Author: Fatimah Idera

Keir Starmer has indicated he is open to an Australian-style ban on social media for young people, telling Labour MPs he is increasingly worried about the amount of time children spend on their phones and the harm caused by online platforms. Speaking at a parliamentary Labour party meeting on Monday evening, the prime minister said reports of five-year-olds spending hours on screens had alarmed him. He also voiced growing concern about the impact of social media on under-16s. Starmer has previously resisted the idea of a ban, arguing it would be hard to enforce and might push teenagers towards the…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerian parents and caregivers that all Nestlé infant formula products approved for sale in the country are safe for babies. The reassurance followed concerns circulating online after Nestlé UK announced a voluntary precautionary recall of specific batches of SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula in over 50 countries. The recall was linked to the possible presence of cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus, which can cause nausea and vomiting. NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, clarified that the recalled products were not manufactured…

A nationwide crackdown on illegal working has led to a sharp rise in immigration arrests across the UK, according to new figures from the Home Office. The government said enforcement activity against businesses employing migrants illegally has intensified, with raids increasing by 77% since Labour took office. Arrests linked to these operations have also surged by 83%. Targeted sectors include nail bars, car washes, barbershops, takeaways, construction sites and warehouses. The renewed focus comes amid growing concern that illegal employment opportunities act as a pull factor for migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. More than 41,000 people made…

Teaching unions in Northern Ireland have agreed to a 4% pay rise for the 2025–26 financial year, bringing an end to negotiations over teachers’ salaries. The increase will be backdated to 1 September 2025 and will see most teachers earn between £1,000 and £2,000 more a year before tax. The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC), which represents the five main teaching unions, described the agreement as “the best achievable outcome on pay for this year” given the current financial pressures facing the education system. The 4% award matches the increase given to teachers in England. However, it is expected to…

The ongoing rift involving former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, his successor Siminalayi Fubara, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to generate strong reactions, especially after comments by the party’s national secretary, Ajibola Basiru. Basiru had insisted that Wike, an appointee who is not formally a member of the APC, should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of both Rivers State and a party he does not belong to. Speaking with New Daily Prime, Abdulateef Ahmed, a dgital news editor and research, described Basiru’s position as a necessary assertion of institutional boundaries. He noted that Wike’s sustained…

UK tax authorities accepted a tolerable risk of harm when they stopped child benefit payments without warning during an anti-fraud crackdown, internal documents have revealed. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) suspended nearly 24,000 child benefit claims between July and October after using Home Office travel data to identify parents it believed had left the UK. However, later checks showed that at least 63% of those affected were still living in the country and entitled to the payments. By the end of November, almost 15,000 families had been confirmed as legitimate claimants, while just over 1,000 cases involved incorrect claims. Thousands…

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill has called on ministers to work together to agree a multi-year budget for Stormont departments, saying the executive has a responsibility to find a way forward. Speaking as assembly members returned from the Christmas break, O’Neill acknowledged that talks could end in disagreement but stressed that her focus was on cooperation, not stalemate. She said a long-term budget would help departments plan better and deliver services more effectively, noting that Northern Ireland has not had such a budget in over 10 years. Last week, Finance Minister John O’Dowd published draft budget proposals, which were…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she would ban children under 16 from using social media if her party returned to government, arguing current laws do not go far enough to protect young people online. Badenoch said platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat should be legally required to carry out robust age checks to prevent under-16s from accessing their services. Her proposal mirrors recent action in Australia, which became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16. In the UK, online safety is already governed by the Online Safety Act, a…

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has inducted 175 foreign-trained pharmacists into the Nigerian pharmacy profession, urging them to uphold high ethical standards and contribute to quality healthcare delivery. The induction and oath-taking ceremony, marking the completion of the second cycle of the 2025 Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Orientation Programme (FPGOP), was held on Friday at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja. Addressing the inductees, PCN Registrar, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, said the orientation programme was designed to familiarise foreign-trained graduates with pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria, in line with the PCN (Establishment) Act, 2022. He noted that all candidates successfully completed…

Britain’s mortgage market is gearing up for a revival, with fierce competition among lenders pushing rates lower, opening the door to easier borrowing and raising hopes of a housing rebound in the year ahead. The UK mortgage market could be on the brink of a boom as lenders compete aggressively for customers, driving down rates and relaxing lending rules, according to brokers and analysts. A new report from financial data firm Moneyfacts says expectations are building for a strong mortgage market in 2026. The number of available mortgage deals has climbed to its highest level in 18 years, giving buyers…