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Trump sues CNN for defamation

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Trump sues CNN for defamation

Trump sues CNN for defamation

Former United States President, Donald Trump, has sued the Cable News Network on Monday, accusing the television news network of defamation and seeking $475 million in punitive damages.

Trump, in the lawsuit filed in a US District Court in Florida, accused the CNN of waging a campaign of “libel and slander” against him because it “fears” he will run for president again in 2024.

“(The) CNN has sought to use its massive influence – purportedly as a ‘trusted’ news source – to defame the plaintiff in the minds of its viewers and readers for the purpose of defeating him politically,” Trump’s lawyers said in the 29-page complaint.

In a follow-up statement laced with outrage, Trump said on Monday that “in the coming weeks and months, we will also be filing lawsuits against a large number of other Fake News Media Companies for their lies, defamation, and wrongdoing,” notably regarding coverage of the 2020 election.

The 76-year-old Republican also said his team “may bring appropriate action against” the congressional committee currently investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters, saying the panel refused to probe “the massive Presidential Election Fraud” which he insists occurred.

Trump, who requested a jury trial, had a caustic relationship with the CNN and other major news outlets like The New York Times during his term, branding them “fake news” and repeatedly raging against them on social media.

The former president, who has hinted repeatedly at another White House run, accused the CNN in the lawsuit of involvement in a “concerted effort to tilt the political balance to the Left.”

He said the CNN has tried to “taint” him with a “series of ever-more scandalous, false, and defamatory labels of ‘racist,’ ‘Russian lackey,’ ‘insurrectionist,’ and ultimately ‘Hitler.’”

In a July statement, Trump had threatened to sue the CNN if the network refused to retract allegedly defamatory statements made about him.

The lawsuit contained excerpts from CNN’s response to Trump in which it stood by its reporting and declined to make any retractions.

In Monday’s filing, Trump took particular issue with the CNN describing his claims that the 2020 election was “stolen” by Democrat Joe Biden as the “Big Lie.”

“The ‘Big Lie’ is a direct reference to a tactic employed by Adolf Hitler and appearing in Hitler’s Mein Kampf,” the complaint said. “The phrase is not taken lightly and is not bandied about blithely.”

The repeated use of the ‘Big Lie,’ it added, is a “deliberate effort by CNN to propagate to its audience an association between the plaintiff and one of the most repugnant figures in modern history.”

It said the term the ‘Big Lie’ has been used in reference to Trump more than 7,700 times on the CNN since January 2021.

Trump said he filed the suit to “vindicate his reputation as a dedicated public servant and to establish CNN’s liability for the harm it has caused to his reputation by the false, defamatory, and inflammatory mischaracterizations of him.”

AFP

Trump sues CNN for defamation

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China has shown to be Africa’s friend, development partner, Insists Stakeholders

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China has shown to be Africa’s friend, development partner, Insists Stakeholders

By: Michael Mike

Stakeholders in diplomacy, academia, and the media have dismissed the claim that China has ulterior motives in Africa, insisting that the Chinese Government has come to the continent as a friend and key development partner.

They made this point at the Media Executives Forum and Book Launch held in Abuja at the China Cultural Centre.

The event, which featured the unveiling of Balancing the Narrative: China-Africa Relations authored by seasoned diplomatic journalist Raphael Oni, brought together diplomats, media professionals, and scholars to discuss the impact and perception of China’s growing involvement in Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Oni, who recently participated in a media training programme in China, described the book as a product of his experience and research.

He said: “There is a gap in understanding China’s role in Africa. A lot of misinformation is being circulated, especially through Western media. This book is my effort to correct that.”

Oni, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Extra, a magazine dedicated to foreign affairs and diplomatic reports, pointed to China’s numerous contributions in areas such as infrastructure, education, and technology, citing projects like roads, railways, and airport construction supported by Chinese funding and expertise.

He also highlighted capacity-building programmes that send Nigerian professionals and students to China for training.

on his part, the Director, Centre for Chinese Studies in Nigeria, Mr. Charles Onunaiju, commended Oni’s work, stating that it contributes to knowledge-driven cooperation. He noted that: “There are myths surrounding China-Africa relations, but what we need is deeper understanding and accurate information.”

In his remarks, the President of the African Union of Journalists and erstwhile President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Christopher Isiguzo, urged Nigerian political leaders to emulate China’s development-driven approach. “China’s progress is rooted in long-term planning and strong national vision. We can learn a lot from that,” he said.

Diplomatic representatives from the High Commissions of Sierra Leone and Malaysia, as well as the Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, also delivered goodwill messages. They praised the book and emphasized the importance of cultural and media exchanges in building international partnerships.

Participants at the event called for greater collaboration between African and Chinese media to present more balanced narratives and foster mutual understanding. They urged African journalists to take the lead in shaping the continent’s global image by telling stories grounded in fact and experience.

The forum concluded with a consensus that China remains a reliable ally in Africa’s development journey and that dispelling misinformation through responsible journalism is essential for strengthening bilateral ties.

China has shown to be Africa’s friend, development partner, Insists Stakeholders

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6th Anniversary: My promise of transforming Gombe now reality, says Gov. Yahaya

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6th Anniversary: My promise of transforming Gombe now reality, says Gov. Yahaya

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, on Thursday, declared that his vision of transforming the state, set six years ago, has now become a tangible reality.

He stated this in Gombe during a state-wide broadcast marking the sixth anniversary of his administration’s leadership in the state.

According to Yahaya, his government has achieved remarkable progress since 2019, with visible development in every region of the state serving as undeniable proof.

He noted that the transformation agenda spanned education, healthcare, the economy, roads, infrastructure, and security, among other key areas of governance and public welfare.

Yahaya noted that his administration met public expectations by delivering quality governance, making Gombe a national benchmark across various development sectors.

“When we began this journey six years ago, we promised to transform Gombe into a development model. Today, that promise has come to fruition,” he said.

He said that every corner of Gombe bears evidence of growth and change, reflecting the state’s steady advancement under his leadership.

In the health sector, Yahaya said his government revamped and equipped 114 primary health centres, recruited personnel, and revitalised healthcare delivery across the state.

On education, he emphasised a holistic, data-driven strategy that improved learning outcomes and earned praise from the Federal Ministry of Education and development partners.

“We have also overhauled Gombe’s road infrastructure, delivering over 900 kilometres of rural and urban roads to enhance accessibility and economic growth,” he said.

These projects, he added, have linked communities, boosted trade, and eased the movement of people and goods across the state.

“All township roads under this scheme feature solar-powered streetlights, improving visibility at night and enhancing local security,” Yahaya noted.

Addressing water scarcity, the governor stated that over 900 boreholes had been constructed during his tenure to improve access to clean water.

He thanked the people of Gombe for their steadfast support and vowed to consolidate on achievements during the remaining two years of his second term.

“In the next two years, we’ll enhance Gombe’s strengths in commerce, agriculture, and renewable energy,” Yahaya pledged.

He reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, good governance, and youth empowerment to prepare them for a dynamic and changing world.

6th Anniversary: My promise of transforming Gombe now reality, says Gov. Yahaya

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Soldier arrested in Rivers over attempted rape, theft, and assault on police officer

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Soldier arrested in Rivers over attempted rape, theft, and assault on police officer

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police in Rivers State have arrested a serving soldier over an alleged attempted rape, theft, and assault on a police officer in Kpor Division, under Zone 16, Yenagoa.

Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, identified as Cpl. Dinebari Legudu, who claimed we was attached Special Forces, in Maiduguri, was arrested on Wednesday following a complaint by a 17-year-old female, Peace Baridor, of Bera community.

According to the police, the teenage girl reported that the suspect, whom she recently befriended on Facebook, visited her residence around 3:30 p.m. on the same day and allegedly attempted to rape her. She managed to escape and locked the suspect inside the house.

“In her absence, the suspect ransacked the home and allegedly stole N150,000 belonging to the girl’s mother before breaking out and fleeing,” the statement said.

Upon receiving the report at about 6:05 p.m., officers from the Kpor Division, acting swiftly alongside the complainant, traced and apprehended the suspect. Upon interrogation, it was revealed that he is a serving soldier currently on pass from his unit in Maiduguri.

The police also reported that the suspect resisted arrest and assaulted one of the arresting officers during the operation.

He is currently in police custody and investigation is ongoing.

Authorities said due process would be followed and the military hierarchy has been notified for necessary administrative procedures.

Soldier arrested in Rivers over attempted rape, theft, and assault on police officer

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