Alex Honnold Scales 101-Floor Skyscraper Without Safety Gear
American climber Alex Honnold has scaled a skyscraper in Taiwan without a rope, harness, or safety equipment. The building, Taipei 101, stands 508 metres (1,667 feet) tall and is named for its 101 floors. Built from steel, glass, and concrete, the tower is designed to resemble a stalk of bamboo.
Honnold completed the climb in one hour and 31 minutes on Sunday, describing the achievement simply as “Sick.” His time more than halved the previous record. The only other person to have scaled the tower was French climber Alain Robert, known as “Spiderman,” who reached the top in four hours using ropes and a harness.
Honnold is best known for being the first person to free-solo El Capitan, a 915-metre granite cliff in California’s Yosemite National Park.
Pat McGrath Labs Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Pat McGrath Labs has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, days after announcing plans to sell its assets. The proposed auction has now been indefinitely postponed.
Founded by makeup artist Pat McGrath, the brand is known for its bold, high-impact makeup products. The bankruptcy filing was submitted just two days before the scheduled auction.
Speculation about the company’s future had grown in recent months, particularly after McGrath was appointed Creative Director of Cosmetics for Louis Vuitton’s newly launched La Beauté line.
PayPal Returns to Nigeria Through Paga Partnership
PayPal will allow Nigerians to receive payments on its platform through a partnership with local fintech company Paga, marking a major shift after years of limited engagement with the country.
The development was announced by Paga founder Tayo Oviosu in a LinkedIn post. The partnership comes nearly 13 years after Oviosu first approached PayPal with a proposal, at a time when Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem was still emerging.
Khaby Lame Sells Company in $975 Million Deal
TikTok star Khaby Lame has finalised an all-stock deal valued at $975 million (£770 million), under which US-listed Rich Sparkle Holdings acquired his operating company, Step Distinctive Limited.
The deal shifts Khaby from paid influencer to business owner, making him a controlling shareholder in Rich Sparkle Holdings. The three-year agreement grants the firm exclusive global commercial rights to the Khaby Lame brand, covering e-commerce, merchandise, and brand partnerships across the US, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Toyin Abraham’s ‘Over Sabi Aunty’ Crosses ₦1 Billion
Toyin Abraham has crossed the ₦1 billion mark at the box office with Over Sabi Aunty, which is still showing in cinemas.
The comedy-drama follows the story of an intrusive “aunty” whose well-meaning interference leads to chaos. The film has enjoyed steady cinema traffic driven by word-of-mouth, online engagement, and Abraham’s loyal fan base.
The milestone makes Over Sabi Aunty the fourth highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time and the first Nollywood directorial debut to reach ₦1 billion.
IShowSpeed Concludes 20-Country Africa Tour
American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has concluded his Africa tour, which spanned 20 countries and ended in Namibia on January 27, 2026.
Throughout the tour, he livestreamed his experiences, highlighting Africa’s cultural diversity and challenging common Western stereotypes. His travels included Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Mozambique.
He attended the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco on January 18, celebrated Senegal’s victory in Rabat, marked his 21st birthday and 50 million YouTube subscribers milestone in Lagos, and later visited Ghana, where he sampled local cuisine and toured a shea butter museum.
Grammys to Honour Fela Kuti With Lifetime Achievement Award
Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, alongside Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Cher, and Paul Simon.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. described the honourees as an “extraordinary group whose influence spans generations and genres.” Although Fela never won a Grammy during his lifetime, his 1976 album Zombie was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2025. The ceremony takes place on Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Meta to Test Paid Subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp
Meta has announced plans to test paid subscription services across its major platforms — Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — signaling a new phase in how users may interact with its apps.
According to TechCrunch, the subscriptions will offer access to exclusive tools and premium features, while keeping the core experiences on each platform free. Meta says the aim is to give users “more control over how they share and connect,” particularly around visibility, customization, and advanced functionality.
“In the coming months, Meta will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp that gives users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free,” the company said.
Meta also noted that it will experiment with different pricing models and feature bundles, with each app offering its own distinct set of subscription benefits.
IShowSpeed to Receive Ghanaian Passport as Africa Tour Wraps
Popular American YouTuber IShowSpeed is set to receive a Ghanaian passport following his widely followed visit to the country.
Ghana was the penultimate stop on the creator’s live-streamed 20-country African tour, which concluded earlier this week. After his visit, Ghana’s foreign minister announced that his office had approved a passport for the influencer, describing him as a “worthy ambassador.”
Dubbed Speed Does Africa, the tour drew global attention, with many applauding it for challenging stereotypes and spotlighting the diversity, energy, and culture of the continent in real time.
This Week, We’re Loving: Hertunba
With its blend of artistry, sustainability, and quiet confidence, Hertunba has evolved from a low-key fashion label into a brand with real cultural weight.
Founded in 2020 by Nigerian designer Florentina Agu, Hertunba was built on a clear mission: to create womenswear that feels powerful, elegant, and rooted in Nigerian heritage, while remaining mindful of sustainability.
By the end of 2025, that vision had fully taken shape. Once a quiet contender, Hertunba is now a cult favourite — worn by Nigerian it-girls, embraced by international influencers, and recognised for its thoughtful silhouettes and textile-driven storytelling.
Each piece feels intentional, celebrating strength without sacrificing softness, and tradition without feeling dated. It’s fashion that speaks — not loudly, but confidently.
And we love Hertunba because it reminds us that style doesn’t need noise to be impactful — just clarity, purpose, and the courage to stay true to its roots.
