Category: USA

During the 2025 US Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump, former President George W. Bush made a big splash online with his funny facial expressions, as reported by E!News. Many people noticed how he tried to hold back a smile while looking around at the ceremony. This moment led to tons of memes on social media, with users joking that he looked like a kid at a school play and humorously suggesting he was waiting for Hillary Clinton to sit on a whoopee cushion.

These playful moments from Bush come right after he shared a friendly laugh with former President Barack Obama at the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter earlier in January, according to E!News. While it’s normal for ex-Presidents to be at inaugurations, former First Lady Michelle Obama decided to focus on Martin Luther King Jr. Day instead of posting about the event.

The inauguration featured many important figures, and George W. Bush’s funny expressions became the highlight online. Social media users enjoyed seeing the lighter side of politics, especially during such serious times as a new President takes over.

Inaugural balls are big celebrations that blend fun, fashion, and tradition. Since the first one for President James Madison in 1809, these events have become a key part of American history. Over the years, simple dances turned into glamorous parties celebrating the peaceful change of power in our nation.

What’s the Purpose of Inaugural Balls?
The purpose of these balls is to mark the smooth transition of power—a crucial part of American democracy. Even though styles have changed (like no more powdered wigs!), the meaning stays the same. The balls celebrate unity and hope as Americans come together for a fresh start.

A Look Back at the First Ball
The first inaugural ball was organized by the Washington Dancing Assembly for President James Madison in 1809. It took place in a hotel near Capitol Hill and had 400 guests. As the country grew, so did the guest list. By 1849, the ball for President Zachary Taylor was so big that they had to build special places just for it! This practice started a new tradition for future inaugurations.

What to Expect at an Inaugural Ball
Today, inaugural balls feature live music, a variety of delicious foods, and a special first dance by the President and First Lady. The First Lady often wears a stunning gown that might even be displayed in a museum later. These events are fancy, black-tie affairs that celebrate America’s rich culture.

Joining in the Celebration
Even if you don’t get an official invite, you can still join in the fun! There are unofficial balls, parades, and many other celebrations across the country, so no one misses out.

FAQs:
What is the purpose of the inaugural ball?
The ball celebrates the peaceful transfer of power and brings Americans together to honor democracy.

What happens during an inaugural ball?
The event includes live performances, great food, and a special dance by the President and First Lady, who often wears a stunning gown.

Get ready for an exciting game! The College Football Playoff National Championship is happening on Monday, and it will feature Ohio State and Notre Dame. Experts think Ohio State, ranked number 6, will win against number 3 Notre Dame. In their history, Ohio State has won 6 out of 8 matches against Notre Dame.

The big game starts at 7:30 PM (ET) and you can watch it live on ESPN. This championship is special because it’s the first one in the new 12-team playoff format, and this season is the longest ever for college football.

Ohio State wants to win its sixth title, and it’s been a while since they won their last one in 2014. Notre Dame is chasing its 12th title and hasn’t won since 1988.

Key Players to Watch:

– Ohio State’s Quarterback – Will Howard: He’s been playing really well in the playoffs and has two fantastic wide receivers, Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. Smith struggled a bit in the last game against Texas, but he’ll surely want to bounce back.

– Notre Dame’s Star – Riley Leonard: He’s a dual-threat quarterback, which means he can run and throw the ball. He’s tough and knows how to make big plays to help his team.

Interesting Facts:

– Ohio State has won 6 games in a row against Notre Dame, including close games last season (17-14) and in 2022 (21-10).
– The Fighting Irish recently played well at the same stadium, winning against Georgia Tech 31-13.
– If Ohio State wins, they’ll become the first team to beat five top-five teams in just one season.
– Ohio State and Notre Dame are both among the teams with the most wins in college football history.
– Notre Dame’s safety, Xavier Watts, has the most interceptions in the last two years, with 13.
– Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau leads the team with 11 and a half sacks in the season, showing he can be a huge force on defense.

FAQs

Q1. When is the College Football Playoff National Championship?
A1. It will be played on Monday.

Q2. Where can I watch Ohio State vs. Notre Dame?
A2. You can watch the game live on ESPN.

Donald Trump, the 78-year-old President-elect, is getting ready for a busy Sunday before his big day on Monday, January 20. He plans to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who have served in the military. Later, he will head to a rally for his supporters in Washington.

Exciting MAGA Rally

On Sunday evening, Trump will host a fun rally called the MAGA Victory Rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The event will feature performances from famous artists like Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People, and Lee Greenwood. There will also be a special choir from Liberty University. This rally will pay tribute to a serious incident where Trump was almost attacked in Pennsylvania, which sadly resulted in one person losing their life and three others being hurt.

Many well-known speakers will be at the rally, including Trump himself, Elon Musk, Hulk Hogan, actor Jon Voight, and others.

Candlelight Dinner

Trump will also attend a candlelight dinner, where he is expected to say a few words. He arrived in Washington on Saturday with his wife, Melania, and family. Before the inauguration, they went to a private event at Trump’s golf club in Virginia, which included a fireworks show.

Weather Alert for Inauguration Day

It’s going to be very cold on Inauguration Day, so most of the outdoor events, including the swearing-in ceremony, will be moved indoors to keep everyone warm

US stock markets, including the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq, are getting ready for a boost this Monday with Donald Trump’s oath-taking ceremony happening on January 20. Many investors believe banks will do really well if Trump is president again. They expect a stronger economy which can mean more profits for banks, plus Trump’s policies might reduce rules that limit how banks operate.

Last Friday, the S&P 500 went up by 1%, marking its first positive week in three tries. The Dow Jones gained 334 points (about 0.8%), and the Nasdaq jumped 1.5%. Big technology companies, called the “Magnificent Seven,” led these gains. These companies include Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. Because they are so valuable, their stock price changes can significantly influence the overall market.

Recently, these tech giants faced some pressure as investors worried that their stock prices might be too high after doing so well for a long time. This concern grew when bond market yields rose, making investors uneasy about prices for various investments.

Experts on Wall Street are cautious due to the uncertain effects of Trump’s new economic policies, known as Trumponomics 2.0. His suggested policies could increase inflation and expectations of inflation because of possible high tariffs and tax cuts.

After Election Day, prices for all types of investments, from stocks to cryptocurrencies, have seen a lot of ups and downs. Some investors are hopeful for better profits and wider acceptance of cryptocurrencies, while others worry about a growing U.S. government debt and rising inflation.

Brad Pitt wants his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, to sign a prenuptial agreement if they decide to get married. Recently, Brad finalized his divorce with Angelina Jolie after a long struggle that lasted eight years. Angelina is feeling tired after everything but is relieved that this part is over.

Even though Brad was declared single in 2019, friends believed he and Ines would wait until the divorce mess was settled before getting engaged. The couple has been together since 2022.

Why Is Their Wedding Delayed?

The wedding is not happening yet because Ines doesn’t want to sign the prenup. She feels it would take away her rights, and this issue is causing stress between them. Although Brad’s team says they haven’t even talked about marriage, he likely wants to protect his estimated $400 million fortune if they do get engaged.

Brad had a prenup when he married Angelina, but they still had a tough time fighting over their six kids and shared properties, like their French vineyard called Château Miraval. Reports even say Angelina made $84 million after selling a painting Brad gave her.

Brad doesn’t want to go through another legal battle, so it’s easier for him to delay talks about marriage for now. Ines is feeling frustrated because she has supported Brad through tough times, even helping him reconnect with his kids, who mostly sided with Angelina during the divorce. She wants to get married and start a family, but she believes it’s unfair to take the risks because of Brad’s past.

On January 20, 2025, China will send its Vice President, Han Zheng, to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. This is a big deal because it’s the first time a high-ranking official from China has attended a U.S. presidential inauguration, suggesting things might be changing between the two countries.

The Chinese government says they want to work together with Trump’s new team. They mentioned goals like mutual respect, peaceful living, and working together for everyone’s benefit. This shows that China is eager to talk things over, improve relationships, and find ways to cooperate.

Who is Han Zheng?

Han Zheng became Vice President in March 2023 and has already taken part in many important international events. He represented China at the coronation of King Charles III and met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. His attendance at Trump’s inauguration could help build better ties with the United States.

What Does This Mean for U.S.-China Relations?

Experts believe that Han Zheng attending the inauguration is a friendly move from China. It shows that they want to have a stable and friendly relationship with the new U.S. government, especially after recent trade problems. This could be a great chance to solve differences and find ways to work together.

It’s been a while since Elon Musk bought Twitter and changed its name to ‘X’. Recently, there’s news that Musk is being accused of breaking rules about buying stocks by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They have filed a lawsuit claiming that he didn’t tell everyone he owned 5% of Twitter before he took it over completely.

Because he didn’t share this information on time, it cost Twitter’s shareholders a lot of money—around $150 million! The SEC says that Musk waited 11 days to report his ownership, which is a big deal. They believe this is part of securities fraud because it hurt investors when Twitter’s stock was sold.

Now, the SEC wants Musk to pay a fine for not following the rules. Here are some quick answers to questions you might have:

– Did Elon Musk buy Twitter? Yes, he bought it for $44 billion in October 2022 and renamed it ‘X’.
– Is Elon Musk in trouble with the SEC? Yes, he is being investigated for securities fraud related to his purchase of Twitter.

Russian economist Anders Åslund warns that if things don’t change, Russia could run out of its cash reserves by the fall of 2025. The National Wealth Fund, which is like a savings account for the country, has dropped from $117 billion in 2021 to just about $54 billion by September 2024. Russia spends a lot on military activities and has faced many Western sanctions, which make it hard to access money from outside.

Because of this money decrease, experts say that without a big boost in revenue, Russia could face serious problems by 2025. The country relies heavily on selling energy, and if global prices fall, it becomes even harder to keep financial stability.

The Role of Sanctions

International sanctions have made Russia’s financial situation worse. These sanctions freeze assets and restrict key industries, limiting how Russia can manage its economy. This adds more pressure to their dwindling reserves.

What Might Happen Next?

If Russia continues down this financial path, experts warn the consequences could be dire by 2025. A shortage of cash reserves could lead to a serious economic crisis. The government may need to tighten its budget or look for financial help elsewhere to avoid going bankrupt.

It’s crucial for the world to pay attention to Russia’s economic situation. The possibility of bankruptcy sends a strong message about how vulnerable countries can be when they depend heavily on global trade and energy sales.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What happens if Russia runs out of cash reserves?
If Russia runs out of reserves, it could face a financial crisis, potentially leading to bankruptcy if no other solutions are found.

Can Russia recover from this situation?
Recovery is possible, but it would need significant changes in policy and perhaps financial assistance from other countries.

Donald Trump is getting criticized for changing a big promise he made during his campaign. He said he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine very quickly, but now it seems like that might not happen.

After he was elected, a senior adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, told Fox News that it will actually take a lot longer to solve the conflict. Kellogg suggested a timeline of about 100 days to work out a solution. He said, “We want to make sure the solution is strong and stops the fighting for good.”

Originally, Trump said he would end the war “within 24 hours” after taking office. However, during a recent press conference, he changed that to hoping it would be done in six months or less. Critics pointed out that this is a big change from what he promised earlier, which makes them question if he can really deliver on his promises