Accounts of world leaders, celebrities have been hit by the development.

Pope, Donald Trump and Justin Bieber have lost their blue badge.

Owner Elon Musk, who invested $44 billion in buying Twitter earlier pledged to get rid of what he described as a “lords & peasants system.”

He offered instead to sell the blue badge to anyone who would pay $8 a month, in a move he said last year would “democratize journalism & empower the voice of the people.”

Earlier dates set for the rollback of the ticks — predominately used by celebrities, journalists and politicians — have slipped by without noticeable action.

But on Thursday high-profile accounts, as well as those of many reporters at AFP and other news organizations, appeared to have had the checkmarks removed.

The post Breaking: Twitter’s Blue Badge Vanishes appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Among those sanctioned is the former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

“The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests,” Beijing said in a statement.

“China has decided to sanction 28 persons who have seriously violated China’s sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for such US moves on China-related issues.”

Besides Pompeo, those sanctioned include Trump’s Trade Advisor Peter Navarro, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell, Health Secretary Alex Azar and United Nations envoy Kelly Craft.

US Ambassador to the UN John R Bolton and Trump’s former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon were also sanctioned.

Beijing called the American diplomats, “anti-China politicians”, and said that they executed “crazy moves” out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against the country. These actions interfered with Beijing’s interests, internal matters, and sovereignty as well as disrupted China-US relations, the statement said.

“These individuals and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China,” the ministry said.

“They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China.”

Bolton called the sanctions great news. “I accept this prestigious recognition of my unrelenting efforts to defend American freedom,” he tweeted.

China’s move came just after Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony as the president of the United States.

The post China Bans Mike Pompeo, 27 Officials In Donald Trump’s Administration appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Joe Biden was projected winner of the 2020 election by American media after he garnered over 270 electoral votes.

Biden defeats the incumbent president, Donald Trump, who has continued to allege fraud in vote counting.

The post Just-In: Joe Biden Defeats Trump, Emerges 46th US President appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

He said this on Wednesday, adding that he would go to the Supreme Court to dispute the counting of votes, if not declared the re-elected president.

“We did win this election,” Trump said in an extraordinary speech from the ceremonial East Room of the White House.

“For the good of this nation, this is a very big moment. This is a major fraud in our nation. We want the law to be used in a proper manner. So, we will be going to the US Supreme Court,” Trump said.

The Republican, who according to initial results is in a neck-and-neck race with Democrat Joe Biden, said he would go to court and “we want all voting to stop.”

He appeared to mean stopping the counting of mail-in ballots which can be legally accepted by state election boards after Tuesday’s election, provided they were sent in time.

The post US: Trump Declares Self As Winner, Threatens To Challenge Results appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.