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France’s President, Macron returns to France as Protesters destroy 12 buses

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France’s president rushed home from an EU summit Friday for a crisis meeting, after a third night of protests over a policeman’s killing of a teen saw cars torched, shops ransacked and hundreds arrested.

Police sources said that rather than pitched battles between protesters and police, the night was marked by pillaging of shops, reportedly including flagship branches of Nike and Zara in Paris.

Public buildings were also targeted, with a police station in the Pyrenees city of Pau hit with a Molotov cocktail, according to regional authorities, and an elementary school and a district office set on fire in northern town Lille.

The unrest has come in response to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Nahel, whose death has revived longstanding grievances about policing and racial profiling in France’s low-income and multi-ethnic suburbs.

AFP journalists saw President Emmanuel Macron leaving the European Council summit in Brussels to chair a crisis meeting on the violence — the second such emergency talks in as many days.

Ahead of the meeting, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the government was considering “all options” to restore order, including declaring a state of emergency.

Around 40,000 police and gendarmes — along with elite Raid and GIGN units — were deployed in several cities overnight, with curfews issued in municipalities around Paris and bans on public gatherings in Lille and Tourcoing in the country’s north.

Despite the massive security deployment, violence and damage were reported in multiple areas.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 667 people had been arrested in what he described as a night of violence, while 249 police officers were injured, none of them seriously.

Rioting apparently linked to the Paris police shooting had even followed Macron to the Belgian capital, with Brussels police reporting 63 people detained late Thursday for setting fires and erecting barricades.

– ‘Severely disrupted’ –

France has been rocked by successive nights of protests since Nahel was shot point-blank on Tuesday during a traffic stop captured on video.

In her first media interview since the shooting, Nahel’s mother, Mounia, told the France 5 channel: “I don’t blame the police, I blame one person: the one who took the life of my son.”

She said the 38-year-old officer responsible, who was detained and charged with voluntary manslaughter on Thursday, “saw an Arab face, a little kid, and wanted to take his life”.

The memorial march for Nahel, led by Mounia, ended with riot police firing tear gas as several cars were set alight in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre, where the teenager lived and was killed.

Heightened security appeared to do little to deter unrest Thursday night.

In the city centre of Marseille, a library was vandalised, according to local officials, and scuffles broke out nearby when police used tear gas to disperse a group of 100 to 150 people who allegedly tried to set up barricades.

In Nanterre, the epicentre of the unrest, tensions rose around midnight, with fireworks and explosives set off in the Pablo Picasso district, where Nahel had lived, according to an AFP journalist.

The Paris region’s bus and tram lines remained “severely disrupted” on Friday, the RATP transport authority said, after a dozen vehicles were torched overnight in a depot and some routes were blocked or damaged.

The government is desperate to avoid a repeat of 2005 urban riots, sparked by the death of two boys of African origin in a police chase, during which 6,000 people were arrested.

Macron has called for calm and said the protest violence was “unjustifiable”.

The riots are a fresh challenge for the president, who had been looking to move past some of the biggest demonstrations in a generation sparked by a controversial rise in the retirement age.

– ‘Bullet in the head’ –

There have long been concerns over allegations of systemic racism in the French police and the UN rights office said Friday the killing of the teen of North African descent was “a moment for the country to seriously address the deep issues of racism and racial discrimination in law enforcement.”

Nahel was killed as he pulled away from police who were trying to stop him for a traffic infraction.

A video, authenticated by AFP, showed two police officers standing by the side of the stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver.

A voice is heard saying: “You are going to get a bullet in the head.”

The police officer then appears to fire as the car abruptly drives off.

The officer’s lawyer, Laurent-Franck Lienard, told BFMTV late Thursday that his client had apologised as he was taken into custody.

“The first words he pronounced were to say sorry, and the last words he said were to say sorry to the family,” Lienard said.

AFP

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International

WHO Urges  Trump To Reconsider Pulling Out USA from Membership

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The World Health Organization, WHO, has urged United States President, Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to withdraw the country from its membership.

Recall that the president, shortly after assuming office, yesterday, had signed an executive order to withdraw the country from the global health body.

He cited a string of reasons for his action, among which included WHO’s alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its alleged failure to adopt urgently needed reforms.

Trump further alleged that while WHO demands what he referred to as “unfairly onerous payments” from the United States, China pays less.

Reacting to the action of the United States President, the World Health Organization, said it hopes “the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”

The WHO’s reaction read:” The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization. millions of people around the globe.”

The WHO’s reaction read:” The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization.

“WHO plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go.

“The United States was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other Member States, including through its active participation in the World Health Assembly and Executive Board.

“For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats.

“Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO.

“With the participation of the United States and other Member States, WHO has over the past 7 years implemented the largest set of reforms in its history, to transform our accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact in countries.

This work continues. “We hope the United States will reconsider, and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe. “

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World Leaders Cheer President Donald Trump

Russian President, congratulated Trump in a televised statement, expressing readiness to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict.

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▪︎ President Donald Trump, and his Vice President, JD Vance / Ohibaba.com UGC

World leaders in various countries have congratulated Donald Trump following his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America.

Trump who took the oath of office at a historic ceremony at the Capitol on Monday, have been receiving heart-warming cheers.

Ukrainian president

To celebrate the U.S. president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account, describing Trump’s swearing-in as “a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges.”

The Ukrainian president expressed confidence that Trump’s policies would boost America’s leadership. “President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through the strength of policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister in a post on his website, also sent his congratulatory messages to America’s president as he resumed office for a non-consecutive second time.

The prime minister said he was happy for yet another opportunity to work with President Trump, adding that both countries are the largest trade partners, “with a relationship that creates millions of jobs, attracts billions in investment into the continent, and keeps our people safe.”

He noted that Canada is strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship it has with the US, bolstering cross-border trade through investment.

“We are strongest when we work together, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his administration, members of the United States Congress, and officials at the state and local levels to deliver prosperity for our people – while protecting and defending the interests of Canadians,” he said. “Canada and the US have the world’s most successful economic partnership. We have the chance to work together again – to create more jobs and prosperity for both our nations.”

India’s Prime Minister

On his part, Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, congratulated Trump in a statement on X. He said, “Congratulations, my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump, on your historic inauguration as the 47th President of the United States! I look forward to working closely together once again to benefit both our countries and to shape a better future for the world. Best wishes for a successful term ahead!”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister, in a video, mentioned some of President Trump’s achievements during his his term, saying that “the best days of our alliance are yet to come.”

“You withdrew from the dangerous Iran nuclear deal, you recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, you moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, and you recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Italy’s Prime Minister shared a statement on X in Italian, which in English, reads as follows: “Best wishes to the President @realDonaldTrump for the beginning of his new mandate at the helm of the United States of America.”

“I am certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the collaboration between Italy and the USA, facing global challenges together and building a future of prosperity and security for our peoples.” Meloni reaffirmed that Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe as an essential pillar for the stability and growth of both countries.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin

Russian President, congratulated Trump in a televised statement, expressing readiness to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict.

“As for the settlement of the situation itself, I want to emphasize that its goal should not be a brief truce but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people,” he said.

UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer

UK’s prime minister, shared a video statement congratulating Trump on X.

He also wrote, “On behalf of the United Kingdom, I send my warmest congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his inauguration as the forty-seventh President of the United States.

The special relationship between the UK and the US will continue to flourish for years to come.”

Pakistan’s Prime Minister

Also, Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s Prime Minister wrote on X, “My warmest congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his assumption of office as the forty-seventh President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen the enduring Pakistan-U.S. partnership.”

“Over the years, our two great countries have worked together closely to pursue peace and prosperity in the region and beyond for our peoples & we shall continue to do so in the future. My best wishes to President Trump for a successful second term in office.”

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International

Trump Pardons 1,500 Political Prisoners

Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that he had granted “full pardons” to more than 1,500 defendants. “We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” he said

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US President Donald Trump granted pardons on Monday to more than 1,500 of his supporterswho stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

A total of 1,583 people were charged in connection with the assault on Congress by Trump supporters seeking to disrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory.

Trump, just hours after he took office, also ordered that all pending criminal cases against Capitol riot defendants be dropped.

Among those receiving a pardon was Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for directing a military-style assault on the Capitol.

Stewart Rhodes, the leader of another far-right group, the Oath Keepers, had his 18-year prison sentence commuted to time served.

Both Tarrio and Rhodes had been convicted of seditious conspiracy. Describing the rioters as “hostages,”

Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that he had granted “full pardons” to more than 1,500 defendants. “We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” he said.

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