Author: damazah@gmail.com

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged Nigerian journalists to make the safety, dignity, privacy and best interests of children central to their reportage, warning that careless headlines, photographs and disclosure of identities could expose vulnerable children to further harm. The Chief, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Juliet Chiluwe, gave the charge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Wednesday, at a two-day Zonal Workshop on Ethical Reporting of Children organised by the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) in collaboration with UNICEF Enugu Field Office. Chiluwe described journalists as “shapers of society”, stressing that the stories…

‘If I had my time again … I wouldn’t have done that podcast’, Albanese saysSarah Basford CanalesAnthony Albanese has said he should not have appeared on a podcast where he engaged in a joke about the Japanese prime minister’s gift to him of melons.During an appearance on the comedy podcast Bush Deep last month, the prime minister explained that Japan’s leader, Sanae Takaichi, offered him royal Japanese melons and appeared to make hand gestures in front of his chest, saying “she brought two, as you do”. Host Nikki Osborne joked: “She came in looking like Pamela Anderson.”The appearance sparked a…

The Mexican Navy rescued two fishermen 150 miles off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico on 19 August, after they had been missing for 5 days.Naval authorities began the search for the men, aged 53 and 32, after their fishing cooperative lost contact with them on 15 August and sent out a distress call.The two men were found alive and floating inside a cool box, ordinarily used to store caught fish on a fishing boat.Authorities said the men were medically evaluated before being reunited with their families.Read more world stories here.

Jose Munoz, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, speaks during a press meeting during Milan Design Week, as Hyundai launches the new Ioniq 3 electric vehicle, in Milan, Italy, April 20, 2026. Claudia Greco | ReutersSAN FRANCISCO – Hyundai Motor plans to further expand its U.S. production at a new multibillion-dollar vehicle assembly plant in Georgia, CEO José Muñoz told CNBC on Thursday.Muñoz said the South Korean automaker expects to increase the planned production capacity of its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America from 500,000 units to between 700,000 and 800,000 units by 2028. “For us, the USA is the most important market in the…

A team of astronomers has just detected the fastest star in the galaxy. Its anomalous speed has a more unsettling explanation: It orbits Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, the mass of which is equivalent to four million times that of the Sun.S301, as astronomers have named the star, reaches 25,000 kilometers per second (km/s) at its maximum speed and takes 8.7 years to complete one orbit around Sagittarius A*. (By comparison, the Sun orbits the center of the galaxy at about 230 km/s.) At its peak speed, S301 moves more than 100…

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday, presented his certificate of return to President Bola Tinubu and held a closed-door meeting with him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The visit comes four days after Mr Adeleke was declared winner of the August 15 governorship election, securing a re-election to govern the state for the next four years. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented certificates of return to Mr Adeleke and his deputy on Wednesday following their victory in the election. Mr Adeleke reportedly arrived at the Villa at about 5:25 p.m., dressed in a…

D’Tigers will regroup in Tunisia later this month as head coach David Fizdale names a 12-man squad for Nigeria’s crucial fourth window of the 2027 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers. The roster features a blend of established internationals and returning players as Nigeria begins the second round of the African qualifying campaign with a place at the World Cup in Qatar firmly in sight. Fizdale has selected Chimezie Metu, Josh Okogie, Caleb Agada, Stan Okoye, Chima Moneke, Ike Nwamu, Udoka Azubuike, Efe Abogidi, Ebuka Izundu, Manny Obaseki, Jordan Ogundiran and Michael Efevberha. The American coach will be supported by…

Content creator Hussein “Ozain” Kehinde has revealed why he and his colleague, Akinyoola “Kamo” Ayoola, stopped centring their skits on the popular NEPA Boys character. The duo gained attention for their comic portrayal of electricity workers who harass residents over unpaid electricity bills, power cuts and other neighbourhood issues. Their use of Yoruba and relatable Nigerian street humour also helped them build a strong connection with their audience. Ozain, who spoke during an interview with Kunle Afod TV posted on Facebook on Thursday, said the decision to move away from the character stemmed from their desire to explore different creative…

By Raphael Anakwue *Being the text of the lecture by Professor Raphael Anakwue, a Professor of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Pharmacology, at the 249th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on August 20, 2026 INTRODUCTION It is with profound gratitude, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today, on this historic occasion, to deliver the 249th inaugural lecture at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. As a Professor of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Pharmacology, I am deeply honoured to deliver this lecture, titled “Beyond Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Toxic Shadows and the Heart-Habitat Interface.” Your presence…

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the Best XI of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with Cameroon emerging as the dominant force in the selection. According to the Best XI posted on CAF’s X handle on Thursday, Cameroon led the way with multiple players recognised for their performances, followed by Malawi and Morocco. Algeria and Zambia also secured places in the team. Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was selected between the posts, while the defensive line features Algeria’s Ines Belloumou, Morocco’s Nohaila Benzina and Hanane Aït El Haj, alongside Cameroon’s Myriam Nyadjou. The midfield comprises Cameroon’s Monique Ngock,…