Category: USA

On February 5, the stocks of Chinese online shopping companies Alibaba and PDD Holdings fell in early trading. This happened after the United States Postal Service (USPS) said it would stop accepting parcels from mainland China and Hong Kong for an unknown length of time.

Alibaba’s stock went down by 2.4%, while PDD’s stock dropped by 6%, according to a report.

The USPS hasn’t given a reason for this decision, but it follows a move by former President Donald Trump to end a special rule. This rule, called the “de minimis” exemption, allowed packages worth less than $800 to come into the US without extra taxes. Many brands like Temu and Shein, which sell inexpensive clothing, relied on this exemption to ship items to customers in the US.

At the same time, the Trump administration added a new tax of 10% on many products coming from China. In retaliation, China plans to impose taxes on some American goods starting on February 10, including a 15% tax on certain coal and natural gas products.

Trump had also suggested putting a 25% tax on imports from Mexico and Canada but paused that decision for 30 days for further talks. He has also mentioned potential taxes on products from the European Union, arguing that the US is not getting a fair deal.

FAQs

1. What is ‘de minimis’?
The “de minimis” exemption allowed cheap packages to enter the US without paying any taxes, as long as they were worth less than $800.

2. Are there other exemptions?
This rule also meant that some packages could come in without being checked

Former President Donald Trump has sent a serious message to Iran. He stated that if Iran attempts to assassinate him, they would face complete destruction. While signing an executive order, Trump told reporters, “If they did that, they would be obliterated. I’ve left instructions—if they do it, they get obliterated, there won’t be anything left.”

This warning comes as worries grow over attacks against Trump and other U.S. leaders. U.S. intelligence agencies have been watching these threats closely, especially after Trump ordered the killing of a top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in January 2020. This act increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that they had stopped a plan in which an Iranian man, Farhad Shakeri, was suspected of trying to kill Trump. Shakeri has not been caught and is still in Iran. U.S. officials believe Iran is behind various attempts to harm American leaders in response to Soleimani’s death.

In July 2024, during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, there was a threat against Trump’s life that led to extra protection. During this event, an assassination attempt occurred, injuring Trump, but officials later found links to Iranian operatives.

If something were to happen to Trump, Vice President JD Vance would become president. However, legal experts say that he might not have to follow Trump’s order to “obliterate” Iran; that decision would be up to him, Congress, and military leaders.

Iranian officials have denied any involvement in these assassination plans. The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry called these U.S. claims a lie meant to stir up issues between Iran and the U.S. However, Iran has not provided proof to dispute the U.S. intelligence findings.

Nvidia is set to share its fourth quarter earnings on February 26, and Bank of America (BofA) is still very positive about the company. They believe Nvidia is strong, even with the issues happening between countries. BofA thinks that a new AI startup called DeepSeek won’t hurt Nvidia’s success. However, they do expect Nvidia to have less profit in the first quarter of 2025 because of rules in China and changes to their Blackwell products.

BofA hopes Nvidia will reassure its investors about how well the new Blackwell graphics processors are doing and show confidence for 2025 and 2026. They think Nvidia’s data center sales could grow over 60% compared to last year.

BofA explained that Nvidia’s success comes from a few key areas like improving AI technology and data center upgrades. They added that even if one area changes, the company will still do well overall.

Investors had worried when DeepSeek released an open-source AI model, which made Nvidia’s stock drop significantly, losing $600 billion in value in one day. However, BofA’s note might help calm those fears.

In January, Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, said that practical quantum computers could be here in 15 to 30 years. Some big names like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates had different opinions on this.

FAQs:
– When will Nvidia share its earnings? Nvidia will announce the information on February 26 around 1:20 PM PT.
– Will problems with China hurt Nvidia? The Bank of America believes that strong demand in Western markets will help balance any issues from China

Kevin Costner is looking to get fit and become a heartthrob again, inspired by Jennifer Lopez. After spending New Year’s in Aspen with her and some friends, he’s excited to work on his fitness journey after his divorce.

According to a report from In Touch, the star of Yellowstone wants to add more muscle and feel great at the age of 70. He celebrated his birthday on January 18 and is now on a mission to see how strong and fit he can get this year. His trainer believes he can even show off a six-pack, just like he did in his younger years.

Is Jennifer Lopez really inspiring Kevin’s fitness goals? Yes! Her youthful energy and fit body have motivated him to take his workouts seriously and prove that age doesn’t matter. But it will take hard work, both in the gym and with a healthy chef-prepared diet.

Kevin aims to gain ten pounds of muscle by summer, and his chef will help him stick to a high-protein meal plan. Both Kevin and J. Lo are single, having gone through high-profile divorces recently.

Quick FAQs:
Is Kevin Costner dating Jennifer Lopez? Not yet, but their friendly time in Aspen has led to some rumors.
Why is Kevin so focused on fitness? He wants to regain his heartthrob status and looks up to J. Lo’s fitness commitment.

Dell’s CEO, Michael Dell, has sent a note to his employees about returning to the office full-time. He said that many workers, especially those living close to Dell’s offices, will need to come in five days a week starting on March 3. This means that people who live an hour away from an office might not be affected.

The change has caused a bit of confusion because Dell has been allowing hybrid work, where employees could work from home some days and come into the office on others. Now, if you live near a Dell office, it’s time to say goodbye to that flexibility.

However, workers who live far away from Dell locations will still have the option to work from home. Michael Dell explained that they need everyone in the office to keep up with fast changes in the tech industry.

FAQs:
– Is Dell stopping work-from-home for employees? Yes, Dell is making employees who live close to the office come in every day.
– Who is the CEO of Dell? The current CEO of Dell is Michael Dell.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has been in space much longer than she expected. She was supposed to come home after an eight-day mission with astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore on Boeing’s Starliner. But because of some issues with the spacecraft, they’ve been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for over eight months!

Since Boeing’s Starliner can’t bring them back, NASA is asking Elon Musk’s SpaceX for help. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump noticed this and told Musk to bring them home quickly.

Talks About Life in SpaceSunita

During a video call with students at Needham High School in Massachusetts, Sunita shared how hard it is to be away from Earth for so long. She said, “I’ve been up here long enough. Right now, I’m trying to remember what it’s like to walk. I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down.” Being in space without gravity changes how astronauts’ bodies work, causing them not to use their muscles and bones the same way as they do on Earth.

Why Can’t Starliner Bring Them Home?

The Starliner was supposed to safely return Sunita and Butch, but it faced several problems, like engine issues and helium leaks. Because of these safety worries, NASA decided to send the spacecraft back without the astronauts.

Now, Sunita and Butch are waiting for another way home, and NASA has turned to SpaceX since they have successfully managed crewed space missions.

Can SpaceX Rescue Them?

NASA plans to bring Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. They are hoping this will happen by March 2025. If all goes well, they will have spent almost a whole year in space, way longer than they planned!

SpaceX has been great at launching and returning astronauts safely with their Dragon spacecraft. They are now getting ready to ensure Sunita and Butch come home safely.

Trump Gets Involved

The long wait caught Trump’s attention, and he mentioned that the astronauts seemed “abandoned.” He asked Elon Musk on social media to “go get” the astronauts. Musk replied that they were already working on bringing them home “as soon as possible.” This showed how important it is for NASA to work with private companies for space missions.

For now, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are continuing their work at the International Space Station while they wait. Despite this unexpected delay, NASA is confident that SpaceX will bring them home safely.

The latest report shows that inflation in the U.S. rose again in December 2024, which is important for everyone. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation, a key measure the Federal Reserve uses, went up by 0.3%. This means that prices are higher overall, pushing the annual inflation rate to 2.6% compared to 2.4% in November. The Federal Reserve usually aims to keep inflation at around 2%, but right now, prices are still a bit high.

What About Core PCE Inflation?
The core PCE inflation, which does not include the unpredictable prices of food and energy, is also important. In December, it rose by 0.2% from the previous month, keeping the yearly rate the same at 2.8%. This steady number helps experts understand what’s really happening with inflation without the ups and downs of food and energy prices.

How Is the Federal Reserve Responding?
Despite the higher inflation numbers, the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates the same. Chairman Jerome Powell said that they are being careful and want to see clear improvements before making any changes. This is important because it helps keep the economy stable and aims to lower inflation over time.

What’s Happening in the U.S. Economy?
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the U.S. economy grew by 2.3%, which is good news! However, people are spending cautiously, with consumer spending only rising by 0.7% in December. Additionally, the personal savings rate dropped to 3.8%, which means folks are using more of their money, likely because prices for things are going up.

Stock Market Reactions
After the PCE data was released, U.S. stock futures showed positive movement. Major stock indexes, like the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones, saw increases. This indicates that even with inflation worries, investors are feeling hopeful about the economy right now.

FAQs
– What is the current core PCE inflation rate for December 2024? The core PCE inflation rate for December 2024 remains steady at 2.8%.
– Why did the Federal Reserve keep interest rates unchanged in December 2024? The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged to carefully monitor inflation trends and focus on economic stability.

Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred controversy with his response about visiting the site of a deadly plane crash over the Potomac River in Washington. When asked if he would go to the crash site, where over 60 people died, including two famous Russian figure skaters, he joked, “You want me to go swimming?”

Despite the joking tone, President Trump said he plans to meet with the families of those who lost their lives in this terrible accident. He clarified that he wouldn’t visit the crash site itself, as he believes “the site was the water.”

Social media users reacted strongly, criticizing his seemingly insensitive remarks, especially since 67 people died in this tragic event during his presidency. Some accused him of making light of the situation. Trump has also suggested that the crash is partially due to actions taken by the Joe Biden administration regarding diversity programs.

The militant group Hamas has announced that they will release three hostages on Saturday, February 1, as part of a deal to exchange them for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The three hostages are Ofer Kalderon, Keith Siegel, and Yarden Bibas, whose family is waiting anxiously for news.

Yarden Bibas was taken by Hamas during a violent attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. His wife, Shiri, and their two young kids, Ariel and Kfir, were also kidnapped at the same time. Ariel was only four years old, and Kfir was just nine months old when they were taken.

While Yarden is being set free, there is still no word on his family’s condition, and the Israeli government is working hard to find out where they are. Yarden Bibas is from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he lived with his family and their dog, Tonto, who was sadly killed during the attack.

Yarden is a welder who loves music and stand-up comedy. He is known to be a kind and caring person. Recently, videos showed that he was alive after being taken.

In a heartbreaking update, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that Yarden’s wife and children were taken alive and later detained by another group called Kataib Mujahadin.

The Bibas family and their relatives expressed how painful it is to see their loved ones taken away from their home and into such a dangerous situation.

Key Facts:
– On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping over 250 others. In response, Israeli military actions have sadly resulted in the deaths of many Palestinians in Gaza.
– The next exchange of hostages and prisoners between Hamas and Israel will happen on Saturday, February 1.

As January comes to an end, Wordle fans are excited for the new game! Today is a special 2XP Friday, meaning that all scores, good or bad, will be doubled. If you’re having trouble with today’s five-letter word, don’t worry—we’ve got hints and the answer for Wordle #1322.

Hints to Solve Today’s Wordle:
– General Hint: You might do this with a slice of bread.
– Letter Clue: The word starts with the letter ‘T’.
– Vowel Clue: Today’s word has two vowels.
– Repetition Clue: One letter is used twice in the word.
– Meaning Clue: This word is often linked to something that is not true or incorrect—like the opposite of reality.

If you’re still stuck, here’s the answer: TOAST. It’s a common but sneaky word, especially with those repeated letters that can confuse players. If you guessed it right, great job! If not, don’t worry—there’s always a new challenge tomorrow!

What is Wordle and How Do You Play It?
For those new to the game, Wordle is a fun word puzzle created by Josh Wardle. You have six tries to guess a five-letter word. You get color hints for your guesses:
– Green: The letter is right and in the right spot.
– Yellow: The letter is right but in the wrong spot.
– Gray: The letter isn’t in the word at all.

Wordle is popular because it’s simple yet challenging!

Tips to Get Better at Wordle:
– Start with a good word: Pick one with common letters, like CRANE or SLATE.
– Look for letter patterns early.
– Eliminate letters you know aren’t in the word.
– Take your time—there’s no rush, so think before you guess!

FAQs:
– Is there a theme for Wordle? Everyone plays the same daily word. The game also has dark mode and high-contrast options for colorblind players.
– What’s the most popular starting word? Many players start with words like AUDIO or ADIEU because they have lots of vowels.