Ugandan authorities are currently holding Stephen Tarus, Kenya's former Assistant Minister for Internal Security, under allegations of smuggling gold into Uganda using counterfeit documents. Arrested last week, Mr Tarus appeared before a Ugandan anti-corruption court, facing charges of falsifying export documents, as disclosed by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The URA stated that the use of fraudulent trade documentation resulted in substantial financial losses for the Ugandan government. The charges against Mr Tarus specifically revolve around the forgery of export documents for 13 kilograms of gold with an estimated value of $30,000 (£24,000). The URA suspects that the gold was destined for Dubai as part of an illicit smuggling operation. Pending further investigations into the incident, Mr Tarus has been remanded at Luzira prison until January 18. As of now, he has not provided any statements regarding the allegations.
Brunei's Prince Abdul Mateen weds in lavish ceremony
Brunei's Prince Abdul Mateen, renowned as one of Asia's most popular royal figures, recently concluded an elaborate 10-day wedding ceremony with his fiancee, Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic. The 32-year-old prince, formerly recognised as one of Asia's most eligible bachelors, entered matrimony with the 29-year-old Anisha in a series of celebrations commencing on January 7 and concluding on Tuesday. The marriage proceedings included a solemnisation ceremony held at a mosque. As the fourth son and 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's wealthiest individuals, Prince Mateen holds the position of the sixth in line to the throne. Despite his succession ranking, the prince has gained prominence in recent years by accompanying his father on various diplomatic engagements. The engagement between Prince Mateen and Anisha, who happens to be the granddaughter of the ruler's special adviser, was officially announced by the sultan in October.
Ugandan mom, 70, gives birth to 'miracle' twins
A Ugandan woman, Safina Namukwaya, who made headlines as one of the world's oldest new mothers after giving birth to a boy and a girl at the age of 70, has returned home six weeks later. The remarkable birth took place via C-section on November 29 at the Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre in Kampala, where Namukwaya had been undergoing in-vitro fertilisation treatment. The hospital celebrated the "miracle at 70," sharing pictures of the joyful mother and her newborns as they left the hospital on Saturday, marking the introduction of the babies to the world.
Taliban detains and lashes Afghan girls over hijab
In the past week, girls as young as 16 in Kabul, Afghanistan, have been arrested for violating the Taliban's hijab rules. The arrests occurred in various locations, including shopping centres, classrooms, and street markets. The charges against them included "spreading and encouraging others to wear a bad hijab" and wearing makeup. Since assuming power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has implemented increasingly restrictive measures on women, limiting their access to education, employment, and public spaces. In May 2022, a decree was issued requiring women to cover themselves from head to toe, allowing only their eyes to be visible.
Imran Khan and wife indicted in corruption case
A Pakistani court has indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife on charges of retaining state gifts from his time in power, including jewellery from the government of Saudi Arabia. The charges were read out at a court in the prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan is currently imprisoned. Both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, pleaded not guilty to the charges. This latest indictment poses a challenge to Khan and his political party ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 8. The case was filed by the National Accountability Bureau.
Iowa school shooting: Principal Dan Marburger dies
Perry High School principal Dan Marburger, who was shot during a school shooting on January 4, has succumbed to his injuries ten days after the tragic incident. The shooting, carried out by Iowa school student Dylan Butler, resulted in the death of 11-year-old student Ahmir Jolliff and injuries to several others. After the attack, Butler turned the gun on himself. Marburger, who was shot while attempting to protect students, initially remained stable after the shooting, according to NBC News. His daughter claimed that he had tried to "distract" the shooter to facilitate the students' escape. The school shooting has left the community in mourning and raised concerns about the ongoing issue of school violence.
China warns of possible Covid rebound this month
The number of patients attending fever clinics in medical institutions in China has shown a decline since New Year's Day, but there is a possibility of a rebound in the COVID-19 infection epidemic in January, according to Chinese health authorities. The National Health Commission spokesperson, Mi Feng, mentioned at a press briefing that there has been a fluctuating downward trend in the number of patients attending fever clinics across China. Presently, respiratory diseases are primarily influenza, and the infection rate of COVID-19 is relatively low. The situation is being closely monitored as authorities work to manage and control the ongoing health challenges.
Kogi man irons for 200 hours, hits 100-hour milestone in world record bid
In an ambitious endeavor to break the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest marathon ironing, 27-year-old fashion designer Dauda Abdulfatai from Kogi state has dedicated 100 hours, reaching the existing record set by Gareth Sander of the United Kingdom in 2015. Abdulfatai commenced his 200-hour ironing marathon in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi state, January 2024. Notably, Gareth, the current record holder, took more than two weeks to fully recover from his record-setting attempt. Abdulfatai shared his achievement of the 100-hour mark on X (formerly Twitter), posting a video of himself ironing while being cheered on by friends and well-wishers. “Thrills to announce to my fellow Nigerians as I completes a 100-hour Ironing Marathon, matching the current award holder, Gareth Sanders from UK.