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China Considers Selling TikTok’s U.S. Operations To Elon Musk To Avoid Ban

According to a Bloomberg report, the Chinese government is considering a plan in which Elon Musk could take over TikTok’s U.S. operations to prevent the app from being banned. This potential move comes as the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates on a law requiring the Chinese company ByteDance to divest its U.S. business by January 19, under the threat of sanctions on internet service providers supporting TikTok in the country.

This backup plan, still in its early stages, would see Musk, who owns the X platform (formerly Twitter), taking the reins of both X and TikTok’s U.S. operations. However, Chinese authorities have yet to make a final decision, and it is unclear if ByteDance is aware of these discussions or TikTok’s involvement in the plans.

The legal battle over TikTok’s future in the U.S. intensified recently, as the Supreme Court held oral arguments on a law that could ban the app. Signed by President Joe Biden in April, the law has been challenged by TikTok’s legal team on the grounds of violating free speech rights. Meanwhile, the government argues that ByteDance’s ownership poses a national security threat.

With the court likely to support the government’s stance, TikTok may seek a political resolution through former President Donald Trump, who has shifted his position on the app. Despite advocating for a TikTok ban during his first term, Trump has recently reversed his stance and called for a delay in the Supreme Court’s ruling to allow time for a political solution.

In addition to Musk’s potential involvement, last week saw the emergence of “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” a proposal led by billionaire investor Frank McCourt. McCourt’s plan seeks to buy TikTok’s U.S. assets from ByteDance, restructuring the company to prioritize the privacy of American users. This includes moving to U.S.-based digital infrastructure and abandoning the controversial algorithm, addressing national security concerns. The bid is currently seeking backing from private equity firms and large-scale financing from major U.S. banks.

Forbes Middle East Unveils 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen Of 2025

Forbes Middle East has unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 ranking of the region’s top businesswomen, spotlighting influential leaders reshaping industries and driving meaningful transformation. The list was based on business size, individual accomplishments, leadership impact, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Top Spot For Hana Al Rostamani

For the third consecutive year, Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE’s largest bank by assets), claims the top position. In addition to retaining her position in the Forbes Middle East ranking, she was also featured on Forbes’ 2024 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, securing the 60th position globally. Under her leadership, the bank achieved an impressive $3.5 billion in net profits and $334.8 billion in assets in the first nine months of 2024.

Rising Stars In The Top 10

Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar of NBK Group and Shaista Asif, cofounder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, take the second and third spots respectively, completing the top three.

The top 10 remains largely unchanged from last year, with Tayba Al Hashemi of ADNOC Offshore, Alisha Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare GCC, and Suzanne Al Anani of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) making their debut in the top 10. In total, 27 new leaders have joined the list this year.

A Diverse And Powerful Group Of Women

This year’s list features 100 women from 32 sectors and 29 nationalities, underlining the diversity of talent driving the region’s progress. The banking and financial services sector leads with 25 entries, followed by healthcare and technology with nine each, and venture capital with five. Remarkably, 40% of the top 10 women are from the banking and financial services sector. Notably, Shaista Asif (PureHealth Holding) and Alisha Moopen (Aster DM Healthcare GCC) are the only non-Arab women in the top 10.

UAE Leads With 46 Leaders

The UAE continues to dominate, with 46 of the women on the list hailing from the country, solidifying its status as a global business hub. Egypt follows with 18 influential women, and Saudi Arabia claims nine entries. Egyptians lead in representation, followed by Emiratis and Lebanese women.

Empowering Women Through Initiatives

Several of the leaders have focused on upskilling and creating opportunities for women. Susana Rodriguez Puerta launched the ‘sAIdaty’ initiative in collaboration with the Dubai Business Women Council, aimed at providing 500 female council members in the UAE with AI skills. Similarly, Lamia Tazi of SOTHEMA collaborated with the Foundation for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering to provide scholarships to PhD students from low-income backgrounds.

Click here for the full list.

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