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Morocco Earthquake Victims Passes 2,000

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Morocco Earthquake Victims Passes 2,000

Over 2,000 people were murdered in a devastating earthquake that struck Morocco on Sunday. Rescue workers scrambled to discover survivors hidden in the wreckage of the destroyed towns as Moroccans lamented the loss of life.

According to the most recent official statistics, the biggest earthquake to ever strike the country has left at least 2,012 people dead and over 2,059 injured, many of them seriously.

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred on Friday destroyed entire communities in rural areas 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, a popular tourist destination.

“I’ve lost everything”, said Lahcen, a resident of the mountain village of Moulay Brahim, whose wife and four children were killed.

Rescue workers recovered the bodies of Lahcen’s three daughters from the rubble of what was once their home, but have not yet found the bodies of his wife and son.

“I can’t do anything about it now, I just want to get away from the world and mourn.”

Troops and emergency services have scrambled to reach remote mountain villages where victims are still feared trapped.

Al-Haouz province, where the epicentre of the earthquake was located, suffered the most deaths with 1,293, followed by the province of Taroudant with 452.

Bouchra, another resident of Moulay Brahim, dried her tears with her scarf as she watched men digging graves to bury the victims.

“My cousin’s grandchildren are dead”, she said in a knotted voice.

“I saw the devastation of the earthquake live, and I’m still shaking. It’s like a ball of fire that has swallowed up everything in its path,” she said.

“Everyone here has lost family, whether in our village or elsewhere in the region”, she added.

Fatema Satir, a resident in Marrakesh, told AFP many were sleeping in the street for fear of their houses collapsing.

“Look where all these people are sleeping. There is no help for us, our houses have been cracked, others destroyed like my daughter’s house, which was wiped out. We are in a chaotic state.”

Authorities declared three days of national mourning, while several countries, including Israel, France, Spain, Italy and the United States, have offered aid.

Neighbouring Algeria, which has had rocky relations with Morocco, opened its airspace, which had been closed for two years, to flights carrying humanitarian aid and the injured.

The Red Cross warned that it could take years to repair the damage.

“It won’t be a matter of a week or two… We are counting on a response that will take months, if not years,” Hossam Elsharkawi, the organisation’s Middle East and North Africa director, said in a statement.

The village of Tafeghaghte, 60 kilometres southwest of Marrakesh, was almost entirely destroyed by the quake, the epicentre of which was only about 50 kilometres away, an AFP team reported, with very few buildings still standing.

“Three of my grandchildren and their mother are dead,” said 72-year-old Omar Benhanna. “They’re still under the debris. It wasn’t so long ago that we were playing together.”

Residents buried around 70 victims in the nearby cemetary on Saturday, as the funeral rites were punctuated by cries and screams.

In the evening, television channels broadcast aerial images showing entire villages of clay houses in the Al-Haouz region completely destroyed.

“The public authorities are still mobilised to speed up rescue operations and evacuate the injured,” the interior ministry said Saturday evening.

Since the 1960 earthquake that wrecked Agadir and killed more than 12,000 people—roughly a third of the city’s population at the time—this earthquake has killed the most people in Morocco.

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International News

‘Only Two Genders’ – Trump Vows To Tackle Transgender Lunacy

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President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to take sweeping actions against what he described as “transgender lunacy,” signaling a push to reverse policies protecting transgender individuals in schools, sports, and the military.

Speaking at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Trump outlined his administration’s priorities, stating, “I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military, and out of our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.”

READ MORE: Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud

He also vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports” and asserted, “It will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”

The president-elect’s remarks come amid growing national debate over transgender rights, with states divided over issues such as gender-affirming medical care and the inclusion of books addressing transgender topics in schools.

The controversy escalated last week when Congress passed a defense budget provision blocking funding for certain gender-affirming care for the children of service members.

Trump’s speech drew strong reactions, with critics warning that his policies could strip essential protections from transgender individuals.

Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the implications of these proposals on marginalized communities.

In addition to his focus on cultural issues, Trump used the event to outline his vision for the nation under his leadership.

He described his presidency as a turning point, promising to address international conflicts and restore American dominance.

“On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four long, horrible years of failure, incompetence, national decline, and we will inaugurate a new era of peace, prosperity, and national greatness,” Trump declared, referring to his upcoming swearing-in.

He pledged to end the war in Ukraine, stabilize the Middle East, and avert global conflict. “I will stop the chaos in the Middle East, and I will prevent, I promise, World War III,” he said.

The president-elect also reiterated his commitment to reclaiming control of the Panama Canal and combating crime linked to illegal immigration.

“I can proudly proclaim that the golden age of America is upon us,” Trump concluded.

 

 

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Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud

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A Madrid court on Friday handed down a sentence of more than four years in prison to Rodrigo Rato, the former chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Spain’s ex-economy minister.

Rato was convicted of multiple charges, including tax crimes, money laundering, and corruption.

READ MORE: NCDMB Rewards Winners Of 2024 Edition National Undergraduate Essay Competition

The court found Rato guilty of “three offences against the treasury, one offence of money laundering, and one offence of corruption between individuals,” according to an official statement.

Details shortly………..

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South Korean President Banned From Travel Amid Martial Law Backlash

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South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country, the Justice Ministry confirmed Monday, following a week of political chaos triggered by his brief declaration of martial law.

The ban marks the first time a sitting president has faced such a restriction in the nation’s history.

Recall that on December 3, Yoon ordered special forces and helicopters to the National Assembly in an attempt to impose martial law.

RELATED NEWS: Martial Law: South Korea Opposition Files Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon

Lawmakers swiftly overturned the decree, forcing Yoon to rescind the order. Although he survived an impeachment motion on Saturday, public anger has continued to mount, with large protests demanding his resignation.

Authorities are now investigating Yoon and his close allies for their roles in last week’s events, including allegations of insurrection.

Among those facing travel bans are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun, who is in custody, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.

General Park An-su, who led the martial law operation, and Defence Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung have also been barred from leaving the country.

General Park was questioned by investigators on Monday as the probe intensified.

Yoon’s impeachment failed after members of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the National Assembly, denying the opposition the required two-thirds majority.

In exchange for their support, Yoon reportedly agreed to delegate his powers to the prime minister and the PPP chairman.

“This is an unlawful, unconstitutional act of a second insurrection and a second coup,” said Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party.

Critics argue that Yoon’s decision to hand power to unelected officials violates the constitution.

“It seems to resemble an unconstitutional soft coup,” said Kim Hae-won, a constitutional law professor at Pusan National University.

“Their attitude of placing themselves above the constitution mirrors that of insurrectionist Yoon Suk Yeol,” added Park Chan-dae.

Despite Yoon’s apology for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his martial law order, his approval rating has plummeted to 11%, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Opposition leaders have announced plans for a second impeachment vote on Saturday, with massive protests expected outside the National Assembly.

The PPP’s claim that Yoon can remain in office while delegating his powers to party officials has also been widely criticized.

“If there are issues with the president, the constitution lays out clear procedures, such as suspension or impeachment,” said Professor Kim Hae-won.

The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about South Korea’s leadership amid tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.

The Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that Yoon remains the official commander in chief, despite questions about his authority.

“Legally, (control of military forces) currently lies with the commander in chief,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-Kyou.

 

 

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