Trump says TikTok sale deal to come before Saturday deadline
President Donald Trump said a deal with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance to sell the short video app used by 170 million Americans would be struck before a deadline on Saturday.
President Trump launched his presidency with sweeping executive orders, reversing Biden-era policies on immigration, energy, and diversity, while reinstating a hard-line agenda on border control, resource extraction, and trade.
On Monday, President Trump issued a series of executive orders, signaling a sharp shift from the policies of President Biden. These actions targeted key areas like immigration, the environment, and diversity, aiming to reverse many of Biden’s significant domestic policies while reinstating Trump-era priorities.
In an evening speech, Trump announced the revocation of nearly 80 Biden-era orders, including rebuilding the refugee program and ending the use of private prisons.
His agenda also seeks to expand resource extraction and restrict immigration, moves likely to face legal challenges. Below is an overview of Trump’s initial executive orders:
1. Federal Work Force
The federal workforce faced immediate changes, with a hiring freeze imposed except for military and enforcement roles. Trump reinstated “Schedule F,” a category of federal workers without typical job protections, halted the implementation of new regulations for review by his appointees, and ordered investigations into alleged government misconduct.
Security clearances were granted to White House staff without traditional vetting, and remote work policies for federal employees were terminated.
2. Immigration
Trump moved to bar asylum claims at the southern border and announced plans to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. The Refugee Admissions Program was suspended, and a border emergency was declared to unlock funds for enforcement and wall construction.
He also reinstated the policy requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting case decisions and considered designating cartels as terrorist organizations.
3. Gender and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
Diversity and gender policies saw a rollback, as Trump terminated federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, legally recognized only two genders, and removed protections for transgender individuals in federal prisons.
4.Tariffs and Trade
Trump initiated investigations into trade practices, including flows of drugs and migrants. He directed reviews of the U.S.-China trade deal and the USMCA and explored creating an "External Revenue Service" to handle tariffs.
Additionally, he ordered an assessment of national security-related tariffs.
5. Energy and the Environment
Environmental and energy policies underwent significant shifts, with Trump withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and declaring a national energy emergency.
He lifted Biden-era restrictions on offshore drilling, opened Alaska’s wilderness for resource extraction, and reversed regulations promoting electric vehicles.
Offshore wind farm leases were paused, and environmental justice programs aimed at protecting disadvantaged communities were eliminated.
6. TikTok ban
Regarding TikTok, Trump suspended its ban for 75 days while reviewing potential national security risks, aiming to find a resolution that preserves the platform for American users.
Other actions included withdrawing from the World Health Organization, renaming Mount Denali and the Gulf of Mexico, and ensuring states had sufficient lethal injection drugs for the death penalty.
Trump also launched a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk and revoked security clearances for individuals who questioned the Hunter Biden laptop story.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Russian billionaire Vadim Moshkovich, founder of Rusagro, faces charges of embezzling 30 billion roubles ($357 million). His arrest is among the most high-profile in Russia’s business world in recent years.
India's government has introduced a bill proposing sweeping reforms in the management of waqf properties, allowing non-Muslim members on waqf boards and enabling the state to determine disputed land ownership, sparking concerns among Muslim groups and opposition lawmakers.
Greece plans to invest €25 billion in a sweeping multi-year defence strategy, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament on Wednesday, marking a major step in modernising the country’s armed forces and reinforcing its strategic posture amid regional tensions and global uncertainty.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on Wednesday, as both nations looked to deepen their strategic partnership and navigate rising global tensions through renewed diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to appear in court on Wednesday over allegations of failing to pay €1 million in taxes on image rights earnings during his first tenure at the club. Prosecutors seek a prison sentence of nearly five years and a €3.2 million fine.
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