Western Intelligence Warns of Imminent Russian Offensive
Western
intelligence agencies have raised alarms over what they describe as Russia’s
preparations for a major new offensive in Ukraine.
According to recent assessments, Moscow is mobilizing significant military resources and intensifying its information campaigns to project strength and inevitability in the conflict.
The Short Life and Tragic Death of River Phoenix
River Phoenix was one of Hollywood’s
brightest young stars of the late 1980s and early 1990s, whose immense talent
and promise were cut short when he died tragically at the age of 23 outside the
Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles on October 31, 1993.
River Jude Phoenix was born on August 23, 1970, in Madras, Oregon, into a family that lived an unconventional lifestyle. His parents were members of the Children of God religious cult, and his early years were marked by poverty and instability.
Stalin’s Daughter and Her Escape from the USSR
Svetlana Alliluyeva, the only daughter of Joseph
Stalin, became one of the Cold War’s most famous defectors when she fled the
Soviet Union in 1967, seeking freedom from the shadow of her father’s legacy.
Her life
story is a remarkable blend of personal struggle, political symbolism, and the
search for identity beyond the iron grip of the USSR.
Born in Moscow on February 28, 1926, Svetlana Iosifovna Stalina was the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph Stalin. Her childhood was marked by privilege but also tragedy. Her mother, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, died under mysterious circumstances when Svetlana was just six years old, an event that deeply scarred her. Growing up in the Kremlin, she was surrounded by power yet isolated from normal life, constantly overshadowed by her father’s authoritarian rule.
The Political Trajectory of Ademola Adeleke
Ademola Adeleke’s political journey reflects a
dramatic evolution from his early days in the Senate to his current
governorship, culminating in his controversial move to the Accord Party in late
2025. His career has been marked by both opportunity and turbulence, with party
crises shaping his decisions.
Ademola
Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, born on May 13, 1960, is a Nigerian politician and
businessman from the influential Adeleke family of Ede, Osun State.
He first rose to prominence in 2017 when he was elected as Senator representing Osun West, succeeding his late brother Isiaka Adeleke.
Adeleke’s Entry, Emergence As Candidate Invalid - Accord Faction
The
political drama surrounding Governor Ademola Adeleke’s alleged defection to the
Accord Party has sparked intense debate and controversy within Nigerian
political circles.
According to reports, a faction of the Accord Party led by Chris Imumolen has strongly criticized Adeleke’s entry, describing it as a “back-door” maneuver that undermines the party’s internal processes.
Scenarios of President Tinubu’s VIP Police Escort Directive
President
Bola Tinubu’s order that ministers and VIPs cannot retain police escorts
without his clearance can unfold in different ways depending on enforcement,
compliance, and public reaction. Here are possible trajectories:
Best-Case Outcomes
In the most optimistic scenario, the directive is strictly enforced, and police officers previously tied up in VIP protection are redeployed to frontline duties. Communities begin to notice a stronger police presence, leading to reduced incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and violent crime. Public trust in government grows as citizens see that leaders are willing to sacrifice personal privileges for national security. The political class adapts to the new reality, relying on civil defence officers or private arrangements where necessary, while respecting the President’s authority. Over time, this cultural shift reduces the perception of government as an elite bubble and strengthens the idea of shared responsibility for security.
Rabies Screening in Organ Donation: Current Practices and Emerging Concerns
Organ
donation in the United States follows rigorous medical and infectious disease
screening protocols, but rabies presents a unique challenge. Unlike HIV,
hepatitis, or other transmissible infections, rabies is not routinely tested
for in organ donors.
The reason is twofold: rabies is extremely rare in humans, and the diagnostic process is complex, often requiring specialized laboratory tests that are not part of standard donor evaluation.
Rabies Transmission via Organ Donation in the United States Has Been Documented Only Four Times Since 1978, and Every Case Was Fatal.
The
recent Michigan case, where a man died after receiving a rabies-infected kidney
from a donor who had contracted the virus while saving a kitten from a skunk,
is the fourth such incident in U.S. history. Each of these cases has
underscored the extraordinary rarity but devastating consequences of rabies
transmission through transplantation.
The first known occurrence was in 1978, when a corneal transplant led to rabies infection in the recipient. At that time, rabies was not considered in donor screening, and the case highlighted the potential for human-to-human transmission via tissue.
Timeline of Events: Burkina Faso’s Detention and Release of 11 Nigerian Military Personnel
Emergency Diversion and Landing A Nigerian Air Force C‑130 aircraft traveling from Lagos to Portugal for a ferry operation experienced a technical issue mid‑flight. Due to this malfunction, the crew diverted and made an emergency landing in Bobo‑Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The diversion, according to Nigerian authorities, followed standard international aviation safety procedures and was not a planned entry into Burkinabè airspace.
Collapse Of Two Buildings In Morocco’s Fes Kills 22
The city
of Fes was struck by a devastating tragedy when two adjacent buildings
collapsed overnight in the Al-Moustakbal neighbourhood of the Al-Massira area.
Authorities confirmed that 22 people lost their lives, making it the deadliest building‑related disaster Morocco has experienced in recent years. Sixteen additional victims were injured, and emergency teams continued searching for others who might still be trapped beneath the rubble.
Impacts of President Tinubu’s Directive on VIP Police Escorts
President
Bola Tinubu’s decision to restrict police escorts for ministers and VIPs unless
cleared directly by him is more than just a bureaucratic adjustment, it carries
significant political, social, and cultural implications for Nigeria.
Political
Class
For Nigeria’s political elite, this directive represents a sharp departure from long-standing privileges. Traditionally, ministers, lawmakers, and senior officials have enjoyed automatic access to police escorts, often seen as a symbol of status and power. By centralizing approval under the presidency, Tinubu is signaling that security resources are not entitlements but tools to be deployed strategically. This could create tension among officials who feel exposed or undermined, but it also forces them to align more closely with national priorities rather than personal convenience.
Eko Hotels’ Biggest Holiday Event, Tropical Christmas Wonderland, Returns December 20
Eko
Hotels & Suites is once again preparing to transform Lagos into a festive
paradise with the return of its signature holiday spectacle, Tropical Christmas Wonderland, beginning December 20, 2025, and running through January 2, 2026. This
annual celebration has become one of Nigeria’s most anticipated end‑of‑year
attractions, drawing families, tourists, and culture lovers into a world of
theatre, music, food, and vibrant African creativity.
A Celebration of Joy, Culture, and Togetherness
The 2025 edition promises an even more immersive experience. Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo, the creative visionary behind the Wonderland, describes it as an environment built to spark happiness, strengthen family bonds, and create lasting memories at a time when togetherness matters most. Her vision blends global festive traditions with distinctly African storytelling, performance, and hospitality.
Collapse Of Two Buildings In Morocco’s Fes Kills 22
The
tragic collapse of two adjacent buildings in the northern Moroccan city of Fes
stands as one of the deadliest structural failures the country has experienced
in recent years.
According to official reports, the incident occurred overnight in the Al-Moustakbal neighbourhood within the Al-Massira area, leading to the deaths of 22 people and injuring 16 others.
Burkina Faso Releases 11 Detained Nigerian Military Personnel
The
recent release of eleven Nigerian military personnel by Burkina Faso has drawn
significant regional and international attention.
The incident began when a Nigerian Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft, en route to Portugal for a ferry operation, made an unexpected emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
A Rare and Tragic Case of Transplant-Related Rabies
In late
2024, a deeply unusual and heartbreaking medical case unfolded in the United
States, culminating in the death of a Michigan man who had received a kidney
transplant.
The donor of that kidney, an Idaho resident, had unknowingly contracted rabies weeks earlier after a heroic but fateful encounter with a skunk while rescuing a kitten.
No VIP Police Escorts Without My Clearance – President Tinubu’s Directive to Ministers
President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm
directive that no minister or senior government official will be allowed to use
police escorts unless they obtain his personal clearance. This move is part of
a broader effort to redeploy police officers to frontline duties in combating
kidnapping, terrorism, and other security challenges facing Nigeria.
During the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the State House in Abuja on December 10, 2025, Tinubu restated his earlier order withdrawing police officers from Very Important Persons (VIPs). He emphasized that ministers and top officials who feel vulnerable due to the nature of their assignments must route their requests for escorts through the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), who will then seek direct presidential approval.
Geopolitical implications of Burkina Faso’s accusation against the Nigerian Air Force
The accusation
that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 violated Burkina Faso’s airspace is more than
an aviation dispute, it is a revealing flashpoint in a region where alliances,
legitimacy, and security doctrines are being renegotiated under pressure.
The episode arrives at a delicate moment, with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) consolidating military-led governance and distancing itself from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) frameworks, while Nigeria projects regional leadership amid cascading threats. What follows is a focused analysis of how this incident could reshape relations between ECOWAS and the AES, and recalibrate West Africa’s security architecture.
Burkina Faso Accuses Nigerian Air Force of Violating Its Airspace
In a
dramatic turn of events that underscores the growing tensions in West Africa,
Burkina Faso has accused the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) of violating its
airspace.
The incident unfolded when a Nigerian military C-130 aircraft, en route to Portugal, made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city.
Overview of Fubara’s defection and its immediate stakes
Governor
Siminalayi Fubara’s defection reverberates beyond Rivers State, touching
long-running dynamics: governors navigating party conflicts, institutional
fragility, and elite mediation overshadowing party structures.
His move
is framed as a survival calculus amid intra-party strife and federal–state
power plays, while the PDP’s rebuttal centers on agency and accountability, arguing
he chose this path and cannot outsource blame.
The contest is less about ideology than control of political machinery, legislative alignment, and security of tenure within Nigeria’s hybrid presidential system.
Defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and PDP’s Response
The
political landscape of Rivers State, Nigeria, witnessed a dramatic shift when
Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The move, made public during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, has sparked intense reactions and highlighted deeper issues within Nigeria’s democratic framework.
Scenario report: Rivers politics under APC over the next five years
Baseline context and assumptions
Rivers State enters the APC era with executive–legislative alignment, a recalibrated relationship with the federal center, and lingering factional tensions from recent crises. The oil economy, infrastructure gaps, security pressures in the Niger Delta, and federal–state bargaining dynamics will anchor outcomes. These scenarios assume steady national economic conditions, no constitutional disruptions, and typical electoral cycles.
Comparative Analysis: Rivers Politics Under PDP vs. APC
Rivers State Under PDP
For over two decades, Rivers State was firmly under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since 1999, the party dominated gubernatorial elections and maintained a strong grip on the legislature. This dominance was reinforced by the influence of political heavyweights like former governor Nyesom Wike, who consolidated PDP’s power through extensive grassroots mobilization and patronage networks.
Photo By Channels Television
Governor Siminalayi Fubara Defects to APC
Governor
Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has formally defected from the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt on December 9, 2025. Fubara explained that his decision was rooted in loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, whom he credited with sustaining his political survival. He declared that without Tinubu’s support, he would have already been a “former governor.”
Senate Summons Aviation Minister Over 400% Airfare Hike
In a
dramatic move that underscores growing public frustration, the Nigerian Senate
has summoned the Minister of Aviation alongside key stakeholders in the
aviation industry to appear before its committee.
This follows what lawmakers described as an astronomical and unacceptable surge in airfares across the country, with ticket prices reportedly rising by over 400 percent in recent months.
Senate Approves Tinubu’s Request to Deploy Troops to Benin Republic for Peace Mission
In a
decisive move reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability, the Senate
has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to
the Republic of Benin.
The mission, described as a peacekeeping effort, is aimed at restoring democratic order and stabilizing the neighboring country following a recent coup attempt.
