Author: News Room
President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Sunday that he would issue an executive order to stall a federal ban of TikTok, just hours after major app stores removed the popular social media site and it stopped operating for U.S. users.“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark,” Mr. Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”The ban stems from a 2024 law that requires app stores and…
When it comes to the federal payroll, two seemingly contradictory things are true.One, the Biden administration went on a hiring spree that expanded the government work force at the fastest pace since the 1980s. And two, it remains near a record low as a share of overall employment.In the four years separating President-elect Donald J. Trump’s two terms, the federal civilian head count has risen by about 4.4 percent, according to the Labor Department, to just over three million, including the Postal Service.But that’s a much slower pace than private payrolls have grown over the past four years. And it…
For Klem’s, a general store in rural Massachusetts, each year has seemed more challenging than the last.First, there was the pandemic, then a global supply chain breakdown that left the store short of lawn mowers and shoes. Next, a spate of inflation raided American pocketbooks. All along, Amazon continued to pull customers away from brick and mortar stores like Klem’s.Now Jessica Bettencourt, Klem’s owner, says she is facing a new challenge that has left her wondering if the store — which was started by her grandparents in 1949 — will survive. The sweeping tariffs that President-elect Donald J. Trump has…
Mr. Hegseth is poised to move from “Fox & Friends Weekend” to overseeing the Pentagon. Sean Duffy, a Fox Business host, is Mr. Trump’s pick for transportation secretary. Tom Homan, a Fox contributor, has been tapped to be his border czar. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, who explained the Covid pandemic to Fox viewers, is nominated for surgeon general. (None are still on the Fox payroll; the network terminated its contracts with anyone who was tapped by Mr. Trump.)There’s Mike Huckabee, who hosted a Fox News show for seven years, as ambassador to Israel. Tulsi Gabbard, who left a Fox gig in…
Mustafa has life in him after all.“Mufasa: The Lion King,” a photorealistic “Lion King” prequel, arrived on cat paws at the Christmas box office, collecting a weak $35 million in its first weekend in theaters, or 30 percent less than Disney had expected.The company had been hoping that “Mufasa” would add to investor confidence about a turnaround at Walt Disney Studios. Instead, it prompted a new worry: Perhaps the money-gushing “Lion King” franchise (movie and TV spinoffs, a smash stage musical, theme park attractions, the sale of countless stuffed Simbas) was starting to slow. The franchise is 30 years old,…
President Biden warned in his farewell address to the nation last week that an oligarchy is taking shape in America. In Washington, the oligarchs are already here, buying big houses.Counting President-elect Donald J. Trump himself, there are at least a dozen billionaires among his cabinet picks and those headed for senior roles in the new administration. Elon Musk tops the list with a $429 billion net worth, according to Forbes, making him the world’s richest man. Mr. Trump weighs in with an estimated $6.8 billion.It is an extraordinary concentration of wealth in a city where power has always been more…
Privacy can be hard to come by in India. Life is a communal swirl of relatives, neighbors and friends. Cities are crowded, and prying eyes are everywhere.Enter Oyo, a popular hotel-booking platform. The company, backed by big names in venture capital, built a hip reputation as a gateway to “love hotels” for unmarried couples. Inside its budget rooms, young lovers who might otherwise be left to steal furtive kisses in the nooks and crannies of public parks or shopping malls could exert their passions behind closed doors.Now, Oyo is stepping back from its image as a refuge for hookups. This…
Mr. Thiel prides himself on his elaborate parties, and his inauguration event, held in his seven-bedroom home, included a hired juggler who rather than juggling, instead posed trivia questions to guests about U.S. presidents. Snack cakes and other appetizers were passed around, and larger bites were served at stations. (The Mar-a-Lago station had shrimp, steak and salad with Thousand Island dressing; there was also a food delivery from McDonald’s.) Gift bags were filed with small bottles of Moët champagne. There were, of course, red MAGA hats.Prominent tech industry guests, among a heavily male list, included Sam Altman, the chief executive…
Hours before a new federal law banning TikTok from the United States was set to take effect, the social media app showed users a pop-up message that said it would be “temporarily unavailable” starting on Sunday.“We regret that a U.S. law banning TikTok will take effect on January 19,” the message said. “We’re working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible.”TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance and has been under scrutiny for national security concerns, appeared to be readying its users for how it might go offline. At midnight, it was unclear if…
Wishing you could buy a home? It can be challenging to save enough for a down payment, given how much houses now cost.But many people don’t realize there are myriad programs that offer grants or loans to help home buyers come up with the necessary funds. “There are tons of programs to assist them,” said Deatra Kemp, an advocate for first-time home buyers in Milwaukee.The programs can ease some of the daunting numbers behind buying a house. The median price of a home has risen to more than $400,000, meaning the once-traditional 20 percent down payment — an amount paid…