President Trump is set to meet with top White House officials on Wednesday to discuss proposals aimed at securing the future of Tiktok in the United States, according to two sources familiar with the plan.
Trump will be considering suggesting a new ownership structure for the popular video app, which is owned by the Chinese internet giant ByteDance. Lawmakers and other US officials have raised concerns about the app’s ties to China, citing national security issues. A federal law passed last year requires Tiktok to change its ownership or face a ban in the US. The most recent deadline for this ban is Saturday.
The meeting will be attended by Vice President JD Vance, who was appointed by Trump in early February to find a solution to save popular apps, along with two other individuals who requested anonymity. They mentioned that the new ownership structure could involve private equity firm Blackstone and tech company Oracle.
This meeting is just the latest development in Tiktok’s ongoing national saga, as the app has gained immense popularity in the US despite facing intense scrutiny in Washington. Trump has expressed his desire to save the app and previously extended the deadline for a potential transaction in January. He has hinted that he may do so again if a suitable plan is not reached by the beginning of this month.
Tiktok has not responded immediately to a request for comment.
It remains to be seen whether the potential deal being discussed will adhere to the law. The law stipulates that less than 20% of Tiktok or its parent company can be owned by individuals or entities from countries considered “foreign enemies,” including China.
Furthermore, the law prohibits new entities from collaborating with ByteDance to operate video recommendation technologies or establish data sharing agreements.
Last week, Trump suggested that he could potentially ease tariffs on China in exchange for support for the deal.
Tiktok has stated that it is not up for sale, as the Chinese government is blocking any potential deal.
MWhen a friend enters the village hall and views footage from his son’s third birthday party, a mix of panic and disbelief washes over his face. “I didn’t realize we were supposed to dress up,” he exclaims upon seeing my attire. I feel my cheeks flush. I’m clad in a mint green tulle midi dress with sheer sleeves and a tiered skirt that resembles a Quality Street girl or a three-year-old celebrating a birthday. Let’s face it, this isn’t the most practical ensemble for serving cake to 18 sticky-handed toddlers, but when I blurt it out to my friend in an attempt to clear up any confusion, the avant-garde nature… The appearance was not quite what I intended. My choice was that of AI.
I have a fondness for unique clothing. Unconventional cuts, distinctive fabrics, vibrant colors, and exciting textures. My wardrobe is my identity, my sanctuary, my passion, and my happy place. Or at least, it used to be. Since the arrival of my second child, getting dressed has become a daunting task. I’m overwhelmed by choices and struggle with decision fatigue every time I approach my overflowing closet. With a 3-year-old and a 6-month-old vying for my attention, I find myself short on time and inundated. This morning, I hastily threw on clothes while my youngest wailed for a nap. My once pristine personal style quickly deteriorated, now tainted with breast milk and squished bananas.
Desiring a Change As I stood naked in front of the mirror with the clock ticking down, I yearned for a personal stylist. Someone to peruse my wardrobe and dictate what I should wear for daycare pickup or a night out with friends (in an ideal world). Hence, I made the decision to explore a styling app.
a
Weather apps were a staple of the first iPhone in 2007, and their popularity hasn’t waned since. Forecast accuracy and options may have improved dramatically, but forecast results often vary widely from app to app.
Most weather services start with roughly the same data, because weather agencies tend to use networks of instruments to record their observations and share them freely. But there are differences in how each agency analyzes and models the data to create forecasts, and the chaotic nature and complexity of the weather system means that small changes can create big fluctuations.
A good weather app might not be able to brighten up the currently lackluster British summer, but it can help you prepare for the drizzle and occasional sunshine. Here are our picks for the five best weather apps.
Most accurate: UK Met Office
Founded in 1854, the Met Office is one of the world’s oldest national weather services, and its app is the UK’s most popular. Its supercomputers analyze 215 billion weather observations every day, at a speed of 14 quadrillion calculations per second. The resulting models are then fine-tuned by meteorologists to create forecasts. The process seems to work well, as the app was named most accurate in the World Meteorological Organization’s Weather App Awards. In addition to hourly and daily forecasts, the app features long-range forecasts for up to a month, and maps showing rainfall and cloud cover for the past six hours and the next five days.
Best for simplicity: BBC Weather
The BBC Weather app used forecasts from the UK Met Office until 2018, but is now provided by DTN (formerly MeteoGroup). Its output is based on the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMRWF) model as well as their own in-house model. Simple and basic, the app features a 14-day hourly forecast including temperature, wind, humidity, and visibility. The BBC recently revealed that they choose the most pessimistic outlook when choosing a symbol to represent the day’s forecast, a good choice for those looking for a pleasant surprise.
On July 11th, unexpected heavy rain hit Warsaw, Poland. Photo: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock
Best for extensive data: AccuWeather
US-based AccuWeather claims to have the most data in its forecasts, incorporating over 190 climate models, including those from the Meteorological Agency. The company’s app provides minute-by-minute forecasts and “feels like” temperatures that factor in sun intensity, wind, humidity, cloud cover, and elevation. It also offers a detailed air quality index and a range of other variables, including dew point temperature, indoor humidity, and cloud ceiling height. To use many features, such as hourly 10-day forecasts and longer-term 90-day forecasts, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid version.
For weather enthusiasts, FlowX lets you compare forecasts from different weather agencies, including ECMRWF, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Canadian Meteorological Centre. Select a forecast and it will be displayed on a map that you can scroll through in time. Choose whether to see precipitation, cloud cover, temperature, and even wave height and surface ozone levels, allowing you to make your own informed decision about the chances of rain or shine.
Best for aesthetics: Yr
The lesser known Yr app is a joint venture between the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, the latter of which was founded in 1866 and is almost as old as the Meteorological Office. It’s one of the easiest to use apps to scroll through a photorealistic sky to see what the sky will look like for the next 48 hours. It’s also perfect for off-grid adventures, as it provides accurate forecasts based on your coordinates, rather than searching for the weather in your nearest area like most apps do.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in a case that may have significant implications for the federal government’s relationship with social media companies and online misinformation. The plaintiffs in Marcy v. Missouri claim that the White House’s request to remove false information about the coronavirus on Twitter and Facebook constitutes unlawful censorship in violation of the First Amendment.
The discussion began with Brian Fletcher, the Justice Department’s acting chief attorney general, arguing that the government’s actions do not cross the line from persuasion to coercion. He also disputed the lower court’s portrayal of events in the ruling, calling it misleading or containing quotes taken out of context.
“When the government convinces a private organization not to distribute or promote someone else’s speech, it is not censorship but rather persuading the private organization to act within its legal rights,” stated Fletcher.
The justices, particularly conservatives Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, pressed Fletcher on where the distinction lies between coercing and persuading a company. Fletcher defended the government’s actions as part of a broader effort to mitigate harm to the public.
Louisiana Attorney General Benjamin Aguignaga argued that the government was covertly pressuring platforms to censor speech, violating the First Amendment. The lawsuit, led by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, accused the government of infringing on constitutional rights.
Several justices, including liberals Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, also weighed in on the government’s efforts to address potential harm and the boundaries of the First Amendment. Sotomayor criticized the factual inaccuracies in the plaintiffs’ lawsuit.
Aguignaga apologized for any shortcomings in the brief and acknowledged that it may not have been as thorough as it should have been.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
