The Trump administration is expected to delay enforcement of a law requiring Chinese tech firm ByteDance to sell or shut down its U.S. operations of TikTok, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday days ahead of a 17 September deadline.
If confirmed, the move would mark the fourth such reprieve granted by U.S. President Donald Trump since taking office in January.
ByteDance was initially given until January 2025 to comply with legislation passed by Congress, citing national security concerns over potential Chinese surveillance or censorship via the app.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump gave an ambiguous response when asked about TikTok's future.
“I may or may not, we're negotiating TikTok right now. We may let it die, or we may, I don't know, it depends, up to China,” he said. “It doesn't matter too much. I'd like to do it for the kids.”
The White House has not commented on the expected extension, but the delay reflects the administration's hesitance to shut down an app reportedly used by 170 million Americans.
A previous attempt to spin off TikTok’s U.S. business into a company controlled by U.S. investors stalled in the spring, after Beijing signalled it would block any deal involving TikTok’s proprietary algorithm.
Progress on negotiations has since been slow.
On Sunday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held trade talks in Madrid, Spain with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top negotiator Li Chenggang.
TikTok was formally included on the agenda for the first time, the source said, though a deal is not expected before the 17 September deadline.
The latest round of negotiations - the fourth in four months - took place at the baroque Palacio de Santa Cruz that houses Spain's foreign ministry and concluded its first day on Sunday after about six hours with no indication of a breakthrough.
China's embassy in Madrid notified reporters of a potential concluding news conference on Monday afternoon, indicating that the talks could wrap up quickly. Some previous discussions over more complicated issues, such as talks in London over rare earths shipments, extended to a third day.
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Georgia’s ruling party has launched a formal legal challenge against the BBC, accusing the British public broadcaster of spreading false, defamatory, and politically charged allegations.
Britain’s Royal Navy has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its first full-sized autonomous helicopter, designed to track submarines and carry out high-risk maritime missions amid rising tensions in the North Atlantic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 16 January, offering Russia’s help to mediate tensions and promote dialogue in the Middle East.
Armenia has reaffirmed that it has no intention of taking any actions directed against Iran, with senior officials stressing that relations with Tehran remain friendly and constructive.
The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
At least four people were injured after a large fire and explosions hit a residential building in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities said.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any military action against Tehran, according to two sources close to the kingdom’s government cited by AFP.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Wednesday that Denmark was unable to change the U.S. position on Greenland after talks with American officials in Washington.
Protests that erupted across Iran in recent weeks have largely subsided following a sweeping security crackdown that residents and human rights groups say killed thousands of people.
Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said on Friday that the country will hold a snap election after political parties failed to form a government following the resignation of the previous administration amid widespread protests.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday after a court found he obstructed authorities from arresting him following his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
The United States stands by the “brave people of Iran,” and President Donald Trump "has made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.
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