Author: Opalim Lifted

Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer as his double against Austria sent holders Argentina into the last 32. The forward, who turns 39 on Wednesday, got his 17th and 18th goals at tournaments to move two clear of Germany striker Miroslav Klose, whose tally came between 2002 and 2014. Messi’s milestone moment came in the 38th minute of the Group J encounter in Dallas, sweeping home a first-time finish from just inside the penalty area after Thiago Almada had cleverly let Facundo Medina’s pull-back go through his legs to tee up his team-mate. The talismanic frontman’s second…

Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history on Monday, netting his 17th tournament goal during Argentina’s match against Austria to surpass Germany ‌striker Miroslav Klose. The Argentina captain moved level with Brazilian great Marta, whose 17 goals in the women’s tournament had stood as the overall World Cup record, by scoring his fourth goal of the 2026 edition. The strike extended Messi’s scoring streak to ⁠six consecutive World Cup matches. He opened the tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria when he became the oldest player, at 38, to score three goals in a World Cup…

The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the abducted students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, expressing confidence that the victims will soon regain their freedom. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department and South-West operations, Adegoke Fayoade, gave the assurance on Monday during a working visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja. Fayoade said security agencies, in collaboration with government authorities, were working round the clock to ensure the safe rescue of the victims. “The update is…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men in Abia state for allegedly selling illicit drugs to secondary school students. The suspects, identified as 84-year-old Godfrey Orji and 75-year-old Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, were arrested in separate operations in Umuahia, as the agency intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking across the country. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, in a statement on Sunday, said Obiora was arrested on June 19 following intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to students and other residents from his patent medicine store located on Club Road, Umuahia. According to the agency, a search…

State governments across Nigeria have committed more than N500 billion to establishing airports, airlines and expanding aviation infrastructure, as sub-national authorities increasingly seek a foothold in the country’s growing air transport sector. Several state-owned aviation projects have emerged in recent years, ranging from airport construction and upgrades to the launch of government-backed airlines. The investments are aimed at boosting connectivity, attracting business opportunities and stimulating economic growth. Among the most prominent examples are state-backed carriers such as Ibom Air and new airport developments across different regions of the country. Supporters argue that improved air connectivity can unlock tourism, trade and…

Keir Starmer has announced that he is stepping down as UK Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. Here is Starmer’s resignation speech in full: Thank you. Thank you. Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life. A new Labour government. The first in 14 years. A page in our country’s history turned after years of disappointment and despair. The chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better. That’s what I came into politics for. The journey to that point was not easy. Six years ago, I inherited a…

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has criticised the Federal Government’s classification of bandits as terrorists, warning that the move could escalate insecurity and eliminate opportunities for dialogue with the groups. Gumi made the remarks in a viral video, in which he criticised the classification of bandits as terrorists, warning that the move could worsen the security situation. According to the cleric, some bandit groups had previously shown a willingness to negotiate and should not have been labelled terrorists. “We don’t want to push them into terror beyond what they are doing now because it can get worse,” Gumi said. He…

Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives across Nigeria in 2026, with the case fatality rate rising sharply to 25 per cent, according to the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The agency disclosed in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23 (June 1 to June 7, 2026) that the fatality rate marks a significant increase from 18.9 per cent recorded over the same period in 2025. It noted that new confirmed cases remained stable within the reporting week, matching figures recorded in Week 22. Infections were recorded in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (Nigeria Union of Journalists) has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services (Department of State Services), Adeola Ajayi, for what it described as his leadership in strengthening cooperation between security agencies and the media. The award was presented at the end of a two-day National Security Summit organised by the NUJ in partnership with the DSS in Abuja, according to proceedings from the event. NUJ National President, Al-Hassan Yahaya, said the decision to honour Ajayi reflects the union’s belief that partnership, openness and mutual respect between the media and security institutions are essential…

Mohamed Salah scored one goal and created another as Egypt came from behind to beat New Zealand and secure their first-ever World Cup win. Their 3-1 victory also ensures the Pharaohs look set to qualify from the group stage for the first time in their history. New Zealand took a first-half lead when Finn Surman headed home Tim Payne’s well-placed corner in the 15th minute as the All Whites dreamed of securing their first win in this competition. The Kiwis squandered leads twice in their opening game draw with Iran and ended up doing the same here. Egypt scored three…