Mark Carney Gaining Support Amid U.S. Trade Tensions

A new poll shows Canadians prefer Mark Carney over Pierre Poilievre & Chrystia Freeland to negotiate with Donald Trump.

Carney calls Trump’s trade threats a ‘wake-up call’ & vows that Canada will stand up to a bully. Is he the leader Canada needs?

#Carney #Canada #TradeWar #Politics

Security Preparations Underway for Upcoming World Leaders' Summit in Alberta

As Alberta prepares to host world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, security officials are gearing up for the event. Enhanced measures, including drone surveillance, are being planned to ensure safety during the summit.

On January 18, 2025, TikTok ceased operations in the United States following the enactment of a federal law mandating its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban. This development has left approximately 170 million American users without access to the popular social media platform.

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in April 2024, required ByteDance to sell its U.S. TikTok operations within 270 days, setting a deadline of January 19, 2025. ByteDance challenged the law, arguing it violated the First Amendment; however, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld its constitutionality on January 17, 2025.

In response to the ban, TikTok was removed from Apple and Google's app stores in the U.S., and users attempting to access the app were met with a message stating, "A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately that means you can't use TikTok for now." The company expressed hope that President-elect Donald Trump would work on a solution to reinstate the app once he takes office on January 20, 2025.

President-elect Trump has indicated he is considering granting a 90-day extension to allow TikTok to continue operations if a sale is in progress, stating that such an extension would "probably" be announced on Monday. This potential extension could provide ByteDance additional time to negotiate a sale to a U.S.-based entity.

The ban has significant implications for content creators and the music industry, both of which have relied heavily on TikTok for promotion and engagement. Many creators are now exploring alternative platforms such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, though these lack TikTok's unique algorithm for content discovery.

As the situation develops, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, pending actions from the incoming administration and potential negotiations for the platform's sale.

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a law banning TikTok, citing national security concerns over its Chinese ownership. This decision mandates that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a ban on new downloads and updates in the U.S.

The ruling emphasizes that while TikTok offers a unique platform for expression, Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and its relationship with a foreign adversary.

Despite the Supreme Court's decision, enforcement remains uncertain. President Biden has stated that the ban will not be enforced during his administration, leaving the matter to the incoming administration. President-elect Donald Trump, who has substantial followers on TikTok, has expressed intentions to protect the platform while addressing security issues.

The potential ban has significant implications for TikTok's 170 million American users, content creators, and employees. While existing users may continue using the app without updates, new downloads and updates will be prohibited, potentially affecting the app's functionality over time.

This development underscores the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China, highlighting concerns over data privacy, national security, and the influence of foreign-owned technology platforms.