Author: Opalim Lifted

Uganda has begun the official 42-day countdown towards being declared Ebola-free after discharging its last remaining Ebola patient. The patient was released on Thursday after testing negative for the virus for a second consecutive time. Under World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, if no new cases are recorded within 42 days—equivalent to two maximum incubation periods for the Bundibugyo virus—the outbreak can officially be declared over. The WHO described the development as “an important milestone in the country’s response” to the outbreak. Uganda declared the Ebola outbreak on May 15. Since then, the country has recorded 20 confirmed cases and two…

The United States has approved a proposed weapons sale worth nearly $2 billion to Saudi Arabia in a move aimed at strengthening the kingdom’s air defence capabilities as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East. The US State Department authorised the possible sale of military equipment valued at approximately $1.96 billion, including up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) and related support equipment. The proposed package also includes launchers, rocket motors, spare parts, logistics support and technical assistance to improve Saudi Arabia’s defence readiness. According to the State Department, the sale is designed to enhance Saudi Arabia’s…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to deploy a biometric identity verification platform, known as V-Pass, across the country’s domestic airports to enhance security and improve passenger processing. The initiative, developed in partnership with Verxid Technologies Limited, will introduce facial recognition technology that enables passengers to verify their identities electronically, reducing reliance on physical identity documents and speeding up movement through airport security checkpoints and boarding gates. According to a statement issued by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the project was reviewed during a strategic meeting between FAAN and Verxid Technologies…

Mathesis Analytics, a Nigerian fintech specialising in AI-powered credit decisioning infrastructure, has secured a strategic investment from institutional investor First Ally Capital to accelerate its expansion and strengthen access to credit across Nigeria and Africa. The investment will support the growth of the company’s proprietary credit decisioning platform, designed to help financial institutions assess borrowers who lack traditional credit histories using alternative behavioural and transactional data. According to the company, many Nigerians build strong financial records by repaying microfinance loans, saving through fintech wallets or servicing Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) facilities. However, these activities often remain invisible under conventional…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading faster than any previous outbreak recorded in the country, raising fresh concerns over efforts to contain the virus. According to an AFP report, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said more than 2,000 confirmed Ebola cases, including 796 deaths, have been recorded since the outbreak was declared on May 15. He described the crisis as the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record in the DRC, noting that the country’s 2018–2020 outbreak took more than 10 months to reach the same number of confirmed…

Thousands of tickets remain available for the FIFA World Cup bronze medal match between England and France, while even Sunday’s final has not completely sold out. As of 10:00 BST on Friday, around 7,000 tickets were still listed on FIFA’s official ticketing platforms for Saturday’s third-place playoff in Miami, which kicks off at 22:00 BST. A total of 1,246 tickets were available on general sale, priced at $865 (£657) and $1,125 (£855). Another 5,864 tickets were listed on FIFA’s official resale platform, with the cheapest category three tickets available at their face value of $455 (£346), plus FIFA’s mandatory 15%…

Officials in New York and New Jersey have issued an air quality health alert as wildfire smoke from Canada blankets the region just days before the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The haze has prompted authorities to advise residents to limit outdoor activities and remain indoors where possible. However, there is currently no indication that Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be disrupted. Spain arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday night after defeating France in the semi-finals in Texas and trained outdoors on Thursday without appearing affected by the…

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed that he will attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled to take place in New York this September. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, disclosed this on Wednesday after a meeting with the president at the State House, where he presented the budget for Nigeria’s participation in the global summit. According to Ibrahim, President Tinubu will take part in several high-level side events focused on energy, education and hospital management during the gathering. “The president was able to give us his word. Now he will come to…

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the federal government of neglecting education and failing to protect Nigerian schoolchildren following the abduction of students and officials during the ongoing National Examination Council (NECO) examinations in Kogi State. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the attack on Government Secondary School (GSS) Olowa in Dekina Local Government Area was evidence that the government had abandoned its primary responsibility of safeguarding lives and the nation’s future. Gunmen invaded the school on Tuesday, abducting the…

Members of the US House of Representatives have approved an amendment seeking to withhold 100 percent of US aid to Nigeria until the country takes effective steps to prevent violence and respond to worsening insecurity. The amendment was proposed on Wednesday by Representative Gregory Steube of Florida’s 17th Congressional District and was adopted through a voice vote. The move strengthens an earlier proposal introduced in April, which sought to withhold 50 percent of funds appropriated for Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken effective measures to prevent violence, respond to attacks, and hold…