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Japan’s Sakamoto Three-Peats as Women’s Figure Skating World Champion

Gold medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan reacts after the medals ceremony for the Women's program of the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2024 in Montreal, Canada, 22 March 2024. (EPA)
Gold medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan reacts after the medals ceremony for the Women's program of the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2024 in Montreal, Canada, 22 March 2024. (EPA)
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Japan’s Sakamoto Three-Peats as Women’s Figure Skating World Champion

Gold medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan reacts after the medals ceremony for the Women's program of the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2024 in Montreal, Canada, 22 March 2024. (EPA)
Gold medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan reacts after the medals ceremony for the Women's program of the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2024 in Montreal, Canada, 22 March 2024. (EPA)

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan is the first women’s figure skater to three-peat as world champion since American Peggy Fleming from 1966 to 1968.

Sakamoto captured gold again Friday at the Bell Center, climbing from fourth place after the short program to the top of the podium with a near-flawless performance.

The 23-year-old led the pack by more than 10 points in the free program to finish with 222.96 points and earn a standing ovation from the 6,000 fans on hand.

Isabeau Levito of the United States — a 2022 world junior champion — claimed silver (212.16) for her first medal at a senior worlds. Chaeyeon Kim of South Korea took bronze (203.59).

Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx placed first in the short program Wednesday, but slipped to fourth after missing her rotation on a double lutz, triple-toe loop combination and subsequently falling on a triple flip.

American Amber Glenn was 10th (186.53), after placing ninth on Wednesday.

Earlier Friday, defending ice dance champions and 2022 Olympic gold medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States finished first with a season-best 90.08 in the rhythm dance. Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri were second (87.52) ahead of Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (86.51).

Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko of the United States qualified with an eight-place finish (79.26).

Competition ends Saturday with the free dance and the men’s free program.

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Israel Warns Lebanon It Would Hit Hard if Hezbollah Gets Involved in Any US-Iran War, Lebanese Officials Say 

People gather near a building damaged in an Israeli strike in the village of Bednayel in eastern Lebanon, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
People gather near a building damaged in an Israeli strike in the village of Bednayel in eastern Lebanon, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
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Israel Warns Lebanon It Would Hit Hard if Hezbollah Gets Involved in Any US-Iran War, Lebanese Officials Say 

People gather near a building damaged in an Israeli strike in the village of Bednayel in eastern Lebanon, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
People gather near a building damaged in an Israeli strike in the village of Bednayel in eastern Lebanon, 21 February 2026. (EPA)

Israel has sent an indirect message to Lebanon that it would strike Lebanon hard, targeting civilian infrastructure including the airport, in the event that Hezbollah gets involved in any US-Iran war, two senior Lebanese officials said on Tuesday. 

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese presidency did not ‌immediately respond ‌to requests for comment. 

Iran and ‌the ⁠US will hold a ⁠third round of nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on Sunday, amid growing concerns about the risk of military conflict between the adversaries. 

Israel dealt heavy blows to ⁠the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah during ‌a war ‌in 2024, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah along with ‌thousands of its fighters and destroying much ‌of its arsenal. 

Hezbollah was established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982. 

Hezbollah's new leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a televised address last ‌month that the group was "not neutral" in the standoff between ⁠Washington and ⁠Tehran, and that it was "targeted by the potential aggression". 

"We are determined to defend ourselves. We will choose in due course how to act, whether to intervene or not," Qassem said. 

The US State Department is pulling out non-essential government personnel and their eligible family members from the US embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said on Monday. 

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PSG Coach Luis Enrique Must Decide Whether to Protect Lead or Attack Against Monaco 

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the French League One match between Paris Saint-Germain and Metz in Paris, France, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the French League One match between Paris Saint-Germain and Metz in Paris, France, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP)
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PSG Coach Luis Enrique Must Decide Whether to Protect Lead or Attack Against Monaco 

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the French League One match between Paris Saint-Germain and Metz in Paris, France, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the French League One match between Paris Saint-Germain and Metz in Paris, France, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP)

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique may be unsure how to approach the second leg of the Champions League playoff against Monaco on Wednesday.

Although PSG is 3-2 ahead, protecting leads is not his style. But attacking too much against a technically strong Monaco side could expose his team to costly counterattacks.

Coach Sébastien Pocognoli's Monaco has 13 goals in the past six games. Although two of those have been defeats, the attack is looking much sharper.

Monaco went 2-0 up inside 20 minutes against PSG last week, only for clumsy defending to allow PSG back into the game. Against Lens on Saturday, Monaco overturned a 2-0 deficit with a three-goal burst in 10 second-half minutes.

PSG's defense looks weaker than last season — conceding against Monaco after just 55 seconds — and is not helped by uncertainty over the goalkeeper.

Since Gianluigi Donnarumma’s departure, Luis Enrique has alternated between Matvei Safonov and summer signing Lucas Chevalier.

Pairing Ansu Fati and Folarin Balogun in attack could be Pocognoli’s best option.

Fati has nine goals in 20 games, including a fine lob in against Lens on Saturday.

The former Barcelona teenage prodigy has been hampered by minor injuries this season. He went on as a substitute against Lens, but Pocognoli is likely to start him against PSG.

Balogun has also dealt with injuries but finally seems fully fit. The American forward's two goals against PSG last week and his opportunist strike against Lens showed he is back in form.

Their movement up front, allied to the runs of attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, may stretch PSG's defense and leave space for midfielders behind.

Fati and Akliouche can dribble at speed, while Balogun’s versatility allows him to play wide or through the middle.

Rapid counterattacks are Monaco's strength.

When Monaco beat PSG 1-0 in Ligue 1 in November the goal came from a quick break. On Saturday, the third goal against Lens was a slick counterattack ending with Fati's lob.

PSG showed vulnerability to quick balls played behind the full backs when it lost at Rennes 3-1 this month; while Monaco's first goal last Tuesday saw left back Caio Henrique finding space behind right back Achraf Hakimi and Aleksandr Golovin crossing for Balogun to head in.

Henrique and right back Vanderson both like to attack. This may force Luis Enrique to instruct his own attacking full backs, Hakimi and left back Nuno Gomes, not to push up too much.

Sports

Morocco Captain Saiss Announces International Retirement 

Romain Saiss. (Getty Images file)
Romain Saiss. (Getty Images file)
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Morocco Captain Saiss Announces International Retirement 

Romain Saiss. (Getty Images file)
Romain Saiss. (Getty Images file)

Veteran Morocco captain Romain Saiss announced on Tuesday his retirement from international football, bringing to a close what he called "the most beautiful chapter of my life".

Saiss's decision comes after repeated injuries, including in the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he only played 18 minutes in the opening match against Comoros before he was substituted due to an issue with his left thigh.

The 35-year-old former Angers and Wolverhampton Wanderers center-back said on social media the decision followed "careful reflection" and was made with "immense emotion".

"Wearing the colors of Morocco and becoming their captain will remain the greatest honor of my career," he wrote.

"Every time I wore it, I felt the weight of responsibility, but above all an indescribable pride."

His brief AFCON return in December had followed an 18-month absence, also due to injury, having skippered the side to the 2022 World Cup semi-final.

Saiss's retirement comes just three months ahead of this year's World Cup, in which Morocco are set to face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.

"I will now be your number one supporter," he said.

"I am leaving the national team, but I will forever remain a Lion."

Saiss will still play for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd.