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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Grieving families press Congress on aviation safety reforms after midair collision near DC
SUMMARY: Key senators and the families of the 67 people who died when an airliner and Army helicopter collided near Washington, D.C., are convinced advanced aircraft locator systems that experts have been recommending for decades would have prevented the crash. But it’s unclear if legislation to require them around busy airports will pass Congress. Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Cruz convened a hearing Thursday to advocate for a longstanding recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board, that all aircraft be required to both broadcast their locations and receive the locations of nearby aircraft. Everyone aboard the American Airlines jet and the helicopter died in the January 2025 collision.
WORDS: 1222 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 5:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWashingtonMidairCollisionthLdWritethru/ee971b5aaa9e0da27380f808fa381239/text___
Federal authorities announce an end to the immigration crackdown in Minnesota
SUMMARY: Federal officials say the immigration crackdown in Minnesota is coming to an end, after mass detentions, protests and two deaths. Border czar Tom Homan made the announcement during a news conference Thursday. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched Operation Metro Surge on Dec. 1. Federal authorities say the sweeps focused on the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area have led to the arrest of more than 4,000 people. While the Trump administration has called those arrested “dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” many people with no criminal records, including children and U.S. citizens, have also been detained. Homan pledged that immigration enforcement won’t end when the Minnesota operation is over.
WORDS: 644 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 2:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMinnesotathLdWritethru/523d18d5d75c81cbf9f24c602f1884ff/text___
Investigators ask for surveillance video from specific dates in Nancy Guthrie disappearance
SUMMARY: Investigators are pleading with people to share home surveillance camera footage from specific dates leading up to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie as they deal with thousands of tips in their hope to crack the case. Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing from her Tucson-area home since Feb. 1. News stations in Tucson reported Wednesday that people with Ring doorbell cameras in the area got an alert saying investigators are requesting footage from Jan. 11 between 9 p.m. and midnight. The stations also reported that a pair of black gloves were recovered during agents’ search and have been submitted for DNA analysis.
WORDS: 791 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 3:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSavannahGuthrieMomMissing/2765739e230d89d2d01dce62e064c33b/text___
Takeaways from AP and Public Source's report on pollution and safety issues at Pittsburgh coke plant
SUMMARY: Last year, an explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works outside Pittsburgh killed two U.S. Steel workers and injured 11 others, including contractors. Six months later, workers remain rattled and community concerns about air pollution from the plant are heightened. The blast comes on top of a string of other accidents at the Clairton plant over time as well as a long history of legal battles between U.S. Steel and Allegheny County regulators. Some current and former workers at Clairton Coke Works say poor management and underinvestment have exacerbated air pollution and undermined workplace safety at the plant where operators already have little margin for error. That's according to reporting from Pittsburgh’s Public Source and The Associated Press.
WORDS: 1114 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 2:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSteelPlantExplosionTakeaways/1eef0278e871ecc9da757ac9e1e119c1/text___
Few leads in Guthrie investigation after 11 days, yet cases often break unexpectedly
SUMMARY: Investigators are still searching for Nancy Guthrie as the case reaches it's 11th day. Police briefly detained a man for questioning but released him Tuesday. Investigators say the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie was taken against her will from her home in Tucson, Arizona. The FBI released porch video of a masked person with a backpack, but they haven't identified a suspect as pressure and questions mount. Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole says it's not uncommon for investigations to move slowly. She says public tips can break cases open.
WORDS: 808 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 9:24 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSGuthrieMomMissingInvestigationstLdWritethru/5d11ef6f23ce6b1895b0e4ea508364de/text___
200 love letters found in a Nashville home tell the story of a couple's courtship during WWII
SUMMARY: A trove of more than 200 letters from World War II that were found in a Tennessee home offers an intimate picture of love during wartime. Ray Whittaker attended school at the historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville. There he met and dated another student, Jane Dean. They lost contact for a time, but he wrote to her in 1942, stating that he was in the Army. Soon he was professing his love. A short four months later, they were married. The letters from their courtship and early marriage were donated to the Metro Nashville archive. Several are now on display digitally through the Nashville Public Library.
WORDS: 931 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 5:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWWIILoveLettersndLdWritethru/c96e36bfb96fb2df6266ef1fa356eaa6/text___
What to know about Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping and the race to find her
SUMMARY: A man detained by police for questioning in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has been released. Meanwhile, investigators hope that images of a masked person on her Arizona porch still will bring tips from the public to help solve her apparent abduction. The man told several media outlets early Wednesday that he was released after several hours and had nothing to do with Nancy Guthrie. She's the mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. The man said he makes deliveries in the Tucson area. Investigators say they searched a location in Rio Rico, a city south of Tucson.
WORDS: 725 - MOVED: 02/07/2026 5:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSavannahGuthrieMomMissingWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/534c68bfb666ab8e08123f130f937c2d/text___
Several ICE agents were arrested in recent months, showing risk of misconduct
SUMMARY: Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes. A review by The Associated Press found at least two dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees and contractors have been charged with crimes since 2020. The wrongdoing includes patterns of physical and sexual abuse and corruption. Most cases happened before Congress gave ICE $75 billion last year to hire more agents and detain more people, but experts say these kinds of crimes could accelerate. A spokesperson says ICE takes allegations of misconduct "extremely seriously" and thoroughly vets new applicants.
WORDS: 1679 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 5:14 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationAgencyMisconductndLdWritethru/45b0d2248c0add9523e0bf5a953faaea/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Key Democrat accuses the Justice Department of 'spying' on lawmakers reviewing Epstein files
SUMMARY: A top Democrat is calling for a watchdog investigation after photographs emerged suggesting that the Justice Department has been tracking the search history of lawmakers who are reviewing files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate what he characterized as “spying” on members of Congress who this week have reviewed less-redacted versions of the Epstein files at a department annex and on department-owned computers. Spokespeople for the Justice Department did not immediately return a request seeking comment Thursday. A representative for the inspector general's office declined to comment Thursday.
WORDS: 397 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 3:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressJeffreyEpsteinndLdWritethru/13eeb9ccadcc03ba34922d8ba95ce220/text___
What independents think of Trump's recent immigration actions, according to a new AP-NORC poll
SUMMARY: A new AP-NORC poll finds that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults believe that President Donald Trump has “gone too far” in sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities. The survey also shows that the Republican Party’s political advantage on Trump's signature domestic issue has shrunk since October. The new polling comes as the nation watches the human impact of Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, where thousands of heavily armed masked agents have descended upon the capital city. About 9 in 10 Democrats and about 7 in 10 independents say Trump has “gone too far” in sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities, compared to only about one-quarter of Republicans.
WORDS: 1200 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 12:05 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAPPollTrumpImmigrationstLdWritethru/42aff472ccf1ecd7b92ba0c90469c9e7/text___
House votes to slap back Trump's tariffs on Canada in rare bipartisan rebuke
SUMMARY: The House has voted to slap back President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada. The tally offered a rare rebuke of the White House agenda, though it wouldn’t actually undo the tariffs without support from Trump himself, which is highly unlikely. Almost instantly, Trump issued his own rebuke with a political warning to those who would dare cross him. He believes in the power of tariffs to force U.S. trade partners to the negotiating table. But lawmakers are facing unrest back home from businesses caught in the trade wars and constituents navigating high prices. House Speaker Mike Johnson tried to prevent a vote, but his strategy collapsed. Several Republicans joined with Democrats in favor of the resolution. It next goes to the Senate.
WORDS: 1030 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 10:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressTariffsthLdWritethru/db591b69fbc3d867a82c7ae22d7e308b/text___
Europe warily awaits Rubio at Munich Security Conference as Trump roils transatlantic ties
SUMMARY: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a large U.S. delegation to the Munich Security Conference this week. Increasingly nervous European leaders are hoping for at least a brief reprieve from President Donald Trump’s often inconsistent policies and threats that have roiled transatlantic relations and the post-World War II international order. A year after Vice President JD Vance stunned assembled dignitaries at the same venue with a verbal assault on many of America’s closest allies in Europe, Rubio plans to take a less contentious but philosophically similar approach when he addresses the annual conference on Saturday. That's according to U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
WORDS: 1025 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMunichSecurityConferenceRubio/7298f12621d1e977909d6533d20f9692/text___
Bondi clashes with Democrats as she struggles to turn the page on Epstein files furor
SUMMARY: Attorney General Pam Bondi launched into a wide-ranging, passionate defense of President Donald Trump, repeatedly shouting at Democrats during a combative hearing in which she postured herself as the Republican’s chief protector. Bondi's remarks came at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday as she tried to turn the page from persistent criticism of the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The hearing quickly devolved into a partisan brawl, with Bondi repeatedly lobbing insults at Democrats while insisting she was not “going to get in the gutter” with them.
WORDS: 1123 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBondiCongressthLdWritethru/6d7502b80e42e9e9454264e242507bbd/text___
A privacy breach at the IRS: Taxpayer data wrongly shared with DHS, court filing says
SUMMARY: The IRS has erroneously shared the taxpayer information of thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new court filing. It was part of the agencies’ controversial agreement to share information on immigrants for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S. A declaration filed Wednesday by IRS Chief Risk and Control Officer Dottie Romo stated that the IRS was only able to verify roughly 47,000 of the 1.28 million names requested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For less than 5% of those individuals, the IRS gave ICE additional address information, potentially violating privacy rules created to protect taxpayer data.
WORDS: 473 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 11:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIRSTaxpayerData/e5d4ff426610fa6dc0ff20c567da2357/text___
House GOP pushes strict proof-of-citizenship requirement for voters ahead of midterm elections
SUMMARY: House Republicans approved legislation that would impose strict new voter ID requirements ahead of the midterm elections. The bill passed Wednesday is a Trump administration priority aimed at scrutinizing ballot access. But it faces blowback in the Senate. Called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, the legislation requires Americans to present proof of citizenship when they register to vote and to show a valid photo identification before they cast ballots. Republicans say it's needed to prevent voter fraud. Democrats warn it will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Experts say voter fraud is extremely rare.
WORDS: 981 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 7:45 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressVotingBillrdLdWritethru/a9a4f256fef5b1c9899f74abc5fddafa/text___
Susan Collins announces reelection bid in pivotal Maine Senate race
SUMMARY: Maine’s Republican Sen. Susan Collins has announced her reelection bid, entering a closely watched race that Democrats have targeted in their effort to retake the Senate majority in Congress in this year’s midterm elections. Collins has defended the seat for decades, casting herself as a reflection of Maine’s independent spirit. However, Collins has faced criticism for not condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration tactics. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and oyster farmer Graham Platner are top Democratic challengers. Platner recently outraised both Mills and Collins. Collins previously defeated Democrat Sara Gideon in 2020 despite being outspent.
WORDS: 756 - MOVED: 02/10/2026 2:39 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMaineCollinsrdLdWritethru/fa5ce2fb3bda41e4ec1c87c3cc72c140/text___
Trump says he 'insisted' to Netanyahu that US talks with Iran continue as Israel wants them expanded
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump met privately with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and says he pushed Israel to back continued U.S. talks with Iran on a nuclear deal. Netanyahu has been a frequent visitor to the White House during Trump's second term and spent nearly three hours at the White House this time. Trump said their meeting ended with no decision, but that he'd insisted negotiations keep going. Netanyahu said they also discussed Gaza and regional issues. His office says he wants any deal to limit Iran’s missiles and its support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. The U.S. and Iran held indirect talks in Jordan last week. Iran says mistrust remains high, however, and that it still wants uranium enrichment.
WORDS: 1034 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpIsraelthLdWritethru/fa5be8069deb4b1b01cdf30d3e3525e7/text___
Homeland Security officials voice concerns about looming shutdown
SUMMARY: Homeland Security officials are highlighting the potential impact of a shutdown. Among the concerns are delayed reimbursements to states for disaster relief costs and missed paychecks for the agents that screen passengers and bags at the nation's airports. Congress has provided full-year funding for the vast majority of the federal government, but it only passed a short-term funding patch for the Department of Homeland Security that extends through Friday. Democrats have insisted that any funding bill for the department come with changes to immigration enforcement operations. But Republicans are emphasizing that a Homeland Security shutdown would not curtail the work of the agencies Democrats are most concerned about.
WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 5:53 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressHomelandSecurity/e5df415c1fd77b0609dded445edbb9d7/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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2 Mexican Navy ships laden with humanitarian aid dock in Cuba as US blockade sparks energy crisis
SUMMARY: Mexico has sent two navy ships with humanitarian aid to Cuba as tighter U.S. pressure worsens the island’s energy crisis. On Thursday, the ships carried large loads of food, hygiene supplies and powdered milk. Mexico says one ship brought about 536 tons of items like rice, beans, canned fish and oil. Mexico says the second ship carried over 277 tons of powdered milk. President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico is providing aid while talks continue on oil supplies. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. Cuba is reporting blackouts and broad disruption from sanctions.
WORDS: 593 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 1:50 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTCubaMexicoAidthLdWritethru/52c44db94c9423511d67366662e78ac4/text___
Russia fires barrage at Ukrainian cities as next round of US-brokered talks is unclear
SUMMARY: Russia has attacked Ukrainian cities again overnight as Ukraine accuses Russia of dragging its feet on new U.S.-brokered peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Washington is proposing talks next week in Miami or in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. He says Ukraine confirms it can attend but Russia is hesitating. Zelenskyy says major disputes still block a deal, including issues of occupied land and security guarantees. He also says Russia is ignoring a proposed ceasefire that impacts the energy sector. Ukraine’s air force said on Thursday that Russia fired drones and missiles at Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odesa. Officials report injuries, damaged homes and major heating outages in the Ukrainian capital.
WORDS: 890 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 10:29 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarrdLdWritethru/1e788221fd0e01158da721b2259f071a/text___
Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the BBC is set to go to trial in 2027, US judge says
SUMMARY: A U.S. judge says President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC can go to trial in 2027. Judge Roy K. Altman of the federal court for the Southern District of Florida rejected an attempt by Britain’s national broadcaster to delay proceedings. He set a February 2027 trial date. Trump filed a lawsuit in December over the way the BBC edited a speech he gave on Jan. 6, 2021. The claim seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and $5 billion for unfair trade practices. The broadcaster has apologized to Trump over the edit of the Jan. 6 speech. But the publicly funded BBC rejects claims it defamed him.
WORDS: 398 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 2:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APTrumpBBCrdLdWritethru/e41bc699da7e010218f87a95a364350a/text___
Remote Canadian community grapples with aftermath of mass shooting that left 9 people dead
SUMMARY: The remote Canadian community of Tumbler Ridge is mourning after a mass shooting in killed eight people, mostly children, plus the shooter. Residents of the British Columbia have been building a memorial with lights and stuffed animals and gathered late Wednesday for a cold vigil. Police say the suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, died from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Authorities say police had visited her home before for mental health checks. Police say she first killed her mother and stepbrother, then attacked the nearby school. The motive remains unclear. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada mourns with the town.
WORDS: 756 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 3:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APCNCanadaShooting/bef756c3d04d26b76c49a4e2b5154002/text___
EU leaders meet to counter pressure from Russia, China and Trump
SUMMARY: European Union leaders are gathering in Belgium as the bloc argues over how to stand up to pressure from the United States, China and Russia. They are meeting Thursday in a Belgian castle in a session meant to shape another summit in late March. German and Italian leaders are pushing deregulation, rebooted ties with Washington and more trade deals. France instead has led a push for “strategic autonomy” — meaning a bloc less dependent on Washington. It seeks to protect key industries and to steer defense spending toward EU arms makers. Leaders will also debate new finance tools to shield trade and investment. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says economic strength drives global influence.
WORDS: 794 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURethinkingEuropethLdWritethru/6461ea032aa4e3aa8e133bc5080ab922/text___
Indian unions and farmers stage a nationwide strike over interim trade deal with US
SUMMARY: A broad coalition of unions and farmers in India has held a one-day national strike against an interim trade deal with the United States. The strike Thursday disrupted some public services and factory work. Protest leaders say the pact harms small farmers, workers and local businesses. Opposition lawmakers in parliament demanded the deal be scrapped. Union leaders say the deal opens India to subsidized American farm products. They also condemn privatization and new labor codes. The government defends the pact and says it protects farmers. U.S. and Indian officials say the framework lowers tariffs and deepens ties.
WORDS: 432 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 9:50 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASIndiaProtestndLdWritethru/90746ddd26679ba11a180aa36a4612c5/text___
Bangladesh votes in its first election since the 2024 Gen Z uprising that ousted Hasina
SUMMARY: Bangladesh has held its first election since the 2024 mass protests toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government. The balloting on Thursday was mostly peaceful in a vote seen as a critical test of the country’s democracy after years of political turmoil. After a slow start, crowds converged on polling stations in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere later in the day. The results are expected on Friday. More than 127 million people are eligible to vote in what was the country’s first election since Hasina’s ouster after weeks of mass protests, dubbed by many as a Gen Z uprising. Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus was upbeat about the election and said the day was "the birthday of a new Bangladesh.”
WORDS: 863 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 1:36 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASBangladeshElectionthLdWritethru/3662258dc5c44535c839e7bcc4baed43/text___
Syria says its forces have taken over al-Tanf base after a handover from the US
SUMMARY: Syrian government forces have taken over the al-Tanf base in eastern Syria, a site the U.S. military has run for years. Syria’s Defense Ministry says the handover happened in coordination with U.S. troops. It says Syrian forces are now securing the base and its perimeter. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to an AP request for comment. Syria says it has moved troops into the surrounding desert. It says border guards will deploy in coming days. The shift follows a deal with the Kurdish-led Strategic Defense Forces. The base once played a key role against the Islamic State group.
WORDS: 422 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 12:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLSyriaUSstLdWritethru/b4cdf708c56cfde2bbfbca117fdd871a/text___
U.S. allies at NATO focus on Europe as the Trump administration steps back
SUMMARY: European allies at NATO are putting on a brave face as the United States steps back from its leadership role at the alliance. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend Thursday’s gathering of defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels. His no show came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped the last meeting of foreign ministers. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says he's not disappointed, saying that it's Hegseth's “decision and his duties he has to fulfill.” But the Trump administration has also pulled back from Ukraine, stopping deliveries of money and guns. It's unclear what role, if any, U.S. forces will play in Arctic Sentry, a military effort meant to ease tensions over Greenland.
WORDS: 972 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 11:17 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUNATOUSTrump/92ebda5a785423a9ef72d96dc1117ca6/text___
Spy agency says Kim Jong Un’s daughter is close to being designated North Korea’s future leader
SUMMARY: South Korea’s spy agency says it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to being designated as the country’s future leader. The assessment comes as Kim moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation. The assessment by the National Intelligence Service was delivered to lawmakers in a closed-door meeting on Thursday. It comes as North Korea is preparing to hold its biggest political conference later this month, where Kim is expected to outline his major policy goals for the next five years and take steps to tighten his authoritarian grip.
WORDS: 942 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 9:24 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASNorthKoreaKimsDaughterrdLdWritethru/c795f8c25177d45f1f4a8bf5af160007/text___
Israeli president ends a fraught Australia visit to comfort Jews as Gaza war protests follow
SUMMARY: Israeli President Isaac Herzog is close to ending a four-day visit to Australia that brought comfort to Sydney’s Jewish community following a recent antisemitic mass shooting. Herzog visited Sydney, the national capital Canberra and Melbourne in the first Australian visit by an Israeli head of state in six years. He is due to leave Australia on Thursday. Herzog's visit has attracted large-scale demonstrations protesting the civilian toll of the Gaza war. He has been dogged by protesters who label him a war criminal. Herzog was invited to support a community reeling from an attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in December that left 15 people dead.
WORDS: 689 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 7:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASAustraliaIsrael/8729580864d4479a6d0bf065a8d4d475/text___
Deaths in Iran's crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say
SUMMARY: Activists say the death toll from a crackdown over Iran’s nationwide protests has reached at least 7,002 with many more people still feared dead. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency offered the latest figures Thursday. It has been accurate in counting deaths during previous rounds of unrest in Iran and relies on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. Iran’s government offered its only death toll on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. Iran’s theocracy in the past has undercounted or not reported fatalities from past unrest. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll, given authorities have disrupted internet access and international calls in Iran.
WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 12:30 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranrdLdWritethru/52aae887976ec1bbb0f77c42abd600b8/text___
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BUSINESS
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Cisco helps drag Wall Street lower as investors try to separate AI winners from losers
SUMMARY: U.S. stocks are under pressure as the market splits further between perceived winners and losers from AI mania. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% Thursday, even though more stocks rose than fell in the index. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 53 points, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.1%. Cisco Systems was one of the heaviest weights on the market after warning of potentially higher expenses, while AppLovin tumbled as worries about AI competition continue to hit software companies. Treasury yields fell in the bond market ahead of Friday's coming report on inflation at the U.S. consumer level.
WORDS: 689 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 4:55 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/45f8d8df807d4b7ed9127afc4b5809c9/text___
US applications for jobless benefits fall to 227,000 last week, remaining at recent healthy levels
SUMMARY: The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week, remaining within the historically healthy range of the past few years. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 7 fell by 5,000 to 227,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s basically in line with the 226,000 new applications that analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet had forecast. Filings for unemployment benefits are viewed as representative of U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.
WORDS: 497 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 1:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUnemploymentBenefitsstLdWritethru/0dc56ca15d52e7c26b0f64ec96306d4e/text___
China issues new rules to curb auto price war after January passenger car sales drop 20%
SUMMARY: China has moved to curb a fierce price war among automakers that has caused massive losses for the industry. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation released new guidelines on Thursday to prevent manufacturers from pricing cars too cheaply in order to squeeze out rivals. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported this week that domestic passenger car sales fell 20% in January, compared to a year earlier. Analysts say a cut in tax exemptions for electric vehicles and weaker EV subsidies in several Chinese regions have dampened demand. As domestic car demand slows, Chinese carmakers are expanding their global sales, and exports are expected to grow this year.
WORDS: 559 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 9:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaAutosstLdWritethru/c5c32f6982cc163764e8941e1df3d9a2/text___
Japan's technology investor SoftBank Group sees profitability return on AI boom
SUMMARY: Japanese technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group reports it swung back to profitability in the last quarter of 2025 as its investments in OpenAI and other ventures paid off. SoftBank Group reported a $1.62 billion profit for the October-December period, a reversal from its losses in the same quarter a year earlier. Quarterly sales rose 8%. Tokyo-based SoftBank sold its stake in Nvidia for $5.8 billion in October. The company began investing in OpenAI, the developer of the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, last year. It has invested nearly $35 billion, for an ownership interest of about 11%.
WORDS: 352 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 8:51 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASJapanEarnsSoftBankGroup/112f963825bb5409c937a4ac861f9811/text___
Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
SUMMARY: The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to suddenly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas. That's according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The confusing arc of events began as the FAA announced it was shutting down all flight traffic Wednesday over the city on the U.S.-Mexico border for 10 days. That stranded some travelers, but the closure ended up only lasting a couple of hours. The Trump administration said the closure stemmed from the FAA and Pentagon working to halt an incursion by Mexican cartel drones.
WORDS: 1339 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 10:51 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElPasoFlightsGroundedndLdWritethru/1f774bdfd46f5986ff0e7003df709caa/text___
Taiwan's AI-powered economy soars in the shadow of bubble fears and China threats
SUMMARY: Taiwan's economy is thriving thanks to the boom in artificial intelligence, driven by strong demand for computer chips and other products made by companies like TSMC and Foxconn. The island's economy grew at an 8.6% annual pace last year and a recent trade deal with Washington may give it a further boost. But Taiwan's heavy reliance on computer chip makers and other technology companies also carries the risk of the AI craze turning out to be a bubble. Beijing claims the self-governed island as its own territory, a persisting threat for Taiwan despite its vital role in Chinese and global supply chains.
WORDS: 1292 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 4:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APTaiwanEconomy/7527bd4bf3089cbd2dab1c530ee61c3e/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding
SUMMARY: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping U.S. health policy as HHS secretary, and doctors say his changes are eroding trust. Survey results show Americans' confidence keeps sliding, not rising. Kennedy has cut vaccine guidance, dismissed advisers and pushed claims medical groups call unverified. Doctors warn this confusion leads people to skip shots. They say that raises the risk of outbreaks. Polls from KFF and Gallup show trust in the CDC falling across groups. HHS says Kennedy is adding transparency and accountability. Critics say he is doing the opposite.
WORDS: 1413 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 3:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDKennedyTruststLdWritethru/7ef5f0e2c6f91ce6d908cb58f9e2fcb2/text___
Studies test whether gene-editing can fix high cholesterol. For now, take your medicine
SUMMARY: Scientists are testing an entirely new way to fight heart disease: whether gene editing might offer a one-time fix for high cholesterol. It's very early-stage research that has been tried in only a few dozen people so far. But gene-editing approaches being developed by two companies show hints that switching off certain genes could dramatically reduce artery-clogging cholesterol. It will take far longer and larger studies to prove. Still, researchers say it raises hope of one day being able to prevent heart attacks without having to take pills.
WORDS: 991 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 6:45 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBeWellCholesterolGeneEditingstLdWritethru/7aa18fea7484be8d3de9e00f3e2b01d6/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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James Van Der Beek, the 'Dawson's Creek' star who later mocked his own hunky persona, has died at 48
SUMMARY: James Van Der Beek, best known as the titular character on “Dawson’s Creek,” has died at 48, according to a statement from his family posted on Instagram. The post on Wednesday says he died earlier that day. Van Der Beek shared in 2024 that he was receiving treatment for colorectal cancer. Besides “Dawson’s Creek,” which ran from 1998 to 2003, he also appeared in “Varsity Blues” and later leaned into jokes mocking his own hunky persona. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and six children.
WORDS: 1250 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 7:51 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTObitJamesVanDerBeekthLdWritethru/8668938cf9ee4a4608a0750c0ee3abd3/text___
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SPORTS
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Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics over banned helmet honoring war dead
SUMMARY: Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych is out of the Milan Cortina Games after he refused to stop wearing a banned tribute helmet. IOC President Kirsty Coventry met him at the track before the men’s race for a private talk to make a last-minute plea but Heraskevych refused to change his stance. His helmet shows the faces of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia. The IOC says the helmet breaks rules against political statements in competition. Coventry wept as she discussed the decision with reporters.
WORDS: 1041 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 8:58 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APOLYSKEUkraineHelmetTributethLdWritethru/9f304e1ff834ddab33af2f4e003f04a8/text___
Winter Olympics recap: Franjo von Allmen wins his 3rd gold, Chloe Kim and NHL stars get rolling
SUMMARY: Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland looks like a breakout star of the Milan Cortina Olympics after winning his third gold medal. Jordan Stolz has one gold and is targeting three more. And Chloe Kim and a bunch of NHL stars are just getting started. Von Allmen won the super-G in Bormio on Wednesday to become the third man with three victories in Alpine skiing at one Winter Games. It hadn’t been done since 1968. Stolz won the men's 1,000-meter speedskating and has three events to go. Kim's attempt at a three-peat in the halfpipe began promisingly when she finished first in qualifying.
WORDS: 742 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 4:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APOLYMilanCortinaRounduprdLdWritethru/61ea37be5fb4f533f225abe5bf75e893/text___
Jordan Stolz opens his bid for 4 golds by winning the 1,000 meters in an Olympic-record time
SUMMARY: U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz has won the men’s 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics for the first gold medal of what he hopes will be a four-gold Winter Games. Skating in the next-to-last pairing at Milano Speed Skating Stadium, a temporary facility constructed for these Olympics that has been producing fast times so far, Stolz finished in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin didn’t threaten his world record of 1:05.37 but did establish an Olympic record. Stolz trailed Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands with less than half of the race left but pulled away with a terrific last lap.
WORDS: 910 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 2:22 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APOLYSPDSpeedskatingMensthLdWritethru/920185276d2436f3ebba60f41450f41f/text___
Lindsey Vonn says she had a 'successful' 3rd surgery on broken leg following crash at the Olympics
SUMMARY: Lindsey Vonn says she had a “successful” third surgery on her broken left leg following her downhill crash at the Olympics. Vonn posted an update on Instagram that included photos of her giving a thumbs up sign in her hospital bed with a metal frame attached to her leg. She says, “I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful. Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago.” The 41-year-old Vonn crashed a few seconds into her race Sunday and was airlifted off the course by helicopter. She said late Monday she had suffered a “complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly.”
WORDS: 545 - MOVED: 02/11/2026 6:09 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APOLYSKIVonnsCrashthLdWritethru/e6ba00bfdb5513a1f95d2deddeafd961/text___
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