Author: Opalim Lifted

Justin Trudeau had an “excellent conversation” with Donald Trump at the president-elect’s Florida estate, Canada’s prime minister said Saturday, as the United States’ neighbors scramble to blunt the impact of Trump’s trade threats. Trudeau flew for a dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, after Trump earlier this week announced plans for import tariffs against Canada and Mexico and rival China. “It was an excellent conversation,” Trudeau told reporters Saturday morning as he was leaving a hotel in West Palm Beach to catch a flight back to Canada. Trudeau was the latest high-profile guest of Trump, whose impending second term — which…

Pep Guardiola says he has asked the Manchester City hierarchy for a chance to turn the club’s form around, but will leave if he fails to do so. Guardiola is enduring the worst run of form in his managerial career, with City losing five successive matches in all competitions before conceding a three-goal lead to draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League in midweek. His cause has not been helped by a number of injuries to key players including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who will miss the rest of the season. Guardiola has won 18 trophies since moving to Etihad…

Arsenal moved second in the Premier League after a frenetic victory over West Ham at London Stadium in which seven goals were scored in the first half. The Gunners led after 10 minutes when centre-back Gabriel flicked home Bukayo Saka’s corner at the near post after escaping loose West Ham marking. And the lead was doubled after 27 minutes when Leandro Trossard finished a flowing Arsenal move from close range. Saka was again the provider, played in by a chipped Martin Odegaard through ball before squaring to Trossard to finish. Then followed a frantic period of four goals in six…

More than 122,000 people have been forced out of their homes as massive floods caused by relentless rains swept through Malaysia’s northern states, disaster management officials said Saturday. The number surpassed the 118,000 evacuated during one of the country’s worst floodings in 2014, and disaster officials feared it could rise further as there was no let-up in torrential downpours. The death toll remained at four recorded across Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak. Kelantan state bore the brunt of the flooding, accounting for 63 percent of the 122,631 people evacuated, according to data from the National Disaster Management Agency. Nearly 35,000 people…

The Lagos Taskforce says it has sacked two of its officers over an alleged phone theft during one of their raids.  Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, spokesman of the task force, said the incident happened during a raid in the Gowon area of the state. “The Lagos State Taskforce has dismissed two of its personnel following their involvement in theft during a recent raid,” he said in a statement on Friday. “The operation, conducted at a hotel in Gowon Estate known for harboring drug users and traffickers, resulted in numerous arrests. However, the integrity of the raid was compromised by the actions of…

La Liga leaders Barcelona’s 125th anniversary celebrations were dampened as they fell to a surprise defeat against struggling Las Palmas. The visitors went in front when former Barcelona striker Sandro fired a low effort across goal to a chorus of boos and whistles from the home crowd. Barcelona captain Raphinha equalised for the hosts with an unstoppable low drive into the net. Wolves loanee Fabio Silva scored his fifth league goal of the campaign to restore Las Palmas’ lead, slotting into the bottom corner after latching on to Javi Munoz’s superb pass. The result means Las Palmas climb to 14th…

Controversial crossdresser, Bobrisky has confirmed his gender during his trial on charges of naira abuse in court on Friday. Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed a fundamental rights suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju (a.k.a Bobrisky) alleging breach of his rights by the Commission and seeking N200million damages. Judgement Justice Owoeye on Thursday, November 28, 2024 held that Bobrisky’s claims of encroachment of his rights lacked merit with no credible evidence to justify the reliefs he sought from the court. One of the reliefs sought…

The police authorities in Anambra have arrested a couple – Kingsley Okoye and Chidinma Okoye – for allegedly sending threat messages and attempting to kidnap unsuspecting individuals. Spokesman for the State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. He said the couple specialises in issuing abduction threats through text messages, demanding ransom with the ultimatum of abduction or murder. “The Anambra State Police Command is aware and already investigating a related recent trending voice note of a security report on how a victim escaped abduction by an alleged security operative,” the statement read. The suspects were…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has clarified that the newly activated 60,000 barrels per day old Port Harcourt is currently working at 90 per cent capacity, and not 70 percent as stated by The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN). PETROAN had on Thursday said the refinery is currently operating at 70 percent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 percent. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday announced that the Port Harcourt refinery has commenced crude oil refining. In a statement titled “Halt the rumours: Port Harcourt old…

Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong have been shortlisted for best attacker and best defender categories, respectively, of the 2024 FIFA Best awards. Four Nigerians have been nominated in multiple categories of the 2024 FIFA Best awards. Ademola Lookman, Wiliam Troost-Ekong, Paul Onuachu and Asisat Oshoala were among the nominees announced by FIFA on Friday. Lookman, who ranked 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, was shortlisted in the Best Attacker category alongside Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal, Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, among others. Troost-Ekong will compete in the Best Defender category against Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, William…