Paris, France — The race for football’s most prestigious individual honour intensified on Thursday as France Football unveiled the official 30-man shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, spotlighting elite players who have delivered extraordinary performances across club and international competitions over the past season. Among the frontrunners are England’s Jude Bellingham, France’s Kylian Mbappé, and…
Washington, D.C., USA — Sean “Diddy” Combs, the embattled American music mogul, is seeking a presidential pardon from Donald Trump ahead of his upcoming sentencing in October. This was disclosed by Nicole Westmoreland, a member of Combs’ legal team, during an interview with CNN on Tuesday. According to her, preliminary discussions regarding the pardon request…
Auchi, Edo State — The Edo State Police Command has commenced a full-scale investigation into the tragic death of a young man during a suspected cult initiation ritual. This was confirmed in a statement issued in Auchi today by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Joel, following the arrest of one of the suspects,…
Lagos, Nigeria — Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate, Dede, has opened up about her battle with social anxiety, offering insight into her reserved behavior in the house. The revelation came during a conversation with fellow housemate Koyin, where Dede candidly admitted to struggling with social interactions. In the conversation, Dede asked, “Do you have…
Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched an investigation into an incident involving popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as K1 De Ultimate, over an alleged violation of aviation security protocols at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, FAAN…
Abuja, Nigeria— Ahead of the 2027 general elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors have reaffirmed their confidence, declaring that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties stand no chance against the APC. Senator Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, made this declaration during a visit to the party’s national secretariat in…
Liverpool, England— Liverpool star Florian Wirtz has expressed strong optimism about teammate Hugo Ekitike’s ability to make a goal-scoring impact in the Premier League. Wirtz, who himself cost a club-record £116 million this summer, praised Ekitike—the Reds’ second most expensive signing at an initial £69 million—as a “really good player” and said he enjoyed watching…
Pretoria, South Africa — The South African government has reiterated its call for international recognition of a Palestinian state and stronger pressure on Israel to end what it calls “genocidal activities” in Gaza. The appeal was made by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, during an interview with AFP on Tuesday,…
Osogbo, Nigeria — The Western Nigeria Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun Corps, has announced the deployment of 500 operatives to ensure maximum security during the 2025 Osun-Osogbo Festival. The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement by the Corps’ Public Relations Officer, Mr. Yusuf Abass, highlighting the agency’s commitment to protecting…
Lagos, Nigeria — The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has cautioned the public against widespread false claims suggesting that the results of certain schools were cancelled or that candidates’ scripts were being recalled. The warning came from Moyosola Adesina, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), where…
Lagos, Nigeria — Controversial Nigerian artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has expressed interest in joining the ongoing Big Brother Naija reality show, while criticising the current line-up of housemates for lacking style and star appeal. In a video posted on his Instagram story on Monday, Portable lamented his exclusion from the show, insisting…
Uyo, Akwa Ibom — The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested five suspected ritualists and cultists following a major operation at a shrine in Abak Local Government Area. This was revealed on Tuesday at the State Command Headquarters in Uyo by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, during a press briefing….
Jerusalem, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to unveil a new Gaza war strategy that includes a full-scale military occupation of the Palestinian enclave, despite growing international and domestic calls for a ceasefire. According to local media reports on Tuesday, Netanyahu is expected to meet with top security officials, including the…
Lagos, Nigeria — Acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has described Labour Party’s Peter Obi as a leader guided by humility, integrity, and national interest—rather than personal ambition or a desperate pursuit of power. Speaking on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans programme aired Monday, Adichie praised Obi’s consistency and selflessness, noting that despite the outcome of…
Akure, Nigeria — Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has honoured Super Falcons defender, Tosin Demehin, with a ₦30 million cash reward and a house for her stellar performance at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. The announcement was made on Monday during a civic reception held in Akure to celebrate Ondo…
Lagos, Nigeria — The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the results of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with a notable drop in performance compared to the previous year. In a statement issued on Monday, August 4, 2025, via its official handle on X, WAEC announced…
London, United Kingdom — The Most Rev Cherry Vann, newly appointed Archbishop of Wales and the Anglican Communion’s first openly gay female primate, has described same-sex marriage in church as “inevitable,” while reflecting on decades of navigating her faith and identity in secrecy. In an interview published on Sunday by The Guardian UK, the 66-year-old…
Atlanta, United States — Manchester United battled Everton to a 2-2 draw in the final match of the Premier League Summer Series on Sunday, securing the top spot in the pre-season US tour tournament. The Red Devils wrapped up the round-robin series with seven points, following earlier victories over West Ham (2-1) and Bournemouth (4-1)….
Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has projected widespread thundery and rainy conditions across the country from Monday through Wednesday, cautioning against potential flash flooding in several areas. In a weather outlook issued on Sunday, NiMet forecast morning thunderstorms with moderate rainfall across parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, and…
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania— Co-host Tanzania kickstarted their Group B campaign at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a commanding 2-0 victory against Burkina Faso on Saturday, thrilling the home crowd. The match saw an energetic start, with the Taifa Stars creating the better chances early on. Tanzania’s Toto came close to breaking the…
Abuja, Nigeria— The Federal Government has highlighted the charcoal trade as a major threat to Nigeria’s forest sustainability and the livelihoods of millions, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. Dr. Aishetu Ndayako, Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Project Office, Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, spoke at a stakeholders dialogue convened by the…
Lagos, Nigeria— Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced a strong financial performance for the first half of 2025, posting revenue of N738.144 billion, a significant increase from N479.767 billion in the same period last year. The provisional results show that while the cost of sales rose from N319.19 billion in H1 2024 to N423.57 billion in…
Abuja, Nigeria— The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially called off its nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government, ending weeks of industrial action that had strained the healthcare system. The resolution followed a pivotal meeting held on August 1, 2025, between NANNM leaders and a government delegation…
Lafia, Nasarawa State — President Bola Tinubu has lauded Governor Abdullahi Sule for delivering six and a half years of impactful and transformative leadership in Nasarawa State. Making the remarks at the Turbaning Ceremony of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone and was honored as Magajin Dangin Lafia, President Tinubu commended…
Lagos, Nigeria — Business intelligence expert Victor Umozurike has unveiled Outboxcom, an AI-powered marketing platform aimed at empowering small businesses and creators with enterprise-level campaign tools. In a statement released in Lagos, Umozurike described how his two-decade career across telecoms, retail, and fintech exposed him to how large organizations leverage data analytics, automation, and targeted…
Abuja, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has lauded Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their qualification for the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament—marking their fifth consecutive appearance in the championship game. The defending champions secured their place in the final after a hard-fought 75–68 victory over Senegal in Saturday’s semi-final held at…
Abuja, Nigeria — Senior Nigerian government officials have accused the United States Mission in Nigeria of engaging in a calculated “smear campaign” that undermines the country’s image and breaches diplomatic protocols. In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, top federal sources expressed concern over the U.S. Mission’s circulation of a report by The…
Bamako, Mali — The Malian authorities have charged former Prime Minister Moussa Mara with actions deemed damaging to the credibility of the state, following comments he made on social media. The charge stems from a statement posted by Mara on July 4 via X (formerly Twitter), in which he expressed solidarity with political detainees, describing…
Ijaiye, Oyo State — The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector as a key driver of economic growth and national pride. This was disclosed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Oyo State Agribusiness…
Abuja, Nigeria— The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has assured Nigerians that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs remain sufficiently available nationwide, despite recent cuts in donor funding. This reassurance was made by Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of NACA, in response to growing concerns over a rumored shortage of HIV/AIDS medications. In a statement, she…
Abuja, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended heartfelt birthday wishes to former Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo on his 71st birthday, commending his integrity, statesmanship, and service to the nation. In a statement released on Saturday, August 2, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu hailed Sambo…
