British hygiene brand Dettol has apologised for an advert in China that it claims was meant to call out sexism, but has instead backfired.

The five-minute long advert for a multipurpose disinfectant, styled like a micro drama, starts out with a man looking for a partner who is “clean” and “not tainted by other men”.

A plot twist comes late in the advert when his new girlfriend calls him out for his misogyny and breaks up with him. Dettol is then presented as the solution against “toxic men [who] are just like bacteria”.

The advert sparked an uproar on the Chinese internet, with some users saying it objectifies women and others calling for a boycott of the brand.

Dettol said the advert, which has been removed following the backlash, was intended to criticise gender stereotypes, but that snippets of it that later circulated online distorted its core message.

“We recognise that it has offended many people, especially women. We take responsibility for any negligence in creating and reviewing the content of the advert,” Dettol said in a statement on Monday.

The company also said it would review its content moderation processes.

( BBC)

Photo: Okereke-Onyuike

Former Director-General of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (now NGX), Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, has described the emergence of Dr Fiona Ahimie as the first female and 14th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) as a historic breakthrough for gender inclusion and leadership within Nigeria’s capital market.

Professor Okereke-Onyuike made the remarks when she hosted Ahimie and a high-powered delegation from the Institute on a courtesy visit ahead of the President-Elect’s inauguration scheduled for June 25, 2026.

During the visit, Ahimie formally invited Professor Okereke-Onyuike to attend the historic event.

Welcoming the delegation, Professor Okereke-Onyuike expressed delight at the election of Dr Ahimie, noting that her emergence represents a defining moment in the 30-year history of the Institute and a significant milestone for women in the financial services sector.

Okereke-Onyuike commended the CIS for demonstrating confidence in the leadership capacity of women and for taking a bold step towards strengthening gender balance in the profession.

Oil prices tumbled sharply on Monday as reports of advancing diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran eased fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East, a key global crude production hub.

Brent crude futures fell more than 4% in early trading, dropping below $78 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost over $3, trading around $74. The decline marks the steepest one-day drop in several weeks.

Market analysts attributed the sell-off to optimism surrounding indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at reviving elements of the 2015 nuclear deal. Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that both sides have shown flexibility on key issues, including sanctions relief in exchange for limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

“Geopolitical risk premium that had been built into oil prices is evaporating fast,” said Sarah Thompson, senior commodities analyst at Global Energy Insights. “Any de-escalation in US-Iran tensions typically leads to a swift market reaction, as investors price in the potential return of Iranian barrels to the international market.”

Iran, which holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has been largely cut off from global markets due to stringent U.S. sanctions. A successful diplomatic breakthrough could add hundreds of thousands of barrels per day to global supply within months, according to industry estimates.

The price drop comes amid other supportive factors for lower energy costs, including strong U.S. production levels and signs of moderating demand growth in China. However, some traders cautioned that the talks remain fragile and any setback could quickly reverse the gains.

White House officials declined to comment on specifics but reiterated the administration’s commitment to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons through diplomacy when possible.

Energy markets will closely watch developments in the coming days, with the next round of discussions expected to take place in a European capital.