Former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Wike, in a televised media chat on Friday, said while he was not happy with the declaration of the president, the decision saved Rivers State from implosion.
He said he would have preferred the outright removal of the Governor from office, but the president’s decision saved him.
The former Rivers governor who has been at loggerheads with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara said he is open to forgiving the governor if he apologises.
“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers State. I wanted his outright removal of Governor Fubara. The President by declaring state of emergency, saved Fubara,” Wike said at media
Recall that President Bola Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in the state on March 18 citing the lingering political crisis and its effects on democracy, security, and citizens’ well-being as reasons for the declaration.
Tinubu referred to security reports of pipeline vandalism by militants and the inability of the governor and legislature to work together as justification for his intervention.
I Wanted Fubara’s Removal, Not Suspension — Wike is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
By MICHELLE L. PRICE and MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new U.S. intelligence assessment found no coordination between Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan government, contradicting statements that Trump administration officials have made to justify their invocation of the Alien Enemies Act and deporting Venezuelan migrants, according to U.S. officials.
The classified assessment from the National Intelligence Council, released this month, is more comprehensive and authoritative than an earlier intelligence product released Feb. 26 and reported last month by The New York Times, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the assessment. They were not authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The new assessment draws input from the 18 agencies that comprise the intelligence community. It repeatedly stated that Tren de Aragua, a gang that originated in a prison in Venezuela, is not coordinated with or supported by the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, or senior officials in the Venezuelan government. While the assessment found minimal contact between some members of the gang and low-level members of the Venezuelan government, there was a consensus that there was no coordination or directive role between gang and government.
The assessment provided support and extensive sourcing for those assertions, according to the officials. Of the 18 organizations that make up the U.S. government’s intelligence community, only one — the FBI — did not agree with the findings.
It is not uncommon for intelligence agencies to differ in their assessments on matters of great public interest. But the latest assessment was significant for its near unanimity.
Several years ago, under former Director Christopher Wray, the FBI assessed that the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a lab leak, though that was hardly the uniform consensus. The position got recent support from a CIA assessment declassified in January.
Asked for comment, the White House shared a statement on Friday from the office of the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
“President Trump took necessary and historic action to safeguard our nation when he deported these violent Tren de Aragua terrorists,” the statement said. “Now that America is safer without these terrorists in our cities, deep state actors have resorted to using their propaganda arm to attack the President’s successful policies.”
The assessment comes amid a court ruling on the Alien Enemies Act
The intelligence assessment’s findings come as the Supreme Court ruled last week that the Trump administration can use the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime law, to deport Venezuelan migrants — but that the migrants must get court hearings before they’re taken from the United States.
Tren de Aragua has been linked to a series of kidnappings, extortion and other crimes throughout the Western Hemisphere. Those activities are tied to a mass exodus of millions of Venezuelans as their country’s economy unraveled over the past decade.
The Alien Enemies Act was created to give the president wide powers to imprison and deport noncitizens in time of war. Until now, it has been used just three times, most recently eight decades ago during World War II to justify the detention of Japanese-American civilians.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which has filed legal challenges to the Trump administration’s use of the law, contends that Trump does not have the authority to use the Alien Enemies Act against a criminal gang rather than a recognized state.
Trump says Tren de Aragua ‘infiltrated’ Maduro government
President Donald Trump invoked the act in March, declaring in a proclamation that Tren de Aragua “is closely aligned with, and indeed has infiltrated, the Maduro regime, including its military and law enforcement apparatus.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi repeated that assertion Monday night in an interview on Fox News Channel. Bondi defended the invocation of the wartime law and called Tren de Aragua “a foreign arm of the Venezuelan government.”
“They are organized. They have a command structure. And they have invaded our country,” she said.
Last month, the Trump administration used the Alien Enemies Act to fly more than 130 men accused of being members of the gang to El Salvador, where the U.S. has paid for the men to be held in a notorious prison. The Venezuelans deported under the act received no opportunity to challenge the orders, and attorneys for many of the men have said there is no evidence they are gang members.
The Trump administration has argued that the gang has become an invading force and designated it, along with seven other crime groups, as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
The latest intelligence assessment was first reported Thursday by The Washington Post.
Associated Press writers David Klepper and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, the primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece, spoke with Breitbart News recently, sharing his thoughts about the re-election of President Trump.
The Greek primate described Trump’s election as positive, praising his economic and cultural vision while urging caution to prevent global conflicts. While commending Trump for “benefiting the world,” the Archbishop advised him to implement changes “slowly and steadily,” remain attentive to average citizens’ needs, and exercise restraint to avoid a potential return to “harsh times.”
“The election of President Trump was a positive development,” the Archbishop said. “I would like to tell him that we need change, such as the reforms he is trying to implement, but reforms that we can and should understand. For example, when the U.S. relationship with China shifts alongside changing economic dynamics, it could lead to opposite effects and escalation or even a war. Europe is preparing for such a negative scenario. The economy is shifting every day. Rising prices are burdening families, and life is becoming harder. My message here is that we must focus our attention on the younger generations.”
Abp. Ieronymos also said Trump is helping steer the world away from the immoral LGBT agenda:
“In Greece same-sex marriage hasn’t been accepted by a large portion of society,” Ieronymos II said. Recall that Greek politicians became the first from an Orthodox state to legalize gay marriage Greece becomes first Orthodox country to legalize gay marriageGreek Parliament voted late last night, despite the fierce and persistent resistance from the Church and society, to legalize gay marriage and adoption by gay couples.
“>last February.
“We believe in human freedom, but that doesn’t mean extreme actions and demonstrations or activism that largely provokes people. We can’t and we shouldn’t force politicians to vote for something they fundamentally disagree with. All of this has shocked the average citizen in the previous years,” Abp. Ieronymos said.
“Then Trump’s victory came and the President made it clear that there are only two genders and we noticed that many global leaders and EU leaders started to repeat the same argument.”
Further, the Orthodox hierarch cautions the U.S. President to do everything methodically:
In many ways, I commend him and I believe he is benefiting the world. But he also needs sometimes to show a little restraint. People are afraid that if things go wrong, we might return to harsh times. President Trump needs to be aware of the needs of the average person and he plays well this role. But also, I want to remind him that the Church is a force that always can offer support and strength to the people. I’ve always admired our ancestors who used to say that if we want to move fast, we must move forward slowly and steadily. I’ve been following President Trump closely, he’s very active. We do need many changes, but not rushed ones. Step by step I believe he can contribute positively to the world.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America also praised President Trump “You remind me of Emperor Constantine,” Archbishop Elpidophoros tells President Trump (+VIDEO)The Archbishop was welcomed to the White House by the head of state yesterday for an event marking the 204th anniversary of Greek Independence Day—a celebration the White House has held every year since 1987.
“>last month, saying he reminded him of St. Constantine the Great.
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Verify all intercompany transactions across businesses – review and sign off on all intercompany transactions across the divisions
Confirm on monthly basis that charges on COT and Interest are in line with the agreed rate.
Perform any other related duties from time to time
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Luigi Mangione has been indicted on federal charges over the de@th of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.
Brian Thompson d!ed in Manhattan, New York City, after an alleged shooting on 4 December last year.
The 26-year-old has been charged with two counts of stalking, one count of murder through the use of a firearm, and a firearm offence for allegedly using a silencer.
Mangione is accused of shooting Mr Thompson in the back as he walked to a conference.
Officials allege that Mangione targeted Mr Thompson, who was the chief executive of the United States’ largest private health insurance company.
An extensive manhunt followed, with Mangione arrested in Pennsylvania on 9 December.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has indicated prosecutors will seek the de@th penalty in the federal case.
Federal offences carry harsher penalties than state offences and are prosecuted by a different level of government.
In an announcement, she said: “I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
But lawyers representing Mangione argue the death penalty is being sought as “a political stunt”.
Mangione has also been charged in New York on state counts of first-degree murd£r in furtherance of terrorism, as well as two counts of second-degree murd£r.
He is also charged with weapons counts and a count of using a forged instrument.
Discord is a hub for gamers, nerds, and geeks alike, some of whom are likely to be underage. But much like any social media platform, it hosts a variety of content. Some of which aren’t age-appropriate and shouldn’t be subjected to a younger audience. So as a measure to curb that, Discord is introducing a new face or ID scanning option for age verification.
As a part of a new experiment, Discord is rolling out new face and ID requirements for users who haven’t verified their age on the app previously. This will be a one-time process. Discord will either require you to scan your face or a valid ID to allow or restrict access to sensitive media on the platform.
Image Credit: Discord
These new options will only show up when a user tries to watch explicit content, that’s flagged by Discord’s sensitive media server. The other trigger occurs when the user tries to change the filter settings. This will blur or block such content from showing up.
Discord face recognition software should be able to tell your age by looking at your face. However, if the app incorrectly guesses your age, then you can retry the process or ask for a manual review. They also clarified that any of your biometric or ID data isn’t stored on their servers. It is deleted once the verification completes.
The reason for this measure appears to be a response to the U.K.’s Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to introduce strict age verification measures. What do you think of this new age verification measure by Discord? Do you think they should bring it to other regions as well? Let us know in the comments below.
Anshuman Jain
As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to issue a presidential order mandating security agencies to ensure effective security for pastoralist communities across the country.
National Secretary-General of MACBAN, Alhaji Bello Gotomo, who made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Abuja, also urged the Federal Government to end all forms of alleged discriminatory practices against pastoralists in the country.
Gotomo said the Fulani people have faced persistent discrimination, ethnic profiling, and mistreatment in Nigeria and only an executive order by the president would put a stop to them.
The MACBAN Secretary further reiterated the need for the National Security Adviser to implement concrete measures to address the alleged ethnic profiling, stigmatisation and scapegoating of pastoralists.
Gotomo cited recent incidents of alleged unlawful arrests and inhumane treatment of Fulani herders at Opere Market in Kabba Local Government Area of Kogi State, which he described as part of a growing trend of injustice.
He also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission and international bodies to intervene, highlighting ongoing grievances about ethnic scapegoating of Fulani herders in connection with national security issues.
“Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria calls on the federal government, the National Human Rights Commission and the international community to urgently intervene,’ the statement reads.
“The Nigerian government must ensure accountability, justice, and protection for all citizens regardless of ethnicity,” Gotomo said.
METRO DETROIT (WXYZ) — There isn’t anything much worse than hitting a pothole and having to shell out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, to fix your car.
By Ali Hoxie
Click here for updates on this story
METRO DETROIT (WXYZ) — There isn’t anything much worse than hitting a pothole and having to shell out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, to fix your car.
Unfortunately, it’s something all too common for us in Michigan, but now, you could get some of those repairs paid off.
It’s through the Pothole Payback Contest, happening now, through the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) — paying back drivers for their car repairs. The chosen winners could get some much-needed help.
When I went out, it didn’t take me long to find drivers who have been impacted by potholes.
“Just hit a pothole, bent the rim, control arm, front end work,” Nathan Young said.
“How much did you have to pay to fix it?” I asked.
“I think like $400,” he said.
Now through June, MITA is giving five drivers a month up to $758. Why that amount? It’s the average cost Michigan drivers pay in repairs because of bad roads.
“What’s been the feedback so far on this survey from people?” I asked Rob Coppersmith, the executive vice president of MITA.
“Overwhelming, I think the first night that we put it out, it’s one of those things that gets shared quite a bit, within an hour we had 30 or 40 entries,” he said.
All you have to do is fill out your information, describe what happened, attach a picture of the damage and a receipt or estimate for the car repairs, and you’re entered to win.
“There’s a cost to all of us for inaction,” he said.
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Manchester United, high off their dramatic 5-4 win over Lyon, are now turning to their weekend match-up with Wolverhampton Wanderers and a front row seat to watch target Matheus Cunha.
The Wolves striker has had a fantastic season with 16 goals and four assists in 30 matches.
Not only has Cunha been a regular contributor to goals at The Molineux Stadium, but his versatility has also been shown off, being used as a striker, on both wings, and as an attacking midfielder and second striker.
As such, United have been interested in signing the 25-year-old in a bid to upgrade from Rasmus Hojlund, who has failed to provide consistency in front of goal.
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Manchester United’s interest in Matheus Cunha
Over recent weeks Cunha has joined Liam Delap at the top of United’s attacking shortlist, with the pair having proven themselves as Premier League strikers, despite their teams being close to the bottom of the table.
Now, with Cunha set to take to the pitch at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim has specifically named him in the pre-match conference.
Speaking to the press, as reported by The Mirror, Amorim commented: “I think he [Vitor Pereira] is doing an amazing job. He has real quality players – [Matheus] Cunha and all these guys, they have real quality.
“They are fresh, so we know it’s going to be a tough match and we are going to need a lot from our supporters. I know it is a bad thing to ask anything this season from our fans but we need them on Sunday.”
With only six games left, a top-half finish is mathematically possible for The Red Devils, however with games against the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa still to play, United will need to use their momentum and find consistency to fight up the table.
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Greece becomes first Orthodox country to legalize gay marriageGreek Parliament voted late last night, despite the fierce and persistent resistance from the Church and society, to legalize gay marriage and adoption by gay couples.
“You remind me of Emperor Constantine,” Archbishop Elpidophoros tells President Trump (+VIDEO)The Archbishop was welcomed to the White House by the head of state yesterday for an event marking the 204th anniversary of Greek Independence Day—a celebration the White House has held every year since 1987.