Author: Opalim Lifted

India announced seven days of state mourning on Friday after the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, one of the architects of the country’s economic liberalisation in the early 1990s. Singh, who held office from 2004 to 2014, died at the age of 92 late on Thursday evening at a hospital in New Delhi. He will also be accorded a state funeral. “As a mark of respect for the departed dignitary, it has been decided that seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India,” the Indian government said in a statement on Friday, with mourning running until…

Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister whose economic reforms made his country a global powerhouse, has died at the age of 92. Singh, who held office from 2004 to 2014, was credited with having overseen an economic boom in Asia’s fourth-largest economy in his first term, although slowing growth in later years marred his second stint. India “mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders”, current Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media platform X on Thursday, shortly after news broke of Singh’s passing. “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”…

South Korean lawmakers impeached the acting president on Friday, as the country struggles to shake off political turmoil sparked by his predecessor’s martial law declaration that shocked the world. Han Duck-soo took over as acting president from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended following a parliamentary vote over his move to impose martial law on December 3. However, opposition MPs demanded Han, who is also prime minister, be removed from office as well, arguing that he had refused demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment process and to bring him to justice. “I announce that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment motion…

Traditional rulers in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State have invoked death on kidnappers operating in any part of the local government. The monarch made the invocation on December 24 during a special prayer session where they poured libation, broke kola nuts and alligator peppers and made declarations against bandits operating in Northern region of the state. Led by Eze Innocent Nwaigwe, the royal fathers proclaimed death upon any kidnapper terrorizing the indigenes of Umuahia North. The traditional rulers also declared that the local government will witness a peaceful and protected atmosphere throughout the Christmas and New Year periods and…

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, says it will launch a holistic investigation into airstrikes on two villages in Sokoto. Chronicle NG reported that a fighter jet mistakenly bombed two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday morning. Locals said the incident, which occurred around 7:00 am at Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame LGA claimed the lives of 10 civilians and left many other people injured. Animals were also reportedly killed, with residents saying some of their houses were destroyed by the impact of the airstrikes. The locals said the fighter jet was targeting…

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has lauded operatives of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for their resilience in 2024. The Chief of the Air Staff disclosed that the Force has logged 20,000 flight hours in the course of its operations within the year. Abubakar stated this in his goodwill message to the officers and airmen of the NAF on the occasion of the Christmas celebration. “With nearly 20,000 flying hours logged, we have demonstrated our resolute commitment to securing the nation’s interests, particularly in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other illegal economic activities,” he…

Leaders Liverpool strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier League after coming from behind to defeat struggling Leicester City and move seven points clear. Leicester had lost five of their previous seven matches but stunned Anfield by taking the lead through Jordan Ayew’s sharp sixth-minute finish. Liverpool endured a frustrating half as Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah hit the post and crossbar respectively before Cody Gakpo levelled right on the stroke of half-time with a lovely curling finish from the edge of the box. That lifted the hosts who took the lead for the first time just four…

Manchester United’s set-piece curse struck again as Matheus Cunha became the second player in three games to score directly from a corner against them as Wolves defeated them to climb out of the bottom three. Ruben Amorim’s men were already up against it at at Molineux following the 47th-minute dismissal of skipper Bruno Fernandes for a second yellow card. However, just as Son Hueng-min did for Tottenham a week ago, Cunha found the net with a corner that sailed over Andre Onana’s outstretched arm in a crowded six-yard box. The points were sealed in the eighth minute of added time…

Pep Guardiola led Manchester City, Man City to the club’s greatest moment by claiming the Champions League in 2023 to seal the Treble, but he, his players and the supporters will be content just to win another game at the moment. The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss suggested before the match that a top-four finish was “at risk” in their current form, and Thursday’s performance suggests they face a tough battle to achieve that feat. Man City have competed in Europe’s elite club competition for 14 consecutive campaigns and at the start of this term most would have taken it…

Substitute Rodrigo Muniz scored the winner late into six minutes of stoppage time as Fulham staged a magnificent late comeback to stun Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea looked to be maintaining the pressure on Premier League pace-setters Liverpool as they defended a lead given to them by Cole Palmer’s smooth 16th-minute strike. The visitors, however, never took a backward step and were rewarded in the most dramatic fashion with two late goals as Chelsea’s title aspirations suffered a serious setback. Marco Silva’s Fulham substitutions worked to perfection, first when Harry Wilson headed the equaliser after 82 minutes before Muniz steered…