WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russia's drone attack on Kyiv sets several residential buildings on fire, Ukraine says

Russia's overnight drone attack on Kyiv damaged several residential buildings and set cars on fire throughout the city, the military and officials of the Ukrainian capital said on Sunday.

Falling debris from destroyed drones sparked fires at residential buildings in Kyiv's Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts, Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on social media.

He added that several cars throughout the city also caught fire from falling drone debris.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app that medics were called to the Sviatoshynskyi district, west of the city centre, where they provided assistance.

Reuters' witnesses heard several explosions in what sounded like air defence systems in operation.

There was no immediate information on the full-scale of the attack. Kyiv, its surrounding region and the eastern half of Ukraine were under air-raid alerts for about an hour, starting soon after midnight on Sunday local time (2100 GMT).

There was no immediate comment from Moscow about the attack that took place amidst uncertainty over whether both sides will stop war activities during Moscow's May 8-10 commemorations of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

On Monday, Russia declared a three-day ceasefire for May 8-10, to which Kyiv responded with a proposal to stop war activities for 30 days.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia started more than three years ago with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ihor Taburets, governor of the central Ukrainian region of Cherkasy, said a Russian drone attack on the region late on Saturday sparked several fires. According to preliminary information, there were no injuries, Taburets said on Telegram.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukrainian drone strikes Russian Orthodox church

A Ukrainian drone has targeted a Russian Orthodox church in Belgorod Region, setting fire to the building, the local governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has reported.

Since the escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022, the Russian border region has repeatedly come under artillery and mortar fire, as well as UAV attacks, by Ukrainian forces.

In a post on his Telegram channel on Saturday, Gladkov wrote that the “the enemy is striking our holy sites again – an enemy drone has attacked Saint George Church in the village of Tolokonnoye,” not far from Belgorod. According to the official, the building’s domes caught fire as a result of the incident.

The governor thanked local self-defense forces for swiftly responding to the attack and extinguishing the flames quickly, which prevented further damage to the church.

In a separate post on Saturday, Gladkov estimated that over the past 24 hours, Kiev’s forces have launched over 40 drones and fired nearly 150 artillery shells at multiple localities in Belgorod Region, resulting in material damage. There have been no reports of casualties.

Last Thursday, the iconic New Jerusalem Orthodox church complex in the region burned down following a Ukrainian drone strike. Commenting on the incident at the time, Gladkov described it as a “deliberate” attack and also accused the Ukrainian military of subsequently targeting the firefighters who were trying to contain the blaze.

The metropolitan bishop of Belgorod Region, Ioann, similarly characterized the attack as “intentional,” saying that Kiev’s troops had deployed incendiary bombs. He also accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the first responders at the scene.

The New Jerusalem complex, a wooden reproduction of biblical Jerusalem, was built in the early 2000s.

In late February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “it’s clear that the Kiev regime doesn’t shy away from anything… There’s nothing sacred [for them].”

He made the remarks after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it apprehended two suspects who had allegedly planned to assassinate Metropolitan Tikhon, the head of the Simferopol and Crimean diocese, with a bomb, presumably at the behest of the Ukrainian intelligence services.

Metropolitan Tikhon is purported to be a close spiritual adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, though neither man has ever confirmed this.

Reuters/RT

Death does have its unmistakeable sting!

How else can we explain the inevitable shock even when it’s “almost expected”  as  probably imminent?

Pa Ayo Adebanjo, solid in frame, mind and character passed on at the ripe age 96!

He was active from his vibrant early youth, and soldiered on long after the  departure of his icon, the late sage and leader,  Obafemi Awolowo, ‘baba ‘layinka, iwo l’agbojule’!!!

His contributions in social and political activism spanned nearly eight decades!!

His ‘eloquent’  involvement is chronicled in detail elsewhere in the obsequies!!

He was a powerful voice for all progressive elements, regardless of their ethnic and religious origins!

He was a spokesman  for truth, for political fairness and humane accommodation, no matter whose ox was gored!

Ndigbo can never overstate their appreciation of his noble part in their post war struggle to be fully integrated and given their due against all odds and misrepresentations of history, and in spite of strident opposition from near and far!

Adebanjo was a true stalwart in the body of the Patriots who strongly believed that, despite its many foibles, Nigeria should be given every chance to emerge united under one banner, under a truly federal structure that accords all its constituent elements, respect and constitutional equality - till his last breath this was Adebanjo’s unflinching credo and dogma!

We should applaud our dearly departed his due insistence on fairness, legal and constitutional  postures, and his ever benign comradeship across the Niger and to all men of goodwill everywhere in this nation. In the END IT SHOWED!

We are assured of his place in the history of this our seemingly forever staggering  agglomeration of tribes and tongues. We should join in his prayer that this bungling, artificial creation, shall one day meet the minimum aspirations of its founders. Adebanjo stands tall and large among these  brave men and women who dared against all odds to stand for one nation under GOD!

We should all Honour him by a clear and bold recognition that every indication points to the huge unfinished task of building a NATION - a modern Nigeria of our dream; the generation that  lives to celebrate this DREAM that goes beyond the accident of colonial history, that truly means more than rhymes and verses in sturdied anthems, a nation that  truly evokes the imagination of our beautiful multiplicity of cultures and traditions. That  achievement will stir the heart of our departed friend and comrade, Adebanjo and all the hearts and minds of his  predecessors alike!

May our merciful Father admit his large heart and soul into the hallowed ranks of the faithful triumphant in Jesus mighty name.

** Kalu Idika Kalu is a former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance

For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death ~ Psalms 102:19-20.

Introduction

The realities which surround living in this world make the ministry of deliverance a very major feature of the messianic assignment and an essential element in the gospel program (Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:18). That is a truth we all must allow to settle down pretty well in our belief systems.

For the avoidance of any ambiguity, bondage depicts a state of slavery or involuntary servitude. And, a captive is someone who is being restrained, kept in a certain confinement and tucked away from the full liberty of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).

Undoubtedly, spiritual bondage is more intense than physical bondage. When a person is being restrained or is in prison in the natural sense, he knows his exact environment, surroundings, limitations, expectations, etcetera. But, in the spiritual sense, the details are somewhat different.

In spiritual imprisonment, we cannot see the jailers (or prison guards) that monitor the captives. We cannot see the confinement area that regulates their mobility. We cannot see the heavy chains holding them down, yet they feel the intense impact of it all nonetheless.

A closer study of Acts 16:23-27 in the context of Bible deliverance easily compares and contrasts physical and spiritual bondages.

First of all, the prisoners — Paul and Silas — were flogged. The jailer beat them, and continued to do so until they were weak. This is how it is with people who are held in satanic captivity.

Thereafter, the jailer cast them into the inner prison so he could have a stronger hold on them. Satan often places a demonic presence (or a “jailer”) over his captives.

The jailer's job is to keep the prisoners tight in captivity, and to prevent escape (Isaiah 14:17). Thus, after the jailer had put Paul and Silas into the more secure room within the prison, he also bound their feet to the floor of the cell. They were then limited only to movement within their space in captivity.

Similarly, a spiritual captive cannot exercise his liberty to be himself, enjoy his rights as a normal human being, or access the fullness of the superabundant life because of the various spiritual restraints around him (John 10:10).

However, in His characteristic mercy, our God is ever eager to set the captives free from every form of satanic captivity (John 8:36). He constantly looks down from heaven, pities them in their plight, and exercises His prerogative of mercy to set them free (Psalm 18:2-8, 13-19).

The Most High God is the real “All-In-All”: the Judge, the Lawgiver and the King (Isaiah 33:22). He has all it takes to deliver the captives: “The LORD looseth the prisoners” (Psalms 146:7).

Though He’s the God of peace, yet He readily goes to war whenever necessary, bruising Satan under our feet, to deliver His covenant children (Romans 16:20). He even commissioned and authorized all believers to be involved in this all-important task of casting out devils wherever they’re found (Mark 16:17).

Understanding Satan’s Method of Operation

Basically, man is a tri-partite being. He is a spirit, possesses a soul and lives in the body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). On the other hand, demons are spiritual aggressors, and they always seek out avenues to gain advantage over people to oppress or initiate bondages.

Especially when our guards are down, or when we are spiritually asleep, the enemy may gain advantage through several channels: generational flows, acquisitions, inheritance, environment, association, evil habits, some terrifying experiences, curses or our acts of ungodliness.

Demonic oppression can affect our spirits, souls and bodies in varying degrees. These attacks can result in sicknesses and diseases in the human body. That was the case with the woman who had the issue of blood and the woman who was bent over for eighteen years as recorded in the gospels (Mark 5:25-34; Luke 13:10-17).

In the same way, when the soul — the centre of human intellect, mind, will and emotions — comes under demonic attacks, it can result in bad tempers, depression, hallucinations, mental illnesses, bi-polar tendencies, roving suicidal thoughts, fear, drugs and alcoholic addictions.

In addition to these, inexplicable troubles in serving God, chronic unbelief, witchcraft spiritism and satanism are also common demonic works in the soul’s arena. Albeit, demons cannot get into the spirits of truly born-again Christians.

Our spirits cannot be possessed because they’re the candles of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27). However, demons may oppress our spirits, wherever opportunities arise, by surrounding them like a glass jar surrounds its contents, thus preventing the contents of the jar from fulfilling purpose.

Satan often targets the human mind as his major area of attack. He constantly looks out for loopholes to saturate our surroundings with his aides — the demonic/evil spirits — who receive and carry out his orders.

Moreover, Satan cannot read our minds, only our actions! He carefully studies our personalities, character, weaknesses and strengths to know what to do with us. Unfortunately, in many cases, he knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows the exact buttons to push and when.

The Works of Deliverance And Opening of Prison Doors

Bible deliverance is a spiritual art of being liberated, released or freed from satanic bondages, captivities and the snare of the fowler (Psalms 91:3). It is usually administered through prayers of authority to cast out the demons and to get rid of their grips.

True deliverance occurs when we submit ourselves to God’s plan, and resist the devil till he flees. Albeit, the root of the problem has to be addressed by the Word under the unction of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 10:27). Until the root is discovered, addressed and dealt with, the deliverance will remain superficial. The axe must be laid to the root of the demonic trees (Luke 3:9).

It may be helpful at this point to list some types of evil spirits that were referred to in the Bible: familiar spirit (Leviticus 19:31); lying spirit (2 Chronicles 18:22); spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3); seducing spirit (1 Timothy 4:1); dumb spirit (Mark 9:17); foul spirit (Mark 9:25); spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11); spirit of divination (Acts 16:16); spirit of bondage (Romans 8:15); spirit of the world (1 Corinthians 2:12); spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7) and spirit of the antichrist (1 John 4:3).

The only weapons that Paul and Silas used in their captivity were prayers and praises unto God! They were bound and immobile but their spirits soared in prayers and praise.

Thereafter, the prison doors were forcefully opened by God’s all-surpassing power. There was a violent earthquake, the prison foundation was shaken and deliverance took place!

See, spiritual earthquakes often occur to shake the foundations of hell at the points of deliverance. Afterwards, the prison doors are open, and the chains are loosed. Never forget: though the prison doors were opened, the prisoners still had to be freed of their chains.

Friends, this is total deliverance, and it’s your portion today, in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Deliverance has come! The doors are opened, the chains are broken, the captives can now freely walk out of the prisons, regardless of what they are! You won’t miss it. Happy Sunday!

____________________

Archbishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola

SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987

Can a man hide his thoughts from God?  No! You cannot pretend in your thoughts.

Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them. (Ezekiel 11:5)

As he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverb 23:7)

If you are a child of God, it will be evident from the abundance of your thoughts and the abundance of your speech.

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34).

Jesus said to Peter:

“Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23).

Are you mindful of the things of God or the things of men?

The Loving Mind

The mind of Christ is the mind of love. It is the loving mind. The loving mind is a gift of God. Jesus says:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).

You cannot teach someone to love God. Loving God is a gift of God. If you are of God, you will love God passionately.

The purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5).

If you love God, you will be determined to please Him. Jesus says:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15).

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10).

If you love God, you will love your neighbour.

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:20-21).

If you hate someone, you cannot have the mind of Christ. You cannot be malicious or vengeful and have the mind of Christ. If you have an unforgiven spirit, you cannot have the mind of Christ.

The mind of Christ enables us to relate to everyone in a spirit of love. Not only our children, but also the children of others.

The Darkened Mind

Man is born blind. God is the One who opens the eyes of the blind. (Psalm 146:8). We see with our mind and not just our eyes.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:18-19).

The darkened mind is the mind that received light from Jesus but became dark again. This is grievous and dangerous. Jesus says:

“If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23).

The greatest danger of all is that light rejected becomes darkness. The darkened mind cannot receive the word of God. 

He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them. (John 12:40).

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). NKJV

I know this condition because my mind was blinded until God told me: “Blessed are your eyes for they see.” (Matthew 13:16). But no condition in this world is permanent. If we do not keep renewing our minds with the word of God, our minds will become blinded. That blindness will be far worse than before.

So we conclude that a man may be born of the Spirit, and yet be darkened in mind. Our minds need to be regularly renewed so that our thoughts will be pure, and our souls filled with light.

The battle of salvation takes place in our minds. Through faith, the word of God, and prayer, we sustain the “mind of Christ.”

The Worshipful Mind

The mind of Christ is the worshipful mind. It is the mind given to worship God.

How does a man serve God? Do we serve him by ushering? Do we serve him by singing in the choir? Do we serve him by preaching the gospel? Do we serve God by paying tithes and giving offerings?

No! We serve God with our minds. We serve God with our spirit.  

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit. (Romans 1:9).

We serve God with our conscience.

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience. (2 Timothy 1:3).

We serve God with our whole heart. We serve God with fastings and prayers:

This woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Luke 2:27).

We serve God by singing and making melody to him in our hearts. 

Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19).

The worshipful heart serves God. Jesus says God is looking for those who worship him in spirit and in truth. That worship must have its foundation, not in our lips, but our hearts. When the seat of worship is not the heart, then the worship becomes vain. Jesus says:

“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me.” (Matthew 15:8-9).

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.femiaribisala.com

I was strolling up the hill in Greater Boston to a French cooking class. The rich aroma of melting butter and fresh herbs greeted us as it wafted through the chilly fall air. My friend Sylvie and I were eager to learn the art of soufflé-making.

The French instructors asked for everyone’s background. When Sylvie said she was from France, they pressed her to be specific: Which part of France? When they learned she hailed from Strasbourg, the Parisiennes exchanged disapproving glances. Sylvie eyed their silent, snooty disdain.

It got worse. When Sylvie started asking about techniques, we received curt responses and pronounced sighs. We left feeling as deflated as a collapsed soufflé.

The French instructors may have mastered the art of French cooking but failed miserably in practicing humility toward Sylvie. They could have done so by celebrating Sylvie’s hometown as a region with its own culinary specialties. In snubbing Sylvie, the instructors missed an opportunity to demonstrate the rich diversity of soufflés across geographies and to toast the diversity of participants in the cooking class.

Humility is based on a common theme: Train your focus on others, not on yourself.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING YOUR EGO

Early in my Silicon Valley career, I had the good fortune to work for Bart, a humble leader who left his ego at the door. Bart regularly sought out employees at all levels for their input on new products and improving the company. He collaborated with individuals and other stakeholders, so they could see what made sense for the business. He asked customers crucial questions and listened carefully to their answers. 

Bart never threw his weight around. Instead, he was a role model for how to be in a position of power while ensuring each employee felt heard, included, and invited to showcase their influence. Humility requires you to check your ego and ensure that you don’t let it dictate your actions.

SEEK AND EMBRACE FEEDBACK

Later in my career while running my diagnostic equipment business, we hired a head of research and development. This professional came with an impressive pedigree—his PhD and postdoctoral research were from some of the top schools in the world.

With his vast knowledge, accomplishments, and experience he easily could have asserted himself. You know, that arrogant person who knows best, never admits he’s wrong, and isn’t open to suggestions. We’ve all met that individual.

But our new head of R&D was actively soliciting feedback on products from collaborators, customers, and salespeople across the globe with less education. In the end, he was able to integrate input from a broad mix of stakeholders into our products. He always showed his gratitude for ideas people gave him and considered many of them for possible future use.

LISTEN MORE THAN YOU SPEAK

William is a strength and conditioning coach friend of mine who trains professional and amateur athletes. He says that one of the most common phrases he hears from his clients is “You really understand me.” He believes that this is because he allows his clients to do most of the talking. They feel heard and understood, he says, because he signals he’s listening intently.

According to him, the following practices are key to being a good listener:

• Practice active listening without planning your response. If you predict what the other person is about to say, your response could miss the mark. Respond only after the person you’re speaking with is done talking.
• Show genuine interest in others’ perspectives. Our natural tendency is to blurt out what we think. Resist the urge. Instead, draw the other person out through thoughtful questions.
• Don’t interrupt or dominate conversations. This is arguably the hardest to do because we want to be heard. Keep your lips together when you feel compelled to interject. Learn to sense when to yield the conversation to another person. You don’t want the reputation of being that person who doesn’t know when to stop talking.
• Ask thoughtful follow-up questions. Think through your follow-up question before you ask it. If you’ve been listening carefully, a question will come to mind with little effort.

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF CURIOSITY

There’s a concept called epistemic humility, which refers to a trait where you seek to learn on a deep level while actively acknowledging how much you don’t know.

Approach each interaction with curiosity, an open mind, and an assumption you’ll learn something new. Ask thoughtful questions about other’s experiences, perspectives, and expertise. Then listen and show your genuine interest in their responses. Let them know what you just learned. By consistently being curious, you demonstrate you’re not above learning from others.

Juan, a successful entrepreneur in the healthy beverage space, approaches life and grows his business with intellectual humility. He’s a deeply curious professional who seeks feedback and perspectives from customers, employees, advisers, and investors.

Juan’s ongoing openness to learning led him to adapt faster to market changes in his beverage category: He quickly identifies shifting customer preferences as well as competitive threats, then rapidly tweaks his product offerings to keep competitors at bay. He has the humility to realize he doesn’t have all the answers and embraces listening to key voices that help make his business even more successful.

A FINAL REFLECTION

Being humble makes us more approachable and respected. With humility, we value others’ perspectives. The French soufflé instructors lost their class participants’ respect because far from practicing humility, they served up snobbery along with their lessons on creating the perfect soufflé.

Humility isn’t about diminishing oneself. It’s about having a balanced perspective about yourself while showing genuine respect and appreciation for others. And if you’re open to the journey, the growth and self-awareness will enrich your life and the lives of those around you.

Fast Company

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned that it may be compelled to shut down its two major social media platforms in Nigeria following a series of hefty fines totaling over $290 million and what it describes as “unrealistic” regulatory demands from Nigerian authorities.

The crisis stems from regulatory actions taken by three Nigerian oversight bodies: the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). The FCCPC levied the largest fine—$220 million—for alleged anti-competitive practices. The NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million for data privacy violations, while ARCON imposed a $37.5 million penalty over unapproved advertising content.

These actions followed a 38-month joint investigation by the FCCPC and NDPC, covering the period between May 2021 and December 2023. In a court filing recently made public, Meta said that unless the rulings are overturned, it may be forced to “effectively shut down” Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria by the end of June to avoid enforcement measures.

Though Meta also owns WhatsApp, the messaging platform was not included in the shutdown threat or the primary court filings.

At the heart of Meta’s grievance is the NDPC’s interpretation of Nigeria’s data protection laws. The commission has demanded that Meta seek prior approval before transferring Nigerian users’ data abroad and create and display educational content on data privacy risks. These videos, to be developed in collaboration with approved local institutions, must highlight dangers such as manipulative data processing that could expose users to health or financial risks. Meta has pushed back strongly, calling the demands “unworkable” and accusing the NDPC of misapplying the law.

The competition tribunal in Abuja upheld the fines in April 2025, and the court has given Meta until the end of June to comply.

What Nigeria and Nigerians Stand to Lose if Meta Pulls Out

If Meta follows through on its threat to exit the Nigerian market, the economic and social impact could be profound:

1. Disruption of Communication:

Facebook is one of the most widely used platforms in Nigeria, with tens of millions of users relying on it for daily communication, information sharing, and community building. A shutdown would fracture these digital networks overnight.

2. Economic Fallout for Small Businesses:

Thousands of small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria use Facebook and Instagram as cost-effective platforms for marketing, customer engagement, and e-commerce. A shutdown would immediately cut off these businesses from their customer base, leading to lost revenue and possibly job losses.

3. Reduced Access to Global Markets:

Nigerian entrepreneurs, content creators, and service providers who depend on Meta’s platforms to reach international audiences would face severe limitations, undermining Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

4. Setback for Digital Literacy and Inclusion:

Facebook and Instagram play an indirect role in digital education, advocacy, and civic engagement. Their exit would shrink the online public space and may weaken efforts in digital inclusion and awareness.

5. Investor Confidence and Regulatory Risk:

The standoff could signal to global tech companies that Nigeria’s regulatory environment is unpredictable or hostile, potentially deterring future investments in the country’s tech sector.

6. Data Sovereignty vs. Global Integration:

While Nigeria has the right to enforce data protection laws, overly rigid or poorly coordinated regulatory actions risk isolating Nigerian users and businesses from global platforms. Finding a balanced, collaborative regulatory framework is essential to safeguarding sovereignty without sacrificing innovation or access.

In summary, while the Nigerian government is rightly prioritizing data privacy, fair competition, and advertising standards, the broader consequences of Meta’s withdrawal would ripple across communication, commerce, and development. A negotiated compromise, involving clearer legal standards and stakeholder consultation, may be the only viable path forward to avoid a lose-lose outcome.

At a time when many American students are struggling to keep up, a private school in Texas is doing more with less, much less.
At Alpha School, students spend just two hours a day in class, guided by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tutor. But results are impressive: students are testing in the top 1 to 2% nationally.
"We use an AI tutor and adaptive apps to provide a completely personalized learning experience," said Alpha co-founder MacKenzie Price during an interview on Fox & Friends.
"Our students are learning faster. They’re learning way better. In fact, our classes are in the top 2% in the country."

After the short morning academic block, the rest of the school day is spent building real-world skills like public speaking, teamwork and financial literacy.

Price, a Stanford-educated psychologist, said she launched Alpha after her daughters came home from school bored and unchallenged. The first Alpha campus opened in Austin in 2016 after two years of development.

The idea was simple and bold: compress core academics into two hours per day using technology, and free up the rest of the day for students to grow in other ways.

That model appears to be working. Elle Kristine, a junior who’s been at Alpha since second grade, shared her experience on Fox & Friends.

"I have a lot of friends at traditional school," Kristine said. "They’re spending all this time on schoolwork, they’re so stressed out, and they’re just miserable."

"We get all of our academics done in just three hours a day, and then the rest of the day we get to spend doing what we love and working on passion projects," she said.

"For me, I’m creating a safe AI dating coach for teenagers. It was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal. What 16-year-old has time for that? It’s awesome."

Alpha currently operates campuses in Austin, Brownsville, and Miami, serving students from Pre-K through high school.

The Austin location includes both a K–8 academy and a dedicated high school campus downtown. Alpha’s Brownsville school is the fastest growing, and the Miami campus now serves students through 10th grade.

Enrollment is intentionally small, around 150 students at the original Austin site, allowing for a highly personalized experience. 

Instead of traditional teachers, Alpha employs guides who focus on coaching and emotional support, while AI handles the academic instruction.

"Our teachers spend all of their time working with our students," Price said. "That human connection can never be replaced by AI. But the AI makes it possible to personalize learning for everyone."

With results and parent demand growing, Alpha is now taking its education model nationwide. The school has announced plans to open seven new campuses by Fall 2025.

Upcoming locations include:

Texas: Houston and Fort Worth (K–8)

Florida: Orlando, Tampa, and Palm Beach (K–8)

Arizona: Phoenix (K–8)

California: Santa Barbara (K–12)

New York: New York City (K–8)

Applications are already open for many of these sites. Tuition varies by location, averaging around $40,000 to $50,000 annually, though the Brownsville campus is subsidized to make it more accessible.

"This is infinitely scalable and accessible," Price said. "It’s going to help students who are struggling, and also those who are just bored in traditional classrooms."

Alpha’s rise comes as school choice found a champion in the Trump administration.

In January, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Education to help states reallocate federal education funds toward school-choice programs, including charter schools, private vouchers, and education savings accounts.

"Parents want and deserve the best education for their children," the order states. "But too many children do not thrive in their assigned, government-run K–12 school."

Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the policy shift as "history-making" and stressed that the administration is giving power back to families and local communities.

"We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs," McMahon said. "Families deserve control over how their children learn. That includes AI-powered schools, faith-based options, or traditional public classrooms."

The Trump administration’s plan also allows parents to use 529 savings accounts to pay for private K–12 tuition and encourages states to apply for federal grants that support innovation in education.

The Alpha School did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News

Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis launch two missiles towards Israel

Israel intercepted a second missile fired from Yemen on Friday, its military said, as the U.S. intensifies its strikes in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi group.

The militant group claimed responsibility for firing two missiles thousands of kilometres north targeting Israel's Ramat David air base and the Tel Aviv area.

Alarms were sounded in several areas, the military added, after the launch of both missiles, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

The military said it had intercepted both missiles.

U.S. President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities and deter them from attacking ships in the Red Sea.

The deadly strikes on the group were the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January.

The Houthis say their attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping are in solidarity with the Palestinians over the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

The group pledged to expand its range of targets in Israel in retaliation for a renewed offensive in Gaza that began two months ago.

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine can’t reclaim lost territory – Rubio

Ukraine will not be able to reclaim its 2014 borders from Russia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has publicly stated he will never recognize the lost territories, including Crimea, as Russian. The peninsula voted overwhelmingly to join Russia in 2014, shortly after the US-backed armed coup in Kiev. Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk and Lugansk regions held their own referendums in 2022 to become part of Russia.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg told Fox News that Kiev has expressed a willingness to cede land de facto, if not de jure, as part of a peace deal.

“Ukraine can’t push the Russians all the way back to where they were in 2014,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News on Thursday.

After months of US-brokered peace efforts, Washington has a pretty clear idea of what both sides want, the top US diplomat noted.

“We kind of can see what it would take for Ukraine to stop. We can see what it would take for the Russians to stop,” he said, adding that Moscow’s and Kiev’s settlement demands are still “far apart.” 

“It’s going to take a real breakthrough here very soon to make this possible, or I think the President is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we’re going to dedicate to this,” Rubio said.

Both Trump and Rubio have previously warned that the US could walk away from being a peace broker in the Ukraine conflict, if there is no progress soon.

“Not that a war in Ukraine is not important, but I would say what’s happening with China is more important,” Rubio said, adding that Iran is another US concern.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that its peace terms include Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization and denazification, as well as for Kiev to give up its ambitions to join NATO. Also, ceding the new Russian regions of Kherson, Zaporozhye and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics is not up for discussion, Russian President Vladimir Putin said last year. Should Kiev abandon plans to join the US-led military bloc and withdraw its troops from the four new territories, Moscow is ready to institute an immediate ceasefire, he added.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russian drones hit apartment block in Ukraine's Kharkiv, 46 hurt

Russia launched a mass drone attack late on Friday in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, hitting a high-rise apartment block, triggering fires and injuring 46 people, officials said.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said there had been strikes in 12 locations in four central districts of the city, a repeated target of Russian air attacks lying 30 km (19 miles) from the country's northeastern border.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denounced the drone strikes, which hit Ukrainian cities several times a week. He said dozens of drones had been launched and Ukraine's allies were moving too slowly in helping beef up its air defence capability.

"There were no military targets, nor could there be any. Russia strikes dwellings when Ukrainians are in their homes, when they are putting their children to bed," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.

"As the world delays decisions, almost every night in Ukraine turns into a horror that results in the loss of lives. Ukraine needs stronger air defences. Stronger and real decisions from our partners: the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace."

Terekhov said a house had also been hit. An 11-year-old child was among the injured. Eight of those hurt were being treated in hospital.

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said emergency crews were working through the night to tackle the aftermath of the attack despite fears of repeat strikes.

Pictures posted online showed firefighters battling flames, charred building facades with smashed windows and cars aflame in streets littered with rubble.

Regional authorities said four people were also injured in a Russian joint drone and artillery attack on localities east of Nikopol in southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region.

In southern Kherson region, a village resident died when a fallen drone detonated as he was trying to carry it away from a house.

Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians, though many thousands have been killed since it launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

Russia's Defence Ministry, meanwhile, reported that its air defence units had destroyed 10 Ukrainian drones in an hour: eight over the border region of Bryansk and two over Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Yuri Slyusar, acting governor of Rostov region, on Ukraine's eastern border, said air defence units had destroyed Ukrainian drones over five districts. Falling fragments had damaged some homes, he said, but there were no casualties.

RT/Reuters

The passing of our revered leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has left a void that words alone cannot fill. He was not just a leader but a father, a mentor, and an unwavering pillar of strength in my life and in the struggle for a just and restructured Nigeria.

Pa Adebanjo was central to my political journey, playing a decisive role in my election to the Federal House of Representatives and my emergence as Leader of the Alliance for Democracy in the House. His wisdom, guidance, and unshakable principles were the bedrock upon which many of us built our political careers. He was a man of his word—firm, dependable, and as constant as the Northern Star. Once he gave his word, he stood by it, regardless of the pressures that came his way.

What struck me most about Baba was his humility and respect for others, regardless of age or status. Though many of us on the National Executive Council of Afenifere were far junior to him in experience and stature, he treated us as colleagues, never as subordinates. He listened, he debated, and he valued every voice in the room. The false accusations by some that he was dictatorial or that he “played solo” were nothing but malicious fabrications. Those of us who worked closely with him knew better—he was a democrat to the core, a leader who led by consensus and conviction.

Now, as I step into the enormous shoes he left behind, I am acutely aware of the weight of this responsibility. Pa Adebanjo was a titan—a fearless advocate for restructuring, true federalism, and the unity of Southern and Middle Belt Nigeria. His life was a testament to the relentless pursuit of fairness, equity, and justice in a balanced federation.

The task ahead is daunting, but I take solace in the fact that I do not walk this path alone. With the grace of God and the unwavering support of my colleagues in the national and state executives of Afenifere, I pledge to uphold the ideals he lived and died for. We will continue the fight—the fight for a Nigeria where no region is oppressed, where power is decentralized, and where every citizen can thrive in dignity.

Baba, you have run your race with courage and honour. You fought the good fight, and now it is left to us to carry the torch forward. Rest well, knowing that your legacy will never fade.

** Oladipo Olaitan is the new leader of Afenifere