Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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Woman killed in suspected mountain lion attack while hiking in northern Colorado
SUMMARY: A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado. Authorities said the woman's body was found late Thursday morning by other hikers along a remote section of a trail south of the small community of Glen Haven. Two mountain lions were later located in the area and shot by wildlife officials. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson says it's unknown if one or both of the lions that were killed were involved in the attack. If confirmed, it would mark the first fatal attack by a mountain lion in Colorado in more than 25 years.
WORDS: 436 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 3:26 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSColoradoMountainLionAttack/cf743ad2bcf5416276a2197e7f5c7e16/text___
Zohran Mamdani promises to govern 'expansively and audaciously' in inaugural speech as NYC mayor
SUMMARY: Zohran Mamdani is reveling in what he calls a “new era” for New York City. He was officially sworn in just after midnight Thursday, but politicians and other supporters gathered at City Hall in the afternoon for a larger ceremony. Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. At 34, he is also the city’s youngest mayor since the late 19th century. The democratic socialist takes office after a historic campaign made “affordability” a national buzzword across the political spectrum. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders administered the public oath of office to Mamdani today.
WORDS: 1342 - MOVED: 01/01/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNYCMayorthLdWritethru/3ba51d0ff1f3ff7c06534f6c1e3ea0a3/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Trump wants to overhaul the 'president's golf course.' He hasn't played there yet
SUMMARY: Presidents often find solace in golfing, and Joint Base Andrews in Maryland is a favorite spot because it's close to the White House and has built-in security. Known as "the president's course," Andrews has hosted presidents dating back to Gerald Ford. Barack Obama played it more than 100 times. Then there's Donald Trump. He's an avid golfer but doesn't play Andrews, preferring courses his family owns. Now, he's planning a major renovation project for the golf courses at Andrews with legendary champion Jack Nicklaus serving as architect. The White House says the project's cost, and when work will start, hasn't been determined — nor has who will pay for it.
WORDS: 1233 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 1:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpPresidentsGolfCoursendLdWritethru/53ad20f9d1fe4661b109c102f428d112/text___
Trump, in interview, defends his energy and health, offers new details on screening he underwent
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He also disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details. Trump, in the interview, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for men his age.
WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 01/01/2026 4:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpHealthndLdWritethru/b453fdc14c4b130b95b37a13662772fd/text___
Trump delays increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump signed a New Year’s Eve proclamation delaying increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year, citing ongoing trade talks. Trump’s order signed Wednesday keeps in place a 25% tariff he imposed in September on those goods, but delays for another year a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture and 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities. The increases, which were set to take effect Jan. 1, come as the Republican president instituted a broad swath of taxes on imported goods to address trade imbalances and other issues.
WORDS: 430 - MOVED: 01/01/2026 2:07 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpFurnitureTariffsrdLdWritethru/a89ea5c044af3c2ac8ffcb481e0150ef/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 rattles southern and central Mexico
SUMMARY: A strong earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico, interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first press briefing of the new year as seismic alarms sounded. Friday's quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 and its epicenter was near the town of San Marcos in the southern state of Guerrero near the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco, according to Mexico’s national seismological agency. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers). There were no immediate report of damage or casualties.
WORDS: 279 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 2:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTMexicoEarthquakethLdWritethru/ce9e9e76e445e68797e36b2fa8e14418/text___
Director of Swiss hospital describes the rush to treat the injured from Alpine resort bar fire
SUMMARY: The hospital that initially took in the majority of injured victims from a fire at a Swiss bar is no stranger to emergencies: In the heart of the Alps, it is used to treating winter sports enthusiasts who have accidents on the slopes. But the flood of young and severely burned survivors from the blaze that tore through Le Constellation in Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve revelry was something else. The general director of the regional hospital in Sion that took in several dozen injured people said those with severe burns face months of treatment but expressed hope that their youth will speed their recovery. He told The Associated Press that the injured were teenagers and young adults.
WORDS: 572 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 1:42 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSwitzerlandBarFireHospitalthLdWritethru/973802e916bd906bdfb947de46400c60/text___
What to know about the Swiss Alpine bar fire that killed 40
SUMMARY: Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles on Champagne bottles started a deadly fire at a bar in an Alpine ski resort. The blaze left 40 people dead and 119 injured during a New Year’s celebration. The fire broke out early Thursday at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a popular ski and golf venue. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people tried to escape. Officials say the fire likely caused a flashover, releasing combustible gases. The severity of burns has made identifying victims difficult. The nearby hospital quickly reached capacity, treating many seriously injured individuals.
WORDS: 951 - MOVED: 01/01/2026 2:21 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSwitzerlandBarFireWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/a11acd3dcdf4d06a187f9a3aee5d8041/text___
Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop wine bottles ignited fatal bar fire
SUMMARY: Investigators say they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of a bar crowded with New Year’s Eve revelers. Investigators said Friday that they planned to look into whether the material on the ceiling that was designed to muffle sound conformed with regulations. The candles give off a stream of upward-shooting sparks. Officials said they were the kind that are commonly available for parties. Forty people were killed and another 119 injured in the blaze as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana.
WORDS: 845 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 5:50 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSwitzerlandBarFirethLdWritethru/1bcad7b8d8fddabe1e1c59bafc71e689/text___
Zelenskyy names Ukraine's head of military intelligence as his new chief of staff
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed the head of the country’s military intelligence as his new chief of staff. In announcing the appointment of Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Zelenskyy said Ukraine must focus on security issues, the development of its defense and security forces, and peace talks -- areas that are overseen by the office of the president. Zelenskyy had dismissed his previous chief of staff Andrii Yermak amid an investigation into alleged corruption in the energy sector. Budanov, 39, is one of the country’s most recognizable and popular wartime figures. He has led Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known by its acronym GUR, since 2020.
WORDS: 1016 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 10:35 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/f6d88455c0b975ac894ec6acb11c3ee2/text___
A grandmother and her grandson burn to death in a Gaza tent; Angelina Jolie visits Rafah crossing
SUMMARY: A grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson have burned to death in Gaza when their tent caught fire. Thousands of Palestinians are battling winter conditions in flimsy makeshift housing. The shaky 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. But the death toll continues to grow and aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza. American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday. Rafah is the only crossing between the territory and a country other than Israel. And it remains closed despite Palestinian requests to reopen it to people and aid.
WORDS: 992 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 1:27 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsstLdWritethru/301135cf2fd6a77cdbf22865e3cb4fe7/text___
Trump and top Iranian officials exchange threats over protests roiling Iran
SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials have exchanged dueling threats as widening economic protests swept across parts of the Islamic Republic. Trump initially wrote on his Truth Social platform, warning Iran that if it “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States “will come to their rescue.” At least seven people have been killed so far in violence surrounding demonstrations. Trump wrote that “We are locked and loaded and ready to go." Shortly after, Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said U.S. intervention would lead to “chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests.”
WORDS: 915 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 9:32 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProteststhLdWritethru/4e2232877bd1fff11cd80a33db47353d/text___
Kim’s daughter visits family mausoleum, promoting her potential status as heir in North Korea
SUMMARY: The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made her first known visit to a sacred family mausoleum where the embalmed bodies of her late grandfather and great-grandfather are on display. The visit, which occurred on New Year’s Day on Thursday, adds credence to rampant outside belief that she’s being groomed as her father’s successor. An analyst speculates that she will likely be named a high-level official at the upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress. Images carried by state media on Friday showed the girl standing in the front row with her parents and deeply bowing at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang.
WORDS: 496 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 5:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASNorthKoreaKimsDaughterndLdWritethru/532dafa13d925d44c507717992c64f52/text___
Young Palestinian boy drowns in muddy water flooding his Gaza tent camp, UN says
SUMMARY: The U.N. said Thursday that a Palestinian boy in Gaza has drowned in floods that engulfed his tent camp and health officials reported the death of a 9 year-old boy in Gaza in unclear circumstances. The region is entering 2026 with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire intact but shaky. The agreement has largely ended Israeli bombardment of Gaza. But the Palestinian death toll from the war still ticks upward almost daily as fatal bursts of Israeli fire across the strip continue and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by over two years of war shows no signs of abating. At least three soldiers have died in Gaza since the ceasefire came down, killed by militant attacks or explosive detonations.
WORDS: 900 - MOVED: 01/01/2026 8:50 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWars/82e6b5695608a459078c25a35f5b85c9/text___
Israeli hostage released from 2 years of captivity in Gaza struggles to rebuild his life
SUMMARY: Israeli Segev Kalfon spent two years in captivity in a Hamas tunnel in Gaza after being taken hostage at a music festival on Oct. 7, 2023. During his time in captivity, he endured severe hunger and physical torture. Kalfon was released in a ceasefire deal on Oct. 13 this year. Now the 27-year-old is trying to piece together a post-captivity life. He spends much of his time juggling appointments with an array of doctors and psychologists. Kalfon wants to share his story to counter rising antisemitism and ensure people know the reality of his ordeal.
WORDS: 1099 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 5:46 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsReleasedHostage/a6167dd341b8cdf26db43a6732fc6662/text___
Maduro open to US talks on drug trafficking, but silent on CIA strike
SUMMARY: Venezuela is open to reaching an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking, according to President Nicolás Maduro. In a pretaped interview aired Thursday, Maduro expressed readiness to discuss serious agreements with the U.S. He also mentioned that Venezuela is open to U.S. investment in its oil industry. The interview was recorded on New Year’s Eve, the same day the U.S. military announced strikes against several alleged drug-smuggling boats. The CIA was reportedly behind a recent drone strike at a Venezuelan docking area. Maduro declined to comment on that operation, stating he could discuss it later.
WORDS: 449 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 1:48 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaUS/7fd22f8cbd3bb79ab79ee51699a24842/text___
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BUSINESS
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Tesla loses title as world's biggest electric vehicle maker as sales fall for second year in a row
SUMMARY: Tesla lost its crown as the world’s bestselling electric vehicle maker on Friday as a customer revolt over Elon Musk’s right-wing politics, expiring U.S. tax breaks to buyers and stiff overseas competition pushed sales down for a second year in a row. Tesla said that it delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9% from a year ago. Chinese rival BYD, which sold 2.26 million vehicles last year, is now the biggest EV maker. For the fourth quarter, sales totaled 418,227, falling short of the 440,000 that analysts polled by FactSet expected. The sales total may likely have been impacted by the expiration of a $7,500 tax credit that was phased out by the Trump administration at the end of September.
WORDS: 529 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 2:19 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTeslaSalesrdLdWritethru/6d60715babde97b3b1a8e2416f4065ca/text___
Early gains fade as Wall Street wobbles into 2026
SUMMARY: Stocks wavered on Wall Street to kick off the new year with a wobbly start. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% Friday, coming off a gain of more than 16% in 2025. The Nasdaq fell 0.3%. The Dow rose 84 points, or 0.2%. Benchmarks in Britain and South Korea hit records. Wall Street's big focus remains on the technology sector and the expanding use of artificial intelligence. The sector and companies with outsized valuations were the key forces behind the broader market's up-and-down moves Friday. Nvidia and Broadcom rose, though Google parent Alphabet slipped. Treasury yields held steady.
WORDS: 685 - MOVED: 01/02/2026 4:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/491d6d4e0f3e4b3f8c0e48ae2b1455b3/text___
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SPORTS
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Top-seeded Indiana routs Alabama 38-3 for its first Rose Bowl victory, roaring into CFP semifinals
SUMMARY: Fernando Mendoza threw three touchdown passes, Indiana’s defense thoroughly throttled Alabama, and the top-seeded Hoosiers roared into the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 38-3 victory in the 112th Rose Bowl. Mendoza passed for 192 yards in his first game since winning his school’s first Heisman Trophy, but the hard-nosed Hoosiers won the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history by dominating the Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage. Indiana scored the game’s first 24 points before pouring it on with fourth-quarter rushing TDs from Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, wrapping up a jubilant win in the 112th edition of the Granddaddy of Them All.
WORDS: 1052 - MOVED: 01/01/2026 6:51 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFBCCFPRoseBowlrdLdWritethru/86520296479531ebf7c16ecd56b7879b/text___
Defense carries the day for Oregon, as Ducks move into CFP semifinals by topping Texas Tech 23-0
SUMMARY: Oregon dominated Texas Tech with a 23-0 victory in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl. Matayo Uiagalelei caused a fumble that set up a touchdown, and Jordon Davison rushed for two scores. Dante Moore threw for 234 yards, and Atticus Sappington kicked three field goals. Oregon, now 13-1, will face either Indiana or Alabama in the Peach Bowl on January 9. Texas Tech, which finished 12-2, struggled offensively, turning the ball over four times. This win marks Oregon's first shutout of an AP-ranked opponent since 2012.
WORDS: 892 - MOVED: 01/01/2026 6:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFBCCFPOrangeBowlthLdWritethru/a3c15b6a324327fde45dba63dbebf202/text___
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