Spain's Transport Minister, Oscar Puente, has announced that he will resign following two serious train crashes in less than a year.

What he said

Puente told lawmakers on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, that a transport minister in a country like Spain could not stay in office after two accidents of such severity, regardless of whether he was directly responsible. He described the decision as a matter of political dignity, consistency and empathy, and said he had decided to step down within minutes of the latest crash but stayed on to manage the aftermath and introduce safety measures. He did not say exactly when he would leave office, and confirmed he would not stand in Spain's early general election on 29 November.

The latest crash

The resignation came six days after a crash on 28 October near Urda, south of Madrid, in which a high-speed train run by the state operator Renfe hit the back of a stationary train run by a private operator on the Madrid–Andalusia line. The crash reportedly killed 69 people and injured more than 200. Authorities have blamed a combination of human and computer failures, and Puente said a red signal should have stopped the train.

Background

Spain has one of Europe's largest high-speed rail networks. The two crashes have caused public anger over rail safety.

What happens next

Investigations into both crashes are continuing.

Britain's Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge by former Delta State governor James Ibori to reduce a £101.5 million confiscation order against him, according to reports.

The ruling

The court rejected the appeal on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Ibori had sought to reduce the amount by about £4.3 million. The order was issued by Southwark Crown Court in July 2023, directing him to pay or face an eight-year prison term in default. The appeal had delayed enforcement, which can now proceed unless he takes the case to the UK Supreme Court.

Ibori's response

Ibori reportedly said he was consulting his lawyers on his next steps and expressed frustration at how long the proceedings had taken.

Background

Ibori governed Delta State from 1999 to 2007. He was arrested in Dubai and extradited to Britain in 2011. In 2012 he pleaded guilty in a London court to laundering tens of millions of dollars of public funds through British banks and properties, and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was released in late 2016 after serving about half of the sentence and returned to Nigeria in 2017. The confiscation proceedings followed investigations by Nigerian and British anti-corruption authorities, and Nigeria has pushed for the recovered funds to be returned.

Why it matters

The case is one of the most significant examples of international cooperation to recover stolen public funds from Nigeria.

Popular social media personality Jojooflele, widely known as the Ratel Princess, has openly expressed her appreciation for VeryDarkMan (VDM), acknowledging the role he has played in changing her life.

"If not for VDM"

Speaking from China, Jojooflele reflected on how far she has come and how her association with VDM opened doors she probably never imagined would open so soon.

"If not for VDM, I wouldn't be where I am today," she said.

According to her, things took a completely different turn after she met VeryDarkMan. Her social media pages began attracting more attention, her followers increased, and opportunities started coming her way.

How it all started

What makes her story even more interesting is how it began. Many will remember the controversy involving Nedu, when Jojooflele found herself at the centre of public attention, with people discussing her personal life and questioning her actions.

For someone else, that kind of controversy could have been enough to damage their confidence or push them off social media completely.

Instead, Jojooflele turned the attention into something positive. Rather than letting the controversy define her future, she kept building her presence online and eventually became a familiar face among supporters of the Ratel Movement.

A lesson in gratitude

Today, she is in China, reflecting on her journey and publicly appreciating someone she believes contributed greatly to her success.

Jojooflele deserves credit for how she has handled her growing popularity. The right connections can open doors, but what you do with those opportunities matters just as much.

Her appreciation for VDM is also worth acknowledging. In a society where people sometimes forget those who supported them once they start to succeed, publicly recognising someone's contribution says a lot about gratitude.

Setbacks are not the end

Perhaps the biggest lesson here is never to be too quick to conclude that your present difficulties will decide your future. The situation people expect to destroy you can end up introducing you to opportunities you never knew existed.

What looks like a setback today may become part of the story you proudly tell tomorrow.

Over to you

What do you think about Jojooflele's journey from the Nedu controversy to her growing popularity and opportunities abroad?

Davido's loyal aide, Israel DMW, has come out to defend his boss following speculation linking the Afrobeats superstar to an alleged plot to get social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) arrested.

"Oga had no hands in it"

In a post addressed to "Dearest Nigerians", Israel said Davido had no hand in Naira Marley's ordeal during the Mohbad case, nor in any plot to see VDM arrested.

He said those who were in the WhatsApp group linked to the matter got there without Davido's instructions or approval, and that those who told VDM otherwise "fully lied".

Sam Klef, Mohbad's catalogue and Zino

Israel also asked why Davido would have any issue with Sam Klef, and denied that the singer ever asked for Mohbad's music catalogue or tried to sign Zino.

"Naira and oga are cool"

According to Israel, there was serious pressure on Davido at the time to unfollow Naira Marley on Instagram, but he categorically refused, saying he wanted the police to do their job and did not want to act on hearsay.

"Naira and oga are cool," he wrote, adding that the two even made a hit song together.

On an incident at Naira Marley's house, Israel said it involved Tolu 30BG, who had a disagreement with one of Naira's boys, and insisted that nobody was beaten or attacked.

Why the denial matters

VDM is known for speaking openly about controversial issues and challenging influential people, which has earned him both strong supporters and fierce critics. Whenever the names Davido and VeryDarkMan appear in the same controversy, Nigerians are bound to have plenty to say.

Israel's message is straightforward: whatever controversy surrounds VDM, his boss should not be accused of involvement without proof.

It is important to note that the allegations remain unverified. Israel's denial is his own position, and there is no established evidence that Davido took part in any plot to have VDM arrested.

Over to you

Who is actually behind the alleged move to arrest VeryDarkMan, and why is Davido's name being mentioned? Until credible evidence emerges, the public should be careful about turning social media speculation into fact.