Author: Opalim Lifted

Foreign students and journalists may soon face shorter stays in the United States under a proposed law by the Donald Trump administration. In a recent statement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the law seeks to curb “visa abuse” and increase the agency’s ability to “properly vet” visitors. If finalised, international students would have a four-year cap on their visas, replacing the current “duration of status” system, which allows indefinite stays as long as the student remains enrolled. Justifying the move, the DHS said foreign students have taken advantage of US generosity to become “forever” students, perpetually enrolled in…

Toke Makinwa, the media personality, has announced the arrival of her first child, a daughter she named Yakira Eliana.  The 40-year-old broadcaster shared the news on her Instagram page on Thursday, posting a series of heartfelt messages that detailed her journey into motherhood. She described the experience as the pinnacle of her happiness and a testament to God’s answered prayers. “I’m a Mommy. This is the happiest I’ve ever been. My precious daughter, the love I never knew existed, my heart in another human being, my love,” she wrote. “I have seen the goodness of God in my life time,…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an upward review of Nigerian Standard Passport fees by 100 percent, effective from September 1, 2025. According to a statement signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, the adjustment is aimed at maintaining the quality and integrity of the Nigerian. Under the new rates, applications made in Nigeria will cost N100,000 for a 32-page visa booklet with five-year validity and ₦200,000 for a 64-page visa booklet with 10-year validity. However, passport fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for the 32-page with five-year validity and $230 for…

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the nation’s first human case of infection with the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly larva that consumes living tissue. The case was identified on August 14 in a patient who had recently returned to Maryland from a trip to El Salvador. The parasite was detected following a joint investigation by the Maryland Department of Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This incident marks a significant and rare public health event within the continental United States. Chronicle NG examines what to know about New World…

Manchester United suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit as they were beaten in a marathon penalty shootout by League Two Grimsby at Blundell Park. It had appeared United had rescued themselves in the nick of time after finding themselves two goals down in a truly awful first-half display, with returning goalkeeper Andre Onana at fault for Grimsby’s second. Substitute Bryan Mbeumo pulled one back before Harry Maguire equalised in the final minute. But Matheus Cunha failed to secure victory in United’s last spot-kick of the regulation five, and Mbeumo’s second penalty hit the bar to hand Grimsby a 12-11 shootout…

Silverbird Group, organisers of the Miss Universe Nigeria contest, has announced the contestants for its 2025 pageant. The organisers of the pageant unveiled the 22 contestants representing states across the country on Tuesday via Instagram. According to the post, the competition goes beyond beauty, with participants expected to champion causes such as education, youth empowerment, healthcare, and gender equality. The finalists entered camp on Sunday at the Festival Hotel in Festac, Lagos, where they will undergo grooming, fitness routines, and mentorship sessions ahead of the finale. Voting has also commenced on the Miss Universe Nigeria website. This year’s winner will…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a directive to all commercial banks, microfinance banks, mobile money operators, and other licensed participants in the Nigerian payments ecosystem, mandating full migration to the ISO 20022 standard for payment messaging by October 31. ISO 20022 is a global standard for financial messaging — that is, the format and structure of electronic data exchanged in payments, securities, trade services, cards, and foreign exchange transactions. In a circular signed by Rakiya Yusuf, director of the payments system supervision department, on Tuesday, CBN reminded all licensed operators that ISO 20022 is now the standard…

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has advised applicants awaiting its recruitment shortlist to prioritise fitness and personal health. In a post via X on Tuesday, the service said firefighting is a physically demanding job, and urged prospective recruits to prioritise their health. “RECRUITMENT NOTICE! Dear Prospective Fire Officers-in-Waiting, while you wait for the shortlist, please take note,” the post reads. “Eat, I say EAT! (hunger is not part of the training syllabus). Take care of your health (we need fit firefighters, not fainting champions). Sleep well (counting fire trucks is better than counting sheep). “Exercise a little (your potbelly won’t…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to the circulation of falsified postinor 2, a widely used emergency contraceptive pill. In a statement on Tuesday signed by Mojisola Adeyeye, its director-general, NAFDAC said it received a report from the Society of Family Health (SFH), the product’s authorised Nigerian distributor, which confirmed that the company did not import that product batch. The agency said the noticeable differences found include a smaller font size in the text on the pin verification sticker, the wrong spelling of the word ‘verify’, and the wrong spelling of ‘distributed’…

Duma Boko, president of Botswana, has declared a state of public health emergency in response to severe medicine shortages that have crippled hospitals and clinics in the country. In a televised address on Monday, Boko said the rare decision followed a review to ensure there were no legal or regulatory hurdles to swiftly meeting the country’s urgent medical needs. The president blamed the health crisis on a hitch in the medical supply chain run by the central medical stores (CMS) “This failure has led to a severe disruption to health supplies countrywide,” he said. Earlier this month, Botswana’s health ministry…