On January 19, families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas gathered in Washington D.C. to thank incoming U.S. President Donald Trump for helping secure a ceasefire but urged him to ensure all hostages are freed. Three Israeli women were released on January 14 after a ceasefire took effect. The deal, which aims to end the 15-month war, allows for 33 hostages to be freed and aid to enter Gaza. The truce also includes the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israeli towns, killing 1,200 people and capturing over 250 hostages. More than 47,000 Palestinians have died, and many in Gaza are homeless.
20 January,2025 12:45 PM IST
On January 19, 2025, the day before his second inauguration, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump danced on stage at a rally in Washington, D.C. The rally took place at the Capital One Arena, where the Village People performed their famous songs. As the music played, Trump joined in the fun by dancing to the beat, creating an iconic moment. The event was a celebration of his upcoming second term as president, drawing large crowds. Trump’s lively appearance with the Village People helped set the tone for the inauguration the following day, showing his energy and enthusiasm as he prepared for his continued leadership.
20 January,2025 11:43 AM IST
President-elect Donald Trump made bold promises during his speech at the "Make America Great Again" rally at Capital One Arena, ahead of his inauguration on January 20. He vowed to end the war in Ukraine, bring stability to the Middle East, and prevent a potential Third World War. Trump’s speech focused on his goal of global peace and restoring the country’s strength. On January 20, Trump will be sworn in for his second term as President of the United States. This marks the official transition of power from the Biden administration to Trump’s leadership, as outlined by the 20th Amendment, which states the president’s term ends at noon, and the new president is sworn in shortly after.
20 January,2025 11:00 AM IST
A significant breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict came with a ceasefire deal, bringing hope amid the ongoing war. On January 19, Hamas released the first group of hostages as part of the deal, with Israeli citizens arriving back in Israel via helicopter. Under the agreement, Hamas will free Israeli hostages, including all women, children, and men over 50, while Israel will release Palestinian women and children under 19 from its prisons. The number of Palestinians freed will depend on the hostages released and could range from 990 to 1,650. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked U.S. Presidents Trump and Biden for their role, though he also stated that Israel could resume fighting if talks fail.
20 January,2025 10:30 AM IST
Thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C., for "The People's March" to protest against President-Elect Donald Trump before his Inauguration. The march featured speeches where protesters criticized Trump's policies, especially concerning women's rights. Many people wore pink hats, similar to those worn in the larger protest against Trump's first inauguration in 2017. The crowd marched through downtown, in light rain, passing the White House and heading towards the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. Organizers expected 50,000 people to attend, while local police predicted around 25,000. Groups supporting reproductive rights, civil rights, the environment, and other causes joined the march against Trump. Trump, who lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden, is preparing to take office on January 20. He has promised to make significant changes right away, including immigration raids and cutting parts of the federal government. The march began on the morning of January 18 and will end with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial at 3 PM.
19 January,2025 01:16 PM IST
For the first time in 40 years, American presidential inaugural ceremonies will not be held on the steps of the US Capitol but indoors. Amid the long-awaited colossal on January 20, the excitement seems to be fading away as the temperature is presumed to plummet on US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration day. As per reports, several of the day’s planned events have been moved to Capital One Arena in downtown, Washington DC - a sports venue that holds only 20,000 people. Taking to social media on January 17, Donald Trump announced that the arena would be open for those wishing to view his inauguration ceremony, which traditionally takes place in front of the US Capitol but will now take place inside the congressional complex. This will be an unprecedented event in forty years that the American presidential inaugural ceremonies will not be held on the steps of the US Capitol but indoors. The last time an inauguration was moved indoors because of the bitter cold was in 1985 for former Republican President Ronald Reagan's second swearing-in, when the afternoon wind chill fell into the range of minus 10 to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The forecast for Washington on Monday puts temperatures at the time of Trump's swearing-in at around 19 degrees Fahrenheit and will feel even colder with wind chill. The chilly winter has also forced organizers to scrap a planned parade down Pennsylvania Avenue of military regiments, school marching bands, floats and citizens’ groups which will now take place at Capital One. On the eve of the inauguration, Trump is set to hold a campaign-style "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" at the Capital One Arena. The developments raise a big question - Will only 20,000 people watch Donald Trump being crowned for the second time?
18 January,2025 03:25 PM IST
On January 15, 2025, President Joe Biden announced that a ceasefire and hostage deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas, ending more than 15 months of conflict. The agreement will take place in three stages, starting with a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of hostages, including Americans. Biden praised the diplomatic efforts behind the deal, emphasizing the support from Israel and the U.S. as well as the backing of a coalition of 20 countries. Biden expressed relief, saying, "Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages will return home to their families.
16 January,2025 11:50 AM IST
The conflict in the Middle East is still ongoing, with no signs of stopping. The Israeli Defense Forces have almost destroyed all Iranian-backed groups. With the change in leadership in the U.S., Iran faces more pressure, as President Trump has pushed for tougher actions against Iran. Over the weekend, Iran held air defense exercises, which are part of a larger two-month military drill that began on January 4. These drills include practicing defense of important nuclear sites, like Natanz, from missile and drone attacks. Iran is also testing new missiles and drones. Iran has faced challenges in Lebanon and Syria, where Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah and Assad's regime is weakening.
13 January,2025 05:01 PM IST
At least 11 people have died due to the devastating wildfires in Southern California. Strong winds, known as the Santa Ana winds, temporarily died down, giving firefighters a brief break. However, these winds are expected to pick up again soon, making the situation more dangerous. On January 11, the Los Angeles Fire Department issued a mandatory evacuation for affected areas. The fires have also led to the arrest of 18 individuals for crimes like looting and identity theft. President Joe Biden has warned that the winds will remain a threat for the coming week and announced federal support to cover costs for protecting lives and property. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for not signing a water restoration plan, which he claimed could have helped prevent the fires.
12 January,2025 12:37 PM IST
Amidst the raging wildfires in California that have led thousands to flee homes including the upscale areas of Los Angeles, on Jan 7, residents spoke out on the tragedy that put their lives in danger. The raging fire destroyed 2,921 acres of the Pacific Palisades area between the coastal towns of Santa Monica and Malibu. Currently, the fire is spreading to the Hollywood Hills, resulting in the evacuation of Hollywood residents, stars from Pacific Palisades. Several videos showed firefighters trying to contain the fire as it spread forward, with winds blowing up to 100 mph. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and warned in a briefing that, “We are not out of danger”. President-Elect Donald Trump called California wildfires a 'true tragedy' and criticized Governor Newsom.
10 January,2025 01:31 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
