Chinese officials are weighing options for TikTok as the popular short-form video app faces an outright ban in the U.S. on Jan. 19. One possible option they are discussing is selling its U.S. operations to X owner Elon Musk, according to a report from Bloomberg.  The Chinese government would “strongly” prefer TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance,…

Data from the first week of New York City’s congestion pricing policy shows it’s having an effect. MTA, New York’s public transit authority, reported a small but noticeable dip in traffic on some of Manhattan’s busiest streets. The program faced major pushback in New York and New Jersey. However, officials from the MTA said total…

The American Alliance for Equal Rights is suing restaurant chain McDonald’s for alleged discrimination. The organization, led by Edward Blum, who successfully argued against affirmative action in colleges before the U.S. Supreme Court, is now targeting the golden arches and its scholarship program for Latino and Hispanic students. The lawsuit alleges that McDonald’s Hacer National…

Efforts to rescue more than 500 workers trapped in one of South Africa’s deepest mines continued Tuesday, Jan. 14. More than 100 miners reportedly died from dehydration and starvation so far. The workers have been inside the mile-and-a-half deep mine just southwest of Johannesburg for months, with some miners being underground as far back as…

The iconic sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” is celebrating its 50th season in a big way. Fans will soon get to step into the world of “SNL” with a brand-new immersive experience in Manhattan. The SNL Immersive Experience will take place at New York City’s Rockefeller Center. The event allows fans to explore a…

Special Counsel David Weiss, who investigated President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, issued his final report Monday, Jan. 13. In the 280-page report, Weiss criticized the president for making “gratuitous and wrong” accusations that politics tainted his years-long case. Weiss charged Hunter Biden with tax and gun crimes, but the president pardoned his son this past fall. Weiss…

The Justice Department posted special counsel Jack Smith’s investigative report on the 2020 election interference case involving President-elect Donald Trump to its website Tuesday, Jan, 14. In it, Smith said he believed there was sufficient evidence to convict Trump of trying to obstruct the 2020 election results should the case have gone to trial.  Trump pleaded not…

Strong winds in fire-weary Southern California could be hazardous on Tuesday, Jan. 14, according to the National Weather Service. And nominees for prominent positions in the incoming Trump administration prepare for confirmation hearings this week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Strong winds return to Southern California, threatening…

In late December, President Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100, and the White House ordered flags to fly at half-staff in his honor for 30 days, per tradition. This means flags would fly at half-staff during President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day on Monday, Jan. 20. However, citing a federal statute, Texas Gov. Greg…

Starbucks is reversing its open-door policy. Now, if you want to hang out or use the bathroom at one of the coffee giant’s locations, you’ll need to buy something. It’s part of a new code of conduct for its company-owned stores. It includes bans on discrimination, harassment, panhandling, smoking, vaping and drinking outside alcohol. It…