Connect with us

International News

UK Suspends British-Nigerian Minister Over Genocide Accusation Against Israel

Published

on

British-Nigerian minister and Member of Parliament, Kate Osamor, has been suspended by the United Kingdom.

The suspension comes in the wake of Osamor’s controversial statement accusing Israel of genocide, made on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Osamor ignited public outrage with her claim, published in her weekly newsletter, suggesting that Gaza should be recognized as part of the list of ‘recent genocides.’

The suspension followed her posting a photo on social media, depicting herself signing the Holocaust Education Trust’s commemoration book in Westminster.

In her statement, Osamor wrote, “Tomorrow is Holocaust Memorial Day, an international day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of other people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and now Gaza.”

Osamor however issued a public apology on social media after being suspended for accusing Israel of genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day.

In her apology on Friday night via X, she acknowledged the day is meant to remember the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

She said “I apologise for any offence caused by my reference to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza as part of that period of remembrance.”

The Board of Deputies, the Jewish Labour Movement, and the Holocaust Educational Trust  responded to the controversial remarks made by MP Kate Osamor.

A Labour source confirmed to MailOnline on Sunday evening that Chief Whip has suspended Osamor from the Parliamentary Labour Party, pending an investigation.

A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism emphasized the International Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the Labour Party, which includes comparing Israel to Nazis as an example of antisemitism.

“The International Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the Labour Party, lists comparing Israel to Nazis as an example of antisemitism. That is what Kate Osamor effectively did.

“The Labour Party has acted correctly in taking swift action against Ms Osamor and we will be following the matter with interest.

“There are some who wish to drag the Party backwards to darker days when views like those expressed by Ms Osamor were common, and they must fail.”

A spokesperson from the Jewish Labour Movement strongly criticized Kate Osamor’s remarks, stating, “This is wholly inappropriate. This week, we have been commemorating the murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust and those who perished in subsequent genocides, as listed by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

“Unilaterally co-opting the war in Gaza, despite the horrific suffering there, onto that list is wrong and offensive.”

The United Nations’s top court, the International Court of Justice, delivered an interim ruling in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, stating that Israel must take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza.

However, the ruling falls short of ordering an immediate halt to operations.In the context of the ongoing conflict, Israel’s retaliatory attacks in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, have resulted in the deaths of 25,900 people, primarily women and children.

The current conflict initiated after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, leading to approximately 1,300 casualties, mostly civilians, and the taking of 240 hostages, as reported by the BBC.

International News

JUST IN: Equatorial Guinea Blocks WhatsApp Multimedia Amid Engonga Sex Scandal

Published

on

The government of Equatorial Guinea has imposed new restrictions on WhatsApp, limiting citizens’ ability to download and share multimedia files through mobile data.

This policy follows recent directives for telecommunications operators to control access to “inappropriate content.”

READ ALSO: Court Acquits Former CJN, Walter Onnoghen In Corruption Case

The measure, however, has led to public frustration, with citizens now relying solely on WiFi for sharing photos, videos, and audio files.

The restrictions come in the wake of a high-profile scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF).

Engonga, 54, is currently under investigation for fraud. During an unexpected search of his home and office, ANIF officials reportedly discovered a collection of more than 400 explicit videos involving Engonga and the wives of various prominent figures.

Among those reportedly involved are relatives of senior officials, including the wife of the Director General of Police, multiple government ministers’ spouses, and even family members of the President of Equatorial Guinea.

The leaked videos have caused a media uproar, with calls for transparency from the government.

Citizens are questioning whether the restrictions on WhatsApp multimedia sharing are part of an effort to prevent the spread of sensitive content related to the scandal.

So far, officials have not commented on the duration of these restrictions or whether they are linked to the ongoing investigation.

The local news platform Ahora EG has reported widespread frustration over the restrictions, quoting anonymous sources expressing concern about the impact on essential communication.

“Should an entire country pay for the actions of a few?” one source asked. “This measure interferes with work and educational activities for thousands who rely on WhatsApp, and it feels more like a move to control than to facilitate communication.”

Critics have also questioned the transparency of the new restriction, with some speculating it may be linked to Vice President Teddy Nguema’s recent announcement of a plan to install surveillance cameras in state offices.

This initiative, he said, is part of a broader government crackdown to reinforce public service laws and combat misconduct among officials.

As frustrations mount, Equatorial Guinea’s citizens are left awaiting clarity on the government’s intentions behind these measures.

With no official statements on how long the restrictions will remain in place, many continue to speculate whether these changes will be temporary or signal a new era of state control over digital communication.

 

Continue Reading

International News

U.S. Election: Historic Decision Looms As Kamala Harris, Trump Enter Dead-Heat Contest

Published

on

On a high-stakes Tuesday, American voters are heading to the polls in an election that will either catapult Kamala Harris into history as the first woman president or grant Donald Trump a historic return to the White House.

After months of intense campaigning and unexpected developments, Democratic Vice President Harris, 60, and former Republican President Trump, 78, remain locked in one of the closest and most turbulent races of modern times.

READ MORE: Nigerian Contender, Chidimma Adetshina Makes Top 2 On Miss Universe Hot Picks List

As polling stations open nationwide, both candidates are counting on a strong turnout in key swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

With early voting already at record numbers, tens of millions more are expected to cast their ballots throughout the day, adding to the over 82 million who voted early.

Campaign Finale: Fierce Push for Every Vote

Both campaigns spent Monday frantically rallying supporters. In Pennsylvania, Harris stood on the iconic “Rocky” steps in Philadelphia, energized by celebrities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

“Momentum is on our side,” she said, calling the race potentially “one of the closest in history” and urging supporters to get to the polls.

Meanwhile, Trump held his closing rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after stops in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Emphasizing his populist message, he depicted a nation under siege from crime and economic turmoil, promising that his leadership could restore America’s greatness.

“With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead America — indeed, the world — to new heights of glory,” he declared.

An Election of Unprecedented Drama

This election has been marked by surprising developments that left voters and analysts reeling.

Harris took over the Democratic nomination in July following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal, a dramatic shift that reshaped the race.

Trump’s campaign faced its own challenges, including surviving two assassination attempts and pushing forward even after a criminal conviction.

Despite these extraordinary events, polls show the race remains deadlocked.

Observers are bracing for potential delays in determining a winner, with the tight race suggesting that final results could take days.

In Washington, security is heightened with barriers around the White House and storefronts boarded up, fearing possible unrest.

Trump’s ongoing claims about election integrity — similar to those he made in 2020 — have already raised concerns about the potential for dispute if he loses.

Global Impact: Allies, Rivals Watch Anxiously

The international community is closely watching the U.S. election, as the outcome could reshape key policies.

A Harris administration would likely pursue climate action, support for NATO, and continued aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Trump’s “America First” approach, however, signals a return to isolationist policies that unsettle allies while promising sweeping trade tariffs that concern trading partners.

The election’s significance extends beyond politics, as Harris would make history as the first Black woman and South Asian president in the United States, breaking another barrier after her 2020 election as vice president.

Trump, if successful, would make his own history, becoming only the second president after Grover Cleveland to win non-consecutive terms and the oldest president to assume office.

Divided Nation Faces Uncertain Path Forward

Harris’s campaign has focused on reproductive rights and healthcare, aiming to galvanize women and young voters.

Though she has condemned Trump’s “dark rhetoric,” she ended her campaign with an optimistic message, calling for unity and avoiding further mention of her rival.

Trump, meanwhile, has leaned into his populist appeal, casting himself as the country’s last line of defense against rising crime and immigration issues.

In his final speeches, he warned of election fraud — claims widely debunked by experts — and hinted that he might not concede if he loses, saying he should “never have left” the White House in 2021.

As polls close later tonight, Americans and the world wait anxiously for what could be a turning point in U.S. history. Regardless of the result, today’s vote promises to reshape the nation’s future and its role on the global stage for years to come.

 

Continue Reading

International News

US Diplomats In Israel For High-Stake-Talks On Lebanon Truce

Published

on

Senior U.S. officials are set to meet their Israeli counterparts on Thursday to negotiate a potential agreement aimed at stabilizing Israel’s northern border and reducing the escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This high-stakes visit comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where the Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected multiple ceasefire proposals as Israeli strikes persist.

ALSO READ: Nollywood Legend, Charles Olumo “Agbako” Passes Away At 101

Just days before the U.S. presidential election, American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk are expected to arrive in Israel.

Their mission focuses on securing a framework that could see Hezbollah withdraw approximately 20 miles (30 kilometers) north, beyond the Litani River.

In exchange, Israeli forces would pull back from Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army, supported by UN peacekeepers, to manage border security.

Under this arrangement, Lebanon would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah from rearming, while Israel would retain its right to self-defense under international law, according to Israeli media reports.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire could be reached “in the coming hours or days.”

Newly appointed Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has indicated that the group would consider a truce under certain conditions, saying Hezbollah could sustain its resistance but remains open to negotiation.

Qassem’s appointment follows the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike last month.

In parallel, U.S. and Qatari mediators are attempting to negotiate a brief humanitarian pause in Gaza, where Israel’s campaign against Hamas is ongoing.

However, on Thursday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reiterated the group’s stance against a temporary ceasefire, stating, “The idea of a temporary pause in the war, only to resume aggression later, is something we have already expressed our position on.

Hamas supports a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one.”

This proposed pause would have allowed essential humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and opened up negotiations for a longer-term resolution, but Hamas’s rejection of the offer dims prospects for an immediate breakthrough.

As a result, attention remains firmly fixed on Lebanon, where efforts for a ceasefire along Israel’s northern front are likely to take precedence.

Last week, Israeli Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi spoke to the growing potential for resolution in Lebanon, saying, “In the north, there’s a possibility of reaching a sharp conclusion.”

Israel’s military has since intensified its strikes, particularly in southern Lebanon, where it issued evacuation orders in areas such as the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidieh, warning of imminent action following previous strikes.

 

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.