International
South Africa reacts to US expulsion of ambassador Ebrahim Rasool

The South African presidency on Saturday said the expulsion of its Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, is “regrettable.”
The presidency disclosed this in a short statement published on X on Saturday.It also called for decorum on both sides to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
“The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool,” the statement read.
“The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.
“South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America.”
The ppolitician was expelled after he was seen as a race-baiting politician” who hates the US and President Donald Trump.
Rubio wrote on X that Rasool was “no longer welcome in our great country”, adding: “We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.
”Rubio linked his remarks to an article by the right-wing media outlet Breitbart, wherein Rasool is quoted as saying Trump mobilised a “supremacist instinct” and “white victimhood” as a “dog whistle” during the 2024 elections.
But South African political analyst Sandile Swana said the “core of the dispute” was Pretoria’s decision to form a genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Israel, a close US ally, over its war on Gaza.
In February, Rasool, an anti-apartheid campaigner, told the Zeteo news site that what South Africans experienced during apartheid rule “is on steroids in Palestine”.
Moreover, Swana explained that in the fight against apartheid, the US “supported the apartheid regime”.
“[So] Rasool continues to point out the behaviour of the United States, even now is to support apartheid and genocide,” he added.
Land policy
Still, the decision by Washington to expel the South African ambassador comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries, since Trump cut financial aid to South Africa after citing his disapproval of its land policy that he alleged allows land to be seized from white farmers.
Last week, Trump pushed this further and said South Africa’s farmers were welcome to settle in the US, repeating that the South African government was “confiscating” land from white people.
South African-born tech billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, has also accused the country of having “openly racist ownership laws”.
However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the policy, saying the government was not confiscating land but aiming to level racial disparities in land ownership in the Black-majority nation.
International
Canada’s Election Results
Carney’s Liberals are leading in 168 seats but would need 172 for a majority.

Mark Carney’s Liberal Party is expected to win enough seats in the House of Commons to form a government in Canada.
However, they are still short of the majority they wanted.
Carney is set to remain prime minister, having only assumed the role in early March following Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
His main rival, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, is projected to have lost his own seat as has Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
Carney’s Liberals are leading in 168 seats but would need 172 for a majority.
The Conservatives are set to remain in opposition as the second-largest party and are leading in 144 seats, with 99% of polls having reported results.
Bloc Québécois is leading in 23 seats and only runs candidates in the province of Quebec.
The NDP is leading in seven seats and the Green Party in one.
(BBC)
International
Russia rejects Ukraine’s proposal for 30-day ceasefire
On Monday, Putin declared a unilateral ceasefire from May 8 to 11, coinciding with Russia’s annual Victory Parade on May 9, commemorating the end of World War II.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected a proposal from Kyiv to extend a unilateral three-day ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin in early May to a full 30 days.
Peskov confirmed that Moscow had reviewed the offer put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but stated that several key issues needed to be resolved first.
“Without answers to these questions, it is difficult to enter into a long-term ceasefire,” he said, emphasising that this was Putin’s position.
In March, Putin had outlined conditions when U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a similar 30-day ceasefire.
These included restrictions on Ukraine using the pause to regroup and rearm its forces, as well as a halt to Western arms shipments to Kyiv.
Putin offered no concessions in return.
On Monday, Putin declared a unilateral ceasefire from May 8 to 11, coinciding with Russia’s annual Victory Parade on May 9, commemorating the end of World War II.
(AFP).
International
JUST IN: Canadians snub Trump annexation call, elect Mark Carney as prime minister

Canadians have ignored the President of the United States of America’s annexation call, as Mark Carney, a Liberal, has been elected as prime minister of the country, according to the projections of the national broadcaster CBC/Radio Canada.
Carney beat his opposite, Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party, to emerge the winner in one of the country’s most consequential elections in decades.
However, it’s still not clear if his Liberal party will win the 172 seats needed for an outright majority in parliament.
The full results will not be available until late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning.
The vote was widely seen as a decision about which candidate could best handle President Trump, who helped spark a wave of nationalism across Canada by threatening to annexe Canada and placing stiff tariffs on the country.
The 60-year-old Carney had a career in investment banking before becoming the governor of the Bank of England during the Brexit turmoil and the head of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 economic downturn.
Carney had never held political office before being named leader of the Liberal Party in March.
His background in finance and his seemingly unflappable demeanour helped convince voters he was the candidate that could best tackle Trump and his sometimes erratic policies.
Carney’s victory comes amid President Trump’s call for the annexation of Canada by the US.On Monday, Trump repeated his call for Canada to be the 51st US state.
-
Sports3 days ago
Remo Stars win Nigerian champions for the first time
-
Business1 day ago
Competition Tribunal Orders Coca – Cola to pay N190 million misleading Fines Within 60 Days
-
Politics2 days ago
Why Sanwo-Olu is Angry with Peter Obi •What Peter Obi Says At Johns Hopkins University
-
News3 days ago
Nigeria Congratulates South Africa On Her Freedom Day Anniversary
-
Sports3 days ago
Man City sink Forest to reach third successive FA Cup final
-
Entertainment2 days ago
Annie Macaulay confirms divorce from 2Baba
-
News8 hours ago
FBI, others to release Tinubu US probe reports May 2
-
Health2 days ago
Aliko Dangote Foundation Donates Ambulance to Mainland Hospital Yaba