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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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Nigerian-British Singer Talay Riley Dies in London Stabbing, Others Mourn

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Grammy-winning Nigerian-British singer and songwriter Talay Riley, whose real name was Mark Yinka Orabiyi, has been stabbed to death at the age of 35 in East London, sparking an active murder investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Emergency services responded to reports of a stabbing around 9 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at a property on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown. Riley was found with multiple stab wounds in the garden of the property and was pronounced dead at the scene despite paramedics’ efforts.

A second man was also injured in the incident and hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries. Police arrested three individuals nearby on suspicion of murder; two have since been released, while a 27-year-old man remains on bail pending further inquiries.

Born in Nigeria and based in the UK, Talay Riley was renowned as a hit songwriter who collaborated with global stars including Dua Lipa, Usher, Chris Brown, Britney Spears, Nick Jonas, and Khalid. He also worked closely with Craig David on the 2018 album The Time Is Now.

Tributes have poured in from the music industry. British rapper Stormzy commented, “I’m sorry, bro.” Craig David wrote: “Sending so much love to you and the family. His beautiful energy will continue to be felt and shown from the other side.”

In a family statement, relatives described Riley as a “beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend whose kindness, talent, and spirit touched many lives.” They added: “We will always cherish his kindness, beautiful spirit, and remarkable talent.”

Homicide detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation and have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

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Legendary Beauty and the Beast singer Peabo Bryson dies at 75

As news of his passing spread, fans and fellow artists took to social media to share tributes, celebrating a career that bridged decades, genres, and cultures, leaving behind a timeless body of work that continues to resonate with listeners worldwide.

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The velvet-voiced R&B balladeer and two-time Grammy Award winner, Peabo Bryson whose soaring duets defined a generation of Disney classics, has died at 75.

Bryson is survived by his wife, Tanya Boniface Bryson, his children, and his grandchildren.

His family confirmed that the singer passed away peacefully on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

The news follows reports from earlier in the week that Bryson had been receiving medical care after suffering a stroke.

In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed both their grief and their gratitude for the life he lived.

“For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments,” the statement read.

“His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories, and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration, creating a legacy that will forever live in the hearts of those who loved him and the countless lives he touched through song.”

Born Robert Peapo Bryson on April 13, 1951, in Greenville, South Carolina, he began his professional musical journey in the 1970s.

Over the course of his distinguished career, he established himself as one of R&B’s most consistent and respected performers, celebrated for his smooth tenor and emotional range.

While his solo catalog featured numerous hits—including “Feel the Fire,” “I’m So Into You,” and “Can You Stop the Rain”—Bryson gained international fame for his legendary collaborations. He is perhaps best known for his work on two of Disney’s most iconic animated films:

“Beauty and the Beast” (1991) where his duet with Celine Dion -the film’s title track- and earned him his first Grammy Award.

Also, “A Whole New World” (1992) which is his collaboration with Regina Belle for Aladdin became a global phenomenon, winning him a second Grammy and cementing his status as a master of the romantic power ballad.

Beyond his commercial success, peers and colleagues remembered Bryson for his deep passion for his craft and his genuine connection to his fans.

Comedian and television host Loni Love, reflecting on a recent encounter with the singer on a cruise ship, described him as someone who spoke with immense love for his music and shared stories with profound warmth.

As news of his passing spread, fans and fellow artists took to social media to share tributes, celebrating a career that bridged decades, genres, and cultures, leaving behind a timeless body of work that continues to resonate with listeners worldwide.

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Kanye West performs to 118,000 in Turkey, heads to the Netherlands

The 48-year-old rapper is set to perform in the Netherlands on June 6 and 8.

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• Kanye West

US rapper Kanye West on Saturday performed for two hours in Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium to an audience of 118,000, state-run Anadolu Agency said.

Among the audience were fans from Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Poland and the Middle East, Anadolu said.

The 48-year-old rapper is set to perform in the Netherlands on June 6 and 8.

Ye has faced a global ‌backlash, ⁠not least for his release of “Heil Hitler”, a song promoting Nazism.

In April, Britain denied Ye entry on grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good, forcing the cancellation of a planned appearance ⁠at the Wireless Festival in London.

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