Global Tit bits
Compiled by Yadnom Awu/Asaba
Russia/Ukraine
Russia Pounds Ukraine
In spite of their successful exchange of Prisoners today, both Russia and Ukraine remained as far apart as possible from a truce to their three -year military conflict.
This followed the massive haul of military fire power on Ukraine by Russia.
Moscow, on its part, claimed that it intercepted 100 drones fired by Ukraine.
Overnight, Ukraine said Russia launched 367 drone and aircraft attacks on almost all parts of the country, including Kiev, its capital.
Russia did not comment on the reports of the massive assault,the single largest attack since the conflict began, but Ukrainian President, Wladimyr Zelensky, said the attack happened because of what he termed the silence of the global community to Moscow’ s impunity in continuing the barrage, despite increasing calls for a ceasefire, and in spite of Moscow agreeing to unconditional ceasefire talks with Ukraine.
Today, both countries firmed up their mutual release of prisoners, at a batch of 1000 per country.
Those released included both military personnel and civilians.
The release, the fifth between both countries this year, came on the heels of low level exploratory talks between officials of both countries in Istanbul, formerly called Constantinople, in Turkiye, last week.
The low heel talks were preceded by Russia’s unilateral release of the bodies of 909 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the conflict which began with Russia ‘ s invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022.
Gaza, Palestine
Hungry Residents Loot Aid Trucks In Northern Gaza
Four aid trucks today managed to reach Northern Gaza but were looted by hungry residents who had been denied humanitarian supplies via a comprehensive blockade for nearly three months.
The development comes after Israel, reluctantly, agreed to ease the blockade following growing pressure on it and its leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to review the blockade and end its devastating war on Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.
In spite of the ease of the blockade, the Israeli military campaign continued throughout the enclave and the West Bank, killing at least 22 persons, including children.
The attacks today came a day after a consultant paediatrician at a Gaza hospital lost nine of her 10 children who were killed in Israel’ s attack their residence.
Her husband, also a consultant doctor at the same hospital, suffered severe head, lung and limb injuries, while their 11- year old son, was hospitalized with severe injury to his left hand.
Madrid, Spain
EU,Arab Countries Meet on Palestinian Cause
Leaders of 20 Arab and European Union (EU) nations today began a meeting on the Palestine question.
The meeting is holding under the aegis of the Madrid Group, and the meeting is their fifth.
The session is to harmonise positions on Palestinian issue which has pitched much of the world against Israel, the occupying force in Palestine, and its receding band of supporters, led by America.
The move comes ahead of a global conference on the same subject due in June in New York.
Some countries , including Canada, France and Britain, had last week, advised Israel to ceasefire and end its debilitating blockade on Gaza, which, like the Occupied West Bank, is under heavy military campaign by Israel.
More than 140 countries, mainly from the southern hemisphere, have recognized the state of Palestine, but Israel and America have stoutly resisted the effort to admit country into the United Nations General Assembly, on full membership.
Palestine currently has an observer status at the global community group.
America
Low- Key Memorial Held For George Floyd
The Floyd family in Houston Texas, today held a memorial for its son, George who was killed by a white cop in what many said was a racially motivated incident.
That incident, five years ago, triggered a wave of public protests and birthdd the Black Lives Matter Movement in the country.
Rights groups say the gains of the movement have been rolled back by the policies of the Donald Trump administration.
