Mark Zuckerberg set to testify in watershed social media trial

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mark Zuckerberg will testify in an unprecedented social media trial that questions whether Meta’s platforms deliberately addict and harm children. Meta’s CEO is expected to answer tough questions about a woman who claims her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts.

UK interest rate cut expected in March after inflation drop

LONDON (AP) – Inflation in the U.K. fell to a 10-month low largely on the back of lower food and gas prices, official figures showed Wednesday, a downward move that has reinforced expectations that the Bank of England will cut interest rates in March.

Eight backcountry skiers found dead after California avalanche

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) – Search crews slogged through mountainous wilderness and deep snow looking for nine backcountry skiers who remain missing Wednesday following an avalanche near Lake Tahoe. Six others have already been rescued.

Public health, green groups sue EPA over repeal of climate protections

WASHINGTON (AP) – A coalition of health and environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, challenging the rescinding of a scientific finding that has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

Sanders and Newsom become adversaries over taxing California billionaires

LOS ANGELES (AP) – As national Democrats search for a unifying theme ahead of the fall’s midterm elections, a California proposal to levy a hefty tax on billionaires is turning some of the party’s leading figures into adversaries just when Democrats can least afford division from within.

Stephen Colbert isn't backing down from public dispute with CBS bosses

Stephen Colbert isn’t backing down in an extraordinary public dispute with his bosses at CBS over what he can air on his late-night talk show. On “The Late Show” Tuesday, Colbert said he was surprised by a statement from CBS denying that its lawyers told him he couldn’t show an interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico.

Australia blocks alleged Islamic State-linked citizen from returning from Syria

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Australia’s government on Wednesday banned an Australian with alleged ties to the Islamic State group from returning from a Syrian detention camp. The Australian is among a group of 34 women and children who had planned to fly from Damascus to Australia on Monday but were turned back by Syrian authorities.

4 dead in crashes in 'brown out' conditions on Colorado interstate

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) – Four people died in crashes involving over 30 vehicles, including six semitrailers, on an interstate in Colorado Tuesday after blowing dirt made it nearly impossible to see, authorities said.

UN Security Council to hold high-level meeting on Gaza

UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The U.N. Security Council is set to hold a high-level meeting Wednesday on the Gaza ceasefire deal and Israel’s efforts to expand control in the West Bank before world leaders head to Washington to discuss the future of the Palestinian territories at the first gathering of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.