Second US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, AP source says, as Iran tensions high
WASHINGTON (AP) — The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been ordered to sail from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East. That's according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity. It comes as U.S. President Donald Trump considers whether to take possible military action against Iran. The move, first reported by The New York Times, will put two carriers and their accompanying warships in the region as Trump increases pressure on Iran to make a deal over its nuclear program.
Logistics giant DP World replaces chairman named in Jeffrey Epstein documents
CAIRO (AP) — Dubai has replaced the longtime head of DP World after emails linked him to Jeffrey Epstein. Dubai’s Media Office said Tueday that Essa Kazim is taking over as chairman. It also named Yuvraj Narayan as group CEO. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem previously held both roles. DP World runs Dubai’s Jebel Ali port and operates terminals worldwide. The change follows moves by finance groups in Canada and the UK, who paused future ventures with DP World. Newly released Justice Department documents show years of friendly messages between bin Sulayem and Epstein. The emails do not tie bin Sulayem to Epstein’s crimes.
High-profile resignations and replacements as Epstein case fallout spreads
The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein case is spreading around the world. Politicians, diplomats, business leaders and royals have seen reputations tarnished, investigations launched and jobs lost. It comes after a trove of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents revealed their ties to the U.S. financier and convicted sex offender who died behind bars in 2019. In some of the most recent developments, one of the world's largest logistics companies replaced its chairman, and the top lawyer for Goldman Sachs said she will resign.
What to know about the Homeland Security shutdown starting this weekend
Another shutdown for parts of the federal government is expected this weekend. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire Saturday as lawmakers debate new restrictions on President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. The White House has been negotiating with the Democrats, but the two sides failed to reach a deal by the deadline. Unlike the record 43-day shutdown last fall, the closures will be narrowly confined, as only agencies that are part of Homeland Security will be affected. Still some federal workers could begin to miss paychecks and services like airport screening could be affected if the shutdown drags on for weeks.
New astronauts launch to the International Space Station after medical evacuation
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The replacements for the astronauts involved in NASA's first medical evacuation are on their way to the International Space Station. SpaceX launched the fresh crew on Friday from Florida. The four astronauts are representing the U.S., France and Russia and should reach the orbiting lab Saturday. They'll fill the vacancies left by their evacuated colleagues. NASA had to put spacewalks on hold and defer other duties after an unidentified astronaut experienced a serious medical issue in January. The entire crew returned to Earth more than a month early, leaving three astronauts in orbit.
Prosecutors to dismiss charges against men accused of assaulting ICE officer in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Minneapolis have moved to drop felony assault charges against two Venezuelan men, including one shot in the leg by an immigration officer, after new evidence emerged undercutting the government’s version of events. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota said in a filing Thursday that newly discovered evidence in the case against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis is materially inconsistent with the allegations against them. The government’s motion asked the judge for dismissal with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be resubmitted. The pending dismissal comes after a string of high-profile shootings involving federal immigration officers have called claims made by federal officers into question.
Trump's push for Greenland reveals a political weak spot, new AP-NORC poll finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll finds that Trump's recent push to seize control of Greenland is divisive even within his own party. The survey finds that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults disapprove of how Trump is handling the issue of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. That’s higher than the share who dislike how he’s handling foreign policy generally, suggesting that Trump’s Greenland approach has created a particular weak spot for the administration. Even Republicans aren’t thrilled. About half don’t like his attempt to turn the icebound landmass into American territory, something that Trump has insisted is critical for national security in the Arctic.
Experts say screening tips in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is 'tremendous' and critical work
More than 4,000 calls came into an Arizona sheriff's department within 24 hours after the release of videos of a masked person on Nancy Guthrie’s porch. Many will be worthless. Others could have merit. Experts say one thing’s certain: The tips can’t be ignored. Images of a mysterious person have been the most significant clues shared with the public during Guthrie’s disappearance in the Tucson area. She is the mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Roberto Villaseñor, a former Tucson police chief, says processing tips is a tremendous amount of work. The FBI says it has collected more than 13,000 tips since Feb. 1., and the sheriff's office says it's received at least 18,000.
Inflation measure falls to nearly five-year low as gas prices fall and housing costs cool
WASHINGTON (AP) — A key measure of inflation fell to nearly a five-year low last month as apartment rental price growth slowed and gas prices fell, offering some relief to Americans still grappling with the sharp increase in costs of the past five years. Friday’s report suggests inflation could be cooling, but it comes after the cost of food, gas, and apartment rents have soared since the pandemic, with consumer prices about 25% higher than they were five years ago. The increase in such a broad range of costs has become a high-profile political issue under the rubric of “affordability.”
Norway’s Klaebo makes history on skis, ties all-time Winter Olympics gold record
TESERO, Italy (AP) — Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has won an eighth gold medal in cross-country skiing at the Milan Cortina Olympics, tying an all‑time Winter Games record. The 29‑year‑old claimed victory Friday in the men’s 10 kilometer interval‑start race, for his third gold at the 2026 games. He ties the record shared by three other Norwegian athletes, all retired: Marit Bjoergen and Bjoern Daehlie in cross-country skiing and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen in the biathlon.
