AP-Newswatch

A federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s executive order redefining birthright citizenship

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship regardless of the parents’ immigration status. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle ruled on Thursday in the case brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon. The states argue that the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court case law have cemented birthright citizenship. Coughenour called Trump’s order “blatantly unconstitutional.”

Trump tells Davos elite to invest in US or face tariffs

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump promised global elites lower taxes if they bring manufacturing to the U.S. and threatened to impose tariffs if they don’t. The president made the remarks Thursday in an address to the World Economic Forum. Trump spoke by video from the White House to the annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, on his third full day in office. He ran through his flurry of executive actions since his swearing-in and claimed that he had a “massive mandate” from the American people to bring change. He laid out a carrot-and-stick approach for private investment in the U.S.

Senate advances Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary, despite allegations against him

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s defense secretary. Thursday’s vote pushed Hegseth toward confirmation, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military. Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks to oppose Hegseth. The former combat veteran and Fox News host faces allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women, which he has denied. A final confirmation vote is expected Friday.

The Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, giving Trump his second Cabinet member

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA. John Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and is the first person to have held that position and the top post at the CIA, the nation’s premier spy agency. Ratcliffe is the second of Trump’s nominees to be confirmed, following Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Ratcliffe told senators at a hearing last week that the CIA must do better when it comes to using technology like artificial intelligence to confront adversaries including Russia and China.

‘Emilia Pérez’ tops Oscar nominations with 13, ‘Wicked’ and ‘The Brutalist’ land 10 apiece

As fresh fires raced across the Los Angeles region, an embattled movie industry has lined up behind the Netflix narco-musical about transgender identity “Emilia Pérez” in Oscar nominations Thursday. Another musical, “Wicked,” came away with nearly as many nominations. Jon M. Chu’s lavish “Wizard of Oz” riff scored 10 nominations, including best picture and acting nods for its stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. “Emilia Pérez” is the most nominated non-English language film ever, surpassing Netflix’s own “Roma,” which landed 10 nominations in 2019. “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land” are the only three films to score more nominations in Academy Awards history.

Purdue Pharma and owners to pay $7.4 billion in settlement to lawsuits over the toll of OxyContin

Members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, and the company itself, agreed to pay up to $7.4 billion to settle lawsuits over the toll of the powerful prescription painkiller. The deal announced Thursday represents an increase over a previous settlement deal. The earlier one was rejected last year by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled the earlier version improper because it protected members of the wealthy family from civil lawsuits over OxyContin — even though the family members themselves were not in bankruptcy. Besides this deal, there have been about $50 billion in opioid settlements announced in recent years.

Teen who killed 3 girls at Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England sentenced to over 50 years

LONDON (AP) — A teenager who stabbed three young girls to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England has been sentenced to more than 50 years in prison. Judge Julian Goose said Thursday that 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana “wanted to try and carry out mass murder of innocent, happy young girls.” The judge said that he couldn’t impose a sentence of life without parole, because Rudakubana was under 18 at the time of the crime. But the judge said he must serve more than 51 years before being considered for parole and “it is likely he will never be released.” Rudakubana was 17 when he attacked the children in the seaside town of Southport in July.

How to cope when disasters strip away photos, heirlooms and other pieces of the past

They’re the possessions that tell your story. The photos of old friends and relatives. The ring your mom left you. Your grandfather’s old desk and the letters inside. When disaster like fires and storms strike, these artifacts might be the toughest belongings to lose. How do you cope with the loss of family heirlooms, mementoes and handmade works and recapture some of the lost memories? Experts and survivors say take time to process it. Remember that the things are less important than the stories behind them, so keep the stories alive. And look to community for help.

Italy’s top court upholds Amanda Knox’s conviction for falsely accusing innocent man of murder

ROME (AP) — Italy’s highest court has confirmed a slander conviction against U.S. defendant Amanda Knox for accusing an innocent man in her British flatmate’s 2007 murder, a sensational case that polarized trial watchers on both sides of the Altlantic. Knox had appealed the conviction based on a European Court of Human Rights ruling that said her rights had been violated by police failure to provide a lawyer and adequate translator during a long night of questioning just days after Meredith Kerchers murder. The man she wrongly accused, Patrick Lumumba, said in reaction that Knox will have to live with the verdict for the rest of her life.

The AP NFL MVP finalists are Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Saquon Barkley are finalists for The Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Josh Allen and Jared Goff also are MVP finalists while Burrow is also in the running for Comeback Player of the Year. Ja’Marr Chase and Derrick Henry are the other finalists for the Offensive Player award. The winners will be announced at NFL Honors on Feb. 6. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began.