AP-Newswatch

Justice Department brings criminal charges in Iranian murder-for-hire plan targeting Donald Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has unsealed criminal charges in a thwarted Iranian plot to kill President-elect Donald Trump before this week’s presidential election. A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan alleges that an unnamed official in Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard instructed a contact this past September to put together a plan to surveil and ultimately kill Trump. The plot reflects what federal officials have described as ongoing efforts by Iran to target U.S. government officials, including Trump, on U.S. soil. The charges were unsealed Friday, just days after Trump’s defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris,

The story of how Trump went from diminished ex-president to a victor once again

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — With his commanding victory over Kamala Harris, Donald Trump has achieved a stunning political comeback through sheer force of will, an enduring hold on his base and a campaign operation far savvier than past iterations, managed to turn his woes into fuel that channeled voters’ anger. He seized on widespread discontent over the direction of a country battered by years of high inflation. And he spoke to a new generation — using podcasts and social media — to tell those who felt forgotten that he shared their disdain for the status quo.

Trump rebuilds Democrats’ ‘blue wall’ states with red bricks. Especially Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans landed historic victories in Pennsylvania, winning the battleground state’s valuable presidential electoral votes, posting a two-seat gain in its U.S. House delegation and sweeping all four statewide offices on the ballot, including a U.S. Senate seat. Something similar happened in the other “blue wall” states of Michigan and Wisconsin, where Donald Trump prevailed again after losing in 2020. Still, Democrats held on in key Senate races in Wisconsin and Michigan, if just barely, and the results played out differently in each state. Republican victories were most pronounced in Pennsylvania, a state flagged early on as this year’s preeminent swing state, where deep dissatisfaction surfaced with the status quo.

Judge cancels court deadlines in Trump’s 2020 election case after his presidential win

WASHINGTON (AP) — The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case has canceled any remaining court deadlines after prosecutors said they need time to assess “the appropriate course going forward” after the Republican’s presidential victory this week. Smith’s team has been evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases before the president-elect takes office in light of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday. In a court filing Friday in Trump’s election interference case, Smith’s team said it needs “time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.”

Trump’s election may usher in leadership change at FBI

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump lavished Christopher Wray with praise when he named him FBI director in 2017, introducing him as an “impeccably qualified individual” and a “model of integrity.” So much has changed in the seven years since. With Trump poised to reclaim the White House, Wray’s days as director are likely numbered. Though the job carries a 10-year term, Trump’s blistering and repeated criticism of his own appointee raises the likelihood that Trump would either replace Wray upon taking office or that Wray would leave on his own to avoid being fired.

Trump’s win brings uncertainty to borrowers hoping for student loan forgiveness

President-elect Donald Trump has not said what he would do on student loan forgiveness, leaving millions of borrowers facing uncertainty over what will happen with their payments once President Joe Biden leaves office. Biden promised the student loan cancellation program during his run for the presidency and Trump has criticized his efforts. From its launch, Biden’s loan forgiveness faced relentless pushback from Republican opponents. They say it heaps advantage on elites and comes at the expense of those who repaid their loans or did not attend college. Borrowers around the country are worried, student loan experts say.

Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam. The violence was condemned as antisemitic

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Dutch authorities say Israeli fans were assaulted after a soccer game in Amsterdam by hordes of young people apparently riled up by calls on social media to target Jewish people. Five people were treated at hospitals and dozens were arrested after the attacks, which were condemned as antisemitic by authorities in Amsterdam, Israel and across Europe. Reports of antisemitic speech, vandalism and violence have been on the rise in Europe since the start of the war in Gaza, and tensions mounted in Amsterdam ahead of Thursday night’s match between the Dutch team Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators were banned by local authorities from gathering outside the stadium, and video showed Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans on their way to the game.

Southern California firefighters make progress against wildfire as fierce winds start to subside

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — Southern California firefighters have made progress against a wildfire that has destroyed 132 structures, mostly homes. The flames were fanned by fierce wind gusts that began easing Friday, allowing some people to return to sort through the charred remains of their homes. The Mountain Fire started Wednesday morning in Ventura County and had grown to 32 square miles. It was 7% contained Friday morning. At least 88 additional structures have been damaged. Some 10,000 people remained under evacuation orders Friday morning. The fire continues to threaten about 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas around Camarillo in Ventura County. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

India’s ban on Salman Rushdie ‘The Satanic Verses’ may end — thanks to missing paperwork

NEW DELHI (AP) — The decadeslong ban of Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” in his native India is now in doubt. That’s not because of a change of heart more than two years after the author’s near-fatal stabbing, but because of what amounts to some missing paperwork. Earlier this week, a court in Delhi closed proceedings on a petition filed five years ago that challenged the then-government’s decision to ban the import of the 1988 novel. “The Satanic Verses” had enraged Muslims worldwide because of its alleged blasphemy. In a ruling issued Tuesday, judges contended that authorities had failed to produce the notification of the ban. The petitioner’s lawyer says his client was motivated by being an avid reader.

Beyoncé leads the 2025 Grammy noms, becoming the most nominated artist in the show’s history

NEW YORK (AP) — The 2025 Grammy Award nominations are here. Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” rules the nation. She leads the nods with 11, bringing her career total to 99 nominations. That makes her the most-nominated artist in Grammy history. Trailing behind her with seven nominations each are Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Charli XCX, who earned her first nominations as a solo artist. Taylor Swift and first-time nominees Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan boast of six nominations each. The 2025 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 2 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.