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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Judge bars federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione
SUMMARY: A judge has ruled that federal prosecutors can’t seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett's ruling Friday foiled the Trump administration’s bid to see Mangione executed for what it called a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.” Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Mangione, finding that it was technically flawed. She left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. In a win for prosecutors, Garnett also ruled that prosecutors can use evidence collected from his backpack during his arrest, including a 9 mm handgun and a notebook in which authorities say Mangione described his intent to “wack” an insurance executive.
WORDS: 847 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 3:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUnitedHealthcareCEOKilledthLdWritethru/1d17a30d0297acda29fc82dbf54d2677/text___
DOJ has opened a federal civil rights probe into the death of Alex Pretti, deputy AG says
SUMMARY: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says the Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis resident killed by Border Patrol officers. The Department of Homeland Security also said Friday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation will lead the federal probe. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem first disclosed the shift in which agency was leading the probe. DHS previously said that Homeland Security Investigations would lead the investigation. The change comes after other videos emerged of an earlier altercation between Pretti and federal immigration officers 11 days before his death. President Donald Trump suggested in a social media post Pretti was an “agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist.”
WORDS: 760 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 4:09 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMinnesotaPrettirdLdWritethru/65a963816603a08bbc9db83961dd173f/text___
Journalist Don Lemon has been arrested after he covered a Minnesota church protest
SUMMARY: Journalist Don Lemon and three other people have been arrested in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church. The Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul increased tensions between residents and federal officials. It is unclear what charge or charges Lemon and the others are facing. The arrest came after a magistrate judge last week rejected prosecutors’ initial bid to charge the journalist. Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles, where had been covering the Grammy Awards. Lemon's lawyer said "The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
WORDS: 978 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 1:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementChurchthLdWritethru/d3091fe3d1e37100a7c46573667eb85c/text___
Tens of thousands enter 6th day without power as Carolinas and Virginia prep for a winter storm
SUMMARY: Tens of thousands of people are entering their sixth day with no electricity as the Carolinas and Virginia prepare for a significant winter storm that could bring more snowfall than some parts of North Carolina have seen in years. The National Weather Service says arctic air moving into the Southeast will cause already frigid temperatures to plummet into the teens Friday night in cities like Nashville, Tennessee. With another wave of dangerous cold heading for the U.S. South, experts say the risk of hypothermia heightens for people in parts of Mississippi and Tennessee trapped at home without power in subfreezing temperatures.
WORDS: 788 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 5:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherndLdWritethru/6ae30d4be75522f7c0cd3566ba664957/text___
Florida braces for frost and possible snow flurries as winter storms hit other parts of the US
SUMMARY: Florida won’t be getting hit with massive blankets of snow and ice like the rest of the U.S., but even frosty windshields and a few flurries can feel like Antarctica to people with permanent sandal tans. The Midwest and South have been getting major winter storms for several days, and a giant cyclone forecast in the Atlantic Ocean is expected to pull that cold weather east as a powerful blizzard this weekend. The worst seems to be heading toward the Carolinas, but the Sunshine State’s humans, animals and even plants are preparing for winter weather. Ana Torres-Vazquez, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Miami, says a cold front earlier this week has already caused temperatures to dip some, but the region could experience record-setting cold this weekend.
WORDS: 962 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 5:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherFrozenFloridandLdWritethru/8a4498e73dcda031f94ca0bb6ac5489c/text___
DHS ramps up surveillance in immigration raids, sweeping in citizens
SUMMARY: The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis is providing insights into the surveillance technologies the government is using in its mass deportation campaign. Department of Homeland Security officials insist their immigration enforcement operations are “highly targeted.” But some American citizens have been caught up in the raids as the Trump administration has built new surveillance tools and fused together datasets on citizens and noncitizens alike. Over the last year, the agency’s expanding digital dragnet has empowered federal agents to collect and analyze vast volumes of information. The Department of Homeland Security says it will not disclose law enforcement-sensitive methods.
WORDS: 1284 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 5:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementSurveillancestLdWritethru/52662450a15a7be8d9df69036f9b5f12/text___
Man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Omar is charged with assaulting and intimidating her
SUMMARY: The Justice Department has charged a man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at an event in Minneapolis. The man arrested for Tuesday’s attack, Anthony Kazmierczak, faces a charge of forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Omar. Authorities determined the substance was water and apple cider vinegar. Kazmierczak has a criminal history and has made online posts supportive of President Donald Trump. Kazmierczak appeared briefly in federal court Thursday afternoon. His attorney said her client was unmedicated at the time of the incident. The judge ordered him to remain in custody and told officials he needs to see a nurse when he is transferred to jail.
WORDS: 743 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 6:14 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFederalEnforcementMinnesotaOmarSprayedthLdWritethru/385a30eaf6acc40d6ba5c6c45c09304d/text___
A former Illinois deputy is sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Sonya Massey
SUMMARY: A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a Black women who dialed 911 asking for help. Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder in October. He was sentenced on Thursday. The white former deputy killed Massey on July 6, 2024. The 36-year-old single mother had called the police saying she feared there was a prowler outside her Springfield home. Grayson shot her in the face. Grayson can shorten his sentence by half with good behavior. He has been incarcerated since he was charged in Massey’s killing.
WORDS: 922 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSDeputyShootingResponsethLdWritethru/b4af388a9e7133449e861033a741d2ff/text___
Trump's border czar suggests a possible drawdown in Minnesota, but only after ‘cooperation’
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump’s border czar says immigration enforcement could reduce the number of officers in Minnesota. Tom Homan suggested during a news conference Thursday that a drawdown could happen, but only after “cooperation” from state officials. Trump sent Homan to Minnesota following last weekend's fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti. Homan doubled down on the need for local jails to alert Immigration and Customs Enforcement to inmates who are eligible to be deported. He vowed to stay until the “problem’s gone,” but he seemed to acknowledge missteps while warning protesters they could face consequences if they interfere with federal officers.
WORDS: 1013 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 2:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementthLdWritethru/0d559bf53b630d7cc525fd3219f430ba/text___
Sen. Susan Collins announces end to ICE large-scale operations in Maine after talks with Noem
SUMMARY: U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says immigration officials have ceased their enhanced operations in the state. Collins, a Republican, announced the development Thursday after saying she spoke with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Collins says there are no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations in Maine. Collins has urged the Trump administration to reconsider its approach to immigration enforcement. Her statement follows an ICE operation called “Catch of the Day,” which led to more than 200 arrests in the state. Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who could face Collins in a high-profile Senate race this fall, has challenged immigration officials to provide more transparency.
WORDS: 940 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 1:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMainethLdWritethru/ff774636a6e9825fb957e70a10c9ab01/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Justice Department says it's releasing 3 million pages from its Jeffrey Epstein files
SUMMARY: The Justice Department says it's releasing 3 million pages of documents in the latest Jeffrey Epstein disclosure, along with 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. The documents were disclosed Friday under a law intended to reveal what the government knew about the millionaire financier’s sexual abuse of young girls and his interactions with the rich and powerful. The files include some of the several million pages of records officials said were withheld from an initial release of documents in December. Hundreds of department attorneys have been reviewing files to black out material that could reveal the identities of victims. Epstein killed himself in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.
WORDS: 703 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 4:07 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJusticeDepartmentJeffreyEpsteinthLdWritethru/ed743598c320b94bd9d91631618678d9/text___
New US sanctions against Iran target interior minister over crackdown on protesters
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has imposed sanctions against Iran’s interior minister, accusing Eskandar Momeni of repressing nationwide protests that have challenged Tehran’s theocratic government. The penalties are the latest by the United States and the European Union targeting high-ranking officials over the crackdown. The administration says Momeni has overseen Iran’s law enforcement forces that are responsible for the deaths of thousands of peaceful protesters. The EU on Thursday imposed its own sanctions against Momeni, along with members of Iran’s judicial system and other high-ranking officers.
WORDS: 415 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 3:33 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUnitedStatesIranSanctions/aa9a639c8d928b3d969e0d60bcadd3c4/text___
Senate leaders scramble to save bipartisan deal and avoid a partial shutdown
SUMMARY: Senate leaders are trying to save a bipartisan spending deal and avert a partial government shutdown this weekend. Democrats struck a rare agreement with President Donald Trump on Thursday to separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security from a broad government spending bill and provide money for that agency for two weeks while Congress debates curbs on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Even if the deal clears the Senate, it would need House approval. The House isn't expected back until Monday, raising the possibility of at least a temporary partial shutdown over the weekend. The Trump administration is expected to issue guidance to federal agencies on how to proceed.
WORDS: 983 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 5:31 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetstLdWritethru/39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587/text___
Trump sues IRS and Treasury for $10 billion over leaked tax info
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is suing the IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion. He accuses them of failing to prevent a leak of his tax information to news outlets. The lawsuit was filed in a Florida federal court on Thursday. In 2024, former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison for leaking tax information about Trump and others. Earlier this week, the U.S. Treasury Department cut its contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton, where Littlejohn worked. He was charged and imprisoned for leaking tax information about thousands of wealthy individuals, including Trump.
WORDS: 410 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 2:30 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpSuesIRSndLdWritethru/e3a79e1bfdc94a663504754af80ce183/text___
Trump threatens Canada with 50% tariff on aircraft sold in US, expanding trade war
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is threatening Canada with a 50% tariff on any aircraft sold in the U.S., the latest salvo in his trade war with America’s northern neighbor as his feud with Prime Minister Mark Carney expands. Trump said Thursday he was retaliating against Canada for refusing to certify jets from Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream Aerospace. Trump said the U.S., in return, would decertify all Canadian aircraft, including its Bombardier. Trump had threatened over the weekend to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if it went forward with a planned trade deal with China. But Trump’s threat did not come with any details.
WORDS: 773 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 11:55 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpCanadaAircraftthLdWritethru/d8692117bfcf11cf948f834534e7eb88/text___
Trump says he will announce his Federal Reserve chair nominee on Friday morning
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump said he plans to announce his choice for Federal Reserve chairman on Friday morning. Trump has criticized current Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates more aggressively. Trump is believed to have four finalists for the position, but did not give details on Thursday. Tensions have been high between Trump and the Fed, with Powell emphasizing the importance of independent judgment and accountability to Congress. Powell's term ends in May, but he could remain on the board until 2028.
WORDS: 702 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 2:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpFederalReservestLdWritethru/f759d0e3170c28e58af3164d511a4cc8/text___
Trump threatens tariffs on any country selling oil to Cuba, backing Mexico into a corner
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that puts pressure on Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her government had at least temporarily stopped oil shipments to Cuba. She says it was a “sovereign decision” not made under pressure from the U.S. Trump has squeezed Mexico to distance itself from the Cuban government. In the wake of the U.S. military operation to oust former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has said the Cuban government is ready to fall.
WORDS: 813 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 12:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUnitedStatesCubathLdWritethru/30f1d74a766fee23001684a5bb8079d9/text___
Melania Trump's documentary premieres at the Kennedy Center ahead of global release
SUMMARY: Melania Trump is capping her first year after becoming first lady again with the global release of a documentary about the 20 days before she and President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The Kennedy Center in Washington hosted a screening for the movie, “Melania,” on Thursday, one day before its release in theaters worldwide. Director Brett Ratner says he won't measure success by how it does at the box office, because documentaries traditionally are not “huge box office smashes.” Melania Trump says the film offers rare insight into her life in the run-up to the 2025 inauguration.
WORDS: 1156 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 5:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMelaniaTrumpMoviethLdWritethru/6e6b899671f91a00ca46f059f1c4fc94/text___
FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims made during Trump's first Cabinet meeting of 2026
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has held his first Cabinet meeting of 2026, focusing on the economy, housing, energy, health initiatives and drug prices. He painted a positive picture of his administration's accomplishments, but some claims were exaggerated. Trump mentioned $18 trillion in investments, but evidence suggests this figure is inflated. The White House website lists a lower number, $9.6 trillion, which includes commitments from the Biden era. On housing, claims of a sharp rise in home sales are overstated. The National Association of Realtors reported only a 1.4% increase in December. Additionally, Trump's statements on California wildfires and water supply were inaccurate.
WORDS: 1083 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 10:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpCabinetMeetingFactFocusstLdWritethru/f4b4fb985300724a7e717863626e5506/text___
Klobuchar will run for Minnesota governor after Walz ends bid. Democratic senator is a Trump critic
SUMMARY: Amy Klobuchar says she's running for governor of Minnesota. The Democratic senator is promising to take on President Donald Trump’s administration and unify the state. She announced her candidacy in a video Thursday. Klobuchar's decision gives Democrats a high-profile candidate as they try to keep the office held by Tim Walz. He dropped out of this year's race amid criticism over mismanagement of taxpayer funding for child care programs. Klobuchar has been a vocal critic of Trump, especially regarding the Republican administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
WORDS: 1115 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 12:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMinnesotaGovernorthLdWritethru/deec28156a6ed2aca6b12971824d6e3e/text___
Trump says Venezuelan airspace will reopen to commercial travel and Americans soon can visit
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says he's informed Venezuela’s acting president that he'll open up all commercial airspace over Venezuela. And he says Americans will soon be able to visit. Trump said Thursday he instructed his transportation secretary and U.S. military leaders to open the airspace by the end of the day. Venezuela’s government hasn't commented on Trump’s announcement. American Airlines says it intends to reinstate nonstop service from the U.S. in the coming months. Earlier this week, Trump’s Republican administration notified Congress it was taking steps to possibly reopen the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Venezuela as it explores restoring relations following the U.S. military raid that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.
WORDS: 641 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 4:53 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaUSthLdWritethru/d6d3f64997da8c2570b702f3e9e6d693/text___
FBI raid in Georgia highlights Trump's 2020 election obsession and hints at possible future actions
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is pushing the federal government to back up his bogus claims that widespread fraud cost him reelection in 2020. On Wednesday, the FBI served a search warrant at the election headquarters of Fulton County, Georgia, which includes most of Atlanta, seeking ballots from the 2020 election. It marks an escalation of the Republican president's obsession with the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Some observers say Trump's administration is using Georgia as a blueprint for challenging results this November. Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff says Trump is wielding federal law enforcement as an “instrument of personal power and revenge.”
WORDS: 1018 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpElectionrdLdWritethru/55786848ca20c02cbcf749ede2db8852/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Israel reopening Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt on Sunday after long closure
SUMMARY: Israel says it will reopen Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt in both directions over the weekend. The move announced on Friday will allow Palestinians to enter and leave the territory after nearly two years of near-complete closure. The Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza said in a statement on Friday that “limited movement of people only” would be allowed. The reopening of the Rafah crossing on Sunday will mark an important step forward for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. The crossing is Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world. It has been largely closed since May 2024.
WORDS: 468 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 11:48 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsrdLdWritethru/823d4b0aef641c3f19d4cc7b527325b1/text___
Trump claims Putin agreed to temporary halt in energy attacks on Ukraine, but terms are unclear
SUMMARY: Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to U.S. President Donald Trump's request to pause attacks on Ukraine's power grid for a week. Trump announced this on Thursday, but details about the timing and scope remain unclear. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the request but didn't specify when it would start. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism, noting ongoing Russian attacks. Despite the pause, Russia continues drone and missile strikes. Bitter cold is expected in Ukraine, worsening conditions. Talks are ongoing, but no ceasefire agreement has been reached.
WORDS: 855 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 9:17 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/0f1e6e5cb72f11a181104db3bb5c4e1e/text___
Cut off from most communication, Iranian protesters share rare stories of determination and dissent
SUMMARY: Six Iranians spoke to The Associated Press about the protests in Iran, describing a renewed sense of hope even with a bloody crackdown on demonstrators. The Iranians said they demonstrated and witnessed state violence. Protests erupt in Iran every few years, but several said this time felt different, with unprecedented momentum and a diverse crowd. They described older residents, people from well-to-do families, even children on the streets. Activists estimate over 6,000 people were killed in the bloodiest crackdown on dissent since the Islamic Republic's 1979 creation. The Iranians spoke on condition of anonymity as the crackdown continued. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to questions from AP about these witnesses’ recollections.
WORDS: 1665 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 5:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProtestsThroughTheirEyesstLdWritethru/d43414787f764ae83c608c5f19563cbb/text___
Venezuela’s acting president signs oil industry overhaul, easing state control to lure investors
SUMMARY: Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has signed a law that will open the nation’s oil sector to privatization. The move reverses a tenet of the self-proclaimed socialist movement that has ruled the country for more than two decades. Lawmakers in the country’s National Assembly approved the overhaul earlier in the day, less than a month after the brazen seizure of then-President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military attack in Venezuela’s capital. As the bill was being passed, the U.S. Treasury Department officially began to ease sanctions on Venezuelan oil that once crippled the industry. The moves by both governments are paving the way for yet another radical geopolitical and economic shift in Venezuela.
WORDS: 896 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 9:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaOilthLdWritethru/5784394afdc3ee0017d2f41427253fd8/text___
Panama Canal ports will keep operating after court finds concession unconstitutional, president says
SUMMARY: Panama’s president has vowed that critical ports at both ends of the Panama Canal will continue to operate without interruption. President José Raúl Mulino spoke in a recorded message on Friday after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that the concession held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings to operate ports at either end of the Panama Canal is unconstitutional. The decision advances a U.S. aim to block any influence by China over the strategic waterway. The court’s ruling late on Thursday followed an audit by Panama’s comptroller, which alleged irregularities in the 25-year extension of the concession granted in 2021.
WORDS: 912 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 3:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTPanamaPanamaCanalPortsthLdWritethru/b5fe3cdcc1fce45dbf1b0843a620830a/text___
EU lists Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as terrorist organization over protest crackdown
SUMMARY: The European Union is listing Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests. The bloc’s top diplomat made the announcement Thursday. It is a largely symbolic move that adds to international pressures on the Islamic Republic. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said foreign ministers in the 27-nation bloc unanimously agreed on the designation. She said it will put the regime “on the same footing” with al-Qaida, Hamas and the Islamic State group. Meanwhile, Iran faces the threat of military action from U.S. President Donald Trump in response to the killing of peaceful demonstrators and over possible mass executions.
WORDS: 1107 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 7:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APIranProteststhLdWritethru/f7d9d64b1302cfc2d9311417b2dfeaf6/text___
Africa has the worst road safety record in the world. Here's what to know
SUMMARY: A deadly car crash in Nigeria involving former boxing champion Anthony Joshua and two minibus accidents in South Africa have highlighted Africa's poor road safety record. The continent has the highest road fatality rate globally, despite having only about 3% of the world's vehicles. According to the United Nations, Africa sees 26 road deaths per 100,000 people, compared with a global average of 18. The World Health Organization reports that road deaths have decreased globally but increased in Africa. Pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes often share crowded roads with cars, buses, and trucks, leading to high pedestrian fatalities.
WORDS: 506 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 4:14 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFAfricaRoadSafetyWhattoKnow/d4e243d9807bbb60f9804d575094310e/text___
German leader hails Europe as an 'alternative to imperialism and autocracy'
SUMMARY: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says the European Union can be an “alternative to imperialism and autocracy” and can forge deals with like-minded partners in a world of increasing great power rivalry. Merz underlined the continuing value of a NATO in which Europe will intensify its defense efforts. He said Thursday the bloc will always seek cooperation with the United States, but not as a “subordinate.” He also joined other European leaders in pushing back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that troops from non-U.S. NATO countries avoided the front line during the war in Afghanistan.
WORDS: 551 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 10:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUGermanyEuropeUSstLdWritethru/65a8342f7b3fde483e85c20051845aa5/text___
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BUSINESS
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US stocks dip and gold swings as markets react to Trump's choice to lead the Federal Reserve
SUMMARY: Financial markets are churning as investors try to figure out what President Donald Trump’s new nominee to lead the Federal Reserve will mean. The initial reactions have been sometimes quick to change because of the uncertainty, and U.S. stocks fell modestly Friday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 440 points, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.6%. The value of the U.S. dollar climbed but only after swiveling a couple times following Trump’s announcement. Some of the wildest action was again in the precious metals markets, where gold's price has suddenly run out of momentum.
WORDS: 939 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 2:54 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/7f0eadba91bc2e550945eb49bc1085f3/text___
Warsh's challenge: Navigating Fed independence and Trump's demands
SUMMARY: Kevin Warsh has sought the job of Federal Reserve chair, off and on, since President Donald Trump first considered him for the position nearly a decade ago. Now that he is in line for the job, the enormity of the challenge ahead of him is clear. To be effective, Warsh will have to gain the trust of the committee of Federal Reserve officials, the financial markets, and not least Trump. Warsh may also face a bumpy confirmation process in the Senate, where two Republicans have said they will oppose his nomination unless a recently-revealed criminal investigation of the Fed and its current chair, Jerome Powell, is resolved.
WORDS: 710 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 3:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFederalReserveWarshWhatsNextstLdWritethru/b3582ba90d3bf77b34d601c4ac9bbf21/text___
Who is Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh?
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says he’ll tap former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair to replace Jerome Powell in May. The appointment, which requires Senate confirmation, amounts to a return trip for Warsh, 55, who was a member of the Fed’s board from 2006 to 2011. He was the youngest governor in history when he was appointed at age 35. He is currently a fellow at the right-leaning Hoover Institution and a lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Prior to serving on the Fed’s board in 2006, Warsh was an economic aide in George W. Bush’s Republican administration and was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley.
WORDS: 800 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 2:17 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFederalReserveWarshProfilestLdWritethru/48dcd3a768960eabb4e52183fa897aa1/text___
Trump names former Federal Reserve official Warsh as the next Fed chair to replace Powell
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says he'll nominate former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to be the next Fed chair. Friday's pick is likely to result in sharp changes to the powerful agency that could bring it closer to the White House and reduce its longtime independence from day-to-day politics. Warsh would replace Jerome Powell when his term expires in May. Trump chose Powell to lead the Fed in 2017 but recently has assailed him for not cutting interest rates quickly enough. Warsh's appointment requires Senate confirmation. Warsh was on the Fed’s board from 2006 to 2011. He's a fellow at the right-leaning Hoover Institution and a lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
WORDS: 1322 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 11:52 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFederalReserveWarshthLdWritethru/6b4441263c1b7ecb40b96adf17adeea2/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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US life expectancy hit an all-time high in 2024, CDC says
SUMMARY: U.S. life expectancy has hit the highest mark in American history. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday reported that life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024. It’s the result of the dissipation of the COVID-19 pandemic — and also waning death rates from all of the nation’s top killers, including heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses. Preliminary statistics suggest a continued improvement in 2025. Life expectancy is an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live, given death rates at that time. It's a fundamental measure of a population’s health.
WORDS: 504 - MOVED: 01/29/2026 5:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDLifeExpectancystLdWritethru/8906f742eb12dd0e5055938dc324bc1a/text___
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RELIGION
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Towns once run by Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect emerge from court supervision transformed
SUMMARY: Two neighboring towns on the Arizona-Utah border that once served as a haven for a polygamous religious sect have entered a new era. Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, were once controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The changes to the towns came after the sect’s leader and prophet, Warren Jeffs, was imprisoned for sexually assaulting girls he considered brides, most followers moved away and religious influences were excised from the local governments and shared police force. Restrictions imposed by religious leaders were lifted, and the towns were released from court supervision last summer, nearly two years earlier than expected.
WORDS: 1284 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 12:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRELPolygamousTownsLifeAfterJeffsndLdWritethru/70d4e48253afcf5dcf93e122896d8902/text___
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SPORTS
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Lindsey Vonn says 'Olympic dream is not over' after crashing in last downhill before Winter Games
SUMMARY: Lindsey Vonn crashed in her final downhill race before the Winter Olympics and injured her left knee. But the 41-year-old U.S. ski star says her "Olympic dream is not over” just a week before the Milan Cortina Winter Games. Vonn lost control when landing a jump in a World Cup race and ended up tangled in the safety nets. She eventually got up after receiving medical attention and walked away gingerly, taking weight off her left knee and using her poles to steady herself. She then clicked her skis back on but stopped to check her left knee. The race was later canceled after three of the first six racers crashed.
WORDS: 894 - MOVED: 01/30/2026 9:41 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSKIVonnCrashthLdWritethru/36264674d842aacaf63c908a254e3769/text___
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