Author: Opalim Lifted

Champions League-chasing Chelsea fought back from two goals down to snatch a dramatic stoppage-time victory over West Ham in a London derby at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Fernandez’s 92nd-minute winner sparked wild celebrations as Chelsea completed a stunning comeback after trailing 2-0 to goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville. New manager Liam Rosenior’s substitutes turned the game around, with half-time introductions Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella both scoring to draw Chelsea level. It was a bitter blow for West Ham, who dominated the first half. Bowen’s in-swinging cross beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who failed to claim the ball as…

A rare but deadly virus has resurfaced in India, triggering health alerts across Asia and renewed fears of cross-border transmission. India has confirmed two cases of the Nipah virus, a highly infectious zoonotic disease with a fatality rate of up to 75 per cent. The development has prompted neighbouring countries including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong to step up airport screening and disease surveillance. What is the Nipah virus? Nipah virus belongs to a group of pathogens known as henipaviruses. It is primarily transmitted from animals to humans, with fruit bats identified as the natural host. The virus was…

United States President Donald Trump has reignited long-running election conspiracy theories, calling for the arrest of former US president Barack Obama during an early-morning posting spree on Truth Social. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump revisited claims about both his 2016 victory and his 2020 election loss, amplifying allegations that have repeatedly been dismissed by US courts and election officials. He reposted commentary from Fox News host Jesse Watters, who alleged that Obama personally ordered the CIA to spy on Trump during the 2016 campaign. One repost bluntly declared: “ARREST OBAMA NOW.” According to Trump’s posts, the…

Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous display to dismantle Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday to capture her maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world number one in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago. Rybakina returned to the site of her heartbreak in 2023 to complete an impressive victory and earn her second Grand Slam trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials as the player best equipped to puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourt dominance. The 26-year-old capped a fortnight of relentless efficiency while largely flying under the radar, adding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a…

The United States (US) government has shut down following the failure of lawmakers to reach an agreement on funding federal operations. The shutdown was triggered by a lapse in appropriations after congress failed to pass a funding bill. As a result, non-essential federal agencies have begun to wind down operations. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are either being furloughed or required to work without pay. Essential services, including national security, air traffic control, and emergency response, will continue to operate. Falana urges US Congress to sanction Trump over ‘illegal invasion’ of Venezuela Public services, such as national parks and…

The court of appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state, has upheld the death sentences handed to five men convicted over the deadly 2018 Offa bank robbery. In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, the appellate court dismissed all grounds of appeal filed by the convicts, affirming the 2024 judgment of the Kwara state high court. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the three-member panel ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and ordered that the five convicts be returned to prison to continue serving their sentences. Those affected by the ruling are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to fully implement long-standing agreements on salaries, allowances and welfare, warning that failure could reignite industrial action. The decision followed the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and scientific conference, held between January 25 and 29, 2026, in Jos, Plateau State. In a communiqué signed by its president, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, NARD acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other key stakeholders in ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis in the health sector. The association commended the reinstatement of…

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has responded to reports linking one of its members, Stanley Amandi, to an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. Amandi, a Nollywood actor and former chairperson of the AGN Enugu State chapter, is among civilians reportedly arrested in connection with the alleged coup attempt uncovered by security agencies. Reports of a possible coup first emerged in October 2025, after the federal government abruptly cancelled the military parade for Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, sparking widespread speculation. At the time, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied any connection between the cancelled parade and a coup…

American rapper and songwriter Nicki Minaj has revealed she has received US President Donald Trump’s $1 million “gold card”, a controversial programme offering wealthy foreigners US residency and a pathway to citizenship. Minaj, whose real name is Onika Marag-Petty, shared an image of the card on X (formerly Twitter) after attending an event promoting Trump-backed investment accounts for newborn babies. The gold-coloured card, which features President Trump’s face, was posted with a brief caption: “Welp.” In a follow-up post, the rapper appeared to confirm her intention to proceed with US citizenship paperwork, writing: “Finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak…

Nollywood actor and director Stanley Amandi has been taken into custody alongside several military officers accused of plotting a forceful overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Amandi, a former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Enugu State chapter, was arrested in September 2025, according to a senior source within the AGN. Investigators allege that the filmmaker was recruited as a media propagandist by the suspected coup planners, who were said to be coordinating a violent takeover of government and planning the assassination of top political figures. Government officials familiar with the probe disclosed that those allegedly targeted included…