Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is increasingly likely to announce he intends to step down, though he has not made a final decision, a source familiar with Trudeau’s thinking said on Sunday.

The source spoke to Reuters after the Globe and Mail reported that Trudeau was expected to announce as early as Monday that he would quit as leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party after nine years in office.

The source requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Trudeau’s departure would leave the party without a permanent head at a time when polls show the Liberals will badly lose to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October.

Sources told the Globe and Mail that they did not know definitely when Trudeau would announce his plans to leave but said they expect it would happen before a emergency meeting of Liberal legislators on Wednesday.

An increasing number of Liberal parliamentarians, alarmed by a series of gloomy polls, have publicly urged Trudeau to quit.

The prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. The prime minister’s regularly published schedule for Monday said he would participate virtually in a cabinet committee meeting on Canada-U.S. relations.

It remains unclear whether Trudeau will leave immediately or stay on as prime minister until a new Liberal leader is selected, the Globe and Mail report added.

At least seven American states have declared a state of emergency in the wake of a huge winter storm that could result in the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in more than 10 years.

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According to the BBC, state authorities in Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas and New Jersey have declared emergencies with schools shut down in some areas.

Thousands of flights have been delayed or cancelled, and several roads have been cut off due to the storm.

Kansas is one of the most affected areas by the storm, which may cause the biggest snowfall and coldest weather in the U.S. in more than a decade.

“This could lead to the coldest January for the U.S. since 2011,” AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin said before adding that the “temperatures that are well below historical average” could linger for a week.

Citing forecasters, the BBC reported that the huge winter storm is caused by the polar vortex – an area of cold air circling around the Arctic.

The storm is expected to move eastward in the coming days, causing extreme weather conditions.

Three Chinese nationals have been apprehended with gold bars and $800,000 in cash in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the BBC, the trio were nabbed with 12 gold bars and the stash of cash hidden under the seat of a vehicle they were travelling in.

Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, saying that the operation was kept secret after the recent release of another group of Chinese nationals accused of running an illegal gold mine in the area.

Mr Purusi explained that some of the dealers in the ‘previous metals’ had been enjoying good relations with the influential people in the capital, Kinshasa, adding that it was the reason why the latest arrests had to be kept quiet.

Although he did not give exactly how much gold had been seized so far, Mr Purusi said they had been acting on a tip-off.

According to him, the gold bars and money were only found after a meticulous search of the vehicle in the Walungu area near Rwanda’s border.

Last year, Mr Purusi told journalists that he was shocked to hear that 17 Chinese nationals, who had been arrested on allegations they had been running an illegal gold mine, were freed and allowed to return to China.

He said the development undermined the efforts to clean up DR Congo’s notoriously murky mineral sector.

“They owed $10 million in taxes and fines to the government,” Mr Purusi was quoted to have said by Reuters.

New York has commenced a congestion charge scheme that compels car drivers to pay up to $9 per day, with rates varied for other vehicles.

Speaking to journalists, the CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Janno Lieber, said the scheme, the first to be introduced in the United States, took effect on Sunday.

According to the BBC, most drivers intending to access the congestion zone at peak hours will pay $9 once daily and $2.25 at other times. Small trucks and non-commuter buses will be charged $14.40 to enter Manhattan at peak times, while larger trucks and tourist buses will pay $21.60.

“The system has been in operation since midnight [05:00 GMT Sunday],” said Mr Lieber. “Drivers are going to start to see the toll charges appearing on their E-Z Pass bills in a few days.”

He also stated that 400 traffic lanes are now covered by over 1,400 cameras, with over 110 detection points and over 800 signs.

The Empire State Building, Times Square, and the financial district around Wall Street are in the congestion zone, which covers an area south of Central Park.

The scheme is aimed at easing the city’s traffic challenges and raising billions for the public transport network. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to stop the scheme when he returns to office. Local Republicans have also pleaded for his intervention.

Mr Leiber is, however, hopeful that agreements would be reached with the government to make them “stand up to changes of administration.”

The development comes two years after Governor Kathy Hochul advocated for a congestion charge, but was delayed and revised after complaints from commuters and businesses.

Traffic data analyst firm INRIX ranked New York as the world’s most-congested urban area in 2023 and 2024.

A “panic-stricken” elephant killed a Spanish tourist while she was bathing the animal at a sanctuary in southern Thailand, police said on Monday.

The 23-year-old woman was hit by the stressed animal’s trunk at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in Phang Nga province, according to police.

“A female tourist was killed while bathing an elephant,” Jaran Bangprasert, the local police chief told AFP.

Authorities have contacted the Spanish embassy to confirm the victim’s identity.

The sanctuary declined to provide details of the incident when contacted by AFP.

Wild elephants have killed 227 people, including tourists, in the past 12 years, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

An elephant killed a 49-year-old woman at a national park in Loei province in northern Thailand last month.

While encounters between villagers and wild elephants are common, attacks at sanctuaries remain rare.

Bathing elephants is a popular activity among visitors in Thailand, where about 2,800 elephants are held for tourism purposes across the country, according to World Animal Protection.

However, animal rights groups argue that bathing elephants can cause them distress and some sanctuaries in the country do not allow it.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of renowned business mogul and socialite, Chief (Mrs) Adebisi Edionseri, popularly known as ‘Cash Madam.’

Her death, at the age of 89 on Sunday, marks a significant loss to Ogun State and Nigeria at large, the governor noted.

Abiodun described the deceased as a trailblazing entrepreneur whose remarkable legacy has left an indelible mark on society, inspiring generations since the 1970s.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, Abiodun lauded Edionseri’s immense contributions to Ogun State, calling her a beacon of resilience, ambition, and success.

“On behalf of myself and the people of Ogun State, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Alhaja (Chief) Adebisi Edionseri. Her passing is a tremendous loss, but her influence as a business pioneer and social figure will continue to resonate for years to come,” Abiodun stated.

He praised Edionseri’s pioneering spirit, noting her exceptional achievements at a young age and the inspiration she provided to aspiring entrepreneurs and social leaders across the region.

“Alhaja Adebisi’s legacy transcends her lifetime. Her contributions to the business landscape and her vibrant social engagements will serve as enduring reference points. She touched countless lives and left an imprint that will guide future generations,” Abiodun added.

The Edionseri family, in an earlier statement signed by Dr Adebayo Adebowale, confirmed the passing of the 89-year-old business luminary after a brief illness.

“Her life was a radiant example of grace, dignity, and unwavering faith. Princess Edionseri’s wisdom, kindness, and dedication enriched the lives of many, both within her family and the broader community,” Adebowale remarked.

“She instilled the values of love, resilience, and faith in Allah, leaving behind a legacy that will endure. As we mourn, we also celebrate the extraordinary life she lived. Her warmth, laughter, and teachings will forever remain in our hearts, guiding us forward.”

The funeral will be held according to Islamic rites on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 4pm at her residence in Abeokuta GRA.

Iya Sunnah of Egbaland, Khadijah Adebisi Edionseri, aka Cash Madam, has died.

She reportedly died after a brief illness.

Ms Edionseri was 89. She died on Sunday.

One of the children of the deceased businesswoman, a community leader, Adebayo Adebowale, confirmed the demise in a statement.

“With deep gratitude to Allah for a life well-lived, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Princess Kadijat Abike Adebisi Edionseri (née Elegbede), who returned to her Creator on 5th January 2025 at the age of 89, following a brief illness,” the statement said.

It added, “Her life was a shining example of grace, dignity, and unwavering faith. Princess Edionseri touched the lives of many through her wisdom, kindness, and dedication to both her family and her community.

“She taught us the importance of love, resilience, and faith in Allah, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations.”

According to the family, a funeral will be held at the deceased’s residence in Abeokuta at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, in accordance with Islamic rites.

The Lagos State Police Command has clarified that Ayomide Adeleye, who confessed to killing Christianah Idowu, his friend and neighbour, has been charged with murder and remains in custody for the offence.

This clarification was issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in response to reports suggesting that Adeleye was not being held in any Lagos correctional facility.

In his statement, Hundeyin said, “We can confirm that Ayomide Adeleye was charged with murder and was remanded for the same offence.

“It is also a fact that another person bearing the same name was remanded for a different offence and released in April 2024, long before the Ayomide we are talking about committed his offence.

“An outfit that prides itself on investigation should live up to its name. Relying on ‘sources’ rather than the spokesperson of the Correctional Service would land you in this kind of misinformation.”

Adeleye, a 200-level Philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University confessed in September to killing Idowu, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

On November 5, Adeleye appeared before Magistrate Seyi Omodara at the Ogba Magistrate Court.

The magistrate issued a remand warrant, allowing the police to detain him at the Ikoyi Correctional Center pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

A Saturday morning fire devastated the popular Sokoto’s Kara Grains Market, destroying grains and properties worth millions of naira.

The inferno, which occurred at the market, destroyed over 50 grinding shops, with many nearby houses also affected.

Although the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the incident has caused significant financial losses to those affected, with damages estimated to exceed N50 million.

The fire destroyed food items, including rice, millet, beans, and sacks of other goods stored for business purposes.

Among the victims was Glory Matthew Abba, a shop owner who lost his grinding engine, valued at N1.8 million.

Another victim, Aliyu Achida, lost his house and food crops, including rice, millet, and beans, amounting to a total loss of approximately N3 million.

The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency responded to the disaster by conducting a joint assessment of the affected area.

Officials visited the damaged parts of Kara Market to evaluate the situation and reassured the victims of their commitment to providing support in the aftermath of the fire.

SEMA’s Director of Relief, Mustapha Umar, said, “Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, and authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any signs of fire hazards around them.”

Renowned Nigerian gospel singer and pastor, Nathaniel Bassey, has been invited to minister at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20 in Washington, D.C.

The Akwa Ibom-born cleric disclosed this on his Instagram page, sharing a poster of the event.

He wrote, “Let’s raise a sound in America. See you on January 20, 2025.”

The U.S prayer breakfast is a non-political and faith-based event that emphasises prayer and worship as a spiritual support for the U.S. government and presidency.

The event is held once in four years preceding every new administration, and this edition is scheduled to hold ahead of Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance’s swearing-in ceremony.

The prayer breakfast will be hosted by Reverend Merrie Turner at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Presidential Ballroom, featuring a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Dr Alveda King and Pastor Mario Bramnick.

Mr Bassey, an acclaimed trumpeter and convener of the Hallelujah Challenge, an online Christian worship movement, is known for his hit songs, including “Imela,” “Onise Iyanu,” and “Olowogbogboro.”

Over the years, he has established himself as one of the prominent and most listened-to gospel ministers from Nigeria as his music spans across different genres such as jazz, worship, hymns and medley.

In 2024, the Mayor of Albany, New York, honoured him by declaring October 6 as “Pastor Nathaniel Bassey Day.”

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rescued a one-day-old baby and arrested the mother for dumping the child in a bush after she was allegedly abandoned by her partner.

“The FCT Police Command informs the public of the recovery of a day-old baby abandoned along a bush path near Crush Rock, behind an uncompleted Red Bricks Market, Mpape,” said the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, operatives from Mpape Division’s Juvenile and Women Care Section responded to a distress call at about 10 a.m. on Friday, and found the baby wrapped in a cloth.

“The child was promptly rescued and taken to Mpape Primary Health Care Centre, where medical evaluation confirmed the baby is in a stable condition. Following a tip off from the community, the baby’s mother, Khadija Ali, was arrested. During interrogation, she confessed to abandoning the baby, citing her inability to care for the child following her husband’s abandonment.”

The command said that the baby would be handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for proper care and the mother prosecuted according to the provisions of sections 14 and 16 of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003 upon the conclusion of investigations.

The command, while reiterating its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of society, appreciated the cooperation of the public, urging them to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Mr Tayo Oluwatuyi, is dead.

It was gathered that the SSG, popularly known as Tukana, died on Saturday, at an undisclosed hospital.

The details of his death were still sketchy at the time of filing this report, but it was learnt that the deceased was involved in a road accident along the Ife-Ibadan Road on December 19, 2024, after which he was hospitalised.

Confirming the incident in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation on Saturday, Wale Akinlosotu, the state government said Oluwatuyi passed away on Saturday.

He described the former SSG as a dedicated public servant who served the state meritoriously.

The statement read, “It is with profound sadness that the Government of Ondo State announces the passing of Hon. Temitayo Oluwatuyi, Secretary to the State Government, on January 4, 2025.

“He was involved in a ghastly car accident on Sunday, 15th December 2024, while travelling to Ibadan and was subsequently hospitalised.

“Hon. Oluwatuyi was a dedicated public servant whose unwavering commitment to administrative coordination, policy advisory, and implementation had a significant impact on Ondo State.

“He served with distinction and played a crucial role in the state government, working closely with the Governor and other top officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Having served the government in various capacities, including as Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Commissioner and twice as SSG, Hon. Oluwatuyi will forever be remembered for his invaluable contributions to the development of Ondo State.

“The Government of Ondo State extends its deepest condolences to the Oluwatuyi family of Akure, friends, and associates during this difficult time.”

The commissioner added that further details regarding the memorial arrangements of the deceased will be shared as they become available.

The state governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, approved Oluwatuyi’s appointment as the Secretary to the State Government on January 24, 2024.

Operatives of the Odeda Division of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested Akintoye Waris for allegedly stealing and slaughtering a Savannah he-goat valued at N200,000 for his child’s naming.

The spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, on Saturday, revealed that Waris was arrested on January 2, 2024, in the Odeda Area of the state, along with his accomplice, Ajayi Yusuf.

The suspects had allegedly invaded a farm in the area to steal the goat, having ensured that the farm owner, simply known as Mark, had taken the cattle for grazing on December 25.

Odutola stated that after discovering one of the goats was missing upon his return, a search was conducted in the community.

During the search, the police said some villagers confirmed seeing the two suspects with the missing goat on a motorcycle, heading toward Olodo town.

The command noted that while acting on the tip-off, detectives were immediately dispatched, leading to the arrest of the suspects in the early hours of January 2, 2025.

Odutola stated, “During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, explaining how they stole, transported, and later slaughtered the he-goat on December 27, 2024.

“They disclosed that the goat was used to prepare food for the naming ceremony of Akintoye Warris’s daughter, which was held at Olodo.

“The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation at the Divisional Crime Branch.”

She assured the concerned residents that the suspects would be prosecuted in court once the investigation is concluded and added that any further developments in the case would be communicated in due course.

The death toll in the clash between between the community of Gululu village and Fulani settlement in Yankunama of Miga local government area of Jigawa State has risen to 10.

The Nation reported the clash started when some suspected herders broke into a shop and stole bags of Hibiscus stored by a resident farmer of Gululu village on Thursday night.

Gululu village head, Malam Malam Muhammad Sarkin -Dori, told The Nation the owner of the Hibiscus mobilised some of his brothers, neighbors and friends to trace the footpath of the invaders.

He said: “We woke up this morning with a provision shop got broken by suspected thieves in which some residents decided to follow the footpaths of the suspected thieves which led them to the nearby Fulani settlement where the violent clash occurred”.

“Upon seeing the footpath tracers, the herders confronted the people with the shot of bow and arrow after seeing them at their settlement where many villagers from the farmers side were hit with arrows shots at them by the Fulanis.

“One Dauda Kafinta, who was declared missing during the melee was later found dead with bow and arrow injuries and four people referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital after their initial admission at Jahun General Hospital in the State”.

Jigawa Police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Lawal Shiisu Adam, confirmed the incident.

He said: “On 03/01/2025 information from Gululu village in Miga LGA indicated that a group of miscreants suspected to be Fulani broke into a shop and stole a quantity of hibiscus and other provisions.

“A team of villagers (Hausawa) traced their footprints to a Fulani Settlement Camp in Yankunama village, Jahun LGA. On sighting the team, the Fulanis started shooting the villagers with bow and arrows, as a result, four (4) persons were seriously injured.

“Hence the villagers mobilised and started attacking the Fulanis and setting their houses ablaze at various locations within Miga and Jahun local government areas.

“Unfortunately, nine dead bodies were recovered, the corpses were ferried to Jahun and Miga hospitals, where the medical doctor on duty confirmed their deaths”.

He said investigation was underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi, has died few weeks after surviving an auto crash.

Oluwatuyi, popularly known as ‘Tukana, was said to have been receiving treatment in a hospital Akure before he died.

The Ondo State Government is yet to make an official statement on the incident but a source confirmed the death.

Details shortly…

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Olayemi Cardoso, says the 1,000 staff who left the bank were not forced to leave.

Cardoso stated this on Friday at the resumed House of Representatives investigative hearing on the disengagement of the 1,000 workers by the CBN.

The apex bank, on December 4, 2024, said its Early Exit Package, EEP, was entirely voluntary and without any negative consequence for eligible staff.

This comes amid reports that 1,000 staff were sacked from the apex bank.

Reacting to the development, however, the House of Representatives ordered the CBN to suspend the planned retirement of 1,000 staff.

The green chamber had also established an ad hoc committee to probe the process and legality of the exercise.

At the resumption of the investigative hearing on Friday, the CBN governor, however, said the 1,000 members of staff were not forced to quit.

Represented by CBN’s deputy director of corporate service, Bala Bello, the apex bank boss also said the early exit programme, the restructuring and reorganisation was to optimise the bank for enhanced efficiency.

“They are basically ways and means through which the performance of an organisation is optimised by putting, ensuring that round pegs are put in right holes.

“The manpower requirement of the bank is actually met. I’m very happy to mention, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, that the early exit program of the central bank is 100 percent voluntary.

“It’s not mandatory. Nobody has been asked to leave, and nobody has been forced to leave. It’s a completely voluntary programme that has been put in place.

“I believe several organisations across the world, and even within this country, both in the private sector and the public sector, are undertaking similar exercises.

“So nobody has been asked to leave. With a lot of humility, I will tell you that this same program that is taking place is not at the instance of the bank,” Cardoso said.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced that the state government will subsidise the cost of petrol to N600 per litre for farmers in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

A statement on Saturday by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New media, Abdulrahman Bundi, said Zulum announced the subsidy on Friday evening during the flagged-off distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers displaced by Boko Haram insurgents in Bama town.

He said a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri will be subsidised to the farmers for N600.

“This is aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by farmers in communities that have suffered economic and infrastructural destruction due to years of conflict.

“One of the major challenges that are facing the farming communities here as regards irrigation farming is the increasing cost of fuel. As a result, I want to announce to the general public that the government will procure petroleum products and sell them to the farmers at a subsidised rate. A litre of petrol is being sold in Maiduguri at the cost of about N1,200, but inshallah, henceforth, for irrigation farmers this season, a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600.

“The Commissioner for Agriculture will work with the Brigade Commander to ensure the delivery of the petroleum products to farmers in Bama town as soon as possible,” he quoted the governor.

He said Zulum distributed farm inputs, including 2000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser, 1000 units of water pumps, and 620 units of gasoline pumps.

According to him, other materials include 380 units of solar water pumps, 1000 units of sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hoses, and 1000 litres of pesticides and seeds, among other items.

He said Zulum expressed gratitude to the federal government for the tremendous support of his administration’s effort in reconstructing and resettling communities affected by insurgency.

South Korea’s political leadership was in uncharted territory Saturday after the sitting president resisted arrest over a failed martial law decree days before the warrant expires.

In scenes of high drama on Friday, Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidential guards and military troops shielded the former star prosecutor from investigators, who called off their arrest attempt citing safety concerns.

The South Korean president was impeached and suspended last month after the bungled martial law declaration — a political move swiftly overturned by parliament — with a separate warrant later issued for his arrest.

“There was a standoff. While we estimated the personnel blocking us to be around 200, there could have been more,” an official from the investigation team said Friday on condition of anonymity.

“It was a dangerous situation.”

Yoon faces criminal charges of insurrection, one of a few crimes not subject to presidential immunity, meaning he could be sentenced to prison or, at worst, the death penalty.

If the warrant is carried out, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

Since his impeachment, Yoon has holed up in his presidential residence in the capital Seoul, where he has refused to emerge for questioning three times.

The unprecedented showdown — which reportedly included clashes but no shots fired — left the arrest attempt by investigators in limbo with the court-ordered warrant set to expire on Monday.

Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), probing Yoon over his martial law decree, could make another bid to arrest him before then.

But if the warrant lapses, they may apply for another.

The Constitutional Court slated January 14 for the start of Yoon’s impeachment trial, which if he does not attend would continue in his absence.

Former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye never appeared for their impeachment trials.

Yoon’s lawyers decried Friday’s arrest attempt as “unlawful and invalid” and vowed to take legal action.

Two top officials from Yoon’s presidential security service also refused a police request to appear for questioning on Saturday, citing the “serious nature” of protecting him, the service said in a statement sent to AFP.

Experts said investigators could wait for greater legal justification before arresting the suspended president again.

“It may be challenging to carry out the arrest until the Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment motion and strips him of the presidential title,” Chae Jin-won of Humanitas College at Kyung Hee University told AFP.

South Korean media reported that CIO officials had wanted to arrest Yoon and take him to their office in Gwacheon near Seoul for questioning.

After that, he could have been held for up to 48 hours on the existing warrant. Investigators would have needed to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody.

Yoon has remained defiant and told his right-wing supporters this week he would fight “to the very end” for his political survival.

By the time investigators arrived to arrest Yoon, he had layered his presidential compound with hundreds of security forces to prevent it.

Around 20 investigators and 80 police officers were heavily outnumbered by around 200 soldiers and security personnel linking arms to block their way.

A tense six-hour standoff ensued until Friday afternoon when the investigators were forced to U-turn.

The investigators said in a statement on Friday they would ask Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who was installed as acting president a week ago, to back the warrant.

The weeks of political turmoil have threatened the country’s stability.

South Korea’s key security ally, the United States, called for the political elite to work towards a “stable path” forward.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to maintaining bilateral ties on Friday.

Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to hold talks in Seoul on Monday, with one eye on US-South Korea relations and another on nuclear-armed North Korea.

Former President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised ongoing legal proceedings, labelling them as “witch hunt” following a New York judge’s decision to set January 10 as the date for his sentencing in the hush money case.

In a posted on Truth Social Friday, Mr Trump further escalated his position against the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and the court system, dismissing Justice Juan Merchan’s scheduled January 10 sentence as a politically motivated attack.

He said, “This illegitimate political attack is nothing but a rigged charade. “Acting” Justice Merchan, who is a radical partisan, just issued another order that is knowingly unlawful, goes against our Constitution and, if allowed to stand, would be the end of the Presidency as we know it. Merchan has so little respect for the Constitution that he is keeping in place an illegal gag order on me, your President and President Elect, just so I cannot expose his and his family’s disqualifying and illegal conflicts. I am the only Political Opponent in American History not allowed to defend myself – A despicable First Amendment Violation!.”

Mr Trump referenced various legal scholars and pundits who opposed to the case, saying “Every Legal Scholar and Pundit, including the highly respected, and sadly recently passed, David Rivkin, as well as Jonathan Turley, Elie Honig, Andy McCarthy, Alan Dershowitz, Gregg Jarrett, Elizabeth Price Foley, Katie and Andy Cherkasky, Paul Ingrassia, and many others, have unequivocally stated that the Manhattan D.A.’s Witch Hunt is a nonexistent case, which is not only barred by the Statute of Limitations but, on the merits, should never have been brought.”

This reaction followed a decision of a New York judge to set January 10 as the date to sentence U.S former and President-elect Donald Trump in hush money case.

The scheduled sentencing came days before Mr Trump would be inaugurated for a second term in office and would see him become the first American president convicted of criminal offences.

“Only by bringing finality to this matter will the interests of justice be served,” Judge Merchan wrote in a decision issued on Friday.

Judge Merchan noted that Trump is likely to receive a “conditional discharge” — a legal resolution where the case is dismissed if the defendant avoids further legal trouble.

“A sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow the defendant to pursue his appellate options,” the judge explained.

Mr Trump’s conviction stemmed from 34 counts of falsifying business records related to an alleged attempt to cover up a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Ms Daniels claimed the two had a sexual encounter years earlier, which Trump denied. The payment was reportedly intended to prevent Ms Daniels from going public with her allegations.

The Federal Road Safety Corps on Friday said 222 people were killed in road crashes in Oyo state in 2024.

FRSC disclosed this in Ibadan in its end-of-the-year statistics signed by the sector commander, Rosemary Alo.

Ms Alo said the figure indicated a reduction compared to the 270 deaths recorded in 2023.

According to her, the figures emanated from 304 road crashes recorded in 2024 and 495 crashes in 2023, respectively.

The sector commander noted that the statistics indicated that 779 people were injured in crashes in 2024 compared with 1,321 in 2023.

“1,795 people were involved in road crashes in 2024, while 2,935 people got involved in 2023. The number of crashed vehicles reduced to 412 in 2024 from 794 recorded in 2023,” she said.

The sector commander attributed the 2024 road traffic crash data reduction to aggressive stakeholders’ sensitisation programmes and enforcement exercises of the corps in 2024.

Ms Alo added that the corps embarked on inclusive advocacy in 2024, sensitising passengers to always engage their rights to speak out when a driver drives recklessly.

“Initially, the focus has always been on drivers, but now, we are telling passengers to note that more people lose their lives in an accident than the driver.

“So, passengers must not be complacent when the driver fails to obey traffic rules,” she said.

She, however, urged drivers and commuters to always see their safety on the road as a joint responsibility to avoid loss of lives and property.