TheNewsGuru

Tag: United Kingdom

  • UK to apply immigration clampdown on Nigerian students, others

    UK to apply immigration clampdown on Nigerian students, others

    Nigerians and other nationals studying in the United Kingdom will no longer be permitted to bring their family members to the country.

    UK will anytime from now announce restrictions that will most likely stop Nigerian students, other nationalities studying in the UK from bringing their families over.

    Reports from a reliable source, The Sun UK says the restrictions would be announced this week.

    The crackdown will see all masters students and many other post grads banned from bringing family over.

    However, the ban will not apply to PHD students, whose courses usually last between 3 and 5 years and are very highly skilled, the UK media House reported.

    This follows the reports that net migration into the UK has skyrocketed to 1 million with Tory MPs asking the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, “to get a  grip on the rocketing numbers.”

    To get a hold of the climbing numbers, UK ministers are said to be expected to announce the immigration clampdown on Tuesday or Wednesday.

    The Sun reports that “Rishi Sunak is expected to come out fighting on immigration – pointing out they are figures he inherited as they date back to the year ending December 2022 – two months after he became PM.

    “There has been an explosion in the number of people coming to Britain piggybacking on their relative’s student visa.

    “Students brought 135,788 family members to Britain last year – nine times more than in 2019.

    “Last year, 59,053 Nigerian students brought over 60,923 relatives.”

    “We have got to get a grip,” a Tory MP told The Sun on Sunday.

  • FG knocks UK, US over panicky travel advisories on Abuja

    FG knocks UK, US over panicky travel advisories on Abuja

    The Federal Government of Nigeria berated the United Kingdom and United States of America over their travel advisories in October 2022.

    The government said more than three months after their embassies warned nationals against movement/presence in Abuja, their city remained safe.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this statement in Abuja at the 25th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s (PMB) Scorecard Series.

    The Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd.) presented the scorecard of his ministry in the last seven years.

    Mohammed recalled how the advisories created panic and tension in the country, causing some foreigners to leave the nation’s capital.

    The minister said residents of Abuja had been going about their activities, commending security agencies for their efforts.

    Mohammed hailed the military, the police, the intelligence agencies and others for their commitment and sacrifice.

    “We also call on Nigerians to continue to support the security agencies as they carry out their onerous task,” he said, warning Western countries to stop frivolous advisories.

  • DJ Cuppy reveals location, date of where she met her fiancé

    DJ Cuppy reveals location, date of where she met her fiancé

    Popular Nigerian  Millionaire disk jockey, Florence Otedola, professionally known as DJ Cuppy has revealed how and when he met her lover, Ryan Taylor.

    Recall that her engagement picture went viral few days ago with the British Boxer in United Kingdom.

    However, Cuppy has now revealed how they met 25 days ago in the United Kingdom.

    DJ Cuppy herself however took to Twitter on Monday to officially confirm the relationship.

    According to her, love is a beautiful thing that defies the concept of time and reason, adding that it could be found when you least expected it.

    Continuing, Cuppy wrote, he is the love of my life.

    She wrote, “I can officially announce that I’m engaged! Only 25 days ago during @Gumball3000 driving rally, I met the love of my life.

    “Sometimes you fall for the MOST unexpected person at the MOST unexpected time and for the MOST unexpected reason. I love you deep @RyanTaylor ”

    Dj Cuppy has been seen in the company of the British boxer most times in the public.

    According to her, further information about their engagement and wedding will be revealed in due course.

     

     

  • Nurses in United Kingdom to embark on first strike in history

    Nurses in United Kingdom to embark on first strike in history

    As the cost of living continues to soar high in European countries, nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) will be embarking on strike for the first time in history.

    According to the Uk trade union, they stated on Wednesday, November 9, that majority of state-run National Health Service (NHS) employers across Britain have voted to strike. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) noted the strike would be a major disruption to an already strained health system.

    The RCN which has more than 300,000 members, said industrial action would begin before the end of the year following the first ever strike vote in its 106-year-old history.

    RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said in a statement;

    “Anger has become action, our members are saying enough is enough.

    “This action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses. Standards are falling too low.”

    Many of the biggest hospitals in England will see strike action by RCN members but others narrowly missed the legal turnout thresholds to qualify for action. All NHS employers in Northern Ireland and Scotland will be included and all bar one in Wales met the relevant legal thresholds.

    Steve Barclay, the health secretary, said the news was “disappointing”. He said more than one million NHS workers have received a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year on top of a 3 per cent rise last year, and 30,000 out of the 50,000 more nurses promised by 2024 had been recruited.

    Barclay said;

    “But union demands for a 17.6 per cent pay settlement are around three times what millions of people outside the public sector will typically receive and simply aren’t reasonable or affordable. Labour have also refused to back this.

    “Regrettably, this action will mean some patients will have their treatment delayed. My priority is to keep patients safe during any strikes, minimise disruption and ensure emergency services continue to operate.”

    NHS trusts are likely to cancel planned surgeries but maintain emergency care during strikes. Health leaders have said they are planning for “bank holiday” style staffing levels.

    The UK has seen a wave of industrial unrest this year across industries from railways to the law as pay fails to keep up with inflation, running at 10 percent, and surging energy costs.

    The strike action threatens significant disruption to health system already strained by persistent government underinvestment, the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe shortage of staff.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson told reporters earlier on Wednesday the government wanted to strike a balance between the “crucial role” played by nurses and the fiscal challenges facing the country.

    The NHS has provided free healthcare at the point of use since 1948 but is now dealing with a record seven million patients on waiting lists for hospital treatment. Accident and emergency departments are also under strain.

  • Terror Alert: UK warns citizens against travelling to 22 Nigerian states

    Terror Alert: UK warns citizens against travelling to 22 Nigerian states

    The United Kingdom has issued a warning to its citizens  to avoid traveling to 22 states in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the European country cleared Abuja from the list but still asked its citizens to apply caution as this may still be connected to the country’s security situation.

    This was contained in a press release by the British High Commission, Abuja, on Monday titled, “Updated Foreign Commonwealth Development Office Travel Advice to British Nationals Traveling to the FCT.”

    The British High commission noted that the travel advisory is to help its nationals to make better-informed decisions about international and business travel plan without any danger.

    According to the statement many of the states are in the northern parts, while some are in the South.

    The statement read, “FCDO travel advice exists to inform British nationals so they can make decisions about travelling abroad. There continues to be a number of states in Nigeria where we advise British Nationals against all but essential travel.  These include: Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi, Abia, Plateau, Taraba, within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State and non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.

    “We also advise against all travel to: Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, Zamfara state, and the riverine areas of Delta State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.

    “The UK keeps its travel advice under regular review and in making these assessments, and uses information from a wide range of sources.  The travel advice is constantly reviewed to make sure it reflects the current situation in Abuja and Nigeria.  Although, the FCDO Travel Advice no longer advises against all but essential travel to the Federal Capital Territory, including the city of Abuja, it makes clear that some risks remain.”

  • Medical Check-up: President Buhari departs for London

    Medical Check-up: President Buhari departs for London

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday depart for London, United Kingdom, for a routine medical check-up.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, confirmed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    The presidential aide revealed that the president would return to the country in the second week of Nov. 2022.

    Newsmen reports that the Nigerian leader, who departed Abuja for Owerri, Imo, after presiding over meeting of the National Security Council in the State House, Abuja, would proceed to London after his official engagement in Owerri.

  • UK threatens to tighten study visa restrictions on Nigerians

    UK threatens to tighten study visa restrictions on Nigerians

    The British Government has threatened to tighten student and work visas for Nigerians for what it perceived as abuse of the policy by Nigerians already living in the country.

    The British government is worried about the number of relatives Nigerians with student visas are bringing in to it country.

    The UK Home Office data, revealed that the number of relatives brought in by Nigerians is almost at par with the percentage of student and work visas issued to the African country.

    According to research carried out it was discovered that citizens of other countries like, China, India, Pakistan and United States, invited fewer relatives in comparison to Nigerian citizens.

    India is the only country that is close to Nigeria, the UK Home Office research showed. Nigerians secured about 34,000 study visas to the UK and they eventually brought 31,898 dependents.

    This high number doesn’t sit well with the UK government, considering 114,837 Chinese immigrants granted UK student visas in 2021 brought in only 401 relatives.

    For the Indian immigrants, about 24,916 dependents went to the UK to join around 93,049 Indian students that secured student visas.

    It was gathered that 40 per cent of relatives that accompanied foreign students between June last year and June 2022 were Nigerians.

    This is despite seven per cent of all foreign students during the period in review being Nigerians.

    As a result, the UK government is considering tightening visa rules, according to UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

    According to the Prime Business Africa report, countries like Bangladesh, Ghana and Algeria, amongst others, faced visa rejections up to 40 per cent.

     

  • Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic denies giving birth to twins

    Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic denies giving birth to twins

    Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic who recently tied the knot with her lover of many years Fidelis Anosike has denied reports she gave birth to twins.

    News had gone viral on the internet that the beautiful actress has welcomed a set of Twins in the United Kingdom.

    Some persons have started to congratulate her on Social media and through phone calls.

    In her reaction to the rumour, Dominic denied the speculation adding that it’s a fake news.

    She posted a picture with the caption “Fake news” on her Twitter page.

    Recall that Rita Domnic tied the knot traditionally with her husband in April 2022.

    The star-studded ceremony had the likes of Chidi Mokeme, Kate Henshaw, Joke Silva, Ini Edo and many others.

  • UK police set to investigate Mo Farah’s child trafficking revelations

    UK police set to investigate Mo Farah’s child trafficking revelations

    The London Metropolitan Police Service has opened an investigation into four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah’s revelation that he was trafficked to the U.K. as a child.

    Recall that Farah revealed in a documentary that a woman he didn’t know brought him to the United Kingdom when he was about age 8 and forced him to take care of her children. He further revealed that he wasn’t allowed to go to school until he clocked 12 years.

    In the documentary, produced by the BBC and Red Bull Studios, Farah said his real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin.

    “We are aware of reports in the media concerning Sir Mo Farah. No reports have been made to the MPS at this time,” the police department said in a statement. “Specialist officers have opened an investigation and are currently assessing the available information.”

    In an initial interview granted by Mo Farah years back, he said he came to the UK with his parent as a refugee from the East African country of Somalia, but in the BBC documentary, he said his parent never came to the UK.

    His father was killed by gunfire during unrest in Somalia when Farah was 4, according to the film. His mother and two brothers live on the family farm in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia that is not internationally recognized.

    He further revealed that a Physical Education tutor Alan Watkinson helped him secure UK citizenship under the name Mohamed Farah.

    The British government has said it won’t take action against Farah for any potential violation of immigration laws.

    Farah said he was proud to have represented Britain as an athlete but that his “proudest achievement will always be being a husband and father to my amazing family.”

    “I did this documentary for them, so they could understand more about the experiences that led us to become the family we are today,” he said in a social media post. “Not every child will have the easiest start in life, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go on to achieve their dreams.”

  • UK’s former finance minister, Rishi Sunak eyes Boris Johnson’s job

    UK’s former finance minister, Rishi Sunak eyes Boris Johnson’s job

     UK’s former -finance minister Rishi Sunak, has announced his bid to succeed Boris Johnson who resigned as  Prime Minister on Thursday.

    On Friday, British Conservative Rishi Sunak, whose resignation from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet helped spark an exodus of other ministers, declared his candidacy to become the party’s next leader.

    “Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country,” the former finance minister said, presenting a slick video about his life story to launch the campaign on social media.

    “Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions,” Sunak said in his campaign video, which he released online. The 42-year-old MP has been seen as the heir apparent of Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street and it is believed that he also supports a sizeable number of members of the Conservative Party to launch his candidacy.
    “We need to make sure that’s not the end of the British Indian story. There is lots more we can achieve. There is lots more we can do. And I’m really excited about the future,” Sunak had said last week in response to a question on whether he would go on to become the first Indian-origin prime minister of the UK.
    Rishi Sunak is a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022, having previously served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2019 to 2020. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been Member of Parliament for Richmond since 2015