2026 Winter Olympics Come to a Close
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games officially came to a close this past Sunday, Feb. 22, after a three-week stretch of competition involving over 90 nations and over 116 events. This year was no ordinary Olympic year, however, with outstanding achievement and controversy taking center stage.
The United States brought home 33 total medals this year, including 12 gold medals, placing them second overall, only behind Norway. Some notable gold medalists included speed skater Jordan Stolz, alpine skiers Breezy Johnson and Alex Ferreira and figure skater Alysa Liu. Additionally, the US women’s hockey team brought home gold for their third time.
However, the competitions this year didn’t come without incident. Before the games even began, Russian and Belarusian Olympic committees were banned from competing due to geopolitical reasons, resulting in athletes from those countries competing as neutral athletes. There have also been calls to exclude the Iranian team from the Olympics due to internal unrest and violence.
Additionally, concerns have been raised over the unruly and unsportsmanlike behavior in competitive environments, most notably seen in the shouting match between Canadian and Swedish curlers after a cheating dispute.
US Builds up Forces Around Iran Amid Pending Nuclear Deal
In recent days, the US has been mounting its greatest military buildup in the Middle East in decades as President Trump attempts to pressure Iran into accepting a deal that would limit its nuclear capabilities.
At least a dozen warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, have been deployed to the area, according to Business Insider, showing a clear possibility of escalating conflict if a deal is not struck.
These movements signal a moment of heightened tensions between the two powers, in which diplomacy could determine whether the region moves towards cooperation or deeper conflict.
Mexican Security Forces Kill Cartel Leader as Violence Erupts
On Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, the Mexican army carried out an operation killing the country’s most powerful drug lord, leaving large areas of the country in chaos. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed “El Mencho”, was the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico and US-labeled terrorist organization.
The attempt to capture “El Mencho” that ended in his death killed over 70 people and the subsequent retaliation from his cartel has led to widespread violence across Mexico, including dozens of reports of arson and other activities.
Due to the unrest, US and Canadian airlines have cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta, the primary region of cartel activity, as school has been canceled and citizens have been ordered to shelter in place. Mexico’s president, Claudia Schienbaum, has pledged to restore order to the country and stated that citizens must remain “informed and calm.”
