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
———----———————
Huge US winter storm to bring crippling snow, sleet and ice from Texas to Boston
SUMMARY: A massive winter storm is barreling toward the eastern U.S., threatening to bring severe ice and snow from Texas to Boston. Forecasters warn the storm could rival a hurricane in damage to power lines and trees, especially in areas with heavy ice. The storm is expected to start Friday in New Mexico and Texas, moving east through the South and then up the coast into New England. Bitterly cold air could follow, with wind chills dropping to minus-50 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. Utility workers are on alert and supplies like bread and salt are flying off shelves.
WORDS: 610 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherthLdWritethru/f8f2277db0d87b1aa3d4893c565ce57c/text___
Vance heads to Minneapolis and says 'far left' should stop resisting immigration enforcement
SUMMARY: Vice President JD Vance is blaming what he calls the "far left" for turmoil surrounding the White House's deportation campaign. Vance is set to visit Minnesota later Thursday. But first he stopped in Ohio, his home state, where he criticized opposition to the administration's immigration enforcement. The vice president will meet in Minneapolis with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Protests have erupted in the city after an agent fatally shot Renee Good this month. Vance has defended that agent and said Good's death was a "tragedy of her own making." Vance also is praising the arrest of protesters who disrupted a weekend church service in Minnesota.
WORDS: 390 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 4:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVance/002f1d1acf05c00aeee289ec192100e7/text___
Attorney general announces the arrest of at least 2 people involved in a Minnesota church protest
SUMMARY: Attorney General Pam Bondi says a woman who led an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church has been arrested. Bondi announced the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong in a post on X on Thursday. On Sunday, protesters entered the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor. Bondi said later a second person was also arrested. The group interrupted services by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to the 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis this month. Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and prominent local activist, had called for the pastor affiliated with ICE to resign.
WORDS: 1021 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 2:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementthLdWritethru/ed084f5005187f58eabe0cc627d1862b/text___
Millions of Americans prepare for potentially catastrophic ice storm. Here’s what the numbers show
SUMMARY: Millions of Americans are bracing for a potentially catastrophic ice storm from New Mexico to the Carolinas. Forecasters say it could crush trees, power lines, and cause power outages for days. Big cities including Washington, D.C. and New York City might see enough snow to make travel nearly impossible. About 150 million people on Thursday were under winter weather watches or warnings of extreme cold. The storm is expected to begin Friday and continue through the weekend, as an atmospheric river of moisture could pull precipitation across Texas and other Gulf Coast states.
WORDS: 1154 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherByTheNumbersrdLdWritethru/e82e152fea39809180714137d7aa56a4/text___
Immigration enforcement arrives in Maine as a court freezes restrictions on tactics in Minnesota
SUMMARY: Maine has become the latest target in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement wave. The Department of Homeland Security named the enforcement operation Catch of the Day, an apparent play on the state’s seafood industry. Maine has relatively few residents who are in the United States illegally but has a notable presence of refugees in its largest cities. An appeals court on Wednesday suspended a decision that prohibited federal officers from using tear gas or pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota. The government persuaded the court to freeze a judge’s ruling while it pursues an appeal.
WORDS: 907 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 6:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementthLdWritethru/8693014921e7a240108cb7f58dc56a46/text___
A former flight attendant is accused of fooling airlines into giving him free flights. But how?
SUMMARY: Authorities say a Canadian man posed as a commercial pilot and working flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines. Authorities say 33-year-old Dallas Pokornik of Toronto pleaded not guilty Tuesday following his extradition. He was arrested in Panama after being indicted on wire fraud charges in federal court in Hawaii last October. Court documents say Pokornik used fake employee identification to obtain tickets reserved for pilots and flight attendants on three airlines for four years. The indictment did not identify the airlines except to say they are based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth, Texas.
WORDS: 880 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFakePilotFreeFlightsrdLdWritethru/58a2d18d66aabe462e11c3d72002c8ec/text___
Former Uvalde officer acquitted in trial over police response to Robb Elementary attack
SUMMARY: A former Uvalde schools police officer who was among the first to respond to the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school has been acquitted of criminal charges that he failed his duty to confront the gunman. Adrian Gonzales had faced 29 charges of child abandonment and endangerment and up to two years in prison. A jury acquitted him Wednesday. Prosecutors had alleged at trial that Gonzales abandoned his training and could have stopped the gunman outside Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. Gonzales’ lawyers insisted he never saw the gunman before he entered the school. The trial was a rare prosecution of an officer for allegedly failing to act to stop a crime and protect lives.
WORDS: 873 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUvaldeSchoolShootingTrialthLdWritethru/63c0598465a28955db41ca7cfbc727ca/text___
Autopsy finds Cuban immigrant in ICE custody died of homicide due to asphyxia
SUMMARY: A medical examiner has determined that an Cuban migrant held in solitary confinement at an immigration detention facility in Texas died as a result of homicide. Geraldo Lunas Campos died Jan. 3 following an altercation with guards. ICE claims the 55-year-old father of four was attempting suicide and staff tried to save him. But a witness told The Associated Press last week that Lunas Campos was handcuffed as at least five guards held him down and at least one put an arm around his neck and squeezed until he was unconscious. The autopsy report released Wednesday by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death was asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.
WORDS: 1132 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 12:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementDetaineeDeathndLdWritethru/f04b5cb76f175255e58b947f0e14bc12/text___
Take these steps to protect yourself from winter weather dangers
SUMMARY: Winter weather brings various hazards that people have to contend with to keep warm and safe. These dangers can include carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia and frozen pipes that can burst and make homes unlivable. Public safety officials and experts say there are multiple ways people can prepare themselves to avoid these hazards and keep themselves safe. The Midwest, the East Coast as well as much of the southern U.S., including Texas, Georgia and the Carolinas, are set to experience a winter storm this weekend. That is putting a spotlight on potential dangers.
WORDS: 788 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 9:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherToughingItOutstLdWritethru/c6c631eaf21489462a6c7de58a1f1003/text___
Lawmakers can sue to ensure release of Epstein files, but not as part of Maxwell case, judge says
SUMMARY: A judge says congressional cosponsors of a law forcing the Justice Department to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell can sue to seek a court-appointed observer to ensure compliance. But the judge says the two House members lack the legal right to make their demand as part of Maxwell's criminal case. The lawmakers had asked the judge last week in a bid to speed the public disclosure of files related to investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, his longtime confidant. The judge also says the lawmakers are at liberty to use their legislative tools to improve oversight of the Justice Department.
WORDS: 614 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:07 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEpsteinCongressrdLdWritethru/cd02bb95beb63354481ca6eb8865dc07/text___
—————————----—
WASHINGTON/POLITICS
———----———————
Smith defends his Trump investigations at a public hearing, saying, 'No one should be above the law'
SUMMARY: Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has defended his investigations of Donald Trump at a public congressional hearing. Smith insisted Thursday he had acted without regard to politics and had no second thoughts about the criminal charges he brought. Smith's two criminal investigations shadowed Trump during his 2024 Republican presidential campaign. Smith testified behind closed doors last month but returned to the House Judiciary Committee for the public hearing. The hearing divided along partisan lines between Republican lawmakers looking to undermine Smith and Democrats hoping to elicit new and damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct in the Washington, D.C., and Florida cases. Trump's administration is targeting the investigators who scrutinized him.
WORDS: 885 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 11:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressJackSmiththLdWritethru/056c73bd6b5c46dc213266aa01677f36/text___
Trump rolls out his Board of Peace at the Davos forum, but many top US allies aren't participating
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced after speaking with President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland, two days of trilateral meetings involving the U.S., Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy says those meetings start Friday in the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskky met with Trump on Thursday in Davos during the World Economic Forum. Trump has struggled to get Zelenskyy and Russia's Vladimir Putin to agree to terms to end their nearly 4-year-old war. Also Thursday, Trump inaugurated his Board of Peace to try to maintain a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas, but many U.S. allies are opting out. Trump aims to map a future for Gaza, but those efforts have largely been overshadowed by his efforts to take Greenland.
WORDS: 1178 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUDavosForumTrumpthLdWritethru/f3b265cff4032d51cb5f14bc1cd2d2a3/text___
House moves to finish government funding as Democrats decry Homeland Security bill
SUMMARY: The House is looking to pass this year’s final batch of spending bills. The effort on Thursday is being complicated by Democratic lawmakers’ concerns the measure funding the Department of Homeland Security inadequately addresses President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts. House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar announced in a closed-door meeting they would oppose the Homeland Security bill. With Republicans in charge of both chambers of Congress and the White House, Democrats have few good options to express their opposition. Speaker Mike Johnson voices confidence the funding bills will pass, including the Homeland Security measure.
WORDS: 823 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 12:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudget/d7ca791c2d1aa81d2982239f81bc86be/text___
Republicans and some Democrats back contempt for the Clintons in House Epstein probe
SUMMARY: A House committee has advanced resolutions to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee approved the contempt of Congress charges in bipartisan votes. It sets up a potential vote in the House. Democrats were split on the measures. A number of progressive lawmakers called for full transparency in the Epstein investigation even if it meant threatening a former Democratic president if he refuses to testify.
WORDS: 1164 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 12:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEpsteinCongressClintonsthLdWritethru/6132b63aeb1deb4513e9fa6807ae223c/text___
Army orders military police to get ready for a possible Minneapolis deployment, AP source says
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army has ordered several dozen additional active-duty soldiers to prepare for a possible deployment to Minneapolis if needed amid protests over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. That's according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday. Members of an Army military police brigade stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina have been given prepare-to-deploy orders. But the official says such standby orders are issued regularly and they don't necessarily mean the troops would end up going. About 1,500 active-duty soldiers from the Army’s 11th Airborne Division based in Alaska also received similar standby orders. President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act before walking that back.
WORDS: 420 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 2:55 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMilitary/bd91b1f8424586aaab2c5f3a3c46bc99/text___
Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
SUMMARY: An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant. This change reverses previous guidance and raises concerns about constitutional protections against illegal searches. The memo, signed by ICE’s acting director, states that administrative warrants are sufficient for forced entry if there’s a final order of removal. This policy could face legal challenges and criticism from advocacy groups. Whistleblower Aid, representing two government officials, describes the directive as seemingly unconstitutional and a significant shift in arrest powers. The Associated Press obtained the memo and whistleblower complaint from an official in Congress.
WORDS: 1286 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 9:26 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementArreststhLdWritethru/00d0ab0338e82341fd91b160758aeb2d/text___
ICE activity increases in Maine as anxiety grows in immigrant communities
SUMMARY: Maine is seeing an increase in immigration enforcement activity this week. The state's secretary of state has responded by declining to issue more undercover license plates for federal immigration officers. ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde told FOX News that it had made 50 arrests by Tuesday as part of “Operation Catch of the Day” and has about 1,400 targets in the state. The actions have centered on Portland and Lewiston, the two largest cities in the state. The cities have thousands of residents of African descent, including many from Somalia.
WORDS: 1011 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 8:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMainethLdWritethru/778b02cc97e390edbc598def9e6ff317/text___
Supreme Court seems inclined to keep Lisa Cook on Fed board despite Trump attempt to fire her
SUMMARY: The Supreme Court seems inclined to keep Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook in her job. The justices are casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s bid to wrest control of the nation’s central bank. They heard arguments Wednesday over Trump’s effort to fire Cook based on allegations she committed mortgage fraud. She denies any wrongdoing. No president has ever fired a sitting governor. Trump's critics say his true motivation for trying to oust Cook is the Republican president’s desire to exert control over interest rate policy. The case presented the court with one of the more extraordinary efforts by Trump to expand presidential power. A decision is expected by early summer.
WORDS: 1183 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSupremeCourtFederalReserveCookthLdWritethru/a8572f8a1f62cf653e822a64c714d05a/text___
Minneapolis turmoil has Democrats scrambling to figure out political strategy on immigration
SUMMARY: Democrats are rethinking their midterm election strategy due to the controversial immigration crackdown in Minnesota. The killing of Renee Good by federal agents has sparked outrage, but the party is divided on how to respond. Some are calling to abolish ICE, echoing "defund the police" rhetoric from President Donald Trump's first term. Others are proposing legislation to curb alleged abuse, which activists criticize as insufficient. The party faces pressure to balance immigration issues with core messages on health care and affordability. Republicans, meanwhile, feel confident in their stance on immigration and crime.
WORDS: 1025 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionDemocratsImmigrationrdLdWritethru/1108b6228c0f088aa85d4c6d8ce744ba/text___
From the NFL sidelines to a US Senate race: Michele Tafoya's new play
SUMMARY: Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya has launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate. She hopes to win the Republican nomination for the Minnesota seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. Tafoya announced her candidacy Wednesday in a video posted on social media. She emphasized her knowledge of leadership from her years covering football. Tafoya has been active in Minnesota Republican politics and is best known for her work as a sideline reporter for NBC's Sunday Night Football. Other Republicans in the race include former NBA player Royce White, military veterans Adam Schwarze and Tom Weiler, and former Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann.
WORDS: 509 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 2:35 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMinnesotaTafoyardLdWritethru/f5820b62e48bddd48490264a96d334a8/text___
—————————----—
INTERNATIONAL
———----———————
Ukraine's Zelenskyy says his repeated warnings to Europe feel like 'Groundhog Day'
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is criticizing European allies for their slow and fragmented response to Russia's invasion. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he highlighted Europe's inadequate support compared to the U.S. push for peace. Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the talks productive. He urges Europe to become a global force, contrasting its response to Washington's actions in Venezuela and Iran. Despite European support, internal disagreements and slow responses frustrate Kyiv. Zelenskyy stresses the need for Western weaponry and international focus on the war as Russia's influence persists.
WORDS: 827 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 4:29 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarstLdWritethru/2868a90778ddd304002b91f5d06fe454/text___
Trump's European threats could cause lasting damage to US standing in the world
SUMMARY: Joe Biden promised Europe that "America is back" early in his presidency, aiming to mend ties after Donald Trump's tenure. However, nearly five years later, Trump's influence over Europe has grown. Recently, Trump demanded Denmark cede Greenland to the U.S., causing turmoil within NATO. European leaders are responding by exploring alliances that exclude the U.S. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted a global shift, calling the rules-based order an "illusion." European leaders criticized Trump's approach, while some Republicans supported him. Democrats urged stronger responses, stressing the need for a lasting shift in U.S. politics to rebuild trust.
WORDS: 1225 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:07 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpEuropestLdWritethru/627268004024f111097d7e1c5c2da357/text___
Denmark says its sovereignty is not negotiable after Trump's Greenland about-turn
SUMMARY: Denmark’s prime minister is insisting that her country can’t negotiate on its sovereignty after U.S. President Donald Trump said he agreed a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security with the head of NATO. Trump said on Thursday that the outcome would be “all the military access we want” to Greenland. Trump earlier, on Wednesday, abruptly scrapped the tariffs he had threatened to impose on eight European nations to press for U.S. control over Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. Much about the potential deal remained unclear.
WORDS: 842 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 7:45 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUGreenlandDenmarkUSthLdWritethru/d74c0ffcf1db904a2a9c3b2c5c5b8d03/text___
Gunman at large in Australia after leaving 3 dead and 1 wounded
SUMMARY: A gunman is at large after a shooting in an Australian town that left three people dead and another wounded. Emergency services were called to two locations at Lake Cargelligo in New South Wales state on Thursday following reports of shooting. Police say two women and a man are dead, and another man was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. The shooter fled in vehicle. Police urged the public to avoid the area and for local residents to stay inside. The shooting came on a National Day of Mourning as Australia remembers the 15 people shot dead at a Hannukah celebration in Sydney on Dec. 14.
WORDS: 373 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 7:53 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASAustraliaShootingthLdWritethru/7644bf4eac20bc1c47d24417e8f315da/text___
What to know about the multiple train crashes in Spain this week
SUMMARY: Multiple train crashes this week have rocked Spain, raising concerns about railway safety. The first crash involved a high-speed train in southern Spain that derailed on Sunday evening, colliding with another train and killing at least 43 people. On Tuesday night, another crash occurred near Barcelona, killing one person. Then, on Thursday, a commuter train crashed in southeastern Spain, lightly injuring six passengers. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the Sunday crash. Officials found a broken section of track, but it's unclear if it caused the accident. Spain's high-speed rail network is generally safe, but these incidents have sparked calls for improved safety measures.
WORDS: 694 - MOVED: 01/19/2026 12:29 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSpainTrainCrashWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/06d996533125414a2dc5948ef666ce15/text___
Rescue efforts underway after landslides hit New Zealand campground and house with 2 confirmed dead
SUMMARY: Landslides have hit a house and a campground in New Zealand, killing at least two people while emergency crews are trying to rescue people buried in rubble. A house was hit by a slide before dawn Thursday at Welcome Bay on New Zealand's North Island, and two bodies were later recovered. Hours later, a campground was hit at the base of nearby Mount Maunganui. The initial crew on the scene heard voices from the rubble, but no survivors have been found. Authorities said the number of people missing was in the single figures. A man was washed away by floodwater Wednesday further north near Warkworth.
WORDS: 509 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 1:46 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASNewZealandLandslidethLdWritethru/adf7342fac9b80f854dd575520930d5d/text___
Israeli fire strikes journalists and children on one of Gaza's deadliest days since ceasefire
SUMMARY: Hospitals in Gaza say Israeli forces have killed at least 11 Palestinians on one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October. Among the dead are three Palestinian journalists who were killed while filming near a displacement camp in central Gaza. The Israeli military says it spotted suspects who were operating a drone posing a threat to its troops. Also killed in separate incidents were two 13-year-old boys. The strikes came as the United States is trying to push the ceasefire forward and implement its challenging second phase.
WORDS: 1046 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 1:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazathLdWritethru/d40bf79679b73bc11e2d7d6743724290/text___
Iran offers first government-issued death toll from protest crackdown, one far lower than activists
SUMMARY: Iran has reported its first government-issued death toll from the recent protests, saying 3,117 people were killed. This figure is much lower than the 4,902 reported by the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which warns the toll may still go far higher as communications remain disrupted to Iran. Other activists offer far-higher figures as well and Iran's theocracy has downplayed casualty figures in the past. The protests, which began in December, have led to nearly 26,500 arrests. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meanwhile issued a strong warning to the U.S., stating Iran will retaliate if attacked.
WORDS: 1050 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProteststhLdWritethru/299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5/text___
Trump backs down on Greenland and cancels tariff threat after NATO agrees to future Arctic deal
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says he has scrapped the tariffs that he threatened to impose on eight European nations to press for U.S. control over Greenland. The dramatic reversal came shortly after Trump insisted he wanted to get the island “including right, title and ownership.” He says he has agreed with NATO on a future Arctic security deal that could ease geopolitical tensions. Trump also suggested Denmark and NATO might work with the U.S. to build more military bases on Greenland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed Trump's decision. The president argues that Greenland is crucial for U.S. national security against Russia and China in the Arctic.
WORDS: 1284 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 5:17 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUDavosForumTrumprdLdWritethru/a2f3f4c18ba321c8025a3e208fc0ddf6/text___
Russia watches US-European tensions over Greenland with glee, gloating and wariness
SUMMARY: Russian officials and media are reacting to President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland with a mix of glee and caution. Some see it as historic and potentially weakening the European Union and NATO, which could benefit Moscow. However, they also express concerns about security and economic implications for Russia, which has interests in the Arctic. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the issue doesn’t concern Russia, while others note it could divert attention from Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Kremlin remains cautious, reflecting its strategy to improve relations with the United States.
WORDS: 1187 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 6:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRussiaUSGreenlandrdLdWritethru/aa9ec1941fd219ab840863946018346b/text___
Trump's Board of Peace is dividing countries in Europe and the Middle East
SUMMARY: Divisions have emerged over U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace as its ambitions have grown beyond Gaza. Some Western European countries are declining to join, others are remaining noncommittal and a group of Muslim countries has agreed to sign on. The developments underscore European concerns over the expanded and divisive scope of the project. Some say it may seek to rival the U.N. Security Council’s role in mediating global conflicts. Trump is looking to form the board officially this week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Norway and Sweden said they won’t accept their invitations, after France also said no.
WORDS: 759 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 6:42 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsthLdWritethru/2f0e063d03babbd3276f31289ba5f2a2/text___
US military transfers first 150 Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq
SUMMARY: The U.S. military has started transferring Islamic State detainees from northeastern Syria to secure facilities in Iraq. That followed Syrian government forces taking control of a camp housing families of IS militants from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. The transfer Wednesday involves 150 IS members. Up to 7,000 detainees could be transferred. Syria's Foreign Ministry has welcomed the transfer, calling it an important step for security and stability. The SDF still controls several detention facilities.
WORDS: 1025 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 10:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLSyriaClashesthLdWritethru/2b4ec1e38c689b1858655de0c25e10ef/text___
Second fatal train crash shocks Spain as death toll in the first collision rises to 43
SUMMARY: Commuter rail service in Catalonia, Spain, was suspended Wednesday after a Barcelona train crash killed one person and injured 37 others. The crash happened Tuesday night when a train hit a retaining wall near Gelida. This incident follows Spain’s worst railway disaster since 2013, which occurred Sunday in southern Spain, raising the death toll to 43. Authorities are investigating both crashes. Rail disruptions Wednesday caused significant traffic jams into Barcelona. Spain’s railway operator said heavy rainfall likely caused the retaining wall to collapse. Three days of national mourning are underway as officials continue their investigations.
WORDS: 779 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 8:35 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSpainTrainCrashthLdWritethru/71f6ad926cd48044df6854fdd52ba722/text___
What the EU's 'trade bazooka' is and how it works
SUMMARY: Europeans are rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland, and are preparing countermeasures against the United States. The tools at the EU's disposal are mostly financial instruments. These can range from steep tariffs on U.S. goods to the so-called trade bazooka. The “trade bazooka” is shorthand for the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument. It includes a raft of measures for blocking or restricting trade and investment from countries that are putting undue pressure on EU member nations or corporations. The bazooka's most extreme measure would essentially close off access to the EU’s 450-million customer market. So far, most EU nations remain skeptical about using it.
WORDS: 374 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 11:38 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUEuropeUSTradethLdWritethru/e30b341ce1c6d95a168067dd4348586b/text___
—————————----—
BUSINESS
———----———————
US stocks climb some more after Trump calls off his tariffs for Greenland
SUMMARY: U.S. stocks are rising and regaining more of their losses for the week. The S&P 500 climbed 0.7% Thursday, continuing its rally after President Donald Trump called off tariffs on European countries that he said opposed his desire to have Greenland. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 408 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1%. Details are still sparse about the framework of a deal on Greenland that Trump said he reached with the head of NATO. Financial markets were still showing some signs of nervousness. Gold’s price rose, and the value of the U.S. dollar slipped against several foreign currencies.
WORDS: 781 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 4:37 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/4834e3bc03fa1d3073e027bd67763cc4/text___
Prices ticked up in November as Americans keep spending, a key inflation measure shows
SUMMARY: The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge ticked up in November in the latest sign that price increases remain stubbornly elevated. Consumer prices rose 2.8% in November from a year earlier, the Commerce Department said Thursday, up from a 2.7% annual pace in October. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices also increased 2.8% in November from a year ago, slightly higher than October’s 2.7%. Inflation has fallen sharply from a four-decade high in 2022 but has mostly leveled off in the past two years.
WORDS: 361 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 3:15 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSConsumerSpendingstLdWritethru/ac538fd750b4622ee7fa439ef8021783/text___
Consumer spending pushes US economy up 4.4% in third quarter, fastest in two years
SUMMARY: Powered by strong consumer spending, the U.S. economy grew at the fastest pace in two years from July through September, the government said Thursday in a slight upgrade rom its first estimate. The Commerce Department reported that America’s gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — rose at a 4.4% annual pace in the third quarter, up from 3.8% in the April-June quarter and from the 4.3% growth the department initially estimated. The economy hasn’t grown faster since third-quarter 2023. Consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of U.S. GDP, grew at a healthy 3.5% pace.
WORDS: 428 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 1:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEconomyGDPstLdWritethru/9e21304dcaca490e65d15fc5d1c92e0e/text___
—————————----—
HEALTH/SCIENCE
———----———————
What to know about FDA's review of new Zyn advertising proposal
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration is weighing whether to allow new advertising messages about Zyn, a type of nicotine pouch that's growing in popularity. Agency advisers are holding an all-day meeting Thursday to consider a request from Philip Morris to begin promoting Zyn as a less-harmful alternative for adult smokers. Studies submitted by the company suggest that switching to Zyn can lower the risks of lung cancer, stroke and other smoking-related ailments. But the FDA and its advisers must weigh those benefits against other potential risks, including use by underage teenagers.
WORDS: 858 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 3:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDZynFDA/d2bb42e4aa70b09c90d969845327bce9/text___
Study shows how earthquake monitors can track space junk through sonic booms
SUMMARY: A new study shows how earthquake monitors can better track space junk by tuning into their sonic booms. Scientists reported Thursday that they collected seismic readings from the sonic booms generated when a discarded module from a Chinese crew capsule reentered in 2024. The data allowed them to place the object's path nearly 20 miles farther south than radar had predicted from orbit. The study in the journal Science focused on one debris event. But the researchers already have used publicly available data from seismic networks to track a few dozen other reentries, including those from three failed SpaceX Starship test flights.
WORDS: 665 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 4:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSCITrackingSpaceJunk/dadb5f9499fa9b52200baada0fdf1f15/text___
Astronauts say space station's ultrasound machine was critical during medical crisis
SUMMARY: The astronauts evacuated last week from the International Space Station say a portable ultrasound machine came in “super handy" during the medical crisis. During their first public appearance since returning to Earth, the four astronauts refused Wednesday to say which one of them had been ailing or why. But NASA's Mike Fincke told reporters that the crew used the onboard ultrasound machine when the medical problem arose January 7, the day before a planned spacewalk. The portable ultrasound was so useful that he says there should be one on all future spaceflights.
WORDS: 426 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 9:19 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSCIAstronautsMedicalReturnrdLdWritethru/d501e91736371525e81d13794d5e9f01/text___
Indonesian handprints are the oldest cave art found yet
SUMMARY: Handprints on the walls of Indonesian caves may be the oldest rock art studied so far, dating back at least 67,800 years. The tan-colored prints uncovered on the island of Sulawesi were made by blowing pigment over hands placed against the cave walls. Some of the fingertips were also tweaked to look more pointed. Researchers dated mineral crusts that had formed on top of the art and discovered it is the oldest to be found on cave walls. They aren't yet sure whether the prints were made by modern humans or an ancient human group called Denisovans. The new research was published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
WORDS: 506 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 4:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSCIOldestCaveArtstLdWritethru/dda02b8f8aa0b72e99e2bd6146c500df/text___
—————————----—
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
———----———————
Meteorologists blame a stretched polar vortex, moisture, lack of sea ice for dangerous winter blast
SUMMARY: Meteorologists warn that a stretched polar vortex could bring severe winter weather to much of the United States. This week, warm Arctic waters and cold continental land are combining to send subzero temperatures, heavy snow, and ice across the eastern two-thirds of the country. The frigid conditions are expected to persist through January and into early February. Experts say the atmospheric pattern is set, with the potential for crippling ice and snow. The National Weather Service cautions about power outages and treacherous travel conditions. The Midwest and North could see temperatures as low as 30 degrees below zero.
WORDS: 888 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 2:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSClimateWinterWeatherExplainerstLdWritethru/06beb5eef46fba3fc81ac3213e5568e0/text___
—————————----—
ENTERTAINMENT
———----———————
'Sinners' makes history, setting Oscars nomination record
SUMMARY: Ryan Coogler’s blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” led all films with 16 nominations to the 98th Academy Awards, setting a record for the most in Oscar history. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters showered “Sinners” with more nominations Thursday than ever before, breaking the 14-nomination mark set by “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land.” Coogler was still trying to process the record-breaking haul when reached by The Associated Press this morning. Paul Thomas Anderson’s father-daughter revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” trailed in second with 13 nominations of its own, making it a banner day for Warner Bros.
WORDS: 1147 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTOscarsNominationsthLdWritethru/83798def8de7626b011aba3c043a4115/text___
Sundance kicks off in Utah with powerful premieres and emotional tributes to Robert Redford
SUMMARY: The Sundance Film Festival kicks off Thursday morning in Utah, marking the first year without founder Robert Redford. His daughter, Amy Redford, shared in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press that her father believed everyone has a story, a principle guiding this year's festival. Over a dozen films will premiere on the opening day. They will include Amir Bar-Lev’s documentary on mountain climbing, Rachel Lambert’s drama “Carousel,” and Judd Apatow’s film about comedian Maria Bamford. Other highlights include a look at playwright Luis Valdez's legacy and a midnight movie by Casper Kelly. The festival runs through Feb. 1.
WORDS: 361 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 6:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTSundanceFilmFestivalDayOne/a2a737c886f6143987a81848953e264b/text___
—————————----—
SPORTS
———----———————
The AP NFL MVP finalists are Allen, Lawrence, Maye, McCaffrey and Stafford
SUMMARY: Christian McCaffrey is the first player to be a finalist for three AP NFL awards, joining Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford in the running for The Associated Press 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player award. McCaffrey and Maye are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. McCaffrey and Lawrence are among the finalists for Comeback Player of the Year. The winners will be announced at “NFL Honors” on Feb. 5. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began. Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.
WORDS: 875 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 2:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFBNNFLAwardsFinalistsstLdWritethru/2aecebfdf696129cfc0e686b081218d8/text___
Cody Bellinger stays with the Yankees, agrees to $162.5 million, 5-year contract, AP source says
SUMMARY: Cody Bellinger has agreed to stay with the New York Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million contract. The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus and a no-trade provision. Bellinger can opt out after the 2027 or 2028 seasons, with the opt outs pushed back a year if there is a full-season work stoppage in 2027. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs in 2024, Bellinger hit .272 with 29 homers last year. He played 149 games, mostly in the outfield. The two-time All-Star and former MVP has a .261 average over eight seasons with the Dodgers, Cubs, and Yankees.
WORDS: 308 - MOVED: 01/21/2026 6:50 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBBOYankeesBellingerndLdWritethru/905445562bf6d1e96409c5643f8934a8/text___
<END>
