Human-caused climate change increased the likelihood and intensity of the hot, dry and windy conditions that fanned the flames of the recent devastating Southern California wildfires, a scientific study found.

But the myriad of causes that go into the still smoldering fires are complex, so the level of global warming's fingerprints on weeks of burning appears relatively small compared to previous studies of killer heat waves, floods and droughts by the international team at World Weather Attribution. Tuesday's report, too rapid for peer review yet, found global warming boosted the likelihood of high fire weather conditions in this month's fires by 35% and its intensity by 6%.

Once-in-a-decade super strong Santa Ana winds, a dry autumn that followed two very wet years that caused rapid growth in flammable chaparral and grass, hot weather, dry air and vulnerable houses in fire-prone areas all were factors in the fast-moving fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 29 people, study authors said. But the climate attribution team was only able to quantify issues that dealt with the fire weather index, which are the meteorological conditions that add up to fire danger.

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The fire weather index which includes measurements of past rainfall, humidity and wind speed is where the team looked and found markers of climate change that they could quantify.

The team used observations of past weather and computer simulations that compared what happened this month to a what-if world without the 1.3 degrees Celsius of human-caused climate change that Earth has had since industrial times. That allowed them to come up with a calculation for warming's contribution to the disaster. It's a method that the National Academy of Sciences says is valid. Even though these rapid studies aren't yet peer-reviewed, nearly all of them are published later in peer-reviewed journals without significant changes, said World Weather Attribution co-lead scientist Friederike Otto.

"The number (35%) doesn't sound like much" because, unlike dozens of its past studies, the team looked at a small area and a complex meteorological measurement in the fire weather index that would generally mean there would be large uncertainties, said Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London. But in this case the climate change fingerprint is big enough that it stands out, she said.

Those conditions are part of what makes California attractive to 25 million residents, said study co-author John Abatzoglou, a climate and fire scientist at the University of California Merced.

RELATED STORY | It's not really the right time for nasty California fires. What are the factors that changed that?

Southern California has "some of the best climate, best weather on the planet except when you get a combination of conditions that occurred here," Abatzoglou said. "You get the trifecta of dry windy and warm conditions. Those three things, in combination with dry fuels and ignitions, are the perfect recipe for fire disasters."

Abatzoglou said it's like a bunch of switches dryness, fuels, high temperatures, wind and ignition that all need to be turned on "for conditions to really take off." Think of it as switches for a light bulb to illuminate "and so you can think about the artificial warming due to human-caused climate change making the light brighter," added co-author Park Williams, a UCLA fire and climate scientist.

The study also found California's dry season has increased by 23 days and the lack of rain in October, November and December was more than twice as likely now than in pre-industrial times, but because of limitations on the data, researchers couldn't statistically pinpoint these to both climate change and the specific fires this month, Otto said. But she said "the rains are decreasing that is because of human-induced climate change."

Then add in strong winds to whip and spread flames.

RELATED STORY | World on pace for significantly more warming without immediate climate action, report warns

Mike Flannigan, a Canadian fire scientist who wasn't part of the research, said one key to him is the fire season extending longer and "increasing the chance a fire will start during peak Santa Ana winds."

The research couldn't specifically quantify how much, if any, climate change affected the Santa Ana winds.

Craig Clements, a climate scientist and director of wildfire study at San Jose State University, said the rapid study makes sense and fits with past research about other fires.

"It's hard to attribute climate change to every fire event as many do," said Clements, who wasn't part of the research. "If we can state with confidence that the drought is caused by climate change then that is the fingerprint."

If the world warms another 1.3 degrees Celsius from now, the study said people should expect the type of weather conditions that led to these fires to happen another 35% more often.

Otto said this is not an issue of politics, but science.

"It's not something where you can say that this was because California did something very wrong. They did a lot of things right. They did some things that they could do better," Otto said. "But what makes these ever more dangerous, these fires, and what is something that the government of California alone can definitely not do anything about is human-induced climate change. And drill, baby drill will make this much, much worse."

The Justice Department on Wednesday abandoned all criminal proceedings against the two co-defendants of President Donald Trump in the Florida classified documents case, wiping out any legal peril the pair could have faced.

Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira were charged with conspiring with Trump to obstruct an FBI investigation into the hoarding of classified documents that the Republican took with him when he left the White House after his first term.

RELATED STORY | Trump's personal assistant Walt Nauta pleads not guilty at arraignment

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, in July, saying that the prosecutor who brought it, special counsel Jack Smith, had been illegally appointed by the Justice Department. Smiths team ended its case against Trump after his November election win, citing longstanding department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be indicted.

But its appeal of the dismissal of charges against Nauta and De Olivera remained pending. On Wednesday, prosecutors informed the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it had withdrawn the appeal, formally ending the case.

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The United States of America moves to voluntarily dismiss its appeal with prejudice, prosecutors wrote. The government has conferred with counsel for Appellees Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who do not object to the voluntary dismissal.

The Justice Department had previously committed to not making public Smiths report on the classified documents investigation as long as proceedings remained ongoing against Nauta and De Oliveira. But the Trump administration Justice Department is widely expected to keep the report permanently under wraps.

Firecrackers popped, incense was offered at temples and dancers and drummers paraded Wednesday in Asia and farther afield as millions around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year.

From Beijing to Havana, the holiday known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea is a major festival celebrated in many countries. Wednesday marked the start of the Year of the Snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

Throngs of people in down jackets filled a Beijing park for a "temple fair" on a sunny but chilly day. Some rang bells and tossed coins into containers in the shape of gold bars for good luck, while others ate traditional snacks from food stalls and took photos with a person dressed up as the God of Wealth.

The Lunar New Year is a time to wish for good luck and prosperity in the coming year for oneself and others.

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"The past year was a very busy one for me, because I had to take care of both my kid and my work," said Beijing resident Jiang Hecang. "In the Year of the Snake, I wish my kid will grow healthily and my work can remain stable. Then I can be happy enough."

In Malaysia, the crackling of firecrackers greeted the new year outside Guan Di temple in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals.

Ethnic Chinese held incense sticks in front of them and bowed several times inside the temple before sticking the incense into elaborate gold-colored pots, the smoke rising from the burning tips.

Hundreds of people lined up on the eve of the Lunar New Year at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple in Hong Kong in a bid to be among the first to put incense sticks in the stands in front of the temple's main hall at 11 p.m.

"I wish my family will be blessed. I hope my business will run well. I pray for my country and wish people peace. I hope this coming year is a better year," said Ming So, who visits the temple annually for the late-night ritual.

Many Chinese who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the world's biggest annual movement of humanity. The exodus turns Beijing, China's capital, into a bit of a ghost town, with many shops closed and normally crowded roads and subways emptied.

Traditionally, Chinese have a family dinner at home on New Year's Eve. On the Lunar New Year, many visit temples to pray and attend temple fairs to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets.

"I bring my children here to experience the atmosphere because the New Year atmosphere ... is fading," Beijing resident Wang Xinxin said at a temple fair at Ditan Park, the former Temple of Earth in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

"Children like mine don't have much idea what New Year was like in Beijing before, but here we can still see some elements of it," Wang said.

The government has curtailed non-official celebrations, with major cities outlawing the noisy firecrackers that once reverberated around Beijing and left some blocks enshrouded in smoke.

Many Chinese take advantage of the extended holiday to travel in the country and abroad. Ctrip, an online booking agency that operates Trip.com, said the most popular overseas destinations this year are Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Macao and Vietnam.

In Moscow, Russians cheered, waved and took smartphone photos of drummers, costumed dancers and long dragon and snake figures held aloft in a colorful procession that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival on Tuesday night.

The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened ties since 2022, in part to push back against what they see as U.S. dominance of the world order.

Visitors shouted "Happy New Year" in Russian and expressed delight at being able to experience Chinese food and culture in Moscow, including folk performances and booths selling snacks and artwork.

Cuba's small Chinese community celebrated the Lunar New Year on Tuesday night with a parade of glowing lanterns and dragons winding their way through the narrow streets of Chinatown.

The island was once home to one of the largest and oldest Chinese communities in the Americas. Now, a much smaller community celebrates major holidays with a Cuban twist, blending rum and cigars with traditional Chinese cuisine.

The White House on Tuesday began offering buyouts worth seven months of salary to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by Feb. 6 part of President Donald Trump's unprecedented overhaul of the U.S. government.

A memo from the Office of Personnel Management, the government's human resources agency, lists four directives that it says Trump is mandating for the federal workforce, including that most workers return to their offices full-time.

It includes a deferred resignation letter for federal employees wishing to participate.

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If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program, the email reads. This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6.

It adds, If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30.

The Trump administration has estimated the buyout plan could save the government $100 billion.

The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union of federal employees in the country, released a statement after the memo was circulated:

"Purging the federal government of dedicated career civil servants will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government," it read. "This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration's goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Hamas militants on Saturday released four female Israeli soldiers they held captive for 15 months in a planned exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in Israel.

It's the second exchange since a fragile ceasefire took effect last weekend, halting the fighting in Gaza for at least six weeks during which dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed while more aid flows in.

RELATED STORY | Israel-Hamas agree to ceasefire deal to pause war in Gaza and return hostages

In return for the four soldiers, Israel should free 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees, including 120 militants serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks. The first exchange took place Sunday with the release of three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The ministry doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians. The war was sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people.

Israel says it will not allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza until Arbel Yehoud, one of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas, is released.

RELATED STORY | State Department freezes new funding for nearly all US aid programs worldwide

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said Yehoud was supposed to have been released Saturday as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The four Israeli soldiers, Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19, were captured in Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.

The State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.

The order threatened a quick halt to many of the billions of dollars in U.S.-funded projects globally to support health, education, development, job training, anti-corruption, security assistance and other efforts.

The U.S. provides more foreign aid globally than any other country, budgeting about $60 billion in 2023, or about 1% of the U.S. budget.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's order, delivered in a cable sent to U.S. embassies worldwide, specifically exempted emergency food programs, such as those helping to feed millions in a widening famine in warring Sudan.

The cable spells out the execution of the aid-freezing executive order President Donald Trump signed on Monday.

But Friday's order especially disappointed humanitarian officials by not including specific exemptions for life-saving health programs, such as clinics and immunization programs.

A globally acclaimed anti-HIV program, the President's Emergency Relief Plan for AIDS Relief, was among those apparently included in the spending freeze, slated to last at least three months. Known as PEPFAR, the program is credited with saving 25 million lives, including those of 5.5 million children, since it was started by Republican President George W. Bush.

Some aid projects began receiving their first stop-work orders under the freeze Friday afternoon.

Some leading aid organizations also were interpreting the directive as an immediate stop-work order for U.S.-funded aid work globally, a former senior U.S. Agency for International Development official said. Many would likely cease operations immediately so as not to incur more costs, the official said. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

RELATED STORY | Trump targets oil to pressure Putin to end war in Ukraine

Suspending funding could have life or death consequences for children and families around the world, said Abby Maxman, head of Oxfam America.

By suspending foreign development assistance, the Trump administration is threatening the lives and futures of communities in crisis, and abandoning the United States long-held bipartisan approach to foreign assistance which supports people based on need, regardless of politics, Maxman said in a statement.

At the United Nations, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said: These are bilateral decisions but nonetheless we expect those nations who have the capability to generously fund development assistance.

While Rubio's order exempted military assistance to allies Israel and Egypt from the freeze, there was no indication of a similar waiver to allow vital U.S. military assistance to Ukraine through.

The Biden administration pushed military aid to Ukraine out the door before leaving office because of doubts about whether Trump would continue it. But there is still about $3.85 billion in congressionally authorized funding for any future arms shipments to Ukraine and it is now up to Trump to decide whether or not to spend it.

The sweeping freeze begins enforcement of a pledge from Trump and other Republicans to crackdown on U.S. aid programs. Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast, the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, promised this week that Republicans would question every dollar and every diplomat in the State Department's budget to ensure it met their standards for strictly necessary.

The freeze was necessary to ensure that "appropriations are not duplicated, are effective, and are consistent with President Trumps foreign policy, the global cable stated.

Within the next month, standards for a review of all foreign assistance are expected to be set to ensure that it is aligned with President Trumps foreign policy agenda," the cable said. And within three months, the government-wide review is expected to be completed with a subsequent report to be produced for Rubio to make recommendations to the president.

A new study suggests that a pill used for emergency contraception could be repurposed at a higher dose as an abortion drug, providing a possible alternative to mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in the most common type of abortion in the United States.

Mifepristone has been under attack by abortion opponents, with several states seeking in federal court to restrict its use.

Now used in two-thirds of U.S. abortions, mifepristone blocks a hormone needed to sustain a pregnancy. It's typically used with misoprostol, which causes contractions and bleeding.

In the study, 133 women who were up to nine weeks pregnant took a 60-milligram dose of ulipristal acetate, the active ingredient in the prescription contraceptive Ella, followed by misoprostol 24 hours later.

For 97% of them, that drug combo was effective at inducing an abortion, an effectiveness equal to the mifepristone-misoprostol combination. Four women needed a procedure or an additional medication to complete the abortion.

The 60-milligram dose of ulipristal used in the study is twice the dose of Ella, a prescription drug used for emergency contraception.

The company that makes Ella says on its website that it won't end an existing pregnancy. It can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

The findings, published Thursday in the journal NEJM Evidence, may make emergency contraception a target of abortion opponents.

"I'm really worried that these results could be misapplied by anti-abortion activists to try to further their assault on contraception," said Dr. Daniel Grossman of the University of California, San Francisco, who wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal. Grossman praised the study but said more research is needed on ulipristal as an abortion drug before doctors would prescribe it routinely for that use.

Lead author Dr. Beverly Winikoff, president of Gynuity Health Projects, a not-for-profit research group, said women need information about ulipristal, especially with mifepristone challenged in court.

"At least now we would have an alternative," Winikoff said. "I think it's better to have more things that you could use."

President Donald Trump announced Thursday he would pardon anti-abortion activists convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances.

President Trump called it a great honor to sign this.

"They should not have been prosecuted," he said as he signed pardons for "peaceful pro-life protesters.

The people pardoned were involved in the October 2020 invasion and blockade of a Washington clinic.

Lauren Handy was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for leading the blockade by directing blockaders to link themselves together with locks and chains to block the clinics doors. A nurse sprained her ankle when one person pushed her while entering the clinic, and a woman was accosted by another blockader while having labor pains, prosecutors said. Police found five fetuses in Handys home after she was indicted.

RELATED STORY | January 6 defendant tells Scripps News he may not accept a potential pardon from Trump

President Trump pardoned Handy and her nine co-defendants: Jonathan Darnel of Virginia; Jay Smith, John Hinshaw and William Goodman, all of New York; Joan Bell of New Jersey; Paulette Harlow and Jean Marshall, both of Massachusetts; Heather Idoni of Michigan; and Herb Geraghty of Pennsylvania.

In the first week of Trumps presidency, anti-abortion advocates have ramped up calls for President Trump to pardon protesters charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which is designed to protect abortion clinics from obstruction and threats. The 1994 law was passed during a time when clinic protests and blockades were on the rise, as was violence against abortion providers, such as the murder of Dr. David Gunn in 1993.

President Trump specifically mentioned Harlow in a June speech criticizing former President Joe Bidens Department of Justice for pursuing charges against protesters involved in blockades.

Many people are in jail over this, he said in June, adding, Were going to get that taken care of immediately.

Abortion rights advocates slammed President Trumps pardons as evidence of his opposition to abortion access, despite his vague, contradictory statements on the issue as he attempted to find a middle ground on the campaign trail between anti-abortion allies and the majority of Americans who support abortion rights.

Donald Trump on the campaign trail tried to have it both ways bragging about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade while saying he wasnt going to take action on abortion, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations for the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All. We never believed that that was true, and this shows us that we were right.

RELATED STORY | President Trump pardons about 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, commutes sentences for 14 others

SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser thanked President Trump for immediately delivering on his promise to pardon the protesters, arguing their prosecutions were political.

The legal group Thomas More Society argued the FACE Act defendants they represent had been unjustly imprisoned in a January letter to President Trump. The group had assured the defendants that President Trump would review their cases and pardon them when he took office, according to the letter.

Today, freedom rings in our great nation, Steve Crampton, senior counsel for the Thomas More Society, said Thursday, adding, What happened to them can never be erased, but todays pardons are a huge step towards restoring justice.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, among President Trumps most loyal supporters, called the prosecution of anti-abortion protesters a grotesque assault on the principles of this country and urged President Trump to pardon them while reading the stories of such anti-abortion protesters on the Senate floor Thursday. He highlighted Eva Edl, who was involved in a 2021 Tennessee clinic blockade and whose story has garnered attention from the largest national anti-abortion groups.

Hawley said he had a great conversation Thursday morning with President Trump about the protesters.

The news of the pardons comes ahead of Fridays annual anti-abortion protest March for Life in Washington, where the president is expected to address the crowd in a video.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering "getting rid of" the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation's central organization for responding to disasters.

Speaking while on the first trip of his second term, Trump made the comment in North Carolina during a briefing on the monthslong recovery from Hurricane Helene.

"FEMA has been a very big disappointment," the Republican president said. "It's very bureaucratic. And it's very slow. Other than that, we're very happy with them."

Trump said Michael Whatley, chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state, where frustrations over the storm continue to linger. Whatley is a North Carolina native but does not hold an official government position.

RELATED STORY | Trump gets update on disaster relief during visit to North Carolina

While Trump emphasized his desire to help North Carolina, a battleground state that's voted for him in all of his presidential campaigns, he was much less generous toward California, where he plans to visit wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles later in the day.

Trump reiterated that he wants to extract concessions from the Democratic-led state in return for disaster assistance, including changes to water policies and requirements that voters need to show identification when casting ballots.

Beyond Trump's criticisms of FEMA, he's suggested a dramatic overhaul of the federal government's role in responding to disasters.

"I'd like to see the states take care of disasters," he said after landing in the Asheville area. "Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen."

Trump said that would be quicker than sending in FEMA.

"FEMA just hasn't done the job," the president said. "We're looking at the whole concept of FEMA."

The agency helps respond to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state's ability to handle on its own. FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents. Some of Trump's conservative allies have proposed reducing how much money the agency should provide.

Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden for his administration's response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. As he left the White House on Friday morning, he told reporters that "it's been a horrible thing the way that's been allowed to fester" since the storm hit in September, and "we're going to get it fixed up."

RELATED STORY | FEMA addresses rumors hurricane survivors receive less assistance than migrants

After the briefing recovery efforts, Trump traveled to a small town outside Asheville to meet with residents who have been helped by Samaritan's Purse, a humanitarian organization headed by evangelical leader Franklin Graham.

Once in California, Trump plans to tour the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where rows of homes burned to the ground. He's expected to receive a briefing on the fires, which are ongoing, with thousands of people under evacuation orders.

Trump has showered California leaders with disdain for water policies that he falsely claimed worsened the recent blazes. He said he would "take a look at a fire that could have been put out if they let the water flow, but they didn't let the water flow."

Members of Congress will be at the briefing, and the meeting could prove contentious. Trump has suggested using federal disaster assistance as a bargaining chip during unrelated legislative negotiations over government borrowing or as leverage to persuade California to change its water policies.

"Playing politics with people's livelihoods is unacceptable and a slap in the face to the Southern California wildfire victims and to our brave first responders," said Rep. Young Kim, a Republican from Orange County, south of Los Angeles, in a recent statement.

Trump has a history of injecting politics and falsehoods into disaster response. During his first term, he talked about limiting help for Democratic states that didn't support him, according to former administration officials. While running for president last year, he claimed without evidence that Democrats were "going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas" of the battleground state of North Carolina.

He's also been focused on California water policies, specifically fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state.

"I don't think we should give California anything until they let the water run down," Trump said Wednesday in an interview with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity.

The president also suggested shifting more responsibility to individual states for managing disasters.

"I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems," he told Hannity, adding that "FEMA is getting in the way of everything."

Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Biden administration, said Trump was "misinformed" about an agency that provides critical help to states when they're overwhelmed by catastrophe.

In addition, Coen criticized the idea of attaching strings to assistance.

"You're going to pick winners and losers on which communities are going to be supported by the federal government," he said. "I think the American people expect the federal government will be there for them on their worst day, no matter where they live."

The last time Trump was president, he visited numerous disaster zones, including the aftermaths of hurricanes and tornadoes. He sometimes sparked criticism, like when he tossed paper towels to survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

"If you're a disaster survivor, no matter who you voted for, it's always good when the president comes to town," said Pete Gaynor, who headed FEMA during the first Trump administration between 2019 and 2021. "You can see him and hopefully talk to him about what you need in your community."

Laurie Carpenter, a 62-year-old retiree in Newland, North Carolina, said she's looking forward to Trump's visit because she's been disappointed by the federal response. She said there's still debris and trash strewn around her part of the state months after Hurricane Helene.

"If anybody's going to do something about it, I think he will," Carpenter said.

Trump tapped Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience managing natural disasters, as FEMA's acting director. He also said individual states should be in charge of directing response to natural disasters rather than FEMA, and that the federal government should only step in subsequently to provide funding.

Biden vowed before leaving office that the federal government would cover all the costs of responding to the wildfires around Los Angeles, which could end up being the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. However, that promise won't be kept unless Congress comes up with more funding.

Friday's trip could prompt some uncomfortable conversations about climate change, which Trump has played down and denied. Both Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires were exacerbated by global warming.

In Helene's case, a study by international climate scientists at World Weather Attribution found that climate change boosted the storm's rainfall by 10%. In California, the state suffered a record dry fall and winter its traditional wet season which made the area around Los Angeles more vulnerable to blazes.

"This is just breaking our comfort zone of what is supposed to be normal," said University of Oregon researcher Amanda Stasiewicz.

After visiting North Carolina and California, Trump plans to hold a rally Saturday in Las Vegas.

The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump's defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.

Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks with Trump and his allies who have mounted an extensive public campaign to push Hegseth toward confirmation. The former combat veteran and Fox News host faces allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women, which he has denied. The vote was 51-49, with a final vote on confirmation expected Friday.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer implored his colleagues to think seriously, Is this the best man we have to lead the greatest military in the world?

Murkowksi, in a lengthy statement, said that his behaviors starkly contrast with what is expected of the military.

I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join, Murkowski wrote on social media.

Both Murkowski and Collins noted Hegseth's past statements that women should not fill military combat roles. He sought to temper those statements during the confirmation process.

Collins said that after a lengthy discussion with Hegseth, I am not convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has changed.

Collins said that while she appreciates Hegseths courageous military service and his ongoing commitment to our service members and their families, I am concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in the job.

RELATED STORY | Senate confirms John Ratcliffe as CIA director

Rarely has a Cabinet choice encountered such swirling allegations of wrongdoing. The outcome provides a measure of Trump's power and a test for the Senate as it considers the president's other outsider Cabinet picks, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for Health and Human Services, Kash Patel at the FBI and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of the Office of National Intelligence.

Republican senators, and some Democrats, appear ready to give the president his team. Only Matt Gaetz, the former congressman who was Trump's initial choice for attorney general, was met with enough resistance that his nomination was withdrawn.

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has dismissed the claims against Hegseth as factually inaccurate.

It will take a simple majority of senators to confirm Hegseths nomination. Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority in the chamber, have signaled they will back the nominee, though Vice President JD Vance could be called in to break a tie vote.

I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next secretary of defense, the chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement on the eve of voting. "The Senate needs to confirm this nominee as fast as possible.

A new president's national security nominees are often the first to be lined up for confirmation, to ensure U.S. safety at home and abroad. Already the Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state in a unanimous vote, and confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director Thursday.

But Hegseth stands in a category of his own amid allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican conference in California, which he has denied as a consensual encounter, and of heavy drinking at events when he led a veterans organization.

AP reported Thursday Hegseth paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, according to answers he provided to a senator during his confirmation process.

Separately, a new claim emerged this week in an affidavit from a former sister-in-law who claimed Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegation. In divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.

Schumer said Thursday that Hegseth is unqualified for the job.

One of the kindest words that might be used to describe Mr. Hegseth is erratic, and thats a term you dont want at DOD, Schumer said. He has a clear problem of judgment.

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

During a fiery confirmation hearing, Hegseth swatted away allegations of wrongdoing one by one dismissing them as smears as he displayed his military credentials and vowed to bring warrior culture" to the top Pentagon post.

Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.

Wicker said he had been briefed a third time on the FBI background investigation into Hegseth. He said "the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny.

But senators have remained doubtful of his experience and abilities and the alleged behavior that could lead to reprimand or firing for military personnel he would now be expected to lead.

Still, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, herself a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, has signaled her backing.

California will spend $2.5 billion to help the Los Angeles area recover from recent deadly wildfires under a relief package approved Thursday by state lawmakers.

Both Democrats and Republicans supported the bills, and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom planned to sign the package late on Thursday. The proposals include $2.5 billion for the state's emergency disaster response efforts such as evacuations, sheltering survivors and removing household hazardous waste. Lawmakers also approved $4 million for local governments to streamline approvals for rebuilding homes, and $1 million to support school districts and help them rebuild facilities.

We need to be able to move with urgency, put aside our differences and be laser-focused on delivering the financial resources, delivering the boots on the ground that are needed and the policy relief that is needed to get neighborhoods cleaned up and communities rebuilt, said Mike McGuire, a Democrat and president pro tempore of the state Senate.

The aid won approval a day before President Donald Trump is set to visit California for a look at damage from the blazes. He's suggested any federal wildfire relief should come with conditions, though congressional Republicans who represent the state have pushed back on that idea. Former President Joe Biden already approved some disaster aid for the region earlier this month.

RELATED STORY | Firefighters confront new blaze north of Los Angeles as red flag conditions persist

Newsom called lawmakers into a special session in November to prepare for legal battles against Trump s administration. But after major fires broke out around Los Angeles, Newsom shifted gears to prioritize fire relief funding. He expanded the focus of the special session to pass the recovery funding under pressure from Republican state lawmakers who said the focus on Trump was misplaced while the state dealt with the disaster.

Republican state Sen. Kelly Seyarto criticized Newsom for not issuing the fire relief funding on his own, but ultimately Seyarto supported the proposals.

He said in the future, Democrats should do a better job of working with Republicans on crafting legislation for fire response and prevention funding.

We need a plan from all of us to make sure this doesnt happen again, he said.

The state Senate also approved $25 million Thursday to defend the state against legal challenges by the federal government, along with another $25 million in part for legal groups to defend immigrants facing possible deportation and other threats. The vote fell largely along party lines. The state Assembly would still have to pass the bills before before they can reach Newsom's desk.

The largest of the recent Southern California blazes ignited on Jan. 7, ripping through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles and killing 11 people. The Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day near Altadena, has killed 17 people.

The region is also now battling the Hughes Fire, which ignited Wednesday north of Los Angeles, spread more than 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) and led to evacuation orders or warnings for more than 50,000 people.

Newsom's administration said the state expects to be reimbursed by the federal government for the disaster relief funding.

The governor also announced a commitment Thursday by 270 state-chartered banks, credit unions and lenders to provide mortgage relief to homeowners impacted by fires in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat from Encino and chair of the chambers special session budget committee, said his family was ordered to evacuate for six days while firefighters battled the Palisades Fire.

The funding the Legislature passed Thursday is the first of many steps lawmakers will take to support wildfire survivors and to protect communities from the threat of future blazes, he said.

No community is immune from these wildfires, Gabriel said. Thats part of what the tragedy in Los Angeles proved to us.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aiming to declassify remaining federal records relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump said, Everything will be revealed.

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The order directs the director of national intelligence and the attorney general to develop a plan within 15 days to declassify the remaining John F. Kennedy records, and within 45 days for the other two cases. It was not clear when the records would actually see the light of day.

Trump had ordered the substantial release of the John F. Kennedy assassination records in his first term, but some were redacted or withheld due to concerns raised by the intelligence community.

RELATED STORY | Martin Luther King Jr.'s family is fighting to protect his legacy

Trump handed the pen used to sign the order to an aide and directed it to be given to RFKs son Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee to be health and human services secretary who has long called for their release.

Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against a man they said had falsely claimed to possess videos implicating the music mogul in sexual assaults on eight celebrities.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York City, accuses Courtney Burgess and his lawyer, Ariel Mitchell, of fabricating "outrageous lies" as part of an effort to potentially profit off of the media frenzy around Combs, who was indicted in September on sex trafficking charges.

Combs also sued Nexstar Media, saying its cable news network, NewsNation, aired Burgess' allegations without looking into whether they were true. The videos, the lawsuit claimed, simply don't exist.

RELATED STORY | Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail by third judge as he awaits sex trafficking trial

"These defendants have willfully fabricated and disseminated outrageous lies with reckless disregard for the truth," said Erica Wolff, an attorney for Combs. "Their falsehoods have poisoned public perception and contaminated the jury pool. This complaint should serve as a warning that such intentional falsehoods, which undermine Mr. Combs's right to a fair trial, will no longer be tolerated."

Burgess and Mitchell did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press requesting comment. A phone call to Mitchell was not answered. A spokesperson for Nexstar Media Group declined to comment.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges lodged against him after his September arrest. He has remained incarcerated, awaiting a May 5 trial, after judges refused to grant him bail.

After Combs was arrested, Burgess began giving interviews with reporters, social media personalities and true crime podcasters in which he claimed to have been given flash drives with incriminating evidence by the late actor and model Kim Porter, a longtime partner of Combs and mother of four of his children.

But the videos Burgess claims to possess have never become public. Some people close to Porter told The New York Times for a story published in November that they had never heard of Burgess and doubted his claims. Burgess has acknowledged that he doesn't know Combs personally.

Federal prosecutors have not publicly identified Burgess as being involved in the criminal case.

In interviews, Burgess said law enforcement seized the videos from his home. Mitchell also told reporters Burgess handed over the drives to the federal government.

The lawsuit said both claims were "completely false."

"No such video was ever turned over to the government because no such video exists," the lawsuit said.

Members of the family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, and the company itself, agreed to pay up to $7.4 billion in a new settlement to lawsuits over the toll of the powerful prescription painkiller, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday.

The deal, agreed to by Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family members who own the company and lawyers representing state and local governments and thousands of victims of the opioid crisis, represents an increase of more than $1 billion over a previous settlement deal that was rejected last year by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Sacklers agreed to pay up to $6.5 billion, Purdue to pay $900 million, for a total of $7.4 billion.

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It's among the largest settlements reached over the past several years in a series of lawsuits by local, state, Native American tribal governments and others seeking to hold companies responsible for a deadly epidemic. Aside from the Purdue deal, others worth around $50 billion have been announced and most of the money is required to be used to stem the crisis.

The deal still needs court approval, and some of the details are yet to be ironed out.

Joining Attorney General James in securing the settlement in principle are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

RELATED STORY | DOJ accuses CVS of knowingly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions

Under the new proposal, members of the Sackler family who own Purdue would contribute up to $7.4 billion over 15 years and give up ownership of Purdue, which would become a new entity with its board appointed by states and others who sued the company. A portion of the money is also to go to victims of the opioid crisis or their survivors.

The family's contribution will be higher than the $6 billion agreed to under the previous version. The Supreme Court blocked the agreement last year because it protected members of the wealthy family from civil lawsuits over OxyContin even though the family members themselves were not in bankruptcy. The new agreement protects family members from lawsuits only from entities that agree to the settlement.

There's been mediation seeking a new deal since the court's ruling was delivered. If one is not reached, it could open the floodgates to lawsuits against Sackler family members.

RELATED STORY | Kroger finalizes opioid settlement payment to 30 states

The new settlement could bring to a close a chapter in a long legal saga over the toll of an opioid crisis that some experts assert began after the blockbuster painkiller OxyContin hit the market in 1996. Since then, opioids have been linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. The deadliest stretch has been since 2020, when illicit fentanyl has been found as a factor in more than 70,000 deaths annually.

Members of the Sackler family been cast as villains and have seen their name removed from art galleries and universities around the world because of their role in the privately held company. They've continued to deny claims of any wrongdoing.

Collectively, family members have been estimated to be worth billions more than they'd contribute in the settlement, but much of the wealth is in offshore accounts and might be impossible to access through lawsuits.

RELATED STORY | McKinsey & Company agrees to pay $650M for helping boost opioid sales

Purdue sought bankruptcy protection in 2019 as it faced thousands of lawsuits over the opioid crisis. Among the claims are that the company targeted doctors with a message that the addiction risk to the powerful painkillers was low.

In an October 2024 filing, one branch of the family pledged to defend itself in any cases that are allowed to move ahead, saying that the legal theory at the heart of the lawsuits that Purdue and Sackler family members created a "public nuisance" "is utterly devoid of merits."

The nominees for the 97th Academy Awards have been announced.

Leading the way is Jacques Audiard's "Emilia Prez," a Spanish language, French-made film, with 13 nominations, including best picture and best actress for Karla Sofa Gascn, making her the first openly trans actor ever nominated for an Oscar.

The nominations had originally been planned for Jan. 17. But after wildfires on Jan. 7 began burning through parts of Los Angeles, leaving behind mass destruction, the academy extended its voting window and twice postponed the nominations announcement.

Here is the list of nominees for the Oscars, which will be broadcast March 2 from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles:

Best picture

"Anora"; "The Brutalist"; "A Complete Unknown"; "Conclave"; "Dune: Part 2"; "Emilia Perez"; "I'm Still Here"; "Nickel Boys"; "The Substance"; "Wicked"

Best Actress

Demi Moore, "The Substance"; Cynthia Erivo, "Wicked"; Mikey Madison, "Anora"; Karla Sofa Gascn, "Emilia Prez"; Fernanda Torres, "I'm Still Here"

Best Actor

Adrien Brody, "The Brutalist"; Timothe Chalamet, "A Complete Unknown"; Colman Domingo, "Sing Sing"; Ralph Fiennes, "Conclave"; Sebastian Stan, "The Apprentice"

Best Supporting Actress

Monica Barbaro, "A Complete Unknown"; Felicity Jones, "The Brutalist"; Ariana Grande, "Wicked"; Isabella Rossellini, "Conclave"; Zoe Saldaa, "Emilia Prez"

Best Supporting Actor

Yura Borisov, "Anora"; Kieran Culkin, "A Real Pain"; Edward Norton, "A Complete Unknown"; Guy Pearce, "The Brutalist"; Jeremy Strong, "The Apprentice"

Director

Jacques Audiard, "Emilia Prez"; Sean Baker, "Anora"; Brady Corbet, "The Brutalist"; James Mangold, "A Complete Unknown" Coralie Fargeat, "The Substance"

Original Song

"El Mal" from "Emilia Prez"; "The Journey" from "The Six Triple Eight"; "Like a Bird" from "Sing Sing"; "Mi Camino" from "Emilia Prez"; "Never Too Late" from "Elton John: Never Too Late"

Original Score

"The Brutalist"; "Emilia Prez"; "Conclave"; "Wicked"; "The Wild Robot"

Best Sound

"A Complete Unknown"; "Dune: Part Two"; "Emilia Prez"; "Wicked"; "The Wild Robot"

Animated Film

"Flow"; "Inside Out 2"; "Memoir of a Snail"; "Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl"; "The Wild Robot"

International Film

"I'm Still Here," Brazil; "The Girl with the Needle," Denmark; "Emilia Prez," France; "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," Germany; "Flow," Latvia

Cinematography

"The Brutalist"; Dune: Part Two"; "Emilia Prez"; "Maria"; "Nosferatu"

Original Screenplay

"Anora"; "The Brutalist"; "A Real Pain"; "September 5"; "The Substance"

Adapted Screenplay

"A Complete Unknown"; "Conclave"; "Emilia Prez"; "Nickel Boys"; "Sing Sing"

Documentary Feature

"Black Box Diaries"; "No Other Land"; "Porcelain War"; "Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat"; "Sugarcane"

Live Action Short Film

"A Lien"; "Anuja"; "I'm Not a Robot"; "The Last Ranger"; "The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent"

Animated Short Film

"Beautiful Men"; "In the Shadow of the Cypress"; "Magic Candies"; "Wander to Wonder"; "Yuck!"

Documentary Short Film

"Death by Numbers"; "I Am Ready, Warden"; "Incident;" "Instruments of a Beating Heart"; "The Only Girl in the Orchestra"

Visual Effects

"Alien: Romulus"; "Better Man"; "Dune: Part Two"; "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes"; "Wicked"

Production Design

"The Brutalist"; "Conclave"; "Dune: Part Two"; "Nosferatu"; "Wicked"

Film Editing

"Anora"; "The Brutalist"; "Conclave"; "Emilia Prez"; "Wicked"

Makeup and Hairstyling

"A Different Man"; "Emilia Prez"; "Nosferatu"; "The Substance"; "Wicked"

Costume Design

"A Complete Unknown"; "Conclave"; Gladiator II"; Nosferatu"; "Wicked"

Five elephants at a Colorado zoo may be majestic but, since they're not human, they do not have the legal right to pursue their release, Colorados highest court said Tuesday.

The ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court follows a similar court defeat in New York in 2022 for an elephant named Happy at the Bronx Zoo in a case brought by an animal rights group. Rulings in favor of the animals would have allowed lawyers for both Happy and the elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou and Jambo to pursue a long-held legal process for prisoners to challenge their detention and possibly be sent to live in an elephant sanctuary instead.

The Colorado court said its decision does not turn on our regard for these majestic animals.

Instead, the legal question here boils down to whether an elephant is a person, the court said. And because an elephant is not a person, the elephants here do not have standing to bring a habeas corpus claim, it said in the ruling.

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The same animal rights group that tried to win Happys release, the Nonhuman Rights Project, also brought the case in Colorado.

The group argued that the Colorado elephants, born in the wild in Africa, have shown signs of brain damage because the zoo is essentially a prison for such intelligent and social creatures, known to roam for miles a day. It wanted the animals released to one of the two accredited elephant sanctuaries in the United States because the group doesnt think they can no longer live in the wild.

The zoo argued moving the elephants and potentially placing them with new animals would be cruel at their age, possibly causing unnecessary stress. It said they arent used to being in larger herds and, based on the zoo's observations, the elephants dont have the skills or desire to join one.

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While welcoming the Colorado court's ruling, the zoo said it was disappointed there had to be a legal fight over the issue and accused the Nonhuman Rights Project of abusing court systems" to fundraise.

It seems their real goal is to manipulate people into donating to their cause by incessantly publicizing sensational court cases with relentless calls for supporters to donate, the zoo said in a statement.

The Nonhuman Rights Project said the latest ruling "perpetuates a clear injustice and predicted future courts would reject the idea that only humans have a right to liberty.

As with other social justice movements, early losses are expected as we challenge an entrenched status quo that has allowed Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo to be relegated to a lifetime of mental and physical suffering, it said in a statement.

More than 50,000 people were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday as a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, as parched Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds and two major previous blazes continued to smolder.

The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning and within hours charred more than 9,400 acres of trees and brush, sending up plumes of dark smoke near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area about 40 miles from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week.

A 30-mile stretch of Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, was closed as flames raced along hilltops and down into wooded canyons. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the interstate and toward Castaic, where most of the 19,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. Another 15,000 people in the area were warned to prepare to leave at a moment's notice, according to the LA County Sheriffs Department.

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Kayla Amara drove to Castaic's Stonegate neighborhood to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property.

Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there's a house here to return to, Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance.

Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she's been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California.

Its been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it's just super stressful, she said.

To the south, Los Angeles officials began to prepare for potential rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Gusty weather was expected to last through Thursday and precipitation was possible starting Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real," Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a Wednesday morning news conference.

Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins.

Red flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended through 8 p.m. Thursday in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the Palisades and Eaton fires could break their containment lines as firefighters continue watching for hot spots.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city's website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.

Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems, Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out Jan. 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 68%, and the Eaton Fire was at 91%.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that his department was still investigating 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All of those reported missing are adults, he said.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.

Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging Southern California Edison's equipment sparked the blaze. On Tuesday a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.

The Trump administration has put a freeze on many federal health agency communications with the public through at least the end of the month.

In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink told agency staff leaders Tuesday that an immediate pause had been ordered on among other things regulations, guidance, announcements, press releases, social media posts and website posts until such communications had been approved by a political appointee.

The pause also applies to anything intended to be published in the Federal Register, where the executive branch communicates rules and regulations, and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientific publication.

The pause is in effect through Feb. 1, the memo said. Agencies subject to the HHS directive include the CDC, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration entities that fight epidemics, protect the nation's food supply and search for cures to diseases.

HHS officials did not respond to requests for comment. Four federal health officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the issue confirmed the communication pause to the AP.

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A former HHS official said Wednesday that its not unusual for incoming administrations to pause agency communications for review. But typically, officials working on the presidents transition team have the process for issuing documents running smoothly by inauguration day.

The executive branch is a hierarchy, said Steven Grossman, who now consults for food and drug companies, in an email. Whether stated publicly or not, every new administration wants important commitments and positions to wait until new teams are in place and some semblance of hierarchy restored.

During his first term, President Donald Trumps political appointees tried to gain control over the CDCs MMWR journal, which had published information about the COVID-19 pandemic that conflicted with messaging from the White House.

Fink wrote in her memo that some exceptions would be made for communications affecting critical health, safety, environmental, financial or nation security functions, but that those would be subject to review. The FDA on Tuesday and Wednesday posted notices about warning letters sent to companies and a drug safety notice.

Prince Harry claimed a monumental victory Wednesday as Rupert Murdoch's U.K. tabloids made an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life over decades and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his privacy invasion lawsuit.

News Group Newspapers offered a "full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life," Harry's attorney, David Sherborne, read from a statement in court.

The statement even went beyond the scope of the case to acknowledge intruding on the life of Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana and the impact it had on his family.

"We acknowledge and apologize for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages," the settlement statement said.

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His phone was hacked and he was spied on

It was the first time News Group has acknowledged wrongdoing at The Sun, a paper that once sold millions of copies with its formula of sports, celebrities and sex including topless women on Page 3.

Harry had vowed to take his case to trial to publicly expose the newspaper's wrongdoing and win a court ruling upholding his claims.

In a statement read by his lawyer, Harry claimed he achieved the accountability he sought for himself and hundreds of others, including ordinary people, who were snooped on.

News Group acknowledged "phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators" aimed at Harry. NGN had strongly denied those allegations before trial.

"This represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them," Sherborne said outside the High Court in London.

Wrongdoing alleged at the top

The bombshell announcement came after the trial's start was postponed a day as last-minute settlement talks heated up outside court.

Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, and Tom Watson, a former Labour Party member of Parliament, were the only two remaining claimants out of more than 1,300 others who had settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers over allegations their phones were hacked and investigators unlawfully intruded in their lives.

The company engaged in "perjury and cover-ups" to obscure the truth for years, deleting 30 million emails and other records, Harry and Watson said in a joint statement read by Sherborne.

"There was an extensive conspiracy," the statement said, in which "senior executives deliberately obstructed justice."

News Group said in a statement that it would have disputed at trial that evidence was destroyed and it continues to deny those allegations.

While News Group had issued an unreserved apology for its wrongdoing at the shuttered News of the World, it had never done so at The Sun and had vehemently denied those allegations.

The statement read by Sherborne took aim at Rebekah Brooks, now the CEO overseeing News Group, who had been the editor at The Sun when she was acquitted at a criminal trial in a phone hacking case.

"At her trial in 2014, Rebekah Brooks said, 'When I was editor of The Sun, we ran a clean ship,'" he said. "Ten years later when she is CEO of the company, they now admit, when she was editor of The Sun, they ran a criminal enterprise."

NGN apologized for wrongdoing by private eyes hired by The Sun, but not for anything done by its journalists.

Two cases down, one to go

In all the cases that have been brought against the publisher since a widespread phone hacking scandal forced Murdoch to close News of the World in 2011, Harry's case got the closest to trial.

Murdoch closed the paper after the Guardian reported that the tabloid's reporters had in 2002 hacked the phone of Milly Dowler, a murdered 13-year-old schoolgirl, while police were searching for her.

Harry's case against NGN was one of three he brought accusing British tabloids of violating his privacy by eavesdropping on phone messages or using private investigators to unlawfully help them score scoops.

His case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror ended in victory when the judge ruled that phone hacking was "widespread and habitual" at the newspaper and its sister publications.

During that trial in 2023, Harry became the first senior member of the royal family to testify in court since the late 19th century, putting him at odds with the monarchy's desire to keep its problems out of view.

The outcome in the News Group case raises questions about how his third case against the publisher of the Daily Mail will proceed. That trial is scheduled for next year.

Source of a bitter feud

Harry's feud with the press dates back to his youth, when the tabloids took glee in reporting on everything from his injuries to his girlfriends to dabbling with drugs.

But his fury with the tabloids goes much deeper.

He blames the media for the death of his mother, who was killed in a car crash in 1997 while being chased by paparazzi in Paris. He also blames them for the persistent attacks on his wife, actor Meghan Markle, that led them to leave royal life and flee to the U.S. in 2020.

The litigation has been a source of friction in his family, Harry said in the documentary "Tabloids On Trial."

He revealed in court papers that his father opposed his lawsuit. He also said his older brother William, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, had settled a private complaint against News Group that his lawyer has said was worth over 1 million pounds ($1.23 million).

"I'm doing this for my reasons," Harry told the documentary makers, though he said he wished his family had joined him.

Harry and the other holdout

Harry was originally one among dozens of claimants, including actor Hugh Grant, who alleged that News Group journalists and investigators they hired violated their privacy between 1994 and 2016 by intercepting voicemails, tapping phones, bugging cars and using deception to access confidential information.

Of the original group of claimants, Harry and former lawmaker Tom Watson were the holdouts headed to trial.

Watson, who was targeted by NGN when he was part of an investigation into allegations of tabloid wrongdoing, said the intrusion had taken a heavy toll on himself and his family.

"I once said that the big beasts of the tabloid jungle have no predators," Watson said. "I was wrong, they have Prince Harry. We are grateful to him for his unwavering support and his determination under extraordinary pressure."

Watson, who also received an apology and substantial settlement, called on Murdoch to issue a personal apology to Harry, the king and "countless others" affected by tabloid intrusion.

News Group said the settlements mark the end to more than a decade of litigation after the News of the World was shuttered.

NGN has now settled more than 1,300 claims without going to trial. In doing so, it has spent more than $1.24 billion in payouts and legal costs, Harry and Watson said in their statement.