The Pacific island nation of Kiribati, specifically its Kiritimati (Christmas Island) atoll, was the first place on Earth to welcome the New Year 2026, leading global celebrations as clocks struck midnight there, thanks to its unique position just west of the International Date Line in the UTC+14 time zone.  Celebrations quickly moved to other Pacific nations like New Zealand and Australia before spreading across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The Republic of Kiribati comprises 32 atolls and one remote raised coral island, Banaba. These islands are dispersed over a vast ocean area of over 3.4 million km².Why Kiribati Leads the Way: Strategic Location: Kiribati lies close to the International Date Line (IDL). Time Zone Adjustment: In the 1990s, Kiribati moved the IDL to encompass all its islands, ensuring they shared the same date, making Kiritimati the first to greet the new day. Early Time Zone: Kiritimati operates in the UTC+14 time zone, making i...

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, a single lucky Powerball player in Arkansas won a jackpot worth $1.817 billion. This win marks the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history and the largest of 2025. “With final ticket sales, the Powerball jackpot reached $1.817 billion, making it the second-largest US lottery jackpot ever won and the largest Powerball prize this year,” Powerball said in a statement. The winning ticket was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas. The numbers drawn were white balls 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and the red Powerball 19. Payout Options: The winner has the choice between: An annuity of approximately $1.817 billion paid over 29 years. A one-time lump-sum cash payment of $834.9 million before taxes. Anonymity: As of December 26, 2025, the winner's identity has not been disclosed. 

  On Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, the United States launched what President Donald Trump described as "powerful and deadly strikes" against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in northwestern Nigeria. The strikes primarily targeted two ISIS camps in the Sokoto State of northwest Nigeria, near the border with Niger. A U.S. military official reported that more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from a Navy ship stationed in the Gulf of Guinea. The US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM), which is responsible for operations in Africa, said in a post on X that the air strike was carried out “at the request of Nigerian authorities” and had killed “multiple ISIS terrorists”. “Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on social media, warning also of “more to come”, without providing details. Reasoning Provided: President Trump stated the strikes were in retaliation for the "vicious killing" of innoce...

The U.S. has recently expanded visa restrictions and bans for nationals from numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Iran, Syria, Nigeria, and others, under Presidential Proclamations aimed at national security, citing deficient vetting and cooperation, affecting immigrant/non-immigrant visas and student/exchange visas (F/J visas) for various nations starting January 1, 2026. These measures, implemented by the Trump administration, categorize countries into full bans (e.g., Iran, Syria) or partial bans (e.g., Nigeria, Venezuela), affecting different visa types and totaling around 39 nations. Key Details of the Expanded Restrictions (Effective Jan 1, 2026): Full Entry Bans (Immigrant & Nonimmigrant Visas): Apply to 19 countries like Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria, plus Palestinian Authority passport holders. Partial Entry Bans (Immigrant & Key Nonimmigra...

  Anthony Joshua defeated Jake Paul with a sixth-round knockout in their professional heavyweight fight in Miami on Friday, December 19, 2025. Joshua, a two-time former world heavyweight champion, scored four knockdowns during the bout and ended the fight at 1:31 in the sixth round with a decisive right hand. Anthony Joshua was dominant throughout the match, ultimately proving too much for Paul, a social media star turned professional boxer who typically competes at a lower weight class. Paul suffered a double broken jaw as a result of the knockout punch and later posted an image of his X-ray. he fight was a sanctioned, professional heavyweight contest and not an exhibition, counting on both fighters' official records. Despite being a significant underdog and the difference in class, Paul survived longer than many of Joshua's previous opponents and kept getting up after knockdowns, earning respect from Joshua. Paul plans to take a break to recover from his jaw injury before ret...

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 crew, detained in Burkina Faso after an emergency landing in December 2025, has been released and resumed their mission to Portugal, concluding a diplomatic issue where Burkina Faso initially questioned the flight's clearance and purpose, but Nigeria maintained it was a legitimate, safety-driven diversion. A NAF C-130 made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, on December 8, 2025, due to a technical problem while en route to Portugal. Burkina Faso, part of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), detained the 11 personnel, alleging airspace violation and lack of diplomatic clearance. Diplomatic Resolution: Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs engaged with Burkina Faso, clarifying the situation through diplomatic channels. Release & Resumption: The crew and aircraft were released, with reports confirming they continued their journey to Portugal on December 18, 2025. Nigeria maintained the landing was precautionary and compliant ...

  The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and stop the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, from enforcing the tinted glass policy, following the police's recent announcement to resume nationwide enforcement from January 2, 2026.  The NBA has threatened contempt proceedings against the IGP and other police officials if they proceed with the enforcement while the matter is still pending in court. The NBA argues that the police's decision is an affront to the authority of the courts and a subversion of the rule of law. The association notes that a motion for an interlocutory injunction in its suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, was struck out on December 12, 2025, based on the police counsel's solemn undertaking that enforcement had been suspended. The NBA described the policy as unconstitutional, illegal, and a military-era decree that falls short of democratic standards. It argues the police l...

  Paul Doyle, the man who drove his car into crowds during the Liverpool FC victory parade in May, is due to be sentenced on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. His two-day sentencing hearing began on Monday, December 15, 2025. Paul Doyle, a 54-year-old former Royal Marine, previously changed his plea to guilty on all 31 charges last month, including nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Prosecutors argued that Doyle "lost his temper" and acted "in a rage," using his vehicle "as a weapon" after becoming agitated by the crowds. It was sheer luck that no one was killed in the incident which injured over 130 people, including a six-month-old baby and a 77-year-old woman. Harrowing victim impact statements were read in court, describing the terror and lasting physical and psychological trauma caused by the attack. One victim was a Ukrainian refugee who had fled the war hoping to f...

  Saudi Arabia has set a new national record for executions in a single year, with an AFP tally reporting 340 deaths so far in 2025. This marks the second consecutive year the kingdom has broken its own record for executions since documentation began in the 1990s. The 340 executions in 2025 surpassed the previous record of 338 set in 2024. Human rights groups like Amnesty International and Reprieve had monitored 345 executions in 2024. The significant increase is largely attributed to the kingdom's "war on drugs" launched in 2023. As of October 2025, 195 of the year's executions were for drug-related crimes. Foreign nationals, often migrant workers, are bearing the brunt of this campaign, with many executed for non-violent drug offenses after trials that human rights organizations claim violate international law. Saudi Arabia ranks as one of the world's leading executioners, trailing only China and Iran in recent years. Human rights organizations argue that the hi...

  West African leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a summit in Abuja, Nigeria, on December 14, 2025, to address the escalating political and security crises in the region, particularly a recent string of coups and attempted military takeovers. Key Issues and Discussions Recent Instability: The summit agenda was dominated by two recent incidents: a successful coup in Guinea-Bissau in November 2025, which saw President Umaro Embalo deposed, and a foiled military takeover in Benin a week prior. These events have "rattled" the regional bloc, which had already seen coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger between 2020 and 2023. Declaration of Emergency: Ahead of the summit, on December 9, 2025, ECOWAS declared a "state of emergency" in West Africa due to the recurring unconstitutional changes of government and escalating security challenges. Security in the Sahel: Leaders discussed the worsening security situation in the Sahel r...

  Asian stocks rallied, led by gains in Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong, as markets reacted positively to the U.S. Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut and Fed Chair Powell's optimistic tone about future economic growth, suggesting lower rates would boost risk assets and ease financial conditions, creating a "Goldilocks" scenario for equities.  While markets welcomed the easing, some investors noted tempered expectations for immediate future cuts, focusing on incoming data for guidance.  The Fed's decision to cut rates, lowering borrowing costs, lifted spirits across Asia. Jerome Powell's Comments: Powell's less "hawkish" stance and view that inflation from tariffs would fade boosted confidence in a strengthening economy, as noted by. "Goldilocks" Scenario: The prospect of easing financial conditions with continued growth, without reigniting inflation, is seen as ideal for equities, say Liberty Hill Independent and Seeking Alpha. ...

The Nigerian Army vehemently denied that its troops killed anyone, stating the casualties were caused by "unprofessional handling of automatic weapons by the local militias" elsewhere in the town. The Army's 23 Brigade described the reports as "baseless and misleading". Witnesses and Amnesty International report that Nigerian Army soldiers shot and killed nine women during a protest in the Lamurde area of Adamawa state on Monday, December 8, 2025. The Nigerian Army has denied responsibility, blaming local militias for the deaths. The women were protesting along a major road about what they perceived as an inadequate security response to ongoing communal clashes between the Bachama and Chobo ethnic groups over a land dispute. Witnesses stated that soldiers, who were passing through the area, opened fire on the unarmed women after one soldier initially shot into the air. Ten other individuals were reportedly injured. Amnesty International's Nigeria office conf...

  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a regional state of emergency across West Africa in response to an unprecedented wave of coups, attempted mutinies, and escalating insecurity.  The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, during a ministerial meeting in Abuja, Nigeria. The state of emergency was declared due to a number of interconnected crises: A surge in military interventions: The region has experienced several successful and attempted coups in recent years in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and a recent failed attempt in Benin. Erosion of democratic governance: Non-compliance with transition norms and a decline in electoral inclusivity have become major triggers of instability. Expanding security threats: The influence of terrorists, armed groups, and criminal networks has spread across the region, moving beyond the Sahel to coastal states and cr...

  The search continues for soldiers who were involved in a failed coup attempt in  Benin  on Sunday, December 7, 2025. The coup was thwarted by loyalist Beninese forces with support from neighboring Nigeria. The coup attempt was "foiled" by Benin's armed forces, and President Patrice Talon stated the situation is "completely under control". Around a dozen soldiers have been arrested. However, many are presumed to have fled into the countryside, and the search for them is ongoing. President Patrice Talon made his own TV appearance late Sunday, assuring the country that the situation was “completely under control”. Talon, 67, is due to hand over the reins of power in April after two terms leading Benin, which in recent years has been hit by jihadist violence in the north. The coup attempt follows a spate of military takeovers in the region, including in Benin’s northern neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea and, last month, Guinea-Bissau.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has threatened a fresh clampdown on unregistered Point of Sale (POS) operators in Nigeria from 1st January 2026. The Commission said it observed a rising number of POS operators running without registration, violating CAMA 2020 and CBN Agent Banking Regulations. In a statement on Saturday, the agency said all PoS must be duly registered with the commission or face immediate shutdown. It warned that no POS operator will be allowed to operate without CAC registration, adding that security agencies will enforce nationwide compliance. The statement further pointed out that this reckless practice, often enabled by some fintech companies, puts Nigeria’s financial system and citizens’ investments at risk, stressing that it must stop. “Unregistered POS terminals will be seized or shut down by security officials. “Fintechs enabling illegal operations will be placed on a watchlist and reported to the CBN. All operators are advised to regularize immediately....