Trump, Carney faceoff in Oval Office leaves gaping differences on tariffs, 51st state

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faced off in the Oval Office and showed no signs of retreating from their gaping differences in an ongoing trade war that has shattered decades of trust between the two countries. The two kept it civil on Tuesday, but as for Trump’s calls to make Canada the 51st state, Carney insisted his nation was “not for sale” and Trump shot back, “time will tell.” Asked by a reporter if there was anything Carney could tell him to lift his tariffs of as much as 25% on Canada, Trump bluntly said: “No.” The U.S. president added for emphasis, “Just the way it is.”

Supreme Court allows Trump ban on transgender members of the military to take effect, for now

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce a ban on transgender people in the military, while legal challenges proceed. The high court acted Tuesday in the dispute over a policy that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service. The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold. Just after beginning his second term in January, Trump moved aggressively to roll back the rights of transgender people. Among the Republican president’s actions was an executive order that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and is harmful to military readiness.

India fires missiles into Pakistani territory in what Islamabad calls 'act of war'

ISLAMABAD (AP) — India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory in several locations early Wednesday, killing at least 19 people including a child, in what Pakistan’s leader called an act of war. India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants linked to last month’s massacre of tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Pakistan claimed it shot down several Indian fighter jets in retaliation as two planes fell onto villages in India-controlled Kashmir. At least three civilians were also killed in the region by Pakistani shelling, the Indian army said in a statement. Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbors since the attack, which India has blamed Pakistan for backing. Islamabad has denied the accusation.

The Latest: India fires missiles across the border with Pakistan

India has fired missiles across the border into the Pakistani-controlled territory of Kashmir, and Pakistan says the strikes early Wednesday have caused civilian casualties. India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants and has moved to punish Pakistan after accusing it of backing an attack in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir last month. Islamabad denies that claim. India says retaliatory Pakistani shelling also killed civilians Wednesday. Tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals are at their highest point since 2019, when they came close to war after a suicide car bombing in Kashmir. The region has been split between India and Pakistan since 1949 and is claimed by both in its entirety.

Top US officials will meet with Chinese delegation in Switzerland in first major talks of trade war

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top U.S. officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland. The administration on Tuesday announced the first major talks between the two nations since President Donald Trump sparked a trade war with stiff tariffs on imports. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with their counterparts in Geneva in the most-senior known conversations between the two countries in months. The Chinese Commerce Ministry confirmed the meeting, saying they agreed to have contact “after fully considering global expectations, Chinese interests and calls from U.S. businesses and consumers.” It comes amid growing U.S. market worry over the impact of the tariffs.

Conservative leader Merz overcomes historic defeat to become Germany’s chancellor

BERLIN (AP) — Conservative leader Friedrich Merz succeeded in becoming Germany’s next chancellor. His election on Tuesday drew applause and a palpable sense of relief in the parliament chamber after a historic loss in the first round of voting threatened the new government’s promises of stability. No other postwar candidate for German chancellor has failed to win on the first ballot. The stunning but short-lived defeat sent shock waves throughout Europe. As the most populous member state of the 27-nation European Union and the continent’s biggest economy, Germany is Europe’s diplomatic and economic heavyweight. Many had hoped Merz’s ascension would help the continent navigate the war in Ukraine and the confrontational trade policy of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Cardinals wrap up pre-conclave meetings still uncertain about who should follow Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals have wrapped up their pre-conclave meetings before they enter the conclave to elect a new pope. They are trying to identify someone who could follow Pope Francis and make the 2,000-year-old Catholic Church credible and relevant today, especially to young people. The cardinals held their last day of pre-conclave meetings Tuesday morning during which Francis’ fisherman’s ring and his official seal were destroyed in one of the final formal rites of the transition of his pontificate to the next.

Homeland Security chief says travelers with no REAL ID can fly for now, but with likely extra steps

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of Homeland Security says travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny. Kristi Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She says security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday. She says those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step." But they will still be allowed to fly.

Jury selection in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial expected to be completed Wednesday

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury selection in the sex trafficking trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is expected to wrap up on Wednesday. Lawyers agreed at the end of a second day of questioning prospective jurors on Tuesday that the jury can be picked after another day of work. Lawyers for the 55-year-old entertainer and prosecutors have worked for two days to assemble 35 individuals for a pool of 45 people from whom the jury will be picked. Combs has pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with leading a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in various crimes, including kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking.

Trump plans to announce the US will call the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf, officials tell AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to announce next week that the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia. That's according to two U.S. officials who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Trump is traveling to Saudi Arabia next week. Arab nations have pushed for a change to the geographic name of the body of water off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran has maintained its historic ties to the gulf. The White House and National Security Council didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment.