During the ceremony where her husband JD Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States, Usha Chilukuri Vance made history as the first Indian-American and Hindu Second Lady. The 39-year-old lawyer, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, held the Bible and their daughter as Vance took the oath of office. President Trump praised JD for his successful re-election bid but also made a lighthearted comment about Usha being "smarter" and how he would have chosen her as his Vice President but the line of succession did not work that way. With her ancestral village in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Usha is also one of the youngest second ladies in history.
In his second inaugural address, President Donald Trump declared that the United States would be "taking back" the Panama Canal, without elaborating on details. The canal, a crucial trade route for the US, was handed over to Panama in 1999 but Chinese companies have been steadily increasing their presence in the region. Trump's remarks raised concerns about potential military action against Panama in the future.
In a joint operation by the CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police, 14 Maoists, including a top leader with a bounty of Rs. 1 crore, were killed near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the security forces for the "mighty blow to Naxalism" and the "joint efforts" towards a Naxal-free India. The operation was launched after receiving intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the Kularighat Reserve Forest. The toll is expected to increase as the encounter is still on.
Island News covers the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Waikiki, where people gathered to honor the legacy of the civil rights leader. Kimber Collins speaks with the parade's grand marshal about Dr. King's impact on the islands, and how he fought for equality for all people.
In his inauguration speech, President Trump made a series of bold promises, including sending Americans to Mars, designating cartels as terrorist organizations, and tackling gender recognition. He also reiterated his belief that America has become too involved in foreign conflicts and promised to reverse former president Jimmy Carter's decision to give control of the Panama Canal to Panama. Trump even proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America as part of his nationalist agenda. Despite facing criticism for his previous statement about "acting like a dictator for a day," Trump assured his supporters that his executive orders will put America on the "proper course."
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, but sparked controversy and concern when he did not place his hand on the Bible during his oath of office. Social media users shared their mixed reactions, with some expressing fears of Trump's intentions to not follow the Constitution and become a dictator. Others made comments about the rushed nature of the ceremony and the significance of Trump's use of two Bibles.
Elvish Yadav, a prominent politician, has been at the center of controversy after accusing the media of being paid off. This led to a heated argument with a senior journalist, causing the media to allegedly boycott Yadav. The incident has sparked discussions about media neutrality and ethics in political reporting.
Neeraj Chopra, India's celebrated javelin thrower, has tied the knot with his longtime partner and fellow athlete, Himani Mor. The news of their private and beautiful wedding quickly took social media by storm, with fans scrambling to learn more about the bride, who hails from a sports-loving family in Haryana. The couple, who caught everyone's eye with their matching outfits, is now on their honeymoon after a dreamy ceremony.
In a surprising turn of events, Shreyas Iyer was not retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the upcoming IPL season, despite leading the team to victory in 2024. The player shares his disappointment with the lack of communication from the team and reveals how he ended up with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a record-breaking price. Iyer's experience as a captain and his impressive batting skills make him a valuable asset for PBKS, as he takes on his third team leadership role in the league.
After a tumultuous year filled with concerns about national security and Chinese ties, the social media app TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, was temporarily shut down when it disappeared from app stores and left millions of users unable to access the app on Saturday. Though the Trump administration's push for a sale of TikTok before the Sunday deadline, set to take place just before Joe Biden's presidency, has been unsuccessful, Trump has suggested a potential solution: a joint venture between TikTok and an American company, with the US owning 50% of the company. With a 90-day extension of the deadline potentially on the horizon, it appears that the fight over TikTok is far from over.