Biden meets refugees, Academy Awards, NCAA's Final Four: 5 things to know this weekend
Biden to meet with Ukrainian refugees in Poland, deliver a major address
President Joe Biden on Saturday will cap his European trip talking to Ukrainian refugees in Poland and delivering a speech on holding Russia accountable for its invasion and upholding democratic values. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, previewed Biden's remarks as a major address that will "speak to the stakes of this moment, the urgency of the challenge that lies ahead, what the conflict in Ukraine means for the world, and why it is so important that the free world sustain unity and resolve in the face of Russian aggression." Before delivering those remarks at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Biden will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda. Biden used his first stop in Poland Friday to personally thank U.S. troops stationed near the Ukraine border. Thousands of troops are stationed there to help shore up NATO's eastern flank amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Brussels Thursday, Biden pledged $1 billion in U.S. humanitarian assistance to refugees fleeing the invasion.
- 'Everything we can': Polish border city throws its doors open to desperate Ukrainians fleeing war
- Russian ship damaged, reported destroyed by Ukraine: Maps and videos show what we know
- 'This is my land, I stay': These Ukrainian women are among thousands choosing to fight, not flee
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The Oscars are back with hosts, shorter run time and Beyoncé
Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall will host Hollywood's biggest night at the Dolby Theatre Sunday. The 94th Academy Awards (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, ABC) will have an emcee for the first time in three years and the ceremony will certainly promise surprises and snubs. Some of the hottest contenders for the gold statue this year include Will Smith for his role as tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams' dad in "King Richard," Jane Campion and her Western "Power of the Dog," and "CODA," which already won best picture at the Producers Guild Award. If you aren't in it for the movies, watch to catch Beyoncé and other nominated artists including Billie Eilish and Sebastián Yatra perform their original song contenders.
- Oscars predictions: Will who win – and who should.
- The controversy behind one star's Oscars invitation.
Hawaii drops mask mandate
Hawaii will drop its mask mandate Saturday, becoming the final state to drop masking rules. At the height of the pandemic, most states had some form of mandate. All but 11 instituted mask mandates at some time, according to AARP. But as the national wave of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations from the omicron variant began receding in February, a flurry of states acted quickly to drop their indoor mask mandates. Hawaii has one of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the nation, and over 75% of Hawaii residents have received two doses of a COVID vaccine – 10% higher than the national rate – according to the Hawaii Department of Health.
- To mask or not to mask? That is the question after CDC eases mask guidelines for fatigued nation
- 'Much has changed': Travel groups want White House to lift travel restrictions, say they 'no longer make sense'
- Did you follow this week's news? Test your knowledge with our quiz.
NCAA men's tournament will be down the to Final Four Sunday
The NCAA men's basketball tournament is now down to the Elite Eight and after the four regional finals are played this weekend, just the Final Four will remain. The action begins Saturday with No. 5 Houston, fresh off an upset of No. 1 Arizona, facing No. 2 seed Villanova in the South Region final in San Antonio, Texas, (6:09 p.m. ET, TBS). Later, No. 2 Duke, hoping to clinch one last Final Four appearance for coach Mike Krzyzewski, will take on No. 4 Arkansas, who beat No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga Thursday, in the West Region Final in San Francisco (8:49 p.m. ET, TBS). On Sunday, in the Midwest Region Final, No. 1 Kansas meets No. 10 Miami in Chicago (2:20 p.m. ET, CBS). Later in the East final, Saint Peter's, the first No. 15 seed to make a regional final, will face traditional power North Carolina, the No. 8 seed, in Philadelphia (5:05 p.m. ET, CBS). In the women's basketball event Saturday, two No. 1 seeds (N.C. State, Louisville) look to advance, as does perennial powerhouse No. 2 seed Connecticut.
- Sweet 16 winners, losers: Bye-bye, Big Ten; hello, ACC
- Takeaways from Friday's games: North Carolina looks like national title contender
- Paste BN Sports column: Saint Peter's embodies wackiness and uncertainty of this NCAA Tournament
- From 9 to 0: Big Ten is out of the men's tournament after Purdue's loss as history repeats itself
USMNT could clinch a World Cup berth with a qualifying win Sunday
The United States Men's National Team could clinch a berth in the 2022 World Cup with a victory over Panama Sunday night at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, (7 p.m. ET, FS1). After playing to a scoreless draw against Mexico Thursday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the USMNT maintained second place in North and Central America and the Caribbean with 22 points (with a record of 6-2-4), three behind Canada, and ahead of Mexico on goal difference. The top three nations reach the World Cup in Qatar, and the No. 4 team advances to a playoff. With a win Sunday, the U.S. would ensure that fourth-place Costa Rica could only pull even by winning its final two games. The USMNT has a plus-nine goal difference and the first tiebreaker. If Costa Rica fails to win at El Salvador and the U.S. beats Panama, the Americans would clinch a spot in the tournament outright for the first time since 2014 as they failed to qualify in 2018.
- 'It's a tough loss': Canada must wait for World Cup spot after falling to Costa Rica
- North Macedonia upsets Italy in World Cup qualifying playoff: Azzurri to miss consecutive World Cups.
Contributing: The Associated Press