News
Elon Musk Takes Over Twitter, Fires Executives
Published
1 year agoon
By
EditorElon Musk took control of Twitter and fired its top executives late Thursday in a deal that puts one of the leading platforms for global discourse in the hands of the world’s richest man.
Following the takeover, Musk tweeted that “the bird is freed,” referencing the company’s iconic avian logo.
He wasted no time sacking chief executive Parag Agrawal, as well as the company’s chief financial officer and its head of safety, the Washington Post and CNBC reported citing unnamed sources.
Agrawal previously went to court to hold the Tesla chief to the terms of a deal he had tried to escape.
The takeover came hours before the court-appointed deadline for Musk to seal his on-again, off-again deal to purchase the social media network.
Musk tweeted earlier in the day that he was buying Twitter “because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner.”
READ ALSO: 2023 Polls: Twist, Turns As Court Frees Nnamdi Kanu
Twitter did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the departure of its top executives, but the platform’s co-founder Biz Stone thanked the trio — Agrawal, Ned Segal and Vijaya Gadde — for their “collective contribution to Twitter.”
“Massive talents, all, and beautiful humans each.”
– ‘Chief Twit’ –
The closure of the deal marks the culmination of a long and drawn out back-and-forth between the billionaire and the social network.
Musk tried to step back from the Twitter deal soon after his unsolicited offer was accepted in April, and said in July he was canceling the contract because he was misled by Twitter over the number of fake “bot” accounts — allegations rejected by the company.
Twitter, in turn, sought to prove Musk was contriving excuses to walk away simply because he changed his mind.
After Musk sought to terminate the sale, Twitter filed a lawsuit to hold Musk to the agreement.
With a trial looming, the unpredictable billionaire capitulated and revived his takeover plan.
Musk signaled the deal was on track this week by changing his Twitter profile to “Chief Twit” and posting a video of himself walking into the company’s California headquarters carrying a sink.
“Let that sink in!” he quipped.
He even shared a picture of himself socializing at a coffee bar at Twitter headquarters earlier in the day Thursday.
Musk said during a recent Tesla earnings call that he was “excited” about the Twitter deal even though he and investors are “overpaying.”
– Twitter free-for-all? –
Some employees who would prefer not to work for Musk have already left, said a worker who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak more freely.
“But a portion of people, including me, are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now,” the employee said.
The idea of Musk running Twitter has alarmed activists who fear a surge in harassment and misinformation, with Musk himself known for trolling other Twitter users.
But Musk said he realizes Twitter “cannot become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.”
Musk has vowed to dial content moderation back to a bare minimum, and is expected to clear the way for former US president Donald Trump to return to the platform.
READ ALSO: Twitter Moves To Block Elon Musk’s Takeover
The then-president was blocked due to concerns he would ignite more violence like the deadly attack on the Capitol in Washington to overturn his election loss.
Far-right users were quick to rejoice on the network, posting comments such as “masks don’t work” and other taunts, under the belief that moderation rules will now be relaxed.
“Free speech will always prevail,” tweeted Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, prompting replies including “says the party that bans books.”
AFP
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News
243 Passengers Cheat Death As Air Peace Plane Makes Emergency Landing At Lagos Airport
Published
24 mins agoon
April 25, 2024By
EditorAn Air Peace plane coming from Port Harcourt made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on Thursday after the pilots noticed a fire warning indicator in the cockpit.
The aircraft, which had 243 passengers and 12 crew members on board, landed safely at 4:45pm on Runway18L of the Lagos airport.
The pilots immediately shut down the engines of the aircraft after fire fighting personnel reportedly observed smoke on the engines.
The call sign of the aircraft is: APK7193.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Aircraft Belonging To Dana Air Skids Off Lagos Airport Runway
Air Peace, in a statement, said it was later discovered that the fire warning noticed in the cockpit was false.
The statement was titled, “Notification of false fire alarm on Port Harcourt-Lagos flight.”
It reads, “We wish to inform the flying public of an incident that occurred during our Port Harcourt-Lagos flight P47193 of today, April 25, 2024.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: FG Grounds Dana Air Operations After Lagos Airport Incident
“Some minutes before landing, our Captain noticed a fire warning indicator in the cockpit. The pilots performed all safety precautionary measures, and the fire indicator went off. The Captain immediately notified our Operations Control Centre in Lagos at 17:37 hrs.
“It was determined upon landing that the alarm was falsely triggered as there was no fire event. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers disembarked normally.
“We want to reassure the flying public that safety remains our utmost priority, and we are unwavering in our commitment to it.”
News
Citizens Groan As Petrol Sells For Over N1000 Per Litre In Kaduna
Published
1 hour agoon
April 25, 2024By
EditorThere was acute fuel scarcity in Kaduna metropolis on Thursday, as majority fuel stations were not dispensing fuel, leaving those selling at the black market hiked the price to over N1000 a litre of petrol.
The situation caused hardship on computers, as many were seen trekking to their various places of destination due to sudden hike in transport fare.
Two State University students, Ahmad and Shehu said before the scarcity, they paid N200 fare from Kawo to the Kaduna State University but now it’s between N300 to 400.
READ ALSO: Again, FG Talks Tough, Threatens To Revoke Lokoja-Benin Road Contract
“Many have resorted to trekking in order to reduce the distance, but the hot weather has not made it easy,” said Shehu.
Major roads had fewer vehicles as the situation had made car owners to park their vehicles until the fuel situation becomes affordable.
However, there was a long queue at a fuel situation dispensing petrol in Kaduna North, where it was alleged they hiked the pump price to between N750 and N810 per litre.
READ ALSO: EFCC Withdraws Appeal Against Former Kogi Gov, Bello
A journey that previously cost N150 from Signboard Junction to the Central Market, was hiked to between 200 to 250 by the commercial operators due to the scarcity.
Malam Sabo, a commercial bus driver said he bought fuel at the black market for N1,200 per litre, and he could only make a profit if he increased the transport fare.
VANGUARD
The Federal Government on Thursday said that the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a flagship of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, is capable of creating at least 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.
The government explained that LEEP targets zero hunger, zero poverty economic growth and decent jobs through six strategic initiatives which are digital skills initiative, vocational entrepreneurship skills programmes, infrastructural upgrade, NELEX upgrade for employment acceleration, global remote work initiative and labour compliance enhancement.
Speaking at the unveiling of the programme in Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, urged development partners such as the World Bank, GIZ, the European Union, UNIDO and the Bank of Industry to support the drive of the current administration to mitigate the hardship Nigerians were undergoing.
READ ALSO: Again, FG Talks Tough, Threatens To Revoke Lokoja-Benin Road Contract
Insisting that poverty could be eradicated in the country, the Minister said that her ministry has so many structures that could take care of all the issues mostly neglected in Nigeria if they were ignited.
She said six out of the eight agendas under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda are under the labour ministry, adding that it was time to take deliberate actions and think out of the box to make life more meaningful for Nigerians.
The Minister expressed optimism that within four years about one million jobs should have been created through LEEP.
According to Onyejeocha, “We are in a position where we need to reposition the labour ministry. The world is moving towards technology and digitalisation and we don’t want to be left behind.
READ ALSO: EFCC Withdraws Appeal Against Former Kogi Gov, Bello
“We can’t do it alone and so we need to partner with you to help us succeed in the country. Mr President during his campaign was clear about where he wanted to take Nigeria. Today we want to be deliberate, and accurate to key into the renewed hope agenda and we want to solicit your support to help us in achieving our key performance index.
“The ministry is out to make sure poverty is reduced if not totally eradicated through job creation. If we create enough decent jobs it will reduce a lot of the problems we have today including insecurity.
“We want to make sure Nigeria have food to eat, ensure regulation and workers welfare. Also, empowerment is very critical so we are going to be very deliberate to empower people with what they can use to start up their own business and become employers of labour.
“When you do this deliberately, poverty will be reduced, empowerment will be real and training will be impactful.”
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