An ancient relic, believed by some to have been placed on Jesus Christ’s head during his crucifixion, has returned to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, five years after being saved from the devastating fire that engulfed the building. The Crown of Thorns, which consists of a circle of rushes encased in a crystal and gold tube, … Read more
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been impeached by the National Assembly following his controversial attempt to impose martial law, a move that has plunged the nation into political chaos midway through his presidency. The unicameral legislature voted 204 to 85 in favour of impeachment on Saturday, marking the second such vote in just over … Read more
A Palestinian doctor, believed to be the last remaining orthopaedic surgeon in northern Gaza, was killed by Israeli tank fire, according to Palestinian officials. Dr. Sayeed Joudeh, a retired surgeon who returned to work during the ongoing conflict, died on Thursday while en route to al-Awda Hospital. EDITOR’S PICKS Electricity Meter Costs Rise Again As … Read more
A Chinese businessman, identified only as H6, has lost his appeal against a UK ban imposed on national security grounds, according to a Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruling. The businessman, described as a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew, was prohibited from entering the UK in March 2023. Judges determined that the former home secretary, Suella … Read more
French President Emmanuel Macron has named François Bayrou, leader of the centrist MoDem party, as France’s new prime minister, in a strategic move to stabilize the nation’s volatile political landscape. Bayrou, 73, a seasoned politician and mayor from southwestern France, acknowledged the challenges ahead, emphasizing the need for unity: “I think reconciliation is necessary.” His … Read more
Saudi Arabia executed 10 Nigerians and 79 others in 2024, mostly for drug-related offenses. This number is nearly triple the total executions of 34 foreigners in 2023 and 2022. In 2024, Saudi Arabia executed 10 Nigerians and 79 other foreigners, including 21 Pakistanis, 20 Yemenis, and 14 Syrians. The European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) … Read more
Abiola Kayode, a 37-year-old Nigerian on the FBI’s most wanted list, has been extradited from Ghana to Nebraska, U.S., over a 2019 wire fraud conspiracy indictment. Ghanaian authorities arrested him and handed him over to FBI agents. Abiola Kayode appeared in court on December 11, 2024, and was ordered a detained pending trial. He is … Read more
US cops are puzzled after discovering $100 million worth of marijuana in a warehouse in Oak Hills, California, with no owner in sight. Neighbors had reported a strong smell coming from the newly built building, leading cops to find the entire 4,800-square-foot warehouse filled with bags of marijuana. The 3,000 bags, weighing 45 tons, … Read more
French President Emmanuel Macron will delay naming France’s next prime minister until Friday (today), according to the Elysée Palace, as he seeks to end months of political stalemate following the ousting of Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote last week. Macron, who cut short a visit to Poland on Thursday, was initially expected to announce … Read more
Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has made history as the youngest-ever world chess champion, defeating defending champion Ding Liren of China in a dramatic final match on Thursday. At just 18 years old, Dommaraju surpasses the previous record set by Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who claimed the title at age 22 in 1985. A prodigy from … Read more
Selena Gomez has announced her engagement to songwriter and producer Benny Blanco, sharing the joyous news on Instagram with a photo of her dazzling engagement ring and the caption, “Forever begins now.” The announcement comes after the couple confirmed their relationship last year. EDITOR’S PICKS Electricity Meter Costs Rise Again As Deregulation Takes Effect Biden, … Read more
Four men will appear in a Paris court next year for allegedly harassing French First Lady Brigitte Macron online, the public prosecutor said Thursday. She has faced online disinformation about her gender and attacks over her 24-year age difference with President Emmanuel Macron. Brigitte Macron filed a complaint in August, leading to an investigation into … Read more
US President Joe Biden has granted presidential pardons to 39 Americans convicted of non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 others, marking the largest single-day use of presidential clemency in U.S. history, according to the White House. The names of the individuals involved have not been disclosed. Under the U.S. Constitution, presidents have … Read more
The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and voiced strong support for the UN agency serving Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). On Wednesday, the 193-member assembly passed a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which was adopted with 158 votes in favour, nine against, … Read more
Chat GPT experienced a global outage for about three hours, with 74% of users reporting errors. The issue has been resolved, and OpenAI is monitoring the situation for full recovery. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed the recovery of ChatGPT, humorously tweeting, “We back.” The outage, which lasted three hours, also affected OpenAI’s text-to-video platform, Sora. … Read more
Tokyo will make day care free for all preschool children starting in September to help address Japan’s low birth rate. The policy will extend free day care to first-born children, reducing financial burdens on families. Japan faces a declining population, with low birth rates worsening the crisis. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike emphasized the urgency of … Read more
Fifty-four journalists were killed worldwide in 2024, with a third of the deaths attributed to the Israeli army, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports. Eighteen journalists were killed by Israeli forces, including 16 in Gaza and two in Lebanon. RSF reports that Palestine is one the deadliest countries for reporters, with over 145 killed by the … Read more
Three prominent real estate brokers, Tal and Oren Alexander, along with their brother Alon, have been charged with sex trafficking in a case alleging they drugged, assaulted, and raped dozens of women over more than a decade. Prosecutors claim the Alexander brothers, well-known for brokering high-end property deals in New York and Miami, used their … Read more
An 11-year-old girl was rescued after clinging to tyre tubes for three days in stormy Mediterranean weather. Rescuers from Compass Collective heard her calls for help while on their way to another emergency. The girl, from Sierra Leone, was traveling with 44 others from Tunisia when their boat sank. She is the only survivor, as … Read more
Kemi Badenoch has defended her previous remarks about Nigeria after the country’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, accused her of denigrating the nation. EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Conservative Party leader, born in the UK but largely raised in Nigeria, has consistently spoken about growing up in a country plagued by corruption, insecurity, and fear. She … Read more