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The moment came Thursday at Amerant Bank Arena before the Panthers faced the Maple Leafs, celebrating Tkachuk and Auston Matthews' roles in Team USA's first men's hockey gold in 46 years, sealed by Jack Hughes' overtime goal against Canada on Feb. 22. Tkachuk dedicated the win to the military and first responders on X, drawing praise from veterans, fans, and even rivals like the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association. While some critics downplayed the hype, the patriotic gesture resonated widely, blending hockey triumph with military honor.

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Matthew Tkachuk skated across the ice clutching an American flag, then handed the game puck to 101-year-old WWII veteran Jim Sileno. The arena erupted in 'USA!' chants as smiles lit up their faces during the handshake.

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The resolution, backed by groups such as Children's Health Defense and Brownstone Institute, calls the 2020-2023 pandemic response the longest suspension of U.S. civil liberties in history. It pushes for declarations of public health emergencies to last no more than 30 days without legislative approval and protections for bodily autonomy and free speech. By late afternoon on launch day, over 10,500 people had signed at covidjustice.org, with supporters like Jeffrey A. Tucker hailing it as a clear stand against what they see as wrong, unscientific measures. Critics from public health circles maintain those steps saved lives, while no senators have endorsed it yet.

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A coalition of health freedom advocates just rolled out a petition demanding the Senate reject COVID-era policies like mandates and closures, vowing never to repeat them.

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The 34-year-old French star debuted the metallic hairstyle during Monday's session in the Visit Rwanda kit, chatting and drilling with players like Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez. It comes ahead of Tuesday's home second leg against Club Brugge at the Metropolitano, following a 3-3 draw away and a recent 3-0 La Liga loss. Fans celebrated the look as a good-luck sign, though some recalled a past buzzcut penalty miss against Brugge, while Griezmann eyes his 100th European appearance for the club.

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Antoine Griezmann showed up to Atletico Madrid training with a sleek silver buzzcut, grinning alongside teammates just before their big Champions League match.

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Chinese personnel with machinery are surveying the Anchau community in Kubau local government area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. They are instructing residents to sell their land and relocate. Social media discussions call for intervention from Kaduna state and federal government officials.

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Damian Lillard won the 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest at All-Star Saturday Night in Los Angeles, scoring 29 points in the final to beat Devin Booker (27) and Kon Knueppel (17), joining Larry Bird and Jason Kapono as the only three-time winners. Curry, a two-time champ who sat out the event, stole the show with his epic long-range swish from above the Intuit Dome. He then promised to enter next year with Lillard, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant for a dream-team showdown.

Key Takeaway

From the broadcast booth, Steph Curry launched a 100-foot 3-pointer that swished perfectly as Damian Lillard claimed his third contest crown. The crowd roared while broadcasters shouted, 'Greatness, baby!'

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Imisioluwa Eniola Ayanwale, the 24-year-old BBNaija Season 10 winner from Oyo State, joined Soft Canada as brand ambassador. The platform provides immigration tips like Express Entry, study permits, and job advice for newcomers, especially Africans. After taking home N150 million in October 2025, Imisi—who designs fashion and acts—teased easier paths to Canada, turning past troll jokes about visa hunts into triumphant reality as supporters cheer her international rise.

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Imisi stood out in a crisp white outfit next to Canada's maple leaf, announcing her new role with pure excitement. Fans poured in with 🇨🇦 emojis, celebrating her big step forward.

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The Orlando Magic defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 110-109 in Los Angeles, with Paolo Banchero leading the Magic with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. On the Lakers' final possession, Luka Doncic passed up a wide-open three-pointer to LeBron James, who missed an off-balance buzzer-beater. Lakers coach JJ Redick stated the play was designed for Doncic, who took responsibility for the decision.

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The Bank of Botswana launched the commemorative note last year for its 50th anniversary, featuring 22-year-old Tebogo's 200m gold from the 2024 Paris Olympics and the relay team's silver—Botswana's first Olympic medals. That inspired South Africans to call for a limited R100 note honoring DJ Black Coffee, the Grammy-winning house music star who's elevated the nation's sound globally through Coachella sets and philanthropy. While supporters praise his cultural impact, critics argue athletes like Springboks captain Siya Kolisi better represent national glory on currency currently featuring Nelson Mandela.

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Botswana put Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo's face on its 50 Pula note, turning everyday cash into a daily dose of national pride for kids and fans alike.

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The 1994 World Cup winner recounted urging 16-year-old Thiago to join Brazil's Seleção, only to hear from the CBF that players from foreign academies were ineligible. Thiago, who grew up in Spain's La Masia after moving there as a toddler, went on to win youth Euros and senior caps for Spain while starring at Barcelona, Bayern, and Liverpool. Mazinho's story highlights a past policy favoring homegrown talent that fans now blame for Brazil missing out on Thiago's midfield magic during their trophy drought.

Key Takeaway

Mazinho wanted his teenage son Thiago to shine for Brazil, but a CBF policy slammed the door. Instead, the prodigy built a stellar career with Spain.

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Troy Deeney stated on CBS Sports Golazo that no Chelsea fan would pick Pedro Neto or Garnacho ahead of PSG's attackers, emphasizing they are not on the same level. The discussion with Charlie Davies and Geoff Shreeves compared lineups for an upcoming Chelsea vs. PSG match.

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A video from northern Nigeria shows Tambuwal, held by bandits since around August 2025, describing his suffering after his family couldn't pay the ransom. The clip, shared widely early Friday, highlights the banditry crisis in states like Sokoto, where groups kidnap for ransom despite a federal ban, fueling outrage over government inaction. Critics call for a state of emergency amid thousands killed and displaced, with no official response yet as his condition worsens.

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Kasimu Wali Tambuwal squats shirtless in a forest, his body frail from six months of torture and starvation, begging in Hausa for rescue as his vision fades.

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A widely shared post claimed President Boko said Botswana is tired of foreign deals on its minerals and demanded buyers come home, rejecting a Trump invitation. No official statements, posts from Boko's account, or news reports confirm the invite or quote, which appears fabricated with editing artifacts. The story tapped into real frustrations over Botswana's diamond trade amid slumping sales and U.S. tariffs, earning praise for Boko's image as an assertive leader after his 2024 election win. Skeptics quickly pointed out the hoax, stressing Africa needs facts as much as strong leadership.

Key Takeaway

A striking image of Botswana's President Duma Gideon Boko holding a massive diamond next to Donald Trump fueled hopes of bold resource sovereignty. But the quote refusing a White House invite never happened.

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The emotional video, resurfaced on Monday, exploded after a U.S. influencer's complaints about unfriendly South Africans during her visit. Nigerians, Ghanaians, and others responded with shock, dark humor, and jabs at perceived hypocrisy toward Western visitors. Some South Africans defended her grief over her son's alleged death from drugs sold by a foreigner, while critics rejected excusing broad hatred against fellow Africans. The clip highlights South Africa's tensions over immigration, crime, and economic woes amid calls for Pan-African unity.

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Tears streaming down her face, a South African woman poured out her raw hatred for foreigners from her community, using slurs like 'kwerekwere' aimed at Black African immigrants.

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Troy Deeney stated on CBS Sports Golazo that no Chelsea fan would pick Pedro Neto or Garnacho ahead of PSG's attackers, emphasizing they are not on the same level. The discussion with Charlie Davies and Geoff Shreeves compared lineups for an upcoming Chelsea vs. PSG match.

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ESPN's First Take debated whether Boston's Jaylen Brown or Denver's Nikola Jokic deserves NBA MVP honors before tonight's primetime matchup, sparking fan backlash over the comparison. Brown averages 29.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 51 games while Tatum recovers from an Achilles injury, though advanced stats favor Jokic's 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 10.5 assists with elite efficiency for the fourth-place Nuggets. Boston thrives even without Brown at times, highlighting team depth, yet some see him as an underdog load-carrier; official ladders still rank Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic ahead.

Key Takeaway

Jaylen Brown has been carrying the Celtics without Jayson Tatum, dropping 29 points a game. But can he really top Nikola Jokic's triple-double mastery in the MVP race?

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South Africa's Special Investigating Unit revealed on February 23, 2026, how four officials earning under R25,000 monthly amassed R16.3 million from over 2,000 fraudulent visas and permits, part of a R181 million corruption web. They approved applications without checks for bribes of R500 to R3,000, hiding funds via spouses' accounts, ghost SIM e-wallets, and small cash deposits that evaded bank flags. High-profile cases included fake permits for Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and Pastor Timothy Omotoso; Home Affairs has fired 20 staff and aims to revoke thousands of documents while pursuing recoveries.

Key Takeaway

Low-paid government workers at Home Affairs turned visas into a lucrative side hustle, raking in millions through WhatsApp deals and sneaky bank transfers.

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Speaking to the AIPAC Policy Conference on Tuesday, Netanyahu criticized left-wing accusations of genocide in Gaza and right-wing calls for Jews to take DNA tests to prove their identity. He referenced a recent Tucker Carlson interview with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, where Carlson questioned Jewish land claims and alleged Netanyahu invoked biblical references to target Palestinians—a charge Israeli officials deny. Netanyahu defended Israel's military operations as minimizing civilian harm while fighting Hamas, amid ongoing debates over U.S. aid and Zionism as Jewish self-determination in their ancestral homeland.

Key Takeaway

In a direct video address, Benjamin Netanyahu called out extremists on both sides for dangerous rhetoric against Israel and Jews.

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