USMNT's Noahkai Banks opens the door to Germany switch

U.S. men's national team defender Noahkai Banks has given a clear indication he is still very much open to representing Germany.

Banks has emerged as one of the USMNT's best defensive prospects in years, becoming an automatic starter for Augsburg in the Bundesliga this season despite only recently turning 19.

The defender was born in Hawaii to an American father and German-Spanish mother. After moving to Washington, D.C., Banks relocated to Germany when he was a young child.

Banks has only represented the U.S. at the youth international level and has received one senior call-up.

But speaking after he provided a key assist in Augsburg's 2-0 win over FC Köln on Friday, Feb. 27, Banks admitted that he was "torn" over whether to move forward with the U.S. or switch to Germany.

"It's a difficult decision regarding my nationality. I'm very torn," he said. "I'm in contact with both the USA and Germany and both national coaches," Banks said.

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"I hopefully have a long career ahead of me, so I want to think carefully and speak with my family. I don't want to make it dependent on a World Cup. I'm just happy to be in this position and to be able to make this decision. We'll see what happens."

5. Christian Pulisic - 32 (2016-present; through Nov. 18, 2024)

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USMNT all-time leading goal scorers

Banks' comments were markedly differentfrom only weeks agowhen he said that "there's not a thought of switching" to Germany.

The teenager was called in for the USMNT's September camp, but didn't see the field in friendlies against South Korea and Japan. He was not called in for matches in October and November.

The USMNT will face Belgium and Portugal in March friendlies, the team's final two matches before Mauricio Pochettino names his World Cup roster.

Earlier this month, USMNT legendLandon Donovan predicted that Bankswouldn't just make the World Cup squad, but would be starting in the tournament on home soil.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Noahkai Banks considering making USMNT switch to Germany

byDonna Devi

in

February 28, 2026

USMNT's Noahkai Banks opens the door to Germany switch

U.S. men's national team defender Noahkai Banks has given a clear indication he is still very much open to representi...

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Pakistani and Afghan forces clash as diplomatic efforts intensify

KABUL, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban military entered its third day on Saturday as foreign governments expressed increasing concern and called for urgent talks.

Aftermath of airstrikes amid Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict, in Kandahar

Pakistan's strikes on Friday hit Taliban military ‌installations and posts, some of them in Kabul and Kandahar, in one of the deepest Pakistani incursions into ‌its western neighbour in years, officials said.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who it says are waging an insurgency inside Pakistan, a ​charge the Taliban denies.

Pakistan said it was responding to cross-border assaults, while Kabul complained of a breach of its sovereignty, saying it remained open to dialogue but warning that any wider conflict would have serious consequences.

PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN FIGHTING RAISES FEAR OF LONG WAR

The fighting has raised the risk of a protracted conflict along the rugged 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier.

Diplomatic efforts gathered pace late on Friday as Afghanistan ‌said its foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, ⁠had spoken with Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan about reducing tensions and keeping diplomatic channels open.

The European Union urged both sides to de-escalate and engage in dialogue, while the United ⁠Nations urged an immediate end to hostilities.

Russia urged a return to talks, while China said it was deeply concerned and ready to help ease tensions.

The U.S. State Department said the U.S. supported Pakistan's right to defend itself against attacks by the Taliban.

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A U.S. official, ​speaking on ​condition of anonymity, said Washington did not view Pakistan as the ​aggressor and that Islamabad was under pressure to ‌address security challenges.Exchanges of fire continued along the border overnight.

Pakistani security sources said an operation dubbed "Ghazab Lil Haq" was ongoing and that Pakistani forces had destroyed numerous Taliban posts and camps. Reuters could not independently verify the claims.

Both sides have reported heavy losses. Pakistan said 12 of its soldiers and 274 Taliban had been killed while the Taliban said 13 of its fighters and 110 Pakistani soldiers had died.

Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said 52 civilians had been killed and 66 wounded ‌in the Khost and Paktika provinces. Reuters could not verify the ​figures.

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Islamabad's patience had run out ​and described the fighting as "open war".

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin ​Haqqani said in a speech that the conflict would be "very costly", and that Afghan forces had ‌not deployed broadly beyond those already engaged.

He said ​the Taliban had defeated "the world" through "unity ​and solidarity" and through "great patience and perseverance" rather than superior military power.

Pakistan's military capabilities far exceed those of Afghanistan, with a standing army of hundreds of thousands and a modern air force.

The Taliban lacks any conventional air ​force and relies largely on light ‌weaponry and ground forces.

However, the Islamist group is battle-hardened after two decades of insurgency against U.S.-led forces before ​returning to power in 2021.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Additional ​reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by Sam Holmes)

byDonna Devi

in

February 28, 2026

Pakistani and Afghan forces clash as diplomatic efforts intensify

KABUL, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban military entered its third day on Satur...

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Cargo plane carrying money crashes near Bolivia's capital, killing at least 15 people, official says

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A cargo plane carrying money crashed Friday near Bolivia's capital, damaging about a dozen vehicles on highway, scattering bills on the ground and leaving at least 15 people dead and others injured, an official said.

Cargo plane carrying money crashes near Bolivia's capital, killing at least 15 people, official says

Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said the Hercules C-130 plane was transporting newly printed Bolivian currency when it "landed and veered off the runway" at an airport in El Alto, a city adjacent to the capital of La Paz, before ending up in a nearby field. Firefighters managed to put out the flames that engulfed the aircraft.

Fire chief Pavel Tovar said at least 15 people died but he did not clarify if the dead were in the plane or in the cars on the nearby highway.

Salinas did not specify how many people had been killed in the crash and said the cause was being investigated.

Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora said two of the plane's six crew members had not been found as of late Friday, adding that the aircraft was arriving from the eastern city of Santa Cruz.

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Images on social media showed debris from the aircraft, destroyed cars and bodies scattered on the road. According to Tovar, at least 15 vehicles were damaged.

The plane, belonging to the Bolivian air force, was transporting money to La Paz and images on social media showed people rushing to collect the bills scattered at the crash site, while police in riot gear tried to disperse them.

Tovar said the hundreds of people trying to collect the spilled bills were hindering rescue efforts.

More than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers took control of the area to disperse the mob, according to official reports. Police and military personnel burned the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza, who said the bills "have no legal value because they never entered circulation," without clarifying what that meant.

Espinoza did not specify the amount of money being transported but he said the banknotes had arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad.

Authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the terminal.

byDonna Devi

in

February 28, 2026

Cargo plane carrying money crashes near Bolivia's capital, killing at least 15 people, official says

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A cargo plane carrying money crashed Friday near Bolivia's capital, damaging about a dozen veh...

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Nikola Jokić angrily confronts Lu Dort for tripping him as tempers flare in Nuggets-Thunder

Nikola Jokić had something to say to Lu Dort on Friday.

A skirmish broke out in the fourth quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder's clash with the Denver Nuggets, when the Thunder guard appeared to intentionally trip the three-time MVP. At the very least, it was a hip check with an outstretched leg.

Jokić took exception to the contact and angrily confronted Dort, who is well known for being one of the NBA's most, ahem, physical players. Dort's teammate, Jaylin Williams, then confronted Jokić, and the two got physical as players and coaches from both sides quickly rushed to midcourt.

It took a while, but the two were eventually pried loose from each other.

The end result of the incident was Dort being ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul, while Jokić and Williams were hit with offsetting technical fouls.

Further replay showed a side of Jokić that was frankly terrifying.

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The incident was part of a thriller between two teams that could be seeing each other in the NBA playoffs. The game went to overtime after Jokić tied the game with 38 seconds left in regulation.

The extra five minutes wound up being one-sided in favor of the Thunder, who shut down the Nuggets for a 127-121 win.

Jokić finished the game with 23 points on 9-of-25 shooting, 17 rebounds and 14 assists, while Jamal Murray led all scorers in scoring with 39 points. Only two other Nuggets scored more than seven points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,making his return from an abdominal strain, led the Thunder with 36 points and 9 assists in 34 minutes, while Chet Holmgren had 15 points, 21 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Denver had led the game by as many as 16 points in the first quarter, but OKC came back and triumphed despite Gilgeous-Alexander missing all of overtime due to a minutes restriction. OKC's depth ended up being the difference, with players like Williams, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain all making key plays over the course of the game.

The win keeps the 46-15 Thunder two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the West, while the Nuggets are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for fourth place at 37-23.

byDonna Devi

in

February 28, 2026

Nikola Jokić angrily confronts Lu Dort for tripping him as tempers flare in Nuggets-Thunder

Nikola Jokić had something to say to Lu Dort on Friday. A skirmish broke out in the fourth quarter of the Okla...

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This week's “RuPaul's Drag Race” special guest died 1 month before episode aired

Though the annualRuPaul's Drag RaceRusical challenge typically leads to gleeful fans each season, this year's installment was tinged with sadness, as it featured a special guest (and Emmy-nominated member of theDrag Racefamily) who died one month before Friday's episode aired.

This week's season 18 edition (which was filmed in 2025) featured the queens preparing to star inFannie, a Rusical spoof of the classicAnniestage production. Mid-way through the episode, the queens took to the Main Stage to record vocals for the project, where they joined songwriter Leland andlate producer Gabe Lopezto make music together.

Lopez died in January 2026, with his mother, Connie Howard, announcing on social media that her son died days earlier.

Howard called Lopez "loving, kind, talented," in her tribute, and added that he died following a "brief but intense battle with lymphoma."

TheMayo Clinicdescribes lymphoma as a form of cancer that primarily impacts the lymphatic system, and can damage "part of the body's germ-fighting immune system" in the process.

In astatement shared to social mediaat the time,Drag Raceproduction company World of Wonder honored Lopez.

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"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Gabe Lopez. Gabe was a unique combination of musical brilliance, kindness and sharp wit. His impact — throughRuPaul's Drag Race& beyond — is immeasurable," the statement read. "We mourn a great talent and a greater friend. His melodies play on in all of us."

RuPaul's Drag Racefranchise stars also paid tribute to Lopez earlier this year, after the artist received an Emmy nod for his behind-the-scenes work mixing sound for the show's"Wigloose: The Rusical!" 2023 musical episodebased on the Kevin Bacon movieFootloose.

"Devastating to hear, sending so much love- he was a true gem," wroteDrag Race UK vs. the Worldseason 1 winner Blu Hydrangea, while season 2,All Stars 1, andAll Stars 6contestantPandora Boxxcommented with a tear-filled emoji and a heartbreak emoji under Howard's announcement.

Oscar-nominated songwriterDiane Warrenalso expressed sadness over Lopez's loss, writing, "Oh no this is horrible and heartbreaking shocking news. Sending love to You."

In addition to his work withDrag Race —including theDrag Racespin-off competition seriesQueen of the Universeand TV filmThe Bitch Who Stole Christmas— Lopez launched projects with pop star Belinda Carlisle, and further contributed behind-the-scenes toMonster High: The Movie,The Other Two,and theLas Culturistas Culture Awardsbroadcast.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byDonna Devi

in

February 28, 2026

This week's “RuPaul's Drag Race” special guest died 1 month before episode aired

Though the annualRuPaul's Drag RaceRusical challenge typically leads to gleeful fans each season, this year's ins...

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Superintendent of nation’s second-largest school district on paid leave after FBI searches of his home and office

Los Angeles School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is being put on paid leave while he is part of a federal investigation. The move on Friday by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education comes two days after the FBI served search warrants at his home and the district's headquarters.

Authorities have not provided details of the nature of the investigation involving the nation's second-largest school district, which serves more than 500,000 students.

Carvalho became superintendent in 2022. He previously led the public schools in Miami.

Andres Chait, the chief of school operations, will take over the helm while Carvalho is on leave, the district said.

Carvalho has not responded to a request for comment. The FBI on Wednesday also searched a third location near Miami. The Miami Herald reported the Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere, an education technology company that had a contract with Los Angeles schools before it collapsed and its leader was indicted for fraud. She could not be reached for comment Thursday.

In 2024, Carvalho heavily touted a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named "Ed" designed to help students. But about three months after unveiling the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district dropped its dealings with AllHere, which collapsed into bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with securities and wire fraud, along with identity theft.

The school district said in a statement Wednesday that it "is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time."

Carvalho denied personal involvement in the selection of AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times. After Smith-Griffin was indicted, Carvalho said he would appoint a task force to examine what went wrong with the LA school district's project, but there have been no public announcements about it since.

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Kerr, an education technology salesperson who connects companies with schools, said she was never paid her $630,000 commission for her work in closing the AllHere deal with the LA district, according to a news organization, The 74, that covered the company's bankruptcy hearings in 2024.

The 74 reported that Kerr had longstanding ties with Carvalho from when he oversaw the Florida district and that her son who worked for AllHere pitched the technology to LA school leaders after he took over the helm there. The Associated Press was unable to reach Kerr for comment.

Over the past five years in Los Angeles, Carvalho has been lauded for the district's improvements to academic performance. He won similar praise while overseeing Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida's largest school district, where the national superintendents association named him Superintendent of the Year in 2014.

Spain knighted the Portugal-born administrator in 2021 for his work in expanding Spanish-language programs for Miami-Dade County schools.

Months later, Carvalho took the job in California and became a harsh critic of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown, especially following raids in Los Angeles last year.

Carvalho arrived in Los Angeles at a critical moment, as the district found itself flush with funding from state and federal COVID-19 relief money but still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic, including learning losses and declining enrollment. He previously sparred with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis over his order that schools not require masks during the pandemic.

The Miami-Dade school system said in a statement that it was aware of the investigation involving Carvalho but did not have any comment at this time.

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byDonna Devi

in

February 28, 2026

Superintendent of nation’s second-largest school district on paid leave after FBI searches of his home and office

Los Angeles School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is being put on paid leave while he is part of a federal investigation...

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Cuba unveils new details in fatal US boat shooting and says a 2nd boat on mission failed

HAVANA (AP) — Top officials with Cuba's Ministry of the Interior unveiled for the first time late Friday the items they said were aboard aFlorida-flagged speedboatthat opened fire against troops in waters off the island's north coast this week, with soldiers responding and killing four suspects.

Cuba Boat Shooting

Officials also revealed to The Associated Press that authorities were able to establish that the 10 Cuban suspects left the U.S. in two boats, but one failed, so they transferred all the supplies to the remaining one and left the other adrift.

The government said the detained suspects revealed those details and stressed that theyimmediately contacted the U.S. Coast Guard.

Among the items Cuban officials said were aboard the boat: a dozen high-powered weapons, including one with a scope; a big cooler filled with more than 12,800 pieces of ammunition; 11 pistols; heavy-duty boots, helmets with cameras; and camouflage backpacks.

"We were clearly able to assess that we were facing a terrorist action from a boat coming from the United States," 1st Col. Ivey Daniel Carballo of the Cuban Border Guard Troops told the AP.

According to Carballo, the 30-foot (nine meter) border patrol boat detected an intruder on Wednesday morning and approached to within about 600 feet (185 meters) to investigate, but it was met with high-caliber gunfire.

He said that three of the attackers were immediately killed and that a fourth was wounded and later died.

Caraballo said the speedboat was located about one mile (1.6 kilometers) northeast of Cayo Falcones off the island's north coast. The border guard commander was injured, he added.

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Victor Eduardo Álvarez Valle, one of the heads of Criminal Investigation for State Security at the Ministry of the Interior, told the AP that authorities were surprised by the resistance they encountered.

"We didn't expect it, especially with that many people and weapons," he said.

"The military equipment found on board has been identified by the assailants, including where and how they acquired it, and the training they received. They also revealed who financed it," Álvarez added.

He noted that officials detected 13 bullet holes on the border guard boat and 21 others on the suspect's vessel, "meaning that there was combat."

The Cuban government had reported Wednesday that a person had been captured on land, but Álvarez said that so far, there is no information that the suspects had any support network on the island.

Cuba's chief prosecutor of the directorate at the Attorney General's Office, Edward Robert Campbell, told the AP that the six arrested, all of Cuban origin, could face terrorism charges, which carries a possible sentence of 30 years in prison, life imprisonment or even the death penalty, although the latter has been on moratorium for more than a decade.

The Associated Press was given access to Cuban military officials and shown the items displayed at the headquarters of the former Cuban Institute of Radio and Television ahead of a program that showed them to the public for the first time.

U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubiohas said it was not a U.S. government operation and thatthe American governmentwas gathering its own information.

byDonna Devi

in

February 28, 2026

Cuba unveils new details in fatal US boat shooting and says a 2nd boat on mission failed

HAVANA (AP) — Top officials with Cuba's Ministry of the Interior unveiled for the first time late Friday the items th...

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