In a legal blow to former President Donald Trump, a federal judge ruled on Thursday that lawsuits filed against him over his alleged role in the January 6 Capitol riot can proceed. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling allows lawsuits brought by several police officers and Democratic lawmakers who were present during the Capitol attack to move forward, despite Trump’s efforts to pause the litigation. Trump’s defense team had argued for a pause, citing his criminal case in Washington, D.C., but Judge Mehta rejected this request. The judge ordered Trump to provide a detailed description of his immunity defense by…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The United States has welcomed Switzerland and Sweden as the latest additions to the Artemis Accords. The Artemis Accords, initially established in 2020 by the United States and seven other nations, serve as a practical framework guiding space exploration efforts. Switzerland officially became the 37th signatory to the Artemis Accords on April 15, followed by Sweden as the 38th signatory on April 16. The ceremonies marking their inclusion showcased the commitment of both nations to collaborative space endeavors. During a ceremony held at NASA headquarters, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs,…
The U.S. Department of State has announced the launch of the Welcome Corps at Work initiative, to leverage the talents of skilled refugees. This program is an integral part of the broader Welcome Corps refugee private sponsorship program, which seeks to match U.S. employers with qualified refugee employees, particularly in vital sectors such as healthcare, education, and information technology. Implemented by organizations like the International Rescue Committee and Talent Beyond Boundaries, the Welcome Corps at Work program is designed to facilitate the seamless integration of refugees into the American workforce. Through this initiative, hundreds of…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Nigeria is poised to slip from its position as the continent’s largest economy to fourth place. According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at $253 billion this year, placing it behind Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa. This forecast comes amidst a series of currency devaluations in Nigeria, initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration as part of significant policy reforms. These reforms include the cessation of subsidy regimes and the devaluation of the Naira. Despite recent economic rebounds, the Naira remains approximately 50%…
The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), of money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Presiding judge Justice Inyang Ekwo, in delivering the ruling on a no-case submission filed by Adoke, stated that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against him. Justice Ekwo stated, “I find that there is no evidence to prove the alleged offences against the first defendant (Adoke).” However, the judge ruled differently for the second defendant, Aliyu Abubakar,…
Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of the social media platforms Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has announced the expansion of its Meta AI services to Nigeria and six other African countries. According to the blog post released on Thursday, Meta AI services are now available in Ghana, South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The expansion extends beyond the African continent to include Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Singapore. The rollout of Meta AI outside the United States is part of Meta’s efforts to provide users with new creative, expressive, and productivity tools directly within its popular apps.…
Oil prices surged more than three percent in early Asian trade on Friday following unconfirmed reports of explosions in Iran, Syria and Iraq, sparking fears of an escalation of the Middle East crisis. West Texas Intermediate jumped 3.66 percent to $85.76 and Brent rose 3.44 percent to $90.11. The reports come after a missile attack on Israel by Iran last weekend that Israel’s army chief General Herzi Halevi warned would be met with a response. Tehran unleashed more than 300 ballistic and cruise missiles and attack drones late Saturday, most of which were repelled by air defences. The country’s leaders…
The APC party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka on Thursday, said Dr Abdullahi Ganduje will continue to be National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The controversy emerged following an initial court order affirming Ganduje’s suspension, which the APC has refused to honor. Morka, speaking on Arise TV, stated the party’s support for a recent ruling from the Kano Federal High Court, which called for a stay of the suspension order. This ruling followed an exparte motion filed by Ganduje, asserting his right to a fair hearing. Notably, the court order halting the suspension was issued…
In the midst of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message reaffirming his nation’s intentions to self-defense. Following discussions with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Netanyahu asserted Israel’s resolve to defend itself against any threat posed by Iran. “Iran will do whatever it needs to defend itself,” Netanyahu emphasized in a statement, underlining Israel’s sovereignty in making strategic decisions. The statement follows Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi’s alarming vow to obliterate Israel should it engage in any form of aggression against Iran. Speaking…
In the ongoing hush money trial against former President Donald Trump, prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office have disclosed their intention to question Trump about various civil cases, including allegations of civil fraud and sexual abuse. The prosecutors aim to delve into the costly verdicts and findings of wrongdoing from Trump’s numerous civil cases, should he choose to testify in his defense. They plan to inquire about the judgment in the civil fraud suit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Trump and his company, as well as verdicts in lawsuits initiated by writer E. Jean Carroll.…
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge has unveiled a surprising revelation about the evolution of the Homo genus, suggesting that competition among different Homo species played a pivotal role in driving their explosive diversification. Lead author Dr. Laura van Holstein, a biological anthropologist from Clare College, asserts that the conventional belief attributing hominin evolution primarily to climate changes has overlooked the significant impact of interspecies competition. “Our understanding of human evolution has been incomplete without acknowledging the influence of competition between species,” Dr. van Holstein emphasized. Contrary to the patterns observed in most vertebrates, where species…
The United States and Britain announced widespread sanctions against Iran’s military drone program on Thursday, in response to its weekend attack against Israel. Washington is targeting “16 individuals and two entities enabling Iran’s UAV production, including engine types that power Iran’s Shahed variant UAVs, which were used in the April 13 attack,” the Treasury Department said in a statement, referring to Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle program. Tehran launched its first ever direct military attack on Israel late Saturday in retaliation for an April 1 air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus — widely blamed on Israel —…