NEW YORK (AP) - The U.S. stock market ticked higher, led by its most influential stock, Nvidia. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Wednesday after paring a gain that briefly reached 1%. The Dow Jones added 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.8%. Nvidia was the strongest force after Meta Platforms announced a deal to use millions of its chips in AI data centers.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Rescue crews on skis and snowcats battled blizzard conditions in an effort to reach six backcountry skiers still alive but trapped Tuesday after an avalanche high in the rugged Northern California mountains that left 10 other skiers missing as the danger of more slides remained high.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that he is discussing potential arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping is raising concerns in Taipei as the island democracy relies on U.S. backing in the face of China ‘s territorial claims. On Monday, Trump told journalists he is discussing the potential sales with the Chinese leader.

For eight years, President Barack Obama’s aides marveled that no amount of mockery, dismissal or scandal could make Donald Trump go away.

MOSCOW (AP) – The Cuban foreign minister visited Moscow on Wednesday as the island faces blackouts and severe fuel shortages worsened by a U.S oil embargo.  Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and was set to meet later in the day with President Vladimir Putin.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – NASA began another practice launch countdown Tuesday for its first moonshot in decades with astronauts after making repairs to fix dangerous fuel leaks that already have bumped the flight into March.

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – A Guatemalan driver fleeing a Georgia traffic stop by federal immigration officers crashed into another vehicle, killing a teacher who was headed to work, authorities and school officials said.