Mobile telephone and data subscribers in Nigeria will now have to pay more after the government approved a 50-percent increase in tariffs, as the country battles one of its worst cost-of-living crises in decades. Telecommunications companies in the west African country had initially proposed a 100-percent tariff increase in the face of rising operational costs.
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"I have been hearing this rumor that the Obamas are getting a divorce by reputable people. I'm not talking about TMZ. I'm not talking about Perez Hilton... I'm talking about like very serious journalists telling me that they're hearing that the Obama divorce rumors are true," Meghan McCain, writer, commentator, and daughter of later Senator John McCain said.
So far, DOGE has been secretive about its meetings; they conduct their business over Signal, the encrypted messaging app and the physical meetings take place at SpaceX's Washington offices. If Vivek Ramaswamy exits DOGE to contest for the Ohio Governor election in 2026, it will be Elon Musk all alone at DOGE.
Taiwan detected 16 Chinese warships and 34 aircraft near its waters on Thursday, following large-scale Chinese maritime drills. These drills, involving simulated attacks and blockades, are reportedly China's largest in years and come after Taiwan's President's recent US visit. China claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes its international engagement, particularly with the US.
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily lift a freeze on US humanitarian aid, highlighting the financial damage to suppliers and nonprofits. The administration has a five-day deadline to comply, while another ruling maintains a temporary block on the USAID staff cutbacks.
President-elect Trump announced key appointments for his upcoming administration. Aaron Reitz, Senator Ted Cruz's Chief of Staff, is nominated to lead the DOJ's Office of Legal Policy, focusing on Trump's law and order agenda. Chad Mizelle, former DHS General Counsel, is tapped as DOJ chief of staff to restore integrity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden held a crucial discussion about progress in Gaza ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages. Both the outgoing US president and the president-elect are pressuring Israel to strike a deal as Netanyahu faces opposition from within his cabinet and the far-right coalition.
President Donald Trump had a tense 45-minute phone call with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during which he expressed strong intent to purchase Greenland. Denmark officials reportedly described the conversation as firm, with Trump threatening specific measures like tariffs. Greenland's PM Mute Egede stated emphatically that Greenlanders will decide their future, asserting independence from the US and Denmark.
After Donald Trump expressed interest in buying Greenland, a major power outage struck Nuuk, Greenland's capital, affecting homes and critical infrastructure for about 10 hours in -10°C weather. Americans started commenting on the power outage and said Donald Trump would never allow such an event if Greenland was under American control.
Bernie Sanders, a vocal critic of Donald Trump, rallied tens of thousands in Los Angeles, denouncing the influence of billionaires and Trump's policies. Joined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and musicians like Neil Young, Sanders urged resistance against what he sees as a slide towards authoritarianism.
A confrontation occurred outside the department of education as Democrat members of Congress were blocked from entering the office by security. The lawmakers, led by Rep. Mark Takano, sought to meet Secretary Denise Carter to discuss President Trump's anticipated executive order to dismantle the agency. But the security said they needed to have an appointment.