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TikTok Agrees to $400 Million US Privacy Settlement -- TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have agreed to pay $400 million to settle a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the platform violated federal children's online privacy laws. The case, filed in 2024, accused TikTok of allowing children under 13 to create accounts and collecting and retaining their personal information without obtaining the required parental consent. -- Under the settlement, TikTok will pay $300 million immediately, with another $100 million to be paid after a court vacates an earlier consent decree involving TikTok's predecessor, Musical.ly. The Justice Department described the agreement as one of the largest recoveries ever obtained under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA. -- The allegations also included claims that TikTok failed to properly delete children's accounts and personal data when parents requested their removal. The lawsuit followed an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and focused on how the platform handled young users and their information. -- TikTok has since made significant changes to its U.S. operations, including stronger age-verification and age-moderation systems, additional parental oversight and changes to its compliance structure. The company says these measures are designed to better identify underage users and protect younger audiences. -- The settlement comes at a particularly important time for TikTok in the United States. The company's U.S. operations underwent a major ownership restructuring earlier this year, with American investors taking majority control through a new joint venture. The changes were part of efforts to address broader U.S. concerns surrounding TikTok's ownership, data security and national security. -- For TikTok, the agreement removes one major legal battle and allows the company to focus on its huge U.S. user base while continuing to strengthen its privacy and safety systems. But the case also highlights a much bigger issue facing the entire social-media industry: how platforms collect, protect and manage children's personal data. -- As governments around the world increase scrutiny of social-media companies, stronger age verification, parental controls and privacy protections are likely to become increasingly important. The TikTok settlement shows that companies can face significant financial and legal consequences when regulators believe children's data has not been adequately protected. -- The case also sends a broader message to technology companies: protecting younger users is no longer simply a matter of platform policy. It is becoming a major legal, regulatory and business responsibility. -- Visit: www.jtimes.com Photo Credit: -- #TikTok #ByteDance #Privacy #ChildSafety #TechNews

TRUMP’S 75-COUNTRY IMMIGRANT VISA BAN STRUCK DOWN -- A federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s immigrant visa ban covering 75 countries. Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the policy was “contrary to law,” saying applicants were being rejected mainly based on their nationality rather than individual circumstances. The ruling blocks visa denials based solely on the policy, although the administration can appeal the decision. The ruling marks another setback for President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. -- Visit: [www.jadetimes.com] Photo Credit: Reuters -- #Trump #DonaldTrump #Immigration #VisaBan #ImmigrantVisa #USImmigration #FederalJudge #JeannetteVargas #USPolitics #TrumpAdministration #ImmigrationPolicy #Visa #LegalNews #CourtRuling #BreakingNews #USNews #WorldNews #CurrentAffairs #Politics #ImmigrationCrackdown #FederalCourt #HumanRights #JadeTimes #Reuters #NewsUpdate

Iran Allows Iraqi Oil Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz -- Iran has granted special permission for several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, following repeated requests from Baghdad. The decision comes as shipping traffic through the strategic waterway remains far below normal levels because of the ongoing regional conflict and heightened security risks. Iraqi President Nizar Amedi confirmed that some vessels carrying Iraqi oil have been allowed to transit the strait, although he said the situation remains complicated. -- The development is particularly important for Iraq, one of the region's major oil producers. Iraq was producing around 4 million barrels of crude oil a day before the Iran war, and the country relies heavily on maritime routes through the Gulf to export its oil. Iraq also lacks its own national tanker fleet, making it more dependent on foreign vessels to transport its crude. -- The special permission follows diplomatic efforts by Baghdad, including discussions during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's recent visit to Iraq. Securing passage for Iraqi tankers was reportedly one of Baghdad's key requests as the disruption to Hormuz created increasing pressure on Iraq's oil exports and economy. -- But Iraq is not relying entirely on the reopening of Hormuz. Baghdad is actively looking for alternative export routes to reduce its dependence on the strategic waterway. Plans include increasing exports through Türkiye's Ceyhan port, developing routes through Syria to the Mediterranean, and exploring exports through Jordan's Aqaba port. Iraq and Syria have also been working on plans for a new crude pipeline connecting Iraqi oil fields with Syria's Mediterranean coast. -- The situation highlights the enormous importance of the Strait of Hormuz to global energy markets. Before the conflict, the waterway carried a huge share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Recent tracking data shows that traffic has fallen dramatically, with only a handful of commodity vessels crossing on some days and major crude and LNG tankers largely avoiding the route. -- For Iraq, the immediate priority is keeping its oil exports moving. For global markets, however, the latest development shows that even limited exceptions to the restrictions around Hormuz can have significant implications for energy supply chains. As countries search for alternative routes and diplomatic efforts continue, the future of the waterway remains a major factor for oil prices, global trade and energy security. -- Visit: www.jtimes.com Photo Credit: -- #Iran #Iraq #Oil #StraitOfHormuz #EnergyCrisis

TRUMP RALLIES FOR DARLINE GRAHAM AS KEY GOP RUNOFF NEARS -- President Donald Trump campaigned in Myrtle Beach for Darline Graham ahead of Tuesday’s Republican runoff against Ralph Norman. Trump urged supporters to turn out, telling them to “pretend” he is on the ballot. He also defended Graham after criticism of her recent debate performance. With Trump heavily backing her campaign, the runoff is shaping up as an important test of his influence within the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections. -- Visit: [www.jadetimes.com] Photo Credit: Reuters -- #DonaldTrump #Trump #DarlineGraham #RalphNorman #GOP #Republican #RunoffElection #USPolitics #TrumpRally #MyrtleBeach #MidtermElections #Election2026 #RepublicanParty #PoliticalNews #BreakingNews #USNews #WorldNews #CurrentAffairs #TrumpEndorsement #GOPRunoff #Politics #ElectionCampaign #JadeTimes #Reuters #NewsUpdate

Trump Rallies for Lindsey Graham’s Sister in South Carolina -- Donald Trump is throwing his political weight behind Darline Graham ahead of Tuesday’s Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina. Graham, the sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, faces Congressman Ralph Norman. Trump urged voters to treat the race as if he himself were on the ballot, admitting his supporters often turn out less for midterms. The contest could test whether Trump’s endorsement still carries enough power to deliver Republican victories. -- Visit: www.jadetimes.com Photo Credit: AP Photo/Mic Smith, WPDE, Meg Kinnard/AP, AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Tony Dejak—AP, Al Drago for The New York Times, ALEX BRANDON / AP -- #DonaldTrump #Trump #DarlineGraham #LindseyGraham #RalphNorman #SouthCarolina #SouthCarolinaPolitics #SouthCarolinaSenate #SenateRunoff #RepublicanPrimary #RepublicanParty #GOP #GOPPolitics #TrumpEndorsement #TrumpSupport #TrumpInfluence #USPolitics #AmericanPolitics #PoliticalNews #ElectionNews #SenateRace #SenateElection #MidtermElections #2026Midterms #SouthCarolinaElection #RepublicanRunoff #VoterTurnout #TrumpRally #PoliticalCampaign #CampaignNews #Election2026 #BreakingNews #LatestNews #PoliticalUpdate #CurrentEvents

Timberwolves and Lynx Sold for $4.5 Billion -- Tech investor Marc Stad is reportedly acquiring a controlling stake in the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx for $4.5 billion. Stad was already a minority investor in the teams’ ownership group. Alex Rodriguez is expected to remain involved, while Stad’s wife, Elisa, will become the Timberwolves’ governor. The deal still requires NBA approval and comes just weeks after the Lakers’ record $12.5 billion sale. -- Visit: www.jadetimes.com Photo Credit: David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images, Aïda Amer/Axios, sports.yahoo.com,AP,Film magic, AP/Ethan Swope -- #MinnesotaTimberwolves #Timberwolves #MinnesotaLynx #Lynx #NBA #WNBA #NBAnews #WNBANews #MarcStad #AlexRodriguez #ElisaStad #TimberwolvesSale #LynxSale #NBAOwnership #WNBAOwnership #SportsBusiness #SportsNews #Basketball #BasketballNews #NBADeal #TeamSale #SportsInvesting #NBAApproval #MinnesotaSports #TimberwolvesNews #LynxNews #NBAFans #WNBAFans #BreakingNews #LatestNews #SportsUpdate #NBA2026 #WNBA2026 #BasketballUpdates #CurrentEvents

Trump Calls Strait of Hormuz ‘American Territory’ -- Donald Trump has called the Strait of Hormuz “an American territory” as the US continues its blockade of Iranian shipping. Speaking at a rally in South Carolina, Trump also joked about bombing Iran again, as peace talks remain stalled. The strategically vital waterway carries around one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil. Iran has dismissed Trump’s territorial claim as “delusions.” -- Visit: www.jadetimes.com Photo Credit: -- #Trump #DonaldTrump #StraitOfHormuz #Iran #USIran #IranWar #Hormuz #MiddleEast #USPolitics #Geopolitics #OilPrices #OilSupply #GlobalEnergy #IranConflict #TrumpNews #USMilitary #IranSanctions #ShippingCrisis #GlobalTrade #MiddleEastCrisis #WorldNews #BreakingNews #InternationalNews #EnergySecurity #NewsUpdate

100+ Former Diplomats Urge Action Against Israel -- More than 100 former British and French diplomats are calling for urgent measures against Israel over its policies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. In a letter to their governments, they accuse Israel of “erasure” of Palestine and call for arms and trade restrictions, including a ban on trade with Israeli settlements. They also urge unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza and action to protect the possibility of a Palestinian state. -- Visit: www.jadetimes.com Photo Credit: -- #Israel #Gaza #Palestine #MiddleEast #IsraelGaza #GazaWar #BritishDiplomats #FrenchDiplomats #FormerDiplomats #Diplomacy #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #HumanitarianAid #GazaCrisis #WestBank #IsraeliSettlements #PalestinianState #ArmsEmbargo #TradeRestrictions #MiddleEastCrisis #GlobalPolitics #WorldNews #BreakingNews #InternationalNews #NewsUpdate