Month: September 2020

Trump vows not to extend TikTok deadline beyond September 15

TikTok could face a US ban if it doesn’t find a US buyer in the next five days.

Trump speaks at Andrews Air Force Base on September 10, 2020, before boarding a flight for a campaign rally in Michigan.

Enlarge / Trump speaks at Andrews Air Force Base on September 10, 2020, before boarding a flight for a campaign rally in Michigan. (credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, is facing a looming September 15 deadline to sell its US operations or have them shut down by the Trump administration. On Thursday evening, President Trump told reporters that the deadline wouldn't be pushed back.

"We'll either close up TikTok in this country for security reasons, or it'll be sold," Trump said just before boarding a flight to Michigan. "I'm not extending deadlines. No. It's September 15. There will be no extension of the TikTok deadline."

Reports indicate that both Microsoft and Oracle have made offers for ByteDance's US operations. The problem is that the companies may not be able to appease the conflicting demands of the US and Chinese governments.

Read 6 remaining paragraphs | Comments

"Direkt aus ‘Blade Runner 2049’"

Die Großbrände im Westen der USA weiten sich immer stärker aus. Laut dem Bericht einer US-Regulierungsbehörde bedroht der Klimawandel die Stabilität der Finanzmärkte

Die Großbrände im Westen der USA weiten sich immer stärker aus. Laut dem Bericht einer US-Regulierungsbehörde bedroht der Klimawandel die Stabilität der Finanzmärkte

"Direkt aus ‘Blade Runner 2049’"

Die Großbrände im Westen der USA weiten sich immer stärker aus. Laut dem Bericht einer US-Regulierungsbehörde bedroht der Klimawandel die Stabilität der Finanzmärkte

Die Großbrände im Westen der USA weiten sich immer stärker aus. Laut dem Bericht einer US-Regulierungsbehörde bedroht der Klimawandel die Stabilität der Finanzmärkte

Nawalny: Nebelkerzen auf allen Seiten

Offenbar hat Deutschland weder der OPCW noch Russland Informationen weitergegeben. Nowitschok bleibt vorerst ein vernebelter Begriff im politischen Ränkespiel

Offenbar hat Deutschland weder der OPCW noch Russland Informationen weitergegeben. Nowitschok bleibt vorerst ein vernebelter Begriff im politischen Ränkespiel

It’s the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the tropics are bonkers

It is quite zany, but if these storms remain out to sea then, hey, go crazy, 2020.

A satellite image of the state of play Thursday across the tropics.

Enlarge / A satellite image of the state of play Thursday across the tropics. (credit: NOAA)

The historical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season—the point at which, climatologically speaking, the most activity takes place—is today. And this being 2020, the Atlantic tropics are not wanting in vim and vigor.

The latest outlook from the National Hurricane Center shows two active named systems in the Atlantic: tropical storms Paulette and Rene. Although both of these storms should turn north well short of the continental United States, there is some concern about Paulette reaching Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane by early next week.

Looking beyond these two storms reveals no fewer than four "areas of interest" to watch on the hurricane map.

Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments