Author: Damilola

Asylum requests across the European Union declined significantly in 2025, dropping by nearly 20 percent compared to the previous year, according to new data released Tuesday by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). Despite the overall reduction, the agency warned that escalating instability in Iran could reverse the trend and trigger large-scale population displacement. In a report compiled before the outbreak of the US-Israel conflict involving Iran, the EUAA cautioned that developments inside the Islamic Republic pose serious migration risks. “With a population of approximately 90 million, even partial destabilisation could generate refugee movements of an unprecedented magnitude,” the…

US President Donald Trump has said relations between the United States and the United Kingdom have weakened, describing the once-close alliance as no longer as strong as it used to be following disagreements over military action against Iran. Speaking in an interview with British newspaper The Sun, Trump expresþsed frustration over British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial refusal to permit the United States to deploy British military bases during US-Israeli operations targeting Iran. “This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe,” Trump said, noting closer ties with France…

Rapper Sean Combs, widely known as Diddy, is now expected to be released from prison earlier than previously projected as he continues to challenge his conviction and sentence. The music mogul, currently serving a four-year sentence on prostitution-related offences, will now leave custody approximately six weeks ahead of schedule. Records from the US Federal Bureau of Prisons indicate that his release date has been adjusted from June 4, 2028, to April 25, 2028. Combs is serving a 50-month term at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution in New Jersey. The revised timeline followed his admission into a drug rehabilitation initiative…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reviewed its ex-gantry price for premium motor spirit (petrol), increasing it to N874 per litre amid rising global crude oil prices. Sources familiar with operations at the facility disclosed that the refinery adjusted the price upward by N100, moving from N774 per litre to the new rate. “The refinery increased its ex-gantry petrol price to N874 per litre,” a source confirmed. The adjustment follows renewed volatility in the international oil market, where Brent crude prices have climbed to about $79 per barrel due to escalating tensions across the Middle East, a development already affecting global…

The National Police Council has approved the appointment of Olatunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police following a meeting held at the State House in Abuja. Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development shortly after the council’s session, which lasted about 40 minutes. “Yes, they have unanimously endorsed Disu as IGP,” Onanuga said. The meeting commenced around 2:15 pm with President Tinubu presiding, in line with provisions of the Police Act 2020 that mandate the council to consider and ratify the appointment of an Inspector-General of Police. Earlier, the Presidency had…

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has disclosed that Nigeria is set to receive Lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention medication described as highly effective in stopping HIV transmission during clinical trials. In a statement issued on Monday, Toyin Aderibigbe, Head of Public Relations at NACA, said the agency had secured approval for the drug from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), clearing the way for its deployment in the country. Lenacapavir is administered through injection twice yearly, offering a more convenient alternative to daily oral preventive medications currently used for HIV protection.…

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that its 2026 State Congress will take place on Tuesday, March 3. The party disclosed this in a notice issued on Monday by the Chairman of the Lagos State Congress Committee, stating that the exercise will be held at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, formerly known as Onikan Stadium, on Lagos Island, beginning at 10am. The statement noted, “Pursuant to the provisions of Article 12.8 of the party’s Constitution, the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State Chapter, hereby announces the scheduled 2026 State Congress.” According to the party, eligible participants…

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that several United States military aircraft were involved in a crash within the country on Monday morning, though the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. In a statement issued by a defence ministry spokesperson, authorities assured that all crew members survived the incident, describing their condition as stable. The ministry confirmed the “complete safety” of the aircraft’s crew members, adding that emergency teams promptly carried out search and rescue operations before evacuating those involved to a hospital for medical attention. Officials, however, did not disclose the number of aircraft or personnel affected in the…

The United States military has confirmed that three of its personnel were killed while several others sustained injuries during ongoing military operations targeting Iran. In a statement released on Sunday via X, the US Central Command disclosed that the casualties occurred during what it described as Operation Epic Fury. “Three US service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury,” the statement reads. The command added that additional troops suffered less severe injuries during the operation but are already undergoing recovery procedures. “Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions —…

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has directed commissioners of police across Nigeria to strengthen security arrangements amid rising geopolitical tensions linked to developments in the Middle East. The directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who said the measure forms part of preventive actions aimed at shielding the country from possible security repercussions arising from global events. Disu assured Nigerians that the police remain fully committed to safeguarding lives and property, stressing that the nation’s internal security situation remains stable and under firm control. According to the statement, commissioners of…