PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Cassie's lawyer criticizes Diddy's 'disingenuous' apology video as stars react to hotel assault statement Cassie's legal team fired back at Sean "Diddy" Combs after the music mogul attempted to apologize for his actions following the recent circulation of a video showing Combs beating his then-girlfriend in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. "Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt," Meredith Firetog, a partner at Wigdor LLP, the legal firm representing Ventura, told Fox News Digital.  "When Cassie and other multiple women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday. That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words." Combs broke his silence Sunday on the video from eight years ago which just began making the rounds Friday, a

 New York man with ties to European royalty reported missing in California: police A New York man who has ties to European royalty was listed as a missing person last seen late Saturday night in Malibu, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. Authorities posted on social media that Attilio Brillembourg, 53, the stepfather of Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark, was last seen around 1:10 a.m. in Malibu on Saturday. In the missing person alert, authorities said Brillembourg is white, 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighing 165 pounds with gray hair, green eyes and a tattoo on his upper thigh. The sheriff's office said he was last seen wearing a blue shirt, gray pants and no shoes.  "There is concern for Mr. Brillembourg's well-being," the sheriff's department said. Anyone who has seen Brillembourg or has information on his whereabouts is encouraged to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau, Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Princess Tatiana is a

 Florida man drunkenly steals school bus, drives 4 hours to Miami: police A Florida man allegedly stole a school bus while drunk and drove to Miami in a wild Saturday night outing, police said. Land O’ Lakes resident Daniel Saez, 32, was charged with grand theft auto on Sunday, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay.  The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) told the outlet that the suspect stole the bus, which belonged to Hillsborough County Public Schools, near Tampa on Saturday night. Saez then drove the vehicle to Miami, which is roughly 280 miles from Tampa. It's about a four-hour drive. The suspect was stopped in Sarasota, the FHP said. He told authorities that he was on his way back to Tampa from Miami to return the stolen bus. Sarasota is approximately 60 miles south of Tampa. The suspect allegedly admitted to stealing the bus and was reportedly both drunk and high when the crime took place. After being arrested, Saez was placed in a county jail. Newsmen reached out to FHP for additional in

  Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has died after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed in a mountainous and forested area of the country in poor weather. The 63-year-old, a figure representing conservative and hardline factions in Iranian politics, was president for nearly three years, and appeared on track to run for re-election next year. A former chief justice, Raisi was touted as a potential successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 85-year-old supreme leader of Iran. Raisi was born in Mashhad in northeastern Iran, a religious hub for Shia Muslims. He underwent religious education and was trained at the seminary in Qom, studying under prominent scholars, including Khamenei. Also like the supreme leader, he wore a black turban, which signified that he was a sayyid – a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, a status with particular significance among Twelver Shia Muslims. Raisi racked up experience as a prosecutor in multiple jurisdictions before coming to Tehran in 1985.

 Changing LG leadership frequently absurd, Rep tells Soludo The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, has described as “ridiculous, undemocratic and abuse of power”, the decision by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to continuously snub the calls for local government elections in the state. Ogene, who is the Labour Party’s House of Reps’ Caucus Leader, said rather than conduct LG elections, Soludo had gone ahead to appoint the transitional committee chairman for all the 21 local government areas in the state, saying it was unfair for the development and dreams of the people. The lawmaker stated this in a statement on Sunday in response to the correspondence between the office of the governor and the local government chairmen of the governor’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, calling for submission of CVs by interested persons within the party, through the office of the party’s LGA chairmen, for appointme

 Buhari failed to develop Katsina as president, says ex-NHIS boss A former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof Usman Yusuf, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of neglecting his home state, Katsina, throughout his eight-year tenure. Yusuf made the claim when he was featured as a guest on Sunday. Although Buhari’s administration has been largely credited with executing projects such as the Second Niger Bridge and the construction of the Kano – Maradi rail line connecting the neighbouring Niger Republic, the activist insisted that Katsina just like the entire North West did not witness any meaningful development under his leadership. He said, “In every region, we have issues. What is the North East Development Commission doing? The North during President Buhari’s government has a good representation. The chief of staff was the one who pushed for the creation of the NEDC. Now, there is a Vice President, National Security Adviser and others from the

 Morehouse defends students, faculty who turned their backs during Biden speech: ‘We are proud’ Morehouse College is praising its students and faculty after at least seven graduates and one faculty member sat with their backs turned to President Biden as he delivered his commencement address at the Atlanta school earlier Sunday. Morehouse said "peaceful assembly is core" to the school’s "social justice tradition," and its administration "fully supports and defends the right to peacefully protest and the expression of one’s views openly."  Given its most famous alumni, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Morehouse said it was "fitting that a moment of organized, peaceful, activism would occur on our campus while the world is watching to continue a critical conversation."  "We are proud of the resilient class of 2024’s unity in silent protest, showing their intentionality in strategy, communication, and coordination as a 412-person unit," Morehou

 ‘Friends’ star Courteney Cox says Matthew Perry ‘visits me a lot,’ still feels sense he is ‘around, for sure’ Courteney Cox is still feeling the loss of her "Friends" co-star Matthew Perry. On "CBS Sunday Morning," she reflected on her career, explaining the lasting impact Perry had on her. "I think he’s probably one of the funniest human beings in the world. He’s just so funny," she said. He is genuinely a huge heart. Obviously struggled."  Cox continued, "I’m so thankful I got to work so closely with him for so many years. He visits me a lot, if we believe in that." On "Friends," Cox and Perry's characters, Monica and Chandler, eventually become a couple, sharing intimate and hilarious moments in the latter half of the series. The 59-year-old further shared some of her spiritual connections to other lost loved ones, like her parents, and how she still feels Perry with her. "I’ve talked to my mom, my dad, Matthew. I feel

 Bruce Nordstrom, Who Helped Lead His Family’s Retail Empire, Dies at 90 Though he was the company’s president, he opted for joint leadership with family members as they made Nordstrom, starting as a string of shoe stores, into an international fashion retail brand. Bruce Nordstrom and other members of the third generation took leadership reins in 1968. They brought the company public in 1971 and expanded its footprint across the U.S. while also launching the lower priced Nordstrom Rack stores. Bruce Nordstrom retired from his executive role in 1995 as the third generation handed over leadership to the fourth. He retired as chairman of Nordstrom's board of directors in 2006.

 Ed Dwight Goes to Space 63 Years After Training as 1st Black Astronaut Edward Dwight was among the first pilots that the United States was training to send to space in 1961, but he was passed over. On Sunday, he finally made it on a Blue Origin flight. Watch video below. 

Sean Combs Apologizes After Video Shows Him Assaulting Cassie After footage surfaced of Mr. Combs striking, kicking and dragging Cassie, he apologized on social media, saying that “my behavior on that video is inexcusable.”. Watch video below. 

 Mosquitoes swarm Texas town, officials blame climate change Officials are pointing the finger at climate change as a Texas town battles with another spring of exploding mosquito populations.  "If you open the car door to go somewhere, you’ve got 10 mosquitoes inside," Mith Varley, a resident of the Houston suburb of Conroe, Texas, said of the issue, according to a report in the Washington Post. Varley, who has lived in the area of Montgomery County for nearly 10 years, told the Washington Post he has never seen it worse. While the area of Texas has always been known as an ideal mosquito habitat, flood-inducing rains over the last few weeks have given the pesky insects even more ideal areas to breed and spread. WHO APPROVES SECOND VACCINE AGAINST THE MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE DENGUE AS OUTBREAKS INTENSIFY "They are attracted to me. No one else gets mosquitoes like me," Linda Adams, a local resident, told the Washington Post. "I was also a redhead as a child. I thi

 Netanyahu rival threatens to quit war cabinet over Gaza strategy A top political rival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an ultimatum over the country's Gaza strategy Saturday, threatening to resign from Netanyahu's war cabinet. Knesset member Benny Gantz told Netanyahu that he will resign from the cabinet if he does not present a plan for ending the war in Gaza by June 8. Gantz proposed a plan that would see Israel take over security for a demilitarized Gaza Strip, while an interim Palestinian and international government would handle civil issues in the region. "If you choose to follow the path of zealots and lead the entire nation toward an abyss, we will be forced to leave the government," Gantz told Netanyahu. "The moment of truth has arrived." Gantz is one of just three members in Netanyahu's war cabinet, with the third being Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. US MILITARY CONSTRUCTS HULKING METAL PIER AMID BIDEN'S $320 MILLION GA

Attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo thwarted Government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have successfully thwarted an attempted coup. The incident, which unfolded Saturday night has left the nation on edge as authorities work to restore order and investigate those involved. "An attempted coup d'etat has been put down by the defense and security forces. The attempt involved foreigners and Congolese. These foreigners and Congolese have been put out of action, including their leader," said Congolese army spokesperson Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge. "The armed forces of the DRC ask the population to go about their business freely and peacefully. The defense and security forces are in complete control of the situation" Sylvain Ekenge added with no further details. Clashes were reported between men in military uniform and guards of a local politician at the politician’s house on Tshatshi Boulevard, about 2 kilometers (1.2 mile

 Customs Lagos Industrial Command Rolls Out Achievements in 7 Months  Newly promoted Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Nsikan Umoh, who was before now in charge of Lagos Industrial Command has highlighted the achievements of the command within 7 months. In her valedictory press briefing at the command, on Friday, 17 May 2024, ACG Umoh announced that the command collected revenue to the tune of N17 billion.  She explained that the revenue generated was between October 2023 to April 2024. According to her, "The monthly generated revenue collection from November 2023 has been averagely between 2.4 billion to 2.5 billion. With overwhelming support and cooperation of traders, brokers, and our dedicated officers, we were able to generate N4,251,165,917.07 in the month of April which is the highest recorded in about two decades." Speaking on other achievements, ACG Umoh stated that five factories are currently undergoing documentation for excise control.  She appreciated stak

 Mix reactions as Bishop Oyedepo’s son Isaac makes confession on his struggles with pornography Isaac Oyedepo, the son of the Founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo has opened up on hia struggle with pornography. The clergyman, while speaking during a recent podcast confessed that he once battled with pornography. He stated that he vividly remembers how it started as he traveled to a country and was meant to be in the room alone, when he switched on the TV and his porn struggle began. Luckily for him, God brought him out of it quickly. He noted how a lot of people still struggle with it and wished he had met someone to help him with his struggles earlier on. He further noted how people feel there are things one shouldn’t talk about, but today, there are some pastors and church members still struggling. According to Isaac, one can be anointed, seeing signs and wonders but it doesn’t mean they are standing right. “My confessions are good ones that will help people. I strugg

 You asked for your son’s youtube password the same day he died” – Mohbad’s aide drags Mohbad’s father In a recent development, an aide to Mohbad has come out on social media to express his opinion about Mohbad’s father. The aide expressed that Mohbad father had asked for his son’s YouTube password the same day that Mohbad had died, hinting at the fact that his father did not really mourn his son’s passing. He went on to state that he was making his son’s team look like fools and ingrates because he cased light to the world that his son’s team had been putting him under the staircase. This aide, known as Do Damola, expressed that only God would judge a lover, Mohbad dad. He went on to hint at the fact that Mohbad’s father had clamoured for the burial of his son quickly. He further disclosed that when Mohbad was alive, he was always Mohbad’s first priority and that he never joked with you. However, the reverse had been the case when Mohbad had died.

 Governor Fintiri Flags Off Wunti/Central Flyover Project ·"It'll Address Traffic Congestion"  Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has attended the flagging off ceremony for the construction of Wunti/Central flyover led by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, reaffirming his administration's resolve to improving the lives of motorists, minimizing the occurrence of lethal accidents as well as broadening the state capital. Speaking, Mohammed said when completed, the project will streamline activities and boost economic performance, hence the need for the masses to rally behind his administration's developmental ventures for the growth development of Bauchi state. While acknowledging the contributions of the members of his cabinet, Governor commended President Tinubu led administration for its unwavering support through the Renewed Hope initiatives, pledging continued collaboration for the benefit of the citizenry. He called on the contra

 10-year-old Tennessee boy pulled into a storm drain by flood waters has sadly passed away after a long and hard fight. Asher Sullivan was playing in flood waters on May 8th in Christiana, TN., with friends while his parents helped neighbors clean up after a devastating storm struck the area the night before. While playing, Asher suddenly disappeared and was pulled by the waters into a storm drain. He emerged from the drain into a drainage ditch a short time later. However substantial damage was already done. Lifesaving measures were given on scene and the young boy's heartbeat was restored.  Asher's parents had been meeting with neurologists, trying to decide how to move forward when Asher's vitals crashed. Doctors performed a battery of tests before confirming Asher had passed away. Ashers father, Dr. Sullivan, described his passing as Asher doing what he has always done, putting others first. In passing away he took all the hard decisions his parents were having  to face

 EFCC Arrests Five Suspected Forex Speculators in Aba Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the  Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC, on Friday, May 17, 2024,  arrested five suspected forex speculators at the Ama-Hausa mosque, along Hospital Road, Aba in Abia State. The arrested suspects are:  Hassan Umaru; Haruna Umar Badamasi Abdullahi, Auwal Muhammed  and   Kasimu Muhammed.     The suspects were in possession of different currencies in varied sums at the point of arrest. The recovered currencies are: 23,000 Won (Korean currency), 52 (Yuan Chinese currency),  $6, 500 Nippon Ginko, 40 notes of Dalawampung piso( Philippines Currency) 20 Gambian Dalasis, 20 Swaziland currency and N382,000 (Three Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand Naira only). Other recovered items  from them are,  seven mobile phones, one power bank, one air pod, and one ATM card. They were arrested by operatives of the Command, following weeks of surveillance and credible intelligence.  The suspects will be char

 Gbagyi Lost 115 Members To Prolonged Bassa, Egbura Ethnic Crisis In Toto, Group Alleges  ***  The Gbagyi ethnic group in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State said it has recorded more casualties from the prolonged Bassa and Egbura ethno-political crisis in the State than even the conflicting parties.  A sociocultural group, the Gbagyi Cultural Renaissance Foundation, GCRF, made this known in a statement signed by its Secretary, Musa Dnasuwa on Saturday in Toto, lamenting that they have been traumatized due to incessant attacks and mischievous intimidation which has negatively impacted on their social, political and economic proficiency.  According to the statement issued after an emergency meeting on  Saturday, the Gbagyi ethnic group has lost 115 members and property worth hundreds of millions from 1997 when the ethno-political crisis started till date.  GCRF also lamented that several ancestral homes belonging to the Gbagyi ethnic group have gone into extinction as a result

 You and your generation will regret it if you japa for greater pasture” – Pastor Femi Emmanuel warns Nigerians  The presiding Pastor of Livingspring Chapel International, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, has warned Nigerians planning to relocate ‘japa’ abroad for greener pastures. The clergyman made this known during one of his services, as he noted how he had spoken too much on Japa, hence why he wouldn’t stress about it. He admonished anyone considering relocating for greener pasture to drop the idea because it would lead to future regret. However, he clarified that anyone planning to relocate for academic purposes, training, conferences, business trade, or an instruction from God can do so. The clergyman warned that relocating only to eat or because of the situation in the country would live to regret as the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

 EFCC Arrests Three Siblings  for Suspected Internet Fraud in Makurdi Operatives of the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC, on Friday May 17, 2024  arrested three brothers for  suspected internet fraud.   They were arrested along New Garage, Wadata in Makurdi.   The suspects,  Abubakar Sadiq Adejoh, Mohammed Habib Adejoh and Solomon Adejoh allegedly specialise in diverting customers' funds from their accounts to a  Point of Sale, POS, terminal for withdrawal.    Items recovered from them include a car, six mobile phones, one laptop and cash totaling N3,562,750.00 (Three Million Five Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira) only.   They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.   More photos below.

 Man City win a record FOURTH league title in a row! ✅ 2020/21 ✅ 2021/22 ✅ 2022/23 ✅ 2023/24 EPL Full-time:  Man City 3-1 West Ham Arsenal 2-1 Everton Liverpool 2-0 Wolves   Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth Brighton 0-2 Man United Burnley 1-2 Nottingham Luton 2-4 Fulham  Sheffield 0-3 Tottenham Crystal Palace 5-0 Aston Villa Brentford 2-4 Newcastle

SA's Zuma to know presidential bid fate on Monday South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma will know the fate of his presidential bid on Monday, when the constitutional court will give its verdict. South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma will know the fate of his presidential bid on Monday, May 20. The country's constitutional court said in a statement on Sunday that it will rule on whether Zuma's conviction for contempt of court in June 2021 "disqualifies" him from "standing as a candidate for the National Assembly." For a candidate to qualify for the presidential seat in South Africa, they must be eligible to serve as a member of parliament. Zuma was slapped with a 15-month jail sentence for refusing to give evidence to a commission investigating corruption allegations against him during his rule as president from 2009 to 2018.  

 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION 19th May, 2024 PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE GREEN ECONOMIC INITIATIVES, APPOINTS CHIEF AJURI NGELALE AS SPECIAL ENVOY ON CLIMATE ACTION In a strategic move to ensure the advancement of his administration's climate and green economic initiatives, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Chief Ajuri Ngelale as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action. Chief Ngelale will serve in this role as part of a larger Presidential Committee, to be chaired by the President. The Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, established by the President, will coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development. This is to remove the constraints to coordination, foster a whole-of-government approach to climate-action programmes, provide an efficient governance architecture, and ensure that all relevant institutions in the

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS INFRACORP AS LEAD DEVELOPER OF NIGERIA’S GREEN INDUSTRIAL ZONE, EVERGREEN CITY In line with his commitment to ensure industrial development that meets the demands of the present and the future, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of The Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) as the Lead Arranger and Developer of Evergreen City, Nigeria’s green industrial zone, with the following terms of reference: (1) Selection of partners/consultants to undertake critical development activities, including project design, environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies, financial modelling, and market engagement. (2) Raising private funding for the development of the city and constituent projects. (3) Coordinating with partners, development institutions, and other providers of capital and technical assistance. (4) Reporting to the Supervisory Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, CEO

 God Is The Only Solution To Nigeria’s Problems -Fr Shenge *** “Every Nigerian, irrespective of religion, should turn to God in truth and spirit in the face of our economic, social and security challenges. He has the solution for every challenge. “If leaders and followers do things that please God, the situation of the country will change for good. “God is the only solution to the country’s problems. It is not by magic. People should just decide to do the right things at all times.” -Fr George Shenge, Parish Priest Of  St. Augustine Catholic Church, Ombi 1, Lafia 

 TROOPS ANNIHILATE 7 TERRORISTS IN AMBUSH, RECOVER GPMG, BELT OF AMMUNITION IN BORNO Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for Counter-terrorism operations in the North East, in collaboration with the Hybrid Force and the Civilian Joint Task Force on Saturday 18 May 2024  made a significant stride in the ongoing operations,  neutralizing several terrorists' threats. The troops acting on credible intelligence on the movement of the terrorists to carry out their nefarious mission, laid an ambush around the Lawanti area and neutralized 6 of the terrorists in the firefight that ensued. After overpowering the terrorists in the gun battle, the dogged troops recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and 40 rounds of 7.62 x 51 mm belted ammunition.  In a separate ambush operation, troops acting on actionable intelligence, set up an ambush at suspected terrorists' crossing point near Shetimari, Sabon-Gari, and the Amarwa Bulamari Exchange Point in Bama Local Government Area. The t