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.
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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.
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NATIONAL
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Prosecutors want 20-year sentence for ex-South Carolina lawmaker for sharing child sex abuse videos
SUMMARY: Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence for a former South Carolina legislator who pleaded guilty to distributing child sex abuse videos on social media. RJ May, who resigned earlier this year, admitted to sharing hundreds of videos of involving children over a five-day period in 2024. May used the screen name “joebidennnn69.” Prosecutors say May deserves a harsh sentence because he supported laws as a legislator to protect children. May is asking for a five-year sentence, citing addiction to pornography and screens, an increased sex drive from testosterone treatments and personal struggles with an abusive mother.
WORDS: 610 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 5:15 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSouthCarolinaLawmakerArrested/a1d8adf3d7c41fe2b761a046e95799bc/text___
Proposed billionaires' tax in California rattles Silicon Valley, entangles Gov. Newsom
SUMMARY: A proposal to tax the accumulated wealth of California billionaires has ignited a political uproar in Silicon Valley and across the state. A large health care union is attempting to place a proposal before voters in November that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the assets of billionaires. The money would be used to backfill federal funding cuts to health services for lower-income people that were signed by President Donald Trump last year. Such proposals are popular within Democratic constituencies. But there are fears that billionaires could flee the state and take their tax dollars with them. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to block the measure.
WORDS: 983 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 5:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaBillionairesTax/483f5bc9b3ef5105fb9275f0d91000ad/text___
Claudette Colvin, who refused to move seats on a bus at start of civil rights movement, dies at 86
SUMMARY: Civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin has died. She was 86. Her 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement. Her death was announced Tuesday by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation. The organization said she died of natural causes in Texas. Colvin was arrested months before Rosa Parks gained international fame before refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Colvin became a named plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that outlawed racial segregation on Montgomery’s buses.
WORDS: 476 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 9:48 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSObitClaudetteColvinthLdWritethru/a447e8e70f0decf2463565241179d11f/text___
'West Wing' actor Timothy Busfield turns himself in to face child sex abuse charges in New Mexico
SUMMARY: Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield vowed to fight charges of child sex abuse as he turned himself in Tuesday to authorities in New Mexico. Albuquerque police had issued an arrest warrant on counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse. The acts allegedly occurred on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” a TV series Busfield directed and acted in. Busfield denied the allegations when interviewed by authorities during an investigation. He suggested the boy’s mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series. He is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which won him an Emmy.
WORDS: 857 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 8:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSexualMisconductTimothyBusfieldthLdWritethru/82d413e86b62a151564e75b0ba535551/text___
Minnesota protesters, agents repeatedly square off while prosecutors quit after Renee Good's death
SUMMARY: Days of demonstrations against immigration agents and a new lawsuit have left Minnesota tense. Federal officers sprayed eye irritant and dropped tear gas at activists on Tuesday in Minneapolis. Students, meanwhile, walked out of a school in a Minneapolis suburb to protest the Trump administration’s bold immigration sweeps. Minnesota and its two largest cities are suing the government to try to halt or limit the enforcement surge that led to the fatal shooting of a woman last week in Minneapolis. There's more fallout: At least five prosecutors have resigned amid turmoil over how the government is handling Renee Good's death.
WORDS: 786 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 6:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementthLdWritethru/8c80b7e47788c58140ce4442eb02f7c3/text___
What to know about the warrants most immigration agents use to make arrests
SUMMARY: The Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics are sparking debate over federal agents' authority to enter private property. There have been arrests in recent months at day care centers, apartments and medical buildings. On Sunday, agents forcibly entered a Minneapolis home to make an arrest. Legal experts question the use of administrative warrants for these arrests on private property, since those legal documents don't authorize entry into private residences. Only criminal warrants, signed by a judge, allow such actions. "Know-your-rights" campaigns are educating people on these legal distinctions.
WORDS: 1263 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 12:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationArrestWarrantsWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/093a91cf0d3b2a93247dd83e9e5fac03/text___
Hospital and nurses fail to negotiate during second day of NYC's largest nursing strike in decades
SUMMARY: Thousands of New York City nurses were back on the picket lines as they walked out for a second day from their jobs at some of the city’s leading hospitals. The union on Tuesday also accused one hospital, Mount Sinai, of illegally firing three nurses. Another hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, criticized what it described as the union’s “reckless demands” and “troubling proposals” in contract talks. The walkout involves about 15,000 nurses at major hospitals including NewYork-Presbyterian. The nurses are seeking better pay and staffing levels. The hospitals have brought on replacement workers to fill the labor gap.
WORDS: 801 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 11:17 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNYCNursingStrikethLdWritethru/7060f4843bf6d6371b9e107d3ec75076/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Senate readies vote on Venezuela war powers as Trump pressures GOP defectors
SUMMARY: Senate Republicans are facing intense pressure from President Donald Trump to vote down a war powers resolution that is aimed at limiting the president’s ability to carry out further military action against Venezuela. Five GOP senators joined with Democrats to advance the resolution last week. Democrats are forcing the vote after U.S. troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid earlier this month. The legislation has virtually no chance of becoming law because it would eventually need to be signed by Trump himself. But the vote has become a test of Republican loyalty to the president.
WORDS: 1050 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 5:15 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSenateWarPowersstLdWritethru/2350b162d116090759a7428c4b915eea/text___
Some personnel at key US base in Qatar advised to evacuate as Iran official brings up earlier attack
SUMMARY: A U.S. official says some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar have been advised to evacuate. The decision to evacuate by Wednesday evening comes as a senior official in Iran brought up an earlier Iranian attack there. Qatar says the measures are in response to "regional tensions.” It comes as anti-government protests in nearby Iran continue and President Donald Trump has said he's willing to conduct military operations in the country if the government continues to retaliate against the protesters. The base hosts thousands of U.S. service members and was targeted by Iran in June in retaliation for U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities.
WORDS: 633 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 2:06 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranProtestsUSBasethLdWritethru/c15e0fa925abf2144edf6cd634d7c3a0/text___
What Americans think about Trump's military intervention abroad, according to a new AP-NORC poll
SUMMARY: A new poll shows most Americans believe President Donald Trump has “gone too far” in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries. The AP-NORC poll finds 56% of Americans say Trump has overstepped in using the military for foreign intervention and most Americans continue to disapprove of how the Republican president is handling foreign policy. The poll shows Americans also overwhelmingly do not want the U.S. to take “a more active role” in solving the world’s problems. Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say the U.S. should take “a more active role” in solving global issues, including just 1 in 10 Republicans.
WORDS: 808 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 12:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAPPollVenezuelandLdWritethru/ce8d92a1461abb354f8c799e6b487e49/text___
Democrats see a path to win the Senate. It's narrow and has little room for error
SUMMARY: Senate Democrats are expressing optimism they'll be able to flip the chamber this year after it looked all but impossible last year. The surge in confidence follows another recruiting win this week as former Rep. Mary Peltola announced she'll run for Senate in Alaska. Peltola's campaign marks a critical fourth candidate with statewide recognition in states where Republican senators are seeking reelection this year. Nationally, Democrats must net four seats to edge the GOP out of the majority. But there are a number of challenges Democrats must overcome, such as holding seats in states Donald Trump won in 2024 and messy primaries as their party still searches for its identity.
WORDS: 1266 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 11:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionSenatestLdWritethru/c5d2f79df1924907bcb80d26c96c3e96/text___
Trump visits Ford plant and defends his tariffs, hoping to counter jitters about the economy
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is defending his tariffs, using a major economic speech in Michigan to argue that they boost domestic manufacturing despite many Americans fears about rising prices. On Tuesday, he visited the plant where Ford’s F-150 is built to highlight his policies. Trump argued that tariffs are paid by foreign nations, not U.S. consumers, despite economists' concerns. He said he plans to unveil a new healthcare affordability framework soon. He suggested that affordability problems were created by Democrats — who countered that Trump is out of touch with economic realities affecting Americans. During his Michigan swing, Trump mostly sidestepped questions about a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
WORDS: 1192 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpMichiganthLdWritethru/8843cdb26cdfcdf9bf8c8273823c6d84/text___
Trump calls on Tehran to show protesters humanity amid reports of rising death toll in crackdown
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump met Tuesday with his national security team to discuss the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protesters as he looks to get a better understanding of the number of Iranian citizens who have been killed and arrested in more than two weeks of unrest throughout the country. Trump said believes that the killing — human rights monitors say the death toll has exceeded 2,500 — is “significant” and that his administration would “act accordingly.” He added that he believed the Iranian government was “badly misbehaving.” He said he has yet to receive a confirmed number of Iranians killed in the protests that began late last month. Trump added, “The message is they’ve got to show humanity."
WORDS: 993 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 2:59 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranProtestsTrumpthLdWritethru/80f937dfbb3e04e5322dae30db3ad4b3/text___
Justice Department sees no basis for civil rights probe in Minnesota ICE shooting, official says
SUMMARY: A top Justice Department official says there is not currently any basis to open a criminal civil rights investigation into the killing of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis. The decision to keep the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division out of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good marks a sharp departure from past administrations, which have moved quickly to probe shootings of civilians by law enforcement officials for potential civil rights offenses. While an FBI probe is ongoing, lawyers in the Civil Rights Division were informed last week that they would not play a role in the investigation at this time, according to two people familiar with the matter.
WORDS: 788 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 9:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJusticeDepartmentMinneapolisrdLdWritethru/f456dc01c7d72e15662016193b2e383e/text___
Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state bans on transgender athletes in girls and women's sports
SUMMARY: The Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams. Lower courts ruled for the transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia who challenged the state bans. But the conservative-dominated Supreme Court gave no indication after more than three hours of arguments Tuesday that it would follow suit. Instead, at least five of the six conservatives on the nine-member court indicated they'll rule the laws don’t violate either the Constitution or the landmark Title IX law. Title IX prohibits discrimination in education and has produced dramatic growth in girls and women’s sports.
WORDS: 1006 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 5:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSupremeCourtTransgenderAthletesthLdWritethru/a0e50014fbf7f3ef5b1d1e9b5e8b662d/text___
Plane used in boat strike off Venezuela was painted to look like a civilian aircraft, AP sources say
SUMMARY: The plane used by the U.S. military to strike an alleged drug-smuggling boat off Venezuela last fall was painted to look like a civilian aircraft. That appears to be at odds with the Pentagon's manual on the laws of war, which prohibits troops from pretending to be civilians while engaged in combat. The plane was carrying munitions in the fuselage, raising questions about the extent to which the operation was disguised. Details of the plane’s appearance, first reported by The New York Times, were confirmed by two people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss it. The Pentagon said “the U.S. military utilizes a wide array of standard and nonstandard aircraft depending on mission requirements.”
WORDS: 936 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 9:12 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpCartels/beb8ebd91d8c2d8950c9438ad379d5b2/text___
Trump administration labels 3 Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's administration has made good on its pledge to label three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, imposing sanctions on them. The Treasury and State departments announced the actions Tuesday against the Lebanese, Jordanian and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they say pose a risk to the United States. The State Department has designated the Lebanese branch a foreign terrorist organization, the most severe of the labels. This makes it a criminal offense to provide material support to the group. The Jordanian and Egyptian branches are listed by Treasury as specially designated global terrorists for providing support to Hamas. Muslim Brotherhood leaders have said they renounce violence.
WORDS: 764 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 1:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpMuslimBrotherhoodrdLdWritethru/d862fcc5b04558f9af8d648dd4e9a0d1/text___
Clintons refuse to testify in House Epstein probe as Republicans threaten contempt proceedings
SUMMARY: Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are refusing to testify to Congress about Jeffrey Epstein. The Clintons in a letter Tuesday said they will not comply with a House subpoena to testify. The Democrats slam a Republican-controlled committee’s efforts as “legally invalid.” Republican lawmakers in response say they will launch contempt of Congress proceedings against the Clintons next week. In a letter released on social media, the Clintons denounce the contempt push as being “literally designed to result in" their imprisonment. The Republican push to hold the Clintons in contempt could result in prosecution from the Justice Department.
WORDS: 934 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 4:06 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEpsteinCongressClintonsthLdWritethru/ad1f880ed716665f210025d8e57ff112/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Iran signals plans for fast trials and executions for detained protesters despite US warnings
SUMMARY: Iran's judiciary chief has signaled fast trials and executions are ahead for those detained in nationwide protests. This comes despite warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 2,586 people have been killed in the crackdown. Trump has warned of possible military action over the killings. On Wednesday, Iran held a mass funeral for some 100 security force members killed in the demonstrations. Meanwhile, activists say Starlink is offering free service in Iran, helping bypass an internet shutdown. Authorities are reportedly searching for Starlink dishes in Tehran.
WORDS: 949 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 7:17 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProteststhLdWritethru/6004d94d5a1685b7b9096ea7a04dac6f/text___
Greenlandic and Danish officials meet with Vance and Rubio as Trump insists on US control of island
SUMMARY: Officials from Greenland and Denmark have met in Washington with top White House officials as President Donald Trump moved to ratchet up the pressure by suggesting that NATO should help the U.S. acquire the world’s largest island. Trump reiterated on Wednesday before the talks that Greenland is essential for U.S. national security and warned against Russian or Chinese influence. Greenland's residents and leaders oppose the idea of U.S. control and prefer to remain part of the kingdom of Denmark. The island is strategically important due to climate change and potential mineral resources. The White House talks lasted about an hour.
WORDS: 905 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 5:07 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSDenmarkGreenlandUSMeetingthLdWritethru/cc278af4f3daf725029101966ba03568/text___
A novel sanctuary in Antarctica is preserving ice samples from rapidly melting glaciers
SUMMARY: Scientists have inaugurated the first global repository of mountain ice cores in an Antarctic vault. This initiative aims to preserve Earth's atmospheric history as global warming melts glaciers. On Wednesday, the Ice Memory Foundation stored the first two Alpine ice core samples from Mont Blanc and Grand Combin in a snow cave at Concordia station. The foundation, a consortium of European research institutes, ensures future generations can study past climate conditions. Since 2000, glaciers have lost significant ice, making these cores crucial for understanding atmospheric changes. Scientists plan to expand the collection in the coming years.
WORDS: 460 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 1:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUItalyClimateAntarcticIcendLdWritethru/25c45a3a1e6375a1f241c825e5e63e5c/text___
A construction crane falls onto a moving train in Thailand, killing at least 32 people
SUMMARY: A construction crane has fallen onto a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand, causing a derailment that killed at least 32 people. The accident happened Wednesday on a planned high-speed rail project connecting China with Southeast Asia. Authorities say four passengers are still missing. The crane was being used to build an elevated part of the railway when it collapsed. Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan has ordered an investigation. The project's contractor, Italian-Thai Development, faces scrutiny due to past incidents, including a building collapse in Bangkok last year. Chinese companies are also involved in the project.
WORDS: 953 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 4:36 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASThailandTrainAccidentthLdWritethru/4103e4d6806fe007d4e35f5eb9133a97/text___
Japan's Takaichi plans to dissolve lower house to set up an early snap election
SUMMARY: Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve the lower house of Parliament soon for a snap election to seek the public's mandate for her policies. Takaichi, elected as Japan's first female prime minister in October, wants to capitalize on her strong approval ratings of around 70%. Shunichi Suzuki, secretary general of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, said Takaichi plans to dissolve the lower house after it convenes on January 23. Opposition lawmakers criticized the plan as a selfish move that would delay parliamentary discussion on the budget. Takaichi aims to secure a bigger share for the LDP and its new junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party.
WORDS: 494 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 11:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASJapanPoliticsstLdWritethru/537ee828baece9b9a262fc13a62e112c/text___
Hundreds more in Venezuela say their loved ones are 'political prisoners'
SUMMARY: Edilson Torres has been buried in his hometown after dying in a Venezuelan prison. He was held since December on what his family said were political charges. Torres died of a heart attack Saturday as his family awaited his release. Alfredo Romero, director of Venezuelan advocacy Foro Penal, said his group has received a flood of messages from families registering loved ones as political prisoners. Romero says that of the roughly 300 families who reached out, about 100 cases so far have been confirmed as politically motivated. He says most of those reported over the past few days are people who once worked for Venezuela’s military. That's in addition to 800 politically motivated detentions it counted already.
WORDS: 959 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 3:48 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaUSPrisonersthLdWritethru/7dc52c3ed6251f561b7754fd50182588/text___
Gaza's living conditions worsen as strong winds and hypothermia kill 5
SUMMARY: Strong winds have caused at least four deaths in Gaza as walls collapsed onto tents in the coastal territory. Hospital authorities reported the fatalities on Tuesday, highlighting the dangerous living conditions that persist after years of Israeli bombardment and aid shortages. A ceasefire has been in effect since October 10, but aid groups say many Palestinians lack adequate shelter for winter storms. Gaza's Health Ministry also reported a rise in child deaths, with a 1-year-old boy dying of hypothermia. UNICEF says over 100 children have been killed by military means since the ceasefire began.
WORDS: 1011 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 11:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsthLdWritethru/03966101946e3f6e68ff4df758bd87f2/text___
Russia attacks Ukraine's power grid again in freezing temperatures
SUMMARY: Russia has launched another major drone and missile attack on Ukraine that targeted the country's power grid in freezing temperatures. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russia fired nearly 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles at eight regions overnight. A strike in the Kharkiv region killed four people. The attack left several hundred thousand households without power in the Kyiv region. Russia launched a similar attack four days earlier in which Moscow used a powerful hypersonic missile. The U.S. has accused Russia of escalating the conflict. Ukraine is seeking quicker air defense deliveries from the U.S. and Europe to counter the attacks.
WORDS: 911 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 9:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/aa7d5c2e54619fefabab72165444f8e3/text___
Marine Le Pen's appeal trial opens in Paris, with far-right leader's 2027 presidential bid at stake
SUMMARY: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has returned to court to appeal an embezzlement conviction that risks affecting her 2027 presidential ambitions. She denies any wrongdoing. She was found guilty in March of misusing European Parliament funds and sentenced to a five-year ban from holding office, among other penalties. The appeal trial involving Le Pen and 10 others opened on Tuesday and is set to last five weeks. The verdict is expected possibly before summer. Le Pen argues the funds were used appropriately. The case weighs heavily on her political future, as she has worked to bring the far right into France’s mainstream politics.
WORDS: 830 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 5:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUFranceLePenTrialthLdWritethru/1f06183468c669d99093634ba7472c72/text___
Denmark, Greenland leaders stand united against Trump's Greenland takeover call ahead of key meeting
SUMMARY: The leaders of Denmark and the country’s territory of Greenland on Tuesday offered a united front against President Donald Trump’s calls for the United States to take over the strategic Arctic island. Their comments came on the eve of critical meetings in Washington. Denmark and Greenland’s prime ministers underscored that the territory is part of Denmark, and thus covered by NATO. A U.S. attempt to take over or force the secession of the island would tear apart the transatlantic alliance. The leaders, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, underscored their solidarity as their foreign ministers prepared for talks at the White House on Wednesday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
WORDS: 982 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 1:14 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUDenmarkGreenlandthLdWritethru/6a9ab923e04411cf518ec3e0f6a67e38/text___
Activists say Iran has aired nearly 100 coerced confessions from protesters, often after torture
SUMMARY: Iranian state media has aired at least 97 confessions from protesters since Dec. 28, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. The U.S.-based group says testimony it has collected from those released shows these confessions are coerced, often following torture. In some cases, they can lead to severe consequences, including state executions, the rights group said. The organization also says this pattern of forced confessions has been used repeatedly by the regime but that the number of broadcast confessions since the protests began is unprecedented. Iran executed at least 12 people for espionage in the past six months.
WORDS: 926 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 8:59 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProtestsCoercedConfessions/f7cd9b1987480a8024a6e549fc51535d/text___
What to know about the Muslim Brotherhood after the US terrorist designation
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has designated the Lebanese, Jordanian and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. Founded in Egypt in the 1920s, the group is seen as the origin of political Islam. Its leaders claim it renounced violence decades ago, but some offshoots have armed wings. Critics, including autocratic governments, view it as a threat. The Brotherhood has a complex history, with involvement in social services, militancy and politics. It has spread across the Middle East, influencing groups like Hamas. The U.S. claims these chapters support violence and destabilization, impacting regional and American interests.
WORDS: 927 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 5:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMuslimBrotherhoodExplainer/9003258fa8f3c8713ad8804f2783324c/text___
Israel's recognition of breakaway Somaliland brings uproar and threats to a volatile region
SUMMARY: Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has thrust the breakaway territory into the international spotlight. That has caused an uproar in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East and added a new factor to regional power struggles. For Israel the decision raises questions about a proposal for Somaliland to take in Palestinians displaced from Gaza. Israel could also use Somaliland as a base to respond to attacks from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Somaliland's foreign minister says Israel's recognition brings more legitimacy and investment. But it also could make Somaliland a target. And already the al-Qaida affiliate in Somalia is making threats.
WORDS: 1151 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 3:57 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelSomalilandstLdWritethru/f512b6ab8d17833229376417287a372b/text___
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BUSINESS
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Wall Street slumps as bank and tech stocks fall
SUMMARY: Wall Street is falling following mixed profit reports from several big banks. The S&P 500 sank 1% Wednesday and was on track for a second straight loss after setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 248 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 1.5%. Wells Fargo helped lead the market lower following a profit report that fell short of expectations. Nvidia and other tech stocks also dropped. Crude prices added to their big recent gains. Gold’s price climbed toward further records, while Treasury yields edged lower as investors looked for investments that are considered safer to hold.
WORDS: 659 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 4:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/848ef168fa3c4f55a5fb443e390fc0df/text___
2025 US home sales stuck at 30-year low as mortgage rates, prices weighed on market
SUMMARY: The U.S. housing market slump dragged into its fourth year in 2025, as sales remained stuck at a 30-year low with rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates keeping many prospective home shoppers shut out of the market. The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that sales of previously occupied U.S. homes totaled 4.06 million last year, flat versus 2024, when sales sank to the lowest level since 1995. The median national home price for all of last year rose 1.7% to $414,400, the NAR said. Sales have been stuck at around a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023. That’s well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm.
WORDS: 398 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 3:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APHomeSalesndLdWritethru/d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708/text___
Luxury retailer Saks seeks bankruptcy protection overwhelmed by debt
SUMMARY: Luxury retailer Saks Global has filed for bankruptcy, preparing to reposition itself after obtaining about $1.75 billion in financing commitments. The private company that owns retailers Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus said in a release Wednesday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas. Top executive, Marc Metrick, stepped down earlier this month as the company struggled with debt it took on for its $2.65 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus in 2024. The company is facing increasing competition as it tries to winnow down its heavy debt load, while its customers have balked against extravagant price hikes.
WORDS: 629 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 7:46 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSaksBankruptcythLdWritethru/69767dc507055d394b54488b71626835/text___
China's trade surplus surges 20% to a record $1.2 trillion, even with Trump's tariffs
SUMMARY: China has reported its trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion last year as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the United States under President Donald Trump. Customs data released on Wednesday showed that China’s global exports rose 5.5% for the whole of 2025 to $3.77 trillion, while imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion. The 2024 trade surplus was $992 billion. China’s exports for December were up 6.6% from the previous year, better than economists’ estimates and higher than November’s 5.9% year-on-year increase. China’s trade surplus surpassed the $1 trillion mark for the first time in November.
WORDS: 736 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 3:35 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaTradethLdWritethru/59f6fcc80ee3afc204a024f57766d319/text___
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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
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Scientists call another near-record hot year a 'warning shot' of a shifting, dangerous climate
SUMMARY: Scientists calculate that last year was one of the three hottest on record, along with 2024 and 2023. Several climate monitoring teams say these last three years approach the warming limit set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Scientists say those last three years pushed global temperatures up to a new level beyond the way it was trending. The last 11 years have been the hottest on record. Experts say human-caused warming is the main driver and call it a warning shot about the world's shifting climate. Rising temperatures have intensified heat waves and extreme weather events, impacting millions worldwide.
WORDS: 957 - MOVED: 01/14/2026 3:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APClimateGlobalTemperaturesndLdWritethru/bff13bcc51d1a5daab62ff7036879dfe/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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See the dates and ticket plans for the BTS tour that starts in April
SUMMARY: The BTS comeback is upon us. The K-pop septet has announced a 2026 and 2027 tour. It begins in South Korea in April and runs through March 2027 with over 70 dates across Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Europe. The tour marks the group’s first headline performances since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. A presale will take place Jan. 22-23 for ARMY Membership holders who register on Weverse, a fan platform owned by BTS management company HYBE. A general sale for all regions begins Jan. 24.
WORDS: 415 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 5:11 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTMusicBTSWorldTourndLdWritethru/01db0e428723c0febc514373969333bd/text___
Snoop Dogg's NBA analyst role underscores why his on-air presence and global appeal keeps growing
SUMMARY: Snoop Dogg has made a splash as an NBA analyst, joining Reggie Miller and Terry Gannon during the second half of Peacock's recent Warriors at Clippers broadcast. He also will be involved in NBCUniversal's coverage of the upcoming Winter Olympics as his role with the broadcaster expands. An AP reporter trailed Snoop through Intuit Dome for an all-access, behind-the-scenes look at his preparation for the Jan. 5 broadcast, including production meetings and pregame interviews. Snoop says this wasn’t a cameo. He aims to bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and new audiences much like he did at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He is eager to continue evolving as an entertainer and embracing opportunities in sports and beyond.
WORDS: 1081 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 5:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTSnoopDoggNBAAnalystndLdWritethru/2f2841757d8c28ce78d64604b9d182c0/text___
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SPORTS
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Mike Tomlin steps down after 19 seasons as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
SUMMARY: The Mike Tomlin era with the Pittsburgh Steelers is over. The longest-tenured head coach in major American professional sports stepped down Tuesday after yet another quick playoff exit. The announcement came a day after the end of Tomlin's 19th season in Pittsburgh. Tomlin won one Super Bowl and went to another during his first four seasons with the Steelers before the club settled into a familiar and frustrating pattern of solid if not always spectacular play followed by a playoff cameo that ended with the Steelers on the wrong side of a blowout. Tomlin went 193-112-2 in Pittsburgh but lost each of his last seven playoff games.
WORDS: 1095 - MOVED: 01/13/2026 7:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFBNSteelersTomlinOutthLdWritethru/0586ece6d4f239310372caf09a43de8c/text___
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