A new study suggests that babies are able to distinguish between the different objects they see around them at 2 months old, which  earlier than scientists previously thought. The findings may help doctors and researchers better understand cognitive development in infancy. The study looked at data from 130 2-month-olds who underwent functional brain imaging while awake. The babies viewed images from 12 categories commonly seen in the first year of life, such as trees and animals. Results were published in Nature Neuroscience on Monday,

Louisville moved up to sixth for its best ranking in four years in The Associated Press women’s Top 25 basketball poll. UConn remained the unanimous No. 1 from the 31-member national media panel. The Huskies are the lone undefeated team in women’s college basketball and kept that streak going Sunday with a 96-66 rout of then-No. 15 Tennessee. UConn has won 39 consecutive games dating to last season. UCLA, South Carolina and Texas remained behind the Huskies in an unchanged top four. The Bruins had an impressive win over then-No. 8 Iowa on Sunday.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced two more arrests in the protest at a church in Minnesota against the immigration enforcement crackdown. Bondi announced the latest arrests Monday. A grand jury in Minnesota has indicted nine people on federal charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where an ICE official is a pastor. The protest generated strong objections from the Trump administration. Those facing federal civil rights charges include independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who were among four people arrested Friday.

The roughly 40 million Americans who get drinking water from wells are at particular risk when harmful forever chemicals contaminate the supply. Odorless and colorless, the chemicals known collectively as PFAS are linked to increased risk of certain cancers. While water from a utility will be forced to meet federal PFAS limits, those limits won’t apply to private wells. And well owners are often the last to learn about contamination. At least 20 states don’t test private wells beyond areas where PFAS problems are suspected. When a well is tainted, it can take homeowners years to find a new source of clean water.

A major investigative collaboration among five newsrooms shows how chemicals used to make carpets stain-resistant have contaminated swaths of the South. In the mills of northwest Georgia, workers treated carpets with these chemicals starting in the 1970s. The chemicals were carried in manufacturing wastewater and spread into rivers and drinking water. The odorless and colorless compounds are called PFAS by scientists and known colloquially as forever chemicals because they take decades or more to break down. The chemicals are everywhere in the region — including in people, where they have been linked to cancer and other health issues. Major carpet companies say they’ve complied with all regulations and have stopped using PFAS.

Thirty days after the U.S. captured then-President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela remains in turmoil. Many citizens are unsure about the current situation, with fears of further attacks and government repression. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez faces questions about her autonomy and potential U.S. influence. Despite promises of wage increases, uncertainty prevails. Maduro supporters view his capture as a kidnapping, while opposition leaders cautiously reemerge. Rodríguez's new oil sector policies mark a shift from a pillar of the self-proclaimed socialist movement that has governed Venezuela for more than two decades. Venezuelans are balancing hope for economic improvement with fear of instability, as they navigate this complex political landscape.

The Trump administration plans to deploy nearly $12 billion to create a strategic reserve of rare earth elements. This stockpile could counter China's dominance in these metals, which are crucial for various industries. The White House confirmed “Project Vault” on Monday. It would be funded by a $10 billion loan from the US Export-Import Bank and $1.67 billion in private capital. The reserve aims to protect manufacturers from supply chain disruptions. China controls about 70% of the world’s rare earths mining and 90% of processing, giving it significant leverage in trade talks.

Friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has already cost Peter Mandelson the post of Britain’s ambassador to Washington. Now, Mandelson is facing demands he come clean about his relationship with the late sex offender after new revelations. Mandelson resigned from the governing Labour Party on Sunday following new claims he received payments from Epstein two decades ago. Mandelson said he was stepping aside to avoid causing “further embarrassment,” even as he denied the allegations. The accusations stem from a trove of more than 3 million pages of documents relating to Epstein released by the U.S. Department of Justice. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urging Mandelson to also resign from the House of Lords.

Cortisol is the talk of the internet but doctors say most people don't need to worry about it. Levels of what is known as the stress hormone naturally rise and fall throughout the day. Cortisol disorders are serious, but they are rare and hard to diagnose. Doctors advise people not take matters into their own hands by taking unproven supplements or ordering their own tests. Instead, they recommend talking to a doctor and taking simple steps to manage stress.

Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers say he’s seen his shadow and is therefore predicting six more weeks of winter weather. Phil’s annual prediction occurred shortly after dawn Monday outside his tree stump in Gobbler’s Knob. The Pennsylvania festivities are among the many Groundhog Day rituals around the U.S. and beyond. Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 comes at the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The tradition has roots in European agricultural folklore. Despite its silliness, the event remains a beloved tradition. Phil’s accuracy is debated, with federal weather officials saying he’s been right only about 40% of the time.

House Speaker Mike Johnson faces tough days ahead trying to muscle a federal funding package to passage and prevent a prolonged partial government shutdown as debate intensifies over the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement operations. Johnson signaled he is relying on help from President Donald Trump, who struck a deal with senators to separate Homeland Security money from a broader funding package amid outrage over shooting deaths during protests in Minneapolis. The Senate-approved plan would fund DHS temporarily through Feb. 13, setting up a deadline for Congress to try to find consensus on new restrictions on ICE operations.

Punxsutawney Phil, the legendary groundhog that lives in a tree stump in rural Pennsylvania, has issued the most highly anticipated weather forecast of the season: six more weeks of winter. The groundhog’s forecast was announced Monday by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in rural Pennsylvania. When Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he hadn’t seen his shadow, that would have foretold the early arrival of spring. The event at Gobbler’s Knob dates back over a century and has ties to ancient European farming traditions. The festivities have grown since the 1993 movie ‘Groundhog Day.’

Police said that the eldest son of Norway’s crown princess has been arrested just before his trial opens on charges including rape in a case that has been an embarrassment to the royal family. Police said Monday that Marius Borg Høiby was arrested on Sunday evening and is accused of assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order. They requested four week’s detention on grounds of risk of reoffending. He’s due to go on trial at the Oslo district court on Tuesday. The indictment includes 38 counts including rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, acts of violence against another and transporting 3.5 kilograms or 7.7 pounds of marijuana. Other charges include making death threats and traffic violations.