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Africa & World

US, Israel attack Iran live: Israeli claims Khamenei killed, Iran denies

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

• JUST IN: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in today’s massive US and Israeli strikes on Iran, according to Israeli sources. The news comes shortly after Iran claimed its leaders were “safe and sound.”

• About the attack: US President Donald Trump has indicated the ongoing military operation is aimed overturning Tehran’s government. More than 200 people have been killed in Iran, according to state media.

• Unprecedented retaliation: Iran unleashed strikes on US military bases, Israel and other targets across the Middle East, rocking densely populated areas and disrupting air travel and oil shipments.

• Latest from the US: The military has reported no combat-related American casualties. FBI counterterrorism teams are on high alert, and the State Department advised US citizens around the world to “exercise increased caution.”

• A region on edge: The United Arab Emirates called the conflict a “historic moment” in the Middle East, saying world leaders had failed to ensure the region’s stability.

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Texas Flood
Africa & World

Texas Flood Death Toll Surpasses 100 as Rescue Operations Continue

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The death toll from devastating floods in Texas has risen to over 100, officials confirmed on Monday, as rescue teams continue the search for victims swept away by raging waters.

Among the dead are at least 27 girls and camp counselors who were attending a youth summer camp on a river when the floods struck during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Authorities have warned of the possibility of further flooding, as ongoing rainfall continues to drench already saturated ground. The worsening weather conditions have complicated recovery efforts, which involve helicopters, boats, search dogs, and more than 1,750 emergency personnel.

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Iran and USA
Africa & World

Oil Prices Drop as Hopes Rise for USA-Iran Nuclear Deal

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Oil prices fell sharply on Thursday amid growing optimism over a potential breakthrough in nuclear talks between the United States and Iran.

The decline followed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said a deal with Tehran was “getting close.” U.S. media also reported that Iran may be willing to accept significant limitations on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Trump made the remarks in Qatar during a tour of the Gulf region, expressing optimism about avoiding a military confrontation with Iran.

“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” he said. “I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.”

The two countries recently concluded their fourth round of negotiations—the highest-level talks since Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018.

Both major crude benchmarks fell by more than three percent following the developments. Prices had already been under pressure earlier in the day amid signs that Tehran could be open to U.S. demands.

Citing U.S. broadcaster NBC News, reports said an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei indicated that Tehran might accept broad restrictions on its nuclear activities if it leads to the lifting of economic sanctions.

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Seun Kuti
Entertainment

Seun Kuti Survives Stray Bullet Incident in U.S. Hotel Room

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti narrowly escaped injury after a stray bullet pierced the window of his hotel room during a recent visit to the United States.

Kuti shared the alarming experience on his Instagram page, posting a video that revealed a bullet hole in the window. In the footage, he expressed his disbelief, stating, “Tell me you’re in America without telling me you’re in America. I’m in my hotel room just chilling and boom” .

In the caption accompanying the video, he questioned the perception of safety in Western countries, writing, “I read somewhere that these are the civilized people” .

Although visibly shaken, Kuti assured his followers that he was unharmed. He did not disclose the specific location of the incident but mentioned he was in a downtown area .

The incident has sparked discussions online about gun violence in the United States, with fans expressing concern for Kuti’s safety and relief that he was not injured.

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Trump
Africa & World

Trump Orders Firing Of All ‘Biden-Era’ US Attorneys

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has ordered the dismissal of all remaining U.S. attorneys appointed by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the Department of Justice of being politicized under Biden’s administration, declaring the need for immediate action.

“Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before,” Trump stated. “Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys.”

He emphasized the urgency of the move, saying, “We must ‘clean house’ IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – THAT BEGINS TODAY!”

It is customary for an incoming president to replace U.S. attorneys—federal prosecutors assigned to the nation’s 94 federal judicial districts—with their own appointees. Some attorneys nominated by Biden had already resigned following Trump’s election victory in anticipation of the transition.

Since taking office, Trump has implemented a broad shakeup of the Justice Department, which he has repeatedly accused of targeting him unfairly. Several high-ranking officials have been fired, demoted, or reassigned, including members of special counsel Jack Smith’s office, which previously pursued two now-abandoned criminal cases against Trump.

The Justice Department’s restructuring also led to the resignation of the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, a Trump appointee, after being asked to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.

Trump’s directive marks a significant overhaul of the Justice Department as his administration moves to install its own leadership across federal prosecution offices.

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China
Africa & World

Trade War: China Hits US Energy and Auto Industries with Fresh Tariffs

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

China announced on Tuesday that it will impose a 15% tariff on imports of coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, responding to Washington’s recent decision to levy a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

In a statement, China’s Ministry of Finance also revealed plans to introduce a 10% tariff on US crude oil, agricultural machinery, pickup trucks, and vehicles with large-displacement engines, such as sports cars.

Beijing described the move as a direct response to the “unilateral tariff hike” imposed by the United States over the weekend, accusing Washington of violating World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

“The US tariff increase seriously violates WTO regulations, fails to address its own economic challenges, and disrupts normal trade cooperation between China and the United States,” the ministry stated.

The new Chinese tariffs are set to take effect next Monday.

The US had earlier announced sweeping tariff measures against major trade partners, including China, with an additional 10% duty imposed on Chinese imports on top of existing levies.

US President Donald Trump justified the tariffs as a measure to penalize countries that, he claimed, had failed to curb illegal migration and drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, into the United States.

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Africa & World

Trump Sacks First Woman To Head A US Military Service

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Donald Trump’s administration has removed Admiral Linda Fagan — the first woman to lead a US military service — as the head of the Coast Guard.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the Coast Guard, did not immediately respond to a request on Tuesday for comment on Fagan’s dismissal.

Fox News cited a senior official saying reasons included her failure to address border security threats, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and an “erosion of trust” over the Coast Guard’s investigation into sexual assault cases.

Trump and other Republicans have long railed against government programs aimed at fostering diversity, and border security is a key priority for the president, who declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on Monday, the first day of his new term.

“She served a long and illustrious career, and I thank her for her service to our nation,” acting DHS secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a message to the Coast Guard, which is one of the five US military branches.

Fagan had led the Coast Guard since 2022, and previously held posts including vice commandant of the service.

She “served on all seven continents, from the snows of Ross Island, Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva, and in many ports along the way,” according to an archived version of her biography, which is no longer available on the Coast Guard website.

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Opinion

Terror Alert: Intelligencers Within Govt Working To Collapse Nigeria, Says Security Expert

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

A security adviser , Ladi Thompson says intelligencers in the government are working to collapse Nigeria.

“ It seems that some rudiments within the government, intelligencers within are working together with this docket to collapse this country from within, ” he said on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme on Saturday.
According to Thompson, the Federal Government’s programs of absorbing captured terrorists into the Nigerian society, failure to make given terror financiers, amongst others are signs of contended conspiracy.

“ There are intelligencers in high places in Nigeria and what’s passing to our people is that when terrorism is being used clinically, one of its objects is to break the will of the nation, ” he emphasised.
Thompson said the cautions of imminent terror attacks in Abuja released by the United Kingdom and the United States mustn’t be ignored.

“ Abuja is a matter of time if we do n’t change strategies, ” he said and advised that low- tech bias should be stationed in Abuja incontinently.
The security expert, still, expressed confidence that Nigeria will master the current security challenges.

“ We’ll beat this thing but for us to beat this thing, the whole nation must realise that the strategy that this government is putting together has not worked( and) it isn’t working, ” he stated.

‘ Focus On The Communication, Not The Messenger ’

On his part, a global security critic, Ademola Abbas prompted the Federal Government to forget the runner and concentrate on the communication.

“ Let’s for formerly forget the runner and concentrate on the communication – the communication is that there’s a trouble to our country We live with pitfalls every single day, ” Abbas submitted.

The US and Britain had on Sunday advised of possible terror attacks in Abuja, especially at government structures, places of deification, seminaries and other centres where large crowds gather. Both countries also commenced the evacuation of their citizens from the Nigerian political capital.

still, Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed dismissed the terror cautions, saying the government wo n’t be stampeded and that Nigeria is safer than in May 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari came into office.

torrent Of Attacks
Disturbingly, a number of daring terrorist attacks have been recorded in Abuja in 2022 and other corridor of the country. On July 5, 2022, mutineers raided the Kuje captivity in Abuja and freed hundreds of convicts including hardened Boko Haram fighters.

The looters also in the same month attacked the advance convoy of the President near Dutsinma in Katsina State. The inspired terrorists would latterly in August ambush and kill some members of the Presidential Guards Brigade in Abuja.
Also, on March 28, 2022, the ferocious terrorists attacked a Kaduna- Abuja train, killed scores, abducted numerous passengers and held them hostages for over six months before their eventual release before in October.

On June 5, 2022, terrorists also raided a unqualified church in Owo, the birthplace of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, killed over 40 worshippers and injured scores of members.

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Headlines

Why Bovi Was Banned From US

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Popular Nigerian comedian and actor, Bovi Ugboma, popularly known as Bovi, says he has been banned from entering the United States.

Bovi said he was banned from the country after clashing with a visa-issuing officer.

He revealed this on Tuesday while responding to questions from fans after he hosted a Q&A segment on his Instagram.

A fan had invited him to perform at Massachusetts, to which he replied, “I’m banned in the USA.”

Asked if he intended to leave the country, he replied, “I am a citizen of the world. Except for Yankee where I’m banned.”

Explaining the reason for the ban, he said, “Ill luck. Met a charity-like visa-issuing officer. Egos clashed. I was labeled.”

On which candidate he prefers in the upcoming presidential election, he said, “Until they debate.”

In February, the comedian via his verified Instagram page had revealed how he was almost accused of stealing in a hotel in London.

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Entertainment

R. Kelly accused of sexually abusing 17-year-old boy

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

R. Kelly sexually abused a 17-year-old boy after meeting him at a Chicago-area McDonald’s in 2006, a new court filing alleges.

Federal prosecutors in New York have detailed a string of new accusations against the disgraced singer, including sexual assault and bribery, going back 30 years.

In a lengthy court filing on Friday, they asked a judge to grant permission for them to admit new evidence of the allegations at his upcoming sex-trafficking trial in Brooklyn, New York, despite him not being charged for the offences.

They argue the acts, including the alleged abuse of a victim named John Doe #1, are “directly relevant to and inextricably intertwined with the evidence of the charged crimes.”

According to the filing, the I Believe I Can Fly star sexually abused the teen after asking “what he was willing to do to succeed in the music business.”

He allegedly introduced Kelly to a close male pal, aged 16 or 17, and several years later, the star apparently started a sexual relationship with that person, referred to as John Doe #2, and forced several of his girlfriends to have sex with the young man while he filmed.

Prosecutors also claim to have evidence that Kelly sexually abused singer Aaliyah and married her in 1994, when she was 15, so that she couldn’t be forced to testify against him, reported the Chicago Sun-Times. She died in a plane crash in 2001.

Other allegations include unlawful imprisonment, hush money payments, threats and psychological abuse, with a woman named Jane Doe #5 claiming Kelly directed her to search the internet and find “child pornography involving boys for him.” According to the papers, a search of Kelly’s computer corroborated the claim.

Two audio recordings, allegedly showing the Ignition hitmaker physically and psychologically abusing women, proving his “regular use of audio and video recordings to maintain control,” are also being presented.And a “crisis manager” for Kelly is accused of bribing a Cook County, Illinois, clerk with US$2,500 (C$3,100) to get inside information on his legal troubles, following the broadcast of Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly in early 2019. 

The musician is accused of leading an enterprise to recruit women and girls for sex. He denies any wrongdoing. His case is due to head to trial on Aug. 9.

He is also set for a separate trial for his child pornography charges in his native Chicago in September.

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all counts.


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