AP-Newswatch

Beneath a veneer of calm, Trump’s inauguration holds warning signs for US democracy

President Donald Trump’s second inauguration seemed normal, but there were concerns about U.S. democracy lingering just beneath the surface. Trump himself made those apparent when he followed his speech that urged unity and optimism with one to supporters vowing to pardon Jan. 6 rioters — and then later he did just that. Trump has also promised to seek revenge against his political opponents. That pledge led to a blitz of last-minute preemptive pardons issued by outgoing President Joe Biden. The ceremony was moved inside the U.S. Capitol due to cold weather. That meant it took place in the very halls Trump supporters stormed on Jan. 6, 2021, as they acted on Trump’s election lies and sought to stop Biden from taking office.

Panama, familiar with US intervention, bristles at Trump’s comments on canal

PANAMA CITY (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s insistence that he wants to have the Panama Canal back under U.S. control is feeding nationalist sentiment and worry in Panama, home to the critical trade route and a country familiar with U.S. military intervention. In the streets of the capital, some Panamanians on Monday saw it as Trump’s way of applying pressure on Panama for something else he wants: better control of migration through the Darien Gap. Others recalled the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama with concern. Panama President José Raúl Mulino responded forcefully, saying that the canal belongs to his country of 4 million and will remain Panama’s territory.

Israel’s top general resigns over Oct. 7 failures as it launches major operation in the West Bank

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s top general has resigned, citing the security and intelligence failures related to Hamas’ surprise attack that triggered the war in Gaza. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to quit over the security breakdown on Oct. 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel. Israel meanwhile launched a large military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday. The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least eight people are dead and 35 wounded. The head of Israel’s Southern Command that oversees operations in Gaza also tendered his resignation.

Palestinians confront a landscape of destruction in Gaza’s ‘ghost towns’

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians in Gaza are confronting an apocalyptic landscape of devastation after more than 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Mounds of rubble stretch as far as the eye can see in the tiny coastal enclave where built-up refugee camps are interspersed between cities. Critics say Israel has waged a campaign of scorched earth to destroy the fabric of life in Gaza. Israel says its military has been fighting a complex battle in dense urban areas and that it tries to avoid causing undue harm to civilians.

A rare winter storm is bringing heavy snow, sleet and ice to Texas and the northern Gulf Coast

A rare winter storm charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast has closed highways and airports and prompted the first blizzard warning for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The storm is expected to drop heavy snow and create treacherous conditions, including freezing rain and sleet Tuesday. Meanwhile, people in the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine were experiencing bitterly cold temperatures as an Arctic air mass caused temperatures to plunge well below normal values with dangerously cold wind chills. Online tracker FlightAware says nearly 2,000 flights within the U.S. or entering or leaving the country were canceled Tuesday with about 10,000 more flights delayed.

Taliban say 2 Americans held in Afghanistan were freed in a prisoner exchange

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban government has announced the release of two Americans in a prisoner exchange. The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul did not name the two U.S. citizens, but said they were exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who has been serving a life sentence in a California prison on drug trafficking and terrorism charges. The family of Ryan Corbett, one of the Americans in the exchange, said their hearts were filled with overwhelming gratitude for his release. Both CNN and The New York Times, relying on anonymous U.S. officials, identified the second American released as William McKenty, though no other details have emerged about his identity or what he was doing in Afghanistan.

At least 66 dead and 51 injured in a hotel fire at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s interior minister says a fire that broke out at a hotel at a popular ski resort has killed at least 66 people. Ali Yerlikaya said at least 51 other people were injured in the disaster early Tuesday. The fire broke out at around 3:30 a.m. in the restaurant of the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel in the resort of Kartalkaya, in Bolu province, officials and reports said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Two of the victims died after jumping from the building, Gov. Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency. Private NTV television said some people tried to climb down from their rooms using sheets and blankets. Four people including the hotel’s owner were detained for questioning.

Winds picking up in Southern California and at least 2 new fires break out

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A second day of windy and dry conditions is in store for Southern California. Winds have picked up and are expected to continue through Tuesday morning, raising the risk of new wildfires sparking. Forecasters say gusts could peak at 70 mph along the coast and 100 mph in the mountains and foothills during extreme fire weather that is expected to last through the day. At least two small fires broke out overnight in San Diego County and one has led to evacuations. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says the city is prepared for any possible new fires. The forecast comes two weeks after the start of two major blazes that are still burning in the Los Angeles area.

Trump grants sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who violently attacked police

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump’s action Monday paves the way for the release from prison of people found guilty of violent attacks on police, as well as leaders of far-right extremist groups convicted of failed plots to keep the Republican in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. The pardons are a culmination of Trump’s yearslong campaign to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6 attack, which left more than 100 police officers injured.

AP Top 25: Ohio St, Notre Dame are 1-2 in final poll; Georgia, Ole Miss, BYU ahead of playoff teams

Ohio State is No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 football poll of the season after beating Notre Dame for its first national championship since 2014. The Buckeyes received every first-place vote following their run through the College Football Playoff. The Irish finished No. 2 for their highest end-of-season ranking since 1993. Oregon, which had been No. 1 in eight straight polls entering the playoff, finished No. 3. Texas and Penn State were next. No. 6 Georgia was the highest-ranked of the teams that didn’t make the 12-team playoff. No. 11 Mississippi and No. 12 BYU were ahead of playoff teams.