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By Amy Langfield
February 03, 2026
By Amy Langfield
February 03, 2026
Good afternoon and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, the U.S. says it shot down an Iranian drone; a charity founded by Sarah Ferguson shuts down after release of Epstein emails with the former duchess; Pope Leo XIV faces a threatened revival of a schism; and the U.S. House passes a bill to end the partial government shutdown.
The Pentagon is seen from the air in September, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
US shoots down Iranian drone that ‘aggressively’ approached an aircraft carrier, military says
A U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday, threatening to ramp up tensions as the Trump administration warns of possible military action to get Iran to the negotiating table. Read more.
Charity founded by Sarah Ferguson shuts down after release of Epstein emails with former duchess
The charity founded by Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, is shutting down following the release of emails showing the depth of her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Read more.
Pope Leo XIV faces crisis as a traditionalist group plans bishop consecrations without consent
Pope Leo XIV is facing his first major crisis with traditionalist Catholics: A breakaway group attached to the traditional Latin Mass announced plans to consecrate new bishops without papal consent in a threatened revival of schism. The Swiss-based Society of St. Pius X has been a thorn in the side of the Holy See for four decades. Read more.
Rotana al-Regeb, who was allowed into Gaza from Egypt following the long-awaited reopening of the Rafah border crossing, reunites with her children in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
