Tag: US

In less than two months, another US helicopters crash during Alaska training flight

Two United States Army attack helicopters crashed while on a training flight in Alaska on Thursday, the military said, the second such incident in less than a month.

The AH-64 Apache helicopters “crashed today near Healy, Alaska, returning from a training flight. First responders are on the scene. The incident is under investigation and more information about the incident will be released when it becomes available,” the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division said in a statement.

It wasn’t immediately clear the condition of those involved in the crash.

The accident followed a similar incident in late March in which two US Army Blackhawk helicopters crashed during a training flight in Kentucky, killing all nine soldiers on board.

There have been multiple other crashes of US military aircraft in recent years, including another involving a Black Hawk that killed two Tennessee National Guardsmen during a training flight in Alabama in February.

Four US Marines were killed during NATO exercises in Norway last year when their V-22B Osprey aircraft went down, possibly after hitting a mountain, investigators said.

And two US Navy pilots were rescued after their T-45C Goshawk jet crashed during a training exercise in a residential neighbourhood near Fort Worth, Texas in 2021. The pilots ejected before the plane went down.

April 28, 2023
Just In: Many feared dead after two US army choppers crash in Kentucky

Multiple people are believed to have been killed in a crash involving two United States army helicopters.

The Fort Campbell military base in Kentucky said crew members were flying two HH60 Blackhawk helicopters during a routine training mission before the crash.

The collision was said to have happened around 10pm US time on Wednesday.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and the command said it is “currently focused on caring for the service members and their families”.

It is unclear the number of people who were on board.

Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s governor, said fatalities were expected and that the state’s police and emergency management service were responding to the situation.

“We’ve got some tough news out of Fort Campbell, with early reports of a helicopter crash and fatalities are expected”, governor Andy Beshear said in a post on Twitter.

He added that local authorities and emergency services were responding to the accident.

March 30, 2023
Court jails Nigerian four years imprisonment over $1m cyber-fraud in US

A Nigerian, Solomon Ekunke Okpe, 31, has been sentenced to four years in an American jail for taking part in online scams that targeted US citizens and banks, leading up to $1 million in losses to victims.

The 31-year-old was handed the prison term after being extradited from Malaysia, where he was arrested, to the US to stand trial.

The US Department of Justice, while announcing the sentence said Okpe and his accomplices “devised and executed business email compromise (BEC), work-from-home, check-cashing, romance, and credit card scams” between 2011 and 2017.

According to Infosecurity magazine, targeted victims included individuals, banks, and businesses in the US and other countries, who were subjected to email phishing attacks aimed at stealing login credentials and “other sensitive information.”

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that DoJ described the scams as “intended to cause more than $1 million in losses to US victims” although it is not clear if the cyber-fraud gang achieved this nefarious goal.

Financial institutions named by the DoJ as victims include First American Holding Company and MidFirst Bank.

Okpe now joins his fellow gang member, Johnson Uke Obogo, behind bars.

Obogo was sentenced on March 20 to a year and a day in prison for his role in the scams, a considerably shorter tariff than Okpe’s.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United States.

It is equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries. The department is headed by the U.S. attorney general, who reports directly to the president of the United States and is a member of the president’s Cabinet. The current attorney general is Merrick Garland, who was sworn in on March 11, 2021.

The modern incarnation of the Justice Department was formed in 1870 during the Ulysses S. Grant presidency. The department comprises federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

It also has eight major divisions of lawyers who represent the U.S. federal government in litigation: the Civil, Criminal, Civil Rights, Antitrust, Tax, Environment and Natural Resources, National Security, and Justice Management Divisions. The department also includes the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts.

The primary actions of the DOJ are representing the U.S. government in legal matters and running the federal prison system.

The department is also responsible for reviewing the conduct of local law enforcement as directed by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994

March 28, 2023
US Congress to grill TikTok CEO over data privacy concerns

Shou Zi Chew, Chief Executive Officer of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is set to face the United States Congress over data privacy concerns.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that Chew will be grilled by American lawmakers on Thursday, as they consider legislation that will enable President Joe Biden to order a nationwide ban on the app.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce stated that the hearing will focus on TikTok’s “consumer privacy and data security practices, how the platform affects children, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party”.

TikTok has come under heavy scrutiny in recent times over its ties with the Chinese government. Many western states, including the US have prohibited the use of the app on government-owned devices.

In December last year, lawmakers of the US Senate introduced a bill to ban the use of the video sharing platform in the country.

One of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that the app was not just about creating videos, but it serves as a major tool in the hands of the Chinese Government to obtain sensitive data from Americans.

Earlier in March, US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, revealed that the White House had welcomed the bill which would empower the President to ban the app in the country.

The bipartisan bill “would empower the United States government to prevent certain foreign governments from exploiting technology services… in a way that poses risks to Americans’ sensitive data and our national security,” Sullivan said.

Already, the US military, the State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security have all restricted the app from operating on their computer devices

Similarly, the European Commission, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand, have ordered government workers to delete the application from their official devices.

Last week, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that the US government has also recently demanded that ByteDance sell its shares in the TikTok app, or face a national ban.

March 23, 2023
US to support Ukraine with $2.8 billion in military assistance

As the conflict between Russian and Ukraine continues, the United States has announced a new military aid to Ukraine.

According to Blinken Antony, the US Secretary of State, on Friday, said the $2.85 billion drawdown in military assistance will include; “Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, surface-to-air missiles, ammunition, and other items to support Ukraine as it bravely defends its people, its sovereignty, and its territorial integrity.”

The top US diplomat said the administration would work with Congress “to provide an additional $907 million of Foreign Military Financing under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022.”

“Funds will support Ukraine and countries impacted by Russia’s war in Ukraine,” Blinken said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to Twitter to welcome “the all-time US defense aid package.”

“Thank you, POTUS for the completely new weaponry, incl Bradley vehicles, anti-aircraft missiles. It’ll strengthen Ukrainian Army on a battlefield. Awesome Christmas present for Ukraine! Together with the American people we’re approaching a common victory,” he wrote.

January 7, 2023
US releases former UFC champion Adesanya from detention

Former UFC champion, Israel Adesanya has been released after being briefly detained at a New York airport on Wednesday following an attempt to go through security with brass knuckles.

Quoting the Port Authority police, MMA Fighting said Adesanya was arrested at approximately 1:57 p.m. ET on Wednesday at JFK Terminal for possession of metal knuckles.
Brass knuckles, made of metal or plastic, are illegal in New York and their possession is considered a misdemeanour punishable by up to one year in prison plus fines.

A statement by Adesanya’s manager Tim Simpson of Paradigm Sports Management disclosed that Nigerian-New Zealand mixed martial artist has already been released and has been flown home to New Zealand.

“Israel was handed a gift by a fan, which he put in his luggage,” Simpson said in the statement. “When flagged at the airport, Israel quickly disposed of the item and cooperated with authorities.

“He has complied accordingly, with that the matter was dismissed and he is on his way home.”

Adesanya had been in New York for several days as he prepared for his fight against Alex Pereira in the main event at UFC 281.

He lost the UFC middleweight title after ultimately suffering a fifth-round knockout loss to Alex Pereira in what was only his second career defeat.

Adesanya remained in New York after the fight but now appears on his way home after briefly being detained by authorities on Wednesday.

November 17, 2022
US pick Nigerian to coach Under-16 team

The U.S. Soccer Federation has appointed US-based Nigerian tactician, Michael Nsien, as the new head coach of the country’s U-16 Men’s youth national football team on a 3-year deal.

Nsien, with over 23 years of experience as a player and coach for clubs in the United States, becomes the first Nigerian to take the reign of the U.S. U-16 Men’s youth national team.

Nsien, born in Oklahoma of Nigerian roots, holds all the UEFA Pro Coaching licenses and is seen by his peers in the U.S. as a “trailblazer” for black coaches in a sector with very few black coaches.
I feel really good about getting this role and opportunity as a first-generation Nigerian American, it is really important to me that we show that my family name and the people of Nigeria are exposed and represented in a positive way not just in the U.S. but across the world.

November 16, 2022
Midterm: Dead US lawmaker wins election

A Pennsylvania state representative who died in October, Anthony DeLuca, was reelected during the United States midterm elections.

Fox News reported that DeLuca died in October 9, 2022 “after a brief battle with lymphoma, a disease he twice previously beat.”

The 85-year-old democrat was Pennsylvania’s longest-serving state rep before his death.

Reacting to his reelection, the Pennsylvania House Democrats Caucus said, “While we’re incredibly saddened by the loss of Representative Tony DeLuca, we are proud to see the voters to continue to show their confidence in him and his commitment to Democratic values by re-electing him posthumously

“A special election will follow soon.”

DeLuca was a resident of Penn Hills for over 60 years.

He started his political journey by serving at the Penn Hills Government Study Commission.

After five years as a Penn Hills Councilman, followed by two years as Penn Hills Deputy Mayor, he ran for his legislative seat and defeated the Republican incumbent.

November 9, 2022
Terror alert: Hours after Buhari assured Nigerians to calm down, US orders family members, employees to vacate Abuja

Few hours after President Muhamadu Buhari assured Nigerians not to panic, the US has ordered all family members, employees to vacate the seat of government, Abuja.

TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls barely 72hours ago, the US, British and other major European countries advised their citizens resident in the capital city to relocate immediately.

The United States (US) in a fresh directive on Friday ordered family members of its employees resident in Abuja to leave the area.

The announcement was contained in a travel advisory issued on Thursday.

The latest advisory is an update to an alert published on Tuesday, which had asked only non-emergency employees and their family members to leave Abuja.

“On October 27, 2022, the Department ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees from Abuja due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there,” the latest advisory reads.

“On October 25, 2022, the Department authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from Abuja due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there.

“U.S. Embassy Abuja is only able to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Abuja.

“U.S. Consulate in Lagos is providing all routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. U.S. citizens in Nigeria who require assistance should contact LagosACS@state.gov or +234 1 460 3410.”

The US also warned its citizens against travelling to Abuja “due to terrorism”, while Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and “northern Adamawa states” are off limits “due to terrorism and kidnapping”.

Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara states were listed as no-go areas “due to kidnapping”, while coastal areas of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) were also listed as areas to be avoided “due to crime, kidnapping, and maritime crime”.

The development comes amid warnings also from the UK and Canada asking their citizens in Nigeria to be cautious over the possibility of terror attacks in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has insisted that the country is safe.

October 29, 2022
TERROR ALERT: Abuja in panic mode as ‘Jabi Lake Mall close shop over alleged fear of attacks

The management of the popular Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja, has said it will be shutting down operations on Thursday amid security threats in the Federal Capital Territory.

TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that after two major embassies, the US and British raised terror alerts the seat of power in Nigeria has gone on a panic mode.

This followed reports by the United States, United Kingdom, Canadian and Australian Embassies that there is an elevated risk of terror attacks in the nation’s capital.

According to the warnings, the attack would be especially aimed at government buildings, places of worship, schools and other centres where large crowds gather.

In a post on the mall’s Instagram page @jabilakemallnigeria, the management revealed that it was reviewing the security situation with relevant authorities and that the mall would be reopened as soon as possible.

The post read, “To all our valued shoppers, Jabi Lake Mall will be closed today, Thursday, 27 October 2022. This decision has been taken in the overall interest of the safety of all staff and customers of the mall.

“Centre Management is committed to minimising any disruptions; however, the safety of our staff and shoppers remains our highest priority. Management is constantly reviewing the security situation in consultation with relevant security authorities and will inform you when the mall will be re-opened.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope to provide you with a quality shopping experience soon. Thank you.”

October 27, 2022