ABUJA: A Nigerian government official found with 86 new luxury cars was charged with fraud on Thursday, court papers show. Ibrahim Tumsah, finance and account director at the Power, Works and Housing Ministry was arraigned at Abuja Federal High Court along with his brother Tijani Tumsah, a member of a presidential committee on initiatives in the country’s north east.
Both were accused of “refusing” to declare the assets “without reasonable excuse” and after being given notice by a special presidential investigation panel tasked with the recovery of public property. Besides the cars, their assets include four houses and a quarry plant in Abuja. Another court in December had ordered that all the property in question be temporarily seized. Tumsah and his brother were granted bail after they pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court has adjourned the case to March 1.
Nigerian govt official found with 86 cars charged with fraud
Nigerian govt official found with 86 cars charged with fraud
Emergency demonstration outside UK Parliament calls for action to protect Palestinian health workers
Emergency demonstration outside UK Parliament calls for action to protect Palestinian health workers
- Event in wake of reports of intensified assaults on Gaza’s healthcare system
LONDON: An emergency demonstration organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and its partners took place opposite the UK Parliament buildings in London on Monday.
Thousands attended the rally, demanding immediate action from MPs to safeguard Gaza’s health workers and medical infrastructure amid escalating attacks by Israel, according to organizers.
Prominent speakers expected at the rally included MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, alongside healthcare professionals and civil society representatives.
The demonstration followed recent reports of intensified assaults on Gaza’s healthcare system.
Kamal Adwan Hospital, including its neonatal unit, was recently destroyed in northern Gaza, and the Indonesian Hospital is under siege amid a forced evacuation.
Palestinian healthcare workers have been allegedly targeted, with scores killed and hundreds detained — including Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan — amid accusations of inhumane treatment and the torture of detainees.
The International Court of Justice has identified Israel’s actions as a plausible case of genocide.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are especially protected, and attacks on healthcare facilities may constitute war crimes, with activists critical of the UK government for continuing to supply arms and extend political, diplomatic, and economic support to Israel.
Ben Jamal, director of the PSC, has condemned the British government’s stance.
He said: “Israel has been given impunity by the UK government to commit war crime after war crime over the last 15 months. We hoped this barbarity and the government’s support for it had a limit, a red line which could not be crossed, but we have not seen it yet.
“To attack and destroy hospitals, to target and kill medical staff and patients within them, has no possible justification and is completely unacceptable.
“These are crimes for which Israel will have to answer in world courts, but the UK government must also face its own reckoning for shamefully aiding and abetting Israel’s carnage.”
Still awaiting thanks for stopping extremists in Sahel, Macron says
- Donald Trump knows that he has a solid ally in France, he says
PARIS: France’s President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he was still waiting for Africa’s Sahel states to thank Paris for stopping them falling into the hands of militants and he dismissed suggestions his country had been forced out of the region.
Speaking to French ambassadors at an annual conference on foreign policy for 2025, Macron said France had been right to intervene in 2013 to fight militants even if those same states had now moved away from French military support.
“I think that they forgot to thank us, but that’s ok, it will come in time,” Macron said ironically.
French troops have in recent years pulled out of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso after successive military coups and are in the process of withdrawing from Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
“None of them would have a sovereign state if the French army had not deployed in this region,” Macron said.
Macron dismissed the notion that Paris had been kicked out of the region, saying it had decided to re-organize its strategy.
“No, France is not on the back foot in Africa, it is just lucid and reorganizing itself,” he said.
Macron extended an olive branch to US President-elect Donald Trump, declaring that France is “a solid ally” as he outlined his vision for global diplomacy in 2025 during his address to French ambassadors.
“Donald Trump knows that he has a solid ally in France, an ally he does not underestimate, one who believes in Europe and carries a lucid ambition for the transatlantic relationship,” Macron said at the Elysee Palace, emphasizing France’s commitment to fostering cooperation while urging European nations to fortify their unity and resilience.
“If we decide to be weak and defeatist, there is little chance we will be respected by the United States under President Trump,” he warned.
Macron’s speech, delivered against a backdrop of geopolitical turmoil, laid out France’s foreign policy priorities, spanning the Ukraine war, European defense, and the Middle East.
China’s top diplomat heads to Africa as West’s attention dwindles
- “China firmly believes that Africa has never been a forgotten continent, but rather a source of vitality and a land full of development potential,” Guo Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a regular news conference on Monday
BEIJING: China’s top diplomat began his annual New Year tour of Africa on Sunday, maintaining a 35-year-long tradition, to quietly advance Beijing’s already sizeable influence across the resource-rich continent as Europe’s presence wanes and America’s wavers.
While global capitals and investors brace for the return of US President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and domestic politics keep German and French ministers occupied, Foreign Minister Wang Yi being in Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Chad and Nigeria highlights the consistency of China’s engagement with Africa, analysts say.
Wang’s visit through to Saturday also comes as the world’s No. 2 economy ramps up its financial support for the debt-laden continent and looks to strike more critical minerals deals and find markets to absorb its exports.
“The decision on which countries to go to each year rarely follows any external logic,” said Eric Orlander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project. “But it resonates in Africa as a reminder of China’s consistent commitment to the continent, in contrast to the approaches of the US, UK and EU.”
“China firmly believes that Africa has never been a forgotten continent, but rather a source of vitality and a land full of development potential,” Guo Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a regular news conference on Monday.
SPEEDREAD
While global capitals and investors brace for the return of US President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and domestic politics keep German and French ministers occupied, Foreign Minister Wang Yi being in Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Chad and Nigeria highlights the consistency of China’s engagement with Africa, analysts say.
As China’s economy slows, Africa offers a much-needed avenue for its state-owned infrastructure firms struggling for projects as indebted local governments hold off on spending, and a market for its electric vehicles and solar panels, areas where the US and EU say it has over-capacity.
Africa’s 50-plus votes at the UN could also help advance Beijing’s efforts to reshape multilateral institutions and reinterpret global norms so that they are more in line with its interests, particularly on issues such as human rights.
While current US President Joe Biden’s December trip to Angola was his only visit to sub-Saharan Africa in his presidency, China puts Africa at the front of its diplomatic calendar.
“China has become central to Africa’s policy, as an actor and an inspiration,” said Hannah Ryder, founder of Development Reimagined, an African-owned consultancy, referring to how candidates vying to chair the African Union Commission have talked up Beijing’s ability to improve Africa’s manufacturing capabilities and China’s track record in mass education ahead of February’s election. The commission is the secretariat of the 55-nation African Union.
Wang’s decision to visit the Republic of Congo, which this year takes over as co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation that sets the agenda for China-Africa relations, also points to China’s commitment to implementing the outcomes of last year’s summit, Ryder said, where China pledged $51 billion in fresh financial assistance.
Beijing is also beginning to make its presence felt on pressing regional security issues, analysts say, which partly explains why Wang will travel to Chad.
France last month began the withdrawal of its military from the Central African country, after its government unexpectedly ended a defense cooperation pact that had made it a key Western ally in the fight against militants in the region.
“China has been a reliable and stable partner for the new military juntas in the Sahel and West Africa,” Orland said.
“For the French and US, who see a dilution of Western power in the region, China’s presence is seen as ‘controversial,’ but it’s a very different view from African perspectives.”
Mozambique protest leader says he will return from exile
- Thousands of Mozambicans have fled into neighboring Malawi and Eswatini since the unrest started, according to authorities, prompting alarm from the UN
MAPUTO: The Mozambique opposition leader who has led more than two months of deadly protests against disputed election results from outside the country announced on Sunday he would return ahead of the inauguration of the new president.
Venancio Mondlane, who left Mozambique after his lawyer was gunned down on Oct. 19, said in a Facebook live address he would arrive at Maputo’s Mavalane airport on Thursday.
From self-exile in an unknown location, he called for demonstrations against the results of the Oct. 9 election, which he says were rigged in favor of the ruling Frelimo party in power for 50 years.
The protests so far have been met with a tough police crackdown. The violence has left around 300 people dead, according to a tally by a local rights group, with authorities also reporting looting and vandalism. “If they are killing my brothers, they are murdering my brothers, then I will be there,” Mondlane said.
FASTFACTS
• From self-exile in an unknown location, Venancio Mondlane called for demonstrations against the results of the Oct. 9 election.
• The protests so have been met with a tough police crackdown. The violence has left around 300 people dead.
• Final official results of the poll said Mondlane took 24 percent of the presidential vote compared to 65 percent for the Frelimo candidate.
“If it’s for me, if it’s because of Venancio, then Venancio will be, on Thursday ... at Mavalane International Airport,” he said.
Final official results of the poll said Mondlane took 24 percent of the presidential vote compared to 65 percent for the Frelimo candidate, Daniel Chapo.
Mondlane, 50, insists the election was stolen from him and that another count said he was the winner. Several international observer missions have also said there were irregularities.
Chapo, 47, is due to be sworn in on January 15, taking over from President Filipe Nyusi at the end of his two-term limit. His Frelimo has ruled the country since independence from Portugal in 1975.
Mondlane, a charismatic speaker who appeals to Mozambique’s disenchanted youth, appeared to shrug off criminal and civil charges that the authorities have laid against him, including for damages caused during protests by his supporters.
“You can do whatever you want,” he said, addressing the authorities. “If you want to murder, murder. If you want to arrest, arrest too. I will be there.”
The opposition leader has previously claimed there had been attempts to assassinate him.
While Mondlane has been maintaining rejection of the results and his call for “electoral truth,” the leaders of the main political parties have agreed to take their seats in the new parliament, even if they say there were irregularities in the election.
Nyusi has called for dialogue among the parties to resolve the dispute.
On Dec. 27, Chapo called for “non-violence” and “unity,” saying several police officers had died during the clashes.
The unrest has caused major losses to Mozambique’s economy, stopping cross-border trade. Shipping, mining and industry has also been affected.
Regional grouping the Southern African Development Community was concerned that the situation “may jeopardize peace and security for the country concerned and the region as a whole,” said Tanzanian President Samia Hassan at a meeting Sunday focused on Mozambique.
“For the last couple of weeks, we have witnessed the spread of violent protests that have caused massive harm to human life, affected economic activities and disrupted cross-border trade,” said Hassan, who chaired the meeting of the SADC’s security troika.
Thousands of Mozambicans have fled into neighboring Malawi and Eswatini since the unrest started, according to authorities, prompting alarm from the UN.
“Refugees and civilians are facing immense risks, losing their livelihoods and relying on humanitarian assistance,” said Chansa Kapaya, UNHCR’s regional director for southern Africa, on Dec. 31.
“While we are grateful for the generosity of Malawi and Eswatini, immediate support is crucial to tackle the worsening crisis and prevent further suffering.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation
- Trudeau said Monday he has asked the president of his Liberal Party to begin the process to select a new leader
- He has faced rising discontent over his leadership, and the abrupt departure of his finance minister late last year
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation, telling the nation that “internal battles” mean he “cannot be the best option” in the next election.
Trudeau said Monday he has asked the president of his Liberal Party to begin the process to select a new leader. He has faced rising discontent over his leadership, and the abrupt departure of his finance minister late last year signaled growing turmoil within his government.
Parliament will be suspended until March 24. It had been due to resume Jan. 27. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race.
Trudeau had been the second-youngest prime minister in Canada’s history when he was elected in 2015, and he had been planning to run for a fourth term in next year’s election even as discontent in his party grew. He said that “I have always been driven by my love for Canada” and repeatedly described himself as a fighter.
Here’s the latest:
A HOPEFUL FOR PRIME MINISTER THANKS TRUDEAU
One person likely to seek power in the Liberal Party after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation is Mark Carney, the former head of the Bank of Canada and later the Bank of England.
Carney has long been interested in entering politics and becoming prime minister, and Trudeau tried to recruit him to join his government.
Carney in a post on X thanked Trudeau for his contributions and sacrifices. He adds: “Wishing you the best for your next chapters.”
TRUDEAU SAYS CANADA NEEDS A RESET IN POLITICS
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada deserves a Parliament that functions. He took questions after announcing his resignation Monday morning.
Trudeau said Parliament has been “entirely seized” by what he called obstruction and a total lack of productivity. He said this has been the longest-serving minority government in Canadian history.
And in some of his final comments to the media, Trudeau shared his thoughts on opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. He said Poilievre has a “very small vision” for Canada, describing it as “stopping the fight against climate change,” backing off on “strength in diversity” and “attacking journalists.”
TRUDEAU ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation, telling the media that “internal battles” mean he “cannot be the best option” in the next election.
Trudeau says he has asked the president of his Liberal Party to begin the process to select a new leader. He has faced rising discontent over his leadership, and the abrupt departure of his finance minister late last year signaled growing turmoil within his government.
Shortly before he spoke, an official familiar with the matter said Parliament will be suspended until March 24. It had been due to resume Jan. 27. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly.
FIRST, SOME BACKGROUND
Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule, and had initially been praised for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old leader, the son of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers, became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing, and surging immigration.
The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the US
That’s even though far fewer of each crosses into the US from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened.
