TikTok 'not an agent of China': Chief executive defends video app during tense US Congress hearing

Bud Light’s Sales Continue to Sink Over Mulvaney Controversy

Bud Light’s Sales Continue to Sink , Over Mulvaney Controversy . NBC News reports that due to backlash from using Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender TikTok influencer, in a March Madness promo. sales of Bud Light have crashed. According to beer industry publication Beer Business Daily, sales for the beverage sank 28.4% in the week ending May 13. That slump continues a trend from a 27.7% decline from the previous week. . Most people don’t care about this issue and don’t want to get roped into a conversation, Harry Schuhmacher, Beer Business Daily editor, via NBC News. Therefore they're not going to buy the beer, Harry Schuhmacher, Beer Business Daily editor, via NBC News. In a time of national debate regarding civil rights for transgender people, the promotion was lambasted by conservatives. . AB InBev had worked previously with the LGBTQ+ community, including Mulvaney. . Shares of AB InBev have dropped more than 10% since the promo with Mulvaney was posted. . The timing and the zeitgeist and the divided environment all combined to create this unbelievable boycott that nobody could have anticipated, Harry Schuhmacher, Beer Business Daily editor, via NBC News

'Tech Cold War': Race against time as US scrambles to confront TikTok nat'l security, privacy threat

Montana Bans TikTok, Imposes Penalties Amid Perceived Security Threat

Montana Bans TikTok, Imposes Penalties Amid , Perceived Security Threat. On May 17, Montana became the first U.S. state to ban TikTok. . TikTok is owned by China-based company ByteDance. . TikTok is owned by China-based company ByteDance. . Vox reports that the ban comes amid concerns that ByteDance's ties to the Chinese government present security risks. Vox reports that the ban comes amid concerns that ByteDance's ties to the Chinese government present security risks. The ban has not only given rise to questions about how it will be enforced, but it is also expected to face legal challenges. . The ban has not only given rise to questions about how it will be enforced, but it is also expected to face legal challenges. . Under the new law, TikTok will be fined $10,000 for each user's first attempt to access the app and an additional $10,000 per day that they are allowed to access the platform. Under the new law, TikTok will be fined $10,000 for each user's first attempt to access the app and an additional $10,000 per day that they are allowed to access the platform. Similar penalties will be imposed on Google and Apple for allowing users in Montana to download TikTok. . Similar penalties will be imposed on Google and Apple for allowing users in Montana to download TikTok. . Vox reports that the new law does not penalize individual users for accessing the app. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said the law was necessary to , “protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party.”. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said the law was necessary to , “protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party.”. Lawmakers have cited a 2017 Chinese law that orders all companies operating within the country to fulfill government demands for data related to national security. Vox points out that a 2023 Georgia Institute of Technology report found that social media platforms like Facebook have similar data protection methods to those of TikTok. . Vox points out that a 2023 Georgia Institute of Technology report found that social media platforms like Facebook have similar data protection methods to those of TikTok.

Montana becomes first US state to ban TikTok

Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Keep Kids Under 13 Off Social Media

Bipartisan Senate Bill , Aims to Keep Kids , Under 13 Off Social Media. This week, senators from both sides of the political divide announced legislation aimed at protecting children from aspects of social media found to impact mental health. NPR reports that a bipartisan group of senators claim that social media is contributing to a mental health crisis among young Americans. NPR reports that a bipartisan group of senators claim that social media is contributing to a mental health crisis among young Americans. The proposed Protecting Kids on Social Media Act , would ban children under the age of 13 , from accessing social media. Teens from 13 to 18 years old would need a parent to provide a valid form of ID in order for them to become users on a platform. NPR reports that the proposed bill is sponsored by Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Katie Britt, and Democratic Senators Brian Schatz and Chris Murphy. NPR reports that the proposed bill is sponsored by Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Katie Britt, and Democratic Senators Brian Schatz and Chris Murphy. NPR reports that the proposed bill is sponsored by Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Katie Britt, and Democratic Senators Brian Schatz and Chris Murphy. The business model of these apps is simple, the duration of time the user spends on the app and the extent to which they engage with content is directly correlated with ad revenue, Brian Schatz, Democratic Senator for Hawaii, via NPR. Hawaii's Sen. Brian Schatz argues that the result of social media platforms driving users to spend long amounts of time on their platforms could be "catastrophic.". Social media [companies] have stumbled onto a stubborn, devastating fact: The way to get kids to linger on the platforms and to maximize platforms is to upset them, Brian Schatz, Democratic Senator for Hawaii, via NPR. According to a Pew Research study, most teens say they go on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok at least once every day. According to a Pew Research study, most teens say they go on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok at least once every day. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed and wreaking havoc on their mental health, while kids are suffering, social media companies are profiting. This needs to stop, Brian Schatz, Democratic Senator for Hawaii, via NPR. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed and wreaking havoc on their mental health, while kids are suffering, social media companies are profiting. This needs to stop, Brian Schatz, Democratic Senator for Hawaii, via NPR

Memorial Day By the Numbers

Memorial Day , by the Numbers. These stats were provided by WalletHub. 45 million veterans, have served during wartime. 656,000 military service members , have lost their lives during combat. . New York was the 1st state , to recognize Memorial Day in 1873. . 96 members of the 116th Congress , have served in the military. . 60 percent of Americans, plan to barbecue over Memorial Day weekend. . 260,000 graves, at Arlington National Cemetery are adorned with American flags

Congress and opposition parties to boycott new Parliament Building’s inauguration | Oneindia News

Ahead of the inauguration of the new parliament building, the opposition parties have decided to boycott the event. #NewParliamentBuilding #PMModi #CentralVista ~HT.97~PR.150~

Siddaramaiah oath ceremony: Congress invites opposition party leaders to the event | Oneindia News

Congress invite leaders of all major opposition parties to Siddharamaiah’s oath-taking ceremony. #KarnatakaCM #Siddaramaiah #Congress ~PR.150~GR.124~HT.96~

Karnataka CM Race: Will have new cabinet in next 48-72 hours, says Randeep Surjewala | Oneindia News

Amid intense speculation over the next chief minister of Karnataka, the Congress has said a decision on it is likely on Wednesday or Thursday and a new cabinet in the state will be in place in the next 48-72 hours. The party asserted that Karnataka will have a five-year-long stable government and urged people not to believe in speculation and "fake news" which it alleged was being peddled by the BJP. #RandeepSurjewala #DKShivakumar #KarnatakaCMRace #KarnatakaCM ~PR.152~ED.103~GR.125~HT.96~

ChatGPT boss tells US Congress that regulation of artificial intelligence is 'crucial'

ChatGPT's Sam Altman says the benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the risks, but that AI should be regulated.

China-US Technology Feud Continues As Beijing Issues Security Warning

China-US , Technology Feud Continues , As Beijing Issues Security Warning. On May 21, China urged owners of sensitive computer equipment to stop purchasing goods from the largest chipmaker in the United States. NBC reports that the news represents an escalation of an ongoing dispute between the U.S. and China over technology and security. . According to China's Cyberspace Administration, Micron products present "serious network security risks" that pose a threat to national security. . Operators of critical information infrastructure in China should stop purchasing products from Micron Co, China's Cyberspace Administration, via NBC. The news comes as the U.S., Europe and Japan have moved to reduce Chinese access to advanced chipmaking and other technology. NBC reports that while China has warned of unspecified consequences, it has struggled to find a form of retaliation that doesn't impact its own smartphone producers. China firmly promotes high-level opening up to the outside world and, as long as it complies with Chinese laws and regulations, welcomes enterprises and various platform products and services from various countries to enter the Chinese market, China's Cyberspace Administration, via NBC. China is investing heavily in accelerating chip development to reduce Beijing's reliance on foreign techonology. . NBC reports that China spends over $300 billion importing foreign chips annually. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns that two separate spheres of technology could emerge that would raise costs and slow international innovation. . The ongoing conflict has raised concerns that two separate spheres of technology could emerge that would raise costs and slow international innovation.

Is China ready to replace Russian influence in Central Asia?

The focus of the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit summit in Xi'an is the promotion of Beijing's 'Belt and Road Initiative'. But according to analysts, the summit is less about the transit of goods and more about Russia's loss of influence in the region and whether China is ready to take over.

Xi Jinping hosts Central Asian leaders as Beijing seeks to strengthen regional influence

China's trade with Central Asian countries reached €64 billion in 2022 and rose by 22 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

London, Tokyo to sign landmark 'Hiroshima Accord' ahead of G7 summit to counter China |Oneindia News

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will soon sign a new agreement to deepen security ties, including a UK commitment to deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025. The so-called “Hiroshima Accord” will also cover trade and investment, collaboration on science and technology and joint initiatives to tackle global issues such as climate change. Under the agreement, the United Kingdom will deploy its Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025… and will also double its troop numbers in upcoming joint military exercises. He will also visit a naval base and confirm new UK-Japan defence cooperation, including a new cyber partnership. The summit comes as the former UK prime minister Liz Truss attempted to intervene in foreign policy by visiting Taiwan on Wednesday, where she called on Sunak to declare Beijing a threat to national security. The trip had drawn condemnation as a “dangerous political stunt” by the Chinese embassy in London. #Hiroshimaaccord#G7meet2023 #Rishisunak ~PR.153~GR.125~HT.96~

Former UK PM Liz Truss warns against appeasing China on her 5-day visit to Taiwan | Oneindia News

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who is in Taiwan, has said that the West should avoid appeasing China and show unwavering support for the self-governed island. Reports said that her speech risks further damaging Britain's relations with Beijing. #LizTruss #Taiwan #China ~HT.97~PR.151~ED.101~