Everything News
IBRAHIM Babangida, Nigeria’s former military tyrant, and self-styled “evil genius”, has long evaded accountability for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, the most heinous betrayal of Nigeria’s democratic aspirations. Rather than serving as a long-overdue confession, his recently published memoirs – A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida – are
United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he expects Elon Musk, the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, to uncover billions of dollars in fraud and abuse at the Pentagon during an audit led by the billionaire. Trump made this statement in a Super Bowl interview with Fox News’ Brett Baier.
Elon Musk will find billion-dollar fraud, abuse in Pentagon – Trump
United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he expects Elon Musk, the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, to uncover billions of dollars in fraud and abuse at the Pentagon during an audit led by the billionaire.
Trump made this statement in a Super Bowl interview with Fox News’ Brett Baier.
Musk, whom the White House describes as a special government employee, has been tasked by Trump with leading an effort to reduce the size of the United States federal workforce.
As part of that initiative, the X owner is expected to have access to confidential information within computer systems across various government agencies.
“I’m going to tell him [Musk] very soon, maybe in 24 hours, to go check the Department of Education.
“Then I’m going to say, ‘Go to the military. Let’s check the military.’
“We are going to find billions—hundreds of millions—of dollars in fraud and abuse,” Trump said of the largest federal department.
The Pentagon’s budget is approaching $1 trillion per year.
Just last December, then-President Joe Biden signed a bill authorising $895 billion in defence spending for the fiscal year ending 30 September.
Elon Musk will find billion-dollar fraud, abuse in Pentagon – Trump
New York Judge, Juan Merchan has ruled that President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction is valid. The judge rejected Trump’s argument that it should be dismissed in the wake of a landmark immunity ruling from the US Supreme Court. The ruling comes after Trump and his team requested Merchan overturn his guilty verdict in New
New York judge upholds Trump’s hush money conviction
New York Judge, Juan Merchan has ruled that President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction is valid.
The judge rejected Trump’s argument that it should be dismissed in the wake of a landmark immunity ruling from the US Supreme Court.
The ruling comes after Trump and his team requested Merchan overturn his guilty verdict in New York v. Trump, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling that presidents have immunity for official acts.
The Supreme Court in the U.S had in July ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they take while in office.
However, Merchan, who presided over Trump’s trial, sided with prosecutors.
He said that the convictions on 34 felony counts centred on unofficial conduct.
This decision now preserves Trump’s historic conviction which, if upheld, would make Trump the first felon to serve in the White House.
Recall that a New York jury had in May 2024 found Trump guilty of falsifying business records.
The conviction stemmed from Trump’s attempt to cover up reimbursements to his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Cohen in 2016 paid off an adult film star to remain silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump has denied all wrongdoing
But in his 41-page ruling, Justice Merchan pushed back on Trump’s argument that the government’s case relied on evidence related to his official work as president, which would be covered by immunity.
The evidence shown at trial pertained “entirely to unofficial conduct,” he wrote.
The judge noted that in its own ruling the Supreme Court had found that not everything the president does is official, even if done from the Oval Office.
Reacting to the development, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung, in a statement to US media, criticised the ruling, calling it a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s decision on immunity.
“This lawless case should have never been brought, and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed,” Cheung said.
New York judge upholds Trump’s hush money conviction
Late on Sunday, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at the northern Israeli city of Haifa, injuring eight people and causing significant damage, according to Israeli authorities. Around five rockets were fired, with one striking a roundabout near a supermarket and several apartment blocks in eastern Haifa. The Israeli military reported
Hezbollah rockets strike Northern Israeli city of Haifa, injuring eight
Late on Sunday, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at the northern Israeli city of Haifa, injuring eight people and causing significant damage, according to Israeli authorities.
Around five rockets were fired, with one striking a roundabout near a supermarket and several apartment blocks in eastern Haifa.
The Israeli military reported that it is investigating why its air defense systems failed to intercept the incoming rockets.
Hezbollah claimed the attack was aimed at a military base south of Haifa in retaliation for the killing of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike last month.
Elsewhere, one person was injured in the town of Tiberias, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, after a separate rocket attack by Hezbollah.
In response, Israeli warplanes launched a new round of airstrikes on Beirut, targeting what the military described as Hezbollah positions.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also confirmed that a third division has been deployed in southern Lebanon as clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters continue in the region.
This latest escalation comes after over a year of cross-border fighting, initially sparked by Hezbollah’s support for Palestinian forces following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023.
The situation has deteriorated steadily, with Hezbollah continuing its rocket attacks despite heavy losses.
According to the IDF, Hezbollah fired more than 135 rockets into northern Israel on Sunday alone. The strikes on Haifa followed air raid sirens that sounded in the Carmel and Bay areas at approximately 23:22 local time (20:22 GMT).
Videos from the scene show emergency services responding to damage caused by the attack. A 13-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man were among those treated for injuries, with the Magen David Adom ambulance service reporting moderate to serious shrapnel wounds.
Israel has vowed to secure the northern border and ensure the safety of thousands of displaced residents as the conflict with Hezbollah intensifies.
Hezbollah rockets strike Northern Israeli city of Haifa, injuring eight
