On Thursday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to address concerns about the app's national security implications, consumer privacy, data security practices, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Chew has sought to reassure the public that the company is taking steps to protect user data, but a recent incident involving a reporter's data has raised questions about the company's commitment. The hearing will be closely watched to see if Chew's testimony is enough to allay the concerns of U.S. policymakers.
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North Korea has launched several cruise missiles into the sea in response to joint military drills between the United States and South Korea. This marks the fourth round of weapons tests since the drills began last week, and the U.S. is reportedly planning to send an aircraft carrier for another round of drills. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is likely trying to enlarge his arsenal and boost his image of a strong leader in the face of domestic economic hardships.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently concluded a state visit to Moscow, standing in solidarity with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite an international arrest warrant issued against him. The two leaders signed a joint statement expressing the need to "respect legitimate security concerns of all countries," and the visit is seen as a sign of the growing ties between China and Russia. The U.S.-led NATO alliance has been a counterforce to the visit, with the two sides having different views on the conflict, and it is unclear how the visit will affect the situation in Ukraine.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) has become a vocal supporter of TikTok, defending the platform against bipartisan efforts to ban it. Bowman argues that he hasn't seen any evidence of espionage and that the platform provides a space for content creators to share their ideas. TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer is expected to testify before a House panel this week, which could affect the debate over the app's future in the U.S. and Bowman's support.
Shohei Ohtani sealed Japan's victory with a full-count slider to strike out Mike Trout, and Munetaka Murakami tied the score with a home run off Team USA starter Merrill Kelly in the eighth inning. Japan went 7-0 and outscored opponents 56-18, becoming the only unbeaten champions of baseball’s premier national team tournament since 2013.
President Biden announced the establishment of two new national monuments in Nevada and Texas, as well as the creation of a marine sanctuary in U.S. waters near the Pacific Remote Islands southwest of Hawaii. The move will bring more than half a million federal acres under a new set of protections. At the White House Conservation in Action Summit, Biden emphasized the need to preserve these natural wonders for future generations, calling it a "birthright to pass down from generation to generation." The announcement comes despite Biden's approval of a controversial fossil fuel drilling project in the Alaskan Arctic.
Roberto Lugardo Moreno has been arrested in Texas after admitting to purchasing firearms for a Mexican drug cartel, one of which was linked to the kidnapping of four Americans in Matamoros, Mexico. Moreno has been charged with conspiring to illegally export a firearm and is currently awaiting trial. The U.S. government is working to strengthen border security and crack down on illegal firearms smuggling in order to combat gun trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico.
President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan bill that directs the federal government to declassify intelligence related to the origins of Covid-19. The bill calls for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology and requires a report to Congress within 180 days. It is hoped that the declassified intelligence will help to resolve the debate over the source of the virus and provide more clarity on the public health response.