Nigerian News Today

Friday

'Gutfeld!': Former Biden doc, ‘poor guy’ who should be pardoned for this

Greg Gutfeld opens with jokes about Alyssa Farah Griffin crying on The View, suggesting it's either stress or the onions they slice for their daily pig roast. He moves on to news that more than half of East Coast beaches tested positive for fecal contamination, sarcastically claiming they tracked the source.

He jokes about Tim Baltz charging taxpayers $430,000 in legal fees to help prepare to testify before Congress, quipping that while he can't define a woman, he can sure spend like one.

Next, he roasts Kamala Harris, saying she went with her "guts" when choosing Tim Baltz as a running mate and sarcastically speculates about what was in them.

Greg jokes about the BBC releasing images of early human species, with punchlines about their age and appearance.

He then turns to President Biden's former doctor refusing to answer questions about Biden’s health, joking he’d be the perfect doctor to treat Greg’s “secret warts” and saying when asked about Biden’s decline, he referred them to the coroner’s report.

He ridicules Mattel for introducing a Barbie with type 1 diabetes, saying people laughed at his idea for "AIDS Ken."

He cracks a joke about a college student growing a beard as a “symbolic middle finger,” with a woman replying she grew hers for the same reason.

Returning to Biden's former doctor pleading the Fifth before Congress, Greg jokes that doctor-patient privilege is the only thing stopping his own doctor from revealing his birthmark that looks like Brit Hume. He jokes the doctor must constantly deal with Biden’s fragile health, describing outlandish vet-style treatments like popping back his shoulder, removing worms from his leg, or pulling a chipmunk out of his rear.

Greg says Biden's doctor wasn't alone defending him, getting help from a "stupid person from Texas" who insists on confidentiality. Greg says yes, people have the right to privacy but also not to be lied to about the president’s mental capacity. He says Biden has "a brain more shattered than a chair on The View" and roasts Democrats for pretending his decline is news to them.

He jokes about former CNN analysts being shocked Biden couldn’t be trusted outside staged events, comparing this revelation to discovering John Travolta is gaining weight.

Greg says they don't want Biden's doctor in jail because he'd be "passed around like P Diddy's girlfriend at a freak-off" but they do want the real story about his health. He speculates about why Parkinson’s specialists visited so often. He jokes maybe the doctor needs immunity to "spill the beans" without incriminating himself, even pardoning him for his haircut.

He concludes that the real blame lies not with the doctor but with the people around Biden giving orders—and he wants "their scalps."

Then he introduces the night's guests:

Michael Malice, author of Not Sick of Winning.
Julie Banderas, Fox News anchor.
Chef and restaurant owner Andrew Gruel.
Kat Timpf, libertarian author and Fox News contributor.

Michael Malice says pleading the Fifth was smart—why talk to authorities if you can get away with not doing it? He jokes about Trump's doctor dying not long after his office got raided.

Greg riffs on the idea that a "normal-brained Biden" administration wouldn’t be much different.

Julie Banderas criticizes the media for failing to ask tough questions, joking they should have asked the doctor about his bad haircut instead. She argues that pleading the Fifth over whether he lied about Biden’s health basically confirms he did.

Andrew Gruel adds that this scandal is layered and the media tries to act like heroes despite their cover-up. He jokes that the "stutter fly effect" (a play on "butterfly effect") is being used as an excuse, leading to inflation and a crashing economy.

Greg ends with a joke about how giving the media the job of investigating themselves is like giving yourself a prostate exam—you’d need to be really limber to pull it off.

ICE Arrests Notorious MS-13 Kingpin in Nebraska: Officials Slam Border Failures

BREAKING: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested Melvin Varela Perez, a notorious MS-13 kingpin, in Omaha, Nebraska. Varela Perez had been on El Salvador’s most wanted list for nearly a decade but was reportedly released into the United States after crossing the border illegally in 2023.

Authorities say this arrest highlights a major failure in the U.S. border vetting system. Despite being on international watch lists, including El Salvador’s top 100 most-wanted criminals in 2016 and 2019, Varela Perez was paroled into the country last year.

Interview Excerpt with Border Security Advisor Tom Homan

Host: “How in the world could that have happened?”

Homan:
“This is just one example of what we've seen over the last four years. The Biden administration lied when they said everyone released into the country was properly vetted—they weren’t.
This information about Perez was public and easily found, yet the administration’s main directive to Border Patrol has been ‘process quickly, release quickly.’ They wanted to avoid overcrowding to claim the border was secure. Meanwhile, they kept lying to the American people. Under President Trump, we deported countless criminals—including murderers and sex offenders—because they were properly vetted. But under Biden, that system collapsed.”

Host John:
“Perez was arrested alongside another man, Rene Escobar, who had an Interpol red notice for conspiracy to commit murder. How did they miss that?”

Homan:
“It’s incompetence. Border Patrol under this administration was told to process as quickly as possible, with limited vetting. ICE was restricted from arresting people just for being here illegally unless they had a conviction, not just a warrant. That’s how these criminals slipped through. We’re now working across the country trying to find and remove the dangerous people this administration released.”

On the Scale of the Problem

Homan warned that Perez and Escobar are only the tip of the iceberg:

“We know there are 600,000 illegal aliens with criminal records walking the streets of this country. We have 2 million known ‘got-aways’—people who crossed the border under Biden without being stopped or vetted at all. We’re working with ICE, the FBI, and the intelligence community to track them down.”

Pushback Against Criticism of ICE

Homan defended ICE agents facing public criticism:

“The media keeps lying about ICE raids in schools and churches—which isn’t happening. We’re focusing on public safety threats. These men and women are American heroes.
But from day one, we knew they’d be vilified. The opposition hates Trump more than they love their communities. But we’re not giving up. We have over a thousand teams looking every single day. We are not stopping.”

Local Homeland Security Reaction

Mark Zeno of Homeland Security Investigations praised the arrests, saying:

“These illegal aliens didn’t just sneak into our country. They brought a legacy of violence, terror, and death. They thought they could hide in America’s heartland, but were sadly mistaken. Not on our watch.”

Breaking: Disturbance Interrupts Trump Rally as Former President Escorted from Stage

[BUTLER, PA], [Jul 13, 2024] — Former President Donald Trump was abruptly rushed off stage by Secret Service agents after a disturbance broke out during his rally speech today.

Trump had been criticizing the Biden administration’s immigration record, displaying a chart he claimed showed “the lowest amount of illegal immigration ever in recorded history” under his presidency.

“That arrow is the lowest amount of illegal immigration ever in recorded history into our country. Then the worst president in the history of our country took over, and look what happened. Probably 20 million people—and that’s a little bit old, that chart is a couple of months old,” Trump said moments before the interruption.

As he continued speaking, loud noises and commotion erupted in the crowd. Broadcast footage showed agents reacting immediately, forming a protective ring around Trump.

“We are live. Former President Trump was speaking on the stage. There has been some kind of disturbance that clearly set law enforcement and Secret Service into motion,” a reporter narrated. “They immediately jumped around the former president in a protective mode.”

Spectators screamed and shouted, with some voices yelling, “Are we ready to go? Are we ready to go?” as security moved into position.

The situation appeared tense and chaotic. Trump was seen raising his arm and appeared to be holding it in discomfort as agents guided him away.

“This does not look good,” the reporter said on-air. “They are attempting to move him out, but he may have been injured. He is holding up his arm.”

No official details about the nature of the disturbance or Trump’s condition were immediately available. Secret Service and local law enforcement have not released a statement at this time.

The rally crowd was left in confusion as security personnel worked to secure the venue. Updates are expected as authorities investigate the incident.

Interview with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Zelenskyy asked whether he owes Trump an apology)

Bret welcomes President Zelenskyy back and thanks him for making time for the interview. Bret mentions that President Trump said Zelenskyy disrespected him, the Vice President, and all of America in the Oval Office. He asks Zelenskyy if he thinks he did and whether he owes Trump an apology.

Zelenskyy thanks Americans for their support and says he is grateful to President Trump and Congress for bipartisan support. He emphasizes Ukraine’s strategic partnership with the US, their need for honest and direct dialogue, and the shared goal of ending the war. He says nobody wants to end it more than Ukrainians because they are the ones fighting and dying. He stresses the importance of unity to stop Putin, saying he’s heard Trump promise to stop the war and hopes he will. He calls for early, honest dialogue to understand each other, noting that peace is more than the absence of war—it’s about lasting peace, freedom, justice, and human rights. He points out that Putin has broken cease-fire agreements many times over the years.

Bret presses him about whether he thinks he owes President Trump an apology. Zelenskyy says he respects Trump and the American people, but he’s not sure they did anything wrong. He says some discussions should happen privately, out of the media spotlight, but stresses that Ukraine’s position needs to be understood.

Bret asks about reports that Zelenskyy was told to make the meeting about a minerals deal and economic cooperation, leaving security guarantees to be negotiated step by step. Zelenskyy confirms they’re ready to sign the document as a first step toward security guarantees but says it’s not enough. He wants to understand Trump’s plan to stop Putin, noting it’s a sensitive issue for Ukrainians who have been fighting for years and want America firmly on their side.

Bret asks if the public spat in the Oval Office helped Ukrainians. Zelenskyy says it wasn’t good for either side but refuses to change Ukraine’s stance toward Russia, calling them killers. He praises the US and Europe as Ukraine’s best friends but insists on recognizing the harsh reality.

Bret asks if Trump is right to believe Zelenskyy will never sign a deal with Putin. Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants peace and diplomacy but must negotiate from a position of strength, with security guarantees in place and strong support from partners like the US and Europe.

Bret quotes Trump leaving the White House saying Zelenskyy just wants to fight. He asks if Zelenskyy wants to keep fighting or wants peace. Zelenskyy says they want peace, which is why he’s in the US discussing deals aimed at security guarantees. But he says they can’t just stop fighting while Putin remains a threat. Ukrainians remember how the war began, and no one wants another wave of occupation. If not NATO membership, he wants to build "NATO in Ukraine" with real security guarantees.

Bret asks whether Ukraine can win or hold off Russia without continued US support. Zelenskyy says it will be difficult without that support, which is why he’s there negotiating. He says they can’t lose their people or their freedom, and points out the atrocities Russians committed in Ukraine.

Bret asks about next steps. Zelenskyy says Europe is ready to help financially and militarily, and they’re working to figure out what role the US will play in security guarantees. Once that’s clear, they can move to diplomatic negotiations with Russia and Europe. He says without enough weapons, pushing Russia out would take too long, but security guarantees would enable negotiations.

Bret cites Senator Lindsey Graham, who said after the meeting that he found Zelenskyy disrespectful and suggested Zelenskyy should resign. Zelenskyy says only Ukrainians can make that decision, and he’s not going to step down just to make a peace deal. He stresses that Ukraine is grateful for US support and wants only strong, honest partnerships.

Bret notes that Democrats had the opposite reaction, accusing Trump of helping Putin. He asks Zelenskyy if the confrontation in the Oval Office was pre-planned. Zelenskyy says he doesn’t know but doesn’t think so. He says what upset him was hearing US politicians downplay Ukraine’s sacrifices, suggesting Ukraine was almost destroyed or had lost millions. He stresses that each loss matters and that Ukrainians don't want to forget what Russia did. He says this isn’t about him—it’s about preserving the friendship between Ukraine and the US.

Bret asks if sensitive conversations should have happened behind closed doors. Zelenskyy says yes, he regrets the public argument because some things are too sensitive for media. He emphasizes that honesty and understanding are critical to not losing their friendship with the US.

Asked about the next steps, Zelenskyy says the deal on minerals was prepared over weeks and should be signed soon. He stresses that they want to understand what part of security guarantees it covers and what the next steps are, because Ukrainians hate surprises during wartime.

Bret points out the minerals deal didn’t contain security guarantees. Zelenskyy says it’s part of the plan. He notes Trump suggested it would mean production and investment in areas Putin wouldn’t touch. But Zelenskyy warns not to trust Putin, explaining that Russia has previously occupied territories with American companies on them. He sees the deal as a good idea for business but insists on real guarantees.

Bret asks if Trump is too close to Putin. Zelenskyy says Trump has always said he wants to be in the middle so he can bring the sides to the table. Zelenskyy says he wants Trump to be more clearly on Ukraine’s side because Russia brought the war to Ukraine. He insists Ukrainians want to hear a strong US stance against Russia.

Bret asks about concerns over corruption and whether US money is being properly tracked. Zelenskyy says it’s very open and digitalized. He explains that most of the $100 billion was weapons delivered directly and tracked, while about $31 billion was direct financial support. He invites anyone to verify the accounting.

Finally, Bret asks if Zelenskyy’s relationship with Trump can be salvaged. Zelenskyy says yes, because the relationship is bigger than just two presidents. It’s a historic, strong connection between the Ukrainian and American people, and he’s confident they’ll maintain it.

Monday

Interview with Dr. Victor Gao on China-Iran Relations and the Israel-Iran Conflict

We now speak with Dr. Victor Gao, Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, joining us from Beijing.

Host:
Dr. Gao, always a pleasure to speak with you. We've never discussed the state of relations between China and Iran before, so let’s begin there. How would you describe the current ties between Beijing and Tehran?

Dr. Gao:
Thank you for having me. China highly respects Iran as a sovereign nation with territorial integrity. The two countries engage on equal terms. China does not recognize the extraterritoriality of any nation’s self-imposed sanctions against others, including those against China or Iran. We cooperate with Iran in all areas, including energy. If a third country has an issue with this, the problem lies with them and their unilateral policies.

Regarding the war initiated by Israel against Iran, China's position is clear: Israel’s attack on Iran's nuclear facilities is a violation of international norms and a serious threat to world peace.

Host:
Israeli officials claim Iran is close to building, or may already possess, nuclear weapons and frequently calls for Israel’s destruction. They argue their actions are acts of preemptive self-defense. What's your response?

Dr. Gao:
It is highly hypocritical for Israel, which itself possesses nuclear weapons in violation of international norms, to accuse Iran. The Middle East would be better off if Israel disarmed. If Israel keeps threatening others with nuclear weapons, it's a major issue for global peace. The international community must address this.

Host:
President Xi Jinping expressed deep concern about Israel’s military operations against Iran. How dangerous is the current situation?

Dr. Gao:
China always worries when wars break out. This surprise attack by Israel resembles Japan's Pearl Harbor assault in WWII. It came while the U.S. and Iran were still discussing nuclear negotiations. Israel’s attack, including the assassination of Iranian officials, is a grave matter. The risk of escalation—potentially even into nuclear war—is real. Iran might now feel justified to develop nuclear weapons, which would destabilize the region further. It’s time for Prime Minister Netanyahu to stop this madness.

Host:
On Tuesday, China accused President Trump of “pouring oil on the fire” in this conflict. Why?

Dr. Gao:
Evidence suggests a joint U.S.-Israel operation. Even if the U.S. claims to be uninvolved, there’s likely deep coordination. If the U.S. is not involved, they should prove it—and more importantly, use their influence to stop Israel. Letting Israel misuse the U.S. for misinformation or regime change in Iran is unacceptable. If the U.S. gets entangled, the long-term consequences could be severe.

Host:
Wouldn't a prolonged U.S. engagement in the Middle East benefit China by allowing it more strategic freedom?

Dr. Gao:
No. China benefits from global peace and stability. Any damage to peace, prosperity, or stability anywhere in the world is a loss for China and mankind. China doesn't seek conflict—it promotes peace.

Host:
President Trump hinted on social media that the U.S. knows where Iran’s Supreme Leader is hiding but won’t take him out "for now." How would China react if Iran’s leader were assassinated?

Dr. Gao:
Assassinating a head of state or military leader is never acceptable. It violates global norms and decency. It may also backfire. At a time when Israel has launched an undeclared war, such comments from the U.S. president are dangerously irresponsible.

Host:
You mentioned earlier the cordial ties between China and Iran. If Iran were to experience regime change—say, a pro-Western government replacing the current one—would that be a strategic loss for China?

Dr. Gao:
Not necessarily. China views events through a long-term lens—10, 100, even 500 years. We aren’t swayed by day-to-day developments. Israel's war is aggression. Iran is defending its sovereignty. If the U.S. joins Israel, they will be judged by history. We must prioritize ending the war and seeking peace. China supports a nuclear-free Middle East.

Host:
The U.S. and its allies have begun using a new acronym: “CRINK” – China, Russia, Iran, North Korea. What do you think of that?

Dr. Gao:
Acronyms don’t change facts. China is the world's largest trading nation with over 140 countries. It champions peace and free trade. Painting China as an enemy is false. The U.S. must not mistake China’s intentions. We have goodwill for the American people. Together, China and the U.S. can solve many problems. War between them is not an option—it must never be.

Host:
Could China or Russia intervene militarily if the U.S. joins Israel against Iran?

Dr. Gao:
A war imposed on Iran is unjust. If other countries join Israel, it could provoke a broader response. Iran is a large, powerful nation with spiritual influence across the Shia world. Escalating the war risks more devastation. It must be stopped immediately. China urges restraint from all sides. We prefer negotiations, not war.

Host:
Final thoughts on the “CRINK” label?

Dr. Gao:
It’s a distraction. China is a stabilizing force. Anyone suggesting otherwise is misrepresenting reality. China seeks peace, prosperity, and stability. The U.S. should work with us—not against us. This war, launched by Netanyahu for possibly personal reasons, must end. He won't escape justice at home or globally.

Host:
Dr. Victor Gao, thank you very much for joining us. Always a pleasure.

Dr. Gao:
Thank you for having me.

Wednesday

iPhone 17 Air to be the thinnest iPhone ever: What to expect

The iPhone 17 series is anticipated to hit the market globally in September. In 2025, the rumour has it that the company will release a new entry, iPhone 17 Air, replacing the Plus model.

While there are several speculations doing rounds online, a recent leak shows what the phone might look like.

In the leak, the tipster @ MajinBu shared a hazy image of the alleged iPhone 17 Air's back cover. The single camera lens cut out on the left side of the bar indicates this image belongs to the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.

The leaked image also shows a pill-shaped, raised camera bar at the top, which is essentially the revamped design of the iPhone 17 series. The right side appears to house an LED flash and a small microphone opening.

Based on the romours, the iPhone 17 Air is to feature a slim profile with just 5.5mm thickness. If this rumour comes out as the real dimension, the iPhone 17 Air will beat the iPhone 6 (slimmest for now).

For this ultra-slim design, Apple might cut a few edges, including removal of physical SIM tray, a single camera lens and a smaller battery.

The iPhone 17 Air is also rumoured to feature a 6.6 inch OLED display with ProMotion technology, enabling a 120 Hz refresh rate.

The iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to feature a simplified design, highlighted by a single 48-megapixel rear camera - a shift from the dual-lens systems of current models.

On the front, it may include a 24-megapixel TrueDepth camera, delivering double the resolution of its predecessors.

In terms of performance, the iPhone 17 Air is anticipated to be powered by Apple's A19 chipset.

After the image, the confusion erupted online, claiming this rear panel could also belong to iPhone SE4.

Source: indiatoday.in

Monday

iPhone 16 Series Review: Closer than Ever

Sunday

iPhone 13: The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are Apple's new mid-tier flagship iPhones.

At a Glance

Apple's newest iPhones with updated cameras, new colors, smaller notches, and faster A15 chip. Launched September 24, 2021.

Features

5.4 and 6.1-inch sizes
Similar to iPhone 12 lineup
Smaller notch
New colors
Camera improvements
A15 Chip
5G
Pre-order September 17

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini

Introduced on September 14, 2021, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are Apple's newest flagship iPhones at the more affordable end, and are being sold alongside the more expensive iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are ideal for those who don't need pro-level camera features.

The 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini is the successor to the iPhone 12 mini, while the 6.1-inch iPhone 13 is the replacement for the iPhone 12. Both of the new iPhone 13 models are nearly identical in design to the iPhone 12 models, featuring flat edges, an aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure, a glass back, and a slight increase in thickness (7.65mm). The iPhone 13 models are available in Pink, Blue, Midnight (black), Starlight (silver/gold), and (PRODUCT)RED.

Both of the new models feature Super Retina XDR Displays that are 28 percent brighter. The iPhone 13 mini has a 2340x1080 resolution with 476 pixels per inch, while the iPhone 13 has a 2532x1170

resolution with 460 pixels per inch. Both iPhones feature 1200 nits max brightness for HDR, along with True Tone to match the color temperature of the display to the ambient light, Wide Color for rich, vivid hues, and Haptic Touch for feedback.

The front-facing TrueDepth camera system has been updated and the Face ID notch is now smaller, taking up less overall space. Like last year's models, the iPhone 13 and 13 mini feature a Ceramic Shield cover glass that is infused with nano-ceramic crystals for better protection from drops. IP68 water and dust resistance is included, and the new iPhones can hold up to submersion in 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

An upgraded A15 Bionic Chip powers the new iPhones. It features a 6-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, a 4-core GPU (one less GPU core than the Pro models), and a 16-core Neural Engine.

There's a new diagonal dual-lens rear camera with 12 megapixel Wide and Ultra Wide cameras. The Wide camera features an improved f/1.6 aperture that lets in 47 percent more light and Sensor-Shift Stabilization, while the Ultra Wide camera features an improved f/2.4 aperture for improved low light performance.

Along with the standard Portrait Mode, Night Mode, Time-Lapse and other photographic capabilities, the iPhone 13 models gain Cinematic Mode, a feature that uses rack focus to seamlessly shift focus from one subject to another, artfully blurring the background and creating movie-quality depth effects. Cinematic mode shoots in Dolby HDR and the depth of field and blur can be adjusted using the iPhone's camera app. The iPhone 13 models also support 4K video recording at up to 60 fps.

Smart HDR 4 recognizes up to four people in a photo and optimizes contrast, lighting, and skin tones for each one, and Deep Fusion, a carry over from iPhone 12, activates in mid to low-light scenes to bring out texture and detail.

Photographic Styles are an upgraded kind of filter that applies selectively to an image, muting colors or boosting vividness without impacting skin tones. There are Vibrant, Rich Contrast, Warm, and Cool options, along with settings for Tone and Warmth for customization and refining.

Apple's iPhone 13 and 13 mini can be unlocked with the Face ID facial recognition system, which works with the 12-megapixel front-facing camera that supports Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, Night Mode, Cinematic Mode, Night Mode Selfies, and more.

5G connectivity is included for better quality video streaming, higher-definition FaceTime calls, and improved gaming, but the super fast mmWave speeds are again limited to major cities in the United States. Slower sub-6GHz 5G speeds are available in more rural areas in the U.S. and in other countries, and there's support for more 5G bands for 5G connectivity in more places.

The iPhone 13 and 13 mini support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, plus they include a U1 Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness.

Gigabit LTE is supported when 5G isn't available, and to preserve battery life when using 5G, a Smart Data Mode reverts to an LTE connection when 5G speeds aren't necessary. The new iPhone 13 models offer dual eSIM support and don't come with a physical SIM by default, but there's still a nano-SIM slot.

iphone 13 color lineup

Battery life has improved significantly thanks to larger batteries and the more efficient A15 chip. The iPhone 13 mini offers up to 1.5 hours more battery life than the iPhone 12 mini, and the iPhone 13 offers up to 2.5 hours more battery life than the iPhone 12.

Storage space starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB at the high end. There's a built-in three-axis gyro, an accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and barometer.

iphone 13 and iphone 13 mini

Like last year's iPhones, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini have built-in magnets and are compatible with MagSafe accessories, charging at up to 15W with Apple's MagSafe Charger. The iPhones also support fast charging, which provides 50 percent charge in 30 minutes with a 20W power adapter.

There is no power adapter or EarPods included with the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, and these accessories must be purchased separately. They do ship with a USB-C to Lightning cable for charging purposes.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing on the iPhone 13 mini starts at $699, while pricing on the iPhone 13 starts at $799, and there were no increases in prices in 2021. Pre-orders for the new iPhone 13 models started on Friday, September 17 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with the first devices arriving to customers on Friday, September 24.

Reviews:

Reviewers have been impressed with the iPhone 13's battery life improvements, but generally felt that it is only an iterative refresh over last year's iPhone 12.

The Verge's Dieter Bohn said that battery life this year is "excellent," pointing to real-world tests. On the smaller iPhone 13 mini, Engadget said that while it is improved, it is "still shorter than the average smartphone."

With regard to the camera, Bohn said that "details are sharp and accurate, colors are rich without being oversaturated, focusing is fast and reliable, portrait mode is good enough to use day to day, and low light and night sight are both exceptional." The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern says that while the camera improvements with the iPhone 13 are welcome, they alone are not sufficient enough to convince an iPhone 12 user to upgrade.

CNET said that performance and battery life are solid and that the iPhone 13 will be a reliable option for the majority of people.

Courtesy: MacRumors Staff

Monday

Winners’ Pastor Afolabi Samuel Jailed For Stealing Church’s $90,000, N4.5m

A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced a pastor of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners’ Chapel, Afolabi Samuel, to three years’ imprisonment for stealing $90,000 and N4.5m belonging to the registered trustees of the church.

Samuel, who is an accountant and the church’s treasurer, was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on two counts of conspiracy and stealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to the EFCC, the pastor and one Blessing Kolawole, an employee of the Covenant University, who is currently at large, conspired and dishonestly stole the money and converted the same to their personal uses.

The anti-graft agency said Samuel, who was employed in the accounting department of the church to maintain proper records of funds, connived with Kolawole and others to take advantage of their position as the church’s treasurer and worker at the university, respectively.

The offences contravened sections 278, 285 and 490 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Dada found Samuel guilty of the charges.

Counsel for the convict, Rotimi Ogunwuyi, who noted that his client’s action did not only embarrass him but also his family, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Ogunwuyi stated that the convict had realised his mistakes, which made him to change his plea from not guilty to guilty, and that Samuel was responsible for his children’s education and care for his aged parents.

The counsel’s allocutus made the judge grant the convict an option of fine of N1m and ordered him to refund the sum of $90,000 and N2,358,000 to the church.

Courtesy: Nairaland (link below)

https://www.nairaland.com/6404983/winners-pastor-afolabi-samuel-jailed

Sunday

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: what's different between Apple’s best phones?

Battle of the Pros, as Apple’s shiny flagships go head to head

(Image credit: Apple)

After several years of incremental updates, the sharp-edged iPhone 12 family has successfully cut through our smartphone apathy with a bold new outlook.

Right at the top of this bulging roster sits the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 12 Pro, two lean and speedy apex predators ready to pounce on their rotund rivals.

But how do they square up to one another? Which is more worthy of the ‘Pro’ title? And, most importantly, which is the better phone? Let’s take a closer look.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max price and availability

The 128GB iPhone 12 Pro hit shops on October 23, 2020, with prices starting from $999/£999/AU$1,699 for the 128GB model. If you want 256GB, you’ll need to stump up $1,099/ £1,099/AU$1,899, while a range-topping 512GB model costs $1,299/ £1,299/AU$2,219.

There was a slight delay in the iPhone 12 Pro Max hitting stops, courtesy of the Covid–19 outbreak hitting supply chains hard. It finally landed on 13 November, 2020 at a cost of $1,099/ £1,099/AU$1,849 for 128GB of storage, rising to $1,199/£1,199/AU$2,019 for 256GB, and $1,399/£1,399/AU$2,369 for 512GB.

The above prices are those stated on Apple’s own official store, but you won’t tend to find major savings from third-party retailers. Apple gear holds its value, and we’re still relatively early in the iPhone 12 range’s lifespan.

Design

Apple really reset the design clock with the iPhone 12 family. A new angular approach stands in stark contrast to the rounded, softened efforts of the past six years.

Both the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max are just 7.4mm thick, and sport dead-flat surfaces on all four edges. Only the tightly rounded corners betray any hint of curvature, much as they did with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 years prior.

If you didn’t have anything to provide a sense of scale, you’d find these two young Pros to be identical. Both are available in the same range of four finishes – Silver, Graphite, Gold, and Pacific Blue – and each comes with the same shiny fingerprint-attracting stainless steel rim.

The reason the iPhone 12 Pro Max is so big, of course, is that it has a whopping 6.7-inch screen, dwarfing the iPhone 12 Pro’s 6.1-inch alternative.

Size aside, though, these displays are remarkably similar. We’re looking at a pair of Super Retina XDR OLEDs, with roughly the same 460ppi(ish) pixel density, the same HDR10 credentials, and the exact same brightness specifications (800 nits typical, 1200 nits peak).

They’re stunning screens, capable of outputting bold yet accurate colors and deep blacks. But they also share the same glaring flaw – the lack of a fast refresh rate.

Neither screen can accelerate beyond 60Hz, just like their predecessors. With their Android rivals hitting 90Hz or even 120Hz as a matter of course, this is a bit of an oversight.

Especially when Apple set the standard for Pro-themed 120Hz display technology with ProMotion, which made its debut in the 2017 iPad Pro. It should really have made its way into these two Pro phones, too, maybe as a point of difference to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.

Besides this downer, we found both screens to be among the best out there at rendering images and video.

Camera

So far so similar, but we’ve now reached one of the key differences between the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 12 Pro – at least on paper.

While both phones have a trio of 12-megapixel sensors covering wide, ultrawide, and telephoto angles, and a LiDAR sensor to improve low-light autofocus, there are a couple of key differences.

First and foremost among these is a 47% larger image sensor for the main wide camera. This explains the reason the Max’s camera module is noticeably bigger, but it also has the simple benefit of letting in way more light than its little sibling.

As a result, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the low-light king, even in an iPhone 12 range packing a uniformly brilliant Night mode. The larger phone’s telephoto lens also goes to a longer 2.5X, compared to the iPhone 12 Pro’s 2X, although both succeed in getting closer to the wide sensor in tone and quality than before.