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JERUSALEM (AP) —Israel's security cabinet on Sunday approved measures that aim to deepen Israeli control over theoccupied West Bankand weaken the already limited powers of thePalestinian Authority.

The office of far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a statement announced the decisions that would make it easier forJewish settlersto force Palestinians to give up land, adding that "we will continue to bury the idea of a Palestinian state."

Yonatan Mizrachi, a researcher with the Israeli anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now, called the decision "very significant." He said the decision still requires approval by Israel's top commander for the West Bank.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbasin a statement called the decision "dangerous" and an "open Israeli attempt to legalize settlement expansion" and land confiscation. He called for the United States and U.N. Security Council to intervene immediately.

Jordan's foreign ministry condemned the decision, which it said was "aimed at imposing illegal Israeli sovereignty" and entrenching settlements. TheHamasmilitant group called on Palestinians in the West Bank to "intensify the confrontation with the occupation and its settlers."

The decision was announced a few days before Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu is expected to meetwith U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington about Iran and other matters.

The measures announced Sunday include canceling a prohibition on sales of West Bank land to Israeli Jews, declassifying West Bank land registry records to ease land acquisition, transferring construction planning at religious and other sensitive sites in the volatile city of Hebron to Israeli authorities, and allowing Israeli enforcement of environmental and archaeological matters in Palestinian-administered areas.

The measures also would revive a committee that would allow the state of Israel to make "proactive" land purchases in the territory — "a step intended to guarantee land reserves for settlement for generations to come."

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Peace Now in an explainer issued late Sunday called the decision aimed at "breaking through every possible barrier on the way to a massive land grab in the West Bank." Notably, it said, Israeli authorities will be able to demolish construction in Palestinian-controlled areas if they deem it harmful to heritage or the environment.

The West Bank is divided between an Israeli-controlled section where settlements are located and sections equaling 40% of the territory where the Palestinian Authority has autonomy.

Palestinians are not permitted to sell land privately to Israelis. Settlers can buy homes on land controlled by Israel's government.

Asked about settlers' claims that the current system is discriminatory against Jews, Peace Now's Mizrachi said the entire system in the West Bank discriminates against Palestinians, who are not allowed to vote in Israeli elections and face Israeli military crackdowns and travel restrictions.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in these areas to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Smotrich, previously a firebrand settler leader and now finance minister, has been grantedcabinet-level authority over settlement policiesand vowed to double the settler population in the West Bank.

Settler group Regavim in a statement praised Sunday's decision, saying it would protect heritage sites in the West Bank and "at long last" make land registry accessible and transparent.

In December, Israel's Cabinetapproved a proposal for 19 new Jewish settlementsin the West Bank as the government pushes ahead with a construction binge that further threatens the possibility of a Palestinian state. And Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a contentious settlement project near Jerusalem that wouldeffectively cut the West Bank in two, according to a government tender reported in January.

A candlelit memorial honouring the victims of theSwiss bar blaze that killed 41 peoplecaught fire.

Swiss police said they were investigating after the makeshift tribute, set up near the site of the bar tragedy in the ski resort town ofCrans-Montana, went up in flames shortly before 6am on Sunday.

Images show a blackened, scorched tent which had been erected to protect the flowers, stuffed animals and messages placed by mourners sincethe New Year's Eve tragedy.

Firefighters were able to bring the flames under control and no injuries were reported. Police said the fire was probably caused by candles.

"According to initial reports, the fire started near the candles placed on a table in the centre of the memorial," said a police statement.

"At this stage, third-party involvement can be ruled out."

Police say a book of condolences survived the fire.

Forty people, mostly teenagers and young adults, died in the New Year's Eve blaze thatbroke out shortly after midnightat Le Constellation bar. The fire claimed its 41st victim, an 18-year-old Swiss national, who died in a Zurich hospital from his injuries a month later.

Half of the victims who died in the blaze were under 18, while some were as young as 14. Some 116 people were taken to hospital, many with serious burn injuries.

Crans-Montana, which is 120 miles east of Geneva, is a high-end ski resort town popular with international tourists.

The list of injured includes nationals from Switzerland, France, Italy, Serbia, Poland, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Republic of the Congo.

Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the French owners of the bar, areunder investigation for involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence. They deny wrongdoing.

Credit: Reuters

Investigators will examinethe couple's maintenance of the barand compliance with fire safety standards, including the number of emergency exits, the number of fire extinguishers, and whether or not the ceiling foam conformed with regulations.

The town's head of public safety and former fire safety officer are alsounder criminal investigationafter it emerged that the bar had not undergone mandatory annual fire inspections since 2019. They deny wrongdoing.

Police said reconstruction of the memorial is under way.

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The Dalai Lama said in a statement that he never met or interacted with Jeffrey Epstein, following what he called attempts to connect him to the late sex offender.

"Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the 'Epstein files' are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein," the Tibetan spiritual leader's office said in a news release. "We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness's behalf."

It was not immediately clear what reports or posts the Dalai Lama, 90, was referencing.

The statement comes after the Trump administration'srecent release of filesfrom government investigations into the disgraced financier. The Dalai Lama's work is referenced in some documents, but he has never been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with the accused sex trafficker.

More:Dalai Lama accepts first Grammy after beating out host Trevor Noah

The Justice Department released3 million pagesofEpstein fileson Jan. 30. Members of Congress will be able to review unredacted versions of the recordsstarting Feb. 9, according to a letter obtained by USA TODAY.

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Overall, the released files and emails have tied dozens of high-profile people to Epstein, includingPresident Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Elon Musk, among others. None of individuals had been charged with crimes connected to Epstein.

Many of the relationships were already public information. For example, Trump and Epstein werefriendly several decades agobut had a falling out in the 2000s.

Additionally, therecently released filesalso include a former U.S. senator, a Norwegian princess, a NASCAR driver and several wealthy men who did business with Epstein. None have been charged, and their participation in Epstein's orbit in some cases simply indicates they had social or business connections with him.

USA TODAY's Erin Mansfield, Kathryn Palmer, and Jayme Fraser contributed to this report.

Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on X @katecperez_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dalai Lama says he never met, interacted with Jeffrey Epstein

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.

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

MILAN — After adevastating crash just 13 seconds into her downhill run, Lindsey Vonn "sustained an injury" but is in stable condition, according to U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

Sunday's women's downhill emerged as the most anticipated event in these Olympics, mainly because of Vonn — first for her comeback from her 2019 retirement, thenfrom the torn ACL she suffered a little over a week ago. But her Olympic dreams vanished almost immediately into her run on Sunday morning. Her pole and shoulder caught a gate near the top of the mountain, spinning her sideways and sending her tumbling off the course. Her skis dug into the snow, twisting both knees and leaving her prone and bent on the hillside. According to the Associated Press, Vonn's mandatory air bag worn under her race suit did inflate. A helicopter arrived within 10 minutes to evacuate her from the course, and after about 20 minutes, the event continued.

Vonn was airlifted to Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso. "In the afternoon, she underwent orthopedic surgery to stabilize the fracture sustained in her left leg," the hospital said in a statement. She was initially taken to Cortina's Codivilla Putti Hospital for immediate treatment, and later moved to Treviso.

Vonn's teammateBreezy Johnson won gold, but the mood in Cortina in the wake of Vonn's crash was somber.

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Vonn, 41, came into the Olympics as one of Team USA's biggest stars, thanks both to her longevity and her determination. She retired after the 2018 Olympics, betrayed by her body and unable to compete at a world-class level. But a 2024 partial knee replacement changed her entire future, allowing her to return to the slopes and work herself into Olympic shape.

She earned her way onto the U.S. team with an array of podium finishes and two World Cup victories. But just a week before the start of the Winter Olympics, Vonn ruptured her left ACL in Switzerland. She spoke at a press conference on Tuesday affirming her intention to compete, and posted respectable times in her two training runs.

The horrifying crashelicited reactions from peers and fans alike.

"It doesn't change anything about her legacy," said fellow American Jackie Wiles, who finished fourth. "She's a fighter, and that's the way that she's going to go out and ski every time."