Joe Biden Removed From 'US Presidents' Search Results, Google Responds

Former US president Joe Biden's tenure at the White House was completely omitted from Google search queries that included "US Presidents", "United States Presidents" and "US Presidents in order", a report in The Independent has claimed. For a brief period on Thursday (Jan 23), social media users complained that Mr Biden was not featuring in the list of presidents to have served the USA.

The list showed President Donald Trump to have served as the last two presidents of the US with Mr Biden's name nowhere to be found. However, prior to the Republican leader's 2016 tenure, the list showed correct results, naming Barack Obama, George Bush, and Bill Clinton, and going back to George Washington.

Users posted screenshots of their results, showing how Mr Biden had been removed. It is not clear how long Mr Biden was written out of Google search history but the glitch was fixed around 2 am ET (12:30 PM IST).

.@Google so if I type in US Presidents I get a list of US Presidents in order of when they were in office except there's no @JoeBiden.

Anyone know why? @searchliaison what's going on? #SEO @BARRY pic.twitter.com/BX9XKTl0Ab

— Kristine (@schachin on Threads) 🇺🇦 (@schachin) January 23, 2025

More WTF is happening...

When you Google "US President 2020-2024", it's all tRump...Biden's name only appears on the Wikipedia results on the search page.

Who paid Google to initiate this SEO bullsh*t to help erase an entire presidency? pic.twitter.com/UVbD9sOKzI

— KJ Bennett (@KJBennettBeauty) January 23, 2025

Google responds

Quizzed about the issue, Google acknowledged the mistake and said it had been caused due to some "data error".

"There was a brief data error in our knowledge graph," a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying by CNBC. "We identified the root cause and resolved it quickly."

Internet reacts

Before Google deployed countermeasures to sort the situation, a section of social media users claimed omitting Mr Biden's name was big tech's latest attempt to cosy up to President Trump.

"If this stands, this will be one of the boldest and most dangerous moments in the existence of the internet, as it will be a clear show of force that those in opposition will disappear completely," wrote one user, while another added: "Google United States Presidents and Biden is not on there. This is bigger than social media."

A third commented: "Who paid Google to initiate this SEO bullsh*t to help erase an entire presidency?"

Notably, Google was among the several big tech companies to have donated money to Mr Trump's inauguration fund. The search engine giant donated $1 million to the fund with CEO Sundar Pichai holding a prominent standing position on stage alongside other tech CEO's at the ceremony held on Monday.

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Two Mountains 100 Times Taller Than Everest Discovered Deep Beneath Earth

Earth's biggest mountains, more than 100 times taller than Mount Everest, have been discovered on the boundary between Africa and the Pacific Ocean, a groundbreaking research, published in the journal Nature, has confirmed. The two peaks lie deep beneath the Earth's surface and reach heights of around 1,000 km, far bigger than the 8.8 km height of Mount Everest. Researchers estimate that the mountains are at least half a billion years old but could date back to the formation of Earth four billion years ago. 

"Nobody knows what they are, and whether they are only a temporary phenomenon, or if they have been sitting there for millions or perhaps even billions of years," said head researcher Dr Arwen Deuss, a seismologist and professor of Structure and composition of Earth's deep interior at Utrecht University, as per The New York Post. 

According to the research, two monstrous structures sit on the boundary between Earth's core and the mantle, the semi-solid area beneath the crust, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. They are surrounded by a massive "graveyard of tectonic which have been transported there by a process called 'subduction,' where one tectonic plate dives below another plate and sinks all the way from the Earth's surface down to a depth of almost three thousand kilometres," said Dr Deuss.

Scientists have known for decades that there are massive structures hidden deep within the Earth's mantle thanks to seismic shockwaves rippling through the Earth's interior. Large earthquakes cause the planet to ring like a bell, and it will sound "out of tune" when it hits anomalous objects such as the supercontinents. So, by listening carefully to the tone that arrives on the other side of the planet, scientists are able to build up a picture of what lies beneath.

"We see that seismic waves slow down there," said Dr Deuss while discussing how they happened to discover the underground mountains, which are referred to as "Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces" or LLSVPs for this reason.

Also Read | Scientists May Have Finally Solved 50-Year-Old Mystery About Martian Surface

According to the research, the new structures are hotter than their neighbouring tectonic plates. Scientists were thrown for a loop when studying the so-called damping of seismic waves, which is the "amount of energy that waves lose when they travel through the Earth," explained Dr Duess' colleague Sujania Talavera-Soza.

"Against our expectations, we found little damping in the LLSVPs, which made the tones sound very loud there," she said, adding, "But we did find a lot of damping in the cold slab graveyard, where the tones sounded very soft." 

This was unlike the upper mantle, which was expectedly "hot" with damped waves, researchers said. Ms Sujania analogized the phenomenon to going for a run in hot weather, explaining, "you don't only slow down, but you also get more tired than when it is cold outside."

Ultimately, the study suggests that the mountains are made up of much larger grains than the surrounding slabs since these wouldn't absorb so much energy from passing seismic waves. 

"Those mineral grains do not grow overnight, which can only mean one thing: LLSVPs are lots and lots older than the surrounding slab graveyards," said Ms Sujania. 

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US Health Executive, Father Of 5, Charged With Producing Child Pornography

A Long Island healthcare executive, father to five kids, allegedly preyed on nearly a dozen teen girls to produce child porn over four years.

Jacob Walden, 38, is an executive and co-owner of Emerald Healthcare, a Woodmere-based company that oversees assisted living and nursing homes around the US. He was remanded to a federal jail on Wednesday.   

At his arraignment at Central Islip Federal Court, Walden entered a not-guilty plea to a six-count indictment that charged him with sexually exploiting two teens, ages 16 and 17, as well as receiving and possessing child pornography, reported The New York Post. 

"As alleged, the defendant enticed minors to produce sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves and send them to him via the Internet in exchange for payment. Protecting children from predators who sexually exploit them will always be a priority of my Office,"  US Attorney John Durham, of the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement.

Prosecutors said Jacob Walden, a married man and father of five, bought at least 500 images and 5,000 child sexual abuse videos from a massive production and distribution network that catered to adult male buyers in the US and aboard. 

They also claimed that Walden encouraged minors to take sexual photos of themselves by engaging in sexually explicit online chats with them via social media and encrypted messaging systems.

Jacob Walden was arrested on July 31, 2024. He was placed under home confinement at his Valley Stream home, with limitations imposed on his use of technological devices and interactions with children.

The accused broke his terms within a month of his arrest after he made an unscheduled stop at a Verizon store and offered a lady money for sex on WhatsApp. 

According to law enforcement officials, Walden is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn without bail until his trial after prosecutors claimed he poses a risk of escape and is a danger to society.

His next court date is February 24. If found guilty, he may spend up to 30 years behind bars, prosecutors said.

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Why Trump's Claims About Americans Splitting The Atom Angers New Zealanders

Imagine a newly-elected president of a country claiming the legacy of someone as foundational as Thomas Edison. That's the kind of appropriation New Zealanders are witnessing.

The recent inaugural address of President Donald Trump has sparked a heated debate over the origins of a groundbreaking scientific achievement: splitting the atom. Trump's claim that American experts were responsible for this feat has been met with swift correction from New Zealanders, who proudly assert that their native son, Sir Ernest Rutherford, was the true pioneer behind this discovery.

Rutherford's achievement in 1917 at Victoria University of Manchester in England marked a pivotal moment in the history of nuclear physics. His work not only earned him a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 but also led to the discovery of radioactive half-life and the understanding that radioactivity involves the transmutation of one chemical element to another.

Nick Smith, the mayor of Nelson, near Rutherford's hometown, has invited the US ambassador to visit the Lord Rutherford memorial, emphasising the importance of preserving the accurate historical record. Smith expressed his surprise at Trump's claim, stating, "I was a bit surprised by new president Donald Trump in his inauguration speech about US greatness claiming today Americans split the atom when that honour belongs to Nelson's most famous and favourite son Sir Ernest Rutherford."

Trump's remarks have also drawn criticism from other New Zealanders, including Ben Uffindell, editor of The Civilian, who wrote on social media, "Okay, I've gotta call time. Trump just claimed America split the atom. That's THE ONE THING WE DID."

Okay, I've gotta call time. Trump just claimed America split the atom. That's THE ONE THING WE DID.

— Ben Uffindell (@BenUffindell) January 20, 2025

Rutherford's legacy extends far beyond his scientific contributions. He remains one of New Zealand's most beloved sons, and his face still appears on the country's $100 bill. As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of scientific discovery and national pride, Rutherford's story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving accurate historical records and honouring the achievements of pioneering scientists.

In the realm of nuclear physics, Rutherford's work paved the way for numerous breakthroughs, including the discovery of the neutron and the development of nuclear reactors. His influence can be seen in the work of other scientists, such as John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton, who successfully split lithium atoms using artificially accelerated protons in 1932.
 

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India Likely XI vs England: These 2 Stars "May Have To Wait". Reason Is...

With heavy dew likely to impact the proceedings during the opening T20I at the Eden Gardens, India's bowlers practised with wet balls and it will not be a surprise if the hosts field only two spinners, given the conditions. Dew is a perennial concern at this time of the year at Eden Gardens. Since dew makes it difficult to grip the ball, fielding a third spinner could prove to be costly. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, a key member of the reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, appears to be an automatic choice for India and head coach Gautam Gambhir likely to pair him alongside vice-captain Axar Patel.

As a result, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar may have to wait for their turn. "If we know there is going to be a heavy dew, you start preparing with the wet ball. You start bowling with the wet ball during practice sessions. You field with the wet ball. So these are the things which are in your control," India skipper Suryakumar said.

"We try to control all those things which we can during practice sessions so that when the game comes, we are prepared." It could also open the door for in-form Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a historic maiden Test century during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Reddy last appeared in a T20I during the home series against Bangladesh in October last year, and he will be eager to carry his form into this series, if given the opportunity.

Reddy made history as the first Indian batter to score a century in Australia while batting at number eight.

His inclusion would strengthen India's batting line-up further.

From opening to No. 10, the slots are almost sorted. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will open the innings, followed by Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Axar Patel -- in no fixed order.

"We all want to be very flexible with the batting order. Other than the openers' slots, which are fixed, I think from 3 to 8 or 7, everyone needs to be really flexible with their batting order. Anyone can go in at any time, and we have been practicing for that," Suryakumar said.

A fit-again Mohammed Shami will spearhead the pace attack on his return to international cricket after nearly 14 months. He will be joined by left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh, providing variety.

The duo were seen putting in the hard yards during their match-eve training session.

Suryakumar expressed excitement over Shami's return.

"It's always good to have an experienced bowler in your side, and he is making a comeback after over a year. I am really excited to see him. I have seen his journey, how he focused on his bowling and recovery at the NCA." "It felt good to see him (Shami) on the ground. He has bowled well too. Obviously, he has done his preparation, and he was confident from the start." After bowling for more than an hour at full throttle during India's first training session on Sunday, Shami did not bowl on Monday.

However, he was back to bowling with full intensity on the match eve.

"He has bowled well, and obviously, he has done his preparation. Even today, he is feeling good. Let's see what happens tomorrow," added Suryakumar.

It will be a homecoming for KKR star finisher Rinku Singh, who has had a quiet run recently, with scores of 8 not out, 11, 9, and 8 in his last four innings.

Suryakumar is hopeful that Rinku will come out all guns blazing.

"I want to see him hitting sixes. He has measured all the nooks and corners of Eden Gardens, having played a lot of cricket here. It will be a good welcome for him. It's always a good stadium with a great atmosphere," Suryakumar said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Golden Age Of America Begins Now": Trump Returns To White House

Donald Trump took oath as the 47th President of the United States Monday, capping a remarkable turnaround in fortunes that nosedived after the riots in Washington, D.C. in January 2021 and hit rock bottom in May 2024, when he was convicted of felonies by a New York court, including charges relating to falsifying business records to cover payment of 'hush money' to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actor.

Trump's deputy, JD Vance, was sworn in as Vice President just before him.

Almost immediately after Trump was sworn in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his "dear friend" and wished him a successful term. "I look forward to working closely together once again, to benefit both our countries and shape a better future for the world," Mr Modi said on X.

Donald Trump is now the first convicted felon to be President of the United States. He was already the first ex-President to be convicted of felony crimes - the jury found him guilty on all 34 charges, including those in a scheme to illegally influence the 2020 presidential election, the loss of which led to the riots.

He has announced he intends to pardon many of the convicted rioters. 

Minutes after being administered the oath by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump - who survived assassination attempts - declared, "The 'Golden Age of America' begins now".

In his first remarks after being sworn in Trump referred to the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July and declared he had been "saved by God to make America great again".

"The 'Golden Age of America' has begun, as of right now. We will become the great nation we were again. The rest of the world will envy us," he said to raucous cheers from supporters.

"Not so long ago, during the election campaign, I was targeted in an attempted assassination attempt, when a bullet pierced through my ear. But God saved me... because my purpose is to make America great again," Trump, who at 78 is also the oldest American President ever, said.

Trump had vowed to sign a flurry of executive orders, including announcing stringent curbs on immigrant and mass deportation of illegal migrants, as well as banning transgender athletes from women's sports, and undoing his predecessor's directives on diversity and oil drilling.

The president will also declare a national emergency at the Mexico border, send armed troops there, and resume a policy forcing asylum seekers to wait there for court dates, officials said.

He will also seek to end so-called birthright citizenship for U.S.-born children whose parents lack legal status, a move some legal scholars have said would be unconstitutional.

In total, Trump - whose second term, critics and 'allies', including Europe and NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, fear, will push the limits of executive power - expected to sign around 100 orders, many of which will aim to reverse decisions by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Several, if not all, of these executive orders will face legal challenges.

With input from agencies

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"India Will Be 20% Of Global Growth In Few Years": WEF Chief To NDTV At Davos

World Economic Forum (WEF) president and CEO Borge Brende has predicted India's growth has potential to reach 7-8% with the help of reforms.

At Davos, where the WEF brings together some of the world's biggest leaders and thinkers, India has had a huge presence every year, and one of the primary themes has been growth.

"India has a great potential, and it is still growing pretty well, 6 per cent this year. But there is no reason why India cannot pick up again and do 7 per cent, 8 per cent, provided that there are reforms on investments, infrastructure, investing in education and R&D [research and development]," Mr Brende told NDTV.

"We do expect that in a few years, India will be 20 per cent of the overall global growth. That is quite incredible. And what works also for India is the enormous strength in startups. There are more than 1,20,000 startups in India. I think there are now more than 120 unicorns. So that ecosystem, I think, is the basis also for future growth," the WEF president said.

On whether India's target of becoming a developed nation by 2047 is realistic, Mr Brende said India will be a $10 trillion economy soon, and what also works in the interest of India is that trade is now pivoting more towards digital trade and services.

"That's growing three times faster than traditional goods. And these are areas where India is very strong," he said.

To a question by NDTV on some of the key challenges or opportunities that come with greater digitalisation of the workforce, Mr Brende said, "It's increased productivity. And productivity is like producing more with less resources. And of course, this will challenge some jobs that are back offices today or other jobs. But if that can lead to people moving into areas where you produce higher up in the value chain, you can pay better, you can produce more. And that's prosperity."

"So, for India, there are of course huge opportunities when it comes to the new technologies. But short term, it also creates challenges because one has to upskill and reskill people," the WEF president said.

Climate Agenda

With the world grappling to stick to the 1.5 degree Celsius or below mark, the WEF has integrated climate as a primary driver in its processes.

"It's [climate] incredibly important. And I think you just came back from Los Angeles. You saw the wildfires. We have seen droughts. We know that agriculture production, production of food is being more challenged now because there are areas where you can't just grow what you used to grow.

"So in general, I would say that the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of action when it comes to climate change. So we need to keep up the momentum. We will need to emit less CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the years to come to even be able to stick to a 2 degree target," Mr Brende told NDTV.

He said the 2 degree target means a lot, especially to countries that are most vulnerable, which happen to be countries that have emitted the least CO2, traditionally being African countries, but also including India that has already seen heat waves and "seen the cost of this".

The five-day meeting at Davos beginning Monday will explore how to re-launch growth, harness new technologies and strengthen social and economic resilience, according to the World Economic Forum. The global meeting will see participation by nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 350 governmental leaders.

India's participation at Davos aims to strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and position the country as a global leader in sustainable development and technological innovation. India is sending five Union ministers, three chief ministers, and ministers from several other states to the WEF this time.

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