M ore than 100,000 teenagers in the United Kingdom could be shut out of social media next year when a new law banning under-16s from using major platforms takes effect. The warning came from Ofcom, the UK's online safety watchdog, which said about 150,000 young people aged 16 to 17 do not have a passport or driving licence. Both documents are expected to be used to confirm age once the ban starts. The policy, which follows Australia's example, is scheduled to begin next spring. It will affect popular platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, X and Twitch. Ofcom explained that there are four reliable ways to verify age. These include checking an official ID against a live selfie, asking a bank to confirm a customer's age, using a recognised digital ID like the Young Scot card, or estimating age through a facial scan. But the regulator stressed that a physical photo ID will still be needed as a backup, because facial scanning can miss a perso...

C ryptocurrency exchange Binance has lost over $6.3 billion to hackers linked to North Korea, in the biggest crypto theft ever recorded. According to blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, the entire operation took just 20 minutes. TRM Labs said the attack was carried out by TraderTraitor, an elite hacking unit from North Korea. The same group was blamed by the FBI for the $1.5 billion Bybit hack last year. The incident is being described as the largest bank heist in human history, based on the amount stolen. Binance, which has over 335 million users worldwide, has suspended deposits and withdrawals. The company, however, assured customers that their funds are safe and that it will cover all losses. Reacting to the incident, Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said initial investigation shows the attack may have started after a DevOps engineer's laptop was compromised. He explained on X that the attackers did not just use one engineer's permission and it was not a one-click action, but...

S uper Eagles striker Victor Osimhen and his partner, Stefanie, have welcomed a baby girl. The couple named their newborn Liora Audrey. The birth was announced on Thursday by Osimhen's club, Galatasaray, on its official X handle. The Turkish champions congratulated the family and wished the baby a long, healthy and happy life. The club wrote, "We congratulate Victor and Stefanie and wish their newborn baby Liora Audrey a long, healthy and happy life." As of press time, Osimhen himself is yet to announce the birth on his personal social media pages.

  P aying for goods in Nigeria just got easier for Android users. Google has launched Google Wallet, which includes Google Pay, in the country, allowing people to pay with a simple tap of their phone or smartwatch. The company announced the rollout on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. It said the service will bring fast, simple and secure digital payments to users of Android phones and Wear OS watches across Nigeria. Google said the launch is meant to keep pace with busy daily life, whether a person is buying groceries in Lagos or catching a flight out of Abuja. To start, users add supported cards from participating banks and other financial institutions to Google Pay. After that, they can make contactless payments by tapping their device at payment terminals in stores. The same cards can also be used to pay in apps and online, so shoppers no longer need to bring out a physical card at the checkout counter. But the service does more than handle payments. Google Wallet also gives users ...

C ristiano Ronaldo's 2008 season at Manchester United has been voted the greatest Ballon d'Or winning season of all time, according to the Ballon d'Or website . The Al-Nassr forward claimed the maiden B.O.A.T. Ballon d'Or of All Time award after fans worldwide chose his first Ballon d'Or year as the best. He narrowly beat long-time rival Lionel Messi, whose 2012 campaign that delivered 91 goals for club and country finished second, a result expected to reignite the long-running Ronaldo-Messi debate. France Football created the award after its latest ceremony to decide which Ballon d'Or winning season stands above the rest. Unlike the regular Ballon d'Or, which is decided by journalists from different countries, the winner was chosen by fans voting on France Football's digital platform. Only players who have won the Ballon d'Or more than once were eligible. The shortlist included Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, K...

A 31-year-old software engineer has died in the United States after she reportedly followed an AI chatbot's guidance to reduce her epilepsy medication, her family has alleged. According to a report by The New York Times, based on a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family, Bowen Wan was found lifeless in her Seattle apartment in February. The official cause of death was a complication of epilepsy, a condition she had managed for over ten years. Wan was on a phone call with her father, who lives in China, when she suddenly went quiet. Her father believed she was having a seizure, something she had lived with for years. When she recovered, she told him she needed to rest and would call back later. Days later, when she stopped answering calls, her worried parents, Qun Wan and Meiqin Xu, asked a friend in Seattle to check on her. They watched through a video call as the friend discovered her body. What makes her death painful for her family is what they found afterwards. Wan had bee...

  H arry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The England captain lifted the trophy at the London Palladium and became the first Englishman to win football's biggest individual prize since Michael Owen in 2001. The ceremony was historic on its own. For 70 years the golden ball had lived in Paris, but for its 70th anniversary the gala was moved to London for the first time. The move was a tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the English winger who won the very first Ballon d'Or in 1956. Even the night felt dramatic, with the show starting 45 minutes late after traffic held up guests in the London rain. Kane said winning in London made it extra special. At 33, he finally silenced years of talk about his lack of silverware with numbers no one could ignore. He scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England. Sixty-one of those goals came for Bayern, including 36 in the Bundesliga, which earned him the Gerd Muller Trophy as the world's best striker. For England, he...

T wo major tech companies are trimming their workforce as part of plans to cut costs and focus on growth areas. In the United States, Microsoft has launched a voluntary exit programme for about 60,000 employees worldwide. This represents about 27 percent of its 223,000 workforce. The move comes just days before the company is expected to release its first quarter earnings for fiscal year 2027. The company says it needs to control its operating expenses as it plans to spend about $175 billion this year on new technology, especially artificial intelligence infrastructure. The buyout offer is for employees at Level 70 and below in its software, human resources and gaming units, including Xbox and Copilot teams. It covers workers in the United States, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. Staff in data centres and sales teams are not affected. Microsoft says the plan will help protect its profit margin, which currently stands at about 46.8 percent. The same cost-cutting trend is playing ou...

A merican singer Chris Brown will not go to prison for a violent attack in a London nightclub, a court ruled on Monday. A judge at Southwark Crown Court gave Brown an eight-month jail term but suspended it for 12 months. This means he will only go to prison if he commits another offence within the next year. The incident happened in the early hours of February 19, 2023, at Tape, a private members club in Mayfair, London. Brown hit music producer Abraham "Abe" Diaw on the head twice with a tequila bottle. Mr Diaw was taken to hospital for treatment. Brown did not act alone. His vocal coach, rapper Omololu Akinlolu, joined in the attack. He also admitted his role and was given a four-month suspended sentence. Both men were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs. The judge, Tony Baumgartner, said what Brown did was dangerous. He described the attack as intense and said Mr Diaw could have been badly injured. " Hitting someone with a glass bottle was plainly dangerous," the judg...

W orld football will turn its attention to London this Monday, October 26, 2026, as the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony holds at the iconic London Palladium Theatre. The gala, scheduled to start at 8 p.m. GMT, which is 9 p.m. in Nigeria, will be the first time the award is staged outside France since it was created in 1956. Organisers said London was chosen as a tribute to England's Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d'Or 70 years ago. The move from Paris gives this year's ceremony a new feel and a different energy. The show will be hosted by football legend Thierry Henry and popular broadcaster Kate Scott. Both hosts work together at CBS Sports and are expected to welcome football's biggest names for a night of celebration. The rules for picking winners have also changed from the old calendar-year format. This year, performances were judged based on the European club season and the summer international tournaments. For the men's category, the period under rev...

O ne of the world's largest banks is moving closer to starting operations in Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, granted it an Approval-in-Principle to set up a merchant bank. The proposed bank will be known as JPMorgan Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited. Announcing the approval, CBN's Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Michael Akuka, said the decision reflects growing investor confidence in Nigeria's financial system as the country continues with reforms to strengthen stability and attract capital. He noted that the approval comes after the recent bank recapitalisation exercise which has improved the resilience of Nigerian banks. CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the move aligns with the bank's broader reform agenda, according to Champion Newspaper . "Our objective is to build a financial system that is stable, competitive and internationally connected, one that commands confidence and can effectively support investment and econo...

L agos stood still on Saturday as street-pop star, Zlatan Ibile married his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, in a colourful traditional wedding. The ceremony, held on October 24 and tagged #DTTheUnion , was a celebration of love and culture. Zlatan, whose real name is Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael, and his bride honoured Edo tradition in stunning Benin attire. He appeared in white decorated with red coral beads, while Davita wore a deep burgundy beaded gown with a coral crown. The hall was filled with dignitaries, with a large turnout from the entertainment industry. Top music stars, Nollywood figures, popular influencers, DJs and industry executives were all present to celebrate with the couple. Videos from the venue showed guests dancing and cheering as the couple made their entrance. A day before the event, Zlatan and Davita shared pre-wedding portraits on Instagram with the caption " IT'S TIME TO MARRY ," which drew thousands of congratulatory messages from fans. The couple...

T he Federal Government has asked 15 states to urgently prepare for a possible Ebola outbreak as health officials move to stop the spread after a case was confirmed in Abuja. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, made the call on Thursday while briefing the National Economic Council on Nigeria's response to the threat. As reported by Premium Times Newspaper, Pate disclosed that 21 states have already updated their Ebola emergency plans, while the remaining 15 need to act quickly and put proper response measures in place. The alert comes after Nigeria confirmed its first imported case of Ebola on October 20, caused by the Bundibugyo strain. The patient is a woman who recently arrived from Uganda. She began showing symptoms a few days after arriving and later sought care at a private hospital in Abuja. Pate said the government is working with state authorities and international health partners to strengthen surveillance, speed up laboratory testing, i...

N igeria's university entrance exam may soon look very different. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is thinking about changing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) so that it tests critical thinking and life skills, instead of only what students have memorised in class. The board's Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, said the goal is to learn more than what candidates know. JAMB also wants to see how well they think, reason and use that knowledge to solve real-life problems. Aina shared the plan on Wednesday while a guest on Good Morning Nigeria , a programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). He said the board is reviewing how it designs its exams so they fit the needs of education today. To guide the process, JAMB has formed a committee of education experts and other stakeholders. The group will suggest how these skills can be measured. It will also decide whether they should form their own sections of the UTME or be woven into the cur...

G overnments, public bodies and media groups around the world have taken websites offline after experts found two serious security flaws in PHP, a programming language that runs a large part of the internet. A fix was released on Wednesday afternoon, and cyber-security agencies in several countries are now urging organisations to apply it quickly. Those who cannot do so in time are being told to consider shutting down their systems until the danger has passed. Some governments have already acted. Finland has temporarily closed its public government web services, while the Dutch cyber-security agency has taken its own website offline. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, another Dutch government body, has done the same, and the site of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, can no longer be reached. The US National Security Agency (NSA) posted a warning on X , saying the flaws "often provide a direct path to the server's file system ...

T he Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola Virus Disease in Abuja, ending weeks of heightened vigilance across the country. In a statement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the case was confirmed through laboratory tests after the patient fell ill. The patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda on an international flight. According to the ministry, she was admitted to a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory where she received treatment for several days before doctors confirmed it was Ebola. She has now been moved into isolation and is receiving medical care under strict supervision. Following the confirmation, health authorities immediately activated emergency response measures. The Federal Ministry of Health is working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant agencies to prevent any further spread. So ...

A fter 43 years on the CNN payroll, star journalist Christiane Amanpour is calling time on her career with the broadcaster. She will step down in June 2027. The 68-year-old broke the news on Monday, explaining that the choice followed months of reflection. "After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!" she said in a statement. She made clear there was no bitterness in the move. "I look forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism," she said. Her parting message to the profession was short: "Remember: always be truthful, not neutral." CNN chairman Mark Thompson confirmed the departure in a note to staff. He revealed that he and Amanpour had been discussing her plans for several months. "Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I'm very sorry to see her go, but I...

O rganisers of the Carnival Calabar say they want this year's celebration to do more than showcase colours on the streets, as they plan to use it to grow the economy, promote unity and allow more people to take part through technology, according to The Sun Newspaper. The Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Gabe Onah, stated this in Calabar during the flag-off of the first dry run for the 2025 carnival, an event performed by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey. Onah said the theme for this year's carnival, "Rethinking Our Collective Destiny," was chosen to reflect the vision of Governor Bassey Otu, which is built on love, equality and shared humanity. He said his work with the Governor shows a commitment to seeing all people as equal, noting that there is only one human race and that love remains the greatest force. He explained that the carnival also serves as a platform for children and young people to display their talents and to encourage peace, addi...

E very Nollywood fan knows 'Issakaba', but many people don't know that the iconic name was never part of the original plan. Renowned director Lancelot Imasuen, fondly called D'Gvnor, recently revealed how it all happened, and the story goes back to right after his hit film 'The Last Burial' was making waves across the country. At that time, what was happening in Aba caught his attention, the activities of the Bakassi Boys, the local vigilante group that rose to fight the armed robbers terrorizing traders in the Southeast. That real-life story inspired him to call a script conference with the late legendary writer Reginald Ebere, and that was how they started building the characters and casting for a new film. But the script Ebere wrote was not called 'Issakaba'. It was titled 'My Town', because the whole idea was to tell the story of a town and its people taking their security into their own hands. Then something happened on set that changed ever...

E lon Musk, has announced a new policy to ban low-quality and misleading adverts from the platform. Musk said all paid promotions will now be required to meet a reasonable aesthetic standard. He made the announcement on the platform, stating that the move is aimed at improving user experience and cleaning up the feed. Under the new guideline, X will no longer accept adverts that are visually unappealing, have chaotic layouts or low-resolution images, use loud and disruptive audio and visuals, carry aggressive or harsh messaging, or make exaggerated and misleading claims. Since acquiring the platform, Musk has faced the challenge of sustaining advertising revenue while keeping users engaged, amid complaints about sensational and poorly produced promotions on the feed. The company believes that enforcing a higher visual standard will improve the overall quality of the platform and create a better environment for major brands. X is yet to release detailed guidelines on what constitutes t...

T esla unveiled a redesigned Roadster on Thursday that uses rocket-style thrusters to launch off a ramp, flip in the air and land safely on its wheels, drawing cheers from a crowd at a SpaceX test site. The white two-seater, built with help from SpaceX, first raced up a large curved ramp. A suction system held it to the surface even when it was fully upside down. At the top, small cold-gas thrusters pushed it free, and the car turned in the air before touching down. In a second demonstration, it jumped over a line of cars and a semi-truck, twisting midair before landing on the other side. Tesla says some versions can go from zero to 60 mph in under one second and reach a top speed above 230 mph. The car can also travel more than 300 miles on a single charge. The company says the thrusters produce four to five times the force that tires can, which explains the sudden speed. Lars Moravy, Tesla's head of vehicle engineering, said the car is "definitely much faster" than the...

T he vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has explained why he wants former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step down for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today on Thursday, Kwankwaso said his appeal is not driven by personal bias but by their long political relationship and the need to allow a new political arrangement. Asked if he was insisting that Atiku should drop his ambition, he replied, “Well, yes.” He said he used a recent courtesy visit by Fulani leaders from across the country to his residence to urge them to speak with Atiku about stepping aside. Kwankwaso noted that he has known Atiku since 1993 when they both belonged to the political movement led by the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. At that time, he said, Atiku was their preferred presidential candidate under the Social Democratic Party. According to him, their alliance continued through the transition to civ...

  O gun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, says his administration will upgrade the Ogun State Cooperative College to start awarding National Diploma and Higher National Diploma. The governor said the plan is to train more qualified professionals who can manage cooperative societies better, manage risks and protect members' savings. He disclosed this on Wednesday in Ijebu-Ode during the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives, organised by the state cooperative federation and the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives. Abiodun also revealed that his government has given out over N1 billion in loans to support small businesses in the state, as reported by Arise News. According to him, N500 million went to cooperative societies through the State Cooperative Federation under the revolving loan scheme, while another N500 million was disbursed through the Oko Owo Irinse Dapo soft loan scheme for artisans, traders and small business owners across all 20 local government areas. He s...

  T he Senate has taken a major step to close the long-standing gap between university and polytechnic graduates. At plenary, lawmakers amended the Federal Polytechnic Act to allow federal polytechnics across the country to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees in science, engineering and other technology-related courses. The amendment followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who called for a review of the Act to provide clearer administration and a stronger legal framework. After deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put it to a voice vote and the amendment was passed. Before now, federal polytechnics were only allowed to award National Diplomas (ND) and Higher National Diplomas (HND). That restriction has now been lifted. According to Premium Times, the new Section 2(1)(c) of the Act allows polytechnics to award http://B.Tech degrees to qualified holders of ND, HND or Postgraduate Diploma. However, there is a condition: the degree programmes mu...

T he National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has officially endorsed the IMOIFF Creatives & Film Festival, a cultural initiative based in Owerri, Imo State. The endorsement was contained in an official letter dated October 12, 2026, and signed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Obi Asika. In the letter, the Council acknowledged the festival’s objectives and its focus on promoting indigenous cultural heritage, supporting emerging creative talents, and expanding opportunities within Nigeria’s creative industry. IMOIFF Creatives & Film Festival was established to provide a platform for filmmakers and creatives to share stories and showcase Nigeria’s cultural diversity to a wider audience. The NCAC, in its communication, emphasized the role of storytelling and filmmaking in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage and projecting its diverse histories and traditions. The Council also highlighted how cultural initiatives contribute to youth empower...

N etflix will stream every match of the 2030 FIFA World Cup to viewers in Spain and Andorra, in its biggest move yet into live sport. The streaming giant announced the deal in a blog post on Tuesday. It will carry all 104 games of the tournament, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will host. Beyond the matches, Netflix says it will produce pre-match, half-time and post-match shows aimed at Spanish audiences. Not everything will sit behind a paywall. Netflix will offer one game free on every matchday in Spain. Games featuring the Spanish national team, both semi-finals and the final will also be shown free-to-air. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, said the deal reflects the company’s aim to connect with people around the world through major sporting events. Bajaria said few events bring people together like the World Cup, and recalled being in the stands this year when Spain won the trophy. According to Bajaria, the passion and pride on show become part of a nation’s culture...

G overnor Peter Mbah has expressed deep anguish over a violent clash and shooting at a recent political event in Enugu that left a resident wounded.    In a direct address to the state, the governor extended his sympathy to the victim, their loved ones, and anyone who panicked during the chaos. He stressed that the security and mental well-being of every resident are matters of personal importance to him.    Reminding the public of the relative peace residents have fought hard to build, the governor noted that such unrest naturally triggers public anxiety and demands immediate action. He emphasized that party lines should never stop anyone from enjoying their legal rights free from threats or physical harm.    Addressing rumors surrounding the incident, Governor Mbah maintained that his administration's core duty remains defending lives, maintaining public order, and ensuring impartial justice.    Following preliminary discoveries, the governor ha...

F ormer Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha was arrested in Abuja on Monday night. He was released on bail after about an hour of questioning by the police. Officers of the Nigeria Police Force detained the senator at REIZ Continental Hotel, in the heart of the city. Police spokesperson CSP Aniete Iniedu confirmed the arrest and his release on bail to Channels Television. Investigators questioned Okorocha over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. Once the session ended, he was allowed to go home on bail. The matter is not over yet. Iniedu said the former governor has been asked to return to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday for more questioning, as investigations continue. The arrest reportedly came after Okorocha failed to respond to earlier police invitations. He was first expected at the Force Headquarters on September 2. At his lawyers’ request, that appointment was moved to September 8, but he reportedly did not show up. The allegations against Okorocha ha...

E ntrepreneur and sister to Afrobeats superstar Davido, Sharon Ademefun (nee Adeleke), has said she no longer believes in spending heavily on fashion. Sharon made this known during an interview on The Fashion Roundtable, where she spoke openly about her lifestyle and how her priorities around money and clothing have changed over time. According to her, she has gotten to a point where there are certain prices she is no longer willing to pay for clothes. She expressed shock over the high cost of fashion in recent times, noting that many designers now charge for a regular party dress almost the same amount that should be for a wedding gown. To explain her stance, she recalled her own wedding experience. She said her husband spent $2,000 on her wedding dress, while she paid for the outfits of 13 bridesmaids and her event hostesses. Despite the number of people involved, she said the total cost for all the dresses was still less than $10,000. She noted that her decision came from a personal...