Author: Opalim Lifted

The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the federal government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’ or face litigation. The song, which takes a swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, was prohibited from radio and TV broadcast over its “objectionable nature”. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) cited the song’s violation of public decency standards on broadcast platforms. In a statement via X, SERAP warned that if the federal government failed to lift the ban, it will take the matter to court. “The Tinubu administration must immediately reverse the unlawful…

A helicopter has crashed into the Hudson River in New York, United States, killing all six passengers on board. Authorities said the victims included three children and three adults–the pilot and a family visiting from Spain. The incident happened on Thursday afternoon, less than 30 minutes after the copter took off from Manhattan. Eric Adams, New York City’s mayor, said bodies of the deceased have been recovered. Earlier, authorities noted that four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash while the other two were confirmed dead at an area hospital. Adams described the incident as…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified Ondo, Bauchi and Edo states as the epicentres of the Lassa fever outbreak in the country. Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, during a media briefing, yesterday, in Abuja, said that those states accounted for over 70 per cent of confirmed lassa fever cases reported so far in 2025. Idris said that the three states contributed 71 per cent of the 660 confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded between January and the end of March 2025, with Ondo accounting for 30 per cent, Bauchi, 25 per cent, and Edo,…

Ten-man Rangers produced a heroic performance to retain a fighting chance of Europa League progression, with Liam Kelly’s late penalty save decisive in earning an unlikely draw with Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish side arrived in Glasgow as favourites with Rangers under pressure off the back of a record five consecutive defeats at home. Their cause seemed doomed when Robin Propper was adjudged to have brought down Inaki Williams. After a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention, as last man, his yellow card turned red after just 13 minutes. Rangers, though, held firm – and survived a number of scares – before…

Tottenham Hotspur were unable to find a winning goal as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, with the result extending their unbeaten home run in Europe to 19 matches. This was the first European knockout meeting between these two sides since the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1982, in which Tottenham won the first leg 2-0 at home. That scoreline wasn’t going to be repeated here, however, as Frankfurt broke the deadlock with their first attack of the match inside six minutes. James Maddison was…

Prada struck a $1.375 billion deal to buy smaller rival Versace from Capri Holdings on Thursday, including its debt, in a move that unites two of the biggest names in Italian fashion. Prada is seeking to expand, having defied a slowdown in luxury demand, while Versace has been operating at a loss in the last few quarters. The merger strengthens Italy’s hand in a luxury industry led by French conglomerates, the biggest being Louis Vuitton owner. The deal follows the announcement on March 13 that Donatella Versace was stepping down as the chief creative officer of the brand founded by…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Africa’s foremost industrialist and philanthropist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder and President of the Dangote Group, on his birthday anniversary. The President, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, celebrated the life of a visionary whose resilience and unwavering commitment to Africa’s economic transformation have redefined entrepreneurship on the continent. Tinubu commended the philanthropist for his contributions to Nigeria’s industrialisation effort, noting how his ventures—from cement manufacturing to agriculture and the groundbreaking Refinery—have bolstered the national ambition for self-sufficiency and created thousands of jobs. Beyond commerce, the President extolled his philanthropy, mainly through…

Lionel Messi’s second goal of the night, an 84th-minute penalty kick, capped Inter Miami’s 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., sending the Herons to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Inter Miami won the two-leg, total-goal semifinal series 3-2, rallying after LAFC earned a 1-0 home victory last week. The Herons’ opponent in the two-legged semifinal will the Vancouver Whitecaps. Los Angeles went up 2-0 on aggregate when Aaron Long scored in the ninth minute, but goals from Messi in the 35th minute and Noah Allen –off a Messi assist –in the 61st…

Natasha Osaworu, the fiancée of singer 2Baba, said Idibia is her maiden name during a plenary session at the Edo state house of assembly when she introduced herself. “My name is Honourable Natasha Irobosa Osaworu, née Idibia,” she said in a video seen by TheCable before getting into her speech during the state assembly plenary. Introducing herself as Idibia sparked immediate laughter among her colleagues as she took the floor. The amusement stemmed from her well-known connection to Nigerian music icon 2Baba Idibia, whose real name is Innocent Idibia. Osawaru is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and…

Ronin, an African giant land-mine detecting rat in Cambodia, has become the first rodent to uncover over 100 landmines and other deadly war remnants. In a recent statement, Apopo, a charity organisation that trains rodents, disclosed that the pouched rodent has uncovered 109 landmines and 15 items of unexploded ordnance since August 2021. Ronin’s exceptional accomplishments have earned the rodent the Guinness World Records (GWR) title for most landmines detected by a rodent. Ronin also broke the previous record held by HeroRAT Magawa, who detected 71 landmines and was awarded a gold medal for his bravery in 2020. Adam Millward,…