A judge in Tunisia handed down lengthy sentences to prominent politicians and at least one leading journalist in a move criticized by a media union and leading opposition parties as the latest move targeting critics of President Kais Saied.

Among those sentenced Wednesday include 83-year-old Rached Ghannouchi, the country’s most prominent opposition leader, who has been behind bars for nearly two years.

Ghannouchi, the co-founder of the Islamist movement Ennahda and Tunisia’s former Assembly Speaker, was sentenced to an additional 22 years in prison for undermining state security. He boycotted the proceedings against him.

The National Salvation Front, a coalition of opposition parties that includes Ennahda, said in a statement that the sentences issued against bloggers, politicians and former government officials totaled more than 760 years and marked “one of the darkest periods” for the country’s judicial branch, which has seen judges dismissed and power wrested from it by Saied’s executive branch.

“This particular chamber is becoming a specialized tool for issuing harsh sentences against politicians,” said one of its leaders, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi.

The charges stem from a 2019 case against a media company that provided services for Ennahda during that year’s presidential elections. Those involved are accused of defamation, spreading falsehoods, money laundering, undermining state security and illegally accepting funds from abroad.

Human rights groups have criticized such cases as a way to target Saied’s opponents. Saied won a second term last October in a landslide election while his leading opponents, including Ghannouchi, languished in prison.

“These rulings bring Tunisia back to a period the people sought to leave behind through their revolution,” an Ennahda statement on Thursday said, referring to the 2011 ouster of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the first Arab dictator toppled as part of the Arab Spring uprising that swept the region that year.

In the years that followed, the North African nation was seen as a success story for its transition to democracy, rewriting its constitution and winning a Nobel Peace Prize for political compromise. But signs of authoritarianism have re-emerged since Saied took power in 2019.

Throughout his tenure, Saied has suspended parliament, rewritten the constitution to consolidate his power and arrested politicians, activists and journalists who criticized him.

The court on Wednesday also sentenced in absentia a group of Ennahda politicians who’ve fled the country and now live in exile, including former Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, who was sentenced to 35 years on state security charges similar to Ghannouchi’s.

Journalist Chadha Haj Mubarak was sentenced to five years in prison as part of the same case, the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists said. The union called for her immediate release and in a statement denounced the court’s lack of respect for press freedoms. In a statement Mubarak’s attorney, Souhail Medimegh, said his client was being charged purely for her journalism.

Donald Trump has suggested that Palestinians living in war-torn Gaza could be moved elsewhere, and that the U.S. may take over the vacated area.

The proposal has sparked condemnation from residents in the war-torn enclave, as well as both American allies and adversaries.

The U.S. President’s remarks came at a news conference with the Israeli Prime Minister; Netanyahu appeared to welcome the idea, smiling at Trump’s comments.

But Palestinians are strongly opposed to the suggestion. Rafah resident, Areej Abu Nada, said, “Trump’s remarks are illogical. We have lived through war for a year and four months, and then he comes and says we should leave our land. This is our land and the land of our ancestors. It is difficult to leave it or for him to bring another people to populate it. That will not happen—we will not leave our land or our country.”

Trump’s remarks come amid a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas.

After suffering through more than a year of war, Gazans, many of whom were displaced by the fighting, are determined to stay in the enclave.

Ibrahim Abu Rizk, another Rafah resident, said, “for a year and a half, we have been slaughtered, bombed, and destroyed—only to then leave just like that? We will not leave this land. They are the ones who must leave, not us.”

Countries including Egypt and Jordan have already refused the proposition of moving some two million Palestinians from Gaza elsewhere in the region.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Argentina on Saturday to condemn a controversial speech made by President Javier Milei at the World Economic Forum last week. In his speech, Milei called feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change examples of “sick wokeism,” adding that in its most extreme versions gender ideology constitutes plain and simple child abuse.” Protesters were clad in rainbow-colored flags and bore banners that read “rights are not negotiable.” During his tenure, Milei has abolished the Ministry of Women and launched a “chainsaw plan” to liberalise the economy and reduce workers’ rights.

The head of the World Health Organization is urging health officials from various countries to encourage the United States to reconsider President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the U.N. health agency.

Countries raised concerns during a crucial budget meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday regarding the potential impact of losing its largest donor, as revealed by internal documents obtained by The Associated Press.

For the 2024-2025 period, the United States stands as WHO’s predominant contributor, providing an estimated $988 million, which constitutes approximately 14% of the organization’s total budget of $6.9 billion.

A confidential budget report shared at the meeting indicated that WHO’s health emergencies program is significantly dependent on U.S. funding.

Specifically, the “readiness functions” within WHO’s European office rely over 80% on the $154 million contribution from the U.S.

The report highlighted that U.S. financial support is crucial for many of WHO’s extensive emergency operations, accounting for up to 40% of the funding.

It noted that ongoing responses in regions such as the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan are at risk, alongside substantial losses in polio eradication and HIV initiatives.

Additionally, the U.S. finances 95% of WHO’s tuberculosis efforts in Europe and over 60% of TB programs in Africa, the Western Pacific, and at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva, according to the document.

Michael Ryan, the WHO’s deputy director general reminded everyone that the United States government is not simply departing from a building in Geneva or a secretariat there.

It is distancing itself from a community of nations.

Essentially, it is ending a relationship with them and not him, a significant consideration for the 193 member states present at the meeting.

WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added, that it remains crucial to invest efforts in facilitating the U.S. return, and he believes each of them could contribute to that endeavor.

Mathew Kavanagh warned of dire consenqunces for WHO if measures were not put in place as soon as possible.

“The money hit will be very substantial. And if the world doesn’t step up and address the money gap that is coming, then the World Health Organisation will be very very badly damaged,” he said.

During a private meeting with diplomats, WHO representatives emphasized that the U.S. would suffer from diminished access to vital information regarding global disease outbreaks.

In a separate private discussion regarding the implications of a U.S. withdrawal last Wednesday, WHO finance director George Kyriacou warned that if the agency continues its current spending trajectory, it would face significant cash flow challenges by the end of the first or second quarter of 2026.

He emphasized that maintaining the current rate of expenditure is not feasible, as per a recording acquired by the AP.

Since the executive order issued by Trump, WHO has sought to reclaim funds from the U.S. for previous expenses, but most of these requests have not been accepted, Kyriacou noted.

Furthermore, the U.S. has yet to fulfill its financial commitments to WHO for 2024, which has contributed to the agency’s budget deficit.

Amid various health emergencies, WHO is actively engaged in efforts to control outbreaks of the Marburg virus in Tanzania, Ebola in Uganda, and mpox in the Congo.

Tedros addressed the three reasons cited by Trump for withdrawing from the agency in the executive order signed on January 20, which marked Trump’s first day back in office.

The president claimed that the WHO mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in China and failed to implement necessary reforms.

In response, Tedros emphasized that the WHO had informed the global community about the potential risks of the coronavirus as early as January 2020 and has since undertaken numerous reforms, including efforts to broaden its donor base.

He remarked, “Reintegrating the U.S. into the organization will be crucial,” and encouraged attendees to contribute to this effort.

Representatives from various countries, including Bangladesh and France, inquired about the specific strategies the WHO planned to adopt in light of the loss of U.S. funding and which health initiatives might face cuts as a consequence.

The Associated Press obtained a document circulated among some senior WHO officials, which outlined a scenario where each major department could face a 50% reduction by the year’s end.

The WHO refrained from commenting on whether Tedros had privately urged countries to advocate for the agency.

Some experts noted that while the U.S. exit represented a significant challenge, it could also present an opportunity to rethink and enhance global public health initiatives.

It was a first for Nigeria at the much-awaited 67th Grammy Awards ceremony in fire-ravaged Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Singer Tems, became the second-ever winner of the  African Music Performance Award for her Afrobeats hit, Love me JeJe, from her debut album, “Born in the Wild”.

The Nigerian recording artist said she felt “blessed”.

“As much I think I have something and I’m talented and I have all these gifts, there’s so many talented African young artists in Africa that are going to come out and even do more than me,” she said.

Last year, South African sensation, Tyla, was the first winner of the newly created category.

This year, it was dominated by Nigerian artists, including Burna Boy and Asake.

Tems said she felt “some kind of crazy” to think she could inspire some other talented young artist  after winning the award.

“It feels like a weird blessing to be someone that inspires someone like that, that is looking at me right now and thinking, I could do that too.”

She said it made her feel like she has “some kind of purpose or mission.”

In another win for Africa, South African flautist Wouter Kellerman, was awarded a Grammy in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category.

He won it together with Japanese cellist, Eru Matsumoto, and Indian vocalist, Chandrika Tandon, for their album “Triveni”.

The festivities were revamped to be part awards show and part fundraiser for people affected by the LA wildfires.

A choir of students from schools destroyed in the fires sang the famine relief anthem “We Are the World”.

South African comic, Trevor Noah, who hosted the event, said at least $7 million were raised during the live broadcast.

Donald Trump revealed on Saturday that the United States carried out airstrikes against the Islamic State in northern Somalia, weeks after the deadly attack in New Orleans claimed by the terrorist group.

In a social media post, the US president wrote that a senior IS planner and recruits were targeted in the operation but he did not identify them.

The office of Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, said the operation “reinforces the strong security partnership” between the two countries in “combating extremist threats.

The Pentagon’s counterterrorism strategy in Africa has been strained as two key partners, Chad and Niger, ousted U.S. forces last year and took over key bases that the U.S. military had used to train and conduct missions against terrorist groups across the Sahel.

U.S. military officials have raised concerns over the growing influence of IS cells in the region, which are now receiving increasing guidance from the group’s leadership based in northern Somalia.

Two months after Chad severed its defence agreement with Paris, the French army has handed over its last military base in the country, the Kossei base, in N’Djamena.

Though it was Chad who announced the end of the defence pact, the head of the French Armed Forces’ Africa Command stated that the handover was partly France’s decision.

Pascal Ianni, head of French Armed Forces’ Africa Command, said, “The transfer of the (Adji) Kossei base today marks a new stage. It is part of the French decision to end permanent (military) bases in Central and West Africa.”

”This structural change is necessary to adapt to the evolution of the world, and the evolution of Africa. We are reaffirming our partnerships in a dynamic Africa whose youth carries a lot of hope. We must act differently,” he added.

It comes after France handed over its two other military bases in the country. The Chadian army’s chief of staff has hailed the end of defence ties with Paris.

Abakar Abdelkerim Daoud, Chadian Army’s Chief of Staff, said, “I thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who gives us the opportunity to make this dream a reality. I announce to you today that the work of the French army is coming to an end and the Chadian army is capable of taking over the role that the French army plays in Chad.”

Before the end of the agreement, France had around 1,000 personal in Chad.

After battling Islamic extremists alongside regional soldiers, French forces have also been expelled from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

On Wednesday, a set of ancient artefacts stolen by illegal traffickers were returned to Iraqi authorities in a ceremony held in Rome. The items, which had been seized in Italy, were handed over in the presence of police officials and Iraq’s Ambassador to Italy.

Michele Minetti, commander of the Monza Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit, provided details about the items.

“These five archaeological pieces date back to before 2000 BC,” Minetti said. “There are four cones and a terracotta tablet. The tablet is an administrative document containing records of prisoners, while the cones commemorate the builders of various temples where they were originally placed.”

The investigation to recover the artefacts began after the Iraqi embassy in Italy learned that the items had appeared for sale in an auction house.

Iraq’s Ambassador to Italy, Saywan Sabir Mustafa Barzani, explained that the items were among thousands stolen from Iraq, particularly in 2003. “The embassy identified these five artefacts in an auction house, where they were being sold. After a lengthy investigation, we were able to work with the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit to have them returned to us. Even now, we are finding other stolen objects being sold, as we discovered another auction house with similar items for sale just today,” Barzani said.

In recent years, the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Unit has returned about 19 stolen Iraqi artefacts to the Iraqi embassy in Italy, highlighting ongoing efforts to fight the illegal trade of cultural treasures.

Nigeria’s main labour union, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has rejected the government-approved 50% hike in telecommunications tariffs and announced a nationwide protest on February 4.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently approved the first tariff adjustment in over a decade, citing inflation and naira depreciation. However, the increase remains below the 100% hike operators had sought for six years.

NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the hike as “insensitive” amid soaring living costs and demanded its immediate suspension. The union warned of a possible telecom service boycott and strike if authorities refuse dialogue.

The NCC defended the increase as essential for industry growth while ensuring consumer protection. It mandated operators to clearly communicate changes and improve service quality.

Consumer advocacy groups have also vowed to contest the hike, as the economic crisis deepens.

A small plane crashed in a remote part of South Sudan, killing at least 18 people on Wednesday, an official said.

The flight, chartered by Chinese oil firm Greater Pioneer Operating Co., had 21 people on board, including two pilots, said Gatwech Bipal, the minister of information in the oil-rich Unity state, where the crash happened earlier on Wednesday.

The plane crashed while it was taking off near an oil field to head to the international airport in Juba, the South Sudanese capital, he said.

Local media reported that the plane was carrying oil workers.

The U.N.-affiliated Radio Miraya, citing the flight manifest, reported that the victims included mostly South Sudanese, one Indian and two Chinese nationals.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash, and authorities had not yet revealed the victims’ identities.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is a major oil producer in the region. The East African nation has been trying to ramp up oil production and exports amid persistent cash flow issues for the government.