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Hurricane Milton: President Biden postpones Germany trip

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US President Joe Biden has postponed a planned trip to Germany as Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, which he says could be the “worst storm in a century” to hit the state. He has told residents to “evacuate now.”

 

US President Joe Biden has postponed planned visits to Germany and Angola later this week as Hurricane Milton approaches the state of Florida.

“I just don’t think I can be out of the country at this time,” he said at the White House on Tuesday.

Biden said Milton, which is already one of the most powerful storms to ever form in the Gulf of Mexico, “could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century” and said he’s working “to increase the size and presence” of the federal government’s response.

Canceling his foreign trips, he urged Floridians to “evacuate now” and head inland, saying it was “a matter of life and death.”

He also called on airlines and hotels not to engage in “price gouging” by massively upping their rates.

“Kamala and I are keeping all of you in our prayers,” Biden said, referring to Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Despite being downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center on Tuesday, forecasters warned Milton still posed “an extremely serious threat to Florida.”

When will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

The storm is expected to make landfall in the populous Tampa Bay area in western Florida on Thursday morning local time, with sea level surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) expected along coastal areas where evacuation orders have been put in place.

The region is already reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene with warnings that debris from that storm could be picked up and hurled like “missiles” by the 145 mph (230 km/h) winds.

Late on Sunday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 of the state’s 67 counties, saying that Milton could have “major, major impacts.”

“You do not have to evacuate hundreds of miles away; you can evacuate tens of miles, you do have options,” DeSantis said at a Tuesday morning news briefing, assuring residents there would be enough gas to fuel their cars for the trip.

“You do not have to get on the interstate and go far away.”

Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, added: “I need people to listen to their local officials to get out of harm’s way. People don’t need to move far. They just need to move inland.”

“Helene was a wake-up call, this is literally catastrophic,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said on CNN.

“I can say this without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.”

Biden cancels Germany trip

President Biden had been expected to arrive in Berlin on Thursday evening for a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

He had then been scheduled to travel to the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate to host a Ukraine summit at the US Ramstein airbase.

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“We no lose o” — VeryDarkMan sings and dances after court hearing against Femi Falana and Falz held today.

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November 14, 2024

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"We no lose o" — VeryDarkMan sings and dances after court hearing against Femi Falana and Falz held today.
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VeryDarkMan’s court hearing against Femi Falana and Falz took place today, and he seems to be celebrating. However, the court actually ruled in favor of Femi Falana, ordering VeryDarkMan to delete defamatory videos about him.

It appears VeryDarkMan had made some allegations against Falana and his son, Falz, which the court deemed defamatory. The court also granted Falana’s request to serve VeryDarkMan with court processes through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju Esq.

Despite the court’s ruling, VeryDarkMan seems to be in high spirits, singing and dancing after the hearing. It’s unclear what the outcome of the case will be, but for now, VeryDarkMan appears to be taking it in stride.

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GUNMEN ATTACK MILITARY CHECKPOINT AT ABIA AND IMO BOARDER, ALLEGEDLY KILL TWO SOLDIERS…

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November 14, 2024

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GUNMEN ATTACK MILITARY CHECKPOINT AT ABIA AND IMO BOARDER, ALLEGEDLY KILL TWO SOLDIERS
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Ekwutosblog gathered that Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint earlier today, Wednesday 13th November, 2024 at Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area, killing two soldiers.

A military source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred around 6:18 am. The gunmen arrived in a white Lexus (350/400) model, although the exact number of attackers could not be confirmed.

Confirming the incident in a press release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA said: “In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia – Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by faceless group.

“During the attack, the gallant troops were able to repel the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray with gunshot wounds, abandoning one Sienna and one Lexus Jeep used in the attack. However, in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price.”

The Joint Task Force appealed to residents of the South East, particularly those in Abia State, for credible information to help track down the fleeing attackers and combat criminal elements in the region.

The force reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property in line with global best practices and the rules of engagement.

Kindly follow ekwutosblog on Instagram and Facebook for verified News and Current Affairs in addition to insightful contents that inform, inspire, educate and entertain you always.

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TV chef found dead in hotel aged 52 after criticising Vladimir Putin

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November 14, 2024

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Alexei Zimin has died
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A TV chef who fled to London after his opposition of Vladimir Putoin has been found dead while on a promotional tour

A Russian TV chef who criticised Vladimir Putin has been found dead in a Belgrade hotel

Alexei Zimin, 52, died suddenly on a promotional tour to the Serbian capital. Authorities have said his cause of death is currently “unclear”.

Zimin fled Russia to London after his oppositions of Putin. Zimin was once a popular figure on Russian cooking shows. He also owned Zima restaurant in Soho, which he founded after he had left Russia following Putin’s invasion of Crimea.

In a statement released by Zima magazine today, a spokesperson said: “Alexei Zimin, the project’s editor-in-chief and the chef of the Zima restaurant, has passed away. Alexei was not only a colleague, he was our friend, a close person with whom we were lucky to go through a lot – both good, kind and sad.”

London-based exiled Russian TV chef, editor and restaurateur Alexei Zimin, dies at 52.

It concluded: “Thank you to everyone for the words we received today about Alexei. We are hurting together with you.”

Zimin had also been editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of GQ magazine.

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