Science & Technology

Trump Signs Executive Order That Will Effectively Ban Use Of TikTok In the U.S.

By Bobby Allyn • 6 minutes ago

President Trump on Thursday invoked his emergency economic powers to impose broad sanctions against TikTok, a move that was expected but ratchets up pressure on the Chinese-owned app to sell its U.S. assets to an American company.

In the order, which takes effect in 45 days, any business transactions between TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens will be outlawed for national security reasons.

What's The Value Of Seabird Poop?

By editor • 7 hours ago

STACEY VANEK SMITH, HOST:

Mississippi currently has no state flag. The former flag was retired earlier this summer after nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd. Mississippi was the only state left that still had the Confederate battle flag emblem. To find a new flag for the state, Mississippi asked people to submit designs. Nearly 3,000 submissions were turned in, and now a state commission will review the designs and pick one for voters to approve in November. Reuben Anderson is the chair of the commission to redesign the Mississippi state flag. He joins us now.

Twitter, Facebook Remove Trump Post Over False Claim About Children And COVID-19

By Shannon Bond • Aug 5, 2020

Both Twitter and Facebook have removed a post shared by President Trump for breaking their rules against spreading coronavirus misinformation.

Twitter temporarily blocked the Trump election campaign account from tweeting until it removed a post with a video clip from a Fox News interview from Wednesday morning, in which the president urged schools to reopen, falsely claiming that children are "almost immune from this disease."

What Is The Future Of Chinese Tech Companies In The U.S.?

By editor • Aug 5, 2020

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Attaching Small Weights To Pigeons Helps Them Shoot Up In The Social Hierarchy

By editor • Aug 5, 2020

STACEY VANEK SMITH, HOST:

It is early days, but so far, so good for the NHL in the pandemic. Hockey players returned to the ice on Saturday. Twenty-four teams are hunkering down in two separate bubbles - one in Edmonton and the other in Toronto. And after more than 7,000 COVID tests given, the league says there have been no positive cases. Earlier, I talked to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about the state of play, and he first took us back to the start of hockey's shutdown.

Facebook Launches Instagram Reels, Hoping To Lure TikTok Users

By Shannon Bond • Aug 5, 2020

Facebook has launched its answer to TikTok, the wildly popular video-sharing app that the Trump administration considers a national security threat.

Reels is a new feature on Instagram, the photo-sharing app owned by Facebook. Like TikTok, users can make short videos set to music, add filters and other effects, and easily share them.

Satellite Images Show Aftermath Of Beirut Blast

By Geoff Brumfiel • Aug 5, 2020

New satellite photos show the aftermath of Tuesday's massive, deadly explosion at the port of Beirut.

'Nothing Feels Tangible': Virtual Is New Reality For Grads Starting New Jobs

By Uri Berliner • Aug 5, 2020

It was supposed to be a great year for Golden Daka. He would be the first member of his family to graduate from college. He had a big commencement speech planned for his graduation from Morehouse College, where he was a valedictorian.

"I wanted to give that huge speech onstage with my family, friends and loved ones there, who made it very possible for me to go to Morehouse," says Daka.

But in March, campus emptied and classes went online. And then the moment he'd been waiting for — commencement — was postponed.

Class-Action Lawsuit Claims TikTok Steals Kids' Data And Sends It To China

By Bobby Allyn • Aug 4, 2020

Families are suing TikTok in what has turned into a major legal action in federal court.

Dozens of minors, through their parents, are alleging that the video-sharing app collects information about their facial characteristics, locations and close contacts, and quietly sends that data to servers in China.

Teen Helps Older Dogs Find Forever Homes

By editor • Aug 4, 2020

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

OK. I'm going to admit something here, Noel. My kids want a puppy to keep them company during the pandemic. So far, though, we have held off. But you, my friend, have heeded the call.

NOEL KING, HOST:

Are Conspiracy Theories Good For Facebook?

By Greg Rosalsky • Aug 4, 2020

Editor's note: This is an excerpt of Planet Money's newsletter. You can sign up here.

Trump Administration Imposes Deadline For TikTok To Be Sold

By Bobby Allyn • Aug 4, 2020

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

TikTok is on the market. President Trump says he's giving the company that owns the video-sharing app a month to sell it. Or if not, he wants TikTok banned in the U.S.

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