Author: straightnewsng.com

Twenty-five soldiers have been sentenced to death by a military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo for fleeing battles against M23 rebels and theft, their lawyer and an army spokesman said on Thursday. Congo’s army has been fighting the Rwanda-backed M23 insurgency for more than two years, as well as facing other militia violence, with around 2.7 million people displaced within North Kivu province. The rebels advanced into strategically important territory last week. On Tuesday, the army detained 27 soldiers after they abandoned their positions in the villages of Keseghe and Matembe in the province. Army spokesman Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji said…

US President Joe Biden has reassured senior Democrats and campaign staffers on Wednesday to continue following reports suggesting he was reconsidering his campaign after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump last week.  Biden held a private lunch with Vice-President Kamala Harris at the White House amid speculation she might replace him as the party’s candidate in the November election. In a subsequent call with the broader Democratic campaign, Biden affirmed his commitment to the race, stating, “I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party. No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving,” according to a source who spoke to BBC…

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the hero, saving two penalties and Lionel Messi’s blushes as holders Argentina defeated Ecuador in a penalty shoot-out to book their place in the Copa America semi-finals on Thursday.   A Lisandro Martinez header had put world champions Argentina 1-0 up ten minutes before half-time but Kevin Rodriguez headed in a stoppage-time leveller for Ecuador, who had risen to the occasion in front of 69,456 fans at Houston’s NRG Stadium.   Messi missed the opening penalty, chipping against the bar, but thanks to heroics from Martinez, Argentina recovered to win the shoot-out 4-2 and progress into…

Sir Keir Starmer has declared “change begins now” after winning a landslide victory at the general election. The Labour leader has secured the 326 seats required for a majority in the House of Commons – putting an end to 14 years of Conservative rule. Outgoing UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, after the election, said the British people have “delivered a sobering verdict,” acknowledging that the Labour Party has won the election. Shortly afterwards, a gleaming Sir Keir told a crowd of supporters: “We did it, you campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it…

The Federal Government has warned that the increasing level of flooding and continuous rainfall may worsen the spread of cholera in the country. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumum raised the concern while addressing a press conference on Thursday mentioned 19 Nigerian states to be impacted by river-flooding. According to him, a total of 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases have already been recorded as of Wednesday, July 3, 2024, since the outbreak of the epidemic. Recent incessant rains have resulted in floods in some states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a situation that prompted the…

President Bola Tinubu is under fire for mortgaging the conscience of the country in signing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) agreement to obtain a foreign loan. The former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had, in January 2014, signed into law a bill that criminalises same sex relationships, defying western pressure over gay rights and provoking United States criticism and antics of All Progressives Congress, then opposition party in the country. The law contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same sex ‘amorous relationships’ and membership of gay rights groups. But on Monday, July 1,…

With the nullification of Asue Ighodalo’s election as the Edo Peoples Democratic Party governorship flagbearer by the Federal High Court, Abuja, the party’s fate hangs in the air. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja voided the February 2024 primary election that produced Ighodalo on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP. It is, however, not clear if the party will appeal the judgement to vacate the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Also read Edo State Govt Pays N2b Into Security Trust Fund …

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) along with sister union, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities Associated Institutions (NASU) will embark on a nationwide industrial action on Thursday, July 4, if the four months salaries withheld by government were not paid to members. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), on Sunday, March 24, 2024, ended their seven-day warning strike. In a communique issued at the end of the 48th Regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), held on Thursday 27th and Friday…

Sixteen teams entered the 2024 Copa América tournament. After roughly two weeks of play in the group stage, only eight teams remain. The CONMEBOL quadrennial tournament’s knockout stage is set with eight teams preparing to square off in the competition’s quarterfinals. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela are the final teams that remain. Related news Messi Ends Trophy Drought As Argentina Beat Brazil To Win Copa América 9 Americans Of Nigerian Descent To Contest 2020 US Elections  2022 FIFA World Cup: Argentina reach final after beating Croatia Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay and Colombia all finished top in their respective groups. Recall that three of the…

An Anglican Reverend was murdered by his son in the agrarian community of Okpare in Olomu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Wednesday. The priest, identified as Rev. Isaac Umurie, one of the reverends attached to St. John’s Anglican Church, Okpare-Olomu, was hacked to death in his sleep in the early hours of the day by his 28-year-old son, Ufuoma Umurie. Ufuoma was said to have used a cutlass to hack his father, an Anglican priest, to death while he was asleep in the early hours of Wednesday. The suspect was alleged to have chased his…