Every guest whos stayed with me has raved about how comfortable it is.READ MORE...

The rights future is all about American nationalism.

It made all the difference in the world. READ MORE...

US envoy Steve Witkoff, left, and US businessman Jared Kushner attend a press conference after the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the 'Coalition of the Willing' summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, Jan 6, 2026. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP, File)2026-01-17T19:12:59Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trumps Board of Peace, which was initially seen as a mechanism focused on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, is taking shape with ambitions to have a far broader mandate of other global crises, potentially rivaling the United Nations in what would be a major upheaval to the post-World War II international order.In letters sent Friday to various world leaders inviting them to be founding members of the board, Trump says the body would embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.Invitation letters from Trump to Argentine President Javier Milei and Paraguays leader Santiago Pea, that were posted Saturday to their official social media accounts note that Trumps 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, which includes the creation of the Board of Peace, was endorsed by the U.N. Security Council and indicates that the panel of world leaders may not confine their work to Gaza. Now it is time to turn all of these dreams into reality, Trump wrote. At the heart of the plan is the Board of Peace, the most impressive and consequential board ever assembled, which will be established as a new International Organization and Transitional Governing Administration. Other leaders whose governments have confirmed receiving invitation letters include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It was not immediately clear how many or which other leaders would receive invitations. Trumps apparent aspirations to turn to the Board of Peace into an international institution that could provide an alternative to the United Nations is sure to be controversial and opposed by numerous countries, including China and Russia, which hold veto power in the U.N. Security Council and have significant interests in opposing any radical change in the world order. Smaller nations also are likely to have objections as the U.N. system has given them at least a voice in major international decisions since the end of the Second World War.A senior U.S. official said an expanded role for the Board of Peace remains aspirational but that Trump and his advisers believe it is possible, particularly as the U.S. and others have repeatedly expressed frustration with the United Nations and its associated organizations, commissions and advisory boards.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal Trump administration thinking, did not say the Board of Peace is intended to replace the United Nations but suggested that it could perhaps galvanize the world body into action.The Trump administration has often been at odds with the United Nations as it zeroed in on eliminating billions of dollars in funding to international organizations and humanitarian assistance at large. Trump and his allies have blasted the world body for not reaching its potential and for bloated and redundant agencies that push woke ideology.The letters follow Trumps post on social media Thursday, saying the Board of Peace had been formed and that the names of its members would be announced shortly. Officials say a formal announcement is expected to be made next week during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. It comes after the White House on Friday evening released the names of some of the leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza, including an executive board that will work to carry out the vision of the Board of Peace. Israels government objected Saturday, saying it was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy.That executive committee includes Trump administration officials Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff as well as businesspeople like Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and others like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and World Bank President Ajay Banga. The White House did not respond to a request for comment Saturday on Trumps ambitions for the Board of Peace nor the letters posted by leaders. The United Nations also did not immediately respond.___Associated Press writers Rob Gillies in Toronto, Cinar Kiper in Istanbul, Farnoush Amiri in New York and Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez arrives at the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)2026-01-17T16:15:12Z WASHINGTON (AP) When President Donald Trump announced the audacious capture of Nicols Maduro to face drug trafficking charges in the U.S., he portrayed the strongmans vice president and longtime aide as Americas preferred partner to stabilize Venezuela amid a scourge of drugs, corruption and economic mayhem.Left unspoken was the cloud of suspicion that long surrounded Delcy Rodrguez before she became acting president of the beleaguered nation earlier this month.In fact, Rodrguez has been on the radar of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for years and in 2022 was even labeled a priority target, a designation DEA reserves for suspects believed to have a significant impact on the drug trade, according to records obtained by The Associated Press and more than a half dozen current and former U.S. law enforcement officials. The DEA has amassed a detailed intelligence file on Rodrguez dating to at least 2018, the records show, cataloging her known associates and allegations ranging from drug trafficking to gold smuggling. One confidential informant told the DEA in early 2021 that Rodrguez was using hotels in the Caribbean resort of Isla Margarita as a front to launder money, the records show. As recently as last year she was linked to Maduros alleged bag man, Alex Saab, whom U.S. authorities arrested in 2020 on money laundering charges. The U.S. government has never publicly accused Rodrguez of any criminal wrongdoing. Notably for Maduros inner circle, shes not among the more than a dozen current Venezuelan officials charged with drug trafficking alongside the ousted president. Rodrguezs name has surfaced in nearly a dozen DEA investigations, several of which remain ongoing, involving agents in field offices from Paraguay and Ecuador to Phoenix and New York, the AP learned. The AP could not determine the specific focus of each investigation. Three current and former DEA agents who reviewed the records at the request of AP said they indicate an intense interest in Rodrguez throughout much of her tenure as vice president, which began in 2018. They were not authorized to discuss DEA investigations and spoke on the condition of anonymity.The records reviewed by AP do not make clear why Rodrguez was elevated to a priority target, a designation that requires extensive documentation to justify additional investigative resources. The agency has hundreds of priority targets at any given moment, and having the label does not necessarily lead to being charged criminally.She was on the rise, so its not surprising that she might become a high-priority target with her role, said Kurt Lunkenheimer, a former federal prosecutor in Miami who has handled multiple cases related to Venezuela. The issue is when people talk about you and you become a high-priority target, theres a difference between that and evidence supporting an indictment.Venezuelas communications ministry did not respond to emails seeking comment. The DEA and U.S. Justice Department also did not respond to requests for comment. Asked whether the president trusts Rodrguez, the White House referred AP to Trumps earlier remarks on a very good talk he had with the acting president Wednesday, one day before she met in Caracas with CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Almost immediately after Maduros capture, Trump started heaping praise on Rodrguez this past week referring to her as a terrific person in close contact with officials in Washington, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Have a news tip?Contact APs global investigative team at [emailprotected]. For secure and confidential communications, use the free Signal app +1 (202) 281-8604. The DEAs interest in Rodrguez comes even as Trump has sought to install her as the steward of American interests to navigate a volatile post-Maduro Venezuela, said Steve Dudley, co-director of InSight Crime, a think tank focused on organized crime in the Americas.The current Venezuela government is a criminal-hybrid regime. The only way you reach a position of power in the regime is by, at the very least, abetting criminal activities, said Dudley, who has investigated Venezuela for years. This isnt a bug in the system. This is the system. Those sentiments were echoed by opposition leader Mara Corina Machado, who met with Trump at the White House Thursday in a bid to push for more U.S. support for Venezuelan democracy.The American justice system has sufficient information about her, said Machado, referring to Rodrguez. Her profile is quite clear.Rodrguez, 56, worked her way to the apex of power in Venezuela as a loyal aide to Maduro, with whom she shares a deep-seated leftist bent stemming from her socialist fathers death in police custody when she was only 7 years old. Despite blaming the U.S. for her fathers death, she steadily worked while foreign minister and later vice president to court American investment during the first Trump administration, hiring lobbyists close to Trump and even ordering the state oil company to make a $500,000 donation to his inaugural committee. The charm offensive flopped when Trump, urged on by Rubio, pressured Maduro to hold free and fair elections. In September 2018,the White House sanctioned Rodrguez, describing her as key to Maduros grip on power and ability to solidify his authoritarian rule. She was also sanctioned earlier by the European Union.But those allegations focused on her threat to Venezuelas democracy, not any alleged involvement in corruption.Venezuela is a failed state that supports terrorism, corruption, human rights abuses and drug trafficking at the highest echelons. There is nothing political about this analysis, said Rob Zachariasiewicz, a longtime former DEA agent who led investigations into top Venezuelan officials and is now a managing partner at Elicius Intelligence, a specialist investigations firm. Delcy Rodrguez has been part of this criminal enterprise.The DEA records seen by AP provide an unprecedented glimpse into the agencys interest in Rodrguez. Much of it was driven by the agencys elite Special Operations Division, the same Virginia-based unit that worked with prosecutors in Manhattan to indict Maduro.One of the records cites an unnamed confidential informant linking Rodrguez to hotels in Margarita Island that are allegedly used as a front to launder money. The AP has been unable to independently confirm the information.The U.S. has long considered the resort island, northeast of the Venezuelan mainland, a strategic hub for drug trafficking routes to the Caribbean and Europe. Numerous traffickers have been arrested or taken haven there over the years, including representatives of Joaqun El Chapo Guzmns Sinaloa cartel.The records also indicate the feds were looking at Rodrguezs involvement in government contracts awarded to Maduros ally Saab investigations that remain ongoing even after President Joe Biden pardoned him in 2023 as part of a prisoner swap for Americans imprisoned in Venezuela.The Colombian businessman rose to become one of Venezuelas top fixers as U.S. sanctions cut off its access to hard currency and Western banks. He was arrested in 2020 on federal charges of money laundering while traveling from Venezuela to Iran to negotiate oil deals helping both countries circumvent sanctions.The DEA records also indicate agents interest in Rodrguezs possible involvement in allegedly corrupt deals between the government and Omar Nassif-Sruji, the brother of her longtime romantic partner, Yussef Nassif. Nassif-Sruji and Nassif did not respond to emails and text messages seeking comment.Companies registered by the two brothers in Hong Kong received more than $650 million in Venezuelan government contracts between 2017 and 2019 to import food and dialysis medicine, according to copies of the contracts obtained in 2021 by Venezuelan investigative journalism outlet Armando.info.Taken together, the DEA investigations underscore how power has long been exercised in Venezuela, which is ranked as the worlds third most corrupt country by Transparency International. For Rodrguez, they also represent something of a razor-sharp sword over her head, breathing life to Trumps threat soon after Maduros ouster that she would pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro if she didnt fall in line. The president added that he wanted her to provide the U.S. total access to the countrys vast oil reserves and other natural resources.Just being a leader in a highly corrupted regime for over a decade makes it logical that she is a priority target for investigation, said David Smilde, a Tulane University professor who has studied Venezuela for three decades. She surely knows this, and it gives the U.S. government leverage over her. She may fear that if she does not do as the Trump administration demands, she could end up with an indictment like Maduro.-Mustian reported from New York. -Contact APs global investigative team at [emailprotected] or https://www.ap.org/tips/.-This story is part of an ongoing collaboration between The Associated Press and FRONTLINE (PBS) that includes an upcoming documentary. JIM MUSTIAN Mustian is an Associated Press investigative reporter for breaking news. twitter mailto JOSHUA GOODMAN Goodman is a Miami-based investigative reporter who writes about the intersection of crime, corruption, drug trafficking and politics in Latin America. He previously spent two decades reporting from South America. twitter mailto ERIC TUCKER Tucker covers national security in Washington for The Associated Press, with a focus on the FBI and Justice Department. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The 63-year-old has been able to call his own shot in this coaching search and wound up choosing the Giants.

The jersey Stephen Curry wore in the championship-clinching Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals has been sold privately for $2.45 million.

John Harbaugh has agreed to the five-year deal the New York Giants offered him earlier this week, he told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday, adding that "I'm proud and honored to the head coach of this historic franchise."

Before the divisional round got underway, players made sure to put their most fashionable foot forward.

In previously unreported remarks, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS News that Mr. Trump would sue the news outlet if it did not air an interview unedited.

Physicians with independent practices are having to cobble together unconventional office arrangements at a time of rising costs and consolidation in the medical field.

I was able to get rid of a lot with this method!READ MORE...

Displaced Palestinians gather outside a tent at a temporary camp in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)2026-01-17T16:34:15Z NAHARIYA, Israel (AP) Israels government is objecting to the White House announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire moves into its challenging second phase.The rare criticism from Israel of its close ally in Washington said the Gaza executive committee was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy, without details. Saturdays statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the foreign ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.The committee announced by the White House on Friday includes no Israeli official but has an Israeli businessman, billionaire Yakir Gabay. Other members announced so far include two of U.S. President Donald Trumps closest confidants, a former British prime minister, a U.S. general and representatives of several Middle Eastern governments. The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led Board of Peace, whose members have not yet been named. The White House also announced the members of a new Palestinian committee to run Gazas day to day affairs, with oversight from the executive committee. The Palestinian committee met for the first time on Thursday in Cairo. The executive committees members include Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trumps Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel. Committee members also include a diplomat from Qatar, an intelligence chief from Egypt and Turkeys foreign minister all countries have been ceasefire mediators as well as a Cabinet minister for the United Arab Emirates.Turkey has a strained relationship with Israel but good relations with Hamas and could play an important role in persuading the group to yield power and disarm. Hamas has said it will dissolve its government in Gaza once the new Palestinian committee takes office, but it has shown no sign that it will dismantle its military wing or security forces. Netanyahus office didnt respond Saturday to questions about its objections regarding the executive committee.Minutes after its statement, Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in a statement backed Netanyahu and urged him to order the military to prepare to return to war. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, another far-right Netanyahu ally, said on social media that the countries that kept Hamas alive cannot be the ones that replace it.The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gazas second-largest militant group after Hamas, in a statement Saturday also expressed dissatisfaction with the makeup of the Gaza executive committee and claimed it reflected Israeli specifications.The Trump administration on Wednesday said the U.S.-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory. The last hostage, Ran Gvili in Gaza, was killed during the attack that sparked the war. On Saturday his parents, Talik and Itzik Gvili, said in a statement they were deeply concerned by moves toward the rehabilitation of Gaza while Hamas had not fulfilled its obligation to return everyone.The ceasefire in the deadliest war ever fought between Israel and Hamas took effect on Oct. 10. The first phase focused on the return of all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, along with a surge in humanitarian aid and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza.The war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took over 250 hostage. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 71,400 Palestinians, including over 460 since this ceasefire began, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.___Associated Press writer Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed.___Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

A day after general manager Chris Drury outlined in a letter to fans that his last-place franchise will embark on a "retool," Mika Zibanejad scored three goals and the New York Rangers cruised to a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Just two unbeaten teams remain in Division I women's basketball after No. 17 Texas Tech was upset 65-59 Saturday by visiting Kansas State.

Cincinnati handed No. 2 Iowa State its second consecutive loss on Saturday, a 79-70 home victory.

null

The Space Launch System and Orion capsule are being transported to the launchpad before an astronaut mission that could launch as soon as Feb. 6.

Its a game-changer.READ MORE...

Its an area we walk through several times a day, so I wanted it to feel more alive, the DIYer says.READ MORE...

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger participates in inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol in Richmond Va., Saturday Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Pool/Steve Helber)2026-01-17T05:00:10Z RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Amid a cold drizzle, Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn into office Saturday at the state Capitol as Virginias first female governor after centuries of men holding the states top office.The inauguration of Spanberger, who defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin, marks a new chapter in Virginia as Democrats pull the levers of power in state government while Republican President Donald Trump sits in the White House in neighboring Washington. The history and the gravity of this moment are not lost on me, Spanberger said in her address. I maintain an abiding sense of gratitude to those who work, generation after generation, to ensure women could be among those casting ballots, but who could only dream of a day like today.Spanberger ran on a vow to protect Virginias economy from the aggressive tactics of Trumps administration. On the trail, she spoke of the White Houses gutting the civil service, the rising costs of goods and changes impacting the states already fragile health care system. In a thinly veiled dig at the president, Spanberger said it was time for Virginians to fix what was broken. I know many of you are worried about the recklessness coming out of Washington, she said. You are worried about policies that are hurting our communities, cutting health care access, imperiling rural hospitals and driving up costs. Stay up to date with the news and the best of AP by following our WhatsApp channel. Follow on Two other Democrats were also sworn in Saturday. Ghazala F. Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to serve in statewide office in the U.S., is the new lieutenant governor. Hashmi placed her hand on a Quran as she was sworn in. Jay Jones is Virginias first Black attorney general. He was sworn into his post, notably, in the former capital of the Confederacy. After the ceremony, Hashmi and Jones stood behind Spanberger as she signed her first 10 executive orders. One order that Spanberger signed Saturday rescinds a Youngkin directive from last year instructing state law enforcement and corrections officers to assist with immigration enforcement. Local law enforcement should not be required to divert their limited resources to enforce federal civil immigration laws, she said.Spanbergers inauguration as the states 75th governor is a historic first: only men have held the post since Virginia first became a commonwealth in 1776. And no woman served as a colonial governor before then.She will be referred to with traditional formality: Madam Governor or, as some officials phrase it, her excellency. According to A Guide to Virginia Protocol and Traditions, males in the official party wear morning coats and women wear dark suits for the inauguration and many, including the new governors husband, kept to that tradition on Saturday.But as the first woman to serve as governor, Spanberger wore all white on Saturday, a possible tribute to the womens suffrage movement. She wore a gold pin on her long, white coat that said: One country. One destiny.Prominent Democrats attended the ceremony, such as New Jersey Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. U.S. Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Adam Schiff were seated in the crowd. On his 95th birthday, former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder also sat behind Spanberger and watched her inauguration.On these steps, Virginia inaugurated our 66th governor and our nations first elected African American governor, Spanberger said in her speech. Gov. L. Douglas Wilder changed what so many of our fellow citizens believed was even possible.Democrats in the statehouse have vowed to work with Spanberger to push through their bullish agenda, which includes redrawing the states congressional district map ahead of the midterm elections this year.The state Democrats picked up 13 seats in the House of Delegates a year after the partys stunning losses nationwide in the 2024 presidential election. OLIVIA DIAZ Diaz covers Virginia politics with the Associated Press. twitter mailto

This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force shows a U.S. Airman preparing an A-10 Thunderbolt II for flight from a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike. (U.S. Air Force/DVIDS via AP)2026-01-17T21:21:23Z WASHINGTON (AP) A third round of retaliatory strikes by the U.S. in Syria resulted in the death of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, who officials say had a direct tie to the Islamic State member responsible for last months ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country.U.S. Central Command announced that the strike in northwest Syria on Friday killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who they claim was an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected to the Dec. 13 attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces, Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you. It was the latest strike as part of a broader U.S. operation ordered by President Donald Trump following the ambush of the Americans to target ISIS thugs trying to regroup after the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. The Republican president has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside American troops, as the U.S. military is expanding its cooperation with security forces as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. He added at the time that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. CENTCOM said that the operation, titled Hawkeye Strike, has resulted in U.S. and partners like Jordan and Syria targeting more than 100 Islamic State infrastructure and weapons site targets.

Icicles cling to some vines along a barbed wire fence at an ornamental plant business in sub-freezing temperatures Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Plant City, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)2026-01-17T19:15:20Z HOUSTON (AP) A blast of winter weather brought snowfall and subfreezing wind chills across the Midwest and East Coast on Saturday as well as near-freezing temperatures in parts of the South, including normally balmy Florida.In northeastern Ohio, sudden bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds created whiteout conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Snow squall conditions moved into the Cleveland metro area and were expected to continue east into Pennsylvania and parts of eastern New York.Expect visibilities of less than a quarter of a mile and rapid snow accumulation on roadways. Travel will be difficult and possibly dangerous in the heavy snow, the National Weather Service warned.Below-average temperatures in the Central and Eastern U.S. were predicted for the weekend and into early next week.The next few nights are forecast to be very cold for much of the Central and Eastern United States, the Weather Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, said. Sub-zero wind chills are forecast from the Plains to the Midwest and Northeast, with the coldest wind chills expected in the Upper Midwest on Sunday night. Impactful snowfall was forecast to begin late Saturday up and down the East Coast, from the western Florida Panhandle to Maine, according to the prediction center. Snow was expected to blanket Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island by Sunday night, with some areas getting up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow. Meanwhile Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida were expected to have near-freezing temperatures at least through the weekend. Stay up to date with the news and the best of AP by following our WhatsApp channel. Follow on In Tallahassee, Florida, there could be some snowfall Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. But it should not last long. So here in Tallahassee, the likelihood of any snow accumulation is not zero, but its very low. I mean the ground will be just too warm for anything to stick and accumulate, said Kristian Oliver, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services office in Tallahassee. It would be the second time in as many years that the state has seen snow: In January 2025 up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) fell in parts of the Panhandle, part of a record-breaking snowstorm that impacted the Deep South including other normally snow-free places like Houston and New Orleans.On average we have an event like this maybe every few years. But having two back to back Id say is pretty anomalous for the area, Oliver said.Up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) was forecast for central Georgia south of Atlanta, with the heaviest snowfall expected between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Plan on slippery roads during the snow, as well as on Sunday night into Monday morning as remaining water/snow refreezes, the National Weather Services Atlanta office said.___Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://x.com/juanlozano70

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino, from left, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Paraguay's President Santiago Pena, Argentina's President Javier Milei, Uruguay's President Yamandu Orsi and Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, pose for a group photo during a meeting to sign a free trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur in Asuncion, Paraguay, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)2026-01-17T17:03:59Z ASUNCIN, Paraguay (AP) The European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries formally signed a long-sought landmark free trade agreement on Saturday, capping more than a quarter-century of torturous negotiations to strengthen commercial ties in the face of rising protectionism and trade tensions around the world.The signing ceremony in Paraguays capital, Asuncin, marks a major geopolitical victory for the EU in an age of American tariffs and surging Chinese exports, expanding the blocs foothold in a resource-rich region increasingly contested by Washington and Beijing.It also sends a message that South America keeps diverse trade and diplomatic relations even as U.S. President Donald Trump makes an aggressive push for geopolitical dominance across the Western Hemisphere.Mercosur consists of the regions two biggest economies, Argentina and Brazil, as well as Paraguay and Uruguay. Bolivia, the blocs newest member, can join the trade deal in the coming years. Venezuela has been suspended from the bloc and isnt included in the agreement. Promoted by South Americas renowned grass-fed cattle-raising countries and Europes industrial interests, the accords gradual elimination of more than 90% of tariffs creates one of the worlds largest free trade zones and makes shopping cheaper for more than 700 million consumers. Geopolitical undertonesEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the EUs executive branch, portrayed the deal as a bulwark against the disruptive policies of the Trump administration.It reflects a clear and deliberate choice: We choose fair trade over tariffs. We choose a productive long-term partnership over isolation, von der Leyen declared in an veiled rebuke to Trumps trade policies at the ceremony, which got underway as Trump announced 10% tariffs on eight European nations over their opposition to American control of Greenland. We will join forces like never before, because we believe that this is the best way to make our people and our countries prosper.Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, a long-time advocate for the EU-Mercocsur deal as negotiations lumbered through his three nonconsecutive presidential terms, hailed the agreement as symbol of global cooperation. At a time when unilateralism isolates markets and protectionism inhibits global growth, two regions that share democratic values and a commitment to multilateralism choose a different path, Lula said in an X post.Lulas decision to skip the ceremony signaled that tensions simmered between the trading blocs.European farmersBrazil, which held the rotating presidency of Mercosur last year, had been gearing up to host the signing ceremony in the countrys capital, Braslia, last month, when European countries called it off, demanding more concessions to farmers scared of the possible dumping of cheap South American agricultural imports.Lula, robbed of his spotlight, was outraged at what was widely seen in South America as the latest example of the EUs bureaucratic intrusiveness. One of the main reasons the deal took so long to clinch was Brussels attempts to manage South Americas agricultural production processes, from standards on plastic packaging to deforestation regulation. The EUs maximalist wish lists of demands from developing economies willing to sign free trade agreements are often perceived as patronizing, said Agathe Demarais, a senior policy fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations.After imposing environmental and animal welfare regulations, strict quotas on farm products like beef and sugar and staggered timelines for tariff reductions, the EU sweetened the deal even more for its farmers with a promise of hefty subsidies. That pushed agricultural powerhouse Italy across the line earlier this month.But even as the ink dried on Saturday, powerful protectionist lobbies in Europe were still hoping to prevent the agreement from clearing its one final hurdle: ratification by the European Parliament. France remains opposed to the accord, with President Emmanuel Macron worrying that farmers frustration with the EU could drive more voters to the countrys far right in the 2027 presidential election. Everything will depend on the political appetite of the European Parliament, said Joo Paulo Cavalcanti, a Brazilian lawyer specializing in international trade. That could clearly create an obstacle to approval.___Isabel DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. NAYARA BATSCHKE Batschke writes about Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay for The Associated Press, based in Santiago. Before moving to South America in 2024, she covered Southeast Asia reporting from Bangkok; Latin America from Sao Paulo, and European affairs reporting from Madrid. twitter mailto ISABEL DEBRE DeBre writes about Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay for The Associated Press, based in Buenos Aires. Before moving to South America in 2024, she covered the Middle East reporting from Jerusalem, Cairo and Dubai. twitter mailto

Protests erupted in several Greenlandic cites and in Denmark as President Trump intensified his efforts to take control of the Arctic island.

The Packers are keeping Matt LaFleur as head coach on a multiyear extension that represents a "real commitment," sources told ESPN.

The Broncos lost Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin to first-half injuries, leaving the team with only three wide receivers in Saturday's divisional round game against the Bills.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is active, as expected, for the team's divisional-round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday.

It's Day 1 at the Australian Open, and our reporters are on the ground in Melbourne bringing you all the latest news and results from the year's first Grand Slam.

Chris Holtmann seems to have DePaul moving in the right direction. And after record student attendance, the coach gave back in a very collegiate manner: free drinks.

It's Day 1 at the Australian Open, and our reporters are on the ground in Melbourne bringing you all the latest news and results from the year's first Grand Slam.

Two-time All-Star reliever Ryan Pressly, who collected 117 saves and helped the Houston Astros win the 2022 World Series, retired after a 13-year career, the 37-year-old pitcher announced Saturday.

The midterms will be a battle for control of Trumps legacy.

Trump, sinking into the quicksand of imperialism.

Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'quan McMillian (29) reacts after intercepting a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks (18) during overtime of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)2026-01-18T01:31:01Z DENVER (AP) JaQuan McMillian intercepted Josh Allens deep throw in overtime, and Bo Nix led the Broncos into position for Wil Lutzs 24-yard field goal that sent Denver to the AFC championship game with a 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.McMillians pick was Denvers fifth takeaway of the game. He wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo.The Broncos (15-3) will face either New England or Houston for the AFC title next Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High, where Denver has won 14 of its last 15 games.The Bills (13-6) were flagged for pass interference twice on Denvers final drive.Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater nailed a 50-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in regulation, knotting it up at 30-all. That came after Nixs 26-yard touchdown throw to Marvin Mims Jr. with 55 seconds left had given Denver a 30-27 lead.Allen, who hadnt turned the ball over in his previous six playoff appearances, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles on strip-sacks by Nik Bonitto. P.J. Locke also picked off Allen, ending the QBs streak of 204 consecutive completions in the postseason. InjuriesBills: Inactive for the game were two defensive starters: S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and LB Terrel Bernard (calf). ... LB Dorian Williams (neck) got hurt covering the opening kickoff and was taken via ambulance to a hospital. ... C Connor McGovern was cleared to return just before halftime after being evaluated for a concussion. ... DT Ed Oliver, who just returned to the active roster, went out late in the third quarter with a knee injury. The seven-year veteran was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 28 with a left biceps tear that required surgery. He suffered meniscus damage while rehabbing and had another procedure on Dec. 29.Broncos: WR Pat Bryant sustained a concussion on Denvers initial drive after he caught three passes for 32 yards. ... WR Troy Franklin pulled a hamstring in the second quarter. Up nextThe Bills head into another offseason wondering what itll take to get to the Super Bowl. This time, Allen didnt have Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson in the way and still couldnt get it done.The Broncos host their first AFC championship in a decade, since the No Fly Zone defense that helped them win Super Bowl 50.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL ARNIE MELENDREZ STAPLETON Melendrez Stapleton is a pro football writer for The Associated Press. He is based in Denver. twitter mailto

Another Super Bowl-less season for Buffalo? Bo Nix is Sean Payton's best draft decision ever? Let's make sense of every divisional round game.

Bo Nix and the Broncos are headed to the AFC Championship Game after an overtime win over the Bills.

In a thrilling finish, the Broncos intercepted Josh Allen's deep throw in overtime and got a game-winning 24-yard field goal that sent them into the AFC title game.

A professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, he was a key contributor to a landmark paper that laid out how the universe came to look like it does today.

When is a catch a catch and how much contact draws a penalty flag were in dispute Saturday in Denver.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will miss the remainder of the playoffs after breaking a bone in his ankle during overtime of Saturday's 33-30 win over the Bills, coach Sean Payton said.

Videos of immigration officers dragging an employee out of a store near Minneapolis, the retailers hometown, set off renewed political debate after years of boycotts.

Kevin Stefanski didn't have a great record in Cleveland, but he'll have more talent to work with in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski, 43, as their new coach, the club announced on Saturday night, after the former Cleveland Browns coach, who is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, had his second interview with the team earlier in the day.

Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, appointed new board members at three state schools, hours after she was sworn in as Virginias first female governor.

There were a few surprises, and subtle regional digs, as Democratic state parties angled for early spots on the next presidential primary calendar. The New York Times reviewed their applications.

After another playoff loss that ended a promising season for the Bills, quarterback Josh Allen told reporters that "I feel like I let my teammates down tonight," though Buffalo players and coaches disagreed after the Broncos won, 33-30, on Saturday night.

The Seahawks returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and never looked back in a dominant 41-6 victory over the hobbled 49ers.

Kenneth Walker III and Ernest Jones IV led the Seahawks past their division rival on Saturday.