US entrepreneurs are seizing an opportunity to make profits by selling phones preloaded with TikTok for high prices, following the app's temporary unavailability in the US. Although TikTok cannot be downloaded from app stores, existing users are not affected by the ban.
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Shigemi Fukahori, a 1945 Nagasaki atomic bombing survivor and peace advocate, died at 93 in Nagasaki on Jan 3. He dedicated his life to promoting peace and sharing his experiences. Fukahori became vocal about his experiences about 15 years ago, aiming to bring awareness and prevent future atomic bombings.
The high court upheld the death penalty for 20 students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology for murdering Abrar Fahad in 2019. Fahad was beaten for six hours with a cricket bat over a Facebook post criticizing the government. A Dhaka court sentenced them to death in December 2021. The defense plans to appeal the verdict.
Elon Musk's Doge team seeks access to IRS data, sparking concern. Rep. Jimmy Gomez warns it's an 'illegal and blatant power grab.' The initiative involves one DOGE affiliate and an IRS staff. White House confirms strict confidentiality must be maintained, with sensitive data access receiving scrutiny. Concerns are raised about misuse during the current tax-filing period.
Xi Jinping is advocating for free trade in Southeast Asia, portraying China as a source of stability. Welcomed in Vietnam and later in Malaysia, Xi emphasized opposing unilateral actions and maintaining global supply chains. Agreements were signed with Vietnam, including railway projects and increased agricultural exports. He will end his tour with a stop in Cambodia.
Former PM Imran Khan condemned the Al Qadir Trust case verdict, calling it a mockery of justice. He vowed to fight for true democracy and freedom without compromise, accusing the judiciary of bias and pledging no deals despite false charges against him and his wife Bushra Bibi.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty for violent criminals upon his inauguration. This move comes in reaction to President Joe Biden's recent commutation of 37 death row inmates' sentences, a decision that has deeply distressed victims' families and invited criticism from the Republicans.
David Hogg, a 24-year-old gun control activist and survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, has been elected the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. Republicans and other conservative commentators laughed at the election and called David Hogg a crisis actor, a drifter who went on to become famous after a 2018 school shooting which he survived, though many claimed he was not at the school during the shooting.
Farley became police chief in February 2024 after spending more than 20 years with the department. His antics began soon after he took charge. One Michael F Derin who was attacked by a needle by the police chief which went through his jeans and into his penis told chief Farley that he did not like his actions. In reply, the police chief told him that he did not know how to take a joke.
Antony Blinken's final press conference escalated when two journalists were removed after they accused him of supporting genocide in Gaza. ​"Why did you keep your bombs flowing while you had a deal in May? We all knew we had a deal. Everyone in this room knows you had a deal," one asked.
Bruno Retailleau, French Interior Minister, is visiting Rabat. He will discuss security with Abdelouafi Laftit, Moroccan counterpart. Talks will cover migration, organised crime, and drug trafficking. Relations between France and Morocco improved after France recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. France's ties with Algeria have deteriorated. Algeria asked 12 French officials to leave.