The Palestinian city of Khan Younis was targeted by intensive airstrikes overnight, as Israel pursued its ramped-up offensive across the Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian news agency WAFA on Monday, 17 people were killed in the coastal territory during the night.

WAFA did not initially provide details on the identity of the victims.

According to medics in Gaza, at least six people were killed and dozens injured in airstrikes on Khan Younis.

Witnesses told dpa that there were about 30 airstrikes on the area.

The internet connection failed in large parts of the city.

Palestinian media reports by WAFA and others said that a special unit of the Israeli army had killed a commander of the al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, which is allied with the Islamist movement Hamas.

The information could not initially be independently verified.

The Israeli military emphasised that it did all it can to avoid civilian casualties when attacking targets belonging to Hamas or other terrorist organizations.

This cannot be verified either as reporters has very limited access to the area.

The Israeli Air Force has been carrying out massive aerial attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip in recent days, and Israel announced an “extensive’’ new ground operation across the territory on Sunday.

Dozens of Palestinian deaths are being reported daily from the Gaza Strip. (dpa/NAN)

The Taraba House of Assembly has said that it’s approval for the Executive to secure a N350 billion bond from the Capital Market was in line with provisions of the 2025 appropriation law.Mr Jetro Yakubu, Majority Leader of the assembly, made the clarification on Friday while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo.

Yakubu revealed that the request to secure the loan was in tandem with the provisions of the 2025 appropriation bill passed into Law by the assembly. He stressed that Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba had already indicated in the budget proposals his intention to fund part of it through loans from financial institutions.According to him, the request could only become abnormal if it is outside the budgetary provision. Yakubu, who represents Wukari I State Constituency also noted that the assembly approved the loan because the governor had carried the it along right from the preparation of the Appropriation. “The governor is a leader that believes in carrying everybody along. He had already carried the assembly along right from when the appropriation was being prepared.“We don’t give approval for any loan that is not in the appropriation.“The governor is a very strategic thinker. The bond which is at N20 lbillion per year would be funded through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and not through Federal Accounts Allocation.“The governor is very passionate about stimulating the economy of the state so that the it can be viable to fund the bond,” he said.Daily Asset recalls that Kefas earlier requested an approval from the house of assembly to secure a N350 billion bond from the Capital Market.The legislators had since granted him the approval to borrow the funds. (NAN)

Vatican Plans For Pope Leo XIV To Meet U.S. VP Vance

Pope Leo XIV, the world’s first U.S. pope, plans to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a converted Catholic, on Sunday, during an inaugural mass for the new pontiff.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said on Friday.

Parolin emphasised that the schedule and organisation for Sunday, with guests from more than 200 delegations worldwide, is very complex.

However, he said the protocol team is working on arranging the meeting.

Vance will lead the U.S. delegation for the 10a.m (0800 GMT) Mass on Sunday.

For the vice president, this marks a quick return to Rome.

He was the last senior international politician to visit with the late pope Francis just before his death.

U.S. President Donald Trump attended Francis’ funeral.

During a potential bilateral meeting between Pope Leo and Vance, international crisis hotspots, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, are likely to be on the agenda.

After direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to materialise in Turkey this week, the Vatican is being considered as a possible venue for talks.

“The situation is very difficult, dramatic,”said Parolin, who is considered the second most important figure in the Vatican after the pope.

He announced that Leo plans to potentially make the Vatican, the Holy See, available for a direct meeting between the two sides.

The Pope recently hinted that he wants to help in the search for peace in the conflict. (dpa/NAN)