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Independence Day attack on Ukraine train station kills at least 22

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Russian shelling of the Chaplyne train station in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region killed at least 22 people on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Five of the dead were recovered from a car on the railway track and search and rescue operations are ongoing, Zelensky said in an evening video address.

More than 50 people were injured in the shelling, according to earlier information. It is not possible to independently verify the details.

“Chaplyne is our pain today,” Zelensky said.

The attack came on the same day Ukraine marked 31 years of independence and the six-month mark since Russia began its invasion.

“It’s almost night, our main day, Independence Day of Ukraine, is coming to an end. But our independence does not end and will never end,” he said.

Train stations and rail infrastructure have been repeatedly hit during the war. In April, at least 57 died in an attack on the Kramatorsk station in the eastern Donbass region.

Russia attacked neighbouring Ukraine on Feb. 24 but after failing to make advances on the capital Kiev, Moscow pulled back to concentrate on taking the separatist-dominated areas in the east and the south of the country.

The war is not leaving any part of Ukraine untouched. Elsewhere in Dnipropetrovsk, an 11-year-old child was killed by Russian shelling on Wednesday, according to local officials.

READ ALSO: I remain APC `disciplined soldier’ – Buhari

On the day Ukrainians celebrate breaking free of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukrainian authorities reported attacks in several locations across the country, including the Khmelnytskyi region in the west and Zhytomyr region in the north.

While air raid sirens wailed throughout the day in Ukraine, leaders around the world demanded Russia halt the war and reiterated calls for a monitoring mission to be allowed to access a major nuclear plant.

UN Secretary General António Guterres said he had little hope for an early end to the war.

“Despite progress on the humanitarian front, fighting in Ukraine shows no signs of ending – with new potential areas of dangerous escalation appearing,” he told the UN Security Council in New York.

“Today marks a sad and tragic milestone,” he said. “Thousands of civilians have been killed and injured, including hundreds of children.”

“The world has seen grave violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed with little to no accountability,” he said.

He also warned of the potential for catastrophe at the embattled Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and urged an expert mission to the site, led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Russian forces have occupied the Zaporizhzhya plant, the largest nuclear site in Europe, since March, but attacks near the facility have escalated in recent weeks.

Several others echoed these concerns at the UN meeting.

“The past months we have seen an emerging risk of nuclear calamity in Europe.

“It is deplorable that we even need to say that a nuclear power plant should never be used as a military base,” the European Union’s UN ambassador Silvio Gonzato said.

Gonzato called on Moscow to allow an international team of experts onto the site.

An IAEA mission to check on the sprawling plant’s critical safety and control systems is supported in principle by all sides but it has not yet received the final approval from the warring parties amid disagreement over its details, including the route the experts would take.

Zelensky proposed that Russia transfer control of the Zaporizhzhya plant to the IAEA, in his address to the UN Security Council via video link.

Russia must unconditionally cease its “nuclear blackmail” and completely withdraw from the plant in southern Ukraine, he added, as he also stressed the importance of fighting off Russia’s invasion in a global context.

If Russia is not stopped now, Zelensky said, “Russian killers will probably end up in other countries – in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America.”

He added: “Russia must be held accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.”

In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden announced it would provide 2.98 billion dollars of weapons and equipment.

The U.S. has now committed more than 13.5 billion billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Biden took office.

Washington’s representative at the UN meanwhile expressed the U.S. determination to maintain Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

“Let’s be clear: the international community will never recognize Russia’s attempts to change Ukraine’s borders by force,” U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council.

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International News

JUST IN: Equatorial Guinea Blocks WhatsApp Multimedia Amid Engonga Sex Scandal

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The government of Equatorial Guinea has imposed new restrictions on WhatsApp, limiting citizens’ ability to download and share multimedia files through mobile data.

This policy follows recent directives for telecommunications operators to control access to “inappropriate content.”

READ ALSO: Court Acquits Former CJN, Walter Onnoghen In Corruption Case

The measure, however, has led to public frustration, with citizens now relying solely on WiFi for sharing photos, videos, and audio files.

The restrictions come in the wake of a high-profile scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF).

Engonga, 54, is currently under investigation for fraud. During an unexpected search of his home and office, ANIF officials reportedly discovered a collection of more than 400 explicit videos involving Engonga and the wives of various prominent figures.

Among those reportedly involved are relatives of senior officials, including the wife of the Director General of Police, multiple government ministers’ spouses, and even family members of the President of Equatorial Guinea.

The leaked videos have caused a media uproar, with calls for transparency from the government.

Citizens are questioning whether the restrictions on WhatsApp multimedia sharing are part of an effort to prevent the spread of sensitive content related to the scandal.

So far, officials have not commented on the duration of these restrictions or whether they are linked to the ongoing investigation.

The local news platform Ahora EG has reported widespread frustration over the restrictions, quoting anonymous sources expressing concern about the impact on essential communication.

“Should an entire country pay for the actions of a few?” one source asked. “This measure interferes with work and educational activities for thousands who rely on WhatsApp, and it feels more like a move to control than to facilitate communication.”

Critics have also questioned the transparency of the new restriction, with some speculating it may be linked to Vice President Teddy Nguema’s recent announcement of a plan to install surveillance cameras in state offices.

This initiative, he said, is part of a broader government crackdown to reinforce public service laws and combat misconduct among officials.

As frustrations mount, Equatorial Guinea’s citizens are left awaiting clarity on the government’s intentions behind these measures.

With no official statements on how long the restrictions will remain in place, many continue to speculate whether these changes will be temporary or signal a new era of state control over digital communication.

 

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U.S. Election: Historic Decision Looms As Kamala Harris, Trump Enter Dead-Heat Contest

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On a high-stakes Tuesday, American voters are heading to the polls in an election that will either catapult Kamala Harris into history as the first woman president or grant Donald Trump a historic return to the White House.

After months of intense campaigning and unexpected developments, Democratic Vice President Harris, 60, and former Republican President Trump, 78, remain locked in one of the closest and most turbulent races of modern times.

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As polling stations open nationwide, both candidates are counting on a strong turnout in key swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

With early voting already at record numbers, tens of millions more are expected to cast their ballots throughout the day, adding to the over 82 million who voted early.

Campaign Finale: Fierce Push for Every Vote

Both campaigns spent Monday frantically rallying supporters. In Pennsylvania, Harris stood on the iconic “Rocky” steps in Philadelphia, energized by celebrities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

“Momentum is on our side,” she said, calling the race potentially “one of the closest in history” and urging supporters to get to the polls.

Meanwhile, Trump held his closing rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after stops in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Emphasizing his populist message, he depicted a nation under siege from crime and economic turmoil, promising that his leadership could restore America’s greatness.

“With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead America — indeed, the world — to new heights of glory,” he declared.

An Election of Unprecedented Drama

This election has been marked by surprising developments that left voters and analysts reeling.

Harris took over the Democratic nomination in July following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal, a dramatic shift that reshaped the race.

Trump’s campaign faced its own challenges, including surviving two assassination attempts and pushing forward even after a criminal conviction.

Despite these extraordinary events, polls show the race remains deadlocked.

Observers are bracing for potential delays in determining a winner, with the tight race suggesting that final results could take days.

In Washington, security is heightened with barriers around the White House and storefronts boarded up, fearing possible unrest.

Trump’s ongoing claims about election integrity — similar to those he made in 2020 — have already raised concerns about the potential for dispute if he loses.

Global Impact: Allies, Rivals Watch Anxiously

The international community is closely watching the U.S. election, as the outcome could reshape key policies.

A Harris administration would likely pursue climate action, support for NATO, and continued aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Trump’s “America First” approach, however, signals a return to isolationist policies that unsettle allies while promising sweeping trade tariffs that concern trading partners.

The election’s significance extends beyond politics, as Harris would make history as the first Black woman and South Asian president in the United States, breaking another barrier after her 2020 election as vice president.

Trump, if successful, would make his own history, becoming only the second president after Grover Cleveland to win non-consecutive terms and the oldest president to assume office.

Divided Nation Faces Uncertain Path Forward

Harris’s campaign has focused on reproductive rights and healthcare, aiming to galvanize women and young voters.

Though she has condemned Trump’s “dark rhetoric,” she ended her campaign with an optimistic message, calling for unity and avoiding further mention of her rival.

Trump, meanwhile, has leaned into his populist appeal, casting himself as the country’s last line of defense against rising crime and immigration issues.

In his final speeches, he warned of election fraud — claims widely debunked by experts — and hinted that he might not concede if he loses, saying he should “never have left” the White House in 2021.

As polls close later tonight, Americans and the world wait anxiously for what could be a turning point in U.S. history. Regardless of the result, today’s vote promises to reshape the nation’s future and its role on the global stage for years to come.

 

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Tragic Building Collapse In R/State Leaves One Dead, Several Injured

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A tragic building collapse in Rivers State has left a middle-aged contractor, identified as Udeme, feared dead after a two-storey structure under construction caved in at the Egbelu Mgbaraja area of Ogbogoro Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

This incident comes just one week after a three-storey building collapsed at the Iriebe axis of the same local government, though that incident fortunately recorded no casualties.

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The latest collapse occurred on Monday, November 4, 2024, around 2 p.m., with construction workers on site when the structure gave way.

According to eyewitness Mr. Jonathan Obey, the building’s second floor suddenly buckled, trapping Udeme beneath the rubble, while another worker managed to escape with serious injuries.

Obey, who attempted to rescue the trapped contractor, suspected negligence, saying, “We couldn’t reach him despite our efforts. An inspection revealed substandard materials had been used, with the foundation only three feet deep for a two-storey building, which is insufficient. The rebar was of poor quality, and essential supports, such as a center beam, were absent.”

The Rivers State Government has since sealed off the property and declared the developer, Vincent Nwoye, wanted for questioning.

Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, visited the site and expressed his dismay, attributing the collapse to gross negligence.

“This tragedy was preventable,” Bipi stated. “The developer failed to obtain an approved building plan and used inferior materials. The government will ensure accountability and take severe action.”

Bipi extended his condolences to the victim’s family and the Ogbogoro Community, affirming that the government will facilitate the family’s recovery of their loved one’s remains. “We sympathize with the bereaved family and the entire community,” he added.

The Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Samuel Anya, also condemned the developer’s actions, highlighting the dangers posed when profit is prioritized over safety. “This loss is a direct consequence of unethical practices,” he said.

The government has committed to a thorough investigation and tighter regulatory enforcement to prevent further tragedies in Rivers State.

 

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