Second Lady Usha Vance announced she and Vice President JD Vance are expecting their fourth child amid public speculation about the health of their relationship. What do you think?Show me a rocky relationship a new baby hasnt saved.Abe Ellis, Garnish ApplicatorHave they found out its religion yet?Matt LaRoche, UnemployedHell need to turn over any children fathered in office to the national archives.Lauren Baxter, Skateboard CraftsmanThe post Usha Vance Announces Pregnancy With Fourth Child appeared first on The Onion.

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Nature, Published online: 22 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00251-2The US biomedical funding agency also hints at future restrictions on research involving human embryonic stem cells.

United States forward Trinity Rodman signed a record three-year contract with the Washington Spirit to remain at the club, ending months-long uncertainty over the star's future.

Trinity Rodman will stay in the U.S. and play for the NWSL. Even as she rejected offers from England, it exposes the NWSL's problems retaining stars.

Third round singles action begins at the Australian Open on Friday with world No. 1s Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, as well as American star Coco Gauff, highlighting the day session.

Also, Jack Smith defended his decision to prosecute Trump. Heres the latest at the end of Thursday.

Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, revived a plan created during the first Trump administration to end the testing of chemicals on mammals.

The Canadian prime minister spoke after returning from the World Economic Forum where he urged middle powers to team up in resisting President Trump.

A planned U.S.-funded study of a hepatitis B vaccine drew widespread condemnation from researchers. Now the host country says it cannot proceed.

A foot of snow in New York? Two feet? Well, its complicated.

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2026-01-22T23:22:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) Former special counsel Jack Smith testified Thursday about his investigation of President Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, detailing how the defeated president sought to prey on his supporters and looked for ways to stay in power, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.It was Smiths first public hearing since he left the department last year, and the nearly five-hour session at the House Judiciary Committee delved into far-flung details from former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinsons blockbuster testimony before the Jan. 6 committee to the gag order slapped on Trump during the investigation over his efforts to intimidate witnesses.Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump is the person who caused Jan. 6, it was foreseeable to him, and that he sought to exploit the violence, Smith testified. Trump, during the hearing, was live-posting his rage against Smith suggesting the former career prosecutor should himself be prosecuted. In the room sat militant Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, and a tense encounter erupted between one audience member and police who had defended the Capitol, reminding how Jan. 6 still divides the Congress, and the country. Smith said he believes Trump officials now will do everything in their power to prosecute him, but he said he would not be intimidated by attacks from the president, adding that investigators gathered proof that Trump committed serious crimes. Im not going to pretend that didnt happen because hes threatening me, Smith said.Once Trump won reelection in 2024, Smith abandoned the cases against him, adhering to Justice Department protocol against prosecuting a sitting president. Trump faced a four-count indictment in the conspiracy to overthrow the election and, separately, Smiths team indicted Trump over holding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. Throughout the session, Republicans highlighted new developments as they seek to sow doubt on Smiths now defunct-case against Trump, while Democrats warned that Trumps allies are trying to rewrite history after the defeated president sent his supporters to the Capitol to fight for his failed election against Democrat Joe Biden.Far from done, Smith is expected to be called before the Senate, which is planning its own hearing, and he has been unable to discuss the documents case that lawmakers want to probe. Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon halted the release of a report by Smiths team on that case with an injunction that is set to expire next month, but lawyers for Trump have asked to leave it permanently under seal. One star witness under scrutiny, but Smith says there are so many moreRepublicans have fixated for years on countering the gripping testimony that former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson gave to the Jan. 6 committee, trying to prove her wrong. The young aide recounted having been told that day about Trump lunging for the steering wheel in the presidential limousine as he demanded to join supporters at the Capitol. Its a story that others said did not happen.Mr. Smith, is Cassidy Hutchinson a liar? asked Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the committee chairman.Smith explained that Hutchinsons testimony was second hand, and as his team interviewed other witnesses, and the Secret Service agent in the car at the time did not confirm what happened.Jordan pressed whether Smith would have brought Hutchinson forward to testify anyway, and Smith said he had not made any final determinations.Smith said, We had a large choice of witnesses.That says it all, Jordan declared. You were still considering putting her on the witness stand because you had to get President Trump.In fact, Smith said, one of the central challenges of the case was to present it in a concise way, because we did have so many witnesses state officials, Trump campaign workers and advisers to testify.Some of the most powerful witnesses were witnesses who, in fact, were fellow Republicans who had voted for Donald Trump, who had campaigned for him and who wanted him to win the election, Smith said. Smith defends his work, and subpoenas for lawmaker phone recordsA career prosecutor who worked for Republican and Democratic administrations, and worked on a range of cases, including war crimes overseas, Smith has presented himself as a straight arrow whose work stands for itself.I am not a politician and I have no partisan loyalties, Smith said. Throughout my public service, my approach has always been the same follow the facts and the law without fear or favor.Republicans sought to portray Smith as a hard-charging prosecutor who had to be reined in by higher-ups as he pursued Trump ahead of the former presidents possible run for a second term.They singled out the collecting of phone toll records of members of Congress, including the House speaker at the time, former GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy. During one particularly sharp exchange, Republican Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas said Smith used nondisclosure agreements to hide subpoenas from the subjects, and the public. Smith explained that collecting the phone records was a common practice and investigators wanted to understand the scope of the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election.My office didnt spy on anyone, he said.Smith said he sought the nondisclosure agreements because of witness intimidation in the case. He cited Trumps comments at the time, particularly the warning that he would be coming after those who cross him.I had grave concerns about obstruction of justice in this investigation, specifically with regards to Donald Trump, he said.Smith said its not incumbent on a prosecutor to wait until someone gets killed before they move for an order to protect the proceedings.Threats to democracy and to Smith himself linger One Democrat, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, asked how he would describe the toll on American democracy if the nation does not hold a president accountable for fraudulent actions, particularly in elections.If we do not hold the most powerful people in our society to the same standards, the rule of law, it can be catastrophic, he said. It can endanger our election process, it can endanger election workers and ultimately, our democracy.The attack on this Capitol on Jan. 6, Smith said, echoing an appeals court ruling, it was an attack on the structure of our democracy.Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado asked Smith if he was aware that Trump was live-posting social media comments during the hearing.No, Smith said.The congressman began reading what the president had posted.Jack Smith is a deranged animal, who shouldnt be allowed to practice Law, Neguse read. Hopefully the Attorney General is looking at what hes done.Smith looked on. We have a word for this, the congressman said. Its called weaponization. Its called corruption.Democrats repeatedly asked if Smith had ever been approached by Bidens Justice Department to investigate or prosecute Trump. Smith said he had not.In his own words, Smith lays out the case Smith presented his case against Trump, publicly and in previous private testimony, in ways that have not wavered.President Trump was charged because the evidence established that he willfully broke the law, Smith said in opening remarks.Rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power. Smith said, If asked whether to prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so.No one should be above the law in this country.Still, the special counsel said he stopped short of filing a charge of insurrection against Trump. That was pursued in the House impeachment of Trump in the aftermath of Jan. 6, though the president was acquitted of the sole count of incitement of an insurrection by the Senate.He said the case had proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity, and remained confident had it gone to trial. Asked about Trumps decision to pardon some 1,500 people convicted in the Jan. 6 attack, including those who assaulted police officers, Smith had almost no answer.I dont get it, he said. I never will.___Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report. ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Richer covers the Justice Department and federal courts. She joined The AP in 2013 and is based in Washington. twitter ERIC TUCKER Tucker covers national security in Washington for The Associated Press, with a focus on the FBI and Justice Department. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00241-4Andrew Robinson reviews five of the best science picks.

The Chinese parent company for the popular video app said it had struck a deal with a group of non-Chinese investors to create a new American TikTok to avoid a ban in the United States.

The National Weather Service warned of considerable disruption to transportation and daily life from Sunday into Monday.

The details of an emergency call made by President Trumps youngest son to the London police last year emerged during a trial this week.

Advice abounds on how, when and whom to date. What are your best rules for navigating early romance?

Nature, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00220-9Officials from the US Department of Health and Human Services, which funded the controversial study, say that it will proceed as planned.

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who play rival hockey players who develop a decade-long secret relationship, will be part of the torch relay.

An all-white jury convicted Tommy Lee Walker of rape and murder, relying on inadmissible evidence and a coerced confession that he immediately recanted, county officials said.

The Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga had a strong start Thursday against the Mavs before his night was cut short because of a twisted ankle and knee hyperextension at the end of the first half.

Several big companies and investment firms are part of the new American TikTok. Many have ties to one another and President Trump.

The Trump administration said it would ease its immigration operation in Minnesota in exchange for broader access to inmates. Local leaders say they already cooperate significantly.

The move comes as ICE seeks to deport more people charged with crimes, sometimes before their cases are resolved.

The agency said that expanding the restrictions and making them permanent were urgent steps for avoiding another crash.

The idea that Greenland is essential to the United States has returned with a vengeance in the Trump era.

A TikTok sign is displayed on top of their building in Culver City, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)2026-01-23T01:43:05Z TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States 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 new TikTok U.S. joint venture. The new version will operate under defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurances for U.S. users, the company said in a statement Thursday. American TikTok users can continue using the same app.President Donald Trump praised the deal in a Truth Social post, thanking Chinas President Xi specifically for working with us and, ultimately, approving the Deal. Trump add that he hopes that long into the future I will be remembered by those who use and love TikTok. Adam Presser, who previously worked as TikToks head of operations and trust and safety, will lead the new venture as its CEO. He will work alongside a seven-member, majority-American board of directors that includes TikToks CEO Shou Chew. The deal marks the end of years of uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the United States. After wide bipartisan majorities in Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed a law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if it did not find a new owner in the place of Chinas ByteDance, the platform was set to go dark on the laws January 2025 deadline. For a several hours, it did. But on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep it running while his administration sought an agreement for the sale of the company. In addition to an emphasis on data protection, with U.S. user data being stored locally in a system run by Oracle, the joint venture will also focus on TikToks algorithm. The content recommendation formula, which feeds users specific videos tailored to their preferences and interests, will be retrained, tested and updated on U.S. user data, the company said in its announcement. The algorithm has been a central issue in the security debate over TikTok. China previously maintained the algorithm must remain under Chinese control by law. But the U.S. regulation passed with bipartisan support said any divestment of TikTok must mean the platform cuts ties specifically the algorithm with ByteDance. Under the terms of this deal, ByteDance would license the algorithm to the U.S. entity for retraining.The law prohibits any cooperation with respect to the operation of a content recommendation algorithm between ByteDance and a new potential American ownership group, so it is unclear how ByteDances continued involvement in this arrangement will play out.Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX are the three managing investors, who each hold a 15% share. Other investors include the investment firm of Michael Dell, the billionaire founder of Dell Technologies. ByteDance retains 19.9% of the joint venture. The Chinese government has not publicly commented on TikToks announcement. KAITLYN HUAMANI Huamani covers social media and internet culture for The Associated Press. mailto

Aaliyah Chavez scored 15 of her 26 points in overtime, and No. 16 Oklahoma stunned No. 2 South Carolina 94-82 on Thursday night.

The popular short form video app has a new corporate structure in the United States, which could result in some changes for the 200 million Americans who use TikTok.

At two congressional hearings, lawmakers slammed executives of major companies, saying they were failing to rein in the cost of medical care for consumers.

The Ukrainian leaders speech in Davos, Switzerland, was one of his most scathing critiques of his closest allies.

In the first year of his second term, President Trump has made sweeping efforts to influence the arts and media in America.

Florida coach Todd Golden said Thursday that he doesn't agree that Charles Bediako should be able to play for Alabama but doesn't think it will matter if he does when the teams play Feb. 1.

Documents unsealed by a federal judge on Thursday include dossiers that investigators prepared on pro-Palestinian student activists before they were targeted for deportation.

More than 1,400 pubs declared a ban on Labour lawmakers in response to a plan to raise business rates significantly. The move got attention, and results.

The exhibit memorialized nine people enslaved by George Washington. The Park Service said it was being removed in accordance with a directive from President Trump.

The New York Times ran the image posted by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, as well as the one posted by the White House through an A.I. detection system. It concluded that the White Houses version showed signs of manipulation.

Third round singles action begins at the Australian Open on Friday with world No. 1s Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, as well as American star Coco Gauff, highlighting the day session.

Europe has a chance to step out of Americas shadow.

The right is ascendant in Latin America. How long will it last?

The president appeared to be lashing out in response to stark, high-profile remarks by Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada that rejected Mr. Trumps efforts to dismantle the international order.

Leaders from across the European Union held an emergency summit in Brussels to discuss Greenland and, more broadly, their fragile relationship with America.

Federal agents stand guard, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)2026-01-23T06:03:30Z MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A vast network of labor unions, progressive organizations and clergy has been urging Minnesotans to stay away from work, school and stores Friday to protest against immigration enforcement in the state.We really, really want I.C.E. to leave Minnesota, and theyre not going to leave Minnesota unless theres a ton of pressure on them, said Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities, one of the more than 100 groups that is mobilizing. They shouldnt be roaming any streets in our country just the way they are now.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 streets. On Thursday, a prominent civil rights attorney and at least two other people involved in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a Sunday service at a Minnesota church were arrested. Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis to meet with ICE officials. He said repeatedly that he believed the fraught situation in Minneapolis would improve upon better cooperation from state and local officials, and he encouraged protests to remain peaceful. Stay up to date with the news and the best of AP by following our WhatsApp channel. Follow on Fridays mobilization was planned as the largest coordinated protest action to date, including a march in downtown Minneapolis despite dangerously cold temperatures that the National Weather Service forecast in the single to double digits below zero (-20 to -30 degrees Celsius). While organizations have asked participants to prepare for the cold, Havelin compared the presence of immigration enforcement to just such winter weather warnings.Minnesotans understand that when were in a snow emergency we all have to respond and it makes us do things differently, she said. And whats happening with ICE in our community, in our state, means that we cant respond as business as usual. More than a hundred small businesses in the Twin Cities, largely coffee shops and restaurants, said they would close in solidarity or donate part of their profits, organizers said.Ethnic businesses especially have lost sales during enforcement surges as both workers and customers stay away fearing they would be detained. But some are deciding to close anyway, preferring to take a stance in solidarity rather than the unscheduled interruption of having agents apprehend staff, said Luis Argueta of Unidos MN, a civil rights group. Many schools were planning to be closed for a variety of reasons. The University of Minnesota, which has about 50,000 students enrolled, said there would be no in-person classes because of the extreme cold warning, and the St. Paul public school district said there would no classes for the same reason. Minneapolis Public Schools were also scheduled to be closed Friday for a teacher record keeping day. Clergy planned to join the march as well as hold prayer services and fasting, according to a delegation of representatives of faith traditions ranging from Buddhist to Jewish, Lutheran to Muslim. Bishop Dwayne Royster, leader of the progressive organization Faith in Action, arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday from Washington, D.C.We want ICE out of Minnesota, he said. We want them out of all the cities around the country where theyre exercising extreme overreach.Royster said at least 50 of his networks faith-based organizers from around the U.S. were joining in the protest.About 10 faith leaders were planning to travel to Minnesota from Los Angeles while others from the same group planned a solidarity rally in California, said one of the organizers there.It was a very harrowing experience, said the Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez of the large enforcement operation in Los Angeles last year. We believe God is on the side of migrants.___Associated Press journalists Jack Brook and Sarah Raza in Minneapolis, and Tiffany Stanley in Washington contributed. GIOVANNA DELLORTO DellOrto is a multimedia reporter with The APs Global Religion team. She has reported across the United States, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, covering events and issues ranging from the conclave to the Israel-Hamas war to the Olympics, from immigration to the intersection of Indigenous spirituality and the environment.

ADDS IDENTIFICATION: Garrison Gibson is arrested by federal immigration officers Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)2026-01-23T06:02:13Z SAN DIEGO (AP) Since coming to the United States 30 years ago from Mexico, Fernando Perez said U.S. immigration officers have stopped by his home numerous times, but he has never once answered the door. There are rules and I know them, said Perez, speaking in a mix of English and Spanish in a Home Depot parking lot where he has routinely sought work as a day laborer from contractors and people renovating their homes. Over the decades it has become common knowledge in immigrant communities across the country to not open the door for federal immigration officers unless they show a warrant signed by a judge. The Supreme Court has long held that the Constitutions Fourth Amendment against unreasonable search and seizure prohibits the governments forced entry into someones home.As a result, immigration officers have been forced to adapt by making arrests in public, which often requires long hours of surveillance outside homes as they wait to nab someone walking to the street. But an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press states immigration officers can forcibly enter peoples homes without a judges warrant, marking a dramatic shift that could upend the legal advice given to immigrants for decades. The shift comes as President Donald Trumps administration dramatically expands immigration arrests nationwide under a mass deportation campaign that is already reshaping enforcement tactics in cities such as Minneapolis. Stay up to date with the news and the best of AP by following our WhatsApp channel. Follow on Perez said officers in the past would knock, wait and then move on. But if they are going to start coming into my home, where I am paying the rent they are not paying the rent thats the last straw, he said.Most immigration arrests have been carried out under administrative warrants, documents issued by immigration authorities that authorize an arrest. Traditionally they do not permit officers to enter private spaces without consent. Only warrants signed by independent judges have carried that authority. It is unclear how broadly the memos directive has been applied in immigration enforcement operations. AP witnessed ICE officers ramming through the front door of a Liberian mans home in Minneapolis on Jan. 11 with only an administrative warrant, wearing heavy tactical gear and with their rifles drawn.Democratic U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut is demanding congressional hearings on the ICE memo and calling on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for an explanation.Every American should be terrified by this secret ICE policy authorizing its agents to kick down your door and storm into your home, Blumenthal said in a news release.Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the court in 1980 that the physical entry of the home is the chief evil against which the wording of the Fourth Amendment is directed. The waiting gameFor years, people have managed to evade arrest by skipping work and outings for days until agents move on. A senior ICE official once likened the surveillance experience to watching paint dry.In July, the AP observed as immigration officers saw a Russian man enter his home in Irvine, California. They gave up when he didnt leave after three hours. They waited longer for a Mexican man who never emerged from his house in nearby El Monte, though they caught up with him two days later at a convenience store.ICE has tried what the agency called knock and talks to get people to answer the door by casually asking residents to step outside to answer a few questions, according to a 2020 lawsuit in which a federal judge found the practice illegal. In one case, they told a woman they were probation officers looking for her brother.More often, immigration officers simply play the waiting game a pace that is not conducive to Trump fulfilling his promise of mass deportations. Not answering the door is a key part of know-your-rights trainingsSince shortly after ICE was created in 2003, advocacy groups and immigrant-friendly state and local governments have diligently spread the word that people should not open their doors for immigration officers unless they can show a warrant signed by a judge. Theyve held know-your-rights trainings for communities, passed out flyers and posted videos on social media to teach immigrants how to protect themselves. Ahilan Arulanantham, co-faculty director of the UCLA Law Schools Center for Immigration Law and Policy who has held such trainings, called the memo quite disturbing.Know-your-rights trainings have included that information for decades and even people who are only minimally aware of their rights learn that because its sort of the first and foundational elements of Fourth Amendment law, he said. They know to ask officers to slide the warrant under the door so they can see if it was signed by a judge or is an administrative warrant.In the predominantly Latino city of Santa Ana, where ICE agents were seen roaming the streets in recent days, several residents who did not want to give their names said they were well aware of that right. Jesus Delgado, a father of three, said the local elementary school sent out information to parents about what to do if ICE comes to your door. They send us bulletins, to not answer the door, to not answer any questions, he said.Another man said he learned that from TikTok.Trumps border czar Tom Homan has been highly critical of groups providing the information.They call it know-your-rights, he said last year on CNN. I call it how to escape arrest.Experts warn barging into homes could put all at riskThe memo says immigration officers can forcibly enter homes and arrest immigrants using solely a warrant signed by an immigration official if they have a final order of removal.Officers must first knock on the door and share who they are and why theyre at the residence, and they can only go into the home after 6 a.m. and before 10 p.m. The people inside must be given a reasonable chance to act lawfully. But if that doesnt work, the memo says, they can use force to go in.Law enforcement and legal experts warn if more immigration officers barge into homes, everyone could be put at greater risk. With stand-your-ground laws, people in many states have the right to shoot intruders, which could lead to officers being shot, or agents opening fire on someone coming at them with a baseball bat or other item they grab in the heat of a moment, Arulanantham said. ICE records often contain wrong addresses, which could further lead to confrontations and agents busting into homes of U.S. citizens.Arulanantham said agents aggressive tactics have been building since the Supreme Court lifted a lower courts order in September that barred federal agents in the Los Angeles area from indiscriminately stopping people because of their race, language, job or location.This would just be another step down that path, he said. Obviously it will be more significant because it suggests youre not safe even in your own house._____Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat in San Diego and Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed to this report. Taxin reported from Santa Ana, Calif. JULIE WATSON Watson covers immigration, US-Mexico border issues and the environment, and helps direct coverage of California and Nevada for The Associated Press. Shes reported from Mexico, Central and South America, and was a 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist. twitter AMY TAXIN Taxin writes about food, farming and water in California for The Associated Press. She covers coastal issues and general news from Californias Orange County. twitter mailto

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greet U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff, centre left, Jared Kushner, second right, and Josh Gruenbaum, the head of the Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration, at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin, in Moscow, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)2026-01-23T03:49:02Z Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the settlement in Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trumps envoys during marathon overnight talks, and the Kremlin insisted that the territorial issue needs to be resolved to reach a peace deal.The Kremlin meeting, which lasted past 3 a.m. Friday, came hours after Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized his European allies Thursday for what he cast as their slow and fragmented response to Russias nearly four-year full-scale invasion that he said has left Ukraine at the mercy of Putin amid an ongoing U.S. push for a peace settlement.Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who participated in Putins meeting with Trumps envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, said it was reaffirmed that reaching a long-term settlement cant be expected without solving the territorial issue, a reference to Moscows demand that Kyiv withdraws its troops from the areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but never fully captured. Zelenskyy said after meeting Thursday with Trump in Davos, Switzerland, that the future status of land in eastern Ukraine currently occupied by Russia is unresolved but that peace proposals are nearly ready. On a positive note, Ushakov told reporters that it was agreed that Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. officials will hold talks on security issues related to a prospective peace deal in the United Arab Emirates on Friday. Ushakov noted that Trumps envoys informed Putin about Trumps meeting with Zelenskyy, as well as earlier discussions they had with Ukrainian and European officials. The Kremlin talks that he described as frank, constructive and fruitful began when it was just before midnight in Moscow and lasted nearly four hours.Witkoff and Kushner were joined by Josh Gruenbaum, the head of the Federal Acquisition Service who serves as a senior adviser on Trumps Board of Peace that Russia has been invited to join. While Russia is considering the invitation, Putin reaffirmed his offer to send $1 billion to the board from Russian assets frozen in the U.S. to help fund rebuilding Gaza.Asked about Putins proposal to use Russias frozen assets for the contribution to the Board of Peace, Trump said he thought it was fine. If hes using his money, thats great, he said Trumps meeting with ZelenskyyZelenskyy met with Trump behind closed doors for about an hour at the World Economic Forum in Davos, describing the meeting as productive and meaningful.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington from Davos, Trump said his meeting with Zelenskyy went well, adding that both Putin and Zelenskyy want to reach a deal and that everyones making concessions to try to end the war.He said the sticking points in talks remain the same as theyve been during talks held during the past six or seven months, noting boundaries was a key issue. The main hold-up is the same things thats been holding it up for the last year, he said.Russias bigger army has managed to capture about 20% of Ukraine since hostilities began in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of 2022. But the battlefield gains along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line have been costly for Moscow, and the Russian economy is feeling the consequences of the war and international sanctions.Ukraine is short of money and, despite significantly boosting its own arms manufacturing, still needs Western weaponry. It is also short-handed on the front line. Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions, and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians. Zelenskyy blasts European alliesAddressing the World Economic Forum after meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy listed a litany of grievances and criticisms of Europe.European countries, which see their own future defense at stake in the war on its eastern flank, have provided financial, military and humanitarian support for Kyiv, but not all members of the 27-nation European Union are helping. Ukraine also has been frustrated by political disagreements within Europe over how to deal with Russia, as well as the blocs at times slow-moving responses. Europe looks lost, Zelenskyy said in his speech, urging the continent to become a global force. He contrasted Europes response with Washingtons bold steps in Venezuela and Iran.The former comic actor referred to the movie Groundhog Day, in which the main character must relive the same day over and over again.Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words: Europe needs to know how to defend itself. A year has passed. And nothing has changed. We are still in a situation where I must say the same words again, Zelenskyy said.He chided Europe for being slow to act on key decisions, spending too little on defense, failing to stop Russias shadow fleet of oil tankers that are breaking international sanctions, and balking at using its frozen assets in Europe to finance Ukraine, among other things. More talks in the UAEZelenskyy said two days of trilateral meetings involving the U.S., Ukraine and Russia are due to begin Friday in the United Arab Emirates.Russians have to be ready for compromises because, you know, everybody has to be ready, not only Ukraine, and this is important for us, he said.Ushakov, the Kremlin aide, confirmed that a Russian delegation will take part in Fridays meeting in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. He added that during the Kremlin meeting the U.S. voiced hope that it will open prospects for advancing on the entire range of issues linked to ending the conflict and reaching a peaceful settlement.Ushakov said that the Russian delegation will be led by the chief of military intelligence, Adm. Igor Kostyukov. He added that Putins envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, will hold separate talks on economic issues with Witkoff in Abu Dhabi.___Hrabchuk reported from Kyiv, Ukraine and Manenkov from Davos, Switzerland. Josh Boak on Air Force One, Meg Kinnard in Houston and Ali Swenson from Washington contributed to this report.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Mourners carry the body of Anas Ghoneim, one of the three Palestinian journalists who were killed in an Israeli strike on an Egyptian committee's vehicle, during his funeral in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)2026-01-22T14:54:35Z CAIRO (AP) Desperate Palestinians at a garbage dump in a Gaza neighborhood dug with their bare hands for plastic items to burn to fend off 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 Trumps Board of Peace that will oversee Gaza.At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump claimed that record levels of humanitarian aid had entered Gaza since the October start of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. His son-in law, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff triumphantly touted the devastated territorys development potential. Palestinians doubt that Board of Peace will end misery In Gaza, months into the truce, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still languish in displacement camps, sheltering in tents and war-ravaged buildings, unable to protect them from the chilly nighttime temperatures. Despite the ceasefire, there are still recurring deadly strikes. Israeli tank shelling on Thursday killed four Palestinians east of Gaza City, according to Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of the Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.Some in Gaza expressed skepticism about Trumps Board of Peace and whether it will change their grim lives. This committee includes Israelis. I dont understand, as citizens, how can we understand this situation? Rami Ghalban, who was displaced from Khan Younis, said Thursday. The Israelis that inflicted suffering upon us. But grappling with whats ahead seemed futile for others.We are in a position where there are no alternatives, said Fathi Abu Sultan. Our situation is miserable.Aid flow into Gaza has significantly increased since the ceasefire, but residents say fuel and firewood are in short supply. Prices are exorbitant and searching for firewood is dangerous. Two 13-year-old boys were shot and killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday as they tried to collect firewood, hospital officials said. United Nations partners managing displacement camps say they now are able to provide support to about 40% of the existing 970 sites across the Gaza Strip because of capacity and funding constraints, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Thursday.They continue to distribute tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothes, cooking utensils as well as solar lights, Dujarric said.Survival in Gaza means digging through garbage For Sanaa Salah, who lives in a tent with her husband and six kids, starting a fire is a critical daily chore so they can cook and keep warm. Her family has barely has enough clothes to keep them warm. She said the family cannot afford to buy firewood or gas, and that they are aware of the dangers of burning plastic but have no other choice. Life is very hard, she said as her family members threw plastic and paper into a fire to keep it burning. We cannot even have a cup of tea.This is our life, she said. We do not sleep at night from the cold. Firewood is too expensive, said Aziz Akel. His family has no income and they cant pay the 7 or 8 shekels (about $2.5) it would cost. My house is gone and my kids were wounded, he said. His daughter, Lina Akel, said he leaves the familys tent early each morning to look for plastic in the garbage to burn the basics of life.Deaths of 3 Palestinian journalists adds to grim toll Dozens of Palestinians gathered Thursday to mourn three Palestinian journalists including a frequent contributor to Agence France-Presse killed the day before when an Israeli strike hit their vehicle, according to Gaza health officials. The Israeli military said the strike came after it spotted suspects who were operating a drone that posed a threat to its troops.The journalists were filming near a displacement camp in central Gaza, managed by an Egyptian government committee, said Mohammed Mansour, the committees spokesperson. One of them, Abdul Raouf Shaat, a regular contributor to AFP, was not on assignment for the news agency at the time, it said. A statement from AFP demanded a full investigation. Mourners wept over the journalists bodies, which were in body bags and had press vests placed on their chests.News organizations rely largely on Palestinian journalists and residents in Gaza to show what is happening on the ground because Israel has barred international journalists from entering to cover the war, aside from rare guided tours. More than 470 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the ceasefire began in October, according to Gazas health ministry. At least 77 have been killed by Israeli gunfire near a ceasefire line that splits the territory between Israeli-held areas and most of Gazas Palestinian population, the ministry says.The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Opening of key border crossing is one next steps in GazaWhile Trump tries to build support for his Board of Peace by mapping out a future for Gaza, more details about whats ahead emerged Thursday. Ali Shaath, the head of a new, future technocratic government in Gaza, said the Rafah border crossing will open in both directions next week on the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel said in early December it would open the Gaza side of the crossing but has yet to do so.Reopening the crossing would make it easier for Palestinians in Gaza to seek medical treatment or visit family in Egypt. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to send $1 billion to the Board of Peace for humanitarian purposes in Gaza if the U.S. unblocks the money. He met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow.We believe that only forming and proper functioning of the Palestinian state can lead to a final settlement of the Middle East conflict, Putin said.___Frankel reported from Jerusalem. JULIA FRANKEL Frankel, based in Jerusalem, has reported from across Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Her reporting focuses on war, human rights, displacement and criminal justice. twitter mailto

A Nashville Department of Transportation truck applies salt brine to a roadway Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)2026-01-23T06:00:58Z DALLAS (AP) Texas and Oklahoma braced for heavy snow and ice that could make roadways treacherous Friday in what forecasters predict will be some of the initial effects of a huge, dayslong winter storm threatening catastrophic damage, extensive power outages and bitterly cold weather to the eastern two-thirds of the U.S.In the Houston area, a utility company had 3,300 employees ready to work the winter storm, while Oklahomas Department of Transportation pretreated highways and interstates with salt brine. Freezing rain and sleet were also expected in New Mexico as early as Friday. The massive storm system is expected to bring a crippling ice storm from Texas through parts of the South, potentially around a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Oklahoma through Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, and then a final punch of bitterly cold air that could drop wind chills to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 46 Celsius) in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. Forecasters are warning the damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival a hurricane. About 160 million people were under winter storm or cold weather watches or warnings and in many places both. Cold air streaming down from Canada caused Chicago Public Schools and Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa to cancel classes Friday. Wind chills predicted to be as low as minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 37 Celsius) could cause frostbite within 10 minutes, making it too dangerous to walk to school or wait for the bus. Stay up to date with the news and the best of AP by following our WhatsApp channel. Follow on The cold punch coming after means it will take a while to thaw out, an especially dangerous prospect in places where ice and snow weighs down tree branches and power lines and cuts electricity, perhaps for days. Roads and sidewalks could remain icy well into next week. Ice can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and branches and make them more susceptible to snapping, especially in windy weather. Freezing temperatures are expected all the way to Florida, forecasters said. A severe cold snap five years ago took down much of the power grid in Texas, leaving millions without power for days and resulting in hundreds of deaths. Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that wont happen again, saying the power system has never been stronger.Winter storms can be notoriously tricky to forecast, with forecasters saying the places with the worst weather cant be pinned down until the event starts.Governors in Georgia and Mississippi have declared states of emergency. In Huntsville, Alabama, employees from Jomos Power Equipment, Parts & Service Inc. sold dozens of generators within about a day and ordered an emergency shipment to meet customer demand.Id say 95% of the calls were generator-related or either service or Do you have any generators in stock, Bryan Hill, the stores manager, said Thursday.Lindsay Sylvester in Toney, Alabama, stocked up early in the week on bread and other supplies at her home and sent her son, who is in college, bread, gloves, candles and hand warmers.Sylvester said she went to the store early in the week because she knew supplies would be depleted close to the weekend. A couple of people I heard talking about they had gone to Walmart and there was no milk, no bread, she said. All the necessities were gone.As a precaution, North Carolinas largest public school system prepared for potentially several days out of physical classrooms next week, telling its teachers to create three days of assignments accessible online or through paper copies.Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger told residents to prepare for days without power or the ability to leave their neighborhoods. And in a nod to the politics of the time, the newly inaugurated Democrat said people should not be scared to call 911 in an emergency just because of the immigration crackdowns going on in places like Minnesota.Arkansas Department of Transportation spokesperson Dave Parker pleaded for people to be patient and stay home if possible once the storm hits.By Thursday, airlines had canceled hundreds of flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday, including at airports in Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma. At a busy grocery store near downtown Dallas, Kennedi Mallard and Frank Green loaded two shopping carts full of supplies into their car. They said there were some bare shelves inside.No water, no eggs, no butter, no ground meat, Green said.___Megnien reported from Atlanta and Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press writers around the country contributed to this report. JEFFREY COLLINS Collins covers South Carolina from Columbia for The Associated Press. He has been with the AP since 2000. twitter mailto

At this point, its pretty clear world leaders make deals with Trump the way kids do on the playground, Meyers said of the president on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the beginning of a Cabinet Planning Forum at the Citadelle in Quebec City, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot /The Canadian Press via AP)2026-01-22T20:27:54Z TORONTO (AP) 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 said Canada can show the world that the future doesnt have to be autocratic after returning from Davos where he gave a speech that garnered widespread attention. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One after leaving the World Economic Forum in Davos for Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One after leaving the World Economic Forum in Davos for Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In Davos at the World Economic Forum, Carney condemned coercion by great powers on smaller countries without mentioning Trumps name. Upon returning home to Canada, Carney responded to Trump directly by referencing Trumps remarks in Davos. Canada lives because of the United States, Trump said. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements. Canada doesnt live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian, Carney responded Thursday. Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Carney said Canada and the U.S. have built a remarkable partnership in the areas of economy, security and rich cultural exchange, but said we are masters in our home, this is our own country, its our future, the choice is up to us.Trump later revoked his invitation to Carney to join his Board of Peace. Dear Prime Minister Carney: Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canadas joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time, Trump posted on social media. Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney departs Zurich, Switzerland on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, after attending the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney departs Zurich, Switzerland on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, after attending the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Carney left Davos before Trump inaugurated his Board of Peace to lead efforts at maintaining a ceasefire in Israels war with Hamas. Trump has talked about making Canada the 51st state and posted this week an altered image of a map of the U.S. that includes Canada, Greenland, Venezuela and Cuba as part of its territory. President Donald Trump applauses during a signing ceremony on his Board of Peace initiative at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) President Donald Trump applauses during a signing ceremony on his Board of Peace initiative at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Trump said in Davos that Canada gets many freebies from the U.S. and should be grateful. He said Carneys Davos speech showed he wasnt so grateful.Trump said Canada wants to participate in Golden Dome a multibillion dollar missile defense system that he says will be operational before his term ends in 2029.In a speech before a cabinet retreat in Quebec City, Carney said staying true to Canadas values is key to maintaining its sovereignty.We can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isnt destined to be warped toward authoritarianism and exclusion; it can still bend toward progress and justice, Carney said. Carney said Canada must be a beacon an example to a world at sea. Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the beginning of a Cabinet Planning Forum at the Citadelle in Quebec City, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot /The Canadian Press via AP) Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the beginning of a Cabinet Planning Forum at the Citadelle in Quebec City, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot /The Canadian Press via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Carney said in a time of rising populism and ethnic nationalism, Canada can show how diversity is a strength, not a weakness. There are billions of people who aspire to what we have built: a pluralistic society that works, Carney said.He said Canada delivers shared prosperity and has a democracy that chooses to protect the vulnerable against the powerful.Its a great country for everyone. It is the greatest country in the world to be a regular person. You dont have to be born rich, or to a landed family. You dont have to be a certain color or worship a certain god, he said.U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick earlier complained about Carneys speech at the World Economic Forum.Give me a break, Lutnick said on Bloomberg TV. They have the second best deal in the world and all I got to do is listen to this guy whine and complain.Canada has been shielded from the worst impacts of Trumps tariffs by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, known as USMCA, but the agreement is up for a mandatory review this year. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, told the forum that multiple leaders in the United States sent him transcripts of Carneys speech. I respect what Carney did because he had courage of convictions. He stood up and I think we need to stand up in America and call this out with clarity, Newsom said. We can lose our republic as we know it. Our country can become unrecognizable.Newsom said that fact that Carney came back from China with a deal to introduce low, cost high quality electric vehicles into Canada, not made from Michigan, but from overseas shows how reckless Trumps foreign policy is. Its a remarkable thing to break down 80-plus years of alliances, he said.