Inter Miami secured a 2–1 victory over Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in a friendly match held in Puerto Rico on February 27, 2026. The match, originally scheduled for February 13, had been postponed due to Lionel Messi’s injury. In front of 20,000 spectators, Messi came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal from a penalty in the 70th minute, giving his team a morale-boosting win.

The game was marked by an incident in the 88th minute when several fans entered the field. One supporter attempted to hug Messi and accidentally knocked him to the ground before security intervened. Despite the interruption, the match concluded without further issues.

Inter Miami, coached by Javier Mascherano, had already completed their pre-season preparations and started the new MLS season with a 3–0 loss to Los Angeles FC. Their next fixture is scheduled for March 2 against Orlando City.

The United States has instructed its citizens to leave Israel immediately amid growing fears of a possible Iranian attack. The directive, issued by the US State Department on Friday, also advised against traveling to Israel at this time. Citizens were told to plan their departure while commercial flights remain available, according to The Guardian.

The order follows inconclusive talks between Iran and the United States held in Geneva, Switzerland, where no clear resolution was reached. Washington and Tehran are expected to resume discussions next week. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has deployed two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, and several dozen fighter jets to the Middle East, raising concerns that a military strike could follow if negotiations fail.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has informed embassy staff that those wishing to leave should do so immediately. The United States has also demanded that Iran completely halt its nuclear activities and dismantle its three main nuclear facilities.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Defense to provide its artificial intelligence technology for use within a classified network. The deal follows the withdrawal of Anthropic, the Pentagon’s previous contractor, which had raised ethical objections to the military’s use of AI. Altman said the Defense Department demonstrated a “deep respect for safety” and agreed that OpenAI’s technology would not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapon systems, emphasizing that humans would retain responsibility for the use of force.

The announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, citing disagreements with the company’s leadership. Anthropic had refused to remove safeguards that prevented its AI from being used for surveillance or autonomous weapons. Reports also alleged that Anthropic’s Claude AI had been used by the U.S. military in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

Human rights advocates have expressed concern about the unregulated use of AI in military operations, referencing similar systems reportedly deployed by the Israeli army in Gaza.

United States President Donald Trump announced on Friday that all federal agencies must immediately stop using technology from artificial intelligence company Anthropic. The directive includes a six‑month phaseout period for the Department of Defense and other agencies where Anthropic’s systems are already embedded. Trump issued the order on Truth Social, saying the government would no longer do business with the San Francisco‑based startup. The move came during an escalating conflict between the Pentagon and Anthropic over the military’s use of AI in warfare.

The dispute centers on a $200 million Pentagon contract and disagreements about safeguards on Anthropic’s AI model, Claude. Anthropic had sought assurances that its technology would not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, but said new contract language undermined those protections. The Pentagon had threatened to classify the company as a supply‑chain risk, while Trump warned of civil and criminal consequences if Anthropic failed to cooperate with the phaseout.

The decision drew criticism from Senator Mark Warner, who questioned whether national security policy was being guided by analysis or politics. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly supported Anthropic’s stance, reflecting broader unease in Silicon Valley over government pressure on AI firms.

An imam from one of Utah’s largest mosques narrowly escaped injury after being targeted in a shooting on Monday evening during Ramadan. Imam Shuayb Din of the Utah Islamic Center was leaving his home for prayers when multiple bullets struck his car. Although he was unharmed, police recovered eight shell casings from the scene and released an image of a white passenger vehicle suspected to be involved. No arrests have been made, and the motive remains unconfirmed.

Din told local media that the attacker appeared to have prior knowledge of his residence, vehicle, and schedule. He said he had no personal enemies but feared the incident might be an Islamophobic hate crime. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and urged stronger security for Muslim communities.

Utah State Senator Nate Blouin condemned the attack as an attempted murder, calling it horrific and unacceptable. He also suggested a possible link between the shooting and ongoing Islamophobic rhetoric in U.S. politics.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest US aircraft carrier deployed to pressure Iran, departed the US Naval Support Activity Souda Bay base in Crete on Thursday, according to an AFP photographer. Its departure coincided with the start of a new round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.

The carrier had been stationed at the Crete base since Monday. The US Embassy in Athens declined to comment on the vessel’s presence. The report recalled that President Donald Trump had previously ordered an attack on Iran and repeatedly warned Tehran of military action if it refused to agree to a new nuclear deal. Western countries have expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear program may be aimed at developing weapons.

Washington currently maintains more than a dozen warships in the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, nine destroyers, and three additional warships, underscoring its continued military presence in the region.

The United States has arrested a retired Air Force pilot accused of providing unauthorized training to Chinese military members. According to a statement from the US Department of Justice, 65-year-old Gerald Brown was detained in Indiana after returning from China, where he had been staying since December 2023. Authorities allege that Brown conspired with foreign nationals to train Chinese Air Force pilots in operating combat aircraft without the required State Department license.

Brown served 24 years in the US Air Force, leading sensitive nuclear weapons units, flying combat missions, and working as a fighter pilot and simulator instructor. After retiring in 1996, he worked as a cargo pilot and later as a defense contractor, training pilots on A-10 and F-35 aircraft. Investigators say he began discussions in August 2023 with Chinese citizen Stephen Su Bin, who previously served a prison sentence in the US for espionage, before traveling to China to begin training in December.

An FBI counterintelligence official said the arrest serves as a warning that the agency will hold accountable anyone who collaborates with adversaries to endanger US national security.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for two Muslim members of Congress, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, to be expelled from the country. The demand came after both lawmakers shouted in protest during Trump’s State of the Union address at a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening. Trump later reiterated his stance on his social media platform Truth Social, writing that people who act in such a way and are known to be corrupt politicians harmful to the country should be sent back to where they came from.

According to the report, Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia but has been a U.S. citizen for nearly three decades, while Rashida Tlaib, of Palestinian descent, was born in Detroit, Michigan, making her a citizen by birth. The report notes that there is no legal basis to deport either of them to their ancestral countries.

As Trump left the House chamber, the two congresswomen shouted, accusing him of causing the deaths of Americans, further intensifying the confrontation during the high-profile event.

Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been quietly developing military options for potential strikes on Iran while seeking to avoid direct conflict with President Donald Trump. According to multiple officials, Caine has expressed concerns about the scale and risks of a major operation against Iran, even as Trump has pressed for aggressive plans ranging from targeting missile sites to regime change. Caine has convened secret meetings with senior military leaders outside the Pentagon’s usual secure rooms to prevent leaks and maintain discretion.

Caine’s approach contrasts with that of his predecessor, Gen. Mark Milley, who often clashed with Trump. Determined to maintain influence, Caine has adopted a reserved posture, offering professional advice without overtly challenging the president. Despite his caution, he has overseen the largest US military buildup in the Middle East since the Iraq invasion. Pentagon and White House spokespeople have defended Caine’s conduct, describing him as a disciplined officer who provides unbiased military counsel.

Caine’s balancing act reflects his effort to preserve military nonpartisanship while navigating Trump’s politicized leadership style. His discretion has earned him Trump’s trust but also raised questions among officers about his assertiveness.

The United States Treasury Department announced new sanctions related to Iran just hours after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, in which he supported possible military action. The sanctions, issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target more than 30 individuals, various entities, and ships accused of involvement in illegal Iranian petroleum sales and assistance in developing Iran’s ballistic missile and advanced conventional weapons programs.

According to the announcement, OFAC also targeted several networks that allegedly help Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics procure raw materials and equipment necessary for producing ballistic missiles and other weapons. The move reflects continued U.S. efforts to restrict Iran’s defense and energy sectors.

The sanctions are expected to further tighten financial and logistical constraints on Iran’s military and industrial networks, though the immediate impact on regional dynamics remains unclear.

Bill Gates acknowledged having relationships with two Russian women and accepted responsibility for his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The admission came during an internal meeting with Gates Foundation employees, according to a spokesperson’s written statement to Reuters. The spokesperson’s comments followed a Wall Street Journal report detailing Gates’s remarks to staff.

The Gates Foundation previously stated it never funded or employed Epstein. Gates canceled his planned keynote at India’s ‘AI Impact Summit’ shortly before the event. During the internal meeting, Gates described his interactions with Epstein and bringing foundation officials to meet him as a “huge mistake.” He apologized to employees affected by his actions, emphasizing that he had done nothing illegal and had not witnessed any illegal acts.

Documents from the U.S. Department of Justice showed Gates met Epstein multiple times after Epstein’s conviction to discuss philanthropic work. Gates clarified that photos showing him with women were taken at Epstein’s request after meetings and that he never spent time with victims or women associated with Epstein.

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States has received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela. He made the statement on Tuesday during his first State of the Union address of his second term, held at the White House. Trump said the oil came after the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, describing Venezuela as a new friend and partner.

Trump also stated that US oil production has increased by more than 600,000 barrels per day. Earlier in January, he had ordered the arrest of Maduro on charges related to drug trafficking and other crimes. Following that action, the US administration eased oil sanctions on Venezuela to boost production.

The announcement highlights a shift in US-Venezuela relations following Maduro’s removal and indicates Washington’s focus on expanding domestic and imported energy supplies.

Four people were killed in a stabbing attack on Tuesday morning near Tacoma, Washington, when a man attacked multiple individuals outside a house on the Key Peninsula. The suspect was later shot dead by police officers. According to local authorities, deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at 8:41 a.m. after reports that the suspect had violated a no-contact order.

Deputies obtained a copy of the order but found it was not yet effective because the suspect had not been formally served. As they proceeded to deliver it, the suspect began stabbing people outside the residence. Witnesses reported seeing the attack around 9:30 a.m. The first deputy arrived within minutes, and the suspect was shot at 9:33 a.m. and pronounced dead at the scene.

Three victims died at the location, and a fourth succumbed to injuries at a hospital. The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is investigating both the stabbing and the police shooting.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Iran would never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, speaking during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. He said that although Iran had shown interest in making a deal, it had not yet committed to halting its nuclear weapons ambitions. Trump referenced the 2025 U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, saying Tehran had been warned not to restart its weapons program but continued pursuing nuclear ambitions.

Trump added that he preferred resolving the issue through diplomacy but emphasized that Iran would not be permitted to possess nuclear arms under any circumstances. His remarks underscored a firm stance on Iran’s nuclear activities and a continued focus on preventing Tehran from advancing its weapons program.

Iranian officials, however, have repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting their nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes. Before Trump’s speech, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on social media that Iran would never build nuclear weapons under any condition.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that countries delaying trade agreements with the United States could face higher tariffs, following a Supreme Court ruling that suspended his administration’s global duties. The court ruled that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose import taxes. In response, Trump announced new global tariffs of 10 percent, later raised to 15 percent, set to take effect Tuesday under a different legal provision allowing temporary tariffs for 150 days without congressional approval.

The European Union said it would delay ratifying a summer trade deal, while India postponed scheduled talks. The United Kingdom sought clarification on whether its agreement would remain exempt from the new 15 percent tariff. British Trade Secretary Peter Kyle acknowledged the uncertainty, and European Parliament trade chair Bernd Lange said the situation had become more unpredictable. The White House maintained that the ruling did not alter its trade policy, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer stating that only the legal tools had changed.

The new tariffs are due to expire after 150 days unless extended by Congress. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned his party would oppose any effort to increase tariffs. U.S. stock prices fell about 1 percent Monday amid growing market uncertainty.