In a significant development bringing relief to many families, Nigerian police confirmed on Sunday, December 22, that the remaining 130 schoolchildren and staff abducted last month have been released. This concludes a harrowing ordeal that began on November 21 when gunmen attacked St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community of Niger state.
Resolution in Nigeria, Diplomacy in Miami
Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun stated that "the remaining batch of the abducted students" is now free. The November attack had initially seen over 300 students and teachers taken hostage. While about 50 escaped shortly after, and another 100 were freed earlier in December, this latest release marks the end of the crisis for all captives.
On the diplomatic front, envoys from the United States and Ukraine described three days of talks in Miami as "productive and constructive." While no major breakthrough was announced regarding ending Russia's war, the discussions involved key figures like Ukraine's Rustem Umerov and US representative Steve Witkoff.
US Diplomatic Shake-up and Infrastructure Woes
In a parallel move affecting US foreign policy, the Trump administration has initiated a recall of nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and senior embassy posts worldwide. According to State Department officials, this effort aims to realign the diplomatic corps with the "America First" agenda, with chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries being informed their tenures end in January.
Meanwhile, San Francisco recovered from a massive power outage that affected up to 130,000 customers. By Sunday morning, power was restored to most, though Pacific Gas and Electric Co reported over 16,000 customers were still without electricity at noon PST, with crews working in several neighbourhoods.
Ongoing Investigations and Ultimatums
In Bangladesh, police stated they have no "specific information" on the prime suspect in the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. This announcement came a day after Hadi's Inqilab Mancha party issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government, demanding visible progress in arresting those responsible for the murder.
These events from across the globe highlight ongoing challenges in security, diplomacy, and infrastructure, with communities and governments navigating complex resolutions and investigations.
