Iran’s prolonged wave of anti-government protests is entering a decisive and controversial phase, as chants calling for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, echo through streets from Tehran to provincial cities. What began as public outrage over governance, economic hardship, and social repression is now evolving into a broader debate about Iran’s political future and whether salvation can come from exile. The renewed visibility of Reza Pahlavi in Iran protests signals a strategic shift among segments of demonstrators searching for a unifying symbol amid decades of fractured opposition. A Prince Shaped by Exile, Not Power Born in…
Author: Marshall Odede
Once upon a time, sending money home was an act of pride. It was duty. It was bloodline. It was continuity. Today, fear sits where love once stood. Across the Nigerian diaspora, relatives hesitate sometimes stiffly, sometimes bitterly, when asked for a mere $200 to $500 to sustain family back home. Not because empathy has died. Not because roots have been forgotten. But because the weak naira has turned goodwill into anxiety, and every dollar sent now feels like pouring water into a basket. This fear is unnecessary. But it is not accidental. And that is the real issue Nigeria…
A striking portrait gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin to former U.S. President Donald Trump has now come to light, revealing a powerful depiction of Trump in a moment of survival and resolve following the July 2024 assassination attempt. The artwork, created by renowned Russian artist Nikas Safronov, portrays Trump with a bloodied ear and raised fist, firmly gripping his signature red “Make America Great Again” cap. Behind him stand unmistakable American symbols: the Statue of Liberty, the New York City skyline, and the U.S. flag visual cues intended to project resilience, national unity, and political defiance. The portrait…
Alleged N2.5m Extortion Rocks Jesse Community, Delta State A serious allegation of extortion has unsettled the Jesse community in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State. Following claims that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Jesse Police Division demanded and collected ₦2.5 million to secure the release of a detained suspect. According to family sources, the incident began after a young man was arrested over an alleged firearm-related offence. Shortly after the arrest, the suspect’s sister was reportedly contacted by police officers and informed that her brother could be released if she paid the same amount to them.…
Jersey Returns £7m Looted Funds to Nigeria, Quietly, In a development that has drawn little public attention within Nigeria, the Government of Jersey has formally returned more than £7 million (approximately $9.5 million) in looted funds to the Federal Government of Nigeria, following a court backed asset forfeiture process. Wahalaupdate correspondence confirms that the funds were held in a Jersey bank account and were classified as “tainted property” after the Royal Court of Jersey ruled in January 2024 that the money was more likely than not derived from a corrupt scheme. The scheme involved third party contractors diverting public funds…
Rivers State is once again standing on the frontline of Nigerian politics with the latest impeachment notice against Governor Siminalayi Fubara which has reignited a familiar storm, one that blends law, power, and old political rivalries into a combustible mix. This is not just another legislative dispute rather, It is a defining moment in the Rivers impeachment saga, exposing unresolved tensions within the political elite and testing the resilience of democratic institutions in one of Nigeria’s most strategic states. A sharp counter raised in the midst of the controversy are eight serious allegations by the Rivers State House of Assembly,…
In a decision sending tremors through global diplomacy, United States President Donald Trump has formally withdrawn Washington from 66 international organizations, marking one of the most radical foreign policy shifts in modern history. The move was sealed on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, when President Trump signed an executive order pulling the U.S. out of 31 United Nations affiliated institutions and 35 independent global bodies, citing that they “no longer serve American interests.” The announcement, posted by the White House on X, reaffirms Trump’s hardline “America First” doctrine, now fully re-entrenched following his return to the Oval Office. This is not…
The global energy and security order was jolted today after the United States seized a Russian flagged oil tanker in international waters, an action Moscow has denounced as illegal, provocative, and tantamount to piracy. The incident, involving the vessel Marinera (formerly Bella 1), marks a sharp escalation in Washington’s campaign to choke Venezuelan oil exports and underscores President Donald Trump’s renewed hard-line approach to sanctions enforcement. This is not a routine maritime interception. It is a calculated assertion of power and the world is taking note. THE SEIZURE: WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE According to U.S. officials, the Marinera was boarded…
The United Nations Security Council convened under grave circumstances on January 5, 2026, following a large scale United States military operation inside Venezuela, an action now threatening to redraw the rules of international engagement. Speaking on behalf of UN Secretary General António Guterres, Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, delivered a sobering assessment: the world may be standing at the edge of a new and destabilizing precedent. What Happened in Venezuela? According to UN briefings, US military forces conducted coordinated operations across Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira on January 3, 2026 The number of civilian…
Category: Security Analysis & Investigative Commentary Written from a Conflict Analysis & Sensitivity Perspective Yesterday’s high level engagement between Nigeria’s Foreign Minister and the President of Burkina Faso marks a late but necessary pivot from confrontation to containment. The meeting, convened to plead for the release of the 11 detained Nigerian servicemen and to activate dispute-resolution channels, underscores a hard truth: diplomacy works best when it is timely, quiet, and grounded in respect for sovereignty. What changed: Nigeria moved from reactive statements to face-to-face statecraft. The appeal focused on de escalation, due process, and restoring bilateral confidence. Burkina Faso, having…