New Zealand to Ban TikTok , on Government Devices.
'The Guardian' reports that New Zealand's parliament members were made aware
of the development on March 17.
They were informed via email that
"the Service has determined that the
risks are not acceptable in the current
New Zealand parliament environment.".
The decision to block the TikTok application has been made based on our own analysis and following discussion with our colleagues across government and internationally, Email to New Zealand parliament members, via 'The Guardian'.
On advice from our cyber security experts, Parliamentary Service has informed members and staff the app TikTok will be removed from all
devices with access to the
parliamentary network, Email to New Zealand parliament members, via 'The Guardian'.
New Zealand's decision comes after the European Commission, Canada, U.S. and U.K. have implemented similar bans.
Concerns about the China-owned app
have been mounting for some time.
Concerns about the China-owned app
have been mounting for some time.
Critics speculate that the
data gathered by TikTok's billion users
could be accessed by the Chinese state.
Critics speculate that the
data gathered by TikTok's billion users
could be accessed by the Chinese state.
It is also feared that the app's algorithm could be manipulated to push pro-China content.
TikTok has repeatedly denied such claims and says that if it was ever asked for data by the Chinese government, it would refuse
UK Looking to, Phase Out Legal, Sale of Tobacco.
On March 20, the British government
introduced a bill to begin phasing
out smoking among young people, banning
the sale of tobacco for future generations.
If approved by parliament, the Tobacco
and Vapes Bill would become one of
the toughest anti-tobacco laws in the world. .
Fox News reports that the bill looks to prevent
children turning 15 this year and younger from
ever being legally able to purchase tobacco.
Fox News reports that the bill looks to prevent
children turning 15 this year and younger from
ever being legally able to purchase tobacco.
According to the government, the act of smoking
would not be criminalized, meaning that anyone
currently able to legally obtain tobacco would
be allowed to continue smoking in the future.
If we want to build a better future
for our children we need to tackle
the single biggest entirely
preventable cause of ill-health,
disability and death: smoking, Rishi Sunak, Conservative Prime Minister, via Fox News.
According to the British government,
smoking costs the nation an
estimated $21.63 billion every year.
The proposed legislation also includes
restrictions on vape flavors and packaging
intentionally marketed toward children. .
The new legislation reportedly comes
amid a sharp increase in vape usage
by young people in the U.K. .
In February, similar legislation in New Zealand
was introduced, looking to ban tobacco
sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009. .
That bill was repealed
by New Zealand's new
coalition government
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Delhi Is the ‘Most Polluted’ , Capital City in the World.
The capital of India was found to be the
world's most polluted capital city in 2023,
according to air-quality monitoring group IQAir.
India was also ranked as the
third-most polluted country after
Bangladesh and Pakistan, BBC reports.
In 2022, India was the
eighth most polluted country. .
According to the report, the average level
of fine particulate matter PM2.5 in India's
air was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter. .
Delhi's air quality had a PM2.5 reading
of 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter.
Air that is considered safe to breathe
typically has 12 to 15 micrograms per
cubic meter of PM2.5, BBC reports. .
Levels higher than 35 micrograms per
cubic meter are thought to be unhealthy. .
Only seven countries were within
the World Health Organization's yearly
PM2.5 guideline, an "average of 5 micrograms per cubic meter or less," BBC reports. .
Those countries are Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand.
Those countries are Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand.
In 2023 air pollution remained a global health
catastrophe, IQAir’s global data set provides
an important reminder of the resulting
injustices and the need to implement the
many solutions that exist to this problem. , Aidan Farrow, senior air quality scientist at
Greenpeace International, via 'The Guardian'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
President Biden just signed a bill banning TikTok in America (unless it's sold to a U.S.-based company) -- but the current CEO says they're gonna fight like hell.. TMZ.com
Senate Passes $95 Billion , Foreign Aid Package.
On April 23, the U.S. Senate voted
79-18 to approve foreign aid for Ukraine,
Israel and Taiwan, 'The Guardian' reports. .
Today the Senate sends a unified
message to the entire world:
America will always defend
democracy in its hour of need, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
Make no mistake, America will deliver
on its promise to act like a leader on the
world stage, to hold the line against
autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin. , Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine,
$26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan.
The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine,
$26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan.
The package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine,
$26.3 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan.
A provision to ban TikTok
after the election if ByteDance refuses
to sell the platform is also included.
The legislation will now head to President Biden, who told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on
April 23 that he will "move quickly" to provide aid.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, .
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, .
with whom he worked "hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to get this bill done.".
A lot of people inside and
outside the Congress wanted this
package to fail. But today those in
Congress who stand on the side of
democracy are winning the day, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also issued a statement.
Today’s action is overdue, but our work
does not end here. Trust in American
resolve is not rebuilt overnight. Expanding
and restocking the arsenal of democracy
doesn’t just happen by magic, Senate Majority Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, via statement
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Congress Sends Biden a Bill , That Could Ban TikTok.
Included within Congress' $95 billion national security package is a provision that could
lead to TikTok being banned in America.
Included within Congress' $95 billion national security package is a provision that could
lead to TikTok being banned in America.
However, the ban would take place
after the 2024 election, NBC News reports. .
This means that TikTok could still be used by candidates seeking the nation's highest
office who want to reach younger voters.
This means that TikTok could still be used by candidates seeking the nation's highest
office who want to reach younger voters.
The new bill gives TikTok parent company ByteDance nine months to sell the
platform or be banned in the U.S.
A one-time, 90-day extension can
be granted by the president.
Without an extension, the earliest a ban
could be implemented is January 2025.
Some Democrats say that ByteDance would rather sell TikTok than be banned in America.
TikTok ain’t going away. There is
no more capitalistic entity than
an organization controlled by
the Chinese Communist Party.
They’re going to sell it, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a member of the
Armed Services Committee, via NBC News.
Young people will go on their
TikTok tomorrow and they’ll still
have it. And then the day after
that, they’ll still have it. And the
day after that, they’ll still have it.
If you like it, you’re going to keep it, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a member of the
Armed Services Committee, via NBC News.
Donald Trump issued a statement seeking to
exploit the development for his own political gain.
Just so everyone knows, especially the
young people, Crooked Joe Biden is
responsible for banning TikTok. He is the one
pushing it to close … Young people, and lots of others, must remember this on November 5th, ELECTION DAY, when they vote!, Donald Trump, via Truth Social
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
This edition of State of the Union focusses on three issues feeding citizens' anger with the establishment in the EU and beyond: possible nepotism in the EU Commission, infringement of free speech and Georgia's controversial "foreign agent" bill
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 07:00Published
The European Commission has announced an inquiry into suspected illegal subsides for Chinese wind turbine producers, amid fears the domestic industry could be decimated by cheap imports.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:03Published
Under the aegis of the Vice-President of the European Commission, almost all the political parties in Parliament signed a code of conduct for the EU elections.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 02:16Published
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embroiled in a row over favouritism, after appointing German MEP Markus Pieper as Envoy for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, a five-year post with a salary of nearly 17,000 euros a month.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:50Published
The European Commission’s approval rating is deeply split in the EU and alarmingly low in a handful of member states, new polling shows, raising questions over Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for a second term at the executive’s helm.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:57Published
ikTok is likely the most popular social media platform at the moment, there’s just one problem, its majority stake owner is a Chinese company. And in China the government may compel any business to..
Recently the US banned the use of TikTok on the devices of government personnel, with the Biden administration threatening to ban it nationally if Chinese owners don’t divest in the company. All..
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