PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 LASG PRESENTS STAFF OF OFFICE TO NEW ONIȘẸ OF ISE KINGDOM The Lagos State Government has presented the Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment to Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu, as His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa Oba Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu, the Onise of Ise Kingdom in Lekki Local Government Area. The presentation was performed on Friday, August 21, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Dr. Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, with the approval of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Executive Council, following the demise of the late Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan, Onise of Ise Kingdom. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Agbaje urged the new Monarch to make peace, unity and inclusive development the pillars of his reign, stressing the important role traditional institutions play in promoting har...

 Erling Haaland cuts off signature long blonde hair for buzzcut ahead of new Manchester City season Erling Haaland has ditched his signature long blonde hair for a buzzcut, saying he wanted a “fresh start” ahead of the new season. The Manchester City star, 26, revealed the new look in a video posted on Instagram on Sunday, Aug. 23. In the clip, Haaland sits in a barber’s chair with his long hair flowing past his shoulders before covering the camera with his hand and revealing his new close-cropped style. “New season, new trim,” he wrote in the caption. Haaland also shared several selfies from the haircut session, including images of himself with short bangs before going for the full buzzcut. “Short hair don’t care,” he added. In a YouTube video documenting the transformation, Haaland explained that he had considered cutting his hair after the World Cup but was too busy at the time. “I was thinking about doing this straight after the World Cup, but I was so busy so I didn’t do it,” ...

 Xenophobia:I don’t think its reallytrue to say Nigerians are being kicked out of South Africa because they are taking our women- SA Consul-General Moroe The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has dismissed claims that some Nigerians are being attacked in South Africa because of their romantic relationships with South African women,  In an interview with Punch, Monroe said  ‘’It cannot be. We live in a constitutional democracy where everybody is allowed to exercise their freedoms, and nobody, no matter how they feel, is permitted to interfere with people’s preferences. Love knows no borders. I am quite aware of the popular narrative, but I do not think it is really true because South African men also fall in love with women from other countries. Our sisters may have very good reasons why they prefer Nigerian men, but it is a good thing because we are expanding.  This is a cultural issue that cannot be avoided. If you choose to marry someone, ...

 “Cut off some friends and family when you start earning well to protect your finances” — Skit maker Zicsaloma Skit maker Zicsaloma has advised people who begin earning well to distance themselves from friends and family members who are lazy, entitled or financially dependent on them. He said some people expect successful friends to keep giving them money simply because they were around when they had nothing, often squandering whatever they receive before returning for more. Zicsaloma also stressed that money earned through legitimate means is not necessarily money available for sharing, as successful people still have businesses to fund, investments to make and their financial future to secure. He urged people to cut off relationships that constantly drain their resources, saying such individuals could eventually drag them back into financial hardship.

 Federal judge overturns Trump policy suspending visas from 75 countries     A federal judge in New York has overturned a Trump administration policy that halted the processing of immigrant visas for people from 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose citizens were deemed more likely to rely on public assistance in the United States. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled Friday that the policy was unlawful and exceeded the authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. She said the policy conflicted with the Immigration and Nationality Act by requiring visas to be denied to otherwise eligible applicants without a legal basis. Vargas also said the policy improperly bypassed the role Congress assigned to consular officers, who are responsible for evaluating individual visa applications based on specific requirements established by law. A blanket restriction based on an applicant's nationality, she said, undermined that system. Th...

Trump urges judge to reject BBC bid to subpoena his children and son-in-law  President Donald Trump is asking a federal judge to deny the BBC’s request for assistance in obtaining testimony and documents from three members of his family as part of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster. Trump’s attorneys argue that the BBC is seeking to use subpoenas against his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and son Donald Trump Jr. to gain politically motivated leverage in the case. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz in Miami had not ruled on the dispute. Kuntz, who was nominated by Trump, took over the lawsuit from another judge less than a week ago. Court records did not immediately explain the reassignment. The previous judge had scheduled a trial for February. Trump’s lawyers said a process server attempting to deliver subpoenas to Ivanka Trump and Kushner at their home in May was stopped by Secret Service agents, who said they were not authorized t...

Janie Bradford Hobbs, early Motown songwriter behind major hits, dies at 87 Janie Bradford Hobbs, an early Motown songwriter who helped create hits such as “Money (That’s What I Want)” and “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” has died at 87 after a prolonged illness. She died at a Los Angeles hospital, according to her family. Born in Charleston, Missouri, Bradford Hobbs later moved to Detroit, where she became part of the early Motown community. Singer Jackie Wilson, who lived near her, introduced her to Motown founder Berry Gordy in the late 1950s. Bradford Hobbs joined Motown in 1958 as a receptionist, but, like many employees at the young company, she quickly became involved in its creative work. She and Gordy co-wrote “Money (That’s What I Want),” which Barrett Strong recorded in 1959. The song became an early Motown success and was later covered by The Beatles, becoming a hit for the British group as well. Bradford Hobbs also helped write “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” which wa...

 Texas judge denies new trial for Karmelo Anthony in high school track meet stabbing  A Texas judge has rejected Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial in the stabbing death of 17-year-old high school athlete Austin Metcalf, a case that attracted national attention and sparked harassment directed at both families. Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder in June and sentenced to 35 years in prison for Metcalf’s death in April 2025. Judge Michael Chitty denied the request Saturday after a two-day hearing near Dallas, saying he had reviewed the evidence and arguments presented by both sides but offering no additional explanation. Anthony’s attorney, Russell Wilson, said the defense plans to appeal and remains committed to challenging the conviction through available legal channels. A key issue in the request for a new trial involved an informal agreement between prosecutors and Anthony’s original defense team to keep potentially damaging character evidence about both teenagers ou...

Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson hospitalized after injury on opening kickoff of preseason game  Philadelphia Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was taken to a hospital for further evaluation after being injured on the opening kickoff of Saturday night’s preseason game against the New England Patriots. Jackson was part of the Eagles’ kickoff coverage unit and made a tackle on New England’s Lan Larison. Moments after the play ended, Jackson remained motionless on the field, prompting trainers and medical personnel from both teams to rush to his side. Medical staff quickly requested a backboard and ambulance as players from both teams gathered and knelt near the sideline. Jackson was secured to a stretcher before Eagles teammates briefly surrounded him. He was then placed in an ambulance and taken to a hospital. The Eagles later said Jackson had strength and movement in all of his extremities. He could also be seen briefly raising his left arm while being attended to on the...

 OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA: TROOPS RESCUE 6 KIDNAPPED VICTIMS, RECOVER CASH IN KATSINA STATE Troops of Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA have sustained operational pressure against terrorists in Katsina State, rescuing 6 kidnapped victims and recovering the sum of ₦800,000 taken from them by terrorists in Dandume Local Government Area. Troops also successfully engaged terrorists in a separate operation in Kankara Local Government Area. On 22 August 2026, troops of Sector 2 conducting a fighting patrol responded swiftly to a distress call that terrorists had intercepted a vehicle and kidnapped 6 occupants along the Dandume–Sheme Road. The troops advanced to the area and made contact with the terrorists, overwhelming them with superior firepower and forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bushes. Following exploitation of the area, all 6 kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed. Troops also recovered ₦800,000 earlier taken from the victims by...

 DRC and M23 rebels agree roadmap for stalled peace talks The Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 rebel group have agreed to develop a roadmap setting out steps and timelines for peace negotiations under a Doha framework agreement signed last year. The agreement followed peace talks between government and M23 representatives held from August 17 to 21 in Switzerland to revive a stalled peace process amid continued fighting in eastern Congo, Anadolu Agency reported. The sides “reaffirmed their commitment to pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution through the implementation of the Framework Agreement,” according to a joint statement issued on Saturday. They also agreed on a standardised method for reporting alleged ceasefire violations and on establishing a mechanism to address challenges in implementing commitments under the framework agreement.

 Sudan says it shot down 'hostile' drone in Blue Nile state Sudan’s Defense Ministry said Sunday that it had shot down a “hostile” drone in Blue Nile state in the country’s southeast. In a statement on Facebook, the ministry said the drone was launched from Ethiopian territory and was flying over Blue Nile state, near Kurmuk, TRT Afrika reported. Earlier this month, the Sudanese army said that it had shot down three FH-95 drones in North Kordofan state in the south of the country. Sudanese authorities and human rights organisations have accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of targeting civilian infrastructure. In addition to Blue Nile and Darfur, the three Kordofan states — North, West and South Kordofan — have witnessed clashes between the army and the RSF since October 25, 2025. Sudan has been gripped by a war between the army and the RSF since April 2023, leaving tens of thousands dead and displacing around 13 million people, according to UN and international ...

 101-year-old great grandma arrested as NDLEA intercepts cocaine in fufu . N4.4bn worth of Loud seized at Apapa, Lekki ports; recovers consignments of meth, skunk, opioids in sweeps across Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded significant breakthroughs across the country's land and maritimne borders, including the arrest of a 101-year-old great grandmother for dealing in illicit drug, the interception of cocaine concealed in edible cassava flour popularly known as fufu, and the seizure of large consignments of Loud, a synthetic cannabis valued at over N4,4 billion at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos. In a rare and startling development, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 15th August 2026, arrested a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, in Ilisan, Ogun state, with retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals. The centenarian told op...

Umahi’s son elected Ohaozara LGA chairman, pledges not to collect salary Osborn Nweze Umahi, son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has been elected chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area in Ebonyi State. The 28-year-old contested the local government election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He secured victory after a campaign focused on grassroots mobilisation, economic development and improved local administration. Shortly after being declared the winner, Umahi announced that he would not collect any salary or allowances throughout his tenure. He said the decision was driven by a desire to channel local government resources toward development rather than personal financial benefits. Umahi also pledged to prioritise infrastructure, youth empowerment, economic opportunities and improved service delivery across Ohaozara. During the campaign, the son of the state’s former governor presented himself as a representative of a younger generation of politicians...

 Klint da Drunk: Liquor brands dumped me over ‘drunk’ character Comedian Afamefuna Igwemba, popularly known as Klint da Drunk, has said some liquor brands that previously partnered with him stopped working with him because of his long-running drunk character. Speaking to Sunday Scoop, the comedian explained how the persona that defined much of his career has affected his relationship with brands. He said liquor companies once understood and accepted his act but later changed their stance. “Most of the liquor companies I used to do branding for; it’s funny how they used to understand those things, but they don’t anymore. They now say my character is a vice to their brands and portrays them negatively,” he stated. Igwemba named brands he previously worked with, including Lager Beer, Nigerian Breweries, Guinness and Glenfiddich. “I did a lot of work with them, and they were okay with my character. But all of a sudden, they turned their backs on me,” he said. He described the situation...

 ‘Fake agency’ boss insists office legitimate, provides more documents The National Coordinator and Executive Director of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, George Nwabueze, has continued to defend the legitimacy of the office, posting additional documents he said showed its links with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Nwabueze, who posted the documents on his LinkedIn page on Sunday, shared a letter dated July 19, 2010, purportedly issued by the OSGF. The letter, referenced NIG@ 50/S. 7/C,3/45 and signed by Dominic Y.E. for the SGF, was addressed to “Buchi George,” then “Executive Director of The Hats Centre” in Owerri, Imo State. Titled, “RE: ENDORSEMENT OF OUR PROJECT, MADE IN NAIJA, TO BE HELD IN IRELAND,” the letter acknowledged receipt of a proposal dated July 16, 2010, seeking endorsement of a “Made in Naija” project to be held in Ireland as part of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary. It read, “I am directed to ...

2027: There’ll be fake polling units, booths stationed for rigging – Primate Ayodele warns The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Sunday cautioned that fake polling units and booths would be set up during the 2027 general elections in a bid to facilitate rigging in certain areas. In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele said the fraudulent polling units would be established across the country, potentially trapping unsuspecting voters. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain vigilant, warning that failure to address the threat could severely undermine the credibility of the polls. According to the cleric, plans to manipulate the election are already in place, with the creation of fake polling units, booths and some electoral materials forming part of the strategy. “For the upcoming election in Nigeria, I am seeing a lot of fake things regarding the election which the INEC must take ...

 18-Year Sentence for Man Who Murdered 24-Year-Old Girlfriend in Nkowankowa A 33-year-old man from Mbambamencisi village has been sentenced to 18 years’ direct imprisonment for murdering his 24-year-old girlfriend in Nkowankowa. Frank Rikhotso was sentenced by the Polokwane High Court on Friday, 21 August 2026, after being convicted of the September 2025 murder. The court heard that Rikhotso had a heated argument with his girlfriend over a cellphone. He allegedly accused her of being involved with another man before tying her hands and legs with cable ties and strangling her. Police found the victim’s lifeless body on a bed at a house in Section C, Nkowankowa. She was declared dead at the scene. Rikhotso was arrested on the day of the murder after allegedly attempting to take his own life.

 Hayden Panettiere’s neighbor claims she saw actress taken from LA apartment on gurney twice with ‘bruises’ and ‘red spots’ Hayden Panettiere’s former neighbor says she saw firefighters take the actress from her Los Angeles apartment on a gurney twice during her troubled relationship with Brian Hickerson, and claims Panettiere appeared to have visible injuries. Mia Terrazas, who still lives at the same West Hollywood complex, told Page Six that the incidents happened on July 29, 2023, and January 16, 2024. Evidence reviewed by the outlet appeared to corroborate the dates. Terrazas said she noticed “bright red spots” and “bruises” on Panettiere during the incidents and claimed Hickerson was present both times, staying “glued to” the actress. “It appeared that she had been beaten up. It wasn’t apparent to me that it could have been anything else,” Terrazas said, adding that Panettiere often appeared “battered.” Her daughter, Vileena Koneru, who lived with her at the time, said she wi...

 IGP DISU CONCLUDES 3-DAY INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY PROGRAMME, ADOPTS ABUJA YOUTH DECLARATION The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, yesterday, Saturday, 22nd August 2026, participated in the closing ceremony of the three-day International Youth Day 2026 programme in Abuja, where he formally adopted the Abuja Youth Declaration on Peace, Responsible Citizenship and Democratic Participation.  The programme, organised under the National Youth Leadership and Security Initiative of the Nigeria Police Force, was held under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” and the campaign, “My Future is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery.”  The closing ceremony featured the International Youth Day Honours and Awards Ceremony, the launching of the national campaign against political and digital thuggery and electoral violence, the investiture of National Youth Ambassadors, and the presentation of the book, Esteemed Youths. The adoption ...