The US Supreme Court has approved a proposal to ban Tiktok, and the
decision about the app's future is now in the hands of Donald Trump and
his government.
The background to the potential ban is allegations that Tiktok's owner
allowed the Chinese state to spy on users and spread propaganda.
The leader of the Liberal Party in Sweden, Johan Pehrson, suggests that
Sweden and Europe should also introduce a ban on Tiktok if ties to China
are not severed.
The US Supreme Court approves the proposal to ban Tiktok in the US.
Now it is up to Donald Trump and his government to decide what happens to Tiktok.
- I will make the decision, says Trump in an interview with CNN.
The Chinese company Bytedance has until Sunday to sell Tiktok to a US owner. Otherwise, Tiktok will be banned in the country.
Tiktok has previously appealed that the app should be banned. But on Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled that a ban is not unconstitutional.
Up to Trump
According to the White House, it is Donald Trump, who takes office as president on Monday, who will decide on Tiktok's future.
Trump has previously signaled that he will not immediately implement the ban.
- Ultimately, it is up to me, so you will see what I do, Trump said in an interview with CNN shortly after the Supreme Court's decision.
When asked if he will try to overturn the decision, Trump replied:
- Congress has given me the decision so I will be the one to make the decision.
Talking to China
According to information to NBC News, Tiktok's CEO Shou Chew will attend Trump's inauguration.
And in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump says he has discussed with China's president
Already, many American users have fled to another Chinese-owned app, Rednote.
Photo: TT
Accusations of espionage
The background to the ban is that Tiktok's owners have been accused of letting the Chinese state spy on and collect data on their users. They are also accused of spreading propaganda.
The ban will likely mean that the app can no longer be downloaded in the United States. Users who already have Tiktok will be able to use it without making updates, which means that the app will deteriorate over time, according to the New York Times.
"Bewitched a generation"
The Liberal party leader Johan Pehrson believes that Sweden and Europe should follow suit and introduce a ban.
"Now it looks like the United States is banning Tiktok. The Chinese spy app that has bewitched a generation will be forced out of China's hands. Good. But Sweden and Europe must follow suit. If Tiktok doesn't cut ties with China - then we have to ban the app here too," he writes on X. Donald Trump has opened up about not directly implementing the ban. Photo: AP
The US Power Shift US-China Relations China Attends Trump's Ceremony – Despite Tariff Threat
For the first time, China is sending a government representative to an inauguration of a US president, writes the Washington Post.
Vice President Han Zheng has announced that he will attend Donald Trump's ceremony on Monday. Normally, only China's ambassador to the US attends.
"We are ready to work with the new US administration to improve dialogue and communication," the Chinese Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement.
Trump has already signaled that he plans to take a tough line towards China and threatened strong tariffs on Chinese imports. Concerns about escalating trade tensions between the countries have prompted China to push for an early trade deal. At the same time, Beijing has made it clear that it will respond in kind if Trump makes good on his threats.
Putin's Russia Part of British Parliament Infiltrated by Russians
Before Christmas, Russian diplomats managed to get into parts of the British Parliament that only politicians and civil servants have access to, according to information from The Guardian.
- We suspect that they just wanted to brag to the Kremlin that they had infiltrated the British Parliament. It is not ideal, but they were exposed before any damage could be done, says a source.
The newspaper writes that the incident raises questions about the security of the parliament, which according to information is often put to the test.
Russian diplomats have been banned from visiting the parliament since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. During the infiltration before Christmas, however, the diplomats managed to get into the protected area during a guided tour.
US Elections Trump's Team Trump Appoints Movie Stars as "Ambassadors"
US President-elect Donald Trump wants to build a bigger and stronger Hollywood. That's why he's appointing three movie stars as special ambassadors to promote domestic film production, writes AP.
"It's my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone as special ambassadors for a distinguished but very troubled place, Hollywood, California," Trump writes on his social media platform Truth Social.
According to Trump, Hollywood has "lost a lot of business to foreign countries" over the past four years and needs to return to its glory days.
What the actors will do in their new roles is still unclear. In addition, the AP points out that this type of envoy is normally appointed in conflict zones such as the Middle East, not California.
Luxury oceanfront home splits in two – landslides new threat after fires
Even moderate rain could worsen the disaster in California after the fires. American authorities fear that. The scorched ground cannot absorb rainfall, which could lead to flooding and landslides.
“Running water, soil and rock, both within the fire-stricken area and further downstream, can destroy roadways, bridges, roads and buildings. Without action, this could lead to serious injury or death,” warns the NWS weather agency.
Even without rain, landslides can occur in the area. Fox News Los Angeles reports from a $20 million oceanfront home that survived the fires but was split in two when the ground collapsed.
There is currently no forecast for rain and Los Angeles generally does not receive much rainfall per year, but February is the wettest month.
Iconic Coastal Highway Could Be Closed for Weeks
The iconic Pacific Coast Highway in California could be closed for weeks, according to Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart. CNN reports. The damage from the wildfires is extensive.
Authorities are also taking precautions in case it starts to rain, as Malibu's slopes are very vulnerable to landslides.
- If there is a rainstorm, this will be almost catastrophic.
14 years in prison for Pakistan's former prime minister
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption, Reuters reports. Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, has also been sentenced to seven years in prison in the same case, according to AFP.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023, accused of crimes in more than 200 cases that he describes as politically motivated in order to stop him from regaining power in the country.
Bushra Bibi, who was previously in custody but released, was arrested again in the courtroom after the verdict was delivered.
"Will not enter into a deal or seek leniency"
Imran Khan will not "enter into any deal" with the authorities or seek any form of leniency. The Pakistani ex-prime minister announced this after the 14-year prison sentence was announced on Friday, several news agencies report.
Opposition leader and party colleague Omar Ayub, however, has announced that the party will challenge the verdict.
“These are fabricated charges, and we will appeal this decision,” he said, according to AFP.
Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was also sentenced to seven years in prison in the corruption case. She was arrested on the spot in court, according to a spokesman.
