Author: Opalim Lifted

Volkswagen has reported a sharp fall in second-quarter earnings as the German automotive giant battles weaker electric vehicle margins, fierce competition from China and the impact of US tariffs. According to AFP, net profit for the three months ending June fell 32.9 per cent to €1.54 billion (£1.75 billion equivalent reported), compared with the same period last year. The company attributed the decline partly to a €500 million charge linked to halting production of its electric ID.4 model in the United States, as well as increased sales of lower-margin vehicles. The 10-brand automotive group, which owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini and…

The United Nations has called for the urgent evacuation and repatriation of around 6,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as fighting in the Middle East continues to disrupt one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. According to AFP, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, appealed to countries involved in the conflict to work together to protect the stranded sailors, warning that they are facing a “dire humanitarian and human rights crisis.” Speaking in Geneva on Friday, UN human rights spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said the International Maritime Organization estimates that at least 6,000 seafarers remain aboard…

A passenger aboard the Enugu Air flight that skidded off the runway at Benin Airport on Thursday has shared what happened before the incident, saying the aircraft kept circling in the air as the pilot searched for a place to land. The passenger, rapper and content creator Chinedu, popularly known as Triple Pin, shared his experience in a video posted on his Instagram page after the incident. He said he had only seen plane crashes in movies and on social media until he experienced the incident himself. “This is how these big dreams would have gone. Our plane crashed today.…

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into a runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft at Benin Airport (BNI). The aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 (registration 5N-ENR) from Lagos (LOS) to Benin (BNI), was involved in a runway excursion after overrunning the end of Runway 05 during landing at approximately 3:10 p.m. local time (1410 UTC) on Thursday, July 23, 2026. A statement issued by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, confirmed that the bureau’s officers had commenced an investigation. She said there were 63 passengers and five…

Former adult film actress Deyci Alejandra Omaña Ortiz, widely known by her stage name Amaranta Hank, has been sworn in as a senator in Colombia after winning a seat in the country’s March elections. According to El Tiempo, Ortiz will represent the Norte de Santander region as a member of the left-wing Historic Pact coalition during the 2026–2030 parliamentary term. She secured her place in the Senate after ranking 23rd on the coalition’s closed electoral list. The Historic Pact emerged as Colombia’s largest political force in the election, winning 22.72 per cent of the Senate vote. Official figures from the…

Dubai is offering residents more than AED3,000 (about $816) in rewards if they invite friends and family to visit the emirate, as authorities step up efforts to revive tourism following months of conflict in the region. The initiative, called “A Dubai Invite”, was launched by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and will run until October 31. According to the Dubai Media Office, residents can register loved ones through the programme’s website to unlock benefits including hotel stays, dining experiences, attraction tickets and other exclusive offers worth more than AED3,000. The campaign targets visits between July 20 and October…

Social media personality Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been granted N20 million bail by a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged N69.15 million property fraud. Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted the defendant to bail with two sureties in like sum, ruling that although the prosecution did not oppose the application, the court was still obliged to consider the seriousness of the charges and the punishment prescribed by law before granting bail. The judge also took into account the defence’s explanation regarding the whereabouts of Blessing CEO’s international passport. As part of the bail conditions,…

Ngozi Nwosu, the ace Nollywood actress, has appealed to the public for financial assistance as she battles an undisclosed health condition that has required her hospitalisation for the past three weeks. The 62-year-old film star shared her plight in a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, revealing that she is scheduled to undergo three surgeries and requires N30 million to cover the total cost of the procedures. “My people, my fans and my family. I know that you have not seen me in circulation for some time. I have been hospitalised for three weeks,” she said. “Please, the thing has…

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has dismissed claims that a reported letter from United States President Donald Trump amounts to an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as routine diplomatic correspondence acknowledging security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States. In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank challenged the Presidency to publish the purported letter, insisting that any authentic communication from the American president should bear the official White House seal and  Trump’s signature. “The letter is not from the White House. If it doesn’t have the White House…

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, on Thursday visited Benue State, where he warned against unauthorised persons bearing arms. The IGP, who spoke at a security stakeholders meeting held at the old banquet hall of Government House, described insecurity in the state as unacceptable and a source of “sleepless nights” for residents and security agencies. The police boss, who described Benue as once a peaceful and hospitable state, lamented that the state has presently been overtaken by crisis. According to him, the crisis had gone beyond farmer-herder clashes, stating that criminal gangs, kidnappers and political interests had worsened…