Taking a look at these highlights from Wednesday’s news cycle, here’s a brief rundown of the top stories:
Trump Signs Executive Order to Ban TikTok
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order effectively banning the popular social media app TikTok from operating in the United States. The order citing national security concerns, gives ByteDance 45 days to divest its US operations or face a ban. This follows weeks of speculation about the app’s fate in the US.
Hurricane Laura Makes Landfall
Hurricane Laura has slammed into the Louisiana coast as a "catastrophic" Category 4 storm. The hurricane is bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and torrential rain to parts of Louisiana and Texas. Authorities have urged residents in the storm’s path to evacuate immediately, warning that for those who remain, first responders may not be able to reach them.
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Successful
SpaceX has successfully completed another high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket prototype. The vehicle, launched from the company’s Boca Chica, Texas facility, reached an altitude of roughly 10 kilometers before performing a "belly flop" maneuver and executing a successful landing. This marks a major milestone in the development of the rocket intended for missions to Mars.
Major Tech Companies Announce Quarterly Earnings
Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google parent Alphabet reported their quarterly earnings on Thursday. All four tech giants beat analyst expectations, showcasing significant revenue growth driven by increased demand for cloud services and consumer electronics during the ongoing pandemic. Apple’s stock hit an all-time high following the release of the.
