*📰NB85: Nigerian Army Bans🚷 ‘Okada’ in Niger state and other six States*

The Nigerian Army on Sunday announced ban on the use of motorcycles in the North West region.

It said the ban under exercise HARBIN KUNAMA which seeks to wipe out banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the zone, affects Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kastina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger states.

The Army said it would not tolerate the use of motorcycles within the hinterland, particularly around the forests where the armed bandits and kidnappers hibernate.

It called on the government of the affected states to enforce the order in their respective states in conjunction with the security agencies.

Acting spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, in a statement said: “The Nigerian Army over time has observed the use of motorcycles by armed bandits, kidnappers, criminal elements and their collaborators as enablers to perpetrate their heinous crimes especially in the states within the north-west geopolitical zone of the country.

“This informed the decision and directive to ban the use of motorcycles within the hinterland particularly around the forests where the armed bandits, criminals and kidnappers hibernate and all around where troops are conducting operations alongside other security agencies.

“While this may cause some inconveniences to some law-abiding citizens in the area, the need to use all means possible to stop the dastardly activities of these bandits across the North West part of Nigeria needs no emphasis.

“The general public, particularly in the North West and some parts of North Central in Nigeria where Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA is ongoing are enjoined to bear with the NA as concerted efforts are being made to combat the insecurity menace ongoing within the area.”

*"We Will Rebuild" Notre Dame, Vows🔊 Macron After Catastrophic 🔥Fire*

The spine-tingling, soul-lifting spire and roof of Notre Dame Cathedral were reduced to ash Monday, as a catastrophic fire spread through a building that has embodied the heart of Paris for more than 800 years.

In an address to the nation just before midnight, President Emmanuel Macron said the worst had been avoided, that the exterior structure had been preserved and that the cathedral would rise again.

"I tell you solemnly tonight: We will rebuild this cathedral," he vowed. "Notre Dame of Paris is our history," Macron continued, emphasizing the structure's unique place in the national imagination. "The epicenter of our lives. It's the many books, the paintings, those that belong to all French men and French women, even those who've never come."

*Extinction Rebellion: Climate ✊Protesters Block Roads*

Thousands of people joined protests across central London as climate change activists blocked roads and vandalised Shell's headquarters.

Extinction Rebellion campaigners parked a pink boat at Oxford Circus and blocked Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus and roads around Parliament Square.

Protester Yen Chit Chong said: "This is our last best shot at survival."

Among a total of 52 arrests, five people were detained on suspicion of criminal damage at Shell's HQ.

The three men and two women were taken to a police station in central London after a glass door was smashed at the offices near Waterloo.

The majority of those arrested were detained on suspicion of public order offences.

*Taliban Team at 🇦🇫Afghan Peace🕊 Talks in Qatar🇶🇦 to Include Women: Spokesman*

Women will be included for the first time in the Taliban delegation to peace talks in Qatar this month, the movement's main spokesman said on Monday, ahead of the latest round of meetings aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.

For a group notorious for its strictly conservative attitude to women's rights, the move represents a step towards addressing demands that women be included in the talks, intended to lay the foundations for a future peace settlement.

The April 19-21 meeting in Doha will be between the Taliban and a delegation comprising prominent Afghans, including opposition politicians and civil society activists. It follows similar talks between the two sides in Moscow in February.

*US 🇺🇸Asks Its👉 Citizens to Reconsider ✈Travel Plans to 🇵🇰Pakistan Due to Terrorism*

The US has advised its citizens to reconsider their travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and asked them not to travel to restive Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), identified as the most dangerous areas due to terror attacks.

While Pakistan, in general, has been placed in “Level Three” category in the latest travel advisory issued by the US on Monday, several parts of the country, including Balochistan, KPK province, PoK and India-Pakistan border, have been placed in the most dangerous “Level Four” category, in which US citizens are asked not to travel due to high-risk areas.

Asserting that terror groups continue plotting possible attacks in Pakistan, the State Department said that terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship and government facilities.

Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past, and information suggests they continue to do so, it said.

*Eight Dead ⚰After Tornadoes🌪 Rip Across 🇺🇸US South*

At least eight people have died and dozens were injured after storms triggered tornadoes and flooding across several southern US states.

In Texas, two children died after a tree fell on their family car. The parents, who were in the front seats, were not injured.

Deaths were reported across Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana.

Some of the injured could not be rescued for hours due to debris on roadways, according to US media.

Authorities say at least 11 tornadoes touched down in three states before the storm began moving towards the East Coast.

Tornado warnings have been issued for Monday in Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.