Life & Style – Winnipeg Free Press

Pilgrims honor the bones of St. Francis during the first public display inside the St. Francis Basilica, marking the 800th anniversary of the saint death, in Assisi, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Display of St. Francis of Assisi’s bones confirms enduring appeal of relics for Christians

Nicole Winfield And Gregorio Borgia, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: 7:03 AM CST

ASSISI, Italy (AP) — The bones of St. Francis of Assisi went on public display for the first time Sunday, capping an 800-year saga over his bodily remains and confirming the enduring appeal to Christians of venerating a saint’s relics.

Nearly 400,000 people registered in advance to see the bone fragments, which are contained in a slim, bulletproof Plexiglas case in the lower Basilica of St. Francis in the hilltop Umbrian town the medieval friar made famous.

The Franciscans decided to exhibit the bones for one month, through March 22, to honor the 800th anniversary of St. Francis ’ death in 1226. The aim is to revive his message of peace and fraternity that made him one of the most beloved Christian saints and inspired Pope Francis to take his name, the first pope to do so.

The exposition of his bodily remains is particularly remarkable given the somewhat tortured history of the body of St. Francis, a wealthy merchant’s son born in 1182 who gave up all his possessions to live as a mendicant friar.

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Newfoundland lobster tags from the 1980s among plastic trash washing up in Scotland

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Newfoundland lobster tags from the 1980s among plastic trash washing up in Scotland

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:34 PM CST

ST. JOHN'S - Lobster tags from Newfoundland dating back to the 1980s are among the piles of plastic trash that has washed up this year on Sanday, an island in the Scottish Orkney archipelago known for its pristine white sandy beaches.

David Warner organizes regular beach cleanups on the island, which is on the northeast side of the remote archipelago. Recent storms and high seas have eroded the dunes on the Howar Sands beach, revealing vast troughs of decades-old plastic bottles and other detritus, he said.

In a video interview, Warner held up a Kirkland-brand bottle of maple syrup with English and French on the label, suggesting it could be from Canada. He also displayed a red plastic lobster tag stamped with "NFLD," dated 1989.

Other bottles clearly originated in the United Kingdom before Britain stopped using shillings in 1971, he said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:34 PM CST

David Warner is shown on Feb. 20 in Scotland. Warner is seen holding up two plastic lobster tags stamped with

Blizzard warnings send East Coast scrambling to prepare for heavy snow and strong winds

Adam Geller, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Blizzard warnings send East Coast scrambling to prepare for heavy snow and strong winds

Adam Geller, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 8:47 AM CST

NEW YORK (AP) — Cities and towns along the East Coast scrambled to prepare for a bout with heavy snow and damaging winds after forecasters issued blizzard alerts for communities from Maryland to Massachusetts.

The National Weather Service warned that once the storm intensifies Sunday it could prove significantly more severe than projections made just a few days ago.

The weather service said 1 to 2 feet (about 30 to 61 centimeters) of snow was possible in many areas as it put out blizzard warnings for New York City and Long Island, Boston and coastal communities in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Flooding was also possible in parts of New York and New Jersey, it said.

“While we do get plenty of these nor'easters that produce heavy snow and strong impacts, it's been several years since we saw one of this magnitude across this large of a region in this very populated part of the country,” said Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the service's Weather Prediction Center.

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Updated: 8:47 AM CST

FILE - Pedestrians climb over snow banks to try and cross the streets in New York, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

A long-acting HIV drug arrives in Zimbabwe for some at highest risk

Farai Mutsaka, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

A long-acting HIV drug arrives in Zimbabwe for some at highest risk

Farai Mutsaka, The Associated Press 6 minute read Yesterday at 10:05 PM CST

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Young women, mothers holding babies and some men lined up in a dusty field on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. They came for injections of a new HIV prevention drug launched in the country on Thursday, one that only needs to be administered twice a year.

Zimbabwe, where HIV has led to tens of thousands of deaths over the past two decades, is one of the first countries to roll out lenacapavir, a long-acting drug that authorities hope will slow new infections.

With clinical studies demonstrating near-total protection, the drug has been described by some health officials as a turning point for high-risk groups. Others warn that turning scientific promise into broad impact will require overcoming funding constraints, infrastructure gaps and the challenge of keeping patients engaged.

At the Zimbabwe launch, Constance Mukoloka stepped out of a mobile clinic, beaming with relief after receiving one of the first doses.

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Yesterday at 10:05 PM CST

A nurse administers lenacapavir to Tambudzai Ndlovu during the launch of the new HIV prevention drug in Harare, Zimbabwe, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Ufumeli)

NASA delays astronaut moon mission again after new rocket problem

Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

NASA delays astronaut moon mission again after new rocket problem

Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:52 PM CST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — In the latest setback to return astronauts to the moon, NASA delayed the highly anticipated flight yet again after a new problem cropped up with the rocket Saturday.

April is now the earliest that the four Artemis II astronauts could fly to the moon.

NASA revealed the latest problem just one day after targeting March 6 for Artemis II, humanity’s first flight to the moon in more than half a century. Overnight, the flow of helium to the rocket’s upper stage was interrupted, officials said. Solid helium flow is essential for purging the engines and pressurizing the fuel tanks.

This helium issue has nothing to do with the hydrogen fuel leaks that marred a countdown dress rehearsal of the Space Launch System rocket earlier this month and forced a repeat test.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:52 PM CST

This image provided by NASA shows NASA's moon rocket sits on the pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (NASA via AP)

NYC nursing walkout ends as last striking nurses approve new contract

Jennifer Peltz, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

NYC nursing walkout ends as last striking nurses approve new contract

Jennifer Peltz, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 6:18 PM CST

NEW YORK (AP) — Nurses at a big New York hospital system approved a new contract Saturday, voting to end a major nursing strike after more than a month.

More than 4,000 nurses in the privately run NewYork-Presbyterian system went on strike Jan. 12. They are now due to start returning to work in the coming week. The union, called the New York State Nurses Association, said 93% of its members at NewYork-Presbyterian voted to ratify the three-year contract.

Two other big private hospital systems, Montefiore and Mount Sinai, ended their nurses’ walkout earlier this month by inking contract agreements with the same union.

“We are so happy with the wins we achieved, and now the fight to enforce these contracts and hold our employers accountable begins,” union President Nancy Hagans said in a statement Saturday.

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Yesterday at 6:18 PM CST

Nurses and their supporters strike in front of NewYork-Presbyterian hospital in New York, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

US ambassador causes uproar by claiming Israel has a right to much of the Middle East

Sam Mednick And Samy Magdy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

US ambassador causes uproar by claiming Israel has a right to much of the Middle East

Sam Mednick And Samy Magdy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:25 PM CST

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Arab and Muslim nations on Saturday sharply condemned comments by the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East.

Huckabee made the comments in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include essentially the entire Middle East, and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land.

Huckabee responded: “It would be fine if they took it all." Huckabee added, however, that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds.

His comments sparked immediate backlash from neighboring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:25 PM CST

Palestinians walk along the separation barrier between the West Bank and east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, Sunday Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

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The bones of St. Francis are going on public display, a mixed blessing for Assisi

Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

The bones of St. Francis are going on public display, a mixed blessing for Assisi

Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:37 PM CST

ASSISI, Italy (AP) — The bones of St. Francis of Assisi, the medieval friar who inspired Pope Francis and generations of Christians before him, are going on public display for the first time, giving his hilltop Umbrian hometown yet another reason to welcome pilgrims.

That’s a mixed blessing for Assisi Mayor Valter Stoppini, residents and the Franciscan friars who are organizing the monthlong display of relics to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death this year.

Already, nearly 400,000 people have registered to pray before the relics and Stoppini estimates the number could well reach a half-million before the bones go back into their tomb March 22.

A small army of 400 volunteers have been recruited to herd them through the medieval city’s cobblestone streets and into the lower Basilica of St. Francis to view the bones, which are held in a bulletproof glass box.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:37 PM CST

People visit the Basilica of St. Francis with Giotto's frescoes in Assisi, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, on the eve of the public display of St. Francis' remains to mark the 800th anniversary of his death in 1226.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Beer, breakfast, both? Canadians to rise early to cheer for hockey gold against U.S.

Fakiha Baig, Charlotte Glorieux and Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Beer, breakfast, both? Canadians to rise early to cheer for hockey gold against U.S.

Fakiha Baig, Charlotte Glorieux and Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:20 PM CST

From bar stools to church pews, Sunday best to pyjamas, hockey fans across the country will be rising bright and early to watch their team play for gold Sunday morning at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The Canadian men's team is set to face archrivals the United States starting at 8:10 a.m. ET.

Provincial governments across the country have allowed pubs to open and start serving alcohol in the morning. Beer taps in Ontario and Alberta can begin pouring as early as 6 a.m., while bars in Manitoba can serve as early as 5 a.m., all local times.

Ali Gangji, an Edmonton resident, says he and his wife are planning to wake up with their two hockey-obsessed boys, ages 9 and 11, around 4:30 a.m., put on their jerseys supporting players Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, and head to a bar in the city's west end.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:20 PM CST

Canada defenceman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates his goal with Canada defenceman Travis Sanheim (6) during third period men's Olympic semifinal hockey action against Finland at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Fans rise early to catch Canada play U.S. for Olympic hockey gold

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Fans rise early to catch Canada play U.S. for Olympic hockey gold

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 8:43 AM CST

Canadian hockey fans were up early and hoping their team shines as it plays for gold this morning at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The Canadian men's team is facing archrivals the United States. The puck dropped around 8:10 a.m. ET.

Fans were watching in different ways across the country, from their basement with coffee to church pews with snacks to bar stools with a morning beer.

Inside Scotiabank Arena, home base of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the usual crowd of blue jerseys were replaced by a sea of red.

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Updated: 8:43 AM CST

Olympic rings are seen on the glass as Canada warms up ahead of a quarterfinal men's hockey game against Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 9:00 AM CST

TORONTO - Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week:

Bank earnings

Canada's big banks will report their first-quarter results this week, starting with Scotiabank on Tuesday. BMO Financial Group and National Bank of Canada are set to report their results on Wednesday. CIBC, TD Bank and Royal Bank of Canada are scheduled for Thursday.

Loblaw results

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9:00 AM CST

TD Bank and Bank of Montreal signage is pictured in the financial district in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj

US says ambassador’s comments on Israel and the Middle East were taken out of context

Melanie Lidman And Samy Magdy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

US says ambassador’s comments on Israel and the Middle East were taken out of context

Melanie Lidman And Samy Magdy, The Associated Press 4 minute read 8:59 AM CST

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An uproar continued Sunday after the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East, as more Arab and Muslim countries objected and the U.S. said his comments were taken out of context.

Huckabee spoke in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include essentially the entire Middle East, including parts of modern-day Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. He quoted from Genesis Chapter 15 and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land.

Huckabee responded: “It would be fine if they took it all.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy said Sunday that Huckabee’s comments were taken out of context and that there is no change to U.S. policies on Israel.

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8:59 AM CST

FILE - U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee poses for a photo during an interview in Jerusalem, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, file)

Why adults pursuing career growth or personal interests are the ‘new majority’ student

Cheyanne Mumphrey, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Why adults pursuing career growth or personal interests are the ‘new majority’ student

Cheyanne Mumphrey, The Associated Press 6 minute read 7:26 AM CST

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Interested in starting a business, learning about artificial intelligence or exploring a new hobby? There's a class for that.

Millions of U.S. adults enroll in credit and non-credit college courses to earn professional certificates, learn new skills or to pursue academic degrees. Some older students are seeking career advancement, higher pay and job security, while others want to explore their personal interests or try new things.

“They might have kids, they might be working full-time, they might be older non-traditional students," said Eric Deschamps, the director of continuing education at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. But returning to school "opens doors to education for students that might not have those doors open to them otherwise.”

Older students, many of whom bring years of work and life experience to their studies, often are juggling courses with full-time jobs, caregiving and other family responsibilities. It is a challenging balancing act but can also sharpen priorities and provide a sense of fulfillment.

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7:26 AM CST

FILE - Hazel Soares, 94, center, gets her picture taken with some of her classmates before the start of commencement exercises at Mills College, in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, May 15, 2010. ( AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)

Social media can be addictive even for adults, but there are ways to cut back

Barbara Ortutay And Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Social media can be addictive even for adults, but there are ways to cut back

Barbara Ortutay And Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press 7 minute read Yesterday at 7:03 AM CST

Social media addiction has been compared to casinos, opioids and cigarettes.

While there’s some debate among experts about the line between overuse and addiction, and whether social media can cause the latter, there is no doubt that many people feel like they can’t escape the pull of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms.

The companies that designed your favorite apps have an incentive to keep you glued to them so they can serve up ads that make them billions of dollars in revenue. Resisting the pull of the endless scroll, the dopamine hits from short-form videos and the ego boost and validation that come from likes and positive interactions, can seem like an unfair fight. For some people, “rage-bait,” gloomy news and arguing with internet strangers also have an irresistible draw.

Much of the concern around social media addiction has focused on children. But adults are also susceptible to using social media so much that it starts affecting their day-to-day lives.

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Yesterday at 7:03 AM CST

FILE - A group holds hands outside a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)

‘Nothing’s changing’: Calgary man recovering in Ukraine sees no end to war

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

‘Nothing’s changing’: Calgary man recovering in Ukraine sees no end to war

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 7:00 AM CST

CALGARY - Mac Hughes looks at his body and the permanent reminders of a Russian drone strike last year.

Angry red, diamond shapes outline skin grafts on his legs. Mottled grey and purple skin covers his feet.

"They look kind of gnarly, almost like 'Call of Duty' skin on my legs or a painting," says the 23-year-old.

"I've been thinking about cool tattoos that I should do ... to make it look like my legs are on fire with flames or something like that."

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Yesterday at 7:00 AM CST

Canadian Mac Hughes who was injured by a Russian drone attack while fighting for Ukraine in July of 2025 is pictured in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

She was an orphan adopted from Iran by a US veteran. The Trump administration wants to deport her

Claire Galofaro, The Associated Press 8 minute read Preview

She was an orphan adopted from Iran by a US veteran. The Trump administration wants to deport her

Claire Galofaro, The Associated Press 8 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:09 AM CST

A woman adopted as a toddler by an American war veteran, who he found in the 1970s in an Iranian orphanage and raised as a Christian, is being threatened with deportation to Iran, a country notoriously dangerous for Christians and now on the brink of war with the United States.

She is one of thousands adopted from abroad who were never granted citizenship because of a fracture at the intersection of adoption and immigration law.

The woman, who The Associated Press is not naming because of her legal situation, received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month ordering her to appear for removal proceedings before an immigration judge in California. She has no criminal record. The letter says she is eligible for deportation because she overstayed her visa in March 1974 at 4 years old.

“I never imagined it would get to where it is today,” said the woman, who believes that, as a Christian and the daughter of an American Air Force officer, deportation to Iran might be a death sentence. “I always told myself that there is no way that this country could possibly send someone to their death in a country they left as an orphan. How could the United States do that?”

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:09 AM CST

February 22, 2026

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