A bride yawns before the start of a free civil wedding organized by the municipality of Lima Thursday, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, in Lima, Peru. The Associated Press

NATION

New Mexico

State AGs challenge Musk, DOGE

SANTA FE — Attorneys general from 14 states are challenging the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to access sensitive government data and exercise “virtually unchecked power.”

Thursday’s lawsuit against Musk says that his actions at DOGE should only be taken by a nominated and Senate-confirmed officer, under constitutional provisions that delineate the powers of Congress and the president.

New York

DOJ officials resign over mayor’s case

NEW YORK — Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, and five high-ranking Justice Department officials have resigned after she refused an order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Sassoon is a Republican who was interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. She accused the department of acceding to a “quid pro quo” — namely, dropping the case to ensure Adams’ help with Trump’s immigration agenda.

District of Columbia

Panel advances Patel FBI nomination

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Kash Patel for FBI director.

The committee voted 12-10 to send the nomination to the Republican-controlled Senate. Democrats portrayed Patel as a dangerous and inexperienced loyalist. Republicans praised Patel as the right person for the job and insisted he was needed to fix an FBI that they claim has been tainted by bias.

WORLD

Taiwan

Gas explosion at food court kills 4

TAIPEI — Fire authorities in Taiwan say a gas explosion at a department store killed four people and injured 26, fire authorities said. The blast occurred at the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city.

Two of the dead were tourists visiting from Macau. Among the eight who were hospitalized, one had no vital signs, the Taichung Fire Bureau said. Dozens of firefighters were deployed to the scene at about 11:30 a.m. Parts of the building’s exterior were damaged and scattered fragments were strewn on the streets.

Germany

Driver plows car into demonstration

BERLIN — A driver drove a car into a labor union demonstration in central Munich, injuring 30 people including children, authorities said.

Officials said it was believed to be an attack. The suspect, an Afghan asylum-seeker, was arrested. Police said participants in the demonstration were walking along a street at about

10:30 a.m. when the car overtook a police vehicle following the gathering, accelerated and plowed into the back of the group.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi educator wins global prize

DUBAI — A Saudi educator known for his charity work and instructing prisoners has won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize.

Mansour al-Mansour received the award at the end of the World Governments Summit in Dubai, an annual event that draws leaders from across the globe. The prize is awarded by the Varkey Foundation.