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US Congress Passes TikTok Ban Legislation, Bill Heads to Senate

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Congress Passes TikTok Ban
Congress Passes TikTok Ban: File Image

The US Congress enacted legislation Saturday that would prohibit TikTok in the United States if the popular social media platform’s Chinese owner does not sell its stake within a year. However, despite the TikTok ban, do not anticipate the app to disappear anytime soon.

House Republicans’ decision to include TikTok as part of a bigger foreign aid package, a priority for President Joe Biden with overwhelming congressional support for Ukraine and Israel, accelerated the prohibition after an earlier version had failed in the Senate.

A TikTok ban bill with a shorter, six-month selling period cleared the House in March with an overwhelming bipartisan majority, as both Democrats and Republicans expressed national security worries about the app’s owner, Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.

The updated bill, which passed by a vote of 360-58, now goes to the Senate following discussions that extended the company’s selling timeframe to nine months, with an extra three months conceivable if a sale is in the works.

Legal disputes may extend that period even further. If the law passes, the corporation has stated that it will likely file a lawsuit to block it, claiming that it will deprive the app’s millions of users of their First Amendment rights.

TikTok has fought aggressively against the proposal, encouraging the app’s 170 million U.S. users, many of whom are young, to contact Congress and express their objections.

However, the intensity of the backlash enraged politicians on Capitol Hill, where there is widespread worry about Chinese threats to the US and few members use the platform themselves.

TiKTok Will Never Stop Fighting

“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you,” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a video released on the platform last month, addressing the app’s users. “We will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you.”

The bill’s rapid passage through Congress is remarkable because it only affects one firm and Congress has adopted a hands-off approach to technology regulation for decades.

US lawmakers had failed to act despite efforts to protect minors online, protect users’ privacy, and hold firms more accountable for content put on their platforms, among other things. However, the TikTok ban reflects broad fears among lawmakers about China.

Members of both parties, as well as intelligence officials, have expressed concern that Chinese authorities may force ByteDance to pass over American user data or direct the business to suppress or promote TikTok content that benefits its interests.

TikTok has disputed claims that it is being utilized as a tool by the Chinese government and has stated that it has not shared user data from the United States with Chinese authorities.

TiKToK Ban Montana

TikTok Ban Montana: Getty Image

Montana Prohibited the Use of TikTok

The US government has not publicly shown evidence that TikTok exchanged US user data with the Chinese government or tampered with the company’s popular algorithm, which impacts what Americans see.

The corporation has good reason to believe that a legal challenge will be successful, as it has already won court battles over its operations in the United States. In November, a federal judge halted a Montana law that would have prohibited TikTok use throughout the state after the business and five TikTok content providers sued.

In 2020, federal courts blocked then-President Donald Trump’s executive order to ban TikTok after the firm sued, claiming that the order violated its free speech and due process rights.

His administration arranged a deal in which US businesses Oracle and Walmart would have acquired a significant share in TikTok. The transaction fell through for a variety of reasons, including China’s tougher export curbs on technology companies.

Tiktok

TikTok has spent $5 million on TV ads: File Image

Dozens of states and the federal government have imposed TikTok restrictions on official equipment. The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a lawsuit last year, claiming that Texas’ restriction violated academic freedom because it applied to public universities. In December, a federal judge decided in favor of the state.

The software has received support from organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union. “Congress cannot take away the rights of over 170 million Americans who use TikTok to express themselves, engage in political advocacy, and access information from around the world,” Jenna Leventoff, the group’s lawyer, told the Associated Press.

According to AdImpact, an advertising tracking service, TikTok has spent $5 million on TV ads opposing the law since mid-March.

The advertisements have featured a variety of content creators, including a nun, touting the platform’s benefits in their life and claiming that a prohibition would violate the First Amendment.

The corporation has also urged its customers to contact Congress, with some lawmakers receiving profanity-laced calls.

“It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually,” Alex Haurek, a spokesperson for the organization, said.

California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna voted against the bill. He believes there could have been less restrictive ways to pursue the corporation that would not end in a blanket ban or jeopardize free speech.

“I don’t think it’ll go well,” Khanna told the Associated Press. “It’s a sign of the Beltway being out of touch with where voters are.”

Nadya Okamoto, a TikTok content creator with approximately 4 million followers, stated that she has been speaking with other creators who are expressing “so much anger and anxiety” about the bill and how it will affect their life.

The 26-year-old, whose company “August” offers menstrual goods and is recognized for her activism for de-stigmatizing monthly cycles, earns the majority of her money via TikTok.

“This is going to have real repercussions,” she told me.

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Based on interest from The Range, Homebase’s owner plans to initiate a sale.

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Homebase

(CTN News) – Homebase’s proprietor is currently in discussions with one of the most prominent general goods chains in the United Kingdom regarding the possibility of selling the do-it-yourself retailer.

These discussions are occurring in anticipation of the commencement of a more comprehensive auction of the company that it salvaged six years ago.

The Range, which has discreetly become one of the most successful retail businesses in the country, has extended an offer to Hilco Capital, the company that acquired Homebase in 2018.

The company was experiencing financial difficulties at the time of acquisition. The offer is being discussed as a potential acquisition. This information was reported by Sky News. Sky News acquired this information.

The city sources asserted that the negotiations were not guaranteed to result in a transaction; however, analysts predicted that The Range would likely demand the majority of Homebase’s approximately 140 stores if an agreement were reached. The headquarters of Homebase are located in the United Kingdom.

It is anticipated that a formal selling procedure, which will involve other potential suitors, will commence in the near future, according to an individual who is knowledgeable about the matter. The individual who disclosed this information provided it.

Homebase was controlled by Wesfarmers for a period of time.

An Australian company, the company experienced losses that totaled hundreds of millions of British pounds. Homebase was acquired by Hilco subsequent to the conclusion of this period.

B&M European Value Retail, a discount retailer that is listed on the London stock exchange, is one of the other retailers that have been considered as potential proposals for Homebase in the past. Another company that has been mentioned is Homebase.

The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) chain, which has been nomadic, has been acquired by Home Retail Group, a joint venture between Argos and Home Retail Group. J. Sainsbury managed the chain at various points in time, and it was subsequently acquired by Home Retail Group.

Hilco, a corporation that has previously owned retail brands such as HMV and Cath Kidston, acquired control of the business as a consequence of Wesfarmers’ entry into the United Kingdom. This event was a complete and absolute disaster. Hilco succeeded in acquiring authority of the organization.

Homebase underwent a business voluntary arrangement in 2018, which resulted in the closure of a significant number of stores, the renegotiation of rent agreements, and the loss of approximately 1500 employment. Concurrently, each of these incidents transpired.

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The outbreak and the crises that accompanied it injured the company’s fortunes in terms of the cost of living, despite the fact that the turnaround investor was successful in stabilizing the company.

The initial increase in sales that transpired subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic was attributable to the fact that consumers were prioritizing home renovation initiatives. Conversely, the market conditions ultimately manifested with increased volatility.

Homebase lost forty million pounds in 2022, according to Companies House.

Conversely, there is a general agreement that the performance of the previous year was significantly better.

Homebase has a presence in Ireland in addition to its operations in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, it is conceivable that the two divisions could be sold separately at a later date.

Chris Dawson, one of the most successful businesspeople in the world, is the owner and operator of CDS Superstores, which incorporates The Range as a subsidiary. The Range is situated in Devon.

The business paid a sum of seven million pounds to acquire the brand and intellectual property assets of Wilko, which had been placed under administration.

Mr. Dawson has since established numerous Wilko establishments in a variety of locations throughout the region.

The Range, a retailer with over 200 retail locations in the United Kingdom, offers a diverse selection of products, such as homewares, furnishings, and items for do-it-yourself projects.

Mr. Dawson established its inaugural store in Plymouth in 1989.

Due to the distinctive number plate that is prominently displayed on his Rolls-Royce Wraith, he is frequently referred to as “the Del Boy billionaire.” He has become one of the most successful retail business proprietors in the United Kingdom as a result of his unwavering determination and hard work.

Despite an attempt to obtain a statement from Hilco and Homebase, The Range has been unable to be contacted for any further information.

SOURCE: SN

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The National Lottery App is down. Users say they have Login Problems.

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National Lottery

(CTN News) – A substantial number of individuals from all over the United Kingdom have reported issues with the National Lottery’s mobile app and website. A sizeable number of individuals have brought these issues to the attention of the authorities.

It is clear that a significant number of individuals have reported experiencing difficulties accessing the application, as evidenced by the fact that over one thousand five hundred complaints were registered at roughly 6:30 this morning.

There was a second surge in the amount of complaints that were received at approximately eleven o’clock last night. Downdetector UK received approximately two thousand reports of outages during this time period.

For the second time in a row, National Lottery complaints were up.

It was as a result of an increase in the percentage of complaints that were received that this phenomenon came about. The application is responsible for National Lottery around 53 percent of the disturbances that have been observed, as indicated by the conclusions of the inquiry.

On the other hand, the website and the login were connected to respectively 41% and 6% of the disruptions that occurred.

Glasgow, Manchester, and London were selected as the regions that were experiencing the most major challenges. This was the case despite the fact that a number of problems were recorded in each and every location in the United Kingdom.

The National Lottery’s mobile application and website have been the subject of a number of complaints from users who have said that they have been unable to successfully log in to either of these platforms.

The National Lottery attracted many people to X.

It was once known as Twitter, where they broadcast complaints and expressed their displeasure with the apparent outage. Their actions were intended to convey their dissatisfaction with the current situation. The following comment was provided by a certain individual:

“Come on, @TNLUK, your app and website have been down since last night at nine o’clock.” These issues have been ongoing for a considerable period of time. Even if one considers how long it has been since the dispute began, it is absurd that it has not been resolved.

I was wondering if anyone has been able to access the website of the national lottery or use the app since the clock struck nine o’clock yesterday evening.

Should that be the case, to what extent has this been feasible? The inquiry was initially posed by a different individual than the one who was being asked.

Would it be more likely for the problem to be resolved in time for today’s draw, or will it take more time to be resolved? What is the likelihood of each of the following occurring? Please select one of the following two options. “@TNLUK”

Apparently, the National Lottery app is exhibiting peculiar behavior of its own accord, as stated by a third user who reported the matter.

There is a significant probability that the anarchy that has been brought about by the current state of information technology is the party responsible for this. This is a possibility that cannot be discounted.

According to the official National Lottery account.

The following comment was provided in response to someone who inquired about the matter: “Hello. It has come to our attention that a sizeable number of players are encountering challenges while attempting to access both our website and our mobile application.

It was brought to our attention by a member of our staff that this information is available. At this very moment, the members of our team are conducting an inquiry into the matter in order to ascertain what has transpired. We would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

The fact that they are conducting an investigation into the matter is something that you should be aware of.

SPURCE: BCSE

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Amazon Prime Day Bargains are Approaching. Is it Advisable to Capitalize on Them?

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Amazon

(CTN News) – Since Amazon introduced Prime Day in 2015, July sales have been enormous for businesses. Even with fantastic prices, personal finance experts advise against deceptive advertising and buying unnecessary items.

In recent weeks, people have been growing more enthusiastic about the 10th Prime Day event, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday for Prime members who pay $14.99 a month or $139 a year for free shipping and other benefits.

Other stores have capitalized on Prime Day with offers. This summer, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, TikTok Shop, and Temu started sales before Amazon.

This was done to steal from Amazon deal-seekers.

There will be “best summer deals” at Macy’s from Tuesday to August 8. Why do businesses sell so much during the summer?

July offers aid August back-to-school buying, the second busiest season after the holidays. Electronics, home products, and seasonal items like bikinis and summer dresses cost more when costs are low.

Sales could help businesses battle “a summer lull in retail spending” because people are spending money on holidays and eating out, according to Coresight Research’s head of global research, John Mercer.

Mercer says “it drives a bit of excitement in that mid-year period,” when companies may be struggling to sell. He claimed that businesses utilized sales to increase spending during high interest rates and inflation.

Amazon doesn’t disclose Prime Day earnings, but it has proof. Last year’s “single largest sales day” sold almost 375 million products.

Amazon Prime Day sales might reach $12.5 billion worldwide in 2023, according to Emarketer. The company expects 7% sales growth this year.

What’s the pricing offer?

Change who you ask. It is common for store advertisements to use hyperbole in order to attract customers. Earlier this month, Wirecutter wrote that most of Amazon’s early discounts this year are disappointing.

Santa Clara University management professor and Amazon book author Kirthi Kalyanam says Prime Day offers are good. Halyanam said Amandon promoted small businesses on its website to acquire Apple discounts and cut their costs. People are used to Temu and Shein’s low prices, so Prime Day deals may not matter.

Kalyanam stated that “many of the deals may not be as competitive” as Temu and Shien’s.

Other stores may immediately try to match Amazon’s prices, he added. He said Best Buy dropped two goods when Amazon revealed early deals last week.

Numerator questioned 5,000 customers after Prime Day last year and found 40% discounts on some items. Survey responders discovered 60% or greater discounts on 25% of items.

Some retail workers stated Prime offers were smaller than they appeared.

Is there a way to budget and locate Amazon deals?

Personal finance gurus advise caution before buying if you’re on a budget. LendingClub customer support manager Mark Elliot advises, “Avoid the false sense of urgency of manufactured holidays.” “It’s simply not true by definition to say that the more you spend, the more you save.”

Dan Egan, VP of Betterment, a financial advice and investing business, advises users to list their wants beforehand to make good selections. He advises against late-night or bored shopping.

“Having a list makes it less likely that you’ll be sidetracked by unnecessary items,” he said. I recommend removing shop apps from your phone for a week or two if the list is practically empty. You’ll get several alerts otherwise.

He warned credit card holders that summer sales savings may be wasted on interest payments. “If a deal requires interest, it’s not a deal,” stated.

According to Consumer Federation of America head of consumer protection Erin Witte, summer offers are best with free or short-term memberships. After a while, these programs charge customers’ credit cards.

To cancel your membership, Witte advised setting a reminder.Think about it now. Remember that these companies made signing up for this product easy but canceling difficult.

Install the Amazon app, sign up for invitation-only offers, and wait in line for limited-time, sold-out deals.

Price comparisons matter.

Prime members who pay for Prime Day discounts may buy more. Before buying, compare costs on many websites.

Walmart’s price event this month was open to everyone, unlike Prime Day. Allowing Walmart+ users to sign up early improved the deal.

Target Circle, a new membership program, was promoted over the weeklong event to boost sales and foot traffic. However, only Target Circle members might get deals.

TikTok Shop’s summer sale was available to anyone. Celebrations continue till July 9.

Source: APN

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