Politics
Trump Backs Proposed Deal to Keep TikTok Operating In U.S.
President Donald Trump said Saturday he’s given his “blessing” to a proposed deal that would see the popular video-sharing app TikTok partner with Oracle and Walmart and form a U.S. company. Trump has targeted Chinese-owned TikTok for national security and data privacy concerns in the latest flashpoint in the rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. The president’s support for a deal comes just a day after the Commerce Department announced restrictions that if put in place could eventually make it nearly impossible for TikTok’s legions of younger fans to use the app. Trump said if completed the deal would create a new company likely to be based in Texas. “I have given the deal my blessing,” he said. “If they get it done, that’s great. If they don’t, that’s OK too.” Trump said the ne...
Following TikTok Deal, Judge Agrees to Delay U.S. Restrictions on WeChat
A judge has approved a request from a group of U.S. WeChat users to delay looming federal government restrictions that could effectively make the popular app nearly impossible to use. In a ruling dated Saturday, Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in California said the government’s actions would affect users’ First Amendment rights, as an effective ban on the app would remove their platform for communication. WeChat is a messaging-focused app popular with many Chinese-speaking Americans that serves as a lifeline to friends, family, customers and business contacts in China. It’s owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent. The group of WeChat users requested an injunction after the U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it would bar WeChat from U.S. app stores and keep it from accessing essential interne...
Edo election: APC rejects Governor Obaseki’s victory
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the result of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier announced the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the election after securing 307, 955 votes, while the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress polled 223,619. But the APC has alleged a foul lay in the election, saying some of the figures announced were fabricated. While rejecting the results of the election, the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, John Mayaki, alleged “strong-arm tactics”. In a terse statement in which he urged supporters of the party to stay calm while the party leaders determine the next move, Mayaki said, some members o...
Edo election: FCT residents commend INEC innovations, performance
Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on its performance at the just concluded Sept. 19, governorship election in Edo state. Some of the residents who spoke with newsmen, in Abuja expressed their joy that the election was relatively peaceful and that INEC deserved commendation for its innovations. A businessman, Mr Christopher Chidi, said although there were logistics challenges in few places, INEC’s performance was an improvement over previous elections. Chidi said that one of the innovations that made the election success was the introduction of the election “Result Viewing Portal” recently launched by INEC. “The portal has made it difficult for politicians to alter election results at the collation war...
Governor Wike: Godwin Obaseki’s victory ends Edo godfatherism
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has described the victory of Godwin Obaseki in the just concluded gubernatorial election as the end of godfatherism in Edo State. Governor Wike who doubled as the PDP’s chairman, Edo Campaign Council, said; “Governor Obaseki volunteering to be used to fight for the interest of Edo State“. “If for nothing, we have made the point that there is nothing called godfatherism again in Edo state politics.“ The governor who thanked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council including the Governors of Delta State, Okowa; Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; in his (Wike) address said, “We succeeded working as a team”. “Also, we thank all those who worked in the campaign train in Edo State. We also appreciate the Media for the positive coverage of the elec...
Senator Mark: Edo election a triumph of people’s will
News Agency of Nigeria Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has described the re-election of Godwin Obaseki of Edo State as a triumph of people’s will. Senator David Mark who congratulated Governor Obaseki and his Deputy Philip Shaibu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the victory at the Saturday’s gubernatorial election saying “It’s a triumph of the will of the people “. Senator Mark in a goodwill message to the duo and the PDP family by his Media Adviser, Paul Mumeh, described the victory as freedom for the people and enthronement of Democratic culture and practice in the country. He said that the overwhelming victory of the PDP candidate is a testimony of the people’s endorsement of good governance being demonstrated by the Obaseki/Shaibu administration in the last...
TikTok Avoids U.S. Shutdown Following 11th Hour Deal with Oracle and Walmart
Donald Trump has signed off on an 11th hour deal allowing Oracle and Walmart to purchase a stake in TikTok, allowing the popular video sharing platform to avoid a ban in the U.S. previously set for Sunday. As part of the deal, the U.S. software company Oracle is partnering with Walmart to form a new entity called TikTok Global, which will be headquartered in the United States. Oracle will host all of TikTok’s U.S. user data and will safeguard TikTok’s computer systems “to ensure U.S. national security requirements are fully satisfied,” TikTok said in a statement (via NPR). However, the deal fall short of previous demands made by the Trump Administration. The Chinese-owned ByteDance will maintain an 80% stake in TikTok as well as control over its algorithm. Additionally, ByteDance has dispu...
Trump Administration to Ban TikTok in the U.S. Starting Sunday
Update – September 19th: Donald Trump said he has approved a deal allowing Oracle and Walmart to purchase TikTok, according to the New York Times. Pending formal approval, the Commerce Department said that it would delay a previously announced plan to bar TikTok from U.S. app stores for one week. After deals to acquire TikTok by Microsoft and Oracle hit a snag, Donald Trump is moving forward with his threat to ban the popular Chinese-owned video sharing service in the US. Beginning Sunday (Sept. 20th), the U.S. Department of Commerce will block new downloads of TikTok from U.S. app stores. TikTok will continue to work for existing users until November 12th, at which point content delivery restrictions will be placed on the app, effectively rendering it unable to operate. TikTok is est...
Edo election: We are satisfied with voting process – Governor Wike
The governor of Rivers State and the Edo Guber Election Campaign Council Chairman, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (APC) is satisfied with the voting process in Edo State so far. Wike through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, via his twitter handle and Facebook page posted; “there was minimal violence recorded because of the proactive measures deployed by the security agencies”. According to him; “there was need for both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to ensure that nothing scuttles the remaining stages. “Like I have said before, election is not only about voting, the votes should be counted, then you proceed to collation stages; ward, local and state government levels. The collation stag...
Governor Wike: Edo election may likely be the best in Nigeria history
The governor of Rivers State and the Edo Guber Election Campaign Council Chairman, Nyesom Wike, has said considering the voting process and methodology employed in Edo State 2020 Guber election, the poll may likely be the best in the history of Nigeria. Wike through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, via his twitter handle and Facebook page posted; “there was minimal violence recorded because of the proactive measures deployed by the security agencies”. “This may likely be the best election ever conducted in the history of Nigeria. But they must allow the process to continue to the end. Otherwise, they will destroy it. “If it is APC that has won, let it be so. If it is PDP that has won, let it also be so. But I must tell that we are happy with what we hav...
PDP: We will resist attempt to declare Edo election results inconclusive
File Photo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council for Edo State governorship election, Sunday has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the Edo election results, saying that it will resist attempts to declare the election which was held on Saturday inconclusive. Chairman of the party’s National campaign council and Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyeson Wike, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against such move. Wike alleged that the INEC returning officer for Orhionmwon local government has disappeared after supervising collation of results in the area. He saids, “We call on INEC and to let the general public know that the man is locked up in an office in INEC complex.” Offi...
Ondo election: Agboola Ajayi best candidate for good governance – Segun Mimiko
Dr Olusegun Mimiko, National Leader of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), has described Agboola Ajayi, the party’s governorship candidate, who is also the incumbent deputy governor of Ondo State, as the best candidate to deliver good governance to the people of the state. Newsmen report that Ondo State governorship election comes up on Oct. 10. Mimiko, who is the immediate past governor of the state, spoke on Saturday in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government area of the state, during the party’s launch of campaign for its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election. Mimiko also urged the electorate to collect the “stolen money” that some party had promised them and still vote for ZLP that would bring back good governance. The former governor urged the electorate not to fear or be...
