Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.
Five things you need to know
Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat will be banned in the US from Sunday unless President Donald Trump agrees to a last-minute deal. Trump's administration said the apps threaten national security because they could pass users' data to the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese, and both companies, have denied this. WeChat will shut down on Sunday but TikTok will be useable until Nov. 12.
BREAKING: President Trump orders clampdown on TikTok and WeChat beginning on Sunday, prevents download in the U.S. https://t.co/qtXv7lQOeq
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 18, 2020
There have now been 30 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have also been 940,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic emerged in China at the end of 2019. Many world health officials are now fearing a second wave in Europe, where there has been a spike in cases. The UK is among countries apparently on the brink of a second lockdown.
The WHO says weekly coronavirus cases in Europe are rising at a higher rate than during the pandemic's peak in March, with "alarming rates of transmission across the region."https://t.co/wScLGOEcF3
— NPR (@NPR) September 18, 2020
The Twitter accounts of certain politicians and news outlets will be given extra security for the upcoming US election. It comes after the social media platform was humiliated in June by a disastrous hack. Dozens of high profile accounts were breached and used to publish tweets connected to a cryptocurrency scam. Twitter said it has now learned from "past security incidents" and is promising to keep its important users' accounts safe.
Twitter beefs up security for US election candidates https://t.co/kaNiRhAar1
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 18, 2020
The man who penned the novel on which the 1994 Oscar-winning movie Forrest Gump was based has died. Winston Groom was 77. His death was confirmed by Alabama governor Kay Ivey. She said Groom was "one of our most gifted writers."
We are saddened to learn of the passing of one of our Legends, Winston Groom. A 1965 UA graduate, Groom authored 16 books, including Forrest Gump. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time. Bio: https://t.co/KoyJD7alVy #WhereLegendsAreMade pic.twitter.com/8B1V1BmOn3
— The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) September 17, 2020
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will sign an executive order to launch the "1776 Commission." The commission will promote patriotic education and encourage educators to make plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's founding in 2026. Trump said he was signing the order to combat left-wing ideology such as critical race theory, which he said distorts the truth about the history of the United States and pushes a false narrative of the country as evil. The president explained: “We will reclaim our history and our country for citizens of every race, colour, religion and creed.”
When mobs tear down statues of our Founding Fathers, burn businesses to the ground, and attack police officers—all with barely a peep from Democrat politicians—it is clear America must fight indoctrination with patriotic civic education.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 18, 2020
1600 Daily: https://t.co/A68ueVC88u pic.twitter.com/AR1CsSkj33
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