Politics, World News

South Korea pardons jailed ex-president Lee Myung-bak

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Jailed former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak received a presidential pardon on Tuesday, cutting short his 17-year sentence on corruption charges, the justice minister said.

Lee was on a list of more than 1,300 people who received special pardons “from the perspective of broad national unity through reconciliation, tolerance and consideration”, Han Dong-hoon told reporters after a Cabinet meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The 81-year-old Lee, who in June was granted a temporary release from jail due to his age and deteriorating health, is serving 17 years for bribery and embezzlement.

It was effectively a life sentence as he was not due for release until 2036, when he would be 95.

The former Hyundai CEO-turned-president was charged with 16 criminal allegations in 2018 and sentenced in 2020.

He was found guilty of creating slush funds of tens of millions of dollars and accepting bribes from Samsung Electronics in return for a presidential pardon for its late chairman, Lee Kun-hee, who was jailed for tax evasion.

A self-made man who was appointed head of a major construction firm at age 35 before entering politics, Lee served as president from 2008 to 2013.

He steered the country through the global financial crisis and won its bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, but was criticised by opponents for undermining the nation’s democratic standards and freedoms of speech.

The pardons, effective at midnight on Wednesday, mark the second time Yoon has exercised his clemency power since taking office in May.

In August, Samsung Electronics executive chairman Lee Jae-yong was among the beneficiaries of Yoon’s first pardons.

South Korean presidents have frequently ended up in prison after their time in power, usually once their political rivals have moved into the presidential Blue House.Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, former army generals who served jail terms in the 1990s for corruption and treason after leaving office, received presidential pardons after serving about two years.

Ex-president Roh Moo-hyun killed himself in 2009 after being questioned over graft allegations involving his family.Lee’s conservative successor Park Geun-hye was pardoned last year while she was serving 20 years in jail for bribery and abuse of power after being ousted in 2017 over a corruption scandal that prompted massive street protests.

Lifestyle, World News

Actress Chita Agwu Johnson robbed in London

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Chita Agwu Johnson has become the latest Nigerian celebrity to be robbed in London. The actress who is in the UK for the holidays has been sharing beautiful photos from the country with her location on display.

Sadly, she was targeted by robbers at Finchley Road Station in London.

She added that they took all the valuables she had and she couldn’t sleep last night as a result.

Toke Makinwa and Adegbite Damilola are some Nigerian celebrities recently robbed in the UK.

World News

FG bans cash withdrawals from public accounts

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The Federal Government is to stop cash withdrawal from all public accounts with immediate effect.

In place of cash withdrawals, public officers are to open domiciliary accounts in foreign and local currencies ahead of the commencement of the new policy, which comes on the heels of the new Naira withdrawal policy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Director/Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, Modibbo Tukur, in a statement, yesterday, gave the new directive at a parley with the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, in Abuja.

The statement by the NFIU’s Chief Media Analyst, Ahmed Dikko, said that the introduction of the new policy became necessary following the consistent devaluation of the Naira and the introduction of a new Naira Policy, which automatically activates Section 1 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

The action is also said to have been activated following observation that most cash withdrawals from government accounts, including payments for estacode for public officials, were often in excess of the cash withdrawal limit provided by the Money Laundering Act.

World News

Nigerian Man Arrested In India With Drugs Worth N18 Million

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Operatives of the Mumbai Police Anti-Narcotics Cell have arrested a 36-year-old Nigerian national, Nnamdi Augustine Samuel, with drugs worth Rs 35 lakh (N18 million).

According to a report by the Times of India, Okoro was arrested under the NDPS act near Dockyard Road in Mumbai on Sunday. On conducting a search, officials recovered 61g of mephedrone and 154g of methamphetamine, collectively valued at over Rs 35 lakh.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Prakash Jadhav of the ANC said that Okoro had been arrested in 2018 for his alleged role in an attack on police personnel.

According to him, Okoro came to India a few years ago and had been arrested along with seven other Nigerians with commercial quantities of contraband.

He was found with 56 grams MD and 38 bore revolver and a case was registered against him with Byculla police station. An investigation is ongoing, said Jadhav.

World News

Mayor of London reacts to stampede at Asake’s concert

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has reacted to a stampede which occurred at a concert organised for Nigerian superstar, Asake in the city, which left 4 people critically injured.

In a tweet shared on his official Twitter handle, Khan said an urgent investigation is underway.

The London mayor who disclosed that he is heartbroken over the incident, urged anyone with information on the sad incident to contact the police.

Khan tweeted;

“My thoughts are with all those affected by the awful incident at Brixton Academy. Eight people were taken to the hospital, with four in critical condition.

“An urgent investigation is underway and I remain in close contact with the Met Commissioner since last night. I’m heartbroken that this could happen to young Londoners enjoying a night out in our city and urge anyone with any information to contact the police on 101.

“I won’t rest until we have the answers their loved ones and the local community need and deserve.”

Politics, World News

President Buhari meets President Biden at the White House

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President Buhari on Wednesday, December 14, met with United States President Joe Biden in Washington DC.

Photos shared by the Presidency show the President in a meeting with Biden and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leader’s Summit.

The US-Africa summit, which began in 2014, is the biggest international gathering in Washington since the COVID-19 pandemic and the most substantial commitment by a US administration to boosting its influence in Africa for almost a decade.

The summit, according to the US government, “will demonstrate the US enduring commitment to Africa and will underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared priorities.”

Lifestyle, World News

12-year-old Nigerian chess champion granted asylum in US

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Twelve-year-old Nigerian chess champion, Tanitoluwa Adewumi, and his family have been granted asylum by the government of the United States of America.

Adewumi, who rose to sudden stardom in 2019 for winning the New York state chess championship for his division, was living with his family in a homeless shelter.

The Adewumis, comprising Tanitoluwa, his parents, and his older brother, arrived in New York after fleeing Nigeria in 2017 due to fear of terror attacks from Boko Haram.They had sought religious asylum after the family arrived in the country.

Washington Post reported Wednesday that the US officially granted the family asylum.

Tanitoluwa Asylum refers to protection or safety given by a government to people who have been forced to leave their own countries for their safety or because of war.“We feel so relieved. Everybody is so happy,” said Tani’s father, Kayode Adewumi.

Tani’s chess career had been somewhat stalled because of his pending asylum application, as he hadn’t been able to travel to tournaments abroad, impeding his ability to reach his ultimate goal of becoming a Chess Grandmaster.

“It feels amazing because it’s been such a long journey. I’m just grateful that we’ve gotten this opportunity,” Tani said.

Matthew Ingber, part of the legal team that worked pro bono on the Adewumi family’s asylum case, said he first learned about Tani’s situation in the summer of 2021.

World News

Miss Tourism Nigeria’s 2022 Queen, Tosin Adeduro crowned Miss Tourism World 4th runner up

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Miss Tourism Nigeria Tosin Adetola Adeduro, an indigene of Ondo state and an undergraduate of the University of Ilorin as well as an entrepreneur who runs an upscale car wash and laundry services located in Ilorin and Lagos has been crowned Miss Tourism World 4th Runner Up last Saturday after dazzling a panel of judges and over 4,000 guests with her beauty and impressing them with her brain.

Tosin takes her place as the 4th Runner up winner of the 31st annual Miss Tourism World pageant which was watched by millions of people around the world on cable TV and streamed across various online platforms.

At least 50 women from different parts of the world representing their countries as Tourism Ambassadors contested for the crown, Miss Tourism World 2022 which held in Hanoi in Vietnam.

According to the President of Miss Tourism Nigeria organization, this is a win for Nigeria and one that will most definitely shape the image of the country as well as help to further project Nigeria’s domestic Tourism to the rest of the world as Tosin will be embarking on series of promotional tours.

Programs Director of the Miss Tourism Nigeria brand, Casmir Uwaegbute also highlited the need for government support as he cited the series of challenges encountered by the organization while preparing Tosin for this global competition.

Already, entries for the 11th edition of the Miss Tourism Nigeria competition is now on. According to Worldcharming Smart Courage, the Miss Tourism Nigeria creative and artistic director, the brand is looking for the next ‘IT’ girl who has what it takes to represent Nigeria on the international stage and has all it takes to bring the crown home.

World News

FG suspends COVID-19 tests for travellers

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The immediate relaxation of the COVID-19 safety measures and travel advisory, including the suspension of all pre-departure, pre-boarding, and post-arrival PCR test requirements has been approved by the federal government.

The announcement was made in a statement released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), Boss Mustapha.

Mustapha said the approval granted by President Muhammadu Buhari follows the recommendations of the PSC based on clinical and laboratory evidence of a sustained reduction in COVID-19 infection/transmission across the country.

The statement read;

“All pre-departure and post-arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated have been suspended.

“With the suspension of both the preboarding and post-arrival PCR tests, passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP). All unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers are strongly encouraged to get fully vaccinated.

“Health Declaration Form. A simplified Health Declaration (non-covid-19 specific) shall be completed by all passengers arriving in Nigeria on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP); while provision will be made on arrival for those who were unable to complete this form before departure.

“Finally, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) passionately appeals to Nigerians to ensure that they take their COVID-19 vaccinations as well as booster doses.”

World News

Earth Tremors Hit Parts of Accra, Ghana

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Part of of Accra, the capital of Ghana, on Monday experienced earth tremors.

According to Citi Newsroom, the places that recorded the tremor included Adabraka, Gbawe, McCarthy hill, Kwabenya and Mallam.

Meanwhile, the Principal Seismologist at the Ghana Geological Survey Authority Nicholas Opoku has enjoined Ghanaians not to be worried about the latest earth tremor.

“This is not a new thing we have been experiencing this from time to time even the most recent ones were in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

What we have been saying all this while is that Accra is situated in the earthquake-prone zones so from time to we will be experiencing these minor earthquakes until such a time that a major will happen,” Mr Opoku said on Citi Prime News on Monday.

World News

Spain displaces India as Nigeria’s top export destination

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Spain was Nigeria’s top export destination in the third quarter of 2022, according to recently-released foreign trade data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

India has for years been Nigeria’s top export destination, however Spain displaced India receiving N873.62 billion worth of export goods from Nigeria, good for a 14.72% share of all exports in Q3 2022.This figure depicted a 15.6% decrease in exports to Spain in Q2, despite a year-on-year increase of 39.3%.

Included in Nigeria’s export to Spain is N293 billion of non-oil export, according to the NBS data.

The next highest recipient of exports was India, which was Nigeria’s top destination in Q2 2022. Exports to india fell by a significant 43.7% from Q2, amounting to N619.22 billion.

Rounding out the top five export destinations are France, which received 7.25% of all exports, worth N430.40 billion and a 34% increase from Q2; the Netherlands, receiving 7.09% of exports, but declining 54% from Q2 at N420.41 billion, and; Indonesia, received a 7.00% share at N415.16 billion, a 34% decline from Q2 2022.

The top five countries accounted for 46.49% of all exports for a total of N5.93 trillion, and oil and gas products made up a dominant share.In terms of continents, Europe continued to lead as Nigeria’s top export destination with about N2.6 trillion in trade in Q3.

Africa was the second largest export destination for Nigeria with about N812 billion while the Americas was third with N723.3 billion

World News

Donald Trump reacts to President Biden’s deal to return Brittney Griner to US

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Former US President Donald Trump has slammed Joe Biden for swapping US women’s NBA star Brittney Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a deal brokered by Saudi Arabia.

Brittney was freed on Thursday, Dec. 8, after spending nearly a year in Russian captivity as part of a prisoner swap deal with the Biden administration.

Reacting, Trump wrote in a post on his social media website Truth Social:

“What kind of a deal is it to swap Brittney Griner, a basketball player who openly hates our country for the man known as ‘The Merchant of Death’.”

The former president suggested Paul Whelan should have been freed instead of Griner.

Whelan is a former Marine with citizenship in four nations, including the U.S., who was arrested in Russia in 2018 on espionage charges and convicted in 2020, receiving a 16-year prison sentence.

Griner, who was arrested in February for bringing vape cartridges with hashish oil into the country, was released in exchange for Viktor Bout, an infamous Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to kill Americans, leading many critics of president Biden’s administration to say Russia got the better end of the trade.

World News

Moment Brittney Griner, Viktor Bout Crossed Paths At Airport

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American basketballer, Brittney Griner, was heading back to the United States of America on Thursday after being released from a Russian prison in exchange for an arms dealer, Viktor Bout, known as the ‘Merchant of Death.’

Griner, who was arrested in Russia in February on drug charges, and Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year sentence in a United States prison, were exchanged at an airport in Abu Dhabi.

In footage released, Griner, shorn of her distinctive dreadlocks, and a relaxed and animated Bout could be seen crossing paths on the airport tarmac and heading towards the planes that would take them home.

World News

US Basketballer, Brittney Griner, Freed In Russian Prisoner Swap

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Basketball star Brittney Griner is “safe” and headed home to the United States after being freed from a Russian prison in a swap for the notorious arms dealer, Viktor Bout, the two countries announced on Thursday.

President Joe Biden delivered an early-morning address to the nation to announce the breakthrough, and said he had spoken to Griner just “moments ago.”

“She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home,” Biden said, adding that she should be back in the United States within 24 hours.

The Olympic legend, who was being held in a remote penal colony, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February and handed nine years in prison in August for possessing vape cartridges with a small quantity of cannabis oil.

Lifestyle, World News

Judge orders Kenneth Petty to settle lawsuit against r*pe accuser

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Kenneth Petty, the husband of Nicki Minaj, has been ordered by a judge to settle his lawsuit with his s*xual assault accuser, Jennifer Hough.

Hough filed a lawsuit against Petty in 2021, citing infliction of emotional distress, harassment, and witness intimidation.

However, Judge James R. Cho has referred the case go to mediation in hopes of the two parties reaching a settlement.

Court documents state:

“Parties to select a mediator by 12/20/2022 and complete mediation by 3/6/2023.

“[They] may participate in the mediation remotely. [Both sides] shall file a joint status report two weeks after completing the mediation, but no later than 3/20/2023, whichever date is earlier.”

Hough had previously sued Minaj, accusing her of participating in the alleged harassment and intimidation.

She also claims Minaj threatened her in an effort to get her to recant her allegations of Petty assaulting her when both were minors, which led to him being convicted of first-degree attempted rape and serving nearly four years in prison.

Hough has since dropped her case against Minaj, who dodged a $20 million default judgement against her when Hough’s legal team claimed she failed to respond to the lawsuit.

Politics, World News

Peru’s President Impeached, Arrested For Dissolving Parliament

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Peru’s leftist president Pedro Castillo was ousted by lawmakers and arrested Wednesday in a dizzying series of events in a country long prone to political upheaval.

Dina Boluarte, a 60-year-old lawyer, was sworn in as Peru’s first female president just hours after Castillo tried to dissolve Congress in a move criticised as an attempted coup.

Castillo, a former rural school teacher unexpectedly won power from Peru’s traditional political elite in an election 18 months ago.

In a televised address to the nation, the 53-year-old announced that he was dissolving the opposition-dominated Congress, installing a curfew, and would rule by decree.

Entertainment, World News

Tory Lanez gets third felony charge in Megan Thee Stallion shooting case

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Canadian music star, Tory Lanez has been slammed with a third felony charge in the shooting case involving rapper, Megan Thee Stallion.

TMZ reported that court records show the new charge against Tory is felony negligent discharge of a firearm, which comes on top of his previous 2 charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm.

Tory has already pleaded not guilty to the first 2 charges in 2020. He denied Megan’s claim of being the one who shot her in the foot while they were in a vehicle together. Megan took to social media to call him out last month.

She wrote; “Yes, this n**** Tory shot me. You shot me, and you got your publicist and your people to these blogs lying and s***, stop lying!”

Ahead of the trial, the singers have traded jabs in songs, on social media and through other artists.

Tory was still smiling, though, in October when he was fitted for an ankle monitor and put on house arrest until the trial starts.

Jury selection has begun, and opening statements are set for next week.

World News

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan loses World Athlete Award to McLaughlin-Levrone

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The World Athletics has named American hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone the Female World Athlete of the Year, beating Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan and three others for the prestigious honour.

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Peru’s Kimberly Garcia, and Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas were the other finalists.

The World Athletics announced the American 400m hurdles Olympics and World Champion and World Record holder as the winner on its website.

McLaughlin-Levrone improved her own world 400m hurdles record by 0.78, first to 51.41 at the US Championships and then to an awe-inspiring 50.68 at the World Championships.

That secured her a first individual senior world title, and she followed it by anchoring the US team to another 4x400m victory.

The 23-year-old made a statement with her first 400m hurdles race of the year, clocking 51.61 in Nashville in early June.

At that point, it was the third-fastest time ever recorded, but the all-time list soon underwent further revisions.

Lining up at the US Championships at Hayward Field, McLaughlin stormed to victory in the 400m hurdles in 51.41, taking 0.05 off the mark she set at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

“I think there’s a little bit more in the tank there,” she said after her US Championships win.

“Hopefully when it’s time we can just empty it completely.” Back at Hayward Field a month later, McLaughlin-Levrone obliterated her previous best, running 50.68 as the home crowd and the rest of the world watched on in amazement.

“All of my goals were accomplished this year,” said McLaughlin-Levrone.

“We were able to accomplish everything we set out to do. It couldn’t have been any better, and I was so grateful that I was able to produce that performance in front of a home crowd.”

As for Amusan, she took the world by storm when she ran 12.12s in the semi-final of the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Championships in Eugene, USA to break Kendra Harrison’s 12.20s World Record.

Amusan ran a faster time – 12.06s – in the final about one hour later to claim gold. The Nigerian hurdler also retained her Commonwealth Games title in Birmingham, UK, setting a Games record of 12.30s. She also retained her Diamond League trophy in her season-ending race.

Swede pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis was also named the Men’s World Athlete of the Year, while American teenager sensation Erriyon Knighton and Serbian javelin thrower Adriana Vilagos won the men’s and women’s Rising Stars awards respectively.

World News

Man accused of shooting Migos rapper Takeoff claims he’s innocent

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A man accused of fatally shooting Migos rapper Takeoff last month outside a Houston bowling alley has claimed he is innocent of the crime.

Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, made a brief court appearance in which prosecutors and his defense attorneys agreed to hold a bond reduction hearing on December 14.

Clark was arrested on a murder charge last week and is jailed on a $2 million bond. Court documents showed he had a ‘large’ amount of cash on him and had planned to go to Mexico on an expedited passport when he was arrested.

Takeoff, 28, was shot in the head and back as more than 30 people were leaving a private party at the bowling alley around 2.30am on November 1.

Gunfire broke out during a disagreement over a ‘lucrative’ game of dice, where Takeoff was ‘an innocent bystander.’

Police have said another man and a woman suffered non-life-threatening gunshot injuries, and that at least two people opened fired. Police said investigators are still trying to track down witnesses.

On Monday, Clark, handcuffed and dressed in orange jail clothing, did not say anything during Monday’s hearing.

Letitia Quinones, one of Clark’s attorneys, told reporters after the hearing that Clark is feeling ‘nervous and he’s concerned’ because he’s being charged with something that he believes he’s innocent of, so how would anyone do in that type of circumstance?

Born Kirsnick Khari Ball, Takeoff was the youngest member of Migos, the Grammy-nominated rap trio from suburban Atlanta that also featured his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said last week that investigators didn’t know whether Clark was invited to the party or if he knew Takeoff. Clark works as a DJ, according to court records.

Asked Monday if Clark knew Takeoff, Quinones said, ‘We really don´t want to go into the facts at this point.’ She said that Takeoff´s death was a ‘tragedy and it’s happening well too often in our communities.’

‘There is a lot of investigation that needs to be done. So, we just ask that everyone keep an open mind and let the system do its part and let the Constitution do its part and that is, right now he´s innocent until he´s proven guilty,’ Quinones said.

Court records indicate Clark was arrested as he was preparing to leave the country for Mexico after getting an expedited passport and that he had a ‘large amount’ of cash.

Quinones said that Clark had been planning to go to Mexico on a vacation but had canceled his trip before his arrest. ‘He wasn’t trying to go anywhere,’ Quinones said.

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