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TikTok Restores Service, Thanks Trump

In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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TikTok Restores Service, Thanks Trump

In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
In this photo illustration an iPhone displays a popup message on the social media platform TikTok on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

TikTok said on Sunday said it was restoring its service after President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive the app's access in the US when he returns to power on Monday.

The statement came after US users reported being able to access the Chinese-owned service's website while the far more widely used TikTok app itself did not appear to be immediately available.

"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service," TikTok said in a statement that thanked Trump for "providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties (for) providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive."

TikTok stopped working for its 170 million American users late on Saturday before a law shutting it down on national security grounds took effect on Sunday. US officials had warned that under Chinese parent company ByteDance, there was a risk of Americans' data being misused.

Trump said he would "extend the period of time before the law's prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security."

"I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture," he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said the executive order would specify there would be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before his order.

Trump had earlier said he would most likely give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.

"A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned," a message notified users of TikTok, which disappeared from Apple and Google app stores late on Saturday.

Even if temporary, the unprecedented shutdown of TikTok is set to have a wide-ranging impact on US-China relations, US politics, the social media marketplace and millions of Americans who depend on the app economically and culturally.

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Technology

Tech Sovereignty and AI Networks Set to Dominate Mobile Meet

A picture taken on March 2, 2026 in Barcelona shows Qualcomm's stand adverstising 6G technology during the inauguration of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest mobile technology showcase and fair. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
A picture taken on March 2, 2026 in Barcelona shows Qualcomm's stand adverstising 6G technology during the inauguration of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest mobile technology showcase and fair. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
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Tech Sovereignty and AI Networks Set to Dominate Mobile Meet

A picture taken on March 2, 2026 in Barcelona shows Qualcomm's stand adverstising 6G technology during the inauguration of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest mobile technology showcase and fair. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
A picture taken on March 2, 2026 in Barcelona shows Qualcomm's stand adverstising 6G technology during the inauguration of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest mobile technology showcase and fair. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Tens of thousands flocked to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona Monday, with this year's edition of the telecoms trade fair marked by efforts to integrate AI into networks.

Celebrating its 20th year in the Catalan capital, the annual event is expected to draw around 109,000 professionals and visitors as well as major telecoms operators and equipment manufacturers from around the world, AFP reported.

Usually the day for major announcements, Monday will see appearances from the heads of Indian telecoms giant Bharti, America's AT&T and France's Orange.

And attendees are expected to pack an address by SpaceX chief Gwynne Shotwell, as press reports swirl of an imminent stock market listing for the Elon Musk-owned satellite internet firm.

The broader satellite communications sector will once again be "one of the defining themes of MWC this year", analysts from British research firm CCS wrote.

So-called "direct-to-device" connectivity -- in which phones or other connected gadgets communicate directly via satellites overhead -- "is the hottest topic right now, not just in the satellite industry, but in the mobile operator community", they added.

The telecoms industry can look back on a year of strong growth for global smartphone sales in 2025, adding 1.9 percent to reach 1.26 billion devices.

But firms will also have to ride the waves of multiple upcoming transformations in the sector.

"Sovereign AI will be a big discussion item" at this year's MWC, according to analysts from the GSMA telecoms industry association that hosts the fair, as countries look to insulate their tech infrastructure from geopolitical tensions.

Beyond political considerations, "the mobile industry is facing one of the most unprecedented challenges in its history," said Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst for market intelligence firm IDC.

Manufacturers are confronted with a surge in the price of working memory (RAM) for devices, pumped up by massive demand from tech giants building up their AI computing capacity.

Korean heavyweight Samsung showed off its latest phone models on Wednesday, with the expected prices of the three new gadgets already higher due to the cost of memory.

Over the short term, the price surge will likely trigger a "market contraction" in phones this year, IDC predicted.

But manufacturers will still be keen to show off the innovations crammed into their latest models.

Chinese producer Honor is displaying what it calls a "robot phone" designed to function as a portable AI companion.

The device has a camera on a small robot arm that acts as its head, which Honor said in a Sunday demonstration would be able to nod along with a conversation or look around in response to the user's questions.

The phone is set for launch in the second half of this year.

Chinese competitors Xiaomi and Huawei, sales champions in the connected devices sector, this weekend announced new ranges of watches, headphones and tablets.

Displayed on flashy corporate stands, such new gadgets will line the avenues of the multiple cavernous halls at MWC for visitors to peruse until Thursday.

Technology

Vietnam AI Law Takes Effect, First in Southeast Asia

People wearing raincoats ride motorbikes through the rain past a fast-food restaurant in Hanoi on February 26, 2026. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
People wearing raincoats ride motorbikes through the rain past a fast-food restaurant in Hanoi on February 26, 2026. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
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Vietnam AI Law Takes Effect, First in Southeast Asia

People wearing raincoats ride motorbikes through the rain past a fast-food restaurant in Hanoi on February 26, 2026. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
People wearing raincoats ride motorbikes through the rain past a fast-food restaurant in Hanoi on February 26, 2026. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

A law regulating artificial intelligence went into effect in Vietnam on Sunday, making it the first country in Southeast Asia with a comprehensive framework on the booming technology.

The legislation passed by the National Assembly in December establishes a risk-based regulatory model requiring human oversight and control of AI.

It is in force as of March 1, according to the text.

Technology

OpenAI Raises $110 billion, Including $50 billion from Amazon

FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo/File Photo
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OpenAI Raises $110 billion, Including $50 billion from Amazon

FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo/File Photo

OpenAI announced Friday a massive $110 billion funding round valuing the ChatGPT maker at $730 billion, with SoftBank, Nvidia and Amazon each making multi-billion dollar commitments as the artificial intelligence company races to meet surging global demand, AFP reported.

The investment round -- one of the largest in Silicon Valley history -- includes $30 billion from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, $30 billion from chip giant NVIDIA, and $50 billion from Amazon, with additional investors expected to join as the round progresses.