Washington governor orders flags at full-staff for Trump inauguration despite mourning period for Jimmy Carter
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, has ordered flags to fly at full-staff on Monday for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. “I hereby direct that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be raised to full-staff on Monday, January 20, 2025, in honor of Inauguration Day,” Ferguson said. This, despite the official order by President Biden after the death of former President Jimmy Carter on Dec. 29 that flags at all government and public buildings and grounds across the country fly at half-staff for a 30-day mourning period, which just happens to include Inauguration Day. It is a tradition when a former president dies to order a 30-day mourning period and order flags at half-staff. GOV. NEWSOM JOINS HANDFUL OF GOP GOVERNORS RAISING FLAGS TO FULL HEIGHT FOR TRUMP INAUGURATION Biden said the U.S. flag “should be displayed at half-staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions.” Flags will return to half-staff in Washington state on Tuesday to continue the mourning period for Carter. “Flags should return to half-staff at sunrise on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, and should remain at half-staff until the close of business or sunset on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in continuance of honoring former President Jimmy Carter for 30 days following his death,” Ferguson said. DESANTIS ORDERS FLAGS AT FULL-STAFF FOR TRUMP’S INAUGURATION DESPITE 30-DAY MOURNING PERIOD FOR JIMMY CARTER Ferguson joins California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis as the Democrats who have broken tradition and ordered flags to be raised for Trump’s inauguration before the mourning period ends Jan. 28. The orders from the Democratic governors follow several Republicans who have directed flags to be raised on Monday, including Idaho Gov. Brad Little, North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. House Speaker Mike Johnson also ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol to be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day. Trump has criticized the possibility of flags being displayed at half-staff for his inauguration following Carter’s death. “The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Jan. 3. “They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves.” “Look at what they’ve done to our once GREAT America over the past four years – It’s a total mess! In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast,” he continued. “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Flags were flown at half-staff when former President Nixon was sworn-in for his second term in 1973 after Nixon ordered the flags to be lowered following the death of former President Truman.
Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker’s maternal grandmother and uncle die in road accident in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri
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Saif Ali Khan stabbed: Main accused arrested, evidence shows Bangladeshi origin
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Trump wants to visit China again after he takes office: report
President-elect Trump is discussing the possibility of visiting China again as president with aides, according to a report. The incoming president, who takes office on Monday, visited Beijing during his first term in 2017, and spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the phone on Friday. Trump has been threatening China with tariffs but has told advisers that he wants to strengthen ties with the communist country with the visit, possibly even traveling there within his first 100 days in office, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. “I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China. The call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A.,” Trump wrote on Friday on Truth Social. “It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately. We discussed balancing Trade, Fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects. President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!” HOUSE DEMS THREATEN TO BLOCK TRUMP’S BIG TARIFF PLANS: ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ He didn’t say if they had spoken about a visit. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment. It is also possible Xi could come to the White House for a visit, the Journal reported. TRUMP LEAVES CHINA GUESSING WHAT HIS NEXT MOVE IS WITH UNUSUAL INAUGURATION INVITATION Xi also met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in 2017. Xi was invited to Trump’s Monday inauguration – no senior Chinese official has ever attended a U.S. presidential inauguration – but Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will be attending instead, in a first. Trump and Xi plan to establish a strategic communication channel, China said of their Friday phone call, adding that Trump said he was “looking forward to meeting with President Xi as soon as possible.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump has also mentioned the possibility of going to India to aides, the Journal reported.
PM Modi to make his 2nd podcast appearance with THIS popular American, has interviewed Elon Musk, Donald Trump, he is…
This will be Prime Minister Modi’s second podcast appearance. His first was on People by WTF, hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath
Trump family returns to nation’s capital ahead of Inauguration Day: ‘This time, America won’
President-elect Trump boarded a special Air Force plane Saturday afternoon for his historic return to Washington, D.C. Trump, his wife, Melania, and youngest son, Barron, embarked on their trip from West Palm Beach, Florida, to the nation’s capital, waving to crowds before ascending the steps. A few hours later, they landed in Sterling, Virginia, where Trump will host an evening reception and fireworks show at Trump National Golf Club. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, joined them on the Air Force Special Air Mission plane. HIGHLIGHTS FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S 1ST INAUGURATION DAY; WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MONDAY Trump’s middle son, Eric, and daughter-in-law, Lara, departed Florida separately, on the president-elect’s private plane. During the plane ride, Eric Trump took to X, sharing his “renewed hope and spirit for [the] country.” “The past 10 years have been a constant fight — countless rallies, TV appearances, subpoenas, depositions, and weeks in cold courtrooms,” Eric Trump wrote in the post. “Through endless attacks on my family, the company I run, and the employees I care for, we faced slander, fake news, home raids, and countless games designed to break us.” WHO IS SEAN CURRAN? HEAD OF TRUMP’S PERSONAL DETAIL TO BE NOMINATED FOR SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR His immediate family – including wife, Lara, and children, Luke and Carolina – joined him on the trip to D.C. Eric Trump wrote that “every ounce of [his] fight” has been for his children and the future of their generation. “This time, America won,” he added. “Against all odds, we did it—together, with the incredible people of this nation and the greatest political movement in history,” Eric Trump wrote. “I’ve never been prouder of anyone than I am of [Donald Trump]. He stood unwavering, truly having the courage of steel. Our country is in great hands. The madness is over. America is in an age of renewal.” On Sunday, Trump will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and a “Make America Great Again” rally, followed by a candlelit dinner. The inauguration will take place at noon Monday in the Capitol Rotunda, due to frigid temperatures in the area. Then Trump, just the second president in history to win non-consecutive terms, will give his inaugural address. Hours before the Trump family boarded the plane, thousands of protesters on Saturday descended on the streets of Washington, D.C., to protest. The “People’s March,” originally referred to as the “Women’s March,” had three meeting locations, each championing a different cause. Some topics included “gender justice,” democracy and immigration, and local Washington issues. Demonstrators carried posters that read “Feminists v. Fascists” and “People over politics,” Fox News Digital reported. Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this story.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what snowball fights have to do with moving the inauguration inside
Fox News has learned that House and Senate offices are growing increasingly frustrated about who may be allowed to attend President-elect Trump’s inauguration inside the Capitol Rotunda Monday. Fox is told that member offices were asked to “resubmit” paperwork about whether a lawmaker wants to attend and if the lawmaker’s spouse wants to attend. However, there are no “plus-ones.” And Fox was told the attendance of spouses could be “iffy.” One lawmaker said members were trying to get governors or other state officials into the Capitol Rotunda. But it was far from clear if officials could accommodate those requests. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO CONFIRMING TRUMP CABINET NOMINEES — PERHAPS EVEN DURING INAUGURAL BALLS There is an effort to get a small group of people into the Capitol Rotunda who were slated to be seated down in front but were not House and Senate members. One official refused to identify to Fox who those with “special status” could be. This likely means very few dignitaries or others are allowed inside for the inauguration. One Trump-supporting lawmaker was “happy” it was moving inside so the lawmaker didn’t have to sit outside in the cold “for an hour-and-a-half.” The lawmaker also noted that House members would likely have had the most uncomfortable experience had the inauguration been outside. That’s because of the way the wind blows across the platform and where House members were to be seated on the West Front. One lawmaker told Fox about having 700 people traveling to Washington for the inauguration, and now none of them would be seated anywhere. But the lawmaker had “not heard one complaint” from people traveling to see the inauguration in person who now can’t. President Reagan’s 1985 inauguration, moved inside because of extreme cold and a temperature of 7 degrees, accommodated a crowd of 1,000 in the Capitol Rotunda. Fox colleague Aishah Hasnie reports the grand total allowed inside the Capitol Rotunda for this inauguration will likely be 600. In addition, Fox is told that “600 is pushing it” due to fire concerns. One source says the figure may be closer to 500 before all is said and done. TRUMP TO BE INAUGURATED INSIDE: LAST CEREMONY HELD INDOORS WAS REAGAN’S IN 1985 Fox is told that there were concrete plans for inaugurations in 2017 and 2021 to move ceremonies indoors. Officials even rehearsed those scenarios. In addition, Fox is told there was serious discussion about moving the 2017 inauguration inside because of rain and concern about umbrellas. While the weather is the primary reason for moving the inauguration indoors, multiple sources close to the planning of the event have expressed concerns about security. “My Spidey senses are up,” said one lawmaker who asked not to be identified and is steeped in the planning of this event. But when Fox pressed various lawmakers and other sources, no one could identify a specific threat. That said, more than one lawmaker contacted by Fox noted there were multiple outdoor events with the President-elect prior to the July assassination attempt, and every other event since has been indoors. Fox is told that security officials will erect what was described as a “geo-fence” around the Capitol to interfere and jam nefarious communications and/or drones. At one point, there was talk of shutting off all cell communications during the time period when President-elect Trump was on the platform. TRUMP DETAILS STRATEGY TO GET NECESSARY VOTES WITH ONE-BILL APPROACH TO BORDER, TAXES That said, a forecast of about four inches of snow in Washington Sunday night began to change thinking around this year’s inauguration. There is genuine concern about thousands of people on the National Mall standing in cold, fresh snow for hours. There was worry about emergency personnel being able to reach those who may have medical emergencies while on the National Mall because of the inclement weather. Another issue is how snow that melted today could refreeze, creating significantly slick surfaces around the Capitol. And then there is another factor: snowball fights. One senior source tells Fox there was actual discussion about snowball fights interfering with the event if Washington got a fresh coating of snow. One source said planners worried it could “get out of hand” and could contribute to injuries. Inside or out, this could be the snowiest inauguration since the swearing-in day was moved to Jan. 20 in 1937. The previous record for snow on inauguration day came in 1961, for the swearing-in of President John F. Kennedy. Washington received seven-tenths of an inch of snow that day. And considering the weather, perhaps it was only appropriate that the poet Robert Frost spoke at JFK’s inauguration.
Israel must withdraw from Lebanon by January 26 deadline: President Aoun
Lebanon’s new president’s comments come after the UN chief called on Israel to end its ‘occupation’ of southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s new president has demanded that Israel must withdraw from his country’s south by the January 26 deadline agreed in last year’s Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire as he met the United Nations chief visiting the country devastated by war. “The continued Israeli violations on land and in the air, especially in terms of blowing up houses and destroying border villages, completely contradicts what was stated in the ceasefire agreement and is considered a continuation of the violation of Lebanese sovereignty and the will of the international community,” President Joseph Aoun’s office said on Saturday after his meeting with Antonio Guterres in Beirut. Guterres has said he will “exert utmost efforts” to ensure the “secure” withdrawal of the forces within the January 26 deadline set by the agreement reached on November 27. Guterres said a “more hopeful future” awaited Lebanon under Aoun’s leadership in which the country could become stable and a hub in the Middle East. Aoun was selected in January after an agreement between political parties in Lebanon ended a two-year power vacuum that was further destabilising the country as it faced Israeli attacks and a turbulent economy. Advertisement The president, who is the former army chief, has also emphasised his support for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who are tasked with securing the southern part of the country as part of Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The message delivered by Guterres in Lebanon was one of support for the new president and new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, said Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut. “What Guterres is saying is that the international community will stand by them and help them in their recovery efforts. Lebanon has had a difficult few years. The economy has all but collapsed, the state is nearly bankrupt, there’s a financial crisis and the currency has lost much of its value.” As part of the ceasefire, Hezbollah is supposed to retreat beyond the Litani River, which lies some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border with Israel, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure. UN peacekeepers have found more than 100 weapons caches belonging “to Hezbollah or other armed groups” in southern Lebanon, Guterres said on Friday, calling on Israel to stop its “occupation” in the area. The Lebanese army has been gradually deploying in further areas in the south along with UN peacekeepers, as Israeli military troops have gradually withdrawn. Franch President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda on January 17, 2025 [Ludovic Marin/AFP] French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a visit to Beirut on Friday, said the total Israeli withdrawal from the area must be “accelerated” and the Lebanese army strengthened. Advertisement As the UN’s Guterres pledged more international support to Lebanon during his visit, the United States announced on Saturday that it will provide more than $117m to the country. The US Department of State said in a statement that the funds will be given as part of “new, expanded security assistance” for both the Lebanese army and security forces in line with implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The Lebanese army, the UN and France have accused Israel of repeated “violations” of the ceasefire, as it has launched many attacks in its stated attempts to “enforce” the agreement. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Saturday that the Israeli military has violated the agreement “hundreds” of times. “We have been patient with the violations to give a chance to the Lebanese state responsible for this agreement, along with the international sponsors, but I call on you not to test our patience,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, formally arrested
A court in Seoul grants request for an arrest warrant, saying there was ‘concern’ that Yoon could ‘destroy evidence’. A court in South Korea has approved the formal arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his decision to declare martial law last month. The Seoul Western District Court on Sunday granted law enforcement’s request for an arrest warrant for Yoon following an hourslong deliberation, saying there was “concern” that Yoon could “destroy evidence”. Last Wednesday, Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. South Korean investigators probing Yoon for alleged insurrection asked a Seoul court on Friday to extend his detention after he refused to be questioned. Yoon and his lawyers on Saturday appeared before the court’s judge during a hearing and argued for his release. His arrest could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody for him, lasting months or more. He faces potential rebellion charges linked to his declaration of martial law on December 3, which set off the country’s most serious political crisis since its democratization in the late 1980s. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, can now extend his detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment. Advertisement Yoon’s lawyers could also file a petition to challenge the court’s arrest warrant. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump admin to launch immigration raids on day one amid deportation push
Several large cities are reportedly expected to be hit by Trump’s immigration authorities shortly after inauguration. Donald Trump’s top border official has said the new Republican administration will launch large operations to detain and deport undocumented immigrants beginning on the day of the United States President-elect’s inauguration on Tuesday. The incoming administration’s so-called “border czar”, Tom Homan, told Fox News on Saturday that he would not categorise the expected actions as “raids”. “There are going to be targeted enforcement operations,” he said, adding that Chicago would be among cities that will see raids shortly after Trump takes office for a second four-year term. Homan also suggested the Trump administration would target city jails in so-called sanctuary cities that house a large number of migrants. He said the government wants to “arrest a bad guy in the safety and security of a county jail”. Homan, a former acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said the agency was planning operations carefully and would know which homes to hit. Amid reports by US media that Chicago could be hit as early as Tuesday by hundreds of border agents and that New York and Miami could also be targets, he did not comment on the exact timing of the operation or elaborate further. People take part in a rally against Trump’s policy of immigration in New York City, January 18, 2025 [Eduardo Munoz/Reuters] Homan’s latest comments come a day after he said, “We’re gonna take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens.” He had also said there would be a “big raid across the country”. Advertisement Just like during his first presidential campaign, Trump has pledged to crack down on undocumented immigrants in his second run. But there have been disagreements on some aspects among Republicans, including surrounding the issue of the H-1B visas. Trump has pledged he would launch “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” to quickly remove people without saying exactly how many will be affected. The president-elect has said he would reinstate a programme to make tens of thousands of migrants seeking asylum to await their hearings in Mexico, reinstate a controversial travel ban on Muslim-majority countries from his first term, and end birthright citizenship for US-born children of some noncitizens. Trump’s officials have been considering how to withhold funds from sanctuary cities that refuse to participate in deportations, even for local authorities who have maintained that they do not have the resources to implement his plan, or are concerned about adverse effects on their communities. Immigrant rights groups have been bracing for the crackdowns promised by the incoming administration, with some US media reporting “self-deportations” by people who have chosen not to wait for Trump to forcibly remove them. Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC on Saturday to protest Trump’s inauguration, as activists for women’s rights, racial justice and other causes rallied against incoming policies they say will threaten their constitutional rights during the Republican’s second term. Advertisement Some in the crowd wore the pink hats that marked the much larger protest against Trump’s first inauguration in 2017. They wound through downtown amid a light rain, past the White House and towards the Lincoln Memorial along the National Mall for the “People’s March.” Protests against Trump’s inauguration are smaller this time, in part because the US women’s rights movement seems more fractured, according to many activists, after Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in November. Adblock test (Why?)