President Donald Trump said Sunday the U.S. will create a “crypto strategic reserve” that includes major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum—boosting crypto prices—the latest effort by Trump to court the cryptocurrency industry as he’s become a major crypto backer in recent months.

Key Facts

A national crypto reserve will “elevate this critical industry after years of corrupt attacks” Trump said, adding he directed his administration to “move forward on a Crypto Strategic Reserve” that includes cryptocurrencies XRP, solana and ADA.

He then added a second post saying the reserve will “obviously” include bitcoin and ethereum as the “heart of the Reserve,” saying he “loves” the top two cryptocurrencies.

Trump’s announcement Sunday builds on an executive order Trump issued Jan. 23 directing his administration to create a “working group” to propose a regulatory framework on digital assets, which includes evaluating a “national digital asset stockpile.”

What Was The Impact On Crypto Prices?

Bitcoin prices shot up more than 10% from around the time of Trump’s announcement to more than $94,000 early Sunday afternoon, while ethereum prices soared more than 13% from before the announcement to briefly top $2,500 in the early afternoon. Prices for the smaller market cap coins Trump mentioned—XRP, ADA and solana—all spiked at least 20% shortly after Trump’s announcement.

What Would A ‘crypto Strategic Reserve’ Look Like?

It’s still unclear what the final parameters of any crypto stockpile would look like, but Trump’s executive order suggests the reserve would be “potentially derived” from cryptocurrency the federal government has seized “through its law enforcement efforts.” The New York Times noted in January the federal government already has an estimated $19 billion in bitcoin that it’s seized, which it could simply hang on to in order to establish a stockpile. The government has previously periodically sold off its crypto holdings, The Washington Post notes, which has historically then driven down crypto prices, so any efforts to just hold onto that crypto and stockpile it would prevent that from happening. What remains to be seen is whether Trump will also try to acquire significant amounts of new cryptocurrency to stock the reserves, which would likely boost the crypto industry and existing crypto holders—but would also likely require congressional approval, the Times notes.

Chief Critic

While the cryptocurrency industry has cheered news of a national stockpile, some economists have raised concerns about the proposal. They point to cryptocurrency’s volatility, arguing the government purchasing cryptocurrency is a gamble that would primarily benefit existing crypto holders and could ultimately result in billions’ worth of taxpayer money getting wiped out, should the industry take a downturn. “There’s just no discernible logic to do it,” Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told the Post in November about a national stockpile. “I get why the crypto investor would love it. Other than the crypto investor, I don’t see the value, particularly if taxpayers have to ante up.”

Why Do Crypto Advocates Want A Stockpile?

In addition to boosting the industry through government purchases of crypto and preventing losses from any government sell-offs, cryptocurrency advocates believe a national stockpile would also help shrink the national debt by increasing federal revenue through the growing value of the government’s crypto investments. Sen. Cynthia Loomis, R-Wyo., introduced a bill in July to establish a national bitcoin stockpile in order to use the cryptocurrency as a government “savings technology” and way to “bolster America’s balance sheet,” claiming to the Post the effort would “cut the national debt in half.”

Tangent

One cryptocurrency that Trump’s Sunday announcement didn’t name is tether, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar, though the Post reports the U.S.’ seized cryptocurrency that could be used for a stockpile includes the stablecoin. That’s notable because Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has ties to tether, with public reporting suggesting Cantor Fitzgerald, which Lutnick long led, helps oversee the cryptocurrency’s portfolio and recently struck a deal that could result in Cantor Fitzgerald getting a 5% ownership stake in tether. Lutnick has resigned from Cantor Fitzgerald and said he will divest from it as a result of his government role, but Democrats have criticized his company’s involvement with tether, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., writing in a letter to Lutnick she has “serious concern[s]” about his involvement with tether and arguing his role as commerce secretary will put him “in a position to influence policies that may directly or indirectly impact Tether and the entire cryptocurrency industry.” The White House and Commerce Department have not responded to a request for comment about whether Lutnick would be involved with the Crypto Strategic Reserve.

Key Background

Trump became a major cheerleader for the crypto industry ahead of the November election, attracting significant fundraising support from top crypto figures as he announced a suite of friendly proposals that included tackling strict regulations, calling for all remaining bitcoin to be made in the U.S. and pushing for lower interest rates. The then-candidate also pledged to create a national stockpile for crypto, saying in July when he headlined the Bitcoin Conference, “For too long our government has violated the cardinal rule that every bitcoiner knows by heart: Never sell your bitcoin.” Trump even got into the cryptocurrency game himself, creating his own $TRUMP meme coin amid his inauguration. Trump’s Sunday announcement about the national stockpile comes after the president has already courted the crypto industry through other moves in office, creating the position of a “Special Advisor for AI and Crypto”—filled by former PayPal COO David Sacks—rescinding former Biden-era crypto guidance, establishing a working group to come up with how to regulate the crypto industry and appointing well-known crypto backer Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forbes

African oil-producing countries have significantly increased their contribution to global oil discoveries, now representing 35% of newly discovered oil reserves in 2024—a substantial increase from just 7% in 2023, according to a new report by S&P Global.

The report, titled "High Impact Wells 2025," reveals that while global discoveries totaled approximately 8.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent (the lowest newly discovered volumes since the 1950s), African basins made notable contributions. The Cote D'Ivoire Basin and Orange Sub-basin alone accounted for 2.9 billion barrels of this total.

"Notably, 60% of offshore Africa's new field wildcats were drilled in frontier or immature basins," the report states. The Southwest African Coastal Basin, particularly the Orange Sub-basin, and the Cote d'Ivoire Basin emerged as major exploration hotspots.

Galp's Mopane 1X discovery in the Orange Sub-basin stands out as the year's largest global find, notable for its location in shallower waters (1,400m shallower than the Venus discovery) with favorable reservoir properties. The basin continues to attract exploration from major players including TotalEnergies and Shell, with further high-impact wells planned for 2025.

Eni's successful Murene 1X well, which made the Calao discovery, represents the third-largest find in the Cote d'Ivoire Basin. "If not for the Orange Sub-basin, the Cote d'Ivoire Basin has been the most prolific African basin since 2021," notes the report.

The findings highlight a growing industry focus on deepwater exploration, with drillers reaching depths of approximately 1,680 meters at the Mopane well and 2,200 meters at the Murene 1X well in Côte d'Ivoire. Ultra-deepwater exploration, exemplified by the Venus 1X well (3,000 meters water depth) and Nigeria's Bonga Oil Field, represents a high-risk but potentially high-reward strategy.

Despite Africa's growing prominence, Nigeria—possessing oil reserves of 37.5 billion barrels—was notably absent from these recent discoveries. However, Shell's planned $5 billion investment in the Bonga North Field and Chevron's discovery of a new oil field in the Meji NW-1 well (with potential for 17,000 barrels per day) suggest Nigeria may rejoin the conversation in coming years.

Looking ahead to 2025, S&P Global projects that the Southwest African Coastal Basin, Central Arabian Province, and Guyana Basin will remain significant players in the exploration landscape. More than 35 high-impact wells are scheduled globally, with Latin America and Africa continuing as key regions of focus.

The OPEC Secretary-General, Haitham Al-Ghais, recently challenged Africa to unlock its proven oil reserves of over 120 billion barrels amid the ongoing energy transition being advocated by Western nations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, the husband of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has publicly defended his wife following her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In a recent interview on Arise TV, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio made inappropriate advances toward her at his office and residence in Akwa Ibom State. The allegations come after a prior dispute between the two lawmakers over seating arrangements in the Senate.

In a statement released on Saturday, Uduaghan, who holds the title of Alema of Warri Kingdom, revealed that his wife had shared details of her troubling interactions with the Senate President. He disclosed that he had personally met with Akpabio to address the issue, urging him to treat his wife with the respect she deserves and to honor their mutual friendship.

“We reached an understanding and agreed to resolve the matter amicably,” Uduaghan stated. “However, despite this agreement, my wife continues to express concerns about the harassment she has endured from the Senate President.”

Uduaghan expressed unwavering support for his wife, emphasizing the strength of their marriage, which he described as being built on love, compassion, and mutual respect. “I have complete faith in my wife’s loyalty and am fully committed to our marriage. She is the greatest joy of my life, and I would never trade her for anything,” he said.

He concluded by calling on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate President to treat his wife with the dignity and respect she deserves, while allowing the relevant authorities and courts to address the underlying issues.

The statement has further intensified the controversy surrounding the allegations, drawing attention to the ongoing tensions within the Senate.

Israel agrees on US plan for temporary ceasefire in Gaza, PM's office says

Israel will adopt the proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover periods, the prime minister's office said early on Sunday, hours after the first phase of the previously agreed ceasefire was set to expire.

On the first day of Witkoff's proposal, half of the hostages held in Gaza, both alive and dead, will be released, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, adding the remaining hostages will also be released after a permanent ceasefire was agreed.

Witkoff made the proposal to extend the current ceasefire after realizing more time was needed for talks on a permanent ceasefire, Netanyahu's office added.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem earlier on Saturday said the group rejected Israel's "formulation" of extending the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, but did not explicitly mention Witkoff's plan.

Netanyahu's office said Israel would immediately conduct negotiations on Witkoff's plan if Hamas agreed to it.

"According to the agreement, Israel can return to fighting after the 42nd day if it feels that the negotiations are ineffective," Netanyahu's office also said, accusing Hamas of violating the deal. Both sides have been trading accusations of violating the deal.

Two Palestinian officials familiar with the negotiation told Reuters that Israel refused to enter the second phase of the agreement or start negotiations about it.

Instead, Israel requested an extension of the first phase, conditioned on the handover of a number of alive prisoners and bodies for each week of extension.

Hamas, however, rejected and insisted on adhering to the agreement, entering the second phase, and obliging Israel to

what was agreed upon.

On Saturday, Hamas's armed wing posted a video showing Israeli hostages still in its custody in Gaza and stressed that the remaining hostages can only be freed through a swap deal as stated in the phased ceasefire agreement that began on January 19.

The ceasefire agreement halted 15 months of fighting, allowing the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It was meant to lead to subsequent talks to build on the ceasefire deal.

Talks about the ceasefire have been ongoing, most recently in Cairo, but have not led to an agreement.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

UK's Starmer tries to revive hope for Ukraine peace at summit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will try to revive hope for peace in Ukraine at a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other Western leaders on Sunday, two days after the Ukrainian leader and U.S. President Donald Trump clashed in Washington.

After a heated row with Trump, who threatened to stop support for Ukraineafter accusing Zelenskiy of being ungrateful for U.S. aid, the Ukrainian leader flew to London on Saturday to be greeted on Downing Street with a long, warm hug from Starmer.

Zelenskiy will receive a pledge of support from Starmer and other European leaders, who face the stark question of whether they can take over the lead in providing Kyiv with weapons and finance before any peace talks begin.

Lacking the weaponry and depth of ammunition stocks of the United States, European leaders have so far offered expressions of support after the Zelenskiy row, with Germany calling for the release of 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for Ukraine.

On Sunday, Starmer will hope they will offer more concrete means to support Ukraine and try to revive a possible peace deal with Russia by convincing Trump Europe can step up to defend itself. Some leaders might also encourage Zelenskiy to go back into talks with the U.S. leader.

"Three years on from Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, we are at a turning point," Starmer said in a statement, offering his "unwavering support for Ukraine" by doubling down on providing capacity, training and aid to Kyiv.

"In partnership with our allies, we must intensify our preparations for the European element of security guarantees alongside continued discussions with the United States."

At a meeting that has taken on added significance, Starmer will start Sunday by holding talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after welcoming Zelenskiy on Saturday with a clear message of support for a visibly shaken leader.

They will then be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, the EU's Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and leaders from Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania. Turkey's foreign minister will also attend.

BAD END TO GOOD WEEK

Zelenskiy's row with Trump on Friday ended a week when Europe had appeared to be in a better position in its drive to encourage Trump to continue to offer support to Ukraine after cordial visits to Washington by Macron and Starmer.

Both had pressed the U.S. leader to offer what is known as "a backstop" to a potential European peacekeeping force in the event of a deal between Kyiv and Moscow. While they had failed to secure a promise from Trump, he had not totally rejected the idea.

But the rest of Europe is a long way from falling in behind the French and British leaders' plans to safeguard a peace deal, and Starmer will hope to take on a leadership role by suggesting Britain become a bridge between Europe and the United States.

Sunday's meeting is a boost for Starmer, whose team felt his meeting with Trump last week had gone better than expected with Trump praising the British leader and even suggesting Ukraine could regain some lost territory in peace talks.

Friday's disastrous meeting poisoned that mood, and Sunday's summit and an extraordinary EU one in Brussels next week will prove crucial to establishing whether European leaders can offer Ukraine something concrete and repair the damage done.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also called for an emergency summit involving the United States, European nations and allies to discuss how "to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine".

On Sunday, European leaders are expected again to press for peace talks to include Ukraine, to strengthen Kyiv's position and to secure the necessary security guarantees to ensure a long-lasting peace and to deter any future Russian attack.

That would mean persuading Washington to offer a back stop, possibly in the form of air cover, intelligence and surveillance and a greater as yet unspecified threat if Putin again sought to take more territory.

Starmer will update other leaders on his meeting with Trump, when the U.S. president praised his efforts to increase defence spending and offer to deploy peacekeeping troops.

For now, Starmer wants to lower the temperature after the row in Trump's Oval Office.

Some leaders will also urge Zelenskiy to try to rebuild bridges with Trump. NATO's Rutte and Polish President Andrzej Duda have urged the Ukrainian leader to find a way to restore the relationship.

Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesperson for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, told Reuters on Saturday that Europe needed to maintain its contacts with Trump.

"Generally speaking, we don't know where Trump will stand on all these issues in three or six months' time," he said.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Zelensky’s Washington trip a ‘complete failure’ – Moscow

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s recent visit to Washington was a “complete political and diplomatic failure” for Kiev, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Her comments follow a tense meeting between Zelensky, US President Donald Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House on Friday, which ended abruptly without a planned minerals agreement being signed. During a heated exchange in the Oval Office, Zelensky resisted Trump’s demand to negotiate peace with Moscow, leading Trump to accuse him of ingratitude, “gambling with World War III,” and an unwillingness to end the conflict.

On Saturday, Zakharova criticized Zelensky’s “outrageously boorish behavior” in Washington, stating that his actions confirmed “he is the most dangerous threat to the world community as an irresponsible warmonger.” She emphasized that Moscow has repeatedly highlighted Zelensky’s “inadequacy,” corruption, and inability to negotiate.

“Everyone should realize how unambiguous such outbursts from the terrorist leader sound,” she said in a statement on Telegram. According to the diplomat, “in the current increasingly deteriorating political conditions for the Kiev regime, [Zelensky] is unable to show a sense of responsibility and is therefore obsessed with continuing the war, rejecting peace, which for him would be like death.”

Zakharova described Trump’s reprimand of Zelensky at the White House as a “sobering dressing-down” unprecedented in international politics and diplomacy. She asserted that this incident also highlights the “political weakness and profound moral degradation” of European leaders who continue to back Zelensky, whom she characterized as “insane” and disconnected from reality. 

Following the spat, EU nations, including France, Germany and Poland rushed to defend the Ukrainian leader and expressed their support for Kiev.

The failed meeting has raised concerns about future US support for Ukraine. Zelensky’s visit was initially intended to finalize a deal granting the US access to Ukraine’s minerals, including rare-earths. The collapse of the talks has left the agreement in limbo.

Reuters/RT

It is unheard of, for heads of state to turn on each other PUBLICLY in this manner! Such disagreements are tolerable behind the curtains, certainly  not in the full glare of the cameras. And whatever his limitations - and they are many - Zelensky remains a sitting President. It is absolutely out of place in the world of diplomacy, for a VP - even of a super power - to address him so rudely, in the manner Vance did, again, PUBLICLY! These people do not have class, no panache. The optics, very bad for both Ukraine  and the US. Putin must be having a ball now! The silver  lining in all of these for Kyiv is that the colonial type of agreement to hand its valuable earth resources to the US, may no longer be consummated with this open confrontation. I hope Zelensky, and all leaders, especially in the Global South, draw appropriate lessons from all of these: to always balance their aspirational and operational foreign policy objectives, to not be led astray like the Ukrainian President, who was led into believing his country was going to defeat Russia in the event of a war.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding ~ Proverbs 4:7.

Preamble:

We live today in an era of wisdom! Knowledge is rapidly expanding at an unprecedented rate; information is now abundant and readily accessible in all areas of human endeavor, especially with the breathtaking advancements in artificial intelligence.

However, whereas we’re making astronomical progress in expanding the bodies of knowledge, true wisdom is being relegated to the background and remains indiscernible, unrecognized and unacknowledged by many people in many quarters of the world. Too often, our decisions are driven by ignorance, queer idiosyncrasies, short-sightedness, carnality, emotionalism and self-centeredness.

It’s certainly foolish to value, desire or seek any material thing above divine wisdom (Proverbs 16:16). No wonder, we’re strongly urged to embrace God’s wisdom, which can provoke in us the spirit of prudence, understanding and sound judgement (Proverbs 4:5-7).

Undoubtedly, God’s wisdom is supreme, and getting divine wisdom is the wisest thing we can do! It beams true light into our minds, which we call insight. It is by this that any man or woman may identify what to do that God will bless (John 8:29).

Wisdom and understanding of natural and supernatural things tend to high profitability because they enrich the mind with knowledge. A wise man is profitable to himself, his family, his assignment and the world at large. He makes the world beautiful and better to justify the wisdom of God.

Indeed, wisdom is the ruler on earth today, and a wise man is a plus to his world. Divine wisdom is priceless and invaluable, and her rewards are also incalculable.

Our God is great, supremely wise and infinite in all His perfections. He’s the original fountain of knowledge; hence, it’s our privilege and greatest honor to embrace His wisdom. Happy is the man that finds it(Proverbs 3:13-15).

The Excellency, Superiority and the Supremacy of Wisdom

There are only a few things in this world that cannot be valued in pure gold or precious stones. However, the price of wisdom, especially divine wisdom, is far above them all (Job 28:15-16). But why? How is wisdom more precious than gold?

Essentially, Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God (1Corinthians 1:24, 30). Thus, having Jesus Christ — the Wisdom of God — is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 4:7; ESV). He that has Him is spiritually wise, and has the merchandise of grace, which is by far better than silver and more gainful than fine gold (1Timothy 4:8).

No wonder then that true wisdom is referred to as a “tree of life” (Proverbs 3:18-22; 4:13). While gold, silver or any precious gem cannot give life to those who find or hold them, divine wisdom gives life to all those who embrace it. Herein is the excellency of wisdom: it defends and gives life to them that receive it (Ecclesiastes 7:12)

Wisdom also preserves and gives peace to all those who find, esteem, love and retain her. Gold cannot prolong life or give peace, but the wisdom of God does (Proverbs 3:16-24). Therefore, when you walk in the way of wisdom, your steps are divinely guided in the of peace (Proverbs 4:5-6, 12).

Again, the wisdom from above procuresand secures grace and glory for all those who love and keep her. When you exaltdivine wisdom, she will bring you promotion, and when you embrace her, she will bring you honors and enduring riches. With God’s wisdom, you cannot be a failure in life (Proverbs 4:7-9).

Furthermore, wisdom is superior to any other thing because it carries the capacity to increase the cutting edge of our strength (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Wisdom has the advantage of augmenting the effort of the workman, placing rightly the means relevant to an end.

If the iron is blunt and it’s not sharpened, the laborer must use more force, and yet it may be to no purpose as it may not produce the desired effect. Such is it with those who push things with all their might and power without wisdom, sound judgment and discretion.

Wisdom is profitable to direct. It puts a man in the right way of doing things. It directs him to take the best methods, and pursue the best ways of doing things, both for his own good and the good of others.

Without wisdom, we cannot go profitably through the meanest concerns in life; but as wisdom instructs, a man may find his direction both in the smallest matters and in the weighty affairs. Hence, wisdom is better than strength (Ecclesiastes 9:16).

The Self-Revealing Gains of Wisdom

The gains of practical wisdom are multifarious and multidirectional, touching on all things that pertain to life and godliness. For example, a wise person learns that one who loses his faith usually loses all.

Life’s journeys don’t always follow straight lanes. Setbacks, disappointments and unexpected twists are occasionally inevitable. Nevertheless, the right choice is to keep moving forward, even when staying stuck feels easier.

Again, a wise person, for sure, learns that it does not pay to be too sensitive to certain things and certain offenses: after all, not all things that are highly valued are truly valuable, eternity-wise!

No one ever got to the pinnacle of success alone, it’s through cooperative efforts that one moves on to better platforms in life. We are all humans; it doesn’t do any harm to smile, to forgive, and to say hello, even if the rain is drenching.

Moreover, a wise young person learns to respect the old, deferring to the grace he located, his life’s experiences and the price he paid to reach that age. A wise old person also sympathizes with the young, remembering how challenging and bewildering it was at that age.

Please always remember that the surest access to strength is to abide in the presence of the Lord (Psalms 84:7; Jeremiah 8:22). The easiest access to honor is to serve God acceptably (John 12:26); nevertheless, the quickest way to lose it is to be fraternizing with things that Jesus died to redeem us from: sins.

Beloved brethren and friends, it’s an act of courage to let go of what can’t align with your values in Christ, your dreams, or your well-being, and to take the necessary steps to invigorate your new life in Christ.

In the end, wisdom is not just about knowing — it is about living truly, rightly, humbly, profitably and especially, in alignment with God’s kingdom values within us. You won’t miss this, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 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

Nobody spoils a man’s life like Jesus. Jesus is a killer of all worldly joy. God’s attitude to the world is often lost on many. God hates the world’s system. The world hated Jesus and killed him. Therefore, anyone who is a lover of pleasure; anyone who likes this world, becomes an enemy of God.

Accordingly, James asks:

“You adulterers! Don’t you realise that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4).

Paul agrees:

“She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.” (1 Timothy 5:6).

God is so implacably opposed to the world; He has doomed it to destruction. Isaiah says:

“I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth.” (Isaiah 28:22).

In the meantime, God plans “to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.” (Isaiah 23:9).

God allows wickedness to prevail on earth, the better to commend to us the superiority of the kingdom of heaven. Job notes that:

“The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked.” (Job 9:24).

This is because God allows it to be so. Thus, God allows the worst kinds of people to be heads of state and governments:

“The High God rules human kingdoms. He arranges kingdom affairs however He wishes and makes leaders out of losers.” (Daniel 4:17).

Wonder-less World

Thanks to Jesus, we are brought to the realisation that what we deem to be life is death. Under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, believers are made foreigners and strangers here on decrepit earth; having become citizens of a spiritual heavenly kingdom.

Out of this new reality is then fashioned a completely different psychology. The atonement kills everything before it makes them come back to life.

Christ makes every pain irrelevant, and He diminishes every joy outside of Himself. Therefore, be contemptuous of every advantage. Overlook every disadvantage. Jesus is a leveller. The kingdom of God cancels deficits and erases credits. Before the glory of God is revealed:

“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill brought low.” (Isaiah 40:4).

God is at pains to make us see that what we call wonderful is “wonderless.” He tells us that the man who is blessed is not he who won the lottery, but he who receives the forgiveness of sin:

“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him.” (Psalm 32:1-2).

Jesus maintains the joy to be cherished is the joy of salvation:

“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20).

Man of Sorrows

God prefers to make people cry than to make them laugh. Jesus was a man of sorrows; acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:3).The Bible says of Him:

“It was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief.” (Isaiah 53:10).

There is very little to laugh about here on earth. What is there to laugh about in a world riddled with sin, where souls are perishing every day; and where the thief comes daily to steal, kill, and destroy? (John 10:10). What is there to laugh about in a grief-stricken world?

Therefore, Jesus pronounces woe on those given to laughter. He says:

“Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:25).

Amos also says:

“Woe to those lounging in luxury at Jerusalem and Samaria.” (Amos 6:1).

James goes even further to prescribe a strange tonic for the soul:

“Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.” (James 4:9).

But we thought Jesus came to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness? (Isaiah 61:3).

Yes indeed!  But Jesus’ ministry is only for those who are sorrowful and mournful. Moreover, the consolations of Christ come not through the reform of this world, but by invitation to another kingdom, a kingdom not of this world.

Divine Prescription

The nature of this ungodly world is such that, according to the wisdom of God, even in laughter the heart should sorrow, since the end of mirth may be grief. (Proverbs 14:13).Solomon says:

“Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3).

By laughter and merriment, the heart is made worse, vainer, more carnal, and sensual. It is made more in love with the world and more estranged from God and godliness.

If sorrow is indeed better than laughter, then the man whom God makes sad is more blessed than the happy man. When a man decides to be good to another man, he tries to make him happy. He ministers to his body. He makes him comfortable.

Not so the goodness of God. When God is good to someone, He is more likely to make him sad. God’s goodness works more on the heart than on the flesh:

“The goodness of God leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4).

Its main objective is to lead us along the path of life and make us heirs of salvation.

Therefore, God is not good in the way that is normally considered to be good. If we do not understand the peculiarity of God’s goodness, we are likely to be sad when we should be glad, and to be glad when we should be sad.

In the kingdom of God, the way up is down.

Fake Ambassadors

An ambassador is sometimes required to tell lies for his country. But is an ambassador for Christ, required to do likewise for the Lord?

Certainly not!

However, you might be mistaken if you listen to many of the falsehoods propagated in the churches about the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Jesus is the Truth. The gospel is the gospel of truth. Nevertheless, many people feel an effective way to promote the gospel is by telling lies.

They make promises on God’s behalf that He never made. They say without Christ there is crisis, implying falsely that the Christian life is crisis-free. They make financial wealth an object of the gospel. They insist God is out to make all Christians billionaires, provided they first give their hard-earned monies as tithes to the churches.

But the worst lies of all are those told about God. These lies are told by Christians who reject the knowledge of God and who create God in their image. God says:

“I have kept quiet while you did these things, so you thought I was just like you.” (Psalm 50:21).

However, it is important never to forget that:

“God is not a man.” (Numbers 23:19).

Deceived Psalmist

A popular refrain in the churches says: “God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.” But is this true? Does God Himself claim to be good all the time? God is not good in the way that men define goodness.

Because we insist foolishly that God is good all the time:

“We call the proud blessed, for those who do wickedness are raised up; they even tempt God and go free.” (Malachi 3:15).

The psalmist says:

“As for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. (Psalm 73:2-5).

Offensive God

In many respects, many of the actions of God in the Old Testament do not conform to human standards of goodness. God Himself warns us, saying

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

If God were to be good all the time according to man, the righteous would not die in an accident. Evil men will not prosper. Jesus would not be despised and hated by men. He would not be: “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel,” and “a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 8:14). 

For example, in the Old Testament, no case was made against incest. The daughters of Lot had sex with their father and had children with him. (Genesis 19:33-36). Their action and pregnancy could only have happened by the determinate counsel of God. CONTINUED.

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In a busy, terraced house in Bradford, three sisters are animatedly chatting. It's a big day at their home: a beautician sits on their sofa, styling their hair and makeup. The room is warm with fun and laughter. It feels like a scene from a Jane Austen novel: three women in their late 20s, each of them bursting with personality, swapping stories.

And like most Austen novels, the conversation often turns to marriage.

The sisters are preparing for a family wedding at the weekend - where the bride and groom are first cousins. Many people might find this unusual, but in their family and in some parts of Bradford, it's fairly common.

Ayesha, who at 29 is the oldest of the three sisters, also married her first cousin in 2017. She has two children with her husband and their marriage is happy, she says. It felt perfectly normal at the time to marry her cousin. Their mother, a Pakistani migrant, assumed it was what all three of her daughters would do.

But 26-year-old Salina, the youngest of the three, tells us she broke the mould by having what they call a "love" marriage, choosing a partner from outside the family. Salina tells us she is outgoing and ambitious; marrying a cousin simply did not appeal to her. Then there's Mallika, who at 27 is the middle of the three. She's still single and has already decided not to marry within her family.

"I said to my mum that I wouldn't judge my sisters but I wasn't going to do it," Mallika tells us. She says having an education has created opportunities for her. "Before, even if you had an education, you wouldn't be expected to carry on with it. You would be thinking of marriage. Now the mindset is so different."

Worrying new data

In the UK and across Europe, cousin marriage is coming under increased scrutiny - particularly from doctors, who warn that children of first cousins are more likely to experience an array of health problems.

And there's now some new, potentially worrying data from Bradford to add into that mix.

Researchers at the city's university are entering their 18th year of the Born in Bradford study. It's one of the biggest medical trials of its kind: between 2007 and 2010, researchers recruited more than 13,000 babies in the city and then followed them closely from childhood into adolescence and now into early adulthood. More than one in six children in the study have parents who are first cousins, mostly from Bradford's Pakistani community, making it among the world's most valuable studies of the health impacts of cousin marriage.

And in data published in the last few months - and analysed in an upcoming episode of BBC Radio 4's Born in Bradford series - the researchers found that first cousin-parentage may have wider consequences than previously thought.

The most obvious way that a pair of blood-related parents might increase health risks for a child is through a recessive disorder, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease. According to the classic theory of genetics laid out by the biologist Gregor Mendel, if both parents carry a recessive gene then there's a one in four chance that their child will inherit the condition. And when parents are cousins, they're more likely to both be carriers. A child of first cousins carries a 6% chance of inheriting a recessive disorder, compared to 3% for the general population.

But the Bradford study took a much broader view - and sheds fresh light. The researchers weren't just looking at whether a child had been diagnosed with a specific recessive disorder. Instead they studied dozens of data points, observing everything from the children's speech and language development to their frequency of healthcare to their performance at school. Then they used a mathematical model to try to eliminate the impacts of poverty and parental education - so they could focus squarely on the impact on "consanguinity", the scientific word for having parents who are related.

They found that even after factors like poverty were controlled for, a child of first cousins in Bradford had an 11% probability of being diagnosed with a speech and language problem, versus 7% for children whose parents are not related.

They also found a child of first cousins has a 54% chance of reaching a "good stage of development" (a government assessment given to all five year-olds in England), versus 64% for children whose parents are not related.

We get further insight into their poorer health through the number of visits to the GP. Children of first cousins have a third more primary care appointments than children whose parents are not related - an average of four instead of three a year.

What is notable is that even once you account for the children in that group who already have a diagnosed recessive disorder, the figures suggest consanguinity may be affecting even those children who don't have a diagnosable recessive disorder.

Neil Small, emeritus professor at the University of Bradford and the author of the study, says that even if all of the children with recessive disorders visited their GP more than average, "this does not explain the much wider distribution of excess health care usage in the consanguineous children".

The study, he says, is "exciting because it gives the opportunity for a much more accurate development of a response, targeting interventions and treatments".

Growing concern

It is, of course, just one study, and the population of Bradford is not representative of the whole of the UK.

Nevertheless, it adds to a growing concern among scientists that has caught the attention of lawmakers across Europe. Two Scandinavian countries have now moved to outlaw cousin marriage entirely. In Norway, the practice became illegal last year; in Sweden, a ban will come into effect next year.

In the UK, the Conservative MP Richard Holdenhas introduced a private members' bill to outlaw the practice, adding it to the list of illegal marriages (alongside parents, child, siblings, and grandparents). But the Labour government says there are "no plans" to impose a ban. At present, the UK is still following the policy of "genetic counselling", in which first cousin-couples are educated about the risks of having children, and encouraged to get extra screening in pregnancy.

But amid concern about child health and strains on the NHS, some academics are asking whether a beefed-up approach to counselling is needed, with more funding and laser-focused intervention. And there are those who think it's time to follow the Scandinavian example and impose something bound to be difficult and controversial: an outright ban on cousin marriage.

For most in the UK, the prospect of marrying a cousin is largely alien. But it wasn't always so unusual. The father of evolution Charles Darwin married his first cousin, Emma Wedgwood. Their son, the Victorian scientist Sir George Darwin, went on to estimate that cousin marriages accounted for almost one in 20 aristocratic unions in 19th Century Britain. One of them was Queen Victoria, who married her first cousin, Prince Albert. The novel Wuthering Heights is full of fictional examples.

By the 20th Century the proportion of marriages between cousins had declined to about 1%. But it remains a relatively common practice among some South Asian minorities. In three inner-city Bradford wards, almost half (46%) of mothers from the Pakistani community were married to a first or second cousin, according to the most recent Born in Bradford data published two years ago.

'Compounded' effects

For those who want to ban the practice, the public health argument is compelling. When announcing his private members' bill in December, Richard Holden highlighted the higher risk of birth defects. Later, on Talk TV, he pointed to data showing that infant mortality rates are higher for children born to cousin parents, with more heart, brain, and kidney problems due to recessive disorders. He also explained that health effects can be "compounded" when the practice persists through generations.

This risk to child health is one of the reasons Patrick Nash, a researcher and co-founder at the Pharos Foundation research institute, wants to see cousin marriage banned. In a paper published in the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion last year, Nash wrote that a ban would result in "immediate" health improvements, especially in communities where the practice is common. He said: "Banning cousin marriage would improve public health drastically and have no negative health implications of its own."

On the ground in Bradford, it's a more mixed picture. Sam Oddie, a consultant neonatologist and researcher at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, has worked in the city for more than two decades. Over the years he has observed lots of severe genetic disorders. "I've seen fatal skin conditions, fatal brain conditions, fatal muscle conditions". He says it was "immediately clear" these conditions were occurring more in Bradford than elsewhere.

He remembers some tragic examples: families who lost several children, one after the other, to the same genetic disorder. "That's very upsetting and very difficult for the family to get their heads around."

Common ancestors

But crucially, Oddie thinks the main risk to genetic health in Bradford is not cousin marriage, but a similar issue known as endogamy, in which people marry members of their close community. In a tight-knit ethnic group, people are more likely to share common ancestors and genes - whether or not they are first cousins, he says.

Endogamy is not unique to Pakistani communities in the UK. It is an issue too in the UK's Jewish community and globally among the Amish and also French Canadians.

"It's often the case that the exact familial tie can't be traced, but the gene occurs more commonly within a certain group, and for that reason, both parents carry the affected gene," Oddie says. "It's an oversimplification to say that cousin marriage is the root of all excess recessive disorders in Bradford or in Pakistani communities. Endogamy is an important feature."

The power of education

Rather than a ban, he stresses the power of education - or what he calls "genetic literacy". It's a phrase that crops up again and again from the people we speak to. For many years there's been a campaign in Bradford to inform people in the Pakistani community about their genetic risks. Couples are given specialist advice at their GP; at pregnancy classes, information is shared with expectant mothers.

And in Bradford at least, some are taking the message on board. Back at the sisters' house, all three women we interview say that ideas around cousin marriage are slowly changing, in part due to an increased awareness of health risks. They live in the deprived, post-industrial Manningham area of the city. There's a distinct feeling of neighbourliness here. All of the front doors open directly onto the street, which is full of children playing. Occasionally the sounds of their laughter drift inside.

"It has to be something that happens gradually - it's slow, you can't rush it," says Salina, the sister who chose to have a love marriage. "My mum was very young when she came [to the UK from Pakistan]. She had certain views but those changed because she loves us. I just explained to her, 'Mum, how does it benefit you to push cousin marriage?'."

Mallika, her older sister, agrees. "It's also to do with social media and being exposed to different people," she says. "You have new connections... contact with people outside our parents' eyes."

Even Ayesha, the oldest sister who is in a cousin marriage, said she doesn't imagine either of her two children will marry their cousins.

At the time she married her cousin, she says, "I didn't know any different. My parents were strong in their culture. As the generations move on, the culture is disappearing a bit."

She was aware of the genetic risks when she had her two children. Neither of them have a genetic illness.

"We did take that on board," she says, on the topic of genetic health. "But I always feel like if it's going to happen, it's going to happen. If the child is going to be born with a disability then it will happen if you are married to a cousin or not."

Indeed, in Bradford at least, the practice is in decline. The share of new mothers from across the Born in Bradford study who were first cousins with the father of their baby fell from 39% in the late 2000s to 27% in the late 2010s.

This is no coincidence, according to John Wright, chief investigator on the Born in Bradford project. He points out that it is only recently that his team published evidence around the risks of cousin marriage in the UK.

"When we talked to the families 10 years ago it was very clear that people weren't aware of the risks but like all parents they want to do their best for their children. They want to have healthy children," he says.

"Education is the starting point and we've shown in Born in Bradford how powerful that is."

'Coerced into unions'

Aside from health concerns, there's another reason some people want to see cousin marriage banned: its impact on social cohesion. This is what's largely driving the debate in Scandinavia. In Norway, where cousin marriage was banned last year, lawmakers said the practice was linked to forced marriage, with some South Asian immigrant women coerced into unions with relatives.

They also looked at the link with so-called "honour" violence, according to Tonje Egedius, a journalist who covered the story for a Norwegian newspaper.

"[Police] claim that cousin marriage makes it easier for perpetrators to maintain honour in families," she says, "and that marrying within the family is a contributing cause of honour-related violence and abuse".

Jasmina Holten, a senior Norwegian police officer, said in an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK last year that some women coerced into cousin marriage found themselves trapped, with financial dependence on relatives. In those cases, divorce often means ostracism. A ban on cousin marriage could break down that abusive chain, she said.

Likewise, Sweden's justice secretary Gunnar Strömmer said his own country's ban on cousin marriage will liberate women from "oppressive standards of honour".

This cultural argument is becoming increasingly prominent. Proponents of a ban broadly see cousin marriage as an instrument of segregation, siphoning people off from the rest of society. Nash, from the Pharos Foundation, says that a ban on cousin marriage would help reduce ethnic segregation in places like Bradford.

Others are sceptical of the idea that you can force people to integrate through the sharp stick of legislation. They say that even if a ban goes ahead, some couples would continue to marry their cousins through illegal, unregistered unions - and that women in those marriages may feel they no longer have the protection of the state if the relationship goes sour.

Nazir Afzal, former Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West of England, tells us that "thoughtful legislation" would "offer protections" to people coerced into cousin marriage. "[But] we must respect cultural diversity and personal choice," he says. "Cousin marriage is an important cultural practice in many parts of the world, and legislation should be sensitive to the social and familial values that underlie it."

More broadly, he suggests governments may want to think about boosting education and genetic screening for couples entering cousin marriage - rather than imposing "blanket bans".

'Driving a wedge'

For some, the idea of an outright ban raises the ugly image of certain minorities being targeted over others. Karma Nirvana, a charity that works to end honour-based abuse, described the backbench attempt to ban cousin marriage as "a tool of political point-scoring, inciting hate and driving a wedge between communities".

Richard Holden's bill is awaiting its second reading in the House of Commons. Without government support it has never been likely to pass but its very existence and events in Scandinavia have resulted in cousin marriage being talked about far beyond the communities where it is prevalent.

Of course, for those Britons in a cousin marriage, life goes on much as before.

Back at the Bradford house, the beautician is putting her finishing touches to the hair of the three sisters, ahead of their big wedding at the weekend. Ayesha, the sister who is in a cousin marriage, is reflective and thoughtful about her own near decade-long relationship. "There are difficulties - we've been through lots together, we have sacrificed a lot," she says about her husband. "But we are happy together."

"I think even with love marriages you're going to have problems. They'll just be different ones."

BBC

Nestlé Nigeria Plc announced mixed financial results for the year ending December 31, 2024, with impressive revenue growth of 75.2% reaching N958.8 billion, while posting a loss before tax of N221.589 billion—a 113% increase from the previous year.

The company attributed the loss primarily to significant finance costs resulting from the Naira's devaluation, which impacted the company's foreign currency obligations. Despite these challenges, Nestlé Nigeria's core business showed resilience with operating profit increasing by 35.6% to N167.9 billion compared to N123.8 billion in 2023.

In a communication to the Nigerian Exchange, the company emphasized that these results "indicate a robust operational performance in a challenging market."

The CEO/Managing Director of Nestlé Nigeria expressed satisfaction with the fourth quarter performance, noting, "Q4 2024 standalone results mark a return to profitability with a net profit of N19.7 billion, compared to a loss of N36.4 billion in Q4 2023."

The company has maintained its commitment to growth with substantial investments of N132 billion in operations since 2023, including N72 billion in 2024. These investments aim to strengthen Nestlé's market position and meet consumer demand. The company also expanded its workforce by 8% to support growth across its product portfolio.