George Floyd Killer Sentenced To 22 And Half Years In Jail By US Court

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who murdered George Floyd, has been sentenced to 22 years and six months for murder.

Mr. Floyd, a 46-year-old black was killed last year May during an arrest over allegation that he spent a counterfeit $20 bill.

A viral video of Mr Chauvin kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes until he gave up, triggered global outrage and massive Black Lives Matter protest across the United States.

Mr Chauvin appeared in court on Friday, after a jury found him guilty on three charges related to the murder in April. The jury ruled that Mr Chauvin was guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, after three weeks of the televised trial.

Judge Peter A. Cahill of Hennepin County District Court, delivered the judgment on Friday, sentencing Mr Chauvin, 45, to 22 and a half years in prison.

Mr Cahill commented shortly before delivering the sentence, saying “The sentence is not based on is emotion or sympathy, but at the same time, I want to acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain that all the families are feeling, especially the Floyd family “

Mr Cahill explained in a 22-page sentencing memorandum released by the court, that: “Part of the mission of the Minneapolis police department is to give citizens “voice and respect. Here, Mr Chauvin rather than pursuing the MPD mission, treated Mr Floyd without respect and denied him the dignity owed to all human beings and which he certainly would have extended to a friend or neighbor.”

The civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Floyd family, described the punishment as a “historic sentence [that] brings the Floyd family and our nation one step closer to healing by delivering closure and accountability.”

 

Under Minnesota “good behaviour” law, Mr Chauvin could serve only two-thirds of the sentence in prison with the rest under licensed release.

At the sentencing hearing, Mr Chauvin offered his “condolences” to Floyd’s family before the entire court but did not apologise for his actions. He said he was unable to speak further due to other ongoing litigation.

“Very briefly though, I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family, there’s going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest, and I hope some things would give you some peace of mind,” he said.

Ex-D’tigers Player Ime Udoka Becomes First Nigerian NBA Coach

Former D’tigers star Ime Udoka has made history, becoming the first Nigerian NBA coach.

The 43-year-old Nigerian-American was on Wednesday appointed as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. He was considered a frontrunner for Celtic’s lead managerial role after successfully scaling through a two-round interview.

Mr Udoka was part of the D’tigers 2005 squad that clinched the bronze medal at the FIBA African Championship. In the final game, Udoka scored 24 points to help Nigeria defeat Algeria 88-76.

He also featured at the 2006 FIBA world championship, helping Nigeria get out of the group stage, and was part of the Nigerian team that won a bronze medal at the 2011 AfroBasket championship, defeating Ivory Coast 77-67.

The former D’tigers star holds his first head coach role after serving at different clubs as an assistant coach for nine years.

Mr Udoka started his coaching career as an assistant coach at San Antonio, where he spent seven years working under Gregg Popovich. The ex-NBA star later moved to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he had his 2019-20 seasons joining the Nets last offseason.

With the appointment, Mr Udoka became the first head coach of Nigerian descent in NBA history. Born to a Nigerian father and an American mother, he is one of D’tigers stars that had a great professional career, playing for top teams including La Lakers, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Spurs, and Sacramento Kings. Mr Udoka also played in the lower leagues in America, in Argentina, and in Spain.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s basketball team has congratulated Mr Udoka on his appointment. D’tigers, in a congratulatory message via @NigeriaBasket, its official Twitter handle, said, “Congrats to our very own Ime Udoka. The first Nigerian head coach in NBA History! The Celtics got a good one! Green and white like always.”

Breaking: UAE Lifts Travel Embargo On Nigeria, Two Other Countries

The United Arab Emirates has announced the resumption of flights from Nigeria, South Africa and India into the country.

The UAE government disclosed the lifting of the travel embargo in a statement on Saturday.

Suspension of flights from Nigeria into the Arabian country took effect in March after a rift between both countries.

While the Nigerian government was against the introduction of the COVID-19 rapid antigen test by the UAE, the Middle-East nation disagreed with the Nigerian government’s requirement of a negative PCR test for travellers into the African nation.

However, the statement disclosing the lifting of the travel embargo read: “Headed by Sheikh Mansoor, the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai announces updates to Dubai’s travel protocols for inbound passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India, effective from Wednesday 23 June 2021.”

“The updates are part of the Committee’s keenness to protect passengers and ease hassles for them without compromising on COVID-19 precautionary measures put in place to safeguard everyone’s health and wellbeing,” it added.

Following the announcement, UAE’s flight carrier, Emirates Airline, has also in a statement on Saturday, announced the resumption of flight to and from Nigeria starting from June 23.

Thanking the government for the lifting of the travel ban, it added that “we will resume carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with these protocols from 23rd June

Emirates welcomes the latest protocols and measures announced by Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management to allow the safe resumption of passenger travel from South Africa, Nigeria and India to Dubai. (1/3) 

https://t.co/AFq1HMuLiu

— Emirates Airline (@emirates) June 19, 2021

Mixed Reactions As President Biden Announce The Death Of His Dog,Champ

The President of the United States Of America, Joe Biden has sent a condolence to himself and his family after he lost his German shepherd dog. 

In his tribute, he said 'Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home.  He was our constant, cherished companion during the last 13 years and was adored by the entire Biden family. 

Biden said, Even as Champ’s strength waned in his last months, when we came into a room, he would immediately pull himself up, his tail always wagging, and nuzzle us for an ear scratch or a belly rub. Wherever we were, he wanted to be, and everything was instantly better when he was next to us. 

He further said he loved nothing more than curling up at our feet in front of a fire at the end of the day, joining us as a comforting presence in meetings, or sunning himself in the White House garden.  In his younger days, he was happiest chasing golf balls on the front lawn of the Naval Observatory or racing to catch our grandchildren as they ran around our backyard in Delaware.  

In our most joyful moments and in our most grief-stricken days, he was there with us, sensitive to our every unspoken feeling and emotion.  We love our sweet, good boy and will miss him always, 

Joe said. 

REVEALED: "Killings increasing everyday" - What you need to know about UN Role In Nigeria as Moore Opens up

A 2020 report has revealed that the United Nations (UN), is as much to blame for the killings of Christians in Nigeria for their failure to take action when informed of the sad situation.

According to the report which was first published by Fox News, A Christian based organization, Christian Solidarity International (CSI), had warned that the conditions for genocide exist in Nigeria, and called on permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to take heed, but they never did.

Rev. Johnnie Moore, in a new book he co-authored, “The Next Jihad: Stop the Christian Genocide in Africa,” revealed that Christian communities have been decimated by terrorists in parts of Nigeria – and most of the persecution happening in the shadows.

 

“Thousands of churches have been torched, children massacred, pastors beheaded, and homes and fields set ablaze by the tens of thousands, with people being targeted for their Christian faith alone,” he said.

The Christian Solidarity International (CSI), also warned of a possible genocide unfolding in Nigeria. The warning underscored that “the conditions for genocide exist in Nigeria, with Christians, non-violent Muslims, and adherents of tribal religions being particularly vulnerable," and called on the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to take heed. But the cry fell on deaf ears, and the level of persecution is documented to be getting worse.

The report says more than 1,200 Nigerian Christians are estimated to have been slaughtered in the first six months of 2020 and in excess of 11,000 murdered over the past five years – with scores still unaccounted for. They are being targeted from two sides.

Rev. Johnnie Moore

 

International Christian Concern (ICC) points out the figures are likely far greater, with upwards of 50-70,000 Christians dead over the past decade.

"In the first half of 2020, there were only six days that did not have a violent incident caused by extremist groups," ICC's President Jeff King said. "At least 400 violent attacks took place, meaning that there was an average of two violent events every day throughout those months," the report added.

Human rights activists Rabbi Abraham Cooper who co-wrote "The Next Jihad" with Moore, said efforts to seek help for Christians facing persecution in the country, has been exhausting and disturbing.

"Essentially, there is little or no price to pay for the kidnapping, extortion, burning of churches, or for mayhem and murder of Christians," he said. "Even when police or military actually captures the perpetrators, the judiciary won't hold deal seriously with the criminal/terrorists."

The report also said stories of slaughter and systematic abuse of Christians rarely seep into news headlines beyond Nigeria's borders, but events on the ground are chilling.

It said there were reports that Fulani militiamen had overrun more than 100 Christian villages spanning several counties, and reports of militants kidnapping Christian women and a pastor, dismembering a young Catholic man with machetes, ambushing and wounding Church security guards, and shooting a Christian woman as she slept.

 

It further states that there were reports of the butchering of Church leaders and brazen assaults of several children as young as 6, along with dozens being fatally stabbed in a sleepy village when more than 100 stormed Christian-run agriculture fields. Yet this is documented to be a mere tiny tip of the iceberg.

"The Next Jihad" sheds a painful light on the accustomed horrors the increasingly defenseless Christian followers face, noting that the radicalized Fulani militants – not to be confounded with the millions of harmonious Fulani – turn to tactics "that are eerily similar to those deployed by Boko Haram, including deadly midnight raids, arsons, kidnappings, rapes, forced conversions, and overt slaughter."

Harrowing examples detailed in the book range from the Yakubu family and their three children, who were hacked to death by Fulani militants in Kaduna; to the beheading of 11 Nigerian Christians on Christmas Day in 2019; and the public execution of Lawrence Duna and Godfrey Ali Shikagham, which was temporarily available on YouTube.

For Moore and Cooper, the book was a small endeavor to put a human face on mind-numbing statistics. 

"We have tried to give a voice to some," Moore said. "But thousands of others suffer in silence."

For many beleaguered Nigerian Christians, the bloodbath has become intolerable. Their lives hang in a strange sense of limbo – the policy of fear being used as such a profound weapon of war that a number now conceal their faith, dress in Islamic garb and meet only for underground worship. 

 

Observers stress that the persecution doesn't just amount to physical abuse and the leftovers of a disfigured corpse, either. 

"Christians have been treated as second-class citizens, in schools, clinics, land allocation, job opportunities, etc., and the list goes on," lamented David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors, which advocates on behalf of those who are persecuted for their Christian faith. 

"We have heard reports that Christians are receiving the leftovers of government aid—while Muslims receive greater relief support, especially in areas governed by Shariah law. Day laborers – which is over half the population – have been sidelined due to the pandemic shutdown as well, so they are now unable to provide basic living essentials for their families."

Breaking: Netanyahu Out As Naftali Bennett Emerges New Israeli Prime Minister

Naftali Bennett has won a Knesset confidence vote on Sunday night to emerge Israel’s new Prime Minister.

Mr Bennett, a former aide to newly ousted Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with a vote lead, narrowly won with 60 votes to 59, Aljazeera reports.

The result means Mr Netanyahu, the country’s longest serving leader, relinquishes his record-breaking 12-year foot hold of power.

The announcement of the result attracted jubilations in the Mr Bennett’s camp with his party, the ultranationalist party becoming the first Arab party to serve in government, along with its diverse coalition ever recorded in Israel.

The centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid will form the new government while Bennett will be premier for two years before Mr Lapid assumes the role.

The new government will for the first time include 21 per cent minority comprised of Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Mr Bennett assumed leadership of the Yamina party which had just seven seats in the country’s parliament while Netanyahu’s Likud, in the last election in March, won 30 seats.

Mr Bennett now becomes Israel’s 13th prime minister while Mr Lapid will be the 14th.

Breaking: Central African Republic’s Prime Minister, Cabinets Resigns, Move For a Fresh Government

Central African Republic’s Prime Minister this Thursday said he and his government have resigned. 

Albert Yaloke Mokpeme made the announcement on Twitter, but reports say this could be a strategic move to rehash himself to lead a different administration in the country. 

Why is it that Africa has a very youthful population but the leadership class is populated by old people who keep reinventing themselves?

Just In: French President Moves To Withdraw Troops From Sahel Region.

French President, Emmanuel Macron is set to announce the partial withdrawal of French troops deployed in the Sahel region. 

The French army will discuss the issue at a rare press conference this Thursday, according to AFP. Days ago, France suspended military cooperation financial aid to the Central African Republic – accusing the government of Faustin-Archange Touadéra of being "complicit" in an anti-French campaign. 

French forces have been in the Sahel and West Africa for almost a decade – with the objective of battling jihadist insurgents. But the former colonial power has been accused of using this as a cover-up to continue with its colonial legacy.  

Is Macron on the wrong side of history, considering that his predecessors have often highlighted the importance of Africa to France's survival?

Just In: Bitcoin Falls After U.S. Seizes Most Of Colonial Ransom

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data.

U.S. officials said Monday they have seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to hacker group DarkSide.

Bitcoin’s price slipped again Tuesday amid a brutal sell-off among digital currencies.

The reason for the move was unclear, however it may be related to concerns over security of the cryptocurrency after U.S. officials managed to recover most of the ransom paid to hackers that targeted Colonial Pipeline.

Court documents said investigators were able to access the password for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. The money was recovered by a recently launched task force in Washington created as part of the government’s response to a rise in cyberattacks.

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading 9% lower at $32,189 as of 2:04 p.m. ET.

Smaller digital coins also slumped, with ether falling about 10% to $2,440.92 and XRP tanking over 9%.

In April, 2021 was looking to be a banner year for digital assets, with bitcoin having topped $60,000 for the first time ever. But a recent plunge in crypto prices has shaken confidence in the market. Bitcoin sank to nearly $30,000 last month, and is currently down roughly 50% from its all-time high.

The digital currency is now up only about 11% since the start of the year, though it’s still more than tripled in price from a year ago.

On Monday, U.S. law enforcement officials said they had seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to DarkSide, the cybercriminal gang behind a crippling cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline.

According to a court document, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to access the “private key,” or password, for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. Bitcoin has often been the currency of choice for hackers demanding ransom payments to decrypt data locked by malware known as “ransomware.”

Crypto media outlet Decrypt reported there were unfounded rumors that the attackers’ bitcoin wallet had been “hacked,” an unlikely scenario.

DarkSide, which reportedly received $90 million in bitcoin ransom payments before shutting down, operated a so-called “ransomware as a service” business model, where hackers develop and market ransomware tools and sell them to affiliates who then carry out attacks.

According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the seized funds represented the bulk of the DarkSide affiliate’s share of the ransom paid out by Colonial.

John Hultquist, vice president of analysis at Mandiant Threat Intelligence, called the move a “welcome development.”

“It has become clear that we need to use several tools to stem the tide of this serious problem, and even law enforcement agencies need to broaden their approach beyond building cases against criminals who may be beyond the grasp of the law,” said Hultquist.

“In addition to the immediate benefits of this approach, a stronger focus on disruption may disincentivize this behavior, which is growing in a vicious cycle,” he added.

A number of issues are weighing on cryptocurrencies, including fears of a regulatory clampdown and recent tweets from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Chinese authorities last month called for a crackdown on crypto mining and trading. Once a major player in the market, China has since moved to stamp out speculative investment in cryptocurrencies, banning a fundraising method known as initial coin offerings and shuttering local exchanges.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has gone from a supporter of bitcoin to seemingly falling out of love with it in a matter of months. Musk’s electric car firm stopped accepting bitcoin as a payment method last month due to concerns over its environmental impact, resulting in a crypto market sell-off.

“Bitcoin bulls have been chastened by the market pull back and perhaps are feeling once bitten, twice shy,” Charles Hayter, CEO of digital currency data firm CryptoCompare, told CNBC.

“The euphoria has worn off to some extent in the retail frenzy, as regulators have moved to temper manias,” he added. “Data is showing continued cornering of the market by institutionals.”

Last week, thousands of bitcoin investors descended on Miami for an event billed as the biggest bitcoin event in history.

The conference had a few bizarre highlights, including El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announcing plans for the country to accept bitcoin as legal tender.

Just In: Bitcoin Falls After U.S. Seizes Most Of Colonial Ransom

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data.

U.S. officials said Monday they have seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to hacker group DarkSide.

Bitcoin’s price slipped again Tuesday amid a brutal sell-off among digital currencies.

The reason for the move was unclear, however it may be related to concerns over security of the cryptocurrency after U.S. officials managed to recover most of the ransom paid to hackers that targeted Colonial Pipeline.

Court documents said investigators were able to access the password for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. The money was recovered by a recently launched task force in Washington created as part of the government’s response to a rise in cyberattacks.

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading 9% lower at $32,189 as of 2:04 p.m. ET.

Smaller digital coins also slumped, with ether falling about 10% to $2,440.92 and XRP tanking over 9%.

In April, 2021 was looking to be a banner year for digital assets, with bitcoin having topped $60,000 for the first time ever. But a recent plunge in crypto prices has shaken confidence in the market. Bitcoin sank to nearly $30,000 last month, and is currently down roughly 50% from its all-time high.

The digital currency is now up only about 11% since the start of the year, though it’s still more than tripled in price from a year ago.

On Monday, U.S. law enforcement officials said they had seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to DarkSide, the cybercriminal gang behind a crippling cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline.

According to a court document, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to access the “private key,” or password, for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. Bitcoin has often been the currency of choice for hackers demanding ransom payments to decrypt data locked by malware known as “ransomware.”

Crypto media outlet Decrypt reported there were unfounded rumors that the attackers’ bitcoin wallet had been “hacked,” an unlikely scenario.

DarkSide, which reportedly received $90 million in bitcoin ransom payments before shutting down, operated a so-called “ransomware as a service” business model, where hackers develop and market ransomware tools and sell them to affiliates who then carry out attacks.

According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the seized funds represented the bulk of the DarkSide affiliate’s share of the ransom paid out by Colonial.

John Hultquist, vice president of analysis at Mandiant Threat Intelligence, called the move a “welcome development.”

“It has become clear that we need to use several tools to stem the tide of this serious problem, and even law enforcement agencies need to broaden their approach beyond building cases against criminals who may be beyond the grasp of the law,” said Hultquist.

“In addition to the immediate benefits of this approach, a stronger focus on disruption may disincentivize this behavior, which is growing in a vicious cycle,” he added.

A number of issues are weighing on cryptocurrencies, including fears of a regulatory clampdown and recent tweets from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Chinese authorities last month called for a crackdown on crypto mining and trading. Once a major player in the market, China has since moved to stamp out speculative investment in cryptocurrencies, banning a fundraising method known as initial coin offerings and shuttering local exchanges.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has gone from a supporter of bitcoin to seemingly falling out of love with it in a matter of months. Musk’s electric car firm stopped accepting bitcoin as a payment method last month due to concerns over its environmental impact, resulting in a crypto market sell-off.

“Bitcoin bulls have been chastened by the market pull back and perhaps are feeling once bitten, twice shy,” Charles Hayter, CEO of digital currency data firm CryptoCompare, told CNBC.

“The euphoria has worn off to some extent in the retail frenzy, as regulators have moved to temper manias,” he added. “Data is showing continued cornering of the market by institutionals.”

Last week, thousands of bitcoin investors descended on Miami for an event billed as the biggest bitcoin event in history.

The conference had a few bizarre highlights, including El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announcing plans for the country to accept bitcoin as legal tender.

Just In: Bitcoin Falls After U.S. Seizes Most Of Colonial Ransom

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data.

U.S. officials said Monday they have seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to hacker group DarkSide.

Bitcoin’s price slipped again Tuesday amid a brutal sell-off among digital currencies.

The reason for the move was unclear, however it may be related to concerns over security of the cryptocurrency after U.S. officials managed to recover most of the ransom paid to hackers that targeted Colonial Pipeline.

Court documents said investigators were able to access the password for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. The money was recovered by a recently launched task force in Washington created as part of the government’s response to a rise in cyberattacks.

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading 9% lower at $32,189 as of 2:04 p.m. ET.

Smaller digital coins also slumped, with ether falling about 10% to $2,440.92 and XRP tanking over 9%.

In April, 2021 was looking to be a banner year for digital assets, with bitcoin having topped $60,000 for the first time ever. But a recent plunge in crypto prices has shaken confidence in the market. Bitcoin sank to nearly $30,000 last month, and is currently down roughly 50% from its all-time high.

The digital currency is now up only about 11% since the start of the year, though it’s still more than tripled in price from a year ago.

On Monday, U.S. law enforcement officials said they had seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to DarkSide, the cybercriminal gang behind a crippling cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline.

According to a court document, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to access the “private key,” or password, for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. Bitcoin has often been the currency of choice for hackers demanding ransom payments to decrypt data locked by malware known as “ransomware.”

Crypto media outlet Decrypt reported there were unfounded rumors that the attackers’ bitcoin wallet had been “hacked,” an unlikely scenario.

DarkSide, which reportedly received $90 million in bitcoin ransom payments before shutting down, operated a so-called “ransomware as a service” business model, where hackers develop and market ransomware tools and sell them to affiliates who then carry out attacks.

According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the seized funds represented the bulk of the DarkSide affiliate’s share of the ransom paid out by Colonial.

John Hultquist, vice president of analysis at Mandiant Threat Intelligence, called the move a “welcome development.”

“It has become clear that we need to use several tools to stem the tide of this serious problem, and even law enforcement agencies need to broaden their approach beyond building cases against criminals who may be beyond the grasp of the law,” said Hultquist.

“In addition to the immediate benefits of this approach, a stronger focus on disruption may disincentivize this behavior, which is growing in a vicious cycle,” he added.

A number of issues are weighing on cryptocurrencies, including fears of a regulatory clampdown and recent tweets from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Chinese authorities last month called for a crackdown on crypto mining and trading. Once a major player in the market, China has since moved to stamp out speculative investment in cryptocurrencies, banning a fundraising method known as initial coin offerings and shuttering local exchanges.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has gone from a supporter of bitcoin to seemingly falling out of love with it in a matter of months. Musk’s electric car firm stopped accepting bitcoin as a payment method last month due to concerns over its environmental impact, resulting in a crypto market sell-off.

“Bitcoin bulls have been chastened by the market pull back and perhaps are feeling once bitten, twice shy,” Charles Hayter, CEO of digital currency data firm CryptoCompare, told CNBC.

“The euphoria has worn off to some extent in the retail frenzy, as regulators have moved to temper manias,” he added. “Data is showing continued cornering of the market by institutionals.”

Last week, thousands of bitcoin investors descended on Miami for an event billed as the biggest bitcoin event in history.

The conference had a few bizarre highlights, including El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announcing plans for the country to accept bitcoin as legal tender.

Just In: Bitcoin Falls After U.S. Seizes Most Of Colonial Ransom

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data.

U.S. officials said Monday they have seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to hacker group DarkSide.

Bitcoin’s price slipped again Tuesday amid a brutal sell-off among digital currencies.

The reason for the move was unclear, however it may be related to concerns over security of the cryptocurrency after U.S. officials managed to recover most of the ransom paid to hackers that targeted Colonial Pipeline.

Court documents said investigators were able to access the password for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. The money was recovered by a recently launched task force in Washington created as part of the government’s response to a rise in cyberattacks.

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading 9% lower at $32,189 as of 2:04 p.m. ET.

Smaller digital coins also slumped, with ether falling about 10% to $2,440.92 and XRP tanking over 9%.

In April, 2021 was looking to be a banner year for digital assets, with bitcoin having topped $60,000 for the first time ever. But a recent plunge in crypto prices has shaken confidence in the market. Bitcoin sank to nearly $30,000 last month, and is currently down roughly 50% from its all-time high.

The digital currency is now up only about 11% since the start of the year, though it’s still more than tripled in price from a year ago.

On Monday, U.S. law enforcement officials said they had seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to DarkSide, the cybercriminal gang behind a crippling cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline.

According to a court document, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to access the “private key,” or password, for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. Bitcoin has often been the currency of choice for hackers demanding ransom payments to decrypt data locked by malware known as “ransomware.”

Crypto media outlet Decrypt reported there were unfounded rumors that the attackers’ bitcoin wallet had been “hacked,” an unlikely scenario.

DarkSide, which reportedly received $90 million in bitcoin ransom payments before shutting down, operated a so-called “ransomware as a service” business model, where hackers develop and market ransomware tools and sell them to affiliates who then carry out attacks.

According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the seized funds represented the bulk of the DarkSide affiliate’s share of the ransom paid out by Colonial.

John Hultquist, vice president of analysis at Mandiant Threat Intelligence, called the move a “welcome development.”

“It has become clear that we need to use several tools to stem the tide of this serious problem, and even law enforcement agencies need to broaden their approach beyond building cases against criminals who may be beyond the grasp of the law,” said Hultquist.

“In addition to the immediate benefits of this approach, a stronger focus on disruption may disincentivize this behavior, which is growing in a vicious cycle,” he added.

A number of issues are weighing on cryptocurrencies, including fears of a regulatory clampdown and recent tweets from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Chinese authorities last month called for a crackdown on crypto mining and trading. Once a major player in the market, China has since moved to stamp out speculative investment in cryptocurrencies, banning a fundraising method known as initial coin offerings and shuttering local exchanges.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has gone from a supporter of bitcoin to seemingly falling out of love with it in a matter of months. Musk’s electric car firm stopped accepting bitcoin as a payment method last month due to concerns over its environmental impact, resulting in a crypto market sell-off.

“Bitcoin bulls have been chastened by the market pull back and perhaps are feeling once bitten, twice shy,” Charles Hayter, CEO of digital currency data firm CryptoCompare, told CNBC.

“The euphoria has worn off to some extent in the retail frenzy, as regulators have moved to temper manias,” he added. “Data is showing continued cornering of the market by institutionals.”

Last week, thousands of bitcoin investors descended on Miami for an event billed as the biggest bitcoin event in history.

The conference had a few bizarre highlights, including El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announcing plans for the country to accept bitcoin as legal tender.

Just In: Bitcoin Falls After U.S. Seizes Most Of Colonial Ransom

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data.

U.S. officials said Monday they have seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to hacker group DarkSide.

Bitcoin’s price slipped again Tuesday amid a brutal sell-off among digital currencies.

The reason for the move was unclear, however it may be related to concerns over security of the cryptocurrency after U.S. officials managed to recover most of the ransom paid to hackers that targeted Colonial Pipeline.

Court documents said investigators were able to access the password for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. The money was recovered by a recently launched task force in Washington created as part of the government’s response to a rise in cyberattacks.

Bitcoin accelerated its slide to fall below the $32,000 level late Tuesday morning, according to Coin Metrics data. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading 9% lower at $32,189 as of 2:04 p.m. ET.

Smaller digital coins also slumped, with ether falling about 10% to $2,440.92 and XRP tanking over 9%.

In April, 2021 was looking to be a banner year for digital assets, with bitcoin having topped $60,000 for the first time ever. But a recent plunge in crypto prices has shaken confidence in the market. Bitcoin sank to nearly $30,000 last month, and is currently down roughly 50% from its all-time high.

The digital currency is now up only about 11% since the start of the year, though it’s still more than tripled in price from a year ago.

On Monday, U.S. law enforcement officials said they had seized $2.3 million in bitcoin paid to DarkSide, the cybercriminal gang behind a crippling cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline.

According to a court document, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to access the “private key,” or password, for one of the hackers’ bitcoin wallets. Bitcoin has often been the currency of choice for hackers demanding ransom payments to decrypt data locked by malware known as “ransomware.”

Crypto media outlet Decrypt reported there were unfounded rumors that the attackers’ bitcoin wallet had been “hacked,” an unlikely scenario.

DarkSide, which reportedly received $90 million in bitcoin ransom payments before shutting down, operated a so-called “ransomware as a service” business model, where hackers develop and market ransomware tools and sell them to affiliates who then carry out attacks.

According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the seized funds represented the bulk of the DarkSide affiliate’s share of the ransom paid out by Colonial.

John Hultquist, vice president of analysis at Mandiant Threat Intelligence, called the move a “welcome development.”

“It has become clear that we need to use several tools to stem the tide of this serious problem, and even law enforcement agencies need to broaden their approach beyond building cases against criminals who may be beyond the grasp of the law,” said Hultquist.

“In addition to the immediate benefits of this approach, a stronger focus on disruption may disincentivize this behavior, which is growing in a vicious cycle,” he added.

A number of issues are weighing on cryptocurrencies, including fears of a regulatory clampdown and recent tweets from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Chinese authorities last month called for a crackdown on crypto mining and trading. Once a major player in the market, China has since moved to stamp out speculative investment in cryptocurrencies, banning a fundraising method known as initial coin offerings and shuttering local exchanges.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has gone from a supporter of bitcoin to seemingly falling out of love with it in a matter of months. Musk’s electric car firm stopped accepting bitcoin as a payment method last month due to concerns over its environmental impact, resulting in a crypto market sell-off.

“Bitcoin bulls have been chastened by the market pull back and perhaps are feeling once bitten, twice shy,” Charles Hayter, CEO of digital currency data firm CryptoCompare, told CNBC.

“The euphoria has worn off to some extent in the retail frenzy, as regulators have moved to temper manias,” he added. “Data is showing continued cornering of the market by institutionals.”

Last week, thousands of bitcoin investors descended on Miami for an event billed as the biggest bitcoin event in history.

The conference had a few bizarre highlights, including El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announcing plans for the country to accept bitcoin as legal tender.

BREAKING: United States condemns Nigeria’s Twitter ban as investors may exit

The US says the ban sends a poor message to its citizens, businesses, and investors.

The US government said the ban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise their fundamental freedoms.

On Friday, June 4, 2021, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended Twitter operations in the country two days after the social media company took down President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet.

In the tweet, the president had made reference to the 1967 civil war and also threatened to deal with secessionist agitators ‘in the language they understand.’

 

On Friday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed while announcing the ban gave “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence” as the reason for the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.

The ban triggered outrage in the country as Nigerians mocked and criticised the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and also accused his administration of misplaced priority.

In its reaction, the US government in a statement on Saturday, June 5, 2021, said the ban sends a poor message to its citizens, businesses, and investors.

The statement added that the path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts towards unity, peace, and prosperity.

Buhari has done the worst by trying to stop freedom of Speech in Nigeria - UK, Canada reacts to Twitter ban

Following the announcement by the federal government to ban Twitter operation in Nigeria, the Canadian and the British missions in Nigeria expressed their concern over the government’s infringement on freedom of speech.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, said Nigerian citizens have the right to freedom of speech and the federal government must not take actions that will suppress their human rights freedom.

“All Nigerians have the right to freedom of speech and the responsibility not to misuse that right. Any action taken by Government must be measured, proportionate and not supress basic freedoms,” @GillAtkinson11 tweeted

Meanwhile, High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Nicolas Simard, via his Twitter handle said, that freedom of speech is fundamental human rights protected by the constitution and a cornerstone for democracy across the world.

He also said the human right should be protected while hate speech that could lead to conflicts should be prevented.

“Freedom of speech, used responsibly online and off line, and access to reliable information are fundamental human rights protected by #Nigeria’s constitution and a cornerstone of democratic life around the world. (1/2) #TwitterBan,” Mr Simard tweeted via @NicolasJSimard.

“These #HumanRights should be fully protected, while preventing inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech that could fuel tension and conflict. (2/2) #TwitterBan #Nigeria”.

On June 4, the federal government of Nigeria took measures to ban the activities of Twitter and other social media platforms after the micro logging site deleted President Buhari’s tweet for violating its community rules.

Mr Buhari had threatened to deal with “those misbehaving” in the South-East in the manner the Nigerian forces fought annihilated Biafrans during the Civil War, a sore reference in Nigerian history where over three million Igbos where killed in what has recorded as the most brutal genocide in Africa.

The president was reacting to the escalating destruction of electoral offices and other public facilities in the region that has seen growing calls for secession championed by IPOB.

Critics say Mr Buhari’s threat of a disproportionate action against criminals in the South-East betrays his disdain for the region wondering why similar rage was not directed to bandits and insurgents in his northern base where the criminals have launched deadlier attacks on the state and millions of people.

Source

Breaking News: Issac Herzog, Elected 11th President Of Israel

Report gathered by GbamTv News confirms that Issac Herzog has been  elected the 11th President of Israel in a wide margin.

           Photo of Hananaya Naftali 

The information was made known by Hananaya Naftali, a Facebook user, he said 'With his victory, Herzog become the first president whose father had been president. Chaim Herzog was Israel's sixth president. Congratulations! Israel. 

Nigeria is at the point of no return — US

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States, have said that Nigeria as a nation, is at a point of no return with all the signs of a failed nation.

The organization, which made the disclosure in a research finding it released through its senior fellow and former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell and Mr. Robert Rotberg, who is the Founding Director, Harvard Kennedy School’s Programme on Intrastate Conflict and president emeritus, World Peace Foundation, said Nigeria is currently in its final phase, from which it would eventually collapse.

The organisation said their position was not based on emotion or the fancy of using pejorative words to describe the situation, but on “a body of political theory developed at the turn of this century and elaborated upon, case by case, ever since.”

 

Its report said Nigeria has since moved from being a weak state to “a fully failed state,” having manifested all the signs of a failed country, including the inability of government to protect the citizens, large scale violence and festering insurgency.

According to them, President Muhammadu Buhari admitted that the federal government has lost control of the situation is the first step towards the restoration of stability. The duo warned that Nigeria’s failure as a state comes with negative consequences for peace and security in West Africa sub-region as well as Europe and the US.

“Nigeria has long teetered on the precipice of failure. But now, unable to keep its citizens safe and secure, Nigeria has become a fully failed state of critical geopolitical concern.

“Its failure matters because the peace and prosperity of Africa and preventing the spread of disorder and militancy around the globe depend on a stronger Nigeria.

“Its economy is usually estimated to be Africa’s largest or second largest, after South Africa. Long West Africa’s hegemon, Nigeria played a positive role in promoting African peace and security.

“With state failure, it can no longer sustain that vocation, and no replacement is in sight. Its security challenges are already destabilising the West African region in the face of resurgent jihadism, making the battles of the Sahel that much more difficult to contain.

“And spillover from Nigeria’s failures ultimately affects the security of Europe and the United States.

“Indeed, thoughtful Nigerians over the past decade have debated, often fervently, whether their state has failed. Increasingly, their consensus is that it has,” the report published on foreignpolicy (dot)com on Thursday, said.

The report further said, “There are four kinds of nations: the strong, the weak, the failed, and the collapsed.

“According to previously published research estimates, of the 193 members of the United Nations, 60 or 70 are strong—the nations that rank highest in the listings of Freedom House, the human rights reports of the U. S. State Department, the anticorruption perception indices of Transparency International, and so on.

“There are three places that should be considered collapsed: Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen.

“Eighty or 90 UN members are weak. Weakness consists of providing many, but not all, of essential public goods, the most important of which are security and safety. If citizens are not secure from harm within national borders, governments cannot deliver good governance (the essential services that citizens expect) to their constituents.

“Possibly a dozen or so states are failed, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Myanmar. Each lacks security, is unsafe, has weak rules of law, is corrupt, limits political participation and voice, discriminates within its borders against various classes and kinds of citizens, and provides educational and medical services sparingly. Most of all, failed states are violent.

“All failed states harbor some form of violent internal strife, such as civil war or insurgency. Nigeria now confronts six or more internal insurrections and the inability of the Nigerian state to provide peace and stability to its people has tipped a hitherto very weak state into failure.

“According to political theory, the government’s inability to thwart the Boko Haram insurgency is enough to diagnose Nigeria as a failed state. But there are many more symptoms. At a bare minimum, citizens expect their states to keep them secure from external attack and to keep them safe within their borders.

“The bargain that subjects long ago made with their sovereigns was being kept from harm in exchange for allegiance and taxation. When that quid pro quo breaks down, a state loses its coherence, its social fabric disintegrates, and warring factions subvert the social contract that should provide the fundamental foundation of the state.

“Nigeria now appears to have reached the point of no return. Indeed, few parts of Nigeria are today fully safe,” the report added.

Just In: Forgive Us For Our Role In The 1994 Rwanda Genocide— French President To Rwanda

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday asked Rwandans to forgive his country's role in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. Macron, who was visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, admitted France's backing of a genocidal regime and later ignoring warnings of the impending massacres. 

He said that France had a duty to acknowledge the "suffering it inflicted on the Rwandan people by too long valuing silence over the examination of the truth." The mass killing by Hutus of Tutsis and moderate Hutus took place over 100 days.

What do you make of Macron's statement?

Emmanuel Macron named first French President To Visit Rwanda Since 2010

French President Emmanuel Macron will be the first French leader to visit Rwanda since 2010 when he touches down in Kigali on Thursday. His visit represents a easing of diplomatic ties between two countries that have been at odds over France’s role in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. 

Critics of the Rwandan government, including Victoire Ingabire and Bernard Ntaganda have called Macron's visit "an insult". The two have spent time in exile and jail and had their political parties banned in Rwanda. 

What do you think will come out of Macron's Rwanda visit?

Clampdown On IPOB: Nigeria's Police IG Now A Threat To Nigeria Peace, Unity — Campbell

A former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has condemned a directive by the Inspector-General of the Police, Usman Baba, to policemen to clamp down on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and ignore the rules of engagement in the process.

 

Mr.Campbell called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the IGP in the interest of national unity, while insisting that Operation Restore Peace launched by the police last week and the military’s clampdown on the IPOB members should be dissuaded by the Presidency in the interest of peace and unity of the country.

The former US ambassador said, “The Nigerian government has launched Operation Restore Peace, designed to destroy the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group in support of independence for the former breakaway Republic of Biafra, and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

 “According to Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba, the security services are not to be constrained by human rights considerations. In comments reported in the Nigerian media, he said, 'Don’t mind the media shout; do the job I command you. If anyone accuses you of human rights violation, the report will come to my table and you know what I will do. So, take the battle to them wherever they are and kill them all. Don’t wait for an order.' 

 “'What another order are you waiting for when Mr. President had ordered you to shoot anybody carrying AK-47 rifle? Quote me, even a dead policeman can be tried and dismissed from the force and his family will not get his benefits. So, don’t sit and wait for them to come; take attack to them and don’t lose your arms to criminals.'

 “So, the IGP is not only giving the green light to human rights violations, but also promising his protection for those who commit them. In addition, he is threatening those who might hang back with the loss of pension benefits. Usman is implying that he has the full support of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 “Other reporting alleges that security services are conducting house-to-house searches in Ebonyi, Imo, and Rivers states, all with large Igbo populations. Local people are saying that the security services are rounding up young men and their family members and taking them away for questioning. IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has dubbed the police initiative 'Operation Massacre Biafrans'. 

 “Usman Baba is a northern Muslim from Yobe State—long a Boko Haram stronghold. He is a career police officer. There is nothing in his background that would suggest an understanding of southern and eastern grievances and fears of the 'establishment of a Fulani Caliphate.' 

“Operation Restore Peace and Baba’s rhetoric would seem tailor-made to feed the revived Biafra secessionist movement and general southern and Christian fears of a Fulani-Muslim onslaught against Christians. It should be anticipated that local people will fight back viciously and the security services—as directed by Usman Baba—will respond in kind. It is to be hoped that President Buhari will repudiate Baba’s rhetoric and methods, not least for the sake of the unity of Nigeria.”