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Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has lauded the Federal Government for approving the construction of the Nigeria Customs facilities in the State, adding that with the provision of infrastructure by his administration, the State would continue to be the industrial hub of the country. The Governor also disclosed that the Special Agro-Processing Zone at the Gateway International Agro-cargo Airport would be ready by the third quarter of next year. According to him, the airport which would be equipped with the latest equipment in the aviation industry, would turn out to be the best in the world. Speaking at the 38th Akesan Day celebration held at the Apostolic Church Grammar School, Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Prince Abiodun noted that that corridor of the State would play a significant role in the nation’s quest for industrial revolution. He said: “We have the airport, the first truly Agricultural Processing Zone which is one of the six zones approved by the Federal Government across the the states. That zone will be completed in the third quarter of 2025.” The governor noted that his administration would embark on people-oriented projects to open up the State for more investment opportunities and access. “We will ensure that we are defined by people-oriented policies, programmes and projects. We will work till the end of our tenure in 2027,” he added. He said the Akesan Day was an opportunity for all sons and daughters of the community to come together to foster unity and to celebrate the deep culture and traditions of the town. The governor while noting the development strides the town has made in recent years, promised to provide the town with the needed infrastructure for more development. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, described Governor Abiodun as a living historian who is working to leave lasting legacies in the State. “I have seen well-constructed road networks with concrete drainages. The governor’s nitch for infrastructural facilities is well documented. The governor is concerned about the progress of this town and the welfare of the people. I want to commend him for this,” he said. Also speaking, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who represented the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, noted that despite the governor’s performance in his first term, he is even working harder, a development which means his seriousness for governance. Bamidele: “We are happy that he is leaving legacies that will stand the test of time. He has told us about some of the moves he is making to turn Ogun State into the modern-day commercial hub.” The occasion, which featured cultural displays, attracted about 50 senators, members of the House of Representatives, traditional rulers, political bigwigs, among others.NoneKyKy Tandy, FAU close out Oklahoma State in Charleston
The House Ethics Committee found evidence former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid multiple women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sex, according to a final draft of the panel’s report on the Florida Republican released on Monday. The committee concluded that Gaetz violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office, including the state’s statutory rape law. “The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” panel investigators wrote. Gaetz has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing and on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to block the report’s release, saying it contains “untruthful and defamatory information” that would “significantly damage” his “standing and reputation in the community.” The panel investigated transactions Gaetz personally made, often using PayPal or Venmo, to more than a dozen women during his time in Congress, according to the report. "From 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women that the Committee determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use," the report said. According to the report, in 2018 Gaetz arranged for his Chief of Staff to assist a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the U.S. Department of State that she was a constituent. The committee said it also received testimony that at a 2017 party, Gaetz twice had sex with "Victim A," who was just 17 years old at the time and had just completed her junior year in high school. "Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that evening, which she understood to be payment for sex," the committee wrote. "Victim A said that she did not inform Representative Gaetz that she was under 18 at the time, nor did he ask her age." The committee said it did not find sufficient evidence to conclude that Gaetz violated the federal sex trafficking statute. "Although Representative Gaetz did cause the transportation of women across state lines for purposes of commercial sex, the Committee did not find evidence that any of those women were under 18 at the time of travel, nor did the Committee find sufficient evidence to conclude that the commercial sex acts were induced by force, fraud, or coercion." The release of the report comes after at least one Republican joined all five Democrats on the panel earlier this month in a secret vote to release the report about their former colleague despite initial opposition from GOP lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, to publishing findings about a former member of Congress, the Associated Press reported. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Ahead of the report’s release Gaetz denied any wrongdoing and criticized the committee's process. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” he wrote in one post. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Back in November, after resigning from the House, Gaetz announced on X that he is withdrawing from consideration for the role of attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump . "I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback — and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition," he began the post. "There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he continued. "I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I'm certain he will Save America."South Korea’s Yoon declares martial law in shock political move
Actor Sean Penn says he is “proud” that President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden ahead of what he called president-elect Donald Trump’s “dangerous clown show” administration. “Any father that didn’t do that [pardon their son] would have been remiss,” Penn told Variety . “I don’t know if I want to have a beer with somebody who wouldn’t have pardoned Hunter Biden, being their son.” As Breitbart News reported , many people took issue with the fact that Biden had spent months insisting he wouldn’t pardon his son, only to go back on his word. Penn seemingly tried to justify that concern, telling Variety , “I do not believe that Joe Biden, had he won the presidency, would have pardoned his son. I don’t think it was a lie; I think it was a change of mind and circumstance.” The actor — who is notably a close friend of Hunter Biden, whose paintings Penn has on his walls — went on to call the now-cleared felony charges against Hunter “one of the horrible hit jobs of all time” and “existentially insane.” The Mystic River star then called Hunter Biden “one of the finest people I know.” “This is a guy who has taken on the most severe addiction, and has so much to offer people who are suffering or families who are suffering through that,” Penn said. “And I just I’m glad that the possibility is there now that he’ll have the time and space to be able to offer that support to people, which I know is what he wants to do.” “We would be proud to have him,” the Milk star added. “He’s also a fantastic painter.” Penn went on to tell Variety that he views Trump’s incoming presidential administration as “a dangerous clown show.” The majority of America, however, disagrees with Penn’s assertion — as evidenced by Trump’s landslide victory in the 2024 election, in with the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president won not only the Electoral College, but also the popular vote, as well as every single swing state. The 2024 election also resulted in Republicans taking the majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives — a clear message from the American people. Alana Mastrangelo is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on Facebook and X at @ARmastrangelo , and on Instagram .None
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Tucker reported from Newtown, Pennsylvania.Solid Biosciences Added to the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index
In an impressive display of innovation, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed new technology to protect composite materials from lightning strikes, a common menace to wind turbines and aircraft. Leading the charge is Vipin Kumar, an ORNL researcher who has been instrumental in devising multiple technologies that significantly mitigate lightning damage to turbines and airplanes. Collaborating closely with his team, Kumar has reached a notable milestone by creating an entire 6.5-foot turbine blade tip, incorporating novel materials that remained unscathed after rigorous simulated lightning tests at Mississippi State University's specialized lab, according to Oak Ridge National Laboratory . Interestingly, while high current tests proved destructive, the novel materials and coatings demonstrate a promising path for blade protection. Kumar and his team face a particular challenge: the lack of comprehensive data regarding the extent of lightning-related issues within the wind industry. Despite this, lightning strikes pose a significant source of blade-related downtime and repair expenses. Kumar emphasized the importance of resilience in wind energy, stating, "We know wind energy is a reliable source of electricity that supports energy security, but I believe anything we can do to make it more resilient and reliable is important," as he told Oak Ridge National Laboratory . One of the remarkable features of the project is the use of a low-cost carbon fiber developed at ORNL, which has allowed for the construction of a blade tip that can withstand lightning impact. Tested using industry-standard methods, the hybrid carbon fiber composite blade tip reduces the blade's weight by an impressive 41%. It enables the manufacture of longer blades that can generate more electricity. As a result, the demand for carbon fiber within the wind industry may rise, with ORNL's economic formula potentially allowing it to compete within the market, as researcher Subhabrata Saha led the creation of the blade tip. Kumar elucidated the benefits of lighter and larger blades, "That means we can make bigger blades of the same weight that generate more electricity," he remarked in a statement obtained by Oak Ridge National Laboratory . Moreover, the innovation's sustainability aspect has not gone unnoticed, with the new blade tip earning an award for "innovation in green composites design." In discussing the future of the technology, Kumar revealed a comprehensive recycling plan for the blade, aiming to use both the carbon fiber and the resin in 3D printing applications within the ORNL facility. Kumar's approach has broadened beyond just manufacturing practices; he has also vetted the economic viability of his work by engaging with DOE's 2024 Energy I-Corps program. Engaging industry professionals, he has gathered insights into the challenges faced by turbine manufacturers and operators, shaping his innovations to suit market needs. Among the potential solutions, a nanofiller coating has garnered significant interest from these professionals due to its protective qualities and ease of application. Looking ahead, Kumar is discussing field-testing his nanofiller coating at an actual wind farm, where its performance against lightning strikes can be monitored longitudinally. Acknowledging the hefty repair costs ranging from tens of thousands up to $1 million per blade, he remains confident in the transformative potential of his research. When operators and insurance companies often hesitate to cover lightning-related damages, Kumar stays focused on solutions, asserting, according to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory , "It’s an act of engineering."
UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York