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  • Man pleads guilty for role in Gantt robbery

    Man pleads guilty for role in Gantt robbery

    Published 12:53 pm Friday, April 18, 2025

    Lorenzo Armon Whatley, 24, of Troy, pled guilty this week for his part in what law enforcement has come to call the “Gantt 9 Robbery,”  based on the number of people arrested for the crime. Whatley and eight others forced their way into Felix Jones’s home in Gantt in an attempt to rob him.

    “All of the defendants went to prison except for one,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell. “A female present at the scene did not take part in the crime and instead sat in the car. Everyone else, including Whatley, forced their way into Jones’s residence to assist with the robbery.  Whatley and a few others were armed with pistols.”

    For his part in the robbery, Whatley was sentenced to 15 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

    “So far, each defendant has been sentenced to a term consistent with the extent of their involvement in the crime,” Merrell said. “Whatley has no prior felonies, but a crime of this serious nature doesn’t allow much room for leniency. Someone could have been killed that night.  We are fortunate this is not a murder case.”

    Merrell expressed his appreciation for the “hard work of Covington County Sheriff’s Office and the Gantt Police Department, as well as the help of the Andalusia Police Department. They all worked together for the common good and did a great job.”

    Merrell said he expects the case against the last defendant, Ramone Smith of Andalusia, to be tried later this year.

    Source: Andalusia Star

  • VP Vance attends Vatican Good Friday service with his family

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his family attended the Vatican’s Liturgy for the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday during the first day of an April 18–20 visit to Rome.

    On his trip, Vance — who is a convert to Catholicism — will also be visiting cultural and religious sites and meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state. He met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday after landing in Rome.

    “Vice President Vance looks forward to meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and Church officials while in Italy and is grateful for the opportunity to visit some of Rome’s amazing cultural and religious sites with his family during Holy Week,” the vice president’s press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, told CNA earlier on Friday.

    There is no formal meeting scheduled between the vice president and Pope Francis, who, despite still recovering from double pneumonia, has resumed some informal public appearances — including a short visit to Rome’s Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday.

    The 88-year-old pontiff, who left the hospital on March 23 after 38 days, also had a brief private encounter with King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their state visit to Italy on April 9.

    Vance posted on X shortly before the liturgy on Friday that he “had a great meeting” with Meloni and was “headed to church soon with my family in this beautiful city.”

    “I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” he wrote. “I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the U.S., a blessed Good Friday.”

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance prays in silence in St. Peter’s Basilica during the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at the Vatican April 18, 2025. (CNS/Lola Gomez)

    The Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 18 was celebrated by Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches, who was delegated to lead the service in the pope’s place. Following Vatican custom, the preacher of the papal household, Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, delivered the homily.

    Preaching on the “intelligence of the Cross,” Pasolini pointed out that “in a time when artificial and predictive intelligence dominates our thinking, the Cross offers a radically different form of wisdom—one that doesn’t calculate or compete but simply loves and gives.

    “This intelligence is not artificial but deeply personal and open to God. In a world shaped by algorithms, the Cross restores authentic freedom—the freedom to love, even when it costs everything.”

    In letting himself be nailed to a cross, Christ’s sacrifice was “not a passive surrender, but an act of supreme freedom, accepting weakness as the place where love can become full,” Pasolini said.

    “It is not autonomy or great feats that give meaning to life, but the ability to transform limitations into an opportunity for giving. With this gesture, Jesus reveals to us that it is not strength that saves the world, but the weakness of love that holds nothing back and surrenders itself,” he said.

    The vice president’s trip comes as the Vatican and President Donald Trump’s administration have traded back-and-forths over plans to deport large numbers of immigrants who entered the country illegally.

    The administration has received praise from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for its efforts to curtail gender ideology and government mandates that jeopardize religious freedom. However, the bishops have also sued the administration over its decision to cut funding for nongovernmental organizations that provide services to migrants, which has affected numerous Catholic organizations.

    Vance’s meeting with Meloni comes as the Trump administration continues to negotiate trade policies and tariffs with countries around the world, including countries in the European Union. Meloni also met Trump at the White House on April 17.

    Angelus Staff also contributed to this report.

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance, holding their daughter, smiles with his wife, Usha, who is holding their son, before the start of the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 18, 2025. (CNS/Lola Gomez)
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    Source: Angelus News

  • Nursing Officer (RFC Ikorodu) at Reliance HMO

    We’re a health insurance company that acts like a technology company. We’re using software, data science and telemedicine to make health insurance more affordable, easier to access and more of a delightful experience
    We are looking for an ambitious and result-oriented genius to join our clinical team as a Nurse to help provide top-notch medical care to our clients.

    Responsibilities

    Undertake an initial intake of patient history and physical exam to appropriately triage patients.
    Collect and tag specimens exactly as outlined in each medical requisition.
    Develop effective collection techniques as they relate to groups such as paediatric and geriatric patients.
    Properly package each specimen and ensure that every specimen is delivered to the laboratory on time.
    Maintain an organized and clean work area based on state health laws and the guidelines of our medical organization.
    Answer patient questions regarding collection techniques and offer additional resources on the collection process if a patient request them

    Requirements

    2 years experience in Mid-wifery or Nursing
    Registered nurse with license to practice.
    Comfortable using basic technology including laptops and tablet devices.
    Proven experience of success in a multidisciplinary team
    Ability to provide patient counselling and advising in multiple relevant languages is a plus.
    Candidates must reside around Ikorodu

    Click Here To Apply

  • Assistant Store Manager at Kingsley Heath April, 2025

    Click Here To Apply

  • Nigerian man celebrates as he becomes a father after 13 years of waiting

    A Nigerian man, Olushola Kazeem, has welcomed his first child after 13 years of waiting. Sharing the good news via X ion Friday, April 18, 2025, he wrote: ALHAMMDULLAH IT’S A BABY GIRL AFTER 13TH GOOD YEARS WAITING  The post Nigerian man celebrates as he becomes a father after 13 years of waiting appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

    Source: Linda Ikeji

  • Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer for #1400 on April 19, 2025

    NYT Wordle is a satisfying and tricky test of vocabulary and logic that challenges players to guess a new five-letter word every day. However, things can get a little too challenging at times, and that probably explains why you’re here. So, if you don’t want to break your word-guessing streak or get too frustrated, take a look at today’s Wordle hints and answer for puzzle #1400 for April 19, 2025, down below!

    How to Play Wordle

    Wordle is a word puzzle game by The New York Times. You are given six attempts to guess a five-letter word. The letters are highlighted in Yellow, Green, and Grey when you input a word. Yellow denotes that the letter appears in today’s Wordle answer, but it’s not at the right spot. Meanwhile, when a letter turns green, it means you have guessed the right letter in the right position. At last, a grey letter means the letter is not part of today’s answer.

    While it may seem that winning at Wordle is easy, it is difficult to get that pesky five-letter word right. To help you out, here are some quick tips on how to play Wordle:

    • Open with a strong word – Using the right Wordle starting words rich with multiple vowels and consonants is important. While you can take a look at our dedicated guide, starting words like AISLE, SALTY, and DINER are my go-to choices.
    • Pay attention to colors – Keep track of the yellow, green, and grayed-out letters to eliminate incorrect positions and letters. To make every guess count, avoid accidentally repeating letters that have already been eliminated.
    • Isolate the vowels – There can be days when your usual starting words don’t help much. In that case, try to test the remaining vowels by using different words.
    • Repeating letters is good – Don’t be afraid of repeating letters as history is proof that there are chances the Wordle answer will have one or two letters that repeat themselves.
    • Use the Wordlebot – As described above, NYT’s Wordlebot is an intuitive bot that analyzes your responses and compares them against itself. Instilling some healthy competition can help you improve your own Wordle guessing and see what you could have done better.

    If you still need more details, learn how to play Wordle and check out more Wordle tips and tricks to ensure you get the answer almost every time.

    Hints for Today’s Wordle Answer for April 19

    We know you are here for Wordle hints and clues, and we are eager to help you. Like always, to assist you with today’s puzzle, we list the starting word for today’s Wordle answer, whether it has any vowels or repeating letters, and more.

    After that, we also provide an additional hint for today’s Wordle game to get one step closer to the answer. So scroll down if you’re ready. SPOILERS AHEAD!

    Does Today’s Wordle Have Any Vowels?

    Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, April 19, 2025, has two vowels.

    If you guess the vowels correctly, there is a high possibility that you will guess the correct 5-letter answer in no time.

    Does the Wordle Today Have Double Letters?

    Well, there are no double letters in the Wordle answer today.

    What Does Today’s Wordle Answer Start with?

    Today’s Wordle answer starts with the letter “I.”

    Spoiler Warning:

    Scroll slowly past this point. Major hint and answer for today’s Wordle #1400 lie ahead.

    Additional Hint for Today’s Wordle Answer

    If the above-mentioned hints haven’t helped much, here’s the Wordle cheat hint that will definitely get you to the answer. The final hint for today is:

    The folder where you receive your digital messages.

    What Is Today’s Wordle Answer?

    The answer for today’s Wordle on April 19, 2025, is INBOX.

    Image Credit: NYT Games (Screenshot by Sagnik Das Gupta/ Beebom)

    Meaning of Inbox — It’s the electronic folder where you receive new emails or messages.

    After a long time, a Wordle round made me sweat as much as today’s did. When SALTY didn’t lead anywhere, I knew it was going to be trouble. DINER did give me an “I” and an “N” in yellow, while POUCH had an “O” in its unoriginal position to offer. BOINK was my next try, and the sparkle in my eyes died rather quickly as every letter but “K” turned yellow.

    With my last two tries left, I took a risk and tried ROBIN to get an idea of letter positioning. Only “B” seemed to be in its original position, but it did give me a solid idea, and INBOX turned out to be the Wordle answer for today! Phew, close call.

    Previous Wordle Answers

    For regular Wordle players, we have curated the answers of all past Wordle answers in one place. If you are trying to find patterns in these word puzzles, check out our list of past Wordle answers.

    Despite over 1,350 puzzles and nearly four years since its initial surge, Wordle is still going strong as a free-to-play word puzzle game that it is. What started as a simple game to pass the time during the pandemic has now become a daily habit for millions of The New York Times readers.

    Just like reading your early morning newspaper, Wordle adds some productive value to your daily life as a brainteaser, which explains the incredible player base. Some avid Wordle players even stay up late to solve the puzzle as soon as it releases at 12:00 AM local time.

    The fact that there’s a single puzzle on a daily basis that every player tries to solve makes it all the more competitive and challenging. According to a report by The Conversation, just in 2022, Wordle had around a whopping 3 million users across the world. As of 2025, one can only imagine where this number has soared.

    That said, if you are one of them, I hope the Wordle hints we shared today helped you figure out the answer without having to scroll to the answer.

    What are the best 3 words in a row for Wordle?

    While there are a ton of words to start your Wordle with, we suggest using DINER, ROBIN, and XEROX today.

    What are the NYT Wordle hints for April 19, 2025?

    The NYT Wordle today starts with “I” and refers to a place where you receive digital messages. It has two vowels.

    What is the NYT Wordle answer for April 19, 2025?

    If you are unable to figure out puzzle #1400, then the Wordle answer today for April 19, 2025, is “INBOX.”

    What was yesterday’s NYT Wordle answer?

    The answer for yesterday’s Wordle #1399 on April 18, 2025, was “DIRGE.”

    Sagnik Das Gupta

    Sagnik is a tech aficionado who can never say “no” to dipping his toes into unknown waters of tech or reviewing the latest gadgets. He is also a hardcore gamer, having played everything from Snake Xenzia to Dead Space Remake.


    Source: Beebom

  • Police dismisses report on arrest of Boko Haram suspects in Lagos

    The Lagos State police command has dismissed a report on the arrest of Boko Haram suspects in the state.

    A report emerged on Thursday that security agents had arrested hundreds of suspected Boko Haram members in some parts of the state.

    However, the command refuted the claim in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by its spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin.

    Hundeyin said that following the reports, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, directed an immediate investigation into the report to ascertain the authenticity of the claim.

    He said: “The outcome of the investigation reveals that there is nowhere throughout Lagos State that the group mentioned in the report – Boko Haram – was seen or sighted or arrested.

    “Furthermore, in the trailer park communities mentioned, the leaders, operators, and drivers in the indicated places in the report clarified to the police that there were no such elements of Boko Haram seen or arrested in those localities.

    “The command, notwithstanding, deployed surveillance police detectives, the Lagos State Police Intelligence Department (SID), and other formations of the Force to the mentioned places for the purpose of verification of the claim.

    “No one confirmed the presence or arrest of such group members as reported in the write-up throughout Lagos State.

    “Therefore, the report in its entirety is false, malicious, and ill-intended to cause fear and apprehension in the minds of the public.

    “Members of the public are encouraged by the Commissioner of Police to go about their duties and other means of livelihood without fear or apprehension.”

    Source: Ripples Nigeria

  • Trump Administration Withholds $1 Billion in Head Start Funding

    The Trump administration has withheld nearly $1 billion in Head Start funding so far this year, representing a 37% decline in grants awarded compared to the same period last year.

    By The Seattle Medium

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has withheld nearly $1 billion in Head Start funding so far this year, representing a 37% decline in grants awarded compared to the same period last year, according to newly released data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding shortfall is already forcing program closures across the country—including in Washington state—and placing the future of thousands of vulnerable children, families, and educators at risk.

    The sharp funding drop coincides with a broader push by the administration to dismantle Head Start, a federal program that provides early childhood education, health services, and family support to low-income children. President Trump is finalizing a proposal to eliminate the program altogether, while simultaneously shuttering half of the regional offices that manage Head Start operations and firing dozens of federal staff tasked with ensuring these centers can continue to serve local communities.

    This week, a Head Start provider in Lower Yakima Valley, Washington, announced it would close indefinitely due to not receiving its annual federal grant. The closure affects more than 400 children and 70 staff members, leaving families without child care and educators without jobs.

    In response, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the administration’s actions.

    “As he works to give more tax breaks to billionaires like himself, Donald Trump is doing everything he can to destroy Head Start—without a care in the world for the hundreds of thousands of working families across the country who depend on it,” said Murray.

    “So far this year, Trump has slow-walked $1 billion in funding from going out the door to Head Start programs, and we are beginning to see the devastating consequences: centers closing, kids kicked out of the classroom, teachers losing their jobs, and entire communities losing out. In Washington state, hundreds of kids will be kicked out of Head Start programs—sending their parents scrambling—if this isn’t immediately rectified.”

    “Trump isn’t content to simply hold up funding—he wants to eliminate the program altogether and rip pre-K and essential support away from families nationwide. Democrats won’t let a proposal like that go anywhere in Congress—but make no mistake: Trump is already doing all he can to wreck the program on his own, withholding funding and shuttering the offices and firing the people who get local Head Start centers what they need to serve families,” Murray continued. “Now, we’re seeing the ruinous consequences. I’m going to keep fighting back with all I’ve got—because we’ve got to keep mobilizing and opposing this administration’s cruel agenda to help billionaires and hurt working families.”

    From January 1 to April 15, 2025, the Trump administration disbursed just $1.605 billion in Head Start grants. That compares to $2.548 billion during the same period last year—a $943 million difference. The delays come despite Congress funding Head Start at $12.27 billion for both fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

    Head Start centers rely on predictable funding cycles to continue operations. Even short delays can trigger layoffs, classroom closures, and disruptions to critical early learning services.

    The cuts are hitting states across the board. California saw a decline of more than $128 million, New York nearly $65 million, and Texas more than $61 million. In Washington state, Head Start funding dropped from $50 million last year to just $13.6 million so far in 2025—a nearly $36.5 million cut.

    Since early 2025, the Trump administration has undertaken aggressive moves to dismantle Head Start’s infrastructure. In February, dozens of staff were laid off from the HHS Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care. In April, HHS closed half of the regional offices responsible for supporting and overseeing local programs, without providing a clear plan for how services and oversight would continue uninterrupted.

    The lack of transparency and strategic planning has alarmed advocates and lawmakers alike, who say the administration is undermining one of the country’s most successful early education initiatives. Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has served nearly 40 million children and families, with over 750,000 currently enrolled and more than 17,000 Head Start centers in operation—many serving rural and underserved communities.

    Source: Seattle Medium

  • Pep Guardiola aims subtle dig at Manchester United following Lyon win


    Image Credits: GETTY IMAGES

    Manchester United may still be enduring a miserable Premier League campaign.

    However, their dramatic 7-6 aggregate win over Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals has at least provided fans with a historic moment to savour.

    Despite that, the club’s domestic struggles remain a key talking point.

    Pep Guardiola couldn’t resist a subtle dig at United when addressing Manchester City’s own difficult season.

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

    The reigning Premier League champions have already seen their grip on the title slip away.

    City are now locked in a tense battle to simply secure Champions League qualification.

    City sit fifth  – a position that will be enough this season.

    But the pressure remains, with Aston Villa and Chelsea both applying pressure.

    Guardiola, however, has refused to get too downbeat about his side’s situation, insisting things could be far worse.

    Pep Guardiola mocks Manchester United league position

    Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Everton, the Spaniard said:

    “Hopefully next season, we can be there, deal with the big clubs in Europe.

    “We can challenge them better than we have done this season but what we have done in the latest seven years we were there.

    “Even when we were out, we compete really well.”

    He continued: “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to fight to qualify for the Champions League.

    “We could be in a much lower position in the Premier League if you had done fewer good things than we have done in these four, five months.

    “People say we are fourth now but I say yeah we could be 11th or 12th or 13th or 14th.

    “I don’t have any doubts about that. So I take it like ‘okay, it has not been good but it’s in our hands.’”

    The comments came at a time when Manchester United are languishing in 14th place, having lost 14 of their 32 matches so far this season.

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

    Ruben Amorim’s side are already guaranteed to record their worst ever Premier League finish.

    However, the Red Devils remain in the hunt for Champions League football through Europa League success.

    United are set to face Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals.

    While Tottenham, also struggling a point behind United, will take on Bodo/Glimt in the other tie.

    Guardiola’s pointed remarks about being grateful not to be stuck in 13th or 14th offered a timely reminder of just how far United have fallen, despite their European exploits.

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

    Source: Centred Devils

  • Promised ‘Golden Age’ for Oil and Gas Jeopardized by Trump’s Trade War

    Promised ‘Golden Age’ for Oil and Gas Jeopardized by Trump’s Trade War

    China dumps the US and bets on Russia

    By GLOBAL AFFAIRS via The Liberty Beacon

    Since March 2025, there has been a complete halt in the importation of US crude oil and American liquefied natural gas (LNG) into China, signifying a significant downturn in the energy trade between the two nations amidst an intensifying tariff conflict, as reported by energy traders in China.

    This decline commenced merely two months prior, coinciding with the reinstatement of the Trump administration and the resurgence of a stringent trade policy. China represents a significant and expanding market for liquefied natural gas exports, especially from Texas. According to census data, energy exports constitute 39% of Texas’s total exports to China.

    (Source: REUTERS/SCANPIX)

    Long-Term Consequences for LNG Shipping and Challenges Ahead:

    1. Decreased Tonne-Mile Demand: As China increases its LNG imports from neighboring countries, such as Russia, the reduction in long-haul voyages between the US and China will lead to a decline in overall tonne-mile production.

    2. Insufficient Offsets from Other Regions: Increases in LNG shipments from Canada or Africa will not adequately compensate for the tonne-miles lost due to the diminished flow of LNG between the US and China.

    3. Limited US-Asia Trade Growth: The lack of robust LNG trade between the US and China will hinder the expansion of US-Asia shipping, especially if demand in Europe begins to stabilise.

    4. Increased Russian Pipeline Gas Supply: The development of initiatives like Power of Siberia 2 may further diminish the demand for LNG, thereby lowering the need for shipping services.

    U.S.-China trade tensions have resurfaced, significantly impacting the global LNG market. The US has reinstated major tariffs, leading China to impose a 15% retaliatory tariff on US liquefied natural gas (LNG). Consequently, China has halted imports of US LNG, redirecting shipments to Europe and disrupting established trade routes. This shift is further supported by a 24% year-over-year drop in China’s LNG imports for the first quarter of 2025 and strong gas deliveries from Russia via the Power of Siberia pipeline…

    IMAGE: The Yamal LNG liquefied natural gas plant in the seaport of Sabbeta on the western shore of the Ob Bay of the Kara Sea (Source: NS Energy)

    Natalia Dembinskaya reports for RIA Novosti…

    Step on the gas: China dumps the US and bets on Russia

    “China may completely abandon American LNG” – Pavel Maryshev, economist

    Amid the trade war, Beijing has suspended purchases of American liquefied natural gas. Analysts do not rule out that this will be the case for a long time. China plans to purchase even more LNG from Russia. What volumes are they counting on, and why Moscow will meet them halfway…

    Stopped import

    Last year, China received 8.3 million tons of LNG from Russia. This is the third figure after Australia (26.19) and Qatar (18.34). In fourth place is Malaysia – 7.69.

    There were also American imports (4.2 million tons), but due to Trump’s unprecedented trade tariffs, Beijing stopped this.

    Source: TLB