France has begun the process of withdrawing its military forces from Chad, with the departure of two Mirage fighter jets from the capital, N’Djamena, the French military announced.

This move follows Chad’s decision, announced two weeks ago, to end its defense cooperation agreement with France.

On November 28, Chad surprised many by terminating the longstanding defense pact, which had allowed French troops to operate in the country as part of efforts to combat Islamist militant groups in the Sahel region.

While the specifics of the withdrawal, including whether any French troops will remain in Chad, have yet to be finalized, the French military confirmed that the first two Mirage jets had returned to their home base in eastern France.

Army spokesperson Colonel Guillaume Vernet stated that the departure of these jets represents the initial phase of withdrawing French military equipment stationed in N’Djamena.

Russia has pledged to continue its military campaign in Ukraine until it accomplishes its objectives, whether through further combat or negotiations.

The Kremlin’s intelligence chief has stated that Russia is close to achieving its goals, which include the full withdrawal of Ukraine from four eastern regions that Russia claims as its own.

However, Ukraine firmly rejects this demand, viewing it as a form of capitulation.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, while open to the idea of a ceasefire, has proposed that Ukraine’s unoccupied territories be granted NATO membership as a condition for ending the active conflict.

He also suggested that foreign forces could be deployed in these areas until Ukraine formally joins NATO, with the hope of eventually negotiating the return of the occupied regions.

Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire between the warring parties.

Despite this, Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia’s military operations will continue until all of its objectives are achieved.

He emphasized that these goals could be reached either through military force or diplomatic negotiations, although no peace talks are currently underway.

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has introduced changes to its immigration visa procedures, effective January 1, 2025.

Under the new system, applicants scheduled for interviews will now be required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the process.

The embassy made this announcement on its official X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday, stating that the changes aim to streamline the process and reduce delays in visa issuance.

The first visit will be for an “In-Person Document Review” with consular staff, allowing applicants to ensure their documentation is complete and correct before the visa interview.

This step is designed to minimize delays by addressing any missing documents in advance.

The second visit will involve an interview with a Consular Officer, scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC).

Applicants who fail to complete the document review before the interview will be required to reschedule their appointments.

Google has revealed its 2024 Year in Search for Nigeria, highlighting the most popular searches, prominent personalities, trending songs, and notable topics that captured the attention of Nigerians throughout the year.

Unveiled on Tuesday, the annual “Year in Search” report provides a comprehensive analysis of what Nigerians were curious about, searching for, and talking about across various domains.

This year’s results show a continued focus on political, economic, and social issues, with topics like the US elections, the new national anthem, and the national grid topping the news category.

The entertainment sector also saw significant interest, with music and movies being key areas of focus.

Notable personalities such as Bobrisky, Shallipopi, and Khaid emerged as some of the most searched individuals in Nigeria this year, while songs like “I Don’t Care” by Boy Spyce and “Ozeba” by Ayra Starr led the music trends.

Song lyrics, particularly “Ogechi lyrics” and “Ozeba lyrics,” were also highly searched as Nigerians sought to understand their favorite tracks in detail.

Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Google West Africa, commented on the insights, saying, “The 2024 Year in Search gives a unique perspective on the issues that have shaped Nigeria in 2024.

From cultural moments to major concerns, these insights highlight how Search continues to serve as a tool for Nigerians to explore, understand, and engage with the world around them.”

Notable Searches and Categories:

News: The top news searches in Nigeria revolved around the US elections, the new national anthem, the national grid, and issues like the minimum wage, Ibadan explosion, and the Edo state election.

Personalities (Nigerian): Bobrisky led the list, followed by Betta Edu, Shallipopi, Khaid, and other well-known figures like Bukunmi Oluwashina and Sharon Ooja.

Personalities (Global): Global personalities who topped the list included Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Tyla, Diddy, and Skepta.

Trending Slangs: Nigerians were curious about the meanings of words like “demure,” “steeze,” and “pet peeves,” reflecting an ongoing interest in language and slang.

Recipes: Popular recipe searches included the “Pornstar Martini recipe,” “Milky Doughnut recipe,” and “Frejon recipe,” showcasing the diverse culinary interests of Nigerians.

Music: In addition to Boy Spyce’s “I Don’t Care,” Ayra Starr’s “Ozeba” and Kizz Daniel’s “Commas” were highly searched, while “Twe Twe” by Kizz Daniel also made waves.

Movies and TV Series: Movies like A Tribe Called Judah and Treasure In The Sky topped the list, while popular TV series like Supacell, My Demon, and Queen of Tears dominated the small screen.

Questions: Nigerians sought answers to practical questions like “How much is dollar to naira today?” and “How to get perfectly defined curls for African hair?” Other queries included the winner of the 2024 US Presidential election and the Ballon d’Or.

In addition to these categories, several new devices like the iPhone 16 and Infinix Note 40 garnered attention, reflecting a growing interest in new tech gadgets.

Overall, Google’s 2024 Year in Search report offers a clear snapshot of what mattered most to Nigerians in 2024, from global political events to cultural trends, entertainment, and personal interests.