A recent investigation has revealed that thousands of illegal migrants and asylum seekers are working as couriers for food delivery companies across the UK, earning up to £500 a week despite having no legal right to work. Many are using the income to repay debts owed to criminal smuggling networks that facilitated their entry into Britain via dangerous Channel crossings. Despite the Labour government’s push to reduce immigration, the gig economy—particularly takeaway and grocery delivery services such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Stuart—has become a lucrative underground market for migrants housed in Home Office-funded hotels. A System Open to…
Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi
In an unexpected turn of political theatre meets religious spectacle, President Donald Trump has once again stirred global headlines—this time by publishing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope. The image, which quickly went viral after appearing on his Truth Social platform, shows the U.S. president in full papal regalia: white robes, a gold crucifix, and a towering mitre, with his right index finger pointed solemnly to the sky. Coming just days before the Vatican’s conclave to elect the successor to the late Pope Francis, the post has reignited questions about Trump’s obsession with power and influence—both secular…
As of today, from Aboki Forex data, the Nigerian Naira continues to face pressure in the parallel market, with black market exchange rates reflecting persistent demand for foreign currencies, particularly the US Dollar, British Pound, and Euro. Traders across major exchange hubs in Lagos and Abuja confirm a widening gap between official and street-level rates, raising ongoing concerns about currency volatility and import-driven inflation. In the dollar segment, the Naira is being bought at ₦1600 and sold at ₦1608, signaling marginal weakness in its buying power compared to previous trading days. Market analysts attribute the softening of the Naira to…
African cardinal may be barred from participating in next week’s historic papal conclave due to uncertainty about his date of birth—an issue that could have serious implications for the legitimacy of the next pope’s election. Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo, the Archbishop Emeritus of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, is at the center of a peculiar age-related dispute. Official Church records are unclear whether he was born on January 24, 1945, which would make him 80 years old and ineligible to vote, or on December 31, 1945, which would place him at 79, just within the age limit set by the Catholic Church.…
In a landmark agreement signalling deepened economic and strategic ties, the United States and Ukraine have signed a long-awaited deal granting Washington access to key natural resources in Ukraine. The agreement, months in the making, establishes an investment framework that Kyiv hopes will anchor continued U.S. support amid its ongoing war with Russia. The deal, now published by the Ukrainian government, outlines a joint effort to harness Ukraine’s mineral, oil, and gas wealth while simultaneously addressing geopolitical sensitivities—including Ukraine’s path to EU membership and questions surrounding U.S. military support. Here are seven major takeaways from the agreement: No Ukrainian Repayment…
After a seven-year legal battle, a UK tribunal has ruled that a Bangladeshi national can be deported from the country after determining he used a proxy to fraudulently complete an English language test required for his immigration status. The Upper Tribunal, led by Judge Bulpitt, found it “highly probable” that Md Abdur Rahim, now 37, engaged in deception by employing a stand-in to sit the mandatory English language test on his behalf in 2012. The finding affirms the Home Office’s longstanding refusal to grant him indefinite leave to remain. Rahim’s case is among thousands that followed a 2014 BBC Panorama…
A high-ranking Ugandan judge who once served on a United Nations criminal tribunal has been sentenced to more than six years in prison by a British court after being found guilty of modern slavery and immigration offenses involving the forced labor of a young Ugandan woman. Lydia Mugambe Ssali, 50, was convicted in March at Oxford Crown Court of conspiring to breach immigration law, facilitating travel with intent to exploit, forcing labor, and conspiring to intimidate a witness. She was sentenced Friday to six years and four months in prison and barred from contacting the victim. Prosecutors said Mugambe used…
LAGOS, Nigeria — May 3, 2025, naira, posted modest gains against the world’s major currencies (Dollar, Pounds, Euro and Chinese yuan) on Friday, offering a brief window of optimism in an otherwise tense and uncertain foreign exchange landscape. The currency market movements, although minor, have drawn considerable attention from economic analysts, traders, and international observers due to the continued volatility of Nigeria’s foreign exchange regime. Data from google finance channels show that the naira strengthened by 0.24% against the U.S. dollar and 0.48% against the British pound sterling. Analysts point to short-term shifts in foreign currency demand, improved liquidity conditions,…
LONDON, UK — May 3, 2025 — The Reform Party has made history again, winning the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by the narrowest margin in modern UK electoral history — just six votes. This unexpected victory gives Reform UK a total of five seats in the UK House of Commons, deepening its impact on British politics and challenging the traditional two-party dominance of Labour and the Conservatives. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who stepped down following a criminal conviction for assaulting a constituent. In a dramatic turn of events, Reform candidate Sarah Pochin,…
Nigerian Naira continued to weaken on the parallel market today, as the U.S. dollar sold for ₦1,607.66, reflecting persistent forex volatility and mounting economic headwinds. This rate represents a slight depreciation from ₦1,612.64. recorded on 01/05/2025 indicating a 0.31% drop in value. The widening gap between the official and black-market exchange rates remains a key indicator of Nigeria’s macroeconomic pressures, despite recent policy reforms introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Black-Market Exchange Rates – May 2, 2025 U.S. Dollar (USD): ₦1,607.66 per $1 Euro (EUR): ₦1,821.40 per €1 British Pound (GBP): ₦2,137.74 per £1 Chinese Yuan (CNY):…