PYN MAG

By Renju Jose

SYDNEY, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Pro-Palestine demonstrators plan to rally in Sydney on Monday to protest the visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as authorities ​declared his visit a major event and deployed thousands of police to manage the ‌crowds.

Police have urged the protesters to gather at a central Sydney park for public safety reasons, but protest organisers ‌said they plan to rally at the city's historic Town Hall instead.

Police have been authorised to use rarely invoked powers during the visit, including the ability to separate and move crowds, restrict their entry to certain areas, direct people to leave and search vehicles.

"We're hoping we won't have ⁠to use any powers, because we've ‌been liaising very closely with the protest organisers," New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna told Nine News on Monday.

"Overall, it is all ‍of the community that we want to keep safe ... we'll be there in significant numbers just to make sure that the community is safe."

About 3,000 police personnel will be deployed across Sydney, Australia's largest ​city.

Herzog is visiting Australia this week following an invitation from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ‌in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach.

He is expected to meet survivors and the families of 15 people killed in the December 14 shooting during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

In a statement, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-Chief Executive Alex Ryvchin said Herzog's visit "will lift the spirits of a pained community."

Herzog's visit has drawn opposition ⁠from pro-Palestine groups, with protests planned in major cities ​across Australia, and the Palestine Action Group has launched ​a legal challenge in a Sydney court against restrictions placed on the expected protests.

"A national day of protest will be held today, calling for the ‍arrest and investigation of Isaac ⁠Herzog, who has been found by the UN Commission of Inquiry to have incited genocide in Gaza," the Palestine Action Group said in a statement.

The Jewish Council of ⁠Australia, a vocal critic of the Israeli government, released an open letter on Monday signed by over 1,000 ‌Jewish Australian academics and community leaders, urging Albanese to rescind Herzog's invitation.

(Reporting by ‌Renju Jose in Sydney; editing by Diane Craft)

NEW YORK (AP) — The FBI collected ample proof thatJeffrey Epsteinsexually abused underage girls but found scant evidence the well-connected financier led a sex trafficking ring serving powerful men, an Associated Press review of internal Justice Department records shows.

Videos and photos seized from Epstein's homes in New York, Florida and the Virgin Islands didn't depict victims being abused or implicate anyone else in his crimes, a prosecutor wrote in one 2025 memo.

An examination of Epstein's financial records, including payments he made to entities linked to influential figures in academia, finance and global diplomacy, found no connection to criminal activity, said another internal memo in 2019.

Summarizing the investigation in an email last July, agents said "four or five" Epstein accusers claimed other men or women had sexually abused them. But, the agents said, there "was not enough evidence to federally charge these individuals."

The AP and other media organizations are still reviewingmillions of pages of documents, many of them previously confidential, that the Justice Department released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and it is possible those records contain evidence overlooked by investigators.

Here are takeaways from what the documents show about the FBI investigation and why U.S. authorities ultimately decided to close it without additional charges.

Origins of the investigation

The Epstein investigation began in 2005, when the parents of a 14-year-old girl reported that she had been molested at the millionaire's home in Palm Beach, Florida. Then-Miami U.S. attorney Alexander Acostastruck a dealletting Epstein plead guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Sentenced to 18 months in jail, Epstein was free by mid-2009.

In 2018, a series of Miami Herald stories about the plea deal prompted federal prosecutors to take a fresh look at the accusations.

Epstein wasarrested in July of 2019. One month later, hekilled himselfin his jail cell.

A year later, prosecutors charged Epstein's longtime confidant,Ghislaine Maxwell, saying she'd recruited several of his victims and sometimes joined the sexual abuse. Convicted in 2021, Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison term.

Lack of evidence for coconspirators

Prosecution memos, case summaries and other documents made public in the department's latest release of Epstein-related records show that FBI agents and federal prosecutors diligently pursued potential coconspirators. Even seemingly outlandish and incomprehensible claims, called in to tip lines, were examined.

Some allegations couldn't be verified, investigators wrote.

In 2011 and again in 2019, investigators interviewedVirginia Roberts Giuffre, who in lawsuits and news interviews had accused Epstein of arranging for her to have sexual encounters with numerous men, including Britain's formerPrince Andrew.

Investigators said they confirmed that Giuffre had been sexually abused by Epstein. But other parts of her story were problematic.

Giuffre acknowledged writing a partly fictionalized memoir of her time with Epstein containing descriptions of things that didn't take place. She had also offered shifting accounts in interviews with investigators, they wrote.

Two other Epstein victims who Giuffre had claimed were also "lent out" to powerful men told investigators they had no such experience, prosecutors wrote in a 2019 internal memo.

Photos and video don't implicate others

Investigators seized a multitude of videos and photos from Epstein's electronic devices and homes in New York, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They found CDs, hard copy photographs and at least one videotape containing nude images of females.

No videos or photos showed Epstein victims being sexually abused, none showed any males with any of the nude females, and none contained evidence implicating anyone other than Epstein and Maxwell, then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey wrote in an email for FBI officials last year.

Had they existed, the government "would have pursued any leads they generated," Comey wrote. "We did not, however, locate any such videos."

Investigators who scoured Epstein's bank records found payments to more than 25 women who appeared to be models — but no evidence that he was engaged in prostituting women to other men, prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors weighed the possibility of charging some of Epstein's close associates, including an assistant and business clients, but ultimately decided against it because of lack of evidence.

No client list found

Attorney General Pam Bondi toldFox News in February 2025that Epstein's never-before-seen "client list" was "sitting on my desk right now." But FBI agents wrote superiors saying the client list didn't exist.

On Dec. 30, 2024, about three weeks before President Joe Biden left office, then-FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate reached out through subordinates to ask "whether our investigation to date indicates the 'client list,' often referred to in the media, does or does not exist," according to an email summarizing his query.

A day later, an FBI official replied that the case agent had confirmed no client list existed.

On Feb. 19, 2025, two days before Bondi's Fox News appearance, an FBI supervisory special agent wrote: "While media coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case references a 'client list,' investigators did not locate such a list during the course of the investigation."

Aaron Kessler in Washington contributed to this report.

___ The AP is reviewing the documents released by the Justice Department in collaboration with journalists from CBS, NBC, MS NOW and CNBC. Journalists from each newsroom are working together to examine the files and share information about what is in them. Each outlet is responsible for its own independent news coverage of the documents.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government on Sunday released from prison several prominent opposition members, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, after lengthy politically motivated detentions.

Their releases come as the government ofacting President Delcy Rodríguezfaces mounting pressure to free hundreds of people whose detentions months or years ago have been linked to their political beliefs. They also follow a visit to Venezuela of representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela's acting president after the Jan. 3 capture in Caracas of then-PresidentNicolás Maduroby the U.S. military. Her government began releasing prisoners days later.

"I am convinced that our country has completely changed," Juan Pablo Guanipa, a Machado ally and former governor, told reporters hours after his release. "I am convinced that it is now up to all of us to focus on building a free and democratic country."

Guanipa, who spent more than eight months in custody, was released from a detention facility in the capital, Caracas. An armored vehicle and officers appeared behind him in the video he released.

Venezuelan-based prisoners' rights group Foro Penal confirmed the release of at least 30 people on Sunday.

In addition to Guanipa, Machado's political organization said several of its members were among the released, including María Oropeza,who livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officersas they broke into her home with a crowbar. Machado's attorney, Perkins Rocha, was also freed.

"Let's go for the freedom of Venezuela!" Machado posted on X.

Guanipa was detained in late May and accused byInterior Minister Diosdado Cabelloof participating in an alleged "terrorist group" plotting to boycott that month's legislative election. Guanipa's brother Tomás rejected the accusation, and said that the arrest was meant to crack down on dissent.

"Thinking differently cannot be criminalized in Venezuela, and today, Juan Pablo Guanipa is a prisoner of conscience of this regime," Tomás Guanipa said after the arrest. "He has the right to think as he thinks, the right to defend his ideas, and the right to be treated under a constitution that is not being enforced today."

Her government announced on Jan. 8 it would free asignificant number of prisoners— a central demand of the country's opposition and human rights organizations with backing from the United States — but families and rights watchdogs have criticized authorities for the slow pace of the releases.

The ruling party-controlled National Assembly this week began debating an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners. The opposition and nongovernmental organizations have reacted with cautious optimism as well as with suggestions and demands for more information on the contents of the proposal.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez on Friday posted a video on Instagram showing him outside a detention center in Caracas and saying that "everyone" would be released no later than next week, once the amnesty bill is approved.

Delcy Rodríguez and Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, spoke by phone in late January. His spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, in a statement said he "offered our support to help Venezuela work on a roadmap for dialogue and reconciliation in which human rights should be at the centre" and then "deployed a team" to the South American country.

Machado remains in exile after leaving Venezuela in December. After she was briefly detained in January 2025, she had not been seen in public for 11 months when she appeared in Norway after the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

Guanipa on Sunday said Machado "exercises undeniable leadership" and is needed in Venezuela along with other exiled political leaders to move the country forward.

Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Big 12 Conference announced Sunday it fined Oklahoma State $50,000 following an investigation intoinappropriate chantsreferencing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormons, during a men's basketball game against BYU last week.

"The Big 12 Conference will not tolerate any behavior that targets or demeans others," the conference said in a statement.

BYU coach Kevin Young said after a99-92 loss at Oklahoma Stateon Wednesday night that he heard "F--- The Mormons" chants coming out of the student section. BYU is the flagship school for the religion.

"The reference to religion did not meet our standards and expectations," the university said in a statement. "Oklahoma State respects the Big 12's decision and will not appeal the fine."

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It was at least the fourth time in a year that BYU teams had been the target of anti-Mormon chants.

The Big 12 fined Colorado $50,000 in September after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a game against the Cougars in Boulder.

Similar incidents occurred at an Arizona men's basketball game last season and a Cincinnati football game in November. Neither school was fined.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphereandhere(AP mobile app). AP college basketball:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Clayton Kershaw, Anthony Rizzo and Joey Votto have been hired as analysts by NBC when it returns to broadcasting Major League Baseball this year.

NBC Baseball Analysts Baseball

The network made the announcement during Sunday's Super Bowl pregame show.

Kershaw, Rizzo and Votto will appear on pregame shows leading into "Sunday Night Baseball" games depending on their schedules and availability. They also will be pregame analysts during coverage of the Wild Card round games on NBC and Peacock.

All three have recently retired from the game. Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young Award winner in 18 seasons, retired last year after the Los Angeles Dodgers won their third World Series title in six seasons.

Rizzo played 14 seasons for three teams and caught final out of the 2016 World Series to give the Chicago Cubs their first title since 1908. Rizzo, who retired last September, was also a three-time All-Star selection and four-time Gold Glove-winning first baseman.

Votto was with the Cincinnati Reds for 17 seasons and was the NL Most Valuable Player in 2010 before retiring in 2024.

"We're excited to welcome Clayton, Anthony and Joey, three stars right off the field who can provide fresh perspective on the players, teams, and everything that makes baseball special," NBC Sports Executive Producer Sam Flood said. "We look forward to rolling out some new concepts to take advantage of the unique insights of each analyst, beginning on opening day."

NBC recently announced Bob Costas would host the "Sunday Night Baseball" pregame show. Ahmed Fareed will also be one of the hosts. It still has not announced its play-by-play announcers and analysts for the games.

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NBC also debuted a Major League Baseball spot leading into Sunday's Super Bowl featuring New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge along with NBC personalities. The spot will also air during the network's coverage of the Winter Olympics.

"Our new partnership with NBC and Peacock is off to an incredible start," said Uzma Rawn Dowler, MLB's Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Partnerships. "They are promoting one of our top stars in a new spot, integrating popular NBC talent, and airing it in highly viewed programming. NBC's promotional plans for MLB have been creative and demonstrate they are bringing great energy to promoting baseball."

NBC has a long history with baseball, albeit not much recently. The network carried games from 1939 through 1989. It was part of the short-lived Baseball Network with ABC in 1994 and '95 and then aired playoff games from 1996 through 2000.

NBC will have an opening-day doubleheader on March 26.

Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates will face Juan Soto and the New York Mets at 1 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock. At 8 p.m., the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the scheduled primetime game for that day.

"Sunday Night Baseball" debuts on Peacock and NBCSN on March 29 when the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians face the AL West champion Seattle Mariners. The first Sunday night game on NBC will be on April 12 when the Guardians visit the Atlanta Braves.

The next six weeks will be on Peacock and NBCSN before NBC has Sunday night games from May 31 through Sept. 6.

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Iowa State women's gymnasticsseason has come to an abrupt end.

The Cyclonesathletic departmentannounced on Sunday, Feb. 8that it has canceled the remainder of the women's gymnastics season due to not having "enough student-athletes available to safely compete" in the team's final five meets before the Big 12 championship.

REQUIRED READING:Lindsey Vonn crashes hard in Olympic downhill, airlifted off slopes

"After a careful and thoughtful review of the program over the last week, it became apparent that we do not have enough student-athletes available to safely compete, and thus have made the painful decision to cancel the remainder of our gymnastics season," Iowa State senior associate athletics director for student services Shamaree Brownsaid in a statement."

"The health, safety and overall welfare of our student-athletes is paramount, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to safely train and compete at the highest level."

The news of the Cyclones' season being canceled comes two days after Iowa State had to cancel its home meet against West Virginia on Friday, Feb. 6.

"At this time, we do not have enough student-athletes available to safely field a team against West Virginia, and regrettably must cancel this competition," Iowa State gymnastics coach Ashley Miles Greig said in astatement on Feb. 5.

REQUIRED READING:IOC president issues statement, hails Lindsey Vonn as 'incredible inspiration'

The Cyclones finish the season with a 2-8 record, with those wins coming against Illinois State and Bridgeport. Iowa State had meets scheduled against Western Michigan, Arizona State, Arizona, BYU and Iowa remaining on its schedule before heading to Utah for the Big 12 championship.

Iowa State has now finished with an under-.500 overall record in each of the last five seasons, going 38-65 combined overall in that stretch.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Iowa State cancels remainder of women's gymnastics season

President Donald Trump says it's his economy now.

In an interview with "NBC Nightly News" anchor Tom Llamas that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday, the 47th president said the country is already experiencing the Trump economy.

"At what point are we in the Trump economy?" Llamas asked.

"I'd say we're there now," he replied. "I'm very proud of it."

His remarks come at a time when most Americans tell pollsters they are not satisfied with the state of the economy and as Trump executes a barnstorming strategy to bring his economic message to political battlegrounds before the November midterms.

AnNPR/Marist/PBS News surveyreleased last week showed that 36% of adults say they approve of Trump's handling of the economy, while 59% disapprove. In off-year elections last November, Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey and New Yorkhammered away at "affordability"on their way to victory.

In the interview, which was taped Wednesday in the Oval Office, Trump said the economy is doing so well that Democrats are abandoning that message — and also blamed his predecessor, President Joe Biden, for stubbornly high prices on some staples.

"In the last four days, it's only four days, the Democrats have not uttered the word 'affordability,'" he said. "They're the ones that caused the problem. I took over a mess in every way."

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Using figures that are not backed up by the administration's own data, Trump claimed that the gross domestic product has grown by 5.6% on his watch. According to the Labor Department, the economy grew at a strong annualized rate of 4.4% in the third quarter of 2025. It has not grown at more than 5% in any quarter since 2021, when the U.S. was recovering from the Covid pandemic.

The country's economic output also contracted in the first quarter of 2025, in part due to anticipated trade and tariff policies that Trump later unveiled in April, affecting the global economy.

The Labor Department has not released its data for last year's fourth quarter due to a government shutdown. Though most estimates of the quarter's growth are much lower, the president was referring to the Atlanta Fed's projection, which has ranged as high as 5.4%, according to a White House official.

More from NBC News' interview with Trump

• Trump talks Minneapolis, Joe Rogan, the Fed, AI and 2028 in a wide-ranging interview

• Trump says he'll stay out of the Netflix-Paramount fight over Warner Bros.

• After the Minneapolis shootings, Trump says his administration could use 'a softer touch' on immigration

• Trump says the Federal Reserve is 'in theory' an 'independent body'

• Trump says it's 'terrible' Bill Belichick wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot

• Fact-checking Trump's interview with NBC News

• Read the full transcript: President Donald Trump interviewed by 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas

"I think '26 is even gonna be better," Trump told Llamas. "You know, we have hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into our country. Actually trillions — $18 trillion is being invested in our country as we speak. And there are factories and plants and thousands of businesses being built all over the country."

While Trump has secured foreign investments — and promises of investments — in the U.S., even the White House website gives a figure of $9.6 trillion, a little more than half the sum he cited. Andreviews of that figurehave concluded it is inflated.

Llamas asked whether foreign companies' plants and factories would open in the U.S. during Trump's term, which expires Jan. 20, 2029.

"Oh, yeah," Trump said. "They'll be opening up over the next year, year and a half, yeah."

In May, Trumptold NBC News' "Meet the Press"that the "good parts" of the economy were his, while the "bad parts" belonged to Biden.