Paradise News

Tag: General News

  • Benicio Del Toro, get your facts straight

    CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Benicio Del Toro, 57; Seal, 61; Jeff Daniels, 69; Smokey Robinson, 84.

    Happy Birthday: Persistence will get you where you want to go without interference. Stick close to home, find what works best for you and eliminate dead weight. Step back and get a clear picture of where your money goes and what you can do to save it. Get your facts straight and stick to the rules to avoid costly penalties. Say no to temptation. Your numbers are 4, 18, 21, 23, 30, 37, 48.

    ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t take on an emotional battle you aren’t ready to lose. Do your due diligence, find out where your allies stand and don’t disclose information that someone may use against you. Use your intelligence, not your brawn, if you want to win. 2 stars

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t believe everything you hear. Let your curiosity take over and your direct questions help differentiate between truth and fiction. Call on trusted allies to step in and help you turn your ideas into something tangible. Your reputation will depend on consistency and integrity. 4 stars

    GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t learn the hard way. Question everything and everyone, and go to the source if you want the lowdown. Don’t feel you have to exaggerate to grab someone’s attention. A direct approach will help you attract legitimate candidates to help you reach your goal. 3 stars

    CANCER (June 21-July 22): Work alongside people who share your concerns. You can make a difference if you take an innovative approach to change. Use your experience and intuition to drum up enthusiasm and the hands-on help and support you need. 3 stars

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Someone you think you can trust will have a hidden agenda that will take you by surprise. Keep an open mind, but don’t sign on the dotted line unless you have read the fine print. A poker face will help with negotiations. Reveal only what’s necessary. 3 stars

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Changing your daily routine will give you more time to learn something new. Keeping up with trends will make you a valuable employee or community contributor. Don’t be afraid to highlight your skills. 4 stars

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An energetic approach to fixing your digs will ward off tension and help you bring about changes that will lower your overhead. A disciplined approach to money, health and legal matters will set up roadblocks for anyone trying to scam you or tamper with your personal affairs. 2 stars

    SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Go on a learning expedition. Find out all you can before starting a discussion with someone who uses pressure tactics in order to talk you into something that makes you uncomfortable. Turn your attention to stabilizing your home environment. 5 stars

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Emotional problems will escalate if you or someone close to you isn’t honest regarding intentions or feelings. Be sure to stick to the facts, be precise and ask questions when someone confuses you. 3 stars

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t be afraid to test your options before moving. Let your heart and intuition guide you, and you will recognize and eliminate barriers before they can turn into something problematic. Avoid overreacting, overspending and making premature decisions. 3 stars

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When dealing with friends, relatives and associates, keep your wits about you. Someone will be unpredictable, misleading or ask for something you don’t want to deliver. Someone will withhold pertinent information. Walk away from extravagant situations and people. Stick to those you love and trust. 3 stars

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A kind gesture will bring you joy and respect. An open-door policy that makes others feel comfortable in your environment will help you gain support to fight issues that concern you. A disciplined approach to how you handle money and responsibilities will pay off. 5 stars

    Birthday Baby: You are steadfast, optimistic and generous. You are helpful and reputable.

    1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

    Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

    Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters. 

    Source

  • Elderly UK Couple Ordered To Sell Home To House Migrants


    North Northamptonshire Council later apologized, claiming letter demanding elderly couple surrender home to migrants was just an “error.”

    An elderly English couple was shocked to receive a letter from their county’s council ordering them to sell their home to house migrants.

    The North Northamptonshire Council sent a strongly-worded letter to Jose and Ted Saunders in January claiming their £200,000 home could be subject to compulsory purchase from the government to be used to house young migrant men.

    “I couldn’t believe it,” said retired carer Jose, 76. “We moved to Rushden to help provide childcare for my grand-daughter and found this nice little place to live.”

    “What on earth is the council doing forcing people to sell their houses – and even an empty house is owned by someone – so that asylum seekers can live in them?” she asked.

    “The answer to this is to stop them coming in the first place, not to force people out of their homes.”

    • Save 40% on DNA Force Plus NOW! Try it today and see why so many listeners have made it an essential part of their daily routine!

    “The idea of forcing us to sell it to make room for refugees and asylum seekers seems totally wrong,” she added.

    From the Daily Mail:

    The letter, headed ‘Empty Properties and sites initiative’ had their exact address in bold and stated: ‘We are writing as we have reason to believe that the above-named premises… is empty or unused.

    ‘The Government has identified empty privately-owned properties as a potential cause o blight within communities, and as a wasted resource at time of high housing need.’

    The letter continued that the council was seeing a ‘considerable increase’ in positive immigration decisions being made in favour of asylum seekers, mainly single men, and the authority was ‘struggling’ to source suitable accommodation for them.

    It added: ‘The ideal long-term solution would be to provide accommodation by using empty properties which would benefit owners and the project.’

    It said the council could make a compulsory purchase order on the property.

    Following backlash, the council soon apologized for the “error” but blamed pressure to find accommodation for migrants on Home Office speeding up asylum claims.

    “North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) is working with owners of long-term empty properties to bring their property back into use. Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) are not utilised to ‘oust’ current owners from their properties, they are a tool used as a very last resort to bring empty properties, which are a valuable and much need housing resource, back into use,” Jason Smithers, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council, told the Daily Mail.

    “The ’empty property initiative letters’ were sent out in a bid to assist empty property owners to bring their property back into use, and on the whole, the support from NNC was gratefully received. Since NNC formed in 2021, no properties have been purchased by CPO. This is a mechanism of last resort to bring problematic, long term empty properties back into use.”

    “Unfortunately, in this case, records held by NNC were outdated, and the letter was incorrectly sent to a property which was occupied. For this I am very sorry for causing any undue distress and worry,” he added.

    Meanwhile, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman claimed in October that BILLIONS of migrants flooding into the country was a “realistic” possibility.

    “The wind of change that carried my own parents across the globe in the 20th Century was a mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming,” she said.

    “Because today the option of moving from a poorer country to a richer one is not just a dream for billions of people, it is an entirely realistic prospect.”

    In America, virtue-signaling liberals are already beginning to voluntarily take in migrants at the request of state officials amid the unprecedented illegal invasion of the southern border.

    Follow Jamie White on X | Truth | Gab | Gettr | Minds



    Source

  • SERAP’s Court Action On NNPCL Belated, Revenue Shortfall Issues Resolved By Presidency Committee Over Five Months Ago— Investigation

    Despite the claims by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project that the defunct Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation did not remit $2.04bn and N164bn into the Federation Account in 2020 before transitioning into a commercial venture, the federal government was more indebted to the national oil company with about N4.1trn ($9.74bn) for subsidy payment, THE WHISTLER can report.

    SERAP had in a letter dated February 17, 2024, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to “promptly account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing $2.04bn and N164bn in oil revenues.”

    SERAP had urged Kyari “to name and shame those responsible for the disappeared oil money, surcharge them for the full amount involved, and hand them over to appropriate anticorruption agencies, as provided for under paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009, and recommended by the Auditor-General.”

    The corporation had transitioned into NNPC Limited on July 19, 2022, to operate as a commercial entity under the regulation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

    The move ended its dependence on federal government’s funding formits commercial operations.

    President Bola Tinubu had on May 29 removed the subsidy on petrol following the inability of the federal government to carry the huge payment burden.

    But before the removal of petrol subsidy, the NNPCL has been the sole importer of petrol into the country spending about N400bn monthly on behalf of the federation through an arrangement known as under-recovery.

    Subsidy or under-recovery is the shortfall for the underpriced sales of premium motor spirit, better known as petrol.

    From January 2023 to May 2023, petrol under-recovery totalled N1.828trn which is 55 percent higher than the N1.27trn paid in the corresponding period of 2022.

    Sources told THE WHISTLER on Sunday that although NNPC Limited received several letters from FAAC requesting payment of the N2.8trn that NNPC is allegedly owing the federation accounts, the Company had said it could not pay any money to FAAC pending the reconciliation of the N4.1trn debt the federal government was owing it.

    “We agree that we owe the federal government N2.8trn, but the federation osthe NNPCL N4.1trn for fuel subsidy and power debts.
    So, we can’t pay our debtor who owe us more than what we owe them,” one of the sources said.

    The source added that the subsidy cost was far higher than the amount that the federation can carry, thus making the NNPCL shoulder the burden all alone since there was no cash backing from the federal government.

    The source added, “We used to shoulder the subsidy cost while the federation was budgeting for it without cash backing. The federation oil and gas entitlements were less than the subsidy burden and hence insufficient for us to offset.”

    Already, it was learnt that President Bola Tinubu had set up an inter-agency committee to resolve the lingering row between the NNPC Limited and FAAC in the last couple of years.

    One of the Presidency sources that spoke to THE WHISTLER, said that vested interests had told the president things that were not entirely factual, prompting the national oil company to write that the matter should be resolve once and for all.

    “So many things have been told to Mr. President since assuming office by some vested interests that NNPC Limited has refused to pay into the federation accounts.

    “And because we want the general public to know the truth, NNPC Limited management wrote the President to investigate the matter and Mr President graciously approved that an inter-agency committee be set up to investigate and reconcile the matter,” the source stated.

    FAAC had on several ocassion accused the NNPC Limited of short-changing it by refusing to pay N2.8trn to the federation account from crude sales, royalties and taxes while the NNPC Limited on the other hand had said that the Federal Government was owing it over N4.1trn in subsidy payment, power debt and other sundry charges.

    The committee, which began sitting in June last year at the Ministry of Finance was mandated to reconcile the controversies surrounding the N4.1trn debt the Federal Government is owing NNPC Limited and the N2.8trn that the NNPC Limited is said to have failed to remit to the federation account.

    Besides, the ministry of finance and NNPC Limited, other members of the debt reconciliation committee include the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and FAAC Post-Mortem Sub-Committee.

    The establishment of the committee by the president followed a memo dated June 13, 2023, written by the Group Chief Executive Officer (GECO) NNPC Mallam Mele Kyari appealing to him to intervene in the matter.

    The letter stated that this was with a view to putting to rest all the allegations and counter allegations by both FAAC and NNPC Limited on the status of the debts and remittances.

    THE WHISTLER understands that a preliminary report has been submitted by the committee to the President.

    SERAP’s Court Action On NNPCL Belated, Revenue Shortfall Issues Resolved By Presidency Committee Over Five Months Ago— Investigation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

    Source

  • Aiyuk/Deebo, Armstead questions but many locked in

    The 49ers have played in the NFC Championship Game four of the last five seasons and the Super Bowl twice over that span.

    There has been only one sustained run of success like it in 49ers history, when they were in six conference title games in seven years between 1988 and 1994 and were world champions three times.

    Coach Kyle Shanahan, teamed with general manager John Lynch, has not won the big one. But he’s getting them to the precipice with regularity and the cupboard is not bare. Wipe away the pain of a 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and is it really so hard to believe they can’t make another run at it?

    The 2023 49ers are history. Roster turnover is inevitable.

    “The more good players you get, the tougher decisions you have,” general manager John Lynch said Tuesday at the 49ers’ season-ending press conference. “It’s tough to take care of everyone. I know a lot of players want to be here. I’ve already had those conversations with people and there’s a way to get it done . . . it’s nice that we’re expecting 10, 11 draft choices with compensation and such. We’re going to be healthy there. You’ve got to have those guys contribute when you have as many high-priced players as we have.”

    Lynch along with the 49ers’ cap experts will crunch the numbers according to Shanahan’s wishes.

    Which names currently under contract are carved in stone for the 2024 roster? Here’s an educated guess:

    Stone-cold locks

    QB Brock Purdy: His only failing is that he wasn’t Patrick Mahomes. Shanahan got fabulously lucky when Purdy exceeded all expectations because he’d stepped so far outside of his comfort zone with Trey Lance and whiffed. Plus he makes just over $1 million, opening up possibilities elsewhere.

    DE Nick Bosa: He said he didn’t do enough at the Super Bowl, but when Bosa watches the tape he may feel differently. A new defensive coordinator’s first order of business is to turn Bosa loose and not get too clever.

    RB Christian McCaffrey: The NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year has suited up for 33 games as a 49er including the postseason and has 40 touchdowns. He’s woefully underpaid (his cap number is half that of Deebo Samuel) but there’s no indication he’s looking for a pay bump.

    LT Trent Williams: He’s probably still upset about a penalty and false start that killed a 49ers drive in the Super Bowl. But Williams has got another Pro Bowl on his mind en route to a yellow jacket and the Hall of Fame and there’s no reason to believe he won’t get it.

    MLB Fred Warner: The leader of the 49ers’ defense is a two-time All-Pro and conscience.

    TE George Kittle: It was a pretty healthy year for Kittle and it showed in his production. What the 49ers need is a second tight end who’s a legitimate receiving option.

    CB Charvarius Ward: He’s the closest thing the 49ers have to lock down outside corner. Ward had games where he shadowed the opponent’s top receiver — something the 49ers hadn’t done previously and may not do again now that Steve Wilks is out of the picture.

    DT Javon Hargrave: Truth be told, he probably didn’t live up to his contract but was still a positive presence and not a candidate for release given the damage it would do to the salary cap.

    San Francisco 49ers' Deommodore Lenoir (2) can't intercept the ball on a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans (13) in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    Cornerback Deommdore Lenoir (2) will be one of the building blocks for the 49ers’ 2024 defense.

    FB Kyle Juszczyk: The only way Juszczyk is out is if Shanahan isn’t the coach. Shanahan is the coach and he wants a fullback. This is the fullback.

    CB Deommodore Lenoir: Lenoir did good work outside and inside in both coverage and as a playmaker. His progress has been a steady ascent.

    LB Dre Greenlaw: He’ll be rehabbing an Achilles’ tear. It’s a tough road for someone who relies on being explosive. We may not see the real Greenlaw until 2025. But the 49ers are obligated to see it through with Greenlaw for the way he fought through the Achilles’ tendonitis before it finally popped.

    SS Talanoa Hufanga: The tear to his ACL came early enough he could be ready for Week 1. Hufanga wasn’t the same player before being injured under Wilks that he was in Year 2 under DeMeco Ryans.

    C Jake Brendel: He got paid last year so he’ll be back after a solid season.

    T Colton McKivitz: Even if the 49ers go out and get a right tackle to fortify the right side of the line, McKivitz stays as a swing tackle. He played more snaps than any other 49ers offensive lineman.

    LG Aaron Banks: The Alameda native made positive strides in his second year as a starter.

    K Jake Moody: What do you think the chances are Robbie Gould would have attempted 53- and 55-yard field goals in a Super Bowl? Even with a perfect postseason record, the answer is no chance.

    S Ji’Ayir Brown: The rookie showed enough that he should be penciled in as a starting safety.

    P Mitch Wishnowsky: He had a very good under-the-radar season for both distance and pinning opponents in poor field position.

    RB Elijah Mitchell: Mitchell is probably one more injury away from the 49ers simply throwing up their hands in frustration but Shanahan loves his running style.

    G Spencer Burford: He didn’t make the second-year leap Banks did in 2022 but hard to envision giving up on him this soon.

    San Francisco 49ers' Deebo Samuel (19) walks off the field after their Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (Jos Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
    Deebo Samuel (19) of the 49ers has a million cap number that could make retaining Brandon Aiyuk difficult.

    Keep an eye on

    WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel: Can they keep both? It’s hard to envision Aiyuk playing under his fifth-year option of $14 million, and will Samuel restructure and drop his $28 million cap hit?

    DT Arik Armstead: He also has a bloated cap number of more than $28 million and has missed 13 out of 34 games in the last two regular seasons. Armstead is a beloved member of the roster, but it’s a rough business sometimes.

    49ers free agents

    Unrestricted unless otherwise indicated

    DE Randy Gregory, DE Chase Young, QB Sam Darnold, DE Javon Kinlaw, FS Tashaun Gipson, DT Sebastian Joseph, LB Oren Burks, DE Clelin Ferrell, G Jon Feliciano, DT Kevin Givens, WR-PR Ray-Ray McCloud, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, TE Ross Dwelley, WR Chris Conley, QB Brandon Allen, DB Logan Ryan, OL Matt Pryor, TE Charlie Woerner, WR Jauan Jennings (RFA), G Ben Bartch (RFA)

    Summary: Nobody on the free agent list jumps out as a must-have in 2024 but many will get consideration based on whether they want to return or go to the highest bidder. Since Jennings remains under team control, it’s hard to envision the 49ers letting him walk away.

    The open market

    The 49ers have manipulated the cap to pull out a big-ticket surprise in each of the last two years — Ward in 2022 and Hargrave last season. If they’re thinking big strike again, some names to be considered if franchise tags don’t take them off the market:

    S Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay: A versatile safety who can play the back end, the slot and fit into any system.

    CB L’Jarius Snead, Kansas City: If you can’t beat ’em . . . Chiefs D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo raved about him during Super Bowl week.

    Source

  • Wisconsin ‘fake elector’ Andrew Hitt says he was tricked into signing document claiming Trump won in 2020

    The former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party said Sunday he was “tricked” into signing documents alleging former President Trump won the 2020 election as part of the state’s “fake elector” scheme.

    Andrew Hitt told Anderson Cooper in a “60 Minutes” interview that he was advised by the state GOP’s legal counsel to sign the documents as a contingency, in case the Trump campaign’s legal case against Wisconsin’s election integrity succeeded. 

    Hitt said he “wasn’t comfortable with” Trump campaign attempts to toss out votes in Wisconsin, and that he didn’t believe the legal claims of widespread fraud.

    “We got specific advice from our lawyers that these documents were meaningless, unless a court said they had meaning,” he said.

    He added that he felt pressured into signing the document, fearful that he would be held responsible in the situation that the Trump suit won and the electors were not prepared.

    “It was not a safe time,” he said. “If my lawyer is right, and the whole reason Trump loses Wisconsin is because of me, I will be scared to death.”

    “If I knew what I knew now, I wouldn’t have done it,” he continued. “It was kept from us that there was this alternate scheme, alternate motive.”

    The ten Wisconsin GOP electors met at the state Capitol on Dec. 14 to sign the document under supervision of Kenneth Chesebro, the Trump campaign lawyer that federal special counsel Jack Smith described as the “architect” of the fake elector scheme. 

    The same day, the Wisconsin Supreme Court threw out the Trump campaign suit in a 4-3 ruling. Hitt said he went forward with signing the document anyway in case the Supreme Court overturned the decision.

    Chesebro is also one of 19 people, including multiple Trump campaign attorneys and the former president himself, charged in a separate Georgia state racketeering case over the fake elector scheme in that state. Chesebro pleaded guilty to lesser charges after reaching an agreement with Georgia prosecutors in October.

    A part-time state GOP employee told Cooper she personally delivered the fake Electoral College votes that Hitt and the other Wisconsin GOP electors signed to Chesebro in Washington. In the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, the fake votes were not recognized.

    Hitt resigned from his post leading the state GOP in August 2021.

    Fake electors have been charged with crimes in multiple states, including Michigan and Nevada, but have not faced legal repercussions in Wisconsin. Hitt says he believes prosecutors understand that the electors were tricked. He told Cooper he has cooperated with federal prosecutors.

    “Whenever anybody sees our text messages, our emails, our documents, they understand, they know- their conclusion is we were tricked,” he said. “The January 6 committee saw it. Jack Smith, specifically in his indictment, refers to ‘some of the electors were tricked.’ That was us.”

    The Wisconsin fake electors settled a civil suit against them in December, admitting the document was part of a scheme to overturn the election results.

    “We oppose any attempt to undermine the public’s faith in the ultimate results of the 2020 presidential election,” read a statement by the 10 Republicans that was attached to the settlement agreement.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Source

  • Did Obama Commit Massive Blatant Treason?


    Evidence shows Barack Obama conspired with intelligence agencies to commit treason on a scale that makes Watergate look like a Sunday school picnic.

    A Top Secret 2016 United Kingdom Government Communications Headquarters document signed off by GCHQ Director Robert Hennigan under the umbrella of New World Order loon Boris Johnson details an operation known as ‘Project Fulsome.’

    The verification of the document is still in question. However, General Flynn has referenced the document several times for years.

    If the document is verified to be real, and these things take time, Hunter’s laptop for example, then it only goes to backup what we all saw with our own eyes and ears.

    Barack Obama, hellbent on maintaining his Executive power, in league with global intelligence agencies conspired to commit treason on a scale that makes Watergate look like a caveman having a picnic.

    • URGENT! Keep Alex Jones in the fight against the NWO! Please pray & contribute at DefendJones.com today!

    Source

  • House Of Reps Dep Speaker, Chief Of Staff, Others Celebrate Governor Otti At 59

    Abia State is pulsating with celebratory energy as Governor Alex Otti marks his 59th birthday today. From prominent dignitaries to ordinary citizens, a wave of good wishes and appreciation is sweeping across the state, reflecting the Governor’s impactful leadership in the state.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Caleb Ajagba and Provost of Abia State College of Education,Vincent Onwe, are among dignitaries who have commended the Governor on his birthday.

    Painting a vivid picture of Governor Otti’s journey, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kazie Uko said, “Governor Otti’s rise is a testament to his consistent hard work, discipline, and the grace of God. He excelled in the banking industry, transforming Diamond Bank from a struggling entity into the fifth most profitable bank in Nigeria within three years.”

    He continued, “Many questioned his foray into politics, but his unwavering intervention has yielded remarkable results. Abia is witnessing a surge in infrastructural development, improved security, and a restored sense of pride among its people.”

    Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, applauded Governor Otti’s achievements in the past six months. He highlighted the strong foundation laid for lasting legacies in governance and commended the Governor’s inclusive leadership style, evident in his willingness to collaborate with other leaders from the state.

    “Abia has become a massive construction site under your passionate leadership,” Kalu remarked, adding that “I have full confidence that by the end of your tenure, the state will have undergone a remarkable infrastructural renaissance, restoring its lost glory and solidifying its position as a leader among Nigerian states.”

    He pledge to support Governor Otti’s “all-inclusive approach” for the continued development of Abia.

    Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee (NANS JCC) Abia State was not left out. Chairman of the group, Comrade Prince Jacob, expressed his appreciation for the Governor’s focus on education and its impact on Abia students.

    “On behalf of the teeming Abia students across the various tertiary institutions in the state, I extend our heartfelt felicitations to His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, on this momentous occasion of his 59th birthday.”

    He said Governor Otti’s commitment to education has been a beacon of hope for students, stressing that the introduction of scholarships has eased the financial burden on many students.

    Governor Otti’s political appointees, led by the Chief of Staff, Dr. Caleb Ajagba, surprised the Governor with a heartwarming birthday celebration at his country home followed by cutting of birthday cake.

    They hailed the Governor as a source of inspiration and a leader who has made a tangible impact on the lives of Abians. The atmosphere crackled with joy and admiration as they recounted the positive changes witnessed under his leadership.

    Transition Councillor, Micheal Ezeh from Umuahia North declared, “Governor Otti is indeed Chiọma Abia (Good god of Abia)! His achievements are remarkable. I propose his birthday be declared a public holiday in Abia State to commemorate his impact.”

    Professor Onwe, Provost of Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu (ASCETA), said “Governor Otti has transformed Abia into a construction zone,” adding that”no past government achieved this! We are grateful and wish him a long life and prosperity.”

    Mrs. Ngozi Iheanacho, a teacher, said, “Governor Otti has prioritized our welfare with improved salaries and timely payments. This has boosted our morale and enabled us to deliver quality education to our students.”

    Businessmen and leaders were not left out. The Governor’s dedication to various sectors resonates with different groups. Comrade Chimuanya E Eze, founder of Odinma Ndi Abia Pro-group, praised his support for transporters, while Mr. Collins Uchendu, Chairman of St. Michael GSM market, expressed the community’s loyalty, highlighting the positive impact on their lives.

    Mr. Emeka Okafor, a trader, said, “Governor Otti has brought positive changes to Abia. We see infrastructure development, improved security, and more opportunities for businesses like mine to thrive.”

    House Of Reps Dep Speaker, Chief Of Staff, Others Celebrate Governor Otti At 59 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

    Source

  • Steph Curry, West routed by East, Damian Lillard

    INDIANAPOLIS — Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry and the Western Conference nearly set a record for the most points scored by one team in an NBA All-Star Game.

    And they still lost by 25.

    Once again, the All-Star Game was all offense.

    The Eastern Conference beat the Western Conference 211-186 on Sunday night, with the winners putting up the most points in the game’s 73-year history. The previous mark: 196 by the West in 2016.

    It was a flurry of records: The total points of 397 smashed the record of 374 set in 2017, while the East made 42 3-pointers to break the mark of 35 set by Team LeBron in 2019. The sides combined for 193 points in the first half to break the any-half record of 191 set last year, and the East tied an any-half record by scoring 104 by intermission.

    All-Star MVP Damian Lillard, an Oakland native, scored 39 points for the East, while Jaylen Brown, a former Cal standout, had 36 and Tyrese Haliburton from the hometown Indiana Pacers finished with 32.

    “To be able to have this kind of accomplishment, it’s special,” Lillard said.

    Curry had a less-than-perfect night shooting, hitting just 6-of-17 field goal attempts and 4-of-13 shots from 3-point range. He finished with 16 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, and had a plus-minus rating of minus-23, the highest among all players.

    Perhaps unnoticed: Karl-Anthony Towns scored 50 points for the West in just 28 minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 for the West.

    The highlights were from everywhere. Lillard pulled up from halfcourt in the third quarter — swish. Luka Doncic tried a shot from about 70 feet late in the first half; it hit near the top of the backboard. Towns even threw an alley-oop to Curry, much more of a shooter than a dunker, so he simply laid it in instead.

    “The shot-making from the East was incredible,” West forward Kevin Durant said. “Hard to play defense when somebody’s shooting 30-, 40-footers over you.”

    The West scored a ton of points, too: At 186, it had the fourth-most by any team in All-Star history. And obviously, the most ever in a loss.

    Among the other records:

    — The East tried 97 3-pointers; the previous record was 90 by Team LeBron in 2019.

    — The teams combined for 66 3s made and 168 3s attempted (previous records were 62 and 167 in 2019).

    Defense was optional, sometimes accidental.

    Haliburton had five 3-pointers in a 1:32 span in the first quarter, helping the East take a 53-47 lead after the opening 12 minutes.

    NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and other league executives were seeking a more competitive All-Star Game after last season’s 184-175 matchup was widely panned — and television ratings plummeted.

    Even Hall of Famer Larry Bird, honored Sunday at the NBA Legends Brunch, said was hoping the message from the league resonated and players took the All-Star Game a little more seriously.

    “I know what this league’s all about and I’m very proud of it,” Bird said. “I’m proud of today’s players. I like the game they play. … I think it’s very important when you have the best players in the world together, you’ve got to compete and you’ve got to play hard and you’ve got to show the fans how good they really are.”

    Source

  • Air Canada must pay refund promised by AI chatbot, tribunal rules

    Air Canada must pay a Vancouver man a partial refund for his flight ticket that was promised by the site’s chatbot, a Canadian tribunal ruled Wednesday, in what could be a landmark case for the use of artificial intelligence in business.

    Jake Moffatt asked the airline’s artificial intelligence support chatbot whether the airline offered bereavement fares in November 2022 following the death of his grandmother. The chatbot said the airline does offer discount fares and that Moffat could receive the discount up to 90 days after flying by filing a claim.

    The airline’s actual bereavement policy, however, does not include a post-flight refund, and specifically states that the discount must be approved beforehand. 

    Moffat booked and flew from Vancouver to Toronto and back for about $1200, and later requested the promised discount of about half off, but was told by the airline’s support staff that the chatbot’s replies were incorrect and non-binding.

    Air Canada argued in the civil tribunal that the chatbot is a “separate legal entity” to the company, and that it could not be held responsible for its words to customers. 

    Tribune member Christopher Rivers ruled in favor of Moffat on Wednesday, determining that the airline committed “negligent misrepresentation” and that it must follow through with the chatbot’s promised discount. 

    “This is a remarkable submission,” he wrote. “While a chatbot has an interactive component, it is still just a part of Air Canada’s website. It should be obvious to Air Canada that it is responsible for all the information on its website. It makes no difference whether the information comes from a static page or a chatbot.”

    Rivers ordered Air Canada to pay Moffat the promised $483 refund plus nominal fees.

    “I find Air Canada did not take reasonable care to ensure its chatbot was accurate,” Rivers continued. “While Air Canada argues Mr. Moffatt could find the correct information on another part of its website, it does not explain why the webpage titled ‘Bereavement travel’ was inherently more trustworthy than its chatbot. It also does not explain why customers should have to double-check information found in one part of its website on another part of its website.”

    The support chatbot, launched last year, was not visible on the airline’s website as of Sunday. 

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Source

  • Sunday Live: UN Holds World Hostage, Demands Passage of Pandemic Treaty or Disease X Will Kill Us All


    Meanwhile, the complete weaponization of the Deep State-controlled American court system has triggered explosive awakening to NWO tyranny — lawyer Viva Frei will join the show to break it all down!

    Alex Jones breaks down how the World Health Organization is threatening the outbreak of Disease X unless nations across the world allow the passage of the UN Pandemic Treaty. Lawyer Viva Frei also joins the show to discuss the weaponized judicial system targeting Trump as polls signal a massive 2024 landslide. Tune in!

    Tune into this live broadcast at MadMaxWorld.TV and spread the word!



    Source