Author: Damilola Olufemi

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, after newly disclosed correspondence revealed the veteran Labour figure privately defended Jeffrey Epstein and encouraged him during his 2008 prosecution for sex offences. Mandelson, long known in Westminster as the “Prince of Darkness,” had already resigned twice from Tony Blair’s government in the late 1990s and early 2000s amid misconduct allegations. His latest downfall came when The Sun and Bloomberg published emails showing the depth of his relationship with Epstein was “materially different from that known at the time of his appointment,” according to the…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it described as a deliberate effort to block Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her legislative duties, warning that the action undermines democratic principles and sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s parliament. In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused Senate leaders of acting outside the law by extending the Kogi Central senator’s suspension beyond its stipulated six months. Natasha was suspended on March 6 for alleged insubordination, during which she lost her salary, aides, and office access. She has consistently maintained that her suspension…

Data shows that in 2024 alone, the national grid collapsed 12 times, and more than 100 times in the past decade.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a study companion for many Nigerian students, according to new Google Search trend data released on Tuesday as schools reopen nationwide. The tech giant revealed that searches linking “AI + studying” have jumped by more than 200 per cent compared with last year, signalling that students are moving beyond curiosity and actively turning to AI tools for learning support. Google said learners were exploring AI tutors, free applications, and prompts across a range of subjects. For instance, searches for “AI + chemistry” climbed 50 per cent, while “AI + maths” and “AI + languages” each recorded…

By Eniola Amadu Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been ordered to return to prison after the Supreme Court ruled that the six months he spent in a police hospital did not count toward his sentence. The decision on Tuesday marks the latest setback for the Shinawatra political dynasty, which has dominated Thai politics for a quarter of a century but is now in sharp decline. Thaksin, 76, was originally sentenced in 2008 to eight years in prison on charges of graft and abuse of power linked to his five-year tenure as prime minister, which ended with a military…

By Eniola Amadu Ayanna Pressley has called on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to urgently address new labour data showing a disproportionate increase in unemployment among Black workers, particularly Black women. According to figures from the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), 319,000 fewer Black women were employed in July compared with February, pushing their unemployment rate up by 1.3 percentage points. The rate for Black men rose by 1.5 points over the same period. In August, the unemployment rate for Black workers climbed to 7.5%, compared with 6% in February, while the national average stood at 4.3%. In a letter…

By Eniola Amadu The U.S. Supreme Court has lifted a lower court order that barred federal agents from conducting sweeping immigration operations in Los Angeles. In a 6–3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority granted a stay against the injunction issued by US District Judge Maame E. Frimpong, who had found “a mountain of evidence” that roving patrols of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were conducting indiscriminate arrests based on race, language and occupation. Her order, upheld by an appeals court, prevented agents from detaining individuals solely on such grounds. The administration argued the ruling had unfairly restricted immigration enforcement…

Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain uncertain after the Super Eagles were forced to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. Both sides walked away with a point in a result that keeps Group C finely balanced. The hosts began on the front foot, pressing high and unsettling Nigeria’s backline. Their early intensity paid off midway through the first half when pressure on captain William Troost-Ekong led to an own goal that handed Bafana Bafana the advantage. Nigeria, however, rallied before the interval. Calvin Bassey rose highest to nod in a controversial…

Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is beyond redemption, claiming the opposition party is now effectively controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Melaye dismissed any chance of revival for the PDP, likening its state to irreversible death. “Apart from our Lord Jesus Christ, no dead can rise again. PDP is dead and buried. The party was sold, and I’m not sure they even got the payment receipt. What you have now is an APC-controlled PDP,” he said. The ex-lawmaker alleged that operatives loyal…

By Ismaeel Aleem The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed China’s decision to accept the Nigerian Naira for transactions as a major milestone in the nation’s economic diplomacy and a significant boost to recovery efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In a statement issued on Monday by the APC state spokesman, Seye Oladejo, described the policy as a game-changer that will alleviate Nigeria’s overreliance on the US dollar for international trade. He noted it would provide immediate relief to businesses, importers, and manufacturers by easing pressure on the foreign exchange market, strengthening the Naira, and…