US & World News Archives - Page 6 of 87

Scale of Iran’s nationwide protests and bloody crackdown come into focus even as internet is out

January 24, 2026

By JON GAMBRELL - Associated Press

The scale of nationwide protests in Iran and the bloody crackdown that has followed is slowly coming into focus, even though authorities have cut off the country from the internet. Activists warn it shows Iran is engaging in the same tactics it has used for decades, just at an unprecedented scale. That includes firing down from rooftops on demonstrators, shooting birdshot into crowds and sending motorcycle-riding volunteer members of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in to beat and detain those who can’t escape. Meanwhile, a crackdown targeting protesters continues, with state media reporting dozens to hundreds of people detained daily.

Channing Tatum, Olivia Wilde and Charli xcx premiere movies at Sundance Film Festival

January 24, 2026

By LINDSEY BAHR - AP Film Writer

The Sundance Film Festival is buzzing with excitement as Channing Tatum, Olivia Wilde, and Charli xcx movies premiere back-to-back at the Eccles Theater in Park City, Utah. Friday afternoon brought the premiere of “Josephine,” a drama by Beth De Araújo about an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a crime. Tatum and Gemma Chan play her parents. Next was Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex,” starring Cooper Hoffman and Olivia Wilde. It’s a colorful, sexy story about a young man’s life turned upside down by his provocative boss. Charli xcx also stars and has a double feature with her mockumentary “The Moment.”

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo expects to miss extended time after injuring his calf again

January 24, 2026

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks he will be out for an extended period after hurting his right calf again after a similar injury already caused him to miss eight games earlier this season. Antetokounmpo had his right calf wrapped in the first half of a 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Antetokounmpo didn’t appear comfortable the rest of the night and left for good with 34 seconds remaining. The two-time MVP said he expected to undergo an MRI on Saturday. Denver’s Aaron Gordon scored 13 points in the first half before sitting out the second half with a right hamstring strain.

Freezing and in the dark, Kyiv residents are stranded in tower blocks as Russia targets power system

January 23, 2026

By DEREK GATOPOULOS, VASILISA STEPANENKO, and VOLODYMYR YURCHUK - Associated Press

Kyiv is facing prolonged winter power outages as Russian missile and drone attacks continue to damage Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. With temperatures well below freezing, electricity cuts lasting up to 17 hours a day have left many residential buildings without heating, running water or functioning elevators. Rolling blackouts are used to prevent a total grid collapse while prioritizing hospitals and critical services. Much of the capital’s housing consists of Soviet-era high rises with poor insulation, creating challenges for elderly residents and people with disabilities. Authorities are investing in decentralized energy solutions as repairs continue under intensified strikes.

Trump administration’s defense strategy tells allies to handle their own security

January 23, 2026

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and COURTNEY BONNELL - Associated Press

The Pentagon has released a National Defense Strategy that chastises U.S. allies to take control of their own security and reasserts the Trump administration’s focus on dominance in the Western Hemisphere over a longtime goal of countering China. The document released late Friday is highly political for a military blueprint, criticizing partners from Europe to Asia for relying on previous U.S. administrations to subsidize their defense. It calls for “a sharp shift — in approach, focus, and tone.” That translates to a blunt assessment that allies must take on more of the burden countering nations from Russia to North Korea. It caps off a week of animosity between President Donald Trump’s administration and traditional allies like Europe.

Trump stirs talk of ‘new world order’ as leaders signal shifting global alliances

January 23, 2026

By STEVEN SLOAN - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has revoked an invitation to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to join his Board of Peace. This decision follows Carney’s critical remarks about U.S. foreign policy. Trump also threatened tariffs on Switzerland and pressed Denmark to support U.S. control of Greenland. Critics say Trump’s actions are undermining the rules-based order that has governed U.S. foreign policy since World War II. Carney and other leaders are pushing back, advocating for a united front against Trump’s tactics. Concerns are growing that Trump’s approach could damage U.S. standing globally and strengthen ties between other countries and China.

The Latest: Global leaders say world economy shows resilience

January 23, 2026

By The Associated Press

Leaders at the World Economic Forum urged countries and businesses to filter out the turmoil from a week of clashes with the Trump administration and focus on boosting growth and fighting inequality. The global economy is showing unexpected resilience despite the noise. But while growth is holding up, troubles like worrisome levels of government debt and inequality loom. That resilience is holding up despite disruptions from U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump and his threats to impose tariffs on countries supporting Greenland against a U.S. takeover bid, then withdrew the tariff proposal.

US carries out first known strike on alleged drug boat since Maduro’s capture

January 23, 2026

AP

The U.S. military says it’s carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the first since the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. U.S. Southern Command said Friday on social media that the boat was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” and that the strike killed two people and left one survivor. It said it notified the Coast Guard to launch search and rescue operations. The U.S. military has focused lately on seizing sanctioned oil tankers with connections to Venezuela since the Trump administration launched an audacious raid to capture Maduro. The last boat strikes occurred in late December.

Minnesota activist releases video of arrest after manipulated White House version

January 23, 2026

By JACK BROOK and SARAH RAZA - Associated Press

A Minnesota activist who was charged for her role in an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a church has released her own video of her arrest, after the White House posted a manipulated image online. The video, shot by civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong’s husband and released by her organization, shows her being approached by federal agents. At no point does she appear to cry, contradicting the White House’s portrayal. In the video, she asks agents not to record and they say the video will not end up on Twitter, now called X.

No. 17 Alabama plans to play 7-footer Charles Bediako, who turned pro in 2023, against Tennessee

January 23, 2026

By KENNINGTON SMITH III - Associated Press

Alabama coach Nate Oats says 7-foot center Charles Bediako, who gave up his college eligibility in 2023 to enter the NBA draft, will play against Tennessee on Saturday. Although Oats called the NCAA system that is allowing professional players to return to college “broken,” he is taking advantage of the loophole. The 23-year-old Bediako practiced with the 17th-ranked Crimson Tide a day after a judge in Tuscaloosa temporarily reinstated the player’s college eligibility and blocked the NCAA from retaliating for his return. Bediako has signed several NBA developmental contracts since 2023, including playing for the Motor City Cruise in the NBA’s G League as recently as last week. He spent two seasons at Alabama before turning pro.

Police arrest protesters at airport as Minnesota gears up for anti-immigration enforcement protest

January 23, 2026

The Associated Press,

(CNN) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Police arrested anti-immigration enforcement demonstrators at Minnesota’s largest airport Friday after they overstepped their permit, officials said, as a mass mobilization to protest the Trump administration’s crackdown began across Minnesota despite Arctic temperatures seizing the state. A network of labor unions, progressive organizations and clergy had urged Minnesotans to stay away from work, school and even shops…

Vance touts the Trump administration’s record against abortion at a Washington rally

January 23, 2026

By MEG KINNARD - Associated Press

Vice President JD Vance is encouraging anti-abortion activists to celebrate progress in limiting abortion. Vance highlights the Trump administration’s achievements, including expanding a ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups that support abortion services. Vance spoke Friday at the annual March for Life in Washington, emphasizing the importance of increasing birth rates in the U.S. The Republican vice president also praises the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and President Donald Trump’s leadership in appointing conservative jurists. The March for Life has become more celebratory since that Supreme Court ruling.

Judge rules Trump administration must keep funding child care subsidies in 5 states for now

January 23, 2026

The Associated Press,

A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration must keep federal funds flowing to child care subsidies and other social service programs in five Democratic-controlled states — at least for now. The ruling Friday from U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick extends by two weeks a temporary one issued earlier this month that blocked the federal government from holding…

Judge rules Trump administration must keep funding child care subsidies in 5 states for now

January 23, 2026

By GEOFF MULVIHILL - Associated Press

A federal judge says the Trump administration must keep the money flowing for now for programs aimed at helping low-income families with children in five states. The ruling extends by two weeks an earlier one in which a judge ordered the money to continue to flow to California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. Judge Vernon Broderick says he’ll decide later whether to order the money be kept moving as the challenge to the action is decided. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Jan. 6 that it was withholding money because it had “reason to believe” there was fraud in those states, although it didn’t present details or evidence.

The next Eric Heiden? US speedskater Jordan Stolz draws comparisons ahead of Milan Cortina Olympics

January 23, 2026

By HOWARD FENDRICH - AP National Writer

Jordan Stolz appreciates that people liken what he’ll be trying to do at the Milan Cortina Winter Games to Eric Heiden’s record five speedskating gold medals at Lake Placid in 1980. Stolz calls it a cool comparison. But the 21-year-old from Wisconsin also acknowledges what he will try to do at the Olympics in February is not quite the same as Heiden. Still, Stolz is a favorite in the men’s 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters and a contender for gold in the mass start, too. There is even a chance he could enter a fifth event.

The coming winter storm: There’s an app for that. But how reliable is it and what’s inside?

January 23, 2026

By SETH BORENSTEIN and TAMMY WEBBER - Associated Press

That snowflake icon on your smartphone app might be quick and handy — it just might not be as accurate as a human when the weather gets rough. Experts say that’s especially important during winter storms like the one forecasted to smack the eastern U.S. with a mix of heavy snow, treacherous ice and subzero temperatures. The popular Weather Channel app, for example, uses artificial intelligence to analyze everything from computer models to citizen weather reports. But humans always have the last word. Most experts say the best place to get the most accurate forecast is still probably local television meteorologists.

An ancient forest in Ecuador is the last stand for a tiny hummingbird facing extinction

January 23, 2026

By CESAR OLMOS and GONZALO SOLANO - Associated Press

The Yanacocha Reserve in the Ecuadorian Andes is the last refuge for a tiny hummingbird facing extinction. The Black-breasted puffleg, emblematic of Quito, measures just 3.5 inches and is among the most threatened species globally. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says its population has dwindled to between 150 and 200 birds. Founded 25 years ago, the reserve protects Andean biodiversity. Conservationists are racing to restore the high-altitude forests crucial for the puffleg’s survival, as these areas face pressure from agriculture and grazing.

To clear ice and snow, there are rock salt alternatives that are safer for your pets and yard

January 23, 2026

By ALEXA ST. JOHN and CALEIGH WELLS - Associated Press

Winter has its fans, but even those who enjoy playing in the snow probably dislike the chore of clearing up after a big storm that dumps several inches or even feet of snow and ice. Many people run straight to the closest hardware store for a bag of salt to clear driveways, sidewalks and stoops. But there are some environmental factors to consider when tackling snow and ice. The salt comes in different formulations that perform differently in different conditions, with blends and coatings that makers say can make it work better and reduce some of the harmful effects. And there are alternatives to salt, too.

Network shutdown leaves Wisconsin lawmakers meeting outside of public view

January 23, 2026

By SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

The shutdown of Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN amid a shortfall of fundraising has left the state as perhaps the only one in the country where its legislative floor debates are not being broadcast. The absence of WisconsinEye has led to complaints from open government advocates and pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal to revive the network. A bipartisan proposal to bring the network back was introduced on Thursday, but it is unclear if it has enough support to pass. WisconsinEye had broadcast every floor session of the state Senate and Assembly since 2007 for free before it went dark in mid-December.

Toll in Iran’s protest crackdown reaches at least 5,002 dead as Trump says US ‘armada’ approaching

January 23, 2026

By JON GAMBRELL - Associated Press

Activists report that Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests has killed at least 5,002 people. Many more are feared dead, but information is scarce in part because Iran has imposed the most comprehensive internet blackout in its history. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency provided the latest death toll Friday and noted more than 26,800 people have been detained. Iran’s government says 3,117 have died, but it has a history of giving lower tolls for political reasons. The Associated Press has been unable to verify these numbers due to the two-week internet shutdown. Meanwhile, the U.S. has moved an aircraft carrier group closer to the Middle East, and President Donald Trump is warning of potential action against Iran.

Japan’s Takaichi dissolves parliament after only 3 months in office, setting up snap election

January 23, 2026

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the lower house of Parliament, paving the way for a Feb. 8 snap election. The move Friday is an attempt to capitalize on her popularity to help governing party regain ground after major losses in recent years, but will delay a vote on a budget that aims at boosting a struggling economy and addressing soaring prices. Takaichi was elected in October as Japan’s first female leader.

Canada’s Carney fires back at Trump after Davos speech

January 23, 2026

By ROB GILLIES - Associated Press

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to U.S. President Donald Trump comment that “Canada lives because of the United States” on Thursday by saying Canada thrives because of Canadian values. Carney says Canada can show the world that the future doesn’t have to be autocratic after returning from Davos where he gave a speech that garnered widespread attention. In Davos at the World Economic Forum, Carney condemned coercion by great powers on smaller countries without mentioning Trump. Upon returning home to Canada, Carney says his country “can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isn’t destined to be warped toward authoritarianism and exclusion; it can still bend toward progress and justice.”

Minnesota gears up for anti-immigration enforcement protest Friday despite dangerous cold

January 23, 2026

By GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO - Associated Press

A vast network of labor unions, progressive organizations and clergy has been asking Minnesotans to stay away from work, school and stores Friday to protest against immigration enforcement in the state. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen daily protests since Renee Good was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during an operation on Jan. 7. Federal law enforcement officers have surged in the area for weeks and have repeatedly squared off with community members and activists who track their movements online and in the streets. But Friday’s mobilization was planned as the largest action to date, including a march in downtown Minneapolis despite dangerously cold temperatures.

Immigrants often don’t open the door to ICE, but that may no longer stop officers

January 23, 2026

By JULIE WATSON and AMY TAXIN - Associated Press

It has become common knowledge in immigrant communities across the U.S. to not open the door for federal immigration agents unless they show a warrant signed by a judge. But an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press states immigration officers can forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant. That marks a dramatic shift that could upend the legal advice given to immigrants for decades. Law enforcement and legal experts warn if more agents barge into homes, everyone could be put at greater risk.

In the case of the Federal Reserve, Supreme Court appears to carve out a murky exception

January 22, 2026

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER - AP Economics Writer

The Supreme Court for the past year has repeatedly allowed President Donald Trump to fire heads of independent agencies, but it appears to be drawing a line with the Federal Reserve. The court has signaled for months that it sees the Fed in a different light. It has said that the president can fire directors of other agencies for any reason, but can remove Fed governors only “for cause.” That is now being put to the test in a case involving Trump’s attempt to remove Fed governor Lisa Cook. On Wednesday during oral arguments, the Supreme Court seemed inclined to keep Cook in her job. But it largely skirted a key issue: What, exactly, is the legal principle that protects the Fed, but not the other agencies?

Across the forgotten walls of a Hong Kong island, a flock of bird murals rises

January 22, 2026

By MAY JAMES - Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) — They perch gently on concrete ledges. They nestle into peeling stucco. Occasionally, they soar across a stone house’s rooftop. A flock has landed in Wang Tong Village, a peaceful corner of Lantau Island on Hong Kong’s southwestern edge. But this flock is unlike others: Its birds are made of paint. They exist on murals designed for…

Putin meets Trump’s envoys as Kremlin says Ukraine settlement hinges on territory

January 22, 2026

By KAMILA HRABCHUK and KOSTYA MANENKOV - Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the settlement in Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys during marathon overnight talks, and the Kremlin insisted that the territorial issue needs to be resolved to make peace. The Kremlin meeting, which lasted past 3 a.m. Friday, came hours after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized his European allies Thursday for what he cast as their slow and fragmented response to Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who took part in Putin’s meeting with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, said it would be impossible to reach a peace deal “without solving the territorial issue.”

TikTok finalizes deal to form new American entity

January 22, 2026

By KAITLYN HUAMANI - AP Technology Reporter

TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the U.S. that has been in discussion for years. The social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to form the joint venture. The new version will operate under “defined safeguards” with an emphasis on data protections and software assurances for U.S. users, the company said in a statement Thursday. The establishment of a U.S. unit marks the end of years of uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the United States.

People in Gaza dig through garbage for things to burn to keep warm — a far cry from Trump’s vision

January 22, 2026

By TOQA EZZIDIN and JULIA FRANKEL - Associated Press

Desperate Palestinians at a garbage dump in a Gaza neighborhood are digging with their bare hands for plastic items to burn to keep warm in the cold and damp winter in the enclave, battered by two years of the Israel-Hamas war. The scene in the Muwasi area of the city of Khan Younis contrasted starkly with the vision of the territory projected by world leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland, where they inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace that will oversee Gaza on Thursday. Trump claimed in Davos this week that “record levels” of humanitarian aid had entered Gaza since the October start of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. His envoys touted the enclave’s development potential.

Lawyer for ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore wants charges dismissed, says woman is seeking windfall

January 22, 2026

By LARRY LAGE and ED WHITE - Associated Press

A lawyer for fired University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore says a criminal case against him should be dismissed based on false information given to police. Ellen Michaels claims the allegations against Moore are part of an effort to get a big windfall from the school for a woman who was in a relationship with Moore. He was fired in December for a relationship with a staff member. Moore was then charged with home invasion and other crimes after authorities said she appeared at the woman’s apartment and blamed her for his firing.

Takeaways from Jack Smith on his case against Trump, ‘so many witnesses’ and the threats ahead

January 22, 2026

By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER - Associated Press

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified publicly for the first time on Capitol Hill about his investigation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Over five hours, he detailed how the defeated president “sought to prey” on supporters and “stay in power,” culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The House Judiciary Committee delved into far-flung details — from a former White House aide’s earlier blockbuster testimony to Smith’s subpoena of certain lawmakers’ phone records. Trump was live-posting his rage against Smith, suggesting the former career prosecutor should himself be prosecuted. Smith said he would “not be intimidated.”

House Republicans barely defeat Venezuela war powers resolution to check Trump’s military actions

January 22, 2026

By STEPHEN GROVES - Associated Press

The House has barely rejected a Democratic-backed resolution that would have prevented President Donald Trump from sending U.S. military forces to Venezuela. A tied vote on the legislation fell just short of the majority needed for passage. Democrats forced the vote on the war powers resolution to direct the president to remove U.S. troops from the South American nation. It brought up a debate in the Republican-controlled Congress on Trump’s aggressions in the Western Hemisphere. The Trump administration told senators last week that there are no U.S. troops on the ground in Venezuela and committed to getting congressional approval before launching major military operations there.

FACT FOCUS: White House shares altered image showing arrest of civil rights attorney in Minnesota

January 22, 2026

By MELISSA GOLDIN - Associated Press

The Trump administration is misrepresenting the arrest of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong for her role in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church. The White House on Thursday shared an image that made it appear like she was crying. The original image, posted on X by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, shows Levy Armstrong with a neutral expression. An attorney for Levy Armstrong said any videos or photos that show her crying were manipulated.

Blake Lively and Taylor Swift’s texts exposed in lawsuit against Justin Baldoni

January 22, 2026

By SAFIYAH RIDDLE, SARAH BRUMFIELD and REBECCA BOONE - Associated Press

A trove of Blake Lively’s text messages and emails has been released in her legal battle against Justin Baldoni, including exchanges with her longtime friend Taylor Swift. Lively sued Baldoni and his crisis communications expert alleging harassment and a campaign to damage her reputation while he directed her in the movie “It Ends With Us.” A federal judge is now considering whether to end their acrimonious, yearlong litigation. Baldoni’s lawyer argued Thursday that Lively’s claims are trivial. Lively’s lawyer countered with allegations of unwanted physical contact.

DiCaprio to AP on Oscar nomination: ‘It’s about trying to be in films that are memorable’

January 22, 2026

By LINDSEY BAHR - AP Film Writer

Leonardo DiCaprio has picked up his sixth lead actor Oscar nomination for his role in “One Battle After Another.” Ten years after winning for “The Revenant,” he joins a select group of actors with this many nominations. Including his supporting nomination for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” he now has eight nominations overall. DiCaprio says the most important thing is being part of a timeless film. The film received 13 nominations, but co-star Chase Infiniti was notably snubbed. DiCaprio tells The Associated Press he spoke to her and that she had an amazing attitude. DiCaprio also emphasized the importance of original filmmaking and the theatrical experience.

Federal officers detain a 5-year-old boy who a school official says was used as ‘bait’

January 22, 2026

By HALLIE GOLDEN and SARAH RAZA - Associated Press

Federal agents have detained a 5-year-old boy and his father in Minnesota, taking them to a detention facility in Texas. School officials and the family’s lawyer say this is part of the ongoing immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities. Zena Stenvik, the school superintendent in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights, says the boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, was “essentially” used “as bait” to apprehend his father, who is pursuing an asylum claim in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security says the operation targeted the father, not the child. It’s not clear if the father asked for his son to be taken into custody with him. Liam is the district’s fourth student who has been detained recently.

Uvalde officer’s acquittal shifts focus to the next case over police response to attack

January 22, 2026

By JIM VERTUNO - Associated Press

An acquittal in the first Texas trial over the hesitant police response to the Robb Elementary school mass shooting leaves prosecutors facing decisions about the case against Uvalde’s former schools police chief. Legal experts say that prosecutors will likely consider changes to how they present evidence and witness testimony. And they will have to decide whether to take the next case to trial. They will likely face pressure from victims’ families to press ahead. Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell declined immediate comment Thursday.

Trump administration halts use of human fetal tissue in NIH-funded research

January 22, 2026

By The Associated Press

The Trump administration is ending the use of abortion-derived fetal tissue in research funded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has funded research involving fetal tissue for decades, under both Republicans and Democrats. The tissue has been critical for research involving HIV, cancer and other diseases. Opponents say there are alternatives, although scientists say there aren’t always adequate substitutes. The policy announced Thursday expands restrictions issued in the first Trump administration to cover all NIH-funded research. In 2024, the $47 billion agency counted just 77 funded projects that included fetal tissue.

Rhode Island may ditch Mr. Potato Head license plates after Hasbro moves to Boston

January 22, 2026

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI - Associated Press

Rhode Islanders have long been able to choose Mr. Potato Head for their specialty license plates. However, Hasbro’s decision to move its headquarters to Boston has motivated two lawmakers to propose ending the option of Mr. Potato Head plates. The proposal was introduced earlier this month. Currently, the plate costs $40, with half supporting the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Mr. Potato Head plates were first issued in 2002 to mark the toy’s 50th anniversary. The toy, which debuted in 1952, originally required kids to use a real potato before Hasbro added a plastic version.

Trump administration tells agencies to compile data on money sent to Democratic states

January 22, 2026

By GEOFF MULVIHILL - Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s budget office is telling government agencies to compile data on federal money sent to a group of 14 mostly Democratic-controlled states and the District of Columbia. The administration says in a memo obtained by The Associated Press that the purpose is to “facilitate efforts to reduce the improper and fraudulent use of those funds.” The memo to the agencies does not explain why it’s focusing on those states. The order comes the week after Trump threatened to deny federal funding to states that are home to local governments that resist his immigration policies.

Photos from the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland

January 22, 2026

AP

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The World Economic Forum think tank opened its annual meeting in the Swiss town of Davos on Tuesday where political leaders and business leaders will discuss issues ranging from economic disparity to climate change to world conflicts. This year’s geopolitical context — with the recent U.S. military strike in Venezuela,protests in Iran and U.S. President Donald…

Trump sues JPMorgan for $5 billion, alleges bank closed his accounts for political reasons

January 22, 2026

AP

President Donald Trump is suing JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon for $5 billion. He alleges the bank closed his accounts for political reasons after he left office in January 2021. The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County court, claims JPMorgan abruptly closed multiple accounts in February 2021, giving 60 days’ notice without explanation. Trump says this cut him off from millions and disrupted his businesses. JPMorgan, in a statement, expressed regret over the lawsuit but denied political motives. A spokesperson said the suit lacks merit, emphasizing accounts are closed for legal or regulatory risks, not political reasons.

Trump appointees ask about White House ballroom’s design and scale–and want to see models

January 22, 2026

By BILL BARROW - Associated Press

Some of Donald Trump’s handpicked appointees who have a say in his White House ballroom project are asking questions about design and scale, even as they broadly endorsed the president’s vision for a massive expansion. Members of the Commission on Fine Arts asked the project’s lead architect on Thursday to come back to them with 3D scale models of the White House complex including the proposed addition, and to include the Treasury Department and Eisenhower office buildings that flank the White House. Separately, historic preservationists are challenging the project in federal court.

Harry Styles announces 2026 global tour: See the dates

January 22, 2026

By MARIA SHERMAN - AP Music Writer

Harry Styles is getting back out on the road. The English musician announced a 50-date global tour made up of international residencies. Styles will hit Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Melbourne, and Sydney from May through December. The news arrives a week after Styles revealed his fourth studio album will arrive March 6. Titled “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally,” the album is Styles’ first full-length project in four years. It follows the 2022, critically acclaimed synth pop record “Harry’s House.” That one which earned the former One Direction star the top prize of album of the year at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Mets acquire ace pitcher Freddy Peralta from Brewers in trade

January 22, 2026

By MIKE FITZPATRICK - AP Baseball Writer

The active New York Mets have acquired ace pitcher Freddy Peralta and right-hander Tobias Myers from Milwaukee in a trade that sent two top prospects to the Brewers: pitcher Brandon Sproat and minor league infielder/outfielder Jett Williams. Peralta gives the new-look Mets a frontline starter after their rotation faltered in the second half of a hugely disappointing 2025 season. Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA last year, when he led the National League in wins and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He also earned his second All-Star selection. The 29-year-old right-hander is set to make $8 million this year and can become a free agent following the World Series.

Vance heads to Minneapolis and says ‘far left’ should stop resisting immigration enforcement

January 22, 2026

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and JULIE CARR SMYTH - Associated Press

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.

Study shows how earthquake monitors can track space junk through sonic booms

January 22, 2026

By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer

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.

Complete list of 2026 Oscar nominees

January 22, 2026

AP

This year’s class of Oscar nominees has been announced. Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” led all films Thursday with 16 nominations to the 98th Academy Awards, setting a record for the most in Oscar history. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” was second in the tally with 13 nominations.

Jack Smith testifies at a public hearing about his Trump investigations

January 22, 2026

By ERIC TUCKER, MARY CLARE JALONICK, LISA MASCARO and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER - Associated Press

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith’s congressional hearing is underway. Thursday’s hearing is expected to focus fresh attention on Smith’s two criminal investigations that shadowed Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign. Smith testified behind closed doors last month but returns to the House Judiciary Committee for a public hearing. The hearing is likely to divide 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. The hearing unfolds against the backdrop of an ongoing Trump administration retribution campaign targeting the investigators who scrutinized the Republican president.

Prices ticked up in November as Americans keep spending a key inflation measure shows

January 22, 2026

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER - AP Economics Writer

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.