Top Story
Nigeria's 18 Cities in the 2026 Global Cities Index: What Oxford Economics' Ranking Says About the Urban EconomyOxford Economics ranks 18 Nigerian cities in its 2026 Global Cities Index. See where Lagos, Abuja, Kano and others rank and what it means.
By Zainab Bakare•21 hours agoLocal
Watch
Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) disqualifies Keivo for fighting in the house #zealnewsafrica
Today
Nigeria's 18 Cities in the 2026 Global Cities Index: What Oxford Economics' Ranking Says About the Urban EconomyTwenty Graduates, ₦1 Billion: Is the NYSC Still Safe to Serve?Nigeria Ranks 48th Globally, 3rd in Africa for Indexed Research Performance. Who Are the Researchers Behind It?From Sleeping On A Couch To Building One Of The Biggest Streetwear Brands: How Did Clint419 Build Corteiz?
Get ZealNews Daily
Africa's top business & policy news, in just 5 minutes
Top Stories
News
Nigeria's 18 Cities in the 2026 Global Cities Index: What Oxford Economics' Ranking Says About the Urban Economy
Oxford Economics ranks 18 Nigerian cities in its 2026 Global Cities Index. See where Lagos, Abuja, Kano and others rank and what it means.
Read More ( 4 min. read)→
ZAINAB BAKARENigeria’s NYSC abduction raises questions about graduate safety, kidnapping, ransom, national service, and whether scrapping the scheme can solve insecurity.
Borno’s oil search began in 1976 but commercial reserves remain unconfirmed. Here’s why exploration stalled and what could revive it in 2026.
Tinubu says Nigeria has crossed the painful stage of economic reforms—but have Nigerians finally reached the promised land?
Business
Kenya Clears GDR Route for Investors to Access Dangote Refinery IPO
Kenya's Capital Markets Authority has approved a Global Depositary Receipt route, enabling Kenyan investors to participate in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO via the Nairobi Securities Exchange. This landmark move facilitates cross-border investment, allowing local trading in shillings while the underlying shares remain in Nigeria, underscoring a significant step towards African financial integration.
Read More ( 3 min. read)→
Bitcoin Bonanza: Strategy Inc. Reports Massive Quarterly Profits on Soaring BTC
Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, announced its Bitcoin treasury strategy is back in the black, reporting $21 billion in paper gains for Q3 2026. This resurgence follows a significant surge in Bitcoin's price, with the company continuing to expand its substantial holdings. CEO Phong Le has affirmed a "bullet-proof balance sheet" despite past challenges.David Isong
Ripple Ecosystem Expands: Clearpool Makes Key Leap to XRP Ledger
Clearpool is making a pivotal move to the XRP Ledger, following overwhelming community approval, and will migrate its CPOOL token to CLEAR in Q4 2026. This strategic alliance with Ripple focuses on on-chain lending for real-world assets in fintech, utilizing RLUSD and a unique deflationary token mechanism. The market has already reacted positively to the news, showing strong bullish momentum for CPOOL.David Isong
Mission Mobile Secures Massive $30M for African Smartphone Financing!
South African mobile technology company Mission Mobile has secured ZAR500 million from DN Invest to expand smartphone financing for prepaid mobile customers. Leveraging its Beam platform, the company offers an innovative solution for users traditionally excluded from contracts, linking device payments with mobile data and boosting customer retention for network operators.David Isong
Binance Drops the Hammer: Brazil Crypto Transfers Face Blockade
Binance is imposing new, stricter regulations on international crypto transfers for its Brazilian users starting November 1, in line with Brazil's expanded crypto regulation. Users will be required to share detailed information about the intent and partners of their international transactions, with non-compliance resulting in blocked withdrawals or frozen incoming transfers.David Isong
Technology
WhatsApp Business Platform Billing Has Started: What Nigerian Businesses Need to Know
WhatsApp Business Platform billing has changed in Nigeria. Here is what businesses need to know about the new charges and how to reduce messaging costs.
Read More ( 3 min. read)→
PRECIOUS O. UNUSERE
Reflection AI Unveils Beam as Lower-Compute Rival to Chinese Open Models
Reflection AI has launched Beam, its first open-weight AI model, claiming it matches leading Chinese models in reasoning at lower costs and outperforms Western competitors. The text-only model aims to serve enterprises and sovereign nations, leveraging significant funding and compute deals to build 'AI factories'.Uche Emeka
Shockwave: Daily Wire's ICE Propaganda Film Faces Montana Shutdown
Ben Shapiro's ultra-conservative media company, The Daily Wire, is again making headlines for the wrong reasons following the critical and financial failure of its film "Run Hide Fight: Infidels." The company's latest production, marked by "far-right revisionism," is now facing significant backlash from citizens in its Montana shooting location, underscoring ongoing controversies surrounding its content and production practices.Uche Emeka
OpenAI Unveils Eye-Catching Visual Ads in AI Image Generation
OpenAI is introducing visual display ads to ChatGPT, appearing alongside image generation, starting in the U.S. this month. This expansion aims to attract advertisers with visual storytelling, enhance measurement tools, and support free and low-cost subscription tiers. The move is part of OpenAI's strategy to build an ad-supported business model for its popular AI platform.Uche Emeka
Future Forward: Subaru's 2026 Outback Redefines In-Car Infotainment
The 2026 Subaru Outback introduces a significant upgrade with its new infotainment system, featuring larger displays and improved responsiveness. This deep dive explores the nuanced differences between its Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrations, from framed windows and full-screen modes to split-screen layouts and seamless wireless connectivity.Uche Emeka
Discovery
Abuja Rents Are Rising, But Are Salaries Keeping Up?
Abuja rents are soaring, but are Nigerians being priced out of the homes they work to afford?
Read More ( 5 min. read)→
OGOCHUKWU MAGDALENE OBIA
Kofar Mata Dye Pits: The 500-Year-Old Factory That Still Runs Till Today
Kano’s Kofar Mata dye pits have been turning cloth blue since 1498. Five centuries later, the ancient craft is still alive. But for how much longer?Owobu Maureen
The History Before Nigeria: What Would Nigeria Look Like Without Colonial Borders?
Nigeria’s map was not always Nigeria. Before colonial rule, the land was divided among powerful kingdoms, empires and independent societies. So how did they become one country, who drew the borders, and what existed before them?Owobu Maureen
Senegambia: Senegal and The Gambia Once Ran a Confederation Together. What Happened?
On September 30, 1989, the Senegambia Confederation ended after eight years of political, security and economic cooperation between Senegal and The Gambia, while both remained sovereign states.Adedoyin Oluwadarasimi
Strength and Strategy: How the Kingdom of Benin Engineered a City Before Its Time
Long before colonialism, Benin City was a marvel of urban planning, technology, and governance. Discover how this ancient African city shaped modern urbanism and why its legacy still matters today.PRECIOUS O. UNUSERE
Opinion
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 citizen
Read More ( 6 min. read)→
ZAINAB 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
Opinion: The Dangerous Binary of Modern Narcissist Theory
Can Empaths Be Narcissists and what type of narcissistic behaviors exists?Ibukun Oluwa
Lifestyle
Airline Crisis: N16.1bn Ground-Handling Dispute Grounds XEJet, Threatening African Air Travel
A significant legal battle has erupted in Abuja, with Nigerian airline XEJet suing its ground-handling partner, SAHCO, and an industry association for N16.1 billion. The dispute centers on alleged breach of confidentiality and wrongful service withdrawal, with continent-wide implications for aviation contracts and supplier relationships in Africa's expanding market.
Read More ( 4 min. read)→
Tragic Zimbabwe Helicopter Crash: Chivayo Family Faces Unprecedented Burial Ordeal
Controversial tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, are to be buried without their heads this Thursday at Glen Forest Cemetery following a tragic helicopter crash. The family confirmed the grim details and refuted social media speculation regarding found skulls and funeral privacy, emphasizing an open invitation for public mourning for the provincial hero.Precious Eseaye
FashionLore: The Neck Rings of South Africa and the Myth of the "African Long Neck"
The “African long neck” is a myth. Learn how Ndebele neck rings in South Africa differ from the Kayan brass coils of Myanmar.Zainab Bakare
High Blood Pressure Often Has No Symptoms, So How Do You Know You Have It?
High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Learn how to check your blood pressure, understand the numbers, and know when to seek medical care.Precious O. Unusere
Ethiopia Crisis Deepens: Capital Captured Amidst Regional Tensions
Ethiopian federal forces have retaken Mekelle, the Tigray regional capital, dealing a major blow to the TPLF. Regional leaders convened in Egypt to address the escalating conflict and the risk of a wider war across the Horn of Africa. The TPLF, having retreated, indicated a shift to guerrilla-style tactics.Precious Eseaye
Entertainment
From Sleeping On A Couch To Building One Of The Biggest Streetwear Brands: How Did Clint419 Build Corteiz?
From sleeping on his sister’s couch to building Corteiz into a global streetwear force, Clint419’s story is anything but ordinary. How did he do it?
Read More ( 6 min. read)→
OWOBU MAUREEN
DC Universe Triumphs! James Gunn's Vision Unscathed by Warner Bros.' $111B Merger
Paramount's $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to form Skydance is set to reshape Hollywood, raising questions about the future of James Gunn's DC Universe. Despite the corporate shifts, Gunn continues his work, with projects like the successful Superman (2025) and upcoming Clayface leading the way, though some productions like Supergirl have faced challenges amidst the financial restructuring.Precious Eseaye
Get Ready! Megan Thee Stallion Unleashes 'Hottieween' in Las Vegas
Megan Thee Stallion is bringing back Hottieween on October 30th at Zouk nightclub in Las Vegas, teaming up with Cirque du Soleil for an elevated experience. Tickets are available, with proceeds benefiting her Pete & Thomas Foundation, as fans are encouraged to dress in elaborate costumes. The rapper is also teasing new music with "Act: III" and recently revived her "Tina Snow" persona.Precious Eseaye
Shocking Verdict: Former 'American Idol' Contestant Caleb Flynn Sentenced for Wife's Murder
Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his wife, Ashley Flynn. The musical pastor was convicted on aggravated murder and other charges, with text messages revealing his desire for his wife's death playing a key role in the trial. Emotional victim impact statements, including letters from his daughters, were read in court.Precious Eseaye
Timeless Impact: 'Saving Private Ryan' Revolutionized WWII Classics for a Quarter Century
"Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan" are intrinsically linked, with the miniseries drawing heavily from the film's groundbreaking approach to World War II storytelling. Actor Richard Speight Jr. explains how "Saving Private Ryan" redefined war cinema with its brutal realism, paving the way for more honest and visceral depictions of conflict in subsequent productions like "Band of Brothers."Precious Eseaye