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Rapper Young Thug proposes to Mariah the Scientist during concert in Atlanta  American rapper Young Thug and his long-term partner Mariah the Scientist are engaged.  The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, 34, paused his set to ask the singer to marry him, producing an engagement ring as the words “Will You Marry Me” appeared on screens behind him during his Hometown Hero Benefit Concert on Tuesday night, December 16,  at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. “I guess I’m getting married,” Mariah said to the crowd after the proposal, where the phrase, “Will You Marry Me?” was displayed in pink on the stage’s big screen. Young Thug and Mariah have been together for over four years now, after they started dating in 2021.

 Press Release  Tinubu’s Youth Empowerment Programmes are for all Nigerians, not Political Interests - Idris The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s youth empowerment initiatives are driven by a sincere commitment to expanding opportunities for young Nigerians, rather than partisan political considerations. Idris made the clarification on Tuesday night in Abuja during an interactive session with youths from the APC Youth Wing and tertiary institutions across the Federal Capital Territory, at The Nest Resource Centre, Abuja. The session, which featured open and candid conversations, was moderated by the APC National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel. According to the Minister, youth-focused programmes of the Tinubu administration are deliberately designed to be inclusive, accessible, and impactful, regardless of political affiliation. “NELFUND is for Nigerians; it is not for APC. The 3MTT is for Nigerians; ...

FIFA Introduces $60 World Cup Tickets Amid Fan Backlash FIFA has launched a new $60 “Supporter Entry Tier” for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, covering all 104 matches. The tickets, aimed at fans of qualified teams, make up 10% of each national federation’s allotment. The move follows widespread criticism over high prices, with fan groups and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling the measure insufficient. FIFA said refunds will waive administrative fees for knockout-stage tickets if a team is eliminated early. The first ticket draw will be held on January 13, 2026.

 Ahmed Musa retires from international football Former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has announced his retirement from international football after 15 years, ending his Nigeria career with a record 111 caps. The 33-year-old AFCON 2013 winner and Nigeria’s highest World Cup goalscorer made the announcement on Wednesday, thanking Nigerians for the support throughout his career.

 South Africa to deport Kenyans working on US Afrikaner 'refugee' applications South African authorities have arrested and will expel seven Kenyans accused of working without the correct documentation on a US government programme to accept white Afrikaners as "refugees", the government said Wednesday. US President Donald Trump's administration in May offered refugee status to the minority white Afrikaner community, claiming they were victims of discrimination and even "genocide", which the Pretoria government strongly denies. The United States engaged Kenyans from an NGO based in Kenya to come to South Africa to fast-track the processing of applications for resettlement under the programme. During a raid on a processing centre in Johannesburg on Tuesday, "seven Kenyan nationals were discovered engaging in work despite only being in possession of tourist visas, in clear violation of their conditions of entry into the country," the home affairs d...

 NDLEA secures order to detain vessel, 21 crew members over cocaine shipment from Brazil  . We remain resolute to frustrate drug syndicates targeting Nigeria, says Marwa The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured an order of a Federal High Court in Lagos to detain a ship, its captain and 20 other crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine in the hatch of the commodity vessel from Brazil at the Apapa seaport in Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Operatives of the NDLEA acting on credible intelligence had on 6th December 2025 discovered the cocaine consignment aboard the merchant vessel MV San Anthonio from Brazil. After the full discharge of cargo from the ship, a total of 21 crew members of diverse nationalities including Russia, Phillipines, Ukraine and Azerbaijan were taken into NDLEA custody along with the drug exhibits. This is coming on the heels of a similar interception by NDLEA officers of ano...

 EFCC Commences Investigation of Suspect for Undeclared $800,575, € 651,505 At Lagos Airport  Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of one Kavlak Onal, an Austrian national, who was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, on his way to Dubai via Emirates Airline. He was arrested on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $800,575 and €651,505 in his possession. While receiving the suspect, the Head, Foreign Exchange Malpractices Section, FEMS, ACE II Adejumo Richard, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, said: “I would like to extend our sincere appreciation and commendation to the Nigerian Customs Service for its outstanding efforts and excellent synergy displayed so far. Your dedication to duty and collaborative spirit have been instrument...