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In a highly anticipated congressional appearance, former Special Counsel Jack Smith delivered a robust defense of his investigations into Donald Trump during a tense House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday. The televised session provided Smith with a national platform to articulate his case despite never having the opportunity to present it in court.

Smith asserted that his team had compiled ‘proof beyond a reasonable doubt’ demonstrating that the former president orchestrated a ‘criminal scheme’ to subvert the 2020 election results. ‘Rather than accepting his electoral defeat, President Trump engaged in systematic criminal activities to overturn the outcome and prevent the constitutional transfer of power,’ Smith testified.

The special counsel, appointed in 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland, emphasized that his charging decisions were made ‘without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or 2024 presidential candidacy.’ Smith brought two major cases against Trump—one concerning election interference and another regarding mishandling of classified documents—both of which were discontinued following Trump’s November 2024 election victory, consistent with Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.

The hearing revealed stark partisan divisions. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) accused Smith of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign ‘to get President Trump’ and prevent his return to the White House. ‘The good news is the American people saw through it,’ Jordan declared.

In contrast, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) praised Smith’s professionalism, noting that Trump’s criticisms stemmed from the prosecutor having ‘pursued the facts and followed the law.’ Smith maintained that he would have made identical charging decisions regardless of the subject’s political affiliation, stating: ‘No one should be above the law in this country.’

The appearance follows Smith’s closed-door testimony last month and occurs against the backdrop of Trump’s continued verbal attacks, including recent characterizations of the prosecutor as ‘deranged.’

ABUJA, Nigeria—A high-level security dialogue between the United States and Nigeria commenced in Abuja on Thursday amid diplomatic friction, as a senior U.S. official called for stronger protections for Nigerian Christians following a mass kidnapping in Kaduna state. Allison Hooker, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to safeguard Christian communities and ensure their right to religious practice. Her remarks, however, conspicuously omitted any reference to Muslim victims of widespread violence, sparking criticism over the selective framing of Nigeria’s security crisis.

The dialogue follows sustained pressure from the Trump administration, which has characterized violence against Christians in Nigeria as “genocide” and “persecution.” This narrative is firmly rejected by the Nigerian government and independent analysts, who note that the country’s multifaceted security threats—including banditry, jihadist insurgency, and farmer-herder conflicts—afflict both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.

Hooker, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Nigeria under the Trump administration, referenced the recent abduction of over 170 individuals from several churches in Kaduna. The attack, attributed to armed criminal groups known locally as “bandits,” initially drew denial from police authorities, further exacerbating public outrage. Survivors described a coordinated assault in which villagers were beaten and forced into the bush. One escapee, Ishaku Danzumi Kurmin, recounted hiding in a water well to avoid recapture.

For many residents, such kidnappings have become a grim routine. Alice Joseph, 42, lamented that her parents were among those seized—the latest in a series of family abductions spanning four years. “I now have no solace but God,” she said, reflecting the despair gripping affected communities.

While the U.S. delegation prioritized discussions on protecting Christians and countering terrorism, it overlooked the plight of Muslim victims caught in overlapping conflicts. Nigeria faces escalating violence from bandit gangs in the northwest, a persistent jihadist insurgency in the northeast, and resource-driven clashes in the central regions—all of which claim lives across religious lines.

Hooker also inaccurately claimed that all victims of a recent mass abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state were Christian, despite confirmation from local Christian associations that Muslim students were among those kidnapped. This error underscored concerns about the U.S. approach to Nigeria’s complex security landscape, which requires nuanced, inclusive strategies rather than singular religious framing.

The talks concluded with commitments to advance security cooperation, though the omission of Muslim victims signals ongoing diplomatic challenges in aligning U.S. and Nigerian priorities.

DAVOS, Switzerland — In a significant address at the World Economic Forum, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala issued a stern warning about the escalating global trend toward protectionist trade policies. While acknowledging that approximately 72% of international commerce still operates under established WTO frameworks, she expressed deep concern about recent deviations from multilateral trade principles.

The former Nigerian finance minister highlighted the complex challenges facing global trade governance, particularly regarding how nations justify protectionist measures under the guise of national security interests. “In this environment we have now, where certain countries feel ‘we need to fight for our national interests’, how do we proceed?” she questioned during a panel discussion. “What are the measures that are legitimate, and which are not? And if it’s national security, who determines your national security? What are the guardrails?”

Her comments came amid renewed protectionist actions from the United States, where President Donald Trump has implemented multiple tariff measures since returning to office one year ago. These actions, aimed at addressing trade imbalances and promoting domestic reindustrialization, represent a broader pattern of countries increasingly prioritizing national interests over multilateral cooperation.

Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the critical need for WTO reform, particularly regarding its decision-making processes. The organization currently operates on a consensus basis among its 166 member states, a system she described as ineffective. “The way we make decisions — it’s not working,” she stated bluntly, calling for greater “nimbleness” in addressing contemporary trade challenges.

These issues will take center stage at the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in Cameroon (March 26-29), where institutional reform and the tension between national sovereignty and international trade rules will dominate discussions. The organization faces mounting pressure to adapt its governance structures as countries including India and the United States continue to block progress on various negotiations.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact on Jamaica, Janice McIntosh has launched her campaign for re-election to the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council’s southern United States representative position. The Category 5 storm’s devastation has underscored the critical need for organized diaspora engagement, according to McIntosh, who is among six candidates vying to lead the 13-state bloc.

The Florida-based candidate emphasized that her central mission involves fortifying connections between southern U.S. Jamaicans and decision-makers in their homeland. “The diaspora represents one of Jamaica’s most significant untapped resources,” McIntosh stated in an interview with Observer Online. “My objective centers on creating structured channels for communication, coordination, and collaboration to ensure diaspora voices, skills, and resources contribute meaningfully to Jamaica’s sustainable development.”

McIntosh brings substantial credentials to her candidacy, having resided in South Florida since 2009 while serving eleven years as Jamaica National Bank’s chief representative officer—a role that required consistent liaison with Jamaican institutions. Her extensive community work in Lauderhill, which hosts South Florida’s largest Jamaican population, further strengthens her qualifications.

The electoral process, administered by Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, will conduct online voting from January 28 through February 20. The southern region’s winner will succeed Peter Gracey, elected in 2023, and will join newly elected representatives from the U.S. northeast, west Midwest, and Canadian regions.

McIntosh characterizes her approach as “people-centered and highly engaged,” rejecting ceremonial representation in favor of active bridge-building and consistent follow-through with diaspora organizations, community leaders, and Jamaican citizens across demographic groups.