CARACAS (AP) — The United States and Venezuela agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations in a major shift in a historically adversarial relationship, the State Department said on Thursday.

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The move comes after rounds of Trump administration officials have visited the South American nation following a U.S. military operation that deposed former President Nicolás Maduro in January. Since then, the Trump administration has been stepping up pressure on Maduro loyalists now in power to accept its vision for the oil rich nation.

Relations between the two countries were cut off following another geopolitical debacle in 2019, during the first Trump administration. The U.S. Embassy was closed in Caracas and diplomatic staff moved to neighboring Colombia.

The State Department said in a statement that talks between the countries were “focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.”

Since the unprecedented U.S. offensive in Venezuela, the Trump administration has pushed the government to open its oil sector to foreign companies. The government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s vice president, approved an amnesty law that would enable to release of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others, effectively acknowledging that the government has held hundreds of people in prison for political motivations.

A demonstrator holds a Venezuelan flag during a student-led march calling for the release of people whose relatives and human rights groups consider political prisoners on National Youth Day in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

On Sunday, Venezuela’s top opposition leader and winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize María Corina Machado said that she will return to Venezuela in the coming weeks and that elections will be held in Venezuela.

Such seismic shifts would have been unthinkable just months before in the South American nation. Venezuela’s main political current, known as Chavismo, has been able to dodge curve balls thrown at it for years, from U.S. sanctions to spiraling economic crisis.

Rosemount’s Avery Hanowski sprinted across the blue line and laid off the puck for an overlapping Cade Sherman, who perfectly placed his shot into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Grand Casino Arena erupted, and bedlam broke out in the Irish half of the stadium as Sherman scored in overtime to send his squad to the semifinals. Fourth-seed Rosemount gritted out a 3-2 overtime win over No. 5 Grand Rapids in Thursday’s second quarterfinal in St. Paul.

Sherman said fellow senior forward Gavin McNeil told the team ahead of overtime that these are “the moments we dreamed of,” and he is still reflecting on the gravity of that moment.

“It’s really surreal and still kind of settling in here,” Sherman said. “Super excited and happy for Rosemount.”

The Irish (24-4-1) and Thunderhawks (15-13-1) traded blows in regulation, but Sherman delivered the knockout punch in a defensive duel decided by a moment of magic in overtime.

Sherman said he used the defenseman as a shield to make it even more difficult for Grand Rapids’ goaltender Luke Sherlock.

“Hanowski picked up the puck and drove the middle, drop pass, and I kind of took his lane right behind him,” Sherman said. “I use [the defender] as a screen and then changed the angle as much as I could.”

Rosemount head coach Ricky Saintey said it is a special feeling to be the coach who led the Irish to their first tournament win in over three decades.

“I’m so happy for our kids, and that’s No. 1,” Saintey said. “Before the third period, I said, ‘Hey, how many weekends, long weekends, late nights, early mornings, workouts you didn’t want to do, and you get to live in this moment.’”

Saintey said it was “surreal” driving down 7th Street West toward the arena and seeing all the kids in Rosemount jerseys, thinking “that was me.”

Rosemount went to Yanmar Arena and knocked off Grand Rapids 6-0 on Dec. 12. The second matchup featured the Irish stepping onto the biggest stage in Minnesota high school boys hockey for the first time since 1992.

Grand Rapids junior Ander Rajala scored on the power play 5:24 into the game on a tight-angle, top-shelf shot from just above the goal line. It was against the run of play as the Irish had six shots on goal to the Thunderhawks’ two.

In the second period, Rosemount senior defender Oliver Goren trailed behind junior Connor Schubert on a 3-on-3 rush. Once Schubert’s shot was saved, Goren placed the rebound past Sherlock. The Irish found the breakthrough on their 20th shot on goal.

Rosemount goaltender Sam Clements made four crucial saves to not only kill off the final minute of a penalty but also keep it tied early in the third period. Clements finished with 35 saves in the game.

Saintey said Clements deserves the spotlight for attitude and effort throughout the season as the backup to Drew Sherman.

“I’m so proud of [Clements],” Saintey said. “That’s the stuff as coaches you dream of. This guy has been fighting it. He’s been the best supporter of Drew Sherman, which is a hard task, and to battle with him and show up in the big moment when the lights come on.”

Drew Sherman started the section final against St. Thomas Academy, but Saintey decided to go with Clements against Grand Rapids and reaped the rewards.

The Irish could not capitalize on a power play late in the third, but extended zone time led to a goal. Channing Goodwin looked to set up McNeil in front of the goal, but the puck bounced his way, and he converted to put Rosemount up 2-1 with 3:26 remaining in the quarterfinal.

Grand Rapids yanked Sherlock with 44 seconds to play, and the extra man paid off as Jameson Duell scored 15 seconds later to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Rosemount did not panic and held its nerve, leading to a smooth break led by Hanowski, who dropped it off for Cade Sherman. The senior forward hit his spot and sent the Irish into the second round.

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico and the U.S. said Thursday they will start talks March 16 ahead of a review of the free trade agreement that has shaped both economies and kept some of their commerce steady despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s constantly changing tariff policy.

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The bilateral trade talks are ahead of a scheduled review later this year of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, the latest version of free trade agreements among the U.S., Mexico and Canada dating back to the early 1990s that have intertwined the economies of the three North American countries.

The USMCA has allowed Mexico to avoid much of Trump’s protectionist measures because many Mexican goods are covered by the free trade agreement. However, a number of products are not covered, including medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which face a 25% tariff. A 50% tariff on steel, aluminum and copper remains in effect, as does a 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes.

Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said on X that the first round of upcoming bilateral talks were arranged with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and that they would address issues related to rules of origin, increasing production, supply chain security and integrating economies to boost competitiveness against other regions.

Greer’s office said that, after the initial talks, the two sides would “meet regularly thereafter.”

Relations among the three USMCA partners have been strained over the past year by Trump’s protectionist measures, which have set markets and investors on edge. Ebrard and other Mexican officials have been regularly traveling to Washington and meeting with American officials to try to offset tariff threats.

Mexico and Canada also are holding talks to strengthen cooperation on trade and security ahead of the USMCA’s scheduled review, six years after taking effect.

By TALES AZZONI

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Athletes at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics, the first global sports event since the war in the Middle East began last week, have been trying to block out news of the conflicts and focus on their preparations for the Games that officially start on Friday.

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Others have been outspoken about the return of the Russian flag to the global stage and are defending their nation’s boycott of Friday’s opening ceremony.

The Games that mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics are getting underway amid the ongoing military attacks by the United States, Israel and Iran. The conflicts prompted travel difficulties for some of the nations coming to Italy because of widespread flight disruptions. Iran was due to have one skier at Milan Cortina, although his participation was yet to be confirmed.

“We are here to do a job,” U.S. wheelchair curler Laura Dwyer told The Associated Press on Thursday. “We are in the village, and we are at the venue, and we are working really hard to show up, and to do good things, and represent. So that’s what we are focused on, and no place I’d rather be than this beautiful place with this guy right here and at the Paralympic Games.”

Dwyer is competing with Stephen Emt in the mixed-doubles discipline that is debuting at the Winter Paralympics.

“We are just concerned with the ice, concerned with the stones and the competition,” Emt said. “We know that we are in a good place and we are going to continue to battle for the USA.”

The curling competition began two days ahead of the opening ceremony and other curlers have weighed in about competing amid the conflicts elsewhere.

“To be honest, I don’t really think about it,” British curler Jo Butterfield said. “There’s lots of things going on in the world right now, but I’ve been training to do this for a long time and we’re here to curl. I’m a firm believer that sport can rally people, and hopefully some good news stories on the back pages will help the public be happy.”

The opening ceremony will also come amid the boycott of some nations showing solidarity with Ukraine over the return to the Russian flag and anthem.

Russian athletes will compete under their own flag at the Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade, and the country’s national anthem could be played for gold medalists for the first time on the stage of a major global sporting event since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine was the first to announce that it would boycott the opening ceremony because of Russia, and the International Paralympic Committee says several others are planning not to attend because of political reasons: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania.

“There is war and we are against war,” Latvian curler Polina Rozkova said. “It’s not allowed (to have a) country under their own flag when their country is attacking another country. It’s our opinion that we are against war. We try to listen less to the news, but of course, everything is terrible and maybe somehow it’s also influencing us.”

Estonian curler Katlin Riidebach said she was trying to focus on the competition but felt it was important for the Estonian Paralympic Committee to make a stance and boycott the opening ceremony.

“Honestly, in here I don’t want to make a political statement,” Riidebach said. “I know that we have decided not to go to the opening ceremony … We think it’s important to say it loud that the war is not OK and people should know. And even though we don’t want to say it, sports and politics are very engaged, so if athletes can say their opinion, I think we should do it.”

Ahead of the Games, the IPC did not approve an item of the Ukraine uniform because it contained a map that fell within the forbidden categories of “national anthems lyrics, motivational words, public/political messaging or slogans related to national identity.”

The IPC said an alternative uniform was approved within 24 hours after “dialogue” with the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee.

AP Winter Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games