Texas man jailed for spending COVID-19 loans on Lamborghini, strip clubs

CC™ Newsreel

Instead of speeding off in a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus, a Texas man, Lee Price III got a slower ride to jail this week. 

This was after U.S. authorities arrested him for using $1.6 million in government pandemic aid to go on a spending spree.

Lee Price III, 29, was charged with fraud after he secured two government loans under the Paycheck Protection Program to pay employees he did not have, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Instead he spent the funds on lavish goods like a sports car and a Rolex watch, as well as real estate, an F-350 pickup truck, and thousands of dollars at Houston strip clubs, the statement said.

Price secured two loans: Price Enterprises Holdings allegedly received more than $900,000, while 713 Construction was approved for over $700,000.

Neither firms has employees and "the individual listed as CEO on the 713 Construction loan application died in April 2020, a month before the application was submitted," according to the complaint.

Congress approved the PPP program in late March to help small businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic, granting loans that could be forgiven if they were used to pay wages, rent and utilities.

U.S. election 2020: Trump says opponent Biden will 'hurt God'

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U.S. President Donald Trump has said Joe Biden is "against God", ramping up attacks on his Democratic rival and foreshadowing an ugly election battle.

The remarks, during a trip to Ohio, came as Mr Trump tries to make up ground in the crucial Midwestern states that were his path to victory in 2016.

"He's against God. He's against guns," said the president, a Republican.

Mr Biden, an avowed Catholic, will take on Mr Trump in November. Opinion polls suggest the Democrat currently leads.

The former U.S. vice-president has spoken frequently about how his faith helped him cope with the deaths of his first wife and daughter in a 1972 car accident.

His campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement on Thursday: "Joe Biden's faith is at the core of who he is; he's lived it with dignity his entire life, and it's been a source of strength and comfort in times of extreme hardship."

The president said of Mr Biden earlier in the day in Cleveland, Ohio: "He's following the radical left agenda.

"Take away your guns, destroy your Second Amendment. No religion, no anything, hurt the Bible, hurt God.

"He's against God, he's against guns, he's against energy, our kind of energy."

Mr Trump has been accused of using the platform of the presidency for political gain by injecting campaign-style rhetoric into taxpayer-funded official engagements intended to communicate U.S. government policy.

At a washing machine factory later on Thursday, the president kept up the onslaught on his challenger.

"I wouldn't say he's at the top of his game," the president said.

Both the Trump and Biden campaigns have traded accusations that their candidate has dementia. Mr Trump is 74 and Mr Biden 77.

In an advertisement released by the Trump campaign this week, the Democrat was depicted as "hiding" alone in his basement, using an image that had been edited to remove several other people.

Religion has previously come up in this campaign. Mr Biden accused the president of cynically using a Bible for a photo op outside a church in early June after protesters - who were described by journalists at the scene as peaceful - had been forcibly dispersed by law enforcement outside the White House.

Throughout his tenure, Mr Trump has enjoyed a mostly strong backing from evangelical Christians.

In his list of "six promises" for a second term unveiled in Ohio on Thursday, Mr Trump focused heavily on economic recovery, vowing to turn the U.S. into a premier medical manufacturer, launch "millions" of manufacturing jobs and bring back American jobs and factories from abroad.

The pledges echo many of those from his 2016 campaign, a platform of economic populism often credited with his wins in swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

But the president's message of prosperity has been thwarted this time around by the coronavirus outbreak. The U.S. economy shrank at a 32.9% annual rate between April and June as the country faced lockdowns and spending cuts during the pandemic, marking the steepest decline since the government began keeping records in 1947.

Now, polls show Mr Biden with leads in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - three industrial states his Republican rival won by margins of less than 1% to claim victory in 2016. And in Iowa, Ohio and Texas, where Mr Trump won last time by 8-10%, he is currently neck-and-neck with Mr Biden.

Source: BBC News

POLL: Trump in trouble as nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of COVID-19, protests, Russia.....

CC™ Politico

Nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump‘s handling of three major challenges facing the country — the coronavirus pandemic, nationwide unrest over racial inequality and relations with Russia — in a new ABC News/Ipsos poll, a sign of the obstacles that his reelection bid faces just three months before Election Day.

With the White House confronting the most significant reckoning on race since the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the worst public health crisis in a century, and a hostile Russia reminiscent of the Cold War, Americans have little confidence in the job Trump is doing in all three of these major areas.

Trump closes out the month of July the way it began, with his approval on the coronavirus in the low 30s. His approval sits at 34%, right about where it was earlier this month (33%) when it reached a new low since ABC News/Ipsos began surveying on the virus in March.

In the new poll, which was conducted by Ipsos in partnership with ABC News using Ipsos’ Knowledge Panel, Trump’s approval is also deeply underwater — at 36% — for how he is handling both the protests over racial inequality and relations with one of the country’s greatest geopolitical foes, Russia.

An election that comes down to be a referendum on Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, his response to the race movement or his dealings with foreign adversaries spells trouble for the incumbent president. With all three crises, Trump only consistently has the support of his own party and his base.

Republicans back Trump’s handling of the coronavirus (74%), the protests (78%) and Russia (80%) by overwhelming margins. Democrats are almost uniformly in opposition to Trump’s managing of the three issues, with approval of the president in single-digits on the pandemic (7%), the unrest (8%) and Russia (8%).

Roughly 1 in 5 Republicans disapprove of the president on coronavirus (26%), the protests (22%) and Russia (20%), and just over 9 in 10 Democrats disapprove on all three matters.

Independents trace the country’s attitudes, with his approval falling between 30% to 33% and his disapproval landing between 66% and 69% on COVID-19, the demonstrations and his approach to Russia. About half of Trump’s base — white, non-college educated Americans — approve of his leadership on the outbreak (50%), the protests (51%) and Russia (51%).

The latest numbers for Trump are particularly problematic on his combative response to the nationwide protests — as his approval is in dire straits across racial lines. Only 45% of whites, 7% of Black Americans and 28% of Hispanics approve of Trump’s handling on this specific issue.

Over half of whites (55%), and clear majorities of Black Americans (92%) and Hispanics (72%), disapprove.

Meanwhile, less than one-third of the country believes that sending federal officers to respond to demonstrations in cities makes the situation better.

A slight majority (52%) view the response as exacerbating the situation, and 19% say it doesn’t have an effect either way.

Even among Americans who are supposed to be Trump loyalists, only 42% of white non-college educated Americans say that the presence of federal agents improves the situation. Over a third (37%) of this demographic see the move as making the situation worse.

The new poll comes after the president made a hard pivot back to pushing for an unproven treatment for the virus, hydroxychloroquine, against the advice of top health experts — after appearing to break from months of downplaying the virus’s severity by encouraging the country to wear masks and practice social distancing last week.

It also comes amid the backdrop of clashes in Portland, Oregon, where the president dispatched federal agents into the city to halt the nightly protests that were sparked two months ago by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis in May. On Wednesday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said that she was assured that officers would begin a phased withdrawal from the city — an announcement that Trump appeared to contradict by Thursday morning, arguing that the officers would only leave once “safety” was restored.

His disapproval on his handling of relations with Russia, in particular, comes at a precarious time for the president, who has dismissed U.S. intelligence that indicates Russia paid the Taliban to kill American troops in Afghanistan.

Trump, in an interview with Axios earlier this week, said he “never discussed” the matter in a July 23 phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and when pressed on why he didn’t raise it, he said, “That was a phone call to discuss other things and frankly that’s an issue that many people said was fake news.”

This ABC News/Ipsos poll was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs‘ KnowledgePanel® July 29-30, 2020, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 730 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 4.0 points, including the design effect. See the poll’s topline results and details on the methodology here.

Trump in trouble as nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of COVID-19, protests, Russia: POLL originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Four car crash in South Federal Way on 288th and Military road

CC™ Breaking News

There has been a multiple car crash (four vehicles in total including a Federal Way Police Department patrol vehicle) in South Federal Way on 288th and Military road. 

There are no known reports of any fatalities and several police and State Patrol vehicles are currently on the scene as well.

The incident occurred shortly before 2pm PST and as of the time of this reporting (3:30 pm PST), no ambulance or EMT personnel have been sighted at the scene. 

That again is surpirisng (although not uncommon) but the the level of police activity at the scene (there were close to ten patrol vehicles including those of the Washington State Patrol) at the time of this reporting certainly raises some eyebrows.

We will update with more details as they come in. 

U.S. President Donald Trump in another show of executive and personal intemperance says he will ban TikTok in the United States

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During a flight from Tampa on Friday, the president told press pool reporters traveling on Air Force One he plans to ban the Chinese-owned social media platform from operating in the United States as soon as Saturday.

In response, TikTok’s U.S. General Manager Vanessa Pappas recorded a message saying, “We’re not planning on going anywhere.”

This is another glaring example of a man who just can't help himself as it relates to his lack of comportment, personal discipline, requisite civility and basic restraint.

More to follow.....

Nigerian Government reacts to viral hydroxychloroquine video attributed to Nigerian physician

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu - Director-General of the NCDC

CC™ Global News

Nigeria on Tuesday said it has not validated the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19, an obvious reaction to the viral video of Nigerian-born physician, Dr. Stella Immanuel.

Immanuel, also a Christian preacher, claimed in the video that has gone viral worldwide that she has successfully treated more than 350 COVID-19 patients using hydroxychloroquine, Zinc and Zithromax.

Immanuel first made the claim on April 27 in a Twitter post in which she also showed support for American President Donald Trump’s backing for the use of chloroquine to treat the virus.

But Nigeria’s Ministry of Information and Nigeria Center for Disease Control, in identical messaging on Twiter, said the use of hydroxychloroquine is “only limited to clinical trials“.

“Some trial drugs show promising results but are yet to be validated for use,” NCDC said on Twitter on Tuesday. “In Nigeria, use of hydroxychloroquine is ONLY limited to clinical trials.”

The Lagos State Government said in April that its hospital treated many patients who suffered chloroquine poisoning in the wake of Trump’s endorsement of the drug in March. 

Immanuel doubled down on her April claim on Monday when she addressed the press after America's Frontline Doctors Summit in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Monday, July 27.

Hydroxychloroquine has long been used to treat malaria as well as other conditions such as lupus and arthritis.

It's used to reduce fever and inflammation, and the hope has been that it can also inhibit the virus that causes COVID-19.

Apart from Trump, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has also claimed hydroxychloroquine could prevent or treat COVID-19.

"I'm here because I have personally treated over 350 patients with COVID," Immanuel said in the video.

"Patients that have diabetes, patients that have high blood pressure, patients that have asthma, old people... I think my oldest patient is 92...87-year-olds. And the result has been the same. I put them on hydroxychloroquine, I put them on zinc, I put them on Zithromax, and they're all well."

She said she put herself, her staff and other doctors she knew on hydroxychloroquine for prevention of COVID-19. "We see patients, 10 to 15 COVID patients, every day," she said.

"We give them breathing treatments. We only wear a surgical mask. None of us has gotten sick. It works."

FIMC, however, asked Nigeria to take responsibility and avoid self-medication.

Tiger Woods' struggles continue at the Memorial Tournament as his back problems resurface

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Tiger Woods accepted he was fortunate to still be in the Memorial Tournament as he reflected on his improved fortunes in the third round.

A difficult second round at Muirfield Village had seen the five-time Memorial champion, who opened the event with a 71, sign for a four-over-par 76.

After narrowly avoiding missing the cut, Woods was back under par with a one-under 71 on Saturday, improving to two over for the tournament.

The 15-time major winner did not suffer with the same movement issues he encountered the day before as he recorded four birdies and three bogeys in humid Ohio conditions.

Woods recovered nicely after finding water and dropping a shot on the third hole.

"I felt like I played well and controlled the ball well," Woods said. "I hit one really bad shot there at three, but other than that, it was a pretty good, solid day.

"I was fortunate the cut came back [on Friday]. I made a little run at the end, and at times it was looking like it was going to be at two [over], but fortunately I snuck in at three.

"Then I was moving better [on Saturday] and felt like I did the first day, and consequently I could make the passes at the golf ball like I did the first day.

"Unfortunately, I didn't make any putts, so hopefully I can make a few more [on Sunday]."

Woods fared better than playing partner Brooks Koepka, whose one-over 73 left him at four over through 54 holes.

Asked about conditions on the course, Woods added: "It's tough. It's fast.

"The golf course is right where they want it. Now that the wind has picked up just a touch, it's going to dry it out a little bit more.

"The ball is starting to run out on the greens. Some of the fairways are starting to chase."

Leader Tony Finau was at 10 under par through nine holes of his third round.

Source: Omnisport

The plot thickens: APC screening committee disqualifies Segun Abraham, a Tinubu protege in Ondo guber election

 CC™ Breaking News

The screening committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified a protege of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Segun Abraham, from the gubernatorial election primaries scheduled for later this month, in Ondo State.

It should be noted that Dr. Abraham lost to the current Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu in the 2016 primary elections for the same office and that loss was what prompted Bola Tinubu to move decisively against the then National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

It is no secret that Bola Tinubu nurses aspirations for the 'exalted' seat at Aso Rock, but recent developments within the rank and file of the ruling party, seem to suggest that he (Tinubu) may be losing his grip on the power base of the APC as we move closer to the general elections in 2023.

It is particularly noteworthy that out of the 12 aspirants screened for the primary elections, the only candidate disqualified was Dr. Abraham and that was definitely a pointed message to the "Lion of Bourdillon" and it remains to be seen what his response will be.

According to the committee, Dr. Abraham has the option of appealing his disqualification.

Two Nigerians face US charges over online fraud worth 'hundreds of millions'

CC™ Global News - By Jon Fingas,@jonfingas

US law enforcement is cracking down on a pair of alleged online fraudsters that appear to have been wildly successful. The United Arab Emirates has sent the US two Nigerian nationals, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas and Olakean Jacob Ponle, to face charges relating to large “business email compromise” scams. Abbas is accused of money laundering in schemes meant to pull in “hundreds of millions of dollars,” according to the Justice Department. 

He reportedly helped with a plan to launder $14.7 million stolen from a “foreign financial institution,” helped take nearly $923,000 from a New York law firm and was even involved in a plot to steal roughly $124 million from an English Premier League club. 

Ponle, meanwhile, allegedly participated in several 2019 fraud campaigns that were worth “tens of millions of dollars,” including one Chicago-based company that sen a total of $15.2 million. According to the claim, Ponle had victims wire funds to money mules who converted the gains to Bitcoin and sent them to a digital wallet the mastermind controlled.  

Both Abbas and Ponle could serve up to 20 years in prison if convicted. US attorney Nick Hanna saw the move as evidence the US could hold online fraud perpetrators responsible “no matter where they live.” However, this is is also an illustration of how difficult it is to halt internet scams. American officials have been identifying foreign fraud campaigns for years, and they only sometimes lead to arrests. Although these moves could send a message to scammers who think they can escape without penalty, they might not serve as practical deterrents.

Source: endgadget

Indian man wears gold face mask to ward off coronavirus

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An Indian man said he paid about $4,000 for a bespoke gold face mask to protect him from the coronavirus raging in the country.

The precious metal covering weighs 60 grams (two ounces) and took craftsmen eight days to make, said businessman Shankar Kurhade, from the western city of Pune. 

"It is a thin mask and has tiny pores that is helping me to breathe," Shankar stated. 

"I am not sure if it will be effective to protect me from a coronavirus infection but I am taking other precautions," he added. 

When going out, the 49-year-old said he likes to adorn himself with gold jewellery weighing a kilogramme, including a bracelet, necklace and rings on each finger of his right hand. 

Kurhade -- whose company makes industrial sheds -- said he got the idea for the gold face mask after seeing a media report about a man wearing one made from silver. 

"People are asking me for selfies," he said. 

"They are awestruck when they see me wearing the gold mask in markets." 

India has made face masks mandatory in public places in a bid to control the spread of the virus in the country, which has around 650,000 confirmed cases and more than 18,600 fatalities. 

Source: AFP