News
Kyiv Shooting: Six Killed, 14 Injured as Gunman Dies in Police Shoot-out
Kyiv Shooting: Six Killed, 14 Injured as Gunman Dies in Police Shoot-out
No fewer than six persons were killed and 14 others injured on Saturday after a gunman opened fire on residents in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, before taking hostages in a supermarket in the southern Holosiivskyi district.
Authorities confirmed that the attacker was later killed during a shoot-out with security operatives, bringing an end to the tense standoff that left the city reeling.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Igor Klymenko, disclosed that two police officers who were seen in a viral video abandoning civilians at the scene had been suspended, adding that an investigation into their conduct had commenced.
Footage circulating online showed officers reportedly withdrawing from the scene as the attack unfolded, sparking outrage and raising concerns over police response.
Klymenko, in a statement posted on Telegram, stressed the need for accountability. He said, “‘Serve and protect’ is not just a slogan. It must be supported by appropriate professional actions, especially at critical moments when people’s lives depend on it.”
He, however, cautioned against generalising the conduct of the entire police force based on the actions of a few officers.
Further condemning the officers’ behaviour, a senior official, Zhukov, told a press conference on Sunday that they “failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger,” describing their actions as “unprofessional and unworthy.”
Zhukov subsequently announced his resignation, stating, “As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold.”
Ukrainian authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist act, although the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Klymenko noted that the suspect’s mental state appeared “clearly unstable.”
Eight of the injured victims are still receiving treatment in hospital, with one adult reported to be in extremely critical condition, while three others remain in serious condition.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a reaction on Sunday, criticised the officers involved, stating that they were present at the scene but “did not stop the murderer and fled on their own.”
He described their actions as “inaction” and confirmed that a criminal investigation had been launched, which would also examine their previous service records.
“We are going through a war and every day, unfortunately, there are human losses from Russian strikes. It is especially painful to lose people like this, in an ordinary city, just on the street,” Zelensky said.
Authorities have begun releasing details about the victims, revealing that one of those killed was the father of a child injured during the attack, while another victim was believed to be the child’s aunt.
The gunman, identified as a 58-year-old man originally from Moscow, had reportedly been residing in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district prior to the incident.
Officials said he previously lived in the eastern Donetsk region, an area heavily impacted by conflict and Russian occupation.
Investigators confirmed that the firearm used in the attack was legally registered.
However, efforts are ongoing to determine how the suspect obtained and renewed the necessary licence.
Although Kyiv has frequently been targeted in the ongoing war with Russia, officials noted that incidents of this nature remain rare in the city.
Klymenko ruled out an immediate mass review of gun ownership laws, insisting that citizens should retain the right to armed self-defence, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing security challenges.
Ukrainian law permits civilians to own non-automatic firearms under strict licensing conditions, including the absence of a criminal record or history of mental illness.
News
Trump Rejects Iran’s Peace Response, Says Proposal ‘Totally Unacceptable’
Trump Rejects Iran’s Peace Response, Says Proposal ‘Totally Unacceptable’
United States President, Donald Trump, has dismissed Iran’s response to Washington’s proposals for ending the ongoing war as “totally unacceptable,” raising fresh fears over the collapse of fragile ceasefire talks in the Middle East.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran’s response, transmitted through Pakistan which has been acting as mediator, demanded an immediate end to hostilities on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade and firm guarantees against further attacks on Iranian territory.
The ceasefire brokered to facilitate negotiations after the war launched by the United States and Israel in February has largely held despite occasional exchanges of fire.
Reacting in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called Representatives. I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.”
The US leader had earlier declared that the war against Iran would be “over quickly” if Tehran agreed to Washington’s conditions.
The latest diplomatic row came as Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, insisted that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium must be dismantled before the conflict could truly end.
“There’s still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled,” Netanyahu said in an interview excerpt released ahead of CBS’s “60 Minutes” programme.
News
Iran, US Exchange Threats Despite Ceasefire Negotiations
Iran, US Exchange Threats Despite Ceasefire Negotiations
The standoff between Iran and the United States deepened on Sunday as Tehran confirmed it had submitted a formal response to Washington’s latest proposals aimed at ending the months-long war that has destabilised the Middle East and rattled global oil markets.
The development came amid fresh threats from both sides, with Iranian leaders warning neighbouring Gulf states against cooperating with American sanctions while US President Donald Trump declared that Tehran would no longer be allowed to “play games”.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has reportedly been mediating between the warring parties, disclosed that Islamabad had received Iran’s response but declined to reveal details of the document or whether it had already been transmitted to Washington.
The latest diplomatic manoeuvres unfolded against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire brokered to facilitate negotiations after the war launched jointly by the United States and Israel against Iran in February.
Although the ceasefire has largely held, sporadic exchanges of fire and threats of escalation have continued to fuel fears of a broader regional conflict.
US media outlet Axios reported that Washington’s proposal was contained in a one-page, 14-point memo outlining sweeping conditions for ending hostilities.
According to the report, the proposals include suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme, the lifting of sanctions on Tehran, and restoration of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass daily.
The report, citing unnamed American officials and sources familiar with the negotiations, stated that several conditions would only take effect after a comprehensive final agreement was reached.
Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency, however, said Tehran’s response focused primarily on “ending the war and maritime security” in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
The comments underscored Iran’s continued determination to leverage its control of the waterway despite mounting international pressure.
Iran has maintained restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has triggered spikes in global oil prices and heightened anxiety in international energy markets.
Washington, in turn, has intensified pressure on Tehran through a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports, further inflaming tensions between both countries.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while avoiding direct mention of the American proposal, insisted that Iran would not capitulate under pressure.
“We will never bow our heads before the enemy, and if talk of dialogue or negotiation arises, it does not mean surrender or retreat,” Pezeshkian declared on Sunday.
Trump, however, maintained a combative posture, insisting the conflict would soon end on American terms.
In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, the US president accused Iran of decades of hostility against Washington and vowed that Tehran’s actions would no longer go unanswered.
“For 47 years the Iranians have been ‘tapping’ us along, keeping us waiting, killing our people with their roadside bombs, destroying protests… They will be laughing no longer,” Trump wrote.
The American president’s remarks came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded tougher conditions before any declaration that the war was over.
Netanyahu said Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium must be dismantled completely, insisting that several enrichment facilities remained operational.
“There’s still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled,” the Israeli leader said in an interview excerpt released ahead of a CBS “60 Minutes” broadcast.
The increasingly hardline rhetoric from Washington and Tel Aviv has provoked alarm across the Gulf region.
Iran on Sunday warned neighbouring countries against aligning with US sanctions or military efforts, threatening “severe consequences” for vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran’s cooperation.
Military spokesman Mohammad Akraminia dismissed American naval operations in the region, saying the US would “never be able to turn this vast expanse into a real blockade”.
The threats heightened fears of disruptions to international shipping as Tehran intensified warnings against Western military deployments.
Diaspora
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 91
Diaspora Watch Newspaper Releases it’s 91st Edition.
Diaspora Watch Newspaper is proud to announce the release of its 91st edition, delivering a compelling blend of international headlines, geopolitical analysis, and cultural commentary that reflect the dynamic realities shaping the global community.
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Leading this edition is a major diplomatic spotlight: “Trump Hosts King Charles, Queen Camilla at White House, Hails ‘Unbreakable’ US-UK Ties.” The story examines renewed transatlantic relations and the strategic implications of high-level engagements between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Also featured prominently is Nigeria’s strong diplomatic response to rising tensions in Southern Africa, as the Government summons South Africa’s envoy over reported attacks on its citizens. This development underscores ongoing concerns about the safety and welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora.
In security and defense, the edition reports on the disappearance of two United States troops during military drills in Morocco, raising questions about operational risks and international military cooperation.
On the economic and developmental front, Caribbean leaders take decisive steps toward reducing import dependence through a new food security framework under CARICOM, while the Santa Marta Summit provides fresh momentum for a global transition away from fossil fuels.
Energy discourse is further amplified as the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization advocates for the establishment of regional energy hubs to drive investment in Africa’s oil and gas sector, signaling a strategic shift toward intra-continental collaboration.
In another major geopolitical development, the United States imposes sanctions on former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila over alleged links to the M23 rebel group, reflecting growing international scrutiny over instability in Central Africa.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East deepen as the United Arab Emirates issues a stern warning on Iran’s reliability in managing the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting concerns over global energy security amid escalating US–Tehran relations.
Rounding off the edition on the back page is a cultural reflection from global music icon Jay-Z, who emphasizes authenticity in hip-hop culture with the thought-provoking stance: “Hip-Hop Must Stay Real, Not Trendy.”
Stay informed and ahead of the curve with the 91st edition of Diaspora Watch where we the complex dynamics shaping our world and provide insights into the stories that matter.
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