Trump says US may have discussions with Maduro as aircraft carrier arrives in Caribbean
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — President Donald Trump says the U.S. “may be having some discussions” with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. It's a potential diplomatic avenue as the U.S. further builds up its military presence near the South American country with the arrival of its most advanced aircraft carrier. Trump didn’t offer details Sunday evening about the possible discussions with Maduro, but he said “Venezuela would like to talk.” The development comes as the Trump administration has carried out a series of military strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs.
FAA lifts order slashing flights, allowing commercial airlines to resume their regular schedules
Summary: The Federal Aviation Administration says it is lifting all restrictions on commercial flights that were imposed during the government shutdown at 40 major U.S. airports. The agency said Sunday airlines can resume normal flight schedules beginning Monday at 6 a.m. EST. The unprecedented order had been in place since Nov. 7 and affected thousands of flights. The FAA said it was necessary to ease the strain on the aviation system and help manage staffing shortages at its air traffic control facilities during the shutdown. The flight cuts started at 4% as the shutdown entered its second month and later grew to 6% before the FAA on Friday rolled back the restrictions to 3%.
Border Patrol official says dozens arrested in North Carolina immigration enforcement surge
A top Border Patrol commander is touting dozens of arrests in North Carolina’s largest city on Sunday as Charlotte residents report encounters with federal immigration agents near churches and apartment complexes. The Trump administration has made the Democratic city of about 950,000 people its latest target for an immigration enforcement surge it says will combat crime. That's despite fierce objections from local leaders and downtrending crime rates. The effort is dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Webb” as a play on the title of a famous children’s book that isn’t about North Carolina. The flurry of activity immediately raised questions, including where detainees would be held.
Chile's hard-right holds the upper hand as presidential election goes to a tense runoff
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A hard-right former lawmaker and admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump appeared poised to win a polarizing presidential runoff against a member of Chile’s Communist Party representing the incumbent government next month. José Antonio Kast, an ultraconservative lawyer, secured nearly 24% of the vote in Sunday’s first round of presidential elections. He campaigned on plans to to crack down on crime, build a giant border wall and deport tens of thousands of undocumented migrants. Jeannette Jara, a former labor minister in President Gabriel Boric’s left-wing government, secured 27% of the vote. Some 70% of Chilean voters supported Kast and other hard-line conservatives on Sunday as many worry about organized crime, illegal immigration and unemployment.
In reversal, Trump says House Republicans should vote to release Epstein files
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said House Republicans should vote to release the files in the Jeffrey Epstein case, a startling reversal after previously fighting the proposal as a growing number of those in his own party supported it. Writing on social media on Sunday night, Trump said: “We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party." Democrats and some Republicans have been pushing a measure that would force the Justice Department to make public more documents from the case. The president’s shift is an implicit acknowledgement they have enough votes to pass the House.
Lingering thunderstorms bring flooding risk after atmospheric river drenches much of California
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A powerful atmospheric river had mostly moved through California after causing at least six deaths and dousing much of the state, but lingering thunderstorms brought the risk of mudslides in areas of Los Angeles County that were recently ravaged by wildfire. Flood advisories remain in place for LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, where localized showers were still possible after heavy downpours on Saturday and Friday. Authorities on Sunday are still searching for a 5-year-old girl who was swept into the ocean by 15-foot waves at a state beach in Monterey County. The girl’s father was killed Friday while trying to save his daughter, sheriff’s officials say.
Trump's Republican Party insists there's no affordability crisis and dismisses election losses
NEW YORK (AP) — Many Republican leaders insist there's no problem with the GOP's policies, the party's message or President Donald Trump’s leadership, despite big losses in this month's elections. Trump says Democrats and the media are misleading voters who are concerned about high costs and the economy. Republican officials aiming to avoid another defeat in the 2026 midterms are encouraging candidates to embrace the president fully and talk more about his accomplishments. That assessment by GOP officials shows how much the party's fate is tied to Trump. He plans to focus more on affordability but insists the economy has never been stronger: "The prices are coming down,” he told reporters Sunday night as he returned to Washington from his Florida resort.
Israeli leader insists there can be no Palestinian state, ahead of UN vote leaving that door open
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state. He made the comment Sunday, a day before the U.N. Security Council plans to vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution leaving the door open to Palestinian independence. Netanyahu has long ruled out Palestinian independence and asserted that it would reward Hamas. But he faces growing international pressure to show flexibility. The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a U.S. proposal for a U.N. mandate to establish an international stabilization force in Gaza. The U.S. is under international pressure from countries expected to contribute troops and revised the resolution with stronger language about Palestinian self-determination.
Immigration crackdown inspires uniquely Chicago pushback that's now a model for other cities
CHICAGO (AP) — As an unprecedented immigration crackdown enters a third month, a growing number of Chicago residents are fighting back against what they deem a racist and aggressive overreach of the federal government. The Democratic stronghold’s response has tapped established activists and everyday residents from wealthy suburbs to working class neighborhoods. They say their efforts are a uniquely Chicago response that other cities President Donald Trump has targeted for federal intervention want to model. Their tactics include community patrols, rapid responders, school escorts, vendor buyouts, honking horns and blowing whistles.
Georgia up to No. 4 in AP poll, Sooners back in top 10 and Mean Green ranked for 1st time since 1959
Georgia has moved up to No. 4 in The Associated Press poll, Oklahoma is back in the top 10 and North Texas is ranked for the first time since 1959. Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M remain the top three teams. Georgia's rise follows a win over Texas, while Mississippi is back in the top five. Oklahoma climbed to No. 8 after defeating Alabama. North Texas, now No. 22, is having its best start since 1959. No. 14 Miami is now the highest-ranked ACC team.
