NIGERIAN MAKES U.S MOST WANTED LIST OVER $1M FRAUD. (PHOTO).

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 Nigerian makes US Most Wanted List over $1m fraud A Nigerian, Onoriode Ezewu, has been named on the United States Department of Labour’s first-ever Most Wanted List over allegations of money laundering involving fraudulent unemployment benefit claims worth more than $1m. The department’s Office of Inspector General unveiled the list on its website on Wednesday, naming 16 fugitives wanted in cases involving alleged fraud, identity theft, money laundering, labour trafficking and other offences. According to the agency, the cases collectively involve more than $55m allegedly stolen from American taxpayers. Ezewu’s profile on the department’s website identifies him as wanted for concealment money laundering and states that he is believed to be residing in Nigeria. “In January 2021, Ezewu was charged with 15 counts of concealment money laundering tied to fraudulent UI and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims filed using stolen identities, in a scheme exceeding $1 million that also t...

LITHUANIA SHUTS BORDER WITH BELARUS OVER BALLOON INCURSIONS. (PHOTO).


 Lithuania shuts border with Belarus over balloon incursions

Lithuania announced it will close its border with Belarus in response to repeated airspace breaches by balloons, Prime Minister Inga RuginienÄ— said Monday. She warned that the country’s armed forces would shoot down any balloons that enter Lithuanian airspace.

“We are sending a signal to Belarus that no hybrid attack will be tolerated, and we are taking the strictest measures to stop such attacks,” RuginienÄ— said. The balloons, believed to be used by smugglers to transport contraband cigarettes, have forced Lithuania to close its airspace over Vilnius multiple times last week and over the weekend, disrupting 170 flights. The border will remain open for EU nationals leaving Belarus and for diplomats.

Although the balloons are not government-launched, Lithuania holds Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko responsible for failing to act. “Inaction is also an action,” RuginienÄ— said after a National Security Commission meeting. Lithuania, a NATO member, views the incursions as part of a broader pattern of hybrid attacks linked to Lukashenko’s ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Center reported that radar detected 66 objects crossing from Belarus on Sunday night. Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys called the incidents “calculated provocations designed to destabilize, distract and test NATO’s resolve.” The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry also noted that on Oct. 23, a Russian Sukhoi SU-30 fighter and IL-78 tanker briefly entered Lithuanian airspace after departing from Kaliningrad.

RuginienÄ— said Lithuania will push for additional EU sanctions on Belarus and did not rule out invoking NATO’s Article 4, which allows urgent consultations among allies when a member perceives a threat to its security.


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