https www facebook com milyon88 *Asserts an elder statesman shouldn’t always be a trader, sycophant *Says he didn’t invite Obasanjo to commission projects in Rivers in order not to embarrass Odili Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, went head-to-head with a former governor of Rivers State, and his estranged benefactor, Dr. Peter Odili, saying he brought Odili back to life, after his retirement into oblivion. Wike, the immediate past governor of the state, warned that as an elder statesman, Odili should not be a trader and sycophant all the time. He said he had shown immense respect to Odili all along, including refusing to invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo to commission projects in the state when he was governor, just to avoid embarrassing Odili. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said Wike dropped the firestorm yesterday at a Special Thanksgiving Service organised by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt. The no-holds-barred riposte on Odili was in response to the latter’s praises for Governor Siminalayi Fubara for stopping Wike from converting Rivers State to his private fiefdom. The FCT minister said it was unfortunate for Odili, who was supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called a father, to reduce himself to a sycophant and trader. He stated, “Must you be a trader all the time? As governor for eight years, what else are you looking for? You know, I didn’t want to say anything. But somebody called me last night, and told me what someone said in the social media. “I said until I read it myself. This morning, I read in the newspapers what our former governor, Sir Dr Peter Odili, said. What did he say? He said the present governor has been able to stop one man who wanted to convert Rivers State to his personal estate. “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a Chairman of Governing Council, his daughter is a commissioner, his other daughter is a judge and he is the general overseer. “Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken, if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor. “It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son, that was recommended for commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman?” The FCT minister said it was painful that Odili, out of political sycophancy, forgot all that he had said in the past. He stated that when he was governor, the same Odili had praised him to high heaven, and said all past governors in Rivers State combined did not do better than him (Wike). According to Wike, “In 2007 after he left office, he couldn’t come near power in the state because Amaechi was the governor then. He was gone! “Like somebody said that God will use someone to lift up someone. When I came in as governor in 2015, I won’t use the word resurrected, but I brought him back to life. “All of us know about PAMO University. But for us, there wouldn’t have been anything called PAMO University. Rivers State was sponsoring 100 students per session and for every semester, each of the students was paying nothing less than N5 million. Then, Rivers people were attacking me up and down. “I personally called Julius Berger to build a mansion for him to live. He was calling everyone to the house then, telling them, ‘come and see what Wike has done for me. Wike has shown me love.’ He was taking them round the house. “Now, because you have organised a Christmas Carol for the governor, I didn’t say you should not do your Christmas Carol. But why reduce yourself to such a laughing stock? People will still see it on television how he was telling the whole world then how God used me to bring him back to life politically. “Why not do your Christmas Carol, collect what you can collect and leave me alone? The governor that all of us made has not spent one year in office and the same Odili was already saying that the governor has beaten the records of all the past governors of Rivers State. “When I was there, he said I had surpassed the records of all the past governors, including himself. What can he even show that he did in his eight years as governor? But a governor has not spent one year, you are saying he has done more than all the past governors. “You spent eight years as governor and someone who hasn’t spent one year has surpassed your records, what manner of elder talks like that? Is that what an elder statesman should be known for? “When I was governor, my pictures were everywhere in his house. Sitting room, bedroom, kitchen, even in the toilet, my picture was everywhere. But today, all the pictures have been removed.” Wike asked what could be learned from such a sycophantic elder statesman. “What can I learn from this kind of elder? What kind of advice can one get from him? This moment you are saying something; the next moment you are saying something else,” he stated. “You see, if your children begin to ask you, is this not the same man you were praising before? What would you tell them?” The minister also weighed in on the River State governorship issue, saying, “When I was plotting who will be governor after me, was he (Odili) there? “Then, he was complaining about this governor, saying that he couldn’t stand before the public to talk. But today, he is organising Christmas Carol for the same governor he was against then. “He has forgotten all that he said in the past. I named this after you, I named that after your wife. What have I not done? You said we should not be part of the government, we have left. “We are managing, you have taken assembly money, they are not dying of hunger and they will not die of hunger. We are okay. I’m focusing on my job in Abuja and all these sycophancy won’t take him to the level I have attained. “This is a man who wanted to run for president then, he didn’t have the balls, he chickened out. Simply because Obasanjo said no, he will not contest, he ran away. Because of him, I never invited Obasanjo to Rivers State to commission projects. I felt it will humiliate him.”

TORONTO (AP) — Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official said Wednesday. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. A Canadian government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. RELATED COVERAGE Border Patrol trains more chaplains as the job and polarizing immigration debate rattle agents Trump fills out his economic team with two veterans of his first administration Trump’s threat to impose tariffs could raise prices for consumers, colliding with promise for relief Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty. Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are happy to work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about a influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. “Canada is essential to the United States’ domestic energy supply,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Trump has pledged to cut American energy bills in half within 18 months, something that could be made harder if a 25% premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for almost two-thirds of total U.S. oil imports and about one-fifth of the U.S. oil supply. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada’s provinces, who want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.”

The legal hurdles that lie ahead for Google’s forced sale of ChromeAI’s challenge to universities: What happens when EQ trumps IQ?Shares of Detroit's Big Three automakers — Ford Motor Co. ($F), General Motors Company ($GM), and Stellantis N.V. ($STLA) — slid during mid-day trading Tuesday after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico. Trump also announced an additional 10% tariff on imports from China once he takes office in January. Ford shares fell over 2%, General Motors tumbled more than 7%, and Stellantis slipped over 5%. The impact on the automakers extends beyond vehicle production in these countries, as a significant portion of the parts used in U.S. manufacturing also come from Mexico and Canada. All three companies rely on highly integrated supply chains across North America. The move would blow up the Mexico-Canada-America trade deal that he signed in his first term on day one of his second term. "If implemented, this would spell disaster for the U.S. auto industry and Detroit Three manufacturers, all of whom import significant numbers of vehicles from Canada and Mexico, as well as Volkswagen and other European OEMs," Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska said in a note, reflecting broader concerns from other analysts who warn these tariffs could be “highly disruptive” for the entire U.S. automotive sector. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned of retaliation against Trump’s proposed tariffs on Mexican exports, as the peso weakened against the dollar on Tuesday. In a letter to Trump, she stated that issues like migration and drug consumption cannot be solved through threats or tariffs. She highlighted the potential harm to U.S. carmakers, warning that reciprocal tariffs could lead to inflation and job losses in both countries. Retail sentiment around Ford remained upbeat in the ‘bullish’ (64/100) territory along with an increase in chatter to ‘high’ (63/100). Meanwhile, retail sentiment around General Motors was also upbeat, in the ‘extremely bullish’ (89/100) territory, with chatter jumping to ‘extremely high’ (85/100). Despite the drop in stock price, investors on the platform were cheering General Motors' integration into Formula-1 (F1). Cadillac will become the 11th team on the F1 grid from 2026 even though its proposal to build its own power unit was rejected. Cadillac will instead be powered by Ferrari engines. Stellantis was the only one among "Detroit’s Big Three” with retail sentiment in the ‘bearish’ (30/100) zone along with an uptick in message activity to ‘high’ (67/100). Retail investors across all three stocks on Stocktwits expressed little surprise, pointing to Trump’s long-standing focus on tariffs during his electoral campaign. Stellantis has endured the toughest year among the trio, with its stock down 39% so far this year. Ford shares have also declined by 8%. In contrast, GM stands out as the sole performer in positive territory, rising 53% year-to-date, significantly outperforming broader market benchmarks. For updates and corrections email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.< Read also: Rivian Stock Revs Up Pre-Market On $6.6B Federal Loan Approval: Retail Charges Ahead

A 32-year-old sales executive of an automobile company fell victim to cyber scamsters, losing ₹ 21.88 lakh after being lured with an opportunity to earn online. The fraudsters convinced the victim to invest money for booking luxury hotel rooms with promises of lucrative returns but instead siphoned funds from his bank accounts. The victim, Abhishek Sehgal of Aman Nagar near Jalandhar bypass, filed a complaint with the cybercrime police station on August 16, 2023. After a thorough investigation, now a case has been registered under Sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, and Section 66D the Information Technology (IT) Act. Sehgal stated he received a message on Telegram app on August 13, 2023, from an ID named ‘Ganikaishya,’ offering him a role in an online task to earn money. The fraudulent job involved booking rooms in luxury hotels to create artificial demand and inflated prices. Sehgal was promised a refund of the booking amount along with a commission. Initially, Sehgal invested ₹ 30,000 in booking hotel rooms but did not receive any return. Meanwhile, he noticed unauthorised transactions from his bank accounts and credit cards. By the time he raised the alarm with his bank, ₹ 21.88 lakh had already been transferred to at least nine different accounts linked to individuals and firms across the country. The fraudsters transferred the money to accounts shown as associated reportedly with One Star Metals, Indore, Madhya Pradesh; Skylark Properties, Pune, Maharashtra; Cokrun Flute (Proprietor Shubham Yadav), Jaipur, Rajasthan; Breakspot Enterprises, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh; AD Enterprises and Anand Kumar, Gurgaon; Zoya Plastic and Bhavsar Seema Ganesh Bhai, Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Sunita Patra, Berhampur, Odisha; and Masi Rig Services, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Inspector Jatinder Singh, SHO of the cyber crime police station, revealed that cybercriminals likely hacked Sehgal’s mobile phone, enabling them to carry out unauthorised transfers. The police have succeeded in freezing ₹ 3 lakh in suspect accounts and are continuing their probe. “I was duped into believing this was a legitimate job opportunity,” Sehgal said. “When I noticed the unauthorised transactions, I immediately reported the matter to the banks, but they failed to act swiftly. This allowed the criminals to steal a substantial amount from my accounts.” The police have warned citizens to remain vigilant against online job offers, particularly those requiring advance payments. “Cybercriminals use sophisticated tactics to exploit unsuspecting victims. We urge people not to click on unverified links or share sensitive information online,” said Inspector Jatinder Singh.

Majdal Shams, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Dec, 2024) In the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, residents took to the streets on to celebrate the dramatic fall of President Bashar Al-Assad. The jubilant mood contrasted with Israeli tanks deploying along the , which leaders said were there to protect any potential new threat. With speakers blasting patriotic songs, residents of the Druze town celebrated the political change across the , saying it would bring peace to the region, including with . "We are part of the people, and we are very happy today," Mais Ibrahim, 33, told AFP. "We want to see a free and a range of different people and voices there." The Druze are an ethno-religious living mostly in , , , and the occupied Golan. Ibrahim said the people had "paid a high under Assad's regime" and that she hoped the change would "end the wars and bring peace". There are around 150,000 Druze living in and the occupied Golan Heights, with most holding Israeli and serving in the . However, those living in the Israeli-controlled area of the Golan Heights -- captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed -- differ, with most still seeing themselves as nationals. For more than a decade, the Druze community has watched the unrest in , fearing for the fate of close relatives and friends. - 'Very emotional' - Alaa Safadi, 52, a whose brother-in-law was imprisoned and killed in a under Assad's rule, said the Druze people were "one body", whether they lived in , , or Jordan. Safadi, who under a special arrangement between and spent seven years studying in , said he was happy to see Assad fall. He said it brought him hope that it would break the physical borders and cultural barriers that exist in this war-torn region. "In the end, I believe that within two years we will be able to go freely here and drink coffee in the cafes of ," he said. Raya Fakher Aldeen, 42, meanwhile described how she nearly wept with joy when she heard the of Assad's fall at 6:00 am on . "I am very emotional right now, we almost don't believe this is happening or real," she said. Fakher Aldeen, who also spent years studying in , added, "we are not separated , we have relatives there." Despite uncertainty over 's future -- with various factions in control of different parts of the country, including Islamists -- she said she was not worried about what the future might hold for the people who live there. "What happened was not by any Islamic group," she said. "It was by the people." Nearby Yasser Khanjar, 46, said he wanted to send a message to incoming US President , who in formally recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, that the land still belonged to . "This is why we are happy for the fall of Bashar al-Assad, he did not ask to free the Golan," Khanjar said, adding that he was now hopeful for a change. reg/dcp/jsa

The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. People are also reading... And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Star power Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Going bowling Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. Hot seats There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. Youth movement The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Recruiting watch Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore. Get local news delivered to your inbox!“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, un-American threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks “ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting'”, adding: “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire transition team are grateful for their swift action.” Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretences. The FBI said in a statement that it is “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners”. It added: “We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Among those targeted was Elise Stefanik, Mr Trump’s choice to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations. Her office said that she, her husband, and their three-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. “New York state, county law enforcement, and US Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism,” her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7.” In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9am this morning”. While a family member resides at the address, they said “former congressman Gaetz is not a resident”, adding: “The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.” Mr Gaetz was Mr Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Mr Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. Susie Wiles, Mr Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Mr Trump has chosen as Mr Gaetz’s replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official. White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Mr Trump’s transition team. Mr Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely,” Ms Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence”. The threats follow a political campaign marked by unusual violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The US Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Mr Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a fence while Mr Trump was playing golf.Summit of future and community with a shared future

ST Picks: ‘We cried together’ — Healthcare staff share stories in new book

Samsung Electronics headquarters in Seocho District (Image courtesy of Yonhap) SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Group, South Korea’s largest conglomerate, has seen its market capitalization plummet by over 160 trillion won this year, marking a significant contraction in its dominance on the domestic stock market. As of December 26, the total market value of Samsung’s 22 listed companies, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Biologics, and Samsung Life Insurance, stood at 548.4 trillion won, a sharp decline from 709.7 trillion won at the end of 2023. This represents a 22.7% drop, according to financial data provider Yonhap Infomax. Declining Share in the Stock Market Samsung Group’s share of the South Korean stock market has dropped to 27.57%, down from a peak of over 38% in early 2021. The figure is now at its lowest since 2016 when Samsung Biologics joined the KOSPI index. The primary driver of this decline is Samsung Electronics, the group’s flagship company, whose stock has fallen by 31.71% this year. Additional declines were seen in other key affiliates, including Samsung SDI (-47.66%), Samsung Engineering (-42.68%), and Hotel Shilla (-42.58%). Bright Spots in Finance and Shipbuilding While most of the group’s stocks underperformed, financial subsidiaries like Samsung Life Insurance (+45.44%), Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance (+40.68%), and Samsung Card (+26.58%) posted gains, buoyed by expectations of corporate value enhancement. Samsung Heavy Industries (+49.37%) also rose sharply, supported by renewed optimism in the shipbuilding industry. However, these gains were insufficient to offset the impact of Samsung Electronics’ underperformance, which accounts for a significant portion of the group’s market capitalization. ETF Performance Reflects Decline The slump has also weighed on Samsung-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The KODEX Samsung Group Value ETF has dropped 14.15% this year, while the TIGER Samsung Group Fundamental ETF and ACE Samsung Group Equal Weight ETF fell by 13.12% and 3.86%, respectively. Dim Outlook for 2025 Analysts suggest Samsung’s recovery in 2025 may face significant challenges. Many brokerage firms have lowered their target prices for Samsung Electronics in recent weeks, citing weakened demand for memory chips and concerns over global trade policies under a potential second Trump administration. “The increased supply from Chinese manufacturers is putting pressure on generic memory chip prices, and demand will likely remain subdued through the first half of next year,” said Noh Geun-chang, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities. Kim Dong-won, an analyst at KB Securities, echoed these concerns, predicting that Samsung Electronics’ stock will continue to fluctuate in a narrow range due to delays in profit recovery tied to the memory chip cycle. Samsung’s market trajectory underscores broader challenges in South Korea’s semiconductor sector and raises questions about its ability to regain its footing in a highly competitive global market. Ashley Song ( ashley@koreabizwire.com )

The first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state and his Borno state counterpart Babagana Umoru Zulum were the three personalities honoured by the Federal University of Technology Owerri(FUTO) at the institution’s 36th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday December 7, 2024. While Senator Tinubu and Chief Uzodimma were conferred with Doctor of Management (DMT), Zulum got Doctor of Technology(D.Tech). While confierring the award on Senator Mrs Tinubu, the Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Mrs Nnenna Nnannaya Oti emphasised that she was being honoured for her humanitarian services and unwavering dedication to advancing education, particularly her establishment of NGO focused on youth development/girl child education, and woman empowerment. She also recognised governors Uzodimma and Zulum for their humanitarian and developmental strides in their various states. While appreciating her doctorate award, the first lady said she had established the Green Environment Club saddled with the responsibility of proper disposal of plastic wastes across the country and promised to work with “green ambassadors” to make it a huge success. Mrs Tinubu also said she had already set up a N50 million endowment fund for the Overall Best Graduating Female Student in FUTO and vowed to continue her support for the girl-child education, adding that the male students should not be discouraged by that as it was her pet project to see to the advancement of the girl-child in education. In his own response, Uzodimma who has been assisting FUTO in various ways, one of which was getting the president’s approval for the establishment of FUTO Teaching Hospital to cater for the health needs of Imo people in particular, and Nigerians in general, assured he would continue to do more for the institution, especially by putting to an end in no time the unending boundary disputes and encroachment on FUTO land by host communities. Zulum also promised to pay a visit to the institution with his Imo state counterpart in no distant time for needs assessment purposes.Jerry Jones ‘proud’ of coaching staff for late-season surgeDALLAS — The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a plan to clean a toxic site leaking cancer-causing chemicals under dozens of homes in Grand Prairie, Texas. Construction of the cleanup equipment is expected to begin next year, but a timeline for the abatement process is still unknown. A spokeswoman for the EPA said it’s not yet known when the cleanup will begin. Both federal and state authorities have acknowledged frustration with the slow-moving process but said it is typical with this type of toxic site. EPA officials previously said cleanup could begin as early as 2024. Roughly 80 homes in the predominantly low-income Burbank Gardens neighborhood are contaminated by toxic chemicals discarded by defense contractor Delfasco Forge. In 2018, the 1.1-acre property was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List, which includes some of the nation’s most-polluted sites. In an email to The Dallas Morning News, EPA spokeswoman Jennah Durant said it is common for the abatement timeline to shift. “Sites that are placed on the National Priorities List are by definition the most complex cleanup sites that usually take years or even decades to fully address.” Tests have shown that trichloroethylene, or TCE, which is a degreaser, contaminated the soil, bled into the groundwater and vaporized into the air. Delfasco Forge — which made practice bombs for the Navy and Air Force and machinery during the 1980s and ‘90s — used TCE to clean equipment. In addition to causing cancer, TCE can cause heart defects in developing fetuses and damage the liver, kidneys, respiratory, immune and central nervous systems in adults. Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable. At a public meeting in 2022, several residents questioned whether enough was being done, and quickly enough, to address the public health hazard. The Grand Prairie plant, at 114 N.E. 28th St., closed in 1998. In 2008, Delfasco Forge filed for bankruptcy, in part because of liabilities from the contamination. As part of its bankruptcy settlement, the company paid the EPA $400,000 and the state of Texas $600,000 for mitigation efforts. To clean the site, the EPA said it plans to initially adopt two strategies, which will cost the agency $3.3 million. First, it will use a soil vapor extraction system, which is essentially a large vacuum equipped with carbon filters. The technology has been used to clean some 285 other Super Fund sites. Second, a groundwater treatment barrier will treat the toxic plume. Crews are now conducting groundwater sampling, drilling new wells to establish the extent of the plume and assessing the health risk. Both the EPA and the Texas State Department of Health Services have urged residents to request a free vapor mitigation system be installed in their homes. However, many in the neighborhood are renters, and homeowners must approve the mitigation systems. -------- ©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Trump details sweeping changes he'll carry out on day one and beyond in an exclusive interview

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