By Kyle Feldscher, CNN

(CNN) — The chaos of the opening round of the men’s NCAA tournament is behind us and spots in the Sweet 16 are on the line on Saturday.

The women’s NCAA tournament is still rolling strong in the opening round after a slate of games that went heavily in favor of the top seeds on Friday, and the nation’s top team is taking the court as UConn looks to repeat as champions.

It’s the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, here’s what you need to know.

Top seeds under the microscope

Duke and Michigan are the two No. 1 seeds playing on Saturday and both are looking to reassert themselves after unexpectedly close (for the most part, in the Wolverines’ case) games on Thursday.

The 16-seed Howard Bison hung with Michigan for the first half of their game in the opening round before the Wolverines woke up and ran away with things to win by 21. It was a comfortable win in the end but a dominant Michigan team that is a popular pick to win it all was expected to be in the clear from the opening minutes. They’ll face a Saint Louis team that absolutely destroyed Georgia on Thursday in one of the most unexpectedly one-sided games of the tournament.

But it’s Duke that has the most to prove. The top seed in the entire tournament was pushed to the limit by 16-seed Siena on Thursday. The Saints took the lead from the Blue Devils with about 12 minutes to go in the first half and held onto it until there were four-and-a-half minutes to play in the game. The Blue Devils were never really able to pull away and escaped with a six point win.

Now Duke has a feisty TCU team that held off an Ohio State comeback on Thursday in the tournament’s opening game.

Cinderella looks to hold off midnight a bit longer

VCU and High Point are the tournament’s lone true Cinderellas after the first two days after the mid-major teams pulled off the traditional 12-seed over a 5-seed upset on Thursday.

They both have their work cut out for them if they want to extend their season for another week.

VCU comes up against 3-seed Illinois, fresh off a 25-8 season and a second-place finish in the Big Ten (tied with Nebraska and Michigan State at 15-5). The Illini are, as per usual, huge – they’ve got two seven-footers and a slew of other big forwards that could dominate the smaller Rams.

High Point will play in Saturday’s final game against John Calipari’s Arkansas, which cruised over Hawaii on Thursday. Calipari is a Hall of Fame coach who is all too used to this stage and will be relishing another opportunity to take the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16. His team isn’t sneaking up on anyone this year as they did in 2025 when they were a 10-seed.

The Panthers meanwhile, are coming off their school’s first NCAA tournament victory and their coach is looking to make a statement. After beating Wisconsin on Thursday, Flynn Clayman made a passionate case for the strength of mid-majors in his postgame interview. Expect him to bring that same fire to Saturday’s showdown.

Lone Star underdogs

It’s not often that Texas and Texas A&M are going to be mentioned in the same breath as being similar. In fact, the heated rivals would probably rather be kept as separate as possible at all times.

But on Saturday, they’re both double-digit seeds who are looking to make up for lackluster seasons with some tournament magic.

It’s not really fair to qualify the Longhorns and Aggies as Cinderellas, but no one really expected them to be Sweet 16 teams before tipoff of their games. Texas made it through the First Four on Tuesday and had to fa

Por Anna Chernova y Nathan Hodge, CNN

Responder a un mensaje de un amigo, pedir una pizza o solicitar un taxi con un dispositivo móvil pueden parecer tareas sencillas en una ciudad del siglo XXI totalmente conectada como Moscú.

Sin embargo, los residentes de la capital rusa están descubriendo que sus teléfonos inteligentes han perdido funcionalidades debido a un apagón sin precedentes del internet móvil.

Rusia lleva tiempo aplicando cierta censura digital, prohibiendo aplicaciones de redes sociales como Facebook e Instagram. Pero desde principios de marzo, Moscú ha sufrido cortes de internet y de telefonía móvil sin precedentes.

Los residentes de la capital, una ciudad de 13 millones de habitantes, se quejan de no poder desplazarse por el centro ni usar sus aplicaciones móviles favoritas.

Las interrupciones parecen haber dificultado aún más las llamadas de voz y el envío de SMS. Algunos están comprando por pánico walkie-talkies, mapas de papel e incluso buscapersonas.

El último bloqueo se suma a esfuerzos similares en todo el país.

Durante meses, las interrupciones del servicio de internet móvil han afectado a las regiones rusas, particularmente a las provincias fronterizas con Ucrania, que ha llevado a cabo incursiones y ataques dentro del territorio ruso para contrarrestar la invasión a gran escala de Rusia.

Algunas regiones han reportado no tener acceso a internet móvil desde el verano.

Pero los apagones más recientes han afectado a los principales centros de riqueza y poder del país: Moscú y San Petersburgo, la segunda ciudad más grande de Rusia.

Las autoridades afirman que el bloqueo del servicio de internet móvil en la capital y otras regiones forma parte de un esfuerzo de seguridad para contrarrestar los “métodos cada vez más sofisticados” de los ataques ucranianos.

A diferencia de Irán, donde las autoridades han impuesto un bloqueo generalizado, en Rusia el acceso a internet no está completamente restringido.

En la capital y en otras partes del país, los rusos pueden acceder a la red mediante Wi-Fi.

Algunos rusos han respondido con humor viral en internet: las redes sociales están inundadas de chistes y memes sobre el envío de cartas por palomas mensajeras o el uso de teléfonos inteligentes como paletas de ping-pong.

Sin embargo, las interrupciones del servicio también han tenido graves consecuencias en la vida real.

“Es como si nos estuvieran quitando el suelo de debajo de los pies”, declaró Svetlana, residente de las afueras de Moscú, quien depende de un flujo constante de datos para controlar los niveles de azúcar en la sangre de su hijo diabético de 8 años, Vanya.

Utiliza la aplicación de mensajería Telegram para enviarle instrucciones detalladas sobre la dosis de insulina necesaria.

“Esta restricción de internet parece tan ilógica”, se quejó Svetlana, quien pidió que no se publicara su apellido por motivos de privacidad. “Durante años —no solo años, sino décadas— nos dijeron que internet y la digitalización eran geniales e importantísimos, que todo debía estar en línea, que teníamos servicios de Gobierno electrónico, que todo se estaba digitalizando… Y de repente, todo lo que habíamos construido, todo en lo que nos habían animado a confiar, está restringido… Nadie entiende por qué ni con qué propósito”.

Las especulaciones se centran en si las autoridades están poniendo a prueba su capacidad para reprimir las protestas públicas en caso de que se intente reintroducir medidas de movilización impopulares para encontrar nuevos efectivos para la guerra en Ucrania.

Las teorías también apuntan a si las interrupciones del servicio de internet móvil podrían pr

By Kati Chitrakorn, Hanako Montgomery, CNN

Seoul (CNN) — The moment that BTS fans have been waiting for has arrived: Members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook performing on the stage together for the first time in almost four years.

At the heart of BTS’ comeback is a free, public concert in Seoul for their most dedicated fans. While only 22,000 received the “Golden Ticket” to attend, the event was expected to attract as many as 260,000 fans, making it the largest-ever public concert in South Korea.

The one-hour concert is part of a promotional tour for BTS’ new fifth full-length studio album, “Arirang.” Released the day prior and named after a Korean traditional folk song that serves as the country’s unofficial national anthem, it explores themes like personal identity and belonging. It also precedes their world tour – the band’s biggest yet, covering 34 regions between April 2026 and March 2027. A documentary on their long-awaited reunion, as well as the live comeback concert, will be streamed on Netflix.

Several BTS fans attending the concert were inspired by hanbok, a traditional Korean dress. In the weeks ahead, social media has been flooded with outfit inspirations that incorporate hanbok styling and accessories.

Vivienne Ferrier, wearing an ornate floor-skimming jacket and dress, along with traditional Korean hair clips and accessories, told CNN that she had traveled from the US for the concert. “I chose the colors red and white because the album is red and white, so I wanted to celebrate what they were showing to us. This is a Korean traditional hanbok. And I just wanted to to really honor that,” she said.

Others incorporated pops of purple, the symbolic color of BTS and their fanbase. BTS, themselves, have also leaned into highlighting Korean culture, by selling hair clips, pouches and other accessories in collaboration with MU:DS, the official merchandise brand of the National Museum of Korea.

Notably, the public concert was directed by Hamish Hamilton, the British director renowned for his work on huge entertainment events, including the annual Super Bowl halftime show and Oscars, which gives an indication of the magnitude of BTS’ return.

Speaking to CNN over email, Hamilton described the production as being “among the most challenging” in terms of “sheer logistical complexity.”

The stage design, built by renowned events and production specialists Guy Carrington and Florian Wieder, was inspired by the concept of a picture frame – “a structure that both grounds the show in the modern energy of BTS and simultaneously honors the historical and cultural significance of the venue,” he said. “We did not want to come in and build something that felt at odds with the location (and) just drop a concert into the middle of one of Seoul’s most sacred spaces.”

Still, despite the extensive preparations (powering the production is crew running 5.90 miles of power cable), a lot is riding on BTS to deliver a flawless performance. “This is a public space, which means there was no rehearsal with the band on the actual stage before the night – something I have not encountered before in my career,” Hamilton said.

Reflecting on his experience working with BTS, who have been practicing for their big return inside a studio, Hamilton was most struck by their camaraderie and the “thoughtfulness to their work,” he said. “They listen. They ask questions. They contribute ideas. They tease each other and laugh together. They are clearly seven friends who happen to be among the most famous people on Earth.”

BTS’ work ethic has also left an impression on Hamilton, who after working on this year’s Super Bowl, gathered all seven BTS members to rewatch it together. “They wanted to understand how these things come to

By Eric Levenson, Jeff Winter, CNN

(CNN) — Shortly after a man attacked a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, earlier this month, William Weimer received a call from employees at a Phantom Fireworks store in nearby Livonia.

Agents at the store told Weimer, Phantom’s vice president and general counsel for over three decades, they had a subpoena for information on the suspect in the attack.

Phantom then searched its “very sophisticated” internal system and quickly found the suspect’s name, address, a receipt for $2,250 of fireworks and surveillance video of his visit to the store, Weimer told CNN.

“This was not our first rodeo,” he said.

In fact, it was not the only incident this month in which a suspected terrorist shopped at Phantom Fireworks. Just days earlier, a Pennsylvania teenager purchased a safety fuse for $6.89 at a Phantom Fireworks store before allegedly tossing two homemade bombs at a New York City protest, Weimer said. The bombs did not explode.

In light of the purchases, as well as a heightened threat environment during the war with Iran, CNN spoke to Weimer and national security experts to better understand Phantom’s security protocols, business and value to law enforcement.

While laws vary by state, generally people must be 18 years old to buy fireworks. The consumer-grade fireworks sold to the public are regulated by federal law, Weimer said. They are designed not to mass-detonate or chain-ignite, with the exception of a few types of firecrackers, he said.

“People think what we sell is a lot more energetic than it actually is,” he said.

CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller said Phantom’s record-keeping and clear surveillance video are enormously helpful to investigators.

“This is the kind of thing that, if you have an identified suspect, it goes to prove that they bought the materials that were used in the device. If you don’t have an identified suspect, these records may actually help you make that identification,” he said.

Juliette Kayyem, CNN national security analyst, similarly praised Phantom Fireworks for putting these measures in place.

“What Phantom Fireworks does is it understands that it’s in a high-risk industry – but a lawful one – and therefore has put in important safety measures, including documenting every purchase, so that they can help law enforcement if they were used for dangerous purchases,” she said.

“They’re not required by law to do that,” she added. “They’re a large company that has taken on a public obligation willingly. You don’t see that very often.”

‘America’s #1 Fireworks Retailer’

Phantom Fireworks operates over 80 showrooms in 15 states that are open year-round, as well as about 2,000 temporary locations in 17 states around the July Fourth holiday, its website states. The company is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and describes itself as “America’s #1 Fireworks Retailer.”

“We are dedicated to providing the highest quality consumer fireworks that bring joy and excitement to celebrations across America,” the website says. “We are committed to offering exceptional value, ensuring safety, and delivering an unforgettable experience for our customers.”

Because some states have less strict laws than others, many of Phantom’s stores are positioned along state borders. For example, Phantom does not operate any showrooms in New York or New Jersey, but a handful of stores are positioned just over the border in Pennsylvania.

Its widespread access also means that over the past few decades, multiple terrorist suspects have shopped at its stores.

For example, one of the Read more

By Chelsea Bailey, Stephanie Elam, Norma Galeana, CNN

(CNN) — Days before The New York Times published bombshell allegations of sexual abuse that would upend the legacy of famed labor rights leader Cesar Chavez, Delia Garcia answered a phone call from her longtime friend, Dolores Huerta.

“She said, ‘Let’s have a conversation, and I need you to be sitting down,’” Garcia told CNN.

Then Huerta – who cofounded the famed United Farm Workers union with Chavez and served as his right hand for decades in their fight to secure labor rights for farmworkers – revealed a secret that she’d been holding onto for about 60 years.

Garcia said the 95-year-old recounted two times when, she said, Chavez sexually assaulted her.

“Where she began to cry was when she was talking about the victims, and not herself,” Garcia said, referencing the two other women who alleged in the Times investigation that Chavez groomed and assaulted them when they were minors.

“In this moment, where she’s sharing something so raw, she’s in that moment caring about others.” That, she added, shows the character of Dolores Huerta.

The allegations against Chavez have cast a pall over his legacy, and the fallout has been swift. But the revelations have also brought renewed focus on Huerta, a woman who helped Chavez lead a national movement that upended the status quo for labor rights and whose contributions were at times overshadowed by a man who she alleges was her abuser.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told CNN he grew up idolizing both Chavez and Huerta for their tireless work on behalf of the Latino community.

Villaraigosa – who is campaigning to be the next governor of California – said over the years he’s developed a personal relationship with both civil rights leaders, which made Huerta’s allegations against Chavez even more painful.

“I’ve always known that (Huerta) has the heart of a lion. From the earliest days, you just saw the fire in this woman and the courage. So, I’m not surprised that she’s come forward this way,” he said.

In a statement published after the release of the Times investigation, Huerta said for decades she convinced herself the sexual assaults were incidents she had to “endure alone and in secret.”

“I have kept this secret long enough,” she added, “My silence ends here.”

Huerta channels her passion into a union

Dolores Clara Fernandez was born April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico. After her parents divorced, Huerta and her siblings were raised by their mother, Alicia, who was a businesswoman and an active member of their diverse, agricultural community.

After high school, Huerta attended college and graduated with a teaching certification.

But, as she explains in the eponymous 2018 documentary, “Dolores,” she always felt called to fight for something greater than herself.

Despite marrying young and starting her family, Huerta began working with the Community Service Organization, a grassroots group that fought to better the lives of Latinos across California. She quickly climbed the ranks to become the organization’s political director.

And that’s where she met Cesar Chavez.

Both Chavez and Huerta were working with the CSO on separate projects to organize the state’s farmworkers. But when they approached the group’s founder, Fred Ross, about supporting their efforts to start a union, he declined.

The decision would prove to be pivotal.