Coast Guard calls off search for missing cutter crew member

The Coast Guard has suspended its search for Seaman Bryan K. Lee, who was reported missing from the Cutter Waesche while operating in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Hegseth stops transgender recruits from joining the force, halts medical procedures

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stopped new transgender recruits from joining the military and halted medical procedures for service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to a new memorandum.

Minnesota Air National Guard airmen brave the elements with cold-water immersion training

Minnesota Air National Guard students from the cold weather operations course at Camp Ripley Training Center participated in a cold-water immersion.

Judge finds Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending

A federal judge found Monday that the Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending and told the White House to release billions of dollars in funding. The Trump administration quickly appealed the ruling.

UN suspends its humanitarian work in Houthi rebels’ stronghold in Yemen after more staff detentions

The United Nations’ decision affects the response to one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. The Houthi rebels in recent months have detained dozens of U.N. staffers, as well as individuals associated with aid groups, civil society and the once-open U.S. Embassy.

Kosovo’s prime minister looks for allies for new Cabinet after failing to win parliamentary majority

Kurti is also likely to try and repair ties with Western powers, at odds since his Cabinet took several steps that raised tensions with Serbia and Kosovo’s ethnic Serbs, including the ban on the use of the Serbian currency, the dinar, and dinar transfers to Kosovo’s Serbs.

Hamas says it will delay the release of more hostages, putting Gaza ceasefire at risk

Hamas said Monday it will delay the further release of hostages in the Gaza Strip after accusing Israel of violating a fragile ceasefire that now faces its most serious crisis since it began three weeks ago.

Chinese tariffs to take effect, ratcheting up trade war with US

China’s promised 15% tariffs on U.S. products including LNG, coal and agricultural equipment are set to be imposed Monday, in response to Trump’s 10% levy.

Trump says no right of return for Palestinians in Gaza under his plan for US ‘ownership’

President Donald Trump says Palestinians in Gaza would not have a right to return under his plan for U.S. “ownership” of the war-torn territory, contradicting other officials in his administration who have sought to argue Trump was only calling for the temporary relocation of its population.

Romanian president announces resignation after pressure by populists

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis’ presidency was extended in December after the Constitutional Court canceled the presidential race two days before a Dec. 8 runoff. That came after the far-right populist unexpectedly won the first round as allegations emerged of Russian interference and electoral violations.

China says a visit by Cook Islands’ prime minister isn’t meant to antagonize others in South Pacific

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said he had told Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown that he should discuss with New Zealand the contents of agreements that Brown intends to sign in China. New Zealand is the tiny nation’s chief benefactor.

Vance makes his debut as VP on the international stage at a high-stakes AI summit in Paris

Among those taking part in the two-day summit are heads of state, top government officials, CEOs and scientists from around 100 countries. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing is also attending. The summit will give many European leaders a chance to meet Vance for the first time.

Trump says he has directed US Treasury to stop minting new pennies, citing rising cost

President Donald Trump says he has directed the Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies, citing the rising cost of producing the one-cent coin.

Third judge blocks Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship for kids of people in US illegally

Monday’s ruling from U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire came after two similar rulings by judges in Seattle and Maryland last week. The Trump administration asserts that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States.

Air Force reservist who taught music to get $60K after losing school job amid deployment

Oklahoma City Public Schools will pay an Air Force reservist $60,000 as part of a settlement resolving allegations that the school district violated the airman’s employment rights.

US military’s future in Europe under review as Hegseth heads to NATO headquarters

The U.S. military’s role in Europe will be at the forefront of talks this week as new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives in Brussels for two days of meetings with European allies.

US, South Korea test combat coordination near border, drawing North’s ire

U.S. and South Korean troops trained together in freezing temperatures, just 16 miles from the border with North Korea.

Critics say Medal of Honor museum shortchanges airman’s achievements

A petition calling for the National Medal of Honor Museum to include a dedicated exhibit for Air Force Master Sgt. John Chapman has revived longstanding criticism that the Navy SEAL community sought to “diminish his contributions.”

After the ceasefire in Gaza, West Bank Palestinians face more Israeli barriers, traffic and misery

Since the Gaza ceasefire began in January, Israeli forces have tightened the noose around Palestinian cities, most recently around Ramallah, the center of West Bank’s political and civic life.