First Thing: Second Trump era dawns with hail of hardline executive orders

Among dozens of other actions, Trump pardons about 1,500 of the January 6 defendants, including many convicted of violent offenses. Plus, Elon Musk gives fascist-style salutes at rally

Good morning.

As the second Trump era dawned yesterday, the president enacted a series of hardline executive orders – promising to undo Joe Biden’s legacy, pardoning January 6 defendants and cracking down on immigration.

In his first presidential speech, Trump said he was “saved by God to make America great again”. The president went on to hope he is remembered as a “peacemaker”, then made clear he wants the US to “take back” the Panama canal.

In some of the president’s first key actions, Trump:

Pardoned about 1,500 January 6 defendants, many of whom have already been convicted of violent crimes for their roles in the 2021 storming of the US Capitol.

Signed an executive order seeking to revoke birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants.

Declared a “national emergency” at the southern border, paving the way to send US troops to the area.

Sought to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization and Paris climate accords.

Renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.

Temporarily delayed the enforcement of a federal ban on TikTok for at least 75 days.

Required federal agencies to revoke the use of “gender” and “gender identity”.

Which global leaders attended the inauguration? Rightwing international politicians descended on DC, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Argentina’s Javier Milei, the UK’s 49-day prime minister, Liz Truss, and three officials from Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland) party.

What did Joe Biden do in his last hours as president? He used his last day in office to issue pre-emptive pardons to politicians, public servants and even his family members, in an extraordinary use of presidential power to guard against what he said were “threats” of revenge from the incoming administration.

Palestinians begin search for Gaza’s missing as they return to ruined homes

After the first night in Gaza for more than a year without the sound of drones or bombing overhead, people in the besieged Palestinian territory have begun returning to destroyed homes and searching for missing loved ones.

On Sunday when the truce took effect – with three hostages held by Hamas exchanged for 90 Palestinians from Israeli jails – there was jubilation. But on Monday the celebrations largely gave way to shock and sorrow, as the strip’s 2.3 million people began to assess the scale of the devastation.

Youssef, 22, whose parents and brother were killed, returned to Beit Lahia from Gaza City. He said he felt “shock and panic at the horror and rubble”, describing “nothing but rubble, and some corpses around and under it”.

What is the humanitarian cost of the war? After the Hamas attack on Israel killed about 1,200 people and saw about 250 taken hostage on 7 October 2023, the Israeli assault on Gaza has killed 47,000 people, health officials say. Housing has been decimated, the Palestinian population has been displaced – often several times – and the coastal strip has experienced malnutrition and famine.

What about the impact on infrastructure? According to a UN damage assessment, clearing more than 50m tonnes of rubble left from Israel’s bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2bn. The WHO has said that restoring Gaza’s decimated medical infrastructure will cost $10bn, as fewer than half of the strip’s 36 hospitals are still partially operating.

In other news …

Elon Musk gave two fascist-style salutes at a Trump inauguration rally yesterday, which Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called “a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity”.

Meanwhile, Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) program was sued yesterday, amid allegations it violates federal transparency rules.

Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, vowed to “occupy Brussels”, the center of the European Union, as he said Trump’s presidency would boost Europe’s right.

Axel Rudakubana, a teenager who murdered three young girls at a dance class in July last year in the UK, was referred three times to a government anti-terrorism scheme but not enrolled.

Stat of the day: Russia records 2024 budget deficit of 3.49tn roubles ($34.4bn) amid Ukraine war

Russia recorded a budget deficit of 3.49tn roubles ($34.4bn) in 2024 – a deficit more than 3tn for the third year running – the finance ministry said on Monday. Both spending and revenue rose sharply as Moscow plowed economic resources into the war in Ukraine.

Don’t miss this: the forgotten brilliance of Hélène de Beauvoir, sister of Simone

Hélène de Beauvoir was a painter ahead of her time, counting Pablo Picasso as a fan. But she was always overshadowed by her sister, Simone. Now, with a show opening – The Woman Destroyed at the Amar Gallery in London – the artist is finally receiving her due.

Climate check: Trump withdraws US from Paris climate agreement for second time

Donald Trump began withdrawing the US, the world’s second biggest emitter of pollution, from the Paris climate agreement for a second time. Withdrawal will take about a year to be formalized. The US will join Iran, Libya and Yemen as the only countries outside the global agreement.

Last Thing: young people turn to knitting and sewing to cast off gloom

Eleanor Eden, 24, says her generation is “quite gloomy about the general state of things”, with a competitive job market and feeling “we’re probably never going to be able to buy a house”. Like many young people, Eden has taken up crochet and knitting – discovering a sense of joy, and overcoming a “pretty chronic social media addiction”.

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