Author: Opalim Lifted

Qatar has introduced sweeping new visa restrictions barring Nigerian men from travelling alone, a move set to disrupt transit and business travel across the Gulf state. Under rules enforced by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior from 5 September 2025, only women and families are now eligible to obtain tourist or transit visas. Nigerian men travelling independently will no longer be approved unless accompanied by family members. The new requirements also mandate that all applicants present a confirmed return transfer and proof of accommodation exclusively in five-star hotels before visas are processed. Doha says the policy aims to curb overstays, but the…

Kamala Harris believes it was reckless to allow former President Joe Biden to decide to seek re-election in 2024, but she felt she was the last person who could advise her 81-year-old boss not to run, according to excerpts from her new book released on Wednesday. Biden, a Democrat, ended his re-election campaign on July 21, 2024, after a poor debate performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump that prompted aides and party officials to question publicly whether he could endure a full campaign or serve a second term. “Of all the people in the White House, I was in the…

Communist Cuba’s national power grid collapsed for the fourth time in less than a year on Wednesday morning causing a nationwide blackout, authorities said. “There has been a total disconnection of the Electric System,” the Energy Ministry and National Electric Union said. The grid operator said the grid collapsed at 9.14 a.m. (1314 GMT) on the Caribbean island. The ministry said causes are being investigated and the restoration process has already begun. Even before Wednesday’s grid collapse, leaving 10 million residents without power, many across the island had already been experiencing daily blackouts of 16 hours or more. Power supply…

French President Emmanuel Macron named loyalist Sebastien Lecornu, a one-time conservative protege who rallied behind his 2017 presidential run, as prime minister on Tuesday, defying expectations he might tack towards the left. The choice of Lecornu, 39, indicates Macron’s determination to press on with a minority government that will not rip up his pro-business reform agenda, under which taxes on business and the wealthy have been cut and the retirement age raised. However, in an unusual move in French politics, Macron’s office said the president had asked Lecornu to hold talks with all political forces in parliament to find compromises…

The national grid collapsed on Wednesday morning, causing the power outages across Nigeria. Data obtained by Chronicle NG from the Independent System Operator (ISO) showed that the megawatts (MW) generated dropped from 2,917MW to 1.5MW between 11am and 12pm. In a post on X platform, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the loss of power from the national grid. “Please be informed that the power outage currently being experienced is due to a loss of supply from the national grid at 11:23 am today, affecting electricity supply across our franchise areas,” the company said. “Rest assured, we are working closely…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced plans to raise $60 billion in new investments over the next five to seven years to expand gas production and develop infrastructure aimed at strengthening the country’s role in the global energy market. Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari, outlined the target on Tuesday during the Energy Talk segment of the 2025 Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Milan, Italy. The announcement was contained in a statement released by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh. Ojulari said Nigeria intends to scale up daily gas production to 12 billion…

Every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, takes their own life. Behind the statistics are families, friends, and communities left shattered a reality the world pauses to confront each year on World Suicide Prevention Day, marked today. The annual event, led by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), shines a spotlight on a global health crisis often hidden in silence. This year’s theme, “Creating Hope Through Action”, calls for urgent conversations, compassion, and stronger support systems. A Global Crisis Close to Home Suicide remains one of the leading causes of…

Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace during a widespread Russian attack in western Ukraine on Wednesday, with the NATO member calling the incursion “an act of aggression”. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that he was in “constant contact” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Tusk has called for an emergency meeting of the council of ministers at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT), a government spokesman said. Poland’s military command said drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace during the Russian attack across the border, in western Ukraine, but that operations against these violations had now concluded. Radars tracked more than…

Erling Haaland scored five goals and set up two more as Norway thrashed Moldova to edge closer to qualifying for a first World Cup in 27 years. The Manchester City striker set up Felix Horn Myhre on six minutes before netting three goals in 32 first-half minutes at Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo. Haaland hit number four seven minutes into the second half before netting a fifth in the 83rd minute to take his tally in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to nine, more than any other player. The 25-year-old was in supreme form, notching five goals in one match for his…

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has released the official subject list for the country’s revised basic and secondary school curriculum. Earlier, a senior special adviser to the president had shared excerpts from what was believed to be the then-unreleased curriculum document. The excerpt showed mostly core subjects broken down into specific modules, including artificial intelligence, journalism, fact-checking, cybersecurity, and programming. However, the NERDC has asked the public to disregard all other versions of the new curriculum circulating online. In a communique signed by NERDC executive secretary, Salisu Shehu, it said that publishing the officially approved version became…