BILATERAL trade, RESEARCH personnel, COVID-19 pandemic, BALANCE of trade
Abstract
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Patras examines the trade imbalances between the European Union (EU) and China. The study finds that while the EU has a surplus in services trade with China, it faces a significant bilateral merchandise trade deficit. The researchers calculate indicators of competitiveness between the two economies and analyze the effects of various factors on the trade imbalances. The study concludes that the trade balance is not significantly affected by industrial output growth trends, except during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. [Extracted from the article]
SOFT power (Social sciences), UNITED States Capitol Insurrection, 2021, YOUNG adults
Abstract
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban in the US due to concerns about national security risks and data security. The bill gives ByteDance six months to sell TikTok to a US or friendly country-based company. TikTok has been working with US-based tech company Oracle to address concerns about data protection. However, the bill still needs to pass in the Senate, and privacy experts argue that banning TikTok alone would not solve the larger issue of data privacy. The bill also raises concerns about censorship and the impact on other American tech companies. The Senate's slow legislative process may result in the bill not passing. [Extracted from the article]