Menendez Vows to Fight For Congress Seat

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September 25, 2023

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez to make first remarks following indictment — U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) delivers remarks, after he and his wife Nadine Menendez were indicted on bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in Union City, New Jersey, U.S., September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar

U.S. Democratic Senator Bob Menendez has denied wrongdoing and vowed to stay in Congress

This Monday, prosecutors charged him and his wife with taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen.

Menendez’s stance defied calls from elected officials in his state of New Jersey, including the state’s Democratic governor, to step down.

His decision to remain in the Senate may complicate his party’s efforts to maintain their narrow 51-49 majority in that chamber.

Menendez has stepped down temporarily from his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senate Democratic rules require any member charged with a felony to give up their leadership position, though they can take it back if they are found not guilty.

The 69-year-old senator, Menendez, in his first public remarks since he was charged said, “I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jersey’s senior senator,”, said

U.S. prosecutors said Menendez accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for wielding his influence to aid the Egyptian government and interfere with law enforcement investigations into the three businessmen.

Prosecutors want Menendez to forfeit assets including his home, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz convertible and $566,000 in cash, gold bars and bank account funds.

Menendez said he has worked to hold countries, including Egypt, accountable for human rights abuses and that the cash in his home was withdrawn from his accounts and kept for emergencies.

NG Clearing Announces New CEO Pending SEC Approval

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 25, 2023

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NG Clearing, West Africa’s Premier Central Counterparty, has announced the appointment of Mr. Farooq Adedayo Oreagba as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, subject to approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

According to a statement from the clearing house, Oreagba brings a wealth of experience, having served in various executive leadership roles throughout his career.

Clearing House Will Bring Transparency To Transfer Market, Says FIFA Boss

Chairman, Board of Directors, NG Clearing Limited, Oscar Onyema, stated: “After a transparent, competitive and comprehensive search process, the Board is pleased to have found the best individual to assume leadership of this world-class organization.

Jawan Becomes Second-Biggest Bollywood Movie In Global Box Office History

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Emenike Agu

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September 25, 2023

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Now In Its Third Weekend In Theaters, The Indian Blockbuster Jawan Is Continuing To Break Box Office Records. Over the Weekend, The Film Passed Pathaan To Become The Highest-Grossing Hindi-Language Movie Of All Time In Its Home Country. Incidentally, Both Pathaan And Jawan Were Released In The Same Year, And Star Bollywood Icon Shah Rukh Khan. Fondly Known As SRK, He Is Perhaps The Most Popular Romantic Lead That India Has Ever Produced, But After Three Decades Of Dominance, Has Decided To Refashion Himself Into An Action Hero.

According To SRK’s Production Company, Red Chillies Entertainment, Jawan Has Grossed A Total Of 9.79 Billion Rupees Globally, Which Converts To Approximately $118 Million. This Puts Jawan Just $12 Million Shy Of Overtaking Pathaan’s $130 Million Lifetime Gross At The Global Box Office And Claiming The Number Two Spot On The All-Time List Behind Aamir Khan’s 2016 Sports Drama Dangal, Which Grossed Around $250 Million. Most Of Dangal’s Revenue Came From China, A Territory That Neither Jawan Nor Pathaan Played In.

With Over $13 Million Domestically, Jawan Will Soon Overtake Last Year’s RRR, Which Ended Its Stateside Run With Just Over $14 Million. Pathaan, By Comparison, Grossed $17 Million Domestically Earlier This Year. But In India, Jawan Overtook Pathaan’s $78 Million Lifetime Gross On Friday To Become The Biggest Hindi-Language Hit Ever. The Movie Had Already Broken Opening Day, Opening Weekend, And Opening Week Records. SRK Also Earned The Unique Distinction Of Having Become The Only Bollywood Star To Deliver Two $100 Million-Plus Grossers In The Same Year.

Merry Men 3 Lands Official Release Date

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Emenike Agu

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September 25, 2023

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Ay Makun Has Announced The Theatrical Debut Of The Third Sequel Of Merry Men.

He Took To Social Media To Share The Name Of The Upcoming Film Along With The Release Date. Titled Merry Men 3: Nemesis, The Third Sequel Drama Is Set For An October 2023 Release After Wrapping Principal Photography In May 2023.

Directed By Moses Inwang And Produced By Darlington Abuda. Merry Men 3 Promises An Action-Packed Drama As We Await The Teaser Release Later Today, September 22, 2023.

From The Stills Released From The Principal Photography, We Can Expect A Love Affair And Wedding Between Ramsey Nouah And Nadia Buari.

The First Instalment Of The Successful Franchise Men: The Real Yoruba Demons Explored The Lives Of Four Of Abuja’s Most Eligible And Notorious Bachelors, Their Thriving Businesses, Fast Cars, Homes, And Women.

This Is Much Of What The Second Sequel Merry Men 2: Another Mission (2019) Also Followed And What We Can Expect In The Next Sequel.

We Can Also Expect The Return Of William Uchemba, Regina Daniels And Then The Addition Of Buari And Sam Dede.

Following The Successful Reign Of Merry Men 2: Another Mission At The Nigerian Box Office With A Total Gross Of ₦235 Million, Expectations Are High As We Await The Release Of The Third Sequel.

Merry Men 3: Nemesis Will Be Distributed By Filmone Entertainment Across Cinemas Nationwide. It Is Set To Premiere On October 13, 2023

Irish Gymnastic Federation Accused Of Racism After Overlooking Little Girl

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faith Jegede

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September 25, 2023

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The attention of sports stars around the world, including four-time Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, have been drawn to a medal presentation in Dublin, where a little girl was overlooked by officials.

A video of the girl, who was the only child of obvious African Negro descent in the line of young gymnasts, being overlooked as all of the rest of her peers received medals, has been viewed by millions of people online.

Biles, who said the video broke her heart, said she sent the girl a video message to offer encouragement, adding that “there is no room for racism in any sport or at all.”

Biles’ teammate and Olympic silver teammate medalist, Jordan Chiles described the incident as “beyond hurtful on so many levels”.

The girl has since received a written apology from gymnastics Ireland after her parent’s alleged racist behaviour by the official who left her out of a medal ceremony more than a year ago.

Following recent backlash, gymnastics Ireland said it received a complaint from the girl’s parents following the incident, alleging racist behaviour and that it “engaged immediately” with the official in question.

“Initially we attempted to address the matter through the informal process of our discipline and complaints policy, however, following a series of communications with the parents they informed gymnastics Ireland that they would not be engaging in the process and were seeking legal advice.” the statement read in part

Tinubu Restates Commitment to Promoting Trade For SMEs

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 25, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s commitment to promoting ease of trade for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.

Tinubu gave the assurance during the Africa International Trade Exhibition (AITE) 2023’s Business, Trade, and Investment Summit on the sideline of the 78th edition of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The Chairman, Organising Committee for the Business, Trade and Investment Summit component of the exhibition programme, Tunde MacAlabi made this known in a statement on Monday.

The summit was organised by MacAlabi; Prof. Tai Balofin, President of Nigerian Progressive Professionals and Khuraira Musa, Chief Executive Officer of K-Pro Consulting of New York.

Represented by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, Tinubu assured investors that the Federal Government would take the necessary steps to ensure the ease of trade in the country.

Nigeria Promoting Policies To Attract Investments – Ministry of Industry

Earlier, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, urged both foreign and local investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s huge population, traffic, and thriving aviation market, to invest in the sector.

Keyamo pointed out that world-class Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities would be a good area for investors to consider first.

According to him, there are not many MRO facilities in West Africa, a situation that makes domestic airline operators ferry their aircraft, only to queue overseas for two months or more for their aircraft maintenance.

Also, Musa, who is the author of The Audacity of an African Girl and President of the Arewa Development Support Initiative (ADSI), said the purpose of the event was to woo investors to invest in Nigeria.

” We want to have industries in Nigeria to process and manufacture our raw materials in the country to give job opportunities to our youths and women.

” To continue allowing our raw materials to be exported and paid next to nothing for it will continue to keep our people in poverty.

” We want Nigeria to change the way they have been doing business. We are confident that the outcomes of this gathering will have a lasting impact on the economic landscape, not only in Nigeria but also across the globe.”

In attendance were the FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmud, Sen. Ireti Kingibe, wife of Osun governor Titiola Adeleke, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Amb. Adeyinka Asekun, among others.

FG Appeals to Students, Others for Understanding As Universities Set For Resumption

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Precious Obazee

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September 25, 2023

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The Federal Government has appealed to students, parents and lecturers in institutions of higher learning to shun acts capable of disrupting the academic session as schools set for resumption.

The Minister of State for Education, Hon. Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu made the appeal while hosting the leadership of the Congress of University Academics who paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.

According to a statement, the Minister, who disclosed this ahead of the resumption of academic activities in tertiary institutions in the country, emphasized the need for the show of restraint which is in the interest of all stakeholders and system stability.

He revealed that the Ministry is having constructive dialogue and consultation with stakeholders over the welfare of students and staff, as well as the provision of infrastructure in tertiary institutions.

Dr Sununu also acknowledged that strikes and non-use of facilities could lead to rapid infrastructural decay, promising that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do everything humanly possible to avoid any situation that could lead to strikes.

Speaking earlier, the President, Congress of University Academics, comrade Niyi Sunmonu alerted the Minister that there is a likelihood of student unrest occasioned by the new increase in school fees, noting that the envisaged situation is capable of disrupting academic activities and the school calendar.

The union also appealed to government to look into ways of improving the condition of service of academic and non-academic staff of universities, has deteriorated due to the fuel subsidy removal.

They however explained that there was need to revisit the issue of the 8-months salary arrears that arose from the last strike by the academic staff union of universities (ASUU), arguing that members of the Congress of University Academics did not go on strike.

Hollywood Writers In Deal To End U.S. Studio Strike

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Koko Lawrence

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September 25, 2023

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Screenwriters in the US say they have reached a tentative deal with studio bosses that could see them end a strike that has lasted nearly five months.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) said it was “exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers”. WGA members must still have a final say.

It is the longest strike to affect Hollywood in decades and has halted most film and TV production.

The writers’ walkout, which began on 2 May, has cost the US economy around $5bn (£4.08bn), according to an estimate from Milken Institute economist Kevin Klowden.

The dispute has shut down many of America’s top shows. As well as issues around pay, the writers fear the impact of artificial intelligence potentially supplanting their talents.

Negotiations also broke down over staffing levels and the royalty payments that writers receive for popular streaming shows. They complain that those residuals are just a fraction of the earnings they would get from a broadcast TV show.

As a result part of the payments writers now receive generally include a certain amount of money

The guild’s message on the proposed deal said details still had to be finalised, and it was not yet calling off the strike, but “we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing”.

Hollywood trade publication Variety reported that staff on late-night talk shows could return to work as soon as Tuesday following the announcement, adding broadcasts could resume as soon as October.

But in its message to members, the union’s negotiating committee asked for patience on details of the pact.

“What remains now is for our staff to make sure everything we have agreed to is codified in final contract language,” the union said.

“And though we are eager to share the details of what has been achieved with you, we cannot do that until the last ‘i’ is dotted.”

Scottish Art Takes Centre Stage After £38m Revamp

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Koko Lawrence

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September 25, 2023

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A £38.62m revamp has created 12 brand new galleries for Scottish art underneath the original 19th Century building on Edinburgh’s Mound.

But it is opening five years later than originally planned and has cost double the original price tag.

“It’s been a complex project,” admits Sir John Leighton, the director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland.

The original gallery devoted to Scottish art was created in the basement in 1978 but it quickly became clear that it could not accommodate the vastly expanded collection of more than 60,000 works.

And there was the additional problem of many artworks being too large to be moved down to the basement space – an issue which has been resolved with the new space’s vertical picture lift.

Visitors were not convinced about the original basement space either, with only one in six Scottish Gallery entrants making their way downstairs.

The original plan was to expand the gallery into the 70s office space alongside the basement, extending out into Princes Street Gardens, and five metres (16ft) over the railway line.

Planning permission was granted in August 2016 but having failed to reach agreement, the project had to be reworked and relaunched in 2018, when it was estimated to cost £22m.

The first phase was successfully completed in 2019 with a new entrance in Princes Street Gardens, a terrace and landscaping, and a café and shop.

Tinubu Urged To Probe Missing Oil, Refinery Repairs Money

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 24, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu has been urged to probe the grim allegations that over US$15 billion of oil revenue and N200 billion budgeted to repair the refineries are missing between 2020 and 2021.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) made the call on Sunday, on the heels of a report by by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

SERAP urged Tinubu to “name and shame anyone suspected to be responsible for the missing and unaccounted for public funds and to ensure their effective prosecution as well as the full recovery of any proceeds of crime.”

SERAP also urged him “to fully implement all the recommendations by NEITI in its 2021 report, and to use any recovered proceeds of crime.”

SERAP urges Buhari to recover ‘missing N105.7b’ from MDAs for funding of varsities

In the letter dated 23 September 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these serious allegations. Taking these important measures would end the impunity of perpetrators.”

“As President and Minister of Petroleum Resources, your office ought to be concerned about these damning revelations, by getting to the bottom of the allegations and ensuring that suspected perpetrators are promptly brought to justice, and any missing public funds fully recovered.”

“Any failure to investigate these grave allegations, bring suspected perpetrators to justice and recover any missing public funds would have serious resource allocation and exacerbate the country’s debt burden.”

“It would also create cynicism, suspicion, and eventually citizens’ distrust about the ability of your government to combat high-level official corruption, as well as deter foreign investment and limit growth and development.”

“We would therefore be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“The findings by NEITI suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], national anticorruption laws, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.”

“The allegations of corruption documented by NEITI undermine economic development of the country, trap the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprive them of opportunities.”

“Your government has a constitutional duty to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of the country’s wealth and resources.”

“According to the 2021 report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), government agencies including the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NNPC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPDC) failed to remit $13.591 million and $8.251 billion to the public treasury.”

“The NNPC and NPDC failed to remit over 70% of these public funds. NEITI wants both the NNPC and NPDC to be investigated, and for the missing public funds to be fully recovered.”

“The report also shows that in 2021, the State Owned Enterprises (SOE) and its subsidiaries (the NNPC Group) reportedly spent US$6.931billion on behalf of the Federal Government but without appropriation by the National Assembly. The money may be missing.”

“The NNPC also reportedly obtained a loan of $3 billion in 2012 purportedly to settle subsidy payments due to petroleum product marketers but there is no disclosure of the details of the loan, subsidy and the beneficiaries of the payments.”

“The report also shows that N9.73 billion was paid to the NNPC as pipeline transportation revenue earned from Joint Venture operations but the money was neither remitted to the Federation nor properly accounted for. The NPDC in 2021 also failed to remit $7.61 million realized from the sale of crude oil.”

“The report documents that about N200 billion was spent on refineries rehabilitation between 2020 and 2021 but “none of the refineries was operational in 2021 despite the spending.’ NEITI wants the spending to be investigated, as the money may be missing.”