Technologies

Senator Calls on Apple, Google to Remove TikTok From App Stores

The senator called the social media app a security risk.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) wrote a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai Thursday, calling for the removal of TikTok from both Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store.

«TikTok collects vast and sophisticated data from its users, including faceprints and voiceprints,» Bennet wrote. «Unlike most social media platforms, TikTok poses a unique concern because Chinese law obligates ByteDance, its Beijing-based parent company, to ‘support, assist, and cooperate with state intelligence work.'»

The social media app has faced growing concerns from US lawmakers over security concerns. The FBI has called the app a national security threat, and the Biden administration reportedly pushed for the app’s owners to sell its US operations.

«Given these grave and growing concerns, I ask that you remove TikTok from your respective app stores immediately,» Bennet wrote.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has agreed to testify before a House of Representatives committee in March. A TikTok spokesperson previously told CNET the company welcomes the chance to «set the record straight about TikTok, ByteDance, and the commitments we are making to address concerns about U.S. national security.»

Governors across the US have banned TikTok from state-run devices and wireless networks over privacy and data security issues. Ohio, New Jersey and Georgia are among the states to ban the app from state-owned devices.

For more, check out why US states are banning TikTok and what to know about TikTok’s national security concerns.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Dec. 14, #1639

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for Dec. 14, No. 1,639.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a common English word, but some of the letters are unusual, and I don’t tend to guess them right away. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with S.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with G.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a playground toy where users sit down and move through the air, and also to the motion they make when doing so.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is SWING.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Dec. 13, No. 1638 was MISER.

Recent Wordle answers

Dec. 9, No. 1634: SNIDE

Dec. 10, No. 1635: ERASE

Dec. 11, No. 1636: GUESS

Dec. 12, No. 1637: TRUCK

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, Dec. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s fairly easy, but 1-Across will make you think. Read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Stringed instrument that becomes an exclamation if you switch its second and third letters
Answer: VIOLA

6A clue: Place for unread emails
Answer: INBOX

7A clue: Back of a 45 record
Answer: BSIDE

8A clue: Olympic fencing event
Answer: EPEE

9A clue: Emergency call in Morse code
Answer: SOS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Good ___ only
Answer: VIBES

2D clue: Bit of creative motivation, for short
Answer: INSPO

3D clue: Theater awards since 1956
Answer: OBIES

4D clue: Ore deposit
Answer: LODE

5D clue: Tool for a firefighter or lumberjack
Answer: AXE

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Dec. 14, #447

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Dec. 14, No. 447.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has a purple category that could be super-easy, if you spot the connection right away. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Enjoy the game.

Green group hint: Look up there!

Blue group hint: Remember the Alamo.

Purple group hint: The worldwide leader in sports.