US AND CANADA

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ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has finalized binding agreements with US and international investors to establish a new operational structure for its American business, TikTok's boss revealed to employees on Thursday. This joint venture, designed to manage TikTok's US operations, will be 50% owned by a consortium of investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Emirati firm MGX, according to CEO Shou Zi Chew's memo.

The deal, which is set to close on 22 January, would end years of efforts by Washington to force ByteDance to sell its US operations over national security concerns.

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The United States has announced plans for a wide-ranging arms package for Taiwan valued at approximately $11.1 billion, marking one of the largest proposed weapons sales to the self-ruled island in recent years. The move underscores Washington's continued support for Taipei as tensions with China remain elevated across the Taiwan Strait.

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Dan Bongino has announced that he will step down from his role as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in January, bringing an end to a brief but highly scrutinized tenure at the agency. Bongino confirmed his decision in a post on X, where he expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve. He did not give a specific reason for his departure.

Earlier the same day, President Trump publicly praised Bongino, saying he had done a great job in office and suggesting that he wished to return to his media career. Bongino was appointed to the deputy director position in February by Trump, a move that drew

widespread attention because the role had traditionally been filled by career FBI agents rather than political appointees or media figures.

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Authorities in Australia have charged a 24-year-old man in connection with the shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach over the weekend that killed 15 people and injured multiple others.

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Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization that Charlie Kirk turned into a political juggernaut, will convene its flagship conference on Thursday for the first time since the assassination of its charismatic founder, testing the durability of a fractious movement that helped return President Donald Trump to the White House.

Kirk served as a unifying figure on the American right, marshaling college students, online influencers and Republican politicians. But now the party’s populist wing is skirmishing over the meaning of “America First” and the future of a decade-old movement defined more by the force of Trump’s personality than loyalty to a particular ideological project.

Thousands of people are expected to gather for the four-day meeting in Phoenix. Vice President JD Vance, media personalities and a handful of Trump administration officials are slated to appear, plus Christian rock bands and pastors. Attendees will have the chance to take selfies with popular figures and participate in discussions about political organizing, religion and conservative critiques of American culture.

Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, will have a prominent role as the organization’s new leader. The conference promises to be an extended tribute to her husband, who many on the right see as a martyr for conservatism and Christianity after he was slain at only 31 years old.

Guillory's The Wedding Date, published in 2018, launched a six-book series and quickly became a favorite among romance readers. The story centers on Alexa Monroe and Drew Nichols, two strangers who meet in an elevator and agree to attend a wedding together. What starts as a practical arrangement soon turns into something more complicated and emotionally charged, a setup well-suited to Netflix's global audience.

The announcement reinforces the Sussexes' continued relevance at the streamer. Their 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan remains Netflix's most-watched documentary debut to date, while projects like Live to Lead, Heart of Invictus, and Polo have broadened their portfolio. Meghan's lifestyle series With Love, Meghan and upcoming projects further signal ambition.

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The Department of State announced Tuesday that the United States is designating Clan del Golfo, one of Colombia’s largest illegal armed groups, as a terrorist organization.

The move marks the latest step by Washington to bolster counter-narcotics and security efforts near the Colombia–Venezuela border. Tensions in the region have escalated after President Donald Trump accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of facilitating criminal operations tied to drug trafficking.

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President Donald Trump delivered a politically charged speech Wednesday carried live in prime time on network television, seeking to pin the blame for economic challenges on Democrats while announcing he is sending a $1,776 bonus check to U.S. troops for Christmas.

The remarks came as the nation is preparing to settle down to celebrate the holidays, yet Trump was focused more on divisions within the country than a sense of unity. His speech was a rehash of his recent messaging that has so far been unable to calm public anxiety about the cost of groceries, housing, utilities and other basic goods.