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News! Governor Wike of Rivers State dissolves cabinet

The executive governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has dissolved the State Executive Council with immediate effect.

The Governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media, also relieved his Chief of Staff and Senior Special Assistant (Protocol) of their positions.

The statement reads: “His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, commends the members the Rivers State Executive Council for their service and contribution to the development of the State. He has also wished them the best in all their future endeavours.”

Wike also directed all the former members of the State Executive Council to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective ministries

Russian Influencer dated her boyfriend’s boss after he broke up with her

A Russian influencer is now dating her ex-boyfriend’s boss after the boyfriend dumped her to focus on his career.

Polina Nioly, 25, revealed that she scored a date with her ex-lover’s boss in a bid to exact revenge.

She shared a video of her dressed up for the date with her ex’s boss and wrote: “POV: He broke up with you to focus on his career and now you’re going on a date with the owner of the company he works at.”

She added: “Revenge should be served cold.”

Nioly didn’t reveal the name of her ex, nor the company he works at.

While some hailed her, other accused her of going after the boss’ money.

She dated his boss after her boyfriend broke up with her

She replied: “Not the people in the comments saying something like ‘Oh girls are searching for money.’ Besties I am a millionaire with a 100+ employees, am I supposed to date someone less than I am? No thanks!”

419: British Govt extradites Nigerian man to U.S for taking part in email compromise scams

A 39-year-old Nigerian man, Chibundu Joseph Anuebunwa, has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States for allegedly participating in business email compromise scam that targeted thousands of victims around the world. 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), made the announcement on Friday, May 20.

Anuebunwa was extradited on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with his alleged participation in a multimillion-dollar business email compromise campaign that targeted thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States. 

The suspect was presented on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. 

In connection with the same conspiracy as Anuebunwa, co-defendant David Chukwuneke Adindu was previously sentenced to 41 months in prison, and co-defendant Onyekachi Emmanuel Okpara, was previously extradited from South Africa and sentenced to 60 months in prison.

“As alleged in the indictment, Chibundu Joseph Anuebunwa tried to steal money from thousands of businesses around the world by impersonating corporate executives and sending phony emails to company employees,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. 

“Today’s extradition should serve as a warning to those who think they can defraud victims in the United States from halfway around the world: the United States and its international partners will find you and hold you accountable no matter how long it takes.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed on Friday in Manhattan federal court, between 2014 and 2016, Anuebunwa, Opara and Adindu, participated in business email compromise scams (“BEC scams”) targeting thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States. 

As part of the BEC scams, emails were sent to employees of various companies directing that funds be transferred to specified bank accounts. 

The emails purported to be from supervisors at those companies or third-party vendors that did business with those companies. 

The emails, however, were not legitimate.  Rather, they were either from email accounts with a domain name that was very similar to a legitimate domain name, or the metadata in the emails had been modified so that the emails appeared as if they were from legitimate email addresses. 

After victims complied with the fraudulent wiring instructions, the transferred funds were quickly withdrawn or moved into different bank accounts.  In total, the BEC scams attempted to defraud millions of dollars from victims.

Anuebunwa and others carried out BEC scams by exchanging information regarding: (1) bank accounts used for receiving funds from victims; (2) email accounts used for communicating with victims; (3) scripts for requesting wire transfers from victims; and (4) lists of names and email addresses for contacting and impersonating potential victims.

Anuebunwa is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and one count of wire fraud, which also carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI and thanked the Yahoo E-Crime Investigations Team for their assistance. 

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom. Mr. Williams also thanked the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service for their assistance in today’s extradition.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Daniel Loss are in charge of the prosecution.

“Stop the bloodshed in the East” – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu pleads

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has called for killings in the South-East to stop as well as the release of Mrs. Ukamaka Ejezie, a newspaper vendor popularly known as ‘Mama Biafra’ in Abia State.

The IPOB leader was quoted to have made the appeal during his younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu’s visit to him in the Department of State Services custody.

Nnamdi Kanu  was said to be saddened by the reports of Killings across the South-East as he “does not believe in bloodshed.”

“My brother does not believe in bloodshed and felt too bad that bloodsuckers had been on the prowl in the South-East almost unchallenged,” he told Vanguard.

The IPOB leader said all those responsible for the insecurity in the region should be held accountable for their atrocities.

He also added that the Igbos are not known for cannibalism.

According to Emmanuel, Mama Biafra, a septuagenarian was arrested during Kanu’s last court appearance in Abuja on May 18.

Kanu was said to have explained that the woman had been acting as his mother since his parents died in 2020.

The IPOB leader said the woman committed no crime for coming to Abuja to solidarise with him at the court when she was arrested, regretting that, “I saw her at the DSS detention cell after her clothes were washed and spread on the wall. I demand that she be released because she committed no crime.

“She is an old woman and since my mother died I have taken her as my mother. The DSS should release her.”

The IPOB Leader also cleared the air over whether he was the one that Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State met when he visited the DSS headquarters last week. He noted that there was no basis for people to doubt whether Soludo met him, explaining that the Athletico Madrid club attire he wore when the Governor visited was his nightwear.

Kanu pleaded with all to ensure there is peace in South East.

Alert! ‘No treatments for Monkeypox for now’ NCDC warns

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has warned that there are no specific treatments available for the monkeypox infection following the outbreak in Europe and other countires. 

The centre also urged Nigerians to take certain measures to prevent contracting the disease.

The NCDC’s post on its website read: “There are no specific treatments available for monkeypox infection, although various novel antiviral have in-vitro and animal data supportive effects such as Brincindofocir and Tecovirimat.

“Measures that can be taken to prevent infection with monkeypox virus include: avoiding contact with animals that could harbour the virus, both sick or dead animals in areas where monkeypox cases have occurred; avoiding contact with any material that has been in contact with a sick animal; thoroughly cooking any animal that might have come into contact with an infected animal; handling them with standard precautions and observing monkeypox symptoms for 30 days and washing with soap and water after contact with infected animals.”

According to the World Health Organisation, the disease is endemic to West and Central African countries.

Speaking in an interview with Punch, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora said the NCDC is doing everything possible to enhance surveillance to mitigate the spread of the disease.

“The NCDC is on it. The centre is doing all it takes in terms of surveillance, response and it is also putting in place certain measures to mitigate the spread.

“Just like we have the Lassa fever, the monkeypox is endemic to Nigeria but we have our agencies like the NCDC when it comes to response and I can assure you that they are totally on it,” the minister said.

A virologist at the University of Maiduguri, Prof Marycelin Baba, in a separate interview with the publication also corroborated NCDC’s claims, calling for caution.

Baba said, “Monkeypox is said to be a mutation from smallpox. There was no treatment for smallpox during its time. The only breakthrough was when the smallpox vaccine was introduced. This means that if you were lucky to get vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine during your time, you can be a bit safe.

“Unfortunately, most people were not born during the time the world suffered from the smallpox pandemic. Smallpox was eradicated many decades ago.

“One of the problems we have in Nigeria for instance is the absence of sufficient diagnostic kits for viral diseases. If you cannot even diagnose, how do you want to treat the problem? I am not too sure if we still have smallpox vaccines anymore in the world but as it stands, the only solution right now is vaccine. Without vaccines, I am sorry we are not going to reach anywhere.”

“I still have a dream of playing for Real Madrid” – Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he is open to a future move to Real Madrid despite signing a three-year contract extension with French club, Paris Saint-Germain.


Mbappe ended months of transfer speculation on May 21 by penning a new deal with the Ligue 1 champions, a deal which stunned Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez who had been negotiating for a year to bring the French World Cup winner to Madrid.


Mbappe thanked Madrid fans for their support during the transfer speculation and claimed he is still open to the possibility of joining them in the coming years.


“Last week, when I made the decision to stay, I spoke with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, because I have a lot of respect for him and the club,” he said in an interview with BBC Sport’s Guillem Balague.


“It was important to say personally I am not going to Real Madrid’.


“Everything was good, and we have a good relationship, and after that I told PSG, I will stay a little longer here.


“(Is the Real Madrid dream over?) No, it is never over.


“The only difference now, is I have signed a contract for three more years, and you never know what can happen in the future.


“I don’t think about the future, I only think about the present, and that is PSG.”

Pastor’s wife leaves him for his fellow Pastor – marriage dissolved

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in the Eket Local Government Area has dissolved a pastor’s 13-year marriage over the allegation that the 36-year-old wife slept with another pastor of one of the new generational churches in the state.

The 36-year-old mother-of-two was said to be having an illicit affair with the pastor who later gave her a substance to administer to her husband.

This prompted the 42-year-old husband, a staff of an oil company, to approach the Court to seek the dissolution of the marriage for the sake of his life.

The presiding judge, Justice Pius Idiong, dissolved the marriage on Friday, May 20, on account of the union having broken down irretrievably.

The presiding judge, Justice Pius Idiong, who dissolved the marriage, expressed worry over the rising cases of divorce and separation as a result of the activities of some churches and their pastors.

He lamented that a Pastor became the instrument through whom the marriage of his colleague and co-founder of a Church is destroyed.

Justice Idiong said: “it is a great pain that the Church and its Ministers who are supposed to be the agents and Apostles of sustainability of the family, which the Catholic Pontiff, St. Pope John Paul described as the Domestic Church are the precursors and catalysts of broken marriages and families today.”

The Court held that “the couple can no longer live together in an era when domestic violence is at its peak and has become common, taking dangerous trend, resulting in married couples taking the lives of each other.”

Justice Idiong said: “It is better for the couple to be alive, apart, than for any of them to be lost on account of matrimonial disagreement.”

He declared “the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent dated 28th November 2009 and celebrated in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Uyo under the watchful eyes of the Marriage Registrar, dissolved forthwith.”

Justice Idiong, who is the Administrative Judge, Eket Judicial Division of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State granted “the custody of the two children of the marriage between the age of eight and 10 to their father, subject to the condition that their mother shall not be denied access to her children.”

“Homosexuality is a disorder” – Dr Brian Sampa says

Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ) President, Dr. Brian Sampa, has said that homosexuality is a disorder. 

Dr. Sampa, who stated this on his official Facebook page on Monday, May 23, also said that the anus is not a sexual organ but for excretion.

Read his post below: 

HOMOSEXUALITY IS A DISORDER, THOSE ARE PATIENTS WHO NEED MEDICAL HELP

In Genetics a man has XY chromosomes while a woman has XX.

Man has More testesterone while woman has more oestrogen.

Man produces sperms while woman produces eggs.When they meet the sperm fertilizes the egg to produce offsprings.

Because of oestrogen a woman has breasts,hips,nice voice and other female characteristics. Because of testesterone a man is masculine, hairy,deep voice and other male sexual characteristics.

Due to this make up a man admires a woman while a woman admires a man that’s what makes them come together for the purpose of procreation.

About body parts; The organs involved in procreation are penis in males and vagina in females.

Note:THE ANUS IS NOT A SEXUAL ORGAN!!!! It’s for excretion.

Now in nature nothing is perfect so we have conditions where a child is born with two sexual organs.

In this case the best thing to do is to check the genetic makeup of that child.If the child is XY then the operation will be to close the vagina and maintain the penis, while if the child is XX the surgery will be to remove the penis and maintain the vagina.Its that simple.

Anything apart from What has been said above is a disorder and requires medical attention.

**IF A MAN ADMIRES ANOTHER MAN THEY NEED MEDICAL HELP.

**IF A WOMAN ADMIRES ANOTHER WOMAN THEY ALSO NEED HELP

Everyone has got the right to medical attention, don’t deprive people of their rights to be treated by accepting their diseases.

ITS NOT A HUMAN RIGHT TO BE HOMOSEXUAL ITS A DISORDER!!

BCS..23//05//2022. 

Dr Brian Sampa
Dr Brian Sampa
Dr Brian Sampa
Dr Brian Sampa

Man on drugs attacks a security guard at the Qatar’s embassy in Paris and killing him

An attacker who was allegedly high on cocaine broke into the Qatar Embassy in Paris and killed a security guard on Monday morning, May 23.

The 38-year-old suspect was arrested by police officers after breaking into the embassy, located by the Arc de Triomphe, just before 8am.

The attacker tested positive for cocaine after admitting to punching the unidentified security guard and strangling him to death.

‘A man forced his way in and was challenged by the guard,’ said an investigating source. ‘A fight broke out, and the guard was severely wounded’.

‘He died on the spot following a savage attack,’ the source said. ‘The attacker is known to police for a variety of offences, and also suffers with psychiatric problems.’ 

Qatar attack in Paris

The security guard was pronounced dead at the scene and the 38-year-old attacker was immediately arrested by police who were called to the scene.

The arrested man, who is from the Paris suburb of Sevran, was taken to a secure police station in the French capital, where he underwent a medical examination. 

It was gathered that police had to seek diplomatic permission to enter the Embassy, which slowed their arrival at the scene. 

‘They were based a few doors away, but like the other emergency services, including medics, they had to follow diplomatic protocol,’ said the investigating source.

The attacker, who has not been identified, was known for minor domestic crimes, but had no links with terrorism, said the source. 

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that an inquiry had been launched into an alleged murder at the usually highly secure embassy. 

‘I can confirm that an investigation was opened today on the count of murder,’ the prosecutor’s office said, adding that it was not clear yet if a weapon had been used.

‘The circumstances of the death of the guard are yet to be determined precisely.’

Today’s incident at the Embassy follows a series of bomb, gun, and knife attacks carried out by Islamic State and al-Qaeda operatives in France. 

Back in 2015, the deadliest single terrorist attack ever in the country was recorded when 130 people were killed in Paris.

Earlier in the year, two Paris-born gunmen linked to Al-Qaeda broke into the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, leaving 17 people dead inside and three outside.

Ghanaian man celebrates his birthday in the cemetery (video)

A man has caused a stir by celebrating his birthday at a cemetery. 

The bizarre video which has gone viral on the internet and received mixed reactions, captured the birthday celebrant and his friends/loved ones celebrating at the cemetery in a community in Ghana.

Watch the video below…….

Victor Osimhen’s value has been increased to €110M by his club, Napoli

Napoli have increased the value of Victor Osimhen Incase any club wants to buy him this summer.

The Nigerian striker has been one of the standout performers in Serie A this season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions, along with two assists for his teammates.
 

Manchester United and Arsenal may reportedly have to pay €110million, about N48bn  according to a new report by Calciomercato if they want to secure  the Edo born striker.

 
Osimhen aged 23 would be good for Arsenal who need a long-term replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Manchester United is overly reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo, who will turn 38 next season.

Kylian Mbappe to sign PSG 3-year contract @ £1M per week salary

World Cup winner and Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Kylian Mbappe has confirmed he will be signing a new contract at Parc des Princes just days after it seemed he will be joining Real Madrid.

Mbappe addressed the entirety of the Parc des Princes crowd before Paris Saint-Germain’s final home game of the Ligue 1 season against Metz on Saturday night, May 21.


The 23-year-old was handed the microphone to announce he has penned a new three-year deal with the French giants – putting an end to a move to Real Madrid. 

Real Madrid were extremely confident that they would boast the superstar within their ranks from this summer onwards once Mbappe’s original deal with PSG had expired. 

But a new bumper contract of about £1m weekly has seen the 23-year-old commit his future to the Parisians.

Addressing the crowd, Mbappe explained: “I am very happy to stay at PSG in France. I always said Paris is my home, I hope we continue to play football and win trophies together. Thanks for everything. I hope that I will continue to do what I prefer to with you all… and win titles together! Thanks a lot.”


PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi broke the news before introducing Mbappe to the crowd by declaring: “I’m proud to give you a beautiful news: Kylian Mbappé has signed until June 2025 with Paris Saint-Germain.”


Mbappe has enjoyed a stunning season individually, helping fire the club to a tenth Ligue 1 title with his phenomenal for in front of goal. The World Cup winner has the most goals and most assists of any player in the league with 25 and 17 to his name respectively in the division alone.

With his new contract, he now surpasses team mates Neymar and Lionel Messi as the highest earner in the club.

‘Offensive’ EFCC campaign adverts removed by EFCC in Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested an outdoor advertisement executive over political advertisements that appeared in two billboards bearing the name and logo of the Commission.

According to EFCC, the two Super 48 Sheet Billboards located at Otigba and Zik Avenue Junctions in Enugu, ”bore offensive messages using the name of the EFCC to threaten the aspiration of some politicians in the state in the build up to the 2023 general elections. ”

One of the messages reads: 2023: Enugu PDP Learn From 2007 Election… EFCC IS COMING WITH KOBOKO ON CORRUPT CANDIDATES.

Following credible intelligence received by the Commission, operatives of the Commission on Saturday May 21, 2022 arrested one Baron Nnamdi, the alleged designer, printer and owner of the billboards hosting the offensive political campaign messages.

He has volunteered a statement to the Commission, claiming he was contracted by a media aide to a former deputy governor of the state with governorship ambition.

He claimed he was paid N160, 000 for the one week campaign and that the media aide to the former deputy governor supplied him with the messages, EFCC logo and pictures of operatives used for the advertisement.

Following his arrest, operatives of the Commission visited the two sites and pulled down the offensive advertisements.

Meanwhile, the Commission warned politicians to refrain from dragging the EFCC into the political fray.

It reiterated that, apart from issues of economic and financial crimes which fall within its purview, the Commission has no role in the political process and should not be distracted.

It stated further, that it will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on errant politicians who continue to impersonate the Commission and its operatives. 

'Offensive' EFCC campaign adverts removed by EFCC in Enugu
'Offensive' EFCC campaign adverts removed by EFCC in Enugu
'Offensive' EFCC campaign adverts removed by EFCC in Enugu
'Offensive' EFCC campaign adverts removed by EFCC in Enugu

AC Milan win 2021-22 Serie A title

AC Milan have won the 2021-22 Serie A title, with arch-rivals Inter finishing second after a dramatic final day tussle.

Milan needed to win against Sassuolo on Sunday, May 22 in order to secure a first Scudetto since 2011, and they raced into a 3-0 lead after 36 minutes.


The club coached by Stafano Pioli coasted to victory to earn their first title in 11 years, rendering Inter’s own 3-0 win, at home to Sampdoria, futile.


During the match, Olivier Giroud scored twice before Franck Kessie put the result beyond doubt before half-time.

AC Milan wins 2


Milan end more than a decade of poor performances in Serie A as it has been  11 years since Milan last won the title, due to a lingering financial crisis off the pitch and lack of star players and good coaches.

Unknown gunmen behead lawmaker in Anambra State

The lawmaker representing  Aguata II Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon Okechukwu Okoye,  has been beheaded by suspected gunmen.

The lawmaker was kidnapped last week, alongside one other person in his Toyota Sienna car by unknown persons.

On Saturday, May 21, his head was found at Nnobi, in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where it was hanged while his body was kept by his killers.

Confirming this development, the state government in a statement released, condemned the incident and placed a N10 million reward for anyone or group that will avail valuable information that will lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

A statement by the governor’s  Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, read;

“Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo; CFR, has received with shock and deep sadness the news of the gruesome murder of Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, member representing Aguata II Constituency at the State House of Assembly and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka. Both Hon Okoye and Cyril Chiegboka were kidnapped on the road by the heartless and barbaric murderers on 15th May.

Gov Soludo condoles with his kinsmen of Isuofia, noting that it is probably the same criminal gang that attacked him and killed three policemen at Isuofia two years ago that are once again on the prowl.  But they can never cow down Isuofia and Anambra State.

Governor Soludo, still in shock over the barbaric acts against his two kinsmen, vowed that the perpetrators as well as all criminals operating in Anambra must be decisively brought to book.

Governor Soludo has consequently placed a N10 million reward for anyone or group that will avail valuable information that will lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Anambra will soon be a hell for these criminals.

Also confirming the decapitation of the lawmaker, the spokesperson of the state police command, Ikenga Tochukwu, said;

“His head was found along Nnobi Road today (Saturday). There is no suspect in custody yet”

Taliban Govt. orders Afghanistan female TV presenters to cover their faces during broadcast

Women presenters and reporters on TV channels in Afghanistan have been ordered to cover their faces while presenting news on air.


On Sunday, May 22, Afghan female reporters went on air with their faces covered in line with a Taliban order after disobeying the other just a day before.

According to the BBC, a presenter said women working in the TV industry had resisted but their employers had come under pressure.


The women wore hijabs and face-covering veils, to present and report news bulletins and other programmes across popular channels such as TOLOnews, Ariana Television, Shamshad TV and 1TV.


Since seizing power from the Afghan government last year, the Taliban have increasingly imposed restrictions on women’s lives.

TOLOnews presenter Farida Sial told the BBC: “It’s OK that we are Muslims, we are wearing hijab, we hide our hair, but it’s very difficult for a presenter to cover their face for two or three hours consecutively and talk like that.”

“They want to erase women from social and political life,” she said.


Earlier the Taliban’s Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and the Promotion of Virtue ordered that all women must wear a face veil in public, or risk punishment


Another female Afghan journalist, who asked not to be named, told the BBC: “Today is another black day for the women of my country.”

Nigerian Govt imposes telecom tax to fund free healthcare plan

The Federal Government has added a new tax on phone calls to fund free healthcare for the Vulnerable Group in Nigeria.

The telecom tax in the equivalent of a minimum of one kobo per second for phone calls is captured in the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2021 signed by the President Buhari last week, as one of the sources of funds required to finance free healthcare for the Vulnerable Group in Nigeria.

The Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Taiwo Oyedele, said; 

“S.26 of this new law imposes a telecommunications tax of not less than 1kobo per second on GSM calls. With call rates at about 11kobo per second, this translates to a 9 per cent tax on GSM calls.

“The tax is one of the sources of money to the Vulnerable Group Fund to subsidise the provision of healthcare to the group defined to include children under five, pregnant women, the aged, physically and mentally challenged, and the indigent as may be defined from time to time.”

The act provides several options such as basic health care provision fund to the authority; health insurance levy; telecommunications tax, not less than one kobo per second of GSM calls; money that may be allocated to the Vulnerable Group Fund by the Government; motley that accrues to the Vulnerable Group Fund from investments made by the Council: and grants, donations, gifts, and any other voluntary contributions made to the Vulnerable Group Fund.

Every resident in Nigeria is expected to obtain health insurance under the new act. 

‘Baby dies after being raped by Russian soldiers’ – Ukraine says

Ukraine has accused Russian soldiers of raping children in towns and villages surrounding the eastern city of Kharkiv.

According to Mail Online, they include an allegation of the rape and death of a one-year-old baby boy by Russian soldiers.

The report comes from Lyudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

Other allegations in the report, listed by Ukrainian journalist Iryna Matviyishyn, include the rape of three nine-year-old triplets in front of their mother, the rape of a two-year-old girl who survived, and the rape of two ten-year-old boys, among other unspeakable crimes.

The Twitter page for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence attributed to Denisova’s report: ’10 reports of rape by the occupiers, including 8 children, were received from newly liberated villages in the Kharkiv region in just one hour. 

‘Yesterday – 56 reports. Among the children: two 10-year-old boys and a 1-year-old boy who died of his injuries.’

The report also accuses Russian soldiers of raping two men aged 67 and 78. 

‘Reportedly, the Commissioner’s Psychological Assistance Line receives calls about such war crimes every day now,’ tweeted Matviyishyn.       

This is a very small part of territory that was liberated from Russians, compared to those towns, villages and cities that are still under the occupation,’ she said. 


‘We can only imagine the number of such atrocities in Kherson, Melitopol, Mariupol, Berdyansk, and others.’

The first Russian soldier to go on trial for war crimes in Ukraine pleaded guilty yesterday.

Vadim Shishimarin, 21, a former tank sergeant in the Russian army, pleaded for forgiveness with Kateryna Shelypova, whose husband Oleksandr he killed in the opening days of the war, as she confronted at a Kyiv court.

Shishimarin is facing life in jail after pleading guilty to charges of war crimes and murder for killing Oleksandr, who was shot in the village of Chupakhivka, Sumy region, on February 28 while pushing his bicycle along the road. 

BREAKING: Unknown gunmen attack Anambra community, kill Hausa trader

Gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), has attacked Afor Agulu community in Anambra State.

An eyewitness who exclusively spoke with Tori Media said that the Unknown Gunmen killed an Hausa trader and set a vigilante Hilux van ablaze during the brutal attack.

The witness further told Tori Media that the gunmen threatened to deal with Agulu community severely for supporting Southeast presidency.

Though, other sources which Tori Media could not independently verify, said that over five Hausa traders were murdered in the attack.

When contacted, the state police spox, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the details of the incidents were still sketchy.

This is coming 24 hours after a lawmaker was beheaded by this same ruthless murderers parading as agitators.

Russia cuts gas supplies to Finland after halting electricity supply

Russia has halted its supply of natural gas to Finland, the Finnish state-owned energy firm Gasum has said.

After the EU and US sanctioned Russia over the war, Russia said “unfriendly” countries must pay for gas using the Russian currency, a move the EU considers blackmail.


Finland imports most of its gas from Russia but gas accounts for less than a tenth of the country’s energy consumption and Finland said it will not pay for its supplies in roubles. 


Also, Finland and Sweden early this week applied to join western Transatlantic military alliance, NATO.


On Sunday May 15, Russia cut electricity supplies to Finland after threatening retaliation should Finland apply to join Nato. On Friday May 20, it was confirmed by Finland that its gas supplies have also been stopped.

Gasum said the move was “regrettable” but said there would be no disruption to customers.

“It is highly regrettable that natural gas supplies under our supply contract will now be halted,” said Gasum CEO Mika Wiljanen.


“However, we have been carefully preparing for this situation and provided that there will be no disruptions in the gas transmission network, we will be able to supply all our customers with gas in the coming months,” he added.


Asked about the matter, a Kremlin spokesman told Reuters “it is obvious that nobody is going to deliver anything for free”.

‘It takes madness to rule Nigeria” – Obasanjo

Obasanjo says Kashamu used law and politics to evade justice

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, said Nigeria required a leader driven by passion and ‘madness’ to rule the country and put it on the right track.

Obasanjo said he had no other country he could call his own and had no other country he could go to.

Obasanjo stated this when he played host to a presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, at his penthouse residence in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The former President also played host to Godswill Akpabio who is running for the presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Our correspondent gathered that Hayatu – Deen in the company of his team first arrived at about 12:30 pm and went straight into a closed-door meeting with Obasanjo which lasted for about an hour.

Obasanjo and Hayatu-Deen after the meeting spoke before the newsmen briefly, describing the visit as a friendly one.

It was also gathered that Akpabio arrived at exactly 2:20 pm while the Hayatu Deen team was exiting the Obasanjo’s residence.

Obasanjo, in his remarks, lamented that the current situation in Nigeria was not only agonising for him, but for other Nigerians who also desired a better Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria requires a leader who has a passion, innovation, and vision for Nigeria and some who possess adequate knowledge about the challenges confronting the country.

He insisted that Nigeria can overcome its security challenges within two years with the right leader who would be willing to make tough decisions.

Obasanjo, therefore, urged Nigerians to brace up and be ready to make sacrifices to put the country back on the right path.

He said, “It is an agonising situation for you, obviously, and also for me. I want to emphasise the point that the Nigerian situation, as bad as it is, will only be put right by Nigerians at the forefront of our situation. So, Nigerians have to brace themselves up to do what needs to be done to put Nigeria back on the right path.

“And you are right in saying that, wherever you go now, one of the things you hear is that Nigeria is not on the table, but why shouldn’t Nigeria be on the table? What does it cost Nigeria to be on the table?

“I will say four things, of which I was reminded this morning. One is knowledge. If Nigeria is not at the table, maybe the knowledge that we should have of ourselves, of our situation, of our continent, and indeed of the world is not that adequate, if that knowledge is adequate, we will do what is right, when it is right and how it is right.

“The second is vision, what is the vision that we have? And if you have no vision, you may have eyes, but you are blind. And I believe that is part of our situation.

“The third is passion. And when you said, that you are involved in this, with a passion and I was telling some people this morning that, passion means madness, that you are mad about Nigeria, I am and I have no apologies for that because I have no other country I can call my own and I have no other country I can go to and say yes, I have come to live here.

“Passion means being mad about Nigeria, having a touch of madness, and I look at you (Hayatu-Deen) and say yes, you are mad about Nigeria too.

“Fourth one is innovation. We cannot be doing the same thing that we have done in the past that did not pay us and continue to repeat it and expect any change, we have to move out it, we have to innovate, we have to re-strategise.”

Earlier in his remarks, Hayatu-Deen declared that Nigeria was “decomposing and dissolving very fast”, and there was a need to urgently rescue the country.

Hayatu-Deen, a former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, later met with the PDP delegates at the party secretariat in Abeokuta and sought their support in the forthcoming presidential primaries.

In his remarks, Akpabio said he visited Obasanjo to intimate him of his presidential bid, saying the former president remained “partyless’ and whose elderly advice is required at all times.”

He urged Nigerians to judge him by his records of achievement and not based on religion or ethnicity.

The former minister promised to replicate his “uncommon achievements” in Akwa Ibom State as the governor if elected president.

Source: PUNCH

PSG offers Kylian Mbappe contract flexibility in desperate bid to stop him from joining Real Madrid

PSG have reportedly made a desperate attempt to keep Kylian Mbappe by giving him a £4m per month salary, £100m sign on fee plus the power to hire and fire managers and teammates.

The sensational contract which would give him control of the club’s sporting operations, comes as multiple reports in Spain and France say the 23-year-old is now on the verge of joining Real Madrid for free as his contract with PSG expires in two months time.

According to El Chiringuito TV, PSG have offered to make Mbappe ‘the owner of the project’ from next season, where they will allow him a say in changing the manager and who his team-mates are going forwar.

The publication says this offer would be on top of their reported offer of making him the highest paid player in football, with Sky Sports claiming that the French champions would be willing to give him an eye-watering deal of £4million a month – double his previous salary.”

The report says PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s decision to give Mbappe control of sporting operations would allow him to have his say on Mauricio Pochettino’s future, who has been linked with the exit after their Champions League exit to Real Madrid in the last-16


Sky Sports also claimed that Mbappe would receive a huge signing-on bonus of up to £100m if he re-signed with PSG, including concessions over image rights and any bonuses for on-pitch matters.


Mbappe helped PSG regain the league title, scoring 25 goals and providing 17 assists – topping the charts for both statistics. Overall this season, he has 36 goals and 26 assists.

Flights disrupted as dead man found on Runway 18R of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos

The mangled body of a dead man found on Runway 18R of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, led to international wing of the nation’s flagship airport being shut temporarily on Thursday May 19. 

Identity of the corpse could not be ascertained and it could not be established whether the dead man was knocked down by an aircraft taking off or landing on the runway.

The airport officials told Punch that the runway was temporarily shut down while a team of officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force evacuated the corpse from the runway.

International flights were prevented from landing and taking off from the airport’s international terminal after temporary shutdown of the runway.  

This include Ethiopian Airlines flight 3907, a Boeing 77F aircraft with registration number ETAVN, which was coming from Lome, Togo to Lagos, Nigeria. The flight was later diverted back to Lome after holding for a while.

Airport officials said the corpse was suddenly found on Runway 18R during a routine runway inspection by FAAN personnel.

A top police official at the MMIA who confirmed the development to the publication, said the command was called upon in the early hours of Thursday to evacuate the corpse from Runway 18R. He added that the police are still investigating the identity of the dead man and how he got to the security area of the international airport.

Morocco and Spain reopen land borders again

Morocco and Spain have reopened the land borders between the north African country and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, two years after they were shut due to COVID-19 restrictions and major diplomatic row.

The enclaves on the Mediterranean coast in northern Morocco have the European Union’s only land borders with Africa.

The gates opened shortly after 11:00 pm local time (2200 GMT) on Monday night, letting dozens of cars and queues of pedestrians pass in both directions.

At the Fnideq border post, smiles lit up the faces of the travelers crossing to see their families on the Moroccan side.

“I was stuck for two years in Ceuta, I’m very happy to be back home,” said Nourredine.

“I am happy that Morocco and Spain have restored their relations, it allows us to see our families,” said one man in his sixties.

The reopening of the borders of the two enclaves initially remains limited to residents of Europe’s open-borders Schengen area and their family members.

It will be expanded to cross-border workers after May 31.

The local economies on both sides of the borders depend on the crossing of people and goods.

The Ceuta and Melilla crossings were closed during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

The borders became the focus of a major dispute last year when Madrid allowed the leader of a Western Saharan independence movement to be treated for COVID-19 in a Spanish hospital.

Nigeria plans to reform the ‘creative industry and advertising sector’ soon – Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government says at the conclusion of the on-going reform in the creative industry and advertising sector, the country will earn two billion dollars in advertising within three years.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in Abuja at a technical session of the Task Team on Audience Measurement inaugurated by the government.

Mohammed who said the N400 million the country was currently earning from advertising, was unacceptable reiterated the position of the task team to raise it to two billion dollars within three years.

He said with the conclusion of the reform process, the entire creative industry would never be the same again.

The minister commended the team’s efforts in ushering in a time of great prosperity for the entire creative sector.

“The metrics and data you will be putting together, the Standards of Practice on receipts and payments, the media monitoring service powered by technology for real-time performance evaluation will create transparency and an enabling environment for all to thrive and be prosperous.

“What most, if not all have always asked for is a level playing field in our great country of more than 200 million people, over 500 radio and television channels, with at least 24 million TV households with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa.

“I hear you are also working on a sustainable content development plan to ensure a win-win for Content Creators, Production companies and TV and Radio Broadcasters.

“This is music to my ears and is exactly what Mr President promised when we came into government – Reforms that will touch and improve the lives of the common Nigerian man,’’ he said.

The minister said that the reform process would also unlock the one million job opportunities in the potential of the creative industry.

He assured that the government would assist with required regulations and open the doors for funding donors to make the reform a success.

According to Mohammed, the government will create conducive business environment for all the international advertisers and agencies to rush to do business in the country.

The Chairman of the Task Team, Mr Tolu Ogunkoya thanked the minister for his vision and passion for the industry and for his presence at the technical session.

He assured that the committee would work hard to meet the November target for the completion of the exercise.

Ogunkoya noted that the practitioners including members of the task team would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the reform process.

He said upon successful completion of the project with its multiplier effects on the industry, the name of the minister would be written in gold.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four presentations were made by experts at the technical session on relevant areas of reforms.

Other members of the 15-member Task Team included Obi Asika, Steve Bababeko, Femi Adelusi, Bunmi Adeniba, Jide Ologeh and Yinka Oduniyi.

Others are, Guy Murray-Bruce, Pauline Ehusani, Kadaria Ahmed, Garba Bello-Kankarofi, Ijedi Iyoha, Sa’a Ibrahim and Joe Mutah who is the Secretary.

Alert! Monkeypox found in several cities as health workers struggle to find its source

UK health authorities have confirmed two more monkeypox infections as health chiefs scramble to find the source of the outbreak.

The patients are said to be Britons who live in London and the South East, and have no links to other cases or travelled to hotspots.

That brings the total of the latest outbreak, which began on May 6, to nine. It’s understood that most patients are either gay or bisexual men and officials say the pattern of transmission is “highly suggestive of spread in sexual networks”.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the two latest cases may have acquired the virus though community transmission.

Health authorities say the virus spreads through close contact and are advising people to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions on their body, especially on their genitalia, and to seek medical assistance if they have concerns.

Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.

A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body including the genitals.

The rash changes and goes through different stages, and can look like chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.

Boko Haram and other terrorists have moved to Kaduna – El-Rufai cries out

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has confirmed the emergence of Boko Haram and Ansaru enclaves in Birnin Gwari and Chukun local government areas of the state.

El-Rufai made the disclosure after the presentation of the first quarter security report covering January 1st to March 31st 2022, which took place at the Council Chambers of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Thursday, May 19. 

The presentation was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, senior government officials, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, Chairmen of Local Government Councils, Heads of Security Agencies in the state as well as traditional rulers. 

According to the governor, the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the state suggests that terrorists have moved into the state.

“So, this is not only a very dangerous situation we found ourselves in. But the entire Northwest is facing a very serious threat. That’s the reason I have been drumming for theatre command in the zone and also the need to take some punitive actions against the terrorists,” he said. 

The governor disclosed that the debriefing of the first Abuja-Kaduna train kidnap victim to be released indicated that the terrorists were making comments like “the forests in Kaduna are even better than that of Sambisa and so they should all relocate here”

He also revealed that two recruited Ansaru members from Giwa local government recently posted their pictures on social media and were pleading with their friends to join the group. 

El-Rufai said the government was in possession of a video where the group was seen celebrating the Eid-el-Fitr in Birnin Gwari local government area.

“The problem of insecurity now has moved from the North East to the North West. The situation in the North West is far more serious and could be potentially more dangerous than we have ever had in the North East,” he stated. 

“And we would like the military and security agencies to take notice of this before it goes out of control,” he warned.

The governor also drew attention to the use of IEDs and mines in the state recently, adding that “we have been lucky and thanks to the police, we have been able to defuse many of the IEDs without loss of lives.”

“It shows a movement from banditry to terrorism with expertise in making explosive devices. And again this is because Boko Haram and Ansaru elements have moved into the state.” he added. 

El-Rufai also called on the security council to look into the possibility of clearing the three dangerous towns of Katari, Rijana and Akilibu all of situated have become safe havens for the terrorists.

“Why is it that most attacks or kidnappings occur in these towns. I think something is wrong somewhere.” 

He also expressed worries that elections might not hold in four local government areas of the state if the security situations did not improve in those areas.

Earlier, the state commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan had said that 360 people were killed, while 1,389 persons were kidnapped within the period under review across the state.

Weird Man trafficked his wife to Mali for prostitution and sold her baby for N600K

A 36 years old man Kingsley Essien has been arrested by men of Ogun state police command for allegedly trafficking his wife to Mali for prostitution and subsequently selling her 2-year-old son at the rate of N600,000.


A statement released by DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, spokesperson of the state polie command, says the suspect was arrested following the report lodged at Agbara divisional headquarters by his wife, Bright Essien, who reported that sometime in October 2021, her husband, Kingsley Essien, informed her that he had secured a job for her in Bamako Mali, and that he has assisted many people to that country for greener pastures before.

”She explained further that being her husband, she didn’t suspect any foul play until she got to Mali only to discover that she has been sold to human trafficker cartel headed by a woman at the rate of One million four hundred thousand naira. While in Mali, she was forced into prostitution, but later found her way to Nigeria embassy in Bamako where she was assisted back to Nigeria.


On getting to Nigeria, she discovered that her two years old son in care of her husband is nowhere to be found.


Upon the report, the DPO Agbara division, SP Abiodun Salau detailed his detectives to go after the suspect, and he was eventually arrested.”Oyeyemi said


The PRO added that on interrogation, the suspect confessed to the committing the crime and said he sold the two year old son to somebody at the rate of six hundred thousand naira.


Oyeyemi added that the commissioner of police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the transfer of the suspect to anti human trafficking and child labour unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.

He equally ordered that the buyer of the son must be traced and arrested in order to recover the stolen child.

Woman quits job to take care of her sick dog diagnosed with paralysis and dementia

A woman has quit her job so she can spend time with her terminally ill dog. 

Megan Marshall aged 31, wants to dedicate herself to her pet Labrador, Sasha in order to make her final days on earth as special as possible. 

Marshall says she has spent the past 15 years with the dog after welcoming the puppy into her life when she was just a puppy.

Sasha now 16 years old, has been diagnosed with dementia as well as numerous health problems which will make the dog unable to walk and completely paralysed.


‘I was running a [dog walking] business which made me struggle mentally and Sasha’s health was getting increasingly worse,’ Megan from Reading, UK said.


‘I was finding it so hard to juggle the two, so I closed my business and decided to work on myself and give her the time she needs, and then the bucket list popped into my head.


‘Even though she’s always had her own health battles, one of which being a degenerative condition which affects her hind legs, Sasha has always been my rock through my own battles.


‘It’s me and Sasha against the world type of thing so I just felt that I wanted to give her back what she’s given to me whilst I had the chance.’

 
Megan says she has already completed much of her bucket list, including visiting the beach, getting an ice cream from an ice cream van, entering a dog show, enjoying a steak dinner and having a birthday party and sleepover with her dog friends.


But with Sasha’s death approaching, Megan is keen to tick off the remaining items, including going to Windsor Castle, visiting the butchers and going to a school to meet the kids.

Megan said: ‘Knowing we’ve done these things certainly will help make the bad days seem a little easier.


‘I know losing her is going to be a big struggle for me so it kind of gives me a feeling that we did everything I could. I know she was so happy.’

Kano explosion: Kano Police lied – resident insists

A resident of Kano, who identified himself as Mr. Emmanuel Orakwe, has disclaimed the report making rounds that the explosion which took place at Aba Road in Kano on Tuesday was from a gas cylinder.

It could be recalled that News Band reported how an explosion had hit a school at Badawa Layout in the Sabon Gari area of Kano with school children as casualties.

The Kano State Police Commissioner, Sama’ila Dikko, while confirming the incident, said that the blast was from gas cylinder explosion and not a bomb explosion as generally reported.

The force of the explosion at the base of the building had brought down the whole building accommodating a school leading to casualties.

Police Commissioner Dikko, who visited the scene of the explosion and spoke with BBC Hausa, stressed that it was a gas cylinder explosion and not a bomb blast, that affected a primary school with several casualties recorded.

He notified the general public in Kano that the reported loud explosion at Badawa Layout is as a result of cooking gas explosion at a building, and not a security threat.

He assured that security agencies, particularly the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) were on ground and there is no cause for panic.

Reacting, Mr. Orakwe stated that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber who drove in with a Honda car and detonated the bomb.

According to Orakwe, the blast caused extensive damages and caused the death of over a dozen kids in the area dominated by Igbo business men.

Other eyewitnesses confirmed that they saw a suicide bomber who detonated explosives  that brought down the building and left devastation in its wake.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Barcelona retires from football

Barcelona striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his retirement from international football.

The 32-year-old played 72 times for Gabon and is their all-time leading scorer with 30 goals. 

“After 13 years of pride in representing my country, I announce that I am ending my international career,” the 32-year-old wrote in an open letter to Gabon fans.

“I would like to thank the Gabonese people and all those who have supported me in the good like the bad times.

“I will keep a lot of good memories like the day I made my debut at romnisports, or the day I came back from Nigeria with the African Ballon d’Or.

“Sharing it with all the people was an unforgettable moment. I thank our President, his Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba who has always supported the Panthers and has always worked for football to evolve in our country.

“I would also like to thank all my coaches, staff and the players that I have come across during this career.

“Finally, I thank my father who gave me the desire to do like him, hoping to have made him proud by wearing our colours.”

Gabon’s Football Federation said it received a letter from Aubameyang on Tuesday May 17, informing it of his decision to retire. 

Having represented France at the youth level, the former Arsenal striker switched allegiances for senior football and became the country’s record scorer, finding the net 30 times in 72 appearances since his first cap in 2009.

‘Sit-at-home’ enforcers are criminals – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stated that those enforcing sit-at-home in South East are criminals and not working towards the Biafra agenda.
 

The statement by IPOB comes after 6 suspects were killed by the Joint Task Force on Monday May 16, while attempting to attack the palace of the Imo State chairman Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Emmanuel Okeke.


IPOB in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful on Wednesday, May 18, denied the suspects saying they weren’t IPOB or Eastern Security Network (ESN) members because ”the aim of the criminals and their sponsors was to kill the youths and depopulate Igbo land.”

 

Read the statement below…

“We wish to remind them that those they killed in iheoma and Amaifeke in Orlu were not IPOB members or ESN operatives because IPOB volunteers don’t enforce non-existent Monday sit-at-home.

“It’s not in doubt that IPOB issued Monday sit-at-home order to solidarise with our Leader but upon pleas by our mothers and elders based on its adverse effects on the economy of our people, we quickly rescinded it. Anyone still enforcing Monday sit-at-home is not a genuine IPOB member but a dissident , and doesn’t deserve any mercy.


“We have severally threatened to deal with these dissidents giving us bad name. So, we even commend security agencies for dealing with such hoodlums in the manner they deserve because of their stubbornness. IPOB is a disciplined and responsible movement. We don’t know where such hoodlums are coming from and what agenda they are pursuing but certainly not Biafra agenda.


“We, therefore, ask the security agencies to stop referring to such dissidents as IPOB members because they don’t belong to us. The security agencies should stop associating us with criminals that have no connections whatsoever with IPOB. We equally advise them to be professional in dealing with such characters so that innocent citizens are not caught in the crossfire.


“It should be noted that IPOB volunteers are not in the market or streets; they know their duty posts – in the bushes and forests of Biafraland protecting our farmlands from the Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in our territory.


“It’s unfortunate that the Nigeria security agencies are turning the truth upside down because they want the public to believe they are working hard while in reality they are pursuing an Islamist agenda. They kill innocent citizens on the streets and tag them IPOB members and ESN operatives.


“Nigeria army should leave the people of Orlu in peace and allow them go about their daily business and focus on the terrorists and bandits in the North where killings are the order of the day.” Powerful stated.


He urged stakeholders in the South East Region to come together and fight “this criminals trying to blackmail and demonise IPOB. We don’t know them and have absolutely nothing to do with them.


“These criminals are kidnapping, snatching cars and killing innocent citizens claiming they are IPOB and ESN members while they are not. They deserve no mercy. They are not worthy to live. Whoever is sponsoring them should be brought to book.” He said.

Trevor Noah and Minka Kelly broke up?

South African comedian, Trevor Noah and actress Minka Kelly have reportedly broken up after almost two years of dating.

The couple was first linked in 2020, with an insider telling People at the time that, “They’re very happy. It’s a very serious relationship.”

However on Wednesday May 18, PEOPLE reported that Trevor, 38, and Minka, 41, have called it quits.

“Minka is single now,” a source confirmed to People on Wednesday, adding that she has had “the best attitude” regarding the split. “She is very happy. She’d rather be single than waste her time with the wrong guy,” their source continued.

Another source close to both Kelly, 41, and Noah, 38, confirmed to the publication, “They have been broken up for a while.”

21-year-Russian Soldier, pleads guilty to war crimes in Ukraine

A Russian soldier has pleaded guilty to charges of war crimes after he became the first to go on trial in Ukraine over President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin, 21, answered ‘yes’ when asked by a judge in Kyiv today whether he was guilty of shooting a 62-year-old man in the head in the village of Chupakhivka during the first week of the war. 

He now faces life in prison under penalties spelled out in the section of the Ukrainian criminal code that addresses the laws and customs of war.

Shishimarin admitted to killing the civilian with a Kalashnikov rifle as he fled with four other soldiers in a stolen car in a village in the Sumy region on February 28, just days after Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine on February 24.

The man was pushing a bicycle by the side of the road when he was shot in the head and ‘died on the spot a few dozen metres from his home’, the Ukrainian prosecutor general said during the opening phase of the trial last week.

Prosecutors said Shishimarin was ordered by a superior ‘to kill a civilian so he would not report them to Ukrainian defenders.’

Iryna Venediktova, the prosecutor general, said: ‘Shishimarin is actually physically in Ukraine. We are starting a trial not in absentia but rather directly with the person who killed a civilian, and this is a war crime.’

In a video shared by the Security Service of Ukraine on May 4, Shishimarin described how he shot the man. 

The SBU described the video as ‘one of the first confessions of the enemy invaders.’

‘I was ordered to shoot,’ said Shyshimarin, wearing a blue and grey hooded sweatshirt. ‘I shot one (round) at him. He falls. And we kept on going.’

He was captured when his column was surrounded while they tried to return wounded soldiers to Russia. The footage then shows Shishimarin calling his father, saying: ‘They treat us well here.’

The father then tells Zolkin: ‘He is just a soldier. I don’t think he knew where he was going. You say he invaded, and we are told that they were defending the country. He didn’t know. He was told to. You hear one thing and we another.’ 

The clip ends with Shishimarin urging fellow Russians not to join the war effort and protest instead.

Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russian troops of committing atrocities since the invasion began on February 24. There are also allegations of mass rape, torture and execution being carried out by Putin’s forces while the occupied Ukrainian towns in the Kyiv region.

Europe plans to spend $221 billion to ditch Russian energy supplies 

The European Union has unveiled a €210 billion ($221 billion) plan to completely shed itself off Russian oil, coal and gas.
 

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the EU has sought to reduce its dependence on Russia’s vast energy exports which has helped fund Vladimir Putin’s military in its war against Ukraine. The EU agreed to ban Russian coal starting in August, and by last month had cut Russia’s share of EU natural gas imports to 26% from 40% last year.


But a lot of European countries are dependent on Russian energy, with Hungary and Germany saying plans to wean itself of Russian energy could destabilize their economy greatly.


Now the EU has unveiled a plan aiming to quickly ramp up imports of liquefied natural gas from the United States and Canada, and increase flows of pipeline gas from Norway while also setting up a platform to enable countries to jointly purchase energy, with the aim of helping to bring down rocketing prices.


Presenting its “REPowerEU” plan on Wednesday, May 18, the European Commission said it would attempt to slash consumption of Russian gas across the bloc by 66% by the end of this year — and break its dependence completely before 2027 by saving energy, finding alternate sources and speeding up the transition to renewables.
 

“We are taking our ambition yet to another level to make sure that we become independent of Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a Wednesday press briefing.

“When Europe acts together, it has more clout,” von der Leyen said of the joint procurement program. “This way we can secure energy imports we need without the competition between our member states.”


The plan also emphasizes energy-saving tactics as the “quickest and cheapest way” to address the crisis. Europe will encourage citizens and businesses to curtail their energy use — such as by switching off lights and using less air conditioning /
 

Going forward the European Union will lift its target of having at least 40% of its energy coming from renewable sources to 45%. The bloc plans to dramatically cut down the amount of time it takes to get permits for new renewable energy projects.
 

Much of the €210 billion ($221 billion) in new investments envisaged between now and 2027 would be financed by drawing on the EU coronavirus recovery fund.

The plan would require approval by EU member states — while others are recommendations.


The EU leader also said EU countries are working on an oil embargo for landlocked states that rely heavily on Russian oil delivered via pipelines to find alternate supplies.
 

Hungary — which got about 40% of its oil imports from Russia last year, according to the International Energy Agency has so far said it wont support such a move agaisnt Russian energy.


Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, is particularly reliant on Russia’s gas, but has managed to cut Russia’s share of its imports from 55% to 35% since the invasion, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said last month.

As June 1, No Okada riders in six local government areas – Lagos State Govt.

The Lagos state government has placed a total ban on the operations of commercial motorcyclists aka Okada riders in six local government areas in the state.

At a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, DPOs, and Area Commanders today May 18, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the total ban will take effect June 1 in the following local government areas – Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Apapa, and Lagos Island.
 

He said local government areas that fail to abide by the ban will be punished.

This order comes days after a mob killed a sound engineer, David Imoh, who allegedly came out to settle a dispute between an Okada Rider and his two colleagues over N100 change in Lekki Phase 1.

Listen to the Governor announcing the total ban below…

Half of President Joe Biden’s 22M Twitter followers are bots – Report reveals

Nearly half of President Joe Biden’s 22.3 million Twitter followers are fake,  a new report revealed on Wednesday, May 18.

The report comes as the world’s richest man,  Elon Musk said he had halted the $44 billion purchase of the social media platform over concerns about the amount of bots active on the site.


Non-authentic Twitter accounts, known  as bots, operate to mimic human interaction on the platform in order to achieve a specific goal. 


Some bots are used for spreading misinformation online or scamming people out of money, and according to a new analysis by Spark Toro, nearly  11 million followers of the US president’s official Twitter handle, @POTUS, are either bots or inactive accounts, while 42.4 % of Trump’s archived presidential account, @POTUS45, is fake.

Spark Toro’s metric takes into account ‘accounts that are unreachable and will not see the account’s tweets (either because they’re spam, bots, propaganda, etc. or because they’re no longer active on Twitter and its findings put 49.3 percent of Biden’s total followers on his White House account as fake or non-human.

Twitter


The report says it could not carry out an audit of ex-President Donald Trump’s  suspended account, @realdonaldtrump because it’s suspended.
 
Twitter has about 229 million daily users, according to the company’s own data. The platform has long held that no more than five percent of its accounts are bots or spam.


But Musk challenged that assertion on Tuesday, May 17, claiming as many as 20 percent of Twitter accounts are inauthentic and accusing CEO Parag Agrawal of refusing to show proof of the company’s five percent claim.

‘My offer was based on Twitter’s SEC filings being accurate. Yesterday, Twitter’s CEO publicly refused to show proof of <5%,’ Musk wrote on Twitter.


He threatened: ‘This deal cannot move forward until he does.’


On Wednesday, Elon Musk blasted US President Joe Biden at a conference in Miami, saying he will be voting for a Republican in 2024


He also suggested Twitter was lying about its claim that less than 5 percent of users are bots.


‘I have voted overwhelmingly for Democrats historically. I might never have voted for a Republican, just to be clear,’ he said. ‘Now this election, I will.’


‘You can’t pay the same price for something that is much worse than they claimed,’ Musk told the Miami summit.


Asked if the deal is viable at a different price, Musk said, ‘I mean, it is not out of the question. The more questions I ask, the more my concerns grow.’


Twitter share prices fell by 8.2 percent after Musk’s comments.


Market analysts believe his statements could be an attempt by Musk to try to lower the price or pull out of the deal.


In response, Twitter has rubbished reports that Musk might pull out of the mega $44b takeover deal saying they had filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC that they intend the deal to go ahead at the agreed price of $54.20.


The company submitted the document, which updates the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about important changes ahead of shareholder meetings, saying they were committed to completing the deal at the agreed price and terms ‘as promptly as practicable.’


One of the terms in the deal with Musk also includes a billion-dollar breakup clause for Musk if he chooses to walk away from the deal. 

Breaking! Fire guts Igbo traders’ shops in Abuja again (video)

Many people have been reportedly killed and shops belonging to Igbo traders were set ablaze during a clash between traders and commercial motorcyclists at Dei Dei market in Abuja.

The fight reportedly started following an accident that led to the death of an Igbo woman.

According to reports, the woman was a passenger on a commercial motorcycle when she was crushed by a truck, allegedly due to the recklessness of the motorcyclist carrying her.

The woman died while being rushed to the hospital and this caused traders in the area to go after the motorcyclist carrying her when the accident occured.

The man’s motorcycle was set ablaze when they caught up with him.

This led to a reprisal attack from motorcyclists in the area.

Breaking! Fire guts Igbo traders' shops in Abuja again (video)

They blocked the expressway, attacked motorists, and burnt the shops and cars of the traders who sell building materials at the Dei Dei International Timber Market.

Goods worth billions were reportedly destroyed in the fire.

Breaking! Fire guts Igbo traders' shops in Abuja again (video)
Breaking! Fire guts Igbo traders' shops in Abuja again (video)
Breaking! Fire guts Igbo traders' shops in Abuja again (video)
Breaking! Fire guts Igbo traders' shops in Abuja again (video)

Videos from the scene show businessmen lamenting the destruction of their goods and properties.

Watch the videos below.

 

Russia intends to leave WHO soon

The Russian government is planning to leave the WHO and World Trade Organisation as Putin continues to isolate his nation from the West following the invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow’s Foreign Ministry yesterday sent a list of international organisations to parliament, with orders to review it and break ‘obligations [or] treaties which do not bring benefit, but direct damage to our country,’ deputy speaker Pyotr Tolstoy said.

The World Health Organisation and World Trade Organisation are among names on the list, Russian news agencies reported.

It comes after Western countries cut off large parts of the Russian economy from the global trade via sanctions, with hundreds of western businesses pulling out of the country to protest the war.

WHO member states have already tried to force the health body into taking action over the invasion.

Last week, they voted in favour of a non-binding resolution condemning Russian attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities, and the effect of the war on public health.

The same resolution also called on WHO chiefs to consider closing their office in Moscow and relocating it outside the country.

Russia condemned the resolution as ‘exclusively political in nature’ and said it had no bearing on healthcare provision in either country.

Plans to withdraw from the WTO have been tabled in Moscow many times before. Russia only joined the global body in 2012 after 19 years of negotiations.

‘No plans to shutdown Facebook in Nigeria’ – Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohamed

Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the federal government has no intention to ban Facebook for allegedly allowing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) make inciting comments on the platform. 

The Minister said this while addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday May 18. 

Lai noted that the federal government had a fruitful discussion with a team from the social media platform on Tuesday May 17. 

He said;

 “I had a very fruitful meeting with Facebook yesterday (Tuesday). At that meeting, we expressed our displeasure that Facebook was becoming a power of choice for those who stay outside Nigeria, in particular, to incite violence, killings, burning of government properties, killing of soldiers and policemen.

“And that they should do more than what they are doing now in looking at the contents, which are unwholesome, which are being used on their platforms.

“Incidentally, the BBC did a documentary on this particular issue and found out that some of them who call themselves social media warriors in England, in France and other places, have in recent times, be using the Facebook platform to incite violence in Nigeria. And we’ve all seen the real life impact of those war mongering, the young couple who are going to marry, soldiers who were gruesomely murdered.

“Over this weekend in Anambra state police men were killed, military barracks were attacked. And we we did warn Facebook to please do more than what they are doing now. And I must say that their response was quite encouraging. They said you’re going to do much more.”

When asked to specifically confirm if there’s a plan to ban Facebook, Lai responded by saying; 

“I think I gave you an answer. We had a very robust discussion with Facebook. Facebook saw our point and they said they’re going to do much more than what they are doing. So if they do that, why would we ban them?

“We don’t ban for banning sake. We ban or we only suspend operations if for any reason, lives are threatened and they do not listen. But this is of engagement.”

School teacher caught by her husband kn@cking a student hard

A Pennsylvania, US high school teacher was caught by her husband, having affair with a teenage girl.

Police said Olivia Ortz, 26, had a relationship with a 17-year-old girl who attended Wilmington High School, the New Castle News reported.


Olivia Ortz was the music and choir teacher at the school about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh and Cody Ortz, her husband discovered the relationship after a group music trip to Florida in April and immediately reported it.


According to the NewCastle News, Police said Olivia Ortz’s relationship with the teen girl began in March and lasted till May even after her husband found out. Police said Olivia Ortz and the teen met for physical sexual encounters several times while Cody Ortz was not home.


As an employee of a high school, Cody Ortz was required to report any sexual exploitation, abuse, or misconduct if he suspected it. Immediately after her husband reported Olivia Ortz she was suspended from the job. She later resigned.


Officers searched the Ortzes’ home May 5 and seized Olivia’s iPad and cellphone, Youngstown NBC affiliate WFMJ reported. Despite the seizure, Ortz and the teenager continued communicating using Spotify’s messaging platform, according to Police.


The 17-year-old teen told police that she went to Ortz’s home after her husband found out but only to “comfort”.


Olivia Ortz has been charged with two counts of intercourse/sexual contact with a school student and one count of unlawful contact with a minor for sexual offenses, according to the NewCastle News. 


However, she didn’t immediately turn herself in, even singing in a concert on Sunday prior to her arrest on Monday, May 16. She has been released from jail after posting $150,000 bail 

Paul Pogba gets a 3-year deal at Juventus

Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba has reportedly been offered a three year deal by Juventus.


Pogba joined United in 2016 for £80m from Juventus in a then club record deal, things have not gone as much as planned and the player is set to leave the club with just two months left on his current deal.


According to Goal, Pogba’s return to the Allianz Stadium looks close even though his wage demands remain a potential stumbling block.


A return to Juventus, where he previously played before returning to United for a second spell in 2016, looks to be one of the likely options for his future and now the Italian giants have tabled an official offer to the player.

The publication stated that Juventus would pay Pogba an annual salary of €7.5 million (£6.3m/$7.9m), that would come with a roster of bonuses for the midfielder.

However, Pogba has reportedly asked for €11 million (£9.3m/$11.6m), leaving a stumbling block between player and club on final wage packets

JUST IN: Nigeria Govt. amends charges against Nnamdi Kanu 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has amended the treasonable felony charges slammed against leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu

Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s Special Counsel, said one of the seven-count charges was removed.

While speaking with DAILY POST on Wednesday, Ejimakor said, “The Federal Government just amended the charges against Nnamdi Kanu now, they removed one, you know it was seven, but they removed one, and now it’s six.

“We are in court waiting for the judge’s arrival, and Kanu himself is yet to arrive.”

Trial Justice Binta Nyako had, on April 8, struck out eight out of the 15-count treasonable felony charge FG preferred against Kanu.

A few weeks ago, Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court had struck out eight of the 15 count charges against Kanu.

Justice Nyako struck out counts 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12,13 and 14 of the charges.

She, however, allowed counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15.

Meanwhile, the embattled leader of IPOB would appear before Justice Nyako today for a hearing regarding his bail application

‘Europe will pay a high price for Russian oil embargo’ – Vladmir Putin

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin has warned Europe that the continent will pay a high price for energy if the West imposes an embargo on Russian oil.


EU members are negotiating a proposed oil embargo on Russia over Ukraine, but talks failed this week because of a veto from Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russian oil imports.


Putin said talk of a possible embargo had already prompted a rise in global oil prices.

Speaking with Russian oil chiefs and government officials, in a televised address on Tuesday, May 17, about the impact of Western sanctions on the energy industry, Putin claimed the sanctions, which were introduced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, had been established by the West for political reasons.


But he concluded it would be impossible for some European countries, which are heavily reliant on energy from Russia, to completely shun Russian oil.


“Of course, such an economic suicide is a domestic affair of the European countries,” Putin said.


“Obviously, some EU states, in whose energy balance the share of Russian hydrocarbons is especially high, will not be able to do this for a long time, to ditch our oil,” Putin said.

‘Europe will pay the price’ .


He said that by abandoning Russian energy supplies, Europe risked paying the most expensive energy prices in the world long-term, while the competitiveness of its industry would be undermined.


“There are tectonic changes on the oil market, and making business as it had been done before, in line with the old model, looks unlikely,” Putin said, adding that it was important to set up a complete chain from producer to end-buyer.

“In the new conditions, it is important not only to extract oil, but also to build the entire vertical chain leading to the final consumer’

‘why I abused drugs and alcohol’ – Bobby Brown

Bobby Brown has revealed a Catholic priest allegedly tried to molest him at age 10, and he believes the trauma was one of the reasons he abused drugs and alcohol. 

The 53-year-old American R&B singer, who claims he hasn’t touched a narcotic in 20 years, was sent to a religious facility by social services after witnessing his mother Carole being beaten and arrested by police.

‘It wasn’t a very nice place to be for a child,’ Bobby recalled in his upcoming A&E Biography docuseries.

‘One of the priests tried to molest me. He tried to touch my private parts…At that time, I was a young boy. I didn’t know what sexual boundaries were. I just knew I didn’t like being touched. Some things are hard to forget.’

‘I had tucked it down so deep into my soul that I didn’t think that I would talk about it again,’ the My Prerogative hitmaker told People on Tuesday.

‘But talking about it really helped me get through a lot of other things that had been bothering me, especially that. That really, really bothered me as a child. And as a grown adult, I think it was part of the reason I did things, other things – drugs, alcohol, why I abused myself. But being able to talk about it and get it out helps a lot.’

Brown wants to be a good example to his three children – son Cassius, nearly 13; daughter Bodhi, 6; and daughter Hendrix, 5 – with his manager-turned-second wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown.

Bobby Brown

‘We look at our children now going, “Wow! He was Cassius’ age when he saw that, witnessed that, had to endure that,”‘ the biracial 46-year-old marveled.

‘And so, yeah, that perspective is interesting as well.’

The Masked Singer Crab’s new docuseries covers his turbulent 14-year marriage to the late, great R&B belter Whitney Houston.

Bobby Brown

Bobby insists the seven-time Grammy winner – who passed away, age 48, from an accidental overdose in 2012 – would be alive today had they not divorced in 2007.  Three years later, Brown and Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina died, age 22, in an eerily similar way (unconscious in the bath) following a six-month medically-induced coma.

Bobby Brown

In 2020, the Crank Yankers guest star’s son Bobby Jr. was found dead, age 28, in his LA apartment after an overdose of alcohol, cocaine, and fentanyl.

‘I always see them at beaches or in fields,’ Bobby said. ‘They’re running away, but they’re laughing. And they’re always together. I didn’t have many dreams about Bobbi Kris before Bobby Jr. died. But then all of a sudden – floods of dreams…That’s enough for a father to feel like God has them.’

Brown still has two older children – son Landon, 35; and daughter La’Princia, 31 – from his relationships with Melika Williams and Kim Ward.

Bobby Brown

Kylian Mbappe may join Real Madrid soon

PSG star, Kylian Mbappe has agreed terms with Real Madrid, and will be announced as a new signing of the club after the Champions League final next week between Liverpool and Real Madrid, according to new reports


With only one month left to run on his current contract with PSG, the World Cup winner insisted that he will wait until the end of the season before talking about his future, but Madrid have now secured his services on a free transfer.

A new report by GOAL on Tuesday, May 17 says Madrid have reached an agreement with Mbappe after four months of negotiations, with only a few small details left to finalise before a deal can be announced.

The publication stated that even if Mbappe does announce his exit from PSG in the coming days, Madrid are not planning to make his transfer to the Bernabeu public until after the Champions League final.

“Mbappe’s arrival at Madrid will likely be confirmed at the start of June and his official unveiling at the Bernabeu will be delayed until after he returns from international duty with France on June 13.” it said

Kylian Mbappe may join Real Madrid soon

Gas Explosion kills 9 person in Sabon Gari, Kano State

At least nine persons have been confirmed dead in a suspected gas explosion that occurred in Sabon Gari area of Kano State. 

The blast which occurred on Tuesday morning at a building located at No. 01, Aba/Court Road, opposite Winners Kids Academy, affected some buildings and left several people injured, including school children.

The National Ergency Management Agency(NEMA) in a statement said nine corpses were recovered from the scene of the explosion.

NEMA’s spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, said the Director-General, Mustapha Habib, who visited the scene of the explosion, coordinated the rescue operations.

“Nine dead bodies have been recovered so far from the rubbles of a collapsed building beside a primary school following explosions from a gas cylinder at Aba Road in Sabon Gari area of Kano. Director-General National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, was at the site of the incident and coordinated the rescue operations,” the statement read. 

“He mobilised excavators being used for the rescue operations and said NEMA team will ensure complete removal of the rubbles to retrieve all trapped persons.

“Furthermore, the DG instructed the NEMA rescue team to remain at the site until the conclusion of the rescue and to work together with security agencies and other response organisations present at the location. 

“NEMA is presently coordinating the rescue operations involving members, Nigerian Red Cross, military, the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Kano SEMA.” 

Kano explosion: Death toll rises to nine

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Samaila Dikko, had earlier confirmed that it was a gas explosion and not bomb as widely reported on social media. 

A statement issued by spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said “preliminary Forensic Analysis revealed a suspected Gas Cylinder Explosion with the recovery of chemicals”

“Scene of the suspected explosion that led to a building collapse was cordoned up and four victims (3 Males and 1 Female) including a Wielder, named Mr. Ejike Vincent were removed and rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, where a Medical Doctor certified them dead,” the PPRO added. 

Meanwhile, the Kano State Government in a statement clarified that the explosion did not occur in schools. 

The state commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba said the incident happened at an animal feed store opposite the school along Aba Road, Sabon Gari area of Fagge local government.

He said while the cause of the explosion and the damage it had done is yet to be officially ascertained, investigation has since commenced to determine the cause, impact and measures to be taken.

Malam Garba called on the people in the state  particularly those living in the area where the incident occured to remain calm while government in collaboration with relevant agencies are working on the matter.

The commissioner assured that government would keep the public abreast on any development and warned people to desist from spreading unsubstantiated news.

Kano explosion: Death toll rises to nine

Black box on China Eastern flight shows that pilot intentionally crashed the plane

The China Eastern plane that crashed into a mountainside in March 2022, killing 132 people, appears to have been an intentional act, according to a report on Tuesday, May 17.

Flight data from the doomed plane suggests someone in the cockpit pushed the Boeing 737-800 into a “near-vertical” descent while cruising at a high altitude on March 21, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with US officials’ preliminary assessment.

Data from a black box recovered at the crash site near the city of Wuzhou in the southern province of Guangxi indicated that controls in the cockpit led the plane into its deadly dive, sources told the newspaper.

China Eastern passenger jet crash

“The plane did what it was told to do by someone in the cockpit,” one source close to the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

China Eastern passenger jet crash

Chinese authorities have yet to cite mechanical or flight control issues in the March 21 crash that killed everyone onboard, the source added.

The revelation has led US officials involved in the investigation to shift their focus to the actions of a pilot, but it’s also possible that someone else on the plane stormed into the cockpit and caused the crash, sources told the newspaper.

Young tourist falls to her death after as she took selfie on slippery waterfall

A young woman fell 50ft to her death after she slipped on a mossy surface whilst posing for a selfie at a waterfall beauty spot in Thailand.

Nane-Iosana Bodea was on a trip with friends at the tourist hotspot, Na Muang waterfall on Koh Samui island.

The 23-year-old, from Romania, had been swimming in a pond near the waterfall’s edge. She then decided to take a picture of the view and fell on a wet patch before dropping down the rocks in front of traumatised onlookers.

Her friend Manuel Opancar, 22, from Austria, told how they had walked to the top of the “steep and dangerous” waterfall before the disaster unfolded.

Manuel and others in the group ran to the bottom of the rock in an attempt to save her while someone called Samui Island police for help.

Medics battled to save Nane-Iosan’s life but she sadly died at the scene.

Young tourist falls to her death after as she took selfie on slippery waterfall

The waterfall is known for its danger and Thai authorities regularly warn tourists to be careful after tragedies in previous years. There have been three deaths at the waterfall since 2019.

Racist Attack! Buffalo market mass shooter wrote racist messages on weapon used(photos)

Payton Gendron, the young man responsible for killing 10 people at a Buffalo grocery store had hateful messages on the gun he used in the attack. 

On Saturday afternoon, May 14, Payton drove more than three hours from his hometown of Conklin in New York State, to the Tops Friendly Market in a Black neighborhood in Buffalo, near Niagara Falls. Dressed in combat gear, a helmet, and wearing a camera, he carried a semi-automatic weapon, engraved with the number “14”, used in supremacist circles as shorthand for the fourteen-word maxim “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”

According to Buffalo News, the 18-year-old parked his parents’ car, and at around 2:30 p.m. on the warm spring day, he began shooting near the parking lot, killing three before entering the store and live-streaming the mass shooting on Twitch. The supermarket’s security guard, Aaron Salter, a 55-year-old retired police officer, returned fire multiple times, but Payton Gendron wore a bulletproof vest and killed the guard first.

Payton Gendron shot a total of ten people dead, including six store employees, and injured three others. Eleven of the victims were Black, according to Buffalo Police Chief Joseph Gramaglia. The killer then exited the store. Two police officers were there, yelling at him to drop his gun. They did not fire. He complied and the police arrested him.

The suspect was subsequently charged with murder and placed in jail without bail. He has pleaded not guilty. As New York State has abolished the death penalty, he faces life imprisonment. Authorities have ordered a psychiatric examination as the country reels from the shock of the racist killing. 

It has now been revealed that the black Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle had racist language — “N****” on its’ barrel, “Here’s your reparations,” “Dylan Roof,” “John Earnest” and “SYGAOWN.”

“SYGAOWN” is an acronym for “Stop Your Genocide Against Our White Nations.” As you probably know, Dylan Roof is the man who killed 9 black worshipers at a South Carolina Church. Earnest killed one woman and shot 3 others in 2019 at a synagogue in San Diego.

Payton Gendron

He also wrote a manifesto that laid out specific plans to attack Black people and repeatedly cited the “great replacement” theory, the false idea that a cabal is attempting to replace white Americans with nonwhite people through immigration, and interracial marriage, and, eventually, violence.

The manifesto, which appears to have been written by 18-year-old Payton Gendron, included a shared birth date and biographical details with the suspect in custody. The PDF was originally posted to Google Docs at 8:55 p.m. Thursday, two days before the shooting, according to file data accessed by NBC News.

Di Maria will join Jeventus on one-year contract on free transfer

Angel Di Maria is set to make a move to Juventus on a free transfer, according to Football Italia sources.

The Argentina winger’s contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the season and he is expected to leave the club after seven seasons in France.

Juve have been heavily linked with a move for Di Maria and Football Italia has revealed a deal is close.

Di Maria will receive a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months and a salary of €7 million net per year.

The short contract means Juve cannot use the Growth Decree,  a tax relief that only comes into effect over a three-year period.

The Italian giants will also have the option of keeping the Argentine for an extra year, with negotiations between all parties concerned having advanced quickly over the past 24 hours.

The 34-year-old joined PSG from Manchester United in 2015 and has won five league titles. Before his move to England, he spent four seasons at Real Madrid where he won a LaLiga title, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey

NDLEA nabs ‘drug baroness’ seals her mansion in Delta State

The alleged backbone of a major cartel distributing drugs in Delta and adjourning states has been smashed following the arrest of a wanted drug baroness, Bridget Oghenekevwe Emeka, a.k.a Mama, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Director, Media & Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Tuesday May 17, said the 59-year-old suspect was arrested on Sunday, May 15, at her palatial mansion where she cooks and distributes Crack Cocaine, Methamphetamine and other illicit substances.

No fewer than nine of her staff and associates were arrested along with her in coordinated simultaneous operations at her expansive residence and drug bunks where accommodates drug users and sells illicit substances to them and others in parts of Warri, Delta state. the statement read

apart from various quantities of Crack Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Molly, and Loud seized from her home and drug bunks; a pump action gun, 15 cartridges, documents, two cars, mobile phones, drug paraphernalia such as sodium bicarbonate and polythene wrappings were also recovered for further investigation.

While five of her staff that cook, cut, package and distribute the drugs were found in her house located at Favour Street, Otukutu, Effurun Warri, four of her associates were equally arrested at her drug bunks in other parts of the town during the raids by Strike Force officers of NDLEA supported by the military.

The drug baroness has been under surveillance for weeks after her identification as a major distributor of illicit drugs in the South South state. Bridget cooks Cocaine into Crack Cocaine for local distribution and consumption in drug joints.

Some of the paraphernalia for making Crack recovered from her house include: sodium bicarbonate, which is the main adulterant and recipe for making crack cocaine, as well as transparent nylon used in wrapping the finished product.

Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa commended the officers and men involved in all the processes leading to the eventual execution of the operation plan.

He also appreciated the armed forces for their unwavering support for the Agency.

NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta
NDLEA nabs 'drug baroness' seals her mansion in Delta

Sweden officially signs NATO membership application

Sweden has officially signed her country’s application to join NATO, following Monday’s announcement to proceed with the move.

Sweden’s s foreign minister Ann Linde, said on Tuesday, “It feels very big, very serious, and it feels like we have arrived at a conclusion which is the best for Sweden. We don’t know how long it will take, but we calculate that it could take up to a year. Now, this week, this application will be submitted, together with Finland, in a day or so, and then it will be processed by NATO.”

The news comes two days after Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin officially declared the country’s intention to also join the alliance.

Both countries are expected to submit their official applications to NATO headquarters in Brussels later this week, ending decades of official neutrality on the part of both countries.

All 30 current NATO member states must accept the application from Finland and Sweden, via various domestic processes such as a vote by a legislature or a decision by the executive, depending on the country in question.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he sees ‘no problem’ with Nordic neighbours Finland and Sweden joining NATO, hours before Sweden’s foreign minister formally signed her nation’s application to the security bloc.

Putin, Russia’s paramount leader since 1999, has repeatedly said that the post-Soviet enlargement of NATO toward Russia’s borders as a key driver behind his war in Ukraine. 

‘As to enlargement, Russia has no problem with these states – none. And so in this sense there is no immediate threat to Russia from an expansion (of NATO) to include these countries,’ Putin told the leaders of the CSTO – a Russian-dominated security alliance of former Soviet states.

Finland is expected to follow Sweden with a formal NATO application in the coming days.

Netflix lays off 150 employees as it loses subscribers and revenue

Netflix is reportedly laying off nearly 150 employees in the coming days due to disappointing earnings and slow revenue growth.

According to a Variety report, the Amazon Prime Video rival might also terminate its contract with contractual contributors.

The layoffs are about 2 per cent of Netflix’s US workforce. “As we explained [in reporting Q1] earnings, our slowing revenue growth means we are also having to slow our cost growth as a company. So sadly, we are letting around 150 employees go today, mostly U.S.-based,” a Netflix spokesperson said.

The statement further revealed that the decision was primarily driven by business needs rather than individual performance. Netflix reported $7.87 billion in Q1, which was short of Wall Street’s estimates of $7.93 billion.

The report further reveals that nearly 70 part-time employees in Netflix’s animation studio will have to pack up and leave. A report by The Verge stated that about 26 contractors working on Netflix’s fan-focused Tudum website might see a termination.

“A number of agency contractors have also been impacted by the news announced this morning. We are grateful for their contributions to Netflix,” the company said.

Netflix, in its recent earnings call, revealed that it lost thousands of subscribers, which is a first for the company in over a decade.

The company expects to lose an additional 2 million in the next quarter due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Netflix has shut shop in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Elon Musk may cancel the Twitter deal if there are no clarity on spam accounts

Billionaire Elon Musk said Tuesday that his purchase of Twitter would not go ahead unless he was given assurances on the bots he says plague the platform, further complicating his acrimonious bid for the social media giant.

The chief of SpaceX as well as Tesla, Musk is currently listed by Forbes as the world’s wealthiest person, with a fortune of about $230 billion, much of it in Tesla stock.

Seen by his champions as an iconoclastic genius and by his critics as erratic and power-hungry, Musk surprised many investors in April with news that he wanted to purchase Twitter.

But his $44 billion bid for the company is now “temporarily on hold,” pending questions over its estimates of the number of fake accounts, or bots.

“Yesterday, Twitter’s CEO publicly refused to show proof of <5%,” tweeted Musk, who has almost 94 million followers on the social network. “This deal cannot move forward until he does.” Twitter chief executive Parag Agrawal has said the platform suspends more than a half-million seemingly bogus accounts daily, usually before they are even seen, and locks millions more weekly that fail checks to make sure they are controlled by humans and not by software. Internal measures show that fewer than five percent of accounts active on any given day at Twitter are spam, but that analysis cannot be replicated externally due to the need to keep user data private, Agrawal contended. Musk — who posted that the real number of bots may be four times what Twitter claims and “could be *much* higher,” and has said he would make getting rid of them a priority if he owned the platform — responded to that tweet by Agrawal with a poo emoji. “So how do advertisers know what they’re getting for their money?” Musk tweeted in a subsequent response about the need to prove Twitter users are real people. “This is fundamental to the financial health of Twitter.” – ‘Under pressure’ –
The process used to estimate how many accounts are bots has been shared with Musk, Agrawal insisted.

According to an estimate published Friday by software firm SparkToro, 19.42 percent of Twitter accounts are fake or spam, but the company acknowledges its methodology for determining bots is likely different from that used by Twitter.

SparkToro has a tool on its website that shows more than 70 percent of Musk’s followers are fake accounts

Lionel Messi might join Inter Miami in 2023

Messi, could be bought by PSG, Inter Milan or Juventus

Messi joined the French giants on a free transfer from Barcelona ahead of the 2021/22 season with the Argentinian international signing a two-year deal at the Parc des Princes.

PSG have an option to extend his deal until 2024, but new report has claimed that the Argentina superstar will acquire 35% of Inter Miami shares in the MLS and will join them in 2023. 

The  club co-owner Jorge Mas also confirmed that the club is open to a move for the 34-year-old.

Leo Messi is still one of the best players in the world, his skills have not diminished,” Mas told Goal, as reported via Sky Sports.

“David Beckham has a relationship with him, if he leave PSG, at the time he leaves, we’d love to see Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

“Can it happen? Look, we’ll push. I’m an optimist at heart, so it’s a possibility.”

Barcelona icon, Lionel Messi is reportedly set to join Inter Miami in the MLS once his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires, according to Alex Candal of DIRECTV Sports.

Messi joined the French giants on a free transfer from Barcelona ahead of the 2021/22 season with the Argentinian international signing a two-year deal at the Parc des Princes.

PSG have an option to extend his deal until 2024, but new report has claimed that the Argentina superstar will acquire 35% of Inter Miami shares in the MLS and will join them in 2023. 

The  club co-owner Jorge Mas also confirmed that the club is open to a move for the 34-year-old.

Leo Messi is still one of the best players in the world, his skills have not diminished,” Mas told Goal, as reported via Sky Sports.

“David Beckham has a relationship with him, if he leave PSG, at the time he leaves, we’d love to see Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

“Can it happen? Look, we’ll push. I’m an optimist at heart, so it’s a possibility.”

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