breaking news

 The United States has placed Nigeria on its Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) list, raising the possibility of restrictions on American military assistance, weapons sales, military training and defence cooperation over concerns about the recruitment and exploitation of children by armed groups operating in the country. 

 TEXAS, UNITED STATES — Hollywood is mourning the death of American actor, philanthropist and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte, best known for portraying Walter “Flynn” White Jr. in the critically acclaimed television drama Breaking Bad. He was 34 years old. 

 ACCRA, GHANA — A 34-year-old Ghanaian beautician and businesswoman, Jessica Hartog, has been arrested and charged alongside three other suspects in connection with the alleged exportation of nearly four tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France, with an estimated street value of more than $260 million.

 GUJRANWALA, PAKISTAN — A dispute between two teenage sisters over TikTok followers and money allegedly turned deadly in Pakistan’s Punjab province, leaving a 15-year-old girl dead and her elder sister facing a murder case, according to police and local news reports. 

 ATLANTA, GEORGIA — After more than two decades of building its identity around Hollywood, American Idol is preparing for a major change. The long-running singing competition will relocate production from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area for its upcoming 25th season, marking one of the most significant production shifts in the show’s history.

 NEW YORK — Attorneys representing music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs in a high-profile defamation lawsuit have asked a federal judge to allow them to withdraw from the case, alleging that Combs has failed to pay a substantial amount in legal fees and has become increasingly difficult to communicate with. 

 LAGOS, NIGERIA — Nigeria’s film industry is mourning the death of veteran actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, MFR, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, who died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His death was confirmed by his family, ending years in which false reports about his passing had repeatedly circulated online.  

 An Iranian blogger identified as Soda Ebrahimi Shamsabadi, also known as Souda or Marzieh Ebrahimi Shamsabadi, has reportedly been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Bandar Abbas on a charge of “corruption on earth,” according to human rights organisations. 

 NEW YORK — Actress, comedian and television personality Sherri Shepherd is embracing an emotional new chapter as her son, Jeffrey, begins college and takes another major step toward independence. 

 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI — Police in Jackson, Mississippi, have arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old mother of four whose body was discovered hanging from a tree behind a vacant home last month. 

 NEW YORK — Television courtroom icon Judith Sheindlin, widely known as Judge Judy, is preparing to step away from on-camera television after three decades, closing one of the most influential chapters in daytime TV while helping launch the next generation of her family’s courtroom legacy. 

 WASHINGTON — Two Nigerian nationals have been extradited to the United States to face federal charges arising from separate financially motivated sextortion cases involving minors in Mississippi and North Carolina, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  

 LYON, FRANCE — An eight-month international law-enforcement operation targeting West African organized crime networks has resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects across 22 countries, according to INTERPOL. 

 ATLANTA, GEORGIA — A Georgia man accused of masterminding a massive $165 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme involving more than 6,000 investors has been returned to the United States after being deported from Fiji, federal authorities announced. 

 FLORIDA, UNITED STATES — Former Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta personality Salomé Jackson, popularly known as “Betty Idol,” has been arrested in Florida over her alleged involvement in a real estate fraud scheme reportedly worth approximately $196,000. 

 MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA — A Metro Atlanta teacher is being remembered as a hero after losing his life while rescuing a young girl who was being pulled underwater by a dangerous current at Myrtle Beach.

 WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES — Convicted murderer Christopher “Chris” Watts, who is serving multiple life sentences for killing his pregnant wife and their two young daughters, has reportedly entered a romantic relationship while behind bars, with claims that the couple is considering marriage. 

 COLOMBIA — At least 111 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more injured after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, causing widespread destruction across several cities and communities.  

LAGOS, NIGERIA — Dr. Damilola Odukoya has inspired many with the remarkable story of how she returned to school at the age of 37, nearly two decades after first sitting for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a medical doctor.

 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Department of Justice has launched what it described as the largest coordinated denaturalisation effort in its history, seeking to revoke the citizenship of naturalised Americans accused of obtaining U.S. citizenship through fraud, concealment, or other unlawful means. 

 NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — A 41-year-old Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, popularly known as “Van,” has been sentenced to 85 months in a United States federal prison for his role in an international criminal organization that stole and laundered more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise schemes. 

 POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA — A Florida pastor has been arrested and charged after authorities accused him of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy and failing to disclose that he was HIV positive before engaging in sexual activity.

 SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND — A 25-year-old Nigerian student studying in the United Kingdom has been sentenced to three years in prison after attempting to meet who he believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity following online grooming. 

 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA — A decades-old double homicide committed by a 12-year-old boy has resurfaced in connection with a new murder investigation after investigators recognized the suspect’s name during a case review. 

 ALABAMA, UNITED STATES — A 21-year-old Nigerian basketball player, Daniel Tobiloba Adegboyega, has been arrested in the United States and charged with first-degree rape following allegations of sexual assault.

 WALES, UNITED KINGDOM — A man has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after keeping the body of his deceased mother in a freezer for nearly three years while continuing to receive financial benefits in her name. 

 A new investigation by the public-interest law firm Institute for Justice has raised concerns over the alleged misuse of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology by some law enforcement officers, revealing cases in which officers allegedly used the surveillance system to track women for personal reasons rather than legitimate police work. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump paid an emotional tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, describing him as a legend, a loyal friend, and one of the most influential figures in the history of the United States Senate during funeral services held at the Washington National Cathedral. 

 FLORIDA, USA — A Nigerian-born pharmacist has been convicted by a federal jury in the United States for illegally distributing more than 300,000 high-dose oxycodone pills to customers who, according to prosecutors, had no legitimate medical need for the powerful prescription opioid. 

 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — Nigerian-American biomechanical engineer and Harvard graduate Yinka Ogunbiyi has secured $7 million in seed funding to commercialize HaloBraid, a patented robotic system described as the world’s first braid-assist robot designed to help professional hairstylists reduce braiding time while minimizing repetitive strain injuries. 

 BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND — A 16-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree murder following the fatal shootings of his 15-year-old girlfriend and her nine-year-old brother inside their family home in Gwynn Oak. 

 LOUISIANA, USA — A 56-year-old Louisiana pastor and author has been convicted in federal court of stealing more than $340,000 from two churches where he served as pastor and using the money to finance gambling and other personal expenses. 

 A deeply emotional story about a young father who raised his daughter alone after she was allegedly abandoned as an infant has gone viral across social media, touching millions of readers with its themes of sacrifice, unconditional love, and resilience. 

 CHIPATA, ZAMBIA — A 33-year-old married Zambian accountant standing trial for the alleged murder of his girlfriend has admitted in court that he struck her with an iron bar after discovering sexually explicit messages on her mobile phone, but insisted he never intended to kill her. 

 An influencer known for her dramatic cosmetic transformation has gone viral after reports revealed she has spent nearly $50,000 on lip filler procedures, reigniting worldwide discussions about beauty standards, body modification, and the limits of cosmetic enhancement. 

 CLEVELAND, OHIO — An Ohio family’s birthday celebration has become one of the most extraordinary stories of coincidence after a couple who already shared the same birthday welcomed twins who were also born on that exact date, giving all four family members the same birthday. 

 CALABAR, NIGERIA — A High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim to death by hanging after finding him guilty of the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, who lived with Down syndrome.