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In the news today: Congress has swiftly moved in line with Trump’s plans to crack down on illegal immigration; the NATO chief says a Russian victory over Ukraine would impact the alliance’s credibility; and Southern California is dealing with two new wildfires. Also, Portugal’s dancing horses have been recognized by UNESCO.

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, Wednesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

POLITICS

House passes immigrant detention bill that would be Trump’s first law to sign

The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that requires the detainment of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes, marking the first legislation that President Donald Trump can sign as Congress swiftly moved in line with his plans to crack down on illegal immigration. Read more.

Why this matters:

• The Department of Homeland Security has estimated the Laken Riley Act would cost $26.9 billion in the first year to implement, including an increase of 110,000 ICE detention beds. Most Democrats criticized the lack of funding in the bill as proof that it is a piecemeal approach that would do little to fix problems in the immigration system. Others raised concerns the bill would strip due process rights for migrants, including minors or recipients of the Deferred Action for Unaccompanied Arrivals program.
  
  

• The new president has also launched a slew of executive orders intended to seal off the border with Mexico to immigration and ultimately deport millions of immigrants without permanent legal status in the U.S. On Wednesday, Trump also canceled refugee resettlement and his administration has signaled intentions to prosecute local law enforcement officials who do not enforce his new immigration policies.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes visits Capitol Hill after Trump clemency

• WATCH: Enraged officers condemn Trump's January 6 pardons

• Trump’s new Justice Department leadership orders a freeze on civil rights cases

• Justice Department orders investigation of local compliance with Trump immigration crackdown

• Pentagon is sending 1,500 active duty troops to help secure the US-Mexico border

• Trump administration freezes many health agency reports

• 160 national security staffers are sent home as the White House aligns its team to Trump’s agenda

• Trump made DOGE part of the government. Here’s what that might mean

• Saudi crown prince says kingdom intends to invest $600 billion in US during call with Trump

• Trump has canceled Biden’s ethics rules. Critics call it the opposite of ‘drain the swamp’

• Steve Bannon’s border wall trial delayed until March 4 as new lawyers plot aggressive defense

• Episcopal bishop says she’ll continue to pray for Trump, who lashed out at her over viral sermon

• Musk clashes with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over Trump-supported Stargate AI data center project

• RFK Jr. says he’s resigned from anti-vaccine nonprofit as he seeks nation’s top health official job

• North Carolina Supreme Court passing for now on ruling if ballots in close race are valid

• Costco defends its diversity policies as other US companies scale back

WORLD NEWS

NATO chief says Russian victory over Ukraine would have a costly impact on alliance’s credibility

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that a Russian victory over Ukraine would undermine the dissuasive force of the world’s biggest military alliance and its credibility. Read more.

Why this matters:

• NATO has been ramping up its forces along its eastern flank with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, deploying thousands of troops and equipment to deter Moscow from expanding its war into the territory of any of the organization’s 32 member countries.
  
  

• Anxiety in Europe is mounting that U.S. President Donald Trump might seek to quickly end the war in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on terms that are unfavorable to Ukraine, but Rutte appeared wary about trying to do things in a hurry.
  
  

• On Wednesday, Trump threatened to impose stiff taxes, tariffs and sanctions on Moscow if an agreement isn’t reached to end the war, but that warning will probably fall on deaf ears in the Kremlin.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• EU needs to end its military dependency on the US and arm itself ‘to survive,’ says Tusk
  
  
• Japan launches independent mission to NATO as tensions with Russia, China and North Korea rise
  
  
• Polish leader vows to use EU presidency to speed up Ukraine’s membership quest

U.S. NEWS

50,000 people under new fire evacuation warnings north of Los Angeles

Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a huge, rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles near Castaic Lake. An additional new fire was reported at the Sepulveda Pass near the I-405 Freeway. Read more.

What to know:

• The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and in less than a day had charred nearly 16 square miles of trees and brush near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area 40 miles from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week. More than 50,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings.
  
  

• An evacuation warning was issued for Sherman Oaks after a brush fire broke out on the Sepulveda Pass near the I-405 Freeway. The blaze was first reported just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Fire Department announced early Thursday that forward progress had been stopped at about 40 acres and the evacuation warning was lifted.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• Trump says he may withhold federal aid for Los Angeles if California doesn’t change water policies
  
  
• Cracks emerge in House GOP after speaker’s threat to saddle California wildfire aid with conditions
  
  
• The ash left behind by the Los Angeles wildfires might be toxic, experts warn

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IN OTHER NEWS

READ

Sailors released: Yemen’s Houthi rebels release crew of commercial vessel seized in Red Sea in November 2023

Investment ordered: China moves to boost languishing markets by ordering funds to invest more in shares

First conviction under new law: Seattle police officer set to be sentenced for 2019 shooting death of a homeless man

Las Vegas hotel workers: Union reaches deal with casino to end longest strike in decades

Nancy Leftenant-Colon: First Black woman in Army Nurse Corp has died at 104

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald W. Downing: Officials identify the remains of a Wisconsin pilot lost over Vietnam in 1967

Today in History: In 1973, President Nixon announced an accord to end the Vietnam War

WATCH

Deadly landslides: Search resumes after major flooding and landslides in Indonesia

AP Explains: LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand register their marriages as new law gives them equal status

Vodun Days: How a Voodoo festival is helping people learn more about their ancestry

Portuguese Equestrian Art: Dancing horses recognised by UNESCO

A CHANGE OF PACE

A wood stove at a home in Gardiner, Maine. (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach)

Find out where your firewood comes from to prevent the spread of invasive pests
Crackling fires have long been a gathering place where idyllic chestnuts are roasted, stories shared and souls warmed, whether around a hearth or at a campsite. Some folks cut their own wood and let it season, but most buy their wood without much thought about where it came from. As it happens, where our firewood comes from matters a lot.

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