Politics


New proposal from Perplexity AI on TikTok may result in the U.S. government acquiring 50% ownership interest.
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New proposal from Perplexity AI on TikTok may result in the U.S. government acquiring 50% ownership interest.

Perplexity AI has submitted a fresh proposal to TikTok's parent company that would permit the US government to own up to 50% of a new firm that would be created by combining Perplexity with TikTok's US operations. The suggestion, which was turned in last week, is an update to an earlier strategy the AI startup had given to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, on January 18, the day before the law that forbids the app entered into force. The initial proposal, to which ByteDance has not repl


Elliot O

Taliban accuse Pakistan of conducting strikes inside Afghanistan
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Taliban accuse Pakistan of conducting strikes inside Afghanistan

The Islamic Emirate have denied the assertions made by the Pakistani army that the bombing targeted a number of members of the Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), adding that the airstrikes also attacked women and children who were fleeing. According to the media source, the bombings were the Pakistani military's second significant action in the last 12 months and their third large operation on Afghan territory since the Taliban regained power in August 2021. In response, the Islamic Emirate lau


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Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Denzel Washington to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Denzel Washington to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor-director Denzel Washington will be awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor on Saturday in a White House ceremony. President Joe Biden will bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 of the most famous names in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and science. The White House said the recipients have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of


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Trump and his Republican allies falsely attribute the New Orleans attack to immigration failings.
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Trump and his Republican allies falsely attribute the New Orleans attack to immigration failings.

Despite the fact that the perpetrator was a U.S. citizen, President Joe Biden's border policies have been criticised by President-elect Donald Trump and his congressional allies for the deadly truck attack in New Orleans. As news of the ramming attack began to circulate on Wednesday morning, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, "When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News


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Senegal and Mauritania make a significant "milestone" move towards joint gas production.
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Senegal and Mauritania make a significant "milestone" move towards joint gas production.

On Wednesday, Senegal and Mauritania announced that they had opened the first well at a field near their maritime boundary, bringing them one step closer to producing gas. The offshore natural gas resource known as Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) is shared by both nations. It was co-developed by Senegal's state-owned Petrosen, Mauritanian hydrocarbons business SMH, American company Kosmos Energy, and British energy behemoth BP. Its annual production target is around 2.5 million tonnes of liquefie


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Republican backing for House Speaker Mike Johnson's reelection falters
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Republican backing for House Speaker Mike Johnson's reelection falters

In advance of an election later this week, a top Republican congressman from Texas has stated that Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House, does not currently have the necessary number of votes to be re-elected. Even though Donald Trump endorsed Johnson with fervour on Monday, Representative Chip Roy said that he was not sure if he would back the Louisiana Republican. "Since we witnessed so many of the failures from the previous year, we are worried about what could restrict or impede our capac


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Almost 20 years after its last hanging, Zimbabwe abolishes death penalty
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Almost 20 years after its last hanging, Zimbabwe abolishes death penalty

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the president of Zimbabwe, has signed legislation that would immediately eliminate the death penalty in the southern African nation. Amnesty International, a rights organisation, praised the ruling as a "beacon of hope for the abolitionist movement in the region" but lamented that the death sentence may be brought back in emergency conditions. Following a vote by Zimbabwe's parliament earlier in December to abolish the death penalty, Mnangagwa took this action. Although Zi


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Kenyan police use tear gas during a demonstration against suspected kidnappings by the government.
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Kenyan police use tear gas during a demonstration against suspected kidnappings by the government.

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, police have used tear gas to scatter demonstrators protesting what they claim is a spate of mysterious kidnappings of government critics. Human rights organisations claim that dozens of Kenyans have been kidnapped in recent months and blame the illegal arrests on Kenya's intelligence and police forces. According to Kenyan officials, the government does not support or participate in extrajudicial executions or kidnappings. With clouds of tear gas hanging in th


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More than 300 prisoners of war traded between Russia and Ukraine.
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More than 300 prisoners of war traded between Russia and Ukraine.

In a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates ahead of New Year's Eve, Russia and Ukraine exchanged over 300 prisoners of war (POWs), according to officials from both nations. On Monday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenksyy announced that 189 Ukrainians had returned home, while the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that it had exchanged 150 Ukrainian detainees. The disparity in the published numbers has no clear explanation. "For all of us, the news of our people's return from Russian


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Following three years of army rule, Chad casts a ballot in the general election.
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Following three years of army rule, Chad casts a ballot in the general election.

With the opposition calling for a boycott, attendance was predicted to be low for Sunday's general election, which the government believes is a crucial step in eliminating military rule. According to the elections administration organisation ANGE, midday numbers indicated a turnout of only 38% to elect a new parliament, regional assemblies, and local councils. Voter disinterest was attributed to the "cold weather" by election officials in the affluent neighbourhood where the president's family


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President-elect Donald Trump Meets with French President Macron in Paris
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President-elect Donald Trump Meets with French President Macron in Paris

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrived at the Élysée Palace on Saturday for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit marks Trump's first overseas trip since his victory in the November election, making him the second U.S. president to win a nonconsecutive term. Trump's visit to Paris coincides with the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, an event he will attend later in the day. Macron was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump on his election win, and their meeting


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NYC Mayor Eric Adams Hints at Possible Party Switch, Stirring Controversy
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NYC Mayor Eric Adams Hints at Possible Party Switch, Stirring Controversy

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat with a history of affiliation with the Republican Party, has left the door open to switching parties. In a pair of interviews on Friday, Adams, who was a Republican from 1995 to 2002, neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of returning to the GOP. “I’m a part of the American party,” Adams said during an appearance on NY1. “I love this country.” Pressed further in a PIX11 interview, Adams reiterated his focus on transcending party lines: “No matte


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Tech Billionaire Jared Isaacman Nominated by Trump to Lead NASA
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Tech Billionaire Jared Isaacman Nominated by Trump to Lead NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, who became the first private individual to conduct a spacewalk, was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to lead NASA. Isaacman, 41, is the CEO and founder of a card-processing company and has been closely involved with SpaceX since purchasing his first chartered spaceflight from Elon Musk. In 2021, he took contest winners along on that mission and later conducted a spacewalk in September to test SpaceX's new spacesu


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Surgeon General calls for new alcohol labels to warn Americans of cancer risk
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Surgeon General calls for new alcohol labels to warn Americans of cancer risk

The Surgeon General is pushing for new labels on alcoholic drinks to warn Americans about the link between alcohol and cancer risk. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed new labels on alcoholic drinks to warn people about the cancer risk linked to alcohol consumption. His call comes as more research highlights the health dangers of alcohol, though for the label to be added, it would need Congress's approval. Murthy argues that Americans need to be better informed about alcohol’s connectio


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Trump's New Pick for Attorney General: Who is Pam Bondi?
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Trump's New Pick for Attorney General: Who is Pam Bondi?

Trump Taps Pam Bondi as Attorney General Nominee: What You Need to Know Just hours after former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for Attorney General, President-elect Donald Trump announced Pam Bondi as his pick for the role. In his announcement, Trump praised Bondi's qualifications, saying, "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting


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Donald Trump Wins Election in a Landslide against Kamala Harris
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Donald Trump Wins Election in a Landslide against Kamala Harris

Donald J. Trump has won the 2024 U.S. presidential election, marking a stunning political revival after his 2020 defeat and ongoing legal battles. Trump’s victory was driven by widespread dissatisfaction with the economy and inflation, issues he repeatedly highlighted throughout his campaign. Exit polls revealed a significant shift in voter sentiment, with independent voters and working-class Americans turning out in strong numbers. Trump’s tough stance on immigration and promises of economic r


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