Author: Akintayo Adams

The US state-run Guatemalan Migration Institute reports that the United States sent back a record of 61,680 Guatemalans in 2024. This announcement came after the last deportee planes arrived in Guatemala City. Four aircrafts, arriving from Texas, touched down at an air force base in the Guatemalan capital on Friday. Around 100 people were seen disembarking from one of the planes, most of them women with small children. The stepped-up returns from America occurred ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House as president in late January 2025. The incoming president had vowed mass deportations. Guatemala’s government estimates there…

A recent report by Afrinvest, titled ‘Beyond The Rhetorics: Transforming Reforms to Tangibles’, projects that the Nigerian Naira will depreciate to ₦1,804 per dollar at the official market in 2025. The report suggests that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may struggle to meet foreign exchange demands and manage anticipated FX volatility. The report highlights that exchange rate volatility is expected to persist in 2025, albeit at a modest pace. This projection is based on the belief that recent FX reserves accretion was driven by inflows from inorganic sources with stringent conditions on usability. This forecast contrasts with the ₦1,500…

Lebanon has expelled around 70 Syrian officers and soldiers who crossed into the country illegally via informal routes. A Lebanese security official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that these individuals were returned to Syria through Lebanon’s northern Arida crossing. Upon their return, they were detained by Syria’s new ruling authorities, who have been conducting a major security crackdown on remnants of the Assad regime. The expelled officers and soldiers were found in a truck in the northern coastal city of Jbeil after an inspection by local officials. Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi recently mentioned that several senior…

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has reiterated the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to winning all land battles to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity. Speaking at a Christmas luncheon with wounded soldiers at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, Oluyede assured that the sacrifices of the soldiers would never go in vain. Oluyede emphasized the importance of fostering professionalism and combat-readiness within the Nigerian Army. He pledged to prioritize the welfare of officers, soldiers, and their families, recognizing excellence and ensuring an efficient system of rewards and sanctions. The Army Chief also urged all personnel to remain…

Several tornadoes have struck Texas and Mississippi, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life. At least two people have been confirmed dead and six others injured in the affected areas. The tornadoes caused widespread damage to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure. In Texas, the hardest-hit areas include the Liverpool region south of Houston, where one person was killed and four others sustained non-critical injuries. The National Weather Service confirmed multiple touchdown points in Brazoria County, spanning Liverpool, Hillcrest Village, and Alvin. Initial assessments indicate around ten homes were damaged, but the full extent of the destruction is still being evaluated.…

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced on Saturday in Beijing that 2025 will be a crucial year for Iran’s nuclear issue, particularly concerning the United States and Israel. This announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel over the past few months. Araqchi’s remarks suggest that Iran is preparing for the potential reimplementation of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy. Trump had previously withdrawn from the 2015 nuclear deal established by former President Barack Obama, which had seen Iran agree to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for the easing of U.S. and U.N. economic sanctions. The Iranian leadership is…

A devastating plane crash, early Sunday morning, in South Korea has resulted in the loss of multiple lives. The incident involved a Jeju Air flight that veered off the runway at Muan International Airport and burst into flames. The plane was carrying 181 people from Bangkok to South Korea. The death toll has tragically risen to 179, with only 2 survivors rescued from the wreckage. The plane was almost completely destroyed, making the search for bodies slow and challenging. Emergency responders swiftly deployed fire trucks and helicopters to contain the fire and rescue any survivors. The cause of the crash…

Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk have both expressed their support for Anthony Joshua in a potential fight against Tyson Fury. Ngannou, who has faced both Joshua and Fury in his boxing career, believes Joshua would come out on top. Usyk, who recently defended his titles with a victory over Fury, also backs Joshua to win on points. The highly anticipated clash between Joshua and Fury is being targeted for Wembley Stadium in 2025, with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn describing it as “the biggest fight probably in the history of British boxing.” Get instant and…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced that troops on internal security operations arrested two terrorist ammunition couriers and 256 other suspects, and neutralized 148 terrorists within one week. Maj Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. According to Buba, the troops also rescued 291 hostages, arrested 51 suspected oil thieves, and recovered stolen crude oil worth N798.1 million. The suspected ammunition couriers, identified as Danweri and Abubakar Hamza, were apprehended in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Buba reported that troops recovered 146 assorted weapons and 2,599 rounds of assorted…

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has denied any involvement in the investigation of an alleged ₦180 million fraud case linked to an NGO owned by popular social media commentator Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). When contacted on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, stated that the FCT Police Command has no information about the case and has not launched any investigation into it. Adeh said, “The FCT Police Command is not aware of any case involving VDM’s missing funds and is not conducting any investigation into it.” “The individual in question should be contacted to clarify…