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Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The Chinese government will oppose a possible plan by the U.S. to force a sale of TikTok, according to a statement Thursday, amid threats by federal regulators—and testimony by CEO Shou Zi Chew—to ban the social media app in the United States over national security and data privacy concerns. Key Facts Shu Jueting, a spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry, said Thursday that “China will firmly oppose” a forced sale of TikTok, noting a sale “would seriously damage” investors and investor confidence in the U.S. Though Jueting said China will oppose a forced sale, she did not clarify how the Chinese government would respond. Regulators from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) previously said they would ban the app in the United States if its China-based owners did not sell their stake in the company. In a statement sent to Forbes, TikTok said that “divestment doesn’t … [Read more...] about China Opposes Forced TikTok Sale By U.S. Regulators

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When you unshackle 1.4 billion consumers who have been penned up at home for three years, it’s reasonable to expect some fireworks. For the residents of Mainland China, life under “zero COVID” policies was a dreary round of rolling travel restrictions and lockdowns – as if the United States was permanently stuck on a skipping record of the Spring of 2020. While most of the population was able to find a way to get back to work eventually, the everyday routines of travel, dining out, and visiting friends and family were severely curtailed. Wallets stayed snapped shut. Since China executed its “COVID pivot” in late December 2022, economists have been scrutinizing the data to see if the country will be able to achieve its goal of 5% growth in 2023. If achieved, China will serve as an engine to help developed economies avoid tipping into recession. This is particularly relevant in the new era of higher interest rates, … [Read more...] about Why China’s COVID Comeback Is Still In The Early Innings, With Upside Ahead

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline India banned TikTok in June 2020 citing national security concerns after a military clash with China, opening the door for Instagram to dominate and some TikTok duplicates to suddenly emerge as major players in the vacated market. Key Facts Shortly after India banned TikTok, Instagram saw a surge of downloads, propelling it to become the country’s most popular social media app by 2021, up from No. 6 in 2019, and to surpass TikTok in global downloads by the fourth quarter of 2021. Key to Instagram’s success in India was Reels, its algorithm-based, endlessly scrolling vertical video feed that closely resembles TikTok’s For You Page and other TikTok copycats like YouTube Shorts and Snapchat Spotlight. Both Instagram and YouTube bet on Shorts and Reels as potential TikTok alternatives: They tested these features in India after the country banned TikTok before launching them worldwide. … [Read more...] about Here’s What Happened When This Massive Country Banned TikTok

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The U.K. parliament will block all devices on its network from accessing TikTok, according to an announcement Thursday, complementing efforts by European governments and the U.S. in restricting the China-owned app over national security and data privacy concerns. Key Facts A spokesperson for the U.K. parliament—citing cybersecurity concerns—said Thursday that TikTok will be blocked from all parliament devices and any device accessing its network. Deputy First Minister John Swinney said Thursday the Scottish government will ban the app from all devices accessing its network effective immediately, following discussions with the British government. Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said all devices used by British government employees would be unable to access TikTok—and the devices will only be able to access pre-approved third-party apps. TikTok will be deleted from all devices … [Read more...] about U.K. Bans TikTok From Parliament Devices—Here Are The Other Governments Banning The App

LONDON  – Nearly half of emerging market investors are bullish on prospects for developing markets in the second quarter, a survey by HSBC showed on Thursday, thanks to rising optimism following the reopening of the Chinese economy. Some two thirds of the respondents expected emerging equities to outperform those of the developed economies in the next three months, the survey of 138 investors from 133 institutions, conducted between Jan. 24 and March 6, found. More than two thirds of the respondents expected emerging currencies to beat those of developed markets in the same period. Those surveyed represent $547 billion in assets under management. “Asia has seen the largest improvement in sentiment, largely reflecting the expectations of a strong rebound of Chinese economic activity,” said Murat Ulgen, Global Head of Emerging Markets Research at HSBC. The MSCI emerging market equity index has risen 2 percent since the start of the year, though those gains come in the wake of a … [Read more...] about Emerging market investors turn increasingly bullish for Q2, HSBC survey shows

U.S. President Joe Biden, left, speaks at the opening of the inaugural Summit for Democracy from the White House in Washington on Dec. 9, 2021. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will co-host the second Summit for Democracy next Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP] Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will lead a plenary session on economic growth and shared prosperity as a co-host of U.S. President Joe Biden's second Summit for Democracy next week, said the presidential office Thursday. The two-day virtual summit will be held on March 29 and 30 and is expected to bring together some 120 global leaders invited by Biden. "It is meaningful that South Korea is taking the lead in tackling the global issue of a retreat in democracy through the co-hosting the second Summit for Democracy," National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han told reporters in Seoul. Kim added that the summit with be an opportunity to "demonstrate domestically and internationally how President Yoon is concretely implementing his vision of … [Read more...] about Yoon to lead session at Biden’s Summit for Democracy

TikTok CEO Shou Chew dodged questions Thursday about whether tactics by parent company ByteDance used to “spy” on American journalists could be used to target more Americans. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington questioned Chew on reporting by Forbes that staff at ByteDance used TikTok data last year to surveil journalists who were covering the company, gaining access to their IP addresses to track whether they had been in proximity to ByteDance employees. “TikTok spied on American journalists. Can you say with 100% certainty that neither ByteDance, nor TikTok employees, can target other Americans with similar surveillance?” TikTok CEO: “I disagree with the characterization that it was ‘spying.'” pic.twitter.com/EjWPzuvcec — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 23, 2023 “TikTok spied on American journalists. Can you say with 100% certainty that neither ByteDance, nor TikTok employees, can target other Americans with … [Read more...] about TikTok CEO Dodges On Whether Company Will Cease ‘Spying’ On Americans

President Joe Biden’s approval rating plummets towards the lowest point of his presidency on Thursday, according to a new poll. The president’s approval sank to 38% this month, nearly reaching the lowest point he has received in office where he received a 36% rating in July 2022, an AP/NORC poll found. Biden ‘s March approval has dropped from a 45% rating since February and 41% in January. “Neutral towards approval,” Andrew Dwyer, one of the respondents, told The Associated Press. “I don’t think he’s the best at representing my position and issues. But I know being president involves compromises.” Republicans overwhelmingly disapprove of the president at 96%, while the majority of Democrats approve at 76%. Only 21% of Americans believe the country is heading in the right direction, down 7 percentage points from February, a decline of both Democrats and Republicans since last month. Biden’s approval rating at 38%. — GraphicW (@GraphicW5) March 23, 2023 The … [Read more...] about Biden’s Approval Rating Sinks Towards Lowest Point Of His Presidency: POLL

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline A trio of American technology giants could tack on some $431 billion in market value if the U.S. bans TikTok, according to Bernstein analysis published Thursday, as the issues posed by the wildly popular Chinese-owned social media app take center stage in Washington. Key Facts Alphabet, Meta, and Snap, each of which operate short-form video platforms rivaling TikTok, would all be in line for major stock jumps if the U.S. moves forward with a TikTok shutdown, according to a note to clients Thursday from Bernstein analysts led by Mark Shmulik. Shares of YouTube Shorts parent Alphabet could jump as much as 20% should TikTok users need to flock to a replacement for their social media fix, shares of Instagram Reels parent Meta could be in line for as much as a 30% gain and shares of Snapchat Spotlight parent Snap could surge as much as 50%, according to Bernstein forecasts, using price-to-earnings multiple … [Read more...] about Banning TikTok Would Boost Alphabet, Meta And Snap—Here’s How Much Their Stocks Could Jump

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced intense questioning from lawmakers in his first hearing before Congress Tuesday morning, defending the popular social media app and insisting it protects U.S. user data from foreign interference, though House members from both sides of the aisle remained skeptical of TikTok's plans as the Chinese-owned platform fights against a possible U.S. ban or forced sale. Key Facts Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)—chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee—asked about spying and surveillance on U.S. users by TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based tech company ByteDance, but Chew said he "disagrees with the characterization" that the social media platform is spying on American users and said TikTok is “committed” to protecting U.S. data from foreign access. Chew claimed in his testimony that he has “seen no evidence” of Chinese government officials accessing U.S. user data, … [Read more...] about TikTok CEO Spars With Congress Amid Growing Calls For Ban—As Lawmaker Calls Privacy Claims ‘Preposterous’