Putin To Run Again For President In March 2024

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Putin To Run Again For President In March 2024

  Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to run in presidential elections next March, news agencies reported Friday, allowing the Kremlin leader to extend.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to run in presidential elections next March, news agencies reported Friday, allowing the Kremlin leader to extend his decades-long grip on power.

Putin told Lieutenant Colonel Artyom Zhoga, a Russian military officer, about his decision to participate in the upcoming vote following an awards ceremony for army personnel at the Kremlin, state-run news agencies reported.

“We are very happy that the president heard our request that he run. All of Russia supports him,” Zhoga was cited as saying by state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

Putin, however, has yet to make a formal announcement that he will compete in the vote scheduled to take place between March 15-17 next year.

“Our President has never avoided and does not avoid responsible decisions,” said Valentina Matvienko, the head of Russia’s upper house of parliament.

“And today he has once again confirmed this. He confirmed that at the moment of a historic choice and a historic challenge,” she added.

Putin will not face any major challengers and will likely seek as big a mandate as possible to conceal domestic discord over the Ukraine conflict, analysts say.

Navy Arrests 17 Suspects, Intercepts Vessel With Stolen Crude In Ondo

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Navy Arrests 17 Suspects, Intercepts Vessel With Stolen Crude In Ondo

Also intercepted by the naval authorities was a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 Lagos.

The Nigerian Navy has arrested 17 people said to be engaged in the illegal siphoning of crude oil in Ondo State.

Navy spokesperson, Commodore Adedotun Olukayode Ayo-Vaughan, disclosed this in a statement, saying the suspects were nabbed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda in the early hours of Thursday.

 

Also intercepted by the naval authorities was a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 Lagos.

“The vessel had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest and was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State,” he stated.

“The apprehension of the vessel was based on credible intelligence received by the Base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location which informed the swift deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to enforce the arrest of the vessel and her crew.

Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, Ayo-Vaughan said it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality.

Noting that the vessel’s storage capacity is about 15,000 metric tonnes and as at the time of arrest, the naval spokesman said it had loaded about 500 Metric tonnes of crude oil.

He noted that the arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS shows the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

“All criminals and their cohorts are hereby warned that the Nigerian Navy will use all legitimate means at its disposal to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment.

“While individuals carrying out legitimate business are advised to go about their legitimate activities, the Nigerian Navy solicits the cooperation of patriotic and well-meaning members of the public to promptly report any form of criminalities, especially in the coastal communities for necessary action,” Ayo-Vaughan said.

See the full statement below:

1. CRUDE OIL THEFT: NIGERIAN NAVY ARRESTS MOTOR TANKER  VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS FOR CRUDE OIL THEFT

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, (FOB) IGBOKODA in Ondo on Wednesday 6 December 2023 at about 10:00pm detected and arrested in the early hours of Thursday 7 December 2023 at about 3.00am, a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS. The vessel had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The apprehension of the vessel was based on credible intelligence received by the Base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location which informed the swift deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to enforce the arrest of the vessel and her crew.

 

2. Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, the 2 x boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality. Accordingly, on arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the well head. Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality. The vessel’s storage capacity is about 15,000 metric tonnes and as at the time of arrest she had loaded about 500 Metric tonnes of crude oil.

 

3.The arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS attests to the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain. All criminals and their cohorts are hereby warned that the Nigerian Navy will use all legitimate means at its disposal to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment. While individuals carrying out legitimate business are advised to go about their legitimate activities, the Navy solicits the cooperation of patriotic and well – meaning members of the public to promptly report any form of criminalities especially in the coastal communities to the Nigerian Navy for necessary action.

 

4. Furthermore, it is believed that Tantita Security Service (TSS) is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS. Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous. Nonetheless,  the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment for national economic development and prosperity.

 

You are please kindly requested to disseminate this information.

 

 

Signed

AO AYO-VAUGHAN Commodore

Director of Information

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe defends Kieran Trippier after double blunder in Everton loss

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe defends Kieran Trippier after double blunder in Everton loss

England full-back at fault for two goals as Magpies are beaten 3-0 at Goodison Park

Eddie Howe has defended Kieran Trippier after mistakes by the full-back led to two goals in Newcastle United's 3-0 defeat at Everton on Thursday night.

The England defender has been in superb form playing virtually every minute of Newcastle's Premier League and Champions League campaign this season but had a night to forget at Goodison Park.

With the score goalless heading into the final 10 minutes, a poor touch from Trippier gifted possession to Dwight McNeil who then charged forward before firing home in style.

The 33-year-old again lost possession minutes later which ended with Jack Harrison's cross finding Abdoulaye Doucoure who side-footed home.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe defends Kieran Trippier after double blunder in Everton loss

England full-back at fault for two goals as Magpies are beaten 3-0 at Goodison Park

Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier after the defeat against Everton. 

Eddie Howe has defended Kieran Trippier after mistakes by the full-back led to two goals in Newcastle United's 3-0 defeat at Everton on Thursday night.

The England defender has been in superb form playing virtually every minute of Newcastle's Premier League and Champions League campaign this season but had a night to forget at Goodison Park.

With the score goalless heading into the final 10 minutes, a poor touch from Trippier gifted possession to Dwight McNeil who then charged forward before firing home in style.

The 33-year-old again lost possession minutes later which ended with Jack Harrison's cross finding Abdoulaye Doucoure who side-footed home.

The victory dragged Everton – who were dropped into the relegation zone after being deducted 10 points for breaking Premier League financial rules – out of the bottom three.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have now been beaten five times this season, the same number as number of games they lost in the entire 2022-23 campaign.

It also means they have still only won one game away from home this season and sit seventh in the table, with 21 out of their 26 points having been gained at St James' Park.

Newcastle's next game is also away, this time at fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Manager Eddie Howe refused to blame Trippier after their latest defeat, insisting the whole team was off the pace.

“Kieran has been absolutely magnificent since he signed, the catalyst for a lot that happened,” said Howe, whose team are seventh in the table, four points behind Manchester City in fourth. “Collectively we were off our best.

“The game was there for us to win in the second half after an even first half. I don’t think we played particularly well.

“I thought we had them penned in and then conceded the first goal and that changed the momentum. It was a frustrating evening, a missed opportunity.

“It’s a difficult one for us to understand. Last year our away form was very good, we were free-scoring. This year haven’t got going on the road, apart from the Sheffield United game [an 8-0 victory].”

“I am in a difficult position to agree because if I do what is there to stop that happening again and again?”

“There are reasons behind every performance. We have struggled to change our plans and have the attacking options we want. You can potentially do it for a short period of time but the longer it goes the harder it gets.”

As for Everton, it was a memorable night at Goodison Park as fans enjoyed a vital three points against a side containing former winger Anthony Gordon, who was jeered relentlessly all evening.

Manager Sean Dyche was delighted with the team spirit of his side. “The performance level at home has been pleasing all season but you have got win games and you have got to score goals,” he said.

“We did that well. I thought it was another good performance, particularly first half against a good outfit.

“I have spoken about the mentality and I think you could sense there is a connected group. Everyone knew what they were doing, they just said, ‘Let’s get on it, let’s go out and play’.

“That’s when you know you are on to something. It doesn’t guarantee anything but I think we’re on to something.”

Ogun Govt Places N50m Bounty On Finance Director’s Killers

Ogun Govt Places N50m Bounty On Finance Director’s Killers

51-year-old Oyekanmi was killed last Wednesday, November 29 by gunmen at the Kuto Flyover Bridge in Abeokuta.

Ogun State Government has announced a N50m reward for anybody who could provide information leading to the arrest of the killers of Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, the former Director of Finance and Administration attached to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

51-year-old Oyekanmi was killed last Wednesday, November 29 by gunmen at the Kuto Flyover Bridge in Abeokuta.

The bounty was announced in a statement on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi in Abeokuta, the state capital.

It read, “Information provided would be treated with utmost confidentiality. Such information can be sent to the under-listed telephone numbers: 08037441955, 08033074371, 08081775020, 08034062773, 08032136765.”

Oyekanmi was accosted by the gun-wielding hoodlums, alongside two others, while returning to the Governor’s Office with money said to have been withdrawn from two major commercial banks within the Abeokuta metropolis.

E.SUN Makes a Voice for Taiwanese Banking Industry in COP28

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E.SUN Makes a Voice for Taiwanese Banking Industry in COP28

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) is currently taking place in Dubai, UAE. The conference focuses on issues such as the global stocktake (GST), mechanism for loss and damage, whether countries are proposing more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the gradual elimination of fossil fuels. Chairman of E.SUN Financial Holding, Joseph Huang leads E.SUN Sustainability Team to COP28 to gain first-hand insights into the latest international trends and solutions for climate change.

Political leaders, organizations, and advocacy groups gather in the World Climate Summit (WCS). Environmental ministers of many countries attend to express concerns about the negative impacts of climate change on the economy. Chairman Huang is once again invited to deliver a keynote speech on behalf of Taiwan's financial industry with the topic "How Sustainability is Reshaping Taiwan's Financial Market". He shares his view on how the financial industry plays a critical role in the sustainable transformation. The speech receives enthusiastic responses from attendees worldwide.

Huang emphasizes that climate change is a transnational and cross-industry issue. Companies need to do a little more, and go beyond traditional business boundaries. For example, E.SUN Bank has implemented various zero-carbon financial services, from encouraging customers to engage in green consumption, providing green building home loans, to issuing carbon neutral credit cards and installing zero-carbon ATMs. In the future, it will also collect carbon emission information of public transportation to encourage consumers to use public transportation. In corporate banking services, the bank has held ESG Sustainability Initiative three years in-a-row, conducted one-on-one sustainability consultations with over 150 companies, and established a "Sustainable Transformation Platform" in collaboration with 11 cross-industry consultants to provide practical solutions for corporate net-zero transformation. Moreover, E.SUN serves as the rotating chair of the " Coalition of First-movers for Sustainable Finance" in 2024, promoting collaboration rather than competition and driving the overall net-zero transformation progress of Taiwan's financial industry.

E.SUN believes that through international, governmental, industrial, and market collective efforts, everyone can contribute climate-friendly actions in their respective fields, which can be merged into a positive force that changes the environment and accelerates the net-zero transition, assisting Taiwan and the world in moving towards the beautiful vision of net-zero by 2050.

Everton Clip High-Flying Newcastle’s Wings, Move Out Of Relegation

Everton Clip High-Flying Newcastle’s Wings, Move Out Of Relegation

Victory lifts Everton one point clear of the bottom three and they would be in the top half but for the points penalty.

Everton climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone despite a 10-point deduction as goals from Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Beto earned a 3-0 win over Newcastle on Thursday.

The Toffees have been galvanised by the perceived injustice at receiving the toughest sporting sanction dished out in Premier League history for breaches of financial rules.

Newcastle were made to pay for two uncharacteristic errors by England international Kieran Trippier as fatigue hit the injury ravaged Magpies in the closing stages.

McNeil pounced to smash into the top corner 11 minutes from time before Doucoure secured a fifth win in seven games for Everton.

Substitute Beto rounded off victory with his first Premier League goal in stoppage time.

Victory lifts Everton one point clear of the bottom three and they would be in the top half but for the points penalty.

Newcastle remain seventh, four points off the top four.

Everton fans’ fury at the 10-point deduction may have eased from their last home game against Manchester United where they staged mass protests inside and outside the stadium.

However, there was another demonstration in the 10th minute as they held up placards with the Premier League logo alongside the message: “Protecting the few, not the many.”

An upturn in fortunes for Sean Dyche’s men would have been even better but for a consistent failure to make the most of their chances at Goodison.

Bournemouth were the only side Everton had beaten at home in the Premier League since March.

Dyche was left to rue his side’s profligacy in front of a goal as a positive first-half performance went without reward.

McNeil scored the winner in a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but dragged his first big opportunity of the night wide from the edge of the area.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin then somehow blazed over with the goal gaping from close range after Newcastle failed to clear a free-kick into the box.

The Magpies have swept aside Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United at home this season.

But Eddie Howe’s men have won just once away from home all season in the Premier League.

Alexander Isak headed the best of Newcastle’s openings wide in the first half when unmarked at the back post.

Anthony Gordon endured a frosty reception on his return to Goodison, but even the in-form winger was wasteful in front of goal.

Gordon fired straight at Jordan Pickford after robbing James Tarkowski on the edge of the box and then failed to keep his composure when blazing well off target from Isak’s through ball.

Newcastle’s injury woes has meant Trippier has played virtually every minute of their Premier League and Champions League campaign so far.

Tiredness was certainly a factor as he coughed up possession to allow McNeil to surge forward and smash a perfect strike past stand-in goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Moments later, Trippier was again at fault as this time he gifted Jack Harrison possession.

McNeil failed to make contact with Harrison’s cross, but the ball fell kindly to Doucoure to slot home.

Beto rounded off a perfect night for Everton late on as he showed impressive strength and produced a cool finish through Dubravka’s legs for his first goal at Goodison.

Ms. Marvel's Iman Vellani Is Hoping for a Crossover Team-Up With Tom Holland's Spider-Man

Ms. Marvel's Iman Vellani Is Hoping for a Crossover Team-Up With Tom Holland's Spider-Man

Iman Vellani says she would love to have Ms. Marvel team up with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in an MCU crossover movie.

Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani would have Kamala Khan fighting alongside Miles Morales, Nova, and Tom Holland's Spider-Man if she was allowed to expand her ideal MCU crossover team-ups.

Iman Vellani almost teased the full lineup of Young Avengers short of dropping new names in an interview with The Direct. "I don't know what the rules are for scenes that were cut, like, am I still supposed to keep those secrets?" she expressed. "I'll say, whatever names you can guess are probably right. Like, there's not that many young people in the MCU right now." She revealed she was also open to fantasy team-ups, though, and would like to join forces with superheroes outside the obvious picks if she had her way. Since anything can happen in the Multiverse, a crossover movie with Tom Holland's Spider-Man doesn't seem so far-fetched.

"I would love to see a team-up [with Tom Holland's Spider-Man]," she exclaimed at the possibility of Kamala Khan consulting Peter Parker for advice. "Their team-ups in the comics are honestly one of my favorites. So, that would be cool." Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man first crossed paths in Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #7 during a team effort to stop a rogue Kree super soldier's rampage across Midtown. 

They also joined forces in other pivotal Marvel Comics events, including 2015's All-New, All-Different Avengers, 2016's Worlds Collide, 2019's Marvel Team-up, and 2022's Dark Web series.

Will Ms. Marvel Form the Young Avengers in the MCU?

The Marvels star is evidently excited about the future of her character in the MCU, with Kamala Khan pulling off a Nick Fury by recruiting members for the Young Avengers during the film’s end credits. Vellani hinted that it would be easy enough to guess which superheroes would join the team, given the handful of hopefuls already introduced in the MCU. But she also expressed a desire to realize some of her character's other story arcs as portrayed in the comics. This was somewhat fulfilled through a deep-cut reference in The Marvels, in a scene where Kamala Khan suggested that Monica Rambeau consider adopting Nova as a codename.

Vellani said she wants her character to team up with both of Nova's iterations in the comics, Richard Rider and Sam Alexander, but admitted the latter is her favorite. She would also love to cross paths with Miles Morales, saying "I love Miles. I'm a big fan of The Champions comics, especially the more recent runs. Like Kamala, Miles, and Sam, their chemistry is so sweet. And I want her to have like more of that young energy in her life. So yeah, those two would probably be my top choice. I think." With fan support for the prospect of Miles Morales joining the MCU, there's at least a glimmer of hope Vellani's wish will be granted.

Ms. Marvel Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+. The Marvels is now playing in theaters.

Source: The Direct