International
China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk
China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk
The Chinese government is reportedly holding discussions to sell TikTok U.S. operations to billionaire Elon Musk.
According to a Bloomberg report, this is being considered as the next possible option should the U.S. Supreme Court uphold the law banning the app on January 19.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that Beijing officials strongly prefer that TikTok remains under the ownership of parent ByteDance Ltd., and the company is contesting the impending ban with an appeal to the US Supreme Court.
But the justices signaled during arguments on January 10 that they are likely to uphold the law, a development which prompted Senior Chinese officials to start contingency plans for TikTok as part of an expansive discussion on how to work with Donald Trump’s administration.
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Musk is one of the key financiers of the President Trump’s election campaign and he is expected to play a big role in the incoming administration.
If this scenario comes to play, Musk’s X would acquire TikTok US, effectively absorbing the vertical video platform’s 170 million American users and billions in potential ad revenue.
Meanwhile, the report states it is unclear how much ByteDance and TikTok know about China’s discussions of a Musk sale, potentially highlighting China’s alleged influence over the platform that brought about this law in the first place.
China considers selling TikTok US to Elon Musk
International
Gaza ceasefire deal to start on Sunday despite ‘lose ends,’ U.S. insists
Gaza ceasefire deal to start on Sunday despite ‘lose ends,’ U.S. insists
The deal between the Israeli government and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza is expected to commence as planned on Sunday, despite a last-minute “loose end” in negotiations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Thursday.
Israel had planned to hold a security cabinet meeting on Thursday to vote on the acceptance and approval of the deal but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed the meeting, accusing Hamas of making last-minute demands.
“The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Thursday.
Despite the reported setback, Hamas official Izzat el-Reshiq reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the deal, aimed at bringing to an end the 15-month conflict.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in Washington, Blinken said he was not surprised the deal has some challenges left but expressed optimism that it will be sorted out.
“It’s not exactly surprising that in a process and negotiation that has been this challenging and this fraught, you may get a loose end,” Blinken said
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“We’re tying up that loose end as we speak,” he added.
A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Reuters, said the last remaining dispute was over the identities of some prisoners Hamas wanted to be released.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s envoy, Brett McGurk, and US President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, were both in Doha with Egyptian and Qatari mediators working to resolve the issue, which should be cleared up soon, the official said.
The Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal were reached on Wednesday, following the Qatari PM’s meeting with Hamas negotiators and separately Israeli negotiators in his office, CNN reported, citing a source.
The deal would see Hamas release 33 hostages during the first phase, while Israel would release hundreds of Palestinians in its prisons.
The release of the hostages would be the first phase of the deal being finalized, CNN reported, adding that negotiations to reach the second phase, which is intended to end the war, would begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal.
The war in Gaza escalated after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1208 and kidnapping 251 persons.
Since then, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has left over 46,000 casualties, the Palestinian health ministry said—a report considered reliable by the United Nations.
Gaza ceasefire deal to start on Sunday despite ‘lose ends,’ U.S. insists
International
Pope Francis injured after fall at Vatican
Pope Francis injured after fall at Vatican
Pope Francis has fallen for the second time in as many months an damaged his forearm, the Vatican said Thursday, adding that he is wearing a sling.
The 88-year-old, who has been in declining health in recent years, fell at his Santa Marta house in the Vatican but did not break any bones, according to a news release.
“This morning, due to a fall at the Santa Marta house, Pope Francis suffered a contusion on his right forearm, without fractures. The arm was immobilised as a precautionary measure,” it said.
In December 2024, the Argentine pope suffered a bruise on his right jaw from a fall from his bed.
The pope, who took over as head of the Catholic Church in 2013, has recurring health issues, including knee and hip pain and bronchitis, and has relied on a wheelchair since 2022.
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Despite this, Francis remains active, completing a four-nation trip in September, the longest of his papacy in terms of duration and distance.
In December 2024, the Pope escaped two attempts on his life during his historic trip to Iraq in March 2021, according to excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography, according to Italian media.
The British secret service issued an urgent warning to the pontiff’s Vatican security detail, Francis wrote.
“A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” he wrote in “Hope,” which goes on sale in over 80 countries in January.
“And a van had also set off at great speed with the same intention,” he added, according to excerpts from the book published by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Pope Francis injured after fall at Vatican
International
Israel, Hamas finally agree to ceasefire deal
Israel, Hamas finally agree to ceasefire deal
Hamas has reportedly agreed to the terms proposed for a ceasefire with Israel, which has conducted land and air assault on Gaza in retaliation for the October 7, 2023 attack.
During the invasion of Israel by Hamas, many hostages were taken into Gaza, with only a few released as crisis escalated resulting in the deaths of an estimated 46,000 Palestinians.
Over 1,000 Israelis were killed in the 2023 attack.
On Wednesday, Israeli and Palestinian officials said Hamas had given its approval to a deal to release hostages and halt fighting in Gaza.
According to reports in multiple media outlets, Israeli officials indicated that the two sides had come to an agreement and a deal could soon be announced.
Both Reuters and AFP reported that Hamas had given verbal approval for the deal, citing Palestinian sources.
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According to Reuters, the group had not yet given a written response to the ceasefire proposal.
Citing a source, CNN said the deal could lead to the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
It added that implementation is likely to start on Sunday. Hamas is reportedly expected to release 33 hostages during the first phase of an emerging deal while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be released from Israeli jails at the same time.
“The release of the hostages would be the first phase of the deal being finalized. Negotiations to reach the second phase – which is intended to end the war – would begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal. Here’s what we know about the potential deal,” CNN said in its report.
The agreement would deliver the first reprieve from war for the people of Gaza in more than a year, and only the second since the Israeli bombardment began.
Once confirmed, it is expected that the deal will allow Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza and there would be a massive influx of humanitarian aid into the strip, where residents have long faced dire humanitarian conditions.
In a separate statement, the group was quoted to have said that it had consulted allied groups regarding the proposed agreement.
“The movement has dealt with this matter with full responsibility and positivity, stemming from its duty towards our steadfast and resilient people in the Gaza Strip, to stop the Zionist aggression against them and put an end to the massacres and genocide they are facing.”
Israel, Hamas finally agree to ceasefire deal
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