerns about dangerous conditions.

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"This winter has created layers within the snowpack that can be unpredictable," Rivera said in a statement. "We want people to enjoy the Cottonwood Canyons, but safety must come first. When conditions are unstable, the smartest decision may be to avoid backcountry recreation altogether."

The deaths in Utah happened in the same week that an avalanche in Northern California killed eight skiers, includingsix mothers taking a triptogether, near Lake Tahoe. Six other skiers in the group were rescued, while one additional person was presumed dead.

Original article source:Avalanches in Utah kill 11-year-old girl, father snowmobiling with son in state's first 2 fatalities of season

In an interview with Brazilian online channel Caze, Neymar discussed how he is "living year to year," considering ending his illustrious career after an "important" season for both club and country.

"I don't know what will happen from now on, I don't know about next year," the 34-year-old said.

"It may be that when December comes, I'll want to retire. I'm living year to year now.

"We will see what my heart decides. It depends on what my heart says later in the year.

"This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it's a World Cup year, and for me too. I wanted to play this season totally 100 percent."

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Returning to his boyhood club Santos in 2025, Neymar risked his career to help the team avoid relegation from Brazil's Serie A.

Despite requiring surgery on his left knee, the Brazilian played a crucial role down the stretch, providing five goals and an assist in the final four league matches.

Neymar has played in three World Cups with Brazil, but hasn't featured for the national team since October 2023.

Often criticized for his antics on and off the pitch, Neymar established a brilliant club career, starring for the likes of Santos, FC Barcelona and PSG. Meanwhile, the 34-year-old is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, a mark previously held by legend Pelé (77).

Neymar has a contract with Santos through the end of 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Brazil legend Neymar admits he may retire in 2026

It's that last part that sparks debate and outrage, even if the formerNew York Giants'star quarterback appears unbothered. Fans, analysts, people around the league and many more have opinions that land on both sides of the issue, but it was thePro Football Hall of Fame voters who kept Manning off the list for a second year in a row.

Emotions run high when it comes to that topic, but don't expect Manning to give a passionate sales pitch anytime soon. During a Feb. 17 interview with Jon Gruden on "Gruden Goes Long," Manning was asked about the snub and his feelings about it.

"It doesn't keep me up at night," Manning said. "I'm not going to be bitter at it. I'm not bitter at the game of football. I loved my teammates. I love the relationships, the friendships, the championships, the parades. When I think about football, I think about touchdowns and my buddies and wins and plane rides home.

"I don't think about the interceptions. I don't think about the bad stuff. I think about the positive things."

The quarterback also isn't concerned about timing or how many ballots it might take for him to get into the exclusive club based in Canton, Ohio.

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"If I ever get in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I'll take it as a positive," Manning said. "And I'm not going to think about the years I had to wait to get in."

Of course, Manning wasn't the only prominent football coach, player or contributor left off the list. Former New England Patriots coach and eight-time Super Bowl champion,Bill Belichick, also fell short of being enshrined in 2026. Manning famously defeated Belichick's Patriots twice in the Super Bowl.

Despite being a two-time MVP in the big game, Manning didn't match that level of dominance in the regular season. He posted a 117-117 record in 16 seasons, making just four Pro Bowl appearances. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Manning's Hall of Fame case largely rests on those two games in Super Bowl 42 and 46.

Vote counts are not released by the Hall of Fame, meaning it's unclear how much support theGiants' legend had in the committee.

Manning will now have to hope that the third time is the charm in 2027.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Eli Manning says he isn't bitter about Hall of Fame snub in 2026

At 27-29 followingFriday night's lossto the Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers currently hold the ninth spot inthe Western Conference standings, just a half-game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.

"Man, we're playing to win," Lue told reporters afterwards, includingESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I don't care if it's young, old, toddlers... Whoever's on the floor, we're trying to win. I mean, we're trying to win. There's no other reason to play."

Lue's remarks appeared to be a response to Leonard saying earlier in the day that the Clippers'status as contenders was finished.

"I think it's over now," he said. "It's, the second half, like a fourth of the season left. But every day is a day to grow. A day to learn and get better. So just got to keep looking over time and see in two weeks if we're getting better and see what happens from there."

Leonard's outlook follows the Clipperssending James Harden to the Cleveland CavaliersandIvica Zubac to the Indiana Pacersbefore the NBA trade deadline. The team received Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and two second-rounders in those deals. But those aren't the kinds of trades a playoff contender makes in hopes of boosting championship chances.

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Additionally, the Clippers benched veteran point guard Chris Paul before sending him home and eventually traded him to the Toronto Raptors. Paul, 40, was subsequently released by the Raptors andannounced his retirement. He signed a one-year deal before the season, presumably tobe a veteran leaderbut reportedly clashed with Lue.

Lue acknowledged that the Clippers team Leonard originally signed with in 2019 is much different now.

"I thought he was just saying far as contender when he first got here, you have PG [Paul George], Kawhi, you have James, you have Russ [Russell Westbrook], you have Zu,"Lue told ESPN. "And so now, having a younger team, we got to play different. We got to do things different, we got to do things better."

The Clippers being in the play-in mix with a chance to make the playoffs as the eventual No. 8 seed is the result of an impressive turnaround. The team began the season as one of the league's biggest disappointments, compiling a 6-21 record. Yet a 21-8 run in December put a .500 record and postseason berth within reach.

Up next for the Clippers is a matchup with the Orlando Magic (29-25) on Sunday, followed by a Thursday contest versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-22).

German school kids react to Germany mulling social media ban for minors

STUTTGART, Germany, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Germany's ruling conservatives on Saturday passed a motion to ban social media use for under 14s and introduce more stringent digital verification checks for teenagers, building momentum for such ‌limits in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

At a party conference in the city of Stuttgart, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's ‌Christian Democratic Union also called for fines for online platforms that failed to enforce such limits, and European Union-wide harmonisation of age standards.

A growing number of ​countries, including Spain, Greece, France and Britain, are looking at similar social media bans or restrictions on accessing platforms like TikTok or Instagram.

It follows the example of Australia, which last year became the first country to force platforms to cut off access for children.

European nations are more broadly ratcheting up pressure on social media companies, risking a backlash from the United States. President Donald Trump has threatened ‌tariffs and sanctions if EU countries impose new ⁠tech taxes or online regulations that hit U.S. firms.

"We call on the federal government to introduce a legal age limit of 14 for the use of social networks and to address the special ⁠need for protection in the digital sphere up to the age of 16," said the motion that passed on Saturday.

Merz's coalition partners the Social Democrats have also backed social media curbs for children. Pressure from both parties in the coalition makes it increasingly likely that the ​federal ​government will push for restrictions.

However, under Germany's federal system, media regulation is ​a state‑level responsibility and states must negotiate with ‌each other to agree consistent nationwide rules.

SCHOOLCHILDREN IN BONN DISCUSS THE BAN

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The ban could affect children like those at the Cardinal Frings Gymnasium in the city of Bonn, several of whom a day earlier were scrolling on their phones in the school grounds.

"I think it's fair, but I think it should be up to the parents to decide whether to forbid it, not the state," said 13-year-old Moritz, who says he only watches YouTube.

"For children under 12 it should be forbidden, but from age 12 onwards ‌I think children can already distinguish between what is fake news and ​what is not."

His classmate Emma, 13, almost exclusively uses Snapchat, but has ​a time limit on her phone.

A ban would be "kind ​of unusual, because you get used to sending your snap in the morning before school, or what ‌my friends do, like just scrolling through Instagram or ​TikTok for a bit," she said.

Ella, ​12, scrolls through social media several times a day.

"So I have TikTok and Instagram myself, but I understand that it's all addictive, and the more you scroll, the more you want to see."

Teacher Till Franke said that for ​many of the children, "it would be a ‌shock at first, because of this daily use of social media".

But eventually, the students would get used to it, ​he said, "because they would find other niches where they could communicate with each other".

(Andreas Rinke, Stephane Nitschke ​and Petra Wischgoll; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Jan Harvey)