Karoline Leavitt, newly appointed White House press secretary, criticized New York Times journalist Peter Baker for comparing President Trump’s media tactics to those of Russian President Putin. The clash arose after the Trump administration took control of press pool access, sidelining traditional outlets. Leavitt defended the move as a step towards fairness, emphasizing changing outdated systems.
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A widespread power outage in Chile led to a state of emergency and an overnight curfew as officials worked to restore electricity. The blackout, caused by a failed high-voltage transmission line, disrupted daily life, stranded transport, and halted copper mining operations, affecting millions of residents.
“The idea that Vance is not going to be the Republican nominee in 2028 is absurd," Republican strategist Dennis Lennox told the New York Post adding that holding primaries will only waste time and money. “The RNC might as well cancel the 2028 primaries and caucuses at this point.†Vance could possibly face Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley in primaries and Democrats like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in the general election.
A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar during Friday prayers in the holy month of Ramadan, killing over 1,700 people, including more than 700 worshipers in mosques. The quake caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, including airports and mosques, complicating relief efforts.
A United Airlines flight from Lagos to Washington experienced an unexpected in-flight jolt, injuring six individuals and causing an emergency return to Lagos. Multiple passengers and crew members required medical attention, and authorities are investigating the cause of the incident which was not due to turbulence.
Northern Thailand faces worsening wildfires, with Chiang Mai experiencing severe air pollution as PM2.5 particles exceed WHO's safe limit. Fires in Chiang Dao, fueled by dry conditions and illegal crop burning, have led to 2,465 heat points across 17 provinces. Emergency measures are in place, with Chiang Mai governor designating disaster zones in affected areas.
President Trump has halted US aid to South Africa, citing concerns over the new Expropriation Act that allegedly discriminates against the white minority. The US criticizes the land reform law, while South Africa argues it seeks to rectify historical inequalities without arbitrary land seizures.
Elon Musk met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C. Discussions included technological innovation, space exploration, and governance. Modi gifted Musk’s children books, highlighting India’s growing collaboration with Musk-led enterprises. They also focused on strengthening partnerships in innovation, AI, and sustainable development. Musk's role in US government initiatives and personal family visit were also noted.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Bettina Anderson both attended Donald Trump's inauguration but according to reports, they did not meet as Kimberly Guilfoyle was seen at the closed-door oath-taking ceremony while Bettina was present at the Liberty Ball. They, however, met a day before on January 19 at a pre-inauguration party. Kimberly did not sit with the family at the inauguration event.
Mobile telephone and data subscribers in Nigeria will now have to pay more after the government approved a 50-percent increase in tariffs, as the country battles one of its worst cost-of-living crises in decades. Telecommunications companies in the west African country had initially proposed a 100-percent tariff increase in the face of rising operational costs.
A federal judge has refused to halt the destruction of old or unnecessary classified documents at the US agency for international development (USAID). Despite concerns over the near-dismantling of USAID by the Trump administration, the judge found no link to ongoing court battles. The agency is significantly reducing staff and ceasing most foreign development programs.