Home Blog Page 424

UK Expels Russian Diplomat in Response to British Embassy Staff Expulsions in Moscow

By
admin
-
0

The United Kingdom has expelled a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse in retaliation for Moscow’s expulsion of two British embassy staff earlier this week, the British government announced Wednesday. 

The UK Foreign Office summoned Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin to formally inform him of the decision, citing an “increasingly aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats.” Officials described Moscow’s actions as an attempt to pressure the British embassy in Moscow into closing. 

“We will not tolerate the Kremlin’s campaign of intimidation or repeated attempts to threaten UK security,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on X, formerly Twitter. 

No departure timeline was provided for the Russian diplomats. 

On Monday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged via RIA Novosti that the two expelled British diplomats had provided false personal information while seeking permission to enter Russia. The FSB accused them of engaging in intelligence-gathering activities that posed a security threat but did not present evidence to support its claims. 

According to RIA Novosti, Russia revoked the British diplomats’ accreditations and ordered them to leave within two weeks. 

The UK Foreign Office responded, stating that any further escalation by Russia would be met with an appropriate response. 

Diplomatic tensions between Russia and the UK have remained high, particularly since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The expulsion of diplomats has become increasingly common as relations between Russia and Western nations deteriorate. UK-Russia relations were already strained after the 2018 Salisbury poisoning, in which former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter were targeted with the Novichok nerve agent. The UK government blamed Moscow for the attack, a claim the Kremlin denies. 

Former Texas Megachurch Pastor Indicted in Oklahoma on Child Sexual Abuse Charges

By
admin
-
0

 Robert Preston Morris, a former pastor of a Texas megachurch, has been indicted in Oklahoma on child sexual abuse charges decades after allegations first surfaced. The state’s attorney general’s office announced Wednesday that Morris, 63, faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. 

The indictment alleges the abuse began in 1982 when the victim, identified as C.C., was 12 years old. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with the victim’s family in Hominy, Oklahoma. Prosecutors claim the abuse continued for four years. 

Cindy Clemishire, who has publicly identified herself as the victim, expressed gratitude for the indictment. “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” said Clemishire, now 55. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.” 

Attempts to reach Morris for comment were unsuccessful. Phone numbers associated with him were disconnected, and it remains unclear whether he has legal representation. 

Morris, the founder of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, resigned from his position last year after the allegations resurfaced on the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch. 

In response to the indictment, Gateway Church issued a statement acknowledging the legal proceedings and offering prayers for the victim. “We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions,” the church stated. 

Attorney General Gentner Drummond condemned the allegations, emphasizing the severity of the charges. “There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” Drummond said. “This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice.” 

If convicted, Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges. As of Wednesday, he had not been taken into custody. 

Morris, once a politically influential figure, previously hosted former President Donald Trump at Gateway Church’s Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy. 

Gateway Church, one of the largest congregations in the United States, operates multiple locations across Texas. 

The case underscores growing scrutiny over allegations of abuse within religious institutions, as victims continue to come forward seeking justice. 

Mass Grave and Cremation Ovens Found at Suspected Extermination Camp in Mexico

By
admin
-
0

A mass grave and three cremation ovens containing charred human remains have been discovered at a suspected extermination camp in Jalisco, Mexico, during a family’s search for a missing loved one. 

The gruesome site, located on a ranch in Teuchitlán, was uncovered by the nonprofit Guerreros Buscadores collective after receiving an anonymous tip on March 5. Investigators also found personal belongings, including 400 pairs of shoes, clothing, jewelry, diaries, and a handwritten note believed to be from a victim. 

“We found charred remains, remains of charred human bodies in graves,” said Indira Navarro, a member of the search group. Bones, bullet casings, and magazines were also recovered, suggesting the site was used as a training ground for organized crime. 

Authorities suspect the notorious Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) is behind the secret extermination camp. Police confirmed that three large cremation furnaces used by the cartel were found on the property, along with piles of abandoned belongings. 

A particularly chilling discovery was a Bible containing photos of three children. “These photos may be a sign of hope for some family,” the collective said, according to the Daily Mail. A notebook listing 54 nicknamed victims was also found, though officials have not yet confirmed their identities. 

Jalisco has the highest number of missing persons in Mexico, with nearly 15,000 reported cases, according to the National Search Commission. 

The discovery comes as tensions escalate between the Mexican government and powerful drug cartels following U.S. pressure to crack down on organized crime. Former President Donald Trump’s executive order designated eight Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, prompting arrests, extraditions, and drug lab seizures. 

However, with top cartel leaders removed from power, rival factions are now battling for control in key regions, including tourist hotspots. 

Former Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) official Stacy Zinn warned that cartel violence poses a significant risk for Americans visiting Mexico, particularly Spring Break travelers. 

“Mexico is a hot potato right now with cartels being labeled as terrorist organization affiliates,” Zinn told The U.S. Sun. “We’ve seen an uptick in violence… Americans or travelers can still get caught up in the crossfire of rival members trying to establish new boundaries.” 

With ongoing cartel conflicts and an increasing number of missing persons, authorities continue to investigate the mass grave and the full extent of its connection to organized crime. 

the-sun.com

Putin Visits Troops in Kursk, Orders ‘Full Liberation,’ Labels Captured Fighters as ‘Terrorists’

By
admin
-
0

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited troops in the Kursk region on Wednesday, ordering a full liberation of the area and calling captured Ukrainian fighters “terrorists.” 

State television broadcast images of Putin wearing a camouflage-print shirt as he listened to a briefing from Armed Forces Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had visited one of the command centers overseeing Russian operations in the region. 

“I am counting on the fact that all the combat tasks facing our units will be fulfilled, and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be completely liberated from the enemy,” Putin said in televised remarks. 

Russian forces have been engaged in a counteroffensive in Kursk, pushing back Ukrainian troops who have controlled parts of the region since August. Gerasimov reported that 430 Ukrainian soldiers had been captured during the fighting. 

Putin stated that the captured fighters should be treated as terrorists under Russian law, indicating they could face prosecution and long prison sentences. 

Kenya’s CUE Flags 15 Universities Issuing Fake Degrees and Diplomas

By
admin
-
0

The Commission for University Education (CUE) has flagged 15 institutions for operating illegally in Kenya, cautioning that academic certificates issued by these entities will be deemed fake.

In a public notice, CUE warned that degrees and diplomas from these institutions would not be recognized. The listed institutions include Eldoret Bible College, Al-Munawwarah College, Grace Life Bible College, Africa Theological Seminary, Kenya Anglican University, The East African University, Bradgate International University, Regions Beyond Ministry Bible College, Baraton College, The Africa Talent University, Breakthrough Bible College, Theophilus Theological College, Northwestern Christian University, Logos University, Harvest Land University, and Word of Faith Bible College.

Additionally, CUE provided a list of 79 accredited institutions authorized to operate in Kenya, including public and private universities, private university constituent colleges, and institutions with letters of interim authority.

“For the avoidance of doubt, any institution operating as a university or degree-awarding entity that does not appear on the Commission’s list of approved institutions is illegal, and their degree qualifications will not be recognized in Kenya,” the notice stated.

The institutions flagged by CUE include:

#Institution NameCounty
1Eldoret Bible CollegeUasin Gishu
2Al-Munawarrah CollegeMombasa
3Grace Life Bible CollegeVihiga
4Africa Theological SeminaryKitale
5Regions Beyond Ministry Bible CollegeThika
6Baraton CollegeKapsabet
7The Africa Talent UniversityKisumu
8Breakthrough Bible CollegeNairobi
9Theophillus Theological CollegeKiambu
10Northwestern Christian UniversityKakamega
11Logos UniversityKakamega
12Harvest Land UniversityKisumu
13Word of Faith Bible CollegeVihiga
14Kenya Anglican University-KanyuamboraEmbu
15The East African University Bradegate International UniversityNyeri

The announcement follows a recent raid on Northwestern Christian University’s graduation ceremony in Mombasa by police officers and CUE officials due to its lack of accreditation.

CUE Chair Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to shutting down illegal institutions nationwide. “When we find institutions parading themselves as legitimate while offering unauthorized bachelor’s and master’s degrees, it is our duty to bring an end to this violation of the law,” he said.

Russian Bombers Fly Over Neutral Baltic Sea Waters in Strategic Mission

By
admin
-
0

Two Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers conducted a flight over neutral Baltic Sea waters, the state-run news agency RIA reported, citing the Defence Ministry.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Russian-war-planes.webp

The flight, lasting more than four hours, saw foreign fighter jets accompanying the Russian planes at certain stages, though the ministry did not specify which countries were involved.

All nations bordering the Baltic Sea—Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—are NATO members.

Russian jets were intercepted multiple times over the Baltic last year, in what analysts have described as both surveillance operations and acts of defiance against NATO.

Congo and M23 Rebels to Begin Direct Peace Talks in Angola on March 18

By
admin
-
0

Direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels are set to commence on March 18 in Angola’s capital, Luanda, according to a statement from Angola’s presidency on Wednesday.

Angola has been actively mediating to establish a lasting ceasefire and reduce tensions between the DRC and neighboring Rwanda, which has been accused of supporting the Tutsi-led rebel group. Rwanda has repeatedly denied these allegations.

On Tuesday, Angola announced its initiative to facilitate direct negotiations between the conflicting parties.

Congo’s government has consistently refused to engage in talks with M23 and, in response to Angola’s announcement, stated only that it had acknowledged the initiative.

As of Wednesday, there was no immediate comment from Kinshasa regarding the planned discussions.

Reuters

Judge Rules Trump Exceeded Authority in Freezing USAID Funds

By
admin
-
0

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by freezing nearly all U.S. humanitarian and development spending abroad, declaring that the administration cannot withhold tens of billions of dollars appropriated by Congress for foreign aid.

Judge Amir H. Ali stopped short of mandating the administration to reinstate thousands of abruptly terminated contracts supporting U.S. aid and development initiatives worldwide.

The ruling came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the completion of a six-week purge of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, cutting 83% of them. Rubio stated that the remaining aid programs would be transferred to the State Department.

Rubio, in a post on X, praised the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and State Department staff for executing what he called a long-overdue reform of U.S. foreign aid. The move marks a significant shift in the country’s international assistance strategy, driven by Trump administration political appointees.

Trump’s executive order on Jan. 20 directed a freeze on foreign assistance funding, citing concerns over waste and an alleged liberal agenda in U.S. aid programs. Rubio’s post indicated that the review was now complete, eliminating 5,200 out of USAID’s 6,200 programs, which he argued had failed to serve national interests.

Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups contend that the shutdown of congressionally funded programs is unlawful, requiring legislative approval.

Ali, in his preliminary injunction, asserted that Trump cannot disregard the nearly $60 billion allocated by Congress for USAID and the State Department, emphasizing that under the U.S. Constitution, spending authority resides with Congress.

“The constitutional power over whether to spend foreign aid is not the President’s own — it is Congress’s own,” Ali wrote, rejecting the administration’s expansive claims of executive power.

Ali declined requests from nonprofit organizations and businesses to reinstate terminated contracts, stating that such decisions fall under the administration’s discretion. However, he ordered the government to disburse approximately $2 billion owed to aid organizations and contractors by mid-February, mandating at least 300 back payments per day.

Despite administration assurances that life-saving programs would continue during the freeze, USAID staff and partners reported that all payments had been halted, with USAID’s payment system disabled by DOGE under Elon Musk’s leadership.

The ruling follows the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Trump administration’s appeal in the case.

Critics say the cuts have obscured the administration’s stance on U.S. foreign aid priorities.

“The patterns that are emerging show the administration does not support democracy programs, civil society, NGOs, or even health and emergency response,” said Andrew Natsios, former USAID administrator under President George W. Bush. “So what’s left?”

Republican leaders have advocated for a narrower foreign aid strategy, aligning spending with a more restrictive interpretation of national interests. The dismantling of USAID upended decades of policy that framed humanitarian and development assistance as vital to U.S. national security.

The State Department, in a recent court filing, indicated that more than 90% of USAID programs would be terminated, though Rubio provided a lower figure.

Following Trump’s order, his appointee Pete Marocco, alongside Musk, implemented mass firings, forced leaves, and immediate terminations of USAID contracts. The shutdown left many USAID employees and contractors stranded overseas, awaiting unpaid salaries and travel expenses.

The administration has given overseas USAID staff until April 6 to return to the U.S. at government expense, according to an agency-wide email obtained by The Associated Press. Employees say the deadline leaves little time to arrange personal affairs, including school withdrawals for children, property sales, and securing housing after years abroad.

AP

Sudiksha Konanki: Investigators Name Person of Interest in Disappearance of Student in Dominican Republic

By
admin
-
0

Authorities have identified Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old former high school wrestler, as a person of interest in the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old U.S. student who went missing on March 6 during a break in Punta Cana. 

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia is investigating Riibe, though officials have stated, “This is not at this time a criminal case, which would be different.” Dominican authorities do not consider Riibe a suspect and believe Konanki may have drowned. 

A source close to the investigation told DailyMail.com that Riibe remains in Punta Cana and is cooperating with authorities. While his passport is currently in the possession of Dominican officials, he is legally able to retrieve it and return to the United States. Investigators are also in possession of his phone but require legal authorization to examine its contents. 

Surveillance footage reportedly captured Riibe and Konanki walking toward the beach at approximately 4 a.m. on March 6. They were with a larger group of friends, who later returned to their rooms at 5:55 a.m., leaving the pair alone. Riibe told investigators they entered the water and were caught by a wave. He claimed he later fell asleep on the beach and eventually walked back to his room. 

Security cameras recorded Riibe returning to his room barefoot and shirtless at 8:54 a.m., nearly five hours after he and Konanki went to the beach. Konanki’s friends, who left the hotel for an excursion that morning, noticed her disappearance upon returning at 4 p.m. and reported her missing. 

Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, resides in Rock Rapids, Iowa. His relatives described him as a “good kid” who prioritizes his studies. 

The U.S. State Department is working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which is leading the investigation, as Konanki was an Indian citizen and a U.S. permanent resident. 

Authorities suspect drowning due to rough ocean conditions, but Konanki’s family is urging investigators to explore all possibilities. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, filed a complaint, stating, “It’s been four days, and if she was in the water, she would likely have washed ashore. She hasn’t been found, so we are asking them to investigate all possible scenarios, including kidnapping or abduction.”

Nigerian ‘Dead Woman’ Appears in Court to Reclaim £350,000 London Home from Fraudster

By
admin
-
0

A Nigerian woman who was officially recorded as deceased in 2019 has appeared in court via videolink from Nigeria to prove she is alive and reclaim her £350,000 London home from a convicted fraudster. 

June Ashimola, 55, was legally declared dead in February 2019, leading to a lengthy legal battle over her estate. However, she shocked the High Court by appearing before Deputy Master John Linwood to confirm she was very much alive. 

The court heard that Power of Attorney over her estate had been fraudulently granted to associates of Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster. In 2022, control of the estate was transferred to a Ms. Ruth Samuel on behalf of one “Mr. Bakare Lasisi,” who claimed to have married Ashimola in 1993. 

However, the judge ruled that Lasisi did not exist and that Ashimola had been the victim of an elaborate scam. 

Ashimola, who left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned, told the court that reports of her death were fabricated. A false death certificate had been produced, and there were allegations that another woman had been impersonating her. 

“This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive,” Deputy Master Linwood remarked. 

The judge ruled in Ashimola’s favor, concluding that Ashikodi orchestrated the fraud and attempted to mislead the court. 

Despite visa issues preventing her from attending in person, the judge accepted Ashimola’s identity, confirming it with passport photos. 

The ruling nullifies the fraudulent claim over her London home, restoring her rightful ownership. 

According to court documents, one of the most startling revelations was that Ashimola’s supposed husband, Mr. Lasisi, did not actually exist—despite multiple emails allegedly sent in his name. 

“I find that Ms. Ashimola is alive and that the death certificate was forged and/or fraudulently obtained, produced, or fabricated,” the judge stated. 

He further ruled that her alleged death was part of Ashikodi’s scheme to seize control of the property. 

“The person who appeared before me and identified herself as Ms. Ashimola bore a strong physical resemblance to the photographs in her passports,” the judge noted. 

The court also determined that Ashimola was never married to Lasisi and that the marriage certificate was a fraudulent document. 

“I do not accept that Mr. Lasisi exists—or, if he does, that he was aware his identity was being used. I also do not accept that the emails purportedly from him were actually sent by him,” the judge stated. 

The probate Power of Attorney, supposedly issued by Lasisi and Samuel, was deemed fraudulent. 

“The death certificate was not proven to the required standard, as only a copy was presented with no known provenance. There was no evidence before me that it was a genuine document representing a real event. I find it was forged and/or fraudulently produced. Those who relied on it—Mr. Tony Ashikodi and Ms. Samuel—were either directly involved in its creation or knew it was false,” he concluded. 

As a result, Deputy Master Linwood revoked the fraudulent Power of Attorney. 

The court also heard that the legal battle had already resulted in “disproportionate” costs exceeding £150,000—an amount that may surpass the property’s equity. 

Nigerian woman declared dead, London home fraud case, June Ashimola legal battle, UK property fraud, Tony Ashikodi fraud case, fake death certificate scam, High Court ruling London, probate fraud UK, Power of Attorney fraud, London estate dispute.

Saharareporters

1...423424425...996Page 424 of 996