AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "News Hour."

President Trump levied new shots against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today.

GEOFF BENNETT: First, he told a radio interviewer that he didn't think it's very important that Zelenskyy attend meetings aimed at bringing the war to an end.

Then, President Trump stepped up his criticism while speaking to a group of governors gathered at the White House.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: I have had very good talks with Putin and I have had not such good talks with Ukraine.

They don't have any cards, but they play it tough.

But we're not going to let this continue.

This war is terrible.

GEOFF BENNETT: These latest comments follow a week of escalating tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy, which has seen the president refer to Zelenskyy as a dictator and falsely claim that Ukraine started the war.

A federal judge in Manhattan adjourned the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams today.

But Judge Dale Ho left the charges against him in place for now.

The judge also appointed an outside lawyer, Paul Clement, to present independent arguments on the DOJ's motion to drop the case.

He was solicitor general under former President George W. Bush.

The push to dismiss Adams' case led to a wave of resignations by federal prosecutors.

This week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she would not use her legal authority to remove him from office, for now.

Also in New York, Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in court today for the first time since his arraignment on state murder and terror charges two months ago.

His attorney said there were search and seizure issues during Mangione's arrest.

Outside the courthouse, she said a number of factors are complicating his right to a fair trial.

KAREN FRIEDMAN AGNIFILO, Attorney For Luigi Mangione: He is being publicly treated as guilty and as having the presumption of guilt, as opposed to the presumption of innocence, which is what he is entitled to.

GEOFF BENNETT: Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He faces a separate federal case that could carry the death penalty.

A jury in Western New York found Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie, guilty of attempted murder today.

The 27-year-old from New Jersey gave no obvious reaction as he heard the verdict this afternoon.

Jurors deliberated for less than two hours.

In 2022, Matar ran onto a stage where Rushdie was speaking and stabbed him more than a dozen times, leaving him blind in one eye.

The 77-year-old award-winning novelist served as the key witness in the trial.

Matar faces up to 25 years in prison.

Sentencing is set for April.

The mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, dismissed the city's fire chief today over her handling of last month's deadly wildfires.

In a statement, Bass said she's removing Chief Kristin Crowley effective immediately, adding that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning of the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley's watch.

The Palisades Fire erupted in early January and went on to destroy or damage 8,000 homes and other structures.

At least 12 people were killed.

In the Middle East, Hamas says it released another body to Israeli officials today after confusion over yesterday's transfer of hostage remains led to concerns about the fragile cease-fire.

Forensic evidence found that one of the four bodies transferred yesterday was not that of Shiri Bibas, as had been promised.

Her remains were due to be returned along with those of her two young sons.

Hamas claims they were all killed during an Israeli airstrike alongside Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Hamas is to blame for their deaths.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister: Who kidnaps a little boy and a baby and murders them?

Monsters, that's who.

I vow that I will not rest until the savages who executed our hostages are brought to justice.

GEOFF BENNETT: Meantime, both sides say the release of six living hostages ranging from 22 to 40 years old will proceed tomorrow as planned.

They're expected to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel also said today that it's surging troops to the Israeli occupied West Bank after three empty buses exploded near Tel Aviv yesterday in an apparent attempted terrorist attack.

No injuries were reported.

Doctors in Rome say Pope Francis is not out of danger, but that his medical condition is not life-threatening.

That assessment came in their first in-person update since the 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to the hospital a week ago with bronchitis.

The pope's continued stay has raised questions about whether he would resign.

Doctors say Pope Francis will remain hospitalized at least through next week.

On Wall Street today, markets plunged to end the week amid worries over a slowing economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average sank nearly 750 points for its worst fall of the year.

The Nasdaq dropped more than 400 points.

The S&P 500 also ended sharply lower on the day.

And they say revenge is a dish best served cold.

Last night, though, it was served on ice.

Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in an overtime thriller to win the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament.

The victory comes as relations between the two countries remains frosty amid Donald Trump's tariff plan and comments about making Canada the 51st state.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the game wrote: "You can't take our country and you can't take our game."

Team USA has not beaten Canada in an international final or championship series since 1996.

And the New York Yankees are ditching a nearly-five-decade rule on facial hair.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner announced today that players can now sport beards so long as they are -- quote -- "well-groomed."

Steinbrenner is the son of the late George Steinbrenner, who banned long hair and beards back in 1976, though mustaches were still OK.

The younger Steinbrenner today admitted that the policy for today's generation is outdated, adding that he'd hate to lose out on good players because they didn't want to play under such restrictions.

Still to come on the "News Hour": a fired park ranger weighs in on the president's cuts to government services; David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart discuss the week's political headlines; and a D.C. exhibit showcases the history struggles and triumphs of Black travel in the U.S.