Prominent Indian Americans raised over half a million dollars at a Hotel Bel-Air fund-raiser for children and families impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. The event, hosted by Jay Shetty and Anita Verma-Lallian, supported Baby2Baby, a nonprofit distributing emergency supplies to those affected. Notable guests included Kumail Nanjiani and Lilly Singh.
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UN high commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, requested an additional $500 million in 2025 to address global human rights challenges. His office, which monitors violations in crisis zones like Gaza and Ukraine, released over 3,100 detainees and assisted 49,000 survivors of torture. Despite requesting $500 million last year, only $269 million was received. While several countries supported funding, the US has yet to confirm its 2025 contribution amid policy reviews.
The White House has asked Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to moderate his criticism and sign an aid deal, while US-Ukraine relations remain tense. Trump and his allies criticize Ukraine amidst diplomatic tensions with Russia, affecting global support and peacekeeping efforts.
Before founding Microsoft, Bill Gates experienced a humbling moment at Harvard, realizing some peers were better at math than him. Despite this, his drive and quest for challenges never waned. Gates eventually left Harvard to co-found Microsoft, leading to immense success. Notably, he solved the 'pancake problem,' impressing with his brilliance.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has urged party members to fight President Trump's agenda, prompting the White House to demand an apology for inciting violence. "That's not acceptable. We are going to fight it legislatively. We are going to fight it in the courts. We're going to fight it in the streets," Jeffries said. Jeffries' spokesperson said it's a laughable allegation that Jeffries incited violence against Donald Trump.
Mexico denied a US request to allow a US military aircraft carrying deported migrants to land. Two similar flights landed in Guatemala, but the mission to Mexico was halted after permission was denied. This situation highlights ongoing cooperation and disagreement on immigration matters between the US and Mexico.
US plans to use AI to revoke visas of international students deemed supportive of Hamas, following Trump's executive order against antisemitism. The initiative involves state, justice, and homeland security departments, aiming to target participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations during Israel's Gaza campaign.
Vogue has critiqued Melania Trump's outfit in her official White House portrait, with writer Hannah Jackson commenting that Melania looks like a freelance magician. While the photo has generally been criticized as being 'heavily photoshopped', Vogue's harsh criticism of Melania has a context. Vogue did not make a cover on Melania during her first stint as the First Lady ditching a long-running tradition.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty for violent criminals upon his inauguration. This move comes in reaction to President Joe Biden's recent commutation of 37 death row inmates' sentences, a decision that has deeply distressed victims' families and invited criticism from the Republicans.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Poland to address long-standing tensions over the exhumation of Polish victims of WWII massacres. Both nations have agreed to start exhumations, signaling improved relations. Poland, currently holding the EU presidency, has keen interest in the matter, especially ahead of upcoming presidential elections. The exhumations would provide proper burials for the victims.
Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 19 Palestinians, including women and children, and a Hamas political leader. The military ordered evacuations in Rafah as tanks advanced. The ceasefire collapsed, leading to renewed conflict. Humanitarian conditions worsened, displacing many residents, while casualties and destruction mounted in the region.