By Yadnom Awu/ Asaba
America
Millions of Americans Participate in ‘No Kjngs’ Protests Against Protests Against Trump
Millions of Americans yesterday participated in ‘ No Kings’ protests against the administration of President Donald Trump.
The protests were the second this year against what the organizers say is the increasingly monarchical attitude of the Trump administration to public governance.
The protests held in major cities in all 50 states of the country.
Organisers say the protests would subsist for as long as Trump continued to behave as a king, rather than an elected leader.
According to them, the immigration policy of the administration, its flimsy resort to the deployment of the National Guard allegedly to check crime against the spirit of the Constitution, as well as the iron- cast American support for Israel.
Most Democrats backed the protests, but many Republicans and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement members say it is a hate America exercise.
The protests were organized by a network of progressive groups in the country who say they are at odds with the sharp cuts to public health funding by the government.
Kenya
Ex- PM, Raila Odinga, To Be Buried Today
…Obasanjo Attends
The remains of the former opposition leader and erstwhile Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, is to be buried today at a private ceremony in his family estate in Bondo, Western Kenya.
The interment is a follow up to the interdenominational Christian service held in Bondo this morning.
Odinga died at 80 years of age in the Indian state of Kerala where he had been undergoing treatment for an unspecified cardiac ailment.
He was the Prime Minister of the country between 2008 and 2013, and vied unsuccessfully for the Presidency of the country five times.
He was imprisoned multiple times, but remained popular across the country for his dogged fight for plural democracy.
Today’s interment ends three days of public activities to mark the death of the elder statesman, which included a state funeral.
Former Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Kenyan leader, William Ruto, who described Odinga as a unifier, attended the event today.
Palestine
Hamas Denies American Charge of Plot To Breach Peace Deal With Israel
The Palestinian group, Hamas, has strongly denied the charge by the American government that it was plotting to breach its peace deal with Israel.
The deal largely ended the Gaza war between both sides and opened the floodgate for the possible resolution of the Middle East crisis between Israel and Palestine.
America has alleged, citing unspecified intelligence, that Hamas was at the threshold of launching a war against Gaza civilians, and to breach the peace deal it had signed with Israel.
But reacting to the charge, Hamas said it had no such plans and all such talks or suggestions were bunkum.
It restated its commitment to the peace deal,but urged guarantors of the peace deal, especially America, to prevail on Israel to abate its alleged incessant breach of the deal.
Hamas has accused Israel of killing more than 28 Palestinians,including 11 members of the same family killed in a tank attack on Friday, since the ceasefire took effect, slicing the volume of humanitarian supplies to the enclave from the agreed daily volume 600 to 300 trucks, suspending the reopening of the Rafah crossings until further notice, and for today’s attack on the city of Rafah.
Today’s involvement of Israel is believed to be a part of the overall plan of Israel and America to protect armed groups backed by them to destabilize security in the strip and undermine Hamas.
Meanwhile, formal banking activities have resumed in Gaza.
At the Bank of Palestine, people queued to either reactivate their existing bank accounts or open new ones.
In Central Gaza, formal.markets are gradually resuming after the ceasefire came into effect.
Pakistan
Pakistan, Afghanistan Reach Peace Deal
Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a tentative peace deal, days after their troops engaged in fierce skirmishes that yielded heavy casualties, including fatalities.
Breaking news of the development in Doha, a Qatari Foreign Affairs statement said both sides had agreed to an immediate ceasefire, and for the setting up of a mechanism to sustain the peace deal.
On ground in the main border town of Torkam, the peace deal had come into effect as the ceasefire held.
Both countries have a 2,200 kilometres long border which have now been closed for now, with many stranded on both sides .
Morocco
Protesting Youths Seek Boycott Of 2025 AFCON
Thousands of youths on Saturday resumed their anti- government protests.
In Rabat, the protesters re-echoed their call for the resignation of the government and the boycott of the upcoming 2025 edition of the CAF African Cup of Nations ( AFCON) to be held in the capital, Rabat, Casablanca and other parts of the country.
The protests had been led by youths who say they are angry with the administration regarding the high incidence of corruption in the public sector, high unemployment and rising living costs.
Syria
SDF, Govt Forces Battle
Fierce battles are continuing between Syrian Government Forces and rebel Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF).
The America- backed SDF has refused to disarm or be integrated into the official national army .
Well oiled by Western military assets, intelligence and cash, the SDF controls a quarter,( 25 per cent) of Syrian territory, and has control of the vital oil and gas facilities, the economic live wire of the country.
The clashes came as the administration of Syrian President Ahmed Al- Rahawi, tries to assert control of the area under the control of the SDF.
Aside from the SDF, Israel – backed Druze community is also reluctant to integrate into the Syrian Army.
The minority Druze community is protected by Israel, which, under the aegis of protecting the community, has carved out and seized more territories in the country, to the angst of the global community.
France
The Louvre Burgled
The highly guarded Louvre, Paris, has been burgled, insider sources have said.
The sources said that a rare jewel belonging to late French Icon, Napoleon Bonaparte, is known to have been stolen.
There were no details of the burglary.
It was not clear when the burglary took place .
However, the incident is the first since 1911 when a similar heist led to the theft of the prized art work, The Mona Lisa.
Reputed by Western assessors to be inimitable, The Mona Lisa is the product of Italian artist, Sir Leonardo Da Vinci
