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TikTok says it will “go dark” in the United States on Sunday unless the government provides assurances a new law calling for its ban won’t be used to punish service providers.”Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19,” TikTok said in a statement.The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law supported by President Joe Biden and Congress that requires the app’s owner ByteDance to either sell TikTok or cease US operations by January 19.”The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” TikTok said following the Supreme Court decision. The unanimous ruling, which found the law does not violate free speech rights, dealt a major blow to TikTok and created uncertainty about what will happen when the ban takes effect.The court agreed with the government’s national security concerns about Chinese company ByteDance’s ownership of the app.ByteDance has firmly rejected selling its US operation, a stance also taken by Beijing, which has denounced the law as theft.The justices acknowledged that, “for more than 170 million Americans,” the social media giant “offers a distinct and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community.”But, the court concluded, “Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.”Even if the ban now stands, the Biden White House said it won’t enforce it, leaving the matter to incoming president Donald Trump.Trump, who opposes the ban, discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.”The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social as he said he would need time to find an alternative to the ban.The Department of Justice noted that enforcing the law “will be a process that plays out over time,” in a potential sign that it does not intend to carry out the law for now.Despite the court defeat, TikTok chief executive Shou Chew thanked Trump for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution.”Trump “truly understands our platform,” he added.TikTok has been lobbying furiously to thwart the law’s implementation with Chew set to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.The law requires Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, blocking new downloads. The companies could face penalties of up to $5,000 per user who can access the app.Chew gave no indication on whether TikTok would unilaterally shut down its platform in the United States when the ban kicks in, as reported in US media.TikTok’s lawyer Noel Francisco had warned it would shut down Sunday in case of a legal defeat.- ‘Viable deal’ -Trump’s incoming national security advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News the administration would work “to keep TikTok from going dark,” noting the law allows a 90-day delay if the White House can show progress toward “a viable deal.” Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has expressed interest in leading a purchase of TikTok’s US activity and said he’s “ready to work with the company and President Trump to complete a deal.”The ban would hugely benefit US-owned rivals Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, but influencers said that TikTok’s unique abilities could not be matched.”Making videos and reaching people on TikTok is so much easier than a lot of other platforms,” said Nathan Espinoza, who has more than 500,000 followers on TikTok.Courtney Spritzer, head of digital marketing agency Socialfly, said TikTok creators were in “great uncertainty.” Among advertisers, “some are betting there will be a shutdown while others are more optimistic that it will continue to exist after Sunday.”

A re-sentencing hearing for Lyle and Erik Menendez over the bloody murder of their wealthy parents was delayed Friday as Los Angeles grapples with devastating wildfires.The pair were jailed for life after a blockbuster trial in the 1990s detailing the gruesome slayings of Jose and Kitty Menendez at the family’s luxury Beverly Hills mansion.But a growing campaign to free the brothers — given new life by a hit Netflix series — has opened the door to a reduced sentence, with Los Angeles officials seemingly receptive to their lawyer’s overtures.A January 30-31 hearing was postponed Friday until March 20-21, the office of District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.Local media cited Hochman saying agreement had been reached between prosecutors and defense because of the impact the fires would have on the “extensive preparations” required.Los Angeles is staggering under the weight of a sprawling disaster that has killed at least 27 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes.Around 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) have been burned and thousands of buildings lie in ruins.At the time of the conviction, prosecutors said the brothers had plotted to murder their parents in a bid to hasten a $14 million inheritance.Supporters insist the 1989 killings were an act of desperate self-defense by young men subjected to years of sexual abuse and psychological violence at the hands of an abusive father and a complicit mother.Erik Menendez, now 53, and Lyle Menendez, 56, have spent more than three decades behind bars.A previous court hearing — at which the men were due to appear by videolink from prison —  was a blockbuster event in its own right, with a lottery system in place for spots in the public gallery.

Sheriff’s deputies on horseback fanned out through charred brush on Friday, hunting for the remains of people who perished when huge wildfires raced through Los Angeles.At least 27 people are known to have died in the two massive blazes, with dozens still missing.Ten days after flames erupted, frustration was growing among the tens of thousands who remain in limbo, unable to return even to homes that were spared by the flames, because of unseen dangers like toxic pollution or the risk of landslides.Nina Madok, who lost her home in the Palisades Fire, told AFP an information meeting for evacuees had been “worthless.””We need local leaders from the Palisades to answer our questions now.”An emotional Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Joe Everett told those present: “It’s extremely, extremely hard for me to look you in the eye knowing that, quite honestly, I feel like I failed you in some respect.” Officials said Thursday it would be at least a week until anyone could go home.Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass, under pressure over her handling of the disaster, announced the appointment of a chief recovery officer.Steve Soboroff, a former police commissioner, said he was devising an action plan for the path forward.”There is an A to Z for each one of us, and A is today,” he told a press conference. “We’re going to get there step by step.”But with dangerous rubble strewn over a large swath and the final death toll still unknown, the area remained in emergency mode.Urban search teams using cadaver dogs continued their painstaking trawl through Altadena, where whole blocks of homes were incinerated.In the countryside above Malibu, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies on horseback were also looking for the dead.Although they reportedly have no specific information that there was anyone in the wild area, it all has to be searched before it can be reopened to the public.- Acclaim for firefighters -Thousands of firefighters continued their efforts to snuff out hotspots over the 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) that have been burned — an area almost as big as the US capital Washington.All over Los Angeles, signs have appeared thanking first responders, including one outside the studio where Jimmy Kimmel records his late-night chat show.Entertainment website TMZ posted a video of diners in Calabasas clapping as uniformed firefighters finished a meal, which the site reported had been paid for by other customers and the restaurant.The acclaim for first responders stood in contrast to the political bickering, which has seen Republicans across the country line up behind President-elect Donald Trump as he bashes California’s Democratic leadership.Trump has previously threatened to withhold federal aid to the state unless Governor Gavin Newsom bends to his policy demands, and some congressional allies have sought to link cash to the incoming administration’s priorities.Actor Eric Braeden, a mainstay of US daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” on Thursday lashed out at the politicization of the issue.”We contribute more taxes than any other state in America,” said the German-born actor, whose Pacific Palisades home was razed in the fires.”The rest of the country: don’t point your finger at California.”US tennis great Pam Shriver appealed Friday for the return of trophies stolen with her car after she evacuated her luxury home.”Let’s do the right thing,” she told broadcaster KTLA. “This is not the time to give people even more stress and more worry.”Dozens of people have been arrested in the wake of the disaster, with several charged for looting.

In the ashes of what was once a luxury home on Malibu’s Pacific coast, an energetic dog runs from spot to spot, searching for victims of one of the huge wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles.Tulla, a sandy-colored Labrador retriever, stops next to a crusted gas canister that was once perhaps part of a barbecue, and begins to bark furiously.To the human eye, there is nothing there, but Tulla’s powerful sense of smell says otherwise.Moments later, handlers bring in another dog, which also homes in on the same spot, offering a strong indication that the body of one of the dozens still missing from the massive blazes may finally be found.Marco Rodriguez, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, says the dogs are “critical” to the search effort.”We have thousands of homes here in this area that have burned and approximately 15 people that have been reported missing.”We’re doing our best, and the dogs are an integral part of that,” he told AFP.For thousands of firefighters doing 12- or even 24-hour shifts, the last ten days have been back-breaking; hard physical work made even more difficult for those who have seen swaths of their city burned to the ground.But for the dogs, it is something of a game, says Joshua Davis, who has deployed with Bosco — a black Labrador — from his base in San Francisco.”They’re used to crawling on rubble. They enjoy it,” he said.While there’s no emotional toll on the animals, there are physical dangers that require special protective boots to safeguard their paws.”There’s a lot of sharp glass and a lot of nails and debris out there that can injure the dogs,” said Davis.- ‘Like every other firefighter’ -The dogs in the search and rescue unit have routines similar to the humans they work alongside, said Davis.”Every day we go to work, he gets fed, just like every other firefighter,” he said.”He gets training on various things and we do daily exercises with him, so he knows how to run on a treadmill and he can climb ladders.”When he’s not on operations, Bosco keeps his skills up with a weekly session in a dummied-up practice disaster area, where trainers hide scents for him to find.Bosco was originally trained to be a guide dog but “failed miserably” because he had too much energy, said Davis.But that energy makes him perfect for searching — where the dog has learned to associate the discovery of a scent with the chance to play with his favorite toy.In Bosco’s case, that’s a piece of fire hose.”When they find the scent, they’ll bark at it. I’ll get to the victim and/or the source where they’re barking at, and then I’ll reward Bosco,” said Davis.The dogs are not infallible and there are false alarms, but on the whole they drastically reduce the amount of work that humans have to do.”A lot of the dogs here today can cover a building that has been collapsed in five minutes or less,” said Davis.”It can take four to five firefighters 10 to 20 minutes to cover a location.”For Bosco, who has worked alongside Davis for three years searching countless properties, it’s not all serious labor.In his downtime, he has a successful Instagram feed, where followers can see what he has been up to.This week, one of his stories showed Bosco sitting in a car, looking enthusiastically through the window with an apt caption: “Ready to work, boss!”

Donald Trump’s family will likely be less formally involved in White House business in his second term as they were in the first, but some will remain key to his political operation as unofficial advisors.Here is a look at how Trump’s wife, five children and other relatives will play a role in the new administration after Monday’s US presidential inauguration.- Melania Trump -Melania — who met Trump at a party in 1998 and wed him in 2005 — returns as first lady to the White House, which she plans to make her primary residence.This would differ from Trump’s first term, when his wife did not join him at the White House for several months so that their son Barron, then 10, could finish school in New York.She fulfilled traditional first lady duties when she finally moved in — taking charge of state dinners and promoting her favorite causes, including a campaign against online bullying.She has always been her own boss — feeling little obligation to accompany her husband to rallies and other events — and courting controversy with a coat bearing the slogan, “I really don’t care, do you?” as she headed to a migrant children’s shelter.- Donald Trump Jr -Trump’s eldest son, known as Don Jr, is a darling of the MAGA movement and is considered to have his thumb on the pulse of the base.His “Triggered” podcast is influential among the president-elect’s most ardent supporters and he is said to have had significant sway in the selection of JD Vance as vice president.But the 47-year-old is reportedly planning to forego an official White House role to continue in his job as a Trump Organization executive vice president.Trump Jr and former Fox News Host Kimberly Guilfoyle reportedly broke off their engagement after six years of dating, but she will remain in the “family business” as ambassador to Greece.- Ivanka Trump – The eldest Trump daughter largely checked out of politics after leaving the White House, where she had worked as a top advisor to her father.”The main reason I am not going back to serve now is, I know the cost and it’s a price that I’m not willing to make my kids bear,” the mother-of-three, 43, told the “Him & Her Show” podcast ahead of Trump’s inauguration.She had already previewed her decision in a statement stepping out of public life when her father launched his 2024 campaign. – Eric Trump -Trump’s second son, 41, spent his father’s first term, like his older brother, as an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, overseeing its high-end real-estate portfolio.And like Don Jr, he has been at his father’s side as an unofficial advisor throughout the president-elect’s political career, frequently appearing at rallies and defending him on cable news. He is expected to continue in both roles.His wife Lara Trump, who is pursuing a pop music career, stepped down as Republican National Committee co-chair last year and withdrew from consideration as Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s replacement when he joins the administration.- Tiffany Trump -Tiffany Trump, 31, was largely out of the spotlight during her father’s first term, only making occasional public appearances with him. The Georgetown University law graduate attended some campaign events but did not speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention for the first time in three election cycles.The only child from Trump’s marriage to Marla Maples, she is reportedly expecting a baby and is planning to remain distanced from politics.- Barron Trump -Melania Trump was at pains during her husband’s first term to shield her son Barron from the harsh glare of the press but he is now 18 and beginning to chart his own political path.Trump’s youngest boy emerged as a surprise vital cog in the president-elect’s 2024 campaign machine, as his unofficial advisor on how to appeal to Gen Z.In an August interview with high-profile YouTuber Adin Ross, the president-elect shared that Barron had told him to appear on the channel as a guest, saying, “Dad, he’s really big.”The teenager — who is six feet seven inches (201 centimeters) tall — is studying at New York University.- In-laws -Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, like his wife Ivanka, was a senior White House advisor in Trump’s first term, cultivating ties with Middle Eastern leaders while brokering the Abraham Accords.He is not expected to rejoin the Trump administration but CNN has reported that he will serve as an unofficial advisor to the president on Middle Eastern affairs.His father Charles Kushner — a pardoned felon — and Massad Boulos, Tiffany’s father-in-law, will have formal roles as ambassador to France and Middle East advisor respectively.

US media are bracing for the White House return of Donald Trump, who previously helped to boost news consumption but is now prompting outlets to protect themselves from retaliation — legal or otherwise — from the famously grudge-bearing Republican. News organizations are girding themselves for a legal assault from Trump personally, as well as federal agencies that could theoretically frustrate broadcast licenses, comb through tax affairs and otherwise make life difficult for organizations that do not toe the line. New York University journalism professor Adam Penenberg told AFP that US news outlets, who normally compete in a fierce market, would have to cooperate to face down the threat posed by Trump.”Trump’s second term promises to be less reality show and more revenge tour, especially for the press,” he said. “The question isn’t whether he’ll attack the media. He will. But can the media resist bending under the weight of those attacks?”Early moves indicated that some US media were taking an initially conciliatory approach to Trump this term, with major broadcaster ABC opting to settle a defamation suit brought by the billionaire rather than fight it.The US news media landscape is also changing in both form and ownership.With an increasing number of US consumers getting their news from social media, Meta’s billionaire owner Mark Zuckerberg announced the end of Facebook’s US fact-checking program, which had previously drawn Trump’s ire. The Washington Post, owned by tech mogul Jeff Bezos, declined to endorse a candidate for president, and in recent days spiked a cartoon critical of tycoons currying favor with the Republican. – Defense of journalism -“The news media can prepare by reinforcing legal defenses, building coalitions between outlets, and fortifying cybersecurity to guard against hacks and leaks,” said Penenberg.The New York Times has repeatedly drawn rebukes from Trump over its persistent, attention-grabbing reporting of his political, personal, financial and legal problems.It warned that smaller news organizations may be unable to stand up to legal threats from Trump.”For smaller, less financially secure news organizations, the expense of defending themselves in lawsuits from Mr Trump and his allies may be enough to encourage self-censorship,” it said in a grave editorial.For some, the crackdown has already begun. Trump has sued an Iowa daily, the Des Moines Register, and an Iowa opinion pollster, for a survey that predicted Kamala Harris would win the state that the Republican ultimately carried.The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University said the move would “intimidate” others.A few days earlier, the Disney-owned ABC network agreed to pay $15 million in damages to settle Trump’s defamation lawsuits against its news division and a journalist, a move perceived by some as a climb-down.CBS is also considering settling lawsuits from Trump, who had accused its popular “60 Minutes” show of favoring Kamala Harris, the Wall Street Journal reported. CBS did not respond to a request for comment.- Comparison to oligarchs -Several organizations are reportedly reviewing their insurance coverage for libel or other litigation from hostile officials, while one non-profit is reviewing its compliance with labor regulations. Other media are working to protect sources in the event of whistleblower investigations.Penenberg, a former senior editor, stressed that while newsrooms should prepare for lawsuits, regulatory harassment and pressure campaigns, many US presidents have governed with deep hostility to the media.Former president Richard Nixon, he said, “turned paranoia into an art form.”Trump has long derided the media, calling it “fake news” at every opportunity, while his nominee for FBI chief has said he would “come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens.”Journalism professor Mark Feldstein compared efforts by some outlets and big tech to appease the Trump administration ahead of the inauguration to what “Russian oligarchs do with President Vladimir Putin.””In one sense, it is understandable because Donald Trump has made clear how vindictive he will be toward those who oppose him,” said Feldstein, who teaches at the University of Maryland.”But the public depends on a free press to keep government officials honest.”

A former Liberian rebel commander known as “Dragon Master” has pleaded guilty to US immigration fraud for lying about his role in the civil war in his home country.Laye Sekou Camara, 46, also known as “General K-1,” was accused of fraudulently obtaining a “green card” that allowed residency in the United States.He had been scheduled to go on trial in a federal court in Philadelphia, but he entered a guilty plea on Thursday on the eve of his trial, the Justice Department said Friday.Camara was a general in a Liberian rebel group from 1999 to 2003 that fought against the government of the West African nation that was led by then-president Charles Taylor, according to court documents.Camara falsely stated on US immigration forms that he had never participated in extrajudicial killings, had never been involved in a rebel group and had never engaged in the recruitment or use of child soldiers, the Justice Department said.”Camara fraudulently claimed that he had not participated in Liberia’s civil war,” Edward Owens, a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement.”In fact,” Owens said, “Camara was a high-ranking member of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebel group during Liberia’s Second Civil War.”As such, he was involved in committing atrocities, including the massacre of civilians, and the recruitment of child soldiers,” he added.According to the Global Justice and Research Project, a Liberia-based non-profit that documents war crimes, and Geneva-based NGO Civitas Maxima, victims had been prepared to testify at Camara’s trial as to his involvement in the Liberian conflict.Liberia’s brutal civil wars left around 250,000 people dead between 1989 and 2003.Camara’s sentencing was set for May 19. He faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, the Justice Department said.

The US Treasury Department will start taking “extraordinary measures” next week to avoid risking a default on government debt, Secretary Janet Yellen said Friday, days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.With the government reaching its borrowing limit, the department would start making the moves on Tuesday, the day after the inauguration, Yellen said in a letter to congressional leaders.That will mean Trump’s administration has to grapple immediately with the issue of the debt ceiling — the legal limit on government borrowing to pay bills already incurred.In the past, Congress has routinely voted to lift this bar, but that tool has become a contentious issue, with Republican budget hawks calling for drastic spending reductions instead.”Extraordinary measures” are a way for the Treasury to ensure that the US government can keep paying its bills and avoid a hugely destabilizing debt default.On Friday, Yellen said: “The period of time that extraordinary measures may last is subject to considerable uncertainty.”She noted there are challenges to forecasting the government’s payments and revenue months into the future.”I respectfully urge Congress to act promptly to protect the full faith and credit of the United States,” Yellen wrote.For now, she said the Treasury would hold off investments of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund not immediately required to pay beneficiaries.It would redeem a part of investments held by the fund, and also suspend added investments of amounts credited to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund.The funds will be made whole once the debt limit is raised or suspended.”Federal retirees and employees will be unaffected by these actions,” she said.In mid-2023, US lawmakers voted to suspend the debt limit after weeks of fraught negotiations, to eliminate the threat of a default.The limit was reinstated on January 2 and set at $36.1 trillion, matching the total debt outstanding on the previous day.During December budget negotiations in Congress, Trump insisted the debt ceiling be raised or even eliminated altogether, although he was unsuccessful at the time.On Thursday, Trump’s Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent told lawmakers at his confirmation hearing that he would work with Trump to remove the limit if the incoming president wanted to do so.He also vowed that the United States would not default on its debt if he became Treasury chief.Earlier this month, Fitch Ratings said the United States faces “significant fiscal policy challenges in 2025.”It pointed to the debt limit, appropriations and “tax cuts in the context of already large deficits and an increasing debt burden.””We believe it is unlikely that these will be resolved expeditiously because of long-standing weaknesses in the federal government’s budgetary process and a narrow Republican House majority,” Fitch added.

US law enforcement agents carried out exercises using barbed wire and concrete blocks Friday at a crossing on the border with Mexico as tensions crept up ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.Vehicle crossings on an international bridge connecting Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas were halted for about 40 minutes while US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers carried out training, an AFP journalist said.According to the CBP office in El Paso, the exercises began in 2019 and aim to ensure that agents are prepared for potential border incidents.Residents in Ciudad Juarez said the exercises have multiplied as Trump prepares to take office on Monday, having vowed the largest deportation of undocumented migrants in the history of the United States.”This is the second closure I’ve seen this week,” said Yadira Martinez, who was among those trying to cross.Ciudad Juarez is one of the main gateways to the United States for migrants fleeing poverty, violence or political instability in their countries. It is also one of the official entry points for migrants with appointments to file an asylum application through the US government’s cellphone app CBP One.Earlier this week another Mexican border city, Tijuana, declared an emergency to free up funds to deal with the potential arrival of deportees.Trump, who repeatedly called the arrival of migrants an “invasion,” has promised to declare a national emergency at the border with Mexico after taking office and to expel millions who lack residency papers.