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Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders plan fresh push for self-determination

CARDIFF, United Kingdom (NPA) — The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to meet in Cardiff on Monday to discuss greater cooperation and renewed demands for self-determination, including the possibility of future independence or constitutional referendums.

According to The Telegraph, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iowerth and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill are expected to sign a joint declaration calling for the right to self-determination and referendums on the constitutional futures of the three nations.

The meeting would mark an unusual convergence, with pro-independence or nationalist parties currently leading governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The three leaders are also expected to meet with Mary Lou McDonald, President of Sinn Féin and leader of the opposition in Ireland, as part of the discussions.

The proposed declaration comes amid renewed debate over Scotland’s constitutional future and the possibility of another independence referendum.

The debate has also been fuelled by comments from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham about the circumstances that could lead to another Scottish independence vote and comparisons with the Good Friday Agreement mechanism for a possible referendum on Irish unity.

However, Burnham has subsequently rejected calls for a legally agreed pathway to a second Scottish independence referendum, stressing that the Scottish and Northern Irish constitutional situations are different.

Potential implications for the United Kingdom

Any move by Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland towards leaving the United Kingdom would have major political, economic and security implications for the country.

The scale of those consequences would depend on the terms of any constitutional settlement, including negotiations over borders, public assets, debt, energy resources, defence infrastructure and international arrangements.

One immediate issue would be the future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

The Royal Navy’s HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane in Scotland is home to the core of the UK Submarine Service, including the country’s nuclear deterrent. The nearby Coulport facility stores and maintains key components of the UK’s Trident missile system.

A Scottish departure from the UK would therefore create a major question over the future location of the nuclear deterrent and the wider defence relationship between London and an independent Scotland.

North Atlantic security

Scotland also occupies a strategically important position in the North Atlantic, including around the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) area, which has long been important to maritime surveillance and NATO security.

A change in Scotland’s constitutional status could therefore require the UK and its allies to reassess naval and air deployments across the North Atlantic.

The UK would also face questions over its defence training estate.

The Ministry of Defence operates major training areas across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Its Defence Training Estate comprises 16 major training areas and numerous other ranges and camps used to prepare British forces for operations.

Oil, gas and offshore energy

Energy resources would be another major issue in any negotiations over Scottish independence.

UK Parliament analysis has previously noted that most UK North Sea oil and gas reserves are located in waters that could potentially fall under Scottish jurisdiction following independence, although the precise division of maritime resources would have to be negotiated.

An independent Scotland could also seek greater control over offshore renewable-energy resources and related infrastructure.

A changed western security environment

The possible departure of Scotland and Wales, together with a future decision by Northern Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland, would fundamentally alter the United Kingdom’s constitutional and strategic geography.

The Irish Sea, in particular, could become a body of water bordered by several independent states rather than being largely within the United Kingdom’s constitutional territory.

Such a development could raise new questions about defence cooperation, maritime security and the future relationship between London, Dublin, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

Wider geopolitical developments

The renewed debate over the UK’s internal constitutional arrangements comes amid other developments involving Britain’s overseas territories and international disputes.

In July, a new EU-UK agreement concerning Gibraltar came into practical effect, providing for free movement of people and the removal of the physical frontier barrier, while Spain retained its longstanding claim to sovereignty over Gibraltar.

The Falkland Islands also remain the subject of a longstanding sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina. Argentina has recently intensified its diplomatic and legal pressure over activities in the islands, while the UK government has reaffirmed its sovereignty over the territory and the right of Falkland Islanders to determine their future.

Separately, the UK has been negotiating arrangements concerning the Chagos Archipelago and the future of the Diego Garcia military base, adding another dimension to debates over Britain’s overseas strategic position.

The Cardiff meeting is therefore likely to attract attention beyond domestic British politics, as renewed demands for self-determination in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland raise questions about the future shape of the United Kingdom and its wider geopolitical role.

September 13, 2026
US says it has redirected 100 commercial vessels under Iran blockade

WASHINGTON, United States (NPA) — The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces have redirected 100 commercial vessels over the past 60 days while enforcing a maritime blockade against Iran.

In a statement on Saturday, CENTCOM said the milestone meant no vessel had passed through the blockade without authorisation from U.S. forces.

“CENTCOM forces have redirected 100 commercial vessels over the past 60 days since America resumed the steel wall blockade against Iran. ZERO ships have passed through the blockade without U.S. forces allowing it,” the command said.

“American service members remain laser focused on this mission.”

The United States resumed its naval blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on July 14, 2026, following an earlier blockade that began in April. CENTCOM said the blockade applies to vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.

The command has said the operation is aimed at enforcing restrictions on commercial vessels seeking to enter or leave Iranian ports.

CENTCOM’s area of responsibility covers a broad region stretching across the Middle East and parts of Central and South Asia, where U.S. forces conduct security and maritime operations.

CENTCOM denies Iranian claim over US warships

The latest development comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran and a series of reported military confrontations at sea.

On September 9, CENTCOM rejected a claim attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that Iranian forces had struck two U.S. Navy destroyers operating in the Middle East.

CENTCOM described the claim as false, saying no U.S. Navy warship had been struck and that Iranian attacks had failed.

The command also said U.S. forces had destroyed 10 Iranian tankers within a week, describing the vessels as part of what it called a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies.

US destroys five Iranian tankers

The development followed a September 8 announcement by CENTCOM that U.S. forces had destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC allegedly targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles on two occasions over two days.

According to CENTCOM, the U.S. warship evaded the attacks and continued patrolling regional waters, with no American personnel reported injured.

The command said the five tankers — M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco and M/T Derya — were destroyed in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island.

CENTCOM said American forces directed the crews to abandon the vessels before they were struck and rendered inoperable.

The command said the tankers were allegedly part of a multibillion-dollar network used to finance the IRGC and its regional proxies.

The latest strikes followed another operation on September 5, when CENTCOM said U.S. forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC launched ballistic missiles towards two U.S. Navy warships.

CENTCOM said the U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded the attacks and that no American personnel were harmed.

The U.S. military has continued to enforce the blockade as tensions with Iran remain high, with CENTCOM warning that its forces would continue to prevent vessels from violating the restrictions.

September 12, 2026
WHO chief hails India as HPV vaccination campaign surpasses 8 million doses

NEW DELHI, India (NPA) — The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has congratulated India’s Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, and the people of India after the country administered more than 8 million doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine under its National HPV Vaccination Campaign.

Tedros described the milestone as a powerful demonstration that cervical cancer control is possible through strong political commitment, HPV vaccination, screening, early detection and timely treatment.

He said India’s progress was helping accelerate efforts towards the goals of the WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative and bringing the world closer to a future where no woman dies from the preventable disease.

“It is a powerful demonstration that cervical cancer control is possible through strong political commitment, HPV vaccination, screening, early detection and timely treatment,” Tedros said.

He added that India’s leadership was helping advance the objectives of the WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative.

The WHO chief’s commendation followed an announcement by Nadda that India had crossed the milestone of 8 million HPV vaccine doses administered under the national campaign.

In a statement issued on September 11, 2026, Nadda congratulated health workers, frontline teams, healthcare professionals, states and union territories, and others involved in the vaccination drive.

“India has crossed a significant milestone of 80 lakh+ HPV vaccine doses administered under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign,” Nadda said.

“Launched by PM Shri @narendramodi ji in February 2026, the campaign provides free, voluntary, single-dose HPV vaccination to 14-year-old girls, with parental consent.”

Nadda said the achievement strengthened the country’s commitment to preventive healthcare and protecting future generations against cervical cancer.

“Let us ensure that no eligible girl is left behind,” he said.

According to the Indian government, the campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2026 and targets 14-year-old girls with a free, voluntary, single-dose HPV vaccine, subject to parental consent.

HPV and cervical cancer prevention

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common viral infection of the reproductive tract and is associated with cervical cancer and other cancers.

HPV vaccination provides protection against high-risk HPV types responsible for a large proportion of cervical cancer cases and can also protect against genital warts.

The WHO recommends HPV vaccination as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer, with vaccination generally prioritised for girls aged 9 to 14, preferably before exposure to HPV.

The vaccine does not replace cervical cancer screening, but vaccination combined with screening, early detection and appropriate treatment can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer and deaths from the disease.

September 12, 2026
Amnesty accuses Russia of trafficking foreign nationals into Ukraine war

LONDON, United Kingdom (NPA) — Amnesty International has accused Russia of using deceptive, coercive and exploitative practices to recruit foreign nationals into its armed forces and deploy them to fight in Ukraine, saying the practices amount in many cases to human trafficking.

The allegations were contained in a new briefing published by the organisation on Thursday, September 10, 2026, which said the recruitment practices exploit the precarious circumstances of migrants and refugees in Russia and target nationals primarily from low-income countries in the Global South.

According to Amnesty, recruiters have lured foreign nationals into the Russian Armed Forces through false promises and misleading job offers, while exploiting migrants’ irregular immigration status and other vulnerabilities.

“Amnesty’s research demonstrates how Russia’s Armed Forces are bolstering their ranks with economically vulnerable foreign nationals and using them as cannon fodder in the war of aggression against Ukraine,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

“The level of exploitation and coercion involved led us to conclude that in many cases this amounts to human trafficking, as defined under the UN’s Palermo Protocol,” she said.

Callamard said the recruitment system builds on existing exploitative migration pathways and abusive practices towards migrants and refugees in Russia.

“Building on pre-existing exploitative migration pathways and abusive practices towards migrants and refugees in Russia, recruiters have developed a system of coercion, fraud and deception, including false promises of civilian or non-combat employment, to enlist foreigners in the military,” she said.

“Once victims sign the paperwork, often in a language they do not understand, military commanders restrict their movements, deploy them to the front lines with minimal preparation, and threaten those who seek a way out.”

The briefing is based on interviews with individuals from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Somalia and South Africa conducted at two Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps between 2024 and 2026.

Amnesty also said it spoke with foreign nationals currently serving with Russian forces, members of their families, lawyers, human rights activists and journalists.

Migrants allegedly targeted through immigration status

According to the organisation, Russian authorities have used the irregular immigration status of foreigners who overstay work-related visas, as well as the vulnerable circumstances of foreigners accused of criminal offences, as recruitment tools.

Amnesty said enlistment was sometimes presented as an alternative to detention or deportation.

The organisation interviewed two Sri Lankan men who were allegedly recruited after overstaying their work visas. It also spoke with Cuban and Egyptian nationals who were jailed over alleged drug possession and offered the opportunity to sign military contracts instead of serving or completing their prison sentences.

Amnesty said it also received testimony from a refugee from Central Africa who was detained after his temporary protection status expired and allegedly threatened with deportation unless he joined the Russian Armed Forces.

Foreigners allegedly deceived over nature of jobs

Amnesty said concealing or misrepresenting the risks and nature of military service had become a key feature of Russia’s recruitment of migrants.

According to the organisation, military service was often presented as non-combat employment, including work in military kitchens or driving jobs away from the front line.

Two Sri Lankan nationals interviewed by Amnesty said they were led to believe they would work as cooks but were instead sent to the front lines, where they were captured by Ukrainian forces within weeks.

“The scale of fighting is unimaginable. You do not see Ukrainian soldiers, only drones. Drones everywhere,” one of the men said.

“I would never go back there.”

Amnesty said local agents and misleading online job advertisements had also been used to recruit people in their home countries.

Individuals from Brazil, Colombia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa and Sri Lanka who were recruited outside Russia reportedly said they had been promised civilian jobs in security, logistics, construction, information technology and other sectors.

According to the organisation, some were offered high salaries and expedited access to Russian citizenship, only to be drawn into the Russian Armed Forces after arriving in the country.

A South African man who applied online for a driving job in Poland was allegedly instructed by an agent on WhatsApp to travel to Moscow to collect a truck and drive it to Poland, according to his wife, who spoke to Amnesty.

“Upon arrival to Moscow, everything was taken from him… He was told that he would not be going to Poland and that he is becoming a soldier,” she said.

Promised salaries, citizenship allegedly used as incentives

Amnesty said many recruits were promised lucrative salaries and enlistment bonuses that were not fully paid.

While some reportedly received partial payments before being captured, many said they received no payment.

The organisation said the prospect of obtaining Russian citizenship was another major incentive cited by those it interviewed.

It also reported that all interviewees described severe restrictions on their freedom of movement after signing military contracts.

Recruits from Brazil and Sri Lanka said their passports and mobile phones were confiscated during training or before deployment to the front line.

Others said they were unable to leave the facilities to which they had been taken after signing the paperwork, while transportation was conducted secretly and under strict control.

Pedro, a Brazilian IT professional who Amnesty said was recruited after signing what he believed was a contract for a well-paid technology job in Russia, said he asked his commander to leave but was threatened.

“If you try to escape, you will either go to jail or we will kill you,” he said he was told.

Foreign recruits allegedly sent to combat with little training

Amnesty said a lack of military experience appeared not to be a barrier to recruitment, with most foreign enlistees reportedly deployed to active combat zones after about two weeks of training.

Many interviewees described inadequate preparation, insufficient equipment and limited communication with commanders because of language barriers.

The organisation said the findings suggested that the recruitment of foreign nationals was driven largely by the need to increase the number of Russian forces at the front, with little attention to combat readiness and an apparent disregard for human life.

Amnesty said the patterns documented in its research raised serious concerns about Russia’s compliance with its obligations under international law.

The organisation alleged possible involvement in human trafficking and accused Russian authorities of failing to adequately criminalise and combat trafficking, investigate reported crimes and serious human rights violations, protect victims and survivors, and hold those responsible or complicit accountable.

Amnesty demands end to recruitment practices

Amnesty International called on Russia to immediately end abusive practices involving the recruitment of foreign nationals and their treatment in training centres and at the front line.

The organisation said this should include ending recruitment based on coercion, deception and misinformation, as well as the exploitation of economic, legal and other vulnerabilities among foreign nationals in Russia and economically disadvantaged communities elsewhere.

It also called for an end to restrictions on the movement of foreign recruits once they are in Russia or Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Amnesty urged countries whose nationals are at risk or have been affected to issue clear public warnings about deceptive or fraudulent recruitment schemes linked to employment in Russia or third countries.

The organisation also called for national, regional and international measures to combat human trafficking, establish accountability for those responsible and provide remedies for people subjected to coercion, exploitation or abuse.

The briefing also contains recommendations to the Ukrainian authorities, including on the treatment of third-country nationals being held as prisoners of war.

Callamard said the alleged trafficking had consequences far beyond the battlefield.

“The human suffering caused by the trafficking of foreign nationals by Russia, or by those it has enabled and incentivized, is not restricted to the front line in Ukraine,” she said.

“These recruitment networks reach far and wide, into vulnerable communities across the world, leaving a trail of exploitation, loss, and pain far beyond war-torn Ukraine.”

She urged other countries to act if Russia continues to exploit vulnerable communities.

“If Russia refuses to put an end to human trafficking and continues exploiting vulnerable communities globally, other states must do everything in their power to stop this crime,” Callamard said.

“There must be full accountability for all those directly involved and all those complicit, whether as private recruiters or intermediaries, state officials or military commanders.”

“Wherever human trafficking has occurred, its victims and survivors should be identified and treated as such, with all evidence collected and preserved in order to pursue those responsible.”

September 10, 2026
EU unity crucial as bloc prepares for 2028-2034 budget, President Costa says

VALLETTA, Malta (NPA) — European Council President António CostaEU unity crucial as bloc prepares for 2028-2034 budget, President Costa says

VALLETTA, Malta (NPA) — European Council President António Costa has stressed the importance of unity among European Union member states as the bloc prepares to negotiate its next long-term budget for 2028 to 2034.

Costa made the remarks following a meeting with Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, in Valletta on September 10, 2026, as part of his consultations with European leaders ahead of key decisions facing the EU.

He said engaging directly with EU leaders in their home countries was important for understanding different perspectives and building consensus within the European Council.

“It is very important for me to engage directly with all European leaders regularly, including their home country, and to listen to and understand all perspectives. This will help the European Council to achieve unity. Because unity cannot be taken for granted, we build it every day, at every meeting.”

Costa said the EU was preparing for a major budget decision that would determine the bloc’s ability to respond to its priorities between 2028 and 2034.

“We will need it again for a decision that will define what Europe is able to do between 2028 and 2034: on our next long-term budget.”

According to Costa, the geopolitical environment facing Europe has fundamentally changed since the previous long-term budget was negotiated in 2020, requiring a different approach to the structure and allocation of EU resources.

“We are now operating in a fundamentally different geopolitical environment from the one we faced when we last negotiated the budget in 2020. This new reality calls for a new approach to our budget, with a new structure and a new way of allocating our resources.”

He said the next budget must be capable of funding strategic priorities such as competitiveness, defence, security and strategic resilience.

“At the same time, the next budget should ensure funding for our cohesion and agriculture policies. They pull our regions upwards and support growth and jobs locally. In a nutshell, they have a direct impact on the prosperity of our citizens.”

Costa said reaching an agreement before the end of 2026 would be important to ensure continuity of funding for farmers, fishermen, students, researchers and businesses.

“Reaching agreement by the end of the year is key. Because we need to ensure that funding keeps flowing without interruption. For our farmers and fishermen, for our students and researchers, for our businesses.”

He outlined the proposed timeline as: “agree in 2026, legislate and prepare in 2027, deliver in 2028.”

EU budget requires new revenue sources

Costa described the size of the next EU budget as a critical issue, noting that the bloc, like national governments, must finance its priorities within limited resources.

He said most EU funding comes from national contributions by member states, which he argued must remain within reasonable limits.

“Therefore, we need new European revenues, the so-called new own resources, in order to reduce the pressure on national budgets. This will be a key component of an overall agreement.”

Costa discusses Mediterranean, Middle East

Beyond the long-term budget, Costa said he and Abela discussed issues expected to feature prominently at the upcoming European Council meeting, including developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

He said the developments had implications for Europe’s peace and stability, migration flows and energy security.

“We need to remain engaged in the region and I am grateful for your active role in this regard, dear Robert. The European Union will continue to work, including with regional and global partners, on the path towards a long-lasting peace, based on the two-state solution.”

Costa said recent geopolitical developments had demonstrated the need for Europe to accelerate efforts towards greater strategic autonomy.

“The geopolitical developments of recent years have shown us one thing clearly: Europe needs to accelerate its path towards greater strategic autonomy. And we are on the right track.”

He, however, stressed that greater European autonomy depended fundamentally on unity among member states.

“The most important condition for greater European autonomy is our own unity.”

Costa said strengthening unity was the main purpose of his meeting with Abela and would remain central to his consultations with other European leaders in the coming weeks.

“And that was the main purpose of today’s meeting with the Prime Minister Robert Abela, and of the talks I will continue to have with European leaders in the next weeks – to foster unity.”

He thanked Abela for the meeting and expressed confidence in continued cooperation ahead of the next European Council meeting.

“Dear Robert, I look forward to our work together at the next European Council.” has stressed the importance of unity among European Union member states as the bloc prepares to negotiate its next long-term budget for 2028 to 2034.

Costa made the remarks following a meeting with Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, in Valletta on September 10, 2026, as part of his consultations with European leaders ahead of key decisions facing the EU.

He said engaging directly with EU leaders in their home countries was important for understanding different perspectives and building consensus within the European Council.

“It is very important for me to engage directly with all European leaders regularly, including their home country, and to listen to and understand all perspectives. This will help the European Council to achieve unity. Because unity cannot be taken for granted, we build it every day, at every meeting.”

Costa said the EU was preparing for a major budget decision that would determine the bloc’s ability to respond to its priorities between 2028 and 2034.

“We will need it again for a decision that will define what Europe is able to do between 2028 and 2034: on our next long-term budget.”

According to Costa, the geopolitical environment facing Europe has fundamentally changed since the previous long-term budget was negotiated in 2020, requiring a different approach to the structure and allocation of EU resources.

“We are now operating in a fundamentally different geopolitical environment from the one we faced when we last negotiated the budget in 2020. This new reality calls for a new approach to our budget, with a new structure and a new way of allocating our resources.”

He said the next budget must be capable of funding strategic priorities such as competitiveness, defence, security and strategic resilience.

“At the same time, the next budget should ensure funding for our cohesion and agriculture policies. They pull our regions upwards and support growth and jobs locally. In a nutshell, they have a direct impact on the prosperity of our citizens.”

Costa said reaching an agreement before the end of 2026 would be important to ensure continuity of funding for farmers, fishermen, students, researchers and businesses.

“Reaching agreement by the end of the year is key. Because we need to ensure that funding keeps flowing without interruption. For our farmers and fishermen, for our students and researchers, for our businesses.”

He outlined the proposed timeline as: “agree in 2026, legislate and prepare in 2027, deliver in 2028.”

EU budget requires new revenue sources

Costa described the size of the next EU budget as a critical issue, noting that the bloc, like national governments, must finance its priorities within limited resources.

He said most EU funding comes from national contributions by member states, which he argued must remain within reasonable limits.

“Therefore, we need new European revenues, the so-called new own resources, in order to reduce the pressure on national budgets. This will be a key component of an overall agreement.”

Costa discusses Mediterranean, Middle East

Beyond the long-term budget, Costa said he and Abela discussed issues expected to feature prominently at the upcoming European Council meeting, including developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

He said the developments had implications for Europe’s peace and stability, migration flows and energy security.

“We need to remain engaged in the region and I am grateful for your active role in this regard, dear Robert. The European Union will continue to work, including with regional and global partners, on the path towards a long-lasting peace, based on the two-state solution.”

Costa said recent geopolitical developments had demonstrated the need for Europe to accelerate efforts towards greater strategic autonomy.

“The geopolitical developments of recent years have shown us one thing clearly: Europe needs to accelerate its path towards greater strategic autonomy. And we are on the right track.”

He, however, stressed that greater European autonomy depended fundamentally on unity among member states.

“The most important condition for greater European autonomy is our own unity.”

Costa said strengthening unity was the main purpose of his meeting with Abela and would remain central to his consultations with other European leaders in the coming weeks.

“And that was the main purpose of today’s meeting with the Prime Minister Robert Abela, and of the talks I will continue to have with European leaders in the next weeks – to foster unity.”

He thanked Abela for the meeting and expressed confidence in continued cooperation ahead of the next European Council meeting.

“Dear Robert, I look forward to our work together at the next European Council.”

September 10, 2026
Nigeria condemns Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government has condemned the September 7, 2026, attack on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the Houthi militia in Yemen, describing the renewed hostilities as a threat to regional security and stability.

Nigeria’s position was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, who said the attack resulted in injuries to scores of civilians and damage to public infrastructure.

“Nigeria regards the fresh hostilities as a serious threat not only to the security and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia, but also to regional stability in the Middle East,” Adeniyi said.

He said Nigeria was calling on all parties to uphold international law, exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions capable of escalating the situation, endangering civilian lives, undermining regional security and further disrupting the flow of much-needed global energy supplies.

“Nigeria stands in solidarity with the government and people of Saudi Arabia at this difficult time, and prays for speedy recovery for those injured in the attack,” he said.

Adeniyi reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting peace and reconciliation frameworks aimed at promoting regional and international peace, security and stability, while advancing shared prosperity and development for all.

The ministry said Nigeria would continue to support efforts that contribute to peaceful resolution of conflicts and the protection of civilians amid growing tensions in the Middle East.

-NAN

September 10, 2026
Iran, US escalate tanker attacks in biggest shipping assault since war began

JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA) — Iran and the United States have carried out their largest declared wave of retaliatory attacks on commercial shipping since the six-month-old war began, with Tehran claiming strikes on 10 vessels after the U.S. military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers.

The escalation has intensified concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important energy corridors, sending oil prices higher and pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel for the first time since July.

At least one seafarer was reported killed and another missing following the attacks, while several vessels were reported damaged or set ablaze in waters around the Gulf.

According to Reuters, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the destruction of five Iranian oil tankers by U.S. forces.

The U.S. military’s Central Command said it destroyed the five Iranian tankers overnight, releasing video footage showing vessels ablaze before sinking.

Washington said the attacks were carried out in response to what it described as two Iranian ballistic-missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the preceding two days. The U.S. military said no American personnel were injured.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Washington’s policy of targeting Iranian tankers in response to attacks against American naval assets.

“Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers,” Rubio said during a visit to Colombia, according to Reuters.

Iran, meanwhile, warned that it would significantly intensify its response to any further attacks.

The Revolutionary Guards said that if Iran came under attacks against two or three targets, it would respond by striking 20 targets. The IRGC also said it would soon release maps showing a new and much larger maritime exclusion zone extending towards the Arabian Gulf from Iran’s coast near Chabahar, close to the Pakistani border.

The latest attacks have reportedly affected shipping lanes and vessels operating near several countries bordering the Gulf.

A seafarer aboard the oil-products tanker Hercules Star was killed while the vessel was at anchor off Dubai, while another crew member was reported missing, according to the vessel’s charterer, Peninsula. Maritime security sources said the ship may have been hit by a drone.

The British maritime security agency, UKMTO, also reported that a vessel in the vicinity was listing and possibly taking on water after being struck by a projectile. Reuters said it could not immediately establish whether the report referred to the Hercules Star.

In Iraqi waters, two port officials said the tanker New Andros, carrying about two million barrels of fuel oil, caught fire after being struck by a drone. None of its 22 crew members was reported injured.

UKMTO said it had received reports of several merchant vessels being struck by disabling fire in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman, on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. The agency said it was unable to immediately confirm the number of casualties or determine the environmental impact.

Iran also threatened oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media. A maritime security source separately reported damage to a liquefied natural gas tanker at the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan.

The escalation has raised fresh concerns about the flow of global energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil normally passes.

Iran has largely restricted transit through the strait since the war began, while Washington has responded with a blockade of Iranian ports. The United States says it has been able to guide a number of tankers through the waterway, although independent monitors have said it has become increasingly difficult to determine the actual volume of oil leaving the region.

Preliminary tracking data showed only six ships crossing the strait with their transponders switched on during the previous 24 hours, according to the Reuters report.

The shipping crisis has been compounded by a separate escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen’s populated territory, have threatened Saudi shipping, while a Saudi-backed government based in the south has launched a multi-pronged offensive against Houthi-held areas.

On Tuesday, the Houthis launched attacks on four Saudi cities, causing major fires at oil installations that were reportedly visible from space. Saudi authorities said 73 people were wounded and released footage showing damaged homes and injured people receiving treatment in hospitals.

A Pakistani source said Saudi Arabia had carried out retaliatory strikes against Yemen. The Houthis claimed that dozens of people had been killed in Saudi airstrikes, although Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the reported death toll.

The combined developments have added further uncertainty to global energy markets and heightened fears that continued attacks on shipping could disrupt oil and gas supplies beyond the immediate conflict zone.

The latest escalation underscores the growing international consequences of the conflict, as attacks on commercial vessels threaten not only regional maritime security but also the stability of global energy markets.

Newpost Africa reports that with the Strait of Hormuz already under severe restrictions and fighting spreading across new fronts, governments and maritime authorities face mounting pressure to keep vital shipping lanes open while preventing the conflict from escalating further and driving oil prices—once below $100—sharply upward.

September 9, 2026
Brent crude rises above $100 a barrel as Middle East conflict intensifies

SINGAPORE, Singapore (NPA) — Brent crude oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel for the first time since July 24, as intensifying conflict in the Middle East raises concerns about disruptions to oil supplies from the region.

Brent crude futures climbed as high as $100.19 a barrel on Wednesday before easing to $99.93, up $2.01 or 2.05 per cent, by 0802 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also rose $1.49, or 1.60 per cent, to $94.52 a barrel.

Brent has gained about 25 per cent since early August, as hopes for a permanent resolution to the six-month-old U.S.-Iran conflict continue to fade.

Since the war began on February 28, Brent has climbed as high as $126.41 a barrel, a level reached on April 30.

The latest escalation has heightened concerns over oil supplies, following attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi energy facilities that set oil installations ablaze and raised fears of a wider regional conflict.

The attacks have also raised concerns about crude shipments through the Red Sea, which has served as an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, where oil flows have been severely curtailed since the start of the conflict.

Hamad Hussain, senior climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics, said market participants appeared to be pricing in a longer Middle East conflict and the possibility that the latest military escalation could disrupt regional oil flows.

He identified the impact of attacks on oil tankers on ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman as a key risk, noting that such transfers had helped supply global markets and limit price increases.

Several major banks, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and HSBC, have raised their crude oil price forecasts in recent days.

According to Rystad Energy Chief Economist Claudio Galimberti, between 8 million and 9 million barrels per day (bpd) had flowed through the Strait of Hormuz in the week before fighting resumed on August 30, twice the volume recorded the previous week. More recently, flows had fallen below 2 million bpd.

Jeffrey Currie, co-chairman at Abaxx Markets, said the increase in energy prices should not be viewed as a temporary development, describing it as a structural rise linked to heightened security risks.

Meanwhile, non-OPEC producers, including the United States, Canada and Guyana, have increased output. However, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said last month that it expected global oil supply to fall by 4.3 million bpd, or about 4 per cent, this year.

September 9, 2026
JUST IN: Zelenskyy hails military intelligence on Ukraine’s Intelligence Day

KYIV, Ukraine (NPA) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the country’s military intelligence personnel for their contributions to Ukraine’s defence amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Zelenskyy made the commendation on Monday in a statement marking Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Day.

The president said the country’s intelligence community had strengthened Ukraine’s defence by providing critical intelligence and conducting operations aimed at preventing Russia from achieving its military objectives.

He said personnel of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, alongside other members of the country’s Defence Forces, had played key roles in defending Kyiv, liberating Snake Island and carrying out hundreds of defensive operations both within Ukraine and behind enemy lines.

“Today is Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Day. We thank everyone who is truly strengthening Ukraine’s defence in this war, providing our country with the intelligence it needs, and carrying out operations that prevent Russia from achieving its goals,” Zelenskyy said.

He commended intelligence personnel for their strength and professionalism and acknowledged their contributions to Ukraine’s security and independence.

Zelenskyy also honoured intelligence officers who had been killed while carrying out combat missions, saying their sacrifices would not be forgotten.

“And we will remember all our intelligence officers who were killed while carrying out combat missions. We honour the memory of every fallen hero,” he said.

The president thanked serving intelligence officers who had continued the missions of fallen colleagues and remained committed to protecting Ukraine.

“And I thank everyone who has continued the mission of their fallen brothers and sisters-in-arms and works every day for Ukraine’s security and independence,” he said.

Zelenskyy concluded his message by paying tribute to Ukraine’s military intelligence and the country.

“Glory to Ukraine’s military intelligence!

“Glory to Ukraine!”

September 7, 2026
CENTCOM disables three Iranian oil tankers after Iran targets two U.S. warships

TAMPA, United States (NPA) — The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers on Sept. 5 after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships operating in regional waters.

According to CENTCOM, a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple attacks, with no American personnel harmed.

Following the attacks, CENTCOM said its forces permanently disabled the IRGC-linked crude oil carriers M/T Downy, off the coast of Kharg Island, and M/T Stark 1, near Jask.

It said American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, also known as the “Noxen,” in the Gulf of Oman.

According to the command, the Kylo was struck at multiple critical locations after its crew was directed to abandon the vessel, rendering it inoperable.

CENTCOM said the three tankers were part of what it described as a multibillion-dollar shadow network used to fund the IRGC and its regional proxies.

The command warned that it would continue to target Iran’s oil fleet if American forces came under attack.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.

“We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet,” he added.

The latest strikes come amid an ongoing escalation between the United States and Iran, with CENTCOM reporting recent operations against Iranian military and IRGC targets.

On Sept. 1, CENTCOM said U.S. forces had conducted strikes against IRGC targets including air defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.

September 6, 2026