Russian leader wants a new security architecture to give his country a sphere of influence in Europe Vladimir Putin’s initial plan to capture Ukraine in a few days ended in disaster. But after Donald Trump set up direct peace talks with Moscow, bypassing Kyiv and European allies, the Russian president is now closer than ever to getting what he wanted from his three-year-long invasion. Putin’s main ambition, said people…

Europe must admit to itself that it was too weak to come to Ukraine’s aid alone The chances of Ukraine pushing Russia back out of its territory is now zero. If that were ever possible it would have required far greater support from the US and Europe much earlier in the war. Instead a self-deterring West, led by the vacillating former President Joe Biden, failed to provide Kyiv with sufficient arms…

President’s plans to transform region raise questions about where the Palestinian population would go and the impact on the hostage deal. Donald Trump is “committed to buying and owning Gaza”, but could allow sections of the Strip to be rebuilt by other states in the Middle East. He later attempted to retract the comments but said: “We’re going to take it. We’re going to hold it, we’re going to cherish it. We’re…

With the rising cost of living in Nigeria, fueled by inflation and economic downturn, housing has become an increasing burden for tenants nationwide. The sharp rise in rent has forced some families to relocate to rural areas where housing is more affordable, while others continue to struggle to make ends meet in the cities. Urban residents face escalating rental costs, largely driven by the removal of petroleum subsidies and the…

How do you get to Feb 15 unscathed with your relationship intact? One romance refusenik asks the experts Let’s be adults about this. We all know Valentine’s Day is a ruse. Restaurants and florists hike up their prices, greeting cards are dipped in saccharine and we are collectively guilt-tripped into bunging money at love. It’s a con. Which is why YouGov research last year found that 51 per cent of Brits did…

• Valentine’s Day: Supermarkets, vendors expect high sales By Damilola Olufemi Despite the economic downturn, Nigerian couples are determined to make this Valentine’s Day a memorable one. From supermarket shopping sprees to surprise packages, event planning, and romantic getaways, lovers are finding creative ways to celebrate their relationships. For Emmanuel and his girlfriend, Ada, who live in the Kurumashi area of Kaduna State, Valentine’s Day is all about appreciation and…

Protect your heirs from incurring hefty bills – but beware ways it could backfire For most families, their home is their biggest asset. So it is no surprise that parents are increasingly giving property as gifts in order to avoid inheritance tax. Land Registry data shows that about 130,000 properties are given away each year. This rose to 152,000 in 2023 and is forecast to reach around 220,000 this year, according to…

By Tunde Akingbondere The media space is currently enmeshed in the loud argument over the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police(IGP), Kayode Egbetokun as well as the propriety of the amendment made to the Nigeria Police Act in the face of clearly stipulated legislative procedures guiding the entirety of our age long laws. This intellectual debate became quite popular with the courageous media salvo on the IGP by the presidential…

Many feel forced to hide their status through shame or fear of being taken into care When three homeless people died of cold in the ice-gripped US Midwest during last month’s freeze, it captured headlines — in a few local news outlets. But for most Americans, most of the time, the spectacular social failure that is US homelessness remains well below the radar. Even the news that it hit a…

One in five UK adults now live with diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to “alarming” data that highlights the effects of rising obesity levels, poor diets, and a “broken” food system. Diabetes UK reports that 12.2 million people are affected, including 4.6 million with diagnosed diabetes, 1.3 million with undiagnosed diabetes, and 6.3 million with pre-diabetes, marking the highest total ever recorded. Only a small portion of cases involve type 1…

You have heard of neoliberalism and neoconservatism. Now welcome to the age of neoimperialism. The most striking moment in Donald Trump’s inaugural address last month was his pledge that the US “will once again consider itself a growing nation — one that increases our wealth, expands our territory”. Hopes that Trump’s talk of territorial expansion was an empty rhetorical flourish have faded. The president’s references to foreign territories that he…

The billionaire’s aggressive efficiency drive has critics warning of a constitutional crisis. Allies say he’s just getting started Before Donald Trump re-entered the White House last month, his top donor Elon Musk’s grand plan to slash trillions of dollars in US government spending appeared to consist of little more than a logo of a dog wearing sunglasses, and a stream of provocative social media posts. But behind the scenes,…