内容为空
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille.
The speculation can finally end . Universal took to social media Monday to give film fans everywhere a present: the first official description of Christopher Nolan’s next movie . It’s called The Odyssey which, yes, is an adaptation of Homer’s poem. “Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026,” the statement read. Written by Homer centuries before the birth of Christ, The Odyssey is the follow-up to The Illiad. It follows Odysseus, a Greek hero who travels home after the Trojan War. A sprawling adventure featuring mythical creatures, battles, and more, it’s a story that has been adapted in seemingly every medium in seemingly every era. But, coming from Nolan, you can be sure this will be the biggest, most faithful, and massive adaptation yet. Plus, it’s a far cry from previous rumors about the film, such as it being about helicopter cops or the one reported on by this website which was it was a period film about vampires. Hey, at least it is a period film. Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o star though there’s no word on who is playing who. But let’s speculate a bit. We’re thinking—and this is totally from my io9 colleague Sabina Graves—that it would make sense to see Matt Damon as Odysseus, Holland as his son Telemachus, Hathaway as Penelope, Theron as Athena, Pattinson as Poseidon (or the Cyclops), Nyong’o as Circe ,and Zendaya as Calypso. But, again, pure speculation. And what’s the “brand new IMAX film technology” the studio is touting? Sounds exciting. But not as exciting as Nolan going for the biggest story of his entire career, and maybe his second Oscar. The Odyssey , directed by Christopher Nolans, opens July 17, 2026.Viewers of The Hairy Bikers: You'll Never Ride Alone were left heartbroken as BBC Two aired an emotional tribute show celebrating the life of chef Dave Myers. The special programme took fans on a journey through the culinary luminary Dave's experiences with his fellow host Si King. The dynamic duo, known for their delectable cooking and globetrotting motorcycle escapades, had carved a special place in the hearts of their audience. Tragedy struck the pair when Dave passed away in February 2024 at age 66. During the heartfelt tribute, Si reminisced about Dave, sharing with viewers the origins of their enduring collaboration. ITV Loose Women star Ruth Langsford leads dementia campaign on TV this Christmas Lorraine Kelly forced to apologise after she swears live on ITV show Further tugging at viewers' heartstrings, the show followed Si as he headed a motorbike procession to Dave's birthplace of Barrow-in-Furness. To honour Dave's incredible journey, the programme featured a blend of archival content, fresh interviews, and previously unreleased behind-the-scenes clips. The outpouring of sadness continued unabated amongst the audience, leaving many wiping away tears. Fans voiced their emotions on X, the social media platform once known as Twitter, reports the Mirror . One viewer expressed: "Is anyone watching this Hairy Bikers tribute to Dave on BBC 2? I'm in bits." Another shared their sentiments saying: "This is a beautiful tribute to Dave Myers #DaveDay been in tears since it started. Everyone should have a friendship like Dave's and @sikingofficial." A third summed up the mood with: "What a wonderful programme, beautiful memories and lovely tribute. I've cried and laughed tonight.... only Dave, Si and Lil could do that! ! Look great to following next year's Dave Day!" One person was deeply moved by the recent BBC feature on the #HairyBikers, expressing: "More than a few tears were shed watching the #HairyBikers special on the BBC tonight. Dave Myers wasn't just one of England's greatest sons but an out and out legend to people the world over." Earlier in the year, Si King disclosed the heartbreaking news about Dave Myers' passing. Through heartfelt Instagram posts, he shared: "All who knew Dave are devastated at his passing. His beloved wife brought him such happiness as did her children, Iza and Sergiu who Dave loved like his own." He further reflected on his loss with poignant words: "Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment. My best friend is on a journey that for now, I can't follow. I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime." The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone is available to watch on BBC IPlayer.
US prosecutors seek to drop federal criminal cases against TrumpExclusive: Former professional poker champion spearheads consortium ready to take a punt on Pars By STEPHEN MCGOWAN Published: 22:10 GMT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 22:10 GMT, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments A former professional poker player is in advanced talks over purchasing a stake in SPFL Championship club Dunfermline. Entrepreneur James Bord is the founder of San Francisco-based Short Circuit Science, a company which specialises in sports data analytics, medical prescription technology and climate adoption analysis. Originally from Stanmore, just outside of London, 43-year-old Bord quit banking in his mid-twenties to forge a career playing poker, gaining international attention when he won the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. Dividing his time between London and the United States, Bord is spearheading a consortium in advanced discussions with German football investment group Fussball GmbH after they placed Dunfermline up for sale in August, citing supporter negativity following a poor start to the season. The Hamburg-based owners purchased a 30-per-cent stake in the Pars in 2020 before agreeing to increase that to 75 per cent the following year. Bord would be subject to SFA scrutiny under dual interest rules after Short Circuit Science became minority investors in Spanish second-tier strugglers Cordoba CF in September. James Bord quit banking to play poker and is now keen to purchase a stake in Dunfermline German football investment group Fussball GmbH put Dunfermline up for sale in August Tony Bloom, of Jamestown Analytics, is in the process of tying up a minority stake in Hearts While the rules on dual ownership were relaxed in 2023, anyone who owns or has an interest in any club in the world is restricted to a capped shareholding subject to the permission of the SFA board. Bournemouth owner Bill Foley was restricted to a maximum stake of 29.9 per cent in Hibernian. And Brighton owner Tony Bloom is in the process of tying up a minority stake in Hearts after the Tynecastle club agreed a data tie-up with his company Jamestown Analytics. The governing body’s Professional Game Board would also need to be satisfied over the fit and proper person status of any directors named on the club’s annual return. On their website, Short Circuit Science claim to be ‘at the forefront of sports analytics... through cutting edge algorithms, we uncover intricate details about players and teams offering invaluable insights for performance and strategic decision making’. Dunfermline currently sit sixth in the Championship on 15 points from 16 games. Mail Sport has approached Short Circuit Science for comment. London Share or comment on this article: Exclusive: Former professional poker champion spearheads consortium ready to take a punt on Pars e-mail Add comment
You will bear all civil or criminal legal responsibilities directly or indirectly caused by your actions and speech.
Message board administrators have the right to retain or delete any content in the messages under their jurisdiction.
This site reminds: Do not make personal attacks. Thank you for your cooperation.
mcw casino apps login All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, copying or mirroring is prohibited. Violators will be held accountable.
Statement: All information presented on this site is edited and published by the mcw casino apps login work team. Copyright is reserved. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Do not reproduce or mirror without authorization. Otherwise, this site reserves the right to pursue legal liability.
Copyright © 2018 Tencent. All Rights Reserved