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The Philadelphia Eagles boast a formidable defense. But the rookie quarterback's eerie calm could cause another upsetNow that the Washington Commanders have achieved the highly unlikely by upsetting the NFC's one-seed Detroit Lions with a decisive 45-31 win in the divisional round of the playoffs, it's time to ask if the team, who haven't been to a Super Bowl since the end of the 1991 season, can do so again.If that's to happen, the Commanders and their rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, will have to get past the Philadelphia Eagles, their NFC East neighbors and the conference's two-seed. Continue reading...

It loves freedom and equality, abhors tyranny, values minding your own business and hates, above all, to be told what to do. This will haunt Trump soon enoughAt noon ET on Monday, the US presidency changed hands, and one of the largest governments in the world rearranged itself in service to the petulance and vulgarity of the nation's new president.At the Pentagon, a portrait of a general who Donald Trump had found insufficiently deferential to him in his first term was removed from a wall; photographs of the empty spot circulated on social media. Trump was set to sign a bevvy of executive orders, pledging to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, to revoke policies promoting wind energy and electric cars, and to exert executive powers to speed up the construction of oil pipelines.Moira Donegan is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...

Events in Vienna are forcing Germany's bickering mainstream parties to rally together. But the AfD could yet outflank the centreCould Germany go the way of Austria? Could the party of the far right be invited to form a government? What was previously deemed impossible, then revised down to improbable, is now possible. There are two scenarios in which this could happen.Fast forward to Germany's general election day on 23 February and the following assumptions: Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) win, reasonably comfortably, at around their present poll rating of 30%. The far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) comes second, with an impressive vote share of between 20% and 25%. Nevertheless, it is excluded from coalition negotiations thanks to the firewall" established several years ago by the mainstream parties to keep extreme groupings at bay. Continue reading...

Planet-sparing Paris agreement goes out the window, along with punishment for January 6 insurrectionists, as Donald Trump glories in his return to power

Trump took a whistlestop world tour from his Oval Office desk, touching on topics including imposing tariffs, rebuilding Gaza and withdrawing (again) from the Paris climate agreement and the WHO

Most leaders were diplomatic about their differences, while others more ideologically aligned with the new US president voiced their joy

More than 1,600 people eligible to resettle in the United States are waiting to flee Afghanistan and Pakistan, say advocatesMore than 1,600 Afghans eligible to enter the US as refugees will see their entry blocked under an executive order signed by Donald Trump on Monday evening that suspends the resettlement of all refugees to the United States for an indefinite period of time.The decision has led to panic among prospective Afghan refugees, including family members of hundreds of active-duty service personnel and children waiting to be reunited with family members already in the US, according to a leading refugee resettlement activist and a US official who spoke with the Guardian on condition of anonymity. Continue reading...

President says his executive orders will lead to complete restoration of America'. Here's what we know so far

Laken Riley Act, which passed 64-35, requires detention of undocumented migrants charged with theft-related crimesThe Senate has passed legislation requiring the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related crimes, with the chamber approving its first bill of the new Congress just hours after Donald Trump took the oath of office.The vote was 64 to 35, as a dozen Democrats joined every present Republican in supporting the Laken Riley Act, named after a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was murdered last year by a Venezuelan national. Continue reading...

Hordes of people wait outside the Capital One Arena to watch Trump's swearing-inAs protesters gathered against Donald Trump's inauguration, we sent photographer Matailong Du to photograph the atmosphere that settled as he began his presidency marking his entrance back to politics after four years later. Continue reading...

Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th US president, beginning what could be a vengeful second term. His swearing-in ceremony, which was initially scheduled to take place outside on the Capitol's west front, was moved inside. Trump vowed to sign a series of executive orders, with many focusing on immigration. The president was sworn in among global conservative politicians and tech billionaires

Donald Trump repeatedly made false and misleading claims during his inaugural address. Here are the facts on some of the false claims offered during his speech

Donald Trump vowed to 'plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars' and 'take back' the Panama Canal as he was sworn into office for the second time. He announced a number of measures he planned to take such as ending the Green New Deal and declaring a national emergency on the US-Mexico border

People worldwide take to the streets after Donald Trump was sworn in as US president on Monday

The president cast himself as a holy warrior in a speech that made 2017's American carnage' theme seem almost innocentHe is risen. After dodging an assassin's bullet and the prospect of jail, Donald Trump staged a political resurrection like no other. On Monday, as he returned to power, he embraced the role of a demagogue on a divine mission.Sworn in as the 47th US president at the US Capitol in Washington, Trump delivered an inaugural address that cast himself as a holy warrior and made his American carnage" speech from 2017 seem almost innocent. Continue reading...

Following up on key claims made by 47th US president during his day one address

Texas and other parts of south experience frigid weather before rare storm, while east coast contends with snowFrigid 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 into Wednesday, sending residents scurrying to insulate pipes, check heating systems and stock emergency kits.In Texas, William P Hobby airport and George Bush airport in Houston announced on Sunday night that flight operations would be suspended Tuesday in anticipation of hazardous conditions. Continue reading...

Donald Trump gave an air kiss to his wife, Melania, at his inauguration ceremony in Washington DC. Trump leaned in as Melania presented her cheek, but her hat appeared to keep him at a short distance, with the incoming president resorting to blowing a kiss in the air. Trump was sworn in as the 47th US president on Monday, ushering in another four-year term with promises to push the limits of executive power, deport millions of immigrants, secure retribution against his political enemies and transform the role of the US on the world stage

CEOs and conservative politicians from around the world have descended on Washington DC for Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, were seen inside the US Capitol.Other notable figures such as the UK politicians Nigel Farage, Liz Truss and Suella Braverman were also present. A variety of high-profile business owners also joined, including the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, the Apple CEO, Tim Cook, and the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos

The 47th US president referred to his attempted assassination in Pennsylvania last year, implying that God had saved him so he could save America. He also said he would sign a series of executive orders that will impose strict anti-migration policies across the country, and pledged to lower prices and restore manufacturing jobs as well as dismantle federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives

Decision by Biden comes after Trump warned of enemies list, including people who investigated Capitol attack

Gathering of conservative politicians marks first time that foreign heads of state attend a US presidential inauguration

Our guide on what to know about the moment Trump becomes 47th US president, including the oath of office and who is attending

A growing number of well-run clubs have shown what can be achieved by recruiting smartly and playing to a system

Texas-born activist who spent lifetime advocating for abortion rights died after a battle with brain cancerCecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood who helped turn the reproductive healthcare giant into a formidable political organization and make support for abortion rights a virtual requirement for Democratic candidates, died on Monday after a battle with brain cancer. She was 67.This morning our beloved Cecile passed away at home, surrounded by her family and her ever-loyal dog, Ollie," Richards' family wrote in a statement. Our hearts are broken today but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives." Continue reading...

Windy weather and single-digit humidity that created dangerous bone dry conditions across the region are expected to lingerFierce and gusty winds and a heightened risk of wildfire outbreaks are set to return to southern California, and especially the devastated city of Los Angeles, as the region continues to deal with deadly blazes that have already killed at least 27 people and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes.Windy weather and single-digit humidity that have created dangerous bone dry conditions across the region are expected to linger through Thursday, said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Continue reading...

Photographer Jordan Gale documents preparations for 60th presidential inauguration, showing a US poised and polarised between hope and fearWashington is a city on edge. Concrete barriers, unscalable steel fencing and security checkpoints dot the map. In a climate of simmering political violence, and after a divisive election campaign in which he survived two assassination attempts, Donald Trump is returning to an anxious capital where more than nine in 10 voters broke for his opponent, Kamala Harris. A city of tradition and ritual will seek to accommodate the most unconventional of presidents, bringing thousands of Trump's supporters into direct contact with the residents who feel a sense of foreboding and dread.Trump will take the oath of office under the magnificent dome of the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather, upending months of meticulous planning for a massive outdoor event with crowds sprawling down the National Mall. The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when Ronald Reagan began his second term. The rotunda was one of the areas breached during the 6 January 2021 insurrection by supporters of Trump trying to block the certification of his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden. Continue reading...

Pope Francis has criticised Donald Trump's plan to deport undocumented people. The pontiff said during an interview on Italian TV: 'If this is true, it will be a disgrace because it would make the poor unfortunate people who have nothing to pay the unpaid bill. It doesn't work' Continue reading...

Advocates warn that Trump's promised deportations will flood Mexico with migrants and spur organized crimeIt is cold and quiet in Casa del Migrante, a shelter in Ciudad Juarez, on the US-Mexico border. A group of men play dominoes, another shoots hoops alone, and a young couple watch their kids play with superhero toys.Some people get here and don't want to go back outside," said Ivonne Lopez, a social worker. They're afraid." Continue reading...

Contractor Zachary Young wins damages over Afghanistan story in trial notable for prosecution's aggressive stanceA combative defamation trial in Florida, involving CNN and a former US security contractor in Afghanistan, is providing a roadmap for a crackdown on media independence during the second Trump administration, experts believe.The case was already unusual because CNN chose to defend itself and risk millions in damages, while other media giants such as ABC News and the Washington Post have opted to back down in the face of threats of persecution from the incoming president. Ultimately, after 18 hours of deliberation, the jury found that CNN defamed the contractor and awarded Zachary Young $4m in lost business and $1m in personal damages. Continue reading...

Buy a bargain panettone and a month's supply of chocolates - and consider developing a historical ailment such as bilious humour. It will all be over soonI don't want to alarm anyone on this, the 95th day of January, but I have just realised that there are still almost two weeks before February starts. I don't know about you, but the January 2025 time loop has broken me: my blood has become toxic ectoplasm and my bones are jelly worms. I don't so much live the 43 minutes of daylight we get in North Yorkshire as sullenly, listlessly exist through them. This morning, putting on leggings to go to the gym defeated me, so I just lay on the bathroom floor instead.This is not our first January rodeo - we have survived before; we will survive again. Last year, some idiot even tried to claim January was sort of great" (yes, that idiot was me). But the coping strategies I have found online all seem rather worthy, rather preachy, rather hello birds, hello sky". So to expiate for last year's idiocy, I have devised some better survival tips, none of which involve spending time in nature", gentle stretching" or nourishing soup". Continue reading...

His greatest successes came in domestic policy. Inheriting a post-pandemic economy, Biden orchestrated the best recovery in the industrial worldWith his characteristic dyspeptic vitriol, Donald Trump scorns Joe Biden as the worst president in the history of America". The historian Robert McElvaine hails him as a great president", arguing that his accomplishments rival those of both Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson, the two most effective of 20th-century presidents", and since Biden didn't enjoy the congressional majorities of those giants, he had to do it, as was said about Ginger Rogers doing everything that Fred Astaire could do, backwards and in high heels".What is clear is that after four contentious years, Biden leaves Washington as a remarkably consequential one-term president.Katrina vanden Heuvel is editor and publisher of the Nation, she is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and has contributed to the Washington Post, New York Times, and Los Angeles Times Continue reading...

Some say Trump part two needs a new strategy as the novelty of mass mobilization has kind of worn off'Prominent leftwing activists across the US say a second Trump administration demands new tactics to achieve their goals, amid expectations the huge protests that marked both the Biden and first Trump presidencies won't materialize in the same way.As many as 4.6 million people attended Women's Day marches in the US the day after Donald Trump's first inauguration. The Saturday before Trump was inaugurated for a second time, thousands turned out in Washington DC and in cities around the country as part of the People's March, this year's version of the Women's March - though the turnout was much smaller than in 2017. Continue reading...

All the talk coming into Sunday was about Josh Allen v Lamar Jackson. But it's often errors rather than brilliance that decide big gamesJosh Allen v Lamar Jackson was set to be an epic. The idea of this season's MVP favorites sharing a field was chill inducing. Because whichever quarterback punctuated a brilliant individual season with a conference championship berth would do so because he outplayed his counterpart.Then the actual game was played in snowy Buffalo. It turns out there's so much more to a football game than the two men under center, even men as supremely talented as Allen and Jackson. Many will blame Jackson for Buffalo's 27-25 win over the Ravens, especially as the weeks and months go on. They'll credit Allen too. But neither player was the key factor in the outcome. It's often the easy chances players don't take rather than flashes of brilliance that decide games. Continue reading...

Even before Trump, we were on the way to losing our democracy - but we did not pay attention. Now, we have no choice but to attend to itIf you're feeling despair over Trump's second regime, which begins today, I understand.Yet I remain hopeful about America. Let me explain why.Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few and The Common Good. His newest book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It, is out now. He is a Guardian US columnist. His newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com Continue reading...

Nicolas Maduro's future uncertain as Trump prepares for White House return with contrasting administration picksVenezuela's dictator, Nicolas Maduro, has overcome the first major obstacle facing him in 2025 after staring down domestic and foreign foes to extend his 12-year rule.[I'm] the people's president ... and I will forge ahead with the hurricane-like, volcanic strength of a people who cherish their homeland, cherish their future and cherish peace," the 62-year-old proclaimed on Friday at an inauguration his opponents vowed, but failed, to disrupt. Continue reading...

Rinehart lauds outstanding leader' while Pratt says he is honored to support your call to Make America Great Again'

President-elect tells thousands of supporters at rally: You're gonna have a lot of fun watching television'An exultant Donald Trump has promised to act with historic speed and strength" when he returns to the White House on Monday, teeing up a barrage of executive orders targeting illegal immigration, transgender rights and other rightwing priorities.We won, we won," Trump declared on Sunday during a triumphant return to Washington, where he held a raucous victory rally" with thousands of supporters in a downtown sports arena. What a good feeling. We like winning, don't we, eh? We're going to make our country greater than ever before." Continue reading...

During a rally the day before his inauguration, Donald Trump called on the social media app to be saved. Trump had called for the app to be banned in 2020 during his firm term as president

Experts say fire weather likely to return as firefighters make progress containing wildfires and Trump plans trip to stateAs firefighters in Los Angeles made progress on Sunday containing wildfires that have destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, forecasters warned that fire weather is likely to return on Monday.Donald Trump told NBC news he plans to travel to California to inspect the damage after his inauguration, probably, at the end of the week". California governor Gavin Newsom had initially invited the president-elect to visit more than a week ago, even as Trump attacked him on social media and spread misinformation about the state's Democratic leadership response to the fires. Continue reading...

His pick for secretary of state may have given measured assessment of world affairs, but crazy' Trump will call the shotsWestern allies of the US are braced for the return of Donald Trump, still hoping for the best, but largely unprepared for what may prove to be a chaotic and disorientating worst.The run-up to his inauguration has sent out a catherine wheel of signals as Trump turned up the volume on tariffs against Canada, China and Mexico, vowed to buy - and if not, invade - Greenland and the Panama canal, and used his leverage to press Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a Gaza ceasefire that the Israeli PM had resisted since May. Continue reading...

Overwhelmed by loss but buoyed by friends and strangers alike, Angelenos who lost their homes prepare to rebuild their livesUntil last Tuesday, Ryan and Endea Marrone lived with their two young sons in Altadena, California, in a picturesque two-bedroom home tucked into the base of the San Gabriel mountains. Behind the house, Ryan, a music producer, had created a mini recording studio, where he adorned the walls with pictures that his kids drew for him. Their wooded neighborhood was tight-knit: it was a community that wasn't populated by the ultra-wealthy, where many homeowners had lived for decades and still exchanged holiday presents and housewarming gifts.Now, a week later, the Marrones' home - and their surrounding neighborhood - are all ash. The only thing that remains of their house is the chimney, singed black from flames and smoke. The front steps lead to a huge, leveled expanse of charred debris. Everything, from their sons' Legos, to a school art project, to a photo from Ryan and Endea's first date, was completely incinerated. Continue reading...

Asset triples in price from $20 per token to more than $70, with at least $24bn in trading as of Sunday morningDonald Trump has launched a cryptocurrency meme coin" ahead of his inauguration for a second term as US president, called $Trump.He announced the launch on Truth Social and X on Friday night. The asset has since soared in value, more than tripling in price from about $20 per token to more than $70, with at least $24bn in trading volume as of Sunday morning and more than $14bn in market capitalization. Continue reading...

Activist who was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s influenced Malcolm X and other leader leadersPresident Joe Biden on Sunday posthumously pardoned Black nationalist Marcus Garvey, who influenced Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders and was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s. Also receiving pardons were a top Virginia lawmaker and advocates for immigrant rights, criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention.Congressional leaders had pushed for Biden to pardon Garvey, with supporters arguing that Garvey's conviction was politically motivated and an effort to silence the increasingly popular leader who spoke of racial pride. After Garvey was convicted, he was deported to Jamaica, where he was born. He died in 1940. Continue reading...