News of Today

How Old is Melania Trump?

Melania Trump was born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, making her 54 years old as of January 2025. Born as Melanija Knavs, she later changed her name to Melania Knauss and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006. Early Life and Career Growing up in Slovenia, Melania began her modeling career at the age of 16, working in Milan and Paris before moving to New York in 1996. She met Donald Trump two years later and married him on January 22, 2005. First Lady and Recent Years Melania ser

Can Trump and Musk Put American Boots on Mars by 2029?

As President Donald Trump begins his second term, he has set an ambitious goal for American space exploration: to plant the Stars and Stripes on Mars and return safely to Earth. This bold vision, coupled with the innovative prowess of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, has raised the possibility of a brief crewed Mars mission before the decade's end. While this approach eliminates some long-term challenges, significant hurdles remain for even a short-duration visit. Key Challenges for a Quick Mars Landing an

First Three Israeli Hostages Released as Gaza Ceasefire Takes Effect

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, the first group of Israeli hostages was released from Gaza as part of a long-anticipated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The release marks the beginning of a six-week truce that aims to facilitate the exchange of hostages and prisoners between the two sides. Released Hostages The three Israeli women released are Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher. Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in southern Israel during the Hamas-led atta

TikTok is Working Again in the U.S. Just Hours After Ban

In a dramatic turn of events, TikTok has restored its services to U.S. users less than 12 hours after going dark due to a federal ban. The popular video-sharing app, which boasts over 170 million American users, began coming back online Sunday evening following assurances from President-elect Donald Trump. Rapid Reversal TikTok's brief shutdown occurred after the Supreme Court upheld a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest or face a ban in the United States. The app ceas

TikTok Goes Dark in the U.S.: Analysis of Short-term and Mid-term Future

As of Sunday, January 19, 2025, at approximately 10 p.m. Eastern Time, TikTok has ceased operations in the United States, following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a federal law requiring ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban. The app, which boasted over 170 million monthly users in the U.S., is now inaccessible to American users. Short-term Outlook In the immediate future, we can expect the following developments: Users attempting to acc

Countdown to TikTok Ban: Will the App Go Dark on January 19

The clock is ticking for TikTok in the United States, as a Supreme Court ruling has upheld a law that could lead to the app's ban unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests ownership by Sunday, January 19, 2025. TikTok has warned that it may be forced to "go dark" if the government does not intervene before the deadline. Supreme Court Ruling and Impending Ban On January 17, the Supreme Court confirmed that TikTok must find a new owner not based in China or face a prohibition. This dec

Rumors Swirl Around Barack and Michelle Obama's Relationship

Speculation about a potential separation between former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama has intensified in recent days. The rumors gained traction following Michelle's absence from significant public events, including the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter and the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump. Public Absences Fuel Speculation Michelle Obama’s decision to skip these high-profile gatherings has sparked concern among fans and observers. Notably, she was th

Donald Trump Launches $TRUMP Meme Coin, Market Surges to Billions

In a bold move just days before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump has launched his own cryptocurrency, the $TRUMP meme coin. The announcement, made via his social media platforms on January 17, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency market, with its value skyrocketing to several billion dollars within hours of its release. The Rise of $TRUMP The $TRUMP coin is designed as a tribute to Trump's leadership and is built on the Solana blockchain. Following its launch, the c

Major Fire at Moss Landing Power Plant Prompts Evacuations

A significant fire erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant in California on Thursday, January 16, 2025, leading to evacuations and road closures. The incident occurred at one of the world's largest battery storage facilities, operated by Vistra Energy. Incident Details Fire started around 3 p.m. at the 750 MW/3,000 MWh Vistra battery energy storage facility Evacuation orders issued at 6:30 p.m. due to hazardous materials concerns Approximately 1,500 residents evacuated from Moss Landing and sur

SpaceX Starship Flight 7: Partial Success - Test Flight Ends with Upper Stage Destruction

On January 16, 2025, SpaceX conducted its seventh test flight of the Starship mega rocket from Boca Chica, Texas. The mission achieved partial success, with the Super Heavy booster successfully returning to Earth, but the Starship upper stage experiencing an unexpected failure during its ascent[1]. Key Developments The Super Heavy booster was successfully caught by the launch pad's "chopsticks" mechanism[1] Starship upper stage was destroyed during its ascent burn[1] Telemetry from Starship fro

Bob Uecker, 'Mr. Baseball' and Beloved Brewers Announcer, Dies at 90

Bob Uecker, the iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and a beloved figure in baseball, passed away on Thursday morning, January 16, 2025, at the age of 90. The Milwaukee Brewers announced his death, calling it "one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history." Uecker had been battling small cell lung cancer since early 2023. Known affectionately as "Mr. Baseball," Uecker's career spanned over six decades, from his playing days to his renowned broadcasting career. Born and raised in

Visionary Filmmaker David Lynch Dies at 78

David Lynch, the iconic American filmmaker known for his surrealistic and often unsettling works, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the age of 78. His family announced his death through social media, though they did not disclose the cause. In 2024, Lynch had revealed he was diagnosed with emphysema due to years of smoking, which had left him largely housebound. Early Life and Career Born on January 20, 1946, in Missoula, Montana Studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine A

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody Appointed to U.S. Senate

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill Marco Rubio's vacant U.S. Senate seat. This appointment marks a significant shift in Florida's political landscape and adds a new voice to the U.S. Senate. Key Points of the Appointment Moody will be only the second woman to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate She will serve until the next general election in 2026 Moody has been Florida's Attorney General since 2019,

Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Announced for 2025 Release

On January 16, 2025, Nintendo officially unveiled the long-awaited successor to the Nintendo Switch, aptly named the Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement came through a brief promotional video, offering fans a first look at the new console's design. Release Window and Details Confirmed release year: 2025 Specific release date and pricing not yet announced Backwards compatibility with Nintendo Switch games confirmed More details to be revealed in a Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025 Console Featur

UPS and USPS Implement Significant Changes to Package Delivery Services

As of January 16, 2025, both UPS and the United States Postal Service (USPS) have introduced major changes to their package delivery services, affecting shipping rates, delivery options, and service agreements. UPS SurePost Discontinuation UPS ended its SurePost shipping service, which relied on USPS for final delivery SurePost labels for P.O. Boxes and APO/FPO addresses are being rejected since January 2, 2025 Shippers must now use direct USPS shipping or other workshare partners for these des

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Reaches Orbit on Maiden Flight

On January 16, 2025, at 2:03 a.m. EST, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This milestone marks a significant achievement for Jeff Bezos' space company and its entry into the orbital launch market. Key Mission Details Mission name: NG-1 Primary payload: Blue Ring Pathfinder Rocket height: 320 feet (98 meters) Main objective: Reach orbit safely Mission Achievements Successf

President Biden Delivers Farewell Address, Highlighting Achievements and Concerns

On January 15, 2025, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office, marking the end of his four-year term and nearly five decades in public service. The 17-minute speech touched on key accomplishments, future challenges, and a call for unity as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump. Key Highlights Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal announced Reflection on America's identity and aspirations Warning about the concentration of p

Nintendo Switch 2 Rumors Heat Up: Potential Reveal This Week

As of January 16, 2025, rumors about the imminent announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 have reached a fever pitch, with multiple sources pointing to a potential reveal as soon as today. Adding to the excitement, Walmart Canada has joined the teaser frenzy, further fueling speculation. Walmart's Cryptic Teaser Walmart Canada Gaming posted an image of Mario peeking from behind a curtain The post is captioned "Hey, Mario 👋" This image mirrors Nintendo's original Switch reveal from 2016 The post h

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Announces Star-Studded 2025 Lineup

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has unveiled its highly anticipated lineup for 2025. The event is scheduled to take place over two weekends, from April 24th to May 4th, at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. This year's festival promises a diverse array of artists across multiple genres, continuing its tradition of celebrating the rich musical heritage of New Orleans and beyond. Headlining Acts Pearl Jam Dave Matthews Band Luke Combs Lil Wayne & The Roots Lenny Kravitz Kacey M

Severance Season 2 Premieres This Week on Apple TV+

After a three-year hiatus, the critically acclaimed series "Severance" is set to return for its highly anticipated second season on Friday, January 17, 2025. Apple TV+ will release new episodes weekly at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET, with the season finale scheduled for March 21. Key Details Season 2 premiere: Friday, January 17, 2025 Release time: 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET Episode count: 10 episodes Release schedule: Weekly on Fridays Season finale: March 21, 2025 What to Expect The new season promises to del