AP-Newswatch

Trump will host Jordan’s King Abdullah II as he escalates pressure on his Gaza resettlement plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will host Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House as he escalates pressure on the Arab nation to take in refugees from Gaza as part of his audacious plan to remake the Middle East. Tuesday’s visit comes at a perilous moment for the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, as Hamas has said it is pausing future releases of hostages and as Trump calls for Israel to resume fighting if all those remaining in captivity are not freed by this weekend. Just last week, Trump proposed the U.S. take control of Gaza and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Middle East latest: Hamas brushes off Trump and insists all parties must be committed to ceasefire

Hamas has brushed off President Donald Trump’s threat that “all hell” will break out if it does not release the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Saturday. A Hamas spokesman said Tuesday that the dozens of hostages would only be returned if all parties remain committed to a ceasefire deal reached last month. Hamas has threatened to delay the next release of three Israeli hostages, due Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, including by not allowing a surge of tents and shelters into Gaza. Hamas and Israel have carried out five swaps of hostages and prisoners in the first phase of the ceasefire. The war could resume in March if no agreement is reached on the second phase.

Israel’s fatal shooting of a pregnant Palestinian woman raises fears in the West Bank

KAFR AL-LABAD, West Bank (AP) — Palestinians say the fatal shooting of a pregnant 23-year-old in a refugee camp in the northern West Bank signals a worrying trend toward more lethal, warlike tactics by Israel in the occupied territory. Israeli military vehicles surrounded the camp last week as part of a larger crackdown on Palestinian militants across the northern West Bank that has escalated since the ceasefire began between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced the expansion of the military’s operations in the area, saying it was meant to prevent Hamas’ ally Iran from establishing a foothold in the territory. The Israeli army issued a short statement after the killing of the 23-year-old woman, saying it had referred it to the military police for criminal investigation.

JD Vance rails against ‘excessive regulation’ of AI at Paris summit in rebuke to European efforts

PARIS (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance has told a Paris summit on artificial intelligence that the Trump administration will “ensure that AI systems developed in America are free from ideological bias,” and that the U.S. would “never restrict our citizens’ right to free speech.” He also used his speech on Tuesday to world leaders, tech bosses and researchers to repeatedly push back against “excessive regulation” of the rapidly growing AI industry, which he said would kill off the “transformative industry.” Vance also said the Trump administration is troubled that some foreign governments are considering “tightening the screws” on U.S. tech companies with international footprints.

EU vows countermeasures to US tariffs; bourbon, jeans, peanut butter, motorcycles easy targets

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed that U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum “will not go unanswered” and will trigger tough countermeasures from the 27-nation bloc. “The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers,” von der Leyen said Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum the previous day.

Trump once again slaps taxes on foreign steel, aluminum, a move that proved costly in his first term

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is hitting foreign steel and aluminum with a 25% tax. If that sounds familiar, it’s because he did pretty much the same thing during his first term. Trump’s original metals tariffs gave America’s struggling steel and aluminum producers some relief from intense global competition, allowing them to charge higher prices. In anticipation of the new tariffs, shares of steel and aluminum producers climbed Monday. But the tariffs took a toll last time, too, damaging U.S. relations with allies like Canada and Mexico and driving up costs for “downstream’’ U.S. producers that buy steel and aluminum and use them to manufacture goods.

Ukraine offers rare earth deal to Trump for more US military aid

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has offered to strike a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump for continued American military aid in exchange for developing Ukraine’s mineral industry. It could provide a valuable source of the rare earth elements that are essential for many kinds of technology. Trump said that he wanted such a deal earlier this month. It was initially proposed last fall by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of his plan to strengthen Kyiv’s hand in future negotiations with Moscow.

How Elon Musk’s crusade against government could benefit Tesla

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk has long railed against the U.S. government, saying numerous investigations and safety programs have stymied Tesla, his electric car company, and its efforts to create fleets of robotaxis and other self-driving automobiles. Now, Musk’s close relationship with President Donald Trump means many of those headaches could vanish. On the potential chopping block: crash investigations into Tesla’s partially automated vehicles; a Justice Department criminal probe examining whether Musk and Tesla overstated their cars’ self-driving capabilities; and a government mandate to report crash data on vehicles using technology like Tesla’s Autopilot. The consequences of such actions could prove dire, say safety advocates who credit the investigations and recalls with saving lives.

What to know about proposals to ban abortion pills and punish women who seek abortion

Lawmakers in some states are pushing measures to crack down on abortion pills or penalize women who obtain abortions. Some of the efforts appear to be stalled this year. It’s too early to tell whether others will gain momentum. Several states have banned abortion, but only Louisiana so far has specifically classified mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled dangerous substances. The move can increase penalties for people who possess them without prescriptions. No state has passed a law to allow charges against a woman who obtains an abortion. One scholar says introducing legislation can normalize the debates on ideas previously seen as extreme.

Virginia governor declares storm emergency as snow and ice bear down on mid-Atlantic states

A wintry mess is heading to the mid-Atlantic region with forecasts of heavy snow and ice accumulations prompting warnings of potential power outages. The National Weather Service says travel will become treacherous Tuesday and Wednesday in much of Virginia and West Virginia. Virginia’s governor has declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm. Winter storm warnings extend from Kentucky to southern New Jersey. Forecasters say significant ice is possible in Virginia’s Roanoke Valley. Appalachian Power says it has requested crews from neighboring utilities to assist with potential trouble spots. A separate storm system is set to drop heavy snow Wednesday from Kansas and Missouri to the Great Lakes.