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Black influencers, including the owner of a plus-size boutique, are among those lobbying Congress not to ban TikTok

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TikTok, TikTok ban, theGrio.com

WASHINGTON (AP) – Lawmakers, meet your newest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok.

The platform is once more inviting influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a quickly passed bill that will force TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company to be sold or banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers kicked off a two-day event in support of TikTok, which organized their trip ahead of the House vote on the bill on Wednesday.

But unlike a similar lobbying event the company held last March, when talk of banning TikTok got here to a head, this yr’s motion seemed more rushed as the company tried hard to counter laws that was moving quickly on Capitol Hill.

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“If they ban it, I don’t know what that will do” to the company, Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who’s visiting Washington this week, said in an interview organized by the platform. “It will be devastating.” The laws enjoys extraordinary support in Congress.

Content creator Summer Lucille poses for a photo in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. She is among the influential people lobbying lawmakers against a bill that will force TikTok to sell its platform or face a ban in the United States. (AP Photo/Haleluya Hadero)

Last week, a House panel unanimously approved the measure in an unusual display of bipartisanship. President Joe Biden has said he’ll sign the bill whether it is passed by lawmakers. However, it’s unclear what is going to occur in the Senate, where several bills geared toward banning TikTok are stalled.

The laws faces other obstacles. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over Republicans in each the House of Representatives and the Senate, has expressed opposition to the bill, saying it will strengthen the position of Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to sharply criticize for its defeat in elections in 2020. The bill also faces opposition from some progressive lawmakers in the House, in addition to civil liberties groups who say it violates the First Amendment.

TikTok may very well be banned if parent company ByteDance fails to sell its stake in the platform and other apps it owns inside six months of the law’s entry into force.

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The fight over the platform comes at a time when U.S.-China relations have turned strategic competition, especially in areas resembling advanced technologies and data security, seen as necessary to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The change, which began under Trump and continued under Biden, imposed restrictions on high-tech exports and the outflow of US money to China, in addition to access of some Chinese firms to the US market.

The Biden administration also cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese firms accused of helping the state’s surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities.

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There is not any shortage of lobbyists on TikTok. Its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, has a powerful lobbying apparatus in Washington that features dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and law firms, in addition to influential figures resembling former members of Congress and former advisers to influential lawmakers, according to the Defense Foundation Democracy.

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew may even be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesman who said Chew’s visit was previously planned.

But influencers who’ve a strong following on social media and may share personal stories about how the platform has empowered their businesses – or just given them a voice – are still arguably one of the strongest tools a company has in its arsenal.

A TikTok spokesperson said the two-day event can be attended by dozens of influencers, including some who got here last yr. A spokesman did not immediately respond to questions on what number of recent people will take part in this yr’s lobbying foray. The company informs them about this before meetings with representatives and media interviews.

Lucille runs a plus-size boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina, and according to her, she has seen a significant increase in revenue thanks to her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began creating content on TikTok, specializing in plus-size fashion, in March 2022, greater than a decade after founding the company. She quickly gained hundreds of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique.

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Due to her popularity on the platform, her company has more online visibility and more customers, some of whom have even visited from throughout Europe. She says she also frequently hears from followers who find support in her content about fashion and self-confidence.

JT Laybourne, an influencer who also got here to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after receiving negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram singing in the automotive together with his children.

TikTok, TikTok ban, theGrio.com
Republicans in the House of Representatives are backing a bill that will require Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was drawn to the short video platform since it was easy to create videos that included music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained popularity on the app. He says he has also received more support from TikTok users who’ve responded positively to the content he has created about 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. He said that after surgery, he used the platform to raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in lower than two years. His family now runs a clothing company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok.

“I will fight tooth and nail for this application,” he said.

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But it’s unclear whether the opposition the company gathers through lobbyists or influencers will likely be enough to derail the bill. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials about national security concerns about TikTok.


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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Business and Finance

Annual women’s salaries narrow the gap. But men are still ahead of women with an average of USD 547 per week

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Women’s annual earnings are closed to men, and the difference in sex salaries in the Australian private sector decreases from 14.5% to 13.6% last yr.

This everlasting improvement, in comparison with 15.4% gap two years ago.

While women work and earn greater than ever before, they are now entitled to much more information to barter wages and judge which firms.

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This information is especially helpful on the tight labor market, z unemployment rate On just 4.1%, because firms are fighting for the best talents.

This is the second yr Gender Equality Agency in the workplace (WGEA) published the company Differences in gender salaries, responding to fears that progress in the scope of gender equality stuck.

Transparency in payments solves the problem of “asymmetrical information”, wherein employers know where every worker sits on a salary scale, but employees don’t.

Data from 7,800 private firms

Typical full -time women’s salaries amounted to USD 72,638 in 2023–24, in comparison with USD 84,048.

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Although narrowing, it’s still a niche of USD 11,410 per yr, i.e. about USD 220 per week.

The difference is far higher after bonuses, time beyond regulation and pension are included: USD 18,835 or a complete salary gap of 18.3%.

All private firms in Australia from at the very least 100 employees must report their data of the Federal Agency. This includes 5.3 million employees in 7,800 firms, which is a fantastic expansion in comparison with 5000 firms last yr, because more firms will improve data reporting.

Employees can Look at the Agency’s website To discover a difference in the gender salary of your employer from the private sector – or one they give thought to joining.

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This yr’s calculations of the company’s differences in the company’s salary also include salaries of the highest management staff.

When general directors and business bosses participate, the difference in the average salary of men and women rises to USD 28,435, i.e. 21.8%.

All this consists of men overtaking women by an average of $ 547 per week.


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A more in-depth take a look at the gaps in the genital wages at the company level

In all firms, the average gender difference in total salary is 13.0%. But size differs significantly in numerous firms.

About 2,200 firms (a couple of quarter) have a niche exceeding 20%. Of these, about 250 firms have a niche exceeding 40%.

On the other hand, a couple of quarter of firms has a niche that’s either zero or negative, which implies in favor of women.

The agency considers the difference in gender salary in the negative scope of 5% to a positive 5% as a legitimate measure to which it needs to be sought.

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WITH The largest organizations (Out of 5,000 or more employees) Airlines are amongst the worst contractors. Virgin has an average gender difference in total salary of 41.7%, while Qantas reports a niche of 39.2%.

Among the banks, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac report an average difference in sex salaries of 22.4%. GAP Suncorp is nineteen.3%, the NAP is nineteen.0%, and Anz has a niche of 18.8%.

Progress happens

The purpose of the Pay Gap publishing home is given to drive progress in the field of gender equality in Australian workplaces.

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He follows in accordance with prescribed reforms to motivate employers to listen to their difference in gender salaries and have taken more actions.

Comparisons with last yr’s data suggest that this is occurring. The agency informs that just over half of all employers (56%) reduced the difference in gender salaries. And 68% conducted an evaluation of its difference in gender salaries, which is an vital first step in making progress.

Greater transparency makes the employer more liable for improving working conditions.

It can also be a technique to recognize firms that improve with time and learn from their success.

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Correct interpretation is crucial

The difference in sex salaries, measured as the difference between the earnings of men and women, is just not the same as the equal remuneration for equal or comparable work. For over 50 years, he has been contrary to the law in Australia to pay for men and women otherwise for performing equal value.

Luki at the employer’s level In earnings, the combination of aspects, including gender patterns in various types of professions, wherein men and women are in the company. But these gender patterns in the types of tasks don’t explain the entire image.

Prejudices and barriers Stay, including unconscious favors, sex imbalance in life duties and consolidating sex stereotypes.

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It can also be not a niche that will be explained by women working lower than men. Calculations include part -time employees, whose remuneration is transformed into an annual full -time equivalent.

Every employer He has a probability to present a deeper evaluation and explanation of their differences in genital salaries and their actions of their official statements of employers, which are also available on the Agnece website.

This information will strengthen not only current employees, but in addition potential employees, clients, business partners and a wider community of their elections, wherein firms should work, do business and support – which are not.



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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Business and Finance

Hot Girl Spirl

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Megan Thee Stallion just isn’t only the lover of Tequila – he’s now a tycoon of Tequila. The three -time Grammy winner and licensed Hot Girl adds further flexibility to his CV with launch Funny girlsThe Premium Tequila brand designed to bring an event. Is there a greater option to rejoice 30 years than with a bottle (or two) of your personal alcohol?

Chicas Divertidas, which translates into “Fun Girls” in Spanish, hopes that he’ll bring all of the fun to the subsequent meeting. Star tequila is Apparently fabricated from simultaneous100% Agave Blue Weber, collected in the highest maturity from the red volcanic highlands in Mexico. Available in each Blanco and Reposado styles, Megan describes the recipe Chicas Divertidas as “light”, making it ideal for sipping, shooting and making memories.

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“As someone who values ​​good vibrations and wonderful memories, I knew that I wanted to create a tequila, which was designed to share and enjoy my hottia,” said Megan Thee Stallion in a press release. “Smooth, stuffy and premium. This process lasted many years and I am very proud that I can take another step as an entrepreneur. I know that hotties are ready – it’s time to give them a drink made by me! “

For the rapper “Hot Girl Summer” the standard of the brand shines through the product and its packaging. Inspired Angel’s trumpet flower – beautifully alive but fatal– Each bottle has sharp cuts and grooves resembling agave plant with shades of orange, pink, red and purple. The heart pierced with a dagger is on top, embodding the brand’s energy: sweet, elegant and the correct amount of cutting.

“The bottle is beautiful. It looks almost like a mixture or potion. This is a very high quality bottle; Has nice color gradients; My heart with a dagger upstairs; Golden accents. I think quality looks like. “She said Forbes.

This just isn’t just one other alcohol supported by a star. The star says that Chicas Divertidas is its extension.

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“I’m not a brand ambassador for alcohol. I don’t only put my face on someone’s brand. This is my tequila – she explained. “I devoted time to making a liquid and a bottle. Everything on this represents me. This is my business; This is my company. And this distinguishes me from other alcohols with endowed celebrities. “

She continued: “Everyone knows that I am a culture of a hot girl. I like to play. I am a curator. When you go to parties, my experience shows that the drinker is tequila. It seems to me that this is only a universal happy drink. And I’ve always loved good reposado. This is my favorite. So I decided that I had to bring a climate for parties – with gifts. That’s how I came up with Chicas. “

And when you are wondering the right way to sustain, it has one easy advice: “Drink water after each shot. Stay hydrated. “
Funny white girls ($ 70.00) and Resto Chicasdivertidastapila.com AND Respertbar.com. It can be expected that the brand will soon start with chosen American retail sellers.

(Tagstransate) Megan thee stallion (T) Business

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Business and Finance

Unemployed claims reach the largest weekly

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The variety of unemployment claims increased greater than expected last week, because more candidates for the first time applied for unemployment profit.

According to CNN, It is estimated that 242,000 unemployment claims were made last weekAn increase of twenty-two,000 in comparison with the previous week. Apparently, economists expected about 220,000 claims to land.

The variety of unemployment claims submitted last week has been the largest weekly for over 4 months. Weekly claims have also been at the highest level since December.

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Despite the growth, the American Department of Work The aforementioned snowstorms in some parts of the country and holidays on the occasion of the Presidential Day are guiltyWhich could cause some variability, informs.

“Extreme winter weather was mainly responsible for receiving in the initial claims last week,” said Samuel Tombs, the most important economist of the USA at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

How mass exemptions at federal level affect unemployment

It stays unclear how mass exemptions at federal level, directed by billionaire technology Elon Musk, who supervises the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (dog), will affect claims. According to Reuters, federal employees submit a separate compensation of unemployment, which, as stated, has a weekly delay. The latest data from February 15 show 614 people submitted to acquire advantages, which is barely one among the previous week.

“We will have to wait another week for details exactly how many initial claims were made throughout the country by former federal civilian employees, but this number was 614 in the week ending on February 15, only one – this is not a mistake – last week” – wrote Tombs in a note for investors on February 27. “It will take another week or two so that work reductions in the middle of the month will fully go into the given claims.”

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The work report in February is to be published on March 7. Economists reportedly expect a rise in employment, predicting that the USA adds about 160,000 jobs in February.

(Tagstranslat) feet of unemployment

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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