The Supreme Court said Nixon couldn’t be sued for official acts. Trump wants that same protection extended to criminal charges. WASHINGTON − At landmark arguments Thursday in Donald Trump’s longshot Supreme Court bid for presidential immunity, his test case is Richard Nixon. After Nixon avoided criminal charges from Watergate through a presidential pardon, he set the standard for whether presidents can face lawsuits. An Air Force weapons analyst had sued Nixon, claiming he’d been fired in retaliation for telling Congress about massive cost overruns in the Defense Department. A closely divided Supreme Court said in 1982 Nixon couldn’t be held liable for…
Author: GuruTrends
NEW YORK — The sixth day of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial is scheduled to start with arguments over whether the former president should be held in contempt for allegedly violating a gag order. Prosecutors say Trump has violated that order at least 10 times and the judge should not only fine the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, but also warn him he could get jail time if things don’t change. Even Monday, Trump again attacked potential witness Michael Cohen outside the courtroom, saying Cohen “got caught lying, pure lying” in a previous trial. Former media executive David Pecker is also expected to re-take…
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday, led a test run of the newly installed electronic gates (e-gates) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, affirming that the project was almost completed. Tunji-Ojo announced plans to deploy the e-gates for full operation by the following week. Joining him were top officials including the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Aishetu Ndayako, and the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap. The minister emphasised that the e-gates aimed to streamline passenger movement, eliminating human interfaces and bureaucratic hurdles. Deployment plans include 29 e-gates for Lagos, four for Enugu and Kano each, and five…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its Joint Venture partner in OML 85, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited have commenced oil production from the asset, also known as Madu Field. Production from the field which is located in shallow waters offshore Bayelsa State and operated by First E&P is expected to be at an average of 20,000 barrels per day. This was contained in a statement by the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Friday. Speaking on the development, the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, described the commencement of oil production at…
Gift of Chess, a New York-based non-profit organisation with the mission of distributing chess sets around the world, has revealed that Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, on Thursday, experienced intense vomiting and stomach pain during his ongoing marathon but refused to quit. Onakoya and his United States counterpart, Shawn Martinez, are both attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon at New York City’s iconic Times Square, which is scheduled to end on Friday, April 19. Gift of Chess wrote on X, “That’s #Tunde_OD curled over in pain. Yesterday, we did not think we could continue,…
An elder statesman and former governor of old Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, has broken his silence about the rumour of his death, saying he is alive. Olunloyo who spoke with The PUNCH correspondent who visited his Molete residence in Ibadan, the state capital on Friday said he was hale and hearty. Earlier, the rumour of the death of the elder statesman was reported by some news platforms (not The PUNCH). However, Olunloyo, while speaking said, “I’m still here, not yet gone.” He also expressed worry over the rumour and asked who would live forever, stressing, “Those breaking death news…
Far more animals than previously thought likely have consciousness, top scientists say in a new declaration — including fish, lobsters and octopus. Bees play by rolling wooden balls — apparently for fun. The cleaner wrasse fish appears to recognize its own visage in an underwater mirror. Octopuses seem to react to anesthetic drugs and will avoid settings where they likely experienced past pain. All three of these discoveries came in the last five years — indications that the more scientists test animals, the more they find that many species may have inner lives and be sentient. A surprising range of creatures have shown evidence…
The foreign aid package moved forward with the support of an extremely rare bipartisan coalition, with Democrats helping to carry the “rule” in committee and on the floor. WASHINGTON — The House voted 316-94 to tee up votes on four separate bills that include aid to Ukraine and Israel, a good sign for the prospects of Congress approving U.S. funding for the two countries after months of delay and partisan fighting. Speaker Mike Johnson, facing intense opposition from right-wing members, received crucial help from Democrats to move forward with the votes. More Democrats (165) than Republicans (151) voted to pass…
“I literally thought of self-annihilation so (my kids) could survive …. That’s how low I was,” Esposito said of life before landing the role of Gus Fring. Giancarlo Esposito appeared on a recent episode of SiriusXM’s “Jim & Sam” show while promoting his new AMC drama series “Parish” and revealed that he was so broke prior to landing his iconic role of Gus Fring on “Breaking Bad” that he once considered arranging his own murder so that his children could have some financial protection courtesy of his life insurance money. The actor considered this around 2008, a year before “Breaking Bad” inextricably changed his career…
The authors of the paper, published by the journal Science, found that 45% of China’s urban land was sinking faster than 3 millimeters per year. SINGAPORE — Nearly half of China’s major cities are suffering “moderate to severe” levels of subsidence, putting millions of people at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise, according to a study of nationwide satellite data released on Friday. The authors of the paper, published by the journal Science, found that 45% of China’s urban land was sinking faster than 3 millimeters per year, with 16% at more than 10 mm per year, driven not only by declining…
The singer was found in her home deceased Thursday. No cause of death was disclosed. Grammy-winning singer Mandisa, who rose to fame on season five of “American Idol,” has died, her representative said Friday. She was 47. “We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased,” her representative said in a statement to NBC News. “At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details.” “We ask for your prayers for her family and close knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement concluded. A post on the artist’s Facebook page said early Friday:…
An organisation of Olympic sports federations on Friday said the decision by World Athletics to award prize money to gold medallists in its events “undermines the values of Olympism”. The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) released a statement which made clear how unhappy it was at the announcement by World Athletics president Sebastian Coe that track and field gold medallists at the Paris Games will receive $50,000 (47,000 euros). World Athletics’ move, announced last week, was a first for a federation at an Olympics. It said it would extend prize money to all medallists in Los Angeles in four years’…
The top three in Sunday’s Beijing half marathon have been stripped of their medals, organisers said, following an investigation into the finish that saw China’s He Jie controversially win. He crossed the line first in a bizarre finish after the Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat, and Dejene Hailu from Ethiopia, seemed to deliberately allow him to win. Footage of the conclusion to the race went viral. “Today the 2024 Beijing Half Marathon Organising Committee issued a decision on the investigation and handling of the men’s race results,” a state media report said on Friday. “The trophies, medals and bonuses…
Julian Nagelsmann has signed a contract extension with the German men’s national team, the domestic football association said Friday, putting to bed speculation of a quick return to club football. The new deal keeps Nagelsmann with Germany for an additional two years and will see him coach the team at the 2026 World Cup in North America. “This is a decision from the heart. It is a great honour to coach the national team,” Nagelsmann said in a statement. The announcement comes just a few weeks before Germany is set to host the 2024 European championships over June and July. Nagelsmann…
A crowdfunding campaign in Slovakia to buy artillery shells for Ukraine has exceeded its target of €1m (£850,000), less than 48 hours after it was launched. The campaign is a response to the Slovak cabinet’s refusal to join an initiative by the Czech government to buy up hundreds of thousands of shells for the Ukrainian armed forces. “We have to drive Putin out of Ukraine. We have to defeat him,” said Otto Simko, a Holocaust survivor and veteran of the 1944 Slovak National Uprising against the Nazis. Aged 99, he helped kickstart the campaign to challenge the government’s policy. “I…
Armed police have made an arrest after reports that a man was seen entering the Iranian consulate not far from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Elite officers from France’s BRI intervention brigade surrounded the building after a witness saw a man apparently carrying a grenade or explosive vest. French reports said the suspect eventually left the building. A man was detained by police shortly after 14:45 (12:45 GMT). Pictures from the scene showed police arresting him close to the consulate. Neighbouring streets in the city’s 16th district in the centre were cordoned off. While the nature of the threat was…
Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has counseled Nigerians against evading the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Cubana Chief Priest, in a recent statement, emphasised that the agency’s operatives do not mistreat suspects, but are focused solely on investigation and prosecution. The Socialite shared his views on the professionalism of the EFCC through his Instagram page. “The Eagle will always fly so high to catch you wherever you hide,” he wrote. “No need to run when @officialefcc invites you, just pull up and answer them. They don’t bite, they don’t beat, they only investigate and prosecute,” Cubana…
Forty-five Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the platform of Justice for All (JA), have written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the tenure of a former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, with a view to prosecuting him if found wanting. Kwankwaso, the current national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), governed Kano State at different times from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. Justice for All (JA), in a letter to the EFCC, co-signed by Auwalu Ibrahim and Dr. Dave Ogbole as chairman and co-chairman, respectively, on behalf of the 45…
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost children’s rights. The groundbreaking event, which took place at the UN House in Abuja on Friday, aimed to leverage media’s influential power to promote and protect children’s rights across Nigeria. According to UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, the partnership will also harness the media’s immense potential as an advocate for the welfare of children. “Media not only informs public opinion but also influences those in power to enact changes that favour…
A major rescue operation was undertaken by men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) early Friday morning, after a truck loaded with food items overturned on its side while heading towards the Ojota area of Lagos. The accident involved an unregistered Volvo truck and resulted in injuries to the driver and five passengers, including three women. LASTMA officials swiftly responded to the scene and successfully rescued the victims. Adebayo Taofiq, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, stated, “Our officers were quick to the scene to manage the incident, which occurred due to the truck’s brake failure…