Author: Opalim Lifted

The signage directing visitors to the office of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), remains mounted at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. A visit to the Federal Secretariat on Monday showed that the PFIPC signage is still mounted on the floor occupied by the Federal Ministry of Health, directing visitors to the office. The Federal Secretariat houses the offices of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), making it the administrative hub of the federal civil service. Despite the absence of a legal framework or a presidential declaration, the PFIPC…

The United States says it will closely monitor how Nigeria conducts its 2027 general elections, with a senior lawmaker indicating that the outcome could influence future relations between both countries. Riley Moore, a member of the US House of Representatives, made the remarks during an interview with NoireTV, a cable and streaming network serving the African diaspora. “We’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. That’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to,” Moore said. The congressman also revealed that the US House…

The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has officially been terminated, 18 months after its creation. President Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk, the American billionaire and founder of Tesla Inc., in November 2024 to lead DOGE, an initiative created to improve efficiency and cut costs within the US government. At the time, Trump was the president-elect. After assuming office in January 2025, Trump signed an executive order formally establishing DOGE. The initiative was slated to expire on July 4, 2026. Under Musk, DOGE launched sweeping efforts to reduce the federal workforce and overhaul agencies, including United States Agency for International…

Iranian leaders joined prayers on Sunday over the casket of the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during a second day of funeral ceremonies, but his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was conspicuously absent. The elder Khamenei ruled the Islamic Republic from 1989 until he was killed, aged 86, in an airstrike on the first day of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28. Officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi, joined Sunday’s ceremonies, along with huge crowds paying their final respects in Tehran. However, Mojtaba has not appeared in public since his appointment in early…

England produced their best display of the World Cup amid the passion and emotion of the Azteca Stadium to secure a dramatic victory over Mexico and set up a quarter-final against Norway. On a night of sheer sporting theatre, with the game delayed by an hour because of severe storms, Thomas Tuchel’s side even survived Jarell Quansah’s red card early in the second half to record one of their finest wins in recent years. Mexico had lost only two of 89 competitive games at their Azteca fortress, but England’s cool approach early on allowed them to take command when the…

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, says troops are making “tremendous progress” in efforts to rescue the 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Port Harcourt as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day, Shaibu said military operations to secure the victims’ release are ongoing. The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed men attacked three schools in Oriire LGA, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the principal of one of the affected schools. The incident shocked the country…

An official in the US White House asked Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, to review Folarin Balogun’s red card ban, the Associated Press has reported. According to the report, a person familiar with the development said that a high-ranking US official called Infantino about the matter. The source, however, did not share who specifically made the call and when. The revelation comes a few hours after FIFA announced an unprecedented decision to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban for one year. Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute of the round-of-32 match between the US and Bosnia & Herzegovina for a dangerous…

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has reiterated that his administration will not negotiate with bandits, insisting that criminal groups must either surrender or face the full weight of the law. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mukhtar Musa, the governor made the declaration on Sunday during the inauguration of the secretariat of the Association of Zamfara State Indigenes Residing in Kaduna. “The governor will never negotiate with bandits. Those willing to surrender should do so or face the law,” Musa said. Lawal said his administration would continue supporting military operations by providing logistics, equipment, ammunition and other operational assistance to…

Erling Haaland’s second-half double helped Norway stun five-time winners Brazil and book their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time. Brazil were left to rue Bruno Guimaraes’ missed penalty in the first half as Haaland, who had a quiet game until that moment, stole ahead of centre-back Gabriel to meet a cross from Andreas Schjelderup and put Norway ahead in the 79th minute. The Manchester City striker then sealed Norway’s progress with a superb low drive from outside the box in the 90th minute. Brazil were awarded a second penalty in the dying seconds of…

China has released Jin Mingri, pastor and founder of Zion Church, from prison after nearly nine months. Mingri’s case was raised by US President Donald Trump during his state visit to China in May. Trump said he discussed the pastor’s imprisonment with Chinese President Xi Jinping and asked him to reconsider the case. The US president also sought clemency for Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned Hong Kong democracy activist. “I think he’s giving very serious consideration to the pastor,” Trump said on his way back from Beijing, referring to Mingri, but added that Lai’s case would be more difficult. ChinaAid, a…