Author: Opalim Lifted

Inter Milan produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in a thrilling, all-time classic of a Champions League semi-final. With just two minutes of added time left, Inter trailed 3-2 on the night and were heading out when 37-year-old centre-back Francesco Acerbi smashed a cross into the roof of the net to level the tie. And substitute Davide Frattesi won it for the Italian champions, curling a beautiful left-footed shot into the bottom corner in the first period of extra time. It means a second Champions League final in three seasons for three-time European champions Inter…

Friedrich Merz has been elected Germany’s new chancellor, but only after an extraordinary day of political drama that saw him stumble badly in an initial vote—making him the first would-be leader in post-war German history to fall at the final hurdle before a last-minute comeback. The conservative leader scraped through in a second round of voting on Tuesday, winning 325 of the 630 seats in the Bundestag, just enough to secure an absolute majority. Hours earlier, he had suffered a humiliating blow, falling six votes short despite his three-party coalition holding a paper-thin majority. Merz’s coalition, made up of his…

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced that, starting July 1, it will no longer accept cash payments at post office counters nationwide, as part of new reforms aimed at modernising the agency. In a recent statement, Franklin Alao, NIPOST’s director of corporate communications, said the transition to a cashless system is one of several initiatives under a reform agenda themed “Change of Renewed Hope Berths at NIPOST Shores”. Alao said the new direction aligns NIPOST with global best practices, the demands of Nigeria’s growing digital economy, and President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda. “Beginning July 1, 2025, all Post…

Citizens of Nigeria might be restricted from applying for United Kingdom (UK) visas, the UK Home Office has announced. According to The Times, a UK-based publication, the UK is moving to prevent citizens of countries that are likely to stay in the region beyond the approved duration and eventually seek asylum. Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were highlighted as countries in this category. To prevent this, the UK Government has said citizens of these countries may face tougher restrictions when applying to work or study in the UK. “Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to…

In his March address to Congress, President Donald Trump spotlighted a Texas boy battling brain cancer and promised to slash childhood cancer rates under his new “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) campaign. The chamber erupted in applause. But days later, Trump quietly dropped a lawsuit aimed at cutting emissions from a Louisiana chemical plant tied to cancer. The move was just the beginning. Despite bold promises to tackle chronic illness and remove toxins from the environment, the Trump administration has unleashed a wave of cuts that could do just the opposite—making Americans sicker. Health and Human Services (HHS) is being…

A popemobile once used by Pope Francis to greet cheering crowds is being transformed into a mobile health clinic to help children in war-torn Gaza. The specially modified vehicle, which carried the late pontiff during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem, is being repurposed by Catholic charity Caritas to deliver frontline medical aid in the devastated enclave. The Vatican confirmed this was Pope Francis’s “final wish for the children of Gaza” before his death last month. The vehicle is already in Bethlehem, awaiting permission to enter Gaza through a humanitarian corridor – a route currently blocked by Israeli authorities. “There’ll be…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has justified the arrest and detention of social critic Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan. In a statement shared on its official channels, the EFCC stated that it could not ignore the series of petitions involving “grave allegations of financial crimes” against VeryDarkMan. The anti-graft agency said, despite multiple invitations sent via his known addresses and communication channels, Otse refused to honour the Commission’s summons, prompting his arrest. The EFCC revealed that the petitions against him detail serious financial misconduct that demands thorough investigation. While the Commission acknowledged Otse’s verbal attacks on its…

A deadly diphtheria outbreak has rocked the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State, leaving two children dead within 48 hours and igniting urgent calls for a coordinated health response. Terrified residents raised the alarm as several children began showing classic symptoms—sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and severe fatigue—triggering panic over the fast-spreading infection. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has since confirmed the re-emergence of diphtheria and is also warning of an even deadlier, less visible threat—Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) director Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a heartfelt statement, said: “The recent tragic loss of…

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) said all content creators and influencers must secure prior approval for advertisements. In a recent statement, signed by Olalekan Fadolapo, ARCON’s director-general, the council expressed concerns about the prevalence of misleading advertisements, especially on digital platforms. Fadolapo cited the recent “CBEX ponzi scheme” as a stark reminder of the devastating effects of deceptive advertising. “Such tragedies show the importance of vetting advertising materials for honesty, transparency, and compliance with ethical standards before dissemination,” the statement read. He said all stakeholders must ensure that advertisements are vetted and approved by the council before being…

In a bold new move, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering undocumented migrants a $1,000 (£800) incentive to voluntarily return to their home countries through a streamlined self-deportation programme. The initiative, launched via the CBP Home app, aims to slash deportation costs by 70%—a significant drop from the current average of $17,121 per removal. Migrants who use the app to organise their departure and complete the process will receive the $1,000 payment once their return has been verified. “This is the safest and most cost-effective way for individuals in the US illegally to leave voluntarily and avoid…