World

Alabama Governor, Robert Bentley Resigns Over Affair With Former Senior Political Adviser, Rebekah Mason

Published

7 years ago

April 11, 2017 10:56 am

Bentley Governor Robert Bentley resigned on Monday after pleading guilty to two campaign misdemeanors amid allegations that he misused public resources to pursue an affair with a former aide. He was also accused of intimidating officials in an attempt to cover it up.

Public allegations of an affair between Bentley and former senior political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason did not break out until March 2016, according to reports. “I have decided it is time for me to step down as Alabama’s governor,” Bentley, a Republican who faced mounting criticism from his own party, said at the state Capitol shortly after he was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and released.

Shortly afterward, Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, a former state treasurer, was sworn in as Alabama’s 54th governor, vowing that her administration “will be open, transparent, and it will be honest”. As part of a plea deal, Bentley agreed to perform 100 hours of community service and repay his campaign fund 8,912 dollars. He also forfeited the $36, 000 in the campaign account. In turn, the state Attorney-General’s office will not pursue felonies against him.

Bentley, 74,had faced an impeachment move from his Republican legislators. He apologized to the citizens of the state. “I’ve always believed the honour of serving as your governor was a calling that God placed on my life. “Though I have committed myself to working to improve the lives of the people of our state, there have been times that I have let you and our people down, and I’m sorry for that”.

Speculation about the governor’s inappropriate behavior began in August 2015, when Bentley’s wife of 50 years, Dianne, abruptly filed for divorce, stating in court records that their marriage had suffered an “irretrievable breakdown”. Speculations became rife after Bentley fired the state’s top law enforcement official, Spencer Collier, saying that an internal investigation at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency uncovered possible wrongdoing.

Within hours, Collier spoke out against the governor, alleging that he had seen and investigated sexual text messages and audio recordings between Bentley and Mason. “When I stand behind you, and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts and just pull you real close. I love that too,” Bentley said in one audio recording. “If we’re going to do what we did the other day, we’re going to have to start locking the door,” he was also heard saying.

According to reports, Bentley made little effort to hide his relationship with Mason while at one point, he mistakenly sent a text message saying, “I love you Rebekah”, to his then-wife, Dianne. Dianne also secretly recorded her husband speaking to Mason, reports said. Bentley, a state representative and dermatologist, was elected governor in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.

World

Israel launches counterattack on Iran

Published

6 hours ago

April 19, 2024 8:17 am

BodexNG

Oil prices have surged by nearly 4 percent as Israel launched a missile attack on a target in Iran, according to international media reports.

Explosions were reported in Isfahan province in central Iran, where the country’s nuclear plant is located.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later announced that there was no damage to the plant.

Israel had promised a response to missile and drone attacks by Iran last weekend.

Iran had launched the attacks in response to the April 1 strike that killed its senior security officials at its embassy in Syria apparently carried out by Israel.

A US official told ABC News that Israel carried out a strike inside Iran, confirming reports of the explosion by the Asian country’s media.

There were also reports of blasts in Iraq and southern Syria.

Commercial flights we re-routed as parts of the Iranian airspace were closed.

Iran says it activated its air defence systems.

Israel is not planning further attacks and Iran is not going to retaliate either, according various officials quoted by the media.

Brent crude price is now over $90 per barrel, up from $87 before the strike.

World

Dubai international airport cancels flights as flood ravages runway, UAE

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024 12:30 pm

BodexNG

A year’s worth of rainfall in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, left the city flooded and disrupted airport operations.

A video posted online showed the tarmac of Dubai International Airport — recently crowned the second busiest in the world — underwater as massive aircraft attempted to navigate floodwaters.

CNN reports that nearly four inches (100 mm) of rain fell over the course of just 12 hours on Tuesday, according to the weather observations at the airport.

According to United Nations data, the rainfall was around what Dubai usually records in an entire year.

The flooding disrupted airport operations in the city, with multiple airlines announcing flight delays and cancelled flights on Wednesday.

Jets were said to have looked more like boats moving through the flooded airport, while other parts of the UAE also recorded heavy rainfall.

“Operations continue to be significantly disrupted. There is major flooding on access roads around Dubai leading to the airport,” the airport was quoted as saying.

The rain reportedly fell so heavily and quickly that motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles as the floodwater rose and roads turned into rivers.

Dubai, like the rest of the UAE, has a hot and dry climate. As such, rainfall is infrequent and the infrastructure to handle extreme events is not in place.

Many roads and other areas have insufficient drainage due to the lack of regular rainfall, causing flooding.

The rain that ravaged the city is associated with a larger storm system traversing the Arabian Peninsula, moving across Oman and Iran.

Experts said torrential rainfall will become frequent in the region due to human-driven climate change.

World

SEE FULL LIST: Fireboy, Osimhen, Amusan make Forbes Africa’s ‘30 Under 30’ list

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2024 11:30 am

BodexNG

Fireboy DML, the singer, Victor Osimhen, Super Eagles footballer, and Veekee James, a fashion designer, are among the six Nigerians listed in the 2024 edition of Forbes Africa’s ‘30 Under 30’.

Forbes ’30 Under 30′ is an annual listicle by Forbes magazine spotlighting prominent business and industry figures.

In the tenth edition of the list recently released, the business magazine featured Africans under 30 who are shaping the continent in entertainment, education, sports, technology, healthcare, art, and other industries.

Other Nigerians on the list include Josiah Akinloye, founder and CEO of Mainlogix Technology; Tobi Amusan, track and field athlete; and Abioye Oyetunji; founder and CEO FXKudi.

Africans on the list include Tyla Laura Seethal, South African singer; Peace Wutawunashe, founder of Trigershot Engineering; Kenneth Njeru, director and founder of Africa Afya Healthcare; and Calvin Usiri, co-founder and CTO of Ramani, among others.

To curate the 2024 list, the finalists were drawn after a “rigorous vetting process” by the editorial team led by Under 30 curator Chanel Retief, alongside a panel of independent external judges such as Mo Abudu.

Other judges are Kate Kallot, Chris Maurice, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Helena Ndume, and Desiree Ellis.

Forbes said the evaluation process commenced in late 2023, with the support of its audit partner, SNG Grant Thornton.

Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Rema are among Nigerians who have made the list in the past.

The magazine earlier announced that Omah Lay, the singer, will be performing at the Under 30 summit in Botswana in May.

Below is the Forbes Africa ’30 Under 30′ list for 2024:

Alex Mativo, 29, Kenya, CEO and Co-founder, E-LAB, Nanasi and Duck, Industry: Multiple ventures
Ann-Kathrin Joos, 28, South Africa, CEO and Founder, Standard Beauty, Industry: Beauty
Vimbai Masiyiwa, 29, Zimbabwe, CEO, Batoka Hospitality, Industry: Tourism
Andrew Ddembe, 28, Uganda, Co-founder and CEO, MobiKlinic, Industry: Healthtech
Chad Jones, 28, South Africa, Social Media Content Creator and Brand Influencer, Industry: Social media
Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan (Fireboy DML), 28, Nigeria, Singer-songwriter, Industry: Entertainment
Tyla Laura Seethal, 22, South Africa, Singer-Songwriter, Industry: Entertainment
Ayushi Chandaria, 26, Kenya, Founder, Design Thinking Program (Kenya), Industry: Education
Ama Qamata, 25, South Africa, Actress, Producer, Industry: Entertainment
Daniel Novitzkas, 28, South Africa, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Specno, Industry: Software development and technology solutions
Prisca Wegesa Magori, 29, Tanzania, CEO and Co-founder, TenTen Explore and Smart EFD, Industry: Software development
Luke Mostert,27, South Africa, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, CatalyzU, Industry: Venture Capital
Kenneth M. Njeru, 25, Kenya, Director and Founder, Africa Afya Healthcare, Industry: Health investment services Services
Arooj Sheikh, 28, Kenya, Founder and CEO, Beyond Kenyan Bars, Sector: Social development
Cayley Jorgensen, 29, South Africa, CEO and Founder, Ingage Support; Registered Counselor, Sector: Mental health
Hildah Magaia, 29, South Africa, Forward for Mazatlán F.C Femenil and Banyana Banyana, Industry: Sport-football
Victor Osimhen, 25, Nigeria, Footballer and Striker for Super Eagles, Industry: Sport-football
Tobi Amusan, 26, Nigeria, Track and Field Athlete, Industry: Sport – athletics
Damian Willemse, 25, South Africa, Stormers and Springboks Rugby Player, Industry: Sport – rugby
Ricardo Lognath, 29, South Africa, Co-Founder and CEO, Omninela Medical, Industry: Healthcare/E-commerce
Nicolas Lognath, 27, South Africa, Co-Founder and Director, Omninela Medical, Industry: Healthcare/E-commerce
Ruth Erikan James, 29, Nigeria, Founder, Veekee James, Industry: Fashion
Shaun Maswanganyi, 23, South Africa, Track and Field Athlete, Industry: Sport – athletics
Jeremiah Thoronka, 24, Sierra Leone, Founder and CEO, Optim Energy, Sector: Climate change and sustainability (Social Impact)
Calvin Usiri, 28, Tanzania, Co-founder and CTO, Ramani, Industry: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Peace Wutawunashe, 27, Zimbabwe, Founder, Trigershot Engineering, Industry: Solar/Renewable Energy
Esethu Cenga, 29, South Africa, Co-founder and CEO, Rewoven, Industry: Fashion
Josiah Akinloye, 29, Nigeria, Founder and CEO, Mainlogix Technology, Industry: Automation and technology
Abioye Oyetunji, 29, Ghana, Founder and CEO, FXKudi, Industry: Fintech
Nadine Roos, 27, South Africa, South African Rugby Union (Springboks) and Sevens player, Industry: Sport – rugby

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others