MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For days, Luis Ramirez had an uneasy feeling about the men dressed as utility workers he’d seen outside his family’s Mexican restaurant in suburban Minneapolis.

They wore high-visibility vests and spotless white hard hats, he noticed, even while parked in their vehicle. His search for the Wisconsin-based electrician advertised on the car’s doors returned no results.

On Tuesday, when their Nissan returned to the lot outside his restaurant, Ramirez, 31, filmed his confrontation with the two men, who hide their faces as he approaches and appear to be wearing heavy tactical gear beneath their yellow vests.

“This is what our taxpayer money goes to: renting these vehicles with fake tags to come sit here and watch my business,” Ramirez shouts in the video.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to inquiries about whether the men were federal immigration officers. But encounters like Ramirez’s have become increasingly common.

As the sweeping immigration crackdown in Minnesota continues, legal observers and officials say they have received a growing number of reports of federal agents impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers and in some cases anti-ICE activists.

Not all of those incidents have been verified, but they have heightened fears in a state already on edge, adding to legal groups’ concerns about the Trump administration’s dramatic reshaping of immigration enforcement tactics nationwide.

“If you have people afraid that the electrical worker outside their house might be ICE, you’re inviting public distrust and confusion on a much more dangerous level,” said Naureen Shah, the director of immigration advocacy at the American Civil Liberties Union. “This is what you do if you’re trying to control a populace, not trying to do routine, professional law enforcement.”

A ‘more extreme degree’ of deception

In the past, immigration authorities have sometimes used disguises and other deceptions, which they call ruses, to gain entry into homes without a warrant.

The tactics became more common during President Donald Trump’s first term, attorneys said, prompting an ACLU lawsuit accusing immigration agents of violating the U.S. Constitution by posing as local law enforcement during home raids. A recent settlement restricted the practice in Los Angeles. But ICE deceptions remain legal elsewhere in the country.

Still, the undercover operations reported in Minnesota would appear to be a “more extreme degree than we’ve seen in the past,” said Shah, in part because they seem to be happening in plain sight.

Where past ruses were aimed at deceiving immigration targets, the current tactics may also be a response to the Minnesota’s sprawling networks of citizen observers that have sought to call attention to federal agents before they make arrests.

At the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, the city’s central hub of ICE activity, activists told The Associated Press they had seen agents leaving in vehicles with stuffed animals on their dashboards or Mexican flag decals on their bumpers. Pickups with lumber or tools in their beds were also frequently spotted.

In recent weeks, federal agents have repeatedly shown up to construction sites dressed as workers, according to Jose Alvillar, a lead organizer for the local immigrant rights group, Unidos MN.

“We’ve seen an increase in the cowboy tactics,” he said, though he noted the raids had not resulted in arrests. “Construction workers are good at identifying who is a real construction worker and who is dressing up as one.”

Using vintage plates

Since the start of the operation in Minnesota, local officials, including Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, have said ICE agents had been seen swapping license plates or using bogus ones, a violation of state law.

Candice Metrailer, an antiques dealer in south Minneapolis, believes she witnessed such an attempt firsthand.

On Jan. 13, she received a call from a man who identified himself as a collector, asking if her store sold license plates. She said it did. A few minutes later, two men in street clothes entered the shop and began looking through her collection of vintage plates.

“One of them says, ‘Hey, do you have any recent ones?’” Metrailer recalled. “Immediately, an alarm bell went off in my head.”

Metrailer stepped outside while the men continued browsing. A few doors down from the shop, she saw an idling Ford Explorer with blacked out windows. She memorized its license plate, then quickly plugged it into a crowdsourced database used by local activists to track vehicles linked to immigration enforcement.

The database shows an identical Ford with the same plates had been photographed leaving the Whipple building seven times and reported at the scene of an immigration arrest weeks earlier.

When one of the men approached the register holding a white Minnesota plate, Metrailer said she told him that the store had a new policy against selling the items.

Metrailer said she had reported the incident to Minnesota’s attorney general. A spokesperson for DHS did not respond to a request for comment.

A response to obstruction

Supporters of the immigration crackdown say the volunteer army of ICE-tracking activists in Minneapolis has forced federal agents to adopt new methods of avoiding detection.

“Of course agents are adapting their tactics so that they’re a step ahead,” said Scott Mechkowski, former deputy director of ICE enforcement and operations in New York City. “We’ve never seen this level of obstruction and interference.”

In nearly three decades in immigration enforcement, Mechkowski said he also hadn’t seen ICE agent disguising themselves as uniformed workers in the course of making arrests.

Earlier this summer, a spokesperson for DHS confirmed a man wearing a high-visibility construction vest was an ICE agent conducting surveillance. In Oregon, a natural gas company published guidance last month on how customers could identify their employees after reports of federal impersonators.

In the days since his encounter, Ramirez, the restaurant worker, said he has been on high alert for undercover agents. He recently stopped a locksmith who he feared might be a federal agent, before quickly realizing he was a local resident.

“Everybody is on edge about these guys, man,” Ramirez said. “It feels like they’re everywhere.”

CAIRO (AP) — A limited number of Palestinians were able to travel between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday, after Gaza’s Rafah crossing reopened after a two-day closure, Egyptian state media reported.

The vital border point opened last week for the first time since 2024, one of the main requirements for the U.S.-backed ceasefire. The crossing was closed Friday and Saturday because of confusion about reopening operations.

Egypt’s Al Qahera television station said that Palestinians began crossing in both directions around noon on Sunday. Israel didn’t immediately confirm the information.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington this week, though the major subject of discussion will be Iran, his office said.

Delays and mistreatment accusations

Over the first four days of the crossing’s opening, just 36 Palestinians requiring medical care were allowed to leave for Egypt, plus 62 companions, according to U.N. data, after Israel retrieved the body of the last hostage held in Gaza and several American officials visited Israel to press for the opening.

Palestinian officials say nearly 20,000 people in Gaza are seeking to leave for medical care that isn’t available in the territory. Those who have succeeded in crossing described delays and allegations of mistreatment by Israeli forces and other groups involved in the crossing, including an Israeli-backed Palestinian armed group, Abu Shabab.

A group of Palestinian patients and wounded gathered Sunday morning in the courtyard of a Red Crescent hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, before making their way to the Rafah crossing with Egypt for treatment abroad, family members told The Associated Press.

Amjad Abu Jedian, who was injured in the war, was scheduled to leave Gaza for medical treatment on the first day of the crossing’s reopening, but only five patients were allowed to travel that day, his mother, Raja Abu Jedian, said. Abu Jedian was shot by an Israeli sniper while he doing building work in the central Bureij refugee camp in July 2024, she said.

On Saturday, his family received a call from the World Health Organization notifying them that he is included in the group that will travel on Sunday, she said.

“We want them to take care of the patients (during their evacuation),” she said. “We want the Israeli military not to burden them.”

The Israeli defense branch that oversees the operation of the crossing didn’t immediately confirm the opening.

Heading back to Gaza

A group of Palestinians also arrived Sunday morning at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to return to the Gaza Strip, Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News satellite television reported.

Palestinians who returned to Gaza in the first few days of the crossing’s operation described hours of delays and invasive searches by Israeli authorities and Abu Shabab. A European Union mission and Palestinian officials run the border crossing, and Israel has its screening facility some distance away.

The crossing was reopened on Feb. 2 as part of a fragile ceasefire deal to halt the Israel-Hamas war.

The Rafah crossing, an essential lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza, was the only one in the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel before the war. Israel seized the Palestinian side of Rafah in May 2024, though traffic through the crossing was heavily restricted even before that.

Restrictions negotiated by Israeli, Egyptian, Palestinian and international officials meant that only 50 people would be allowed to return to Gaza each day and 50 medical patients — along with two companions for each — would be allowed to leave, but far fewer people have so far crossed in both directions.

Hamas negotiations

A senior Hamas official, Khaled Mashaal, said the militant group is open to discuss the future of its arms as part of a “balanced approach” that includes the reconstruction of Gaza and protecting the Palestinian enclave from Israel.

Mashaal said the group has offered multiple options, including a long-term truce, as part of its ongoing negotiations with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators.

Hamas plans to agree to a number of “guarantees,” including a 10-year period of disarmament and an international peacekeeping force on the borders, “to maintain peace and prevent any clashes,” between the militants and Israel, Mashaal said at a forum in Qatar’s capital, Doha.

Israel has repeatedly demanded a complete disarmament and destruction of Hamas and its infrastructure, both military and civil.

Mashaal accused Israel of financing and arming militias, like the Abu Shabab group which operates in Israeli military-controlled areas in Gaza, “to create chaos” in the enclave.

In the forum, Mashaal was asked about Hamas’ position from U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. He didn’t offer a specific answer, but said that the group won’t accept “foreign intervention” in Palestinian affairs.

“Gaza is for the people of Gaza. Palestinians are for the people of Palestine,” he said. “We will not accept foreign rule.”

___

Melanie Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.

A beauty enthusiast tried Primark’s budget-friendly K-beauty glass skin range, and was left floored after she saw her reflection in the mirror. She recently shared the results

Advertisement

Korean skincare has dominated the beauty world, with everybody clamouring for glass skin and a flawlessly plump complexion. However, occasionally the cost of the complete routine leaves shoppers wincing, wondering whether they can manage to purchase it repeatedly to maintain their skin in excellent condition.

But, due to Korean skincare’s widespread appeal, Primark has embraced the movement and begun stocking K-beauty products at a fraction of the cost. But do these affordable products match up to the tremendous buzz surrounding major brands such as Laneige, Yepoda and Beauty of Joseon?

Jordan, who shares content on TikTok as @jordanlipscombe, opted to test the Primark K-beauty collection for herself and initially tried the cleanser, as any proper routine starts with clean and refreshed skin.

Glass skin cleansing foam, £4.50

The website states: “You’ve just found the perfect first step towards the coveted glass skin look. Enriched with a hydrating Hyaluronic and Cica Complex, this K-Beauty cleansing mousse helps support the skin barrier while leaving your face feeling fresh and balanced.

“Use at the start of your routine, then follow with other products from the glass skin collection to enhance a healthy, glow-from-within finish”.

Jordan characterised the formula as “a thick mask-like texture” and remarked it felt “really nice”. “It doesn’t feel drying, but it definitely has that ‘tight’ feeling,” she explained.

Glass skin gel toner pads, £2.50

When Jordan unwrapped the packet, she was astonished because the pads were “drenched” in product, remarking she was surprised that it was a “see-through little pad”.

The Primark website states: “Promote hydration and plumping in your skincare regime with these K-Beauty gel facial toner pads. With 20 pads per pack, they’re formulated with a Hyaluronic Acid Complex to deliver targeted hydration where applied.

“Simply place, peel away and reveal a coveted high-shine glass skin effect. Lightweight and refreshing, use alongside other products in the glass skin collection to enhance a healthy, glow-from-within finish”.

For merely £2.50, you can’t go wrong, and Jordan was genuinely pleased that you received 20 pads too, and she swept one pad across her face, commenting: “These feel refreshing!” She even remarked on the instant “glow” to her complexion, noting that they don’t feel “sticky,” which is a benefit.

Glass skin rice toner, £4.50

Jordan mentioned that she anticipated this one would be “more hydrating” at first, but the pads had taken her by surprise. She did observe how the consistency of the rice toner was “thin”; nevertheless, she appreciates that.

But she did point out that, if you have drier skin, it might not be your preference because you may favour “richer” textures. The Primark website states: “Looking to achieve the sought-after glass skin look? This rice toner is one you’ll want in your routine.

“Formulated with soothing Cica Complex and balancing Niacinamide, this K-Beauty milky toner helps care for the skin barrier while leaving it feeling refreshed and comfortable”.

Jordan remarked on the “glow” once more, expressing her desire to use the milky toner beneath her makeup for a more natural feel. “I feel like my skin is taking this all in, like drinking this,” she commented.

Glass skin serum, £5

Jordan described this serum as incredibly “lightweight”, and she was astounded at how all the products were layering together to give her the ideal glass-skin glow.

Primark’s website details: “This face serum from the glass skin collection offers hydration and skin balancing properties in one simple step! It features a blend of Niacinamide and a Hyaluronic Complex to help soothe and care for the skin, supporting a high-shine glass skin effect. Complete with a pump dispenser for controlled application, it’ll make an easy addition to your skincare routine when you’re looking for an extra boost”.

Glass skin gel moisturiser, £5

It includes a small spatula to facilitate easier dispensing of the product, and when Jordan tried it, she instantly observed that it feels “very cooling” and “like a hybrid between a gel and a jelly”. She noted, despite being a gel, it has the “thickest texture out of all of these products,” which took her by surprise.

Primark’s website states: “Bring the benefits of a K-Beauty routine into your day-to-day regime with this face moisturiser from the glass skin collection! Formulated with a soothing Probiotic and Ceramide Complex, it helps support a glass skin effect while caring for the skin barrier.

“Meanwhile, the lightweight gel texture suits all skin types, from dry to oily. Use as your penultimate step before SPF to enjoy an added boost of hydration and plumping.”

Glass skin collagen mask, £2.50

Jordan didn’t sample the sheet mask in the TikTok clip, explaining she was planning to use it another time so she could properly experience the benefits of the other products.

The Primark website states: “Hydrating, firming and plumping? This two-part face sheet mask does it all! Infused with Soluble Collagen and Niacinamide, it helps firm and balance the skin, with the added benefit of overnight application.

“Wear it while you snooze (or at least three hours if you’re crunched for time) to give the ingredients longer to work. Use as your last step before you catch some shut eye, then peel off in the morning to reveal a glass skin effect”.

Final thoughts…

Jordan explained she wanted to wait to see whether the “glass skin effect dries”, or whether it remains, leaving your complexion looking radiant. She returned and revealed that she was “pleasantly surprised” and noted “for the price” it’s definitely worth a go, adding she has “zero complaints” thus far.

Jordan did mention it would “need more trialling,” but she was satisfied with the instant results. “Now I feel like a glazed donut,” she exclaimed after glancing in the mirror, as she couldn’t believe the outcome.

It’s important to note that you should examine a product’s packaging before testing new skincare to determine whether it suits your skin type. A glass skin routine with lighter products may not be appropriate for you if you have drier skin, and always verify the active ingredients in products before you buy, as you may have sensitivities to them.

It’s also worthwhile doing your homework to compare “higher-end” brand ingredients to these affordably-priced products, and determining which would be the best for you individually.

ITV daytime stars are said to be frustrated at the conditions of the new ITV studio as it has been reported stars are forced to share toilets and dressing rooms

Morale amongst the stars of ITV’s daytime shows is said to be at an all time low after dealing with the cramped conditions of the new ITV studio. The decision to relocate to a new studio was part of the broadcaster’s costing cutting method, which saw almost 200 staff lose their jobs across shows including Loose Women, This Morning and Lorraine.

All three shows now share one studio, which has resulted in Loose Women losing it’s live audience element. As part of the new working conditions, presenters including Cat Deeley, Ben Shepherd, Dermot O’Leary, Alison Hammond, Ruth Langsford and Kaye Adams are now sharing communal toilets and dressing rooms.

A TV insider has now claimed that the only TV star who has not had to abide by these new conditions is Lorraine Kelly, as she has her own personal toilet and dressing room.

READ MORE: Traitors star Claudia Winkleman’s eyeshadow stick drops to less than £10 ahead of NYE

A source told The Sun: “There have been quite a lot of issues since the team’s relocation to the new smaller studios. As well as the cramped space, presenters have had to give up their personal dressing rooms and loos. Lorraine is the only one who has her own private throne.”

They added: “But even she has to share it, with guests frequently popping in.” It has also been reported that Christine Lampard was forced to change outfits in a meeting room and the lift regularly breaks down.

However a spokesperson for ITV told The Mirror: “ITV daytime have been at the new state of the art MultiStory studios for over a month now and have adapted to the new surroundings successfully with the new space and look seeing an increase in audience share year on year and its digital output achieving almost 50million views every month.”

And an ITV insider told The Mirror: “There is a positive vibe across all three of the shows.”

Meanwhile, another show insider told The Sun that Lorraine has been more than gracious to accommodate the new changes. A source revealed: “Lorraine has been more than happy to share her toilet and no one is being precious about space. Everyone is mucking in together.”

Good Morning Britain has also undergone a change as it now shares a studio with ITN News. Speaking about the relocation and the axing of staff, Ranvir Singh revealed details about the general vibe among those who was left.

She told The Express: “A lot of those have stayed, because we’re still doing really well, the figures are great for Good Morning Britain and we’re doing well, but it has been a big change.

Ranvir went on to say: “Nothing you do personally, obviously, that’s great, but you still miss the people that you have loved working with for over a decade on breakfast television.”

On the ITV website a report was posted about the new location. It read: “From January 2026, the new studio, in London’s Covent Garden, will see the ITV Studios Daytime label produce and broadcast almost 900 hours of live daily programming annually.”

“The new studio will be equipped with state of the art tech facilities including a 360 degree set with LED walls which will ensure a quick turn around between shows and maximise use of the studio space.”

It went on to say: “The shows will be produced in a more sustainable way using one, high spec, remote gallery to produce and broadcast all three live programmes daily and any other productions wishing to use the space outside of the Daytime transmission. The remote gallery will be supplied by Gravity Media.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

The unit housed an NHS worker for months during the Covid pandemic

Advertisement

A proposal to permit a Pembrokeshire village garage, which previously accommodated an NHS worker during the Covid pandemic, to continue operating as an Airbnb holiday let has been approved.

In a submission to Pembrokeshire County Council Mark and Ann Pugh, of Wolfscastle, requested retrospective consent on behalf of their son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Natalie Pugh, for the transformation of a single-storey garage into a self-catering holiday let called Meadow View on the grounds of Little Longhouse, Wiston.

A supporting document stated that during 2017 the garage was transformed into a liveable space, utilised by family and friends between July 2017 and March 2020, before accommodating an NHS worker until December of that year throughout the Covid lockdown. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

It continued: “In 2021 it continued to accommodate family and friends.

“In 2022 and 2023 the property was used as a self-catering holiday unit advertised on Airbnb under the name Rose Cottage.

“Since the beginning of 2024 it has been marketed as Meadow View on Airbnb and Booking.com, continuing its role as a self-catering holiday unit.”

It further stated: “Meadow View is the second holiday rental at Little Longhouse following the successful establishment of Clover Cottage, which has been operating as a holiday let since 2013.

“This application seeks retrospective consent for Meadow View as a second unit of holiday accommodation within an established holiday enterprise at Little Longhouse.”

The application further stated: “Meadow View further contributes to local accommodation diversity by offering a small, one-bedroom, ground-floor unit making it particularly suitable for individuals with limited mobility.

“The holiday letting business at Little Longhouse is operated and managed primarily by the applicants’ daughter-in-law, who resides at Little Longhouse.

“The business is her primary source of income/employment and helps ensure that residing in the rural community of Wiston is viable.”

County planners granted conditional approval for the application.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.

Tyler Fletcher has revealed what Michael Carrick told him as he sent him on to make his Manchester United debut on a ‘mad day’ for the 18-year-old.

The midfielder, son of former United and Scotland star Darren, came on in stoppage time of the 2-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Red Devils continued their perfect run under interim boss Carrick, with four wins on the bounce following victories over Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham.

United are now fourth and just three points behind Aston Villa in third in the Premier League table as they bid for a return to Champions League football.

Fletcher hopped on the wave of momentum the Red Devils are building thanks to Carrick throwing him on to replace Kobbie Mainoo late in the game.

The Manchester United interim manager has been credited with freeing up his players and creating more attacking verve under his coaching and that tallies with the message he gave Fletcher as he stepped onto the pitch for his debut.

‘He just said enjoy it,’ Fletcher told MUTV. ‘Make the most of the moment. Go and get on the ball and do what you do, try to get as many touches as I can when I was on there, so I was trying to get little bounce passes, little short ones, just to get a few touches. That is what he said.

‘That’s the best moment of my career so far. I don’t think anything can top it. It’s a special moment for my family. I think my mum is here, my brother is here. My dad has got a game so he couldn’t make it.

‘It’s an unbelievable moment.’

He added: ‘It’s a mad day. I’m absolutely buzzing. The best day of my life, it’s a dream come true. I’ve just got to thank everyone for supporting me, throughout the way.’

Tyler’s twin brother Jack is also at Manchester United and has made three Premier League appearances already this season.

On how he was told about his memorable day, he said: ‘I found out I was in the squad yesterday, after the session. I got told you will be with the first team, you’ll be on the bench. I was buzzing with that.

‘I was warming up in the last five minutes and five minutes got added on. I got the call and I was like, ‘No way is this happening’. I got told to go and enjoy it and make as many passes as you can, get as many touches as you can, and that’s what I did.’

Carrick, who is loving life in his role in charge of the Red Devils, was glad to be able to give the talented teenager his first professional experience.

‘It was a proud moment for me, to be able to give Tyler his next step really in his career,’ he said. ‘I never take that for granted, never before, when I was at Middlesbrough, and giving young players an opportunity.

‘I wanted to get him out on the pitch today, just to sample it and feel it. He came on and did really well. It’s what this club is and what a week to do it, with the anniversary of Munich and the Busby Babes and everything this club is based on. So it’s special and I certainly don’t take that for granted. It was great to give Tyler his chance.’

Things could not be going any better for Carrick and Manchester United right now, with his chances of being appointed as permanent manager increasing with every victory.

On his future, he said: ‘Nah, it’s not for now. I think to get excited and carried away, as a supporter, is where you should be. It’s why you come to support us, to dream and get carried away, hopefully leaving in good spirits and looking forward to coming back.

‘It’s our job to provide that and, to be in a position to do that in the last few weeks, has been great. We’ve got to keep doing that.’

The Red Devils bid for a fifth straight win on Tuesday night at West Ham.

MORE: ‘Really special’ – Arsenal star singled out for praise after Sunderland win

MORE: Manchester United dealt injury scare as Bryan Mbeumo spotted limping after Tottenham win

MORE: Danny Murphy claims £47m Man Utd is ‘the best in Europe’ after Tottenham win

An update on the condition of Lindsey Vonn has been provided after the American skier was involved in a horror crash in the women’s downhill alpine skiing final at the Winter Olympics

An update has been provided on the status of Winter Olympics star Lindsey Vonn following a horrific crash during the women’s downhill alpine skiing final. The American athlete had to be airlifted to hospital after crashing out early in the course.

Vonn’s participation in the games was uncertain due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, sustained in another crash just days before the event began.

However, she made a remarkable recovery and successfully completed training runs leading up to the final.

Despite skiing without an anterior cruciate ligament and with a brace on her knee, the 41-year-old, who has previously had her right knee reconstructed, took part in the event as the 13th competitor.

Her crash caused a delay of approximately 20 minutes while she received medical attention, with audible cries of pain heard from the scene.

Former British skier Chemmy Alcott, who was visibly moved by the incident, provided an update on BBC around an hour after the crash.

She said: “I was just speaking to Enrica Cipriani who is part of the ‘Team Vonn’, actually one of the photos I think I sent you guys was one of her sitting on the chair lift with Lindsey this morning when we all thought this was going to end in a fairytale..”

She continued: “She said the good news is that Lindsey Vonn’s doctor, who did her knee, was here on the hill and was able to get in that helicopter with her. They are currently in Cortina, the helicopter landed.

“But she won’t going to the local hospital, it can’t deliver on what she needs. Likely she’ll be going over to Innsbruck.

“But even Enrica didn’t have an update, very hard to be part of that team who have sacrificed everything.

“Her husband Chris Knight is Lindsey Vonn’s coach, so she’s just trying to keep it together, and deal with what can be handled.”

Shortly after Vonn’s accident, Andorra’s Cande Moreno experienced a similar incident. Medical teams attended to her before she was airlifted from the mountain by helicopter.

The final concluded with Vonn’s compatriot Breezy Johnson topping the standings, followed by Germany’s Emma Aicher in second and Italy’s Sofia Goggia claiming third place.

Watch Winter Olympics 2026 live on discovery+

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£3.99

discovery+

Get discovery+ here

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games is running from February 6-22 and fans can enjoy more than 850 hours of action live on discovery+ via Prime Video.

Advertisement

Throughout the games, the £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription will provide access to TNT Sports 2, the home of 24/7 Olympic coverage.

The 41-year-old American sporting legend was airlifted to hospital after a crash on the slopes during the women’s downhill skiing final.

American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn endured a horror crash on her Olympic return in the women’s downhill and was airlifted to hospital. Hopes of a victorious comeback six years on from retirement had been hit by a serious knee injury suffered less than a fortnight out from the finals.

But the 41-year-old decided to compete in the winter Olympics. She burst out of the start in the final but caught a gate with her right arm after just 13 seconds, sending her tumbling down the slope to a halt.

She lay motionless on the slopes during the women’s downhill skiing final before being airlifted to hospital. The incident sparked an emotional reaction from the BBC’s broadcast team.

The Mirror reports Chemmy Alcott choked up as she said: “I actually feel guilty that I am this emotional. When we thought about the end of this story, we never thought and never believed that it would end in her in a clump at the side of the piece, not moving.

“What we saw is the top section is running very fast. The left-footer is really hard for healthy athletes.

“She is trying to throw herself down this, gunning for the podium. She doesn’t have a left knee, she drops her hip back and this is an absolute nightmare. It is an absolute nightmare.

“The whole world is watching and we wanted to see her come through the finish smiling, because she was fast, we wanted to see her take on this challenge, it is just really tough.

“I feel so bad that I feel this way because her family and all over her team… it is so sad.

“We have to be realistic. The risk was really really high for her to take on the G-force of this downhill.

“The risk she faced when you fall are double that. Her body will not be able to withstand that. The crowd here, everyone is feeling it. There is intermittent clapping and I think that is hope that she is going to get up.

“But then the screen comes on and we see all the medical staff around here. They have actually had to put on some background noise because it is quite uncomfortable.”

DNA MMA has been crowned the Prestige Awards Martial Arts School of the Year for 2025-2026.

The gym, based at Yorvale Business Park, first won the award for 2023-2024.

The accolade recognises the gym’s strong community and welcoming atmosphere and its dedication to creating a positive and successful environment for members.

Celebrating the achievement, a post on the gym’s social media read: The last couple of years have been super tough and very busy!

“Lots of changes, tons of upgrades to the club and it feels amazing for the team to be recognised for the hard work.

“It all comes down to DNA’s community spirit that has been built on our mats and in the cage!

“Our martial arts team is the friendliest, most welcoming and most helpful that I have ever encountered, and I consider myself very lucky to have such fantastic people proud to represent DNA MMA.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s top diplomat insisted Sunday that Tehran’s strength came from its ability to “say no to the great powers,” striking a maximalist position just after negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program and in the wake of nationwide protests.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to diplomats at a summit in Tehran, signaled that Iran would stick to its position that it must be able to enrich uranium — a major point of contention with President Donald Trump, who bombed Iranian atomic sites in June during the 12-day Iran-Israel war.

While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised the talks Friday in Oman with the Americans as “a step forward,” Araghchi’s remarks show the challenge ahead. Already, the U.S. moved the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, ships and warplanes to the Middle East to pressure Iran into an agreement and have the firepower necessary to strike the Islamic Republic should Trump choose to do so.

“I believe the secret of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s power lies in its ability to stand against bullying, domination and pressures from others,” Araghchi said. “They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not pursuing an atomic bomb. Our atomic bomb is the power to say no to the great powers. The secret of the Islamic Republic’s power is in the power to say no to the powers.”

‘Atomic bomb’ as rhetorical device

Araghchi’s choice to explicitly use an “atomic bomb” as a rhetorical device likely wasn’t accidental. While Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful, the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency say Tehran had an organized military program to seek the bomb up until 2003.

Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step to weapons-grade levels of 90%, the only non-weapons state to do so. Iranian officials in recent years had also been increasingly threatening that the Islamic Republic could seek the bomb, even while its diplomats have pointed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s preachings as a binding fatwa, or religious edict, that Iran wouldn’t build one.

Pezeshkian, who ordered Araghchi to pursue talks with the Americans after likely getting Khamenei’s blessing, also wrote on X on Sunday about the talks.

“The Iran-U.S. talks, held through the follow-up efforts of friendly governments in the region, were a step forward,” the president wrote. “Dialogue has always been our strategy for peaceful resolution. … The Iranian nation has always responded to respect with respect, but it does not tolerate the language of force.”

It remains unclear when and where, or if, there will be a second round of talks. Trump, after the talks Friday, offered few details but said: “Iran looks like they want to make a deal very badly — as they should.”

Aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea

During Friday’s talks, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of the American military’s Central Command, was in Oman. Cooper’s presence was likely an intentional reminder to Iran about the U.S. military presence in the region. Cooper later accompanied U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, to the Lincoln out in the Arabian Sea after the indirect negotiations.

Araghchi appeared to be taking the threat of an American military strike seriously, as many worried Iranians have in recent weeks. He noted that after multiple rounds of talks last year, the U.S. “attacked us in the midst of negotiations.”

“If you take a step back (in negotiations), it is not clear up to where it will go,” Araghchi said.