The Paradise Symphony Orchestra concert at the end of April begins with Julius Fucik’s “Entry of the Gladiators.”
Originally Published:
Source: Paradise Post
Lamia, Fthiotida, Greece, April 16, 2025
Photo: imfth.gr
One metropolis within the Orthodox Church of Greece has distributed 32,000 ready meals, care packages, and Pascha gifts to help the less fortunate.
“The Holy Metropolis of Fthiotida and Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida wanted, at the beginning of Holy Week, beyond the spiritual call of the holy services, fasting, and prayer, to also extend a call of love and awareness, so that we don’t forget, amid the festive atmosphere, the sacred persons of our brothers and sisters in need, as love and brotherhood towards them is a prerequisite for experiencing the meanings of spiritual life,” the diocese reports.
The diocesan charitable fund teamed up with parish charitable funds and other philanthropic organizations to hold numerous charitable events.
Initially, food supplies and other essential items were distributed to dozens of single-parent families with minor children as part of the relevant SYN-enosis program, implemented in the city of Lamia.
Later, the Together Where There’s Need initiative was carried out, distributing 32,000 ready meals to 500 mostly solitary individuals across the entire regional unit of Fthiotida, in cooperation with local parishes.
Within this framework, a special distribution of holiday packages and financial aid was also provided to the beneficiaries of the Love Center of the Parish Charitable Fund of the Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Lamia.
Met. Symeon distributed Pascha candles and conveyed holiday wishes to students, children, and vocational trainees across various educational institutions in Lamia. He will also visit the Metropolis’ social and welfare structures and the homes of brothers and sisters in difficult circumstances on Holy Thursday, from the morning after the Liturgy of St. Basil until late afternoon before the Matins with the 12 Gospel readings.
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Source: Orthodox Christianity
The penitential season of Lent is almost finished, and Easter beckons eagerly, promising a welcome release from our privations and inviting us to bask in the golden glow of the Resurrection.
Is it any wonder that we are tempted to hurry past Golgotha, our eyes fixed firmly on the ground? Who wants to look up at the wretched derelict who hangs there, naked and blood-soaked, limbs trembling and eyes bulging, as he breathes his agonized last? We run the risk of meeting his sorrowful gaze, which even during his extremity and his despair is fixed hopefully on my face, and yours, as we go by. He cannot call our names, for he has spent his last breath offering the inexhaustible love of his mother to John, and to all men in turn. We don’t dare look. We are afraid our hearts will break.
We rush past the cross, hurried on by modern culture, which rejects the cross as an affront to our therapeutic mentality in which the aim of each day is maximizing our feelings of contentment. There is no contentment on the cross — it is a place of ultimate discomfort, of painful sacrifice and self-emptying abandonment. The cross is the negation of the ego and the ego’s prerequisites as the center of each person’s universe. It stands high there, on Calvary, and on every church spire, a sharp rebuke to the selfishness and self-regard that oils the wheels of the engines of greed, discord and mutual abasement, engines whose destination is no other place than hell.
The cross is also the place of obedience, a virtue that is more deeply unpopular today than ever. We are conditioned to think of obedience as a lack of autonomy, the surrendering of our liberty into the hands of another. Nothing could be further from the truth. Obedience is the fullest expression of freedom, in which, by aligning our wills to that of God’s, we are delivered from the strangling chains of egotism and conceit.
Stop and look up at the obedient servant, do not rush past. Look at him and remember we are meant to be ipse Christus — Christ himself. Consider that obedience was the path that Christ chose for his glorious act of redemption. Crying out in agony in the garden, as he allowed all the sins of mankind to invade and permeate him in all their stench and rankness, he asked God to take away that awful cup. And yet: “Not my will but your will be done.” To see Jesus there, obedient to the bitter end, is a reproach to you and me, who fail to see our small acts of obedience for what they really are — sanctifying and heroic — and rebel instead.
Linger there a little longer, before going on to Easter. We stand to lose too much if we make haste to leave that painful scene. We just might fail to grasp the enormity of our personal sins, those that Christ is atoning and expiating for us on that awful cross. He has climbed up there, leaden with despair, to take my place, and your place.
Yes, it is too awful to think of the weight of my offenses, and yours, added on to the enormous burden of sin and death that is crushing him to dust. But if we don’t dwell on this on our way to Easter, we will not be able to grasp the vastness of God’s mercy, and our joy won’t be complete when at last the stone is rolled back and we find the grave empty.
For when we stoop and gaze into the cool darkness, it is our experience of God’s ineffable love, unquenched even by death, that will transform us. We will learn tenderness, and mercy from him, and cry out with St. John: “We know that we have passed from death to life because we have loved one another” (1 John 3:14). Yes, even sinners like you and me will learn to love God’s lovely will, forgive the worst injustices, and endure suffering with peace.
So stop a moment or two, at the foot of Golgotha, and let your gaze rest on Christ, sweating and heaving on the cross. For the dear, green rebirth of spring means nothing if not preceded by the long leaden sleep of winter. And the triumph of the Resurrection means nothing without the agony of the crucifix and those three long days in which God lay cold and dead.
Source: Angelus News
Opera is adding its free browser AI, Aria, to Opera Mini, its popular Android-based browser with millions of users in Nigeria. This update brings powerful AI capabilities, such as up-to-date information from the web, research assistance, content summarization, and image generation directly into the browser at no additional cost.
“AI is rapidly becoming an integral part of the daily internet experience, and we’re seeing a great interest in AI solutions among Nigerians, so bringing Aria to Opera Mini is a natural addition to our most-downloaded browser. With the integration of our built-in AI, Aria, we’re excited to explore how AI can further enhance the feature set our Nigerian users rely on every day,” said Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera.
Opera Mini is known and appreciated for numerous unique features – from live football scores to the built-in digital wallet MiniPay, and now – also Aria.
Addressing data costs – a priority for Nigerian users
While internet access is becoming increasingly more available for Nigerians, nearly 55% of the country’s population still don’t have web access. Moreover, the cost of the internet is unproportionally high compared to the income or GDP per capita. Recently, data costs in Nigeria have surged even further, by 40-50%, due to new local communications regulations and tariffs. Some data plans such as 15GB rose from ₦4,500 to ₦6,500, and 20GB plans – from ₦5,500 to ₦7,500. According to an Opera survey from March 2025, 59% of Nigerians said data is too expensive, and more than half (55%) reported they regularly run out of data before the end of the month: data consumption remains a key concern in the country.
For years, Opera Mini has played a key role in enabling internet access across Nigeria. Opera Mini’s turbo data-saving mode can reduce data usage by up to 90% compared to other major browsers. For the past three years, Opera has saved Nigerians an equivalent of $27M in data (60M GB) through this unique data compression technology. The free data campaigns, active since 2020, allow Nigerians using Opera Mini to benefit from 1.5GB each month for free, which can be used for anything, including interacting with Aria. Since 2022, Opera has invested millions of dollars in free data campaigns in Nigeria, bridging the digital divide and ensuring information access.
With Aria integrated into Opera Mini, users get the benefits of an advanced AI tool without sacrificing precious data. Aria is optimized for minimal data consumption and is included within Opera’s free daily data bundles in Nigeria — making it an ideal solution for the 46% of Nigerians who said they would use AI tools only if they didn’t add to data usage.
Aria browser AI integrates into Opera’s browsers on both desktop and mobile to enable an accessible chat-based interface to AI. It enhances user interaction through information retrieval, text or code generation, image generation and understanding. Aria is powered by Opera’s own Composer AI engine, which utilizes both OpenAI and Google AI technologies to provide the most relevant answers, and it integrates image generation through Google’s Imagen3 fast model. With today’s update, Aria is now available across all Opera browsers. For the 47%* Nigerians surveyed who already use AI tools several times a day, and for the 67% who rely on AI for academic purposes, Aria within Opera Mini offers a way to make those experiences even more accessible and affordable. Aria is completely free to use.
There are more exciting and unique features coming to Opera Mini soon – and some of those are being built for football fans across Nigeria!
To use Aria in Opera Mini, download or update via the Google Play Store.
About Opera Mini
Launched in 2005, Opera Mini is a small, fast, and powerful browser. It comes with unique features such as Data Compression, Offline File Sharing, and a built-in ad-blocker. Today, Opera Mini has been downloaded over 1 billion times on the Google Play Store by people who chose it over the pre-installed browsers on Android mobile devices. Opera Mini has a 4.6 star rating on Google Play and has been reviewed by more than eight million people worldwide.
* Find more information on Opera Blog
Source: Linda Ikeji
A Department of State Services (DSS) officer, Mr. Anyim Chukwudi Christian, has reportedly escaped from police custody in Ebonyi State, months after he was arrested.
SaharaReporters learnt that the DSS officer was arrested over the attempted murder of a legal practitioner, Chief Okeke Decency Onu (Esq), during a brutal assault in a local restaurant in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Mr. Anyim Chukwudi, who serves in Cross River State, carried out the attack on April 6, 2024, alongside his brother, Mr. Anyim Eugene Anyata, amid a land dispute that had been the subject of legal proceedings.
The victim, Chief Okeke, was the attorney representing the John Igwo Chukwu Okavor Otti family in a trespass case against Mr. Anyim Eugene.
According to source the attack occurred between 9pm and 10pm at a popular local eatery, DEJAS restaurant.
Chief Okeke was eating roasted catfish and holding a business meeting with two colleagues when the suspects stormed in with weapons, including a pistol and beer bottles.
“Mr. Anyim Chukwudi smashed a beer bottle on Chief Okeke’s head. His brother, Eugene, did the same. Another man tried to stab him with a broken bottle,” the source stated.
“He somehow escaped and hid behind a building. There was blood everywhere.”
Photographs obtained by SaharaReporters showed the legal practitioner with deep gashes on his scalp and ear, both of which were stitched during a prolonged hospital stay.
Meanwhile, doctors confirmed he suffered a cracked skull and other serious injuries, spending months under intensive care.
Family members and colleagues believe the attack was a direct retaliation for Chief Okeke’s legal work in the land dispute.
“In June 2023, after Mr. Eugene Anyata forcibly trespassed on the land belonging to the Okavor Otti family, Chief Okeke issued a Pre-Action Notice as instructed by the family,” a family source explained. “After that, the threats began.”
The threats allegedly escalated in March 2024 when Mr. Anyata vowed to kill the lawyer in broad daylight.
However, Chief Okeke reported the threats to the Divisional Police Officer at Ivo Police Station. “Nothing was done,” the family source lamented.
Following the April 6 assault, the police invited Mr. Anyim Chukwudi for questioning and released him on bail on April 7, 2024.
However, he jumped bail and ignored repeated police summons, reportedly boasting that “DSS is superior to the Nigerian Police” and that he had “immunity” for any actions taken in the line of duty.
“He threatened again, saying he would make Chief Okeke disappear and nothing would happen,” the source said.
Despite multiple formal requests from the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, the DSS allegedly failed to produce Mr. Anyim Chukwudi for further interrogation.
But on January 9, 2025, police officers stormed his residence and re-arrested him after he resisted and called on family members to assault the officers.
“He was eventually detained at the Ebonyi State Police Command,” a police source confirmed. “But he fled again before we could arraign him.”
Meanwhile, Chief Okeke has reportedly submitted a formal complaint to the NBA President, urging immediate action and protection for legal practitioners across the country.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Nigeria Police Force, State Headquarters, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has written to the Director-General, Directorate of State Security Services (DSS), Abuja, seeking confirmation of the identity of a suspect who claims to be a serving operative of the DSS.
In an official letter dated January 13, 2025, and signed by DCP Marvelous P. Ikoriovbe, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Ebonyi State Command, with Reference Number: CB:3620/EBS/X/X-SQD/VOL., the police department requested clarification regarding the suspect, identified as Anyim Chukwudi (male).
The letter was titled: “Arrest of Member of the Force – Re: Anyim Chukwudi ‘M’”.
According to the contents of the letter:“This office is currently investigating the above-named suspect in connection with a case of attempted murder.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect informed this office that he is a serving officer of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS), attached to the Cross River State Command.
“In view of the above, we kindly request that your office confirm whether the suspect is indeed a bona fide member of your agency as claimed. He is presently in our custody, and the verification is necessary to assist in further investigation and interrogation.”
The police further assured the DSS of their cooperation and professionalism in handling the case, adding, “Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”
Police Investigation Report
On June 13, 2024, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, received a report involving a case of conspiracy and attempted murder. The complaint was filed by Barrister Okeke Decency Onu against three individuals: Ayanta Kingsley Ayim (43), Chukwudi Christian Ayim (34), a Department of State Services (DSS) officer, and one Nnamdi (surname unknown, 41), who remains at large.
The incident occurred on April 6, 2024, at Dejas Hotel, Amuonye Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area, where the complainant and colleagues—Prof. Barr. Uchenna J. Orji and Barr. Arochukwu Paul Ogbonna—had gathered for a discussion.
During their meeting, Ayanta Kingsley Ayim confronted Barr. Ogbonna over a pre-action notice previously served on him concerning a land dispute.
This confrontation escalated violently when Kingsley, along with his brother Chukwudi and Nnamdi, allegedly attacked Barr. Okeke with broken beer bottles, inflicting serious head and ear injuries.
Eyewitnesses confirmed the attack. Barr. Arochukwu Ogbonna, present during the incident, stated that Kingsley and Nnamdi suddenly launched the attack.
Chukwudi also struck Barr. Okeke with a beer bottle, and Nnamdi threatened another colleague with a broken bottle.
Mr. Orji Lawrence Ovia, another witness, corroborated the violent actions and threats made by the suspects.
A family member of the complainant’s clients, Erube Igwe, added that the suspects had a history of threatening those involved in the land dispute.
The case was initially handled at the Ivo Divisional Headquarters, where Kingsley and Chukwudi were arrested and later released on bail.
However, due to the seriousness of the case, it was escalated to the Commissioner of Police and assigned to the X-Squad for further investigation.
The X-Squad began its work on April 10, 2024, by recording the complainant’s statement and collecting photographic evidence of the injuries.
A request for case materials and suspect transfer was sent to Ivo Division. Only Kingsley was produced; Chukwudi and Nnamdi were not.
However, multiple letters were also sent to the DSS, requesting Chukwudi’s presence for interrogation, but he failed to appear.
A meeting was convened by the Commissioner of Police with all parties, during which further testimonies were gathered, and the CP ordered that the remaining suspects be presented for proper review of the case.
Statements from the witnesses supported the complainant’s account.
The investigating officer, Inspector Alimezie Collins, confirmed that the suspects had been arrested, their statements taken, and that a medical report was issued to the victim.
He also stated that the scene was visited and photographs were taken as part of the investigation.
Kingsley Ayim, in his defence, denied identifying the complainant clearly due to darkness at the scene and maintained he had no intent to attack anyone.
As of the report date, one suspect remains at large, and the DSS officer Chukwudi Ayim has yet to comply with investigative procedures, stalling the conclusion of the case.
Source: Sahara Reporters
YouTube TV is one of the best options for those looking to break free from the shackles of cable and cut the cord. It has a lot of lucrative features, like unlimited DVR recording, six separate accounts, three simultaneous streams, and over 130 channels, not counting the add-ons. So, check out this list of all YouTube TV channels to see if your favorite channel is included before you make the purchase.
We will list down all plans starting with the base YouTube TV subscription, which most people will end up getting, followed by Sports, Entertainment, and Spanish Plus add-ons. With that said, let’s jump into the list of YouTube TV channels.
These are all the channels that come standard when you buy the $82.99 base plan of YouTube TV without any add-ons.
All my sports fans out there can pay $10.99 extra to get the Sports Plus add-on for YouTube TV. This unlocks more than 13 sports-oriented channels that you enjoy.
People who enjoy Spanish shows and media can get the Spanish add-on for YouTube TV, which costs an additional $14.99/month on top of the base plan. Here are all the channels included with it.
Users who only enjoy Spanish content can also opt for a stand-alone Spanish plan, which costs $34.99 and comes with 32 channels. However, it replaces some channels that are not included in the add-on, like Galavision, Unimas, and Univision.
For the lovers of Filipino channels, there’s a separate add-on called the Filipino Plus, which costs $18.99 per month. It doesn’t include a vast selection of channels, but there are some good picking.
Besides the above, you can also go with some other available channel add-ons based on your preferences and get them along with the base YouTube TV subscription. Here’s a list of them.
These are all the variety of channels that you will find with the base YouTube TV subscription, as well as its various add-ons. I hope you find this guide helpful and if you have any queries related to this guide then reach out to us in the comments below.
Source: Beebom
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Tuesday declared the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as politically defunct, suggesting that its national leader and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is poised to return to the APC.
Ganduje made the statement in Abuja while receiving the Tinubu Support Group on a courtesy visit to the APC National Secretariat. Speaking with a mix of political finality and symbolic imagery, the former Kano State governor said the APC was ready to receive Kwankwaso “back home.”
“The NNPP is dead. And it will soon be buried, very, very soon,” Ganduje said pointedly. “I’m hoping where we will put the dead body, the coffin has already been constructed. What remains now is to dig the grave. And already, they are digging the grave.”
The APC chairman said the ruling party has been experiencing a wave of defections, welcoming prominent politicians and lawmakers from across the country, an indication, he believes, of the APC’s growing national appeal and the faltering momentum of opposition parties.
Read Also: NCoS debunks reports of starvation in correctional centres
“Even the so-called NNPP national leader, after losing everyone, now says he wants to come back to us,” Ganduje continued. “We will welcome him, because he is coming back home.”
Ganduje’s comments come amid renewed speculation about political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. Opposition figures, including members of the NNPP and other parties, have hinted at forming a coalition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.
However, Ganduje dismissed the prospect of a united opposition, predicting that such attempts would fail under the weight of internal contradictions and personal ambitions.
“Some are talking of forming a coalition, but I assure you, when the time comes, the same people will return to the APC. We have seen this movie before,” he said with confidence.
Although Kwankwaso has not publicly confirmed plans to rejoin the APC, political analysts suggest that Ganduje’s remarks may not be entirely speculative. The two leaders, once close allies during their tenure in Kano State, became estranged in the build-up to the 2019 elections but have remained central figures in the shifting dynamics of Northern politics.
Source: Ripples Nigeria
Manchester United may have their sights set on a top-four finish before the start of the season, but the off-pitch buzz has been just as busy.
Manchester United are in a terrible spell as the Red Devils languish in 14th place in the Premier League.
Their only real hope of playing any European football will be to lift the Europa League title.
Several United legends has had their say on the team throughout the season with many criticizing the side for their dire results and performances.
Meanwhile, over in Saudi Arabia, a former Red Devil continues to make waves in stunning fashion.
Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed to extend his stay at Al Nassr, putting pen to paper on a deal that could keep him at the club for another two seasons, as reported by Marca.
The Portuguese icon is believed to have accepted an offer that includes an optional final season, with hopes of reaching the milestone of 1000 career goals before hanging up his boots.
Ronaldo currently sits on 934 professional goals and remains the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer this season, with 23 goals to his name.
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Despite turning 40 earlier this year, the former United forward shows no signs of slowing down and continues to lead Al Nassr’s charge both on and off the pitch.
Negotiations over his renewal reportedly began as far back as January, with details needing to be ironed out regarding commercial and sporting commitments.
There was talk of the Portguese earning a possible €200 million per season.
Ronaldo’s influence in the league has gone beyond the pitch — playing a central role in building the club’s infrastructure and attracting marquee names to Saudi football.
Al Nassr have also brought in Fernando Hierro as sporting director, while the ownership continues to invest in player recruitment and long-term growth.
With the 2026 World Cup in his sights, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to lead Portugal into one final major tournament, with the dream of lifting silverware on the global stage.
His continued commitment to Al Nassr, and the Saudi game at large, cements his legacy as more than just a footballer — but a movement-maker.
While United have moved on from their talismanic No.7, the legend of Cristiano Ronaldo is still being written.
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Source: Centred Devils