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China’s Reticence on the U.S. TikTok Prohibition is Highly Indicative.

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TikTok

(VOR News) – Beijing has kept a low profile as TikTok, China’s first worldwide successful app, struggles in the US.

Washington has long considered banning TikTok because to national security worries about its parent business, Beijing-based ByteDance. Chinese leaders have previously used harsh language to express disapproval. Beijing remains opaque as a ban grows increasingly likely.

In the months since Congress and the courts introduced laws forcing TikTok’s separation from ByteDance, China’s Foreign Ministry has not commented.

They cite previous statements. Commerce officials stated in March that China will “consistently protect its legitimate rights and interests.”

The recent silence should not be interpreted as a sign that Beijing would surrender. Apple and Tesla, U.S. corporations exposed to the world’s second-largest economy, could expect adverse effects from a tit-for-tat escalation. Beijing may have significant influence in response to discriminatory “bullying.” Policymakers should not underestimate this.

TikTok lost a high-stakes DC Circuit Court hearing, reducing its ban prevention chances from 70% to 30%, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Reversing the loss is 10% if it loses this court dispute.

Chinese state-affiliated news companies have shed light on official opinions despite government restraint.

“The century of humiliation will not be repeated over TikTok.”

The Senate passed the ban. Beijing appears to view the U.S. attacks on the popular app as fitting with a history of Western exploitation that extends back to British forces forcing Chinese people to buy opium. It warned that subjection and compulsion would fail. According to different editorials, the US tried to “plunder” ByteDance.

Even U.S.-China Commission lawmakers don’t comprehend that Beijing and ByteDance would never sell its highly acclaimed algorithm to a foreign buyer. China changed its export laws in 2020 to protect its “national security and interests,” largely in reaction to moratorium talks.

TikTok’s recommendation mechanism, which rewards users with customised content to keep them engaged, is often cited as the app’s main advantage over competitors.

Given the current macroeconomic issues, several experts believe Beijing would be unreasonable to impose penalties or give new policy signals to prevent foreign investment during an unparalleled drop. They say preventing a deal would hurt ByteDance’s international investors.

This ignores the fact that Beijing has weakened its technological industry to meet policy goals. This was achieved through tremendous suppression that was lately lifted.

Recent years have shown that the government has prioritised investment returns and technology industry growth less. President Xi Jinping established “common prosperity” and high-quality innovation to enhance technological independence.

The US realises that its place in the global technology hierarchy affects its relationship with TikTok, but this may also pose problems.

Chinese sale vetoes Tiktok discourage foreign investment but warn of the wealthy U.S. market.

Chinese officials may be secretly considering options while awaiting presidential election results. Despite starting this problem during his presidency, Donald Trump has since stated as a candidate that he opposes a complete ban on TikTok since it would assist Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms.

Legislators quickly filled Beijing’s hesitation hole. They are fighting to shut down a platform used by over 170 million Americans to express themselves while defending free speech. Although TikTok is a national security danger, both top presidential candidates and President Joe Biden’s administration have used it. The app’s coconut tree and “brat” parodies helped Kamala Harris rise in the polls.

Paradoxally, the US is using an undemocratic method to deny the application in the name of democracy. Approximately 50% of Americans use TikTok. Fewer than one-third support a ban. Seven million US businesses use TikTok.

The American public and TikTok’s legal counsel cannot access the purported proof of its threat. The ban was placed in a foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel to speed its passage through Congress. Legislators worried about social media security should prioritise comprehensive legislation to safeguard American data and customers from attackers across all applications.

TikTok’s ban gives China’s propaganda apparatus significant leverage. Beijing may be being prudent by keeping a low profile. The US’s actions are obvious.

SOURCE: JT

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Salman Ahmad is a seasoned freelance writer who contributes insightful articles to VORNews. With years of experience in journalism, he possesses a knack for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers. Salman's writing style strikes a balance between depth and accessibility, allowing him to tackle complex topics while maintaining clarity.

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Volatility Hits S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones at Year’s End

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S&P 500

(VOR News) – All of the major indices of the U.S. stock market, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), have experienced large sell-offs as 2024 draws to a close.

These declines have been quite minor over the course of the year. As the market experiences some instability following an incredible year of gains, investors are juggling year-end volatility with profit-taking. Furthermore, the market is somewhat volatile.

End-of-year sell-offs in the Nasdaq and S&P 500

Futures contracts on the stock market are beginning to wane as the year comes to an end. This is especially true for the Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 index. Currently, the Nasdaq index, which has greatly enhanced the success of tech firms in 2024, has fallen more than 1.6%.

In a similar vein, the S&P 500 index’s 1.5% decline today indicates that investors are adjusting their holdings after a year of robust gains.

This retreat follows an exceptionally strong year-long performance. In contrast to the Nasdaq composite, which as of the end of December had achieved an astounding return of 31%, the S&P 500 has gained by 25%. These gains are the consequence of a robust market recovery following the difficulties of previous years, which was mostly driven by the performance of the technology sector.

Stock market futures and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)?

The DJIA, also referred to as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, was not immune to the negative trend that was occurring.

In addition to other blue-chip equities, the Dow lost 1.4% today. As investors, particularly those who own large-cap companies, want to lock in profits before the year ends, the market as a whole has been moving in the opposite direction, which is reflected in this minor retreat.

They predict that the DJIA futures will see increased volatility in the coming days. Even while the markets are predicted to stay relatively calm, economists say concerns about rising interest rates and potential geopolitical challenges may still have an impact on investor morale.

Including Marketwatch Insights and the S&P 500 Index

Because of its remarkable 23% increase from the beginning of the year to the present, the S&P 500 index has been used as a proxy for the performance of the entire market in 2024.

However, given that a number of sectors, including technology and consumer discretion, have been negatively impacted, the recent downward trend has increased traders’ caution.

According to analysts quoted by Marketwatch, the sell-off is being driven by large technology businesses. A number of these equities have seen increases in value during the year.

The drop could indicate that stock prices are adapting to the new environment as investors become more cautious as 2025 approaches.

The Nasdaq is seeing a decline in technology stocks today.

Several large tech companies, including Tesla, Meta, and NVIDIA, are at the top of the list of companies that have experienced significant losses on the Nasdaq today. As investors begin to determine whether the lofty values of technology firms will be maintained in the coming year, pressure is mounting on the Nasdaq composite, which is heavily weighted toward technology.

Since many investors are looking to capitalize on the sector’s remarkable growth over the past few months, profit-taking may also be largely to blame for the recent dip.

Conclusions Regarding the Future of the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones

The primary focus as the year draws to a close is still on the wider effects of the volatility that occurred at the end of the year.

Today’s dips are a reflection of the uncertainty that typically comes with the year’s close, despite the fact that both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite have had fantastic years. Since DJIA futures indicate that there will be additional adjustments, investors need to closely monitor market movements over the coming weeks.

Even while the current market swings may seem concerning, they are typical of the trading patterns that occur around the end of the year, when investors collect their winnings and regroup for the upcoming year.

Traders must continue to watch for any indications that could lead to more substantial changes in the market’s sentiment, even though the view for the S&P 500 remains positive for the present and 2025.

Despite the potential for some market volatility as the year draws to a close, investors are cautiously optimistic about the future year and the general trend for the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average is still solid.

SOUREC: AL

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South Korea Mourns After Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 Crashes

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South Korea plane crash: country mourns as investigations into cause of Jeju Air disaster begin
South Korea plane crash: country mourns as investigations into cause of Jeju Air disaster begin

South Korea was grieving Monday from the deaths of 179 people when a Jeju Air plane crashed and burst into flames, with a team of US investigators joining local officials to investigate possible causes.

The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea when it crashed on arrival Sunday, killing everyone on board except two flight attendants rescued from the mangled wreckage of South Korea’s worst aviation catastrophe.

According to fire officials, a bird attack was most likely the cause of the disaster, which hurled passengers from the plane and left it “almost completely destroyed”.

The video showed Jeju Air, Boeing 737-800 Flight 2216, landing on its belly at Muan International Airport. It then slipped off the runway as smoke poured from the engines. The aircraft collided with a wall and erupted in flames.

On Sunday, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it would lead a team of investigators, including those from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to South Korea to investigate the Jeju Air disaster. The country has a strong track record in terms of air safety.

The Jeju Air  Boeing 737-800’s black boxes, the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder were discovered.

Jeju Air Attendant Survies

According to Yonhap, one of the flight attendants who survived was awake in the hospital and able to talk late Sunday.

“When I woke up, I had already been rescued,” the 33-year-old informed physicians, according to the hospital. He suffered many fractures, while the other crew member, a 25-year-old woman, sustained ankle and head injuries, according to Yonhap.

Grieving family members gathered to await news inside the airport terminal late Sunday. Authorities said they were seeking to identify all victims.

The control tower warned of a bird hit minutes before the disaster, and the pilot quickly submitted a “mayday” distress call.

Officials refuted claims that the length of the runway may have played a role in the tragedy despite video footage showing the plane coming off the runway and hitting a wall.

According to a South Korean transport official, the plane attempted to land but was ordered to hold off after air traffic control issued a warning for a bird strike. This warning alerts pilots to the possibility of colliding with birds.

About two minutes later, the pilot issued a Mayday, and air traffic control approved the plane’s landing from the opposite direction, according to the official.

One video shows the jet landing without its wheels or other landing gear. It skidded down the runway, collided with a wall, and burst into flames.

More than 1,500 emergency workers, including 490 firefighters and 455 police officers, have been dispatched to assist with the recovery activities. They’ve been combing the area around the runway for plane components and passengers.

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Americans Set Financial Resolutions For 2025, Survey Finds

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Financial Resolutions
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(VOR News) – According to a survey that was conducted not so long ago, more than half of the Financial Resolutions people living in the United States are considering making financial resolutions for the new year.

When inflation is a large role, this is because holiday spending leaves little money in wallets. This is especially true during times when inflation is a significant factor.

All of us are familiar with the traditional resolutions that people make for the New Year, such as increasing the amount of time spent exercising and making improvements to one’s diet.

They are, however, reevaluating the significance of those resolutions in this day and age, when rising costs are at the forefront of the minds of a great number of people.

With regard to the outcomes of the 2025 Financial Resolutions Study that was carried out by Fidelity Investments, it was discovered that over sixty-five percent of the individuals who took part in the study said that they are considering making Financial Resolutions for the New Year.

The findings of the study show that the year 2025 is expected to be the year of “living practically.” This is one of the most significant discoveries.

When compared to the previous year, the majority of Americans who have taken the decision to save more money are more concerned with short-term savings goals in the future year (55% versus 45%). This figure represents a significant increase from the previous year.

In comparison to the prior year, this is a change. Unanticipated costs are at the top of the list of individuals who are anxious about their Financial Resolutions situation for the coming year, and a whopping 79% of those who participated in the poll revealed that they aim to raise the amount of money they have set aside for situations that require immediate attention.

Issues that are at the top of the list for the year 2025 include:

Expenses that weren’t expected to arise

The effect that inflation has on daily savings and expenditure levels

Uncertainty about the economy and the impending recession

Most people who create goals for themselves claim to have a plan in place that will help them achieve their objectives. They replied that it would benefit them in the long run to have a goal that is both attainable and easy to sustain, with small benchmarks to help them along the way. Those who had failed to meet their financial objectives in the past year brought this up.

According to the survey’s results, younger generations are more inclined to make financial decisions and think they are more likely to be in a better financial position than earlier generations.

The vast majority of Americans believe that their financial situation will improve during the next 12 months. They state that the two main factors they mention as being significant are living a life free of obligations and feeling more at ease.

The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) recommends the following financial resolutions be put into effect.

These financial resolutions are as follows:

Put some additional money aside for your retirement income.

The goal is to improve your credit score.

Establish a reserve fund to cover any unforeseen costs.

A debt management strategy that is successful

Making a budget with your own money is a good idea.

Some examples of the kinds of security measures that, according to DFI, are effective ways to secure the money that you have worked so hard to acquire include changing your passwords and enabling two-step verification. Both of these are instances of security measures

SOURCE: WKBN

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