Author: Opalim Lifted

Seventy-one Chinese air force aircraft including fighter jets and drones entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone in the past 24 hours, the island’s government said on Monday, the largest reported incursion to date. The incursion included 43 Chinese aircraft that crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, an unofficial buffer between the two sides that lies within the defence zone, said in a report, as Beijing continues military activities close to the Chinese-claimed island. The official Central News Agency said it was the largest Chinese air force incursion to date, although there was no sense of alarm on the island, which…

The Kogi Government has declared Thursday, Dec. 29, a public holiday to enable residents receive President Muhammadu Buhari, who will be in the state to commission legacy projects. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lokoja. Fanwo urged Kogi people to come out e ton-masse to receive the President and display the hospitality the state was known for. Buhari approves N819bn supplementary budget for flood damage for kogi and all affected states He also urged all labour unions and security agencies in the state to ensure full compliance. “The…

King Charles is set to include a tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in his first Christmas message as monarch. An image of Charles delivering his speech, which is due to be broadcast on Christmas Day at 15:00 GMT, shows the King in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. In her final Christmas message, the late Queen spoke of “passing the baton” to the next generation. And her son’s first Christmas Day message will remember her legacy. This will be the first televised annual royal Christmas Day broadcast not to be presented by the late Queen, who appeared in the first…

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to gather in Bethlehem for a Christmas procession, after the town’s economy was badly hit by lockdowns. Two years of muted celebrations have given way to bustling streets, but numbers have not matched 2019’s record. Palestinian Christians and pilgrims will later attend midnight Mass at the 4th-Century Nativity Church. Festivities follow a deadly escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank and Israel. Scout bands playing bagpipes and drummers escorting church leaders entered Manger Square after making their way from Jerusalem, ahead of midnight Mass at the nearby Church of the Nativity -…

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Owerri Operations Office, on Friday launched a programme tagged ‘Operation Eagle Eye’ in Abia. The exercise which was launched in collaboration with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), was aimed at reducing accidents during the yuletide. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officials of NEMA, FRSC and other critical stakeholders visited some parks in Umuahia to enlighten the drivers on how to curb road accidents. Director-General, NEMA, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, said that it was an annual exercise to enlighten the public against traffic crashes, especially during this festive period. Ahmed, who was…

RnB singer Akon says his much-delayed plans for Akon City – an African metropolis on the Senegalese coast – are “100,000% moving”. Although goats are currently grazing on the site, he says that critics will look “super stupid” in the future. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the Smack That singer also assured supporters waiting for refunds from his Token of Appreciation cryptocurrency campaign that they will receive their money back, even if he has to pay them out of his own pocket. Widely known for his string of noughties chart hits Akon, who was born in the United…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has refunded the sum of N107 million to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the poor feeding services rendered by the company of Mutawwifs for pilgrims from African Non- Arab Countries. The commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication Division, Mousa Ubandawaki, made disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Ubandawaki explained that the development was sequel to several letters and reminders by the commission to the company on the poor feeding services during the Masha’ir period. Saudi Hajj: Nigeria receives 95,000 slots He recalled that the 2022 Hajj was marred by…

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, following an alleged case of terrorism financing against him. The Department of State Services (DSS) had recently went to court to seek an order to arrest and detain Emefiele over the allegation but a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, declined their application. The court noted said there was no strong evidence from the DSS to back the allegation in the application. But the NYCN in collaboration with 30 Civil Society Advocacy Groups for Accountability…

A new Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Sadiq Abubakar has assumed duty as the 29th CP of the territory. A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, DSP Josephine Adeh on Friday in Abuja, said the Commissioner of Police had warned criminals to steer clear of the FCT. She said Abubakar took over from Mr Babaji Sunday who had been redeployed to another area of assignment. Adeh said Sadiq, a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), held a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a…

Police are investigating after a 15-year-old girl was injured at the EFL Cup tie between Manchester City and Liverpool. The girl was treated for head injuries at Etihad Stadium on Thursday. Greater Manchester Police said it was also investigating an assault on the junction of Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way. A man was also arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence, the force said. According to the BBC two men were arrested on suspicion of trying to take a pyrotechnic into the ground. Manchester City seal top spot despite Mahrez miss Manchester City won the tie 3-2,…