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Venezuela Protesters Plan Major Protest To Block Main Roads And Biggest Motorway

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Protesters plan Monday to block Venezuela’s main roads including the capital’s biggest motorway, triggering fears of further violence after three weeks of unrest left 21 people dead.

The wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez started a vigil Sunday outside the prison where he is being held, pressing for permission to visit him after he spent a month in isolation.

President Nicolas Maduro said Sunday that he wants “elections now,” referring to elections for governors which were supposed to be held last December, and those for mayors scheduled for this year. A presidential election is scheduled for 2018.

“I am ready for what the Electoral Power says,” insisted Maduro, who won the 2013 election by a narrow margin.

Venezuela has seen near-daily protests since the beginning of April, with opponents of Maduro demanding his ouster.

Maduro has called for local elections in Venezuela, but the government has ruled out voting this year at presidential level as opposition leaders have demanded.

The opposition blames Maduro for the unraveling of the oil giant’s once-booming economy, leaving the country with critical shortages of food, medicine and basic goods.

The spark that set off the near-daily protests was an attempt by the Supreme Court to take over the powers of the opposition-dominated Congress.

Most of the demonstrations have degenerated into riots and clashes with security forces, who dispersed them using tear gas and rubber bullets.

The government and the opposition have accused each other of fomenting the deadly violence that has also seen hundreds of people detained or wounded and businesses looted.

The latest victim, Almelina Carrillo, 47, succumbed to injuries suffered when she was struck in the head by a bottle thrown from a building during the march in Caracas.

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol called her “another victim of the Terrorist Right, which is full of hatred.”

“We will not rest until we capture those responsible for this repugnant crime,” he added.

The opposition has said it will use the momentum to keep taking to the streets demanding elections and pushing for the release of political prisoners.

Thursday marked one of the most violent days in the latest wave of protests, with the Caracas neighborhood of El Valle the scene of shootings, looting and pitched battles between demonstrators and police officers, who forced the evacuation of a maternity ward.

Eleven people died that day alone.

Maduro says he has “evidence” that opposition lawmakers Jose Guerra and Tomas Guanipa were involved in those deadly riots.

The opposition coalition Mesa de la Unidad Democratica (MUD) has denounced “a sequence of political persecution against important leaders,” lawmaker Enrique Marquez was quoted as saying by the El Encimulo news website.

Maduro is pressing the opposition to resume dialogue, frozen since last year after it accused the government of not complying with agreements which include the call for elections.

“I ask Pope Francis from here on out to continue to accompany us in the dialogue, because there is a conspiracy in Rome and here as well against dialogue in Venezuela,” he said.

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10 dead, 30 injured after vehicle drives into crowd in US

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At least 10 people have been killed after a vehicle drove into a large crowd in New Orleans, a city in Louisiana, United States.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the French Quarter, a popular tourist area, when a car sped down Bourbon Street.

Witnesses told CBS News that the driver reportedly got out and began shooting at pedestrians. Police returned fire, and two officers were injured in the exchange.

Anne Kirkpatrick, the city’s police superintendent, described the attack as “very intentional”.

“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” she said.

Kirkpatrick said attack began at 15:15 local time (21:15 GMT), adding that most of the victims appeared to be local residents, but the identities of those killed or injured are still being determined.

She said numbers could change, but confirmed 10 people were killed and at least 35 others injured.

She said it is unclear how many victims are tourists and how many are locals but added that she believed that the majority are local to New Orleans.

The superintendent said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will take over the investigation into the incident.

Althea Duncan, FBI agent, clarified that the shooting was not a terrorist incident, but noted that “improvised explosive devices” were found on scene.

Duncan said the FBI is working to find out if they are “viable” devices and urged the public to stay away from the area.

Jeff Landry, governor of Louisiana, described the incident as a “horrific act of violence”.

Landry said he is praying for all the victims and first responders at the scene.

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South Korean court issues arrest warrant for impeached president

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A Seoul western district court has issued an arrest warrant against impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following his botched martial law declaration.

It is the first time authorities have sought to detain a sitting South Korean president.

It is unclear when authorities would attempt to take Yeol into custody. January 6 was given as the deadline to execute the warrant.

“The arrest warrant and search warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, requested by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, were issued this morning,” the Joint Investigation Headquarters, which includes officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), police, and the defence ministry, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The warrant comes after Yeol, who is being investigated for power abuse and inciting an insurrection, ignored three summons in the last fortnight.

The president’s legal team has called the warrant “illegal and invalid” and said they would challenge it in court.

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Biden declares January 9 national mourning day for Jimmy Carter

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United States President Joe Biden has declared January 9, 2025 as a national day of mourning for Jimmy Carter.

Carter, the 39th US president, died on Sunday at 100. He was the first ex-US president to become a centenarian.

Biden described Carter as an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian.

“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us,” Biden said in a statement following Carter’s death.

“He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.

“He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together,” he added, referencing Carter’s wife of 77 years who died in November 2023.

Biden ordered that flags be displayed at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels for a period of 30 days from Carter’s death.

The president said similar arrangements applied to US representatives in foreign countries at embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad.

“I do further appoint January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States,” Biden added.

The president urged Americans and people around the world who share in the grief to honour Carter’s memory on the said day.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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