International
Saudi-led global Palestine peace effort rallies support at UN
Saudi-led global Palestine peace effort rallies support at UN
NEW YORK: The Saudi-led global initiative to implement the two-state solution has rallied support for the peace process as its member countries roundly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The high-level meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution — founded last year by the Kingdom — was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
The event was co-hosted by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
It was attended by representatives, including foreign ministers and ambassadors, of almost 100 countries that have backed Saudi and French efforts to end the war in Gaza and bring about a two-state solution.
They overwhelmingly voiced their desire to see peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and laid out a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas and the return of hostages as immediate prerequisites.
Many speakers called for the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority through the initiative, and for the PA to serve as an interim government in Gaza in any postwar scenario.
Prince Faisal, opening the high-level meeting, highlighted the importance of the New York Declaration, a detailed roadmap toward implementing the two-state solution that was adopted on Monday by the UNGA.
The document “is a clear mission to all of us to embody this coalition, to affirm the two-state solution and take into account all measures. We can’t have declarations unless it becomes factual work that would be realized on the field,” he said, repeating his call for the PA to be the sole government of the Occupied Territories when the Gaza war comes to an end.
“We’re also putting international measures to monitor in clear time-bound schedules. We’d also like to support (Palestinian) President Mahmoud Abbas, and we’d also like to laud his efforts despite the tough conditions,” Prince Faisal said.
“The Kingdom will continue its diplomatic and humanitarian work in order to help return the Palestinian borders based on 1967 lines, and to have security and prosperity for the whole nations of the area.”
Kallas called on the alliance to redouble its efforts toward a two-state solution, a year after its founding.
READ ALSO:
- Syrian president warns against Israeli attacks in landmark UN address
- FG renews call for permanent seat at UN security council
- JSS 3 student hacks man to death in Cross River
Wednesday’s high-level meeting was “happening in a very challenging global environment,” she said. “It’s clear that the situation on the ground in Gaza is catastrophic and unbearable, and it’s reaching unprecedented levels of suffering and death for the Palestinian people, both in Gaza but also in the West Bank.”
Though “our calls and efforts to cease fire have remained unheeded, I saw some optimism yesterday after the meeting of Arab leaders with (US) President (Donald) Trump,” Kallas added. “Let’s hope that there are concrete results from that.”
A ceasefire is “the only way for the unconditional release of all hostages, and eventually, a permanent end to hostilities and end of human suffering,” she said. “If a military solution was there for Gaza, the war would already be over.”
Kallas highlighted EU efforts to “engage with every actor” and bring an end to the war, and said the bloc is “active on all fronts.”
She added: “We’ve been committed to enhance humanitarian access through dialogue with the Israeli government.
“This has allowed an increase in the number of trucks and fuel reaching Gaza after months of blockade.”
The EU, as the largest humanitarian donor to the Palestinian people, has been supporting the PA with “budgetary and political support,” Kallas said.
“The EU has pledged $1.9 billion to support the Palestinian Authority over the next three years. We’ve also decided to launch a Palestine donor group that will be focused on enlarging contributions and long-term support for reforms,” she added.
“Bankruptcy and collapse aren’t an option if we want to preserve any chance of the two-state solution.”
The global alliance can succeed in its efforts to arrange a two-station solution by “applying both pressure and dialogue,” Kallas said.
“All of us who maintain working relations with Israel must do their utmost to persuade the Israeli government that this war doesn’t serve their interests.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa addressed the meeting via a pre-recorded video.
READ ALSO:
- ADC’s one-term presidency prediction for Tinubu, idle talk – APC
- Dino Melaye threatens Kogi gov over attacks on ADC offices
- Singer Paul Okoye vows to go after X user who accused him of rape
Palestinian representatives were unable to attend the UNGA this year after the US denied them visas.
“I want to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its outstanding leadership, both as a co-chair of the high-level international conference together with France, and as a driving force for this global alliance,” Mustafa said.
“The New York Declaration charted an urgent and irreversible pathway to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel,” he added.
“I think we all agree that the measures outlined in the declaration need to be translated into policies and actions by all the states assembled here.
“We must act more rapidly, more decisively and more collectively for these actions to lead to the fundamental shift needed.”
Eide said the situation experienced on a daily basis by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank has gone from “bad to terrible.”
He added that Norway had “always wanted to” recognize a State of Palestine, which it did last year.
But Norway’s foreign policy establishment had thought that recognition would only occur at the end of a successful peace process based on resolving long-standing issues from the Oslo Accords, Eide said.
“There have been many years since that there were anything resembling negotiations, and we had to break out of that paradigm and establish a new one,” he added.
That led to Norwegian recognition of Palestinian statehood, and Eide praised the almost a dozen countries — including France, the UK, Canada and Australia — that followed suit over the past week.
“The goal is the same as it always was, but now the tactics have changed,” he said. “Universal recognition is just one of the many recommendations that the global alliance came out with in the New York Declaration when we met in July.
“The idea is that we’ll identify all the parts that are missing, which is of course to work … toward normalization between those Arab states that haven’t done it yet with Israel once Palestine is in place.”
Eide identified all the moving parts required in the practical establishment of a Palestinian state, including security guarantees for both it and Israel, demobilization, decommissioning of all weapons beyond the armed forces, and economic stability.
These are all guided by the New York Declaration, which provides “elements of a plan on how we can move forward,” he said.
“My appeal to you is that we continue to build on this. What are the practicalities? What are the concrete measures that should be taken from now on to do what the alliance is all about, which is to implement the two-state solution for real, not only in theory, but also for real?”
International
Indonesia Flood Disaster: Death Toll Exceeds 900 as Search for Hundreds Continues
Indonesia Flood Disaster: Death Toll Exceeds 900 as Search for Hundreds Continues
The death toll from the catastrophic Indonesia floods has risen to more than 900, with hundreds still missing as rescuers struggle to reach communities cut off by last week’s rare and powerful cyclone over the Malaca Strait. The storm unleashed torrential rain and severe landslides, destroying over 100,000 homes across multiple regions.
Authorities say relief efforts remain extremely challenging, with aid being air-dropped into isolated areas where roads and bridges have been washed away. The deadly floods form part of a chain of recent extreme weather disasters across Asia, bringing the combined regional death toll — including in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam — close to 2,000.
READ ALSO:
- 25 Dead in Goa Nightclub Fire After Suspected Gas Explosion in Arpora
- Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 38 Patients in West Midlands Hospitals
- Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel
In Aceh Tamiang, among the worst-hit districts, survivors described entire villages being swept away by surging waters. Residents of Lintang Bawah Village told the BBC Indonesian service that many families survived only by taking refuge on rooftops.
Fitriana, a survivor, recounted how some villagers endured three days without food or water as they clung to their homes: “Ninety percent of the houses in our village were destroyed,” she said, leaving 300 families displaced.
Another survivor described fleeing twice — first from his own home as floodwaters reached the second floor, and then again from a nearby village inundated overnight:
“While we were sleeping, water soaked the mattresses. There was no higher ground. We survived by climbing to the second floor of my daughter-in-law’s house.”
Indonesian authorities continue emergency operations as hopes fade for those still unaccounted for. The government has pledged expanded humanitarian support as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer.
Indonesia Flood Disaster: Death Toll Exceeds 900 as Search for Hundreds Continues
BBC
International
Russia Intensifies Airstrikes on Ukraine as Zelensky, Trump Envoys Advance Peace Talks
Russia Intensifies Airstrikes on Ukraine as Zelensky, Trump Envoys Advance Peace Talks
Russia has intensified its overnight aerial attacks on Ukraine, striking multiple regions just hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky described his discussions with Donald Trump’s negotiating team as “very constructive.” The renewed assaults come amid a fresh push for a US-led peace framework aimed at ending the nearly three-year-old war.
The mayor of Kremenchuk, a key industrial city in central Ukraine, confirmed the area suffered a “massive combined strike”, damaging critical infrastructure and leaving residents without water, electricity, and heat. No fatalities have been reported so far.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed it intercepted 77 Ukrainian drones across several locations during the same period, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict despite diplomatic efforts.
Zelensky said he is “determined” to continue working closely with the US after three days of detailed negotiations in Miami involving Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and the former US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Talks focused heavily on ensuring Russia’s compliance with any future peace agreement.
READ ALSO:
- 25 Dead in Goa Nightclub Fire After Suspected Gas Explosion in Arpora
- Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 38 Patients in West Midlands Hospitals
- Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel
The US has been mediating a multi-point peace plan, though progress remains limited as Kyiv, Moscow, and European allies differ on key proposals. European leaders have pushed for additional security guarantees for Ukraine, including the possibility of a multinational peacekeeping force, an idea Russia has rejected.
French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Zelensky are set to meet in London on Monday to coordinate Europe’s position on the evolving peace framework. Macron reiterated France’s commitment to achieving de-escalation and a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the US and Ukraine have jointly urged Moscow to demonstrate “a serious commitment to long-term peace.” The appeal came after Witkoff returned from Kremlin talks with Vladimir Putin, which ended without a breakthrough.
Ukraine’s new chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said he and Witkoff have “agreed on the framework of security arrangements” and discussed deterrence measures needed to secure a durable peace.
The latest wave of Russian airstrikes — following a wider barrage a day earlier condemned by European leaders — underscores the gulf between diplomatic negotiations and realities on the ground as the war grinds on.
Russia Intensifies Airstrikes on Ukraine as Zelensky, Trump Envoys Advance Peace Talks
BBC
International
25 Dead in Goa Nightclub Fire After Suspected Gas Explosion in Arpora
25 Dead in Goa Nightclub Fire After Suspected Gas Explosion in Arpora
A devastating inferno at a popular nightclub in Goa has left 25 people dead, with authorities confirming that most of the victims were employees of the establishment located in Arpora, North Goa. Several tourists are also among the casualties.
Officials say the blaze, which erupted around midnight on Saturday, was triggered by a suspected gas cylinder explosion in the club’s kitchen. The fire quickly tore through the premises, leading to scenes of panic in the bustling nightlife district.
Goa Director General of Police Alok Kumar confirmed that the fire was concentrated on the ground-floor kitchen area and has since been brought under control. Most bodies were recovered near the kitchen, reinforcing concerns that staff members bore the brunt of the tragedy.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that three victims died from burn injuries, while others succumbed to suffocation. He also revealed that “three to four” tourists had been confirmed dead, though their identities and nationalities remain unknown.
According to The Indian Express, the incident occurred at Birch by Romeo Lane, a well-known club near Baga Beach, one of Goa’s busiest tourist hubs. The area is lined with nightlife venues that typically draw large crowds on weekends.
READ ALSO:
- Doctor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 38 Patients in West Midlands Hospitals
- Shettima Inaugurates Multi-Million Naira Juma’at Mosque in Gumel
- Police Launch Special Enforcement Team to Enforce Tinubu’s Ban on VIP Escorts
Witnesses described chaotic moments as screams filled the air moments after the explosion. One bystander told the BBC: “It was a normal Saturday night. Suddenly there were screams, and then we realized a massive fire had broken out. The scenes were horrific.”
Fire crews worked through the night, combing through charred debris to determine the full extent of damage and finalize victim identification. The remains of burnt furniture and décor were visible at the site on Sunday morning, now sealed off by security officials.
Victims’ bodies have been transferred to Goa Medical College in Panaji, where identification is underway before notifying families.
Chief Minister Sawant has ordered a formal inquiry into the cause of the blaze, promising that “those found responsible will face the most stringent action.” He expressed “deep grief” and extended condolences to affected families.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply saddening”.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony famed for its beaches, nightlife, and resorts, attracts millions of visitors annually. Government figures show 5.5 million tourists visited the state in the first half of the year, including 270,000 international travelers.
The tragedy adds to a growing list of fatal fires in entertainment venues across India, including recent incidents in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Gujarat, often linked to poor safety standards and overcrowding.
25 Dead in Goa Nightclub Fire After Suspected Gas Explosion in Arpora
BBC
-
Sports2 days ago2026 FIFA World Cup Draw: England Draw Croatia as Brazil Face Morocco in Tournament Opener
-
News2 days agoAkpabio sues Natasha for ₦200bn over sexual harassment allegations
-
metro3 days agoTinubu Govt Eliminates More Terrorists Than Previous Administrations — Fani-Kayode
-
Politics2 days agoOsogbo Youth Group Condemns APC Over Disqualification of Adegoke SAN
-
metro2 days agoNigerian woman sparks outrage for refusing chemotherapy despite ₦30 million donations over religious Beliefs
-
metro2 days agoFour Teenagers Killed in Banki Explosion as Borno Police Probe Deadly IED Blast
-
Opinion3 days agoSiyan Oyeweso: Lessons in virtue and vanity
-
metro1 day agoAkpabio denies filing new ₦200bn lawsuit against Natasha