Author: Opalim Lifted

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has expressed surprise at the actions of the police in allegedly attempting to invade the premises of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to disrupt the planned Local Government election on Saturday. Fubara, speaking during a media briefing at the government house in Port Harcourt, on Friday, said the move was surprising because he had previously received information indicating that the police intended to withdraw from the local government elections. He questioned why Rivers State is being singled out, especially with what he described as an undue focus on an electoral body that falls…

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has apologised for saying anybody who does not pay tithe will not make heaven. Adeboye tendered the apology on Thursday during the RCCG youth convention ministration. The general overseer, who tried to inspire the youth to aspire to do more for the Lord, paused during the course of the message, changed his countenance, and said he was sorry for saying those who don’t pay tithe will not make heaven. He said, “I am sorry for saying that if you don’t pay tithe, you won’t go to…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charges National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the fight against japa syndrome and corruption. The commission described the EFCC-NYSC Community Development Services (CDS) as an integral social agent in the fight against corruption and internet fraud. Dele Oyewale, the head of the EFCC’s media and publicity unit, made a statement when CE Wilson Uwujaren, the Director of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Commission, received the NYSC CDS Group at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Uwujaren told the corps members that they had to uphold the commission’s core values in their CDS…

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag stressed the need for patience after his team salvaged a 3-3 draw at Porto with a last-gasp equaliser in the Europa League on Thursday. United took a commanding 2-0 lead with strikes by Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund, only to concede three goals before Harry Maguire earned a point with a stoppage-time header. United, now winless in their last five matches in European competition, sit 13th in the Premier League table after a poor start to the season. “I don’t judge us in this moment. I judge us at the end of the season.…

More than two dozen international civil society organizations called on major tech firms to bolster their Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies to combat “sexist and misogynistic” disinformation plaguing social media platforms, AFP reported. The letter to the chief executives of six giants—Meta, X, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit—follows an online boom in non-consensual deepfake porn as well as harassment and scams enabled by cheap, widely available artificial intelligence tools. “It’s evident that these harms are not felt equally,” said the letter, signed by 27 digital and human rights organizations including UltraViolet, GLAAD, the National Organization for Women, and MyOwn Image. “Specifically,…

Harry Maguire rescued a dramatic draw for 10-man Manchester United after they had surrendered a two-goal lead – and had Bruno Fernandes sent off – at Porto in the Europa League. The injury-time effort could prove priceless for under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag, whose side were moments away from their fourth loss in 10 games to start the season. Instead, substitute Maguire rose highest to meet Christian Eriksen’s corner and headed superbly into the bottom corner in the first of five added minutes. It was a thrilling conclusion to a chaotic encounter at Estadio do Dragao. Marcus Rashford had given…

Chelsea emphasised the depth of talent available to head coach Enzo Maresca as their second-string XI eased to a stylish 4-2 win over Gent at Stamford Bridge to kick-off their Conference League campaign. Defender Renato Veiga headed in a 12th-minute opener from Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross. Winger Pedro Neto smashed in a near post finish just 49 seconds after half-time after latching on to a long ball down the middle by Axel Disasi. For a moment, Gent may have felt they were back in the game after a 50th minute header by defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe survived a video assistant referee check…

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has issued a public summon against immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. The court ordered Bello to attend court and answer to a fresh 16-count charge pending against him. By the summons, Bello is to attend court on October 24 for his arraignment alongside two other defendants. Justice Maryanne Anenih issued the order for public summons in a ruling on Thursday, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Justice Anenih ordered the EFCC to publish the public summons in a widely circulating newspaper.…

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will propose a new happiness index during his first parliamentary policy speech on Friday, local media have reported. The index, formulated by the public and private sectors, is expected to be proposed alongside Ishiba’s plans for the economy and tackling the country’s shrinking population. Ishiba, 67, became prime minister on Tuesday after winning a tightly contested ruling party leadership vote last week. He has said he intends to call a snap election for October 27 to shore up his mandate for policies, such as increased support for regional governments and low-income households. It is unclear…

Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, has secured a $200 million financing facility with the African Export-Import Bank to support the growth of Nigeria’s creative industries. Musawa said this partnership with the African Export-Import Bank was a crucial component of the Destination 2030 vision and one of the ministry’s ambitious goals for the creative economy. Musawa urged investors, development partners, and global collaborators “to join us in creating two million jobs and contributing $100 billion to the national GDP.” Afreximbank president Benedict Oramah, who also announced the partnership in New York, stated that the $200 million…