Author: Opalim Lifted

Three people have died following a suspected outbreak of Hantavirus infection aboard the cruise vessel MV Hondius, with the World Health Organization (WHO) confirming at least one case and investigating additional infections. The global health body said six individuals have been affected so far, while five more cases remain under investigation. One patient is currently receiving intensive care treatment in South Africa. WHO disclosed that epidemiological investigations, laboratory testing and virus sequencing are ongoing to determine the source and full scope of the outbreak. Medical care is being provided to both passengers and crew on board the vessel. Efforts are…

It is not the record that Chelsea’s owners dreamed of when they bought the club four years ago — Monday’s 3-1 home defeat by Nottingham Forest means the Londoners have now lost six league games in a row for the first time since 1993. It could have been worse. Until João Pedro’s spectacular overhead strike in the 93rd minute, they were on course to suffer six consecutive league defeats without scoring in any of those matches for the first time in their 121-year history. With the former European champions plummeting down the league table, the sole comfort for their fans…

Jeremy Doku scored two stunning goals including a 97th-minute equaliser to salvage a draw for Manchester City in a six-goal thriller at Everton, but the result dealt a blow to the Premier League title hopes of Pep Guardiola’s side. The breathtaking encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium means City trail leaders Arsenal by five points with a game in hand, but Mikel Arteta’s Gunners now have their destiny in their own hands. In a sensational Monday night match, City were left frustrated as Everton soaked up pressure and were in need of inspiration Doku provided it three minutes before half-time with…

Trade tensions between the European Union (EU) and the United States have escalated after fresh tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, prompting urgent talks between top officials. Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s trade commissioner, is set to meet Jamieson Greer on Tuesday. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of a G7 ministerial gathering in Paris. The discussions follow Trump’s announcement on Friday that the US plans to raise tariffs on EU vehicle imports to 25 per cent starting this week. He also accused the EU of failing to comply with a prior trade agreement. The European Union has…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, 2026, to rule on the no-case submission filed by Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, in a criminal suit instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS). Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, fixed the date on Monday after Sowore and the DSS adopted their final written arguments for and against the no-case submission filed on April 21. Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge brought against him by the DSS. The charge stems from Sowore’s August 25 post on X, in which he described President Bola…

Discussions between the Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing non-teaching university staff (SSANU and NASU), ended without agreement on Monday in Abuja, as major concerns remained unresolved. The JAC comprises the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). The meeting, convened by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, was adjourned to May 5 at 3 p.m. for further negotiations. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that SSANU and NASU began an indefinite strike on April 30, following the expiration of a one-month ultimatum to…

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its Nigeria press freedom pledge ahead of the 2027 elections, promising stronger protections for journalists and a safer working environment. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance in Abuja during an inter-ministerial briefing marking World Press Freedom Day 2026. The event, themed “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security,” brought together security agencies, media leaders and other stakeholders to discuss safeguarding journalists ahead of the next election cycle. Idris said a free and responsible press remains central to democratic governance, stressing that credible information…

Relief may at last be reaching telecom subscribers in the country, as service providers have begun compensating users for poor network performance. This development follows a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which ordered operators to compensate users for failing to meet quality standards between November 2025 and January 2026. Today, telecom operator Airtel Nigeria, which has over 63.6 million subscribers as of the first quarter of 2026, sent SMS notifications to alert qualified customers about the compensation. The message informed customers that the compensation had been applied and could be checked using a USSD code. In many cases,…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two Chinese firms to explore a partnership for the completion and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. The agreement was signed with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd in Jiaxing City, China, on April 30. According to a statement by Andy Odeh, NNPC’s chief corporate communications officer, on Monday, the proposed collaboration will be structured as a technical equity partnership. The framework, the company said, will cover the completion of outstanding work at the refineries,…

The Federal Government has called on the government of South Africa to take urgent and decisive action to halt renewed xenophobic violence targeting Nigerians and other African nationals. The appeal followed a high-level meeting in Abuja between Dunoma Ahmed, permanent secretary of Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry, and Lesoli Machele, acting high commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria. According to ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Nigerian government raised concerns over disturbing reports and viral videos showing protesters in parts of South Africa calling for foreigners, particularly black immigrants to leave the country. Officials warned that the situation risks straining long-standing diplomatic…