Diamond Celebrities

Taiwanese authorities have slapped a $3,500 fine on a man who broke quarantine regulations for just eight seconds. The man, a migrant worker from the Philippines, was quarantining in a hotel in Kaohsiung City when he briefly stepped out of his room into the hallway, the city’s Department of Health told Taiwan’s official Central News Agency (CNA). […]

South Korea and Japan may have coronavirus numbers that would be the envy of much of Europe and the United States, but they aren’t taking any chances as winter brings with it a dangerous spike in infections. Along with tighter restrictions, both east Asian countries have deployed their respective militaries to assist medical staff and […]

The United States on Monday for the first time added Nigeria to a blacklist on religious freedom, paving the way for potential sanctions if it does not improve its record. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated the US ally as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom, alongside nations that include China, Iran, Pakistan […]

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday said it would not  end the strike it embarked on until government paid all the salaries of its members it withheld. The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a telephone  interview with Punch correspondent in Lagos, said government should not expect the lecturers to resume without […]

The United States has removed all visa reciprocity fees for Nigerians seeking visas to the US with effect from December 3, the Federal Government has said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed on Saturday that the development was sequel to the removal of excess visa application, processing  and biometric fees for American citizens applying for […]

The trial judge, Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered that the ex-chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center pending the conclusion of his trial. On Friday, Mr Maina’s counsel, Francis Orusanya, withdrew from the case thereby compelling his new counsel, Abel […]

Former President Goodluck Jonathan seems to be undecided yet about returning to office in 2023 when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term. Speculations that the former president may take over power from President Buhari, who succeeded him in 2015, may not end soon as Dr Jonathan could not give a definite position on his […]

The Senate on Thursday warned that other countries could impose travel ban on Nigerians, if the Federal Government failed to administer COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens. The warning was contained in a motion  moved  at  plenary  by the Chairman of the Senate  Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, who said COVID-19 vaccines promised the country by  […]

  The United Kingdom (UK) has launched a number of immigration routes under its new points-based immigration system, including the skilled worker route (formerly known as the Tier 2 Visa). Applications for the new skilled worker visa by the UK, according to the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission, Abuja, Christopher Ogunmodede, […]

Ahmed Zakari, special adviser to the president on infrastructure, says the federal government will sanction any official of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) who sell prepaid meters to customers. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, Zakari said the prepaid meters are meant to be provided to customers at no cost. He added that there is […]

Lionel Messi and Barcelona have been fined a combined £706 after the player was shown a yellow card for lifting his shirt to pay tribute to the late Diego Maradona following his goal in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Osasuna. Messi, who was fined £543 while his club were fined £162, paid homage to his late […]

A Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Ikeoluwa Lagunju, has blamed home deliveries, prolonged labour in the absence of skilled medical personnel and injury at birth for some of the causes of epilepsy in babies. Lagunju, who said infections could also cause the condition in babies and said injuries to the […]

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Monday released its end-of-year travel advisory on COVID-19 for the Christmas and New Year period, warning that necessary measures should be taken to limit the spread of coronavirus. The organisation advised Nigerians to limit their festivities to members of their immediate families. The NCDC said that while remaining […]

Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said the corps will introduce the National Identity Number (NIN) information for vehicle registration by the first quarter of 2021. Mr Oyeyemi revealed this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Friday. The corps marshall said the essence of the […]

The cost of air tickets along several routes have doubled due to the high demand for air travel in light of the rising insecurity in the country and cost of flight operations, findings by Punch have shown. Checks on several airline websites showed that even intending passengers who booked their flights days ahead of departure […]