
TikTok May Soon Return in New Avatar Amid Sale Talks and September App Launch
Despite the 'divest-or-ban' law being in effect since January 2025, the app has only faced a single day of actual service disruption in the country. Now, it looks like TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is inching closer to a solution that could avoid a full ban. According to the report, a sale is nearly finalized that would see a group of 'non-Chinese' investors—led by Oracle—take over a significant portion of TikTok's U.S. operations, while ByteDance retains a minority stake.
This proposed structure is said to comply with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. However, the deal still requires a green light from the Chinese government, which is currently negotiating other trade issues with the Trump administration, particularly over tariffs.
In parallel, TikTok's internal teams are working diligently on a new version of the app, internally referred to as 'M2.' This updated platform is expected to launch in U.S. app stores on September 5, 2025, effectively replacing the existing version of TikTok, which could be phased out by March 2026.
Trump's administration had earlier issued a third extension—raising legal eyebrows—that postponed TikTok's ban from app stores. That deadline now expires in mid-September, aligning closely with the proposed M2 app release. If things go according to plan, the original TikTok app will disappear from app stores the day M2 goes live.
In related developments, The Wall Street Journal reported that Oracle, a key player in the potential TikTok deal, has secured a groundbreaking agreement with the U.S. General Services Administration. This arrangement gives the federal government access to Oracle's cloud infrastructure at a significant discount—up to 75 percent off licensed software. This move could further strengthen Oracle's position in the ongoing negotiations and reflect broader collaboration with the federal government.
Though details of the M2 app remain limited, it is expected to carry over much of the core functionality and user experience from TikTok, ensuring a seamless transition for its millions of American users. The big shift would primarily be behind the scenes—in ownership, data management, and compliance with national security protocols.
The coming weeks will be crucial as all parties seek to finalize agreements, win over regulators in both Washington and Beijing, and prepare for the September rollout. Until then, TikTok continues to walk a tightrope between innovation, diplomacy, and legality—one scroll at a time.
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
From the margins to the centre
The idea of the Global South historically referred to the grouping of countries primarily in Asia, Africa and Latin America that shared a history of colonialism and ongoing struggles against global inequalities. They sought to transform a historically Western-dominated world order through 'South-South cooperation' — a set of practices and organising concepts that these nations aim to use to achieve development through mutual assistance and increased solidarity among themselves. This aspiration has roots in landmark initiatives such as the Bandung Conference of 1955 and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which sought to foster economic and cultural cooperation while promoting human rights and establishing a New International Economic Order (NIEO). These movements aimed to counteract the vertical power relations between former colonies and their colonisers, advocating for fair trade relationships, sovereignty over natural resources, and the right to nationalise key industries. Also Read | Global South's voice key to contemporary world's progress: PM Modi tells Ghana's Parliament The Global South has never been monolithic. Its diversity — vastly different histories, economies and political systems — has been both a potential source of strength and a cause of internal divisions that complicate efforts to form unified positions on global issues. However, the BRICS grouping has emerged as a more solidified possibility, representing a formalised attempt to advance many of the Global South's aims, even if it doesn't entirely embody its full aspirations or overcome all its inherent contradictions. The recent BRICS summit held in Rio de Janeiro exemplified this challenge, with members navigating different relationships with both the U.S. and Russia, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where most BRICS members have sought a middle ground in contrast to Western positions. Institutional voice BRICS began as an economic acronym coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001. It has now evolved into a substantial intergovernmental organisation comprising 35% of the global economy and almost half of the world's population — surpassing the G7's 30% economic share as of 2024. The bloc's primary objectives centre on fostering economic, political, and social cooperation among members while increasing their collective influence in international governance. This includes advocating for greater representation in global bodies, coordinating economic policy, and reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar. Initiatives such as the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) were designed to offer alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Also Read | G7 summit: Will highlight priorities of Global South in G-7, says PM Modi The Rio summit demonstrated both the potential and limitations of this approach. The declaration's strong language on Gaza and Iran reflected genuine consensus on critical geopolitical issues as opposed to the West's view, while India's successful inclusion of condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack showcased the bloc's capacity to address diverse security concerns. The summit also endorsed expanded roles for India and Brazil in the UN Security Council, advancing a long-standing demand for greater Global South representation. Significantly, the summit introduced a new 'partner countries' category, extending associate status to nations including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. This institutional innovation suggests BRICS is evolving beyond its original membership structure to accommodate broader Global South participation. Priorities and realities The Global South's diversity becomes particularly apparent when examining BRICS members' different regional contexts and priorities. Brazil's focus on environmental issues and sustainable development reflects its role as a guardian of the Amazon rainforest, while also serving its agribusiness interests. India's emphasis on technology and services reflects its emergence as a global IT powerhouse, even as it maintains significant agricultural and manufacturing sectors. China's Belt and Road Initiative represents perhaps the most ambitious attempt at South-South cooperation, yet it has also generated concerns about debt dependency among recipient countries. Russia's inclusion in BRICS, despite its geographical location largely in the Global North, reflects how the grouping wants to transcend simple geographical boundaries for shared interests in challenging Western hegemony. Intra-BRICS trade has grown at a faster pace than that of G7 countries, demonstrating tangible shifts in global economic activity. Trade between Brazil and China increased fiftyfold in 20 years, and China-India trade rose 28 times in the same period. The NDB has begun providing alternative funding for sustainable development and infrastructure projects, addressing perceived gaps left by traditional financial institutions. Yet, the path to challenging Western economic dominance faces significant obstacles. The U.S. dollar remains entrenched as the world's principal reserve currency, used in the vast majority of global trade transactions. While BRICS advocates for lesser dependence on the dollar, creating a workable alternative currency system faces enormous technical and political hurdles. Internal Contradictions A critical examination of BRICS reveals inherent contradictions that mirror broader challenges in South-South cooperation. While the rhetoric emphasises solidarity and mutual benefit, the pursuit of national interests by individual members can overshadow collective goals. For example, China's domination within the grouping has resulted in lopsided economic engagement with other developing nations, leading to what some critics have termed 'near-colonial patterns of trade', where raw materials are exported to China in exchange for manufacturing goods. Brazil's advocacy for fairer global trading systems, while simultaneously pursuing the interests of its competitive export-oriented agribusiness sector, exemplifies how national economic interests can complicate collective solidarity. Russia's recent actions in Ukraine negate the idea of South-South cooperation as a legacy of former colonised nations. Besides, Western powers have not remained passive observers of BRICS' growth. Donald Trump, responding to the bloc's criticism of unilateral tariffs and military strikes on Iran, threatened that any country 'aligning itself with' what he termed 'the Anti-American policies of BRICS' would face an additional 10% tariff. This marked an escalation from his earlier threats of 100% tariffs if BRICS countries attempted to replace the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. Moreover, Western institutions have shown capacity to adapt and co-opt rising powers. The emergence of the G20 can be seen as a response designed to give emerging economies a seat at the table, even if decision-making remains largely influenced by dominant Western powers. Beyond National Interests: A People-Centered Vision As India prepares to assume BRICS leadership next year with its theme of 'Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability', the bloc stands at a crossroads. As the world's largest democracy and a major economy with complex relationships with both China and the U.S., India may be uniquely positioned to bridge internal divisions within BRICS. However, ongoing border tensions with China and India's growing strategic partnership with the U.S. through initiatives such as the Quad complicate its role as a unifying force. BRICS undoubtedly represents the most viable institutional expression of Global South aspirations, offering developing nations unprecedented collective economic leverage and political voice in global affairs. However, its current trajectory risks becoming merely another arena for great power competition rather than genuine transformation. The bloc's ultimate promise lies not in replacing Western hegemony with a new form of elite-driven multipolarity, but in evolving into a platform that prioritises the developmental needs and democratic aspirations of the Global South's peoples.


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Mexico Sure It Will Strike Deal With US to Skirt Tariffs
Mexico is projecting confidence that it will fend off a new set of 30% tariffs that President Donald Trump has threatened to impose on the Latin American country starting on Aug. 1. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a speech in the border state of Sonora that every country was getting a letter from Trump. She said her team had already begun discussions with the US on Friday and was confident Mexico would get a deal. 'We believe, based on what our colleagues discussed yesterday, that we will reach an agreement with the United States government and that, of course, we will achieve better conditions,' she said, repeating her refrain about how it's best to keep a cool head. Mexico and the US established a new binational working group on Friday to address security, migration and economic issues, according to a statement posted on Saturday by Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard on X. The first major task of the group will be to find an alternative to the tariffs and 'protect jobs on both sides of the border,' the statement read. 'We told the group that this treatment is unfair and that we're not in agreement,' read the statement, jointly signed by the Economy and the Foreign Affairs ministries. Trump published his latest tariff threats early Saturday, saying Mexico would be subject to the 30% rate for not doing enough to fight fentanyl trafficking, even though the country has made strides in helping secure the border with the US. The U.S. doesn't intend to apply the 30% rate to USMCA-compliant goods, according to a White House official. The situation remains fluid, the official cautioned. The administration has previously said it will keep the exemption for Canada. Continuing the exclusion for both Mexico and Canada narrows the scope of Trump's continental tariffs and would be a lifeline to sectors like the auto industry that rely heavily on the USMCA pact, which was renegotiated under Trump's first term. The US president said the 30% tariffs are separate from sectoral ones and could be raised if Mexico retaliates. 'Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground,' Trump wrote. 'If Mexico is successful in challenging the Cartels and stopping the flow of Fentanyl, we will consider an adjustment to this letter.' He said Mexico has many other non-tariff trade barriers that have created an 'unsustainable' trade deficit with the US. With assistance from Josh Wingrove. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Trump slaps 30 pc tariffs on EU, Mexico starting August 1
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued 30 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union (EU), to renegotiate trade terms before the August 1 deadline. The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, Trump said in its letter posted on Truth Social, or 'whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on the 30 per cent that we charge.' The 27-country EU bloc is under pressures as Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry. In his letter to Mexico, Trump said the country has been 'helping me secure the border,' but added that it wasn't enough. 'Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground. Obviously I cannot let that happen!' Trump said in the letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Earlier, the US President advised countries in ongoing trade talks with his administration to 'just keep working hard' ahead of the August 1 negotiation deadline, repeating his claim that America has been taken advantage of by 'both friend and foe' for many years. Trump made the remarks before departing for a flood-ravaged area in Texas, as South Korea, Japan and other countries strive to reach deals with the United States to avoid or minimize the impact of steep 'reciprocal' tariffs that are set to take effect on August 1. 'I think just keep working hard. You know, we've been taken advantage of for many, many years by countries, both friend and foe. And frankly, the friends have been worse than the foes in many cases,' he said during a press availability at the White House. On Monday, Trump sent a letter addressed to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, saying that the U.S. will start imposing 25 per cent tariffs on South Korean products on August 1 — rather than Wednesday, when the reciprocal tariffs were initially set to take effect following a 90-day pause.