Entertainment
US Senate Declines To Fast-Track TikTok Bill
A bill that would force the sale of TikTok from its Chinese owners or see it banned in the United States will move cautiously in the US Senate, key lawmakers said, after it sailed through the House.
The bill’s whirlwind House passage on Wednesday, and its backing from US President Joe Biden, had raised alarm bells that the app, used by 170 million in the United States, could be shut down within months.
But hopes from TikTok’s foes that the Senate could also move quickly were dashed, with key senators saying they would put the proposed law through the usual legislative process, which can take months.
“These fields are evolving and changing so rapidly that you can do a lot of damage by moving too quickly or without the facts,” Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, told the Washington Post on Friday.
Passing major legislation is especially difficult in an election year, and backers of the bill have bitterly predicted that the House’s proposed law would die in the Senate.
“What we’re likely to see happen in the Senate is people will nickel-and-dime it, a death by a thousand cuts,” Republican Senator Josh Hawley told Axios.
“Nothing that Big Tech doesn’t want moves across the Senate floor,” he said.
Senate leaders who would be in charge of shepherding the proposed law through a complicated amendment process and bringing it to a vote have been noncommittal on the bill.
After the House vote, Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat who chairs the Commerce Committee, said that she would “try to find a path forward that is constitutional and protects civil liberties.”
Republicans also expressed caution, and on Thursday former president Donald Trump reiterated his opposition to any ban of TikTok, asking his supporters to focus their anger on Facebook-owner Meta instead.
Trump’s position, which was surprisingly ignored by Republicans in Wednesday’s vote, is a reversal from his efforts as president to force TikTok away from ByteDance, its Chinese owner, efforts which were ultimately blocked by the courts.
Some Western governments have voiced concern about TikTok’s soaring popularity, alleging that the app’s ownership makes it subservient to Beijing — and could be used as a conduit to spread propaganda — claims TikTok and Beijing deny.
The White House has said Biden will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
AFP
The Association of Voice-Over Artistes AVOA Nigeria has re-elected veteran Nollywood Actor and Voice over guru, Segun Arinze as its President for another tenure.
While thanking members of the Association for the confidence reposed in him, Mr Arinze promised to take AVOA to the new frontiers.
Here is the statement from Mr. Arinze to AVOA Members “Great AVOAITES!! I want to thank every member of our great Association for the confidence reposed in us by re-electing us for another term.
I look forward to an eventful four years ahead. Promising to take AVOA to greater heights and achieving key milestones.
Helping our older members consolidate and opening future doors of opportunities for our young members so they can reach their God given potentials as they learn and gain experience from the older members.
In the coming days we shall be sharing our blue print for AVOA. I appeal that there should be no more sitting on the fence while the world keeps evolving.
The challenges ahead are enormous but surmountable. We need each other to get to our destination. Together we shall succeed. God bless AVOA. Thank you all”
During his first tenure, Mr, Arinze focused on members empowerment and capacity building as he worked hard to create opportunities for new talents, through training, and entrepreneurial development, this led to the introduction of the most successful empowerment program tagged AVOA VOICEFEST.
He was also a strong voice advocating for the rights and interests of its members, including addressing issues like the ban on foreign voice actors.
ELECTORAL PANEL
AS A RESULT OF THE JUST CONCLUDED ELECTIONS, WE HEREBY DECLARE THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES AS ELECTED TO SERVE IN AVOA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR THE NEXT FOUR (4) YEARS
PRESIDENT – SEGUN ARINZE
VICE PRESIDENT – MALAM ABDUL MOHAMED
GENERAL SECRETARY – JOY OGBEKENE
ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY – NGOZI OFILI
FINANCE DIRECTOR – TESSY BROWN
BUSINESS DIRECTOR – BUSARI ESH OLATUNJI
PUBLICITY DIRECTOR – SABUR GARBA
CHIEF WHIP – FUNKE LAODE
CONGRATULATIONS
SWEARING IN CEREMONY WOULD BE COMMUNICATED IN DUE COURSE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PRIVILEGE TO SERVE.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
ELECTORAL PANEL
Entertainment
Ugandan Man With 120 Wives,102 Children ,568 Grandchildren, Says He’s Done With Child Bearing
He now fears sneezing near his wives — because that’s how baby number 103 might start.
After turning his house into a full-blown secondary school with 102 children, an Ugandan man has finally retired from “ministry of multiplication.”
Why? Because garri don cost and even the calculator is tired of counting school fees.
The man confessed: I love children, but the electricity bill alone is quite exhausting, I don’t know whether my children are eating or drinking the electricity as it finishes daily
He reportedly held a “final family meeting” where he begged his wives to “rest small” and even considered printing “We’re Full” on their gate.
He now fears sneezing near his wives — because that’s how baby number 103 might start.
Source: Facebook
Entertainment
Davido “Lol, I AM IGBO by blood”
A social media user, @Yakbel, cautioned Davido against maintaining close ties with Igbos, suggesting they would eventually betray him.
Music star Davido has responded to a social media post criticising his association with the Igbo community.
A user, @Yakbel, cautioned Davido against maintaining close ties with Igbos, suggesting they would eventually betray him.
The user wrote: “Davido just dey carry Ibo full body, until when dem betray am before e rest, Yoruba boy dey frolick with Ibos in 2025, they want your head and everything you have to belong to them, you can never satisfy Ibos ooo, IBOs are not people you surround yourself with as a Yoruba man”
Davido swiftly dismissed the tribal sentiment, replying, “Lol, I AM IGBO by blood”.
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