By Esther Ososanya Eighteen European Union countries have applied for loans worth over €127 billion ($147 billion) from a new defence fund. The European Commission confirmed the applications on Wednesday. The fund, called Security Action for Europe, aims to boost military spending and reduce dependence on outside forces. The high demand means the Commission will …
By Esther Ososanya President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adeyemi Olumode as the new Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), following the retirement of the current head, Abdulganiyu Jaji. The announcement came on Wednesday via Maj.-Gen Abdulmalik Jubril (Rtd), Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). Jaji, …
By Esther Ososanya In the heart of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russian medics were performing a delicate surgery when the ground suddenly trembled beneath them during Wednesday’s massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Far East coast. Despite the powerful tremor shaking their tools and threatening their stability, the surgical team remained composed. According to CCTV footage shared by …
By Esther Ososanya The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Ministry of Education have agreed to implement compulsory drug integrity testing for tertiary students and to integrate drug education into Nigeria’s school curriculum. The decision was reached during a high-level meeting between NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) and …
By Esther Ososanya Italy has summoned Russia’s ambassador after President Sergio Mattarella was named in a list of so-called “Russophobes” published by Moscow, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. On July 24, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a compilation of remarks by Western officials allegedly inciting anti-Russian sentiment. Mattarella was cited for a February …
By Esther Ososanya U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed a 25% tariff on all goods imported from India, effective August 1, citing the country’s “unfair trade barriers” and continued defence and energy ties with Russia. The announcement was made via a post on Trump’s Truth Social account, where he also warned of an additional, …
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Ltd has officially ruled out the sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, reaffirming its commitment to completing high-graded rehabilitation and retention of the plant. The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, announced this at a company-wide town hall meeting on Tuesday at …
By Esther Ososanya President Donald Trump has renewed pressure on the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates following a stronger-than-expected 3% growth in U.S. GDP for the second quarter. “2Q GDP JUST OUT: 3%, WAY BETTER THAN EXPECTED! ‘Too Late’ MUST NOW LOWER THE RATE. No Inflation! Let people buy, and refinance, their homes!” Trump …
By Esther Ososanya Mexico’s economy expanded by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, surpassing market expectations of 0.4%, according to preliminary data from the national statistics agency, INEGI. The better-than-expected performance was driven by a 0.8% increase in manufacturing and a 0.7% rise in services, which helped offset a …
By Esther Ososanya A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula sent tsunami waves sweeping across the Pacific on Wednesday, disrupting maritime trade, halting port operations, and triggering emergency alerts as far as Hawaii, Japan, and California. The quake, the region’s strongest since 1952, rattled global logistics chains already grappling with inflation and fuel volatility. …
