A TikTok app is shown on a phone in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)2025-01-18T18:02:10Z President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he most likely would give TikTok 90 more days to work out a deal that would allow the popular video-sharing platform to avoid a U.S. ban. Trump said in an NBC News interview that he had not decided what to do but was considering granting TikTok a reprieve after he is sworn into office on Monday. A law that prohibits mobile app stores and internet hosting services from distributing TikTok to U.S. users takes effect on Sunday. Under the law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden last year, TikToks China-based parent company had nine months to sell the platforms U.S. operation to an approved buyer. The law allows the sitting president to grant an extension if a sale is in progress. I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because its appropriate. You know, its appropriate, Trump told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker in a phone interview. We have to look at it carefully. Its a very big situation.If I decide to do that, Ill probably announce it on Monday, he said.

First lady Nancy Reagan, center, looks on as President Ronald Reagan is sworn in during ceremonies in the Rotunda beneath the Capitol Dome in Washington, Jan. 21, 1985. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)2025-01-18T17:57:57Z Ronald and Nancy Reagan were disappointed. Thats what White House press secretary Larry Speakes told reporters on Jan. 18, 1985, after the Republican president and first lady decided to hold his second inauguration indoors because of an unusually cold weather forecast.They really felt they had no choice, Speakes said two days before the ceremony, according to archived transcripts of press briefings housed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California. President-elect Donald Trumps decision to take the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, when below-freezing temperatures are again expected, recalls the last time cold weather prompted a similar decision. The transcripts from 1985 shed light on the Reagans considerations. There was high-level medical and military consultation and it was just a very serious problem for health and safety, Speakes said, according to transcripts provided Friday by the Reagan library. We would have had probably some very serious problems for some of the participants. Like what, reporters asked. For a day when the temperature reached 7 degrees Fahrenheit (-14 Celsius) in Washington, the medical people told them that exposed areas would freeze in less than five minutes, with wind-chill factors like this, Speakes said. Speakes waved off concerns for Reagans own health as a man taking office a second time at nearly 74 years old. (Trump turned 78 in June and will become the oldest person to start a presidential term. President Joe Biden, who will be in the audience while Trump takes the oath of office, is 82.) Reagans box on the west steps of the Capitol would have been heated, so no, I dont think that was ever voiced to the president, Speakes said. It was the thousands of people participating in the parade, standing along the parade route and huddled on the National Mall who, Speakes said, concerned the president and first lady more. The Reagans looked at it ... knowing parade participants might be out there for four hours, if not longer, he said. So, it was just obvious, knowing that what the medical people told them that they would have had severe frostbite, if not some conditions that could have been worse. THOMAS BEAUMONT Beaumont covers national politics for The Associated Press. He is based in Des Moines, Iowa. twitter mailto

A pedestrian crosses First Avenue as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West, plunging temperatures into the single digits and bringing along a light snow in its wake Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)2025-01-18T18:10:31Z BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Another blast of winter weather is expected in parts of the U.S. in the coming days, including bone-chilling wind in the Northern Plains and unusual snow and ice in the Gulf Coast area.Cold weather forecasted for Monday for Washington, D.C., prompted President-elect Donald Trumps inaugural ceremony to be moved inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.Much of the U.S. from the Rockies into the Northern Plains will see colder than normal temperatures starting Sunday into the coming week, including forecasted wind chills down to minus 40 degrees F (minus 40 degrees C) or colder in the Dakotas and northern Minnesota, National Weather Service Meteorologist Marc Chenard said.In such cold conditions, frostbite can develop on exposed skin in 10 minutes or less, so people should don coats, hats and gloves and minimize time outdoors, said Connor Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Bismarck. The cold air will moderate as it moves southward and eastward, but the central and eastern U.S. will still be cold with highs in the teens and 20s on Monday into Tuesday, Chenard said. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast also will have highs in the teens and 20s, lows in the single digits and below zero degrees F (minus 18 C) and wind chills below zero. Cold weather will impact a lot of the country, especially the Rockies and points east, Chenard said. Unusual wintry weather of snow, sleet and freezing rain threaten Texas into northern Florida and the Carolinas, he said. Impacts are expected to start in Texas on Monday night and spread across the Gulf Coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday.Will be another relatively fast-moving storm but likely to produce some impactful winter weather in areas that dont see it as often, Chenard said.Impacts along the coast might include sleet, freezing rain and ice accumulation on roadways, and primarily snow and maybe sleet away from the coast, he said. The potential for several inches of snow could likely cause travel disruptions for areas not used to snow, he said. As happened earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually trapped about the North Pole.Meanwhile, snow will move across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, starting in the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday and spreading toward New York City and into New England later that day, said Chenard. The short burst of heavier snow could bring 2 inches (5 centimeters) to 8 inches (20 centimeters), Chenard said.The wintry weather is typical for the area and will bring accumulating, plowable snowfall, Chenard said. Motorists could encounter treacherous conditions out East, and some airports could see issues, he said.___Walker reported from New York. She can be reached at https://x.com/jwalkreporter JACK DURA Dura covers the North Dakota state government for The Associated Press. He is based in Bismarck, North Dakota. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Roki Sasaki, of Japan, pitches during their Pool B game against the Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)2025-01-17T23:39:15Z LOS ANGELES (AP) Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph, Sasaki will join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a move many baseball executives have long expected.The San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays were said to be the other finalists still in pursuit of Sasaki, who has until next Thursday to finalize a contract.I have signed a minor contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sasakis post said, in Japanese. It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best I can feel this was a correct decision, once I look back on my life as a baseball player. At my news conference for joining the club, I hope to wear my Dodgers uniform, feeling gratitude for all those who have supported me. When Sasaki revealed his decision, the Dodgers had up to $5,146,200 available in their international signing bonus pool, though they can make trades in the next week to increase the amount by up to 60%.Hours after the news broke, Los Angeles sent 19-year-old minor league outfielder Arnaldo Lantigua to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for international cap space. Lantigua batted .301 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs over 49 games in the rookie-level Dominican Summer League last season. The Dodgers are planning to use a six-man rotation, which could ease Sasakis transition to Major League Baseball, as the Dodgers attempt to become the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000. Sasaki was made available to MLB teams for a 45-day window by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japans Pacific League under the posting agreement between Nippon Professional Baseball and MLB. Because he is under 25 and does not have six years of service time in NPB, Sasaki is considered an international amateur by MLB and limited to a minor league contract subject to the signing pools. The Marines will get a release fee calculated at 25% of the amount of Sasakis signing bonus.During a news conference at the winter meetings last month, Sasakis agent, Joel Wolfe, denied an agreement with the Dodgers was already in place. Wolfe said MLB had investigated.There was a lot of discussion in the media, in the league, in NPB about Rokis situation, Wolfe said. There were some accusations, allegations, all of them false, made about predetermined deals, things like that. However, MLB rightly wanted to make sure that this was going to be a fair and level playing field for everyone, so they did their due diligence and interviewed numerous parties ahead of time to make sure that that was the case.Sasaki was 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games last year, striking out 129 hitters in 111 innings during a season limited by shoulder inflammation. He went 7-4 with a 1.78 ERA in 15 starts in 2023, when he had an oblique injury. He has a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four seasons with the Marines and pitched a perfect game against Orix in April 2022.The Dodgers first spring training workout is on Feb. 11 at Glendale, Arizona, ahead of their opening two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Incoming U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan, speaks to state troopers and national guardsmen, accompanied by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, at a facility on the U.S.-Mexico border, in Eagle Pass, Texas, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)2025-01-18T19:27:26Z Federal immigration officers will target more than 300 people with histories of egregious, violent crimes after President-elect Donald Trump takes office Monday, an official said, marking his administrations initial attempt toward fulfilling his promise of large-scale deportations.The operation will be concentrated in the Chicago area, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because plans have not been made public. Arrests are expected all week. U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement arrests a fraction of its targets in such operations, though Trump is expected to cast a wider net than President Joe Biden, whose focus on picking up people away from the border was largely limited to those with serious criminal histories and national security threats. Trump aides have said they will arrest others, such as spouses or roommates, who are not targets but happen to be in the country illegally. ICE and the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. The plan was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal, which said the operation is expected to begin Tuesday. Trumps incoming border czar, Tom Homan, told Fox News that Chicago will be one of many places across the country where federal authorities plan to make arrests.Were going to take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens, thats whats going to happen, Homan said Friday. What were telling ICE, youre going to go enforce the immigration law without apology. Youre going to concentrate on the worst first, public safety threats first, but no one is off the table. If theyre in the country illegally, they got a problem. Trump told NBC News on Saturday that mass deportations remain a top priority. He didnt give an exact date or city where theyll start, but he said they would begin soon. Itll begin very early, very quickly, he said, adding: I cant say which cities because things are evolving. And I dont think we want to say what city. Youll see it firsthand.We have to get the criminals out of our country. And I think you would agree with that. I dont know how anyone could not agree.Next weeks operations are subject to potential weather delays, the official said. Forecasters have warned the Chicago area is facing bitter cold temperatures beginning Sunday that could stretch through the week.Immigrants and groups advocating for them have been preparing since Trump made mass deportations a signature pledge of his campaign. Trump has often been critical of Chicago, which has some of the countrys strongest protections for people in the country without legal status. The nations third-largest city became a so-called sanctuary city in the 1980s, limiting how police can cooperate with federal immigration agents. It has strengthened those policies several times since, including after Trump first took office eight years ago. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and first-term Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have said they wont back off those commitments. Johnson in November called Trumps deportation plans small and soft. Homan blasted top Democratic leaders in the state during a visit to the Chicago area last month where he indicated enforcement would start in Chicago. The reality is that, I think there has been a level of fear since Election Day, Brandon Lee, a spokesperson for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said Saturday. We were always operating as though Trump was going to target Chicago and Illinois early in his administration.Advocates have been working to inform immigrants of their rights, creating phone trees to notify them about where officers are making arrests and advising them that officers often work in early-morning hours. Officers typically work without warrants that entitle them to forcibly enter a home.Were just trying to be as ready as we can, Lee said. Were never going to know all the details (of ICE operations). But for members of the community, knowing their rights is empowering. At a news conference Saturday, Democratic U.S. Reps. Jesus Garcia and Delia Ramirez urged immigrants in Chicago to remain calm and exercise their rights, particularly to remain silent and refuse to allow officers into their homes without warrants. We are being tested once again, Garcia said. We have experience defending our community. TODD RICHMOND Richmond is an Associated Press reporter covering Wisconsin politics and courts as well as environmental issues and breaking news across the Great Lakes region. He is based in Madison. twitter mailto

Icons for the smartphone apps Xiaohongshu and TikTok are seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)2025-01-17T21:33:11Z WASHINGTON (AP) As the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, also called RedNote making it the top downloaded app in the U.S.Some of the TikTok refugees, as they call themselves, say the TikTok alternative, a Chinese app, is being chosen in protest of the TikTok ban. Heres what you need to know about Xiaohongshu.What is Xiaohongshu, the Chinese app that TikTok refugees poured to?It is a lifestyle social media app which allows users to post short videos, photos and texts, and it also includes functions like live-streaming and shopping.A rare wave of U.S.-China camaraderie broke out online in recent days as refugees from the popular short video platform TikTok poured onto a Chinese social media platform to protest a likely ban on the service.They were met with surprise, curiosity and in-jokes on Xiaohongshu literally, Little Red Book whose users saw English-language posts take over feeds almost overnight. Americans introduced themselves with hashtag TikTok refugees, ask me anything attitude and posting photos of their pets to pay their hosts cat tax. Parents swapped stories about raising kids and Swifties from both countries, of course, quickly found each other.Its a rare moment of direct contact between two online worlds that are usually kept apart by language, corporate boundaries, and Chinas strict system of online censorship that blocks access to nearly all international media and social media services. Why are Americans downloading a Chinese app?Chinese and American users rarely find themselves in the same online spaces, in large part because Chinas Great Firewall blocks internationally popular platforms like Instagram and X. Even TikTok blocks users in China, directing them to its onshore sister platform Douyin.But as the deadline approached for a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning Jan. 19 unless the popular social media program is sold by its China-based parent company, some began migrating to Xiaohongshu.When they tell us you cant have a Chinese app anymore, we go straight to another Chinese app, said Katie Lawson, a farmer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who has posted videos of her chickens and saved many recipes from the app. Were going to go explore that country and their values ourselves. Were going to go straight to the source.Whats the difference between TikTok and Xiaohongshu?Although TikTok is owned by a Chinese parent company, the short video platform popular with Generation Z is an international app whose content and users are walled off from those of the Chinese version, Douyin.Xiaohongshus 300 million monthly active users are overwhelmingly Chinese so much so that parts of its interface have no English-language version. They skew heavily female, often addressing strangers simply as sister.Known for a friendly atmosphere that focuses on user reviews and peer-to-peer advice, its one of Chinas fastest-growing apps. Foreign celebrities including Mariah Carey and Elon Musks mother Maye Musk -- are longtime users. Kim Kardashian joined the app back in 2018.How many Americans have joined Xiaohongshu?The company hasnt released official data, but the app has reached No. 1 in free downloads on both iOS and Android, remaining in that spot for days.On the platform, two versions of the TikTok refugee hashtag have over 24 million posts, with related posts appearing at the top of many users feeds. What are users talking about?A large number of American users say theyve received a warm welcome from the community, with #TikTokrefugee. Welcome the global villagers remains the top one trending topic on Xiaohongshu, with 8.9 million views on Thursday.Users from both countries are comparing notes on grocery prices, rent, health insurance, medical bills and the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Parents talk about what the kids learn in school in two countries. Some have already joined book clubs and are building up a community.American users asked how Chinese see the LGBTQ community and got warned that it was among sensitive topics, Chinese users taught Americans what are sensitive topics and key words to avoid censorship on the app. Chinese students pulled out their English homework, looking for help. How is the Chinese government responding?Chinese state media, which have long dismissed U.S. allegations against TikTok, have welcomed the protest against the ban.Peoples Daily, Chinas biggest national newspaper, said in an op-ed about TikTok refugees on Thursday that says the TikTok refugees found a new home, and openness, communication, and mutual learning are the unchanging themes of mankind and the heartfelt desires of people from all countries.The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs didnt respond immediately to APs interview request.___Cohen reported from Bangkok. FU TING Ting reports for APs Global Investigations team. She is based in Washington, D.C. twitter

This photo provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, convened his security Cabinet to vote on a ceasefire deal after confirming an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza, in Jerusalem, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Koby Gideon/Israeli Government Press Office via AP)2025-01-18T22:16:15Z TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) After more than a year of devastating war, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to begin on Sunday, pausing the 15-month conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip. The deal is the most significant breakthrough in the war, but its implementation is complex and fragile. It requires cooperation between Palestinian militant groups, the International Red Cross, the Israeli military, mediators from multiple countries and an Israeli government whose coalition is starting to fray as hard-line ministers express their disapproval.The pause has lifted spirits in Gaza, where 90% of the population has been displaced by Israels punishing ground and air bombardments, and vast swaths of the territory reduced to rubble.In Israel, families are desperate to embrace relatives Hamas took captive in the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack that triggered the war. Israel says 98 hostages are still being held in Gaza, but little is known about their conditions, including if they are even still alive. What will happen on Sunday?The ceasefire goes into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT). According to the plan, three living female hostages are to be released after 4 p.m. (1400 GMT). Soon afterward, Israel will release around 95 Palestinian prisoners, who are mostly minors or female.Hamas was supposed to provide Israel with the names of the three hostages on Saturday afternoon, but as of late Saturday night, Israel still had not received the names. The names are to be made public only after the hostages are returned and officially identified.In southern Israel, schools will begin only at 10 a.m. in anticipation that Hamas could launch rockets toward Israel just before the ceasefire begins.Israeli troops inside Gaza will be deployed mostly among the territorys borders with Israel and Egypt, and maintain a presence on a road that divides northern and southern Gaza, according to a map released by the Israeli military. Meanwhile, hundreds of trucks carrying desperately needed humanitarian supplies are expected to pour into Gaza. What will happen in the first week?If the ceasefire holds, the next exchange is set for the seventh day of the ceasefire, or Jan. 25. Hamas is supposed to release four living female hostages. In exchange, Israel will release between 30-50 Palestinian detainees for each hostage.Also on the seventh day, Israels ground troops begin withdrawing from the central road that bisects the territory, known as the Netzarim corridor. This will enable Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza to begin to return to what is left of their homes. Security arrangements, including the inspections of Palestinians heading north, are still being hammered out, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity under military guidelines.In each exchange, prisoners will be released only after the hostages have arrived safely in Israel. All Palestinian prisoners who were convicted in deadly attacks will be exiled, either to Gaza or abroad. Some will be exiled for three years, others permanently. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is expected to start operating soon, according to Egyptian officials, as they prepare for a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The crossing, Gazas main gateway to the outside world, has been closed since the Israeli army took over the area last May.Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Saturday that Egypt hopes to facilitate more than 600 trucks of aid per day going into Gaza, almost three times the amount of peak levels during the war. The most important thing now, in addition to the sustainability of the ceasefire, is to fix the disastrous humanitarian situation inside the Gaza Strip, he said. What is the first phase?The first phase will last six weeks, or 42 days. In total, Hamas is to release 33 hostages in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinians held by Israel. There is no information about how many hostages in the first group of 33 are alive. The hostages most likely to be on the list include women, children, elderly and sick hostages.The prisoners and detainees that Israel will release include over 700 Palestinian prisoners from the Israel-occupied West Bank and Jerusalem whom Israel accuses of being involved in militant activity, as well as almost 1,200 Palestinians from Gaza who are held in Israeli detention. As the ceasefire progresses, three hostages will be freed each week in exchange for prisoners and detainees.By the end of the sixth week, all the remaining hostages on the initial list of 33 hostages will be released.What happens after? During the third week of the ceasefire, the sides are to open negotiations on Phase 2" that aims to end the war altogether.But there are scant details on what happens after the first six weeks. To help convince both sides to sign on to the ceasefire, foreign mediators left the second phase particularly ambiguous. The broad outline says all remaining hostages in Gaza, both alive and dead, are to be released in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the strip and a sustainable calm.Israel says it wont agree to a complete withdrawal until Hamas military and political capabilities are eliminated, ensuring it can no longer rule. Hamas refuses to hand over the last Israeli hostages until Israel ends the war and removes all its troops.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hoping to persuade his far-right allies to remain in his wobbly governing coalition despite their opposition to a ceasefire, has offered the public no guarantees that Israel will make it to Phase 2. That leaves many families of hostages afraid that loved ones still in Gaza will be left behind.We must protect our ability to return to fighting if we need, Netanyahu said late Saturday. MELANIE LIDMAN Lidman is an Associated Press reporter based in Tel Aviv, Israel. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws during the first half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)2025-01-19T00:35:30Z KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Patrick Mahomes threw for 177 yards and a touchdown, most of it going to best buddy Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday to advance to the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive season.With girlfriend Taylor Swift watching alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark from a suite, Kelce had seven catches for 117 yards and a score, helping the Chiefs (16-2) keep alive their dream of winning an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.The Chiefs are the fourth team in NFL history to follow back-to-back Lombardi Trophies by advancing to the conference title game, and the three previous lost. They will try to change that trend at Arrowhead Stadium next weekend against the Bills or Ravens, who play on Sunday in Buffalo for a shot at dethroning the defending champs. Mahomes improved 16-3 in the playoffs, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins in NFL history behind Tom Brady, and he is 7-0 in the divisional round. Mahomes also helped Andy Reid become the fourth NFL coach with 300 career wins.Meanwhile, the Texans (11-8) still have never won in six divisional games. Twice they have lost to Kansas City. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 245 yards but was sacked eight times. Joe Mixon, who had been questionable to play with an ankle injury, caught a couple of passes while running for 88 yards and a touchdown. Texans kicker Kaiimi Fairbairn missed a 55-yard field goal attempt, an extra-point try and had another field goal attempt blocked with 1:46 left, which would have kept Houstons comeback hopes alive by making it a one-possession game.Patrick Mahomes threw for 177 yards and a touchdown, most of it going to best buddy Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday to advance to the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive season. With girlfriend Taylor Swift watching alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark from a suite, Kelce had seven catches for 117 yards and a score, helping the Chiefs (16-2) keep alive their dream of winning an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.The Chiefs are the fourth team in NFL history to follow back-to-back Lombardi Trophies by advancing to the conference title game, and the three previous lost. They will try to change that narrative at Arrowhead Stadium next weekend against the Bills or Ravens, who play on Sunday in Buffalo for a shot at dethroning the defending champs.Mahomes improved 16-3 in the playoffs, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins in NFL history behind Tom Brady, and he is 7-0 in the divisional round. Mahomes also helped Andy Reid become the fourth NFL coach with 300 career wins.Meanwhile, the Texans (11-8) still have never won in six divisional games. Twice they have lost to Kansas City.Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 245 yards but was sacked eight times. Joe Mixon, who had been questionable to play with an ankle injury, caught a couple of passes while running for 88 yards and a touchdown. Texans kicker Kaiimi Fairbairn missed a 55-yard field goal attempt, a PAT try and had another field-goal attempt blocked with 1:46 left, which would have kept their comeback hopes alive by making it a one-possession game.In truth, the Texans special teams were a mess right from the start. The Chiefs nearly opened the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown, a bizarre sequence during which heated Houston cornerback Kris Boyd nearly shoved his own coach to the ground.The Texans held Kansas City to a couple of field goals early, but their defense was unable to stop them late in the first half, when the bruising Kareem Hunt barreled into the end zone to give the AFC West champions a 13-3 lead.Houston managed a 48-yard field goal through cold, swirling winds to make it a one-possession game at the break, and that late kick seemed to have revived the AFC South champions when they returned to the field for the second half.Stroud deftly led them on a 15-play, 82-yard drive that soaked up most of the third quarter, picking up all four of their third-down conversions, including one in which the QB scrambled to the sideline and absorbed a wicked hit. Mixon finished the drive with a 13-yard run, but Fairbairns extra point that would have tied the game was blown wide right. That miss just might have swung the momentum the other way.Just as they have so often in winning their last eight playoff games, the Chiefs responded with a time-consuming drive of their own. Mahomes connected with Kelce four times on the 81-yard march, including the 11-yard touchdown pass to his trusty tight end as the two-time NFL MVP was getting dragged to the turf by Houstons Mario Edwards Jr. The Texans had two opportunities to drive for a tying touchdown. But the first drive ended when Stroud was sacked by George Karlaftis on fourth down near midfield with about 10 minutes left. The second was stopped when Stroud misfired on back-to-back passes and Houston was forced to punt the ball away with just over seven minutes to go.Kansas City proceeded to drive inside the Texans 10 and Harrison Butkers field goal with 4:32 left put the game away. InjuriesTexans: LB Azeez Al-Shaair hurt his knee in the first half. He had been questionable to play this week with a knee injury.Chiefs: SS Bryan Cook missed most of the first half while being evaluated for a concussion but returned to the game. ... FS Justin Reid took a hard blow to the head breaking up a pass in the fourth quarter, but stayed in.Up nextThe Chiefs host the AFC title game a week from Sunday for the sixth time in seven years. They will play either the Bills, one of two teams to beat them in the regular season, or the Ravens, who lost in Kansas City in Week 1.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL DAVE SKRETTA Skretta is a Kansas City-based sports writer for The Associated Press. He covers the Royals, the Chiefs and college sports along with auto racing, the Olympics and other sports.

The stage where the 60th Presidential Inauguration was scheduled is seen on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. The inauguration is now scheduled for inside the Capitol Rotunda due to cold weather. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)2025-01-17T19:57:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) Sub-freezing temperatures forecast for Monday in Washington mean President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda. Almost everyone visiting Washington wont be able to see the ceremony in person.It will be the first time in 40 years that the swearing-in wont take place on the Capitol steps. Plans are underway to accommodate some attendees at the citys pro basketball and hockey arena. Heres whats known about the arrangements as organizers scramble to adapt:Where will Trump now be sworn in?The Rotunda is prepared as an alternative for each inauguration in the event of inclement weather. The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term. Mondays forecast calls for the lowest Inauguration Day temperatures since that day. President Joe Biden, members of Congress and other dignitaries and notable guests will be able to view the ceremony from inside the Capitol. On Friday, workers were installing a small platform in the Rotunda.The U.S. Capitol Police said outside ticketed areas at the Capitol will be closed due to the extremely cold weather, so even if people wanted to gather there as Trump takes the oath inside, they wont be allowed to do so. How cold is it going to get on Monday?The National Weather Service is predicting that the temperature will be about 22 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-6 Celsius) at noon EST, when Trump becomes president. That would be the coldest since Reagans second inauguration saw temperatures plunge to 7 degrees (minus-14 Celsius).The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I dont want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.In 2009, it was 28 degrees (minus-2 Celsius) for Barack Obamas swearing-in. Biden was sworn in four years ago in a relatively balmy 42 degrees (5.5 Celsius). A few Democrats poked fun at Trumps decision. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was Vice President Kamala Harris running mate in the Democrats losing 2024 campaign, posted a photo of himself standing in a snowstorm with the caption, Theres no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.Mondays forecast temperature is about the same as it was in Washington 64 years ago, when John F. Kennedy took the oath in a 22-degree chill, and after crews worked overnight clearing 8 inches of fresh snow from the parade route. Kennedy delivered his speech from the Capitols east steps without a topcoat, his frosty breath visible as he spoke.A half-century earlier, William Howard Taft held his 1909 inauguration indoors after 10 inches of snow fell. Thats when the inauguration was still held on March 4, not Jan. 20.How many members of the public can attend the inauguration inside?In his social media post about the weather-related change, Trump said that various Dignitaries and Guests would be taken into the Rotunda for the ceremony. Its unclear how many people or whom. According to a notice from the Houses sergeant at arms to congressional offices, the vast majority of the seats that had been planned for an outdoor ceremony will be excluded and those tickets will become commemorative. Organizers are still deciding whether they can admit people who have tickets in sections 3 and 4, which would have been right in front of the stage outdoors. The Rotunda can only hold about 600 people, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.According to Trumps post, Capital One Arena where the incoming president plans a rally Sunday afternoon will be open again on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event. No information is available yet on how to sign up for a seat inside the arena on Monday. The arena can hold 20,000 people. What about the parade? Is it still happening?Trump also said that Capital One Arena would host the Presidential Parade. Trump said he would join the crowd at Capital One after he takes the oath.The parade is managed by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, which is trying to figure out what changes need to be made and how the parade will go on.Normally, thousands of people line the route from the Capitol to the White House, which the president typically traverses following the swearing-in ceremony. Marching bands and other participants from around the country come to Washington to participate, so presumably they will also be part of the newly arranged indoor festivities.Are other inaugural events still happening?According to Trump, yes. The Republican president-elect said Friday that other inaugural events, including the Sunday rally and his participation in three inaugural balls on Monday night, would take place as scheduled.If I choose not to go to the inauguration, can I get a refund?Tickets to the inauguration when it was planned to be outside are free, so no refunds are needed for that.Associated Press inquiries about any plans by American Airlines and United Airlines to offer refunds or other arrangements for travelers changing their plans were not immediately answered. Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines were planning no change in policy. Similar requests to hotel chains including Hilton, IHG, Marriott and Best Western Hotels were not immediately answered. A Transportation Department spokesperson advised travelers to find information on its Fly Rights consumer guide at www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights. ___Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP, Beaumont at https://x.com/tombeaumont. Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Farnoush Amiri and Tara Copp contributed from Washington. MEG KINNARD Kinnard covers national politics for The Associated Press. She lives in South Carolina. twitter instagram mailto THOMAS BEAUMONT Beaumont covers national politics for The Associated Press. He is based in Des Moines, Iowa. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

An Army National Guard soldier displays an American flag and the distinctive patch worn by personnel supporting the upcoming 60th Presidential Inauguration at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Jan. 14, 2025. (Tech. Sgt. Andrew Enriquez/U.S. Air National Guard via AP)2025-01-18T13:21:10Z Follow live updates on President-elect Donald Trumps return to Washington WASHINGTON (AP) When thousands of National Guard forces and law enforcement officers locked down Washington during racial protests and the Jan. 6 riot four years ago, the blur of camouflage and helmets made it nearly impossible to tell the difference between cops and troops.This years inauguration will be different. National Guard leaders have authorized the use of a special shoulder patch with the Guard motto Always Ready, Always There, to ensure that people coming to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Monday will know who is who.It is to make sure its easier to identify whos participating for the National Guard, said Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, adjutant general of the Washington, D.C., Guard. The patch, he added, will connect each of the participants from the National Guard back to the mission set, back to what theyre doing and the importance of participating in this peaceful transition. The new red, white and blue patch also depicts a minuteman, long a symbol of the Guard that harkens back to the Revolutionary War. The key, said Army Col. Larry Doane, a senior Guard leader, was to provide a visible way to distinguish the troops. Its tough these days where it feels like every law enforcement agency and everybody out there wants to wear the same camouflage pattern that Im wearing, Doane said. Theres a very, very long tradition in our country about discomfort with the military policing a population, and we want to stay in step with that. Officials say the U.S. government is far more prepared this year for any emergency or incident, but they also believe that Americas transfer of power will be less violent and threatening than it was in 2021, when about 25,000 Guard troops descended on the city in the wake of the siege at the Capitol.After the inaugural four years ago, where there were very serious security concerns, the preparation for this event has been very robust and rigorous, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said. About 7,800 Guard troops from more than 40 states and U.S. territories will be on duty, and they have already begun flowing into Washington. Blanchard said one change this year is that the troops are coming in a day or two earlier so that we can ensure that as were building up, were again keeping those lines of communication clear, and that were not overwhelmed with a large number of folks coming in in a very short period of time.Having the swearing-in and parade indoors, due to the frigid weather, will likely cause some shifts in where troops may be positioned, but no other major changes because troops will still have to secure the area around the Capitol.Across the city, a wide array of federal government, law enforcement and military officials have been meeting, planning and doing tabletop exercises for months.The goal, said Blanchard, is to ensure that all the agencies are able to communicate clearly and consistently throughout the event. He said a lot of the exercises and discussions have focused on ensuring that everyone understands their specific roles and responsibilities, and that there will be rapid and clear communications if something unexpected happens. The Guard troops will do crowd management, traffic control and other security, and there will be teams to monitor and respond to any chemical, biological or other explosive incident. They will help to staff 100 traffic control points and five subway stops.I feel very comfortable that weve done everything that we can do, Blanchard said. And, I think were going to have a great, peaceful transition of power. Im excited again just to stand in our nations capital, along with a lot of other American citizens, and see this happen.Intelligence agencies are closely watching for any threats. So far, officials say they arent seeing any significant risks, and at this point, they expect this inauguration will look more like those of eight, 12 or 16 years ago.In January 2021, the country was in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. The streets were void of the crowds that normally line Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade and attendees were masked. Hotels and restaurants were struggling, so they provided easy housing and food for the Guard forces and law enforcement officers. This time, the hotels and eateries will be packed. So Guard officials have identified other ways to house, feed and care for the troops who will pour in to help secure the city. They are expected to use a number of downtown buildings that will be largely vacant as federal employees telework over the coming days.About 87% of the Guard troops will be Army and 13% will be Air Force.

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Korea Pool via AP)2025-01-15T06:21:19Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was formally arrested on Sunday, days after being apprehended in a massive law enforcement operation at his presidential compound in Seoul.Yoons arrest could mark the beginning of a prolonged period in custody, lasting months or longer, as he faces the possibility of imprisonment on potential rebellion charges linked to his imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.The National Assembly voided his short-lived declaration just hours after it was announced.Yoon claimed he took the action because the liberal opposition, which has a legislative majority, was obstructing his agendas and even the approval of his budget. He described the opposition as North Korea sympathizers, anti-state forces responsible for wreaking havoc and the main culprits of our nations downfall.Here is a timeline of events: Jan. 19The Seoul Western District Court grants law enforcements request for a formal arrest warrant for Yoon, citing him as a threat that could destroy evidence. His arrest triggers a riot by his supporters, who break into the court, smashing windows and equipment. Nearly 90 of them are arrested. Jan. 15Anti-corruption investigators and police raid the presidential compound and detain Yoon, more than six weeks after his ill-fated power grab. Yoon, the first sitting president to be apprehended, had been holed up in the Hannam-dong residence in the capital, Seoul, for weeks while vowing to fight to the end the efforts to oust him. Jan. 14The Constitutional Court held its first formal hearing in the case. The session lasted less than five minutes because Yoon refused to attend. The next hearing is set for Jan. 16.Jan. 7The chief of the presidential security service, Park Jong-joon, resigns. Jan. 3Scuffles occur on Jan. 3 when dozens of investigators were stopped from entering Yoons compound by presidential security forces, military personnel and vehicle barricades. Dec. 31Seoul Western District Court issues a warrant to detain Yoon for questioning. Dec. 27The National Assembly votes to impeach South Koreas acting President Han Duck-soo over his unwillingness to fill vacancies on the bench of the Constitutional Court, plunging the country into further political turmoil.Dec. 14The National Assembly passes the motion 204-85, impeachingYoon. His presidential powers and duties are subsequently suspended and Prime Minister Han, the countrys No. 2 official, takes over presidential powers.Dec. 12Yoon defends his martial law decree as an act of governance and denies rebellion charges, vowing to fight to the end in the face of attempts to impeach him.The National Assembly passes motions to impeach national police chief Cho Ji Ho and Justice Minister Park Sung Jae, suspending them from official duties, over their alleged roles in the enforcement of martial law. Dec. 11Kim Yong Hyun, the former defense minister, is formally arrested over his alleged collusion with Yoon and others in imposing martial law. The Justice Ministry says Kim was stopped from attempting suicide hours before a Seoul court issued his arrest warrant.South Korean police send officers to search Yoons office to look for evidence related to the martial law introduction but they are blocked by Yoons security team from entering the compound. Police detain the national police chief and the top officer for Seoul over their roles in enforcing Yoons martial law orders. Dec. 10Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command whose troops were sent to parliament after Yoon declared martial law, tells lawmakers that he received direct instructions from former defense minister, Kim, to obstruct them from entering the National Assemblys main chamber. He says Kims instructions were to prevent the 300-member Assembly from gathering the 150 votes necessary to overturn Yoons martial law order.Kwak says Yoon later called him directly and asked for the troops to quickly destroy the door and drag out the lawmakers who are inside. Kwak says he did not carry out Yoons orders. Dec. 9South Koreas Justice Ministry bans Yoon from traveling overseas as police, prosecutors and South Koreas anti-corruption agency expand competing investigations into allegations of rebellion and other charges in connection with his martial law decree. Dec. 8Prosecutors detain former defense minister, Kim, over his alleged role in planning and executing Yoons martial law enforcement.Dec. 7Yoon apologizes and says he wont shirk legal or political responsibility for declaring martial law. He also says he would leave it to his party to chart a course through the countrys political turmoil, including matters related to my term in office.Yoon survives an impeachment vote that most ruling party lawmakers boycotted, denying the motion that required a two-thirds majority.Dec. 6In a bombshell reversal, Han Dong-hun, reformist leader of Yoons party, expresses support for suspending Yoons constitutional powers, saying that the president poses a significant risk of extreme actions, like reattempting to impose martial law, which could potentially put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger. Dec. 5Yoon replaces his Defense Minister Kim, a close associate believed to be the person who recommended the president declare martial law. Han, the leader of Yoons party, says he would work to defeat the opposition-led impeachment motion even though he criticized Yoons declaration as unconstitutional. Han says theres a need to prevent damage to citizens and supporters caused by unprepared chaos.Dec. 4Shortly after midnight, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik says through his YouTube channel that the Assembly will respond to Yoons martial law declaration with constitutional procedure.Woo reaches the Assemblys main chamber around 12:35 a.m. Some South Korean troops break windows to enter the Assembly but fail to reach the main chamber. Woo opens a meeting at 12:47 a.m. to hold a vote on whether to lift martial law.At around 1 a.m., 190 lawmakers, including 18 from Yoons own conservative People Power Party, voted unanimously to lift martial law. Troops and police begin to retreat from the Assembly shortly later.At 4:30 a.m., martial law is formally lifted following a Cabinet meeting.Dec. 3In a surprise announcement at 10:29 p.m., President Yoon tells a national television audience hes declaring martial law, saying the opposition-controlled National Assembly has become a den of criminals paralyzing government affairs.Yoon vows to eradicate his political rivals, describing them as North Korea-sympathizing, anti-state forces responsible for wreaking havoc and are the main culprits of our nations downfall. He doesnt back his claims with direct evidence. In reaction, the main opposition Democratic Party calls for an emergency meeting. As lawmakers begin rushing to the National Assembly, the militarys martial law command issues a proclamation declaring sweeping government powers, including the suspension of political parties activities and other political gatherings that could cause social confusion and control over media and publications. It says anyone who violates the decree could be arrested without a warrant.Hundreds of heavily armed troops encircle the Assembly, apparently to prevent lawmakers from gathering to vote on the martial law declaration. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung live-streams his journey from a car, pleading for people to converge on the parliament to help lawmakers get inside. The shaky footage shows him climbing over a fence to reach the grounds.___Associated Press writer Patrick Quinn in Bangkok contributed to this report. KIM TONG-HYUNG Kim has been covering the Koreas for the AP since 2014. He has published widely read stories on North Koreas nuclear ambitions, the dark side of South Koreas economic rise and international adoptions of Korean children. twitter mailto

A TikTok logo is shown on a phone in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)2025-01-19T04:00:45Z NEW YORK (AP) TikToks app was removed from prominent app stores on Saturday just before a federal law that would have banned the popular social media platform was scheduled to go into effect.By 10:50pm Eastern Standard Time, the app was not found on Apple and Googles app stores, which are prohibited from offering the platform under a law that required TikToks China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform or face a U.S. ban.When users opened the TikTok app on Saturday evening, they encountered a pop-up message from the company that prevented them from scrolling on videos.A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S., the message said. Unfortunately that means you cant use TikTok for now.We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office, the message said. Please stay tuned! Before that announcement went out, the company had said in another message to users that its service would be temporarily unavailable and told them its working to restore its U.S. service as soon as possible. The federal law, that was signed by President Joe Biden last year, required ByteDance to divest its stake in the TikToks U.S. platform or face a ban. ByteDance had nine months to sell the U.S. operation to an approved buyer. The company, and TikTok, chose to take legal action against the law and ultimately lost their fight at the Supreme Court on Friday. Under the statute, mobile app stores are barred from offering TikTok and internet hosting services are prohibited from delivering the service to American users.Both White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco had said that the Biden administration would leave the laws implementation to President-elect Donald Trump given that his inauguration falls the day after the ban takes effect. But TikTok said after the court ruling on Friday that it will be forced to go dark if the administration didnt provide a definitive statement to the companies that deliver its service in the U.S.However, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikToks demand a stunt and said there was no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office.In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump said he was thinking about giving TikTok a 90-day extension that would allow them to continue operating.The federal law allows the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if a sale is in progress. But no clear buyers have emerged, and ByteDance has previously said it wont sell TikTok.If such an extension happens, Trump said it would probably be announced on Monday.On Saturday, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI submitted a proposal to ByteDance to create a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter. If successful, the new structure would also include other investors and allow ByteDances existing shareholders to retain their stake in the company, the person said. Perplexity is not asking to purchase the ByteDance algorithm that feeds TikTok users videos based on their interests and has made the platform such a phenomenon.Other investors have also been eyeing TikTok. Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary recently said a consortium of investors that he and billionaire Frank McCourt put together offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash. Trumps Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said last year that he was putting together an investor group to buy TikTok. HALELUYA HADERO Haleluya covers Amazon, retail and technology. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Coco Gauff of the U.S. writes "RIP Tik Tok USA" after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in a fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)2025-01-19T05:04:32Z MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) American tennis star Coco Gauff mourned the loss of TikToks app back home, writing on a TV camera lens RIP TikTok USA and drawing a broken heart right after winning a match at the Australian Open to reach the quarterfinals.Gauffs 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Belinda Bencic in the Grand Slam tournaments main stadium finished on Sunday afternoon local time in Melbourne about an hour after TikTok could no longer be found on prominent app stores on Saturday in the United States. Tennis players at many tournaments often are handed a pen after a win so they can deliver whatever thoughts they want via the lens of a courtside camera. In this case, Gauff paused a bit to think and said, I think Im going to go with this one, before offering her TikTok message in blue ink.At the French Open in June 2022, after reaching her first Grand Slam final as a teenager, Gauff referred to a recent spate of mass shootings in the U.S. at the time and wrote in marker: Peace. End gun violence. Now 20, Gauff is one of the top players in her sport. She won the 2023 U.S. Open and is currently ranked No. 3. Gauff frequently has posted on TikTok, often mimicking popular trends.I feel this is the third or fourth time this has happened. This time its just like, Whatever. If I wake up and it doesnt work, fine. Im done wasting my time figuring it out, Gauff said earlier during the Australian Open. I see theres a new app called RedNote that a lot of people are migrating over to. So I feel, regardless, people are going to be fine because people are always going to migrate to another app. She added that she hoped TikTok would survive, calling it a great thing for a lot of small businesses in our country, and a lot of creators make money on it and have the chance to spread stories. Personally, me, a lot of great stories Ive heard are from TikTok and connecting with people has been (through) TikTok. I hope it will stay, (but) obviously I dont know all the security issues and things like that. A U.S. federal law that would have banned the popular social media platform was scheduled to go into effect. Apple and Google app stores are prohibited from offering TikTok under a law that required its China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform or face a ban in the U.S.When users opened the TikTok app, they encountered a pop-up message from the company that prevented them from scrolling on videos.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis HOWARD FENDRICH Fendrich is an Associated Press national writer based in Washington, D.C. He reports on tennis and other sports. twitter mailto

Police officers stand outside of the Seoul Western District Court after supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol broke into the court in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. The letters read "The Seoul Western District Court." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)2025-01-19T05:39:52Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Hours after South Koreas impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally arrested, triggering rioting by his supporters, his lawyers said Sunday that he remains defiant in his refusal to answer questions over the probe into his declaration of martial law last month.Yoon was formally arrested early on Sunday, days after being apprehended at his presidential compound in Seoul. He faces possible imprisonment over his short-lived authoritarian push, which set off the countrys most serious political crisis since its democratization in the late 1980s.Yoons arrest could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody, lasting months or more.The decision to arrest Yoon ignited unrest at the Seoul Western District Court, where dozens of his supporters broke in and rioted, destroying the main door and windows. They used plastic chairs, metal beams and police shields that they managed to wrestle away from officers. Some were seen throwing objects and using fire extinguishers, destroying furniture and office machines, smashing glass doors and spraying water on computer servers. They shouted demands to see the judge who had issued the warrant, but she had already left.Hundreds of police officers were deployed and nearly 90 protesters were arrested. Some injured police officers were seen being treated at ambulance vans. The court said it was trying to confirm whether any staff members were injured and assess the damage to its facilities. Court describes Yoon as threat to destroy evidenceIn granting law enforcements request for an arrest warrant for Yoon, the court said he was a threat to destroy evidence. Yoon and his lawyers on Saturday appeared before the court and argued for his release. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, can now extend Yoons detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment.Investigators are examining whether Yoons Dec. 3 martial law decree amounted to an attempted rebellion. While South Korean presidents have wide-ranging immunity from prosecution while in office, the protection does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.Yoons lawyers could also file a petition to challenge the courts arrest warrant. Yoon Kab-keun, one of the presidents lawyers, said he will not attend a questioning by the anti-corruption agency set for Sunday afternoon and will remain at the detention center.Yoon Suk Yeols appearance in court caused chaotic scenes in nearby streets, where thousands of his fervent supporters rallied for hours calling for his release. Even before the court issued the warrant for Yoons arrest, protesters repeatedly clashed with police. At least two vehicles carrying anti-corruption investigators were damaged as they left the court after arguing for Yoons arrest.Yoons defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested and indicted for their roles in the enforcement of martial law. Yoons lawyer decries his arrest The crisis began when Yoon, in an attempt to break through legislative gridlock, imposed military rule and sent troops to the National Assembly and election offices. The standoff lasted only hours after lawmakers who managed to get through a blockade voted to lift the measure. The opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14.His political fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him. Seok Dong-hyeon, another lawyer representing Yoon, called the court order for his arrest the epitome of anti-constitutionalism and anti-rule of law. He pointed to the riot and said Yoons arrest would inspire more anger from his supporters. Yoons People Power Party regretted his arrest but also pleaded for his supporters to refrain from further violence. The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative effort to impeach Yoon, said his arrest would be a cornerstone for restoring the collapsed constitutional order. It also called for stern punishment of the rioters. The countrys acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, expressed strong regret about the riot, saying it directly undermines democracy and the rule of law. He asked for heightened security at the sites related to Yoons case, also including the Constitutional Court, and measures to ensure order during protests. After its investigators were attacked by protesters later on Saturday, the anti-corruption agency asked media companies to obscure the faces of its members attending the hearing. Yoon insists his martial law decree was legitimateYoon and his lawyers have claimed that the martial law declaration was intended as a temporary and peaceful warning to the liberal opposition, which he accuses of obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority. Yoon says the troops sent to the National Election Commission offices were to investigate election fraud allegations, which remain unsubstantiated in South Korea. Yoon has stressed he had no intention of stopping the functioning of the legislature. He stated that the troops were sent there to maintain order, not prevent lawmakers from entering and voting to lift martial law. He denied allegations that he ordered the arrests of key politicians and election officials. Military commanders, however, have described a deliberate attempt to seize the legislature that was thwarted by hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter the assembly, and by the troops reluctance or refusal to follow Yoons orders.If prosecutors indict Yoon on rebellion and abuse of power charges, which are the allegations now being examined by investigators, they could keep him in custody for up to six months before trial. If the first court convicts him and issues a prison term, Yoon would serve that sentence as the case possibly moves up to the Seoul High Court and Supreme Court. Under South Korean law, orchestrating a rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty. KIM TONG-HYUNG Kim has been covering the Koreas for the AP since 2014. He has published widely read stories on North Koreas nuclear ambitions, the dark side of South Koreas economic rise and international adoptions of Korean children. twitter mailto

Stephen Miller attends the Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC, at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)2025-01-19T05:09:11Z The ominous letters went to hundreds of state and local officials across the U.S. two days before Christmas. It was a potential blueprint for how the Trump administration may attack sanctuary jurisdictions that resist mass deportations.They threatened criminal prosecutions and lawsuits going after officials personal finances. They invoked RICO, the federal statute often used to fight organized crime.You and your subordinates could potentially face up to 20 years in prison, America First Legal, a group led by current and former advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, said in the letter. Its president, Stephen Miller, will be deputy chief of policy in the new administration and is a longtime architect of Trumps immigration policies.The letters targets: city, county and state officials in Americas sanctuary jurisdictions, a term rooted in medieval laws that today encompasses a range of protection for immigrants, particularly those living in the U.S. illegally. Sanctuary jurisdictions limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Some targets were chosen for statements they made after Trumps election. Maura Healey, the Democratic governor of Massachusetts, is taken to task for vowing to use every tool in the toolbox to resist mass deportations in her state. But most made the list for refusing to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement by holding people who are wanted for being in the country illegally. The warnings may signal part of a legal a roadmap for Trumps crackdown on immigration and pledge of mass deportations. It accuses officials of violating several federal statutes, including one against immigrant smuggling and another against interfering with the work of federal officers. On Saturday, an official said a federal immigration operation concentrated in Chicago will begin after Trump takes office Monday, targeting more than 300 people with histories of violent crimes. Chicago has been a sanctuary city for decades, and officials there have said they retreat on those commitments. Courts have repeatedly upheld the legality of most sanctuary laws.Sanctuary laws dont shield or harbor or conceal quote-unquote illegal aliens, said Mark Fleming, a lawyer with the Chicago-based National Immigration Justice Center, a pro-immigration group. What the laws do is they say Your role (as federal officials) is to do immigration enforcement. Our role is not, and were not going to participate.Immigration lawyers scoffed at the letters legal arguments. Police and officials in sanctuary jurisdictions are, they note, enforcing legally enacted laws.But officials, lawyers and immigration advocates are taking the letters seriously. The involvement of Miller, a senior advisor in Trumps first term and a major figure in many policy decisions, particularly on immigration, means they have no choice.Plus, many say, the legal arguments may not even be relevant.Letters like these are really more about sowing fear than they are about articulating anything that would hold up from a legal standpoint, said Sirine Shebaya, an attorney and executive director of the National Immigration Project. Its a fear that can be used against officials and against immigrants themselves.We are hearing a lot of concern from our immigrant community members about whether the city will continue (as a sanctuary) or will they end it, said Peter Pedemonti, co-director of the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia.During the first Trump administration, the White House tried to use financial cudgels against sanctuary jurisdictions by denying them public safety grants that can be key for law enforcement budgets. Courts largely rejected those attempts, though some Trump loyalists say that could happen again in the incoming administration.The letters may signal that the cudgels will be legal. They went to well over 200 officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and county officials from Maine, Nebraska and California. They are largely identical, though occasionally personalized with details of crimes allegedly committed by immigrants in a particular officials jurisdiction.All are full of dire warnings.You each could face criminal prosecution and civil liability for your illegal acts, wrote James Rogers, senior counsel for America First Legal Foundation. Employees in your jurisdiction involved in implementing sanctuary policies that prevent federal immigration officers from carrying out their duties would potentially face six years in prison, he wrote.If most lawyers roll their eyes at such threats, they also know that weak legal arguments dont necessarily stop prosecutions.I think these threats are actually a critical cog in the strategy, said Fleming. Because the reality is that even if they lose, they can win by putting someone through this. Fear of relentless court cases, particularly in smaller jurisdictions without teams of lawyers, could push officials to ease back on sanctuary laws, or even allow local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officers.ICE, which has just 21,000 employees, many of them administrators or support personnel, would need immense local law enforcement help to follow through on Trumps promises of mass deportationsThe sanctuary designations have already caused deep divisions in some jurisdictions, with sheriffs in California, Washington and elsewhere vowing to ignore sanctuary policies. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has said hes prepared to suspend elected officials if they are neglecting their duties under Trumps promised immigration mandates. But Democratic leaders including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and New Yorks Hochul vowed after Trumps election that they would stand firm on their sanctuary policies. A few days after the election, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson insisted that the citys police force would not help ICE agents with deportations. We will not bend or break, Johnson told reporters. The question is whether sanctuary officials will continue to stand firm in the face of personal legal threats and an incoming White House that has made clear immigration is a top focus. Stephen Miller is going to be the deputy chief adviser to the president, said R. Linus Chan, an attorney who works with immigrants detained by ICE, and a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. So you cant really just ignore him. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball past Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurike (91) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)2025-01-19T04:34:40Z DETROIT (AP) Jayden Daniels and the nothing-to-lose Washington Commanders sent the top-seeded Detroit Lions to a stunningly swift playoff exit.Daniels threw for two touchdowns and fellow rookie Mike Sainristil had two interceptions, dazzling performances that helped Washington beat Detroit 45-31 on Saturday night to reach the NFC championship game for the first time since winning the franchises third Super Bowl 33 years ago.Its a surreal moment, Daniels said.The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were nearly double-digit underdogs against the Super Bowl-favorite Lions (15-3) and overcame doubts as they did all season with a new quarterback, coach and general manager.I always believed that we could achieve more than people give us credit for, Daniels said.Detroit, the NFCs top team for the first time with a franchise-record 15 wins, doomed its chances of living up to expectations by turning the ball over five times. This isnt the time to talk about what a great year we had and all the wins, Lions coach Dan Campbell said. Were here to get to the show and we fell short. That hurts. Sainristil, who won a national title at Michigan last season, picked off his second pass on a trick play with receiver Jameson Williams throwing into coverage off a reverse in the fourth quarter.Mike is somebody that hes hard to fool, Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. Quan Martin returned a pick 40 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to put Washington ahead 24-14.Jared Goff threw three picks and lost a fumble, turning it over three times in the ill-fated first half. He finished 23 of 40 for 313 yards with a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta that gave the Lions their last lead midway through the second quarter.Daniels finished with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing, and just as important didnt turn the ball over.He has a different poise, Quinn said. Hes a rare competitor. Daniels became the second rookie quarterback to knock off a top-seeded team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore past Tennessee on Jan. 10, 2009.Nothing surprises me with him, said receiver Terry McLaurin, who turned a short pass from Daniels into a 58-yard touchdown.Quinn led Washington to its first playoff win in 19 years last week. The Commanders rallied past Tampa Bay for their sixth comeback win and fifth straight on the final play from scrimmage in regulation or overtime.The Commanders, who converted 3 of 4 fourth downs, didnt let Detroit keep it that close.Give them credit, Campbell said. They earned that game and we didnt.Washington outscored Detroit 28-14 in the second quarter the highest-scoring quarter in NFL playoff history to take a 31-21 lead at halftime.Daniels had 242 yards passing in the first half, setting a rookie record one week after becoming the first rookie to lead his team in yards rushing and passing in a playoff win.The former LSU star, who was the No. 2 pick overall, was 22 of 31, including the long TD on the screen to McLaurin and a 5-yard throw for a score to Zach Ertz in the second quarter. Brian Robinson ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns.Detroits Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns while Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions for 137 yards.Goff fumbled in a collapsing pocket on third-and-1 from the Commanders 17 late in the first quarter and Washington took advantage.Daniels converted a fourth-and-3 from the Detroit 9 to extend a drive capped by Robinsons 2-yard touchdown run.Three snaps after Daniels TD throw to McLaurin, Goff overthrew his intended target and Martin intercepted it and took it to the end zone, putting the Commanders ahead 24-14. Goff took a hit from linebacker Frankie Luvu on the interception return and was evaluated for a concussion.Detroits defense could not stop the Commanders all night, and Washington set a season high in points.The Lions started the second half strong, forcing Washington to punt for the first time and going 76 yards on 11 plays on the ensuing drive, capped by Gibbs 8-yard run for his second touchdown to make it 31-28. Detroit, though, wasnt stingy for long on defense.Washington had a 15-play, 70-yard touchdown drive extended by Detroit having 12 men on the field when facing fourth-and-2 from its 5 and Robinsons second short touchdown run restored the Commanders 10-point lead.InjuriesCommanders: OG Sam Cosmi was injured on Robinsons go-ahead touchdown early in the second quarter. His right leg bent awkwardly and he limped off the field.Lions: CB Amik Robertson suffered a broken arm on Washingtons second snap. ... OG Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) and reserve DL Pat OConnor (calf) were inactive.Up next Washington will play the winner of Sundays Los Angeles Rams-Philadelphia Eagles game next Sunday on the road for a spot in the Super Bowl.___Follow Larry Lage at https://apnews.com/author/larry-lage___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL LARRY LAGE Lage has been the Michigan Associated Press Sports Editor since 2000, serving as a beat writer for eight teams in pro and college. He has covered the Winter Olympics four times, most recently as the ski jumping and Nordic combined writer at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. twitter instagram mailto

Girls attend school on the first day of the new school year, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)2025-01-19T07:18:07Z A senior Taliban figure has urged the groups leader to scrap education bans on Afghan women and girls, saying there is no excuse for them, in a rare public rebuke of government policy. Sher Abbas Stanikzai, political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, made the remarks in a speech on Saturday in southeastern Khost province. He told an audience at a religious school ceremony there was no reason to deny education to women and girls, just as there was no justification for it in the past and there shouldnt be one at all.The government has barred females from education after sixth grade. Last September, there were reports authorities had also stopped medical training and courses for women.In Afghanistan, women and girls can only be treated by female doctors and health professionals. Authorities have yet to confirm the medical training ban. We call on the leadership again to open the doors of education, said Stanikzai in a video shared by his official account on the social platform X. We are committing an injustice against 20 million people out of a population of 40 million, depriving them of all their rights. This is not in Islamic law, but our personal choice or nature. Stanikzai was once the head of the Taliban team in talks that led to the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. It is not the first time he has said that women and girls deserve to have an education. He made similar remarks in September 2022, a year after schools closed for girls and months and before the introduction of a university ban. But the latest comments marked his first call for a change in policy and a direct appeal to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst with Crisis Groups South Asia program, said Stanikzai had periodically made statements calling girls education a right of all Afghan women. However, this latest statement seems to go further in the sense that he is publicly calling for a change in policy and questioned the legitimacy of the current approach, Bahiss said. In the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, earlier this month, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban on women and girls education. She was speaking at a conference hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League.The U.N. has said that recognition is almost impossible while bans on female education and employment remain in place and women cant go out in public without a male guardian.No country recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, but countries like Russia have been building ties with them.India has also been developing relations with Afghan authorities. In Dubai earlier this month, a meeting between Indias top diplomat, Vikram Mistri, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi showed their deepening cooperation.

Demonstrators light flares as they gather during a protest calling for the release of all hostages held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)2025-01-19T06:54:42Z The Israeli military says it continues to attack inside the Gaza Strip as a dispute with Hamas delayed the start of a planned ceasefire.Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the militarys chief spokesman, said the truce would not begin until Hamas hands over the names of three hostages to be released later on Sunday, echoing an earlier statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.The truce had been set to go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time.Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on technical field reasons. It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.Netanyahu said he had instructed the military that the ceasefire will not begin until Israel has in its possession the list of hostages to be freed, which Hamas committed to provide. He had issued a similar warning the night before. The ceasefire was set to pause the fighting after 15 months of war and see the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israels Cabinet approved the deal early on Saturday.Brokered by mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt in months of indirect talks between the warring sides, the ceasefire is the second truce achieved in the devastating conflict. The Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel killed some 1,200 people and left some 250 others captive. Nearly 100 hostages remain in Gaza.Israel responded with an offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half the dead. ___Heres the latest: Israel says it recovered the body of a soldier killed in 2014 hours before Gaza ceasefireDEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israeli authorities said Sunday that forces had recovered and returned the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, whose remains were held by the Palestinian militant group in Gaza.Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said a complicated operation involving elite commando forces returned the body of Oron Shaul overnight Saturday.Shaul, 21 at the time of his death, was killed in battle in the war a decade ago. His body was snatched by Hamas and held since.Hamas still holds the body of another soldier killed during that war, Hadar Goldin.Both of the soldiers families had staged a public campaign to have the bodies returned.The bodies were expected to be returned as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas in exchange for the hostages and bodies it holds.UNs humanitarian affairs agency ramps up preparations to provide aid to GazaUNITED NATIONS The U.N.s humanitarian affairs agency says it has ratcheted up its preparations for providing aid to Gaza after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes effect.Muhannad Hadi, the agencys humanitarian coordinator for the territory, said Saturday the United Nations and its partners are ready to leverage the opportunity for large-scale relief.Hadi referenced in a statement the agreements reached on implementing humanitarian components in the first phase of the ceasefire, including the provision of supplies including water, food, health and shelter to people across Gaza and the long-awaited release of hostages. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas it set to go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) on Sunday, mediator Qatar said. It will pause the fighting after 15 months of war and see the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Dozens of Israelis protest ceasefire deal in JerusalemJERUSALEM Dozens of Israelis protested the ceasefire deal in Jerusalem on Saturday night, briefly blocking a main road as they shouted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign and the war to continue.Many carried faux coffins draped in the Israeli flag as well as banners calling the ceasefire a betrayal of Israeli soldiers killed in the war.Yehoshua Shin, whose son was killed fighting Hamas militants on Oct. 7, criticized the deal for releasing Palestinians from prison and called on American president- elect Donald Trump to scrap the deal until there is total victory over the Hamas militant group. Netanyahu says Israel treating ceasefire with Hamas as temporary JERUSALEM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel is treating the ceasefire with Hamas as temporary and retains the right to continue fighting if necessary.Speaking to the nation just 12 hours before the ceasefire is to start, he claimed that he had the support of President-elect Donald Trump, who he said he spoke with on Wednesday.Netanyahu also touted Israels military successes in Lebanon and Syria as the reason Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. We have changed the face of the Middle East, Netanyahu said.Netanyahu stressed that he was able to negotiate the best deal possible even as Israels far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Saturday he and most of his party would resign from the government in opposition. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The Eaton Fire leaves devastation in a neighborhood Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)2025-01-19T06:04:17Z The house was burning with her brother-in-law and nephew inside when Jackie McDaniels flagged down a firetruck and begged for help. Whoever is in there is no longer alive, she recalled one of the firemen telling her before urging her to flee her Altadena neighborhood. I pray to God that they were. But it was horrible to have to leave them there.Now McDaniels, like so many, is facing the gripping realities of grief and questions about what more could have been done. Experts say these survivors are victims themselves; the fires that swept through the Los Angeles area this month were fast-moving and fierce. Its really just a different beast of a fire when its this propagating entity of just total mayhem, said Benjamin Hatchett, a fire meteorologist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University. But that doesnt ease the pain or the questions for the families of the more than two dozen killed, some unable to escape, others unaware of what was coming, having survived other blazes unscathed. Among the dead is Dalyce Curry, who rubbed shoulders with some of the elites of old Hollywood in her youth. To family, she went by a different name. Momma Dee, thats the fire, her granddaughter and namesake, Dalyce Kelley, recalls saying as she drove the 95-year-old to her Altadena home on Jan. 7 after a day of medical tests. But the flames they saw seemed so far away and power was still on. Now Kelley wishes she would have asked more questions, wishes she would have returned earlier. I will live with that regret for the rest of my life, she said. That saddens Jennifer Marlon, a wildfire and climate research scientist at Yales School of the Environment. She said larger factors were at play, the summer the warmest on record in California, drying out the vegetation that fueled the flames.These are, by and large, not situations that people could have really anticipated, she said. Its incredibly tragic that people are blaming themselves and wracked with guilt. Yet it is a common response, said Tory Fiedler, a Red Cross disaster mental health manager who is helping to coordinate the response to the wildfires.Most of us get our sense of self and value from what we do in service to others, she said. When Im not able to do that, I feel bad about that, she added. I feel guilty that I didnt get to help. I didnt do enough. I survived and other people didnt, and I cant help them. And its not just I survived and other people didnt, but I dont know what to do about that.Compounding the pain is the fact that many families are still awaiting formal notification from the medical examiner, a process that could take weeks. During that painful wait, Carol Smith has been praying. Her son, Randy Miod, a 55-year-old surfer, known to friends as Craw Daddy, had lived in his Malibu home for three decades, first as a renter and then the owner. Known as the Crab Shack, it was a popular hang-out spot for surfers, with loaner boards always available. She said he never evacuated for wildfires, including during the Franklin Fire in December that knocked out power to his home for three days. Im scared, she recalled him telling her the last time they spoke. She begged of him, Please, go somewhere safe, so I dont worry.But he wasnt budging, telling her: Ive got the hose. And he said, Pray for the Palisades and pray for Malibu. And I love you.After human remains were found in the home, a detective told her that the fire was moving five football fields a minute, beyond the scope of what her son anticipated. In Altadena, cinders were flying as McDaniels packed her car in the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 8. Before she left, her late sisters husband, Anthony Mitchell, a 68-year-old amputee who lived nearby, assured her that an ambulance was coming to evacuate him and his 35-year-old son Justin Mitchell, who had cerebral palsy and was bed-bound. But as she neared the freeway, he called back, telling her, Stay with me until they get here. She pulled over and could hear her nephew, who loved his collection of childrens books and watched an eclectic mix of TV shows that included Mister Rogers Neighborhood and The Golden Girls, fretting in the background. Her brother-in-law was reassuring him: Daddys here. Im coming. Daddys coming. Daddys here. But then the fire was upon them. The last word she heard her brother-in-law mutter was help before she sped to his home, black smoke greeting her when she flung open the door. Youre helpless, she recalled, saying she nearly got into a wreck herself as she fled, sobbing in the thick smoke, her own home destroyed, too. She is not quite sure what they could have done. The family thought the ambulance Anthony Mitchell called hours earlier would have arrived in time. Perhaps, had they known it wouldnt, several relatives could have carried her nephew out with sheets, she said. Her nephews younger brother, 33-year-old Jordan Mitchell, lived at home so he could help care for his brother but was hospitalized with sepsis at the time, unable to do anything.I very much told myself, I said, I am my brothers keeper, and Im proud of that, he said, noting that his SUV, which he chose because it fit his father and brothers wheelchairs, survived the flames. And I was very protective of him. I didnt think hed be gone this soon. I figured Id be taking care of him the rest of my life. MARK THIESSEN Thiessen is an Associated Press all-formats reporter based in Anchorage, Alaska. He covers Alaska Native issues and other general assignments. twitter mailto

A sculpture of a hand holding an oil drilling rig stands outside the state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. or PDVSA, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 21 2023. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)2025-01-19T05:53:39Z CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Things seemed to be looking up for Venezuela in 2022. Following years of authoritarian rule and withering economic sanctions, President Nicols Maduro had agreed to work toward a democratic presidential election. The White House, in return, granted him a financial lifeline: a permit for U.S. energy giant Chevron to pump and export Venezuelan oil.Oil wells roared back to life and massive tanker ships returned to Venezuelas coast to be filled with heavy, hard-to-refine crude destined for the U.S.Maduros promised election was neither fair nor free, and the longtime president was sworn in this month for a third six-year term despite credible evidence that his opponent got more votes. Yet, the sanctions reprieve the U.S. offered to support the restoration of democracy is still helping fill state coffers. Venezuelas opposition says Maduros government has earned billions of dollars from exports allowed by the permit. The White House has ignored calls from the main opposition coalition, as well as Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress, to cancel a permit that now accounts for around a quarter of the South American countrys oil production. Senior administration officials have struggled to explain why the permit has been left in place under questioning by reporters, saying only that sanctions policy toward Venezuela is frequently reviewed. President Joe Biden told reporters last week he didnt have enough data to adjust oil-related sanctions before he leaves office Monday. A lifeline for Venezuelas economyVenezuela sits atop the worlds largest proven oil reserves and once used them to power Latin Americas strongest economy. But corruption, mismanagement and eventual U.S. economic sanctions saw production steadily decline from the 3.5 million barrels per day pumped in 1999, when the fiery Hugo Chvez took power and began his self-described socialist revolution, to less than 400,000 barrels per day in 2020.California-based Chevron Corp., which first invested in Venezuela in the 1920s, does business in the country through joint ventures with the state-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., commonly known as PDVSA.The joint ventures produced about 200,000 barrels a day in 2019, but the following year, U.S. sanctions imposed by then-President Donald Trump forced Chevron to wind down production.In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a 30% decline in the countrys economic activity, Venezuelas Central Bank reported year-over-year inflation of over 1,800%. For many, rummaging through garbage in search of food scraps or valuable items became a common activity.Locked out of world oil markets by U.S. sanctions, Venezuela sold its remaining oil output at a discount about 40% below market prices to buyers like China and other Asian markets. It even started accepting payments in Russian rubles, bartered goods or cryptocurrency. Saint ChevronOnce Chevron got a license to export oil to the U.S., its joint ventures quickly began producing 80,000 barrels a day, and by 2024, they topped their daily output from 2019. That oil is sold at world market prices.The terms of the license bar Chevron from directly paying taxes or royalties to Venezuelas government. But the company sends money to the joint ventures, which are majority-owned by PDVSA.What Chevron is doing is buying oil from joint ventures, Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez said. This purchase of oil is what generates the revenue of the joint ventures, and that revenue pays taxes and royalties to Venezuelas government.It is not clear exactly how Venezuelas government, which stopped publishing almost all financial data several years ago, uses this revenue. Neither the government nor Chevron have made public the terms of the agreement allowing the companys return to Venezuela. Chevron did not answer questions from The Associated Press regarding the joint ventures, including payments made to Venezuelas treasury. Chevron conducts its business in Venezuela in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, Chevron spokesman Bill Turenne said in a statement. Economist Jos Guerra, a former economic research manager at Venezuelas Central Bank, said the licenses impact is partly reflected in the nations foreign cash reserves, which increased by roughly $1 billion between February 2022 and November 2024, according to the institutions data. The government uses its dollar reserves in part to maintain an artificially low exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Venezuelan bolivar. The only explanation is that Chevron exports without discounts, it exports everything the 200,000 barrels go abroad and that is what is feeding the reserves, Guerra said. I call it Saint Chevron. Critics say the permit has not encouraged democracyThe outcome of Venezuelas presidential election, and a subsequent campaign of repression, have prompted new calls to rescind the licenses.In the end, one wonders, and quite rightly so, why the Biden administration continues to maintain a license whose objective was not achieved, said Rafael de la Cruz, who is an adviser to the opposition campaign of Edmundo Gonzlez and Mara Corina Machado. He said the opposition has estimated that Maduros government has received about $4 billion through the operation of the joint ventures.Venezuelas National Electoral Council, stacked with government loyalists, declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 election hours after polls closed. But unlike in previous contests, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts, while the opposition collected tally sheets from 85% of electronic voting machines showing its candidate, Gonzlez, won by a more than a two-to-one margin. U.N. experts and the U.S.-based Carter Center, both invited by Maduros government to observe the election, said the tally sheets published by the opposition are legitimate.The election was stolen. Therefore, the basis for any lifting of sanctions doesnt exist, said Elliot Abrams, who was special representative for Venezuela during Trumps first term. So, why isnt the administration then reimposing the full sanctions?Maduro continues to boast of his resistance to U.S. influence. Venezuela will not be colonized or dominated, neither by carrot diplomacy nor by stick diplomacy, he said after taking the oath of office on Jan. 10. Venezuela must be respected.Renewed sanctions could fuel migrationThe disputed results have deepened Venezuelas protracted social, economic and political crisis, which has has pushed millions into poverty, stunted hungry childrens growth and driven entire families to migrate. More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have already left their homeland since Maduro became president in 2013.Rodriguez said in a December analysis that a U.S. government decision to revoke Chevrons license or further tighten sanctions would have discernible effects on migration. He estimated that more than 800,000 Venezuelans could emigrate between 2025 and 2029 if Chevrons license is canceled. After Maduros inauguration, Biden defended his decision not to toughen sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector, explaining that the idea is still being investigated in terms of what impact it would have and whether or not it would just be replaced by Iran or any other countrys oil market.It matters what would happen afterwards, he told reporters.

People attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial marking MLK Day in Washington, Jan. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)2025-01-19T06:00:20Z WASHINGTON (AP) When President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as president of the United States inside the Capitols rotunda, he will do so facing a bust of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the federal holiday commemorating Kings legacy.Its a disquieting contrast for some civil rights advocates who wish to fulfill the late reverends dream of non-violent social revolution. Events honoring King and advocating for his vision of a just society will occur across the nation as many in the U.S. observe the peaceful transfer of power in the capital. The concurrent events have been met with mixed feelings by civil rights leaders, who broadly reviled Trumps rhetoric and stances on race and civil rights during his third presidential campaign.But many leaders, including Kings own family, see the juxtaposition as a poignant contrast and a chance to refocus the work of advancing civil rights in a new political era. Im glad it occurred on that day because it gives the United States of America and the world the contrast in pictures. Is this the way you want to go or is this the way you want to go? said the Rev. Bernice King, the late Kings youngest daughter and CEO of the King Center. Its not a day that he can be the star, which he loves to be, Kings daughter said of Trump. He has to contend with that legacy on that day, regardless of how he manages it and handles it in his presentation. I hope those around him are advising him well to honor the day appropriately in his speech. This is the third time in the nearly 40 years since the federal King holiday became law that it coincides with a presidential inauguration. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama also were sworn in for their second terms on the holiday. Both praised King in their remarks; it is yet to be seen if and how Trump who falsely claimed his first inauguration had larger crowds than Kings March on Washington will acknowledge the day. Will he sound a message of unity and a presidency for all, or will he continue to focus on his base and some of the divisive policies hes championed, like an anti-DEI stance, rounding up immigrants and cutting important parts of the social safety net through this DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) process? asked Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League civil rights group. Morial added that Trumps inauguration landing on MLK Day represented a contradiction of values.Many civil rights leaders will spend the day commemorating Kings legacy after a week of public and private organizing, giving speeches and strategizing how to respond to the incoming administrations agenda.Its the best of times and the worst of times, said Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, an organization whose members mentored, collaborated and clashed with King throughout the Civil Rights Movement.Our mission doesnt change. Our job is to make democracy work for all, to make sure that equal protection is ensured under the law, Johnson said. He added that the group doesnt want to assume the Trump administration cant be a partner on advancing civil rights or racial justice. On Wednesday, Johnson and other civil rights leaders met with Congressional Black Caucus members on Capitol Hill to discuss how to work with and to oppose the Trump administration. That same day, the National Action Network, a civil rights group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, hosted a breakfast at which Vice President Kamala Harris urged attendees to stay motivated.Ours is a journey, she said. Whatever the outcome of any particular moment, we can never be defeated. Our spirit can never be defeated, because when that happens, we wont win.Martin Luther King III, the late Kings eldest son, prayed with Harris on stage. King had campaigned for Harris in the fall and called her an advocate who speaks to our better angels and embodies Dr. Kings legacy.Many racial justice advocates are set to organize demonstrations, vigils and community service events to mark the holiday and prepare for what they consider an adversarial administration. Some groups are reflecting on parallels and differences with how King organized in the face of explicitly white supremacist state and local governments and geopolitical tumult.The hostility is similar, particularly in that there is a mobilized, active and aggressive extremist-right hell bent on unraveling rights and any sense of shared purpose, shared problems or shared solutions, said Maya Wiley, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. What differs, Wiley said, is the understanding there has to be opportunity for everyone.King himself worried the legal protections he dedicated his life to realizing would not be followed by greater anti-discrimination efforts or social programs. He proposed it would take white Americans embracing a deeper kinship with Black Americans and engaging in economic and social solidarity to see change. A year before his 1968 assassination, King wrote in his final book that giving a Black person their due often required special treatment.I am aware of the fact that this has been a troublesome concept for many liberals, since it conflicts with their traditional ideal of equal opportunity and equal treatment of people according to their individual merits, King wrote in the 1967 book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community. But this is a day which demands new thinking and the reevaluation of old concepts. Kings advocacy for new concepts found an heir in the enactment of affirmative action policies in workplaces and schools. Many advocates of diversity, equity and inclusion policies see such programs as realizing his vision, though that argument has come under withering scrutiny from conservative activists.Trumps views on race have been criticized for decades. He was found liable for discriminating against Black tenants as a New York realtor in the 1980s. He was instrumental in promoting the birther conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the U.S. And his campaign rhetoric about immigrants and urban communities since 2015 up to Novembers election has been derided as prejudiced. As president, Trump enacted some criminal justice reform laws that civil rights advocates praised but then proposed harsh crackdowns on 2020 racial reckoning protests.In April, Trump did not dispute the notion that anti-white racism now represents a greater problem in the U.S. than systemic racism against Black Americans. I think there is a definite anti-white feeling in this country and that cant be allowed either, Trump said during an interview with Time magazine.At the end of his life, King reflected on the early backlash to civil rights, especially with integrated housing developments, interracial marriage and necessary economic and social programs. He expressed frustration with then-President Lyndon B. Johnson for prolonging the Vietnam War rather than making a greater investment in anti-poverty efforts.This is where the civil rights movement stands today. We will err and falter as we climb the unfamiliar slopes of steep mountains, but there is no alternative, well-trod, level path, King wrote. There will be agonizing setbacks along with creative advances. Our consolation is that no one can know the true taste of victory if he has never swallowed defeat.___Associated Press reporter Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report. MATT BROWN Brown is a reporter covering national politics, race and democracy issues. twitter instagram mailto

Demonstrators hold portraits of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip during a protest calling for their immediate release in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)2025-01-19T05:44:46Z DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas.He reiterated the warning in a statement barely an hour before the ceasefire was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time.Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on technical field reasons. It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.The exchange raised doubts about whether the ceasefire would begin as planned. Hamas is expected to release three hostages later on Sunday in exchange for scores of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, the first step in a long process aimed at winding down the 15-month war.The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire should see a total of 33 hostages returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees released. Israeli forces should pull back into a buffer zone inside Gaza, and many displaced Palestinians should be able to return home. The devastated territory should also see a surge in humanitarian aid. This is just the second ceasefire in the war, longer and more consequential than the weeklong pause over a year ago, with the potential to end the fighting for good. Negotiations on the far more difficult second phase of this ceasefire should begin in just over two weeks. Major questions remain, including whether the war will resume after the six-week first phase and how the rest of the nearly 100 hostages in Gaza will be freed. Israels Cabinet approved the ceasefire early Saturday in a rare session during the Jewish Sabbath, more than two days after mediators announced the deal. The warring sides were under pressure from both the outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump to achieve a deal before the U.S. presidential inauguration on Monday. The toll of the war has been immense, and new details on its scope will now emerge. Over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that sparked the war killed over 1,200. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have died.Some 90% of Gazas population has been displaced. The United Nations says the health system, road network and other vital infrastructure have been badly damaged. Rebuilding if the ceasefire reaches its final phase will take several years at least. Major questions about Gazas future, political and otherwise, remain unresolved.___Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Jerusalem.___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war MELANIE LIDMAN Lidman is an Associated Press reporter based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Displaced Palestinians leave parts of Khan Younis as they go back to their homes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)2025-01-19T12:32:47Z KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Even before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was fully in place Sunday, Palestinians in the war-battered Gaza Strip began to return to the remains of the homes they had evacuated during the 15-month war.Majida Abu Jarad made quick work of packing the contents of her familys tent in the sprawling tent city of Muwasi, just north of the strips southern border with Egypt.At the start of the war, they were forced to flee their house in Gazas northern town of Beit Hanoun, where they used to gather around the kitchen table or on the roof on summer evenings amid the scent of roses and jasmine.The house from those fond memories is gone, and for the past year, Abu Jarad, her husband and their six daughters have trekked the length of the Gaza Strip, following one evacuation order after another by the Israeli military. Seven times they fled, she said, and each time, their lives became more unrecognizable to them as they crowded with strangers to sleep in a school classroom, searching for water in a vast tent camp or sleeping on the street. Now the family is preparing to begin the trek home or to whatever remains of it and to reunite with relatives who remained in the north. As soon as they said that the truce would start on Sunday, we started packing our bags and deciding what we would take, not caring that we would still be living in tents, Abu Jarad said. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.Israels offensive has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. Over 110,000 Palestinians have been wounded, it said. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Israeli militarys bombardment has flattened large swaths of Gaza and displaced 1.9 million of its 2.3 million residents.Even before the ceasefire officially took effect and as tank shelling continued overnight and into the morning many Palestinians began trekking through the wreckage to reach their homes, some on foot and others hauling their belongings on donkey carts.Theyre returning to retrieve their loved ones under the rubble, said Mohamed Mahdi, a displaced Palestinian and father of two. He was forced to leave his three-story home in Gaza Citys southeastern Zaytoun neighborhood a few months ago,Mahdi managed to reach his home Sunday morning, walking amid the rubble from western Gaza. On the road he said he saw the Hamas-run police force being deployed to the streets in Gaza City, helping people returning to their homes.Despite the vast scale of the destruction and uncertain prospects for rebuilding, people were celebrating, he said. They are happy. They started clearing the streets and removing the rubble of their homes. Its a moment theyve waited for 15 months. Um Saber, a 48-year-old widow and mother of six children, returned to her hometown of Beit Lahiya. She asked to be identified only by her honorific, meaning mother of Saber, out of safety concerns.Speaking by phone, she said her family had found bodies in the street as they trekked home, some of whom appeared to have been lying in the open for weeks.When they reached Beit Lahiya, they found their home and much of the surrounding area reduced to rubble, she said. Some families immediately began digging through the debris in search of missing loved ones. Others began trying to clear areas where they could set up tents.Um Saber said she also found the areas Kamal Adwan hospital completely destroyed.Its no longer a hospital at all, she said. They destroyed everything.The hospital has been hit multiple times over the past three months by Israeli forces waging an offensive in largely isolated northern Gaza against Hamas fighters it says have regrouped. The military has claimed that Hamas militants operate inside Kamal Adwan, which hospital officials have denied.The return of the families comes amid looming uncertainty regarding whether the ceasefire deal will bring more than a temporary halt to the fighting, who will govern the enclave and how it will be rebuilt.The United Nations has said that reconstruction could take more than 350 years if Gaza remains under an Israeli blockade. Using satellite data, the United Nations estimated last month that 69% of the structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, including over 245,000 homes. With over 100 trucks working full-time, it would take more than 15 years just to clear the rubble away,But for many families, the immediate relief overrode fears about the future. We will remain in a tent, but the difference is that the bleeding will stop, the fear will stop, and we will sleep reassured, Abu Jarad said.Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contribute to this report. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wave as they walk from Marine One upon arrival on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2025-01-19T12:18:00Z WASHINGTON (AP) Joe Biden is spending his final full day in office Sunday in South Carolina, a state that holds special meaning after his commanding win in the 2020 Democratic primary there set him up to achieve his lifes goal of being elected president of the United States. On the eve of Mondays inauguration of Republican President-elect Donald Trump, Biden planned to deliver a final farewell from the state that brought him to the dance, as he likes to say.Biden, accompanied by his wife, first lady Jill Biden, was scheduled to visit Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston to worship and speak on the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the White House said. Monday is the federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader. Afterward, the Bidens will tour the International African American Museum. It was built on a waterfront site where tens of thousands of enslaved Africans were brought to the U.S. from the late 1760s through 1808, according to the museums website. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a key Biden ally, said the trip was Bidens way of saying thank you to the state. Joe Biden is showing once again who he is by coming back to the state that really launched him to the presidency, Clyburn told The Associated Press in an interview. The president delivered a televised farewell address to the nation on Wednesday.Back in 2020, Biden saw his campaign flounder after he lost the opening contests in New Hampshire, Iowa and Nevada. But at the fourth stop, South Carolina where Black voters make up a majority of the Democratic electorate he was lifted to victory after Clyburns endorsement. I know Joe. We know Joe. But most importantly, Joe knows us, the congressman said at the time. After winning election and taking office, Biden pushed for South Carolina to move to the head of the line and be the state that opened the Democratic Partys nominating process for 2024, instead of New Hampshire. He easily won the states primary that year. In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the presidency, Biden said in a statement after winning the primary for the second time. Now in 2024, the people of South Carolina have spoken again and I have no doubt that you have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again and making Donald Trump a loser again.It didnt turn out that way. After faltering in a debate against Trump, Biden dropped out of the race under pressure from many Democrats, though Clyburn notably was not among them. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him as the Democrats nominee. She lost to Trump. Clyburn said Biden told him he wanted to visit the African American history museum, which Clyburn helped start. They were planning to spend some time together there. This is his way of saying thank you, Clyburn said.-Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed to this report. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and family watch fireworks at Trump National Golf Club, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Sterling, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)2025-01-19T12:09:42Z WASHINGTON (AP) President-elect Donald Trump is spending the eve of his inauguration in a series of Washington events that celebrate his return to power and his Make America Great Again movement as he prepares to move back into the White House at a time of deep national political divisions. Washington has prepared in unprecedented ways to keep the unfolding events save and secure. But unlike when Trump helped spark a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol and tried to retain power in 2021 after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden, officials are not expecting massive protests, unrest and violence this time. Instead, the city is braced for crowds celebrating Trumps second term and MAGAs total control of the Republican Party. It is a remarkable turnaround after Trump left the nations capital four years in disgrace and skipped the inauguration of his successor. Trump blasted his way through the 2024 GOP presidential primary and won Novembers election by an Electoral College margin unseen since Democrat Barack Obama was reelected in 2012. Yet even with that comfortable victory and his party in full, albeit narrow, control of Congress, the incoming president remains one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. history, with nearly as many fierce detractors as ardent supporters. That means it could be difficult to fulfill postelection pledges about promoting bipartisanship while healing political differences. He told NBC News on Saturday that unity would be a theme of his inauguration speech Monday at the Capitol, along with strength and fairness. January 20th cannot come fast enough!, he posted on his social media site. Everybody, even those that initially opposed a Victory by President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Administration, just want it to happen.Keeping to tradition, Trump spent Saturday night at Blair House, the presidents official guest residence on Pennsylvania Avenue, across from the White House. He arrived there after a party at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles west of the city, that illuminated the night sky. He had arrived in Washington from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, aboard a C-32, the military variant of the Boeing 757, painted in the iconic presidential powder blue and white color scheme. The aircraft that would be known as Air Force One if the president were aboard carried the president-elect as Special Air Mission 47. Sunday will be Trumps first full day back in the capital since the election. It gives him a chance to enjoy the moment and fire up his core supporters before Inauguration Days heavy dose of official pomp, including the swearing-in at noon. Trump planned to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before addressing a rally downtown at Capital One Arena, home of Washington pro basketball and hockey teams.With frigid temperatures expected Monday, Trump directed his oath of office now set for the Capitol Rotunda and most of Mondays outdoor events be moved indoors. The traditional parade will be held, in some form, at Capital One Arena. Trump also was to attend a candlelight dinner Sunday where he was expected to speak.Biden, in his final full day in office, scheduled a trip to South Carolina, a state that holds special meaning after his commanding win in the 2020 Democratic primary there set him up to achieve his lifes goal of being elected president.Biden, accompanied by his wife, first lady Jill Biden, was set to visit a church in North Charleston to worship and speak on the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the White House said. Monday is also the federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader. The president used his farewell address earlier in the week to warn of a growing oligarchy of ultra-rich interests gaining power and threatening the nations very democracy. WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers national politics and the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security in Benjamin Netanyahu's new government, attends a weekly cabinet meeting on Jan. 3, 2023, in Jerusalem. (Atef Safadi/Pool Photo via AP, File)2025-01-19T12:10:17Z TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Israels far-right national security minister resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Cabinet on Sunday to express his disapproval of the Gaza ceasefire deal.The resignation of Itamar Ben-Gvir does not threaten the ceasefire, but it does weaken Netanyahus governing coalition. If other far-right lawmakers leave the government as Ben-Gvir has encouraged them to do the prime minister could lose his parliamentary majority, potentially forcing early elections.It was the latest act of defiance by the 48-year-old ultranationalist settler leader who transformed himself over the decades from an outlaw and provocateur into one of Israels most influential politicians.Here is a closer look at Ben-Gvir: Why did Ben-Gvir oppose the ceasefire deal?The ceasefire will pause the war and free dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza. Ben-Gvir opposed the deal because it requires Israel to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and to withdraw troops from Gazas southern border with Egypt and because it leaves open the possibility of Hamas staying in power in Gaza.Ahead of the resignation, he said the ceasefire was reckless and would destroy all of Israels achievements.In his Cabinet post, Ben-Gvir oversaw the countrys police force. He used his influence to encourage Netanyahu to press ahead with the war in Gaza and recently boasted that he had blocked past efforts to reach a ceasefire. He also has paid multiple visits to Jerusalems most sensitive holy site the contested hilltop compound that houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque including last month. In one such visit in July, he said he came to pray for the return of the hostages but without a reckless deal, without surrendering. The move, while legal, was seen as a provocation, violated a longstanding ban on Jewish prayer there, and threatened to disrupt months of sensitive negotiations. The site is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount. Run-ins with the lawBen-Gvir has been convicted eight times for offenses that include racism and supporting a terrorist organization. As a teen, his views were so extreme that the army banned him from compulsory military service. Ben-Gvir gained notoriety in his youth as a follower of the late racist rabbi Meir Kahane. He first became a national figure when he broke a hood ornament off then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabins car in 1995.We got to his car, and well get to him too, he said, just weeks before Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist opposed to his peace efforts with the Palestinians. Two years later, Ben-Gvir took responsibility for orchestrating a campaign of protests, including death threats, that forced Irish singer Sinead OConnor to cancel a concert for peace in Jerusalem. Moving to the mainstreamThe political rise of Ben-Gvir was the culmination of years of efforts by the media-savvy lawmaker to gain legitimacy. But it also reflected a rightward shift in the Israeli electorate that brought his religious, ultranationalist ideology into the mainstream and diminished hopes for Palestinian independence.Ben-Gvir is trained as a lawyer and gained recognition as a successful defense attorney for extremist Jews accused of violence against Palestinians. With a quick wit and cheerful demeanor, the outspoken Ben-Gvir also became a popular fixture in the media, paving his way to enter politics. He was first elected to parliament in 2021.Ben-Gvir has called for deporting his political opponents, and in the past has encouraged police to open fire on Palestinian stone-throwers in a tense Jerusalem neighborhood, while brandishing a pistol. As national security minister, he has encouraged police to take a tough line against anti-government protesters. Controversial ministerBen-Gvir secured his Cabinet post after 2022 elections that put Netanyahu and his far-right partners, including Ben-Gvirs Jewish Power party, into power.Over the last year Ive been on a mission to save Israel, Ben-Gvir told reporters before that election. Millions of citizens are waiting for a real right-wing government. The time has come to give them one.Ben-Gvir has been a magnet of controversy throughout his tenure encouraging the mass distribution of handguns to Jewish citizens, backing Netanyahus contentious attempt to overhaul the countrys legal system and frequently lashing out at U.S. leaders for perceived slights against Israel. In May, Ben-Gvir criticized Joe Biden when the U.S. president threatened to withhold certain military aid if Israel invaded Rafah. Ben-Gvir, using a heart emoji in a post on the social media platform X, wrote that Hamas loves Biden. Political falloutBen-Gvirs departure does not endanger the ceasefire, and Netanyahu still has a narrow parliamentary majority needed to keep power. But if other hard-liners follow suit, Netanyahus government could collapse, which would trigger early elections.Its probable that he has less survival time, said Shmuel Rosner, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute and analyst for Israeli public television station Kan News. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has said he will provide a political safety net to Netanyahu to ensure the government will not fall over the deal. But such a partnership is unlikely to last beyond the ceasefire because the two men do not get along and would have a difficult time working together, said Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst on Israel with the International Crisis Group. MELANIE LIDMAN Lidman is an Associated Press reporter based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Movers load trucks at the White House grounds two days before Inauguration Day and a new administration, in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)2025-01-19T12:20:49Z WASHINGTON (AP) Most presidents get to move into the White House once. President-elect Donald Trump is doing it twice, and his wife, Melania, says its a lot easier the second time around. I know where I will be going. I know the rooms where we will be living. I know the process, the incoming first lady said recently. She described their first move to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in 2017 as challenging. Regardless of who is president, the whole process also challenges the White House residence staff: The maids, butlers and others who look after the presidents private living space have about five hours from start to finish on Inauguration Day to move out one first family and settle in the next one. Everything needs to be planned to the minute, Melania Trump said on Fox News Fox & Friends.The clock starts ticking when the outgoing and incoming presidents leave the White House together for a shared limousine ride to the Capitol for the swearing-in. As soon as they leave, the executive residence staff swings into action, Matthew Costello, chief education officer of the White House Historical Association, said during a recent online program about Inauguration Day history. Essentially, staff is working nonstop to inventory, process and move all of the personal items of one first family out and a new first family in. After the oath-taking, inaugural address, luncheon and traditional parade, the new president gets to go into the White House to find the familys clothes, furniture and other personal belongings in place and the kitchen stocked with favorite foods. Its possible that Mondays timeline could be altered after Trump announced that hes moving the inaugural ceremony indoors to the Capitol Rotunda because of approaching bitter cold weather. Hes also turning whats typically an hourslong parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House into an indoor version at a pro sports arena. As the ceremony gets underway, moving trucks for each family that have been on standby nearby will get the all-clear to be waved through tight security to the White House. The residence staff works in groups. Some will be assigned to pack the Biden familys remaining items while another group loads the boxes onto the designated truck. Other staffers will bring the Trumps things inside while another group unpacks and puts them where Melania Trump wants them.The White House is deep-cleaned in between families. Windows will be washed, carpets vacuumed or replaced, new mattresses brought in, and all bedrooms and bathrooms will be stocked with fresh linens and towels.The process typically starts after the November election when the White House chief usher gets in touch with the president-elects team to begin coordinating the move. In November 2016, then-first lady Michelle Obama showed Melania Trump around the living quarters when she accompanied Trump for his Oval Office meeting with then-President Barack Obama. But after Trump lost reelection in 2020, he broke with tradition and refused to invite then-President-elect Joe Biden to meet. Melania Trump also didnt invite Jill Biden to the residence. This time around, Trump accepted Bidens invitation to the Oval Office while Melania Trump rejected Jill Bidens offer for them to meet. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President-elect Donald Trump smiles after a fireworks show at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)2025-01-19T12:29:58Z NEW YORK (AP) When Donald Trump arrived in Washington in 2017 just before his first inauguration, he was a stranger to most in town. As the only president in history without prior experience in public office or the military, it was unclear how he would govern.Not this time.After four years in the Oval Office, the once and future president returns to power with know-how and a very different team. The political landscape has been transformed, with both chambers of Congress now filled with Republicans beholden to him. He has stocked the Supreme Court and federal courts at all levels. World leaders who were once critics have left the world stage or are more willing to work with him. Here are some of the ways things have changed: Trump once bragged about not having experience. Now he has plentyTrumps first-term agenda was, particularly in its early days, often stymied by the courts and infighting. Many of his Cabinet picks quietly or openly worked to stop his ideas. But Trump spent four years learning how legislation in passed, how to deal with world leaders and how to maximize the power of the office. Were going to do an even better job because now we have a tremendous amount of experience, he told reporters at a recent news conference at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort, as he reflected on how things had changed. Trump has often cited his inexperience to explain why he had hired people whom he later regretted for bringing on board. I didnt know the people. I had to rely on people to give me names, he said during a Turning Point event in 2023. But now, he said, I know the great ones. I know the smart ones. I know the dumb ones, I know the weak ones, I know the stupid ones.Trump and his allies have also had four years out of office to lay the groundwork for his return. Long before his formal transition kicked into gear, allied groups such as the Heritage Foundation and the America First Policy Institute were working to draft hundreds of policy papers, executive orders and legislation ready to push on Day 1. Republican opponents in Congress have been pushed out or retiredIn 2017, the House speaker was Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who had pulled his endorsement during the 2016 campaign and later called Trump an authoritarian narcissist. The Senate majority leader was Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who labeled Trump stupid, ill-tempered and a despicable human being.Ryan did not run for reelection in 2018. McConnell has stepped down as party leader but remains in the Senate. Vocal critics such as Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney are gone. Trumps aggressive plays in Republican primaries have created a new generation of members who listen to him. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and the new Senate Majority Leader, John Thune of South Dakota, know their power depends, in large part, on Trumps backing.Hes single-handedly changed the party, said Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind. Banks was sworn in as a member of the House as Trump arrived in Washington in 2017, when Banks said, Trump often have to deal with Republican pushback. Now, everyone knows that Donald Trump is calling the shots, Banks said. Hes the quarterback ... and were going to follow his lead and back him up and pass the agenda that the American people voted for when they elected him this time.Banks cited the reaction when Trump addressed Senate Republicans in the Capitol while in town for former President Jimmy Carters funeral. All the members, including past critics, he said, were on their feet, expressing their support for Trump, his agenda and his Cabinet nominees. The den of vipers is being tamedTrump went through half a dozen campaign managers over his first two White House runs and four chiefs of staff during his first term. His White House was known for backbiting and squabbling among competing factions.Trumps 2024 operation was different. Guided by veteran Florida Republican operative Susie Wiles, the campaign was widely praised by both parties as his most disciplined, professional and competent by far. Wiles is joining Trump in Washington as his chief of staff. While there are still personality clashes, Wiles has made clear she wont tolerate those who try to hijack the operation.I dont welcome people who want to work solo or be a star, Wiles told the news outlet Axios in a recent interview. My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission. The old guard of global allies opposing Trump is goneGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel stepped down in 2021. Canadas Justin Trudeau is on his way out. And there have been turbulent leadership changes in Britain, France and South Korea. Welcoming Trump back is a group of populist leaders who share his sensibilities, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentinas Javier Milei and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn.Supporting families, fighting illegal migration and standing up for the sovereignty of our nations. This is the common ground for cooperation between the conservative forces of Europe and the U.S., Orbn said after meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last year. Trump will also again be dealing with a list of authoritarian leaders he has embraced, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinas Xi Jinping and North Koreas Kim Jong Un. JILL COLVIN Colvin is an Associated Press national political reporter covering the 2024 presidential campaign. She is based in New York. mailto

Wearing a button in support of TikTok, Tiffany Cianci, who says she is a "long-form educational content creator," livestreams to TikTok outside the Supreme Court, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2025-01-19T13:27:11Z SAN FRANCISCO (AP) If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, thats probably because it has, at least if youre measuring via internet time. Whats now in question is whether it will be around much longer and, if so, in what form?Starting in 2017, when the Chinese social video app merged with its competitor Musical.ly, TikTok has grown from a niche teen app into a global trendsetter. While, of course, also emerging as a potential national security threat, according to U.S. officials.On April 24, President Joe Biden signed legislation requiring TikTok parent ByteDance to sell to a U.S. owner within a year or to shut down. TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, filed a lawsuit against the U.S., claiming the security concerns were overblown and the law should be struck down because it violates the First Amendment. The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok, and the popular short form video service went dark in the U.S. just hours before the ban was set to begin.Heres how TikTok came to this juncture:March 2012ByteDance is founded in China by entrepreneur Zhang Yimin. Its first hit product is Toutiao, a personalized news aggregator for Chinese users. July 2014Startup Musical.ly, later known for an eponymous app used to post short lipsyncing music videos, is founded in China by entrepreneur Alex Zhu.July 2015Musical.ly hits #1 in the Apple App Store, following a design change that made the companys logo visible when users shared their videos. 2016ByteDance launches Douyin, a video sharing app for Chinese users. Its popularity inspires the company to spin off a version for foreign audiences called TikTok.November 2017ByteDance acquires Musical.ly for $1 billion. Nine months later, ByteDance merges it with TikTok. Powered by an algorithm that encourages binge-watching, users begin to share a wide variety of video on the app, including dance moves, kitchen food preparation and various challenges to perform, record and post acts that range from serious to satirical. February 2019Rapper Lil Nas X releases the country-trap song Old Town Road on TikTok, where it goes viral and pushes the song to a record 17 weeks in the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The phenomenon kicks off a wave of TikTok videos from musical artists who suddenly see TikTok as a critical way to reach fans.TikTok settles federal charges of violating U.S. child-privacy laws and agrees to pay a $5.7 million fine.September 2019The Washington Post reports that while images of Hong Kong democracy protests and police crackdowns are common on most social media sites, they are strangely absent on TikTok. The same story notes that TikTok posts with the #trump2020 tag received more than 70 million views. The company insists that TikTok content moderation, conducted in the U.S., is not responsible and says the app is a place for entertainment, not politics. The Guardian reports on internal documents that reportedly detail how TikTok instructs its moderators to delete or limit the reach of videos touching on topics sensitive to China such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and subsequent massacre, Tibetan independence or the sanctioned religious group Falun Gong. October 2019U.S. politicians begin to raise alarms about TikToks influence, calling for a federal investigations of its Musical.ly acquisition and a national security probe into TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps. That investigation begins in November, according to news reports.December 2019The Pentagon recommends that all U.S. military personnel delete TikTok from all phones, personal and government-issued. Some services ban the app on military owned phones. In January, the Pentagon bans the app from all military phones.TikTok becomes the second-most downloaded app in the world, according to data from analytics firm SensorTower.May 2020Privacy groups file a complaint alleging TikTok is still violating U.S. child-protection laws and flouting a 2019 settlement agreement. The company takes the issue of safely seriously and continues to improve safeguards, it says.TikTok hires former Disney executive Kevin Mayer as its chief executive officer in an apparent attempt to improve its U.S. relations. Mayer resigns three months later. July 2020India bans TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps in response to a border clash with China.President Donald Trump says he is considering banning TikTok as retaliation for Chinas alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.August 2020Trump issues a sweeping but vague executive order banning American companies from any transaction with ByteDance and its subsidiaries, including TikTok. Several days later, he issues a second order demanding that ByteDance divest itself of TikToks U.S. operations within 90 days. Microsoft confirms it is exploring acquisition of TikTok. The deal never materializes; neither does a similar overture from Oracle and Walmart. TikTok, meanwhile, sues the Trump administration for alleged violation of due process in its executive orders. November 2020Joe Biden is elected president. He doesnt offer new policy on TikTok and wont take office until January, but Trumps plans to force a sale of TikTok start to unravel anyway. The Trump administration extends the deadlines it had imposed on ByteDance and TikTok and eventually lets them slide altogether. February 2021Newly sworn-in President Joe Biden postpones the legal cases involving Trumps plan to ban TikTok, effectively bringing them to a halt.September 2021TikTok announces it has more than a billion monthly active users.December 2021A Wall Street Journal report finds TikTok algorithms can flood teens with a torrent of harmful material such as videos recommending extreme dieting, a form of eating disorder.February 2022TikTok announces new rules to deter the spread of harmful material such as viral hoaxes and promotion of eating disorders.April 2022The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, a project created by two fans of the Netflix show as a TikTok project, wins the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.TikTok becomes the most downloaded app in the world, beating out Instagram, according to SensorTower data.June 2022BuzzFeed reports that China-based ByteDance employees have repeatedly accessed the nonpublic information of TikTok users, based on leaked recordings from more than 80 internal TikTok meetings. TikTok responds with a vague comment touting its commitment to security that doesnt directly address the BuzzFeed report.TikTok also announces it has migrated its user data to U.S. servers managed by the U.S. tech firm Oracle. But that doesnt prevent fresh alarm among U.S. officials about the risk of Chinese authorities accessing U.S. user data.December 2022FBI Director Christopher Wray raises national security concerns about TikTok, warning that Chinese officials could manipulate the apps recommendation algorithm for influence operations. ByteDance also said it fired four employees who accessed data on journalists from Buzzfeed News and The Financial Times while attempting to track down leaks of confidential materials about the company.February 2023The White House gives federal agencies 30 days to ensure TikTok is deleted from all government-issued mobile devices. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission warn that ByteDance could share TikTok user data with Chinas authoritarian government.March 2023Legislators grill TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at a six-hour congressional hearing where Chew, a native of Singapore, attempts to push back on assertions that TikTok and ByteDance are tools of the Chinese government.January 2024TikTok said it was restricting a tool some researchers use to analyze popular videos on the platform. March 2024A bill to ban TikTok or force its sale to a U.S. company gathers steam in Congress. TikTok brings dozens of its creators to Washington to tell lawmakers to back off, while emphasizing changes the company has made to protect user data. TikTok also annoys legislators by sending notifications to users urging them to speak up now or risk seeing TikTok banned; users then flood congressional offices with calls.The House of Representatives passes the TikTok ban-or-sell bill.April 2024The Senate follows suit, sending the bill to President Biden, who signs it.May 2024TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance sue the U.S. federal government to challenge a law that would force the sale of ByteDances stake or face a ban, saying that the law is unconstitutional.June 2024Former President Donald Trump joins TikTok and begins posting campaign-related content.July 2024Vice President Kamala Harris joins TikTok and also begins posting campaign-related material.Dec. 6, 2024A federal appeals court panel unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The panel of judges rebuffed the companys challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. Dec. 27, 2024President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a political resolution to the issue.Jan. 17, 2025The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok beginning unless its sold by its China-based parent company, holding that the risk to national security posed by its ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app. A ban is set to into effect on Jan. 19, 2025.Jan. 18, 2025TikTok users in the United States were prevented from watching videos on the popular social media platform just hours before a federal ban was set to take effect.A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S., a message in the app said. Unfortunately that means you cant use TikTok for now.The companys app was also removed from prominent app stores, including the ones operated by Apple and Google, while its website told users that the short-form video platform was no longer available. DAVID HAMILTON Hamilton is an Associated Press business and technology reporter based in San Francisco. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Members of the U.S. military Joint Honor Guard parade as they rehearse ahead of the upcoming presidential inauguration, at the North Lawn in front of the White House in Washington, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)2025-01-17T18:41:14Z WASHINGTON (AP) The pageantry and parties surrounding President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration kick off this weekend with fireworks and a rally before Mondays inaugural ceremony, parade and balls.A look at the lineup of official inaugural events for the four days surrounding Trumps second inauguration as president. Its unclear how the decision to move Trumps swearing-in indoors to the Capitol Rotunda might affect the scheduled lineup for the ceremony:SaturdayCabinet dinner: Vice President-elect JD Vance will attend an evening reception for incoming Cabinet members and host a dinner in Washington. Fireworks show: Trump will host an evening reception and fireworks show at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia. SundayArlington ceremony: The president-elect will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. MAGA rally: In the evening, Trump will hold a campaign-style MAGA Victory rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C.The rally is set to include performances by Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People, Lee Greenwood and a Liberty University choir that will pay tribute to the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one rallygoer was killed and three people were injured, including Trump, whose ear was grazed by a bullet. Rally speakers will include Trump, Vance, Elon Musk, former wrestling star Hulk Hogan, actor Jon Voight, UFC President Dana White, Puerto Rican reggaeton star Anuel AA, Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk and conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly, Dinner: Trump will attend a candlelight dinner, at which hes expected to speak. MondayChurch service:Trump will start the day by attending a service at St. Johns Episcopal Church, located across Lafayette Park from the White House, a tradition for presidents-elect.White House tea:Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump will meet outgoing President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House for a tea thats traditionally held to welcome a new president. Swearing-in ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda:Musical Prelude by The University of NebraskaLincoln Combined ChoirsPrelude: The Presidents Own, by the United States Marine BandCall to order by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-MinnesotaInvocation by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, and the Rev. Franklin Graham of Samaritans Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic AssociationOh, America! by opera singer Christopher D. MacchioThe vice presidential oath of office administered by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett KavanaughAmerica the Beautiful, by Carrie Underwood, the Armed Forced Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee ClubThe presidential oath of office administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John RobertsThe Battle Hymn of the Republic, performed by the U.S. Naval Academy Glee ClubTrumps inaugural addressBenediction from Yeshiva Universitys President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Imam Husham Al-Husainy of the Karbalaa Islamic Center, Senior Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church Detroit and the Rev. Fr. Frank Mann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn The Star-Spangled Banner, by Christopher MacchioFarewell to the former president:A formal farewell will be held for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as they depart the CapitolThe presidents Signing Room ceremony:Trump will head to the Presidents Room just off the Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol for a signing ceremony, where members of Congress watch as the newly sworn in president signs nominations, memorandums or executive orders. Inaugural luncheon:The new president and vice president attend a luncheon at Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural CeremoniesPass in review:After the luncheon, the president and vice president head to the East Front steps of the Capitol, where they are to review the military troops.Presidential parade:Because of cold weather, Trump is moving the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to Washingtons Capitol One Arena. The event is expected to feature remarks from Trump and marching bands Oval Office ceremony:Trump heads to the White House for an Oval Office ceremonyInaugural balls:Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball: Country music band Rascal Flatts and country singer Parker McCollum will perform at the ball geared toward military service members. Trump is scheduled to speak. Liberty Inaugural Ball: Rapper Nelly, country singer Jason Aldean and disco band The Village People are scheduled to perform at the ball geared toward Trumps supporters. Trump is set to give remarks. Starlight Ball: Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw will perform and Trump will speak at the third inaugural ball, at which guests are expected to be big donors of the incoming president. TuesdayNational prayer service:Trump will attend the traditional prayer service the morning after the inauguration at the Washington National Cathedral.

This undated photo, provided by Hostage's Family Forum, shows Israeli hostage Romi Gonen, who is being held in Gaza by Hamas militants. (Hostage's Family Forum via AP)2025-01-19T13:44:59Z JERUSALEM (AP) Three hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released Sunday after 471 days in captivity as part of a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. A gradual release of dozens of captives over the next several weeks has been agreed on.The truce and release of hostages sparked hope and trepidation among Israelis. Many fear that the three-phase deal could collapse before all the hostages return, or that they will arrive in poor health. Others worry that the number of captives who have died is more than predicted.Some 250 people were kidnapped during Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered 15 months of war. Around 100 hostages still remain in Gaza, after the rest were released or their bodies recovered. Hours before the ceasefire Sunday, which many hope is the first step to end the war, Israel announced that it had retrieved the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier who was killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war and whose remains have been held by the militants since then.Heres a look at the three hostages to be released Sunday: Romi Gonen, 24Romi Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. That morning, Gonens mother, Merav, and her eldest daughter spent nearly five hours speaking to Gonen as militants marauded through the festival grounds. Gonen told her family that roads clogged with abandoned cars made escape impossible and that she would seek shelter in some bushes.Then she said words that continue to echo in her mothers head every day. Mommy I was shot, the car was shot, everybody was shot. ... I am wounded and bleeding. Mommy, I think Im going to die, she recounted Romi as saying, in a press conference a few weeks after the abduction.At a loss for what to do, Leshem Gonen tried to convince her daughter that she wasnt going to die, to start breathing and treat her wounded friends. According to Merav, Gonens last word during the call was a shriek of Mommy! as approaching gunfire and the mens shouts drowned out everything. Then the phone shut off. Israeli authorities identified her phones location in Gaza.Over the past 15 months, Merav has been one of the most outspoken voices advocating for the return of the hostages, appearing nearly daily on Israeli news programs and traveling abroad on missions.We are doing everything we can so the world will not forget, Merav told The Associated Press on the six-month anniversary of Hamas attack. Every day we wake up and take a big breath, deep breath, and continue walking, continue doing the things that will bring her back.Emily Damari, 28Emily Damari is a British-Israeli citizen kidnapped from her apartment on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a communal farming village hit hard by Hamas assault. She lived in a small apartment in a neighborhood for young adults, the closest part of the kibbutz to Gaza. Militants broke through the border fence of the kibbutz and ransacked the neighborhood.Damaris mother, Mandy, said she loves music, traveling, soccer, good food, karaoke and hats. Kibbutz Kfar Aza said that Damari was often the glue that held her close-knit friend group together and she was always organizing gatherings of friends around the best barbecue corner in the entire kibbutz.I hold on to that sliver of hope that I still keep in my heart that she is surviving, in spite of her suffering, Mandy Damari said in front of Damaris burned apartment last January. I am desperate, angry, and terrified for her life. Doron Steinbrecher, 31Doron Steinbrecher is a veterinary nurse who loves animals, and a neighbor to Damari in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.At 10:20 on Oct. 7, 2023, Steinbrecher called her mother. Mom, Im scared. Im hiding under the bed and I hear them trying to enter my apartment, her brother, Dor, recalled. She was able to send a voice message to her friends. Theyve got me! Theyve got me! Theyve got me! in the moments of her abduction.That message was key in helping her family understand that Doron had been kidnapped.Steinbrecher was featured in a video released by Hamas on Jan. 26, 2024, along with two other female Israeli soldiers. Her brother said the video gave them hope that she was alive but sparked concern because she looked tired, weak, and gaunt.In total, militants killed 64 people and 22 soldiers, and kidnapped 19 people from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct 7. With the return of Steinbrecher and Damari, there are still three members of the kibbutz held in Gaza: American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, and twins Gali and Ziv Berman, 27. Remains of Oron Shaul, 20Oron Shaul was a soldier killed on July 20, 2014, during fighting between Israel and Hamas. His body and that of another soldier, Hadar Goldin, had been held by militants since then despite a public campaign to return them by their families.The Hostages Families Forum, which represents relatives of the captives, called the Shaul family an inseparable part of the group. Militants still hold the bodies of Goldin as well as two Israelis who crossed into Gaza in 2014 and 2015 on their own.___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war MELANIE LIDMAN Lidman is an Associated Press reporter based in Tel Aviv, Israel. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Technicians set up the presidential lectern as organizers work to move the Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony into the Capitol Rotunda due to expected frigid weather in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)2025-01-19T12:50:05Z Donald Trumps inauguration as the countrys 47th president was expected to be an extravagant break from tradition before it got moved indoors due to cold weather. There will still be well-known performers, influential billionaires as guests and foreign heads of state. Unlike his first inauguration eight years ago, Trump will be welcomed back to office by business titans and global leaders, groups that often shunned him in his first term. Here are some things to look out for during Trumps inauguration. Trumps inside the Capitol Rotunda, but who else?Expect to see Melania Trump, the president-elects five children and grandkids. Don Jr., his eldest son, and Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, have gained more influence over the past year. The fathers of Trumps two sons-in-law were given key adviser posts as well. While Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have taken a step back, they are expected to attend just like they did for election night.But the Capitol Rotunda can only hold around 600 people, according to organizers. There will be precious few spots for Supreme Court justices, military leaders, former presidents and their spouses, Cabinet nominees and visiting dignitaries along with the 535 members of Congress who traditionally get prime spots, though some Democratic lawmakers are skipping the ceremony.Tesla and X owner Elon Musk was invited to the dais along with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Who will make it into the Rotunda? Country superstar and the Y.M.C.A.Country music star Carrie Underwood, who has won eight Grammy Awards, will sing America the Beautiful before Trump is sworn in around noon EST by Chief Justice John Roberts. Underwood, who went from 2005 American Idol contestant to the most decorated artist in CMT Music Awards history, was a surprise get for the president-elects inauguration program.Another unexpected announcement came from the Village People, the late-70s American disco group behind the hit Y.M.C.A. The group was booked for a Trump rally in Washington on Sunday and at one of the inaugural balls. The hit song was played at the end of Trump rallies and became a viral trend on social media after the election with people mimicking the president-elects signature dance moves. Other performers will include two of Trumps musical favorites: opera singer Christopher Macchio, who will sing the The Star-Spangled Banner, and country singer Lee Greenwood, known for his patriotic anthem, God Bless the USA, also played at Trump rallies. Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, best known for his hit song I Dont Want To Be, will perform at one of the three balls Trump is attending. Country singers Jason Aldean, Parker McCollum and country music band Rascal Flatts will be performing at the other two balls. The inaugural addressTrump is known for delivering hour-plus speeches where he makes grand promises, attacks political opponents and mocks some foreign leaders. During his 16-minute inaugural address in 2017, Trump stuck to his campaign script and painted a bleak picture of the country blaming other countries for shuttering factories and shrinking the middle class. He said he would end American carnage and would govern with an America First approach.This time around, his main campaign promise has been to launch the largest deportation operation in history and seal off the U.S.-Mexico border. He has spoken about ushering in a golden age and pledged to impose tariffs on imports, rolling out more details in recent days on how he plans to pursue those goals. He told NBC News on Saturday that the theme of his inaugural address will be unity and strength, and also the word fairness.Because you have to be treating people fairly, Trump said. You cant just say, Oh, everythings going to be wonderful. You know, we went through hell for four years with these people. And so, you know, something has to be done about it. ... You cant have that happen, and we shouldnt have that happen. Foreign leaders in town Trump may be breaking a tradition on Inauguration Day after extending invitations to world leaders. No heads of state have previously made an official visit to the U.S. for the inauguration.Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first foreign leader whose invitation to the inauguration became public last December. Xi will not attend but is sending Vice President Han Zheng as his special representative. Argentinas president, Javier Milei, and Italys premier Giorgia Meloni, accepted Trumps offer. The offices of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and Paraguayan President Santiago Pea have also said they were invited and were planning to attend. ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Gomez Licon writes about national politics for The Associated Press. She is based in Florida. twitter mailto

Anti-abortion supporters gather outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on June 4, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)2025-01-19T05:11:55Z JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Voters in Missouri last election approved a constitutional amendment that promised to undo the states near-total abortion ban. The same day, they reelected a Republican supermajority to the state Legislature, including several of the same lawmakers who passed the abortion ban in 2019. Now, GOP lawmakers are working to roll back some, if not all, of the abortion rights protected under the new amendment. Time and time again, the supermajority will spend taxpayer money on trying to undo the will of the voters, said Missouri Democratic Rep. Emily Weber, who has been filing abortion-rights legislation for the past four years.Some Republicans have said enacting restrictions under the measure still adheres to voters wishes.I havent heard anyone seriously discuss taking away the rape and incest exception, Republican House Speaker Jonathan Patterson said. To regulate it as the amendment asks us to do, I think its an appropriate thing to do. Any changes to directly undo the amendment passed by voters would need to go back on the ballot, he said.Republicans likely wont face any pushback at the polls for once again going after abortion and could benefit politically in conservative states like Missouri, experts said. Lawmakers from rural GOP strongholds have backing from their constituents to pursue such legislation and also face pressure to take a strong stand against abortion in order to survive primaries, said Mary Ziegler, a historian at the University of California, Davis, School of Law who studies abortion. If you are a legislator from a conservative district in Missouri, you feel absolutely no threat from Democrats and you feel a considerable threat potentially from your right if you arent conservative enough on abortion, Ziegler said.The seemingly contradictory dynamic between the abortion policies voters support and the candidates they elect is not unique to Missouri. Ohio voters added a right to abortion to their states constitution in November 2023, overriding a ban on abortions after cardiac activity is detected, about six weeks into pregnancy and before many women know theyre pregnant.Abortion rights advocates sued to have the ban invalidated, and the states Republican attorney general pushed back, seeking to keep elements of the 2019 law, including a parental notification provision and a requirement that people seeking an abortion make two in-person visits to their provider, wait 24 hours for the procedure and have their abortion recorded and reported.It took until October 2024 for a court to strike down the ban, though enforcement had previously been on hold.In Arizona, where voters also approved a right to abortion in 2024, health care providers have asked a court to strike down a previous ban on abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, with limited exceptions. There, Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, has filed court papers saying she wont enforce the old ban until after the lawsuit to invalidate it is resolved. Proposed laws in Missouri would outlaw abortion completely, only allow it in cases of medical emergencies, ban most abortions once cardiac activity is detected or ban it after fetal viability.Republicans say there is room to act without violating the abortion-rights amendment, which allows lawmakers to enact restrictions after viability except when necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person. Patterson and others see a need for legislation that would define terms in the amendment, such as viability. Viability is a term used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though theres no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the 21st week of pregnancy.Republican state Rep. Brian Seitz said the political reality is that most Missouri voters likely would not vote for an amendment in line with his belief that life begins at conception. But Seitz also said he thinks many voters approved last years ballot measure because it was the only way to allow abortion access for cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies. And he said there is support among voters for some restrictions beyond that. We can chip away at Amendment 3, Seitz said. I dont think repeal is whats going to happen in the short term.A total repeal would need voter approval.University of Central Missouri political scientist Robynn Kuhlmann said a lack of competition between Democrats and Republicans insulates lawmakers from backlash at the polls.In Missouri, Kuhlmann estimated that roughly 95% of House seats were won by at least a 5% margin in 2024.And for more and more voters, she said party seems to be taking precedence regardless of what actions have been occurring in the legislative arena. What may only matter at that point in time for the voter is whether or not theres an R or a D behind the candidates names, Kuhlmann said.Missouris abortion-rights amendment passed by a narrow margin with close to 51% of the vote. Most support came from Kansas City, St. Louis, the college town of Columbia and surrounding areas. But counties throughout the rest of the state, particularly in rural areas, voted against the measure.Seitz, who is from the southwestern Missouri tourist destination of Branson, said people from his district, as well as his conscience, declares that I should be doing something as an elected representative to promote life.___Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

A home stands among residences destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)2025-01-19T14:30:07Z Emails and videos of burned buildings in Los Angeles next to those left standing have been flying back and forth among architects, builders and fire safety specialists around the world.For many homeowners, like Enrique Balcazar, the sometimes scattershot nature of the carnage can seem like random chance. Balcazar, a real estate agent, posted video that showed little more than chimneys remaining of most homes on his block after fire leapt through his Altadena neighborhood. Balcazar stood on his neighbors destroyed classic Mustang to douse his smoldering roof, but his home was otherwise fine.Its an older house and it still has the old wood sidings, Balcazar said. To me theres nothing explainable in logical or scientific reason of why my house would not have burned. Many experts say luck does play a part. After all, wind can shift 180 degrees in a split second, pushing fire away from your house and towards a neighbors. But they also say there are many ways that homes can be made less vulnerable to fire. Because there are, say, 50 ways a fire can burn your house, said Greg Faulkner of Faulkner Architects in California, who has focused on less combustible home exteriors for more than a decade. If you eliminate half of those, or three-quarters of them, thats not luck, thats increasing your odds. People in fire country generally know that trees, landscaping and wood fences near homes can be a fire risk. Architects and contractors are going beyond that, using newer materials and techniques in roofing, walls and windows to keep buildings standing. The measures do add cost to the homes around 3% to 6%, Faulkner said, or as much as 10% for the most robust protection. David Slater, right, clears the driveway from his home, spared from the Eaton Fire, Jan. 12, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) David Slater, right, clears the driveway from his home, spared from the Eaton Fire, Jan. 12, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Many of these experts no longer use wood siding. Where it is used, or still allowed, it needs to have a fire-resistant barrier underneath, often made of gypsum, the same material used to make drywall. That way if the wood catches fire, it takes longer for the heat to reach inside the home But even with that, youre still putting a combustible material on the building, said Richard Schuh, with Nielsen : Schuh Architects. So that would be something we would avoid. Use of fire-resistant materials is critical.Stucco, a cement material, is a common exterior for Southern California houses and its fire-resistant. Reviewing AP photographs showing buildings still standing, Arnold Tarling, who has four decades experience in fire protection and building inspection in Britain, said houses with stucco walls appeared to survive the Los Angeles fires better. Yet if more of them had had a layer of gypsum beneath the stucco, it would have given more protection from the heat, he said.Windows are a huge factor in whether a home burns down, because so much heat is transmitted through them. Double-pane windows significantly slow heat coming from the burning building next door.The outside layer protects the inside layer until it fails, said Schuh. Codes in many places require one of the two panes to be tempered, which is much more resistant to heat than conventional glass, he said. Damage to beachfront homes by the Palisades Fire is visible along the coastline, Jan. 15, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Damage to beachfront homes by the Palisades Fire is visible along the coastline, Jan. 15, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Tarling noted one intact Malibu beachfront home, surrounded by gutted buildings. He speculated that the fact that no windows faced a neighbor helped protect it because radiated heat couldnt penetrate as easily.In his buildings, Faulkner builds in fire shutters that can slide closed and cover the windows.Then theres the roof a convenient landing pad for fire embers.Simpler roof lines can allow red-hot embers to slide off. Spanish Mission, for example, is an iconic Los Angeles style part of what says Hollywood in movies about the city, for example, as well as a reminder of its Mexican and Spanish history. That style doesnt always have simple roof lines the knee walls that are common on Mission-style roofs create corners.The embers could, just like snow, gather in that corner, Faulkner said. The remains of homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire are visible, Jan. 16, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) The remains of homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire are visible, Jan. 16, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Many roofs in the U.S. are covered in asphalt. Areas that are designated as wildfire-prone in California an ever-growing area are required to use roofing that delays the transfer of heat to the inside of the building, called one-hour or Class A. Still, asphalt is a petroleum product. Some building professionals prefer metal, which doesnt burn. Metal has its own downside, though: It conducts heat. Putting a layer of gypsum under a metal roof is becoming a common practice in some areas.Maybe as important as which material is used on a roof is whether the roof offers fire a way to get in. Here, as in so many tradeoffs, one effort to do good conflicts with another: Contractors have been more careful over the years to make sure moisture doesnt build up in attics by making sure air circulates, using those vents that are visible on many roofs or under eaves.But in a powerful fire, Schuh says, if youre on the side where the wind is putting pressure against the house, its also blowing the flames into the house like a blow torch, and fire gets in through the vents. On the other side of the house, it can create a vacuum, several experts said, sucking fire in.But you cant easily just eliminate roof ventilation because it will cause moisture problems, said Cesar Martin Gomez, an architect at the University of Navarra, Spain, whos worked for 25 years in building services.Faulkner said in some buildings hes eliminating the need for ventilation in the roof structure by sealing the spaces. Schuh is using a cover on roof vents that can actually respond to fire with a mesh that closes. Devastation from the Palisades Fire is visible on Jan. 16, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Devastation from the Palisades Fire is visible on Jan. 16, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Martin Gomez noted that in some parts of Australia, new homes are required to have water tanks. If each home has the ability to protect itself, fire wont be able to spread as much, he said.And some homes in the U.S. are now built with sprinkler systems for the outside of the house, not just the inside. It sprays water with a soapy solution to make it flow over the surface of the building, Schuh said.Youre adding one more layer of protection to your building, and thats more of a priority now than ever because your insurance company may or not be around for you, he said.___The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

A pedestrian crosses First Avenue as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West, plunging temperatures into the single digits and bringing along a light snow in its wake Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)2025-01-19T16:45:09Z BOSTON (AP) Tens of millions of residents along the East Coast are bracing for several inches of snow Sunday followed by dangerously cold temperatures that will take hold in much of the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine. Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service have already gone into effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic through Monday morning, with the forecast projecting up to a half-foot (15 centimeters) of snow. Warnings will begin in New England on Sunday afternoon, with parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut seeing as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow. Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park Maryland, projected that as many as 70 million residents will be under some kind of winter storm hazards warning in the coming days including in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Large cities like Philadelphia, New York and Boston could see several inches of snow this evening with the highest totals being outside of major cities. There will certainly be some more hazardous road conditions anywhere from D.C. up the whole I-95 corridor and then inland from there later today and tonight, Chenard said. Then it gets quite cold behind that. By Monday morning, any roads that havent been treated or cleared will still likely be some hazardous travel conditions. Return of the Arctic blastBut the snow is just the start of a chaotic week of weather. Much of the Eastern half of the United States will be enduring some of the coldest temperatures this winter, if not for several years. An area from the Rockies into the Northern Plains will see colder than normal temperatures starting Sunday into the coming week, with temperatures dropping to minus 30 degrees F (minus 34 degrees C) to minus 55 F (minus 48 C) on Sunday and Monday. Wind chills of minus 40 F (minus 40 C) were already being clocked in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Sub-zero wind chills are forecast to reach as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley. The cold weather forecasted for Monday for Washington, D.C., prompted President-elect Donald Trumps inaugural ceremony to be moved inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.Its going to be a cold day in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Thats for sure, Chenard said, noting temperatures will be in the 20s with wind gust upwards of 30 mph (48 kph).As happened earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually trapped about the North Pole.The cold air will moderate as it moves southward and eastward, but the Central and Eastern U.S. will still be cold with highs in the teens and 20s on Monday into Tuesday, Chenard said. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast also will have highs in the teens and 20s, lows in the single digits and below zero degrees F (minus 18 C) and wind chills below zero. Unusual wintry mixThe colder temperatures will reach down into the South early this week, where as many as 30 million people starting Monday could see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The unusual conditions are expected to stretch from Texas into northern Florida and the Carolinas. Impacts are expected to start in Texas on Monday night and spread across the Gulf Coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday.A combination of frigid air with a low pressure system over the Gulf are behind the storm, which could bring heavy snow just south of the Interstate 20 corridor across northern Louisiana and into Mississippi and a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain near the Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to Mobile, Alabama. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on Saturday issued a state of emergency in advance of the wintry weather. He encouraged Louisianans to be prepared and to monitor the weather forecast.___Julie Walker contributed to this report from New York. She can be reached at https://x.com/jwalkreporter. MICHAEL CASEY Casey writes about the environment, housing and inequality for The Associated Press. He lives in Boston. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Church members hold hands together during a service at St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)2025-01-19T20:38:23Z CHICAGO (AP) The Rev. Homero Sanchez said he didnt realize the depth of fear in the Chicago immigrant community he serves until someone asked him to handle the sale of their familys home and other finances if they are picked up this week when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.Immigrants in large cities have been preparing for mass arrests since Trump won election in November, but reports that his initial push would be in the Chicago area has brought a new sense of urgency and fear.They feel they have been targeted for who they are. They feel like theyre reviving this fear they had eight years ago, said Sanchez of St. Rita of Cascia Parish on Chicagos South Side. Theyre feeling like something is going to happen. This is not their city because of the threat.Sanchez, whose congregation has consisted mostly of people of Mexican descent since the 1980s, devoted Sunday Mass to solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters. Some immigrants in the country without legal status have been designating power of attorney to trusted friends, making plans for childcare in case of separations and installing security cameras on their doors in case immigration agents come. Others have left voluntarily, as Trump aides have encouraged them to do. Plans for deportation arrests are in flux, but federal immigration officers will target more than 300 people with histories of egregious, violent crimes after Trump takes office Monday, one official said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been made public. The operation will be concentrated in the Chicago area and continue all week, subject to potential weather delays, the official said. Temperatures in Chicago dipped to 6 degrees Fahrenheit (-14.4 degrees Celsius) with cold temperatures forecast throughout the week.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests a fraction of its targets in such operations, though Trump is expected to cast a wider net than President Joe Biden, whose focus on picking up people away from the border was largely limited to those with serious criminal histories or who pose a risk to national security. Bidens administration also ended the practice of mass worksite arrests, which were common under Trump, including a 2019 operation targeting Mississippi chicken plants. Trump aides have said they will arrest others, such as spouses or roommates, who are not targets but happen to be in the country illegally. Trump told NBC News on Saturday that mass deportations remain a top priority. He didnt give an exact date or city where theyll start, but he said they would begin soon.Itll begin very early, very quickly, he said, adding: I cant say which cities because things are evolving. And I dont think we want to say what city. Youll see it firsthand.Sanctuary cities, which limit how local police can cooperate with federal immigration agents, have been one of Trumps favorite targets especially Chicago. The nations third-largest city became a so-called sanctuary city in the 1980s and has beefed up its policies multiple times since, including after Trump first took office in 2017. Last week, the City Council heartily rejected a longshot plan calling for exceptions allowing local police to work with ICE agents on deportation cases for people accused or convicted of crimes. Trumps incoming so-called border czar Tom Homan blasted top Democratic leaders in the state during a visit to the Chicago area last month where he indicated enforcement would start there. But in recent days he told media outlets that plans were evolving. Homan told Fox News Sunday that Chicago was still on the table but that the new administration was reconsidering when and how we do it.An ICE spokesperson referred questions Sunday to the Trump transition team, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The plan was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal, which said the operation is expected to begin Tuesday.Community and religious leaders in Chicago said they were disappointed with the potential operation, but ready. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Sunday on X that his commitment to protecting and supporting this city remains unwavering.Cardinal Blase Cupich, who leads the Archdiocese of Chicago, spoke out as well. The reports being circulated of planned mass deportations targeting the Chicago area are not only profoundly disturbing but also wound us deeply, Cupich said Sunday during a visit to Mexico City, according to a copy of his prepared remarks. We are proud of our legacy of immigration that continues in our day to renew the city we love. Immigrant rights advocates in Chicago rallied Saturday, including Democratic U.S. Reps. Jesus Chuy Garcia and Delia Ramirez. They urged immigrants in Chicago to remain calm and exercise their rights, particularly to remain silent and refuse to allow officers into their homes without warrants. Some advocacy groups have planned legal workshops anticipating mass arrests next week. Ramirez planned to skip Mondays inauguration to post flyers in immigrant-heavy Chicago neighborhoods with information on what to do in case of an encounter with immigration agents.We wont let our guard down in Chicago, Garcia wrote on X. Carlos, an immigrant from Mexico, has lived in the Chicago area for decades. The 56-year-old doesnt have legal status to stay in the country but has work authorization in construction and welding. He declined to give his last name and discuss details of his immigration status for fear of being targeted for deportation.He has three children who have legal status to stay in the country through the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which remains in legal limbo.Carlos said the familys contingency planning for deportation includes finding someone to manage their bank accounts, home and car. Theyve also installed a camera on their suburban Chicago home and plan to screen all visitors. If people come to the house, dont open the door, he explained. Ask who it is. Dont open it unless they have an order.___Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat contributed to this report from San Diego.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) sits in the snow as he celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)2025-01-19T23:19:16Z PHILADELPHIA (AP) Saquon Barkley dashed through the snow for touchdown runs of 78 and 62 yards and finished with 205 yards rushing, Jalen Hurts had a 44-yard scoring run and the Philadelphia Eagles held on against the turnover-happy Los Angeles Rams 28-22 on Sunday to advance to the NFC championship game for the second time in three seasons.Barkley ran for a 62-yard score in the first half and stretched the lead in the fourth when he blew through a hole and ran untouched 78 yards for the touchdown. He smacked his helmet with his hand on his final snowy steps and flapped his arms once he hit the end zone. Barkley slid into the snow Slide, Eagles, Slide! in the late-game celebration.These Philly Snow Birds had cause for celebration -- they will host the NFC championship game Sunday against Washington, after the Commanders upset No. 1 seed Detroit on Saturday. The elements was great, but the atmosphere was even better, Barkley said. Our fans were amazing. That was a close one, but thats playoff football. And at the end of the day, we got the job done.The Rams kept the upset threat alive caused in large part by two missed extra points by Philadelphias Jake Elliott. Matthew Stafford, who threw for 324 yards, kept the Rams in it with a 4-yard TD pass to Colby Parkinson that made it 28-22. The Rams got the ball back with two minutes left and Stafford completed consecutive passes of 11 and 37 yards to move the ball into Eagles territory. But Stafford was sacked by Jalen Carter on third down and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to end the threat.The Eagles are set to host the NFC championship game for the fifth time since Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003.Eagles defenders frolicked in the winter mess and made snow angels in the end zone to celebrate the turnovers. Some brave frigid fans went shirtless and yes, even Santa Claus was in the house, without a report of any snowball throwing. Stadium workers used snow blowers to clear yard lines and hash marks, while Eagles scooped and kicked away snow to clear a circle for Elliotts field goal attempts.Hurts threw for just 128 yards, his mobility hampered in the second half after he was fitted for a knee brace. He didnt miss any snaps, but was easily mauled on the safety. He was sacked seven times.Hurts suffered a concussion that cost him in two games in a loss at Washington in December. It was the Eagles only loss after they returned from the bye with a 2-2 record.It comes through Philly. That means everything for this city, this team, and weve got everything we want in front of us, Hurts said.Barkley had 118 total yards at the break, but the Rams defense -- coming off a nine-sack effort against Minnesota -- sacked Hurts three times in the half. Hurts was sacked on consecutive plays to end the first half, a total loss of 16 yards that knocked the Eagles out of field goal range.The Eagles borrowed from the playbook used in their November win in Los Angeles when big plays Barkley had touchdown runs of 70 and 72 yards helped them cruise to a comfortable win. Hurts rushed for the longest TD of his career, a 44-yarder on the fifth play of the game that sent a cold crowd still buzzing from the pregame theatrics into a frenzy. Elliott missed an extra point for the second straight playoff game.After converting a fourth down on the drive, Stafford hit Tyler Higbee for a 4-yard TD that made it 7-6. Only six days earlier, Higbee spit up blood in the playoff win over Minnesota and was taken to the hospital with a chest injury.Barkley scored on a 62-yard run for a 13-7 lead, but not before the 2,105-yard rusher slowed near the end zone and looked back to clown the trailing Jalen Verse. Barkley had has fifth touchdown run of 50-plus yards of the season and was the first player with three TD runs of 60-plus against one team since Baltimores Jamal Lewis did it against the Browns in 2003.Verse got trolled by Barkley after the Rams rookie linebacker and Pennsylvania native said he hates Eagles fans. The first-round draft pick attended high school in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, which is about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Verse egged on fans during pregame warmups and relished the boos that rained him on in the light snow. Once the game started, the Eagles showed on the big screen Verse on the bench and fans booed again.Verse winked at the camera, stamping his name on the list of Philly sports villains.Joshua Karty kicked two field goals in the first half for the Rams.Elliott atoned for a missed extra point with a 44-yard field goal that floated through the uprights for a 16-13 lead in the third.InjuriesRams: DE Braden Fiske had a knee injury.Eagles: CB Quinyon Mitchell suffered a shoulder injury.Up nextThe Eagles host the Commanders for the right to play in the Super Bowl.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL DAN GELSTON Gelston is an an Associated Press sports writer covering major college and pro sports in Philadelphia, including the 76ers, Flyers, Eagles, Phillies and Villanova. twitter mailto

A message reading "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now" is displayed from the TikTok app on a cell phone screen Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)2025-01-19T23:27:25Z TikTok content creators who make a living promoting their businesses and personal brands on the app were afraid Sunday that they would have to find new ways to engage consumers and make money as the apps future in the United States remained uncertain.TikTok told U.S. users that it was beginning to restore service just hours after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a federal ban, which President-elect Donald Trump said he would try to pause by executive order on his first day in office. Some users reported Sunday that the app was working again, but it remained unavailable for download in Apple and Googles app stores. Others remained locked out of accessing their profiles and the communities they had built online.Heres how content creators are reacting: Esthetician mourns her online communityOn a typical morning, esthetician and social media personality Lee Zavorskas scrolls on TikTok while she sips coffee. Sunday morning was different she scribbled a to-do list instead, which included playing with her cats and dog and plotting how to bolster her presence on other platforms like YouTube since TikTok went dark for her Saturday night.Im a 58-year-old content creator that found a seat at the table thats not available on Instagram, Zavorskas said.While Zavorskas has more followers on Instagram, she found a large crowd of people over the age of 40 on TikTok, making it easier to build her audience. She held out some hope that she would be able to return to the community she found on the app.Its like going to your favorite restaurant and ordering your favorite food, and theyre like, You know what? We took it away, she said. Small business owner fears for the futureTiffany Cianci, a Maryland-based content creator who owns small businesses, stopped posting on Twitter and Instagram and cut her advertising with Meta and Google out of frustration.Its TikTok or nothing for me, she said.She thinks lawmakers unfairly punished TikTok for succeeding alongside its profitable competitors. And they played political football with an app that millions of small businesses rely on to survive, she said.I spoke to small businesses in the last three days that have sobbed on my livestreams, afraid theyll have to lay their employees off tomorrow morning, Cianci said. They are so afraid because they have other peoples lives in their hands.Beauty creator shifts to YouTubeTiffany Watson, a 20-year-old beauty content creator, had been making videos since the days of Musical.ly, and was just starting to figure out the kind of content she was passionate about when TikTok went dark.The community on TikTok is like nothing else, so its weird to not have that anymore, she said. With spare time on her hands, Watson plans to focus on bolstering her presence on Instagram and YouTube. She also wants to devote more time to school as the psychology major and criminal justice minor prepares to graduate from Wingate University in North Carolina and enter the real world. But being a content creator remains her main dream, she said.If Trump lifts the ban, Watson plans to return to TikTok, but said she will probably be more tuned into my YouTube since this ban has kinda spooked me.

Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns multiple structures in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)2025-01-19T23:18:10Z LOS ANGELES (AP) Southern Californians are bracing for gusty winds and a heightened risk of wildfires less than two weeks after deadly blazes that have killed at least 27 people and ravaged thousands of homes broke outThe National Weather Service has issued a warning of a particularly dangerous situation for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning due to low humidity and damaging Santa Ana winds. Gusts could peak at 70 mph (113 kph) along the coast and 100 mph (161 kph) in the mountains and foothills.Critical fire weather with wind gusts up to 60 mph (97 kph) was also forecast for other Southern California communities stretching to San Diego, with residents urged to take steps to get ready to evacuate such as creating an emergency kit and keeping cars filled with at least a half tank of gas. The warnings come as firefighters continue to battle two major blazes in the Los Angeles area, the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out during fierce winds on Jan. 7. The Palisades fire was 52% contained on Sunday and the Eaton fire 81% contained, according to fire officials. Firefighters said they have have made progress on the perimeter of the Palisades fire, which has charred more than 37 square miles (96 square kilometers) near the Pacific coast, but there are areas in the interior that continue to burn, said Dan Collins, a spokesperson for the Palisades fire incident. There is always a possibility in a red flag warning something hot, or some type of burning material from the interior, could be perhaps whipped up and blown across the containment lines, Collins said.While firefighters are fairly confident the Eaton fire further inland will remain contained, there are concerns a new fire could break out with vegetation especially dry for this time of year, said Carlos Herrera, an Eaton fire spokesperson. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has positioned 45 fire engines across the region in addition to water-dropping aircraft and hand crews to enable a quick response should a new fire break out, according to the governors office of emergency services. This proactive approach has proven to be a critical component of Californias wildfire response strategy, reducing response times and containing fires before they escalate, the office said.Damage estimates have continued to climb for the Palisades and Eaton fires nearly two weeks since they began. Inspectors have fanned out to check buildings and assess damages, but Collins said it is impossible to know whether the remaining structures affected in the Palisades fire are intact. Our damage inspection teams have to inspect every structure within the fire perimeter, Collins said. Theyre about two-thirds of the way done.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)2025-01-20T01:47:37Z NEW YORK (AP) During his first term as president, Donald Trump led the effort to ban TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing site he said posed a threat to U.S. national security. But on the eve of his return to the White House, the president-elect is being hailed as the apps savior.After going dark for users this weekend, Trump said on his social media site that he would issue an executive order after hes sworn in for a second term on Monday delaying a TikTok ban so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. He said the order would make clear that companies will not be held liable for violating a law that aimed to force TikToks sale by its China-based parent company. Hours later, the app returned, to the relief of its legions of dedicated users. Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trumps efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! read the announcement. Trumps legal authority to unilaterally decide not to enforce the law, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in April and was upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday, is unclear. But the rapid developments over the weekend served as a reminder of how dramatically debates over technology, social media and national security have changed since Trump was last in the White House. It also signaled how closely Trump is following those shifts after waging a successful campaign in which he made inroads with voters in part by harnessing the appeal of some social media platforms. Trump can now take credit for reviving an app with 170 million users that is especially popular with younger Americans, many of whom spend hours a day on the platform to get news, make money and find entertainment. This is one of those things where the domestic politics has become so upside down and crazy that it turns out theres only upside for Trump now, said Bill Bishop, a China expert who has been closely following the back-and-forth. If the bans ends up being enforced, he said, Trump will say it was on outgoing President Joe Bidens watch. And if it does come back then Trump is a savior. And he will be rewarded both by users as well as the company, which he said is now beholden to Trump and will have an incentive to make sure content on the platform is favorable to him. TikToks move comes as tech companies and CEOs have been been working furiously to improve their standing with Trump. X owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has enjoyed unprecedented access to the president-elect after spending more than $200 million and personally campaigning to help him get elected. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and reshaped his social media platforms policies to align more closely with Trumps worldview earlier this month, ending third-party fact-checking, loosening rules against hate speech, ending his companys diversity and equity policies and naming Dana White, the president and CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship and a familiar figure in Trumps orbit, to its board. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Amazon, Meta and Google have all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trumps inaugural fund.The companies have a lot on the line, including regulatory challenges. Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trumps first term as president and flourished under Biden most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers.TikTok also worked to curry Trumps favor, with CEO Shou Chew meeting with him at Mar-a-Lago in December. In a video responding to the Supreme Court decision, Chew was careful to praise Trump and cast the apps fate as dependent on him.On behalf of everyone at TikTok and all our users across the country, I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States, he said. We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform. When the app went dark, it had initially posted a simple message informing users of the change, but later updated the language to include Trump.Sorry, TikTok isnt available right now, it read. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you cant use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!The federal law had required TikTok parent company ByteDance to cut ties with the platforms U.S. operations by Sunday. The Biden administration had stressed in recent days that it did not intend to enforce the ban before Trump took office. But TikTok said it would nonetheless go dark because the Biden administration had not provided necessary clarity and assurance to service providers a stance outgoing Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer cast as disingenuous. Frankly, it doesnt feel completely on the level, he said on ABCs This Week. I think we were extremely clear that there was no need to take this action, he said.Trump said in an interview with NBC News on Saturday that he was considering granting ByteDance a 90-day extension to sell. ByteDance has repeatedly refused to sell, but the company is being eyed by investors including Trumps former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt. Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell Universitys Tech Policy Institute, said there was no evidence ByteDance had made any meaningful progress toward divestiture, so I dont see how, by any measure, it would legally meet those conditions.Further, an Executive Order cannot legally override or cancel a law that Congress passed, she said. Laws enacted through the legislative process have a higher legal standing and an EO that conflicts with the existing law, the law takes precedence and the EO would likely be struck down by the courts.Sen. Tom Cotton, the Republican chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, warned Sunday that there is no legal basis for the kind of extension Trump is pursuing. Any company that hosts, distributes, services, or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability under the law, not just from DOJ, but also under securities law, shareholder lawsuits, and state AGs, he wrote on X. Think about it.Trump, in his Sunday post, proposed new terms of a deal in which he said the United States would have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture that would be set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose. But the details remained murky and it was unclear whether Trump was proposing control by the U.S. government or another company. Trump did not elaborate during a rally Sunday night, where he hailed the move.As of today, TikTok is back, he said. We have no choice. We have to save it.Though Trump sought to ban TikTok during his first term, he reversed that stance during his 2024 campaign, when he came to believe a ban would help the apps rival, Facebook, which he held responsible, in part, to his 2020 election loss to Biden.Trump ended up joining the app last year and has grown his following to nearly 15 million users. He has since credited the app for helping him win over young voters.I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok, he said during a December news conference. TikTok had an impact.___Ortutay reported from Oakland, California. Associated Press writers Charlotte Kramon and Nadia Lathan contributed to this report. JILL COLVIN Colvin is an Associated Press national political reporter covering the 2024 presidential campaign. She is based in New York. mailto BARBARA ORTUTAY Ortutay writes about social media and the internet for The Associated Press. mailto

Participants hold a rainbow flag during the Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)2025-01-20T03:56:10Z BANGKOK (AP) Thailands landmark marriage equality bill was officially written into law on Sept. 24, after it was endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. LGBTQ+ couples will be able to register marriages this week when it takes effect on Thursday, making Thailand the third place to do so in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal.Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, but has struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Thai society has broadly conservative values, and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life.The government led by the Pheu Thai party has made marriage equality one of its main goals. It had a major presence at the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, in which thousands of people celebrated in one of Bangkoks busiest commercial districts.A grand celebration is planned in central Bangkok to facilitate hundreds of same-sex couples who plan to register their marriages on the very first day.The Associated Press spoke with seven same-sex couples, days before the law comes into effect: Jakrapob Penkair, 57, former Prime Ministers Office minister, and Supraipon Chuaychoo, 44, tourism business owner Jakrapob Penkair, right, 57, former Prime Ministers Office minister, and Supraipon Chuaychoo, 44, tourism business owner, sit for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Jakrapob Penkair, right, 57, former Prime Ministers Office minister, and Supraipon Chuaychoo, 44, tourism business owner, sit for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More This law doesnt only equate life. It is life! At long last, Thailands society accepts the legality of all marriages in our land, regardless of sexual orientations. With that one sentence, lost or wasted lives have been rescued. Spirits restored. The whole country is better off. Jakrapob Penkair Prorawin Battemdee, 40, public relations officer, and Pitee Chuchomchuen, 39, designer Pitee Chuchomchuen, 39, designer, left, and Prorawin Battemdee, 40, public relations officer, pose for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Pitee Chuchomchuen, 39, designer, left, and Prorawin Battemdee, 40, public relations officer, pose for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The marriage equality law will bring about a multitude of positive outcomes, especially by providing greater security and legal assurances for our relationships, including better access to health care and other protections. Im truly happy this day has finally become a reality, Prorawin Battemdee Kullayahnut Akkharasretthabudh, 38, real estate owner, and Juthatip Suttiwong, 24, chef Juthatip Suttiwong, 24, chef, left, and Kullayahnut Akkharasretthabudh, 38, real estate owner, pose for a portrait in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Juthatip Suttiwong, 24, chef, left, and Kullayahnut Akkharasretthabudh, 38, real estate owner, pose for a portrait in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The enforcement of the marriage equality law is proof that regardless of our gender, we all share the same basic human rights in every aspect under Thai law. It also paves the way for other countries in Asia, highlighting the importance of recognizing each others human values and enabling everyone to live. Kullayahnut Akkharasretthabudh Chantamas Hemapanpairo, 52, business owner, and Sirada Thongchua, 38, teacher Chantamas Hemapanpairo, 52, business owner, and Sirada Thongchua, 38, teacher, pose for a portrait in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Chantamas Hemapanpairo, 52, business owner, and Sirada Thongchua, 38, teacher, pose for a portrait in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More This law will grant both of us the right to take care of each other, legally sign consent for the others medical treatment, and provide each other with lifelong security. When one of us dies, the law will ensure that our bond is recognized and protected. Chantamas HemapanpairoPatherine Khunnares, 37, web designer, and Vivian Chullamon, 36, researcher Patherine Khunnares, 37, web designer, left, and Vivian Chullamon, 36, researcher, stand for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Patherine Khunnares, 37, web designer, left, and Vivian Chullamon, 36, researcher, stand for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Were quite fortunate. We have a supportive social circle, friends, and family who accept us for who we are and accept the person we love. Marriage, it seems, isnt everything that fulfils us emotionally. However, ultimately, we believe that as two human beings, we should be granted the same basic legal rights as heterosexual couples. We are a complete family in spirit, but legal recognition would alleviate our future anxieties. In the end, we arent asking for anything special we just want a simple, happy family life. Patherine KhunnaresJutarat Chuenpae, 37, business owner, and Nutanong Sopon, 43, business owner Nutanong sopon, 43, left, and Jutarat chuenpae, 37, both business owners, hold hands and jump for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Nutanong sopon, 43, left, and Jutarat chuenpae, 37, both business owners, hold hands and jump for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Before the marriage equality law takes effect, I personally felt that I could only use the word partner. But from now on, its a family. Jutarat Chuenpae Panuwat Srisawat, 35, Hairstylist, and Kritsanai Promsiriruk, 62, actor Panuwat Srisawat, 35, hair creative, left, and Kritsanai Promsiriruk, 62, actor, stand for a portrait in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Panuwat Srisawat, 35, hair creative, left, and Kritsanai Promsiriruk, 62, actor, stand for a portrait in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The marriage equality law allows everyones lives to complete each other without any further discrimination. Panuwat Srisawat___Follow AP visual journalism:AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnewsX: http://twitter.com/AP_Images

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) carries the ball into the end zone to score a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)2025-01-20T02:55:52Z ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Josh Allen rushed for two touchdowns, Buffalos defense forced three turnovers and the Bills advanced to the AFC championship game with a 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round on Sunday night.The Bills hung on when a wide-open Mark Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion pass from Lamar Jackson, allowing the ball to bounce off his chest with 1:33 left. Jackson connected with a sliding Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Ravens a chance to tie it.How about that Buffalo Bills defense? said Allen, the Bills potential MVP quarterback. All year, this team has heard weve got no talent, were too small, we cant stop the run, were not good enough to compete. Weve just put our head down and worked hard. Im so proud of our defense. Im so proud of our offense and special teams. What a complete win. The Bills will play for the AFC title next Sunday against the conferences top seed, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo snapped a three-year run of being eliminated in the divisional round.Its a familiar matchup for Buffalo, which has been beaten by Kansas City in three of the past four postseasons. Allen scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards while Ray Davis also scored on a 1-yard run. Tyler Bass hit both field goal attempts, including a 21-yarder with 3:29 left after the Bills stalled at Baltimores 2. That drive was set up by the Ravens final turnover, when linebacker Terrel Bernard stripped the ball from Andrews at the Buffalo 44. The Bills closed their season a perfect 10-0 at home. That included a 30-21 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11.We know what they are. Theyre the perennial of what you want to be in the NFL, Allen said. Youve got to beat them to get past them. So, you know, were going to enjoy this one tonight. The Ravens had one of the NFLs most productive offenses in the regular season but fell a win short of reaching the conference title game, which they lost to the Chiefs a year ago. Scrutiny of Jacksons playoff performances will only increase as he fell to 3-5 in the postseason. He had two first-half turnovers in this loss, throwing an interception and losing a fumble.Baltimore fell to 5-8 in the divisional round, including 1-4 in its last five.It was uncharacteristic to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us to not have those, but we had them, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. You try to bounce back from them in the course of the game. You cant take them back.Andrews did not make himself available following the game, but got plenty of support from his teammates.One play doesnt define anybody. Hes the all-time leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history, safety Kyle Hamilton said. Hes been a consistent beacon of success the whole time hes been here.The Bills continued playing complementary football to overcome a patchwork defense and an offense that didnt have a receiver reach 900 yards this season. Buffalo finished the regular season with a league-best plus-24 turnover differential. That continued on Sunday with a turnover-free game from Allen and the Bills that was just good enough on a field that was slick with a dusting of snow.Buffalos defense held up, limiting Derrick Henry to 84 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries. In Week 4, Henry had a season-best 199 yards rushing in the Ravens 35-10 win the Bills most lopsided defeat of the season.In a matchup of MVP candidates, Jackson went 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns.Allen went 16 of 22 for 127 yards and his 1-yard run with 8:49 left in the second quarter gave the Bills the lead for good at 14-7.That score was set up by Jacksons fumble. Facing second-and-10 at the Buffalo 28, Jackson first had to secure a high snap. After gaining control, he attempted to scramble forward, only to lose the ball when safety Damar Hamlin grabbed the quarterback by the ankle.Von Miller scooped up the fumble and was finally chased down at Baltimores 24. Allen scored four plays later to chants of MVP! MVP! The Ravens failed on both 2-point conversion attempts, with linebacker Matt Milano batting down Jacksons pass attempt after Henry scored to make it 21-19.Baltimore took the opening kickoff and drove for a touchdown, with Jackson hitting Rashod Bateman from 16 yards out.InjuriesRavens: Leading receiver Zay Flowers missed both playoff games with a knee injury.Bills: Safety Taylor Rapp did not return after hurting his hip in the second quarter.Up nextThe Bills get a rematch of the AFC championship game after the 2020 season, which Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won 38-24. That Kansas City team lost the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he recites the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St.Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)2025-01-20T07:41:46Z ROME (AP) Pope Francis said Donald Trumps plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants would be a disgrace, as he weighed in on the incoming U.S. presidents pledges nearly a decade after calling him not Christian for wanting to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.Historys first Latin American pope was asked about the Trump administration pledges of deportations during an appearance Sunday night on a popular Italian talk show, Che Tempo Che Fa.If true, this will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the problem, Francis said. This wont do! This is not the way to solve things. Thats not how things are resolved.Trump, who is being sworn in on Monday, made mass deportations a signature issue of his campaign and has promised a raft of first-day orders to remake immigration policy. During his first campaign for the presidency, in 2016, Francis was asked about Trumps plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Speaking after he celebrated Mass along the border, Francis famously said anyone who builds a wall to keep out migrants is not Christian. Many U.S. bishops have firmly opposed Trumps deportation plan, with the incoming archbishop of Washington D.C., Cardinal Robert McElroy, saying such policies were incompatible with Catholic doctrine. It was a reference to the Biblical call to welcome the stranger. Another cardinal close to Francis, Chicago Cardinal Blas Cupich, said the reports of mass deportations targeting the Chicago area are not only profoundly disturbing but also wound us deeply. In a statement delivered from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Sunday, Cupich said governments have the responsibility to protect borders and communities. But we also are committed to defending the rights of all people, and protecting their human dignity, according to the text of his statement.Francis, who grew up in Argentina in a family of Italian immigrants, has long prioritized the plight of migrants and called for governments to welcome, protect and integrate them, within their means. He has said the dignity and rights of migrants trump any national security concerns. ___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Nora Sandigo speaks to immigrant families with small children Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Miami. Sandigo is the legal guardian to more than 2,000 U.S. born children of immigrant parents. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)2025-01-20T05:23:58Z MIAMI (AP) Parents around Nora Sanidgos large, rectangular dining table had lunch before signing documents to make the Nicaraguan immigrant a legal guardian of their children, entrusting them to her if they are deported. She gave a list of what to carry with them: birth certificates, medical and school records, immigration documents, her phone number.Talk to your children and tell them what can happen, let them have my phone number on hand, let them learn it, let them record it, Sandigo said Sunday.For the group at Sandigos southwest Miami home and for millions in the United States illegally or with temporary legal status, the start of Donald Trumps second term as president on Monday comes with a feeling that their time in the U.S. may end soon. Trump made mass deportations a signature issue of his campaign and has promised a raft of first-day orders to remake immigration policy. You dont have to be afraid, you have to be prepared, Sandigo told the group of about 20 people, including small children, who watched a demonstration of how to respond if immigration officers knock on their door. Take precautions wherever you are. Sandigo, who came to the U.S. in 1988, has volunteered to be guardian for more than 2,000 children in 15 years, including at least 30 since December. A notary was on hand Sunday.Erlinda, a single mother from El Salvador who arrived in 2013, signed legal rights to her U.S.-born children, ages 10 and 8. She said she applied for asylum but doesnt know the status of her case. I am afraid for my children, that they will live the terror of not seeing their mother for a day, for a month, for a year, said Erlinda, 45, who asked to be identified by first name only due to fears of being detained.Plans for deportation arrests appeared to be in flux after news leaked of an operation in Chicago this week. Trumps border czar Tom Homan said on Fox News Sunday that Chicago was not off the table, but were reconsidering when and how we do it. He said the leak raised concerns about officer safety. So-called sanctuary cities, which limit how local police cooperate with federal immigration authorities, have been a favorite Trump target, especially Chicago. Reports that his initial push would be in the nations third-largest city brought a new sense of urgency and fear.Chicago became a sanctuary city in the 1980s and has beefed up policies since, including after Trump first took office in 2017. Last week, the City Council heartily rejected a longshot plan calling for exceptions allowing local police to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on deportation cases for people accused or convicted of crimes. The Rev. Homero Sanchez said he didnt realize the depth of fear in the Chicago immigrant community he serves until someone asked him to handle the sale of their familys home and other finances if they are picked up after Trump takes office.They feel they have been targeted for who they are. They feel like theyre reviving this fear they had eight years ago, said Sanchez, who serves the St. Rita of Cascia Parish on Chicagos South Side. Theyre feeling like something is going to happen. This is not their city because of the threat. Sanchez, whose congregation has consisted mostly of people of Mexican descent since the 1980s, devoted Sunday Mass to solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters. Cardinal Blase Cupich, who leads the Archdiocese of Chicago, said reports of the city being targeted by immigration officers were not only profoundly disturbing but also wound us deeply. We are proud of our legacy of immigration that continues in our day to renew the city we love, Cupich said Sunday during a visit to Mexico City, according to a copy of his prepared remarks. ICE arrests a fraction of targets in its street operations, though Trump is expected to cast a wider net than President Joe Biden, whose focus on picking up people away from the border was largely limited to those with serious criminal histories or who pose a risk to national security. Bidens administration also ended the practice of mass worksite arrests, which were common under Trump, including a 2019 operation targeting Mississippi chicken plants.Trump aides have said immigration officers will arrest others, such as spouses or roommates, who are not targets but happen to be in the country illegally. ___Tareen reported from Chicago. GISELA SALOMON Salomon is a Miami-based reporter who covers Latin America and immigration affairs for The Associated Press.Salomon es una periodista que desde Miami cubre asuntos latinoamericanos y de inmigracion. twitter mailto

The mountains above the village of Davos, with the The Congress Center, center, where the annual meeting of World Economic Forum will take place, are covered with snow, in Davos, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)2025-01-20T02:10:50Z DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) Billionaires wealth grew three times faster in 2024 than the year before, a top anti-poverty group reported on Monday as some of the worlds political and financial elite prepared for an annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland.Oxfam International, in its latest assessment of global inequality timed to the opening of the World Economic Forum meeting, also predicts at least five trillionaires will crop up over the next decade. A year ago, the group forecast that only one trillionaire would appear during that time. OxFams research adds weight to a warning by outgoing President Joe Biden last week of a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of very few ultra-wealthy people. The groups sharp-edged report, titled Takers Not Makers, also says the number of people in poverty has barely budged since 1990. The World Economic Forum expects to host some 3,000 attendees, including business executives, academics, government officials, and civic group leaders at its annual meeting in the Alpine village of Davos. Whats the worry about? ... The new aristocracyPresident-elect Donald Trump, who visited Davos twice during his first term and was set to take the oath of office on Monday, is expected to take part in the forums event by video on Thursday. He has long championed wealth accumulation including his own and counts multibillionaire Elon Musk as a top adviser.What youre seeing at the moment is a billionaire president taking oaths today, backed by the richest man. So this is pretty much the jewel in the crown of the global oligarchies, Amitabh Behar, executive director of Oxfam International, said in an interview, referring to Trump and Musk.Its not about one specific individual. Its the economic system that we have created where the billionaires are now pretty much being able to shape economic policies, social policies, which eventually gives them more and more profit, he added. Like Bidens call for making billionaires begin to pay their fair share through the U.S. tax code, Oxfam a global advocacy group called on governments to tax the richest to reduce inequality and extreme wealth, and to dismantle the new aristocracy.The group called for steps like the break-up of monopolies, capping CEO pay, and regulation of corporations to ensure they pay living wages to workers.How are the poorest faring? Many investors racked up strong gains in 2024, with strong performances for top tech companies and stock-market indexes like the S&P 500, as well as the price of gold and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.Oxfam said billionaire wealth grew by $2 trillion last year, or roughly $5.7 billion a day, three-times faster than in 2023. The number of billionaires rose by 204 to 2,769, and the 10 richest men saw their wealth rise nearly $100 million a day on average, it said.Citing World Bank data, the group pointed to lingering poverty, saying the number of people living on less than $6.85 per day has barely changed since 1990. Oxfam used Forbes Real-Time Billionaire List as of end-November for data on the ultra-rich. By contrast, at least four new billionaires were minted every week in 2024, and three-fifths of billionaire wealth comes from inheritance, monopoly power or crony connections, it said.On average, Oxfam said, low- and middle-income countries are spending nearly half their national budgets on debt repayments. It also noted that life expectancy in Africa is just under 64 years of age, compared to over 79 years in Europe. Will it be business as usual at Davos again this year?Despite the growing gap between the ber rich and the poor, the annual Davos confab, which formally begins on Tuesday, will likely focus this year again on making money and doing deals, with strongman leaders on the rise in some Western countries and progressive causes like diversity and climate change waning in the business world. The continued rise of artificial intelligence as a tool for business to reap greater efficiencies will also again be a central theme in Davos, despite worries in many sectors that AI could upend many white-collar jobs and displace workers in an array of industries. Trumps return for a second term will likely be on many lips in Davos, as will lingering conflicts, including wars in Ukraine and Sudan, along with hopes for a continuation of a cease-fire that began on Sunday between Hamas and Israel, pausing their devastating 15-month war in Gaza.Forum organizers last week issued a survey conducted among 900 experts for Global Risks Report, which found that conflicts between countries was the top concern, followed by extreme weather, economic confrontation, misinformation and disinformation, and societal polarization a nod to the gap between rich and poor.As in past years, protesters calling for more economic equality, taxing the rich and pressing other demands took to the streets. Some blocked roads to Davos, snarling traffic in places and delaying trips for some attendees to the event, which runs through Friday. JAMEY KEATEN Keaten is the chief Associated Press reporter in Geneva. He previously was posted in Paris and has reported from Afghanistan, the Middle East, North Africa and across Europe. twitter RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)2025-01-20T05:06:30Z WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in as the 47th president on Monday, taking charge as Republicans assume unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the countrys institutions.Trump is expected to act swiftly after the ceremony, with executive orders already prepared for his signature to jumpstart deportations, increase fossil fuel development and reduce civil service protections for government workers, promising that his term will bring about a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride.Frigid weather is rewriting the pageantry of the day. Trumps swearing-in was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda the first time that has happened in 40 years and the inaugural parade was replaced by an event at a downtown arena. Throngs of Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the inaugural ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol from the National Mall will be left to find somewhere else to view the festivities. God has a plan, said Terry Barber, 46, who drove nonstop from near Augusta, Georgia, to reach Washington. Im good with it. When Trump takes the oath of office at noon, he will realize a political comeback without precedent in American history. Four years ago, he was voted out of the White House during an economic collapse caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Trump denied his defeat and tried to cling to power. He directed his supporters to march on the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the election results, sparking a riot that interrupted the countrys tradition of the peaceful transfer of power. But Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party, and was undeterred by criminal cases and two assassination attempts as he steamrolled rivals and harnessed voters exasperation with inflation and illegal immigration. Now Trump will be the first person convicted of a felony for falsifying business records related to hush money payments to serve as president. He will pledge to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution from the same spot that was overrun by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. Hes said that one of his first acts in office will be to pardon many of those who participated in the riot.Eight years after he first entered the White House as a political newcomer, Trump is far more familiar with the operations of federal government and emboldened to bend it to his vision. He has promised retribution against his political opponents and critics, and placed personal loyalty as a prime qualification for appointments to his administration.He has pledged to go further and move faster in enacting his agenda than during his first term, and already the countrys political, business and technology leaders have realigned themselves to accommodate Trump. Democrats who once formed a resistance are now divided over whether to work with Trump or defy him. Billionaires have lined up to meet with Trump as they acknowledge his unrivaled power in Washington and ability to wield the levers of government to help or hurt their interests. Trump has pledged to bring quick change to the country by curtailing immigration, enacting tariffs on imports and rolling back Democrats climate and social initiatives.Long skeptical of American alliances, his America First foreign policy is being watched warily at home and abroad as Russias invasion of Ukraine will soon enter its third year and a fragile ceasefire appears to be holding in Gaza after more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.Trump, who spent Saturday and Sunday night at Blair House across from the White House, will begin Monday with a prayer service at St. Johns Episcopal Church. Then he and his wife Melania will be greeted at the executive mansion by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for the customary tea. Its a stark departure from four years ago, when Trump refused to acknowledge Bidens victory or attend his inauguration. The two men and their spouses will head to the Capitol in a joint motorcade ahead of the swearing-in.Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn-in first, taking the oath read by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on a bible given to him by his great-grandmother. Trump will follow, using both a family bible and the one used by President Abraham Lincoln at his 1861 inauguration as Chief Justice John Roberts administers his oath.The inaugural festivities began Saturday, when Trump arrived in Washington on a government jet and viewed fireworks at his private golf club in suburban Virginia. On Sunday, he laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and rallied his supporters at Washingtons downtown Capital One Arena.A cadre of billionaires and tech titans who have sought to curry favor with Trump and have donated handsomely to his inaugural festivities, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, will be in attendance. Also present will be the head of TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned social media app deemed a national security risk by the U.S. Trump has promised to lift an effective ban on TikTok through one of many executive orders expected to be issued on Monday as the new president attempts to show quick progress. At his Sunday rally, Trump teased dozens of coming executive actions, promising that by the time the sun sets on Monday he will have signed executive orders involving border security and immigration policy, including a revival of Trumps first-term effort to shut down access to many new entries under whats called Title 42 emergency provisions.Others orders are expected to allow more oil and gas drilling by rolling back Biden-era policies on domestic energy production and rescind Bidens recent directive on artificial intelligence. More changes are planned for the federal workforce. Trump wants to unwind diversity, equity and inclusion programs known as DEI, require employees to come back to the office and lay the groundwork to reduce staff. Expect shock and awe, said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.What Ive been urging the president, and my colleagues, to do is stay laser-focused on delivering on our promises, Cruz said. And thats what I expect that were going to do.With control of Congress, Republicans are also working alongside the incoming Trump administration on legislation that will further roll back Biden administration policies and institute their own priorities.The president is going to come in with a flurry of executive orders, said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. And we are going to be working alongside the administration and in tandem.___AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro and AP writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report. ZEKE MILLER Zeke is APs chief White House correspondent twitter mailto CHRIS MEGERIAN Megerian covers the White House for The Associated Press. He previously wrote about the Russia investigation, climate change, law enforcement and politics in California and New Jersey. twitter mailto

A pedestrian crosses First Avenue as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West, plunging temperatures into the single digits and bringing along a light snow in its wake Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)2025-01-20T05:17:07Z BOSTON (AP) Residents across the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine are bracing for dangerously low temperatures as tens of millions of residents along the East Coast contend with a thick blanket of snow and more snowfall in the forecast.Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service were in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic through Monday morning, and warnings began in New England on Sunday afternoon. Heavy lake-effect snow was expected in western New York state Monday through Wednesday morning, with 2 to 3 feet (about 60 to 90 centimeters) possible in some areas including Oswego along Lake Ontario.Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, projected that as many as 70 million residents will be under some kind of winter storm warning in the coming days. Return of the Arctic blastSunday snowfall was just the start of a chaotic week of weather. Much of the Eastern Seaboard will be enduring some of the coldest temperatures this winter. An area from the Rockies into the Northern Plains will see colder than normal weather over several days, with temperatures forecast to drop to between minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 34 degrees Celsius) to minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 48 degrees Celsius) on Monday. Sub-zero wind chills are forecast to reach as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley. Minnesota residents were urged to wear appropriate clothing and carry a survival kit for travel. Kristi Rollwagen, director of homeland security and emergency management at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, also urged motorists to drive with a full tank of gas and a fully charged cellphone to keep in touch with loved ones. Its not something we havent experienced before, its just a good reminder that it does get cold in Minnesota, Rollwagen said.Meanwhile, temperatures in Washington, D.C., are expected to dip into the 20s (about minus 7 C to minus 1 C) with wind gusts upwards of 30 mph (48 kph), Chenard said. The forecast prompted President-elect Donald Trumps inaugural ceremony to be moved inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Like earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually trapped about the North Pole.The cold air will moderate as it moves southward and eastward, but the Central and Eastern U.S. will still experience temperatures in the teens and 20s Monday into Tuesday, Chenard said. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast also will have highs in the teens and 20s, lows in the single digits and below zero degrees F (minus 18 C), and wind chills below zero. Unusual mix of snow, sleet and freezing rainThe colder temperatures will dip into the South early this week, where as many as 30 million people starting Monday could see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The unusual conditions are expected to stretch from Texas into northern Florida and the Carolinas. Impacts are expected starting Monday night in Texas and then spreading across the Gulf Coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday.Frigid air combined with a low-pressure system over the Gulf is behind the storm, which could bring heavy snow just south of the Interstate 20 corridor across northern Louisiana and into Mississippi and a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain near the Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to Mobile, Alabama. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on Saturday issued a state of emergency ahead of the severe weather, urging residents to prepare and keep watch on the forecast.___Julie Walker contributed to this report from New York. She can be reached at https://x.com/jwalkreporter. Dave Collins contributed from Hartford, Connecticut. Bruce Shipkowski contributed from Toms River, New Jersey. MICHAEL CASEY Casey writes about the environment, housing and inequality for The Associated Press. He lives in Boston. twitter mailto

A Polish border guard looks east into Belarus at the crossing point Poowce-Pieszczatka in Polowce, Poland, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Lorne Cooke)2025-01-20T05:08:21Z POLOWCE, Poland (AP) Polands six-month presidency of the European Union is firmly focused on security. As Europes biggest land war in decades rages, fewer places highlight the challenges and contradictions of defending the bloc and its values more starkly than the border with Belarus.Some 13,000 border guards and soldiers protect around 400 kilometers (250 miles) of border. Its become a buffer zone since Belarus ally, Russia, invaded neighboring Ukraine three years ago. Similar fortifications farther north line Polands frontier with the Russian region of Kaliningrad.Poland is Ukraines top logistical backer. Most of the Western-supplied arms, ammunition and equipment helping to keep Ukraines armed forces afloat transit through. Russia, meanwhile, uses Belarus as a staging ground for its invasion.At the border near the town of Poowce, a 5.5-meter (18-foot) steel barrier strung with razor wire and topped by security cameras separates once-friendly communities that war has turned into wary rivals. Drones, helicopters and armored vehicles keep watch. The border crossing is closed. Around 40 border guards and troops could be seen on Jan. 16, when the Polish EU presidency invited 60 reporters from international media to witness the security effort. The road was strewn with layers of concrete obstacles and concertina wire likely to dissuade an advancing army. Border guards peered into Belarus. Its needed, the government in Warsaw says, because Russia and Belarus are waging a particular kind of hybrid warfare: helping groups of migrants mostly from Africa or the Middle East to break through the border to provoke and destabilize Poland and the rest of Europe.We have tightened our visa policy, and above all we have decided to suspend the right to asylum wherever we are dealing with mass border crossings organized by Belarus and Russia, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters on Friday. When migrants are equated with danger Almost 30,000 attempted border crossings were spotted last year. Most are young men, often from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. Polish authorities say they arrive in Belarus on tourist or student visas and are helped across for a fee ranging from $8,000 to $12,000.Poland says theyre assisted by the Belarus security services and other organizers. Theyre mostly Ukrainians, perhaps fallen on hard times since fleeing the war. They can earn $500 for each person they help, border officials say.Border guards claim to be routinely attacked. One guard was killed last year and several injured.They say that migrants shoot slingshots, throw small explosives or rocks, or use pepper spray on guards. More than 400 incidents were recorded last year in this section of the border, with 307 people hospitalized. The deputy commander of the Podlaski border guard division, Col. Andrzej Stasiulewicz, said the migrants are hard to discourage. Warning shots dont work, so force is needed, he said. Reporters were shown video and photos purported to show migrants assailing the border. Stasiulewicz said their actions are very unpredictable, and very precise and coordinated.Medical aid group Doctors Without Borders paints a different picture. The charity says its treated more than 400 people since November 2022, many of them stranded for weeks in uninhabitable forests and exposed to violent practices at the border.People suffered from exhaustion, hypothermia, dehydration and mental health issues. Last year, it noted a sharp increase in people carrying the scars of physical assaults, including bruises and dog bites.Its almost impossible to independently verify such reports. The area is off limits. NGOs and media must apply for a permit to enter. EU and international agencies that work with migrants are not invited either, although migrants are provided with their contact details should they want to complain. Turnbacks not pushbacks, Poland insists Stasiulewicz said those who force their way in are sent back to Belarus, which is in line with our legal framework.The Norwegian Refugee Council, a migrant aid charity, has another take. It said that nearly 9,000 violent pushbacks have been reported by NGOs in what it describes as Europes death zone since 2021.Pushbacks depriving someone who may be in fear for their safety of their right to apply for asylum are illegal under international law.Polish Undersecretary of State Maciej Duszczyk rejects the pushback allegations. He prefers turnbacks. The rationale is that migrants are obliged to apply for asylum in good faith at open border points, not force their way in.The nearest place they can do that is in Terespol, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Poowce. Halting asylum in the name of securityAs far as the Polish authorities are concerned, their methods are working. The number of people arriving in Poowce has dropped significantly. Around 670 people applied for asylum there last year, and none to mid-January. The Office for Foreigners was empty when reporters visited.To keep numbers down, the government intends to suspend asylum applications in times of crisis.A draft law winding its way through parliament would see the border shut for 60 days if Warsaw suspects that migrants are being weaponized should they approach the border in large groups, try to intimidate Polish officers or damage border infrastructure.If anyone uses violence against the border guards, we close the border, Duszczyk said.Doctors Without Borders says this could have dramatic consequences. Its urged Poland to drastically change course of action and do all it can to protect migrants and refugees.But EU leaders signed off on Polands actions at a summit last month. Countries on Europes eastern flank received a greenlight to suspend the right to protection when they believe that Belarus and Russia are weaponizing migrants.When security and migration get political Ultimately, security and migration policies are highly politicized. Tusk has been in power for more than a year but his partys candidate in a presidential election in May faces a strong challenge from a nationalist opponent.The EU shifted further right in June after elections to the European Parliament, with nationalists and populists shaking Europes foundations, particularly in major powers France and Germany. Tusk believes that tough migration policy can win back voters.If we do not want to hand over these matters to radicals, extremists, populists, we must find the right answers so that no one in the world doubts that democratic states are able to effectively defend themselves against illegal migration, he said on Friday.He described the tough protection of borders as a sacred duty. Polands borders also make up the 27-nation EUs external frontier. For Tusk, his countrys security is Europes security. Its a similar argument made by Hungarys staunchly nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbn.___Associated Press writers Monika Scislowska and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw contributed to this report. ___Follow APs coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration