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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration says it has agreed on a deal that will let TikTok keep away from a US ban.
What’s the context? TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese language tech firm ByteDance, was presupposed to be topic to a nationwide ban beginning in January 2025, after a deadline for ByteDance to promote the app — imposed by Congress in 2024 — handed unmet.
As a substitute, President Donald Trump has signed a sequence of government orders punting on the ban. The newest of these orders, in June, set the brand new deadline for September 17 — this Wednesday.
What does the deal say? We don’t know but, although any deal would require the sale of TikTok to a US-based proprietor. As is commonly the case underneath Trump, the introduced deal is at the moment only a “framework,” in accordance with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Chinese language officers stated Monday that the 2 sides had reached a “fundamental consensus” on a deal.
Why did the US wish to ban TikTok within the first place? Concern about TikTok boils all the way down to a priority about Chinese language affect. ByteDance’s shut relationship with the Chinese language authorities, coupled with the app’s proprietary content material algorithm and huge attain — TikTok has about 170 million American customers — imply China may acquire entry to large quantities of American knowledge or use TikTok to unfold propaganda.
Why does this matter? TikTok’s huge person base within the US means a possible ban is a politically delicate subject, notably with younger voters who’re turning into more and more electorally essential for each events.
What comes subsequent? It’s nonetheless doable Trump pushes the deadline for the ban again additional as phrases of the deal — if it holds — are finalized. For now, Trump stated he’s set to talk with Chinese language President Xi Jinping in regards to the deal on Friday.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
It’s essentially the most great time of the 12 months: The 2025 World Athletics Championships started over the weekend in Tokyo, Japan, which suggests 9 days of wonderful monitor and subject motion. However the remainder of the schedule goes to have a tough time topping my favourite race of the meet to date, from this morning (East Coast time, not less than — Tokyo is 16 hours forward).
Within the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the place runners leap over 4 limitations and one water leap per lap for seven and a half laps, New Zealand runner Geordie Beamish took a surprising win over double world champion and double Olympic gold medalist Soufiane El Bakkali. It’s the form of end it is advisable to see to imagine, and you may watch it right here. Have an incredible night!
