Archive July 29, 2025

Alleged Illegal Mining: EFCC Arrests Four Nigerians, Seven Chinese In Akwa Ibom

Seven Chinese nationals and four Nigerians have been detained by the offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Yugo, Nigeria, for allegedly engaging in illegal mining in Akwa Ibom State.

Dele Oyewale, the head of EFCC’s media and publicity division, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

The suspects were apprehended on July 24, 2025, according to Oyewale, at the Emem-Asuk community in the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, where they were operating two illegal mining operations without the necessary permits.

The Chinese nationals arrested include Yang Chaobao (32), Zhong Dun Yi (33), Cheng Jiang (35), Zhong Dun Long (37), Pan Peiming (33), Lai Yiping (37), and Zhu Lekun (35). David Israel (18), Jonah Bartholomew Jim (24), Samuel Samuel Timothy (20), and Comfort Gabriel Ajaga (23), who also served as a translator, were identified as their Nigerian accomplices.

READ MORE: Dangote Refinery Rejects a $100 billion lawsuit against NNPCL, NMDPRA, and others.

After already having worked at their first location to extract ilmenite, known as “black sand,” they were discovered setting up equipment at a second mining site, according to the statement.

Comfort Gabriel Ajaga, the only woman interrogeeeeeer, claimed that because of her fluency in Mandarin, a widely used Chinese language, she only had to use translation services for translation purposes.

“I’m a student at a learning facility in Anambra State, studying Chinese.” I am the only translator I have ever worked with.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star ‘punched in head’ after ‘homophobic abuse’

Pixie Polite, a member of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, allegedly suffered an assault in a London Tesco store. The drag artist, who goes by Mark Wickens, claimed a man punched them inside the store on Monday night.

Pixie, 32, discussed the situation on Instagram. They claimed that the alleged incident “evolved from general comments and mocking, into verbal homophobic abuse, then into violence.” The drag artist shared that they had visited a hospital and that police are alleged to have been alerted.

Pixie, who finished in the top five spots in RuPaul’s hit series in 2022, reportedly suffered a concussion during the incident. According to doctors, their symptoms “contributed to a general head injury.”

Pixie Polite and Instagram shared the terrifying experience.

The Metropolitan Police are looking into the incident, which is currently being investigated. According to reports, the alleged attack is being treated as a “hate crime.”

Pixie is being supported by police despite the fact that there haven’t been any arrests so far. They claimed to have captured a photo of the alleged assaulter, who was later alleged to have been captured on surveillance.

Pixie has praised the police, saying they have been “surprising great” and that they are “mentally fine” to date.

Officers responded to reports of assault and verbal abuse in a store on High Street Colliers Wood, Merton, at 18:10 hrs on Monday, July 28.

Pixie Polite appeared on season 4 of the show
Pixie Polite made an appearance on WORLD OF WONDER/BBC’s fourth season.

One victim, a 30-year-old woman, was spoken to by police. The incident is being treated as a hate crime, and an investigation has been launched. The investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time.

The victim is receiving officer support, they continued. The LGBTQ+ community will be affected by this, and we are aware of how. Please contact a local police officer if you have any questions.

The public was then asked to call them on 101 with information, using the reference number CAD 5855/28JUL. Call Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers.uk to remain anonymous. org.

Pixie stated in an Instagram update on Tuesday that she was feeling “a little groggy today, have taken the day off, and have taken some time to reflect.”

“Overall, I’m pretty much fine, but I still have the same sense of righteous disgust as when I last felt it.” So while I daydream about justice today, please enjoy this image of me looking like a bad a**.

In the comments section, followers shared support messages quickly. One user wrote, “I’m utterly heartbroken that this happened to you. I’m sending you the best wishes and hugs.

Charlie Craggs, an actress, also wrote, “We all have your back and are prepared to fight.”

Additionally, they took the time to share a message about “Free Palestine” with users, “And while I have all of your attention,” according to the Stories.

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Cat Deeley revealed she didn’t want to renew wedding vows before Patrick Kielty split

Prior to her breakup with Patrick Kielty, she was previously questioned about whether she would renew her wedding vows. She later explained why it was never on her radar.

ITV presenter Cat Deeley had insisted she wouldn’t renew her wedding vows with Patrick Kielty years before their shock split was announced. The TV duo revealed their marriage of 13 years is over in a statement on Tuesday.

Cat had previously stated that she had no desire to wed her Northern Irish husband again despite the surprising news. She instead stated that she “barely did my own wedding” in terms of preparation for her big day.

On September 29, in a private ceremony in Italy, Cat and Patrick tied the knot. From 2001 to 2006, she was married to PR executive Mark Whelan.

READ MORE: Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty were living separate lives before shock split

Patrick and Cat were last seen at a public event in 2023(Image: PA)

And speaking to Closer she revealed her thoughts. She explained how she didn’t have much input into her second big day. Instead, she admitted she left the planning solely in Patrick’s hands. She trusted him so much that she had never even seen her wedding venue, St Isidore’s College in Rome, prior to her wedding ceremony.

She added after being asked about potential renewing of vows: “I don’t care, as long as everybody was there and had a good time – it doesn’t bother me.

Plus, I get to dress up and attend really special events all the time, so it wasn’t the most exciting thing to happen.

In 2002, the couple first met while simultaneously hosting BBC’s Fame Academy. They were both in relationships at the time, though. Before tying the knot a year later, they only made their first public appearance in a couple of years, in 2011, in 2011. They have two children of their own.

Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley
Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley were married for 13 years(Image: PA Archive)

Their joint statement, which announced their split, read, “We have made the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. No other party is involved, at all.

We will continue to be one loving family, and we kindly request that you respect our family’s privacy. There won’t be any more comments.

It’s unclear exactly when the couple split, but they had been spending time apart due to conflicting schedules in Ireland and London. The last time Cat referenced Patrick on her Instagram account came in October 2023 a month after their last public appearance.

This Morning’s Cat Deeley
Why Cat Deeley revealed she wouldn’t renew her vows years before shock Patrick Kielty split(Image: ITV)

They both appeared to be having fun together while they were visiting Saint Tropez last summer. Cat and Cat both stood in the sea during a day trip to the beach in France and soaked up the sun. The Irish comedian wrapped his hands around his wife’s waist as the couple apparently couldn’t keep their hands off each other at the time.

However, in March this year, Cat missed husband Patrick’s mum’s funeral in Northern Ireland. At the time, a spokesperson told the Mirror that Cat had remained at home to care for their young sons Milo and James. They said: “Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.”

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Ivory Coast’s president says will seek fourth term in office

As tensions mount over the inclusion of numerous heavyweight opposition candidates, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has announced he will run for president in a fourth term.

Prior to this, he had not yet indicated whether he would run in the October 25 election. His ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party had already officially nominated him as its candidate.

Ouattara is the clear front-runner in the wake of the country’s most prominent opposition politicians being declared ineligible.

The 83-year-old president, who has been in charge since 2011, announced his strategy on Tuesday via televised announcement.

He claimed that “I have received numerous calls from other people regarding my potential presidential bid for several months.”

He continued, “Women and young people from all regions of Cote d’Ivoire, and countless anonymous voices from our neighbourhoods, towns, and villages have reached out,” while also referring to the country as “by its name.”

I made a statement on June 22 that, in response to those appeals, I would make a decision based solely on the nation’s best interests after careful consideration.

After the constitution was amended to reset the presidential term limit, Ouattara won a third term in 2020. After the death of his hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, he had stated he was not going to run again.

Oppositions campaign

Ouattara’s critics accuse him of tightening his hold on power, and they vehemently oppose his resumption.

The opposition has accused the government of using legal means to harm its opponents, but the government insists that the judiciary is independent.

Prior to the presidential election, the two main opposition parties have launched a joint campaign to demand the reinstatement of their barred leaders.

The Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), the country’s largest opposition force led by former international banker Tidjane Thiam, and the African People’s Party of Ivory Coast (PPA-CI), led by former president Laurent Gbagbo.

Due to criminal convictions, Gbagbo, his former right-hand man Charles Ble Goude, and former prime minister Guillaume Soro have been removed from the electoral register.

Thiam, Ouattara’s most prominent rival, was denied entry to the court on the grounds that he was still a citizen of France when he declared his candidacy, despite having later renounced his country’s citizenship. Dual nationals are prohibited from running for president in Mauritania.

In the Ivory Coast, tension and violence have been a source of tension in some elections. Numerous people were killed in the ensuing violence when Ouattara announced his third-term candidacy. The court’s decision to forbid Thiam from running in the election has caused outrage.

Ouattara is just one of the growing number of West African leaders who have changed the constitutional term cap.

Katy Perry enjoys ‘date’ with Justin Trudeau weeks after split from Orlando Bloom

In a joint statement, Katy Perry confirmed her split from Orlando Bloom earlier this month, and she has since sparked romantic rumors with former politician Justin Trudeau.

Katy Perry is said to been spotted out with Justin Trudeau whilst on tour in Canada this week(Image: Getty Images)

Newly single Katy Perry reportedly enjoyed a “dinner date” with Justin Trudeau whilst on tour in Canada. The singer-songwriter is said to have been spotted at a restaurant with the former Prime Minister of Canada earlier this week.

Speculation of a potential new romance comes after it was announced just weeks ago that Katy, 40, had split up from actor Orlando Bloom, 48. Justin, 53, has gone through a high-profile separation in recent years too, having shared that he had split from his wife Sophie Trudeau, 50, in 2023.

Katy and Justin are said to have spent time together last night amid her latest world tour. The Lifetimes Tour headed to Canada last week and she’s due to perform in Ottawa tonight before taking to the stage in Montreal tomorrow.

Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau, both in black.
Justin Trudeau (left), pictured with Sophie Trudeau (right), whom he separated from in 2023, was reportedly spotted out with Katy Perry this week(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

They were allegedly dining together at Le Violon in Montreal last night, according to TMZ’s video. The pair shared several drinks and shared plates, one of which is said to have featured lobster.

They are said to have been greeted by the chef at one point, before heading into the kitchen to personally thank staff at the restaurant following their meal. According to TMZ, co-executive chef Danny Smiles said there were no public displays of affection and that he didn’t get ‘dating vibes’.

However, additional photos that appear to show Katy and Justin outside in Montreal an hour and a half before the meal have since been made available by TMZ. They were teased by the outlet for walking together through the city and looking like “couples.”

Katy and her former fiancé Orlando announced their separation earlier this month. It came following much speculation about their relationship, including that the couple had been planning “make-or-break talks” amid a “rough patch”.

Just weeks ago though, representatives for Katy and Orlando, who have a daughter together, issued a joint statement to outlets like Page Six. It confirmed that they had separated, with their relationship said to have now shifted to co-parenting together.

Katy Perry, in a silver dress, and Orlando Bloom, in a black suit.
It comes just weeks after it was announced that Katy (left) had split up from Orlando Bloom (right) after speculation about their engagement(Image: Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

Representatives have confirmed that Orlando and Katy have been changing their relationship over the past few months in order to concentrate on coparenting, according to the statement. They will always be viewed as a family because their shared goal is and always will be to raise their daughter in love, stability, and mutual respect.

In August 2023, Justin announced that he had split from his wife Sophie, who he shares three children with. Following their split, he said in a statement that they would continue to be a “close family.”

Continue reading the article.

After many meaningful and challenging conversations, Sophie and I decided to break up, he said. They would continue to have “deep love and respect,” according to Justin.

We are still a close family, with deep love and respect for one another and for everything we have built and will continue to build, according to Justin. We ask that you respect our and their privacy in order for our children’s sake.

Pogacar to skip Vuelta to focus on Worlds defence

Images courtesy of Getty

Tadej Pogacar, the reigning Tour de France champion, will miss the Vuelta a Espana race in February while he rests before focusing on the World Championships.

Last week, Pogacar won his fourth Tour de France, cementing his position as the sport’s dominant force.

The 26-year-old won road race gold last year at the World Championships with a spectacular 100-kilometer attack, and he wants to defend his title in Rwanda in late September.

Midway through September, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider will return to racing in Quebec and Montreal.

The races are challenging but beautiful, and they complement my style, said Pogacar, “I’m excited to go back to Canada.”

“I’ll be hoping to be back racing well again in the summer and especially for the World Championships.”

Pogacar’s only other three Grand Tours, finishing third in his first appearance in 2019, makes The Vuelta, the only one that he hasn’t won.

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