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Trump’s envoy arrives in Israel as Gaza criticism mounts

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US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss ways to end the crisis in Gaza, where nearly 22 months of grinding war and dire shortages of food have drawn mounting international criticism.

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported dozens of Palestinians killed late Wednesday when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd attempting to block an aid convoy — the latest in a spate of near-daily incidents of desperate aid seekers being shot.

The Israeli military confirmed having fired “warning shots” as Gazans gathered around aid trucks, but said it had no knowledge of casualties in the incident. An AFP correspondent saw the bullet-riddled corpses of Palestinians in Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital.

Jameel Ashour, who lost a relative in the shooting, told AFP at the overflowing morgue that Israel troops had opened fire after a crowd surged towards the convoy.

“When people saw thieves stealing and dropping food, the hungry crowd rushed in hopes of getting some,” he said.

With indirect ceasefire and hostage release negotiations between Hamas and Israel at an impasse, Witkoff will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss humanitarian aid and the “next steps” on Gaza.

He may also visit a US-backed humanitarian group distributing food in Gaza, according to Israeli reports.

Witkoff has been the top US representative in indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, but the discussions broke down last week when Israel and the United States recalled their delegations from Doha.

Israel is under mounting international pressure to agree a ceasefire and allow the world to flood a hungry Gaza with food, with Canada the latest Western country to announce plans to recognise a Palestinian state.

– MAGA doubts –

Trump has been Israel’s staunchest international defender at a time when concerns about the campaign in Gaza have left Netanyahu increasingly isolated on the world stage, but the two leaders have occasionally found themselves at odds of late.

Earlier this week Trump promised to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning that the territory faces “real starvation” — directly contradicting Netanyahu’s insistence that reports of hunger were exaggerated.

UN-backed experts, meanwhile, have reported “famine is now unfolding” in Gaza, with news images of sick and emaciated children drawing outrage and powers like France, the UK and now Canada lining up to support Palestinian statehood.

Trump is now reportedly concerned that his most fervent domestic US supporters, the so-called “MAGA base”, are turning against Israel.

Israel is also under pressure to resolve the crisis from other traditional supporters.

Germany’s top diplomat Johann Wadephul was expected in Jerusalem on Thursday for talks with Netanyahu and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

– ‘Warning shots’ –

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that the worsening suffering of civilians in Gaza left “no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace”.

Israel blasted Canada’s announcement as part of a “distorted campaign of international pressure”, while Trump warned that trade negotiations with Ottawa could be hurt by what Washington regards as a premature bid to back Palestine.

The fighting in Gaza has lasted for almost 22 months, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which left 1,219 people dead, according to a tally based on official figures.

Of the 251 Israelis kidnapped that day, 49 are still held in Gaza, 27 of them declared dead by the Israeli military.

The Israeli campaign has since killed 60,249 Palestinians, according to a tally from the Hamas government’s health ministry, and this week UN aid agencies warned that deaths from starvation had begun.

In the incident Wednesday night, Gaza’s civil defence agency said gunfire killed at least 58 people in a crowd gathered around a humanitarian aid convoy in the north of the territory.

According to an AFP correspondent and witnesses, the trucks had entered Gaza through the Israeli military checkpoint at Zikim, on their way to World Central Kitchen and the World Food Programme warehouses in Gaza City.

Thousands of people rushed to stop the trucks before they continued to the warehouses, and shooting erupted.

Separately, the Hamas-led Gaza government’s health ministry issued a statement Thursday begging Palestinians not to loot a new aid convoy, warning that it contained no food but instead medical supplies for the territory’s hard-pressed hospitals.

Another 32 people were reported killed by the civil defence on Thursday in Israeli attacks across Gaza.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP cannot independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence and other parties.

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Two die as mining pit collapses in Ebonyi

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The Ebonyi State Government has said it has commenced investigation into the collapse of a mining pit in Ihietutu village, Ishiagu community, in the Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Chidi Onyia, stated this at the site during a fact finding mission with federal mining officers and security agencies, on Friday.

Two persons lost their lives, while three other sustained varying degree of injuries when a section of the mining pit caved in, penultimate Friday.

The incident had been blamed on negligence on the part of pit operator, Greenfield Metals Ltd. But according to the commissioner, preliminary investigation suggested it was a case of natural occurrence.

He said, “Mining, like many industries worldwide, comes with hazards. From our preliminary findings, this was a natural occurrence and not a result of negligence.

“Investigation is ongoing by all regulatory bodies, including the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals, police, Department of State Services, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to ensure transparency.

“If we find recklessness, we will act accordingly. But if it is a natural disaster, we must accept it as such.”

He therefore commiserated with the bereaved families, adding the site was not leased out to illegal miners as being alleged.

The commissioner urged the public not to worsen the grief of families with false claims and reiterated the state did not encourage illegal mining.

“Here, we fully respect licenses issued by the Federal Government,” he said.

A community leader, who doubles as the Ihetutu Development Union Board of Trustees Chairman, Prince Fabian Chukwu,said the company had empowered a lot of people in the community.

“They built the road to this site and never delayed in giving the community its due entitlements.

“That is why we stand by them in this unfortunate incident,” he added.

The company had since suspended operations at the site pending the outcome of investigations.

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Man kills self in Imo over hardship, family neglect

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Tragedy struck Amakpu Okuku community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State on Friday morning when a man in his 50s, identified simply as Odomma, was found dead after allegedly taking his own life.

Residents said the father of four, who sold water in jerry cans and buckets, had long struggled with financial difficulties that left him unable to fend for himself and his family.

His body was discovered hanging in an uncompleted building near his residence as people headed out for their daily activities.

According to villagers, Odomma had threatened to commit suicide about three months ago, complaining that his wife and children had allegedly stopped giving him food because he could no longer provide for the family.

A community member, who simply identified as Ikenna, told our correspondent that the deceased had shared his frustrations with a few friends.

“He said if the situation continued, he would take his life to end the misery.

“We advised him to report the matter to the village head for settlement. Sadly, he chose this path. Just see how this man ended his life because of money. He could have sold his GP tank or generator to get food, but he decided to take his life. Now others will gather to eat and he won’t be part of it,” Ikenna said.

Eyewitnesses said tens of residents rushed to the scene after hearing the news, crowding the uncompleted building to catch a glimpse of the lifeless body and filming with their phones.

Odomma, who was widely patronised in the community for water sales priced from ₦100 upwards, was described as hardworking but visibly depressed in recent months.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Imo State, Henry Okoye, said he would verify the incident with the Divisional Police Officer of Owerri West.

“Please give me some minutes to call and confirm from the DPO of Owerri West Local Government Area. I will get back to you shortly,” he said. However, subsequent attempts to reach him were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable.

More details to follow

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Japan designates city as hometown for Nigerians

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The government of Japan on Thursday named the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country as part of its strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth and enhance workforce productivity.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye.

The statement noted that under the new partnership, announced on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development, the Japanese government will create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work.

“Artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan.

“Japan International Cooperation Agency, in a ceremony, also named the cities of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture the hometown of Mozambique.

“Through the arrangement, Japan looks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations,” the statement stated.

On her part, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires, Mrs. Florence Adeseke, also the Acting Ambassador to Japan, and Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate from the Japanese government naming Kisarazu the hometown of Nigerians.

The four cities will foster a foundation for two-way exchanges for manpower development that will add value to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the other three African nations.

“Local authorities hope that the designations will increase the population of their cities, contributing to their regional revitalisation efforts.

“Kisarazu was the official host town of the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team conducted their pre-games training camps and acclimatisation in the city before moving to the Olympic village, in the COVID-19 delayed Olympic Games,” it added.

In his opening address at the TICAD9, where he announced $5.5 billion in New investment in Africa, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasised the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development. The Prime Minister outlined Japan’s focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.

Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged the challenges of Japan’s ageing population but emphasised that locally rooted solutions are essential for Africa’s development.

“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa”.

He appealed to African countries to assist Japan as it grapples with the challenges of a declining population and shrinking agricultural land.

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