GEAR MAG

TOKYO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Soldiers and swarms of snow plows battled in Japan on Tuesday to clear ​record-breaking snowfalls that have buried some northern and ‌western cities, as the death toll rose to 30 from winter ‌storms.

Japan regularly receives some of the highest snowfall in the world, making it a top destination for winter sports, but this year's bitter conditions could dent turnout in Sunday's ⁠general elections, the first ‌in 36 years scheduled in midwinter.

Troops from the Self-Defence Forces were drafted in to help ‍authorities struggling to clear a nearly 2-m (7-ft) pileup of snow in the city of Aomori, the biggest seen in four decades.

About ​1,000 snow plows began trying to push snow ‌off 3,800 km (2,300 miles) of roads in Sapporo, the largest city in the Hokkaido region, broadcaster Nippon TV said.

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The scale of this year's snowfall temporarily closed Hokkaido's main airport last week, stranding hundreds of passengers, while snarling other ⁠travel, delaying train services and forcing ​the closure of some highways.

More ​than 100 people have suffered serious injury nationwide in snow-related incidents since January 20, while 30 ‍have died, figures ⁠from the disaster management agency show.

The agency did not specify the manner of death, but domestic media ⁠have reported falls from rooftops as people tried to clear away ‌massive mounds.

(Reporting by Rikako Maruyama; Writing by John ‌Geddie; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

PARIS (AP) — French prosecutors will seek to ban far-right leader Marine Le Pen and officials from her National Rally party from holding office, putting her 2027 presidential bidat stake.

Le Pen, 57, is seeking to overturn a March 2025 ruling thatfound her guiltyof misusing European Parliament funds in the hiring of aides from 2004 to 2016. During the crucial appeal trial that started last month, Le Pen acknowledged some people performed work for her party, then known as the National Front, while being paid as EU parliamentary aides, calling it "a mistake."

One of the prosecutors, Thierry Ramonatxo, said Tuesday the alleged misappropriation of public funds represents "a very serious breach of probity" that gave the party "a concrete advantage in the form of substantial savings made at the expense of the European Parliament."

Ramonatxo said prosecutors would requesta key Paris appealscourt to find party officials guilty and ask for a ban on elected office. Details of the sentences to be requested are expected later on Tuesday.

Stéphane Madoz-Blanchet, another prosecutor, denounced "a system" set by party leaders. "The acts of misappropriation of public funds were deliberately and carefully concealed," he said.

The appeal trial, involving Le Pen, 10 other defendants and the National Rally party as a legal entity, is scheduled to last until next week. The court is expected to announce its verdict later, possibly before summer.

Speaking to journalists in the courtroom Tuesday, Le Pen said: "I never expect a pleasant surprise when I set foot in a courtroom."

"I'm not the one who decides. I don't hold the cards," she added.

Le Pen was seen as the potential front-runner to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election until last year's ruling, whichsent shock wavesthrough French politics.

Several scenarios are possible, from acquittal to another conviction that may bar Le Pen from running in 2027. She also could face an even tougher punishment if convicted anew — up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 1 million euros ($1.17 million).

If she becomes ineligible, she has designated her 30-year-old protégé, Jordan Bardella, as her successor in the presidential bid.

A couple is suing a Florida fertility clinic afterthey were implanted with the wrong embryo, and asking for help locating their daughter's biological parents.

Tiffany Score and Steven Millsmade a social media postasking for prayers as they navigate "this deeply confusing and painful time" with their daughter Shea, born December 11. They also expressed "unbearable" fear that their daughter might be taken from them at any time.

"I have a million things I want to say and so many emotions I wish I could share, but for now, this is what we are able to tell you: due to a medical error — the wrong embryo implanted by the doctor — Shea is not genetically related to either Steve or me," Score wrote. "While we are profoundly grateful to have Shea in our lives and love her immeasurably, we also recognize that we have a moral obligation to find her genetic parents."

The post went on to acknowledge this case has the potential for many potential outcomes. They likely will not comment further until their legal counsel has an update, although they did have a final request.

"If you have any information on the family who might be at the other side of this, please contact us," Score wrote.

How a Florida couple knew a fertility clinic implanted them with the wrong embryo

Questions were raised after Score gave birth from an emergency c-section and baby Shea looked to be a different race than Score and Mills, who are white.

Testing confirmed the baby had "no genetic relationship to either of the Plaintiffs,"according to the lawsuit filedthis month in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.

The couple underwent in vitro fertilization treatment at IVF Life, Inc. D/B/AFertility Center of Orlando.Three viable embryos were created using their sperm and eggs.

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In March 2025, Score was implanted with an embryo, which resulted in Shea's birth. Score wrote despite the mix up, it resulted in a "healthy baby girl whom we love more than words can express."

GoFundMe account set up to assist Florida couple in IVF embryo mix-up

Score's sisterestablished a GoFundMe account to help cover"extensive medical expenses, including prior IVF costs, hospital bills, and mental health therapies."

Money raised also will support efforts to locate baby Shea's biological family and to find Score and Mills' genetic embryos, "which may or may not still exist." The couple also is hoping to retrieve Score's eggs that were frozen at a different clinic seven years ago, a process that could cost thousands.

"The emotional trauma produced by such a scenario is impossible to comprehend: desperately wanting to celebrate the miracle that is birth while battling utter shock and confusion," Score's sister Alexa Score wrote. "Not to mention, being unable to talk to family and friends about their grief. This complex situation brings up multiple questions: Who and where are the baby's biological parents? Where are Tiffany and Steve's embryos? Were their embryos implanted into someone else? Do Tiffany and Steve have living breathing children in this world? The possibilities are hard to fathom."

What Fertility Center of Orlando said about giving a patient the wrong embryo

Located in Longwood, about 30 miles north of Orlando, the center offers various fertility services including testing, egg donation and help with male infertility.

Calls to the clinic from USA TODAY Network have not been returned. The clinic acknowledged the situation in a now-deleted statement on its website.

"We are actively cooperating with an investigation to support one of our patients in determining the source of an error that resulted in the birth of a child who is not genetically related to them," according to the statement. "Multiple entities are involved in this process, and all parties are working diligently to help identify when and where the error may have occurred. Our priority remains transparency and the well-being of the patient and child involved. We will continue to assist in any way that we can regardless of the outcome of the investigation."

Michelle Spitzeris a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network's Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida's breaking news.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today:Florida couple seeking baby's genetic parents following embryo mix-up

MILAN (AP) — TheMilan Cortina Winter Gamesare themost spread-outin Olympic history.

Milan Cortina Spread Out Games Olympics

For the organizers of the Feb. 6-22 Games, it was a choice to use existing infrastructure as much as possible, but this means no central hub and strategic choices for spectators. The Games will span over 22,000 square kilometers (8,500 square miles).

Here is what it means in practical terms.

Choices and strategies

For any visitor to the Games, it would be extraordinary difficulty to see ice sports in Milan, men's Alpine skiing in Bormio, snowboarding in Livigno, cross-country skiing in Predazzo, biathlon in Anterselva and women's Alpine skiing in Cortina, before heading to the closing ceremony in Verona.

It's a circuit that covers over 850 kilometers (530 miles) and would amount to nearly 13 hours of non-stop driving.

Organizers sought to take advantage of existing infrastructure but there still been hiccups getting theCortina sliding venueand theSantagiulia ice hockey arenain the city of Milan finished on time.

Spreading out the Games reduced the number of new structures, and allowed more areas in northern Italy to benefit from the investments and tourim that come with such big events.

But it also deprives the Games of one emotional center, meaning spectators must make hard choices about which events to attend, and athletes will have difficulty cheering on teammates in far-flung disciplines.

A complex itinerary

Mona Patel, a Los Angeles-based lawyer, and her partner worked out an itinerary months in advance to attend men's downhill skiing and snowboarding in the Valtellina cluster near the Swiss border, as well as bobsled and luge in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

They hope to catch skating events in Milan on the way in and out of Italy. If they pull it all off, they will have hit three of the four Olympic clusters.

To make it work, they booked one accommodation in Valtellina and another in South Tyrol, putting them in range for their selected mountain events and allowing them to hit the slopes themselves.

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Patel said the complex itinerary was made affordable through HomeExchange — she used points she had built up by putting her own real estate in California on the exchange platform, and spending them for places in Italy.

"Our priority is to see Olympic events," Patel said. "If there is going to be a powder day, we would love to get out. Sometimes if there is an event in the afternoon or evening, we can do both. We are not daunted by the distances."

Making it a family experience

This will be Lars Thorn's sixth Olympics, but the first for his wife and two young children. Coming from southern California, he ruled out outdoor competitions because of the cold weather and decided to focus on ice sports in Milan. Distance was another factor — though he is sorry to missLindsey Vonn, who is still hoping to compete in Cortina despite a weekend knee injury.

"With two little kids, being outside in the elements doesn't lend itself to a family experience," Thorn said.

He's planning to take his 5-year-old son to long track speed skating and men's and women's hockey — all reachable by public transport in Milan — while his wife and daughter take in Milan's sights.

His next Olympics will be close to home in Los Angeles, where he will be able to walk to four venues from home and reach another seven by a quick ferry ride — a logistical contrast from Milan Cortina.

The first Olympics with 2 hub cities

The headliners of Friday's opening ceremony, likeMariah Careyand Andrea Bocelli, will perform in Milan's San Siro Stadium. But to ensure that all competitors from the far-flung venues can participate in the Parade of Athletes,elements of the ceremonywill be broadcast from Livigno, Predazzo and Cortina.

With these also being the first Olympics with two hub cities and with events clustered in four areas, organizers also had to find housing not only in Milan and Cortina, but in four other sites: Anterselva near the Austrian border, Bormio and Livigno near the Swiss border, and the Val di Fiemme in the Trentino autonomous province.

Milan is the only city getting a legacy Olympic Village, which will become housing for 1,700 students after the Games. A temporary village was built in Cortina; existing hotels and facilities were adapted in the other locations.

The last time Italy hosted the Winter Games, in Turin 2006, spectators buzzed about the medals ceremony each day in the center of the city, which became a focal point of the Olympic spirit. Because of the distances, medal ceremonies in Milan Cortina will be held at the venues immediately after the competitions.

"If you have tickets to an event, it's nice to see the crowning of the champion," Thorn said. But he added that the Olympic Plaza in Salt Lake City, as in Turin, created a unique atmosphere.

"That, I think, is one of the highlights, for the city to feel like they are part of it," Thorn said.

Defending national champion Florida and runner-up Houston are climbing in USA TODAY Sports' latest men's basketball bracketology update.

After a sluggish start that included non-conference losses to Arizona, TCU, Duke and Connecticut, theGatorshave moved to a No. 3 seed and within a half-game of first place in the SEC.

Florida has lost just twice in nearly two months and now has a combined 10 Quad 1 and 2 wins. On Sunday, the Gators shot 51.3% from the field and had a plus-16 turnover margin in a 100-77 win against Alabama.

Meanwhile, Houston steps up to the No. 2 line after rebounding from a road loss to Texas Tech with wins against TCU and Cincinnati.

After playing just four true away games to date, the Cougars are set to face a daunting Big 12 road slate down the stretch, including dates at Brigham Young, Iowa State and Kansas.

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Notable fallers in the bracket include No. 3 seed Nebraska, which has recently lost high-profile conference games against Michigan and Illinois, and No. 6 seed Arkansas, which drops a line after losing at home to Kentucky.

March Madness bracketology projection for NCAA Tournament

March Madness Last four in

UCLA, New Mexico, Ohio State, Santa Clara.

March Madness First four out

Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, Missouri.

NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues:Big Ten (11), SEC (10), ACC (7) Big 12 (7), Big East (3), Mountain West (3), West Coast (3).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:March Madness bracketology: Houston, Florida top tournament projection

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has no doubt that Bill Belichick will eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But after the longtimeNew England Patriots head coach reportedly missed out on making it this yearin his first year of eligibility, something that ended up being incredibly controversial in football circles, Goodell made it clear that neither he nor the league have anything to do with the process.

"We are not involved in it," Goodell said on Monday ahead ofSuper Bowl LX,via ESPN. "Bill Belichick's record goes without saying, same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate. They are spectacular. They have contributed so much to this game, and I believe they will be Hall of Famers."

News broke last week that Belichick, who won six Super Bowl rings during his time leading the Patriots, had not earned enough votes to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That led to an outcry in the NFL world, and plenty ofspeculation as to why.

One of the theories was Belichick's role in the "Spygate" scandal in 2007. Atleast 11 of the 50 voters opted not to vote in Belichick, and one of the members in that room reportedly claimed there were voters who voiced their concerns about Spygate before voting. Others, though, have said there were few of them that Belichick not making it in was still a shock.

ESPN initially reported that Bill Polian even made the case in the room that Belichick should have to wait a year for the cheating scandals that happened under his watch, which led to a wild back-and-forth saga that finallylanded on Polian confirming he voted for Belichick.

Like Goodell mentioned, Belichick is almost certainly going to end up in the Hall of Fame eventually. He went 302-165 and won the Super Bowl six times during his 29 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, and helped build a true dynasty with Tom Brady in New England. Though there were certainly rough moments, and his split with the organization was tumultuous, Belichick is undoubtedly one of the top coaches in NFL history.

When he does end up in Canton, however, is still anybody's guess. But, at least in Goodell's eyes, he belongs.

By Nate Raymond and Andrew Chung

Feb 2 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from revoking legal protections for more than 350,000 Haitians in the U.S., preventing their potential deportation to a country that has been ravaged ​by gang violence.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington, D.C., halted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's effort to terminate Haiti's ‌Temporary Protected Status. The move would have taken effect on Wednesday despite spiraling violence there that has displaced more than 1.4 million people.

Reyes, who was appointed by Democratic former President ‌Joe Biden, issued the ruling in a class-action lawsuit brought by Haitians seeking to stop the administration from exposing them to deportation by ending their legal status.

Reyes said in the ruling that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem likely violated the procedures required to terminate the protected status of Haitian immigrants in the U.S. as well as the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law.

"Plaintiffs charge that Secretary Noem preordained her termination decision ⁠and did so because of hostility to nonwhite immigrants. ‌This seems substantially likely," Reyes wrote.

The law firm representing the plaintiffs, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, praised the ruling, noting that Haiti remains extremely dangerous.

"This ruling recognizes the grave risks Haitian TPS holders would face if forced to ‍return, and it ensures that they can remain here in the United States – as legislated by Congress - to continue their lives, contributing to their communities, and supporting their families," the firm said in a statement.

TPS is available to people whose home country has experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. It ​provides eligible migrants with work authorization and temporary protection from deportation.

The Department of Homeland Security has moved to end the status for about ‌a dozen countries as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration, saying TPS was always meant to be temporary and not a "de facto amnesty program."

Department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin indicated in a social media post that the ruling would be appealed.

"Haiti's TPS was granted following an earthquake that took place over 15 years ago, it was never intended to be a de facto amnesty program, yet that's how previous administrations have used it for decades. Temporary means temporary and the final word will not be from an activist judge legislating from the bench," McLaughlin said.

Haitians were first ⁠given TPS in 2010, after a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck their country. The ​U.S. has repeatedly extended the status, most recently under the Biden administration in July ​2024.

The department at that time extended TPS for another 18 months through February 3, 2026, citing "simultaneous economic, security, political, and health crises" in Haiti, fueled by gangs and a lack of a functioning government.

Shortly after Trump took office, his administration ‍tried to curtail those humanitarian protections ⁠for Haitians in February 2025, when Noem moved to truncate the Biden-era extension so it would expire in August.

After a federal judge in New York in July ruled Noem lacked statutory authority to do so, her department in November moved to terminate Haiti's TPS status, ⁠saying there were "no extraordinary and temporary conditions" in the country that would prevent migrants from returning.

UNICEF estimated in October that over 6 million people - more than half the population, ‌including 3.3 million children - need humanitarian assistance.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and additional reporting by Ismail Shakil and Andrew ‌Chung; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Lisa Shumaker, Cynthia Osterman and Michael Perry)