Author: niyidaram

President Donald Trump has ordered the suspension of the U.S. green card diversity lottery following last week’s mass shooting at Brown University that left two students dead. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the visa programme was paused under Trump’s direction to prevent further harm, calling the scheme “disastrous.” The suspected gunman, 48-year-old Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, entered the United States in 2017 through the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV1) and later obtained a green card. U.S. authorities believe Neves Valente was also responsible for the killing of MIT professor Nuno F. Gomes Loureiro earlier this week. Neves Valente was…

Marvel’s contribution to animated television has often been overlooked, especially when compared to DC’s celebrated output. Yet across decades, Marvel has produced animated series that are ambitious, emotionally rich, and enduring. From street-level heroes to cosmic epics, these shows demonstrate that Marvel animation can rival, and at times surpass, anything in the superhero genre. Here are the 10 greatest Marvel animated series of all time, ranked: 10. Iron Man: Armored Adventures (2009–2012) A bold reimagining of Tony Stark as a teenage genius, this Nickelodeon series stood out for its serialized storytelling, striking visuals, and emotional depth. Its long-form narrative and…

Golf star Rory McIlroy has been named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming only the third golfer to receive the honour. The 36-year-old secured the award after a landmark year in which he won the Masters at Augusta, completing the career Grand Slam, and played a key role in Europe’s Ryder Cup success. McIlroy now joins Dai Rees, who won in 1957, and Nick Faldo, the 1989 winner, as the only golfers to claim the prestigious title. England Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne finished second in the public vote. Accepting the award, McIlroy thanked fellow nominees and…

Former US President Barack Obama has released his 2025 Summer playlist, featuring Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Olamide, Seyi Vibez and Young Jonn. Sharing the list on X, Obama said he was continuing a tradition that began during his time in the White House, adding that he hoped listeners would discover new music and share recommendations. Burna Boy appears on the playlist with TaTaTa featuring Travis Scott, a track from his 2025 album No Sign of Weakness. Olamide also made the list with 99, featuring Seyi Vibez, Asake, Young Jonn and Daecolm, from his album Olamidé. The inclusion highlights the continued…

American rapper Wiz Khalifa is facing a possible nine month prison sentence in Romania over a marijuana related offence, though his legal team is seeking to overturn the ruling. Romania’s Constanța Court of Appeal on Thursday, December 18, upheld an appeal filed by the DIICOT Constanța Territorial Service, a state prosecutor’s office, which sought a custodial sentence for the rapper. The ruling replaces an earlier decision that imposed a fine of 3,000 lei, about 700 dollars. According to sources familiar with the case, the sentence is not yet final, as Wiz Khalifa’s legal team has begun the process of appealing…

Millions of people will soon be able to set their own contactless card payment limits, or remove limits entirely, after the UK’s financial regulator confirmed changes to the rules. From March, banks and card providers will be allowed to set a maximum single contactless payment amount above the current £100 limit, or introduce no limit at all, without requiring customers to enter a PIN. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is also encouraging providers to give cardholders the option to choose their own limits or disable contactless payments completely. Some banks already offer these controls. Despite the regulatory change, the FCA…

Pope Leo has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York, a move widely seen as signaling a more direct and informed Catholic response to US immigration policy. Hicks, 58, succeeds Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whose resignation has been accepted after he turned 75, the mandatory retirement age for bishops. The appointment is Pope Leo’s most consequential US church decision since his election, placing Hicks in one of the most influential Catholic roles in the country. Archbishops of New York are traditionally elevated to cardinal, putting Hicks on a national and global stage. The timing is significant. The…

Cardinal Dolan resigns as Vatican welcomes new archbishop for New York.

Donald Trump’s administration has installed new plaques beneath portraits of former US presidents inside the White House, openly attacking several of his predecessors in language consistent with Trump’s long-standing political rhetoric. The plaques are part of a newly created “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a corridor display between the Oval Office and the South Lawn. According to the White House, several of the inscriptions were written directly by Trump. One plaque beneath Joe Biden’s portrait reads: “Sleepy Joe Biden was, by far, the worst president in American history.” Biden’s image has been replaced entirely with a photograph of an autopen, reflecting…

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is set to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony on Thursday, December 18. The BBC confirmed the recognition, celebrating Henry’s impact and legacy in football. Reacting to the announcement, Henry said football had given him everything and that being acknowledged as part of the sport’s history was something he would never take for granted. Henry joins an elite group of past recipients that includes Sir Mark Cavendish, Billie Jean King, Pelé, Sir Bobby Charlton, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Sir David Beckham, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Sir Chris…