International News
Haitian Gang Fires At Church Protest, Resulting In Fatalities
In Port-au-Prince, members of a gang opened fire on parishioners from an evangelical church who were participating in a protest against the rampant criminal activity in their neighborhood, according to Haitian law enforcement on Monday.
The precise death toll from the attack that occurred on Saturday, which marks the latest eruption of violence by dominant gangs in the city, remains undisclosed.
Pastor Marco Zidor, the leader of the Piscine de Bethesda evangelical church, orchestrated the march. He gathered his followers, some of whom were armed with machetes or sticks, to advance towards the territory controlled by the Canaan gang in the northern part of the capital.
However, presumed gang members opened fire with automatic weapons as the crowd arrived. Videos broadcast by the gang show numerous corpses strewn about.
Contacted by AFP, an official from the Piscine de Bethesda church said he was “not in a position to give any information at the moment.”
Haitian National Police on Monday condemned a “regrettable tragedy,” saying its forces had tried to avoid a bloodbath.
Police set up security perimeters and sought to convince the parishioners to desist “in order to avoid bloodshed at the hands of bandits who had an arsenal of war weapons at their disposal,” a police statement said.
“However, the demonstrators bypassed the security arrangements… and still arrived in the desired areas to confront the members of said gang,” it added.
Police said the confrontation “left several demonstrators shot dead and several others wounded. Some of the faithful are… held hostage.”
Among the survivors was Zidor, and government prosecutor Roosevelt Zamor summoned him to court Monday to answer to accusations that he led followers to their deaths.
The Je Klere Foundation, a human rights group, called on prosecutors to crack down on those responsible, noting that “incitements to violence in sermons are criminal acts provided for and punished by the Haitian Criminal Code.”
Since the beginning of 2023, over 2,400 individuals have lost their lives in Haiti due to widespread gang conflicts, as reported by the United Nations earlier this month.
Approximately 80 percent of the capital is under the control of these gangs, leading to prevalent incidents of violent acts such as ransom kidnappings, carjackings, sexual assaults, and armed robberies.
International News
DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.





