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US Senate Declines To Fast-Track TikTok Bill

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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

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BREAKING: Portable Turns self in at Police SCID Yaba

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Controversial Nigerian Singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has surrendered himself to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba.

This follows an ongoing police investigation into allegations of violent conduct and assault on government officials in Ogun State.

The surrender was confirmed by Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin on Wednesday.

“Portable just turned himself in at the SCID Yaba. We have contacted Ogun State Police Command to come pick him up,” Hundeyin stated.

Portable was recently declared wanted for allegedly leading a violent attack on government officials who were carrying out their lawful duties.

The incident involved three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office—TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi—who were on an enforcement mission at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota.

According to reports, the officials were in the area to enforce government regulations when they were confronted by Portable and his associates.

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Singer Portable takes to Instagram:  “I’m a mad man…”

The zazoo-zeh crooner was reportedly involved in a fight with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office

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Singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has declared that he is a mad man who is undergoing treatment at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.

Portable said this while appealing to Nigerians and the Ogun State Government on Tuesday after being declared wanted by the state police command.

The zazoo-zeh crooner was reportedly involved in a fight with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office: TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi.

They were conducting an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota, Ogun State.

The town planners claimed they encountered an elderly man, later identified as Portable’s father, at Odogwu Bar in the area.

Upon identifying themselves and requesting the approved building plan, the father informed them that his son was unavailable.

However, moments later, Portable, armed with a firearm and other weapons, led a gang of nine thugs in a violent attack on the unarmed officials.

The police claimed, “The enforcement officers sustained various bodily injuries but managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ota Area Command, which subsequently escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further action. Nine accomplices were arrested, but Portable fled the scene and has since gone into hiding.”

However, reacting to the declaration, Portable in a multiple rants took to his Instagram on Tuesday appealing to Nigerians and the state governor, Dapo Abiodun alleging that he was set up because he was putting on a vest with the face of Senator Adeola Solomon popularly known as Yayi.

The singer also noted that he was a madman and has a card at Aro hospital where he usually takes his treatment.

He said, “I fear government. I am a federal government liability. Then I’m a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients.

“I am from Abeokuta and they are taking care of me there. I am not a thief, I help people around me without even looking at their background.”

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2Baba is Missing, Family Petitions DSS

Please Natasha, the beads you put on his hand and on his neck, remove them and free him.

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The family of 2Baba has petitioned Yusuf Magaji, the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), over his “sudden disappearance”.

In the petition, dated February 7, the Idibia family claimed 2Baba had been missing since February 10.

The letter said he had left his residence in his lounge wear — suggesting that he was going for habitual walk — but has not returned home since then.

The family said they find it “strange” because  2Baba usually goes out with bodyguards and protocol. According to the petition, several friends claimed that they had received messages from his social media accounts asking for financial assistance which was unlike him.

This, the family argued, has led them to suspect that he might have been abducted or his identity compromised.

The family also appealed to the DSS to take immediate action, expressing worries about the possibility of foul play and coercion.

The petition comes amid 2Baba’s recent announcement of his split from Annie Idibia and his new relationship with Edo state lawmaker Natasha Osawaru.

The singer proposed to Natasha in a viral video on Wednesday. He was captured presenting the lawmaker with a ring and sealing their love with a long, tender embrace.

But on Thursday, Rose Idibia, 2Baba’s mother, pleaded with Natasha to leave her son alone, citing concerns over his state of mind. “Good evening, Nigerians.

My name is Mrs Rose Idibia, the mother of 2face. This message is for Miss Natasha Osawaru of Edo State.

I’m calling on all mothers in Nigeria to help me beg her to free my son,” she said.

My son is going through a divorce process, and he is clearly not in his right senses now. I know my son well. That is not him.

“Please Natasha, the beads you put on his hand and on his neck, remove them and free him.” 

▪︎The Cable

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