PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

" Today, I officially turn 18... Dear God, thank You for the gift of 18 beautiful years. As I step into this new chapter, I pray for Your continued guidance, wisdom, favor, protection, and grace. May my life always reflect Your goodness and purpose. Happy 18th Birthday to me! Here's to greater heights. 🙏❤️ Thank you to everyone of you supporting my brand over the years. 🙏🙏🙏". More photos below. 

 Mother, daughter and son-in-law arrested as detectives bust online sexual exploitation ring targeting job seekers in Kenya Detectives have dismantled a suspected family-run online s3xual exploitation network in Nairobi, Kenya, arresting a mother, her daughter and her son-in-law.    The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.   According to the statement, detectives also rescued five women allegedly trafficked through fake job offers and forced to produce explicit online content.    DCI said officers from the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) conducted the operation in the Mihang’o area of Embakasi East Constituency, where the women were found confined in two bedrooms inside a residential house.   According to preliminary investigations, the victims had been promised lucrative employment opportunities but were instead subjected to online sexual exploitation for commercial gain. ...

 Zinedine Zidane appointed head coach of France National Team French football legend, Zinedine Zidane, has reportedly signed a deal to become the new head coach of the French national team until June 2030.   Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano made the claim in a post shared on Facebook on Tuesday, saying the former Real Madrid manager would be officially unveiled in the coming days.   “Zinedine Zidane has signed as the new France coach until June 2030. The story has been confirmed as Zizou will be unveiled as the new head coach in the next days — back to work with France,” Romano wrote.   Zidane is expected to lead France in the 2027 UEFA Nations League, Euro 2028, and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.   Zidane, 54, has been without a coaching role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021 after a second spell in charge of the Spanish giants.   During his time at Madrid, he won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, as well as two La Liga crowns ...

 Zimbabwe's Mineral Export Revenue Soars 84% to Record $2,532 Billion in First Half of 2026 Zimbabwe's projected annual revenue for this year is expected to be surpassed, driven by favorable market trends and the strong performance of its key mineral commodities, Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) general manager Nomsa Moyo said. “The US$2,5 billion recorded demonstrates the impact of the beneficiation and value addition policy,” she added, Sputnik reported. “This aligns with the Government’s Vision 2030 objective of accelerating beneficiation, industrialisation and sustainable economic growth."

‎Anambra Student Represents Nigeria at 2026 World Schools Debating Championship in Kenya ‎ ‎By Ngozi Okoli  ‎ ‎ ‎The Anambra-born student and Senior Prefect of Mater Amabilis College, Enuka Chibusonma, represented Nigeria at the 2026 World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) in Nairobi, Kenya, alongside two other Nigerian students, on July 19. ‎ ‎ ‎The World Schools Debating Championship is widely regarded as the world's premier secondary school debating competition, bringing together more than 500 exceptional students from over 80 countries across six continents. ‎ ‎ ‎Chibusonma earned national recognition through exceptional debating performances, inspiring students across Nigeria with her eloquence, confidence and intellectual brilliance in several highly competitive local and national championships recently. ‎ ‎ ‎At the 2025 Shanahan Debate Championship, she served as Lead Speaker and captain of the Mater Amabilis College Debate Team, leading the team to an impressive performa...

 JDPC Onitsha Trains Community Advocates to Combat Child Sexual Abuse ‎By Osegbue Patricia ‎ ‎ ‎The Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Onitsha Region, has intensified its fight against child sexual abuse and molestation by organizing a comprehensive "Train-the-Trainer" campaign aimed at equipping community advocates with the knowledge and skills to protect vulnerable children. ‎ ‎ ‎The awareness campaign, held at St. Mary's Catholic Church premises, Inland Town, Onitsha, on July 20,  brought together participants who will, in turn, educate people at the grassroots level on child protection, abuse prevention, and reporting mechanisms. ‎ ‎ ‎Speaking during the programme, the Campaign Awareness Coordinator, Mrs. Sandra Udu, said the training became necessary following the increasing cases of child abuse and molestation in society. She explained that the initiative is designed to raise trainers who will create awareness in communities, identify perpetrators, and e...

 OPERATION HADIN KAI DISRUPTS SUSPECTED TERRORIST LOGISTICS NETWORK, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO DENYING TERRORISTS FREEDOM OF ACTION Troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, disrupted a suspected terrorist logistics network with the arrest of five suspected terrorist logistics suppliers during a routine security operation conducted at about 1:30 p.m. on 20 July 2026 in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State. The suspects were intercepted while transporting 491 cartons of Albe Stark 2.5% dewormer and 100 cartons of multivitamin injections for animals without the requisite waybill or supporting documentation. A thorough search of the vehicles further uncovered concealed medical supplies, including 32 cartons of Diclofenac Sodium Injection, 58 cartons of Benzylpenicillin Sodium BP, 6 cartons of Dexamethasone Injection, and 51 cartons of Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion. Troops also recovered 30 units of 80-inch LG plasma tele...

 BOTCHED CIRCUMCISION AND DEHYDRATION AMONG THE MAIN CAUSES OF THE DEATHS OF 43 INITIATES  JOHANNESBURG - The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities ( CRL Rights Commission ) has identified botched circumcisions, dehydration and untreated infections as the main causes of the death of 43 initiates.  This as the Commission opened formal investigation into illegal initiation schools after the deaths of initiates across South Africa during the winter initiation season.  This was announced during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday.  South Africa reported concerning numbers of deaths and illegal initiation schools that were in operation.  About 48 illegal initiation schools were identified countrywide with 42 arrests instituted.  In terms of the deaths, Mpumalanga recorded the highest with 18, Eastern Cape came second with 14, North West recorded 4 while Limpopo had three deaths wi...

 Hunter Biden reveals he never wanted Joe Biden to run for re-election, but refused to tell him to stop Hunter Biden recently opened up about his feelings regarding his father’s decision to seek a second term, revealing that he never wanted Joe Biden to run again. Speaking on NPR’s Newsmakers, Hunter explained that while he always supported his father’s choices, he personally hoped the former president would step away from the demands of office.  He emphasized that the presidency is “all‑consuming” and makes it nearly impossible for a leader to be fully present in the lives of their loved ones. Hunter pushed back against claims that he encouraged his father to stay in the race, calling such reports “literally nothing [that] could be further from the truth.”  He noted that the four years of Biden’s presidency were extremely difficult, both because of his own struggles with sobriety and the intense public scrutiny tied to his father’s role.  For Hunter, the period was ...

 Shamea Morton said K Michelle jumped ship, but the singer accused her of playing fake victim The feud between K. Michelle and Shamea Morton intensified after Shamea’s appearance on Watch What Happens Live on July 19. During a game segment, Shamea suggested that K. Michelle “didn’t have to jump ship and switch teams,” referencing her shift away from the friend group she once shared with Shamea, Pinky Cole, and Kelli Potter.  While Shamea framed the remark as advice, K. Michelle interpreted it as an attempt to control the narrative of their fallout, hinting that deeper issues were at play. K. Michelle quickly fired back on X, accusing Shamea of repeatedly speaking about her and warning that she knew too much to be painted as a “fake victim.” Her cryptic mention of “the walfdorf” raised eyebrows, though she offered no explanation or evidence.  This exchange suggested that their conflict runs deeper than shifting alliances, with K. Michelle implying that private incidents no...

 SOUTH AFRICAN - PAKISTANI NATIONAL ARRESTED FOR THE MURDER OF GA - MOTHAPO BUSINESSMAN  GA - MOTHAPO : Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team and Provincial Investigation Unit have made a breakthrough in the murder case of businessman Tebogo Mothapo (43), following an intelligence-driven operation conducted in the Mankweng policing area. On Monday, 20 July 2026, members arrested a 29-year-old naturalised South African citizen of Pakistani origin, at Ga-Mothapo, Tjatjaneng village. The suspect was found in possession of the deceased's cellphone, which had been stolen on the night of the murder. On Tuesday, 16 December 2025, at about 23:00, a 43-year-old Tebogo Mothapo, a businessman, was shot and killed in Mankweng Zone 1. The motive was unknown at the time, and a case docket was opened and transferred to the Provincial Office for further investigation. The arrested suspect is expected to appear before the Mankweng Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, facing charges of mur...

 2,000 Teachers To Benefit From Modern Teaching Devices As FG Partners Japan, UNESCO, AU Empowering female teachers and school leaders through technology is at the heart of a new initiative by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with the Government of Japan, UNESCO and the Pan African University. The approximately one million US dollar Japan-funded project seeks to address challenges of distance, connectivity and time by promoting mobile based learning and professional development for educators across Nigeria. Christiana Akande reports that the handover of digital devices to teachers and school leaders is aimed at harnessing technology to bridge learning gaps, unlock potential, strengthen the teaching profession and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable education system. The project is expected to benefit about 2,000 teachers across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, with a strong focus on promoting the teaching profession through mobile learning platforms and en...

 FG Launches N729bn Power Sector Bond To Clear Electricity Debts The Federal Government has launched a 729 billion naira Series 2 Power Sector Bond to settle outstanding debts and strengthen electricity supply nationwide. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced this at an Investor Forum in Abuja, saying it builds on the first 520 billion naira series, which was fully subscribed and has already begun repayment.  He stated that the bond is part of the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme and will be used to pay verified obligations to generation companies and gas suppliers with the aim of improving liquidity, boosting plant availability, and restoring investor confidence in the power sector. The Minister linked the reform to wider economic gains, citing 3.9 percent growth in the first quarter of 2026, and called on investors to keep partnering with government as it works to stabilise the economy and attract long-term c...

Two Nigerians sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for armed robbery in Kuwait Two Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery in Kuwait. The Kuwait General Department of Criminal Investigation in Ahmadi Governorate arrested the two individuals over alleged involvement in an armed robbery and theft of a currency exchange shop in Mahboula, in January 2025.  The Court of Appeal on Monday, July 20, 2026 upheld the imprisonment of the defendants for seven years and six months in connection with the robbery and theft.  The Second Circuit of the Court of Appeal, headed by Counselor Nasr Salem Al-Haid and comprising Counselors Mutaib Al-Aradhi and Saud Al-Sane, upheld the ruling against members of a Nigerian gang involved in the robbery and theft of the money exchange shop.  The Public Prosecution had charged the first four defendants with stealing money from the exchange shop, with the second defendant using a fake gun and enabling the third a...

 Clarification on Report of N1bn in 2026 Budget for Musical Instruments in Bende Churches  The attention of the Office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and member representating Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR has been drawn to media reports suggesting that N1 billion was inserted in the 2026 budget solely for the procurement of musical instruments for churches in Bende.  We wish to clarify that this is a misrepresentation of the intent and scope of the provision. The proposed allocation is actually N780 million after VAT and other tax deductions.  It is earmarked as a Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme delivered with evangelistic approach through faith-based organizations in Bende federal constituency of Abia State. Bende has 13 federal political/electoral wards and over 200 churches. The first phase of this support targets 130 of these churches averaging about 10 churches per ward, whic...

 Guinea Requests Return of Colonial-Era Cultural Artifacts From France Following Benin, Guinea has officially asked France to return manuscripts and objects taken during the colonial period, French media reported. The items include the Quran of Samory Touré, one of the main leaders of Guinea’s resistance against colonial rule. Other objects seized after his capture by the French army in 1898 include his cap, flywhisk, and war tunic. Guinea has launched a diplomatic process to recover this heritage, part of which is currently kept at the French Army Museum in Paris. A Guinean mission that visited France in June 2026 inspected some of the items on site, including manuscripts, swords, and royal objects. Conakry also wants to recover manuscripts held in several other French cities and has begun work to identify and catalogue them, according to Sputnik.