Live Updates / Russia-Ukraine conflict live updates: Talks to begin as Kyiv fights on, Ruble crashes

LIVE COVERAGE Live Updates / Russia-Ukraine conflict live updates: Talks to begin as Kyiv fights on, Ruble crashes Russia and Ukraine were due to meet for talks on the Belarussian border Monday morning. TAP TO UNMUTE Link copied Feb. 27, 2022, 11:35 PM WAT / Updated Feb. 28, 2022, 11:08 AM WAT By NBC News As fierce fighting continued across Ukraine overnight into Monday morning, Kyiv said it would push for a cease-fire at talks with officials from Moscow. The meeting on the Belarussian border comes after President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear deterrent force to be on high alert, a huge escalation in Russia's confrontation with Western powers who have increased their supply of lethal aid to Ukraine and imposed crippling financial sanctions. On Sunday the European Union made the unprecedented move to finance the purchase and delivery of lethal weapons to aid the Ukrainian resistance. The effect of sanctions was felt across Russia on Monday, as the value of the Ruble went into freefall and Moscow's central bank raised interest rates from 9.5 to 20 percent to protect people's savings. Follow our in-depth coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis here. SEE 1 NEW POST Zelenskyy tells Russian forces to 'save your lives and leave,' says prisoners with combat experience can join the fight Chantal Da Silva 28m ago / 10:43 AM WAT Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday warned Russian forces to save their lives and retreat as he said Ukrainians are standing firm in the fight against Russia's invasion. Marking the "fifth day of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine," Zelenskyy hailed Ukrainians' "inspirational" response and said they had shown what they are "really capable of...to the fullest." Addressing Russian forces, Zelenskyy said in a video posted to his Telegraph channel: "Don't trust your commanders, don't trust your propagandists. Just save your lives. Leave," he warned. The Ukrainian leader said his government had also made a "morally difficult" decision to allow incarcerated people "with real combat experience" to be released from custody. He said they would be able to "compensate from their guilt in the flashpoints." "When I went to the presidency, I said that each of us is the president. Because we are all responsible for our country. For our beautiful Ukraine. And now it has happened that each of us is a warrior," he said. "And I am sure that each of us will win."

NIGER 2020 POLLS!!!STORY OF TWO LLELA’S UNEARTHED BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU,NOBEL LAUREATE

NIGER 2020 POLLS!!!STORY OF TWO LLELA’S UNEARTHED BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU,NOBEL LAUREATE The story has being uncovered of two human habitations both called by the same names but on different sides of both Nigeria and its next door neighbor by the Sahara Desert ,Niger Republic ,Lleila both in Sokoto State and Tahoua Region respectively in each of the nations. When The News office Desk of the E.N.M.Paedia Express Multimedia Group of Lagos,Nigeria had the chance of visiting such border posts like that of Seme ,Idi Iroko ,Igholo in Ogun state ,Hilankhondji between Togo and Benin Republic ,Aflao Border posts between Ghana and Togo ,couple of years ago one thing that struck him was that apart from what looked like offices for the immigration personnel and other security apparatus of each of the nations as put in place by the respective nations there was no form of fence separating each nation. Infact somebody once told this reporter that in a particular part of the boundary in Akwa Ibom separating the state and Cameroun ,only a mere stream separated Nigeria and the Camerouns. For example ,You could be in a part of Seme as a town and you are said to be on the Nigerian section and at the same time you could still be on another part of Seme town and you will be told you are on the Benin Republic section and yet by socio cultural accounts and antecedents it is still the same Seme Township despite the geo political separation. However in Llela Town ,the story is somewhat different as there is a town with a full fledged local government area named after it and this is to be found in Sokoto state of Nigeria . But unknown to many albeit consciously, out /going President of Niger Republic ,Mahamadou Issoffou hails from the LLela further in the hinterland and this time from a region of Niger Republic simply called Tahoua . It is not immediately known whether there is a direct socio cultural links or lineage between Llela in Nigeria and Niger Republic in modern times but it would appear that both have a lot of Hausa /Fulani links or orientation in origin. When this reporter engaged ,Mr Sani Zakari ,A Fulani who hails from Llela in Sokoto state on the startling discovery about Mahamadou Issoffous birth place,he simply shrugged it off as a mere coincidence and noted that there was no way anyone who is Nigerian will deliberately wish to claim to be from Niger Republic considering the opportunity the nation ,Nigeria provides . Meanwhile at least 7.4 million Nigerienne recently voted in its Presidential and legislative polls. A total of 30 different candidates took part in the Presidential polls with Mohammed Bazoum believed to be the preferred candidate of President Mahammadou Issouffou .. Other candidates are the likes of Seini Oumarou of The National Movement For Social Development ,Boubacar Cisse of The Union For Democracy and Republic ,Mahamane Ousmane of the Renewed Democratic and Republican Party ,Ibrahim Yacouba of The Patriotic Movement of Niger amongst several others. A second round of The Presidential elections ,a successful candidate is expected to be able to get 50.1 percent of the total votes casted so as to be fit enough to be declared as President . However ,if no candidate scores 50.1percent of the total votes casted, The Independent National Electoral Commission [C.E.N.I,who have vowed to conduct a hitch free 2020 elections will then organize a second round of elections between two top most winners on the 20/02/2021 to determine the real champion of Niamey,Niger Republics capital. At least 171 seats were also competed for at the nations recent Parliamentary elections alongside that of its Presidency

 

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 December 18, 2020 Ralph Tathagata 0

Unilever to end Facebook and Twitter ad boycott

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Global FMCG giant, Unilever, said that it will restart advertising on Facebook’s apps and Twitter in the U.S. again in January after a six-month pause. Unilever stopped advertising on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as part of the #StopHateForProfit boycott in June, when major advertisers agreed together to pressure social media giants to handle misinformation and hate speech on their platforms.

While many advertisers have returned to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, Unilever pledged to stay off them until at least the end of 2020. Unilever is pressing start again after working closely with Facebook and Twitter over the past six months on meeting the standards of its Responsibility Framework, which centres around creating a diverse partner network that promotes a positive digital ad ecosystem for consumers, advertisers and media owners.

In a blog post, Unilever said it has seen “encouraging progress” in working with the platforms as part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, of which Unilever is a founding partner. Unilever noted Facebook, Instagram and Twitter’s participation in defining harmful content categories earlier this year, offering consistent reporting and independent auditing and developing advertiser controls.

“We have a unique role and responsibility to address the complexities of the social media ecosystem,” Luis Di Como, EVP, global media at Unilever, said in a statement. “Our long-term goal is to work with our partners and the industry to drive systemic change.

“We are encouraged by the commitments the platforms are making to build healthier environments for consumers, brands and society in alignment with the principles of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media,” he added. “This is why we plan to end our social media investment pause in the U.S. in January. We will continue to reassess our position as necessary.”

Unilever declined to comment beyond the issued statement. The company spent $42.3 million on Facebook in the U.S. in 2019, according to Pathmatics.

 

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 December 17, 2020 Ralph Tathagata 0

Nestlé S.A, acquires additional 105,000 shares in its Nigerian subsidiary

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The world largest food & beverage company, Nestlé S.A, has acquired 105,569 additional shares in its Nigerian subsidiary, Nestlé Nigeria Plc worth N147.8 million.

It was gathered that the acquisitions were made in two different transactions with the company purchasing 63,700 units on 11th of December while 41,869 units at a price of N1,400 on 12th December 2020.

This comes days after the consumer giant on 2nd, 4th and 9th December 2020, acquired more shares of 253,965, 433,529 and 80,448 respectively, totaling to 767,942 ordinary shares.

Prior to that, the parent company on the 29th of November 2020 purchased a total of 666,596 unit of its Nigerian subsidiary in a deal worth N933.95 million.

The purchase of the shares further affirmed the position of Nestlé S.A’s as the majority shareholder of the company.

With the information contained in its financial statements of the period ended 30th September 2020, the Nestle Nigeria had 792,656,252 shares outstanding, with Nestlé S.A being the majority shareholder with 525,537,201 units representing 66.30% of the total shares of the company outstanding.

This however means that the   previous acquisitions and the recent acquisition of 105,569 additional units, Nestlé S.A’s ownership percentage of Nestlé Nigeria is now put at 66.5%.

The multinational company has been recently raking in more investments in the Nigerian unit for exchange of shareholding with some operators in the Nigerian capital market, highlighted that the move was expected and commendable.

A peak at Nestle Nigeria Financials in Q3 2020

Nestle Nigeria Plc reported a 0.66% rise in revenue to N212.7 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2020. However, its gross profit fell to N90 billion in 2020 from N96.3 billion in 2019 due to the rise in the cost of sales which increased disproportionately with the marginal rise in revenue.

The cost of sales rose by 6.7% to N122.7 billion representing 57.7% of the total revenue for the nine months. Nestlé profit after tax dipped by 13% to N31.9 billion in the nine months under review from N36.8 billion in 2019.

Nestlé S.A. is a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation headquartered in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. It is the largest food company in the world, measured by revenue and other metrics, since 2014.