Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
…
Join our family of readers for as little as $14.99 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already a member? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue |
Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
—————————----—
NATIONAL
———----———————
Shooter who killed Brown students and MIT professor planned attack for years, DOJ says
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that the shooter who killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor planned the attack for years. Claudio Neves Valente was a former Brown student and Portuguese national. He was found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility Dec. 18. He left behind videos confessing to the murders but gave no motive. In the recordings Neves Valente admitted to planning the attack for at least six semesters. He expressed no remorse and called his actions “a little incompetent.” The shootings occurred Dec. 13 and 15.
WORDS: 881 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 10:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBrownUniversityShootingthLdWritethru/c5daf1283b181a1ef383fb099e0e719f/text___
Homeland Security plans 2,000 officers in Minnesota for its 'largest immigration operation ever'
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security says it has launched in Minnesota what it's calling the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out by the agency. A U.S. official and a person briefed on the operation say about 2,000 federal agents and officers are expected to be deployed in the Minneapolis area. They spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the operation. Federal authorities say the move began over the weekend and targets alleged fraud involving Somali residents. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was seen participating in an arrest over the weekend as part of the crackdown.
WORDS: 922 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 9:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMinnesotardLdWritethru/db661df6de1131a034da2bda4bb3d817/text___
What’s next in deposed Venezuela leader Nicolás Maduro’s criminal case
SUMMARY: Nicolás Maduro’s first court hearing — a heavily secured spectacle where he proclaimed he is still Venezuela’s president and pleaded “soy inocente” — was merely the beginning of a legal odyssey that could keep him locked up and out of power for years, maybe even the rest of his life. The deposed South American leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared together Monday in Manhattan federal court for an arraignment on drug trafficking charges days after U.S. Special Forces seized them from their Caracas home in a stunning middle-of-the-night raid. Both pleaded not guilty. While Venezuela reckons with the geopolitical fallout, Maduro and Flores are locked up in New York City, about 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers) away. Their next court appearance is scheduled for March 17.
WORDS: 930 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 9:26 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaUSMaduroWhatsNext/5aebeae4392b4f24b816da0f2ee893f2/text___
Uvalde schools officer did nothing until it was too late during shooting, prosecutor says
SUMMARY: A Texas prosecutor says a school police officer made no attempt to distract or stop the gunman during the school shooting in Uvalde in 2022. Opening statements and testimony in the officer’s trial began Tuesday. Special prosecutor Bill Turner says the former Uvalde schools officer, who was among the first to respond, arrived while the teenage gunman was still outside the building but did nothing until it was too late. Adrian Gonzales is one of two former law enforcement officers charged following the attack that killed 19 students and two teachers. The officer’s attorney says Gonzales did what he could at a confusing and chaotic scene.
WORDS: 927 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUvaldeSchoolShootingTrialthLdWritethru/bbabc23c1dc8aefe630773aa5ad204b1/text___
Police release footage of a person of interest in the killing of an Ohio couple
SUMMARY: Authorities have released security footage of a person of interest in the killing of an Ohio couple. Police in Columbus who were asked to conduct a wellness check found Dr. Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe shot to death in their home on Dec. 30. Their two young children were unharmed. Detectives believe the couple was shot between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the day they were found. On Monday, police released footage showing a person walking near the couple's home during that time. The community is mourning the loss of the couple, described as extraordinary people with a deep connection to others.
WORDS: 496 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:56 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSDentistWifeKillingsWhatToKnowndLdWritethru/51d310ada47235ea6aaa40c8bcc1e9af/text___
—————————----—
WASHINGTON/POLITICS
———----———————
US seizes 2 oil tankers linked to Venezuela and is selectively removing sanctions to enable sales
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's administration says it's “selectively” removing sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of Venezuelan oil to markets worldwide after it seized two more tankers. The U.S. seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. U.S. forces boarded one tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after pursuing it for weeks. U.S. European Command says the merchant vessel Bella 1 was seized for “violations of U.S. sanctions." Then, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed U.S. forces also took control of the tanker Sophia in the Caribbean. Noem says both ships were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it.”
WORDS: 858 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 1:43 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaUSstLdWritethru/77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131/text___
Ohio governor race takes shape as Ramaswamy and Acton pick running mates
SUMMARY: In Ohio's governor race, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton have announced their running mates. Ramaswamy, a biotech executive, has chosen Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, a seasoned conservative lawmaker. Acton, a former state health chief, has picked David Pepper, a pragmatic former state Democratic Chair. The announcements were made on Wednesday. Current Republican Gov. Mike DeWine cannot seek reelection due to term limits. Ramaswamy praised McColley for his legislative experience. Acton highlighted Pepper's problem-solving skills and local government experience.
WORDS: 348 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 11:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionOhioGovernorndLdWritethru/51e12df37b43b58d9c389cec7a4ef208/text___
Trump says US to get 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela at market price
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says Venezuela will be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and he pledges to use proceeds from the sale of this oil “to benefit the people” of both countries. Earlier Tuesday, officials in Caracas announced that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges. And the country’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, pushed back on Trump, who earlier this week warned she’d face an outcome worse than Maduro’s if she does not “do what’s right.”
WORDS: 1452 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 6:06 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUSVenezuelathLdWritethru/9d16138866bebdc2644eb009c6326066/text___
Fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack brings fresh division to the US Capitol
SUMMARY: On the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, there is no official event to memorialize what happened. Instead, the divisions still define Washington, and the country — with the White House releasing its own report with a revised history of what happened. President Donald Trump shifted blame, telling House Republicans during a meeting at the Kennedy Center that he only meant for his supporters to march peacefully to the Capitol that day, where Congress was certifying Democrat Joe Biden's win. Meanwhile, Democrats heard from a former police officer, a rioter and others during a House panel discussion in an attempt to prevent what they said was a whitewashing of history and later gathered on the Capitol steps for a candlelight moment of silence.
WORDS: 1426 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCapitolRiotAnniversarythLdWritethru/1ef8f91dcdf0f209ba7316139df7e9c6/text___
President Trump says his voters loved the Venezuela attack — here's what they think
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump promised that “America First” would stand against more foreign entanglements. Yet he's intervened with force and without congressional approval in a new frontier, with the U.S. seizure of Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. The raid means another reckoning for the “Make America Great Again” coalition. Already, it's been rocked by the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and strained by rising health insurance premiums and living costs. Associated Press journalists interviewed Trump supporters around the country. Many are fully behind what Trump did in Venezuela. But some worry the U.S. will be dragged into yet another foreign morass.
WORDS: 1506 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 8:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpVotersVenezuelastLdWritethru/c41299be874c6f798bcb31e012052714/text___
Trump tries to rally House GOP but meanders along the way as the party's majority narrows
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump insists Republicans have “so many good nuggets” to campaign on as they try to hold their slim House majority. On Tuesday, Trump spoke for nearly 90 minutes at a GOP policy forum. He spent much of the time defending past actions and joking about various topics. Trump emphasized the success of his 2024 presidential campaign and pondered why voters turn against the party in power during midterms. But he had little in the way of a fresh policy agenda or a cohesive new message to guide the year. And he warned that if Democrats regain control of Congress, “they’ll find a way to impeach me.”
WORDS: 1005 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpHouseRepublicansthLdWritethru/ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3/text___
Farm champion Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California dies, reducing GOP's narrow control of the House
SUMMARY: Republican Doug LaMalfa, a California rice farmer who served seven terms in the U.S. House and was a reliable vote on President Donald Trump’s agenda, has died at age 65. LaMalfa's death reduces the GOP's narrow control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213. LaMalfa was a former state lawmaker and rice farmer who was first elected to Congress in 2012. The Butte County sheriff’s office says the congressman experienced a medical emergency Monday and died during a surgical procedure. LaMalfa's chief of staff says he was a funny guy who loved cars and classic rock. Democratic California Sen. Adam Schiff says LaMalfa was willing to work across the aisle to get things done.
WORDS: 880 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 2:56 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSObitLaMalfathLdWritethru/304d9772c6e2d11f03109e2dae1eeb9d/text___
Trump tells Republicans to be 'flexible' on abortion restrictions to get a health care deal
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump wants Republicans to get a deal on health care insurance assistance by being flexible on a long-standing budget policy that bars federal money from being spent on abortion services. Trump made his request during a speech to House Republicans on Tuesday in Washington. Trump says Republicans can “own health care” as an issue if they get a deal to replace expired subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance customers. But Trump is essentially asking House Republicans to set aside decades of GOP policy insisting on the Hyde Amendment as part of any health care spending. Some Democrats want to end Hyde restrictions as part of any new agreements on health care subsidies, and anti-abortion rights advocates want Republicans to hold the line.
WORDS: 846 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 6:33 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionTrumpAbortionndLdWritethru/6d91240f7fa3805500635b31e65ffb8d/text___
—————————----—
INTERNATIONAL
———----———————
Denmark and Greenland seek talks with Rubio over US interest in taking the island
SUMMARY: Denmark and Greenland are seeking a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the Trump administration reiterated its intention to take over the strategic Arctic island. Rubio has told U.S. lawmakers that the Trump administration wants to eventually purchase Greenland, rather than use military force to take over the self-governing territory of Denmark. Tensions escalated after the White House said Tuesday that the use of “U.S. military is always an option.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned earlier this week that a takeover would threaten NATO. The leaders of several European countries reaffirmed that Greenland “belongs to its people.”
WORDS: 945 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 9:45 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUDenmarkGreenlandTrumpthLdWritethru/4d18970667b130d293ccaf4c0d55c300/text___
Trump leaves Venezuela's opposition sidelined and Maduro's party in power
SUMMARY: Opposition supporters have long hoped their leaders could replace Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela's president. But despite a U.S. military operation to remove and prosecute Maduro, that opposition dream remains unfulfilled. President Donald Trump has sidelined the opposition by allowing Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to take control in the interim. Exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado has praised Trump but has not been embraced by his administration. Machado, who was banned from running for office by the Maduro administration, named Edmundo González as her proxy in Venezuela’s presidential election in 2024 and the U.S. and other nations recognized him as the winner. Nonetheless, the future of Venezuela's democratic transition is uncertain.
WORDS: 983 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 5:44 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaUSOppositionndLdWritethru/2d497c934d564e1c9d21376af1111e71/text___
Yemen's southern separatists lose contact with delegation that traveled to Riyadh for talks
SUMMARY: A separatist group in southern Yemen says it's urgently trying to contact a delegation that traveled to Riyadh for talks. The Southern Transitional Council says a 50-member delegation arrived Wednesday but then went silent. This comes after a Saudi-backed council expelled the separatist leader for not attending the talks. Saudi Arabia has launched new airstrikes against the separatists, who have received arms from the UAE. The coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels is unraveling, with tensions between factions growing. The war has killed over 150,000 people and created a humanitarian disaster.
WORDS: 932 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 5:26 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLYementhLdWritethru/8957267e4b0e82b4e75cdab23fe939b6/text___
US military action in Venezuela is seen as both a blessing and a curse for Russia's Putin
SUMMARY: The U.S. military operation in Venezuela can be seen as both a benefit and a burden for Russian President Vladimir Putin. His forces botched an attempt to capture Ukraine’s capital and topple its leader at the start of Moscow’s invasion nearly four years ago. The ouster of Nicolas Maduro highlights another Kremlin failure to support allies such as Syria and Iran. With the U.S. determined to establish control over Venezuela, Russia stands to lose a strategic foothold in the Western Hemisphere, along with billions of dollars invested in its oil industry. But the events also are causing unease in Western nations and giving the Kremlin fresh talking points to defend its war in Ukraine.
WORDS: 1317 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 3:55 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaVenezuelaUS/2e8c57d2a02ee0b4b6c6ed01f2e4a2af/text___
Netanyahu tries to calm tensions after Israeli bus runs over and kills ultra-Orthodox teen
SUMMARY: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urges calm after a bus driver ran over and killed a teenage boy during a protest. The incident happened Tuesday during a demonstration by thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews against a law seeking to draft them into Israel’s military. Netanyahu calls for restraint to prevent further tragedies. Police say the driver was attacked by protesters. He has been arrested and was being questioned. The violence highlights tensions over military exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox. Many secular Israelis support drafting them, but religious protesters claim it threatens their way of life. This issue poses a political challenge for Netanyahu.
WORDS: 351 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 9:48 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelProteststLdWritethru/5e91c26f2c033b41305a3ff8db6aff95/text___
Iran army chief threatens preemptive attack over 'rhetoric' targeting country after Trump's comments
SUMMARY: Iran’s army chief has threatened preemptive military action over the “rhetoric” targeting the Islamic Republic. The comments Wednesday by Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami likely refer to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that the United States “will come to their rescue" if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters.” Hatami's comments also are likely an effort to show strength as protests sparked by economic woes have grown into a direct challenge to its theocracy. Iran’s government separately began Wednesday paying the equivalent of $7 a month to subsidize rising costs for dinner table essentials like rice, meat and pastas. But shopkeepers warn prices for items as basic as cooking oil likely will triple.
WORDS: 720 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 10:34 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProtestsndLdWritethru/dca88a657009aae21e2b8b5086c682ce/text___
Protest-hit Iran warily watches the US after its raid on Venezuela
SUMMARY: As Iran is gripped by new protests, many people there are focused on the U.S. raid in Venezuela and wonder whether the same could occur in Tehran. Iranian state media and officials have condemned the seizure in Caracas of Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally. There's concern about the Islamic Republic's top officials. Attendees at one high-profile event were asked to pray for the theocracy's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But an analyst warns that “Iran is a much more complex political situation.” The paranoia feeds into wider worries among Iranians after attacks last year by Israel and the U.S.
WORDS: 901 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 5:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProtestsVenezuela/e9fd7acf6d13640d59c2b56b4a0375ce/text___
New deadly clashes between Syrian forces and Kurdish fighters erupt in Aleppo
SUMMARY: The deadliest clashes so far have erupted between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in Aleppo. Efforts to merge the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces with the national army have shown little progress. The SDF has tens of thousands of fighters and is the main force to be absorbed into Syria’s military. Syria’s state-run news agency on Tuesday reported casualties, including a soldier and civilians, in attacks blamed on the SDF. The SDF denied involvement and accused government factions of targeting Kurdish neighborhoods. Previous rounds of fighting have ended with truce agreements, but no official truce has been announced.
WORDS: 689 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 1:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLSyriaAleppoClashesthLdWritethru/efd50af20a31addf3f54b31ee7a44111/text___
Behind the photo: How a woman running from US bombs in Venezuela captured the night's fear and chaos
SUMMARY: A photo of 21-year-old Mariana Camargo dashing through the streets of eastern Caracas as explosions boomed in the background was soon on front pages of major international outlets. The photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Matías Delacroix, became one of the first images of the American military operation in Venezuela that removed President Nicolás Maduro. On Tuesday, Camargo and Delacroix returned same place the photo was taken to reflect on it. Camargo’s friends soon began seeing the photo and it became a joke and a meme in her group chat. Even though Camargo has found some laughter in the moment, she still recalls the sense of panic from that night, a feeling felt by many Venezuelans.
WORDS: 552 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 1:38 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaBombingPhotondLdWritethru/a984d5852ebfbe355215539b846826b0/text___
Gen Z revolters are angry at the government they installed after Nepal's protests
SUMMARY: Frustration and anger are brewing among young protesters in Nepal who helped topple the government. Groups of the mostly leaderless Gen Z protest groups have returned to the streets of the Himalayan nation. But a lack of clarity among the protesters has been a key hurdle. Their demands include the resignation of interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki for failing to meet goals and expectations. Karki was installed as Nepal's first female prime minister during protests in September in which 76 people were killed. Karki says elections will be held in March as planned.
WORDS: 905 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASNepalGenZProtestthLdWritethru/c0e31196bce52064ac577e04170212c2/text___
Saint-Tropez bids adieu to Brigitte Bardot with a funeral and public homage
SUMMARY: Brigitte Bardot's funeral was being held with a private service and a public homage in Saint-Tropez, the French Riviera resort where she lived after retiring from movie stardom. The animal rights activist and far-right supporter died Dec. 28 at age 91 at her home in southern France. Her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, said she died from cancer after undergoing two operations. The service began at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Catholic Church in the presence of her family and selected guests. Hundreds of residents and admirers were following the farewell on large screens set up in the small town.
WORDS: 458 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 5:07 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUFranceBardotFuneralndLdWritethru/f34c030aced4f88dbc94af426b1872ba/text___
How Delcy Rodríguez courted Donald Trump and rose to power in Venezuela
SUMMARY: Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's interim president, has risen to prominence through strategic moves and political savvy. In 2017, as Venezuela's foreign minister, she directed Citgo to donate $500,000 to Donald Trump's inauguration, aiming to attract American investment. Despite initial setbacks, Rodríguez's efforts have made her a key figure in U.S. business and political circles. Her pragmatic leadership style has helped her amass power, including control over Venezuela's oil economy. However, her rise leaves Venezuela's democratic future uncertain, as elections remain unmentioned.
WORDS: 1335 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 9:52 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APVenezuelaUSDelcyRodriguezthLdWritethru/e71f2289bc801446e05550d8f900a8d1/text___
Israel clears final hurdle to start settlement construction that would cut the West Bank in two
SUMMARY: Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a controversial settlement project near Jerusalem that would effectively cut the West Bank in two. A tender, which is seeking bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project. The anti-settlement monitoring group Peace Now first reported the tender. Yoni Mizrahi, who runs the group’s settlement watch division, said initial work could begin within the month. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.
WORDS: 1064 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsthLdWritethru/cc5887809b15d336ecf16b88dfc0ee03/text___
Ukraine's allies praise major progress on defense guarantees if a peace deal is struck with Russia
SUMMARY: Ukraine’s allies have made major progress toward defending the country if a peace deal is struck with Russia. Leaders from 27 European countries and Canada, as well as U.S. representatives and other officials, discussed plans in Paris. They said they would provide Ukraine with equipment, training and support to deter future Russian attacks. The U.S. would lead efforts to monitor a potential ceasefire. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said progress was made but warned challenges remain. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted commitments need ratification. The size of the supporting forces was not made public, along with many other details of the plan. Russia has not commented on the talks.
WORDS: 1026 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/21195f5b6a67fd2ac445d05803ae5948/text___
What to know about Ukraine allies’ security guarantees as the war nears 4 years
SUMMARY: Ukraine’s allies have agreed on a framework for international security guarantees designed to deter any future Russian attack, as part of efforts to end Moscow’s nearly four-year invasion. Meeting in Paris on Tuesday, leaders from Europe and Canada joined U.S. representatives and senior European Union and NATO officials to outline how Ukraine could be protected after any ceasefire, though many details remain unresolved. The talks were the largest such gathering yet and included two U.S. envoys in person, underscoring a shift from contingency planning toward outlining possible commitments.
WORDS: 721 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 9:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWhattoKnow/ed33052069b813110fe1aeb13d4268a4/text___
Why Greenland is strategically important to Arctic security
SUMMARY: Greenland's strategic location above the Arctic Circle makes it a focal point in global security and trade debates. The island is rich in rare earth minerals that are crucial for technology. It has been attracting U.S. interest to counter China's market dominance. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark and has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in controlling the island. The U.S. operates the Pituffik Space Base there to support defense operations. Denmark is boosting its military presence with new naval vessels and drones. China and Russia are meanwhile increasing their influence in the Arctic which has raised security concerns.
WORDS: 1048 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 11:40 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUGreenlandSecurityExplainerrdLdWritethru/6066195d0c6b9e1bbe6da27d55b26ece/text___
—————————----—
BUSINESS
———----———————
Wall Street's hot start to the year cools as stocks drift
SUMMARY: Wall Street’s hot start to the year is cooling a bit. The S&P 500 edged down 0.1% Wednesday from its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 197 points, or 0.4%, from its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Crude oil prices fell after President Donald Trump said that Venezuela would provide 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. Treasury yields swung in the bond market following mixed reports on the U.S. economy, while stock indexes diverged sharply across Europe and Asia.
WORDS: 699 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 4:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/5b6274e10230325ebd9f5ecd224b002a/text___
Warner Bros rejects Paramount takeover again and tells shareholders to stick with Netflix bid
SUMMARY: Warner Bros. is again rejecting a takeover bid from Paramount and telling shareholders to stick with a rival offer from Netflix. Warner’s leadership has repeatedly rebuffed Skydance-owned Paramount’s overtures — and urged shareholders just weeks ago to support selling its streaming and studio business to Netflix for $72 billion. Paramount, meanwhile, has made efforts to sweeten its $77.9 billion hostile bid for the entire company. Warner Bros. Discovery said Wednesday that its board determined Paramount’s offer isn’t in the best interests of the company or its shareholders and doesn’t meet the criteria of being a superior proposal. It still recommends shareholders support the Netflix deal.
WORDS: 595 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 12:38 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWarnerBrosthLdWritethru/4e1950023fd5efe0db1bc9cda7074465/text___
China announces another new trade measure against Japan as tensions rise
SUMMARY: China has escalated its trade tensions with Japan by launching an investigation into imported dichlorosilane, a chemical gas used in making semiconductors. This came a day after it imposed curbs on the export of dual-use goods that could be used by Japan’s military. The Chinese Commerce Ministry says it launched the investigation after learning from the domestic industry that the price of dichlorosilane imported from Japan had decreased 31% between 2022 and 2024. Beijing has been showing mounting displeasure with Tokyo after Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi late last year suggested its military could intervene if China were to take action against Taiwan – an island democracy Beijing considers its own territory.
WORDS: 623 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 10:18 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaJapanSouthKoreandLdWritethru/be0b160c721a62d6ea5ad130a212157b/text___
Musk's AI chatbot faces global backlash over sexualized images of women and children
SUMMARY: Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok is under fire for generating sexualized images of women and children without consent. On Tuesday, Britain's technology official demanded urgent action from Musk's platform X. A Polish lawmaker cited Grok as a reason to enact digital safety laws. The European Union, along with officials in France, India, Malaysia, and Brazil, has condemned the platform and called for investigations. Grok Imagine, launched in August, allows users to create images with text prompts, including adult content. The controversy highlights the dangers of AI-generated deepfake images. X said it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, by removing it.
WORDS: 1241 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:29 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APGrokDeepfakes/2021bbdb508d080d46e3ae7b8f297d36/text___
—————————----—
HEALTH/SCIENCE
———----———————
New dietary guidelines urge Americans to avoid processed foods and added sugar
SUMMARY: New guidelines for healthy eating say Americans should eat more whole foods and protein, fewer highly processed foods and less added sugar. Federal health officials released the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans on Wednesday. The guidelines are required by law to be updated every five years. They offer advice for healthy eating and provide the foundation for federal nutrition programs and policies. The guidance offers new advice to avoid prepared or packaged highly processed foods, to limit saturated fats and added sugars and to eat more protein. Research shows most Americans don't follow the dietary guidance.
WORDS: 1153 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 4:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDDietaryGuidelinesstLdWritethru/2d8fa56be3c5900fc45116af7c69d786/text___
FACT FOCUS: Trump sows confusion on number of childhood vaccinations
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump spread some confusion about childhood vaccinations in social media posts about changes to U.S. vaccine recommendations. His administration has cut the number of vaccines long routinely recommended for all children. It now recommends everyone be protected against 11 diseases, down from 18 a year ago. Trump shared a misleading graphic comparing the change to a “European country” giving 11 “injections” and wrote that the U.S. “will no longer require 72 ‘jabs.’” Unless you counted yearly flu and COVID-19 shots, the number of injections over childhood was closer to 36 and the entire list was never required.
WORDS: 417 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 9:38 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDTrumpVaccinationsFactFocusstLdWritethru/17c0cb6f2f208f11b3474b96d1726945/text___
—————————----—
EDUCATION
———----———————
Trump officials loosen strings on federal education money for Iowa. More states could follow
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is giving Iowa more power to decide how it spends its federal education money. Washington is signing off on a proposal that’s expected to be the first of many as conservative states apply for new spending freedom from the federal government. Iowa was the first state to apply for an exemption from certain spending rules after Education Secretary Linda McMahon invited states to request the flexibility last year. Such waivers have been offered for years but are finding new interest under President Donald Trump. Indiana and Oklahoma have made similar requests.
WORDS: 858 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 4:46 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpEducationStates/bd80ffce0d743e7d77efffc664bb225f/text___
—————————----—
ENTERTAINMENT
———----———————
Nick Reiner to be arraigned in killing of parents Rob and Michele Singer Reiner
SUMMARY: Nick Reiner is set to be arraigned and enter a plea in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. The 32-year-old is scheduled to appear Wednesday in a Los Angeles court. Authorities say the acclaimed director and his wife were found dead with stab wounds in their Los Angeles home Dec. 14. Nick Reiner was arrested hours later and has been held without bail since. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. His attorney has not indicated the defense's plans. Nearly all defendants plead not guilty at this stage.
WORDS: 559 - MOVED: 01/07/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTRobReinerrdLdWritethru/001241300a3de5ecfa1323b0031fdfcf/text___
—————————----—
SPORTS
———----———————
NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps resigns after inflammatory texts revealed in trial
SUMMARY: NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has announced his resignation after over 20 years with the organization. His departure follows a federal trial where inflammatory texts he sent during revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed. Phelps will leave at the end of the month, ahead of the season’s start. His texts, including a derogatory comment about Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress, led to backlash from supporters. Despite his contributions to NASCAR, including expanding its international presence and returning the sport during the COVID-19 shutdown, his resignation comes amid controversy. NASCAR has not announced plans to replace him immediately.
WORDS: 1057 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 3:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APCARNASCARPhelpsResignsthLdWritethru/269f842e90ca62d5caa59ad0c620a08d/text___
<END>
