Category: USA

Winds are expected to calm down on Friday in Los Angeles, giving firefighters a better chance to fight five big wildfires that are causing serious trouble in the area. So far, these fires have burned more than 35,000 acres (14,160 hectares).

The largest fire is affecting the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood, burning nearly 20,000 acres. Firefighters reported that they have managed to control about six percent of this fire’s edge, which means it can’t spread in that direction for now.

However, another fire in Altadena is out of control, destroying almost 14,000 acres and threatening important places like communication towers on Mount Wilson. A third fire near Calabasas, where celebrities like Kim Kardashian live, added to the worrying situation. Thankfully, after a big effort from firefighters with planes dropping water and fire-retardant, this fire is now 35 percent contained.

Experts believe these wildfires could end up costing between $135 billion and $150 billion, making them some of the most expensive in history. Many people are feeling the impact: schools are closed, hundreds of thousands are without electricity, and big events, such as an NFL playoff game, have been moved elsewhere.

While the winds have calmed, meteorologists say that very dry and windy conditions could return. The National Weather Service warns that more fires could still break out. Though wildfires happen naturally, scientists say that human-caused climate change is affecting weather patterns, making wildfires worse. After two very wet years in Southern California, the current dry conditions have created perfect fuel for these raging fires.

The Rose Bowl Stadium, famous for sports and events, looks very different right now. It’s become a temporary home for families who had to leave their houses because of the wildfires in Los Angeles. These fires have damaged more than 1,000 buildings and sadly taken five lives.

Even though the wildfires are nearby, the Rose Bowl itself is safe. The biggest fire, called the Eaton Fire, is about four miles northeast of the stadium. However, the area around it is under a Level 2 evacuation warning. This means that people should be ready to leave their homes quickly if needed.

Many families are now staying in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl, filling it with tents and supplies. The local fire and police teams are also using the stadium area as a command center to help fight the fires. Since the fires started, more than 5,000 acres of land have burned, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.

The Rose Bowl was recently used for a big college football game on New Year’s Day, but now it is focusing on helping those affected by these terrible fires. Although it is far from the flames, people with health issues are encouraged to evacuate immediately. To support those impacted, President Joe Biden has approved a disaster declaration, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency

In December 2024, the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria may change the power landscape for other countries with strict leaders, like Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, according to a report from The Hill. This quick fall shows how weak the ties are among autocratic leaders around the world.

When rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took over Damascus in just 11 days, they completely defeated Assad. His main supporters, Iran and Russia, decided to stop helping him, leaving him alone and forcing him to flee to Moscow.

For Venezuela, this is a big hit. Losing Syria means there’s one less route for illegal activities, which makes Nicolás Maduro’s position with Iran even weaker. The decline of Assad also hints that Russian support for other allied governments might fade away.

The Venezuelan opposition, now united under Maria Corina Machado, sees this as a chance for change. With rising international pressure and Assad’s fall weakening connections for Maduro’s regime, there is hope for a new democratic beginning, The Hill noted

The U.S. Supreme Court is going to talk about TikTok’s case against a new law that says TikTok must either sell itself to an American company or be banned in the U.S. This law was passed in April. TikTok has had a tough time in lower courts, and experts think it might not win this case. If the law takes effect, TikTok could be kicked out of American app stores by January 19, right before Trump might become president again.

Trump’s New View on TikTok:
Trump is now asking for a pause on the ban so he can try to make a deal, showing he might want to keep TikTok around, which is different from his earlier thoughts. Many people in Congress support banning TikTok, but fewer Americans agree with a ban as time goes on. Trump might try to help TikTok sell its U.S. parts to an American company since ByteDance, TikTok’s owner from China, has been hesitant to sell.

Why is There a Ban?
The U.S. government says it’s worried about national security, meaning they think the Chinese government could get access to American users’ data because ByteDance is based in China. However, there’s no solid evidence that China has misused TikTok so far.

Legal Issues and Free Speech:
TikTok claims that banning it would violate the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech for its 170 million American users. The Supreme Court’s choice will be important for how the U.S. manages national security without hurting people’s rights to express themselves online.

What Happens to Users and Creators?
If TikTok is banned, it will be taken off app stores. This means new users won’t be able to get it, and existing users won’t get updates. This could hurt creators and businesses that use TikTok to connect with their audience and make money. Many TikTok users are already looking at other platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts to avoid losing their audience.

FAQs:

– Does the TikTok ban affect other apps owned by ByteDance?
Yes, it could, because the law affects all apps linked to foreign adversaries, not just TikTok.

– Could TikTok still be saved?
Yes, ByteDance can sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to follow the law, or a political deal might happen

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, is one of the richest people in the world. Besides making money, he is well-known for his kindness and giving. Gates gives a lot of his money to help people through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which works to reduce poverty and improve healthcare around the globe. Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, was a trustee of the foundation until 2021.

The foundation has an investment portfolio worth $44 billion, with most of this money in just three big companies:

Microsoft (29%)
It’s no surprise that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation owns a large amount of Microsoft shares, about 29 million worth $12.5 billion. Gates first donated Microsoft shares to his foundation in 2001. Even though they sold about 26% of their shares last year, the value of the remaining shares increased, making Microsoft their biggest investment. The company’s recent moves—like investing in OpenAI and improving its Azure service—helped Microsoft’s revenue grow by 33% last quarter. Because of this, Microsoft shares have skyrocketed by 60% since the last donation from Gates to the foundation in 2022.

Berkshire Hathaway (23%)
Warren Buffett has been donating shares from his company, Berkshire Hathaway, to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation every year since 2016. He changes his Class A shares into Class B shares so he can give while keeping control of his business. The Gates Foundation has around 22 million shares of Berkshire Hathaway valued at $10 billion. Although there’s talk of selling some of these shares, they are holding onto a good number by selling other stocks.

Waste Management (15%)
One of the oldest stocks in the foundation’s collection is Waste Management. They currently own about 32.2 million shares and regularly add more. Recently, they sold about 3 million shares worth $6.5 billion in the third quarter.

Understanding the US National Debt and Jamie Dimon’s Call for Fair Taxes

Right now, the US national debt is very high and concerning. Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan, has an idea to help fix this problem. He believes that wealthy Americans should pay more taxes, just like middle-class people do. This idea is called the “Buffett Rule,” named after famous investor Warren Buffett.

The Buffett Rule says that no millionaire should pay a smaller share of their income in taxes than regular middle-class families. If we have a rule like this, it could help raise more money for the government, which means less trouble with the national debt.

So, does Jamie Dimon support higher taxes for the rich? Yes! He’s calling for wealthy Americans to pay more. Since 2023, many experts are looking for ways to solve the increasing national debt. Dimon’s suggestion might be a good solution to this big problem.

FAQs:

– Is the US national debt getting worse?
Yes, the US national debt is going up steadily, which can hurt the economy in the future.

– Does Jamie Dimon want the rich to pay more taxes?
Yes, he is worried about the rising national debt and wants wealthier Americans to be taxed more.

Pope Francis has made an important decision by naming Cardinal Robert McElroy as the new archbishop of Washington, D.C., just one week before Donald Trump’s inauguration as President. Cardinal McElroy is well-known for speaking out against Trump, especially concerning his policies on immigration. At 70 years old, he has been a strong supporter of immigrants and has urged church members to take action against deportation efforts.

This appointment shows the ongoing differences between Pope Francis and Donald Trump. The Pope has criticized Trump’s views on immigration and has raised concerns about his Christian values. Earlier in September, Pope Francis said he couldn’t support either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris due to their positions on important issues related to life.

In response, Trump has selected Brian Burch, a strong critic of Pope Francis, to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. This situation highlights the complicated relationship between politics and religion today.

With his new role in Washington, D.C., Cardinal McElroy has a great opportunity to continue fighting for immigrant rights and social justice, right near the White House. This choice by Pope Francis reflects his commitment to challenge political views that he thinks go against the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Donald Trump is getting ready to become President of the United States again on January 20. As the big day approaches, security is being stepped up to keep everyone safe. There are some rallies happening around this time—an anti-Trump protest called the People’s March will take place on January 18, and a pro-Trump rally is scheduled for January 19. The main event for Trump’s inauguration will be held at Capital One Arena.

On the day of the inauguration, Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, will take their oaths of office at the Capitol building. There will be a significant security presence, including many federal agents and police. Some security measures, like bomb detectors and snipers, will be less visible but still in place.

The outgoing president, Joe Biden, will also attend the event, which is a tradition for former presidents. Trump is breaking new ground by inviting world leaders to his inauguration.

Pamela Smith, the chief of police in D.C., emphasized that people can peacefully protest, but they will not allow violence or any actions that could harm people or property. Her department will be fully ready with extra officers starting from January 5, and citizens can expect to see many surveillance drones in the area, which is usually off-limits to drones.

Ashley Preston, a history professor at Howard University, mentioned that this upcoming inauguration feels different because of the high political tensions in the country. Recent violent events in places like New Orleans and Las Vegas have added to this anxiety.

FAQs
– Q1: When is Donald Trump’s inauguration event?
A1: It will take place on January 20.

– Q2: When is the pro-Trump rally?
A2: It is set for January 19 at Capital One Arena.

Melania Trump seems to be quite happy about Elon Musk visiting their Mar-a-Lago home a lot. He has been spending time with her husband, Donald Trump, who is the President-elect of the United States. Some close friends of the Trump family say Melania even calls Musk a “babysitter” for Trump, which shows she appreciates him keeping her husband busy with work.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been involved in helping Donald Trump get ready for the presidency by joining meetings and talking about who will work in the White House. Even though some people worry about Musk’s strong presence, Melania likes it. She seems to manage her own life happily while being aware that many others want Trump’s attention.

As Musk continues to help shape Trump’s new administration, Melania might even think about working on projects with him.

As we look ahead to 2025, many people are worried about a possible U.S. recession, job losses, and how much money individuals might make. Different experts have different ideas about what might happen.

The Recession Talk

Some experts think that the U.S. economy will grow by 2.0% in 2025, which is a slowdown but not a recession. However, others, like BCA Research, believe the U.S. and Canada could actually face a recession in 2025. Statista also suggests there’s a 33.56% chance that the U.S. will enter a recession by November 2025.

What’s Happening with Jobs?

The job market is facing challenges. Some companies, like SolarEdge Technologies, are laying off workers. They plan to cut 400 jobs, which is their fourth round of layoffs in just a year. Microsoft is also considering job cuts in 2025 as they change how they do business. But not everything looks bleak; some industries are still hiring and doing well.

How About Income Growth?

In 2025, we can expect personal income growth to be pretty small. The OECD predicts the economy will grow by 2.4%, which may lead to slight wage increases for workers. But keep in mind that things like inflation and the rising cost of living could affect how much money people really take home.

Key Takeaways:

– Experts are unsure if the U.S. will face a recession in 2025, with some saying yes and others saying no.
– The job market may face layoffs in some sectors while other areas continue to hire.
– Income growth in 2025 is expected to be slow, so it’s crucial for workers to stay updated on changes happening in their industries.