Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated six distinguished Diaspora Nigerians named by President Joe Biden among the 400 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the United States. This prestigious recognition, established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, is the highest honour bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers. This year’s awardees, announced by Biden on January 14, 2025, are employed or funded by 14 participating United States government agencies. Tinubu, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga on Thursday, Tinubu…

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says the production of petroleum products by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the importation of refined petroleum products from the European market. In its Monthly Oil Market Report published on January 15, 2025, the global body said with the refining efforts of the Lagos-based refinery, gasoline volumes produced in the international markets would have to find new destination markets. “The ongoing operational ramp-up efforts at Nigeria’s new Dangote refinery and its gasoline exports to the international market will likely weigh further on the European gasoline market. “Continued gasoline production in Nigeria,…

The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Adewunmi Onanuga, is dead. The lawmaker, who was born on December 2, 1965, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, after a brief illness. She was 59 years old. Adewunmi Onanuga, until her demise, served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, representing the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State. In a statement, the Green Chamber expressed sorrow over the sudden passing of the “passionate advocate”. ‘A Vibrant Lawmaker’ Reps spokesman Akin Rotimi recalled Onanuga’s impactful contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape as reflected in her passion for creating a…

With endless perimeter fencing, all-seeing drones and some 25,000 security personnel, the US capital is preparing for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration in an unprecedented protective posture after an election cycle marked by violence. Washington is used to high-profile, high-risk happenings, but rarely so many in such quick succession. Monday’s presidential inauguration will be the third top-level “national special security event” in just two weeks, following the election certification on January 6 and former president Jimmy Carter’s funeral. The city is prepping for fewer visitors on January 20 than Trump’s first inaugural eight years ago — when authorities anticipated up to…

With only days left in the White House, President Joe Biden was saving a few surprises for his farewell address Wednesday evening. Instead of simply summing up his term in office, he used the opportunity to issue dire warnings about the future and call for deep changes to the country’s foundational document. Biden’s term ends Monday, when he’ll be replaced by Donald Trump, a man he has called an existential threat to the nation. Here’s a look at what was likely the last major speech of a political career spanning more than five decades: Biden sent an ominous message about…

US President Joe Biden warned Wednesday that the “soul of America” is still at stake, as he prepared to deliver his farewell address to the nation before the return of Donald Trump. The 82-year-old Democrat will make a primetime speech from the Oval Office of the White House in which Biden is expected to tout the legacy of his single term in power. Ahead of the address at 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Thursday) Biden also released a letter to the American people which delivered an implicit swipe at Republican Trump. “I ran for president because I believed that the soul…

Harry Kane scored one and assisted another as Bayern Munich thrashed Hoffenheim to restore their four-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table. The Bavarians were awarded a 26th-minute penalty after a Kane header was blocked by the arm of a defender and the England captain buried his spot-kick, sending the keeper the wrong way. Kane, 31, had earlier assisted defender Raphael Guerreiro with a one-two to set up the Bavarians’s second. Bundesliga top scorer Kane has now scored 16 goals and created eight assists in 15 appearances in the division so far this season. With the game won,…

Former Cameroon captain and coach Rigobert Song has been appointed to take charge of the Central African Republic’s national team by the country’s sports ministry, a decision rejected by the football federation on Tuesday. The 48-year-old Song, who played as a central defender for his country at four World Cups and then coached the Indomitable Lions at the finals in Qatar in 2022, met with the country’s president Faustin-Archange Touadera on Monday after which his appointment was announced by a government decree. But the Central African Football Federation said it had learned “with dismay and surprise through social networks” of…

A clinical display from Crystal Palace inflicted a sixth straight Premier League defeat on Leicester City and increased pressure on manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. In a game short of quality, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener – seven minutes into the second half – was Crystal Palace’s first effort on target. He latched on to a through ball after a driving run from Ismaila Sarr and took a touch round the advancing goalkeeper, before tapping into the empty net for his sixth Premier League goal of the season. England centre-back Marc Guehi then sealed the win for Palace as he superbly volleyed home…

Alexander Isak continued his superb form with two goals and an assist as Newcastle equalled their club record of nine straight wins in all competitions with victory over Wolves. The Sweden striker opened the scoring with a shot which deflected in off Rayan Ait-Nouri, making him the first Newcastle player to find the net in eight consecutive Premier League matches. Eddie Howe’s team created the better chances in the first half, with Jacob Murphy twice denied by Jose Sa and Isak flashing a shot narrowly past the near post before his opener. Jorgen Strand Larsen struck the outside of the…