US President Donald Trump has hinted that a deal to keep TikTok operating in the US might soon be reached, though details were few and far between.
Mr Trump said on Sunday during an impromptu news conference aboard Air Force One that there were “four different groups” of US investors, entrepreneurs and technology moguls who have put together acquisition proposals to purchase a majority stake in the China-owned social media platform, which has given rise to US national security concerns in recent years. “A lot of people want it and it’s up to me, so there could be [a deal],” Mr Trump said.
Following a decision from the US Supreme Court in January, which allowed a law that sought to force ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, to divest from the platform, TikTok briefly ceased operating in the country, only to be brought back after Mr Trump exercised an option in the law extending the divestment deadline to April 5.
Most recently, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian announced he would join billionaire Frank McCourt’s pursuit of TikTok, lengthening the list of keen investors.
Yet for all the interest, there has yet to be any indication from ByteDance or TikTok's chief executive Shou Zi Chew that the company is willing to give up majority ownership.
Mr Chew's last posted on TikTok on January 17, in a video expressing his gratitude to Mr Trump. “I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the US,” he said.
“Rest assured we will do everything in our power to ensure our platform thrives as your online home for limitless creativity and discovery, as well as a source of joy and inspiration for years to come.”
For all the platitudes expressed in that footage, the bipartisan law passed by Congress requires that TikTok be owned by a US entity, due to concerns over Beijing's access to US user data.
Mr Chew has consistently denied users' data is at risk and since the extension that gave TikTok a lifeline in the US, he has not commented on any of the investors seeking to acquire a majority stake in the platform.
The lack of developments or updates from TikTok appears to be causing consternation among users. In the past seven days, according to Google, searches for “Is TikTok getting banned on April 5" are up 4,200 per cent in the US.
It hasn’t been an easy few months for the world’s most popular social media platform that has become the envy of the technology and media world.
Albania recently made the decision to shut down TikTok for at least 12 months amid worries that the video-sharing app was fuelling bullying and violence among children. Various media reports indicate that Albanian officials are trying to work with TikTok to blunt the effects of the app though the use of filtering features, and other potential changes.
Meanwhile, in Washington, TikTok lost a court dispute when a judge decided to unseal most of a lawsuit filed by Brian Schwalb, the Washington Attorney General, in 2024.
That lawsuit alleged that TikTok misled the public about how the platform was protecting younger users and people commonly lose track of time while using the app.
In the same report, TikTok also admitted that late-night usage of the app “cuts into planned bedtime” and “can even stimulate the brain to a point where it is more difficult to fall asleep”, the lawsuit read.
Though the litigation is unrelated to the law which seeks to force TikTok's sale to a US owner, the timing of the unsealed documents is problematic for a platform trying to gain public trust.
The recent stories putting TikTok in a less than flattering light also come as the company continues to make its case through an advertising blitz in the US.
TikTok's advertising campaign attempts to show how the platform helps small business owners and content creators throughout the US.
“Seven million US businesses rely on TikTok to compete,” said the narrator in a TV advertisements, showing people working in various capacities.
Despite all the advertising, however, TikTok's future in the US depends largely on legislators who seem reticent to repeal the law that forces its sale. It also depends on ByteDance, which so far has not made clear if it will sell a majority of the platform to a US entity.
At this point, the countdown for the April 5 deadline is on, though Mr Trump could issue another extension.
TikTok has not responded to requests for comment on this story.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
