Europe warily awaits Rubio at Munich Security Conference

WASHINGTON (AP) – Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a large U.S. delegation this week to the Munich Security Conference where increasingly nervous European leaders are hoping for at least a brief reprieve from President Donald Trump’s often inconsistent policies and threats that have roiled transatlantic relations and the post-World War II international order.

China issues new rules to curb auto price war after January sales drop 20%

HONG KONG (AP) – China moved on Thursday to curb a fierce price war among automakers that has caused massive losses for the industry, after passenger car sales dropped nearly 20% in January from the year before, the fastest pace in almost two years.

US allies at NATO focus on Europe as the Trump administration steps back

BRUSSELS (AP) – European allies at NATO on Thursday brushed aside concerns that the United States has stepped back from its leadership role of the world’s biggest security organization, leaving them and Canada to do the lion’s share of defending Europe. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend Thursday’s gathering of defense ministers in Brussels.

Federal authorities end the immigration crackdown in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Trump administration is ending the immigration crackdown in Minnesota that led to thousands of arrests, violent protests and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens over the past two months, border czar Tom Homan said Thursday. The operation called the Department of Homeland Security’s ” largest immigration enforcement operation ever.

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Olympics for banned helmet

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) – Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, a likely medal contender at the Milan Cortina Games, was barred from racing Thursday after refusing a last-minute plea from the International Olympic Committee to not use a helmet that honors more than 20 athletes and coaches killed since Russia invaded his country four years ago.

Democratic senators decry indictment attempt

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats took to the Senate floor Wednesday to deliver impassioned speeches denouncing the Justice Department’s attempt to indict a group of lawmakers who last year urged U.S. military members to resist “illegal orders,” framing the episode as a dire test for their chamber and the rule of law.

RFK Jr. pledged more transparency. Here's what the public doesn't know

NEW YORK (AP) – A year ago, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he wanted to rebuild trust in federal health agencies, and vowed to employ “radical transparency” to do it. But many types of health information that steadily flowed from the government for years or decades has been delayed, deleted and in some cases stopped all together.

EU legal adviser says billions in funding for Hungary were wrongly released

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) – The advocate general for European Union’s highest court on Thursday urged the court to annul a 2023 European Commission decision to release billions in funding to Hungary that had been suspended over rule-of-law and corruption concerns.

Second US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East

WASHINGTON (AP) – The world’s largest aircraft carrier has been ordered to sail from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East, a person familiar with the plans said Thursday, as U.S. President Donald Trump considers whether to take possible military action against Iran.