Video sharing app TikTok is on  the verge of being banned in US after Congress passed bill to outlaw it

Video sharing app TikTok is on  the verge of being banned in US after Congress passed bill to outlaw it

TikTok users and content creators, however, needed a place to go – and the ban provided a multi-billion dollar opportunity to snatch up a big market. Within months, Google rolled out YouTube Shorts and Instagram pushed out its Reels feature. Both mimicked the short-form video creation that TikTok had excelled at.

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Prospect of Trump recapturing White House prompts US allies to review foreign policies

Prospect of Trump recapturing White House prompts US allies to review foreign policies

Some foreign leaders have contacted Trump directly despite the risk of irking his election rival, Democratic President Joe Biden. Saudi’s crown prince recently phoned Trump, a source with knowledge of the conversation said; while Hungary’s prime minister and Poland’s president met him in person in recent weeks.

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Biden struggles to retain young voters who now view Trump as an answer to their economic woes

Biden struggles to retain young voters who now view Trump as an answer to their economic woes

Concerns about Biden’s age and his support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza have fuelled the erosion of his support among young voters at a time he is also losing Hispanic voters.

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US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid package, sends to Senate

US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid package, sends to Senate

The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate, which passed a similar measure more than two months ago. US leaders from Democratic President Joe Biden to top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell had been urging embattled Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring it up for a vote.

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US starts winding down military bases in Niger after ruling junta demanded exit of foreign armies

US starts winding down military bases in Niger after ruling junta demanded exit of foreign armies

A US official said there was no timeline for withdrawal besides talks set to start in the coming days about next steps. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to detail the private diplomatic discussions. An American delegation to coordinate the details of the withdrawal process will be dispatched soon.

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Questions linger over marijuana legalisation, scars of drug war on Blacks and minorities in US

Questions linger over marijuana legalisation, scars of drug war on Blacks and minorities in US

In Washington, an applicant must own more than half the business and meet other criteria, such as having lived for at least five years between 1980 and 2010 in an area with high poverty, unemployment or cannabis arrest rates; having been arrested for a cannabis-related crime; or having a below-median household income.

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Double-face: Leaked diplomatic cables show White House opposes Palestinian statehood

Double-face: Leaked diplomatic cables show White House opposes Palestinian statehood

While clarifying that President Joe Biden has worked vigorously to support “Palestinian aspirations for statehood” within the context “of a comprehensive peace that would resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” a diplomatic cable dated April 12 details US talking points against a UN vote for Palestinian statehood.

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Covid cover-up: White House will never earn trust back from Americans by deeming information that it doesn’t like as misinformation

Covid cover-up: White House will never earn trust back from Americans by deeming information that it doesn’t like as misinformation

Upon questioning by Representative Debbie Dingell (Democratic-Michigan) and Representative Deborah Ross (Democratic-North Carolina) about communications between Fauci, Collins and Thorp in May 2021, Thorp said they supported an investigation into the origins of Covid-19 at the time and did not dissuade Science from publishing the Bloom letter.

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Censorship: Top editors of world leading science newspapers skip probe on Covid origin in tacit admission White House used them to peddle lies

Censorship: Top editors of world leading science newspapers skip probe on Covid origin in tacit admission White House used them to peddle lies

Independent journalist Paul D. Thacker has investigated scientific censorship for The Disinformation Chronicle. He told The Defender, “The science and medical journals did not publish the best research available during the pandemic. They just served as gatekeepers to protect people, institutions and corporations in power.”

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Trump lawyers say porn star Stormy Daniels declined subpoenaed at Brooklyn bar, papers left ‘at her feet’

Trump lawyers say porn star Stormy Daniels declined subpoenaed at Brooklyn bar, papers left ‘at her feet’

Trump’s lawyers are asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to force Daniels to comply with the subpoena. In their filing, they included a photo they said DellaPorte took of Daniels as she strode away.

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