First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerians to rise above their differences, invest in nurturing youth, and protect the dignity of elders in 2025 to create a country where all can thrive.

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Ms Tinubu made the call in her New Year message on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to show love, respect, and understanding toward one another.

“As we journey through 2025, let us rise above our differences and rebuild the bridges that connect us—bridges of love, respect, and understanding,” Ms Tinubu said.

“It is a year to invest in one another to nurture our youth and protect the dignity of our elders, to create a country where every Nigerian can thrive, regardless of where they are born, what they believe, or what language they speak.”

Governor Hope Uzodimma has assented to the N807 billion Imo appropriation bill for the 2025 fiscal year.

The House of Assembly reviewed the amount from an initial N756 billion.

Shortly after signing the bill into law on Tuesday in Owerri, the governor pledged “full and faithful implementation” of the budget.

He said the increase was based on an alignment between the executive and the legislature in providing essential services to the people.

Mr Uzodimma, who expressed his satisfaction over the expeditious passage of the bill, pledged to commence the budget implementation immediately.

The 2025 appropriation showed that 86.09 per cent of the total budget outlay, amounting to about N694 billion, was approved for capital expenditure, while 13.91 per cent, about N112 billion, was allocated for recurrent expenditures.

The Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development got more than N297 billion (42.8 per cent), and the Ministry of Transport N101 billion (14.5 per cent).

The Ministry of Power and Electrification received N74 billion (10.8 per cent), while the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was allocated N50 billion (7.2 per cent) of the budget.

The Ministry of Education got N49 billion (7.1 per cent), while the Ministry of Health received N31 billion (4.65 per cent).

“I have just signed into law the 2025 Imo State Appropriation Bill, which now has the force of law and serves as the financial operational manual for the state.

“The total 2025 budget, as amended by the Assembly and signed into law, is N807,088,041,220,” he stated.

He commended the speaker and members of the House of Assembly for the expeditious passage of the bill and for increasing the initial budget estimate.

“This Budget of Expanded Economic Opportunities is designed to drive the economic transformation of our state through improved infrastructure and industrialisation.

“Beyond focusing on making our economy one of the fastest-growing in the region, we aim to position the state as a prime destination for genuine investors.

“We will create expanded economic opportunities through investment and job creation,” he said.

He called on the stakeholders to support his administration in its endeavour to set Imo on a path of sustainable development.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has denied accusations from the Presidency that he threatened President Bola Tinubu over the controversial tax reform bill.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mohammed’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, strongly refuted the claims, calling them a misleading face-saving tactic by the Federal Government.

The Presidency had recently responded to Governor Mohammed’s criticisms of the proposed tax reforms, accusing him of branding the policy as “anti-North” and unfairly attacking President Tinubu’s administration.

However, Gidado argued that the Mohammed’s remarks, which highlighted the negative impact of the tax reforms, were purely precautionary and meant to protect the interests of the people.

“It is out of character for Governor Bala Mohammed, who has the utmost respect for the institution of the Presidency, to make any threats,” Gidado asserted.

He stressed that the governor’s concerns regarding the tax reform were rooted in his commitment to safeguarding the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, particularly those in economically disadvantaged states.

According to Gidado, the statement issued by the Presidency falsely portrayed Bala Mohammed’s call for dialogue as an anti-dialogue stance, which he argued was dishonest.

He said, “When Governor Bala Mohammed asserted that the Presidency’s attempt to shove the discredited tax reforms down the throat of Nigerians was a recipe for anarchy, he spoke from the position of someone who is closer to the populace and who carries the mandate of not only the over seven million people of Bauchi State but who also possesses an intimate knowledge of a very significant subregional group in the country.

“It is not by accident that his genuine reservation against the tax reforms coincides with those of some APC governors who have consistently warned against implementing the proposed reform in its present form.

“Therefore, it smacks of a disingenuous attempt at blackmail and a throwback to the insensitivity of the Government to single Bala Mohammed out for inquisition. Could it be because he is of the Peoples Democratic Party?”

He pointed out that the governor’s concerns about the tax reform were shared by several governors across party lines, including some members of the ruling APC, who have expressed similar reservations.

Gidado reiterated Mohammed’s commitment to constructive engagement with the Federal Government on the tax reform issue.

“Despite the avoidable misunderstanding generated by the proposed tax reform due to its poor handling, we want to assure the Presidency that, in keeping with his reputation as a nationalist and statesman, Governor Bala Mohammed remains committed to collaborating with the Federal Government to address all national challenges,” Gidado stated.

He called on the federal government to abandon its “aversion to constructive criticism” and engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders, rather than resorting to selective profiling of critics.

“Rather than resorting to selective profiling of some well-meaning Nigerians like Governor Bala Mohammed and unproductive name-calling aimed at distracting the public from the unpopular Tax Reform agenda, we urge the Presidency to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholder groups,” Gidado said.

The Borno State Police Command on Tuesday announced the recovery of 18 unexploded explosive devices and the arrest of 721 suspects for various crimes across the state in 2024.

The state Commissioner of Police, Yusufu Lawal, disclosed this during the command’s end-of-year press briefing in Maiduguri, the state capital, highlighting achievements in crime prevention and law enforcement over the year.

“In the year under review, the command recorded notable successes in combating crime, leading to the arrest of 721 suspects for offences ranging from armed robbery, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), kidnapping, theft, and other heinous crimes,” Lawal said.

He added, “The command also recovered 18 unexploded explosive devices and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 13 stolen vehicles and tricycles, six firearms, a large cache of drugs, and other illicit substances.”

Lawal attributed the successes to policing measures implemented by officers of the command, which have enhanced security in Maiduguri and other major towns in the state.

“In line with the Inspector-General of Police’s vision to achieve a 30% reduction in crime by 2025, the command will sustain robust and proactive policing strategies to ensure that Maiduguri and other towns remain safe and secure,” he stated.

The commissioner commended the state government for its continued support of the police command, particularly in the renovation of police stations and barrack accommodations in Pulka, Gwoza, Monguno, Lugumani, Banki, and Benisheikh.

“This support will significantly boost the morale of officers and improve service delivery,” Lawal said.

He also lauded Governor Babagana Zulum for assenting to the Borno State Penal Code Law 2023 and the domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, which have expedited prosecution processes.

Lawal assured the people that the command’s priorities in 2025 would align with the state government’s 10-year strategic plan, which focuses on reintegrating displaced communities and building resilience among returnees in their ancestral homes.

“We remain committed to supporting these objectives through targeted and community-focused policing initiatives,” he concluded.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is scheduled for a one-day working visit to Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, on Friday, January 3, 2025.

Governor Abdullahi Sule announced the visit during the signing of the 2025 Appropriation Bill at the Government House on Monday.

The Vice President is expected to participate in four key official events, including the graduation ceremony of over 1,000 technicians trained at the Wing Commander Ibrahim Abdullahi Vocational and Technical Institute. The trainees were drawn from various parts of the country.

He added that the Vice President is expected to perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the head office of the Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), as well as the Multi Outdoor Court, funded by the World Bank through a $4m facility.

The Governor further said that the Vice President will also be at hand to hand over tractors to local government chairmen, distribute rice seedlings, as well as relief materials to internally displaced persons who were affected by floods.

“The VP is very interested in showing that the rice we cultivated in Jangwa is continuous and not just for one season. We are going to distribute rice seedlings to every local government area so that the local chairmen will come and collect their tractors and also collect seedlings and every local government will go, just like the state is doing in Jangwa and Agwatashi. 500 hectares. 1000 hectares, whatever they will be able to do, we are giving the tractors and seedlings.

“Also, we have received about N3bn from the FG to support flood victims and the IDPs. Most of the items to be given to them have been bought by NASEMA and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The VP will participate in the distribution of these items,” he stated.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has publicly expressed his admiration for Nigerian Afropop sensation, Ayra Starr.

Kainerugaba revealed on his X account that his late grandfather, Mzee Amos, had granted him the freedom to pursue any woman of his choice, and he has now set his sights on the “Rush” singer.

“My late grandfather, Mzee Amos, gave me permission to get any woman on earth. I will capture that girl, Ayra Starr,” he wrote.

His declaration comes on the heels of Ayra Starr’s electrifying performance at the 27th edition of Blankets and Wine in Uganda, where she shared the stage with South African music duo Blaq Diamond.

Ayra Starr, known for her distinctive fusion of Afropop and R&B, has been gaining global acclaim with her unique sound and captivating performances.

Actor and singer, Adams Kehinde, popularly known as Lege Miami, hosted a highly successful “Singles Hookup Matchmaking End-of-the-year Party” at the Radisson Blu Hotel in GRA Ikeja, Lagos State, on Sunday.

The free-entry event attracted a large crowd of singles eager to mingle and potentially find a connection as the year came to a close.

In a post-event statement, Lege Miami expressed his gratitude to his fans and supporters, saying, “See crowd. 2024 singles hookup matchmaking end-of-the-year party. Thank you, lovers.”

“Thank you, Nigerians, I’m grateful. I want to thank all the people that supported me for this last event. I thank all the givers that brought out money to support me”.

He also acknowledged the challenges posed by the large crowd, revealing that the Radisson Blu Hotel was unable to accommodate everyone who attended. “We got a massive crowd that Radisson hotel couldn’t contain everybody, Next year, I’ll get a bigger place in GRA Ikeja.”

Lege Miami apologised to singles who were unable to gain entry due to capacity limits, promising a larger venue for next year’s event.

“I apologise to the singles who were present but couldn’t come in. We won’t host the event at Radisson next year, but it’ll be in GRA on the mainland”, he said.

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has dismissed claims by former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu is being dominated by Yorubas as ‘lies.’

He however added that if the domination by a particular region is the reason for the rapid growth the country is experiencing, then Nigeria should keep having whichever tribe that will make it move forward.

This was contained in a statement on his X handle on Tuesday, December 31.

The statement reads: “First of all, Nasir el-Rufai lied about the so-called Yorubanisation of government under President Tinubu. But if Yorubanisation can make:

“Port Harcourt Refinery work, Warri Refinery work, Local Government Autonomy a reality, Student Loans a reality, Passport scarcity a thing of the past, New Minimum Wage of ₦70,000 a fact, Federal Allocation to states double

“The Nigerian Stock Exchange achieved her highest record of crossing the 100,000 All Share Index in 2024 and recording a trading volume of ₦3.98 trillion, thus overtaking Zimbabwe as Africa’s most profitable market

Work on the promised 700-km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project commence

Nigeria’s GDP growth rate rise to 3.46%

Nigeria’s trade surplus an all-time high of ₦20 trillion for 2024.

“The most notorious bandit kingpins, including Ali Kachala, Boderi Isyaku, and Sani Dangote, be killed, which has resulted in a marked decrease in

incidents of insecurity. ₦50,000 Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to make businesses a reality. The wiping out of Christian communities in Southern Kaduna is history

The abduction of school children is a bygone era.

“Then Nigeria should have more Yorubanisation, Hausanisation, Igbonisation, Fulanisation, and any isation that would make Nigeria work for Nigerians!”

U.S. authorities have confirmed that a Chinese state-sponsored hacker breached the U.S. Treasury Department, accessing government employees’ workstations and unclassified documents.

President Joe Biden’s administration confirmed this development on Monday, according to the New York Times.

In a letter from the Treasury Department to lawmakers, the incident was flagged on December 8 by BeyondTrust, a third-party software service provider. The hacker had obtained a security key that enabled remote access to certain treasury workstations and the documents stored on them.

“Based on available indicators, the incident has been attributed to a China state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor,” the letter reads. “In accordance with Treasury policy, intrusions attributable to an APT are considered a major cybersecurity incident.”

The U.S. Treasury Department is working with the FBI, intelligence agencies, and other investigators to assess the impact of the breach, while the compromised service has since been deactivated, and there is no evidence suggesting that the Chinese actor still has access to treasury information.

This comes from a major cyberattack following previous revelations of China’s penetration into U.S. telecommunications where it gained access to the phone conversations and text messages of U.S. officials.

Chinese officials have consistently denied any government involvement in hacking and have engaged in talks with the U.S. to address cybersecurity concerns, according to The Times.

First Bank has reportedly sacked 100 of its top staff members as Nigeria continues to face financial crises under President Bola Tinubu.

The layoffs were reported on Monday by market-monitoring platform Nairametrics, which did not immediately cite reasons for the development.

The bank did not return a request seeking comments about the firings from Peoples Gazette on Monday night.

The bank’s move represents the latest bout of job losses to hit the Nigerian banking sector in 2024, as many struggle to survive amid the volatile economic situation in the country.

The attendant consequences of Mr Tinubu’s harsh economic policies are not limited to the banking sector.

In January 2024, Shell announced its withdrawal from oil exploration in Nigeria, revealing its intention to divest its onshore subsidiary, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, to Renaissance.

Other established businesses that exited Nigeria this year included Pick n Pay, Microsoft Nigeria, Total Energies Nigeria, PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC, Kimberly-Clark Nigeria, and Diageo moved their businesses.

Sanofi pharmaceutical multinational and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc exited in 2023 after the president assumed office.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria recently said 767 companies shut down, and 335 became distressed in 2023. The association also faulted President Bola Tinubu’s introduction of the Expatriate Employment Levy.

“The manufacturing sector is already beset with multidimensional challenges,” MAN said in a statement on Wednesday. “In 2023, 335 manufacturing companies became distressed and 767 shut down.”

On Monday, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria said its members would start service shedding if nothing was done to increase tariffs.

The chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, said the Nigerian telecommunications industry was facing a critical challenge that required urgent attention.

The ALTON boss warned that operators could not continue to guarantee service availability without this review, adding that the sector might face grim consequences. He noted some consequences, including service shedding, economic fallout, and national economic disruption.

President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Carla Kangaloo, on the advice of Prime Minister Keith Rowley, has declared a state of emergency due to escalating gang violence.

The declaration by the president gives the police the power to arrest people on suspicion of involvement in crimes, as well as “search and enter both public and private premises as necessary” and suspend bail.

The prime minister’s office said the move would address “individuals who pose a threat to public safety, particularly those involved in criminal activities and the illegal use of firearms.”

At a news conference on Monday, the country’s acting attorney general, Stuart Young, said, “The declaration and calling of a public state of emergency is something that is not taken lightly.”

Mr Young disclosed that the police service “dictated and mandated the necessity of this extreme action that we took this morning.”

The declaration followed the killing of five men shot dead in a shop in Laventille, Port of Spain, the country’s capital, on Sunday. According to the police, the killings, which were in reprisal for the murder of a prominent gang member the previous day, later witnessed six people being fired at, five of whom died.

“There can be expected heightened reprisal activities by the criminal elements in and around certain places in Trinidad and Tobago that immediately warranted and took us out of what we can consider the norm,” Mr Young stated.

“But I can say, throughout Trinidad and possibly Tobago, [criminal gangs] are likely to immediately increase their brazen acts of violence in reprisal shootings on a scale so extensive that it threatens persons and will endanger public safety.”

On Monday, a bail application filed by counsel to Olamide Thomas, accused of threatening President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, on social media, was stalled in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

This happened when Seprebofa Oyeghe, the lawyer who appeared for Ms Thomas, told Justice Emeka Nwite that the matter was adjourned for his client’s bail application to be taken.

The inspector general of police’s lawyer, Victor Okoye, told the court that he had just seen the bail application and would need time to respond. He asked the court to adjourn the matter until Tuesday to enable him to respond appropriately.

Mr Oyeghe disagreed with Mr Okoye.

The lawyer recalled that on December 20, when Ms Thomas was arraigned, the court adjourned the matter for trial and the hearing of her bail as soon as the motion was filed.

He said the defence ensured that the bail application was filed the same day, December 20, and served on the police. The lawyer said he was surprised by Mr Okoye’s submission.

Mr Nwite, however, confirmed the proof of service of the bail application on the police from the court record.

“In the court record, there is the endorsement of the bail processes by the police. The persons that receive processes in your office, do they differ from those who handle the matters? Because from the endorsement here, it shows it was given on the 20th day of December, and today is the 30th of December,” the judge asked.

“My lord, I didn’t see it. I am just seeing it this morning,” he responded.

“How do we reconcile this?” the judge stated.

Mr Okoye, however, begged the court to adjourn the matter until the next day to file his counter-affidavit.

Mr Oyeghe, reluctantly, conceded to the prosecution’s application.

Meanwhile, Ms Thomas, yet to be brought to court by the officers of the Suleja Correctional Centre, arrived at the court and walked into the dock.

Mr Nwite adjourned the matter until Tuesday for the bail application and trial of Ms Thomas.

Attacks on Nigerian citizens arising from their social media comments have intensified under President Bola Tinubu, who rose to power promising to respect Nigerians’ fundamental freedoms to depart from his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, who was infamous for cracking down on human rights throughout his eight years in power between 2015 and 2023.

The United States announced Monday a $2.5 billion security assistance package for Ukraine as Washington races to provide aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Trump’s November election victory has cast doubt on the future of American support for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be disbursed before he is sworn in next month.

Monday’s aid includes a $1.25 billion military “drawdown package” which allows the Pentagon to take weapons from US stocks and send them quickly to the battlefield.

An additional $1.22 billion will be funded via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, under which military equipment is procured from the defence industry or partners.

“Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

The drawdowns from the defence department shelves will involve drones, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, optically guided missiles, anti-tank weapons systems, air-to-ground munitions and spare parts, according to a separate statement from the US State Department.

“The United States and more than 50 nations stand united to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russia’s aggression,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov hailed the fresh aid package in a post on social media.

“The US is a key ally of Ukraine, providing us with invaluable assistance. Together, we will win!” he wrote.

The latest assistance for Ukraine follows an announcement at the beginning of the month of a nearly $1 billion tranche of drones, ammunition and equipment.

The outgoing Biden administration is working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump — who has repeatedly criticized US assistance for Kyiv and claimed he could secure a ceasefire within hours — takes over in January.

Boxing legend Mike Tyson has confirmed his return to the ring in 2025, but this time it’s not in the way fans might expect, Marca reports Monday.

Tyson, whose last fight ended in a loss to Jake Paul on November 15, 2023, has been teasing a major comeback, much to the curiosity of the boxing world.

The 58-year-old’s last appearance in the ring was against Paul at the AT&T Stadium, a fight that raised eyebrows due to the 29-year age gap between the two competitors.

Despite the scrutiny, Tyson expressed gratitude for the opportunity and even admitted he couldn’t remember the fight.

“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” Tyson said in an interview with Netflix after the final bell. “I’m grateful for last night. To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you.”

The fight, which ended in an unconvincing defeat for Tyson, may have marked the end of his boxing career, but fans are still holding on to the hope of one more iconic appearance from the former undisputed heavyweight champion.

Should Tyson officially retire, he will bow out of a career that spanned over four decades, leaving behind a remarkable 50-7-0 record, 44 knockouts, and a legacy as the youngest boxing champion in history.

However, Tyson’s potential return to the ring is now being overshadowed by an unlikely new challenger: Joe Gatto of Impractical Jokers fame. Gatto, known for his comedic antics, has thrown his hat into the ring, joking that he will be facing off against Tyson in 2025.

The announcement was made with a mock poster of the two fighters promoting the “bout” as part of a marketing stunt.

“Exciting news,” Gatto wrote on Instagram on Saturday. “In 2025, I will enter the ring with the legendary @MikeTyson. Training starts 1/1/25 and you can watch it all on @hulu.”

“My new show #FightingWeight will document my transformation from fat to fit as I push myself to the limit. I appreciate the support of my team to make this happen and of course to @bellagio for hosting the event this summer. New year. New me.”

While this may seem like an outlandish idea, Gatto’s playful announcement is actually a clever marketing move for his upcoming health and fitness television show, FightingWeight.

The show will document Gatto’s transformation as he strives to lose weight and improve his physical fitness, pushing his body to the limit in a way fans have never seen before.

“My new show #FightingWeight will document my transformation from fat to fit as I push myself to the limit,” Gatto continued in his post. “I appreciate the support of all who made this happen & to @Bellagio for hosting the event this summer. New year. New me.”

As the boxing world eagerly awaits Tyson’s next move, it’s clear that while the legend himself may be stepping back from professional fighting, the excitement surrounding his potential return will continue to captivate fans for years to come.

Whether it’s a final farewell or the beginning of an unexpected chapter, the sport media noted that Tyson’s legacy remains undeniably intact—one that forever changed the world of boxing.

No fewer than 71 people died in Ethiopia when a truck packed with passengers plunged into a river.

Spokesperson for the southern Sidama regional government, Wosenyeleh Simion, disclosed this in a statement late Sunday, saying the accident occurred in the Bona district.

According to him, at least 71 people had died, including 68 males and 3 females.

“Five are in a critical condition and taking treatment at Bona General Hospital,” he said.

Wosenyeleh said the truck had missed a bridge and fell into a river and that the road had many bends.

He further stated that some of the passengers were returning from a wedding ceremony and some families had lost multiple members,

Wosenyeleh added that traffic police in the region had reported that the truck was overloaded, which likely caused the accident.

The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, EBC, also reported that the passengers were travelling to a wedding when the accident occurred on Sunday.

Deadly traffic accidents are said to be common in Ethiopia, where driving standards are poor and many vehicles badly maintained.

The 125,000 barrels per day Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company, WRPC has commenced operations.

Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, disclosed this during a tour at the facility on Monday.

The development is coming a month after the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery situated in Rivers State.

Addressing the team during the tour of the facility began on Monday, Kyari said, “This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process.

“Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”

Investigators probing South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived declaration of martial law said Monday they had sought an arrest warrant for the suspended president after he failed to report for questioning.

Yoon briefly suspended civilian rule this month, plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades.

He was stripped of presidential duties by parliament over the action, but a constitutional court ruling is pending on whether to confirm the impeachment.

The conservative leader also faces criminal charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Yoon has been summoned three times by investigators for questioning but repeatedly refused to present himself — including by Sunday’s deadline.

“The Joint Investigation Headquarters filed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol with the Seoul Western District Court,” said the probe team in a statement.

The application by investigators marks the first attempt in the country’s history to forcibly detain a president before the impeachment procedure is complete.

Yoon is being investigated by prosecutors as well as a joint team comprising police, defence ministry, and anti-corruption officials.

After the statement, Yoon’s lawyers submitted a letter to the district court saying the arrest warrant was “unjustified”.

“It was requested by an unauthorised agency and does not meet the requirements for an arrest warrant under the Criminal Procedure Act,” lawyer Yoon Kab-keun told reporters.

He added that by law, “an incumbent president cannot be prosecuted for abuse of power.”

A 10-page prosecutors’ report seen by AFP stated that Yoon authorised the military to fire weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed martial law bid.

Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun had dismissed the report, telling AFP it was “a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense.”

Yoon declared martial law in a televised address on December 3, saying it was aimed at eliminating “anti-state elements.”

Lawmakers rushed to parliament within minutes of the declaration to vote it down.

At the same time, heavily armed troops stormed the building, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter.

According to the prosecution indictment, Yoon told the chief of the capital defence command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could shoot if necessary to enter the National Assembly.

“Have you still not got in? What are you doing? Break down the door and drag them out, even if it means shooting,” Yoon told Lee, according to the report.

Yoon also allegedly told the head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, General Kwak Jong-keun, to “quickly get inside” the National Assembly since the quorum for lifting the martial law declaration had not been met.

“So quickly get inside the National Assembly and bring out the people inside the chamber, and break down the doors with an axe if necessary and drag everyone out,” the report quotes Yoon as saying at the time.

The report also said there was evidence that Yoon had been discussing declaring martial law with senior military officials as early as March.

As investigations began against Yoon, attempts by prosecutors to search his offices were blocked by the presidential security team.

South Korea’s political turmoil deepened late last week when Yoon’s replacement, Han Duck-soo, was also impeached by parliament for failing to sign through bills for investigations into Yoon.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has taken over as the new acting president and found himself thrust immediately into a disaster with the Jeju Air plane crash that claimed 179

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has directly accused Russia of responsibility for the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that happened on Christmas Day.

He has also called on Moscow to issue an apology, accept responsibility, and provide compensation to the victims’ families.

Mr Aliyev said, “We can clearly say today that the plane was shot down by Russia.

“First, the Russian side must apologise to Azerbaijan. Second, it must acknowledge its guilt. Third, those responsible must be punished.”

According to the New York Times, in a televised interview on Sunday, Mr Aliyev dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s apology as inadequate, warning that a lack of accountability could strain relations between the two nations.

While the Azerbaijani leader described the plane crash as accidental, he criticised Russia’s delayed and vague response, calling it unacceptable.

The plane, operating as flight J2-8243, departed Baku, Azerbaijan, at 03:55 GMT, bound for Grozny, Russia. However, it was diverted due to thick fog and caught fire during its descent and killed dozens, more than half of whom were Azerbaijani citizens.

Thirty-ninth United States (U.S.) President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100, the Carter Center said last night.

Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.

He died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family, the human rights organisation he founded said in a statement.

Carter was the longest-living president in US history, having celebrated his 100th birthday on October 1.

His death came over a year after his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November 2023, and more than a year and a half after the ailing former president entered hospice care, in February 2023.

“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” Chip Carter, the former president’s son, said.

His death came just three weeks before Donald Trump is due to begin his second term in the White House. The Carter Center said in October that Carter, a life-long Democrat, had cast his mail-in ballot for Kamala Harris, Trump’s opponent.

Carter’s own presidency was marred by spiralling inflation and a hostage crisis in Iran. The Democrat lost re-election to Republican Ronald Reagan in a landslide in 1980.

In the decades after he left office, however, Carter won widespread admiration for his extensive humanitarian work at home and abroad. He founded the Carter Center, the influential pro-democracy and human rights organisation, and became one of the most prominent volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, the affordable housing charity.

Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 “for undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights and working for social welfare”.

Carter faded from public view in the years leading up to his death. He visited Washington in 2018 to attend the state funeral of George HW Bush and endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020 with an audio message that was played at the Democratic National Convention.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited the Carters at their home in 2021. The Bidens attended a memorial service for Rosalynn Carter, alongside the former president, at Emory University in Atlanta in November 2023.

News of the former president’s death came more than a year and a half after the Carter Center said in February 2023 that “after a series of short hospital stays,” the former president had decided to forego medical treatment and enter hospice treatment at home. Carter had undergone cancer treatment and suffered several falls in recent years.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has said the Nigerian Police Force should be held accountable for the deaths of Nigerians during recent food stampedes in Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States.

He made this statement on Friday while delivering a public lecture in memory of the late former Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in Akure, the state capital.

The senior lawyer stated that the Police had failed to fulfil their constitutional duties, leading to the deaths and injuries, and described the casualties as unacceptable.

Falana called on the government to compensate the families of those who lost loved ones due to these failures.

He said, “The deaths of 115 Nigerians in recent incidents in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija are unacceptable. The Police failed to protect the people, and I hold them responsible. The government must compensate the families who lost their loved ones because of these failures.”

Falana further called on the Nigerian government to address social insecurity, which is evident in the rising levels of poverty, unemployment, hunger, and illiteracy in the country.

The lawyer emphasised that without social security, physical security —i.e., the safety of lives and property — cannot be guaranteed