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Zelensky is in US to present ‘victory plan’ to Biden, Harris and Trump

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United States to present his plan to end the war with Russia to Joe BidenKamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Zelensky will present his proposals – which he calls a ‘victory plan’ – to the trio this week and press the case for Ukraine to use long-range missiles on targets inside Russia.

Kyiv for weeks has urged West to allow it to use the weapons to strike deeper into Russia, but the Biden administration is still not convinced that it should give Ukraine that authority.

US officials say they are seeking more detailed information about how Kyiv would use the weapons and how they fit into the broader strategy for the war.

Zelensky is expected to try to convince Biden to change his mind when they meet at the White House on Thursday.

The Ukrainian President, who landed in the US on Sunday, began his American tour by visiting a factory in Pennsylvania that produces badly needed 155mm artillery shells. He will next travel to New York and Washington Washington.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) being welcomed by Maj. Gen. John T. Reim Jr. during a visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania on Sunday

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pictured speaking during his visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania on September 22, 2024

 

‘I began my visit to the United States by expressing my gratitude to all the employees at the plant,’ Zelensky said Sunday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The post included photos of him shaking hands with workers at the plant, where he said production had been ramped up.

‘It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail,’ he wrote.

The visit comes after a summer of intense fighting – with Moscow advancing fast in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv holding on to swathes of Russia’s Kursk region.

Zelensky said the coming weeks would decide how more than 30 months of fighting that has killed thousands would end.

‘It is now being determined what the legacy of the current generation of states leaders will be. Those in the highest offices,’ he said.

In comments before his trip, Zelensky said the United States and UK have not given Ukraine permission to use the long-range weapons as they fear escalation, but hinted he had not given up hope.

‘We have had some decisions in the history of our relationship with Biden — very interesting and difficult dialogues,’ Zelensky said earlier this week, adding: ‘He later changed his point of view.’

Moscow has said it considers such a go-ahead as NATO countries being ‘at war’ with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C-L) speaking to the US delegation while at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania on September 22, 2024

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) receives a tour of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant by Rich Hansen, (L) the Commander’s Representative at Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, September 22, 2024

 

Zelensky (C) is pictured receiving a tour of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant by Hansen (L) on Sunday, September 22, 2024

 

Hansen (left) speaks to Zelensky (right) during their tour of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant on Sunday

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) poses for a photo with Scranton Army Ammunition Plant employees during his tour of the plant on Sunday

 

A close adviser to Biden said this month that the US leader would use his remaining time in office to ‘put Ukraine in the best possible position to prevail.’

No details on Ukraine’s plan have been made public.

Zelensky said Biden would be the first foreign leader to see the plan ‘in full’ – saying it will then also be presented to ‘all leaders of our partner countries.’

Zelensky plans to present the proposals to the US Congress, Harris and Trump.

The White House has said he will meet with Democratic Vice President Harris separately from Biden, and Zelensky has said he expects to meet with Republican Trump on Thursday or Friday.

Harris has indicated she would continue Biden’s policies on Ukraine, while Trump has been hugely critical of Washington’s massive aid packages for Kyiv.

Zelensky said earlier this week that the plan envisages that ‘war will not return to us again in an even bigger wave’ in years to come.

He has said Kyiv plans to hold meetings throughout autumn and that the ‘entire plan’ will be ready by ‘early November.’

The proposals, he told the media Friday, envisage ‘quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners.’

One of those steps, he said, is ‘related to strengthening Ukraine’s weapons capabilities’ while another demands a ‘clear place for Ukraine in the world’s security architecture’.

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine early Monday, September 23, 2024

 

A view of the damage after a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine early Monday morning

 

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of the overnight shelling of a residential building in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on September 23, 2024

 

Zelensky has also said he plans to invite Russia to a possible second international peace summit in November.

But Moscow this weekend said it would not attend and referred to President Vladimir Putin‘s conditions to enter talks: that Ukraine surrender four of its regions.

‘I think both are still betting on the possibility of a military victory,’ UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told CNN Sunday.

Russian attacks on Ukraine killed six people — including two children — this weekend, while a strike on the city of Kharkiv wounded 21 people in a residential neighborhood.

Ukraine said it struck two arms depots in Russia, with Kyiv‘s army saying it hit a key ammunition storage base important to the Russian army’s logistics for its invasion.

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Fuel price hike: Gov Makinde announces N10,000 transport support for workers

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The governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, has approved a N10,000 transportation allowance as a palliative for the state workforce to cushion the effects of the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State chapter, Kayode Martins, in a statement released on Monday, March 23, disclosed that the governor has granted the request of the union on the issue of transportation allowance.

The statement read

“Following the intervention and formal request made by the State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) earlier this morning, the state government has approved a N10,000 transportation allowance for all workers in the state.

The newly approved allowance is set to take effect from April 2026, providing much-needed relief to workers grappling with rising transportation costs amid current economic challenges.

This development comes as a direct response to sustained advocacy by the state NLC, aimed at cushioning the impact of increased living expenses on the workforce.

Further details on implementation are expected to be communicated by the relevant government authorities in due course.”

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Former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation bags 72years imprisonment for diverting N868.46 million security funds

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Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, March 23, convicted and sentenced Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF), to a 72-year jail term without an option of fine.

DailyTrust reports that in the judgment delivered, Justice Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been able to prove the nine-count money laundering charge beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the judge, the defendant is hereby convicted as charged.

Justice Omotosho convicted Nwabuoku in all the nine counts and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment in each of the counts, making 72 years.

The judge, however, ordered that the counts shall run concurrently.

Justice Omotosho, who described Nwabuoku’s act of diverting funds meant for security and defence while he served as Director of Finance and Account in the Ministry of Defence as “appalling,” commended the EFCC for being detailed in its prosecution.

The judge observed that the evidence of the 9th prosecution witness that Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded part of the siphoned money of over N200 million during investigation was not controverted by the defence.

Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021. He became acting Accountant General of the Federation in May 2022.

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11 more arrested over Ozoro “r@ping festival”

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The police in Delta state have arrested eleven more suspects over the sexu@l ass@ults recorded during what was described as a “r@ping festival” in Oramudu Quarters in Ozoro last Thursday, March 19.

In a statement released on Saturday, March 21, the spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, said the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) was tasked with conducting a detailed investigation into the incident.

Edafe said operatives of CP-SAT conducted a thorough analysis of available video evidence and intelligence, leading to the arrest of eleven additional suspects identified as Samson Atukpodo, Steven ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro, Evidence Oguname, and six others. Edafe mentioned that these latest arrests bring the total number of suspects currently in police custody in connection with the incident to fifteen (15)

“The Command reiterates that preliminary findings indicate that the unfortunate incident was perpetrated by criminal elements who exploited the situation to engage in acts of sexu@l v!olence, which are in no way representative of any legitimate cultural practice.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Aina Adesola, condemns these acts in totality and reassures the public that the Command remains resolute in its determination to ensure that all those involved are identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Members of the public, particularly victims and witnesses, are once again encouraged to come forward with credible information that will aid ongoing investigations. The Command assures that all information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality.”the statement in part reads

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