#federal govt corruption

[icubud]

[darkmaga-returns]

Every M-F I do a livestream on Twitter and YT called The ASTROLABE, covering all the tweets, videos, articles, and memes that caught my eye. Many are saying it's the "best afternoon morning show on the internet."

SEE BELOW for the list of all the content for the 11/19 show.

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

GET YOUR PATRIQT DRQP: https://ewbsx.com

Join the super top-secret private Kingpilled community: http://kingpilled.com

Follow Matt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/realkingpilled

Help Matt pay the bills: https://buymeacoffee.com/kingpilled

TAKE ACTION against the decay of modernity! JOIN Axios Fitness Coaching: https://axioscoaching.outgrow.us/axioscoaching-24

11/19 ASTROLABE LINKS:

FOLK COVER OF MR. BRIGHTSIDE

SCARE PRANK VIDEO

TIDDY BEAR

TRUMP DANCE

JON JONES YMCA

TRUMP BEING ACCEPTED BY NORMIES IS GOOD

TRUMP HAS SINGLEHANDEDLY DESTROYED THE LEFT'S CULTURAL MANDATE

NEW POLL FINDS HIGH OPTIMISM FOR TRUMP

MORNING JOE AND MIKA MEET WITH TRUMP

MORNING JOE AND MIKA RECEIVED CALLS ALL DAY

MEGYN KELLY REACTING TO MORNING JOE AND MIKA

SCOTT JENNINGS ON MASS DEPORTATIONS

SCOTT JENNINGS: DEMOCRATS 'HITLER' RHETORIC WAS ALL BS

NYT COMMENTERS REVOLTING EN MASSE

JUSTIN TRUDEAU MAKING THE LARGEST CUTS TO IMMIGRATION IN ~100 YEARS

CENK TWEETING AT ELON RE: THE PENTAGON

CENK REACTING TO ELON'S REPLY

LULU MESERVEY ON JAGUAR'S REBRAND

INFOWARS AUCTION FRAUD EXPOSED IN BOMBSHELL FEDERAL COURT FILING

WESTERN NC LAND GRAB

FAUCI EXPERIMENTING ON FOSTER CHILDREN

ELON ON GAETZ: "OUR HAMMER OF JUSTICE"

MATT GAETZ ON INSIDER TRADING IN CONGRESS

CHARLIE KIRK ON ALLEGATIONS AGAINST GAETZ

PETE HEGSETH ON CORRUPTION IN GOVT SCHOOLS

FORMER JILL BIDEN PRESS SECRETARY: "OPPOSING DEI DOES NOT MAKE YOU A WHITE SUPREMACIST"

HOWARD LUTNICK ON TARIFFS AS A NEGOTIATING TACTIC

KEVIN O'LEARY: "ELON CAN SHAME POLITICIANS INTO FIXING WASTE"

ELON PLAYING DIABLO DURING TESLA SHAREHOLDERS' CALL

ELON: MACH DIAMONDS

LOOK HOW MASSIVE 'STARSHIP' IS

PETER THIEL ON THE GREATEST EXISTENTIAL RISK TO MANKIND

SUMMARY OF PETER THIEL'S INTERVIEW AT HOOVER INSTITUTION

BEN AFFLECK ON AI IN FILM

AI IS MAKING THE HUMAN TOUCH WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD

TRUMP IS REQUIRING ZELENSKYY TO WEAR A COAT AND TIE WHEN THEY MEET

JEFFREY SACHS ON HISTORY OF NATO EXPANSION

ALEX KRAINER SUBSTACK ON UK NEARLY GOING BANKRUPT IN AUGUST

JONATHAN PAGEAU: "CHRIST DIDN'T COME JUST TO REMOVE SUFFERING"

ONE YEAR TRANSFORMATION

APPALACHIAN FOLK MUSIC

[deadoveater]

they don't even have to call Khelif or Lin male, or focus on them, what is needed here is to tell IOC - you have been given an information that there are males competing in women's boxing, there is an urgent need have clearly defined guidelines and testing done to keep female sports female. idk what it is, they have a few top radblr bloggers and a few mutuals whose posts they read and base their opinion on, other than that, no need to look anything up or look into the notes if someone's saying something else. Some of the basic olympic knowledge also gets lost on them

they didnt have to even speak about this if they had no idea what is going on or have any interest. like Im the last person whos gonna go "why isn't anyone talking about this???" because I get it its exhausting to pay attention to so many horrible things happening to women constantly. but to straight up saying conspiratorial shit like "it's the russians" or one of my faves "reduxx might be a psyop to make radfems racist or homophobic" is mindblowing. they had to just wait for couple of days for the official statements tho even now most of them haven't even read those so it's not even jumping the gun atp. one of them even admitted to not knowing rules for intersex athletes like then stfu????

also its always the usual suspects you'll find spreading this kinda misinfo too. their word is taken as gospel because ??? so Ig to hell with what people who don't base their opinions on what they read on an unprofitable website for socially inept morons and know what theyre talking about. ntm I highly suspect that this wouldve happened if khelif and lin were white. its incrediblely direspectful to both white women AND woc. Im not one to believe delusional shit but seeing how I have yet to see anyone defending khelif and lin bring up any valid argument other than their race Im just believing theyre only going so hard for them because its the american tendency to make everything about race. they dont realize how more horrible ioc not having proper eligibility criteria could prove in the future to all women.

a lot or the defenses fall extremely flat on the face when you start applying basic logic or start reading how people involved on khelifs side have handled this decision. like his father has no issue flashing his birth certificate to the world but somehow people saying why khelif wouldn't release the test results to prove everyone wrong are going too far because thats their personal info. like lol, lmao even. and saying iba is corrupt... like these people really dont know shit. all sports associations and federations are corrupt, doesnt matter if theyre national or international, govt bodies or not. theyd puke if they saw the shit wfi has put indian female wrestlers thru theyd puke.

at the end of the day this is social media platform and majority of the people on here are always gonna be morons but I really wish theyd at least stop pretending like they care about women.

[workersolidarity]

Watch "How The Country's Largest Landlords Are Destroying Lives" on YouTube

Rents in America are completely insane, even as the Federal Minimum wage, which is still the only minimum wage in many states in the US South and Midwestern heartland, remains at historically low levels.

With the Minimum wage still set at $7.25 an hour, last raised in 2009, and rents at historic highs (the average renter is now paying $1'388 monthly), the Working Class is being squeezed more tightly than it has in more than a century. Working Class wealth is being sucked out of the system and shoveled into the pockets of endlessly consolidating and monopolizing Corporations controlled by the same small group of Billionaires and giant Corporate investors. Most of the largest and profitable corporations are all invested in and controlled by the very top 0.01% of the wealthiest billionaires, an increasing number of which aren't even necessarily American citizens, but rather are part of an International Capitalist Class with no National loyalties whatsoever.

To get an idea of just how squeezed the US Working Class is compared with the recent past, consider this: if the Minimum Wage had been tied to Rental inflation since 1968, than today's Minimum Wage would be roughly $22 today.

You can see this in the basic arithmetic yourself.

Average rent in the US in 1968 was close to $100 per month. Today it is $1'388 per month. That's an increase of 1'388%. And according to the Dept of Labor's online records, the Minimum Wage in 1968 for non-farm workers was $1.60 per hour. Multiply that by 1'388% and you get $22.20.

Headline inflation numbers released by Govts hide the true cost of inflation by factoring in things like the falling cost of certain technologies, most of which have little relevance to the average worker whose only concern is providing for their families a safe and happy environment in the midst of consistently rising prices and stagnant wages.

And that's just one example of how we are being squeezed as a Working Class like never before in the Post-WWII era.

We're also being squeezed from new directions and in other ways as well. Such as the consolidation of the food industry into a handful of private companies and giant corporations, predictably causing food costs to rise at an alarming rate. Add to that similar consolidation and rising prices with Banking Fees, Property Development and in the Energy sector and you get a disaster for the Working Class in the making.

We will all suffer greatly until we can close out the noise and division of the media and politicians, and unite as a Class against the Capitalists who long ago united against us.

We must put aside our differences in the culture wars, which are purposely being driven by the Corporate Media and the National Security State, and stand in solidarity with one another against the Capitalist machine, the giant Corporations, the Landlords, the Bosses, the Police State, and the corrupt Corporate State.

Our lives are being destroyed: Working Class lifespans, quality of life, addiction, alcoholism and other indicators are all tumbling downward at a rapid clip. Everything, especially rent, food, Energy and an education are all outlandishly expensive and getting more expensive, even as our wages have been stagnant for decades, Unions have been made powerless and corrupt, and Working Class Political action has died down to a trickle, or even just the rare droplet.

Until we come together and organize along Class Lines, our lives are only going to get worse and worse. And at the rate at which the Corporate State is consolidating its control over our information space, feeding us propaganda to promote their Capitalist Empire and divide Workers, we won't have long before the state of workers in the US is approaching the state of workers in some 3rd world countries under US Sanctions and Neocolonial economic blockade.

Get out there and Organize along Class lines Now! This IS Code Red for Workers!

When the task of the Working Class has been completed and our work as Socialists is done, the whole world will be a safer and better place for it.

It could be the dawn of new, fairer, Safer, more Progressive, Non-Imperialistic, Internationally collaborative, pro-Worker world with a Green future! It's up to all of us! 😊🌅🌱

[stirdrawsandreblaws]

good time to note that Gabriel Cornejo is on the presidential primary ballot for dems

his platform?

universal healthcare

codify roe v wade

$1k/mo to go to every US citizen 18 and older as a "freedom dividend"

tamp down govt corruption by forcing all campaigns to be exclusively publicly funded, setting retroactive(!!) term limits, and blocking stock trading for congressional reps, among other things

refocus drug policies from incarceration to rehab--this includes legalizing all recreational drugs on a federal level and releasing every non-violent drug offender

international accountability; he actually calls what's happening in Palestine a genocide

although we do know he's not likely to win--parties Will rig their primaries, and he also just isn't very well known--i strongly believe that the reason domestic policy was mostly good during the biden admin was because there was so much grassroots support for Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and various third-party candidates who all advocated for those policy changes

we CAN make them feel threatened if we show them where their political base's priorities are. vote as far left as you can during primaries and force them to recalibrate*

bonus: if you do vote in primaries for Gabriel Cornejo--or someone like him--there's even a sliver of a chance we'd get someone with an honest-to-goodness conscience in the oval office.

*voting is not the sole action you can take to help build a better future for you and others, but it is the bare minimum. if you can protest, write letters, engage in community activism and mutual aid, become a politician yourself, etc, please do that too

I know the US government acts like a corporation but it’s not.

Not voting isn’t the same as a boycott. Because you can’t bankrupt a government by not voting. All you get by not voting is less control over what the money is doing.

The money comes from taxes, not voting. Abstaining from voting does nothing to reduce the governments ability to get money and spend it on shit.

So yes, sometimes you vote to reduce harm because not voting WILL NOT REDUCE HARM.

It’s not a boycot. Abstaining doesn’t take power from the government. It just reduces the number of people they feel answerable to.

[ejesgistnews]

Tinubu’s Lawyer Rotimi Oguneso Earned $170,000 as Member of Arbitration Panel Awarding $70 Million Against Nigeria.   Rotimi Oguneso, a senior Nigerian lawyer who defended Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election petitions tribunal, has come under scrutiny for earning $170,000 as a member of a three-man arbitration panel that awarded $70 million against Nigeria. Read Also : Anyone Applying To Go To University In Nigeria From Next Year Will Have To Meet The Required Age Of 18 – Education Minister, Tahir Mamman The panel was convened to resolve a dispute stemming from a botched free trade zone deal between Ogun State and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd. Oguneso, nominated by Nigeria to represent its interests on the panel, worked alongside Matthew Gearing, a UK legal practitioner chosen by Zhongshan, and David Neuberger, former president of the UK Supreme Court, who chaired the arbitration. Pay Attention To: Transfer: West Ham To Sign Ex-Chelsea Striker As O’Shea Joins EPL Club Ipswich The panel operated between early 2020 and March 26, 2021, when the final verdict was issued. The dispute revolved around allegations by Zhongshan that Ogun State had violated a 2001 trade treaty between Nigeria and China by rescinding rights to a free trade zone in 2016. The arbitration concluded with Nigeria being ordered to pay $55,675,000 plus $9,400,000 in interest, alongside £2,864,445 in costs. Nigeria was further required to refund Zhongshan for the costs of the arbitration panel, which amounted to £549,655. The panel’s decision, in which Oguneso concurred, has sparked concerns that the case against Nigeria was stronger than previously acknowledged by the country's officials. Despite efforts by Nigerian federal and Ogun State officials to downplay the arbitration's impact, the judgement has already led to the seizure of Nigerian assets abroad, including guest houses in the UK and private jets in France and Canada. How NIA DG, Rufai Abubakar, Who Failed Promotion Exams Three Times, Was Forced to Resign from Tinubu's Govt Nigeria has denied any wrongdoing and is reportedly working to resolve the matter with the Chinese firm. However, the arbitration's outcome has raised significant questions about Nigeria's handling of international trade agreements and its legal defenses in global arbitration disputes. 12 Things to Know About the New CJN Kekere-Ekun, Blocked from the U.S. for Judicial Corruption Credit:  Peoples gazette 

[tracknews1]

AGAIN; EFCC quizzes 2 Kogi Govt officials over alleged N46bn fraud

Two officials of the Kogi State Government, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Shuaibu Oricha have today reported at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption. The decision of the two officials of the Kogi State Government to report at the EFCC office may not be unconnected with media reports last week that the Federal High Court in Abuja had…

[never-was-has-been]

This goes much deeper than the Federal Govt, Senate & House. This has apparently been happening in ALL states, Counties, Cities and towns in all 50 states for at least a decade, if not decades. Don't fool yourselves. Voting out all House Republicans and Senate Republicans and any Democrats that caucus with republicans or conservatives in either party WILL NOT SOLVE the problem permanently. Why? Because if and when the Democrats become the majority in both the House and Senate, in two years they will be running in the House and in 6 years they will run in the Senate against a new set of far right religious conservatives, that come out like sausages on a conveyor, and who will claim the United States is a "Religious Republic" and not a democracy and who follow the laws of God OVER the Constitution and all its amendments. They ALL need to be voted OUT in 2024. Every. Last. One. Women & Men. It's a big nut to crack, but if we all try harder, it CAN be done. We ALL NEED Single Payer Health care OR Medicare For All as well as legislation to TAX Churches that donate money to political PACS, every year in the 100's of $Millions. And the BIGGEST Nut to crack is the reversal of the 2009 Citizen's United Decision that basically is a permanent "stay out of jail" Monopoly card for corruption of Govt representatives, including the Supreme Court's corrupt lying 6 justices who all lied under oath during each of their confirmation hearings. Impeach them! It's ALL UPHILL for us...The time to START is NOW. The Time to Quit is NEVER or until this Democracy is returned to ALL the People of the USA.

Blame the Republican Party #voteblue

[icubud]

SAD TRUTH

[hardynwa]

‘You’ll be severely dealt with’ – Nigerian Govt warns civil servants against leaking of sensitive documents

The Nigerian Government, through the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, has issued a stern warning to civil servants over leakage of important documents in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. Recall that the Presidency had recently called for an investigation into the civil service framework in order to eliminate individuals it refers to as “moles” who are loyal to the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The Presidency had claimed that moles are allegedly responsible for the unauthorized disclosure of classified documents. we reported that a recently leaked internal memo indicated that President Bola Tinubu allegedly sanctioned the disbursement of N500 million from a total of N1 billion to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. The N500 million was intended for the inauguration of a 37-member Tripartite Committee set up to work out the New National Minimum Wage. Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, warned of severe punishment for any one caught in the act of leaking government memos. The warning was issued in a circular, dated 19th February, 2024, and addressed to the Presidency, Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice-President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, all Permanent Secretaries, Service Chiefs/Inspector-Generai of Police, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, and Chairman, Police Service Commission. Others copied in the circular are the Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau, Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Federal Character Commission, Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation & Fiscal Commission, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Chairman, Federal inland Revenue Service, Chairman National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Clerk of the National Assembly, and Secretary, National Judicial Council. The circular titled ‘Measures to curtail the leakage of sensitive official information/documents in Ministries, Departments and Agencies’, was also addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General for the Federation, Surveyor-General of the Federation, Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria Directors-General and Chief Executives of Parastatals/Agencies The circular reads, “It has been observed with dismay, the increase in the cases of leakage of sensitive official documents in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA). “This is very embarrassing to the Government and therefore unacceptable. “As part of the efforts to curb this undesirable development, all Permanent Secretaries are to fast-track the migration to the digitalised workflow system, and ensure effective deployment of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Solution. “This will reduce physical contacts with official documents thereby checking the increasing incidence of leakage and circulation of same. “Furthermore, Permanent Secretaries are advised to strongly warn all staff against leaking and circulating official information and documents. Any officer caught engaging in such unbecoming act will be severely dealt with in line with the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant circulars. “This circular therefore reinforces the circular on “Unauthorized Circulation of Official Documents/Information On social media”. “Permanent Secretaries are to ensure strict compliance with the contents of this circular and draw the attention of the Heads of the agencies under their supervision to same.” Read the full article

[darkmaga-returns]

As the US has been inundated with a record number of illegal immigrants, the number of children crossing illegally and then disappearing has also spiked.

A recent government report revealed that 32,000 children over five years have been lost in the system and cannot be tracked. 

Sunday on Full Measure, a federal whistleblower tells what happened when she tried to alert her superiors to signs that the US government was putting illegal immigrant kids into the hands of child traffickers and others who could be exploiting them.

Also Sunday, Scott Thuman hears from “downwinders.”

Downwinders are American still suffering fallout from America’s nuclear weapons testing.

And I’ll have an interview with the Emmy award winning producer Del Bigtree.

He’ll tell us why he left a network television program called The Doctors and became an activist for vaccine safety and ending government corruption.

He will also recount the shocking story of censorship over is film “Vaxxed.”

[mariacallous]

The Chisinau Court of Appeal on Tuesday annulled the decision of the Commission for Exceptional Situations, CSE, made two days before the November 5 local elections, banning the “Sansa” [Chance] party, affiliated to the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, from the elections.

The government announced that it would appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice against this decision in order to protect national security from organised criminal groups trying to influence political life in the country.

The leader of the Sansa party, Alexei Lungu, said the court decision showed that the state authorities had acted illegally and abusively.

Lungu announced that he will ask the General Prosecutor’s Office to file a criminal case against government spokesman Daniel Voda for alleged “interference with justice and pressure on judges”.

For his part, Voda said he was not afraid. “Without fear and with a lot of courage, I go forward, with a lot of dedication for the thing I respect. We’ll tell the truth loud and clear,” he replied.

Meanwhile, the president of parliament, Igor Grosu, told a TV talk show that such decisions show why the extraordinary evaluation – vetting – of magistrates is necessary. “The justice system must be purged of judges who believe that such thugs [like Shor] will return to power,” he said. “They [judges who oppose justice reform] must understand that things are irreversible regarding the vetting process,” said Grosu.

The Commission for Exceptional Situations excluded candidates of the Sansa Party from the elections on November 3, two days before the first round of the local elections.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean announced the ban after the director of the Intelligence and Security Service, Alexandru Musteata, declared that the party was corrupting voters and getting money from Russia. Recean specified that, in recent months, the party had received over one billion lei [50 million euros] from Russia.

“For the first time in the country’s history, they have started buying elections literally, that’s what they do – money for candidates, voters and election officials. We have an enemy actor from outside, the Russian Federation, which, with these vast sums and paid through a cross-border organised criminal network, wants to destroy Moldova,” said Recean.

Experts observing democratic processes and political analysts deemed the ban justifiable but harsh. Experts said the decision to exclude the party should have been taken earlier.

On June 19, the Constitutional Court declared the party led by Shor unconstitutional. It argued that the party had “acted in contradiction with the principles of the rule of law and endangered the sovereignty and independence of Moldova”.

Shor was sentenced in April 2023 to 15 years in prison for the “Grand Theft” of one billion US dollars from three Moldovan private banks. In June 2019, after Vladimir Plahotniuc’s regime lost power in Moldova, Shor fled to Israel. There is little chance of him being extradited as he also holds Israeli citizenship.

[crimechannels]

By • Olalekan Fagbade JUST IN; Gov Adeleke never removed CJ or appointed anyone in acting capacity – Osun State Govt Osun Government says Gov. Ademola Adeleke has neither removed the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, nor appointed anyone in an acting capacity. This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Kolapo Alimi, on Sunday in Osogbo. Alimi said that the governor had only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly and recommendations for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of the Federation for his action. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the governor had, on Thursday, announced the appointment of Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting chief judge of the state with immediate effect. Olayinka’s appointment followed last Thursday’s approval by the governor of the resolution of the assembly for the suspension of the chief judge over allegations of misconduct. NAN also reports that Ojo was asked to step aside pending the conclusion of the investigation of the allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law levelled against her by the assembly. Adeleke, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, on Thursday had directed his deputy, Kola Adewusi, to perform the swearing-in of the acting chief judge on Friday. NAN reports that the swearing-in did not, however, hold. The commissioner said that the governor had duly notified the Chief Justice of the Federation as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the house of assembly, following series of petitions against Ojo. “In the communication, Mr Governor intimated the CJN of the recommendation of the assembly that the chief judge should step aside. “And he included his own submission for an acting appointment to fill the vacuum while the NJC reviews and decides on the petition. “To that end, the governor, in the same letter, recommended to the CJN the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Hon. Justice Olayinka David Afolabi, for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC, through the CJN. “We urge the public to note that while the house of assembly recommended the appointment of a replacement to the governor in its resolution. “The governor, however, toed the line of law by writing the CJN on the entire development and submitting all materials for NJC, as mandated national agency. “We, therefore, wish to state categorically that Gov. Adeleke has not appointed any judicial official as acting Chief Judge and nobody has been sworn-in as acting Chief Judge of Osun State,” he said. Alimi described Adeleke as a man of due process and rule of law, with a deep level of respect for the bar and the bench, the NJC and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He assured the public that Adeleke was fully aware of the limit of his powers as well as the responsibilities of the various agencies of government and would, therefore, not act, in any way, to violate the constitution and the rule of law. (NAN)

[workersolidarity]

Vladimir Putin began his leadership of the Russian Federation with a naive and childish impression of the West and NATO. Almost immediately after gaining power, Putin asked the US for the Russian Federation to join NATO and even expressed interest in having the Russian Federation join the European Union.

But over the years, the Western Powers showed their only interest was in taking advantage of Russian resources during a period of weakness in order to financialize and neoliberalize the old Soviet economy. But after years of Capitalist schemes that attempted to reorient the old Socialist Soviet model towards Capitalist production, the Russian economy was now weak and broken, with criminal elements in control of huge ex-Soviet SOEs. The Oligarchs manipulated and dominated local politics and the Russian economy. The power of the Russian Oligarchs peaked during this time.

Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation eventually regained control over their govt and an armistice of sorts was called between the Oligarchs and the Russian people. Putin offered the Oligarchs a deal, either they faced the full force of the Russian Criminal Justice system, now squarely in Putin's control, or they stepped back from manipulating Russian politics and Russian elections, with the understanding that they would get to keep their ill-gotten gains. Needless to say, the oligarchs chose to keep their wealth, and while corruption is still a major issue in Russian politics, ultimate control over the direction of the country is in fact held by its elected political leaders and not the oligarchs. Though power struggles are still evident.

But the West could not accept the fact that the Russians were regaining control over their economy, as well as their sovereignty and independence. NATO expansion accelerated throughout the 2000's and 2010's, with the latest inductions being North Macedonia in 2020, and Finland in 2023, while Sweden awaits ratification at this time.

Vladimir Putin discovered the hard way that the US and the Western Powers were not acting in good faith. What they wanted was ultimate control over Russian resources, the suppression of the wages of Russian Labor, and the guarantee that the Russian Federation will never again challenge the global economic dominance of Western Multinationals, the Bourgeois govts that back them, and the Imperialist Western dominated Global economic system they maintain.

[creative-pens]

Stop giving coverage to ex-PM Imran Khan, Pakistan govt tells media houses

The government said it was making sure that the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's social media activities are also blocked.

LAHORE: The Pakistan government on Friday urged the country's media houses to refrain from publishing or broadcasting speeches, statements, tweets or pictures of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The government said it was making sure that the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's social media activities are also blocked.

According to a government official, both print and electronic media have been directed not to publish or broadcast Khan's speeches, statements, tweets or display his pictures.

"“We will make sure that media blackout of Imran Khan is completely enforced,”" the official said.

An informed source told PTI that the Pakistani media houses have been categorically told by the ‘powerful circles' to give no coverage to Khan.

He said Khan's media blackout was enforced from Friday.

The government order comes a day after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) directed all satellite TV channels not to promote the perpetrators of the May 9 violence.

It also directed them to ensure that coherence and national harmony are promoted and “hate mongers, rioters, their facilitators and perpetrators” are completely blacked out from the media.

Without naming Khan, PEMRA said: “Refrain from providing airtime to those who propagate hate speech and provoke public sentiments against the federation and state institutions”.

It said the hate mongers, representing political outfits, are abusing their power against Pakistan and state institutions by instigating the public.

“All such anti-state activities were orchestrated by the politically charged-up zealots of a political party behaving largely as hate mongers to instigate political activists,” it said.

There has been a crackdown on the PTI leaders and workers after their alleged involvement in attacking army installations in the country following the arrest of Khan.

Violence erupted across Pakistan on May 9 when cricketer-turned-politician Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case.

Khan was released on bail two days later.

Over 20 military installations and government buildings including military headquarters in Rawalpindi were damaged in the unrest that ensued.

Over 100 vehicles of police and other security agencies were also set on fire in the violence that left more than 10 persons dead.

Khan has said over 25 PTI workers were killed in the violence and that law enforcement agencies arrested over 10,000 PTI workers across Pakistan.

As many as 4,000 of them are from Punjab.

[ejesgistnews]

Bandits Who Killed Emir of Gobir Demand 60 Million, Six Bikes as Ransom for Emir's Corpse.  Nigerian entertainer and activist, Charly Boy, has raised alarm over the deteriorating security situation in the country, following the tragic killing of an Emir after a ransom demand was not met. In a series of posts on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Charly Boy expressed his frustration with the government's inability to track down kidnappers, despite the presence of numerous security and communication agencies. Breaking: Sokoto Emir, Isa Bawa, Killed by Bandits Days After Being Kidnapped, Tortured According to Charly Boy, Emir of Gobir was abducted, with kidnappers demanding a ransom of N1 billion in cash. When the ransom was not paid, the Emir was brutally killed. The victim's son reportedly requested the return of his father's body, only for the kidnappers to demand an additional N60 million and six motorbikes as ransom for the corpse. Charly Boy criticized the inefficiency of the nation's security apparatus, pointing out the existence of multiple agencies like the State Security Service (SSS), Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Investigation Bureau (FIB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), as well as the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Despite their presence, the kidnappers continued to engage in phone conversations with the Emir's family. He questioned how the kidnappers were able to communicate freely with the victim's family by phone without being intercepted. He also questioned the role of ministers responsible for communication, telecommunications, and information, particularly highlighting Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, who has been lauded as a technological expert. Charly Boy expressed disbelief that in the modern era, authorities are still unable to track calls made by kidnappers or pinpoint their locations. Charly Boy's posts have sparked widespread outrage and concern among Nigerians, who are increasingly frustrated by the rising insecurity in the country. "While insecurity and kidnapping are escalating nationwide, Nigerian security agencies appear to be focused on arresting, tracking, and subjecting journalists to harsh treatment and brutality. This shift in priorities has sparked concerns about whether their true mission is to safeguard political elites rather than ensuring the security and well-being of all Nigerians." BREAKING: DSS Arrests Investigative Journalist Soyinka as Tinubu's Govt Intensifies Crackdown on press freedom Popular Whistleblower PIDOM Reportedly Kidnapped by Nigerian Govt, David Hundeyin Raises Alarm