Author: niyidaram

A total of 803 migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday in 13 small boats, marking the highest daily figure in nearly two months, according to official data. The latest arrivals push the total number of people who have made the journey in 2025 to 41,455. Saturday’s crossings were the largest since October 8, when 1,075 people arrived in one day. The figure also appears to be the highest daily total ever recorded in December, based on data dating back to 2018. December is typically one of the quietest months for Channel crossings due to colder temperatures, poor visibility, shorter…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has summoned billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote to appear before its investigators in Abuja on Monday over a corruption petition he filed against Farouk Ahmed, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a senior ICPC source confirmed that a special investigative panel has been constituted to handle the petition, following directives from the Commission’s chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN. Dangote is expected to appear in person or be represented by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, and present…

The administration of President Donald Trump has ordered the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend the processing of green card and citizenship applications filed by Nigerians and nationals of other countries newly added to the expanded US travel ban, citing national security concerns. According to a report by CBS News, the directive follows a proclamation signed by Trump on Tuesday, December 16, which further restricts entry into the United States for countries deemed high risk due to what the White House described as serious failures in immigration screening, vetting, and information sharing. Nigeria is among 15 additional countries…

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is expected to undergo a lung transplant after a significant deterioration in her health, the royal household has announced. The 52-year-old wife of Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The chronic condition causes scarring of the lungs and limits the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. In a statement, the palace said medical examinations carried out over recent months showed a clear decline in the crown princess’s health. “It has not yet been decided when the crown princess will be placed on the transplant waiting list,” the statement…

Prominent conservative figures openly clashed Thursday night at Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest conference, with Ben Shapiro sharply criticizing Tucker Carlson over the guests he has hosted and warning that the conservative movement is at risk from what he called “grifters” and “frauds.” During his speech, Shapiro condemned Carlson for giving platforms to figures such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes and controversial influencer Andrew Tate. He repeatedly invoked the legacy of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated in September, saying Kirk would have opposed elevating such individuals. “[Kirk] knew that Nick Fuentes is an evil…

Gaza is no longer classified as being in famine following a sharp increase in humanitarian aid deliveries after the ceasefire agreed in October between Israel and Hamas, according to a United Nations-backed hunger monitoring body. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said improved access for humanitarian and commercial food supplies, reduced fighting, and progress toward a proposed peace plan have led to better food security conditions across the Gaza Strip. “Following a significant reduction in conflict, a proposed peace plan, and improved access for both humanitarian and commercial food deliveries, food security conditions have improved in the Gaza Strip,”…

Three people were killed and five others wounded after a knife attack in Taiwan on Friday that ended with the suspect jumping to his death while fleeing police. Authorities said the attacker released smoke bombs at Taipei’s main train station before moving toward a nearby subway station in a crowded shopping district, stabbing people along the way. Premier Cho Jung-tai said the assaults appeared to be random and deliberate. The suspect, identified only by the surname Chang, had a criminal record and outstanding arrest warrants. His home has been searched as part of the investigation. Officials said Chang was carrying…

Hundreds of foreign prison staff who were facing deportation under tighter visa rules have been granted a one-year emergency visa extension to prevent a staffing crisis in the prison system. Rule changes introduced in July raised the salary threshold for skilled worker visas to £41,700, putting thousands of prison officers at risk, as most earn around £33,000 outside London. Many affected staff are from Nigeria and other West African countries. Following pressure from prisons minister Lord Timpson and discussions involving the home secretary and former justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, a temporary exemption has been approved. Around 2,500 workers were initially…

The Vatican has appointed Richard Moth as the new Archbishop of Westminster, placing him at the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. He succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has stepped down at the age of 80 after leading the Church since 2009. Moth has served for the past decade as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, and previously as Bishop of the Forces. In his new role, he will also become president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, overseeing an estimated six million Catholics. Cardinal Nichols reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 several years ago…

The suspect in last week’s mass shooting at Brown University has been found dead in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, ending a six-day multi-state manhunt, authorities said. Police identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a Portuguese national who studied at Brown University roughly 25 years ago. Investigators believe Valente also killed an MIT professor two days after the Brown attack. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said video evidence and public tips led investigators to a car rental location, where Valente’s name was linked to the primary suspect. The same vehicle was later connected to both crime…