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A Death-Row Inmate Was Hosting TikTok Lives From Prison. Who Enabled Him? A death-row inmate built a TikTok audience from Ibara prison. How did he get multiple phones, internet access and virtual gifts while in custody?
By Adedoyin Oluwadarasimi•1 day agoLocal
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Clergy vs. State: Cardinal Onaiyekan's 'Nigeria is Bleeding' Remarks Ignite Fiery Presidential Backlash2027 Election Battle: INEC Unleashes Candidate Credentials, Tinubu's Omissions Spark DebateSuper Falcons Edge Zambia to Ignite WAFCON 2026 Hopes!Team Nigeria's Dominant Medal Haul at Glasgow Commonwealth Games
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A Death-Row Inmate Was Hosting TikTok Lives From Prison. Who Enabled Him?
A death-row inmate built a TikTok audience from Ibara prison. How did he get multiple phones, internet access and virtual gifts while in custody?
Read More ( 4 min. read)→
ADEDOYIN OLUWADARASIMINigeria plans to phase out electricity subsidies from 2027, but says no immediate tariff increase is planned. What will the reform mean for consumers?
Did South Africa deny Ayra Starr a visa in 2024? A fact-check of the evidence, South Africa's rebuttal, Steyn Entertainment's claims, and how the controversy became linked to Tyla's cancelled Lagos concert.
Namibia's reciprocal visa policy is more than an immigration change. Alongside Burkina Faso's language reforms and other recent policy shifts, it reflects a broader question: can African countries translate demands for equality into enforceable state policy?
Africa's informal economy employs millions of people outside traditional payroll systems, quietly creating jobs, driving economic activity and sustaining households in ways governments often overlook.
Business
Zamfara Governor Pledges Thousands of Jobs Through Revival of Textile Industry
Could Zamfara's once-booming textile industry make a comeback? Governor Dauda Lawal believes reviving cotton processing and manufacturing could create thousands of jobs and transform the state's economy. Here's how he plans to make it happen.
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OGOCHUKWU MAGDALENE OBIA
MTN Made ₦3 Trillion in Six Months and Plans to Pay ₦26 Per Share. Why Is Your Network Still Buffering?
MTN Nigeria made over ₦3 trillion in six months and declared a ₦26 dividend, but why are customers still battling slow data and frozen video calls?Owobu Maureen
Sanusi Hails CBN Reforms, Says Nigeria's Economy Is Growing Faster Than Population
Is Nigeria's economy finally turning a corner? Former CBN Governor and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says the economy is now growing faster than the population for the first time in years. Here's why he believes the CBN's reforms could mark a major turning point.Ogochukwu Magdalene Obia
SHIB ON FIRE! Billions of Shiba Inu Tokens Vaporized in Massive Burn Surges
Shiba Inu's market is currently in a consolidation phase, characterized by neutral exchange netflows and stable exchange reserves, alongside robust network activity. This period coincides with a significant surge in the SHIB token burn rate, a 'golden cross' signal in its recent price action, and a mild recovery in Shibarium's transaction count.David Isong
COLDCARD CATASTROPHE! $70M Bitcoin Stolen, Urgent Fixes Issued After Wallet Flaw
A major hack has compromised Coldcard Bitcoin hardware wallets, resulting in over $70 million in stolen funds due to a critical bug in their private key generation. Users are urged to immediately move funds from vulnerable wallets and update firmware, as AI's role in discovering such exploits signals a new era for crypto cybersecurity. The incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures and multi-vendor solutions in self-custody.David Isong
Technology
Sam Altman's Controversial Call: ChatGPT for Parenting
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's proposal for an AI-generated family podcast for daily commutes has sparked debate, with critics questioning the role of AI in family communication. While tech companies like OpenAI and Meta actively target parents with AI solutions, OpenAI also faces lawsuits regarding its product's alleged role in user delusions and suicides, highlighting complex challenges.
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Studio Head's Reported Stinginess Derails Highly Anticipated Barbie Sequel
Despite its monumental $1.4 billion global success, a sequel to Greta Gerwig's hit film "Barbie" has yet to enter official development, three years after its release. Reports suggest Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav's cautious approach to deals may be the reason for the delay, leaving the future of Barbieland in question.Uche Emeka
Twitter/X Content Gauntlet Fails: High-Quality Spider-Man Bootleg Lives On For Nine Hours
Twitter/X, under Elon Musk's ownership, recently experienced a significant content moderation failure as a high-quality bootleg of Marvel and Sony’s <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> was available for nine hours on its release weekend. This incident, reported by Variety, underscores ongoing criticisms of the platform's content policing amidst its wider issues.Uche Emeka
AI Opera Staging Sparks Outrage, Draws Boos at Wagner Festival
An AI-assisted staging at Germany's Richard Wagner festival in Bayreuth sparked confusion and boos from the audience during a performance of “Götterdämmerung.” While the AI-generated projections, featuring historical and abstract imagery, left some spectators puzzled, the singers and conductor received warm applause.Uche Emeka
70 Years Ago, Four Scientists Gave Artificial Intelligence Its Name
Seventy years ago, four scientists gave artificial intelligence its name. Today, we're living with the consequences of the idea they helped set in motion.Adedoyin Oluwadarasimi
Discovery
Nigeria's Double Standard: Why Pickpockets Get Lynched and Fraudsters Get Applauded
From jungle justice to Yahoo Yahoo glorification, Nigeria's response to theft reveals a troubling double standard where poverty is punished and wealth is admired regardless of its source.
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ZAINAB BAKARE
Before Instagram and WhatsApp, Which Social Networks Ruled Nigeria?
Before Instagram, and WhatsApp dominated social media, forgotten platforms shaped Nigerian teenage culture, friendships and digital identity for an entire generation.Precious O. Unusere
The Nigerian Professor Who Drove a Brand-New Peugeot From London to Kano
In the 1970s, a young Nigerian academic bought a Peugeot 504 in Britain and drove it home to Kano, passing through France, Spain, and the Sahara Desert. This is the story of Professor Aminu Mohammed Dorayi, "The Adventurous Chemist."Adedoyin Oluwadarasimi
Every Nigerian Is Now a Media Company. What Does That Mean for Reputation, Work and Privacy?
Every Nigerian is becoming a media company. Your posts now shape your reputation, career, income and opportunities, often long before anyone meets you.Owobu Maureen
Who Should Be Held Responsible When Your Donated Clothes Become Someone Else's Pollution? - A Report
You donated your clothes hoping they'd get a second life. Instead, some end up in communities across Africa that are shouldering the environmental cost of the fashion industry's growing waste crisis. How can a simple act of goodwill become part of a much bigger global problem?Owobu Maureen
Opinion
Why Nigeria’s Births Should Not Worry Elon Musk
Elon Musk says Nigeria out-births the EU, but numbers alone won't build a country. What actually determines if 4 million babies become national power or national pressure?
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ZEALNEWS EDITORIAL
The War on Poverty is on Pause: What Tinubu’s Reforms Really Mean for the Average Nigerian
President Tinubu’s bold economic reforms promised long-term growth, but for many Nigerians, they’ve brought deeper poverty and hardship. Here’s what the reforms really mean for the average citizenzainab bakare
OPINION: Should Education Be Free To All?
This in-depth analysis examines the promise and pitfalls of tuition-free learning, from breaking cycles of poverty to fears of declining quality. With examples from Finland to sub-Saharan Africa, it explores how nations can balance equity, funding, and excellence in an age where knowledge is the key to progress.Eric Namso
Should Nigeria Adopt a Four-Day Work Week?
As countries experiment with shorter work weeks, Nigeria faces a pressing question: could a four-day schedule ease burnout, boost productivity, and reshape work culture—or would it clash with our unique economic realities?zainab bakare
How Remembering Ancestors Shapes Moral Philosophy
By reflecting on the lives of those who came before us—their virtues, mistakes, and choices—we uncover a deeper, more personal foundation for understanding right and wrong.Ibukun Oluwa
Lifestyle
World Breastfeeding Week: 10 Things Every Woman Should Know Before Having Her First Child
For World Breastfeeding Week, discover 10 important breastfeeding realities every first-time mother should know—from cracked nipples and mastitis to cluster feeding, breast engorgement, and postpartum emotional changes.
Read More ( 5 min. read)→ZAINAB BAKARE
IATA Makes History: Saadia Zahidi Named First Woman Director General
Saadia Zahidi has been appointed as the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) next Director General, marking a historic moment as the first woman to lead the global airline industry body, effective November 1, 2026. Her extensive background from the World Economic Forum is expected to bring fresh perspectives, particularly benefiting African aviation amid profound global changes. Zahidi's priorities include fostering innovation, sustainable growth, and expanding connectivity worldwide.Precious Eseaye
Nigeria's Sky-High Ambition: Direct US Flights on Horizon with FAA Boost
Nigeria is actively working to regain its FAA Category 1 safety status, which would allow direct flights to the United States. This move, spearheaded by the NCAA and supported by the US FAA, aims to enable Air Peace to launch direct services to New York, significantly boosting travel and trade between the two nations.Precious Eseaye
Liberia's President Boakai Unleashes Sweeping Crackdown on Cocaine Ring, Fires Key Officials
President Joseph Boakai has initiated a significant shake-up in Liberian officialdom, dismissing and suspending numerous senior officials across several agencies due to their alleged involvement in the country's two record cocaine seizures. These actions underscore the administration's commitment to accountability and its resolve to prosecute all implicated public servants. The purge affects Roberts International Airport, the Liberia National Police, the National Security Agency, and other key ministries, following the public destruction of over US$336 million worth of seized cocaine.Precious Eseaye
Goodbye Corsets, Hello Oleku: Why Nigerian Women Are Falling in Love With Their Mothers' Fashion Again
Nigerian women are ditching uncomfortable corset gowns for stylish oleku-inspired buba and iro outfits. Discover why this nostalgic fashion trend is making a major comeback at weddings and owambes.Zainab Bakare
Entertainment
Super Falcons Edge Zambia to Ignite WAFCON 2026 Hopes!
Nigeria's Super Falcons secured a vital 1-0 victory over Zambia in the WAFCON 2026 Group C, reviving their title defense after an opening defeat. Asisat Oshoala's early goal proved decisive, despite the team playing with ten women for over 50 minutes following Oluwatosin Demehin's red card. The win sets up a must-win clash against Egypt for a spot in the knockout rounds.
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Team Nigeria's Dominant Medal Haul at Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Team Nigeria concluded the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as Africa's top-ranked nation with 24 medals, highlighted by a historic gold in the men's 400m from Samuel Ogazi and a silver in the men's 4x100m relay. The nation showcased dominance in athletics, para powerlifting, and weightlifting, while also identifying areas for future development.Precious Eseaye
Barbie Sequel in Jeopardy: Salary Disputes Threaten Production with Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie
Warner Bros. is racing against a December deadline to secure a "Barbie" sequel as negotiations with stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and director Greta Gerwig, have stalled over rich profit-participation deals. If no agreement is reached, the IP rights revert to Mattel, potentially leading to a complete creative overhaul. Despite the impasse, all parties are reportedly open to future installments if a new compelling idea emerges.Precious Eseaye
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Swings to Massive Box Office Success Amidst Online Leak
Despite an early leak, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" achieved a historic box office debut, breaking preview and opening day records and securing the second-biggest domestic and worldwide openings ever. The film continues Peter Parker's journey after the events of "No Way Home," earning critical acclaim for its emotional depth and strong performances.Precious Eseaye
Lollapalooza 2026 Faces Chaos: Floods, Cancellations, and Unforgettable Surprise Sets!
Lollapalooza 2026 has been a mixed bag of iconic performances and significant weather disruptions, notably severe flooding on Saturday, August 1. Highlights included Smashing Pumpkins' generational summit with Olivia Rodrigo and Yungblud, while Lil Uzi Vert's cancelled set led to a surprise birthday EP release.Precious Eseaye