Tens of thousands of online pharmacies operate illegally, sell fake drugs: Report
A new U.S. government report reveals an overwhelming majority of online pharmacies are violating the law, selling counterfeit and potentially dangerous medications. The U.S. Trade Representative’s annual “Notorious Markets List,” released this week, shines a spotlight on the illegal pharmacy trade, which continues to threaten public health.
According to the 2024 report, 96% of the 35,000 online pharmacies are operating illegally while selling fake drugs to unsuspecting consumers. U.S. officials estimate that 20 new fake pharmacy websites are launched daily, selling medications without proper licenses or prescriptions.
“Counterfeiting and piracy is a shared global concern, harming people not just in the United States but also other countries,” said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a statement.
As digital shopping grows in popularity, many Americans have turned to the internet to purchase prescriptions. The surge in online pharmacy use accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic when home delivery of medications became a vital service. This trend follows the closure of 7,000 physical pharmacies nationwide since 2019.
The report also highlights 19 countries identified as key sources of counterfeit products. They include Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China and India. These nations are considered hubs for counterfeit goods through physical markets.
Additionally, the report draws attention to popular e-commerce platforms that sell counterfeit products, including clothing, shoes and beauty items. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, operates a Chinese app called Douyin Mall, which the report claims facilitates significant counterfeit sales.
U.S. officials are calling for stronger enforcement measures from global leaders. They’re urging for enhanced border security and tougher criminal penalties to combat counterfeit drugs.
Frank McCourt, Kevin O’Leary lead bid to buy TikTok as US ban looms
Two entrepreneurs—a billionaire sports team owner and an investor known for his role on a business-themed reality TV show—are joining together in a last-ditch effort to buy TikTok. The popular social media app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faces a Jan. 19 deadline to either sell to a U.S.-based owner or face a potential ban.
Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and current owner of French soccer club Olympique Marseille, is leading the bid through his nonprofit, Project Liberty.
In announcing the effort, McCourt said Kevin O’Leary, the Canadian-born businessman known for his appearances as an investor on the TV show “Shark Tank,” is also a partner in the bid.
The law allows President Joe Biden to delay a decision to apply the ban by 90 days if a potential buyer could reasonably reach a deal with ByteDance.
O’Leary hopes this offer will meet that standard.
“I intend to be there with [a letter of intent] that [President] Biden can look at and say, ‘This is a viable alternative, I’m going to stay the situation for 90 days to let the company engage with this buyer,’” O’Leary told Fox News on Monday, Jan. 6.
The offer would build on McCourt’s ongoing efforts to decentralize the internet and operate the app without TikTok’s algorithm. The algorithm drives targeted content to viewers based on what they engage with the most.
In a statement Thursday, Jan. 9, announcing the bid, McCourt said, “By keeping the platform alive without relying on the current TikTok algorithm and avoiding a ban, millions of Americans can continue to enjoy the platform. We look forward to working with ByteDance, President-elect [Donald] Trump, and the incoming administration to get this deal done.”
Trump opposes the TikTok ban, which would take effect one day before he assumes office. The president-elect wrote to the Supreme Court, urging it to block the ban so he can take action on it. The court will hear arguments from TikTok and the Justice Department on Friday.
Last April, Biden signed the law forcing TikTok to either sell to a U.S. owner or face a ban. The bill passed the House and Senate with wide support from both Democrats and Republicans.
Advocates worry about the influence China’s ruling Communist Party could have on ByteDance and the 170 million Americans using TikTok. Meanwhile, critics of the ban say it would go against users’ First Amendment rights.
At least 95 killed in 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Tibet
A powerful earthquake proves deadly in East Asia on Tuesday morning. And winter weather pounds the United States from the Great Plains to the East Coast. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
7.1 magnitude earthquake kills at least 95 in Tibet
At least 95 people are dead Tuesday after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Tibet, China, according to Chinese state media. The quake occurred just after 9 a.m. on Jan. 7 near Shigatse, one of Tibet’s holiest cities.
The quake reached a depth of 6.2 miles, damaging buildings and sending people running to the streets in neighboring Nepal and India. Cities as far away as Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city about 240 miles away, felt tremors.
The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center reported it at 6.8. Multiple aftershocks followed the initial quake.
In addition to the dozens of lives lost, local authorities said the disaster injured at least 130 people.
First winter storm of 2025 leaves at least 4 dead across multiple states
The system moved east on Monday, Jan. 6, from the Great Plains to the East Coast. It brought snow, blizzard conditions and ice. The storm hit cities like Kansas City and Cincinnati the hardest.
Authorities said a public works employee in Missouri suffered a fatal injury while working to remove snow. Two people in Wichita, Kansas, died in a weather-related crash, and one person in Houston, Texas, most likely died as a result of the cold weather, according to local authorities.
The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes across at least a half-dozen states.
While the heavy snow ended, the danger remained. Forecasters said the winter system is drawing cold air behind it, meaning states across the entire U.S. will experience a cold front.
Pentagon transfers 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Oman
The Pentagon said the U.S. transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman, which agreed to help re-settle them. Two of the detainees are former bodyguards for Osama Bin Laden and were being held at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.
None of the 11 detainees released were charged with crimes.
The move comes amid steps to reduce the population at the controversial U.S. military facility. Only 15 detainees remain at Guantánamo Bay’s detention facility, which the U.S. set up as the war on terror began after Sept. 11, 2001.
Of the 15 current detainees, only three are eligible for transfer. Three more are eligible for a periodic review, seven are involved in the military commissions process and two detainees were convicted and sentenced by military commissions.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration transferred four other detainees from Guantánamo, including one brought to the detention facility the day it opened in 2002. That person was never formally charged.
The move follows a recent ruling by a military judge that plea agreements with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and two other accused terrorists are valid and binding. Those deals take the death penalty off the table for the three men, who remain at Guantánamo Bay.
Biden attends memorial service for New Orleans terror attack victims
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended a memorial service Monday, Jan. 6, for the 14 victims killed in the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans. The interfaith prayer service was held at the famous St. Louis Cathedral in the city’s French Quarter, less than a mile away from the scene of the Bourbon Street terror attack.
Jill and I traveled to New Orleans to stand with a community defined by strength and resilience.
To grieve. To pray. And let them know that America stands with them, and mourns with them. pic.twitter.com/26Phe203WF
The president spoke at the service, reassuring the people of New Orleans they are not alone and highlighting the city’s enduring strength and resilience amid tragedy. He referred to past devastation experienced by the city, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“If there’s one thing we know: New Orleans defines strength and resilience,” the president said. “You define it, whether it’s in the form of this attack, from this attack, or hurricanes or super storms. This city’s people get back up.”
The president and first lady also visited the Bourbon Street memorial, where they placed flowers and prayed for the victims.
While in New Orleans, the Bidens met privately with grieving families, survivors and first responders.
Though both cases were dismissed, the special counsel is required to provide a report to Garland, who can then decide whether to make it public.
According to the letter and a legal filing, Trump’s lawyers and two former co-defendants in the documents case viewed a two-volume draft copy of the report over the weekend. They called the report “one-sided” and “slanted.”
In the letter, Trump’s lawyer requested Garland fire Smith, who is set to resign before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, or let the decision on the release of the report be handled by Trump’s incoming attorney general, Pam Bondi.
The lawyers for Trump’s two former co-defendants in the documents case also asked the judge who dismissed the case to halt the report’s release, citing her ruling that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.
While it is not clear when the report will be released, the lawyers have asked the judge for a hearing on their request by Friday, Jan. 10, believing the release is “imminent.”
‘Shark Tank’ star Kevin O’Leary announces bid to buy TikTok
With millions of social media users counting down TikTok’s days in the U.S., one businessman is looking to prevent the ban from taking effect. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary issued a press release Monday announcing his interest in purchasing TikTok.
O’Leary — known by “Shark Tank” fans as “Mr. Wonderful” — said he is partnering with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on the bid.
Speaking to Fox Business, O’Leary said he would need Trump’s help to seal the deal. O’Leary said he’s “protecting the privacy of 170 million American users” and “empowering creators and small businesses.”
TikTok faces a federal ban on Jan. 19 unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells. The Biden administration and other federal lawmakers believe TikTok threatens national security, accusing the Chinese government of using it to spy on Americans. Lawmakers fear the app is being used to weaponize and influence content Americans view.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments from ByteDance on why it should prevent the ban.
Small business owners concerned as TikTok ban looms
The popular social media app TikTok could be banned in the U.S. in a matter of days and the looming threat has some small business owners concerned. Since the app launched in 2017, small business owners say they have used TikTok in several ways, from advertising and marketing to selling goods directly.
TikTok estimates the ban would cost the company more than $1 billion in revenue in a single month.
If the ban does take effect, small businesses could still turn to alternatives like Instagram Reels, Snapchat and YouTube Shorts. However, owners raised concerns that it may be harder to reach teens since TikTok tends to be their preferred social media app.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over whether the ban violates the First Amendment on Jan. 10.
President-elect Donald Trump, who is not set to take office until Jan. 20, the day after the ban is scheduled to take effect, asked the Supreme Court to consider a delay on the ban taking effect.
A look at US Supreme Court 2025 docket and a warning from Chief Justice Roberts
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is expressing concerns about the growing disregard for the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of major rulings expected in 2025. In his year-end report, Roberts emphasized the importance of maintaining judicial independence, urging that court decisions be honored regardless of their political implications.
“Within the past few years, however, elected officials from across the political spectrum have raised the specter of open disregard for federal court rulings,” Roberts wrote. “These dangerous suggestions, however sporadic, must be soundly rejected. Judicial independence is worth preserving.”
Roberts also warned of the rise in violence directed at judges performing their duties. He noted that the number of hostile threats against judges has more than tripled in the past decade. One reason for the increase in threats, he suggested, is public officials who accuse the judiciary of political bias without credible evidence.
While acknowledging that public officials are entitled to criticize the judiciary, Roberts cautioned that “irresponsible rhetoric can fuel dangerous behavior.”
He added, “It is not in the nature of judicial work to make everyone happy. Most cases have a winner and a loser. Every administration suffers defeats in the court system — sometimes in cases with major ramifications for executive or legislative power or other consequential topics. Nevertheless, for the past several decades, the decisions of the courts, popular or not, have been followed, and the nation has avoided the standoffs that plagued the 1950s and 1960s.”
Roberts also issued a warning that court rulings must be followed and respected, just as the Supreme Court heads into a new year with several high-stakes cases on its docket. Some of these cases could have significant political and social implications.
Major cases in 2025
Attention is focused on these five major cases:
One of the most closely watched is the challenge to a proposed ban on TikTok, prompted by national security concerns due to the app’s ties to China. President Joe Biden signed a law that would ban the app unless it is sold to a U.S. company, and the Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether the ban should proceed.
The Supreme Court will also hear a case challenging a Tennessee law that bans transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for minors. The ruling could set a precedent for similar laws in other states.
Another key case will determine whether the federal government can regulate “ghost guns,” firearms made from kits that lack serial numbers. The justices will consider whether such kits, which can be assembled at home, should be classified as firearms subject to federal regulation.
Justices will also hear a challenge to a Texas law requiring age verification for visitors to pornography websites. The ruling could influence similar laws in around 20 states.
Lastly, the Supreme Court will address the scope of environmental impact assessments required under the National Environmental Policy Act, with the justices set to consider how broad these environmental considerations should be for federal agency actions.
As the justices prepare to rule on these major cases, which are likely to bring political and societal changes, Chief Justice Roberts is getting ahead of these decisions with the warning. He says that the rulings, no matter the outcome, will likely have a negative impact on either side of the political spectrum. However, he reiterated the decisions will be the law of the land, as intended by the U.S. government.
Venezuela fines TikTok $10M after viral challenges allegedly kill 3 children
Venezuela’s Supreme Court fined TikTok $10 million Monday, Dec. 30, alleging the platform failed to prevent the spread of viral challenges allegedly linked to the deaths of three children in recent months. The court accused the platform, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, of negligence and ordered it to establish an office in Venezuela to oversee content compliance with local laws.
The ruling stemmed from incidents involving challenges on TikTok that authorities say encouraged dangerous behaviors. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro publicly blamed the platform for the death of a 12-year-old girl who reportedly took tranquilizer pills as part of a challenge.
Accusations against TikTok pile up
Education Minister Héctor Rodríguez cited the death of a 14-year-old who inhaled substances during another challenge. On Nov. 21, Attorney General Tarek William Saab attributed the death of a third child to similar challenges on TikTok.
Judge Tania D’Amelio, who issued the ruling, said TikTok failed to implement “necessary and adequate measures” to curb harmful content.
The court ordered the platform to pay the fine within eight days, with funds directed toward creating a compensation fund for affected families.
TikTok has not yet responded to the ruling or requests for comment.
Social media crackdown
The Venezuelan government’s response highlights its broader crackdown on social media platforms. In recent years, the country blocked dozens of websites, including platforms that host dissenting voices.
Earlier this year, the government briefly banned access to X, formerly known as Twitter. It accused the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, of supporting anti-government activities.
Despite TikTok’s global community guidelines prohibiting content that promotes self-harm or dangerous activities, Venezuelan officials argued the platform does not adequately enforce its rules. This case spurred lawmakers to consider additional regulations targeting social media platforms operating in the country.
The fine and compliance order reflect Venezuela’s attempt to hold digital platforms accountable for harmful content while reigniting debates about online regulation and responsibility in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Trump asks Supreme Court to pause potential US TikTok ban
Donald Trump is continuing to engage in the legal battle over a possible TikTok ban. In a brief filed Friday, Dec. 27, the president-elect said the court should block the law from taking effect on Sunday, Jan. 19, one day before he takes office.
Trump’s brief is unusual because it does not comment on the case’s merits. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is suing the U.S. government, alleging a violation of its First Amendment rights.
Instead, Trump’s brief signaled his opposition to the ban and asked that he have the opportunity to resolve the issue, citing his election win as a factor.
“Through his historic victory on Nov. 5, 2024, President Trump received a powerful electoral mandate from American voters to protect the free-speech rights of all Americans –– including the 170 million Americans who use TikTok,” the brief states.
Earlier this year, Congress passed a law forcing TikTok to sell its U.S. operations or face a potential ban. The law set the deadline for ByteDance to sell or close TikTok one day before the next president took office.
The Biden administration is defending the law in court. They allege the app’s parent company operates primarily from headquarters in China. The company’s ties to China and its ruling Communist Party, they say, pose a grave threat to U.S. national security.
While Trump’s brief may not change much legally, it offers a clear signal that he opposes the ban. This could open the door to TikTok negotiating a deal to save its U.S. operations before the deadline.
The law allows a president to issue a 90-day extension if significant progress toward a sale exists.
TikTok has suffered at least one defeat along the way. An ideologically mixed three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit voted unanimously to reject TikTok’s challenge.
Universal Music Group, Amazon expand global relationship
Universal Music Group (UMG) and Amazon are joining forces to create what they’re calling “Streaming 2.0.” The two companies have announced an expanded partnership to foster innovations in music streaming.
In a press release on Monday, Dec. 23, UMG and Amazon revealed their plans to enhance product offerings, including new audiobooks and livestreaming content opportunities. According to the companies, the changes aim to further “authentic engagement between artists and fans.”
Fighting AI-generated content and protecting creators
The partnership also focuses on addressing the growing concerns surrounding AI-generated content. Both companies say they are committed to fighting fraud and ensuring that creators are protected from misuse of their work.
UMG’s efforts to protect artists
UMG has been safeguarding its artists, especially on platforms like TikTok. Earlier this year, UMG removed music by major artists like Taylor Swift and Drake from the app due to a licensing dispute. The disagreement primarily stemmed from fair compensation issues and AI-generated music’s impact on TikTok.
While UMG works to address these challenges, a larger issue remains: artists are not receiving fair pay from streaming services. Many musicians earn a fraction of a penny per stream on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. Despite millions of users and views, the content creators see very little in return.
Strengthening the Amazon-UMG relationship
Steve Boom, Amazon’s vice president of Audio, Twitch, and Games, stated, “UMG has always been a collaborative partner to Amazon Music, and as we continue to invent and introduce more artist-to-fan connections through our product and exclusive content, we’re redefining what it means to be a streaming service.”
This new deal follows a 2022 partnership between UMG and Amazon, which allowed Amazon Music and Twitch users to access more UMG content. The collaboration is poised to bring even more opportunities for artists and fans alike.
Trump open to keeping TikTok ‘around for a little while’ after 2020 sanctions
President-elect Donald Trump is rethinking his opposition to TikTok with less than a month before it faces an outright ban in the U.S. Trump’s comments come after his electoral victory in November, which saw significant gains with young voters.
“I’m going to have to start thinking about TikTok,” Trump said at a conservative conference in Phoenix over the weekend of Dec. 21. “I think we’re going to have to, we’re going to have to start thinking because we did go on TikTok. And we had a great response with billions of views, billions and billions of views. They brought me a chart, and it was a record, and it was so beautiful to see. And as they looked at it, I said, maybe we got to keep this sucker around a little while.”
The Senate passed a law in April that would force the short-form video app’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest TikTok due to national security concerns. ByteDance has made efforts to have that law overturned, and the Supreme Court will hear its challenge next month. But if it doesn’t get a favorable ruling, and they aren’t able to sell off the app, it will be banned in the U.S. as of Jan. 19.
“With respect to TikTok, I want to put it in the broader context,” then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in July 2020. “We have been engaged in a constant evaluation about ensuring that we protect the privacy of American citizens and their information as it transits, so this doesn’t relate to any one particular business or company but rather to American national security.”
“We are now evaluating each instance where we believe that U.S. citizens’ data that they have on their phones or in their system or in their health care records — we want to make sure that the Chinese Communist Party doesn’t have a way to easily access that,” he added.
Since Trump was elected in November, he met with TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Dec. 16. Following that meeting, the President-elect said the app holds a “warm spot” in his heart.
If TikTok doesn’t win its legal challenge, there is still a $20 billion bid sitting on the table from a group led by former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.
But recently, TikTok has had to deal with government intervention outside of the United States.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced Saturday, Dec. 21, the government will officially shut down the app in the country for the entirety of 2025. The move comes after the stabbing death of a teenager, which was the culmination of a social media feud at the end of a school day.
“The problem today is not our children, the problem today is us, the problem today is our society, the problem today is TikTok and all the others that are taking our children hostage,” Rama said of Albania’s TikTok ban.
Are social media hashtags dead?
Hashtags may no longer be the golden ticket for boosting social media engagement. Many reports suggest they don’t work as effectively across platforms as they used to.
On Tuesday, X owner Elon Musk weighed in on the conversation.
“Please stop using hashtags. The system doesn’t need them anymore, and they look ugly,” Musk posted.
Musk responded to an X user who asked Grok, the platform’s AI chatbot, if hashtags were still useful.
Grok replied, “If you really want to watch your engagement plummet like a stone into the abyss, go ahead—fill your posts with hashtags.”
Why hashtags may not work as well
The effectiveness of hashtags declined for several reasons. Social media algorithms, constantly evolving, now prioritize content differently. Posts overloaded with irrelevant or excessive hashtags are often flagged as spam.
In August, the American Marketing Association explained how platforms like Instagram identify spammy content, removing it from feeds and searches. This shift forces creators to rethink their strategies for visibility and engagement.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is also replacing hashtags as a tool for finding content. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram now operate more like traditional search engines, enabling users to see posts without hashtags.
“People go to TikTok and they’re like, ‘I want to fry an egg. I want to know how to make a soufflé,’” said Jason McDonald, director of JM Internet Group. “These search-generated queries are impacting, especially TikTok, also YouTube.”
How to adjust
Instead of spamming hashtags, integrate key terms naturally into captions. Those still wanting to use hashtags, should focus on niche and relevant tags. Generic ones like “#Love” or “#FYP” are unlikely to help with engagement.
Hashtags may not be completely dead, but they’re evolving. Adapting to new trends and experimenting with strategies could help content creators stay ahead in the ever-changing world of social media.