*Nigeria commences 48-hr visa issuance in New York*

*Nigeria commences 48-hr visa issuance in New York*

The Nigerian Consulate in New York has said that applicants for the Nigeria visa can now get it in 48 hours with the introduction of the issuance of the biometric visa.

The acting Consul-General, Tanko Suleiman, who disclosed this at the commencement of the biometric visa processing in New York, said the new process had simplified the issuance of Nigerian visa.

Mr. Suleiman said with the commencement of the biometric visa issuance, no applicant should spend more than 25 minutes to complete his or her enrollment.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federal Government on Monday commenced the biometric visa issuance, becoming the first country in Africa to achieve that feat.

The Nigerian envoy said the federal government has appointed Online Integrated Solutions Limited (OIS) as the company to handle the biometric visa project.

Mr. Suleiman appealed to applicants in the U.S. to be courteous and orderly as the new system would finally address any frustrations in obtaining the Nigerian visa.

*Nigeria Police arrest 20 protesting Moshood Abiola Polytechnic students* Ogun Police Command on Tuesday arrested no fewer than 20 protesting students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, for alleged disturbance of the public peace.

*Nigeria Police arrest 20 protesting Moshood Abiola Polytechnic students*

Ogun Police Command on Tuesday arrested no fewer than 20 protesting students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, for alleged disturbance of the public peace.

Meanwhile they were arrested on the second day of a week-long protest tagged, ‘black week.’

The action, which began on Monday, was meant to protest against the students’ inability to sit for their second semester examination earlier scheduled for September 18.

A combined team of men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and mobile policemen, among others, swooped on the students at Pansheke, where they had made bonfires, and arrested 20 of them.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that no fewer than 20 students were arrested.

He said the protesting students destroyed public property and attacked policemen, as well as passersby.

*Canada 🇨🇦 couple forced to spend Christmas apart after 70 years 😱*

An elderly Canadian couple is heartbroken after learning that they will be separated for the first time in seven decades a week before Christmas.

Herbert Goodine, 91, was told he must leave the long-term care facility where he lives with his wife Audrey Goodine, 89, and move into a nursing home.

"When talking to my parents yesterday I listened to my mother weep and I could hear my father in the background," their daughter Dianne Phillips wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

Mrs Phillips said she received a call on Friday from the provincial department that oversees long-term care saying that her father, whose health has declined recently, would have to be moved to a home with more advanced care.

*12 dead 💐, 18 injured in Mexico tour bus 🚌 crash 💥*

A tour bus crash in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday left at least 12 dead and 18 injured, officials said. The bus was carrying 31 people, including tourists from the United States, Brazil and Sweden, in the state of Quintana Roo, according to Public Security of Quintana Roo.

The bus was traveling from the coastal village of Mahahual to the Mayan ruin archaeological site Chacchoben, according to Public Security of Quintana Roo.

Among the bus passengers were 27 cruise guests from two Royal Caribbean ships, Celebrity Equinox and Serenade of the Seas, the cruise line said.

Representatives from the United States mission in Mexico are heading to the scene to assist any US citizens involved, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.
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*West Ham star Lanzini banned for dive at Stoke*

Manuel Lanzini has been banned for two matches for his 'successful deception of a match official' when winning a penalty for West Ham at Stoke City on Saturday.

Argentinian midfielder Lanzini went to ground under a challenge from Erik Pieters after 18 minutes at the bet365 Stadium, with referee Graham Scott pointing to the spot and Mark Noble converting from 12 yards.

West Ham went on to win 3-0, Lanzini assisting further strikes from Marko Arnautovic and Diafra Sakho to pile misery on Stoke boss Mark Hughes, whose side sit a point above the relegation zone.

Lanzini denied the charge, but the Football Association has seen fit to punish the midfielder, who will sit out matches against Arsenal and Newcastle United over the festive period.

*Leicester City 1 Manchester City 1 (aet, 3-4 pens): Vardy & Mahrez miss in shoot-out as visitors reach semi-finals

Jamie Vardy equalised from the spot but failed in the shoot-out as Manchester City beat Leicester City 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.

Leicester were their own worst enemy for much of the first half, inviting pressure with a string of avoidable mistakes and one ultimately led to the opening goal - Bernardo Silva steering home after Ilkay Gundogan had wrestled the ball from Kelechi Iheanacho just before the half-hour.

The hosts improved after the break and gave City more to worry about, though clear-cut chances remained at a premium for them, with Bravo rarely forced into meaningful saves until late in proceedings.

The spotlight was on the Chilean deep into eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of regulation time and he could do little to prevent Vardy from forcing an extra half hour with his penalty, which was controversially awarded after Demarai Gray went down under pressure from substitute Kyle Walker.

Still the two sides could not be separated and it came down to the shoot-out, with City ultimately reigning supreme, scoring all four of their kicks and claiming victory thanks to Vardy missing and Bravo swatting away Mahrez' final penalty.