Author: Opalim Lifted

Pope Francis praised Indonesians on Wednesday for their large families and suggested that people in other countries are choosing to have pets rather than bring up children. The 87-year-old pontiff was speaking alongside Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo in Jakarta on the first stop on a four-country trip to Asia. “And your country…has families with three, four or five children that keep moving forward, and this is reflected in the age levels of the country,” he said. “Keep it up, you’re an example for everyone, for all the countries that maybe, and this might sound funny, (where) these families prefer to…

The co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has pointed out that Nigeria’s tax collection rates are low, posing challenges to financing critical sectors like health and education. Gates made these remarks on Tuesday during Nutrivision 2024, a Pan-African youth dialogue on nutrition held in Abuja. The Cable reports that Gates spoke while responding to a question on potential financing mechanisms for large-scale public health interventions. “Over time, there are plans for Nigeria to fund the government more than it does today. The actual tax collection in Nigeria is actually pretty low. “If citizens want the education…

At least 50 people were killed and 271 wounded when Russia hit a military institute in Ukraine’s central town of Poltava with two ballistic missiles on Tuesday, the war’s deadliest single attack this year. Photographs posted on social media showed several bodies of young men on the ground covered in dust and debris, with the badly damaged side of a large building behind them. “The Russian scum will definitely be held accountable for this strike,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. He ordered a prompt investigation, saying the strike damaged a building of the Military Institute of…

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia on Tuesday with no sign that the host country would bow to calls to arrest him on an international warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from the invasion of Ukraine. The trip is Putin’s first to a member country of the International Criminal Court since it issued a warrant for his arrest about 18 months ago. Ahead of his visit, Ukraine called on Mongolia to hand Putin over to the court in The Hague, and the European Union expressed concern that Mongolia might not execute the warrant. A spokesperson for Putin said last week…

The Canadian government has introduced a new rule of 20-hour cap on work hours for international students in Canada. The new rule will go into effect in September. An impending federal rule that allows international students in Canada to work up to 24 hours a week off-campus while classes are in session will negatively impact them, students and advocates said. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has said the new cap will ensure that international students can focus on their studies while having the option to work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberal government temporarily waived the 20-hour cap on work hours…

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has presented the first sample of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol. Dangote made this presentation on Tuesday in a broadcast at his refinery situated in the Ibeju-Lekki Area of Lagos State. He declared, “it’s a celebration day” for Nigerians. The 650,000-capacity refinery engaged in a test run of the product. “I would like to salute the people of Nigeria and the government of President Bola Tinubu for giving us the platform for growth, development, and prosperity. I also want to thank him personally for creating the idea of the Naira for…

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari never wanted President Bola Tinubu to succeed him. Lamido also said Buhari never trusted his former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to succeed him, adding that the former President wanted ex-Senate President Ahmed Lawan. Lamido further noted that Tinubu owed his emergence as President to nobody because he was a very daring and self-made man. Speaking with Tribune, Lamido said: “Prior to the convention, he (Tinubu) was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was…

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled the caucus for September 11, 2024, with former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo expected to attend. Also, September 12, 2024, was the scheduled date for the National Executive Committee (NEC). Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola, APC national secretary, disclosed in a notification on Monday that both the NEC and caucus meetings are in line with the provisions of Articles 12.3 and 12.5 of the party constitution. Billed to attend the caucus meeting to be held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa are President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President…

The Nigeria Police Force has placed an N20m bounty on a British national, Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich, and a Nigerian, Lucky Obiyan. The force had declared the duo wanted for allegedly plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government in the country. Addressing journalists on Monday in Abuja, the Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, accused the British national of building a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos. Adejobi also revealed that Wynne rented a space at Labour House and established a school to cover up his activities. “He (Wynne) mobilised and…

The amount clubs can charge for away ticket in Europe’s three men’s club competitions will be reduced this season, UEFA has announced. Champions League games will be capped at 60 euros (£50.55), with 40 euros (£33.70) the maximum for the Europa League and just 20 euros (£16.85) for the Conference League. Next season the Champions League figure will drop to 50 euros (£42.12) with 35 euros (£29.48) for the Europa League. These caps only apply to visiting fans, not home supporters. A cap first came in for the 2019-20 season of 70 euros (£63.50) in the Champions League and 45…