AP-Newswatch

Supreme Court backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company

WASHINGTON (AP) — TikTok’s CEO is thanking President-elect Donald Trump for “his commitment” to keeping the app available after the Supreme Court upheld the federal law banning it beginning Sunday unless it’s sold by its China-based parent company. The court held Friday the risk to national security posed by TikTok’s ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the U.S. The court’s decision means new users won’t be able to download the app and updates won’t be available, but it won’t disappear from users’ phones. Trump has said he’ll “save” TikTok, but it’s unclear what he’ll do.

Trump and Chinese leader Xi talk about trade, fentanyl and TikTok

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have discussed trade, fentanyl and TikTok in a phone call Friday, just days before Trump heads back to the White House. The U.S.-China relationship is expected to be one of the main focuses of Trump’s second term, with tensions between the two powers looming in the areas of trade, technology and the self-ruled island of Taiwan, among other things. Trump has threatened to slap tariffs of 60% on all Chinese imports into the U.S. But he has also in the past praised his relationship with Xi and has suggested China could help mediate international crises such as the war in Ukraine.

Trump’s swearing-in will move inside the Capitol Rotunda because of intense cold weather

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather. The Republican president-elect says the weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows. Trump says there’s an Arctic blast sweeping the country and he doesn’t want to see people hurt. 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. Monday’s forecast calls for the lowest inauguration day temperatures since that day.

Israel’s full Cabinet meets on Gaza ceasefire deal after security Cabinet recommends approval

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s full Cabinet is meeting on a Gaza ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas and release dozens of hostages. The security Cabinet recommended the deal’s approval earlier Friday. The full Cabinet was expected to approve the ceasefire, which could start as soon as Sunday. The deal has drawn fierce resistance from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, but their objections could destabilize his government. The Cabinet was meeting well past the beginning of the Jewish sabbath, a rare occurrence and a reflection of the moment’s importance.

The Senate advances a migrant detention bill that could be Trump’s first law to sign

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is set for an Inauguration Day vote on legislation that would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes. The bill would also give states new power to legally challenge federal immigration policies. It sets a new tone on immigration in the Republican-controlled Congress as Donald Trump enters the White House on Monday. Senate Republicans made the so-called Laken Riley Act a priority. It’s named after a Georgia student who was killed last year by a Venezuelan man and may become the first bill Trump signs as president in his second term. The House will still need to take up changes made to the bill.

South African miner describes horrors for those who spent months underground

STILFONTEIN, South Africa. (AP) — A miner who spent six months in a disused mine in South Africa has spoken of the horror he experienced after a police operation cut off food and basic supplies to thousands who were illegally digging for gold. Many were trapped and became emaciated from lack of food. Dozens died and their bodies were wrapped in twine and set aside in rows. The miner spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. A long-awaited rescue operation this week retrieved bodies and brought out more than 240 survivors. Police targeted the mineshaft as part of an operation to tackle the widespread illegal mining trade that bled the South African economy of $3 billion last year.

Fires scorched campuses across Los Angeles. Many schools are seeking places to hold classes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles wildfires have forced thousands of students to relocate to other schools. Students from two elementary schools that burned down in the Palisades Fire arrived Wednesday for their first day of class at two other Los Angeles campuses where their classes are being held temporarily. Seven other Los Angeles Unified School District schools in evacuation zones that have been closed since the fire are also relocating. Meanwhile, Palisades Charter High School has asked the community for help finding temporary classrooms for its 3,000 students. And in the nearby Pasadena Unified School District, thousands of other students are still home from school. Five school sites there were severely impacted by the Eaton Fire.

Ozempic, Wegovy and other drugs are among 15 selected for Medicare’s price negotiations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been added to Medicare’s list of medications that will be negotiated directly between the government and drug manufacturers. The price negotiations for the additional 15 drugs selected Friday will be handled by the incoming Trump administration and almost assure billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says “this is a big deal.” Drug companies oppose the program and say it “fails to address the true challenges facing seniors and Medicare.” Ozempic and Wegovy are made by Novo Nordisk, which is based in Denmark and has U.S. headquarters Plainsboro, New Jersey.

SpaceX launch accident likely caused by fire that sent trails of flaming debris near the Caribbean

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX suspects a fire may have caused its Starship to break apart during liftoff and send trails of flaming debris near the Caribbean. SpaceX’s Elon Musk says preliminary indications are that leaking fuel built up pressure in the cavity above the engine firewall during Thursday’s launch. The resulting fire would have doomed the spacecraft. On Friday, federal aviation regulators ordered SpaceX to investigate what went wrong. The world’s biggest rocket launched from Texas on its seventh test flight. The booster made it back to the pad for a catch by giant mechanical arms. But communication was lost with the spacecraft.

Tony Award-winning British actor Joan Plowright, widow of Laurence Olivier, dies at 95

LONDON (AP) — Award-winning British stage actor Joan Plowright, the widow of Laurence Olivier, has died. She was 95. In a statement Friday, her family said Plowright died the previous day, surrounded by her loved ones. “She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire,” the family said. Plowright appeared in plays by John Osborne, Shelagh Delaney and Arnold Wesker. The new, rough-hewn, working-class actors like Albert Finney, Alan Bates and Anthony Hopkins were her peers.