1. Green Bay, Wisconsin – Home of the Packers

• Lambeau Field: One of the most historic stadiums in the NFL.
• Packers Hall of Fame: A must-visit museum showcasing the team’s legacy.
• Titletown District: Entertainment, restaurants, and winter activities near the stadium.

2. Dallas, Texas – Cowboys’ Kingdom

• AT&T Stadium: One of the most advanced stadiums, offering VIP tours.
• The Star in Frisco: Cowboys’ headquarters with interactive exhibits.
• Texas Football Culture: Experience high school and college football passion.

3. Canton, Ohio – Pro Football Hall of Fame

• Hall of Fame Museum: The ultimate shrine for football fans.
• Hall of Fame Village: Attractions, events, and memorabilia.
• Annual Enshrinement Week: Meet football legends during induction ceremonies.

4. New Orleans, Louisiana – Saints & Superdome Experience

• Caesars Superdome: One of the loudest and most electric stadiums.
• Bourbon Street & Tailgating: Incredible pre-game atmosphere.
• College Football & Sugar Bowl: Iconic games hosted here annually.

5. Ann Arbor, Michigan – College Football Heaven

• Michigan Stadium (“The Big House”): Largest stadium in the U.S.
• Rivalry Games: Experience the legendary Michigan vs. Ohio State matchup.
• College Football Traditions: Tailgating, marching bands, and game-day festivities.

Match Highlights – February 21, 2025

Premier League: Leicester City vs. Brentford

Leicester City hosted Brentford at the King Power Stadium in a crucial battle for European qualification. Veteran striker Jamie Vardy, who had never scored against Brentford in league play, was determined to break his streak. Brentford, meanwhile, aimed to secure a vital away win. In an intense contest, Leicester emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, with Vardy finally netting his first goal against Brentford.

UEFA Europa League: Roma vs. Porto

AS Roma and FC Porto clashed in a thrilling Europa League showdown that kept fans on edge. The match was filled with drama, culminating in a 3-2 victory for Roma. Paulo Dybala was the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the final minutes. Despite Porto’s strong fightback, Roma’s defense held firm to seal the win.

La Liga: Celta Vigo vs. Osasuna

Celta Vigo faced Osasuna at Estadio Abanca-Balaídos in a tightly contested encounter. Both teams battled hard for crucial points, but Celta Vigo secured a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Iago Aspas. The win was vital for Celta as they aimed to climb the La Liga standings.

These matches delivered intense action and standout performances!

1⃣ Genghis Khan (1162–1227) – Mongol Empire

• United Mongol tribes and created the largest contiguous empire in history.
• Revolutionized warfare with speed, strategy, and brutality.
• His empire stretched from China to Eastern Europe.

2⃣ Julius Caesar (100–44 BCE) – Roman Republic

• Transformed Rome from a republic into an empire.
• Brilliant military strategist, conquering Gaul and influencing Europe.
• Assassinated, but paved the way for the Roman Empire under Augustus.

3⃣ Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) – French Empire

• Conquered much of Europe and reshaped laws (Napoleonic Code).
• Revolutionized military tactics and governance.
• Defeated after the failed invasion of Russia and the Battle of Waterloo.

4⃣ Emperor Ashoka (304–232 BCE) – Maurya Empire (India)

• Expanded India’s greatest empire but later embraced Buddhism.
• Promoted peace, tolerance, and infrastructure.
• His policies influenced Indian and Southeast Asian culture.

5⃣ Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE) – Qin Dynasty (China)

• Unified China for the first time, standardizing currency, laws, and language.
• Built the first version of the Great Wall.
• Ruthless but laid the foundation for modern China.

Current Drought Conditions

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of February 11, 2025, approximately 46.63% of the contiguous United States is experiencing drought. This represents an increase of 2.8% from the previous week and 18.4% over the past month. Notably, the Southwest has seen worsening conditions for the fifth consecutive week, with parts of the Northwest, Midwest, and Southern Plains also experiencing degradation.

Regional Impacts

Southwest: The region continues to face deteriorating conditions, with many mountainous areas in the Four Corners region reporting abnormally low snowpack levels, which are critical for replenishing groundwater supplies.

Midwest: In Indiana, “abnormally dry” conditions have expanded to cover the northern three-quarters of the state. Soil moisture levels are below normal statewide, with significant deficits in snowpack across all basins.

Texas: Central Texas is experiencing ongoing drought, prompting utilities to adopt aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems. This strategy involves injecting water into underground aquifers during periods of abundance for use during droughts, effectively safeguarding water from evaporation and ensuring availability during dry spells.

Soil Moisture and Hydrologic Indicators

The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Water and Climate Update from February 13, 2025, indicates that soil moisture levels are well below normal across several regions. Snowpack is also below average for this time of year, exacerbating concerns about water availability as snowmelt is a vital source for both surface and groundwater recharge.

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center’s Monthly Drought Outlook suggests that drought conditions are likely to persist or even expand across portions of Arizona, New Mexico, southern and western Texas, and the Southeast. This projection is based on anticipated warmer and drier than average conditions in these areas.

In summary, the United States is currently facing significant drought challenges, with critical impacts on groundwater and soil moisture levels, especially in the Southwest and Midwest. Proactive water management strategies, such as ASR systems, are being implemented in some regions to mitigate these effects.

Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USA_Groundwater_and_Soil_moisture_Drought_Map.jpg

The 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) took place on February 16, 2025, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, celebrating excellence in cinema. Hosted by David Tennant, the event honored outstanding achievements across various categories.

Major Winners

• “Conclave” emerged as a standout, securing four awards, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing.
• “The Brutalist” matched “Conclave” with four wins. Brady Corbet took home Best Director, Adrien Brody won Best Leading Actor, and the film also claimed awards for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score.
• “Anora” saw Mikey Madison win Best Leading Actress, while the film also earned the award for Best Casting.
• “Emilia Pérez” won Best Film Not in the English Language, with Zoe Saldaña receiving Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
• “A Real Pain” earned Kieran Culkin the award for Best Supporting Actor and also won for Best Original Screenplay.
• “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” was recognized as Best Animated Film and received the first-ever Best Children’s and Family Film award.

Special Recognitions

• Warwick Davis was honored with the BAFTA Fellowship for his exceptional contributions to cinema.
• MediCinema received the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.
• David Jonsson was named the EE Rising Star, an award recognizing emerging talent in the industry.

The ceremony showcased a diverse array of films and performances, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of modern cinema.

1. The Maya Civilization (2000 BCE – 1500 CE)

The Maya were masters of astronomy, mathematics, and architecture, building grand cities like Tikal and Chichen Itza. However, around the 9th century CE, many of their cities were abandoned. Theories suggest drought, warfare, and resource depletion led to their decline.

2. The Indus Valley Civilization (3300 – 1300 BCE)

One of the world’s earliest urban societies, the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappans) built advanced cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Around 1900 BCE, it mysteriously declined. Climate change, earthquakes, or invasion might have played a role.

3. The Ancestral Puebloans (Chaco Canyon, 700 – 1300 CE)

These people created cliff dwellings in the American Southwest. Their sudden disappearance remains debated, with drought, deforestation, and social unrest as possible reasons.

4. The Nabateans (4th Century BCE – 1st Century CE)

Famous for the rock-carved city of Petra, the Nabateans were skilled traders and engineers. However, after Roman annexation, their culture slowly faded, and their cities were abandoned.

5. The Khmer Empire (9th – 15th Century CE)

Builders of the iconic Angkor Wat, the Khmer Empire mysteriously declined. Theories point to climate change, war, and environmental mismanagement.

Which lost civilization fascinates you the most?

Ohio State vs. Arizona State: Ohio State Buckeyes played against Arizona State Sun Devils. One of the standout moments was an inside-the-park home run by Oklahoma freshman Kyle Branch.

North Carolina vs. Texas Tech: North Carolina Tar Heels defeated Texas Tech Red Raiders with a score of 5-1. North Carolina center fielder Kane Kepley made an impressive catch, taking a home run away from Texas Tech.

Wake Forest vs. Long Island University: Wake Forest Demon Deacons dominated Long Island University Sharks, winning 14-2. Marek Houston from Wake Forest hit a grand slam in the fourth inning, giving his team a 14-0 lead.

1. Everton vs Liverpool – The Premier League derby at Goodison Park delivered a thrilling contest, with Liverpool narrowly defeating Everton in an intense showdown. Both teams fought hard, making it a gripping encounter.
2. Celtic vs Bayern München – In the UEFA Champions League Knockout Round Play-offs, Celtic hosted Bayern München at Celtic Park. The match was fiercely competitive, but Bayern München emerged victorious.
3. Monaco vs Benfica – Another exciting clash in the UEFA Champions League Knockout Round Play-offs saw Monaco go head-to-head with Benfica. The game was action-packed, with both teams putting in a strong performance.

PARIS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron conducted part of their bilateral discussions aboard the French presidential aircraft while traveling from Paris to Marseille, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri revealed. He remarked that India-France relations have “literally touched new heights.”

Addressing the media in France, Misri stated that the two leaders deliberated on recent geopolitical developments in Europe, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, along with key global and regional issues.

Earlier on Tuesday, Modi and Macron co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris, participated in the India-France CEO’s Forum, and later journeyed to Marseille in the evening.

1. Back-to-Back Winter Storms Slam Northern U.S. with Heavy Snow and Freezing Temperatures – Severe winter weather grips the region.
2. Tragic Discovery: All 10 Missing in Alaska Plane Crash Confirmed Dead – Authorities locate the wreckage of the downed aircraft.
3. Super Bowl 2025 Showdown: Chiefs vs. Eagles Compete for NFL Championship – The much-awaited championship game is underway.
4. Bird Flu Fears Shut Down New York Poultry Markets Temporarily – Health concerns prompt precautionary closures.
5. Black Hawk Helicopter and Plane Collision: Major Wreckage Retrieved from Potomac – Recovery efforts uncover critical debris.