West African leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a summit in Abuja, Nigeria, on December 14, 2025, to address the escalating political and security crises in the region, particularly a recent string of coups and attempted military takeovers. Key Issues and Discussions Recent Instability: The summit agenda was dominated by two recent incidents: a successful coup in Guinea-Bissau in November 2025, which saw President Umaro Embalo deposed, and a foiled military takeover in Benin a week prior. These events have "rattled" the regional bloc, which had already seen coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger between 2020 and 2023. Declaration of Emergency: Ahead of the summit, on December 9, 2025, ECOWAS declared a "state of emergency" in West Africa due to the recurring unconstitutional changes of government and escalating security challenges. Security in the Sahel: Leaders discussed the worsening security situation in the Sahel r...

  Asian stocks rallied, led by gains in Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong, as markets reacted positively to the U.S. Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut and Fed Chair Powell's optimistic tone about future economic growth, suggesting lower rates would boost risk assets and ease financial conditions, creating a "Goldilocks" scenario for equities.  While markets welcomed the easing, some investors noted tempered expectations for immediate future cuts, focusing on incoming data for guidance.  The Fed's decision to cut rates, lowering borrowing costs, lifted spirits across Asia. Jerome Powell's Comments: Powell's less "hawkish" stance and view that inflation from tariffs would fade boosted confidence in a strengthening economy, as noted by. "Goldilocks" Scenario: The prospect of easing financial conditions with continued growth, without reigniting inflation, is seen as ideal for equities, say Liberty Hill Independent and Seeking Alpha. ...

The Nigerian Army vehemently denied that its troops killed anyone, stating the casualties were caused by "unprofessional handling of automatic weapons by the local militias" elsewhere in the town. The Army's 23 Brigade described the reports as "baseless and misleading". Witnesses and Amnesty International report that Nigerian Army soldiers shot and killed nine women during a protest in the Lamurde area of Adamawa state on Monday, December 8, 2025. The Nigerian Army has denied responsibility, blaming local militias for the deaths. The women were protesting along a major road about what they perceived as an inadequate security response to ongoing communal clashes between the Bachama and Chobo ethnic groups over a land dispute. Witnesses stated that soldiers, who were passing through the area, opened fire on the unarmed women after one soldier initially shot into the air. Ten other individuals were reportedly injured. Amnesty International's Nigeria office conf...

  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a regional state of emergency across West Africa in response to an unprecedented wave of coups, attempted mutinies, and escalating insecurity.  The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, during a ministerial meeting in Abuja, Nigeria. The state of emergency was declared due to a number of interconnected crises: A surge in military interventions: The region has experienced several successful and attempted coups in recent years in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and a recent failed attempt in Benin. Erosion of democratic governance: Non-compliance with transition norms and a decline in electoral inclusivity have become major triggers of instability. Expanding security threats: The influence of terrorists, armed groups, and criminal networks has spread across the region, moving beyond the Sahel to coastal states and cr...

  The search continues for soldiers who were involved in a failed coup attempt in  Benin  on Sunday, December 7, 2025. The coup was thwarted by loyalist Beninese forces with support from neighboring Nigeria. The coup attempt was "foiled" by Benin's armed forces, and President Patrice Talon stated the situation is "completely under control". Around a dozen soldiers have been arrested. However, many are presumed to have fled into the countryside, and the search for them is ongoing. President Patrice Talon made his own TV appearance late Sunday, assuring the country that the situation was “completely under control”. Talon, 67, is due to hand over the reins of power in April after two terms leading Benin, which in recent years has been hit by jihadist violence in the north. The coup attempt follows a spate of military takeovers in the region, including in Benin’s northern neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea and, last month, Guinea-Bissau.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has threatened a fresh clampdown on unregistered Point of Sale (POS) operators in Nigeria from 1st January 2026. The Commission said it observed a rising number of POS operators running without registration, violating CAMA 2020 and CBN Agent Banking Regulations. In a statement on Saturday, the agency said all PoS must be duly registered with the commission or face immediate shutdown. It warned that no POS operator will be allowed to operate without CAC registration, adding that security agencies will enforce nationwide compliance. The statement further pointed out that this reckless practice, often enabled by some fintech companies, puts Nigeria’s financial system and citizens’ investments at risk, stressing that it must stop. “Unregistered POS terminals will be seized or shut down by security officials. “Fintechs enabling illegal operations will be placed on a watchlist and reported to the CBN. All operators are advised to regularize immediately....

  Netflix is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery for around $83 billion in a major cash-and-stock deal, combining Netflix's streaming dominance with Warner Bros.' vast library (HBO, DC Comics, Harry Potter, Friends, Casablanca, etc.), aiming to create a powerhouse by adding high-quality content and expanding global reach, though regulatory approval and integration challenges lie ahead. Key Details of the Acquisition: Valuation: The deal values Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) at approximately $82.7 billion in enterprise value, with an equity value of around $72 billion. Content Powerhouse: Netflix gains iconic franchises like Harry Potter, DC Comics, Game of Thrones, and classic films, alongside its own hits like Stranger Things,. Structure: WBD's cable networks (like CNN) will be spun off, with Netflix acquiring the film and TV studios, HBO, and the streaming services (HBO Max). Strategic Goals: To offer more choice, enhance viewing options, expand production, and compete in the ...

  The US-based Nigerian CEO arrested for a $7 million VA fraud while attempting to flee to Nigeria has been identified as Cashmir Chinedu Luke. Luke, 66, the sole owner of a home health care company named Four Corners Health LLC, was apprehended at the San Francisco International Airport. Details of the Alleged Scheme: Between December 2019 and July 2024, Luke allegedly defrauded the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by submitting approximately 10,000 false claims for services that were never provided. The fraudulent claims included billing for hours that caretakers never worked, for days they were not present, for duplicate services, and even for care supposedly given to veterans weeks after they had died. He is accused of funneling the illicit proceeds into a personal bank account and spending the money lavishly on personal expenses or transferring funds to accounts in Asia and Africa. Current Status: Luke faces federal charges, including wire fraud and making false statements....

  The Trump administration has recently paused immigration applications for individuals from 19 nations and halted all asylum decisions, a move that followed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's public recommendation for a full travel ban on several countries. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued internal guidance to "stop final adjudication on all cases" for individuals from 19 countries that were already subject to travel restrictions under a presidential proclamation issued in June. The list of countries facing these restrictions includes Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Venezuela, and Cuba. The administration has also paused all asylum applications, regardless of nationality, pending a comprehensive review. Following a meeting with President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly advocated for a more expansive ban, calling for a "full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeche...

  The statement that any police officer found escorting a VIP is on illegal duty and will be arrested is a legitimate directive from the Nigeria Police Force. This was announced by the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, issued a strong directive to stop the practice of police officers being used as private escorts for VIPs, celebrities, and elites. The order is part of a presidential directive aimed at recalling police personnel to their primary and core policing duties, such as maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety, amid rising insecurity in the country. The IGP has ordered senior police commanders, including the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit (AIG SPU) and the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, to specifically station men at airports and other locations to arrest any officer violating the order. Hundeyin d...

  Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence. The nomination was sent to the Senate for confirmation on December 2, 2025. General Musa is the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned from the position on December 1, 2025, on health grounds. He served as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from 2023 until October 2025, when he was replaced by General Olufemi Oluyede. A distinguished and highly experienced soldier, General Musa has held numerous key operational and command appointments throughout his career, including Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the flagship counter-terrorism operation in Nigeria's northeast. He is a recipient of the prestigious Colin Powell Award for Soldiering, which he won in 2012. Confirmation Process: President Tinubu expressed confidence in Musa's ability to lead the Ministry and strengthen the national security architecture, with the Senate expected to begin his screenin...

  Cameroonian opposition leader Anicet Ekane has died in detention at the age of 74, a month after his arrest following post-election protests. His death has sparked outrage among his party and civil society groups, who have called for an international investigation and described his death as a "programmed killing". Ekane, a left-wing nationalist and a prominent critic of President Paul Biya, was arrested in late October in the commercial capital, Douala. He was later transferred to Yaoundé and held on charges of insurrection. His lawyers maintain his detention was illegal and he was never presented before a judge. Ekane's health deteriorated significantly while in custody. His son and lawyers reported that he had difficulties breathing and eating, and his party stated that essential medical equipment, including an oxygen concentrator, had been confiscated and locked in his impounded car. Repeated requests to transfer him to a better-equipped hospital were reportedly deni...

  Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to 21 years in prison by a Dhaka court on November 27, 2025, in three corruption cases. The sentences are to run consecutively, but she is currently living in exile in India and was tried in absentia.  The Dhaka special court found Hasina guilty in three cases related to the illegal allocation of government land plots in the Purbachal New Town project during her tenure as prime minister. She received a seven-year prison sentence for each of the three cases, totaling 21 years. Her son and daughter, Sajeeb Wazed and Saima Wazed, were also sentenced to five years in prison in one of the cases.  Hasina is not currently in jail. She fled Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, amid widespread student-led protests that led to the collapse of her government. She has been residing in India since then and was tried in absentia.  This corruption verdict follows a separate ruling on November 17, 2025, where a special tribunal...

  A devastating fire that swept through a public housing complex in Hong Kong has killed at least 65 people, with dozens more still missing. The blaze, which is the city's deadliest in decades, began on November 26, 2025, at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in the northern Tai Po district. The death toll has reached at least 65, including one firefighter, with around 70-77 people injured and many more unaccounted for. Rescuers are continuing their search in difficult conditions. Location: The fire affected seven of the eight high-rise apartment towers, home to more than 4,000 people, many of whom are elderly residents. Cause and Spread: The blaze began on external bamboo scaffolding erected for a major renovation project and spread rapidly, likely aided by highly flammable materials used on the exterior, such as green construction netting and polystyrene foam boards installed at windows. This rapid external spread was described as "unusual" by authorities. Investigat...

Chelsea's Estêvão Willian delivered a standout performance, including a stunning solo goal, to thoroughly outshine Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in a recent UEFA Champions League match, prompting pundits to declare it was time to "start believing the hype". Collecting a pass from Reece James, Estevao cut inside, turned Alejandro Balde inside out and then sent a rasping drive into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Joan Garcia. As former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin put it: "Start believing the hype." "The goal's the bit everyone will see, and it was wonderful in a number of ways," Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live after the 3-0 victory. "It was just so tight, the footwork, and it's a brilliant, brilliant finish. "But all the other parts of his game, the intelligence, the movement, the picking up of position... he's a natural. Because usually footballers are called natural and they're not - but it just looks so effortless for him. Som...

  The United Nations has urged Nigeria to take "all lawful measures" to halt the recent surge in mass kidnappings, ensure the safe return of those abducted, and bring the perpetrators to justice. The appeal follows the abduction of hundreds of people, mostly schoolchildren, in a matter of days in November 2025. Recent Abductions: Since November 17, at least 402 people, most of them schoolchildren, have been abducted across the states of Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and Borno. Only 88 have reportedly been freed or escaped captivity. Targeting Schools: The recent kidnappings have specifically targeted educational institutions, including St. Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state, where over 300 students and teachers were taken. This has prompted the UN to stress that schools should be "sanctuaries for education, not targets". Security Concerns: The escalating security crisis has led to school closures in several parts of the country. Perpetrators: Mass kidnappings in Nigeri...