Author: Opalim Lifted

A powerful explosion set a lithium battery factory on fire in South Korea on Monday, killing at least 16 people, local fire officials said. Following the incident, a search and rescue operation is ongoing for five others who remain missing. The fire, which has largely been extinguished, ripped through a factory run by battery manufacturer Aricell in Hwaseong, a major industrial cluster about 90 minutes southwest of the capital Seoul. The blaze began after a series of battery cells exploded inside a warehouse with some 35,000 units, said Kim Jin-young, a local fire official. What had triggered the explosion remains…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State have suspended their planned protest over the continued police blockade at local government area secretariats. Chairmen of the labour centres said the suspension followed reports of plans by some individuals to incite violence under the guise of being labour members. At a joint press briefing in Port Harcourt on Sunday, NLC Chairman Alex Agwanwor urged the police to apprehend anyone who protests in the union’s name on Monday. He advised members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), who initially proposed the protest, to…

Maximilian Araujo, Darwin Nunez and Matias Vina scored as Uruguay beat Panama 3-1 in their Copa America Group C match in Florida on Sunday. Uruguay’s win saw them move level with the United States on three points. The US beat Bolivia 2-0 in the day’s other Group C match. The La Celeste, who have won the Copa America a joint record 15 times, were rewarded for their blistering early pace when Araujo fired home a sublime curling effort from the edge of the area in the 16th minute. Panama grew into the match after the break and wasted several chances…

Substitute Niclas Fullkrug scored a late equaliser for Germany as they rescued a draw with Switzerland to top Group A. The Swiss thought they were going through to the last 16 as group winners after an early goal from Dan Ndoye until Fullkrug headed in the equaliser. There was an outburst of celebration from home supporters behind the goal as Germany maintained their unbeaten start to Euro 2024. It was a blow to Switzerland, who had defended resolutely for more than 90 minutes but they still progress to the knockout stages. “At the end I think this point is well…

Nollywood veteran Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, popularly known as Kanayo O Kanayo, has revealed his ambition to remain active in the film industry until he reaches the age of 90. The 62-year-old actor shared his aspirations in a preview of an upcoming episode of the Honest Bunch podcast. Kanayo also voiced concerns about what he sees as the “influx of untalented women” into Nollywood. The actor and producer did not shy away from addressing other issues plaguing the industry, including drug abuse and homosexuality. “Many girls are desperate to act. You don’t come to Nollywood to learn how to act. Acting…

Farooq Oreagba, a Nigerian businessman and managing director of NG Clearing Limited, has disclosed in an interview that he has been living with cancer of the bone, which is incurable, for 10 years. Oreagba spoke on the Arise TV Morning Show on Sunday, days after he was crowned “King of Steeze”, for captivating audiences with his style at the 2024 Ojude Oba festival, an annual event in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. Stating that he was diagnosed with cancer of the bone in February 2014, Oreagba disclosed he had a transplant in August of the same year, adding, “I did chemotherapy…

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the president and founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, better known as Christ Embassy, has reacted to the inferno that gutted the main auditorium of the church headquarters at Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday. Speaking during a sermon at the church’s campground in Asese, Ogun State, Oyakhilome described the fire outbreak at the building as an opportunity to “build a bigger, better, and more glorious one.” Stating that nothing happens in the life of a child of God by accident, Oyakhilome recalled that, “During the 2001 Ikeja cantonment bombing incident, the building vibrated so much and we thought it…

An inferno has engulfed the headquarters of Christ Embassy Church, located in Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos State. An eyewitness confirmed this to reporters. Several videos on X have also captured the massive edifice in flames. The fire that broke out in the early hours of Sunday caused significant damage to the church property, sending shock waves throughout the immediate community and beyond. Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service are also said to have arrived at the scene to try and put out the fire. The police have cordoned off the area to prevent a breakdown of…

Bernardo Silva’s first goal at a major tournament, a calamitous own goal from Samet Akaydin and a Bruno Fernandes tap-in, gave Portugal a comfortable 3-0 win over Turkey on Saturday to guarantee qualification for the last 16 as Group F winners. Silva gave Portugal the lead in the 21st minute, rifling home after Nuno Mendes’ cross deflected kindly into his path, before Akaydin failed to look and passed the ball beyond onrushing goalkeeper Altay Bayindir seven minutes later. Fernandes effectively ended the contest after 56 minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo, who could have become the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history,…

Substitute Saba Lobjanidze wasted a golden chance for Georgia with the final kick of the game as the debutants claimed a first ever point in a major tournament with a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. Georgia, the lowest-ranked side in the tournament, took the lead in first-half stoppage time when striker Georges Mikautadze slotted in from the penalty spot. But the Czech Republic – quarter-finalists three years ago – were by far the more dangerous side throughout and finally replied when Patrik Schick turned in after substitute Ondrej Lingr hit the post. Schick then limped off with an injury…