oleh admin | Mar 27, 2025 | donald trump, government, news, politics, politics and government
WASHINGTON, D.C. — US President Donald Trump mentioned on Wednesday that he might propose lowering tariffs on China with the aim of getting Beijing’s consent for the sale of the widely used social media app TikTok.
“Perhaps I offer them some slight tariff reductions or something similar to make it happen,” he said to journalists at the White House.
Earlier this month, Trump mentioned that the United States was negotiating with four different entities keen on purchasing TikTok, leaving the app’s prospects in the country unclear.
A U.S. law has mandated that TikTok must sell off its stake owned by ByteDance or face being outlawed within the country. This decision was made due to worries that China might use this video-sharing app to gather intelligence on American citizens or subtly manipulate public sentiment in the United States.
The legislation came into force on January 19, one day prior to Trump’s inauguration. However, he swiftly declared a postponement of the law, enabling it to keep operating.
The said delay will end on April 5th.
“We will be entering into some sort of agreement,” Trump stated, mentioning that should the timing not work out, he would prolong the deadline.
I believe China will need to participate in that process, potentially through some form of endorsement, and I expect them to do so.
In his initial time at the helm of the White House, Trump also tried to prohibit TikTok within the United States due to worries about national security.
In January, TikTok was briefly suspended in the United States and vanished from app stores as the deadline for the legislation loomed, much to the disappointment of millions of users.
After starting his second term on January 20, Trump paused its execution for two-and-a-half months in an attempt to find a resolution with Beijing.
Later, TikTok resumed operations in the United States and was reinstated in both the Apple and Google app stores in February.
The AI startup Perplexity has recently shown interest in acquiring TikTok.
In a blog post, Perplexity outlined a plan to integrate its AI-driven web search features with the widely-used video-clipping application.
“The San Francisco-based company argued that merging Perplexity’s question-answering tool with TikTok’s vast video collection could result in the creation of the premier search experience globally,” they explained.
Even though TikTok doesn’t seem particularly eager about selling the app, possible purchasers encompass an effort known as “The People’s Bid for TikTok.” This campaign was initiated by Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty venture, which has interests in both real estate and sports.
Other contenders include Microsoft, Oracle, and a consortium featuring internet celebrity MrBeast, known as Jimmy Donaldson.
“As per Perplexity’s statement, a group of investors acquiring TikTok could potentially allow ByteDance to retain control over the algorithm. However, an acquisition by another major player might lead to a dominant position for them within the realm of short-form videos and informational content,” he argued in the blog post.
Society as a whole thrives when content feeds are freed from the control of foreign governments and global conglomerates.
oleh admin | Mar 27, 2025 | crime, politics, politics and government, politics and law, serbia
Milorad Dodik leads the entity known as Republika Srpska, home to a majority Serbian population and constituting one-half of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He faces allegations for challenging the post-war structure set in place in 1995.
On Thursday, a court in Bosnia issued an international arrest warrant.
Milorad Dodik
the leader of the Serbian portion of the nation.
Last month, Dodik prohibited police forces affiliated with Bosnia’s national government from functioning within the territory of Republika Srpska, which is the Serbian entity of the nation.
order was then suspended
by the Constitutional Court.
Pro-Russian Dodik has consistently threatened to sever the Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This endangers the Dayton Accords, which were negotiated to establish peace in Bosnia after sectarian conflict destabilized the area when Yugoslavia disintegrated.
The accord reached in 1995 created two main bodies—the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina consisting of Croats and Muslims, along with the Republika Srpska inhabited primarily by Bosnian Serbs—forming the unified country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dodik disregards arrest warrant as tensions escalate
Dodik and another senior figure from Republika Srpska faced accusations of undermining the constitutional order following their actions the previous month.
A
Last week, a court in Bosnia issued an internal arrest warrant.
For Dodik and the two other leading officials from Republika Srpska.
However, both Dodik and the other official implicated in the case disregarded the directive and went overseas.
This week, Dodik entered neighboring Serbia and subsequently journeyed to Israel for an antisemitism conference in Jerusalem on Thursday.
The court stated in a release on Thursday that “all these factors indicate that either person might be overseas at any time, thus justifying further steps.” The case has now been handed over to the international law enforcement organization Interpol.
A court in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia,
Last month, Dodik was handed a one-year jail term.
for challenging the nation’s leading international supervisor and prohibiting him from holding office for six years.
However, Dodik and his supporters claim they do not acknowledge the legitimacy of the Bosnian prosecution office and therefore refuse to travel to Sarajevo for any questioning.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
Author: Roshni Majumdar (with Reuters, AP)
oleh admin | Mar 27, 2025 | crime, criminal justice, international relations, politics, politics and law
Senator Risa Hontiveros appealed to the global community for assistance in dismantling transnational criminal organizations in the Philippines.
“Hontiveros stated that the Philippine government cannot manage this on its own,” she remarked, expressing her relief over the return of 176 Filipinos who were freed from fraudulent operations in Myanmar.
“Governments and global organizations should collaborate to ensure the safety of our citizens,” she stated.
The senator greeted more than 100 Filipinos who landed in Manila from Myanmar on Wednesday.
Hontiveros, along with Akbayan Partylist candidate Chel Diokno, met with some of the repatriated individuals who had contacted them seeking assistance.
She mentioned that the victims recounted horrific tales of torment, sexual assault, and various types of abuse.
“I hope that the victim-survivors receive appropriate psychosocial support due to the trauma they endured,” Hontiveros stated.
“Our administration should firmly guarantee that no additional Filipino ends up in that nightmare again,” stated Hontiveros.
In 2022, she initiated the Senate investigations into human trafficking within scam operations following her office’s role in rescuing Filipinos who had been trafficked to Myanmar.
oleh admin | Mar 27, 2025 | military, politics, politics and government, russian politics, ukraine politics
As Belarus grows more volatile within Eastern Europe, the nation becomes increasingly ensnared by Russian control, according to opposition figurehead Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s remarks during an interview with Euronews. She cautioned that this situation might position Belarus as a potential starting point for military hostilities targeting Ukraine and other Western neighboring countries.
In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during an event in Munich that Russia intends to deploy as many as 150,000 soldiers in Belarus within the year, possibly posing a threat to NATO nations. Given Belarus’s increasingly close ties with Moscow, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya contends that the country’s autonomy is endangered, casting doubt over its prospects and the safety of surrounding states.
For Tsikhanouskaya, sanctions continue to be an essential means of preventing additional Russian aggression. She stated, “The focus is on transforming our nation, and sanctions serve as one of the most potent tools.” According to her, “A steadfast strategy is necessary when dealing with dictators; we firmly believe that sanctions should act as leverage to modify their actions.” Furthermore, she explained, “We advocate using these measures until significant progress towards negotiations occurs, aiming ultimately to secure the liberation of everyone and conduct unbiased elections,” she emphasized.
The Europe Conversation.
Recent indications of increasing integration between Russia and Belarus have sparked concerns. Although Belarusian residents can now take part in voting processes, Tsikhanouskaya views this as an incremental move towards Belarus being absorbed by Russia. She stated, “This is a gradual annexation happening with Lukashenko’s consent, knowing he acts like Putin’s marionette. He is willing to trade away our autonomy, self-governance, and nationhood simply to retain his grip on power.”
She contended that the policy of Russification has been progressively moving forward, as agreements have been reached without regard for Belarus’s national interests. “Regardless of voter turnout, these events cannot be classified as genuine elections. It is indeed alarming that Lukashenko, through his actions, is steering Belarus towards Russia,” Tsikhanouskaya stated.
Although Tsikhanouskaya doesn’t view the situation as involving direct territorial seizure akin to what happened in Ukraine, she thinks it revolves around ensuring a leadership aligned with Moscow. She explains, “Their aim is to establish a compliant administration that gives the semblance of sovereignty while having this government act according to Putin’s wishes. In essence, their objective is to create a regime that could be used anytime for additional incursions—perhaps into the European Union—or merely serve propaganda purposes. They desire nothing less than a marionette government within the nation.”
Launchpad for an invasion
At the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy delivered a strong caution that Russia could potentially utilize Belarus as a staging ground for an assault, akin to the 2022 strike against Ukraine. Tsikhanouskaya echoed these apprehensions. She stated, “As long as Lukashenko remains in control, Belarusian territory may serve once more as a starting point for an offensive either toward Ukraine or towards our western neighbors.”
The possibility of such an invasion still remains uncertain. “This situation demonstrates that the democratic world struggles to clearly state whether they would tolerate oppression or if invasions of sovereign nations can occur unchecked. They lack effective means to address this threat. There is a chance that these forces could reach the borders of the European Union.”
Tsikhanouskaya contended that autocrats only comprehend the discourse of authority, stating: “When you fail to deliver this strength, when you do not demonstrate courage and audacity, dictators will assert, ‘Very well, we shall trample over the subsequent red line.'”
Democratic aspirations remain intact
Tsikhanouskaya stayed optimistic about Belarus’ future, acknowledging that transformation could occur via multiple pathways. She stated, “Transformation in Belarus might transpire through various channels, yet the crucial aspect is that democratic entities, our community, and Europe should be ready for such transformations.”
Even though the present situation may seem challenging, Tsikhanouskaya felt that the desire for democracy in Belarus has not disappeared. She stated, “It’s important to keep in mind that those protesting in the streets are just one segment of the opposition against the government. The appearance of tranquility within the nation does not imply that citizens have surrendered; rather, they are strategizing and will be prepared once an opportunity for transformation arises.”
According to Tsikhanouskaya, there are greater opportunities for changing the government in Belarus compared to Russia.
oleh admin | Mar 27, 2025 | government, government regulations, politics, politics and government, politics and law
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos’ declaration that he will “never abolish” the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) proved that his administration continues the same repressive policies of his predecessor former president Rodrigo Duterte, according to House assistant minority leader and Gabriela women’s party Rep. Arlene Brosas.
“Marcos is no different from Duterte. His refusal to disband the NTF-ELCAC despite its documented human rights violations and partisan political activities shows that this administration remains committed to the same tactics that terrorize activists, progressive organizations, and ordinary citizens,” Brosas said.
Marcos’ comment followed shortly after when Gabriela, a women’s party, submitted an official grievance to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against the NTF-ELCAC due to their persistent red-tagging operations. These actions breach electoral regulations that forbid government entities from engaging in partisan political acts during elections.
During her campaign trip in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Brosas shared that one of her backers found some black propaganda material which branded her as a terrorist and encouraged people not to back her bid for office.
She pointed out that billions of pesos are being allocated to the NTF-ELCAC’s operations, including the P10 million per barangay under its Barangay Development Program, while essential social services remain severely underfunded.
For its part, rights group Karapatan vowed to block efforts by the government to further fund the NTF-ELCAC.
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay has criticized Marcos for ignoring the crimes committed by the NTF-ELCAC.
Of these, there are 119 instances of extrajudicial killings and 76 attempted extrajudicial killings.
They likewise accused the task force of being responsible for 14 forced disappearances and the imprisonment of 762 political detainees.
In the meantime, Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya from the National Security Council verified that President Marcos has instructed for the continuance of the NTF-ELCAC.
— Delon Porcalla, Emmanuel Tupas
oleh admin | Mar 27, 2025 | news, political parties, politics, politics and government, politics and law
MANILA, Philippines — According to the most recent survey carried out by Social Weather Stations (SWS), nine party-list groups are at the forefront.
The poll conducted from March 15 to 20 for the Stratbase group revealed that the 4Ps party-list remains the top choice out of the 156 groups competing in this year’s elections.
It garnered the backing of 10.44 percent of the participants, closely trailed by Duterte Youth with 8.42 percent and ACT-CIS with 5.29 percent.
Behind them came FPJ Panday Bayanihan with 4.17 percent, followed by Ako Bicol at 2.51 percent, then Asenso Pinoy at 2.45 percent, Senior Citizens at 2.28 percent, TGP at 2.05 percent, and finally Agimat at 2.0 percent.
According to election guidelines, party-list groups that obtain a minimum of two percent of the overall votes are assured of securing at least one position in Congress.
The remaining seats were distributed according to the calculations provided by the Supreme Court in a previous decision.
Based on recent surveys, at least one percent of participants have backed 16 additional party-list organizations.
This list includes Tingog, Coop-Natco, Bicol Saro, EduAksyon, SSS-GSIS Pensionados, Anakalusugan, Malasakit@Bayanihan, 1-Rider, Kabataan, Agap, Manila Teachers, Magsasaka, PBBM, Trabaho, United Senior Citizens, and Murang Kuryente.
The head of StratBase, Dindo Manhit, stated that the steady performance of the top party-list organizations indicates a trend fueled by significant brand recognition and voter connection to their key issues.
Manhit encouraged voters to look past just recalling names and instead evaluate the platforms and track records of the party-list organizations.
“Although popularity and recognition significantly influence voter preferences, it’s crucial for Filipinos to consider more than just name recall when they cast their ballots,” he stated.
