AP-Newswatch

New EPA guidance says spending items greater than $50,000 must get approval from DOGE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued new guidance directing senior staff to submit spending items greater than $50,000 for approval from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The guidance, issued this week, escalates the role that the new efficiency group, known as DOGE, plays in EPA operations. The guidance says that “any assistance agreement, contract or interagency agreement transaction” valued at $50,000 or greater must receive approval from an EPA DOGE team member. 

Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy supplies as US cuts its access to satellite images

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials said Russia had targeted energy facilities with dozens of missiles and drones in a nighttime attack. The barrage hobbled the country’s ability to deliver heat and light to its citizens and to power weapons factories vital to its defenses. The overnight onslaught — which also pounded residences and wounded at least 10 people — came days after the U.S. suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine to pressure it into accepting a peace deal being pushed by the Trump administration. Also on Friday, the U.S. government said it halted Ukrainian access to unclassified satellite images that had been used to help it fight back against Russia.

Trump weighs new sanctions on Russia, days after pausing military aid and intel sharing with Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is “strongly considering” levying new sanctions and tariffs on Russia for its war against Ukraine. He’s floating the possibility of applying new pressure on Moscow after the White House this week paused U.S. military aid and assistance to Kyiv. In a post on his Truth Social platform Friday, Trump said he is considering the action “based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now.” 

Trump wrote to Iran’s leader about that country’s nuclear program and expects results ‘very soon’

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a development that was not immediately confirmed by the supreme leader. Trump made the comments in an interview aired on Friday by Fox Business News. He later told reporters in the Oval Office, “Something’s going to happen very soon” and said he wanted to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported Trump’s comments, citing the broadcast. However, there was no immediate word from the office of the 85-year-old Khamenei, who has final say over all matters of state.

Homeland Security ends TSA collective bargaining agreement, in effort to dismantle union protections

WASHINGTON (AP) — A union representing Transportation Security Administration workers calls the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to end the collective bargaining agreement with them an “unprovoked attack.” The department Friday criticized the union and said poor performers were being allowed to stay on the job, hindering efforts to “keep Americans safe.” 

Stock market today: Wall Street careens up and down again as it closes a brutal week

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is careening again. The S&P 500 was edging up by 0.4% in afternoon trading, but that was only after flipping between an earlier gain of 0.6% and loss of 1.3%. It’s a fitting ending to a brutal week of scary swings dominated by worries about the U.S. economy and uncertainty about what President Donald Trump will do with tariffs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 186 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4%. Treasury yields also swung in the bond market following a slightly weaker-than-expected report on U.S. jobs, while the Federal Reserve’s chair said again it can wait to cut or raise interest rates.

90,000 Palestinians attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (AP) — Some 90,000 Palestinians have prayed at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City under tight security by Israeli forces. It was the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Thousands made their way from the West Bank into Jerusalem for the prayers after Israel allowed men over 55 and women over 50 to enter from the occupied territory for the prayers. Tensions have risen in the West Bank the past weeks amid Israeli raids on militants. But there was no immediate sign of frictions on Friday. This Ramadan takes place as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is in place in Gaza since mid-January — though its future is uncertain.

The Pope has now been in the hospital for 3 weeks battling double pneumonia. How serious is that?

LONDON (AP) — Friday marks three weeks since Pope Francis was hospitalized for bronchitis, which then led to double pneumonia. He was also treated for a complex lung infection and has since suffered several respiratory crises requiring further treatment, including machines to help him breathe. Doctors not involved in the pope’s care say the road ahead could be tricky, even if His Holiness fully recovers. They say a recovery could take months and that there could be long-term consequences, like muscle weakness and memory problems.

Investigation advances into Gene Hackman’s mysterious death, with update by New Mexico authorities

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are preparing to reveal more information about the investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The couple’s partially mummified bodies were discovered last week at their home in the hills of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hackman was 95 and Arakawa was 65. Authorities have scheduled a briefing Friday to provide an update on the case. Officials say they do not suspect foul play and testing for carbon monoxide poisoning was negative. Arakawa’s body was found with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the bathroom counter. Hackman was found in the home’s entryway. A dog that was in a kennel near Arakawa also died.

With Rantanen’s future on hold in Carolina, Senators acquire Cozens ahead of NHL trade deadline

While Mikko Rantanen’s immediate future remains on hold in Carolina, the Ottawa Senators acquired Buffalo forward Dylan Cozens to help boost their late-season playoff hopes ahead of the NHL’s trade deadline. In acquiring Cozens, a 2019 first-round draft pick, the Senators dealt center Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Eastern Conference’s last-place Sabres. Ottawa also acquired a 2026 second-round draft pick and defenseman Dennis Gilbert. Meanwhile, the focus remains on Rantanen. The Hurricanes could flip the point-a-game, top-line forward they acquired in late January to another contender or opt to keep him in the hopes of making a run at the Stanley Cup.