Tinubu demands UN reform, Japanese PM pledges $5.5b for Africa at TICAD 9 (Guardian)
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday in Yokohama, renewed Nigeria’s call for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council, insisting that Africa deserves permanent representation, including veto powers. Newspaper subscription bundles
Speaking at the plenary on Peace and Stability during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), the President declared:
“Africa deserves two permanent seats, with all the privileges, including the Right of Veto. It also deserves additional non-permanent seats as provided in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.” Read more
Ladoja to be crowned 44th Olubadan Sep 26 (Vanguard)
The Olubadan-designate, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, is set to be crowned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, the capital of Oyo State, during a coronation ceremony scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025.
Vanguard learned that his nomination received the approval of the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde.
Further confirmation came when a state delegation met with Ladoja and other members of the Olubadan-in-Council at his residence in Bodija on Wednesday. Read more
My account of Mohbad’s story, Naira Marley speaks out (Punch)
Popular musician, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, has shared his side of the story that led to the death of his former signee, Promise Aloba, aka Mohbad.
Naira Marley made the disclosure in a documentary of about two hours on Wednesday, narrating how his ex-signee began his musical journey in his label and how he eventually died.
According to him, he never bullied Mohbad nor killed the ‘Ask About Me’ and ‘KPK’ crooner.
Mohbad died on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the age of 27. Read more
Anambra security agents who assaulted corps member threatened to rape, kill her – Lawyer (Channels)
Cyrus Onu, a lawyer for the female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Elobor, who was assaulted by local security agents in Anambra State, has said that the perpetrators had threatened to rape and kill her for speaking out during the incident.
“They [security agents] were banging the door, and Jennifer was trying to open the door, and they just kicked the door, and it almost hit their face.
“Most of them were masked in mufti with guns, so you can imagine how scared the kids [corps members] were. Read more
FG warns project coordinators to ‘deliver value’ with borrowed funds (Nation)
The federal government has cautioned project coordinators across Nigeria that borrowed public funds must be deployed prudently to deliver tangible value to citizens.
Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja at the maiden retreat his Office organised for donor-funded project coordinators.
Ogunjimi, represented by a Director in his office, Joshua Luka, charged managers of these donor-funded projects to uphold transparency, accountability, and efficiency in financial stewardship. Read more
Offensive content: FG shuts down over 13m social media accounts (Tribune)
In a move to sanitise social media, the Nigerian government has shut down about 13,597,057 social media accounts for offensive content and violations of the code of practice by users of social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly known as Twitter.
This move was contained in a Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report submitted to the government by promoters of interactive computer service platforms such as Google, Microsoft and TikTok, among others.
The Code of Practice titled “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report Highlights Social Media Platforms’ efforts on Online Harm Protection”, was jointly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Read more
Amaechi’s presidential bid dead on arrival, says Wike (Leadership)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has declared that his predecessor and political rival Rotimi Amaechi’s presidential ambition will come to nought, describing it as “dead on arrival.”
According to Wike, if Amaechi runs for president in the 2027 general election as the candidate of the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC), he will fail.
Wike made these comments on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. Read more
Tiffany Haddish breaks silence over Jason Lee baby photo mystery (USMagazine)
Tiffany Haddish publicly addressed fan confusion over a recent Instagram photo alongside longtime friend Jason Lee and an infant.
Opening up about her personal life while hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, August 19, Haddish, 45, explained the mysterious August 3 post that led many to believe she’d welcomed a baby.
“There is a personal matter I feel must be addressed,” Haddish told the audience during the episode’s opening monologue. (Haddish is currently one of several celebrities filling in for Kimmel, 57, as he takes a summer break.). Read more
Man wins $200k lottery prize using numbers from a license plate (UPI)
A Maryland man took inspiration from another vehicle’s license plate and bought a Pick 5 lottery ticket that earned him a $200,000 prize.
The St. Mary’s County man told Maryland Lottery officials he was on his 70-mile commute to work when his lottery inspiration struck.
“I was going to work and stopped at a red light in Charlotte Hall and I noticed the tag on a truck, 19363,” the player said. Read more
Russia says it must be part of international talks on Ukraine’s security (Guardian)
Moscow has said it must be part of any international talks on Ukraine’s security, as Russia continues to stall on Donald Trump’s push for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Wednesday that Moscow must be included in any talks on Ukraine’s security guarantees, dismissing European diplomacy as “aggressive escalation” and a “clumsy effort to sway Trump”.
“To discuss security guarantees seriously without Russia is a road to nowhere,” Lavrov said during a working visit to Jordan. Read more
Tory Lanez’s lawyers claim Megan Thee Stallion’s testimony was “riddled with errors” (VIBE)
Tory Lanez‘s legal team is slamming Megan Thee Stallion’s testimony in an effort to get his conviction overturned.
During a “crucial” hearing in an appeals court on Monday (Aug. 18), attorney Laura L. Cepero told a panel of five judges that Lanez’s (né Daystar Peterson) legal team has an “unwavering belief” that he is innocent as it relates to the 2020 shooting and claims that he didn’t receive a fair trial when he was convicted in 2022. Additionally, they’ve described the verdict as “a miscarriage of justice.”
Cepero also accused prosecutors of misconstruing DNA evidence during closing arguments and told the court that those tests showed there was a “one in a million” chance that his DNA was on the firearm used. Read more
Irish fashion designer who died in US lived ‘short’ but ‘packed life’, funeral told (RTE)
An Irish fashion designer who was found unconscious on a boat in New York always put the people she loved first, her partner told her funeral.
Mourners heard that Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, who was originally from Carlow but lived in Manhattan, had lived a “short life, but a packed life”.
Her sister Jacqui told the congregation that her “beautiful” sister would “live in my heart forever”. Read more
Carly Rae Jepsen announces E•mo•tion Anniversary Edition, shares previously unreleased song “More” (Pitchfork)
Carly Rae Jepsen is reissuing her now-classic 2015 album, E•mo•tion, for its 10th anniversary. The new edition arrives October 17 via Interscope. The reissue features 24 tracks, including “Cut to the Feeling,” remixes of “Run Away With Me,” and four previously unreleased songs: “Guardian Angel,” “Back of My Heart,” “Lost in Devotion” and “More,” the latter of which is out today. Listen to it below.
Just last night, Jepsen played an E•mo•tion anniversary show at West Hollywood’s Troubadour. See photos from the evening below.
Jepsen’s recent album, The Loveliest Time, came out in 2023. Revisit the feature “How Indie Went Pop—and Pop Went Indie—in the 2010s” and read about Carly Rae Jepsen in “The 200 Most Important Artists of Pitchfork’s First 25 Years.” Read more
Ex-Super Eagles star Brown Ideye retires from football (Punch)
Ex-Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, has announced his retirement from professional football.
Ideye confirmed his decision in a post on X via (#brownaideideye) on Tuesday.
He wrote, “After much thought and consideration with mixed emotions, I’ve decided to retire from professional football.
“I will first like to thank God for the talent and the long career I’ve enjoyed. Read more
AC Milan, Leverkusen in talks for Victor Boniface loan deal (Vanguard)
AC Milan are edging closer to securing the signing of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen, with negotiations reaching an advanced stage.
Reports indicate that Boniface has already given his approval to Milan’s contract proposal, with the deal expected to take the form of a loan move including an option to buy.
According to Sky Sports Germany, Milan submitted an official offer within the past 48 hours, which Leverkusen are currently reviewing as both clubs continue to iron out final details. Read more
Super Eagles striker attracting interest from Napoli (CompleteSports)
Serie A champions Napoli have expressed interest in Genk and Nigeria international Tolu Arokodare.
This is according to European transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
According to Romano, Napoli shifted their attention to Arokodare after Romelu Lukaku suffered a muscle injury during a pre-season encounter.
The injury means Lukaku will be out of action for the early part of the new campaign. Read more
Brazilian keeper Fabio sets record for most appearances (RTE)
Fabio has vowed to keep playing
Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio overtook Peter Shilton’s longstanding record for the most competitive appearances in men’s soccer, playing his 1,391st match during his side’s 2-0 victory over America de Cali on Tuesday.
The 44-year-old Brazilian has enjoyed a professional career spanning 28 years, with senior appearances for Uniao Bandeirante (30 matches), Vasco da Gama (150), Cruzeiro (976) and Fluminense (235).
He made the switch from Cruzeiro to Fluminense in 2022 and has since won the Recopa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores one each, alongside two Taca Guanabara and two Campeonato Carioca titles. Read more
Indiana Pacers, coach Rick Carlisle agree to multiyear extension (UPI)
The Indiana Pacers and coach Rick Carlisle agreed to a multiyear extension, league sources confirmed to UPI on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Carlisle led the Pacers to a 50-32 regular-season record and an NBA Finals appearance last season. He is 338-318 in eight overall seasons as Pacers head coach, including an initial tenure from 2003-04 through 2006-07.
Carlisle, who returned to the Pacers in 2021-22, has a 157-171 record over the last four seasons with the franchise. He went 25-57 in 2021. The Pacers improved to 35-47 in 2022 and 47-35 a year later. Read more