Author: News Room
Ongoing sanctions against nation-states last year pushed the total value of crypto received by illicit addresses to its highest in history, as blacklisted entities sought to evade sanctions at scale.Throughout 2025, there were “unprecedented volumes associated with nation-states’ on-chain behavior,” blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said in their 2026 crypto crime report on Thursday.Illicit cryptocurrency addresses received at least $154 billion in 2025, a 162% increase year-over-year from 2024’s $59 billion, primarily driven by the value received by sanctioned entities. At the same time, Russia, which is facing sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine, launched its ruble-backed A7A5 token in February…
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A meeting between the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and striking judiciary workers has ended in a deadlock. DAILY POST reports that the workers, who embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday over poor welfare and the government’s failure to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, met with the governor on Thursday. However, after the meeting, the striking workers vowed to continue the indefinite strike until all their demands are met. Governor Aiyedatiwa, described by aggrieved judicial officers as an “ungrateful beneficiary of the judiciary,” had earlier held talks with leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and…
Prominent politicians in Delta State have defected from the Labour Party, LP, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a move aimed at challenging the entrenched ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and reshaping the political narrative in the state. Among the defectors were the LP’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Deacon Kawhariebie Ken Pela, as well as National Assembly, State House of Assembly, and local government candidates. The defection ceremony, held in Asaba, attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd from across the state. The move followed a similar development at the national level, with the LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi,…
Ademola Lookman says the entire Super Eagles squad are looking forward to the quarter-final encounter against the Desert Foxes of Algeria. Eric Chelle’s side will line up against the two-time champions in Marrakech on Saturday. It will be a repeat of the AFCON 2019 semi-final tie which Algeria won 2-1 courtesy of Riyad Mahrez’s late goal. The encounter against the North Africans will be the Super Eagles biggest test yet in Morocco having scale through the group stage with a hundred percent record. Like Eric Chelle’s men, Algeria too are unbeaten in the competition. They are also yet to concede…
No fewer than eight people have been confirmed killed as rival cult clashes spread across Benue State. The spokesperson for the state police command, Udeme Edet, earlier on Thursday, disclosed that two people were killed in a rival cult clash in Jato Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of the state. Our correspondent reliably learnt on Thursday that the death toll has risen to eight as the clashes spread to the Otukpo, Makurdi and Gboko Local Government Areas of the state in the last few days. Findings by PUNCH Metro revealed that the rival gang fights, which earlier in the week…
A 46-year-old Nigerian man, Osemwengie Irorere, has been shot and killed inside a bus at the Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal, located on the Yorkdale Road and Allen Road area of Toronto, Canada. PUNCH Metro learnt on Thursday that the incident occurred last Sunday at about 7 p.m. Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Toronto Police Service said a 40-year-old suspect, identified as Tyrel Gibson, has been charged with first-degree murder. In a statement, the police said, “On Sunday, January 4, 2026, at approximately 7 p.m., police responded to a report of a shooting at the Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal in…
Before the raving hawk disappeared into the sunny afternoon sky, the mother hen caught a glimpse of it just in time. Squawking and clucking, the brown mother hen sounded a throaty alarm, frantically calling on her 11 chicks, who sprinted into the sanctuary of her warm wings, where they brooded, peeping through the safety of feathers. Like witches, hawks on predatory flights don’t make a noise. The screaming and scampering of mother hen after an attack is the first telltale of tragedy. The second telltale is the sight of a dangling chick in clutchy claws, rising helplessly skywards. On that…
The credit rating company, Agusto & Co., has assigned a Long-Term Rating of ‘A’ and a Short-Term Rating of ‘A1’, both with a stable outlook, to Stanbic IBTC Insurance, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings. This new rating was announced in the credit ratings for the 2025–2026 financial year. The credit rating upgrade reflected stronger confidence in Stanbic IBTC Insurance’s financial resilience, governance standards, and long-term sustainability. Commenting on the rating upgrade, the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Insurance, Akinjide Orimolade, said, “We are delighted with this upgrade as a reflection of our progress and the trust we’ve earned from…
The Nigeria Women’s Football League has fined Ibom Angels N2.5m and ordered the club to play three home matches behind closed doors following crowd violence and the assault on Bayelsa Queens players and officials after their premiership fixture in Uyo on Wednesday, The PUNCH reports. The sanctions were announced on Thursday, after the league reviewed match officials’ reports and video evidence from the matchday five encounter. Supporters of Ibom Angels were found to have encroached onto the pitch and attacked members of the visiting team, an incident the league said breached its regulations and the principles of fair play. Under…
