Former U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty Monday to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the federal fraud case that led to his expulsion from Congress. The New York Republican entered the plea in a courtroom in Long Island just weeks before his trial was set to begin in early September. Santos was indicted on felony charges that he stole from political donors, used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses, lied to Congress about his wealth and collected unemployment benefits while actually working. ““I betrayed the trust of my constituents and supporters. I deeply regret…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
SINT MAARTEN/ WASHINGTON – The government of Sint Maarten, the National Recovery Program Bureau and the World Bank have signed a $10 million agreement aimed at improving water quality and quantity in Sint Maarten, with an additional $15 million to be financed by the government of Sint Maarten, through a co-financing loan from the government of the Netherlands. Investments in wastewater collection and treatment are expected to reduce risks to public health, and protect Sint Maarten’s surface water and beaches from environmental degradation, preserving the country’s extraordinary natural assets and enhancing the sustainability of the tourism economy. SXM Wastewater Project…
Desperate wails rent the air and people shouted urgent instructions as they tried to save more people, tragically including children, from being swept away by the raging waters of MathareRiver. The River had burst its banks in the middle of the night catching residents of the surrounding informal settlement unaware and completely upending their homes, and, for many, their lives. This was the scene in Mathare, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, in the wee hours of April 23rd 2024. Isabella Nzioki, a Community Health Promoter (CHP) and resident of Mathare, has been working with people living with HIV/Aids in the area for more than five years. Trained in HIV/Aids care including helping patients to remain compliant with medication (defaulter-tracing), mentorship, and TB social care, Isabella, a mother of two, is passionate about contributing to the welfare of her community especially given the numerous…
The award-winning music star was once on an American TV show after he was impersonated by a scammer.Nigerian ace singer, songwriter, and performer Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour N’abania or Flavour, has spoken about the struggles of being used as a tool by scammers.Speaking on a podcast, Uncut, Flavour narrated how fraudsters use his photo to dupe naive online users, especially elderly women who are vulnerable and longing for companionship.Recall that the musician was once featured in an episode of MTV’s Catfish after a scammer impersonated him online to dupe an American lady named Kimberly, who believed she…
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was somewhat surprisingly snubbed for one preseason honor.Sanders was not named to the Associated Press preseason All-American teams, it was announced Monday. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck received the first-team All-American nod, while Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel received second-team honors. It is tough to say Beck and Gabriel don’t deserve the honors. Beck threw for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Bulldogs, while Gabriel threw for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns as a member of the Oklahoma Sooners. By comparison, Sanders threw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns, though his team went 4-8.The big rivalry may be…
The slickly made video shows fighters driving large trucks and motorbikes through well-lit underground roads. Some of the trucks are carrying what appear to be missiles, and as the vehicles drive through, it becomes clear what the makers of the video – the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah – are unveiling: an extensive tunnel network used to store and launch missiles and what will surely be a vital resource in any conflict with Israel. The video, unveiled last week and titled Our Mountains, Our Treasures, serves as a warning that Hezbollah can use its expansive and concealed weapons arsenal to retaliate…
As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school? School absences surged during the pandemic and have yet to recover. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year, according to the latest data analyzed by The Associated Press. One reason for continued high absences: After years of COVID-19 quarantines, parents are more cautious about sending children to school when they might be contagious with an…
By Latonya Linton KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – The government of Jamaica brought young people together for meaningful discussion on the future they want to see at a National Youth Dialogue on the Summit of the Future. The event, held August 16 at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston and online, was organised by the ministry of foreign affairs and foreign trade, the ministry of education and youth, and the United Nations (UN) in Jamaica. It provided an opportunity for students and youth leaders, including persons in rural communities, across the diaspora as well as those with disabilities, to engage with…
Strength and leadership most often emerge from the most challenging and vulnerable places. For Deheve Machazo, witnessing the dire conditions for women and girls in an internal displacement site was a turning point. “I can’t stay silent while women and girls are in the dark about contraception. I’ve decided to take action to change the community’s mentality,” she explained. At the Kigonze displacement site in the Democratic Republic of Congo, nestled within the conflict-ridden Ituri province, Deheve listened attentively to the women and girls around her. Alarmed by the lack of information on family planning and reproductive health, she took…
The sensational singer follows in the shoes of his label boss when it comes to churning out albums.Nigerian ace singer, songwriter, and performer Adedamola Adefolahan, popularly known as Fireboy DML, has officially announced his upcoming album, Adedamola.The YBNL/Empire artist, who has only dropped one single, ‘Everyday,’ in 2024, is about to follow up with his fourth studio album, titled ‘Adedamola’. The 28-year-old singer recently replied to a fan on the social media app X, revealing that his upcoming album is indeed titled Adedamola, staying true to his words.After officially gaining a well-deserved spotlight by signing with Olamide’s YBNL and releasing…