Author: Opalim Lifted

Tottenham will face Manchester United in the Europa League final as they cruised past Bodo/Glimt to stay in the hunt for a first European title in 41 years. Ange Postecoglou’s men navigated a tricky semi-final second leg in Norway to reach their sixth European final – and first since the 2019 Champions League final. Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro struck in the second half to seal a 5-1 aggregate success and confirm an all-English showdown with United in Bilbao on 21 May. Tottenham trophy drought stretches to a League Cup triumph in 2008, but further back to 1984 in Europe…

Man United booked their berth in the Europa League final after a 4-1 semi-final thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, with Mason Mount scoring twice to give the hosts a 7-1 aggregate win and a chance for the beleaguered team to hoist some silverware this season. Man United, who are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, are now one win away from their first Europa League trophy since 2017 and a place in the Champions League next season. They will face similarly struggling side Tottenham Hotspur in the all-Premier League final on May 21 at Bilbao’s San Mames…

Chelsea booked their place in the Conference League final after sealing a comfortable semi-final triumph against Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge. Despite 10 changes from Sunday’s win over Premier League champions Liverpool and handing a first senior start for 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, the Blues hardly broke a sweat to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory against the Swedish visitors. They will meet either Fiorentina or Real Betis in the title clash to be played in the Polish city of Wroclaw on 28 May. Having won the first leg in Sweden 4-1 last week, Enzo Maresca’s side increased their advantage when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall…

US Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American pontiff. Pope Leo, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica around 70 minutes after white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel signifying the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church. The choice of Prevost was announced by French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti with the Latin words “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope) to tens of thousands of people…

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling the election of a new pope by the cardinals. The historic moment followed days of closed-door deliberations at the Vatican, where 133 cardinal-electors gathered in a conclave to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The name and identity of the new pope remain under wraps but will be announced when he appears at the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his first public blessing. “White smoke! The 133 Cardinal electors gathered in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel have elected the new Pope. He…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld MultiChoice Nigeria’s controversial decision to increase subscription rates for its DStv and GOtv platforms, delivering a major blow to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). Justice James Omotoso ruled on Thursday that the FCCPC lacks the legal authority to suspend or fix prices unless specifically empowered by the President through an official gazetted order. The judgment follows a heated legal clash that began after MultiChoice announced new subscription prices on 24 February, set to take effect from 1 March. The hike—less than a year after a previous increase—sparked public backlash,…

TikTok (Douyin) has been hit with a record-breaking $600 million ($514 million) fine by the European Union for violating strict data privacy laws, marking the largest penalty ever issued under the EU’s GDPR rules. Announced by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission on 1 May, the fine accuses the social media giant of unlawfully transferring European users’ data to China and failing to clearly explain its data handling practices. The bulk of the fine—$551 million—is tied directly to the illegal data transfers, while the remainder penalises Douyin for inadequate transparency. The social media video platform has denied any wrongdoing, insisting it has…

Cardinals resumed their voting in the secret conclave, having already failed to choose a new pope in the first round of voting on Wednesday evening. Up to four rounds of voting can take place each full day of conclave, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Smoke is only expected up to twice a day, as ballots from two successive rounds are generally burned together if no pope is chosen in either round. One prominent cardinal, who is not in the conclave as he is older than the age limit of 80 for participation, is reported to be…

Cardinals are continuing to vote in their efforts to choose a new pope, as the secret conclave meeting resumed on Thursday. Black smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, confirming no pontiff had been elected after a first round of voting. The group of 133 cardinal electors began their behind-closed-doors meeting shortly before 5pm UK time that day. Up to four rounds of voting can take place each full day of conclave, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Smoke is only expected up to twice a day, as ballots from two successive rounds are generally burned…

The federal ministry of health and social welfare has cautioned Nigerians against excess intake of salt. The caution follows a viral video where Chris Oyakhilome, the president and founder of Loveworld Incorporated, better known as Christ Embassy, was advising his congregation to eat more salt. In the video, the clergy noted that Africans were deliberately made to avoid salt so that they could buy sodium-infused drugs. In a statement on Wednesday, Alaba Balogun, the ministry’s deputy director of information and public relations, said salt contains sodium — an essential mineral that supports vital body functions— but needs to be taken…