Senate works into the night to reopen Homeland Security Department

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate is working through the night as Republicans are trying to pass funding for two immigration enforcement agencies over Democratic objections and reopen the Department of Homeland Security.

US stocks rally to records, but Brent oil also tops $100

NEW YORK (AP) - The U.S. stock market set more records but caution still hung over Wall Street. The S&P 500 rallied 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite set its own record after climbing 1.6%. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil briefly topped $102.

California's woes at center of debate for governor

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A televised debate among six leading candidates for California governor Wednesday underscored sharp partisan divides on issues from homelessness to taxes, while the Democrats sought to distinguish themselves from each other in a chaotic race with no clear leader.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates

BANGKOK (AP) – China’s role as an unofficial mediator in the latest war in the Middle East is drawing attention across the world as it seeks to project the image of being a responsible global power while U.S. actions are straining its long-standing alliances.

Anthropic seeks to debunk Pentagon's claims about its control

WASHINGTON (AP) – Anthropic on Wednesday told an appeals court that it can’t manipulate its artificial intelligence tool Claude once it is deployed in classified Pentagon military networks – an assertion aimed at debunking the Trump administration’s attempt to brand the rapidly growing technology company as a supply chain risk.

Pope urges US and Iran to return to peace talks, condemns capital punishment

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) – Pope Leo XIV urged the United States and Iran to return to talks to end the war Thursday and condemned capital punishment, in a wide-ranging press conference en route home from his trip to Africa.

The Gates Foundation is reviewing its Epstein ties

NEW YORK (AP) – The Gates Foundation is reviewing its ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the global health funder confirmed Wednesday, as its only remaining founder faces mounting scrutiny over his appearances in Justice Department documents related to its investigation of the disgraced financier.

Editorials from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

US health officials nix publication of study on COVID vaccine effectiveness

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials stopped the publication of a study on whether the COVID-19 vaccine was keeping adults from becoming sick enough to have to go to the hospital.