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  • Is it time to break up with your real estate agent? – Paradise Post

    By Kacie Goff, Bankrate.com

    Per the 2024 National Association of Realtors (NAR) Member Profilec, a typical agent had 10 transactions in the last year. With roughly one deal closing per month, the agent you hire should theoretically have bandwidth to provide you with the best possible service.

    If that doesn’t ring true for your current experience, however, it could be time for a change. You might be wondering when to fire your Realtor. Or, more pressingly, how to fire your real estate agent.

    Let’s take a look at when to make that call — and how to navigate a firing legally.

    How to know when to fire your Realtor

    We’re all only human, so it’s OK if an agent makes a mistake or two. But you may want to consider finding a new real estate rep if you spot several of these red flags:

    • They don’t communicate well. Your agent should be reachable and communicative with you. If they take a long time to get back to you, it can impact your ability to see listings and put in offers before the competition. And if you feel like they’re not being straightforward with you, or possibly even lying, that’s a deal-breaker. Speaking in jargon is another issue — politely ask them to explain anything you don’t understand.
    • They’re not marketing your home well. Today, real estate pros have a wide range of options they can use to get the word out about your listing. If your home isn’t turning up on leading listing sites or is otherwise poorly positioned, you might want to figure out how to fire your real estate agent.
    • There’s a personality clash. Your agent is navigating one of the biggest decisions of your life with you. You want to feel comfortable working with them. If your personalities don’t mesh well, you might be better served by finding someone else. Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
    • They’re overly pushy or aggressive. An agent’s job is to advocate for you — not against you. Someone who is argumentative or tries to pressure you into things you feel uncomfortable with is not a good fit.
    • They act unprofessional. Everyone has a different work style, but there are a few behaviors that just won’t fly. If they consistently show up late to appointments (or not at all), come unprepared, lack knowledge about the property or seem distracted during your interactions, be wary. This shows a lack of respect for you as a client.
    • They’re unfamiliar with the market. A good agent stays informed about their local market. If they don’t know about current market trends in your area, how can they help you find the best place or make the best deal possible? Make sure to arrange regular and continual updates from your agent on market conditions, recent sales, new listings, available inventory and price trends.
    • They demonstrate a lack of skills. Whether it’s helping you stage your for-sale home or negotiating on price, you want an agent who knows what they’re doing. No one likes to feel like they left money on the closing table, whether you’re the buyer or the seller.

    How to fire your real estate agent

    Don’t leap to a firing right away. If you’re unhappy with your agent, you may still be able to mend the relationship: Try communicating with them openly in a non-confrontational way about the issues you have. If the issues persist, it’s probably time to let them go. You’ll need to do so legally, ensuring you’re in compliance with any agreements or contracts you signed. The last thing you want is an expensive court battle.

    Once you know when to fire your Realtor or real estate agent, you can take certain steps. Those vary slightly between buyers and sellers, so we outline them separately below.

    If you follow these steps, be polite and respectful. Your dissatisfaction with the agent will reflect badly on them and probably hurt their career, so be mindful not to make the impact of your feedback worse.

    If you’re a buyer

    If you had someone helping you buy a home, figuring out how to fire your real estate agent means:

    • Checking if you’ve signed anything: If nothing’s in writing and your dealings with the agent have remained informal, then you’re in the clear to walk away.
    • Reviewing what you’ve signed: If you’ve signed a buyer’s agent agreement, you’re bound by the criteria in that agreement.
    • Pursuing termination rights: Agreements do typically spell out termination rights, though, so review those carefully. If the agent hasn’t held up their end of the bargain (e.g., has missed appointments or made mistakes on documentation), you may be within your legal rights to terminate the relationship before the agreement ends. If you have a real estate attorney, you may want to have them write the termination letter to avoid any complications or liability.
    • Trying to make things work: If you have a written agreement with the agent that you can’t get out of, go directly to the agent. Tell them what you need to see change. Writing a list of the issues at hand might help them understand the situation and where they need to make adjustments. Then, give the agent some time to see if they improve. Be constructive and show them you’re interested in creating a positive relationship that works for both of you.
    • Escalating the issue as needed: If you’re somewhat stuck and can’t get anywhere with the agent on your own, now’s a good time to escalate the issue to the agent’s brokerage, or the company for which they work. The broker there functions somewhat like the agent’s boss, and may be able to help you and the agent find a better path forward.
    • Seeing if they’ll agree to termination: Sometimes, the agent or their broker will allow you to terminate your agreement early when things aren’t going well. You can request that and hope they agree.
    • Waiting out the timeline: Buyer’s agreements usually tie you to your agent until the time period specified in the agreement runs out. That probably means sticking with that agent for several months if you haven’t found resolution with them or their broker.

    If you’re a seller

    For folks who’ve been working with an agent to sell, the process is similar but comes with some differences. Go through these steps if you’re a seller trying to figure out how to fire your real estate agent.

    • Checking if you’ve signed anything: If you’ve just been informally chatting, you’re under no obligation. But if your home is already on the market, you’ve likely signed with a listing agent. A listing agent, also called a seller’s agent, usually invests more time and effort in your property upfront, such as pulling comps, marketing the home and holding open houses. This investment makes it trickier to break up with them.
    • Figuring out what you’ve signed: The most common agreement a seller would have with a listing agent is an exclusive right to sell, meaning the agent is solely responsible for bringing in prospective buyers and selling your property. It also usually means you’re responsible for paying their commission.
    • Seeing if you can get out of it: Your agreement with the agent might lay out requirements for them, and termination rights for you if they don’t live up to those. Make sure they are unambiguous. You may be able to dissolve the agreement if any of those termination rights apply to your situation.
    • Raising your complaints with the agent: If no termination rights apply, write down what’s going wrong for you. Craft a letter or list you can share with the agent to help them understand what you need from them. Sharing this with them in a face-to-face, non-confrontational discussion is probably best. Don’t be accusatory or attempt to place blame.
    • Going to their broker: Real estate agents legally have to work under the supervision of a broker. This person essentially acts as their boss, so getting them involved can help redirect the agent. They don’t want to lose the listing or suffer the reputational damage, so they should go out of their way to solve the problems and accommodate you.
    • Asking for termination: With your list of issues in hand, you can ask the agent and/or their broker if they’re willing to terminate your agreement with them early. If the situation is difficult, they might agree. If they agree, get a written release and a waiver of liability. Also, get a list of all the people they have shown your home to. If any of those people subsequently buy your house, you’ll have to pay a commission.
    • Waiting out the agreement: If nothing else works, you’ll need some patience. Your exclusive right to sell agreement should have an expiration date. After that point, you’re free to work with another agent.

    Tips for hiring the right agent

    You’ve been burned — it’s OK, it happens. But now you want to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and find someone who you really click with.

    When you’re looking for a new real estate agent, make sure you do your research. Ask friends and family for recommendations. Search online and read reviews. Once you narrow it down to a few candidates, schedule time to interview them, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find out about their experience and market knowledge. And trust your gut — working with someone you genuinely like is always best.

    Bottom line

    Know the signs of a bad real estate agent. You don’t have to settle for someone you don’t like and don’t work well with, or someone who isn’t doing a good job for you. Walk away or figure out how to terminate or wait out the contract. Then, take your time to find a new agent who will meet your needs and work to get you what you want.

    FAQs

    How do you write a termination letter to a real estate agent?

    The letter should have a header that provides your contact information so the brokerage can know which agreement you want to terminate. In the letter, explain why you’re terminating the agreement. Refer specifically to the factual elements that are the basis for termination. Don’t elaborate or exaggerate. Make sure to also mention the specific termination clause from the agreement that you’re calling on.

    How do you deal with an unprofessional Realtor?

    First, be clear and direct with them. If they’re late for an appointment, for example, tell them that it made you feel disrespected as a client. If they don’t respond to your feedback, escalate the issue to their broker. It is always good to keep a written record of issues and conversations with the agent.

    What is unethical Realtor behavior?

    If someone is a Realtor, it means they’ve agreed to abide by the NAR’s Code of Ethics. Anything outside of that code, then, is considered unethical. Some common issues here include misrepresenting or concealing facts, discriminating, an unwillingness to work with other agents when it best serves the client and not being transparent about any kickbacks they receive.

    ©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

    Originally Published:

    Source: Paradise Post

  • AV Project Manager at eRecruiter Nigeria April, 2025

    Click Here To Apply

  • Account Executive at Mimecast

    What You’ll Do

    Develop and Grow Accounts: Build and manage accounts and key relationships, leveraging Mimecast’s resources to drive sales execution.
    Introduce Incydr to Security Buyers: Use your expertise and connections to position Incydr with key stakeholders, including CISOs, IT Leaders, and Risk/Compliance professionals.
    Build and Maintain Strategic Partnerships: Establish relationships with business development and program teams within FSIs while understanding their business models and sales cycles.
    CRM Mastery: Maintain accurate and effective CRM hygiene in Salesforce and design impactful client campaigns.
    Product Demonstrations: Showcase the value of Incydr to clients, demonstrating how it helps address insider risks.
    Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with Account Executives, Sales Engineers, BDRs, Field Marketing, and Channel Account Managers to exceed sales targets.
    Drive Privacy and Security Compliance: Ensure all activities align with Mimecast’s strict privacy and security policies, protecting sensitive information.

    What You'll Bring

    Enterprise SaaS Sales Experience: Proven track record of selling SaaS solutions to mid-market and enterprise customers.
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    Proven Sales Success: A history of exceeding booking and revenue targets, with experience engaging senior-level decision-makers (e.g., CIOs, CISOs).
    Communication Skills: Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to negotiate complex deals and overcome objections.
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  • University of Massachusetts student charged with firebombing Tesla dealership

    A 19-year-old University of Massachusetts Boston student, Owen McIntire, has been arrested and charged in connection with the firebombing of a Tesla dealership during Spring Break, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday, April 18, McIntire was taken into custody by FBI agents on the UMass Boston campus and made an initial court appearance the same day.

     

    According to a federal criminal complaint, McIntire faces charges of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire of property used in interstate commerce. The alleged arson occurred on March 17 at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, McIntire’s hometown, while they were on break from school.

     

    Investigators say McIntire parked a block away from the dealership, approached on foot, and ignited a Molotov cocktail — fashioned from an apple cider vinegar bottle and a rag — before fleeing the scene. The fire damaged two Cybertrucks and two Tesla charging stations, with total damages exceeding $200,000.

     

    Authorities were alerted when an officer spotted smoke rising from a Cybertruck. Surveillance footage and witness statements helped identify McIntire, who was seen wearing distinctive dark, flowy clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. The suspect allegedly discarded the hat nearby, which was later recovered and used for DNA testing.

     

    Further evidence placing McIntire in the area included photographs of them with luggage at the Kansas City International Airport around the time of the attack.

     

    This marks the second arrest in a series of arson incidents targeting Tesla dealerships across the United States.

    Source: Linda Ikeji

  • Police arrests 6 suspected kidnappers, recovers AK-47 rifles in Kaduna

    Police operatives in Kaduna have detained six suspected kidnappers and recovered four fabricated AK-47 rifles in the state.

    The spokesman for the state police command, Mansir Hassan, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna.

    He said the operation followed credible intelligence on the presence of a suspected kidnapper taking refuge at Gida Abe in the state.

    The spokesman said:  “Acting swiftly on the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Tafa Division immediately mobilised a surveillance team to the location.”

    “The team successfully arrested one Isa Ibrahim, a 30-year-old.

    “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a kidnapping gang operating in Kwara.

    “The suspect also disclosed that his accomplices had recently been arrested in Kwara, which led him to relocate to Kaduna with the intent to establish a new gang.

    “On the same date, at about 3: 30 p.m., the DPO of Saminaka received credible intelligence indicating the presence of two notorious suspected bandits in Lamido village, Lere LGA.

    ”Acting promptly on the tip-off, the DPO mobilised his patrol team to the location.

    “The team successfully apprehended two suspects, namely: Sani Liman from Unguwan Fa, Rami Kura, and Murtala Magaji (alias Seto), from Dambata in Galadimawa village, both of Kauru LGA.

    “The suspects confessed to being involved in a series of kidnapping activities within the area.”

     

    Source: Ripples Nigeria

  • World Class goalkeeper watched by Manchester United scouts


    Image Credits: Getty Images

    Following reports that Andre Onana’s position at Manchester United is uncertain, Manchester United have reportedly scouted goalkeepers ahead of the summer transfer window.

    Old Trafford’s current number one goalkeeper has endured a turbulent time at Old Trafford since arriving in 2023.

    The Cameroonian was signed for around £45m from Inter Milan, but has not yet lived up to that fee.

    Onana has made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League goalkeeper.

    And most recently, the goalkeeper made two key errors as Manchester United drew 2-2 with Lyon, in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

    In the build-up to that game, Onana was described by former United midfielder Nemanja Matic as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history”, after a verbal exchange between the two.

    But following the game, Ruben Amorim sought to defend his player.

    “If you look at the season, I’ve made more mistakes than them during these last games and during these last months.” The United boss said.

    “There’s nothing I can say to Andre in this moment that will help him, so the most important thing is to be natural and then when the time comes I will choose the best XI to play. But I’m really confident in Andre.”

    However, Manchester United may still look to sign a goalkeeper this summer, according to reports in Portugal.

    According to Record Portugal, the English club sent a scout to FC Porto’s game yesterday to watch Portuguese shot-stopper Diogo Costa.

    Costa, the captain of Porto, has played 195 matches for the club since rising through the academy.

    He has also become the starting goalkeeper for the Portuguese international team, and is known for his ability on the ball, and his quick reflexes.

    Costa would certainly expect a starting role if he is to move this summer, and would command a sizeable fee for his services.

    CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTRE DEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!

    Source: Centred Devils

  • German anti-Russia propaganda is reaching Nazi-era levels

    By Tarik Cyril Amar, a historian from Germany working at Koç University, Istanbul, on Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe, the history of World War II, the cultural Cold War, and the politics of memory.

    @tarikcyrilamar      tarikcyrilamar.substack.com    tarikcyrilamar.com

    Like people almost everywhere in NATO-EU Europe, Germans are currently being subjected to a relentless barrage of shameless, often astonishingly crude propaganda. That’s because their political elites and mainstream media are desperately trying to prepare them for war against Russia. And this time, not by proxy, that is, by way of a devastated Ukraine and dead Ukrainians, but directly.

    As a former, very evil but in his prime all-too-popular German master of mass manipulation – who also happened to love war with Russia more than was good for him (or Germany) – explained a century ago, effective propaganda keeps the world very, very simple. Or, to add a little detail, propaganda’s sometimes literally stunning success is built on two primitive yet powerful – and very old – tricks: the broken-record principle and the litany effect.

    Their meaning, too, is elementary: In essence, if your image of reality is delusional, you don’t have sound arguments, and your case is absurd, do not despair. Instead, ceaselessly drum in a few very basic and bogus ideas until the audience is dizzy with repetition (the broken-record principle), while also eliciting frequent consent from it (the litany effect). In short: Keep shouting the same nonsense at them and make them bleat back “yes” regularly. You know, like a ritual, really.

    In the case of the manufacturing of the current iteration of traditional German the-Russians-are-coming hysteria as well, it is easy to identify its handful of specious, daft, and childishly simplistic key motifs: Russia and Russia alone is to blame for the war in Ukraine; Russia intends to attack Europe (if not the world) – and soon; and Russia is incredibly devious and scheming, so you cannot find a reasonable compromise with it.

    Yet what about the nuts and bolts of this propaganda campaign? Even a simple story needs detail, and, if told and retold almost without letup, that detail at least needs to vary: Same old story but different flavor. That’s where things get tricky.

    For one thing, if you pick the wrong flavor, your propaganda may start looking as silly as it actually is. A current example in Germany – as well as the EU parliament – would be the recent hysteria over the global hit Sigma Boy from Russia. Its brilliantly catchy tune is a piece of art, like it or not. But its lyrics are about as profound as a margarine commercial.

    Yet that won’t stop Germany’s radical-Centrist elite from exploring the song’s ominous depths as a weapon of nefarious Russian cultural warfare. Because Sigma Boy, one EU parliamentarian from Hamburg has noticed – with a little help from Ukraine – is really “a viral Russian trope used on social media that communicates patriarchal and pro-Russian worldviews” as well as “only one example of Russian infiltration of popular discourse through social media.” Also, you see, Sigma Boy is really just code for – scary sound effect – PUTIN!

    Silly? So ridiculous it gives you that cringey feeling you get when someone else is making a total fool of themselves and all you want to do is tell them to shut up already and save whatever maybe left of their credibility? Yes, obviously.

    Indeed, in the case of the Great Sigma Boy Panic Attack, even Spiegel – a usually reliably Russophobic and NATO-militarist publication now – has mildly demurred. Dedicating a whole podcast to the phenomenon, it had an editor and journalist deliberate on the Sigma Boy case in all earnestness and with proverbial German thoroughness and faces serious enough for Kant and Hegel hashing out the nature of TikTok. The result: Maybe, just maybe, it’s really simply a pop song.

    Now you could say “Great. At least someone is not completely falling for the mass hysteria.” But that would be too optimistic. In reality, the real question is how could things get so absurd in the first place? What is the Zeitgeist environment in which an EU parliamentarian is not ashamed to display so much provincial paranoia and Germany’s major news magazine needs intensive research and a long discussion to find out that, perhaps, she does not have a point?

    In that regard, another recent propaganda fiasco is instructive. Its essence is simple: Some may know the ZDF, one of Germany’s most popular and influential public – that is, de facto state – TV channels most of all as a rock-solid mouthpiece of Israeli propaganda, especially during the ongoing Gaza genocide.

    But the ZDF also has a substantial line in Russophobia. And for once, it went a little too far in its never-slackening eagerness to stick it to the big bad Russians: In its main news show and a long, sensationalist pseudo-documentary in its Terra X History program – under the title “Spying, Sabotage, Fake News. Putin’s war against us” – the broadcaster claimed, in effect if with some cheap pro forma hedging, that Russia was behind, among other nefarious schemes, an Islamist terror attack in the city of Mannheim in May 2024.

    This was, obviously, an extremely serious allegation, in principle as well as in detail: the attack, carried out by a man from Afghanistan who had lived in Germany for ten years, left five victims injured and one, a policeman, dead. Moreover, in the consciousness of the German public, this particular terror attack is only part of a whole series of unrelated yet similar violent assaults that have taken place over the last year, including another one in Magdeburg as well as in the cities of Solingen and Aschaffenburg.

    Hence, pointing a finger at Russia over one of these traumatizing onslaughts inevitably implied that Moscow may have had a hand in the others as well. Et voila! A new and particularly horrifying accusation against Russia had been manufactured: Moscow, so the essence of this wildest of many wild tales, was using migrants to instigate bloody Islamist terror in Germany.

    And this big fat lie started working quickly: Various major mainstream media in Germany and abroad began to uncritically repeat the story, such as Britain’s Telegraph and The Sun, the German Merkur, and the French Sud-Ouest.

    Yet the “research” on which ZDF had based this specific propaganda strike against Moscow was so breathtakingly sloppy that, this time, even Germany’s BND foreign intelligence service had to object.

    Shortly after the ZDF had made its splash, the BND publicly contradicted it, pointing out that the method – basically a childish misreading of Google Trend data – used to produce these allegations against Russia is, in essence, ridiculously unreliable. Indeed, it turned out that several German intelligence agencies had warned the ZDF already before the Terra X pseudo-documentary was broadcast. Even Germany’s highly conservative Welt newspaper called the ZDF’s handiwork – with massive understatement – “negligent.”

    So far, so bad. Just another case of propaganda becoming self-defeating by going too far. Let’s move on. And that is, of course, what is happening now. While the very worst lie about Russia has been discredited, there are virtually no consequences.

    Yet, in reality, this is where the whole daft affair is only beginning to get interesting. For one thing, the Terra X feature, almost 45 minutes long, was packed with other, equally unfounded accusations against Russia. Indeed, it consisted of a long sequence of one hearsay after another speculation, all based on profound evidence of the “Western-intelligence-services-believe” type.

    At Terra X, have they ever heard of those Iraqi weapons of mass destruction? The babies torn from incubators in Kuwait? Or Gaddafi handing out Viagra to his troops to promote rape? All of them, of course, lies; all, in their time, spread by those famously reliable Western intelligence agencies and mass media functioning as their servile propaganda arms. And all of these lies, these actual cases of “hybrid warfare” – by Western elites on their own populations – have always had the same purpose: prepare and justify Western military aggression.

    Yet, in the Terra X case as well, the fact that the single most egregious anti-Russian allegation of many has been, for once, exposed quickly as at best reckless nonsense if not a deliberate lie, makes no dent in the story as a whole.

    On the contrary, all that happens is that one scapegoat is singled out and sacrificed: Steven Broschart, the discredited “data profiler” and self-appointed “digital behavioral analytic.” It was all him, is the message now. But that is clearly untrue. Long stretches of the Terra X tale consisted of various, often much more prominent talking-heads lending their authority to a long list of equally unsubstantiated allegations of Russian crimes and, in general, helping beat the war drums against Moscow.

    There was, for instance, an official of Germany’s domestic intelligence service – the Verfassungsschutz – who first conveniently confirmed that the internet is a “treasure chest” of information revealing sabotage and attack plans and then informed viewers that they are already at war with Russia, even if they haven’t noticed yet. No biggie in Germany now: at war, not yet at war with Russia… Who cares once we all know where we are supposed to be going anyhow, and so soon, too.

    To be fair, the man from the Verfassungsschutz had his entertaining side: You don’t need tanks to bring down a country, he enlightened us, because you can also strike at its vital infrastructure. Really? You don’t say! You mean the way that Germany’s “allies” in Washington and its spongers in Kiev struck at the Nord Stream pipelines? No, just kidding. Of course, he did not mean that. Because that would be reality, and his job clearly is the opposite, propaganda.

    Quintessential German professor Martin Schulze Wessel added platitudes about Putin, who, we learn, thinks in categories of East and West and antagonism. Wow! Aren’t we lucky that no one does so in Garden Value Europe and a Germany that has decided to quite literally define itself, again, via antagonism toward Russia.

    In addition, the professor confirmed that Russia is a “direct” threat to Germany – clearly unlike, again, Ukraine and the US, obviously, even if they have actually committed the largest act of infrastructure sabotage in German peacetime history. And the German public must be made aware of that non-fact, the professor lectured. Thank you for summarizing the essence of propaganda so selflessly: making the people aware of what isn’t there. And, if we may add, the opposite is also important: that that same public is made unaware of what does, actually, exist, for instance that Nord Stream attack that must go forever unmentioned.

    My only caveat regarding Schulze Wessel’s amusing contribution is that, as a matter of transparency, he could have let viewers know that he is heavily networked with Ukraine and in particular the rather nationalist city of Lviv. Again, no biggie: On the big crusade against bad Russia, minor sins are forgivable.

    The cast of Terra X was rich and not everyone can be mentioned here. But we would be amiss to omit Anton Shekhovtsov. Ironically now based at some “Center for Democratic Integrity,” he is the commentator who publicly celebrated the Odessa Trade Union House fire, while comparing its victims to vermin, literally. Dehumanizing? A little on the fascist side psychologically, perhaps? Oh, come on! Once again, on the grand campaign against Moscow, a little excess of eagerness is more than welcome.

    On Terra X his function was unspoken yet clumsily clear: He served as the “expert” explaining that everything alleged in the show is “hard to prove.” But, of course, not as in not likely to be true, but as in: absolutely true even without any evidence. Thank you, too, Anton, for demonstrating a basic yet always popular trick of gutter propaganda: “You can’t see them,” as it were, “but that’s only because they are so well hidden. Which proves again how dangerous they are.”

    The single worst irony about this piece of weaponized “journalism” from one of Germany’s biggest broadcasters is its flatfooted hypocrisy. For, in the context of the Ukraine War, provoked and fought via proxy by the West, there are real sabotage and terrorism, namely by Ukraine and the West: The attack on the Crocus City venue in Moscow, the assassination of General Igor Kirillov, the heinous murder of Darya Dugina, the Ukrainian attacks on the Kerch Bridge and on Nord Stream, of course – and this list could be prolonged – are all clear examples of Ukraine using terrorism. And we have known for years now, from Western mainstream media, that behind these activities, there has been hands-on and proud support from Western intelligence services.

    Is it possible that, in a conflict where the West and Ukraine have liberally deployed “hybrid war” tactics, Russia is sometimes paying them back in the same coin? Yes, in principle. You could even make a plausible argument that it has to do so to remain credible.

    Accusations of promoting Islamist terrorism, from which Russia has suffered greatly, in any case, should be off-limits to anyone with half a brain and some elementary decency. And the West would do very well to mind the beam in its own eye.

    For Western media that would mean that, even apart from the straightforward lying, against this background, it is not just dishonest but ridiculous to produce “journalism” that focuses on Russia alone. The very least a serious investigation would have to do is look at all sides and treat information from all sides critically.

    But then, that would be a piece of practical enlightenment, intellectually and politically empowering viewers and citizens, and it would not be effective war-in-sight propaganda anymore. It might even end up – oh horror! – promoting compromise and peace.

    As it is now, in Germany and elsewhere in Western Europe, journalists, security service officers, experts, and academics – all are perfectly fine with lending their name to propaganda of the basest form. What a shame.

    The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT or The Liberty Beacon.

    _________

    (TLB) published this article with permission of RT

    Header featured image (edited) credit: Org.post content. Emphasis added by (TLB)

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    Stay tuned to …

    Source: TLB

  • UN nuclear watchdog says US-Iran talks are at crucial stage

    The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said talks between Iran and the U.S. are at a “crucial stage” and warned they have limited time to resolve their years-long standoff.

    “There is a possibility of a good outcome but nothing is guaranteed,” Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in comments recorded during a visit to Tehran on Thursday and shared with Bloomberg. “We are multiplying our efforts to facilitate this process.”

    Grossi’s visit comes days after the U.S. and Iran held their first talks aimed at striking an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program. The stakes for global security and the oil market are high. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action against the Islamic Republic if a deal isn’t reached in the coming weeks.

    Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, made a rare high-profile visit to Iran on Thursday and met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

    Prince Khalid delivered a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed to Khamenei, IRNA said, without giving details on its contents. He is the highest-level Saudi royal to visit Iran in years, and his trip signals that Arab states are keen to avoid a new conflict in the region.

    The IAEA’s Grossi said he has been in contact with the U.S.’s top Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to see how the watchdog can “serve as a bridge between Iran and the U.S. and help achieve a positive outcome,” according to the IRNA.

    While the U.S. and Iran are set to meet for a second round of talks on Saturday in Rome, they’ve already hit a stumbling block over the Trump administration’s position on Tehran’s ability to enrich uranium.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier this week that U.S. has sent conflicting messages and these need to clarified when they meet again at the weekend.

    Witkoff said on Tuesday that Iran had to eliminate its uranium-enrichment program altogether, rather than restrict it. He was backtracking on earlier comments that suggested Iran could still enrich to a low level for civilian uses.

    Iran has said its ability to produce the fissile material is non-negotiable and says it’s allowed to enrich uranium under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

    The 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned during his first term imposed strict limits on the extent to which Iran was allowed to enrich uranium, in terms of both purity and quantity.

    Iran started to breach those caps after Trump exited the accord in 2018 and placed stricter sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

    ___

    © 2025 Bloomberg L.P.

    Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


    Source: American Military News

  • Akpabio Seeks Love, Unity At Easter

    President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has called on Nigerians, especially the Christian community to use the Easter period to unite in love and progress.

    Akpabio, in a goodwill message signed by his Media Adviser, Eseme Eyiboh, urged Nigerians to eschew political, religious and ethnic biases, for the general well-being of the nation.

    He appealed to those perpetrating mass killings across the country to respect the sacredness of human life by showing love instead of hatred and abandoning their evil ways for peace to reign in Nigeria.

    “While I congratulate the Christian faithful for successfully completing the 40-day Lenten fast and now celebrating another Easter, I wish to appeal that we all show love to one another irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

    “I also urge our Christian brothers and sisters to emulate Jesus Christ’s spirit of humility, love, and sacrifice. We are all created in the image of God Almighty and nothing should make us discriminate against another human being.

    “For those who have taken to killing fellow human beings, maiming others and destroying property, I appeal that they respect the sacredness of human life.

    “Easter is a period of love and I hope the atmosphere that permeates this season would cause them to jettison their evil ways, turn a new leaf and embrace peace.

    “I encourage all Nigerians to use the occasion of this celebration of Easter to reach out to those who are in need, especially victims of the senseless killings across the nation. May we never be tired of sharing and making sacrifices for one another”.

    The Senate President also urged Christians not to relent in their prayers after during and after the Easter celebrations, but to continue seeking God’s intervention in the affairs of the nation.

    “Continue to offer prayers for leaders at every level in the country and God helping us, our nation will be better off.

    “On behalf of my family, constituents, the Senate and entire the National Assembly, I wish you all a peaceful, loving and blissful Easter celebration”.

    Akpabio Seeks Love, Unity At Easter is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

    Source: The Whistler

  • Tickets for 50th Chico Sports Hall of Fame and Senior Athletes Banquet on sale – Paradise Post

    CHICO — Tickets for the 50th Chico Sports Hall of Fame and Senior Athletes Banquet are on sale through Friday, May 9.

    The banquet will be held Tuesday, May 13, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and dinner and ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m.

    Tickets are available at the Chico Enterprise-Record office, located at 3881 Benatar Way, Suite G, in Chico. Office hours are Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $65 and include dinner.

    Tickets are for open seating at the event. If groups of eight would like to reserve a table, the Enterprise-Record can do so. All tickets for reserved tables must be purchased together.

    This year’s Hall of Fame class includes Butte College alumnus Larry Allen, longtime Butte College athletic trainer Fran Babich, Chico High alumna and former USA Olympic bobsledder Emily Azevedo, and former Chico High teacher/coach and USA Olympic gold medalist Jack Yerman.

    Senior athletes will also be honored from area high schools including Chico High School, Pleasant Valley, Paradise, CORE Butte, Durham, Oroville, Las Plumas, Orland, Hamilton, Gridley, Willows, Biggs and Corning. Senior athletes from Chico State, along with sophomores from Butte College will also be honored. The night will be capped with the presentation of the Chico Enterprise-Record Sportsperson of the Year.

    The Sportsperson of the Year nominees will be announced Tuesday, and the Senior Athletes of the Year will be announced Wednesday.

    The Enterprise-Record is excited for this exciting community event — a historic one as it is No. 50. If there are any issues with purchasing tickets during the above hours, reach out to Enterprise-Record sports reporter Justin Couchot at jcouchot@chicoer.com for alternative options.

    Originally Published:

    Source: Paradise Post