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More than 30,000 people evacuated as wildfire rips through Southern California
More than 30,000 people are under evacuation orders in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles after a wildfire picked up by extreme winds tore through the area on Tuesday evening.
Los Angeles fire chief said 10,000 homes are under threat of being destroyed by the blaze in the affluent area which is dotted by celebrity residences.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said that he found “many structures already destroyed” during a visit to the impacted area, although assessed it was too early to see the extent of the damage.
Winds were expected to increase overnight in what the National Weather service has warned could be among the most “life threatening” and strongest to hit Southern California in over a decade. The winds are fanning two fires in the Palisades and another about 40 kilometres northeast in Atladena, which has also prompted evacuation orders.
By Wednesday morning, the fire department reported a growing third fire in the area of Pasadena.
Celebrities took to social media to describe their experience of the fire, with actor James Woods posting footage of flames burning through bushes and palm trees near his home. “Standing in my driveway, getting ready to evacuate,” Woods said in the short video on X, before posting a video of flames outside his pool.
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill posted an update, saying he managed to escape his residence last minute and saw “small fires on both side of the roads.”
Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday and indicated the worst might be yet to come, with strong winds expected overnight on Tuesday.
The Pacific Palisades fire has consumed around 11.5 squre kilometres of land in the Pacific Palisades neighbourdhood, located in western Los Angeles.
The fires also prompted clogged roads as residents fled to evacuate, with some jumping out of their vehicles to get out of danger.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden said he and his team are communicating with state and local officials and he has offered “any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire.”
Some trees and vegetation on the grounds of the Getty Villa however Getty President Katherine Fleming said the museum collection remained safe. The museum is a separate part of the world-famous Getty museum that focuses on the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome.
The Screen Actors Guild Awards canceled its live in-person nominations announcement due to the wildfires, which will take place online instead, the organisation said in a statement.
Film studios also canceled two movie premieres due to the fire and windy weather, and the Los Angeles Unified School District said it temporarily relocated students from three campuses in the Pacific Palisades area.
Recent dry winds and a long-term lack of rain have contributed to temperatures above average in Southern California.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained social media influencer Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, following a viral video that showed him driving recklessly and crashing his vehicle during a live stream.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday, December 16, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi. According to the police, the incident occurred on Sunday, December 14, 2025, and sparked widespread public outrage.
The command said the influencer’s conduct posed a serious threat to public safety and required immediate intervention.
“The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained, for further investigation, Habeeb Hamzat aka ‘PELLER’, subsequent to the viral video that surfaced online on Sunday 14th December, 2025, in which he was seen driving recklessly, leading to a dangerous road crash and serious motor accident, while the incident was being live streamed, thereby endangering his life and that of other road users,” the statement said.
The police described the act as extremely dangerous, warning that it could have resulted in fatal consequences for both the suspect and other road users.
“His action constitutes a deliberate attempt to commit suicide and endangers the lives of other innocent people,” the statement added.
The command disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation.
“The case is currently being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department. The outcome of the investigation will be made public, and the suspect will be charged to the court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the law,” the police said.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, issued a strong warning to social media influencers and the general public against using online platforms to promote unlawful behavior.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received with deep sadness the news of the passing of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
Justice Tanko, 71, from Bauchi State, died on Tuesday in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was the Chief Justice of Nigeria from 2019 to 2022.
President Tinubu describes the late Justice Tanko as an eminent legal mind, a disciplined administrator, and a dedicated public servant who devoted most of his life to upholding justice and strengthening the judiciary.
The President notes that the deceased’s career on the Bench, which culminated in his appointment as CJN, was marked by integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.
President Tinubu says the late jurist made invaluable contributions to the development of Nigeria’s legal system, acknowledging that his legacy will remain indelible, particularly among those he mentored.
The President extends his heartfelt condolences to his family, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Bar and Bench, and the government and people of Bauchi State.
He prays to Almighty Allah for the repose of his soul.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
16th December, 2025
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Actress Doris Ogala doubles down on claims against Pastor Chris Okafor, insists on compensation or marriage
Actress Doris Ogala has intensified her allegations against Pastor Chris Okafor, insisting she was in a long-term relationship with him from 2017 and was promised marriage.
Speaking emotionally, Doris claimed she supported the pastor privately, bought gifts for his children, and stayed loyal for years, only to be abandoned when he decided to marry someone else.
She accused those online, including Dee One, of taking money to do “damage control,” stressing that her demands are legal, not blackmail. According to her, she is seeking compensation for emotional damage, career loss, and broken promises, adding that her lawyer is already preparing formal demands.
Doris also admitted to phone-based intimacy during her troubled marriage but denied any physical affair at the time. She maintained she has evidence to back her claims and alleged she is not the only woman Pastor Chris promised marriage.
“I’m not backing down. This is my right,” she said, warning that she is ready to speak fully if pushed further.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSVHaVegjI7/?igsh=ZG1jNWNnZjN4YWZt
Police arrest popular TikToker Peller over reckless driving
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