Author: Opalim Lifted

Brat, the word redefined by singer Charli XCX and adopted by supporters of US presidential candidate Kamala Harris, was on Friday named the Collins Word of the Year 2024. “Brat” was the name of the UK singer’s hit sixth album, and the word has now come to represent a “confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude”, said Collins, rather than simply a term for a badly-behaved child. “Inspired by the Charli XCX album, ‘brat’ has become one of the most talked about words of 2024,” said the UK-based dictionary. “More than a hugely successful album, ‘brat’ is a cultural phenomenon that has…

A French court sentenced a graphic artist who worked on beloved animated feature films for Pixar and Disney to 25 years in jail for ordering the livestreamed rape of preteen girls in the Philippines. The Paris court late Thursday found Bouhalem Bouchiba guilty of complicity in the rape of hundreds of girls and in human trafficking and of viewing child pornography online. Bouchiba, 59, had confessed to the charges during the four-day trial. “I am aware of everything I did. I ask the victims’ forgiveness,” he told the court. The graphic artist worked at the Pixar and Disney animation studios,…

Real Madrid Fans Club in Kwalam, Jigawa, Nigeria, has suspended a member, Abbati Soja, over alleged misconduct and lack of loyalty to the club. A statement by the club’s Chairman, Garzali Nfari, and Secretary, Aliyu Tabulet, indicated that Soja was punished for remarks considered “discouraging”, after the Spanish soccer giants lost 4-0 to bitter rivals Barcelona in a La Liga encounter. According to the statement, Soja had made a statement to the effective that Real Madrid would not achieve much this season. “That sentiment affected the morale of other members. “The suspension, effective from Oct. 28, followed a meeting of…

Antoine Semenyo and Evanlison scored as Bournemouth sealed their first-ever win against Manchester City, Man City at Vitality Stadium. The Cherries, in good form after picking up four points from their last two games against Aston Villa and Arsenal, started quickly and full of positivity. Ederson was forced into a double save after just two minutes as he denied Semenyo and Justin Kluivert. With the tone set, Bournemouth continued to press high and they were rewarded in the ninth minute when Milos Kerkez’s cut-back from the byeline was turned in by Semenyo. Man City failed to muster an attempt on…

Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton at a rocking Anfield and go top of the Premier League on the day their two title rivals both suffered defeat. Brighton had looked set to move up to third in the table when Ferdi Kadioglu’s fine strike from 16 yards flew in via the inside of the post in a first half they dominated. But Cody Gakpo’s left-wing cross went straight into the net for the red’s equaliser, his third goal against Albion in four days after his Carabao Cup double. And Mohamed Salah curled a beauty into the far corner from…

The world’s largest crocodile in captivity has died at a wildlife sanctuary in Australia. Cassius was nearly 5.5m (18ft) long, weighed nearly one tonne and was thought to be at least 110 years old – although no one knew for sure. The huge saltwater crocodile lived in the sanctuary on an island off the coast of Queensland since being caught in Australia’s Northern Territory in the 1980s. In 2011, he was awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest crocodile in captivity. Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat said in a post on social media that Cassius was “our beloved mate” and…

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has strongly condemned the detention of minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, describing it as “inhumane and unjust”. Akpoti-Uduaghan on Saturday equally called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to investigate the detention order granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court. Egwuatu granted N10m bail to 72 defendants, including the malnourished minors, over their alleged participation in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest. The judge specified that each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum. According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, detaining minors in a medium correctional facility…

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted claims that it has been in the custody of suspects, including minors, arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August 2024. The Federal High Court in Abuja arraigned the 76 suspects, most of whom were minors and appeared malnourished, on Friday. Spokesperson of NCoS, Umar Abubakar, however, said the suspects, including minors, were rejected for lack of space in the custodial centres to accommodate them. He described misleading reports making the rounds in some sections of the media purporting that the suspects, including minors who were arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal…

Kemi Badenoch on Saturday won the election to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party announced her win in a post on X on Saturday. ” ANNOUNCED: @KemiBadenoch has been elected Leader of the Conservative Party,” the party posted. Badenoch, 44, beat Robert Jenrick after a four-month contest, sparked by Sunak’s resignation in the wake of a humiliating election defeat, BBC reported. She is the first person of African heritage to lead the Tories. The vote saw a turnout of 72% according to Conservative MP Bob Blackman. Harriet Harman accepts Kemi Badenoch’s apology over website…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday grilled controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, over his claim that he bribed some officials of the commission with the sum of N15m. Bobrisky was heard in a viral audio released by activist, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, claiming that some yet-to-be-identified EFCC officials collected the said amount (N15m) from him to drop the money laundering charges against him (Bobrisky). A source in the anti-graft commission disclosed that Bobrisky’s interrogation began immediately after he was moved to Abuja. “He was interrogated for hours upon his arrival here. He…