Iran behind plots to destabilise Nigeria, says Israel

The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said on Tuesday that Iran’s “nefarious activities” have spread from the Middle East to Africa and particularly, Nigeria.

The Israeli envoy made the statement in Abuja on Tuesday at the screening of the documentary titled ‘We Will Dance Again: Surviving October 7th’ by Yariv Mozer organised to commemorate first anniversary since Hamas invaded Israel and abducted its citizens.

The militant group abducted 396 partygoers in Israel and released some of them following the intervention of the U.S. and UN. But 101 people are still being held hostage and used to negotiate with Israel.

Mr Freeman described Iranians as “tyrants” whose proxies from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon wreaked devastation on different countries and threw millions into misery, noting that Nigeria was among the nation’s victims.

“The tyrants in Tehran are responsible for the destabilisation of countries and the misery of millions,” the Israeli envoy claimed on Wednesday.

“Yet, Iran’s nefarious activities are not limited to the Middle East. Let me be clear, Iran’s leaders are also working to destabilise Western Africa, including here in Nigeria,” he alleged.

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Israel had extended the war on Gaza to Lebanon —one of Hamas’s strongest allies—launching missiles that have killed hundreds and destroyed critical infrastructure.

Mr Freeman stated that Israel would halt its incursion on Lebanon on one condition, —”the full implementation of UN resolution 1701” stipulating demilitarisation and disarmament of Hezbollah forces.

“The war in Lebanon will only end with the full implementation of UN resolution 1701 – with Hezbollah unable to rearm, and pushed back beyond the Litani River and the Lebanese army in control of the South of Lebanon,” Mr Freeman insisted.

The envoy thanked the Nigerian government and the U.S. for standing by Israel during its war against multiple nations.

“Over the past year, the support shown by President Biden, as well as by Republicans and Democrats alike has been overwhelming and I am confident that whoever wins today’s (Tuesday) presidential election, will continue that steadfast support. But it hasn’t just been the U.S., and I want to thank all of those countries that have stood by us, publicly and behind the scenes,” said Mr Freeman

“I also want to thank all of our friends in Nigeria who have stood with us.”

The Iranian authorities did not immediately return comments to claims of plotting to destabilise Nigeria.

Mr Freeman stated, “This is not a war we wanted. This is not a war we started. Hamas and Hezbollah attacked Israel. And today we face a war on seven fronts – all of it sponsored by Iran.”

Iran behind plots to destabilise Nigeria, says Israel

Japa: Canada cancels 10-year multiple entry visas

Canada has announced that it will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists.

The new guidelines, released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), empower immigration officers to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments, moving away from a default extended validity period.

According to the IRCC, the change is part of a broader strategy to manage temporary immigration levels, address housing shortages, and control the rising cost of living.

Under this revised policy, frequent visitors to Canada may face increased application costs and shorter-term visas, potentially affecting those who regularly travel for work or leisure.

Previous Policy

Previously, Canada offered two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry.

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All applicants were automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa, allowing multiple visits over a period of up to 10 years or until one month before the passport’s expiration date.

Single-entry visas, which allowed only one entry into Canada, were reserved for specific situations, such as official visits or single-event participation.

What’s New?

With the updated guidance, maximum-validity multiple-entry visas are no longer standard.

Immigration officers now have greater discretion in determining whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and will assess each application individually.

This approach allows for varied durations tailored to the specific needs of travelers.

“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgment in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” the IRCC stated.

Visa Application Costs

The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains CAD 100 per person, with no cost difference between single-entry and multiple-entry visas.

Broader Immigration Strategy

This visa policy adjustment aligns with Canada’s recent initiatives to balance immigration levels and address infrastructure challenges.

Other measures include lowering the target for permanent resident admissions from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025, with further reductions planned for 2026 and 2027.

Canada’s new approach reflects a cautious strategy to manage immigration sustainably, aiming to adapt to the country’s evolving economic and social needs.

Japa: Canada cancels 10-year multiple entry visas

Trump gives update on his mass deportations plan

President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News on Thursday that strengthening the U.S. border would be among his top priorities when he assumes office in January, describing his goal as making it “strong and powerful.”

Addressing his campaign pledge for mass deportations, Trump emphasized that his administration would have “no choice” but to pursue them.

Trump expressed that his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris grants him a mandate “to bring common sense” to the nation’s policies.

“We obviously have to make the border strong and powerful and, and we have to — at the same time, we want people to come into our country,” he stated. “And you know, I’m not somebody that says, ‘No, you can’t come in.’ We want people to come in.”

Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to carry out what he called the “largest deportation effort in American history.” When questioned about the potential cost, he responded, “It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”

Although the exact number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. remains unclear, acting ICE Director Patrick J. Lechleitner noted in July that a large-scale deportation effort would present considerable logistical and financial challenges. Two former officials from Trump’s previous administration, who were involved in immigration, remarked that implementing the plan would require coordination across several federal agencies, including the Justice Department and the Pentagon.

Trump’s victory featured unprecedented support from Latino voters—a demographic Democrats aimed to capture by highlighting Trump’s past rhetoric on immigration and a controversial joke made by a pro-Trump comedian regarding Puerto Rico.

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During Thursday’s phone interview, Trump partially attributed his electoral success to his immigration message, saying, “They want to have borders, and they like people coming in, but they have to come in with love for the country. They have to come in legally.”

He also highlighted the broad coalition he attracted, citing increased support among Latino voters, young voters, women, and Asian American voters compared to 2020.

“I started to see realignment could happen because the Democrats are not in line with the thinking of the country,” the president-elect remarked. “You can’t have defund the police, these kind of things. They don’t want to give up and they don’t work, and the people understand that.”

Trump also reflected on recent conversations with Harris and President Joe Biden since the election.

“Very nice calls, very respectful both ways,” Trump said, recounting the exchanges and adding that Harris “talked about transition, and she said she’d like it to be smooth as can be, which I agree with, of course.”

In her concession speech at Howard University on Wednesday, Harris stated that she assured Trump, “We will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”

In his own remarks from the White House on Thursday morning, Biden urged Americans to “accept the choice the country made” in re-electing Trump.

Trump mentioned that he and Biden agreed to meet for lunch “very shortly.”

He also disclosed that he has spoken with “probably” 70 world leaders since Wednesday morning, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as “a very good talk.”

Additionally, Trump mentioned speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but withheld specifics about their conversation.

While he has not yet spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump remarked, “I think we’ll speak.”

Throughout the campaign, Trump committed to ending Russia’s war with Ukraine if elected, suggesting in September he would broker a “good for both sides.”

Trump gives update on his mass deportations plan