AP-Newswatch

Trump returns to power after unprecedented comeback, emboldened to reshape American institutions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th president, returning to power with a promise to end America’s decline and to “completely and totally reverse” the actions of the man who drove him from office four years ago. Trump overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House. He planned to act swiftly after the ceremony. Dozens of executive orders have already been prepared for his signature to clamp down on border crossings, increase fossil fuel development and end diversity and inclusion programs across the federal government.

Inauguration Day Latest: Trump moves swiftly to implement new agenda

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.

FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims Trump made during his inaugural address

President Donald Trump’s inaugural address was punctuated by several false or misleading claims, many of which he has made before. The Republican vowed to reverse changes made by the outgoing Democratic president, Joe Biden, offering a glimpse of several executive actions to chart a new course for America. But in making a case for his agenda, Trump made false claims in areas including immigration, the economy, electric vehicles and the Panama Canal.

Trump will issue executive orders to remake immigration policies but they will face challenges

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is ending use of a border app called CBP One that has allowed nearly 1 million people to legally enter the United States with eligibility to work. A notice on the website of Customs and Border Protection Monday just after Trump was sworn in let users know that the app that had been used to allow migrants to schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is no longer available. The notice said that existing appointments have been cancelled. The move adheres to a promise Trump made during his campaign and will please critics who say it was an overly generous magnet for more people to come to Mexico’s border with the United States.

Biden pardons Fauci, Milley and the Jan. 6 panel. It’s a guard against potential ‘revenge’ by Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — In one of his final acts as president, Joe Biden pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. It’s an extraordinary use of executive power to guard against potential “revenge” by the new Trump administration. The decision Monday by Biden came after now-President Donald Trump had warned of an enemies list filled with those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss and his role in the riot. Trump said Biden had pardoned people who were “political thugs.”

Bitter cold spreads across much of the US as Texas and the South prepare for rare winter storm

Frigid temperatures engulfed Texas and other parts of the South on Monday ahead of a rare winter storm expected to bring heavy snow and disruptive ice accumulations to the region, sending residents scurrying to insulate pipes, check heating systems and stock emergency kits. Meanwhile, people in the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine are experiencing bitterly cold temperatures as an Arctic air mass caused temperatures to plunge well below normal values with dangerously cold wind chills. Winter storm warnings are in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Heavy lake-effect snow is expected in western New York state Monday through Wednesday morning.

MLK Day at King’s Atlanta congregation features daughter’s warning about anti-woke rhetoric

ATLANTA (AP) — Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations have kicked off at King’s former congregation in Atlanta with a 70-member choir’s rendition of Hallelujah and stern words from his youngest daughter warning against anti-woke rhetoric. The service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was one of many planned across the country on Monday’s holiday in King’s honor. The Rev. Bernice King, King’s daughter, said anti-woke rhetoric is being used to divide and distract people from real issues of injustice. The MLK holiday was half of the nation’s double-duty Monday: the inauguration of President Donald Trump, which created mixed feelings in some civil rights leaders who have opposed Trump’s rhetoric and stances on race and civil rights.

Middle East latest: Released Israeli hostage says she has ‘returned to life’

One of the Israeli hostages freed on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire said Monday in her first comments since being released that she has “returned to life.” Emily Damari, 28, was one of three hostages freed Sunday after spending 471 days in captivity. Officials at a hospital that received them said their condition was stable. In an Instagram story, which was shared by Israeli media, Damari thanked her family and the large protest movement that coalesced to advocate for the release of the hostages. “Thank you thank you thank you I’m the happiest in the world,” she said. Damari is a dual Israeli-British citizen.

After 15 months of war, Hamas still rules over what remains of Gaza

As a ceasefire brought calm to Gaza’s ruined cities, Hamas was quick to emerge from hiding. The militant group has not only survived Israel’s 15-month military campaign — among the deadliest and most destructive in recent memory — but it remains firmly in control of the coastal territory that now resembles an apocalyptic wasteland. For all the might it deployed in Gaza, Israel failed to remove Hamas from power, one of its central war aims. That makes a return to fighting more likely, but the results might be the same.

National championship game on tap as Notre Dame and Ohio State close a long, strange football season

ATLANTA (AP) — The curtain comes down Monday night on the longest, strangest college football season anyone has ever seen. About the only thing that feels normal about it are the teams playing for the title: Ohio State and Notre Dame. Two of the country’s most storied programs meet in a title game that wraps up the sport’s first 12-team playoff. The Jan. 20 finish is seven days later than the previous latest finish in history. This marks Game No. 16 for both teams — a practically unheard of number for a sport that for decades wrapped things up after 11 or 12 games on or around New Year’s Day.