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Good morning, fellow dreamers!

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Here's to embracing equality, empathy, and progress. We're kicking off the week with fresh content that'll satisfy your curiosity—from Middle East ceasefires to Sydney's unexpected war on revealing swimwear. Join me in chasing those higher ideals and keep your mind open.

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The pulse of today, in just minutes:

Here's Donald Trump's second inauguration day. The cold weather forced him to swear in the Capitol Rotunda (cue the polar vortex). After years of impeachments, indictments, and assassination attempts, he's back in the Oval Office, which makes Grover Cleveland feel less lonely.

JD Vance is ready to get things done, from immigration sweeps to oil drilling. The event will feature billionaires, tech moguls, and foreign allies trying to understand Trump's unapologetic "America First" mindset amid global issues like a shaky Middle East ceasefire. While he promised to "clean house" in Washington, he monitored the TikTok ban and pardoned the January 6 participants. So brace yourself: Day One is anything but ordinary.

Bonus: A brief history and insights of presidential inaugural speeches.

Meme-Tastic Comeback

In the days before his inauguration, Donald Trump and Melania launched two new meme coins: $TRUMP and $MELANIA. The Internet lost its mind when Melania teased her token because, apparently, spousal rivalry is alive and well on the blockchain. 

Even though critics warn the new president can sneak money into his pockets with a few clicks, they claim these aren't investment opportunities. Crypto lovers cheer Trump's move, seeing it as proof he's going all-in on what he once called "thin air." Who needs confetti when you've got volatile digital coins?

Swapped Lives, Shaken Ground

After 15 months of relentless fighting, a pause in battle finally came: Israel welcomed home three Israeli hostages, released 90 Palestinian prisoners, and delivered aid to a war-ravaged Gaza Strip. While the ceasefire plan promises 42 days of calm, locals now face the daunting task of sorting through the rubble, reuniting families, and grieving the 46,000+ Palestinians who did not make it this far.

Yes, there's relief, but there's also an undercurrent of unease about the 95 or so remaining hostages, the region's long-term stability, and what will happen next.

Cheek Check

It seems the council in Greater Sydney decided no problem was left unsolved—so they tackled the "tanga crisis," saying bikinis are fine, but G-string bottoms aren't. Some call the ban sexist, prude, and silly (like, who measures cheeky coverage, anyway?)., while others say parents shouldn't have to dodge impromptu anatomy lessons.

After banning racy swimwear, the council sticks to its modesty rules, so everyone wonders how it'll be enforced and whether society's discomfort with extra skin is the real indecency.

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

Winners of the 1839 Photographer of the Year Awards.

🧮 Core Count: 44

The largest number of ancient stars found in a distant galaxy.

🗓️ Flashback:

1265 - First English Parliament summoned other than by royal command in Westminster Hall.

1841 - During the First Opium War, China cedes Hong Kong to the British.

1942 - Nazi officials hold the Wannsee Conference in Berlin to organize the extermination of Europe's Jews as the "final solution".

1945 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in for his unprecedented (and never-to-be-repeated) fourth term.

2008 - "Breaking Bad" premieres on AMC, created by Vince Gilligan and starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.

2009 - Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African-American president.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran