Headline

Israel-Hamas: US, UK, India Evacuate Citizens, Deaths Hit 2,700

Published

3 years ago

October 13, 2023

…12 UN workers, 13 French Citizens killed

The United States, the United Kingdom, India and France are working to evacuate their citizens from Israel following the attacks by Hamas.

CNN reports that India’s charter flight scheduled to land in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening will collect approximately 230 Indian nationals. This was disclosed by a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, at a news conference on Thursday. The flight will “likely” return to India on Friday morning.

Nepal’s foreign ministry has so far evacuated 253 Nepali students who were in Israel, saying on X, formerly Twitter, that a flight carrying the students took off from Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Ten Nepali agriculture students were killed when Hamas attacked a kibbutz in southern Israel, Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel Kanta Rizal told CNN. Three students were injured in the attack and are recovering in a hospital, while one student remains missing, the ambassador added.

A plane carrying 110 Colombian nationals has also left Tel Aviv, according to the country’s foreign ministry on Thursday.

12 UN workers killed

At least 12 people working with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency have been killed in Gaza since Saturday, a spokesperson for the UN’s secretary-general said on Thursday, as the humanitarian crisis there deepens.

CNN reports that all 12 of the UN workers killed were Palestinians, according to the spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, who disclosed this while speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands have been displaced in Gaza following the war. Dujarric said mass displacement continues to rise across the Gaza Strip as Israel pounds the territory with airstrikes, climbing 30 per cent over the last 24 hours to reach more than 338,000. Of that figure, two-thirds are taking shelter in 92 schools run by the UNRWA.

Death toll hits 2, 700

According to Al Jazeera, the death toll in Gaza now stands at 1,417 people, while the number of people killed in Israel has reached 1,300.

Also, the Israeli army has bombarded the Gaza Strip with approximately 6,000 bombs containing 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday’s Hamas attack, according to Al Jazeera.

Israel has said there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its siege of the Gaza Strip until Hamas frees all the hostages captured on Saturday.

Israeli minister had said there will be no electricity, fuel or humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas releases all captives taken in an unprecedented attack.

Officials in Gaza stated that the health system’s collapse has “truly begun” amid Israel’s heavy bombardment and “complete blockade”.

Meanwhile, the White House in the United States said Thursday it was working to organise charter flights to help US citizens leave Israel as the country reels from the massive attack by Hamas.

The number of Americans who have died after the Hamas terror attack in Israel now stands at 27, according to the White House.

Meanwhile, 14 Americans are missing, said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Thursday during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington.

The US State Department had noted that the known death toll of US citizens in the violence had risen to “at least 22.”

“Beginning tomorrow (today), the United States government will arrange charter flights to provide transportation from Israel to sites in Europe,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

According to France 24, Kirby added that officials were “still working through some of the details”.

UK evacuates nationals

The United Kingdom said it was set to fly British nationals out of Israel, with the first flight set to leave Tel Aviv later on Thursday, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The UK government “will facilitate commercial flights to the UK to help British nationals wanting to leave Israel following the Hamas attack, the Foreign Secretary has announced,” the FCDO said in a news release according to CNN.

Vulnerable British nationals “will be prioritised for these flights,” the FCDO added, advising that eligible people wait to be contacted and not make their way to the airport unless they are called.

A Rapid Deployment Team has also been sent to Israel to bolster the efforts of British consular officials, the FCDO said.

13 French citizens killed

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday vowed that France would do everything to ensure the release of the dozens of hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas after its attack on Israel.

“I want to say that we will do everything to ensure that these hostages, whatever their nationality, are released,” he said in an address to the nation, adding that France would work to this end both with “our partners” and the Israeli authorities, AFP reported.

The French president said that at least 13 French citizens were confirmed to have been killed in the attack by Hamas but 17 more “children and adults” were missing and “without doubt, some of them are held, hostage”.

“France will never abandon its children,” he said. Around 150 people are believed to be held hostage by Hamas.

Headline

Xenophobia: FG To Repatriate Over 1,000 Nigerians From South Africa

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Editor

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says more than 1,000 Nigerians in South Africa have undergone screening for voluntary repatriation being facilitated by the Federal Government.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

Dabiri-Erewa said the screening was being conducted jointly by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.

According to her, Saturday marked the third day of the exercise for Nigerians intending to voluntarily return home from South Africa.

“The turnout at the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria has been truly impressive.

“The screening started early on Saturday, and Nigerians came out in large numbers to participate in the process.

“In spite of the emotional atmosphere surrounding the prevailing tensions and uncertainty, the exercise has been smooth, peaceful, organised, and highly professional under the supervision of the Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner, Amb. Olatunde Ajayi.

“More than 1,000 Nigerians have registered for the voluntary evacuation, and many more are registering.

“All things being equal, the flights are expected to commence next week through Air Peace, as President Bola Tinubu has approved funds for that purpose,” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa added that five flights are expected to be deployed for the repatriation, with the first batch of evacuees scheduled to depart for Nigeria next week.

NAN reports that the repatriation of Nigerians is coming amid safety concerns of foreign nationals following recent anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa.

Headline

Gunmen Shoot 12 People Near Ohio Festival In US

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Editor

At least 12 people were injured in a shooting near a community festival in the US state of Ohio, prompting a police search for those responsible.

The incident occurred on Saturday near the Old West End Festival in Toledo, according to the Toledo Police Department.

Police said officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 5:37 p.m. local time near the festival grounds.

In an update, authorities said 10 of the victims were in stable condition, while two remained in critical condition.

Speaking on the incident, Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe said preliminary investigations suggest the shooting involved two individuals.

“It appeared that two people fired weapons and they were probably shooting at each other,” he said, adding that the victims range in age from 16 to 61 years.

Earlier, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told local broadcaster WTOL 11 that all of the victims were expected to survive.

The Old West End Festival is a two-day annual event that celebrates one of the largest historic districts in the United States. Activities include live music, food vendors, shopping, house tours, and other community attractions.

Police said investigators are focusing on the area around Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue, where festival activities were taking place.

Videos shared on social media appeared to show festival attendees running for safety as multiple gunshots rang out. Other footage showed emergency responders attending to injured individuals and transporting some victims on stretchers. The videos have not been independently verified.

Reacting to the incident, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed concern and offered support to those affected.

“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight,” he said.

“Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence. Fran and I are praying for everyone impacted by the incident at the Old West End Festival, and we are confident that law enforcement will locate the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”

Police have not announced any arrests and continue to search for the suspects.

Headline

US Plans To Use Frozen Iranian Assets To Compensate Gulf Allies

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Editor

The United States (US) Treasury Department is considering the use of frozen Iranian assets to help Gulf allies recover from damage linked to attacks by Iran during the ongoing conflict, according to a source familiar with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s position.

The source told CBS News on Saturday that the Treasury intends to explore all available legal authorities to make Iranian assets accessible for rebuilding and repair efforts related to any future damage caused by Tehran.

According to the source, Bessent has directed the Treasury Department to obtain detailed estimates from Gulf allies on the costs of repairing damage attributed to Iran since the conflict began.

The department is also assessing whether Iranian assets could be used to fund repairs for damage already sustained by Gulf countries during the war.

The source, however, said it remains unclear which specific Iranian assets could be utilised. These could include frozen cash held in foreign bank accounts or physical assets such as oil tankers.

The development comes as indirect peace talks between the United States and Iran continue.

Iran has maintained that any agreement would require the removal of sanctions and the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen abroad.

Since the conflict erupted in late February, Iran has carried out intermittent missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.

The reported Treasury proposal signals a possible shift in how the United States may seek to address the financial impact of the conflict on its regional partners while discussions with Tehran continue.