Uncategorized
Nicki Minaj cancels Saudi concert
U.S. rapper Nicki Minaj has pulled out of a planned concert in Saudi Arabia next week, citing her support for the rights of women and the LGBTQ community.
Nicki was due to headline the Jeddah World Festival on July 18, but her plan to appear was criticized last week on social media.
“While I want nothing more than to bring my show to fans in Saudi Arabia, after better educating myself on the issues, I believe it is important for me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community and freedom of expression,” the “Starships” singer said in a statement on Tuesday night.
The New York-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF) last week urged Minaj to cancel her performance, saying her appearance would be at odds with the rapper’s participation in festivities in New York marking Gay Pride month in June.
Homosexuality is banned in Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, HRF Chief Executive Thor Halvorssen welcomed Minaj’s change of heart, praising her “inspiring and thoughtful decision to reject the Saudi regime’s transparent attempt at using her for a public relations stunt.”
Saudi officials last week said the Jeddah World Fest would be the region’s biggest ever live musical event. Other announced performers include former One Direction British singer Liam Payne and American DJ Steve Aoki.
Halvorssen said on Tuesday he hoped Payne would follow Minaj and withdraw.
When the concert was announced last week, some Saudis expressed excitement about the latest in a string of performances by Western artists, including Mariah Carey, DJ Tiesto and the Black Eyed Peas.
However others were irritated by Minaj’s revealing stage outfits. Saudi women are bound to an extremely conservative dress code
Around a dozen Saudi women activists have been detained for the past year on charges related to human rights work and contacts with foreign journalists and diplomats in a case that has drawn global attention after last year’s murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Some Saudis on Tuesday expressed dismay at Minaj’s withdrawal. “You say you’ve educated yourself on the issues but clearly that’s not true. Good job on disappointing whatever fans you had here,” tweeted Jeddah-based Jamil Baabdullah.
Credit – P.M News
Nollywood star, Chiamaka Nwokeukwu has confessed love for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The actress made her loving confession for the separatist leader on her Instagram page. The actress wrote, “ I respect Mazi Nnamdi Kanu if you know you know” with 100% emoji to back her emotion.
Read Also: [Photo] Saraki Rocks Wizkid’s ‘Made In Lagos’ Album
Many of her followers expressed their displeasure regarding her Instagram post. Queen Endaline Nne was blunt, she said “I love you but this is a no-no, what he instigated in the minds of these hoodlums breaking and vandalizing properties in Onitsha in the name of Biafra ?ﾟ Let’s call a spade a spade, destroying properties we built by our own money, burning police stations and taking all the guns, the citizens are scared, this is not a tribal war, but a fight to save Nigeria as a whole. I would have unfriended you now because of this I swear, Nnamdi Kanu is a problem on his own, let’s learn to do things at the right time and in a peaceful and learned way”
Read Also: We shouldn’t curse Children of Politicians – Simi
However, the Nollywood actress insisted saying, “Nobody should ever go against that man again I beg you. I’m gonna lose a lot of friends because of this man I swear and I mean it,” she said.
The Federal Government has announced October 12 for full reopening of 104 Unity Schools across the country. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, made the announcement at a press conference.
He said State Governments and private school owners are at liberty to reopen based on guidelines developed for safe reopening of schools.
He urged the colleges to abide by the COVID-19 protocol guidelines developed to curtail spread of the virus.
The Minister threatened to shutdown schools, whether government or privately owned, that fail to obey the protocols.
TikTok owned by Chinese company ByteDance has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government led by President Donald Trump who had earlier banned the company’s American operations. The lawsuit, was filed today Monday, August 24 2020 in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that Trump’s order violates due process protections and offers no evidence to back up its claims that TikTok presents a national security threat.
“The executive order is not rooted in bona fide national security concerns,” the complaint reads, noting that “independent national security and information security experts have criticized the political nature of this executive order, and expressed doubt as to whether its stated national security objective is genuine.”
TikTok said the Trump administration ignored their extensive efforts to address its concerns, which we conducted fully and in good faith. The popular TikTok also wrote in a press release. “We do not take suing the government lightly, however, we feel we have no choice but to take action to protect our rights, and the rights of our community and employees.”
“Our more than 1,500 employees across the U.S. pour their hearts into building this platform every day,” the company said
President Trump has repeatedly said that TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, poses a national security threat because of its Chinese ties.
On August 6 2020, the USA president signed an executive order banning social media apps TikTok and WeChat from operating in the US in 45 days if they are not sold by their Chinese-owned parent companies. Microsoft then expressed interest in buying TikTok after the USA President had said he would support the sale of TikTok’s US operations to the US company with September 15 set as the deadline for the Chinese company to find a US buyer based on the order.
Q & A6 years agoNigeria Coat of Arms & Nigerian Flag: All Facts You Should Know
Entertainment6 years agoDownload & Listen to “Jore” by Adekunle Gold ft. Kizz Daniel
Business6 years agoThe Biggest Container Ship Ever To Come To Nigeria Berths In Onne Port, Rivers State (Photos)
Q & A6 years agoNigerian Phone Numbers: Prefix For All Nigerian Networks
Q & A6 years agoThe 8 Hierarchy of Courts in Nigeria Explained: Functions & Jurisdiction
Business6 years agoAll you need to know about bitcoin
Politics6 years agoFull List of Nigeria’s Senate Presidents Till Date
Politics2 years agoBreaking: UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians