Category: Political News

Donald Trump was sworn in today as the 47th President of the United States, marking his second, non-consecutive term in office. The inauguration ceremony took place indoors at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to extreme cold weather, a setting last used 40 years ago.
REUTERS

In his inaugural address, President Trump pledged to end what he termed “four long years of American decline,” promising a new era of “American strength and prosperity.” He outlined plans to sign approximately 200 executive orders immediately, targeting issues such as border security, immigration, and energy policies. Specific actions include declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and classifying drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
THE TIMES

The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who hosted the Trumps at the White House prior to the event. All living former U.S. presidents—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama—were present, along with their spouses, except for Michelle Obama. India was represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
HINDUSTAN TIMES

Security measures were heightened due to recent political violence, including assassination attempts on President Trump. Despite the cold weather and indoor relocation, the inauguration proceeded smoothly, marking a historic moment as Trump becomes the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms.

As of January 19, 2025, TikTok has been removed from U.S. app stores and is currently inaccessible to its 170 million American users due to a federal ban.
THE SCOTTISH SUN
This action follows the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which mandates that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations by January 19 to address national security concerns.
BARRON’S

In response to the ban, President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he will “most likely” grant a 90-day extension after taking office on January 20, allowing ByteDance additional time to negotiate a sale to a U.S.-based entity.
NPR
Despite this potential reprieve, TikTok preemptively disabled its services in the U.S., notifying users of the app’s temporary unavailability.
THE VERGE

The uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future has prompted many users to seek alternative platforms. Apps such as RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu), Lemon8, Clapper, and Flip have experienced a surge in downloads as users migrate to new spaces for content creation and sharing.
CNN
This migration has led to the viral use of the hashtag “#tiktokrefugee” among communities adapting to these new platforms.
WIKIPEDIA

While the potential 90-day extension offers a glimmer of hope for TikTok’s return, the platform’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain. Users and creators are advised to stay informed about developments and consider diversifying their online presence across multiple platforms to mitigate the impact of such disruptions.

Meta India has issued an apology for an incorrect statement made by CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding the outcome of India’s 2024 general elections. During a podcast with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg claimed that in 2024, many incumbent governments worldwide, including India, were voted out of power, attributing this trend to factors like inflation and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
THE INDIAN EXPRESS

In response, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw refuted Zuckerberg’s assertion, emphasizing that over 640 million Indian voters participated in the 2024 elections, reaffirming their trust in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vaishnaw labeled Zuckerberg’s claim as “factually incorrect” and expressed disappointment over the spread of misinformation.
HINDUSTAN TIMES

Following this, Shivnath Thukral, Meta India’s Vice President of Public Policy, issued an apology on social media, acknowledging the error and reaffirming India’s significance to Meta. Thukral stated, “Mark’s observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India. We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for Meta, and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future.”
THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Additionally, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, announced plans to summon Meta representatives to address this misinformation. Dubey emphasized that incorrect information about a democratic country tarnishes its image and that Meta should apologize to the Indian Parliament and its citizens.
FIRSTPOST

This incident underscores the importance of accuracy in public statements by global tech leaders, especially concerning sensitive topics like election outcomes in democratic nations.

On January 10, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced in a Manhattan court for his conviction related to hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign. The case involved payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to conceal alleged affairs. Despite the conviction, Judge Juan Merchan issued an “unconditional discharge,” meaning Trump received no jail time, fines, or probation.
NEW YORK POST

This sentencing makes Trump the first U.S. president-elect to assume office with a felony conviction. The judge cited constitutional protections for the president as a factor in the decision. Trump, appearing virtually from Florida, denounced the case as a “witch hunt” and announced plans to appeal the conviction.
AP NEWS

The case was brought forward by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and involved 34 counts of falsifying business records linked to the hush money payments. Trump’s defense described the trial and conviction as a politically motivated attempt to damage his reputation and election chances. Despite the legal challenges, Trump’s campaign saw a surge in contributions following the indictments, although public and Republican opinion showed mixed reactions.
REUTERS

This sentencing concludes one of four criminal cases Trump faced, with others postponed following his election. The decision highlights ongoing tensions between judicial proceedings and political implications as Trump prepares to assume his second term in office.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recently expressed strong support for the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations. Musk, who himself utilized the H-1B visa to work in the United States, emphasized the program’s importance in attracting top-tier talent essential for maintaining the competitiveness of American technology firms.

‘Cheap Politics’: Minister On Congress Charge On Manmohan Singh Cremation The recent passing of former