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Elon Musk Joins Trump at Rally Ahead of His Inauguration Today
Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
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Donald Trump addressed supporters at a victory rally in Washington, D.C., ahead of his inauguration today. He promised to sign multiple executive orders on his first day as president. Elon Musk briefly spoke during the event, during which Trump highlighted his new advisory team, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Before Trump’s speech, key supporters, including Kid Rock, actor Jon Voight, and members of Trump’s family, energized the crowd. Due to cold weather, the city is bustling with thousands of Trump supporters while officials work to move the inauguration ceremony indoors.
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The Federal Government has ordered the immediate transfer of victims from the recent tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Suleja, Niger State, to tertiary health facilities for advanced care. This directive was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a visit to Suleja on Sunday, where he conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sorrow over the incident. The explosion, which has claimed eight lives. The Minister of Health, NEMA, and other stakeholders will ensure the evacuation of victims to ICU facilities. Idris expressed concern over the rising number of tanker explosions, which have caused 265 deaths in five months. Recent incidents include an explosion in Agaie, Niger State, in September 2024 (48 deaths), another in Jigawa State in October (144 deaths), and the Suleja explosion, which has resulted in nearly 80 deaths so far. To address these tragedies, President Tinubu has formed a high-level committee, including various government agencies and stakeholders, to investigate the causes and propose preventive measures. Public awareness campaigns will also be intensified to discourage dangerous practices like scooping fuel at accident sites. The delegation, which included other high-ranking officials, met with the Emir of Suleja, visited victims in Suleja General Hospital, and inspected the explosion site.
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TikTok resumed operations in the United States on Sunday, January 19, 2025, after President-elect Donald J. Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying a federal ban on the app. Earlier that day, app stores had removed TikTok, which stopped functioning for U.S. users as a 2024 law requiring its removal took effect. Trump stated on Truth Social that he would issue an order on Monday to extend the time before the law’s prohibitions were enforced, allowing negotiations to address national security concerns. The law mandates TikTok’s sale by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to a non-Chinese entity due to fears of data misuse and propaganda, impacting 170 million U.S. users. TikTok confirmed efforts to restore service in agreement with its providers, expressing gratitude to Trump for ensuring service continuity without penalties. However, app stores like Google and Apple continued to enforce the ban, restricting TikTok downloads and updates. Trump’s order raised concerns about its legal foundation, as the law had bipartisan Congressional support and was upheld by the Supreme Court. The law allows for a 90-day extension if significant progress toward a sale is made, though TikTok claims a sale is unfeasible, citing its global operations. China has signaled resistance to such a move, emphasizing its control over the app’s recommendation algorithm. Trump suggested the U.S. could hold a 50% stake in a joint venture but provided no details. Meanwhile, creators celebrated TikTok’s temporary return, but uncertainties linger about the app’s future and Trump’s ability to implement his plans.
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Meanwhile, on Sunday, Hamas released three Israeli female hostages as a ceasefire began, while Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, early Monday. The hostages, captured during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, were reunited with their families and reported to be in good health. Under the 42-day deal, 30 more hostages will be released gradually over the coming weeks. The truce allowed thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their neighborhoods in Gaza and facilitated the entry of over 630 trucks of humanitarian aid. In the West Bank, crowds celebrated the release of Palestinian detainees, including prominent activist Khalida Jarrar. Since the conflict began, at least 46,913 people have been killed and 110,750 injured in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which attributes most casualties to women and children. Israel reports 1,200 deaths from the October 7 attack, including over 300 soldiers and 405 additional military casualties during its Gaza operations.
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Arik Air shareholders have accused the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) of spreading falsehoods and mismanaging the airline since its forceful takeover in 2017. They refuted AMCON’s claim of a ₦445 billion debt. They alleged AMCON is using propaganda to deflect from its failures, including reducing Arik’s fleet from 30 to 3 aircraft and severely curtailing its operations. The shareholders stated ongoing legal cases against AMCON and its executives, citing a Federal High Court ruling ordering AMCON to file financial reports, which they claim it ignored. They also accused AMCON of falsely portraying Arik’s pre-receivership state, fabricating financial audits, and failing to maintain or recover the airline’s assets. Additionally, the shareholders criticized AMCON for mishandling other projects, such as power initiatives linked to Rockson Engineering, resulting in significant delays and losses. They called for AMCON to cease misinformation, respect the judiciary, and provide accountability for its management practices.
