Former Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has sympathised with the people of Jattu-Uzairue Kingdom and the entire Etsako West Local Government Area following a destructive fire that engulfed the Jattu Community Market on Tuesday.

Shaibu also expressed deep sympathy to the traders who lost their businesses and properties. “Your pain is unimaginable, and your resilience in the face of this repeated tragedy is truly inspiring,” he said.

In July last year, a deadly windstorm that claimed lives and uprooted centuries-old trees, rocked the area and left the community in deep grief.

Shaibu’s sympathy was contained in a statement he shared via his X handle on Tuesday, January 21.

The statement reads: “My heart is heavy as I join the people of Jattu-Uzairue Kingdom and the entire Etsako West Local Government Area to grief over the devastating fire that ravaged the Jattu Community Market on Tuesday. This tragic incident, coming so soon after the windstorm that claimed lives and uprooted our century-old trees, has left our community in deep grief.

“To our traders who have lost their livelihoods and properties, I extend my deepest sympathies. Your pain is unimaginable, and your resilience in the face of this repeated tragedy is truly inspiring.

“As one of your own, I feel your sorrow deeply, and I am committed to standing with you in this difficult time. This is not just a loss for the affected traders but for the entire Jattu-Uzairue Kingdom. Our market is not just a place of business—it is a symbol of our unity, hard work, and heritage.

“I urge all well-meaning individuals, organizations, and leaders within and beyond our community to come together in solidarity to provide relief to those affected, rebuild what has been lost, and restore hope to our people. Together, we can overcome this tragedy and emerge stronger.

“May God comfort all who are grieving, and may He grant us the strength and wisdom to rebuild.”

Over 20 people were killed and more than 10 others wounded during two days of fighting between Islamic State fighters and security forces from Somalia’s Puntland region, officials said Tuesday.

In an interview with VOA’s Somali Service, a spokesperson for Puntland security operations, Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, said that 15 Islamic State militants and seven Puntland soldiers were killed in the clashes Sunday and Monday.

Ahmed said IS fighters used improvised explosive devices to protect their hideouts near the Ufeyn area. As soldiers were clearing landmines, one of the devices exploded, killing six soldiers and wounding three, he said.

The spokesperson said that during the operation, soldiers killed eight Islamic State militants.

Ahmed said the latest military operation, which centered around the Cal Miskat mountains in the Bari region, continued through Monday.

“On Monday, our soldiers encountered the terrorist fighters around Laba-Afle area, killing seven of them. One of our soldiers was also killed and four others injured,” he said.

Residents, who requested anonymity fearing for their lives, told VOA they saw the bodies of militants strewn along the roads leading into the Cal Miskat mountains.

Puntland began a military offensive last month against extremist groups in the region following months of preparations.

The region’s leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, appealed to the public to support the operation, which he said is aimed at dislodging the Islamic State militants from their hideouts in mountainous areas.

Puntland has endured terrorist attacks perpetrated by al-Shabab and Islamic State militants, but the ongoing military operation appears to be focused on IS.

The group has a relatively small presence in Somalia compared to the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, but experts have warned of growing activity.

U.S. military officials and Somali security experts reported that IS increased its membership numbers in Somalia last year.

The group was previously estimated to have between 100 and 400 fighters, but Somali security and intelligence experts estimate their current numbers to be 500 to 600 militants.

Most of the newcomers are said to be from the Middle East and eastern and northern Africa.

IS in Somalia was formed in October 2015 by a group of former al-Shabab fighters led by the cleric Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin, who reportedly pledged allegiance to the late IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Mumin appears to have survived a U.S. airstrike on May 31, 2024.

A United Nations counterterrorism official last year warned of increased attacks by Islamic State affiliates in Somalia, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Saudi Arabia embassy in Abuja has hosted a farewell ceremony for 20 Nigerians selected for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

A statement by the embassy in Abuja said the ceremony was held under the leadership of Faisal Al-Ghamdi, the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria.

It said the initiative highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting Muslims and fostering spiritual connections through pilgrimage.

The programme, initiated by King Salman Al Saud, allows Muslims to undertake the lesser Hajj with full sponsorship.

The ambassador thanked Mr Al Saud and the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for their dedication to Islam’s holy sites.

He also praised their providing enhanced services to pilgrims and ensuring their journey to the sacred sites is both spiritually fulfilling and seamless.

“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince have prioritised the well-being of pilgrims, viewing it as a sacred duty and an immense honour.

“Through this programme and other initiatives, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen bonds of brotherhood among Muslims while ensuring their comfort and safety during their spiritual journey,” he said.

According to the statement, Mr Al-Ghamdi said the country had invested over 100 billion dollars in the recent expansion and modernisation of the two holy mosques.

According to him, these ambitious projects, encompassing state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced crowd management systems and cutting-edge technology, reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to accommodating the increasing number of pilgrims.

He added that Saudi Arabia was sparing no effort in mobilising resources to improve the pilgrimage experience for all Muslims.

Mr Al-Ghamdi also emphasised the importance of adhering to the country‘s laws and regulations, which are designed to maintain order and ensure the safety and comfort of all pilgrims.

“The leadership of Saudi Arabia remains fully committed to serving the guests of God. This is a responsibility we hold dear, and we continuously strive to enhance the spiritual and logistical aspects of the pilgrimage experience,” he said.

Guests at the occasion expressed appreciation for the opportunity made available through the sponsorship initiative.

The programme allows pilgrims to perform the lesser Hajj, covering all costs, including travel, accommodation and other logistics.

France’s judiciary on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on suspicion of complicity in war crimes, specifically relating to the death of a French-Syrian man in 2017.

Investigating judges suspect al-Assad of complicity in murder and attacks on civilians.

The newspaper Le Parisien reported that the 59-year-old man was killed when his house in the southern Syrian city of Daraa was bombed by Syrian army helicopters in June 2017.

Citing investigators, the newspaper stated that France’s judiciary suspects that al-Assad ordered the attack and provided the necessary means for it.

At the time, al-Assad’s government was attempting to regain control of Daraa from opposition forces.

In 2023, the French judiciary issued an arrest warrant for al-Assad in connection with chemical weapons attacks.

This specifically concerned severe chemical attacks in the region of East Ghouta near Damascus in August 2013.

In an attack with the nerve gas Sarin, hundreds of people were killed. Human rights organisations report more than 1,000 fatalities.

Nigeria has condoled with Turkiye over the fire that killed 76 people at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort.

This condolence was made via a statement by the foreign affairs ministry on Wednesday.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to express deep condolence to the Government and People of the Republic of Turkiye over the unfortunate fire incident at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort.

“The fire, which claimed the lives of 76 persons and injured more than 50 others in Bolu Province in Northwestern Turkiye, was reported to have started in the early hours of Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria sympathises with the Government of the Republic of Turkiye and the families of the victims of the fire incident and also wishes a speedy recovery of the injured,” the statement said.

The board chairman of Seplat Energy Plc, Udo Udoma, says the company is committed to partnering with the Akwa Ibom government to drive sustainable development in the state.

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Mr Udoma stated this in Uyo when he led a delegation of the company’s leadership to visit Governor Umo Eno.

He told the governor that Seplat Energy Offshore Limited had recently completed the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

Mr Udoma said the company would now be known as Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited and retain all previous firm’s assets and liabilities.

“As a leading indigenous oil and gas producer, we have a commitment to partner with the Akwa Ibom Government to ensure sustainable development in the state.

“Our objective is to significantly contribute towards meeting Nigeria’s strategic oil and gas aspirations while supporting the socio-economic development of the state,” he said.

Mr Udoma expressed confidence that the company would bring significant economic and social benefits to the state and its host communities through strong partnerships and shared goals.

Mr Eno commended the delegation for the visit and assured them of the state government’s unwavering support and commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He expressed hope that the collaboration between the state government and SEPNU would yield tangible benefits for the people.

“We are confident that this partnership would also boost the local economy and promote sustainable development,” Mr Eno said.

Turkey has detained nine people in connection with a deadly fire that claimed the lives of 76 people and injured dozens at a ski resort in western Turkey.

Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya, who disclosed this early Wednesday, said that the owner of the hotel has also been detained.

Mr Yerlikaya also reported that the bodies of 45 victims had been handed over to their families while DNA tests were being conducted to identify the remaining bodies at the forensic institute.

The fire occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains.

The hotel, where the fire broke out expressed deep sorrow in a statement on Wednesday and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.

“We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident,” the statement said. “We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts.”

The 12-storey hotel, which had 238 registered guests, was consumed by flames after the fire started on the restaurant floor around 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT).

Survivors described scenes of panic as they fled through smoke-filled corridors and jumped from windows to escape.

Authorities are facing growing criticism over the hotel’s safety measures, as survivors reported that no fire alarms went off during the incident.

Guests said they had to navigate the smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness.

President Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning following the tragedy, which occurred during the peak of the winter tourism season, with many families from Istanbul and Ankara travelling to the Bolu mountains for skiing.

The Defence Headquarters says two notorious terrorists, Abu Radde and Umar Black, operating in the North West theatre of operation, on January 19, surrendered to troops of Operation Fansan Yamma.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement on Tuesday, said the surrendered terrorists had been operating in Batsari and Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Mr Buba said the surrender was occasioned by ongoing synchronised offensive operations by the ground troops and the air component, which resulted in several terrorists being dislodged from their enclaves with high casualties.

He said the troops recovered assorted weapons and ammunition as well as secured the release of 15 hostages held by the terrorists during the operation.

According to him, troops are nevertheless sustaining the momentum as they continue the hunt for notorious terrorist leader Bello Turji, among others.

“On the whole, troops will continue to eliminate threats posed by terrorists and destroy them on the battlefield.

“The terrorists either surrender or be buried on the battlefield.

“Additionally, troops continue with their operations to create conditions whereby terrorists are denied the ability to carry out acts of terror against citizens,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu has greenlit a project for the construction of Inland Dry Port (IDP) in Ijebu-Ode in a move that lends credence to an exclusive report by Peoples Gazette that he was solidly rooting for the creation of Ijebu state.

Three days after The Gazette blew the lid on Mr Tinubu’s conversation with the Awujale, Sikiru Adetona, promising to support the creation of Ijebu State, the president has approved that a dry port facility be erected in Ijebu-Ode.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola announced plans for the new facility in Abuja on Monday while defending the 2025 budget before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbour, Maritime Safety, Inland Waterways and Shipping Services.

Mr Adegboyega relayed the president’s goodwill and plan to decongest the Western port system by strategically establishing Inland Dry Ports in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state and Moniya in Oyo state.

“Pursuant to its mandate and the charge given by Mr President, the Ministry is developing dry ports at Ijebu-Ode and Moniya in Ogun State and Oyo State respectively,” the minister said. “These IDPs are targeted for fast-tracked delivery to decongest the Western Port System. Design consultancies for the project are ongoing.”

The dry port, if completed, will boost Ijebu-Ode’s economic viability and put to bed concerns that the region lacked the wherewithal to be an independent state.

Mr Adetona obtained Mr Tinubu’s strongest assurances that Ijebu-Ode State will stand on its own as a state, independent of Ogun state. The Awujale informed the president that modalities were underway to guarantee the successful transition of the region into a state, provided he supports it.

The president received the revered traditional ruler at his Bourdillon residence on January 5 and promised his guest that he would not withhold support for the proposed state just northeast of Lagos, sources familiar with the details told The Gazette under anonymity to discuss privileged conversations.

The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the 2025 weekly hajj induction course in nine centres.

This is contained in a statement by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Sulaiman Dederi, on Tuesday in Kano.

Mr Dederi quoted the Director-General of the board, Lamin Danbappa, as saying this during a meeting with Ulama (Islamic scholars), who would lead the induction course at various centres across the state.

The DG, represented by the Director of Administration and General Services, Yusif Muktar, said the centres included Bichi, Dogowa, Gwarzo, the School for Arabic Studies, Rimin Gado, Gezawa, Kura, Rano, and Wudil.

Mr Danbappa solicited prayers from Ulama across the state for a successful conduct of the 2025 hajj operation.

He advised prospective pilgrims to endeavour to attend the induction course at their respective centres to acquire more knowledge on the rudiments of hajj.

Two sisters and six men were on Tuesday brought before an Akure Magistrates’ Court, Ondo State, over alleged cult killings in Owo town.

The defendants are Ogunseyila Oladimeji, 28, Olabode Ojo, 30; Adeola Bero, 30; Olayemi Ayodele, 20; Ijalade Femi, Ijarotimi Taye, 42, and two sisters, Bisi Gbenga, 25 and Esther Gbenga.

The police arraigned the defendants on a five-count charge of conspiracy, cultism, murder, illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of a vehicle.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintimehin, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the offences between January 6 and January 8, at Owo town.

He alleged that the defendants were members of Alora and Ave secret cults.

The prosecutor said that the defendants used gun and other offensive weapons to carry out the offences.

Mr Akintimehin stated that the alleged offences contravened Sections 516, 319 and 430 of the Criminal Law of Ondo State, 2006.

It also contravened Sections 1(1) and (2) of the Secret Cults and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The court did not take the plea of the six defendants for lack of jurisdiction.

The prosecutor, through a written application, urged the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending the advice of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The defence team led by Daniel Onu, in their separate responses, prayed for an adjournment to enable each defendant file a counter-affidavit to the application sought by the prosecutor.

In view of their offence, the Magistrate, Sunday Adedapo, granted the seventh and eighth defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with one surety each in like sum.

Mr Adedapo ordered that the remaining six defendants should remain in police custody till the next hearing.

He adjourned the case until January 27 for reply to the affidavit and ruling.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested the driver of a notorious one-chance syndicate that uses a commercial bus with number plate KSF 56 XL to rob unsuspecting passengers of their valuables.

The agency’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on X.com on Tuesday.

It revealed that the arrest occurred along Funsho Williams Avenue in the Surulere area of the state following an incident involving a female passenger, Bibian Emelifonwu, who was a victim of the syndicate while commuting to work on Tuesday morning.

The statement partly read, “Recounting her ordeal, Miss Emelifonwu disclosed that she boarded the bus and sat beside a male passenger holding a nylon bag in the front seat next to the driver. Under the pretext of opening the front door beside her, the man surreptitiously leaned on her and deftly removed her phone from her bag.

“Having successfully executed the theft, the criminals heartlessly ejected her from the moving vehicle onto the highway.”

A team of LASTMA officers in the area who witnessed the incident were said to have immediately pursued the fleeing bus, ultimately apprehending the driver, identified as Toyib Ogunjobi, while his accomplices—the conductor and another passenger—managed to escape.

During interrogation, Ogunjobi reportedly admitted to leading a three-man syndicate, which included the owner of the bus, whom he said was actively involved in their operations.

“He revealed that their modus operandi involved enticing passengers with low fares on the Costain-Ojota route, stealing their belongings, and forcibly ejecting them from the vehicle while in motion,” the statement disclosed.

The suspect was said to have further confessed that the syndicate generated between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000 daily by selling stolen phones and valuables.

He reportedly disclosed that similar one-chance operations are proliferating across Lagos State, illustrating the pervasive nature of this criminal enterprise.

Seven stolen phones, which comprised models such as Techno Pop, Samsung AZZ, Intel A623, Techno Spark, Techno Pounoir, and Samsung devices, were said to have been recovered during the arrest.

In the statement, LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, was said to have lauded the officers for their swift and commendable action, noting that the apprehended driver would be handed over to law enforcement agencies for thorough investigation and prosecution.

He also urged Lagos residents to exercise heightened vigilance when boarding vehicles, emphasising the need for caution not only with commercial buses but also with private vehicles that may harbour ill intent.

A bomb explosion has occurred in Kawuri, a town in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

It was gathered that the explosion, which blew off on Tuesday, claimed the life of the vice chairman of Kawuri unit of the Civilian Joint Taskforce, Abba Godori.

An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity said the late Godori stepped on the bomb, which was believed to have been planted by terrorists a day earlier.

“Mr Godori was on patrol when he stepped on the bomb. He was following the footsteps of the terrorists until he stepped on the bomb,” the source said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said he was yet to be briefed.

“Personally, I am yet to get any information on that. Before nightfall, I would have ascertained what happened there,” he said.

A 43-year-old man Sunday Ozimede, who allegedly hacked Moniepoint Microfinance Bank Vault and stole the sum of N1,190, 728, 076 bn, from the bank, was on Monday arraigned by the police before the Federal High Court in Lagos State.

The defendant is facing three counts bordering on conspiracy, hacking and obtaining by false pretence preferred against him by the Police Special Fraud Unit.

The PSFU’s Prosecution Counsel, Justine Enang, told the court that the defendant allegedly hacked the microfinance bank and obtained the sum of N945, 728,076m, by false pretence.

Enang told the court that the defendant caused financial loss to Moniepoint Microfinance Bank to the tune of N145m, by planting a bug in the bank’s data system.

He said Ozimede and others now at large conspired, amongst themselves, to commit the alleged offences sometime in May 2024.

The prosecutor told the court that Ozimede fraudulently diverted the above-mentioned money from various Moniepont Microfinance Bank’s customers’ deposited funds through numerous transactions to other banks.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 27 (i)(b),14 of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 as Amended in 2024, and Section 14 (1) of the same Act, and 18(2) (b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand him to a correctional centre pending the conclusion of the trial and asked the court for a trial date.

The defendant’s lawyer, Abdulmalik Ibrahim, in a motion for bail, pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.

But the prosecutor opposed the bail application and accused the defendant of being a ‘flight risk’, saying that he might not turn up for his trial if granted bail.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, after listening to the parties’ submissions, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50m, with one surety in like sum.

The judge also ordered that the surety must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court.

He added that the bail terms must be verified by the court’s registrar and the prosecutor.

The case was adjourned to March 13, 2025, for trial.

US President Donald Trump has ordered a 75-day pause on enforcing a law that would effectively ban TikTok in the US, as he floated an idea of partnering with the app’s Chinese owner.

The executive order delayed the implementation of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which took effect January 19 and would prohibit the distribution and updating of TikTok in the United States.

Trump had promised to move fast to save TikTok from the law that was passed overwhelmingly by Congress and signed by president Joe Biden last year.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he was seeking a 50-50 partnership between “the United States” and its Chinese owner ByteDance, though he did not provide details on how this could be achieved.

“I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok that I didn’t have originally,” the newly inaugurated Trump said as he signed the order, crediting the app for delivering him the youth vote in his election.

In his first stint in the White House, Trump had attempted to ban TikTok in the US on national security concerns.

The TikTok ban law was passed due to concerns that the Chinese government could exploit the app to spy on Americans or covertly influence US public opinion through data collection and content manipulation.

TikTok shut down in the United States late Saturday as the deadline approached, leaving millions of dismayed users barred from the app.

Trump then promised to issue an executive order as soon as he took office to delay the ban to allow time to “make a deal.”

TikTok restored service in the United States on Sunday crediting Trump for making the reversal possible — though the outgoing Biden administration had earlier said that it would not enforce any ban.

To save the app’s US operations, Trump said he planned to set up a joint venture between US companies and ByteDance and that the company could end up being valued a trillion dollars thanks to his intervention.

“Essentially, with TikTok, I have the right to either sell it or close it,” Trump told reporters in the White House.

“We may have to get an approval from China too…but I’m sure they’ll approve it, or that would be a hostile act” that could be reciprocated with tariffs, he added.

Under the order, the attorney general must issue guidance implementing the pause and send letters to service providers confirming they won’t face liability for continuing to host or update TikTok during this period.

This clarification was crucial for companies like Apple and Google, which would otherwise be required to remove TikTok from their app stores and block updates, facing penalties of up to $5,000 per user if the app is accessed.

Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s US servers, is also legally obliged to enforce the ban.

The 75-day pause is intended to give the new administration time to “pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans,” according to the order.

The Taliban government announced on Tuesday the release by the United States of an Afghanitan prisoner in exchange for US detainees, saying the deal was brokered by Qatar.

“An Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammad, imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that Mohammad had been serving a life sentence after being arrested “almost two decades ago”.

US President Donald Trump granted pardons on Monday to more than 1,500 of his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Trump, just hours after taking office, also ordered that all pending criminal cases against Capitol riot defendants be dropped.

Among those receiving a pardon was Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for directing a military-style assault on the Capitol.

Stewart Rhodes, the leader of another far-right group, the Oath Keepers, had his 18-year prison sentence commuted to time served. Both Tarrio and Rhodes had been convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Describing the rioters as “hostages,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that he had granted “full pardons” to more than 1,500 defendants.

“We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” he said.

A total of 1,583 people were charged in connection with the assault on Congress by Trump supporters seeking to disrupt certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory.

Trump repeatedly pledged during his election campaign to pardon those who took part in the attack, calling them “patriots” and “political prisoners.”

Trump, whose first term as president ended under the cloud of the Capitol assault, has repeatedly played down the violence of January 6, even going so far as to describe it as a “day of love.”

More than 140 police officers were injured in hours of clashes with rioters wielding flagpoles, baseball bats, hockey sticks and other makeshift weapons, along with Tasers and canisters of bear spray.

– ‘Outrageous insult’ –

The Capitol assault followed a fiery speech by then-president Trump to tens of thousands of his supporters near the White House in which he repeated his false claims that he won the 2020 race.

He then encouraged the crowd to march on Congress.

Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned the pardons, calling them “an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol.”

“It is shameful that the president has decided to make one of his top priorities the abandonment and betrayal of police officers who put their lives on the line to stop an attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power,” Pelosi said.

Trump was charged by special counsel Jack Smith with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

But the case never made it to trial, and ahead of the inauguration was dropped under the Justice Department’s policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.

Trump’s move on Monday granted a “full, complete and unconditional pardon” to everyone convicted of involvement in the riot and ordered the immediate release of those still in prison.

He commuted to time and served the sentences of nine members of the Oath Keepers, including the founder Rhodes. Five members of the Proud Boys also had their sentences commuted.

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization, a body he has repeatedly criticised over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the White House hours after his inauguration, Trump said the United States was paying far more to the UN body compared to China, adding: “World Health ripped us off.”

The United States, the largest donor to the Geneva-based organization, provides substantial financial support that is vital to the WHO’s operations.

Its withdrawal is expected to trigger a significant restructuring of the institution and could further disrupt global health initiatives.

This marks the second time Trump has sought to sever ties with the WHO.

During his first term, the United States issued a notice of intent to withdraw, accusing the organization of being overly influenced by China during the pandemic’s early stages.

That move was later reversed under former president Joe Biden’s administration.

In his new executive order, Trump directed agencies to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO” and to “identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.”

The administration also announced plans to review and rescind Biden’s 2024 US Global Health Security Strategy, which was designed to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, “as soon as practicable.”

The timing of the US withdrawal comes amid mounting fears over the pandemic potential of the current bird flu outbreak (H5N1), which has infected dozens and claimed one life in the United States.

Meanwhile, WHO member states have been negotiating the world’s first treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response since late 2021 — negotiations now set to proceed without US participation.

On Monday, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers said it would file a lawsuit against the federal government’s decision to allow telecom operators to increase tariffs by 50 per cent.

NATCOMS president Deolu Ogunbanjo, in an interview in Lagos, said the Nigerian Communications Commission did not carry subscribers along.

Mr Ogunbanjo said that NATCOMS understood the dilemma faced by the telecommunications industry and had suggested a five per cent to ten per cent marginal increase in tariff. He said that the approval by the federal government for telecom operators to hike tariffs but capped at 50 per cent maximal increment was unacceptable.

According to Mr Ogunbanjo, earlier, economic experts had x-rayed the telecoms sector and said that it was in intensive care, meaning that it needed to be attended to.

“The industry operators can opt for an initial public offer for Nigerians to buy shares in their companies as a way of raising funds. However, a situation where a whole 50 per cent is granted for a tariff hike is not cheap. It is a no from us subscribers.

“I mean, for what we are already going through, no for us, we will challenge this in court,’’ Mr Ogunbanjo stated.

On Monday, the NCC, the industry’s regulatory body, released a statement saying it had acceded to the requests of operators to hike tariffs. This was announced in a statement.

The NCC said it had approved the 50 per cent tariff adjustments in response to prevailing operational costs. It said this was less than the 100 per cent demanded by some telecom operators.

It said its decision was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.

The NCC added that, while recognising the concerns of the public, the decision was made after extensive consultations with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

“The NCC has prioritised striking a balance between protecting telecoms consumers and ensuring the sustainability of the industry, including the thousands of indigenous vendors and suppliers who form a critical part of the telecommunications ecosystem.

“The NCC recognises the financial pressures faced by Nigerian households and businesses and remains deeply empathetic to the impact of tariff adjustments. To this end, the commission has mandated that operators implement these adjustments transparently and in a manner that is fair to consumers,” the NCC explained.

It added that these adjustments would support the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity.

The NCC also mentioned that consumers would benefit from better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage within the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump says tariffs of 25 per cent on products from Canada and Mexico could be introduced as early as February, hours after taking office as US president on Monday.

Speaking at the White House while signing various orders shortly after his inauguration, Mr Trump said, “We’re thinking in terms of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing vast number of people … to come in.”

“I think we’ll do it February 1,” Mr Trump added, referring to the potential start date for the tariffs.

Earlier on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Mr Trump did not intend to impose tariffs on trading partners like Canada, Mexico, and China.

Instead, he planned to instruct the authorities to assess trade relations with China and its neighbours on the North American continent, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a summary of a planned memorandum and Trump’s advisers.

Shortly after winning the election in November, Mr Trump threatened to impose tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China.

There are also fears in the EU that Mr Trump could impose new tariffs.

Tariffs are a type of surcharge on imported goods. They are paid as goods enter the country.

Mr Trump imposed a range of tariffs on imported goods during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021.