House votes to slap back Trump's tariffs on Canada in rare bipartisan rebuke
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.
EU leaders meet to counter pressure from Russia, China and Trump
BILZEN-HOESELT, Belgium (AP) — 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 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 is pushing “European preference” 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.
Deaths in Iran's crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — 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.
Europe warily awaits Rubio at Munich Security Conference as Trump roils transatlantic ties
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.
Taiwan's AI-powered economy soars in the shadow of bubble fears and China threats
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — 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.
Pentagon let CBP use anti-drone laser before FAA closed El Paso airspace, AP sources say
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — 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.
FBI combs desert terrain for clues in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — FBI agents are fanning out across an Arizona neighborhood not far from Nancy Guthrie’s home. They're knocking on doors and searching through thick desert terrain. This comes a day after authorities investigating Guthrie's disappearance detained a man who says he was questioned for hours before being released. The man told several media outlets on Wednesday that he had nothing to do with last week’s disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. Hours earlier, the FBI released images of a masked person on Nancy Guthrie’s porch the night she went missing near Tucson.
Suspect in Canada shooting is identified as an 18-year-old with history of police visits to her home
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The suspect in a school shooting in Canada has been identified as an 18-year-old who had a history of police visits to her home to check on her mental health. Authorities shared the information Wednesday, a day after the attack that killed eight people in a remote part of British Columbia. Police said Jesse Van Rootselaar was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound following the assault on a school in the small mountain community of Tumbler Ridge. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said Van Rootselaar first killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home before attacking the nearby school. The motive was unclear.
Instagram chief says he does not believe people can get clinically addicted to social media
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees people can be addicted to social media platforms. The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case, where plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap settled. Mosseri said it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use. The plaintiff’s lawyer, however, presented quotes from Mosseri in a podcast interview, where he said the opposite. Mosseri clarified that he was probably using the word too casually.
Bondi clashes with Democrats as she struggles to turn the page on Epstein files furor
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.
