NEWS
Trump Orders ‘Transgender Ideology’ Out Of US Military
The POTUS, Donald Trump has signed an executive order eliminating what he referred to as “transgender ideology” from the military.
The order, signed on Monday, marks a significant setback for LGBTQ rights.
Biztellers reports that President Trump urged the US Army to immediately commence the development of a home grown equivalent of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.
These were part of a series of military-related announcements aboard Air Force One, according to the AFP
In addition, the executive orders reinstated service members dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and expanded efforts to eliminate diversity programmes within the armed forces.
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According to President Trump, “To ensure we have the most lethal fighting force in the world, we will get transgender ideology the hell out of our military.”
President Trump made the declaration at a Republican congressional retreat in Miami.
The POTUS hinged his declaration on the belief that, “many mental and physical health conditions are incompatible with active duty.”
It is also President Trump’s opinion that the US military had been “afflicted with radical gender ideology to appease activists”.
This stance reinforces the POTUS’ stand, having previously implemented a ban on transgender troops, and reiterated his opposition to recognising gender diversity.
The order stated, “Adopting a gender identity inconsistent with one’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honourable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in personal life.”
It further added, “A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and the demand that others honour this falsehood, is inconsistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”
A separate order denounced diversity programmes in the military, arguing they “undermine leadership, merit, and unit cohesion, thereby eroding lethality and force readiness.”
It also banned discussions on “gender ideology” and labelled theories suggesting America’s founding documents are racist or sexist as “un-American.”
The orders coincided with the start of President Trump’s second week back at the White House and a welcome ceremony at the Pentagon for his newly appointed defence secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Political pundits point out that Hegseth, a military veteran and Fox News personality, was confirmed despite concerns over his limited experience and allegations of misconduct.
“Thank you for your leadership, Mr. President. We will execute!” Hegseth stated on X.
Recall that transgender Americans have experienced fluctuating military policies in recent years.
While the Democratic administrations have pushed to allow them to serve openly, President Trump repeatedly sought to exclude them.
The US military lifted its ban on transgender service members in 2016 under President Barack Obama, but President Trump delayed and ultimately reversed the policy during his first term. On his part, President Joe Biden reinstated inclusive policies upon taking office in 2021.
Though transgender troops represent a small fraction of the US military — estimated at around 15,000 out of more than two million personnel — their dismissal would further strain recruitment efforts amid declining enlistment numbers.
Former Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin appeared to criticise President Trump’s stance earlier this month, saying, “Any military that turns away qualified patriots eager to serve is just making itself smaller and weaker.”
The POTUS’ promise to develop a US version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system, despite its limitations for intercontinental threats, was also advanced.
“We need to immediately begin constructing a state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defence shield,” President Trump said.
He stressed that it would be manufactured domestically.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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