Britain will impose temporary road closures and tighten airspace restrictions over Windsor next week as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu arrives for a state visit hosted by King Charles III. The Nigerian leader is expected to begin the visit on Wednesday, 18 March, accompanied by his wife, Oluremi Tinubu with an official reception scheduled to take place at Windsor Castle. Thames Valley Police said it is working closely with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Royal Household and other security partners to coordinate safety arrangements for the high-profile visit. Authorities confirmed that the permanent airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle will be extended on 18 March from 7:00 am until 11:59 pm as part of the security operation. Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of the force’s Joint Operations Unit said the measure forms one element of a wider security plan. “ The air restrictions are just one part of our robust security operation for the state visit of Nigerian Presid...

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has formally bid farewell to Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure with a pull-out parade at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Addressing officers at the ceremony on Thursday, the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, praised his predecessor for laying what he described as firm foundations for professional policing.  Disu said Egbetokun demonstrated leadership early in his career and credited his tenure with strengthening institutional processes and operational focus. He stated that the Force would continue to draw on the experience of former inspectors-general, adding that integrity and professionalism would remain non-negotiable under his leadership. In his valedictory remarks, Egbetokun thanked officers across ranks for their support and framed his time in office as part of a wider institutional continuum rather than an individual legacy.  READ ALSO : Bayelsa Police to Conduct Controlled Explosive Demolition He cited reforms pursued dur...

As World Kidney Day 2026 is celebrated today worldwide, health specialists are drawing attention to the kidneys’ central role in detoxification and overall wellbeing, urging the public to prioritise hydration and smarter dietary choices. The kidneys act as the body’s natural filtration system, removing waste products, excess salts and harmful substances from the bloodstream while regulating fluid balance.  When hydration is poor or diets are heavy in ultra-processed foods, these vital organs can come under unnecessary strain. Why kidney detox matters Doctors note that consistent water intake and nutrient-rich drinks can help the kidneys function efficiently, reducing the long-term risk of kidney-related conditions. While the body already detoxifies itself, supportive habits can make that process more effective. Warning signs to watch Common symptoms linked to kidney stress include persistent fatigue, swelling in the legs or ankles, changes in urination patterns and unusual thirst....

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has revealed details of a former relationship she described as a secret and emotionally unhealthy “ situationship .”  Speaking during a recent appearance on Way Up With Angela Yee, the Rush hitmaker said the relationship was known only to the two people involved, despite repeated warnings from friends to end it. She explained that although those close to her urged her to walk away, she struggled to do so because of the emotional bond they shared.  READ ALSO :  Meta Buys AI Bot Social Network Moltbook According to the singer, the connection went beyond romance and was rooted in what she believed was a genuine friendship. Ayra Starr said the lack of progress in the relationship eventually forced her to reflect on its future.  She admitted feeling conflicted between wanting privacy and hoping her partner would show commitment and “ fight ” for her. Ayra Starr is known for keeping her private life out of the public eye and rarely speaks about h...

A jury in Los Angeles has ordered the United States (US) rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, to pay $140,000 (£104,415) to a former handyman following a dispute over renovation work at his Malibu home. The verdict was returned at the Los Angeles Superior Court after Tony Saxon accused the artist of failing to pay agreed wages and dismissing him unfairly during refurbishment works at the beachside property. Saxon had claimed damages of $1.7m (£1.27m), telling jurors that West agreed to pay him $20,000 a week but made only limited payments during the six weeks he worked at the house, making the jury to award a smaller sum, alongside legal and court costs. Evidence heard during the 10-day trial included competing accounts of the scope and quality of the work.  READ ALSO : Omah Lay Reveals He Went Through Breakup During Grammys Saxon alleged he received just one weekly payment of $20,000, as well as a separate $100,000 for construction expenses, while West’s legal team said bank recor...

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Chaldean Catholic bishop of San Diego after the cleric was arrested in the United States (US) on multiple financial crime charges, the Vatican confirmed on Tuesday. The Vatican said the resignation of Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta was accepted under canon law provisions governing Eastern-rite churches, which allow a pope to approve a bishop’s request to step down.  Although the request was submitted in February, the decision was only made public this week. US authorities said Shaleta, 69, was arrested on 5 March at San Diego International Airport as he attempted to leave the country.  The San Diego County Sheriff's Office said the arrest followed a complaint from within the church, supported by documents alleging possible embezzlement. READ ALSO :  Tinubu Nominates Yuguda as CBN Deputy Governor Prosecutors have filed eight counts against the bishop, including embezzlement, money laundering, aggravated white-collar crime, and was ...

The Bayelsa State Police Command has announced plans to carry out a controlled demolition of explosive materials in parts of Yenagoa on Thursday, March 12, as part of routine safety operations. In a public notice issued on Wednesday, the command said the exercise would be conducted by its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit between 2 pm and 4 pm along Bayelsa Palm Road, Otuoke Express Road. Police authorities warned that residents in nearby communities may hear loud explosions during the operation but stressed that there was no cause for alarm, describing the exercise as a planned and controlled procedure. Members of the public have been advised to keep away from the demolition site for the duration of the exercise to ensure safety. READ ALSO : Bayelsa Supports Inclusive Blue Economy for Women The notice read: " BAYELSA STATE POLICE COMMAND " PUBLIC NOTICE   " The Bayelsa State Police Command wish to notify the general public that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)...

Nigeria has recorded a major advance in HIV prevention with the arrival of a long-acting injectable medicine designed to reduce the risk of infection. The National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, confirmed that the first shipment of long-acting injectable Lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) landed in the country on 10 March 2026. Health officials say the injectable, which offers extended protection compared with daily oral PrEP, could greatly improve adherence among people at higher risk of HIV infection.  Daily pill regimens have long posed challenges for some users due to stigma, forgetfulness and access issues. READ ALSO : India Declines Tinubu’s Ambassador Nominee The rollout is being supported by the Global Fund, and is expected to widen prevention choices while improving access to HIV services, particularly for populations who struggle with regular medication schedules. In a stateme...

The Ghanaian government has opened applications for licences allowing citizens to cultivate and manage cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) said the move followed the formal launch of Ghana’s national cannabis licensing regime on 26 February by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak. According to the Commission, the framework gives effect to Section 43 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), as amended, and is intended to balance economic opportunity with strict regulatory oversight. The NCC stressed that the regime applies only to cannabis with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of no more than 0.3 per cent on a dry weight basis, aligning the programme with international standards for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. Under the policy, cultivation will be restricted to clearly defined uses, including industrial production which will focus on fibre and seed developme...

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed May 23, 2026, for its presidential primary ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The decision was reached on Wednesday at the party’s 106th NEC meeting in Abuja, where leaders reviewed preparations for the polls and the party’s internal processes. In a communiqué issued after the meeting and read by caretaker committee National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed, the NEC approved a full timetable for primaries across all elective offices, in line with the election schedule released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Under the approved schedule, the PDP will submit its membership register to INEC on April 10, 2026.  Primaries for state Houses of Assembly will be held on May 2, followed by National Assembly contests on May 9.  Governorship primaries are slated for May 16, with the presidential primary taking place a week later on May 23. The NEC said the timetable ...

Nigeria’s fuel supply is unlikely to be crippled by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, despite rising global crude prices, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has said. Edun spoke against the backdrop of fresh increases in pump prices across the country, driven by volatility in the international oil market linked to the Middle East crisis, which has also pushed up transportation and logistics costs. Appearing on Politics Today on Wednesday, the minister said current fuel prices reflect market realities under Nigeria’s deregulated petroleum sector, stressing that government price controls are no longer in place. According to him, petroleum pricing is now determined by market forces, allowing prices to move both upwards and downwards in response to global trends. “ The market price for petroleum products is what has been instilled by Mr President, a mechanism that was missing for so long. It is important to understand that this is not a o...

Meta has acquired Moltbook, an experimental social media platform where artificial intelligence bots communicate with one another, as the technology giant accelerates investment in autonomous AI systems. The owner of Facebook and Instagram announced the Moltbook team would join its Superintelligence Labs, adding that the technology would create new ways for AI agents to work for people and businesses. Moltbook launched in January as a test environment for AI-powered programs to hold independent conversations on forum-style threads.  The platform, which resembles Reddit, allows bots to exchange ideas, and in some cases comment on their human operators, without direct supervision. Notably, the experiment has drawn strong interest across the technology sector, but has also reignited debate about AI autonomy, accountability and cyber security risks. Major technology firms are racing to develop so-called AI agents, software systems capable of planning and completing complex tasks on beh...

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending confirmation by the Senate. Yuguda's appointment was contained in a statement issued by Tinubu on Wednesday through the presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. In it, Tinubu stated that the nomination complies with Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.  The statement insisted that the appointment follows the redeployment of former Deputy Governor Bala Bello, who has been named Special Adviser to the President on Political Economy. Furthermore, the statement said the President expects both officials to carry out their duties with professionalism and commitment in support of Nigeria’s economic stability and growth. READ ALSO :  India Declines Tinubu’s Ambassador Nominee Yuguda most recently served as Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a role he held from 2020 until 2024. A graduate of Ahmadu Bello Univer...

Iran has said it will not take part in the 2026 World Cup, citing security issues following United States (US) and Israeli airstrikes that Tehran says killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking on state television on Wednesday, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said participation was impossible after what he described as the “ assassination ” of the country’s leader.  Donyamali added that the safety of Iranian players and supporters could not be guaranteed. “ Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup . “ Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist ,” Donyamali said. The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago, triggering a wider confrontation across the Gulf.  Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Amir Saeid Iravani, has announced more than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed since the att...

The 32 member states of the International Energy Agency (IEA) have agreed unanimously to release 400 million barrels of crude oil from their emergency reserves in a coordinated effort to steady global markets rattled by the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The decision is the largest collective stock release in the agency’s history and comes amid severe disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for the global oil trade. Recall that the conflict, which erupted on 28 February 2026, has sharply curtailed exports through the strait, with volumes falling to less than 10 per cent of pre-war levels.  In 2025, around 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the waterway, accounting for roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne crude supply. IEA executive director Fatih Birol said the scale of the market shock required an equally far-reaching response. READ ALSO :  Trump Says Iran Welcome at 2026 World Cup, FIFA Confirms “ The oil market ch...