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Trump says he ‘will not allow’ Netanyahu to annex West Bank

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Donald Trump has said he will not allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The US president told White House reporters ahead of Netanyahu’s address to the UN General Assembly on Friday: “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank… It’s not going to happen.”

Trump, who will meet Netanyahu on Monday, also said a ceasefire deal over the war in Gaza was “pretty close”.

Israel is facing increasing global pressure to end the conflict and occupation of the West Bank, as a wave of Western states formally recognise an independent Palestinian state. Far-right Israelis view annexation as a means of preventing a Palestinian state being created.

Ultranationalists in Netanyahu’s governing coalition have repeated calls for Israel to annex the West Bank – part of the Palestinian territories – outright.

The UK and Germany say they have warned Israel against annexation, while UN Secretary General António Guterres said such a move would be “morally, legally and politically intolerable”.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that he had spoken to Netanyahu as well as other Middle Eastern leaders.

“We’re getting pretty close to having a deal on Gaza, and maybe even peace,” Trump said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the UN General Assembly via video link the same day that he was ready to work with world leaders to implement a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians that was announced by France on Monday.

The 89-year-old was barred from travelling to New York, where the UN headquarters are, by the US.

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Abbas thanked countries which had recently recognised a Palestinian state in a wave of declarations that began with Canada, Australia, the UK and Portugal on Sunday, and was followed by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and Denmark.

The US is currently opposed to recognising Palestine, saying such a move would be a reward for Hamas.

“Hamas will not have a role to play in governance,” Abbas said in his speech. He also called for a Palestinian state to assume “full responsibilities” for the Gaza Strip following an Israeli withdrawal and connect it with the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

At the UN on Tuesday, Trump met the leaders of key Arab and Muslim nations, who warned him of consequences if Israel moved ahead with annexation.

“I think the president of the US understands very well the risks and dangers of annexation in the West Bank,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told reporters afterwards.

On Wednesday morning, Israel closed the only crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and neighbouring Jordan, preventing more than two million Palestinians from accessing the outside world.

The closure came days after two Israeli military personnel were shot dead near the crossing by a Jordanian gunman who was killed at the scene.

In Gaza, more than 80 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed by Israeli fire on Wednesday, most of them in Gaza City, local hospitals said.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

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At least 65,419 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hama-run health ministry, including more than 18,000 children.

In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed body, said that more than half a million people across Gaza were facing “catastrophic” conditions characterised by “starvation, destitution and death”. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied starvation is taking place in Gaza.

A United Nations commission of inquiry found Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a report Israel’s foreign ministry categorically rejected as “distorted and false”.

Israel is under increasing pressure to end the war and occupation.

In addition to more countries recognising a Palestinian state, the European Commission has unveiled plans to restrict trade with Israel and impose sanctions on extremist ministers in its government, which – if adopted – would be the EU’s toughest response to the war in Gaza.

This week, Microsoft cut off some services to a unit of Israel’s Ministry of Defence after an investigation found its technology had been used to conduct mass surveillance on people in Gaza.

But Netanyahu has called for Israel to embrace increased self-sufficiency.

Source: BBC News

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How to apply for a Nigerian driver’s licence online

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Getting a Nigerian driver’s licence has become easier, as applicants can now start the process online before visiting a Driver’s Licence Centre for biometric capture.

According to a post obtained from the Nigeria Driver’s Licence portal on Friday, the online system allows motorists to complete key parts of the application, including submitting their personal details, making payments and scheduling an appointment.

Documents and requirements before applying

Before starting the application, applicants must attend an FRSC-accredited driving school and obtain a driving school certificate.

Other requirements include a NIN, a valid means of identification and a passport photograph.

Following completion of the required stages, applicants may receive a temporary driver’s licence valid for 60 days while the permanent licence is being processed.

Step-by-step application process

1. To begin, applicants should visit nigeriadriverslicence.org, the driver’s licence application portal. Those using a smartphone may need to switch their browser to Desktop Site if the portal does not display correctly.

2. Once on the website, select DL Application and choose New Driver’s License.

3. Applicants will then be required to enter their driving school certificate number and provide their personal information. It is important to ensure that names and other details match the information attached to the applicant’s National Identification Number (NIN).

4. The next step is to select a preferred FRSC Driver’s Licence Centre for biometric capture and book an appointment.

5. After booking, applicants can make payment through the Remita payment gateway available on the official portal. Depending on the options provided, payment can be made by card, bank transfer or USSD.

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Applicants are advised to make payments only through the official platform and avoid transferring money to individuals or unofficial agents.

After payment, applicants should print their receipt and attend the biometric appointment on the scheduled date. They should also take their original documents for verification and biometric capture.

Source: punchng.com

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FRSC hails special marshals’ role in reducing road crashes

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The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has described Special Marshals as a key catalyst for promoting road safety and reducing crashes and fatalities in Nigeria.

Mohammed stated this on Thursday in Dutse, Jigawa State, during the investiture of Governor Umar Namadi as Patron, Special Marshal of Nigeria and Safety Ambassador.

Represented by the Kano Sector Commander, Idris Lawal, the corps marshal said Special Marshals remained a critical volunteer arm of the FRSC, particularly in traffic management, public enlightenment, intelligence gathering and accident prevention.

“Their role in traffic management, public enlightenment, and intelligence gathering remains invaluable to achieving our corporate mandate of reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities,” he said.

Mohammed commended Namadi for his contributions to road development and safety in Jigawa, saying the recognition reflected the governor’s leadership and support for road safety initiatives in the state.

He added that Namadi’s patronage would strengthen collaboration among the state government, FRSC and Special Marshals towards promoting safe road use.

Namadi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Jigawa Ministry of Works and Transport, Ahmad Sani, said road safety was a collective responsibility involving the government and all road users.

“While the government will continue to provide and maintain good road infrastructure, all road users must equally demonstrate discipline, caution and respect for traffic regulations,” he said.

The governor said his administration had completed 26 inherited road projects and embarked on new ones to improve road infrastructure across the state.

He said the projects had improved connectivity and enhanced access to safer roads for residents.

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The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the conference was organised by the RS1 Headquarters, comprising the Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa Sector Commands.

The conference had the theme, “Repositioning Special Marshal for Greater Impact: Through Strategic Partnerships and Data Driven Road Safety Intervention.”

The Zonal Coordinator, Special Marshals, Usman Ya’u, said the conference provided a platform to strengthen cooperation among Special Marshals and road safety stakeholders.

Also, the National Coordinator, Special Marshals, Adaji Usman, urged members to adhere to the approved dress code and avoid combining official regalia with unauthorised items.

Usman said Special Marshals requiring operational materials should use the appropriate communication channels, adding that their identification cards would soon be ready.

The conference was attended by FRSC personnel from the Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa commands, as well as representatives of road transport unions, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

NAN

Source: punchng.com

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Spiritual journey turns deadly as Nepal-Tibet floods hit pilgrims

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They came to the Himalayas seeking spiritual renewal, drawn by Tibet’s sacred, snow-capped Mount Kailash.

Instead, many pilgrims were caught in deadly floods that tore through the Nepal-Tibet region, wiping out entire villages.

“I saw two buses carrying Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar,” said 27-year-old Laloma, a Nepali mother.

She was rescued on Thursday from Nepal’s devastated area of Syabrubesi, along with her infant son and husband, after sheltering for a freezing night in a school. The buses were swept away, she said.

“They are all gone,” she told AFP.

Mount Kailash is sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.

Hindus regard Kailash as the abode of deities Shiva and Parvati, while Tibetan Buddhists associate it with Mount Meru, which they say is the centre of the universe.

It is forbidden to climb the 6,638-metre-high (21,778-foot) mountain.

Instead, pilgrims undertake a roughly 52-kilometre (32-mile) contemplative circuit around its base, taking most walkers about three days.

For those en route or returning from the isolated, pyramid-shaped peak and bathing in the frigid ice waters of nearby Lake Mansarovar, across China’s frontier with Nepal, it was meant to be a healing journey of peace.

But climate change is causing glaciers to melt worldwide, increasing the risks of glacial lake floods and glacial collapses.

On Wednesday morning, a tsunami-like wall of water and mud powered down, caused by a glacial collapse that sent a torrent of debris downstream, burying homes and sweeping away bridges.

More than 470 people are dead and upwards of 1,400 others are missing in both China and Nepal.

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‘Share your pain’

Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru this year led devotees to Kailash, an annual pilgrimage growing in popularity, especially among Indians.

Thousands of Indians are reported to have undertaken the pilgrimage this year, as well as Hindus from other nations.

Sadhguru’s “sacred walks”, organised by his Isha Foundation, promised a journey to a place “of divine connection, where the veil between the physical and spiritual is thin”.

On Thursday, he wept as he described his frantic calls to missing devotees, in a video message posted from Tibet to his several million followers.

Some 77 pilgrims were at the Nepal-China border office when floodwaters swept through the centre on Wednesday, he said in a post, alongside a terrifying video from the Chinese side of the frontier, when a wall of mud and debris crashed over the building.

“Literally, the entire group was there in the building, this is a terrible and extraordinary event,” he said, as anguished wails from other pilgrims with him are heard over the video.

“All of us, including the volunteers and support teams are deeply anguished,” the Hindu guru, whose real name is Jagdish Vasudev, added.

“To the families and loved ones of those in our group and hundreds of others who are affected in the region, I share your pain,” he added.

“All phones are off, telecommunications are down, roads are blocked, we are unable to go there,” he said, tears in his eyes.

For Indians, the pilgrimage to Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is organised annually by New Delhi’s foreign ministry, in coordination with Chinese authorities.

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It restarted in 2025 for Indians for the first time since a 2020 border clash.

‘Pure intention’

Logadarrsiny Raman, 26, from Malaysia, said four members of her family were among 17 Malaysians travelling with a Nepali travel operator.

Her parents, aunt and uncle had spent months planning the pilgrimage, which they regarded as a spiritual journey and fulfilment.

“They felt like this was the right time for them to go for this pilgrimage,” Raman said, speaking to AFP in Kuala Lumpur.

“It was a very pure intention, and that’s why they wanted to go together as a family.”

She last exchanged WhatsApp messages with her father just after dawn in Nepal on Wednesday.

After that, the family heard nothing.

Raman said the travel agency told her its last contact with the group was at 8:18 am Nepal time, when they were travelling towards the Nepal-China border.

The flood crashed into the area where they last were soon after.

“I’m very anxious,” she said. “My only hope is to hear back from them that they are safe.”

She appealed for help locating her parents and the other Malaysian pilgrims.

“There’s nothing else that we all want as a family,” she said.

AFP

Source: punchng.com

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