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Humanitarian Ceasefire Only Way To End Gaza Crisis – UN Chief

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Humanitarian Ceasefire Only Way To End Gaza CrisisUN Chief—UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has said it is only humanitarian ceasefire that can end the Gaza crisis.

The UN chief, however, expressed hope that a Security Council resolution to get more aid into Gaza will pave the way to a humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Guterres said this while speaking at a news conference at UN headquarters after the resolution was adopted.

The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Security Council had on Friday adopted a resolution on the ongoing crisis, with 13 votes in favour and the U.S. and Russia abstaining.

The resolution, among others demands immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza strip.

There has been no significant change in the way the war has been unfolding in Gaza, he said, with no effective protection of civilians.

Israeli bombardment continues while Hamas and other factions continue to fire rockets into the country.

The UN Chief outlined devastation that included more than 20,000 Palestinians reportedly killed and 1.9 million people, 85 per cent of the Gaza population, forced to flee their homes.

The health system is on its knees, clean water is at a trickle and the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of the threat of widespread famine.

“A humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to begin to meet the desperate needs of people in Gaza and end their ongoing nightmare.

“I hope that today’s Security Council Resolution may help this finally to happen but much more is needed immediately,” he said.

Guterres said that it was a “mistake” to measure the effectiveness of the humanitarian operation in Gaza based on the number of aid trucks allowed to enter the enclave.

“The real problem is that the way Israel is conducting this offensive is creating massive obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza,” he said.

He stressed that an effective aid operation there required four elements that currently did not exist; namely security, staff who could work in safety, logistical capacity, and the resumption of commercial activity.

Regarding security, he noted that the intense Israeli bombardment and active combat in densely populated areas threatened both civilians and aid workers.

While humanitarian staff need to be able to live and work in safety, 136 personnel from the UN agency that assist Palestinians (UNRWA) have been killed since the start of the conflict, he said.

He added that “nowhere is safe in Gaza.”

Turning to logistics, he reported that every aid truck that came through the two open border crossings with Gaza – Kerem Shalom and Rafah – must be unloaded and then re-loaded for distribution across the enclave.

“Many of our vehicles and trucks were destroyed or left behind following our forced, hurried evacuation from the north, but the Israeli authorities have not allowed any additional trucks to operate in Gaza.

“This is massively hampering the aid operation,” he said.

Furthermore, aid delivery in the north is extremely dangerous due to active conflict, unexploded ordnance, and heavily damaged road, he added.

He said frequent communications blackouts in Gaza made it virtually impossible to coordinate the distribution of aid and people’s access to it.

Looking to the longer term, the UN chief also upheld the two-State solution as the only path to sustainable peace.

He said spillover from the conflict was already being felt in the immediate region and beyond, posing a significant and growing threat to global peace and security.

“As the conflict intensifies and the horror grows, we will continue to do our part. We will not give up.

“But at the same time, it is imperative that the international community speak with one voice: for peace, for the protection of civilians, for an end to suffering, and for a commitment to the two-state solution – backed with action,” he said.

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Fletcher Hails Senator Yayi’s 56th Birthday, Applauds His Commitment to Good Governance

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Fletcher Hails Senator Yayi’s 56th Birthday, Applauds His Commitment to Good Governance—-The President of the Association of Professional Food Service Providers of Nigeria (APFSN) , Managing Director, OfadaBoy Restaurant, a professional food service company, convener Ofada Rice Day and Co-Convener of Yayi Forward, Mr. Oluwatobi Fletcher (Ofadaboy), has felicitated with the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, on his birthday.

Fletcher, who is an indigene of Ofada town in Obafemi Owode local Government in Ogun State, described Senator Adeola as a committed public servant whose political journey and contributions to legislative development have continued to make a significant impact on the people of Ogun State and Nigeria.

In a birthday message, Fletcher commended the Senator for his dedication to public service, describing his leadership style as one anchored on grassroots engagement, purposeful representation and commitment to the welfare and development of his constituents.

According to Fletcher, Senator Adeola’s contributions to the development of Ogun West and his broader efforts in supporting initiatives that promote economic growth, empowerment and improved opportunities for the people deserve recognition and commendation.

“Today, we celebrate not just a politician, but a leader whose journey reflects resilience, dedication and a deep commitment to public service. Senator Solomon Adeola has demonstrated that leadership is ultimately about the people and the positive impact one can make in their lives.

“On behalf of APFSN, Yayi Forward and myself, I wish our distinguished Senator a very happy birthday. May God continue to grant him wisdom, good health, strength and the courage to continue serving our people and contributing to the development of our dear nation,” Fletcher said.

The APFSN President further expressed confidence that Senator Adeola would continue to provide purposeful leadership and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Ogun State and Nigeria.

He prayed for many more years of good health, fulfilment, greater accomplishments and continued relevance in public service.

“Happy Birthday, Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola. May your new age usher in greater opportunities, renewed strength and even greater impact in the service of humanity,” Fletcher added.

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Ex-Gang Leader Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis Goes on Trial Over 1996 Tupac Shakur Murder

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Ex-Gang Leader Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis Goes on Trial Over 1996 Tupac Shakur Murder—-Nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur was killed in a Las Vegas drive-by shooting, Duane “Keffe D” Davis faces trial in the only criminal case brought in connection with the rap icon’s death.

Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, the long-running mystery surrounding the rapper’s death is finally heading into a courtroom as former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis goes on trial Monday.

Davis, 63, is charged with murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. He has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection is scheduled to begin in Clark County District Court, with the trial expected to last several weeks.

Prosecutors accuse Davis of helping orchestrate the September 1996 attack that killed Shakur. Authorities allege that Davis was involved in planning the retaliation after an earlier confrontation involving members of his South Side Compton Crips gang and Shakur’s entourage.

Davis has never been accused of personally pulling the trigger. Prosecutors instead contend that he helped organize the attack and supplied the firearm allegedly used in the shooting. The identity of the person who fired the fatal shots remains a central issue in the case.

Shakur was only 25 when he was shot while riding in a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight following a Mike Tyson boxing match in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996. He died six days later from his injuries.

For years, the investigation produced no criminal charges. The case was revived after Davis made public comments about his alleged involvement, including accounts contained in his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend,” as well as interviews and documentary appearances.

Those statements are expected to form a major part of the prosecution’s case. Prosecutors have acknowledged that Davis’ various accounts contain inconsistencies but argue that his statements nevertheless provide evidence of his role in the killing.

The defense, meanwhile, is expected to challenge the credibility and reliability of those statements. Davis’ lawyers have argued that portions of his memoir and other public accounts were exaggerated or inaccurate, setting up a trial in which the jury may have to determine which parts of Davis’ numerous accounts can be trusted.

The case also brings renewed attention to the bitter East Coast-West Coast rivalry that surrounded the hip-hop industry during the 1990s. Shakur was closely associated with Death Row Records, while the rivalry with Bad Boy Records and figures connected to the East Coast had become increasingly hostile.

Davis was arrested in September 2023 after investigators obtained a new indictment in the case, making him the only person ever charged in connection with Shakur’s murder. He has remained in custody since then.

The trial has attracted enormous public interest because of Shakur’s enduring influence on music and popular culture. The rapper sold tens of millions of records during his career and remains one of hip-hop’s most influential figures nearly three decades after his death.

Shakur’s family and supporters have spent years seeking answers over what happened that night in Las Vegas. The proceedings now offer prosecutors their first opportunity to present a complete criminal case before a jury.

However, the trial is not expected to resolve every unanswered question surrounding the murder. With the alleged gunman never charged and key witnesses from the 1996 era no longer available, prosecutors face the challenge of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Davis was criminally responsible for the killing.

As jury selection begins Monday, the case enters a historic new chapter — nearly 30 years after one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries began.

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