According to God’s kingdom dynamics, Moses can never enter the Promised Land. God says: “The older shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23). The law came first and is therefore the older. Grace came second and is therefore the younger. Therefore, grace must supersede the law.

Moses, the lawgiver, must give way to Joshua whose name is the shortened form of Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yehoshua, which means God saves. God’s providence must somehow trip up Moses, because the first, the law, cannot take anyone to God. Only the last, grace, can do so.

The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. No one can come to the Father through Moses.

The law of sin death came first through Moses. But this has been superseded by the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which came second. The law bring death, but the spirit brings life.

The flesh came first in natural man. But the spirit came second in the born-again man. Since God says: “the older shall serve the younger,” then the flesh must ultimately succumb to the spirit in the man who is born-again. He will finally totally relinquish the sinful part of his nature on his deathbed: “For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:7). 

Accordingly, Paul points out that: “The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

God’s firstborn

God says: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” (Exodus 4:22). Therefore, Israel must become last. The Gentiles who were last must become first.

God’s firstborn must reject the gospel. Therefore, God sent Isaiah to Israel with a strange directive: “Go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Thus, when Jesus went to His hometown of Nazareth, He was rejected. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11). “He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief.” (Mark 6:5-6).

Jesus said to His disciples when He sent them to preach the gospel: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6). 

Because the Jews are God’s firstborn, the gospel must be preached to them first. They would then reject it and became last. Thereafter, the gospel would be preached to the Gentiles, who would receive it. So doing, the Gentiles, who were last, would replace the Jews and become first. 

First became last

For this reason. Jesus points out that: “Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:25-27). 

Therefore, he observed that: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” (Matthew 21:42-43). 

Last became first

Jesus was unimpressed with the faith of Jews. He said to them: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” (John 4:48).However, the Samaritans believed in Jesus without him having to perform any miracles whatsoever. (John 4:39-42). When He healed ten men of leprosy, the only one who came back to give thanks was a Samaritan. 

When Jesus found “great faith,” it was not among Jews but among the Gentiles. He said to a Canaanite woman who adamantly sought healing for her daughter despite Jesus’ feigned reluctance: “O woman, great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:28). He also commended the faith of a Roman centurion who recognised that He did not have to go physically to the sick to heal them but could decree healing from anywhere. 

The centurion said to Jesus: “Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8). Jesus replied: “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:10).

Following this pattern, Jesus only revealed himself as Messiah to two people in the scriptures, and they were both “outsiders.”  The one was a woman by Jacob’s well.  She was a Samaritan and, therefore. was last.  But by giving her a privileged revelation of Himself, Jesus made her first. (John 4:25-26). 

The other was a man he healed of blindness. Although that man was a Jew, Jesus only revealed Himself to him after he had been excommunicated from the synagogue. (John 9:35-38). This made him last, thereby positioning him for promotion in Christ. 

He became first through his commitment to Christ his healer, even in the face of religious persecution.

Grace in action

With Jesus, the worst sinners received the warmest welcome, while the most scrupulous law-abiders received the greatest castigation. (Matthew 23:13-36).

Jesus dined and consorted with sinners. He appointed a thief, Judas, as His treasurer. He invited another thief on the cross to be with Him in paradise. He called Matthew, a despised tax collector, to be one of His disciples. He befriended prostitutes and women of easy virtue, insisting they would enter the kingdom of God before the religious leaders. (Matthew 21:31).

This shows that in the kingdom of God, the way up is down. The only way the first in the world can be first in the kingdom is if the first in the world becomes last in the world. Then from last, it can become first in the kingdom. 

Going by these same kingdom dynamics, Christians who are now first will become last. Unbelievers, who are now last, will become first. God says prophetically: “It shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ there it shall be said to them, ‘you are sons of the living God.” (Hosea 1:10).

This is Jesus’ warning to entitled firsts: “Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:11-12).

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While some measures of physical fitness such as athletic ability and one's strength or stamina may be difficult to ascertain right away, others are more obvious. One's resting heart rate, for instance, is easy to check and says a lot about a person's wellbeing. "Your heart rate is one of the first signs that gives your doctor insight into your overall health," says Doris Chan, DO, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn. "It guides us in the right direction when, and if, further testing is necessary." 

Despite the importance of resting heart rates, some people don't understand what they mean or why they fluctuate. Knowing yours can be a helpful way to identify potential health problems and gauge how healthy your heart really is. 

What is a resting heart rate? 

One's resting heart rate, or pulse, is simply the number of times the heart beats per minute while in a rested state. It's a measurement that should be taken in the absence of a stressful or exciting event and at least an hour after exercise. The American Heart Association says its best to check one's resting heart rate first thing in the morning and while still in bed to get the most accurate reading. 

Elevated heart rates can be an indication of "stress, anxiety, dehydration, health conditions or physical excursion," says Barbara Olendzki, RD, MPH, LDN, associate professor of population & quantitative health sciences at UMass Chan Medical School, though she says "its normal to have a heart rate increase from exercise." 

Other conditions can affect one's blood volume and heart rate. For example, any loss of blood "will result in a loss of blood pressure and will cause the heart rate to increase for a time to compensate," explains Viet Le, PA-C, associate professor of preventive cardiology and physician associate at Intermountain Health. Caffeine consumption, illness, medications, and electrolyte abnormalities may also temporarily impact one's resting heart rate. 

What is a healthy resting heart rate?

A commonly accepted range for a healthy resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, "though some argue that the resting heart rate lower limit be shifted down to 50 beats per minute," says Chan. That's because generally, the lower one's pulse is − to a point anyway, the more efficient their heart is thought to be working. Indeed, athletes frequently aim to get their heart rates down with some high endurance athletesstriving to reach a resting heart rate in the 40s.

Still, it's important to note that there are numerous exceptions to the 60-100 beats-per-minute rule and a "normal" pulse varies from person to person. As noted before, numerous external factors can temporarily affect one's resting heart rate, but some outside influences may affect one's heart rate for much longer. For example, an overactive thyroid, anemia, rare adrenal tumors, unhealthy organs, pregnancy, abnormal heart rhythms and one's age can affect resting heart rate for extended periods of time. "We expect a slightly higher heart rate in children," Le explains. Babies 12 to 24 months, for instance, "have a resting heart rate in the low 100s to mid 110s," he says, and teens commonly "have resting heart rates in the 60-90 range." 

How to check your heart rate

Checking one's heart rate is simple. Per the Mayo Clinic, simply place your index and third fingers on your neck, to the side of your windpipe, then count the number of beats from the first time you feel your pulse, continuing for 15 seconds. Multiply that number by four to calculate your beats per minute. To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery, which is located on the thumb side of your wrist, then count the number of beats the same way.

What is an unsafe resting heart rate?

A resting heart rate below 60 is called bradycardia or slow heart rate, and one over 100 is called tachycardia, or fast heart rate. Staying too low or too high for extended periods of time without a known cause is worth looking into. "One should seek out professional attention if high heart rates are prolonged and persistent as it may cause symptoms of palpitations,skipped beats, shortness of breath, fainting or lightheadedness, excessive fatigue, or chest tightness or pressure," advises Le. 

A consultation can also help identify or rule out pre-existing conditions or other external factors that may be affecting one's pulse and lead to helpful recommendations for improving heart health. "It's important for you to learn your own body and how it responds," says Olendzki, "so ask your doctor what a healthy heart rate means for you." 

USA Today

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking its support for military intervention against the military junta in the Niger Republic.

He also sought the backing of the legislature on the cutting off of electricity to the country.

Tinubu, Nigeria’s president and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, had on Sunday met with some fellow ECOWAS leaders to discuss appropriate ways to restore democracy in Niger.

Leaders of the West African regional bloc met to discuss sanctions to be placed against the military personnel who toppled Bazoum on July 26, 2023.

The President’s letter read, “Political situation in Niger: Following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government. In a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique.”

The president further sought support for, “Military buildup and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.

“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.

“Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic, mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.”

“Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports,” he added.

Tinubu also told the Senate that the country was embarking on sensitisation of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media.

Punch

Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has asked President Bola Tinubu to exhaust all diplomatic means in resolving the crisis in Niger Republic. 

Suleiman Kawu, spokesperson of the forum, who spoke in Abuja on Friday, warned that deploying Nigerian troops to Niger Republic will hurt seven northern states —Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno —sharing borders with the country.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had given Niger a week from Sunday to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or face harder sanctions.

The northern senators urged the president to be focused on political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in Niger Republic

“The forum under the leadership of Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi), has noted with concern and condemned in entirety the unfortunate development in Niger Republic, where the military forcefully upstaged a democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum,” NAN quoted Kawu as saying.

“The northern senators also take cognisance of the efforts of the ECOWAS leaders under the chairmanship of our dear President Bola Tinubu, in resolving the situation in Niger Republic.

“The emphasis, however, is that we should be focused on political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in Niger Republic.

“We also take exception to the use of the military force until other avenues as mentioned above are exhausted as the consequences will be casualties among the innocent citizens who go about their daily business.

“Besides, about seven northern states who share a border with the Niger Republic namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno will be negatively affected.

“We are also aware of the situation of Mali, Burkina Faso and Libya, which may affect the seven northern states if military force is used.

“As democrats and representatives of the people, we hereby urge our colleagues to observe due diligence in invoking section 5 sub-section (4) (a) and (b) of the constitution.”

The Cable

Northern leadership under the aegis of Arewa Consultative Forum, has warned President Bola Tinubu to avoid going into war with Niger military junta.

The group gave the admonition while calling for a dialogue to resolve the issue in a statement issued by its General Secretary, Murtala Aliyu, on Friday.

According to ACF, military deployment and intervention to phase out the coup plotters in the Niger Republic will not guarantee peace and stability in the ECOWAS sub-region.

The statement reads in part, “ACF, however, views with concern the unfolding events in Nigeria’s immediate neighbour, the Republic of Niger, and the potential impact on the region.

“The measures being contemplated should have taken into consideration the historical antecedents and mutual interests of the two countries and weighed the consequences of the use of military force.

“While the ACF recognises the ECOWAS position to bring pressure to bear on the perpetrators, nevertheless the military option shouldn’t be a prerequisite for Nigeria’s and the Community’s continuing efforts to enthrone democracy in the region in the 21st century.”

ACF noted that though military intervention might yield a temporary solution, the result will come with repercussions for Nigeria as a leader and the regional body.

“To this end, ACF notes that while it supports the position to restore democratic rule in Niger, it calls on the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government under the able Chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu, that it should toe the path of dialogue and diplomacy and certainly not force, in resolving the current impasse in Niger in the interest of peaceful coexistence with our brotherly neighbour and stability of the ECOWAS region,” it added.

Punch

Trucks filled with goods going into Nigeria are currently stranded at the Jibia side of the Nigeria-Niger Republic border.

This is coming after the federal government shut down all land borders with Niger Republic following the toppling of the Mohamed Bazoum-led government by soldiers.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter who was at the border on Friday counted more than 30 trucks lined on both sides of the highway from the Niger Republic axis.

There were also trucks lined up on the road from the Nigerian side, hoping to be allowed into Niger Republic.

The acting comptroller general of customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the vehicles would not be allowed into or out of the country for now.

“We’ve trucks coming from Nigeria that can’t go to the other side (Niger Republic). A good number of them are inside Katsina…if you can turn your cameras, you’ll see what we’ve also there (stranded trucks)…”

There were several drivers and assistants sitting under a tree a few steps away from where the trucks were parked.

“We’re in a dicey situation. I came here before the official closure of the border but before I could get clearance, they (border officials) said they received signal from Abuja to close all borders,” Hannafi Lawal, a stranded driver at the border, told our correspondent.

He said he had spent all his ‘feeding money’ as Friday was his fourth day at the border.

Another stranded driver, Ghali Bala, said he would appreciate if the two countries put an end to the issue.

“We are not part of their politics; we’re drivers struggling for what to eat. We have all our papers because this is our route. We’re not bringing illegal goods into the country. Why do we have to suffer because of some people?” Bala, who is from Zangon Daura in Katsina State, said.

He said he is in contact with his family through phone but would appreciate if he is allowed into Nigeria with his truck.

Musa Hashim, another stranded driver, echoed similar sentiments.

Sanctions

Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) is sanctioning Niger Republic after the coup.

Rising from an emergency session in Abuja, ECOWAS ordered military leaders in Niger Republic to reinstall Bazoum or face military action.

The relationship between Niger and the ECOWAS is deteriorating by the day as the deadline for military action against the military junta ends in a few days.

PT

S&P Global Ratings on Friday revised its outlook on Nigeria to stable from negative, citing the government's recent reforms which the credit ratings agency believes could benefit the country's growth and fiscal outcomes if delivered.

The agency also affirmed its rating for Africa's largest economy at 'B-/B'.

Nigeria's new president, Bola Tinubu, has embarked on some fiscal reforms, which he hopes will kick-start growth and attract foreign investors into a country that has suffered chronic dollar shortages, making it difficult for companies to thrive.

"Nigeria's newly elected government has moved quickly to implement a series of fiscal and monetary reforms, which we believe will gradually benefit public finances and the balance of payments," the ratings agency said in a statement on Friday.

On Monday, Tinubu said Nigeria has saved over 1 trillion naira ($1.32 billion) in just over two months by scrapping a popular but costly subsidy on petrol and unifying the country's multiple exchange rates.

Tinubu's reforms have been welcomed by investors, but unions say the reforms have led to soaring costs when inflation has been in double-digits in Nigeria since 2016, eroding savings and incomes.

The World Bank has said it expects Nigeria could save up to 3.9 trillion naira this year alone from reforms but warned of growing short-term inflationary pressures.

S&P's sovereign analyst Frank Gill said last month that the ratings agency was closely watching Nigeria ahead of its review on Aug. 4 and added that recent reforms were positive signs.

In February, S&P had maintained Nigeria's credit rating at "B-/B" but changed its outlook to "negative". Rival Fitch affirmed the West-African country at 'B-' in May.

Reuters

Maryam Isa, an orphan based in Keke Community of Kaduna Millennium, has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, Aliyu Jibril, for months, hoping to marry him someday.

Maryam lived under the care of her mother’s elder sister and grandmother after losing her biological mother years back. Her family struggled financially.

As the relationship between Maryam and Aliyu grew stronger, her family became uncomfortable when Aliyu failed to send his family members for a marriage talk, as requested by Maryam’s family.

Maryam’s family asked Aliyu to pay N20,000 as part of the money to indicate interest in marrying Maryam, following the Hausa tradition. However, Aliyu couldn’t provide the N20,000.

After about 30 days without a response from Aliyu and his family, Maryam’s parents asked him to stop dating her, as they believed he was not capable of marrying her. Despite objections from their families, the lovers continued to meet secretly.

Maryam’s relatives suggested that since Aliyu couldn’t afford to marry her, he should step aside for other suitors.

To intervene and find a solution, the matter was taken to the Danbushiya village head’s palace. The village head invited both families for a discussion. Aliyu expressed his love for Maryam but couldn’t provide the requested amount.

Realizing the situation, the village head cautioned Aliyu to leave Maryam alone. However, the lovers persisted in their relationship, leading the palace to report the matter to the Millennium Police Station for official intervention.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Lawan Abdullahi provided a permanent solution by interviewing both lovers and their families. Both Maryam and Aliyu expressed their willingness to marry each other, despite financial constraints.

He (DPO) further asked of the young man’s character and both parents confirmed he was of good behaviour and hardworking but his only challenge was the lack of money to pay the dowry as requested by the girl’s family.

His parents were also not financially able to support the wedding preparation at that moment.

Upon hearing Aliyu’s predicament, the DPO generously decided to contribute N53,000 as part of the dowry, agreeing with the families that Aliyu could marry Maryam if he provided N51,000 as the remaining dowry amount.

The DPO’s gesture garnered attention, and after news of the dowry payment went viral within the small community, other little donations poured in to support the couple.

Hafsat Abdullahi, the bride’s mother’s elder sister, expressed her happiness and gratitude for the DPO’s assistance, praising his kind-heartedness.

“We only took the matter to the police station for the lovers to be separated since he (groom) cannot afford to pay the dowry only for the DPO to intervene. This made us happy,” she said.

Maryam Isa, the bride, also expressed her happiness and gratitude for the DPO’s intervention, in making it possible for her to marry the love of her life.

The wedding Fatiha was conducted at the palace of the village head on 19th July 2023, a day after the dowry was paid, with some imams within the community in attendance.

He’s a blessing to us – Community leaders

Village head of Danbushiya community, Muktar Haruna, who officiated the wedding, described the DPO as a blessing to the community.

He praised the DPO for his efforts in finding solutions to domestic violence and ensuring the safety of residents.

The community further commended the DPO for engaging in community policing, building trust between the community and the police.

He explained that since he (DPO) came to the community less than two months ago, security has improved in the Millennium City area as they now have an Armoured Personal Carrier (APC) vehicle, donated by the State Commissioner of Police, M.Y. Garba, patrolling the area.

He also mentioned a recent incident where a woman sought for divorce at the police station because her husband failed to provide a ram to be slaughtered during the naming ceremony of their newborn baby. The DPO, out of generosity, provided a ram for the woman to save the marriage from collapsing.

Corroborating the Village Head, Umaru Yakubu – who serves as Secretary at the palace of the village head, stated that they had never seen a police officer using his money to assist poor members of society.

“Everybody was surprised to see a policeman removing such an amount to pay for dowry for people that are not related to him. This is commendable,” he added.

He explained that the community is now peaceful and the couple too are living happily following the DPO’s intervention.

Another resident of Danbushiya, Ibrahim Maiturare, also described the DPO as a good man. He said the DPO hardly collects money as bail for minor offenses, as he made it clear that bail is free for such cases.

“Since the man came to the station, people are happy even though he doesn’t condone criminal cases brought to the station, he handles such professionally by taking the suspects to court within the period stipulated by law,” he said.

He noted that the DPO stopped his men from harassing innocent residents at the police station and within the community.

Efforts to speak with the DPO about his generous acts were unsuccessful as he declined to comment.

But the State Police Command Public Relations officer, Mohammed Jalige, equally described CSP Lawan as a hardworking and nice officer who always promotes the community policing strategies of the police force in the community.

He also described him as an advocate of due process and operationally sound, adding that “we must commend his efforts for what he has been doing in the community.”

Daily Trust

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukrainian drone disables Russian warship near Russia's Novorossiysk port

A Russian warship was seriously damaged in an overnight Ukrainian naval drone attack on Russia's Black Sea navy base at Novorossiysk, the first time the Ukrainian navy has projected its power so far from the country's shores.

The port, which handles 2% of the world's oil supply and also exports grain, temporarily halted civilian ship movement before resuming normal operations, according to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium which operates an oil terminal there.

Russia's Defence Ministry said a Ukrainian attack by two sea drones had been repelled in the waters outside the base and that the drones had been destroyed. It made no mention of any damage in its short statement.

A Ukrainian intelligence source said the Olenegorsky Gornyak, a Russian Navy landing ship with around 100 Russian servicemen on board, had been hit by a sea drone carrying 450 kilograms of TNT.

"As a result of the attack, the Olenegorsky Gornyak received a serious breach and currently cannot conduct its combat missions," the source told Reuters, adding that the operation had been carried out by Ukraine's Security Service and the navy. "All the Russian statements about a 'repelled attack' are fake."

Video footage verified by Reuters showed the Olenegorsky Gornyak being towed to shore by a tug, listing heavily to its port side.

Andriy Ryzhenko, a retired Ukrainian Navy captain and naval consultant, estimated the sea drones had travelled 740 km (460 miles) from their likely launch area to Novorossiysk, which would amount to a significant increase in their range.

"It was the first time ... the Ukrainian navy projected power so far away," he said.

A source with knowledge of the port's operations said a large Russian naval vessel had to be towed ashore because it could not move under its own power after being damaged.

The source, who did not name the vessel, said oil and grain loadings were still taking place at the port, which resumed normal operations hours after the attack.

Ukraine referred to the Olenegorsky Gornyak without directly claiming responsibility for the attack.

"We have open information that it is indeed damaged," said Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the southern military command said, adding "it is absolutely legal to destroy the potential of the enemy in time of war."

The Kremlin referred questions to the defence ministry, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Ukrainian source shared a grainy video that looked like it had been shot from the top of a maritime drone that sails right up to the side of a large vessel before the video abruptly cuts out and turns to pixels.

"Another Russian ship is teetering, undermining the aggressor's security reputation in the Black Sea waters," Ukraine's foreign ministry said on X, previously known as Twitter, adding that one of its compartments had flooded.

Andrei Kravchenko, a Novorossiysk city official, said on the Telegram app that the Olenegorsky Gornyak was one of two ships that had "instantly reacted" to fend off the Ukrainian attack.

RISING BLACK SEA TENSIONS

Russian social media users had reported hearing explosions and gunfire near Novorossiysk on Friday morning.

"Tonight, the armed forces of Ukraine attempted to attack the Novorossiysk naval base with two unmanned sea boats," the Defence Ministry said in its statement.

"In the course of repelling the attack, the unmanned boats were visually detected and destroyed by fire from the standard weapons of the Russian ships guarding the outer waters of the naval base."

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium which loads oil onto tankers in Novorossiysk said its facilities had not been damaged and that oil loadings continued onto tankers which were already moored.

The port is one of the biggest in the Black Sea, and a major terminal for the export of oil and oil products. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is the main exporter of Kazakh crude oil.

Exports of Russian and Kazakh oil from Novorossiysk average around 1.8 million barrels per day, or about 2% of global oil supply.

Britain's military intelligence service said last September that Russia's Black Sea Fleet had relocated some submarines from the Crimean port of Sevastopol to Novorossiysk, probably because of the increased threat of Ukrainian long-range strikes.

Retired Ukrainian Navy captain Ryzhenko said the drone video suggested the Russian vessel had been taken by surprise.

"Open windows were visible with the lights on inside. No sailors on the top deck (were) looking for a possible threat. This drone just hit in the middle and caused significant damage to this ship," he said.

"This is quite a serious signal to Russia that other attacks can be conducted and for them it will be unsafe to keep vessels even in Novorossiysk."

Tensions in and near the Black Sea have escalated since Russia last month withdrew from a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports. Russian drones and missiles have since repeatedly struck Ukrainian port facilities and grain silos on or near the Black Sea.

Ukraine sank Russia's flagship, the cruiser Moskva, in April 2022 and said in June last year that it had hit a Russian naval tugboat with Western-supplied anti-ship missiles.

The Ukrainian source did not mention other attacks on warships, but said Friday's hit was the latest in a string of successful operations by the security service, including sabotage operations on Russia's bridge to occupied Crimea last year and last month.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had also repelled an attempted Ukrainian attack on Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014, using at least 13 aeroplane-like drones. It said there were no casualties or damage.

** Blasts in Crimea, officials report Ukraine drone attack

Explosions were heard near the bridge linking Russian-occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland early on Saturday, Russian-appointed officials reported, saying the blasts were linked to a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian tanker.

Russia's sea rescue service in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk said tugboats were dispatched to help the tanker, which was damaged and unable to operate on its own.

"We can say that the tanker is damaged in the (Kerch) strait, only on the south side," Russia's Tass news agency quoted the rescue centre as saying.

"They will deal with it now on whether to take it under tow or not. It is standing at anchor for the moment. The machine room suffered some damage, not too badly."

Russia-installed officials in the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, said the latest explosions had nothing to do with the bridge, which has come under serious attack twice in the 17-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine, which rarely comments on attacks on Russian targets, made no official statement on the incident.

Traffic was halted for a time on the bridge, the third such stop in the past 24 hours, but later resumed.

"Once again, there was no direct attack on the Crimea bridge and there was no explosion in the immediate vicinity," Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

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Ukraine's UNIAN news agency said three explosions had been reported in the area.

Ukrainian news reports and pro-Russian officials in occupied parts of Ukraine said Ukrainian drones had attacked a tanker vessel in the Kerch Strait operating under a Russian flag and identified as the SIG.

One Russian-appointed official in Ukraine's southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, Vladimir Rogov, posted an audio clip in which the vessel had requested a tow from tugboats.

Rogov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, posted pictures of what he described as shattered fixtures and equipment inside the vessels.

The ship, he said, had been supplying oil to Russian troops in Syria.

The bridge, completed by Russia in 2018, four years after Moscow annexed the peninsula from Ukraine, has been subjected to two major attacks in the 17-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the most recent one occurring last month.

Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the attacks only indirectly.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Kiev loses over 43,000 troops in botched counteroffensive — Russia’s top brass

The Ukrainian military has lost over 43,000 troops and about 5,000 items of military hardware, including 26 combat aircraft and 25 Leopard tanks since it launched its counteroffensive, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Friday.

"The Ukrainian army’s losses in combat operations already exceeded 43,000 personnel in June-July since the Kiev regime launched its so-called offensive," the spokesman said.

These figures do not include those wounded and foreign mercenaries evacuated to Ukrainian military hospitals and abroad, and also the personnel eliminated as a result of high-precision strikes by Russian long-range weapons in rear areas, the general said.

In addition, Russian forces have destroyed about 5,000 various Ukrainian armaments since the start of Kiev’s counteroffensive, he said.

"Over 4,900 items of the Ukrainian army’s various armament, including 26 aircraft, nine helicopters, 1,831 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, among them 25 German-made Leopard tanks, seven French AMX wheeled tanks and 21 American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles have been destroyed at the frontline," the spokesman said.

The enemy has also lost 747 field artillery guns and mortars, including 76 US-made M777 artillery systems, and also 84 motorized artillery guns from Poland, the United States, France and Germany, the general reported.

Kiev’s aborted counteroffensive

As the Russian Defense Ministry reported, the Ukrainian army has been making unsuccessful offensive attempts since June 4. Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that Ukrainian troops had failed to achieve success in any of the frontline areas. At a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg on July 23, the Russian leader said that Kiev’s counteroffensive had failed.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexey Reznikov admitted in an interview with CNN that the counteroffensive was falling behind schedule, explaining this by a shortage of ammunition and air defense systems. Ukrainian Air Force Spokesman Yury Ignat pointed to Russia’s electronic warfare supremacy as one of the causes of Kiev’s stalling counteroffensive.

** Russian air defenses intercept 15 US-made HIMARS rockets in Ukraine operation

Russian air defense forces intercepted 15 rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and shot down 28 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Friday.

"During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities intercepted 15 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system," the spokesman said.

In addition, Russian air defense systems shot down 28 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Svatovo and Lisichansk in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Donetsk, Soledar and Volnovakha in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the general reported.

Reuters/Tass

I don't believe that President Bola Tinubu does not know the implications of his warmongering stance against Niger Republic. If he did not know, at least the Realists in his team must have worked out the implications by now. It has grave religious and ethnic downside.

There is a school of thought encouraging him to go on this warmongering stance.

These people including the Oduduwa Republic adherents, the Biafrans, Asari Dokubo and the Ijaw nation, the Bokists, and many other inchoate splinter groups who would move 'to their tents' and declare their own nations when the Tinubu cataclysm erupts.

No nation goes to war on behalf of Neocolonialists and other parasitic world powers to enforce democracy. What happened to the principle of 'Non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations' which the Western nations studiously adhere to. Why is Mr President crying louder than the bereaved?

The other tactics to secure votes and win an election not the same or even worse than a coup d’etat?

I think the usual platitudes should just have been mouthed by our President and then leave the people of Niger to sort themselves out.

He has stopped electricity flow to Niger.

Does he not know that we supply electric power to Niger Republic in exchange for their not constructing a Dam on their own end of the River Niger, which would have completely ruined the lives of millions of Nigerians and which will put the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams out of business?

The electricity we supply is a small price we pay for the Nigeriens not to dam the said River.

He should  have consulted with General Yakubu Gowon who would have explained the depth of Nigeria's relationship with Niger starting with the reign of President Hamani Diori.

Finally, the arms dealers like vultures are locked in on this threat of war. The biggest arms dealers are the same countries encouraging ECOWAS to go to war on behalf of democracy that they do not practice. They are yearning for a large scale war in Africa, which will depopulate us and hand the region over to them F-O-C without the rigours of colonisation.

The President should not start what he cannot finish.