IOC says ICE and Epstein files are 'sad' distractions from Winter Olympics

MILAN (AP) – Two years before the Los Angeles Olympics, the United States is already dominating the narrative in the run-up to the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Games. International Olympic Committee officials, including President Kirsty Coventry, couldn’t avoid questions relating to ICE and the Jeffrey Epstein files at a news conference in Milan on Sunday.

Costa Ricans vote on outgoing president's conservative populist program

CARTAGO, Costa Rica (AP) – Costa Rican voters choose Sunday between continuing the policies of outgoing conservative populist Rodrigo Chaves by electing his selected successor or giving a new chance to parties seeking to shed a self-serving, establishment image.

Pakistan kills 145 'Indian-backed terrorists' in Balochistan after deadly attacks

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) – Pakistani police and military forces killed over a 100 “Indian-backed terrorists ” in counterterrorism operations across the restive southwestern province of Balochistan over the past 40 hours, government officials said on Sunday, a day after coordinated suicide and gun attacks killed 33 people, mostly civilians.

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

Jan. 19 – The Washington Post says Congress has dropped the ball regarding oversight of ICE, DHS. Geraldo Lunas Campos died at a Texas detention center on Jan. 3 while pleading for air as guards choked him, according to a fellow detainee. The local medical examiner’s office is considering classifying his death as a homicide, The Post reports.

Sudan's war-torn capital sees second commercial flight land since conflict began

CAIRO (AP) – A commercial flight landed in the Sudanese capital Sunday for the second time since a devastating war broke out in the northeastern African country nearly three years ago. The reopening of the Khartoum International Airport was a crucial step in the government’s efforts to normalize life in the capital, which has been wrecked during the ongoing war between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

India's budget boosts infrastructure spending while vowing fiscal discipline

NEW DELHI (AP) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government presented its annual budget to Parliament on Sunday, focusing on sustaining the country’s economic growth despite volatile financial markets and trade uncertainty.

Trump's failed bid to elevate an Arab American ally shows cracks

WASHINGTON (AP) – When Donald Trump won his comeback campaign, he credited the mayor of a small Detroit suburb with helping him make inroads with Michigan’s Arab American community. As a reward, Trump nominated Amer Ghalib to serve as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait.

Mexico's Sheinbaum pledges to send humanitarian aid to Cuba

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Sunday she plans to send humanitarian aid to Cuba this week, including food and other humanitarian aid. Sheinbaum’s comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he asked the Mexican leader to suspend oil shipments to the Caribbean island.

Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts center for two years starting in July for construction, his latest proposal to upturn the storied venue since returning to the White House.