Donald Trump to extend US TikTok ban deadline, White House says
TikTok will live on for at least another three months in the United States, as President Donald Trump is poised to extend a sale or ban deadline for the third time since taking office this year."President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday.The popular video sharing app was supposed to be banned in the US after its Chinese owner, ByteDance, refused to sell it to a US buyer by a January deadline.TikTok and ByteDance did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the BBC.
Leavitt said the 90-day extension would "ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure."Before Leavitt's announcement, Trump told the BBC that he would "probably" extend the TikTok."We'll probably have to get China approval," Trump said. "I think we'll get it. I think President Xi will ultimately approve it."When asked if he has the legal basis to extend the deadline, he responded: "We do."Trump's extension is at odds with the will of Congress, which passed the sale-or-ban measure last year. His predecessor, former President Joe Biden, immediately signed the bill into law.The law was aimed to address concerns that TikTok, which has 170 million American users, could be used by China as a tool for spying and political manipulation.The Supreme Court agreed with a lower court and upheld the legislation in January just before Trump was set to take office.The platform briefly went dark for a few hours during the weekend before Trump's inauguration.TikTok praised Trump for saving the platform after it became available again.Trump's unilateral deadline extensions have led some analysts to dismiss the notion that a ban might ever take place during his time in office."What ban? There is nothing 'looming' about the potential TikTok ban anymore," said Forrester principal analyst Kelsey Chickering. "TikTok's behaviour also indicates they're confident in their future, as they rolled out new AI video tools at Cannes this week.""Smaller players, like Snap, will try to steal share during this "uncertain time," but they will not succeed because this next round for TikTok isn't uncertain at all," Ms Chickering added.The Trump administration said in April that the US and China had neared a deal that would have placed majority control of TikTok's US operations under American ownership. That deal has yet to materialise."There are key matters to be resolved," a ByteDance spokesperson said at the time. "Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law."Trump has said he would be open to seeing it sold to cloud computing giant Oracle, whose co-founder Larry Ellison is a long-time ally of Trump's.Billionaire Frank McCourt, Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian are part of another team bidding for the platform.And the biggest YouTuber in the world Jimmy Donaldson - AKA MrBeast - has said he's also interested in buying TikTok as part of a different investor group.
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South Wales Guardian
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Trump warns Tehran as agency says strikes damage Iran's underground nuclear site
The air strikes came as President Donald Trump warned residents of Tehran to evacuate and suggested the US was working on something 'better than a ceasefire'. Mr Trump left the G7 summit in Canada a day early to deal with the conflict between Israel and Iran, telling reporters on Air Force One during the flight back to Washington: 'I'm not looking at a ceasefire. We're looking at better than a ceasefire.' When asked to explain, he said the US wanted to see 'a real end' to the conflict that could involve Iran 'giving up entirely'. He added: 'I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate.' Mr Trump's cryptic messages added to the uncertainty in the region as residents of Tehran fled their homes in droves and the UN nuclear watchdog for the first time said Israeli strikes on Iran's main enrichment facility at Natanz had also damaged its underground section, and not just the surface area. Later, Mr Trump said the US knows where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding but does not want him killed 'for now'. Mr Trump urged, in a social media posting, Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' as the conflict continues to escalate. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' Mr Trump added. 'He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.' Israel says its sweeping assault on Iran's top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile programme is necessary to prevent its adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. The strikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran. Iran has retaliated by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel. The Israeli military said a new barrage of missiles was launched on Tuesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday it believes that Israel's first aerial attacks on Iran's Natanz enrichment site had 'direct impacts' on the facility's underground centrifuge halls. 'Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,' the watchdog said. Located 135 miles south-east of Tehran, the Natanz facility was protected by anti-aircraft batteries, fencing and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iran: Based on continued analysis of high resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at change to report at Esfahan and Fordow. — IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) June 17, 2025 The underground part of the facility is buried to protect it from air strikes and contains the bulk of the enrichment facilities at Natanz, with 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 5%, experts assess. The IAEA had earlier reported that Israeli strikes had destroyed an above-ground enrichment hall at Natanz and knocked out electrical equipment that powered the facility. However, most of Iran's enrichment takes place underground. Although Israel has struck Natanz repeatedly and claims to have inflicted significant damage on its underground facilities, Tuesday's IAEA statement marked the first time the agency has acknowledged impacts at the site. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is peaceful. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Tuesday that Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites have set the country's nuclear programme back a 'very, very long time', Israel has not been able to reach Iran's Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried deep underground. Echoing an earlier Israeli military call for some 330,000 residents of a neighbourhood in downtown Tehran to evacuate, Mr Trump on Tuesday warned on social media that 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!'. Tehran is one of the largest cities in the Middle East, with around 10 million people, roughly equivalent to the entire population of Israel. People have been fleeing since hostilities began. Asked why he had urged for the evacuation of Tehran, Mr Trump said: 'I just want people to be safe.' Downtown Tehran appeared to be emptying out early Tuesday, with many shops closed. The ancient Grand Bazaar was also closed, something that only happened in the past during anti-government demonstrations or at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. On the roads out of Tehran to the west, traffic stood bumper to bumper. Many appeared to be heading to the Caspian Sea, a popular holiday spot where a large number of middle and upper-class Iranians have second homes. Long lines also could be seen at petrol stations in Tehran. Printed placards and billboards calling for a 'severe' response to Israel were visible across the city. Authorities cancelled leave for doctors and nurses, while insisting everything was under control. The Israeli military meanwhile claimed to have killed someone it described as Iran's top general in a strike on Tehran. Iran did not immediately comment on the reported killing of Gen Ali Shadmani, who had just been named as the head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, part of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iran has named other generals to replace the top leaders of the guard and the regular armed forces after they were killed in earlier strikes. Before leaving the summit in Canada, Mr Trump joined the other leaders in a joint statement saying Iran 'can never have a nuclear weapon' and calling for a 'de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza'. French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that discussions were under way on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but Mr Trump appeared to shoot that down in his comments on social media. Mr Macron 'mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran', Mr Trump wrote. 'Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that.' Mr Trump said he was not ready to give up on diplomatic talks, and could send vice president JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet the Iranians. 'I may,' he said. 'It depends on what happens when I get back.' Israeli military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin said on Monday his country's forces had 'achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies'. The military said it destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran, a third of Iran's total, including multiple launchers just before they launched ballistic missiles towards Israel. It also destroyed two F-14 fighter planes that Iran used to target Israeli aircraft, the military said. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. Israel's military issued an evacuation warning for a part of central Tehran that houses state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by the guard. It has issued similar evacuation warnings for parts of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon ahead of strikes.
The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
Takeaways from AP report on President Javier Milei's dramatic cuts to Argentine health care
Argentina used to have an extensive, free public health system that pretty much ensured that everybody who couldn't afford private insurance was covered for everything. But in the year-and-a-half since President Javier Milei rode to power on a promise to eliminate the nation's sky-high inflation and huge budget deficits, the radical economist's austerity program has taken a brutal toll on the nation's public hospitals and its population of poor, retired and unemployed patients who have lost access to vital treatment. In gutting key federal health agencies, Milei's sweeping layoffs and deep spending cuts have mirrored moves taken by the administration of his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump. Here are takeaways from an Associated Press report about how a libertarian revolution cheered by the global far-right is affecting the health of Argentines. President Milei's suspension of a government agency, known as DADSE, that provided prohibitively expensive medication to uninsured cancer patients and others with rare diseases has left thousands of Argentines without lifesaving treatment. The changes forced patients to seek help outside the traditional health care system. Some surreptitiously manage to secure spare drug donations via Facebook groups. Others are not so lucky. A lawsuit filed by patient advocacy groups said at least 60 cancer patients died last year due to the government's suspension of the DADSE medication program. The AP spoke with four families whose loved ones died while waiting for the agency to pay for cancer drugs that it had covered and delivered before Milei took office. A federal judge ordered the government to resume drug deliveries, but the state has appealed, saying DADSE no longer exists. Milei's spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, did not respond to requests for comment. Health Minister Mario Lugones did not respond to questions on the impact of policy changes. Officials have also gutted the National Cancer Institute, suspending early detection programs for breast and cervical cancer. Progress against infectious diseases upended Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has slashed Argentina's health care budget by 48% in real terms. His administration fired over 2,000 Health Ministry employees — nearly a quarter of its workforce — including 1,400 over just a few days in January. Employees describe the worst funding crunch in the ministry's recent history and say the layoffs have allowed an upsurge of diseases once under control. The National Directorate for HIV, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis has lost 40% of its staff and 76% of its annual budget. Hospitals now face shortages of everything from virus testing supplies to medications to condoms. Patients who have the near-totally drug-resistant form of HIV say they're not being treated. The cuts have coincided with a surge in sexually transmitted infections. Last year HIV cases spiked by 20% and syphilis by 50%. Tuberculosis cases also climbed by 25% last year. TB clinics report delays in obtaining test results and say that family members of infected people are not being put on preventive therapy. Overwhelmed hospitals The government has curtailed medical coverage for retirees and lifted price controls on prescription medication and private health plans, causing prices to spike by 250% and 118% respectively, official data shows. Free public hospitals have been flooded with Argentines who dropped their private plans due to increased premiums or who lost their jobs — and with it, social security plans funded through payroll contributions. Buenos Aires facilities reported a 20%-30% increase in demand in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Pharmacists have reported drug shortages as mass layoffs caused administrative chaos and the government froze a program that provided basic medications to Argentine public health centers. With hiring frozen, doctors said they're handling double the patients they did a couple years ago. Besieged by staff burnout and ever-increasing workloads, Argentina's leading public Garrahan Pediatric Hospital in Buenos Aires has hemorrhaged 200 medical professionals since Milei took office. As annual inflation neared 200% last fall, their salaries lost half of their purchasing power. Doctors left for jobs abroad or better-paying work in private clinics. None were replaced. Mass protests and strikes by low-paid medical residents paralyzed Buenos Aires last month. Vaccines on the chopping block Milei froze federal funds for immunization campaigns, hobbling vaccine access as Argentina confronts a measles outbreak that in April led to its first measles death in two decades. Authorities did not renew national contracts with vaccine suppliers, in some cases disrupting deliveries to provinces. Last month Argentine officials welcomed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Trump administration's Health and Human Services secretary and a longtime vaccine skeptic, for meetings on health policy in Buenos Aires. Health Minister Lugones, vowed to refocus the ministry's functions on holistic health rather than infectious disease, in line with Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again movement. Milei finalized Argentina's decision to follow the U.S. in withdrawing from the World Health Organization, which had provided the nation with discounts on vaccines and medications and helped it track outbreaks. 'Argentina has been one of the most advanced South American countries and here we see it abandoning public health,' said Dr. Stanley Plotkin, an American physician who helped develop the measles vaccine in the 1960s.
Reuters
42 minutes ago
- Reuters
India File: EV hopes hit by China rare earths curbs
(This was originally published in the India File newsletter, which is issued every up hereto get the latest news from India and how it matters to the world.) China's curbs on exports of some rare earth materials and magnets - used in automobiles, cell phones and myriad other devices - have stirred anxiety in corporate boardrooms the world over, including in India where automakers warn that production of new vehicles could soon grind to a halt. While supplies have started to trickle in for some European and American companies, India, which has tense relations with its Asian neighbour, is still waiting. Come July, the world's third-largest car market fears severe disruptions - especially in its nascent electric vehicle sector - if magnet supplies don't resume. That is the focus of our analysis this week. And, India mourned the victims of last week's fatal airliner crash in Ahmedabad while executives from Boeing and Air India discussed the search for the cause of the disaster. Scroll down for the latest. ** US-China trade truce leaves military-use rare earth issue unresolved, sources say ** BOJ to slow pace of bond taper next year as fresh risks emerge ** ADNOC leads $18.7 billion proposal to buy Australia's Santos in LNG push ** China's factories slow, consumers unexpectedly perk up ** Trump approves Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion purchase of US Steel CHINA'S MAGNET DOMINANCE THREATENS INDIAN EV OUTPUT This was supposed to be the year that electric vehicles finally made their mark in India, the world's third-largest auto market. But China had other ideas. China has a stranglehold on global processing capacity for rare earths, which are crucial for magnets that power the motors in EVs, and it has been wielding that dominance in recent months in trade spats with the U.S. and others. India, increasingly at odds with its giant neighbour over border disputes and competing with it for influence in the region, is particularly vulnerable. Industry executives worry, moreover, that other supply chain snags may loom on the horizon, given India's reliance on China for EV batteries as well. Tata Motors ( opens new tab and Mahindra & Mahindra ( opens new tab, two of India's biggest EV makers, depend almost entirely on batteries from China's BYD Co ( opens new tab and Gotion ( opens new tab. China's decision in April to restrict its exports of rare earth materials and magnets comes at a crucial time for India, with several EV launches lined up this year including the first from its top carmaker, Maruti Suzuki ( opens new tab. Maruti has been forced to cut its near-term production targets for its e-Vitara EV due to rare earth supply constraints, while hoping to recover lost ground later in the year as availability improves - an approach analysts say other Indian automakers could adopt to avoid a complete output halt. Bajaj Auto ( opens new tab, a major producer of electric scooters in India, has also warned of a serious cutback in EV production by July if Beijing does not approve rare earth import permits soon. While India has initiated talks with China on stabilising supplies, the industry fears progress could be slow, not only because Beijing is overwhelmed with similar requests from across the world, but also given the tense relationship between the two Asian giants. Five years ago, in a move aimed at Chinese corporate takeovers in India that New Delhi saw as opportunistic, the trade ministry placed restrictions on investments from nations that share a land border with India. Chinese automakers BYD Co ( opens new tab and Great Wall Motor ( opens new tab were both forced to drop billion-dollar investment plans for Indian car manufacturing. Since 2020, New Delhi has banned dozens of Chinese apps such as TikTok and WeChat over national security concerns, and is yet to resume direct flights between India and China that were halted during the pandemic. For now, India has no reasonable alternatives to rare earth magnets from China, which controls about 90% of the world's production. But for the medium-to-long term, New Delhi plans to make good use of its own rare earth reserves - the world's fifth-largest at 6.9 million metric tons. It is urgently drawing up an incentive scheme for domestic rare earth magnet production, although it lacks reserves of some of the heavy rare earths needed to make magnets, as well as much of the technology to produce them. Auto companies warn that any domestic commercial production of magnets from rare earths or alternative materials would need extensive testing and is likely many years away. India also has asked state-run miner IREL to stop exports of rare earth materials, forcing it to walk back on a 13-year-old supply agreement with Japan as it prioritises national interests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants EVs to make up 30% of India's total passenger car sales by 2030, versus about 2.5% in 2024, both to meet his decarbonisation goals and to clean up the air over India's cities, which are some of the world's most polluted. Analysts say that, while it may take India a decade to build its own EV supply chain, it must start now if Modi is to achieve those targets. Will China disrupt India's EV story by curbing supplies of crucial parts like magnets and, potentially, batteries? What are your thoughts? Write to me at opens new tab UPDATE ON AIR INDIA CRASH India this week was mourning victims of last Friday's air disaster in Ahmedabad that killed all but one of the 242 people on board, while executives from Boeing and Air India met to discuss their search for the cause of the crash. India's aviation regulator has ordered the inspection of all Boeing 787 jets operated by domestic carriers. Read here for what we know so far about the Air India crash and investigation. MARKET MATTERS India's trade deficit narrowed marginally to $21.88 billion in May, from $26.42 billion the previous month, due in part to moderation in oil and gold imports, economists said. Markets are closely watching trade statistics for any signs of front-loading of shipments during the 90-day pause on planned reciprocal tariffs by the U.S., which ends on July 8. India's exports in May were $38.73 billion, 2% below a year ago, but shipments of electronic goods surged 47% while chemicals rose 16%. Exports of gems and jewellery fell sharply. Read here to understand more about the data and don't miss this exclusive report on a surge in shipments of Apple iPhones from India to the U.S.
