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Finland President Alexander Stubb boosts ties with Trump with round of golf in Florida

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) listens to Finland's President Alexander Stubb (second from left) during a meeting in Paris, France, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

The meeting comes a day after Trump’s VP J.D. Vance accused Denmark – Finland’s close ally – of doing a poor job keeping Greenland safe

Finnish President Alexander Stubb made a surprise trip on Saturday to meet US President Donald Trump at his estate in Florida, where the two leaders discussed strengthening their countries’ bilateral partnership and played a round of golf.

“President Stubb and I look forward to strengthening the partnership between the United States and Finland, and that includes the purchase and development of a large number of badly needed Icebreakers for the US, delivering Peace and International Security for our Countries, and the World,” Trump said in a social media post.

The two presidents met for breakfast, played golf and had lunch together. They also discussed foreign policy issues, including Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Stubb in Helsinki last week.

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The Finnish president’s office said in a statement that Stubb’s unannounced visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, was informal.

The meeting took place a day after Trump’s US vice-president, J.D. Vance, made an uninvited visit to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Finland’s close Nordic ally Denmark. Vance accused Denmark of doing a poor job keeping Greenland safe.

Trump has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, part of a growing international focus on competition to control the Arctic. Denmark’s government opposes such a move, as do most Greenland residents.

Finland is the world’s leading producer of icebreakers. About 80 per cent of the ships have been designed by Finnish companies, and around 60 per cent of them have been built at Finnish shipyards.

In November, Canada, Finland and the administration of former US president Joe Biden signed a deal called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) to work “together to develop world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers through the exchange of knowledge, information, and resources”.

Before his visit, Stubb had said he hoped to play golf with Trump and that icebreaker diplomacy could help Finland maintain good relations with the US and Trump.

Finland shares the European Union’s longest border with Russia. After Russia invaded Ukraine, the country made a foreign policy U-turn after decades of military non-alignment, deciding to join Nato together with Sweden.

Trump’s frequent criticism of Nato allies and his shift toward normalising relations with Russia have some European countries scrambling to boost their own defence spending.

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES SENATOR IFEANYI ARARUME ON HIS BIRTHDAY

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President Bola Tinubu felicitates Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume, astute politician and accomplished businessman, on his birthday, December 16.

Senator Ararume’s odyssey in politics began in the late 1980s, when he served as the State Treasurer of the Liberal Convention in old Imo State. He later joined the National Finance Committee of the defunct National Republican Convention.

He represented Imo North in the 9th National Assembly. He was first elected in May 1999 and re-elected in April 2003. He also served on several committees and held other official roles.

President Tinubu commends the former senator for his years of service to the nation and contributions to its peace, unity, and progress.

The President describes Senator Ararume as a resolute and shrewd politician, highlighting his courageous and remarkable political journey through the years.

President Tinubu wishes Senator Ararume a happy 67th birthday and prays that God Almighty will grant him more years of good health and strength.

 

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Ndigbo are no longer spectators in the Nigerian project- Minister Dave Umahi dismisses calls for Biafra under Tinubu’s administration

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The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the all-inclusive style of governance being practiced by President Bola Tinubu has made the agitation for Biafra an unnecessary clamour.

While speaking at the inspection of the Enugu-Anambra road last Saturday, December 13, Umahi said the Tinubu administration had given Ndigbo what they had sought for decades, not through secession, but through what he described as unprecedented inclusion in national governance and development.

He explained that the agitation for Biafra was historically driven by neglect, exclusion and underrepresentation at the federal level, but insisted that the situation had changed under the current administration.

“When a people are fully integrated, respected and empowered within the structure of the nation, the dream they once chased through agitation has already been achieved through cooperation.

The push for Biafran secession over the years was borne out of neglect, exclusion and underrepresentation but today the narrative has changed dramatically under President Bola Tinubu.

The President has deliberately opened the doors of national development to the South-East. Appointments, policy inputs and infrastructure priorities now reflect true federal balance.

Every sector now bears visible Igbo footprints. The emergence of Igbo sons and daughters in strategic positions is a testament to this inclusion.

Biafra was never about breaking Nigeria; it was about being counted in Nigeria. Through inclusion, equity and concrete development, Ndigbo are no longer spectators in the Nigerian project; they are co-authors of its future. When justice finds a people, agitation loses its voice.”he said

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ADC Launches 90-Day Membership Drive, Fixes Dates For Congresses, National Convention

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced a 90-day nationwide membership mobilisation, revalidation, and registration exercise as part of preparations for its internal party activities ahead of 2026.

The party also approved provisional dates for its congresses and the election of delegates at the polling unit, ward, and local government levels across the country.

In circulars issued by its national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC said the congresses are expected to hold between January 20 and January 27, 2026.

The process, the party said, will lead to the emergence of delegates who will participate in its non-elective national convention scheduled for February 2026 in Abuja.

A statement by Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the party, said the decisions were reached at a meeting of the national working committee (NWC) held on November 27, 2025.

Abdullahi said the timetable and activities were approved in line with the resolutions of the NWC and in accordance with relevant provisions of the party’s constitution.

The ADC said further details on the membership exercise, congresses, and convention will be communicated to party members and stakeholders in due course.

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