HOT POINT

JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump'sBoard of Peaceisset to meetfor the first time on Thursday in Washington, an early test of whether one of his marquee foreign policy initiatives can gain broad support and advance the shaky ceasefire agreementin the Gaza Strip.

Board of Peace Explainer

Trump'sballooning ambitionsfor the board extend from governing and rebuilding Gaza as a futuristic metropolis to challenging the United Nations Security Council's role in solving conflicts. But they could be tempered by the realities of dealing with Gaza, where there has so far been limited progress in achievingthe narrower aimsof the ceasefire.

Palestinians, including many civilians, are still being killed innear-daily strikesthat Israel says are aimed at militants who threaten or attack its forces. Hamas hasn't disarmed, no international forces have deployed, and a Palestinian committee meant to take over from Hamas is stuck in neighboring Egypt.

"If this meeting does not result in fast, tangible improvements on the ground — and particularly on the humanitarian front — its credibility will quickly crumble," said Max Rodenbeck, Israel-Palestine Project Director at the International Crisis Group, a global think tank.

A new international body

More than two dozen nations have signed on as the board'sfounding members.

The list includes Israel and other regional heavyweights involved in ceasefire negotiations, as well as countries from outside the Middle East whose leaders support Trump or hope to gain his favor. U.S. allies like France, Norway and Swedenhave so far declined.

Israelis are suspicious of the involvement of Qatar and Turkey, which have longstanding relations with Hamas. Palestinians object because their representatives weren't invited to the board, even as it weighs the future of a territory that is home to some 2 million of them.

Trump, the self-appointed chairman of the board, said earlier this week that member countrieshad pledged $5 billiontoward rebuilding Gaza and would commit thousands of personnel to peacekeeping and policing. No financial pledges — or an agenda for this week's meeting — have been made public.

"We want to make it successful. I think it has the chance to be the most consequential board ever assembled of any kind," Trump told reporters on Monday. He reiterated his criticism of the U.N.'s record on resolving international disputes.

Ambitious plans

Trump — along with son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff — has laid out ambitious plans for rebuilding Gaza with international investment.

In Davos last month,Kushner suggestedreconstruction could be complete in a matter of three years, even though U.N. forecasts suggest that clearing rubble and demining alone could take much longer.

Kushner's slides showed a reconstructed Gaza with a coastal tourism strip, industrial zones and data centers. He conceded that rebuilding would begin only in demilitarized areas and that security would be essential to attract investment.

The latest joint estimate by the U.N., European Union and World Bank says reconstruction will cost about $70 billion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be no reconstruction until Hamas disarms, leaving Palestinians in limbo among the widespread devastation.

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Halting progress

The ceasefire deal has halted major military operations,freed the last hostagesheld by Hamas and ramped up aid deliveries to Gaza. But a lasting resolution to the two-year war ignited byHamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attackinto Israel remains elusive.

The deal envisions Hamas handing over its weapons and Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza as international forces deploy. Itleft some questions unanswered and set no timelineto secure buy-in and defer confrontation over those issues.

Israel and the U.S. say Hamas' disarmament is key to progress on the other fronts. Arab and Muslim members of the Board of Peace have accused Israel of undermining the ceasefire with its daily strikes and want the U.S. to rein in its close ally. They have called on Hamas to disarm but say Israel's withdrawal is just as important.

Israel defines demilitarization as extending from heavy weapons like rocket-propelled grenades all the way down to rifles. Netanyahu said Sunday that Hamas would have to give up roughly 60,000 automatic rifles.

Despite accepting the agreement, Hamas has made only vague or conditional commitments to disarm as part of a process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Senior Hamas officials have saidtheir security forcesneed to retain some weapons in order to maintain law and order during the transition.

Some of the ideas under discussion include Hamas "freezing" its arms by placing them in sealed depots under outside supervision or giving up heavy weapons while keeping some handguns for policing, according to two regional officials involved in the negotiations. One official said disarmament is a complicated process that could take months. The officials requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations.

It's far from certain that Israel or the United States would agree to such ideas.

A stabilization force

The ceasefire deal also calls for a temporary International Stabilization Force made up of soldiers from Arab and Muslim-majority countries to vet, train and support to a new Palestinian police force. Its mandate is not spelled out in detail, but would include securing aid deliveries and preventing weapons smuggling.

Countries being asked to contribute to the force insist that any deployment be framed as a peacekeeping mission. They have refused to take part in the disarmament of Hamas, a job that could put them in harm's way. Another concern is the presence ofarmed groups allied with Israel.

Indonesia has begun training a contingent ofup to 8,000 soldiersfor the force, though its foreign minister said last week that they would not take part in disarmament.

Postwar governance

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamasis to hand over powerto a transitional committee of politically independent Palestinian administrators. The U.S. has named a 15-member committee and tapped former U.N. envoy Nickolay Mladenov to oversee them as the board's envoy to Gaza.

The committee, led by former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath, has not yet been granted Israeli permission to enter Gaza from Egypt. Israel hasn't commented on the matter.

Mladenov said last week that the committee will not be able to work unless Hamas hands over power and ceasefire violations stop.

"We're only embarrassing the committee and ultimately making it ineffective," he said at the Munich Security Conference. "All of this needs to move very fast."

__ Magdy reported from Cairo. Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Fla. contributed reporting.

An ecological crisis of "historic proportion" is underwayin the Potomac Riverafter a massive sewer pipe collapse north of Washington, D.C., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday.

The millions of gallons of diseased waste polluting the major waterway that winds through the nation's capital is one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history, according to theUniversity of Maryland.

E.coli bacteria levels in the Potomac were hundreds of times higher than the level the EPA considers safe when the water was tested this week at the site of the spill, officials from utility company DC Water said Tuesday.

Some 243.5 million gallons of raw sewage have poured into the Potomac since the Jan. 19 mishap, DC Water said.

But the waters near the capital city's Georgetown neighborhood fell within the EPA's safety limits when tested on Monday and weren't a risk for gastrointestinal illness and skin infections — largely because the river has been frozen over for weeks.

DC Water has told area residents to avoid the untreated sewage. They urge anyone who comes into contact with the wastewater to leave the area immediately, wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and clean water, and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Squad in Maryland is warning their first responders to treat any emergency calls in or near the Potomac River spill site as "Hazmat calls," NBC Washington reports. Responders should wear personal protective equipment during those calls due to the dangerous levels of E. coli and other contaminants in the water.

As for the politics around the water crisis, those continued to be toxic.

"The Potomac Interceptor overflow is a sewage crisis of historic proportion," the EPA said in their first statement on the disaster. "Never should any American family, community, or waterway ever have to experience this level of extensive environmental damage."

The EPA, it said, has "the experience and track record to fulfill President Trump's strong desire to get this mess cleaned up as fast as humanly possible."

But, the EPA says, neither officials in Maryland, where the sewage pipe burst, nor in Washington, D.C., have sought the EPA's help.

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The EPA's claim came on the same day that Trumpposted on Truth Socialthat the spill is "not at all" handled by the federal government and that if the governors of Maryland and Virginia, and the D.C. mayor — all three of whom are Democrats — want federal assistance, they will have to ask "politely" for help.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore rejected the president's claims and said it was indeed the federal government's responsibility.

"I know this is breaking news to everyone, but the President is not telling the truth," Moore said.

Moore said it's been the job of the federal government to maintain that pipe "for the past century" and that thus far, Maryland's Department of the Environment has been fixing the pipe and cleaning-up the mess while the EPA has done nothing.

"Now that it is essentially 99% contained," Moore said, "the President of the United States is finally realizing that this was his job, and he hasn't been doing it for the past month."

The 54-mile Potomac Interceptor carries about 60 million gallons of wastewater every day from as far away as Dulles Airport in Sterling, Virginia, to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Southwest D.C. for treatment.

By Jan. 24, crews from DC Water were able to complete a bypass to reroute wastewater around the collapsed section of pipe and back into the sewer system.

The remaining emergency repairs to the pipe will be complete by mid-March, according to DC Water.

The long-term fixes to ensure that this pipe remains functional in the years to come will take 9 to 10 months, they said.

"The next critical step is to install a steel bulkhead gate later this week to isolate the damaged pipe section,"DC Water said in a statement. "Once the gate is in place, crews will work to pump out any remaining wastewater at the collapse site and start excavation to remove the rock dam that has been blocking inspection and repair."

It's also safe to drink the water in the nation's capital.

"There is no impact to the drinking water supply," DC Water Spokesperson Sherri Lewis told NBC Washington. "The sewer system, the water system are completely separate."

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Su Yiming of China won the gold medal in men's slopestyle snowboarding at theWinter Olympicson Wednesday.

Milan Cortina Olympics Snowboard

Su collected his fourth career medal and his second of these Games on his 22nd birthday.

Taiga Hasegawa of Japan took silver and American rider Jake Canter claimed the bronze.

Su's first of three runs that earned him 82.41 points proved enough after no rival was able to better that score.

It was China's first gold and its seventh overall of the Milan Cortina Games. Su has won two of those.

Su, a former child actor, wongold in big airand silver in slopestyle at the Beijing 2022 Games. Last week, he tookbronze in big airalso in the Italian Alps.

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Su cried tears, apparently of emotional release, after he completed his third run when he didn't improve on his first run. He still had to watch seven more riders take their last shot at his score from the bottom of the course. But they all either fell or came up short with their scores.

The Livingo slopestyle course consists of three rail elements and three jumps. Judges score riders on their creativity and execution of tricks and their routine as a whole. Riders got three chances to perform their routines with only their best score counting.

Mark McMorris of Canada, a three-time bronze medalist, finished eighth two weeks afterbeing concussedin training.

The women's slopestyle final is later on Wednesday.

AP Winter Olympics:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

MILAN (AP) — Ami Nakai and Japanese teammate Kaori Sakamoto upstaged Alysa Liu and the rest of the "Blade Angels" from the U.S. to take the lead after theshort program in the women's figure skatingcompetition at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

APTOPIX Milan Cortina Olympics Figure Skating

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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AP Winter Olympics:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Things got so bad during UCLA's blowout road loss to Michigan State on Tuesday night thatBruinscoach Mick Cronin apparently felt the need to eject one of his own players.

The incident occurred late in the second half of an eventual82-59 losson Feb. 17 when UCLA center Steven Jamerson II picked up a flagrant foul for hacking a Spartans player from behind on a dunk attempt.

Cronin explained afterward he didn't appreciate Jamerson's actions, especially coming with just 4:26 to go and the Bruins trailing 77-50.

"I was thoroughly disappointed,"Cronin told reporters after the game. "The guy was defenseless in the air. I know Steve was trying to block the shot, but the game's a 25-point game. You don't do that."

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Frustrations continue to mount for the Bruins, who lost to top-ranked Michigan by 30 points on Saturday after entering the weekend winning five of their last six.

Cronin also had a testy exchange with a reporter after the game. When asked about the Michigan State student section chanting the name of former Spartans player Xavier Booker − who transferred to UCLA last year after two underwhelming seasons in East Lansing − Cronin fired back angrily.

"I would like to give you kudos for the worst question I've ever been asked," he said. "You really think I care about the other team's student section?"

The loss dropped UCLA to 17-9 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten. Michigan State improved to 21-5 and 11-4 in Big Ten play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:UCLA coach Mick Cronin kicks out Steven Jamerson after hard foul

If you notice people with ash‑marked crosses on their foreheads on Feb. 18, it's because of Ash Wednesday, which marks thestart of Lenton the Christian calendar.

Ash Wednesday fallsthe day after Mardi Grasand is traditionally observed with church services where ashes are applied to the forehead as a symbolic reminder of reflection and renewal. The day begins Lent, a 40‑day period leading up to Easter on April 5 that is often marked by limited fasting, dietary restrictions such asavoiding meat on Fridays, and acts of charity.

Contrary to popular belief,Lent is not exclusively observed by Catholics, but is also practiced by Orthodox Christians and Protestants, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and some Evangelical churches.

Here's what to know about Ash Wednesday.

When is Ash Wednesday? When does Lent begin?

Ash Wednesday falls on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The holy day marks the beginning of Lent.

When is Easter Sunday?

Easter Sunday will fall on April 5 in 2026.

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period for repentance and prayer, according to theUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops(USCCB). It is also a time when people are asked to perform acts of charity.

On this day, many Christians mark their Lenten journey by receiving ashes made from the palms distributed during the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration, the first day of Holy Week, which commemorates Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. Many Catholics will attend a mass where the priests will smudge ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.

The season of prayer lasts 40 days, excluding Sundays, and ends on Holy Thursday (April 2). It is when Christians prepare to "celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter."

Fasting during Lent

Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (April 3), according to USA TODAY's previous reporting. But Roman Catholic guidelines for fasting differ from those in other faiths that require believers to abstain from food or drink for extended periods.

"In the Church's directions for fasting, she says one regular-sized meal and two smaller meals that don't equal that regular-sized meal," Father Dustin Dought, the executive director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, previously told USA TODAY.

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There is no specific portion size set in the rule. Dought says it's "relative" depending on the person and their life stage.

"A full meal for someone who does very intense bodily work may be different from a full meal for someone who doesn't," said Dought.

According to him, the only Roman Catholics who are obligated to fast are people aged 18 to 59.

Catholics avoid eating meat on Ash Wednesday

Catholicsabstain from eating meaton Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent, including Good Friday.

"Since Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us on Good Friday, we refrain from eating flesh meat in his honor on Fridays," statedthe Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

William Johnston, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, previously toldUSA TODAYthat abstaining from eating meat is also a form of penance – admitting to any wrongdoings and sins while turning back to belief in God.

What can Catholics eat while abstaining during Lent?

On days when people abstain from eating meat, the most popular choice is fish, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.

The Archdiocese says fish, shrimp, crab, lobster and other shellfish can also be eaten.

Those who don't have a taste for seafood can opt for non-flesh animal products, like milk, eggs, cheese and butter.

Contributing:Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What is Ash Wednesday? When it is and why it's celebrated.

By Jason Lange

New Epstein images released by U.S. Justice Department

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Americans believe that wealthy and powerful people are rarely held accountable, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found after the release of millions of records on the late sex offender Jeffrey ‌Epstein's connections in elite U.S. business and political circles.

Some 69% of respondents in the four-day poll, which ‌concluded on Monday, said their views were captured "very well" or "extremely well" by a statement that the Epstein files "show that powerful people in the U.S. are ​rarely held accountable for their actions."

Another 17% said the statement described their views "somewhat well," while 11% said it didn't reflect their thinking. Among both Republicans and Democrats, more than 80% said the statement described their thinking at least somewhat well.

Under congressional orders, the U.S. Justice Department has released trove after trove of documents that tie the late financier to a range of prominent ‌people in politics, finance, academia and business, ⁠both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl. Epstein's 2019 death in a Manhattan jail cell following his arrest on charges of ⁠sex trafficking of minors was ruled a suicide.

The scandal has proven a persistent political headache for President Donald Trump, who long fanned the flames of suspicions around Epstein and has been dogged by criticism that his administration was failing to fully disclose all that ​the ​U.S. government knew about the case.

SOME CONSEQUENCES IN CORPORATE AMERICA

The disclosures ​have started to cause the downfall of prominent people. ‌Executives at Goldman Sachs and Hyatt Hotels have resigned.

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Others have retained powerful posts. Trump's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick apparently visited Epstein's private island for lunch in 2012 and invited him to a fundraiser in 2015 for Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic rival in the 2016 presidential election, emails show.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump's administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, emailed an invitation to a Valentine's Day party in 2016 to Epstein, the Justice Department documents show.

Neither Lutnick nor Oz ‌is accused of wrongdoing.

The Republican president, who socialized extensively with Epstein in ​the 1990s and 2000s, has denied any knowledge of the financier's ​crimes and says he broke off ties in the ​early 2000s, before Epstein's plea deal.

While Americans generally have low expectations that elites will be held ‌accountable, they are somewhat split along partisan lines ​on how much longer the nation ​should dwell on the Epstein affair.

Asked if their views were well described by the statement that "it's time for the country to move on from talking about the Epstein files," 67% of Republican respondents in the poll ​said this captured their thinking at least ‌somewhat well, while only 21% of Democrats said the same.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted online and nationwide, gathered ​responses from 1,117 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

(Reporting by Jason ​Lange in Washington; editing by Scott Malone and Cynthia Osterman)