*Sunday 08 June 2025* Follow the Chaminukanews24.com channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAiZu0HQbS0w1lUez3v *MORNING NEWS UPDATES* _• USD: ZiG Official Exchange – Z$26.50_ • _Black Market Rate - Zig 40: USD1_ • _Innscor in-store – Z$35_ • _KFC, Slice, Eat'n'Lick – Z$35_ *THE HEADLINES* *Defiant Motorists To Be Blocked At Tollgates: Police* *ZANU PF Candidate Dismantles Boreholes* *ZANU PF Recycles Old Promises, Now Tells Gutu East Voters They’ll Be Rich* *Real empowerment means financial independence, not state handouts. Mbofana* *Grow industrial capacity to diversify economy — Zim Central Bank* *New regulatory fees to ease burden on businesses: Government* *Trump says Elon Musk could face ‘serious consequences’ if he backs Democratic candidates* *Trump admits Musk’s ‘craziness’ may be due to drug use — newspaper* *Trump deploys National Guard after second day of Los Angeles immigration protests* *SPORT ON CHAMINUKANEWS24.COM* *'It doesn't get any bigger' - Sinner & Alcaraz set for French Open showdown* *Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certain he won’t play at Club World Cup* *Man City on verge of completing deal for Ait-Nouri* *Reijnders closes in on Man City move* *Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez has been released from international duty by Hungary as the 21-year-old closes in on a move to Liverpool* *Newcastle United are set to step up their pursuit of Brighton and Brazil forward Joao Pedro, 23, having appeared to have missed out on 25-year-old Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to join Manchester United from Brentford* *Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is on Brentford's list of possible candidates to succeed Thomas Frank, who is believed to be a leading option to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham* *Chelsea are set to return with a second bid for France keeper Mike Maignan, 29, after having a first offer, which is considerably short of AC Milan's asking price, rejected by the Serie A side* *Napoli's Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen, 26, has accepted a contract offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal* *Fenerbahce have joined fellow Turkish club Galatasaray in wanting to sign 29-year-old Germany winger Leroy Sane, who has yet to accept the offer of a new deal with Bayern Munich* *Bayern Munich have reached a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Germany defender Jonathan Tah, 29, before his contract ends on 30 June so he can play at the Fifa Club World Cup* *THE DETAILS CHAMINUKANEWS24.COM* _*Defiant Motorists To Be Blocked At Tollgates: Police*_ Motorists who fail to present themselves to police after being caught on camera running through red traffic lights will face stiff penalties including inability to process their documents or pass through tollgates. The measures are part of the newly implemented Electronic Traffic Management System (ETMS), designed to enhance road safety and contribute to an accident-free society. In response to the initiative, police have launched an operation targeting 20 000 motorists in Harare and Bulawayo who are wanted for traffic light violations. Authorities have started releasing the names of the vehicles owners in batches. In an interview to unpack the ETMS, police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said there is no going back on the new system. He cautioned individuals who disregard police requests to report to the nearest police station, after the publication of their vehicle licence numbers and pay their fines, noting that typically, those who run through red traffic lights are expected to face their day in court. “The system will be linked to other Government departments like Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara), local authorities, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra). What this means is that those who continue to ignore our call for them to present themselves at their nearest police station, will not be able to renew their vehicle licences or cross through tollgates anywhere in the country. The system also automatically indicates if the vehicle is registered or not,” said Comm Nyathi. He said it was therefore in the interest of the offending motorist to comply, once caught on camera and their number plates published by the police. Comm Nyathi said arrogance by motorists will be to their detriment, regardless of who owns the vehicle. “Technology knows and respects no one, it doesn’t matter whether one is driving a vehicle with white number plates or not. “We want clean roads, not what is prevailing now and as police, we won’t get tired of making sure we achieve that. “Public Service Vehicle owners must also take heed that no operating licence will be issued to anyone owing, until the bill is cleared,” said Comm Nyathi. He said road safety was a collective responsibility and hence both the law enforcement agencies and individual motorists must contribute towards that as the nation surges towards road safety. Comm Nyathi urged motorists or institutions with vehicles on the list to report to the nearest police station and co-operate fully with ongoing investigations. Sunday Mail _*ZANU PF Candidate Dismantles Boreholes*_ MASVINGO – Zanu PF candidate for Gutu East has created a water crisis in the constituency after dismantling community boreholes but failed to deliver on his promise to immediately replace them with solarized boreholes. Community gardens and people alike have been seriously affected by the development. Zvarevashe Masvingise, a former councillor who appears to be running scared had Zanu PF youth dismantling community boreholes and promising villagers that solar boreholes would be installed within three days. It is almost four weeks now and the solar project has not started and villagers are now fetching water in unprotected sources. The brunt is weighing heavily on women and the girl child who are walking several kilometres to nearby rivers and streams to get water There was a crisis at Mandeya Business Center in Ward 4 Nyazvidzi where two churches, Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) and AFM gathered for conferences last weekend and there was no water because one Zanu PF youth, Charles Mudhakwa Nqadini had dismantled the borehole. Efforts to get a comment from Nqadhini were futile. Independent candidate contesting in the June 14, 2025 elections, Gift Gonese said there is an outcry over the boreholes and villagers are now trying to restore the manual boreholes but its costly. Masvingise declined to comment on the matter and accused Masvingo Mirror of being biased against his party. On Wednesday Masvingo Mirror, witnessed a team from Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) restoring a manual borehole at Mandeya Business Center. The workers complained that the borehole was badly damaged by Nqadhini and company. A similar stunt was used by Zanu PF in the run up to the March 26, 2022, Masvingo City by-elections. Zanu PF promised to install solar powered boreholes in wards 3, 4, 5 and 7. Water tanks and drilling were done only to be abandoned after the party lost the elections. Some of the affected wards are Ward 17 at Zimbizi Primary and Secondary schools and Makanga, Dzino and Gumindoga areas and Ward 36 at Chidoni and Muchekayaora areas and Chana Clinic. National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) spokesperson, Maddock Chivasa said Zanu PF is already failing to deliver on its promises before the election date and the electorate should give another political outfit a chance to lead. _*ZANU PF Recycles Old Promises, Now Tells Gutu East Voters They’ll Be Rich*_ After more than four decades of unfulfilled promises in rural development, the ruling ZANU PF party has once again pledged to uplift villagers — this time by vowing to make them “rich” through empowerment initiatives aligned with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030. Speaking at a campaign rally in Gutu East last weekend ahead of the June 14 by-election, ZANU PF national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha struck an optimistic tone, promising transformation and prosperity. “Don’t worry, we will empower all of you in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2030 vision,” said Machacha. “We are confident of winning the party’s confidence ahead of the June 14 by-election. The energy is electric as we mobilise for victory, standing firm in our commitment to the people and the vision for progress.” “Thank you, His Excellency President Dr ED Mnangagwa, for your unwavering leadership and commitment to the people.” However, critics argue that these bold statements are nothing more than recycled campaign rhetoric—a familiar pattern for the ruling party that has governed since independence in 1980. Gutu East, like many other rural constituencies, continues to suffer from underdevelopment, with residents lacking access to clean water, healthcare, decent roads, and employment opportunities. For decades, ZANU PF has made grand promises to rural voters during election seasons, only for those pledges to fade once the votes are secured. Analysts say this latest campaign pitch appears to follow the same script: lofty visions, zero accountability. _*Real empowerment means financial independence, not state handouts. Mbofana*_ President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent unveiling of a US$500,000 cash payout to war veterans, under the guise of the War Veterans Empowerment Fund, has ignited widespread debate and skepticism. While the initiative is framed as a noble effort to uplift those who contributed to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, it raises important questions about the nature of economic empowerment and the sincerity of government programs supposedly meant to improve people’s lives. Is this truly empowerment, or is it political patronage repackaged as generosity? This is not the first time the Mnangagwa administration has launched a targeted “empowerment” program for specific groups. We have witnessed numerous such schemes under his presidency, including the hairdressers’ fund under “Hairdressers for ED,” the Presidential Borehole Scheme, the housing stands for civil servants, and the agricultural input handouts under the Pfumvudza program. Added to these are the Presidential War Veterans Fund, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Revolving Fund, and the Presidential Youth Mining Equipment Scheme — all portrayed as efforts to uplift citizens but often lacking transparency, accountability, and measurable impact. All of these are branded as empowerment efforts, yet most are designed as loans that beneficiaries are expected to repay. If empowerment must come in the form of a government handout, often wrapped in political rhetoric and debt, then we must question whether our economic system is functional at all. Real economic empowerment does not require a politician’s blessing or a state-run program. It is achieved when every citizen, regardless of profession, is able to earn a decent income from their honest work, access financial services, and live a dignified life without begging for state intervention. In a truly working economy, teachers, nurses, drivers, builders, and even vendors would not need handouts or so-called empowerment loans. Their wages or income from their professions would be enough to cater for their basic needs and still allow them to live relatively comfortable lives. This is not just a utopian vision. It is exactly what many Zimbabweans experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. Our parents, who may have worked as mere clerks, drivers, or civil servants, managed to buy or build homes, including in low-density suburbs, bought decent cars, and sent their children to good schools. All of this was possible not because of some empowerment scheme, but because the economy was functioning. Their salaries were sufficient, and financial institutions like building societies were accessible and responsive. Today, the very existence of a multitude of so-called empowerment programs is a loud admission that our economy is broken. Why would a person need state assistance to start a small business or to own a home if the economy was supporting entrepreneurship and home ownership? Why are boreholes being drilled by the state and branded as Presidential schemes if local councils and residents had the means to develop and maintain their own infrastructure? In a healthy economic environment, citizens access loans from banks, backed by the collateral they have amassed through years of productive work. The very fact that people can no longer do this shows just how impoverished Zimbabweans have become. It is deeply troubling that the very government responsible for the collapse of the economy is now exploiting that collapse to present itself as a savior. The Mnangagwa administration is using people’s poverty as a political weapon. It offers carefully packaged assistance to targeted groups not out of genuine concern for their welfare, but to buy their loyalty. The timing of these empowerment initiatives, often rolled out ahead of elections or during periods of political tension, reveals their true motive. These are not empowerment strategies; they are political tools designed to keep a poor population dependent and submissive. The war veterans, youth, women, farmers, and other groups being targeted are being used as pawns in a larger political game. Their allegiance is secured through material dependency, not shared ideology or genuine empowerment. In fact, this approach robs people of their dignity. Instead of being supported to stand on their own, they are turned into permanent dependents of a regime that has, ironically, impoverished them in the first place. They are made to feel grateful for what is essentially compensation for the destruction of opportunities that should have been naturally available to them in a functioning economy. This is not empowerment — it is control. True empowerment lies in creating an environment where the economy thrives, jobs are plentiful, infrastructure is reliable, and financial institutions are robust and inclusive. It means enabling people to pursue their aspirations through hard work, innovation, and merit — not through handouts tied to political loyalty. Instead of investing in sustainable economic reforms, the Mnangagwa administration continues to prioritize optics over substance. We see boreholes being drilled with much fanfare while water infrastructure in cities and towns collapses. We see young people being handed mining equipment while access to productive claims remains limited to the politically connected. We see token loans being paraded as empowerment, while banks remain inaccessible to the majority due to lack of collateral and a collapsed credit system. Empowerment is not a photo opportunity; it is a long-term process of structural transformation that puts power — and responsibility — in the hands of the people, not the politicians. It is about economic justice, not political expediency. If the government truly cared about empowerment, it would focus on reviving industry, restoring agricultural productivity, ensuring policy consistency, clamping down on corruption, and strengthening institutions. It would stop seeing citizens as dependents and start seeing them as partners in national development. Until that happens, these so-called empowerment initiatives will remain nothing more than a thin veil covering a deeply flawed and cynical political strategy — one that continues to trap Zimbabweans in a cycle of poverty and dependence, rather than liberating them into financial independence and dignity. Zimbabweans deserve real economic empowerment — not politically motivated handouts that offer temporary relief but perpetuate permanent poverty. Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 _*Grow industrial capacity to diversify economy — Zim Central Bank*_ THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has encouraged both Government and private sector players to build more industrial capacity to avoid the current over-reliance on mineral commodities. Diversifying the economy and promoting value addition can reduce Zimbabwe’s vulnerability to external shocks and fluctuations in global commodity prices, experts say. This is particularly pertinent given that the mining sector accounts for around 65-80 percent of the nation’s total export earnings, with platinum, gold and diamonds being major contributors. In the past year, platinum prices faced an immense decline, which dimmed the sector’s performance. However, platinum prices are beginning to look up as they last week rose to US$1 090 an ounce, the highest since May 2024, driven by tight supply. While minerals significantly contribute to the country’s economy, analysts and industry players have called for diversification to reduce dependence on a single sector. The fear is that recent commodity price fluctuations might continue to affect the country’s export earnings if the country remains reliant mainly on minerals. Despite having firm gold prices, minerals had a mixed performance in 2024 as the market experienced a significant decline in prices due to increased supply and ample inventories. Zimbabwe’s export landscape has undergone significant changes over the years. In 1995, the country had a comparative advantage in approximately 2 840 export products, but this number has since declined to around 1 353 products. A recent survey revealed a substantial decrease in products with export comparative advantage, from 488 in 2002 to just 160 today. Furthermore, the share of manufactured exports in total merchandise exports experienced a brief increase in 2019 but subsequently resumed its downward trend. This decline in export competitiveness highlights the need for Zimbabwe to diversify its economy and strengthen its manufacturing sector to regain its position in the global market. These calls to build more industrial capacity beyond the current reliance on mineral commodities come as the government is actively working to diversify the country’s income streams, with a focus on boosting capacity and output in key sectors. Agriculture is a major area of emphasis, particularly wheat production and horticulture, which have experienced remarkable growth in recent years. Additionally, efforts are being made to improve the ease of doing business, aiming to reduce costs for local industrialists and make manufacturing more competitive. These initiatives aim to promote economic growth, increase productivity and create a more favourable business environment. To reduce dependence on raw minerals, stakeholders recommend proactive measures to promote value addition and export diversification. This could involve encouraging local processing and manufacturing of minerals to increase their value before export. Additionally, exploring new markets and products can help reduce reliance on a narrow range of commodities, making the country’s economy more resilient. “Commodity prices are determined away from us, and there is so much volatility that takes place, sometimes due to geopolitics and that affects our economy a lot. We need to invest and build capacities elsewhere because minerals are a finite resource that also goes through unpredictable patterns,” said RBZ Deputy Director Exports and Diaspora Remittances, Mr Dennis Chirata, at the recently held POSB exporters conference. “We do not have an option; value addition, we need to do forward integration if we are to survive in the long run. Going into that mode will solve our multiple problems, there will be more employment creation, more foreign currency, economic stability and inclusive growth.” ZimTrade Manager — Export Development, Mr Tatenda Marume, said he was optimistic about Zimbabwe’s potential to diversify and expand its export portfolio, identifying numerous opportunities for growth and development. “We need to reverse the current trend where we are exporting a few commodities. In 1992, our export products were quite diversified. We were exporting a lot of value-added products, which include processed foods, chemicals, clothing and textiles… and we were even exporting electronic products, like radios and televisions, to places such as the United States of America,” said Mr Marume. National Competitiveness Commission Executive Director, Mr Phillip Phiri indicated that the country needs to move beyond exporting raw materials and instead focus on value-addition to boost earnings and create jobs. “There is a need for big companies to start diversifying and looking at mine-to-factory models. We need to start thinking more about value addition. Imagine if US$1 billion we currently get from tobacco is converted to US$5 billion after value-addition. Also, imagine value adding our current mineral exports from US$6 billion to US$35 billion exports,” said Mr Phiri. By diversifying its export basket and promoting value-addition, Zimbabwe can drive economic growth and reduce its vulnerability to fluctuations in global commodity prices. This will require a concerted effort from government, industry stakeholders and other players to create an enabling environment for value addition and export diversification. – Sunday Mail _*New regulatory fees to ease burden on businesses: Government*_ THE Government will soon gazette downwardly revised regulatory fees for three key agricultural value chain sub-sectors — beef, dairy and food processing — as part of ongoing reforms to make local businesses competitive. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve the country’s ease of doing business and create a more conducive environment for local and foreign investors. In the beef value chain, farmers, abattoir operators and meat processors currently face multiple fees from different regulatory bodies for livestock movement permits, veterinary inspections, meat grading and slaughter, among other things. These costs are often duplicated across agencies, making it expensive for players to operate formally. It is envisaged that under the new reforms, the Government will consolidate these charges and lower the overall financial burden. For the food processing sector, which includes bakeries, canneries, beverage manufacturers and small-scale agro-processors, regulatory costs currently include inspection fees, product certification charges, health and safety licences, and local authority permits. Many of these are levied annually, creating heavy compliance costs, especially for start-ups. The Government believes easing the regulatory cost burden will unlock investment, encourage formalisation and promote job creation across the agricultural value chain. In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said: “We are making very good progress. The issue really is regulatory fees; it’s not taxes . . . are collected by the Central Government through Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) and the regulatory fees are collected by agencies, in line with regulatory processes. “So far, we have been focusing on the dairy sector, the food processing sector, but also the beef and meat processing sector. There is a lot going on there, and very soon you will see us gazette the new fees that will really lower these fees.” He said once new regulations are finalised for these sub-sectors, the programme will be rolled out to other key areas of the economy. “We are moving in stages,” said Prof Ncube. “After these three sectors, we are going to move on to the next sectors. So, we will keep going in stages. “There is a lot of work to do, but we are on to it. We really want to lower the cost of these fees.” Some of the current regulatory fees, he added, will be scrapped altogether. “I cannot front-load what we will implement through the issuance of an SI (statutory instrument), but some of them will be scrapped, for sure.” During the first Cabinet meeting of the year, President Mnangagwa directed his administration to expedite the elimination of excessive regulations and punitive administrative costs imposed by ministries and Government agencies. He said taxes, licences, permits and regulations should facilitate economic development rather than hinder progress. Cabinet has since established a high-level committee to review the existing regulations and fees, taking into account the concerns of industry leaders regarding the burdensome financial costs and hindrances to growth. The ongoing programme is intended to simplify the licensing framework and reduce bureaucratic barriers, making it easier for businesses to operate and thrive. Formal businesses are presently operating in an environment characterised by high tariffs and an intricate regulatory structure that requires businesses to comply with multiple tax and permit obligations across various agencies. This complexity has increased operational costs, making it difficult for some businesses to remain viable. State media _*Trump says Elon Musk could face ‘serious consequences’ if he backs Democratic candidates*_ President Donald Trump on Saturday said there would be “serious consequences” if tech mogul Elon Musk funds Democratic candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favor of the GOP’s sweeping budget bill. “If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview, but declined to share what those consequences would be. “He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” he added. The president also said he has no desire to repair his relationship with Musk after a feud between the two men erupted into public view earlier this week. “No,” Trump said when asked if he had any wish to do so. Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah.” Trump’s comments were the most extensive since he and Musk exchanged threats and attacks on X and Truth Social earlier this week. He added that he thought the Republican Party was more unified than ever after the two men fell out in front of the world. Trump said he has no plans to speak with Musk anytime soon. “I’m too busy doing other things,” he said, adding, “I have no intention of speaking to him.” Trump also accused Musk of being “disrespectful to the office of the President.” “I think it’s a very bad thing, because he’s very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the President,” he added. Musk on Thursday launched a barrage of posts on X against the president, including a now-deleted post highlighting the onetime links between the president and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “That’s called ‘old news,’ that’s been old news, that has been talked about for years,” Trump said on Saturday. “Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it. It’s old news.” In the days leading up to their public falling out, Musk had been critical of a GOP-led spending bill that the House passed last month. In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump responded to Musk’s criticisms, telling reporters, “I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill. I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.” Shortly after those comments, Musk launched his flurry of posts, including a now-deleted post promoting a call for Trump to be impeached and another where he said the president’s tariff agenda would cause a recession later this year. Trump on Thursday also responded with his own posts on Truth Social. In one post, he wrote, “I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,” suggesting that Musk knew what was in the bill before it was passed. He also wrote on Thursday, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” referring to federal contracts with SpaceX. “I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!” On Saturday, Trump said he hadn’t given his suggestion about canceling Musk’s companies’ federal contracts any more thought. “I’d be allowed to do that,” he said, “but I have, I haven’t given it any thought.” Trump also responded to calls from outside allies, like conservative activist Steve Bannon, who have said that Musk’s business dealings and immigration record should be investigated by the federal government. The president told NBC News that he hasn't had those conversations. “I mean it’s not something that’s on top of my mind right now," Trump said. He also cast doubt on the notion that Musk’s opposition to the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is jeopardizing the bill’s chances of success, saying he’s “very confident” that the bill will pass the Senate before July 4. “The Republican Party has never been united like this before. It’s never been. It’s actually more so than it was three days ago,” Trump said. Musk contributed major financial support to Trump’s presidential bid in 2024, spending over a quarter of a billion dollars to boost him in swing states last year. In the first months of the administration, Trump put Musk in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency, where he oversaw mass layoffs of federal workers and the shuttering or partial closing of several agencies. The feud, Trump said, has made lawmakers see the benefits of the bill. “I think, actually, Elon brought out the strengths of the bill because people that weren’t as focused started focusing on it, and they see how good it is,” Trump said. “So in that sense, there was a big favor. But I think Elon, really, I think it’s a shame that he’s so depressed and so heartbroken.” During an interview on “This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von” that was taped on Thursday but released Saturday, Vice President JD Vance described Musk’s attacks on Trump as "nuclear" and said that it may not be possible for Musk to "come back into the fold." “I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon, kind of, comes back into the fold,” Vance told podcaster Theo Von. “Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear.” The vice president also called it a “huge mistake” for Musk to target the president over his frustrations with the House version of the bill, saying, “The process in D.C., if you’re a business leader, you probably get frustrated with that process because it’s more, you know, bureaucratic, it’s more slow moving." He added, "I think there’s just some frustrations there. But I really, man, I think it’s a huge mistake for him to go after the president like that.” _*Trump admits Musk’s ‘craziness’ may be due to drug use — newspaper*_ NEW YORK,- US President Donald Trump does not rule out that American businessman Elon Musk decided to enter into a conflict with him while under the influence of drugs, The New York Times reported, citing sources. According to the newspaper, the US leader called Musk’s behavior “crazy” and “linked to his drug use” in a conversation with his aides. Trump had previously stated that he was not concerned about the press reports on Musk’s drug use. According to The New York Times, Musk actively used drugs during Trump’s election campaign. The newspaper’s sources said that the businessman regularly took ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms. The newspaper pointed out that its sources did not say whether Musk continued to use illegal substances while overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). _*Trump deploys National Guard after second day of Los Angeles immigration protests*_ President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles to disperse protests that began in response to immigration raids, the White House said in a statement Saturday night. Immigration authorities and demonstrators have clashed for two days in the Los Angeles area, with unrest beginning Friday after dozens of people were detained by federal immigration agents across different locations. The arrests come amid Trump’s crackdown on immigration, which has involved waves of raids and deportations across the country. Law enforcement in riot gear deployed tear gas and flash bangs to disperse crowds in downtown Los Angeles and the city of Paramount over the two days, with authorities reporting multiple arrests Saturday. “These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the deployment of troops “purposefully inflammatory” and warned it would only escalate tensions. “This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust,” Newsom said. Officials from the Trump administration described protesters as “lawless rioters.” The Los Angeles Police Department, meanwhile, said Saturday’s demonstrations within the city “remained peaceful” and “events concluded without incident.” *SPORTS ON CHAMINUKANEWS24.COM* _*’It doesn't get any bigger' - Sinner & Alcaraz set for French Open showdown*_ The latest chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between the two brightest talents in men's tennis will play out on one of the sport's grandest stages for the first time in Sunday's French Open final. World number one Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz meet in a tantalising Paris showpiece, having already captured seven major titles between them. The first Grand Slam final to feature two players born in 2000s heralds the beginning of a new era in the men's game - but only one can leave Paris with their perfect record in major finals intact. "It doesn't get any bigger now. It's a special moment for me and for Carlos," said Italy's Sinner. "The tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different in a way, because we are both very young, we are both different, but talented." 'The rivalry the sport needs' This will be the first French Open men's final between two players aged 23 or under in more than three decades. Spanish 22-year-old Alcaraz has already amassed four Grand Slams - including beating Alexander Zverev in five sets to win last year's Roland Garros final. All three Grand Slam triumphs for Sinner, 23, have come on hard courts - and he is seeking to become only the sixth man in the Open era to win three consecutive majors. It is the first time Alcaraz and Sinner have faced off in a major final - but it is unlikely to be the last. Whatever the outcome on Sunday, Alcaraz and Sinner will have carved up the past six majors between them as they assert themselves in the post 'Big Three' era. Speaking after his semi-final loss to Sinner, the 38-year-old Novak Djokovic said of the pair: "They're definitely great for tennis, both of them. "I think their rivalry is something that our sport needs, no doubt. "The way they are playing and approaching tennis life, I think they are going to have very successful careers in the next years. "I'm sure that we're going to see them lifting the big trophies quite often." 'It's fun and not fun' - Sinner's kryptonite Following his US Open and Australian Open triumphs, Sinner goes into the French Open final on a 20-match winning streak at the majors. The youngest man to reach three consecutive Grand Slam singles finals since Pete Sampras in 1994, his unshakeable consistency combined with devastating precision means he is yet to drop a set in Paris this year. But Alcaraz has proved to be Sinner's kryptonite of late. Since the start of his title-winning run at the China Open in September 2023, Sinner - who served a three-month doping suspension between February and May - has lost just nine of the 120 matches he has contested. But four of those defeats have come in his past four meetings with Alcaraz, including in straight sets in the Italian Open final on clay last month. Asked if he enjoys the challenge of facing Alcaraz, whom he trails 7-4 in the overall head-to-head, Sinner joked: "It's fun and not fun. "I think we try to push ourselves in the best possible way. "I believe when there is a good match, it's also good to play [it]. It's very special." Alcaraz prepared for 'beautiful suffering' Following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal as the second Spaniard to reach five major men's singles finals, Alcaraz could emulate his childhood hero by winning his fifth major at the exact same age: 22 years, one month and three days. The two-time Wimbledon champion has taken just 82 matches to reach 70 wins at slams - quicker than all but Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, who took 81. He improved his record on clay this season to 21 wins in 22 matches - including title wins in Monte Carlo and Rome - after Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury when trailing in their semi-final. "Most of the time it is just about suffering," Alcaraz said when asked what it would take to beat either Sinner or Djokovic after winning Friday's first semi-final. "But my favourite thing is that it gives me the feedback of how I can be a better player. "I think that's important, and that's beautiful. Even if I win or not, it gives you a lot of stats and feedback." On Sinner, he added: "He's the best tennis player right now. I mean, he's destroying every opponent." _*Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certain he won’t play at Club World Cup*_ MUNICH (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo says he’s almost certain he will not be playing at the Club World Cup, dealing a blow to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s hopes of having one of soccer’s biggest attractions at the tournament. The Portugal captain confirmed Saturday that he received “quite a few” offers from participating clubs to play for them at the tournament starting June 14, but had decided against accepting any of them. “Some things make sense to talk about, other things don’t, and, as a person says, you can’t take part in everything,” Ronaldo said. “You have to think about the short, medium and long term. It’s a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I’ve had quite a few invitations to go.” The 40-year-old soccer great was speaking in Munich a day before Portugal’s Nations League final against Spain. Infantino had suggested last month that Ronaldo, who is still contracted to Saudi team Al-Nassr until the end of June, could switch to one of the 32 clubs taking part in the Club World Cup because of a unique transfer window created for the tournament. Ronaldo did little to quell that speculation when he posted “ this chapter is over ” after Al-Nassr’s last Saudi Pro League game of the season. He was linked with several Club World Cup participants, including Brazil’s Palmeiras. A switch to Al-Nassr’s crosstown rival Al-Hilal – the one Saudi club that qualified – was also mooted as a potential solution to having Ronaldo play at the tournament, where his great rival Lionel Messi will be playing with Inter Miami. FIFA would have welcomed the boost that Ronaldo’s presence could provide for ticket sales, though such a switch to a bitter local rival for a short period would be unthinkable for players in Europe’s leagues. Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are among the four big Saudi clubs backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund, which has a 75% stake in each. On Thursday, FIFA announced PIF as an “ official partner ” of the Club World Cup. Saudi state money is also effectively funding the tournament’s broadcasting deal that has largely backed its $1 billion prize fund being shared among the participants. “This is irrelevant right now,” Ronaldo first said when asked Saturday about the Club World Cup. “It makes no sense to talk about anything other than the national team.” Ronaldo fired Portugal into the Nations League final on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over host nation Germany. His winning goal was his record-extending 137th for Portugal. If he plays Sunday he will make his record-extending 221st national team appearance. _*Man City on verge of completing deal for Ait-Nouri*_ Manchester City are on the verge of completing a £31m move to sign left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves. The 24-year-old is due to have a medical at the club this weekend as the final stages of the deal, which includes £5m in add-ons, is concluded. City would need to complete the transfer before 10 June in order for Ait-Nouri to be available for the group stage of the Club World Cup. Algeria international Ait-Nouri was at the top of City manager Pep Guardiola's list to solve his side's problematic left-back spot. City have been operating without a specialist left-back since Benjamin Mendy departed. He made his last appearance for the club in August 2021. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Joao Cancelo and Josko Gvardiol are among the players who have had extended stints in the position. Youngster Nico O'Reilly then filled the role towards the end of last season, including the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace. Ait-Nouri joined Wolves in a £14.9m deal from Angers in 2021, having spent the previous season on loan, and made 41 appearances in all competitions last term as the club avoided relegation, scoring five goals and adding seven assists. He will become Wolves' second high-profile departure of the summer, with Matheus Cunha set to join Manchester United. City have already agreed a £46.3m deal to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, adding to the £200m spent in the January transfer window. _*Reijnders closes in on Man City move*_ Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, 26, is due to have a medical at Manchester City on Sunday to finalise his move from AC Milan. *sports tit bits:* *Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez has been released from international duty by Hungary as the 21-year-old closes in on a move to Liverpool* *Newcastle United are set to step up their pursuit of Brighton and Brazil forward Joao Pedro, 23, having appeared to have missed out on 25-year-old Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to join Manchester United from Brentford* *Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is on Brentford's list of possible candidates to succeed Thomas Frank, who is believed to be a leading option to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham* *Chelsea are set to return with a second bid for France keeper Mike Maignan, 29, after having a first offer, which is considerably short of AC Milan's asking price, rejected by the Serie A side* *Napoli's Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen, 26, has accepted a contract offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal* *Fenerbahce have joined fellow Turkish club Galatasaray in wanting to sign 29-year-old Germany winger Leroy Sane, who has yet to accept the offer of a new deal with Bayern Munich* *Bayern Munich have reached a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Germany defender Jonathan Tah, 29, before his contract ends on 30 June so he can play at the Fifa Club World Cup