TikTok confirmed Sunday that it had restored service to users in the United States after President-elect Donald Trump announced he would reinstate the app’s access once he returns to power on Monday.
The announcement came after U.S. users were able to access TikTok’s website, though the mobile app appeared unavailable. TikTok stated it was “in agreement with our service providers” and was working to fully restore the app’s functionality.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers,” TikTok said in a statement. “This will allow TikTok to continue providing services to over 170 million Americans and support more than 7 million small businesses across the country.”
The app had been temporarily suspended for its U.S. users on Saturday due to the implementation of a law set to take effect on Sunday, which aimed to ban the app on national security grounds. U.S. officials had expressed concerns that the app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, could pose a risk to Americans’ data privacy.
In a statement, Trump said he would delay the enforcement of the ban and work to reach a deal to protect national security. He also indicated plans to ensure a 50% U.S. ownership stake in any joint venture involving TikTok.
Earlier, Trump had suggested that he would likely grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the shutdown once he takes office, a promise that was acknowledged by TikTok in a notification to users.
The shutdown of TikTok had significant implications for U.S.-China relations, the political landscape, the social media industry, and millions of U.S. users who rely on the app both culturally and economically.
An Iranian court has sentenced popular musician Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, widely known as Tataloo, to death after he was convicted of blasphemy, according to reports from local media on Sunday.
The Etemad newspaper reported that the Supreme Court overturned a previous five-year prison sentence for offenses including blasphemy. The court accepted the prosecutor’s appeal, reopening the case and handing down the death penalty for “insulting the Prophet,” referring to Prophet Mohammed.
While the ruling is severe, the report noted that the verdict is not yet final and can still be appealed.
The 37-year-old singer, who gained fame for his fusion of rap, pop, and R&B, had been living in Istanbul since 2018. Turkish authorities handed him over to Iranian officials in December 2023. Since then, Tataloo has been in detention in Iran.
ARCHIV – 04.03.2024, Iran, Teheran: Der Musiker Amir Tataloo (r) spricht mit dem Richter Iman Afschari (l) beim Prozessauftakt. (zu dpa: «Iran: Umstrittener Rapper wegen Blasphemie verurteilt») Foto: – +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++
In addition to the blasphemy charge, Tataloo was previously sentenced to 10 years for allegedly promoting “prostitution” and faced charges for disseminating “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and publishing “obscene content.”
Known for his heavily tattooed appearance and unconventional music, Tataloo became a polarizing figure in Iran. Despite his liberal style, he was briefly courted by conservative politicians as a means to connect with Iran’s youth.
In 2017, he participated in a televised meeting with the ultra-conservative former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, who later died in a helicopter crash.
Tataloo also stirred controversy in 2015 by releasing a song supporting Iran’s nuclear program. However, the program faced setbacks in 2018 during the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The sentence has sparked widespread attention, highlighting the ongoing tension between cultural expression and the Islamic Republic’s strict interpretation of its laws. Observers now wait to see if the verdict will be upheld or successfully challenged on appeal.
Four Moroccan truck drivers have gone missing while traveling through the volatile border region between Burkina Faso and Niger, according to the Moroccan embassy in Burkina Faso and a Moroccan transport union.
The drivers were part of a convoy of three trucks, one carrying a spare driver, traveling without an escort from Dori in Burkina Faso to Tera in Niger. This area is notorious for jihadist activity, posing significant risks to travelers.
Both Burkina Faso and Niger, governed by military juntas, are grappling with Islamist militant groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. These insurgencies have destabilized the Sahel region in West Africa over the past decade.
The Moroccan embassy in Burkina Faso confirmed that it is working closely with local authorities to locate the missing drivers. Authorities in Burkina Faso have been organizing security convoys to escort trucks through high-risk border areas in an effort to prevent militant attacks.
However, the missing convoy departed without waiting for an escort after a week of delays, according to Echarki El Hachmi, Secretary General of Morocco’s transporters’ union. The trucks, carrying infrastructure equipment, had left Casablanca weeks ago bound for Niger.
El Hachmi called for increased protection for transporters operating in high-risk areas, as the number of Moroccan trucks traveling through the Sahel continues to grow.
“This is not an isolated incident. Earlier this month, a convoy of Moroccan trucks was attacked on the Malian border with Mauritania, though fortunately, there were no casualties,” El Hachmi noted.
The disappearance highlights the dangers faced by commercial drivers operating in the Sahel, where militant threats and insufficient security measures put lives and cargo at risk.
A massive winter storm and an Arctic cold front are set to impact tens of millions across the United States, bringing heavy snow and dangerously low temperatures from the Northern Plains to the East Coast.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm warnings affecting parts of the Mid-Atlantic through Monday morning, with forecasts predicting up to 6 inches of snow. In New England, warnings begin Sunday afternoon, with areas in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut expected to receive as much as 10 inches of snow.
Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the NWS, said as many as 70 million people will be under some form of winter storm alert. Major cities including Philadelphia, New York, and Boston are forecast to see several inches of snow by Sunday evening, with higher snowfall totals likely in surrounding areas.
“There will be hazardous road conditions from D.C. up the I-95 corridor and inland later today and tonight,” Chenard said. “By Monday morning, untreated roads could remain dangerous due to the cold.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to rely on public transportation during the storm to allow crews to clear streets effectively. “Cold temperatures and high winds tomorrow could be dangerous,” Adams said Saturday. “Check on your neighbors and pets, and call 311 for heating or frozen pipe concerns.”
In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for all 21 counties. Northern parts of the state are expected to receive 6 to 8 inches of snow by Sunday evening. Local officials across several states are opening warming centers to provide shelter during the frigid conditions.
Meanwhile, Buffalo, New York, is bracing for snow showers Sunday afternoon as the Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL playoff game. Heavier lake-effect snow is expected in western New York Monday through Wednesday, with accumulations of 2 to 3 feet possible in areas like Oswego near Lake Ontario.
The snowstorm is part of a larger Arctic blast that will bring some of the coldest temperatures in years to much of the U.S. Starting Sunday, temperatures in the Rockies and Northern Plains are expected to plummet to between -30°F (-34°C) and -55°F (-48°C), with wind chills as low as -40°F (-40°C) in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota.
Sub-zero wind chills are forecast to stretch as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley. In Washington, D.C., Monday’s temperatures will dip into the 20s, with wind gusts of up to 30 mph. The cold snap has also prompted President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural ceremony to be moved indoors at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
The extreme cold is the result of a polar vortex disruption, which has pushed frigid air from the Arctic southward. While temperatures will moderate slightly as the cold front moves east, much of the Central and Eastern U.S. will still experience highs in the teens and 20s and lows in the single digits or below zero through early next week.
The South is also expected to experience an unusual wintry mix early this week, affecting as many as 30 million people. Starting Monday, areas from Texas to northern Florida and the Carolinas could see snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
Heavy snow is expected south of the Interstate 20 corridor across northern Louisiana and Mississippi, while a mix of freezing rain and sleet could impact areas along Interstate 10 from Houston to Mobile, Alabama.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency on Saturday, urging residents to prepare for the hazardous conditions and monitor forecasts.
A senior Taliban official has publicly called on the group’s leader to lift bans on education for Afghan women and girls, saying there is no justification for the restrictions.
Sher Abbas Stanikzai, the political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, made the remarks on Saturday during a speech at a religious school ceremony in southeastern Khost province.
“There is no reason to deny education to women and girls, just as there was no justification for it in the past and there shouldn’t be one at all,” Stanikzai said, according to a video shared on his official account on the platform X.
Since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has barred girls from attending school beyond sixth grade and has banned women from university education. Reports in September 2023 indicated that medical training for women was also halted, though authorities have not confirmed the restriction.
In Afghanistan, where women and girls can only be treated by female medical professionals, the reported medical training ban could further strain healthcare access for women.
“We call on the leadership again to open the doors of education,” Stanikzai said, adding that depriving women and girls of education violates Islamic principles. “This is not in Islamic law, but our personal choice or nature,” he said, describing the policy as an injustice against half the population.
Stanikzai, who previously led the Taliban delegation in talks that facilitated the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, has criticized the education ban in the past. However, his latest comments mark the first time he has directly appealed to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada for a policy change.
Analysts say this move signals growing internal dissent. Ibraheem Bahiss, a South Asia analyst with Crisis Group, noted that Stanikzai’s statement questions the legitimacy of the current policy. “This latest statement seems to go further, as he is publicly calling for a change in policy,” Bahiss said.
FILE – A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 23, 2023. A U.N. report says the Taliban are restricting Afghan women’s access to work, travel and healthcare if they are unmarried or don’t have a male guardian, a mahram. The Taliban have banned women from education, most jobs and public spaces like parks since seizing control of Afghanistan in 2021. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
The Taliban’s education bans have drawn widespread international condemnation and jeopardized the group’s chances of gaining formal recognition. The United Nations has stated that recognition is nearly impossible while restrictions on female education, employment, and public mobility remain in place.
In Islamabad earlier this month, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders to hold the Taliban accountable for denying education to women and girls. Speaking at a conference hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League, Yousafzai called for unified action against the Taliban’s policies.
Despite the lack of formal recognition, some countries have been developing ties with the Taliban-led government. Russia has been building diplomatic relationships, and India’s recent meeting between top diplomat Vikram Mistri and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai signaled growing cooperation.
President Joe Biden on Sunday posthumously pardoned Marcus Garvey, a prominent Black nationalist whose work inspired civil rights leaders like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s, a charge his supporters have long argued was politically motivated.
Garvey, who promoted racial pride and unity, was deported to his native Jamaica following his conviction and died in 1940. Civil rights leaders have called his pardon a critical step toward recognizing his lasting influence on the struggle for equality.
“The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said of Marcus Garvey: ‘He was the first man, on a mass scale and level, to give millions of Black people a sense of dignity and destiny,’” the White House said in a statement.
Biden’s announcement also included pardons for Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and activists focused on immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, and gun violence prevention. The president, who leaves office Monday, has issued the most individual pardons and commutations of any U.S. president.
On Friday, Biden commuted nearly 2,500 sentences for individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Additionally, he commuted the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment as an incoming Trump administration promises to expand the use of capital punishment.
Among the notable pardons announced Sunday:
– Don Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, was convicted of a drug offense in 1994 and served eight years in prison. Elected to the legislature in 2019, he became the first Black speaker of the Virginia House. “I am deeply humbled to share that I have received a Presidential Pardon… for a mistake I made in 1994,” Scott said.
– Ravi Ragbir, an immigrant rights advocate, was convicted of a nonviolent offense in 2001 and faced deportation to Trinidad and Tobago.
– Kemba Smith Pradia, a prison reform activist convicted of a drug offense in 1994 and sentenced to 24 years in prison. Her sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton in 2000.
– Darryl Chambers, a Wilmington, Delaware advocate for gun violence prevention, was convicted of a drug offense and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Two individuals had their sentences commuted:
– Michelle West, who served over 30 years for her role in a drug conspiracy in the early 1990s. West’s daughter, Miquelle, said, “Today, after more than 30 years hoping and advocating every day that her life sentence could somehow be reduced, the clouds have parted.”
– Robin Peoples, sentenced to 111 years in prison for bank robbery in the late 1990s. The White House noted Peoples would face significantly lower sentences under current laws.
Biden’s clemency actions reflect a broad use of presidential power, with an emphasis on addressing systemic inequities in the justice system. His decision to pardon Garvey and other advocates underscores his administration’s commitment to criminal justice reform as the country transitions to a new leadership.
Firefighters extinguish fire from a tanker that exploded in Suleja, Nigeria, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Arise News)
A petrol tanker truck explosion in northern Nigeria killed at least 70 people and injured dozens more on Saturday, according to the country’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Firefighters extinguish fire from a tanker that exploded in Suleja, Nigeria, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Arise News)
The incident occurred in Niger State after the tanker overturned, spilling fuel that ignited and caused widespread destruction. Officials reported that over 70 bodies had been recovered, 56 people were injured, and more than 15 shops were destroyed in the blast.
“The injured have been transported to hospitals for treatment, while recovery efforts for the deceased are ongoing,” NEMA said in a statement.
Local residents and officials were seen digging graves Saturday night to bury victims in line with Islamic traditions. Niger is a predominantly Muslim state in Africa’s most populous country.
Kumar Tsukwam, the Federal Road Safety Corps sector commander for Niger State, said many victims were impoverished locals who had gathered to collect fuel from the overturned truck despite warnings.
“A large crowd of people gathered to scoop fuel despite concerted efforts to stop them,” Tsukwam said in a statement, adding that firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze.
The accident mirrors a similar tanker explosion in Jigawa State last October, which claimed 147 lives and ranks among Nigeria’s worst fuel-related disasters.
Such incidents are common in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, where poverty and unsafe practices often lead to fuel-related tragedies. The country is grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis, worsened by the removal of a decades-old fuel subsidy in May 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.
The subsidy’s removal has led to a more than 400% increase in petrol prices, pushing many Nigerians into deeper economic hardship.
Bologi Ibrahim, spokesperson for the Niger State governor, urged residents to prioritize safety during fuel tanker accidents.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday he will issue an executive order Monday granting TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, more time to find an approved buyer before the popular video-sharing app faces a permanent U.S. ban.
The announcement follows the app’s removal from Apple and Google digital stores in compliance with a federal law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations by Sunday due to national security concerns. Millions of users in the United States reported they could no longer access the app as of Saturday night.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said his order would “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect” and ensure that companies maintaining TikTok services before the executive order would not face legal liability.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump wrote.
The law, passed with bipartisan support in April and signed by President Joe Biden, allows the sitting president to grant a 90-day extension if credible negotiations for a sale are underway. ByteDance has declined to sell TikTok despite receiving offers, with Trump suggesting Sunday that he favors a joint venture with 50% U.S. ownership, though specifics were unclear.
“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up,” Trump said. “Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it could be worth trillions.”
The federal law stems from concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership and potential risks to national security. ByteDance’s legal challenge to the ban on First Amendment grounds was dismissed last week when the Supreme Court upheld the statute.
On Saturday night, TikTok users attempting to access the platform were met with a message explaining the app’s unavailability due to the law. The ban prevents app store downloads but allows users with existing installations to retain access temporarily. Experts said updates to the app would eventually cease.
Content creator Tiffany Watson, 20, expressed frustration over the disruption, noting she plans to shift her focus to Instagram and YouTube.
“The community on TikTok is like nothing else, so it’s weird to not have that anymore,” Watson said Sunday.
Incoming TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration Monday. In a video posted Saturday, Chew thanked Trump for his commitment to resolving the issue and preserving the platform for its 170 million U.S. users.
Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Michael Waltz, confirmed the president-elect discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the weekend. The two leaders reportedly agreed to work together to resolve the situation.
Investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, have expressed interest in purchasing TikTok’s U.S. operations. ByteDance, however, has yet to identify a clear buyer.
TikTok’s suspension has drawn criticism in China, where commentators accused the U.S. of suppressing free speech. Hu Xijin, a former editor at the state-run Global Times, said the ban marked “the darkest moment in the development of the internet.”
TikTok does not operate in China, where ByteDance runs Douyin, a similar app subject to Beijing’s censorship laws.
While Trump’s executive order aims to facilitate negotiations and prevent TikTok from going permanently offline, the controversy highlights the ongoing tension between technology, national security, and free speech.
Israel’s military has confirmed that the first three hostages released by Hamas have safely crossed into Israeli territory.
The hostages, identified as Doron Steinbrecher, 31, dual British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, 28, and Romi Gonen, 24, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City before being transferred to Israeli military custody.
“A short while ago, accompanied by IDF and ISA forces, the released hostages crossed the border into Israeli territory,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated. “They are now at an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will undergo medical assessments.”
The IDF also released footage of the emotional reunion between the hostages and their mothers at the Re’im military base near the Gaza Strip, highlighting the relief and joy of families after 15 months of separation.
In exchange for the three hostages, 90 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released from Israeli custody. Live footage from outside Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank showed Red Cross vehicles entering the facility to collect the prisoners.
Hamas, which controls Gaza, reportedly orchestrated the hostage transfer as part of a broader ceasefire agreement. The group aimed to reinforce its dominance in Gaza amid growing tensions and opposition from rival factions.
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden addressed the ceasefire, calling it a significant step forward. “After so much pain, death, and loss of life, today the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” Biden said. He also stated that Hamas has been significantly weakened, with its leadership destabilized.
Experts warn that hostages returning from Gaza may face severe physical and psychological trauma. Prof. Hagai Levine of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum emphasized the multi-systemic health impacts of captivity, including malnutrition, infections, and mental health challenges. Israeli medical facilities are prepared to provide comprehensive care, with hostages being transported to hospitals across the country based on their condition.
This development marks the first stage of a negotiated hostage release that will continue in the coming weeks, as 33 hostages are expected to return to Israel.
Hip-hop icon Sean “Diddy” Combs has sold a nearly 10,000-square-foot Los Angeles home for $6.51 million. The Toluca Lake property was home to Kim Porter, an actress and model who shared three children with Combs and lived there until her passing in 2018 at the age of 47.
The six-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom home is located on half an acre in the prestigious San Fernando Valley neighborhood, approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Porter tragically died from pneumonia on the property.
The traditional-style estate, described as “one of the largest and grandest homes in Toluca Lake” by the listing agent Carl Gambino of Compass, features a two-story entry foyer with a gallery level, a great room with a fireplace that opens to the pool and spa area, and a spacious eat-in kitchen. Other amenities include a media room, an outdoor fireplace, a sports court, and a three-car garage.
The six bedrooms showcase bold and vibrant color palettes, including black, aqua, and bright pink, as highlighted in listing photos.
Diddy, a three-time Grammy-winning artist known for hits like *I’ll Be Missing You* and *It’s All About the Benjamins*, purchased the property in 2009 for $5.25 million through a limited liability company associated with one of his longtime advisors.
The sale was facilitated by Ted Fleming of Rodeo Realty, who represented the buyer. Neither Gambino nor Fleming commented on the transaction, and property records have yet to reveal the buyer’s identity.
Porter lived in the residence with the couple’s three children until her untimely death. The sale marks the end of an era for the home, which was central to their family life.
