TikTok faces its biggest threat yet; Earth Day tips for sustainable living

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Today’s headlines

TikTok faces biggest threat yet in U.S. The House of Representatives on Saturday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would ban the social media app’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, if it does not sell the app within a year. The Senate could vote on the bill as soon as tomorrow. The last time the House tried to pass a “sell or ban” bill, it didn’t pass the Senate. But this time, the ban is attached to an aid package for Israel and Ukraine. It also addressed the concerns of some Senate members by extending the deadline for TikTok to find a buyer.

• NPR’s Bobby Allyn tells the story first up Byte jumping will face two major problems Trying to sell TikTok: Its price and algorithm. One of the most popular apps in the world is going to be very expensive. Moreover, China has said it will not approve the algorithm for selling TikTok. “Buying a social media app without an algorithm is like buying Coca-Cola without a secret formula,” Ayling said. “Who would want that?”

Supreme Court to hear major homelessness case today Questioning whether people will be punished for sleeping outside if no shelter is available. The court’s ruling could have significant consequences for the more than 250,000 people in the United States who live in dozens of cars and for the cities that struggle to regulate them.

• Today’s case focuses on the small city of Grants Pass, Oregon. The area has a population of just under 40,000, which is emblematic of how widespread the problem is. According to NPR’s Jennifer Ludden, appeals courts in Grants Pass and Boise, Idaho, have ruled that people can be punished if they sleep outdoors without a place to go. Imposing a fine amounts to “cruel and unusual punishment.” Officials in these states say rules are needed to keep public spaces safe and open to everyone. One attorney who opposed the rule argued that punishing someone for something they had no control over would only make things worse, because it would be harder to find housing if you have a criminal record.

Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average High summer temperatures are killing a large number of people, according to a new report from European climate experts. Heat-related deaths on the continent have increased by at least 30% over the past 20 years, according to analysis by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and United Nations estimates. But there’s good news in the new report: Europe is increasingly turning to solar and wind power, and these sources are increasingly reliable. Learn about the factors driving Europe’s rapid warming and what governments are doing about it.

life advice

A lot is happening on Earth these days. While we know that individual actions can only take us further in combating climate change, they can help us make progress. Here are Earth Day reminders of steps you can take to live more sustainably:

• Eat less meat. You don’t have to go vegan, a little goes a long way. When you eat seafood, try to make sure it’s local or caught on a rod or line.
• Keep your clothes on for as long as possible. Try to think beyond trends and become a more mindful shopper.
• Freeze your products to extend shelf life and avoid waste. You can even freeze food scraps and take them to your local compost collector.
• Keep track of how much plastic you use, Then try to reduce.
• Shift to clean energy and climate-friendly appliances such as induction stoves.
• Use your voice and your vote. Let the company and your representatives know climate is your top priority.

image display

As the sun sets tonight, Jews around the world mark the beginning of Passover. The holiday commemorates the ancient Jewish people’s escape from slavery in Egypt and begins with a meal called the Passover Seder, during which a piece of unleavened bread is split in half. This flat, unleavened bread is reminiscent of how the Jews in Egypt fled in such a hurry that they did not have time to let the bread rise. In Jewish tradition, unleavened bread is called the bread of pain and freedom.

• Across the world, bread and its lack play an important role in many conflict zones and humanitarian crises. Look at photos of people from Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and more to see what bread symbolizes to them.

3 things you need to know before you go

1. New Artificial Intelligence Art Installation Inspired by Salvador Dal’s Famous Lobster Telephone The sculpture will allow visitors to pick up a crustacean-shaped receiver, ask questions, and hear the Surrealist artist’s answers.
2. Cher, Dave Matthews Band and Ozzy Osbourne is one of this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. See the full list here.
3. U.S. Navy sailor who served in Japan Has been found guilty of attempted espionage and other related charges.

This newsletter is sponsored by Majid Wahadi. Anandita Ballaro Made a contribution.