NewsTikTok's future is in balance with Trump's eyes on the platform's fate. What else has happened overnight?
TikTok's future is in balance with Trump's eyes on the platform's fate. What else has happened overnight?
It happened while you were sleeping. Here's what global agencies reported overnight from Monday to Tuesday.
- Donald Trump, President-elect of the USA, said that he has a "warm spot in his heart for TikTok" and announced that he would look into the issue of banning the platform in the United States. Trump added that, according to his advisers, TikTok helped him gain support from the youngest voters. The appeals court in Washington ruled that the TikTok ban if it remains under the control of the Chinese company ByteDance, is constitutional. The company plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, but if the court refuses to intervene, the ban will take effect on 19th January. During his campaign, Trump opposed a bill banning TikTok that was related to the support of billionaire Jeff Yass, one of TikTok's minority shareholders.
- On Monday in Marica, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, a tragic accident occurred. A strong gust of wind toppled the structure while installing a 56-metre holiday decoration resembling a Christmas tree. As a result of this incident, one of the employees of the company installing the decoration died, and two others were injured. According to city authorities, the injured were transported to a hospital, and their lives were not in danger. The decoration was part of a festive holiday concert planned for Tuesday. A police investigation confirmed that strong winds caused the tragedy.
- In North Macedonia, an investigation has been initiated regarding alleged financial abuses related to gambling licences issued by the State Lottery. Among the suspects are a former prime minister and other high-ranking officials, such as a former deputy prime minister and a former general secretary. The investigation concerns losses valued at 8.2 million euros. Police searched nine locations, but no officials were detained. Macedonian media, including "Kurir," suggest that among the suspects are Dimitar Kovachevski, a former prime minister, and Artan Grubi, a former deputy prime minister, who reportedly fled to Kosovo.
- The United States is preparing a new round of sanctions against Georgian officials accused of "undermining democracy." According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, visa restrictions were imposed on 20 politicians from the ruling party on Friday. Miller emphasised that the U.S. is concerned about the actions of the Georgian Dream party, which undermines democratic processes in the country. The new sanctions are a response to the election of Mikheil Kavelashvili as the President of Georgia, which outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili deemed unconstitutional. Zurabishvili announced she would remain in office until the new parliament elects a new president.
