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Tesla Granted More Time in US Investigation Into Its Self-Driving Tech
Federal auto safety regulators have granted a five-week extension for Tesla to respond to allegations that its vehicles have broken traffic laws while operating in what the electric automaker calls “full self-driving” mode. Tesla now has until Feb. 23 to answer the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s request for information. The original deadline was Jan. 19, 2025. The preliminary investigation of Tesla’s full-self driving feature was opened in early October of last year after the NHTSA said it had collected dozens of reports of the cars running red lights or driving on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Judge Rules Feds in Minneapolis Immigration Operation Can’t Detain or Tear Gas Peaceful Protesters
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A U.S. judge has ruled federal officers in Minneapolis-area immigration operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities, including when these people are observing the agents. U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez ruled Friday in a case filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists. Thousands of people have been observing the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since early December. Government attorneys have argued the officers have been acting within their legal authority to enforce immigration laws and protect themselves.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Justice Department Investigating Whether Minnesota’s Walz and Frey Impeded Immigration Enforcement
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department is investigating whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have impeded federal immigration enforcement through public statements they have made, according to two people familiar with the matter. The investigation focused on potential violation of a conspiracy statute, the people said. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a pending investigation by name. Walz and Frey both issued statements calling it an attempt to intimidate them. The investigation comes during a weekslong immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul that the Department of Homeland Security has called its largest recent immigration enforcement operation.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Venezuelan Opposition Leader is Confident About Return of Democracy but Says Little of Her Plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says she’s confident of her country’s eventual transition to democracy after the U.S. military ousted former President Nicolás Maduro. But when pressed, she took pains to avoid giving details on her plans to return home or any timetable for elections in Venezuela. Her remarks on Friday reflect how President Donald Trump’s endorsement of a Maduro loyalist to lead Venezuela for now has frozen out the nation’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning crusader for democracy. Still, Machado has looked to get closer to Trump, presenting her Nobel medal to him a day earlier at the White House.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Cuba Launches Mass Demonstration to Decry US Attack on Venezuela and Demand Maduro’s Release
HAVANA (AP) — Tens of thousands of Cubans have gathered in Havana to protest the killing of 32 Cuban officers in Venezuela. The demonstration took place Friday at the “José Martí Anti-Imperialist” plaza across from the U.S. Embassy. The crowd demanded the release of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was arrested by the U.S. on Jan. 3. Cuba’s Foreign Ministry described the protest as a response to threats against peace and sovereignty. President Miguel Díaz-Canel attended the event. The protest follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent demands for Cuba to negotiate with him amid tightened sanctions and economic struggles.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Supreme Court Will Hear Appeal by Maker of Popular Roundup Weedkiller to Block Thousands of Lawsuits
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from agrochemical manufacturer Bayer to block thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people its popular weedkiller could cause cancer. The justices said Friday they’ll consider whether the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the Roundup weedkiller without a cancer warning should rule out state court claims. The justices will hear a case from Missouri, where a man developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after spraying Roundup on a community garden. The Trump administration has weighed in on Bayer’s behalf, reversing the Biden administration’s position. Some studies associate Roundup’s key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer. The EPA has said it’s unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Chinese EV’s Are Making Inroads in North America
DETROIT (AP) — China’s rapid development of electric vehicles had competitors concerned even before Canada this week agreed to cut its tariffs on EVs in exchange for concessions on Canadian farm products. Experts say an easier path into Canada could be a big boost for Chinese carmakers, whose EVs are loaded with tech and more affordable where they’re not confronted by tariffs.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Stocks Edge a Bit Below Their Latest Records on Wall Street
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks edged a bit lower on Wall Street as the first week of corporate earnings season closes out with markets trading near record levels. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% Friday after a day of wavering between gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains for several big tech companies helped offset weakness elsewhere. A handful of regional U.S. banks reported their earnings following mixed reports from their larger peers. Pittsburgh’s PNC jumped after it beat Wall Street’s fourth-quarter targets, but Regions Financial fell after reporting results that missed forecasts.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Legal Questions Swirl Around FDA’s New Expedited Drug Program, Including Who Should Sign Off
WASHINGTON (AP) — A plan to slash Food and Drug Administration drug review times is raising alarms at the public health agency that’s been rocked by recent layoffs and resignations. Agency staffers and outside experts worry the FDA commissioner’s voucher program runs afoul of legal, ethical and scientific standards used to review new medicines. FDA staffers tell The Associated Press the effort is taking decisions away from career scientists and placing them in the hands of political appointees. The program awards vouchers to drugs favored by President Donald Trump’s administration, promising reviews in as little as one month, not six to 10 months. Health and Human Services says the voucher program prioritizes “gold standard scientific review.”
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Are Trump’s Supporters Getting What They Want From His Second Term? Here’s What a New Poll Shows
NEW YORK (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll finds nearly a year into President Donald Trump’s second term, his work on the economy hasn’t lived up to the expectations of many people in his own party. But Republicans remain overwhelmingly supportive of Trump’s leadership on immigration — even if some don’t like his tactics. Overall, Republicans strongly support Trump: About 8 in 10 adults who identify as Republican approve of Trump’s job performance, compared with 40% of adults overall. But on the economy, the poll reveals signs of weakness regarding Trump’s core campaign promise to reduce costs. Just 16% of Republicans say Trump has helped “a lot” on the cost of living in his second term.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)