Archive July 1, 2025

Aminu Dantata’s Body Arrives In Madinah, Dangote Leads Escort For Burial

The remains of elder statesman and business icon, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, arrived in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday for burial, accompanied by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who led the escort from Abu Dhabi.

His son, Sanusi Dantata, confirmed the development on Tuesday in a post on X.

“Aliko Dangote personally went and escorted the remains of his great-uncle, the late Alh. Aminu Dantata, from Abu Dhabi to Madinah, where he will be buried at the Baqiyya cemetery.

“The body has arrived in Madinah this morning, and the Janazah prayer will be held at the Holy Prophet’s Mosque after the Asr prayer (around 1. 30 p. m. Nigeria time).

“May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant safe return to the family, friends, and well-wishers who travelled to attend the Janazah in Saudi,” Sanusi stated.

Dantata passed away on Saturday, 28 June 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, just 43 days after celebrating his 94th birthday. In line with his wishes, he will be laid to rest in the holy city of Madinah.

FG Delegation Condolence  Visit

Meanwhile, on Monday, a delegation from the Federal Government arrived in Madinah to commiserate with the Dantata family and take part in the funeral rites.

The delegation was led by the Minister of Defence and former Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s message of condolence.

He was accompanied by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata.

READ ALSO: Business Icon Aminu Dantata Dies At 94

The team, which departed Nigeria late Sunday and arrived in Madinah early Monday, was received by Mustapha Junaid and other family members, including the deceased’s wives, children, and grandchildren, who expressed gratitude for the Federal Government’s condolence visit.

Also present were prominent Islamic clerics—Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, Imam of the Dantata Mosque in Abuja—who offered prayers for the repose of the late patriarch.

Born in 1931 into a prominent merchant family, Aminu Dantata later took over the family business, expanding it into multiple sectors, including oil, finance, and manufacturing.

Man arrested for ‘spying’ for Iran before possible attacks in Germany

A Danish man has been arrested on suspicion of spying in Germany on behalf of Iran, an allegation swiftly denied by the Iranian embassy in Berlin.

German prosecutors on Tuesday said the man, identified only as Ali S under German privacy law, was suspected of conducting the surveillance “in preparation of further intelligence activities in Germany, possibly including terrorist attacks on Jewish targets”.

It added that the individual was suspected of receiving the espionage orders from “an Iranian intelligence service”.

German and Danish authorities said the man had been arrested in Denmark but would be extradited to Germany.

The Iranian embassy in Berlin decried what it called “unfounded and dangerous accusations”.

“Previous discussions with relevant German authorities have already highlighted that certain third parties are attempting to divert public perceptions from the actual events through artificial staging,” the embassy said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said Iran’s ambassador had been summoned after the arrest.

“If this suspicion were confirmed, it would be an outrageous incident that would once again demonstrate that Iran is a threat to Jews all over the world,” Wadephul said during a visit to Odesa, Ukraine, shortly after visiting a synagogue there.

Alleged spying

According to Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine, the suspect took photos of at least three buildings in Berlin in June.

They included the headquarters of the German-Israeli Society, which has lobbied the European Union to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a “terrorist” organisation, and a building where the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, was said to occasionally stay.

Der Spiegel reported that investigators believe the suspect was working on behalf of the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the IRGC.

He was arrested in the Danish city of Aarhus by local police last week and was awaiting extradition to Germany.

During the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his country was preparing “in case Iran targets Israeli or Jewish institutions”.

He did not provide further details at the time.

Jessie J shares emotional health update days after mastectomy – ‘I’m grateful’

Singer Jessie J has shared a health update on social media after undergoing a mastectomy following her breast cancer diagnosis and has said she is ‘positive and grateful’

Jessie J is recovering after undergoing a mastectomy(Image: @jessiej/Instagram)

Jessie J has provided her fans with an update on her health almost two weeks after having a mastectomy. The Price Tag singer, 37, underwent surgery 11 days ago after she had announced that she had been diagnosed with “early breast cancer”.

She has been open and honest with her fans about her own experiences and regularly takes to Instagram to share her journey. And in her latest update, the songstress has revealed she was “feeling a little out of it” during her recovery, but insists she is “positive and grateful”.

Taking to her Instagram Story on Tuesday, Jessie uploaded a photo alongside her two-year-old son, Sky. She wrote: “For those asking for a health update. l am 11 days post surgery. I’m good.

“Missing being an active Mum / human the most. But it’s been nice to slow down and Sky is having a blast with Nanny and Grandad. It’s still uncomfortable / a little painful but l can handle that. I’m doing my exercises and taking all the healthy things. I have been trying to eat super clean. “

Jessie J shared her message on social media
Jessie J shared her message on social media(Image: jessiej/instagram)

She went on: “I have stopped all pain meds. Just not my thing. Also like to feel how it feels so I don’t overdo it.

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“I have now done a [poo emoji]. Still have my drain. Anyone else who has had this, did you feel like you are walking around one of those dog / duck toys.

“I carry mine on the floor when l’m home so the gravity can help the drain. Hoping it’s out by the end of the week. I am feeling positive and grateful. “

Shortly after, she took to the platform again to add: “If you do see me out, sitting in a park or coming out of a doctors appointment or eating or walking or anything, and I am seem a little out of it. I am.

“It’s not personal. I don’t have what l usually have to give energy wise, understandably. I will get there. It’s a slow road. For now l am taking it easy. Enjoying the slow vibes and staying positive. “

Jessie J and son
The singer said she missed being an active mum(Image: jessiej/instagram)

Jessie’s surgery came weeks after she had performed at the Summertime Ball. During her performance she told the 80,000 strong audience that this would be the last performance before her surgery.

She explained: “Today, this show is my last show before I go to beat breast cancer! So it’s so special to me you have no idea. I feel so special to be from the UK, to be an honest person and say how you feel.

“This is my last show before go treatment and all the things It’s the most special thing and I’m so grateful for this life, for you guys, for my career, to my, my son. My partner, my parents. My family, my band, my crew. “

She added: “We are so lucky, we have so much to live for, so much joy, so much, so many things to do. “

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READ MORE: FatFace’s ‘cool’ summer dress that ‘doesn’t crease’ and will ‘pack well for holidays’

Jo Malone launches new ‘best ever’ £59 perfume that smells just like ice cream

Jo Malone’s new summer scent is an instant hit with us(Image: Getty)

If you’re after a new perfume for summer but aren’t keen on the large number of beachy, coconutty, sun cream-like scents that fill the beauty aisles at this time of year, then we’ve found the perfect alternative.

Popular British fragrance brand Jo Malone London has just dropped its latest collection for summer, and it’s just divine. The Raspberry Ripple collection is, as its name suggests, inspired by the classic ice cream flavour, and inspired by nostalgic childhood trips to the great British seaside.

While a full-size 100ml bottle of Raspberry Ripple Cologne costs £128, you can buy a travel-friendly 30ml bottle for £59 from the Jo Malone website and Cult Beauty (and both come topped with cute candy-striped bows).

READ MORE: ‘I reach for this £25 body mist over my pricey perfumes – it’s the perfect summer scent’

READ MORE: Meghan Markle’s go-to dewy face cream launches new lighter version ‘perfect for summer’

Jo Malone London Raspberry Ripple Cologne
Available in 30ml and 100ml bottles(Image: Jo Malone London)

Jo Malone London describes this new summery scent as “A scrumptious raspberry ripple ice cream. Sharp-scarlet juices of lush raspberries and redcurrants swirling through white musk. Vivacious and enticing,” with a top note of redcurrant, a heart note of raspberry, and a base note of white musk.

As Raspberry Ripple Cologne only dropped today, customer comments about it are yet to build up, but there is one five-star review already on the Jo Malone website, which calls it “another best ever”.

“I bought this as soon as it was launched via the early pre-sale, so blind without smelling. I’ve done that with my last few limited edition scents, which have all been excellent,” the shopper wrote. “This is no different and does not disappoint and I love it! Fruity and sharp but with a lovely background hint of subtle musk of some sort! Not too sweet but reminds me of summers and ice creams, It’s very distinctive and for me, lasting well. I just love it! The packaging is also lovely, another JM triumph. I’m a big fan! “

model holding ice cream and perfume
Inspired by childhood seaside trips(Image: Jo Malone London)

Our beauty editor Laura also had a sniff before it launched, and says, “I’m not normally one for fruity fragrances, but this is utterly irresistible. It’s much more tart than sweet, and transports me to a particular moment or memory more than any other perfume I’ve ever smelt. A definitely summer hit. “

If, however, beachy, salty fragrances are more your summer scent vibe, you should definitely check out this £25 body mist that’s been getting me so many compliments recently; I’ve even ditched my pricier perfumes for it.

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For something similar to this but with a bit more staying power, you could also try Jo Malone London’s new Beach Blossom Cologne, £86, or the cult classic Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent, which currently has 25% and is down to £43. 50.

Trump threatens to review subsidies on Musk-owned companies

Amid their public feud over the looming tax bill, US President Donald Trump has suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) review subsidies tied to once ally Elon Musk, including those received by Tesla and SpaceX, in order to save money.

“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED! ! ! ,” the president said in an early morning post on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social.

Trump’s remarks on Tuesday came after Musk renewed his criticism of the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill — which the White House hopes to sign into law by July 4th — pledging to unseat lawmakers who supported it after campaigning on limiting government spending.

Shortly after, Senate Republicans hauled Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill to passage Tuesday on the narrowest of margins, pushing past opposition from Democrats and their own GOP ranks after a turbulent overnight session.

The outcome capped an unusually tense weekend of work at the Capitol, the president’s signature legislative priority teetering on the edge of approval or collapse. In the end, that tally was 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

Musk and Trump spar over bill

Feuding with Trump could create hurdles for Tesla and the rest of Musk’s business empire.

The US Transportation Department regulates vehicle design and would play a key role in deciding whether Tesla can mass-produce robotaxis without pedals and steering wheels, while Musk’s rocket company SpaceX has about $22bn in federal contracts.

Trump previously threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts when their relationship erupted into an all-out social media brawl in early June over the bill, which non-partisan analysts have said would add about $3 trillion to the US debt.

But after weeks of relative silence, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it “utterly insane and destructive” in a post on X.

On Monday, he said lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill “should hang their heads in shame! ” “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk added.

The criticism marked a dramatic shift after the billionaire spent nearly $300m on Trump’s re-election campaign and led the administration’s controversial DOGE initiative.

Musk has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he achieved through DOGE.

Conflicts of interest

Musk was long slammed for his conflicts of interest while leading DOGE — accused of going after government agencies that had open investigations against him and his associated companies.

A report from the left-leaning think tank Public Citizen found that 70 percent of the agencies in May found that Musk aimed to make significant cuts to agencies, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which had been investigating Tesla.

The Food and Drug Administration, which had been investigating his brain implant chip, Neuralink, and cuts to the Department of Defense, which has been called for by both progressive Democrats as well, comes as SpaceX receives more than $22bn in federal contracts from the agency, according to the report.

The market response

There are conflicts with Musk within the bill he’s actively rallying against. The bill, which Trump eliminated the EV tax credit, Musk originally said would not hurt Tesla. The EV tax credit, however, has helped other carmakers make more affordable electric vehicles for more consumers, and Musk has recently changed his tune.

In a note last month, JP Morgan said cutting the EV tax credit could cost Tesla $1. 2bn annually. Now the market is reacting as these plans might come to fruition in a matter of days, and amid the president’s Truth Social post, spooking investors.

Tesla stock tumbled roughly 6 percent as of 11:00am ET (15:00 GMT) and about 13 percent over the last five days.

“[This] BFF situation has now turned into a soap opera that remains an overhang on Tesla’s stock with investors fearing that the Trump Administration will be more hawkish and show scrutiny around Musk related US government spending related to Tesla/SpaceX and most importantly the autonomous future with the regulatory environment key to the future of Robotaxis and Cybercabs,” Dan Ives, senior analyst at Wedbush Securities said in a note provided to Al Jazeera earlier this morning.

Musk’s other companies include SpaceX, X Corp, and Neuralink are privately held companies.

UN report lists companies complicit in Israel’s ‘genocide’: Who are they?

The United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) has released a new report mapping the corporations aiding Israel in the displacement of Palestinians and its genocidal war on Gaza, in breach of international law.

Francesca Albanese’s latest report, which is scheduled to be presented at a news conference in Geneva on Thursday, names 48 corporate actors, including United States tech giants Microsoft, Alphabet Inc. – Google’s parent company – and Amazon. A database of more than 1000 corporate entities was also put together as part of the investigation.

“[Israel’s] forever-occupation has become the ideal testing ground for arms manufacturers and Big Tech – providing significant supply and demand, little oversight, and zero accountability – while investors and private and public institutions profit freely,” the report said.

“Companies are no longer merely implicated in occupation – they may be embedded in an economy of genocide,” it said, in a reference to Israel’s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip. In an expert opinion last year, Albanese said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Israel was committing genocide in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The report stated that its findings illustrate “why Israel’s genocide continues”.

“Because it is lucrative for many,” it said.

What arms and tech companies were identified in the report?

Israel’s procurement of F-35 fighter jets is part of the world’s largest arms procurement programme, relying on at least 1,600 companies across eight nations. It is led by US-based Lockheed Martin, but F-35 components are constructed globally.

Italian manufacturer Leonardo S. p. A is listed as a main contributor in the military sector, while Japan’s FANUC Corporation provides robotic machinery for weapons production lines.

The tech sector, meanwhile, has enabled the collection, storage and governmental use of biometric data on Palestinians, “supporting Israel’s discriminatory permit regime”, the report said. Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon grant Israel “virtually government-wide access to their cloud and AI technologies”, enhancing its data processing and surveillance capacities.

The US tech company IBM has also been responsible for training military and intelligence personnel, as well as managing the central database of Israel’s Population, Immigration and Borders Authority (PIBA) that stores the biometric data of Palestinians, the report said.

It found US software platform Palantir Technologies expanded its support to the Israeli military since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023. The report said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe the company provided automatic predictive policing technology used for automated decision-making in the battlefield, to process data and generate lists of targets including through artificial intelligence systems like “Lavender”, “Gospel” and “Where’s Daddy? ”

What other companies are identified in the report?

The report also lists several companies developing civilian technologies that serve as “dual-use tools” for Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.

These include Caterpillar, Leonardo-owned Rada Electronic Industries, South Korea’s HD Hyundai and Sweden’s Volvo Group, which provide heavy machinery for home demolitions and the development of illegal settlements in the West Bank.

Rental platforms Booking and Airbnb also aid illegal settlements by listing properties and hotel rooms in Israeli-occupied territory.

The report named the US’s Drummond Company and Switzerland’s Glencore as the primary suppliers of coal for electricity to Israel, originating primarily from Colombia.

In the agriculture sector, Chinese Bright Dairy & Food is a majority owner of Tnuva, Israel’s largest food conglomerate, which benefits from land seized from Palestinians in Israel’s illegal outposts. Netafim, a company providing drip irrigation technology that is 80-percent owned by Mexico’s Orbia Advance Corporation, provides infrastructure to exploit water resources in the occupied West Bank.

Treasury bonds have also played a critical role in funding the ongoing war on Gaza, according to the report, with some of the world’s largest banks, including France’s BNP Paribas and the UK’s Barclays, listed as having stepped in to allow Israel to contain the interest rate premium despite a credit downgrade.

Who are the main investors behind these companies?

The report identified US multinational investment companies BlackRock and Vanguard as the main investors behind several listed companies.

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is listed as the second largest institutional investor in Palantir (8. 6 percent), Microsoft (7. 8 percent), Amazon (6. 6 percent), Alphabet (6. 6 percent) and IBM (8. 6 per cent), and the third largest in Lockheed Martin (7. 2 percent) and Caterpillar (7. 5 percent).

Vanguard, the world’s second-largest asset manager, is the largest institutional investor in Caterpillar (9. 8 percent), Chevron (8. 9 percent) and Palantir (9. 1 percent), and the second largest in Lockheed Martin (9. 2 percent) and Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems (2 percent).

Al jazeera

Are companies profiting from dealing with Israel?

The report states that “colonial endeavours and their associated genocides have historically been driven and enabled by the corporate sector. ” Israel’s expansion on Palestinian land is one example of “colonial racial capitalism”, where corporate entities profit from an illegal occupation.

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, “entities that previously enabled and profited from Palestinian elimination and erasure within the economy of occupation, instead of disengaging are now involved in the economy of genocide,” the report said.

For foreign arms companies, the war has been a lucrative venture. Israel’s military spending from 2023 to 2024 surged 65 percent, amounting to $46. 5bn – one of the highest per capita worldwide.

Several entities listed on the exchange market – particularly in the arms, tech and infrastructure sectors – have seen their profits rise since October 2023. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange also rose an unprecedented 179 percent, adding $157. 9bn in market value.

Global insurance companies, including Allianz and AXA, invested large sums in shares and bonds linked to Israel’s occupation, the report said, partly as capital reserves but primarily to generate returns.

Booking and Airbnb also continue to profit from rentals in Israeli-occupied land. Airbnb briefly delisted properties on illegal settlements in 2018 but later reverted to donating profits from such listings to humanitarian causes, a practice the report referred to as “humanitarian-washing”.

Are private companies liable under international law?

According to Albanese’s report, yes. Corporate entities are under an obligation to avoid violating human rights through direct action or in their business partnerships.

States have the primary responsibility to ensure that corporate entities respect human rights and must prevent, investigate and punish abuses by private actors. However, corporations must respect human rights even if the state where they operate does not.

A company must therefore assess whether activities or relationships throughout its supply chain risk causing human rights violations or contributing to them, according to the report.

The failure to act in line with international law may result in criminal liability. Individual executives can be held criminally liable, including before international courts.

The report called on companies to divest from all activities linked to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, which is illegal under international law.

In July 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion ruling that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem should come to an end “as rapidly as possible”. In light of this advisory opinion, the UN General Assembly demanded that Israel bring to an end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory by September 2025.

Albanese’s report said the ICJ’s ruling “effectively qualifies the occupation as an act of aggression … Consequently, any dealings that support or sustain the occupation and its associated apparatus may amount to complicity in an international crime under the Rome Statute.