A 33-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man in his 30s was found dead in a home in Norton Canes, Staffordshire, early on Christmas Day.
Staffordshire Police responded to an emergency call at approximately 3:25 AM on Elm Road, reporting a man in cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of emergency services, the man was pronounced dead shortly after.
The victim’s next of kin has been notified and is receiving support from specially trained officers.
The arrested woman, from Cannock, remains in police custody. Authorities have confirmed that the investigation will continue over the coming days, with a post-mortem examination scheduled for Boxing Day morning.
Residents in the area are likely to notice an increased police presence as neighborhood officers provide reassurance and gather evidence.
Staffordshire Police is urging anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or has information related to the incident to come forward.
The tragic event has left the local community in shock as they process the unfolding investigation.
The English Premier League (EPL) festive fixtures are upon us, with Boxing Day promising thrilling clashes as teams gear up for Match Day 18. No games are scheduled for Christmas Day (December 25), but the action resumes on December 26 and 27. Here’s a look at the key matches and talking points for the week ahead.
Liverpool on Top, Ready for Leicester
Christmas league leaders Liverpool are overwhelming favorites against struggling Leicester City.
This marks the first time since the 2020/21 season that Liverpool has topped the table on Christmas Day. Historically, they’ve won the title in only one of the past seven campaigns where they were in this position.
With Mohamed Salah in exceptional form—15 goals and 11 assists before Christmas—the odds are in Liverpool’s favor. Meanwhile, Leicester, managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, has conceded nine goals in their last three matches and remains just two points above the relegation zone.
Arsenal’s New Challenge Without Bukayo Saka
Arsenal, currently third in the table, face Ipswich Town on Friday. However, they’ll do so without Bukayo Saka, who suffered a hamstring injury during their 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Saka, with nine goals and 13 assists this season, has been a key player for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arteta expressed optimism, saying, “It’s a chance to find new solutions to challenges we’ve faced this season.” Options like Gabriel Martinelli may step in to fill the void, but Saka’s absence will be felt.
Nottingham Forest Eyes European Glory
High-flying Nottingham Forest host Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday as they chase an unlikely spot in the Champions League. Forest, now fourth in the table, have been solid defensively, conceding fewer goals than any team except Liverpool and Arsenal.
Under Nuno Espírito Santo, the team has become a force to reckon with. Spurs, still reeling from a 6-3 loss to Liverpool, will look to bounce back against their former manager.
Manchester Clubs Seek Redemption
Both Manchester clubs are eyeing festive recoveries:
– Manchester City hosts Everton, aiming to close the gap on the leaders.
– Manchester United, enduring a turbulent season, faces Wolves in an away fixture.
Full Boxing Day Fixtures (Match Day 18)
Thursday, December 26 (GMT times):
– Manchester City vs. Everton (12:30)
– Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace
– Chelsea vs. Fulham
– Newcastle vs. Aston Villa
– Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham
– Southampton vs. West Ham
– Wolves vs. Manchester United (17:30)
– Liverpool vs. Leicester (20:00)
Friday, December 27:
– Brighton vs. Brentford (19:30)
– Arsenal vs. Ipswich (20:15)
Looking Ahead: More Premier League Action
Match Day 19 resumes on December 29 and continues into the New Year, while Match Day 20 kicks off from January 4-6. Expect exciting clashes as the season heats up during this festive period.
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has declared 14 Nigerians wanted for alleged involvement in crimes including human trafficking, drug trafficking, robbery, cheating, and forgery.
The Red Notices, published on INTERPOL’s website, detail charges against individuals sought by different countries where the alleged offences occurred.
List of Wanted Nigerians and Allegations
Among those listed are:
Felix Omoregie (Wanted by Belgium): Alleged leader of a criminal organization exploiting minors for prostitution.
Jessica Edosomwan (Wanted by France): Accused of human trafficking involving multiple victims and organized gang activities.
Uche Egbue (Wanted by Argentina), Jude Uzoma (Wanted by Brazil), and Chinedu Ezeunara (Wanted by Uruguay): All face allegations of drug trafficking.
Benedict Okoro (Wanted by Nicaragua): Allegedly involved in organized crime.
Ikechukwu Obidiozor, Alachi Stanley, and Akachi Vitus (Wanted by Angola): Charged with kidnapping, robbery, and illegal possession of firearms.
Mary Eze (Wanted by Denmark): Accused of human trafficking.
Bouhari Salif (Wanted by China): Allegedly involved in drug smuggling.
Timloh Nkem (Wanted by Canada): Charged with sexual assault and failure to comply with legal conditions.
Austine Costa and Okromi Festus (Wanted by India): Both face charges related to criminal conspiracy, forgery, and cheating.
Details from INTERPOL Notices
The notices specify the charges for each individual, with descriptions provided by the requesting entities. For instance, Felix Omoregie is accused of leading a criminal organization engaged in the sexual exploitation of minors. Similarly, Jessica Edosomwan is wanted for organized trafficking of human beings and concealing proceeds of crime.
INTERPOL’s Red Notices
According to INTERPOL, Red Notices serve as international alerts requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition or legal action.
The organization clarified that a Red Notice is not equivalent to an international arrest warrant. Member countries retain the authority to decide whether to act on the notice based on their own laws.
Public Call for Assistance
INTERPOL has urged members of the public to report any information regarding the wanted individuals to local police authorities.
Global Reach of Alleged Crimes
The diversity of locations-from Belgium and France to Angola, India, and China-highlights the international scope of the alleged crimes committed by the 14 Nigerians.
This development underscores the ongoing challenges of transnational crime and the efforts of international organizations like INTERPOL to coordinate global law enforcement responses.
Venâncio Mondlane, Mozambique’s main opposition leader, has declared his intention to install himself as president on January 15, following his rejection of the October presidential election results. This announcement comes amid escalating violence across the country, as his supporters demand an end to the nearly five-decade rule of the Frelimo party.
Since Monday, Mozambique has experienced widespread unrest following the constitutional court’s decision to uphold Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo’s election victory. The protests, which have left at least 21 people dead, have seen Frelimo offices, police stations, banks, and factories vandalized, looted, and set on fire.
The capital, Maputo, has become a near-ghost town, with businesses shuttered and residents staying indoors to avoid the chaos, marking the city’s most severe unrest since Frelimo came to power in 1975.
Mondlane, who has alleged election rigging, announced his rejection of the court’s ruling in a Facebook Live broadcast on Tuesday, vowing to assume the presidency on the same day Chapo is scheduled to be sworn in. However, it remains unclear how Mondlane intends to proceed, as he is currently in self-imposed exile in an undisclosed location.
“We are with the people. We do not advocate any form of violence,” Mondlane said during his address, urging his supporters to remain peaceful despite the ongoing turmoil.
October’s election was Mondlane’s first presidential bid, in which the electoral commission initially declared Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote to Mondlane’s 20%. The constitutional court later revised these figures to 65% for Chapo and 24% for Mondlane.
Mondlane, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor who ran as an independent after breaking away from the Renamo party, enjoys strong support among Mozambique’s youth, many of whom are unemployed and demanding change.
Chapo, Frelimo’s youngest-ever presidential candidate at 47, has denied allegations of electoral fraud, stating, “We are an organized party that prepares its victories.”
Rights groups estimate that over 100 people have been killed in post-election violence, with many attributing the deaths to security forces. However, police commander Bernardino Rafael has defended his officers, stating they acted in self-defense when attacked.
Mondlane fled Mozambique in October, citing police threats and the killing of two of his aides.
As Mozambique grapples with increasing unrest, the January 15 deadline looms with uncertainty. Mondlane’s bold declaration and the unresolved grievances of his supporters set the stage for potential further conflict, even as the nation remains divided over its political future.
At least three people, including two journalists and a police officer, were killed on Tuesday when armed men attacked Haiti’s largest public hospital during a media briefing to announce its reopening.
The general hospital in Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, had been recaptured by government forces in July after being occupied and destroyed by gangs earlier this year.
The Viv Ansanm gang alliance, which controls large portions of the city, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they had not authorized the reopening of the facility.
The victims included journalists Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean, according to Robest Dimanche, spokesperson for the Online Media Collective. Several other journalists were injured in the attack.
A police officer was also killed, police spokesperson Lionel Lazarre confirmed to AFP.
“It felt like a terrible movie,” said Dieugo André, a photojournalist who witnessed the violence. “I have the blood of several injured journalists on my clothes.”
Photographs and videos shared online show several people injured or killed inside the hospital building.
Journalists had gathered to await the arrival of Health Minister Lorthe Blema when the shooting began. The attackers targeted police, journalists, and hospital staff indiscriminately.
In a video released online, the Viv Ansanm gang alliance said the reopening of the hospital was unauthorized, a claim tied to their ongoing control over much of Port-au-Prince.
Leslie Voltaire, head of Haiti’s presidential transitional council, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and vowed consequences for those responsible.
“We guarantee them that this act will not remain without consequences,” Voltaire said, addressing the families of the victims, the Haiti National Police, and journalist associations.
Despite the establishment of a transitional government in April and the deployment of an international force led by Kenyan police six months ago, gang violence continues to devastate Haiti.
Approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince remains under gang control, with widespread violence leaving the country on the brink of collapse.
The United Nations estimates that as many as 5,000 people have been killed in gang-related violence in Haiti this year alone, underscoring the deepening crisis since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has issued its first official statement regarding the massive Christmas Day attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The ministry announced that its forces carried out “a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones on critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex.”
“The strike’s goal was achieved. All facilities were hit,” the statement added.
Kharkiv Faces Continuous Assaults
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, remains under heavy attack. While most of Ukraine experienced a lull in air raid warnings by midday, Kharkiv continues to face threats from enemy drones.
At 13:06 local time, Ukraine’s air force reported the presence of drones near the city and urged residents to stay in shelters. By 13:48, Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, confirmed damage to 74 buildings, including critical energy infrastructure.
Terekhov reported ongoing repairs, stating that 35% of damaged circuits have already been restored.
Zelensky Condemns the Strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks “inhumane,” accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of deliberately targeting civilians during the Christmas holiday.
“Denying people light, heat, and safety during a season of peace and goodwill is a clear demonstration of their inhumanity,” Zelensky said in a statement.
Ukraine’s Air Force Details Attack Scope
Ukraine’s air force revealed further details of the assault, describing it as a coordinated attack using “air, ground, and sea-based missiles” alongside drones.
A total of 184 enemy targets were detected, including missiles and drones. By midday, Ukraine claimed to have intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones, while another 52 drones failed to reach their targets.
Regions affected by the strikes include Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zaporizhia. The air force confirmed casualties but did not provide specific numbers.
Kharkiv Mayor Provides Updates
In an earlier statement, Kharkiv’s mayor reported a “massive missile attack on energy facilities” in the city.
Twelve missiles targeted key energy infrastructure, such as boiler houses and power plants, leaving a large portion of the city without heating.
The mayor confirmed that at least four people were injured and assured residents that municipal services were working around the clock to restore heating and normalcy.
Caption here (Vimbai Beritah Chinembiri, GPJ Zimbabwe)
The Democratic Republic of Congo has released 14 of the 17 Chinese nationals detained on suspicion of operating an illegal gold mine, authorities said late Tuesday.
The arrests, part of a crackdown on unlicensed mineral extraction, occurred last week in South Kivu province. Those released are now traveling back to China. The detainees were taken into custody alongside Congolese and Burundian nationals after failing to present proper documentation.
Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, the governor of South Kivu, expressed shock at the news of the release, noting that the miners owed the government $10 million in unpaid taxes and fines.
According to officials, approximately 60 Chinese nationals were present at the mining site, and 17 were initially detained as they appeared to be in charge of operations.
Men work in a gold mine on February 23, 2009 in Chudja, near Bunia, north eastern Congo. The conflict in Congo has often been linked to a struggle for control over its resources. Congo is rich in mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, tin, and cobalt. The Democratic Republic of Congo government and the main former rebel group reached preliminary agreement on a wider peace deal for the east of the country on February 22, sources on both sides said. AFP PHOTO / LIONEL HEALING
The Chinese embassy in Kinshasa has not commented on the developments, while Burundi’s embassy stated it was awaiting updates from its representative in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
South Kivu’s finance minister and acting mines minister, Bernard Muhindo, emphasized that the crackdown was part of broader efforts to reform the mining sector.
“The goal is not to conduct a manhunt but to clean up the mining industry so reliable partners can operate legally,” Muhindo said.
Congo, rich in minerals like cobalt, copper, and gold, has long struggled to curb unlicensed mining activities. These operations are often linked to armed groups and exacerbate regional conflicts, particularly in areas bordering Rwanda.
Hamas announced Wednesday that new Israeli conditions regarding withdrawal, ceasefire terms, prisoner exchanges, and displaced persons’ return have delayed reaching an agreement, despite ongoing Qatar and Egypt-mediated negotiations.
The Palestinian militant group maintained it is showing flexibility in the talks, which they characterize as proceeding in a “serious direction.” The statement comes as Israeli negotiators returned home Tuesday evening for “internal consultations” following significant discussions in Qatar.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the negotiation team’s return for consultations regarding a potential hostage deal.
King Charles III will deliver his Christmas Day message this year from a former hospital chapel, Buckingham Palace announced Monday, marking a departure from tradition as the British monarch continues treatment for cancer.
The 76-year-old king, who ascended to the throne in 2022, was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer earlier this year, following a procedure for an enlarged prostate. According to palace sources, his treatment is progressing positively and will continue into 2024.
A Historic and Symbolic Setting
This year’s pre-recorded Christmas Day broadcast will take place at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London, an ornate former church located on the site of a former hospital.
“The Fitzrovia Chapel is now a space for quiet reflection, discovery, and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement on X, noting that King Charles’s grandfather, George VI, laid the chapel’s foundation stone in 1928.
The palace has not revealed the content of the king’s message, which will be aired on Wednesday, but a royal source indicated it would address international, national, and personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of communities supporting one another.
The annual Christmas Day messages date back to a radio broadcast by King George V in 1932. Traditionally filmed in one of the monarch’s residences, this year’s location signifies a shift in approach.
King Charles delivered his first Christmas message as monarch last year from Buckingham Palace. The last time the broadcast was filmed outside a royal residence was in 2006 by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
According to *The Daily Telegraph*, the decision to use Fitzrovia Chapel reflects Charles’s intention to make the message feel “fresher and more modern,” particularly as he navigates his own health challenges.
The chapel’s history and its connection to healthcare are seen as deeply symbolic. As the king continues his treatment, the choice of location may underscore themes of resilience and community support that are expected to feature in his address.
Stephen Cottrell, the Church of England’s second most senior cleric, will call for repentance and institutional change in a Christmas sermon on Wednesday, as the church grapples with scandals over child abuse cover-ups.
Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, is expected to address the congregation at York Minster, urging the church to acknowledge its failings. Excerpts of his sermon shared by his office reveal a stark message: “Right now, this Christmas, God’s Church itself needs to come to the manger, strip off her finery, kneel in penitence and adoration, and be changed.”
Church Leadership Under Fire
The sermon comes amid ongoing controversy following the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in November. Welby stepped down after a report found he failed to act decisively to prevent abuses by John Smyth, a prolific sex offender.
Cottrell, who will lead the church until Welby’s successor is named, has faced his own criticism. A BBC investigation revealed that while serving as Bishop of Chelmsford, Cottrell allowed priest David Tudor to continue in his role despite restrictions barring Tudor from being alone with children. Tudor had also paid compensation to a sexual abuse victim.
Cottrell has apologized, describing the situation he inherited as “horrible and intolerable” and stating that he suspended Tudor at the first opportunity.
A Call for Renewal
In his Christmas message, Cottrell draws parallels between the vulnerability of the Christ child and the church’s current challenges. “At the center of the Christmas story is a vulnerable child… The Church of England – the Church of England I love and serve – needs to look at this vulnerable child, at this emptying out of power to demonstrate the power of love, for in this vulnerable child we see God,” he will say.
Welby, who will complete his official duties by January 6, will not deliver the main Christmas sermon at Canterbury Cathedral. The selection process for his successor is expected to take up to six months.
Public Trust Erodes
The scandals have deepened public skepticism toward the Church of England, which oversees 16,000 parishes in England and serves as the mother church for 85 million Anglicans worldwide.
David Greenwood, a lawyer specializing in abuse claims, criticized the institution’s handling of such cases. “These revelations have shaken trust in the Church’s ability to protect its congregants and uphold its duty of care,” Greenwood said in a statement.
As the British public grows increasingly secular, the Church faces mounting pressure to address past failures and rebuild trust within its congregations.
