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Kayode Olorundare
Governor Aiyedatiwa of itOndo is expected to be declared as the winner of the 2024 gubernatorial election in Ondo. In the ruling expected on Wednesday the tribunal' judgment is being expected.
ARAB AND MUSLIM LEADERS BLAME WEST
Double standards, hypocrisy, and a lack of regional understanding. These are the accusations made by leaders of 57 Arab and Muslim nations that gathered over the weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, against the West, particularly the US. Foreign ministers asked me how it can be that while the West condemns Russia for killing people in Ukraine, it "gives a green light to Israel to do the same in Gaza"? The Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit brought together princes, presidents, and prime ministers in the opulent setting of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. A world away from the demolished landscape of Gaza, the meeting took place among enormous flower bouquets and sparkling chandeliers.
Israel and its allies took the whole blame for the conflict, including the loss of life and property. When Hamas launched a tremendous military reaction on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages, hardly one criticized the group. The secretary general of the Arab League declared that Israel had broken the law. "We warn of the disastrous repercussions of the retaliatory aggression by Israel against the Gaza Strip, which amounts to a war crime," the last statement said. "We warn of the real danger of the expansion of the war as a result of Israel's refusal to stop its aggression and of the inability of the [UN] Security Council to enforce international law to end this aggression."
Iran, Israel's principal foe, was represented at the event by President Ebrahim Raisi, who strode down the carpeted corridors wearing his black cleric's robes, his security men in dark suits and collarless shirts scowling behind him. This was an unexpected sight in and of itself. Prior to reconciling in March of this year, Saudi Arabia and Iran were bitter enemies who frequently leveled charges against one another. Iran still supports what many refer to as its "proxy militias"—Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen—so they still have conflicting goals. These movements are seen by the Saudis and their conservative Arab allies, like Egypt and Jordan, as potential destabilizers.
President Raisi declared that action, not words, was needed in regard to Gaza as he left the Tehran airport for Riyadh. However, those anticipating specific, punitive measures against the United States or the United Kingdom were let down. Opposition to the Abraham Accords was met with resistance by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, two countries that had just lately established full diplomatic, commercial, and security ties with Israel. Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, attended the meeting as well. Because of the harsh measures used by his dictatorship during the Syrian civil war, Assad was considered a pariah in the Arab world until very recently. He informed the summit that without specific actions, nothing would be accomplished; nonetheless, ideas of an oil embargo or the removal of US bases from Arab nations were tactfully rejected.
The tectonic plates of regional politics were moving away from Iran and its terrorist partners' interests until that deadly morning in southern Israel. Israel already had full diplomatic relations with six Arab countries, and Saudi Arabia was very certainly going to follow. A few days prior to the Hamas raid, the Israeli minister of tourism paid a visit to Riyadh. Israel has been drawing a lot of Israeli visitors to Dubai, and Arab interest in Israel's technological, biotech, and surveillance know-how is strong.
WHY GAS WILL COST MORE ?
The shortage of vessels resulting from the limitations at the Panama Canal, according to a recent statement from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, is one of the factors driving up the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly referred to as cooking gas. The corporation added that the foreign exchange crisis and oil prices are further issues. NLNG claims that the lack of vessels as a result of the Panama Canal crisis has raised transportation prices, which are then passed along to final consumers.
There are now signs that things will worsen, which would make Nigerians' soaring LPG bills even more excruciating. Remember that the NLNG can only provide 40% of Nigeria's needs, meaning that 60% of the country still depends on LPG imports. Perspectives on Panama Canal Limitations An unusual drought that may be made worse by El Nino and climate change is plaguing the Panama Canal. Record low water levels in Gatun Lake, which is critical to the canal, are causing increasingly stringent limitations on ship transits. This is a summary of the circumstances:
Drought Made Worse by Climate Change and El Nino Levels below 80 feet are recorded in the canal's primary water source, Gatun Lake. The drought is made worse by El Nino's warming impacts on the Pacific Ocean. In 2023, the world's sea surface temperatures reached a record high, which further exacerbated the issue. Canal Authority's Reaction: Because of the lack of water, ship passage restrictions have been strengthened.
Beginning on November 1, the average daily transit count decreased from 32 to 31 ships, with additional declines anticipated in the upcoming months. Effect on Shipping and Freight Prices: Experts caution against the possibility of lengthy lines driving up freight prices. Due to restricted canal access, ship operators may choose to charge more or take longer routes. Limitation Schedule: The number of transits per day will now progressively decline from around 38 to 40 to 31 from November 1, 25 from November 3, 24 from November 7, 22 from December 1, 20 from January 1, 2024, and 18 from February 1, 2024, in the first place.
Extra Water-Saving Techniques The Panama Canal uses a number of strategies, such as simultaneous crossings, water reuse, and timetable optimization, to deal with the protracted drought and guarantee smooth canal operations. Kayode Oluwadare, a natural gas expert, told Nairametrics that the Panama Canal has been a significant man-made maritime route for dry and wet cargo boats since its establishment.
Connecting the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, the 80-kilometer waterway has been a major facilitator of international trade, particularly between the United States and Asian nations, since its completion in 1914. He added that the canal has served as a crucial path for the transportation of big gas and oil boats like VLGC and VLCC. The drought in recent years has caused a considerable decline in the water level at the Panama Canal.
lengthy lines of vessels waiting to utilize the canal and abnormally lengthy wait times are the result of this, which has badly impacted the smooth transit of vessels carrying crude oil, LPG, LNG, and other commodities. Over 60% of all seaborne trade worldwide is impacted by the activity surrounding the waterway, which is seriously disrupting regular shipping timetables.
OBI WANTS OSIMHEN IN CHELSEA
Victor Osimhen of Napoli has being courted by John Obi Mikel to join Chelsea, and the player has been informed that Mikel will "broker that deal" with his previous team. During his more than ten-year tenure at Stamford Bridge, Mikel was a standout player for Chelsea, making 372 games and winning four Premier League championships in addition to the Champions League.
Osimhen was a teenage fan of the great Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and is expected to quit Napoli in the summer due to the team's dismal performance and a deterioration in his connection with the Scudetto winners.
The 24-year-old joined Mikel on his Obi One podcast, and over a portion of the episode, Mikel attempted to persuade Osimhen that Chelsea need to be his next stop.
Interestingly, despite already having Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku in their lineup, Chelsea is anticipated to look for a new center striker in the summer. Mikel, displaying astute recruitment strategies, informed Osimhen that he was "100% coming to Chelsea," even though a number of Premier League and European teams were probably interested in signing him.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE WAR WITH ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS
According to media sources, top Hamas figures acknowledged the organization's intention to wage an ongoing war in Israel to support the Palestinian cause, but they had no interest in controlling the Gaza Strip or enhancing the lives of its two million citizens, the bulk of whom are impoverished.
Member of Hamas' senior leadership body Khalil al-Hayya praised the terror group's unexpected multi-pronged attack on Israeli civilians on October 7 in interviews with the New York Times, which led Israel to retaliate militarily. He told the Qatari publication, "We managed to bring the Palestinian issue back to the table, and as a result, there is no peace in the region anymore."
According to the study, Hamas' senior leadership also showed little interest in ruling Gaza or offering its citizens basic amenities. "I hope that the Arab world will stand with us and that the state of war with Israel will become permanent on all the borders," Taher El-Nounou, a communications consultant for Hamas, stated. Its objective, he continued, is "not to run Gaza and to bring it water and electricity and such."
"Hamas, the Qassam, and the resistance woke the world up from its deep sleep and showed that this issue must remain on the table," he added. "We didn't fight this war because we needed manpower or fuel. It had no intention of making things better in Gaza. The objective of this fight is to totally overturn the circumstances.
HAMAS LEADER WORTH $4 BILLION
According to media sources, top Hamas figures acknowledged the organization's intention to wage an ongoing war in Israel in order to support the Palestinian cause, but they had no interest in controlling the Gaza Strip or enhancing the lives of its two million citizens, the bulk of whom are impoverished. Member of Hamas' senior leadership body Khalil al-Hayya praised the terror group's unexpected multi-pronged attack on Israeli civilians on October 7 in interviews with the New York Times, which led Israel to retaliate militarily. He told the Qatari publication, "We managed to bring the Palestinian issue back to the table, and as a result, there is no peace in the region anymore."
The article claims that the senior officials of Hamas likewise conveyed little interest in ruling Gaza or providing basic services to its citizens. Taher El-Nounou, a media advisor for Hamas, stated, "I hope that the state of war with Israel will become permanent on all the borders and that the Arab world will stand with us." Furthermore, he stated that its objective is "not to run Gaza and to bring it water, electricity, and such."
"Hamas, the Qassam and the resistance woke the world up from its deep sleep and showed that this issue must remain on the table," he stated. "We did not fight this battle in order to obtain manpower or gasoline. It made no attempt to make things better in Gaza. The goal of this fight is to totally topple Israel.
Following the Hamas offensive one month ago, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of airstrikes that killed hundreds in Gaza. Israeli officials have declined to talk about a ceasefire until Hamas's hostages are freed. The top Hamas officials appear to be leading luxurious lives while the people of Gaza dwell in poverty.
According to Israeli sources, Hamas leaders are raking in billions of dollars in terror funds for themselves. According to Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at The Foundation For Defense of Democracies, "it's simply really the statistics that are startling, looking at the sheer amount of money that some of these terror heads have been able to put away," Fox News " Political Bureau Chief Mousa Abu Marzouk is worth $3 billion, and Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashaal are reported to be worth $4 billion apiece. It is believed that the gang itself makes over $1 billion year via a global network encompassing cryptocurrencies, real estate, lawful business, and tax and extortion.
SOUTHGATE OVERLOOKS RAHEEM STERLING FOR ENGLAND
Cunningham Squad could perhaps alter. Due to a few knocks, Gareth Southgate has acknowledged that his most recent England team may still need to be adjusted. Jude Bellingham, Callum Wilson, and Bukayo Saka are all questionable for this weekend's action, and the England boss is ready for any last-minute alterations or setbacks.
He was speaking at his pre-match news conference for England's upcoming matches against North Macedonia and Malta. "We might lose one of those today following a scan," he stated. We truly don't know; we may lose one tomorrow. I couldn't guarantee that every member of that team would be present on Sunday night because of how difficult it is to assemble a squad. The greatest doubt is certainly Callum Wilson. "But equally, I am pretty confident that the others can get through and all are keen to be involved."
England manager Gareth Southgate did not select Cunningham Jack More about Sterling from Southgate Raheem Sterling for the sixth straight England team. He was an important member of the Three Lions prior to the World Cup, but he hasn't featured since Qatar. He was also questioned over Sterling's absence during his news conference. He stated: "The door is always open, not only for Raheem but for other players not in this squad."We don't need to be aware of his personality or qualities.
"He is a crucial part of our journey over the last few years."However, the squad is performing excellently. Who should we leave out to include him after our remarkable victory over Italy last time around? "It's as simple as that."Neither in June nor in March was he available. June's two performances were outstanding.
PALESTINIANS FLEEING NORTHERN GAZA ON FOOT
The United Nations said on Wednesday that thousands more Palestinians have left northern Gaza on foot as a result of increasing despair over the diminishing food and water supplies, increased bombardment, and the impending arrival of Israeli troops and tanks.
Over 70% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have already fled their homes, but as the conflict that Hamas' Oct. 7 attack inside Israel began to enter its second month has seen an increase in the number of Palestinians heading south. There is no sign of an end to the war, and within the beleaguered Palestinian enclave, the humanitarian situation is getting worse.
Due to the suffering of the people, Israel is coming under increasing international pressure. On Wednesday, the Group of Seven industrialized nations demanded that food, gasoline, water, and medication be delivered "unimpeded" and that there be "humanitarian pauses" in the battle. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has so far rejected such requests while maintaining the potential of shorter pauses in hostilities.
It is unclear how Israel can keep control over the coastal enclave forever, but it has stated that its campaign to overthrow Hamas and destroy its military capabilities would be protracted and arduous. In Israel, where attention has been focused on the whereabouts of the more than 240 hostages held by Hamas and other militant organizations, support for the war is still high.
Around 15,000 Palestinians evacuated northern Gaza on Tuesday, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports, which is three times as many as left on Monday. They are utilizing the major north-south roadway in Gaza during a four-hour timeframe that Israel has declared every day.
Children, the elderly, and those with disabilities are among those escaping; the majority carried only a few essentials with them, according to the U.N. agency. While some claim they had to pass Israeli checkpoints and witnessed arrests, others waved white flags and raised their palms as they passed Israeli tanks.
Since October 21, hundreds of vehicles delivering relief have been permitted to cross into Gaza from Egypt. However, relief workers claim that the help falls well short of the growing requirements.
Gaza City's Shati refugee camp, which houses Palestinian families who fled or were pushed out of what is now Israel during the 1948 conflict surrounding its founding, was the scene of thunderous explosions that residents reported hearing throughout the night and into Wednesday.
BASKETBALL STAR CLAIMS NIGERIAN NATIONALITY
Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo, a professional basketball player from Greece and Nigeria, is making a comeback on social media.
Greece is the birthplace of the NBA great, 28, who plays for their national basketball team.
Antetokounmpo, born to Nigerian parents, has never strayed from his heritage. It was revealed lately in the 48-minute podcast that he is Nigerian. Nonetheless, Antetokounmpo makes a strong claim for his Nigerian heritage in the video.
"My country is Nigeria," he declared. I didn't grow up there. Although I was raised in Greece, I am aware that there are children all over the world. It isn't easy to uphold and preserve that culture in their home, you know.
Nigerian superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo discusses his admiration for Hakeem Olajuwon and his intention to practice with the legendary player after visiting Lagos. Even though Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the best players in the NBA for a long time, it is common knowledge that he is always looking to improve.
The Greek-born professional basketball player, who is of Nigerian origin, plans to improve and work with one of the all-time greats. Antetokounmpo discussed his plans to visit Houston in the months leading up to the 2023–24 NBA season to practice with former American professional basketball player of Nigerian heritage, Hakeem Olajuwon, on the 48 Minutes podcast.
Because both Antetokounmpo and Olajuwon are of Nigerian heritage and wear the number 34 jersey, they were compared throughout the interview. While Olajuwon was born in Lagos but later relocated overseas, Antetokounmpo was born in Greece to Nigerian parents.
While Olajuwon, a Lagos native, chose to play for the American national team, Antetokoumpo represents the Greek national team despite their Nigerian heritage. Giannis said he admired Olajuwon on a recent trip to Nigeria with his mother. Antetokounmpo, Olajuwon, and Michael Jordan are the only three players in NBA history to have won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year titles in the same season.
WHAT IS THE RAFAH CROSSING AND WHY IS IT GAZA'S LIFELINE?
Since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza conflict, the first Gazan people have crossed the Rafah crossing into Egypt. On Wednesday, almost 100 foreign passport holders crossed the border, and several seriously injured Palestinians were transported in ambulances. In all, some hundred foreign and dual nationalities are slated to depart, along with about 80 injured, as part of an agreement reportedly mediated by Qatar.
Since the crisis started more than three weeks ago, this is the first evacuation of this kind. How long the border will remain open is unknown. It has been available to let supplies enter Gaza for more than ten days already. Over 200 vehicles have now passed through.
LADY SHARE'S HER STRANGE MOMENT IN AN EXCITING NIGHT
When Chelsea Hern, now 23 years old, woke up the next morning to discover a stranger in her bed, her happy celebration of receiving a new job offer took a terrible turn. Even though she is currently in a relationship, Chelsea still flinches whenever someone touches her suddenly from behind because of the terrifying encounter that damaged her trust. Even though she is in a relationship now, Chelsea still flinches when someone abruptly touches her from behind. A courageous young woman has given up her right to remain anonymous in order to talk about the horrific experience she had at a party that left her emotionally damaged for years to come.
In the summer of 2021, at the age of 21, Chelsea Hern, a Wigan native, received an invitation to return to a friend's house when she was out enjoying a new job offer. After the sizable gathering at the house, it was determined that she would spend the night in a spare room. The "really good" evening was full of "drinking and partying." But when she went to bed at approximately three in the morning and woke up to see someone else in the same bed caressing her neck and shoulders, things turned for the worse. Chelsea dismissed him with a shrug and moved toward the wall, figuring he would eventually stop. However, Frank Manase, the male, approached her and reached up to touch her breasts.
Then, he tried to slide his hands down Chelsea's pants, even though she repeatedly asked him to stop. In an attempt to stop him, Chelsea turned onto her stomach, thinking that he would "get the message and go away." But she yelled for her companion and fled the bedroom as soon as she realized it wasn't going to happen. "I had no idea what to do."
"Normally I'm quite talkative and quick to respond, but in that instant, I was frozen." It was make-or-break time. You can never predict your own reaction. I ended up spending quite some time freezing. I had no idea what to do. I yelled at my buddy after hearing her in the adjacent bedroom. I darted from the bedroom and hurried downstairs as soon as I heard back. After telling her what had happened, she followed me. "To be honest, I was numb," she continued. I wasn't unhappy at first; I wasn't sobbing or acting hysterically about it. I believe it was resentment for a few weeks. Then I began to get annoyed by it.
I was afraid to go to sleep because I was having nightmares. Even though she is currently in a relationship, Chelsea still flinches whenever someone touches her suddenly from behind because of the terrifying encounter that damaged her trust. "I don't feel like I'm as naïve," she declared. I won't go out and get as wasted as I used to, but it shouldn't have occurred. I dislike being in the company of strangers. Chelsea claims that although she had chatted with Manase all evening, she had never met him before the gathering. She says he apologized to her via phone following the attack. "After, he made an attempt to come up to me and apologize," Chelsea continued. "Just stay away from me, I said. He was messaging me and phoning me.
He was unaware that what he had done was improper. Following the incident on May 16, Manase was taken into custody, prosecuted, and subsequently given a sentence at Liverpool Crown Court. He was sentenced to 11 months in jail, with a 12-month suspension period, 150 hours of unpaid labor, and 45 days of rehabilitation. Chelsea went on, "I was afraid to be alone after the assault." The effect this has had on me is difficult for me to describe, but it will never truly go away. The dreadful recollections and anxieties of what transpired are brought back by having to speak with the police about the occurrence for the first time and again afterward. I was so helpless and ashamed to talk about what had occurred.
I believed that in order to give myself the best chance of happiness, I had to start my life again. Often, I would wake up in a panic, afraid that someone else was in the room with me. I still have extreme anxiety when I am reminded of what transpired, whether it be through conversations or job applications. Chelsea claims that after the attack, she hated the flesh she was in, felt "sick" every time she thought about the episode, and would weep herself to sleep at the "thought of another man touching" her body without permission. Says she:
It caused me to detest the skin I was wearing. It's difficult to put into words, but it took me a long time to stop feeling helpless and to feel like my own body. I will always feel awful when I consider what he did. I'm no longer embarrassed or ashamed of what transpired. I can't erase the fact that this wasn't my fault, but at least I can try to prevent it from happening to anybody else. I will never be at peace with what happened to me and it will always be a part of me, but I am prepared to speak out about it and use my voice to attempt to remove the stigma that many others, including myself, feel about it.